Watch Out for Fireballs!

Gary Butterfield and Kole Ross take a vacation to the present to talk about Dishonored 2.

The original Dishonored is an amazing game with a pedigree that made it perfect fodder for the show. Following in the footsteps of Deus Ex and Thief, this series was always going to be something we'd swoon over. That said, would Arkane be able to top themselves the second time around? Listen to find out... but the short answer is this: Extra refinements to the play somewhat paper over some story, world, and thematic shortfalls that still end up being bummers in their own right.

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Links:

• Prey - E3 2016 Reveal Trailer - YouTube

• BioShock Infinite: Clash in the Clouds Trailer - YouTube

• The Jungle - Wikipedia

• Demon's Souls: The Movie | Chapter III: The Tower of Latria - YouTube

• The Darkness Video Game Trailer - YouTube

• DISHONORED 2 - 80 Ways To Kill Jindosh - YouTube

• Inside Official Launch Trailer - YouTube

• Dishonored: The Wyrmwood Deceit | Dishonored Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia

• Man destroys yellow jacket wasp nest with bare hands! - YouTube

• Interview: Dishonored 2's Harvey Smith discusses the game's devious Jindosh Lock puzzle | GameCrate

• Hand of Glory - Wikipedia

Gary Butterfield and Kole Ross read your responses to Dishonored 2.

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Links:

• Our Favorite Memes of Richard Spencer Getting Punched in the Face | SPIN

• On Publishers Controlling Game Reviews (The Jimquisition) - YouTube

Gary Butterfield and Kole Ross read your responses to Mega Man 2 and Mega Man 3.

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Links:

• Bit Brigade

• Music | Armcannon

• X-23 - Wikipedia

• Channel Zero (Syfy) "The Tooth Child is Hungry" Promo HD - YouTube

• Renegade (NES) Playthrough - YouTube

Gary Butterfield and Kole Ross flash through Mega Man 2 and Mega Man 2.

We're home again. Watch Out for Fireballs! began with an episode about Mega Man X, and now it's time to talk about Capcom's platforming superstar at the height of his powers. After a shaky debut in Mega Man 1, Mega Man 2 came out of the gate as one of the best games of all time, with memorable stages, music, and bosses. Mega Man 3 iterated on that formula and maybe reached a little too far, but it's still some top tier NES stuff.

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Links:

• What Gamergate should have taught us about the 'alt-right' | Technology | The Guardian

• The Witness first official gameplay trailer - YouTube

• The Video Game Preservation Dump

• Signs "Disturbing" Clip - YouTube

• Jocelyn Wildenstein: Socialite and Heiress Famous for Plastic Surgery, Divorce

• Chip and Joanna Gaines and the anti-gay controversy over HGTV's Fixer Upper, explained - Vox

• Suspicious Videogame Generosity - TV Tropes

Gary Butterfield and Kole Ross read your responses to Neverwinter Nights 2 and Mask of the Betrayer.

• Waypoint article on D and D in prisons

• Constantine XI

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Gary Butterfield and Kole Ross absorb the second portion of Mask of the Betrayer.

The story continues AND the plot thickens, as we learn more about the nature of our curse and take the battle to the gods themselves. Seriously, just play this game.

• Monster in my Podcast on Dao

• House of a Thousand Corpses

• Sebastian's Friends

• This jerk

• I am a Cuck

• Evil LP. Mandatory reading

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Gary Butterfield and Kole Ross devour the first half of Mask of the Betrayer, the first expansion pack for Neverwinter Nights 2.

Guess what... it's the Fireworks Factory! We laid out our case about Neverwinter Nights 2, painting it as a mechanically troubled game that occasionally rose above standard Forgotten Realms fare for some inspired story beats. However, the Mask of the Betrayer expansion pack is all killer, no filler. This episode covers up until midway through Chapter 2.

• Torment Episodes

• Baba Yaga

• Wayne the Skeleton King

• Lobos Jr

• Okami

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Gary Butterfield and Kole Ross crumble over the back half of Neverwinter Nights 2.

This episode picks up where the last left off, covering all of Chapter 2 and Chapter 3. This period of the game includes some of the best stuff... the Trial, the Crossroad Keep mechanic, and Ammon Jerro's lair. Be sure to join us next week when we begin our discussion of the Mask of the Betrayer expansion.

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Links:

• City of Ember Trailer [HD] - YouTube

• Trapper John, M.D. - Intro [HQ] - YouTube

• pitch.industries is coming soon

• Quiz & Dragons: Capcom Quiz Game (Arcade) Playthrough - NintendoComplete - YouTube

• Neverwinter Nights 2 Evil Ending - YouTube

• Rudy Movie Trailer - YouTube

Gary Butterfield and Kole Ross roll on through the first portion of Neverwinter Nights 2.

Let's face it, this is an awkward, awkward game. They heydey of Dungeons and Dragons CRPGs didn't involve 3D graphics or voice acting, and Neverwinter Nights 2 leans on those when it ought not to. But that doesn't mean there's nothing to recommend it. Beyond the infuriating camera, you will find a really fun adaptation of the D&D 3.5 ruleset, and some very inventive story beats.

This episode covers the entirety of Chapter 1. The next episode will cover Chapters 2 and 3.

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Links:

• Forgotten Realms: Unlimited Adventures (PC) (1993) (SSI) - YouTube

• The Temple of Elemental Evil: A Classic Greyhawk Adventure Opening Cinematic Trailer - YouTube

• The history of Dungeons and Dragons video games - YouTube

• Volo’s Guide to Monsters | Dungeons & Dragons

• Ron Swanson's fear of Tammy One (Parks and Rec) - YouTube

• Abject Suffering 106: The Angel Quiz - YouTube

• Chrono Trigger Trial Scene - YouTube

Gary Butterfield and Kole Ross recount their stories of the Portland Retro Gaming Expo, and read some of your thoughts about Pokémon Yellow.

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