Pixel Project Radio: A Video Game Podcast

(00:00:00) When The End Comes, We Won't Disappear | Nine Sols (Ep. 181) (00:01:19) The Fantastic OST (00:18:39) Story Discussion Begins (00:20:24) An Exceptionally Brief Intro to Taoism (00:37:41) In Medias Res (01:00:16) A Rough Timeline (01:20:29) Ending Discussion Thank you all for listening. Relevant Links 8bitmusictheory on Nine Sols TV Obsessive article YouTube Dev Interview "Behind the Music" Into Indie Games article Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also click here to join the free Discord server or connect with the show on Bluesky and Instagram! "Every parry is a conversation. What are you trying to tell me, Yi?" This week begins the conversation around Nine Sols, a "Taopunk" 2024 release from Red Candle Games. Part Metroidvania and part Souls-like, Nine Sols challenges players not just mechanically but intellectually, weaving the dichotomy of science and spirituality throughout a tale of revenge quest. Co-host Erik (Pages of Play) joins for both part I and part II; this episode covers our general thoughts, development history, mechanics, and art style. Oh, and of course...can't forget about discussions on difficulty and "getting gud!" Hope you love the show today. Please enjoy! Relevant Links TV Obsessive article YouTube Dev Interview "Behind the Music" Into Indie Games article Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to…

(00:00:00) Intro and Background (00:25:06) A (Very) Brief Introduction to Mitsuda's Sound (00:48:32) Selected Works: Chrono Trigger (01:22:23) Selected Works: Chrono Cross (01:49:35) Selected Works: Shadow Hearts 2 (02:00:56) Selected Works: Sea of Stars (Brief) (02:02:54) Selected Works: Mario Party (Brief) (02:08:49) Non-Game Music (02:18:54) Wrapping Up Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also click here to join the free Discord server or connect with the show on Bluesky and Instagram! Yasunori Mitsuda is a name that hardly needs an introduction to those steeped in JRPGs—but both his catalogue and his tastes are broader than you might expect. Nick (Friday Night Gamecast) co-hosts as we give an introduction (an admittedly very broad introduction) to his works and style. Although many of our favorites were left out, there is discussion aplenty. We talk two major works, a few lesser-known titles, non-game music, music theory analysis, and much more. Hope you love the show today. Please…

(00:00:00) Intro and Overview (00:12:55) Development (00:21:26) Art: Pixar by Any Other Name (00:43:31) Mechanics: Platforming, Rot Fellers, and More (00:55:33) Combat: Dark Souls? (01:14:31) Gamelan and Kena's Musical Inspirations (01:26:03) A Brief Narrative Discussion Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also click here to join the free Discord server or connect with the show on Bluesky and Instagram! This week, co-host Jake (Pre-Order Bonus Podcast) joins to discuss Kena: Bridge of Spirits! Kena made waves as a Souls-like with a deceptive face—"Disney meets Dark Souls," it's been called. A journey through the lands sees the titular Kena rounding up the almost-actionably-Pixar Rot to aid her in guiding wayward spirits home. But is Kena more than a series of homages and influences? Join us as we discuss the narrative, character writing, composition process, combat philosophy, and much more. Hope you love the show today. Please enjoy! Relevant Links: Dev interview 2020, Gameinformer…

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also click here to join the free Discord server or connect with the show on Bluesky and Instagram! It's a bonus episode all about some of my favorites in the gaming realm! I like these sorts of episodes from time to time and thought this would be a nice breather. Please enjoy! Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!

(00:00:00) Preliminary/Recap Discussion (00:15:35) Searching for the Trifor- I mean, the Dragon Gods (00:34:22) Return to Fort Dragonia (Chrono Trigger Intensifies) (00:46:11) Chronopolis and FATE (01:01:47) Cool Lore that Rick Overlooked (01:06:31) FATE Falls, Dragons Rise (01:13:09) One of Cross's Most Touching—and Hidden—Scenes (01:26:23) Spaceships? Sure. Why Not. (01:30:56) Belthasar, Ho-Ho-Ho Guy, Explains (01:41:27) Dragon God (01:50:26) The Most Important Character in the Series (02:13:21) Final Battle and Ending Discussion Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also click here to join the free Discord server or connect with the show on Bluesky and Instagram! Until we meet again... The final episode on Chrono Cross is here! Though, in truth, another ten more would have been perfectly fine. All of the threads—of fate, of FATE, of the narrative—come together here, neatly or no. Co-host Chris (Retrograde Amnesia podcast) joins to wrap it up and discuss potential plot holes, essential…

This week: a special bonus episode into your feeds! Thank you for all of your patience as I work through scheduling stuff. Please enjoy all of the cheesy goodness of the hit (in my eyes) 1995 movie, MORTAL KOMBAT! Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!

(00:00:00) The PS1 Wildchild | Tomba! / Tombi! (Ep. 176) (00:04:15) Personal Histories (00:10:56) Community Forum (00:16:00) Development (00:27:07) Art Style (and a Digression on Difficulty) (01:03:19) Mechanics: An Action Game? (01:17:36) Tomba's Event System (01:33:22) Music and Sound (01:51:28) Boss Fights and Wrapping Up Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also click here to join the free Discord server or connect with the show on Bluesky and Instagram! I usually put a game quote up top...but just imagine Tomba yelling and making Tomba noises, instead. This week, first-time co-host Georgie (Press Pause Radio) joins to take a step into the halcyon days of the Playstation 1—because we're talking Tomba!, the sole series created by Whoppee Camp. Tomba is pure "early video game" in more ways than one; join Rick and George as they discuss the signature "Events" system, the surprising amount of freedom (and frustration) throughout, good-time music, and beatin' up pigs. Who doesn't love that?…

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also click here to join the free Discord server or connect with the show on Bluesky and Instagram! (Note: This episode contains discussion of sexual assault.) "I'm so sorry I failed you, Buddy. I miss you so much." The Lisa series returns to Pixel Project Radio as we discuss Lisa the Joyful, the Kickstarter goal-turned-sequel to Austin Jorgen's cult hit Lisa the Painful. Joyful picks up as Buddy, Olathe's last living woman/girl. After the wake of Brad's self-satisfying redemptive warpath, she finally knows autonomy. Aaron (Super Pod Network) joins to discuss whether Joyful is able to ask the uncomfortable, meaningful questions that Painful asked of the players...or whether it lives meekly in the shadow of its older sibling. This, a brief look at the insane music, discussions on character depiction, and more. Hope you love the show today. Please enjoy! Referenced Links Original Kickstarter eeeeeYUHH HUH "'Sup, Holmes?" with Austin Jorgensen Thank you for…

(00:00:00) Choices and Divergences | Chrono Cross (Ep. 174) (00:07:08) Viper Manor (00:33:06) Escape to Guldove (00:48:09) Saving Kid and the Hunt for the Frozen Flame (01:11:41) Confrontation (01:16:48) The Utility of the Silent Protagonist (01:35:05) The Search for Self (02:01:00) Parting the Dead Sea (02:07:55) The Nature of Time (02:39:16) Wrapping Up Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also click here to join the free Discord server or connect with the show on Bluesky and Instagram! "“We…No..Everyone worked to save the planet’s future for nothing…It’s all because of you! You killed it! You…! So many lives were supposed to be saved…how could you do such a thing?! It’s all your fault that the world is going to end up like this, Serge! Murderer!" The analysis of Chrono Cross continues! Co-host Chris (Retrograde Amnesia podcast) joins once more as the game begins to show contrasts—contrasts with its established tone, and contrasts to the ideals established by its predecessor, Chrono…

(00:00:00) Intro (00:08:52) Development (00:21:36) Visuals: Those Beautiful Backgrounds (00:38:05) A Battle System Refresh (01:04:00) Mitsuda: Still Great, Maybe Greater? (01:15:16) Story Discussion: Return to the Sea (01:28:13) Another World (01:49:24) Termina (01:52:52) 3 Weirdos and Viper Manor (01:59:00) Wrapping Up Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also click here to join the free Discord server or connect with the show on Bluesky and Instagram! "Nobody can take anything away from him. Nor can anyone give anything to him." This week begins a look at Chrono Cross, the Playstation 1 follow-up to the critically acclaimed and fan-beloved Chrono Trigger. While sharing a namesake and a creative team, there is far more about Chrono Cross that differs from its older sibling than there is that makes them alike. Co-host Chris (Retrograde Amnesia podcast) joins the show to mull over what works—and more importantly why. Chrono Cross takes a lot of risks in its battle system, its cast of…

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also click here to join the free Discord server or connect with the show on Bluesky and Instagram! "Legend tells of an ancient artifact that can grant a woman's wish..." Fighting Game February comes to a close with Skullgirls, the indie fighter—excuse me, the handdrawn indie fighter, put some respect where it's due—that takes inspiration from fighting games, comics, and old-school movies alike. Mikey Tabletop (0-2 Heroes Podcast) joins as co-host to talk about why this game deserves more love than it gets. Between the gorgeous animation, the attention paid to competitive mechanics, and a soundtrack that's closer to "good jazz" than most games get (you too, New Vegas, sorry), it's easy to gush over Skullgirls. It's not all pleasantries though, as this game has been in the spotlight many a time for reasons less than admirable. All of this and more, to bring February to a close. Hope you love the show today. Enjoy! Skullgirls Origins story mode Skullgirls…

(00:00:00) Introduction (00:09:12) Development History (00:21:01) Visuals and Art Style (00:37:21) Mechanics (01:03:12) Music and Sound (01:21:50) Story, TV Ads, and Stuck on the PS3 (01:36:15) Wrapping Up Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also click here to join the free Discord server or connect with the show on Bluesky and Instagram! Hey, all! Pixel Project Radio here! To break up Fighting Game February, Rick and Bill (Gaming and Collecting; 3DO Experience; Geek Addicts) jump into the 3D Kingdom of Dotnia in 3D Dot Game Heroes! This game—with credits from Fromsoft and Atlus!—was released to general favorability in 2009 but never made a notable impression. Perhaps this is why it's marooned on the PS3 and the PS3 only to this day! This is a very special game, and in this episode Rick and Bill break down why it deserves far more love than it gets: the infectious music, the self-referential and -parodic writing, the gorgeous marriage of 2D and 3D, and more. 3D Dot Game Heroes does so…

(00:00:00) Fighters, Vipers, and Cars. Oh My! | Fighters Megamix (Ep. 170) (00:11:24) Development (00:23:10) Game Modes and Characters (00:44:33) Visuals: VF3 > FV (00:55:13) Burnin' Music (01:05:22) Gameplay (01:18:47) Wrapping Up Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also click here to join the free Discord server or connect with the show on Bluesky and Instagram! "Fighting Festival" is a worse name...but not inaccurate. This week is all about the Sega crossover bringing together Virtua Fighter and Fighting Vipers (as well as a few other surprises): Fighters Megamix! Co-host Chris (Retro Hangover podcast) joins to PKG throughout this mashup that's either a marketing ploy or a good time, depending on who you ask. It brought the Virtua Fighter engine, it brought some (at the time) not-yet-released moves from VF 3, it brought the armor and stage destruction mechanics of Fighting Vipers...and it brought Sonic the Fighters and Daytona USA into the ring, too. This is a game that means so much…

(00:00:00) Intro/What This Podcast Is (00:10:13) Story and Lore (00:19:37) Development (00:26:26) Music (00:38:20) Visuals and Art Style (00:47:27) Mechanics (01:19:28) Wrapping Up Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also click here to join the free Discord server or connect with the show on Bluesky and Instagram! "Fighting February" has begun! We're trying something a little different this year and doing three fighting games this month. This episode features Under Night Inbirth, an anime fighter with combo-heavy gameplay and a supernatural-esque lore. Co-host and fighting game aficionado Raging Demon (Kommand List podcast) joins to parse out what makes this fighter so unique—and so criminally underrated. The insane story, the GRD system, the absolutely killer soundtrack...all this and more on this week's episode. Hope you love the show today. Enjoy! Rooflemonger's Beginner Guide (Under Night II) Nihongogamer's 10 Under Night Tips Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send…

(00:00:00) Introduction to the Podcast (00:04:07) Personal Histories and Community Forum (00:12:42) Development and Design Philosophy (00:30:51) Mechanics (01:01:41) Music and Sound (01:17:27) Lore and Story (01:58:32) Wrapping Up Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also click the following to join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! "No cost too great. No mind to think. No will to break. No voice to cry suffering. Born of God and Void." We're finally doing it: might be pretty late to the party, but today we're talking all about Hollow Knight, the metroidvania that had — and arguably still has — the gaming world rapt since 2017. Co-host Doug (Nostalgium Arcanum, Playing by Ear) joins the show to look into just what makes this game work...and what makes it work so impeccably well. Hollow Knight is rich with thematic strands, lurid visuals, affecting music, and enough lore to make even the most dedicated Wiki editor blush. Hope you love the show…

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! Hey folks! Please enjoy this bonus episode from the Patreon vaults. This episode was recorded and released in January of 2025. Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for a fantastic year. Creating this podcast and bringing fiction off of the page/screen brings me a lot of meaning. Here's to 2026! Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also click the following to join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! "A future is not given to you. It is something you must take for yourself." The NieR Automata analysis concludes! Joined by Dave (Tales from the Backlog), we talk through the final three endings of the game in detail. One of the game's main themes — that of a Will to live, a meaning to life to stave off what has been variously called "The Absurd," "Nihilism," and more — is on full display as we see more characters than not grapple with it. Between what the game presents and the supplemental lore canon, there's loads to talk about. Hope you love the show today. Enjoy! Smash Interview with Yoko Taro Interview with Yoko Taro and Yosuke Saito Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com!…

(00:00:00) Intro Discussion (00:15:26) Adam and Eve (00:26:17) The Forest Kingdom (00:35:44) Mecha-Kaiju (00:40:38) The Copied City (00:53:03) Become as Gods (01:04:44) flowers for m[a]chines (01:34:34) Route B (02:07:28) Adam Captures 9S (02:25:08) Revelations (Replicant Spoilers) (02:43:28) or not to [b]e Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! "And we need a God worth dying for." The NieR Automata analysis continues! Joined by Dave (Tales from the Backlog) once again, we proceed through the ending of route A and through the entirety of route B. The view from 9S's perspective unearths new information not yet known to 2B...or to most of the YoRHa troops. How will 9S temper the friction between his loyalty — indeed, his "essence" — with an earth-shattering revelation? Further conversations on existentialism, Simone de Beauvoir, the importance of perspective, and more. Hope you love the show today. Enjoy!…

(00:00:00) Intro/What This Podcast Is (00:02:25) Personal Histories (00:13:08) Development (00:31:59) Visual Design (00:38:37) Mechanics (00:51:48) Music and Sound (01:00:28) Story Analysis: Let's Kill God (01:26:18) Resistance Camp (01:39:07) This Cannot Continue (02:03:16) Pascal's Village (02:24:23) Aliens' Return Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! "Stop calling me ma'am." The analysis on NieR Automata begins! Rick is joined by Dave (Tales from the Backlog) to take an in-depth look at this marriage of Platinum Games's circumfluent battle style and Yoko Taro's philosophically-tinged narratives. NieR Automata is a game with two ideas at its core: existentialism (existence precedes essence); and the all-too-human penchant for "othering" those who are not in our in-group, often due to unwillingness to shift perspective. This episode covers up to learning the fate of the makers of the machines. Hope…

(00:00:00) Intro/What This Podcast Is (00:02:06) Personal Histories and Initial Thoughts (00:12:10) Development (00:16:02) Visuals (00:26:58) Sound Design (00:40:40) Narrative Discussion (01:30:22) Ending Discussion Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! An oppressive system breeds a need to break free. Rick is joined by Kate and Emily (No Small Games) to take a deeper look into Playdead's INSIDE, a horror-tinged puzzle-platformer released in 2016. Draped in an opaque narrative, INSIDE demands discussion from players—with the game and with each other—to parse out intent and impact. Between the three hosts themes of control, systemic oppression, free will vs determinism, and autonomy are explored, both in terms of gameplay and a suggested narrative. Hope you love the show today. Enjoy! LINK: INSIDE's Audio in a Human Skull Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments,…

(00:00:00) Intro, Abby and Lev Discussion (00:22:46) Day 3A (00:29:29) Through Seraphites and Snipers (00:39:31) Casualties of War (00:46:41) WLF Standoff (00:52:15) The Pyre of Haven (00:57:55) They'll Pay (01:17:10) Epilogue: Throwing It All Away (01:46:49) Final Confrontation Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! "If somehow the Lord gave me a second chance at that moment...I'd do it all over again." The analysis of The Last of Us Part 2 concludes—and what an ending; a disgrace to some, near-perfect for others, infamous to all. At what point does one become truly irredeemable, forced to bear their scars with no path to forgiveness? Rick and Jon explore this idea at length, discussing the final confrontation at the theater recontextualized, the epilogue and whether or not it is out of place, and the controversy over the end. Hope you love the show today! Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to…

You ever rage quit over a strawberry? This week, Rick is joined by friends of the show Matt ("Fun" and Games) and Josh (Still Loading) to dive into Celeste, a beloved indie game that burst onto the scene in 2018. Celeste is a beautiful mix of narrative and gameplay, marrying a story surrounding the human condition with some of the most engaging (and difficult!) platforming the three of us have seen in a long time. In the episode, we talk all about the impetus behind the creation of the game, the game's thematic identity, the soundtrack, and so much more. I'm proud of this one - do it up! Maddy's article: Celeste and Forgiveness Maddy's article: Is Madeline Canonically Trans? More Matt Storm, aka Stormageddon More Still Loading Podcast Click on the following to find PPR on the web! Patreon Join our Discord Twitter Instagram Bluesky Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left…

(00:00:00) Intro and TLOU Writing (00:05:25) The Search for Tommy (00:18:46) No Turning Back (00:36:28) The Confrontation (00:42:40) Day 1A (01:03:54) The Search for Owen (01:21:59) An Unlikely Alliance (01:28:30) I'm tired, Abby (01:36:13) An Unlikely-er Alliance (01:52:49) Braving the Hospital (01:59:44) This Ain't the Nutcracker's Rat King Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! "We let you live...and you fucking wasted it." The analysis of The Last of Us Part II continues! Choices have consequences, and this episode brings them to light in spades. This is where the game transitions into the second half of the story—which was kept secret from viewers due to review embargo. But how does it recontextualize the story? This episode is all about perspective. I'm tired, Abby. Hope you love the show today! Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to…

(00:00:00) Depravity | The Last of Us Part 2 Analysis (Ep. 160) (00:01:35) Seattle, Continued (00:33:04) Captured (00:46:50) The TV Station (00:59:22) Chase to the Theater (01:04:10) Flashback: Did I Do Okay? (01:19:42) Burnin' Rubber at Hillcrest (01:32:18) Flashback: The Truth (01:45:15) Scars on Route 5 (01:53:31) Finding Nora (01:56:54) Ellie's Depravity Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! "Well you're a burden now, aren't you?" The analysis of The Last of Us Part 2 continues! In this episode, Rick and Jon examine the relationship between Ellie and Dina begin to change as secrets come to light. And as the hunt for the WLF continues, Ellie is faced with a decision—one which sets her over a precipice from which she cannot return. All of this and more in this week's episode. Hope you love the show today! Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and…

(00:00:00) Introduction (00:09:00) Dev History (00:22:50) Controversies (00:35:13) Visuals and Music (00:43:19) Mechanics (00:55:53) Jackson, Revisited (01:17:34) Abby's Introduction (01:25:33) A Close Encounter... (01:27:52) That Scene (01:46:42) Justice Will Be Served Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! "Please don't do this..." The critical analysis of The Last of Us Part II begins today! This is a polarizing game, to say the least; some see this as a bold, biting success in the spirit of TLOU's universe, while others see this as the creators spitting in the face of fans—even going so far as to petition for a complete remake. Either way you slice it, this game gets a *lot* of talk around it. This podcast, where Rick is joined by Jon (Video Game Lounge) will be no different. This episode explores a high-level overview and the philosophies/themes behind the game before the narrative breakdown. This…

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! "...I got this..." The analysis of our Final Fantasy Tactics stint comes to a close—and what a conclusion it is: the secrets of the Church are fully revealed; Delita spirals further into his view of justice; and players get an ending that, we argue, is totally Shakespeare. This has been a blast, and we hope you have loved these episodes, too. Please enjoy! Developer Interview on the Remake Schmuplations 1997 Interview Composer Commentary FFT Localization, Examined Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!

(00:00:00) Ramza the Heretic | Final Fantasy Tactics Analysis (Ep. 157) (00:05:20) War Council and Meeting Orran (00:12:00) Pleading with Zalbaag (00:18:08) More Killing God (00:23:46) To the Monastery (00:32:31) Judas (00:39:06) To Riovanes (00:49:39) Marach and Rapha (00:58:33) Folmarv Ain't Foolin' (01:02:42) Wiegraf Ruins My Life (01:15:32) Rapha Ruins My Life (01:23:23) End of Chapter 3 Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! "I will burn down this kingdom, and from its ashes build for you a new one - a kingdom worthy of you." The Final Fantasy Tactics analysis continues! Rick, Nomad (The Retro Wildlands) and Chris (Consoles and Stuff) charge into Chapter 3, which sees the game veer into a more traditional JRPG territory. Traditional isn't bad, though...although a few fights in this stretch of the game certainly are. More Lucavi, more Delita, more bad guys—this chapter has it all. Hope you love the…

(00:00:00) Introduction and Sand Rat's Seitch (00:07:53) Wiegraf and Gustav (00:15:25) Dycedarg and Duke Larg (00:19:24) Milleuda (00:23:59) Tietra's Troubles (00:32:47) Turning Point (00:48:49) The Manipulative and the Subservient (00:56:40) Betrayal (01:02:40) Mustadio and the Auracite (01:10:39) Dycedarg and Delacroix (01:16:41) Clockwork City of Goug (01:23:13) Gaffgarion's Bullshit and Ovelia's Truth (01:35:58) We Might Kill God (01:43:05) Delita's Deal (01:49:30) Outro Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! "I have no wish to change the world. But nor can I stand by while men suffer and die on he whim of some select few." The Final Fantasy Tactics analysis continues! Rick, Nomad (The Retro Wildlands) and Chris (Consoles and Stuff) move forward in this episode until the beginning of Chapter III. The power struggle of Dukes Larg and Goltanna continues to rage on—but two new parties join the fray: the…

(00:00:00) Intro (00:15:04) Development (00:27:14) Visual Presentation (00:41:06) That Famous Battle System (01:02:25) The Zodiac System (01:07:18) Sound Design (01:19:37) The Story Begins (01:26:01) Localization Differences (01:33:20) Chapter 1: The Meager (01:39:53) Double Flashback (01:43:22) Rescuing The Bastard (01:47:42) Wiegraf and Gustav (01:53:19) Outro Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! "Forgive me. 'Tis your birth and faith that wrong you. Not I." The critical analysis of Final Fantasy Tactics begins today! Rick is joined by Nomad (The Retro Wildlands) and Chris (Consoles and Stuff) to dissect one of Final Fantasy's most beloved titles. The tale of two young men are woven together by a struggle of class stratification in Ivalice, a nation rent in two by the Lions' War. Episode 1 covers up to the Sand Rat's Seitch and begins with a discussion of the development, the phenomenal score, and,…

(00:00:00) Would You Find A Reason To Smile? | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Analysis (Ep. 154) (00:02:28) The Origins of Lumiere (00:33:30) Character Relationship Quests (00:48:54) Clea and Simon (00:52:17) The Final Battle (01:08:08) Discussion on Endings Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! I don't want this life... Our analysis of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 comes to an end today! Rick and Thrak (The 3DO Experience! and ThrakOps) parse out the final confrontation with Renoir and the two very emotional—and very ideologically divided—endings. What does it mean to be conscious? How can one weigh the salvation of the self in tandem with the salvation of others? All this and more on this week's episode. Hope you love the show today—please enjoy! Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings…

(00:00:00) Introduction and Community Forum (00:09:24) Back at Camp and Old Lumiere (00:18:20) Maelle and the Manor (00:24:18) Fight with Dad (00:29:36) Back at Camp (00:38:22) Visage Island (00:43:53) Sirène (00:52:08) Esquie's Secret (00:53:47) The Dessendre Family (00:56:33) To the Monolith (01:09:40) Renoir's Final Plea (01:11:46) Confronting the Paintress (01:20:05) Celebration... (01:23:12) ...Short lived. Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! Who really is the one painting death? And who paints life instead? The narrative analysis of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 continues! In this episode, Rick and Thrak (The 3DO Experience! and ThrakOps) cover from leaving Monoco's Station until the beginning of Act III. Renoir poses questions that trouble Verso deeply; is there more to the Dessendre family than we know? Join us for discussion on honesty, the sheer amount of art there is in this life, and the…

(00:00:00) Opening and World Map (00:02:23) Flying Waters (00:04:15) Mysterious Manor and Reunion (00:11:08) Back to the Waters (00:13:54) Lofi Beats to Study and Parry To (00:15:56) Maelle's Nightmare (00:25:01) Gestral Village (00:37:05) Tournament and Sciel (00:43:45) Maelle's Nightmare (00:50:00) Meeting Esquie (00:56:26) Maelle's Nightmare (00:57:58) Stonewave Cliffs (01:04:27) Lamplighter and White-Haired Man (01:10:54) Loss (01:14:38) Verso (01:20:23) Back at Camp (01:21:43) Act II (01:29:43) Forgotten Battlefield (01:33:36) RIP (01:35:35) Monoco's Station Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! "This won't make sense to you now, but we both want what's best for our families. I'm sorry you're caught in the middle. But I did try to warn you." Rick and Thrak (The 3DO Experience! and ThrakOps) return to continue their narrative analysis of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33! Episode II covers from the first…

(00:00:00) Tomorrow Comes | Clair Obscure: Expedition 33 Analysis (Ep. 151) (00:08:07) What This Podcast Is (00:09:39) Community Forum (00:13:19) Development (00:24:00) Visuals (00:33:31) Mechanics (00:50:44) Music and Sound (01:06:14) Spoiler Wall Warning (01:08:10) Prologue (01:21:30) The Gommage (01:26:27) Tragedy on the Shore (01:33:19) Gustav's Choice (01:40:35) Closing Thoughts Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! "If you're going to give flowers to someone, you should probably do it before they wither and die." Today, Rick and Thrak (The 3DO Experience! and ThrakOps) begin their analysis of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33! This introductory work from Sandfall Interactive came onto the scene with absolute fervor—and we can tell you upfront that it lives up to the hype. In this episode, we talk at a general level about the game's visuals, mechanics, music, and symbolism, before diving into our…

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! "And when he stared me down, that ghost, I knew he was here to kill me...and why shouldn't he?" A bombastic, emotional, and somewhat messy finale to our Death Stranding analysis is here, as Rick, along with Nick and Will (Friday Night Gamecast, see the story to its completion. Origins revealed, confessions made, and relationships clarified...along with some questionable mechanics and very questionable (but confident) dialogue. Please enjoy! Translated Kojima interview "Death Stranding is a reaction to Trump and Brexit, says Hideo Kojima" National Parks of Japan: Oze's Mighty Bokka Porters Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated! Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR?…

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon!You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! "Everything is true, except for all the lies." The Death Stranding analysis continues. Nick and Will (Friday Night Gamecast) join again to continue through this story of isolation and connection. This episode covers Episode 2 into Episode 7. The possible nefarious intentions of Bridges, Higgs's game plan, writing a character's death, and more. Please enjoy! Translated Kojima interview "Death Stranding is a reaction to Trump and Brexit, says Hideo Kojima" National Parks of Japan: Oze's Mighty Bokka Porters Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated! Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And…

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! "Once there was an explosion. A bang that gave birth to time and space." This week, Rick is joined by Nick and Will (Friday Night Gamecast) to begin their journey through Death Stranding, Hideo Kojima's 2019 project exploring a broken America and the importance of rebuilding. Isolation, interconnectivity, relationships, the importance of a mail system--there are many themes and ideas explored throughout Sam Porter Bridges's journey. In Part I, we discuss the game as a whole in our preliminary conversation, and follow into and through the Prologue and Episode I. The efficacy of writing, naming conventions, a subversion of gameplay expectations - all this and more, just inside. Rick Podman out. National Parks of Japan: Oze's Mighty Bokka Porters Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to…

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! "What is the worth of a replica, a copy of a copy?" This week, Rick is joined by Ben (Play Along Podcast) to discuss Signalis, a 2022 survival horror game that pays homage to the influential PS1 era of the same genre. Signalis is a game that seeks to provoke both feeling and thought, boasting a sprawling narrative that is not interested in giving definitive answers to in-universe lore. As is so often the case, though, these clear-cut answers are anything but the point. Join us as we examine the game's central questions and extrapolate them to our lives off of the screen, discuss aesthetics and vibes, and much more. Please enjoy! VICE interview with Yuri Stern and Barbara Wittmann 2018 interview with Yuri Stern Yuri's Twitter thread on the ending of Signalis Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to…

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! How far would you go to bring back a loved one? This week, Rick is joined by Michael (Bits of Time Podcast) to consider the premise of Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo. Part visual novel, part adventure game, and part mystery thriller, Paranormasight opens with the question at the core of its story: would you resurrect a loved one if you could? If there were no consequences? How far would you go? This Square Enix title does a lot well - take a listen to hear us talk about the OST, the fantastic art style, and the divisive ending. Please enjoy! Interview with Paranormasight creative team Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated! Thank you for listening! Want to reach…

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! Nothing can now be ruined. We are the guests of someone gone. This week, Rick is joined by Chris (1 Hour 1 Decision Podcast) to talk Gris, a 2018 work exploring grief, loss, and acceptance. Though initially unassuming, there's more to Gris than meets the eye. Our conversations focus on two themes: Prescriptivism vs Descriptivism; and that of the title, interpretation being a co-creation between the viewer and creator. Please enjoy! Gris Is A Game About Death (Of The Author) - Max Goldstein Youtuber Robin Walden on Interpretation Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated! Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to…

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! Quest 64 2: Quest Harder. Quest 64 Official joins the show once again to discuss the oft-forgotten Game Boy Color game Quest: Brian's Journey! Sitting as a combination of a sequel to and expanding/demake of Quest 64, Brian's Journey brings the Saga of Melrode to the handheld - and in some ways, shines a bit brighter than its predecessor. Join us to hear the (very brief) dev history, how the games differ from one another, musings on retro soundfonts, and much more. Please enjoy! Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated! Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings…

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! He's not the Messiah, he's a very nau-...wrong Brian, my mistake. This week, Rick is joined by none other than Quest 64 Official to ask once and for all: is the reputation of Quest 64 earned? Is it really such a terrible video game? As you might expect, the answer isn't black and white. Join us as we discuss the game's hurried history, the (very pleasant!) music, what could have been of the story, and more. Please enjoy! Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated! Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly…

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has released, and reviews are glowing. It's rare for a game to excite us in such a way so early in the life cycle...so we had to talk about it. Look forward to a full narrative analysis series coming soon! Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated! Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! "Do you know that Black Panther?" This week's episode is all about The Bouncer, Square's debut 2000 title on the Playstation 2. Along with Phil (Deleted Saves Podcast), we tackle this...ambitious game, top to bottom, encompassing mechanics and narrative. This game is lauded as infamously bad, but is that reputation earned? Take a listen to hear our thoughts on THE BOUNCER. Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated! Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! "The many shall suffer for the sins of the one." This week, Rick is joined by TheDogFacedGamer to discuss The Forgotten City, a 2021 adventure game that grew out of a mod for Skyrim. In The Forgotten City, players find themselves transported to ancient Roman civilization under peculiar circumstances. How did we get here? What's with the gold statues? Meditations on morality, philosophy, and more. Please enjoy! NoClip Documentary Nick Pearce IGN Interview Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated! Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your…

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! This week, Rick is joined by Ryan (List Off Podcast) to discuss Final Fantasy, the place where the series started - for some in the late 80s, and for others in 2025! It's part discussion on how the experience can still feel exciting today, and part reflection on a genre and series that means so much to so many. Please enjoy! Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated! Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! "It’s the kind of thing that makes you glad you stopped and smelled the pine trees along the way, you know?" Rick is joined by Josh (Still Loading Podcast) once again to reach the end of 2019's Outer Wilds. The profundity offered by this game really snuck up on us, and the ending offers a feast of ideas and discussion points with which beautiful conversation can be had. Needless to say, we both love this game. Thank you for sticking around for the full series - please enjoy! Noclip Documentary on The Making of Outer Wilds Interview with composer Andrew Prahlow Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated! Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions,…

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! "The pain of your absence is sharp and haunting, and I would give anything not to know it; anything but never knowing you at all (which would be worse)." The critical analysis of Outer Wilds continues this week as Rick and Josh (Still Loading Podcast) continue through the solar system! In this episode, Giant's Deep, Ember Twin, Brittle Hollow, and the Interloper are explored at length, and insight is gained into the Nomai - how they lived, what they valued, and their untimely fate. This ended up being a terrific discussion that spans not only the game, but how we can extract the lessons into our own lives. Please enjoy! Noclip Documentary on The Making of Outer Wilds Interview with composer Andrew Prahlow Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings…

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also join our free Discord server, or connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, and TikTok! "Seems like only yesterday you joined the space program, and suddenly here you are, leaving on your first solo voyage." This week, Rick is joined by Josh (Still Loading Podcast) to begin a three-part analysis on Outer Wilds, a 2019 adventure game that captivated audiences (and me) with creativity and heart. Taking the role of The Hatchling, players explore a vast - and occasionally hostile - galaxy to gather data on the Nomai, an ancient race that disappeared under unclear circumstances. Mysteries abound, and with themes encompassing existentialism, religion, science, and community, Outer Wilds goes places players may not expect. We're both thrilled to be talking about this game. Please enjoy! Noclip Documentary on The Making of Outer Wilds Interview with composer Andrew Prahlow Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and…