People keep wondering where all the X-Slash-likes have been, and boy do we have news for them. Some great writing about Venba: GameSpot: https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/venba-review-tourist-to-your-own-culture/1900-6418096/AIPT: https://aiptcomics.com/2023/07/31/venba-review-south-indian-culture/ Discussed: Sea of Stars, Shining Force II, Venba, Opus: The Day We Found Earth, Blasphemous II, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon--- Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: http...
Sep 13, 2023•1 hr 27 min•Season 6Ep. 7
Stephen and Brendon take one small step for the Aether, and one giant leap for Bethesda Softworks as they discuss the first new IP from the studio in over twenty years: Starfield. Praise be Todd Howard. Nicole Carpenter's review for Polygon: https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23852522/starfield-review-xbox-series-x-pc-exclusive-bethesda-microsoft Discussed: Starfield, Baldur's Gate 3 for PS5--- Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast ---Fo...
Sep 06, 2023•2 hr 2 min•Season 6Ep. 6
Surprise! Although we were originally planning to take this week off, here's a little convo between Brendon and Christian Spicer of DLC about a newly released game they're both glad exists: Immortals of Aveum. Check out Christian's work at christianspicer.com!--- Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast ---Follow on Threads: https://threads.net/@intothecastFollow on Tumblr: https://intothecast.tumblr.com--- Follow Stephen Hilger: https:/...
Aug 30, 2023•46 min•Season 6Ep. 5
Todd Andrew Howard was born in 1970 in Lower Macungie Township, Pennsylvania, to Ronald (Ron) and Priscilla Howard. His elder brother, Jeffrey Mark (Jeff) Howard, was later the director of creative affairs for Disney, where he oversaw the production of Bambi II. He developed an interest in computers, particularly video games, at a very young age. Howard considers the 1980s role-playing video games Wizardry and Ultima III: Exodus to be inspirations for his future games. Bethesda Softworks eventua...
Aug 23, 2023•1 hr 21 min•Season 6Ep. 4
Hello and welcome to your eye exam. First you're going to have to unfocus your eyes and see if you can beat Vampire Survivors. After that we need to see if you can pick up this fly. After that you're going to play the hot air balloon game, but we won't tell you the rules. Good luck! Games Discussed: 20 Minutes Till Dawn, Before Your Eyes, Remnant 2, Baldur's Gate III --- Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast ---Follow on Threads: http...
Aug 16, 2023•1 hr 38 min•Season 6Ep. 3
Okay now we're REALLY back. It's been a month since recording our Dreamcast episode and two months since our break began, so we have a lot to catch up on. Let's knock it all out in one episode, eh? Games Discussed: Age of Wonders IV, 20 Minutes Till Dawn, Fire Emblem Warriors, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages / Seasons, Viewfinder, Ridiculous Fishing EX, Cassette Beasts, Pikmin, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, Judgement, Street Fighter 6, Final Fantasy IV, Final Fantasy XIV, Final Fantasy XVI, Re...
Aug 09, 2023•3 hr 20 min•Season 6Ep. 2
It's finally here! After a summer break and over one-hundred games, Into the Aether returns for season six with a retrospective on the Sega Dreamcast library! Stephen and Brendon report back with a list of the 30 must-play games for the console in a discussion with producer AJ Fillari before drilling down and creating an ITA Top 5. Thank you all for indulging us after our vacation, but we're so excited to be back! You can find the full list of games discussed here: https://www.backloggd.com/u/br...
Aug 02, 2023•5 hr 20 min•Season 6Ep. 1
Hello! This episode was originally posted to our Patreon in April of 2023 as a way to kick off our journey into the Sega Dreamcast catalogue. We're one week away from the release of our console retrospective, and felt a lot of the information our friend Chris Plante of Polygon and The Besties brought to this episode would in turn make next week's premiere even more interesting! So here's his walkthrough of everything you need to know about the Sega Dreamcast. See you next week!--- Find us everyw...
Jul 26, 2023•2 hr 11 min
Our friend Will LaPorte returns to the show for an almost five-hour discussion about the 2004 GameCube classic Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door. Okay, now we're REALLY gonna take a break. See you again in August, friends! Follow Will: https://ghostdown.bandcamp.com/--- Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast ---Follow on Mastodon: https://theaether.space/@intothecastFollow on Tumblr: https://intothecast.tumblr.com--- Follow Stephen H...
Jun 16, 2023•4 hr 43 min
SEE YOU IN AUGUST...
May 31, 2023•1 hr 30 min•Season 5Ep. 47
Hey! As we mention at the top of the episode, we're going to be taking a break for the summer as a little gift to ourselves for making it five years. We understand this might come as a shock, but it's all to keep us energized and excited for when we come back with the Dreamcast premiere on August 2nd! We'll have another episode next week, then the Paper Mario TTYD bonus in early June. Any% will still hit the Patreon during the sabbatical, along with a few extra bits here and there — so stay tune...
May 24, 2023•1 hr 50 min•Season 5Ep. 46
After years of build-up, we can finally talk about The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for the Nintendo Switch. Discussed: Blinx 2: Masters of Time and Space--- Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast ---Follow on Mastodon: https://theaether.space/@intothecastFollow on Tumblr: https://intothecast.tumblr.com--- Follow Stephen Hilger: https://stephenhilgerart.com/ Follow Brendon Bigley: https://theaether.space/@bb Produced by AJ Fil...
May 17, 2023•2 hr 25 min•Season 5Ep. 45
Greetings citizen. Have you heard of the High Elves? Yes? How about Algot the Northerner? Yes. That's right. THE Northerner. Discussed: Honkai Star Rail, Star Wars Jedi Survivor, Redfall, Laya's Horizon, TMNT: Splintered Fate, RAD, What the Car?, Final Fantasy VI Pixel Remaster, Chained Echoes--- Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast ---Follow on Mastodon: https://theaether.space/@intothecastFollow on Tumblr: https://intothecast.tumbl...
May 10, 2023•2 hr 26 min•Season 5Ep. 44
After receiving a distress signal* from a remote sector in pirate-laden space, we picked up the Metroid Prime Remaster for Nintendo Switch and talked about the whole dang thing and why this twenty-one year old game is still considered one of the best of all time. * watching a Nintendo Direct--- Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast ---Follow on Mastodon: https://theaether.space/@intothecastFollow on Tumblr: https://intothecast.tumblr....
May 08, 2023•1 hr 23 min
"Don't look up," they said. The Force can't help you if you can't look straight forward, grapple with your adversity head on. If you spend your time with your head in the clouds, you won't be able to see your next move. Discussed: Star Wars: Jedi Survivor, Pocket City 2, Honkai Star Rail, Mr. Sun's Hat Box--- Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast ---Follow on Mastodon: https://theaether.space/@intothecastFollow on Tumblr: https://into...
May 03, 2023•1 hr 53 min•Season 5Ep. 43
It's just like they always say: "You can't gave your Wavelengths without finishing your Good Morning Video Games!" Check out Wavelengths: https://www.youtube.com/@itswavelengthsCheck out Y-Button: https://www.ybutton.online Discussed: Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Bootcamp, Divinity Original Sin II, Sonic Frontiers, Marvel vs Capcom 2--- Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast ---Follow on Mastodon: https://theaether.space/@intothecastFollow on T...
Apr 26, 2023•1 hr 47 min•Season 5Ep. 42
>Gollum sees it, a fish wriggling in the river. He wants it, yes. But what if the slimy thing is poisoned, precious? The tummy rumbles, too loud to ignore. He pounces, snatching the fish with his bare hands. The fish squirms, but Gollum holds tight.>Too tight, perhaps? The fish slips and launches out of Gollum’s hands and splishes and splashes back into the river. Gollum hears his tummy like a thunder as he watches his catch dart away downstream. [The fish will remember this, precious.] Spoilers...
Apr 19, 2023•1 hr 59 min•Season 5Ep. 42
It's not Al anymore, it's HUNK. Discussed: The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Valkyria Chronicles, Soul Hackers 2, Resident Evil 4 Remake: Mercenaries Mode, Metroid Prime Remastered --- Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast ---Follow on Mastodon: https://theaether.space/@intothecastFollow on Tumblr: https://intothecast.tumblr.com--- Follow Stephen Hilger: https://stephenhilgerart.com/ Follow Brendon Bigley: https://theaether.space/@bb Produ...
Apr 12, 2023•1 hr 29 min•Season 5Ep. 41
AKA The Assassination of Sonic the Hedgehog by the Coward Shrek Discussed: The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog, Terra Nil, Deus Ex, Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 4 Remake--- Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast ---Follow on Mastodon: https://theaether.space/@intothecastFollow on Tumblr: https://intothecast.tumblr.com--- Follow Stephen Hilger: https://stephenhilgerart.com/ Follow Brendon Bigley: https://theaether.space/@bb Produced by A...
Apr 05, 2023•2 hr 10 min•Season 5Ep. 40
Stephen and Brendon celebrate the life and times of one Mr. Mario with a collection of legendary games for the Super Nintendo: Super Mario All-Stars (and Super Mario World)! --- Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast ---Follow on Mastodon: https://theaether.space/@intothecastFollow on Tumblr: https://intothecast.tumblr.com--- Follow Stephen Hilger: https://stephenhilgerart.com/ Follow Brendon Bigley: https://theaether.space/@bb Produce...
Mar 31, 2023•2 hr 25 min
Exciting new figures from K'NEX! Kids build 'em to add to any K'NEX construction sets. They'll love the strange, Cosmic Invaders and the fearless Blue Crew. And Kids control what the figures look like because they build the figure they want. Unique K'NEX Commanders figures available only in new, out of this world Space sets - Ultrabots and Space Rovers. Collect 'em to get the exclusive colors and combos. Discussed: Pizza Tower, Storyteller, Misericorde, Resident Evil 4 Remake--- Find us everywhe...
Mar 29, 2023•1 hr 26 min•Season 5Ep. 39
xGravy_Boi99x slicks back his hair with a greasy switchblade-turned-comb he always keeps hanging precariously out of his back left jeans pocket before cracking his knuckles loudly in an empty room. As he reaches forwards to gargoyle over his mouse and keyboard, the fabric of his genuine leather jacket squeaks slightly as it slides against the synthetic leather upholstry of a limited edition Genshin Impact branded Iskur gamer chair from Razer. He opens up the Metacritic page of his latest victim ...
Mar 22, 2023•1 hr 43 min•Season 5Ep. 38
Hey everyone! Enjoy this brief sampler of the 3DS bonus episode we recently released on our Patreon. Given the impending eShop closure and the structure of the episode, we thought it would be nice to release this first bit about the history of (and OUR history with) the Nintendo 3DS for everybody — backer or not. You can join the Patreon to hear the rest of the five+ hour discussion here: https://www.patreon.com/intothecastAnd find the full list of games here: https://backloggd.com/u/brendonbigl...
Mar 20, 2023•35 min
Step right up, it's time for a little six.Wait, I mean a little sip.A little sixy. I mean sippy!! Check out Sips here: https://foopod.itch.io/sips Discussed: Mario Kart 8, Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania, Resident Evil 4 Remake's demo, Odin Sphere, Nier Automata, Sips--- Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast---Follow on Mastodon: https://theaether.space/@intothecastFollow on Tumblr: https://intothecast.tumblr.com--- Follow Stephen H...
Mar 15, 2023•1 hr 39 min•Season 5Ep. 37
Do androids dream of electric sheep? Does Mark Zuckerberg play Destiny 2? These questions and more on today's episode of Into the Aether. Discussed: Octopath Traveler II, LA Noire, Destiny 2, Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core — Reunion--- Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast---Follow on Mastodon: https://theaether.space/@intothecastFollow on Tumblr: https://intothecast.tumblr.com--- Follow Stephen Hilger: https://stephenhilgerart.com/ F...
Mar 08, 2023•1 hr 58 min•Season 5Ep. 36
Yo, check it out! There's a whole bunch of swans right in front of us! I've seen some wild stuff in this city, but this is a first. It's like we're in a friggin' storybook or something. You think they got lost or what? Or maybe they're just taking a break from Central Park. Who knows? Only in New York, man. Discussed: Like a Dragon: Ishin!, Wild Hearts, Octopath Traveler II Sleep Buddy: https://sleepbuddy.online--- Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patre...
Mar 01, 2023•1 hr 52 min•Season 5Ep. 35
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is a deeply important video game that Stephen has played a lot and Brendon has played a little. On this very special bonus episode of Into the Aether: They talk about it! Miyamoto's GDC Talk: https://youtu.be/a9DlhDRZ0yA--- Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast---Follow on Mastodon: https://theaether.space/@intothecastFollow on Tumblr: https://intothecast.tumblr.com--- Follow Stephen Hilger: https:...
Feb 28, 2023•3 hr 19 min
Tetris and Katamari Damacy represent two similar but opposing approaches to video game design that emphasize different aspects of gameplay and aesthetics. By scrutinizing where a game falls on this spectrum, we may garner insights into its design and mechanics, as well as its potential impact on players. In this edition of the Into the Aether Audio Experience, we shall delve into this Tetris-to-Katamari spectrum and its implications for game design and player experience, and unravel the mysterie...
Feb 22, 2023•1 hr 28 min•Season 5Ep. 34
Oh man, as a huge fan of Tingle, let me tell you about Tingle Kiwami - it's a game that puts our favorite little green freak right smack in the middle of the Yakuza universe! And let me tell you, it's incredible! The world is super colorful and whimsical, and Tingle's unique personality and magical powers make the game feel like a fresh take on classic Yakuza gameplay. I had a blast using Tingle's dance moves to make friends, solve puzzles, and take down bad guys. Plus, the story is full of bloo...
Feb 15, 2023•1 hr 24 min•Season 5Ep. 33
It's basically September, and there was a Nintendo Direct today.---Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast---Follow on Mastodon: https://theaether.space/@intothecastFollow on Tumblr: https://intothecast.tumblr.com--- Follow Stephen Hilger: https://stephenhilgerart.com/ Follow Brendon Bigley: https://theaether.space/@bb Produced by AJ Fillari: https://theaether.space/@aj---Season 5 Cover Art by Scout Wilkinson: https://scoutwilkinson.myp...
Feb 09, 2023•1 hr 41 min
