In this episode, we'll be chatting about Sonic Origins with Ray Hargreaves from 2P START! As a long-time Sonic the Hedgehog fan, Ray has some interesting opinions and trivia about this most recent re-release of the original games. And as long-time 2P START fans, we were thrilled to get the chance to record with Ray as well. We hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it! Check out Ray's webcomic and podcast on 2Pstart.com ! Contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gm...
Aug 22, 2022•36 min•Ep. 40
*Special thanks to Playtonic Friends for the review code!* This week we are review-discussing Blossom Tales II: The Minotaur Prince on Nintendo Switch! This action-adventure indie title brings back nostalgic memories for us of classic 2D Zelda titles, but does it do enough on its own to stand out? Take a listen, and stick around to the end to hear about Marcus’s adventures in Seoul! Purchase Blossom Tales II here: https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/blossom-tales-ii-the-minotaur-prince-switc...
Aug 16, 2022•23 min•Ep. 39
After finally finishing Horizon: Forbidden West, I find myself feeling just a bit torn on it. Join me, Jared, this week for my general thoughts on the game, as well as the existential crisis I now find myself in. MUSIC: Horizon Forbidden West - Official Soundtrack Purchase or listen to it here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1tFZ7JRXgQpyT1Rgl1JGrD If you want your comments read on the show, you can message us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! You can also reach us on Twitter: https:...
Aug 08, 2022•10 min•Ep. 38
Today we’re delighted to have Joseph (AKA GamerWhoShoe) filling in as a co-host to discuss “Stray! This is the new sort-of-indie sort-of-AAA game where you play as a cute little cat. Together we’ll discuss how it plays, its approach to storytelling, and whether or not it turned us into cat people. You can follow Joseph on twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/gamerwhoshoe MUSIC: Softy x Lucid Green “Overnight” Provided by Lofi Girl - Watch: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kkrPM1K3-sU78G8...
Aug 01, 2022•27 min•Ep. 37
We're taking a break this week, but Jared was recently on another really excellent podcast - the First Player Token! It's a great short-form podcast about board games to play with family and friends, hosted by Derek Bruff. Jared was on the most recent episode all about Takenoko, which we share a sample today, but you can check out the full episode HERE: https://derekbruff.org/blogs/firstplayertoken/episode-27-takenoko/ The First Player Token podcast is also on all major podcasting platforms. You...
Jul 23, 2022•4 min
Neon White is a new indie game with a focus on speedrunning and a story that exudes teen edginess… and it works! This is Jared's review of this blast of a title on Steam and Nintendo Switch. If you want your comments read on the show, you can message us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! You can also reach us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LvlWithUs -- Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 0:47 - The Gameplay 4:20 - The Graphics 5:12 - The Story 8:27 - Final Thoughts 9:12 - Outro...
Jul 18, 2022•10 min•Ep. 36
While Marcus is out and abroad, Jared is here to share his thoughts on an early press demo for "The Outbound Ghost," an indie RPG coming out later this year! With some Paper Mario inspirations here and there, this game looks to be a more classic RPG than one might first expect. Special thanks to Conradical Games for sending us the demo code. You can wishlist the Outbound Ghost HERE: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1276810/The_Outbound_Ghost/ And if you want to follow its development, be sure ...
Jul 11, 2022•12 min•Ep. 35
COWABUNGA! Jared’s been a lifelong TMNT fan, so after hearing the heaps of praise “Shredder’s Revenge” has been getting, we decided to cover it on the show! Does this old-school beat-em-up freshen the formula enough to win our hearts? Or is it just a bit too archaic to appeal to us? Also included this episode: Marcus writes turtle-themed rap lyrics! Send us questions and comments that you want read on the show at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! You can also reach us on Twitter: https://...
Jul 01, 2022•29 min•Ep. 34
After years of avoiding PC gaming, we've finally compromised and invested in a Steam Deck! Join us for a casual review discussion all about what we think of the system, including our favorite games on it, and of course some quick jabs as well! Send us questions and comments that you want read on the show at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! You can also reach us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LvlWithUs
Jun 20, 2022•19 min•Ep. 33
Grab some shades and a fruity drink because it's summertime! This week It's Jared's turn to be stumped as Marcus quizzes him on various tropical video game locations! How many can you guess correctly? Send us questions and comments that you want read on the show at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! You can also reach us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LvlWithUs Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro / The Rules 1:44 - Vacation Review #1 2:44 - Vacation Review #2 4:19 - Vacation Review #3 5:48 - Vacatio...
Jun 13, 2022•18 min•Ep. 32
Part Zelda-like, part Souls-like, Tunic is a game where you play as an adorable Fox on an adventure full of secrets and difficult combat scenarios! Perhaps the most unique thing about this game is the in-game guide you unlock over time, which we talk about at length in today’s episode! Join us for a cozy discussion about this cozy little game, and listen to Jared’s voice slowly deteriorate throughout it! A very special thank you to OctopusDeathPunch.com for sponsoring today’s episode! Tunic is a...
Jun 06, 2022•23 min•Ep. 31
Jared's at it again, trying to make Marcus question his sanity with some difficult quiz questions! This week, in honor of the Steam Deck's release, we read some of the descriptions from "shovelware" titles on the Steam store, just to see how ridiculous lesser-known titles on the platform can get. But! Some of the descriptions are deliberately fake ones made up by Jared. Can you tell which ones are real and which ones are fake? And can you do it better than Marcus did? Let us know! Send us questi...
May 30, 2022•16 min•Ep. 30
Review code provided by Crows Crows Crows! The Stanley Parable has been re-released as an “Ultra Deluxe” edition, but does it still have the same impact today as it did back in 2013? We’re hear to discuss it and let you know if it’s worth your time! "The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe" is available on all platforms. Purchase here: https://www.stanleyparable.com/ The music you heard in this episode comes from “The Stanley Parable” and also Lofi Girl: Listen: bit.ly/lofigirI-playlists Album used: -...
May 23, 2022•17 min•Ep. 29
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is an incredibly beloved game to so many people. We’ve reached out to some of its biggest fans to talk about the game and share their favorite chapters with us! Check out the YouTube version of our retrospective HERE: https://youtu.be/5vZrLdaxXSE ...and if you've already seen it, you can skip ahead to our post-show commentary at 13:17! Thanks to all our Participants! Nintendrew: https://www.youtube.com/c/Nintendrew RogersBase: https://www.youtube.com/c/RogersB...
May 14, 2022•24 min•Ep. 28
YouTube Version HERE: https://youtu.be/O3e5xAqcYQs Jared pulls a fast one on Marcus this episode and tries to get him to name certain characters in Elden Ring - AND guess their backstories! Despite having never played or looked up the game, how well do you think Marcus will do? Will you fare any better? Play along and let us know! Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 0:33 - Challenge Revealed 1:14 - The Rules 2:41 - Character #1 4:05 - Backstory #1 6:35 - Character #2 7:26 - Backstory #2 9:35 - Character #3...
May 03, 2022•23 min•Ep. 27
This week we talk about Acid Nerve's new indie release Death's Door! In this game you play as an adorable crow, and we appreciate that. Join us for another classic episode with all the usual segments, as well as some crow facts and book recommendations! Send us questions and comments that you want read on the show at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! You can also reach us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LvlWithUs -- Most of the music featured in this episode comes from composer David Fenn...
Apr 28, 2022•22 min•Ep. 26
We're back for another round, this time to see who's the fakest fan of the Zelda series! This time we're playing "Name That Tune," and you can play along! Both of us will play 10 music tracks from 10 different mainline Zelda games; you score 1 point for guessing the game correctly, and an additional point if you can also name where in the game that track plays. Will you score higher than either of us? Let us know! Contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! You can also reach us on Tw...
Apr 11, 2022•29 min•Ep. 25
This week we are very honored to have Matthew Taranto ( Brawl in the Family & Tadpole Treble ) on the show to discuss Kirby's newest game! We're bringing back all our classic segments like Star Pieces and Quick Jabs, and even compete with Matthew to see who's the fakest Kirby fan. Stick around to the end of the episode to hear about Matthew's newest book, "Gamemaster Classified!" To learn more about Gamemaster Classified, take a look at its Kickstarter page!: https://www.kickstarter.com/proj...
Apr 05, 2022•31 min•Ep. 24
In this mini-sode, Marcus regales us with tales from his time in San Francisco at GDC 2022! Join us as we listen discuss what it was like to network with people in the games industry, nab free swag at the expo, play video games using ketchup and mustard bottles, and even meet someone we've discussed in a previous episode! Contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! You can also reach us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LvlWithUs
Mar 30, 2022•13 min•Ep. 23
It's our show, but this time we only included the best segment! This episode Jared and Marcus are going toe-to-toe to see who's the fake fan this week. Expect all sorts of trivia questions, bad puns, and even a "Name That Sound Effect" challenge! The stakes are high - will their friendship survive? It's time to find out... Contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! You can also reach us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LvlWithUs ---- "Um, Actually..." YouTube channel (language warning...
Mar 21, 2022•42 min•Ep. 22
We've got a slew of things to discuss this week, beginning with Jared taking first place in the Mina the Hollower art competition! It was such a honor to participate! After that we're spotlighting a charity games bundle, the sales of which will assist the victims of the conflict in Ukraine. Then, we've got some stray thoughts on Risk of Rain 2. As always, thanks for Leveling With Us! Mina the Hollower Art Contest Results: https://www.yachtclubgames.com/blog/mina-the-hollower-art-contest-results ...
Mar 14, 2022•20 min•Ep. 21
Nintendo-WHO? It’s all about SONY now, baby! This week we’ve finally ventured outside our comfort-zone to play and chat about some Playstation games! We'll go over some of the biggest exclusives on the PS4 and PS5, including Horizon Zero Dawn, Ghost of Tsushima, and Returnal. Fair warning: this is a loosely edited episode compared to what we usually produce, but while we don't do our regular segments this time, we do manage to slip in some Quick Jabs. Also, weirdly juicy sound effects! Special t...
Mar 07, 2022•50 min•Ep. 20
We don't have a regular episode today, mainly because Jared... did a thing! And he wants your feedback on it! This week we're sharing a short preview of an audio play he produced for the "Mina The Hollower" Art Contest (with music by Marcus!). If you want to hear the full version of Jared's art contest submission, you can find it here: https://youtu.be/Na7mnjfhb4o We'll be back next week with an extra-long episode, so until then, we'll Level With You next time!
Feb 28, 2022•4 min
Steel Thy Shovel! We've been on a Yacht Club Games kick lately, so we thought it'd be worth checking out their recent release! This game seems to put the action in action/puzzle game, and it hooked us way more than we expected! Join us for a cozy discussion on our favorite characters, a math-y trivia question, and even some thoughts on the new Cuphead Show! Send us questions and comments that you want read on the show at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! You can also reach us on Twitter: ...
Feb 21, 2022•25 min•Ep. 19
Happy Valentine's Day! In a day all about celebrating our relationships with people close to us, what better game to check out than the award-winning It Takes Two? And, once again, this week we've got another special guest host! Join Jared and his wife Mariah as they discuss how brutally tearing apart stuffed animals can actually maybe make you grow closer as a couple? Send us questions and comments that you want read on the show at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! You can also reach us ...
Feb 14, 2022•21 min•Ep. 18
We may be enjoying Pokémon Legends: Arceus, but what about a verified Pokémon veteran? Well, let's ask one!! This week Jared interviews special guest (and game developer!) Hyrum about his thoughts on Arceus's new battle system, what Nuzlockes could potentially look like, and a brand new kickstarter that was just revealed! If you want your comments read on the show, you can message us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! You can also reach us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LvlWithUs -- Mi...
Feb 07, 2022•21 min•Ep. 17
We're back! Everyone seems to be loving Pokémon Legends: Arceus, but does it resonate with us? Join us for a cozy chat about our first impressions of the game, the sound Kricketune makes, and maybe even a tangent about Jared's favorite fast food restaurant. If you want your comments read on the show, you can message us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! You can also reach us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LvlWithUs -- Marcus's Radio Drama "Reverse Speak": https://anchor.fm/thefirelight...
Jan 31, 2022•23 min•Ep. 16
Curl up by the fire and enjoy some holiday cheer as we reflect on the games that made 2021 so great! While not every game on our list may have come out this year, these are the ones that we experienced for the first time - and left a lasting impression on us. Let us know what your favorite games of the year were by writing us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail.com! Stay safe and happy holidays! You can also reach us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LvlWithUs -- Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 0:37 - This ...
Dec 20, 2021•28 min•Ep. 15
Professor, this reminds me of a puzzle! Welcome to our retrospective of the Professor Layton series - our biggest episode yet! Featuring special guest Bob from DearestHershel, a venerable Professor Layton expert, join us as we discuss the series' high points, low points, and every game and spin-off in-between! DearestHershel's YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/dearesthershel If you have thoughts you'd like featured in our regular discussions, just e-mail us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail.co...
Dec 13, 2021•56 min•Ep. 14
...Marcus? MARCUS?! Oh, that's right, he's on break! This week, Jared's flying solo to discuss the new Pokemon remakes. Are they a welcome blast of nostalgia? Or should they even exist? Let's talk about it, and while we're at it, let's also discuss a very similar game: 2018's God of War. If you want your comments read on the show, you can message us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! You can also reach us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LvlWithUs -- Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 0:58 - TLDR ...
Dec 06, 2021•12 min•Ep. 13
