Xbox One – Left Behind Game Club

February 26, 2020

0

081: Batman: The Telltale Series (Episode 5 – City of Light)

By Left Behind Game Club | PODCAST | No Comments

Gotham becomes uncaged in Batman: The Telltale Series (Episode 5). Will it become re-caged?

Developer: Telltale Games | Publisher: Telltale Games | Initial Release Date: December 13, 2016

Jacob, Mike and Moe face off with their remaining foes, make weighty choices about body parts and look to fix all of Gotham’s issues.

Players: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt), Mike Ruffolo (@ruffolom) & Moe Murtadi (@mmurtadi)

Web: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub

SHOW NOTES:

2:05 Recap of Episode 4’s Endings
Episode 5 Thoughts:
- 2:25 Chapter 1: Loose Ends & Chapter 2: Revelations (Penguin)
- 9:30 Chapter 1: Loose Ends & Chapter 2: Revelations (Harvey Dent)
- 20:10 Chapter 3: On The Trail
- 25:10 Chapter 4: The Legacy
- 33:10 Chapter 5: Executive Decision
- 42:45 Chapter 6: A New Day in Gotham
47:55 What style of Batman were we?
51:10 Our final thoughts about Episode 5 and the whole series

NEXT SHOWS:

Gato Roboto w/ Jacob, Moe and special guests Arsene Lakpa and Joseph Hooper from the Player Player Podcast: March 4th
Broken Age w/ Jacob and special guests Katie Lesperance, Travis Colenutt and Jessica Fantauzzo: March 18th

DISCORD: The Left Behind Game Club is a monthly game club podcast with a focus on positivity & community. To talk to members of the community, join our Discord server!

TIP JAR: If you’re feeling generous and love the show, we have a PayPal tip jar! Any funds raised will go towards hosting our site and paying for games and equipment as we look to bring you higher quality content every month.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | TuneIn | RSS | More

February 19, 2020

0

080: Batman: The Telltale Series (Episode 4 – Guardian of Gotham)

By Left Behind Game Club | PODCAST | No Comments

We stan Troy Baker in Batman: The Telltale Series (Episode 4).

Developer: Telltale Games | Publisher: Telltale Games | Initial Release Date: November 22, 2016

Jacob, Mike and Moe rage at civilians, meet a new friend and finally get a W in these trying times.

Players: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt), Mike Ruffolo (@ruffolom) & Moe Murtadi (@mmurtadi)

Web: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub

SHOW NOTES:

2:15 Recap of Episode 3’s Cliffhanger Ending
Episode 4 Thoughts:
- 2:40 Chapter 1 – Price of Admission
- 6:00 Chapter 2 – A Serious House
- Chapter 3 – Home Sweet Home
  - 15:25 The Checkpoint
  - 23:15 The Vale Home
- 34:55 Chapter 4 – Back to Business
- 38:50 Chapter 5 – Another Night in the Office
- Chapter 6 – The Good, The Bat and The Ugly
  - 49:55 Wayne Enterprises Route
  - 54:10 Wayne Manor Route

NEXT SHOWS:

Batman: The Telltale Series Episode 5: February 26th
Gato Roboto: March 4th
Broken Age: March 18th

DISCORD: The Left Behind Game Club is a monthly game club podcast with a focus on positivity & community. To talk to members of the community, join our Discord server!

TIP JAR: If you’re feeling generous and love the show, we have a PayPal tip jar! Any funds raised will go towards hosting our site and paying for games and equipment as we look to bring you higher quality content every month.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | TuneIn | RSS | More

April 24, 2019

0

061: Cuphead

By Left Behind Game Club | PODCAST | No Comments

We died thousands of times in Cuphead.

Developer: StudioMDHR | Publisher: StudioMDHR| Release Date: September 29, 2017

Jacob, Mike and special guest Shane Chiasson make a deal with the devil, roll the dice, hold down “X” for many hours and get frustrated by the youth.

Join our Discord server! Go to LeftBehindGame.Club and scroll down to the Discord section of the homepage! If you love the show, please consider a review on iTunes. It helps a lot.

Players: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt) and Michael Ruffolo (@ruffolom)

Special Guests: Shane Chiasson (@chiassoo; check out his YouTube channel)

Website: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub

Show Notes (spoilers):

2:00 What system did you play Cuphead on?
2:30 Re-mapping the controls [Cuphead tips: How to fix the controls (Polygon)]
3:40 Shout-out to old cartoons (Betty Boop, Tom & Jerry and Looney Tunes)
4:45 Cuphead and many E3s
6:00 Shout-out to Bendy and the Ink Machine and a Zombie Walt Disney
6:25 Mike makes us feel old with his “Cuphead Cousin” and Jacob rage quits life
8:00 Boss Run/Boss Rush games that we have played (shout-outs to Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Castle Crashers and Mega Man X) & Studio MDHR’s influences
10:30 Did we like this game?
12:25 The game’s setup
13:50 Run & Gun and the “Simple” difficulty level
15:00 Power-up/weapon discussions and plane levels
20:20 Our brain solved the tough levels (Jacob enjoys punishment)
23:20 Back to power-up discussions
25:50 The moment Jacob realized that Cuphead is a good video game [Cuphead, Ruiner, and the joy of really hard games (Verge)]
32:30 We get to King Dice and breakdown this insane boss fight [Cuphead boss guide: King Dice in ‘All Bets Are Off’ (Polygon)]
35:10 Tipsy Troop, Chips Bettigan and Mr. Wheezy
37:20 Pip and Dot, Hocus Pocus and Phear Lap
40:10 Who died the most in Cuphead?
42:15 The Devil’s Choice
44:30 Would the game better with a Switch controller [Yup, Cuphead Is Better On the Switch. Here’s Why. (Paste Magazine)]
46:15 Pirouletta, Mangosteen and Mr. Chimes
50:45 Perfect dice parrying
52:40 The Devil and other boss talk
59:05 “It’s a real castle?” and Cuphead 2
1:00:25 Wrap-up

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | TuneIn | RSS | More

February 27, 2019

0

057: SOMA

By Left Behind Game Club | PODCAST | No Comments

We question mankind’s remaining humanity in SOMA.

Developer: Frictional Games | Publisher: Frictional Games | Release Date: September 22, 2015

Jacob, Moe and special guest Jessica Fantauzzo look through everyone’s personal effects, dodge monsters, curl up into the fetal position and question everyone’s motives. Also, we flip a coin.

Join our Discord server! Go to LeftBehindGame.Club and scroll down to the Discord section of the homepage! If you love the show, please consider a review on iTunes. It helps a lot.

Players: Moe Murtadi (@mmurtadi) and Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt)

Special Guest: Jessica Fantauzzo (@jfant)

Website: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub

Show Notes (spoilers):

3:00 The origins of SOMA
8:30 SOMA’s Toronto connection
9:15 A very explicit spoiler warning…
10:10 Simon Jarrett’s start in Toronto
12:00 The brain scan
14:40 The physicality in the game (and Edward Scissorhands)
18:30 What do you mean… they can use doors (like Resident Evil 2’s Mr. X)?
21:20 The first enemy and friendly encounter
26:45 Carl Semken and moral choice
29:25 First contact with Catherine Chun and her “heavenly robotic voice” aka “Pokedex Catherine”
31:05 The room floods… and we question everything…
33:35 Meeting Catherine
37:15 Where we are, what happened to Earth
39:50 Moe made so many notes
41:40 The ARK
44:25 The WAU
46:00 Sarah Lindwall
54:45 “A brand new you”
1:00:50 “Flip a coin”
1:03:35 The “cat buttholes” scattered throughout the game, structure gel and Dr. Johan Ross
1:09:00 Walking on the ocean floor is super dope
1:11:00 Moe wants a kick or a punch in this game (and we sneak in some anime)
1:16:00 Finding Catherine and the final sequence of the game
1:21:20 The ARK survey
1:25:30 The “mirror moment”
1:27:10 The WAU’s end was disappointing
1:29:50 The Left Behind Quiz Corner
1:36:00 Wrap-up

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | TuneIn | RSS | More

February 13, 2019

0

056: Crackdown

By Left Behind Game Club | PODCAST | No Comments

We jump for joy (and orbs) in Crackdown.

Developer: Realtime Worlds | Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios | Release Date: February 20, 2007

Mike and Jacob run very quickly on the streets of Pacific City, shoot so many rockets and kick each other in the face in the pursuit of the greater good.

Join our Discord server! Go to LeftBehindGame.Club and scroll down to the Discord section of the homepage! If you love the show, please consider a review on iTunes. It helps a lot.

Players: Michael Ruffolo (@ruffolom) and Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt)

Website: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub

Show Notes (spoilers):

1:45 Michael starts with the Halo 3 connection
2:50 Game Informer’s thoughts about the game echo our own
3:55 What is Crackdown, Agent?
7:15 Skills for Kills, Agent? No… good load-outs.
9:45 Who is David Jones, Agent?
12:45 Prototype vs. Crackdown
14:00 What do you like most about Crackdown, Agent?
14:45 ORBS!
17:30 A standout boss battle with Olga Romanov
19:45 Michael and Jacob talk about their favorite open-world games
24:15 Cut-scenes and story bits in the game
26:20 Crackdown 2
28:40 “So much of this game is dumb”, including the ending
32:00 The Crackdown co-op experience
36:00 Jacob and Mike play a game of “This or That”
39:00 Jacob brings up Breakdown
42:25 Crackdown 3 and final thoughts

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | TuneIn | RSS | More

January 23, 2019

0

055: Ori and the Blind Forest

By Left Behind Game Club | PODCAST | One Comment

We air dash, double jump and float out of harm’s way in Ori and the Blind Forest.

Developer: Moon Studios | Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios | Release Date: March 11, 2015

Mike, Jacob and special guest Nick O’Hagan-Wong get caressed by the game’s wonderful art and music, died over a thousand times collectively and enter the Left Behind Quiz Corner for the first time. Do they exit? Listen to the end to find out!

Join our Discord server! Go to LeftBehindGame.Club and scroll down to the Discord section of the homepage! If you love the show, please consider a review on iTunes. It helps a lot.

Players: Michael Ruffolo (@ruffolom) and Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt)

Special Guest: Nick O’Hagan-Wong

Website: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub

Show Notes (spoilers):

2:00 What is a Metroidvania game?
3:00 The Rabbids invade the Left Behind Game Club
3:20 The story of Ori and the Blind Forest and the name game
5:55 Ori is Jesus and Sein is the Holy Spirit?
6:40 The upgrade tree
8:25 Who died the most through their playthrough?
10:45 How about that jump?
11:55 Jacob shares Alex Newhouse’s description of Ori and the Blind Forest
12:35 Airborn Studios does stuff for everyone [Twitter]
13:40 The crew talks about their favourite upgrades
16:25 The gravity puzzles
19:55 Using Soul Links well
21:35 A Dark Souls comparison and other Metroidvania games
23:45 This game looks so good.
26:05 “Jacob’s gonna hate this.”
29:20 What about the story and the characters?
32:15 A Legend of Zelda connection?
33:15 The game’s language
34:05 Jacob brings in Home Alone 2 (somehow)
35:25 Nick got fired up by the difficulty
38:05 Mount Horu was tough
42:00 Escaping Kuro again and the final sequence of the game
46:00 The crew enters the Left Behind Quiz Corner
49:20 Our final thoughts about Ori and the Blind Forest
50:40 The podcast was nominated for three awards at the Canadian Podcast Awards!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | TuneIn | RSS | More

January 9, 2019

0

054: Shadow Complex

By Left Behind Game Club | PODCAST | One Comment

Developer: Chair Entertainment in association with Epic Games | Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios | Release Date: August 19, 2009

Mike, Moe and special guest Kevin Reaburn stomp around a secret military base throwing grenades at every Metal Gear…. i mean…. “mech” they see.

Join our Discord server! Go to LeftBehindGame.Club and scroll down to the Discord section of the homepage! If you love the show, please consider a review on iTunes. It helps a lot.

Players: Michael Ruffolo (@ruffolom) and Moe Murtadi (@mmurtadi)

Special Guest: Kevin Reaburn

Website: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub

Show Notes (spoilers):

3:00 Metroid/Castlevania similarities
4:20 What is this game? Do we find the Vice-President?
6:52 This story isn’t as good as we were expecting.
9:00 The mechanics of targeting
10:15 Small game? But didn’t Epic Games make it?
12:45 More Fortnite
13:50 Kevin tries to dig into his issues with the game
15:50 How did this get built secretly? There were definitely Instagram and Snapchat leaks
20:50 Weapons were OP; grenades killed everything
26:00 MOE READS (in real life only)!
27:20 MIKE PROVEN WRONG!
31:30 What part of the suit was your favorite?
38:30 The guys cringe
41:00 The ending and story were so random?
43:10 What was Xbox Live Arcade and how did it effect development
46:30 Our final thoughts, is it a great game, should you leave it behind?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | TuneIn | RSS | More

December 26, 2018

0

053: Costume Quest: Grubbins on Ice (DLC)

By Left Behind Game Club | PODCAST | No Comments

We make sure that our Yeti costume doesn’t shrink in the dryer and enter the world of Repugia for Costume Quest: Grubbins on Ice.

Developer: Double Fine Productions | Publisher: THQ, Double Fine Productions and Dracogen (PC) | Release Date: December 21, 2010

Jacob, Mike, Moe and special guest Shay Whiston collect dandy candy and stamps, tell terribly good Dad jokes and lure people away from their relaxing getaways with French Fry smell.

Join our Discord server! Go to LeftBehindGame.Club and scroll down to the Discord section of the homepage! If you love the show, please consider a review on iTunes. It helps a lot.

Players: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt), Michael Ruffolo (@ruffolom) and Moe Murtadi (@mmurtadi)

Special Guest: Shay Whiston (@ShaelynTai)

Website: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub

Show Notes (spoilers):

1:40 The crew welcomes Shay to the show and we talk a little bit about her gaming habits (like Pokemon, Fallout 3)
3:55 What is Costume Quest: Grubbins on Ice?
5:15 Moe didn’t play the base game, just the DLC
7:40 Shay shares her love of Double Fine and Psychonauts
10:40 Could you play Grubbins on Ice before the main game?
14:30 We go deep on the costumes in Grubbins on Ice
19:00 What were your ideal loadouts?
23:40 Losing to start the game and a difficulty spike to end the game
27:40 Using the French Fry costume
30:15 Beating the final boss (Araxia and Big Bones)
34:10 Jacob shares some details about Amnesia Fortnight and how it ties into Costume Quest and Stacking
36:40 The writing in Costume Quest: Grubbins on Ice
39:15 Bobbing for eyeballs?
40:10 A Costume Quest cartoon?
42:05 The PC version that almost didn’t happen
43:00 Is Grubbins on Ice a Christmas game?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | TuneIn | RSS | More

October 17, 2018

0

046: SUPERHOT

By Left Behind Game Club | PODCAST | No Comments

We unload clips and slice and dice our way through SUPERHOT… SUPERHOT.

Developer: Superhot Team | Publisher: Superhot Team | Release Date: February 25, 2016

Jacob, Mike and Moe control time and space and are entrusted with weapons.

Join our Discord server! Go to LeftBehindGame.Club and scroll down to the Discord section of the homepage! If you love the show, please consider a review on iTunes. It helps a lot.

Players: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt), Michael Ruffolo (@ruffolom) and Moe Murtadi (@mmurtadi)

Website: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub

Show Notes (spoilers):

3:50 Is Superhot the best VR Game?
5:40 Jacob goes dark
6:10 What is this game like?
9:40 Jacob realizes he is a badass
11:00 We can’t decide if this is a super easy game or super challenging game.
13:55 SUPERHOT is a little aggresive
16:00 SUPERHOT SUPERHOT
17:45 Mike identifies SUPERHOT’s cake
20:45 We realize we are not in control
24:20 Are we special, Who are we?
25:18 Mike found hidden terminals
26:30 The game’s toughest question
27:40 Jacob loses compassion and doesn’t realize it
30:00 We begin to question our decisions in video games
33:00 Gunshot prediction and “storm trooper aim”
35:00 Mike shows us the value of jumping in SUPERHOT
38:10 Moe feels uncomfortable shooting people in video games for once
40:50 Our favourite missions
43:45 What the hell happens at the end of the game
46:30 Mike played the extra levels and demos
49:10 We are excited to try out the VR version of the game

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | TuneIn | RSS | More

October 3, 2018

0

045: What Remains of Edith Finch

By Left Behind Game Club | PODCAST | One Comment

We climb our family tree (literally and figuratively) in What Remains of Edith Finch.

Developer: Giant Sparrow | Publisher: Annapurna Interactive | Release Date: April 25, 2017

Jacob, Mike and Moe crawl through doggy doors, chase birds, swing and hide in bunkers.

Join our Discord server! Go to LeftBehindGame.Club and scroll down to the Discord section of the homepage! If you love the show, please consider a review on iTunes. It helps a lot.

Players: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt), Michael Ruffolo (@ruffolom) and Moe Murtadi (@mmurtadi)

Website: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub

Show Notes (spoilers):

2:10 A warning about What Remains of Edith Finch
3:30 Moe makes a surprising proclamation about this game
4:10 What is a walking simulator?
6:15 Why are we playing What Remains of Edith Finch?
7:10 Jacob accidentally spoiled the game for Mike
9:40 The opening of What Remains of Edith Finch
11:50 The Finch’s house
13:40 Introduction to the game’s narrator, Edith Finch
15:20 Entering the house
17:10 Jacob brings up Matilda, The Curious Case Benjamin Button and The Pagemaster
18:30 We introduce the structure of the game and start with the story of Molly Finch
21:20 Cats, owls, sharks and sea monsters
26:30 The game’s toughest question
29:00 Odin Finch and the history of the Finch family
32:00 Calvin Finch
35:00 Barbara Finch
37:00 Moe compares this section to Telltale’s The Walking Dead and Jacob brings up XIII, Killer7 and Madworld
39:35 Walter Finch
43:30 Jacob compares this section to the Beginner’s Guide
44:00 We looked down
46:10 Sam Finch
51:45 Gregory Finch
54:30 Gus Finch
57:00 Milton Finch
59:20 Mike connects this game to Unfinished Swan
1:00:35 Lewis Finch
1:08:00 Content warning (suicide and self-harm)
1:09:45 End of content warning
1:10:05 The beginning of the end (of the story)
1:13:30 Wait… who is Edith talking to?
1:15:15 Jacob… the game has to come full circle!
1:17:00 Moe brings it back to Lord of the Rings
1:17:45 The crew wraps it up
1:21:00 A question from the Ludonarrative Podcast
1:25:05 We announce our next game: Superhot

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | TuneIn | RSS | More

August 8, 2018

0

039: Hitman Part 3 [Sapienza]

By Left Behind Game Club | PODCAST | No Comments

We break out our summer suits and travel to Sapienza in Hitman: Episode 2.

Developer: IO Interactive | Publisher: Square Enix, Feral Interactive (Linux, macOS) & Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (Definitive Edition) | Release Date: April 26, 2016

Jacob, Mike and Moe continued to use their preferred killing methods, smothered people with pillows, destroyed viruses, threw gas cylinders down chimneys and killed everyone.

Join our Discord server! Go to LeftBehindGame.Club and scroll down to the Discord section of the homepage! If you love the show, please consider a review on iTunes. It helps a lot.

Players: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt), Michael Ruffolo (@ruffolom) and Moe Murtadi (@mmurtadi)

Website: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub

Show Notes (spoilers):

2:30 Mike reminds us where we left off
3:30 Diana Burnwood provides our mission briefing
5:15 Mike gives us some additional information
7:20 Moe starts with the therapist
11:30 Moe plots his path to Dr. Francesca De Santis
15:35 Jacob employs the “Sous Chef” method
20:05 Jacob discovers the attic
22:25 Jacob is an innovator
24:05 Jacob now must destroy the virus
29:15 The “Hand-Crafted Killer” begins his playthrough
34:10 Mike loads up
35:30 Mike finds a flower delivery truck
38:10 Moe wants answers about Agent 47’s Instinct Mode
39:15 Mike’s in the basement!
43:05 Mike and Jacob compare star ratings
45:50 Jacob asks for tips on getting better at Hitman

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | TuneIn | RSS | More

August 1, 2018

0

038: Hitman Part 2 [Paris]

By Left Behind Game Club | PODCAST | No Comments

We put on a great tuxedo and prepare for Parisian fashion in Hitman: Episode 1.

Developer: IO Interactive | Publisher: Square Enix, Feral Interactive (Linux, macOS) & Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (Definitive Edition) | First Release Date: March 11, 2016

Jacob, Mike and Moe trespass, contemplate the best type of poison for our enemies, ride helicopters and throw bodies off of ledges.

Join our Discord server! Go to LeftBehindGame.Club and scroll down to the Discord section of the homepage! If you love the show, please consider a review on iTunes. It helps a lot.

Players: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt), Michael Ruffolo (@ruffolom) and Moe Murtadi (@mmurtadi)

Website: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub

Show Notes (spoilers):

2:05 A quick warning before we jump in
2:25 Diana Burnwood provides our mission briefing
4:15 We prepare for the mission
6:05 Moe describes his approach
9:10 Jacob explains the differences between types of poison
11:15 We get into the different warning levels
13:35 The first introduction to Helmut Kruger
14:20 Jacob describes his personal “Kruger Method”
17:20 Moe, Dalia Margolis & The Guest of Honor
20:35 Jacob continues describing his method for killing Dalia…
23:05 …and then gets Victor in a “screwy” way
27:20 Moe talks about alternate methods for getting Victor
28:35 Mike describes his Keys to Success
32:25 Mike explains what you actually do with coins
35:05 Mike meets up with Dalia and helps her get to sleep
36:15 Mike makes a delicious Bare Knuckle Boxer for Victor
38:30 A four-star victory for Mike
41:05 Shoutout to Hitsmas, elusive targets and final thoughts (correction: for Elusive Targets, once you accomplish one objective, you only get one shot from there)
43:25 The Glacier Engine

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | TuneIn | RSS | More

April 4, 2018

0

028: Tomb Raider (2013)

By Left Behind Game Club | PODCAST | No Comments

We raid some tombs and discover our inner Lara Croft in Tomb Raider (2013).

Developer: Crystal Dynamics with Eidos Montreal (Multiplayer), Nixxes (Next-Gen Console Ports), Feral Interactive (Mac/Linux Ports) and Square Visual Works (CGI) | Publisher: Square Enix | Release Date: March 5, 2013

Jacob, Mike, Moe and Special Guest Kevin Reaburn travel to the Dragon’s Triangle, reminisce about TressFX and miss spring game sales by two days.

You can now join our Discord server! Go to LeftBehindGame.Club and scroll down to the Discord section of the homepage! We launch our God of War (2005) episode on April 18th.

Players: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt), Michael Ruffolo (@ruffolom) and Moe Murtadi (@mmurtadi)

Special Guest: Kevin Reaburn (@ATribeCalledKev)

Website: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub

Show Notes (spoilers):

1:30 Jacob re-introduces the audience to Kevin Reaburn
2:40 Kevin starts with a big question: “which came first?” (correction: pre-Crystal Dynamics’ Tomb Raider games were developed by Core Design)
5:30 Our exposure to the Tomb Raider franchise
8:40 The writers of Tomb Raider: Rhianna Pratchett and Susan O’Connor
9:30: So many credits in this game!
10:05: The story of Tomb Raider (2013)
11:20 It’s just called Tomb Raider, y’all
13:00 What is the Definitive Edition? Also, TressFX
14:50 This isn’t the “old Lara”
18:35 The rest of the crew of the Endurance
19:10 Hunting and gathering
23:00 Survival Instinct
24:15 We debate about the best weapon in the game
25:20 This game is so violent and has much dirty rebar
28:40 A bear trap and a wolf attack
30:05 Tomb Raider’s world building
31:20 Jacob’s Dad Moment
33:20 Encounters with the supernatural
35:50 Lara’s First Kill (“kills a deer, kills a man and kills everyone”)
38:35 The game’s progression
40:05 Slow-mo time (aka the Steady Shot), fire arrows and headshot reticle
42:35 Combat puzzles & Tomb Raider vs. Uncharted
45:05 Comparing the game to Indiana Jones
46:15 Shantytown and difficulty
49:00 The landscape and the tombs
51:45 Smart AI
53:20 Under-developed side characters
54:20 Dual pistols are overrated
55:30 Issues with the next-gen ports and great checkpoints
59:55 The final confrontation
1:04:40 The Final Hours of Tomb Raider & Jason Graves’ soundtrack/”The Instrument”
1:06:25 Final thoughts
1:11:00 Kevin missed the Xbox Spring Sale by two days. We tell him about for the first time here.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | TuneIn | RSS | More

March 7, 2018

0

026: ZombiU & Zombi

By Left Behind Game Club | PODCAST | No Comments

We smack some thick-skulled zombies with our cricket bat in ZombiU & Zombi.

Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier & Straight Right (Ports) | Publisher: Ubisoft | Release Date: November 18, 2012

Jacob, special guest Travis Colenutt and a fully-healthy Mike talk about horror games, prepare our Bug-Out-Bags and reminisce about the launch of the Wii U.

You can now join our Discord server! Go to LeftBehindGame.Club and scroll down to the Discord section of the homepage! Moe returns to the Left Behind Game Club for our FTL: Faster Than Light episode launching on March 21st.

Players: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt) and Michael Ruffolo (@ruffolom)

Special Guest: Travis Colenutt (@TravisColenutt)

Website: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub

Show Notes (spoilers):

2:05 “Michael, what do you think of this game?”
3:30 The setup and the story for ZombiU
6:50 Jacob compares the game to Dark Souls & Bloodborne
9:40 The thickest skulls in the world
11:00 The game’s sound design
12:55 “This game could have been so much more”
13:40 Travis’ general thoughts about the game
15:30 Our general feelings about horror games (we talk about Resident Evil, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, Condemned, Shadows of the Damned and Until Dawn)
18:00 The dread and the stress of ZombiU/Zombi
22:35 The reason for the thick zombie heads
23:55 How many times did we die in the game?
26:20 We talk about the online features of the game and the glitches
29:35 Wii and WiiU launch titles
30:50 Favourite parts of the game
33:45 The terrifying nursery
35:15 Difference between the Wii U version and the remake
38:30 All of the weapons and what we used
42:00 What about flares, molotov cocktails, landmines and grenades?
44:20 The exploding zombies
45:30 How did you play the game?
47:10 Who were the Ravens of Dee and why is the Prepper so angry all the time?
49:20 Turret (not turd) sequences
52:00 The endings and how would you make a ZombiU 2?
54:35 Final thoughts and wrap-up

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | TuneIn | RSS | More

February 14, 2018

0

024: Interview with Victor Magnuson (Fatshark Games)

By Left Behind Game Club | PODCAST | No Comments

After playing through Warhammer: The End Times – Vermintide, Moe and Jacob had a conversation over Discord with Victor Magnuson. Victor is a Game Designer and Producer at Fatshark Games in Stockholm, Sweden. The team at Fatshark is currently working on Warhammer: Vermintide 2, a sequel to the highly successful original game.

Moe and Jacob talk about Victor’s jump from finance to game design, the history of Fatshark Games, how they began work on the Warhammer IP, the community they have built around the franchise and the upcoming Warhammer: Vermintide 2.

An open beta for Warhammer: Vermintide 2 is launching soon and the release date for the game will be announced in the near future.

Player: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt) & Moe Murtadi (@mmurtadi)

Guest: Victor Magnuson (@Zarpan)

Website: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub

Show Notes:

1:00 Victor and Moe talk about their shared transition away from the Finance Industry
5:34 Victor’s journey at Fatshark Games (covering GRIN, Quality Assurance and Game Design)
9:53 How did Fatshark get connected with Games Workshop?
11:58 How do you interact with Games Workshop on the game?
14:44 What’s the pitch and the pillars for Warhammer: Vermintide?
18:00 Victor talks about why they supported Warhammer: Vermintide for so long with DLC (while comparing the game to Rainbow Six: Siege)
20:45 How does Fatshark interact with their active community?
23:23 We transition to Vermintide 2, Victor talks about the difference between V1 and V2
25:50 Victor talks about the addition of the Chaos Faction to Vermintide 2
27:57 The addition of Career Paths in Vermintide 2
31:27 Victor talks about the difference between the loot systems in Vermintide 1 and Vermintide 2
33:23 We talk about the game’s Spawn Director
36:32 We ask Victor what he is most exciting to watch and play when development on Vermintide 2 wraps up
37:39 Details about the game’s release date and beta

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | TuneIn | RSS | More

January 24, 2018

0

022: Warhammer: The End Times – Vermintide

By Left Behind Game Club | PODCAST | No Comments

We conquer some virtual humanoid rats in Warhammer: The End Times – Vermintide.

Developer: Fatshark AB | Publisher: Fatshark AB | Release Date: October 23, 2015

Jacob, Mike, Moe and special guest Kevin Reaburn talk about Swedish video game developers, dopamine loops, crowd control and rolling dice. “Let me sell you some Vermintide, son.” Our February episodes are Hotline Miami (February 7th) and ZombiU/Zombi (February 21st)!

You can now e-mail us your questions! Send questions about past episodes or questions about us to questions@leftbehindgame.club!

Players: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt), Michael Ruffolo (@ruffolom) and Moe Murtadi (@mmurtadi)

Special Guest: Kevin Reaburn

Website: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub

Show Notes (spoilers):

1:10 Introducing our guest, Kevin Reaburn
2:20 What does Warhammer: The End Times – Vermintide mean?
3:00 The story of Fatshark
4:45 Licensing in video games 101
5:30 Our experience with other Warhammer games (correction: the Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War series is developed by Relic and published by Sega)
6:50 How did we play the game?
8:30 This game is Left 4 Dead, yo.
10:10 The game’s story
13:20 The inn and drinking the beer
14:00 Our first big take-home in 3… 2… 1…
14:35 Kevin, Jacob and Mike talk about their guide
15:10 We give you an introduction to the characters/classes/weapons
19:45 Mike’s devious Kevin secret is revealed
20:28 “Zero Dark Mike” aka when Kevin and Jacob screwed up
21:25 Jacob explains Ranald’s Bones
23:25 Mike, Jacob and Kevin thank our Vermintide guide, who restored our faith in humanity
25:00 A breakdown of the enemy types
27:22 The AI’s helpful cues and quips (ft. some helpful radio salesmen)
29:38 The voice acting
30:48 Subtitles and the PC centric UI (ft. Dead Rising)
32:15 An aside about PC matchmaking
33:25 Autodesk Stingray, Unreal and Unity
35:00 Jacob hated this game at first
37:15 Kevin chimes in
38:40 “The game is in the rotation”
40:50 We continue to talk through the enemy types
46:25 The game’s weapon system, the Forge and the Shrine of Solace
50:05 The game’s DLC and level structure
50:45 Warhammer: Vermintide 2
51:35 Level design in the game
57:00 Mike was dragging our party along… Jacob needed better weapons
58:10 The game’s graphics
58:45 Jacob brings it back to Dead Island
59:15 The satisfaction (and the sound) of a “clean cut”
1:00:50 End of level stats breakdowns
1:01:45 “The butt pat” and hanging out with friends
1:03:20 Jacob, Mike and Kevin’s epic save and Olesya’s Coach
1:05:00 Closing thoughts
1:05:30 Jacob brings it back to “The Rock” and Jumanji

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | TuneIn | RSS | More