Listen Now

In this episode Gino, Pete, and Em discuss Cloudpunk, a cyberpunk package delivery game. We cover the game's interesting art style, tedious gameplay, and too on-the-nose social commentary. We wrap up by discussing our favorite characters, scenes, and whether cyberpunk is played out as an aesthetic. If you've been enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/DeepListens

In this episode Gino, Pete, Em, Chris "ZombiePie" -REDACTED-, and Jeff Rud debate the games we played this year for our annual Trenchies! The categories this year are: Game of the Year 2020, Best Comedy, Best Horror, Best Drama, Best Action, Best Adventure, Best Character, Worst Character, Best Soundtrack, Prettiest Game, Best Performance/Voice Acting, Best Mechanic, Biggest Disrespect of the Player's Time, Best Twist, Worst Game of Our Year 2020, Worst Story or Written Dialog, Biggest Indictment of Capitalism, Most Replayable Classic, Best Non-Game, John Paul Sartre Memorial Award for Game That Best Expresses the Ultimate Futility of the Human Condition, Gino's Platypus Award for Game That Should Not Be, ZP's "Help I'm Trapped in Sysiphean Torment" Award, Em's Sheeple Award: Most Wildly Overstated/Overrated, Jeff's Isolated corner Where He Still Plays Rock Band in 2020 CE, and Game of Our Year If you've been enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/DeepListens

In this episode Gino, Pete, and Em are joined by special guest Eric Kanius to discuss Control! We cover the game's unique setting, excellent puppets, and snappy gameplay. We also delve into just what makes Control's setting so compelling and where the game's design is a tad confusing. You can follow Eric @EricKanius on twitter. You can listen to The Personal History of Games here. If you've been enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/DeepListens

In this episode Gino, Chris "ZombiePie" -REDACTED-, and Jeff Rud discuss the end of Final Fantasy XIII-2. We cover the game's ridiculous story, tedious gameplay loops, and genuine heart. We wrap by putting the game on the Ranking of Fantasies list! Where will it go? Is it better than FFXIII? Is it better than FFX-2? Listen to find out! If you've been enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/DeepListens

In this episode Gino, Pete, and Em discuss Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. We discuss the game's oddly dark story, it's incredibly boring combat, and whether it would be better as a movie. Things take a very sharp turn when we talk about the Fairy Godmother. If you would like to join the Deep Listens Podcast in supporting the Trans Women of Color Collective, you can do so by donating here: https://www.twocc.us/ If you've been enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/DeepListens

In this episode Gino, Chris "ZombiePie" -REDACTED- and Jeff Rud discuss the first 15 hours of Final Fantasy XIII-2. We cover how hard the game breaks away from FFXIII lore, how little it breaks away from FFXIII combat, and how "lol who cares" the story is. We all agree the game is mediocre at best, but our appreciation levels of that mediocrity vary. If you would like to join the Deep Listens Podcast in supporting the Trans Women of Color Collective, you can do so by donating here: https://www.twocc.us/ If you've been enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/DeepListens

In this episode Gino, Pete, and Em discuss the grosses Metroidvania of them all: Carrion. We discuss the game's unique control scheme, it's decision to make you play as the villain, and it's psuedo-linearity. We wrap up by discussing why certain forms of locomotion gross people out. If you would like to join the Deep Listens Podcast in supporting the Trans Women of Color Collective, you can do so by donating here: https://www.twocc.us/ If you've been enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/DeepListens

In this episode Gino is joined by Em, Noelle, Emily, and Emily to discuss the musical comedy show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. We discuss our favorite characters, songs, and moments from the show. We then discuss the show's handling of romance and mental illness. It's been a long time coming baby! You can listen to Emily and Emily on Worst Friends Forever  You can follow Emily V @ItsEvolkYo You can follow Emily K @egkeller If you would like to join the Deep Listens Podcast in supporting the Trans Women of Color Collective, you can do so by donating here: https://www.twocc.us/ If you've been enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/DeepListens  

In this episode Gino, Pete, and Em are joined by a special guest to discuss Hades! We cover the game's mechanical density, our favorite Boons and weapons, and our pet strategies. We then pivot to talking about the game's representation of Greek gods and mythology. If you've been enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/DeepListens

In this episode Gino and RVA Returner John Schreiner discuss Opus XII of the Final Fantasy Trading Card Game! We discuss multicolor cards, the best cards of each element, and the cards that we're most excited to build around. You can find the RVA Returners here: https://returnersfftcg.com/ And you can join the Returners Discord here: https://discord.gg/tDq3MDQ If you've been enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/DeepListens

In this episode Gino, Pete, and Em discuss Genshin Impact, free to play games, and the dangers of gacha systems. If you would like to join the Deep Listens Podcast in supporting the Trans Women of Color Collective, you can do so by donating here: https://www.twocc.us/ If you've been enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/DeepListens

In this episode Gino, Chris "ZombiePie" -REDACTED-, and Jeff Rud discuss the final act of Chrono Cross. I wish I could describe what happened in this game or this podcast, but I can't. That part of our lives is over now. Baby, DAUghter, CLONE! If you would like to join the Deep Listens Podcast in supporting the Trans Women of Color Collective, you can do so by donating here: https://www.twocc.us/ If you've been enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/DeepListens

In this episode Gino, Pete, and Em discuss the indie barista simulator Coffee Talk! We cover the game's intermingling of fantasy tropes with a contemporary Seattle setting, how the game utilizes a coffee bar as a Third Place, and how the game envisions a sort of artistic blue-collar worker. If you would like to join the Deep Listens Podcast in supporting the Trans Women of Color Collective, you can do so by donating here: https://www.twocc.us/ If you've been enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/DeepListens

In this episode Gino and "Magic Master" Kyle discuss Zendikar Rising! We cover each color's overrated, underrated, and best cards while also going over the mechanics of the new set. This podcast was recorded before the two rounds of bans that completely reshaped the format, but you can't say our discussion of Omnath was off base!

In this episode Gino, Pete, and Em discuss Bioshock and Objectivism! We discuss the game's strong personalities, mechanical choices, and philosophical underpinnings. We also discuss how the game depicts the pitfalls of a popular revolution against a government with weapons of mass destruction. It's a real light episode.

In this episode Gino, Pete, and Em are joined by two of the co-hosts of the Worst Friends Forever Podcast, Emily and Taylor, to discuss Avatar: The Last Airbender. We cover what elements we would each bend, our favorite characters and episodes, and what makes the Avatar setting work so well. We also discuss why the show holds up so well to repeat viewings. You can hear part two of our crossover on Worst Friends Forever  You can follow Emily @ItsEvolkYo You can follow Taylor @TaylorGill11 If you would like to join the Deep Listens Podcast in supporting the Trans Women of Color Collective, you can do so by donating here: https://www.twocc.us/ If you've been enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/DeepListens

In this episode Gino, Pete, Em, and Chris "ZombiePie" -REDACTED- discuss Divinity: Dragon Commander. We cover the game's fraught history in excruciating detail, break down why the board game is the best playing part of the game, and avoid talking about the RTS combat as much as possible. We also dive into the game's political system and why it didn't especially work for us. If you would like to join the Deep Listens Podcast in supporting the Trans Women of Color Collective, you can do so by donating here: https://www.twocc.us/ If you've been enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/DeepListens

In this episode Gino, Pete, and Em discuss character building through gameplay, terrible parasites, odd statistics. We try to break down what makes character development through gameplay successful and why it feels so right when it works. We also examine some pitfalls that can occur when developers try to mix mechanics with character traits in unworkable ways. If you would like to join the Deep Listens Podcast in supporting the Trans Women of Color Collective, you can do so by donating here: https://www.twocc.us/ If you've been enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/DeepListens If you want to see the interview on moderation in gaming mentioned in the podcast, look here: https://t.co/khYJibngW6?amp=1

In this episode Gino, Pete, and Em discuss the infamous Night Trap! We discuss whether this game has any merit in 2020 outside of historical curiosity, the remarkably questionable game design, and the game's absurd legacy.  If you would like to join the Deep Listens Podcast in supporting the Trans Women of Color Collective, you can do so by donating here: https://www.twocc.us/ If you've been enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/DeepListens

In this episode Gino, Pete, and Em discuss the infamous Night Trap! We discuss whether this game has any merit in 2020 outside of historical curiosity, the remarkably questionable game design, and the game's absurd legacy.  If you would like to join the Deep Listens Podcast in supporting the Trans Women of Color Collective, you can do so by donating here: https://www.twocc.us/ If you've been enjoying the podcast, please consider supporting us at https://www.patreon.com/DeepListens