Into the Aether - A Low Key Video Game Podcast

You Remind Me of the Frog (feat. Tokyo Xanadu, 428: Shibuya Scramble, and more)

Jan 28, 2026
They trade funny recording setup anecdotes before digging into Persona 4 Golden and why Persona finales land so differently. Conversation jumps to Tokyo Xanadu EX+ and whether it can join Falcom’s classics. They unpack the FMV ambition and branching chaos of 428: Shibuya Scramble. Thoughts on Code Vein II demos, Tomodachi Life vibes, Switch game plans, and a few retro handheld detours round things out.
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ANECDOTE

Basement Recording With A Sarcophagus

  • Brendon recorded an episode from a Washington DC basement perched on a chair with his laptop on a step stool and dealt with odd electrical interference.
  • He described a nearby mirror and a literal sarcophagus that made the setup feel like a final boss scene.
INSIGHT

Persona 4's Emotional Core Is Home

  • Persona 4 Golden shifts from dating-sim mechanics into a life-sim focused on home and friendships in its second half.
  • That shift makes social bonds and everyday moments (like eating watermelon) more emotionally central than final boss fights.
INSIGHT

Finales Need Thematic Payoff

  • Persona series finales vary: Persona 3's ending succeeds by framing unwinnable stakes, while Persona 4 and 5's 'fight a god' finales feel less resonant.
  • Narrative payoff depends on thematic integration, not spectacle alone.
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