The Games of the First Half of the Year! | Button Mash
Jul 3, 2024
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Gaming enthusiasts Steve Ahlman, Matt James, and Justin Charity banter about their 'Elden Ring' adventures and share insights on top games of the year. They construct a top 10 list, discuss gaming challenges, and anticipate upcoming releases. The podcast explores game difficulties, industry evolution, remakes, indie gems, and memorable games of the year.
Podcast highlights Elden Ring DLC difficulty and year's gaming trends.
Games like Helldivers 2 offer addictive gameplay with deep strategy elements.
Remakes like Persona 3: Reload breathe new life with enhanced visuals.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown impresses with polished Metroidvania gameplay.
Shin Megami Tensei Vengeance upgrades with improved mechanics and engaging storyline.
Deep dives
Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2 offers addictive gameplay with deep strategic elements, encouraging players to adapt and play differently in each run through polished mechanics and rewarding progression.
Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth
Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth stands out for its complete reimagining, compelling storytelling, and respectful treatment of a beloved classic, making it a standout remake.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown impresses with polished Metroidvania gameplay, memorable moments, and upcoming story DLC that promises to continue delivering a top-tier gaming experience.
Bellatro
Bellatro is a stroke of genius, blending a simple card game like Yahtzee with roguelike elements, offering addictive gameplay, strategic depth, and endless replay value through deck customization and adaptive playstyles.
Shin Megami Tensei Vengeance
Shin Megami Tensei Vengeance is a decisive upgrade over the original game, with improved gameplay mechanics, refined storylines, and an engaging soundtrack, making it a standout addition to the SMT series.
Persona 3: Reload
Persona 3: Reload excels as a well-executed remake, offering quality of life improvements, enhanced visuals, and refined gameplay mechanics that breathe new life into a beloved title, making it a compelling gem in the remake trend.
Elden Ring
Elden Ring is hailed as a groundbreaking and immersive experience, combining rich storytelling, challenging gameplay, and a vast open world design that keeps players enthralled and engaged, earning it widespread acclaim and critical acclaim.
Animal Well
Animal Well emerges as an indie surprise hit, offering engaging puzzles, a collaborative multiplayer aspect, and a unique gameplay experience that captivates players through its distinctive visuals and holistic puzzle-solving journey.
Helldivers 2 Takes the Top Spot as the Most Anticipated Game
Helldivers 2 secures the top spot as the most anticipated game of the year, promising a thrilling gameplay experience. The excitement surrounding the game stems from its narrative and gameplay mechanics, setting high expectations for players.
Rebirth and Bellatro Stand Out Among the Most Awaited Titles
Following Helldivers 2, Rebirth and Bellatro emerge as strong contenders on the list, showcasing intriguing elements that captivate players' interests. These games promise unique features and immersive gameplay experiences, making them stand out among the most awaited titles of the year.
Ben, Steve Ahlman, Matt James, and Justin Charity banter (sans spoilers) about their ongoing adventures in the Land of Shadow in 'Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree' and how they've handled the popular DLC's difficulty. Then, they share their big-picture takeaways from the year in gaming so far (25:00), collaboratively (and only semi-contentiously) construct a top 10 GotFHotY (games of the first half of the year) list (34:50), and pick the upcoming releases that they hope will make their year-end GotY draft (01:29:00).
Host: Ben Lindbergh
Guests: Steve Ahlman, Justin Charity, and Matt James
Producer: Devon Renaldo
Additional Production Supervision: Arjuna Ramgopal
