Eggplant: The Secret Lives of Games

EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Elfazar's Hat

Jul 18, 2025
Join game writer Adam Dolin, known for his work on God of War, and game developers Colin and Sarah Northway of Northway Games, as they dive into the enchanting chaos of Elfazar's Hat. They share insights on cooperative gameplay and strategize over card collection while exploring the game's unique challenges. Personal anecdotes reveal their experiences in the gaming industry, and discussions on color schemes add depth to the narrative. The trio also reflects on the importance of community engagement and celebrates the creativity born from collaboration.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
ADVICE

Play It With A Partner

  • Play Elphazar's Hat in two-player co-op whenever possible because the design rewards cooperation.
  • Avoid solo runs if you want a smoother, more enjoyable experience.
INSIGHT

Deliberate Cross-Game Callbacks

  • Elphazar's Hat leverages layered callbacks to other UFO50 games to conjure faux nostalgia.
  • Those musical and visual references deepen the collection's internal mythology and player delight.
ANECDOTE

Community Players Beat It Fast

  • Rob and others struggled solo and stalled at level three, especially the snow level.
  • Several community members beat it quickly, showing skill differences in the shmup genre.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app