Triple Click

What's your favorite video game boss fight? Kirk, Maddy, and Jason break down all the options with a brand new taxonomy of bosses, from The Preview to The Gimmick to The Final Exam. They talk about some of the most memorable boss fights in gaming history, like Metal Gear Solid 3's The End and Metroid's Ridley, then dissect what makes each one unique.One More Thing: Kirk: Elden Ring’s StoryMaddy: The AfterpartyJason: Triangle StrategyLinks:Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-shJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/BOSS TYPESThe Preview - An early fight against a boss you won’t fight again until later. Variation: The Hunter Preview, see belowThe Roadblock - A difficulty spike boss that stops many people from playing the game entirely.Variation: The Skill-Check, a boss that’s hard on purpose to make sure you’re leveled up enough, aka Margit, Hornet. Variation II: The Sidestreet Roadblock, where it’s the hardest boss in the game but it’s optionalThe Gimmick - A boss fight that’s actually just a puzzle. You can possibly beat them straight-up, but there’s some trick that makes things easier. The Setpiece - A fight that’s really more of a long interactive cutscene with occasional combat Variation: The Giant - A Setpiece boss who is way bigger than you to the point that you can’t engage them with ordinary gameplay - you have to either focus on their feet or do platforming to get to their headThe Hunter - A boss fight where you have to hide from the boss, i.e. a stealth boss fight. Variation: The Hunter Preview - An unkillable version of the boss hunts you, but ultimately you wind up fighting itThe Final Exam - A boss that requires you to combine every skill/item/ability/party member you have to that point to beat them Variation: The Teambuilding Exercise - a Final Exam boss that cannot be beaten by a single person, aka an MMO raid boss Variation II: The Duel - No weapons, no abilities, just fists (Liquid vs Snake in MGS4 - the opposite of the Final Exam)The Pair - Oh no there are two bosses! Variation: The Mob - there are lots of enemies - common to From games, e.g. Renalla phase one or those old dudes in DS3, Watcher Knights in Hollow KnightThe Spitting Image - Surprise, the boss is you! (The mirror self in Control, the Mimic Tear, Shadow Link, Dark Samus)The Unfriendly Friend - The (often final) boss turns out to be someone you’ve been talking with. The Saga - A boss fight with multiple phases that keeps going and going. First you fight Sephiroth, then Safer Sephiroth, then…

Kirk, Jason, and Maddy open up the mailbag and answer some of YOUR questions about why they stopped playing Destiny, what games they use to relax, and whether it's a good idea to buy the stocks of video game companies. As always, these are real questions from our listeners. You can reach us with your own questions at tripleclick@maximumfun.orgOne More Thing: Kirk: Elden RingMaddy: Kimi (2022)Jason: Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy OriginLinks:Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-shJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Grand Theft Auto V is one of the most lucrative games of all time. Why??? Kirk, Jason, and Maddy aren't really sure, but at least they can tell you all about Rockstar's hit action shooting game. The gang talks about 2013 nihilism, the innovations that GTA V brought to the open-world party, and how crime doesn't pay... except when it does.One More Thing: Kirk: Turning RedMaddy: Horizon Forbidden WestJason: Triangle StrategyLinks:Ukraine support:  https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/03/02/opinion/ukraine-charity-donation-guide.htmlCass Marshall’s Polygon article about the GTA Online Motorcycle HOA: https://www.polygon.com/22787651/gta-online-roleplay-new-day-black-lotus-motorcycle-club-mirror-park-hoaSupport Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-shJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

You may have heard: Elden Ring is out. And the Triple Click crew has been playing it — for a combined 200+ hours. Kirk, Jason, and Maddy put on their Burger King wizard hats and take a trip to The Lands Between, where they're collecting Great Runes and trying not to fall off cliffs. They talk about the vast scope of the game, the brilliance of player notes, how to avoid burnout, the rewards of exploration, and oh so much more.One More Thing: Kirk: Carrie & Salem’s LotMaddy: AliasJason: Inventing Anna / Tinder SwindlerLinks:Iron Pineapple on Elden Ring: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg_hveDzzvoMossbag’s Hollow Knight lore explainer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XDiWYFGGqYSupport Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-shJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Guest Steven Lumpkin, a video game developer, joins the Triple Click crew to discuss the commonalities and differences in open-world games like Dying Light 2, Horizon Forbidden West, and Elden Ring. They introduce a taxonomy for categorizing open worlds based on metrics like emergent vs. controlled, opaque vs. transparent, and aesthetic vs. gamey. The hosts express their preference for opaque games and delve into the impact of minimalist maps and quest logs. They also appreciate the work of public defenders and share their experiences with the Steam Deck. Plus, they dive into their love for the open world of Elden Ring.

Robot... dinosaurs!!! Kirk, Jason, and Maddy take out their best bows and prepare to go on a hunt for big machines in Horizon Forbidden West, a new open-world game for the PlayStation that rules. They talk about how things have (and haven't) changed from the first game, the big, beautiful world, and the good and bad of Forbidden West's story.One More Thing: Kirk: ELDEN RINGMaddy: PeacemakerJason: ELDEN RINGLinks:Horizon Forbidden West score by Joris de Man, Niels van der Leest & Oleksa Lozowchuk“Do You Wanna Taste It?” by Wig Wam from Non Stop Rock ‘n Roll, 2010Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-shJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

And now, for Jason's dream episode: the gang plays Suikoden II! Kirk and Maddy give their impressions of the first 25% of the classic JRPG, from the very beginning through getting your very own castle. Do they love it as much as Jason? (No.) The three of them talk about the relationship between Riou and Jowy, the parts of the game that feel clunky in 2022, and what it's like to recruit all those characters. Plus: Dracula!One More Thing: Kirk: Horizon Forbidden WestMaddy: MurdervilleJason: Also Horizon Forbidden WestLinks:Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-shJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

From silent protagonists to badass students, there are all sorts of protagonists in the world of video games. Let's talk about them! Jason, Maddy, and Kirk list their favorite heroes, then break down all of the archetypes, from the Chosen One to the Determined Daughter (subcategory: Queer Millennial Edition). From Mario to Kratos, we've got'em all.One More Thing: Kirk: Station ElevenMaddy: The official Dark Souls TTRPGJason: Arrested DevelopmentLinks:Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-shJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Light: it's dying! This week, the Triple Click gang plays through Dying Light 2: Stay Human, a new game in which you jump between buildings and smash zombies in the head. They talk about the game's slick parkour system, the silly writing, and the drab visuals. Plus: the one and only... Aiden.One More Thing: Kirk: Roasting CoffeeMaddy: West Side Story (2021)Jason: The Thursday Murder Club (Richard Osman)Links:That Iconic 2011 Dead Island Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfhtiG66SQcSupport Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-shJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Maddy, Kirk, and Jason take a few minutes to react to last week's megaton announcement that Microsoft is buying Activision Blizzard, then prepare for the new Uncharted collection on PS5 by diving into the iconic adventure series. What's the deal with Nathan Drake falling on every platform he sees? Are the first two games better than the next two? And are Uncharted 4 and Lost Legacy worth playing today?One More Thing: Kirk: Dan Olson’s video on NFTsMaddy: First ReformedJason: The craziest football weekend of all timeLinks:“Drake’s Theme” by Greg Edmonson from Uncharted 3 “Line Goes Up: The Problem with NFTs” by Dan Olson at Folding Ideas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ_xWvX1n9g&t=2344sParis Hilton and Jimmy Fallon talking about NFT apes: https://twitter.com/etienneshrdlu/status/1485956332989693953Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinBuy a Triple Click t-shirt: https://topatoco.com/collections/maximum-fun/products/maxf-tc-tclogo-shJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/