Gaming In The Wild - Video Game Reviews

Final Fantasy XVI is a dark fantasy action adventure that tells its epic story via impressively cinematic cut-scenes, sleek, kinetic combat, and spectacular set pieces. Some poor quest design made the story drag, but the characters and combat never got old. In the roundup: Final Fantasy XIII, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Dave The Diver. The Digital Foundry FFXVI review I mention in the show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Oyjldkh5kE   And the Kyle Bosman video I mention: https://youtu.be/C74y9Uu5QyQ  And many thanks to the show’s latest patron, Rscar! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.  All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better. If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/   Thanks for listening!

Coffee Golf is an improbably compelling and addictive daily phone game. Each day, you get a new five-hole golf course. It takes luck, skill, and strategy to get around the course, and whittle down your stroke count to get the best possible score. Also, for bonus fun – listen out for a 4.2 earthquake that happened while I was recording! Also in this episode: a July indie game roundup, including Synapse, GYLT, Oxenfree II: Lost Signals, Venba, Viewfinder, The Wandering Village, Immortals of Avium, Crime O'Clock, and more. And many thanks to all the show's 46 patrons! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.  All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better. Also, please do come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - and some of the new ones like Bluesky and Threads, if you want – find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/   Thanks for listening!

Gerda: A Flame in Winter is an excellent choice-based story game set in Nazi-occupied Denmark towards the end of WWII. The compelling story is packed with ethical quandaries that have real impact on the story, and the stakes are high as your moment-to-moment decisions can have life or death consequences. In the roundup: Annapurna Showcase – Lorelei & The Laser Eyes, Cocoon, To a T, Lushfoil Photography Sim , Thirsty Suitors, Flock, Ghostbike, Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth. And many thanks to the show’s latest patron, Matthew! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.  All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better. If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/   Thanks for listening!

This week's review is a short, beautiful game that tells a compact, emotional story. Its watercolored visual style and ambience are breathtaking, and perfectly capture the feeling of loosely-remembered childhood summers. But the gameplay is often a chore—sometimes literally. In the roundup: FFXVI, Nintendo Direct, Super Mario Bros Wonder, Gerda: A Flame In Winter. And many thanks to all the show’s patrons! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild. All proceeds go into covering costs, and making the podcast better. Also: come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com—and check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/   Finally: thanks for listening :)

Harmony: The Fall of Reverie is an ambitious and substantial visual novel that plays with a broad spectrum of ideas about hope, chaos, capitalism, community, mysticism, and the power of collective belief. However, the story succeeds despite the game's structure, as I'll go into in the episode. In the roundup: FFXVI and Viewfinder demos, Tales of Arise, and my picks from Tribeca Games Fest, Xbox Showcase, Wholesome Direct, PC Gaming Show, and all the others. Including: A Highland Song, Nightcape, Despelote, Station To Station, Jusant, Grimoire Groves, Botany Manor, Starfield, Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, Harold Halibut, Dread Pilot, Exo Rally Championship, Star Wars Outlaws, and a few strays and extras. Thanks to the show's 46 patrons! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.  All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better. If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/   Thanks for listening!

This episode, we start with a look at all the cool indie games revealed at Day of the Devs, then move onto two reviews: the simple, colourful platform game Hoa, and the compelling mobster story of Adios. In the roundup: Summer Game Fest, Day of the Devs, Summerhill, Saltsea Chronicles, Beastieball, Viewfinder, Cocoon, Sludge Life 2, Baby Steps, Talos Principle 2, Retro Gadgets, Mars First Logistics, Hyper Light Breaker, Under The Waves, Alan Wake II, Spider-Man 2. And many thanks to all the show’s patrons! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.  All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better. If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/   Thanks for listening!

On a little Zelda sabbatical, this week's episode rounds up a few recent indie games. The featured review is Ravenlok – a short, charming fairytale adventure in which we enter a fairytale kingdom through a magic mirror, and take up a quest to liberate the realm from an evil queen. It’s a simple comfort-food video game with plenty of heart and some colourful, fantastical visuals. In the roundup: After Us, Humanity, The Talos Principle, and a June release roundup with Dordogne, Mask Of The Rose, Harmony: The Fall Of Reverie, Cal of Porcupine, Crime O'Clock, and more. And many thanks to the show’s latest patrons, Simon, Wayne, John & Mark! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.  All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better. If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/   Thanks for listening!

This week's episode picks up where we left off with Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom. With special guest Ciaran Daly, we run through the Rito Village quest, and talk about our first steps into The Deep, our hits and misses in device building and puzzle-solving, and more. In the roundup: The Playstation Showcase, with Alan Wake II, Sword of the Sea, Neva, The Plucky Squire, AC Mirage, Talos Principle II, and more. And many thanks to the show’s latest patrons, Wayne and John! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.  All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better. If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/   Thanks for listening!

Tears Of The Kingdom is Nintendo’s impossible sequel. How do you follow up the best game of all time? Their answer was to expand it in all directions. Tears of the Kingdom uses the miraculous Breath of the Wild as its foundations, soaring high and plunging deep to create an astounding adventure in which the possibilities stretch as far as the horizon.  Note: this show covers the intro, opening sky island area, and landfall sections of the game. I tried to be sensitive about spoilers, and note in advance if I'm touching on anything I feel it might be nice for players to discover for themselves. There are no story spoilers However, this is based on my own interpretation of what could be considered spoiler material, so listener discretion is advised. I'd say this show is probably most suited to players who have played for 10-15 hours, generally speaking. And many thanks to this month's new patrons, Julia and Simon! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.  All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better. If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/   Thanks for listening!

Happy Zelda day everyone! This episode includes some spoiler-free impressions of the game we've all been waiting for, The Legend of Zelda: Tears Of The Kindgom, followed a deep dive into the ambnitious and impressive Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. In the roundup: Harmony: Fall of Reverie, Planet of Lana, 1000xResist, The Pale Beyond, Stray Gods & Ludonarracon 2023. Links mentioned in the show - http://theshortgame.net & https://www.ludonarracon.com. And many thanks to the show’s latest patron, Simon! If you'd like to join them in supporting the show on Patreon, you can do so from $1 per month at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Patrons get access to a catalogue of bonus episodes, and an invite to the show’s lovely Discord community. You can also send a one-off tip via Ko-Fi at http://ko-fi.com/gaminginthewild.  All proceeds go into the podcast, covering things like equipment, games, music, editing apps, and so forth. I really appreciate the support, it helps make the show better. If you enjoy the show, you can come say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. And check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/   Thanks for listening!