Gaming In The Wild - Video Game Reviews

This week we look at "the feel-bad game of the year", the grim and compelling magic bullet snipe-fest: Children of the Sun. In the roundup: Botany Manor, Pepper Grinder, Broken Roads, Dragon's Dogma 2, and a look at the Triple-i Initiative's first showcase. If you enjoy the show, find more like it on the YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/gaminginthewild. You can support the show on Patreon from $1 a month, to get extra podcasts, a patron Discord invite, and other fun perks: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild. Big thanks to the newest patrons Fergus, JD, Steve, Liz, Libby and Daniel. Finally, find the show on all social media as @gaminginthewild, and follow the show's Steam curator page here to see if what you're browsing comes pod-recommended! https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/   Thanks for listening!

This week's episode is a roundup of demos you can try right now: Stellar Blade, Minishoot' Adventures, Dystopika, Indika, and Valley Peaks. In the roundup: this month's Game Pass, PS+, and Epic freebies, including The Outer Worlds, Kona, Ghostrunner, Immortals of Aveum, and more. Check out the YouTube for some fresh videos at: http://youtube.com/gaminginthewild. And many thanks to the show’s newest patrons Zibby, Daniel and Fergus! 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!

Return To Grace is a perfect game for Game Pass: short, interesting, and done in a couple of hours. It's a sci-fi walking sim that raises some interesting questions about the future of AI. I also got addicted to Marvel Snap. In the April release roundup: Botany Manor, Children of the Sun, Broken Roads, Harold Halibut, Pine Harbour No Rest For The Wicked, Tales of Kanzera ZAU, SandLand, Another Crab's Treasure, Manor Lords, and Stellar Blade. Links I mention: Deckbuilder video: https://youtu.be/VcsByllnDkE? ROG Ally video: https://youtu.be/m_IF-gLjyI4 And as always, many thanks to the show’s 57 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 week's show is a grab bag episode. We start off with a few updates, some Dragon's Dogma chat, a look at FFVII REbirth's fidelity patch, and some first impressions of the Playdate console. The back half of the show is some impressions of demos from GDC & Pax East. Games covered: The Wreck, Whitewater Wipeout, Casual Birder, Mars After Midnight, Harold Halibut, Hauntii, Animal Well, Phantom Spark, SandLand, Always In Mind, Anger Foot, Sorry We're Closed. And check out my Youtube channel for loads more stuff! http://youtube.com/gaminginthewild And as always, many thanks to the show’s 70 patrons, including the newest patron Mike! 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!

I've been making a few video essays over on YouTube lately, and had a couple of requests for them to be added to the podcast feed. So I'm trying it out. If you're on Spotify, you can watch video with this episode, and if not, I hope you enjoy the audio here. This one is a short essay about the Horizon series, which seems blessed with high sales and critical reception, but cursed in being critically overshadowed by era-defining games that released just weeks away. The YouTube video for anyone who wants it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIRDt-yApRY. Thanks for listening! And let me know if you do/don't want more like in the feed. Patreon: http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild More: http://gaminginthewild.com

This week's show looks at FFVIIR Intermission and the newly released Rebirth, a cute cabin builder called Summerhouse, and a bullet heaven called Geometry Survivor. In the roundup: WASD Live, Enshrouded, Solium Infernum, Snufkin; Melody of Moominvalley, Pepper Grinder, and Floramancer: Seeds & Spirits. I also talk about the fun of making YouTube videos about games. See some recent videos about things like video game stories, the lasting appeal of Horizon Zero Dawn, and indie games with pocket-sized open worlds here: http://youtube.com/gaminginthewild. And as always, many thanks to the show’s 69 patrons, including the latest patrons Lissa, Ciara, and Stu! 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 music by Alex-Productions, Musictown, Syouki Takahashi, and Yevhenii Kovalenko and provided by Pixabay and http://www.free-stock-music.com. Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0).

This week's show is a roundup episode. There are some thoughts after seeing credits on FFVIIR, and impressions of Pacific Drive, Akka Arrh, and Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game. We run through the March indie releases, and finish with a review of the addictive joker poker phenom Balatro. I also talk about being laid off in the video game industry, and about the process of making more stuff for the pod's YouTube channel. And a big thank you to the show’s 67 patrons, including the newest members Lissa, Ciara, ScheiGuy and NickolaiAtKnight! 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.  And finally, check out this Steam curator page by podcast supporter DovetailTrue to see if games you're browsing come pod-recommended: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/   Thanks for listening!

This week's show is an interview with Hugo Bille from Hadoque, the developers of Ultros. We talked about video game ecosystems, Metroidvania design tricks, audacious gardening mechanics, and lots more. And a big thank you to the show’s latest patrons, ScheiGuy and NikolaiAtKnight, 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 Discord community. You can also say hi on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch - find all the links at http://gaminginthewild.com. Check out this Steam curator page made by podcast supporter DovetailTrue to see if Steam games you're browsing come pod-approved! https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/   Thanks for listening!

Ultros is a dazzlingly creative indie game that revitalises the Metroidvania genre. The prismic visuals and symphonic score are a sensual treat, and the game’s ingenious ecosystem slowly blooms into a map-spanning meta-puzzle that demands patience, observation, curiosity, and creativity. It's the first must-play game of 2024. In the roundup: Nintendo Direct, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, Ender Lilies, and more. And a big thank you to the show's newest patron, ScheiGuy! Join them and 60 others at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild to support the show, get access to a catalogue of 10+ bonus episodes, and score an invite to the show’s patron Discord. You're also welcome to 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 to see when games you're browsing come pod-recommended: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/43457463-Gaming-in-the-Wild-%2528unofficial%2529/   Thanks for listening!

Gaming In The Wild podcast is four years old and 200 episodes deep this week! To celebrate the landmark, the show's patrons and listeners suggested a Q&A episode. So I opened up the floor, and had over 50 questions submitted from Discord and social media, about video games, film, travel, books, Iceland, and life generally. Which video game smells worst? What games would I take into space to introduce aliens to humanity? Have a listen to find out. Thanks to everyone who submitted a question! Normal service will be resumed next week with the Ultros episode. Here's the Spotify playlist of my fave video game music that I mention in the show: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1EOxsTyEwIbVK7qyRGSPXG?si=63f7bc62f24f480b And thanks to the show's 60 patrons! Support the show at http://patreon.com/gaminginthewild, and find me on social media via http://gaminginthewild.com. Thanks for listening everybody, and here's to another hundred!