Waypoint Radio

Content warning for discussion of assisted suicide from approximately 1:20:00 - 1:24:00The fall is almost upon us, and you know what that means! That's right, it's American Football season, and that means we're gonna try and guess the names of the recently revealed XFL teams based only on their team logos! Then we check in on Patrick as he tries to unravel the mysteries of evolution in Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey. What is the difference between a branch and a stick? Patrick doesn't know, and neither do we. After the break, Austin checks back in with the surprising world of Remnant: From the Ashes, which has some well written narrative moments that he wasn't expecting. Then Cado tells us about the intriguing but frustrating Oninaki, which has an intense narrative setup, but doesn't ever feel good to actually play. Then we get lost in the woods with Danielle as she explores the new Blair Witch game. There is a dog, and you can pet it!Discussed: XFL, Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey, Remenant: From the Ashe

We have a special bonus episode of Waypoint Radio, Austin and Patrick are joined by award winning composer Austin Wintory to talk about his next project, the FMV game Erica. They also discuss horror movie music tropes, the difference between scoring movies and scoring games, and some of Austin Wintory's favorite brands.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

There's a well known joke where you describe something in reference to Dark Souls. Hell, we've done plenty of that on this very podcast. But rarely are those games actually Souls-likes, and even rarer are the ones we enjoy. So imagine our surprise when the "Dark Souls but with Guns" game Remnant: From the Ashes landed with both Austin and Cado, so much so that our descriptions of the game basically sold Patrick on playing it! The Waypoint Radio crew discusses Remnant, Fire Emblem (is it hard enough?), Age of Wonders: Planetfall, and more on this episode of Waypoint Radio!Discussed: Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Astral Chain, Vanquish, Age of Wonders: Planetfall, Remnant: From the Ashes, Nintendo Indie World stream, Session, Stadia, Idris Elba  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Summer is ending. The days are getting shorter, the weather is getting cooler, and the games, oh boy, the games are coming. August isn't even over and we're already seeing the waves of fall releases starting to crop up, so we've got an episode jam packed with new games. From positive notes on Zachtronics' Eliza to mixed feelings on the Sega Genesis Mini, the deluge has begun!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

There are many components to a perfect tea time. The choice of tea itself is of upmost importance, of course, but its presentation and preparation is just as critical. Then, there is the discussion. What's a perfect tea time if not a lively conversation over a shared refreshment? The Waypoint Radio crew share their favorite discussion topics this episode, the way to get those support ranks up. So how about giant robots? What does it mean to live well? What is a sauce? What's good with game design? Yes, we've basically all been playing too much Fire Emblem. We talk about a few other games too though, don't worry, we won't tank this tea time!Discussed: Rebel Galaxy Outlaw, Anodyne 2, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, System Shock 2, Oxygen Not Included, Griftlands, EVO 2019  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

With Cado out on vacation and Austin back from one, it's only right for Waypoint Radio to spend this week traveling to new worlds. Danielle takes us to the world of Anodyne 2, the follow up to one of her favorite games of all time. Austin launches to space in Rebel Galaxy Outlaw, the Privateer-esque follow up to the 2015 space sim. And Rob and Patrick have moved permanently into the dorms at Garreg Mach Monastery in the world of Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Plus, the crew weighs in on the recent games journalist doxxing and what this might mean for the future of the ESA.Discussed: The ESA, E3, Anondyne 2, Rebel Galaxy Outlaw, Star Wars: Outer Rim, Die Hard: The Board Game, Fire Emblem: Three Houses  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

ty Given the length of most games, it can sometimes be hard to parse their politics or meaning even from a few hours of play. Endgame twists can paint the entire narrative of a game in a different light, strengthening core themes at best, and undermining them at worst. So it's natural to wonder where a narrative might go even if it's opening hours seem to hammer home a specific point of view. We discuss how this feels in The Outer Worlds,​​ making new friends in ​​Fire Emblem: Three Houses, ​and just what is up with the Clancyverse on this episode of Waypoint Radio.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Content Warning: Suicide, Suicidal Ideation, Sexual Violence, Descriptions of Gore, all applied towards minors.We've finally done it. The Waypoint Radio crew has watched all of Neon Genesis Evangelion's original run and the End of Evangelion Movie. Through its highs and lows, from contemplative pacing to stylish action, from it's interesting lore to its mishandling of its themes, we've seen it all. It's a long one folks, so strap in, and best of luck.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week on Waypoint Radio we're getting political. Patrick, Cado, and Austin are all playing Fire Emblem: Three Houses, and we get into who picked the right house. Who's to say whether a monarchy or a ruling class is better? Rob's got some ideas that seem to be backed by historical knowledge, but Cado thinks it's Sophie's choice, honestly. We also discuss the messy tutorialization: why does it explain a combat mechanic during downtime? What's with all of these unexplained mechanics? Why do they turn off the enemy's attack range after the first mission? Then Austin and Cado talk about the games and panels they saw as last weekend's Game Devs of Color Expo. Come for the surreal RPGs, stay for the rubber fish controler. Rob's computer then breaks so the rest of the crew discuss the wild story of how Fire Emblem: Thracia 776 was translated by fans over the span of 20 years.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's anime day here at Waypoint Radio, as Austin is here to lead Patrick and Cado through his time with Fire Emblem: Three Houses. We then dive into the Joy Con Drift situation and Switch Model Number discourse. Patrick is playing super quick Mario Maker levels and checking out (the totally anime) Wolfenstein Youngblood, and we try our best to find Evangelion Mac n Cheese. Does it exist? (if it does please send to @a_cado_appears on twitter!) Discussed: Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Joy Con drift, Super Mario Maker 2, Nowhere Prophet, Griftlands, Wolfenstein Youngblood,  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

​Content Warning for this episode: discussion of suicide throughout.Evangelion is a messy series. For all the craft and care put into the characters and arcs in the first half of the show, which was uneven in it's treatment of women even then, the back end has higher peaks and even lower valleys. And while lore dumps and twists are being deployed it's Evangelion's female characters that end up with the brunt of the low points. For as shocking as the reveal is that Rei was a series of clones all along, tied to it is the unfortunate flattening of Ritsuko's character, to a woman motivated solely by her relationship to a man. We see this same story played out with her mother, and this repeated cycle implies some greater hidden truth to the actions these characters have taken. Instead of allowing these characters to have a sense of agency they're locked into repeating the same mistakes, because "that's just how women are." We discuss this uneven treatment, the overly dramatic lore dumps, and th

It's a hot one as Rob, Danielle, and Cado are doing their best to cope. Rob's apartment is starting to ferment, Danielle's breaking legs, and Cado has been hiding at the movies but they've also made time for games. Danielle and Rob have both spent more time with Night Call and how you build a good mystery, while Cado is increasingly frustrated by the worldbuilding of Nowhere Prophet. Rob, meanwhile, tried to learn Coimbra, a complicated Euro-style boardgame, while slowly overheating.Discussed: Night Call, Nowhere Prophet, Fireball Island, Coimbra  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

With Austin still away on vacation, Patrick, Rob, and Cado decided to dive in to the question bucket and fish out the weirdest questions we've been sent. Little did we know that we'd be faced with questions that shake the very foundations of our beliefs. We question the nature of order and chaos, the ethics of jumping off of a Yoshi to save yourself, and wonder out loud what ever happened to Need for Speed? And finally, we enter into that eternal debate, one that's been asked and answered for as long as podcasts existed: Knife or Bat?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Content Warning: Discussion of suicide from around 1:48:00 through 1:52:00 and 1:59:00 through 2:04:00Neon Genesis Evangelion is often touted as a "thinking person's anime." Despite it's unevenness, it does tend to stay away from a monster of the week narrative and will often devote entire episodes to the mental states of it's main characters. What sometimes gets conflated with this fact is that all of this deep introspection lands or has narrative weight every single time it happens. At its best the show weaves​ plot and themes effortlessly, but sometimes just asking existential questions isn't enough to hand wave the ways characters have acted or been treated throughout the show. Can an existential line of questioning feel earned even if it ignores previous character growth? Does it cheapen earlier plot points when thematic elements begin overpower literal narrative? We tackle these questions and more as we discuss Episodes 20-21 on this week's Waypoints.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy an

There's a certain feeling that seems specific to modern Fire Emblem games, a sense of pride when you go into battle with your carefully leveled squad. You've come to know these characters intimately, watched their relationships with each other mature, and come to think of them as family. However, amongst the expansive cast of characters in Fire Emblem: Awakening, one particular character sticks out for having a great arc, and that's Donnel. A farm boy wearing a pot on his head, he starts out so weak most people might ditch him for some of the game's heartier characters. The people that stick with him though get to watch their good good farm boy grow up to be an absolute killing machine​. His arc becomes the best example of the way you come to feel pride for these characters, and Fire Emblem: Three Houses​, is doubling down on this feeling with its totally new structure. We discuss the new Fire Emblem game, the noir narrative game ​Night Call,​ and new deckbuilding roguelike ​Nowh

Do you remember when we said “wouldn’t it be cool if game franchises got traded every year?” Well, two community members (@RevRyeBread and @regresssion) decided to write a short fantasy draft game that we’re gonna play! Tune in as Austin, Patrick, Rob, and Cado choose their platforms and vie to fill out their rosters with the best gaming franchises. There’s drama, tension, and lots of dubious math! Stick around after the game as Austin and Cado do a nearly frame by frame breakdown of the new Gundam Battle: GUNPLA WARFARE trailer.Played: bit.ly/videogamedraft  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We've returned this week revitalized by a new batch of episodes that, it turns out, we actually liked! The Waypoint Radio crew discusses the existential and physical horror of episodes 14-19 and ask, what is an Eva? Is it just a big Human? Is Gendo the original Wife guy? Why does their teacher just keep talking about the Second Impact? What are the Dead Sea Scrolls, and who is the Human Instrumentality Council? We discuss all this and more on this episode of Waypoints!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It was a long weekend and that means we were all staring at our phones: Which is alright, because it turns out those have games on them now. Cado briefs us on the Capcom card game Teppen, the, uh, DOTA Autochess DOTA Underlords, and Austin is terrified of what an upcoming Gundam-builidng gacha game will do to his credit score. Back on consoles and PC, Patrick is disappointed by Sea of Solitude, while Rob offers high praise for F1 2019 and dire warning about Total War: Three Kingdoms: Do not pursue Lu Bu.Discussed: Teppen, DOTA Underlords, Sea of Solitude, F1 2019, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Pokemon Sword and Shield, Lucah: Born of a Dream  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Content Warning: discussion of the sexualization of children, sexual violence, and child pornography.There is a long running trope of fan service in anime, where by characters (almost always women) are sexualized by the "camera" for the enjoyment of the (largely male) audience. Often it's deployed in irrespective of whatever plot point is happening at that moment, purely to titillate. ​Evangelion ​is no exception, however, it complicates it's own usage by attempting to explore the burgeoning sexuality of it's teenaged characters. But there's a notable difference between sexualizing characters for the viewer and characters having sexual thoughts. We discuss the messy way that episodes 8-13 deal with these issues and more on this week's Waypoints.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The crew is at the top of their game in this episode about, um, NBA free agency, James Dolan's band, how FFXIV broke Austin, and the latest season of Riverdale. But also there are video games! We talk about them too! We talk about Mario Maker 2, and have some question about that boot that Mario uses (but Patrick doesn't). Rob talks about F1 2019 and its interesting but too-sparse narrative, before getting sidetracked by describing the plot of Draft Day. Cado's great too. Anyway, that's life under capitalism!Discussed: FFXIV: A Realm Reborn, Super Mario Maker 2, F1 2019, Hardcore Mecha  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.