Welcome to Level With Us - a cozy video game discussion podcast where brothers Jared & Marcus play a game separately, then meet together to discuss it (kind of like a book club!). This show is for all ages, so curl up with your loved ones and enjoy as these guys gush about their favorite games, gripe about the annoying parts of games, and try to stump each other with nerdy trivia questions! If you have thoughts you'd like featured in our regular discussions, or for business inquiries, just e-mail us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail.com! Jared's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jaredrichardson?utm
17 min
One of the best games this year may not be the one you'd expect. These are our thoughts on it! Special thanks to SFB Games for the review code! Marcus can be found on Aurelius Whitlock's Murder Museum: https://open.spotify.com/show/30R5REvknCBprrCrlAYDTW Footage provided by Handheld Players: https://youtu.be/RSYEEnglJdg?si=ZniG52e8h33ZDiCd
7 min
I’ve never played Assasin’s Creed before. Here's what I think of Black Flag Resynced, and what's apparently different about it.
8 min
It's here, and it's glorious. To enter our game giveaway, check out the YouTube version of this review. Subscribe, comment, and click the giveaway link in the description for a chance to win! XXXXXXXXXXXXXThe Art of Mina the Hollower: https://www.yachtclubgames.com/blog/the-art-of-the-game/Mina the Hollower: An Audio Tale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na7mnjfhb4oMina the Hollower Pitch Animatic: https://youtu.be/b5TNaLzY7A0?si=FvkXB2oH4BLi3gXnFootage provided by VDGMS: https://www.youtube.com/c/VDGMS
17 min
One of the best games this year may not be the one you'd expect. These are our thoughts on it! Special thanks to SFB Games for the review code! Marcus can be found on Aurelius Whitlock's Murder Museum: https://open.spotify.com/show/30R5REvknCBprrCrlAYDTW Footage provided by Handheld Players: https://youtu.be/RSYEEnglJdg?si=ZniG52e8h33ZDiCd
7 min
I’ve never played Assasin’s Creed before. Here's what I think of Black Flag Resynced, and what's apparently different about it.
8 min
It's here, and it's glorious. To enter our game giveaway, check out the YouTube version of this review. Subscribe, comment, and click the giveaway link in the description for a chance to win! XXXXXXXXXXXXXThe Art of Mina the Hollower: https://www.yachtclubgames.com/blog/the-art-of-the-game/Mina the Hollower: An Audio Tale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na7mnjfhb4oMina the Hollower Pitch Animatic: https://youtu.be/b5TNaLzY7A0?si=FvkXB2oH4BLi3gXnFootage provided by VDGMS: https://www.youtube.com/c/VDGMS
5 min
There's nothing like a solid 3D platformer -- especially one that lets you play as a frog and break the game in unexpected ways. This is our review for Big Hops, which is available now on all major platforms! Switch: Big Hops for Nintendo Switch - Nintendo Official SiteNintendohttps://www.nintendo.com › Store › Games Steam: Big Hops on SteamSteamhttps://store.steampowered.com › app › Big_Hops PS5: Big HopsPlayStation Storehttps://store.playstation.com › en-us › concept
47 min
In this special post-mortem episode, Jared and Marcus return to discuss their top games of the year! Sit back and enjoy us highlight our favorite titles AND do a mini-Name That Tune at the end! 0:00 - Intro 1:49 - Our Top Games of 2025 34:45 - Name That Tune 2025 Games Edition 45:30 - Outro If you ever want to reach out to see what else we're up to, reach us at LevelWithUsPodcast[at]gmail[dot]com And be sure to check out Marcus's murder mystery podcast as well: Aurelius Whitlock's Murder Museum | Podcast on Spotify
59 min
It's official: This is our 100th episode! Join us for impressions of the Switch 2, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Marcus FINALLY having his revenge on Jared with a special Name That Tune! Thank you for listening to and supporting our show. We've had such a good run, and we hope you'll keep an eye out for some of our future projects, maybe even including a Level With Us episode now and then! To contact us, you can reach us at LevelWithUsPodcast[AT]gmail.com Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 0:21 - 100 episodes!! 2:20 - Nintendo Switch 2 6:45 - Donkey Kong Bananza 13:00 - Name That Tune... about our show? 14:48 - Song #1 16:39 - Song #2 18:07 - Song #3 20:22 - Song #4 22:29 - Wild Card #1 25:38 - Song #5 26:37 - Song #6 28:28 - Song #7 30:21 - Song #8 31:51 - Song #9 33:33 - Wild Card #2 35:34 - Song #10 36:40 - Song #11 38:01 - Song #12 40:01 - Song #13 41:41 - Wild Card #3 44:04 - Song #14 45:28 - Song #15 47:22 - A Tangent About Video Game Music 49:53 - Song #16 52:12 - Song #17 53:42 - Wild Card #4 55:55 - The Future of Level With Us... 58:26 - Outro
27 min
As admirers of Davey Wreden’s previous work, we’re now thrilled to review his latest game, “Wanderstop”, a cozy tea-making game with a character-driven narrative and some poignant moments that are darker than you’d typically expect from this type of fare. We’ll stay spoiler-free for our discussion here, but if you’d like to play the game fresh please know that we wholeheartedly recommend it to cozy game fans and other gamers alike! Wanderstop is available on Steam and Playstation on March 11th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1299460/Wanderstop/ https://store.playstation.com/en-us/concept/10011513 Music by C418: https://c418.bandcamp.com/ If you have upcoming indie game recommendations, or just want to reach out, feel free to contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! We are on all major podcasting platforms: https://anchor.fm/levelwithus Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 1:28 - What is Wanderstop? 3:25 - Main Discussion 11:22 - ⭒Star Pieces 15:28 - Quick Jabs 17:03 - Who’s the Fake Fan? 22:04 - Who do we recommend this game to? 23:25 - Musical Spotlight & Credits
40 min
Connor from the ZU podcast joins Jared this week for an ultra-hard gauntlet of obscure Zelda music! Can you correctly identify these 15 tracks from across the mainline titles, spin-offs, and Japanese exclusives? Let us know how you do! Check out the ZU podcast HERE: https://zeldauniverse.net/media/podcasts/ And Connor’s other platforms: Bluesky) @conterez.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/conterez.bsky.social Twitch) twitch.tv/conterez Youtube) youtube.com/conterez If you have upcoming indie game recommendations, or just want to reach out, feel free to contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction & Special Guest 2:08 - The Rules 5:29 - Song #1 7:57 - Song #2 10:57 - Song #3 12:59 - Song #4 15:17 - Song #5 16:26 - Song #6 18:38 - Song #7 20:39 - Song #8 23:32 - Song #9 25:50 - Song #10 28:20 - Song #11 30:05 - Song #12 32:18 - Song #13 34:30 - Song #14 36:41 - Song #15 38:06 - Outro
26 min
It is our OTHER yearly tradition to surprise Marcus with a “Name That Tune” featuring themes from 2024’s biggest video game releases! Can you beat Marcus? Let us know how well you score! Most of all, happy new year! We look forward to hearing from you in 2025! YouTube Version (with cheat sheet): https://youtu.be/_yzM_9pdELc If you have upcoming indie game recommendations, or just want to reach out, feel free to contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! We are on all major podcasting platforms: https://anchor.fm/levelwithus Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction & Rules 1:03 - Song #1 2:21 - Song #2 4:36 - Song #3 6:32 - Song #4 9:09 - Song #5 11:12 - Song #6 13:10 - Song #7 15:06 - Song #8 15:41 - Song #9 16:30 - Song #10 BONUS ROUND! 17:37 - Song #11 18:00 - Song #12 18:09 - Song #13 19:09 - Song #14 21:06 - Song #15 21:25 - Song #16 21:36 - Song #17 23:26 - Song #18 24:49 - Outro
36 min
It is our yearly tradition to discuss our top games this year, and boy was 2024 STACKED! Sit back, relax, and enjoy as we talk about our top 5 games and way, way too many honorable mentions. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 3:16 - How is the Backlog is coming along? 4:50 - Marcus’s #5 6:32 - Jared’s #5 9:26 - Marcus’s #4 13:49 - Quick Tangent 14:31 - Marcus’s #3 16:53 - Jared’s #3 19:33 - Marcus’s #2 22:48 - Jared’s #2 24:32 - Marcus’s #1 26:14 - Jared’s Honorable Mentions 29:52 - Marcus’s Honorable Mentions 31:23 - Jared’s #1 33:46 - Most Anticipated Games 35:15 - Outro
29 min
Marcus has been working on a new detective video game with his creative partner Nathan, and today we’re going to dive into what that was like! Join us as we discuss what makes for a good murder mystery scenario, some behind-the-scenes development stories, and find out whether this game truly is the “soulslike” of detective video games. If you’re interested in winning a free copy of the game, find out at the end of this episode. Then, visit the YouTube version of this interview: https://youtu.be/8mzwqaMtNz0 Purchase the Rise of the Golden Idol: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2716400/The_Rise_of_the_Golden_Idol/ (Also available on consoles!) Check out Marcus and Nathan's Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/30R5REvknCBprrCrlAY Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 3:28 - What is “Rise of the Golden Idol?” 5:04 - How did you get to work on this? 6:00 - “Writer” or “Narrative Designer? 7:23 - Do you feel any pressure or expectations working on the sequel? 9:57 - How do you start writing a murder-mystery scenario? 13:13 - Did the narrative inform the scenarios, or vice versa? 14:43 - Did you design alone, or paired up with other writers? 16:21 - What are your writing strengths? 19:14 - Did you have any ideas considered too “silly” for this game? 20:15 - Did you have to cut any scenarios you were excited about? 23:01 - What are you looking forward to about the launch? Any fun development stories? 25:24 - Who do you think will enjoy this game the most? 26:48 - Free Game Giveaway! 27:55 - Outro
33 min
UFO 50 is one of the most ambitious indies we've ever played: 50 games in one, and some of which are all-time classics! Here are our top ten. If you have upcoming indie game recommendations, or just want to reach out, feel free to contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! We are on all major podcasting platforms: https://anchor.fm/levelwithus Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 0:43 - Why do we love UFO 50? 8:42 - Deviltion 10:48 - Party House 13:45 - Camoflouge 15:30 - Porgy 17:54 - The Big Bell Race 19:02 - Rock On! Island 21:31 - Rail Heist 23:53 - Attactics 26:00 - Hyper Contender 28:25 - Mini & Max 31:49 - Outro
3 min
I guested on Marcus's podcast this week to try and stump him and his co-host Nathan with a trivia challenge! It was a lot of fun, and even if you haven't listened to their show, I recommend checking it out! Link below: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6vhMLSn3txDw3YvpTluvVe?si=t9zLCtw2Rhyaw2CgIPwv_Q
31 min
Cy from Fireplace Gaming joins in this week to take a look at The Plucky Squire, which was just released! In this 2D top-down / 3D platform hybrid, you manipulate a storybook and engage in really well-designed puzzles. Take a listen to hear our thoughts on the game, and be sure to check out Cy’s other videos HERE: https://www.youtube.com/@fireplacegamingYT We are on all major podcasting platforms: https://anchor.fm/levelwithus Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 2:28 - Main Discussion 13:33 - ⭒Star Pieces 18:46 - Quick Jabs 24:21 - Who’s the Fake Fan? 30:30 - Outro
4 min
Pure bliss. It's nice to remember why I love video games. If you have a game recommendation, write us at LevelWithUsPodcast{AT]gmail[DOT}com ! Check out Digital Foundry's excellent video on how the game is a technical marvel: https://youtu.be/1qhV6Tv1FkM?si=fG9HXcagd8UmC6In
5 min
Cat Quest III may sound like a silly game, but trust me when I say it's worth checking out. It may just surprise you... Check out my other reviews on GG! https://ggapp.io/jkrgamer If you have upcoming indie game recommendations, or just want to reach out, feel free to contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com!
26 min
The SteamWorld series has ALWAYS been excellent, but how does this new sea-faring sea-quel hold up? Marcus re-joins us this week to discuss it! And stay tuned to the end to find out how you can win a FREE COPY of SteamWorld Heist II! YouTube version: https://youtu.be/a9QzL7qu5dQ If you have upcoming indie game recommendations, or just want to reach out, feel free to contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! Timestamps: Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 1:53 - What IS this game? 4:11 - Bad Pun 4:24 - General Thoughts 8:59 - ⭒Star Pieces 13:06 - Quick Jabs 16:38 - Who's the Fake Fan? 23:00 - FREE GAME GIVEAWAY!! 25:18 - Outro
2 min
A new YouTube-exclusive episode is up! Please consider subscribing: https://youtu.be/9r9phVKhulw More episodes are on the way. Thank you for your patience!
10 min
Are Metroid: Other M and Star Fox Zero really that bad? ...I don't think so. In fact, I think there's actually a lot to love about these "black sheep"! Join me as I try to find all of their good qualities! Check out my other reviews on GG! https://ggapp.io/jkrgamer If you have upcoming indie game recommendations, or just want to reach out, feel free to contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! 0:00 - Introduction 0:57 - Metroid: Other M 4:41 - Star Fox Zero 9:24 - Conclusion?
3 min
With a simple premise and controls, Isles of Sea and Sky is a lovely puzzle game with lovely vibes. If you're a fan of block-pushing games in The Legend of Zelda, or just love the gameboy aesthetic, this one is well worth checking out. Here are my thoughts on the game. Check out on Steam! https://store.steampowered.com/app/1233070/Isles_of_Sea_and_Sky/ Check out my other reviews on GG! https://ggapp.io/jkrgamer If you have upcoming indie game recommendations, or just want to reach out, feel free to contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com!
6 min
I don’t love Soulslikes…but I quite like No Rest for the Wicked so far. Here are my thoughts on the early access release! Check out my other reviews on GG! https://ggapp.io/jkrgamer If you have upcoming indie game recommendations, or just want to reach out, feel free to contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com!
35 min
Nintendrew joins this week to play a good old-fashioned game of Name That Tune! As an avid collector of N64 games, how will he fare against some cruelly obscure tracks from that console's library? Let us know how well YOU do in the game as well! And thanks for listening! Nintendrew YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@Nintendrew?si=rKyOxHtOcY62cWJ8 Check out Drew's indie title C.A.R.L. on Switch! https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/c-a-r-l-switch/ (Also available on other platforms!) ...and here's our review of it: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1uqxGEQ4Os55H2ySJFhGsl?si=ufA7favjSlWcyJ92pV2wLw If you have upcoming indie game recommendations, or just want to reach out, feel free to contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! We are on all major podcasting platforms: https://anchor.fm/levelwithus Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro / Rules 2:33 - Track #1 3:29 - Track #2 5:22 - Track #3 6:55 - Track #4 9:00 - Track #5 11:11 - Track #6 12:42 - Track #7 14:50 - Track #8 16:41 - Track #9 20:03 - Track #10 22:34 - Track #11 23:34 - Track #12 25:56 - Track #13 28:01 - Track #14 20:41 - Track #15 32:30 - Final Thoughts
24 min
We’re back with another "Backlog Brunch!" Today we discuss a whole litter of titles we haven’t had the chance to bring up on the show before, such as Balatro, Sifu, Coral Island, and River City Girls 2, among others! If you have upcoming indie game recommendations, or just want to reach out, feel free to contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! We are on all major podcasting platforms: https://anchor.fm/levelwithus Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 0:43 - Super Mario RPG 1:39 - Persona 3 Reload 2:26 - Cassette Beasts 7:35 - Coral Island 9:13 - Cocoon 12:16 - Patrick’s Parabox 13:04 - Balatro 18:55 - River City Girls 2 21:00 - Sifu 23:56 - Outro
30 min
The Sonic Mania team returns - and so does Ray Hargreaves! Today we discuss Penny’s Big Breakway, a skill-based 3D Platformer (with an emphasis on the skill) by the former developers of Sonic Mania. We hope you enjoy our thoughts, Jared being awarded his very first quick jab, as well as a free game giveaway! To find out how you can win a free copy of Penny’s Big Breakaway on Nintendo Switch, CLICK HERE: https://sweepwidget.com/c/78364-tonp0jsd If you have upcoming indie game recommendations, or just want to reach out, feel free to contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! We are on all major podcasting platforms: https://anchor.fm/levelwithus Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 00:47 - Main Discussion 13:24 - ⭒Star Pieces 18:10 - Quick Jabs 23:21 - Who’s the Fake Fan? 28:36 - Free Game Giveaway! 28:53 - Outro 30:08 - Bonus Scene
44 min
Today we reminisce about the good ol’ days of subpar Gameboy platformers, candy-themed web games, and driving each other crazy, with a nostalgic trivia battle! One advantage of us co-hosts being brothers is we know exactly what games each other has played, so we hope you enjoy 40+ minutes of us trying to stump each other, and going on plenty of nostalgic tangents along the way! “Maybe Village” arrangement by Aivi and Surasshu: https://aivisura.bandcamp.com/album/the-black-box We don’t know when the next episode will be, but if you have upcoming indie game recommendations, or just want to reach out, feel free to contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! We are on all major podcasting platforms: https://anchor.fm/levelwithus Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 1:20 - Marcus Challenge #1 2:40 - Jared Challenge #1 4:07 - Marcus Challenge #2 5:42 - Jared Challenge #2 9:22 - Marcus Challenge #3 13:14 - Jared Challenge #3 16:29 - Marcus Challenge #4 18:32 - Jared Challenge #4 23:13 - Marcus Challenge #5 26:38 - Jared Challenge #5 29:50 - Marcus Challenge #6 34:25 - Jared Challenge #6 36:10 - Marcus Challenge #7 38:56 - Jared Challenge #7 41:32 - Final Tally 43:50 - Bonus Scene
34 min
Dallin returns to help us review the newest triple-A Metroidvania: Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown! There’s a lot to love about this game: Excellent Combat, a fun water level(?!), and an engaging mechanic new to the genre. Join us as we chat about this and much more, with only a tiiiiny rant about notification settings in this week’s episode of Level With Us! Special thanks to Ubisoft for the review code! We don’t know when the next episode will be, but if you have indie recommendations, or just want to reach out, feel free to contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! We are on all major podcasting platforms: https://anchor.fm/levelwithus Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 1:25 - Main Discussion Begins 2:40 - The Story 3:40 - The Combat 7:48 - Exploration & Progression 10:45 - New Metroidvania Mechanic 13:36 - ⭒Star Pieces 17:57 - Quick Jabs 24:38 - Who’s the Fake Fan? 31:16 - Outro & Final Thoughts 32:47 - Bonus Scene
33 min
Surprise!! We’re back with one last little episode before the new year starts. It’s become a yearly tradition for Jared to spring a “Name That Tune” challenge on Marcus with absolutely no warning! Will you best him at it? Let us know! Image Source: https://www.polygon.com/23648669/best-video-games-2023 We’ll be taking a break for a while, but if you have indie recommendations, or just want to reach out, feel free to contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! We are on all major podcasting platforms: https://anchor.fm/levelwithus Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 0:41 - The Rules 1:37 - Song #1 4:10 - Song #2 6:57 - Song #3 8:09 - Song #4 9:19 - Song #5 11:00 - Song #6 11:49 - Song #7 13:37 - Song #8 15:23 - Song #9 17:01 - Song #10 19:55 - Song #11 21:04 - Song #12 21:56 - Song #13 22:50 - Song #14 24:24 - Song #15 26:10 - Song #16 27:27 - Song #16 28:01 - Song #16 32:16 - Final Recap 33:17 - Bonus Scene
30 min
It’s that time of year again, where we sit back and reflect on the frankly INSANE amount of games released in the past 12 months. These are each of our top 5 games of 2023 - and Jared’s #2 may SHOCK you! Also, listen for a surprise reveal at the end… Wishlist Rise of the Golden Idol HERE: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2716400/The_Rise_of_the_Golden_Idol/ We’ll be taking a break for a while, but if you have indie recommendations, or just want to reach out, feel free to contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! We are on all major podcasting platforms: https://anchor.fm/levelwithus Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 1:26 - Honorable Mentions 4:36 - Jared’s #5 5:59 - Marcus’s #5 7:22 - Jared & Marcus’s #4 10:43 - Marcus’s #3 12:21 - Jared’s #3 13:46 - Marcus’s #2 16:36 - ...Jared Rant? 18:16 - Jared’s #2 21:09 - Jared’s #1 23:04 - Marcus’s #1 24:33 - THE REVEAL 27:55 - Outro
17 min
Ahhh, do you smell that? Something special is ready to be taken out of the oven! We do really love a fresh-baked Paper Mario-inspired, don’t you? Take a listen to this episode to hear our thoughts on the game, including a few bread puns along the way! Win a FREE COPY of Born of Bread by entering our giveaway! https://sweepwidget.com/c/75462-b5ol7q1p You can purchase the game on all major platforms: https://www.wildartsgames.com/bornofbread If you have indie recommendations, or just want to reach out, feel free to contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 0:48 - What is this game? 1:14 - Main Discussion 6:26 - ⭒Star Pieces 8:25 - Quick Jabs 15:31 - Final Thoughts (& Game Giveaway!)
5 min
The SteamWorld Series of games are well known for being exceptionally good - so good, in fact, that one of them is in my top 5 games of all time. So, with the newest entry about to come out, how well does the developer do as they try and tackle the “City-Builder” genre? Listen to find out in this mini-review of the game! You can purchase the game on all major platforms (including Game Pass!). Check it out here: https://steamworldgames.com/ If you have indie recommendations, or just want to reach out, feel free to contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com!
22 min
Deckbuilding! In! SPACE! We have played the new indie title Cobalt Core and we love its single-axis combat system and its charming writing. This week we review the game with all our regular segments, with only a slight amount of spoiler-censorship at the end. You can purchase the game HERE - Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2179850/Cobalt_Core/ Switch: https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/cobalt-core-switch/ If you have indie recommendations, or just want to reach out, feel free to contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 0:48 - What is this game? 2:19 - Main Discussion 9:22 - ⭒Star Pieces 13:20 - Quick Jabs 16:34 - Who’s the Fake Fan? 20:50 - Outro
16 min
Welcome to the show where, at least this week, we talk about pigeons and make obnoxious noises! We got our hands on the new “Rhythm Royale” game, Headbangers! Listen to our overall thoughts on the game, and when you’re done you can enter our giveaway for a FREE copy of the game by clicking HERE: https://sweepwidget.com/c/74475-7z6kp5gq You can also purchase the game HERE: https://www.headbangers.game/ If you have indie recommendations, or just want to reach out, feel free to contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 1:02 - What IS this game? 1:38 - Main Discussion 6:05 - ⭒Star Pieces 9:01 - Quick Jabs 11:24 - Who’s the Fake Fan? 15:25 - Outro & Free Game Giveaway!
35 min
Mamma Mia! Mario Wonder just came out, which means it’s time to flex our knowledge of the series with a little trivia challenge! Stick around to the end to hear our thoughts on Wonder, as well as a… semi-decent Mario impression. Check out Jared’s GG profile HERE: https://ggapp.io/jkrgamer If you have indie recommendations, or just want to reach out, feel free to contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 1:11 - Power-up Quiz 4:14 - Power-up Quiz, the sequel! 7:37 - Character Voice Challenge 13:27 - Mario Movie Quotes 16:32 - Isle Delfino Geography Quiz 21:27 - Nintendo’s OFFICIAL Mario Quiz? 27:06 - Our Mario Wonder Impressions 30:31 - Outro 31:25 - Bonus Round!
17 min
Take a little farm-sim, mix it with creature collecting, top it off with a little deck building, and you get the new indie title Moonstone Island! This week we discuss this game’s multiple facets, from its card-based combat to how low your chances of flirting are (in the game, AND real life!). Purchase Moonstone Island here! https://store.steampowered.com/app/1658150/Moonstone_Island/ If you have indie recommendations, or just want to reach out, feel free to contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! We are on all major podcasting platforms: https://anchor.fm/levelwithus Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 1:11 - Main Discussion Begins 3:13 - Combat 6:29 - The Obvious Comparison 8:13 - ⭒Star Pieces 10:09 - Quick Jabs 11:50 - Who’s the Fake Fan? 15:52 - Outro
25 min
It seemed impossible, but Sea of Stars somehow flipped the script and made JRPGs fun. This week we discuss the game’s fantastic combat design & visuals, do a cooking show, and correct ourselves at the last possible second. Purchase Sea of Stars here! Switch: https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/sea-of-stars-switch/ Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1244090/Sea_of_Stars/ Playstation: https://store.playstation.com/en-us/concept/10004226 Xbox: https://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/store/sea-of-stars-demo/9nldmqt2njwj If you have indie recommendations, or just want to reach out, feel free to contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 0:56 - Main Discussion Begins 2:40 - Combat 4:00 - Visuals 4:42 - Modern Touches 6:43 - Story 8:14 - (Sea of) ⭒Star Pieces 14:22 - Quick Jabs 16:36 - Who’s the Fake Fan? 22:48 - Outro 23:43 - Credits?
18 min
We’re back! So much has happened since we last got together, so this episode we’ll be catching up on Marcus’s new life developments, indie recommendations from our listeners, and a very cool handheld indie console: The Playdate! Also, we may or may not have worked on a video game - listen to find out more! Reelistic Fishing: https://toadleyundercontrol.itch.io/reelisticfishing (also eventually available on Playdate’s Catalog!) Reelistic Fishing OST: https://youtu.be/gcbFKVno8HU?si=ViwXROgP867z6-jO If you have indie recommendations, or are interested in trying the game we both worked on, feel free to contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 0:37 - Catching up on #CatLife 1:32 - Playdate Console 4:46 - Playdate Game Spotlights 9:49 - Reelistic Fishing 13:34 - Get Recs! 16:46 - Outro 17:48 - Bonus Scene
56 min
We brought back special guest Ray Hargreaves to challenge him (and embarrass him if possible) with a Sonic-themed game of “Name That Tune!” He knows his Sonic games, but just how well will he fare? How well will YOU fare? Let us know! Special thanks to Ray for participating and for sharing a few favorite Sonic tracks of his own! Contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 0:53 - The Rules 4:32 - Track #1 6:24 - Track #2 7:17 - Track #3 8:06 - Track #4 9:08 - Track #5 10:06 - Track #6 11:03 - Track #7 12:56 - Track #8 14:28 - Musical Misfit #1 16:02 - Track #9 17:06 - Track #10 19:18 - Track #11 20:34 - Track #12 22:06 - Track #13 24:03 - Track #14 25:31 - Track #15 27:29 - Track #16 29:26 - Musical Misfit #2 31:56 - Score Update 32:20 - Track #17 33:47 - Track #18 35:29 - Track #19 37:18 - Track #20 38:22 - Track #21 40:44 - Track #22 42:17 - Track #23 44:16 - Track #24 45:58 - Track #25 48:02 - Musical Misfit #3 51:27 - Final Score! 52:08 - Musical Misfit #4 55:37 - Track ???
11 min
Marcus is now hitched, so it’s up to Jared to fill the new void in his life with some excellent indie recommendations! This week we’ve got a minimalist RTS, an insanely detailed city-builder, and a… minesweeper-like?! Purchase these excellent titles HERE: Let’s! Revolution! - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2111090/Lets_Revolution/ Ixion - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1113120/IXION/ Thronefall - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2239150/Thronefall/ Contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! We are on all major podcasting platforms: https://anchor.fm/levelwithus Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 0:42 - Let’s! Revolution! 4:27 - Ixion 7:31 - Thronefall 10:39 - Outro
23 min
Part cozy game, part terrifyingly weird experience - we cannot get enough of Pikmin 4! This week Mariah joins Jared once again to discuss this new entry in the acclaimed yet lesser known Nintendo franchise. And a hearty congrats to the winner of our free game giveaway! Contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 1:06 - Our History with the Pikmin Series 2:38 - Pikmin 4 General Thoughts 6:40 - ⭒Star Pieces 10:36 - Oatchi! 11:45 - Quick Jabs 15:28 - Who’s the Fake Fan? 21:16 - Outro
30 min
It’s been two months since The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom came out, so how do we feel about it now? Keep in mind there are full SPOILERS in this episode, but if you don’t want to hear them, skip to the end to learn how you can win a free copy of an excellent indie title! Win a FREE COPY of Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon by telling us an indie game we should cover on our show! The winner will be randomly selected in a future episode. Enter by Contacting us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! Check out our episode about Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon! https://anchor.fm/levelwithus/episodes/Shovel-Knight-Pocket-Dungeon--Indie-Game-Spotlight-e1en1cv Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 0:59 - Do we still like it? 2:52 - The Story / Ending 7:50 - Favorite Sidequests 10:08 - The Combat 13:29 - …The Yiga Clan? 16:30 - Favorite Dungeons 19:48 - Our Final Thoughts 21:35 - Listener Mail Time! 27:13 - Indie Game Giveaway! 29:14 - Outro
1 hr 14 min
Video game trivia with a splash of roleplaying: Welcome to Fake Fan Fantasy II! In this exciting second installment, Jared plays Game Master while Marcus has to identify attractive Zelda characters, UI sound effects, and Pokémon he’s never heard of. Will he gain enough clue coins? Or is he truly the fakest fan? Play along and let us know YOUR high score by contacting us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! You can also reach us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LvlWithUs Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 1:44 - Marcus’s Backstory 5:13 - List of Challenges 6:05 - The Rules 7:59 - Name That UI SFX 16:35 - Hot Zelda Character Game Show? 28:10 - Pokémon vs Yokai 35:07 - Fishing Minigame Challenge 40:18 - A Tender Moment 41:13 - PAL Version Titles 49:11 - The Temple of GC 1:01:20 - Indie Character Indexing 1:09:50 - The Results! 1:10:55 - The Ending 1:12:19 - Outro
7 min
Oops! All Marcus! Jared is gone this week, so Marcus finally took some initiative and made his own episode! In this short review, Marcus gives his thoughts on Toodee and Topdee, a charming puzzle platformer. Contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com!You can also reach us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LvlWithUs
35 min
The wait is over! This week we talk about the highly-anticipated game everyone else is talking about: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. There are no major story spoilers in our discussion, but we do mention one big area you encounter in the first few hours of the game. If YOU have thoughts on Tears of the Kingdom, such as a funny story that happened to you in the game, please let us know and we’ll read it on the next episode of our show! You can Contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! You can also reach us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LvlWithUs Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 1:29 - New-ish and New-er Areas 6:43 - Link’s New Abilities 16:35 - Sandboxy Puzzles 21:15 - ⭒Star Pieces 25:29 - Quick Jabs 28:02 - Who’s the Fake Fan? 32:22 - Final Thoughts 34:06 - Outro
28 min
Beardo’s journey continues as he tries to solve the final video game trivia challenges of “Levelwithandia!” Will he succeed and save his failing business? Or will he be dumb and call Mr. Game & Watch an anime character? Find out in this final chapter! Marcus guested on “Escape This Podcast!” - Check it out: https://www.podbean.com/pu/pbblog-imt4k-1b0e86 …and be sure to also check out Marcus’s murder mystery podcast as well! https://open.spotify.com/show/30R5REvknCBprrCrlAYDTW Contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! You can also reach us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LvlWithUs Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 1:34 - Smash Taunt Challenge 6:10 - Sudden Death! 9:06 - Precious Metals pt. 1 10:39 - Precious Metals pt. 2 12:24 - Precious Metals pt. 3 15:33 - Canonical Murderers 22:00 - The Epic Conclusion 24:55 - Escape Room podcast plug! 26:36 - Marcus Murder Mystery podcast plug! 27:03 - Outro
30 min
Marcus challenged Jared to an all-out video game trivia battle - with a roleplaying twist! Grab your favorite beverage and settle in as these two bicker about different video game currencies, deckbuilding jargon, and knock-off names of video games. And be sure to stay tuned because pt. 2 will be posted next week! Contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! You can also reach us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LvlWithUs Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 2:47 - Backstory 4:36 - Video Game Knock-off Titles 11:43 - Deckbuilder Key Words 17:45 - Zelda Game "Firsts" 22:11 - Video Game Currencies 28:58 - Outro
36 min
Welcome to our side series “Backlog Brunch,” where we catch up on all the games we’ve been playing in the past couple months! While we’d love to dedicate a full episode to each game we play, Backlog Brunch will be our chance to share our thoughts on several games all-in-one! Stay tuned to the end to hear the winner of our DREDGE Giveaway! Contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! You can also reach us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LvlWithUs Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 2:17 - Metroid Prime Remastered 7:25 - Monster Train 13:14 - Hogwarts Legacy 18:48 - The Case of the Golden Idol 23:03 - Persona 4 Golden 26:52 - The Forgotten City 32:25 - Game Giveaway Winner! 35:12 - Outro
31 min
To win a free Switch code for DREDGE (North American region only), listen to the rules (28:00) and then e-mail us the creepiest undersea creature you can think of to LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! Today we review DREDGE, an indie that’s about fishing, item management, and maaayyyybe going just a little bit insane. Let us know what you think of our star pieces, quick jabs, and awful fishy puns as we talk about this game and its unique genre! You can purchase DREDGE HERE: https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/dredge-switch/ …as well as other platforms! Contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! You can also reach us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LvlWithUs Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 1:26 - What Genre IS this Game?! 3:35 - General Thoughts 13:24 - ⭒Star Pieces 19:00 - Quick Jabs 23:05 - Who’s the Fake Fan? 28:00 - Free Game Giveaway! 30:23 - Outro
43 min
Ragnarok may have come and gone a few months ago… but it’s never too late to revisit the Nine Realms! Today Jared is joined by Dan from Octopus Deathpunch for an extended deep dive into God of War: Ragnarok’s story and gameplay choices, and what we thought of them! MAJOR spoilers ahead; feel free to skip this episode if you want to experience the game fresh for yourself. Check out Dan’s website HERE: https://octopusdeathpunch.com/ …and his podcast HERE: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/octopus-death-punch “God of War” themed lo-fi provided by © Audio Studio - Free Copyright Sounds [AS-FCS]: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC146xQqMy3UBnM5lDBeo21g Other Music provided by Lofi Girl: -“Daylight” by Team Astro -“7 Suns” by No Spirit -“Orion” by Hoogway Links: -https://lofigirl.com/blogs/releases/hidden-treasure -https://lofigirl.com/blogs/releases/between-worlds -https://lofigirl.com/blogs/releases/equation-of-time Contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! You can also reach us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LvlWithUs Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 3:12 - General Thoughts 7:55 - The Combat 14:58 - The Ending 21:20 - ⭒Star Pieces 25:04 - Quick Jabs 32:02 - Who’s the Fake Fan? 39:32 - Outro
32 min
The Professor Layton series isn’t dead!! With the announcement of “Professor Layton and the New World of Steam,” we thought it would be fun to not only speculate on what it could be like - but pitch our OWN ideas for what would make for a good franchise revival! Joining us once again is the impeccable Bob from DearestHershel to discuss ideas for the Story, Gameplay, and Setting of this new hypothetical game. I wonder how many predictions we’ll get right…? See more of DearestHershel’s content HERE: https://www.youtube.com/@DearestHershel To learn about DearestHershel’s “Lost City” Layton fan-game (and play it too!), check out this video: https://youtu.be/95lKvaHj_yk Contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! You can also reach us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LvlWithUs Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 1:58 - New Layton Announcement! 4:40 - Marcus’s Pitch 10:00 - Bob’s Pitch 15:19 - Jared’s Story Pitch 20:26 - Jared’s Gameplay Pitch 24:48 - Jared’s Final Twist 26:53 - New World of Steam Predictions 31:17 - Outro
40 min
We’re thrilled to once again welcome Ray Hargreaves on the podcast to discuss Sonic Frontiers (albeit a couple months late - whoops!). For this episode we talk about the ups, downs, and loop-de-loops that this game brings to the franchise. Expect fun rants, lots of laughs, and even a "Name That Tune!" Contact us at LevelWithUsPodcast [at] gmail [dot] com! You can also reach us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LvlWithUs Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 0:54 - General Thoughts 5:00 - The Story 8:02 - The Gameplay / Setting 15:58 - ⭒Star Pieces 19:56 - Quick Jabs 26:41 - Who’s the Fake Fan 31:26 - Name That Tune 36:26 - Ray’s Top 3D Sonic Games 38:11 - Outro 39:24 - Bonus Scenes
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