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    Berries & Blades

    Berries & Blades is a podcast for anyone who loves video games. Hosts Joseph, Willie, and Taylor share thoughts about their favorite games through casual conversations. From retro classics to the latest releases, no game is off-limits. Our discussions are relaxed and informal, but we still manage to stay somewhat organized. New episodes drop every two weeks. So grab your controller, settle in, and let's talk games.
    enBerries & Blades30 Episodes

    Episodes (30)

    The 8-Bit Lord's Prayer

    The 8-Bit Lord's Prayer

    Our 8-bit Lord, who art in the digital realm, hallowed be thy game—Join us for a conversation about the gaming sins we've committed since our last Controller Confession.

    In this episode, we head into the confessional booth and ask the 8-bit Lord to forgive us for our rage quits and deliver us from glitches. One of us finally admits our love for Techtonica, and another confesses to spreading ourselves too thin by playing too many games. We also chat about inverted vs. non-inverted controls and 2-D platform games and get side-tracked by news from Microsoft. The last of us doesn't think Skull and Bones is a game worth $70 and flexes their Yakuza street cred all over your face—forever and ever, respawn after respawn. Amen.

    Here's the full transcript for this episode.

    If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

    You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

    Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

    The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFLLexica, Arvid Svenungsson, and Christian Nanzell.

    berriesandblades.simplecast.com

    Who Aims? The Player or the Slayer?

    Who Aims? The Player or the Slayer?

    A box-office BOMB, confusion between Kevin James and Kevin Smith, and Gerard Butler does what he does best. Join us for a conversation about Gamer (2009), a movie that gets almost everything wrong.

    In this episode, we share our thoughts about Gamer, a science fiction action movie from 2009 starring Gerard Butler and Michael C. Hall, and includes a mean-ass-looking Terry Crews. This movie is hard to defend, so we spend most of our time bashing it instead. We chat about the cinematography and actor performances and pay our respects to Ludacris. "I do feel you, my giant brother." Willie breaks down the movie's plot and references a 10,000-word blog post from a guy who thinks Gamer is "as radical as reality itself." Taylor struggles with a character named Gorge and how this movie portrays gamers, and Joseph thought John Leguizamo's performance was one of the highlights. Overall, this movie does a great job of NOT delivering anything beyond surface-level action scenes, but it does have an ethanol-powered vehicle in it—so there's that science, lol. "Let's Boogie Woogie Rock & Roll!"

    Here's the full transcript for this episode.

    If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

    You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

    Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

    The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFLLexica, and Christian Nanzell.

    berriesandblades.simplecast.com

    Hip Fire: THE FINALS is Pure Chaos

    Hip Fire: THE FINALS is Pure Chaos

    Explode into gold coins, a Battle Pass that's 95% worthless, and a gladiator-type arena filled with casino sound effects. Join us for a conversation about a free-to-play first-person shooter called THE FINALS.

    Welcome back to Hip Fire, a mini-series where we share our first impressions about a game after 5–10 hours of gameplay. In this episode, we talk about our co-op experience with THE FINALS. Taylor had a blast playing this game—like, literally a blast—since you can blow up almost everything in this game and found the lines for the in-game announcer poorly written. Willie was the only one of us to make it to THE FINALS in the game's tournament mode and thinks the game's XP progression is too damn slow. Joseph derails the conversation with Gerard Butler and thinks the starting cosmetics are garbage. So, spending money on the battle pass is probably a waste, but all three of us had a lot of fun playing one of the game modes called Bank It. Overall (considering it's free-to-play), we recommend this game to anyone who enjoys first-person shooters. Watch out for Orbital Lasers!

    Here's the full transcript for this episode.

    If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

    You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

    Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

    The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFLLexica, and Christian Nanzell.

    berriesandblades.simplecast.com

    Games We Want to Play in 2024

    Games We Want to Play in 2024

    Pure anticipation and speculation, and Space Jizz. Join us for a conversation about the 2024 games we're looking forward to the most.

    In this episode, we share our thoughts about the games we think will hit the hardest in 2024. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is on Joseph and Willie's shortlist. The air-dashing looks tasty, and we're dying for more time-shift shenanigans—while we wait for the remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Willie breaks down the concept for Banishers: Ghosts of Eden, which sounds like a game of consequences, and promises to give an in-depth review of Rise of the Ronin if you buy him a PS5. Taylor (of course) brings up Light No Fire, a game scheduled for release in 2025 instead of 2024—because guidelines can't keep an AI-loving kid in check. Other games mentioned are Black Myth: Wu KongStar Wars: Outlaws, Tales of Kenzera: Zau, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, and Mariachi Legends. Also, Taylor thinks Darth Vader looks like a loser. Please direct your hate at him.

    Here's the full transcript for this episode.

    If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

    You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

    Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

    The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFLLexica, and Christian Nanzell.

    berriesandblades.simplecast.com

    The Wonder of Super Mario Bros.

    The Wonder of Super Mario Bros.

    Wonder Flowers, the Koopa Clown Car, and the "Elephant Mario" in the room. Join us for a conversation about the first traditional side-scrolling Mario game in over a decade, Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

    In this episode, we share our thoughts about Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Willie drove 19 hours cross-country to visit Joseph, naturally leading to a couch co-op playthrough of the game. This game is pretty damn good, full of joy, and pulls inspiration from classics like Super Mario World and Super Mario Bros. 3. Think of it like a souped-up version of those games, but with a ton more variety in the level designs—specifically in the Wonder Flower sections. We discuss the visual graphics, different level types (like Break Time and Search Party), new power-ups, the re-spawn mechanic, and the game's difficulty. Overall, Joseph thought the game was too easy, and Taylor talks about how impressed he is by the variety in the game. Willie breaks some news about the helicopter/bowl thing that Bowser flies around in and gives his critique about the music. If you're a big fan of Super Mario Bros. 1–3 and Super Mario World or looking for something family-friendly— you should 100% check this game out. HINT: don't miss out on the Special World!

    Here's the full transcript for this episode.

    If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

    You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

    Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

    The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFLLexica, and Christian Nanzell.

    berriesandblades.simplecast.com

    The Best Games of the Year: 2023

    The Best Games of the Year: 2023

    Starfield sucks, Lies of P deserves more credit, and "Flute Guy Goes Hard Again." Join us for a conversation about our favorite games of 2023 and our reactions to The Game Awards.

    In this episode, we share our Game of the Year picks and react to the announcements and winners at The Game Awards. To no surprise, Baldur's Gate 3 received the attention it deserved. Hello Games introduced Light No Fire—a new adventure game we're all excited about, and Hideo Kojima announced his new project called OD. Both games look great, but we were disappointed The Game Awards spent so much time on those presentations. We would have rather seen more award acceptance speeches on stage since—you know—it's supposed to be an award show. ANYWAY. We also discuss bangers like Lies of P, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Alan Wake II, Baldur's Gate 3, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, and Spider-Man 2. Overall, 2023 was an incredible year for video games, and we're looking forward to 2024. Thanks so much for listening to us this year, and special thanks to Christopher Judge for publically slamming the length of the newest Call of Duty single-player campaig...Please Wrap It Up - Geoff Keighley.

    Here's the full transcript for this episode.

    If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

    You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

    Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

    The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFLLexica, and Christian Nanzell.

    berriesandblades.simplecast.com

    Bashing Heads in Mortal Kombat 1

    Bashing Heads in Mortal Kombat 1

    Madam Bo gets knocked the F*CK out, Johnny Cage squares off against Kenshi, and for the first time, our friend Jack is a Kameo on the podcast. Join us for a conversation about our favorite fighting game of the year, Mortal Kombat 1.

    In this episode, we dive into the story of Mortal Kombat 1. Somehow—and even after 30 years—Netherrealm Studios is still weaving together a compelling narrative. The MK universe has gotten pretty complicated up to this point, but Mortal Kombat 1 (mostly) resets the timeline and rewrites the story. Taylor didn't play the game, so Willie and Joseph try to get him caught up. Jack breaks down the Invasions game mode, praises the game's visual graphics, and throws shade at the Dragon Crystals used for microtransactions. We also cover the main story beats, talk about voice-over performances, and highlight some of our favorite moments in the game. Overall, we all enjoy playing MK1, and it's super fun to watch competitively. We 100% recommend playing through the main story, and if fighting games aren't your thing—watch the cutscene movie on YouTube. FRIENDSHIP!  

    Here's the full transcript for this episode.

    If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

    You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

    Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

    The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFLLexica, and Christian Nanzell.

    berriesandblades.simplecast.com

    MORE Lying and Dying in Lies of P

    MORE Lying and Dying in Lies of P

    This discussion is Part 2 of our conversation about Lies of P. This game is so damn good we had to record another episode about it. Also, Taylor f*cked up—he gave his ***** to G-Pedo like the real good boy he is. Join us for the extended conversation about Lies of P, the soulslike game inspired by the Adventures of Pinocchio.

    In this episode, we continue our conversation about Lies of P. We all love this game—we'll be raising HELL if it doesn't win at least one nomination for Game of the Year. We're revisiting this game because there was too much information to cover in a single episode. Who is the Legendary Stalker? What does Dark Horse Comics have to do with the game? Why does one enemy resemble Robin Williams's character from Night at the Museum? Deep in the episode, we discuss the collectible vinyl records, our approach to weapon crafting and Legion Arms, and Geppetto's motivations. Joseph breaks down the 4th wall with the Mad Donkey's dialogue. Willie breaks down the relationship between the Red Actress and the White Lady, and Taylor talks about the secret boss fight at the end of the game. We can't say enough great things about the quality of this game. Find it on Game Pass and play it, but don't piss off the King of Riddles, Arlecchino. 

    Here's the full transcript for this episode.

    If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

    You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

    Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

    The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFLLexica, and Christian Nanzell.

    berriesandblades.simplecast.com

    Lying and Dying in Lies of P

    Lying and Dying in Lies of P

    Creepy Geppetto, dying over and over and over, and a game that puts the fun back into lying. Join us for a conversation about Lies of P, a soulslike game inspired by The Adventures of Pinocchio

    In this episode, we share our thoughts and experiences about Lies of P. We 100% confirmed our speculation that this game could be the Game of the Year. Seriously, it's that good, and if you enjoy playing soulslike games, we strongly recommend you play Lies of P. From great game mechanics and fantastic weapons to a solid main storyline—Lies of P feels like the total package. Joseph thinks this game is the master of delayed and mix-up attacks, Taylor is still getting his P-Organ stretched by the final boss, and Willie digs through the end credits for clues about the upcoming DLC. All three of us loved playing this game, and we can't wait for more. Until then, we'll continue our theories about Paracelsus, the Arm of God, and the single stargazer that can't used in the game. HINT: you can cheese enemies through walls with the Puppet Ripper's charged attack. 

    Here's the full transcript for this episode.

    If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

    You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

    Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

    The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFLLexica, and Christian Nanzell.

    berriesandblades.simplecast.com

    Outtakes and Hijinks - Part 2

    Outtakes and Hijinks - Part 2

    Somehow, we've crammed clips about Baltimora, Eve 6, SPM, Creed, Nickleback, Jason Aldean, and Metallica—all in one episode. Join us for another mashup of outtakes, hijinks, and other shenanigans.  

    In this episode, we take you back behind the scenes for a collection of audio clips that didn't make it into episodes 11–19. Mostly, these clips are a little too off-topic to include in regular conversations, so we're featuring them here to celebrate reaching another goal for the podcast. Tune in to hear Taylor talk about going to war with a Gatorade-obsessed "supermouse" and check on his chickens to make sure they're not getting f*cked up. Willie revisits our previous discussion about "Tarzan Boy" and wonders how many people don't realize Boomhauer—from King of the Hill—is using legitimate words when he talks. Together, all three of us bash "Try That in a Small Town" by Jason Aldean for its traditionally racist ideas and completely confuse ourselves about whether or not there's a character named Curly Bill in the movie Tombstone. Also, this episode is brought to you by Pippy's Peanut Butter—"if you're not eating Pippy's, you're not ain't eating sh*t."

    Here's the full transcript for this episode.

    If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

    You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

    Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

    The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFLLexica, and Christian Nanzell.

    berriesandblades.simplecast.com

    Bowser vs. the Mushroom Kingdom

    Bowser vs. the Mushroom Kingdom

    [Rap] Yo, you're in for a treat, so hang onto your seat. Get ready for adventure and remarkable feats. You'll meet Koopas, the Troopas, the Princess, and the others. Hangin' with the plumbers, you'll be hooked on the brothers. Join us for a conversation about the highest-grossing film based on a video game, The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

    In this episode, we trade thoughts and comments about the 2023 blockbuster, The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Ultimately, we all came away with a similar feeling about the movie. It was fun to watch, but it comes up short in a few ways. There's certainly no shortage of terrific easter eggs and clever ways of incorporating nostalgic sound effects and sounds. But some of the main story beats felt like they lacked depth. However, one thing's for sure—we all loved how they portrayed Princess Peach as a badass. You can expect great voice-over performances from the entire cast, and they don't hold back on the number of "Mamma Mias." It's worth watching, but it left all three of us wanting a version of the movie crafted for the generation of Super Mario Bros. players who grew up with the franchise in the 80s and 90s. Collectively, we give The Super Mario Bros. Movie an 80 out of 100. "Let's-a go!"

    Here's the full transcript for this episode.

    If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

    You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

    Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

    The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFLLexica, and Christian Nanzell.

    berriesandblades.simplecast.com

    Genre Hopping and Shape-Shifting

    Genre Hopping and Shape-Shifting

    Have you ever heard of a game called Pac-Land? It's very different from the "action maze chase game" we all know and love. These series—the ones that bounce between different genres—are the focus of this episode. Join us for a conversation about game franchises that have explored different genres.

    In this episode, we tackle a list of games Willie created that have shape-shifted between different game styles. You know, starting as a real-time strategy game but switching to a first-person shooter—that sort of thing. We highlight games in famous franchises like Pac-Man, Resident Evil, Fallout, World of Warcraft, and Grand Theft Auto. Later in the episode, we speculate how AI could help or hurt the gaming industry, and Willie introduces us to a game called Resident Evil Gaiden—WTF, lol. We wrap with comments about Unreal Engine 5, water?, and misleading thumbnail images on YouTube. 

    Here's the full transcript for this episode.

    If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

    You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

    Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

    The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFLLexica, and Christian Nanzell.

    berriesandblades.simplecast.com

    Hip Fire: Factory Stuff in Techtonica

    Hip Fire: Factory Stuff in Techtonica

    Stock your inventory with alien plant matter, build conveyor belts, automate stuff, and explore underground caves. We somehow stumbled across a game with so much to do—BUT—so little to do. Join us for a conversation about a first-person factory automation game called Techtonica.

    Welcome back to Hip Fire, a mini-series where we share our first impressions about a game after 5–10 hours of gameplay. In this edition, we talk about our co-op experience with Techtonica. Joseph takes his first crack at a factory automation game but quickly realizes it's not the genre for him—and gets lost for most of the time. Willie highlights some game mechanics and keeps the crew grounded by ACTUALLY learning how to play the game. At some point, Taylor glitches his way into seeing everything in the entire game—all at once. Despite our gripes with the game, Techtonica seems like a great take on a factory automation game, you know, if you're into that sort of thing. At the very least, we'll make you think about your favorite burger! 

    Here's the full transcript for this episode.

    If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

    You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

    Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

    The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFLLexica, and Christian Nanzell.

    berriesandblades.simplecast.com

    From the Arcade to the Big Stage

    From the Arcade to the Big Stage

    Mirror matches between the Chilean twins, preserving arcade culture and Evo Moment 37. Also, how in the hell is it possible for people to react so quickly in fighting games? Join us for a conversation about the largest fighting game competition in the world, the Evolution Championship Series.

    In this episode, we discuss Evo 2023 and delve into the culture of the fighting game community. For over two decades, Evo has attracted the most elite fighting game players to compete in games like Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Tekken, and Super Smash Bros. Joseph talks about how he got interested in fighting game tournaments, mentions Evo Moment 37 and explains how Street Fighter 4 saved a dying community. Willie brings up the intricacies of frame data, asks questions about the brackets and structure of Evo, and talks about sinking time into playing Mortal Kombat 1. Taylor lightens the mood with a fight stick-skateboard crossover, notices how much blocking happens in fighting games at the elite level, and helps us rant about YouTube's resolution for 10 minutes. Shoryuken!

    Here's the full transcript for this episode.

    If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

    You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

    Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

    The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFLLexica, and Christian Nanzell.

    berriesandblades.simplecast.com

    Not the Leonard Maltin Game

    Not the Leonard Maltin Game

    Joseph and Taylor square off in a no-holds-barred video game guessing game hosted by Willie. Join us as we stumble through a game we call The NOT the Leonard Maltin Game.

    In this episode, Wilie introduces us to a guessing game he created called The NOT the Leonard Maltin Game—inspired by The Leonard Maltin Game from Doug Benson's podcast called Doug Loves Movies. In short, Willie chooses a game and reads a maximum of ten reviews for it. From least to most helpful review, Joseph and Taylor try to name the game with as few clues as possible. In general, expect a lot of wrong guesses, lol. We're limiting the spoilers here, but buried in the episode, Joseph—a pro gamer—magically guesses correctly with ZERO clues, and Taylor butchers the name of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Let the Hunt to the Bloodborne begin! 

    Here's the full transcript for this episode.

    If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

    You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

    Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

    The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFLLexica, and Christian Nanzell.

    berriesandblades.simplecast.com

    Boss Fights Worth Fighting

    Boss Fights Worth Fighting

    Madeline vs. Badeline, Batman vs. Mr. Freeze, and Sahelantro-what? Join us for a conversation about six different boss fights we thought were memorable and worth fighting to this day. 

    In this episode, we take on the challenge of making a list of boss fights we think are worth remembering. Willie starts with Batman: Arkham City, talks about stealth attacks and recaps the fight against Mr. Freeze. Later in the episode, he brings up the brilliance of Hideo Kojima and the Psycho Mantis boss fight from Metal Gear Solid. Taylor has fun talking about the most ridiculous-sounding boss—Sahelanthropus—from Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain and remembers rage quitting because of the gigantic Ancient Dragon from Dark Souls 2. Joseph talks about the biggest, toughest MF from Gears of War—General RAAM—and highlights Madeline's fight against a Part of Her and how it's a turning point in the game, Celeste. Also, "I've got it. Use the Controller Port!! Plug your Controller into Controller port 2."  

    Here's the full transcript for this episode. It includes links to some of the videos we watched during this episode.

    If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

    You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

    Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

    The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFLLexica, and Christian Nanzell.

    berriesandblades.simplecast.com

    Goood Morning Street Fighter!

    Goood Morning Street Fighter!

    For you—today—the day Bison graced your favorite podcast listening app is the most important day of your life. For him, it was Wednesday. Join us for a conversation about the hilariously bad golden nugget of a film, Street Fighter: The Movie from 1994. Wah-CHOP~!

    In this episode, the gloves are OFF. Well, not for Balrog, lol. Unfortunately, we secretly love almost everything about Street Fighter: The Movie. Raul Julia, as Bison, minimizes the damage with a fantastic performance, despite being terminally ill. On the other hand, our beloved Jean Claude Van Damme gave "one of his most wooden performances" ever. Together we question everything about this movie in an episode full of laughs, criticism, DNA Mutagens, and "that son-of-a-b*tch Bison." Taylor mentions the enormous number of jump cuts in the editing, Willie questions why this movie isn't rated more mature than PG-13, and Joseph gives the Gooood Morning Shadaloo announcement. Say, anybody out there know what to do if a Bison Trooper throws a grenade right in your face? 

    Here's a link to the full movie.

    Here's the full transcript for this episode.

    If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

    You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

    Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

    The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFLLexica, and Christian Nanzell.

    Hip Fire: Lies of P Demo

    Hip Fire: Lies of P Demo

    "Your Springs Are Reacting." Who doesn't want to fight as a puppet resembling Timothee Chalamet, tell lies in the plagued city of Krat, and explore their P Organ? Join us for a conversation about a new soulslike inspired by The Adventures of Pinocchio, called Lies of P. 

    Welcome to the first episode of Hip Fire, a mini-series where we share our first impressions about a game after playing it for only 5 hours. Well, more like 5–12 hours for the Lies of P Demo. Yeah, we know we suck at things, lol. Anyway, this demo is incredibly polished. So polished Joseph thinks it might be the best demo he's ever played. Willie breaks down the scrambled messages seen in the boss fights, and Taylor wonders if he can finally wield Pi-NOSE-cchio's nose as a deadly weapon. Together we dig into the game's combat mechanics, intelligent level, and boss designs and talk about the potential of the full release. In our opinion, this game will be good enough to compete for GOTY. Get good or get rekt, fool. 

    Games briefly mentioned in this episode: Amnesia: The Bunker, Starfield, Fallout, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Bloodborne, Elden Ring, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, Yakuza, Aliens: Dark Descent, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, Mortal Kombat 1, and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.  

    Here's the full transcript for this episode.

    If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

    You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

    Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

    The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFLLexica, and Christian Nanzell.

    berriesandblades.simplecast.com

    Mortal Kombat 1 Trailer

    Mortal Kombat 1 Trailer

    Bone-crunching fatalities, Ketchup and Mustard colored cyborg ninjas, and Jean Claude Van Damme doing the splits in basically everything. Join us for a breakdown and conversation about the Mortal Kombat 1 Announcement Trailer. 

    In this episode, we "analyze" the Mortal Kombat Announcement Trailer scene by scene. But first, we try to remember what in the hell has happened in the overly complicated lore of the series, lol. Joseph brings up the long list of controversies surrounding Mortal Kombat in the mid-1990s and confesses he didn't know the secret behind Noob Saibot's name. Willie wonders which game in the series is considered Mortal Kombat 8 and talks about how much he enjoyed the first timeline reset in Mortal Kombat (9) from 2011. Taylor bails on us for 20 minutes of the episode, but not before he tells us that Baraka and Johnny Cage were two of his favorite characters. We wrap with speculation about Mortal Kombat 1 and how Fire God Liu Kang's new era will play out. Down, Up, Left, Left, A, Right, and Down.

    Here's a link to the trailer we watched in this episode. 

    Games briefly mentioned in this episode: Mortal Kombat 1, Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat X, Mortal Kombat 11, Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath, Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, Mortal Kombat: Deception, Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, Mortal Kombat II, Mortal Kombat 3, Mortal Kombat 4, Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

    Here's the full transcript for this episode.

    If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

    You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

    Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

    The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFLLexica, and Christian Nanzell.

    Outtakes and Hijinks

    Outtakes and Hijinks

    Ten minutes about Tarzan Boy by Baltimora, a 100% Do Not Bring a Ghost Home Policy and the Otis Spunkmeyer cookie hustle. Join us for a mashup of outtakes, hijinks, and other shenanigans.  

    In this episode, we bring you behind the mic for a collection of audio clips that didn't make it into the first nine episodes. Ridiculous moments happen pretty frequently (spelled without a w) off-air, so we're using our tenth episode as an excuse to share them with you. Expect a bunch of voice-over readings for AI-generated Berries & Blades ads, confirmation that "Willie internet weak," Taylor rant about loud motorcycle speakers, and several intro/outro outtakes. In other words, listen to us be foolish for 58 minutes, lol. Enjoy!

    Games briefly mentioned in this episode: Horizon Forbidden West, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Halo, Mario Bros., Halo Infinite, and Ghost of Tsushima.

    Here's the full transcript for this episode.

    If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

    You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

    Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

    The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFLLexica, and Christian Nanzell.