Into the Aether - A Low Key Video Game Podcast

A rambunctious take on Persona 5 Royal and how modern handheld boosts and design choices reshape the loop. A spoiler-free verdict on Resident Evil Requiem and a chat about its nostalgia-driven trilogy arc. Unexpected love for Soul Calibur III’s ambitious single-player modes and tactical hybrid ideas. A deep dive into Marathon’s extraction-style design and how it fits amid live-service trends.

A lively deep dive into Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse, its meta-puzzles, true endings, and series potential. A spirited Square Enix conversation and debate about Final Fantasy’s future and niche successes. Early impressions of Slay the Spire 2 multiplayer and progression systems. Updates on Pokopia and a fond look at Minishoot’ Adventures’ dungeon design and twin-stick innovations.

A lively chat about Pokémon Pokopia’s cozy systems, unexpected depth, and charming creature personalities. They geek out over Scyther and memorable NPC moments. A spoiler-aware take on Resident Evil Requiem’s tonal shifts and who should return in future games. First impressions of Slay the Spire 2’s new characters, mechanics, and co-op features. Spring plans and upcoming PAX chatter close things out.

If I do this squat, it'll be the most squats I've ever done outside of The Shire.Discussed: Resident Evil Requiem, Capcom’s modern hits, Off-Broadway Skyrim, our experience with Resident Evil, Leon and Grace, camp, Ys X: Proud Nordics, modern Ys gameplay, Buff Sam, Trails of Cold Steel, Falcom Corner, Marathon Server Slam, battle royales and Destiny-likes, BB’s time with Destiny, extraction shooters, Super Monsanto, Big DefectFind us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineBuy some merch, if you'd like: https://shop.intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast---Follow Stephen Hilger: https://bsky.app/profile/stephenhilger.bsky.socialFollow Brendon Bigley: https://bsky.app/profile/bb.wavelengths.onlineProduced by AJ Fillari: https://bsky.app/profile/ajfillari.bsky.social---Season 8 cover art by Scout Wilkinson: https://scoutwilkinson.myportfolio.com/Theme song by Will LaPorte: https://ghostdown.online/---Timecodes:(00:00) - Intro (00:19) - Resident Evil Requiem | Today's for the freaks (55:00) - Break (55:01) - Surprise! It's a Stephen segment (55:50) - Ys X: Proud Nordics | Pronounced like "geese" (01:08:44) - Trails of Cold Steel | Vita prep is ongoing! (01:16:45) - Alabaster Dawn | Check out BB talking about more demos on Wavelengths! (01:17:31) - Break (01:17:32) - Variations on a Samwise (01:18:05) - Marathon | Talking about Marathon (01:49:19) - Wrapping up ---Thanks to all of our amazing patrons, including our Eternal Gratitude members:SuperThisWayNick GStarfallrondoSusan H0nlygh0stsVincent JPatrick KEd AJ-RockSamantha DNorth HeroSam HSnzznJ-RockGregory Mark SCmndr BiscuiticemanChristian HRydan BCaleb HArden FEye of the DuckKaleNathan EJ. H. AjoelchronoMellowMatthew BRobin LPSeekingSeakingJimmerszoey!Vinny MMattKerry KBrian MNoah DZach DChristopher TDHugo WToddChris BLukerfuffleStephen YDaniel GEric FTaran WBrendan OChris ZClayton MZach RDylan NFederico VTigerz RevengeLogan HAlan RJohn AMike LmattjanzzDavid MHeavyPixelsKaleb HTyler JCorey ZSusan HBarry TRobert RChris JBrett Allen HDan SJack SGarrett CjimiiboJohn HDirch FJim EJim WTristan LEvan BAwfulHanzomin2Aaron GJean HTodd Nred_wagonNeilPeter BJohn VvErik MRedmage77Joshua JTony LDanny KGibson GKate Duncan BRichard MDaniel NSeth MJamesAndy HDemoEmmaLyn ECorey TCaleb WJake LJesse WMike TCodesMatt BWesleymebezacAlex LSergio LninjadeathdogRory BA42PoundMooseRobert MMichael WAndrewthis_JUSTINRyan O14.3 billion yearsBrendan KMegan BSecretAgentKoalaNoah OArcturusAndrew WhepaheChase ALoveDiesNick QChris MRBKaren HAdam FScott HAlexander SMatt HMurrayDavid PJason KMicah OKamrin HAndrew DKyle SPhilip N  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

They dig into Mario Tennis Fever’s fever mechanics, chaotic mud and banana interactions, and why ranked play hits hard. A creepy co-op horror called Reanimal and how co-op changes horror pacing get discussed. A deep dive into Danganronpa’s trial systems and emotional stakes appears. Paranormasight’s mermaid folklore, regional research, and memorable character duos are explored.

They riff on dice-driven mechanics and chance in games while highlighting titles like Windblown, Danganronpa, Culdcept, and Under the Island. Conversation hops to the charm of the Vita library, Smash Bros. for 3DS, and roguelike mysteries like Shiren. Expect talk of puzzle-first design, portable game vibes, and nostalgic single-player experiences.

Linguists are baffled. “There seems to be a new subcommunity in a niche online video game developing a totally new manner of speech by fusing what’s known as the ‘Valorant accent’ with idioms from medieval English,” writes a joint statement from The Linguistic Society of East and West.Discussed: BB realizes he’s offline, Highguard, early impressions of Deadlock, Yoda in Soul Calibur, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, the pros and cons of remakes, the history of DQVII, Nioh 3, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection Demo, new games on the horizon "A History of Dragon Quest (and Why To Try It Now)" by Chris PlanteHarvestella Review by Kaile Hultner PS1 Playlists:The ten listener poll winnersThe full playlistFind us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineBuy some merch, if you'd like: https://shop.intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast---Follow Stephen Hilger: https://bsky.app/profile/stephenhilger.bsky.socialFollow Brendon Bigley: https://bsky.app/profile/bb.wavelengths.onlineProduced by AJ Fillari: https://bsky.app/profile/ajfillari.bsky.social---Season 8 cover art by Scout Wilkinson: https://scoutwilkinson.myportfolio.com/Theme song by Will LaPorte: https://ghostdown.online/---Timecodes:(00:00) - Intro (00:19) - Highguard | Brendon Offlineley (12:09) - Dragon Quest VII Reimagined | The first game of the episode (57:50) - Break (57:52) - Nioh 3 | Kiefer's favorite game (01:13:30) - Break (01:13:32) - There was a Nintendo Direct (01:15:14) - Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection | Another 3 (01:33:08) - On the horizon (01:36:22) - Wrapping up ---Thanks to all of our amazing patrons, including our Eternal Gratitude members:SuperThisWayNick GStarfallrondoSusan H0nlygh0stsVincent JPatrick KEd AJ-RockSamantha DNorth HeroSam HSnzznJ-RockGregory Mark SCmndr BiscuiticemanChristian HRydan BCaleb HArden FEye of the DuckKaleNathan EJ. H. AjoelchronoMellowMatthew BRobin LPSeekingSeakingJimmerszoey!Vinny MMattKerry KBrian MNoah DZach DChristopher TDHugo WToddChris BLukerfuffleStephen YDaniel GEric FTaran WBrendan OChris ZClayton MZach RDylan NFederico VTigerz RevengeLogan HAlan RJohn AMike LmattjanzzDavid MHeavyPixelsKaleb HTyler JCorey ZSusan HBarry TRobert RChris JBrett Allen HDan SJack SGarrett CjimiiboJohn HDirch FJim EJim WTristan LEvan BAwfulHanzomin2Aaron GJean HTodd Nred_wagonNeilPeter BJohn VvErik MRedmage77Joshua JTony LDanny KGibson GKate Duncan BRichard MDaniel NSeth MJamesAndy HDemoEmmaLyn ECorey TCaleb WJake LJesse WMike TCodesMatt BWesleymebezacAlex LSergio LninjadeathdogRory BA42PoundMooseRobert MMichael WAndrewthis_JUSTINRyan O14.3 billion yearsBrendan KMegan BSecretAgentKoalaNoah OArcturusAndrew WhepaheChase ALoveDiesNick QChris MRBKaren HAdam FScott HAlexander SMatt HMurrayDavid PJason KMicah OKamrin HAndrew DKyle SPhilip N  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

They dig into Code Vein II and how it borrows from bigger souls games while still flashing anime vampire flair. Nioh 3 demo impressions highlight fast stances and arcade power fantasy. A detour into Elden Ring: Nightreign explores multiplayer experiments. They celebrate Fire Emblem: Awakening’s systems and nostalgia. Finally, a deep look at Cairn’s limb-by-limb climbing, survival meters, and contemplative storytelling.

They trade funny recording setup anecdotes before digging into Persona 4 Golden and why Persona finales land so differently. Conversation jumps to Tokyo Xanadu EX+ and whether it can join Falcom’s classics. They unpack the FMV ambition and branching chaos of 428: Shibuya Scramble. Thoughts on Code Vein II demos, Tomodachi Life vibes, Switch game plans, and a few retro handheld detours round things out.

In this lively discussion, the hosts dive into their theories about Persona 6, pondering its potential settings and cultural influences. They also celebrate the nostalgia of Tekken 3, sharing insights on its unique design and gameplay mechanics. A playful overview of Escape From Ever After reveals its satirical take on fairy tales, including quirky narratives like the Three Little Pigs as mob bosses. Lastly, Hytale's evolution from a Minecraft server to a standalone game is explored, highlighting its community engagement and exciting gameplay features.