Into the Aether - A Low Key Video Game Podcast

The makings of a Joeylike are pretty simple, all things considered: The player character needs to ask "how you doin'?" as often as possible. This generally makes Joeylikes easy to spot from a mile away, but it also means they come off as derivative. Attempts to change the Joeylike catchphrase are often disasterous.   Discussed: Code Vein II, Nioh 3's demo, Elden Ring: Nightreign, soulslikes, Joey...

Jareth skulks through the castle and out the front gates while listening to their favorite podcast , hair somehow bopping to and fro while also locked into its gravity-defying shape. As he makes his way towards the lillies, a new song idea slams its way into his frontal lobe. It's a riff on another song he sang long ago. He croaks it into existence. Discussed: strange recording arrangements, Perso...

I don't mean to hy my own tale about this, but I have some theories about Persona 6 that I'm feeling pretty confident about. Discussed: Malort, steam heat radiators responding to negative temperature weather, Tekken 3, informed button mashing, Vital Shell, Cannon Spike-Likes, a reminder about the ps1 poll and goty giveaway, Escape From Ever After, next bonus ep, Persona 6 theories, Hytale Cameron’...

What do Dragon Quest games and 90s Nickelodeon game shows have in common? Discussed: What is five dollars, Blue Prince, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, Unbeatable, Mario Tennis: Power Tour Use code AETHER20 at checkout for 20% off your first year of Pika! Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.online Buy some merch, if you'd like: https://shop.intothecast.online Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon...

Thank you to Theater of the Mindset for sponsoring this episode! Hey is this thing on? Had an idea for a Persona game but instead of "The Midnight Channel" there's "The 7:18 Bowl of Chili." What do we think, gang? Discussed: Post-GOTY, what we had for dinner, Antiques Roadshow, GOTY 2016, the next season premiere, The Jersey Devil, Brendon Vaguely, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, the appeal...

Hear ye, hear ye!! Don your warmest winter gear and settle in for another recounting of our favorite video games from this most recent year. And by "our" we of course also mean "your." It's everyone's GOTY. And that's why it's called a "Spectacular." Discussed: Our ten favorite games of 2025, and a lot more. (Spoilers for our 2026 Season Premiere:) Google Form for your input. Details mentioned in...

The return of bump-slash combat is here, but what we’re positing is: What if it’s time for throw up and explode combat? Disclaimer: We recorded this before the recent news about Larian’s use of generative AI for creative work. It’s very disappointing. Discussed: the Vita is here, Persona 4 Golden, the upcoming remake of P4, our experience getting into Persona, our S-Link arcana, Vita games we’re m...

We're joined this week by Brandon Sheffield — creative director at Necrosoft Games and cohost of the fantastic Insert Credit podcast — for a conversation about making games, and making Demonschool specifically. Afterwards, we have a conversation about the highs and lows of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and making a version of Rorschach who is somehow even worse than the original. Discussed: Brandon Shef...

We're bringing a whole new meaning to the idea of "cousin games." Follow Jack Kentala and check out his debut novel Meet Me In The Gameroom at https://www.jackkentala.com ! Discussed: Changing up the intro, the Discord GOTY poll, Detective Instinct: Farewell, My Beloved, the structure of visual novels and adventure games, Sektori, the overlap between roguelikes and the arcade, Spike-Likes, the Vit...

Bib Fortuna takes the stage — calm, composed, he's been practicing for this moment — and takes a deep breath before revealing the next era of video game conferences. "We all know E3 has come and gone, but it's time for something truly new. I present: Steve-B." Check out Skull and Scones at https://skullandscones.com! Discussed: Steve B, Bib Fortuna and Ben Quadinaros, Kirby Air Riders, the genius...

You kill time, I kill demons. We are not the same. Discussed: Memories from four weeks ago, Demon School, the influence of Persona and SMT, Lumines Arise, another A2 Scenario, Octopath Traveler 0 (Demo), the new era of retro RPGs, the best year for Pokémon ROM Hacks, what is happening with Metroid Prime 4, GOTY prep Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.online Buy some merch, if you'd like: http...

Flip a coin and it lands on heads or tails. Release a Dragon Quest and it lands on every platform. Makes you think. Matt Horton's video essay and interview about coin flipping games on Flow State Q-Up soundtrack on bandcamp Discussed: New stuff on Patreon, Stephen on Wavelengths, games about flipping coins, Q-Up, e-sports, Unfair Flips, recent history of Warriors spin-off games, Hyrule Warriors: A...

I was heading towards Quelaag's Domain but had to pass through Foul Rift to get there... and I gotta say, I think this is the kind of place I could very easily call "home." Matt Horton's video essay and interview about coin flipping games on Flow State Discussed: A new November segment, Foul Rift, clowns, Powerline, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, Pokémon Hearth, Pokémon Heart & Soul, Po...

I'm toiling away today, bagging trash and wiping down the windows while I process these signals. This morning I woke up and the first pass was done, but I'll need to let the system do its thing two more times before I can package the data up and ship it off. I think it's at 78% or something at this point, but it won't be done until dinner time at the earliest and by that point I'll need to decide...

Alright everyone, sing along!  Portamon, portable monsters, Portamon can come with you! Portamon, portable monsters, Portamon on the go! Discussed: Broadway musicals, Trails in the Sky Patreon bonus, our Patreon goals and the Vita episode, Pokémon and its divisive Switch era, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, We Know the Devil, Despelote, Ball X Pit, the ideal pacing of Roguelikes, a brief Hades II update Fin...

Gretchen looks at you with knowing eyes, and you can sense something within her literally dogged frame is desperate to say more than the small, breathy "woof" that escapes her mouth. You tell Stella that her dog speaks with a refined cadence. You'll be gone in a week anyway, why not shake the town up a bit and make them believe you can talk to animals before you go? Discussed: The worst bit of all...

We're joined by Erik Morrison to finally talk at length about one of the many on-ramps into Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio's huge Like a Dragon franchise: Yakuza 0. Thank you to Erik for the doodles which became the basis of the episode art. Find more of their work here: https://erikmorrison.com/ Check out RiaDoodles' excellent Yakuza fanart! "Like a Gacha" "Animal Crossing Tomizawa" "Aliens" Find us everyw...

What do you call it when a sequel to a beloved game improves on almost everything? What do you call it when that's not enough? Discussed: Brendon’s return, our experience with Digimon, the email song, dreaming of Scarlet Nexus 2, Digimon Story: Time Stranger, the name of the halloween segment, Strange Antiquities, the current state of mouse mode, Unfair Flips, probability in games, Silent Hill f,...

When Minecraft Steve threatens the survival of the human race, New York City native Aya Brea must rise up to put a stop to his crafty ways. Discussed: October’s arrival, Spooky Season’s new name, Hades II, what makes Supergiant special, the history of indie games, Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist, Uncle Poseidon’s Wild Ride, the appeal of the video game ensemble, the appeal of the video game sequ...

Huddle up for warmth, grab a handkerchief, and turn off your computer terminal. Maybe just take this ride easy, you're not getting paid more to rush. "This RPG series does everything wrong, and it's working" by Joshua Rivera Discussed: Brendon is sniffly, Yakuza 0 bonus, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition, Easy Delivery Co, Mycopunk, Silksong Find us everywhere: https://...

Does anyone else hear that low buzzing sound when the residents of Mineral Town talk? Or are my ears still ringing from my last encounter with Mayor Felix? Time will tell, I suppose. Discussed: We’re both sick, Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar, what makes communities in games feel alive, games about being a shopkeeper, Neopets, Mayor Felix, PEAK, Friendslop, the secret microphone within the Steam De...

okay but you HAD to have known this one was coming (thanks to anonyman in the discord for the screenshot) ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Silksong is out! So, what do we wish for now? Discussed: Hollow Knight: Silksong Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.online Buy some merch, if you'd like: https://shop.intothecast.online Join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast --- Follow Stephen Hilger: https://bsky.app/profile/stephenhilger.bsky.social  Follow Brendon Bigley: https://bsky.app/profile/bb.wavelengths.online Produc...

Now THIS is what I call GILDED! Discussed: The calm before the storm, Silksong, Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots, Mario Golf and Sports RPGs, replaying games as different characters, game adaptions, Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World, when it’s fun to be a completionist, family, The Gilded Age, New Moon in theaters, Road Trip to the End of the World (it’s out now!), A Dream About Parking...

Hello and welcome to the very first edition of The Port Aether Shore Leave Society, a new monthly show where we'll be talking about anything — video game or otherwise! We wanted to give everyone an idea of what Shore Leave will be like going forward, but all future episodes will be available each month for patrons at the $5 tier and above: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast Hope you enjoy it! Fin...