Unlockables: The Story of Video Games

Guiding Keys returns with the next game in the Kingdom Hearts series, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. We fill in the blank spaces in Roxas's story between Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts 2. But...who is this girl? And why doesn't anyone remember her? Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Pa...

For your consideration, the Unlockables review of Final Fantasy 16. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that they play, as well as the story of the games themselves! The show consists of...

Good friend of the show Brock Matthews stops by the Unlockables today to talk about his aspirations as a voice actor. As someone who has been honing their craft for several years, Brock offers some intriguing insight into what it takes to make it in the voice acting industry. Check out Brock's Demo Reel! Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unloc...

As is tradition, the summer means another edition of the mail bag! Thanks to all who submitted questions to be read and answered on the show. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that they...

With the plans of Organization XIII thwarted and Xemnas defeated, its time to tie up loose ends for Kingdom Hearts 2. We're diving into the Secret Ansem Reports and discovering how oversights by Ansem the Wise caused ripples throughout the Kingdom Hearts plot. We'll then cover some of the final extras in the game, as well as an appearance by the One Winged Angel himself! From here, we're moving on...

Sora, Donald, Goofy along with King Mickey have arrived in the home world of Orgainzation XIII to stop their plans once and for all. Can they stop the completion of Kingdom Hearts and rescue Kairi? And what of Ansem the Wise and Riku? The final showdown with Organization XIII and Xemans begins. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables You...

Our adventures in Kingdom Hearts 2 continue. Hollow Bastion finds itself under a full assault from Heartless and Nobodies during the mid game crescendo. Sora, Donald and Goofy revisit the worlds they had visited previously to try and find a way to the homeworld of Organization XIII and put a stop to Xemnas's plans once and for all! Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Insta...

Since the beginning of time, humans have pondered the great questions. Why are we here? What is the meaning of life? And what does it mean to be a Final Fantasy game? With the upcoming release of Final Fantasy 16, this question seems to be in the forefront now more than ever. To answer this question once and for all, I've assembled a crack team of the foremost experts of video game podcasts. Chris...

Roxas's story has come to a close and Sora awakens into a world without his memories of the events of Chain of Memories. Sora, Donald and Goofy set off into the world with the only objective they remember; find Riku and King Mickey. But they soon discover they are up against far more than the Heartless as they encounter the mysterious Nobodies and the remaining members of Organization XIII. Follow...

This week I am joined by Aaron of the legendary show Super Pod Saga. Check out Super Pod Saga! Check out the Super Pod Network! Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that they play, as well...

Our journey through Kingdom Hearts continues with Kingdom Hearts 2. Widely considered by the fandom to be the best game in the series, Kingdom Hearts 2 begins with us playing not as Sora, but as Roxas. The intro to Kingdom Hearts 2 has received flak for being too long and confusing. But I'm here to tell you its one of the most impactful openings in all of video games. Follow the Unlockables on Blu...

An essay episode on the importance of the release of Advance Wars in the early 2000s, and how it paved the way for other Japan exclusive games. Without the success of Advance Wars, it might have been a few more years before Fire Emblem finally arrived in the United States. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check ou...

Making video games is hard. Not every game gets released. Many get canceled before their time. Scalbound is one of these stories. O Originally in development by Platinum Games and set to be published by Microsoft in 2017, the game was canceled the same year it was set to release. This was a highly anticipated Xbox exclusive that seemed to fail after years of hype and anticipation, teaching us the...

Alejandro and Nick join Eric to talk about the latest entry in the Fire Emblem series, Fire Emblem Engage! Is the gameplay good enough to carry Engage to success, or will a subpar story and social aspect cause it to fall short? Check out Friday Night Gamecast! Check out A Random Gamer's Corner! Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables You...

With the recent release of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, I invited Pokémon Masters Tyler from Switch It Up and Jared from Play Along to talk about it. We discuss some of the performance issues with the game, analyze it as a mainline entry in the series, and speculate on the future of the most lucrative franchise in history. Check out Play Along Podcast! Check out Switch It Up! Follow the Unlockables...

Welcome to part 2 of our deep dive on Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories and this time we're looking at Reverse/Rebirth, the surprising mode that lets you play a second story as Riku as the main character. After awakening in the basement of Castle Oblivion, Riku begins his own journey of self reflection, discovery and battling the darkenss inside of him. Will he conquer his inner demons or will the...

Guiding Keys continues with the next installment in the series; Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories. Sora, Donald and Goofy continue their search for King Mickey and Riku when they happen across a mysterious castle. Once inside they confront a group of individuals wearing black cloaks known only as the Organization. As they progress through the castle will they find themselves trapped in a false chai...

2023 kicks off in spectacular fashion with an incredible guest episode. Andrew and Dylan of Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamers join me to talk about an obscure but beloved title from 2000; Majesty The Fantasy Kingdom Sim. Check out Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamers! Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Un...

Welcome back to a new year of Unlockables in 2023! To kick things off, we're going to look back at all the games I played in 2022, and the mini-reviews I wrote about each and every one of them, Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about peop...

As 2022 comes to a close, I take some time to reflect on the show as a whole as well as some of my anxieties and self-doubts about content creation in general. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around t...

One final episosde closes out the 12 Games of Christmas. The Unlockables presents the 2022 Game of the Year. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that they play, as well as the story of th...

Fimbulwinter is here and we are braving the treachery of Norse Mythology for the final entry of the 12 Games of Christmas, God of War Ragnarok! Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that th...

Day 11 of the 12 Games of Christmas is upon us! Fellow veteran hunter Tyler of Switch It Up joins me to talk about the Sunbreak expansion for Monster Hunter Rise! Check out Switch It Up! Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's st...

Day 10 of the 12 Games of Christmas has arrived! Rick Firestone of Pixel Project Radio stops by to talk about the newest entry in the Turtles Franchise, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge! Check out all things Pixel Project Radio! Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon!...

Welcome to Day 9 of the 12 Days of Christmas, Chris of Retro Hangover fame returns to the Unlockables to talk about one of the best games on the SNES, Mega Man X! Check out Retro Hangover! Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's...