Into the Aether - A Low Key Video Game Podcast
Into the Aether is a low key video game podcast hosted by Stephen Hilger and Brendon Bigley. The show takes a relaxed approach to discussing video games, often exploring topics beyond the latest releases. AJ Fillari produces the podcast. It's a casual conversation for gamers who appreciate a mellow, thoughtful take on the medium.
Episodes
Fit Kisto (feat. STAR WARS: Galactic Racer, Sovereign Tower, Dragon's Dogma 2, and more!)
Everyone loves Fit Kisto, the most exciting racer in the galaxy. He's suave, he's funny, and he's just SO famous. Everyone wants a photo with him, so make sure you line up bright and early! You do want a photo with Fit Kisto, right? Right??Discussed: Star Wars Name Generator, Star Wars: Galactic Racer, Biddy Blas, Sovereign Tower, GOTY contenders, Dragon’s Dogma 2 (on Switch 2), Resident
The Impromptu GOTY (feat. Dicevaders, Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, Emio The Smiling Man, and more!)
Sometimes the moment hits when you least expect it. That's right, it's October 7th and it's time for Game of the Year 2026.Discussed: Dicevaders, why StarVaders rocks, Balatro-likes, Belmont’s Curse demo, Dead Cells & Castlevania, Emio — The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club, Resident Evil Village, Dietrich’s path in the Weave, Fit KistoFind us everywhere: https://intothecast.online
Creek's Hot Toddy (feat. Super Mario Galaxy 2, New Star GP, and Fortune's Weave)
I'm gonna be so for real with you: Throughout the entirety of Cai's route, I kept seeing a person named Creek just hanging around Dagsion and at no point did I think "I'm going to recruit that guy." Just didn't find him remotely interesting. I truly know nothing about him whatsoever except that his name is Creek. And even then, I kept thinking "oh, that's the teal guy." He might be the mo
Fortune's Pete (feat. Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave)
In our doomed future where Balor's destructive forces remain unmatched, there is but one who can save us...Um...(double checks notes)...him?Discussed: Fire Emblem: Fortune's WeaveInterview with the Fortune's Weave teamStephen's Fortune's Weave streamGo listen to Eye of the Duck!Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineBuy some merch, if you'd like: https://shop.intothecast.onlineJoin
Paella of Gaming (feat. Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Star Fox 2026, Blood Dungeon, and more!)
Use code AETHER20 at checkout for 20% off your first year of Pika!Sometimes dinner is just whatever you can fit in a pot. Sometimes an episode of a video game podcast is whatever you can fit into an mp3 file. Discussed: heartfelt gratitude, future plans, the potential return of Breath of Fire, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Capcom’s year, big RPGs on the horizon, Star Fox (2026), the many di
Into the Aether IX: The Sony PlayStation
It's finally time for the NINTH season of Into the Aether, a low key video game podcast! To kick this one off, we played and discussed 40+ of the most important games from Sony's first home console: The PlayStation. Thank you all so much for listening to and supporting the show throughout the years, and especially for your patience while we work on episodes like these.Discussed: The Sony
Stephen and the Cosmic Philanthropists (feat. Big Walk, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, Agent 64, and more!)
Philanthropists... pAssemble.Discussed: Upcoming break, past trips to London, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, Marvel vs. Capcom, Big Walk, ziti pizza, Big Guess, Agent 64: Spies Never Die, FFXIV, Fields of Mistria Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineBuy some merch, if you'd like: https://shop.intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast---Follow Stephen
Penn & Tetris (feat. Fields of Mistria, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, and Penn & Teller VR)
Ben Hanson tried to fool us.Discussed: Fortune’s Weave Direct, Gun Nun, the hero we’re choosing first, our upcoming break, Fields of Mistria, Neighborvania, Penn & Teller VR: Frankly Unfair, Unkind, Unnecessary, & Underhanded, the Cai Crew, more games on the horizonFind us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineBuy some merch, if you'd like: https://shop.intothecast.onlineJoin the
Leon Kennedy Bath Water (feat. Beast of Reincarnation, Granblue Fantasy: Relink, and Splatoon Raiders)
It costs one hundred thousand United States Dollars.MinnMax Trivia TowerStephen's Splatoon Raiders streamDiscussed: MinnMax Trivia Tower, the price we pay for losing trivia, Beast of Reincarnation, Game Freak’s games that aren’t Pokémon, Granblue Fantasy: Relink - Endless Ragnarok, the post game of Splatoon Raiders, Woe of the Year, Slay the Spire 2, squishy amiibos, August games we’re ex
Spicy Raid (feat. Splatoon Raiders and RuneScape: Dragonwilds)
Ay! (I'm Big Man!) And I'm Poopies, and this is the Spicy Raid. Discussed: Cursed impressions, “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?”, Splatoon Raiders, Gooigi, MinnMax Trivia Tower, The Deltarune Patreon bonus episode, RuneScape: Dragonwilds Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineBuy some merch, if you'd like: https://shop.intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/into
Shoutout One Password (feat. Denshattack!, Wabisabi SushiDerby, and Pokémon Crystal Inheritance)
Thank you Celtreos for sponsoring this episode! - https://www.kevingrant.name/apps/celtreos/ita/What if you only needed one single password? Imagine what life would be like.*Quick correction! The Satellaview was exclusive to the Super Famicom. It was not released in the US for the SNES.Stephen is open for commissions!Tamoor Hussain's video about The Duskbloods Discussed: Friday recording
Come Back Later with Murray Somerwolff (feat. Wax Heads, Meccha Chameleon, and more!)
Big thanks to Murray for joining us on this one! Follow Murray on Bluesky! And play Wax Heads! "Making games for work and making games for fun. In a sense, it was heaven" - Yoshio Nishimura on Veritas Tales: Witch of the Dark Castle by Mikhail Madnani on RPG SiteDiscussed: Wax Heads with Murray Somerwolff, the making of Wax Heads, games about music, Brendon and Stephen’s barista days, the
Thank You, Dear (feat. Rhythm Heaven Groove, FFIX, Shovel Knight Dig, and more!)
Near, far, wherever you are, I believe the airship soars on."A Link between hairstyles" by Angelica FreyDiscussed: Three Houses at SGDQ, Rhythm Heaven Groove, the last Switch 1 game, potential future of Rhythm Heaven, Nintendo’s surprise updates, an exciting announcement, FFIX, the horrors of Tetra Master, daydreaming about FFXIV on Switch, if JaVert was funny, Shovel Knight Dig, various
Todd's Sky (feat. Star Fox (2026), No Man's Sky, Crimson Desert, and Deltarune)
Somewhere up there, Todd is wondering where he can find the most ferrite dust. He doesn't even realize, ferrite is all around us.Discussed: Secaucus Junction, Overworld Weekly and Overworld dot vg, Star Fox (2026) and Star Fox 64, No Man's Sky, Crimson Desert, Deltarune: Chatper 5Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineBuy some merch, if you'd like: https://shop.intothecast.onlineJo
Games Are Always There (feat. The Adventures of Elliot, Wax Heads, and Mina the Hollower)
How in Philabieldia could you have possibly known those four magical words? "The Adventures Of Elliot Devs Were ‘Surprised’ That Fans Think The Game’s Fairy Companion Talks Too Much" by Rebekah Valentine"The Adventures Of Elliot: The Millennium Tales Makes A Strong Argument For Silent Protagonists" by Steve WattsDiscussed: Elliot Summer, The Adventures of Elliot, Team Asano games, open Ze
Wet Krillin (feat. Star Fox (2026) & Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition)
If Slippy is just "Wet Krillin," then who are you, dear listener?Discussed: Elliot tomorrow, first year of the Switch 2, the demo for Star Fox (2026), Dragon Ball in space, what makes an interesting remake, concerns about the Ocarina of Time remake, Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition - Switch 2 Edition, what makes the first Xenoblade so special Find us everywhere: https://intothecas
Final Fantasy VII: Roommates (feat. Summer Game Fest announcements and Mina the Hollower)
Just going to pat myself on the back for the restraint shown in not including Joey in the episode art this week."The Making Of Mina The Hollower" Game Informer DocumentaryDiscussed: Sleepy BB, Sick Steve, Overworld, Summer Game Fest, post-leakage, direct predictions, Final Fantasy VII Revelation, revisiting Rebirth, Roche redemption, Resident Evil Veronica, the return of Claire, Guild War
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What if Nintendo genetically modified a Direct in a lab just for us?Well, the answer is "we talk about it for an hour."
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Persona Summer - A Post Games Crossover Clip!
Hello! Wanted to share a clip of our conversation with Chris Plante over on Post Games where we discussed what makes and how to achieve the perfect Persona Summer. So lovely of Chris to have us on, and you can go listen to the rest — for free!! — on Post Games!Check it out here: https://pod.link/1815131711
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Property of MI6 (feat. Mina the Hollower, 007 First Light, and Pocket Bomberman)
Bond, we need you to stand in front of this wall and show off the latest styles from Old Navy. Check out Neon Crown by Jenny Reed on Kindle! - https://www.amazon.com/Neon-Crown-Jenny-Reed-ebook/dp/B0H1FBBTHBDiscussed: Hits of 2026, Mina the Hollower, games from our past that haunt us, Pocket Bomberman, N64 era of Bomberman, 007 First Light, GoldenEye, Perfect Dark, favorite eras of Bond,
Artificial Banana (feat. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight + Xenogears)
Sometimes I have dreams about a fruit you have to peel before you eat. It's this bright yellow color, it almost looks unnatural. Use code AETHER20 at checkout for 20% off your first year of Pika!"The Need for GTA 6's Success Is A Symptom Of A Broken Industry" by Joshua RiveraDiscussed: Summer Game Fest on the horizon, GTA 6 on the horizon, Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, the ambit
Octodad Traveler (feat. The Adventures of Elliot Demo, the PS1, Resident Evil 2, and more!)
Octodaaaad, really loves his RPGs.Teachers Lounge's new EP Home Entertainment is available now on Bandcamp! - https://teacherslounge.bandcamp.com/album/home-entertainmentThe PS1 PlaylistPolygon interview with Tomoya Asano and Naofumi MatsushitaDiscussed: Malört, show predictions, PS1 playlist update, PS1 sampler platter, Bust A Groove, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2, Crash Team Racing, Final Fa
Conker's Best Fur Day for the Ultra Nintendo (feat. Alabaster Dawn, Pragmata, Saros, and more!)
Dinosorry to hear you expected Fox McCloud instead of Conker!Discussed: Star Fox and its upcoming remake, the various eras of Star Fox, the return of the 3DS, Alabaster Dawn (Early Access), Ultra Nintendo, Cross Code, Pragmata, Project Hail Mary, Saros, telling a story through a roguelike Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineBuy some merch, if you'd like: https://shop.intothecast
Waiting for Joey (feat. Esoteric Ebb, Saros, Bobo Bay, and more!)
Joey's head pierces the veil of the chained apartment door as blinding sunlight pours in behind him. His eyes are wrong — they're the color of jewels, reds and blues all mixed up and coating every millimeter. His expression is contorted, almost beyond recognition. "THE CEASELESS FEAST OF WANT," he yells into the room, "A GLEAMING BEACON SHIMMERING ON THE HORIZON." He tries to force his wa
One Hundred Grandfathers (feat. Rogue Legacy 2, Monster Hunter Stories 3, Paranormasight, and more!)
Name one hundred grandfathers. Fastest to name one hundred grandfathers wins. You will be disqualified if you name someone who is not a grandfather or if you remove your headphones which will be naming one hundred grandmothers at a high volume. Your time starts when you put your headphones on.Discussed: Taskmaster, huge thanks to our patrons, the Vita episode is out, handheld games, revis
Hatsworthiness (feat. Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, Vampire Crawlers, and Titanium Court)
It's Henry's court now.Discussed: Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, the joy of making OCs, Vampire Crawlers, Titanium Court, Hatsworthy games, hits that didn’t click Find 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
Hugh and Rockin' Rob with The Moonheads (feat. Pragmata, Guilty Gear Strive, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax)
The AI running this moonbase hasn't responded for a few days, which is weird. I'm being sent up there on a mission to investigate the possible cause, but before I go I have one last thing on my agenda: Play a kickass rock song with the crew.Discussed: the p4g episode and the vita episode, Pragmata, the street sweeper, fighting games, Guilty Gear Strive 2.0, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, the Pe
Persona 4 Golden | Bonus Episode
Stephen and Brendon discuss the entirety of Persona 4 Golden and answer questions about friendship, social psychology, and what it's like to be a maligned cartoon bear in the human world.Discussed: Persona 4 GoldenITA's PS1 PlaylistMatt Horton's video essay on P4G for Flow State"It's Time to Talk About it: Atlus, Naoto, and Transphobia" by Mattie Brice"Atlus, We Haven't Forgotten Your Mis
Daruni-O's: They Rock! (feat. Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Fire Emblem, Advance Wars, and Cairn)
Surgeon General's Warning: Consuming Daruni-O's in any capacity can cause multiple health problems including chipped or broken teeth, stomach pain, or death. Do not consume Daruni-O's if human or Hylian. Daruni-O's are meant for goron consumption only. Discussed: spring, upcoming Vita episode, FFX on Vita, the potential Ocarina of Time remake, perception of remakes, different eras of Zeld
That's Fire Emblem: Three Houses (feat. Fire Emblem: Three Houses... and Mega Man Star Force)
When the calendar is bare, and a game can fit in there?That's Fire Emblem: Three Houses!When you don't know what to play, but you gotta kill the day?That's Fire Emblem: Three Houses!Discussed: PAX East, C2E2, new patreon episodes, the 2010 era of roguelikes, Spelunky, FTL, different styles of motivation, Fire Emblem Three Houses, the beauty of barks, Mega Man Star Force, the worst dressag
Wacky Wally’s Big Bassoon Solo (feat. Persona 5 Royal, Soulcalibur III, Marathon, and more!)
Oh god, Wally's up on stage at the open mic again. Get ready for ten more minutes of "Oh! Susanna" unless he finally learned how to play something new this month…Discussed: Upcoming P4G bonus, Persona 5 Royal, the loop of Persona, our expectations for Persona 6, Resident Evil Requiem, the hunk of gaming, the history and the future of Resident Evil, Soul Calibur III, MarathonFind us everyw
Teddie is for Everyone (feat. Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse, Slay the Spire II, Minishoot' Adventures, and more!)
Travel outside of any major metropolitan area. Escape the light pollution. Hike out to the middle of the woods. Climb the highest peak you can. On exceptionally clear nights, surrounded by your friends, look into the sky and you just might see him peering back. Discussed: Our hero with a pizza, an impromptu Square Enix discussion, the strength of Team Asano, the future of Final Fantasy, P
Scyther is my Roommate (feat. Pokémon Pokopia, Slay the Spire 2, and Resident Evil Requiem)
"Yo, Ditto, I gotta admit -- splitting the rent is almost as fun as gathering lumber!"If anyone else said this to me, I would assume they were being passive aggressive. But not Scyther, my roommate. He's the coolest guy in all of Pokopia.Discussed: Pokémon Pokopia, the DQ Builders 2 influence, Pokémon personalities, roommate Scyther, the future of Animal Crossing, the latter half of Resid
Buff Sam and Old Leon (feat. Resident Evil Requiem, Marathon, and Ys X)
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, extracti
Mud is Overpowered (feat. Mario Tennis Fever, Reanimal, Danganronpa, and Paranormasight)
Sakurai steps up to the podium, looking troubled. He's not his confident self this time around — and it's doubly weird that he's making this announcement live and in person instead of through some kind of Nintendo Direct. There's even regular press here, not just games media people. "We are removing Matthew McConaughey as Mud from Super Smash Bros. We are aware of rumors circulating regar
Dice of Fate (feat. Danganronpa, Windblown, Under the Island, and more!)
Sometimes life leads you down a certain path where you know exactly where, when, how, and why things should fall into their natural order. Other times, you need to dice of fate to give you a helping hand. And that's what life is all about.Discussed: rolling a d10, Windblown, Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, the vibe of the Vita library, BB’s P4G update, rolling a 4, Culdcept, Smash Bros.
Highguard Accent (feat. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, Nioh 3, and Monster Hunter Stories 3)
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, Drag
Joeylike (feat. Code Vein II, CAIRN, Nioh 3, and Fire Emblem: Awakening)
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, soulslike
You Remind Me of the Frog (feat. Tokyo Xanadu, 428: Shibuya Scramble, and more!)
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 arrangement
Toot My Own Back (feat. Hytale, Escape From Ever After, Tekken 3, and more!)
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, HytaleC
Time to Slime (feat. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, Blue Prince, Unbeatable, and Mario Tennis Power Tour)
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 TourUse code AETHER20 at checkout for 20% off your first year of Pika!Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineBuy some merch, if you'd like: https://shop.intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.pat
7:18 and a Bowl of Chili (feat. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment & Persona 4 Golden)
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
The 2025 Game of the Year Spectacular
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 mentio
Throw Up and Explode! (feat. Persona 4 Golden, Angeline Era, and Octopath Traveler 0)
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
Rorchad's Journal with Brandon Sheffield (feat. Demonschool and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond)
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: Bran
Cousin Game (feat. Detective Instinct, Sektori, and Dragon Quest II)
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, t
Steve-B presented by Bib Fortuna (feat. Kirby Air Riders, Dispatch, and Pokemon Lazarus)
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
Demons Cool (feat. Demonschool, Lumines Arise, and Octopath Traveler 0)
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 prepFind us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineBuy some merch, if you'd like
For All Platforms (feat. Q-UP, Unfair Flips, Dragon Quest I + II, Silksong, and Hyrule Warriors)
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 StateQ-Up soundtrack on bandcampDiscussed: 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 Warri
Greetings from Foul Rift, New Jersey (feat. Dragon Quest I + II, Pokémon ROMhacks, and Tales of Xillia)
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 StateDiscussed: A new November segment, Foul Rift, clowns, Powerline, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, Pokémon Hearth, Pokémon Heart & S
100% (feat. Kiss/OFF, Voices of the Void, The Seance of Blake Manor, and Danganronpa)
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 t
Portable Monsters (feat. Pokemon Legends: Z-A, Despelote, We Know the Devil, and Ball x Pit)
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
Gretchen (feat. Consume Me, Scarlet Hollow, LEGO Party, and Sonic Racing)
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 b
Yakuza 0 (with Erik Morrison) | Bonus
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 eve
The A2 Effect (feat. Hades II, Silent Hill f, Digimon Story: Time Stranger, and more!)
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
Parasite Steve (feat. Hades II, Ender Magnolia, and Parasite Eve)
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 g
Sniffly (feat. Silksong, Easy Delivery Co, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, and more!)
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 RiveraDiscussed: Brendon is sniffly, Yakuza 0 bonus, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition, Easy Delivery Co, Mycopunk, SilksongFind us everywhere: ht
Taking Out the Buzz (feat. Peak, Story of Seasons, Silksong, and more!)
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
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okay but you HAD to have known this one was coming(thanks to anonyman in the discord for the screenshot)
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A Podcast Episode About Hollow Knight: Silksong
Silksong is out! So, what do we wish for now?Discussed: Hollow Knight: SilksongFind 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.social Follow Brendon Bigley: https://bsky.app/profile/bb.wavelengths.onlineProdu
That's Gilded (feat. Kirby, Story of Seasons, and more!)
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
The Port Aether Shore Leave Society | August 2025
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/intothecastHope you enjoy
From Batter to Brickman (feat. VOID/BREAKER, Road Trip to the End of the World, and more!)
The Batter may be mean and the Brickman may be scary. But Silksong is coming out. And video games...are still good."Why Silksong Took Seven Years to Make" by Jason SchreierMemoria's great video about day-old steam games"Hollow Knight Is One Of The Best Games You'll Play This Year" by Joshua Rivera"As the Trails series' ending is in sight, Nihon Falcom prepares to tackle the impossible" by
Dream Green (feat. Metal Gear Solid, Is This Seat Taken, Sky the Scraper, and more!)
We're back! And we somehow have too many games to fit into one episode.Discussed: The PSP Premiere, Patreon Updates, Metal Gear Solid, The Adventures of Elliot, Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster, Is This Seat Taken?, Öoo, Tiny Bookshop, Sky the Scraper, and games we're playing for next weekRobin's review of Öoo: https://www.inverse.com/gaming/ooo-steam-indie-puzzle-gameFind us eve
Into the Aether VIII: The Sony PlayStation Portable
Welcome to the eighth season of Into the Aether! For this season premiere, we will be discussing our favorite games for the Sony PlayStation Portable. The PSP was a very special console and is still a joy to play. Some might say it's the "Walkman of the 21st Century." As always, thank you all so much for listening to and supporting the show. Whether this is your first time joining us or y
Text or Pins? (feat. Cobalt Core, He is Coming, and more!)
When will they make a two-sided SD card that always lands text?Discussed: PSPrequel on Patreon, upcoming flights to Jersey, flipping an SD card, Cobalt Core, StarVaders, FTL, He is Coming, Loop Hero, whether or not roguelikes need to be infinite, Void Stranger, Stephen finishing The Hundred Line, games with multiple endings, Sacred Stones, the best introductions to Fire Emblem, A Link to
BB's Romhack Shack (feat. Donkey Kong Bananza, Word Play, Nurikabe World, and Animal Crossing City Folk Deluxe)
I guess it’s kind of like a Bananza?Discussed: Upcoming episode for Patrons, TWG on Bluesky, Donkey Kong Bananza, early 3D Nintendo games, Donkey Kong as a series, the history of Nintendo console launch windows, the appeal of Zelda speed runs, Word Play, Boss Keys (GMTK), Developing (GMTK), the journey of any creative project, the dream of portrait mode, Nurikabe World, Brendon’s ROM Hac
Do You Like Video Tapes? (feat. Death Stranding 2, Zelda: Oracle of Seasons, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones and more!)
I heard you like video tapes. You might not like this movie, but you’re gonna LOVE these games. Mmm, mmm.Discussed: The weird animorph phase, a little bit more of Death Stranding 2, Stephen’s fear of dolls, Press Start joins TWG, Blitzball, Mario Golf: Super Rush, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Ages, the beauty of the 8-bit aesthetic, Baseball (’89), The Sword of Hope, Fire Em
Video Game Fever Dream (feat. Death Stranding 2, Deltarune, Persona 5: The Phantom X, Bacon - The Game, Pokémon Odyssey)
I made it through Dom's dream and all I got were these podcast show notes.Discussed: Indie the Aether, Dom Nero: Prophet, Death Stranding 2, I Believe in Pizza (w/ Chris Plante), Deltarune Chapter 3+4, Persona 5: The Phantom X, the plight of mobile gacha games, Bacon - The Game, Nintendo Wiid, Super Mariomon, Pokémon Odyssey, Elden Ring: Nightreign Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.
Into the Aether Goes Indie
Hey everyone! We have some big changes coming to Into the Aether in the near future and we wanted to talk through them a bit.To avoid burying the lede here: We’re leaving the Pickaxe podcast network and returning to complete independence. This has actually been in the works for a little while, but we wanted to only share the news when all of the boxes were checked.This is not a decision w
Demon in a Tube (feat. Raidou Remastered, Monster Train 2, Awaysis, The Hundred Line)
I miss the good old days where all you had in your pockets were your keys, your iPod, and your Demon in a Tube.Discussed: Death Stranding 2, Donkey Kong Bananza, Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army, Monster Train 2, Slay the Spire 2, Hades 2, 17bit, Galak-Z, Awaysis, The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy-Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineBuy some merch if you'
The Blue Shell Curve (feat. Switch 2, Mario Kart World, The Hundred Line, Fire Emblem: Three Hopes, Tears of the Kingdom, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet)
Intelligence is hating the blue shell. Wisdom is knowing that you're so good that being hit by the blue shell won't make a difference.Discussed: The Nintendo Switch 2, sales, Mario Kart World, The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy-, Fire Emblem: Three Hopes, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Super Mariomon, Pokémon ZAFind us everywhere: https://intoth
My New Catchphrase (feat. Fantasy Life i, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, Consume Me, Mina the Hollower, The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy-)
Bazinga.Discussed: Brendon is back!, the Switch 2, this post on bsky, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, Elden Ring Nightreign, The Summer Game Fest Problem by Brendon for Wavelengths, We're Really Just Going Through With All This, Aren't We by Luke Plunkett for Aftermath, Consume Me, The award that changes the lives of its winners by Chri
Speaking of the Smog with Dominick Nero and Joshua Rivera (feat. Gravity Rush, Final Fantasy IX, Capcom Fighting Collection 2, The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy-, UFO50)
Gravity Rush and Silent Hill are smog-likes.Follow Joshua: https://bsky.app/profile/jmrivera.bsky.socialFollow Dom: https://bsky.app/profile/dominicknero.bsky.socialListen to Eye of the Duck: https://eyeoftheduckpod.com/listenDiscussed: Gotenks, the Gravity Rush series, Silent Hill Creator Keiichiro Toyama Reacts to Shock Closure of The Evil Within Developer Tango Gameworks by Ryan Dins
I Want to Be Potboy! (with Robin and Tori!)
Lo! To be made of clay and build a deck of the finest cards crafted from the hand of mine God.Follow Robin: https://bsky.app/profile/robinbombus.bsky.socialListen to Girl Mode: https://linktr.ee/girlmodepodFollow Tori: https://bsky.app/profile/toridp98.bsky.socialListen to Press Start: https://linktr.ee/press_startpodDiscussed: Anxiety, secret bees, StarVaders, Rift Riff, The Midnight Wal
Table for One, Please! (feat. StarVaders, Pokemon: Lazarus, Super Mariomon, Promise Mascot Agency)
This week on Into the Aether: The unique pleasures of reading a book. Discussed: Medieval Times in Lyndhurst New Jersey, StarVaders, Pokemon: Lazarus, Nemo622 on Kofi, Super Mariomon, Super Mariomon! by Alpharad on YouTube, Cure (film) on Wikipedia, Promise Mascot Agency---Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineBuy some NEW merch if you'd like: https://shop.intothecast.online
Are You Sick? (feat. Nubby's Number Factory, A Game About Digging A Hole, Metal Garden, Megaman Battle Network, Rogue Galaxy)
If you use Cacio e Pere to upload Megaman to the Snot Fridge that'll maximize your Schwarzenegger for early Holes.Discussed: Cacio e pere, The Silver Spoon, True Lies, Batman & Robin (1997) by Eye of the Duck, Nubby's Number Factory, Poop Butt, A Video About Digging A Hole by Jacob Geller on YouTube, A Game About Digging A Hole, Metal Garden, ISLANDS: Non-Places, Backloggd, Sw
Creed of Grit (feat. Clair Obscur, Baldur's Gate 3, and Blue Prince)
I'm six feet from the game, and I'm playin'BDS Info: https://www.bdsmovement.net/microsoftDiscussed: It's RPG Week, no we won't be playing the Oblivion remake, but Skyblivion comes out later this year, Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 8, Blue Prince, The last Blue Prince secret? Sharp political commentary by Jeffrey Parkin for Polygon, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, next week :-)---Find us everywhere:
PODCAST (Collect 4 Coins) (feat. Blue Prince, Etrian Odyssey 3 HD, Dark Cloud)
Once you figure out how to work with the RNG you can upgrade the show from "low-key" to "high-key".Discussed: Stephen's time at C2E2, Making the Aether 2025 ($5+ Patron exclusive), Blue Prince (🚨GENERAL MECHANICAL AND ROOM SPOILERS🚨), Etrian Odyssey 3 HD, Myst, Dark Cloud, Rogue Galaxy---Find us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineBuy some NEW merch if you'd like: https://shop.intothe
More Than a Fallout Boy (feat. Assassin's Creed Shadows, Oblivion Remake, Warrior's Abyss, The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, Yakuza 0)
We're goin down down in an earlier Elder Scrolls.Discussed: The plan, Assassin's Creed Shadows, stealth in video games, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a slasher movie — and you’re the killer by Chris Plante for Polygon, the AssCreed marketplace and launcher, Oblivion Remake Will Shadowdrop "At Any Moment This Month" - Report by Eddie Makuch for Gamespot, Blue Prince, Jason Schreier's Bl
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