multiplayer game

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 ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

berriesandblades.simplecast.com

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 ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

berriesandblades.simplecast.com

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 ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

berriesandblades.simplecast.com

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 ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

berriesandblades.simplecast.com

Remember when "the dress" broke the internet? Well, Taylor gets GOT by it, lol. Join us as we get to the bottom of it and then talk about some of our all-time favorite video games.

In this episode, we each present (2) games off our all-time favorites lists. Exploring Resident Evil, we talk about door animations and how RE opened the door for countless horror survival games. Then, stop in Hyrule to remember you could cut grass, and Taylor invents a new item called the "Wind Stick" for The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. A love for sci-fi adds Prey (2017) to the list, and Willie and Taylor chat about finding their friend's pizza box design in the game. The list wouldn't be complete without one of the best 1st person-shooter franchises ever—Halo. Willie picks Halo 3 and talks about the impact of the marketing campaigns for the game. Gears of War  reminds us of just how badass the Lancer is, and Joseph talks about playing the game with friends during a deployment to Iraq. We wrap by discussing the art direction of Surviving Mars and how the gameplay is impressive for a city builder made for consoles.

Our All-Time Favorites picks in the episode are Resident Evil, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Prey (2017), Halo 3, Gears of War, and Surviving Mars. 

Other games briefly mentioned in this episode: Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3, Tomb Raider, Secret of Mana, Fallout, Starfield, Dishonored, Red Dead Redemption 2, Dead Space, No Man Sky, Halo Infinite, Guitar Hero, Gears of War: Judgement, Gears Tactics, Gears 5, Halo 2, and Civilization.

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 ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

berriesandblades.simplecast.com

Read SmartSocial.com's Among Us App Guide.

What is the Among Us app?

• It’s a social deduction game, like Clue and Werewolf, where players attempt to uncover each other’s hidden role or team allegiance
• Among Us is played online with 4-10 friends or strangers
• It became extremely popular during the pandemic when TikTok influencers and YouTube gamers posting videos of themselves playing
• The Among Us app is free on iOS and Android devices
• It costs $4.99 to buy the PC version on Steam

Where is the Among Us app available?

• Apple App Store: 9+
• Google Play: E (Everyone 10+)
• PC Version on Steam
• Developer’s Website: InnerSloth.com (Based in USA, Owned by InnerSloth LLC)
• Privacy Policy

Who can play?

• There is no age verification required to download or play the game
• Anyone can join a public game with random strangers or create/join a passcode-protected local game with friends

How do you play Among Us?

• The app designates 1-3 players as “imposters” and the rest as “crewmates”
• Crewmates are assigned tasks to complete in different rooms of the spaceship, sky headquarters, or planet base
• The goal is to discover which crewmate is “an impostor bent on killing everyone!”
• Votes are taken and emergency meetings are called (in the chatbox) where players discuss suspicious behavior and report each time a body is discovered
• Players win by completing all tasks or by discovering and voting off the impostor

What should parents know?

• Chats in Among Us are unmoderated but can be censored for profanity (in the game’s settings)
• Players create their own usernames which could include racist, sexist, or homophobic language
• Some players may ask to connect on another platform, like Discord, where they can voice or video chat
• Imposters kill other players during the game. The graphics are very cartoonish, but parents should be aware that weapons and blood are depicted on screen
• In-app upgrades are available, ranging from $.99 to $2.99
• The app collects data to use for advertisements and video ads play after games unless you pay $1.99 to remove them

How can parents protect their kids on the Among Us app? Get some safety tips in  SmartSocial.com's Among Us App Guide.

Learn social media safety from Smart Social's resources: 

• Join our free newsletter for parents and educators: https://smartsocial.com/newsletter/
• Register for a free online Parent Night to learn the hidden safety features on popular apps: https://smartsocial.com/social-media-webinar/
• Become a Smart Social VIP (Very Informed Parents) Member and unlock 30+ workshops (learn online safety and how to Shine Online™): https://learn.smartsocial.com/
• Download the free Smart Social app: https://smartsocial.com/app
• Learn the top 100 popular teen apps: https://smartsocial.com/app-guide-parents-teachers/
• View the top parental control software: https://smartsocial.com/parental-control-software/
• Learn the latest Teen Slang, Emojis & Hashtags: https://smartsocial.com/teen-slang-emojis-hashtags-list/
• Get ideas for offline activities for your students: https://smartsocial.com/offline-activities-reduce-screentime/
• Get Educational Online Activity ideas for your students: https://smartsocial.com/offline-activities-reduce-screentime/
• 2020 Ultimate Guide To Child Sex Trafficking, Human Trafficking, Sextortion, & Online Enticement

Subscribe to our podcast on:

• Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1269872857
• Google Podcasts: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Ikvg45xcfqi3cz5vxy7vsryf3uq
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SafeSmartSocial/videos