Left Behind Game Club: A Video Game Podcast

We join a high school reading club in Doki Doki Literature Club. Developer: Team Salvato | Publisher: Team Salvato | Initial Release: September 22, 2017 Jacob, Katie, Flora and special guest MissVVitch all join #TeamYuri, have some tea and break the cardinal rule of the podcast. Players: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt), Katie Lesperance (@lesperak) and Flora Merigold (@LudonarrativeFM) Special Guest: MissVVitch | Twitch | Twitter Web: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub SHOW NOTES: * 0:00 Start * 1:35 Who is Miss VVitch? * 8:30 What is Doki Doki Literature Club? * 10:00 Backgrounds on Dating Sims * 14:05 How Did We Play? * 15:10 First Impressions * 18:30 Content/Spoiler Warning! * 18:50 Here We Go * 24:50 Who Did We Romance? * 30:10 The Illusion Breaks * 36:35 Preparing for the Festival * 41:05 Involving Our Partners * 44:15 The Files, Man * 47:10 Everyone Is Losing It * 52:30 Poetry * 53:45 Monika * 1:06:45 Anticipating Your Moves * 1:08:45 The End * 1:19:35 Wrap-Up * 1:23:35 Bonus: More Gauntlet DISCORD: The Left Behind Game Club is a monthly game club podcast focusing on positivity & community. To talk to members of the community, join our Discord server!

We finally face our fears in the first part of our Bloodborne series. Developer: FromSoftware | Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment | Initial Release: March 24, 2015 Jacob, Moe, Katie and Flora learn how to run after we walk, collect Blood Echoes and cry. Well, at least Jacob cries. Players: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt), Moe Murtadi (@mmurtadi), Katie Lesperance (@lesperak) and Flora Merigold (@LudonarrativeFM) Web: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub SHOW NOTES: * 0:00 Start * 1:50 Fast Pitch * 3:10 Our Experience with FromSoft Games * 13:10 Jacob Speaks * 15:40 Our First Few Hours * 20:30 Bloodborne is Opaque * 27:00 Graphics and Sound * 29:10 FromSoft Likes Bridges * 33:45 Jacob Has Made No Progress * 40:40 Katie's Biggest Tip * 44:00 Guns are Bad? * 47:30 You Can Run? * 53:05 Roll! * 55:45 Opening Weapons * 1:03:35 Study Materials * 1:08:00 Lore * 1:11:05 Best Way to Level * 1:12:10 Wrap-Up RESOURCES: * How not to die in Bloodborne: 15 tips for absolute beginners by PlayStation Access * VaatiVidya's YouTube Channel * Playing the Narrative: 'Bloodborne' by Barry Irick  DISCORD: The Left Behind Game Club is a monthly game club podcast focusing on positivity & community. To talk to members of the community, join our Discord server!

In this extraordinary bonus episode of the Left Behind Game Club, Jacob is joined by Matt aka Stormageddon, Joseph Hooper, and Luke Lewis to share some of their favourite games from the PAX West 22 show floor! We also have half a dozen interviews from the show floor! Players: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt) Special Guests: Matt aka Stormageddon (@dj_stormageddon), Joseph Hooper (@th3hoopman), and Luke Lewis (@lukewarmlewis) Web: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub SHOW NOTES: * 0:00 Start * 1:55 WrestleQuest * 7:45 Shovel Knight Dig * 14:10 Anger Foot * 17:20 River City Girls 2 * 23:00 Gunbrella * 28:50 Demonschool * 31:55 Demonschool Interview with Brandon Sheffield * 34:50 30XX * 39:50 Turbo Overkill * 45:25 It's A Wrap Interview with Guillaume Bernard * 50:10 It's A Wrap * 53:00 Video Game Trivia Panel (Watch Here) * 56:30 Matt & Joseph's PAX West Coverage * 59:00 The Big Con Interview with Dave Proctor * 1:03:25 The Last Case of Benedict Fox Interview with Bartłomiej Lesiakowski * 1:07:00 RE:CALL * 1:10:30 Goat Simulator 3 Interview with Santiago Ferrero * 1:14:15 Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open with Jez Harris * 1:17:30 Show Close DISCORD: The Left Behind Game Club is a monthly game club podcast focusing on positivity & community. To talk to members of the community, join our Discord server!

We dismantle a network of very menacing foes in John Wick Hex. Developer: Bithell Games | Publisher: Good Shepherd Entertainment | Initial Release: October 8, 2019 Jacob, Katie and special guest Travis Colenutt throw our weapons, judo-throw our enemies and admire the carnage we left behind. Players: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt) & Katie Lesperance (@lesperak) Special Guest: Travis Colenutt (@TravisColenutt) Web: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub SHOW NOTES: * 0:00 Start * 1:50 Fast Pitch * 03:10 Time Capsule * 04:15 Our History With Strategy Games and With John Wick * 08:10 Adapting John Wick Into a Video Game * 10:05 Platforms We Played On: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly * 14:20 Travis Explains John Wick Hex * 20:50 The Jank and The Replay Feature * 25:45 When The Gameplay Clicked * 29:10 The Guns!!! * 31:50 John Wick Hex Got Hard * 36:35 This Game’s Got Style * 38:40 Jacob Really Likes Troy Baker * 41:30 Questions From Moe * 45:50 Final Impressions * 53:25 Game Reviews DISCORD: The Left Behind Game Club is a monthly game club podcast focusing on positivity & community. To talk to members of the community, join our Discord server!

We solve a vaporwave mystery in Paradise Killer. Developer: Kaizen Game Works | Publisher: Fellow Traveller | Initial Release: September 4, 2020 Jacob, Flora and special guest Qwinsie build case files, double jump around Paradise and deliver justice. Players: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt), Flora Merigold (@LudonarrativeFM) Special Guest: Qwinsie (Twitch | Twitter) Web: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub SHOW NOTES: * 0:00 Start * 0:45 Introducing Qwinsie and Running The Gauntlet * 3:30 Fast Pitch * 4:50 Adventure Game Or Visual Novel Or Both * 9:50 What is Paradise Killer? * 15:30 Speed Running Paradise Killer in 6 Minutes * 17:20 Building Case Files * 25:35 Starlight Puzzles * 28:35 Standout Characters * 33:00 Entering the Spoiler Zone * 40:15 Jacob’s Scared * 1:06:15 Ending Player Choices and Final Thoughts * 1:24:05 Nani the Hell and Jacob Does a Bloop DISCORD: The Left Behind Game Club is a monthly game club podcast focusing on positivity & community. To talk to members of the community, join our Discord server!

We engage in some mythical gardening with friends in Mutazione. Developer: Die Gute Fabrik | Publisher: Akupara Games | Initial Release: September 19, 2019 Jacob, Mike, Flora and Katie seek out the drama, play some funky tunes and improve our grandpa relationships. Players: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt), Mike Ruffolo (@ruffolom), Flora Merigold (@LudonarrativeFM) and Katie Lesperance (@lesperak) Web: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub SHOW NOTES: * 0:00 Start * 1:10 Fast Pitch * 2:35 Time Capsule * 5:30 Setting It Up * 11:20 Trying to Capitalism Mutazione * 14:25 Our Favourite Characters * 26:25 The Main Plot * 32:25 Music and Sound * 37:50 Die Gute Fabrik's Other Games * 39:40 Where The Story Ends * 46:30 Postcards * 48:10 Finishing on Polygon's Review of the Game  RESOURCES: * How She Flipped the Script by The Apple App Store * Escaping to 'Mutazione' Island by Flora Merigold DISCORD: The Left Behind Game Club is a monthly game club podcast focusing on positivity & community. To talk to members of the community, join our Discord server!

We fight for the future of mankind in NieR:Automata. Developer: PlatinumGames | Publisher: Square Enix | Initial Release: March 7, 2017 Jacob, Mike, Flora and Katie talk philosophy, bad maps and potentially the greatest ending in video game history. Players: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt), Mike Ruffolo (@ruffolom), Flora Merigold (@LudonarrativeFM) and Katie Lesperance (@lesperak) Web: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub SHOW NOTES: * 0:00 Start * 1:50 Fast Pitch * 3:20 Time Capsule * 9:10 How about Philosophy * 11:50 Reviews from the Press * 14:10 How Did We Play? * 15:05 The State of the World * 18:35 The Opening of the Game * 23:10 2B and 9S * 28:40 Gameplay Overview * 32:30 Plug-In Chips * 36:30 The Map * 41:40 Spoilers Start - Game Structure * 45:00 Route A/B * 52:50 Simone * 54:50 YoRHa * 1:00:40 Route C/D * 1:02:50 Pascal and the Children * 1:07:50 The Black Box * 1:09:30 A2 vs. 9S * 1:15:55 Music * 1:18:30 Emil * 1:19:05 Ending E * 1:38:00 Will Mike play the rest of NiER:Automata? * 1:44:30 Wrap-up DISCORD: The Left Behind Game Club is a monthly game club podcast focusing on positivity & community. To talk to members of the community, join our Discord server!

We get tactical in Into The Breach. Developer: Subset Games | Publisher: Subset Games | Initial Release: February 27, 2018 Jacob, Mike and special guest Travis Colenutt travel through time tactically, fight giant bugs and throw boulders everywhere. Players: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt) and Mike Ruffolo (@ruffolom) Special Guest: Travis Colenutt (@TravisColenutt) Web: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub SHOW NOTES: * 0:00 Start * 1:50 Fast Pitch * 2:40 Time Capsule * 8:00 Into the Breach: A Game for Dads * 11:45 FTL * 15:00 Reviews from the Press * 16:00 Value for Money * 17:50 Setting Up The Basics * 23:20 Making Choices * 26:00 Mech Teams * 39:55 The Pilots * 45:10 Very Good Runs * 47:30 Music * 50:50 Into the Breach Crossovers? * 54:10 Wrap-up RESOURCES: * Chris Avellone sheds light on Into The Breach's time-travel mysteries by Alec Meer | Rock Paper Shotgun DISCORD: The Left Behind Game Club is a monthly game club podcast focusing on positivity & community. To talk to members of the community, join our Discord server!

We get confused and surprised at the very same time in Virtue's Last Reward. Developer: Spike Chunsoft | Publisher: Spike Chunsoft/Aksys Games | Initial Release: February 16, 2012 Jacob and special guest CtrlAltNoob write so many notes, gasp audibly and hop through time! Players: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt) Special Guest: CtrlAltNoob (@CtrlAltNoob) Web: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub SHOW NOTES: * 0:00 Start * 1:10 Who is CtrlAltNoob? * 2:50 Fast Pitch * 4:30 Time Capsule * 9:15 Press Reviews * 11:10 High-Level Review * 13:40 Describing Virtue's Last Reward * 18:00 Setting Up VLR * 23:40 Spoiler Warning * 25:30 Main Characters  * 34:35 Branching Narrative * 37:30 Radical-6 * 43:40 Bombs * 44:30 Morphogenetic Field * 49:40 Dio * 55:40 Timeline * 57:20 Pods * 59:55 Tenmyouji & Quark * 1:01:40 The Old Woman * 1:02:20 Sigma * 1:06:40 Jumping (The Chart We Referenced) * 1:10:30 Where Are We? * 1:14:15 Luna & K * 1:16:45 Gaming's Greatest Story? * 1:22:50 Setting Up Zero Time Dilemma * 1:28:55 Secret Ending * 1:32:50 Wrap-up * 1:36:20 All About CtrlAltNoob (Noob mentioned Exit/Corners & Jacob mentioned Afterworld) * 1:40:00 Conclusion RESOURCES * Episode 121: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors (999) DISCORD: The Left Behind Game Club is a monthly game club podcast focusing on positivity & community. To talk to members of the community, join our Discord server!

We look at this photograph in Life is Strange, Episode 5. Developer: Dontnod Entertainment | Publisher: Square Enix | Initial Release: October 20, 2015 Jacob, Mike and Flora abandon reality, explore a very scary maze and make a very difficult choice. Players: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt), Mike Ruffolo (@ruffolom) and Flora Merigold (@LudonarrativeFM) Web: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub SHOW NOTES: * 0:00 Start * 1:20 Episode 4 Recap * 2:25 More like Creepy McCreeperson * 4:35 How do we get out? * 5:55 Changing history * 8:40 A trip to SF * 12:00 Back in the Dark Room * 15:30 Telling David the truth * 20:05 Weird calls and texts * 21:40 Arcadia Bay in ruins * 23:05 Technical notes * 24:45 Back to the diner and Warren * 30:00 Unloading on Chloe * 32:20 Question from MatterofJoseph on other games in the series * 35:10 Losing touch with reality * 40:25 The stealth section * 45:20 The final sequence * 48:40 Final choice * 55:30 How our sacrifices play out * 59:00 Question from Setobox about the ending * 1:03:30 Question from JayDangerRoss about sequels * 1:08:00 Final thoughts on the series * 1:17:00 Wrap-up RESOURCES: * ‘Life is Strange’: A Ludonarrative Lighthouse in the Darkness by Flora Merigold DISCORD: The Left Behind Game Club is a monthly game club podcast focusing on positivity & community. To talk to members of the community, join our Discord server!

We go to a party in Life is Strange, Episode 4. Developer: Dontnod Entertainment | Publisher: Square Enix | Initial Release: July 28, 2015 Jacob, Mike and Flora talk tough topics, become deeply disturbed and reminisce about Nickelback. Players: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt), Mike Ruffolo (@ruffolom) and Flora Merigold (@LudonarrativeFM) Web: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub SHOW NOTES: * 0:00 Start * 1:20 Episode 3 Recap * 2:40 Episode 4 Start * 4:10 Setting up a tough choice * 8:45 Choice 1: Chloe * 12:30 Medical assistance in dying * 15:20 Look at this photograph * 17:50 Nathan's room * 20:50 Choice 2: Nathan * 24:15 Choice 3: Frank * 30:00 The world's greatest detective * 33:45 The barn * 38:50 Rachel Amber * 40:40 Vortex Club Party * 43:45 Choice 4: Warn Her * 48:05 Jacob's Hottie McHotterson * 53:25 Wrap-up DISCORD: The Left Behind Game Club is a monthly game club podcast focusing on positivity & community. To talk to members of the community, join our Discord server!

We face our demons r(eternally) in Returnal. Developer: Housemarque | Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment | Initial Release: April 30, 2021 Jacob, Flora and Katie face their demons, explore L-shaped corridors and discuss who would survive longest in space out of the three of them. Players: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt), Flora Merigold (@LudonarrativeFM) and Katie Lesperance (@lesperak) Web: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub SHOW NOTES: * 0:00 Start * 1:30 Fast Pitch * 2:30 Time Capsule and Getting Our PS5s * 5:30 Game Release and Housemarque History * 11:50 Press Reviews * 14:50 Our Past With Roguelikes * 21:00 Death(s) and Story Unite * 30:50 PT House In Returnal? * 42:00 Favourite Weapons – Definitely Not Shotgun * 52:00 Favourite Bosses * 53:50 Jacob Throws His Phone * 62:30 (Don’t Fear) The Atropos * 72:00 DLC * 77:00 Final Thoughts: Jacob Doesn’t Want To Poop On Space Potatoes RESOURCES: * Returnal is a Hell of Our Own Creation by Jacob Gellar DISCORD: The Left Behind Game Club is a monthly game club podcast focusing on positivity & community. To talk to members of the community, join our Discord server!

We take on machines in Horizon Zero Dawn. Developer: Guerrilla Games | Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment | Initial Release: February 28, 2017 Moe, Mike and special guest Andy Borkowski from Video Game Sophistry join in to prepare for The Proving, leave no stone underturned and take the guesswork out of war. Players: Moe Murtadi (@mmurtadi) and Mike Ruffolo (@ruffolom) Special Guest: Andy Borkowski (@HuffinRadaway) | Video Game Sophistry Web: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub SHOW NOTES: * 0:00 Start * 1:35 All About Andy * 5:00 The Gauntlet * 9:45 Fast Pitch * 11:10 Time Capsule * 19:30 Setting Up Horizon * 25:10 Audio Sync Issues * 27:20 The Spoiler Warning * 27:30 A Story Primer * 29:15 Our Collecting Tendencies * 33:00 Aloy's Google Class aka The Focus * 34:20 Aloy Takes On The Proving * 37:40 Taking the Guesswork Out of War * 42:30 Mom? * 46:50 Gaia's Gamble * 50:10 Hey Ash Watcha Playin' * 53:15 This Game Feels Great * 54:00 Far Cry Primal * 57:15 Our Fave Machines RESOURCES: * I Want More Horizon Zero Dawn, Just Not a Direct Sequel by Jacob McCourt via Scholarly Gamers DISCORD: The Left Behind Game Club is a monthly game club podcast focusing on positivity & community. To talk to members of the community, join our Discord server!

We go for a dip in Life is Strange, Episode 3. Developer: Dontnod Entertainment | Publisher: Square Enix | Initial Release May 19, 2015 Jacob, Mike and Flora steal some money, throw a dog a bone and talk a lot about One Tree Hill and the OC.  Players: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt), Mike Ruffolo (@ruffolom) and Flora Merigold (@LudonarrativeFM) Web: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub SHOW NOTES: * 0:00 Start * 1:30 The "Vibes" Episode * 5:15 The Dorms * 7:15 Stealth Sequence * 8:50 The Mr. Jefferson Moment * 11:50 YA TV Nostalgia Glasses * 14:00 Warren's Bomb Recipe * 16:50 Choice 1 - The Money * 21:00 The Pool * 23:20 Security! * 24:20 Lisa * 25:10 Choice 2 - Kiss Chloe * 28:20 Waking Up w/ Good Tunes * 31:40 Delicious Breakfast * 34:25 Passwords * 36:00 Choice 3 - David * 38:10 The Diner * 41:30 Choice 4 - Frank's Dog * 43:05 The Birds * 45:00 Frank's RV * 48:10 Blame Game * 51:15 Chloe's Father * 55:00 The Cliffhanger * 1:02:15 Jacob's Prediction * 1:04:35 Wrap-up DISCORD: The Left Behind Game Club is a monthly game club podcast focusing on positivity & community. To talk to members of the community, join our Discord server!

We chase trains down at the junkyard in Life is Strange, Episode 2. CW: Suicide // 49:00-1:03:40 Developer: Dontnod Entertainment | Publisher: Square Enix | Initial Release: March 24, 2015 Jacob, Mike, Flora and Moe shoot bottles, stare at cockroaches and continue to swoon over Hotty McHotterson. Players: Jacob McCourt (@JacobMcCourt), Mike Ruffolo (@ruffolom), Flora Merigold (@LudonarrativeFM) & Moe Murtadi (@mmurtadi) Web: LeftBehindGame.Club | Twitter: @LeftBehindClub | Instagram: @LeftBehindGameClub SHOW NOTES: * 0:00 Start * 1:30 Wait... Moe didn't play Episode 1? * 4:00 Episode 1 Recap * 5:05 Did you water the plant? * 6:20 Kate's viral video * 8:50 Choice 1 - Kate's Question * 12:20 Moe's looking for the gun * 13:40 Running into Warren * 16:10 Getting to the diner * 21:55 Is this your weed? * 24:45 The diner rewind * 30:25 Choice 2 - Kate's Phone Call * 33:55 The junkyard * 37:00 Shooting in LiS * 38:25 Choice 3 - Max and Frank * 43:40 Runaway train * 47:45 Back to the school * 49:00 Choice 4 - Kate's Fate * 57:10 Choice 5 - Blame * 1:04:50 Predictions for episode 3 and beyond DISCORD: The Left Behind Game Club is a monthly game club podcast focusing on positivity & community. To talk to members of the community, join our Discord server!