In this episode of Podcast Beyond, we  discuss Sony's recent investigation following claims of a breach by a ransomware group and what this could mean for the company's systems. Next, we venture into the neon-lit streets of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty as we examine how the game has evolved over the past three years. Join us as we explore the gritty, futuristic landscapes inspired by classic cyberpunk literature and films. And if that's not enough, we also take a look at the Resident Evil 4 Remake DLC: Separate Ways and discuss what sets it apart from the original.00:00:00 - Intro & Sony Hit with Ransomware Hack?00:04:12 - Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty Rules00:38:30 - 6 Things To Check Out After Phantom Liberty00:43:50 - Resident Evil 4: Separate Ways Also Rules00:50:40 - Outro

Cyberpunk 2077 Is Finally What We Wanted in 2020, And More - Beyond 817

Insomniac’s Spider-Man 2 preview took place recently, and we jump in and break down Spider-Man gameplay, combat, city traversal and more. Akeem and our guest, IGN’s very own Benjamin Watts, share their Spider-Man 2 first impressions, what it’s like controlling the symbiote and utilizing Miles’ venom blasts and new abilities. We dive into what we could possibly expect next from #PlayStation; will we get another State of Play this year? What’s next for the #PS5? Max shares his experience with Baldur’s Gate 3, as he shares his romantic co-op experience with his wife. Baldur’s Date, anyone? Ben goes head first into Mortal Kombat One, some PlayStation Portal talk, and so much more this episode of BEYOND!  

We Played Spider-Man 2: Hands-On First Impressions - Beyond 816

The State of Play had a number of new trailers starring some familiar upcoming games and the Podcast Beyond crew dives in! Foamstars continues to be something that looks better and better the more we see of it, and Spider-Man 2 has us more hyped than ever! Plus, we have so much to say about the new trailers for Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth and Resident Evil 4 Remake DLC. What was your favorite game of the show?  

State of Play Recap: Spider-Man 2, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, & Resident Evil 4 - Beyond Bonus Episode

It's no secret that Lies of P has a lot of  FromSoftware DNA, specifically that of the beloved PlayStation-exclusive Bloodborne. This week Beyond's resident Bloodborne fanboys Max Scoville and Brian Altano are joined by Travis "Tie Guy" Northup, who reviewed the new Pinocchio-inspired action-RPG for IGN, and they break down what this game gets right (a lot) and what it does differently from the gothic horror soulsborne classic. We dive into the gameplay, boss fights, systems, weapon customization and general lore, keeping things spoiler-free.

Lies of P Review Discussion - Beyond 815

In this episode of Podcast Beyond, brace yourselves, PlayStation Plus subscribers, because a price hike is on the horizon! Is there any silver lining in these cost adjustments, or are we in for the same old story with this month's "free" games? And since we're talking about big numbers, what's up with treating yourself to 19 inches of Venom? Also, Jada brings back exciting tidbits from PAX! From the gripping fun of 30XX to the timelessly fantastic Prince of Persia, and the engaging Dragon Quest: Adventures of Dai - we’re covering it all. But wait, Foamstars might just be the unexpected gem of the show??? Let's dive in with your host Max Scoville and show regulars Jada Griffin, Brian Altano, and Akeem Lawanson! 

Is The PS+ Subscription Hike a Certified Negative for PS5 Owners? - Beyond 814

In a very special post-gamescom 2023 episode of Beyond, we discuss some of the coolest games (and other stuff) we saw at the world’s largest gaming convention. While we were very happy to get new details on games like Little Nightmares 3, Neill Blomkamp’s Off The Grid, Wayfinder, Where Winds Meet, The Thaumaturge and Cyberpunk 2077's upcoming 2.0 update and Phantom Liberty expansion, PlayStation’s absence was extremely noticeable. Xbox had an awesome booth showcasing new games, but also giving some love to games that are already out. Nintendo, on the other hand, had literally nothing new to show, but still gave fans a place to congregate and get hands-on, take pictures, and generally have a good time. If Sony had nothing to show, this might make sense, but not only is Spider-Man 2 out next month, while gamescom was taking place, the Project Q was given an official price and title in a blog post. This week’s episode features Max Scoville and Brian Altano, as well as their dear friends Stella Chung and Seth Macy, who you can catch regularly on IGN’s Xbox and Nintendo shows, Podcast Unlocked and Nintendo Voice Chat. This week’s episode description was written 36,000 feet above Canada on very slow $27 wifi.  

gamescom 2023 Was Great, But Where Was Sony? - Beyond 813

With half the Beyond crew off to gamescom 2023 in Germany, Akeem Lawanson and Jada Griffin hold down the fort with very special guests Kat Bailey and Parris Lilly, talking about the biggest reveals coming out of gamescom Opening Night Live! Join us for some big reveals and deep dive interviews with the devs of Tekken 8, The First Descendant, Warhaven, and reacting to a brand new trailer from Lords of the Fallen! It's an EXTRA long special gamescom bonus episode of Beyond, so you won't wanna miss this!

The Biggest Announcements and Reveals from gamescom Opening Night Live 2023 - Beyond Bonus Episode

00:00:10 - Intro & the PS5 Slim Was Leaked? 00:21:10 - We've Played Lords of the Fallen 00:36:18 - What Are the Stupidest Things You've Done in Baldur's Gate 3? 00:50:54 - Mitchell Competed at EVO 2023! 01:02:05 - Gran Turismo Movie Impressions & Outro

Lords of the Fallen: Why We’re Already Falling For This Soulslike - Beyond 812

Rockstar’s recently announced re-release of Red Dead Redemption has a lot of fans feeling seriously disappointed, with good reason. Some of the backlash is a result of high expectations, but this latest port doesn’t do Rockstar’s legacy justice. That said, what other older Rockstar games need to be playable on modern consoles while we’re waiting around for GTA 6? Max, Jada and special guest MrMidasGames share their picks. In other news, Baldur’s Gate III is shaping up to be one of the densest RPGs in ages, and its deep systems might be a bit daunting to newcomers unfamiliar with D&D rules. Despite so many traditionally turn-based games making the shift to real time combat, we’re happy Larian Studios didn’t try to reinvent the wheel (or the D20) for this long-anticipated sequel. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge was a fitting successor to the original TMNT Arcade Game, so we wax nostalgic about which beloved 80s and 90s cartoons are deserving of modern throwback video games. Plus, some amusing features have been introduced in the PS5’s latest update beta, and a discussion of usefulness of the Sony’s upcoming cloud handheld slash glorified controller, the Project Q.

The Red Dead Redemption Re-Release Stings for PlayStation Owners - Beyond 811

00;01;03;29 Twisted Metal00;19;25;15 Lords of the Fallen00;30;06;17 Remnant II00;47;30;06 All Hail Glorbo00;53;21;25 More News01;04;21;14 Capcom stuff01;13;51;00 Outro

Twisted Metal is More Proof Games Make Better Shows Than Movies - Beyond 810

Get ready for a supercharged San Diego Comic-Con edition of IGN's Beyond! Join us, Max Scoville, along with Brian Altano, Akeem Lawanson, and the awesome Lisa Wallen - a stand-up comedian, Twitch streamer, and fellow weeb! We learned more about Spider-Man 2, Venom, and touch on fan-buzz regarding reused animations in the game. Then, we'll jump to the galaxy far, far away with Star Wars Outlaws - exciting new updates await! We also take a trip to Sand Land and discuss Mortal Kombat 1's Bad Superhero DLC, including Homelander, Peacemaker, and Omni-Man. We've got al our favorite highlights wrapped up in this episode, so you don't wanna miss this! 00:00:10 - Intro & New Updates on Spider-Man 2 + Venom!00:10:23 - Star Wars: Outlaws is an Open World Game00:19:43 - Akeem Played Sand Land!00:29:58 - Mortal Kombat 1 Revealed Their Bad Superheroes DLC00:40:04 - Our SDCC Highlights & Outro

The Best Highlights from San Diego ComicCon 2023! - Beyond 809

We're busy with SDCC this week, so we wanted to resurface this deep dive look at Star Wars Jedi: Survivor with game director Stig Asmussen. With everything from why we couldn't change Cal's hair color to the crazy [REDACTED] with [REDACTED], there's a lot of surprising new info we have in store for you! Join Max Scoville, Jada Griffin, and Josh Du as they dig into what made Star Wars Jedi: survivor such a hit with its audience. 

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Break Down with Stig Asmussen - Beyond 804 Redux

In this week's show, we'll dive into EA's highly anticipated Black Panther game and explore its potential to stand out among other superhero games. We'll also discuss future Marvel games, sharing our wishlist and realistic expectations for characters like Blade, Ghost Rider, and the Fantastic 4. But that's not all! We'll delve into the delightfully weird Baldur's Gate 3, a game that captures the comedic essence of Dungeons & Dragons. We'll also take a look at "The Last Hope - Dead Zone Survival," a hilarious ripoff that puts a unique spin on "The Last of Us" on Switch. 00:00:10 - Intro & Video Game of the Year w/ Jordan Minor00:11:02 - EA Announces a New Black Panther Game00:19:18 - What Will the Next Marvel Game Look Like?00:28:00 - Baldur's Gate III Lets You Seduce Bears00:40:38 - The Story Behind Street Shark's Mandella Effect00:44:48 - "The Last Hope" is "The Last of Us at Home" & Outro

Will EA's Black Panther Just Be Another Superhero Game? - Beyond 808

Jump into the world of Final Fantasy XVI with us as we pull back the curtain on what makes this game tick. From the insane boss battles to the incredibly well-realized characters and their relationships that, believe it or not, pack more punch than the actual story – we've got the scoop. And hey, if you're new to Final Fantasy or character action games, FF16 might just be your perfect starting point. It's accessible without being too hand-holdy for the seasoned players. Ever wondered if Final Fantasy XVI could bring in a new wave of fans? Or if it’s the most on-point Final Fantasy we've seen in over a decade? We sure did. After all, it's been a wild ride with the FF series, from the mixed bag that was FFXIII, the near-miss cancellation of FF14, to FF15's incomplete run, and the long wait for the rest of the FF7 Remake. But FF16? It's been different, in a good way – announced with the PS5, steady updates, and a launch just under 3 years later that's been met with a whole lot of love from fans and critics alike. But that's not all. We've got some juicy PlayStation gossip fresh from the Xbox Activision trial, and a rundown of 2023's best games so far (yes, "Final Fantasy XVI" makes the cut). So grab your controller, and let's dive in!

Will Final Fantasy XVI Attract a New Generation of Fans? - Beyond 807

But also: does it even matter? This week join Max Scoville along with IGN’s Kat Bailey and Ben Watts, plus special guest Kahlief Adams from the podcast SpawnOnMe. We frantically recap some of the highlights of the vaguely E3-shaped blob of showcases, presentations and virtual events, including: Mortal Kombat 1 striking a balance between being charmingly cartoony and disgustingly realistic, while also appealing to both hardcore and casual fighting game fans. Sidenote, which is grosser: a man being cleaved in half by a hat made out of a razor-sharp saw blade, or casually blowing a snot rocket in polite company? Star Wars Outlaws looks awesome, and we could probably prattle on about that until we’re blue in the face, but why do that when we can have a serious discussion about how successful Foamstars will be in the already crowded service game space? On a less enthusiastic note, we reflect on Sony’s recent PlayStation Showcase, which effectively kicked off the summer event season, but paled in comparison to some of the big reveals that followed. Does it matter? There are plenty of new games coming out, PlayStation 5 is selling well. Sure, PSVR 2 owners are being woefully neglected, and the Project Q is something nobody asked for, but it’d be nice if Sony was as willing to put on a show like some of the competition. In other news, Diablo 4 is a massive game in a year full of massive games, and we reflect upon how it’s hooking new and old players alike. As IGN’s resident Armored Core fan, Kat has strong feelings about the rapidly approaching Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon. It seems to be taking a few cues from FromSoftware’s recent games, but it’s staying faithful to the original games, not trying to be a mecha-flavored Soulsborne. As IGN’s resident Yakuza (er, Like a Dragon) fan, Max has some strong feelings about the reveal trailer for Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and feels it is easily the best video game trailer featuring a nude man on a beach since Death Stranding’s debut.

Was This Sony’s Weakest Summer of Announcements Yet? - Beyond 806

In this special IGN Summer of Gaming and Capcom Showcase post-show, the Podcast Beyond team dives into their favorite game reveals of the week! From tons of surprise announcements including Star Wars Outlaws, Path of the Goddess, and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth as well as a number of disappointments to talk about, so you're not gonna wanna miss out with Max Scoville, Jada Griffin, Matt Kim, and Akeem Lawanson! #IGNSummerOfGaming

Our Favorite Summer of Gaming Reveals - Beyond 805

In this spoiler-filled episode of Podcast Beyond, we have Star Wars Jedi: Survivor's game director Stig Asmussen along with us on a deep dive on how the game came together. With everything from why we couldn't change Cal's hair color to the crazy [REDACTED] with [REDACTED], there's a lot of surprising new info we have in store for you! Join Max Scoville, Jada Griffin, and Josh Du as they dig into what made Star Wars Jedi: survivor such a hit with its audience. 

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Spoilercast with Stig Asmussen - Beyond 804

Sony's PlayStation May Showcase had some excellent reveals like Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater Remake, and Spider-man 2, but it left us with a lot more questions about the other first party Sony studios. Did the showcase live up to the hype of other showcases or was it a glorified State of Play? Can the Snake Eater Remake succeed without Hideo Kojima? Who is the target audience for Project Q? Why didn't we at least get a tease from other studios like Bluepoint, Housemarque, or Bend Studios? Join Jada Griffin, Taylor Lyles, Benny Watts, and Jeffrey Vega for their thoughts about the Playstation Showcase after giving it a second look. 

The PlayStation Showcase Felt Like a State of Play - Beyond 803

Sony's PlayStation Showcase was packed full of exciting new trailers, we're here to talk about some of our favorite reveals! We saw everything from a new gameplay trailer for Dragon's Dogma II (FINALLY!!!!!! - Red, the Producer) to tons of new Spider-Man 2 gameplay, a Metal Gear Solid 3 surprise reveal, as well as a remake of Bungie's classic franchise, Marathon! There's just so much to talk about, you won't want to miss this. Join Max Scoville, Brian Altano, Jada Griffin, and Akeem Lawanson for their PlayStation Showcase reactions!00:00:00 - Intro & the Best New Trailers!00:16:40 - Our favorite 3rd Party Trailers  00:35:00 - Is the PSVR 2 Worth Getting Yet?  00:41:55 - Project Q and New PlayStation Hardware00:46:50 - Grading the PlayStation Showcase  00:56:52 - Metal Gear Solid 3 Delta Trailer Breakdown & Outro

Sony PlayStation Showcase: The Best Reveals - Beyond 802

In this week's episode of Podcast Beyond, we check out a fun new game from Rez Infinite developer, Enhance!  Humanity is the latest PS5 release that puts you in control of a dog made of light, guiding a stream of humans along a variety of challenging levels. It reminds us of old-school Lemmings mixed with... Snake, Katamari, and Intelligent Qube! Yeah, you have to see it yourselves. We also dive into some Zelda alternatives for PlayStation now that the gaming world is now deep into Tears of the Kingdom fever since last weekend. Can't jump into Hyrule?  Check out these other Zelda-likes that are also worth checking out!

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