Fine Time

We're back on the Big Deal beat for 2026! Steve and Kevin play Anthem before it goes offline forever, Andre revisited Shadow Labyrinth in light of a new patch, Call of Duty is in the sales shitter, we play our worst takes of 2025, and much more. Thanks for joining us, and rate and review us wherever you listen ot the show! Fine Time on Bluesky: @fineti.me Andre: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me Steve: @monotonegent.fineti.me Kevin: @kevinflevin89.fineti.me [00:00] Intro [03:22] Steve and Kevin played Anthem [34:18] Andre revisits Shadow Labyrinth [50:13] Shower Hour [52:43] Call of Duty On The Skids? [01:08:03] Nintendo Is Fretting About Metroid Prime 4 [01:16:07] Andre's 2025 Games of the Year [01:24:49] Steve's 2025 Games of the Year [01:33:06] Kevin's 2025 Games of the Year [01:40:22] Our Worst Takes of 2025 [01:56:42] Bye!

A lot happened on the road to Darksiders III! Andre and Thrak are back to talk about the game, the death and rebirth of THQ, and an extensive chat about Soulslike gameplay and notions of genre.  Thrak Ops - https://superpodnetwork.com/podcast/call-of-duty-thrak-ops The 3DO Experience - https://superpodnetwork.com/channel/the-3do-experience-video-editions Fine Time on Bluesky - @fineti.me [00:00] Intro - The Death and Rebirth of THQ [17:49] The Move To Soulslike Gameplay + Reception [26:14] Andre Hates Soulslikes [40:07] Genre Theory [53:39] I Guess We Can Talk About The Game Now [01:24:51] Did Andre Boss Skip? [01:30:12] Wrap Up + Bye!

It's a Christmas miracle for the people! After many many years, Metroid Prime 4 was finally released, and we came, saw, and conquered. But was it good? Andre, Steve, and Kevin all pitch in on this special Postgame Show to discuss all things Metroid Prime 4 up to and including the ending, so don't listen if you don't to be spoiled! Rate and review us wherever you listen to Fine Time Fine Time on Bluesky: @fineti.me Andre: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me Steve: @monotonegent.fineti.me Kevin: @kevinflevin89.fineti.me [00:00] SPOILER WARNING [00:53] Intro - Reviews and Personal Expectations [06:41] What Did We Think? [11:33] Graphics On Switch 2 [18:26] Desert and Motorcycle Thrills [30:50] Mouse Controls [35:59] Map Design and Music [41:42] Combat and Bosses [49:44] NPCs and Hand-Holding [58:50] Ending [01:11:19] Odds and Ends + Bye!

Andre and Thrak continue their Darksiders journey with the Darksiders II and talk about the differences from the first game as well as its new focus on RPG elements and loot, among other topics. Thrak Ops - https://superpodnetwork.com/podcast/call-of-duty-thrak-ops The 3DO Experience - https://superpodnetwork.com/channel/the-3do-experience-video-editions Fine Time on Bluesky - @fineti.me [00:00] Intro - Information and Release [06:53] Expectations [11:04] Overall Thoughts [13:55] RPG Tendencies and Loot [22:09] Comparisons to the First Darksiders - Traversal, Combat, and Puzzles [32:52] Presentation and Visual Variety [39:33] More Comparisons, Parkour, and Setpieces [48:06] Wrap Up + Bye!

Andre is joined by Thrak to begin their joint journey of playing through all four Darksiders games! In this first installment, the guys take on the original Darksiders and talk about it's origins, influences, puzzle design, and more. Thrak Ops - https://superpodnetwork.com/podcast/call-of-duty-thrak-ops The 3DO Experience - https://superpodnetwork.com/channel/the-3do-experience-video-editions Fine Time on Bluesky - @fineti.me [00:00] Intro - Why Darksiders? [18:13] What Did We Think? [24:52] Story, Graphics, and Art [32:31] Zelda For Men [35:50] Japanese Influence and Combat [48:39] Level Design and More Zelda Parallels [53:29] Criticisms [01:07:34] Wrap Up + Bye!

The PokéPals are back! Steve, Vin, and Ampy dive into Pokémon Legends: Z-A's new action-based battle system, their favorite Mega Evolutions, the story's surprises and shenanigans, and more. Twitter: @FineTimePodcast Steve: @monotonegent.fineti.me Vin: @lucentai.bsky.social Ampy: @ampyluxe.bsky.social [00:00] Intro [2:24] The build-up to Legends Z-A [12:40] Stepping into Lumiose City [18:28] Trainer customization [22:30] Presentation and music [32:29] Battling and flow [45:07] Mega Evolution: Our Faves and More [57:05] SPOILERS: The story goes off the rails [01:13:04] Nitpicks [01:29:41] The Future of PokéPals

Andre and Goo from Flashback 64 continue their discussion on Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, focusing on the criticism the game has received over time. Is it fair, or do the youngsters need to get their shit together? If you missed part one, you can listen here. Flashback 64: https://flashback64.com Fine Time: https://fineti.me [00:00] Welcome Back! (And An Apology) [01:31] Current Perception [08:02] "When you Game Over, you have to start over from the beginning" [16:11] Losing a Life: Too Punishing? [20:19] Difficulty, Once And For All [31:51] Magic: Too Stingy? [35:57] Progression: Too Obtuse? [44:00] "Side-scrolling isn't Zelda" [55:11] Staying Power [59:41] Bye!

When Zelda II: The Adventure of Link hit the scene in 1988, it was celebrated as the rightful classic that it is, or at least that's how we remember it. But over time that repuation has gotten sullied, and we're here to fix that! Andre is joined by Gooey of Flashback 64 to talk about why they love Zelda II, including its artwork, story, RPG elements, and many other topics in part one of this two-part series. Flashback 64: https://flashback64.com Fine Time: https://fineti.me [00:00] Intro and Premise [02:56] Our Life As Zelda Fans [11:56] Strong RPG Elements [16:24] Story [24:19] Overworld and Exploration [29:32] Graphics and Art [39:46] Combat [49:20] Magic [55:47] Design and Difficulty [01:02:23] Music [01:07:08] Odds and Ends [01:12:41] Perceptions of the Past [01:29:39] See You Next Week!

In our last Big Deal of 2025, the guys tackle Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment and other games before they get into the Kirby Air Riders online demo, State of Play Japan, the coverage of Grand Theft Auto 6, a new 45 Sec. Game and toooons more! Thanks for listening, as always! Fine Time on Bluesky: @fineti.me Andre: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me Steve: @monotonegent.fineti.me Kevin: @kevinflevin89.fineti.me [00:00] Intro [05:47] Andre talks about Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment [24:54] Steve played A Game About Digging A Hole [34:50] Kevin got a Miyoo Mini Flip [56:42] Shower Time [01:00:11] Super Mario Galaxy movie trailer [01:05:22] Kirby Air Riders online demo [01:13:41] State of Play Japan?! [01:19:50] Animal Crossing Switch 2 Update [01:29:17] Nintendo Q2 Financial Report [01:45:32] Can We PLEASE Shut Up about GTA6? [01:52:17] 45 Sec. Game: Super Smash Bros. Melee Roster [02:00:47] See You Next Year!

Andre and Steve explore the entire phenomenon that is KPop Demon Hunters and talk about its stunning popularity, how K-pop conqured America, and the future of this budding franchise. Oh yeah, we talk about the movie too! Fine Time on Bluesky: @fineti.me Andre on Bluesky: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me Steve on Bluesky: @monotonegent.fineti.me

Three aging men play video games, drink Mt. Dew, talk about Halo: Campaign Evolved, the delusion of Amazon Games, and try to figure out what 'six seven' means, among other topics. Thanks for listening! Fine Time on Bluesky: @fineti.me Andre: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me Steve: @monotonegent.fineti.me Kevin: @kevinflevin89.fineti.me [00:00] Intro [02:49] Kevin's Roundup: Silksong, Kirby and the Forgotten Land [09:23] Steve played Dragon Quest Smash/Grow [24:26] Andre played Night Manor [35:09] Shower Hour [37:02] TASTE TEST: Trolli Mountain Dew [44:54] Halo: Campaign Evolved announced for PS5 [01:14:52] Kirby Air Riders Direct #2 [01:25:35] Amazon Games Is Mad Delusional [01:40:06] Andre's Place Your Bets Query [01:44:46] What the Fuck Is 'Six Seven'? [01:50:26] Bye!

It's October again and Andre and Steve and here to tackle another spoopy classic, this time in the form of Sleepy Hollow, the 1999 Tim Burton-directed horror/thriller starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci. But why doesn't Sleepy Hollow enjoy the same reverance as other Burton/Depp collaborations? We set off to 1799 New York to find the answer. Fine Time on Bluesky: @fineti.me Andre on Bluesky: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me Steve on Bluesky: @monotonegent.fineti.me

After a second helping of Silksong and some classic 90s scares, the guys talk about that weird Pikmin animated short, a round of Fuck, I Was Wrong, a round of Place Your Bets, and more! Fine Time on Bluesky: @fineti.me Andre: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me Steve: @monotonegent.fineti.me Kevin: @kevinflevin89.fineti.me [00:00] Intro [03:29] Kevin once again talks about Hollow Knight: Silksong [15:53] Steve played Clock Tower Rewind [27:25] Andre played Heretic + Hexen [37:40] Break Time [40:51] Nintendo's Animated Pikmin Short [48:04] Fuck, I Was Wrong [01:00:18] Place Your Bets! [01:17:10] The Impact of Ren & Stimpy [01:23:54] Bye!

And and Steve return to cover six more games available on the Nintendo Classics service. Fine Time on Bluesky: @fineti.me Andre on Bluesky: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me Steve on Bluesky: @monotonegent.fineti.me [00:00] Intro [03:00] WinBack: Covert Operations [10:32] Super Ninja Boy [19:04] Uncharted Waters: New Horizons [33:51] すってはっくん Sutte Hakkun [39:13] Light Crusader [45:34] Shadow Man [55:59] See Ya!

We talk about the surprise release of Fire Emblem Shadows, Kevin tries some early Final Fantasy, and Andre checks back in with Marvel Rivals. We also discuss the latest State of Play, Microsoft's wild price hikes, an Oreo Reese's taste test, and more. Thanks for listening, and rate and review us! Fine Time on Bluesky: @fineti.me Andre: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me Steve: @monotonegent.fineti.me Kevin: @kevinflevin89.fineti.me [00:00] Intro (Price Hike) [04:04] Steve played Fire Emblem Shadows [19:51] Andre checks back in on Marvel Rivals [34:02] Kevin played Final Fantasy (Dawn of Souls) [45:00] Break Time [45:57] Taste Test: Oreo Reese's [51:47] State of Play - September 2025 [01:09:33] Microsoft Price Hikes: Today's Cost of Doing Business [01:26:48] Do You Listen To Live Albums? [01:34:20] See Ya!

Undertale took the world by storm, but Andre stayed far, far away from it, scared off by the unrelenting and obnoxious fanbase. But now many years later, can Andre find a way to play Undertale with an open mind and fresh perspective? An attempt was made as he goes at it alone. Andre: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me Fine Time: @fineti.me [00:00] Introduction [03:25] Why I Avoided Undertale For So Long [09:16] What I Knew Beforehand [12:14] Humble Beginnings [21:01] It All Starts To Go Wrong [32:29] Breaking Point [38:30] Redemption? [50:44] The End [54:31] Conclusions [59:02] Thanks For Listening!  

The long-awaited arrival of Hollow Knight: Silksong is finally here, and Kevin explores his feelings about the game so far before everyone dives head first into the first real Nintendo Direct of the Switch 2 era. Thanks for joining us! Fine Time on Bluesky: @fineti.me Andre: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me Steve: @monotonegent.fineti.me Kevin: @kevinflevin89.fineti.me [00:00] Intro [03:01] Kevin Plays Hollow Knight: Silksong [32:33] Steve plays Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling [41:55] Shower Time [43:36] Reese's Oreo Taste Test [51:45] Nintendo Direct 09.12.25 [01:45:48] See Ya Next Time!

Andre and Evan tackle popular songs through the decades and decide whether they are rated properly in history. Thanks for joining us! Listen along with these playlists: Spotify: http://bit.ly/3JsU6Hg Tidal: https://bit.ly/3HtUt3K [00:00] Intro and Premise [02:06] Sade - "No Ordinary Love" [06:07] Seal - "Crazy" [11:11] Bruce Hornsby and the Range - "Mandolin Rain" [16:07] Nirvana - "In Bloom" [25:23] Nine Inch Nails - "Closer" [33:35] Lenny Kravitz - "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over" [38:25] Blue Oyster Cult - "Godzilla" [45:17] Whitney Houston - "So Emotional" [51:05] Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Breaking the Girl" [56:15] Falco - "Rock Me Amadeus" [01:01:51] Nine Inch Nails - "The Hand That Feeds" [01:03:43] Nelly Furtado - "Promiscuous" [01:07:37] Bye!

The guys played the Kirby and the Forgotten Land DLC and Tony Hawk, tried the demos for  Lumines Arise and Lost Soul Aside, Kevin tried KFC's pickle menu and tons more topics on this week's Big Deal! Fine Time on Bluesky: @fineti.me Andre: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me Steve: @monotonegent.fineti.me Kevin: @kevinflevin89.fineti.me Silent Discographer: @silentdiscographer.com [00:00] Intro - The Silent Discographer [06:55] Andre and Steve played the Star-Crossed Worlds DLC for Kirby and the Forgotten Land [26:37] Kevin played Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 [44:10] Shower Hours [46:11] Demo Roundup: Lumines Arise and Lost Soul Aside [58:19] PS6 Handheld?! What?? [01:11:19] Andre's Zelda Prediction [01:18:45] KFC Canada's Pickle Menu [01:28:13] Kevin Defends The Messenger [01:35:21] See Ya!

Andre and Andrew continue their discission on Shining the Holy Ark, including the battle system, animations, CGI, and difficulty, as well as a phlethora of Saturn topics such as its lack of sports games that hit in America, questionable arcade ports, and much more. If you missed Part 1 of this discussion, you can listen to it here. Andrew Elmore on Bluesky: @elmore.zone Andrew Elmore on Bandcamp: https://satellitesound.net/ The Silent Discographer on Bluesky: @silentdiscographer.com Andre on Bluesky: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me Fine Time on Bluesky: @fineti.me [00:00] Be Sure To Listen to Part 1! [01:00] Battle System and Animations [13:01] Saturn's Sports Problem [25:12] Motoi Sakuraba Appreciation Hours [30:54] Difficulty [34:41] Shining Series and Saturn's Slow-Trickle Death [39:03] Shining the Holy Ark 64 [41:55] Older Gaming Culture and Discovery [55:09] Execution Over Innovation [58:38] Why Holy Ark Gets Forgotten [01:04:22] The Changing RPG Landscape In the 90s [01:12:11] Saturn's Bad Arcade Ports [01:17:25] Bye!