We spend most of this episode traversing the infamous Blighttown, with its perilous ledges and poison snipers. Also some talk about the approach to learning combat and bosses in this game.

Next episode, in two weeks, should go approximately through the famous boss fight against Ornstein and Smough.

Links:

Game director Miyazaki quote about creature design

A Basilisk. Note the tiny eyes just above the mouth.

As we go from Undead Parish to the Depths, we focus more on the game's levels and early enemies. Also the humanity of rats, and how all games are variants of DDR.

Next episode, in two weeks, should take us through ringing the second Bell or slightly beyond.

We jump into a new game with discussion that focuses mainly on Dark Souls's emotional design and what it's trying to encourage from the player, the opaque nature of its stats and systems, and the introductory areas and bosses.

Discussing the remainder of the game's second act, some of its most notable bosses, and our overall critiques of this level and the game as a whole.  And of course, re-announcing our next game!

Finishing Act 1 (again), this time with the secrets that unlock the game's hidden second act, and exploring what the new area looks like.

We explore the remainder of the game's first act, including some hidden areas and items, Alucard's nightmare, and the first "ending" that can be found.

Our initial impressions of Symphony of the Night! Background, basic movement and control, early combat, and exploring the first few areas through Underground Caverns.

Our next project is a beloved classic that gave its name to the now-familiar "Metroidvania" game genre.  As an added twist, this the first game on Old Game Plus that none of the three hosts as played before!

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is available:

• The original CD on Playstation 1/2/3
• On the PS online store, for PS3/PSP/Vita
• On XBLA for Xbox360
• A recent rerelease as part of Castlevania Requiem on PS4

We will begin our discussion on Feb. 11!  Because we're not familiar with the game, we can't give good guidance on exactly what our stopping point will be, but we will play for a few hours and discuss our experiences.

Many topics in our final episode on Final Fantasy Tactics: briefly revisiting the comparison to Into the Breach, the closing battles of Chapter 4, the ending, the resolution of the major characters, mentioning the side quests, and a bit about player-made challenges.

And, in a twist--announcing our next two games!

Brief discussion of the 2018 tactical game Into the Breach, then the bulk of Chapter 4--Limberry Castle and sealing Elmdor's gear, the brothers reunite at Igros Castle, and everyone proceeds towards a showdown at Mullonde.  The Calculator, Samurai, and Ninja jobs, the pacing and encounter design of chapter 4 as a whole, some of the game's more obscure ways of obtaining items.