Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 vs Pokemon Violet (Greg’s Take)- Kinda Funny Gamescast

Summary

Kinda Funny Gamescast: Video Game Podcast
Episode: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 vs Pokémon Violet (Greg’s Take)
Release Date: July 1, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of the Kinda Funny Gamescast, hosts Tim Gettys and Greg Miller delve into a candid and introspective discussion about Greg’s experiences with two prominent turn-based RPGs: Expedition 33 and Pokémon Violet. Released on July 1, 2025, this episode explores Greg's unexpected challenges with Expedition 33 despite its acclaim, juxtaposed against his enjoyment of Pokémon Violet. The conversation offers deep insights into game mechanics, player engagement, and the evolving landscape of role-playing games.

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Main Discussion: Greg's Take on Expedition 33 vs Pokémon Violet

Greg’s Departure from Turn-Based RPGs

Greg Miller opens up about his longstanding aversion to turn-based RPGs, a genre he has previously engaged with through titles like Persona 3 and Persona 4 Golden. Despite the acclaim and engaging narratives typical of these games, Greg finds himself unable to connect with modern iterations such as Expedition 33.

Greg Miller [08:13]: "I'm wrong, everybody. I'm wrong. I think one of the things we discussed in the meeting room was what do we headline this show? Because I think it's time for me just to retire from turn-based RPGs. Except Pokémon."

This admission marks a significant shift in Greg's gaming preferences, highlighting his struggles with maintaining interest and engagement in a genre he once passionately reviewed.

Comparison with Other Games

Greg contrasts Expedition 33 with other turn-based and action RPGs, expressing frustration with the modern mechanics that he feels dilute the depth and engagement of traditional turn-based combat.

Greg Miller [19:14]: "I feel like I have that laundry list of Pokémon to swap in, swap out, take a hit, no big deal, still get the move done and be on my way again in 30 seconds. Versus sitting there for two minutes and doing something."

He draws parallels between Expedition 33 and titles like Final Fantasy 16 and Dragon Age: Valheim, noting that while some games successfully modernize turn-based systems, others fall short of delivering the immersive experience he seeks.

Greg Miller [43:10]: "So it's interesting you bring up Final Fantasy Rebirth because I'd also toss in Final Fantasy 16 which not a turn based game at all. A game that's all about being story and stuff. And it just didn't work for me."

Game Mechanics and Story Engagement

A central theme of the discussion revolves around the balance between story and gameplay mechanics. Greg appreciates strong narratives but feels that the combat mechanics in Expedition 33 hinder his ability to stay engaged with the story.

Greg Miller [19:20]: "I just want to know and people I know while we've been live, someone emailed me with a mod to put on where you go into God mode and you can just kill everything in one hit. That also, I mean, that sounds mind-numbing, right?"

Greg emphasizes his preference for active and engaging combat systems that allow for meaningful player interaction, contrasting this with what he perceives as monotonous or disengaging mechanics in Expedition 33.

Greg Miller [24:40]: "But they start everybody. The stuff surrounding an expedition is just so high quality and engaging and Greg Miller like that's the thing to me that I'm struggling here."

Despite his criticisms, Greg acknowledges the high production values and storytelling elements of Expedition 33, suggesting that his disconnect stems primarily from the gameplay experience.

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Interaction with Live Chat

Throughout the episode, Greg and Tim engage with live chat messages, addressing listener comments and questions. These interactions provide additional perspectives and reinforce the episode's themes.

• Listener Alex J. Sandoval [63:20]: "Tastes change. Don't force yourself through experiences you don't enjoy."

  Greg responds by reiterating his struggle with turn-based RPGs, emphasizing the personal nature of gaming preferences.

• Listener Joshua Moreno [65:08]: "I like the older Pokémon games and abhor all the Final Fantasies. Clear structure, simple lore, and quick battles. RNG's done in a clear way. Menu diving sucks and it should never prevent you from continuing. That's my two cents."

  This comment underscores the varied player preferences within the RPG community, aligning with Greg's detailed exploration of his own tastes.

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Additional Insights

Player Types and Preferences

The conversation touches upon Bartle's taxonomy of player types—achievers, explorers, socializers, and killers—as Greg attempts to categorize his preferences and understand his disconnect with certain game mechanics.

Greg Miller [53:00]: "So, as I listen I was like maybe that's that that's helpful. Yeah, that's helpful for your taste lie."

This exploration helps frame Greg's experiences within broader player behavior theories, providing a structured lens through which he assesses his gaming enjoyment.

Future Expectations and Open-Ended Reflections

Greg expresses hope for future turn-based RPGs that might align better with his preferences, indicating a willingness to remain open to the genre despite his current frustrations.

Greg Miller [70:46]: "I'm going to play all the Platty Birds and get more Platinum trophies."

His mention of awaiting Za as a potential game that could redeem his experience with turn-based systems showcases his ongoing engagement with the evolving RPG landscape.

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Conclusion

This episode of the Kinda Funny Gamescast offers a rare and honest glimpse into Greg Miller's personal gaming struggles, particularly his disengagement with modern turn-based RPGs like Expedition 33. Through thoughtful analysis and open dialogue, Greg and Tim explore the intricate balance between storytelling and gameplay mechanics, emphasizing the importance of player engagement and personal preference in game enjoyment. The episode not only provides valuable insights for listeners and gamers alike but also reinforces the podcast's commitment to authentic and meaningful conversations within the gaming community.

Greg Miller [68:13]: "Why turn based doesn't work for Greg or something like that."

As the hosts wrap up, they acknowledge the diversity of gaming experiences and reaffirm the podcast's dedication to exploring all facets of video games, ensuring that every listener finds value in their discussions.

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Note: Timestamps are approximate and correspond to the provided transcript.

Transcript

[Greg Miller]

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[Tim Gettys]

Because rekindling your shred is as easy as playing the new Tony hawk's Pro.

[Greg Miller]

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[Tim Gettys]

With new parks, cross platform multiplayer and.

[Greg Miller]

Sick new game modes, we can put.

[Tim Gettys]

An end to shred loss everywhere.

[Greg Miller]

Hit the new Tony hawk's Pro Skater.

[Tim Gettys]

3 and 4 and show the world that the shred's not dead. Pre order Tony hawk's Pro Skater 3 and 4 and play the Foundry demo foreign what's up? And welcome back to the kind that Funny Games cast for Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Of course, I am your host, Tim Gettys. I'm joined today by Greg Miller.

[Greg Miller]

Hello, Timothy. How are you?

[Tim Gettys]

I'm great. How are you?

[Greg Miller]

I'm good. I'm excited to have this one on one Gamescast with you.

[Tim Gettys]

I love it. It's always a treat, you know.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah, we've been talking, you know, more. We should do more. Not like we you and me, but like in general. We should do more one on one Gamescast. We're supposed to focus on conversations, get.

[Tim Gettys]

Into the nut of the situation. You know what I mean?

[Greg Miller]

No, I mean I'm a big fan.

[Tim Gettys]

Of your nut, Greg.

[Greg Miller]

Oh my God.

[Tim Gettys]

Oh, man. Here you are with your Nintendo Switch. You know, a month in my little.

[Greg Miller]

My little profile there. It looks like me, but it's Benny. That's my character Benny.

[Tim Gettys]

Oh, okay.

[Greg Miller]

Pokemon.

[Tim Gettys]

You think that's gonna end up needing glasses? Do you think he's gonna want glasses?

[Greg Miller]

He's got. Yeah, he's gonna want a mom and dad got him. He already loves his sunglasses so much, sometimes he can't leave the house. He's like, sunny, I want my sunnies.

[Tim Gettys]

I didn't put that together. I mean, ob think of you with glasses, obviously. I think of Jen with glasses, obviously. But I didn't think about Ben until this moment.

[Greg Miller]

I mean, Jen's eyes are really bad. So it's like one of those. I'd imagine that'll come over. Maybe my American Amazing jeans will dominate and give the freedom to the Canadian jeans to have better eyesight because again, mine aren't bad. I can still see that too, on the camera. No problem.

[Tim Gettys]

Okay.

[Greg Miller]

I can read the chat. No problem. It's back there. It's a little hazy. Yeah, not even hazy, but you know.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah, it's more of a fashion type situation. No, I mean I can't go without the glasses.

[Greg Miller]

I do need. Oh, no, no, no, no. I would never take them off. You know what I mean? I want to do that part, you know, but no, I, I need them. But I could get by without them.

[Tim Gettys]

My friend Danny had glasses in middle school and half of high school. Yeah. And then he got contacts after that and has never worn glasses since.

[Greg Miller]

Okay.

[Tim Gettys]

Except like sometimes they like sleepover.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah, of course.

[Tim Gettys]

But like he still looks wrong to me.

[Greg Miller]

Oh, yeah. To this day. I can believe, I can believe that for 100.

[Tim Gettys]

Oh, it's tough out there. This is the kind of funny games cast, everybody. Each and every weekday we get together to talk about the biggest reviews, previews and topics in video games Live on Twitch, YouTube and podcast services around the globe. If you love what we do, please support us with the kind of funny membership on Patreon, YouTube, Spotify or Apple podcasts. Get all of our shows ad free and a daily exclusive Greg Way for a chance to be part of this show. Submit your thoughts and opinions as YouTube super chats as we go. A little housekeeping for you. We are an 11 person business. This all about live talk shows. Kind of funny Games Daily was Bless and Andy absolutely crushing it. Talking about outriders too. And then after this. Oh, it is Superman in review. We're doing Superman 4 the quest for peace. I heard it was bad. Didn't expect this. Didn't expect this, Greg. Oh, it's gonna be a good in review and then following that, it's gonna be a peak stream. A lot of people talk about this game peak. It's a big deal. We got a couple all stars on this one. I forget who it's on it.

[Greg Miller]

It's Nick. I think Bless is on it.

[Tim Gettys]

I think that's it.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah, that sounds right.

[Tim Gettys]

What a great crew.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah, that's right.

[Tim Gettys]

Roger and Mike taking the day off.

[Greg Miller]

They freaked it.

[Tim Gettys]

The absolute insane marathon stream they did. You freaked it like no one else.

[Greg Miller]

I was out there. I was running in my little shorts during the day running. Came back in the night and scared him.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah, I didn't see that yet. Okay, that's awesome.

[Greg Miller]

Kevin. Can we pull that up?

[Tim Gettys]

If you're a kind of funny member, today's Greg Way is going to be a good one. He's bursting at the seams to talk on Gamescast. So we recorded a tiny Greg Way part one and he's gonna come back for part two in the afternoon.

[Greg Miller]

I started up on the Greg Way this morning and it was that thing where Kevin, I'm tossing just into Gail. That's not good. Hold on. Way too many things. I'm gonna toss this one. Assets, please. Yeah, I'm trying to get to whenever I need assets. In a pinch, I can't find it. You know what I mean? It's a weird thing where I just got to pin it all to it.

[Tim Gettys]

Later today I'm gonna watch F1, which is incredibly exciting to me because it's from the director of Top Gun. Maverick. My favorite movie of all time, Tom Cruise. Hans Zimmer did the score. Here we go, a new Hans Zimmer score. Are you kidding me? Yeah, I'm seeing it in 40x. This is about to rock my fucking world.

[Greg Miller]

Okay, speaking of rocking world, before you hit Playcap, this is them streaming about 10 o' clock last night. I finished Jurassic Park. Rebirth World. Jurassic World, Rebirth. And immediately came here. And when I pulled in the parking lot, I put into the, the. Hey, everybody, I'm going to bed. You know, have a great stream, guys. Let it play crazy. You want some ribs, man? I need another knife. I appreciate you getting yourself a knife.

[Tim Gettys]

Here's mine. I already cut mine. Oh, yeah.

[Greg Miller]

It took you two seconds.

[Tim Gettys]

There's only one knife in there besides butter knife, so that's what we get. Oh, my God, no. Oh, my God.

[Greg Miller]

No. You didn't know.

[Tim Gettys]

Six ounces is a tiny steak cake. Make some room. He's coming to dinner. That's awesome.

[Greg Miller]

That was a good time. I said it goes a little bit more and he describes it as a CM Punk Pop. I appreciate that. Yeah. So then I, I, I, I freaked it with them till about midnight. Yeah. Made sure I cranked it up on them, you know, I mean, they were winded down. I put some hours on that clock and I left.

[Tim Gettys]

This is almost a rhetorical question, but.

[Greg Miller]

Did they order Outback and Chili's?

[Tim Gettys]

They ordered Outback. That sounds fucking crazy.

[Greg Miller]

Kind of did, like. Well, I. To their credit, I believe if you look at the subreddit, there's a little thing where I think the vote almost was 5050 between Chili's and Outback. So they split the difference.

[Tim Gettys]

Why not both?

[Greg Miller]

And then I. But it also, to me, kind of felt like, you know, when a prisoner gets their last meal, that they were like, we want to go big. Yeah. But then Mike doesn't understand that 6 ounces isn't big. And so he was very offended when the steak arrives.

[Tim Gettys]

The tiniest little thing ever. Medallion, if you will, everybody. If you're a kind of funny member, today's Greg Way. I already said that. Thank you. To our Patreon producers, Delaney the psalm twining. We're adding that.

[Greg Miller]

Apparently that's what he. That's what he put in this month. Awesome new month, new producers, but it's still Delaney the song Twining. And I mean, like, you know, sommelier.

[Tim Gettys]

Oh, okay.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah. You know, when you're at the wine.

[Tim Gettys]

Or John Wake with the guns, Carl Jacobs and Omega Buster. Today we're brought to you by Cash App and Mood, but we'll tell you all about that later. For now, let's start with the topic of the show. Greg. This episode was scheduled to be the Expedition 33 Greg Miller Review.

[Greg Miller]

That's right, Tim.

[Tim Gettys]

This game is my current game of the year. I forgot who was on the original review. I think. I think Andy was there and a couple other people. And then we liked it so much that Blessing and I then reviewed it later.

[Greg Miller]

Right.

[Tim Gettys]

And then we're like, all right, Greg's now playing. Greg's going to review it. That was going to be. That was going to be the headline today, but then something changed.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah.

[Tim Gettys]

What's going on, Greg? What's. What's going on with you?

[Greg Miller]

Before we go any further, ladies, gentlemen and enbies, we need to have a heart to heart. And that's what we're having right here on camera. You and me on the one on one. If you're an audio listener, I hope it feels intimate. As I talk to you, I need you to understand that I am being as vulnerable as possible. I need you to understand that even though I'm still going to be entertaining on this podcast and probably the funniest guy you know, I'm not doing a bit. And I also need you to know I'm not trying to make you angry. I need you to know that I am wrong. I am the one who is broken. I am sitting in the cone of shame already. But we need to have a conversation. And, Tim, this is something you and I take very seriously.

[Tim Gettys]

Very seriously. That we rarely have meetings about specific episodes of shows. Broad meetings about, like, planning and like, all that stuff. Sure. But like a conversation of how do we handle this? How do we handle my feelings about something? How do we make sure that we are as, quote, unquote, professional as we can be, being kind of funny, games being Greg Miller, being the people that we are.

[Greg Miller]

Right.

[Tim Gettys]

This is one of the rare times where you pulled me into the conference room yesterday and you're like, tim, I need to talk this out with you because this is serious. This is not a bit. This is not a joke. Like there needs to be a real conversation about my feelings with certain types.

[Greg Miller]

Of video games and that's really what it comes down to. Ladies, gentlemen and enbies again, we are not doing characters. We're not doing a bit. We're being vulnerable. You're gonna be supportive of me here. You're not gonna be mean to be mean. I'm wrong. I'm wrong. I think one of the things we discussed in the meeting room was what do we headline this show? Because I think it's time for me just to retire from turn based RPGs. Except Pokemon. That's the problem. And I know you go, why go wide. It's not a bit. I'm not doing a character. I'm not doing a bit. I'm not doing a bit. I'm not doing a character.

[Tim Gettys]

What this is going to be, we.

[Greg Miller]

Are going to be. And with them we are going to be cathartic. We are going to be cathartic. We are going to hang out together and have a conversation about what, what I should do here. Ok. What I should do here. Because Expedition is your game of the year. It's so many people's game of the year. I hear about it all the time.

[Tim Gettys]

You know, I need to say this quickly. No spoilers for Expedition 33.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah, I think I feel like that's, that's fine. Can I, can we. Is it a spoiler to say that there's a twist?

[Tim Gettys]

Just keep that. Let's end there.

[Greg Miller]

Let's end there because it's key to this story. Where Expedition dropped, I went oh, we. I did the preview of it with alongside a bunch of different people. When we got our preview code I was like, oh man. Like the active battling the dodging. I really like that. Maybe that'll you know, diffuse some of my criticisms of turn based games. I'll come back to this. When it came out, I went back to it but it was in between reviews. I couldn't give it the time it needed. Yada, yada yada. It became that classic Gregism of I'll get to this later, I'll go play the other games I need to for review and I'll get back to this. Almost with a wink and a nod, right? That I'll do it but will I ever. Because there's always a new thing to review. You get to death stranding to review that that's out and it's like cool, what's next? And there's this, there's this moment here. There's this moment of okay, wait A second. I don't need to run to another review necessarily. I have Expedition. I want to finish Pokemon. I want to finish Link's Awakening, which I had started and got deep into it. Switch to launch. And it's, I think, okay, Bonanza is really the next big thing, I think, on the horizon. So I have a chance here. Do an indie game, do this. And I'm like, no, this is the moment. Let's go all in on Expedition, right? I've got it on the Xbox. I've got it on the rag. I'm ready to send the save back and forth. I'm ready to do the goddamn thing. And so, yeah, I. What had happened here is this. Is this week obvious or last week? I guess now, technically. But in Memorial Day, when Auntie Loose came over and we went to the parade and we did the whole shebang, we were out back having a glass of wine and she said something about Expedition. I'm like, oh, I hear it's great. Or I was like, you haven't played it? And I'm like, no. She's like, oh, you would love it. As everyone has said about the story, you're going to love you. And I'm like, I'm not a big tournament, but it's not. And then it was that there's this twist. And I was like, I don't want to know. I know I need to play it for Game of the Year consideration. I know I need to do all these different things. I know how good it is. I'm wrong, everybody. I'm like, I. So I covered my ears. She told Jen. Jen tapped me on the shoulder. I took my hand and she's like, you gotta play this game. I'm like, I know. You gotta let me go downstairs more often. So I do it and I start it and I'm giving it the full college effort, and I'm doing the whole thing, and I'm doing it and I'm doing. And I know I gotta get to. But, like, I think it was Thursday night last. Yeah, last week. Yeah. Where I text you and I'm like, how much? Where's. I'm here. I know that I'm coming up, but how close am I? You're pretty much there. I get through the twist, I get through the thing. But I played all Friday at my desk or whatever, and then I just put the controller down like, I can't do this. And again, it's not Expeditions problem. This is a reality we need to look at. I'm Greg Miller, and this isn't a character. I'm Greg Miller and I've reviewed games for 18 years professionally. And at IGN especially when I started, it was you played everything, you guys, you got assigned reviews. It didn't matter if it was your genre, didn't matter if you did the damn thing, blah, blah, blah, blah. And that was fine. Not great. Obviously. A lot of games I reviewed, I didn't have any business reviewing. And over time though, that evolves and changes. And then my. We just did this question on Greg Way, my gaming era, what am I in? And it is that thing of, oh yeah, well, tastes change and go. And you know, all these different things. And I'm very much struggling with the reality sitting there with Expedition 33 of I was the Persona 3 guy. I was the Persona 4 golden guy. Right? Like IGN at IGN. Yeah, yeah, of course. I had that much history and lineage to it. But then you go and you look at I and I. This is one of those things I know a lot of people want to throw at me all the time. Well, you're a dad now. You're, you know, it's not a Ben thing. Because if we, we. This isn't, this isn't a new thing. Persona 5 and Persona 5 what's his face? The Royal couldn't finish him. Got to the same boss and it was like, I'm done. See you stars having a great time. Garo, my boy. Or whatever. Right? Eventually I'm just like, I'm done. Metaphor. Refantazio. Almost the mirror image of what we're talking about with Claire Obscura exhibition 33. I played it, I can respect it. I like it. I'm like, I don't want to do this for 100 hours. And I even toss on here with a heartbreaking. It was heartbreaking to write Octopath 1 and 2 games I'm very vocal about because I want to say I put 40 hours into each on Switch. That might be, we'll say between 25 and 40 for each of them. Right. Enjoyed the shit out of them. But eventually was I put it down because I'm just on to the next thing or it wasn't. I, I, I don't know what to do about turn based RPGs with the exception of Pokemon, because this was my thing on Friday where I'm like, okay, I am ramming my head into the wall over and over again with this. And I saw somebody shout out early on when I was doing this. And again, thank you so much for. I haven't looked at the chat once but thank you for giving me the grace here. This is a. Come on. This is a safe spot. We're hanging out. It's the games cast, the kind of funny best friends. I'm not doing a character. We're having a real conversation.

[Tim Gettys]

Everyone's being great.

[Greg Miller]

Thank you. I saw this somebody in the chat early on when I immediately said I wasn't Greg can't dodge. It's not a dodging thing. It's not a dodging thing at all. It is literally like I just don't like turn based stuff. I find myself getting bored. I want to open my phone, I want to do something. I'm not engaged with it. Which then ruins the product around it. I feel for me. Not that that. But again, we're talking about a genre issue here. I just. Oh, the Ben thing. Like I said, it's clearly not that because all these other games, with the exception of Metaphor and Sea Stars, but like Persona 5, both of them. Octopath. Both of them. We're talking about games that precede Ben by quite a bit. And I just don't know what happened here. And so I'm in this struggle bus. Tim of I I it all. I think a lot of this is PTSD from Game of the Year where it's like I never want to stand in the way of kind of funny's Game of the Year. And it's that idea of y' all love metaphor, but I don't even put it on my list. What does that do to the numbers? And this is a stupid argument. I already know. I already know. We're vulnerable. We're being vulnerable. Because of course our top 10 list isn't the 10 best games the year. They're the 10 kind of funny games. What defined for kind of funny. That thing. But it's just. I'm in a really weird spot, I feel where back to back years there are 10 out of 10amazing games that I just cannot get into. Like you were watching me at the Twist when you. Because it happened on Friday or Thursday. Friday. And you were slacking me. Something like the thing is happening right now. I can't talk to you. Oh my God. And when it was done, you were like, you're not nearly as upset as you should be for what just happened. And it's like, yeah, because I'm so fucking annoyed by the game at this point that I can't care about the story. Except Pokemon Go.

[Tim Gettys]

May I? There's a lot to break down here. That. That's interesting. Let me just start by Saying I.

[Greg Miller]

Just want to do my job.

[Tim Gettys]

Obviously you're allowed to feel this way and obviously every. It's your opinion and your experience is your experience with these games. And coming from me particularly, like there's a lot of genres that I'm like, I just don't like them. I. I get bored. I'm not invested. And even if the story's good or even if I love the characters or even if xyz, if it's not grabbing me the way I wanted to, I'm out. Like that's a very Tim thing and it's always been that way. Metaphor I actually think is an example of like despite me not loving that type of traditional jrpg, loved the story so much that it was like pulling me along. I ended up not beating it though. I did at some point fall off. The biggest reason for that though is just the sheer length of it. Yeah, Expedition being so much shorter to me solved that problem. In addition to that it being turn based and I know, oh it's different and like there's so many ways you can shake it. There's just something that I am not able to wrap my head around of you. Greg Miller not liking Expedition 33 with its combat, especially once you add the Pokemon into it. Adding like. And I feel like the a big part of this conversation is going to be asking you what is it you like about Pokemon? Like what is it that works there? Because maybe it isn't even the turn based battles. Maybe it is the other stuff around it.

[Greg Miller]

I think so.

[Tim Gettys]

Um, but even that I'm like that that's interesting and I get it and that's fine.

[Greg Miller]

But they start everybody.

[Tim Gettys]

The stuff surrounding an expedition is just so high quality and engaging and Greg Miller like that's the thing to me that I, I'm struggling here because let's jump gaming is saying what even is a great ass game anymore. And I would playing Expedition 33 is such a. You can say it's this person's game, that person game, whatever. But the elements of it, so many of them I'm like this is a great ass game and that's obviously story and characters and the way it's presented and all of that. But gameplay wise, just talk about the turn based combat with how active it is focusing on the parries and focusing on just all the gameplay itself it is. So I would say as close to turn based combat as it is to God of War Ragnarok in terms of them coming to you and pairing. The only difference is you moving around with the analog stick, like, it is so active of. You need to be paying attention and, like, dodging and stuff that I. I'm not saying it has to click with everybody, but I'm surprised it doesn't click with you, knowing you. And at the very least, starting here, Let me ask you, like, are you engaged in the story?

[Greg Miller]

No. I wish I was. I think it starts so strong. Can we spoil. We can spoil the open.

[Tim Gettys]

Very, very open.

[Greg Miller]

I just want you very sensitive about this game, 100%. I think the opening is incredibly, incredibly strong, as it was in the preview period, as it is here. I think one of my problems with it is that when we get to the island, the continent, right, and we get going, we get away from the serious nature of it so quickly, where now it is about gesturals and this. This brush head and this guy and these weird little creatures that don't even have faces that I got to do. I got to go in the arena and fight all these. I'm like, dude, the main story is so good. I want to. Why am I not in that? I understand that this is almost wizard of Ozzy of, like, wizard of Oz, like, where I have to come in and be like, okay. To get to point B means I'm sorry. To get to point C means I have to go to B and do their little side task to get whatever information or help or boat I need to get to. But it's just like, I feel like there's a juxtaposition there I don't appreciate of how serious it is, how heavy the subject matter is, and then how light it is all of a sudden. And then we get a little bit dark, but then it's still like. It's like. I feel it should be like, we are fucking ptsd and we need to go. And we just saw this fucking thing is. Why are we talking about anything but this fucking thing? Why are you okay following the little creep? What are we doing with the fucking thing over here? Like, that's so, like, if they were giving me the fucking thing and we were like that, like, eyes on the prize. This is what we're doing. I feel like I'd be. I got to see this through. I got to do it. But again, when we're just like, all right, everybody. All right. I don't need to be a part of this.

[Tim Gettys]

I'm so surprised.

[Greg Miller]

And I think that's the. I think that might be one of my. The Killing Blow things, too. I don't. And maybe clearly not. I don't like turn based RPGs. I can't do them even when the combat is more active is whatever. But I think it's the fact that this has this injection of fantasy in it into the fantasy kind that I don't like where like when it was just when we're people and we're doing the people thing. Awesome, cool. Like let's have these relationships and conversations, blah, blah, blah. And then when we get into this more fantasy stuff that I'm trying to stay away from, you know, for spoilers or whatever.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah.

[Greg Miller]

It just waters the experience down to a point of like. And especially where I'm just like. I'm literally to the point of like, how does it end? Like, I don't care anymore about the journey. I don't care about getting to the thing. Well, I'm just going to read a Wikipedia and I bet I'll enjoy that more than I would enjoy going through the rest of it. Because again, the gameplay of it, to me, I am wrong. I am wrong. It's just grading. It's like I just don't enjoy it. I think the game also, I do have a problem with it from someone, you know, back to the Greg just can't dodge. No, I can dodge sometimes. I do. I do wish this game had a God of War. They're going and there's a flash and I know that's when I need to be hitting a good parallel. I think of, hey, I'm getting outside of my comfort of a genre. Right. Look at hell is us. I came back singing that game's praises. Right. My most anticipated game now for 2025. And it's just definitively not a traditional Greg game. It is about parries. Is it about dodging? It is about, you know, hitting the button at the right time to suck in the white stuff around you to get your health back. Right. And I feel that game does such a good job of showing you like, this is when you should be doing this and it's getting the timing. Sure, I'm getting it. Whereas with, you know, Claire, I was very much like, okay, I'm clearly not getting something about the dodging or the pairing. What? What am I not getting? Pairing Did a Google and I find like a subreddit thread of just some person being like, I don't know how people don't get it right before it hits do it. And I'm like, but I'm doing that and it's not working. It's like, that's the advice people can give you about this thing. And it's like, well, that. When that advice doesn't work for me, and then I gotta go through. And again, this is the dodging and the pairing are not one of my issues. It's not an issue of, like, what's stopping me from enjoying the game. It is just the monotony of doing it. And again, this is a genre problem that it apparently repels me from the genre. It is that idea of getting into a battle, okay, the dude is weak to ice. I also think I miss from my Persona days, right. A reason or whoever to sit there and say, oh, remember? Or Teddy, right. Of like, you fought this guy before, he's one of the fire. He's vulnerable. You know, hit the button, see their weaknesses. If I've engaged with them before, where I wasn't getting that in Expedition unless it's buried somewhere. Anyways, get into a battle, realize they're vulnerable, dice. And then it's like, okay, well, now I've got it cracked. And so even if I'm gonna have to just go through the motions of this and block or parry here, sure. But, like, I need to. The guy's beat. I know what I need to do now. I just need to sit here for a few minutes and do that. Like, that's what I think on a matrix. See, the code, what gameplay is in these games gets me of just like, okay, I feel like I've. I. It's when I. When I'm playing. This is a very weird comparison, but this is a safe spot, everybody. We're not trying to fight. I'm not trying to fight you. I'm glad you enjoy this game. And I will not stand in its way to. It's being crowned Game of the Year. We'll see. But it's the idea of, like, I just came off of playing Escape Academy right back to school or whatever it's called. But Escape Academy in general, Tim, these puzzles and rooms and, you know, crack the code to do the thing to open the door to get the thing. And it's that idea of when I finally figure out the solution and I run back and I put the solution in and then I go. That's that instant, I guess, not even instant. It's the payoff to the gratification where I feel like if I had the code in the first step of what I'm doing or second step of what I'm doing, but then I had to do four or more steps, I'd be. I'd be, why am I. You know what I mean? Like, there's the build up to it. I get the answer and I go. Whereas with these kind of games, I feel like I get the answer and then I have to go through these motions of a dance I don't want to do.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I feel, I feel where you're coming from. I do not agree. Yeah, absolutely. It's just. Yeah, it's. It is funny to me because the, the turn based side. Let's. Let's start talking a little bit about Pokemon. Like what? Let's talk about the turn based aspect of that. Does it work for you?

[Greg Miller]

Yes, but I think it's because it's so frictionless.

[Tim Gettys]

Like, because it is literally the most turn based. Like that you cannot get more. Actually, turn based RPG animations are quick.

[Greg Miller]

I feel like that's great. I'm into the fight, I'm doing the thing. I'm beating them or getting my ass kicked, which, come on, doesn't happen to me. But you know, you go through, I think you hop in, here are your moves. It's effective. It's super effective. It's what? Like, I feel like it's such a streamlined experience to get the thing done. And I also think to bring it back and give kudos to Octopath Traveler, a game both games that again, I've played way more than most turn based RPGs that I'm talking about. Right. I think Octopath does that too, to a degree. Where again, Octopath. I never remember being bored to tears with the combat. I remember enjoying the combat enough but eventually just having my fill because it's so much of the same. Again, any game can overstay its welcome, I feel. And so it's that thing of. I don't even know if I could have ever overstayed its welcome. I just got what I wanted out of both of them. Right. Would have loved to have seen the stories completed, but it's not like that. I was so connected. I digress for Pokemon. It's the fact that I think it's streamlined. I think there's something interesting to Pokemon of coming in and being a tourist. Like this is something obviously you could never experience because you've been with Pokemon your whole life. I haven't. Right. Where it's like Michael, Bryan's kid brother liked Pokemon in high school. So I saw Pokemon Snap a few times and then it wasn't until being at IG and hearing okay, whatever, and playing the Soul Silver one for a little bit with the pedometer, I was like, okay, not my jam, right. Jen and I played the.

[Tim Gettys]

Don't even like the good ones.

[Greg Miller]

I'm just talking. I hear you, Jen and I. Well, even then it was like that. So I think that's one of the reasons Violet works so differently, though. And even the. Let's go, Pikachu. Let's go, Eevee.

[Tim Gettys]

Right?

[Greg Miller]

That was that. That was the one Jen and I played in our flight from France and beat. That was the first Pokemon I ever rolled credits on. But I know it's not a real Pokemon game, right? Again, frictionless. Seamless. You're just going. You're kind of clowning everybody out. Violet works in a way that even Arceus didn't. Even though I enjoyed Arceus, Violet is the closest it's been. And I really think that Za is going to be the evolution of that. No pun intended. Of like, I like the world so much here, Arceus. I didn't enjoy being in a. Hey, old medieval times Pokemon, whatever you want to call it. I don't fucking know this one. I really don't like always being locked in my fucking school uniform. I hate that shit. You know what I mean? But for Zar to be like, you're in Paris and, like, you have cool outfits, it looks like, and shit, I'm like, okay, an open world and all this stuff. Like, I think Pokemon has this thing to it of like. And again, Pokemon is not a story to me. That's not what I'm playing Violet for. Right.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah.

[Greg Miller]

But I do enjoy, again, being the tourist. They're like, what is this Pokemon? I've never seen this before. Have I caught him yet? I haven't. Cool, let's catch. I think it's telling that the game, you know, asks you multiple times in Violet, right? Of like, well, what do you want? What do you hear? I guess actually the opening and then your test at the end, right? Of like, well, what. Why do you want to be a Pokemon master? Right? And it's like, I want to just go, I just want to collect Pokemon. I want to battle. I want to just see the world. Like, I enjoy that there's, like, these three, like, pillars to this game that leave it up to you what to do. So, again, it's one of those weird ones of some. I never feel like I'm wasting my time in Pokemon, even though I feel like I can be quite aimless in Pokemon where it is. I'm gonna get to Northeast Zone 2, or whatever the fuck they're called, you know what I mean? To go get that thing and start this mission. That I've never done. But then it's like on the way there, I do get stopped. I'm like, oh, wait, I haven't caught this. Oh, I've never caught any of these Pokemon. Let's sit here and do this. Oh, I'm killing them too fast. Give me a lower level Pokemon to fight them, to catch them, to do that kind of thing. I don't know. There's something about that aspect, too that I like a lot. And it is about living in that world again. This is. I'm wrong, everybody. I'm wrong, you. I. I'm not telling you how to enjoy video games at all. We're going to talk about mechanics here and things that are as stupid in the games I love as they are in any game. But whatever. Something about Expedition 33 and something about all these. We'll toss Persona in there, right? Because as a big Persona fan, Persona 4 and Persona 3, obviously it's Persona 5. Even though I didn't finish it, there's something about running through the halls of something or an area in these games that are like, it's real. It's not real, but, you know, I mean, I'm a person and I'm doing this thing and then there's just a glowing dot over there that I get there in Expedition, it's a new Luna or Luna or whatever the fuck. I'm like, it's weird now. I literally. Stick with me. Stick with me. This is what I'm talking about. If I'm wrong, yeah. But for me, it is about seeing the Matrix of Cruel. There's this fucking thing just glowing there. I'd much rather it be Assassin's Creed, whatever other game. Uncharted. We have to break a crate, smash something, move something to see that thing there, though. These worlds don't feel real because there's things just sitting there right to me in these. In these instances, no one's. No one's dressing the set in a way that's making me buy into the picture.

[Tim Gettys]

It's interesting because, like, at the end of the day, I just think this all goes down to you just. You don't like the game then, which is like, that's fair and that's fine, but like, yeah, it's. I feel like even, like trying to even rationalize why is where.

[Greg Miller]

Oh, I think it's so fascinating though, right? It's so fascinating though, because I.

[Tim Gettys]

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[Greg Miller]

Now a lot of people not being respectful in the chat anymore. All right, you're starting to try to do it. We were very Clear this was safe. I'm wrong. And I see people in there going oh Greg's doing all this stuff trying to say Pokemon's better. I did not say that. Those words have never come out of my mouth that I said Pokemon Violet's a better game than Expedition 33. I did not say that. That is not the point of my argument here. My argument is that I am broken and we are trying to figure out why. I like this very traditional turn based RPG but a more modern turn based RPG isn't working for me. Shout out to the people who are understanding me even if they don't agree with and shout out to Blessing who said he feels me on my stupid thing before.

[Tim Gettys]

Like cuz if we're actually.

[Greg Miller]

I'm trying to figure out why turn.

[Tim Gettys]

Based RPG because mindless. I think the answer is because you don't need to actually care. There's no. You don't need to be active. And it's like you literally. It is a time waste. It is just like looking at nice little things and having fun little moments of, of shocking. No, no, not shock it off.

[Greg Miller]

Surprising.

[Tim Gettys]

Surprise and delight. You know what I mean? I think I, I think that's kind of where this is at. It's like for you to jump into to Pokemon Violet of all things.

[Greg Miller]

From.

[Tim Gettys]

Me again coming from kind of funny. Mick Bless and I I think are on the. The higher end of the world when it comes to our opinion on Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. I think me even more so. Yeah like being able to see past that game's flaws. It's many, many flaws that a lot are solved with the Switch 2 but not all of them. Yeah, there's still something very special about that gameplay and it really is a. From very different perspectives than you. Like for me specifically growing up.

[Greg Miller]

Pokemon.

[Tim Gettys]

Scarlet and Violet are what I thought Pokemon Stadium was going to be.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah.

[Tim Gettys]

The first Nintendo 64 Pokemon game. It is about to be Pokemon but in 3D. Pokemon Scarlet Violet is that. And I think because it is 2025 and when the game came out 2022 or whatever it was like it's a little too late for that. But still it's a dream realized. It is like oh my God. It's actually this gameplay just translated to a Super Mario 64 looking world in 2022. But there's still something about that that I'm like hell yeah. I'm finally getting something I wanted for so long. So yeah, you talk about the tourist angle and coming into it like and.

[Greg Miller]

Being my first real Pokemon game.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah, I mean, let's Go. I mean, it's real. Is weird. Especially with Pokemon where.

[Greg Miller]

How about how this. Hear me on this then it being my first real Pokemon experience. And what I mean by that is, is that with let's Go, I was playing with Jen.

[Tim Gettys]

Okay.

[Greg Miller]

And it was very much. Jen is a big Pokemon fan. And so I was playing with her in a way to humor her. Like, I can't tell you what the gameplay of let's Go was anymore. I know it is in a full fledged Pokemon is what people said back in the day.

[Tim Gettys]

But I need to say this because I want to. I. I'm a let's Go defender in many ways. I think that undeniably it is the greatest art style that a Pokemon game.

[Greg Miller]

Has had so far.

[Tim Gettys]

It's beautiful.

[Greg Miller]

Can I see a trailer for Pokemon?

[Tim Gettys]

The characters just look right and I love it. The game, at the end of the day, the biggest problem with it and why it's not a core Pokemon game is the catching is you're just like. It's just throw the ball at the raw wild Pokemon. You're not fighting the wild Pokemon, which is a pretty big change. But the trainer battles, they're Pokemon trainer battles. And it's a remake of Red and Blue. So I feel like it's easy mode for a game game that I feel most people would say doesn't need an easy mode.

[Greg Miller]

Got it. But easy mode's a good way to put it.

[Tim Gettys]

But the. The reality is it's like this. These games are awesome. Like I. I have 100 them multiple times. I'm both Pikachu and Eevee.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah.

[Tim Gettys]

Completed the Pokedex. Like these are so fun to shiny hunt in. But yeah, like this art style, it's like this is great for Pokemon. Compare this to definitely brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, but then also even Scarlet and Violet. All of those. Like, there's something about this that I'm like, I wish we can go back to some of the style that feels more Pokemon anime esque. But I would argue that you playing through, if you played with Jen, that is a little bit different. But like this is a. This is a Pokemon game.

[Greg Miller]

Okay.

[Tim Gettys]

But especially with the gyms of the Elite four and all that stuff, you're getting the core experience. But yeah, so back to it then.

[Greg Miller]

I think that's interesting and I mean to cut you off. Sorry. But I want to keep justifying what I'm. What I'm saying about let's Go versus Violet is that I think. I don't know if I really understood gym leaders. I don't know if I really cared about gym leaders. I don't care. I don't know if. I don't know how much you talk about a time waster. I don't know how much mental bandwidth. On the plane ride to and from France, playing this thing and going out and getting a baguette and having a cup of coffee, playing with Jen, I was really, like, thinking about. Whereas, like, here I'm coming into Violet, and the whole reason I restarted Violet, because I played at launch a little bit and then fell off, is that Ben started watching the Pokemon show, the original one, and I was watching that with him, and I was like, oh, like, this is an interesting context to the world that I've never given. The games can't replicate the energy of the show, I feel, and the whimsical nature of it. And the announcer telling me every time what Ash and Pikachu are up to. And I was like, oh, fuck. This is actually kind of cool. I like that. That's when I restarted Violet from scratch and felt like I had a jump start to it. And I understood as I watched that a little bit more of what the fuck I'm trying to do as a character in this world that I think I didn't get before. And so that's the idea here where it's like, okay, the headmaster's there, getting to the bottom of this team star, and what the fuck's up with them and these bullies and shit. I'm like, okay, okay. Like, I'm with you on this in a way that I. I can't tell you anything about what I did in. Let's go. Yeah, this is my. And I'm playing this alone. Like, Jen is not playing well. Ben's been throwing some balls lately, but, yeah, I mean, Jen's not playing it alongside me. Right. Yeah, I know. I. It's my first solo.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah. You know, it's very. It's. God, everything you say. Again, very interesting. And everyone has different experiences, especially when you don't have a frame of reference necessarily for what a quote, Pokemon game is. Real quick. Biggs in the chat said something I really like. Let's go. Is less easy mode. And it's more like playing chess, but you only have pawns. Like, that's kind of what it is. It's just very pared down, but it is the game still.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah.

[Tim Gettys]

So, yeah, with what you're saying, it is funny because I would think that most people would argue with it. It's like, all the stuff you're talking about is like the extra fluff stuff of the game. Like, that's not even the core game stuff, but whatever. That's the way you're enjoying the game. Cool.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah.

[Tim Gettys]

And Scarlet and Violet, do I think to your point earlier, kind of have the three different routes, or not routes, but three different pillars things you're doing the things the. The game's asking you to do. And it does ask you to do all of them. You know what I mean? You can't just do one of the paths. But I do think that that is a pretty major difference than that we've seen in the previous games. But also, this is the first open one. Right. This is the first go wherever you want in this world game, core game, as opposed to a generational game, as opposed to the Legends games. But yeah, it's just. I think that really a lot of this comes down to the headline of this. Of Pokemon vs. Claire Sir Expedition 33. Greg's take on it. I think Greg's take is you just. You're enjoying your time with Pokemon for what that time is.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah.

[Tim Gettys]

And I just think that. That what you're doing with it. I don't mean this is shaded anyway, but you're not playing the Pokeball game. You're like. You are playing it, but like the gym leaders and all that stuff, it's like, for you, that's just be over your head. It's like. It is.

[Greg Miller]

No, no, that was. Let's go.

[Tim Gettys]

Oh, here.

[Greg Miller]

I'm doing that. I beat the shit out of them. I'm to my final exam. I just need to beef up some of my Pokemon to take on this and become a master and then go for the dlc. No, no. I don't want to misunderstand my point. No, I'm invested in this one. Like, I know what's happening in this world. Like, I. I don't think the story is, like, fucking. The story is not. Not that it's meant to be. Right. Like, it's Pokemon, whatever. Battle and fucking do the thing and become the champion or whatever. I don't know what the fuck Pokemon guys do, but it's like, that's what I'm doing and I'm enjoying that. It was. Let's go. Where I was just through the motions, capturing, fighting. You're. I'm fighting you. I don't know why I'm fighting you that much. Whereas here, it's like running around like, oh, man, I'm in a newish area. Have I fought the People in the streets here. Because I got that guy who's going to be around the Pokemon center that'll tell me and give me some stuff if I go do that.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah.

[Greg Miller]

You need to teach me about tms and stuff of what I'm doing.

[Tim Gettys]

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

[Greg Miller]

Okay.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah. I mean, again, this all makes sense. Like, we're talking about games that have a lot of fun, a lot of different ways to have fun in them. So I. I'm not surprised that. Actually, I take that back. I am surprised that you're like Pokemon Violet. Like just knowing you and knowing everything that we just talked about here and knowing that about you, knowing that you're not into the turn based stuff and also you're not into collecting stuff. And really, when I think about it, there's not much about Pokemon that I think Greg Miller would like.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah.

[Tim Gettys]

You know, I like to collect it.

[Greg Miller]

I like collecting stuff.

[Tim Gettys]

But I mean, are you. Are you trying to complete the Pokedex?

[Greg Miller]

I mean, this is all right now just warming me up for Zah.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah.

[Greg Miller]

Like, so am I all in? And Zara, you know, I'm gonna do this. And again, this is also like, this is just keeping the switch warm until Donkey Kong gets here. How far will I be into Pokemon by then? You know, I mean, I got a couple plane rides with Ben this weekend, so it's like, maybe I'll get more in there and do that.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah. Because. Yeah, it is. It's interesting thinking about going back to me thinking of Greg Miller. Would he like Pokemon in general, but Scarlet and Violet? Yeah. And I would say no, because not knowing that you're playing. Not knowing anything I know about you just before you've ever touched this game. No, because the turn base. No, because the story is paper thin at best.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah.

[Tim Gettys]

Not even. You don't care that much about the technical aspects and all that stuff.

[Greg Miller]

But it's pretty damn bad.

[Tim Gettys]

Yes.

[Greg Miller]

Right.

[Tim Gettys]

So it's like there's a lot of things that are like, all right, cool. I don't think of you as somebody that like, has that completionist tick for this type of thing. Like trophies. Yes. Like wanting to Platinum Certain Assassin's Creeds that you're super into. Like, sure. All that stuff. But that is stuff that's wrapped around characters and story that you care about. And that's why on Expedition side. And you explained so far what you're not loving about the juxtaposition. And I totally understand where you're coming from. From that.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah.

[Tim Gettys]

I think that when you know the whole of how it all happens. It's like well that goes away but with where you're at and what you've experienced. Totally understand where you are. But I can look at Expedition be like oh great. This is a great thing. It's a story driven, character driven, well performed narrative adventure. Right. And so the gameplay stuff that is more of a question of gray doesn't traditionally like turn based. This runs me a Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth a lot. We had a very similar. I won't call it a problem but Roadblock last year or whatever year that was right. Where that is a very, very, very active battle system.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah.

[Tim Gettys]

Like not really turn based at all. It's more just a menu based action system.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah.

[Tim Gettys]

And that didn't work for you either. And that's another one that I would say. I can see you pushing past the things you don't like about it because they're. There's a lot of other elements that I think of you. Loving characters, story worlds, all that. So that's the thing that I struggle to understand the most. But some things you just. It's just gut stuff and it's just like I don't have a good time with this.

[Greg Miller]

So it's interesting you bring up Final Fantasy Rebirth because I'd also toss in Final Fantasy 16 which not a turn based game at all. A game that's all about being story and stuff. And it just didn't work for me. Me like I just. And I don't know and this is an interesting angle and I'm wondering.

[Tim Gettys]

Because earlier I was saying that Expedition 33. I don't want to be clear about what I'm saying here because I'm not saying it's one to one.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah.

[Tim Gettys]

It. I'm saying that like there are similarities between the God of War style gameplay like the Perry like you know, like the Combat and Expedition 33. I think it's way more similar to a Final Fantasy 10 or something like that. But it's somewhere in the middle because it is very reflex and action focused and all of that. The Final fantasy side for 16, that is straight up there's. It's not turn based at all. It has nothing to do with Final Fantasy battle systems except for like the type of magic you're using and the summons and things like that. The gameplay is straight up God of War, straight up Devil May Cry.

[Greg Miller]

Right.

[Tim Gettys]

Right.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah. Yeah. And that's where we get interesting where I think if you were to ask me right now off top my dome, why did I walk away From Final Fantasy 16 right. My problem there was I didn't. And I know this is so weird because we're back to this question from Last Glass gaming of what is a Greg ass game anymore? Which I still would tell you is story, but maybe it's Western storytelling, and maybe that's an issue we're running into again, with the exception of Pokemon, where of course we're talking about Expedition being from France, we're talking about Final Fantasy from Japan. Right. I guess Kojima would get in the way of this argument as I try to figure out what's going on. But I remember Final Fantasy 16. Like, I just was like, I don't. It's the same thing with Final Fantasy 15. And when we did the event and they were like, we're trying to bring in people like Greg and obviously super fans like Tamu. When I sat down and played it, I'm like, I don't believe in these characters. I don't believe in this world. And so even if you're telling me the story's great and the performances are great, I get all that it was. I. I don't. I don't want to say there's a jean sais quoi about it. There's something. I can't put my finger on it, but it was like, I feel like when I look at Kingdom Hearts, there's a plastic shine to these characters. Right. That I'm like, well, this just isn't that. And I feel like that was on xv. And I feel to some regard it was with Final Fantasy 16 too.

[Tim Gettys]

I mean, that's the thing is, like, I can't fathom you saying that, like Kingdom hearts and 15. Kingdom hearts is, I think, a great example of the point you're trying to make, because I understand what you're saying. 15. Yes. I can see that it's more realistic. Sure. But like, it does have the way the characters act, the way they're written. Yes. Final Fantasy 16, I think is very. I mean, again, we. During the review periods and like the. The conversation around 16, it's game of Thrones. It is very.

[Greg Miller]

Which I was never a fan of.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah. But it's Western. You know, I. I would say that, like Final Fantasy 16's the writing and story and characters are more similar to Western storytelling than they are to the Kingdom Hearts style of storyteller or even the Final Fantasy 15 style of storytelling.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah.

[Tim Gettys]

Bringing this on, like Dragon Age, Vale Guard, which you loved.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah.

[Tim Gettys]

Right.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah.

[Tim Gettys]

I wonder what it is there because you love those characters. You love that world. Right. And like that is a action rpg.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah.

[Tim Gettys]

What is it about those elements though? Like what I combat felt.

[Greg Miller]

I mean. Right. I would jump in here though. I think combat for me that's dial all that. I was about to put good or bad or whatever. Dragon Age Vale Guards. Action based combat felt better to me than Final Fantasy 16s and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirths. Action, straight up gameplay. Stick with me. Back in the day, I never liked Devil May Cry. I just did not like that we're flying through the air, spinning, attacking, doing like that's just not the one when you're talking about an action game like that. When you're talking about pragma. No, no, fuck Stellar Blade when you're talking about like that kind of. That is not me. And I would never. I can see you made the reference earlier, which I don't agree with, but I understand of like you saying it was more like God of War, more like Devil May Cry. Whereas God of War, you're talking about 2018 got a war, right?

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah.

[Greg Miller]

And God of War 2018 to me doesn't feel like Devil May Cry or an action game that way. It feels, I feel planted and I feel heavy and I feel like this feels more like Kingdoms of Amalur, Assassin's Creed. Like I feel like I'm in that character's shoes Boots the way it feels. Whereas when I'm doing something crazy in most Capcom action games, I'm, I'm grabbing Beautiful Joe, which is not the example I'm looking for. Like I, I feel oh, Bayonetta. That when I'm, when you're doing the crazy ass and it doesn't feel like there's any weight to you. I don't like that.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah, I, I, it's, I just. Final Fantasy 16 is, I think as similar to God of War gameplay as it is to Devil May Cry. Like that. That's, I, it's. And again, whatever. Different people different feel like just different whatever it is. But I just, there's the, there's so many more similarities than differences. And I understand the Devil May Cry like the flying around, being in the air, shooting the guns, all that stuff like Bayonetta, like the pace of it all. And like there, there is a slick stylish action to it. Whereas like I do feel like that grounded more having the different loadouts with the different weapons like in God of War and in Final Fantasy 16. Like there's a lot of similarities there. And I didn't play any Dragon Age Vale Guard, but from seeing you guys play it, it's not that. Like, how similar would you say Dragon Age, Vale Guard combat and God of War combat is.

[Greg Miller]

A question I've ever asked Blessing. I think I can't find where you just slacked. If you want to come in, come in. Yes, come in, hang out. I'm trying to find it. Yeah. Because he's got something to relate this conversation. It gets hard because in Veil Guard you do that thing where you bring up the, you know, overlay and you control both your superpowers and the magic powers of the other people you're with. So, like, that's where that breaks away. And then to think about what it was like just to be matching my buttons and stabbing people my swords and stuff. I guess it was similar. I'm forgetting what parrying felt like and dodging felt like in Veil Guard to make a worthwhile comparison here. But I'll see they're not completely foreign by any stretch of the imagination.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah. Less is popping here. I'm very excited.

[Greg Miller]

He's getting a mic here.

[Tim Gettys]

What he has to add to this conversation because I think we're getting somewhere. But I also just think that a lot of this comes down to just there is an innate game feel that feels a certain way to each player and you're either in it or you're not.

[Greg Miller]

Here he comes. Hey, boss.

[Tim Gettys]

Yo.

[Greg Miller]

How you doing?

[C]

I'm doing good. I just listen to the conversation. I've been really enjoying the conversation.

[Greg Miller]

Safe spot. Don't hurt me.

[C]

I like we talk about how we don't like games.

[Greg Miller]

No.

[C]

As you talked about it.

[Tim Gettys]

Right.

[C]

Like, one of the things that keeps coming to mind is this thing. There's a video I watched. I know I brought it up before. Like, I think in the last years of like, there's a YouTube channel called Extra Credits that does a lot of video essays.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah.

[C]

One of the video essays I watched was about this thing called Bartles taxonomy of player types that breaks players down into different categories regarding, like, what they like to get out of video games and like, why they play video games. So the four categories they have are achievers, explorers, socializers, and killers. And they. They have like reasonings for those things within, like single player games and multiplayer games.

[Greg Miller]

So like, so can I just jump? I mean, not knowing anything about what you're to say. I would say off the. Sorry. Bless you can stand normally the shot is wider.

[C]

Okay.

[Greg Miller]

Off the top of the dome. Not knowing. I would say I'm an explorer. Like, that's usually where I'm drawn out. If I want to run, go down the path that's least trodden. Do this thing, get more out of the game, explore the map, do that jazz again. Maybe why Pokemon's working in a way, right? Where the fuck is the goddamn mini map in expedition? But I digger.

[C]

So I think and I think multiple of these would appeal appeal to you because jumping into it, right for achiever that this is the one that I thought of you with, right? Every game is for single player games. Every game that can be beaten in some way caters to the achiever playstyle by giving them something to accomplish. Games that offer 100 completion rating appeal to achievers.

[Greg Miller]

Okay.

[C]

So for me that thinks. That makes me think of you as regarding trophies but also regarding things like Assassin's Creed and like these games that are made to like do everything, complete everything like the checklist style games. And then for most player they go on to talk about I guess similar things as far as like achievement systems. But then you have explorers which I think also appeals to you in some regards. So single player games combat and gaining levels or points is secondary to the explorer. So they traditionally flock to games such as Myst in these games as. As one example, right. But in these games the player finds themselves in a strange place and the objective is to find their way out by paying close attention to detail and solving puzzles. For me the thing that comes to mind is gone home regarding like you're in this place and you want to discover more. You want to see like what the mystery is Killer. You're definitely not a killer, right? Like for me when I think you know, this is like talking about speedrunning or hitting the high score for me I think of like souls games. As far as like why I would call myself a killer for. For this kind of category. And then the last one would be socializers which I think would be maybe in like the case of you playing Monster Hunter or Fortnite or something where people or I guess in regard to narrative games, right. What what they write here for single player since their objective is not much so to win or explore as it is to be social. There are a few games that the socializer enjoy based on their merits. Instead they play. They play some of the more popular games so that they can use multiplayer features. However, there are some games designed with their playstyle in mind with socializers may in particular enjoy. They go on to then site like Mass Effect or Fable. Knights of the Old Republic. I think the thing was like you're building a party. Maybe it's the Persona thing for you where it is like oh, I love Chie. I love these characters and I like socializers.

[Greg Miller]

I do love Chia.

[C]

So okay, as I listen I was like maybe that that's helpful. Yeah, that's helpful for your taste Lie.

[Greg Miller]

I think it's an interesting deep dive, you know what I mean? Especially for somebody who audience knows so well. I'd imagine most people have been around a long time to hear me talk about games but for me to be in this thing, I was just like I two years in a row. I'm just. I can't make this work and I don't know why.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah, I mean Blast Glass Gaming says thank you so much. Blast.

[Greg Miller]

Thank you.

[Tim Gettys]

Bless Blast class. Amy, going back to this says what even is a great ass game anymore. And I feel that has changed over the years. We've talked about it a lot. Like I don't think we need to retread that necessarily here because yeah, we have seen you a couple of years ago. It was a surprise. It's not anymore. You really like multiplayer kind of division division type experiences. Right. So which I think back when we launched this company that would have been an insane thing to bring up. Like that was like the opposite of a. A great game.

[Greg Miller]

I think even if you look at my fantasy Critic kind of funny.com KFLeague 2025 like you see and I don't know if this is a difference but me skewing more indie right where I have stuff like Wheel World and hurdling on there. I got burned on to a T. We'll see how the other ones pan out. But like what is it? Great game. Like quirky, different game that's doing something.

[Tim Gettys]

Little small things too which last time.

[Greg Miller]

Around last year and stuff like that on top of the big stuff and the big narratives, obviously you're a death stranding Kojima's and all that jazz and whatever. You know Neil and team have up there sleeves with interstellar and whatever PlayStation put out Ghost of Yotei. Of course.

[Tim Gettys]

We got a bunch of super chats.

[Greg Miller]

I'm sure we do.

[Tim Gettys]

And I want to get to each and every one of them.

[Greg Miller]

Thank you. They better be respectful.

[Tim Gettys]

Well, the first one says Greg, this L is for you.

[Greg Miller]

I don't understand what you didn't understand that I'm being vulnerable. You can still take the L on it. No, I don't think that. I hate that. I hate.

[Tim Gettys]

Well then just stop saying you're wrong then.

[Greg Miller]

Greg's got shitty opinions in games. But I'm what I'm doing there is trying to diffuse the situation because when the comments in the chat gets really angry is when I'm like, ah, this game's dumb. I'm not saying this game's dumb. I'm saying it doesn't work for me. And here's why.

[Tim Gettys]

I think that's respectful. I think, I think there's a lot. All right, man. Vishal says, phew. He just doesn't like turn based. I was afraid he'd say Expedition 33 is poo poo. You get a pass on this.

[Greg Miller]

Greg voice acting music is great. Again, the core, the overall story is interesting and so I, I it is that thing of I want to know and people I know while we've been live, someone emailed me with a mod to put on where you go into God mode and you can just kill everything in one hit. That also, I mean, that sounds mind numbing, right? Like when you think about video games and you think about sitting down to play a video game, you want to enjoy your time thoroughly, right? Like this is I always I, I bristle, I admit, of like when people like, well, Greg's a dad now, so his opinion, you know, it's not an opinion about games that have changed. It's not even that. Like I, yes, I have less time to play than when I was single and could sit there and Marathon D.C. uO for 18 hours a day. Right. But it's that idea of like for the I'm still playing the games I need to play for work and for fun, to make the content I need to make for my job. Right. Whether it's at my desk here and being better about budgeting my time or when I go home and I play, whether on a portal or on a rock or downstairs late at night. But it's that idea of like the idea of sitting down and putting it on one hit kill to go through Expedition 33 to see the end cutscene or whatever or the cutscenes along the way. Sounds as worthless a use of my time as sitting down. And I'm going to. All I'm going to do tonight with four hours of game time is play all the Platty Birds and get more Platinum trophies.

[Tim Gettys]

I completely disagree with you.

[Greg Miller]

Really?

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah.

[Greg Miller]

Okay.

[Tim Gettys]

Because I think that and this is coming again from somebody that is a major fan of this game and I have major criticisms with it. Like I, for a very different reason, really wish the game had a mini map. I talked about that in my review. There's a lot of things I'm like this game has things that I wish were different. Right. But I. I feel like the. If the combat's. Sorry, let me. Let me say this straight. If we're just talking about the combat being a problem for you, it'd be all right, cool. The solution is, well, the story's so great and everything else in the game is so great. Then yeah, just turn on God mode, whatever, and you'll get through the stuff you don't like quicker. So if you're not liking the story, you're not vibing with all the stuff, then there's no saving this. Like, that just is what it is. I think that this game has so much amazing story beats and character moments and worlds to see and worlds to explore and the. The differences in seeing each different kind of area that you're in and how it all adds one to the next to the next to the next, where it does seem a little bit wizard of Ozzy and kind of one note for a while.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah.

[Tim Gettys]

But then when you get towards the end, the way that it's so hard, I know, just to say this, knowing the entire story and the world and then looking back at the world, I think is such an amazing experience there. Because the performances are so good and because the music is so amazing and because so much of this game is awesome that like just watching stream of it I think would be an amazing time. Like just watching the game, watching someone else play the game would be amazing. But even then, some of the combat is story. Like the boss fights you'd want to watch for sure because there's story beats interwoven, but just all the general combat stuff you could just straight up skip. So if there was like a God mode mod to just skip through that stuff, like, I just think there's so much worthwhile stuff of literally exploring and getting a story, which are things that you love. But if you're not liking the story, you're not like, all right, well then.

[Greg Miller]

It'S not like the characters. I mean, again, this opening and Sophie and I mean, come on now, that's fucking awesome. I think one of the things that's interesting and this is I didn't go over this. I'm 11 hours in, right. I'm through the twist like we talked about. Like, I'm not enjoying exploring and it's back to the mini map thing. But also the fact that I just feel like I'm running down, you know, it's like there's this purple grass and I'm not insulting the direction. I'm Just giving an example. There's purple grass and this, that the other. And I run down and I get the thing and I run back and I turn and then I turn away. Now I'm turned around. Where did I come in? Where did I leave? I know to look for the lights or whatever, but sometimes it's like the world doesn't seem interesting to explore. It seems interesting to explore, to get another lunae or whatever, the pictos to put them in my like. But again, I'm not. And I'm not. This is not me tooting my horn of how great I am. I'm not struggling in combat where I feel like I need to change my build yet. Yeah, I need to upgrade weapons when I can. Or this, that, the other. But I've been pouring it into defense.

[Tim Gettys]

Okay, let's cut all that, like, because I feel like, like you're focusing on the combat still of like finding the things for the combat and. Cool. I like that's. If you're not vibing with that, that's fine. All of the story beats like that. You find in the world you're exploring and you find the notes from expeditions past and all that stuff. That stuff's so good.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah, that's cool.

[Tim Gettys]

Like how. But like that seems so great. That seems so in Ridiculously Greg.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah. But when I find it after five minutes of being turned around and running back to the start of the place and I go back the other way and then I finally find that's where it's like I can't appreciate it when I'm annoyed by something else in the game. That's my problem, not you.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah, okay. Casper says Greg, sometimes it's better to move on and spend time with something you enjoy. You don't have to force it if you know, you know, but it needs to be said. Much love.

[Greg Miller]

No, thank you for that. And again, that's the whole point of this is like. And why I wanted to do this while I know it will make people mad at me even more. But it is that idea of like, I don't want it to be that I didn't try. Like I'm trying to do this because I think, you know, we get to these conversations then. And then I'm quiet on game of the Year when we got to the top three or five or whatever, you know what I mean? Because they're not Greg games. But again, I can't force it because it's not working and it's not. I. I want to be surprised. I want the turn based RPG to come through. That's going to be the one that I'm like, oh my God, of course this is the one that clicks for me. But I think it's interesting when I talk about leading up to this. When I was doing the Hell is Us demo up in Montreal, I was talking to a friend up there, she was like, oh yeah, you know my friend, this guy's been playing this and he loves. I'm like, I'm not a turn based. Oh, he's not either. And it's like, well, I don't know what's broken inside me then that I can't, I can't find love in these games.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah, I mean, dude, straight up, like, as I'm sure everyone watching this knows, I will not force my way to play through a game if I'm not liking it.

[Greg Miller]

And again, this is something I've been open about on Greg Way and here and whatever of just trying to figure out, like, what is my responsibility as a video game pundit, critic, whatever you want to call this chucklehead, right? To games, like, when there's this kind of like, I'm just used to, I'm just trained of like, there's a game that's the conversation. You play the game so you can have the conversation. And so to get here and be like, I can't play, I can't make it through this game. Then we make our own conversation around it. But I think it's worthwhile so that it's not just, oh, Greg only plays games he doesn't play. You love Starfield. It's like, well, I'm, I'm. I. When we were talking, when I did the Gregory about your era in gaming, I was like, my era is Western RPGs. Like, clearly that's where I'm at, where it's like, can't fucking wait for Outer Worlds 2, right? I didn't love Avowed, but I loved Avowed. Like I put, you know, I mean, I talk your ear off about all these different systems and this and why I think Outer Worlds 2 is going to be so much better than Outer Worlds one. It's like, that's where I'm living right now. And again, I totally 1000% understand the other side of this conversation. In the car you're listening to it or at home watching on the computer where you're like, I am so fucking bored in a fallout to go through and pick up another lock pick and another med pack. And I'm like, I get that, but that's what I love of having that built out kit and I'm doing it and my choices in the moment are going and like. But then you get into battles with. This is me arguing myself. Obviously you get into battles and you're doing the same thing, whether it's an old school one of using vats or now just shooting down sites or using the same power you've used for 30. And it's like, of course I am, but I'm actively engaging in that moment and I'm choosing how the battle plays out in a way that I don't feel in a turn based rpg I do, if that makes sense. Where I feel like I'm limited to what I have. And granted, yeah, I have a plethora of different moves to learn and slot in in Expedition 33, in Persona, in whatever, but it still isn't as active in the moment. I want to do this and I want to change that. Pokemon is also very much the same, right. You come in with the moves you got. But I feel like I have that laundry list of Pokemon to swap in, swap out, take a hit, no big deal, still get the move done and be on my way again in 30 seconds. Versus sitting there for two minutes and doing something.

[Tim Gettys]

Alex J. Sandoval says, tastes change. Don't force yourself through experiences you don't enjoy. What about the south of Midnight route? Put it on easy for story regardless. Do you? We kind of just address that?

[Greg Miller]

Well, no, it's a different thing where I did, you know, when I was like, okay, cool, I don't like the, this, the combat here in Expedition, right. This is a turn off for me. I did drop it to story hoping I could clown it out. And it goes faster but you still got to go through. It's really. You're not taking that much damage, which not toot my own horn here, but just to give myself some credit, damage wasn't the problem. It wasn't that I was getting killed all the time. It was just like, like, all right, I figured it out, let's kill him faster. And then this is to me, like I'd been putting so much into defense, I wasn't putting it into might. So I went and respect the characters and put it back into might. But even then I wasn't killing him fast enough. South of Midnight. Props to them, which I know some people hate. Was that, all right, you can walk in now, you can hit start, you can hit a button, everybody's dead. Like if I could do that in Expedition, yeah, I'd probably may I. I'd Give it a shot. All right, let's go.

[Tim Gettys]

Well, there's a God mode mod. That's what like.

[Greg Miller]

But I'm playing on. I'm not playing on Xbox. I don't know. That seems like too many hoops for Greg Miller, anti PC gamer to go figure out.

[Tim Gettys]

All right. Kobe Aren't says this just shows everyone enjoys different types of art and that's okay. It's like watching a movie that everyone loves but you don't click with it and but appreciate. Happy you gave it a fair shot. Absolutely. Alex Frazier says, I made the Perry window easier and it fixed the game for me. Then I beat it. Mellow fellow says. Did. Did Greg do the end game? I feel like that's the best part of the game. No, you don't.

[Greg Miller]

Well, how long is Expedition 2? Because I thought it was 20 and how long to be put at 28 hours?

[Tim Gettys]

It was like 24, 5. If you're skipping all the combat, it'll be a lot quicker. Joshua Moreno says, I like the older Pokemon games and abhor, abhor all the final fantasies. Clear structure, simple lore and quick battles. RNG's done in a clear way. Menu diving sucks and it should never prevent you from continuing. That's my two cents. Ed Reed fan says Greg, speaking of turn based games, have you introduced or will you introduce Costume Quest to Ben?

[Greg Miller]

Oh, what a great question. Yeah, we'll definitely do that. Costume Quest, another turn based RPG I do love.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah, and then we talked about this a bit but Snow 13 says, Just curious, Greg, what drew you to finish something like the Veil Guard but struggle with Final Fantasy 16 or Expedition 33?

[Greg Miller]

Yeah, I mean Veil Guard I loved across the board. The characters, the story, the combat, the moves, the power set, the world, exploring the world. I mean, you name it. I thought that game was great for it. Again, if you're new around here, I never gave a shit about a Dragon Age before. So many people's problem with Valgard was it doesn't feel like old dragon age. There's this that they ruined this character. I didn't know shit about any of that. I just got in there and enjoyed a fun, colorful action rpg.

[Tim Gettys]

J says, my favorite feeling in Expedition is finding a mechanic from a character and then crafting a unique build around it. I'm not sure if that's Greg's thing. Yeah, I never think it is.

[Greg Miller]

That's the whole thing of like, you know, when we play the division or when we even play Monster Hunter. Right. When you get to that, usually, you know, the end game level of any of these multiplayers. That's when it really kicks in of like, what's your build? Fran in his spreadsheets and Google and I'm like, no, I've enjoyed this and I will do this. And when it gets to a part of a raid where it's like, no, no, you need to go respect, I'll be like, I am good on that.

[Tim Gettys]

That's not what I want to do initially. Aw says sorry if it's already been said, but I agree with Greg. Pokemon makes turn based combat. Click. I'm a trainer giving commands. In other RPGs, I'm the character. So picking moves feels weird and slow.

[Greg Miller]

Ah, that is true. I have thought about that and I missed that here you' that does make a lot of sense.

[Tim Gettys]

Sierra Whiskey says sometimes there's no logical explanation to why we just bounce off of games. I play Death Stranding in 22 and bounced off of it, but came back to the beginning of 2025 and fell in love. Ying says, you're not wrong. It's a taste thing. It could also be a timing thing. For the past few months, the only thing I could play was Monster Hunter and now rematch thwarted Junk says Tim without spoilers. Would you consider using the fifth party member in battle to unlock things as almost Pokemon collecting? Absolutely. I actually to a bunch of my friends described it that exact way. So yes. I don't think that'll change Greg's mind whatsoever though about this. Although amazing character.

[Greg Miller]

You'Re right. That's also something I was thinking about of how I really enjoy collecting Pokemon here. And then in Persona you're collecting Personas, right? But it's like that's never been the draw for me with Persona of getting the Persona. Whereas with Pokemon, I am super stoked when I get a new Pokemon and then it's like, all right, cool. Am I going to use them? I'm not going to use them. Here's my thing with Pokemon. I wish they didn't evolve. I I dude, I start violent Craig.

[Tim Gettys]

I see everyone be mean to him, okay? What are you, what are you talking about? You wish the goddamn Pokemon wouldn't evolve. What?

[Greg Miller]

They're so cute when they start. I picked fucking Quaxly. I named him Quackers Adorable duck. Now he's this weird grown dancing duck. I'm like, I don't like this outfit. Let me transmog him to look like the original one.

[Tim Gettys]

Oh my God.

[Greg Miller]

Everybody tell me that when I go to pick them they should give me a mirror. Let me know, this is what this thing's gonna grow up to look like.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah, yeah.

[Greg Miller]

And Pikachu's perfect. I don't want Pikachu to ever grow up.

[Tim Gettys]

Well, Greg, this has been cathartic.

[Greg Miller]

It's been fun.

[Tim Gettys]

This has been fun. Thank you for being respectful in the chat and I'm sure in the comments as well. You are the best. And I. I think it's really cool that we can't have fun conversations like this. Let's take fun out of it. Conversations like this that are able to, like, really think about video games and, like, why do we enjoy them? Why don't we enjoy.

[Greg Miller]

And that's the thing about it. Why, when I pulled you in the conference room, I'm like, we're have a cathartic games cast tomorrow. And then I had to pitch you on it and sell you on it and talk about it. You're like, oh, man. It's like, I know the Internet wants to fight about everything. I know our audience doesn't. And I think that, like, part of games criticism needs to be that, like, the game of the year doesn't work for me, and here's why. And it's not me saying it's not game of the year. It's not going to be my game of the year, but who fucking cares what Greg's the of the year? You know what I mean? Like, I love the. That's what I've always envisioned here and at IGN to be great podcasting and game criticism and yada, yada, yada. So I'm thrilled to be able to do it.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah. I mean, part of the conversation we had yesterday was. And we. We had a bunch of headlines. We looked at them, and we're trying to figure out, like, what is the conversation? Like, what's actually the conversation here. And in fact, I might even want to change it after this to something more akin to, like, why. Why turn base doesn't work for Greg or something like that. Like, just because I feel like that is the conversation that we ended up getting to even more than Expedition and Pokemon specifically.

[Greg Miller]

But.

[Tim Gettys]

But either way, it still, I think, reflects what we're talking about here. But I was very clear. I was like, I don't want to just have a full episode. Just be like, I. I don't like this thing. I don't like this thing. You know what I mean? Like, this thing everyone else likes. Who's a hot take. It's like, that is just not constructive or productive for anything involving games, criticism, or entertainment. Like, that was the thing the word entertainment came up of like, will this be entertainment? Like, will this have value to people watching and listening? And I think it does. I think that there's. We found the angle to come at this with that isn't just I'm going to shit on a game.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah, Well, I think that's the biggest thing about it. When I keep saying, you know, the L thing, but you said you were wrong and it's like, well, I'm setting it up to let you know I. There's a thing here of like I really, after 18 years of doing this, after 40 some years of playing video games, it's crazy that I'm here and I'm like, I don't have the concrete reason why this doesn't work for me. Except for this.

[Tim Gettys]

Yeah.

[Greg Miller]

And then, then it gets exciting of what other turn based RPGs are going to work like this? That's why I'm always going to take the shot while Sea of Stars. I'm going to try it, I'm going to give it, I'm going to enjoy it. I enjoyed Sea of Stars for what I played. But what is the next. What is the next new turn based RPG that I'm going to play and I'm actually going to roll credits on.

[Tim Gettys]

I'm so interested in what you're going to say about Zah. I'm so interested.

[Greg Miller]

That's why I should repeat.

[Tim Gettys]

Maybe you should. Well, everybody, thank you so much for hanging out with us. Thank you so much for being respectful and thank you so much for being a fan of kind of funny and the type of conversations that we have. If you like those.

[Greg Miller]

I look over the chat blessing. I'm not even hating on vegans. Lmao. What the fuck is going on? What is going on in the YouTube chat that.

[Tim Gettys]

Oh, I love that. But please stay tuned. We're about to do Superman for the quest for peace in review. Jesus Christ. It's going to be a good one. So love you Till next time. Goodbye.

[Greg Miller]

I like Pokemon.