The Dive Down

Well you did it. You've made it through another half a year. But... we have some things we need to talk about. Like all this amazing media we've enjoyed in 2026! Tune in for our favorites of our favorites from movies, games, music, TV and a few other things.

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Timestamps:

0:01 - Shane gets fired

2:27 - We're Mad Men

7:30 - This weeks episode: a first half review

9:35 - Oldish business: Takes on the Steam Machine

20:54 - New business: The best movies of the first half of the year

36:50 - The best music

54:05 - The best games

1:05:03 - The best TV

1:13:42 - Public comment: Games that surprised us

1:19:00 - Wrapping up

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

As promised, we welcome Jason, aka Kilgore Trout, to the podcast to spend far too long talking to Shane about one of the best games of 2024: Metaphor: ReFantazio. We get into the mechanics, the gameplay, the writing, the themes, and even spend some time talking about our favorite fast food meals. Contemporary? Kinda. Thorough? Definitely.

Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown

Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store

Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com

Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN

And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:

0:01 - CamelStan

4:21 - Who is this guy?

6:10 - This week's episode

13:37 - So what is Metaphor: ReFantazio?

18:04 - How does this compare to Persona?

32:24 - How we played it

35:09 - Plot takes

38:50 - The Archetype system

44:50 - The combat

53:39 - Friendships

1:01:40 - Writing good

1:03:40 - Using guides and managing your calendar

1:11:30 - Politics & religion

1:25:28 - Grief

1:30:31 - What a twist!

1:34:00 - Quick topics

1:43:24 - Where this game ranks in our RPGs, and comparisons to other RPGs

1:50:08 - Public comments: Our favorite fast food meals

1:52:10 - SPOILER ZONE BEGINS

1:59:46 - What's next?

2:01:42 - Wrapping up

Links from this week's episode:

TenSquare3's amazing Metaphor guide: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/xbox-series-x/409958-metaphor-refantazio/faqs/81526/introduction

Buy Metaphor for PS5: https://amzn.to/4g2nQZJ

Buy Metaphor for XBOX: https://amzn.to/4gEacMv

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

On this week's show, we reflect on a lifetime of playing video games with strangers. What do the Univeristy of Illinois, Xbox Live, and quarter munchers have in common? They brought people together.

Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown

Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store

Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com

Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN

And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:

0:01 - Stan with a huge tease

5:21 - Stan's irresponsible purchase

10:45 - This week's episode - the multiplayer games of our history

17:46 - Our defining multiplayer experiences

39:15 - The multiplayer games of now

51:36 - Public comment: Some of our formative experiences

1:01:31 - Wrapping up

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

So many announcements and trailers came out of Summer Games Fest, but which reveals had the boys most excited? We talk about Wolverine, Bad Magpie, Halo: Campaign Evolved, and much more!

Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown

Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store

Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com

Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN

And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:

0:01 - Pokémon Caboodle

7:37 - This week's episode

9:03 - Old Business: Mina the Hollower

14:34 - Shane finished Metaphor

16:07 - The Steam Deck might be dead

20:41 - Dave's watching One Piece

22:21 - The Horn Dogs are back

24:12 - New Business: So many games!

26:24 - Marvel's Wolverine

28:59 - God of War Laufey

31:04 - Control Resonant

33:11 - Ace Combat 8

35:00 - Fable

38:50 - Bad Magpie

40:25 - Halo: Campaign Evolved

43:08 - Gears of War: E-Day

45:27 - Final Fantasy VII Revelation/Stellar Blade: Blood Rain

47:54 - Guild Wars 3/Gundam Rogue Orbit

50:35 - Stranger than Heaven/Gen Atlas

52:34 - Castlevania: Belmont's Curse

53:53 - The Nintendo Direct

1:00:39 - Some quick hits

1:03:26 - What we are most hyped about

1:05:10 - Public comments: Our favorite international media

1:16:05 - Wrapping up

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

On this week's episode, the boys discuss the 1993 action thriller, The Fugitive. Starring Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones, who were invited to be on the show but declined our offer.

We also take a minute to talk about Mina the Hollower, and our favorite board games.

Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown

Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store

Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com

Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN

And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/

Timestamps:

0:01 - We attempt to talk about The Fugitive (1993)

47:38 - Mina The Hollower

57:27 - Public comments: Our favorite board games

Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name?

email us: thedivedown@gmail.com