Between Levels Podcast

Could Phantom Blade Zero actually be better than Sekiro?

This week, FightinCowboy and Sarthe share their first impressions of Phantom Blade Zero, and the early verdict is VERY positive.

Cowboy is approaching ten hours with the game and believes its combat comes closer than almost anything else to capturing the back-and-forth dance that makes Sekiro so special. We discuss its huge weapon variety, challenging optional bosses, exploration and why some players may be approaching the game with the wrong expectations by treating it like a Soulslike.

We also get into a much bigger debate about what actually makes a video game great. Is gameplay always king? Can narrative-driven games, walking simulators and visual novels be just as compelling with less traditional interaction? And how much do graphics and presentation really matter?

Then we answer your questions about gaming backlogs, whether reviewers and content creators would play as many games if it wasn't their job, and which recent releases we'd actually recommend if you could only afford one game.

Plus, Sarthe is finally back, Wheelie prepares for his first-ever World of Warcraft experience, and Cowboy and Sarthe inevitably end the show nerding out over WoW add-ons.

Featuring WheelieAverage, FightinCowboy and Sarthe.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Welcome to Between Levels Episode 18

01:17 – Phantom Blade Zero First Impressions

04:24 – Could Phantom Blade Zero Actually Top Sekiro?

07:14 – Why the Combat Gets Better and Better

13:46 – Phantom Blade Zero Is NOT a Soulslike

18:13 – Difficulty, Power Fantasy & Optional Bosses

24:45 – Phantom Blade Zero Early Game Tips

31:33 – Could This Define a New Genre?

33:54 – Calling Out Bad Creator Behaviour

36:47 – Is Gameplay Always King?

40:20 – Can Games With Less Gameplay Still Be Great?

45:29 – Your Comments & Questions

46:05 – Do Content Creators Have Gaming Backlogs?

51:30 – Would We Play This Many Games Without Our Jobs?

55:41 – Which Games Are Actually Worth Your Money?

58:34 – If You Could Only Buy ONE Game...

1:01:57 – Wheelie Picks Call of Duty

1:03:20 – Cowboy Picks Phantom Blade Zero

1:04:11 – World of Warcraft Forever Is Coming

1:05:00 – Cowboy & Sarthe Nerd Out Over WoW Add-Ons

1:10:47 – One Final Community Comment

1:11:15 – Outro

WheelieAverage has played three hours of Stranger Than Heaven, and RGG Studio might have created one of the strangest combat systems we’ve ever seen.

This week, Wheelie and FightinCowboy break down Stranger Than Heaven’s unusual limb-based combat, weapons, executions, accessibility concerns and story spanning five different decades.

We also return to Valor Mortis now that Cowboy has played significantly more of the game. He explains why he currently sits around a 4/5 despite the bugs, while Wheelie discusses his final 7/10 review and why he thinks the game could become much easier to recommend after a few patches.

Then we discuss the closure of BioWare, the legacy of the studio behind Mass Effect and other iconic RPGs, EA’s role in its struggles and why celebrating developers losing their jobs is something we simply cannot understand.

Elsewhere, we talk Dragon’s Dogma, the rising cost and risk of AAA development, whether buying games later hurts developers, community comments, our Fantasy Critic battle and The Bonus Level’s Final Fantasy Resonance roundtable.

Featuring WheelieAverage and FightinCowboy.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Welcome to Between Levels Episode 17

01:38 – Wheelie Has Played Stranger Than Heaven

02:08 – More Valor Mortis Impressions

04:46 – Cowboy’s Valor Mortis Verdict So Far

06:12 – Wheelie’s Final Valor Mortis Review

07:44 – Why Dragon’s Dogma Feels Like a True Adventure

11:18 – The End of BioWare

14:42 – Stop Celebrating Studios Closing

17:14 – Why Making Games Is Such a Financial Risk

22:49 – Stranger Than Heaven Hands-On Impressions

24:52 – The Combat Is VERY Hard to Learn

26:09 – Weapons Completely Change the Combat

29:11 – Stranger Than Heaven’s Accessibility Concerns

30:35 – How Do You Tell a Story Across Five Decades?

33:04 – Yes, Snoop Dogg Teaches You How to Roll

33:23 – RGG Is Letting Its Next Generation Cook

35:01 – Your Open-World Comments

36:15 – Not Every Game Needs to Be for Everybody

38:05 – Oblivion, Morrowind & RPG Freedom

42:23 – Does Buying Games Later Hurt Developers?

46:43 – Does FightinCowboy Promote Between Levels Enough?

53:06 – Fantasy Critic Is Coming Down to the Wire

1:00:30 – The Bonus Level & Final Fantasy Resonance

1:02:42 – Why Cowboy Struggles With Turn-Based Games

1:05:53 – The Internet Made FightinCowboy Bald

1:08:37 – Can Open Worlds Feel TOO Aimless?

1:10:18 – What Happened to Fun Sports Games?

1:11:34 – A Future Between Levels Tournament?

1:14:34 – The “Beat Down Wheelie” Stream

1:16:10 – Our Game Awards & GOTY Plans

1:16:57 – Outro

Welcome to The Bonus Level — an extra Between Levels episode outside of our normal numbered weekly podcast.

WheelieAverage is joined by Dom from Dom’s Roundtable and Danreb Victorio from SmashPad for a special Final Fantasy Resonance review roundtable.

Wheelie has finished the main story and spent around 40 hours with the game, Dom has put more than 70 hours into it and explored virtually everything, while Dan joins us from the middle of Chapter 6. That gives us three very different perspectives on Square Enix’s return to old-school, turn-based Final Fantasy.

We discuss the HD-2D presentation, characters, story and the Vision system, which lets you combine abilities from iconic Final Fantasy characters in some ridiculous ways.

We also get into Resonance attacks, the soundtrack, how successfully Square Enix transformed a former mobile game into a full premium release, endgame grinding, Espers, technical issues and whether Final Fantasy Resonance really is a must-play JRPG.

Finally, we look beyond Resonance and ask where Final Fantasy should go next. Should Final Fantasy XVII remain 3D? Could turn-based combat make a full comeback? And what influence could games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have on the future of the franchise?

Featuring WheelieAverage, Dom’s Roundtable and Danreb Victorio of SmashPad.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Welcome to The Bonus Level

01:20 – The Final Fantasy Resonance Review Roundtable

02:11 – Wheelie’s Final Fantasy Resonance Impressions

03:07 – Danreb’s First Impressions

05:00 – Dom’s Thoughts After 70+ Hours

06:16 – How Wheelie Got Into Turn-Based Games

10:01 – The Vision System Explained

15:06 – Resonance Attacks & Breaking the Combat System

18:06 – The Problem With Unlocking Visions

19:28 – Final Fantasy Resonance Is a Museum for the Franchise

20:31 – Final Fantasy’s Iconic Music

23:39 – Gilgamesh & Classic Final Fantasy References

24:51 – You’d Never Know This Was a Mobile Game

28:18 – Is Final Fantasy Resonance a MUST-PLAY?

30:27 – What Doesn’t Work?

32:14 – The Endgame Grind

34:43 – The Hidden Vision That Makes Grinding Easier

36:20 – Taking 16 Turns & Dealing Over a Million Damage

37:03 – Are Espers Too Weak?

39:16 – Technical Issues

41:05 – Quality-of-Life Features We Want

42:43 – Why Fast Travel Works So Well

47:15 – Where Does Final Fantasy Go Next?

52:35 – Final Verdicts

56:43 – Guest Coverage & Outro

Valor Mortis takes centre stage this week as WheelieAverage, FightinCowboy and Sarthe dive into the game, its aggressive first-person combat, build crafting and some of the technical issues Wheelie encountered during his playthrough.

Wheelie has finished Valor Mortis, while Cowboy is around five or six hours into the game and having a much more positive experience so far. We compare impressions, break down Cowboy’s parry-focused build and discuss what works — and what doesn’t.

Wheelie also shares his thoughts on the new Street Fighter movie after attending a special screening with Paramount Pictures. That quickly turns into a much bigger conversation about video game adaptations, whether games are the best form of entertainment and why translating an interactive experience into film can be so difficult.

We also discuss whether Castlevania needed to evolve, why franchises have to change, annual sports games recycling old features, Hogwarts Legacy, Lord of the Rings games, the Nemesis System and whether developers should prioritise accessibility or depth when adapting major IP.

Later, we get into gaming fatigue and open-world design, including Rise of the Ronin, Nioh 3, Mad Max, Ghost Recon Breakpoint, Red Faction Guerrilla, Crimson Desert, Outer Wilds, Skyrim and Red Dead Redemption 2.

Finally, we discuss Cyberpunk 2077’s remarkable recovery, whether No Man’s Sky did it even better and some of gaming’s seemingly endless development cycles.

Featuring WheelieAverage, FightinCowboy and Sarthe.

Phantom Blade Zero is getting closer, and after spending six hours with the latest build, Sarthe thinks it could be something very special.

In Episode 15 of Between Levels, WheelieAverage, FightinCowboy and Sarthe dive deep into Phantom Blade Zero. Sarthe has now played the game five different times and breaks down its incredibly fluid combat, huge weapon variety, free respec system, level design, difficulty options, soundtrack and why S-GAME is so adamant that this is NOT a Soulslike.

Cowboy hasn't played it yet, but Phantom Blade Zero has become one of his most anticipated games and everything Sarthe says only makes that anticipation worse.

Wheelie also gives his impressions of Hellraiser, a survival horror game that combines familiar elements from games like Resident Evil and Silent Hill with an uncompromising approach to the body horror that defines Hellraiser.

We also return to Gears of War: E-Day as Cowboy and Sarthe approach the end of the campaign, discussing its more open structure, co-op, horror influences and stunning Unreal Engine 5 visuals.

Plus, we discuss the best video game music of 2026, 007 First Light, Star Wars: Galactic Racer, Forever Ago, Control Resonant and just how difficult choosing our Game of the Year is going to be.

Featuring WheelieAverage, FightinCowboy and Sarthe.

Gears of War: E-Day is finally here, and Wheelie thinks it might be Xbox's best game since the Xbox 360 era.

In Episode 14 of Between Levels, WheelieAverage, FightinCowboy and Sarthe dive into Gears of War: E-Day, including why the preview may have shown one of the game's slowest sections, its early review scores and why games should be judged on what they actually are rather than what a reviewer wanted them to be. Wheelie's verdict? E-Day is a must-play.

We then return to World of Warcraft Forever, with a major beta update bringing new levels, class changes and dungeons before getting into the growing controversy around streamer handouts, gold buying and whether Blizzard should be cracking down harder.

Later, Wheelie and Sarthe give their impressions of Star Wars: Galactic Racer, including its incredibly fast racing, roguelike progression, build variety and multiplayer. Wheelie scored it 9.5/10, while Gears of War: E-Day earned his full 10/10.

We also discuss Minecraft Dungeons 2, Castlevania, Phantom Blade Zero, Stranger Than Heaven, Fable, Final Fantasy VII Revelation and just how absurdly packed the next few months of gaming are.

Featuring WheelieAverage, FightinCowboy and Sarthe.

World of Warcraft has officially taken over Between Levels.

In Episode 13, WheelieAverage, FightinCowboy and Sarthe dive deep into World of Warcraft Forever, with Cowboy admitting he somehow managed around 50–60 hours of WoW in under a week.

We break down why WoW is still so dangerously addictive, what makes Forever different, the classes and professions, PvP, pets, controller support and whether this is finally the perfect opportunity for completely new players to jump in. Wheelie is preparing to play WoW for the first time at launch, while Cowboy and Sarthe attempt to convince him that Hunter is the way to go.

Then it's time for another Fantasy Critic update, with Fire Emblem, Control Resonant, Silent Hill: Townfall and plenty more affecting the standings before we ask the big question: Is 2026 one of the greatest years for video games ever?

We also return to Control Resonant, including why some players are struggling with its progression and combat, whether Remedy went too far with its lack of hand-holding, and where it currently sits in our Game of the Year conversations.

Finally, we dive into your community comments and revisit the ongoing debate over whether Wheelie talks too much trash or Cowboy and Sarthe keep twisting his words. Naturally, this ends with Cowboy challenging Wheelie to a one-handed World of Warcraft fight once they're both levelled.

Featuring WheelieAverage, FightinCowboy and Sarthe.

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to Between Levels Episode 13
01:56 – World of Warcraft Has Taken Over the Podcast
03:00 – Cowboy Played 50–60 Hours of WoW in Under a Week
05:05 – Why World of Warcraft Is So Addictive
08:36 – Is WoW Forever Going to Be Massive?
09:21 – Cowboy’s Wife, Plants & Retirement Plans 😂
11:33 – Cowboy’s WoW Forever Character Plans
13:27 – Every WoW Class Explained to Wheelie
18:49 – What Class Should a New WoW Player Choose?
21:27 – Wheelie Chooses Hunter
22:03 – Hunting Rare Pets in World of Warcraft
26:31 – Why Wheelie Is Waiting for Launch
29:44 – WoW Controller Support & Accessibility
31:39 – Who Else Is Playing WoW for the First Time?
34:38 – Fantasy Critic Update
36:04 – Silent Hill: Townfall’s Review Score Surprises Us
37:31 – Sarthe Finally Checks His Fantasy Critic Team
39:19 – Can Cowboy Still Win Fantasy Critic?
45:01 – Is 2026 the Best Year for Video Games?
47:03 – Why Control Resonant’s Reviews Are So Divided
47:49 – Does Control Resonant’s Combat Start Too Slowly?
49:18 – Did Remedy Go Too Far With No Hand-Holding?
52:35 – Is Control Resonant Less Forgiving Than Souls Games?
53:09 – Cowboy Discovers How Healing Actually Works 😂
55:18 – How Broken Can Control Resonant Builds Become?
56:25 – Is Control Resonant a Game of the Year Contender?
57:25 – Pragmata Is Still Cowboy’s GOTY
58:59 – Community Comments
1:02:25 – Does Wheelie Talk Too Much Trash?
1:06:00 – Did Cowboy & Sarthe Actually Twist Wheelie’s Words?
1:07:43 – Why Between Levels’ Banter Works
1:09:41 – Cowboy Challenges Wheelie in World of Warcraft
1:10:12 – The One-Handed WoW Fight Is Happening
1:15:22 – Waiting for WoW Forever Launch
1:17:07 – Cowboy Starts Judging Kids’ Pull-Ups 😂
1:20:06 – Somehow We Ended Up Talking About Parenting
1:20:16 – Outro & What’s Coming Next

Between Levels is back with Episode 12!

This week, Jesse from DayOne joins WheelieAverage and FightinCowboy, with Sarthe joining a little later in the show.

The main event is Control Resonant. Having all reviewed Remedy’s latest game, we break down its new melee-focused combat, open-world structure, powers, build variety, puzzles and exploration, as well as Dylan Faden’s development as the new protagonist. We also compare our review scores and discuss why the combat has become one of the most divisive parts of the game.

Before that, we revisit Marvel’s Wolverine, including its linear structure, player guidance and combat, before catching up on The Blood of Dawnwalker and Onimusha: Way of the Sword.

Sarthe then joins us fresh from BlizzCon to talk about Warcraft Forever, why it has pulled him back into World of Warcraft, and whether this could be the right time for new players to jump in.

Plus, we discuss how reviewers and creators decide what games to cover, what actually counts as a first-party game, studio reputations, the return of the Wheelie vs Cowboy For Honor argument, and the latest Mortal Shell II accessibility discussion.

Sarthe is back from Gamescom for Episode 11 of Between Levels, joining WheelieAverage and FightinCowboy to talk about what he saw and played in Germany, including Tides of Annihilation and more.

Then we dive into Onimusha: Way of the Sword. Cowboy has finished the game, Wheelie is near the end, and Sarthe has spent several hours with it. We discuss the combat, Issen system, difficulty, open areas, surprising humour, story and whether Capcom has delivered another must-play action game.

We also go deep on The Blood of Dawnwalker. Wheelie and Sarthe have completed the game while Cowboy has started his first playthrough, leading to a huge discussion about its directional combat, vampire and human builds, witchcraft, the 30-day time system, genuine choice and consequence, multiple endings and how dramatically different two playthroughs can become.

Plus, we update Fantasy Critic, predict review scores for Marvel’s Wolverine, Silent Hill: Townfall and Control Resonant, and finally choose the three winners of our Mortal Shell II Steam code giveaway.

Our next giveaway will happen when Between Levels reaches 2,000 subscribers, when we’ll be giving away a PC copy of The Blood of Dawnwalker.

Featuring WheelieAverage, FightinCowboy and Sarthe.

Sarthe is away at Gamescom this week, so TheMavShow joins WheelieAverage and FightinCowboy for Episode 10 of Between Levels!

We’re breaking down our favourite reveals from Gamescom Opening Night Live, including The Witcher 3 remaster, Tides of Annihilation, Warlock, Fable and plenty more, along with some of the games that left us a little less convinced.

Then Mav and Cowboy give their hands-on impressions of FromSoftware’s The Duskbloods, explaining how its unusual multiplayer structure works, what surprised them after actually playing it, and when we think Nintendo could release the game.

Finally, Wheelie has played three hours of Marvel’s Wolverine and gives his full hands-on impressions. We talk combat, optional stealth, Logan’s rage and healing mechanics, the more linear approach to storytelling, costumes and interchangeable claws, Jean Grey, Team X and whether Insomniac has successfully translated its Spider-Man formula into a Wolverine game.

Plus, we answer your community questions, discuss whether Insomniac’s Marvel games are taking too much time and attention away from original PlayStation IP such as Ratchet & Clank, and get an unexpected Fantasy Critic update as Cowboy and Wheelie’s battle at the top gets increasingly competitive.

Featuring:

WheelieAverage

FightinCowboy

TheMavShow

Check out TheMavShow:

https://www.youtube.com/@TheMavShow

Follow Between Levels:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BetweenLevelsPodcast

X: @BtweenLevels

Instagram: @betweenlevelspodcast

TikTok: @betweenlevelspodcast

The developers of Mortal Shell II join Between Levels! For Episode 9, WheelieAverage, FightinCowboy and Sarthe sit down with Mortal Shell II co-founders Vitaly Bulgarov, Andrew McLennan-Murray and Anthony for an in-depth conversation about the making of one of our favourite Soulslikes of 2026.

We discuss the huge leap from the original Mortal Shell to Mortal Shell II, how Cold Symmetry’s creative process works, why a bug accidentally turned playing as a sheep into a full feature, the game’s original roguelite beginnings, Shell design, lore, memories, difficulty, community feedback and how player telemetry influences balancing decisions.

The team also talks about the future of Mortal Shell II, including the possibility of expanding the existing world with new areas, Shells, weapons and more — and even gives us an interesting answer when FightinCowboy asks the all-important question: where is Solomon?

We also have a deeper discussion about the Slayer Seal, achievements and accessibility, why Cold Symmetry prefers diegetic difficulty options, maintaining creative freedom as development budgets grow and what the team has learned from the response to Mortal Shell II.

00:00 – Welcome to Between Levels Episode 9

00:47 – Meet the Mortal Shell 2 Developers

02:46 – The Stress of Launching Mortal Shell 2

04:24 – How Cold Symmetry Came Together

06:31 – Leaving AAA Behind & Building Games Differently

10:16 – “We Have To”: How the Sheep Became a Feature

12:17 – Mortal Shell Started as a Roguelite

17:13 – Community Feedback, Balance & Telemetry

25:28 – The Developers’ Favourite Shells

31:06 – How Mortal Shell 2’s Shells Are Designed

41:36 – Improving Mortal Shell 2’s Storytelling

48:01 – Night Mode, Horror Areas & Missable Content

52:42 – How the Lute Became a Weapon

56:18 – Bigger Budgets vs Creative Freedom

1:03:49 – Why Slayer Seal Disables Achievements

1:08:39 – Why Mortal Shell 2 Doesn’t Have Difficulty Options

1:10:21 – The Developers React to Mortal Shell 2’s Reception

1:17:01 – Mortal Shell 2 Steam Code Giveaway

We’re giving away THREE Steam copies of Mortal Shell II!

To enter, leave a comment telling us why you want to play Mortal Shell II and/or what you enjoyed most about this episode.

This episode contains some light discussion of Mortal Shell II story, bosses and late-game content.

Let us know what you think of Mortal Shell II and what you’d like to see from its post-launch future!

Featuring:

WheelieAverage

FightinCowboy

Sarthe

Vitaly Bulgarov

Andrew McLennan-Murray

Anthony

Follow Between Levels:

X: @BtweenLevels

Instagram: @betweenlevelspodcast

TikTok: @betweenlevelspodcast

Mortal Shell II is finally here, and WheelieAverage, FightinCowboy and Sarthe are joined by Dom from Dom’s RoundTable for the first full Between Levels review roundtable.

The four break down Mortal Shell II’s enormous evolution over the original, including its combat, Shell system, build diversity, exploration, bosses, lore, difficulty, performance and technical state.

They also discuss how it compares to games like Elden Ring, Lies of P and Nioh 2, the best Shell for new players, some completely broken builds, whether the beta’s technical issues have been addressed and whether Mortal Shell II is ultimately worth your time and money.

The opening section is spoiler-free before a clear warning marks the beginning of the spoiler discussion.

Plus, the hosts answer questions submitted by the Between Levels community and reveal their final verdicts on Mortal Shell II.

Beast of Reincarnation has excellent combat, impressive traversal and plenty of promising ideas—but almost every strength comes with a frustrating catch.

In Episode 7 of the Between Levels Podcast, WheelieAverage, FightinCowboy and Sarthe break down where Beast of Reincarnation succeeds, where it completely drops the ball and why its repetitive enemies, reused bosses, limited progression and disappointing final hours prevent it from becoming something special.

The conversation also turns into a heated discussion about the current state of Pokémon, whether Palworld has become the Pokémon experience fans actually wanted and why Game Freak’s latest release left the hosts so disappointed.

Elsewhere, the trio updates the Between Levels Fantasy Critic league, discusses Marvel’s Wolverine, GTA 6’s unusual Netflix showcase, the Gears of War: E-Day beta and the upcoming WheelieAverage versus FightinCowboy For Honor showdown.

They also discuss the excellent Mortal Shell 2 beta, whether game demos should make a full comeback, 007 First Light, the current Game of the Year contenders, Capcom’s incredible year, Phantom Dust and some of the best community comments from Episode 6.

Let us know in the comments: What OpenCritic score do you think Mortal Shell 2 will receive?

Subscribe for a new episode of Between Levels every week.

Hosted by:

WheelieAverage

FightinCowboy

Sarthe

Follow Between Levels:

X: @BtweenLevels

Instagram: @betweenlevelspodcast

TikTok: @betweenlevelspodcast

What are the greatest video games of all time?

This week, WheelieAverage, FightinCowboy and Sarthe reveal and discuss their personal Top 5 Video Games of All Time. Some choices may be predictable, while others could raise a few eyebrows.

From nostalgic classics and community-driven experiences to modern masterpieces, the hosts explain why games including Phantom Dust, Elden Ring, Nioh 2, Armored Core, Destiny, Shenmue, Alan Wake 2 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 left such a lasting impression.

The discussion explores how narrative, gameplay, music, exploration, replayability and the memories created with other players can transform a great game into a personal favourite. The hosts also debate nostalgia versus modern game design, the growing focus on optimisation over exploration and how gaming communities influence the way games are experienced and remembered.

We also share Top 5 submissions from the Between Levels community, featuring several unexpected choices.

What are your five favourite video games of all time?

Follow Between Levels:

YouTube: http://youtube.com/@BetweenLevelsPodcast

X: @BtweenLevels

Instagram: @betweenlevelspodcast

TikTok: @betweenlevelspodcast

Between Levels is a weekly gaming podcast hosted by WheelieAverage, FightinCowboy and Sarthe.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction and how the Top 5 lists work

00:20 – FightinCowboy’s number one: Phantom Dust

02:09 – Elden Ring and the joy of discovery

04:58 – Nioh 2 and the evolution of Soulslikes

12:12 – Armored Core’s legacy and latest instalment

21:17 – World of Warcraft, MMOs and community memories

23:04 – Nostalgia versus modern gameplay and graphics

26:49 – Turn-based games and narrative-driven experiences

34:50 – Shenmue’s legacy and Alan Wake 2

43:33 – Sarthe’s Top 5: Destiny, Clair Obscur and more

50:36 – Exploration, breaking mechanics and game design

55:44 – The community’s Top 5 submissions

1:03:35 – Competition, collaboration and community feedback

1:08:06 – Close calls, World of Warcraft and creative MMO PvP

1:14:25 – Optimisation versus exploration

1:17:28 – Final thoughts on our favourite games

Join WheelieAverage alongside special guests Arc Knight and Keith Mitchell as they dive into Soulslike games, upcoming releases, game development, rising prices and the realities of creating content in the gaming space.

In this episode, we discuss Elden Ring and modded Soulslike experiences, some of the most frustrating enemies in Dark Souls and Bloodborne, fall damage and traversal mechanics, Mortal Shell 2, Blood of the Dawnwalker, Lords of the Fallen, GTA VI pricing, the importance of supporting indie developers, art direction versus hyper-realistic graphics and much more.

Keith and Arc also share their experiences from across the gaming industry and offer advice for aspiring streamers and content creators looking to build genuine communities.

Between Levels is a weekly gaming podcast bringing together different perspectives from across the gaming community to discuss the latest news, releases and trends shaping the industry.

Follow Between Levels:

Instagram: @betweenlevelspodcast

TikTok: @betweenlevelspodcast

X: @BtweenLevels

Featuring:

WheelieAverage

Arc Knight - https://www.youtube.com/@ArcKnightt

Keith Mitchell - https://www.youtube.com/@UCeiLjzNqtYKk-M8lRIW1BMg

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and guest lineup

02:00 Getting into Soulslikes and modded Elden Ring

08:00 The most hated enemies in Soulslike games

15:00 Fall damage, traversal and game design

22:00 Mortal Shell 2, Blood of the Dawnwalker and upcoming games

38:00 GTA VI, $100 games and the future of game pricing

51:00 AAA development, indie games and industry collaboration

1:05:00 Industry egos, consumer expectations and value

1:15:00 Advice for aspiring content creators and streamers

1:23:00 Community questions and what’s next for Between Levels

WheelieAverage, Sarthe, and FightinCowboy are joined by special guest DreamcastGuy for Episode 4 of Between Levels.

In this episode, we discuss Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced and how it revitalizes one of the franchise’s most beloved games, our disappointment with Echoes of Aincrad, and the Revelations DLC for DOOM: The Dark Ages.

We also share our Fantasy Critic predictions for Mortal Shell 2 and Valor Mortis, discuss the future of physical media and digital game ownership, reflect on classic games including Skies of Arcadia and Final Fantasy VII, and reveal some of our most controversial gaming opinions and guilty pleasures.

Check out DreamcastGuy:

https://www.youtube.com/@DreamcastGuy

Follow Between Levels:

Instagram: @betweenlevelspodcast

Facebook: Between Levels Podcast

X: @BtweenLevels

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BetweenLevelsPodcast

Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome and DreamcastGuy introduction

02:16 - Fantasy Critic League update

03:42 - DOOM: The Dark Ages Revelations review

05:58 - Boss challenges and DLC features

10:12 - Our disappointment with Echoes of Aincrad

15:47 - Game reviews, scores, and upcoming releases

24:20 - Mortal Shell 2 predictions and demo impressions

33:03 - Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced

36:48 - Combat, ship battles, and gameplay changes

44:27 - Why Black Flag remains so beloved

55:47 - Physical media and digital game ownership

1:07:44 - Our favorite games and guilty pleasures

1:24:49 - Popular games that missed the mark

1:28:58 - Nostalgic and guilty-pleasure picks

1:31:11 - Controversial gaming opinions

1:33:12 - Closing thoughts and thanks to DreamcastGuy

Join WheelieAverage, Sarthe, and FightinCowboy as they dive into Soulslike games, the future of physical media, digital-only gaming, horror game tropes, PC gaming, and the changing shape of the industry.

In this episode, we discuss what actually makes a game a Soulslike, our favorite Soulslike experiences, Elden Ring, co-op and invasion mechanics, build crafting, modding, PlayStation's reported move away from physical game production, digital ownership, game pricing, PC gaming versus consoles, horror game design, The Dark Pictures Anthology, Fantasy Critic updates, and much more.

Between Levels is a weekly gaming podcast bringing together three different perspectives from across the gaming community to discuss the latest news, releases, and trends shaping the industry.

Follow Between Levels:

Instagram: @betweenlevelspodcast

Facebook: Between Levels Podcast

X: @BtweenLevels

Watch on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/fbBIA8aOWss

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and host banter

03:24 Best Soulslike games and FromSoftware alternatives

07:38 What actually makes a game a Soulslike?

08:55 Multiplayer, co-op, and invasions in Souls games

11:21 Elden Ring and co-op experiences

13:45 Lords of the Fallen and modern co-op systems

16:04 Modding in FromSoftware games

18:22 Sarthe's favorite non-World of Warcraft game

20:07 Build crafting, lore, and Soulslike depth

22:13 Breaking game mechanics for fun

23:43 Game difficulty and player attitudes

25:33 Sleep schedules, ADHD, and gaming habits

32:35 PlayStation, physical games, and digital-only trends

36:41 Digital ownership and game pricing

40:16 Piracy, preservation, and the value of physical media

44:17 Esports and competitive gaming

50:06 All-digital consoles and the future of hardware

55:12 PC gaming, nostalgia, and hardware choices

1:02:30 How quickly can you tell if a game is for you?

1:09:45 Horror game tropes and genre evolution

1:15:30 The Dark Pictures Anthology discussion

1:20:02 Fantasy Critic updates and bid strategies

1:24:25 Channel updates and subscriber milestones

1:25:44 Upcoming episodes and future topics

1:26:40 Closing thoughts

Follow for new episodes every week and leave your questions for future episodes.

#GamingPodcast #Soulslike #EldenRing #PhysicalGames #BetweenLevels

Join WheelieAverage, Sarthe, and FightinCowboy as they dive into some of the biggest topics in gaming, including GTA VI pricing, Valve's Steam Machine, Fantasy Critic, Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, and the rising cost of gaming.

In this episode, we discuss our Fantasy Critic draft strategies, impressions of Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, GTA VI editions and microtransactions, Valve's Steam Machine pricing, graphics versus optimization, upcoming game releases, console pricing, and much more.

Between Levels is a weekly gaming podcast bringing together three different perspectives from across the gaming community to discuss the latest news, releases, and trends shaping the industry.

Follow Between Levels:
Instagram: @betweenlevelspodcast
Facebook: Between Levels Podcast
X: @BtweenLevels

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and episode overview
02:11 WoW stories and Cowboy's gaming anecdotes
04:51 Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy gameplay impressions
11:34 Upcoming game releases and the 2026 industry timeline
24:14 Fantasy Critic draft begins
36:11 Game pricing, hardware costs, and industry backlash
43:20 Graphics, optimization, and performance tech
55:10 GTA VI editions, pricing, and microtransactions
1:04:32 Rising console prices and upcoming hardware
1:17:46 Final game picks for the year
1:25:29 Valve's Steam Machine and hardware affordability
1:31:33 Closing thoughts and next steps

Subscribe for new episodes every week and leave your questions in the comments for future episodes.

Welcome to the very first episode of Between Levels.

Join WheelieAverage, Sarthe, and FightinCowboy as they dive into some of the biggest topics in gaming, including Xbox's future, GTA VI, Summer Game Fest, and the future of Soulslike games.

In this episode, we discuss Xbox's recent showcase, industry layoffs, GTA VI's impact on the gaming landscape, Mortal Shell 2, Lords of the Fallen 2, anime games, gameplay versus graphics, and much more.

Between Levels is a weekly gaming podcast bringing together three different perspectives from across the gaming community to discuss the latest news, releases, and trends shaping the industry.

Follow Between Levels:

Instagram: @betweenlevelspodcast

Facebook: Between Levels Podcast

X: @BtweenLevels

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome to Between Levels

02:04 Upcoming Game Releases

03:21 Summer Game Fest Impressions

04:12 September & October Release Rush

05:26 Game Delays & Release Strategy

06:40 GTA VI's Shadow Over Gaming

07:56 Can Smaller Games Survive?

09:27 Xbox's Summer Game Fest Showcase

10:36 Innovation vs Established Franchises

11:30 Industry Rumors & Misinformation

12:41 Studio Acquisitions & Consolidation

14:11 Sony's Investment Strategy

15:31 Layoffs & Industry Restructuring

16:11 Gaming's Growth Problem

17:26 Are Soulslikes Here to Stay?

18:38 NFTs & Gaming Trends

19:33 Why Some Games Fail

21:03 The Death of the System Seller?

22:28 Graphics, Art Style & Immersion

23:05 Is Call of Duty Still King?

24:45 Understanding Gaming Communities

26:34 Realism vs Fun

27:10 Gameplay Over Graphics

28:52 Crimson Desert & Community Feedback

29:14 Evolve, Anthem & Games That Deserved Better

30:27 Mods & Community Support

31:12 Changing Consumer Habits

32:00 Rising Costs of Gaming

33:16 The Future of Gaming Technology

34:21 Why Gameplay Matters Most

35:52 The Power of Art Direction

36:39 Walking Simulators & Niche Genres

37:10 First Impressions Matter

39:32 Marketing & Expectations

40:43 Why Astro Bot Works

42:06 Storytelling in Games

44:02 Mortal Shell 2 & Modern Soulslikes

48:02 Pricing, Value & Expectations

50:34 Open World Design Challenges

52:27 Anime Games: Ambition vs Reality

55:42 Control Resonant Discussion

58:53 The Crowded Fall Release Schedule

62:12 Marketing, Hype & Mystery

66:38 FromSoftware's Untapped Potential

70:17 Developer Evolution & New Ideas

71:43 Gaming Through Parenthood

73:07 The Future of Between Levels

75:19 Final Thoughts & Community Questions

Subscribe for new episodes every week and send us your questions for future episodes.