Player vs Plot

Sep 14 2020 12

Player vs Plot Podcast artwork

Player vs. Plot takes video game stories seriously. Whether you're eager to revisit the story of your favorite video game through a different lens, looking for a synopsis of a game you never played before its sequel comes out, or just curious about what happens in a game you know you'll never get around to finishing -- we're here for you! Join us each season as we walk you through the story of a new game each episode, unpacking the complexities of its plot, celebrating its successes and debating its messaging, themes and craft. Player vs Plot is a celebration of the narrative potential of video games!

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S2E12 - Chrono Trigger

Sep 14 2020 152 mins

Episode Notes In this exciting season finale, we discuss the plot and philosophical questions of the beloved SNES RPG, Chrono Trigger! We take you through the main plot, the side quests, and (many of) the endings! We also discuss some of the bigger lingering questions often debated by the game's fandom: what exactly is Lavos, and who might be the Entity? Check back each week for a

S2E11 - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Sep 06 2020 174 mins

Episode Notes We tackle another behemoth of a game this week with The Witcher 3! We walk you through the story beats of the main quest, summarize some of the bigger side quests, and analyze what the game has to say about fatherhood, political action, and interdimensional factionalism. We also talk about the unique challenges this game tackles in setting an open world RPG in the wor

S2E10 - Frame Narratives in Video Games

Aug 31 2020 97 mins

Think of today's episode as a story within a story - because we're doing framing narratives! We discuss games that have you playing out a story being told in-universe like Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time, Dragon Age 2, Final Fantasy X, and more. It's a classic narrative technique, but how does it fare in the realm of video games? Tune in to find out! Check back each week for a

S2E9 - Metal Gear Solid

Aug 24 2020 158 mins

Episode Notes This week's episode is a doozy. We tackle the hotly requested Metal Gear Solid! We summarize the major story beats and discuss its meta elements, our treatment of soldiers, and whether your genes really determine your future. This is a long one and a bit on the goofy side so sit back, suppress your stomach acids, turn on your stealth camouflage, put away your Murakami

S2E8 - Shadow of the Colossus

Aug 17 2020 139 mins

This week on Player Vs Plot we tackle a game that may seem to have a small plot but in the end is full of colossal themes to unpack. That's right, we're discussing Shadow of the Colossus! Join us as we talk about how this game connects with others games, the myths it taps into, and the overarching messages it sets out to convey. Check back each week for a new discussion of a video

S2E7 - Street Fighter II

Aug 10 2020 138 mins

This week, Player vs Plot covers an unusual source of compelling video game storytelling: fighting games! How does a competitive arcade game tell a story when the player experience is always different? How does a match between two players fit into the game's "canon" plot? And how much storytelling can you get in with just animation, endings and win quotes, anyway? We tackle all of

S2E6 - Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Aug 03 2020 136 mins

This week we tackle the Animal Crossing series, with a particular focus on its latest entry: New Horizons. We discuss its peculiar "communication" genre label and try to pin down what common stories will emerge from the game's many activities. We also discuss the movie adaptation and some popular fan theories! If you're an Animal Crossing fan or just wondering what story we could

S2E5 - Power Progression Mechanics in Video Game Narratives

Jul 27 2020 98 mins

Episode Notes This week we chat about the many ways in which video games make the player character stronger over time. What forms can it take, what does it accomplish for a story, and what kind of new challenges and solutions has this narrative technique brought to the medium? We discuss all this and more! Check back each week for a new discussion of a video game story! As always,

S2E4 - BONUS: Interview with Sauna 2000 creator Amos Sorri

Jul 20 2020 65 mins

Episode Notes Amos Sorri joins us this week to discuss his new horror-comedy game Sauna 2000, which is nearing the end of its Kickstarter campaign! We talk about the importance of saunas to Finnish culture, how comedy and horror are more similar than you might think, and many more topics in this interview special! Check out the Kickstarter! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mad

S2E3 - Lightning Round: Rogue, Binding of Isaac, and Slay the Spire!

Jul 20 2020 127 mins

This week, Player Vs. Plot takes on another lightning round. That's right, it's three games packed into one episode! In this episode, we focus on the namesake of the genre: Rogue. Then, we share two of our favorite modern installments in the genre: The Binding of Isaac and Slay the Spire. We take a look at what tropes of the genre are present across all three games and how each gam