Dallas and Celeste just got back from seeing Mortal Kombat 2, and they have thoughts. The sequel brings Johnny Cage into the fold, raises the stakes with the actual tournament, and delivers some genuinely great fights and character moments. But does it stick the landing? In the spoiler-free half, Dallas and Celeste break down the pacing problems, the characters who got shortchanged, and whether the film earns its R rating. Then after the break, gloves come off, full spoiler discussion on movie spoilers, Kitana's story arc (the one that should have been the whole movie), what the film gets right as a Mortal Kombat experience, and why it left Dallas wanting to fire up the games all over again. 💙 THANK YOU TO OUR PATRONS We are so thankful to our Devoted Patreon Geeks who help make this ministry possible: Ruiz Family, Adam Arciniega, Branson Boykin, Nerd Chapel, Jacob Russell, Jeffrey Leon, Jonathan Herrman, Kevin Lovelace, Lady Lomax, Paul Turner, Paul J Powers, Savie Wilson, The Cel Cast, Monster Island Film Vault — and so many more. Thank you for your continued support! Become a Devoted Patreon Geek: 👉 https://www.patreon.com/GeekDevotions Discover other ways to support: https://geekdevotions.com/support/ Free Curriculum: https://geekdevotions.com/freeresource/ 📱 Connect with Geek Devotions: Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/GeekDevotions Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/GeekDevotions Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GeekDevotions TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@geekdevotions Timestamps:

00:00 — Cold Open & Show Intro ("Get Over Here!") 00:39 — Welcome to Episode 214 01:03 — Celeste's History with Mortal Kombat (Spoiler: One Birthday Party) 02:12 — Dallas's History with MK — Sega Genesis to the MK Cartoon on TNT 04:58 — Mortal Kombat 2 Plot Setup / Johnny Cage Joins the Team 09:28 — Spoiler-Free Review Begins 10:03 — The Pacing Problem: A Rushed, Clunky First Act 11:00 — Sonya Blade Got Done Dirty (The Wasted Character Problem) 12:08 — Too Many Characters, Not Enough Story — The MK Annihilation Curse Strikes Again 13:03 — The Storytelling Feels Like the Games (And That's Mostly a Compliment) 13:32 — Should This Have Been a Two-Parter? (Or a Series?) 14:04 — Mortal Kombat Legacy Was Doing It Right 15:03 — Costume Designs Were Solid / You Can Get the Movie Skins in MK1 15:32 — The Fight Choreography: Rough in Act One, Great in Acts Two and Three 16:03 — Spoiler-Free Wrap-Up / Break Announcement 17:28 — [Commercial Break — The Cel Cast / Culture Box] 19:15 — Back from Break / Spoiler Section Begins 19:50 — Kano Is Alive — And Dallas Is Not Surprised 21:12 — Kano's Character Switch: Reluctant Good Guy 21:32 — This Is NOT a Kids' Movie — The R Rating, Discussed 26:40 — Kitana's Story Arc: The Best Part of the Film (And the Thanos/Gamora Comparison) 28:01 — Waiting for Mileena — And Why Her Absence Stings 28:07 — Final Verdict: Dallas Liked It, Will Rewatch, Wants to Play the Games Again 29:08 — The Hot Take: MK's Storytelling vs. Street Fighter 6 30:10 — Dallas's "Street Fighter Needs MK's Story Mode" Tangent 32:10 — Final Thoughts / Call for Audience Reactions 32:33 — Announcements: We Read Allegedly New Episode / Squid on Baby Break 33:43 — Spotify Timestamps & Show Notes Shoutout 35:58 — GeekCon in August / Support Geek Devotions 36:43 — Outro / Stay Devoted. Peace and Love.

This past week Celeste and Dallas had the opportunity to have a booth at the Louisiana Assemblies of God Network's Fine Arts Festival held at the Assembly in West Monroe! What was it like? Check out our LIVE podcast recording to find out!

Learn more about Project Wildernes: https://projectwilderness.gg/

💙 THANK YOU TO OUR PATRONS

We are so thankful to our Devoted Patreon Geeks who help make this ministry possible: Ruiz Family, Adam Arciniega, Branson Boykin, Nerd Chapel, Jacob Russell, Jeffrey Leon, Jonathan Herrman, Kevin Lovelace, Lady Lomax, Paul Turner, Paul J Powers, Savie Wilson, The Cel Cast, Monster Island Film Vault — and so many more.

Thank you for your continued support!

Become a Devoted Patreon Geek: 👉 https://www.patreon.com/GeekDevotions

Discover other ways to support: https://geekdevotions.com/support/

Free Curriculum: https://geekdevotions.com/freeresource/

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Timestamps: 00:00 Intro & Geek Devotions 01:54 Fine Arts Festival Pictures & Our Booth 04:20 Photography & Mobile Art 05:40 Mario Kart Tournament & E-Sports 06:46 Participant T-Shirts & Nyan Cat Purse 07:50 Puppet Song Performance 09:24 Interpretive Dance & Friday Night Worship 10:14 The Crowd & Charlie Allo's Encouraging Words 13:14 The "Copy-Paste" Family & Solo Singer 14:15 Ashton Peters' Message 15:30 Painting During Worship 15:47 Friend's Singing Performance & Award 16:34 Next Gen Leader Charlie & Breakfast in the RAV4 18:19 Church Entrance & The Aldi Logo Similarity 19:17 Puppetry Award Ceremony 20:26 Smash Bros Tournament & Wild Wilkie 21:50 3D Art & Samson's Lego Scene 22:43 Smash Bros Exhibition Match 23:44 Human Video Drama 24:51 Fiber Art & String Art Presentation 25:34 Picture Wrap Up & 6-Week Curriculum 27:46 What is Project Wilderness? & Outro

We are barely a week into Anime April and we already have some favorites! Check out what we like so far! Also stick around to the end! If you're at the Louisiana Fine Arts Festival in West Monroe we have something special for you....

💙 THANK YOU TO OUR PATRONS

We are so thankful to our Devoted Patreon Geeks who help make this ministry possible: Ruiz Family, Adam Arciniega, Branson Boykin, Nerd Chapel, Jacob Russell, Jeffrey Leon, Jonathan Herrman, Kevin Lovelace, Lady Lomax, Paul Turner, Paul J Powers, Savie Wilson, The Cel Cast, Monster Island Film Vault — and so many more.

Thank you for your continued support!

Become a Devoted Patreon Geek: 👉 https://www.patreon.com/GeekDevotions

Discover other ways to support: https://geekdevotions.com/support/

📱 Connect with Geek Devotions:

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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@GeekDevotions Time Stamps 00:00 - Welcome to the Comm Talk 01:09 - Kicking off Anime April 02:53 - Reviewing "Always a Catch" (Tomboy Heirs & Brass Knuckles) 06:04 - Discussing "Snowball Earth" & Child Soldiers in Mechs 08:25 - "Daemons of the Shadow Realm" Impressions 10:16 - "Eren the Southpaw" and its Artistic Vibe 12:01 - Breaking down "Ramparts of Ice" 15:30 - The wild, mature premise of "Rooster Fighter" 17:08 - Fine Arts Festival info & Exclusive Giveaways 20:04 - Wrapping up the show

In this episode of Comm Talk, Dallas and Celeste kick off 2026 by revisiting the legendary 80s anime Ronin Warriors (known in Japan as Samurai Troopers). The duo discusses the show's history, analyzes the animation style from the late 80s versus modern standards, and gives their honest review of the brand-new 2026 sequel series.

Basic topics covered:

• Ronin Warriors vs. Samurai Troopers: A look at the history of the show, the differences between the Japanese and American versions, and the mysterious "Hajime Yatate" collective that created it
• The "Cinderella Effect" in Animation: Celeste explains how upscaling old animation to high definition can actually cause a loss of fine detail—like the "paint bucket" shoe error—and the need for grace when viewing older media on modern tech.
• 2026 Sequel Review: A breakdown of the new series' plot, the shift in art style to "pretty boys," and the major plot twist regarding the main character's heritage.
• The Missing Character: Celeste shares her strong feelings about the absence of the white tiger, White Blaze, in the new series and why he was the heart of the original show.

Question: Did you like the new Samurai Troopers? Do you like the Original?

Check out our devotional on Samurai Troopers: https://youtu.be/T-nsoJkSxjM

00:00 – Intro

00:47 – Welcome to Comm Talk Episode 210

02:19 – Ronin Warriors vs. Samurai Troopers: The History

04:13 – The Plot: Fighting the Dynasty & The Ancient One

07:51 – 80s Art Style: The Beauty and the "Paint Bucket" Shoes

08:26 – The "Cinderella Effect": Losing Detail in Modern Upscaling

19:10 – The "Slow Burn" of 80s Storytelling vs. Modern Pacing

24:00 – PROMO: Monster Island Film Vault

25:28 – PROMO: Culture Box

26:50 – Review: Episode 1 of The 2026 Samurai Troopers Sequel Series

28:30 – New Art Style: Modern Standards and "Pretty Boys"

32:58 – Celeste’s Grievance: Where is White Blaze?!

34:50 – The Major Plot Twist: The Demon Lord's Heir

39:20 – Doing Sequels Right: The Rogue One Standard

42:16 – Announcement: Dallas is Writing a Book on Prayer!

44:06 – Outtake

💙 THANK YOU TO OUR PATRONS

We are so thankful to our Devoted Patreon Geeks who help make this ministry possible: Ruiz Family, Adam Arciniega, Branson Boykin, Nerd Chapel, Jacob Russell, Jeffrey Leon, Jonathan Herrman, Kevin Lovelace, Lady Lomax, Paul Turner, Paul J Powers, Savie Wilson, The Cel Cast, Monster Island Film Vault — and so many more.

Thank you for your continued support!

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Date: January 4, 2026 Podcast: Comm Talk by Geek Devotions Series: Everyday Gamer’s Review

Since 2007, gamers have been waiting for Metroid Prime 4. In this inaugural "Everyday Gamer Review," we look at this massive release from the perspective of a busy person with a day job and a backlog. We dive into the "beautiful visualizations" of the maps, the transition of the classic Metroidvania style into a first-person shooter, and whether the game’s systems are too complicated for someone with only a few hours a week to play.

We also tackle common community complaints regarding "bland" maps and the notorious scanning mechanic to see if they truly hinder the experience. Whether you are a die-hard fan or a casual player on the fence, this episode helps you decide if it’s time to buy a new copy or start with Metroid Prime 1 Remastered instead.

• 00:00 The 17-year wait for Metroid Prime 4

• 00:28 What is an "Everyday Gamer Review"?

• 01:04 Story Setup: Samus and the psychic planet
• 01:31 Visuals and Performance: Switch 1 vs. Switch 2

• 02:14 Tutorial Mode: Is the game easy to learn?

• 02:52 The Sub-Menu: Tracking powers and controls

• 03:07 The Save System: Managing "real life" and save stations

• 04:58 Addressing the Critics: The Overworld and scanning mechanics

• 06:45 Final Verdict & Recommendations

Join the Community! Have you played Metroid Prime 4 yet? We want to hear your thoughts! Reach out to us on Discord, Instagram, Facebook, or our website to let us know if you enjoyed Samus's latest adventure.

💙 THANK YOU TO OUR PATRONS We are so thankful to our Devoted Patreon Geeks who help make this ministry possible: Ruiz Family, Adam Arciniega, Branson Boykin, Nerd Chapel, Jacob Russell, Jeffrey Leon, Jonathan Herrman, Kevin Lovelace, Lady Lomax, Paul Turner, Paul J Powers, Savie Wilson, The Cel Cast, Monster Island Film Vault — and so many more.

Thank you for your continued support!

Become a Devoted Patreon Geek: 👉 https://www.patreon.com/GeekDevotions Discover other ways to support: https://geekdevotions.com/support/ 📱 Connect with Geek Devotions: Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/GeekDevotions Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/GeekDevotions Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GeekDevotions TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@GeekDevotions

Celeste and Dallas just got back from the Louisiana Delta Comic-Con in West Monroe. Join them as they break down their thoughts of this Louisiana Delta Community College hosted event and share some pictures too!

Learn More about the Louisiana Delta Comic-Con: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567153256189

Learn more about Louisiana Delta Community College: https://www.ladelta.edu/

People Highlighted: John Stout and Kettlebriar's Workshop: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071165117056

Liz of Gargoyle Grotto: https://www.instagram.com/gargoyle_grotto

3 Bridges Productions: https://www.3bridgesproductions.com/

Louisiana Retro Con: https://www.louisianaretroconvention.com/

💙 THANK YOU TO OUR PATRONS

We are so thankful to our Devoted Patreon Geeks who help make this ministry possible:

Ruiz Family, Adam Arciniega, Lady Lommax, Paul Turner, Jacob Russell, Mike Alderman, Nerd Chapel, Monster Island Film Vault, PaulJPowers.com, Michael Manacci, The Cel Cast, Savie Wilson, John Harju, Kevin Lovelace, Branson Boykin, Leah Miller, Brianna Sheagley — and so many more. Thank you for your continued support!

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🎙️ CHECK OUT OUR PODCAST Comm Talk by Geek Devotions is where we talk about general geek life and have various guests on! Listen on your favorite podcast platform or here: https://geekdevotions.podbean.com/

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❤️ About Geek Devotions

Geek Devotions is a ministry from devoted geeks who are devoted to letting people know they are loved. Each week, we use geek pop culture—movies, video games, anime, and comics—to share hope and encouragement rooted in the love of Christ.

The long awaited sequel to Ghosts of Tsushima just dropped last week and the question is simple... is Ghost of Yotei worth watching? Check out John and Dallas' initial thoughts!

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Special thank you to our Devoted Patreon Supporters! Ruiz Family • Adam Arciniega • Lady Lommax • Paul Turner • Jacob Russell • Mike Alderman • Nerd Chapel • Monster Island Film Vault • PaulJPowers.com • Michael Manacci • The Cel Cast • Savie Wilson • John Harju • Kevin Lovelace • Branson Boykin ...and many more!

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