Episodes

  • the [e]nd of YoRHa | NieR Automata Analysis (Ep. 166)

    the [e]nd of YoRHa | NieR Automata Analysis (Ep. 166)
    Dec 26 2025
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    "A future is not given to you. It is something you must take for yourself."

    The NieR Automata analysis concludes! Joined by Dave (Tales from the Backlog), we talk through the final three endings of the game in detail. One of the game's main themes — that of a Will to live, a meaning to life to stave off what has been variously called "The Absurd," "Nihilism," and more — is on full display as we see more characters than not grapple with it. Between what the game presents and the supplemental lore canon, there's loads to talk about. Hope you love the show today. Enjoy!

    Smash Interview with Yoko Taro
    Interview with Yoko Taro and Yosuke Saito
    Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
    Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy

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    2 hrs and 29 mins
  • It Always Ends Like This | NieR Automata Analysis (Ep. 165)

    It Always Ends Like This | NieR Automata Analysis (Ep. 165)
    Dec 19 2025
    (00:00:00) Intro Discussion
    (00:15:26) Adam and Eve
    (00:26:17) The Forest Kingdom
    (00:35:44) Mecha-Kaiju
    (00:40:38) The Copied City
    (00:53:03) Become as Gods
    (01:04:44) flowers for m[a]chines
    (01:34:34) Route B
    (02:07:28) Adam Captures 9S
    (02:25:08) Revelations (Replicant Spoilers)
    (02:43:28) or not to [b]e

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    "And we need a God worth dying for."

    The NieR Automata analysis continues! Joined by Dave (Tales from the Backlog) once again, we proceed through the ending of route A and through the entirety of route B. The view from 9S's perspective unearths new information not yet known to 2B...or to most of the YoRHa troops. How will 9S temper the friction between his loyalty — indeed, his "essence" — with an earth-shattering revelation? Further conversations on existentialism, Simone de Beauvoir, the importance of perspective, and more. Hope you love the show today. Enjoy!

    Smash Interview with Yoko Taro
    Interview with Yoko Taro and Yosuke Saito
    Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
    Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy

    Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!
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    2 hrs and 51 mins
  • Glory to Mankind | NieR Automata Analysis (Ep. 164)

    Glory to Mankind | NieR Automata Analysis (Ep. 164)
    Dec 10 2025
    (00:00:00) Intro/What This Podcast Is
    (00:02:25) Personal Histories
    (00:13:08) Development
    (00:31:59) Visual Design
    (00:38:37) Mechanics
    (00:51:48) Music and Sound
    (01:00:28) Story Analysis: Let's Kill God
    (01:26:18) Resistance Camp
    (01:39:07) This Cannot Continue
    (02:03:16) Pascal's Village
    (02:24:23) Aliens' Return

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    "Stop calling me ma'am."

    The analysis on NieR Automata begins! Rick is joined by Dave (Tales from the Backlog) to take an in-depth look at this marriage of Platinum Games's circumfluent battle style and Yoko Taro's philosophically-tinged narratives. NieR Automata is a game with two ideas at its core: existentialism (existence precedes essence); and the all-too-human penchant for "othering" those who are not in our in-group, often due to unwillingness to shift perspective. This episode covers up to learning the fate of the makers of the machines. Hope you love the show today. Enjoy!

    Interview with Yoko Taro
    Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
    Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy



    Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!
    Show More Show Less
    2 hrs and 35 mins
  • Escape | Playdead's INSIDE Analysis (Ep. 163)

    Escape | Playdead's INSIDE Analysis (Ep. 163)
    Dec 5 2025
    (00:00:00) Intro/What This Podcast Is
    (00:02:06) Personal Histories and Initial Thoughts
    (00:12:10) Development
    (00:16:02) Visuals
    (00:26:58) Sound Design
    (00:40:40) Narrative Discussion
    (01:30:22) Ending Discussion

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    An oppressive system breeds a need to break free.

    Rick is joined by Kate and Emily (No Small Games) to take a deeper look into Playdead's INSIDE, a horror-tinged puzzle-platformer released in 2016. Draped in an opaque narrative, INSIDE demands discussion from players—with the game and with each other—to parse out intent and impact. Between the three hosts themes of control, systemic oppression, free will vs determinism, and autonomy are explored, both in terms of gameplay and a suggested narrative. Hope you love the show today. Enjoy!

    LINK: INSIDE's Audio in a Human Skull



    Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 57 mins
  • Acceptance | The Last of Us Part 2 Analysis (Ep. 162)

    Acceptance | The Last of Us Part 2 Analysis (Ep. 162)
    Nov 29 2025
    (00:00:00) Intro, Abby and Lev Discussion
    (00:22:46) Day 3A
    (00:29:29) Through Seraphites and Snipers
    (00:39:31) Casualties of War
    (00:46:41) WLF Standoff
    (00:52:15) The Pyre of Haven
    (00:57:55) They'll Pay
    (01:17:10) Epilogue: Throwing It All Away
    (01:46:49) Final Confrontation

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    "If somehow the Lord gave me a second chance at that moment...I'd do it all over again."

    The analysis of The Last of Us Part 2 concludes—and what an ending; a disgrace to some, near-perfect for others, infamous to all. At what point does one become truly irredeemable, forced to bear their scars with no path to forgiveness? Rick and Jon explore this idea at length, discussing the final confrontation at the theater recontextualized, the epilogue and whether or not it is out of place, and the controversy over the end. Hope you love the show today!

    Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!
    Show More Show Less
    2 hrs and 27 mins
  • Perspective | The Last of Us Part 2 Analysis (Ep. 161)

    Perspective | The Last of Us Part 2 Analysis (Ep. 161)
    Nov 25 2025
    (00:00:00) Intro and TLOU Writing
    (00:05:25) The Search for Tommy
    (00:18:46) No Turning Back
    (00:36:28) The Confrontation
    (00:42:40) Day 1A
    (01:03:54) The Search for Owen
    (01:21:59) An Unlikely Alliance
    (01:28:30) I'm tired, Abby
    (01:36:13) An Unlikely-er Alliance
    (01:52:49) Braving the Hospital
    (01:59:44) This Ain't the Nutcracker's Rat King

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    "We let you live...and you fucking wasted it."

    The analysis of The Last of Us Part II continues! Choices have consequences, and this episode brings them to light in spades. This is where the game transitions into the second half of the story—which was kept secret from viewers due to review embargo. But how does it recontextualize the story? This episode is all about perspective. I'm tired, Abby. Hope you love the show today!

    Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!
    Show More Show Less
    2 hrs and 9 mins
  • Depravity | The Last of Us Part 2 Analysis (Ep. 160)

    Depravity | The Last of Us Part 2 Analysis (Ep. 160)
    Nov 14 2025
    (00:00:00) Depravity | The Last of Us Part 2 Analysis (Ep. 160)
    (00:01:35) Seattle, Continued
    (00:33:04) Captured
    (00:46:50) The TV Station
    (00:59:22) Chase to the Theater
    (01:04:10) Flashback: Did I Do Okay?
    (01:19:42) Burnin' Rubber at Hillcrest
    (01:32:18) Flashback: The Truth
    (01:45:15) Scars on Route 5
    (01:53:31) Finding Nora
    (01:56:54) Ellie's Depravity

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    "Well you're a burden now, aren't you?"

    The analysis of The Last of Us Part 2 continues! In this episode, Rick and Jon examine the relationship between Ellie and Dina begin to change as secrets come to light. And as the hunt for the WLF continues, Ellie is faced with a decision—one which sets her over a precipice from which she cannot return. All of this and more in this week's episode. Hope you love the show today!

    Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!
    Show More Show Less
    2 hrs and 11 mins
  • Consequences | The Last of Us Part 2 Analysis (Ep. 159)

    Consequences | The Last of Us Part 2 Analysis (Ep. 159)
    Nov 11 2025
    (00:00:00) Introduction
    (00:09:00) Dev History
    (00:22:50) Controversies
    (00:35:13) Visuals and Music
    (00:43:19) Mechanics
    (00:55:53) Jackson, Revisited
    (01:17:34) Abby's Introduction
    (01:25:33) A Close Encounter...
    (01:27:52) That Scene
    (01:46:42) Justice Will Be Served

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    "Please don't do this..."

    The critical analysis of The Last of Us Part II begins today! This is a polarizing game, to say the least; some see this as a bold, biting success in the spirit of TLOU's universe, while others see this as the creators spitting in the face of fans—even going so far as to petition for a complete remake. Either way you slice it, this game gets a *lot* of talk around it. This podcast, where Rick is joined by Jon (Video Game Lounge) will be no different. This episode explores a high-level overview and the philosophies/themes behind the game before the narrative breakdown. This episode covers up to and through *That Scene.* You know the one. Hope you love the show today!

    Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to pixelprojectradio@gmail.com! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 53 mins