Clair Obscur Expedition 33 is a phenomenal game that sparks some incredible reflection on the themes of grief, family, and perseverance. But these conversations quickly got drowned out by Game of the Year hype and AAA Industry bashing. What should the conversation be around this game, and how can we guide the course of the conversation to a better …

Compared to modern video games, Star Fox on the Super Nintendo looks rudimentary. One of the earliest examples of 3D on a Nintendo system, beneath this simplicity is a story of pushing against hardware limitations and fighting back against the advances of Sega. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the…

Any new entry in the Monster Hunter series is cause for celebration. With the smash hit Monster Hunter World, tons of new fans discovered the series for the first time. Now with a true successor to World, Capcom looks to continue Monster Hunter's momentum. But would the changes and concessions made in the pursuit of streamlining the experience caus…

The Guiding Keys min-series and the story of Kingdom Hearts comes to a close. For now. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that they play…

The final game in the Kingdom Hearts series (for now) and the final episode of Guiding Keys is Melody of Memory, a rhythm game that celebrates the incredible music of Kingdom Hearts. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlocka…

Our analysis of Kingdom Hearts Dark Road continues. As the plot with the upper classmen thickens, Xehanort finds himself on a road that will ultimately see him become the antagonist of the Kingdom Hearts series. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlock…

We've reached the next game in the Kingdom Hearts series and the penultimate game in our Guiding Keys adventures. Dark Road follows the story of a Young Xehanort training to be a Keyblade Master. What truths will be revealed to us about the Seeker of Darkness. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the …

As 2024 comes to a close, I take some time to reflect on the games I played this year, as well as the State of the show going into 2025. Thank you all again for another incredible year! Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlo…

After wanting to play the Sly Cooper series for ages, I finally got some time to dive into the first game on the PS2. Luckily I had Unlockables community member Poppy the Masked Keaton to join me for this discussion! Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the U…

Adam from The Good, the Bad and the Backlog joins the show to discuss our experience doing a Pokémon Nuzlocke run for the first time. The rules we used for this Nuzlocke run are the base rules: one encounter per route, if a Pokémon faints you can't use it for the rest of the run, and you must nickname all Pokémon you catch. Check out The Good, the …

Part 2 of our deep dive on Kingdom Hearts Union X where we discuss the aftermath of the Keyblade War, the fate of the Dandelions, and a crucial choice by our player character that changes the course of the series. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlo…

Friend of the show and fellow Dad Mick Davis stopped by the Unlockables to talk about the classic PS1 tactical RPG Final Fantasy Tactics! Check out Mick Arcade! Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game p…

At long last we've arrived at the finale for Kingdom Hearts 3. In this episode we discuss the ReMind DLC, the Secret Reports, and some final thoughts on Kingdom Hearts 3 as a whole. What secrets lie ahead in Kingdom Hearts 4? Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check …

Today's episode is dedicated to the GLORY OF THE EMPEROR. Fellow Space Marines Nick and Will of Friday Night Gamecast stop by the Unlockables to break down the insanity that is Warhammer 40000 and the hit new game from Saber Interactive, Space Marine 2! Check out Friday Night Gamecast! Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on In…

The final confrontation with Xehanort and Organization XII is at hand, and our journey with the base game of Kingdom Hearts 3 comes to a close. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about peop…

On this episode of Unlockables, its time to LIVE AND LEARN. After foolishly beginning the Year of Shadow at the end of the story, I decided to right the wrongs by going back to the game where Shadow debuted; Sonic Adventure 2! Matt aka Stormageddon from "Fun" and Games Podcast and the Reignite Podcast stopped by the show to help me escape from the …

After finishing our adventures in the Disney Worlds, we begin racing towards the conclusion of Kingdom Hearts 3. The fate of Aqua and Ven hang in the balance as the long awaited confrontation with Master Xehanort finally begins. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Che…

In the late 90s, the industry and gamers were looking forward to the future, and the future was 3D. But in the wake of the avalanche of 3D games there were some titles that got overlooked at the time. The Suikoden series on PS1 was good, but it just wasn't what people were looking for at the time. In recent years it's reputation has grown as not on…

Our adventures in the Diseny Worlds continue in part 3 of Kingdom Hearts 3! Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that they play, as well a…

The one true gaming prophet Kade Call stops by the Unlockables to talk about his experience creating his viral emulation videos, as well as a general discussion on content creation and emulation. Check out Gaming Memories! Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out…

Welcome back to part two of Kingdom Hearts 3. Today our adventures in the Disney worlds begin as Sora sets out to find the Power of Waking in order to save those who have been hurt by Xehanort. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! …

To celebrate the announcement that 2024 would be the Year of Shadow, Keith stops by the show to help me analyze and break down the infamous 2005 video game Shadow the Hedgehog. Check out Main Quest! Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patr…

At long last, our Guiding Keys Journey brings us to the game that was the catalyst for this journey in the first place. Kingdom Hearts 3. You know the drill by now. A brief introduction featuring general information, first thoughts, gameplay and development history is followed by a dive into the story. The shadow of Xehanort looms large. Follow the…

The annual State of the Industry episode is here! Kelvin and Rob from the Gaming Duo stop by to talk about the Big 3, leaks, trailers, layoffs, and everything in-between with a postitive spin! Check out the Gaming Duo! Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the…

A light spoiler review of Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth! Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that they play, as well as the story …

Before we can move on to Kingdom Hearts 3, there is some foundational lore that we need to understand that is presented in the first part of the Kingdom Hearts mobile game, ultimately known as Kingdom Hearts Union X. This episode will cover the history of this game including its multiple transformations and movie adaptation known as X Back Cover. W…

I played Ocarina of Time for the first time in 2024. This game and Zelda had long eluded me, but I decided it was finally time to sit down and play it, once and for all. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a vid…

Like a lot of people, I was recently drawn into the galactic conflict featured in Helldivers 2 to spread freedom and managed democracy. In this episode I give my initial thoughts on my time with Helldivers 2 as well as some thoughts on the nature of live service games themselves. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagra…

Before moving on to Kingdom Hearts 3, a tech demo included in the HD2.8 collection allows us to spend a few hours with Master Aqua in the Realm of Darkness as she wanders endlessly without hope. Find out how her continuing story ties in to the end of the first game in the series, Kingdom Hearts 1 and sets the stage for Kingdom Hearts 3! Follow the …

With the imminent threat of Master Xehanort's return looming, Yen Sid summons Sora and Riku to undergo the Mark of Mastery Exam. Their objective; enter the Realm of Sleep to unlock Seven Sleeping Keyholes to restore seven sleeping worlds to the realm of light and acquire the Power of Waking. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables…

As the year comes to a close, there was a lot to celebrate in terms of the Unlockables. In this episode I record some of my thoughts on the show in 2023, my changing attitudes towards creating in the space of video game discourse, and the future of the show once my first son is born. Thank you all for another incredible year! Follow the Unlockables…

Kingdom Hearts Coded started as a mobile phone game in Japan before being remade for the Nintendo DS in the form of Kingdom hearts Re:Coded. Will the mysteries of Jiminy's blank journal finally be revealed? And what will Re:Coded tell us about the coming titles in the series? Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! S…

With Birth by Sleep completed, this episode is dedicated to tying up loose ends and setting the stage for the future games. We go over the Blank Points secret ending, Xehanort's secret reports, and one final scene that takes place after the credits roll that tie the whole series together. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on…

With Terra's and Ventus's stories now told, Aqua remains as the sole piece of the puzzle that we must fit into place to understand the origins of the Kingdom Hearts series. Having passed her Mark of Mastery exam and become a Keyblade master, Aqua is burdended with the task of discovering the mysteries of Master Xehanort, Vanitas, the Unversed, all …

With Terra's fate unknown, we turn now to the story of Ventus for more answers. Who is the mysterious Vanitas? What is the true nature of the X-blade and what is Xehanort's ultimate plan? Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Un…

We've learned a lot through the first four Kingdom Hearts games, but everything you know is about to changed with Birth by Sleep. In part one we'll focus on the first of the game's three protagonists, Terra, whose struggles with darkness and his own flaws set the stage for spectacular tragedy. We'll also finally be introduced to the overarching ant…

We spend so much time talking about the games themselves, but as the industry has grown the practice of making them has become unsustainable. Long development cycles with crunch that chew people up and spit them out have become the norm, while most studios seem like they are one underperforming game away from failure. I share some of my thoughts on…

From Game of the Year and critical acclaim in 2016 to the most negatively reviewed game on Steam in 2023. Overwatch's journey as a game is a fascinating story, inextricably linked with the turmoil at Activision Blizzard and industry trends overall. I talk a bit about my extensive time with Overwatch 1 and identify a few key points where I think it …

With a remake of Super Mario RPG due out in a few short months, I decided to revist the orginial for the first time in over 15 years to see what made Mario's swan song on the Super Nintendo something special. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockabl…

Guiding Keys returns with the next game in the Kingdom Hearts series, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. We fill in the blank spaces in Roxas's story between Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts 2. But...who is this girl? And why doesn't anyone remember her? Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockable…

For your consideration, the Unlockables review of Final Fantasy 16. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and memories around the games that they play, as well as the st…

Good friend of the show Brock Matthews stops by the Unlockables today to talk about his aspirations as a voice actor. As someone who has been honing their craft for several years, Brock offers some intriguing insight into what it takes to make it in the voice acting industry. Check out Brock's Demo Reel! Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow th…

As is tradition, the summer means another edition of the mail bag! Thanks to all who submitted questions to be read and answered on the show. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people…

With the plans of Organization XIII thwarted and Xemnas defeated, its time to tie up loose ends for Kingdom Hearts 2. We're diving into the Secret Ansem Reports and discovering how oversights by Ansem the Wise caused ripples throughout the Kingdom Hearts plot. We'll then cover some of the final extras in the game, as well as an appearance by the On…

Sora, Donald, Goofy along with King Mickey have arrived in the home world of Orgainzation XIII to stop their plans once and for all. Can they stop the completion of Kingdom Hearts and rescue Kairi? And what of Ansem the Wise and Riku? The final showdown with Organization XIII and Xemans begins. Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockab…

Our adventures in Kingdom Hearts 2 continue. Hollow Bastion finds itself under a full assault from Heartless and Nobodies during the mid game crescendo. Sora, Donald and Goofy revisit the worlds they had visited previously to try and find a way to the homeworld of Organization XIII and put a stop to Xemnas's plans once and for all! Follow the Unloc…

Since the beginning of time, humans have pondered the great questions. Why are we here? What is the meaning of life? And what does it mean to be a Final Fantasy game? With the upcoming release of Final Fantasy 16, this question seems to be in the forefront now more than ever. To answer this question once and for all, I've assembled a crack team of …

Roxas's story has come to a close and Sora awakens into a world without his memories of the events of Chain of Memories. Sora, Donald and Goofy set off into the world with the only objective they remember; find Riku and King Mickey. But they soon discover they are up against far more than the Heartless as they encounter the mysterious Nobodies and …

This week I am joined by Aaron of the legendary show Super Pod Saga. Check out Super Pod Saga! Check out the Super Pod Network! Follow the Unlockables on Bluesky! Follow the Unlockables on Instagram! Subscribe to the Unlockables YouTube Channel! Check out the Unlockables on Patreon! The Unlockables is a video game podcast about people's stories and…

Our journey through Kingdom Hearts continues with Kingdom Hearts 2. Widely considered by the fandom to be the best game in the series, Kingdom Hearts 2 begins with us playing not as Sora, but as Roxas. The intro to Kingdom Hearts 2 has received flak for being too long and confusing. But I'm here to tell you its one of the most impactful openings in…