Super Combo Cast

Toben and Alex
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Two scholars do a monthly video game reading club in a variety of genres. Check the liner notes and other posts at Super Combo Tech on Substack, with video streaming on Twitch and YouTube. supercombotech.substack.com

  1. Super Combo Cast #54 - TetherGeist

    18h ago

    Super Combo Cast #54 - TetherGeist

    This month’s (May) podcast was all about TetherGeist, a precision platformer from O and Co. Games. Recently released, we talk about the legacy this game signposts with its aesthetic, narrative, and mechanical choices, its smart layering of tether mechanics on top of platforming, as well as who this is for, given that depending on time investment and skill, this game can become quite challenging fairly quickly. We expect that the speed running community and events like SGDQ, once TetherGeist arrives there, will give this game a long tail and keep it relevant (in the same conversation as Celeste) into the future. Check out the liner notes here, and tune-in for Pocky and Rocky Reshrined/Original at the end of June. Thanks for listening/reading! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit supercombotech.substack.com

    44 min
  2. Super Combo Cast #53 - Final Fantasy X

    Apr 28

    Super Combo Cast #53 - Final Fantasy X

    This month’s podcast (April) was on Final Fantasy X a favourite of Toben’s and a new Final Fantasy for me. We discuss characterization, Sin, the battle system, leveling, as well as position this entry within its long-varying series. How does it compare to some of the more action-oriented final fantasies of the last few years — and what is the best way into the series now that there are so many viable options? How does the pace of this game work to dole out the narrative beats? Also, please check out the liner notes for great ways to further explore FFX outside the game. And then, of course, check us out in May for our discussion of Tethergeist, an indie platformer with fun movement mechanics and great art that we’ve had our eyes on. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit supercombotech.substack.com

    1h 4m
  3. Super Combo Cast #52 - Dredge

    Mar 30

    Super Combo Cast #52 - Dredge

    This month’s podcast (March) was on Dredge, the Cthulhu fishing simulator/cozy game from Black Salt Games, published by Team 17. This one impressed us with its integration of Cthulhu fear of the deep and the elder gods, while not really changing the equation or adding much to the idea we had of fishing (in games) prior to playing it. The cozy aspect seemed to present itself most in the cycle of completing tasks like catching and selling fish, upgrading your boat and moving around the various locales from safe harbor to safe harbor. Which, at least for us, did something to dull the frightening edge and eerie tone that the game is trying for. Check out the liner notes for the usual ephemera and notes on the episode. And catch us at the end of April for Final Fantasy X, an all-timer for Toben as an RPG and game in general, and a first real play-through for me. I will (likely) learn to blitz-ball! I think it means underwater polo, but with a lot more style. It also seems to remind me, locale and tropical biome-wise, of Chrono Cross, but we’ll see how it goes. If you want to donate to help fund our work head here: https://ko-fi.com/supercombotech This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit supercombotech.substack.com

    59 min
  4. Super Combo Cast #51 - Demonschool

    Mar 1

    Super Combo Cast #51 - Demonschool

    On this month’s podcast we talk about Demonschool, the tactical combat and persona-like RPG set at a gangster, demon and zombie beset college on a mysterious island. We loved the characters, world, and aesthetic with its Sega Saturn leanings, but had serious concerns about the tactical battle system, mini-games and progression systems. If you loved this one, let us know! We want to hear about how it clicked for you. Toben has a companion review in writing to go with our discussion and you can check out the liner notes here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit supercombotech.substack.com

    1h 8m
  5. Super Combo Cast #50 - Baldur's Gate 3

    Jan 28

    Super Combo Cast #50 - Baldur's Gate 3

    This month’s podcast was all about Baldur’s Gate 3. We’ve played this one a while, and will keep playing it and discussion was mostly around how this landmark RPG release effects the sort of landscape of RPGs, in relation to BG3’s expansive nature. We also discuss how it manages to adapt DnD, of course, as well as who this game is for, and possibly, gasp, who it might not be for. Check out the liner notes for links and resources discussed in the episode, as well as the usual ephemera. Next month (February) is going to be Demon School, which is a return for us to the turn based tactics we love, along with this imagining of what a Sega Saturn RPG in the tone of Persona with modern tactics game play might look like in 2025 (not literally on the Sega Saturn, though I hope that could be real someday). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit supercombotech.substack.com

    1h 6m
  6. Super Combo Cast #49 - Earthion

    12/20/2025

    Super Combo Cast #49 - Earthion

    This month was Earthion, from Yuzo Koshiro and Ancient. This is a modern-developed 16 bit game, particularly for the Sega Genesis (releasing next year on that platform, but here and now on Steam, Xbox, PS5, Switch, etc.). We talk a bit about Yuzo Koshiro’s legacy and a long career in making games, what the genre has meant to us and our experience with it, this being our first sidescrolling shoot em’ up, as well as the mechanics and systems that work well here to respect the player’s time and also introduce a more modern audience a kind of game and experience that has been around for a long, long time (in 70’s and 80’s arcades, down into home consoles, and still going). Check out the liner notes for some historical links, as well as the usual ephemera. And watch out in December and January for some writing we’ve been working on to be posted, as well as for January’s podcast on Baldur’s Gate 3. Happy Holidays and New Year! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit supercombotech.substack.com

    56 min

  7. 12/11/2025

    Super Combo Cast #48 - Transistor

    This month’s podcast was on Super Giant Games’ Transistor. The developers, of Hades I and II fame most recently, released Transistor, their second game, in 2014 to acclaim and general contentment from critics and fans. The game is also often cited as a fan-favorite. But unfortunately, we had some issues playing through it in 2025. Maybe we’ve been been too taken or used to the mechanics and the feel of Hades, maybe it wasn’t the ideal time to play through a second effort from a studio that now relies on a early access refinement model to tune their games (arguably to a kind of perfection). Either way, we discuss Transistor and how it works or doesn’t, discussing its in some ways inspired world building and design, soundtrack, hybrid turn-based battle system, and other aspects, along with how it fits into the grand pantheon of Super Giant’s catalogue. Check out the liner notes for the usual ephemera and side quests, and feel free to reach out with how Transistor has or hasn’t hit home with you (especially the fans out there). We’d love to hear it and try to understand better why it doesn’t work for us — but clearly does for others.Also stay tuned for next month (December’s) podcast on Earthion, the Yuzu Koshiro and Ancient produced throwback side scrolling shooter (with a Genesis/Mega Drive physical edition coming in 2026!). *The game I couldn’t remember the name of that reminded me of what if Super Giant did a side scrolling shooter was Devil Engine: https://store.steampowered.com/app/891790/Devil_Engine/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit supercombotech.substack.com

    1h 2m
  8. Super Combo Cast #47 - Absolum

    11/12/2025

    Super Combo Cast #47 - Absolum

    This month’s podcast (for October) was Absolum, a roguelike beat ‘em up from the modern day masters at DotEmu (and other partners). We talk about the fantasy influences, genre and roguelike touchstones with Hades, Streets of Rage 4, and others, as well as how multiplayer and the layers of systems work and are woven together. It seems like the developer’s catalog, known largely for some licensed beat em’ up games before this (beloved games all), really leaned into more systems and mechanical complexity for Absolum, which is wholly their own. Check out the liner notes for the usual suspects in terms of ephemera, soundtrack, speed runs (if they exist as yet), and then catch us end of November for our podcast on Transistor. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit supercombotech.substack.com

    57 min
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About

Two scholars do a monthly video game reading club in a variety of genres. Check the liner notes and other posts at Super Combo Tech on Substack, with video streaming on Twitch and YouTube. supercombotech.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Toben and Alex
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    52
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Alex
  • Show Website
    Super Combo Cast