VGH #676: Shivs and Poison

·1 hr 16 min·5 clips

Randy and DJ are so obsessed with Slay the Spire 2 and Dragon Quest VII that they struggle to choose which to play.

The episode opens with hosts Randy Dickinson in Harrisburg and DJ Ross in Mountain View introducing their main topics: Slay the Spire 2 and Dragon Quest VII Reimagined. DJ details his 17-hour progress in Dragon Quest VII, describing its structure as self-contained islands with unique stories, comparing it to a season of Star Trek. He notes the remake polished annoying characters like Maribel and Kiefer, making them gameplay essentials. Randy discusses playing Dragon Quest on Steam Deck and jokes about needing a second device. The conversation shifts to handheld gaming, critiquing oversized devices like the Acer Nitro Blaze. Randy then recounts his Virtual Boy experience for Mario Day, playing Mario Clash and Mario Tennis, highlighting the system's eye strain and questionable release. DJ provides an update on Slay the Spire 2, noting its early access state with placeholder art and timeline features. He compares it to the first game, discussing new characters like the Necrobinder and co-op mechanics. The hosts plan a four-player co-op stream on March 23rd, exploring synergies and specialized roles. They reflect on Slay the Spire 2's polished animations and card art, contrasting it with the first game's scrappy style. The episode concludes with promotional details for the stream and community engagement.

As heard by us

Two games compete for one Steam Deck while Slay the Spire 2 shows the odd edges of early access.

Video Game Hangover frames this check-in around a familiar problem for anyone with too many good games in reach: Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is strong enough to pull attention from Slay the Spire 2, even when both are ready on the same Steam Deck.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You get an early-access Slay the Spire 2 check-in with a Dragon Quest VII Reimagined detour tugging at the same Steam Deck.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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