The Game Deflators E381 | God of War, Pokémon Go Controversy, and the Death of Live Service Games

In this episode of The Game Deflators Podcast, hosts John and Ryan dive into a wide range of gaming news, retro games, and tabletop adventures. They kick things off with fresh additions to their collections, John's latest Dungeons & Dragons campaign plans, and gameplay impressions of Valkyrie Profile. Ryan also shares his ongoing journey through Dragon Quest—complete with a surprising fitness‑focused gaming routine.

The discussion heats up as the duo breaks down Guilty Gear mechanics, the bizarre and controversial rumor linking Pokémon Go to Epstein Island, and the challenges facing High Guard as it struggles to maintain its player base. They reflect on the evolving landscape of modern video games, the importance of character selection in fighting games, and the powerful role of nostalgia in shaping gaming experiences.

Later, John and Ryan explore the influence of Jeff Keighley on major game launches, the uncertain future of live‑service games, and the growing excitement around new God of War projects. They also discuss the evolution of Kena: Bridge of Spirits and recent trailer for Silent Hill.

The episode wraps with a look at the Super Nintendo classic “We’re Back!” and whether it’s worth picking up for under $10 in today’s retro market.

00:00 Introduction to the Game Deflators Podcast 02:24 Game Pickups and Dungeons & Dragons Adventures 06:11 Exploring Valkyrie Profile Gameplay 14:54 Ryan's Journey with Dragon Quest and Fitness Gaming 18:44 Guilty Gear Journey and Fighting Game Mechanics 29:28 Mastering Fighting Games: Footsies and Edge Guarding 32:18 Transitioning from Pokémon to Gaming News 34:50 The Rise and Fall of High Guard 42:58 Anticipating New Releases: God of War and Beyond 49:20 Exciting Announcements: Kena and Project Winless 01:03:31 Reflections on Game Quality 01:05:44 Inflation Deflation 01:11:20 Nostalgia and Movie Adaptations

Find us on TheGameDeflators.com

Twitter - www.twitter.com/GameDeflators Facebook - www.facebook.com/TheGameDeflators Instagram - www.instagram.com/thegamedeflators

The views and opinions expressed on this channel are solely those of the author. The content within these recordings are property of their respective Designers, Writers, Creators, Owners, Organizations, Companies and Producers.

Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted.

Permission for intro and outro music provided by Matthew Huffaker http://www.youtube.com/user/teknoaxe 2_25_18