263: Open-World Inflation

In short

This episode of the Next Lander podcast features discussions on various video game releases and industry news. Guests Jordan Mittleider from VGC and Alex Navarro join hosts Brad Schumacher to review games like Donkey Walker, Oni: Road to be the Mightiest Oni, and Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1. They also recap the Pokemon World Championships and touch upon the GTA 6 trailer. Advertisements for Lowe's, Hero Bread, and MSI GPUs are interspersed throughout the episode.

Key takeaways

• The podcast covers reviews of several new and upcoming video games, including Donkey Walker, Oni: Road to be the Mightiest Oni, and Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1.
• Jordan Mittleider from VGC shares his experience at the Pokemon World Championships and discusses VGC's role in gaming news.
• Advertisements for Lowe's, Hero Bread, and MSI GPUs are featured.
• The GTA 6 trailer is briefly discussed, highlighting industry anticipation.

Chapters

1. 00:00

   Intro & Lowe's Labor Day Deals

   The podcast begins with an advertisement for Lowe's Labor Day sales, highlighting deals on pavers and a power blower trimmer combo kit.

2. 00:14

   Hero Bread Advertisement

   An ad for Hero Bread promotes its high protein, high fiber, and low net carb content, available in various forms like loaves, buns, tortillas, bagels, and noodles.

3. 00:33

   Next Lander Podcast Intro

   Brad Schumacher and Alex Navarro introduce the Next Lander podcast episode for September 2nd, 2026, with Brad taking on hosting duties.

4. 01:05

   Guest Introduction: Jordan Mittleider

   Jordan Mittleider from VGC (Video Games Chronicle) joins the podcast, hailing from Paisley, Scotland. The hosts acknowledge VGC's significant influence on gaming news.

5. 02:15

   VGC's Role in Gaming News

   The discussion touches on VGC's reputation for providing straightforward, factual gaming news, contrasting it with other outlets that focus on opinion or aggregated content.

6. 03:30

   Pokemon World Championships Recap

   Jordan recounts his experience at the Pokemon World Championships in San Francisco, detailing the various competitions (Unite, Go, TCG, Video Games) and the event's scale, including issues with queuing and capacity.

7. 07:10

   Donkey Walker Review Discussion

   The hosts delve into the game 'Donkey Walker,' described as a choice-based RPG where the player is a 'Donkey Walker' who can transform into a vampire at night. The time-sensitive mechanics and narrative are discussed.

8. 13:45

   Oni: Road to be the Mightiest Oni Review

   Jordan reviews 'Oni: Road to be the Mightiest Oni,' a choice-based RPG with a time mechanic. He praises the combat system, particularly the parry and dodge mechanics, and the narrative integration, but notes the time pressure can feel less impactful than intended.

9. 20:00

   Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 Review

   The review covers the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1, highlighting its strengths in combat and presentation, but criticizing the open-world design and repetitive side quests.

10. 25:00

    Blood Runs Cold (Bloodborne Fan Game)

    The discussion shifts to 'Blood Runs Cold,' a fan-made Bloodborne game, praising its challenging combat and atmosphere, but noting its fan-game status limits its reach.

11. 27:30

    MSI GPU Advertisement

12. 30:00

    Dude Wipes Advertisement

    An ad for Dude Wipes emphasizes their effectiveness for personal hygiene, contrasting them with dry toilet paper and promoting their flushable, extra-large size and various scents.

13. 31:30

    Hero Bread Advertisement (Repeat)

14. 32:00

    GTA 6 Trailer Discussion

    The hosts briefly discuss the GTA 6 trailer, noting the anticipation and the potential impact of its release on the gaming industry.

15. 32:30

    Conclusion and Outro

    The podcast concludes with a brief mention of upcoming content and thanks to the listeners and sponsors.

Get the next The Nextlander Podcast recap

A short recap of every new episode, by email. Free for up to 5 shows.