Watch Out for Fireballs!

A retro and non-current games podcast

About the show

Watch Out for Fireballs! is a game club podcast, focused on retro and non-current games. Every week, we play a game in its entirety, then discuss its merits and flaws at length. Most episodes begin with a short sketch, and we're pretty liberal about keeping tangents in. But it ultimately comes down to: Why do we like (or dislike?) this game.

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Episodes and Blog Entries

  • WOFF Dispatch: Editing

    Episode  |  June 30th, 2022  |  1 hr 50 mins

    Do games stand up to editing the same way other works do? How is editing used in games? Could they stand more editing? The obvious Duckfeed answer is "yeah." Hear us explain why! And answer your questions, read your responses to June's games, and generally goof it up.

  • WOFF 361 Preview: Vampyr

    Episode  |  June 23rd, 2022  |  1 hr 3 mins

  • 360: Another World / Out of This World

    Episode  |  June 16th, 2022  |  1 hr 38 mins

    If you have even a mild interest in old games, your critical acumen will always be caught up in the tension between historical import and modern playability. Few games stress that dissonance more than Another World, which combines an unbeatable atmosphere and tremendous influence with some very outmoded game design. Is it worth taking the plunge? Listen in, buddy!

  • 359: Terranigma

    Episode  |  June 9th, 2022  |  3 hrs 44 mins

  • 358: The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction

    Episode  |  June 2nd, 2022  |  2 hrs 23 mins

    Sometimes you just want to pick up an entire tanker truck and surf on it into a bunch of SWAT team guys, then rip a car in half and pound a tank with it, you know? This early high point in the sketchy history of Super Hero games isn't without its flaws (most of its flaws start with "M" and rhyme with missile) but it's got a lot to love about it too. Join us as we return to the era where holding R1 to run made sense.

  • Dispatch: Replaying Games

    Episode  |  May 26th, 2022  |  2 hrs 11 mins

  • 357 Preview: Max Payne 3

    Episode  |  May 19th, 2022  |  1 hr 2 mins

    Poor Max. Poor sad, hyper competent timelord Max.

    Our man is in Brazil this time, playing the patsy and killing more people than most video game protagonists do in a lifetime. When Rockstar took over the franchise, fans feared that they would ruin this classic series. They were half right, turns out, as bolting a cover system onto the breach and clear pace of Max Payne has damaged the pacing. So did adding a truly criminal number of cutscenes. There are moments of thrilling action and fun, and a genuinely interesting tale to be found here, but as fans of the first game, we're disappointed. Listen in to hear why!

    This is the preview version of this episode. If you'd like to hear the whole thing, join us at www.patreon.com/duckfeedtv

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    356: Teardown

    Episode  |  May 12th, 2022  |  1 hr 52 mins

  • 355: The Beginner's Guide

    Episode  |  May 5th, 2022  |  2 hrs 3 mins

    In 2022, you can play a video game about almost anything. So why is it most games are about how friends are good and honor is nice? Can robots feel? Been there, done that.

    The Beginner's Guide is a follow up to the wildly successful (and hilarious) The Stanley Parable dares to ask deeper and more personal questions about art and criticism. It's thematically rich and textually complex. Viva!

  • Dispatch: Your Chuck E. Cheese Memories

    Episode  |  April 28th, 2022  |  2 hrs 20 mins

    In lieu of a topic, we read as many of your Chuck E. Cheese memories as we can.

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    WOFF 354 Preview: Deathloop

    Episode  |  April 21st, 2022  |  1 hr 3 mins
    preview

    Kill everyone on Reddit Island Fyrefest! Using superpowers and time travel. What a pitch!

    It's no secret we're big fans of Arkane, which makes Deathloop exceedingly interesting in both it's triumphs and failures. The apotheosis of density in level design saddled with awkward invasion mechanics from Dark Souls. A timeloop element that works wonderfully in terms of narrative but hampers the pace of play. Deathloop is a game with incredibly high highs but also low lows. Take and listen and see.

    This is the preview version of this episode. If you'd like to hear the entire thing, join us on Patreon! Patreon.com/duckfeedtv

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    353: Chuck E. Cheese's / Showbiz Pizza

    Episode  |  April 14th, 2022  |  1 hr 57 mins

    Gather 'round the stage birthday boys and girls!