Popzara Podcast
508 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsThe Popzara Podcast, the official podcast from Popzara.com.
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Episodes
The State of Gaming March 2023: Resident Evil 4, The Last of Us, Bayonetta Origins, Wo Long, Fatal Frame, Tchia, E3 Canceled, Tetris Movie, and NPD is Circana
April 03, 2023 18:51 - 54 minutes - 38.3 MBIt’s The State of Gaming Podcast, Popzara’s in-depth look at what’s shaking up the gaming landscape delivered on a monthly basis. Our hosts Cory Galliher and Nate Evans guide you through the best, worst, and everything else making headlines and headway in the world of interactive entertainment. The Biggest Games of March 2023 The biggest games of the month include: Resident Evil 4 Remake, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon, The Last of Us Part 1 (PC), Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lun...
Article: Infinity Pool (2023)
April 02, 2023 07:00 - 6 minutes - 2.1 MBWatching yourself die and living to tell the tale isn’t something anyone on this Earth could ever relate to. And yet that’s what Brandon Cronenberg’s latest film Infinity Pool concerns itself with.
Article: Digimon World: Next Order
April 02, 2023 07:00 - 3 minutes - 1.37 MBRaising a pet is pretty hard work. Kids? Kids are cute, so they can be forgiven for their misdeeds.
Article: Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse
April 02, 2023 07:00 - 4 minutes - 1.4 MBThere's a lot to be said for fans. Sure, it's fashionable these days to discard their views - such as when they say bad movies like the Star Wars sequels are bad, and don't @ me - but they also do a lot to keep their favorite franchises going even when nobody else will.
Article: Hot Wheels: Rift Rally
April 01, 2023 07:00 - 3 minutes - 1.34 MBI thought the whole “gaming with toys” genre was gone, but it seems to have picked back up recently and soared to new heights with titles such as 2020’s Mario Kart Live by Velan Studios that was perfect for people stuck inside during the "dark time" that year was known for. Now the studio is back with Hot Wheels: Rift Rally that’s mixed-reality fun anyone will want to buckle up and race into.
Article: Seagate 1TB Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S
March 31, 2023 07:00 - 4 minutes - 1.71 MBData will always be a demanding concern for console gamers, and what often seems like an afterthought for manufacturers. Current-generation Xbox Series X|S owners know the struggle all too well as both models opt for a more ‘curated’ approach that keeps their architecture proficient, reliable, and protected for optimization.
Article: Cocaine Bear (2023)
March 31, 2023 07:00 - 5 minutes - 1.75 MBDuring this year’s Oscars ceremony, Elizabeth Banks did a skit with a person in a bear costume, pointing to the bear as proof for how bad her movie, Cocaine Bear, would have looked if she hadn’t opted for a computer-generated version of the titular animal instead. I immediately recalled the obscure 1988 comedy State Park (featuring Ted Nugent!), which featured an unintentionally creepy, and definitely fake, grizzly bear.
Article: Voltaire: The Vegan Vampire
March 31, 2023 07:00 - 4 minutes - 1.54 MBI love games that have a premise that’s both really silly and also really unique. I think a good example of this is 2022’s breakout hit Trombone Champ, a truly unique take on the rhythm genre with an instrument you typically don’t see in rhythm games with a healthy helping of baboons scattered throughout to give it extra personality.
Article: Tchia
March 31, 2023 07:00 - 4 minutes - 1.64 MBThere’s something to be said about games that show their heart on their sleeve. It isn’t always about hyper realistic graphics or incredibly intricate, groundbreaking gameplay.
Article: Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (2023)
March 31, 2023 07:00 - 5 minutes - 2.06 MBIt’s always refreshing to watch a movie that knows it’s never going to be nominated for a single Oscar or earn any clout as a genre revolutionary, and yet executes its story well, in refreshing ways, and entertains us for a couple hours in the process. Few filmmakers have been able to consistently excel at making these types of movies.
Article: Resident Evil 4 (2023)
March 31, 2023 07:00 - 3 minutes - 1.3 MBThe more things change, the more they stay the same - or, well, sometimes they just change. That's the case with Capcom's Resident Evil games, which took a wild swerve in a more action-oriented direction with the release of Resident Evil 4 on the GameCube back in 2005.
Article: Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon
March 31, 2023 07:00 - 3 minutes - 1.22 MBWe're looking at yet another remaster today - wait, what? We're not? Yes, original titles do still come out every so often. Even long-running, fan-favorite franchises need to spread their wings from time to time.
Article: Twistwood Tales (2023)
March 31, 2023 07:00 - 4 minutes - 1.44 MBCreated by Scottish cartoonist AC Macdonald, Twistwood Tales feels like a webcomic from a bygone era, one that relished breaking free from the typical 4-panel restraints (and content limitations) of newspaper funnies to create something entirely new with the medium, to challenge the perceptions of what a “comic strip” could truly be. After debuting back in 2019 it quickly became an immediate sensation, especially on Twitter and Instagram.
Article: Diablo IV Beta Impressions
March 29, 2023 07:00 - 4 minutes - 1.61 MBWhile I didn’t really get into the Diablo franchise until Diablo III, I’ve been a huge fan of it since then and can’t get enough of it. So it goes without saying that I had to play the early beta and open beta of the latest entry, Diablo IV, which has its good and not so good elements I’ll go into.
Article: Kill Me Baby: Complete Collection
March 29, 2023 07:00 - 1 minute - 688 KBI love coming across off-the-wall, crazy anime shows where insane stuff is happening all around the main character but they’re too naive, innocent, and just plain goofy to notice it. Enter Sentai’s Kill Me Baby: Complete Collection that’s all about this and then some for loads of laughs and action that will keep you and your eyes rolling.
Article: Watamote: No Matter How I Look At It, It’s You Guys’ Fault I’m Not Popular!: Complete Collection
March 29, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 901 KBThere’s plenty of fun, slice-of-life anime shows out there, which you can find plenty of in my anime reviews. But what about some that have some twisted laughs with this genre? There’s a few of those too, with the latest one headed my way titled Watamote: No Matter How I Look At It, It's You Guys' Fault I'm Not Popular!: Complete Collection (try saying that three times fast).
Article: Revisions: Complete Collection
March 29, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 823 KBI remember hearing about Revisions on Netflix some time ago and always wanted to check it out as I tend to view most of their anime. Now Sentai has released it on Blu-ray for those without the service or so-so internet with the Revisions: Complete Collection set.
Article: Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)
March 28, 2023 07:00 - 4 minutes - 1.66 MBThe sequel to 2019’s Shazam!, Shazam! Fury of the Gods continues to set itself as a lighter, more upbeat superhero adventure than the darker tone set by Zach Snyder’s now discontinued DC universe. The story continues two years after the defeat of Thaddeus Sivana, following Billy Batson (Asher Angel) and his superhero foster siblings as they take on a trio of new villains set on destroying our world.
Filmmakers Austin Bragg and Meredith Bragg Talk Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game
March 27, 2023 13:51 - 32 minutes - 23.2 MBOur guests on this table-tilting episode of the Popzara Podcast are filmmakers Austin Bragg and Meredith Bragg, i.e. The Bragg Brothers, the writing/directing duo of Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game, their new film that tells the (mostly) true story of how Roger Sharpe would key part in helping overturn archaic gambling laws that made the game illegal. The guys chat everything from what it was like working with an apprehensive legend, how 2023 could be the year videogame/amusement movies...
Article: Metroid Prime Remastered
March 25, 2023 07:00 - 4 minutes - 1.48 MBWhy make new games when you can re-release old ones? That's the question, isn't it? The results can - and often do - vary somewhat, and I'm happy to report that, by and large, we usually see better than worse for most of the efforts these days. Even the maligned Chrono Cross: Radical Dreamers Collection has seen a significant upgrade lately, solving its myriad framerate issues.
Article: Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game (2023)
March 24, 2023 07:00 - 5 minutes - 1.86 MBIt’s often said the best sports movies are less about the games themselves and more about the players playing, their lives and inspirations that helped them endure the training and rigors necessary to achieve superhuman feats against the odds. The best ones are inspirational even to those who couldn’t be less interested in whatever the headline sport is, a testament to the universal appeal that “games” can hold As the world of cinema continues to embrace the stories of videogames more and mo...
Article: Lenovo Legion Slim 7 Gaming Laptop
March 24, 2023 07:00 - 7 minutes - 2.5 MBOutside of the typical office Thinkpad, Lenovo has also been hard at work keeping their gaming-oriented Legion sub-brand competitive among formidable peers. Building off its immediate predecessor, the seventh-gen Lenovo Legion Slim 7 Gaming Laptop delivers respectable gaming chops without sacrificing portability.
Article: VAIO FE 14.1” Series Notebook
March 22, 2023 07:00 - 7 minutes - 2.6 MBRemember VAIO? What was once a premium computer label from Sony, designed to be the Windows alternative to Apple's Macbook has certainly been through the ringer for about a decade. Largely independent from their original creator now, the brand has returned to the United States primarily in Walmart (and Sam's Club) stores, no doubt eager to reclaim that coveted glory in a very different world of mobile computers.
Article: PlayStation VR2 Launch Game Sampler
March 18, 2023 07:00 - 9 minutes - 3.25 MBThe PlayStation VR2 is out! You can actually buy one! In fact, given the increasing supply of PlayStation 5 consoles available, you might even be able to get one of those so you can actually use it too! Yes, we live in a glorious new era, one where it's possible to purchase expensive consumer electronics if that's what you'd like to do. Enjoy the future, folks, because the future of virtual reality has become a reality.
Article: Lovecasa 16-Piece Porcelain Dinnerware Set
March 18, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 816 KBIt’s 2023 and we’re stepping into some new territory at Popzara, starting with this awesome Lovecasa 16-Piece Porcelain Dinnerware Set they were so kind to send. It’s the best dinnerware set I’ve used both literally and figuratively (no more paper plates and cheap dishes for me) , and is sure to be a conversation starter for everyday dining or inviting some friends and family over.
Article: Octopath Traveler II
March 15, 2023 07:01 - 5 minutes - 1.89 MBThere was a grim, brutal period in the 2000s or so where JRPGs lost a couple points off the top of many reviews just by virtue of being JRPGs. Dark days indeed.
Article: The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition
March 15, 2023 07:01 - 3 minutes - 1.14 MBTime sure does fly, as it felt like The Outer Worlds was just released not that long ago instead of nearly three years. Thanks to all of its sales and people enjoying it, famed game studio Obsidian was able to go back and make it even better with The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition, which is the best release of it yet, though not without its share of problems.
Article: 65 (2023)
March 15, 2023 07:01 - 5 minutes - 1.79 MBAt some point during the Cretaceous period some 65 million years ago, an astronaut from another planet crash lands on Earth and must navigate the deadly prehistoric environment in order to protect a young survivor and find a way back home. I didn’t expect too much from 65 since the premise is basically space people vs dinosaurs, which is appropriate as I didn't really get more than that as most of the dinosaurs promised by the trailer never showed up.
Article: Targus 17.3” Strike II Gaming Backpack
March 11, 2023 07:00 - 1 minute - 673 KBI’m always looking for backpacks, especially those for transporting laptops and tech as you always want to make sure they’re safe and secure while out and about. The latest one to come my way is the Targus 17.
Article: PlayStation VR2 Virtual Reality Headset
March 11, 2023 07:00 - 6 minutes - 2.1 MBThe video game industry would very much like it if VR were A Thing. It's not.
Article: Pinball FX
March 09, 2023 07:00 - 4 minutes - 1.47 MBPinball FX is a free to download pinball game with over 80 unique tables to fuel your pinball fever. Launch, flip, and tilt your way to victory in this updated classic that features a huge number of game modes, diverse boards, tons of ways to customize your playroom, and oodles of chances to compete in tournaments and cement your place in the leaderboards.
Article: Creed III (2023)
March 08, 2023 07:00 - 7 minutes - 2.65 MBIt’s hard to watch Creed III and not think of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, especially given its cinematic heritage. The Rocky franchise really was the MCU of its day, with its endless sequels and serialized melodrama, its superhero Rocky (Stallone) going mano a mano against an endless string of memorable villains, each more powerful than the last.
Article: HYTE Y60 Modern Aesthetic PC Case
March 04, 2023 07:00 - 6 minutes - 2.3 MBI’m going to start this review off with an admission: building a PC is something of a chore for me, a monotonous one especially when it comes down to picking the chassis (i.e.
Article: Atomic Heart
March 03, 2023 07:00 - 5 minutes - 1.85 MBSome games launch out of nowhere and surprise everyone! Take Hi-Fi Rush, for example, a music game/brawler that dropped all of a sudden and landed right in everyone's hearts. That's a great game! Meanwhile, others sit in development for years and.
Article: Training Day (4K Blu-ray)
March 03, 2023 07:00 - 3 minutes - 1.3 MBIt feels like 2001 wasn’t that long ago, but that’s the year we got director Antoine Fuqua’s hard-hitting film, Training Day. It came out of nowhere and blew audiences away with its gripping and suspense-filled story that kept them on edge, mainly thanks to Denzel Washington playing a genuinely terrifying villain that won him the Best Actor Oscar that year.
Article: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (4K Blu-ray)
March 03, 2023 07:00 - 3 minutes - 1.11 MBI have to be completely honest, as like most people I’m sure, when I first heard about Puss in Boots: The Last Wish being released, I wasn’t too enthused as the recent Shrek films and all of its many spin-offs weren’t that great. Add in the so-so Netflix series of our feline hero, and I was even less enthused.
Article: The Boxtrolls (Limited SteelBook Edition)
March 03, 2023 07:00 - 3 minutes - 1.08 MBI’ve been a fan of Laika and their films ever since watching the creepy but awesome Coraline. I’m glad Shout Factory is releasing all of their films and cleaning them up and tossing in some new extras, and have taken it a step further by releasing these films in 4K.
Article: Kubo and the Two Strings (Limited SteelBook Edition)
March 03, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 964 KBOnce I saw the trailer for Kubo and the Two Strings back in 2016, I was hooked as I loved the look and the fact they were going for a Asian- themed, fantasy-action piece. Shout Factory re-released the film on Blu-ray back in 2021 with slightly better visuals and new special features, but has now released it again in 4K with Kubo and the Two Strings (Limited SteelBook Edition) that features added HDR/Dolby Vision, as well as Dolby Atmos audio to place viewers into this fantasy epic.
Movie Time! When Effects Were Special: The Wizard of Speed and Time (1988) and Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)
February 27, 2023 16:10 - 1 hour - 74.3 MBIt’s Popzara’s Movie Time! Podcast!, where our own movie nerds Ethan Brehm and Nate Evans take you on an unscripted journey yakking and chatting about some of their favorite movie moments and cinematic scenes, from past and present, presented without snark and snobbery for your listening pleasure. First up is The Wizard of Speed and Time, written, directed, edited, and starring special effects man Mike Jittlov in his first (and only) feature film. An expanded version of his infamous 1979 sh...
Article: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
February 27, 2023 07:00 - 5 minutes - 2.02 MBAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is the 31st film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe where Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) and the Wasp (Evangeline Lilly) are pulled into the Quantum Realm with their family and must save the populace from the villainous Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors) while figuring out how to get back home. While the story is a bit silly in parts with some absurd looking characters (*cough M.
Casting Spells and Muggle Magic: The Wizarding World of Hogwarts Legacy
February 23, 2023 22:31 - 36 minutes - 25.9 MBGrab your wands and join students Cory Galliher and Nia Bothwell on this piertotum locomotor episode of the Popzara Podcast as the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff alumni gather to discuss Warner Bros’ return to J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World of magic and never-ending teenage drama in Hogwarts Legacy, the latest non-Harry Potter Harry Potter game that’s charmed fans around the world. From fantastic beasts to stuttery frame rates to the pleasantly irritating benefit of receiving too much gear, our t...
The State of Gaming February 2023: Hogwart’s Legacy, Wild Hearts, Atomic Heart, Metroid Prime Remastered, PSVR 2 Launches, COD on Nintendo, and NPD
February 22, 2023 20:06 - 48 minutes - 34.3 MBIt’s The State of Gaming Podcast, Popzara’s in-depth look at what’s shaking up the gaming landscape delivered on a monthly basis. Our hosts Cory Galliher and Nate Evans guide you through the best, worst, and everything else making headlines and headway in the world of interactive entertainment. The biggest games of the month include: Hogwarts Legacy, Deliver Us Mars, Wild Hearts, Atomic Heart, Returnal (PC), Metroid Prime: Remastered (Switch), Theatrhythm Final Bar Line, Like A Dragon: Ishi...
Article: Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society
February 22, 2023 07:00 - 5 minutes - 1.73 MBDungeon delving isn't a particularly lucrative line of work in real life. Believe me, I've tried.
Article: Wild Hearts
February 22, 2023 07:00 - 6 minutes - 2.16 MBIt's interesting to observe the evolution of a genre over time. An initial foundation is one thing, but real gaming gems tend to arise when developers build on what came before.
Article: Hogwarts Legacy
February 19, 2023 07:00 - 5 minutes - 1.79 MBIt's hard to say when a new franchise will spawn and shake up the media landscape. It's unlikely that anyone thought that J.
Article: Knock at the Cabin (2023)
February 18, 2023 07:00 - 4 minutes - 1.58 MBKnock at the Cabin is the latest film from M. Night Shyamalan’s (Old, Glass) and, a rarity for writer /director, based on other source material, specifically Paul G.
Article: Roccat Magma Mini Keyboard
February 15, 2023 07:00 - 1 minute - 700 KBWith each product they release, it seems Roccat just keeps getting better while giving other gaming accessory companies some much needed competition. Their latest, the Roccat Magma Mini Keyboard is the perfect device for those looking to sacrifice some space from their desk without losing any of their cool factor, especially if you’re into RGB lighting.
Article: Raiden IV x Mikado Remix
February 15, 2023 07:00 - 3 minutes - 1.24 MBI remember back in the day seeing Raiden in the arcades and how cool it looked, especially when you had the powered up laser beam weapon that would lock onto enemies and curl all over the screen. It was so nice being able to bring it home on the PlayStation when The Raiden Project was released in 1995, and I loved playing the more recent fifth entry of the franchise.
Article: DualSense Edge Wireless Controller
February 12, 2023 07:00 - 7 minutes - 2.56 MBThe performance, gameplay, graphics and sound of games are one thing. The actual experience of playing them is quite another.
Article: Esther’s Notebooks (2023)
February 12, 2023 07:00 - 6 minutes - 2.19 MBOne of the greatest literary tragedies of the 21st century (so far) has been the inexplicable decision not to publish the final two volumes of Riad Sattouf’s groundbreaking biographical masterwork Arab of the Future in English. The first volume was published back in 2015 to major acclaim, while the second, third and fourth… not so much.