Perfect Dark - Part 1

Perfect Dark talk starts at 45:00.Eric and Michael discuss the first half of Perfect Dark, the Rare N64 Classic that lives between the shadow of two monumental games of the FPS genre: Goldeneye and Halo. Does Perfect Dark earn its place as the 7th highest rated game on Metacritic, or is it the victim of a rapidly changing genre?We also talk about selling Metroid Prime 4: Beyond to buy better games, if Exodus or The Expanse has the juice to be the next Mass Effect, and......Hello Kitty Island Adventure?Next Episode: We finish Perfect DarkFollow @StateOfTheSave on Instagram and Bluesky for updates, and catch streams, clips, and highlights on YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok. Subscribe and leave a review—every rating helps more listeners discover the show.Timecodes:0:00 - Intro4:00 - Metroid Prime 4: Beyond15:25 - Hello Kitty Island Adventure18:10 - The Witcher 327:10 - Metro 203932:23 - Exodus and The Expanse45:00 - Perfect DarkMusic:Jungle Mood — Peyruis [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/AE4AWGTNa-A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://alplus.io/JungleMood⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Metro — Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/NPKwINq8D_4⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://alplus.io/metro⁠⁠⁠⁠

The cursed episode of State of the Save is here! Game disc errors, editing software crashes, random mid-show computer updates, it's all here!We give an update on what happened to The Last of Us episode, as well as make a pivot to our next game, Perfect Dark. We couldn't leave you all hanging, so what we have here is a random episode where Michael gives his final thoughts on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Eric shames the Pragmata subreddit, we talk about our hopes for a Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake, and Michael talks highly of retro gaming's next big trend: decompilation.Timecodes:0:00 - Intro0:40 - WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LAST OF US?!7:50 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 3318:25 - Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake 202625:25 - Classic Resident Evil33:33 - Decompilation and Homebrew PC Ports50:30: 2026 Games we're excited for1:14:20 - Perfect Dark PrepFollow @StateOfTheSave on Instagram and Bluesky for updates, and catch streams, clips, and highlights on YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok. Subscribe and leave a review—every rating helps more listeners discover the show.Music:Jungle Mood — Peyruis [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/AE4AWGTNa-A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://alplus.io/JungleMood⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Metro — Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/NPKwINq8D_4⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://alplus.io/metro⁠⁠⁠⁠

Resident Evil 9: Requiem is here, and since Eric's copy of The Last of Us is late, we decide to gush over Capcom's newest game in the legendary survival horror franchise. Spoiler Warning around the 15-minute mark onwards, but yeah, we love this game.Join us next time for The Last of Us Episode 1, where we discuss the game up to when you enter Pittsburgh.Timecodes:0:00 - Spoiler Free thoughts on Resident Evil Requiem14:18 - SPOILER WARNING14:55 - SPOILERS FROM HEREFollow @StateOfTheSave on Instagram and Bluesky for updates, and catch streams, clips, and highlights on YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok. Subscribe and leave a review—every rating helps more listeners discover the show.Music:Jungle Mood — Peyruis [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/AE4AWGTNa-A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://alplus.io/JungleMood⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Metro — Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/NPKwINq8D_4⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://alplus.io/metro⁠⁠⁠

Here we go! It all came down to this: ~70 minutes of us talking about the legendary 71 Minute ending to the Metal Gear Solid Saga! Plus, we lay out the future of the show with our next game: The Last of Us!Prep shows work a bit differently now! Keep an eye out on our socials for a Video Prep Show hosted by Michael, breaking down what you need to know before playing along with us.Timecodes:0:00 - Intro/Housekeeping9:55- Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots - Act 5 and The Ending1:37:04 - The Last of UsFollow @StateOfTheSave on Instagram and Bluesky for updates, and catch streams, clips, and highlights on YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok. Subscribe and leave a review—every rating helps more listeners discover the show.Music:Jungle Mood — Peyruis [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/AE4AWGTNa-A⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://alplus.io/JungleMood⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Metro — Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/NPKwINq8D_4⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://alplus.io/metro⁠⁠

It was the best of games, it was the worst of games. The coolest reveals, and the lamest reveals. The best action, and the worst action.Metal Gear Solid 4 is a tale of two games. What parts do Eric and Michael love and which ones make them wince? FIND OUT!Timecodes:0:00 - Intro/State of Play announcements12:15 - Distant Worlds: Final Fantasy Concert14:20- Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots - Act 357:25 - MGS4 Act 4Follow @StateOfTheSave on Instagram and Bluesky for updates, and catch streams, clips, and highlights on YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok. Subscribe and leave a review—every rating helps more listeners discover the show.Music:Jungle Mood — Peyruis [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/AE4AWGTNa-A⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://alplus.io/JungleMood⁠⁠⁠⁠Metro — Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/NPKwINq8D_4⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://alplus.io/metro⁠

The GameClub format has returned! It's time that we wrapped up the Metal Gear saga with Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. This conversation covers the game's FIRST TWO ACTS!We briefly talk about the games we played over the Holiday break, with Michael talking about the flawed but ambitious Shadows of Doubt and the insane highs of completing Death Stranding 2: On The Beach. Eric also shares his time with Battlefield 6.Timecodes:0:00 - Intro2:00 - Death Stranding 23:45 - Shadows of Doubt7:50 - Battlefield 69:45 - Metal Gear Solid Delta Snake Eater11:05 - Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the PatriotsFollow @StateOfTheSave on Instagram and Bluesky for updates, and catch streams, clips, and highlights on YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok. Subscribe and leave a review—every rating helps more listeners discover the show.Music:Jungle Mood — Peyruis [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/AE4AWGTNa-A⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠http://alplus.io/JungleMood⁠⁠⁠Metro — Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/NPKwINq8D_4⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠https://alplus.io/metro

It's time for our End of the Year Holiday Special!Join State of the Save, as we break down our favorite games of 2025, our personal Game Awards highlights, and the game's we're looking forward to most next year.Also, our GameClub format returns in 2026! Join uas as we finish our multi-year long Metal Gear saga with Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots!Want to play along: Finish ACT 2 by the next episode!Follow @StateOfTheSave on Instagram and Bluesky for updates, and catch streams, clips, and highlights on YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok. Subscribe and leave a review—every rating helps more listeners discover the show.Music:Jungle Mood — Peyruis [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/AE4AWGTNa-A⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠http://alplus.io/JungleMood⁠⁠⁠Metro — Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/NPKwINq8D_4⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠https://alplus.io/metro

This week on State of the Save, Michael and Eric dive into two famously ambitious but undeniably flawed games: Hulk for the PlayStation 2 and Obsidian’s cult-favorite spy RPG Alpha Protocol. From chaotic superhero destruction to branching espionage gone off the rails, both titles spark a deeper conversation about what makes broken-but-bold games so fascinating.Michael also shares his time with Guilty Gear Strive, exploring its insane characters and bonkers style, along with the surprisingly deep Kirby Air Riders. Eric checks in with an update on his growing CloverPit addiction and how it’s shaping his week in gaming, and his return to Night City in Cyberpunk 2077.Looking ahead, our next episode will be our annual Holiday Special, where we break down our favorite games of the year and highlight the releases that defined our 2024 playlists.Then, starting in January, we’re bringing back the classic GameClub format for a full three-part deep dive into Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Just like our earlier GameClub series, we’ll take the game section by section, analyzing story beats, gameplay systems, major themes, standout moments, and the legacy it left behind.Follow @StateOfTheSave on Instagram and Bluesky for updates, and catch streams, clips, and highlights on YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok. Subscribe and leave a review—every rating helps more listeners discover the show.Timecodes:0:00 - Intro4:02 - Guilty Gear Strive15:03 - Kirby Air Riders21:30 - Cyberpunk 207730:20 - CloverPit37:47 - Hulk (2003)1:00:33 - Alpha Protocol1:23:40 - Game of the Year Show/METAL GEAR SOLID 4!Music:Jungle Mood — Peyruis [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/AE4AWGTNa-A⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠http://alplus.io/JungleMood⁠⁠⁠Metro — Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/NPKwINq8D_4⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠https://alplus.io/metro

In this episode of State of the Save, Michael finally plays Halo 3: ODST… but before he can even talk about the game, he drops a long-kept secret about his personal history with the Halo franchise that changes everything.Eric takes on Return of the Obra Dinn, the critically acclaimed investigative adventure from Lucas Pope. With its meticulous logic puzzles and unforgettable art style, it pulls him in like a gripping mystery novel he can’t put down.The guys also delve into the 2025 games they missed, along with the 2026 games worth looking forward to, the ways Call of Duty Black Ops 7 falls short, and Michael’s sudden obsession with Hypnospace Outlaw.To wrap it up, they trade picks for the next episode—two flawed but fascinatingly ambitious games from the PS2/Xbox 360 era. Follow @StateOfTheSave on Instagram and Bluesky for updates, and catch streams, clips, and highlights on YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok. Subscribe and leave a review to help more listeners discover the show!Timecodes: 0:00 - Intro3:15 - Call of Duty: Black Ops 79:00 - 2025 Games as the year wraps up19:30 - Final Fantasy XVI21:20 - Hypnospace Outlaw31:54 - Return of the Obra Dinn55:10 - Halo 3: ODST1:30:15- Michael's Pick for Eric1:34:30 - Eric's Pick with MichaelMusic:Jungle Mood — Peyruis [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/AE4AWGTNa-A⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠http://alplus.io/JungleMood⁠⁠⁠Metro — Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/NPKwINq8D_4⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠https://alplus.io/metro

Michael and Eric return for another episode of State of the Save, diving deep into two wildly different retro experiences. Michael takes on Metal Gear Acid for PSP—a tactical, card-based spin on the Metal Gear Solid series with a plot twist no one will see coming. He also celebrates rolling credits on Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles and admits to falling into Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate thanks to some questionable impulse control.Meanwhile, Eric embraces the Halloween spirit with Haunting: Starring Polterguy, a Sega Genesis cult classic full of ghoulish humor and haunted hijinks. He also shares his thoughts on Ninja Gaiden 4, exploring how it stacks up to the series’ legendary past.To close out the episode, the duo trade picks once again—this time featuring a spooky ghost-ship mystery and a game from one of Eric’s favorite series.Follow @StateOfTheSave on Instagram and Bluesky for show updates. Watch full episodes, clips, and live playthroughs on YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok. Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review—every rating helps more gamers discover the show.Timecodes: 0:00 - Intro3:03 - Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles13:30 - Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate16:55 - Ninja Gaiden 427:05 - Outer Wilds 2 looks interesting/Obsidian Games35:22 - Mass Effect Andromeda40:19 - Haunting: Starring Polterguy58:30 - Metal Gear Acid1:13:35 - Eric's Pick with Michael1:23:28 - Michael's Pick for EricMusic:Jungle Mood — Peyruis [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/AE4AWGTNa-A⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠http://alplus.io/JungleMood⁠⁠⁠Metro — Scandinavianz [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library PlusWatch: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/NPKwINq8D_4⁠⁠⁠Free Download / Stream: ⁠⁠⁠https://alplus.io/metro