Surprise Mechanics

Mikaela, Roman, and their shared Sleep Paralysis Demon Samuel are back in studio! They're coming at you LIVE to talk about all that stuff I already listed out. What, you want me to do it again? Nah nah nah. Not doing it. Give it a listen. Or don't! That's fine!! Stop being so weird about it.

Dude, where's my hoverbike? Today the Surprise Mechanics return from their gliding to talk about Sable. Anyway, did you watch Fallout? Follow us on Bluesky @surprisemechanics.bsky.social Drop us a line: SurpriseMechanicsPod@gmail.com

Michaela thought this was just going to be another episode...another walk in the freakin park...but nope! Roman had other plans! This ain't your grandma's Surprise Mechanics! She thought she could get away with just talking about Like a Dragon: Ishin! and Roman would be normal about it. Maybe he would talk about Helldivers or some bullshit comic book he read, but nope! He had to go SICKO MODE and do something TWISTED. Matthew Rao makes a surprise appearance and from there...well let's just say it gets preeeetttyyyy interesting, okay? That's right: they go all in on The Walking Dead. I'm talking Rick, I'm talking Michonne, and zombies? Uhhhh yeah, we're talking about those too! Is anybody out there? Does anybody care? wth is a Def Leppard anyway?

It's Roman's birthday! Everyone wish Roman a happy birthday! Today, Mikaela and God Emperor Roman Buetel talk about going to the moon in another Apple TV original For All Mankind. Follow us on Bluesky @surprisemechanics.bsky.social Drop us a line: SurpriseMechanicsPod@gmail.com

You're telling me a monkey made this island? You're telling me a dave built this diver? What the!!

Oh no it's happening again! They let Roman and Mikaela ramble about The Last of Us Part 2 and Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Who was on the clock? You had one job! We can't let them continue this conversation the very fabric of space time will erode. Fire [REDACTED] and get these two nerds talking about their backlog again! Check out Mikaela's band at https://open.spotify.com/album/0Kd34W5fUkapSGQE8hWQOb?si=2C-7rbr0R0aoxRrdRVroXw Follow us on Bluesky @surprisemechanics.bsky.social Drop us a line: SurpriseMechanicsPod@gmail.com

We're back, babyyyy! Our Gamers Rest has ended and now we're ready to talk video games. But things are going to be a little different this time, that's for sure. This time, get this, this time it's all about the backlog. Surprise Mechanics 2024: The Backlog. That's the stuff. We're talking old games, old-ish games, and probably some new ones too. The backlog stretches ahead as it does behind. The backlog is all around us, spreading endlessly through time and space. It uncurls, hungry, desperately reaching for more of the sweet nectar it craves: media. It lives to consume, it needs to consume. It is us and we are it. We love the Backlog. We Are The Backlog. man that avatar game did a number on me. Follow us on Bluesky @surprisemechanics.bsky.social Drop us a line: SurpriseMechanicsPod@gmail.com

Here we are once again, talking about the best games this year with friends. The Surprise Mechanics return to tradition with guest Billy Hyland to figure out the best games we played in 2023. Those honorable mentions though Follow us on Bluesky: @SurpriseMechanics.bsky.social Drop us a line: SurpriseMechanicsPod@gmail.com

The Cinema Enjoyers (TM) have just returned from their latest trip to the local theatre where they had the pleasure to watch Godzilla Minus One. And folks...it rules. Seriously. It's so, so good. You should go watch it. Get your tickets right now. You're already on your phone. Just hop over to Fandango or whatever. Also, we're not sponsored by Fandango, but are open to conversations. After that, Kaleb Grine returns to get silly with Marvel's Spider-Man 2, a game that we haven't had a chance to discuss yet because it wasn't spooky enough at the time of release. That's a deep cut only the OG's will get. I'm talking the people who have been here for a LONG time. Like, 'they-listened-to-the-last-few-episodes' long time. Follow us on Bluesky: @SurpriseMechanics.bsky.social Drop us a line: SurpriseMechanicsPod@gmail.com

Spooky Mechanics 2023 concludes with our first ever Gamers Debate (TM) discussing Bend Studio's Days Gone. Lines are drawn and friendships are tested as Roman argues in favor of this underappreciated game and Mikaela chuckles along, mostly not really caring. There is also mention of Jurassic Park and food. Follow us on Bluesky @surprisemechanics.bsky.social Drop us a line: SurpriseMechanicsPod@gmail.com

Spooky Mechanics persists as time and space gets weird and we end up back at The Thing but its 2011! Matthew joins Roman and Mikaela today to talk about the prequel to one of the greatest horror films of all time John Carpenter's The Thing. Can you figure out which one of us is The Thing? Drop us a line: SurpriseMechanicsPod@gmail.com Follow us on BlueSky: @surprisemechanics.bsky.social

In space no one can hear you game... Halloween may be over, by Spooky Mechanics continues as Roman and Mikaela talk about Dead Space, a video game released in the year 2023. Drop us a line: SurpriseMechanicsPod@gmail.com Follow us on BlueSky: @surprisemechanics.bsky.social

Here we go again! we're watching Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 so get some popcorn, join us and watch along! Drop us a line: SurpriseMechanicsPod@gmail.com

Spooky season is back, babyyy! We're kicking off our annual festival of frights with Rose Engine's Signalis. It's basically go everything: robots, zombies, robot zombies, gun. Drop us a line: SurpriseMechanicsPod@gmail.com

It's time for another Weekly Check-in with Roman and Mikaela. This week we're talkin' Tears of the Kingdom. Can you believe this game has an ending? Featuring special guest: a cricket trapped in Roman's basement. Follow us on Twitter @SurpriseMechPod Drop us a line: SurpriseMechanicsPod@gmail.com

"It's not easy to be me." When Vladimir John Ondrasik III sang this line in the hit song "Superman" by his band Five for Fighting, he wasn't necessarily talking about the turmoil of being a Gamer, but he wasn't explicitly NOT talking about it either, and sometimes that's enough. What I'm trying to say is sometimes games don't grip you. It happens to the best of us. It's normal! I'm normal! The best we can do is work through the pain. A new game will eventually come along that excites you. It has to, otherwise what am I going to talk about on this show? I need something to talk about on the show otherwise there isn't a show. (Note: Mikaela, can you clean this up a little before you post? Feels a little unhinged. Thanks! - R) (Note: No. - M) This week Roman and Mikaela talk about Gaming Ruts, Street Fighter 6, The Flash, fourth of July, and Pabst Blue Ribbon. Follow us on Twitter @SurpriseMechPod Drop us a line: SurpriseMechanicsPod@gmail.com

Star Wars is back! And/or its Mikaela's birthday and she's forcing it upon Roman. We're talking about the Disney+ Star Wars television series Andor and could you believe its a Star Wars? Follow us on twitter @SurpriseMechPod Drop us a line: SurpriseMechanicsPod@gmail.com

It's Roman's Birthday, sorta! Better late than never, I guess. We all remember how funny it was when Roman forced his good friend Mikaela to watch Vanderpump Rules last year. It was a total riot! We all loved it! This year he chose a new tactic and picked a program he thought she might actually like, which is Apple TV's Severance. Spoiler alert: it's a really cool show. Also spoiler alert: there are spoilers in this episode. But not until later, so don't even trip. Just relax, alright? Follow us on twitter @SurpriseMechPod Drop us a line: SurpriseMechanicsPod@gmail

Just because it's not our GOTY episode doesn't mean Billy can't have a little fun! I don't know who keeps saying that, but it's not true, okay? Billy is allowed to talk about video games whenever he wants! This time we're talking about that Zelda game everyone in the world is playing, before spiraling into a barrage of sponsored content, blockbuster movies, professional wrestling, and Vanderpump Rules. Good stuff. Find Billy on Itch.io! https://itch.io/profile/billdo Find us on Twitter @SurpriseMechPod Or drop us a line: SurpriseMechanicsPod@gmail.com

Klaatu barada nikto someone has read out loud from the Book of the Dead once again! The demons decide to take on the big city this time around in Evil Dead Rise. Roman and Mikaela definitely were not scared at all while watching this film. Follow us on Twitter @SurpriseMechPod Drop us a line: SurpriseMechanicsPod@gmail.com