Thanks for spreading the word, Ivalice! 

Here ya go, Lard!

http://www.rpgfan.com/podcast/rpgfan_podcast_021.mp3

I find the best way to get the podcast is to either use iTunes or subscribe to the RSS feed through GoogleReader.  We always make sure to post a news story when a podcast is released.  Sorry for the confusion. 

DMC2 remains one of the worst examples of a rushed product meant to meet demand and failing miserably at everything the original game set out to establish. 

Why does that sounds so familiar...

My biggest problem was the lack of a cohesive "system" in Bayonetta.  Dodging some moves would trigger witch time while others wouldn't, which lead to lots of cheap hits and deaths.  Combine that with enemies that have some rather cheap attacks, a fucking awful camera that took three steps back from every advancement in the genre, and some of the absolute worst QTEs in any game EVER and you have a rather frustrating experience.  I died a lot playing Bayonetta, and every death felt cheap and undeserved.  I found DMC3 to be easier, and I know how nuts that sounds!

I kinda figured this thread was going to explode after wearing my Heavy Rain hater pants...

Episode 21 is now on iTunes and the RSS feed.  Sorry that took so long, guys!

Edit-
Slight technical difficulty.  Trying to fix it now!

Edit 2-
Fixed!

A new podcast is on the horizon...

I agree that using the environment is a key component of the tactical feel in these kinds of games, however I quickly grew bored with using the same pull/choke strategy over and over again to get through combat.  And your party members are so devastating now, that placing a tank in a doorway is almost an instant win in these combat situations.  Hell, Aveline basically took on the high dragon in Act 3 by herself.  She just needs a heal spell every once in a while to keep her going.  As for pressing A to win, well, I'm playing on PC, so there's none of that present.  

I still wish I could turn FF on while playing on normal.  Based on conversations with Stephen, I have no desire to play this game on hard or nightmare because of the overwhelming odds thrown at the player and the luck necessary to defeat some of the harder situations.  I'm further along than Stephen, and I can't even fathom how he's going to get through some of the tougher fights.  

I was thinking about the enemy wave design, and here's what I came up with.  Having waves of enemies spawn around you is an inelegant solution to a very real problem that was present in Origins and even worse in 2.  If you walk into a room full of enemies in Origins one of two things is going to happen:  either you hold back and use the door as a choke point, or you rush into the room possibly end up bogged down in enemies (and of course potential mage fireball death).  In 2, if you use a choke point there's almost no way the game can beat you.  I almost laugh when I'm given a choke point because my party is so damned powerful at range (archer Hawke kicks all sorts of ass).  So, they went with the enemy wave design to keep players on their toes and prevent choke point abuse/death.  I don't think it was the best way to handle the problem, but it certainly helps to avoid the tedium of using the same trick over and over again to beat the game.  

I think there should be some guides on GameFaqs that avoid spoilers.  That should be a good starting point.  The game is amazingly deep, so be prepared for some heavy reading.

And I don't think I called her my ex.  I think I was very careful to avoid that, actually.  Ha!

I thought we were all talking about the complete look of indifference and "Oh fuck, what have I gotten myself into now" look on Hawke's face....

I only put the game up to hard, so friendly fire wasn't on.  I would love to play the game with friendly fire because it would be even more tactical, just like Origins.  Instead, I have go to an absurd difficulty just to get the gameplay tweak that I want.  So odd...

So I pumped the difficulty up to hard because I wasn't facing any challenge.  Enemies were certainly hitting harder, but it wasn't anything I could handle.  Then an enemy mage comes in and drops a big ball of fire right on my party that insta-kills the WHOLE FUCKING GROUP!  I tried the encounter again and the bastard only got one of my crew.  My healer revived him, but the flaming ball was still in place so it killed him AGAIN!  Seriously, this kinda stuff is what killed Origins for me, but at least they had the decency to put it on the higher difficulties.  I don't consider insta-kill attacks to be challenging.  I find them cheap and stupid in this day and age.  I'm sticking with normal just for my own sanity.  I don't even want to think about what Stephen is going through on Nightmare...

About ten hours in, and I'm loving the combat and characterization of my party members.  John wasn't lying about the repeated environments, though, and it shows some laziness that sullies an otherwise fun and exciting turn for the franchise.  I still think the game is very engaging, but some corners were obviously cut. 

It's up now!