Silksong Hype, Switch 2 Roadblocks, and Streets of Rage 2
Episode 358 of The Game Deflators Podcast kept the energy of Sequel September rolling, this time with a dive into Streets of Rage 2 on the Sega Genesis. But before we got to side-scrolling brawls, the week was packed with pickups, playthroughs, and plenty of hot takes.
There were some new cards and boxes to crack open — Bloomburrow is shaping up to be a fun draft set, with plans for cubes and sealed nights on the horizon. There was also time to finish Neva, a short but emotionally heavy game with breathtaking watercolor visuals and themes that hit harder for anyone sensitive to animal loss. Some loved its quiet beauty, others found it tough to sit with. On the longer side, progress continued in The Witcher, even if side quests sometimes felt like endless fetch missions.
And then there was Beyblade. After weeks of joking, it finally happened — the anime got its first watch-through. The verdict? Cringy voice acting, questionable “anime gravity,” and yet… weirdly addictive. Sometimes you can’t look away, even when the ripcord physics make no sense.
The other big play of the week was Hollow Knight: Silksong. Finally out, finally in our hands, and immediately one of the hardest Metroidvanias around. The movement feels slick and expressive, the combat demands perfection, and the healing system forces big risks. It’s no surprise that while reviews are overwhelmingly positive, some players are venting about difficulty spikes and small design tweaks. To us, it feels like a game that will shine brightest once the speedrunning community really gets its hands on it — though for most players, it’s going to be a tough but rewarding journey.
From there, the discussion moved to industry news. Nintendo’s handling of Switch 2 dev kits raised eyebrows: indie studios seem to have easier access than some major AAA teams. The logic might be tied to Nintendo’s history of leaning on indie support, but it’s still baffling to think of a new console rolling out without widespread developer access. It sparks the question: is Nintendo too focused on supporting its massive Switch 1 install base, even at the expense of giving the sequel a strong start?
Finally, we got to Streets of Rage 2. This Genesis classic is peak beat-’em-up: chunky sprites, tight combos, and bosses that take serious coordination (or lots of jump kicks). Playing on original hardware, there was even a toddler cameo with a controller in hand — let’s just say it made survival a little more chaotic. Still, the game shines as one of the genre’s standouts, a perfect mix of style and action that holds up remarkably well today.
When it came time for the Inflation/Deflation Challenge, the numbers spoke clearly: complete copies run around $52, loose carts about $22. For a game of this caliber, that price feels fair — maybe even a little deflated compared to its legacy.
As we wrapped, the plan for next week took shape: continuing Sequel September with Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland on the GBA. It’s not quite spooky season yet, but it’s close enough — and the perfect way to keep exploring sequels that defined their eras.
Articles covered:
https://screenrant.com/hollow-knight-silksong-very-positive-steam-reviews/
https://www.pcmag.com/opinions/nintendos-backward-compatibility-is-ruining-the-switch-2
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Permission for intro and outro music provided by Matthew Huffaker http://www.youtube.com/user/teknoaxe 2_25_18
