Thrusting swords have always been a strange beast in the Dark Souls series. So, with them being such a wildcard throughout the series, I think it's time we gave them a look and really figured out what it is they do, what they do well, and what's holding them back. youtu.be/g5CJVjY-kM0

NIOH and I have a bit of a history. And by that, I mean that I tried to challenge run NIOH once, and it slapped me down so hard that I sat on my own shurikens. Not this time. www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAWH...

Once Human and I have done a lot together. We've beaten it with throwing knives, with explosives, and built an entire guildhall on it's monster-covered shores. But what if we...let the game beat itself? ...this is going to end badly, isn't it? www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LWy...

Heard of Genshin Impact? Well, if you're looking for a relatively simple look at what the game is like as a new player, look no further. Oh, and I also got to play as a Moon Goddess. Because Genshin knows what I want, apparently. www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-5Q...

The greatsword is a player favorite, but what about its curved cousin? Does anyone use this thing? Why are they so slow? And why are there only three of them? youtu.be/05MLkVPH3nQ

So a lot of you were very confused with my axes video, because it left out some great axes. Okay, ALL of the great axes. And after using them, I can confirm these are definitely better than those mediocre axes we were using earlier. www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgjB...

Katanas in Dark Souls 1 have always been a bit of a black sheep. Not because they're not good, but because they're TOO good. And even though katanas ARE easy, they're also REALLY fun. And that's really all that matters. youtu.be/6exgGMppack

The axes in Dark Souls 1 are pretty basic, but only at first glance. Look a little deeper, and there's quite a few differences between them all. Want to know which one is the best fit for your needs? I gotchu. youtu.be/nJlotASW33oh...

This week, we're back playing some more ANNO 117. But this time, I brought friends along for the ride! ...that was a mistake. youtu.be/o3WIe3LGRN4

Ah fist weapons. I wonder if they're still as bad as I remember? Yeah. Yeah they are. But, some of you animals want to use these stupid things, so in the interest of saving you some grief, let's go over how they work and which ones are worth your time. youtu.be/-fvTWvb5oJ4

Escape from Duckov is exactly what you think it is. And considering that a good portion of the quests and upgrades in this game revolve around buying/selling loot, what would happen if you couldn't use vendors? Answer : nothing good. youtu.be/zOFs-ZsQZQA

I've played Rogue Trader a few times now, but you know what we haven't done? Beat it with pets. Because why go out of my way to defeat enemies when I can just have a robotic dog and/or eagle do it for me? youtu.be/oMm314WD4NU

Anno is a game all about supply and demand, where you carefully plan out your cities, delicately handle discussions between nations, and obey fire safety laws. ...that probably explains why everything immediately went wrong in the first 24 hours. youtu.be/loOJFaaliNk

Nearly 30 minutes of the most unhinged cooking show you've seen this week. I know. I'm scared too. www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLXq...

Criminally underrated, the spears in Dark Souls are actually surprisingly good. With lots of variation and unique mechanics, I'm confused why they don't get more love. Can you beat Dark Souls 1 with only spears? Absolutely. Now let's talk about the best way to do it. youtu.be/i-JV47cYARA

Heyo. Been a minute. Needed a bit of a break there - between Youtube's new view-dropping nonsense and IRL stuff, things have been a bit stressful. But now that we're back, let's ease back into things with some good ol' fashioned DS1 challenge running. youtu.be/gcazA-Z_4v4

The Rogue Prince of Persia has an entire collection of weapons and tools designed to help you keep your momentum and weave fluidly through enemies like a hot knife through butter. But what if it didn't? How would that change the pace of the game? Would it even be possible? youtu.be/QT8gZuCNgWk

Last year, I attempted to beat Borderlands 1 with only a single attack per enemy. And I failed. But armed with new knowledge, I'm back...and this time, I won't fail. Can you beat Borderlands 1 with only 1 attack per enemy? Yes. Now let me tell you how. www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTI7...

When your doctor tells you to take it easy, what do you do? A) Rest B) Play a slightly less intense game, like Geoguessr C) Mobilize your audience and create your own version of Geoguessr D) Both B and C ...as if you have to ask. youtu.be/Qn901SQhVsc

Wuchang Fallen Feathers is all about combos, dodging, weapon skills, and adapting your build against heaps of dangerous bosses and enemies. But what if the only power we had was the magic emanating from our left arm? ...there's firebombs in the game, by the way. Just saying. youtu.be/5UjIOB5UgNY

I've been playing a lot of MMOs lately, and one of the most fun things I've been doing in them is "Hardcore Mode." Once you're dead, you're dead. But what if we didn't do it alone? What if the Firebomb Academy made its way into Albion? Would Albion survive? www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ggz...

Somber Echoes is a game that mashes Greco-Roman mythology with sci-fi and metroidvania. ...you heard me. But when it comes to metroidvanias, you always need every tool in your arsenal. It's just how the genre works. ...so what if we removed a key piece of our defenses? youtu.be/jszRTXzdmaM

Well, we're back again. And this time, I brought friends. ...who I immediately sacrificed to the Warp. What? The voices said it was the only way! Also, huge shoutout to @livsmithvavo.bsky.social (aka Ulfar) for providing customized voice lines for the run! youtu.be/W8eSfk17c_I?...

I know a lot about Dark Souls. But the one thing I know NOTHING about is the loot system. Time to find literally everything, one region at a time. Bring snacks. We're gonna be here awhile. youtu.be/Uu-zhhksPxk

You have my bow. ...and that's it. No really, I've got nothing else. youtu.be/DUrFnRtrcAE

Ever wonder what happens when a base-building, open world, crafting survival game invites the Firebomb Academy into it's world? I'll give you a hint : it involves fire and shrapnel. And maybe a few chunks of landmass missing. ...it's explosions. Lots of explosions. youtu.be/BUIz3toVRSs?...

THPS2 challenge run video, here we come.

As someone who's never been good at riding a skateboard, I never got around to playing the Pro Skater series. And lemme tell ya, I've been missing out. But what if my real-life skateboarding skills translated into the game itself? youtu.be/rhOUZLm6Zlo?...

Ahhhh, Dark Souls 2. Amazing build variety, but soooooo long to finish, it takes a lot of willpower to load up another DS2 challenge run. ...or another challenge runner can come out of nowhere and slap me with their glove, challenging me to duel. That works too, I guess. youtu.be/TThIbZaUolI

So Rebellion came to me and asked me to try to break their game, Atomfall. Not sure why they thought I'd be a good fit, it's not like you can craft bombs or anyth- what's that? You can? And there's 6 different types? ...well, you all know what time it is. youtu.be/gpt47Rxyq60

In case you missed it, we hit more than 2x our original goal for the charity stream! Never underestimate the power and generosity of the Dark Souls community. Their jolly cooperation knows no bounds. Stream VOD is uploading, Part 1 today and Part 2 tomorrow. Enjoy 24 hours of Soulstuber panic :)

A big thank you to @thebacklogs.bsky.social for trying out our latest update and the Daily Challenge!

Battle Shapers is all about bulid variety and adapting in the middle of a run when you find that perfect weapon or ability modifier. But what if we had to use only what we were given when leaving the hideout? Or just the worst weapon in the game? Sure, why not. I'll do both. youtu.be/xOzrm0jd7dw

Let the 24-hour stream madness begin. youtube.com/live/MsPooAt...

Alright, once more for all the marbles. Time to finish Callisto Protocol once and for all. And yeah, I know, the bosses all require bullets to beat. But do they? Do they really? Guess we'll find out. youtu.be/pWYqgnJTHUs

Want to know who's playing during the 24-hour marathon? Sure, I guess I could give you a sneak peak. Behold, the sacrifi...uh, I mean meatshie...uh... Runners. Let's call them runners. x.com/Loadscreengg...

Got nothing to do the weekend of March 29th? Like supporting mental health? In that case, have I got an event for you. Lots of games. Lots of creators. A full couch of commentators. Don't you dare go hollow. vxtwitter.com/TheBacklogs/...

Dark Souls has been around for a decade and a half now, but one build made back in 2012 still stomps it's way into our hearts : The Giant Dad. And I'm here to rip out that heart and replace it with a new one. C'mere. I SAID C'MERE, YOU DON'T GET A CHOI- youtu.be/Q1r_asXU_1Q

The fire fades, and not a soul stirs. And it'll stay that way if I have anything to say about it. youtu.be/m3ysIQZ7iKY?...

Joined the Firebomb Academy but forgot your school supplies? Good news! We're doing a giveaway! Just follow @makeship.bsky.social and @thebacklogs.bsky.social and repost this post to enter. Two winners will be chosen at random. Giveaway ends February 14th. Good luck!

Soon. Also, if money is an issue currently, you'll be happy to know that we'll be doing a giveaway for two plushies here on Bluesky in a few days. So keep an eye out for that :)

Harry, we need you to save Operation Overwatch. There's some bad stuff happening behind enemy lines, and it's up to you to get the job done. Wait, are those bullets? No, wait, don't use those, you might hurt someone! youtu.be/zKiXLBzEUTU

It's like Dark Souls, but cooperative! Oh, you don't have a friend? ...well, dang, this is gonna be bad for you, huh? youtu.be/GMXiuBtk7xk

Salt and Sacrifice is all about magic, mages, and weapons that are all imbued with magical arts that give them additional powers. But what good is your magic against the power of a really taut string and a small stick tipped with metal? youtu.be/sRjT1YZrEOw

"That's right, everbody wants to see the Train, baby!" *chainsaw noises ensue* www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8ig...

So fun fact, I've never actually consumed anything from Warhammer 40k before now. Two months later I'm 50 hours deep in Rogue Trader, I've watched all the videos I can get my hands on, and I'm about to start adding Warhammer books to my Christmas wishlist. Please send help. youtu.be/26qKLE0V_3M

Thanks to everyone who was able to make it out to the Charity Stream yesterday! Just like last year's, it was a wild ride. More importantly, we were able to raise $10,650 for charity! That's a lot of games and consoles for kids in hospitals!

Time to ask the question that every person who's ever seen/read Marvel always asks themself : how many heroes can you defeat by simply using a gun? I mean, some of them are literal gods, but surely there's a few of them that could be beaten by your average guy with a firearm. youtu.be/RlhwLmuJszc

It always seems impossible until it is done.