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Pentiment Review
18 Aug 2023
01:04:24
This week the ladies are talking from Spain about Pentiment, a very interesting 2022 game from Obsidian. This RPG is a narrative game that follows Andreas, a journeyman Illuminator in takes medieval Bavaria as he works to uncover the mysteries of the town of Tassing. There is murder, intrigue and a lot of despair. We discuss medieval pastoral life, academic footnotes, being a “man about” Bavaria, corruption in the abbey, the brutality of medieval Europe, and the challenges of video game pacing.
This episode was recorded quite a while ago (last spring/winter), and lost in the archives…meaning Rachel didn’t post is appropriately. We are currently on hiatus, and will be back…eventually (we think)! We are taking some time to play games, enjoy our summer and hope to catch you all again when we return.
Time Stamps: 00:14 Introductions 2:14 Main Topic – Pentiment 32:25 Pentiment story discussion – Contains spoilers! 43:12 Pentiment Final thoughts 45:37 What we’re playing next (TBD) 47:46 Ending Spiel (What we’re loving this week)
From the show:
Games featured in our Ending Spiel: Hogwarts Legacy
Musical credit: "Into the Game" by SilentCrafter/ "Pixel Pig" by Di Young
Best Games of 2022
24 Feb 2023
00:45:42
Here are our picks for our favorite games of 2022, and some of the games that we are looking forward to in 2023! We decided to introduce mini-episodes between our regular reviews (which aren’t going anywhere, don’t worry). Thanks for listening!
Time Stamps: 00:14 Introduction 02:00 Our top games of 2022! 25:40 Most Anticipated Games of 2023
From the show:
Rachel’s Top 5: 1. God of War Ragnarök 2. Cult of the Lamb 3. Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening 4. Horizon Forbidden West 5. Citizen Sleeper
Emma’s Top 5: 1. Stray 2. God of War 3. Project Zomboid 4. Life is Strange: True Colors 5. Hitman Trilogy
Our episode this week is all about The Forest, a game officially released in 2018 from Endnight Games. This is a survival horror game, where you play as a plane crash survivor on a forested peninsula (shocker), on a mission to find your son. We talk about the beginning of Lost, building bases, pescatarian lizards, getting lost in caves to the point where you almost rage quit the game, jet packs, and morally dubious endings.
Time Stamps: 00:13 Introductions 04:03 Main Topic – The Forest 26:22 The Forest story discussion – contains spoilers! 33:13 The Forest final thoughts 35:12 What we’re playing next (Doom 2016) 36:20 Some preliminary thoughts on Elden Ring 55:33 Ending Spiel (What we’re loving this week)
From the show:
Games featured in our Ending Spiel: Doom (what we’re playing next), Elden Ring, Horizon Forbidden West, Destiny 2: Witch Queen
Musical credit: "Into the Game" by SilentCrafter/ "Pixel Pig" by Di Young
Recent PlayStation Titles Minisode
01 Mar 2022
00:28:20
This minisode is all about a bunch of PlayStation titles that Rachel has been playing. These games were all played on PS5, but some of them are also available on PC (noted below). Games featured include Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, Spiderman: Miles Morales, Kena: Bridge of Spirits, and Deathloop. We decided to introduce mini-episodes between our regular reviews (which aren’t going anywhere, don’t worry). Thanks for listening!
Time Stamps: 00:14 Introduction 04:00 Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart 06:05 Marvel’s Spiderman: Miles Morales 13:38 Kena: Bridge of Spirits (Also on PC) 16:28 Bugsnax (Also on PC) 17:33 Deathloop (Also on PC) 26:54 What we’re playing next – The Forest
From the show:
The other robot from Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart was called Kit.
Spiderman: Miles Morales is priced at $49.99 (full price, as far as I can tell).
This week the ladies talk about Cyberpunk 2077, the 2020 game from CD Projekt RED. In this open world RPG, you play as “V”, a mercenary who gets entangled with a relic from the past, Johnny Silverhand. We talk about persistent T-posing, constant photo mode, missing Roach, wishing you could silence your phone, OP katanas, being Keanu’s BFF, and romance woes.
Time Stamps: 00:10 Introductions 05:25 Main Topic – Cyberpunk 2077 30:00 Cyberpunk 2077 story discussion – contains spoilers! 59:58 Cyberpunk 2077 final thoughts 01:03:58 What we’re playing next (The Forest) 01:05:34 Ending Spiel (What we’re loving this week)
From the show:
Games featured in our Ending Spiel: The Forest (what we’re playing next), The Outer Wilds, Hitman 2
The Outer Wilds was included on Skill Up’s 2019 game of the year list, not 2020.
Rachel’s favorites: 1.) Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart 2.) It Takes Two 3.) Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy 4.) Ghost of Tsushima 5.) Hitman 3 6.) Life is Strange: True Colors Honorable mentions: Destiny 2, Fortnite, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
Life is Strange: True Colors was made by Deck Nine.
This week we are discussing Fable, specifically the Anniversary Edition that was released in 2014. This edition of the game was an updated remake/remaster (plus some additional content) of the original 2004 RPG from Lionhead Studios. This game follows the hero of Oakvale, as he grows up and is shaped by the world around him for good or evil. We talk about being a homunculus, tragic backstories, fragile escorts, coping mechanisms of your spouse(s), mashing those buttons and mommy issues.
Time Stamps: 00:14 Introductions 03:20 Main Topic – Fable 21:05 Fable story discussion – contains spoilers! 53:30 Fable final thoughts 56:44 What we’re playing next (Cyberpunk 2077) 58:10 Ending Spiel (What we’re loving this week)
From the show:
Games featured in our Ending Spiel: Cyberpunk 2077 (what we’re playing next), Call of the Sea, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.
Musical credit: "Into the Game" by SilentCrafter/ "Pixel Pig" by Di Young
Dragon Age: Inquisition - Trespasser Minisode
24 Nov 2021
00:40:59
This week our mini-episode is covering Dragon Age Inquisition: Trespasser, which is an epilogue DLC to the already massive RPG from Bioware. Lots of talk of lore and speculation about where the story goes from here. We decided to introduce mini-episodes between our regular reviews (which aren’t going anywhere, don’t worry). Thanks for listening!
Time Stamps: 00:14 Introduction 01:39 Dragon Age Inquisition: Trespasser – full of spoilers 40:15 What we’re playing next – Fable
We are discussing Dragon Age: Inquisition this week, which is another beloved game from Bioware, and boy, we have a lot to say about this one. This RPG from 2014 picks up where Dragon Age 2 left off, as Thedas erupts into conflict after the mage rebellion in Kirkwall. You play as a bystander that is thrust into the center of this conflict when you get a green blob accidently stuck to your hand that has the power to mysteriously close these rifts that keep opening to the fade realm. We talk about the inquisitor’s identity crisis, poor openings & empty spaces, being Andraste’s chosen, pity dances from Josephine, and heartbreak from an egg.
Time Stamps:
00:14 Introductions 02:20 Main Topic – Dragon Age: Inquisition 10:00 Dragon Age: Inquisition story discussion – contains spoilers! 02:45:50 Dragon Age: Inquisition final thoughts 02:46:37 What we’re playing next (Fable, probably) 51:05 Ending Spiel (What we’re loving this week)
From the show:
Games featured in our Ending Spiel: Crusader Kings II. And our next minisode is about the Dragon Age: Inquisition - Trespasser DLC.
Also, we ended up changing the game we are playing next after we record the ending of this episode, and will probably be playing Fable instead of Life is Strange: True Colors, but it’s still in flux.
Musical credit: "Into the Game" by SilentCrafter/ "Pixel Pig" by Di Young
Summer Gaming Highlights Minisode
07 Sep 2021
00:41:22
This minisode is dedicated to all the games that we (ok, mostly just Rachel) have been playing this summer. Games featured include Ratchet and Clank, A Way Out, It Takes Two, and Scarlet Nexus. We decided to introduce mini-episodes between our regular reviews (which aren’t going anywhere, don’t worry). Thanks for listening!
Time Stamps: 00:14 Introduction 07:29 Ratchet and Clank (2016) 14:20 A Way Out (2018) 18:54 It Takes Two (2021) 30:45 Scarlett Nexus (2021) 38:03 Spiderman: Miles Morales 41:05 What we’re playing next – Dragon Age: Inquisition
From the show:
Insomniac Studios also made Spyro the Dragon, Resistance, Sunset Overdrive, among other titles!
A Way Out is available on Xbox One, PS4, and PC. It also appears to be available for online coop, and not just couch-coop.
This week we are talking about Subnautica: Below Zero, which is the 2021 follow-up game to Subnautica, also from developer Unknown Worlds Entertainment. Similar to the prior title, this is a first-person survival game, primarily underwater, where you are exploring, building, and crafting. You play as Robin Ayou, who crash lands on an alien planet in an effort to find out more about what happened to her sister. We chat about zen gaming, map frustrations, survival bunkers, alien voices in your head, fancy fruit salad, and being trapped on 4546B forever.
Time Stamps: 00:14 Introductions 00:55 Main Topic – Subnautica: Below Zero 34:20 Subnautica: Below Zero – contains spoilers! 44:57 Subnautica: Below Zero final thoughts 49:50 What we’re playing next (Dragon Age: Inquisition) 51:05 Ending Spiel (What we’re loving this week)
From the show:
Games featured in our Ending Spiel: Dragon Age: Inquisition (what we’re playing next). Our next minisode contains a bunch of other games we played this summer, coming soon.
In addition to the game modes mentioned (normal survival, creative mode, etc), there is also a hardcore mode that is like survival mode but the player is unable to respawn if they die.
Penglings are the baby birds we mentioned, the adult form is called a Pengwing.
The fancy fruit salad was called “Spicy Fruit Salad” and it provides +100 heat, +85 food, and +30 water.
There is no map, from what I can find, but it looks like you might be able to implement cheats that give you coordinates. With the coordinates and the help of internet, you can probably find almost anything, but it’s also sort of a hassle.
The voice actor who plays Robin Ayou is Kimberly Brooks, who did indeed play Ashley in Mass Effect.
After some poking around on the internet, it looks like the questline about Robin’s sister Sam is possible to miss without completing the game.
Lastly, Subnautica does has an accessibility mode that highlights things that you can interact with in the environment. I imagine turning this on would make it much harder to miss items that can be scaned, etc.
It looks like Doki Doki is 14.99 USD in the Microsoft store, and contains some DLC items also.
The book Emma mentioned is called Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas.
Musical credit: "Into the Game" by SilentCrafter/ "Pixel Pig" by Di Young
Top Romances Minisode
03 Aug 2021
00:41:55
This week our mini-episode is dedicated to all of our favorite romances. We decided to introduce mini-episodes between our regular reviews (which aren’t going anywhere, don’t worry). Thanks for listening!
Time Stamps: 00:14 Introduction 01:40 Honorable Mention 02:17 Top Five Romances 41:35 What we’re playing next – Subnautica Below Zero
From the show:
You can only romance female characters in Persona 5, which is honestly too bad. And it really seems like a missed opportunity that some of the male characters you spend lots of time with aren’t romance options for Joker: https://www.thegamer.com/persona-5-strikers-joker-ryuji-romance/
The monster that we mentioned from Persona 5 is called Mara.
In this episode, the girls chat about God of War, the 2018 game that continues the popular series that follow Kratos as he embarks on a Norse adventure. This games from Sony Santa Monica recently came to PC, so Emma was finally able to partake in this epic, though very personal, story. We discuss confounding expectations, father-son dynamics, awkwardly smooth transitions, child companions, self loathing, Greek/Norse crossovers, empty worlds and petty gods.
Time Stamps: 00:14 Introductions 12:53 Main Topic – God of War (2018) 16:27 God of War story discussion – Contains spoilers! 01:02:33 God of War final thoughts 01:09:27 What we’re playing next (Pentiment) 01:12:45 Ending Spiel (What we’re loving this week)
From the show:
Games featured in our Ending Spiel: Pentiment (What we’re playing next), Project Zomboid
The netflix show about Barbie was The Toys That Made Us.
Musical credit: "Into the Game" by SilentCrafter/ "Pixel Pig" by Di Young
Resident Evil 2 Review
12 Jul 2021
01:27:37
For our main segment this week, we're talking about the 2019 remake of Resident Evil 2, an updated version of the 1998 game of the same name. You play through this survival horror game as college student Claire or rookie cop Leon, as Raccoon City is overrun with disgusting abominations! This week we talk about Rachel’s feelings about toggling the joystick, so much inventory management, map wizardry, illusive check marks, dressing for the job you want (i.e. Ada’s wardrobe), and relentless tyrants.
Time Stamps: 00:14 Introductions 04:32 Main Topic – Resident Evil 2 Remake 20:50 Resident Evil 2 story discussion – contains spoilers! 01:14:06 Resident Evil 2 Remake final thoughts 01:18:32 What we’re playing next (Subnautica Below Zero) 01:23:42 Ending Spiel (What we’re loving this week)
From the show:
Games featured in our Ending Spiel: Subnautica Below Zero (what we’re playing next), Hades
It looks like per the "canon" ending, both Jill and Chris survive the events of RE1. And wow, the Resident Evil timeline is very messy. It looks like RE2 takes place a couple months (?) after the events of RE1, and RE3 takes place before (and after?) RE2. Very confusing indeed. https://screenrant.com/resident-evil-timeline-all-games-major-events-order/
Musical credit: "Into the Game" by SilentCrafter/ "Pixel Pig" by Di Young
Super Squad Minisode
30 Jun 2021
00:39:47
For our mini-episode this week we designed our own super squad. We decided to introduce mini-episodes between our regular reviews (which aren’t going anywhere, don’t worry). We made a couple ground rules, and pulled some of our favorite videogame companions to make up our own super squads that can take on anything. Thanks for listening!
Time Stamps: 00:14 Introduction 02:38 Super Squad 39:29 What we’re playing next – Resident Evil 2 Remake
From the show:
Shale is a companion from The Stone Prisoner DLC from Dragon Age: Origins.
This week the ladies talk about Disco Elysium, which was made by ZA/UM and originally released in 2019. The Final Cut version of the game recently came to consoles (so far just Playstation, but Xbox in the future), and now has more voice acting. In this RPG, you play a detective trying to investigate a murder and figure out who you are, all while listening to the many voices in your head. We discuss inland empire, listening to your limbic system, political theory, deadly chairs, cones of nothing and save scumming.
Time Stamps: 00:14 Introductions 01:37 Main Topic – Disco Elysium 19:44 Disco Elysium story discussion – contains spoilers! 56:58 Disco Elysium final thoughts 01:05:04 What we’re playing next (Resident Evil 2 Remake) 01:09:57 Ending Spiel (What we’re loving this week)
From the show:
Games featured in our Ending Spiel: Resident Evil 2 Remake (what we're playing next), Mass Effect Legendary Edition
In our mini-episode this week we are doing our best to cast Mass Effect, and it was difficult! I think it’s pretty easy to tell that we are out of the cultural zeitgeist, but we had fun, so that’s what matters. This is our second mini-episode, but our longer reviews aren’t going anywhere, and we’ll be back with a look at Disco Elysium soon. Thanks for listening!
Time Stamps: 00:14 Introduction 21:08 What we’re playing next (Disco Elysium)
From the show:
It looks like Commander Shepard is probably 28-29 at the beginning of Mass Effect. And Garrus appears to be a few years younger than Shepard at the beginning of the series (though maybe they end up roughly the same age after the events of Mass Effect 2).
This week we are talking about the epic, fantasy RPG, Skyrim. This is the fifth entry in the Elder Scrolls series from developer Bethesda and was originally released in 2011. You play as the Dragonborn, and are set free in the vast open world of Skyrim to save everyone from an evil dragon… or just kill some time making armor, join the thieves guild or do anything else you want. We discuss mod fails, struggling to get respect as an arch-mage, missing out on your dream vampire life, simpleton companions, excellent music, and the Vegas buffet of games.
Time Stamps: 00:14 Introductions 07:55 Main Topic - Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim 46:38 Skyrim final thoughts 50:33 What we’re playing next (Disco Elysium) 52:50 Ending Spiel (What we’re loving this week)
From the show:
Games featured in our Ending Spiel: Disco Elysium (what we’re playing next), Outriders
Rachel definitely glossed over many of the nuances of immigrating and transferring medical degrees, and got at least some stuff sort of wrong. But hey, that’s not what this podcast is about anyway.
Serana is the girl that Emma referenced as part of the Dawnguard quest line.
Welcome to our first mini-episode (or minisode) ranking the Mass Effect companions. We decided to introduce this feature between our regular reviews (which aren’t going anywhere, don’t worry). This week we are talking about our favorite and least favorite companions from across the trilogy. If you haven’t played these games, this episode is full of spoilers, so be forewarned. We also have separate podcast episodes with reviews of Mass Effect 1 and 2. Thanks for listening!
Join us for a new podcast, every other Monday.
Time Stamps: 00:14 Introduction 01:46 Mass Effect 1 Companions 11:52 Mass Effect 2 Companions 25:50 Mass Effect 3 Companions 40:00 Least Favorite Mass Effect Companions 59:05 What we’re playing next (Skyrim)
Our episode this week focuses on the bizarre dating sim, I Love You, Colonel Sanders! This 2019 game is an obvious piece of marketing content produced by KFC, and is available free on Steam. And it’s weird. You play as a budding young culinary student, swept off their feet by the handsome, yet very self involved, Colonel Sanders. We discuss short semesters, best boy professors, quirky best friends, getting shut down hard, black magic tomes, animated kitchen appliances, and how to win the heart of Colonel Sanders over coleslaw.
Time Stamps: 00:14 Introductions 05:37 Main Topic: I Love You, Colonel Sanders 09:58 I Love You, Colonel Sanders story discussion – contains spoilers! 46:55 I Love You, Colonel Sanders final thoughts 48:56 What we’re playing next (Skyrim) 50:25 Ending Spiel - What we’re loving this week
From the show:
Games featured in our Ending Spiel: Skyrim (we’re playing next), Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Immortals Fenyx Rising
This week the ladies chat about the 2011 game, Dragon Age 2. This action-RPG from Bioware is the follow-up to the excellent Dragon Age: Origins, and it’s…kind of weird. You play as Hawke, an unlikely champion, who finds herself (or himself) embroiled in the messy city politics of Kirkwall, and classic mage/templar drama. We discuss the easiest guild initiation, indulging blood mages, casual demon possession, pirate girlfriends, angsty elf companions, and the longest 6 years EVER.
Time Stamps: 00:14 Introductions 09:30 Main Topic: Dragon Age 2 13:55 Dragon Age 2 deeper story discussion – contains spoilers! 01:09:12 Dragon Age 2 final thoughts 01:10:55 Ending Spiel (What we’re loving this week) 01:21:32 What we’re playing next (I Love You, Colonel Sanders!)
From the show:
Games featured in our Ending Spiel: I Love You, Colonel Sanders! (we’re playing next), Divinity Original Sin 2, Hitman 3, Oculus VR impressions
Anders is in Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening, however Merrill is not. She has the opportunity to appear in Dragon Age: Origins (base game) depending on your origin story, but not the expansion.
Bonus: Best Games of 2020 and Most Anticipated of 2021
03 Feb 2021
00:45:37
Join us for a bonus episode about all of our favorite games of 2020 and Rachel’s most anticipated games of 2021!
Time Stamps: 00:14 Introductions 01:55 Our Favorite Games of 2020 26:46 Rachel’s Most Anticipated Games of 2021
From the show:
Emma’s Favorites of 2020: 1. Detroit: Become Human 2. Life is Strange 3. Doki Doki Literature Club 4. The Outer Worlds 5. Fortnite
Rachel’s Favorites of 2020: 1. Final Fantasy 7 Remake 2. Doki Doki Literature Club 3. Doom 2016 4. Telltale Batman 5. Knights of the Old Republic 6. Destiny 2 7. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla 8. The Wolf Among Us Honorable mentions: Fortnite, The Last of Us II
Our episode this week focuses on the 2018 walking simulator, and adventure game, Detroit: Become Human. This gorgeous game from Quantic Dream centers on three androids going through their own personal, very human, struggles in the year 2036. We discuss house cleaning simulators, deviating from your programming, blue blood, cop buddies, and meeting your evil twin.
Time Stamps: 00:14 Introductions 07:57 Main Topic: Detroit: Become Human 17:15 Detroit: Become Human deeper story discussion – contains spoilers! 01:24:50 Detroit: Become Human final thoughts 01:26:14 What we’re playing next (Dragon Age 2) and Ending Spiel (What we’re loving this week)
From the show:
Games featured in our Ending Spiel: Dragon Age 2 (discussing next time!). We also have an upcoming bonus episode with our favorite games of 2020 and most anticipated of 2021.
From a brief google search, it appears that the “easy” mode of Detroit: Become Human just makes the controls easier and simplified, there are still consequences for game play decisions (including character death).
For our minisode this week we are doing our fantasy casting of KOTOR (Knights of the Old Republic). We decided to introduce mini-episodes between our regular reviews (which aren’t going anywhere, don’t worry). Thanks for listening!
Obviously, spoilers for KOTOR included in this episode. Time Stamps: 00:14 Introduction 00:41 KOTOR Casting 34:50 What we’re playing next – God of War (2018)
From the show:
The Bastila/female Revan romance is a mod, otherwise it must be a male Revan.
This a little bonus episode of our very, very early cyberpunk impressions. Also, there has been a bunch of development since we recorded this a couple weeks ago, and since then the game has been pulled from the Playstation store. We chat about the character creator, different life paths, console woes, and our initial thoughts about V.
This week we discuss one of our favorite space operas of all time, Mass Effect 2, from Bioware. You return as Commander Shepard in this 2011 sequel, and are once again doing your very best to save the galaxy. We discuss reunions with your old buddies, dramatic meetings with ex-lovers on Horizon, building party loyalty, inter-species romance, being a exhibitionist in the engine room and the best suicide mission ever.
Time Stamps: 00:14 Introductions 03:00 Housekeeping Segment 12:42 Main Topic: Mass Effect 2 19:42 Mass Effect 2 deeper story discussion – contains spoilers! 01:46:12 Mass Effect 2 final thoughts 01:47:57 What we’re playing next – Detroit Become Human 01:48:09 Ending Spiel: What we’re loving this week
From the show:
Games featured in our Ending Spiel: Detroit Become Human (discussing next time!), Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Apparently, Klingons have redundant anatomy, and have at least three lungs (not only one as we mentioned).
Our main segment this week is focused on Marvel’s Avengers, which is the new (2020) action-adventure brawler game from Crystal Dynamics. We discuss the single player campaign that showcases each of the Avengers, though the game also features a multiplayer element. The story is through the eyes of Ms. Marvel, who works to reassemble the Avengers after tragedy, and you know, has to save the world. We discuss how much fanfiction the Avengers read in their free time, unstable experimental technology, doors too big for Captain American, and excessively complicated loot systems.
Time Stamps: 00:15 Introductions 07:33 Main Topic: Marvel’s Avengers 18:30 Marvel’s Avengers deeper story discussion – contains spoilers! 01:02:50 Marvel’s Avengers final thoughts 01:05:46 What we’re playing next – Mass Effect 2 01:12:39 Ending Spiel: What we’re loving this week
From the show:
Games featured in our Ending Spiel: Mass Effect 2 (discussing next time!), Fortnite, Destiny 2: Beyond Light, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
This week the ladies discuss Night in the Woods, a single player, story focused, adventure game. This 2017 title was originally a Kickstarter project from Infinite Fall. The game centers around a cat named Mae, a college dropout who returns to her struggling hometown, as she is learning to navigate the world as an adult (with a side of some paranormal stuff). We talk all about the technical difficultly of band practice, committing some crimes with your besties, nonchalant reactions to limb dismemberment, and eerie dreams.
Time Stamps: 00:16 Introductions 12:54 Main Topic: Night in the Woods 25:04 Night in the Woods deeper story discussion – contains some spoilers! 01:10:45 Nights in the Woods final thoughts 01:14:11 Listener shout-out – thanks for the reviews! 01:15:20 What we’re playing next 01:19:24 Ending Spiel: What we’re loving this week
From the show:
Games featured in our Ending Spiel: Fortnite, Destiny 2
Point Roberts, WA is a pene-exclave (that’s the word Emma was searching for).
Our episode this week is on the 2007 sci-fi video game Mass Effect! This space opera, action RPG was a critical hit for Bioware, and one of our favorite games ever. You can still enjoy this gem, and maybe a remaster is headed our way in the coming year (?). We discuss the ease of driving the Mako, whiny guys named Carth/Kaiden, paragon/renegade moral implications, xenophobic crewmates, and tons of romance discussions (cause we can’t help ourselves).
Time Stamps: 00:13 Introductions 06:51 Main Topic: Mass Effect 23:15 Mass Effect deeper story discussion – contains spoilers! 01:28:02 Mass Effect final thoughts 01:33:16 Ending Spiel: What we’re loving this week
From the show:
Games featured in our Ending Spiel: Destiny 2 (Not much else this week since our Mass Effect discussion was so long)
The First Contact War was a small human and Turian conflict that lasted approximately 3 months, and sounds pretty silly. Basically humans were exploring, did some stuff unknowingly since they hadn’t encountered any other intelligent life at this point, and ended up starting a war with the Turians. Basically just a misunderstanding and the council ironed it out fairly quickly. https://masseffect.fandom.com/wiki/First_Contact_War
Rumspringa is the Amish rite of passage that neither of us could remember the name of (though Emma honestly wasn’t that far off).
This week’s episode is about Subnautica, an underwater survival game from Unknown Worlds Entertainment. Originally released into early access, the full game was completed in 2018. The ladies discuss missing blueprints, the safety of scuba simulator, monsters of the deep, the tediousness of eating fish and persistent motion sickness.
Time Stamps: 00:13 Introductions 06:47 Main Topic: Subnautica 33:54 Subnautica final thoughts 37:56 Ending Spiel: What we’re loving this week
From the show:
Games featured in our Ending Spiel: Redout, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, Ghost of Tsushima, Destiny 2, Tell Me Why
Subnautica: Below Zero is a sequel to Subnautica, released into early access in January 2019.
Redout is available on PC, along with PS4, Xbox One, and switch.
Tell Me Why is actually being released in different chapters, but they are only a week apart (unlike prior Don’t Nod releases). It’s currently available on game pass.
This episode is a re-record of a podcast that was lost due to technical difficulties deep into social distancing, and appropriately is about the 2015 remaster of the 2002 remake of the 1996 game Resident Evil. Supremely confusing. This classic survival horror game by Capcom was given a graphical upgrade and improved controls. We touch on how Jill found her dream job, how atmospheric fixed camera angles can be, tiny inventory management and the downside of having your heart on the outside of your chest.
Time Stamps: 00:12 Introductions 06:56 Main Topic: Resident Evil Remaster 33:40 Resident Evil story discussion – extra spoilers! 54:05 Resident Evil final thoughts 56:54 Listener shoutout 57:25 Ending Spiel: What we’re loving this week
From the show:
Games featured in our Ending Spiel: Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, Yes, Your Grace, Ghost of Tsushima
Please don’t judge us too harshly for any lore mistakes on this one, we tried.
Trigger warning for this episode - contains content referencing suicide, and self harm behavior such as cutting.
Our topic this week is the 2017 visual novel Doki Doki Literature Club, available for free on steam and other PC platforms. Developed by Team Salvato, this game initially starts as a single player dating simulator...with a serious side of psychological horror. We talk about overly meticulous podcast notes, high school flirting with a side of bloodletting, and how to woo all the ladies with poetry.
Time Stamps: 00:12 Introductions 04:45 Main Topic: Doki Doki Literature Club 09:20 Doki Doki SPOILER-filled discussion 01:09:45 Doki Doki Final thoughts 01:11:52 Listener Feedback 01:12:36 Ending Spiel: What we’re loving & playing this week
From the show:
Games featured in our Ending Spiel and listener segment: The Last of Us Part II, Assassin's Creed Syndicate, PlanetSide 2
While the game is available for free, you can also buy the "DLC" to essentially purchase the game for 10 dollars to support the developer. Here is a link to the home page for this game: https://ddlc.moe/
Join the ladies this week for a dive into the murky waters of Fallout 76, the online action-RPG by Bethesda. This multiplayer game released in 2018 to a divisive reception, and we...might have had some of these same experiences. We chat about post-apocalyptic interior decorating, NPC boyfriends and the joys of making your own fun.
Time Stamps: 00:11 Introductions 05:40 Main Topic: Fallout 76 (spoiler free discussion) 45:52 Fallout 76 Final Thoughts 47:11 Listener Feedback - KOTOR I & II Mods 51:40 Ending Spiel: What we’re loving & playing this week
From the show:
Games featured in our Ending Spiel and listener segment: Knights of the Old Republic II, The Last of Us Part II
There are still multiple factions in Fallout 76, though the extent of the immersion seems to vary a lot from Skyrim. Take a gander for yourself if interested: https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Fallout_76_factions
From a brief google search, it looks like you can not unlock more blueprints from the atomic store, just skins. Blue prints have to be acquired in game.
Again, the reviews for the Last of Us Part II that Rachel mentioned on Polygon, Kotaku, and Skill Up on youtube. The reviews are spoiler free, but be very wary when looking online about this game since the spoilers are plentiful in comments, other articles, etc.
This week the ladies discuss the interesting 2016 point and click adventure Batman: The Telltale Series. This Telltale game offers a unique take on Gotham and the Batman universe that we think new players might enjoy. We discuss sparring with Catwoman, why a British dude would grow up in Gotham, and the hardships of being Batman’s butler.
Time Stamps: 00:12 Introductions 08:30 Main Topic: Batman: The Telltale Series 16:50 Batman deeper story discussion – extra spoilers! 01:10:00 Batman: The Telltale Series final thoughts (still full of spoilers) 01:12:03 Ending Spiel: What we’re loving this week
From the show:
Games featured in our Ending Spiel: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Knights of the Old Republic II, Destiny 2
Selina Kyle is played by Laura Bailey. She is known for many roles, including her work in Gears 5, Spiderman (2018), and the recent Last of Us Part II.
Vicki's parents were murdered by the way, not just imprisoned.
It seems like the dark side ending for KOTOR that Emma mentioned might have been cut in the final version of the game. Here is one version found of youtube that appears to be close: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ydpEzN7GRU
The reviews for the Last of Us Part II that Rachel mentioned were on Polygon, Kotaku, and Skill Up on youtube. The reviews are spoiler free, but be very wary when looking online about this game since the spoilers are plentiful in comments, related articles, etc.
This week the ladies are continuing their play through of the Resident Evil series, and talking about the 2020 remake of Resident Evil 3. This game picks up after the events of Resident Evil (One) in Racoon City, and you play as Jill Valentine. We discuss ongoing pursuit from killer monsters, reused art assets, tension issues, mop heads, classic bad guy monetary motives and lack of gothic creepiness.
Time Stamps: 00:14 Introductions 05:44 Main Topic – Resident Evil 3 16:27 Resident Evil 3 story discussion – Contains spoilers! 33:17 Resident Evil 3 final thoughts 40:20 What we’re playing next (God of War) 42:19 Ending Spiel (What we’re loving this week)
From the show:
Games featured in our Ending Spiel: God of War (What we’re playing next)
Nemesis chases Jill because he’s designed to go after STARS members (because that makes perfect sense…).
Spoilers – without revealing too much, the ending with the shoot out essentially only has one outcome. It sounds like the original had more potential endings.
Musical credit: "Into the Game" by SilentCrafter/ "Pixel Pig" by Di Young
Knights of the Old Republic Review
01 Jun 2020
01:45:53
This week Rachel and Emma play the excellent 2003 role playing game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. We discuss our favorite parts of this Bioware classic, including romances, falling to the dark side, and the importance of battle meditation.
Time Stamps: 00:12 Introductions 11:07 Main Topic: Knights of the Old Republic 25:35 KOTOR deeper story discussion – extra spoilers! 01:23:53 KOTOR final thoughts 01:24:16 Ending Spiel: What we’re playing and loving this week
From the show: Games featured in our Ending Spiel – The Arcana: A Mystic Romance, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Batman: The Telltale Series
We’ve changed the format of the show slightly, and will now be covering the games we have been playing in our ending spiel after our main topic.
The three classes you can start with in KOTOR are soldier, scout and scoundrel.
We were probably wrong about some of the Mandalorian stuff, that’s just the way it goes. It’s a broad topic, and the internet has a wealth of info if you want to know how wrong we were. Here is the wookieepedia article: https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Mandalorian
Join us this week for a discussion about the 2014 game, The Wolf Among Us, based on Bill Willingham's Fables comic book series. The game is a narrative adventure that follows the exploits of Bigby Wolf, working as the sheriff of Fabletown in gritty 1980s Manhattan. Listen to all of our thoughts about this wonderful title from Telltale games.
Time Stamps: 00:12 Introductions 02:46 Gaming Corner: What we’re playing this week! 11:53 Main Topic: The Wolf Among Us 27:58 Wolf Among Us deeper story discussion – extra spoilers! 01:10:43 The Wolf Among Us final thoughts 01:11:50 Listener feedback 01:17:10 Ending Spiel: What we’re loving this week
From the show:
Gaming corner includes – Guitar Hero, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Tacoma
The Wolf Among Us is set in 1986 Manhattan, not in the 1990s as we originally mention.
Bigby was voiced by Adam Harrington, who seems to be best known for his work in the Wolf Among Us. He was nominated for a BAFTA in 2015 for his performance. Interestingly he also voices The Woodsman.
This week Emma and Rachel talk about the wonderful 2015 episodic game Life is Strange from Dontnod Entertainment. The discussion is especially spoiler filled as we dive into our favorite plot points and characters, so please check out the time stamps below if you want to avoid them.
Time Stamps: 00:13 Introductions 06:06 Gaming Corner: What we’re playing this week! 15:41 Main Topic: Life is Strange 30:20 Life is Strange story discussion – warning extra spoilers! 01:26:23 Life is Strange final thoughts – also has spoilers 01:29:54 Ending Spiel: What we’re loving this week
From the show:
Gaming corner includes – The Sims 3, Guitar Hero, Just Dance 2020, Journey to the Savage Planet
The game is called Ring Fit Adventure, not Ring Fit Switch. It’s MSRP is $79.99, and yes, it seems to be sold out still from a brief google search.
Join the ladies for a discussion about one of their favorite titles, Dragon Age: Origins. This excellent fantasy RPG was released by Bioware in 2009. Emma and Rachel talk about their favorite companions, game play elements, and have a very spoiler filled chat about game endings.
Time Stamps: 00:12 Introductions 04:18 Gaming Corner: What we’re playing this week! 24:01 Main Topic: Dragon Age: Origins 59:20 Dragon Age: Origins ending discussion – extra spoilers! 01:05:36 Dragon Age: Origins final thoughts 01:08:37 Ending Spiel: What we’re loving this week
From the show:
Gaming corner includes – Fallout: New Vegas, Crusader Kings II, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Two Point Hospital, Animal Crossing: New Horizons
This week Emma and Rachel have a chatty catch up session, discussing games and their brief unplanned hiatus. Then it’s straight into Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, a single player action-adventure title from Respawn Entertainment.
Time Stamps: 00:12 Introductions 05:55 Gaming Corner: What we’re playing this week! 27:30 Main Topic: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order 46:15 Jedi: Fallen Order final thoughts 48:43 Ending Spiel: What we’re loving this week
From the show:
Gaming corner includes – Doom (2016), Doom Eternal
Not many notes this week. Doom 2016 is indeed on Mars and in hell, while Doom Eternal takes place on earth. Thanks for sticking with us through these crazy times!
Emma and Rachel have fun discussing the episodic critical darling Kentucky Route Zero by indie studio Cardboard Computer.
Time Stamps: 00:13 Introductions 08:03 Gaming Corner: What we’re playing this week! 19:46 Main Topic: Kentucky Route Zero 47:00 Kentucky Route Zero ending discussion – some spoilers 50:29 Kentucky Route Zero final thoughts 54:04 Ending Spiel: What we’re loving this week
From the show: Gaming corner includes – Papers Please, The Long Dark, Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales
Sons of the Forest is a game announced in December as a sequel to 2014’s The Forest that Emma mentioned.
The Long Dark is available on both PC and console.
The first episode of Kentucky Route Zero was released in 2013, as Rachel said. Emma was looking at the Kickstarter announcement date.
Our main topic this week is the 2012 action-adventure game Dishonored from Arkane studios, along with the wonderful 2016 follow-up Dishonored 2. Emma and Rachel chat about the merits of stealth game play, otherworldly powers and when things don’t go according to plan.
Time Stamps: 00:12 Introductions 03:45 Corrections: We told you we were unqualified 05:50 Gaming Corner: What we’re playing this week! 20:42 Main Topic: Dishonored 47:16 Dishonored ending discussion – extra spoilers! 57:00 Main Topic Two: Dishonored 2 – spoilers throughout 01:09:13 Dishonored and Dishonored 2 final thoughts 01:12:29 Ending Spiel: What we’re loving this week
From the show:
Gaming corner includes – Two Point Hospital, Tempest: Pirate Action RPG, The Sims 3, Pokémon Sword
It appears that Two Point Hospital is not in the Wallace and Gromit universe, just seems to be a common thought that the art style looks similar.
That trash bag Pokémon is called Trubbish, by the way, not Trashy. Ditto is also in Pokémon Sword/Shield, but it doesn’t look like Lickitung made the cut.
This week we talk about the beloved fantasy RPG the Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt from CD Projekt Red! We also delve more into our impressions of The Witcher from Netflix (see the Outer Worlds episode for our initial reactions).
Time Stamps: 00:11 Introductions 01:03 Gaming Corner: What we’re playing this week! 09:36 Main Topic: The Witcher 3 - Wild Hunt 50:53 Witcher 3 ending discussion – extra spoilers! 56:03 Witcher 3 final thoughts 56:53 Netflix’s The Witcher discussion 01:01:37 Ending Spiel: What we’re loving this week
From the show: Gaming corner includes – A Way Out, Thief (2014), Crusader Kings II, Fire Emblem: Three Houses
To answer one of our questions from the show… Triss Marigold was voiced by Jules de Jongh in The Witcher (1), while she was voiced by Jaimi Barbakoff in The Witcher 2 and 3.
Netflix read our minds and created this great interactive map with the timing of key events in the Witcher timeline. https://www.witchernetflix.com/en-gb
Batman Arkham Asylum and Batman Arkham City Review
27 Jan 2020
00:45:26
In our second episode we catch up and share our impressions of Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City, the critically acclaimed action-adventure games from Rocksteady Studios.
Time Stamps 00:12 Introductions 00:59 Corrections: We told you we were unqualified 05:40 Gaming Corner: What we’re playing this week! 12:51 Main Topic: Batman Arkham Asylum & Arkham City 36:52 Batman ending discussion – Lots of spoilers 38:06 Batman final thoughts 38:54 Ending Spiel: What we’re loving this week
From the show: Correction: I think the Batman flash game was on the Onstar website, not OnPoint. However, I can't find any evidence of this game so I may have been hallucinating. Does anyone else remember this?
Gaming corner includes – Untitled Goose Game, Never Alone, and our thoughts about VR
Welcome to our inaugural episode! Join Emma and Rachel for our first episode, where we introduce ourselves, the games we love, and how being unqualified doesn't stop us from talking about them. Our main segment this week is a discussion about the Outer Worlds, a new RPG from Obsidian Entertainment.
Time Stamps 00:20 Introductions and the types of games we love 13:37 Gaming Corner: What we’re playing this week! 16:45 Main Topic: The Outer Worlds 44:10 Outer Worlds ending discussion – Spoilers! 51:43 Outer Worlds final thoughts 56:10 Ending Spiel: What we’re loving this week
From the show: Gaming corner includes – Thief (2014), Gears of War, Batman Arkham Asylum
The week the ladies chat about Stray, a 2022 adventure game featuring a feline protagonist. This debut game from BlueTwelve Studio allows you to play as a kitty that is a exploring a future world free of humans, and full of (mostly) friendly robots. We discuss the post-cyberpunk world, mild mannered and crunchy robots, lofi beats, sewer eyeballs, cat mechanics and little bot buddies.
Time Stamps: 00:14 Introductions 10:39 Main Topic – Stray 24:12 Stray story discussion – Contains mild spoilers! 32:57 Stray final thoughts 34:40 What we’re playing next (Resident Evil 3) 36:52 Ending Spiel (What we’re loving this week)
From the show:
Games featured in our Ending Spiel: Resident Evil 3 (What we’re playing next), Cult of the Lamb, F1 Manager 2022
Musical credit: "Into the Game" by SilentCrafter/ "Pixel Pig" by Di Young
Jade Empire Review
13 Aug 2022
01:15:03
This week the ladies talk about Jade Empire, which is a 2005 game from Bioware. In this action-RPG you play as the last spirit monk, working to fight the corrupt forces around you. We discuss tiger claws, investing way too much time making up a fake language, catty girls, subpar romances, absent character customization, and not-so-subtle sexism.
Time Stamps: 00:13 Introductions 04:35 Main Topic – Jade Empire 28:43 Jade Empire story discussion – Contains spoilers! 01:04:10 Jade Empire final thoughts 01:05:28 What we’re playing next (Stray) 01:06:19 Ending Spiel (What we’re loving this week)
From the show:
Games featured in our Ending Spiel: Stray (what we’re playing next), The Quarry
Musical credit: "Into the Game" by SilentCrafter/ "Pixel Pig" by Di Young
Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening Review
08 Jul 2022
01:03:19
This week the ladies talk about Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening, the 2010 DLC to Dragon Age: Origins from Bioware. In this game you can reprise your role as a grey warden protagonist picking up where Origins left off, or develop a new character, as you help to root out dark spawn and embark on a new adventure. We discuss quick development cycles, diet Alistair, sexy dwarves, eloquent dark spawn, burning a city to the ground, boob monsters, dead old magisters and missing what feels like essential plot points.
Time Stamps: 00:13 Introductions 05:37 Main Topic – Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening 49:01 Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening final thoughts 51:38 What we’re playing next (Jade Empire) 54:20 Ending Spiel (What we’re loving this week)
From the show:
Games featured in our Ending Spiel: Jade Empire (what we’re playing next), Citizen Sleeper
The voice actor for Anders was Greg Ellis in Awakening, and Adam Howden in Dragon Age II.
Musical credit: "Into the Game" by SilentCrafter/ "Pixel Pig" by Di Young
Life is Strange: True Colors Review
23 May 2022
01:37:03
This week the ladies chat about Life is Strange: True Colors, which is a follow up game to Life is Strange, and is an entirely new story set in the same universe. This 2021 game is a story driven, walking simulator that follows Alex as she starts a new life in Haven Springs, Colorado. Alex has special empathic powers that allow her to experience what other characters are feeling and thinking. We discuss lots of childhood trauma, larping, epitome of bad vibes, romance options, how Free Tibet stores stay in business and digging up old memories.
Time Stamps: 00:13 Introductions 00:57 Main Topic – Life is Strange: True Colors 05:14 True Colors story discussion – contains spoilers! 01:20:55 Life is Strange: True Colors final thoughts 01:24:22 What we’re playing next (Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening) 01:27:53 Ending Spiel (What we’re loving this week)
From the show:
Games featured in our Ending Spiel: Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening (what we’re playing next),
Alex does have a moment of fear after talking to Pike if you *spoilers* take his emotions, but it’s short lived, and doesn’t seem to have a lot of consequence.
Life is Strange: Wavelengths is the DLC to True Colors and is basically a prequel focused on a Steph.
Musical credit: "Into the Game" by SilentCrafter/ "Pixel Pig" by Di Young
Dragon Age Origins Casting Minisode
05 May 2022
00:31:38
This minisode is our take on casting for a Dragon Age Origins movie. We decided to introduce mini-episodes between our regular reviews (which aren’t going anywhere, don’t worry). Thanks for listening!
Time Stamps: 00:14 Introduction 05:38 Dragon Age Origins Casting 30:44 What we’re playing next – Life is Strange: True Colors
From the show:
Dragon Age: Redemption was the web series with Felicia Day. Here is the trailer and you can find the rest of the episodes if you poke around on the web: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtKz3Zav-ac