Electronic Wireless Show

A ten-sided shape appears in your hands. It's this week's podcast! And it's all about puzzle games. John enjoys number puzzles like Hexcells and Globesweeper. Matt enjoys the Jindosh box of Dishonored 2. And Brendan likes being a pretend hacker in Zachlikes. But we’ve also played non-puzzle games. Apex Legends has been keeping Matt happy with its bullets and crows. While John is liking the unserious shooting of Far Cry: New Dawn. Brendan still just wants to punch people in Yakuza Kiwami. Links: Here is John’s Globesweeper review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/02/13/globesweeper-review/ And his Tametsi review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/02/20/tametsi-review/ And his Hexcells review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/09/13/wot-i-think-hexcells/ And Pip’s review of She Remembered Caterpillars: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/01/19/she-remembered-caterpillars-review/ And here’s Tom Francis on Opus Magnum: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/27/what-works-and-why-opus-magnum/ And Alex Wiltshire on on Exapunks: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/09/12/how-exapunks-represents-hacking-without-limits/ And John talking about 7th Guest: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/02/09/bad-old-games-the-7th-guest-is-unleashed-once-more/ And a video featuring Dishonored 2’s ‘Jindosh box’ puzzle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7oTKmQMJP8 And here’s our review of The Witness: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/02/04/the-witness-pc-review/ And here’s a nine hour playthrough of Gabriel Knight 3 for masochists: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPByLdCYPpo And this is Freeways: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/09/18/freeways-is-a-puzzley-road-builder-from-desert-golfer/ And Matt’s Apex Legends review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/02/19/apex-legends-review/ And his Far Cry New Dawn review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/02/14/far-cry-new-dawn-review/ And Brendan’s Yakuza Kiwami review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/02/11/yakuza-kiwami-pc-review/ Okay, that’s your lot Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week: the best guns. The pod squad are stocking a chest full of videogame firearms. Matthew is stocking a laser pointer from Gears of War, Alice wants the exploding teddy gun from Sunset Overdrive, and Brendan is taking Symmetra's energy gun from Overwatch. But we've also been playing games! Come hear our thoughts on post-apocalyptic shooter Metro Exodus and Inkle's upcoming translate 'em up Heaven's Vault. Links: Matthew’s video on Metro Exodus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLAZAmJPKUQ Brendan’s Metro Exodus review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/02/13/metro-exodus-review/ Matt enjoyed Sunset Overdrive: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/01/08/so-last-years-best-game-was-actually-sunset-overdrive/ Alice’s preview of Heaven’s Vault: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/02/15/heavens-vault-preview-an-ouroboros-of-wordery/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oh, grow up. Booby traps as in “dangerous mechanisms that kill over-confident explorers”. Be they in temples, tombs or tunnels - traps can be anywhere (so long as it begins with a “T”). Katharine celebrates the hungry foxes of Shadow Of The Tomb Raider. Brendan is fond of the jail cells of the Resident Evil 2 remake. And Alice B appreciates Half-Life 2’s barnacles. We also play a little "death traps quiz". Links: Katharine’s graphics cards coverage is pretty thorough, actually: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/category/hardware/?search=&component=graphics-card&brand=&y=&m=&sort=date John’s Shadow of the Tomb Raider review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/09/13/shadow-of-the-tomb-raider-review/ Uncharted 4 is basically the Goonies: https://www.videogamer.com/features/how-uncharted-4-is-basically-the-goonies Rain World has a lot of creepy animals: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/03/30/the-deadly-creatures-of-rain-world-a-bestiary-in-gifs/ Fallout 3 baby bomb: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_5cDF49-Kg The Bonfire Mimic was NOT a scrapped idea for Dark Souls, it was just some good fan art: https://www.deviantart.com/vempirick/art/Bonfire-Mimic-526068354 Katharine loves the Zero Escape games: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/01/03/have-you-played-zero-escape-zero-time-dilemma/ Again, these spike traps in Skyrim are brill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTMwjYgJsFQ Things Katharine notices while benchmarking (supporters only): https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/01/21/the-weird-things-ive-noticed-when-benchmarking-video-games/ Yakuza Kiwami is out soon for PC (and cheap!): https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/01/22/yakuza-kiwami-pc-release-date-and-price-confirmed/ Purrrfect Date is not about shagging cats don’t be disgusting: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/02/07/romancing-the-code-do-not-think-about-having-sex-with-a-cat-in-purrfect-date Grange Hill is a bit heavy isn’t it? https://youtu.be/ZQ-HAkmOD5Y?t=113 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Videogames! That’s the topic this week. Okay, you got us, we couldn’t be arsed to do a theme. But we've been playing a lot of games. Graham comes on to discuss the teeny-weeny strategies of Wargroove. And John has been enjoying the company of penguins in Subnautica: Below Zero. Meanwhile, Brendan has been running away in Resident Evil 2, trying to escape a big man in a hat. Links: Brendan’s Wargroove review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/01/30/wargroove-review/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/01/30/wargroove-review/ Shark Tank is a dumb TV show: https://abc.go.com/shows/shark-tank So is the Great Interior Design Challenge: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04nj4d5 John’s thoughts on Subnautica: Below Zero: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/01/30/subnautica-below-zero-early-access-review/ Matt’s Resident Evil 2 review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/01/22/resident-evil-2-review/ Marvel’s Runaways isn’t good: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-OJVwUG76k Under the Dome isn’t good: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Under_the_Dome_(novel) Elite Beat Agents isn’t good: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhH43qleR6k But Mila Jovovich kicking a “zombie dog” in the head is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXXoq3yr4eI Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Battle royales. The RPS treehouse is unable to comprehend these destructive influences on society. Well, this week we’ve got a young person to help us decipher them. Ollie, one of our guides writers and freshest recruit, plays Fortnite for the fun of it. So he has been drafted in to chat to Alice B and Brendan about the ultra-deathmatch, among others. Links: Fortnite’s trap towers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cdW4d94Uf0 Nate’s Dwarf Fortress diary, part one: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/01/14/dwarf-fortress-diary-the-basement-of-curiosity-episode-one-crushed-legs-and-eagle-guts/ Control is the key to CS GO Danger Zone: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/12/21/control-is-key-in-counter-strike-global-offensives-battle-royale-mode/ Brendan said Plunkbat was uninteresting in his early access review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/03/28/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-review-early-access/ Radical Heights was that last ditch battle royale from Boss Key: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/04/18/radical-heights-battle-royale-early-access/ The Culling wasn’t tooooo shabby: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/07/25/the-culling-review-early-access-2/ PUBGCorp aimed to sue Epic, yeah: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/29/pubg-corp-to-sue-epic-games-over-fortnite-similarities/ And dance move creators are pulling some legal moves as well: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/12/05/fortnite-dance-legal-dispute/ Matt liked Battlerite Royale: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/10/03/battlerite-royale-gets-battles-royally-right/ The saddest scene in Walking with Dinosaurs: https://youtu.be/b0VQkX3cgzw?t=111 Fortnite’s first incarnation was free-to-play vom: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/08/08/fortnite-review-early-access/ Stardew Valley has a battle royale mod: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/01/07/stardew-valley-has-a-battle-royale-mod-because-of-course-it-does/ Steve liked the early access version of Hades: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/01/08/hades-early-access-review/ Alex Wiltshire is the only good ‘Mechanic’: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/tag/the-mechanic/ Ace Combat 7: Unknown Skies is out on Feb 1: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/08/22/ace-combat-7-gamescom-trailer-date/ Watch Alice’s panel on Dragon Age at PAX: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/366747349 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we’ll take a look at accessibility in gaming. We talk to the studios making specialist hardware, the people that use it, and the activists and advocates who are trying to do even more to bring gaming to those who aren't able to put two hands on a keyboard or a gamepad. To read a transcript of this episode, please go here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/141PFfT-DInmZGn4NxIcjEtWG-9x2QZIqdbpv9f0UWqo/edit?usp=sharing Links: Rocky Stoutenburgh's Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/rockynohands The Quadstick is a controller for quadriplegic gamers: http://www.quadstick.com/ Zoran's Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/kurirko402 The Xbox Adaptive Controller is a controller for those with limited mobility: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/17/microsoft-xbox-adaptive-controller-windows-10/ Microsoft want it to come to PS4 and Switch but that's unconfirmed: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2018-microsoft-wants-xboxs-adaptive-controller-/1100-6459637/ Ablegamers charity: https://ablegamers.org/ Mark Brown's video series on designing for disability: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ufe0i26DGiA&list=PLc38fcMFcV_vvWOhMDriBlVocTZ8mKQzR LEPMIS is an independent UK company that makes bespoke controllers: http://www.lepmis.co.uk/ The Gaming Accessibility Conference: https://www.gaconf.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New year, old friends. The RPS podcast have not been reborn, they have no resolutions, no goal to learn German or eat more spinach. They just want to play more games. Alice B is looking forward to zipping about in a big metal space tuxedo in Anthem. And Brendan is keen to let loose his inner ninja in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. But there are many, many more. Links: The most anticipated games of 2019: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/01/01/the-rps-hivemind-presents-the-most-anticipated-games-of-2019/ We’d love it if Disco Elysium came out this year: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/10/01/disco-elysium-preview-egx-2018/ Alice played a summery bit of Metro Exodus: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/01/16/metro-exodus-pc-preview-summer-map/ Anthem’s open beta is in February: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/12/10/anthem-open-beta-dates/ Sekiro: Shadow’s die twice is a good Cells-like: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/08/28/sekiro-shadows-die-twice-preview-hands-on/ Outer Wilds is Majora’s Mask in space and pretty sweet: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/21/outer-wilds-preview-e3/ The Outer Worlds is a sci-fi RPG by Obsidian: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/12/07/obsidian-entertainment-announce-the-outer-worlds/ Ape Out is a game in which you are an ape and you are OUT: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/08/23/ape-out-delivers-gorillas-and-violence-and-jazz/ Genesis Noir sounds like one of Italo Calvino’s Cosmicomics: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/02/23/genesis-noir-game/ You should read the Cosmicomics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmicomics Heaven’s Vault is alien Duolingo: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/23/learning-the-ancient-language-of-heavens-vault/ Slay the Spire’s best mod adds googly eyes: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/01/14/slay-the-spire-googly-eyes-mod/ The Division 2 is NOT political OK? https://www.polygon.com/e3/2018/6/12/17451688/the-division-2-is-not-making-any-political-statements Matthew’s Return of the Obra Dinn review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/10/26/return-of-the-obra-dinn-review/ Have you played… Duolingo? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/26/have-you-played-duolingo/ Destiny 2 puzzle was too tough: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/destiny-2-bergusia-forge-unlocks-bungie-deems-niob/1100-6464294/ Gearbox legal battle becomes publicly messy: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/01/12/gearbox-legal-battle-with-former-employee-becomes-messy-publically/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes we get emails from people who think we create the videogames we're writing about. They report bugs, complain about crashes, demand refunds, or gush enthusiastically while asking for DLC. In lieu of a real episode this week, please enjoy some of these emails. Happy Christmas from RPS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The year 2018 is going down in a storm. Hundreds of games will perish. But there’s one tiny lifeboat, and enough room for three games. It falls on the sorry shoulders of the RPS podcast crew to decide which games survive. Listen to find out what survives this terrible fate. Alice B is vouching for a well-known blockbuster. Brendan is sticking with the nautical theme. And Alice L is saving some slippery friends. But perhaps the sunken ship is just the first of their troubles. Links: Alice L’s introduction to Megaquarium: https://youtu.be/mIocQyKdHE8 Matthew’s review of Return of the Obra Dinn: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/10/26/return-of-the-obra-dinn-review/ Alice B’s review of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/10/05/assassins-creed-odyssey-review/ Dragon Ball Fighter Z is good actually, and did not deserve this fate: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/06/dragon-ball-fighterz-review-pc/ Ashen is about unknowingly playing as an NPC: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/11/27/ashen-is-a-roleplaying-game-about-unknowingly-roleplaying-an-npc/ But the multiplayer was broken for a bit: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/12/13/ashens-wonky-multiplayer-has-been-un-wonked/ John’s review of The Hex: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/10/16/the-hex-review/ Adam’s review of Celeste: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/01/25/celeste-review/ The Council is a curious historical murder mystery: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/19/the-council-is-a-curious-episodic-murder-mystery/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There were too many games in November. So we're running through as many newly released games as we can, from Hitman 2 to Darksiders 3 to Just Cause 4 to… well, lots more. Links: Hitman 2 review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/11/08/hitman-2-review/ Hitman is about killing your boss: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/07/19/hitman-and-the-joy-of-killing-your-boss/ Mutant Year Zero: Road To Eden review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/12/04/mutant-year-zero-review-pc/ Artifact review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/12/05/artifact-review/ Darksiders 3 review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/11/26/darksiders-3-review/ Fallout 76 player begs for death: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/11/23/fallout-76-player-begs-bethesda-for-the-sweet-relief-of-death/ Farming Simulator 19 and the ethics of pesticide brands: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/07/05/farming-simulator-19-licenses/ Just Cause 4 review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/12/04/just-cause-4-review-pc/ Just Cause 4 has some odd bugs: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/12/05/just-cause-4-concern-a-bug-collectors-video/ The Quiet Man thinks it is woke, but it is broke: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/11/06/please-do-not-play-the-quiet-man-with-sound/ One Odd Gamer Girl’s review of the Quiet Man: oneoddgamergirl.net/index.php/2018/11/03/the-many-problems-of-the-quiet-man/ Battlefield V review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/11/13/battlefield-v-review/ Footbal Manager 2019 review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/11/01/football-manager-2019-review/ Bad North review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/11/20/bad-north-review/ Underworld Ascendant is too bad to be actually reviewed: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/11/21/underworld-ascendant-is-unfinished/ Grip the Rollcage ‘em up is properly out: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/11/06/grip-combat-racing-leaves-early-access/ Battletech Flashpoint review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/11/28/battletech-flashpoint-review/ Steel Rats review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/11/16/steel-rats-review/ Overkill’s The Walking Dead review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/11/13/overkills-the-walking-dead-review/ Starbreeze offices searched after insider trading allegations: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/12/05/starbreeze-searched-in-insider-trading-investigation/ Assassin’s Creed Odyssey first stabby DLC is out: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/12/04/ass-creed-odysseys-first-dlc-is-out-offers-some-standard-stabbing/ Gris is nice: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/08/13/video-poetic-platformer-gris-is-so-delicate-i-wont-spoil-it-with-my-honking-voice/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, three of the boyz chat about their early impressions of card game Artifact. Matt quite likes the nitty gritty complexity of it all, but Dave says it needs to be streamlined, and Brendan is simply too stupid to understand all the moving pieces. There there, Brendan. There there. Links: Artifact is out now: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/11/28/cards-on-the-table-artifact-is-out/ Dave’s guides will make you better GUARANTEED: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/game/artifact/?search=&type=guides&y=&m=&sort=date Matt and Brendan play dodgy bootleg Netrunner: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/26/netrunner-online-jinteki/ The Elder Scrolls Legends review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/07/14/elder-scrolls-legends-review/ Our Spawn Point guide to collectible card games: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/03/spawn-point-collectible-card-games-beginners-guide/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The world is ending, so here's the team screaming about the best post-apocalyptic games. Brendan enjoys the dark tunnels of the Metro shooters, and Alice B likes the river navigation of The Flame in the Flood. Meanwhile, John enjoys The Long Dark but also yearns for a game where the apocalypse is one of abundance and zoo animals. Links: We celebrated Apocalypse Day this week: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/tag/apocalypse-day/ And then Post-apocalypse Day, of course: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/tag/post-apocalypse-day/ Metro 2033 and Last Light are good: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/08/22/metro-redux-review/ But Brendan is getting Metro 2033 mixed up with this scene from bad dragon movie Reign of Fire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCBA1wii70o The human stations are still pretty neat though: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMhcnRQLjkk Bob Geldof broadsides Farage on the Thames: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVJkkl_cMfg Mutant XCOM Road of Eden Mutants Zero Eden Mutant Year Zero: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/09/10/ctrl-v-mutant-year-zero-road-to-eden-preview/ Adam’s The Long Dark review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/01/09/the-long-dark-sandbox-review/ Have you played… The Flame in the Flood? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/11/14/have-you-played-the-flame-in-the-flood/ Fallout 76 released early by accident: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/11/13/fallout-76-released-early/ Matthew’s video on the best and worst of Fallout 76: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxH1QHmcyv4 The beta deleted itself though and that’s silly: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/10/31/fallout-76-beta-bug-deletes-preloaded-client/ Mad Max is the most 7/10 game: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/09/10/mad-max-review/ Have you played NEO Scavenger? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/08/08/have-you-played-neo-scavenger/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a real mystery this week. Matthew has been solving murders in Return of the Obra Dinn and indulging his detective skills. Meanwhile, Alice has fond memories of a creepy Watson, and Brendan scratches his head over an alien language. Links: Matthew’s Return of the Obra Dinn review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/10/26/return-of-the-obra-dinn-review/ How a book binds the Return of the Obra Dinn: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/11/07/how-a-book-binds-the-return-of-the-obra-dinn/ Creepy Watson: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/06/08/youre-a-scaring-me-my-dear-watson/ Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishment review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/09/30/wot-i-think-sherlock-holmes-crimes-punishments/ Her Story verdict: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/06/25/her-story-verdict-analysis/ Sethian is an interesting alien language mystery: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/01/06/sethian-review-alien-language/ Heaven’s Vault is another linguistics mystery: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/23/learning-the-ancient-language-of-heavens-vault/ Tacoma review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/08/01/tacoma-review/ Firewatch review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/02/08/wot-i-think-firewatch/ Danganropa are silly games: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/09/26/danganronpa-series-overview-pc/ Someone should make a game where you play the defence lawyer from The Staircase: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bvv97sCcruY Judgey Eyes is actually called Project Judge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAGe6bXrrC8 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're talking kings and queens this week. Brendan likes the off-hand lieges of Mount & Blade, while Alice B pitied the downfall of the Lich King of Warcraft. And Katharine appreciates the wholesome rule of child king Evan from Ni No Kuni II. But these are just some of the rulers we chat about. We’ve also been playing Reigns: Game of Thrones and Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales. It’s a very royal episode. Links: Dishonored 2 review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/11/14/dishonored-2-review-pc/ Ni No Kuni 2 review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/23/ni-no-kuni-2-pc-review/ Arthas from World of Warcraft: http://wowwiki.wikia.com/wiki/Arthas_Menethil Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales review - https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/10/18/thronebreaker-the-witcher-tales-review/ Final Fantasy XV review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/08/final-fantasy-15-pc-review/ Final Fantasy IX’s oglop king: http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Cid_Fabool_IX Figuring out Game of Thrones based on the Reigns game: Soulcalibur VI review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/10/24/soulcalibur-vi-review/ Hollow Knight review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/03/02/hollow-knight-review/ Ori and the Blind Forest review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/05/03/ori-and-the-blind-forest-definitive-edition-review/ Into the Breach review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/27/into-the-breach-ftl-sequel-review/ Who is the mystery king? https://twitter.com/CagilIgaz/status/1055061221987229697 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we are talking: panic. Matt describes the panic he felt in Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs, but also an unnerving encounter in the terrible land of DayZ. Meanwhile, Brendan praises the panic of Duskers and how it makes you type useless commands. But we also talk a bit more about Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, and there’s a fun quiz featuring the support emails we often get sent in error. Links: Dusker’s review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/05/23/duskers-review/ Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/09/09/wot-i-think-amnesia-a-machine-for-pigs/ Subnautica review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/01/24/subnautica-review/ Has Killing Floor 2 been improved by its updates? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/10/04/has-killing-floor-2-been-improved-by-its-updates/ Noa and Alice play Spy Party: https://youtu.be/YicXZNVP-rg Have you played… Assassin’s Creed multiplayer? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/11/16/have-you-played-assassins-creed-multiplayer/ Murderous Pursuits is the best version of it though: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/21/murderous-pursuits-is-the-best-version-of-assassins-creed-multiplayer/ The Joy of killing your boss in Hitman: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/07/19/hitman-and-the-joy-of-killing-your-boss/ Heat Signature review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/09/26/heat-signature-review/ Assassin’s Creed Odyssey review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/10/05/assassins-creed-odyssey-review/ Role-playing cruelty in DayZ: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/02/17/the-injustice-engine-cruelty-and-murder-in-dayz/ The RPS verdict on Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/10/29/keep-talking-and-nobody-explodes-review/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the powerful hoof of Kassandra in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey to the zombie-launching boot of Dying Light, we are chatting about the most forceful feet in games. Alice likes the rapid kicks of Street Fighter’s Chun-Li, while Brendan enjoys the stumbling hoofs of Miguel in Tekken 7. But it’s not all toepokes. Alice has been delivering olives and flirting with Greeks in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. And both our hosts have played the first episode of Life Is Strange 2. Be warned, there’s some SPOILERS in this chat. Links: Assassin Creed Odyssey has one hell of a kick: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/10/01/assassins-creed-odyssey-impressions-kick-backwards-into-hell/ The Street Fighter movie in black and white: https://twitter.com/glitchritual/status/670256197140930560 Kick the vending machine honestly it’s fine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2BBGypSSD8 Disco Elysium became very good once Alice found her shoes: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/10/01/disco-elysium-preview-egx-2018/ Yakuza Kiwami’s sublime door kick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHz-4mBiq5A Yakuza 0’s dropkick in the toilet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYaX9JXxb6s Dying Light lets you kick zombies off the roof: https://youtu.be/CzlyY2xjbq8?t=1m27s Pikuniku is a world of armless Mr Men: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/09/07/pikuniku-is-an-absurd-world-of-armless-funny-mr-men/ The ordinary folks of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/10/02/a-tour-of-regular-people-having-regular-jobs-in-assassins-creed-odyssey/ We chat about Life Is Strange 2, episode 1: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/09/26/life-is-strange-2-episode-1-verdict-o-chat/ Noa plays the first bit of Life Is Strange, episode 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGmMLTdWAc8 Life Is Stange 2’s child is a puppet (supporters only): https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/10/01/life-is-strange-2s-psychic-child-is-a-dummy/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We went to EGX, the games show in Birmingham, England. And there were TOO MANY GAMES. Alice Bell, Matthew, Katharine and Graham gathered together live on stage and spoke about the best games at the show. They all enjoyed otherworldly detective RPG Disco Elysium, but there's also chat about 90s net surfing game Hypnospace Outlaw, and crazy putt game What The Golf. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John drafts in his three-year-old son Toby to describe the games in this week's Steam Charts. Kingdom Come Deliverance becomes a horrible fighting game called 'Meanies', SCUM becomes 'The Horrible Story', and the sad beasts of Monster Hunter World become the joyous dinosaurs of 'Pterodactyl Spinners'. To see the Steam Charts, just head here: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/09/24/steam-charts-flibble-glibble-pants-edition Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're talking about funny bugs. Alice Liguori of the video squad joins us to say hello, and to celebrate the twitchy bodies of the Sims. Meanwhile, Alice Bell tells us about a rude Wyvern who keeps interrupting a romance scene in Dragon Age: Inquisition. And Brendan tests our bug knowledge with a patch notes quiz. We've also been playing Two Point Hospital, Spy Party and Unavowed. We're so very very busy. Links: Lydia of Skyrim is a curse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTMwjYgJsFQ Mammoths from heaven: https://youtu.be/Rvtl-a9QZLk?t=22s Fallout New Vegas doctor has a case of the headspins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITOrKb5HP6s Oblivion’s paintbrush lets you build staircases: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-60UmK9Id0 The Sims are strange beings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFdS1bYvcYw The WWE Live referee with a twisted body: https://giphy.com/gifs/thumbs-glitch-way-5BTyQlNh8Ugmc Red Dead Redemption’s weird animal people include a donkey lady: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q7v4F8r9Og And a cougar man: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVVXyKP1FVk And a horse pilot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vavUXJXV7ec Kanye the Wyvern interrupts a roantic moment in Dragon Age Inquisition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPvs4ykC7mE Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines has an unofficial patch to get rid of bugs: https://steamcommunity.com/app/2600/discussions/0/540740501569512130/ Fraser’s Spy Party early access review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/04/24/spyparty-early-access-review/ Nic Rueben’s Two Point Hospital review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/08/31/two-point-hospital-review/ John’s Unavowed review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/08/08/wot-i-think-unavowed/ Skate 3’s kickflipping corpses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfl33Tn0pYc Does a typo correction fix Aliens: Colonial Marines? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bdyYQMCxIc You should be playing… Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JitImPMIiYc Reader responses on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rockpapershot/status/1039797154901049345 ….and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rockpapershot/photos/a.590931837659688/1843536449065881/?type=3&theater Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Onimusha is back, so let's talk about our dream remakes. Dave wants the turn-based tactics of Shining Force to make a comeback, and Brendan is angry that Capcom have said nothing about Dino Crisis. There are other suggestions. A remake of Croc made by From Software? Why not. Gone Home redesigned from the ground up by Ubisoft? Uh, no thanks. Links: All our Gamescom coverage from this year: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/tag/gamescom-2018/ Onimusha Warlords is getting a remake: https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-08-28-capcoms-bringing-onimusha-back-from-the-dead Streets of Rage 4 is coming out too: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/08/28/streets-of-rage-4-announced-by-dotemu/ Shenmue I and II have already got one: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/08/21/shenmue-1-2-are-out-now-on-pc/ Shining Force was a turn-based RPG for the Megadrive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pewTGCkt4qE Into The Breach review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/27/into-the-breach-ftl-sequel-review/ Dino Crisis needs remade sort it out Capcom: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dino_Crisis Tim Curry’s best scene in Red Alert 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yMy7JuGpJM Sunset Riders was pretty neat: https://youtu.be/lvoAmeDq3sU?t=16s Have you played.. Star Wars: TIE Fighter? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/10/30/have-you-played-star-wars-tie-fighter/ This is what Revenge of the Shinobi looks like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyJPHZSchRA Sega collection lets you play Mega Drive games in a VR bedroom: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/31/sega-mega-drive-genesis-classics-gets-a-vr-overhaul/ Timesplitters and Second Sight rights acquired by Koch Media: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/08/15/new-timesplitters-game-from-deep-silver/ Cannon Fodder was shooty: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XUqK4l3VAU Dave's massive Monster Hunter guide: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/08/24/monster-hunter-world-guide-monster-hunting-basics-combat-tips-4/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're in Cologne! It's Gamescom, the yearly games show, where we've been looking at Cyberpunk 2077, Metro Exodus, Biomutant, Dying Light 2, Ape Out, Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot and many more. We recorded this after the first day of the show, in an echoey hotel room, so apologies for the sound quality. We’ve since played Sekiro, Anthem, Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, Battlefield V, and lots more. So keep an eye out for more write-ups and videos at rockpapershotgun.com. Links: Some games that will good on Nvidia’s new graphics cards: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/08/21/nvidia-geforce-rtx-2080-turing-confirmed-pc-games/ Biomutant is a kung fu furball RPG: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/08/22/biomutant-announced/ Cyberpunk 2077 demo is cool (but maybe too cool): https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/13/cyberpunk-2077-e3-gameplay-demo/ Dying Light 2 revamps the day and night cycle: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/18/dying-light-2-preview-e3-2018/ The manchildren of Metro Exodus: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/08/22/the-manchildren-of-metro-exodus/ Assassin’s Creed Odyssey’s bear-kicking is available in October: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/11/assassins-creed-odyssey-release-date/ Ape Out is about indulging in a primate rampage: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/03/09/ape-out-demo/ Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot is about frying Nazis in VR: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/08/16/podcast-55-the-worst-endings/ Transference is a spooky VR game that Elijah Wood is somehow involved in, we’re not sure: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/06/12/transference-announced-with-elijah-wood/ The Sinking City is a Lovecraftian detective adventure: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/30/the-sinking-city-trailer-details/ Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective is a cool board game: https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2511/sherlock-holmes-consulting-detective-thames-murder Anno 1800 does some of that bad colonialism: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/08/22/anno-1800-announced/ Five themes emerging in Life Is Strange 2: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/08/21/5-themes-emerging-in-life-is-strange-2s-first-episode/ Just Cause 4 looks like a lot of fun: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/27/just-cause-4-wants-you-to-kick-up-a-storm/ Control is a “new weird” shooter from Remedy: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/12/remedy-announce-new-game-control/ All of our Gamescom 2018 coverage: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/tag/gamescom-2018/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Good end, bad end, noncommittal end. But what are the worst endings of all time? Matt reckons the big ol’ fart noise at the end of Mass Effect 3’s deserves a mention. And Noa thinks Dragon Age: Inquisition’s final moments were rubbish. Meanwhile, Brendan doesn’t like the ending of Tacoma. What? Shut up, Brendan. But we’ve also been polishing memories in Finding Paradise, hacking chocolate bars in Exapunks, and punching the money out of people’s faces in Yakuza 0. Super. Links: Mass Effect 3’s sythesis ending: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6u8QIqLSmU Deus Ex Human Revolution ending: https://youtu.be/DibJL1F6S5k Layers of Fear endings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcvYAG0s_fE Dragon Age Inquisition final boss and ending: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5dYgKNqY-g Tacoma ending: https://youtu.be/_diIY626Z5A?t=6m20s Wall-e ending: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KUBX5GwV3M Far Cry 5’s endings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yKREaJk-OQ Forbidden Siren’s ending: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYk-2pt2evo And the Siren: Blood Curse counterpart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmZk9BFNx7s Do not open the box: https://youtu.be/AnqRXUwxmXQ?t=3m Half-life 2 Episode 2 ending: https://youtu.be/_zbrkhcF4_8?t=6m15s Walking Dead Season 1 ending: https://youtu.be/_w9Ba5KhciE?t=20m51s To The Moon ending: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUFLrr2yK88 John’s Finding Paradise review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/12/14/finding-paradise-review/ Yakuza 0’s streets are full of everyday life: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/08/14/gallery-everyday-life-on-the-streets-of-yakuza-0/ Takashi Miike movies: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0586281/ Exapunks is about hacking peanuts: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/08/09/exapunks-hacking-early-access-launch/ Overwatch’s Hammond (a hamster): https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/07/24/overwatch-adds-new-character-wrecking-ball/ Silent Hill 2’s dog ending: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUDcSeUvkOw Silent Hill dog song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1nDafqdH9o You should be playing Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVKxrWDbhPY Some things we like in We Happy Few: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbIBc6gHyOk And some things John doesn’t like: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/08/15/wot-i-think-we-happy-few/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Then the bus EXPLODED. Hello, we're talking about the best game openings this week. Cold opens or slow burns, we love a good first impression. Matthew and Brendan are both boring, however, and pick all the usual suspects, from BioShock to Half-Life 2. But there are some unexpected loves too. We’ve also been playing No Man’s Sky and Dead Cells. And there's a game opening quiz too. Hooray! Links: BioShock’s opening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfZ30sfjdLY Half-Life 2’s opening: https://youtu.be/y_3vMUOayyc?t=8s Mass Effect 2’s opening: https://youtu.be/Hia_m36pEpA?t=45s Portal 2’s opening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByNcVu5a1qQ Dragon Age: Origins’s peasant Dwarf opening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8fPpjO_BQM A forest elf’s opening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcNQtgo5A0U Grim Fandango’s transition to Year 2: https://youtu.be/-HX1_jwJR-Y?t=1m22s The terrible opening FMV of Resident Evil: https://youtu.be/G9A-D7XLMsI?t=1m10s Prey opening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PCEdbrzcLE Resident Evil 4’s opening: https://youtu.be/oQ6sr7Bvl7Y?t=8s John didn’t like No Man’s Sky’s “Next” update: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/07/26/no-mans-sky-next-beginning-is-inaccessible/ The most dismal planet in No Man’s Sky: https://www.pcgamer.com/i-found-the-most-dismal-no-mans-sky-planet-where-absolutely-no-happiness-is-allowed/ The Last of Us opening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecpQ_WUqKUM The making of the Last of Us: https://youtu.be/yH5MgEbBOps Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re talking about our dream games - games we want but don't exist so far. John wants a Robinson Crusoe style survival game that isn’t so punishing to those who can’t reach the good coconuts. Brendan wants an open world talk ‘em up with obscene amounts of detail. Speaking of dream games, John has also been playing No Man’s Sky again, following the recent update. He hasn’t tried multiplayer yet, but much has changed, not always for the better. Links: All is Lost featuring Robert Redford: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2017038/ Hell in the Pacific featuring Lee Marvin: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063056/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 Have you played… Deus Ex Mankind Divided? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/12/06/have-you-played-deus-ex-mankind-divided/ Shenmue III is being made: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/08/17/shenmue-3-published-by-deep-silver/ No Man’s Sky Next brings multiplayer to eleventy squillion planets: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/07/24/no-mans-sky-next-overhaul-update-live/ Hello Games on the death threats they received over butterflies: https://www.theguardian.com/games/2018/jul/20/no-mans-sky-next-hello-games-sean-murray-harassment-interview The Black Watchman is about bad doctors: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/07/21/the-bleeding-edges-the-black-watchmen/ Ahnayro is about a dream world: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/08/03/the-bleeding-edges-ahnayro-the-dream-world/ A retrospective on The Stone: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/07/28/the-bleeding-edges-the-stone-retrospective/ The Coral Castle of Florida: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_Castle Quintin Smith’s Pathologic review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/10/05/pathologic-review/ Have you played… Salt? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/03/16/salt-review/ Our listeners’ dream games: https://twitter.com/rockpapershot/status/1022059175558430726 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're talking about music in games this week, and what makes a good soundtrack. The bleeps and bloops of Pac Man, or the orchestras of Oblivion? We’ve also done a music quiz! Can you guess the game based on a few seconds of music? Alice likes the music from the Fallout series, while Brendan is more into the chiptune of VVVVVV. Katharine is a devourer of music and even goes to concerts for Final Fantasy music. Links: To Zanarkand from Final Fantasy X: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-0G_FI61a8 You can listen to one hour of Zelda Breath of the Wild if you want: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NntQ86FHcMY Final Fantasy orchestral concerts are intense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh6V1zMmbuU Florence and her Machine did a cover of Stand By Me for Final Fantasy XV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv2DSmy3Tro Final Fantasy X-2’s colourful J-pop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDQxs__0tg0 There’s a Jet Set Radio Live! http://jetsetradio.live/ VVVVVV’s soundtrack is called PPPPPP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbXryUNgIyU&list=PLE2FD0021FD676541 Beyoncé in Dream Land: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8ZF_ISU2Xg Animal Crossing browser extension adds music to your day: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/animal-crossing-music/fcedlaimpcfgpnfdgjbmmfibkklpioop The oldy-worldy Fallout music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l8iJgzNmlk Two Steps From Hell do loads of trailer music: https://www.youtube.com/user/TwoStepsFromTheMusic PUNKSNOTDEAD is the punk punching game Brendan can’t remember: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/04/05/punksnotdead/ Watch Dogs 2’s punk pop song by Masked Intruder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRiVdYMa2pc Katharine uses the Doom soundtrack to test headphones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm932Sqwf5E&list=RDJm932Sqwf5E&start_radio=1 Far Away in Red Dead Redemption: https://youtu.be/AUXGW6sWYDY?t=44s BioShock Infinite’s barbershop quartet sings God Only Knows: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUffPtS3-7A It’s whole anachronism soundtrack idea was great: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQheaCpjH0I&list=PLRj6F86aEpZQIGj6_1A1rkMDuNm5ulEDg&index=6 The Yawhg has gentle, calming music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dCILvtLtaA&list=PLp5noFfOiI_MKs_mryYXFcyoygmSc3g2X The Red Strings Club’s soundtrack is good: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fqh2R0ZffWY Our Spotify music quiz: https://open.spotify.com/user/brendankillsu/playlist/6p1RPaPiKhWXw6O31iWZub?si=k_KxZTuES-K_RrfAoxjgng 10 hours of Sims build music jesus wept: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAhwkPDYnUA The joy of Absolver’s social fight clubs: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/11/21/absolver-social-combat/ Absolver is getting new stuff in September: https://absolvergame.com/news/absolver-downfall-content-update Banner Saga 3 is a final foray into darkness: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/04/13/the-banner-saga-3-will-be-a-final-foray-into-darkness/ Ni No Kuni 2 review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/23/ni-no-kuni-2-pc-review/ New Ice York is funny: https://magicdweedoo.itch.io/new-ice-york Reader responses on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rockpapershot/status/1019534817116000256 Reader responses on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rockpapershot/photos/a.590931837659688.1073741826.176784995741043/1756526871100173/?type=3&theater Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let's chat magic in games! What are our favourite spells? Should magic be chaotic? Or should it be arranged in an orderly tome? Alice likes the competing forces of technology and magic in Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura, while Matthew tells us about a Japanese import of Ni No Kuni on Nintendo DS which came with a real spellbook. But we’ve been playing stuff too. Alice has been shouting at gravity in anti-platformer Youropa, and Matthew has been trying to cope with the size of Egypt in Assassin’s Creed Origins. A special thanks to Chris McDowall for the theme suggestion. May your life be full of good magic and only a moderate amount of chaotic magic. If you want to suggest a theme for a future episode, please email [email protected]. Links: Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcanum:_Of_Steamworks_and_Magick_Obscura Final Fantasy XV is so magical: Two Worlds was a game: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_Worlds_(video_game) Sorcery was our best RPG of 2016: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/12/03/best-rpg-2016/ The cannon spell from Planescape Torment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKZZEPoVb4c Ni No Kuni’s magic spell book on DS: https://youtu.be/HQtH4eQI7sA?t=1m8s BioShock Infinite was pretty different in early demos: https://youtu.be/6WUt5dEMt_Y?t=4m22s Have you played… Else Heart.Break()? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/02/20/have-you-played-else-heart-break/ The Earthsea books: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthsea The Knightmare TV show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eU5pdZOA9vc Knightmare Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC_46fJIySw Have you played… Encarta Mindmaze? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/04/04/have-you-played-encartas-mindmaze/ Gravity works differently in Youropa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_t3XUurm6Q Our Assassin’s Creed Origins review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/11/01/assassins-creed-origins-review-pc/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Non-player characters! Whether they’re annoying companions, side characters, or disembodied human heads, let’s talk about some of our favourites. John likes nice people, like Nicole Collard from Broken Sword, or Alyx Vance from Half-Life 2. Brendan likes the plucky passport forger in Papers Please who won’t take no for an answer. And Alice wants to carry around Murray the skull from Curse of Monkey Island. We’ve also played things. John has been smashing his car up in The Crew 2. Brendan has been kickflipping and faceplanting in OlliOlli 2. Whereas Alice has been puzzling through the calm architecture of Starman: Tale of Light. Links: Who is Nicole Collard from Broken Sword? http://brokensword.wikia.com/wiki/Nicole_Collard Our best friends in games podcast: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/08/podcast-who-are-our-best-friends/ Jorji Costava from Papers Please: http://papersplease.wikia.com/wiki/Jorji_Costava James Kidd from Assassin’s Creed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUfVDcR4SmA Solas from Dragon Age Inquisition: http://dragonage.wikia.com/wiki/Solas What the BioWare writers listened to while writing for their characters:http://blog.bioware.com/2014/12/12/the-sound-and-the-fury-what-we-listened-to-while-writing-dragon-age-inquisition/ HK-47 from Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic: http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/HK-47 Crestfallen Warrior from Dark Souls: http://darksouls.wikia.com/wiki/Crestfallen_Warrior Alyx Vance from Half-Life 2: http://half-life.wikia.com/wiki/Alyx_Vance Dying Light Zombie who says “No! Please!”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqKo5Jmgdgg Uncle Pey’j from Beyond Good and Evil: http://beyondgoodandevil.wikia.com/wiki/Pey%27j Murray the skull from Monkey Island: http://monkeyisland.wikia.com/wiki/Murray Johnny from Metal Gear Solid: http://metalgear.wikia.com/wiki/Johnny_Sasaki John’s review of The Crew 2: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/28/wot-i-think-the-crew-2-as-a-single-player-game/ John’s review of Red Faction Guerilla Re-Mars-tered: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/07/03/wot-i-think-red-faction-guerrilla-re-mars-tered/ Olli Olli 2 is a good skateboarding game: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/08/12/olliolli2-released/ Alice’s review of Starman: Tale of Light: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/07/03/starman-tale-of-light-review/ Lydia versus a gate (again): https://youtu.be/MTMwjYgJsFQ Trying to bring Lydia back to life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2KrgDbLwAU Lucian Lachance from Oblivion: http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Lucien_Lachance Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Soundbyte, an audio mini-series that explores topics in the games industry. In our first episode, Astrid Johnson talks us through unionisation in the games industry. She speaks to Doug Cockle, aka Geralt of Rivia, about his negative experiences in the recording booth, and ‘Emma’ from Game Workers Unite, who explains the challenges of unionising. On top of that, we hear from two worker-owned studios, including the creators of Dead Cells. Links: The voice actor strike started in 2016: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/10/17/voice-actor-strike/ And was later suspended after a tentative agreement: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/09/26/voice-actor-strike-suspended-as-tentative-agreement-reached/ Adam’s coverage of the GDC unionisation debacle: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/23/the-game-industry-needs-to-change-and-it-begins-now/ Game Workers Unite website: https://www.gameworkersunite.org/ Pixel Pusher's website: http://www.pixelpushersunion-512.com/ Dead Cells is a good game: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/tag/dead-cells/ Motion Twin's website: http://motion-twin.com/en/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let's talk about the naughty games we weren’t allowed to play as youngsters (but did anyway). Alice suffered strict rationing of The Sims 2, and Dave was scolded about Silent Hill. Although, Brendan’s parents didn’t seem to care about GTA 2. And we’re still sneaking games today. Alice has been kidnapping policemen in Cultist Simulator, while Dave has been scurrying around in Ghost of a Tale. Also, keep your earholes primed for some bonus facts about axolotls. Links: Dave is our new guides writer - hello Dave! https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/20/meet-dave-irwin-rpss-new-guides-writer/ King’s Quest II is an old Sierra adventure game: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King%27s_Quest_III Antichamber was good wunnit? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/01/31/wot-i-think-antichamber/ Nights of Azure 2 is the worst game Dave ever reviewed: https://store.steampowered.com/app/636570/Nights_of_Azure_2_Bride_of_the_New_Moon/ Have you played… The Sims 2? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/11/12/the-sims-2-best-sims/ Silent Hill is scary even behind the scenery: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/11/03/silent-hill-2-boundary-break/ Fortnite is discussed on Good Morning Britain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6EF_dgO3Vk The children are falling asleep in school: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bristol-primary-school-warning-children-1670369 Giants: Citizen Kabuto was an odd one: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/12/11/giants-citizen-kabuto-free/ Not including a tutorial in Cultist Simulator was a contentious decision: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/19/not-including-a-tutorial-in-cultist-simulator-was-the-most-contentious-decision-of-the-whole-project/ Nic Rueben’s Cultist Simulator review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/31/cultist-simulator-review/ John’s Ghost of a Tale review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/15/ghost-of-a-tale-is-a-stealthy-rpg-with-bright-whiskers/ Ghost of a Tale is designed by a former Dreamworks animator: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/05/08/lionel-gallat-explains-ghost-of-a-tale/ Redwall is NOT Animals of Farthing Wood meets Dark Souls: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redwall Axolotls are amaaaazing: http://mentalfloss.com/article/63130/11-awesome-axolotl-facts No, really: https://twitter.com/FrogCroakley/status/985890829154865152 The visual novel about the is called RB Axolotl: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s1uCfywrwI Dying Light 2 hopes to improve on everything: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/18/dying-light-2-preview-e3-2018/ The games our listeners weren’t allowed to play: https://twitter.com/rockpapershot/status/1011918305710559232 The most exciting PC games still to come in 2018: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/26/video-the-most-exciting-pc-games-still-to-come-in-2018/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

E3 is over, but that won’t stop us. We pick out our favourite games and oddest moments from the LA show. But we’re also introducing two new voices this week: Alice Bell and Noa Smith. Alice is excited for Ashen and enjoyed Andrew WK’s performance at Bethesda’s press event. Noa is looking forward to Beyond Good and Evil 2, but also the smiling veggies of Ooblets. And Brendan tells the story of how Hideo Kojima mildly inconvenienced him while visiting the show. Oh, and of course everyone is intrigued by Cyberpunk 2077. Link blast: Noa Smith is our new video person! https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/19/welcome-noa-smith-to-rpss-video-team/ Alice Bell is our new deputy editor! https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/19/alice-bell-is-rpss-new-deputy-editor-say-hello E3 was last week – here’s the best stuff we saw: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/18/best-games-of-e3-2018/ And here’s the 9 best games you might have missed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueuWfjAV9gs Bethesda’s E3 conference, featuring Andrew WK: https://youtu.be/OxGorVTMDIU?t=6m27s Beyond Good and Evil 2 brings back Pey’j and Jade: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/11/beyond-good-and-evil-2-e3-2018-trailer/ But Ubi’s crowdsourcing of art and music is a bit cheeky: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/15/hitrecord-claim-no-spec-work-on-bge2/ Cyberpunk 2077 had a cool trailer: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/10/cyberpunk-2077-e3-2018-trailer/ But Cyberpunk’s demo was shown in secret: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/13/cyberpunk-2077-e3-gameplay-demo/ Just Cause 4 has tornadoes: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/10/just-cause-4-announced-e3-trailer/ The Quiet Man looks, um… https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/11/square-enix-announce-the-quiet-man/ Sony’s press conference was a bit silly: https://youtu.be/JqAVdqh91eA?t=2m13s Maneater is Jaws: The Game (and we’re Jaws): https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/12/maneater-shark-game-announced/ Resident Evil 2 remake, starring a rat: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/12/resident-evil-2-remake-release-date/ Ooblets has ditched fighting for dance battles: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/12/ooblets-has-ditched-dogfighting-for-dance-battles/ Neo Cab wants you to embrace the Pain Worm: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/15/neo-cab-is-a-tale-of-emotional-survival-in-a-dying-industry/ Devil May Cry features Dante and Virgil and Nero and… Trish? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/11/devil-may-cry-5-announced/ Ashen is pretty Souls-y: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/06/16/ashen-e3-2015-trailer/ Assassin’s Creed Odyssey has romances! https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/11/assassins-creed-odyssey-release-date/ But Anthem doesn’t: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/10/anthem-preview/ EA’s press conference, featuring Vince Zampella: https://youtu.be/ekKth75c4bg?t=19m8s Respawn’s Star Wars game is Jedi: Fallen Order: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/09/respawn-announce-star-wars-jedi-fallen-order/ Ubisoft’s conference, featuring a wonderful dancing panda: https://youtu.be/vHYtD8jWMTo?t=1h10m52s Dead or Alive 6 says it’s going to ‘tone it down’: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/18/dead-or-alive-6-will-tone-down-the-wobbly-bits-half-heartedly/ But Soul Calibur VI isn’t: https://kotaku.com/at-e3-soulcaliburs-objectified-women-felt-like-a-relic-1826929714 Control is the new weird shooter from Remedy: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/12/remedy-announce-new-game-control/ Sable looks phwoar: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/12/sable-trailer/ The Elder Scrolls VI is set in Elsweyr and here’s the proof: https://assets.rockpapershotgun.com/images//2018/06/supporter-post-ted-vi-cat-620x338.jpg Dying Light 2 is changing its day and night cycle: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/18/dying-light-2-preview-e3-2018/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

E3 is coming! So here are some of our predictions, hopes and fears for this year’s dreaded multimedia assault on the nervous system. Alec is dreaming of XCOM sequel news but is more realistically expecting Spelunky 2 or Prey’s moon expansion. And Brendan wants a Elder Scrolls teaser, but might have to settle for Fallout 76. Alec has also been playing Vampyr, the bloodsucking RPG. Links: All our E3 coverage this year: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/tag/e3-2018/ Who is Chris Evans? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Evans_(presenter) Fallout 76 will probably be shown: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/30/fallout-76-trailer/ The Elder Scrolls VI isn’t being worked on (but this was 2 years ago tbf): https://www.gamesradar.com/the-elder-scrolls-6-is-not-in-development-for-the-time-being-says-bethesda Okay, we get it, Prey’s expansion will be set on the moon: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/19/secret-patch-updates-prey-with-rem-lyrics-as-achievements/ The “what games are good to play with your kids” podcast: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/10/podcast-what-do-we-play-with-our-kids/ Assassin’s Creed Odyssey revealed by promotional keyring: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/31/assassins-creed-odyssey-keyring/ Hitman 2 revealed by logo leak: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/05/hitman-2-revealed-by-logo-on-warner-bros-website/ Red Dead Redemption likely to have timed exclusivity to PlayStation 4: https://kotaku.com/red-dead-redemption-2-will-have-some-sort-of-timed-play-1826536689 Rumour: Cyberpunk 2077 to be shown at E3: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/01/16/rumour-cyberpunk-2077-to-be-shown-at-e3-2018/ Edwin’s preview of the new Tomb Raider: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/04/27/shadow-of-the-tomb-raider-appears-to-be-beautiful-but-a-little-vacuous/ The Elder Scrolls Online didn’t start out very good, says Brendan: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/04/07/impressions-the-elder-scrolls-online/ But it it has improved a fair bit, says Alec: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/25/elder-scrolls-online-summerset-review/ Spelunky 2 is happening: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/10/30/spelunky-2-announced/ Brendan also didn’t like Plunkbat when it came out. What’s wrong with you Brendan? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/03/28/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-review-early-access/ What the hell is “Centre Parcs”? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_Parcs Alec’s Vampyr review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/06/04/vampyr-review-pc/ Stalker 2 is being made but a long time off: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/16/stalker-2-release-date/ Rumour: Unannounced BioShock game being worked on at ‘secret’ 2K studio: http://www.newsweek.com/bioshock-4-development-2k-secret-studio-rumor-885903 Lovecraftian detective-em-up The Sinking City looks good: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/30/the-sinking-city-trailer-details/ My Friend Pedro has backflips, flipkicks and uzis: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/11/23/my-friend-pedro-has-kickflips-and-bullet-time/ Disco Elysium is still the game we want most: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/29/disco-elysium-rpg-details/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let's talk about the shooters we love in particular, following our recent list of the top 50 first-person shooters. Matt loves the backstabbing spy of Team Fortress 2. John adores Dark Forces and immersive sims like Prey. And Brendan has been playing Unreal Gold, which celebrates its 20th birthday this week. Also, we’ve got another patch notes quiz, this time focusing on shooters. Which “Turkey was too powerful”? Listen to find out. Links: Our top 50 FPS games: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/21/best-fps-2018/ Doom is the best shooter and definitely not chosen more or less at random: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/21/best-fps-2018/51/ Quake is proper good too though: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/21/best-fps-2018/48/ Alec loves Transformers: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/12/18/the-inevitable-failure-of-transformers-games/ “Kieron” is one of the ancient RPS myths that John sometimes tells us about: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kieron_Gillen Team Fortress 2 is only number 40 tsk tsk: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/21/best-fps-2018/12/ Dark Forces is pretty good you know: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/21/best-fps-2018/5/ It’s no Devil Daggers though: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/21/best-fps-2018/47/ City of Heroes wasn’t a shooter, get out: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/12/04/city-of-heroes-a-farewell-to-superarms/ Unreal Gold is free whaaat: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/22/unreal-free-for-20th-birthday/ Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs is a game of nope nope nope nope: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/09/09/wot-i-think-amnesia-a-machine-for-pigs/ Ion Maiden is a good old-but-new shooter: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/05/ion-maiden-review/ The game John couldn’t remember is Boiling Point: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiling_Point:_Road_to_Hell Boiling Point’s patch notes are classics: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2007/12/18/fixed-size-of-the-moon/ Have you played… Hexen? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/06/02/hexen-retrospective/ System Shock 2’s controls are willy-nilly, but it does have a “standard FPS” setting Brendan is too stupid to find: https://www.reddit.com/r/SystemShock2/comments/43t3bd/system_shock_2_controls_help/ Half-life on PlayStation 2 had a lock-on mechanic: http://combineoverwiki.net/wiki/Half-Life_(PlayStation_2_port)#Differences Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's topic: character creation! Matthew makes his debut on the podcast and tells us he always creates the same persona – a silver-haired man with a pencil moustache called “Mr Basil Pesto”. Terrifying. Meanwhile, Brendan makes poetic orcs or misshapen monsters. We’ve also had time to play things. Matthew is pottering through the first Pillars of Eternity and Brendan is scavenging through the bugs and jank of State of Decay 2. The topic this week was sent in by listener Orlando. Thanks, Orlando. Thorlando. Links: Matthew is our video person! https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/01/meet-matthew-castle-our-new-video-person/ He makes our videos here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5bKSAZBvV9AKlBJPG0Py-A Have you played… Mass Effect 3? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/03/21/mass-effect-3/ Mr Basil Pesto looks like John Waters: http://i2.cdnds.net/12/44/618x957/wenn436344.jpg Have you played… Grand Theft Auto Online? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/01/22/have-you-played-grand-theft-auto-online/ Brendan’s misshapen ‘Blapchap’ in 7 Days to Die: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/11/27/7-days-to-die-diary/ Lauren Morton at PC Gamer investigates the Dark Souls fashion police: https://www.pcgamer.com/in-search-of-the-mysterious-dark-souls-fashion-police/ Tekken 7’s character creator is joyful: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/06/19/tekken-7-outfits/ A very Tekken Christmas: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/12/20/dressing-up-as-santa-in-tekken-7-and-visiting-players/ The Fabsolver community: https://www.reddit.com/r/absolver/search?q=fabsolver&restrict_sr=1 Samuel Beckett or Dishonored NPC? https://twitter.com/Brendy_C/status/802956653704450050 South Park: The Stick of Truth’s character creator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg1XMZCFGZU South Park avatar creator: http://southpark.cc.com/avatar Things to celebrate about Divinity Original Sin 2: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/09/22/divinity-original-sin-2-best-things/ Kirk Hamilton of Kotaku on Splinter Cell’s enemy barks: https://kotaku.com/5921878/why-video-game-characters-say-such-ridiculous-things John’s Pillars of Eternity review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/03/26/pillars-of-eternity-review/ Pillars of Eternity II review-in-progress: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/08/pillars-of-eternity-ii-deadfire-review-in-progress/ 20 minutes of State of Decay 2: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/01/video-state-of-decay-2-goes-for-the-jugular-and-jugglers/ Some early impressions of its buggy zombie shopping trip: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/17/state-of-decay-2-review-in-progress/ Sad weary science lady with a weak arm: https://twitter.com/Tomi_Tapio/status/997081888887058433 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re going full Dad this week, talking about the games we play with our children. Alec’s daughter is excited by the characters of Rayman Legends (and is strangely fascinated by Battletech). John’s son likes to watch his dad diving in Abzu and Subnautica. Brendan doesn’t have children, only a cat. She can’t stand videogames and thinks they are a waste of time. Thank you to listeners Jon and Andy for submitting the topic! Links: Battletech is good but perhaps not for 5-year-olds: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/04/27/learning-to-love-battletech-an-evolving-opinion/ Connie also likes Rayman Legends: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/03/24/have-you-played-rayman-legends/ Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 is great but also not great: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/11/21/lego-marvel-super-heroes-2-opinions/ Can I bring a chair in? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/01/13/rip-hugh-walker-1949-2016/ Have you played... Trackmania Turbo? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/05/10/have-you-played-trackmania-turbo/ Proteus is good for kids: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/04/26/have-you-played-proteus/ Abzu is good: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/02/14/have-you-played-abzu/ Fe is good: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/16/fe-review/ SteamWorld Dig 2 is good: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/09/29/steamworld-dig-2-is-a-gentle-jewel/ Hidden Folks is good: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/02/15/hidden-folks-review/ The Binding of Isaac is NOT GOOD: https://youtu.be/ICtSJDOYn-A?t=22s Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let's talk about freezing cold city-builder Frostpunk. Katharine lost a third of her people when she forgot to turn the heat on, while Brendan dug up his society’s dead. Matt is horrified by these tales, but soon proves he’s just as horrible in our Frostpunk “ethical dilemma quiz”. We’ve been playing other games too. Matt has been sneaking around in Murderous Pursuits. And Katharine has been hopping around in two colourful platformers - Celeste and Fe. Links: Frostpunk review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/04/23/frostpunk-review/ Murderous Pursuits is a tense game of assassination: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/04/26/murderous-pursuits-has-slunk-out-of-the-shadows/ The Ship Remasted was a similar deal: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/02/22/the-ship-remasted-early-access/ Have you played… Assassin’s Creed multiplayer? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/11/16/have-you-played-assassins-creed-multiplayer/ SpyParty also has you pretending to be an NPC: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/04/24/spyparty-early-access-review/ Celeste is a good platformer phwoar: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/01/25/celeste-review/ Why Celeste’s dash feels great: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/04/03/celeste-dash/ Fe review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/16/fe-review/ A list of literary subgenres with ‘-punk’ attached: https://litreactor.com/columns/punkpunk-a-compendium-of-literary-punk-genres Meet Matthew Castle, our new video person: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/01/meet-matthew-castle-our-new-video-person/ And watch him run over zombies in State of Decay 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXGZK9MhcMw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we're chatting about our favourite robots. Alec likes the robo-ostrich from World of Warcraft. Brendan is fond of the abandoned bots of Hackmud. And John loves little BUD of Grow Home because of his wobbly walking animations. Speaking of bi-pedal machines, Alec has also been stomping around in strategy mech-clicker Battletech. John has been fighting a witch in The Swords of Ditto. While Brendan has foolishly appointed a gambler as his finance minister in Ni No Kuni II. Links: Machinarium review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2009/10/16/wot-i-think-machinarium/ The robot ostrich (or “mechanostrider”) from World of Warcraft: https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/wowwiki/images/f/fe/Red_Mechanostrider.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20090506095642 The hospital bot from Quadrilateral Cowboy: https://assets.rockpapershotgun.com/images//2018/04/quadrilateral-cowboy-robot.jpg Bud is the wobbly robot from Grow Home: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/02/05/grow-home-review/ Brendan is thinking of TerRover. “Terrarium” doesn’t exist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoS8y5I7NU8 The Planescape Torment robot’s full name is Nordom Whistleklik: http://torment.wikia.com/wiki/Nordom Hackmud was our best MMO of 2016: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/12/07/hackmud-best-mmo-2016/ Dog from Half-Life 2: http://half-life.wikia.com/wiki/Dog XCOM’s Sectopod: http://xcom.wikia.com/wiki/Sectopod_(XCOM:_Enemy_Unknown) X-COM’s penis bot: https://www.ufopaedia.org/index.php?title=Sectopod Have you played… Project Eden? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/12/15/have-you-played-project-eden/ Bot Colony’s voice recognition make its robots infuriating: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/04/04/bot-colony-review-early-access-2/ Have you played… Transformers: Fall of Cybertron? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/01/03/fall-of-cybertron-review-pc/ James Pond 2 Robocarp ugh, Robocod: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Pond_2 Battletech review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/04/24/battletech-review-pc/ Swords of Ditto review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/04/24/the-swords-of-ditto-review/ Into the Breach review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/27/into-the-breach-ftl-sequel-review/ Ni No Kuni II review:https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/23/ni-no-kuni-2-pc-review/ Ni No Kuni has the nicest Facebook comments (Supporter only): https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/04/23/ni-no-kuni-ii-has-the-freindliest-facebook-comments/ The best of HK-47: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CqpGfWrmc4 Please comment on this Fallout: New Vegas review because Quinns reads them every day: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/10/21/wot-i-think-fallout-new-vegas/ Our special podcast on the weird games of Rezzed: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/04/24/podcast-the-weird-wild-and-wonderful-of-egx-rezzed/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Astrid Johnson takes us through the halls of London game show EGX Rezzed, on a search for oddities like Stereopolis, a game projected onto a disc of frosted glass, or Wobble Garden, which is played entirely by twanging a bunch of springy door stoppers. It's an overview of the show for all those who couldn't make it. We also learn about the plane tinkering of Above, two-player sausage-dog cooperation in Phogs, and Disco Elysium, an isometric RPG featuring an alcoholic detective having an unconscious argument with his lizard brain. Links: Eurogamer’s roundup of the best games from the show floor: https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-04-16-rezzed-2018-best-games-from-the-show-floor Wobble Garden, with a controller made of door stopper springs: http://wobblylabs.com/projects/wobblegarden Mmmmm, door stopper springs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhy-jK93hY4 Fernando’s chicken shop: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/fernandos-peri-peri-chicken-shop-12167244 Phogs, the two player game of controlling a single sausage-bodied dog: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/09/26/phogs-co-op-two-dogs-one-controller/ We’re all excited about Disco Elysium: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/09/no-truce-with-the-furies-gets-a-mad-new-title-and-trailer/ Above, a flying game about soaring over islands: https://youtu.be/9utVnw0vAiU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're talking about how being a critic changes the way you play. Don’t blame us, blame listener Aleksei, who sent in the theme as a suggestion. But please also forgive Adam, because it’s his last week on the podcast. Adam says he’s been forced to play things he otherwise wouldn’t, and ended up loving Euro Truck Simulator 2 as a result. Matt says he sometimes now worries if he should be playing Fortnite. And Brendan says he’s just periodically disappointed at hype. Also mentioned: Battletech, Dota 2 and upcoming detective RPG Disco Elysium. Links: Adam is leaving us :( https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/28/adam-is-leaving-for-pastures-new-so-come-work-for-us/ Occupy White Walls is an MMO art gallery: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/tag/occupy-white-walls/ Getting Over It requires a resolve Matt doesn’t have (nor Brendan): https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/12/12/getting-over-it-with-matt-and-brendan/ Raft is about surviving on a raft at sea: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/04/06/sea-survival-sim-sandbox-raft-sets-sail-for-steam-in-may/ North is about being a refugee in a confusing city: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/04/05/north-free-game/ Far Cry’s story ruins everything: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/04/03/far-cry-5s-interrupting-story-ruins-everything/ Fortnite Battle Royale plays second fiddle to Plunkbat: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/09/28/fortnite-battle-royale-plays-second-fiddle-to-plunkbat/ Where The Water Tastes Like Wine review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/28/where-the-water-tastes-like-wine-review/ Disco Elysium breaks down the psyche of a detective: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/19/disco-elysium-breaks-down-the-psyche-of-a-detective/ Plunkbat versus Fortnite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwe0S4s0EAE Battletech mechs its way to PC: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/27/battletech-release-date/ Tekken player wrecks opponent’s controller: https://compete.kotaku.com/tekken-7-competitor-gets-so-mad-he-has-to-spike-someone-1825191366 Adam’s review of roguelike Unexplored: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/02/23/unexplored-review/ 50 best strategy games: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/11/18/the-50-best-strategy-games-on-pc/ Adam’s Night drive in Euro Truck Simulator: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/03/13/night-drive-euro-truck-simulator-2/ You can find all of Adam’s articles here: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/author/adam-smith/ There’s 3278 of them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week we talked about good games with rubbish tales. This week, it's the reverse - great stories with bad games attached to them. John thinks Dreamfall had an moving story about faith, alongside an awful 3D adventure interface. Katharine hates looking at the wall in Soma because the underwater robo-facility is so intriguing. And Brendan is sad that Pyre had a fiddly netball game attached to its warm tale of friendship and justice. Links: Adam didn’t care for Soma as much as us :( https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/09/21/soma-review/ But here’s Steven on its strengths: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/06/17/have-you-played-soma/ Soma’s safe mode lets you delete monsters: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/12/01/soma-safe-mode-update-released/ Have you played… The Longest Journey? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/11/05/have-you-played-the-longest-journey/ A Dreamfall retrospective: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/04/26/eurogamer-retrospective-dreamfall/ Ragnar Tørnquist on Dreamfall and faith: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/08/20/ragnar-tornquist-on-dreamfall-faith/ Pyre review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/07/28/pyre-review/ You’re not the hero of Pyre’s revolution, and that’s the point: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/08/18/youre-not-the-hero-of-pyres-revolution-and-thats-the-point/ Zunless Zea Zubmariner lured Pip into the water: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/10/11/sunless-sea-zubmariner/ Alec’s choose-your-own-review of Torment: Tides of Numenera : https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/02/28/torment-tides-of-numenera-review/ ER: The Game is good-not-good: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1n1cZ9D5cg Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/08/12/hellblade-senuas-sacrifice-review/ The Walking Dead: Season One, Episode One review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/04/25/wot-i-think-the-walking-dead-episode-one/ Have you played… Spec Ops: The Line? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/11/19/spec-ops-review Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a common problem. A good videogame let down by a terrible story - whther that's cheesy dialogue, dull characters, nonsensical plot. Try harder or let us go back to shooting the things. Alec is semi-suffering through Far Cry 5, adoring the woodland shootouts between the trite storytelling. Brendan has been riding chocobos in Final Fantasy XV while navigating plot holes the size of a fancy car. And Katharine has been partnering up in co-op prison break game A Way Out. Links: Videogame weddings are full of lies, says Katharine (supporter only): https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/23/video-game-weddings-are-full-of-lies/ Our Far Cry 5 review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/29/far-cry-5-review/ Far Cry 5’s interrupting story ruins everything: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/04/03/far-cry-5s-interrupting-story-ruins-everything/ Alec loves Montana though: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/28/best-far-cry-setting/ Katharine’s Final Fantasy XV review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/08/final-fantasy-15-pc-review/ “What does a lowly, ephemeral speck know of All Creation!” (spoilers for FFXV) https://youtu.be/OfOiiF0fK3A?t=2m23s Have you played… Murder Dog IV: Trial of the Murder Dog? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/08/07/have-you-played-murder-dog-iv-trial-of-the-murder-dog/ FFXV’s sidequests are pants (supporter only): https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/12/final-fantasy-xvs-side-quests-are-pants/ A Way Out is a co-op prison escape game: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/06/10/a-way-out-prison-game/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The crew were in San Francisco last week for the Game Developer's Conference, where they spoke to developers and gambled on the results of the annual awards show. Now they’re back to tell you all about their Stateside adventures. Between sessions of Far Cry 5, of course. Adam chatted to Civ IV creator Soren Johnson about his upcoming 4X game. John spoke to Paul Neurath, the creator of Ultima Underworld II. And Brendan was at the awards ceremony at the Independent Games Festival, where he quizzed Tim Schafer. None of these people actually feature in the podcast, but look at all the names we've dropped! Links: All our GDC 2018 coverage so far: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/tag/gdc-2018 Have you played… Ultima Underworld II? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/05/14/have-you-played-ultima-underworld-ii/ The Fe and SteamWorld people are the same now: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/01/25/steamworlders-merge-with-fe-folks-to-create-thunderful/ Emily Short’s interactive fiction columns: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/tag/if-only/ Fork Parker is the fictional chief financial officer of Devolver who once straight-up asked for money: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/11/08/forkstarter-devolver-digital-just-plain-ask-for-your-money/ Devolver’s nightmare press conference at E3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqPT9hyPANs Have you played… Thief: Deadly Shadows? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/12/08/have-you-played-thief-deadly-shadows/ Level designer of Thief 3’s Cradle is working on Blackout Club: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/28/the-blackout-club-cooperative-horror-game/ 10 Crowns is a 4X game from Civ 4 designer Soren Johnson: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/05/10-crowns-is-a-historical-4x-from-civ-4-designers-studio/ Night in the Woods wins grand prize at IGF Awards: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/22/night-in-the-woods-wins-igf-grand-prize/ And here were the other nominees for all the awards: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/01/03/igf-2018-finalists/ Baba Is You is a puzzler that lets you write the rules: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/12/12/baba-is-you-puzzle-game/ How Butterfly Soup creates believable characters: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/12/08/butterfly-soup-characters/ SpyParty is coming to Steam early access after one billion years: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/11/22/spyparty-is-coming-to-steam-early-access-after-8-years-of-development/ Alec really likes Far Cry 5’s Montana: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/28/best-far-cry-setting/ Our Far Cry 5 review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/29/far-cry-5-review/ A man in Far Cry 5 who didn’t want to be shot: https://youtu.be/ksILKlN8Dr4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the release of Warhammer: Vermintide 2, we decided to celebrate the lovable dirtbag of videogames. The lowly, filthy, wonderful rat. Adam respects the helpful rats of Dishonored, who take the blame for all unusual noises. Matt likes the swag-carrying Loot Rat of Vermintide 2, who scurries away as you pursue it. And Brendan vents his disappointment at the Rat King of Dark Souls 2, who’s just a normal rat with a posh accent. But who among the three of our hosts is a rat themselves? Find out (and play along) in our squeaky quiz. Links: Dishonored 2 review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/11/14/dishonored-2-review-pc/ A Plague Tale has the best rats: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/02/08/a-plague-tale-innocence-rats/ Vermintide 2 is grimdark ultraviolence at a spectacular scale: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/09/vermintide-2-is-grimdark-ultraviolence-at-a-spectacular-scale/ Warhammer expert on why we all love the Skaven: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/09/01/total-war-warhammer-ii-interview-skaven/ The Rat King: http://darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com/Rat+King And his lovely Covenant: http://darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com/Rat+King+Covenant The psychic rat in Planescape Torment is called Many-as-One: http://torment.wikia.com/wiki/Many-as-One Boo the “miniature giant space hamster” - http://baldursgate2.wikia.com/wiki/Minsc_and_Boo Slay the Spire has fungi that are NOT rats: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/12/19/slay-the-spire-deck-building/ Rat-avoiding stealth game Ghost of a Tale came out this week: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/13/mousy-rpg-ghost-of-a-tale-squeaks-out-of-early-access/ Book of Demons pops up on early access: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/07/28/book-of-demons-early-access-release/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Best pals John and Brendan discuss friendship in videogames. What characters feel like close buddies to them? John felt a kinship with Alistair from Dragon Age: Origins and a lesser attachment to Lydia from Skyrim. Whereas Brendan was habitually close to an undead woman in Dark Souls who sold him poisonous arrows. John also enthuses about animated adventure Chuchel and recommends Ion Maiden, a new retro shooter from 3D Realms. Brendan, on the other hand, comes up with some fictional scenarios between iconic videogame characters. Would J C Denton get along with Adam Jenson? Listen to find out. Links: The Ridealongs: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/tag/ridealong/ Agony aunt Anna Rayburn: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Raeburn Alistair from Dragon Age: http://dragonage.wikia.com/wiki/Alistair Lydia vs a Gate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTMwjYgJsFQ The life and death of Lydia in Skrim: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/11/21/skyrim-lydia-death/ Stardew Valley review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/03/04/stardew-valley-review/ Barbas was a dog in Skyrim, and so was Meeko: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/10/22/skyrim-survival-diary/ John hates Fallout 4’s “stupid dog” : https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/11/30/why-i-hate-fallout-4s-stupid-dog/ Oxenfree review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/01/20/oxenfree-review/ You’re not the hero of Pyre’s revolution (and that’s the point): https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/08/18/youre-not-the-hero-of-pyres-revolution-and-thats-the-point/ Night in the Woods review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/02/27/night-in-the-woods-review/ Have you played… Else Heart.Break()? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/02/20/have-you-played-else-heart-break/ The Witcher developer hints that Geralt will guest appear in a different game: https://twitter.com/Marcin360/status/970994926677872640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Ion Maiden review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/05/ion-maiden-review/ Chuchel review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/06/chuchel-review/ Who is Garrus? http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Garrus_Vakarian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week the team is snowed in. So let’s talk about the weather. Blizzards, thunderclouds, sandstorms and, er, night-time? All of it classifies as weather to us if it appears in a game. Adam likes being warm while looking out at the frosty cold in survival game The Long Dark. And Brendan likes the blizzards of Viking strategy game Northgard and the foggy, windless days of sailing sim Sailaway. John, however, thinks the weather should stop. There’s no reason why everything should be covered in smog, nor our hands and feet detached from the cliffside by Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s annoying rain. But we've also been playing lots. Assassin's Creed: Origins, Vagante, All Walls Must Fall, Orwell: Ignorance Is Strength, Street Fighter V, and Where The Water Tastes Like Wine - all come under scrutiny. Links: The joy of Witcher 3’s great outdoors: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/06/16/the-joy-of-the-witcher-3s-great-outdoors/ Adam and Brendan’s road trip in The Crew: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/09/20/the-crew-free-road-trip/ Weather watching in The Long Dark: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/08/03/the-long-dark-weather/ Northgard’s early access review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/02/27/northgard-review-early-access/ Have you played… Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/09/20/have-you-played-metal-gear-solid-v-the-phantom-pain/ Sailing the Northwest Passage in Sailaway: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/05/04/sailing-sim-northwest-passage/ Sailaway floats out of early access: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/27/sailaway-released/ All is Lost is about a competent man: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2017038/ Hell in the Pacific is about two incompetent men: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063056/ Games don’t get Thunderstorms right (supporter post): https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/07/19/heres-why-games-dont-get-thunderstorms-right/ Have you played… Proteus? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/04/26/have-you-played-proteus/ Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles has great storms: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/07/20/yonder-the-cloud-catcher-chronicles-review/ Where the Water Tastes Like Wine review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/28/where-the-water-tastes-like-wine-review/ All Walls Must Fall is also out: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/23/quirky-time-travelling-nightclub-crawling-tactical-rpg-all-walls-must-fall-busts-out-of-early-access-today/ Vagante is also finally out: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/23/4-years-later-platform-roguelike-vagante-launches/ Orwell: Ignorance Is Strength chapter one review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/26/orwell-ignorance-is-strength-review/ Assassin’s Creed: Origin’s tour guide teaches badly: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/22/assassins-creed-origins-discovery-tour-review/ And it covers up the willies: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/21/assassins-creed-origins-discovery-tour-censors-all-the-nudey-statues/ Three days of Blanka in Street Fighter V: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/27/blanka-slate-starting-over-again-in-street-fighter-v/ Adam’s pretentious Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture article: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/04/18/everybodys-gone-to-the-rapture-englishness/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week the gang are talking JRPGs, or Japanese role-playing games to use words. Does a game have to be made in Japan to be a JRPG? Or does it just need bright colours and turn-based battles? We seek to understand the true meaning of the genre by stumbling over dozens of games and deciding whether or not they’re allowed into the JRPG treehouse. Katharine reckons if it isn’t made in Japan, it can get out. Adam thinks the US-made Anachronox counts. And Brendan is happy to apply the label to Undertale, or anything with lots of townspeople to speak to. Links: Spawn point - The best JRPGs for beginners: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/16/spawn-point-the-best-jrpgs-for-total-beginners/ Have you played... Anachronox? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/09/30/anachranox-retro/ It’s on GOG if not! https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/03/15/the-wait-is-over-anachronox-is-on-gog-com/ Final Fantasy XV is coming to PC soon: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/01/16/final-fantasy-xv-pc-release-date/ Katharine’s Final Fantasy XV interview: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/20/final-fantasy-15-mod-support-essential/ The trailer for Kingsglaive, the film you need to watch to understand FFXV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htnkOpknGok Final Fantasy XV will have co-op multiplayer: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/20/final-fantasy-xvs-co-op-expands-with-its-pc-launch/ Have you played… Final Fantasy VII? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/06/29/have-you-played-final-fantasy-vii/ Kotaku’s Found in Translation for Final Fantasy VII: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZefYEaNUJ7w&list=PLsiJPoHlPqEEA07AKMQ2Hm2oRLiGkR_uJ Space Funeral is the best IJRPG ever: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/10/31/the-50-best-free-games-on-pc/42/ What’s Hyperdimension Neptunia? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/11/03/hyperdimension-neptunia-rebirth3-v-generation-pc/ Recettear (it’s pronounced racketeer) review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/09/11/wot-i-think-recettear-an-item-shops-tale/ The Secret of Mana remake is out: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/15/secret-of-manas-3d-remake-is-out-now-on-steam/ Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 2 is definitely a JRPG: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/08/05/the-legend-of-heroes-trails-of-cold-steel-released-on-pc/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're talking morality. Paragons, renegades, sith, jedi, and everything in between. Matt thinks the decision to reprogram the Geth in Mass Effect 2 is full of complexity. Brendan prefers the moral drudgery of being an Arstotzkan border guard in Papers, Please. Whereas John enjoys being bad in Knights of the Old Republic. We also play a game in which John and Matt are put through the confessionals of Catherine. Who is "Lawful" and who is "Chaotic"? Thanks to Tom Frederick for suggesting the topic of 'morality'! Links: Killing the Geth in Mass Effect 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiaedZF72gg Bastard of the Old Republic, part one: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2009/02/22/bastard-of-the-old-republic-on-eurogamer/ Have you played… Soma? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/06/17/have-you-played-soma/ Soma’s safe mode has no monsters: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/12/01/soma-safe-mode-update-released/ Who is HK-47? http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/HK-47 Functionalism??????? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5AwaFsp5Os Altered Carbon is a new Netflix show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhFM8akm9a4 Have you played... Sun Dogs? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/10/17/have-you-played-sun-dogs/ Have you played… Papers Please? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/07/28/papers-please-have-you-played/ A Good Gardener is a war time grow 'em up: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/11/16/a-good-gardener/ The Red Strings Club review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/01/22/the-red-strings-club-review/ Catherine's confessionals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXj46LBVhb4 Talos Principle 2 is actually coming out: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/05/20/the-talos-principle-2-announced/ Readers’ answers on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rockpapershot/photos/a.590931837659688.1073741826.176784995741043/1584457891640406/?type=3&theater ... and Twitter: https://twitter.com/rockpapershot/status/964077020937367554 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They lurk, they creep, they skulk and weep. This week the team is talking about their favourite monsters in games. Alice reckons you can’t beat a good Dark Souls skeleton. And Katharine tells us about a demon in Okami. Meanwhile, Adam ponders the gameiness of movie monsters like the sex curse of It Follows. But we’ve also been playing monstrous things. Slay the Spire gets more praise from Alice the acrobatic stabber. Adam has been tracking a gigantospider in Hunt: Showdown. And Katharine has been acting most monstrously, playing games on a Nintendo. Links: The RPS verdict on DOOM: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/06/07/doom-pc-review-2/ Final Fantasy’s bomb: http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Bomb_(creature) Official Rock Paper Shotgun policy as regards to skeletons: https://twitter.com/rockpapershot/status/960861687887908864 Dark Souls has some good skeletons: http://darksouls3.wiki.fextralife.com/Root+Skeleton Look, these ones are wheels: http://darksouls3.wiki.fextralife.com/Skeleton+Wheel Okami review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/12/18/okami-hd-review-pc/ How do you get THIS THING drunk? https://orig08.deviantart.net/5eb0/f/2008/194/4/4/okami___yamata_no_orochi_by_vyrilien.jpg Merlocks are adorable: http://wowwiki.wikia.com/wiki/Murloc Have you played… Left 4 Dead 2? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/01/12/have-you-played-left-4-dead-2/ Neon Maniacs is a b-movie about killing things with water and such: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0127045/ Have you played… Soma? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/06/17/have-you-played-soma/ It Follows is a movie about a sexually transmitted curse: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Follows Slay the Spire has some mad possibilities: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/02/slay-the-spire-infinite-combo/ Hunt: Showdown looks neat: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/06/21/hunt-showdown-e3-2017-gameplay-footage/ Final Fantasy Explorers was a bad go at Monster Hunter: http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Final_Fantasy_Explorers Anatomy by Kitty Horrorshow on Itch.io: https://kittyhorrorshow.itch.io/anatomy Depths of Fear review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/04/29/roguelike-horror-depths-of-fear-review/ The Deadly Tower of Monsters: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/06/12/deadly-tower-of-monsters-zeno-clash-devs/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're talking about remakes, remasters and recurrent nightmares. What would we like to see remade? Katharine wouldn’t mind a spruced up Deus Ex. Brendan thinks a rejigged Assassin’s Creed could work (how perverse). While Adam doesn’t want any of his loves remade, lest they pollute his fond memories (OK, maybe Pathologic 2). However, the real question is what games from today will be remade in the distant future? Links: Remaking old adventure games is bad, says Ron Gilbert: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/11/22/when-is-it-ok-to-remake-a-classic-game/ Okami HD review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/12/18/okami-hd-review-pc/ Pathologic remake confusingly renamed Pathologic 2: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/08/31/pathologic-remake-renamed-pathologic-2/ Have you played… Doom II? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/05/24/have-you-played-doom-ii-hell-on-earth/ How Doom’s Glory Kills maintain momentum: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/07/15/doom-glory-kills-mechanic/ Everything you need to know about Final Fantasy XII: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/01/29/spawn-point-what-to-know-about-final-fantasy-xii/ Underworld Ascendant is a bit of an Ultima Underworld remake: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/10/14/underworld-ascendant/ Prey review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/05/09/prey-review/ Resident Evil 2 remake is in the works at Capcom: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/08/16/resident-evil-2-remake/ Can you SURVIVE the evil!? https://youtu.be/lgAJB9Q2LzM?t=13s Grow Home’s flailing hero is a good robot: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/09/23/how-grow-home-uses-maths-to-generate-a-personality/ Adam talks to a nice man in Budapest: https://twitter.com/noneconomical/status/958381777155969029 Assassin’s Creed’s post-murder chatting: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/06/05/have-you-played-assassins-creed/ Have you played… Anachronox? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/09/30/anachranox-retro/ The god game From Dust: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/07/27/from-dust-review/ Have you played… Startopia? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/03/22/startopia-retrospective/ Psst! You can play No One Lives Forever for free: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/07/05/no-one-will-sell-no-one-lives-forever-so-lets-download-it/ The cancelled Legacy of Kain game, Dead Sun: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/02/24/legacy-of-kain-dead-sun-cancelled/ The long road to Timesplitters Rewind: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/06/06/timesplitters-rewind-pc/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The answer is no, by the way. But there are so many examples of bad survival games that it’s important to remember the good ones. Adam wraps himself up in the Long Dark, while Matt gets sea sickness from Subnautica. But it’s not all barbequed pork chop and pointy sticks. Brendan is enjoying card game roguelike Slay the Spire. Adam is climbing a mountain in tough platformer Celeste, and Matt is second guessing the intentions of the cyberpunk heroes of The Red Strings Club. And, bonus: We've also got Quickfire Questions with Charlie Cleveland of Subnautica developers Unknown Worlds Entertainment. Links: The Long Dark is survival at its brutal best: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/01/09/the-long-dark-sandbox-review/ Subnautica review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/01/24/subnautica-review/ The Forest is beautiful and terrifying: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/01/18/the-forest-review-early-access-2/ Zelda’s hardcore survival island: https://tay.kinja.com/breath-of-the-wilds-eventide-island-is-nothing-new-but-1793447344 Dying Light: The Following review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/02/12/dying-light-the-following-review/ Have you played… I Am Alive? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/11/07/have-you-played-i-am-alive/ The Solus Project early access review: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/05/31/the-solus-project-review/ The deadly creatures of Rain World: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/03/30/the-deadly-creatures-of-rain-world-a-bestiary-in-gifs/ The Long Dark’s story mode wasn’t great: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/08/01/the-long-dark-review/ Project Zomboid devs talk zombies with Dean Hall: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/04/01/forever-undead-dean-hall-and-indie-stone-talk-zombies/ This is Dead State: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/12/11/pc-game-review-dead-state/ And this is State of Decay: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/10/21/have-you-played-state-of-decay/ Frostpunk asks why we survive: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/06/26/frostpunk-preview-survival/ Have you played… UnReal World? https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/10/20/have-you-played-unreal-world/ Pour cyberpunk drinks in The Red Strings Club: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/01/22/the-red-strings-club-review/ 9 minutes of mountain climbing in Celeste: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/01/12/celeste-mountain-climbing-gameplay-video/ Slay the Spire made Adam love deck building: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/12/19/slay-the-spire-deck-building/ It also has a goblin who runs a gameshow: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/01/17/slay-the-spire-good-roguelike/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We speak to Charlie Cleveland, director on underwater survival game Subnautica about why there are no guns in their game and why "terror" is a better way to describe the depths than "horror". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices