Episode 153: Hitman, Spec Ops, Yooka-Laylee, Lithium

Reviews in this episode are for Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice (PS4), Super Mario Odyssey (Switch), South Park: The Fractured but Whole (PS4), Don't Knock Twice (Switch), Dead Synchronicity: Tomorrow Comes Today (Switch) and Thimbleweed Park (Switch). I've also added eight more Steam codes to the game give-away page. Listen for the password. If you can't use them or don't want them, share with a friend. The new plan is to give listeners one week to redeem the games you want, and then I'll share the link on Twitter, which will work until the password changes on the next episode. 00:00:00 - Game Audio Clip (from South Park) 00:00:47 - Welcome to the Podcast (Intro) 00:06:27 - Hellblade - Senua's Sacrifice (Review) 00:12:44 - Super Mario Odyssey (Review) 00:24:30 - South Park - The Fractured but Whole (Review) 00:33:20 - Don't Knock Twice (Review) 00:37:40 - Dead Synchronicity - Tomorrow Comes Today (Review) 00:43:53 - Thimbleweed Park (Review) 00:52:05 - Closing Remarks (Wrap-Up) 00:53:52 - Game Music Clips (from Super Mario Odyssey) 00:57:44 - Post-Episode Outtake (with Addie) Have feedback? Write to us at [email protected] Find links and show notes at http://www.vggpodcast.com

It's a change of pace this time. Rather than an all-reviews episode, Bill joins me to talk about our favorite games of 2017 (and prior years). We read some listener email, which prompts several tangents and discussions about Nintendo Labo, 8-bit Castlevania games, the future of Playstation VR, and more. We recap our 2017 predictions to see how well we guessed the world of gaming at the beginning of last year. We also have a few new predictions for 2018. With no end to the games on the horizon, we talk about quite a few upcoming releases, with rankings on how likely it is they'll release this year. Oh, and if you're a PC gamer, you're in luck. Sixteen games have been added to the codes give-away page. They're free to the first listener able to solve a little scavenger hunt made up of clues in the episode. Listening late? Play along anyway, because the Steam codes usually last days, weeks, even months before being redeemed. It never hurts to check. 00:00:04 - Welcome to the Podcast (Intro) 00:05:40 - Intro and Agenda for 2017 Wrap-Up 00:10:47 - Listener Email (Jason G) 00:14:51 - Listener Email (Pawel) 00:29:23 - Listener Email (Judge Greg) 00:32:55 - Mike's 2017 Honorable Mentions 00:49:23 - Bill's Best-Of-Played in 2017 01:06:03 - Mike's Best Of 2017 Top 10 List 01:18:49 - Mike's 2017 Didn't-Play List 01:24:57 - Bill's Ongoing Backlog List 01:32:13 - Bill's 2017 Predictions Recap 01:34:21 - Mike's 2017 Predictions Recap 01:38:27 - Bill's Predictions for 2018 01:44:29 - Mike's Predictions for 2018 01:48:44 - Looking Ahead to 2018 and Beyond 02:12:45 - Closing Remarks (Wrap-Up) 02:15:00 - VGG Podcast MIDI Music Clip 02:17:21 - Post-Episode Outtake (with Addie) Have feedback? Write to us at [email protected] Find links and show notes at http://www.vggpodcast.com

The first three reviews this episode are for point-and-click adventure games. I review The Uninvited, a classic NES adventure game now available as part of the 8-Bit Adventure Anthology (PS4). After that, another from the same collection, Shadowgate (PS4). Then I review Subject 13 (PS4), Wolfenstein: The New Colossus (PS4), and Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle (Switch). In the intro, several more game codes on Steam have been added to the codes give-away page, and I talk a little about plans for our 2017 year-end wrap-up episode, where Bill will return to co-host. If want to participate, email us your best-of list, predictions for 2018, or just whatever seems appropriate for a year-end wrap-up. 00:00:00 - Game Audio Clip (from Wolfenstein 2) 00:00:46 - Welcome to the Podcast (Intro) 00:05:24 - 8-Bit Adventure: The Uninvited (Review) 00:15:20 - 8-Bit Adventure: Shadowgate (Review) 00:21:30 - Subject 13 (Review) 00:32:22 - Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus (Review) 00:41:08 - Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle (Review) 00:50:28 - Closing Remarks (Wrap-Up) 00:51:13 - Game Music Clips (from Mario + Rabbids) 00:52:11 - Post-Episode Outtake (with Addie) Have feedback? Write to us at [email protected] Find links and show notes at http://www.vggpodcast.com

After more than two months, I'm back with the latest "reviews" episode of Video Game Generations. This week, I review Dishonored: Death of the Outsider, Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, and Assassin's Creed Origins. I had also planned to review several of the entries in this year's Interactive Fiction Competition, but only got around to three of them, which are also included. For the first time, I'm also including segment timestamps in these show notes. I may go back and add timestamps retroactively for the last four episodes also, if I get the time. I hope this helps any listener wanting to skip a review, or skip to a specific review. 00:00:00 - Game Audio Clip (from AC Origins) 00:00:31 - Welcome to the Podcast (Intro) 00:04:12 - Dishonored: Death of the Outsider (Review) 00:17:14 - Danganronpa V3 - Killing Harmony (Review) 00:30:04 - Interactive Fiction Competition 2017 (Intro) 00:34:26 - IFComp 2017 - Just Get the Treasure (Review) 00:38:09 - IFComp 2017 - Eat Me (Review) 00:42:39 - IFComp 2017 - Hexteria Skaxis Qiameth (Review) 00:44:25 - Assassin's Creed Origins (Review) 00:57:02 - Closing Remarks (Wrap-Up) 00:58:46 - Game Music Clips (from Danganronpa V3) 01:03:58 - Post-Episode Outtake (with Addie)Have feedback? Write to us at [email protected] Find links and show notes at http://www.vggpodcast.com

This time on VGG Reviews (which is really what I should call the podcast, for now), I talk about Parascientific Escape: Cruise in the Distant Seas (3DS), Agents of Mayhem (PS4), Bulb Boy (Switch), Last Day of June (PS4), Danganronpa v3: Killing Harmony (demo on PS4), and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy (PS4). But first, some preliminary house-keeping includes an update on what's keeping Addie busy (to be clear, Addie isn't here -- it's just me letting you know what she's up to these days), and several new Steam game codes added to the codes give-away page. The ending music is a catchy, silly tune from Agents of Mayhem, which is also the source of the series of puns at the start of the episode. Have feedback? Write to us at [email protected] Find links and show notes at http://www.vggpodcast.com

There was plenty of game review content this time, so no top-10 list or special feature (sorry). Reviews include Lithium: Inmate 39, Yooka-Laylee, Spec Ops: The Line, and Hitman: Season 1. Before that, I give out the new password for the game codes page, where four new games have been added (three on Steam, one for Vita). The ending music for this episode is the main theme from Yooka-Laylee. Have feedback? Write to us at [email protected] Find links and show notes at http://www.vggpodcast.com

This episode, I review The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo Switch), Shadwen (PS4), and Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls (PS4). A review of Tokyo Jungle (PS3) submitted by Jason G. is also included. After the reviews, I list the top ten features missing from the Nintendo Switch, and the ten games releasing later this year that I'm most looking forward to playing. The ending music this week is the title theme for Danganronpa AE:UDG. Enjoy! Have feedback? Write to us at [email protected] Find links and show notes at http://www.vggpodcast.com

We're back! Well, I'm back. This is the first review-only solo episode after the end of our regular format last time. It's no longer weekly, but I plan to release an episode as often as I can. Until Heath is ready to co-host and we can return to a weekly schedule, the next few weeks or months or years will be like this. I hope you like game reviews! This week, I review Prey (PS4), Syberia II (PS3), and The Surge (PS4). That's most of the show. First, though, this week's feature is a top ten list of the most exciting announcements (for me) from this year's E3. Listen afterwards for this week's code give-away password. Up for grabs are Steam codes for Good Robot, Manual Samuel, and Dreamscapes: The Sandman - Premium Edition. Have feedback? Write to us at [email protected] Find links and show notes at http://www.vggpodcast.com

This milestone marks not only our one hundred and fiftieth episode, but also the last episode for Addie. When the podcast continues (probably in the next month or two), the format is changing to an all-review pre-recorded show with just me. That will probably continue for a while, with occasional Mini-Gamers segments with Heath or other special episodes possibly co-hosted by Bill. Then, when the time is right, the show will return to a weekly schedule, with Heath as the permanent co-host. Anyway, that's the plan. It might take months or even years before he's ready, or it may end altogether before that. It's impossible to express how grateful we both are for everybody who listened to and enjoyed our podcast over these past three (almost) years. Whether you were a recent listener, a lapsed listener from early on, or there from the beginning to the end, we never would have kept going without you as an audience. It means the world to us both that you helped make this possible for so long. This week's show starts with our usual news and new releases, followed by an update on what I've been playing. That's Syberia II (PS3) and Prey (PS4). After that, we switch gears to email, which is the focus of this week's episode. We also received several audio clips from listeners, which are included too. After that, we reminisce for a bit before closing the show. It may not truly be the end, but with Addie stepping away from co-hosting duties, it sure feels like it. We hope you enjoy this "final" episode. Have feedback? Write to us at [email protected] Find links and show notes at http://www.vggpodcast.com

After a real-world month and 121 in-game hours, I finished Persona 5. My epic spoiler-free pre-recorded review is here at last. Before that, though, Addie's back for our penultimate episode. I talk a little about plans for the future, to keep the podcast going in some form even though it's reached an end for her. I'm sure we'll talk more about that next week, too. After talking briefly about this week's new releases, we read listener email. This includes a couple great questions about weapon durability in games, and frustrating game mechanics in general. We also get brief impressions of The Fall, The Last Tinker, and Fruit of Grisaia from Nikhil. Several Steam codes from prior weeks may still be available, and six new ones have been added this week. They are for Outlast, Mushroom Men: Truffle Trouble, Atonement: Scourge of Time, Atonement 2: Ruptured by Despair, Sword of the Stars: The Pit - Gold Edition and Bardbarian. The ending music this week is an assortment of several clips from Persona 5. Have feedback? Write to us at [email protected] Find links and show notes at http://www.vggpodcast.com