Game of the Year 2025

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Hello, and welcome to side Quest.

Speaker 2 (00:20):
This is our weekly.

Speaker 1 (00:21):
Video game show here. I give you percent. It's the
game of the year episode. It's the best episode, maybe
not the best episode. It's just the final final ish
episode of the year that we always do here. It's
gonna be a good time. My name is dyl Muss
and I'm joined by the lackluster kirklyn Onknown. I feel
so bad that I just said that I wouldn't have
ron Burg anymore. Was read right off the prompt.

Speaker 3 (00:40):
That I set you up for it. That's fair. Now
I'm doing very good despite my name being lackluster. I'm
feeling more than lackluster. I'm feeling good. It's the holidays,
you know, time off is currently going heading up to
the hill tomorrow morning, so it's it's all thumbs up
really despite my name.

Speaker 1 (00:58):
I guess yeah, I think the name is really more
so that for you, twenty twenty five as a year
of video games was maybe not one that you played
a ton of new stuff, and even the old stuff
you played a lot of maybe the same some of
the same things. So it maybe just wasn't like a
you know, monumental year for you. I guess is that
what it is.

Speaker 3 (01:15):
I feel like I also didn't realize that until we're
like getting ready for this recording for this episode. It
was like, yeah, this was great year. You know, looking back,
I feel like I played a lot of things, and
then I had to like pull up like, you know,
games that came out in twenty twenty five, and just scanning,
I'm like, oh, yeah, I played this one scroll scroll scroll, scroll, scroll, scroll, scroll,
like oh oh man, oh no. And then like even

(01:35):
some games that I thought I played a lot that
came out this year, they actually didn't come out this year.
So it's kind of okay, funny, yeah happens. But yeah,
a bit of a lackluster year for gaming overall for myself.
But I mean we're kind of talking off cast. I'm
very much looking forward to next year. I feel like,
you know, next year, at the time of this recording,
I think we're gonna be I don't think I'm gonna

(01:56):
be blackluster. I'm gonna be whatever, the opposite of lackluster.

Speaker 1 (02:00):
Absolutely.

Speaker 3 (02:01):
No.

Speaker 1 (02:01):
I'm glad you're still here with me because Game of
the Year has always been a funny thing here because
I play a lot more games than you. Travis and
Taylor in a given year, and so we can't do
like a Golden Geek. So I would love to of gaming,
but it just doesn't Maybe we can do.

Speaker 4 (02:14):
It next year.

Speaker 1 (02:15):
I feel like next year everyone's gonna be playing a
lot of stuff, so maybe we can do something bigger
next year where it's everyone together. And then, so I'd
done like solo episodes a couple of times. I was
doing it with Dante for a couple years, which was
fun because he plays a lot of stuff, so we
had like categories and that was a good time as well.
And then last year we had a fun episode where
you hadn't played as many games as me, but you
still had enough for us to do like a nice

(02:36):
back and forth and in a nice format. But I'm
still glad to have you here because I really liked
what we did last year. I thought it was really fun,
and even if you haven't played a ton of games
this year, I'm still I'd rather have someone by my side,
and you're you're the best, the best of the best
in that in that particular way. So it's gonna be
a fun episode. Game of the Year, of course, I
have my top ten list. We're also gonna be talking
about honorable mentions games we didn't play that we want to,

(03:00):
like the big hairs from this year that we didn't
get to at. Travis has given me his Game of
the Year that's gonna be embedded somewhere in this episode.
I solid eighteen minutes of talking about his Game of
the Year. So that's awesome. You can look forward to that,
Taylor TBD. If he doesn't get it to me tonight,
then I'll probably put it in next week's episode, which
I think will just be like a laid back solo
episode from me, almost like a Game of the Year

(03:21):
epilogue and like looking forward to next year. I think
that's what it will be because everyone's taking time off
and I just want to do something easy and low
key for next week, So look forward to that as well.
Just two plugs here shout outs to here at the
very top. One is my game Potion Problem is on
sale right now for the Steam Winter Sale for I
think like two weeks or something like that, and it's

(03:41):
fifty percent off, which is the biggest sale that the
game has had, and as a developer, I'm gonna say
that it might be the biggest sale of this game
where we'll ever have. You know, it's already pretty cheap,
so fifty percent is already like okay, this is like
four dollars. Come on, like, what on what.

Speaker 3 (03:53):
More do you want from me?

Speaker 1 (03:55):
So yeah, check it out if you haven't picked up
the game out, it's on Steam and uh yeah, even
if you don't want to buy it right now, added
to the wish lists. Maybe next time it's on say
you'll want to pick it up, so you can do that.
And then also I didn't show this out, but I
this was like a week or two now ago, but
I released a new YouTube video, another one of my weird,
kind of strange observational YouTube videos. I've been doing a

(04:16):
Skyrim cozy home centered video, which was fun. I liked it.
I think it's maybe not my finest video, but it
was a good one that I'm happy with, and I'm
already well into the next video. I'm really really enjoying
making these strange videos right now. It's like a nice
nice thing to do. So you can go check out
those two things, and how about with that we get

(04:36):
right into it. Game of the Year. I was, you know,
thinking a lot about for me, like the how to
describe what this year in gaming was for me, and
I think, really it's like it's almost like I had
like a three act structure or something like the first
chunk of the year, the first few months really like
all the way up until like the summer, like tons
of new releases, tons of things coming out. Game Pass

(04:57):
wasn't seven thousand dollars a month, so I was subscribed
to that. I was playing a ton of new games.
There was big things that I was you know, looking
forward to for years, like Civilization seven of course, like
Clare Obscure and all these other big games came out
in there, so a lot of big, chunky games. A
lot of cool indie games came out too, So I
was gaming a lot in that early part of the year.
And then when the summer hit, you know, the Switch

(05:17):
two came out, which it merely doesn't have like a
I guess by the end of the year now it
has like a solid amount of new exclusive games for it.
But that's always it's funny. The Switch too was not
an extremely exciting thing, just because it was so iterative
on the last Switch, and also as I'm an old
man now, it's like, you know, the the hype nostalgia
of getting a new console is not quite the same
as when I was a child, you know, so just

(05:39):
keeping those things into account, but it was still a
new console and that's always a fun, exciting time picking
up the new games for that. So playing a lot
of that over the summer, and then after all that,
I was extremely burnt out. And I don't know if
this happens for you, Kirkland, but every once in a while,
I'm like, do I like video games? Do I even
like doing this? And you know the answer is yes,
I do. And I always bounce back and then play

(05:59):
it million things in a given year. But man, by
the time, like uh October, mid October, November hit, which
is usually the time for me game of the year wise,
where I'm like, okay, I got a plow through a
bunch of things. Get ready the game of the year's
coming up. I want to play all this stuff. But
this year was like, no, I'm not doing it. I
even looked at my back loged account and I didn't
track a single game played in November. I think the
only things I played were like recording footage for those

(06:23):
YouTube videos I was making. But I don't think I
played really anything, and a lot of new stuff came
out October ten of new games come out. I played
a couple of them, but really fizzled out. And then
in December I picked up like Marvel Cosmic Invasion as
a new game, and i've you know, played a good
amount of that, but that's pretty short experience, so I
think I was just I was so burnt out of
playing so much stuff. A lot of really long games
I played this year, I think, which is not typically

(06:44):
what I do, So maybe that was part of the
burnout as well, but I just needed a bit of
a break, and so yeah, I didn't play a ton
of stuff in the end, I still have overall, I
have forty eight games new games played this year, seventeen
that I've marked as complete, which you know is always
ambiguous and depends on the game and the genre, but
still a pretty good number. I think that's like about
what I had last year, So I guess it was

(07:06):
just spread out and played a lot of stuff in
the early months. But yeah, it's funny coming into the
Game of the Year with being like a little cool
on hundreds like gaming in general, just like haven't really
played a ton super recently, but I also think that adds, like,
you know something, I think last year, on my Game
of the Year list, I had mouthwashing pretty high, and
I had played like days beforehand, like it was it
was coming in a hot I don't really have any
of that. I feel like I've had time to sit

(07:26):
and stew with almost everything on my list, with a
couple exceptions, which I'll talk about. So yeah, and I
think it's probably good that I took a bit of
a break because, as we've already alluded to, next year
is gonna be insane. The amount of stuff coming out
in just the first three months is crazy, and there's
still a ton of things that are dated for next
year are going to be supposedly coming out next year
that it's just gonna be ridiculous. So it's probably good

(07:49):
that I chilled out a little bit because these next
few months and next year are probably gonna be pretty insane.
So I think that's a nice in a nutshell, what
my year of gaming looked like. I don't know if
you've if you overthink this stuff the way I do,
But I don't know if there's a way that you
would describe your year in gaming.

Speaker 3 (08:07):
Yeah, I don't really know. How I would describe it.
I definitely feel like it ebbed and flowed on like
like maybe new to me games that I was getting
really into. Shane and I were playing quite a few
co op games together, which was really fun. Kind of
more the first half of the year. That's always fun
when you can do some some couch co op. I

(08:28):
feel like that's just like goes back to the foundation
and roots of just me being a gamer. Is you know,
you'd have the two remotes, whether it's the Sega console,
the PS one, pretty much all those early consoles they
had the two remotes that weren't like one hundred dollars
or remote, so everybody had the two remotes and you're
able to do some couch co op. But but yeah,
I like I already kind of said at the top

(08:49):
of the show, but just I was surprised at the
few new games that I really jumped onto this year,
and there was definitely ones that I was getting super
super hyped on, like the big one being like Ghosts
of Yotah. I was really excited for that game, and
then as we got close to it's like, oh, yeah,
I don't think this is realistic, but I alter you.

Speaker 1 (09:08):
And Travis just dipped last minute on that for some reason.

Speaker 3 (09:12):
But it's like, you know, it's like like thinking about
the potential time that I could set aside to just
jump into it, and I can't justify one hundred dollars game.

Speaker 1 (09:21):
For that timed out badly with your Japan trip for
sure on the release date.

Speaker 3 (09:25):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely so. Yeah. So to describe my year
of gaming, I a bit bit of a all over
the place. I feel like it was definitely in this
last half of the year, I've been jumping into like
old not necessarily old old games, but just games that
didn't come out this year that I got really really

(09:46):
into again, you know. Recently, I also completely upgrade my computer,
and now that I have a little bit of time
off over this break, I'm excited to like really jump
into some titles that maybe I haven't been able to. So,
but yeah, it's almost like a like an in between
year of like I feel like the year before, like
twenty twenty four, I was playing a lot more stuff

(10:08):
and just just really into maybe more like recent things
that come out, and then looking forward to twenty twenty six,
it's like, oh man, there's already like a handful of
day one that I know I'm going to be getting.
So yeah, it's a little bit of a calm before
the storm, I think, just just for gaming overall, but
still still still definitely some some good ones to mention.

Speaker 1 (10:25):
Yeah, yeah, so let's start with that. Let's start with
the games that we didn't play this year that we
kind of wanted to or just didn't get around to.
And as you mentioned, Ghost of Votai, which, yeah, for me,
the Ghost of Tushima was my number two ranked game
back in twenty twenty. So I have to imagine if
I played the sequel, even if it, you know, is
kind of more of the same and doesn't surprise you

(10:46):
as much, I have to imagine that would have been
you know, crushing my top five or like top absolutely six,
seven level tier stuff. I still, like, really want to
get a game four Legends. I hope that they have
just like a cheaper like you can just buy Legends
for like thirty bucks or something, because I do really
want to play that. But I still I don't really
have the itch to play the base game itself. I

(11:09):
don't know what it is like. I will get to
it someday when it's deep on sale or PS plus
catalog or something like that. But yeah, even even with
the with all that said, I still like I was
kind of finally leave that one on the shelf. And
as you mentioned, games so expensive now, I just got
to be a lot more selective with stuff. But yeah,
I think that was one for both of us that
would have been way up there had we had we
actually got around to it.

Speaker 3 (11:30):
Yeah, No, especially with a lack of other games. It
would have been like when I played Stellar Play was
last year, I think already, so so that would have
been like my game of the year. But it's what
is it competing up against? Like not a whole lot
college football, right, what's right out there too? So yeah,
I definitely probably would have had that in my my
number one looking at just what I have played this year.

Speaker 1 (11:53):
Yeah, and then a couple other ones Outer World two
came out, which, yeah, this is like peak me being
burnt out where it came out at the very end
of October, so I didn't get around to it. Everything
I've heard is that it's just bigger and better, more
impressive than that first game, And I like that first
game enough. I had it as number four on my
twenty nineteen list. I don't know if that would stand

(12:13):
like in hindsight necessarily, and I do really want to
play the game. I am excited for it, and I
think a lot of the stuff that's doing seems great.
I just again burnt out Era did not want to
pick that one up. And then the other one from
Obsidian because they just released a shit ton of games
this year is Grounded two, And this one's a bit
of a asterisk because it's in early access, but that
did come out this year, and that was my tide

(12:35):
for my Game of the Year in twenty twenty two, Grounded,
So obviously I love that, But I just like the
first game came out in early access, and I played
it more when it actually had its final release twenty
twenty two is when it went one point zero, And
so I'll probably have the same story with Grounded two
when that finally comes out. But yeah, a couple of
Obsitian ones that I'm sure I'll really enjoy and probably
would have been in top tier caliber stuff that just yeah,

(12:57):
wasn't wasn't quite time for me on those two, Yeah, yeah, uh.
And then I guess say I can be pretty quick
because I don't have a ton here Silent Hill f
is one that I'm I really really want to play
a man the amount of times I hovered over that
by button on PlayStation and just didn't quite pull the trigger.
But that game looks great, especially I'm playing a lot
of horror games these days, multiplayer stuff. I'm sure Peak

(13:19):
would have been the top ten for me. It's funny
I played a lot of Peak like games this year,
but not actually Peak itself, even though it's like from
when everyone says, like the best of that kind of frame.

Speaker 3 (13:28):
I do want to try it. We should definitely. Now
that I have a newer computer, I definitely want to
jump in there.

Speaker 1 (13:32):
I don't think you need a new for Peak, but hey,
if that's if that's the excuse, then that's great.

Speaker 3 (13:36):
I can barely have two tabs open on my last computer. Okay,
it was maybe.

Speaker 1 (13:40):
We could do that over the over the holidays then.
And the other one is is Arc Raiders, which I
might like. I've been talking to a couple friends and
I might buy it and play it like in the
next couple of weeks here, so just you know, not
early enough for me to include my game the year
I've can I just like last year, I think I
revised my Game of the Year like a few months
in or something like that, so I can definitely do
that with Arc just but those two games I'm sure

(14:01):
I would have loved. And then a couple of smaller
indie ones that just come to mind. One is a
Skate Story, which is a really cool looking skateboarding game.
It was a big year for skateboarding games, between Tony
Hawk coming back with another remake, Skate coming out but
again in early access and being kind of a weird situation.
But yeah, Skate Story looks great and I've heard it's amazing,
and that game just came out like a few days ago,

(14:22):
so it's still a little fresh. I haven't picked it
up yet. And then the other one I wanted to
showed out and I don't know, I don't know why
I'm shouting this out, but I feel the need to.
There's this game called Dead Static Drive Dead Static Drive
that I've had on my wishless for years and like
everyone's in a while, like just no news or updates
and never find anything on it, just a couple of
trailers and the description, like, man, this game looks so
cool and always like everyone's I don't use Twitter, but

(14:44):
everyone in while I just go on Twitter to see
if they've posted anything so I can get an update
on when this freaking game is coming out. And then
randomly I got an email and I was like, this
game is out, and I was like, what these guys,
these guys even try to market this thing. And I
went on Steam. I was like, well, of course I'm
gonna buy this, and then the the reviews were like
really really bad, people like yeah, this game is kind
of buggy and like not really what.

Speaker 3 (15:04):
It's chopped up to be.

Speaker 1 (15:05):
So I was I was so disappointed that because that
game looked so cool and so I'll probably play it
at some point, but it just seemed like it seemed
like it's maybe a bit too buggy right now at
the very least. So maybe I'll come back and check
that one out at some point in the future. But
I think those were the highlights for me. I'm sure
there's there's tons of other ones that it looked, looked great,
look interesting, but I think ones that probably would have
made a dent on my top ten. That's kind of
what I kept it to here. So yeah, how about you,

(15:26):
what are the what are the kind of top on
your hit list, here your your itinerary to here was
a Taylor Field term.

Speaker 3 (15:33):
I'm glad you shout it out Skate Story, because I
just saw it's been added to the PlayStation catalog so
I don't have access to so yeah, I definitely wanted.
I saw somebody streaming it and I'm like, oh, I
remember talking to you about this on this cast, and
just looks really unique and cool for a skateboarding game
like that, like the one year we had like the

(15:54):
Demon Tony Hawk. I I can't remember what that one
was called, but uh, yeah, that's right. But just I
like these little skins or variations that they have on
these these just familiar skateboarding games that we've seen in
the past. So definitely would want to shout out that
one as well. Arc Raiders would definitely be another one.
I feel like this running joke where Taylor's always bringing

(16:16):
this up and I always drop the from me and
girls the stop trying to make fetch happen the Gretchen
Wieners mean. But yeah, the more gameplay I see of it, it
just looks so great. He had a really good little
mini review that he did on Here with Us and
funny enough coming off of Avatar Fire and Ash. There's
many sequences, but there's just like really large scale warfare

(16:38):
going on. I'm like, I just want to be a
soldier shooting some rockets at a giant mech right now,
So I definitely want to jump into there at some point.
It just keeps like coming across my brain where I'm like, match,
I just drop the coin on this right now. But
there's also just a handful of other things I'm kind
of prioritizing right now, but still definitely wanted to shout

(16:58):
that out. I feel like the obvious one is Exhibition
thirty three, the the you know, raining game of the year.
I have not heard a single thing that's not just
this is the best game I've ever played from from
people that that I've heard have played it, or yeah,
it just it looks amazing and I love everything that
I've heard about it. It just looks amazing, And I'm really
trying to like stay away from story stuff because I

(17:20):
I'm sure it's one of those you can only really
experience the one time, so trying to stay away from that,
which so far, so good. The other kind of sleeper
one that I definitely just assume I wasn't gonna be
able to get for a very long time, but recently
just upgrade my computer. About Dylan, I really want to

(17:40):
give about a shot more gameplay. I see off it
just looks right up my alley. And you gave a
you know, a good little mini review on or a
full review actually on here, and it just seems like
right up my alley. It it feels like something similar,
whether it's in between of like an arcane title or
stuff like that, but just with like the magic element.
Just yeah, it just seems really cool. And I assumed

(18:02):
I never was gonna be able to play because I,
you know, PlayStation owner. But now that I have a
better computer that could run it a lot smoother, definitely
want to give that one a shot. And believe it's
on like fifty percent off sale right now, and so
I might bite that bullet and get in there. And
it's just a single player title, right or is there
multiplayer elements to it? Yeah?

Speaker 1 (18:20):
Single player single player?

Speaker 3 (18:21):
Okay, I'm totally with that.

Speaker 1 (18:22):
You know what, I'm gonna use this opportunity. I'm just
gonna jump right in my my number ten on my
list because that was that was avowed, so I'm doing
number ten before my honorable mentions, but we'll roll back
to that, which just seems like a good time to
throw it in here. I I really debated there's kind
of two it's between about in one other game. I'll
mention a minute that we're like really close for that
number ten spot on my list, So About kind of

(18:45):
is barely squeaking in there, and it's a it's a
weird one where like on the podcast, you can very
much see my reaction to it in real time, because
I think I covered, like I think I talked about
it like four weeks straight, and I kind of progressively
cooled on it a bit as I got deeper into it,
but only because I don't know, I guess the game
just doesn't really didn't feel like I had a ton
of variety in those like light later sections areas of

(19:06):
the game. But the combat is so freaking good, like
one of the best first person like fantasy combat systems
I've ever played, which is so surprising for me because
that's like not really what I go to Obsidian Games for, right,
Like I think more about the world or the stories
and the consequences and the RPG elements, but and the

(19:29):
combat is always kind of like the lacking part of it,
Like it's like it's good enough, but it's not really
why you're playing these games. Yeah, but Avow totally changed that.
The spells are so freaking cool. The animations are amazing
the way like they integrated spell books and like dual
wielding and like a very like an evolution of kind
of like Skyrim's combat in that way. And like the

(19:50):
RPG systems and like leveling up your character, the skill
trees are really fun, even like upgrading gear and stuff
like that. I really enjoyed all that kind of minutia
of like all the art systems, and I think for me,
like the story and the characters and a little bit
of the world building were like a little bit underwhelming,
especially when I got to like the endgame or whatever.
But man, that combat is just so fun, and I

(20:12):
feel like that is a game I'll just jump back
into every once in a while just to try, and
like every once in a while I respect and just
try like totally new builds and just around, like I
want to try like a big double handed like Warhammer
Strategy now and like always having fun with that stuff
and really good like feedback when you're hitting enemies, which
is another thing of Pathesta games usually lack. So this
feeling like a Pathesta game, but just having like really
really fun combat is ultimately why I put it in

(20:35):
my number ten spot. So, yeah, crazier forb sitting, Grounded two,
Outer World's two and Avowed Insane. But yeah, I'm pretty
happy with Avowed sitting at my number ten. It feels
just right for it.

Speaker 3 (20:46):
Yeah, No, that's awesome. I'm glad we had a clean
segue into there. The one game that I came out
this year might be sacrilegious that I hadn't mention it
des straining too. It's kind of like the big Asterix
on my list. Just because I haven't rolled credits on
Desk Training one. I'm like eighty percent of the way
through that game, and I mean, this break might be
a really good time to just roll credits on that,

(21:07):
because it's it's the type of game that I I
don't want to be limited all my time, Like I
don't want to be like, okay, I have an hour
to play, especially if I'm played in months, It's like God, like,
what what are my orders? What am I doing here,
like like trying to get a la lay of the land,
so which might be a good eye like that idea. Yeah, yeah, absolutely,
And then Desk Training two it's it's not going anywhere.
And same thing with like claireb Skars Expedition thirty three.

(21:31):
I haven't gotten spoilers or anything on that, so yeah,
I'm definitely going to be getting to it at some point,
but that is.

Speaker 1 (21:37):
Not my number ryan, so I won't mention it now,
Okay it damn.

Speaker 3 (21:41):
I was trying to hit all your all your in order,
any other ones for games that I haven't gotten to
for twenty twenty five, not so much. That's kind of it.
Of course, there's other titles that I would love to
get my hands on, but just to like actually make

(22:01):
a list of, like these are kind of my priorities.
That's kind of where I'm leaving it at right now.
I mean, twenty twenty six that's multiple bangers, and we
only have so much time, so I want to be
picky and choosy here with like my top top ones
that I do want to get to. But yeah, that's
that's kind of it for now, got it?

Speaker 1 (22:19):
Yeah, I guess then we can roll, right, into my
honorable mentions and I'll be pretty quick with these, So
two quick hits for a couple like remake remastery things.
The Oblivion remaster is really good. It's, you know, one
of my favorite games of all time, and this is
like a great way to play it. But it's just
too similar to me, Like they did add a couple

(22:40):
of things, but you know, didn't really feel like it
was different enough to warrant put it in here as
like a new game. And also the plans for Zombies
replanned version that's on Switch. I really like that. I
think it runs really well, plays really well, adds new
stuff and things like that, and I've played a bunch
of that, but again, not like there is new content
in there. But for me, it's kind of more the same.
The CEEU Stars deal See was honestly like probably top

(23:02):
ten quality worthy for me. It was so good. It's
not super duper long, I guess you compared to the
main game, but really really fun time. But because it's DLC,
I decided to leave it off the list. Monochrome Heights
is a really cool platformer that a good friend of
mine made and released, and I really loved that game. Again,
maybe top ten quality, but I just biased reasons chose

(23:23):
not to put it on the list. Civilization seven. I
really love what this game is doing. I've had a
really good time with it. I still haven't really gone
back to it because it came out in like February,
I think, and I've just kind of been waiting for
all the patches to come through and for it to
be like complete, because, as I mentioned in our when
I talk to you about it feels like an early
access game, but even then it's like still really really good.

(23:45):
But also that game crash like constantly and stuff. So
I definitely will come back to it, and I'm sure
it's a Civilization game. I'll put many many hours too
in the future, but just haven't come back to it yet.
Marvel Cosmic Invasion a recent one. I just talked about
it a couple weeks ago. Really really fun time. I'm
very excited to do that on next twenty four hour
stream or gvday or whenever we play that, because it's

(24:06):
just like zero point five of an Ultimate Alliance game
in my opinion, Like it's pretty short, but the character,
the move sets are great, the combo attacks are great, looks,
great fun, villains that are in the mix there, and
I'm still going through and getting like one hundred percent completion.
Just getting all the challenges for every mission is really
really fun, So loving that game. Metal Garden is a

(24:26):
weird indie that I talked about. I think with the
episode with Taylor. Maybe it's really small game, the scale
of it, not too much going on there, combat very simple,
but man, it just has such great atmosphere and I
find that it's a game that I just keep thinking about.
The ending in particular as well, like just leaves you
a lot to chew on and almost like I wanted more,

(24:48):
but also in a way it's like, you know, for
a cheap, short game that it was like, I can't
really complain too much, but I really really enjoyed that game,
and I really debated it putting at number ten. And
then the last honorable mention for me Kirkland is game
that came out in November that I just got two
days ago and have been playing, and that is Kirby
Air Riders, which is a freaking joy and it's you know,

(25:10):
it's obviously the same team as the Smash team, and
the music is very similar to Smash. The menu is
very similar. Obviously, it's Sackry, so it's very Hymn and
his weird style of how he makes things. So it's
like I feel like a bias to it just because
I love Smash so much, But it is it's a weird,
crazy game, like comparing it to Mario Kart is like
the other Switch like Launch Yer racing game. It's just

(25:31):
such a weird game with such strange mechanics and just
layers on top of it in different modes and stuff.
And I'm having a really good time with it. Based
on what I've played so far, I think it maybe
would crack like number nine or ten or something if
I came out earlier, or it did come older if
I had played it earlier and had more time with it,
But since it's kind of low enough, I'm fine. I

(25:53):
did think should I just slap it at number ten,
but that would feel like a bit too a bit
too crazy, So I think A Vowed definitely deserves it
over over Kirby Air Riders. But I'm having a lot
of fun with that. I'll talk about that more in
depth on a future episode. Don't need to get into
my review of that game right now, just because it
is pretty fresh still, but shout outs to Kirby Air
Rider's another one that I think will be a fun
that's going in the Gauntlet, and I can't wait to
see you guys playing that against each other. I think

(26:15):
that'll be a really fun one. So shout outs to
you all those beautiful games that made my honorable mention list.

Speaker 3 (26:21):
Yeah, no, it's great. I'm excited to get my hands
on Kurby Air air Riders and just see how similar
it is to that one I played way back on
the GameCube. Yeah that was just Kirby ad also just
Career there you go there.

Speaker 1 (26:37):
Yeah, I think they have a bunch of classic maps
in the game, like all all the ones from that game.
I don't know if it's all of them, but they
have a bunch of them so that I'm sure that'll
be fun for you too to see, like the judged
up versions with all the new characters that you can
because I think in the original game you can only
plays Kirby, right, but this one has like a ton
of playable characters. Yeah, different crazy machines that all behave
super differently, So all that is very cool. Let's see

(27:00):
we are at the twenty seven minute mark. But we
take a quick moment to thank all of the wonderful
Patreon producers, Aaron Braden, April of Darkness, Jack Grant, Sam
super Bad, Mic TGGLM six', Nine Charlie, Rendell, Cocktail Clay
john With NO h And Sam. Green thank you all
for the support this, year keeping the lights on another
good year of Side. Quest thanks to all of. You

(27:23):
if you go on The patreon you get episodes early
and add free. Exclusively you get to vote on the
content that we, make WHICH i think there's quite a
few of those happening next. Year so, yeah thank you
to everyone for the support this. Year it's it's been
a very fun years as it normally, is and, yeah
so thank you for. THAT i think now in the

(27:43):
episode If taylor this is there's a little there's two
ways as a chooser own. Adventure If taylor has sent
me His game of the, year we will hear that,
now and if he, hasn't then you won't hear that
now and you'll hear it next. Week and said so
either here Is taylor or here are. Ads we'll be right.
Back hello ladies and.

Speaker 2 (28:03):
Gentlemen, Dylan, oh thank you, Always thank you pleasure for
having me. Here happy to be. Here oh oh, Yeah
kirkland Ha travis. Hahaha ah. Yeah So i'm here to
share my game of the year and this is A
mike come as a. Surprise might not depends on who you,
know who you, heard who you speak, to but we're

(28:27):
start off with a few honorable mentions because there's been
some good games this year That i've played that have
all calm made culminated in my final decision here for
what has achieved that position of Best game of The
year in my. Opinion first on the, List Assassin's Creed.
SHADOWS i need to sink more time into this, game
but it has definitely proven to be a fantastic addition

(28:49):
to the, franchise and they've done a lot of things.
RIGHT i really Love, mirage AND i feel Like shadows
built upon the foundations of What mirage. Was mirage was
definitely a step in that Classic Assassin's creed direction narrative
wise and gameplay, wise especially after really going flamboyant and
out there With. Valhalla that's one that just really was

(29:10):
not one of my favorite Particular Assassin's creed, Titles BUT
i Digress shadows is great and one THAT i would
recommend if you were on the fence About it is
awesome and it's a really really, cool cool. Experience so
shout outs To ubisoft There battlefield. Six you, know they've
had some swing and. Misses twenty forty two did not

(29:31):
really have the greatest of home runs, there BUT i
think That battlefield six has definitely just swooped right in
and captured That battlefield three. Vibe and back in the
DAY whenmw three was dropping And battlefield three was dropping
and it was, like oh my, God battlefield, three this
is the great is the besnies and everyone just jumped

(29:52):
from cod over to, that and it's the same dilemma.
Here everyone just Dumped Black, ops the latest, addition no
hype for that at, all and just went right over
To battlefield, six And battlefield six, like that game is.
Awesome it's it's really. AWESOME i played just a little,
bit played the beta a lot when that was, out
but it just played a little tiny bit of the base. Game,

(30:15):
yeah it's. Awesome it's freaking. Awesome they've done so much
good with that, game and it's just got so many
fun situations and scenarios that nunfold in, there so it's
it is definitely a very very good. Time the other
THING i want to shut out. Here other game Is Elder,
scrolls Not, skyrim not one of those re, releases but Particularly. Oblivion.

(30:37):
NOW i remember hearing at work there was just rumbles
about this and the game was going to be, dropped
and then sure, enough next, day there it, is AND
i downloaded that And i'm still playing through. It i've
put in a good few hours into. It and that
was a game back in the day THAT i had
ON pc AND i beat the main Storyline Shivering aisles
and all the other DLCs nights and nine that was

(30:59):
such a dang good. Experience really really Loved. Oblivion it
has a warm place in my. Heart so going through it, now,
Well i've Played skyrim quite a few times over and over.
Again playing This oblivion run has actually been like my
first real, replaythrough and so just, knowing like, okay like

(31:19):
HAVE i restarted a few characters over the, Times, yeah
AND i, know like, okay first five ten, MINUTES i
know exactly Where i'm going When i'm doing just to mess,
around BUT i haven't actually committed to that full immersive
experience LIKE i ever did with my original playthrough WHERE
i went all out and so but you, know there's
those things you got to, get the thin, gleam dark
brother in Quest, lie and those are my go To

(31:40):
that's What i'm working. On and, yeah it doesn't disappoint
that game is so. Good i'm mean shutting Down oblivion, gates, left,
right and. Center but that's one That i'm consistently, playing
and it's just it's so. Good it's so good scratching that.
Edge and my last mention here AND i will shout
it is my car. World this game is a, delight

(32:01):
and there's certain things in here THAT i still can't
wrap my head around trying to do the wall. Driving
that is a that is a young man's. Game that's
not something THAT i can comprehend, yet And i've been
trying to work at, it.

Speaker 3 (32:13):
But it is.

Speaker 2 (32:14):
Tricky it is. Tricky but other than, that it's just
fun to be driving around in the free roam and
it's kind of do my own, pace my own, speed
and get the unlocks to the different skins and. Costumes
it's a lot of. Fun it's it's definitely a blast
to play with, friends but, finally The Heavy, Hitter The Headhunt,
Show The Big cheese my number one game of the,

(32:35):
Year Art. Graders this is a complete surprise BECAUSE i
know everyone's going to be, shouting, oh what about Hell divers,
Too and you know, WHAT i Hell divers to. That
that is also another all MENTIONED i just realized here last,
Second BUT i wasn't necessarily thinking of it because it
was a game that already was released before it just
came out On, Xbox so, Yeah i'm NOT i wasn't

(32:57):
sure IF i really wanted to. INCLUDE i digress That
Art graders is my pick. THOUGH i feel like it
takes certain aspects of cauld of de War, zone That
oji War zone THAT i really really liked and addicted,
too and it's combined it with Hell. Divers AND i
wish that there was a lot more a community going

(33:20):
in into this, Game LIKE i hope that everyone gets
to play it because it Is it's so much fun
and it has its own great built up community in,
itself AND i hope that more, people more video gamers out,
there kind of come together and hop on because at
the end of the, day when you're just you're playing
this game and you go up you're thirty minutes top.
Side you got to just, loot get all the gear
that you, can then get out of. There it punishes

(33:43):
you just as hard as it rewards. You and you
know when it rewards, you it rewards you. Good but
when it punishes, you it. Hurts it really. Hurts for some,
context one of my sessions recently THAT i was doing.

Speaker 3 (33:57):
What do We?

Speaker 2 (33:57):
DO i picked up this gun called The, Hulk and
this thing's nice BECAUSE i can take down arcs really really.
Quickly it's an expensive gun for, sure but it's nice
to pack as a. Secondary and So i'm out there
with my farroh which is like a one shot bolt
action rifle semi, automatic really really nice because you can

(34:18):
keep your own from a. Distance but then when you
get getting up close and, personal you pull out the hull,
cracker and just those bastions or those, leapers they don't
stand a. Chance when you've got that right coverage and
you got this. Rifle it's really really. Good so you're
getting some good. Loot but WHILE i was getting good,
LOOT i went into this one area on the map

(34:39):
AND i was losing these, lockers and all of a,
sudden just get gunned down from. Behind it's, like, oh
that's the way it, rolls and there goes all my
good stuff THAT i collected and you just start from.

Speaker 3 (34:48):
Zero oh my.

Speaker 2 (34:50):
Gosh it's just such a. Pain but it just it
motivates you to just get back on the, horse get
back out there and keep grinding and keep doing what
you can. Do AND i don't know what it. Is
there's just something that's super fun and you start to get,
cocky you got to remember how to play calm and lay.
LOW i JUST i can't recommend the game. Enough it
is so much, fun even more fun with. Friends it's

(35:11):
an absolute, hoot and the devs take such good care
of you as a. Player there's so many good rewards
in this. Game, YEAH i JUST i think that it's
just it's a small. Team you, know they're trying to
do what they can, do just you, know a couple few,
hundred AND i think they're making huge drives with every. Update,
well there are of course some bugs. There they're trying
AND i cannot wait to see where this game is

(35:34):
gonna go or if we can ever get that Art radors.
Too i'm gonna be there day one because this game
is the Bes knees game of the year for, me
AND i hope everyone gets around to playing it and trying. It, so,
yeah that is my game of the. Year So i'm
gonna throw it back to, You, dylan thank, you and

(35:55):
take it.

Speaker 1 (35:55):
Away, okay we are. Bad we will see what happened
there with Mister. Field only the future. KNOWS i do
not know at this current. Time so how DO i do?
THIS i THINK i. Will, OKAY i have a plan.
Here i'm Gonna i'm gonna show up my next two
games on my, List, kirkland and then we'll go to

(36:16):
one of your shout outs of the other. Year But
i'm gonna start with Uh so Obviously avout was my number.
Ten jumping into number. Nine this is WHERE i Put
Tony hawk's Pro skater three plus, four WHICH i always
is always tricky with remake remaster e. Stuff you, know
is that? Eligible well the answers, yes because it's my,
LIST i can do WHATEVER i. Want BUT i always

(36:39):
debate with. That and you Know Resident evil four remake
that ended up going on my, list a Game i'd
never played the original love so it feels like a
bit of cheating in a. Way but that game was
so good that it made it really high on my,
list AND i felt like it was worthy of that
spot even if it, was you, know based on a previous.
Game and this one's weird BECAUSE i have not Played
tony yok three or four, before so it's almost like
two new games in. One but for, ME i think

(37:01):
WHERE i felt pretty justified and putting it on the
list is that one it is all new to. Me
but also four was like completely. REWORKED a lot of
people have actually played the original say it's like reworked
for the, worst like they took away like a story
mode and just made it like the classic arcade. Style
BUT i really like the classic artscade. Style so there's
enough that's changed. There the maps have all like changed
pretty drastically in their visual style and like terms of.

(37:23):
Stuff there's three completely brand new maps and some of
them are like my favorite in all The Tony hawk
Games i've ever, Played like really really good new maps in.
There new new racers not racers, NOW i Got Kirby
air right on the, mine new, skaters you, know new
new music in, there a bunch of new challenges that
the original game didn't, have which like adds tons of
hour hours of gameplay going for these crazy challenges and

(37:44):
speed runs and things like. That so to me it
was fresh and new enough to justify going on the,
List and, honestly in terms of my level of, enjoyment
it's it probably should be higher on my, list like
maybe maybe up to like six or, something but, again
because it is a remake Re, MASTER i kind of
docked a points for, that and so, yeah it sits
at number, nine which feels. Right but it's funny in
the last few days putting my list, together trying out

(38:06):
different versions of the, list see what looks, right what.
Doesn't any variation WHERE i didn't Have Tony hawka list
felt wrong BECAUSE i played a lot of this. Game and,
yes it is a bit tricky BECAUSE i played this
and then like four Other Tony hawk games in like
a month, span and so it's, like you, know AM
i just thinking about that period of? Time BUT i
THINK i can very easily remember like what maps are
from that, game my time with that game, Specifically and,

(38:27):
yeah so for, me that is number nine on the,
List and, YEAH i guess you've. There you, go there's
a twenty twenty five game you played you played a
little bit of that on the.

Speaker 3 (38:34):
STREET i was trying to forget about, That. Dylan, sorry,
thanks thanks for reminding, everyone including. Myself but, NO i mean,
good good shout. OUT i kind of forgot that came
out this. Year but, Yeah i'm bad memories playing that.

Speaker 1 (38:47):
Game bad.

Speaker 3 (38:48):
Memories, okay slap by the Great Tyler.

Speaker 1 (38:50):
Sarrus, well someday if you do buy it and play
the full, Thing i'm sure you'll make nothing but good.
Memories and then number, EIGHT i am curious curious about
this one when it comes to.

Speaker 3 (39:00):
You.

Speaker 1 (39:01):
Blueprints blueprints is my number. EIGHT i kind of forgot
about that until, now honestly BECAUSE i was just looking
at that some other games over, here and, UH i,
Mean i'll let you. Go, no SO I i want
to hear so obviously not your. GAME i didn't want.
It if it, WAS i would have been, like, OH
i don't know IF i want. TO i don't want
him to say one or the other. ONE i, guess,
YEAH i. DON'T i don't know my game of the. Year,

(39:22):
yeah did you ever go?

Speaker 3 (39:23):
BACK i did roll? Credits you? Did?

Speaker 2 (39:25):
Yes?

Speaker 3 (39:27):
Uh, yeah, NO i great shout. OUT i definitely just
completely forgot about this. One so that was my bad,
there but really really unique. GAME i love the visuals of,
it and just like what the game, was like the
gameplay loop and the like what the mechanics were was
just really really fun to play.

Speaker 2 (39:44):
Through.

Speaker 3 (39:44):
UH i played it a, lot obviously we did our,
episode or let me phraise. THAT i was playing it
a lot leading up to our episode that we recorded,
together and then just took a little bit of a.
HIATUS i feel LIKE i was just beating my head
against the wall AND i just kept kind of getting
stuck at like the same progression point of my and
then put it down for a little bit, While, yeah
a little, while and then jump back. In and it

(40:05):
took me like a little bit to just kind of
like refresh on like how to do it. Efficiently the
more you play, it you kind of like like get
permanent locks that make it a little bit easier to
take it a little bit further in. Runs but, NO
i was very. HAPPY i felt LIKE i got really
lucky with my like completion. Run that's probably how it
normally goes for many. People but, yeah it was very very.

(40:25):
SATISFYING i don't Think i'm really going to jump back
into it, like now THAT i have role, credits it's just, Like,
OKAY i did, it you, know dust my hands off
and and and play it through it. There but really
really GLAD i did go back and just to say
THAT i was able to get through it BECAUSE i
had spent so much time of like really getting into
it and feeling LIKE i was just getting, LIKE i

(40:45):
don't know certain strategies together on what would allow me
to go a little bit further than the. Run but
super super unique game and definitely one that's worthy of
an honorable. Mention it's not my top game of the.
Year you, know IF i had played maybe more than
three twenty twenty five, GAMES i could have formulated like
a top five list at. Least But i'll just put
it as an honorable mention because it is definitely a
really cool game that's worthy of recognition and a shout. Out.

Speaker 1 (41:09):
Yeah. YEAH i feel like my top tens always have
one like really good puzzle game that usually tends up
being LIKE i don't know If i've ever had like
two big puzzle games in my top, ten BUT i
feel like there's always, one AND i can THINK i
think that's one for this, year which is, funny like
puzzle mixed with. ROGUELIKE i think that's one of the
THINGS i really liked about it is that is it
is just a weird amalgam of, Genres like it feels

(41:30):
very fresh and. NEW i really like the style of the,
game like just one like the visual, style but also
just the unfurling of, it looking at the, map conferring
all that. Stuff just really fun game Of, man my
notebooks were looking crazy and all the pictures in my,
phone like the huge gallery of stuff and feeling crazy
trying to piece things, together and a lot of that

(41:51):
didn't end up going anywhere or is related to something
THAT i still haven't. Solved but similar to, you back
WHEN i played the game for, me WHEN i rolled,
CREDITS i did a couple more. Runs then THE rng
was kind OF i, guess more frustrated to deal. With
at that, POINT i was, like you know, What I'm
i'm pretty HAPPY i rolled. CREDITS i feel LIKE i
saw maybe not EVERYTHING i did want to. See there's
definitely some more SECRETS i would like to find out,

(42:12):
about and some spoiler Things i've listened to, afterwards like,
whoa there's some crazy stuff that happens in this game
THAT i would have liked to, see BUT i just
didn't want to beat my head against the wall WITH
rng and kind of start to hate the. Game So
i'm really happy with like just the perfect amount of
the game THAT i ended up. Playing and, yeah just
really fun piecing things. Together and it starts out in
like a very simple way of just putting those rooms

(42:34):
together see, combinations and then finding out, like, oh there's
all this stuff outside and finding different ways around, there
coming up with like meta shortcuts in a way by
like changing things in the environment was really really. Satisfying
and then some puzzles that LIKE i still, remember like,
man WHEN i finally put those, together those were super.
Fun or even just like the, parlor the little parlor
like riddles like the three box, ones like those are just.

(42:54):
FUN i just like like if that was like a
mini game in any, Game like, yeah would spend like
hours doing, That like it's just a good ass. Time
SO i really like the weird kind of weird roguelike
mixed with like board game kind of, Ethose like it's
just it's a, weird strange, game kind of creepy at times,
Too and, yeah just ONE i really REALLY i had
a good time with and, YEAH i think even THOUGH

(43:17):
i didn't see it, ALL i saw enough to really
love it and want to put it in my in
my top ten for the.

Speaker 3 (43:22):
Year there is so much in there, Too LIKE i
remember watching like a YouTube like a YouTuber just going
through and like he was just interacting with things THAT
i didn't even know was a thing in that. Game i'm, like,
YEAH i don't THINK i really have the endurance to
to get to this point of the game because there
is just so much to, it which is, sweet you,
know shouts out to them for all that end of the.

(43:43):
Game BUT i feel LIKE i also have a special
place in my heart for games that have, like, okay
you have the base, mechanics the base of what you're.
DOING i got a couple examples That i'll shout, out
but then also just like the little like little like
side quest type mini games that are in there that
if those are really fun, TOO i feel like that
just adds so much to a. Game see You. STARS

(44:05):
i wasn't the biggest fan of what was, it cross
Wheelsones wheels. THERE i don't know WHERE i got crossbones,
fum but, uh CLEARLY i mean CLEARLY i didn't play.

Speaker 1 (44:13):
It that New wheels content in THE dlc this year
that was really. GOOD i, LIKE i LOVE i Love.
Wheels i'm a big.

Speaker 3 (44:18):
ONE i should give it another another. TRY i JUST
i tried a couple of, times got. Bopped i'm, like,
No i'm not learning. This but another show would be
something Like, gwent you know from The, Witcher, LIKE i
just spent so much time playing, that and it's just
it's it's so great to have some some really sweet
mini games within The bass.

Speaker 1 (44:33):
Game, yeah, okay let me shout out one more and
then we'll go over your. List a reason being because
it's another. ROGUELIKE i have Ball pit here or ball
x pit or ball Cross, pit whatever you want to call. It,
yeah so this one came out In, october and another
one THAT i feel, LIKE I i GUESS i beat
it multiple times technically in terms of beating like the
final level with like a few different character combinations and,

(44:56):
stuff but not not a roguelick THAT i want to just.
Play and let's, SEE i mean they didn't that they're
gonna make more content for, it so MAYBE i will
jump back into it at some. Point but another one
that LIKE i got got, in had a great, time
and got. OUT i think it's a it's almost like
a nice it's like a meta commentary on like the
state of roguelikes and just roguelike as a, genre which
is even kind of indicative with the title of the,

(45:17):
game it being like a cross between two, things AND
i love how the game kind of hints at that
and then like thematically and then like mechanically doubles down
on a lot of those. Things THERE'S i don't think
feel the need to spoil some of the things that
happened in, there but just like the ways you eventually
combined characters or combined different roguelike powers and ways that
were like extremely surprising and really really funny or just

(45:39):
uh just crazy over the, top completely. Unexpected and then
there's like kind of a meta base building component THAT
i actually enjoyed as. WELL i thought that WAS i
thought that was. Interesting and, YEAH i just it HAS
i has like the same art artist or whatever as
As Loop, hero WHICH i really like that. Esthetic so
the game has like a really cool style to it as.

(46:01):
Well and, yeah, ONE i just really had a great
time with such a fun inherently just dopamine inducing kind
of genre of like a brick breaking type of. Game
BUT i feel like there's a couple of the games
THAT i have tried things like, this and this one
was the one that really seemed to like take that
and evolve it and like what in twenty twenty five
what makes this? Engaging and this game like just went

(46:21):
all out in that. Way SO i had a great
time with this extremely weird Game. Bullpit so, yeah definitely
making it to my number seven on my, list Which
i'm happy.

Speaker 3 (46:31):
About one THAT i feel like the name doesn't do
it to, justice you. KNOW i feel LIKE i hear
the Name, Ballpit i'm, like, okay, yeah AND i know
what a ballpit. Is how great can this game really?

Speaker 1 (46:40):
Be but it's kind of different than a ballpit that
you would think, of, right because you're thinking of like
a McDonald's, ballpit, Right.

Speaker 3 (46:45):
Yeah, yeah, Exactly and it's not really that kind of.

Speaker 4 (46:48):
Ballpit no.

Speaker 1 (46:50):
INTERESTING i don't, Know maybe they need to do market
and market that. Better, kirkland give me one of your
three games of the other year.

Speaker 3 (46:59):
Picks, Yeah so HOW i want to do this IS
I i got a couple THAT I i feel LIKE
i just really got into this year that maybe I've
i've JUST i played in the, past Maybe i've even
talked about them on here in the, past BUT i
just really got the into them again this. Year BUT
i wanted to start, off which was shouting outs a
couple of games that came out a year or so

(47:20):
ago BUT i played for the first time this. Year
the first one THAT i want to shout out Is,
balatro WHICH i believe that was your game of The
year when it came, out or was it? Not of,
course how can you BEAT ufl? Fifty But balatro really
really amazing. Game that again another one that JUST i
had only heard positive things from and of course you

(47:41):
told me all about it on the side quest that
we did. Together BUT i had another friend that WAS
i feel like he doesn't really like play a lot
of like card games or things like, this so when
he told me about, IT i WAS i was extra put.
Off he's, like you want to know what is really
the game of the? Year bellotro this, this And i'm, like,
OKAY i know all about this, game and then ended
up picking it. UP i actually got it first on

(48:02):
the phone because WHEN i got my new, PHONE i
had like Free Apple arcade for like a couple of
months and it was on there and just such a
great like phone game to have on. You of course
it's Like, solitaire so that is naturally like a mobile
game in and of. Itself but, yeah really really sweet.
Game just dopamine hit when you get those multipliers going
off like. Crazy it's really fun just collecting the jokers and,
whatnot and just a, nice low, key laid back. Game

(48:24):
so one THAT i finally was able to get into
this year and had lots of lots of fun with,
it and one THAT I i Imagine i'm gonna keep
putting time into because it's just really really addicting and,
yeah lots of lots of fun. There so shouts out To, BALATRO.

Speaker 1 (48:39):
I love that you paired that right after my Little roguelikes.
Spiel that's.

Speaker 3 (48:43):
Beautiful, yeah there you, go completely. Planned and then the
other one was another one that came. OUT i don't
know if it's last year or two years, ago but
this is because online it's this twenty twenty, three BUT
i believe it just came to a PlayStation last year or.
Not the The Shooter tactics.

Speaker 1 (49:03):
GAME i just got AN ad for that On, discord
like a video. Quest oh, really.

Speaker 3 (49:07):
SO i THINK i saw that also because sometimes On
discord they have like little quests that you can unlock things.
FOR i don't really, know Like i've never really engaged with,
them BUT i just saw it on, There so there you.
Go the time is. Perfect but, no really sweet game
that is just right up my. ALLEY i love these
like super intense tactical. SHOOTERS i said tactics that was
a was a. Miss. Miss it's not an X com

(49:30):
Or Fire tactics, game but just very, tactical very like
unforgiving in the sense of like one bullet kills. Everything
it's you, know it's it's good for if you're shooting the,
enemy but also if you get, bopped you you're down
at one. Shot AND i just had lots of lots
of fun it. It it definitely takes me back TO
i was a Big rainbow Six vegas, guy so it

(49:51):
reminds me of that kind of era of my my
my tactical shooters and ONE I i want to go
back and play more. Of AND i think it will
only be more fun If i'm able, to you, know
get some get some lads on there and playing online,
together because like friendly fire is very much a. Thing
so When i'm playing WITH ai, bots they're they're well,
trained you, know they're they're not shooting the civilians or

(50:11):
anything by. Accident But i've just seen so many clips
of just the chaos that can unfold when you're when
you're actually playing with friends and you're just trying to
clear out these places and you're trying to not kill anyone,
innocent but of course when you're playing online it's it gets.
Chaos SO i definitely want to access that part of the.
Game but really really really sweet game THAT i definitely
recommend to people that, are LIKE i, said just kind

(50:33):
of like, me and then they grew up playing Those
rainbow six the Early rainbow six is that were very
difficult compared to what they are. Now so, yeah shouts
out to ready or not love?

Speaker 1 (50:44):
It great? Pick, okay next up for, me number. Six
this is WHERE i Put Adam, fall which ended up
BEING i think a lot higher THAN i thought it
would be AFTER i completed or even just in the
last couple of months of thinking about the what my
top ten would look. Like but, ultimately WHEN i compared
this to About Blueprint's, ballpit LIKE i just feel like

(51:06):
there's something about this game that really speaks to. Me
AND i think that part of this is it's a
it's a Very dylan centric game because to some extent
it feels like a Mini bethesday game and into some
extent of like exploration and like kind of janky combat
and stuff like. That but then it also has like
the Outer wilds or like tunic part or blueprints part
of it of like piecing things, together combining clues and

(51:27):
information in this, game not so much one that you
need to do the ole on, paper because it kind
of just does it really well in the game of
like rather than just like a questlogue of like go
to POINT a and then go to POINT b and
then kill this, guy grab, item go back to POINT,
a it just like gives you all these different notes
or conversations you had just get dumped into like a
topic and then all this stuff is there and so
you kind of like decipher this info and put things

(51:48):
together and figure things, out and it's, like, OH i
got this safe code and like what is it related?
To and it'll like get tucked in like the right.
Spot so just REALLY i think that's kind of the
highlight for. Me of the game is like the quest
sure was so cool and, unique AND i think part
of why it works so well is because it is
a pretty, tight smaller, Experience LIKE i don't think this
would work with A bethesda style game as. MUCH i,

(52:08):
Mean marwin was kind of like that back in the
day a little bit With it's a weird quest, log
but something THAT i really hope a lot of other
games copy What Adam fall, did AND i don't know
if they will because the game wasn't that big or
didn't really seem to move the needle a whole, lot
BUT i really love the quest structure of. It it's,
funny like this is From. Rebellion so the makers Of
Sniper lead And honorable mentioned To Sniper La resistance as,

(52:29):
well which they released two games this, year AND i
really Enjoyed Sniper Late. Resistance that was a really fun
time as. Well so again just Like obsidian crushing it
with multiple releases in one, year and that's like a
weird thing With Adam fall is like the combat wasn't very.
Good it feels like very, janky and the stealth doesn't
really work that, well even like masters of making stealth.
Games SO i don't know what happened. There maybe it's
just the transition to first. Person maybe they used a

(52:51):
new engine for this or something like. That so there's
definitely some you, know they got to get some that rust,
OFF i, think but before they do another, one if
they do make a sequel with, SOMETHING i know there's
A dlc for this game already THAT i haven't actually
played yet as, well BUT i, still even With jenk,
INCLUDED i had just had a really great time going through,
this exploring the different, areas discovering the different ways you

(53:12):
can connect between the like four to five like open
worldly kind of, zones and then you can go to
like neutral areas in towns and talking with people and
getting more information that. Way and a game that has
multiple endings USUALLY i never see those multiple, endings but
in this, ONE i was like making saves at different
spots BECAUSE i wanted to, See, Oh i'm really curious
what happens if you side with this one, Character and
SO i, did, like, yeah four or five different versions of,

(53:34):
those just to see the different possibilities of it, all
and just a really really fun mystery. Overall and, YEAH
i really Enjoyed Adam. FALL i think a very underrated,
game AND i think for a lot of people they
could bounce off of it just because of the kind
of jankiness to some of the actual combat and stealth.
Stuff AND i don't, know maybe they've even fixed some
of that with, updates and like THE dlc that's out,
NOW i probably should check that. OUT i should probably

(53:55):
go check out THAT. Dlc but, yeah don't forget About Adam.
FALL i think a very underrated gem from this year for.

Speaker 3 (54:00):
Me, Nice, yeah would you say that one was like
like run time, wise like under ten?

Speaker 1 (54:06):
Hours, no it took me twenty hours to do. It,
again that was.

Speaker 3 (54:11):
Much longer THAN i would have, expected.

Speaker 1 (54:12):
Honestly, YEAH i think you, probably like if you didn't
do the multiple ending. Stuff and there's a point WHEN
i was, like, OKAY i could probably could go for
an ending, here BUT i want to discover more. Things
so definitely not one hundred percent, completion BUT i definitely
spent more hours with it than you, know most players probably.
WOULD i would imagine THAT i took a bit longer
with it just BECAUSE i was really enjoying discovering all

(54:33):
the hidden corners AND i wanted to uncover a lot of.
Things but, yeah it was about about twenty hours when
it was all said and, done so pretty substantial and
definitely longer than like Any Sniper league Game i've. PLAYED i,
mean there's a lot of replayability with those, levels WHICH
i guess if you take advantage of, that you'd get
a lot more play time out of. It but just
in terms of the base, campaign, yeah it was a
lot longer than some of the other. Stuff so, yeah very,

(54:53):
cool AND i, HOPE i hope they do more of
this stuff like. THIS i would LOVE i don't know
how you do a sequel story, wise but even like
a spiritual se cool with something like, that or just
more weird first person detective games like this from, THEM
i think would really hit the. Spot so hopefully they
do more of. THAT i, Mean i'll Take Sniper lead as.
Well but you, Know Adam fall coming new and fresh
and different and all, that and the cool, world cool

(55:14):
setting and all. That so, yeah shouts to. That how
many other than your game the? Year how many shout
outs do you, have just trying to think of spacing of, things.

Speaker 3 (55:25):
Three shout outs OR i guess, four but like very,
fast so it's kind of give, me give me one
of the shot outs right, now one of the really quick,
ones culled the. Lamp you, Know, Shane i've played a
lot of that couch co op earlier this. YEAR i
shouted out because we actually like were hitting in game
stuff and we're like grinding it a lot and just
falling back in love with that, game and we decided

(55:46):
to boot it back up not too long. Ago we're
kind of getting because it's it's a pretty difficult game,
also like especially with where we're at in the in game,
content and because THE dlc is DROPPING i believe In
january or for some Generary, yeah we're gonna be jumping
right back in. There so we just kind of wanted
to get the dust off of the off the fingers
get getting ready for that one because we we love that,
game so, uh you, know shouts out to my lamb right. Here,

(56:09):
yeah it rocks with me on these. Casts so just
wanted to shout that one out because it was taking
up a lot of gaming. Time very very quick shout
out for also just to pair up just you, know
these Two Ace combat. SEVEN i jump back into that
one with with uh uh what was it Called wings
Of thieve or something like THAT i can't for the new,

(56:30):
one but Then i'm so fucking hype for, that SO
i decided to boot it back. Up and it's kind
of fun playing like the earlier missions when, uh because
you have like all your unlocks if you just redo.
Missions So i'm like redoing it with like the fucking
Black hawk Like Stealth, fighter where like the stats are
just like basically maxed, Out whereas normally when you're doing
like the earlier, missions you're plane is like so. Slow

(56:53):
So i'm actually like speed running these these these uh these.
Missions now it's it's it's pretty, crazy like, honestly especially
just some of like the advanced weaponry that you have
like later on is just absolutely nuts compared to what
you start, with because just for, example there's one where it's, like,
OKAY i can lock onto like maybe four enemies with
one of, MINE i can lock on like, Sixteen like
it's just absolutely. Nuts so definitely speed running. It but,

(57:16):
man it's such a fun, game And i'm very excited
for when we Get Ace combat. Eight so there you.
Go just just a couple of quick shout outs. THERE
i love it all.

Speaker 1 (57:24):
RIGHT i, also, YEAH i normally break down my list
into like a bit of. Tears SO i guess going
back ten about Nine Tony, HAWK i think for me
those were like almost like in That Honorable mention, tier
like they're kind of interchangeable with some honorable. Mentions that
was like my first, tier and then, Yeah blueprints at
Eight ballpit Seven Adam fall at six were kind of
like a little triplet tier somewhat. Interchangeable But i'm happy

(57:46):
with the Order i've picked. Today my next tier is
kind of a spoiler for both the, games So i'll
just say them kind of both at. Once. Number the
tier is called The nintendo To switch to launch title.
Games So Mario Kart world is my number five And
Donkey Kong bonanza is my number. Four SO i guess
starting out With Mario, kart have you played WERE i

(58:07):
guess did you Play world on the? Stream? UH i
anything on the, Stream.

Speaker 3 (58:13):
But at some POINT i THINK i was like filming
something That travis's and then we played a couple of.
Matches oh, Nice, okay SO i have played it a little, bit,
yeah but, yeah not enough to really. Like, yeah, OKAY
i understand the game, now only like one or two, maps.

Speaker 1 (58:26):
Right, YEAH i Think i've seen a lot of people
sour on this game, already AND i, think you, know comparison,
wise you compared to the Last Mario, kart that's a
hard comparison Because Mario kart eight came out on the FREAKING.
Weu it GOT dlc when it got part of the,
switch and then it got, like you, know fifty eight
thousand courses AS, dlc and so we're, like we're comparing
it against the game that had like ten years to

(58:48):
cook and become like the Best Mario kart game. Ever
and So Mario Kart world yet naturally is like not
as much content As Mario kart eight. Has so when
you compare it in that, WAY i can see why
some people have maybe soured on it or, like you,
know it's just a game you play for a couple
of weeks and then you don't come back to. IT i,
mean for me, personally WHEN i have five friends, OVER
i have jumped in and have played it kind of
consistently since it's came. Out But i'm sure this game

(59:10):
will be on that tier with, eight you, know few
years down the line when it gets SOME. DLC i
don't know if they'll do that right away because EIGHT'S
delC came out years later, too SO i don't know
if they'll do anything With Mario Kart world right now
or if they'll just kick that down the. Road either,
Way i'll still be playing this, version probably interchangeably with.
Eight BUT i really like what this game. IS i
think it looks, great it sounds, great which you kind
of expect for Any Mario kart. Game the inclusion of,

(59:32):
costumes for, me is a really fun thing to just
get some freaky looks for my Favorite nintendo. CHARACTERS i
love that they. ADDED i love my. Freaks they added
all the freak characters in, there Like cow And, Para
bob Up trooper and Like, gumba all the weirdos that
you can now play, as WHICH i.

Speaker 3 (59:49):
Love the.

Speaker 1 (59:50):
COURSES i think that the courses are all, great, like
they're all super. FUN i like the variety two of
like since you have the level, transitions WHICH i know
some people don't, love but you have options right as
long as you're playing like on your're not playing, online
you have the option to choose whatever you. Want AND
i really like that you have the option of just
doing regular laps on your favorite courses or the transition,
levels which add like just kind of an exponential amount

(01:00:13):
of courses or variations you can have on. Them SO
i really like. That i've had a lot of fun doing,
that and even you, know screw around with the open world,
stuff just like exploring, stuff finding little hidden nooks or
clicking hidden, coins doing little. Challenges, yeah it's not the
best open world game by any, means and it's not
like Super meaningful doesn't have some big story or, Whatever but,
MAN i love this. GAME i think it's really. Great

(01:00:33):
it's A i think it's the perfect launch title, game
perfect pack in to have with a with a, console
which of course they have the bundle. There so, Yeah
i've had a ton of a ton of fun With
Mario kart And I'M i think another part of this
too is Like i'm gonna be this is probably this
is the first GAME i played on the Switch, to of,
course because it you, know day one pack. In this
is probably the last Switch to Game i'll play in

(01:00:53):
like ten years from now or, Whatever like the last
TIME i boot up my switch to will probably be
Play Mario Kart. World and so part of that is you,
know really. Meaningful so shout Out Tomorroo, kart and then,
yeah number Four Donkey Kong, bonanza which is also since
it came out like a month later or, whatever it's
in that kind of launch window, era and another really
great launch game with a, console and, yeah really really.

(01:01:14):
FUN i, mean for, me it's almost hard to call
it a platformer because very not a ton of it feels, like,
oh there's some big platform and, challenge although in like
the endgame when you're getting to like doing some crazy
stuff at the, end there are some like really good
challenges that are actually like pretty tricky timing stuff like.
That BUT i think for the most, part this, game
kind of Like tears of The kingdom Or broth The,
wild is trying to just open up the format really

(01:01:36):
like let you screw, around let you break these, levels
which you can you can like destroy every block if
you want in the whole, world and just, like, hey
there's a banana, here and, yeah there's like one intended
way to go. There but then you can get really
creative and do some wild combination of stuff to get there.
Early AND i definitely did that a couple. Times i'm, like,
man that felt so good to like break this game
and like cheat get in. Here earlier THAN i normally.
Should there's a good variety of. LEVELS i would have

(01:01:58):
liked it maybe a couple, more just to round out
the playtime and depth of, it which of course they
kind of piecemealed one AS dlc and sold up for
thirty five, dollars Which i'm not happy, about but you
know that's been well dripned on the podcast. Already but
some really great creative. Levels the ending of this game
is amazing in the last hour or, two just the
amount of like plot twists and things going on in
the craziness of the. World the final boss fight is so,

(01:02:20):
fun like really really well, designed really, creative really. Crazy,
yeah SO i really really enjoy this. Game it's a
super fun. Time and, yeah there's a couple of worlds
that are pretty, lackluster but like there's also a ton
that really blew me, Away and, yeah, overall just had
a lot of fun with. It didn'tet one hund percent
completion by any, means BUT i did a. Lot definitely
went through and plowed through a ton of this, game
especially for like the to get those endgame challenge, things

(01:02:42):
you got to knock out quite a few extra bananas and,
tokens and, Whatever so definitely did a bunch of that.
Stuff so, yeah shout outs To don Com bananza and
just generally the switch to launched LINEUP i thought worked
really well for. Me and Now i'm playing Air. RIDERS
i haven't Played metroid, yet but, YEAH i think, overall
like considering it came out in Like, june that's like pretty.
Solid and there's other ones, too some smaller games that came,

(01:03:03):
OUT i think it's pretty solid for like a little
launch window for a new. Console And i'm sure next,
year you, know we Get fire And, bloom there's a
New Mario. Tennis i'm sure there will Be there'll be
a couple of big like surprise ones that we don't
know about. Yet so, Yeah i'm excited to dive more
to this. Console but even just this last week playing
more Air riders and just, like, YEAH i really love
the feel of this new console and it's it's good

(01:03:23):
to kind of be, GRATEFUL i guess for that, sometimes, like,
yeah it's not a huge new, console but it is
still a fun piece of new hardware That i'm glad
THAT i. Have and it's mostly because Of mario Caur
world And. Bonanza that's the main reason Why i'm happy
about this. Thing, so, yeah there's my Little nintendo corner
from my from my top ten.

Speaker 3 (01:03:39):
List. Nice the usual suspects say The nintendo, Titles, YEAH i,
Don't Donkey.

Speaker 1 (01:03:45):
KONG i usually have like one or. TWO a lot
of them float like right in that honorable mention tier
kind of like Where kirby Air riders. Is but usually
there's one like up there in my top. Five at
LEAST i think it was The Zelda Zelda echoes Of
wisdom last. YEAR i really really loved that. Game so
USUALLY i have won like way up there in my
in my top, five SO i had to this, year
which is which is really.

Speaker 3 (01:04:04):
Great. Nice. Cool all, right my last two little shout
outs here that ARE i, mean these are like the
least surprising picks. Ever if you've ever listened to My
game of the, years they've probably both been on there multiple.
Times i'm gonna start off with a one THAT i
feel Like i've just come to terms with where usually it's, like,

(01:04:24):
okay it's my guilty pleasure. Pick i'm never gonna be
fully done with this. Game. Uh you, know usually when
world is going, ON i get pretty hyped and jump
in there just just for that. Reason but, man not
even for that reason. ANYMORE i got so Into Legal
legends this, year like, actually LIKE i was like grinding
it really. HARD a big difference, too, was as you, Know,
dylan like all mobis they're, five well most MOBAs at

(01:04:45):
least there it's five y, Five AND i was able
to get like, five like five of us, together so
we had like a full five man ranked team that
we we set up In League. Legends every month they
do these clash, tournaments which is basically just like a
like an amateur little tournament. Thing you, know everybody gets
like a free ticket to go in. There it's kind
of based on like everyone's general rank on where you'd get.
Placed and then you go in there and THEN i,

(01:05:07):
THINK i think it's like if you win all of,
them you play like four or five. Games and we
managed to make it to the. Finals we ended up
losing in the, finals which is a little bit of a,
heartbreak but, man it was so fun to like actually
be playing like what we thought was like this is
our pro. League turn them. Off of, course it's like
way LOWER ti your compared to any, anything compared to

(01:05:27):
like what the professionals, play but it was so much
fun and like just discussing strategies and like we actually
had like a whole like pick and band, phase Like,
okay if they pick this is who we're gonna pick around.
It so we got like really into, it and it
just made the game so so. Fun like all these,
games like it's so fun to be. Playing it's so
much better to be playing with friends versus on your.
Own and because we had a full team like everyone's

(01:05:49):
on the on the, coms it was just a whole
different experience AND i got so into. IT i was
like really really like trying to learn certain, strategies kind
of like re solidifying what my like what my champion
roster kind of looks, like and just so much. Fun
so this is definitely like probably my favorite ear playing.
League and like a good amount of, Time LIKE i,
said every world comes, AROUND i get. HYPED i boot

(01:06:12):
up the, game play a couple of. Matches usually it's, Like,
okay that's kind of it for, now play it in
a couple months or. Whatnot But i've been playing like
pretty consistently SINCE i got back From. Japan of, course
In japan is when they were doing The, world SO
i wasn't able to Play. League THEN i was just
watching the, game and THEN i got. BACK i got
really really hyped on, it and, yeah it's it's. One
i'll never be done with it until the game's like

(01:06:33):
just not supported. Anymore it's very popular, games SO i
kind of doubt that will. Happen but shouts out To
league and also Rewatch, arcane so that helps do with
the hype that, yeah, exactly so big shout out. There
and then my last shout out would Be Total World
warhammer because now THAT i have a new, COMPUTER i

(01:06:54):
can actually load into battles so. Fast it is so.
Crazy WHERE i used to like load into a, Battle
i'd go get some, coffee fold some, laundry like do
things come, Back i'm, like, oh still not loaded. In
NOW i can like load in less than ten. Seconds
i'm in the. Game like it is just such a different.
EXPERIENCE i love this game so much THAT i was
just putting up with those like crazy hardware issues THAT

(01:07:15):
i was having with my old. CONSOLE i would have
like crafted desktops WHERE i would just like lose progress
THAT i played for the evening AND i would just
kind of sit there and like just be so, bitter
AND i love the game so. MUCH i would be
getting back into, it BUT i would need like a,
week you, Know i'd have to like forget EVERYTHING i. Did,
okay let's try this. Again but now THAT i have
like a console or a system that can like actually
run it really really, well it is a whole different experience,

(01:07:37):
now And i've kind of just fallen back in love
with the. Game they just had a RECENT dlc. DROP
i haven't picked it, up but they also announced Their,
nagash which IS i actually have a book all About
nagash right, there and it's basically like the Original necromancer.
Character to all My warhammer nerds out, there it is
like such a hype LIKE dlc, Drop we've basically been

(01:07:59):
wanting this since Like warhammer three was, announced so now
he's finally coming. Out so of Course i'm gonna be
just playing the shit out of that. Game i'll be
giving you my review all about it when that does.
Drop and, YEAH i JUST i love this game so
much now THAT i have a system that can run it,
Properly it's it's absolutely. Amazing so to no surprise to,
anyone those are my two. SHOUTOUTS i feel LIKE i

(01:08:19):
probably bring up every Single game of The year, episode
but maybe not next year because we actually have some
really hot bangers That i'm going to be. Acquiring i'll
probably be able to fail up my whole list of
games that actually came out that. Year but those are My,
yeah those are my my little last shout outs, there.

Speaker 1 (01:08:34):
Beautiful, okay how about we throw to the one and
Only travis, afterwards we'll do our last ad break at the.
Show so, yeah let's hear From. Travis he put a
nice spicy one together for you. All so Enjoy Travis's
game of The year list and we will be right.

Speaker 4 (01:08:52):
Back hello, ladies, Gentlemen hello. THERE i don't, KNOW i
feel like it's weird to say, hello lez jone my
opening when this is probably not opening somewhere in the,
middle somewhere in the, end somewhere just spliced in who.
Knows but it is that time of the. Year we're
coming down to the, end twenty twenty, five AND i
get that message from Dyl and, saying, hey what's your
game in the, Year and just like every, YEAR i

(01:09:13):
panic BECAUSE i luckily next year me and him talk about.
This next, Year i'm gonna be Flowing i'm gonna be
ready to go next. Year maybe because too we got
a lot of stuff like film wise already figure out
because usually might write the, script figure out. Locations now we're, like,
okay meet up one, day film good to, go. Boom you.
Know SO i got a lot of that stuff. Planned

(01:09:34):
SO i got a lot more spare time or a
lot of just resources spread. Around and tons of games
next Year i'm excited, for and tons of games ARE
i can't, miss even GAMES i wasn't. Planning i'm. Buying
i'm buying, now so next year can't. Wait i'll have
a big pluth. Throat BUT i think the last two,
YEARS i have my select GAMES i want to, buy
AND i get, them and then that's kind of, it,
Right SO i feel bad when it's, like what's your

(01:09:55):
game in the, year and some of them sitting at
like four to five new, games it's, like, well you,
know and some of them are Like madden or W
w where it's, like, uh you, KNOW i kind of
get a general sense of what they. Are BUT i
GUESS i do have a game. Year But i'm putting.
THIS i got three categories to, say don't say there's no,
Rules SO i thought this was the best way to
give a shine on everything BECAUSE i don't have that
sort Of, Yes i've played twenty three, games here's WHAT

(01:10:17):
i think is the definitive. GAME i don't have that
like with the. Movies right next, year pretty CONFIDENT i,
will AND i got a new. Plan next side quest
about How i'm knocking off the, backlog AND i alread
lock knock off two games on the backlog SINCE i
started this, Method So i'm pretty happy with. It but
let's go with. THAT i have my most, PLAYED i
have my actual game of the, year and THEN i
have a flashback game of the, year which is something

(01:10:40):
where it's like the Most i've enjoyed, playing but it's
something Far i'm catching up on a. Replaying BUT i
really mentioned the first one most played, game and THEN
i mentioned this last year is probably giving my game
of the year until Uh Indian jones came. Out but
to b so the reason is. Period oh of, course
As i've said, before it's not per se just because
all wrestling all, That, NO i BARELY i don't know

(01:11:03):
in my, playtime maybe ten. PERCENT i think that's being
nice of SAYING i played the wrestling. Stuff everyone. Knows
i'm talking about did on the stream with tons of.
Fun we do a monthly stream that's coming back In
january with The Gimmick, boys Gmod, baby and especially this.
Year the reason why it's not just a big show
because it's been this evolution Of, okay they put it back,
in but it's very basic. Version oh they've done, this

(01:11:25):
and you, know add a little bit. Here but it
really felt LIKE i was just playing it Because i've
tried to play the old consoles and it's tough playing you,
know ON ps two Or, xbox you, know sometimes older,
consoles and there's even some stuff that's. Missing and also
it's fun to play with the current wrestlers of today
right which you can't in the, past where now you
can download anybody and do. That but the reason is

(01:11:46):
there's Multiple AS i said, before AND i THINK i
talked about earlier this, Year, dylan there's multiple, things and
there's still some Things i'm, wanting some things that from
the old games that they don't. Have there are some new,
things but still there's some classic, ones right like some
they don't have That i'm hoping for next, year, right
a fifty two week. Calendar the old games used to
be you play a whole. Year now it's, like, oh
you play half a, Year AND i always hate that
because it feels like at that halfway mark you're just

(01:12:08):
going and then it. Stops there's still a limit of
four people per, match which is, LIKE i like a big,
roster so it's, like you, know only have so many
because if people aren't, wrestling nothing. Happens, Right but this,
year above that or even before, That i'm hoping next,
year if they don't make these, changes it won't be
on my list next year Because i'm not gonna buy.
IT i buy it purely on what they do FOR.
Gmo but this year the things they added to death,

(01:12:29):
one just being online was a massive first time ever
and a great thing because obviously we do the, stream
but playing with playing with The Gamming boys And David,
sbubs it's just been tons of. Fun we've had a
really good. Time they've created some good. Moments so online
was a massive. Thing. Uh the match, car which people
might think is kind, of you, know, silly but you
could change the amount of matches you. Had before it

(01:12:51):
WAS i think three to. FOUR i think that was a,
lot but now you can get to five to, six
and Again i'm, like we've got so many. Wrestlers and
that's a great thing with THE, uh but is the
download hub that the community creation hub where you can
download people are making wrestlers from all these. Companies there's
so many people, NOW i want as much rosters as, possible,
Right SO i THINK i can't remember all the change

(01:13:12):
because now it's been a, Year BUT i REMEMBER i
probably had a list of let's say ten things right
THAT i would like either added from the old games
or kind of fixed upon with the new. Ones AND
i think they did like four or five this. Year
and even. ONLINE i thought they announced that they're doing.
ONLINE i, thought, oh, really they're just getting that with
the base, game there's not going to be too, much

(01:13:32):
and there, was AND i bought it and it was
just such a good. Time it's for. People if you
like that kind of managing, stars, contracts, injuries, money if
you like being the boss in that sort of, sense
you like the fantasy, booking it's the perfect. Game even
we had some fun with the guys that don't enjoy, wrestling, Right,
like it's a really good. Time and, YEAH i say
this every year WHERE i don't Think i'm buying next

(01:13:52):
year BECAUSE i, GO i don't know if they're going
to make this, change you, know and especially with this,
year because they spent or, not they did so much.
CHANGES i feel like twenty six might be a, break
which would be kind of, disappointing but you never, know
Maybe i'll be. There but that's my most played game,
easily easily by, far because that's my most LIKE i
sit down and it's JUST i got some time, kill you,

(01:14:14):
know four to five minut's, boom get a book of,
show gonna make a match something like that and see what.
Happens you never, know you're gonna get that next email
and you're gonna keep. Going so that's my most. Played
so that's why i'd be kind of almost like game
of the, year, right and then i'd say for my
actual the game of the. Year but it's tough BECAUSE
i feel like AGAIN Ww Donkey, kong which is not
my game of the. Year not many two new Games i've.

(01:14:34):
Played but the REASON i get something fine With Putting
Desk randing two, here which is my game in the,
year is because it's still i'd say over. Delivered now
as you can go back in the review we did two.
REVIEWS i still think there's some story aspects and a
couple of meticular that really hurt that. Story and the
first ONE i was not a fan of. THEM i
thought it was quite a, letdown, Actually but at the

(01:14:57):
same TIME i kind of thought this is treading two
would be a bigger. LETDOWN i know It's, kajima but
at the same, POINT i remember, Being, okay you can
do something in this, world but with these characters when
they announced. It but that's that's a really tricky. Spot
AND i think they did some great stuff there and
almost like me And dylan talked, about it's not as
hard as the first, one but being in that, world
the world building they, do delivering more, packages the. Locations

(01:15:20):
the number one to me is a top LIKE I
i'll say it ranked high in Our Patroon top ten
games for. Me right two doesn't do, that but it's
still a feat in. Itself AND i still love that.
World love a lot of new. Characters Love, fragilest go Around,
tons Love Detroit baker's. GOD i can't remember his villain's,
name but that was my villain the year for video,
games even for. MOVIES i put him up there he was.

(01:15:42):
Phenomenal so there's a lot of highs in that, game
and that's WHAT i think annoys me the. Most dudes
in the, story those things that, happened you could probably
just remove, them and the story pretty much stays the.
Same it's a lot of like reveals or. Twists SOMETIMES
i feel for the sake of twist's, sake you, know
it's JUST i always like a good, twist but sometimes

(01:16:02):
you can twist too much and it. Breaks and, uh
destrain didn't, break but it definitely got to your. Point but,
again that playloop is still. Great the characters themselves are still.
Great the world's great new, characters even those side characters
like the pizza. Chef you, know like if you played the,
game you know about the pizza. Chef so, yeah there's
lots of great stuff. There and, yeah so that would
be my number, one and that would be the GAME

(01:16:23):
i probably put the most time in AFTER. Wwe not
even the multiplayer games like A Hell divers are Called
dutey would shut Out Call Duty. RIP i think we've
retired it and one time we got to draw it back.
In but we used to play that a, Lot me
and the, boys and you, KNOW i have no shame of.
Minting we do it on A we used. To at
one point we did War zone and we one time
got to did we get double? DIGITS i can't. Remember

(01:16:47):
it was nine or ten games in a row on War.
Zone but even though we usually quote of three, wins
it would be a bad night if we got three.
Wins this year we had a ten weekend streak of
not a single. Win it was, brutal AND i think
we put down and Then Hell divers not a game
in the, year but tons of fun with the, boys
so shut. That and then finally my last category of
the you, know blast from the, past it's Too so

(01:17:08):
it's BECAUSE i said to. It i'm, like, well, really
IF i was of some up my game the, year
this would be. It But austin didn't come out this.
Year but there's two of these and it's on my.
Backlog AS i, SAID i made this more of a backlog.
Year next, Year i'm still trying as. Well there's lots
of new, games BUT i think next YEAR i only
Have i'm working on The Resident, evils BUT i really

(01:17:28):
have a sequel to the. Game we're going to talk
to you about another game and maybe maybe Like claire thirty. Three,
maybe But i'm keeping the backlog was pretty late next
year because obviously there's so many big games next. YEAR
i want to focus on that and for the. Reviews
but so it's a two for where the first Game
i've talked about BEFORE i reviewed. IT i this is

(01:17:49):
only one of the only THINGS i did WHEN i
was off with the babies From december To february last,
year BECAUSE i tried to, write but writing was LIKE
i need to be in a certain headspace AND i
don't like to stop and start too much Unless i'm
just finishing a scene or touching up or If i'm
editing a script right that's, fine but When i'm in,
IT i like a fully case sit. DOWN i get
locked in work. GAME i can pause right away for
the most, part elm. Ring that's another THING i couldn't

(01:18:11):
play with the. Babies that's WHY i never got back into.
It maybe when they're older and. Stuff so, anyway so the,
backlog this is the game THAT i was. PLAYING I
i've always wanted. To don't know WHY i had a
three sixty didn't get around to, it and that's alan.
Wake but it's been on the list for, years LIKE
i think they raided some sort of, remaster not. REMIX
i think it was just a remaster in THE ps

(01:18:31):
Four xbox one, era never gone on, There And i'd
always heard, that hey it's a it's a anyone that
played it and knowed, ME i guess or r ip
if you knowed me or knew. Me but anyone that
knew me or knows me was, Like, oh this is
a this is A traves. Game this is something that
you really would. Enjoy this is something that is just
right up your alley BECAUSE i like weird. Stuff austin

(01:18:53):
people compare this game to like A Twin peaks and
those type of. GENRE i like the trippy. Stuff, OBVIOUSLY
uf can get a little question questionable if you kind
of almost like the twist go too trippy or you're
just you're throwing in a bunch of stuff that eventually you, Go,
okay it doesn't make sense or it's too much of
a mess to. Enjoy BUT I i like a little,
messiness AND i still like that BECAUSE i know there's
some people that don't like the idea of things left

(01:19:15):
open or you're trying to figure stuff out for yourself
and go, OH i want the story told to. Me,
NO i like a little amubig, amubiguity. Amulbiguity oh my,
God i'm Missing it's, like, uh what's the other? WORD
i always mess up? AMUBIGUITY i think Hopefully dylan good
luck with that in Metit. UH i like things that

(01:19:36):
are left up in air and things that you can
look at from multiple, angles And alwick has some moments of.
That but, NO i love the. WORLD i love the,
VIBE i love the. STORY i Love Alan wick as the.
CHARACTER i like the twist and turns to do. There
the soundtrack is actually really good, too like some of
those songs that would end at that. CHAPTER i like

(01:19:56):
the chapter format a. LOT i like when games just
have like All the chapter format is a lot. Bigger
NOW i feel like that's. Happening i'm gonna talk about
my next game here. Too But, NO i really enjoyed
everything about, it the, setup the, moments the twists and.
TURNS i love The asylum part a. Lot So i'm
really excited For two Two, days one of the games
that's on my list for a, backlog So i'm excited

(01:20:19):
to get. There but, yeah two was or, Sorry alan
weink one was kind of EVERYTHING i was hoping for and. More,
yeah like the enemy types pretty, basic But i'm not
somebody that, Like i'm, fine like most the enemy types
are shining a light on the villain and shoot them
right Like i'm if you can get the. Movie As
i've said, BEFORE i feel between first person shooters and
some online games and other, Stuff i've really opened up

(01:20:41):
my gaming side as far as what we've done the
past ten, years WHERE i was just primary just single
player story. Guy, right if a game was first PERSON
i would completely write that. Off Where Anya jones was
my game the year last. YEAR i still enjoy, them
but that's just my. Preference but NOW i just feel, Like,
Okay i've opened up some some different spots of traps
mind and, gaming which is. Great but at the same,

(01:21:01):
TIME i still my go to genres just single, player
third person adventure and especially. Horror i'd have to, think
is like before the superhero genres, start and even then
Now i'd feel like it's above. It horror genre is
my favor and FILM i feel like it might be
in video, GAMES i don't. KNOW i do like a
good action adventure Like Indiana jones On. CHARGE i want

(01:21:23):
to do a backlog, eventually those type of games where
you're solving, puzzles doing. Things so the next game has
that as. Well BUT i think horror because you kind
of get, everything get the, scares you get the, twists
you get the, weirdness you can get the action if you,
want so down't. Wake that's HOW i started the year
off my first, game and HOW i ended the. YEAR
i did because we told this in The Game. AWARDS

(01:21:43):
i am now playing. Through at least my game plan
is to play a bunch Of Resident evils Before Resident evil,
nine because that trait sold. Me you go back to
that cast Seeing Leon kennedy from behind doing a spin,
KICK i was, like you know, WHAT i got transported right.
Back And i've not beat four. Yet i'm very close
to beating for. SOMETHING i can tell about, that but
the other one and STILL i would have it, There

(01:22:04):
And i'm not gonna do a deep dive BECAUSE i
will be on a side quest talking With dylan soon about.
IT i think we're gonna try and do a rain,
cast But Resident evil two would be not any like, That,
LIKE i think it'd be on par with that way
because that was something. New Resident evil two was the
perfect nostallager because we all had that with, shows movies
or video games where you go but you have something
in your, mind. RIGHT i can't. Remember there's a movie

(01:22:24):
this year THAT i watched that was one THAT i
Finally it's one of those WHERE i didn't know what it,
was figured it, out found out, like oh it's this
to ME a, watch but, huh this was much scarier
or better quality left in my. Mind, Right but WHEN
i returned to, this, awesome this is completely, different right
because they remake the. GAME i even showed the girls
because they saw a little bit of, it AND i

(01:22:44):
remembered Even Resident evil one it. WAS i think they
did like AN hd, remaster but that was. TOUGH i was, like,
man kids did have it a lot harder back than
like they got it so much easier now for the
video games they, get, Right but seeing that top down,
view how block you, move the way you get into each,
room where you walk over in the, transitions the camera
from a bird's eye, view where this plays like a

(01:23:07):
just regular third person, game there is a you, KNOW
i don't, know something fun and a niche about the old.
ONES i get why people might love, that BUT I
i love them back in the, day but playing them,
NOW i was not a fan of, it SO i
NEVER i was always scited for these, remakes AND i
own a bunch of them and always give them from,
deals but it was always like a backlog, thing, Right
And i'm happy that nine kind of kicked me in

(01:23:27):
the butt Because residue will. Two that's that perfect nostalgias
talking about that you can only do with a, remake
or maybe if you're, lucky if you go back and,
play that holds. Up BUT i feel most of the
time a ten times that does not, happen, right because the,
REMAKE i got to go in and experience all the.
Nostalgia you're seeing, characters store, Beats oh go find, them.
Medallions i'm literally being transported to WHEN i was a

(01:23:49):
kid PLAYING ps two or playing Game cube with A
revenue Four LIKE i was. RIGHT i could remember me
in my, bedroom the window, there like the POSTERS i.
HAD i was, like there's just certain things of the
character ask me to be, like oh my. God and
these are games that it's like a lot of movies
WHEN i, played WHEN i played or watched them in that,
ERA i have memories AND i guess remember, being, OH

(01:24:09):
i love, them like even though in MYSELF i remember
being a Massive Resident evil. FAN i suck with the
franchise from about one to five and, Six but five
and six because they got way more on the action,
SIDE i kind of. Bounced and THEN i never consider
myself a big. Fan LIKE i didn't love those movies,
really SO i started watching those which you, know, know
we'll talk about them. Next but LIKE I i it
was nice because it was like a piece of my

(01:24:32):
fandom and video games that was recaptured and brought, back you,
know thanks to the team and those remix because, like
it's so great to get them from the top. DOWN
i hope they do That Resident evil. One but and
not only, that it's a fun. Game it's a little
light on. Stories there's a couple of things That i'm
gonna wait till we get into a side quest to talk.
About there's some things WHERE i, wish, uh it's not

(01:24:54):
a Like Allan wake technically to me is like a
ten and at ten For travis rating, right wouldn't be it'd
be like in the. Nine there's a couple of things
that'd still even change with the. Remake but, man was
it tons of fun AND i just made me remember
even though thinking about the old, ONE i was, like all,
RIGHT i remember WHY i loved these, games especially as
a young and, right but this that that, GAME i absolutely.

(01:25:14):
Loved it was tons of fun for that. Experience and,
uh but that's my plan right. Now i'm playing, two,
four maybe, six and then eight before nine comes. Out,
uh but, YEAH i want to do The Leon candy.
Story and yeah it. Was but it was a great.
Time MISTER, x the police, station, Everything LIKE I i
was just my plan, Again that's WHY i actually changed my.

(01:25:36):
Thing my plan, was, Oh i'm going to play a little,
bit BUT i three days beat it and it's not
a long. Game but games NOWADAYS i usually don't do, that,
right BUT i. WAS i was in the thick of
it AND i absolutely loved. It so coust. Them i'll
see that's an older. Game but that's my. Flashback so
there's My my mount rushmore for the year is two
k Des randing To Alan wake and Then Resident evil

(01:25:56):
to remake and, yeah excited for next. Year Maybe Resident
evil be on that list again next year because im again.
Nine who, knows but, yes thank you very much for
listening to my choices AND i hope you had a
good gaming year in twenty twenty.

Speaker 1 (01:26:07):
Five, okay we are. BACK i haven't at the time
of recording, THIS i haven't listened to his.

Speaker 3 (01:26:17):
Thing good List, Travis, oh you have listened to, it
BUT i.

Speaker 1 (01:26:20):
HAVEN'T i don't. Know let's trying to break the fourth.
WALL i have an, idea BUT i don't. KNOW i
don't know what he's picked, Yet So i'll have to
listen to that BEFORE i post this. Episode just make
sure he doesn't say anything crazy about me and make
up some rumor THAT i just you, know publicly. Post you.

Speaker 3 (01:26:33):
Know, yeah that's a good point, actually.

Speaker 1 (01:26:35):
Which's been known to. Do but, yeah let's uh, ALL
i guess the Way i'll do this is all showed
out my three and two and then we'll go into
your game there and then we'll do we'll close it
out with. Mine that's probably nice way to do. This
so this this is actually similar to last, year where
again with my, tiers the WAY i break this stuff.
Down last, YEAR i had like a very solid top
three tier AND i WAS u f, fifty it Was

(01:26:57):
blatro and it Was, astrobot AND i was, like, oh
these are the god tier. Games he's like all timers
going on my top one hundred list and then the
stuff below that still like these, games but you, know
it was, like clearly there's a, difference and that's definitely
the case this year as. Well it's just funny it's
the same number top. Three my top three is like
solidify way higher than the rest of this stuff on
This Sorry Donkey Kong, bonanza but there's a steep drop

(01:27:19):
off between you and my number three, pick which Is
Hollow Night Silk, song Which I'm i'm so happy that
this is on my list BECAUSE i played the first,
game never beat. It it was, like, yeah it was all.
RIGHT i don't really like Metroid vane as, usually it's
not really my, genre and so that's Why i'm just
so thrilled THAT i can now SAY i love A
Hollow night game like everyone else says they love A

(01:27:41):
Hollow night. GAME i feel like, similarly WHEN i finally
went back years later and Played god Of war twenty
eighteen AND i was, LIKE i don't really like this.
Game that kind of. SUCKS i WISH i could be
there with everyone else who loves this. Game and THEN
i Played ragnarrock AND i Loved. Ragnrock i'm, like, yes,
OKAY i could feel what everyone else is. Feeling NOW
i can understand, that and so that's definitely a similar.
VIBE i how here With Silk, song and this game is,

(01:28:02):
amazing AND i did not similar To blueprints in a.
WAY i didn't do everything in, here because after you
like beat the, game there's the stuff you can do
to go into this whole like new, act and there's
like it's way, harder way more, bought like a couple more,
bosses new, areas AND i did really want to see that,
stuff just to see what that those new areas look.
Like but the challenge was just a bit too. MUCH
i was, LIKE i think this IS i Think i'm

(01:28:23):
gonna hate this game IF i keep playing. It so,
AGAIN i was happy to put it. Down BUT i
think that was like forty fifty hours or, Something so
it's not LIKE i just you, know cut out a
huge chunk of the game or. ANYTHING i still played
a fuck ton of this, thing and, YEAH i think you.
Know my goal with it was LIKE i gotta play
through this, thing AND i gotta not put it down
because metroidvanias the moment you put it down and you
forget where you were going or what you were. Doing

(01:28:43):
that's when you're. Screwed and also with difficult games like,
this which you know has very, dark soulsy, combat you
just gotta you gotta plug through, it you gotta fight
through the difficult. Stuff and, MAN i love this game
from start to. Finish there are a couple zones that
kind of bothered, me the classic Poison swamp very souls
like again in that, way and like an icy zone
THAT i wasn't too thrilled. With but this game has

(01:29:04):
like plot twists in terms of story stuff that's, happening
but more so just like you get teleported to a
new area and something crazy is happening and that always
blew my. Mind and the way it connects with the previous,
map the way the inter just the way this world
is pieced, together and all the different hidden pathways that
connect and shortcuts you, find or like falling into an
area you've been to, before or just in the dark

(01:29:24):
souls the way like accidentally happening upon an area that
you've been to, before and like opening the gating being like,
whoa these two worlds are connected now NOW i can
just like save so much time getting. Around Side quests
are really great in this, game really. FUN i spent
a lot of time doing some of that crazy side
quest challenges that you can do in. Here the music
unbelievable soundtrack Like lord of The rings inspired like crazy

(01:29:47):
mega epic fantasy tales going on. Here combat is super.
Good you. KNOW i don't typically love these TWO d
souls like combat, games but this one really really worked for.
Me AND i think part of it is like the
customization you have with your. Character you, know early on
in the, game when you do like a down attack
in the, air it's one of those things that like
like dashes you like into the, ground AND i hate

(01:30:09):
them in ciner and, Cinema, MAN i hate that. STUFF
i hate those kind of. MOVES i don't want to
be thrown to the. Ground and when any character that
has in, SMASH i instantly just like those characters a lot.
More but eventually you unlock like a different crest is
what it's, called and it removes, that and then you
get like a regular down attack that you can like
bounce with that kind of like from the Original Holi,
night AND i was, like, man this is my. THING
i love this but even with, THAT i would still

(01:30:31):
switch it up sometimes just to try different, builds using
different things like. THAT i even had to grind sometimes
in this game to level, up AND i actually didn't mind.
THAT i found some, fun interesting grind, paths really cool,
bosses like really well designed in terms of the, style
in terms of the theming behind, them but then also
the gameplay mechanics of, it and a couple that really
REALLY i was beating my head against the wall to

(01:30:52):
finally beat, them but they felt really good WHEN i did.
So only a couple WAS i actually pissed off, of
like these hip boxes are stupid AND i was like giguinely.
Salty but for the most part that was not the.
Case and, yeah it's just such a, weird, dour strange,
world BUT I i just loved. It i'm so glad
THAT i can be A hollow nighte fan. Now and
this doesn't actually make me want to go back and

(01:31:12):
like finally beat holl Of night. One i'm just, like,
YEAH i like silk. Song i'm a more of a
silk song, guy AND i can just live with. That
so shout out to The Hollow Nite Silk Song yeah
number three on my list. SOLIDLY i really really loved it.

Speaker 3 (01:31:24):
Nice, Yeah i'm glad that just because there was so
much anticipation for that game and it just being the
sequel of a very well known. TITLE i just remember
seeing some of the reviews. There it just seems like
the general reception is that in the fact they did,
it you, know it's just that. Good i've seen some
gameplay and it does look really. Fun Just i'm not
really attached to the, series SO i haven't really raced

(01:31:45):
to get there, clearly yeah the lack there of my
twenty twenty five, games but definitely want to try and
give it a, try and.

Speaker 1 (01:31:51):
Nonetheless, yeah, Absolutely and then my number two is a
number two in a series and that is going to
be stranding. Too on the, beach WHICH i REALLY i
really tossed this one around man like it was at
three at. TIMES i debated is this my game of
the year at, Times and it's a weird one BECAUSE

(01:32:13):
i feel LIKE i could almost say more THINGS i
dislike about this game THAN i like about, them because
in many ways it did let me down and is,
disappointing to be, honest as a sequel and as such
a big fan Like Death stranding ONE i think was
MY i don't think it was my game of. YEAR
i think it was my number two in like twenty.
Nineteen SO i love love that first, one so, WEIRDLY
i guess this is my number two, again just like

(01:32:34):
it was back.

Speaker 3 (01:32:35):
With always the Silver.

Speaker 1 (01:32:36):
Medal, yeah, always never the, pride always the, bridesmaid. Whatever
SO i think just to get the negative by the,
WAY i, mean the story for me pretty. Disappointing some
of the plot twists and character STUFF i just don't
think is like super duper well. DONE i, MEAN i
really like the characters and the performances for the most,
part with a couple, exceptions BUT i think just generally

(01:32:58):
the story and what it's doing just doesn't really worked for,
me especially like compared to how much a lot of
stuff worked for me in the first. Game of, course
a lot of this stuff in This stranding world is
just like weird and obscure and, strange AND i like strange.
Stuff BUT i think that this one didn't really make
sense for me in a lot of, ways in like
just terms of like character motivations and that kind of
level of. It AND i also feel like the game

(01:33:19):
is a bit too easy and that's even after me
bumping it up like the hardest difficulty and really wanting
to engage with a lot of the cool mechanics that.
Exist BUT i just feel like the game wasn't pushing
me to really get creative like the first one, did
even though there's like a ton of new options in
this game just because of the way it was. Designed
so those are a couple of the downsides for. Me
but like the reality, IS i spent a ridiculous amount

(01:33:40):
of time in this. GAME i think like one hundred
hours or. SOMETHING i got The platinum, trophy and you,
know getting that platinum trophy sucked like that last twenty
hours of that is, awful just like monotonous doing deliveries
the same things over and over, again not really seeing new.
Stuff you get a couple like late game quests on
lack if you do, that which weren't like the most exciting,
quests BUT I i still like did it, anyway which

(01:34:01):
like made me sour on it a. Bit but even
with all this stuff, said, like it still is my
number two BECAUSE i JUST i love how weird this game.
IS i LOVE i love the, WORLD i love being
in this, world and so even IF i wasn't enjoying
like some of the ending grind of getting that trophy
to get like all the you, know level five tier
for all the different, PREPPERS i still just wanted to

(01:34:23):
be in that, world driving, around hiking, up popping on my,
bike planning out, routes getting, efficiency building up my, highways
all that. STUFF i still JUST i just love the
VIBES i like being in this. World SO i think
that's ultimately why it climbs up to that number two.
Spot and, YEAH i really like the social. Mechanics many
TIMES i bumped Into travis's bridges or other uh you,

(01:34:44):
know bat battery towers and things like, that or just
other other players of, course but it always tickled me
WHEN i would See travis's stuff specifically in. There and,
yeah just some very memorable, moments some really great cut,
same some silly, stuff a lot of funny stuff in,
here which uh which is always always a plus as.
Well so, yeah even though it let me down in some,
WAYS i still had a grand time with that stranding.
Two definitely not as good as the original for, me

(01:35:06):
even if it's in a similar spot on my top ten.
List but, YEAH i had a great time with That
stranding two on The. BEACH i was definitely on that
beach big. Time and, yeah SO i think you will
enjoy this game as well when you finally finally get
around to.

Speaker 3 (01:35:19):
It hell, yeah good roster of the actors in there, Too, like,
yeah what's the big?

Speaker 4 (01:35:25):
One L?

Speaker 3 (01:35:25):
Fanning, right she's in there. Now cool new faces THAT
i would have. RECOGNIZED i feel like they also just
get some actors That i've never, heard like seen, before
but they just seem familiar and they just kill. It,
yeah a lot Of Die.

Speaker 1 (01:35:38):
HARTMAN i think that's one of, them IF i remember,
correctly those tips of. Guys, yeah definitely a few of
those for. Sure, yeah shout outs To Death stranding and, Yeah,
kirklam what is your twenty twenty five game of the.

Speaker 3 (01:35:52):
Year, Yeah, so sticking to the theme of kind of
WHAT i had at the start of the, year couch
Co OP i. There it's also kind of similar to
Your Hollow night, example where you just had like a
lot of anticipation for it and it was, like, man
if this doesn't, hit this is gonna be very. Disappointing
or fortunately it wasn't the case With Split fiction From

(01:36:13):
Haze Lights, Studios shane AND i were very much looking
forward to this game and did not disappoint by any.
Means really really loved the. STORY i love the characters in.
It the gameplay was. Phenomenal if you played any other
of The Hayes, lights like you kind of know what
you're getting. TO i guess specifically it takes two where
like there's just so many kind of was talking about,
earlier how like you have your main game, mechanics but

(01:36:36):
like within, it they just have like really unique like
little mini games in, there and this one definitely has. That.
ALSO i just also love like the worlds that we go,
to whether it's the sci fi or the. FANTASY i
was a lot more excited for the fantasy, elements BUT
i was kind of surprised how MUCH i ended up
liking of the sci fi. Stuff you kind of go
to like a Neo tokyo level that's a that's a
big it's a big level in the. Game and, yeah

(01:36:58):
it was just really really. PHENOMENAL i think by the,
end like when you when you do the last, boss
it was, like, okay, yeah not my favorite like big
bad finale type villain take, takeout but just the journey
in and of itself was just amazing that, like, yeah,
okay that was that was a great. Time and there's
even some side missions that we haven't even gone back and,
finished so there is still more content for us to

(01:37:19):
get in. There and we should know that we we
both have a bunch of days off here over the,
holidays it'd be a good time to jump in, there
especially if you Know january we're gonna be playing a
lot of cultual. Lamb we won't have time for something like.
This but, no it's amazing and Definitely Hayes Light studios
man like they. Are they're they're on my radar, now
like anytime they have another game that that, releases even

(01:37:40):
if it's not like they had a way, out was that? Them?
Right that was another co op game that not really
one THAT i was too interested in compared to Like
It takes two or Or Split fiction. Here shay really
didn't like the animation Of It Takes, too WHICH i
was really disappointed about BECAUSE i was just really excited
to play that with. Her uh maybe maybe she'll come

(01:38:02):
around and, uh well we'll be able to get through.
It this is really cool story and really cool just
way to tell, yeah to tell their story and just
JUST i feel like there's a lot of layers to each.
Character it's not like one is just like you have
Your mario who's just like the main. Character the whole
story revolves around, them and then you Got luigi's the
side side. CHARACTER i feel like they both have a

(01:38:23):
lot of good juice in. There and, yeah, no it
was a phenomenal. Game we had so much fun playing,
it AND i WAS i was really impressed, too, because
like you, know she likes to play, games but like
her mains are Like Hello kitty On adventure that was
a big one that she played a lot this, Year
Animal crossing like more laid Back Minomi. LANE i think
that's What that's what that one's called unpacking good little

(01:38:44):
just Like Vibe, games and some of the mechanics in
this game is like not, easy so for like someone
that isn't normally playing like platformers and specifically THREE d
platformers where you have to be like really good at
both joysticks the camera, around like she was getting really
good at. IT i was definitely nice impressed with her progress,
there and, uh, yeah we had so much fun with,
this and LIKE i already, said Like I'm i'm ready

(01:39:06):
for that Next Haze light. Announcement this just came, out
So i'm not in a rush for, it you, know
they can cook a little bit. Longer but, big big
fan of just couch co op games in, general and
it's cool that we still have studios putting out like
focused on couch co op. Play it's not like it's just, oh,
yeah we have our, game but then there's also couch

(01:39:26):
co op in, there like it's it's the main mechanics of.
It so m, Hm and you played a little bit
of it this, year didn't. You.

Speaker 1 (01:39:32):
YEAH i Think i've probably played about half of. It
AND i did try like about a month ago TO
i really wanted to finish it by the Time game
of The year stuff was, happening and me And jessica
did boot it up and tried to get it. Working
but just like the switch to friend, pass it was
it was it was kind of, ridiculous like it's just it's.
Broken like you literally just can't do an online lobby

(01:39:53):
with the switch to, VERSION i guess because Like i've
only ever played it like on like on THE tv
with a, friend like on the, couch but, like, yeah
you just straight up can't do like online with, it
like it's just, brokes SO i couldn't finish it, Unfortunately but,
yeah it was an honorable honorable mention for me as
well THAT i knew you were gonna bring up at some,
point so that's WHY i didn't mention it. Earlier but, uh,

(01:40:15):
YEAH i think based on WHAT i played of, IT
i enjoyed. IT i don't think it would have been
like a top fiver for, me so it probably could
have snuck into that like eight nine ten slot IF
i had finished. It BUT i MEAN i did HEAR
i accidentally heard a spoiler for like the main mechanic
of that final area or final level or, whatever and
it sounds fucking cool as, hell So i'm sure that

(01:40:37):
that would, like you, know bumping up the rating a
big time as. Well and how much creativity and like
work went into those the quote unquote side quests like
just completely new art style and like gameplay system and
like character that you're controlling. Sometimes, yeah so, yeah really
really cool, game really fun and, yeah really freaking hard
for me, too games all day. Long so, yeah show
it's To shae for making it through. There so, yeah

(01:40:59):
definitely WHEN i will try and finish WHEN i have
someone who can sit on the couch with me and
finish it that. Way but, yeah a cool, game cool,
game Totally, Yeah, okay my game of the year is
uh maybe no surprise to. Anyone it's kind of the
unanimous game of the year at least The Game wars
and everywhere else in the world it Is Claire Obscure

(01:41:20):
expedition thirty, three which is, yeah which is funny BECAUSE
i can't think of another time where my game of
the year is like the unanimous game of the, year
because LIKE i Guess astrobought was maybe that last year
and that was like top three for. Me but then before,
THAT i was like Balders gate Are tiers of The,
kingdom which you know GAMES i, WELL i really Got
Balder's gate and not quite my game of the, year

(01:41:42):
and LIKE i don't, Know Eldon ring was, not you,
know my number one in that given. Year LIKE i
feel Like i'm always at least from like top two
or three or, five maybe even up to the. Five
it's Like i'm never in that same unanimous spot with everyone.
Else but that just goes to show how freaking Good
Clear obscure. Is is that like this was not even a.
Question you, know so much of my. LIST i even
just Like Death stranding, two, like, OH i don't know
is it is it number? Three is it number? Two

(01:42:04):
Mario kart Don kong maybe interchangeable Like Adam fall could
have been not on my, list but it's like a number.
Six you, know a lot of things, Change but like clarep,
screit it's, like ONCE i beat that, game it's, like, oh,
yeah this is number, one and it's almost it's pretty
much number, zero, Right LIKE i just don't even have
to think about. It it's just in that. Slot nothing's
gonna move. It and like it came out early enough
THAT i was playing a lot of things throughout this.

(01:42:24):
Year but, yeah at times Maybe Death straining it felt,
like oh this could be my game of the. Year but,
no not, really not like in a realistic, sense like
is just that freaking? Good and, yeah it just fires
on all cylinders as you, Mentioned LIKE I i also
this genre for, me like turn BASED rpg things like.
THIS i got like tactics, games but this kind OF

(01:42:44):
rpg not usually my specific cup of. Tea but, damn
this game just works in every. WAY i love the combat,
system it's so unique with just like so many quality
of life systems in. There, uh just the THE rpg
mechanics of building out your care characters and the way
it evolves and the variety you get like as the
game progresses is extremely. Impressive you, know the game doesn't

(01:43:07):
have a huge roster of, characters but there's enough in,
there and all of them are like extremely uniquely designed
THAT i wanted to play with all of them and
like figure out how they all tick and use them
in different. Scenarios so that's, Great AND i of course
had my, favorites BUT i was constantly switching them, out
to switch them, out try the different, styles try the
different equipment THAT i was. UNLOCKING i, mean the music

(01:43:27):
music's outstanding best soundtrack of the. Year game looks, great
WHICH i almost felt weird. About i'm happy because like
a week, ago there was some controversy if people are
like clear obscurity HAS aiar, Didn't AND i was, like oh,
FUCK i was just ready to praise this game and
how gorgeous it. Is and then like just today they
were finally like explaining how they USED aar and that
they used it and like prototyping and stuff and then

(01:43:48):
like the one texture like snuck through past the game's,
launched but they passed it like five days later or
something like. That So i'm okay now to praise the
art because like it actually is all real men made.
Art there are some areas that are kind of sloppy,
looking but for, me it's like the the design of
the characters is, Outstanding like they just look so. Cool
the design of the world and like the Weird france

(01:44:08):
they have the monolith which we have is like the
background right now on our on our video, version and the.
Thumbnail like just the design of all the creatures and
the weird folks in the world is all. OUTSTANDING i
think for, me the thing that bumps it up to
the very very top, though is the. STORY I i
Think i'm confident in saying that this is my favorite

(01:44:29):
video game story. Ever, Kirkland, WOW i think.

Speaker 3 (01:44:33):
CRAZY i think that is the games that you've. Played
that's pretty.

Speaker 1 (01:44:36):
Insane, yeah pointed backlogged over nine hundred. Games i'm nearing a.
Thousand i'm gonna get a thousand next year games, played
which IS i Wonder i'll have to plan out what
my one thousandth game is and make, sure it's a good. One,
yeah maybe, six maybe that can be my one. Thousand
that would be. Crazy, Yeah i'll aim for. That but,
YEAH i think that's. TRUE i think this is my

(01:44:57):
favorite video game story, Ever like the The THE i,
guess just like straight up with the. Characters all of
them have their own individual. Story some of them are Like,
lunae who's kind of LIKE i, guess she has like
a it's an ensemble cast, thing but she has their
own like kind of side story situation going on with
their parents and stuff that's really. Touching cl has like
a heartbreaking. Story every individual character has their own. Thing,

(01:45:18):
obviously the protagonists get like a lot more of that
story given on there crazy plot twists that happen of
course all these characters too like amazing just performances and
the way the scenes are shot. Too it's extremely cinematic
and all that is. Amazing and, YEAH i just there's
there's layers of this and some people there's like certain
plot twists that happen Like act two or later in

(01:45:40):
the game that people don't jive, with BUT i think
are really great and really interesting and just read made
me rethink. Things and this game has this game has two,
endings not quite Like Adam, fallho it has a bunch
of different. Ones, AGAIN i wanted to see both of
them just to see the different, variations AND i think
both of the variations on the ending are extremely cool and.
Interesting this game just like a new free LITTLE dlc

(01:46:02):
stuff with some extra things in. THERE i didn't jump
into That i've heard it's mostly just like extremely hard boss.
Fights this is not a game WHERE i want to
do everything in, it even THOUGH i love it so,
much because some of those late game boss fights are
just cracked And i'm, like this is not enjoyable to
me to LIKE i need to learn this pery timing
Or i'm not gonna beat this AND i just have
to have insane you, know reaction, time and like Now i'm,
Good LIKE i beat some really hard, bosses BUT i

(01:46:25):
did like just enough for, Me and it sounds like
THE dlc is mostly just really really hard hard. BOSSES
i love this game also as like a sense of.
Humor there's like some janky like platform challenges you get
to do the NPCs and like there are weird dialogue
and weird look to, them have like a silliness to.
Them there's like mimes you're fighting and you can get.
Costumes that's like the characters of the bag gets on
their back and Like french little hats and stuff like.

(01:46:46):
That so the game has a sense of humor to
it as. WELL i mean even just like the first
fifteen minutes of this game is one of the best
video game stories. Ever like it's it's so it makes
you cry in the first like fifteen minutes of this,
Game like it starts out extremely. Strong uh it doesn't
really let up at any point in. Time and, yeah
the game just opens multiple times in terms of like
starts out fairly, linear then gets a little bit less,

(01:47:08):
linear and then gets you just like whoa crazy the
way it's open and just lets you go do all
sorts of different. Stuff but at the same, time it
feels like there isn't just a ton of actual crap in,
There like it feels like toned down and scaled. Perfectly
so uh, YEAH i JUST i don't have anything negative
to say about this. Game it's so freaking. GOOD i
love this game all timer for, me and, yeah my

(01:47:30):
favorite video game story of all. TIME i WILL i
will declare that on this. EPISODE i will declare it
in The monoi etch it into. Rock i'll say that
and we'll see if that can do in the. Future but,
yeah ununbelievable. Game and, Yeah, kirkling you need to play.

Speaker 3 (01:47:42):
It you need A, yeah it's it's high up on
the list now and it's, funny which is how like
clearly this has been everyone's like everyone that's played this.
Game it's like this is the best game of the,
year like just just without a. Doubt, Yeah i've heard
some of the, tracks uh like like, wise and it
is just so. Beautiful it's so, beautiful and, yeah it's

(01:48:04):
great like background. TUNES i had it a couple of,
times like it would just be on like one of
My spotify. Radios it would just come on WHEN i
was listening to like a gaming, playlist AND i was just,
like what the fuck is? This and THEN i saw
it was Like Claire's. Girl i'm, like, ah, MAN i
gotta get in this game at some. Point But i'm
almost like waiting for, that like oh, yeah like like
whether it's THE ai thing or like something that brings it.
Down but WHEN i hear THE ai, THING i don't

(01:48:25):
Really i'm not really too bothered by, that you, know,
personally but when just just like hearing how phenomenal the music,
is the, visuals the voice, actors and it just who's in,
there the, story and like it's not even a full price.
Game i'm, like what is going on with this? Game
like like like this is just so. BIZARRE i don't
understand why it's not a full price game WHEN i

(01:48:46):
look at like a ninety DOLLARS i don't, KNOW, EA
fifa or something that it's like the same game it
put out every single, year and they just it's like
a ninety dollars. Game it's just like they haven't even
changed anything about. It but THEN i look at this
and it's just like such a unicorn and.

Speaker 1 (01:48:59):
This se thing they just put out free as.

Speaker 3 (01:49:01):
Well yeah yeah for? Free yeah why? Not we just
Won game of The. Year, yeah let's do, that so
shouts out to shouts out To Claire. Obscure who even
Is Claire? OBSCURE i probably asked you this. Before is
this like A Tom clancy type? Thing there is, no, no,
no it's not based on a book or. Anything there's
no character Named Claire.

Speaker 1 (01:49:19):
Obscure, OKAY i THINK i think The french To english
translation is light dark Of Claire. Obscure, okay, yeah MOSTLY
i think IF i WHEN i, TRUNCATED i THINK i
usually call It expedition thirty three because that's more of
like what the game's. About it is about you on
the thirty three, EXPEDITION i, guess or The expedition thirty three.

(01:49:40):
Specifically so, YEAH i don't, know interesting. TITLE i think
like they could have maybe left that, out BUT i
wonder how that works for like a series. Thing but
also it just sounds Good claire. Obscure so either, way
you call It exposition thirty three Or Claire, obscure both good.
Names so there it has two good games and one.

Speaker 3 (01:49:56):
It just keeps winning better than.

Speaker 1 (01:49:58):
Ball X pit in terms of we can say that
for sure if you ask.

Speaker 3 (01:50:01):
Me, yes it's just a beautiful name. Too that's WHY
i thought it was A i thought it was a
person this whole. TIME i thought it was, like this
is like the, director you, know Like hideo kijim is
death stranding like. That that's the type of THING i
get from.

Speaker 1 (01:50:13):
It but, yeah, yeah it's cool. Title, Nonetheless, yeah, yeah,
yeah SO i, guess you, know Claib. SCARE i did
A i think roughly hour long solo deep dive thought
on like spoiler, stuff so people can go back check
that out and FOR i think every game on on
my list and and all your mentions like of course
we do side quest every. Week we talk about these
things as we're playing. Them So Death straining too has
a big spoiler, cast you, know Don Kong, Bonanza me

(01:50:36):
And travis did that recently actually talking about some of the.
Spoilers Silk SONG i did another solo one talking of
just through all my different favorite moments of that. Game
so if you want to hear more about any of
the games, mentioned just go onto the side quest feed
control f search. It if you can't find, it let me.
KNOW i can help you track down a lot of these,
games like Like adam fall or avowed or talked about
in multiple, Episodes so this might be harder to. Find

(01:50:57):
for the big spoilery, ones those are kind of easier
to find on the, feed you know, YouTube there's a playlist.
There go on the side quest feed if you're if
you didn't know about this geek. First of, course we
have Geek first where all these episodes, go but we
also have this specific side quest, Feed so if you
want to find things. Easier that's a good place to
go because if it just filters out all the other
geek first, steps so you can help help you find
some of those. Episodes so, yeah that's there's a lot

(01:51:20):
more if you want to hear about any more of
these games than we talked about every single one of,
them even split. Fiction you talked about that in a
big way on at least one or two other, episodes
so that came up as. Well so, yeah thank, you Uh,
kirkle thank you for joining. Me this was a fun. Thing,
Oh taylor just messaged me he did record his thing
so time earlier in the. Episode everyone's already already knows about,

(01:51:42):
this but you Heard Taylor's game of The, year so
have fun with. THAT i haven't listened to it yet. Obviously,
Yeah i'm glad that he got that in in time
so that all four of us are in one episode. Here,
uh thank you for another great year OF uh side
quest and podcasting And games of The. Year of, course
early In january we always do the preview for twenty twenty,
six which is gonna be a spicy one this, year

(01:52:02):
and then we'll follow it up a week after with the,
Draft so stay tuned for all of, that and, yeah
there's no break or anything. Yet next week you'll get
another Side quest episode as you normally. Would we're not going,
anywhere but we're gonna play a bunch of games over
the over our break, here And i'm sure we'll re
port back all of that In. January so, Again, kirkland
thank you for joining, me thank you everyone for, listening

(01:52:23):
and we will see you all next. Time happy holidays and.

Speaker 2 (01:52:26):
Bye

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Stuff You Should Know

The Bobby Bones Show

All Episodes

Game of the Year 2025

Dateline NBC