Electronic Wireless Show

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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