Aches and Games

Aches and Games

By Giles Nicholson, James HopesLeisureVideo Games
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Aches and Games episodes

  • Episode 10 - Gaming Subscription pros and cons / Jeanne d'Arc (September 2024)

    Summer's gone but we're back with a discussion of the pros and cons of PS+ and Xbox Game Pass as well as our thoughts on Jeanne d'Arc, a hidden gem from the PSP and 2007 which was August's play-along game of the month.

    Plus James relives a holiday that didn't go quite to plan and some rather more fun family co-op adventures while Giles finds something just his pace in amongst the hot air balloons at Bristol's Balloon Fiesta. All that and the usual catch-ups, tangents and general nonsense.
    Timestamps:
    0:00 Intros
    2:00 What we've been up to / feedback / pod stuff
    14:25 Jeanne d'Arc (our play along for August)
    25:17 What else we've been playing
    35:53 September's game is ...
    38:50 News Bytes
    47:40 Gaming subscription pros & cons
    67:09 Wrapping up
    As always, we'd love to hear from you via our socials @achesandgames, our Facebook page or by emailing [email protected]. And please check out the website at www.achesandgames.co.uk where you'll also find some great written reviews of the games we play. Cheers!



    1 hr 10 min
  • Episode 9 - Our favourite Summer Games / Still Wakes the Deep (August 2024)

    It's August (already!) so we share some of our favourite "Summer" games as well as our thoughts on the decidedly un-summery Still Wakes The Deep which was July's play-along game of the month.

    Plus James talks a look at Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, and explore the (early) depths of Hellblade among others, while Giles investigates The Curse of the Golden Idol and explored the Dungeons of Hinterberg. All that and the usual catch-ups, tangents and general nonsense.
    Timestamps:
    0:00 Intros
    2:54 What we've been up to / feedback / pod stuff
    16:48 Still Wakes the Deep (our play along for July)
    25:25 What else we've been playing
    39:54 News Bytes
    50:14 Some top "summer" games
    65:35 Wrapping up
    As always, we'd love to hear from you via our socials @achesandgames, our Facebook page or by emailing [email protected].

    1 hr 8 min
  • Episode 8 - Animal Well & Showcase Season (July 2024)
    In July's episode we share some picks from the recent summer showcases and our thoughts on Animal Well, our inaugural (great word right) play-along game of the month.
    Plus James talks completing the delightfully deranged
    Disco Elysium and the brilliant bleakness of Bramble, while Giles ponders Humanity and Harry Potter (one of those in Lego form). All that and the usual catch-ups, tangents and general nonsense.
    Timestamps:
    0:00 Shambles!
    0:18 Intros
    1:17 What we've been up to / feedback / pod stuff
    18:57 Animal Well (our play along for June)
    26:44 What else we've been playing
    42:55 Our picks from the summer showcase season
    63:08 PS Plus & Game Pass & a descent into madness
    65:38 Wrapping up
    As always, we'd love to hear from you via our socials @achesandgames, our Facebook page or by emailing [email protected].
    1 hr 9 min
  • Episode 7 - Why older games rule (June 2024)

    In June's episode we discuss the news that older games are dominating people's playing time and if we might be part of the problem?

    Plus Giles walks through stunning landscapes and complicated feelings on Hellblade 2, James investigates Disco Elysium and we compare thoughts on our respective time with Harold Halibut. Plus the usual catch-ups, tangents and general nonsense.

    Timestamps:

    0:00 Intros

    0:58 What we've been up to

    13:39 Introducing June's game of the month

    20:07 What we've been playing

    41:34 This month's news bites

    52:38 Why do old games currently rule

    64:00 A quick wrap-up

    As always, we'd love to hear from you via our socials @achesandgames, our Facebook page or by emailing [email protected].




    1 hr 6 min
  • Episode 6 - Variety is the spice of life? (May 2024)

    Join us for this month's episode including James' muddy ending, Giles' conflicted feelings on his time at Hogwarts and where we discuss what "counts" as a game.

    Plus all the usual (and unusual) nonsense about life, and gaming on Xbox, PlayStation 5, Switch and PC
    Timestamps:
    0:00 Intro
    2:59 What we've been up to
    19:32 What we've been playing
    53:58 This month's news bites
    66:26 What "counts" as a game?
    77:53 Wrapping up
    As always, we'd love to hear from you via our socials @achesandgames, our Facebook page or by emailing [email protected].


    1 hr 20 min
  • Episode 5 - Ratchet, Clank & the "perfect" length for games (April 2024)
    Join us for April's episode where we contrast our Easter breaks, compare thoughts on #RatchetandClank and discuss what's the "perfect" length for games.
    Plus all the usual (and unusual) nonsense about life, and gaming on Xbox, Playstation 5, Switch and PC
    Timestamps:
    0:00 Intro
    2:04 What we've been up to
    17:01 Ratchet & Clank thoughts plus what we've been playing
    44:29 This month's news bites
    52:35 The "perfect" game length
    63:27 Wrapping up
    As always, we'd love to hear from you via our socials @achesandgames, our Facebook page or by emailing [email protected].
    1 hr 7 min
  • Episode 4 - Remasters, bears (?) & b*llsed-up backs
    In March's episode we discuss the recent rushing river of remakes & remasters and indulge our fondness for other forms of alliteration.
    Plus the usual catch ups on what we've been doing and playing during the past month.
    Timestamps:
    0:00 Intro
    2:40 February ramblings
    17:01 What we've been playing
    32:23 This month's news bites
    41:13 Remakes and remasters
    56:14 Wrapping up
    As always, we'd love to hear from you via our socials @achesandgames, or by emailing [email protected].
    58 min
  • Episode 3 - What's in store for '24
    We're back for another brand-new episode and with James' fancy new mic (yep, pretty jealous tbf).
    With both Xbox & PlayStation having shown us what they have coming in 2024, we react to their Developer_Direct and recent State of Play events. Plus the usual catch ups on what we've been doing and playing during that darkest (and longest?) month of the year - January.
    Timestamps:
    0:43 Intro, what we've been up to and your feedback
    15:19 What we've been playing this month
    25:05 Our reactions to January's Developer_Direct and State of Play
    53:05 Wrapping up for today
    As always, we'd love to hear from you via our socials @achesandgames, or by emailing [email protected].
    57 min
  • Episode 2 - Our Games of 2023*

    Happy new year! We're back for our second episode with brand new microphones and despite some gremlins in the recording software.

    This month we catch up on a busy Christmas period, discuss our favourite games that we played in 2023 (hence the *) and share a few of our gaming new year's resolutions.

    Timestamps:

    0:00 Intro and what we've been up to

    12:22 What we've been playing this month

    33:00 Our games of the year 2023

    58:20 Gaming resolutions for 2024


    As always, we'd love to hear from you via our socials @achesandgames, by emailing [email protected] or just turn up at James' house apparently!



    1 hr 10 min
  • Episode 1 - Origin Story
    Introducing ourselves & the pod and chatting through our personal gaming journeys*.
    *No radioactive spiders involved, as far as we know. And yes, sorry about Giles' microphone issues, we'll sort it out!
    53 min

About Aches and Games

From the publisher's feed

A relaxed monthly chat between two *slightly older* British friends - talking life, gaming (and basically whatever other nonsense comes to mind).