We’re back with another round of Idle Game Chat, and this week things get... weird.

We’ve got thoughts on all sorts — from the medieval madness of Doom: The Dark Ages to the emotional punches of Valiant Hearts: Coming Home. We also take a dive into the strange (How Fish Is Made), the spooky (Castlevania Requiem), and the downright baffling (Mouthwashing). Oh, and Somerville popped up too, so we gave that a go.

Then it's time for the big one: our 2024 Game of the Year rundown. Who made the cut, who got snubbed, and which game took the crown? There might be disagreements. There will definitely be waffle.

Grab a brew, stick us on, and enjoy some proper game chat.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

03:21 Doom: The Dark Ages

01:07:07 Valiant Hearts: Coming Home

01:39:14 How Fish Is Made

01:45:40 Mouthwashing

01:56:50 Castlevania Requiem

02:26:49 Sommerville

03:02:17 Game of the Year 2024

🎙️ Episode Summary:

Join us on Idle Game Chat as we dissect four iconic titles spanning debut titles, remastered brilliance, and AAA storytelling! This week, we’re debating:

🔥 Hot Takes Inside:

• Is Expedition 33’s ambiguity genius or frustrating?
• Does Metroid Prime’s remaster justify the price tag?
• TLOU2’s divisive legacy: bold evolution or misstep?
• Why Uncharted 4’s finale still hits hard in 2024.

Tune in for unfiltered opinions and our verdicts on which games deserve your backlog.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

01:02:15 Metroid Prime Remastered

01:49:49 Uncharted 4 - A Thieves End

02:08:15 The Last of Us Part II (SPOILERS FOR GAME AND SHOW)

GTA VI will not be making 2025! That's the big news of the month, but we prefer to talk about games, so after Apps brushes over the industries biggest delay, we have some idle chat about lots of video games, including:

- Monster Hunter Wilds

- A load of Super Mario Games

- Mythwrecked Ambrosia Island

- Fragpunk

- CoD Warzone

Sit back, relax and enjoy!

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Intro

00:01:29 GTA VI Delay

00:07:35 Monster Hunter Wilds

01:26:30 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Booster Course Pass

01:38:30 Super Mario Bros.

01:43:35 Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels

01:47:56 Super Mario Bros. 2

01:55:45 Super Mario Bros. 3

02:02:10 Super Mario Bros. Wonder

02:11:00 Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island

02:50:19 Fragpunk - Season 0 - Wild Dawn

03:18:30 Call of Duty: Warzone

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/1kWLytF1ApM

We used some AI Slop for the description, here is what it came up with:

Welcome to Idle Game Chat, your monthly deep dive into the realm of video games where we blend past classics with tomorrow’s innovations.

In this episode, we begin by demystifying the much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2. We’ll unpack the latest details—from hardware upgrades and display improvements to new features that could redefine portable gaming. Whether you're excited about a sleeker design or improved performance, we've got all the insights you need to stay ahead of the curve.

Next up, we delve into our Avowed Review. Join us as we explore the rich narrative and deep gameplay mechanics of this intriguing title, examining what it brings to the table in terms of world-building and immersive storytelling. We dissect both its strengths and the areas that might have left fans wanting more.

After that, it’s time to revisit a beloved series with our Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 Review. We take a nostalgic yet critical look at how the remake blends classic arcade excitement with modern enhancements, evaluating its renewed controls, level design, and overall balance between old-school charm and today’s gameplay expectations.

Finally, we wrap up with an in-depth look at GTA V. Despite being a titan in the gaming industry for years, this title continues to captivate audiences with its sprawling open world and unforgettable narrative. We discuss why, even after all this time, GTA V remains a benchmark for excellence in interactive storytelling and design.

Tune in to Idle Game Chat for a fresh, engaging look at these top topics and discover the conversations shaping the gaming landscape today.

Christ, we are doomed if we let this take over! Anyway here are the timestamps, enjoy:

00:00:00 Intro

00:09:12 Nintendo Switch 2

01:52:28 Avowed Review

02:58:25 THPS 1+2 Review

03:18:12 GTA V Revisited (SPOILERS)

Packed show this month!

Mr. Apps, Mr. Adkins, Mr. Biff and Mr. Adcock share their opinions on games both new and old.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Intro, FGL Update, Games of March 2025

00:12:10 Yakuza Kiwami 2

00:32:00 Shadow Warrior

00:43:32 Ninja Gaiden Sigma

00:58:37 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Blood and Wine

01:15:57 It Takes Two

01:31:16 Silent Hill 2 (2024)

02:27:00 Black Myth: Wukong

02:51:00 Wolfenstein: The New Order

02:59:15 Red Dead Redemption 2

03:18:58 Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DimpDigital

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Another biggie this month. Times SHOULD naturally reduce as we have got through Adkins' backlog, but as usual, take your time and digest this throughout the entire month! Here is what there is to look forward to:

A discussion about the high-octane, action-packed game METAL GEAR RISING: REVENGEANCE, exploring its intense combat system and engaging storyline.

Adkins delves into the emotionally-driven narrative of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, highlighting its unique gameplay mechanics and heartfelt story.

A look at Astro Bot, a platformer that has charmed players with its delightful level design.

A deep dive into the epic adventure of God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla, discussing its breathtaking visuals, immersive world, and gripping plot.

Adkins explores the expansive open world of Far Cry 6, talking about its action-packed gameplay, vibrant settings, and intriguing characters.

A segment dedicated to the monster-slaying adventures in Monster Hunter Rise, focusing on its cooperative gameplay and vast array of monsters.

A look at the anticipated game Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, discussing its storyline and the dynamics of playing as iconic villains. Was it really that bad?

The hosts discuss Tekkan 8, examining its fighting mechanics, character roster, and what sets it apart from previous installments. We settle the debate of Tekkan vs Street Fighter vs Mortal Kombat.

A segment on the PlayStation Portal, highlighting its features, user experience, and how it integrates with the gaming ecosystem. Does it work as well as it is advertised?

An exploration of Death Stranding Director's Cut, discussing the enhancements and additional content in this expanded version of the original game.

A nostalgic trip through the Spyro Reignited Trilogy, covering its remastered graphics, gameplay improvements, and the charm of the original series.

The Games of February 2025 The episode wraps up with a look at the games being released in February 2025, offering insights and anticipation for what's to come.

Take care!

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Timestamps:

00:00:00 Intro

00:06:05 METAL GEAR RISING: REVENGEANCE

00:36:15 Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons

00:48:56 Astro Bot

01:14:10 God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla

01:30:21 Far Cry 6

02:15:35 Monster Hunter Rise

02:32:06 Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

02:53:52 Tekkan 8

03:08:31 PlayStation Portal

03:33:17 Death Stranding Director's Cut

04:37:17 Spyro Reignited Trilogy

05:07:07 The Games of February 2025

Here we go then, the January 2025 edition of Idle Game Chat has arrived. Coming in at almost 7 hours, this is a big one! I encourage you all to take your time in consuming this, we won’t be back until February so there is no rush to get through. Take your time and chip away at it! Let’s get into the run down.

The Game Awards 2024

A new year and a new era? Maybe, but before we look forward at what 2025 is going to bring us let’s take a look back at 2024! The Game Awards had one of its better showings in terms of game reveals. Naughty Dog closed the show with their new IP, Intergalactic, The Witcher IV got itself a nice CG trailer, Okami is getting a sequel and much more. How many bollard ticklers did The Game Awards produce? Mr. Apps & Mr. Adkins run down their lists. Oh…we talk about the Awards too…

Year-In-Review 2024

Mr. Logan takes us through a Year-In-Review for 2024. We all thought we would be sitting here with Pre-Orders for the Super Switch (this is the best name), ready for an early 2025 release but Nintendo had other ideas. Are people getting impatient waiting for new hardware, despite still having a decent slate of games in 2024? PlayStation had one of the biggest disasters in gaming history with the release and subsequent cancellation of Concord, but they also had the highest rated game of the year with Astro Bot. This is reinforced by other strong exclusive offerings like Hellblade 2, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Stellar Blade. Many of these were not First Party offerings, which begs two questions, does it actually matter and was it really a terrible year to be playing on PS5? Xbox on the other hand had one of the strangest years on record. They closed multiple studios down and their shift towards multiplatform releases only got more aggressive as the year went on. What does this mean for the Xbox brand and their future in hardware? What is an Xbox?

Metaphor: ReFantazio Review

Mr. Apps returns with another longform review of Game of Year contender, Metaphor: ReFantazio. Having played Persona 4 Golden, Persona 3 Reload and Persona 5 Royal all in the last 18 months, will he be feeling burnout or will the change of scenery be enough for another huge JRPG? How does it stack up with the Persona franchise and could Metaphor be another long-term IP for Atlus. All and more are answered.

FGL 2025 – The Draft

It’s that time of the year again, the Fantasy Gaming League Draft! It’s Mr. Paper vs. Mr. Hall as they compete for the coveted FGL Championship. Paper is looking to break the curse and become the first person to successfully defend the FGL title. Hall is looking to make history himself, by becoming the first person to win the Triple Crown. Having won the Grand Prix and the Quiz in the past, this is the last accoladed missing. Who will come out on top in this battle of the titans?

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Intro

00:03:07 The Game Awards 2024

01:39:15 Year-in-Review 2024

03:18:17 Metaphor: ReFantazio Review

04:41:05 FGL 2025 Draft

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It’s that time of year again. 12 months, 36 questions, 1 winner.

Who will show their knowledge is unparalleled and win the world’s best gaming quiz?

Mr. Adcock, Mr. Parky & Mr. Adkins battle it out in the ultimate game of wits.

Play along at home, have fun and if you have one, enjoy your break.

Another season comes to a close, new champions crowned, new records set and new rivalries will spark up.

Mr. Apps, Mr. Paper & Mr. Logan take you through the highs and lows of the FGL 2024!

Enjoy.

Here we go, Idle Game Chat evolves once again! This time it is a shift to a monthly format. Consider this a soft launch (it was put together at relatively short notice) and to give you a flavour of what is to come.

We have a nice juicy episode for you this month and here is the rundown:

-         Why is IGC going monthly?

-         Astro’s Playroom Review

-         The Golden Joysticks Results

-         The Game Awards Nominees

-         WWE 2K23 Review

-         Final Fantasy XVI Review

-         Helldivers 2 Review

-         Fallout 3: Game of the Year Review

-         Vampire Survivors Review

-         SIFU Review

-         Bluey: The Videogame Review

-         Your usual dose of Idle Chat!

We hope you enjoy this magazine style podcast. We will tweak things as we go forward, so feel free to get in touch with any ideas you have.

Have a great December and we will see you in 2025!

Timestamps:

00:00 Why is IGC going monthly?

08:36 Astro's Playroom Review

46:43 Golden Joystick Awards

01:00:16 The Game Awards - Should DLC be allowed for GOTY?

01:29:15 WWE 2K23 Review

01:37:56 Final Fantasy XVI Review

01:48:32 Helldivers 2 Review

01:52:14 Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition Review

02:04:31 Vampire Survivors Review

02:16:57 SIFU

02:27:41 Bluey: The Videogame