It Just Works!

The Pokémon Trading Card Game has been part of our lives for decades, but the hobby has changed dramatically since we first started collecting.

In this episode of the It Just Works! Podcast, I’m joined by my brother Eric as we dive into everything Pokémon TCG! From childhood memories and collections we’ve built over the years to the cards we’ve sold, the ones we wish we still had, and the skyrocketing prices that have changed collecting forever.

We talk about the nostalgia of opening packs, the excitement of chasing rare cards, the financial side of collecting, and the lessons we’ve learned along the way. We also discuss what it’s like getting back into the hobby and whether collecting Pokémon cards today still captures that same magic we experienced growing up.

Whether you’re a longtime collector, someone returning to Pokémon TCG, or just getting started, this episode is for you.

Sometimes the cards we remember most aren’t the most expensive ones. They’re the ones we wish we never let go.

🎙️ Welcome back to the It Just Works! Podcast!

#PokemonTCG #PokemonCards #PokemonPodcast #PokemonCollecting #TradingCards #ItJustWorksPodcast

Gears of War: E-Day – The Gears We’ve Been Waiting For!

Gears of War is BACK, and this is exactly what I’ve been missing from the franchise!

In this episode of the It Just Works Podcast, I dive deep into the Gears of War: E-Day campaign and explain why I believe it’s a return to form for one of Xbox’s most iconic franchises.

From the devastating Locust invasion and the incredible atmosphere to the brotherhood between Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago, E-Day captures the brutality, emotion, and sense of loss that made the original trilogy unforgettable.

I also discuss the campaign’s biggest surprises, its connection to Halo: Reach and Halo 3: ODST, the gameplay, and where I think the writing could have been stronger.

But the big question remains: Is Gears of War: E-Day better than Gears 4, Gears 5, and Judgment?

For me, the answer is YES.

SPOILER WARNING: This episode contains major campaign spoilers.

What did you think of E-Day? Does it live up to the original trilogy? Let me know!

Follow the It Just Works Podcast for gaming reviews, discussions, and more!

#GearsofWar #GearsofWarEDay #GearsOfWarReview #Xbox #XboxSeriesX #GamingPodcast #ItJustWorksPodcast #MarcusFenix #DomSantiago

After 155 hours in RuneScape: Dragonwilds, has the magic started to fade?

This week on It Just Works Podcast, I dive into my experience with a game that has completely consumed my gaming time. As a longtime RuneScape veteran dating back to the dial-up internet days, Dragonwilds has brought back that familiar addiction of grinding, exploring, crafting, and building.

With 80 hours on Xbox Series X and another 75 on Nintendo Switch 2, I’ve finally defeated Kuldra, the Dragon Queen. But after reaching that milestone, I’m left wondering… what’s next?

In this episode, I discuss what makes Dragonwilds so special, my obsession with castle building, the disappointing performance on Nintendo Switch 2, and why the game desperately needs more meaningful endgame content.

Despite my criticisms, I absolutely love Dragonwilds and believe its future could be something incredible.

Is RuneScape: Dragonwilds running out of magic, or is its greatest adventure still ahead?

🎮 Topics include:

• 155 hours across Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch 2
• My history with Old School RuneScape
• Building, exploration, and addictive progression
• Nintendo Switch 2 performance concerns
• Defeating Kuldra and the endgame experience
• What Dragonwilds needs moving forward

⚠️ Spoiler warning: Discussion of Kuldra and endgame progression.

Thanks for listening to It Just Works Podcast!

#RuneScape #Dragonwilds #OldSchoolRuneScape #NintendoSwitch2 #XboxSeriesX #GamingPodcast #ItJustWorksPodcast

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GTA is back in the spotlight, and we finally have an extended look at one of the most anticipated games of all time!

On this episode of the It Just Works Podcast, Ryan breaks down everything that stood out from the latest GTA showing, from the insane level of detail and open world to the characters, gameplay, and whether Rockstar is actually about to raise the bar again.

Then, we dive into Gears of War: E-Day and the return of Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago. With its darker atmosphere, brutal combat, and focus on the early days of the Locust invasion, could E-Day be the return to form Gears fans have been waiting for?

Finally, Elden Ring is making its way to Nintendo Switch 2! We talk about how FromSoftware’s massive RPG translates to Nintendo’s new hardware, the compromises that may come with it, and what games like Elden Ring could mean for the future of third-party support on Switch 2.

GTA. Gears. Elden Ring. We’ve got a PACKED episode.

What are YOU most excited to play?

🎙️ It Just Works Podcast

🎮 Gaming news, reactions, discussions & more

Alex is back on the show, and we’ve got a LOT to talk about!

This week on It Just Works!, we dive into the recent changes surrounding RuneScape and what new leadership could mean for the future of the game. Then we head back to Tamriel to break down some of the latest Elder Scrolls VI theories, including the speculation surrounding its potential setting and what Bethesda could be cooking up.

Finally, we spend plenty of time talking Halo: Campaign Evolved! Alex gives his thoughts on the remake, what’s working, what isn’t, and why the ODST might just be stealing the show.

RuneScape, Elder Scrolls, Halo and plenty of gaming tangents along the way — another packed episode of It Just Works!

🎙️ Episode 225

🎮 RuneScape & the future of Jagex

⚔️ Elder Scrolls VI theories

🔥 Halo: Campaign Evolved

💀 Why Alex loves the ODST

Thanks for listening, and as always — it just works

After 55 hours with Halo: Campaign Evolved, I’ve seen just about everything this game has to offer — and it’s finally time to give my verdict.

In episode #224, I break down the full experience: the campaign, gameplay, visuals, changes from the original, what works, what doesn’t, and whether this reimagining actually captures what made Halo special in the first place.

There’s a lot I loved, a few things that surprised me, and some decisions I’m still not completely sold on. But after spending more than two full days of my life in this game, I think I know exactly where Halo: Campaign Evolved stands.

Was it worth the wait? Did it live up to the legacy of Combat Evolved? And most importantly — is this the direction Halo should be heading?

Let’s talk about it.

Halo Campaign Evolved has taken the community by store, bringing classic gameplay, modern improvements, and a wave of nostalgia that has fans talking. In this episode, I break down why its resonating so strongly, what it gets right, and whether projects like this represent the future of Halo. If you're a longtime Spartan or someone who's fallen away from the series, this is a episode you won't want to miss.

Bethesda has finally broken its silence, and there's a LOT to unpack. Fallout 5 is officially in preproduction, and The Elder Scrolls 6 remains Bethesda's top priority, and Starfield isn't going anywhere. But with the recent Xbox layoffs still fresh, what does all of this actually mean for the future of Bethesda Game Studios? Let's dive into the announcements, what they mean for fans, and where Xbox goes from here.