The PC Gaming Weekspot

This week, you get the second ever Spotty Awards as we look at our game of the year 2021 (so far) picks, it’s time for the last ever Mystery Steam Reviews, and we’ve got a load of Burning Questions to get through. The PC Gaming Weekspot was the only PC video games podcast you needed in your life if you were looking for some lovely PC gaming news and some wonderful PC gameplay. Thanks for listening and watching.

 

After countless Xbox Game Pass plugs, a lot of Dooming, and the arrival and subsequent disappearance of Greta Surname, The PC Gaming Weekspot is coming to an end. But, before we go, there's time to highlight some of our favourite games of 2021.

 

While our very fancy awards show makes up the majority of this final episode, it would be a shame not to include Huw Edwards. This week's Headlines & Hot Takes focuses on all the rumours surrounding some Konami comebacks. Silent Hill, Metal Gear, and Castlevania are all slated to be returning, so we chat about that for a bit. And then we talk about being used... Tech Corner really is a haven for hardware news.

 

Because we won't be around at year's end, the second ever Spotty Awards has been brought forward a few months. So, listen to us chat about some of our favourites from the last nine or ten months.

 

This week's Mystery Steam Reviews focuses on video games that were released in 2021. And we round out the show by opening The Weekspot mailbag to answer your Burning Questions on loads of stuff. But it's mainly you lovely listeners and viewers saying nice things.

 

One final note: if you did happen to listen or watch any episodes of our little podcast, thank you very much. It's been a pleasure to record over the last year. Go raibh maith agat agus slán go fóill.

 

00:00 Intro 06:46 Information Snacks For Your News Gobs 19:02 Silent Hill, Metal Gear Solid, Castlevania rumours 36:33 Game Of The Year 2021 (The Spotty Awards 2021) 1:13:51 Mystery Steam Reviews 1:35:13 Burning Questions

 

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So, the main point of discussion on this week's podcast is the Outer Wilds: Echoes Of The Eye DLC. Talking about it is tricky, because saying pretty much anything about it feels spoiler-y. Christ, I'm trying to be careful writing this blurb in case I say something that I shouldn't. But, somehow, I think we managed to talk about it, without talking about it. Know what I mean?

 

We're thankful for the Outer Wilds DLC, because it sure was a quiet news week. There's a bit of chatter on the Deathloop stuttering issues, and whether Titanfall 3 will be a thing or not, but it's all a bit muted until the Donkey Konga bongos are brought up, really.

 

So, Matthew's put a decent few hours into the Echoes Of The Eye DLC, and as already referenced, is able to tell me what he thought of it without telling me much about the game. In return, I tell him about my time with the very stylish Sable.

 

This week's Mystery Steam Reviews focuses on video game spinoffs. And we round out the show by opening The Weekspot mailbag to answer your Burning Questions on microtransactions, critically acclaimed games we don’t like, and the best biscuits.

 

00:00 Intro

07:01 Information Snacks For Your News Gobs

24:48 Outer Wilds: Echoes Of The Eye Review

42:56 Sable Review

52:03 Mystery Steam Reviews

1:12:53 Burning Questions

 

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After getting a taste last week, both myself and Matthew have spent the last few days in Blackreef. We've been enjoying doing the same things over and over. Yeah, Deathloop is pretty good.

 

Before we chat about our looping adventures in Arkane's FPS, we discuss the recently leaked Nvidia GeForce Now list. You're not going to win any prizes for guessing that some of these games will come to PC, but the prospect of others is a little bit more exciting. I mean, I know I could really go for some Titanfall 3. But, it is all pure speculation at this point. But, everyone loves a bit of that, anyway, don't they?

 

For the second week in a row, the game that makes up the majority of our conversation is Deathloop. We've both played it now and mostly agree it is a belter. There are a few minor caveats, but overall it's one you should definitely make time for. Also, I've been playing Kena: Bridge Of Spirits. And, yeah, The Rot are definitely the highlight.

 

This week's Mystery Steam Reviews focuses on video games with robot protagonists. And we round out the show by opening The Weekspot mailbag to answer your Burning Questions on comfort food, games we replay, and fursonas.

 

00:00 Intro

08:13 Information Snacks For Your News Gobs

17:51 Titanfall 3, God Of War, and the leaked GeForce Now list

32:43 Sir Clive Sinclair of ZX Spectrum fame passed away

36:43 Deathloop Review

1:04:33 Kena: Bridge Of Spirits Review

1:19:59 Mystery Steam Reviews

1:46:52 Burning Questions

 

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Yes, we all know the game has a very cool look, and all of us enjoy playing a good time loop game, but what actually is Deathloop? Thankfully, Matthew's played the first few hours and is here to enlighten both you and I.

 

But, before we chat about Colt Vahn's day, we get into the biggest news stories over the last week. The most notable thing, really, is that there was a PlayStation Showcase filled with lovely PC-related tidbits. We're getting a KOTOR remake, Forspoken seems decent, and the two most recent Uncharted games are on their way to PC. Also, Alan Wake Remastered is out quite soon. That's nice.

 

Deathloop dominates chat in this week's Show and Tell. While Matthew hasn't played through the game yet – the two of us will be playing it over the next week – he's really enjoyed his first few hours. A lot more stealthy sneakiness in this one than the trailers let on. Matthew also goes through his thoughts on musical platformer The Artful Escape, and I chat a bit about my time with pleasant photography game Toem.

 

No Mystery Steam Reviews this week sadly as the recording went haywire, but we'll have a make good next week. And we round out the show by opening The Weekspot mailbag to answer your Burning Questions on video game soundtracks, Half-Life 3, and Sir David Attenborough.

 

00:00 Intro

06:09 Information Snacks For Your News Gobs

18:16 PC Things At PlayStation Showcase 2021

36:59 Alan Wake Remastered Is Out In A Few Weeks

41:33 Deathloop Impressions

59:14 Toem Review

1:05:10 The Artful Escape Review

1:16:22 Burning Questions

 

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Double Fine did it: they made a sequel to Psychonauts that's great. And different, too. It's a follow-up with modern day sensibilities that plays much better than the original. Given that it was one of our most anticipated games of the year, it's fair to say we're quite pleased.

 

Another enjoyable thing is that news happened over the last week. Great for anyone that does a podcast that revolves around current events in video games. While Volition haven't officially announced it yet, Geoff Keighley appears to be gearing up to reveal a Saints Row reboot at Gamescom, so we go into what we imagine that might look like. And Sledgehammer Games is going to World War II with Call Of Duty: Vanguard, but it sounds like they haven't totally concerned themselves with historical accuracy.

 

Psychonauts 2 chat takes up most of the runtime on this week's show, though. It's not like we didn’t have issues with the game, but those quibbles pale in comparison to how much we enjoyed it. It's a cracker that you should most definitely play. Another game we talk about that you could probably skip is Twelve Minutes. A cool idea, but not marvellous in execution.

 

This week's Mystery Steam Reviews is all about video games that are either set on the moon or have a moon level. And we round out the show by opening The Weekspot mailbag to answer your Burning Questions on underrated gems, conventions, and cartoon games.

 

00:00 Intro

03:25 Information Snacks For Your News Gobs

07:38 Saints Row Reboot News Coming At Gamescom

20:04 Call Of Duty: Vanguard officially announced last week

31:25 Psychonauts 2 Review

56:37 Twelve Minutes Review

1:12:53 Mystery Steam Reviews

1:36:46 Burning Questions

 

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Yes, another Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla DLC has been released. And, again, it’s a tad like the base game. But, not totally, because Ubisoft have remembered to put some sneaking in this one. It still has a pebble-stacking minigame, though. You can’t have it all, I guess.

 

Apart from The Siege Of Paris launch, the past seven days have been relatively quiet, all things considered. There has been rumblings of a few things – and we love to speculate as much as the next person working in games media – but it’s all been a little wishy-washy. So, this week, the line between info snack and headline meal prepared by Huw is effectively transparent. We chat a bit about Alan Wake 2, Stringer Bell as Knuckles, the GTA remasters, and more.

 

As mentioned above, Assassin’s Creed: The Siege Of Paris is the main event on this week’s show. Matthew’s a bit conflicted on it, as it shows promise in some Hitman-like missions, and the villain is decent too, but it’s still ultimately more Valhalla. Meanwhile, I’ve played through the enjoyable Road 96. I went into it thinking the procedural-generation was ambitious, and I’ve come out the other end thinking the game would be far less interesting if the story was told in sequence.

 

This week's Mystery Steam Reviews is all about video games that have other real video games in them. And we round out the show by opening The Weekspot mailbag to answer your Burning Questions on the best campaigns, strategy games on Steam Deck, and our beef with Company Of Heroes 2.

 

00:00 Intro

05:22 Information Snacks For Your News Gobs

08:11 Call Of Duty Vanguard rumoured to be next COD

12:04 The game that people think might be Alan Wake 2 is go

18:41 Idris Elba is Knuckles on the Sonic movie

21:53 A GTA remaster trilogy is reportedly in the works

26:50 Frostpunk 2 got announced

33:06 Steam Deck doesn’t get a boost from being docked

35:40 Assassin’s Creed The Siege Of Paris review

53:00 Road 96 review

1:01:59 Mystery Steam Reviews

1:24:12 Burning Questions

 

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Colm’s never played a single second of Left 4 Dead. So, he can't properly compare the new game to the source material. However, he can say that he had a ball playing the Back 4 Blood beta with other members of the RPS treehouse. It's good, old-fashioned zombie killing funtimes!

 

While Turtle Rock's upcoming game dominates this week's show, Headlines and Hot Takes is full of chat on what could be next from 2K. Apparently there's an "exciting new franchise" coming, so we get chatting on the rumoured Marvel XCOM, and the Hangar 13 game that's apparently a little Cthulu, a little Saints Row. We also talk about different coloured Steam Decks for a minute.

 

As already mentioned, Show and Tell is full of chatter on Turtle Rock's new horde-slaying game. While Colm isn’t going to be breaking down the minute differences between the two games, he does say he had a lovely time playing Back 4 Blood with Team RPS. To be fair, he also had quite a nice time playing Death Trash on his lonesome. Meanwhile, Matthew's been cutting some grass in Lawn Mowing Simulator.

 

This week's Mystery Steam Reviews is all about video games with romance options. And we round out the show by opening The Weekspot mailbag to answer your Burning Questions on mobile games, skateboarding, and feeling horrible.

 

00:00 Intro

08:06 Information Snacks For Your News Gobs

22:25 Marvel XCOM rumours

33:45 Hangar 13’s “Saints Row meets Cthulu” game 

43:24 Different coloured Steam Decks

47:52 Back 4 Blood preview

1:03:30 Lawn Mowing Simulator review

1:12:38 Death Trash Early Access review

1:20:13 Mystery Steam Reviews

1:41:41 Burning Questions

 

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Annapurna really stretched the limits of notE3 by putting on their inaugural showcase so late in the day, but I’m glad they did. They showed off a lot of cool things, like Neon White and Stray. We even got the briefest of looks at the upcoming Outer Wilds DLC.

 

Headlines and Hot Takes is full of chat on what the publisher packed into a half an hour last week. And, yes, while the cat looked decent, and the first-person card shooter-thing looked intriguing, Echoes Of The Eye definitely takes up most of our time. We’ve also renamed Tech Corner, because you and I both know it’ll be Steam Deck from now until December.

 

It’s been a bit quiet when it comes to new releases, but Matthew found some time to have a go on twin-stick shooter The Ascent. While the couple of hours he played didn’t blow him away, it’s definitely worth a look via Game Pass. Xbox’s subscription service also gave me a chance to play some of the very pleasant Omno.

 

This week's Mystery Steam Reviews is all about video games that were made by studios that have since closed down. And we round out the show by opening The Weekspot mailbag to answer your Burning Questions on indie games, Olympic sports, and Mog.

 

00:00 Intro

05:03 Information Snacks For Your News Gobs

15:11 Annapurna Interactive Showcase recap

18:01 The Artful Escape

21:16 Neon White

24:07 A Memoir Blue 

25:02 Storyteller

26:33 Solar Ash 

27:59 Skin Deep

30:26 Stray 

35:07 Outer Wilds Echoes Of The Eye

41:24 Steam Deck might be future proof, apparently

48:05 The Ascent impressions

1:05:05 Omno review

1:12:27 Grime impressions

1:16:57 Mystery Steam Reviews

1:36:49 Burning Questions

 

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Everyone knew it was coming, dulling the surprise somewhat, but it’s still pretty cool to get confirmation of a Dead Space remake. Well, we've decided that it’ll be good if EA takes a page out of Capcom’s book and goes the Resi route with its Isaac Clarke revival.

 

EA Play Live 2021 didn’t have much apart from EA Motive’s new game, really. The Dead Space 202? speculation dominates this week’s Headline & Hot Takes. We still make time to talk about PES (now eFootball) going free-to-play and whether we might see more games going this route. And Tech Corner has some Steam Deck chat… it will likely be Steam Deck Corner until December, in truth.

 

It’s a big Show and Tell, as Matthew’s most anticipated game of 2021 is here: The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles. While his preview from a few weeks ago probably gave you a decent indication as to his thoughts, you get to hear him praise the latest entry in the series on this week’s show. Meanwhile, I’ve been playing the delightful time loop detective game, The Forgotten City.

 

This week's Mystery Steam Reviews is all about video games that break the fourth wall. And we round out the show by opening The Weekspot mailbag to answer your Burning Questions on mansions, game announcements, and reunions.

 

00:00 Intro

07:15 Information Snacks For Your News Gobs

17:54 Dead Space remake announced at EA Play Live 2021

39:16 PES has been renamed eFootball and goes free-to-play

51:08 Steam Deck specs are better than first listed

53:01 The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles gameplay and review

1:08:52 The Forgotten City gameplay and impressions

1:22:39 Mystery Steam Reviews

1:41:28 Burning Questions

 

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WonderSteam, N-Gabe, Valvita: you can call it whatever you like because Valve have made their intentions clear. They’re keen to elbow their way into the handheld market with the Steam Deck.

 

Of course, Headline & Hot Takes has loads of chat on Valve’s Switch-like handheld. We chat about who this is for, we speculate on whether or not developers are going to be taking the Steam Deck into consideration when making their games, and we chat about how it looks. We’re very superficial. We also discuss the chatter around Netflix moving into video games, and we’ve got some EA Play predictions for you, too.

 

For Show and Tell, I brought Death’s Door to the discussion. It’s a little Zelda, a little Dark Souls, and loads of crow. I think this game is brilliant, and you should play it. Matthew wasn’t as hot on the first few hours of JRPG Cris Tales, but the time-travelling mechanic definitely has him intrigued. I also played a little bit of the new Streets Of Rage 4 DLC. It’s Streets Of Rage 4. So, I like it.

 

This week's Mystery Steam Reviews is all about video games that have AI-controlled companions. And we round out the show by opening The Weekspot mailbag to answer your Burning Questions on Cyberpunk 2077 and Miami in the ‘80s.

 

00:00 Intro

03:57 Information Snacks For Your News Gobs

12:46 Steam Deck announced and it’s out this year

41:26 Netflix is getting into the video game business in a big way

52:01 EA Play 2021 predictions

56:20 Death’s Door gameplay and review

1:13:40 Cris Tales gameplay and impressions

1:24:53 Streets Of Rage 4: Mr X’s Nightmare gameplay and review

1:28:44 Mystery Steam Reviews

1:52:05 Burning Questions

 

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