Shoot the Sh*t

Josh and Ben count down their top 5 games of 2020–2026 and their lists could not be more different. One brother stacked his with AAA heavy hitters like Elden Ring, God of War Ragnarok, and Baldur's Gate 3. The other went his own way with a family platformer and a racing game in the mix. Along the way: the controversy of The Last of Us Part 2, why Doom Eternal is pure fun in game form, whether Hogwarts Legacy deserves its spot, Resident Evil Requiem's horror perfection, and two very different picks for the top spot. Two brothers, ten games, and plenty to talk about.TakeawaysDiverse gaming preferencesGameplay experiencePlatform exclusivity Diverse gaming preferencesImpact of storytelling on game experience Diverse genre choicesGameplay experience is a key factorChapters00:00 Introduction to Top 5 Games01:16 Gaming Preferences and Genre Diversity02:03 Top 5 Games: Ghost of Tsushima05:36 Top 5 Games: Hogwarts Legacy12:40 Top 5 Games: Astrobot16:13 Top 5 Games: Baldur's Gate 320:57 Gaming Preferences and Experiences21:49 The Last of Us Part 228:49 Doom Eternal38:46 Gameplay Experience and Criticisms46:04 The Appeal of Forza Horizon 550:44 Elden Ring: A Magnificent World

We dive into the world of Assassin's Creed, starting with the first game — its story, revolutionary gameplay mechanics, and the impact it had on the gaming industry. From there we trace the evolution of the entire series: the early challenges and frustrations, the introduction of new elements and historical settings, and how the formula changed over time. Along the way we explore the real history behind the games, the shift into RPG territory, and the controversies surrounding the series' portrayal of diverse characters.TakeawaysRevolutionary gameplay mechanics such as free running parkour and viewpoint synchronization.The historical context and storytelling of the game set a new standard for the gaming industry. Evolution of gameplayImpact of historical settings Evolution of Assassin's CreedHistorical Settings and ControversiesChapters00:00 The Story of Assassin's Creed17:31 Revolutionary Gameplay Mechanics19:58 Historical Context and Impact22:23 Early Challenges and Frustrations25:22 Evolution of Gameplay and Historical Settings29:31 Assassin's Creed Two and the Ezio Trilogy32:10 Assassin's Creed Three and Black Flag37:15 Unity, Rogue, and Syndicate41:29 Evolution of Assassin's Creed43:15 Historical Settings and Controversies

The conversation delves into the historical accuracy and immersive gameplay of Kingdom 2. It covers the setting, character development, combat, skill points, crafting, and the world and narrative of the game. The writing and historical accuracy are also discussed, highlighting the attention to detail and the unique experience the game offers.TakeawaysHistorical AccuracyImmersive GameplayChapters00:00 Introduction to Kingdom 205:58 Character and Storyline12:04 Combat and Weaponry18:03 World and Narrative

The conversation covers an introduction to the game Saros, understanding rogue-like gameplay, gameplay mechanics, story overview, cosmic horror elements, game length and pricing discussion, weapon variants, personal experience and game enjoyment, game difficulty and modifiers, run variability, exploration, solar eclipse mechanics, accessibility, enemy interactions, game difficulty comparison, and final thoughts and recommendation.

The conversation covers the introduction and development of Crimson Desert, the transition from MMO to single-player RPG, future projects by Pearl Abyss, initial impressions of the game, gameplay and story overview, game size and progression, AI, writing, and art in the game, controls and gameplay experience, variability and frustration in gameplay, combat and inventory management, and influences from other games. The conversation covers diverse combat and health mechanics, the game's ambition and success, varied biomes and difficulty, challenging puzzles and exploration, the game's identity and uniqueness, and the game's complexity and challenge. It emphasizes the extensive recipe system, lack of level scaling, and the intimidating yet unique experience the game offers.TakeawaysTransition from MMO to single-player RPGInfluences from other games in Crimson Desert Diverse combat and health mechanicsExtensive recipe systemOverly ambitious gameMassive commercial successVaried biomes and difficultyLack of level scalingChallenging puzzlesExtensive explorationLack of game identityIntimidating yet unique experienceComplex gameplayFreedom of choice and challengeChapters00:00 Introduction to Crimson Desert05:07 Gameplay and Story Overview14:44 Variability and Frustration in Gameplay20:43 Combat and Health26:06 Biomes and Difficulty32:26 Game's Identity and Uniqueness39:05 Game's Complexity and Challenge