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[Eel O'Brian]

http://cruncheons.podbean.com/mf/web/b67ng/Cruncheons34.mp3

Doug's stuck doing homework this episode, so Book Club and the Wii U Experience are vaporware yet AGAIN*, but Robert, Arian, and Kevin pinch hit with a roundup of some recent early Fall game releases!

(3:45) Borderlands 2
(27:30) Faster Than Light (FTL)
(39:30) Torchlight 2
(1:06:00) Guild Wars 2
(1:20:00) XCOM and Aliens Vs. Humans
(1:29:30) Rebuild for iOS or Android

We'll talk to you again soon!


*It's still coming, we swear!

 

[HamPster PamPster]

3 minutes in and everyone sounds so happy and positive

weird

 

[Corky]

Sweets xcom

 

[The Take Out Bandit]

*It's still coming, we swear!

Good!

Make sure Doug name drops that Hell on Earth Kindle small author series he talked about two or three shows back. I'm all about that kind of stuff.

 

[Rufus]

Aw yeah, right into my ear canals.

 

[Gattsu25]

New Cruncheons? Sign me the fuck up!

 

[Trent Strong]

3 minutes in and everyone sounds so happy and positive

weird

The Cruncheon guys are at their best when they're cynical and critical. (But they're really at their best when they're ripping into Nintendo superfans. Those rants are pure gold.)

 

[Rufus]

I'm with Arian on TL2. I hate the aesthetic. And I'm not usually a font snob, but the one they use is so ugly. The movement and general feel of the combat didn't bother me much, though I've only played a Gunslinger in the demo. Path of Exile stuck out more in that regard, to me. As inferior to Diablo 3, I mean. I got used to it there though, so I guess I may have just adapted to it very quickly in T2.

 

[Blast Processing]

Sweet, I like this show. No Doug this episode, though? I'm not sure it'll have the same ringing of self-loathing and resignation.

 

[Drinky Crow]

good god, it's so pleasant not to hear my nasally sense of drama!

 

[GhaleonQ]

3 minutes in and everyone sounds so happy and positive

weird

It's because they know that they'll never have to get around to reading books.

CRUNCHEOOOOOOOONS. Okay, I'm especially thrilled to hear FTL impressions and...interested...in XCOM stuff. Good looking episode!

 

[Jinfash]

3 minutes in and everyone sounds so happy and positive

weird

I know. The game line-up is too good to hate on.

L00t L00t!

 

[GhaleonQ]

Gosh, you people are good at this. I'm really happy to have heard your F.T.L. bit, and I think a couple of the sections are the best breakdowns of their respective games in any gaming media.

 

[Fragamemnon]

FYI, this discussion didn't have any actual hands-on talk about XCOM-we recorded last weekend. The next ep I will give a detailed rundown on the game-it's great-fantastic even- but the reviewers did miss some things and I feel that there's large room for design improvement. There are some things that should be patched sooner, some things that should be addressed in DLC, and some things that really are more sequel-oriented items.

 

[Rufus]

The game does feel a little glitchy sometimes. I've shot and been shot through walls and ceilings before, aiming rockets and grenades can make the camera spaz out (not to mention that it's obviously designed for an analogue stick and kinda hard to aim), the fact that new abilities messes up the order of your skills (Overwatch moves from 2 to 3 to 4, depending on the soldier you've selected), moving to different levels in a structure can be very awkward depending on the angle, the UI does not present nearly as much information as it could, cursor feels 'sticky'...
From a design perspective, the thing that sticks out most to me so far is the cover system and the changes that went along with that, like not being able to directly target anything but enemies and the confusing sight lines which go along with that (where it looks like you are flanking somebody, but you aren't).

Still, I'm loving every second. It'll be interesting to heart what you guys have to say on it. Hopefully I'll have finished a game until then.

 

[border]

I have missed this show very much. I just don't have time for podcasts anymore

Everytime some ridiculous Nintendo news pops up, I want to hear Doug's reaction.

 

[Alex]

Bit late on this one, great episode though. Very much agree with a lot of the Borderlands 2 commentary. genuinely shocking release, Gearbox most certainly has my attention now, going forward. One of those rare passes of glut reiteration and polish that takes a concept where it should be I finished a belated run of the original days before the sequel hit and the amount of progress made between the two games is staggering. I was also really dragging my feet at the end of Borderlands (and most of the game, really) but put some uncommon marathon sessions into 2 and went right into TVH mode wanting more.

Loved the Torchlight 2 tangent on skill points too, that system is horrific and has been scattered to the wind for a reason. It's some awkward attempt at nostalgia stirring because I can't think of any other reason for a rational human being to cling to that mess. Personally, rather than Diablo III's load out, which is nice though, I'm becoming a fan of the modernized multiple choice setup in like Xcom and Mists of Pandaria.

Anyway, great ep again, looking forward to more Xcom blurbs in the future. Borderlands 2 FTL and Xcom made for an amazingly good little fall window for discussion and stories. Speaking of stories, also looking forward to the oft-delayed book club episode... someday!