Game Scoop! 780: Super Plucky's Tale - Detailed Summary

Release Date: September 20, 2024 | Host: Damon Hadfield | Guests: Sam Claiborne, Justin Davis, Nick Lemoan

1. Game Spotlight: Super Plucky's Tale

Super Plucky's Tale, recently launched on PlayStation Plus, takes center stage in this episode. Host Damon Hadfield introduces the game, sharing his enthusiasm along with guests Sam Claiborne, Justin Davis, and Nick Lemoan.

• Gameplay and Storyline:

  • Justin Davis describes his progress, stating, "I'm in Chapter four, although I think I'm pretty deep into it. It's the swamp area... The story takes a little bit of a darker turn" (01:38).
  • Nick Lemoan adds, "This is basically like a puzzle light platformer where it's in a book and then they make use of all the sort of like rules that that would introduce" (04:03).

• Art and Music:

  • Damon praises the game's music, noting, "The very first thing that I liked was the music... It was great" (02:20).
  • Nick complements the art direction, especially within the storybook sections: "The storybook stuff is just outstanding looking" (04:28).

• Gameplay Mechanics:

  • The transition between 2D storybook pages and the 3D world is discussed, with Justin expressing a hope for more complexity: "I'll give it a longer shot... Maybe it gets a little more complicated a little trickier" (06:44).
  • Nick highlights the boss fights, stating, "Each boss fight... feels like its own... it's really cool" (07:28).

• Overall Impressions:

  • Justin gives a tentative rating: "I didn't give it a 7 out of 10. I think it's a little bit lower... it has an 84 on Open Critic right now" (02:09).
  • Sam shares excitement about exploring the game: "I can't wait to play it" (01:50).

2. Industry Insights: Square Enix’s Financial Performance and Krafton’s Acquisition

The panel delves into significant industry news, particularly Square Enix's recent financial disclosures and Krafton's strategic acquisitions.

• Square Enix's Performance:

  • Justin raises concerns: "Square Enix has admitted that Both Final Fantasy 16 and 7 Rebirth did not meet their expectations in terms of profits" (01:04).
  • Nick discusses possible reasons, including poor portfolio management: "We did not manage our title portfolio across the company as well as we could have" (24:05).
  • Sam criticizes the pacing of game releases: "They should have taken 10 years for each of these games like they did for Final Fantasy 7 Remake" (25:16).

• Krafton’s Acquisition of Tango GameWorks:

  • Justin explains Krafton’s strategy: "We're trying to increase our portfolio lineup... we're not making hi Fi Rush 2" (37:23).
  • Nick views the acquisition positively, highlighting Krafton's expansion: "They are turning themselves into a powerhouse of a publisher" (39:59).
  • Sam echoes the sentiment, noting the increased visibility Krafton gains: "We're saying Krafton all the time. Can't stop saying it" (39:59).

3. Current Gaming Experiences and Discussions

The conversation shifts to current gaming experiences, player preferences, and the evolving landscape of popular titles.

• World of Warcraft (WoW):

  • Damon shares his renewed interest: "The only game you're going to hear me talk about... is World of Warcraft because I resubscribed" (15:07).
  • Nick relates with Final Fantasy 14: "I do that with Final Fantasy 14, so I don't think that's unusual" (17:38).

• Astrobot and Other PlayStation Titles:

  • Sam expresses admiration: "Astrobot has an amazing big little world... it's my favorite one so far" (06:07).
  • Nick discusses various PlayStation IPs: "They included them so I'm just looking them up" (10:05).

• Final Fantasy Series Analysis:

  • Damon critiques the franchise's management: "Final Fantasy has got to be one of the most mismanaged major franchises" (25:35).
  • Nick emphasizes the need for consistent identity: "They have to make some tough choices... define what Final Fantasy means" (33:02).
  • Sam suggests an open-world approach: "If it was a Witcher clone with Final Fantasy stuff in it, it would be a lot better" (33:12).

4. Video Game 20 Questions Segment

The episode features an interactive segment where listeners submit games for the hosts to guess through a series of questions.

• Listener Submissions:

  • Baker from Greenville, SC, suggests games like Heroes of Might and Magic 3, Gothic, and Lemmings (56:48).
  • Marcus from London, UK, recommends titles such as Papers Please, Faster Than Light (FTL), and Stardew Valley (59:40).

• Guessing Process:

  • The hosts engage in guessing games, narrowing down possibilities based on questions about release eras, exclusivity, indie status, and gameplay mechanics (60:33–63:14).
  • They successfully identify Balatro as one of the submitted games, celebrating listener participation (63:14).

5. Additional Discussions

Towards the episode's conclusion, the panel touches on upcoming releases and broader gaming trends.

• Upcoming PlayStation Releases:

  • Justin mentions Horizon Zero Dawn Remaster and anticipates its impact (44:21).
  • Sam speculates on future remasters and agrees with the sentiment: "It's good still to me" (44:47).

• Dead Rising Remaster:

  • Nick shares his positive take: "Durdor is incredible... it's using the RE engine now. Incredible looking game" (42:12).
  • Sam acknowledges improvements: "FTL really drew me in" (63:35).

Notable Quotes:

• Damon Hadfield [02:20]: "The very first thing that I liked was the music... It was great."
• Nick Lemoan [04:28]: "The storybook stuff is just outstanding looking."
• Justin Davis [01:04]: "Final Fantasy 16 and 7 Rebirth did not meet their expectations in terms of profits."
• Sam Claiborne [25:16]: "They should have taken 10 years for each of these games like they did for Final Fantasy 7 Remake."
• Nick Lemoan [39:59]: "They are turning themselves into a powerhouse of a publisher."

Conclusion

"Game Scoop! 780: Super Plucky's Tale" offers an in-depth exploration of current gaming titles, industry challenges, and listener engagement through the interactive 20 Questions segment. The panel provides thoughtful critiques, personal experiences, and insightful perspectives on both beloved franchises and emerging trends, making the episode a comprehensive listen for gaming enthusiasts.