Game Scoop! Episode 799: The First Games We Ever Played

Release Date: February 21, 2025

Hosts: Damon Hadfield, Nick Limone, Mark Medina, Sam Claiborne
Guests: Sam Claiborne joins the main hosts
Network: Geek Media, an IGN Entertainment Brand

Introduction and Network Update

Timestamp: [01:57] - [03:31]

Damon Hadfield opens the episode by welcoming listeners to Game Scoop!, highlighting that despite a slower news week, the show promises engaging discussions about the games they're currently playing. Nick Limone and Mark Medina join Damon in the studio, with Sam Claiborne attempting to connect remotely due to internet issues.

Damon Hadfield:
"We do have a great show for you, even though it's another slow, slow news week."
[02:08]

IGN’s New Podcast Network Announcement:
Damon shares exciting news about IGN Entertainment launching the new podcast network, Geek Media. This network consolidates favorite IGN shows and partnerships, promising new shows, live events, and scripted series.

Damon Hadfield:
"With that, let's dive into what we've been playing recently."
[02:24]

Current Games Under Discussion

Timestamp: [03:31] - [33:11]

Avowed

Timestamp: [03:31] - [14:44]

The hosts delve into Avowed, discussing its recent wide release. Damon shares his initial impressions after a few hours of gameplay, describing it as a well-put-together RPG that feels familiar without being revolutionary.

Damon Hadfield:
"It seems fun. It seems like a good, pretty, you know, they're like It's a RPG of which I've played a lot similar games in the past."
[04:05]

Nick Limone expresses strong enthusiasm for Avowed, praising its combat mechanics and the blend of traditional fantasy elements with unconventional weapons like pistols and rifles.

Nick Limone:
"The combat is so fun. And you get the blend of weapons that you don't traditionally see in these fantasy games."
[04:12]

The discussion highlights the game's immersive mechanics, including the lore integration and character interactions, which Nick finds particularly engaging. Damon mentions minor reservations about the game's writing and world-building compared to titles like Mass Effect 2.

Damon Hadfield:
"From the premise, the world building, the writing, the voice acting, it's not on the level of like a Mass Effect 2 for me."
[15:59]

Elden Ring: Night Rain

Timestamp: [21:39] - [33:11]

Sam Claiborne and Mark Medina share their experiences with the network test for Elden Ring: Night Rain. They discuss the challenges of playing with random players, noting that the multiplayer experience felt disjointed and stressful, contrasting with their usual enjoyment of the Elden Ring universe.

Sam Claiborne:
"It was a miserable experience playing with Randos."
[22:34]

Nick Limone echoes the sentiment, highlighting issues with communication and coordination during multiplayer sessions.

Nick Limone:
"I felt that the kind of multiplayer experience wasn't ideal because I had...My team failed."
[24:12]

Despite these challenges, they commend the game’s class-based character choices and combat system, appreciating the strategic depth and variety it offers.

Sam Claiborne:
"One thing that sticks out to me that I truly enjoy about this is the class based character choice."
[26:00]

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Timestamp: [29:10] - [35:56]

Nick Limone provides an in-depth review of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, praising its historical accuracy and immersive simulation aspects. He highlights the game’s meticulous crafting system, realistic character interactions, and the demanding nature of its gameplay, which requires players to manage various mundane tasks alongside combat.

Nick Limone:
"This is nitty gritty. This is a deep dive. This is like dishonored Deus Ex turned up to like 42."
[31:53]

Mark Medina discusses the game’s pacing and its departure from traditional RPG systems, expressing interest in the developers’ commitment to historical authenticity despite personal reservations about the combat focus.

Mark Medina:
"Everything but the combat sounds really cool about this game. It's the only thing kind of holding me back."
[34:51]

Listener Interaction and 20 Questions

Timestamp: [68:12] - [84:57]

Video Game 20 Questions: Ron from Louisville, Kentucky, suggests Golden Sun for the Game Boy Advance, sparking a lively guessing game among the hosts. After a series of questions and hints, Nick Limone correctly identifies Golden Sun as the suggested game.

Nick Limone:
"Golden sun is literally the first RPG I bought for the GBA. I'm so stupid."
[81:38]

Damon Hadfield:
"That's why we're back to Game Scoop."
[84:57]

First Games and Gaming Nostalgia

Timestamp: [41:05] - [67:17]

The hosts reminisce about the first games that made them gamers:

• Nick Limone cites Chrono Trigger and Super Mario World as pivotal games that sparked his passion for RPGs.

  Nick Limone:
  "Your mom walks in, she opens the curtains and just wake up Chrono."
  [43:45]

• Mark Medina reminisces about playing arcade classics like Pole Position and Zork on the Commodore 64, and later becoming obsessed with Super Mario Brothers 2 and other Nintendo titles.

  Mark Medina:
  "I played Pole Position and I played Donkey Kong and Congo Bongo and, you know, Space Invader, stuff like that on that Commodore 64."
  [45:22]

• Damon Hadfield shares his experience with the original Super Mario Brothers and later titles on the Atari 2600, emphasizing how these games were integral to his identity as a gamer.

  Damon Hadfield:
  "The first game you ever played is also the game that made you a gamer."
  [43:41]

• Sam Claiborne reflects on witnessing Super Mario World for the first time at daycare and later enjoying titles like Banjo Kazooie and various Final Fantasy games, which solidified his love for RPGs.

  Sam Claiborne:
  "Final Fantasy and I just was happy that I knew where to go in those games."
  [51:03]

Retro Gaming and Developer Insights

Timestamp: [56:14] - [84:57]

Discussion extends to retro gaming experiences and lesser-known titles. The hosts explore the legacy of developers like Camelot, known for Golden Sun and the Shining Force series, and reflect on the evolution of RPG mechanics over time.

Nick Limone:
"Golden sun rocks. This game, the Overworld Navigation is cool."
[82:04]

Mark Medina:
"Square Enix seems to have forgotten this and Einhander. They've never re-released Einhander."
[52:35]

Closing Remarks and Promotions

Timestamp: [84:57] - [90:39]

As the episode nears its end, the hosts briefly mention upcoming content and interact with each other humorously. Damon promotes future episodes and encourages listener engagement through email submissions.

Damon Hadfield:
"Viewers, listeners, if you have your own suggestions for video game 20 questions, email them to me at the address game scoop.com."
[84:39]

Notable Quotes

• Nick Limone on Avowed's Combat:
  "The combat is so fun. And you get the blend of weapons that you don't traditionally see in these fantasy games."
  [04:12]

• Damon Hadfield on First Game Impact:
  "The first game you ever played is also the game that made you a gamer."
  [43:41]

• Sam Claiborne on Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's Depth:
  "This is the closest you will get to time traveling back to, you know, 15th, 16th century Bohemia."
  [30:14]

• Mark Medina on Golden Sun:
  "Golden sun rocks."
  [82:04]

Conclusion

In this episode of Game Scoop!, the hosts delve deep into their gaming experiences, reflecting on both contemporary titles like Avowed, Elden Ring: Night Rain, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, as well as nostalgic classics that shaped their identities as gamers. Listener interactions add a personal touch, culminating in a fun and engaging 20 Questions segment. Despite navigating through multiple advertisements, the core content remains rich with insights, debates, and shared gaming passion, staying true to Game Scoop!’s reputation as a beloved video game podcast.