Game Scoop! 829: Our Favorite PS4 & Xbox One Games

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Daemon Hatfield is joined by Nick Limone, Sam Claiborne, and Justin Davis for an epic Game of the Century discussion, zeroing in on their favorite games from the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One generation. The crew also scrutinizes Rolling Stone's new Top 20 NES Games list, and delivers plenty of friendly debates, gaming insights, and trivia. This episode is packed with retro nostalgia, deep dives into contemporary classics, and memorable moments that showcase the panel's expertise and love for gaming.

Main Discussion: Game of the Century Watch — PS4 & Xbox One Generation

The ongoing "Game of the Century Watch" reaches the PS4 and Xbox One era, with the time span defined as 2013 (launch of these consoles) through the generation's end.

Previous Generations Recap

Daemon recaps the running list of nominees from earlier generations, mentioning landmark games like Metroid Prime, Half-Life 2, Resident Evil 4, Animal Crossing, Skyrim, Fallout 3, The Last of Us, Arkham Asylum, and more.

Nomination & Debate: Essential Games from 2013 Onward

Notable Quotes

• “That is quite the list.” — Nick Limone, on the existing nominations (03:50)
• “To not mention Dark Souls this week is blasphemy.” — Listener Christopher Rex Brown Jr. via Facebook (03:57)
• “Dark Souls is just… I didn’t think they could do this in a video game. Like, this is like old school hard as hell video game.” — Nick Limone (04:51)

Key Additions and Commentary

1. Dark Souls (Added to the prior-gen list)

• Dark Souls’s significance and impact on the "Soulslike" genre discussed at length.
• The contrast between Dark Souls and Elden Ring in terms of player freedom and difficulty is highlighted.
  • Nick: “Whereas Dark Souls will be like, what if you only had like, three options? And a lot of them are equally difficult.” (07:17)

2. PS4 / Xbox One Era — New Nominations

Undertale (10:00)

• “To me Undertale is a game for people who love video games… this game will teach you everything you need to know about video games and how it plays with the format.” — Nick Limone (10:00)
• Celebrated for its innovative mechanics, Pacifist runs, and fourth-wall-breaking surprises.
• “It was very mind-blowing when this first came out.” — Justin Davis (11:35)

Pokémon Go (12:29)

• Sam picks this as one of the generation’s true cultural phenomena.
• “It got Hillary Clinton to say ‘Pokemon Go to the polls.’” — Sam Claiborne (12:36)
• Discussion of Pokémon Go’s launch impact, community, and AR novelty.

Factorio (16:14)

• “Probably my most played video game of all time… I have 530 hours in the game.” — Justin Davis (16:27)
• Lauded for its depth, modding support, and genre-defining automation gameplay.

The Witcher 3 (21:32)

• “Witcher 3 is so good… if you were just getting a PS4 or Xbox One… Witcher 3 would absolutely be on there.” — Daemon Hatfield (21:40)
• Panel emphasizes its world-building, narrative excellence, and outstanding characters.

Divinity: Original Sin 2 (23:40)

• Recognized for its dense RPG mechanics, meaningful choices, and successful co-op.

Nier: Automata (28:25)

• “This game is playing with the medium of video games… a love letter to people who love video games.” — Nick Limone (28:25)
• Praised for its innovative narrative structure and striking game design.

Stardew Valley (31:09)

• “It’s the most fun version of the farming sim… and started the whole cozy game revolution that we’re still in the midst of.” — Justin Davis (32:19)

Overwatch (33:37)

• “It’s the last time I personally can recall having like an appointment… just going to get online and play together.” — Justin Davis (34:01)
• Celebrates its accessibility, role specialization, and initial lore developments.

God of War (2018) (37:51)

• “This game is a bonafide masterpiece… the best first-party PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 title that I think Sony has under their belt right now.” — Nick Limone (39:03)
• Panel dives deep into its character development, narrative risks, and exceptional game feel.
• Memorable moment: The surprise return of Kratos’ classic Blades is called out as “one of my favorite moments in video games.” — Nick Limone (39:03)

Honorable Mentions (43:26 onward)

• Red Dead Redemption 2 — “Landmark game of our lifetimes.” — Sam Claiborne (43:32)
• Metal Gear Solid V / Death Stranding — “My favorite Metal Gear, but Death Stranding is my favorite Kojima game.” — Sam Claiborne (43:48)
• Resident Evil 2 Remake — Nick: “I think about Phantom Pain probably a little bit more than I do the RE2 remake.”
• Inside — Daemon: “11 out of 10 off the charts for me… this game has such a cool vibe and atmosphere.” (45:12)
• The Walking Dead (Telltale’s) — Noted as important but less replayable compared to others.

Segment: Rolling Stone’s Top 20 NES Games List ([46:33])

The crew analyzes and gently debates Rolling Stone’s surprising NES rankings.

Highlights:

• Several deep-cut picks make the list (e.g., StarTropics, Super Dodge Ball, Life Force).
• Surprises: Dragon Quest III is placed high, while NES classics like Castlevania and Mario Bros. 2 are missing.
• Castlevania III, Ninja Gaiden, Metroid, Contra, and the Zelda series all make the top 10.
• Debate over aged well/poorly: Some panelists stand by games like Mega Man 2 and Super Mario Bros. 3 as still accessible; others note how challenging NES games can appear to newer players.

Notable Quotes

• “If the next three aren’t just Super Mario Brothers 1, 2 and 3, what are we even doing?” — Sam (55:54)
• “It’s not that much of a stretch to say without Super Mario Brothers 1, there’s no video game industry today as we know it.” — Daemon (58:35)

Spooky Season: What We’re Playing (62:58)

Focused on current horror and indie games the crew is playing.

Silent Hill f (Nick)

• Initial skepticism gave way to being “riveted… this game is startlingly brutal in ways I did not anticipate.”
• Highlights the game’s branching content and unique puzzles.
• Amusing anecdote: Nick’s power went out midway through playing, making his apartment “become Silent Hill for real.” (66:28)

Little Rocket Lab (Justin)

• Indie game blending the automation of Factorio and the community vibe of Stardew Valley.
• “It’s unbelievable how much of a Justin game it is…except that it’s only 20 hours, not 100.” (68:01)

Daemon teases upcoming talk about Yote and Outer Worlds 2.

Podcast Classic: Video Game 20 Questions ([70:03 onward])

This week's mystery game: Marvel vs. Capcom 2
The crew works together, asking smart, strategic questions and reminiscing about the Dreamcast era, Capcom fighters, and sprite-based glory days.

Memorable quote:
“If you meet someone who likes Marvel vs. Capcom 2, they’re immediately a cool person.” — Nick Limone (78:55)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening & Cast Introduction: 02:29
• Dark Souls Debate: 03:53–08:23
• Gen 8 Nominations Begin: 09:34
• Undertale: 09:38
• Pokémon Go: 12:29
• Factorio: 16:14
• Witcher 3: 21:32
• Divinity Original Sin 2: 23:40
• Nier: Automata: 28:25
• Stardew Valley: 31:09
• Overwatch: 33:37
• God of War (2018): 37:51
• Honorable Mentions: 43:26
• Rolling Stone NES List & Reactions: 46:33–60:25
• What We're Playing (Spooky Season): 62:58
• Silent Hill f: 63:13
• Little Rocket Lab: 67:30
• 20 Questions: 70:03

Closing Thoughts

The episode offers a deep, thoughtful, and at times hilarious look at some of gaming’s most important modern classics while grounding the conversation in nostalgia, personality, and a genuine love for the medium. Listeners come away with a mix of recommendations—from AAA epics to indie gems—and a reminder that both innovative mechanics and emotional storytelling matter when defining “game of the century” caliber titles.

Noteworthy Quotes

• "Pokémon Go just felt like the 90s again, just Poke fever taking over the world." — Nick (12:51)
• "Every mouse click, every animation in Factorio is satisfying to behold and to be a part of." — Nick (20:18)
• "The Witcher 3 is by far the best thing the Witcher has ever done. I think that's really cool." — Sam (22:49)
• "This game will teach you everything you need to know about video games and how it plays with the format." — Nick on Undertale (10:00)
• "If you meet someone who likes Marvel vs. Capcom 2, they’re immediately a cool person." — Nick (78:55)

Skip to [24:00–47:00] for deep PS4/Xbox One game picks and heartfelt explanations of what made them generation-defining.
Jump to [46:33–60:25] for fun NES nostalgia and spicy ranking debates.

For retro gaming fans, spirited debates, and heartfelt gaming love, this is a can’t-miss Game Scoop! episode.