Game Spook! Episode 786: Here Be Dragons – Detailed Summary

Release Date: October 31, 2024
Host: Stephen Hatchfield
Guests: Sam Slaborn Spook, Justin Depravis, Dark Medina, Damon, Mark

1. Halloween Costumes and Festive Spirits

The episode kicks off with the hosts sharing their Halloween costumes, setting a spooky and festive mood for the discussion.

• Damon shares his humorous choice:
  "[01:11] Damon: Oh, yeah. I went lazy, so I went ’90s sitcom with my costume. It's just a shirt that says 'This is my costume.' It's a joke that's been made before. It's not funny and it's lazy. But I did it anyways."

• Mark complements Damon’s shirt:
  "[01:30] Mark: But it's cool that it's monster letters."

• Justin showcases his elaborate outfit:
  "[01:49] Justin: Well, I'm wearing a full-body skeleton outfit, but I reserve the right to take it off during the show because it is starting to get very warm in here."

2. Main Topic: Favorite Spooky Games Across Consoles

The core of the episode revolves around a listener’s prompt asking the hosts to share their favorite spooky games for every gaming console. The discussion delves into both classic and contemporary horror titles, offering insights and personal experiences.

a. Dragon the Veilguard

• Dragon the Veilguard emerges as a focal point, receiving high praise:

  • "[02:56] Justin: But before we get to Call of Duty, let's start with Dragon the Veilguard, which will be out by the time this episode is out. Got a 9 out of 10 from IGN."

• Mark draws a comparison to Mass Effect 2, highlighting its Bioware roots:

  • "[03:36] Mark: So one of my favorite games of all time is Mass Effect 2. This really narrows Dragon Age to be kind of Mass Effect 2."

• The discussion touches on the game's character interactions and the impact of player choices:

  • "[07:00] Mark: If you want to romance people and play a BioWare game that's really story-centric and stuff, like, boy, did they do that here."

• Damon expresses his enthusiasm after extensive playtime:

  • "[08:47] Damon: Okay, well, for one, I think the lighthouse is cool. Cause you could decorate it. So that's fun."
  • "[09:11] Damon: He sure is. Yeah. But. Okay, so my thoughts on the game is that I Love it. I'm 70 hours in."

b. Dragon Quest 3 HD 2D Remake

• Justin shares his excitement and initial impressions:
  • "[20:53] Justin: I just fired that up last night. And the review embargo is not for a couple weeks, but we're allowed to share just, you know, first impressions."

c. Call of Duty Black Ops 6

• The hosts discuss the innovative campaign structure and the return to traditional zombie modes:
  • "[24:06] Damon: Yeah, I think so. I think it's great. Yeah. So for work, I think, are we."
  • "[26:29] Mark: So surprisingly, I've played a bunch of this now too, and I think that it's more like the missions that I've enjoyed the most are more like a Hitman game."

d. Listener Suggestions: Spooky Games by Console

The hosts and guests enumerate their favorite horror games across various gaming platforms, providing a nostalgic trip through gaming history.

• NES (Nintendo Entertainment System):

  • Justin: Shadowgate, Castlevania 1 & 3
  • Mark: Monster Bash, Creature, Twilight Zone
  • Damon: Gremlins
  • Notable Quote:
    "[36:03] Damon: There was a spooky game on the Magnavox Odyssey as well. You put an overlay on it and I think it was called something like that."

• Arcade:

  • Justin: Splatterhouse, Night Slashers, Alien Syndrome, Sinistar, Ghosts 'n Goblins
  • Notable Insight:
    "[38:38] Justin: Shooting the guillotine, you gotta shoot the rat, man."

• SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System):

  • Justin: Super Castlevania IV, Demon's Crest, Gargoyle's Quest
  • Notable Quote:
    "[43:30] Damon: It's so spooky."

• Genesis (Sega Genesis):

  • Justin: Castlevania Bloodlines, Mortal Kombat, Haunting
  • Notable Quote:
    "[44:35] Justin: And then, of course, on the Sega Dreamcast, I think there are quite a few survival horror games."

• PlayStation Series:

  • Damon: Resident Evil series, Silent Hill, Parasite Eve, Symphony of the Night, Legacy of Kane
  • Notable Quote:
    "[48:19] Damon: None at all. Yeah, no, PlayStation is where it, like, started to kill it."

• Nintendo 64:

  • Justin: Majora's Mask, Banjo-Kazooie’s Halloween level, Doom 64
  • Notable Quote:
    "[49:38] Damon: Oh, yeah, Demon’s Crest on Super Nintendo. So you got."

• Dreamcast:

  • Justin: Resident Evil Code Veronica, House of the Dead series, Typing of the Dead
  • Notable Quote:
    "[50:28] Justin: We left off on Sega Genesis. When we get comes to TurboGrafx 16 again, I think the arcade version of Splatter House is better."

• GameCube:

  • Mark: Resident Evil 1 Remake, Resident Evil 4, Eternal Darkness
  • Notable Quote:
    "[54:03] Mark: Justin, can Mark borrow your camera?"

• Modern Consoles (PS4, Xbox One, PC):

  • Justin: Dead Space Remakes, The Last of Us, Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Resident Evil Village, Alan Wake 2
  • Notable Quote:
    "[54:54] Damon: Alan Wake 2 probably takes it for me. What a great game."

3. Video Game 20 Questions: Listener Engagement

A segment dedicated to engaging with listeners through a game of 20 Questions based on video games. The listener, Jonathan, suggests Dragon's Lair as a spooky game. The hosts attempt to identify the game through a series of questions but encounter challenges, leading to lighthearted banter and technical difficulties.

• Notable Interaction:
  • Justin: "[59:34] Justin: Yeah, that's 100%."
  • Mark: "[65:16] Damon: Wow."
  • Damon: "[66:53] Mark: No, no. We can just lose it."

4. Technical Difficulties and Lighthearted Chaos

Throughout the episode, the hosts experience various technical issues, adding an element of humor and unpredictability to the show.

• Camera Problems:

  • Mark: "[40:55] Damon: Oh no."
  • Justin: "[41:07] Mark: Maybe the spider webs got in it."

• Audio Anomalies:

  • Damon: "[32:23] Seth: There's ghosts everywhere. And everyone knows that ghosts hate 5G."

5. Advertisements and Promotions

The episode includes multiple advertisements for brands like Walmart, Lululemon, Dell Technologies, Echoes of History podcast, Mint Mobile, and Hims. These segments are seamlessly integrated but are skipped in the main content summary as per the user’s request.

6. Closing Remarks and Final Banter

As the episode wraps up, the hosts continue their playful interactions amidst ongoing technical glitches, maintaining a light and entertaining atmosphere until the end.

• Final Goodbyes:
  • Damon: "[47:42] Damon: This year, things are dire at the IGN office."
  • Justin: "[70:25] Justin: Any sort of nod to Dark Souls and all that, then Bloodborne. Because Bloodborne is like absolutely."

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Mark on Dragon Age vs. Mass Effect:
  "[03:36] Mark: ...it feels like playing ukulele after playing a banjo kazooie so long. It's like, oh, yes, this is a Bioware game in the best way possible."

• Damon on Save System in Dragon Age:
  "[18:00] Damon: Oh, my God, it's so good. It's probably better than any game I've ever seen in my life. So there are 100 save slots that you can name. So that's amazing."

• Justin on Dragon Quest 3 HD Remake:
  "[20:55] Justin: What, what is that a positive or a negative?"

• Mark on Call of Duty Black Ops 6:
  "[26:29] Mark: So surprisingly, I've played a bunch of this now too, and I think that it's more like the missions that I've enjoyed the most are more like a Hitman game."

• Damon on Alan Wake 2:
  "[58:03] Damon: Alan Wake 2 probably takes it for me. What a great game."

Conclusion

Episode 786 of Game Spook! offers a comprehensive exploration of spooky video games across various consoles, enriched by the hosts' personal anecdotes and professional insights. Despite encountering technical hiccups, the episode remains engaging and informative, catering to both nostalgic gamers and those seeking new horror titles to explore.