Respec: Video Game Ramblings

What calm before the storm? It's been a busy week for video game news and we’ve had the release of one of the most anticipated games of this generation. There’s news on the next Pokopia DLC, we discuss what’s going on at Arkane and Xbox, the next Elder Scrolls now officially has a name, and Alex and James have been playing The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake. Plus Alex has been collecting swords, and we have the usual round-up of big gaming anniversaries and what else has been published on Respec.net.
Useful Timestamps:
02:23 - Petit Planet is coming to Switch 2 (Sponsored).
08:11 - New Pokopia DLC in December.
10:12 - What games are outselling Wolverine?
16:15 - God of War: Laufey is pushed to May
22:45 - Xbox, Arkane and the future of the studio
34:13 - Bethesda names the next Elder Scrolls game
40:13 - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake review discussion
1:08:00 - Retrorespective featuring SSX Tricky and Elite Beat Agents
1:17:00 - How to leave us voice mail
Remember, Patreon subscribers also get The Lock In, an exclusive after-hours casual hangout podcast, every week. Over there this week, Alex has injured his shoulder, James has seen the new Godzilla movie, Mikhail continues his run on pretentious films, and Tom is surprised by how much he’s enjoying Phantom Blade Zero.
And don't forget the website; Respec.net!
We want to hear from you! Send us a voice note and you may even hear yourself on the next episode!

Alex is back flying solo for an all-audio review of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time's hotly anticipated remake - Nintendo's big game for Christmas, the new Zelda release for next year's movie, and arguably one of the most important remakes the company will ever make. But is it any good? Alex is here to analyse, consider, and deliver his verdict after a 100% playthrough.
Read the written verdict on https://www.respec.net/.
We want to hear from you! Send us a voice note and you may even hear yourself on the next episode!

It's half term here in the UK, which means Alex and Tom are both taking Guile's advice and attempting to be dedicated family men. That means this week's episode is a pre-record, but it's a strong topic: just how badly do we need a $1000+ PlayStation 6, when you look at what the PS5 and Xbox Series generation has delivered us so far?
Useful Timestamps:
2:29 - Do we need a PS6? Tom's thesis on the next generation
7:55 - The seven first-party exclusives that justify the PS5
12:50 - Console price rises on the rise
30:56 - Alex's theory on Xbox's future
34:17 - Retrorespective feat. Pikmin, Civilization III, Crash, Vice City Stories, Need for Speed Carbon, Burnout and more
Remember, Patreon subscribers also get The Lock In, an exclusive after-hours casual hangout podcast, every week. Alex talks in detail about the game review process, lifting the curtain on early access, review copies, and debunking some of the total nonsense about reviews that's been cropping up on social media.
And don't forget the website; Respec.net!
We want to hear from you! Send us a voice note and you may even hear yourself on the next episode!

It's another week of depressing video game news - can we have a week off yet? Alex, Tom, Rebecca, and James gather to discuss the brutal cuts at EA that involves the end of a legendary studio, plus some lighter chat about the future of The Sims, Obsession's Nikki in Fortnite, and Cyberpunk's endless updates.
Useful Timestamps:
2:30 - The new EA & explaining a Leveraged Buyout
4:10 - BioWare to close
9:01 - BioWare's legacy
13:25 - What this means for Maxis and The Sims, and more BioWare chat
27:33 - Cyberpunk updates continue as Edgerunners 2 launches
32:20 - Final Fantasy Resonance review impressions
34:42 - Obsession's Nikki in Fortnite
45:30 - Retrorespective feat. Civilization, Virtua Tennis, Grand Theft Auto III, and more
Remember, Patreon subscribers also get The Lock In, an exclusive after-hours casual hangout podcast, every week. Over there this week, even more movie chat, plus an update on Love and Deepspace dramas from Rebecca.
And don't forget the website; Respec.net!
We want to hear from you! Send us a voice note and you may even hear yourself on the next episode!

Alex has seen the Street Fighter movie, and so he's hopped straight on the podcast feed for a bonus episode solely about his thoughts on this latest cinematic... masterpiece? Messterpiece? Or is the truth a little more complicated? This bonus ramble will help you to puzzle it out.
We want to hear from you! Send us a voice note and you may even hear yourself on the next episode!