Jonny, don't feel bad. I got your Winter's Bone reference. The best film of 2010! Also, I think you convinced me to get Goldeneye. I've been hearing nothing but good things about the game.

We just recorded a new BOP, and Winter's Bone is one of my featured movies since I just saw it on DVD.

Oh, well, I guess I'm lucky I live here in New York. I was one of six people who saw it in the theaters. I look forward to the new BOP. When will the episode be up?Have you seen Never Let Me Go or Enter The Void? Oh yeah, VIDEOGAMES!!!!!!!!!!! By the way, you guys have to talk about DKCR next episode. I think it's the greatest platformer ever made.

Congrats on the Ph. D., Dr. Metts.

This Friday on Crosstawk.com! :)

How many pages was your dissertation?

I'm surprised in all the talk about "unnecessary sequels" that Bioshock 2 never came up, since it released this year and especially since Jonny played it relatively recently.  That game was derided from the moment it was announced as a game that didn't need to exist, especially because of the online multiplayer and how beloved the story in the original Bioshock was.  The game came out, the game was pretty excellent IMO, and the big complaint turned out to be issues with the gameplay being too similar instead of story complaints.  Huh.

I'm sad to see that you didn't care much for Split/Second, Jonny.  It is my most surprising game of the year, as I went into the demo knowing absolutely nothing about the game and was totally blown away.  I especially take issue with your complaints about the Power Plays, saying that they seem to be largely luck-based and only have a "50/50 chance" of taking out opposing racers.  The only Power Play I'd say that happens with is the explosive barrel.  The CPU has issues with dealing with shockwaves, so it will frequently take them out.  Human players, however, are skilled enough to deal with them and it never effects them.  However, for every other power play, if you know the track and you know the power plays at your disposal, careful timing will take out whatever targets you wish.  That said, the nice thing about Split/Second is that there is no Blue Shell.  If an opposing car uses a power play on you, if you're skilled enough and paying attention, you can usually prevent a crash (though, naturally, there's a good chance you'll lose precious time and positioning ensuring that).  There is no "Win" button like there is in something like Mario Kart, something I really appreciated.  Pity there's definitely loads of rubber-banding worthy of Mario Kart, though.

If I used the term "50/50 chance", I was referring to my personal success rate. Playing through the solo campaign, I experienced most of the tracks several times and still couldn't get a feel for the timing on most traps. Besides that, there are so many different traps on each track, and so many tracks overall, that I felt overwhelmed and ended up just playing spontaneously. Clearly there is some skill (and memorization) involved in using them effectively, but I didn't feel like I was making much progress in developing that skill, even after several hours of playing.


As for Bioshock 2, it was one of several games I expected to mention, but then the discussion took a more general, philosophical direction that was probably for the best.

Good, I wasn't looking forward to listening to the, "they shouldn't have made Bioshock 2" discussion.

Thank you for the kind words regarding the prior episode, Jonny.

Ah, my question was answered sooner than I thought.  :D  I can't wait for the live show to see the four of you exchange blows in real time.

I'll tell you something that baffles me every time: when the press/online community gets up in arms about the announcement of the follow-up to a good game. A sequel to a universally hated game, that probably deserves the flak, but a sequel to a game they actually like? Seriously, what's the psychology behind that? I don't want to get mired in BioShock talk either, but a lot of people were against the sequel, as if the first one would be so hard to match that they shouldn't even bother, or as if the second one would besmirch its good name if it wasn't 'up to the high standards.' It was very much the same with Left 4 Dead 2; when Valve announced that at E3 '09, they came under heavy fire, and this was from many of those who really enjoyed the original Left 4 Dead. It's madness.

The thing that people had issue with with Left 4 Dead 2 is that they felt that Valve was releasing the sequel too soon, and as a result would not be supporting Left 4 Dead 1 as thoroughly as they usually support their titles.  I don't play Left 4 Dead, though, so that's just what I've heard.

Recettear is fun but the problem is that if you want to play most efficiently you cannot afford to really haggle much (you get a chain bonus for not having people object to your first offer so it pays to not push the boundaries) and have to avoid dungeon diving most of the time which tends to make it less fun. Getting your merchant level up is important for accessing higher margin items and without that you'll lose in the later weeks (the game lets you keep your experience and stuff like Dead Rising, though).

Also Recettear, starring Recette and her fairy Tear, is by the same people who made Chantelise, starring Chante (fairy) and Elise. That was a more straight-forward action game though.

Oh and:
"A hoodlum's gonna steal my CUUUUUUTEEENEESSS!"

Here is my stance on sequels...


In technicality, they aren't needed, especially if the original product was fine as it was and it is still selling. However, there are many reasons for a sequel to be created. The creators want to expand on what they created even more, they want to refine elements that they couldn't do the first time around, they understand that the public wants more, or simply put, they want more money via a mean that have been proven successful. Sometimes, its one of them, others its all of them.


There's no denying, however, that we have seen some excellent sequels despite its "unnecessary" status. I personally like Sonic the Hedgehog 2 better than the first game. Super Mario Bros 3. may be the third game in the series, but it is undeniably the most popular and the best of the games. Super Mario Galaxy 2 was just as great as the first game.

A great sequel can be made, and when that happens it doesn't matter if one is needed or not.

Mr. Jones, will you by any chance be playing Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals? I am interested in the game and would love to hear your take on it.

I gritted my teeth as James defended Red Steel, not because I disagreed, but because it signified yet another instance of our cross-podcast identity duality.

Listening to the podcast right now, good stuff as usual.

I'd just like to warn Johnny about the Cho Aniki on PSN: I bought it for the same reasons you gave. I downloaded the VC one and didn't find it sufficiently wacky, and thought the one on  PSN with its digitized graphics would be more insane and entertaining, but it's really not. Maybe I've built up a tolerance for Japanese craziness over the years, but despite the bodybuilders coming out of the metal codpiece of bigger bodybuilders and all that stuff... it's not that hilarious.

Just watch a playthrough on Youtube or something, and save yourself $6.

The email this episode was right, and in my opinion it is a testament to how good this show is that it can garner comparisons with the likes of Mark Kermode's fantastic programme! I listen to both podcasts every week though and as much as I love Kermode's rants, when pressed I have to say I prefer James Jones's...both are definitely essential listening though. Cheers for another great week guys.

At present I've not had reason to really "rant" about anything.  I haven't played a game of dubious quality in quite some time.

True, but it's a similar situation with Mark Kermode, as rant-inducing films only crop up every once in a while. But when they do, it is a sheer delight. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm taking my balls and going home.

AFAIK Cho Aniki fans consider the later games really bad since they made the homosexuality of the main characters explicit instead of implied.

What ever happened to Greg's copy of Epic Yarn?

I wish I knew--it shipped nearly 6 weeks ago but still hasn't arrived, and at this point I don't expect it ever will. So sadly it looks like the postal service has "won" the war of ineptitude with NoE and I'll be waiting for the official PAL release before I get to play Epic Yarn. 

Hrmm, shipped direct from Yemen alongside boxes of toner cartridges. Very puzzling. I'm sure it'll turn up during an official inquiry at some point...

Greg, some post office clerk is most likely playing your copy of Epic Yarn and lauging as you lament your loss on RFN.

Both equally valid theories I'm sure anyone would agree. Seriously though could've just been a dodgy online retailer or some problem at customs maybe?