PixlBit

I get that, but it's usually that a) the games are in a genre I just don't find appealing and I don't feel like skipping around to find the one or two out of eight that do interest me (obviously it depends on where they get talked about in the podcast) or b) they really interest me and I'm paranoid about spoilers. I'd probably skip fewer Consumption Junctions if there were time stamps for each little section of it, but that's a tall order. 

I definitely don't always skip CJ though. If y'all are talking about a game I've already played, listening to people talk about media I've already consumed is like half of what I use the Internet for. It's nothing you're doing wrong, I just realized a while ago that I do tend to let reviews color my engagement with media I consume after reading/listening/watching reviews, so I try to stay away until after I've had time to form my own thoughts. 

I'll be honest, I often skip a decent bit of Consumption Junction (cause what's listed is often games I have not played or have not heard of) but this was one of the more interesting ones for me. A lot of it has to do with themes outside of video games (what skills to focus on in your life, the nuances of boycotting diverse teams of people and/or their nations, whether the Firewatch guy ever settled down and had a family with a good doggo). Very interesting stuff. 

I'm also mixed on Y7's combat for many of the same reasons as Justin, but I hate how hard it's been to make money. I haven't paid that much attention to leveling, cause it seems to happen pretty often, but I always miss Yakuza 0's deep character pockets. I know Japan does too and that's kinda the point, but still. 

Also, I really hope the current combat system doesn't stick with Asura ... I don't think I dislike it enough to skip Asura, but ... I might not be as excited for it. 

I find Letterkenny funny but almost never understand it completely ... at times, it confuses me as much as Cage Match votes confuse Mike. 

Episode comment: I have played some of Mass Effect 2, but it's keyboard-only on my laptop, which makes it hard to play. It was gifted to me somewhat recently. I do like what I've played, but I might need to get it for another system. Remember, I had no PS3/360 or Wii and did not get a laptop capable of gaming until 2012. 

As far as the space sex joke, I'm aware that's not the whole game, I just remember a very drummed up Fox News controversy my dad bought into closer to the first game releasing. I know you weren't talking about me specifically with the "who we gonna f*" commentary, but just wanted to clarify I'm aware there's more to the games. lol

Also, I rented Andromeda, which was supposed to be my introduction to the series, so ... we all know how that went. 

STAGE SELECT:

Growlithe always looked cool (it's been so long since I've played Pokemon, I had to look the name up). 

I've never played Silent Hill 2, and I don't want to ruin it for anyone, but I watched a top 10 dogs in games YouTube video and I now love that Shiba Inu. Holy shit, that's great. 

Finally, Okami. I'm not feeling the need to explain that one.

CAGE MATCH:

Ooohhh, these are a couple JRPGs I've actually been interested in and wanted to like (and I may like persona 5, I just haven't played it yet). I still remember how blown away I was by Final Fantasy X cutscenes, so I'll go with that. Also, if I understand the storyline well enough, I think I like a lot of the themes in it. I never got too far, but I'm always up for fighting a cult (again, if I'm remembering those themes right). 

I looked at that second KISS uni picture thinking, "Oh, holy crap that looks real!" only to realize ... 

Comfort food does sound amazing right now.

STAGE SELECT:

Make it a space sex focused spin-off and completely reformat the gameplay to be like something from DONTNOD Entertainment, because I have no connection to this series and I'm honestly just interested in the branchin dialogue choices, specifically. 

Remember when you asked me to make the next Final Fantasy game? How'd that turn out for ya? Exactly. 

CAGE MATCH:

I have really fond memories of both, but I have to go with Eternal Darkness, only because I wish more people would play it. They're both unique gaming experiences, but I think most people who'd be interested in Luigi's Mansion have played it, whereas I feel the need to proselatyze a bit more for ED, as well as for Eternal Darkness. 

Anyway, have you thought of the benefits of ED? It can keep you from making some very stupid, life-altering decisions. It's pretty great. 

I remember EGM loving it, and you saying it's action combat but otherwise like KOTOR has me intrigued yet again. 

I never really noticed how good the sound is. That's cool. 

Any relation to the Simulacra book, which inspired the Matrix, I wonder?

The Cult in a Dead MMO vid is too long for me right now, but it looks interesting. I remember the mid 90s ... simpler times.