Turrican

Sorry, I meant to say Herzog by Saul Bellow. I'm a big fan of Philip Roth. I'll definitely read Amercan Pastoral at some stage - For some reason, I just wasn't in the mood for it when I started it.

You know, there's a school of thought that states if it takes you longer than 2 weeks to read a book then you haven't really read it. I think I'd agree with this generally. Spending months picking up and putting down the same book completely breaks the flow and the chances of remembering crucial details is tiny. I think it's better to make time and bash through a book. That way, if you dislike it, the pain is over quicker as well.

Portrait of the Artist is one of my favourite all-time books. I'd suggest you finish it as the final third is completely different to those preceding. I loved it anyway but books are such a subjective thing. Those I've given up on recently are Saul Bellow, American Pastoral, Wuthering Heights. Well, not given up on but found that when I put the books down I had no interest in picking them up again, I think Injust wasn't in the mood. I'll probably go back and re-read them all. I think it's better to do that than force your way through a book you're not enjoying (for whatever reason). I did that with Les Miserables and now have in unshakeable hatred for the book, Hugo and France as a nation! Better to put something down and return to it when you and the book are better aligned.

Not long now. This should be epic!

I have no idea what Danielle is talking about regarding Alien. It's not in anyway like having an anxiety attack. I totally concurred with Rob on this one, the game and the Alien in particular is amazingly annoying. Not scary - just gamey, annoying shit. I pushed through that part eventually though (where Rob is now) and got to the last part with the facehuggers etc and although I really enjoyed the game in parts I just couldn't be bothered to get through the last part. I loved the setting, style and mechanics of the game but the gaminess left a bitter taste.

That was my basic point yeah

I'm loving the game. Personally, I don't find anything as being opaque or unexplained, all seems very straight forward to me. Everyone seems to want to load the game up for the first time and go all out on Ironman. I just think that's the wrong mentality. Learn the game and it's systems then, only once you've mastered it, try your hand at the brutal ironman challenge. Interestingly, I note that the Gamers with Jobs guys had a similar poor initial impression of the game ("if my chance to hit is 90%, I should hit every time" and similar nonesense criticisms) but now they've had more time with the game, some of their opinions have done a complete 180. I can't help but think the 3MA team will do the same in time.

I agree once again with all you wrote there Badfinger. It may interest you to know that there's a mod called "Quiet Bradford" or something similar. You can probably guess what it does.

I do think that flaws such as camera glitches, frame rate dips, long load times etc should absolutely be criticised (particularly as they were so prevalent in the previous game and were the devs were well aware of how irritating they were to the player base). However, XCom2 is such a huge improvement in all other respects over its predecessor that it's blindingly obvious. Just consider everything that has been added; new classes, skills, customisation, modding support, hacking, new and improved guerilla strategy, procedurally generated maps - this game leaves 2012's offering in its dust. That's what's so odd about the conversation here. I got the sense that the panellists all wanted to play on ironman from the start without investing the time to learn the game's systems and were then pissed off when the Inevitable wipes came. For strategy gamers well-versed in spending many hours with a game and learning it's nuances, this mindset of short-term gratification really surprised me. In my view the game is amazing. It needs a little tweaking and a few mods but in 6 months I think we'll regard Xcom2 as the one of the best 4 or 5 games out there.

Have to agree with the excellent posts by Badfinger and Sclpls. One of the panellists shares my view in that there was "one path to victory" in the original game but what Xcom2 offers is huge variety and choice.

Yeah this was a good show .... and on a game I was waiting to hear more about.

Zacny - I'm Jonesing for an XCom 2 episode. Come on - we know you've all been playing it for days by now - lucky bastards!

Not sure whether to pick this up really. Despite the lads' glowing recommendation, other reviewers have found that the AI is awful and not challenging and there are few maps (although probably more to come in the future). With so many other good games out right now, maybe it's one to wait on a sale for.

I'd have to agree with that Martothir - neither Rome II or Attila are great. A combination of the two possibly would be. However, the AI and physics engine are simply too poor and unrealistic to regard either game as great. As you imply, CA are ALL about the DLC these days. Their greed and abuse of their own player base is shameful compared to the way studios such as CD Projekt Red, Amplitude or even little MuHa (Thea won Explorminate's game of the year btw).

Great show guys - shop bashing Thea though you punks

Haha, this is awesome!

Think you should Rob. It's a fantasy 4x inflected with elements of Pillars of Eternity, Sunless Sea and Gwent on steroids. I've only played a few hours so far but it's a possible GOTY contender in my book.

I don't count the episodes about board games Anyway, I'm only kidding. Thanks for the latest. I really hope the guys take a look at Thea: The Awakening - it's quite extraordinary!

Come on guys, pull your fingers out! You're all Patreon millionaires now and it's been over two weeks since the last proper episode!

Great episode. God, this game sounds like such a pile of trash - I don't think I've ever read a positive review of it from a respectable source. Hope you boys take a look at the new Anno.

It's absolutely possible to sink endless time into a game and not enjoy it. When Destiny launched, I disliked it immediately. I then put in 200 hours and ultimately hated both it and myself for having done so.

Interesting episode. I'll have to play this. Sounds like my cup of tea.

One of my favourite genres. I would much rather play a great campaign rather than against a human opponent on-line. I want to travel through and overcome a lengthy and varied challenge, if I play some random on-line either I will lose or they will (and probably quit) - neither means anything. Podcast back on form over the last couple of episodes.

I believe an elegant solution would be to make the podcast a daily occurrence

Never even heard of this game before - a prime example of why this is one of the best podcasts on the internet. I'd love to see episodes on the Cities Skylines expansion, Satellite Reign, Xenonauts (just in case you're short of ideas!)