SG 237 | Simon The Sorcerer + ABSOLUM + Arc Raiders + Ball x Pit
Episode notes
The program opens with impressions of Battlefield 6 and its bot modes for practising weapons and earning points. It then covers ABSOLUM, a side-scrolling beat ’em up with RPG elements, four characters and demanding difficulty, before praising The Outer Worlds 2 for its dialogue, secrets, exploration and combat. Arc Raiders takes up much of the discussion: they detail its third-person extraction premise, loot, robots, player cooperation or rivalry, and progression through missions and skirmishes. They also compare its place in the Game of the Year conversation with Expedition 33.
Later, they introduce Ball x Pit, an arcade roguelite about launching balls, upgrades and base building, and As Long As You're Here, a short narrative experience about a grandmother beginning to develop Alzheimer’s disease. They discuss the arrival of cloud gaming on PlayStation Portal and debate the subscription cost. In the news, they cover criticism of The Outer Worlds 2, recognition for Expedition 33’s soundtrack, and conflicting accounts of layoffs at Rockstar. The central section is devoted to a review of Simon The Sorcerer Origins: its link to the series, classic puzzles, localisation, cartoon style, difficulty and appeal for nostalgic fans.
Chapters
- 0:00 Program opening
- 3:36 Battlefield 6 and bot modes
- 5:29 ABSOLUM: beat ’em up with RPG elements
- 11:26 Arc Raiders: extraction, loot and cooperation
- 24:41 Ball x Pit: arcade roguelite
- 34:09 PlayStation Portal and cloud gaming
- 42:10 Debate about The Outer Worlds 2
- 47:43 Expedition 33 and its soundtrack
- 52:07 Simon The Sorcerer Origins: context
- 1:00:43 Simon The Sorcerer Origins: review