Hi Podfans

Welcome to another edition of #FreeplayFortnightly where we both pick a video game that we want to play and keep it secret from our co-host. We then review said video game on the podcast and ask our co-host to score the game out of 10 based on our review. Simple? You bet we are!

The games we've picked out for random review this week are:

• Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (2024, PS4)

• The Kung Fu/China Warrior (1987, PC Engine)

Pertinent questions we ask this week are:

• What is SOTNitis and can you catch it through metroidvania's?

• Have you visited to freaky Mount Queef?

• If sticks and stones may break your bones, what do teeny, tiny fireballs do?

All the above and some actual video game chat on this week's LLVL podcast. Enjoy!

"What were you doing 20 years ago today?" There aren't many days that you can turn around and answer that clearly without skipping a beat but the 1st September 2005 was different. It was unique. It was thrilling. It was once in a lifetime stuff for some of us and it was memorable...

Join us as we celebrate 20 years since the Sony Playstation Portable (PSP) launched in Europe. We muse over what it meant for gaming and for us personally? Just how innovative was the PSP in 2005?

Furthermore, we all know that a hardware launch is only as good as the software that supports it (We're looking at you Nintendo Switch 2) Therefore, we decide to spend a large chunk of this pod discussing & drafting our favourite PSP European launch titles into teams. Because... you know... fun?!?

The PSP is dead... Long live the PSP.

Hi Consigliere's

Welcome to another edition of #FreeplayFortnightly where we both pick a video game that we want to play and keep it secret from our co-host. We then review said game on the podcast and ask our co-host to score the game out of 10 based on our review. Simple? You bet we are!

The games we've picked out for random review this week are:

• Cho Aniki: Kyuukyoku Muteki Ginga Saikyou Otoko (1995, PS1)

• Mafia: Definitive Edition (Xbox One, 2020)

• Mafia II: Definitive Edition (Steam, 2020)

(Mafia II turned 15 years old today!)

We run into the following important questions:

- How willing are you to perish to save debatable 1950's reading material?

- Does the phrase "fleshy protrusion" make you squirm?

- What would Monty Python look like on steroids?

Okay, they aren't 'important' questions but what ya' gonna do about it? Break every bone in our body's and leave us laying in a pool of our own blood? Yeah, Don Salieri was a bit much huh?...

Enjoy the pod.

We've had this episode on the backburner for an age. It's been simmering away waiting for Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater to find it's way into the world and now its time to talk about the REAL 'Big Boss trilogy'...

(None of that Phantom Pain retcon malarkey!)

MGS Portable Ops (2006, PSP) isn't considered canon by most but why is that the case? It's not directed by Kojima certainly but aside from that fact, it is a Metal Gear Solid titled game starring 'Big Boss' so doesn't it deserve it's place at the table?

Fazz has been diving in and out of this handheld operation for almost 20 years now so he's here to tell you whether MGS fans should (or perhaps shouldn't) pay more attention to what is one of 'Big Boss' most interesting missions, if not the most entertaining.

Next up we have Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010, PSP), a fully dyed in the woollen camouflage canon sequel to MGS3: Snake Eater. Developed for the same system as MGS Portable Ops but this time, Kojima is fully at the helm.

MGS Peace Walker could be credited with single handedly expanding the lifespan of the PSP. It is widely considered as one of the best video games made for the handheld stalwart so what can we say about it that you don't already know?

Rich pulls himself away from the 'Sagat' update in Street Fighter 6 just about long enough to convey why MGS PW might (not) be one of the best games in the series overall.

Finally we step away from the REAL 'Big Boss' story but stick with the PSP and MGS so Fazz can let you know that Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel (2006, PSP) is probably the best way to enjoy MGS on Sony's palm-top playground after all.

Enjoy the pod.

The Holy Grail? Nah. Crystal skulls? Not for us. Dials of Destiny? Forget about em'! How about a mystical huge wheel shape thingy instead? Now you're talking...

Well, actually, its Rich and Fiona doing all of the talking this week as they plot a course through Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (PC, PS5). They dig deep into MachineGames' most recent effort to discuss just how great a Great Circle can be. They also take time to reminds us why its important to take part in 'Punch a Nazi at work' day.

Meanwhile, Fazz decides to tag along behind constantly asking annoying questions. He's nowhere near as endearing as 'Short Round' but that doesn't stop Rich from scolding him like a father figure.

Hang on podders, we going for a (spoiler free) ride!

Our podcast's extra successful, super turbo #DryveJanuary event feels a long time ago and we're still a few months away from the next iteration. We couldn't handle waiting any longer. We NEEDED to drive some vehicles and quickly...

This iteration of our podcast is somewhat a 'definitive edition' of a couple of our previous episodes. Long have we bemoaned the sound quality of episode #6 so its about time we go back and give our favourite Anti Gravity Racing League the respect it deserves...

Wipeout Omega Collection (2017, PS4) pulls together HD (effectively Pure & Pulse combined), HD Fury and 2048 to form a love letter to futuristic racing the likes of which has never been seen before or since.

Can a human being overface themselves on Wipeout or are we ricocheting maniacally off too many boost pads to care?

If you skip forward through time fast enough in a Feisar ship and you might find yourself at Episode #21 where Fazz's review of the original Outrun resides. He was quite glowing about it and it earned itself a 9/10 score. Some 100 odd episodes later and we're taking its quasi sequel of a sequel, Outrun 2006: Coast 2 Coast (PS2 & PSP, 2006), out for a spin.

Seen by some as the 'ultimate' Outrun game, does this edition take the original's crown or is it a pretender to the throne?

#dryveaugustbutjustforoneweek is in session gang... Buckle up.

Hi Podfans.

This week we get all artistic and shit as we muse over the poetry of videogames. Yeah, we didn't see that high brow stuff coming either... It just sort've happened.

Rich provides what might be the most obscure offering we've had on the podcast yet in the form of 'The Little Tales of Alexandria' (2022, Nintendo Gameboy), a retro short story driven exploration game which is available via Itch.io and 'Indie Heroes Collection 3' on Evercade cartridge.

Perhaps just as creative, imaginative and perhaps just a little more well known is 'Journey: Collectors Edition' (2012, PS3). Fazz dives, swoops, glides and slides through Flow (2006), Flower (2009) and Journey (2012), providing a review for each game from Thatgamecompany's famous ensemble.

Does the whole collection gel together and are all of the games still deserving of their unique critical praise? Is 'Journey' really one of the best video games ever made?

Find out all this and more on this week's Living La Vita Loca podcast!

Hi Podfans

Welcome to another edition of #FreeplayFortnightly where we both pick a video game that we want to play and keep it secret from our co-host. We then review said game on the podcast and ask our co-host to score the game out of 10 based on our review. Simple? You bet we are!

The games we've picked out for random review this week are:

• Jackass The Game (2007, PSP)

• Sega Bass Fishing (1999, Dreamcast)

• Pimp My Ride (2007, PSP)

This week's podcast is filled with kickass attitude with plenty of crass content and that's just a badass 90's fishing game!

Fazz takes some time to discuss why he loved Jackass so much and why it still holds a special spot in his dumb little mind.

Meanwhile Rich stares into 'Sega Blue' skies and ponders if he could ever ponce around a pond looking for perch?

Finally both hosts visit 'Pimp City' for the best ride of their lives. Except it's not that at all... It's an awful ironic car crash but we laugh ALOT!

Enjoy the pod. Xzibit out.

No, please... just get out...