Hey! Look! Listen!: Recent Episodes
heylooklistenthepodcast
Welcome to Hey Look Listen, a show for all those who love video games. Join hosts Liam Sheahan, Jonathan Morrissey & Owen O'Riordan as they look back & revel in the games that mean the most to them.
Although we at Hey! Look! Listen! very much believe that new ideas and IPs are better for the gaming industry, there just so happens to be a slew of new remakes on the horizon that we really care about. So on this episode we chat about five of them, and speculate wildly about what forms they might take.
On this episode we chat about this year's ninth entry in the Resident Evil franchise, mainly focusing on how it's a game of two halves, be it with its gameplay's mixture of claustrophic puzzle solving and high octane action, or its story's mixture genuinely great horror and Resident Evil nonsense.
Boom. We're back. On this episode we set about talking about some of the games we played during our accidental hiatus in 2026, but a large part of the conversation ends up being about video game discourse in the current internet culture, leading to one of our more rant-filled episodes. But we also talk about Mass Effect 2 in the middle of it all, which makes us happy.
After an unexpected and entirely unintended hiatus, we return to regale you about the sorts of gaming we got up to over the holidays, most notably the new hardware that came into our lives, as we talk about the Switch 2 and the PlayStation Portal.
On this episode we sit back and take a look at gaming in its current state in the year of our lord 2025, chatting about things such as the current state of XBox and the most recent release in a certain franchise about football management. And totally against all that, we also get nostalgic about the lost art of the video game magazine.
Now after its multiple-storefront-crashing release, we discuss the newest indie game mega hit, Hollow Knight: Silksong. We talk about its place in the modern gaming climate, what with its affordable prize tag and finely tuned unperturbed development time. And we debate over the topic that quickly became synonymous with Silksong's release: its difficulty.
On the eve of its release we chat about the long, long path that has led to the excessively hyped, almost deified, Silksong, taking a look at the lofty height it has managed to seat itself in gaming culture. And why not, we reflect on its predecessor too, the indie darling Hollow Knight.
On this episode three of us gather for a loose discussion on video games in general. Our topics include a post mortem on 2025 game-of-the-year-contender Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, to some unabashed gushing about Cyberpunk 2077. However, the whole thing is tied together by our new correspondent, Jonathan Morrissey, who vaguely watches the live show gaming announcements from Gamescom as we record, in a frighteningly radical take on live broadcast journalism.
On this episode three of us gather to chronicle our top 10 games of all time. But since that's quite the task, we each only get around to discussing our number 10 and 9 spots, so this will be an ongoing endeavour!
In filling out the bottom two spots of our lists, we reveal the beginnings of the top tier of our gaming predilections, which range from our love of blistering difficulty, making spreadsheets, and living in the Japanese countryside.
The 4 of us come together to celebrate 100 episodes of the Hey! Look! Listen! podcast. We talk about everything from why Nintendo are terrible to why Nintendo are terrible. Here's to 100 more!
This musically-inclined episode takes a look at some examples throughout gaming history of a melody or musical motif being paired up with a character, and how the music can be used to tell us everything we need to know about the character, as well as reinforce or enhance the storytelling overall.
Back with the much anticipated follow up to Jon Has a Wee Ramble - Episode 1, Jon rambles about GTA6, the Switch 2 and the much beloved Kingdom Come Deliverance 2.
On this episode we take a look at the second biggest selling game of all time, under the lens of its status as a cultural juggernaut, but also under the lens of one of our hosts having changed his opinion on it recently. And after chatting about its immersive open world, its chaotic characters, and its controversies, we also take time to speculate about the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6, an obscure little game that's supposedly coming out this year.
On this episode we cover the vague and nebulous topic of games we feel that we should like, but end up respecting and admiring more than actually enjoying. This leads us to covering the phenomenon of "eurojank", a recent game that's breaking records on Steam, a PS1-era beloved classic, and literally the biggest IP of all time.
This episode takes a look at three PlayStation 1 classics, three veritable jewels of its library, that we hadn't gotten around to covering yet. So get ready for a crisis of a reptilian nature, a simian wrangling sim, and an honest-to-goodness pioneer of early gaming in the third dimension.
Whether you called it the Mega Drive or the Genesis, there is no denying that Sega's console is one of the most defining features of 90s gaming. On this episode we have a nostalgic chat about the black box, from its marketing position as the cool kid to Nintendo's soft boy, to the oh-so specific vibes of its soundtracks. And we talk about the games, of course: raging streets, golden weaponry, revenge-seeking ninjas, a guy who runs fast, and more.
Despite being firmly embedded in 2025, in this episode we take some time to talk about some great games that we've recently caught up on from last year. We discuss the latest video game version of a cinematic icon, a remake of a beloved PS2 classic, a bonkers murder mystery puzzler, a narrative-driven sci-fi epic, and a hard-as-nails Metroidvania. Oh, and a game about a nun too.
A founding host of the podcast returns to discuss this middle chapter in the grand remake trilogy of the beloved Final Fantasy VII. We talk about the new versions of the story and characters, debate the open world nature of the whole thing, and wax lyrical about seeing this world from our childhood writ large.
We remain focused on the Game Awards 2024 for one more episode as we discuss the games that ended up taking home prizes, as well as the litany of new announcements that are sure to be emptying our wallets in the coming years.
Hope everyone has a great Christmas, and thanks for listening!
Three of us gather to discuss the Game of the Year nominations for 2024, giving our opinions on each, while also trying to predict what will win versus what we would like to win. After that, we take a look at each of the Game of the Year winners since its inception ten years ago, and debate whether the show's history is just.
PlayStation is 30 and we are old! To celebrate we each choose a game from all five of the PlayStation consoles to chat about. Not necessarily the best or most iconic games, but some of our favourites nonetheless, which each feel like important representations of their respective console.
On this mini episode, Jon talks about his recent love affair with Cyberpunk and any other thoughts that pass through his head.
On this episode we decide not to bask in nostalgia and take a look at two recent releases. The first is the latest in the Zelda franchise, which sees the princess herself take the leading role for the first time in a mainline entry, and casts her as a wanton bedmaker. The second is the elegantly titled Metaphor: ReFantazio, a grandiose fantasy adventure and spiritual successor to the Persona series, which sees you battling magical racism as you blaze a magical campaign trail. There will be no major story spoilers for either games.
On this episode we reflect and get all misty eyed about some of our favourite soundtracks in gaming history, as well as discuss some killer moments in games that just wouldn't be the same without the perfect usage of a good piece of music. We also wonder if we would even like certain games so much if it weren't for their amazing soundtracks.
And look here, a handy Spotify playlist that includes some of the tracks that we discuss in this episode:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4j8mnpp3spRcWNIrGFi6sR?si=2c0426ad86ec4360
On this episode we take a look at six games that reside in the sort of niche side of things. Somewhat accidentally, we divided them into two categories. Three modern indie games that have slipped through the cracks and may be a bit forgotten against the never ending deluge of releases. And three odd Japanese games from the 90s, which certainly have their fanbases, but are also starting to feel like weird dreams that we had at this point.
On this episode we take a look at some action adventure games, mostly from the 00s, and tie them together with the nebulous notion that each of them clearly takes inspiration from The Legend of Zelda franchise. We chat about games that have you take on the roles of a wolf goddess, an intrepid photographer, and a flammable mummy, as we also get a bit nostalgic for a certain type of game that you don't really see anymore.
On this episode we tackle quite a broad subject, the first-person-shooter genre. We talk about our favourite single-player gun fests, as well as our online experiences, dipping into the likes of Wolfenstein, Doom, Call of Duty, and Half Life along the way. We very nearly forget all about Halo, but then totally remember it, because we are master podcasters.
The age old question. On this episode we chart the histories of Nintendo's home consoles, reflecting on their impacts on the medium, talking about our favourite games, and trying to make sense of some truly bizarre controller designs. Then we attempt to rank them, and decide, in a highly official capacity, which Nintendo console is best.
On this episode we take a break from being painfully nostalgic, and deign to look forward instead. E3 may be dead, but that hasn't stopped the major gaming companies from using the Summer to reveal a slew of upcoming games. We discuss the ones that have us excited, from shiny new IPs to dependable old franchises
On this episode we discuss one of the most lauded indie games of the last few years, the cute but deceptively harsh Tunic. We talk about its many inspirations, from Zelda to Dark Souls, but how it very much feels like its own unique thing. We also gush about its killer central mechanic, and get nostalgic about the bygone days of the video game booklet.
On this episode we recommend and chat about some amazing and unique indie games that we have played recently. Our discussions range from a recent indie darling that was produced by a Youtuber, to a game that is self-described as "hostile", to a loving homage to ps1 era survival horror, and not one but TWO games about fishing.
This week we take a look at what is arguably 2024's biggest gaming success story, the anarchic co-op third-person-shooter, Helldivers 2. We discuss why its madcap multiplayer works so well, while also covering its filmic inspirations and recent controversies.
We take a brave step out of our video game comfort zone for this episode, as we discuss the global nerdy sensation, Dungeons and Dragons. We delve into its history, rising from the heady years of the 1970s, looking at it as both a business, and as a favourite pastime for legions of fans and content creators alike.
On this episode we dwell on that most violent of video game protagonists, Kratos, as we discuss the latest two games in his much storied franchise. We discuss these games' positions as both sequels and reboots, and their intimate character work and stellar combat, while also wondering if maybe they went too far in certain places.
On this episode we take a look at the two modern classics in the The Legend of Zelda franchise, discussing their boundless creativity and making comparisons to other open world games, while also being a tad wistful for the Zelda games of yesteryears.
This episode takes a look at 16th entry in the beloved Final Fantasy series, a game that ended up being quite divisive due to the big swings it takes against the established formula of the franchise. Topics bounce between exhilarating kaiju battles, to milquetoast side quests. From amazing voice acting and localisation, to a story that tends to spin its wheels. There are no major spoilers for the game, but the whole story is covered in vague terms in order to pick out the things that work in this game, and the things that really don't.
This week Kev shines a light on some "hidden gems" from 2023, and takes a look at some of the best games that you may have missed from last year. The games covered range from first-person horror games and weird visual novels to cute climate-themed climbing capers. Check it out to see what you might have missed. Or maybe you've played them all already, in which case your Cool Gamer pin is already in the post.
Transport back to the days of waggling remotes, as we take a look at Nintendo's colossal console success story, the Wii. We get nostalgic about playing Wii Sports on Christmas morning, soaring through the cosmos in Super Mario Galaxy, and much more. But we also question the Wii's legacy, and we wonder, despite its success, did it actually change the industry for the better?
This week for the pod we welcome a very special quest, Stephanie! Steph has been an avid gamer since she was young, and today we chat about her early exposure to games via educational games, Animal Crossing, and, of course, the Mass Effect universe.
We had a few issues with sound on this one, so apologies!
On this episode we take a look back at gaming during 2023, starting with January and rattling through the months in the classic manner, not only discussing some of the notable releases, but also the news stories that defined the year for gaming.
On this episode we're taking a look at the big bads of the video game world. We discuss some of our favourite villains, as well as the numerous ways gaming can utilize a good villain. We also take time to chat about our least favourites too, because full positivity wouldn't suit an episode that's all about deplorable bastards.
All four of us gather for this episode, as we discuss the nominations for the upcoming Game Awards 2023. This year has been chock full of amazing games, so we use these nominations as an excuse to discuss six of the best: Baldur's Gate 3, Alan Wake 2, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Spider-Man 2, Resident Evil 4, and Super Mario Wonder.
In a world ravaged by horrible monsters, four survivors must brave a hazardous and slimy trek through a dark and ominous sewer, armed only with their waning courage and devices known as 'salt guns'.
Didn't quite get it out in time for Halloween, but this special episode of the pod is something a bit different, a spoooky short story, written and narrated by Liam Sheahan. Your regular programming will resume next week.
Spider Men, Bat Men, Super Men... we cover them all on this episode as we chat about a variety of games from over the years that are based on iconic superhero IPs. Our discussion leads us from lovingly crafted modern interpretations of classic characters, to 90s arcade cabinets, to infamous video game disasters.
And thank you for supporting Hey! Look! Listen! and helping us get to our 69th episode (nice).
Happy Halloween! The Hey! Look! Listen! team are busy enjoying the seasonal fun, like pumpkin spice and low-level crimes, so for this week please accept a supercut of some of our previous content. Over the last couple of years of doing the pod, Liam and Kev have managed to cover all main eight entries in the Resident Evil franchise, as well as their assorted remakes, so here are all the discussions stitched together in one extra-long episode! It'll be the perfect thing if you happen to find yourself on a very long road trip, or sitting through your least favourite child's wedding.
On this episode we discuss some of our favourite and least favourite openings from games, be it the opening hours in general, just an opening cutscene, or both elegant and inelegant tutorials. We talk about how important first impressions can be, and how some great game are lumbered with some truly awful opening segments, mostly inspired by a recent Bethesda release.
On this episode Jon takes a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of Starfield-developers, Bethesda, from the freedom of Skyrim, to the disaster that is Fallout 76.
On this episode a friend of the podcast joins us for a very chill chat about all things video games. Topics range from our very humble platforms as video game content slingers, to the Commodore 64, to our deep down feelings on Bethesda.
On this episode we dig into Nintendo's much celebrated sci-fi franchise, Metroid. We bounce around each of the series' main games, mostly gushing, but also realizing that no single Metroid game is perfect. We talk about the iconic protagonist at the franchise's centre too, and the odd mistranslation that led to her appeal.
It's our 64th episode, so we get shockingly creative by getting nostalgic for the seminal Nintendo 64. We come to terms with our advanced ages, as we reflect on our favourite 64-bit memories, with topics ranging from amazing multiplayer experiences, to peculiar controller-design, to warm and fuzzy Christmas memories.
On this episode we select a number of games which we believe to have perfect endings. Our choices range from perfectly executed narrative wrap-ups, to fourth wall breaking tomfoolery, to plain old childhood nostalgia. So spoiler warning for everything we talk about, but honestly, everything we discuss is relatively old at this point.
We're talking about main characters on this episode, namely the ones we really love and the ones we really hate. In discussing our favourite gaming protagonists, we talk about strong writing and relatability, as well as a character's design being married to gameplay. In discussing our least favourite gaming protagonists, we just sort of get a bit complainy.
On this episode we tackle the nebulous topic of the depiction of food & drink in video games, starting off with food's classic roles as chunky pixelated health pickups. As the episode goes on, however, we are interested to discover that we nearly entirely forget to talk about games that are overtly about food or cooking, as our ideas of the best depictions of food in gaming seem to go hand-hand with vibey, atmospheric games, awash with comfy recreations of the mundane.
On this episode we set out to have a discussion on the current subscription services that have come to define modern gaming for many, such as XBox Game Pass and Playstation Plus Premium, and the conversation dovetailed off in several directions. We hit topics such as brand loyalty, toxic fanbases, and the slew of recent broken game releases, as we finally 'solve' the Console Wars once and for all.
We dip back into the Resident Evil well to chat about the lauded Resident Evil 4, mainly because it received a phenomenal remake this year, which we also chat about obviously. We compare the two games, discussing our favourite moments, from the things they changed from the things that remained wonderfully untouched. There are some ropey impressions too.
On this episode we bounce from old first-person-shooters to Japanese visual novels as we talk about some games that are genuinely close to our hearts, but in which we cannot deny their ropier, more awkward elements.
We get painfully nostalgic for Nintendo's first handheld device on this episode, as we share our fondest memories of the old grey brick, as well as the "Colors", "Pockets", and "Advances" it spawned. We discuss the franchises that defined the console for us, such as Pokemon, Tetris, Wario Land, and, uh, James Bond.
On this episode we take a look at both of Rockstar Games' Western-themed epics, as we try to reconcile the quite sizable problems we have with both games with our love of their masterful storytelling and overall rootin' tootin' cowboy aesthetic. We also have find time to bellyache about the depiction of the Irish in these games, because obviously.
All four of us gather for an episode in which we once again ask each other interview-like questions about the world of gaming. This time the questions have us discussing video game remakes, as well as what TV adaptations we would like to see in the wake of HBO's The Last of Us. We talk about the habits we have developed towards gaming as a hobby, both good and bad. And we recommend the games to each which we believe are big enough to represent entire genres.
This episode of Hey! Look! Listen! is all about everyone's favourite merchandisable plumber, Mario. Ignoring his penchant for karting and partying, this episode instead ranks each and every one of the traditional Mario platformers, which means it covers the length and breadth of both the history of Nintendo and the history of gaming as a whole.
On this episode we turn our back on video games to instead focus on video game adjacent media, as we discuss HBO's recent television adaptation of The Last Of Us, starring Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, and a bunch of funky fungi.
We play it a bit loose in this episode as we each bring two questions for each in a general conversation about videogames. This leads to us chatting about topics that include childhood memories and divisive games, and whether or not romance exists in gaming, because we're all incurable romantics. We also ripoff Desert Island Disks wholesale.
Positive outlooks are denied in this episode with a decidedly negative analysis of Far Cry 5, as its failures are held up to the standards of its own superior predecessors, as well as just to the concept of good quality game design.
And exciting times, this marks the first episode of Hey! Look! Listen! to be posted on YouTube too, with some fancy-schmancy video accompaniment! So please find it there too:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2450pYlWI8Bv-usOCWiHxA
For our milestone 50th episode (kinda) we return to the franchise that we began this podcast with, as we discuss the colossal fourth entry in Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid series. We discuss the game's position as an all-guns-blazing ending to a massive story, and how we both kind of love it and hate it for that.
In this episode we reflect on the notion of putting faith in our fellow man, as we discuss some of our favourite co-op games, multiplayer games that have you team up rather than fight each other like god intended. Our cooperative experiences include: playing The Beautiful Game TM, exploring mysterious snowy ruins, having meltdowns in the kitchen, and beating up punks on the mean streets of the 1990s.
Before setting off proper into a brand new year, why not take time to reflect on the games of 2022? On this episode we each select games that we loved from last year, with our choices ranging from Norse epics to feline escapades, from intimate murder mysteries to gigantic fantasy adventures...
On this episode we discuss games that we went into with preconceived expectations, which turned out to be very different experiences than we imagined. We go both positive and negative: games that we didn't think we'd like that ended up blowing our minds, as well as games we expected to love that we just couldn't mind meld with.
On this episode four of your hosts each choose a single moment from the litany of games that they have played throughout their lives, to shine a spotlight on and wax lyrical about. There was no rigid criteria given to the moments that could be chosen; they could have ranged from moments experienced through gameplay, to big action set pieces, to memorable cinematics... Three of the four moments chosen ended up being quite maudlin (maybe that's the Irish in us), while the fourth is an uplifting story of overcoming great adversity (in a game, not in any meaningful way).
A bit of introspection in this episode, as three of your hosts each choose a game that they once loved, but have found that their affection has diminished over time. We reckon with the changes in how games our made against the changes in our own personal tastes, as we march inexorably towards the grave.
We once again dip our toes in the world of survival horror by taking a look at the latest two chapters in the Resident Evil series. The seventh entry managed to be both a radical upheaval and a return to the franchise's roots, and was then followed by a game that was a whole other kettle of fish again. We compare the two distinct flavours of these modern horror classics, and debate whether we prefer deranged shovel-wielding Southern gentlemen, or 9-foot tall vampire ladies.
On this episode, a returning host to the podcast does a deep dive on the latest bit of gaming tech: Valve's handheld devise, the Steam Deck. He analyses it as a modern piece of hardware, and compares it to other consoles on the market. But mostly he just waxes lyrical about the joys of having your entire Steam library in the palm of your hands.
Happy Halloween! In honour of the spooky season, we present Ireland's most terrifying tale: The Limerick Shanker! Steel your courage, make sure you're not wearing your favourite pants, and strap into this 30 minute audiobook horror extravaganza!
Notice: This is something completely different, just for Halloween, and has exactly 0% to do with video games. This won't be affecting the Hey! Look! Listen! schedule, and a regular episode will be coming next week! But hope you enjoy! And Happy Halloween!
Music samples from:
JuliusH from Pixabay
Ashot-Danielyan-Composer from Pixabay
SoundGalleryByDmitryTaras from Pixabay
Stringer_Bell from Pixabay
SergeQuadrado from Pixabay
Tis the season for existential dread and body horror, so it's time to take a look at the amazing and horrifying Silent Hill series. We handpick key titles from this iconic franchise; from the PS1 classic that started it all, to its narratively ambitious and emotionally draining PS2 sequel. From experimental remakes, to even more experimental "playable teasers". Trigger warning: this series is all kinds of messed up, but there is a reason why it's one of the most beloved, iconic franchises in all of gaming. Happy Halloweeeeeen!
Forget all the other episodes. This is the one. After foolishly ignoring him for so very long, we finally get around to the mighty Crash Bandicoot, in a discussion that mostly centres around the orange ragamuffin's PS1 classics. The conversation also spills out into the very idea of "mascot platformers" and Crash's indelible position as one of the most iconic of all time, as well as his importance as one of the larger stepping stones between 2D and 3D gaming.
On this episode we hand-select a few prominent examples of the "Walking Sim" genre, and discuss how although the name of this genre was originally meant as a bit of an insult, it has long become one of the best methods for games to tell smaller scale, more intimate stories. So, yes, while our selected games may mostly consist of just kind of pottering about, they are also our selections for some of the best character-driven narratives ever committed to gaming.
On the lead up to the grand return of the franchise with the long awaited Return to Monkey Island, we dial back the clock to have a look at the series' debut entry. So grab a grog or a ghost-killing root beer, as we wax lyrical about the iconic and massively influential The Secret of Monkey Island.
On this episode we have selected some of our favourite indie games; maybe ones that wouldn't fill an entire episode, but ones that we love, or at the very least contain some very interesting ideas. We cover six games in all, which range from odd narrative experiments to genre-defining masterpieces.
The fifth and sixth entries in the Resident Evil franchise are often considered low points, what with their abandonment of horror in favour of action, their reliance on being multiplayer experiences, and their impenetrable, self-serious plotlines. On this episode we take a look at these two games to decide if their dark reputations are warranted. Short answer: no, not really actually! But, yes, kinda... Maybe!
On this week's episode we do a full bodied analysis of Catherine, one of the strangest games that we've ever tackled on this podcast. We celebrate its uniqueness, as well as its adult themes, while also admitting its colossal failings, and wonder whether or not it's a game that we can even fully recommend that people play.
Talking about games that actually exist is for the birds! This episode deals only in games that absolutely should exist, but somehow don't in this wretched timeline. Be they returns to long-dormant franchises, or deserved follow-ups to one-hit-wonders, it's time to close our eyes and imagine a better world where the games listed in this episode were granted gosh darned sequels, and life was just better for it.
Join us as we discuss the PS2 action, puzzle, platforming masterpiece, Shadow Of The Colossus.
It's the middle of June, the spoookiest time of the year! So let's jump back to the era of the PS1 to take a look at the first three entries in the seminal, long-running horror franchise, Resident Evil. And since all three games eventually went on to receive full-blown remakes, let's take a look at those too.
Join us in The Land of the Dead as we discuss the beloved Lucas Arts adventure game, Grim Fandango, which has the peculiar honour of being one of the most celebrated games of its genre, while at the same time being largely responsible for that genre's decline.
Time to take a look at two hit indie games from solo auteur designer, Lucas Pope. We explore how both games' mundane but fascinating premises are used as avenues to some truly exemplary game design, where the gameplay and the storytelling are one in the same.
This week's episode is a deep dive on the Japanese role playing games/teenage life simulators, Persona. We take a look at the entire franchise, from its beginnings as a spin-off through to its evolution as one of the most popular JRPGs of all time.
There are few game franchises as beloved or as influential as The Legend of Zelda series. So here's a foolhardy attempt to analyse and rank all 19 main entries in the series, which has been one of Nintendo's main tentpoles since the far flung days of 1986.
On this episode we have a discussion about "Open World" games, and all the successes and failures that can come from this genre. And what better way to do this than chatting about two of the biggest recent releases, Elden Ring and Horizon Forbidden West, which both take very different approaches to their open worlds.
The PlayStation 5 is new and shiny, but let's take a moment to look back and appreciate the good ol' PlayStation 4! What better way to do that than to make a list of the 10 best games that are exclusive to the PS4. It had an excellent library of games, so this list was surprisingly difficult to whittle down.
On this episode of Hey! Look! Listen the discussion is about a very hard game. But just because it is very hard doesn't mean that it also isn't an amazing, seminal achievement in the medium of video games. A hunter must hunt, and we simply must wax lyrical about FromSoftware's 2015 Playstation 4 classic, Bloodborne. And maybe the conversation might also swing around to the company's latest beautiful nightmare, Elden Ring.
For the second time we take a look at the ropey process of transforming video games into major motion pictures, inspired by two of our favourite franchises, Uncharted and Resident Evil, which both received dubious adaptations recently.
On this episode we take a look at Half-Life, undoubtedly one of the most important, revolutionary games ever made. We discuss the radical method it used to weave its narrative, as well as the overall franchise's fascinating relationship with the growing technology of the game industry.
This week we are joined by a guest who is not quite as much of a gamer as we are these days, and use this as an opportunity to discuss the power that nostalgia has over gaming as a hobby. We reminisce about our own memories of growing up together playing games, and take a look at the medium from more of an "outsider's" perspective. All our episodes are pretty much driven by nostalgia, but this one's REALLY about nostalgia.
Is there anything quite as 90s as playing a 4-player multiplayer game that's based off of a Pierce Brosnan action movie, and everyone is sitting in the same room, hunched over a single television screen? On this episode, we take a hugely affectionate look back at the game that might just be the king of multiplayer on the Nintendo 64, and discuss whether or not it still manages to hold its title as the greatest game ever made that's based on a movie.
Seven... That's an oddly specific number... But, yes! Sit back and enjoy a rundown of some of the best games that came out during the year of our Lord 2021. Pretty bad year all around, but it yielded some genuinely fantastic games. And here are seven of them!
The 30-year-old Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge has long been regarded as a gaming classic, and a prime example of the "point-and-click adventure" genre. As such, it is the perfect game to examine with a fine tooth comb in order to analyze this always-niche, always-divisive gaming genre, and to pick out all the ways it can stumble and all the ways it absolutely soars.
On this episode we talk about Naughty Dog's iconic, rip roaring Indiana Jones homage, Uncharted. We mostly chat about the main four games in the series, from their big action set pieces to their meditative quiet moments. But we also veer into other topics that relate to this expansive franchise. For example, Mark Wahlberg is brought up multiple times for some reason.
Final Fantasy is one of gaming's most enduring franchises, with over thirty years of history. Each game has its own personality, has left its own individual mark, has its own iteration of the giant yellow birds we know and love as Chocobos... So why not sit back and enjoy a foolhardy attempt to rank each entry of this colossal franchise in this jumbo-sized episode of Hey! Look! Listen!
For the third time we take a look at the Metal Gear Solid series, delving into the 1960s-set prequel, Snake Eater. We talk about topics that range from eating frogs, to Bond theme songs, to killing old men by changing the clocks on our Playstation 2s. This is our 20th episode (kind of) and we'd like to thank everyone who's been listening to Hey! Look! Listen! and who have allowed us to chat about video games to such a silly degree. Go raibh míle maith agaibth!
In late 2002, Capcom announced that they would be releasing a collection of five games with the goal of boosting sales for the Nintendo Gamecube. Each of these five games were wildly different from each other, and varied in overall quality, but all ended up being at the very least really interesting, weird games. One even ended up being an absolute masterpiece. Gather 'round for some good old reminiscing about this little pocket of gaming history.
We continue our examination of the horrible world of The Last of Us by moving on to its much anticipated but eventually divisive sequel. We talk about the controversial narrative choices that Naughty Dog made with this next chapter, as well as the evolution of its brutally violent gameplay. And, from a safe distance and while wearing safety goggles, we ponder the reasons why a certain percentage of the fanbase just plain hated this game.
Welcome to the 18th episode of Hey! Look! Listen!, which is all about the feel-good romp that is Naughty Dog's The Last of Us! So join us as we discuss this merry tale, which begins with a tender moment between a father and daughter, and ends with a heart-warming promise being made.
Gather 'round and hear a vague and meandering telling of how the Sony Playstation came about in the mid 90s, and how it changed the gaming landscape forever.
On this week's episode, we each wax lyrical about our favourite games. Liam talks about the melancholic N64 classic The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. Jon reminisces about the high adventure of Skyrim. And Owen gets all fuzzy over Final Fantasy IX, the cutest of all Final Fantasies.
On this week's episode, we reflect on our time with the greedy, hard-drinking, red squirrel, Conker; who controversially made waves with his cult classic on the N64.
From the wild west to the streets of Vice City, on this week's episode, we deep-dive into the rich history of games from the universally lauded developer Rockstar Games.
A new Nintendo Switch appears! This week we discuss the first 4 years of the Nintendo Switch and the recent announcement of the Switch OLED Model. And of course, no Nintendo conversation would be complete without a walk down Wii U memory lane.
But before we leave, we have one more thing. This week, we sit down and chat about E3 events of yesteryear, our favourite gaming and non-gaming moments, and the future of the gaming industry's most celebrated yearly trade show.
With the release of the new and shiny Legendary Edition, what better time to have a chat about the amazing Mass Effect trilogy. We discuss the highs and lows of the series, and how it evolved and changed over time. But mainly we just reflect on how nice it feels to be someone cool and interesting like Commander Shepherd, instead of, you know, ourselves.
Let's mosey! On this episode of Hey! Look! Listen! we take a look at the seminal Final Fantasy VII, one of the most important games from our (and a lot of people's) childhoods. And we also take a far less nostalgic look at last year's very strange but very interesting Final Fantasy VII Remake.
Snake? SNAKE?! SNAAAAAAAKEEE!!!
On this weeks episode we take a look at the divisive and legendary tactical espionage action game that is Metal Gear Solid 2.
We discuss its cultural impact, themes ahead of its time, its amazing attention to detail and also why Jon's Dad tries to make sure everyone has done their homework.
Massive thanks to everyone who has helped us to get to Episode 10. We couldn't have done it without the support and feedback from our listeners!
Set your Plasma Cutter to 90° and strap in for a spooky new episode of Hey! Look! Listen!
This week we chat about the incredible impact Dead Space made upon its release in 2008, the brilliance of the Necromorph's design and how one of the Baldwins isn't really a Baldwin! Tune in to find out which one!
On this week's episode of Hey! Look! Listen! we chat about the relatively short reign of Telltale Games and how, for a minute there, they revolutionised the adventure game genre, especially with their emotionally exhausting adaptation of The Walking Dead. We also reminisce about point-and-click adventure games of the past, and wonder where their future lies.
Draw your Master Sword, and ready your Hylian Shield. On this week's episode we play the song of time and revisit the N64 masterpiece The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
Mortal Kombat. Sonic the Hedgehog. Max Payne... On this week's episode of Hey! Look! Listen! we take a look at some of the many game-to-movie adaptations over the years, as we try and mostly fail to find ones that are actually good.
Liam is caught offside! On this week's episode of Hey! Look! Listen! Jon & Owen try to convince non-footballing fan Liam that the Football Management simulation series is worth his time. With comparisons made to JRPGS & non-linear storytelling, will this be enough to convert Liam?
Now we're thinking with portals! On this week's episode of Hey! Look! Listen! we get lost in the Aperture Science Lab, as we discuss the classic puzzle game Portal, and try to remember if memes existed in 2007.
On the third episode of Hey! Look! Listen! each of your hosts chooses one game to talk about that they played during The Worst Year TM. Owen rediscovered an old beloved shooter franchise. Jon found a game that convinced him of the magic of turn-based RPGs. And Liam played something very Japanese.
WAHOO! On the second episode of Hey! Look! Listen! We look back at the Nintendo 64 masterpiece Mario 64, before the conversation derails into Nintendo Madness.
MUFF! On the first episode of Hey! Look! Listen! we deep dive into the stealth espionage classic Metal Gear Solid.