PS3

We are reaching into the listener mail bag again! We learn Brad's favorite food, and what game is like Amelie...if Amelie could fly! Also, Special guest Christopher Floyd stops by to talk in his Irish accent. Oh yeah, we also talk about what we've been playing and have a lively discussion about the Steam Box! With Chi Kong Lui, Brad Gallaway, Mike Bracken, Richard "Sexiest Thumbs Alive" Naik, Special Guest Christopher Floyd and Dylan Collins.

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Please send feedback and mailbag questions to podcast (at) gamecritics (dot) com.

If Agent 47 and Sam Fisher had a Lovechild, Absolution Would be its Name

HIGH Absolution has the most realistic living world I've experienced in a game.

LOW The checkpoint system is totally broken.

WTF Who casts badass Vivica A. Fox just to give her a tiny bit of dialogue?

It feels like it's been a while since I've done a proper blog post, and there's a lot of stuff to catch up on, so let's get right to it...

Fanboys May Cry

HIGH Comboing through a group of enemies like a tidal wave, leaving nothing but their shattered remains in Dante's wake.

LOW The penultimate boss fight is disappointingly pedestrian compared to the rest of the game.

WTF The battle against Bob Barbas is... is... it's...

When did the Dream Become a Nightmare?

HIGH The blistering SID-metal half of the soundtrack, courtesy of Machinae Supremacy.

LOW Puzzles that try, stretch, and ruin your patience time and again.

WTF How many precious stones can you fit in one game?!

The Worst of Both Worlds

HIGH That first time Fernando Alonso enthusiastically shouted "Alonso!," like an F1 Mario.

LOW When Fernando Alonso kept enthusiastically shouting his name, like an F1 Mario.

WTF "Release and then hold RT to charge KERS!"

There is a surprising downside to video game demos. With fewer and fewer options available for those that might want to try a game before buying it, demos are the default option. But demos have the adverse effect of underselling a good game or demonstrating how bad a bad game really is. Understandably, many developers and publishers aren't willing to take that chance. Where does that leave us? The guys at Extra Credits take a look.

2012 is officially in the books, which means it can be time for only one thing: this year's installment of Bracken's Best Games of the Year. If you've already listened to our year-end awards extravaganza podcast, then you're well aware of what my top four games of 2012 were—but don't bail yet! There are six other games that made my top 10 of the past year, and you'll want to stick around to see what they are. Plus, if you haven't heard the podcast, the entire list is a mystery to you at this point!

Staying Alive

HIGH Landing a well timed Power Blow that destroys the opponent—not to mention everyone and everything around them.

LOW Inconsistent netcode often leads to irritating online matches.

WTF Virtua Fighter characters made it into the series before Rachel and Momiji did? Seriously?

Still Shamelessly Crushing on Future Trunks

HIGH Seeing all of Dragon Ball Z: Budokai's story mode in bright, shiny HD; Reversible cover art!

LOW Seeing Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3's boring story mode in flat, static HD; Cheap AI.

WTF The AI abuses the crap out of the fact that combat starts when "FIGHT" appears, not when it fades like most other fighters—cheap first hits for everyone!