Triple Click

Villains: we all hate'em, but what would video games be without them? This week, Kirk, Jason, and Maddy try to figure out what makes a good bad guy. From Deathloop's Julianna to Final Fantasy VII's Sephiroth, antagonists can be brilliant and memorable. But why do we love to hate them? What makes them so fiendishly appealing? And just what is the deal with Kefka?One More Thing: Kirk: Golf Club WastelandMaddy: Get In The Car, Loser!Jason: EastwardJason’s Five Rules for a Good Video Game Villain:1. They have a good motivation2. They’re way stronger than the protagonist3. They have a personal connectin to the protagonist4. They have a striking look5. They or their actions are present throughout the gameLinks:Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

What's the deal with Metroid? To answer that question, we must turn to series expert Maddy Myers, who explains to Kirk and Jason just what a Metroid is and why it matters. What's the lore behind Samus's baby? What's up with those Chozo? And what do we all need to know before heading into this October's much-anticipated new game Metroid Dread?One More Thing: Kirk: The U.S. OpenMaddy: You Should See The Other Guy (podcast)Jason: DeathloopLinks:An explanation of Medvedev’s U.S. Open victory “emote”: https://kotaku.com/us-open-tennis-champion-does-video-game-celebration-aft-1847662401Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

What makes a remake worth playing? When should developers go back and change a game, and how much should they change? This week, the Triple Click crew tries to figure out when remakes work, when they don't work, and why. Plus: Kirk unveils his grand spectrum of Remakes, Remasters, and the Super Turbo Remake Plus.Kirk’s Remake Spectrum*:Re-release (The original game, playable on new hardware)Remaster (visually enhanced version of the same game, same tech, etc.)Remaster Plus (A visual remaster that makes some changes to the gameplay - e.g. Skyward Sword, ME Trilogy)Remake (New engine/tech and new visuals, but makes a point of keeping the gameplay the same. E.g. SotC, Demon’s Souls, Diablo 2 Resurrected)Remake Plus (New engine and actual new gameplay/mechanics/etc. E.g. Black Mesa, Tomb Raider Anniversary)Reimagined Remake (Uses the original as a template to make major changes, e.g. Resident Evil 2 & 3 Remake)Super Turbo Remake Plus (There is only one of these and it is Final Fantasy VII Remake)Sequel or Reboot *Note that these are stops along a continuous spectrum and not a series of discrete categorizations. Many games fall somewhere in between categories.One More Thing: Kirk: The White Lotus ReloadedMaddy: Dark SoulsJason: The Forgotten CityLinks: Mat Bradley-Tschirgi on why Final Fantasy shouldn’t be modernized: https://www.polygon.com/22648602/final-fantasy-original-ff1-retro-gaming-classic-pixel-version-steam-square-enixMike White’s New York interview about The White Lotus: https://www.vulture.com/article/the-white-lotus-finale-mike-white-interview-departures-ending.htmlSlate’s Working podcast interview with White Lotus composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer:https://slate.com/podcasts/working/2021/08/white-lotus-composer-cristobal-tapia-de-veerTwenty Thousand Hertz episode about the Dies Irae (feat. Kirk): https://www.20k.org/episodes/diesiraeSupport Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Maddy, Jason, and Kirk delve into each other's brains to talk about Psychonauts 2, one of the best games of the year so far. They talk about the delightful writing, the clever level design, and the emotional moments. They also talk about Double Fine, the maker of Psychonauts 2, and its long, turbulent history as a game developer. One More Thing: Kirk: Ghost of Tsushima - game pairing & ac comparison Maddy: DickinsonJason: 12 MinutesLinks:The Double Fine Adventure! Documentary, Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVwg-9WL3dEKotaku’s Renata Price on 12 Minutes: https://kotaku.com/twelve-minutes-might-have-the-worst-video-game-ending-o-1847540262Kirk’s 2011 (!!) article about game pairings, complete with extremely 2011-era photoshop top art https://kotaku.com/like-rich-wine-and-sharp-cheese-some-games-just-go-wel-5862022Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

The Triple Click Trio opens up the mailbag and answer your most burning questions. This time around we've got questions about in-game morality, ferreting out the truth when reporting, our favorite moments in a new game, silent Nintendo protagonists, and whether Kirk records a new version of that "bing" sound every time he makes it.ONE MORE THINGKirk: Ghost of TsushimaMaddy: Boyfriend DungeonJason: White Lotus Links:Bill Hemstapat’s very cool blog post about the process of arranging and recording the Ghost of Tsushima soundtrack: https://billhemstapat.com/ghost-arrangers-diarySupport Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/ 

It's finally time: Jason, Maddy, and Kirk pick up their gravity guns and move around some cardboard boxes so they can climb into Half-Life 2. The gang talks about the pros and cons of Valve's classic shooter, how the game holds up in 2021, the G-Man, the graphics, the setpieces, the nauseating vehicles, and oh so much more!One More Thing: Kirk: Reservation DogsMaddy: Leverage: RedemptionJason: FantasianLinks:The Wikipedia entry on hitscan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HitscanHalf-LIfe 2 Combine Radio Chatter collection by RescoeZ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SindqGenIhkKali Simmons’ recaps of Reservation Dogs: https://www.vulture.com/article/reservation-dogs-series-premiere-recap-season-1-episode-1-fckin-rez-dogs.htmlSupport Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Metaverse! Everyone's talking about it. Every company wants a piece of it. But just what the heck is it? This week, Jason, Maddy, and Kirk try to figure out what the deal is with the Metaverse... and can't even agree themselves on what it really means. From Fortnite to Facebook, come along on a wild ride through movie crossovers and alternate realities.One More Thing: Kirk: Schmigadoon!Maddy: The Suicide SquadJason: New Teeth (Simon Rich)Links:GameMaster Anthony Message Board Post:  https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/events/gamemasteranthonys-birthday“Space Jam: A New Legacy runs on video game logic, in every way,” by Cameron Kunzelman“Ralph Breaks the Internet and the rise of mash-up cinema,” by Abraham Riesman“The Metaverse: What It Is, Where to Find it, Who Will Build It, and Fortnite,” by Matthew BallSupport Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

We're all about visual novels here at Triple Click. What's that, you ask? What's a visual novel? Well, allow Kirk, Maddy, and Jason to tell you: it's kind of like a book... but better! Join us to talk about the stellar new game The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, the horniness of Fire Emblem and Persona, and why sometimes gameplay just isn't all that great.Games Discussed:The Great Ace Attorney ChroniclesDanganronpaSteins;GateThe House on Fata MorganaFire Emblem: Three HousesPersona 4 and 513: Sentinels: Aegis RimDisco ElysiumPlanescape: TormentZork80 DaysOverboardDoki Doki Literature ClubLadykiller in a BindAI: The Somnium Files999 and Virtue’s Last RewardOne More Thing: Kirk: LimetownMaddy: Plan BJason: Activision BlizzardLinks:Jason’s report on Warcraft III: Reforged: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-22/inside-activision-blizzard-s-botched-warcraft-iii-reforged-gameSupport Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/

Kirk, Maddy, and Jason dive into Skyward Sword HD, the new Zelda remake for Nintendo Switch. Does it hold up today? How does it feel after Breath of the Wild? And what's up with those controls? Then they talk about the harrowing Activision Blizzard lawsuit that's shaken up the video game industry over the past week.One More Thing: Kirk: Death’s DoorMaddy: Activision Blizzard discrimination lawsuitJason: The Great Ace AttorneyCorrection: Kirk initially said that Death's Door was on Game Pass, which it regrettably is not. The episode has been edited.Links:Ash Parrish on Skyward Sword motion controls: https://kotaku.com/skyward-sword-hd-might-make-you-actually-like-motion-co-1847306361“Fi’s Theme,” “Crimson Loftwing” and “Ballad of the Goddess” from the Skyward Sword soundtrack, comp. Hajime Wakai, Shiho Fujii, Mahito Yokota, Takeshi HamaBlizzard’s Culture Crisis Runs Deep https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2021-07-23/activision-blizzard-s-games-culture-crisis-runs-deepJason’s Bloomberg newsletter: https://www.bloomberg.com/account/newsletters/game-on“Hall of Doors” by David Fenn from Death’s Door: https://davidfennmusic.bandcamp.com/album/deaths-door

There sure are a lot of games this summer. It's time for Kirk, Jason, and Maddy to talk about them! And then maybe we'll go out for some sloppy steaks. Games discussed: Chicory, Overboard, Mario Golf, Scarlet Nexus, Ender Lilies, Astalon: Tears of the Earth, Before Your EyesOne More Thing: Kirk: Six of CrowsMaddy: BillionsJason: I Think You Should LeaveLinks:Support Triple Click: http://maximumfun.org/joinJoin the Triple Click Discord: http://discord.gg/tripleclickpodTriple Click Ethics Policy: https://maximumfun.org/triple-click-ethics-policy/