Swapping Joysticks

This week Ben's been hands-on with Star Wars Galactic Racer, the new high-speed racer from Fuse Games and Secret Mode. We chat about its Burnout DNA, roguelike structure, spectacular crashes and whether Star Wars and arcade racing might be a perfect combination.
We also look to the future of Final Fantasy and ask what we actually want from Final Fantasy XVII. Fantasy or sci-fi? Turn-based or action? Open world or linear? And does anyone actually know what a Final Fantasy game is supposed to be anymore?
Also, we chat about the games we'd love to see remade - and the ones that should absolutely be left alone - old Star Wars games, fast travel, and plenty more.
Plus, somehow we end up talking about bread for far longer than anyone intended.
Timestamps
00:00 Cold Open
00:12 Intro
09:30 Studio Ghibli
11:56 Star Wars Galactic Racer
30:41 What We've Been Playing
48:00 Our Perfect Final Fantasy XVII
01:19:34 Kingdom Hearts
01:25:23 Games That Shouldn't Be Remade
01:31:00 Outro
 
#StarWarsGalacticRacer #FinalFantasyXVII #StarWars
▼ Swapping Joysticks ▼
● All previous episodes available at http://swappingjoysticks.com
▼ Ben's links ▼
● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/biggusbennus
● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/biggusbennus.bsky.social
● Follow on Instagram - http://instagram.com/biggusbennus
● Join the Discord - http://discord.gg/biggusbennus
▼ Ed's links ▼
● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/ed_nights
● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/ednights.bsky.social

This week we're looking at what happens when Game Freak steps outside the world of Pokémon with Beast of Reincarnation, before getting hands-on with Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls.
Ed has also dug out his PS3 to revisit Final Fantasy XIII. Has one of the series' most divisive entries aged better than its reputation suggests? We discuss its linearity, battle system, soundtrack and why some parts hold up considerably better than others.
Elsewhere, we chat about Sonic Dream Team and Sonic Frontiers, the new Pokémon Pokopia DLC, Final Fantasy XIV on Switch 2, Star Wars Galactic Racer, what actually makes a great "summer game", and GTA VI's unusual Netflix reveal.
Plus, Ben makes a rather embarrassing discovery about Horsea.
Timestamps
00:00 Cold Open
00:19 Intro
03:42 Taskmaster Charity Special
10:43 Beast of Reincarnation
17:32 Sonic Dream Team & Sonic Frontiers
19:22 Star Wars Galactic Racer
20:49 Pokémon Pokopia DLC
30:41 Final Fantasy XIII Revisited
48:03 Final Fantasy XIV on Switch 2
54:10 What Makes a Summer Game?
01:01:41 Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls
01:06:15 GTA VI's Netflix Reveal
01:11:40 Outro
 
▼ Swapping Joysticks ▼
● All previous episodes available at http://swappingjoysticks.com  
▼ Ben's links ▼
● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/biggusbennus
● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/biggusbennus.bsky.social
● Follow on Instagram - http://instagram.com/biggusbennus
● Join the Discord - http://discord.gg/biggusbennus
▼ Ed's links ▼
● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/ed_nights
● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/ednights.bsky.social 

We weren't expecting Splatoon Raiders to become one of our favourite games of the summer, but Nintendo surprised us. We also dive into 007 First Light, discussing why IO Interactive might have nailed the James Bond formula while still making something very different to Hitman.
Elsewhere we chat about our recent trips to Barcelona and Copenhagen, cinema arguments (what's new?), the other games we're currently playing, and answer your comments on you've been enjoying recently.
Timestamps
00:00:00 Intro
00:12:43 007 First Light review
00:36:48 Splatoon Raiders impressions
00:59:20 Nintendo's future for Splatoon
01:00:30 What we've been playing recently
01:21:50 Your comments: What are you playing?
01:24:27 The biggest releases in August
#SplatoonRaiders #007FirstLight #NintendoSwitch2
▼ Swapping Joysticks ▼
● All previous episodes available at http://swappingjoysticks.com
▼ Ben's links ▼
● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/biggusbennus
● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/biggusbennus.bsky.social
● Follow on Instagram - http://instagram.com/biggusbennus
● Join the Discord - http://discord.gg/biggusbennus
▼ Ed's links ▼
● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/ed_nights
● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/ednights.bsky.social 

We've both been hooked by how incredible Forza Horizon 6 is. Ed, a non-racing game fan, and Ben who does dabble in them are loving this latest installment. Plus, we've both watched the latest Kylie doc and have mixed views.
We also chat about games we're still playing 10 years later and ones we really ought to go back and finish.
00:00:00 - Intro
00:17:00 - Kylie Minogue documentary
00:27:20 - Forza Horizon 6
00:52:05 - SAROS
00:56:12 - What games we ought to go back and finish
01:12:20 - Are you still playing the same type of games now?
01:15:40 - Outro
 
#ForzaHorizon6 
 
▼ Swapping Joysticks ▼
● All previous episodes available at http://swappingjoysticks.com 
▼ Ben's links ▼
● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/biggusbennus
● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/biggusbennus.bsky.social
● Follow on Instagram - http://instagram.com/biggusbennus
● Join the Discord - http://discord.gg/biggusbennus
▼ Ed's links ▼
● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/ed_nights
● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/ednights.bsky.social 

In between challenging SAROS runs, Ed's played and completed Mixtape in one sitting and he's got a lot to say about it (and all the topics surrounding it). He's also get very strong opinions about the new Star Fox designs and Ben's been in a Satisfactory shaped hole that's swallowed every second of his time.
We also chat about game difficulty and which games respect your time.
00:00:00 - Intro
00:04:29 - Mixtape
00:32:13 - Satisfactory
00:46:47 - Star Fox
00:56:12 - Game difficulty Q of the Week
01:15:40 - Outro
 
▼ Swapping Joysticks ▼
● All previous episodes available at http://swappingjoysticks.com 
▼ Ben's links ▼
● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/biggusbennus
● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/biggusbennus.bsky.social
● Follow on Instagram - http://instagram.com/biggusbennus
● Join the Discord - http://discord.gg/biggusbennus
▼ Ed's links ▼
● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/ed_nights
● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/ednights.bsky.social 

There's only one game we've been playing this week and it's a good one - SAROS. Ed's even had a chance encounter with Rahul Kohli himself and has obviously whizzed past Ben in the game.
We also chat about games where the sequels are better than the original, as well as looking ahead at games coming out this May.
Your weekly dose of gaming news, views and inane chatter. 
00:00:00 - Intro
00:13:41 - SAROS
00:42:55 - Sequels better than the original
00:57:29 - Games coming out this month
01:04:14 - Outro
 
▼ Swapping Joysticks ▼
● All previous episodes available at http://swappingjoysticks.com 
▼ Ben's links ▼
● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/biggusbennus
● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/biggusbennus.bsky.social
● Follow on Instagram - http://instagram.com/biggusbennus
● Join the Discord - http://discord.gg/biggusbennus
▼ Ed's links ▼
● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/ed_nights
● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/ednights.bsky.social 

Your weekly dose of gaming news, views and inane chatter. 
00:00:00 - Intro
00:02:32 - Final Fantasy XIV - EverCold announcement
00:31:42 - SAROS very early impressions
01:05:01 - Pragmata
01:21:10 - What you've been playing
01:27:27 - Outro
Thank you to PlayStation for the SAROS code.
#SAROS 
▼ Swapping Joysticks ▼
● All previous episodes available at http://swappingjoysticks.com 
▼ Ben's links ▼
● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/biggusbennus
● Follow on Bluesky -
https://bsky.app/profile/biggusbennus.bsky.social
● Follow on Instagram - http://instagram.com/biggusbennus
● Join the Discord - http://discord.gg/biggusbennus
▼ Ed's links ▼
● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/ed_nights
● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/ednights.bsky.social 

We've both started new games this week - Ed's a couple of hours into Pragmata, and Ben's had a few cursed hours of playing Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream. We also chat through some surprising BAFTA Games Awards winners and this week's discussion is all about physical v digital games.
00:00:00 - Intro
00:03:09 - BAFTA Games Awards Winners
00:17:58 - Pragmata
00:26:00 - FC Pro 2 update
00:28:20 - Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream
00:43:10 - Pikmin 1
00:45:03 - Digital v Physical games
01:06:07 - Outro
 
▼ Swapping Joysticks ▼
● All previous episodes available at http://swappingjoysticks.com 
 
▼ Ben's links ▼
● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/biggusbennus
● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/biggusbennus.bsky.social
● Follow on Instagram - http://instagram.com/biggusbennus
● Join the Discord - http://discord.gg/biggusbennus
 
▼ Ed's links ▼
● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/ed_nights
● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/ednights.bsky.social 

Ed’s become a bit of a platinum hunter - he’s picked up Mass Effect 2, 3, and is close to finishing Returnal. Ben’s fully leaning into his weird management sim phase and is now hooked on CURE - A Hospital Simulator. We also have a go at predicting next week’s BAFTA Games Awards and judge your top 9 games of all time.
00:00:00 - Intro
00:15:15 - BAFTA Games Awards
00:35:42 - Mass Effect 2 & 3
00:40:28 - Returnal
00:44:47 - FC Pro 2 update
00:47:00 - CURE - A Hospital Simulator
00:53:43 - Judging your top 9 games
01:22:20 - Outro
 
▼ Swapping Joysticks ▼
● All previous episodes available at http://swappingjoysticks.com 
▼ Ben's links ▼
● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/biggusbennus
● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/biggusbennus.bsky.social
● Follow on Instagram - http://instagram.com/biggusbennus
● Join the Discord - http://discord.gg/biggusbennus
▼ Ed's links ▼
● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/ed_nights
● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/ednights.bsky.social 

Ed's finished Mass Effect 2 and has the platinum! He's now playing through Plus we chat about what's coming out in April and what you've been playing this month. 
00:00:00 - Intro
00:08:30 - Dreamhack and gaming cons
00:38:50 - Mass Effect 2 & 3
00:45:24 - Forza Horizon (series chat)
00:57:44 - The Division Resurgence
01:05:28 - Outro
▼ Swapping Joysticks ▼
● All previous episodes available at http://swappingjoysticks.com 
▼ Ben's links ▼
● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/biggusbennus
● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/biggusbennus.bsky.social
● Follow on Instagram - http://instagram.com/biggusbennus
● Join the Discord - http://discord.gg/biggusbennus
▼ Ed's links ▼
● Follow on Twitch - http://twitch.tv/ed_nights
● Follow on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/ednights.bsky.social