How To Review Impossibly Big Games
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In this episode of the Entitled Banter Podcast, Scott Telford and Joe Johnston dive into the challenges of reviewing massive, player-driven games like Tomodachi Life and Arc Raiders, discussing how to balance subjectivity with objective evaluation in reviews. They explore the tension between personal enjoyment and technical quality, emphasizing the importance of Metacritic scores and trailers over lengthy written critiques. The hosts also tackle fan questions ranging from franchise resurrection (sacrificing Call of Duty to revive Jak and Daxter or Circuit Breakers) to when to abandon a game—highlighting emotional fatigue, lack of progress, and loss of interest as key indicators. They reflect on personal gaming habits, backlog management, and the emotional weight of games like Silent Hill 2 and Crimson Desert. The episode closes with heartfelt advice for new parents, podcast recommendations like The Worst of All Possible Worlds, and a passionate endorsement of Vanquish as a must-play action game. The tone is warm, reflective, and deeply engaged with the gaming community’s joys and frustrations.
Use Metacritic scores and trailers as primary decision-making tools rather than reading full reviews.
Know when to quit a game: if it's draining your time, joy, or sanity, it's time to move on.
Reviewing open-ended games requires focusing on guidance, structure, and player experience over rigid metrics.
Consider the emotional and psychological impact of games—especially horror titles like Silent Hill 2.
Support niche genres like 3D brawlers and arcade racers; they deserve more attention and revival.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Introducing Mouse P.I. and the Art of the Whip Pan
“It's like one person throws it, like Devin throws it over her shoulder and you kind of catch this card. Yeah. But it's like, I thought you had to must've thrown it to her. But the fact that I couldn't tell straight away was, it's cool.”
Sacrificing Franchises: Call of Duty vs. Circuit Breakers
“I'll kill Dynasty Warriors. It's more of the same. Bring back Circuit Breakers. I'll go with that.”
When to Quit a Game: The Silent Hill 2 Remake and Crimson Desert
“It's just a bunch of stuff. Do you want 500 hours of stuff with no reason to do it? No!”
The Great Franchise Debate: Solid Snake vs. Big Boss
The hosts passionately argue over Metal Gear Solid icons, with Scott favoring Solid Snake for his archetypal coolness and depth, while Joe appreciates Big Boss’s philosophical complexity and legacy, especially in MGS3.
UK Adaptations of US Shows and the Future of Medical Dramas
They brainstorm UK versions of American hits like The Sopranos (set in Biker) and The Nick (a British 1900s medical drama set in Edinburgh), celebrating the dark, gory history of early medicine as a rich storytelling backdrop.
“As soon as you're holding your kid, I feel like I couldn't even feel the headache anymore and it was like, I always liken it to the end of Monsters Inc where like as soon as they laugh, the energy meter just goes back up.”
“I always find that the reviews that give a game like two out of ten because that person didn't like that particular plot point... are almost pointless.”
“It's like one person throws it, like Devin throws it over her shoulder and you kind of catch this card. Yeah. But it's like, I thought you had to must've thrown it to her. But the fact that I couldn't tell straight away was, it's cool.”
Hosts
scott telford
person
joe johnston
person
mouse p.i.
media
silent hill 2 remake
media
solid snake
other
big boss
other
call of duty
other
circuit breakers
media
crimson desert
media
vanquish
media
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What Would Make You Give Up On Gaming?
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Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Deserves More Love
WhatCulture Gaming • 42m • 4/7/2026
What's The Worst Launch Video Game Ever?
WhatCulture Gaming • 55m • 4/10/2026
Xbox Are Turning Things Around
WhatCulture Gaming • 51m • 4/13/2026
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