The Witcher 3 Review

This week the ladies are talking from Spain about Pentiment, a very interesting 2022 game from Obsidian. This RPG is a narrative game that follows Andreas, a journeyman Illuminator in takes medieval Bavaria as he works to uncover the mysteries of the town of Tassing. There is murder, intrigue and a lot of despair. We discuss medieval pastoral life, academic footnotes, being a “man about” Bavaria, corruption in the abbey, the brutality of medieval Europe, and the challenges of video game pacing.

This episode was recorded quite a while ago (last spring/winter), and lost in the archives…meaning Rachel didn’t post is appropriately. We are currently on hiatus, and will be back…eventually (we think)! We are taking some time to play games, enjoy our summer and hope to catch you all again when we return.

Time Stamps:
00:14 Introductions
2:14 Main Topic – Pentiment
32:25 Pentiment story discussion – Contains spoilers!
43:12 Pentiment Final thoughts
45:37 What we’re playing next (TBD)
47:46 Ending Spiel (What we’re loving this week)

From the show:

Games featured in our Ending Spiel: Hogwarts Legacy

The video hbomberguy that Emma mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0twDETh6QaI

Emma’s book it out! Check out Racing Chaos! https://www.captaincassy.com/

Find us:
Website: https://utterlyunqualifiedgaming.com/
Email: utterlyunqualified@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/utterlyunqualifiedgaming/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uugamingpodcast
Facebook: http://facebook.com/utterlyunqualified

Musical credit: "Into the Game" by SilentCrafter/ "Pixel Pig" by Di Young

Here are our picks for our favorite games of 2022, and some of the games that we are looking forward to in 2023! We decided to introduce mini-episodes between our regular reviews (which aren’t going anywhere, don’t worry). Thanks for listening!

Time Stamps:
00:14 Introduction
02:00 Our top games of 2022!
25:40 Most Anticipated Games of 2023

From the show:

Rachel’s Top 5:
1. God of War Ragnarök
2. Cult of the Lamb
3. Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening
4. Horizon Forbidden West
5. Citizen Sleeper

Emma’s Top 5:
1. Stray
2. God of War
3. Project Zomboid
4. Life is Strange: True Colors
5. Hitman Trilogy

Episodes we have for the above:

Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening
https://www.buzzsprout.com/776315/10925192

Life is Strange: True Colors
https://www.buzzsprout.com/776315/10925192

God of War:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/776315/12085814

Stray:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/776315/11336385

Find us:
Website: https://utterlyunqualifiedgaming.com/
Email: utterlyunqualified@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/utterlyunqualifiedgaming/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uugamingpodcast
Facebook: http://facebook.com/utterlyunqualified

In this episode, the girls chat about God of War, the 2018 game that continues the popular series that follow Kratos as he embarks on a Norse adventure. This games from Sony Santa Monica recently came to PC, so Emma was finally able to partake in this epic, though very personal, story. We discuss confounding expectations, father-son dynamics, awkwardly smooth transitions, child companions, self loathing, Greek/Norse crossovers, empty worlds and petty gods.

Time Stamps:
00:14 Introductions
12:53 Main Topic – God of War (2018)
16:27 God of War story discussion – Contains spoilers!
01:02:33 God of War final thoughts
01:09:27 What we’re playing next (Pentiment)
01:12:45 Ending Spiel (What we’re loving this week)

From the show:

Games featured in our Ending Spiel: Pentiment (What we’re playing next), Project Zomboid

The netflix show about Barbie was The Toys That Made Us.

Emma’s book it out! Check out Racing Chaos! https://www.captaincassy.com/

Find us:
Website: https://utterlyunqualifiedgaming.com/
Email: utterlyunqualified@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/utterlyunqualifiedgaming/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uugamingpodcast
Facebook: http://facebook.com/utterlyunqualified

Musical credit: "Into the Game" by SilentCrafter/ "Pixel Pig" by Di Young

For our minisode this week we are doing our fantasy casting of KOTOR (Knights of the Old Republic). We decided to introduce mini-episodes between our regular reviews (which aren’t going anywhere, don’t worry). Thanks for listening!

Obviously, spoilers for KOTOR included in this episode.
Time Stamps:
00:14 Introduction
00:41 KOTOR Casting
34:50 What we’re playing next – God of War (2018)

From the show:

The Bastila/female Revan romance is a mod, otherwise it must be a male Revan.

Jenny Nicholson’s Dear Evan Hanson video that was mentioned by Emma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8quWUSZCW5g

Find us:
Website: https://utterlyunqualifiedgaming.com/
Email: utterlyunqualified@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/utterlyunqualifiedgaming/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uugamingpodcast
Facebook: http://facebook.com/utterlyunqualified 

This week the ladies are continuing their play through of the Resident Evil series, and talking about the 2020 remake of Resident Evil 3. This game picks up after the events of Resident Evil (One) in Racoon City, and you play as Jill Valentine. We discuss ongoing pursuit from killer monsters, reused art assets, tension issues, mop heads, classic bad guy monetary motives and lack of gothic creepiness.

Time Stamps:
00:14 Introductions
05:44 Main Topic – Resident Evil 3
16:27 Resident Evil 3 story discussion – Contains spoilers!
33:17 Resident Evil 3 final thoughts
40:20 What we’re playing next (God of War)
42:19 Ending Spiel (What we’re loving this week)

From the show:

Games featured in our Ending Spiel: God of War (What we’re playing next)

Nemesis chases Jill because he’s designed to go after STARS members (because that makes perfect sense…).

Spoilers – without revealing too much, the ending with the shoot out essentially only has one outcome. It sounds like the original had more potential endings. 

Here is a good summary of changes from the original (which we haven’t played, we only have experience with this remake): https://screenrant.com/resident-evil-3-remake-story-gameplay-changes-original/#:~:text=The%20Resident%20Evil%203%20Remake's%20Story%20Changes&text=With%20Barry's%20character%20missing%20from,shorter%20than%20the%20original%20game.

Emma’s book it out! Check out Racing Chaos! https://www.captaincassy.com/

Find us:
Website: https://utterlyunqualifiedgaming.com/
Email: utterlyunqualified@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/utterlyunqualifiedgaming/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uugamingpodcast
Facebook: http://facebook.com/utterlyunqualified

Musical credit: "Into the Game" by SilentCrafter/ "Pixel Pig" by Di Young

The week the ladies chat about Stray, a 2022 adventure game featuring a feline protagonist. This debut game from BlueTwelve Studio allows you to play as a kitty that is a exploring a future world free of humans, and full of (mostly) friendly robots. We discuss the post-cyberpunk world, mild mannered and crunchy robots, lofi beats, sewer eyeballs, cat mechanics and little bot buddies.

Time Stamps:
00:14 Introductions
10:39 Main Topic – Stray
24:12 Stray story discussion – Contains mild spoilers!
32:57 Stray final thoughts
34:40 What we’re playing next (Resident Evil 3)
36:52 Ending Spiel (What we’re loving this week)

From the show:

Games featured in our Ending Spiel: Resident Evil 3 (What we’re playing next), Cult of the Lamb, F1 Manager 2022

Emma’s book it out! Check out Racing Chaos! https://www.captaincassy.com/

The Wool Trilogy by Hugh Howey that Emma mentioned: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20745447-the-wool-trilogy

It appears that Stray is the first game that was developed by BlueTwelve Studio.

The Power Wash Simulator review by Skill Up that Rachel mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnitGF9gvkE&t=669s

Find us:
Website: https://utterlyunqualifiedgaming.com/
Email: utterlyunqualified@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/utterlyunqualifiedgaming/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uugamingpodcast
Facebook: http://facebook.com/utterlyunqualified

Musical credit: "Into the Game" by SilentCrafter/ "Pixel Pig" by Di Young

This week the ladies talk about Jade Empire, which is a 2005 game from Bioware. In this action-RPG you play as the last spirit monk, working to fight the corrupt forces around you. We discuss tiger claws, investing way too much time making up a fake language, catty girls, subpar romances, absent character customization, and not-so-subtle sexism.

Time Stamps:
00:13 Introductions
04:35 Main Topic – Jade Empire
28:43 Jade Empire story discussion – Contains spoilers!
01:04:10 Jade Empire final thoughts
01:05:28 What we’re playing next (Stray)
01:06:19 Ending Spiel (What we’re loving this week)

From the show:

Games featured in our Ending Spiel: Stray (what we’re playing next), The Quarry

News about the KOTOR remake getting delayed: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/star-wars-knights-of-the-old-republic-remake-delayed-indefinitely

Pre-order info for Emma’s book coming soon!

Find us:
Website: https://utterlyunqualifiedgaming.com/
Email: utterlyunqualified@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/utterlyunqualifiedgaming/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uugamingpodcast
Facebook: http://facebook.com/utterlyunqualified

Musical credit: "Into the Game" by SilentCrafter/ "Pixel Pig" by Di Young

This week the ladies talk about Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening, the 2010 DLC to Dragon Age: Origins from Bioware. In this game you can reprise your role as a grey warden protagonist picking up where Origins left off, or develop a new character, as you help to root out dark spawn and embark on a new adventure.  We discuss quick development cycles, diet Alistair, sexy dwarves, eloquent dark spawn, burning a city to the ground, boob monsters, dead old magisters and missing what feels like essential plot points.

Time Stamps:
00:13 Introductions
05:37 Main Topic – Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening
49:01 Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening final thoughts
51:38 What we’re playing next (Jade Empire)
54:20 Ending Spiel (What we’re loving this week)

From the show:

Games featured in our Ending Spiel: Jade Empire (what we’re playing next), Citizen Sleeper

The voice actor for Anders was Greg Ellis in Awakening, and Adam Howden in Dragon Age II.

The youtube channel that Emma mentioned: MertKayKay. Here is her Martha is Dead video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79z5YupIEok

Find us:
Website: https://utterlyunqualifiedgaming.com/
Email: utterlyunqualified@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/utterlyunqualifiedgaming/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uugamingpodcast
Facebook: http://facebook.com/utterlyunqualified

Musical credit: "Into the Game" by SilentCrafter/ "Pixel Pig" by Di Young

This week the ladies chat about Life is Strange: True Colors, which is a follow up game to Life is Strange, and is an entirely new story set in the same universe. This 2021 game is a story driven, walking simulator that follows Alex as she starts a new life in Haven Springs, Colorado. Alex has special empathic powers that allow her to experience what other characters are feeling and thinking. We discuss lots of childhood trauma, larping, epitome of bad vibes, romance options, how Free Tibet stores stay in business and digging up old memories.

Time Stamps:
00:13 Introductions
00:57 Main Topic – Life is Strange: True Colors
05:14 True Colors story discussion – contains spoilers!
01:20:55 Life is Strange: True Colors final thoughts
01:24:22 What we’re playing next (Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening)
01:27:53 Ending Spiel (What we’re loving this week)

From the show:

Games featured in our Ending Spiel: Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening (what we’re playing next),

Alex does have a moment of fear after talking to Pike if you *spoilers* take his emotions, but it’s short lived, and doesn’t seem to have a lot of consequence.

Life is Strange: Wavelengths is the DLC to True Colors and is basically a prequel focused on a Steph.

Find us:
Website: https://utterlyunqualifiedgaming.com/
Email: utterlyunqualified@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/utterlyunqualifiedgaming/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uugamingpodcast
Facebook: http://facebook.com/utterlyunqualified

Musical credit: "Into the Game" by SilentCrafter/ "Pixel Pig" by Di Young

This minisode is our take on casting for a Dragon Age Origins movie. We decided to introduce mini-episodes between our regular reviews (which aren’t going anywhere, don’t worry). Thanks for listening!

Time Stamps:
00:14 Introduction
05:38 Dragon Age Origins Casting
30:44 What we’re playing next – Life is Strange: True Colors

From the show:

Dragon Age: Redemption was the web series with Felicia Day. Here is the trailer and you can find the rest of the episodes if you poke around on the web:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtKz3Zav-ac

Find us:
Website: https://utterlyunqualifiedgaming.com/
Email: utterlyunqualified@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/utterlyunqualifiedgaming/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uugamingpodcast
Facebook: http://facebook.com/utterlyunqualified