bucket list gamers

It's a triple header this time on the BLG Podcast as we limp ever closer to that 100th game on the list! We're looking three titles that really have no connection other than us not having much to say about them. They are Elite (21), Rez (84) and Advance Wars (93).

We also talk about the two biggest bombshells to drop in the gaming world over the past week (hint: one of them is Pokemon related, and the other one is FAR bigger...)

You may be curious why at one point in the podcast Eddie randomly starts laughing without any real context. Well, if you want to know the full story (and it's even more hilarious than it really deserves to be) we'll be putting the unedited, unfettered audio on our Patreon... so if that has piqued your interest head over there and sign up now!

Huge thanks to our sponsors for this episode; Woodland Health & Wellbeing!

Woodland aim to help people be the best version of themselves through one-on-one mentoring, meal planning, help with exercise plans and general advice and support.

They work with BODi, and offer various products from the Shakeology range and online workout videos - everything you need to keep both physically and mentally fit in an increasingly busy world.

What's more, they have even created a FREE gaming themed Wellness Journal and planner exclusively for our listeners!

Just reach out to Joanna on Facebook or Instagram to find out how they can help you, and grab your free planner. Just make sure to tell her that the Bucket List Gamers sent you!

• Harry Flynn
• RicFlair
• lee jones
• thesweatyllama

This episode we're letting our inner sadist out and looking at From Software's Dark Souls (54)!

Grab your buckler, fill up your Estus Flask and allow us to be your escort through the terrifying kingdom of Lordran, where all number of horrible abominations are just waiting to sap your health in a matter of seconds.

We also talk about other sadistic From Software titles, a few pretenders to the throne that fall into the Soulslike category, and where is the best (and absolute worst) place to start if you want to play these punishing titles.

Enjoy!

• Harry Flynn
• RicFlair
• lee jones
• thesweatyllama

It's our birthday and we'll talk about turn-based strategy games if we want to!

That's right, this episode Eddie and Jay take a look at two games from Sid Meier's Civilization series, namely Civilization 1 (62) and Civilization 4 (98).

Aside from the fact it should obviously be called Civilisation and not Civilization, will we find fault with the seminal turn based strategy franchise?

As promised, we also delve into PalWorld, discussing whether we think it will be the 'one' that finally topples the Pokemon empire (spoilers: it won't.)

Enjoy!

Huge thanks to our sponsors for this episode; Woodland Health & Wellbeing!

Woodland aim to help people be the best version of themselves through one-on-one mentoring, meal planning, help with exercise plans and general advice and support.

They work with BODi, and offer various products from the Shakeology range and online workout videos - everything you need to keep both physically and mentally fit in an increasingly busy world.

What's more, they have even created a FREE gaming themed Wellness Journal and planner exclusively for our listeners!

Just reach out to Joanna on Facebook or Instagram to find out how they can help you, and grab your free planner. Just make sure to tell her that the Bucket List Gamers sent you!

• Harry Flynn
• RicFlair
• lee jones
• thesweatyllama

It's a little later than expected, but here's Episode 5 of BLG DLC!

This time Jay is grilling Eddie on Easter Eggs and Cheat codes, and asking the question; Real or Hoax?

Plus we rant about 'the good old days' and make a poorly aged joke about non-Patreon listeners not getting to hear this until Christmas.

Oops!

Enjoy!!

**This was initially a Patreon Timed Exclusive, but now it's available here for your listening pleasure!**

If you want to hear DLC episodes as soon as they come out, head over to our Patreon and sign up now!

• Harry Flynn
• RicFlair
• lee jones
• thesweatyllama

Grab your favourite hydration drinks and join us as we discuss Metroid Prime (74), a Gamecube classic and complete reinvention of the archetypal Metroid style.

Samus faces new challenges as she visits Tallon IV to take on a band of phazon-mutated Space Pirates, in what happens to be one of Eddie's favourite games.

We also talk EVEN MORE about the Game On Exhibition at The Doncaster Dome, which we visited as a duo earlier in the month (head to the dlct website to find out more and book your tickets!) 

Enjoy!

• Harry Flynn
• RicFlair
• lee jones
• thesweatyllama

As we close in on almost a year of Bucket List Gamer goodness the list dwindles ever lower!

We had planned on being more upbeat this episode, but we're taking a look at Mega Man 2 (68) for the NES, so don't get your hopes up!

In addition we also talk about the value placed on games, big companies carving up games for profit, and a little more about the Game On Exhibition at The Doncaster Dome (head to the dlct website to find out more and book your tickets!) 

Now after listening it MAY seem like we've been a little hypocritical in the things we discussed when talking about Iron Lung, but hopefully our lovely intelligent listeners will understand the difference between an Indie developer putting the price of a game up by a couple of dollars, and multi-million pound companies churning out half-baked re-masters for £50.

Enjoy! 

• Harry Flynn
• RicFlair
• lee jones
• thesweatyllama

We've put it off for almost a year, but unfortunately we couldn't postpone it any longer... We're starting 2024 with a bang by looking at Shenmue (3) and Shenmue 2 (16)!

Considered one of the best games OF ALL TIME, it's fair to say that we don't quite share that sentiment. Why? Well you'll have to listen to find out!

For those of you that absolutely love these games, we're sorry... please don't hate us (or even worse, come after us!) we just don't get it.

In the episode we mentioned the 'Game On' event that is taking place in Doncaster until April! It's looking like a fantastic mix of hands-on gaming and gaming history, and we'll be heading over to check it out very soon!

If you'd like to find out more about the event, or even book tickets, you can check out https://www.dclt.co.uk/the-dome/activities/game-on/ for more info!

• Harry Flynn
• RicFlair
• lee jones
• thesweatyllama

Ho Ho Ho and a very Happy Holidays to all our listeners!

We hope you're currently sitting with your feet up, a nice beverage on the go, watching some festive telly and getting ready for Santa to call!

Our present to you is this... the 2023 Bucket List Gamers Awards!

Unfortunately our recording platforms present to us was to not use the correct microphone during our last session, therefore Jay sounds particularly terrible. We've tidied it up the best we can, but sorry for the very obvious dip in quality!

But other than that, thank you once again for all the support this year, if this is your first episode listening to us then welcome, and we hope you have a great holiday period and new year!

The Bucket List Gamers will return in 2024!

This weeks episode is sponsored by Mayfly Games 'The Family'!

A 2-4 player crime-themed elimination game with an educational twist! Whether you choose to play as The Yakuza, Mafia, East End Gangsters or The Mexican cartel, the aim is simple; be the last gang standing!

Check out more information at https://www.mayflygames.com/ and find out how to secure your copy!

• Harry Flynn
• RicFlair
• lee jones
• thesweatyllama

It's almost Christmas, but it's still business as usual here at Bucket List Gamers, and this episode we're looking at R-Type (41) from 1987.

Join us as we discuss the notoriously difficult, coin-gobbling, bullet hell space shooter and why it deserves to be so high on the Retro Gamers List!

We also discuss the morally bankrupt decision to release broken ports of 11+ year old games at a premium price, and Jay gives us an insight into his playthrough of The Walking Dead: Destinies... Spoiler... it isn't good!

Apologies for the slight audio crackle in some places!

This weeks episode is sponsored by Mayfly Games 'The Family'!

A 2-4 player crime-themed elimination game with an educational twist! Whether you choose to play as The Yakuza, Mafia, East End Gangsters or The Mexican cartel, the aim is simple; be the last gang standing!

Check out more information at https://www.mayflygames.com/ and find out how to secure your copy!

Enjoy! 

• Harry Flynn
• RicFlair
• lee jones
• thesweatyllama

This episode we are begrudgingly looking at SEGA's arcade classic Outrun (22) and Williams Electronics equally classic arcade game Defender (99). Not the most easily discussable games on the list, but we give it a good go anyway.

We also talk Hogwarts Legacy on the Switch, the latest offering from everyone's favourite publisher Game Mill, and there's even a bit of Bluey for the dads... erm, I mean kids...

This weeks episode is sponsored by Mayfly Games 'The Family'!

A 2-4 player crime-themed elimination game with an educational twist! Whether you choose to play as The Yakuza, Mafia, East End Gangsters or The Mexican cartel, the aim is simple; be the last gang standing!

Check out more information at https://www.mayflygames.com/ and find out how to secure your copy!

Enjoy!

• Harry Flynn
• RicFlair
• lee jones
• thesweatyllama

This week we're taking the train to Black Mesa to talk about Half Life 1 (39) and Half Life 2 (20), the first two instalments of Valve's wildly successful FPS.

Half Life may have changed the game when it came to first person shooters, but does it deserve the lofty praise it receives?

Join us as we find out, then talk about Five Nights at Freddys and the much anticipated GTA 6 trailer!

Enjoy!

*If you're wondering who everyone's second-favourite Freeman is, it's Martin, obviously.

• Harry Flynn
• RicFlair
• lee jones
• thesweatyllama

This week we take a trip down memory lane as Jay and Eddie take a look at Bubble Bobble (34) and Rainbow Islands (66), two arcade classics ported to home consoles in the 80's!

What's more, Jay fills in the second half of the show with talk of obscure Commodore 64 games from his childhood, including a plethora of British Kids TV themed titles, a trip back to school and the heroic adventures of an Egg wearing boxing gloves.

That's Dizzy by the way. Strangely enough it's never actually mentioned in the episode that he was an Egg wearing boxing gloves... but he was, so there!

Enjoy!

• Harry Flynn
• RicFlair
• lee jones
• thesweatyllama

Hello Bucket Listeners!

As you've probably figured out from the title, Eddie wasn't well last week and we were unable to record anything.

Fortunately we had an episode recorded that we planned on binning, as it was time-sensitive and it didn't get edited as quickly as we wanted it to be... so here it is!

In this one we DON'T talk about any of the games on the list, and instead discuss what is set to be released on the run up to Christmas (with many of them already being available to buy at this point.)

Normal service will be resumed next week, and Eddie has asked us to point out that he isn't as ill as the Episode Artwork belies, it was just a bad case of the flu and he's all better now!

Enjoy!

• Harry Flynn
• RicFlair
• lee jones
• thesweatyllama

It's Episode 4 of Bucket List Gamers DLC, and this time we're discussing N64 games completely at random! Why? Because we couldn't think of anything else to do.

Hopefully it's still quite entertaining though!

Please note, this was recorded a while ago when Jay was full of cold and likely hopped up on flu medication, so please excuse the weird voice.

Enjoy!

**This was initially a Patreon Timed Exclusive, but now it's available here for your listening pleasure!**

If you want to hear DLC episodes as soon as they come out, head over to our Patreon and sign up now!

• Harry Flynn
• RicFlair
• lee jones
• thesweatyllama

Muahahaha! It's the Bucket List Gamers Halloween Special!

Hello all our bucket kicking ghosts and ghouls, and welcome to our very special Halloween episode! Our obligatory Retro Gamer list pick for this one is Silent Hill 2 (79), but we're also talking about some of our other favourite horror games, and discussing what makes a horror game truly horrifying.

The Trick or Treaters will all be in bed now, so grab some of that leftover Halloween candy, dim the lights, snuggle up under your favourite blanket and hope The Boogeyman doesn't come for you as you listen to quite possibly the most terrifying podcast of the year (at least in terms of audio quality and nonsensical content!)

Enjoy!

**Advertisement**

Do you often find yourself nodding off just minutes into a gaming session? Need a little pick-me-up to keep you going? Or perhaps you're just hunting for that perfect blend of coffee!

Whatever the reason, you should check out Meeple Coffee! They have 5 different blends, all themed around gaming (primarily board gaming, but who doesn’t like gaming themed coffee, right?!)

Check them out by using our link below and it will even help support the channel if you make a purchase!

https://www.meeplecoffee.co.uk/?ref=BLBG

• Harry Flynn
• RicFlair
• lee jones
• thesweatyllama

This week we're getting Speedball 2 Brutal Deluxe (45) out of the way quickly so we can talk about more pressing matters!

For the first time in… well, probably forever two OG gaming legends released ‘classic’ game versions in the same week. But which is better... Sonic or Mario?

We discuss Sonic Superstars and Super Mario Brothers Wonder, and ponder over whether they are worth their £50-60 price tag, plus we talk about Spider-Man 2, re-releases of Pikmin and Metal Gear Solid, and Skull Island Rise of Kong.

It's a jam packed episode!

**Advertisement**

Do you often find yourself nodding off just minutes into a gaming session? Need a little pick-me-up to keep you going? Or perhaps you're just hunting for that perfect blend of coffee!

Whatever the reason, you should check out Meeple Coffee! They have 5 different blends, all themed around gaming (primarily board gaming, but who doesn’t like gaming themed coffee, right?!)

Check them out by using our link below and it will even help support the channel if you make a purchase!

https://www.meeplecoffee.co.uk/?ref=BLBG

• Harry Flynn
• RicFlair
• lee jones
• thesweatyllama

This episode we're jumping in our X-Wings and taking to the skies to look at Star Wars The Arcade Game (63) and Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic (52)!

Does an arcade game from 1986 score as poorly as its 80's counterparts Pacman and Tetris? Can you play Knights of the Old Republic on a Steam Deck? Is Eddie recording in the middle of an active war zone? 

All these questions, and more are answered! We also discuss what's going on with the Metal Gear Solid collection and it's ever-shifting price-point!

Enjoy!

• Harry Flynn
• RicFlair
• lee jones
• thesweatyllama

Sharpen your unfeasibly large swords and get the cement mixer going so you can style your hair, because we're looking at an unprecedented SIX games on this week's show! Secret of Mana (70), Chrono Trigger (33), Final Fantasy 6 (37), Final Fantasy 7 (7), Final Fantasy 9 (95) and Final Fantasy 10 (76) are all under the microscope in this bumper JRPG episode, packed full of teenage angst and fake laughter!

Travel through time, take on the empire, Race Chocobos, play underwater football, wake up a sleeping deity, pick pockets at a carnival and much more in these classic turn based strategy games!

Plus we briefly discuss the recent Van Gough x Pokemon debacle, which has left thousands of fans disappointed (and thousands of scalpers VERY rich.)

Enjoy!

• Harry Flynn
• RicFlair
• lee jones
• thesweatyllama

A week later than planned the Bucket List Gamers are back and looking at an absolute SNES classic; The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (6)!

Join us as we venture into the Dark World to investigate what makes Nintendo's 1991 smash hit such a success, discuss the one major mis-step in it's sequel A Link Between Worlds, and give our thoughts on FC 24 and Starfield (again!)

Plus Jay has a big surprise for Eddie that's sure to go down about as well as a Moblin in Hyrule Palace.

Enjoy!

• Harry Flynn
• RicFlair
• lee jones
• thesweatyllama

It's DLC time again! This episode we're joined by one of the HitGrab Inc team to talk about gaming on Facebook, and specifically Mousehunt, which has been going strong for a number of years now.

Jay played Mousehunt religiously so there's a decent amount of fanboying in this episode, as Eddie sits back in awe and lets it happen.

Huge thanks again to Giorgio for joining us and letting us in on some behind the scenes info, it was an absolute pleasure!

This was initially a Patreon Timed Exclusive, but now it's available here for your listening pleasure!

If you want to hear DLC episodes as soon as they come out, head over to our Patreon and sign up now!

A new BLG episode will be coming shortly!

• Harry Flynn
• RicFlair
• lee jones
• thesweatyllama