Key Takeaways
- Hosts Garnt and Joey traveled to Porto, Portugal for a wedding, experiencing local culture and cuisine.
- Portuguese meals offered unexpectedly large portions and were notably affordable compared to other European destinations.
- Hosts discussed evolving taste preferences, including a shift in one host's long-standing aversion to oysters.
- European coffee culture was critiqued for its small serving sizes, prompting comparison with US and UK drinking habits.
- Travel to the wedding involved significant mishaps, including accidental arrival at the wrong airport and extensive delays.
- "Final Fantasy Tactics" was highly praised for its mature narrative, challenging gameplay, and exceptional English voice acting.
- New indie horror games, like "I'm not a human," were highlighted for their unique visual styles and thematic depth.
- A discussion contrasted the innovation challenges of AAA games with the creative risks taken by indie developers.
- The podcast delved into the complexities of cultural translation in game localization, specifically accents and terminology.
Deep Dive
- The Francesinha sandwich, a meat-heavy dish topped with cheese and gravy, was noted for its richness and saltiness.
- Hosts struggled with large portion sizes, particularly when ordering Francesinha with sides, describing it as a potential health hazard.
- Meals in Portugal were considered affordable compared to other European locations, despite the unexpectedly large portions.
- One host expressed dislike for small European coffee serving sizes, finding they finish too quickly for a leisurely experience.
- A debate arose regarding the custom of ordering another drink immediately after finishing one in European cafes, compared to other regions.
- British coffee sizes were noted as being more similar to American ones, contrasting with other European coffee servings.
- One speaker developed a newfound appreciation for European bread after experiencing it in Porto, contrasting it with typical UK sliced white bread.
- In Porto, olive oil tasting and storytelling were as prevalent as wine tasting, with quality oil often consumed by dipping bread.
- Hosts noted the key distinction for olive oil was differentiating bad quality from good, rather than between high-end varieties.
- Portuguese wine was noted for its affordability, with prices as low as four euros per glass, contrasting with a nine-euro glass that led to an entire bottle.
- Sightseeing in Porto included visiting cathedrals, walking through narrow streets, and observing the iconic bridge.
- Hosts discussed a relaxed approach to sightseeing, prioritizing leisurely exploration and good food over major tourist attractions, noting manageable crowds on weekdays.
- Emily and Didas mistakenly flew to Lisbon Airport instead of Porto Airport, despite having booked an Airbnb in Porto, causing significant travel delays.
- Their misdirection occurred because they believed they were meeting in Porto, but repeatedly mentioned Lisbon in their communications.
- Other travel plans for the wedding were extended significantly, with one planned two-hour trip becoming 20 hours due to long train rides and missed flights from a fire alarm.
- Final Fantasy Tactics was described as potentially the best Final Fantasy title due to its mature, gritty, and politically relevant story, drawing parallels to Fire Emblem and the War of the Roses.
- The game features challenging combat, particularly on tactician mode, often requiring grinding and strategic builds over approximately 40 hours of gameplay.
- The English voice acting in the newer version was praised as exceptional and well-suited to the game's medieval-style dialogue, with the writing described as 'godlike'.
- The game 'I'm not a human' features a unique visual style reminiscent of 90s full-motion video, depicting an apocalyptic premise with deadly 'skin walkers'.
- Players must identify potential threats among 'visitors' using discriminatory signs and invasive tests, forcing them to question their actions within a corrupt system.
- The game's design intentionally uses the 'uncanny valley' effect, challenging player judgment and biases by making it difficult to distinguish safe from dangerous individuals based on appearance.
- It offers replayability with multiple endings and takes approximately five to six hours to complete, appealing to fans of analog and cosmic horror.
- Some hosts expressed dissatisfaction with AAA games like "Ghost of Tsushima," attributing it to a preference for PC gaming over consoles and a general disinterest in PlayStation.
- AAA game productions face challenges in innovation due to market pressures, often leading to experiences that feel unexciting even if technically proficient.
- "Breath of the Wild" was cited as a rare example of successful innovation in the AAA space, contrasting with games that don't push creative boundaries.
- Hosts debated the appropriate use of Japanese terms like 'yari' (spear) in English game scripts, questioning if they enhance the experience or add unnecessary foreign terms.
- The presence of characters speaking English with Japanese accents in games like 'Ghost of Tsushima' was discussed as potentially distracting in serious narratives.
- Comparisons were drawn to media like 'Kill Bill' for its jarring use of American accents and occasional Japanese phrases, contrasting with more authentic productions like 'Shogun' or 'Final Fantasy 16'.