The Cane and Rinse videogame podcast

“Guess that one saw the light!” Following a protracted period in well-publicised ‘development hell’, Max Payne developer Remedy’s David Lynch/Stephen King/Rod Serling homage Alan Wake was eventually released on Xbox 360 in May 2010 and almost two years later on PC. Leon, Karl and a returning Jay Taylor review this “psychological thriller”, plus we have significant input from other members of the Cane and Rinse team including the much-missed Tony Atkins. Furthermore as usual we hear passionate arguments for and against the title from you, our beloved listeners, in the form of forum posts and Three Word Reviews. http://media.blubrry.com/caneandrinse/caneandrinse.com/podcast/cane_and_rinse_issue_sixty_four.mp3   Music used in this issue: 1: The Well-Lit Room by Petri Alanko 2: Up Jumped The Devil by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds Cane and Rinse 64 was edited by Jay Taylor Do you have an opinion about this particular game or maybe about our podcast in general? Then why not venture into our forum and leave us your feedback. Whilst there you could also interact with our ever-growing and friendly community, in discussing past, present and future videogames (and lots of other stuff too!) and perhaps even arrange some games with like-minded individuals. Sound good? Come and say hello at The Cane and Rinse forum

“Now you’ve really crossed the line.” The Resident Evil follow-up that metamorphosed into its own IP during development, Hideki Kamiya’s Devil May Cry arrived on the PlayStation 2 to largely rapturous acclaim in 2001. Two years after 2003’s much maligned Devil May Cry 2, director Hideaki Itsuno  bounced back with 2005’s prequel, Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening. Such was DMC3’s success that it warranted an enhanced follow-up a year later in the shape of the Special Edition. Leon, Darren Forman, Josh and the Cane and Rinse community speak about the DMC franchise past and present, as well as getting into the nitty gritty as regards to the intricacies of DMC3: Dante’s Awakening Special Edition, plus there’s also your Three Word Reviews of the game of course. http://media.blubrry.com/caneandrinse/caneandrinse.com/podcast/cane_and_rinse_issue_sixty_three.mp3   Music used in this issue: 1: Devils Never Cry by Tetsuya Shibata 2: Taste the Blood by Tetsuya Shibata Cane and Rinse 63 was edited by Darren Gargette Do you have an opinion about this particular game or maybe about our podcast in general? Then why not venture into our forum and leave us your feedback. Whilst there you could also interact with our ever-growing and friendly community, in discussing past, present and future videogames (and lots of other stuff too!) and perhaps even arrange some games with like-minded individuals. Sound good? Come and say hello at The Cane and Rinse forum Josh takes a look at the origin story of Dante in Devil May Cry 3 (PS2 version): If you like these Quick Rinse videos you can find many more (plus a few other bits and bobs) over on the Official Cane and Rinse YouTube channel.

“Heh… you like me that much?” A developer whose hallmark is technical wizardry, Yu Suzuki’s AM2 were responsible for eye-popping innovation throughout the 80s and 90s with arcade titles such as Space Harrier, OutRun and Virtua Fighter. Open-world RPG Shenmue would become his Symphony No. 8, his Sagrada Familia, as wild ambition and development costs swelled beyond sales that were realistically possible on SEGA’s under-performing Dreamcast. Leon, Darren Forman, James and special guest Dan Clark of The AI Bots podcast are your Yokosuka tour guides. http://media.blubrry.com/caneandrinse/caneandrinse.com/podcast/cane_and_rinse_issue_sixty_two.mp3   Music used in this issue: 1: Main Theme by Takenobu Mitsuyoshi / Yuzo Koshiro / Takeshi Yanagawa / Osamu Murata / Ryuji Iuchi 2: Sedge Tree by Takenobu Mitsuyoshi / Yuzo Koshiro / Takeshi Yanagawa / Osamu Murata / Ryuji Iuchi Cane and Rinse 62 was edited by Darren Gargette Do you have an opinion about this particular game or maybe about our podcast in general? Then why not venture into our forum and leave us your feedback. Whilst there you could also interact with our ever-growing and friendly community, in discussing past, present and future videogames (and lots of other stuff too!) and perhaps even arrange some games with like-minded individuals. Sound good? Come and say hello at The Cane and Rinse forum

During its relatively short existence, Clover Studio produced a triumvirate of significant and memorable titles; Viewtiful Joe, God Hand (each a candidate for a  future Issue of this podcast), and in between those two, their theological folk tale of the wolf deity Amaterasu and her ‘poncle’ - a diminutive humanoid artist familiar named Issun, cleansing Nippon of demons with an array of celestial paintings and powers: Okami. Leon, James, Josh and special guest Sean Bell of Midnight Resistance are your panel this Issue. There's plenty of forum feedback and Twitter Three Word Reviews as well. Track 1: True Strength by Hiroshi Yamaguchi Track 2: Reset (Thank You) by Hiroshi Yamaguchi Track 3: Agata Forestby Masami Ueda Track 4: Ryoshima Plainsby Hiroshi Yamaguchi Cane and Rinse 61 was edited by Sean O'Brien

“Prepare for unforseen consequences.” In the last of our Half-Life series of podcasts, we review both Half-Life 2: Episode One and Episode Two. Beyond this Leon, Darren Gargette, James and Josh speculate upon what may be yet to come for the Half-Life franchise, as well as expressing our hopes and fears for same. As usual we also hear from our listeners and forumites as well as enjoying some music from the featured games. http://media.blubrry.com/caneandrinse/caneandrinse.com/podcast/cane_and_rinse_issue_sixty.mp3   Music used in this issue: 1: Eine Kleiner Elevatormuzik by Kelly Bailey 2: Guard Down by Kelly Bailey 3: End Theme by Kelly Bailey Cane and Rinse 60 was edited by Darren Gargette Do you have an opinion about this particular game or maybe about our podcast in general? Then why not venture into our forum and leave us your feedback. Whilst there you could also interact with our ever-growing and friendly community, in discussing past, present and future videogames (and lots of other stuff too!) and perhaps even arrange some games with like-minded individuals. Sound good? Come and say hello at The Cane and Rinse forum In this Half-Life 2: Episode One Quick Rinse Alyx and Gargette Freeman enter City 17 once again: Half-Life 2: Episode 2 Quick Rinse – Beware the Combine Hunter (not Josh):

I've got Speedy on my tail, and I know it's either him or me. So I'm heading out the back door and in the other side; Gonna eat the cherries up and take them all for a ride. Leon, Josh, Karl and Joystiq's Sinan Kubba successfully avoid all reference to Marcus Brigstocke's infamous Pac-Man gag as they trawl through the lengthy and patchy history of the most successful coin-op of all time, arriving at and dissecting 2010's Pac-Man Championship Edition DX Music used in this issue: Track 1: Entrance Track 2: DX Title Screen The sound designer for the original Pac-Man was Toshio Kai and obviously a lot of his iconic effects and tunes run through the series. Credited musicians for Championship Edition are Junko Ozawa and for Championship Edition DX Akitaka Tohyama, Hiroshi Okubo, Hiroyuki Kawada, Taku Inouea. Unfortunately we are unable to ascertain which composers contributed which tracks. Cane and Rinse 59 was edited by Sean O'Brien

“Am I the only one who understands the meaning of the word “covert?”” Thick-necked, wise-cracking future soldiers shooting the crap out of robots with big guns. In the minds of gamers, SEGA Yakuza Studio’s Binary Domain is what all videogames are like according to non-gamers. Leon, Darren Forman and Sean earn one another’s trust as they battle through Toshihiro Nagoshi‘s cybernetic hordes, questioning why the game was so badly undersold by its publisher and under-bought by the general public. We also find out what a few of the punters who gave the game a shot did and didn’t like via their forum posts and Three Word Reviews. http://media.blubrry.com/caneandrinse/caneandrinse.com/podcast/cane_and_rinse_issue_fifty_eight.mp3   Music used in this show is as follows: 1: Rachael’s Rescue by Mitsuharu Fukuyama 2: Robot Spider Combat by Mitsuharu Fukuyama Cane and Rinse 58 was edited by Darren Gargette Do you have an opinion about this particular game or maybe about our podcast in general? Then why not venture into our forum and leave us your feedback. Whilst there you could also interact with our ever-growing and friendly community, in discussing past, present and future videogames (and lots of other stuff too!) and perhaps even arrange some games with like-minded individuals. Sound good? Come and say hello at The Cane and Rinse forum

Doukutsu Monogatari The late 1990s: Inspired by a host of classic Japanese titles, printer operating systems programmer, Daisuke Amaya, has a dorm-mate teach him how to code video games. The result – five years later – is Doukutsu Monogatari (a.k.a. Cave Story), a freeware arcade adventure in the 8-bit style featuring an idiosyncratic plot and a distinctive cast. A game that is still enjoying success eight years on. Leon, Darren Gargette and Josh recount their experiences with the game and consider what it is about Cave Story that creates such passion and loyalty within its fan-base. As usual you can also hear some music from the game and we read out your Three Word Reviews. http://media.blubrry.com/caneandrinse/caneandrinse.com/podcast/cane_and_rinse_issue_fifty_seven.mp3   Music used in this show is as follows: 1: Cave Story Theme by Daisuke ‘Pixel’ Amaya 2: Geothermal by Daisuke ‘Pixel’ Amaya 3: Gestation by Daisuke ‘Pixel’ Amaya Cane and Rinse 57 was edited by Sean O’Brien Do you have an opinion about this particular game or maybe about our podcast in general? Then why not venture into our forum and leave us your feedback. Whilst there you could also interact with our ever-growing and friendly community, in discussing past, present and future videogames (and lots of other stuff too!) and perhaps even arrange some games with like-minded individuals. Sound good? Come and say hello at The Cane and Rinse forum Darren takes us through the opening section of Daisuke “Pixel” Amaya’s Cave Story: If you like these Quick Rinse videos you can find many more (plus a few other bits and bobs) over on the Official Cane and Rinse YouTube channel.

“Rise and shine, Mr. Freeman. Rise and shine.” Some twenty years after defeating the Nihilanth on Xen, Dr. Gordon Freeman is brought out of stasis by the mysterious G-Man to defend humanity (and the Vortigaunt) against the alien forces who have enslaved the Earth in Half-Life 2. Leon, Josh and Karl combine to couple with Valve’s multiple Game of the Year 2004 award winner with all the tenacity of a still-beaked Headcrab. Naturally we also enjoy contributions from the forum and Twitter including your Three Word Reviews. This Issue of Cane and Rinse is dedicated to Isabella and Lux Atkins: 2 Whole-Lives. http://media.blubrry.com/caneandrinse/caneandrinse.com/podcast/cane_and_rinse_issue_fifty_six.mp3   Music used in this issue: 1: Requiem for Ravenholm by Kelly Bailey 2: Path of Borealis by Kelly Bailey Cane and Rinse 56 was edited by Darren Gargette Do you have an opinion about this particular game or maybe about our podcast in general? Then why not venture into our forum and leave us your feedback. Whilst there you could also interact with our ever-growing and friendly community, in discussing past, present and future videogames (and lots of other stuff too!) and perhaps even arrange some games with like-minded individuals. Sound good? Come and say hello at The Cane and Rinse forum Here Darren G visits the Eastern European branch of Black Mesa in Half-Life 2: Alyx and Gargette Freeman enter City 17 once again: Come check this video out to see if these Half-Life 2 Episodes are worth playing: If you like these Quick Rinse videos you can find many more (plus a few other bits and bobs) over on the Official Cane and Rinse YouTube channel.

They will vie for the minds of a populace helpless to escape their grasp. The dystopia imagined by Starbreeze earlier this year in Syndicate bears more than a passing resemblance to that imagined by Peter Molyneux's Bullfrog in 1993. In the more modern dystopia, however, isometric view has been supplanted by a first-person perspective and tactical strategy has been switched out in favour of shooter mechanics with RPG elements and a co-op upgrade. A four-man squad of Tony, Darren, James and Karl get suited and booted to take on the Syndicates on their own turf. Leave no man, or chip upgrade, behind. Music used in this show is as follows: 1: Syndicate by Skrillex 2: Digitalism by Digitalism Cane and Rinse 55 was edited by Sean O'Brien

“Hurry! Before Mizrabel uses her powers of illusion to make herself look like Minnie, and make Minnie look evil like her.” Leon, Tony, Darren Gargette and special guest/Mega Drive (Genesis) guru Dan Clark of the AI Bots podcast return to the 16-bit era for a retrospective on these three SEGA AM7 productions for Disney featuring Mickey & Donald. We delve deep into the murky world of their development and also take a look at some of the other Disney platformers of the era. Naturally the icing on the cake is your correspondence and Three Word Reviews. ALAKAZAM! http://media.blubrry.com/caneandrinse/caneandrinse.com/podcast/cane_and_rinse_issue_fifty_four.mp3   Music used in this issue: 1: Forest Door by Tokuhiko “Bo” Uwabo/Shigenori Kamiya 2: Duckburg by Tokuhiko “Bo” Uwabo/Shigenori Kamiya Cane and Rinse 54 was edited by Darren Gargette Do you have an opinion about this particular game or maybe about our podcast in general? Then why not venture into our forum and leave us your feedback. Whilst there you could also interact with our ever-growing and friendly community, in discussing past, present and future videogames (and lots of other stuff too!) and perhaps even arrange some games with like-minded individuals. Sound good? Come and say hello at The Cane and Rinse forum

“Stop praying. This is pathetic.” Asura’s Wrath doesn’t so much defy description as demand a lengthy one: The game, produced by CyberConnect2 (best known for the .hack and Naruto series’ as well as Solatorobo on the DS and Silent Bomber on the original PlayStation), is a pseudo-episodic Hindu/Buddhist cosmology and anime inspired revenge romp comprising of arena brawler, on-rails shooter and extended QTE sections! Leon, Tony, Darren Forman and James Carter max out their synchronic rate and burst furiously into action. http://media.blubrry.com/caneandrinse/caneandrinse.com/podcast/cane_and_rinse_issue_fifty_three.mp3   Music used in this issue: 1: In Your Belief (Prologue)by Chikayo Fukuda (vocal by Tomoyo Mitani) 2: Retaliation by Chikayo Fukuda 3: Solemn by Chikayo Fukuda Cane and Rinse 53 was edited by Sean O’Brien Do you have an opinion about this particular game or maybe about our podcast in general? Then why not venture into our forum and leave us your feedback. Whilst there you could also interact with our ever-growing and friendly community, in discussing past, present and future videogames (and lots of other stuff too!) and perhaps even arrange some games with like-minded individuals. Sound good? Come and say hello at The Cane and Rinse forum

“Fascinating! I never suspected such things could be.” In 1996 Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington founded Valve Corporation. Employing a team plucked from the cream of the Quake mod scene, they began work on a horror fps (inspired by Stephen King’s novel, The Mist) known as Quiver, along with a darker, more cerebral title (inspired by Cyan Worlds’ game, Myst), Prospero. Some way into development the two teams merged, taking what they had learned from their respective projects and built a single game from scratch. That game would be the epochal, echelon-defining Half-Life. Leon, Tony, Darren Gargette and Karl consider the importance of the game as well as its standing now. Alongside the main game we also talk of the various expansions and mods up to and including the recently released Black Mesa Source. As ever we also feature correspondence from the forum and your Three Word Reviews. http://media.blubrry.com/caneandrinse/caneandrinse.com/podcast/cane_and_rinse_issue_fifty_two.mp3   Music used in this issue: 1: Vague Voices by Kelly Bailey 2: Drums and Riffs by Kelly Bailey Cane and Rinse 52 was edited by Darren Gargette Do you have an opinion about this particular game or maybe about our podcast in general? Then why not venture into our forum and leave us your feedback. Whilst there you could also interact with our ever-growing and friendly community, in discussing past, present and future videogames (and lots of other stuff too!) and perhaps even arrange some games with like-minded individuals. Sound good? Come and say hello at The Cane and Rinse forum Here’s Darren G’s Quick Rinse of the original Half-Life (from the end of the train ride to the climax of the Resonance Cascade: Darren picks up from just moments before where he left off in the original Half-Life, but now in a Black Mesa rendered in Valve’s own Source engine: This time Darren Gargette dons his combat webbing and rolls out to silence the Black Mesa employees and take down The Freeman: Darren completes his tour of duty in the Black Mesa of the original Half-Life by stepping into the steel toe-capped boots of security guard Barney Calhoun: After a looooong lay-off, Darren Gargette continues on from his Half-Life Source Quick Rinse by playing the labour-of-love fan remake, Black Mesa Source:

It’s still alive, and cannot apologise: Mirror’s Edge We mantle into Volume Two by reflecting on the strange time of 2008, when Electronic Arts were championing new ideas, first-person shooters didn’t need guns and freerunning was relatively new to videogames. How was erstwhile Battlefield developer Digital Illusions Creative Entertainment‘s experiment received? Should they have dropped guns altogether? Will they be allowed to flex the ‘C’ in their name again in a sequel? Thoughts on these questions and more as Tony, Karl, Sean, Darren Gargette and James tiptoe carefully along the Mirror’s Edge. http://media.blubrry.com/caneandrinse/caneandrinse.com/podcast/cane_and_rinse_issue_fifty_one.mp3   Music used in this issue: 1: Still Alive by Lisa Miskovsky 2: The Shard – Puzzle by Magnus Birgerrson 3: The Boat – Chase by Magnus Birgerrson 4: Still Alive E3 Demo by Lisa Miskovsky Cane and Rinse 51 was edited by Sean O’Brien Do you have an opinion about this particular game or maybe about our podcast in general? Then why not venture into our forum and leave us your feedback. Whilst there you could also interact with our ever-growing and friendly community, in discussing past, present and future videogames (and lots of other stuff too!) and perhaps even arrange some games with like-minded individuals. Sound good? Come and say hello at The Cane and Rinse forum

In this five-man mega-panel final Issue of Volume One Leon Cox, James Carter, Darren Forman, Darren Gargette and special guest James Batchelor of industry journal MCV and Cane & Rinse friends GameBurst all teleport back down to Pandora (just off Prometheus - no, not that one) in time to try to uncover why Borderlands is so amazing/terrible before the sequel hits (which, handily, industry insider James B has already started playing at the time of recording). There's also an exceptional amount of fascinating listener interaction via the forum and Twitter as we bring Volume One to a close. Music used in this show is as follows: Track 1: Assaulting Krom's Canyon by Raison Varner Track 2: Burning Rubber and Shooting Bullets by Sascha Dikiciyan and Cris Velasco Cane and Rinse 50 was edited by Darren Gargette.