In Episode 3 of the Almost Gamers Podcast, your hosts Matt Firek and Andrew Wilds dive back into gaming and talk about Minecraft, Assassin’s Creed, and licensed video games. Things get chaotic fast – from surviving the lava lakes of Minecraft’s Netherrealm with a 6-year-old, to raving about Assassin’s Creed Shadows, to reliving the long, bumpy road of licensed video games, this episode is a wild ride through nostalgia, next-gen graphics, and parenting in a pixelated world.
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⛏️ Minecraft Survival with a 6-Year-Old: Potions, Pumpkins, and Chaos
In this episode, Andrew details his account of the treacherous time his daughter joined him on a perilous journey through Minecraft’s Netherrealm in search of potion-making ingredients. Despite the fact that it’s ‘just a game’, Andrew’s stress-inducing saga offers proof that playing survival mode with a 6 year old comes with a cost.
Key Takeaways from Andrew’s Potion Quest:
- Potions in Minecraft? Way harder than you think.
- You must brave the lava-filled Nether, find rare mushrooms, and hope nothing kills you (or your child).
- Daddy-daughter gaming bonding = hacker-level parenting.
- The Church of Liana, built in-game by Andrew, is a rainbow-colored tribute to his daughter.
Listen to Episode 3 to hear more about Andrew’s Minecraft builds with his family.
⚔️ Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 First Impressions
In addition to Minecraft tales, Matt and Andrew reminisce about their limited Warhammer experience—mostly through Vermintide and a drunken session of Darktide—before raving about the look and feel of the Space Marine 2 demo.
“It’s like Gears of War meets medieval-in-space religious warfare. And we’re here for it.”
While some hardcore fans wanted more Helldivers-style gameplay, the hosts loved the visceral combat, cinematic scale, and easy-to-pick-up mechanics.
🥷 Assassin’s Creed Shadows Review: Is This the Best Looking Game Ever?
You won’t want to miss the part when Matt, a longtime AC fan, goes deep on Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the long-awaited entry set in feudal Japan. And let me tell you, he’s loving every moment of this gorgeous, historical parkour pursuit.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Highlights:
- Dual protagonists: Yasuke the samurai and Naoe the ninja
- Gorgeous ray-traced graphics and dynamic weather
- Refreshingly satisfying parry system
- Improved parkour and stealth gameplay
- Excellent soundtrack by The Flight (known from Horizon Zero Dawn)
“I’ve played 20 hours and I’m already giving it a 9/10.”
Bonus points for the awkward flute-playing NPC who seems to blow into his forehead. Maybe it’s historical accuracy? Maybe not.
🦸 Marvel Rivals and the Rise (and Fall) of Licensed Games
Matt also dives into Marvel Rivals, the Overwatch-style multiplayer shooter that’s surprisingly fun—even if it lacks gore and has no decapitations. It’s great for casual gaming with friends and doesn’t require spending a dime unless you want fancy skins.
Then the conversation shifts to the history of licensed games—those infamous titles based on movies, shows, and comics.
The Licensed Games We Remember (for Better or Worse):
- 🧞 Aladdin on Sega Genesis – Beautiful, hard, but fun
- 🦖 Jurassic Park on Sega CD – Puzzles + FMV dinosaurs
- 🦸 Superman 64 – Famously terrible, full of flying through rings
- 🎬 The Matrix tie-in game – Surprisingly solid, told a new story
- 🐺 Game of Thrones (Telltale) – One of the best narrative games ever made, and tragically incomplete
They also shout out Guardians of the Galaxy, which turned out to be a single-player gem with nonstop banter and great writing.
“Licensed games used to suck. Now they’re hit or miss—but the hits are big.”
🕹️ Hardware Highlight: Thrustmaster Racing Wheel Review
Matt spotlights his Thrustmaster T300RS, a belt-driven racing wheel with serious feedback. It’s a blast to use—when you can find a good game that supports it.
What They Want Back in Racing Games:
- More arcade racers (looking at you, Burnout)
- Less simulator-only support
- The return of Crash Mode chaos
- Racing wheels that make you feel like you’re actually driving
“We have the tech—now we need the fun.”
📰 Gaming News: Elon Musk vs. Assassin’s Creed, Oblivion Remake & Clueless Gamer Returns
🕵️♂️ Assassin’s Creed vs. Elon Musk?
The AC Twitter account claps back at Elon after he critiques the game and streamers who played it. The result? One of the best social media burns in gaming this year.
🧙 Oblivion Remake Rumors
The hosts speculate on the upcoming Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remake. Unreal Engine? Hybrid systems? Will it still have mudcrabs? Time will tell.
😂 Conan O’Brien Returns as Clueless Gamer
Conan is teaming up with Borderlands 4 for a new Clueless Gamer episode—all in support of autism charity. Nostalgia + laughs for a good cause? Yes, please.
🧠 Final Thoughts: Nostalgia, Friendship, and Just Enough Gin
Whether it’s dragon-riding disasters (Doom preview!), racing wheel nostalgia, or Minecraft potion quests with your kid, Episode 3 shows why the Almost Gamers Podcast hits that sweet spot between hilarious and heartfelt.
🎧 Catch the episode now wherever you listen to podcasts—and don’t forget to subscribe if you want to hear what happens to Andy’s turtle. (Seriously.)
Tune in now to Episode 3, where Matty Flames and The Andman discuss dragon-riding, the thrill of a good-looking vista, and hot dog buns. Like ya do.
