Everything Old is Rebirthed Again

In this week's episode of Video Game Tango, Nick, Josh, and Andy dive into the hottest gaming topics, starting with Helldivers 2's massive updates. The guys are thrilled about the Illuminate invasion of Super Earth, bringing new enemy types, Earth-based combat scenarios, and weapon customization systems. Nick shares his plans to test the Steam Deck compatibility, while they all agree the game's evolving war narrative - where player actions directly impact the galactic conflict - makes it one of the most engaging shooters in years.

The conversation then turns to video game adaptations, with the guys analyzing Hollywood's sudden enthusiasm for gaming IPs. While excited about Netflix's Zelda and Bioshock projects, they're skeptical about potential Fortnite or Call of Duty movies. Josh makes a strong case for Horizon Zero Dawn as the perfect adaptation candidate, while Andy jokes that Grand Theft Auto would just be "expensive Sopranos fan fiction."

A surprise highlight comes with Monster Train 2's shadow drop. The guys praise how it improves upon the original's deck-building formula, with Andy calling it "the daddy of roguelike deckbuilders" after Slay the Spire. They note its perfect Steam Deck compatibility and metal-infused soundtrack as standout features.

The episode's centerpiece is Andy's passionate 40-minute breakdown of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Having just completed his 136-hour playthrough (finishing at 5:31 AM), he describes it as a monumental achievement that surpasses even his nostalgic love for the 1997 original. Key highlights include:

• Combat Evolution: The hybrid action/turn-based system reaches new heights, with materia combinations allowing for deep strategic play. Andy mentions how some hard mode bosses require complete materia loadout revisions.
• World Building: Areas like Junon and the Gold Saucer are fully realized beyond the original's limitations. The Gold Saucer alone offers dozens of mini-games, including Queen's Blood (a card game so good "I'd pay $10 for it separately") and a Star Fox-style shooter.
• Emotional Impact: The guys get emotional discussing how the expanded character arcs (particularly Barret's relationship with Dyne and Marlene) hit harder than the original. Andy admits crying multiple times, especially during the ending's 40-minute cutscene marathon.
• Technical Marvel: The guys gush over details like "a scientist licking his lips between sentences" - the kind of animation polish rarely seen in games. The seamless transitions between cinematic storytelling and gameplay set a new bar for RPGs.

Andy emphasizes how Rebirth fixes his initial skepticism about deviations from the original, ultimately creating something that honors the source while expanding it meaningfully. At $70, they agree it's a must-play for JRPG fans, though casual players might wait for a sale.