Reposted by Stephen Gillespiemurph0ween @murph04.bsky.social · 22/06/2026Daysgonedreamcast featuring @stephenage.bsky.socialopen.spotify.comDays GoneDaydreamcast · Episode 012
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 13/06/2026Every time I watch The Gruffalo’s Child with my son, I am struck by how similar it is to The Last of Us Part II. And how it does that in 25 minutes… just saying. 021
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 06/06/2026Taking Code out of the name of the Code: Veronica remake is going to make that puzzle at the end where you have to put in a code (and it’s Veronica) very hard. 120
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 15/05/2026Mixtape is a game that lacks specificity and fails to elevate its tropes through interactivity. Read all about it here…open.substack.comMixtape: An Empty CompilationLater on in Mixtape you head to a dinosaur amusement park. 010
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 10/04/2026I wrote about the enticing, inherent violence of Marathon (2026). Why the game makes you kill and why that’s so fun.open.substack.comI Am a Gun: Life as Gleefully Brutish and Short in Marathon (2026)In Marathon (2026), you play as a gun. 000
Reposted by Stephen GillespieQuick Save @quicksavepodcast.bsky.social · 29/01/2026New Episode Claxon 🚨🚨🚨 Did Joe forget to post the episode from last week? No! Of course not! Unrelated, but tune in below to hear @joerichardswrites.bsky.social and @stephenage.bsky.social's shared thoughts on Metroid Prime:4 Beyond, and beyond. open.spotify.com/episode/7E9S...open.spotify.comEpisode 12: Metroidvania-mania 011
Reposted by Stephen GillespieQuick Save @quicksavepodcast.bsky.social · 02/01/2026We really should have had an account set up sooner, but no time like the present, and at the start of the new year! Welcome to Quick Save, where @joerichardswrites.bsky.social and @stephenage.bsky.social talk games, sometimes. Every two weeks, or so, to be precise. Thank you for being here! 152
Reposted by Stephen Gillespieaustin_walker @austinwalker.bsky.social · 05/12/20252. ian, you old dog, you old troll, you still got it. 62438
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 05/12/2025Maybe my most recent post shouldn’t have been about Salo… what will my new found audience think?? With all sincerity, though, so glad you reached out and that I was able to help and already excellent piece. 010
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 04/12/2025Forget gaming’s Citizen Kane, with HORSES we finally have the medium’s Salo. 010
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 29/10/2025The survival horror of Silent Hill: Homecoming is surviving the horrors of this busted PC port. It’s unstable, you have to guess what buttons to press (it gives a prompt for a button but doesn’t tell you which one) and the controller option in the game is entirely fictive. 040
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 27/10/2025Well, this Derry Girls spin off is certainly different. 000
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 17/10/2025backloggd.com/u/stephenage...backloggd.comstephenage's review of Silent Hill 3 | BackloggdAfter two standalone titles, Silent Hill 3 is the first direct sequel. This game follows up the events of Silent Hill 1, though effectively stands alone for new players with its own internal stakes an... 010
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 17/10/2025backloggd.com/u/stephenage...backloggd.comstephenage's review of Silent Hill 2 | BackloggdA masterclass in mood. The astounding promise of the first game is refined into something even more special, aided by a more focused narrative that works much better on a character level. It is an int... 100
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 17/10/2025backloggd.com/u/stephenage...backloggd.comstephenage's review of Silent Hill | BackloggdStill feels utterly unique. For all the talk about how much the game is aged, the central feel is actually fantastic. Sure, the game will occasionally demand a touch more precision than is comfortable... 100
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 17/10/2025Finally getting round to the Silent Hill games… these are GOOD. 110
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 05/09/2025A delight to discuss Fuller with tremendous company! 173
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 05/09/2025Silksong asks the question of ‘do you like down attacking onto small buds but you’ll also down attack at an angle?’ To which I answer, no, not really. 030
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 12/08/2025When they do a definitive edition of The Old Country, they should just take out all the knife fights. This cutting content should be cut content. 010
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 09/08/2025Few but you and I realise that Thunderbolts* sucks. 000
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 09/08/2025You have to leave yourself exposed for a moment so it’s more about balancing that time out of cover than quickly popping up and smoking fools. It’s a very methodical rhythm. 010
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 09/08/2025Early in The Old Country but really like the gunplay. You expect quick stop-and-pop cover shooting but guns take a moment to aim and steady. It’s more about lining up a shot in the right window to hit before your foe lines up theirs. Gives a really methodical pace to combat that fits cover shooting. 110
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 08/08/2025Yes three is repetitive but it’s very systematically interesting and thematically focused. The narrative exists around the action but also stems from it. It’s a reactive game with bold — if partially unrealised — possibilities. But it damn goes for it in so many regards. 010
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 08/08/2025Three makes the cardinal sin of tuning a franchise that was linear narrative games in open worlds (as a backdrop) into an open world game that has a linear narrative. That narrative is great though and the systems really aid it. 110
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 08/08/2025The game devolves into a lot of random minority on minority violence, and isn’t as good as telling the ‘in the mob’ story as it is the getting into the mob tale. Though, this latter mentioned part is superlative. 110
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 08/08/2025The open world is a backdrop for the story it wants to tell and is integral to the feel. It’s level design on a gran scale, a skybox of sorts where the liminal space between interactions becomes a key character. Crossing that bridge into the city is always a great moment. 110
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 08/08/2025Having played through Mafia 1-3 this week, it’s such a fascinating series. The first is an of its time proof of concept, with good storytelling and fun set pieces — great atmosphere. The second elevates all of this. … 120
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 26/07/2025I’m living parasitically off of your success and credibility. 010
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 26/07/2025Video game podcast time! The best takes on Death Stranding 2, Atomfall, THPS 3 + 4 and moooooore!! As always, with @joerichardswrites.bsky.social open.spotify.com/episode/5Lg6...open.spotify.comEpisode 4: Stephen is a Sicko, Joe is NotQuick Save · Episode 030
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 15/07/2025I’m behind on sharing stuff as I’ve been too busy. But.. here’s a video games podcast with Deltarune, Doom the Dark Ages and Mario Kart World… oh and to a T. The highlight though is a story of why I uninstalled Civilization 7. With @joerichardswrites.bsky.social open.spotify.com/episode/1p8S...open.spotify.comEpisode 3: The One Where We Talk Deltarune (and Switch 2)Quick Save · Episode 030
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 05/07/2025Deciding to take on a military base yesterday by just teasing out foes and being methodical was just so satisfying. The odds far against you but if you have the same amount of bullets as there are enemies… you know you could win. 010
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 05/07/2025There are few experiences in games that appeal more to me than gun fights where you are supposed to scrape by. Where a well placed shot will dispatch your foe, but a well placed shot on you is going to similarly be a problem. Few foes where they all matter, where a bullet missed is a failure. 110
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 05/07/2025Finally getting round to Atomfall. Certainly the most Stephen game of the year. The hilarious amalgamation of British stereotypes that’s charmingly specific certainly appeals. However, this is S.T.A.L.K.E.R meets the open ended, emergent structure of Fallout 1 and 2. Precision tooled to my interests 110
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 03/07/2025Thoughts on the, very sadly, deeply disappointing to a T stepprinted.com/to-a-t-serie...stepprinted.comto a T (Series X): An Admirable Failure from the Katamari CreatorOver the last couple of decades, game director Keita Takahashi has become one of the most interesting creatives in the medium. He's most famous for the superlative Katamari Damacy, though also cult de... 011
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 29/06/2025I keep saying this. The last one literally came out the day my son was born. 110
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 25/06/202528 Years Later reminds us Garland is a better writer than he is a director… But still not a great writer. 010
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 16/06/2025Yes, you get some very raw and personal conversations inspired by The Rehearsal; yes, you get an in depth discussion of Wes Anderson’s distinct language of film… But we know you’re really here for the… CHICKEN JOCKEY. A Minecraft Movie, covered here. Next ep, Hurry Up Tomorrow. We treat you. 020
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 15/06/2025Well that’s all of Deltarune for now. The objective kindness vibe still slightly grates on me but it’s still a completely masterful game. 000
Stephen Gillespie @stephenage.bsky.social · 14/06/2025Playing through Deltarune. Those first two chapters are good to great but feel very much in line with what you expect. Finished chapter 3 yesterday and just adored it. Manically creative and full of swings; great blend of ideas and interactivity. So excited for what 4 brings. 020