Respec: Video Game Ramblings
Respec.net 17 episodes Nov 6, 2026
Respec: Video Game Ramblings is the official podcast of Respec, a website covering video games and related interests. The show features video game reviews, previews, news, and industry analysis from experienced critics and journalists. Episodes also include off-topic conversations, personal ramblings, and general hang-out banter. It is aimed at listeners who want both informed gaming discussion and casual, meandering commentary.
Episodes
The Elder Scrolls 6, God of War's Delay, Zelda chat, and Xbox's LinkedIn War | Respec Ramblings
What calm before the storm? It's been a busy week for video game news and we’ve had the release of one of the most anticipated games of this generation. There’s news on the next Pokopia DLC, we discuss what’s going on at Arkane and Xbox, the next Elder Scrolls now officially has a name, and Alex and James have been playing The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake. Plus Alex has been collecting
Has the classic been preserved? The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, reviewed | Bonus Ramblings
Alex is back flying solo for an all-audio review of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time's hotly anticipated remake - Nintendo's big game for Christmas, the new Zelda release for next year's movie, and arguably one of the most important remakes the company will ever make. But is it any good? Alex is here to analyse, consider, and deliver his verdict after a 100% playthrough.Read the written verdic
The mid generation, the price crisis, and do we even need a PS6 any time soon? | Respec Ramblings
It's half term here in the UK, which means Alex and Tom are both taking Guile's advice and attempting to be dedicated family men. That means this week's episode is a pre-record, but it's a strong topic: just how badly do we need a $1000+ PlayStation 6, when you look at what the PS5 and Xbox Series generation has delivered us so far?Useful Timestamps:2:29 - Do we need a PS6? Tom's thesis on the nex
EA kills BioWare, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age, GTA3 turns 25, and is Nikki in Fortnite wrong? | Respec Ramblings
It's another week of depressing video game news - can we have a week off yet? Alex, Tom, Rebecca, and James gather to discuss the brutal cuts at EA that involves the end of a legendary studio, plus some lighter chat about the future of The Sims, Obsession's Nikki in Fortnite, and Cyberpunk's endless updates. Useful Timestamps:2:30 - The new EA & explaining a Leveraged Buyout4:10 - BioWare to c
Is the Street Fighter movie bad, good-bad, or just plain good? Alex has thoughts | Bonus Ramblings
Alex has seen the Street Fighter movie, and so he's hopped straight on the podcast feed for a bonus episode solely about his thoughts on this latest cinematic... masterpiece? Messterpiece? Or is the truth a little more complicated? This bonus ramble will help you to puzzle it out.We want to hear from you! Send us a voice note and you may even hear yourself on the next episode!
GTA's Awards eligibility, vibe coded nonsense, and is Skylanders the pinnacle of 'Toys to Life'? | Respec Ramblings
The boys are back in town, with Tom, Alex, and Mikhail back again to discuss this week's events in the world of video games - with a heavy focus on various AI-related nonsenses going on, from games getting pulled to storefronts barely working.Useful Timestamps:00:00 - Intro & Alex's eBay Adventures6:10 - GTA6, The Game Awards, and awards season in general14:30 - Epic's new AI-powered store lau
Dragon’s Dogma 2 Dark Arisen, Hellraiser: Revival, a Cyberpunk movie, & is PlayStation VR finished?
It's been a busy week for big new games, so Alex, James, and Mikhail talk about Dragon’s Dogma 2 Dark Arisen, Tom is so-so about Hellraiser: Revival, and the team discuss the recently announced Cyberpunk 2077 movie and the newly announced GTA 6 radio stations.Useful Timestamps:01:40 - Dragon’s Dogma 2 Dark Arisen.26:50 - Hellraiser: Revival.37:00 - Cyberpunk 2077 movie44:10 - GTA 6 radio stations5
Reviewing Gears of War: E-Day, Star Wars: Galactic Racer, and The Witcher 3 Remastered | Respec Ramblings
We're back with more gaming rambling. Alex is joined by Tom Orry, Mikhail Madnani, and James Galizio.It's been a busy week for big new games, so Tom talks about Gears of War: E-Day and Star Wars: Galactic Racer, Mikhail has been playing The Witcher 3 Remastered, and we have the usual round-up of big gaming anniversaries and what else has been published on Respec.net.Useful Timestamps:2:15 - Gears
Tokyo Game Show, Fire Emblem, Control Resonant, and appreciating the N64's tiny launch lineup | Respec Ramblings
We're back with more gaming rambling - with Alex talking about adventures in Japan after returning from Tokyo Game Show, joined by Tom Orry, Mikhail Madnani, and Dave Breens. Beyond the TGS chatter, the group also discuss review impressions of Fire Emblem: Fortunes Weave and Control Resonant, Xbox's continued devastating restructure, indie shump Birdcage, and appreciate the effectiveness of the tr
Analysing Xbox's latest 'Reset' move with Christopher Dring | Bonus Ramblings
In this bonus episode of Respec Ramblings, Alex sits down with Christopher Dring of The Game Business to talk about the latest major movements at Xbox. What will the fate of Rare be? Is Activision the right home for Halo? What's the end game for Game Pass? All this and more, discussed.We want to hear from you! Send us a voice note and you may even hear yourself on the next episode!
Wolverine is just OK, Love and Deepspace community IRL, and Diablo 4 hits Switch 2 | Respec Ramblings
This week, Tom hosts once again, and is joined by Mikhail Madnani and Rebecca Jones as Alex is in Japan for the Tokyo Game Show. This week the team discusses Wolverine on PS5 just being OK, Love and Deepspace's community in real life, and some new Switch 2 games, including Diablo 4.Useful timestamps:1:06 - Wolverine review chat16:06 - Xbox TGS showcase24:34 - Love and Deepspace - how is the commu
Kojima switches to Xbox, a whole lot of Zelda, and something brings a tear to Tom's eye | Respec Ramblings
This week, Alex and Tom are joined by Mikhail Madnani and Dave Breens for discussion of what has been a pretty momentous week in game news. The gang discuss The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time's remake, all the news from the Nintendo Direct, Kojima's surprising side switch, and overflow from Gamescom.Useful timestamps:1:44 - Nintendo direct discussion begins - Zelda concerts, merch, movie8:30 - O
Sony's disappointing State of Play, more Gamescom games, Onimusha, Dawnwalker, and Orbitals | Respec Ramblings
This week, Tom Orry (Alex is recovering from Gamescom) is joined by regular contributors James, Rebecca, and Kirk to talk about:Sony's State of PlayGamescom from Rebecca's point of viewOnimusha, The Blood of Dawnwalker, and OrbitalsVideo game anniversaries in Retroretrospectives Remember, Patreon subscribers also get The Lock In, an exclusive after-hours casual hangout podcast, every week. Over th
GTA 6 gets its Netflix reveal, Gamescom has games, and how is Elden Ring on Switch 2? | Respec Ramblings
This week, Tom Orry (Alex is at Gamescom) is joined by regular contributors Mikhail, James, and Breens for a chat about:GTA's big revealIf Gamescom had any good games announcementsElden Ring on Switch 2The oddness of Metal Gear Solid 4Remember, Patreon subscribers also get The Lock In, an exclusive after-hours casual hangout podcast, every week. Over there this week, we chat about Tom's latest hol
GTA 6 leaks, Retro Retail, Gamescom preview, and the sorry fate of Deus Ex | Respec Ramblings
In this week's Respec Ramblings podcast, Alex Donaldson is joined by Dave Breens and Mikhail Madnani for some technically-challenged discussions, as Alex hosts while in the middle of an internet signal-destroying storm. Despite the challenges, the group discuss the recent GTA 6 leaks, a major development for the retro gaming market in the UK, hopes for Gamescom, and sobering discussion of the fate
Gaming on a budget, Star Wars Zero Company vs XCOM, and the strange concept of Pokémon banks | Respec Ramblings
This week Alex Donaldson and Tom Orry fly as a pair, as if singing a beautiful duet, and chat about:Gaming on a budgetRetro hardware optionsStar Wars Zero CompanyPokémon Bank closingNintendo Switch Online & Nintendo archiveRetrorespective feat. Fruit Ninja Kinect, F-Zero and the SNES, and Ninety Nine Nights Remember, Patreon subscribers also get The Lock In, an exclusive after-hours casual han
Price rises, GTA 6's Netflix deal, and how many Freddos is a high end graphics card worth? | Respec Ramblings
This week, Alex Donaldson and Tom Orry are joined by regular contributors Rebecca Jones and Mikhail Madnani for chat about: GTA's surprising Netflix exclusivity move Hardware price rises EA's new owners That ever-relevant method of measuring economic performance - the price of a Freddo. Remember, Patreon subscribers also get The Lock In, an exclusive after-hours casual hangout podcast, every week.
FF14 fanfest recap, even more layoffs, and why Palworld is secretly a cookie clicker game | Respec Ramblings
Tom's away. but that doesn't stop the ramblings! This episode Alex Donaldson is joined by ronin games critic Dave Breens, RPG Site's James Galizio and Mikhail Madnani for chatter about: The reveals and vibe at Final Fantasy XIV Fanfest ahead of a new expansionEven more Xbox-adjacent layoffsBreens' impressions of Palworld, which just formally released in version 1.0Anniversaries old and new, from
Halo and Splatoon reviewed, Xbox classics hit PC, and is Super Circuit the worst Mario Kart? | The Respec Ramblings Podcast
This week, Alex Donaldson and Tom Orry are joined by Respec contributors Mikhail Madnani and James Galizio. This week's video game related chatter includes: Halo & Splatoon Raiders Review Xbox joins the in-game advertising foray Xbox backwards compatibility on PC Hardware costs & performance challengesRetro reflections Plus, is Mario Kart Super Circuit the worst one? We want to hear from
In-game advertising, generative AI in game dev, and is Shrek 2 the best film of all time? | Respec Ramblings 3
This week, Alex Donaldson and Tom Orry are joined by Respec contributors Rebecca Jones and Dave Breens. This week's video game related chatter includes:Use of AI in game developmentEA's in-game advertising playOne Piece, Cowboy Bebop, and the upcoming live-action Persona TV showThe mystery of the future of GTA OnlineLEGOBreens' grand theory of all games existing on a spectrum that has products at
Xbox cuts, Hairline face-off, and is less more in Assassin’s Creed? | Respec Ramblings 2
The Respec video game ramblings podcast returns for more irreverent chatter. This week, Alex Donaldson, Tom Orry, and Kirk McKeand discuss:Xbox cuts 3200 jobs and lets several studios goWill the backlash against Sony dropping discs make any difference?Nintendo to cease Switch 1 sales in Europe next yearAssassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced reviewElden Ring Nightreign, Rhythm Heaven, and more.Retro:
Respec Ramblings 1: Arnold Schwarzenegger should be the next Doctor Who, and are we unhinged?
We welcome you to the official Respec.net podcast with what you should come to expect as the usual smattering of video game and non video game nonsense. This week, Alex Donaldson, Tom Orry, and Rebecca Jones chat:Setting up a new video game website in the nightmare year 2026 (are we unhinged?)Star Fox Switch 2 review chatterDirective 8020, Mixtape, narrative-driven games, and the Until Dawn movie
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