Unskippable Dialogue

This week on Unskippable Dialogue, Pearse finally sits down with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, a game that spent seven years in development, one very public reset, and somehow still arrived carrying the weight of everyone’s expectations like a cursed Chozo artefact.We talk about the logo-only reveal back in 2017, the 2019 development restart, and how Beyond opens feeling more like Halo than Metroid, Space Pirates, marines everywhere… and then they vanish completely. Classic.There’s a deep dive into scanning (too much of it), the poorly signposted point of no return that will absolutely ruin your 100% run, and why Metroid Prime Hunters somehow has more mechanical variety than a modern flagship sequel. We also get into Nintendo briefly flirting with open-world design because Breath of the Wild existed, and why Metroid absolutely does not need that energy.Boss fights come in for a hammering, especially the final encounter, which ignores everything Metroid bosses traditionally teach you and replaces it with escort mechanics, damage sponges, and vibes. Bad vibes.By the end of it, Pearse lands where he’s been circling all episode: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is a good game that never had a chance. Not because it’s bad, but because the internet decided it had to be transcendent.A calm, spoiler-aware, Irish gaming podcast take on one of Nintendo’s most over-argued-about releases.

The Game Awards 2025 are done, dusted, and already being argued about online, so naturally, Unskippable Dialogue decided to do our own version. Welcome to The Skippies.In this episode, Pearse and Conor break down The Game Awards 2025 from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, covering the big winners, the obvious winners, and the ones that caused a bit of side-eye. We talk Clair Obscur cleaning up, Battlefield 6 taking best audio, No Man’s Sky still refusing to die, and why GTA 6 being “Most Anticipated” surprised absolutely nobody.But let’s be honest, nobody watches The Game Awards for the awards. We dig into the trailers (or lack thereof), why this felt like a quieter year, and how Nintendo Directs now regularly outperform Geoff Keighley’s big night. There’s also a healthy amount of slagging, nostalgia for E3, praise where it’s deserved, and frustration where it isn’t. We also hand out our own personal awards, talk Game of the Year, surprises of 2025, what disappointed us, and what we’re actually excited to play next. Expect opinions on Pragmata, future Capcom games, retro-futurism in sci-fi, and why “polished white sci-fi” does absolutely nothing for us anymore As ever, it’s a mix of:Game Awards analysisGaming industry chatHot takes that may age terriblyIf you’re looking for a Game Awards 2025 podcast, an Irish gaming podcast, or just want a slightly unhinged end-of-year gaming chat — this one’s for you.

Get ready for another instalment of your favourite Irish gaming podcast! In this episode, Conor and the Tokken lads trade in pizza for Power Cosmic as they tackle Marvel’s Cosmic Invasion – the brand‑new beat‑’em‑up from Tribute Games and Dotemu.If you’ve ever wondered what happens when Spider‑Man teams up with Nova or why Beta Ray Bill’s Stormbreaker hovers mid‑screen, we’ve got you covered. The lads chat about their experiences with the game’s Cosmic Swap system, the deep‑cut roster (hello, Cosmic Ghost Rider!), and how the boss fights stack up against TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge. There’s a discussion on difficulty spikes, co‑op chaos, and whether this successor to Shredder’s Revenge lives up to the hype.It wouldn’t be an Irish gaming podcast without a tangent or two: expect side‑quests into hair loss treatments, windy weather in Belfast, and why Robbie Reyes isn’t in space (yet). Whether you’re here for retro gaming news, the latest Marvel release, or enjoy dry banter about action figures and weaves, this episode will tickle your funny bone while keeping things informative.Subscribe for more gaming news, retro throwbacks, and developer tidbits as we keep the craic flowing each week.

In this week’s episode of Unskippable Dialogue, the Irish gaming podcast for gamers who prefer their heroics with a dash of chaos and a hint of Buldak hot sauce. Conor takes the lead and reviews Dispatch, the new superhero narrative adventure from AdHoc Games, built by former Telltale devs and rescued from oblivion by Critical Role. Across 7 hours of sharp writing, deeply cursed characters, messy romances, and a dispatch system that’s basically Coffee Talk meets XCOM, Dispatch absolutely floored us and Conor explains precisely why this choice-driven story has instantly become one of the best narrative games in years.FromRobert Robertson’s washed-up post-superhero midlife crisis,to the Z-Team of reformed villains (including a tiny Irish man whose entire personality is punching people in the dick),to the phenomenal voice cast (Aaron Paul, Matt Mercer, Alanna Pearce, MoistCr1tikal, JackSepticEye),We also derail into:– cursed AI “cup buck” lads,– which sauces are the sauciest,– four-chan as a character-creation engine,– romancing tall women with enchanted amulets,– and why the UNREAL amount of dog hair in Connor’s throat is absolutely a supervillain origin story.If you love:gaming podcasts, narrative games, Telltale-style storytelling, Critical Role, indie game reviews, or two Irish lads laughing until they nearly die on mic.This episode is unskippable.Join the Discord, send us your voice notes, and fight us about which superhero we should have romanced.

This week on Unskippable Dialogue, Pearse and Conor go full banana-mad as we review Donkey Kong Bananza, the brand-new Switch 2 adventure from Nintendo EPD Tokyo, the powerhouse team behind Mario Odyssey and the Galaxy series.From Void Co.’s corporate villainy to Pauline’s musical awakening, molten-banana endgame chaos, and Donkey Kong’s most expressive makeover yet, we break down everything this jungle odyssey throws at you.Expect discussion on DK’s new animations, modern Nintendo design philosophy, the “layered planet” level structure, unique power-ups (yes, including the emu/ostrich), sound design that absolutely slaps, and why every rumble, bongo and “OH BANANA!” feels so good in the hands.We also get into:The Mario Odyssey DNA running through Bananza’s gameplay loopsThe new villain Void Kong, plus his hench-Kongs: Grumpy & PoppyPauline’s redesign, voice arc, and jazzy endgame performanceLevel references to the original arcade Donkey Kong (those cave paintings!)K. Rool’s big return and the molten-banana showdown (light spoilers)Why boss fights are beautiful—but surprisingly easyThe tonal balance between kid-friendly chaos and nostalgic DK weirdnessAnd yes, we absolutely discuss the DK timeline, why you need to “touch grass” if you care too much about it, and Nintendo fans collectively losing their minds at Poppy Kong’s design.If you love gaming podcasts, Irish gaming podcasts, Nintendo reviews, retro-inspired platformers, or simply hearing two grown men lose it over potassium content… this episode is for you.

This week on Unskippable Dialogue, Pearse dives Pokéball-first into the neon-lit alleyways of Lumiose City as we unpack the chaos and glory of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. From its bold urban redesign to real-time battles that have us ducking for cover, we break down what makes this Kalos comeback both brilliant and slightly bonkers. Yes, we’re looking at you, Mega Starmie.We talk rogue Megas, battling after dark, and exactly how many hands Mega Eelektross needs to start a fight. There’s a full rundown of the newly introduced Mega Evolutions – including the weird, the wonderful, and the “what in Arceus’ name is that?” – as Pearse gives his definitive Smash or Pass verdict. Don’t worry, Mega Froslass fans, we see you.Expect dry humour, heavy Pokédex lore, and enough Irish sarcasm to knock out a Tauros.

In this week’s episode of Unskippable Dialogue, Conor takes Pearse through Sifu. Slow Clap’s brutal, stylish martial arts brawler that turns every punch, parry, and defeat into a lesson in patience, precision, and self-improvement.Set in a gorgeously stylised, cel-shaded world inspired by Hong Kong action cinema, Sifu puts players in the shoes of a young martial artist avenging their murdered master. But vengeance has a cost: every death ages you, and mastery demands more than brute force; it demands letting go.Conor and Pearse break down how Sifu’s rhythm-based combat, roguelike progression, and clever level design transform kung-fu into a meditative experience about control, growth, and when to stop fighting. Expect discussions on the game’s cultural authenticity, the philosophy behind its “true ending,” and why Sifu might be the best Daredevil game never made.

This week, we dive web-first into Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on the PS5 – from symbiote suit smackdowns to soaring with the new Web Wings. We break down Insomniac’s ambitious sequel, dig into the major story twists (spoiler warnings in place), and chat about what makes this the most cinematic Spider-Man game yet.We’re also talking community shoutouts (big thanks to Ray from Mayo!), plus the drama surrounding the Insomniac hack that revealed future Marvel plans.Spidey superfans, PS5 players, and anyone into story-driven superhero chaos—this one’s for you. It’s fast-paced, full of craic, and slightly more stable than Peter Parker’s personal life.Hit play and swing along with one of Ireland’s top indie gaming podcasts.

In this week’s episode of Unskippable Dialogue, Conor takes us deep below the ruins of Moscow to review Metro 2033 Redux on PS5 — the grim, claustrophobic shooter based on Dmitry Glukhovsky’s cult novel. Expect talk of radiation, railcars, and rage-quitting mutants, as Pearse probes Conor on everything from the game’s lore and atmosphere to why every faction underground is somehow still at war.The lads also chat about the art of the “7/10 game,” why Metro works best when it’s human vs human (not mutant vs man), and how the game’s linear tunnels might actually make it one of the purest post-apocalyptic experiences ever made.Tune in for Irish gaming banter, mild existential dread, and the usual dose of dry humour from Belfast’s most unskippable podcast.🎧 Perfect for fans of retro shooters, Fallout nostalgia, and post-apocalyptic storytelling.