What we've been playing - "how have I never noticed this level of Zelda thirst before?!"

8th November

Hello and welcome back to our regular feature where we write a little bit about some of the games we've been playing. This week, Dispatch stuns Bertie; Connor turns to killing people; Kelsey tries nuzlocking for the first time; Marie hums the Ghostbusters theme; Tom plays Guess Who Pokémon edition, which I had no idea existed; and Victoria opens her eyes to the thirst-trap that is Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

What have you been playing?

Dispatch, PC

Dispatch - Official Launch Trailer

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Wow! I'd expected good things after reports of strong sales figures and rising player numbers, but I wasn't expecting to like Dispatch this much. I've only had time to play one episode so there's five more to go, but it starts sensationally. It's that good. The animation is energetic and accomplished and varied - it's like watching an animated TV show - and the jokes are strong and the deliveries are even stronger. There's even a pleasing amount of stuff to do with your hands and think about while you play. Don't get me wrong, it's not a strategy game, but there's some strategy to it. This is the Telltale package - the Telltale promise, perhaps - realised to perfection. And the whole time I was playing it I was thinking 'oh my god a Critical Role-themed game would work so well with this template'. Which is, of course, exactly what's happening. I can't wait.

-Bertie

Arc Raiders, PC

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Watch on YouTube

Now that I've packed my expedition ahead of December and maxed out my raider deck, I have started killing people on sight in Arc Raiders. I've fully turned against the anti-PvP crowd that's risen around Arc Raiders because I've got nothing else to do.

I do wonder how long the pacifism movement will last as other players find themselves in my position, donning the full orange jacket available to those who blow through the raider deck. I, personally, predict that we'll see a rise of murder-lovers in Arc Raiders in the next week or so.

Oh, I've also been playing 2XKO as usual and really want Riot Games to add cross-region play, so I can lose to Americans and throw money at American tournament organisers, who need money more than I do.

-Connor

Pokémon Platinum, Nintendo DS

I've been having a great time with Pokémon Legends: Z-A after not having played Pokémon - outside of the TCG - for a good while. That said, it has had me longing for the good ol' days of Pokémon, so I've wound up dropping Legends: Z-A for Pokémon Platinum for the time being.

I'm also doing my first attempt at nuzlocking the game, and I'm shocked I didn't try this sooner. Adding a challenging layer to Sinnoh and being forced to use Pokemon I'd never use otherwise (damn you, Kricketot) has revitalised my love for my favourite Generation of Pokémon. Will I make it past Cynthia, however? It's unlikely, but here's hoping luck is on my side.

-Kelsey

Luigi's Mansion 2 - Switch 2

It's been a long time since I picked up Luigi's Mansion 2 and I forgot how different, and how entertaining, it was. Yes of course I was humming the Ghostbusters theme-song while searching high and low in each room for the mischievous ghosts that call the mansion home.

Sucking up ghosts is fun, but I've been finding more joy in the act of solving puzzles and sucking up random items, like curtains, in order to try and find them. It's like the ghost vs ghost hunter version of hide and seek. Even if one isn't hiding where I thought it was, coins can still appear as rewards, so there's no losing out!

I've got a way to go yet, so I can't wait to dive back in.

-Marie

Guess Who Pokémon Edition, played on my living room floor

Guess Who, it turns out, isn't ideal when played with Pokémon pictures instead of the simple human faces of the original - especially when playing with a four-year-old. Faces, cartoon-style ones, are easy to caricature to some degree, emphasising a moustache or a pair of glasses. Pokémon, not so much. I felt sorry for my four-year-old daughter who was desperately trying to work out if the rather detailed drawings included any of the minutiae my 12-year-old son was asking about.

I'm eyeing up the Bluey set next, something I hope won't cause as many problems.

-Tom O

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Switch 2

I have started replaying The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild once again, and this time I am fully appreciating just how funny it actually is. Also, it's kind of thirsty. There are diary entries like: "I hope he comes by and nocks an arrow for me. It's been WAAAY too long." I mean come on, you can't tell me that's not meant to be innuendo. And don't get me started on the Great Fairies.

Seriously, how have I never noticed this level of Zelda thirst before?!

-Victoria