Number 34 - The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, Hyrule Warriors, F-Zero X

It’s Monday. You all know what that means? Time to wrap your willing ears around a new episode of this absolute wallop of a podcast!

How have these three gents enjoyed video games this week?

Chris has a boo boo back :( and as such has resorted to less taxing games in easy-to-play forms, such as a classic card game on the Switch that has captured his imagination, and continued forays into his handheld retro machine, the Evercade!

How is Jonathan’s ongoing quest with Xenoblade Chronicles coming along - does he have time to spend a wee smidgen of his Summer in Mara in the new Kickstarter indie game release?

And, in light of a fallow gaming week for Mr Minty and in a delightful turn of events, we find out how Mrs Minty is getting on in the collective Mintys’ Clog Island in Animal Crossing!

And then the rankings! 34 deep means it’s wall-to-wall excellence now!

Minty takes us on a charming locomotive trip down memory train track with his recollection of one of the more quaint Legend of Zelda adventures, in the DS’ wonderful Spirit Tracks.

Jonathan takes us on an epic, console-spanning, dimension-hopping trip down adventure lane with the uncompromising Zelda/Dynasty Warriors mash-up, Hyrule Warriors.

And Chris takes us on a warp-speed trip down memory-racing-tube with his childhood reminiscences of Nintendo’s flagship sci-fi racer, F-Zero X.

Number 37 - Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3, Doom, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

After almost two years in the video game trenches, our heroes, Jonathan, Chris and Minty, have reached number 37 on their lists. 

Jonathan strikes fear into Chris' heart as he nears the end of construction on his Super Mario Maker 2 Super World, and then invites us all to Golf with Friends. Chris tarts up his Animal Crossing island, and beams with admiration at two indie games: Gone Home and Desert Child. Minty treads water with a smidgen of Dead Cells, a pinch of Labyrinth of Refrain, and lashings of hot Disgaea 5.

Bust kickflips and boneless pop shove its with the excellent Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3. Batter hellspawn with a twelve gauge in the genre-defining Doom. Wrestle with the sombre sense of isolation (but also the Wiimote controls) of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption.

Better than Panzer Dragoon Saga? Why don't YOU tell US.

Bonus Level - Wellbeing Special

Thursday the 10th of October marks World Mental Health Awareness day. In recognition of this, our trio tell personal stories of how videogames can be a force for good in managing mental health and periods of distress or low mood.

Clone Hero, Super Smash Bros Ultimate, A Link to the Past, Alto's Adventure, Tetris, and Super Mario Bros 3. Disparate games linked here by their ability to make our triumvirate slow down, refocus, and calm.

Videogames may not be the solution for everyone, but we at Our Three Cents firmly believe in their value as tools for offering escapism, structure, or soothing nostalgia when the world seems a difficult place.

Much love to all listening. Be kind to one another.

Number 71 - Banjo-Kazooie, Sonic & Knuckles, Sid Meier's Pirates!

Marvel as three ostensibly sober adults appear inebriated through sheer early 30s tiredness, as the boys discuss their 71st favourite videogames of all time.

Let Minty sleepily teach you why Banjo Kazooie a particular treat for the neurodiverse. Allow Jonathan to elucidate you on the echidna, and reflect on how accurately Sonic & Knuckles portrays this egg-laying mammal. Finally, let Chris refresh your GCSE English skills by recalling the difference between the definite and indefinite article in a tangential aside when discussing Sid Meier's Pirates.

Games, eh?

Number 77 - Fantasy Life, Super Hexagon, Paper Mario: Color Splash

This week on Our Three Cents, Jonathan recalls how he lived out his best fantasy life in deepest Africa, Chris descends into a hypnotic claustrophobic nightmare to pass some time, and find out why Color Splash is the Titanic of the Paper Mario series.

Elsewhere, Jonathan has gone on an Indie Game spree tackling a series of games including a small, bespectacled scientist, a big ol’ face-rock and electrified tentacled atrocities. Chris had a few small weeps experiencing an Old Man’s Journey and Minty has been having a wonderfully idyllic time randomly naming a variety of chickens!

Number 80 - Burnout 2, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, Harvest Moon GB

This week, in a total car crash of an episode, Chris burns out, Minty pokes a small boy with a dream and Jonathan takes a thoroughly leisurely stroll down memory lane - a lane lined with cows, turnips and Christmas disappointment! Elsewhere, we all get our Picross on thanks to Konami’s new mobile game, Minty tries his hand at Cuphead, and Jonathan sees Image & Form knock yet another genre out of the park first time in their new RPG, SteamWorld Quest!