Stay still while I monologue at you
We’re back with a bang, a villainous laugh, and a dose of coronavirus I’ve brought back from somewhere in Tenerife. The two week drought is broken with a shower of Electronic Wireless Showpodcastrain, were we discuss the best villainous breakdowns we’ve enjoyed in video games. Matthew is sadly away this week because, while my coronavirus dose is mild, like the tingle of delicious Rio Tropical on your tongue, Matthew’s is wild and aggressive, like a super-charged Electricity Cop.
In his absence, Nate and I talk about some proper good villains, and even discuss some sensible things like evil cartoon monsters vs. villains you can sort of sympathise with. Handsome Jack? GLaDOS? LeChuck? Andrew Ryan? That’s one hell of an awkward dinner party. Plus stick around for a Cavern Of Lies that proves Warhammer 40k is essentially the same as Tumblr.
You can listen above, or onon Spotify,iTunes,Stitcher, orPocket Casts. You can find theRSS feed here, and you can discuss the episodeon our Discord channel, which has a dedicated room for podcast chat.
Music is by Jack de Quidt.
LinksThe spectre of Tim Curry corpsing through the word ‘space!’ in Red Alert, but still somehow nailing it, is a guest at this feast once again. Nate talks about games where the baddies zoom call you to shout at you. He also brings up theHalo InfiniteEmotions Gorilla, about whom he wrotea whole article.
I love LeChuck from the Monkey Island series, and I specifically love the evolution he has gone through inReturn To Monkey Island.
Handsome Jack from the Borderlands series is what prompted our discussion of nuanced villains. Handsome Jack is cartoony, sure, but he thinks he’s the hero. That’s interesting!
You know who else?Dad Of War’s real sad son bad guy (spoilers) Baldr.
There’s also Vaas fromFar Cry 3, who isn’t technically that games main villain but is the only one anyone remembers, and the series has been chasing that high ever since.
Obligatory obeisance payed to GLaDOS from Portal andPortal 2(with a side of Wheatley).
Controversial take: Hitler in Wolfenstein is a bad guy.
Recommendationsthis week are Age Of Empires streamerT90Official, and series 4 of the BBC sitcomGhosts.
