The Cane and Rinse videogame podcast Cane and Rinse

As you'll hear in this podcast, the history of this one goes way back to 2004, yet it wasn't until 2017 that we finally got to play Team Ninja's action RPG, Nioh. Leon, Leah, Rich, Ryan and community correspondents discuss the game's notorious challenge and its layers and layers of mechanics. We also discuss whether the game's reputation as a pure 'Souls-like' game is fair, or whether there's actually something else going on here. NB: This game does not depict the Far Eastern adventures of the poet William Blake.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is 30 (thirty). Leon, Karl, Tony, guest Jamie Smith (Principal Game Designer at Sumo Digital) and community correspondents Spin Dash through both 8 and 16-bit versions of the first Sonic sequel. SEGA's US-based Technical Institute took the reins on the Mega Drive/Genesis, with Team Aspect following up Team Ancient's work on the Master System and Game Gear. As with the original, we got two distinct titles, each worthy of analysis and nostalgic reflection.

Heavily inspired by Namco's Rolling Thunder, SEGA launched its cool, ninja-based response 35 years ago, in 1987. Leon, Michiel, Rich and returning guest Ben Cartlidge shimmy to the Shinobi groove, examining AM1's walk and slice platforming action. The panel also discusses the differences between the original coin-op and the official Master System conversion, and takes a quick look at the other versions and conversions released from 1988 to 2020.

As well as excitement, there was palpable trepidation when Nintendo announced that Metroid was going not only 3D, but also first-person - especially because it was being developed in tandem with an untested American team, Retro Studios. However, the resulting game - Metroid Prime - was received with almost universal praise. Leon, Brian, Karl and community correspondents recall the immersion and the atmosphere of Samus Aran's first in-helmet outing, as well as analysing how its gameplay holds up, 20 years on.

Josh is your host for this issue, accompanied by Brian and Leah as they discuss Capcom's 2021 release to their long-running survival horror franchise, Resident Evil Village.

The fourth stop on our Castlevania series retrospective is the (generally maligned) first handheld incarnation, Castlevania: The Adventure. Leon, Brian, Jon, Michiel and community correspondents charge up their AA batteries for a session of this brief but punishing quest. Next up though, is M2's 'remake'/tribute (arguably in name only), Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth. a relatively obscure 2009 WiiWare title that sees the panellists and the show go out on something of a whip-crackin' high.