Let's have dinner!

It's the short, sweet and surreal tale of a guy who's an owl. What more is there to say?

Well, actually, a fair bit. The Slice of Cherry Guys dive into the quickfire brilliance of BoringSuburbanDad (no seriously, that's the developer's name) and see how old school point-and-click adventure gaming works with the story of a guy who is *literally* an owl. Be sure to look out for Owl Observatory when it drops later this year!

Thanks so much to Lonie for suggesting this episode!

Tell us what you thought at sliceofcherryguys@gmail.com!

Dinnner With An Owl (Slice of Cherry Guys #14)

HAVE A CUP OF LIBER-TEA WITH YOUR SLICE OF CHERRY GUYS!

To say Helldivers II's runaway success came unexpectedly is an understatement. The sequel to a little-known twin stick shooter, developed by an indie game studio from Sweden, has become the Next Big Thing. This is the little anti-bug, anti-robot, Starship Troopers-esque Player-vs-Enemy shoot-em-up that could, and does, kick all the ass. Amongst the gung-ho patriotism, shiny armour sets and massacring alien insects the Slice of Cherry Guys find a great game experience relying on basic fundamentals (emphasis on "fun"). To put it in a nutshell, this is a game where you go blow up alien bugs while shouting "DEMOCRACY". What's not to love?

Also, that dropship extraction music *slaps*.

Big thanks to Jezza for suggesting this episode!

Tell us what you thought at sliceofcherryguys@gmail.com

EDITOR'S NOTE: Please excuse Chris's terrible audio at the beginning as he had his microphone around the wrong way - it clears up at the 6-minute mark!

EXTRA LINKS:
Bloomberg's piece on Helldivers II's unexpected popularity:https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-03-15/-helldivers-2-is-a-surprise-hit-for-sony-in-an-oversaturated-market?embedded-checkout=true

IGN article on Arrowhead Studios rejecting adding PVP: https://www.ign.com/articles/helldivers-2-dev-says-it-will-never-add-pvp-because-it-wants-to-reduce-toxic-elements-from-the-community

Helldivers II (Slice of Cherry Guys #15)

Lost and alone in a forest of cannibals.

This week gets into the horror of it all as the Slice of Cherry Guys become Sons of the Forest. A journalist sent to rescue missing billionaires goes full "LOST" to survive on a forested island while uncovering the strange eldritch secrets of its inhabitants. You will chop so many trees, fry so many fish, and get mauled by so many cannibals.

We played this (almost) on Day One of Early Access and have charted its progress to full release in February 2024, so it's safe to say we're pretty knowledgeable about this optional solo/co-op FPS that meshes pretty trees and carniverous mutants. We found it a challenge but managed to master it through many hours of gameplay especially in Early Access.

So believe us when we tell you that the full game got *much* harder. And, as a result, *muuuuuuch* scarier. You will long for the days of infinite painkillers.

Tell us what you thought at sliceofcherryguys@gmail.com!

Sons Of The Forest (Slice of Cherry Guys #16)

#TheyReleasedTheSnyderCut

In 2017 Zack Snyder stepped down from directing the "Justice League" film in the wake of personal tragedy. After Joss Whedon stepped in to "fix" the film - resulting in a critical drubbing and a box office bomb, as well as multiple problematic behind-the-scenes stories - vast sections of social media demanded Snyder be allowed to return and release his unaltered cinematic vision for DC's premier superhero team.

On the back of this fan pressure - including some highly toxic voices within it - Zack Snyder's Justice League was released in all its four-hour, desaturated, Knightmare-ending glory in 2021. Three years later, the Slice of Cherry Guys see whether Snyder's vision holds up (short answer: very yes). Chris laments the loss of Batffleck, Dave argues that the four hour runtime works gangbusters, and both agree that Darkseid, the would-be Thanos of the DCEU played by Ray Porter, is *really* freaking good.

Tell us what you thought at sliceofcherryguys@gmail.com!

---
NOTE: There is a tangled history of the Snyder Cut movement which involves harmful, toxic harassment from sections of the DCEU fanbase which led to the film's release. While we largely don't discuss that toxicity in this episode, we do point you to some resources that unpack it in more detail. Please give them a read:

Vanity Fair article by Joanna Robinson on the Snyder Cut's release being a "victory for toxic fandoms": https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/05/is-releasing-the-snyder-cut-a-victory-for-toxic-fandoms

Vox article by Aja Romano on the Snyder Cut's release, the problems inherent to the movement, and the dangerous precedent it sets: https://www.vox.com/22339680/zack-snyder-cut-justice-league-hbo-max-toxic-fandom-backlash

Radio Times article by David Craig discussing the Snyder Cut being "tainted" by the harassment of the movement: https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/release-the-snyder-cut-toxic-fans/
---

EXTRA LINKS:
Red Letter Media's "Release the Snyder Cut!" video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNp3Q0AfXRg

Original "Snyder Cut" trailer using Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTXrl8H6luI

Vanity Fair interview with Zack Snyder in 2021 discussing the history of the Snyder Cut: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/02/the-true-story-of-justice-league-snyder-cut

The Hollywood Reporter interview with Ray Fisher discussing Joss Whedon, the 2017 theatrical cut and the problems in both: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/feature/ray-fisher-opens-up-about-justice-league-joss-whedon-and-warners-i-dont-believe-some-of-these-people-are-fit-for-leadership-4161658/

Wikipedia article for the Snyder Cut (make sure to read the references!): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zack_Snyder%27s_Justice_League

Zack Snyder's Justice League (Slice of Cherry Guys #17)

20,000 light years under the sea.

To celebrate one year since it left Early Access, the Slice of Cherry Guys dive (heh) into the space submarine hell that is Barotrauma. It's yet another entry in the "games we love but suck at" category but this one comes with the added bonuses of space octopi and dodgy undersea navigation. Suffice to say that plumbing the depths of Europa in a leaky sub crewed by dodgy AI with fuel cells that keep exploding doesn't make for the easiest adventure.

Tell us what you thought at sliceofcherryguys@gmail.com!

Barotrauma (Slice of Cherry Guys #18)

Gonna burn this goddamn house right down.

It's a simple story. Nerd boy meets rich boy. Nerd boy gets brought to rich boy's manor house. Nerd boy meets rich boy's upper crust family. Nerd boy comes out of his shell. *Stuff happens.*

With a stacked cast, rich cinematography and an immaculate Sophie Ellis-Bextor dance number, Saltburn has it all. The Slice of Cherry Guys debate 2023's old money black comedy on its own merits and as a representation of "shock" films that gain a certain rep which obscures some of the layers underneath. Because trust us, there's much more to this movie than discussing bathtub drains on TikTok.

Tell us what you thought at sliceofcherryguys@gmail.com!

EXTRA LINKS:
Barry Keoghan interview with Variety discussing making Saltburn and improvising scenes: https://variety.com/2023/film/features/barry-keoghan-saltburn-gravesite-dance-scenes-oliver-1235838728/

Saltburn (Slice of Cherry Guys #19)

Now THIS is podracing.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of its release, the Slice of Cherry Guys go back a long time ago to a galaxy far far away...in 1999. The first Star Wars film released since Return of the Jedi had all the Hollywood hype it could want, but audiences weren't keen on space trade disputes, wooden acting and far too much CGI. But even so, as the Guys discuss, there are things to like about the first film in the prequel trilogy (and if you take Chris's word for it, at least it's not as bad as The Rise of Skywalker).

Stay tuned past the end credits for the first episode of our new spin-off*, "Slice of Star Wars Merch"!

*Not an actual spin-off

Tell us what you thought at sliceofcherryguys@gmail.com!

EXTRA LINKS:
A fascinating 20-year retrospective on The Phantom Menace by Justin Charity at The Ringer: https://www.theringer.com/movies/2019/3/28/18282707/star-wars-phantom-menace-episode-one-george-lucas-1999

An oral history of The Phantom Menace's production posted by StarWars.com, including interviews with George Lucas: https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace-oral-history

Link to "The Redemption of Jar Jar Binks" podcast hosted by Dylan Marron: https://www.ted.com/podcasts/the-redemption-of-jar-jar-binks

Photo of the Darth Maul lightsaber candy dispenser: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/lqwAAOSwdyljRMUd/s-l1200.jpg

The Phantom Menace (Slice of Cherry Guys #20)

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode deals with some sensitive subject matter, including discussions of Jeffrey Epstein, Prince Andrew and sexual assault. Please skip this episode if you think any of these topics will affect you, and consult the resources in the Extra Links below for additional support.

Believe it or not, journalism *isn't* dead.

Based off the book of the same name by former BBC journalist Sam McCallister, Scoop is a fictionalised retelling of how hard-hitting journalism blew the lid off a scandal involving a member of the UK Royal Family and a sex offender. Centred on the stories of three women in Prince Andrew's orbit, it has all the ingredients of a quality film: great casting, a riveting plot, a tense chase scene to rival Mission Impossible. But somehow it just doesn't come together, leaving the Slice of Cherry Guys to talk over the pitfalls of half-baked biopic films that favour plot over character.

Tell us what you thought at sliceofcherryguys@gmail.com!

EXTRA LINKS:

Find A Hotline: suicide and crisis prevention for any country - https://findahelpline.com/

Lifeline (for Australian listeners): https://www.lifeline.org.au/

Amazon link to Sam McCallister's book "Scoops: Behind the Scenes of the Most Shocking BBC Interviews" - https://www.amazon.com.au/Scoops-Behind-Scenes-Shocking-Interviews/dp/0861544404

Billie Piper meets the real Sam McCallister - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-lUrPnmBBY

Scoop (Slice of Cherry Guys #21)

Farming and fishing have never been so relaxing and stressful.

Nearly a decade on and following its acclaimed 1.6 patch on PC, Stardew Valley is still the high watermark of farming sims. You can plant. You can water. You can fish. You can romance. You can fight slimes in a cave. Most escapist of all, you can own a home for a reasonable price (and with no mortgage!).

As veteran farmhands of Stardew Valley, the Slice of Cherry Guys discuss their continued love of the game, the tricky nature of who is "best girl or guy", and their favourite aspects of being a farmer. Also, Chris still is and will always be the fish-shaman.

Tell us what you thought at sliceofcherryguys@gmail.com!

EXTRA LINKS:
Amazon link to Jason Schreier's book Blood, Sweat and Pixels, which has a chapter on Stardew Valley's troubled creation: https://www.amazon.com.au/Blood-Sweat-Pixels-Triumphant-Turbulent/dp/0062651234

Polygon interview with Eric Barrone (ConcernedApe) about the 1.6 PC patch: https://www.polygon.com/24087605/stardew-valley-1-6-update-concert-series-haunted-chocolatier

Retrospective review by Inverse about Stardew Valley's continued success in 2023: https://www.inverse.com/gaming/stardew-valley-7th-anniversary

Stardew Valley (Slice of Cherry Guys #22)

Pie...pie never changes.

While every viewer and their Dog(meat) enjoys the spectacular wonder that is the Fallout TV series on Prime Video, the Slice of Cherry Guys step backwards (and forwards?) into the franchise's roots. From top-down 2D RPG to full 3D first-person shooter/action game/thieving simulator, from clicker iPhone game to massive online microtransactions, the Fallout franchise has had a long and varied history of hits and misses (and also New Vegas, one of the greatest video games ever made). While the Guys promise they will get to the TV series very soon, for now enjoy a retrospective look at one of gaming's most enduring post-apocalyptic fancies.

Also, you really should play New Vegas. Go ahead. We'll wait.

EXTRA LINKS:
hbomberguy video explaining why Fallout: New Vegas is brilliant: https://youtu.be/gzF7aHxk4Y4?si=IrrfQ7kmTH3R58jA

Forbes article by Erik Kain from 2018, explaining some of the (many) issues with Fallout 76: https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2018/12/05/the-5-biggest-problems-with-fallout-76/?sh=244e7a39576e

Shacknews article by David Craddock "World on Fire: The Oral History of Fallout and Fallout 2": https://www.shacknews.com/article/114982/world-on-fire-the-oral-history-of-fallout-and-fallout-2

Fallout: The Games (Slice of Cherry Guys #23)

We're Chris and Dave - best friends, gamers, and opinionated pop culture people!

Each week we talk about something that catches our fancy: movies, TV, video games, music, nothing's off limits. We often disagree with each other but we *always* have good chats with strong opinions and perspectives.

Settle in, order a slice and get a damn good coffee to go with it!

Helldivers II (Slice of Cherry Guys #15)

Slice of Cherry Guys

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