Sidestep To Your Left

Author: Sidestep to your Left

  • 40 for 40 – My favourite video games

    For my 40th I’ve decided to list my 40 favourite games just because I fancied marking the occasion in such a way. Not all of these would make a top 40 best games of all time, instead these are games that have given me the most memorable and incredible experiences over the years.

    I’ve made lists before where I’ve only included one game per series but that is not the case here as it really leans into those games and series that I’ve loved and keep coming back to. Apologies too for the fairly generic comments, I’m on holiday but wanted to get something out for my birthday (hey it’s still the 27th in the US!). With that enlightening introduction done, here’s my fairly predictable list of my favorite games of all time.

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  • The Old King’s Crown – A Solo Mode Preview

    The Old King’s Crown – A Solo Mode Preview

    In early Spring, the new markets along the Great Road of the Kingdom open for business, filled with trinkets and tools, armaments and secrets. There’s a different, nervous energy this year as tales of mysterious fog and unnatural, unwelcome beings spread from stall to stall. Intel, influence and might are commodities not to be ignored as a looming threat of the unknown gets closer and closer.

    The start of the year, featuring the cards available to bid on in the Great Road.

    The Clans, a “people of the steppes and sea”, who migrate and sail to all corners of the Kingdom, send their Captain Lethe to represent them at the market. Unbeknownst to them, a strange figure, cloaked and concealed, has already been perusing and forming allegiances with easily swayed merchants. In a sign of things to come, a bidding war ensues.

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  • Heat: Super Kart Mode

    Hello and thank you to everyone that read my review of the wonderful board game Heat: Pedal to the Metal. At the end of the review I mentioned I was working on my own tracks and elements for the game … well I can finally share one of those with you now. I have recreated the infamous Baby Park track from the Mario Kart series (because of course I have) and along with it, a fan expansion adding a fun karting experience to the base game. Baby Park can be played with the regular components of the Heat board game and / or with our brand new fan expansion. Read on to jump into the rules for the variant that we have named Heat: Super Kart Mode. All files required for the expansion are linked below too, including a PDF of these very rules.

    Baby Park from the Mario Kart series of video games. It has been reworked to be able to be used in the board game - Heat Pedal to the Metal.
    Baby Park – reimagined for the board game Heat Pedal to the Metal.
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  • Heat: Pedal to the Metal Review

    Heat: Pedal to the Metal Review

    Heat: Pedal to the Metal board game box.

    Here we are racing fans. It’s time for your feature event – The vintage Grand Prix of The United States of America, in its classic ‘60s circuit layout. Our participants on the track today will start with a hand of 7 cards from a deck of 18 and must play the number of cards equal to the gear that their car is in. The value of the cards played will determine their speed as they try to outsprint and out manoeuvre each other by blasting down the straights and carefully managing speed round testing corners.

    Each vehicle’s engine holds 6 ‘heat’ which our drivers can utilise at the right moment for additional speed boosts and effects. However, this historical Grand Prix is such a momentous occasion that it brings with it the added pressure to come top of the podium. 3 ‘stress’ cards are added which could cause lapses in concentration and unknown values to drivers top speed. As stress is played, drivers reveal the next value speed card in their deck and add it to their total. When you are hurtling towards a corner in a glorified bathtub, things could get very hairy indeed. Can our challengers handle the heat?

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  • Our Twitch Streams

    Hello there,

    A wee update for you – EdinburghFudge (Lewis) and I have started streaming on Twitch. Lewis does a rather entertaining Forza stream, and I have started weekly Mario Kart sessions, with more to come from both of us potentially.

    Here’s the links to our Twitch channels, so please give us both a follow.

    EdinburghFudge

    greenwood85

    Thanks a lot!

    – Rob (greenwood85)

     

  • Aly and Rob’s Favourites of 2019

    We’re back for another edition of our wee annual podcast. We reveal our favourites of 2019 as well as our best game, album and film of the decade.

    Aly and Rob’s Favourites of 2019

    Thanks for listening and happy new Decade everyone!

  • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe but Zoomed In

    Nintendo recently released an update to the Switch that allows the screen to be zoomed in. Rob decides to try this out with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe …

  • Tetris 99 – One and Done STYL

    Rob has played lots of Tetris 99 but Rob is not good at Tetris 99. In this video he has one attempt and one attempt only to get a good place. Watch to see how he gets on.

  • Aly and Rob’s Best of 2018

    Aly and Rob are back by popular demand with a ‘Favourites of 2018’ podcast. We discuss our favourite Games, Albums and Films of 2018 and read out your own suggestions for best things from the year that was.

    STYL – Rob and Aly Best of 2018

    Happy new year from us all.

  • NES – Nintendo Switch Online

    The Nintendo Switch Online service recently launched and includes access to 20 classic NES games. I’ve had a quick go at them all, playing each for only one minute. Watch to see how I get on and let us know your own favourites too.