Why GTA Clones Still Matter Even When They Don’t Win

Send us Fan MailWhat if the games we finish fastest tell us the most about what we love? That question runs through this week’s ride as we finish Sleeping Dogs, return to Infamous on PS3, and unearth a shockingly good £2 ARPG on PSP. We dig into why “GTA clones” can still hit hard—when combat feels right, pacing stays lean, and the city serves the story instead of stealing the spotlight. Sleeping Dogs’ Arkham‑style counters, rain‑slick neon, and compact side content become a masterclass in approachable design, while DLC hints at the longer, better version that almost was.Then we jump to Infamous and the magic of a first entry. It’s smaller and a bit “toy‑town,” but that’s the point: traversal clicks, morality choices land fast, and every rooftop feels like a move you’re meant to chain. We talk series DNA—from early parkour and power ramps to how sequels polish away the edges some of us actually crave. On handheld, we split time between Cast and Chill’s soothing idle‑meets‑strategy loop and Dungeon Siege: Throne of Agony on PSP, an isometric ARPG that proves short sessions can still deliver satisfying builds, readable loot, and bite‑sized maps worth clearing.News-wise, we cover Xbox’s reported controller refresh with Wi‑Fi for lower cloud latency and what that means for feel, haptics, and play-anywhere ambitions. We also break down Switch 2’s Bethesda wave—Oblivion Remastered, Fallout 4, and Skyrim Anniversary—why “code in a box” frustrates collectors, and why an Indiana Jones game card matters for physical fans. And yes, the headline you didn’t see coming: Dovetail Games (Train Sim World) is crafting a full Thomas and Friends adventure with a faithful Sodor, simplified controls for kids, and realistic options for sim diehards. Unexpected? Absolutely. But authenticity plus warmth is a formula we’ll always root for.Stick around for our new weekly release cadence, community playthrough invites, and what we’re playing next. If you care about tight mechanics, clean pacing, and games that respect your time—whether that’s a slick brawler, a scrappy handheld ARPG, or a thoughtful controller redesign—you’ll feel right at home. If you enjoyed this, follow, share with a friend, and drop a review to help more curious gamers find us. What “underdog” game would you put back in the spotlight?Support the showJoin our fantastic discordhttps://discord.gg/v7RFSUcGIf link has expired then message us at [email protected] DM us on instagram or X and we'll send you an invite.Cheers gamers!Subscription Tiers$3Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet up$5Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merch$8Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merchYearly art merch mug$10 Name read out on every showAccess to unglorious chat section of discordQuarterly Zoom meet upA single item of yearly limited art merchYearly art merch mugYearly art merch t-shirtThanks to all who subscribe, it means the world to us and really helps us keep the shows going.