Interview: Talking Gaming with Ollie (Guitar & Lead Vocals) of Eld Varg

Scottish heavy metal power trio, Eld Varg, return with their thunderous sophomore album, Destroyer, set for release on Friday 14th November. Ahead of the album, the band have offered a blistering taste of what’s to come in the shape of their crushing new single and video, Black Starlight, out now.

In this interview lead vocalist and guitarist, Ollie, talks gaming with us.

1. Let’s begin by going way back to the past! Specifically, your childhood and what your earliest memory of playing a video game is?

My earliest memory of gaming would be Pokemon Yellow on the OG Gameboy. I used to go to football practice with my friend, who would sometimes bring his Gameboy along, and he would let me have a shot. I remember running around between Pewter City and Cerulean City with a Pidgeotto taking everything out.

2. At what age and stage of your life did you start to find yourself hooked by gaming and was there any particular thing that bore responsibility for that?

I would have been 9 or 10 when I got a PS1 for Christmas. I got FIFA 2000 and Toca 2 Touring Cars. I was a football kid, so FIFA was right up my street, I think I’d memorised every line of commentary in the game! Toca was also great, that and Colin McRae Rally 2.0 solidified racing games as some of my favourites. Having a good friend group meant swapping games and trying a whole bunch out, it was really a great time.

3. If you could point at one or two games that defined your childhood, what would they be?

Gran Turismo 2 was probably one of my most played games as a kid. Racing games were a favourite from the start, but I loved the levelling up, buying new cars and upgrading them. I was obsessed with buying the Suzuki Escudo Pikes Peak car in the game, what a moment when I unlocked that!

I would also put Final Fantasy 7 in there. I was given it to borrow from a friend who was obsessed by it, and to start with I didn’t really get it. It didn’t take long for the hooks to be in. I’ve played that game countless times, and I’ve been enjoying the Remake/Rebirth versions too.

4. What about a system? Everyone has one that holds a very special place in their heart. SNES, PS1, N64, Xbox 360, Phillips CD-i? What’s yours and why?

It’s probably a tie between the PS2 and the Gameboy Advance. I was a big portable kid, so being able to play games on the go was great, I also had a PSP which literally got used to death. PS2 was such a generational jump, I was convinced the games looked real when they came out. It was the go to system whenever I’d hang out with my friends. Pizza, Irn Bru and PS2. NFSU2, Final Fantasy 10 and San Andreas were probably some top PS2 games.

5. Do you have a particular game genre that you enjoy more than any other? If so, what is it and why? Also, what’s a game genre you almost always avoid?

I think racing games always stuck with me, maybe not as a favourite, but as a constant. I think I always fell for certain RPGs, especially the Final Fantasy series. I loved the in depth stories, combat and levelling systems, and just the sheer size of them.

I think now I enjoy smaller indie games more. Usually something with a really interesting idea or concept that the devs have been left freely to explore.

6. How about multiplayer? Did you have a game that you found yourself sinking untold hours into online or do you just prefer the single player experience?

Multiplayer games are a real hit or miss, but once I find one that I enjoy, I’ll sink untold hours into it. I think this happened with Battlefield 3 and 4 back in the day, which helped having a great friend group. Battlefield 6 may well reunite the old Squad!

I think I reach for single player more often now though, as before, I enjoy a well written story or great gameplay. It’s also much easier to pickup for short periods when on a busy schedule!

7. What is a game or franchise that you think you’ve sunk the most time into to date and what is a game or franchise that you’ve never quite been able to get into?

It’ll be a tie between Minecraft and Elite Dangerous, they both have horrifyingly huge hours in them! Minecraft is just great to get lost in, especially when returning to the world I’ve had for 10+ years. Elite Dangerous may have more hours though. I remember seeing the trailer in 2014/15 at the cinema and heading straight home after to buy it.

I think Battle Royale type games and my least favourite. When working a full time job, or just generally being busy, I don’t want to sit in a lobby for 10 minutes, to get killed 30 seconds into a game and have to go through it again. If I see a Battle Royale mode, I usually skip it.

8. Over the past couple of decades, what development within the video game industry has been revolutionary?

Outside of just the increase of sheer power, the vast array of games that are available. It feels that either there’s much more support from studios to support new, creative ideas, or just easy avenues for indie devs to get their games out there. Steam and Gamepass have likely helped with this, giving these smaller options a larger platform. I’ve played some incredible smaller games that have really stuck with me, Hellblade being one of those.

9. Likewise, what development within the video game industry has been mostly negative for gamers overall?

Loot boxes and micro transactions, is there much more to say? The loot box craze seems to be mostly past us now, thank you to Star Wars Battlefront 2 for their pride and accomplishment in helping kill that one. I picked up a PS5 recently after being an Xbox boi, so I’ve been catching up with some PS4 games. It’s been great to play through Spiderman and unlock everything IN GAME!

10. What is one aspect of gaming (all parts) that you consistently find yourself getting nostalgic over?

Great soundtracks, which may sound like an easy answer coming from a musician. As a Final Fantasy fan, great soundtracks have been there from a young age. But outside of original scores, games like Grand Theft Auto, Need for Speed and Tony Hawks really solidified my love for rock and metal!

11. Likewise, what is one aspect of gaming (all parts) that you’d happily never experience again?

Wait timers on games. It’s just a lazy and cheap way of extending playtime. You want to build this house? Wait 2 real hours. I’d quite happily never sit through those types of things again.

12. Focusing on the now, what are you currently playing and what is enjoyable about it?

I usually have a few games on the go, a multiplayer, a larger and a more casual game. I’ve been an Xbox boi since the 360, and it’s still my main console choice, but I recently picked up a PS5, so I’m catching up on a whole bunch of PS3, 4 and 5 games. I just finished Final Fantasy 7 Remake, which I absolutely loved, I’m having an FF break before cracking on with Rebirth. So I elected the PS5 upgrade edition of Spiderman PS4, which has been great, feels like a modern Spiderman 2 for the PS2.

My multiplayer game has been Phasmophobia recently, it’s a great laugh, although it may be replaced by Battlefield 6. And the smaller game has been DLC for Dredge. I really enjoyed the base game, so it’s been great to return to that.

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