Abnormal Mapping

Latest Episodes:

Abnormal Mapping 150: Demon Turf Sep 17, 2023

Show notes

We celebrate a century and a half of excellence this month as we talk about 3D platforming as we take a thorough look at Demon Turf and talk about platforming for sickos, designing games around the expectations of Nintendo Polish, and what that means in terms of expectations and the war within ourselves to appraise a thing.

Demon Turf is really good, if you like 3D platformers, absolutely check it out, it’s something really special! Ambitious in a way few other games in this space are.

Thank you so much as always for listening, please rate and review the podcast, and tell all your friends on whatever social media you call home that they should check us out. See you next month!

Send us questions about our game clubs, other games, or gaming in general to abnormalmappingpodcast@gmail.com!

If you would like to support us please visit patreon.com/abnormalmapping for exclusive podcasts!

Things Discussed: Paradise Killer, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, The Misadventures of Tron Bonne, El Viento, Top Gear 2, Donkey Kong 94, getting into the weeds about Donkey Kong, Demon Turf, 3D Mario games, Spark 3, 3D Sonic games, Lunistice

Next Month’s Game Club: Shenmue

Music this Episode
Blown Away by Kevin MacLeod
Lets Get Porked Up by Fat Bard
Hot N Cold Beats by Fat Bard
Damps Sea Dog Shanty by Fat Bard

Timestamps
(00:00:00) - Segment 1: Games Played
(00:33:30) - Segment 2: Demon Turf
(01:24:45) - Segment 3: Questions

Abnormal Mapping 149: Mega Man Legends Aug 27, 2023

Show notes

We’re back with one of the obvious classics of all time, a game neither of us had played before this month but came like a lighting strike into our lives with its charm and brevity and interesting vision of early 3D RPG design. That’s right, it’s time to servbot up some exploration, with a dash of adventure, you dig? Okay, okay, I’ll stop. Please enjoy!

Thank you so much as always for listening, please rate and review the podcast, and tell all your friends on whatever social media you call home that they should check us out. See you next month!

Send us questions about our game clubs, other games, or gaming in general to abnormalmappingpodcast@gmail.com!

If you would like to support us please visit patreon.com/abnormalmapping for exclusive podcasts!

Things Discussed: Deathsmiles, Prehistoric Isle II, Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, Thronefall, Bowser's Fury, Duke Nukem 3D, Holocure, Venba, En Garde!, go check out Em and Dia playing Gabriel Knight 2 and Flower Sun and Rain!, Mega Man Legends, Ocarina of Time, Metal Gear Solid, Tomb Raider, Metroid Prime, the Mega Man franchise at large, making 3D games from 2D franchises, the reviews of yesteryear

Next Month’s Game Club: Demon Turf

Music this Episode
Another Sun by Makoto Tomozawa
The Main Gate by Makoto Tomozawa
The Apple Market by Makoto Tomozawa
Anata no Kaze ga Fuku Kara by Morishita Reika

Timestamps
(00:00:00) - Segment 1: Games Played
(00:38:39) - Segment 2: Mega Man Legends
(01:16:16) - Segment 3: Questions

Abnormal Mapping 148: Muv Luv Trilogy Aug 03, 2023

Show notes

Em is joined by anime gaming expert Olivia today to talk about a classic of Visual Novels, the Muv Luv trilogy of games! We have a brief RPG checkin first, nothing especially spoiler-heavy so don’t worry if you’re not also 7 games into Kiseki, but the Muv Luv sequence is, of course, exceedingly spoiler heavy by nature.

Thank you so much as always for listening, please rate and review the podcast, and tell all your friends on whatever social media you call home that they should check us out. See you next month!

Send us questions about our game clubs, other games, or gaming in general to abnormalmappingpodcast@gmail.com!

If you would like to support us please visit patreon.com/abnormalmapping for exclusive podcasts!

Things Discussed: Kiseki, Persona, Donkey Kong Country 3, Octopath Traveler 2, Muv Luv Extra, Muv Luv Unlimited, Muv Luv Alternative

This Month’s Game Club: Mega Man Legends

Music This Episode
Muv-Luv by Taku Iwasaki, Hikaru Nanase, Hijiri Anze, et al
Campus Life by Taku Iwasaki, Hikaru Nanase, Hijiri Anze, et al
Creeping Anxiety by Taku Iwasaki, Hikaru Nanase, Hijiri Anze, et al
Asu he no Houkou by JAM Project

(00:00:00) - Segment 1: Games Played
(00:30:30) - Segment 2: Muv Luv
(02:13:00) - Segment 3: Questions

Abnormal Mapping 147: Final Fantasy XVI Jul 23, 2023

Show notes

We’re joined by post-gamer and friend of the show Austin Walker to talk about the latest and greatest in the long running Final Fantasy series. That’s right, it’s Clive time! Join us as we try to grapple with this large action RPG and talk mostly about its story and themes. Some mechanical talk, but this is very writing centric as an episode. Enjoy!

Check out Austin’s podcasts Friends at the Table, A More Civilized Age, and Shelved by Genre! They’re all good!

NOTE: This episode released a bit early, so maybe think about sending in Muv Luv emails if you’re hearing this week of release, okay?

Thank you so much as always for listening, please rate and review the podcast, and tell all your friends on whatever social media you call home that they should check us out. See you next month!

Send us questions about our game clubs, other games, or gaming in general to abnormalmappingpodcast@gmail.com!

If you would like to support us please visit patreon.com/abnormalmapping for exclusive podcasts!

Things Discussed: Lakeburg Legacies, Last Epoch, Valis: The Fantasm Soldier, Castlevania: Rondo of Blood, Top Gear, Final Fantasy XVI, Hollow by Brian Catling

Next Week: A bonus Abnormal Mapping talking about Muv Luv with friend of the show Olivia!

Next Month’s Game Club: Mega Man Legends

Music This Episode
Final Farewells by Nobuo Uematsu & Takafumi Imamura
To Sail Forbidden Seas by Masayoshi Soken
Our Terms by Takafumi Imamura
My Star by Masayoshi Soken

(00:00:00) - Segment 1: Games Played
(00:27:35) - Segment 2: Final Fantasy XVI
(02:02:10) - Segment 3: Questions

Abnormal Mapping 146: Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge Jun 29, 2023

Show notes

We’re joined by blogger of the year and adventure game maestra Dia Lacina to talk about one of the most iconic games of the LucasArts era, Monkey Island 2! There’s plenty of other games besides, but it’s really mostly this one, because it’s worth it.

You can watch Dia play Monkey Island 1 for free HERE, and support her Patreon to watch her play all of Monkey Island 2 right now!

Thank you so much as always for listening, please rate and review the podcast, and tell all your friends on whatever social media you call home that they should check us out. See you next month!

Send us questions about our game clubs, other games, or gaming in general to abnormalmappingpodcast@gmail.com!

If you would like to support us please visit patreon.com/abnormalmapping for exclusive podcasts!

Things Discussed: Diablo 4, Diablo 2 and 3, Dia's review of Diablo 4 for Paste, Em was on Novel Not New to talk about Private Eye Dol (listen on the Scanline Media patreon), Chorus, Plague Tale Requiem, Alone in the Dark, Battlefield Bad Company, Street Fighter 6, Citizen Sleeper, Cyberpunk 2077, Monkey Island 2, Monkey Island, adventure games, Gabriel Knight, Space Quest,

Next Month’s Game Club: Final Fantasy XVI

Music This Episode
Monkey Island 2 Intro Theme by Michael Land
Captain Kate's Boat by Michael Land
The Cemetery by Michael Land
Monkey Island 1 Main Theme by Michael Land

(00:00:00) - Segment 1: Games Played
(00:30:46) - Segment 2: Monkey Island 2
(01:26:53) - Segment 3: Questions

Abnormal Mapping 145: Chrono Cross May 28, 2023

Show notes

We’re joined by special guest Niamh to talk about one of the classics of video game, infamously one of only two games we bailed on playing in history, and one of the once most divisive RPGs of history now mostly considered one of the greats. That’s right we’re revisiting Final Fantasy VIII playing Chrono Cross!

FOR THE TIMELINE AND STORY SUMMARY VIDEO IF YOU NEED IT, CHECK THIS OUT We do NOT summarize the story and assume people are familiar with the plot, for time reasons. Even still it’s one of our longest episodes!

Thank you so much as always for listening, please rate and review the podcast, and tell all your friends on whatever social media you call home that they should check us out. See you next month!

Send us questions about our game clubs, other games, or gaming in general to abnormalmappingpodcast@gmail.com!

If you would like to support us please visit patreon.com/abnormalmapping for exclusive podcasts!

Things Discussed: Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Dynasty Warriors 4, Tears of the Kingdom, Secret of Mana, Kirby's Dream Land 3, Chrono Cross, Radical Dreamers, Chrono Trigger

This Month’s Game Club: Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge

Music This Episode
Scars of Time by Yasunori Mitsuda
Another World by Yasunori Mitsuda
The Girl Who Stole the Stars by Yasunori Mitsuda
Radical Dreamers -Le Tresor Interdit- by Noriko Mitose and Yasunori Mitsuda

Abnormal Mapping 144: Grab Bag (lots of Resident Evil talk) May 25, 2023

Show notes

Em’s been so busy gaming we had to break out segment 1 into its own podcast to spare our Chrono Cross episode the world’s most topheavy structure, but we ended up having a great time. Second half of the pod is all Resident Evil talk if that’s not your speed, but before that is more normal. Spoilers for RE through Village, though!

Thank you so much as always for listening, please rate and review the podcast, and tell all your friends on whatever social media you call home that they should check us out. See you next month!

Send us questions about our game clubs, other games, or gaming in general to abnormalmappingpodcast@gmail.com!

If you would like to support us please visit patreon.com/abnormalmapping for exclusive podcasts!

Things Discussed: the (at the time) upcoming Sony show, Until Dawn, the Ranged Touch LP for Until Dawn, Ridge Racer Type 4, Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos, Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom, Final Fight, Flowers - Le volume sur printemps, Marvel's Avengers, Pokemon Emerald Rogue, a fake Xbox "E3" leak we found hilarious, Resident Evil 2 Remake, Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3 Remake, Resident Evil 3, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and its DLCs, Resident Evil: Village and its DLC

This Month’s Game Club: Chrono Cross

Music This Episode
Prologue Theme by Ryuichi Nitta & Mayuko Okamura
Urban Fragments by Kohta Takahashi feat. Kimara Lovelace
Ending Theme 2 by Ryuichi Nitta & Mayuko Okamura

Abnormal Mapping 143: Potion Craft Apr 27, 2023

Show notes

We’re back to talk about a small game about chilling out and brewing potions and what it says for the act of gaming itself to engage in a relaxing sort of simulated labor. There’s a whole world of games out there we don’t really touch on, and it was nice to brush up against it for once. Also, as usual, lots of gaming talk in general.

Thank you so much as always for listening, please rate and review the podcast, and tell all your friends on whatever social media you call home that they should check us out. See you next month!

Send us questions about our game clubs, other games, or gaming in general to abnormalmappingpodcast@gmail.com!

If you would like to support us please visit patreon.com/abnormalmapping for exclusive podcasts!

Things Discussed: Tears of the Kingdom, Resident Evil 2, Jackson was on Journal Updated for Return of the Obra Dinn, Returnal, Saya no Uta, Atelier Sophie, Potion Craft, busywork games, modding games for your own enjoyment, getting grounded from games, controller memory, questions about potions, gaming during climate change

This Month's Game Club: Potion Craft

Next Month’s Game Club: Chrono Cross

Music This Episode
The Front Hall by Masami Ueda, Shusaku Uchiyama, and Syun Nishigaki
Campanella of Sun Through Trees by Ryudai Abe, Daisuke Achiwa, Hayato Asano, et al
Song of Saya II by ZIZZ STUDIO
Liela Xea by Ryudai Abe, Daisuke Achiwa, Hayato Asano, et al

Abnormal Mapping 142: Mutazione Mar 30, 2023

Show notes

We’re back with a normal episode of Abnormal Mapping as we dig into our backlog a bit and then talk about a very low key narrative adventure game and have a pleasant time digging into gardening, melodrama, and narratives about guilt and responsibility.

Thank you so much as always for listening, please rate and review the podcast, and tell all your friends on whatever social media you call home that they should check us out. See you next month!

Send us questions about our game clubs, other games, or gaming in general to abnormalmappingpodcast@gmail.com!

If you would like to support us please visit patreon.com/abnormalmapping for exclusive podcasts!

Things Discussed: Resident Evil at large, Muv Luv, Final Fantasy Mystic Quest, Hi-Fi Rush, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin (spoiler talk ends at 36:00, Jackson's Paste piece they reference, Frogun, Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, Return of the Obra Dinn, Saya no Uta, Mutazione, limited edition consoles, memories of playing games, gardening vs farming in games, A Good Gardener, Dia's LP of Space Quest with Em

This Month's Game Club: Mutazione

Next Month’s Game Club: Potion Craft

Music This Episode
Title Theme by Alessandro Coronas
Long Song by Alessandro Coronas
The Trip by Alessandro Coronas
My Way by Frank Sinatra

Abnormal Mapping 141: Phantasy Star 1-4 Mar 07, 2023

Show notes

On this very special episode Em is joined by Dia Lacina and Emrys to talk about Sega’s iconic JRPG franchise Phantasy Star. We talk about the banging soundtrack, the innovations it brings to the genre, and the ways it has been forgotten by time. Because it’s four games, it’s a little lighter than usual, but it was great to settle in and talk about these truly fantastic games.

For reference, the versions of Phantasy Stars Em used and recommends:
Sega Ages Phantasy Star for Nintendo Switch
Phantasy Star II Improvement by FlamePurge
Phantasy Star III Retranslated by R. Capowski, Peaches, and lory1990
Phantasy Star IV General Improvement by Fauntleroy

Thank you so much as always for listening, please rate and review the podcast, and tell all your friends on whatever social media you call home that they should check us out. See you next month!

Send us questions about our game clubs, other games, or gaming in general to abnormalmappingpodcast@gmail.com!

If you would like to support us please visit patreon.com/abnormalmapping for exclusive podcasts!

This Month's Game Club: Mutazione

Music This Episode
Phantasy Star 2 Title Screen by Tokuhiko Uwabo
Phantasy Star 3 Title Screen by Izuho Numata
PS3 Town Theme by Izuho Numata
PS3 Overworld 1 by Izuho Numata
PS3 Battle Losing by Izuho Numata
PS3 Wren Transforming by Izuho Numata
Phantasy Star 4 Machine Center by Izuho Numata and Masaki Nakagaki
Phantasy Star 4 Credits Theme by Izuho Numata and Masaki Nakagaki

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