The Besties

A Look Back at 2023 with the TGAs (and the GTAs) Dec 08, 2023

Join us for a look back at this year's biggest games through the lens of the annual The Game Awards show, and as we make some pretty out-there predictions about the announcements we'll see therein. Also, there's a new Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer! That's pretty wild, isn't it?

Also discussed: Lunacid, Teardown, Baldur's Gate 3, The Steam Deck OLED, PlayStation Portal, Bottoms, Lil Gator Game

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2023 Indies You Might Have Missed Dec 01, 2023

On this extra special episode of The Besties, the gang brings forth some truly excellent games from smaller devs that may have passed you by.

Games discussed: Kingdom Eighties, Jusant, Lunacid, Backpack Hero, among others. We've also got some great suggestions from the readers! For the full list, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter at besties.fan.

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The lost hour of Half-Life [Resties] Nov 28, 2023

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Half-Life, Valve updated the original game, released a documentary, and ran a brief PR victory lap. The standout achievement of the anniversary is the excavation of Half-Life Uplink, the original demo that crammed all of the game's big ideas into a 30-60 gauntlet of action. It's the antithesis of Half-Life's artful, but slow start. And it rules. In the back half of the episode, Frushtick and Plante talk about their surprising enjoyment of the Meta Quest 3. But does it have enough games? Get links to everything discussed on this week's episode by subscribing to our newsletter at Besties.fan!

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Super Mario RPG's Super Faithful Remake (feat. Felicia Day) Nov 24, 2023

Nearly 30 years ago, Nintendo and Square teamed up for one of the wildest collabs in gaming history: A turn-based RPG adventure featuring everyone's favorite blue collar jumping man. How well does the remake, now on Nintendo Switch, fare? Well, that's what we're talking about today with our pal, Felicia Day.

Also discussed: Third Eye, Scavengers Reign, Heroes vs. Hordes, Teardown, The National Museum of American History, Vampire Survivors, Naheulbeuk's Dungeon Master, Suika Game

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You'll Never See Persona 5 Tactica Comin' Nov 17, 2023

Persona 5 has been reborn! For like the millionth time. For this iteration, we've got the XCOM-meets-JRPG fusion of Persona 5 Tactica. Let's find out how great these two great flavors taste together!

Also discussed: Final Fantasy XIV, Pokeclicker, Good Omens Season 2, Halls of Torment, Our Flag Means Death Season 2, GUBBINS, A Haunting in Venice, Napoleon

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Two new games to play with friends! [Resties] Nov 14, 2023

It's the special time of year when families gather together to eat turkey, watch football, and play video games. With perfect timing, two new local (and online) multiplayer treats have appeared on digital store shelves. We open the episode with Alien Hominid Invasion, a sequel of sorts to the beloved '00s Flash game Alien Hominid. For the B-segment, we bump and bounce around KarmaZoo, a beginner-friendly co-op game that allows for up to 10 players -- and features a special local multiplayer mode! Plus, we open the reader mail bag, then share a classic Ghibli movie and a bold Ghibli adaptation. Get links to everything we discuss and much more by joining our newsletter at besties.fan or https://thebesties.substack.com/

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Eating Snakes and Frogs with Metal Gear Solid 3 Nov 10, 2023

Our retrospective series on Hideo Kojima's oftentimes inscrutable spy thriller franchise continues today, as we discuss the highs and lows of jungle espionage in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. How does this pre-sequel hold up almost 20 years after its original release? Let's find out, together!

Also discussed: Alan Wake 2, Super Mario Maker 2, Warcraft Rumble, Chants of Senaar, Rogue: Genesia, Like a Dragon: Gaiden

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Alan Wake 2 is Weirder Than You Could Possibly Imagine Nov 03, 2023

Thirteen years ago, a troubled fictional author by the name of Alan Wake stumbled into our hearts, yelling about shadow monsters and nightmares made manifest. Now he's back, and he's got a friend! What's changed in the intervening decade-plus-change? And how much of the original Alan Wake do we remember? (Hint: Literally none of it.)

Also discussed: Venture Bros.: Radiant is the Blood of the Bamboo Heart, Sea of Stars, The Sisters Brothers, Paranorman, Death Stranding, Shadow of Doubt

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A Halloween video game treat [Resties] Oct 31, 2023

Happy Halloween! This week, The Resties celebrate the spooky season with World of Horror, the Japanese horror game inspired by retro text adventures and the artist Junji Ito. Plus, we shine the spotlight on Laika: Aged Through Blood, a game that's as gorey as it is cute. Find all the games discussed on the show by subscribing to our newsletter at besties.fan!

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Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a Trip and a Half Oct 27, 2023

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a wild ride, y'all. Mario can turn into an elephant, sure, but that's like, the tenth weirdest thing that happens as you progress through the game. What other tricks does everyone's favorite toilet repairman have up his sleeve? Find out inside!

Also discussed: Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Insomniac’s Wolverine, Death Stranding 2, Ghost of Tsushima 2, Last of Us Factions multiplayer, Last of Us 2 Remaster, Marathon, the works of Jason Rohrer, the Stanley Parable, Pokemon Unbound, World of Horror, Sea of Stars, Dungeons of Eternity, Wizard with a Gun

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Marvel's Spider-Man 2 vs. Literally Every Other Spider-Man Game Oct 20, 2023

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is a triumph, boasting double the standard number of Spiders-Men playable in a single installment of this long, storied franchise. But is it better than literally every other Spider-Man game? Let's find out by comparing them one at a time, shall we?

Also discussed: The Way of Kings, Killers of the Flower Moon, Teardown Art Vandals DLC, Super Mario Wonder

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The perfect cozy games for fall [Resties] Oct 17, 2023

It's that time of the year when the temperature drops, the cider heats up, and the comfy blankets beckon. Yes, it's Cozy Games Season! Frushtick and Plante kickoff the festivities with Japanese Rural Life Adventure and then list some of their favorite cozy delights. In the back half, the Resties discuss Moonring, one of the year's coolest surprises. Did we mention it's free? Subscribe to our newsletter at besties.fan for the titles of everything discussed on the show along with bonus links!

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Assassin's Creed Mirage Fills Us With Nostabgia (feat. Ron Funches) Oct 13, 2023

See, "nostabgia" is the experience of feeling nostalgia for an old-timey way of stabbing, which Assassin's Creed Mirage revels in. It's a return to sneaky form for the franchise, but how well do the old ways hold up? Let's find out with beloved guestie, Ron Funches!

Also discussed: Chants of Sennaar, Pokemon TCG Live, "Shift," "Audienceology," Resident Evil 4: Separate Ways, Keith Haring Exhibit at the Brode

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The Besties Indie Game Roundup - Fall 2023 Edition Oct 06, 2023

Running out of games to play? That's wild, because there's a LOT of good stuff out there, but on the off chance that applies to you, we've got you covered! Join us as we discuss some of our favorite indie jams of the past few months; regardless of what genres you're into, you'll find something you like here, we bet!

Games discussed: Blasphemous 2, El Paso Elsewhere, Chants of Sennaar, Pizza Possum, Japanese Rural Life Adventure, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, Satisfye Grips, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, Apple Arcade

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Cocoon is like a puzzle game made by Valve [Resties] Oct 03, 2023

Yes, Portal is technically a puzzle game made by Valve, but it mixes in the FPS genre. Cocoon is a puzzle-ass puzzle game. You play as a bug buddy who must zip in and out of universes contained within beautiful orbs that the critter can carry on its back like an adorable, spherical backpack. Or to put it plainly: You use carriable cosmos to solve puzzles. It's amazing -- and surprisingly easy to follow. In the back half, we discuss No One Will Save You, a new alien invasion movie exclusive to Hulu that reminds us a lot of Limbo and Inside. Find everything else we discuss -- plus links -- at besties.fan or https://thebesties.substack.com/.

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Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty is the Ultimate Make-Good Sep 29, 2023

We can't believe it either: Cyberpunk 2077, a game we tore a new one when it first launched in 2020, is GOOD now. Like, really good. Find out what's so great about its new Phantom Liberty expansion, and what players can expect from the new 2.0 update!

Also discussed: Sea of Stars, Blasphemous 2, No One Will Save You, Cyberpunk Edgerunners, Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead

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Lies of P is the Pinocchio Souls-like We Never Knew We Needed Sep 22, 2023

In a year full of surprise sleeper hits, Lies of P might just be the most surprising -- Pinocchio trappings and ridiculous title aside, it's one of the most solid replications of the Souls formula we've ever played. Join us for a discussion of what sets it apart from other entries in the genre. (Hint: It's the P-Organ.)

Also discussed: Remains of the Day, Sea of Stars, Hammerwatch 2, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet DLC, Stray Gods, Inland Empire, Willie Nelson

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Gunbrella is a gun that's an umbrella [Resties] Sep 19, 2023

The goal of Gunbrella is to find those responsible for your wife's death by wielding the murder weapon: a gun that turns into an umbrella. Of course this isn't any umbrella. It can block bullets, zip you into the sky, and grind rails like a pro skater. We really enjoyed the developer's previous game, Gato Roboto; can Gunbrella take their talents another step forward? In the second half, we make sense of this month's big video game industry controversy: Unity's baffling decision to change its payment structure, infuriating tons of developers and potentially causing a glut of delays as designers move their games to new engines. See a full list of everything discussed on the episode (plus links!) at Besties.fan.

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Sea of Stars Won Over the Most Unlikely Bestie Sep 15, 2023

This week's game, the classic JRPG-inspired Sea of Stars, seems like it'd be up the alley of a couple of this podcast's humble hosts, and definitely not up the alley of some others. Well, guess again, buckaroo! Because it's got crossover appeal that we absolutely did not see coming.

Also discussed: Karateka, Baldur's Gate 3, Fae Farm, Game Changers: The Video Game Revolution, The Beauty of Games, The Faculty, Who Shat On the Floor at My Wedding

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Armored Core 6 Makes us Love Mechs All Over Again Sep 08, 2023

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon might have one of the video game-iest ass titles in the history of games, but that doesn't stop it from being an absolute barn-burner of a mecha action game. Join us as we dive into our history with the series, and extol the virtues of the demo discs of yore.

Also discussed: Starfield, No Man's Sky, Baldur's Gate 3, The Righteous Gemstones

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Two great games: one new, one old Sep 05, 2023

Starfield inspired Frushtick to take a ship deep into the cosmos of No Man's Sky. After seven years and tons of updates, the sci-fi game is a stunning alternative for people who crave the awesomeness of space more than the dramatics of a traditional RPG. We also talk about the fantastic Shadow Gambit, a stealth tactics game for everybody -- not just fans of the genre. Also discussed: Retro Bowl and Only Weird Games. For more info and links to all games, follow our newsletter besties.fan.

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Starfield Didn't Exactly Send Us to the Moon Sep 01, 2023

Todd and the gang have cooked up another big ol' game for us: The outer space frontier explorin', space ship buildin', dude blastin' open world RPG known as Starfield. How well does Bethesda's formula apply to the infinite cosmos? We have some thoughts.

Also discussed: No Man's Sky, New World, Finity

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THERE'S TOO MANY GOOD GAMES OUT PLEASE HELP Aug 25, 2023

This episode is just wall-to-wall, chock-a-block full of new and upcoming games! We're talking Armored Core 6! Fae Farm! Blasphemous 2! Stray Gods! Just, like, too many for one episode, but we done did it anyways!

Also discussed: YEAH, YOU WANT THOSE GAMES, RIGHT? SO, HERE YOU GO! NOW LET'S SEE YOU CLEAR THEM!, Doomsday Hunters, En Garde, Baldur's Gate 3, Unlock!, Robodunk, New World

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The Video Game Required Reading List: 1990-1994 [The Resties] Aug 22, 2023

It's the penultimate episode of The Resties Required Reading List! If this is your first entry, don't worry. It's easy to hop on. Our goal is to curate a "must-play" list of 25 games released between 1980 to 2020. Think of it like Video Games 101. This week, we've selected games from 1990-1994. Time to be little kids again! For the full list of games discussed on the episode, along with our previous picks for the list, visit besties.fan.

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Hammerwatch II, and Much More Baldur's Gate 3 Aug 18, 2023

This week, we're pivoting a little bit, which is honestly what us Besties do Best. First off, a little bit about the perplexing choices of Hammerwatch II — but then, who's that coming over the top rope?! It's Justin, who missed our first chat about Baldur's Gate 3, and is ready to dunk down with his own opinions!

Also discussed: The Nonary Games, The Sexy Brutale, The Forgotten City, Outer Wilds, Minit, The Legend of Zelda, Wool

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Baldur's Gate 3 is Just Unbelievably Good Aug 11, 2023

Baldur's Gate 3 has been a long time coming, and boy howdy, it does not disappoint. How well has Larian Studios adapted the D&D 5E tabletop experience into the digital realm, and how many ways can you mess with your friends in the game's incredibly robust co-op offering? Find out inside!

Also discussed: TMNT: Mutant Mayhem, Oppenheimer, THE FIRST SLAM DUNK

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The new Double Dragon is a summer surprise! Aug 08, 2023

Double Dragon helped popularize the beat 'em-up genre in 1980s arcades, but over the following decades, the series fell into irrelevance. Recently, the publisher handed the rights to an indie developer with a knack for pixelated combat. The result is Double Dragon Gaiden, a clever twist on the genre with a small army of playable characters. In the second half of the episode, Frushtick and Plante pick their combined six favorite beat 'em-ups! Subscribe to our newsletter at besties.fan for a full list of every game, movie, TV show, and book discussed on the podcast along with links and bonus materials!!

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Disney Illusion Island's Clever, Kid-Friendly Contrivances Aug 04, 2023

Disney Illusion Island might not be the most mechanically complex platformer to grace modern consoles, but what it lacks in depth it more than makes up for with systems to ease in younger, less nimble-fingered players. We're talking all about it, and also tierlisting all the Mickeyverse characters for some reason.

Also discussed: Chrono Cross: Radical Dreamers Edition, Mia and the Dragon Princess, Good Omens Season 2, Chip and Dale Park Life

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Pikmin 4 and the Art of Little Space Guy Farming Jul 28, 2023

There's never been a better time to hop aboard the Pikmin train! What does Pikmin 4 add (and subtract) to make it the series most digestible entry to date? Also, how well does a classic DS Match 3 RPG hold up in 2023?

Also discussed: Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes - Definitive Edition, Gravity Circuit, Luck Be a Landlord iOS, Chrono Cross Remastered, UN Squadron, Ridiculous Fishing EX, Matinee, Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits, Zoey Punches the Future in the Dick

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Ridiculous Fishing EX is ridiculously good [Resties] Jul 25, 2023

This week, the Resties dive deep into the waters of Ridiculous Fishing EX, an exceptional update of the brilliant decade-old mobile game. They also take a tour of Remnant 2, the sequel to "Dark Souls with guns." For the full list of games and much more, subscribe to the Besties/Resties newsletter at besties.fan!

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Taking All the Best Pics with Viewfinder Jul 21, 2023

This week, we're diving into the Portal-esque Viewfinder, a game all about taking photos and then using those photos to, well ... it's hard to explain in the description of a podcast. We also talk about some of our favorite photography moments in games.

For the full list of games we talked about on this episode, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter, which can be found at besties.fan. (We sometimes drop free game codes in there, as well!)

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Let's Spoil the Hell Out of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom! Jul 14, 2023

Consider this your official warning: If you haven't finished Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom yet, you might wanna just give this one a skiperoo until later -- unless you don't care about that kind of stuff, of course. Today's discussion is a no holds barred, spoiler-filled look at the year's best game so far!

Also discussed: Paranormasight, Trust, Marie Antoinette

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BattleBit and what to play next on Switch [Resties] Jul 11, 2023

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BattleBit Remastered plays like Battlefield, looks like Robolox, and is one of the most technically impressive indie games of all time. Frushtick and Plante do their best to survive the virtual war ground while explaining how this little miracle came to be. In the back half, the pair pick six Switch games you should try after Tears of the Kingdom. Games discussed: 13 Sentinels, Shin chan: Me and the Professor on Summer Vacation The Endless Seven-Day Journey, Tinykin, Cadence of Hyrule, Immortals, Fenix Rising, Tunic, Final Fantasy 16, Laya’s Horizon, Mars First Logistics, and BattleBit Remastered. Frushtick also talks about his time with the Razer Moray IEMs.

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The Best Games of the First Half of 2023! Jul 07, 2023

We're halfway done with this great experiment we call 2023, and hot dang, there's been some certified club bangers in the mix, huh? We're spending this episode going over the best of the best, the biggest blanks in our backlog, and the most anticipated titles still to come!

Games discussed: Fire Emblem Engage, Dead Space, HiFi Rush, Metroid Prime Remastered, Like a Dragon Isshin, Wo Long, Resident Evil 4 Remake, Have a Nice Death, Dredge, Pizza Tower, Tchia, Paranormasight, Rusted Moss, Mr. Sun's Hatbox, Meet Your Maker, Dead Island 2, Star Wars Jedi Survivor, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Boltgun, Laya's Horizon, Diablo 4, Street Fighter 6, Final Fantasy XVI, Super Mega Baseball 4, Mars First Loigistics, Battlebit Remastered, Honkai Star Rail, Master Detective Archives: Rain Code, Shoulders of Giants, Sun Haven, The Caped Crusade, Starfield Controller, Past Lives, King Kong, Siren: Survive the Island

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Final Fantasy 16 and Mario Trips Balls Jun 30, 2023

On this episode of The Besties, the gang dive into the massive new RPG, Final Fantasy 16, what with its F-bombs and Mothercrystals. We're also discussing Nintendo's latest Direct presentation, which featured one of the most ridiculous Mario trailers ever.

Other games discussed: Detective Pikachu Returns, Super Mario RPG, Wario Ware Move It, Super Mario Bros Wonder, Mythforce, Diablo 4, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Asteroid City (the movie)

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The Video Game Required Reading List: 2015-2020 [The Resties] Jun 27, 2023

The Resties Required Reading List continues with games from 2015-2020. Yes, dear listener, it's time to pick some games that you've probably played -- and that we've definitely discussed!

Our goal is to curate a "must-play" list of 25 games released between 1980 to 2020. Think of it like Video Games 101. Where do modern hits fit into a list of all-time classics? Let's find out!

Previous picks:

85-89 - Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, SimCity

95-99 - Super Mario 64, Pokemon Red and Blue, Final Fantasy 7, Starcraft

00-04: Counter-Strike, GTA3, WoW

05-09 - Resident Evil 4, Wii Sports, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Demon’s Souls

10-14 - Minecraft, Spelunky HD, Hearthstone

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System Shock Remake and a Bunch of Gaming News! Jun 16, 2023

This week, what’s old is new again in System Shock Remake — and what’s new is ALSO new, by which we mean a bunch of stuff got announced during the recent slate of summertime gaming press conferences. Let’s talk about all of it!

Also discussed: My House, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Diablo 4, Jury Duty

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Boltgun is a time machine to '90s gaming [Resties] Jun 13, 2023

Boltgun is the latest game in the Warhammer 40k universe. But good news: you don't need to know a single thing about Warhammer to enjoy this little surprise. In fact, this new shooter will more likely click with fans of Doom, Quake, and Duke Nukem. We dig into the latest "boomer shooter," and then reminisce about the early days of the FPS. Was Plante accidentally buying pirated games? Can Frush explain shareware? Learn the answers to those questions and more on this week's episode of The Resties.

Discussed on the show: Boltgun, Wolfenstein 3D, Rise of the Triad, Doom, Hexen, Toy Story, Chex Quest, Super Mega Baseball 4, and the NYXI Wizard Wireless Joypad for Switch.

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Diablo 4 Lets You Smash Demons and Loneliness (feat. Ron Funches!) Jun 09, 2023

We invited frequent Bestie and renowned demonologist Ron Funches to help us break down Diablo 4, a therapeutic loot-grinder for casuals and lonely hearts alike! Also discussed: Across the Spider-Verse, The Holy Mountain, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

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Street Fighter 6 is Shockingly Absolutely Our Jam Jun 02, 2023

We weren't really sure if we'd have much to say about Street Fighter 6, given our lack of experience in the fighting game scene. Fortunately for us, it features an open-world single player mode that is the most unapologetically goofy thing ever.

We're chatting all about World Tour mode, as well as: Zelda Tears of the Kingdom, Barry, Succession, And a Bunch of Arcade Classics

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The big game announcements of the summer [Resties] May 30, 2023

E3 is dead. Now what? Without one video game event to rule them all, video game publishers are trying a variety of approaches. This week, Sony held its big digital event, showing a bundle of games coming to PlayStation hardware, including a lengthy gameplay clip from Spider-Man 2. Ubisoft also released a trailer for its new Assassin's Creed. What should we make of this news? And what we can expect from the upcoming announcements from Xbox and others? The Resties have the answers!

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The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Roundtable, Part Two May 26, 2023

Welcome back! We're diving a little deeper into The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom this week, chatting about our first dungeon experience, our spooky time in the depths and our general feelings about the game before we move on to the next big title.

Also discussed: A Matter of Life and Death, Sisu, Barry

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The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Roundtable, Part One May 19, 2023

It's Here! The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has been out for a week, and in that time we, like you, have flung approximately three dozen Koroks to their deaths. But how's the rest of the game? Spoiler alert: (Very good.)

Also discussed: Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

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Rusted Moss's grappling hook rules [Resties] May 16, 2023

Yes, it's Zelda week, but we still need some time to play Link's new adventure before we share our opinions. In the meantime, we want to spotlight a delightful new game that most folks missed. Rusted Moss gives the Metroidvania genre the one thing it needs: a killer grappling hook. We also talk about the Asus ROG Ally, the first legitimate Steam Deck competitor. Honorable mentions: PHoop Dreams, Blackberry, and Breath of the Wild.

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The Best Mobile Games Out Right Now (Oh, and Zelda) May 12, 2023

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is out today, which probably means you're playing it right now and not necessarily in a podcast listening mood. Hey, we get it. We're in the same boat, probably, since we didn't get early access. We chat a bit about Zelda in this one, but mostly, we're focused on the glut of great mobile games that have dropped over the past few months!

Also discussed: TMNT: Splintered Fate, What the Car, 10 Dates, Zen Pinball: Garfield Table, Honkai Star Rail, Grand Mountain Adventure, Resident Evil 4, Rusted Moss, ROG Ally, Jury Duty, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Bull, 3000 Years of Longing

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Ranking Star Wars Jedi: Survivor's Nastiest Little Mustaches May 05, 2023

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor brings back Cal Kestis for another interstellar romp, blending Souls-like combat and Uncharted-like exploration in great measures. How has his Jedi technique evolved in the intervening years since Fallen Order? And what's like, the grossest facial hair you can unlock?

Also discussed: Meet Your Maker, Are You There God It's Me Margaret, Have a Nice Death, Psychonauts 2

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The Video Game Required Reading List: 2000-2004 [The Resties] May 02, 2023

The Resties Required Reading List is back, baby! Our goal is to curate a "must-play" list of 25 games released between 1980 to 2020. Think of it like Video Games 101. This week, we've selected games from 2000-2004. Join us as we revisit our high school and college days of video games! Previous picks -- 1985-89: Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, SimCity. 1995-99: Super Mario 64, Pokemon Red and Blue, Final Fantasy 7, Starcraft. 2005-09: Resident Evil 4, Wii Sports, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare; 2010-14: Minecraft, Spelunky HD, Hearthstone.

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Taking On the World With Advance Wars And Beyond Apr 28, 2023

We're taking a trip back through time with the remake of Advance Wars 1 and 2: Re-Boot Camp. Also, Griffin took a trip into the world of Tron at Disney and is here to share how he feels about being digitized.

Also discussed: Meet Your Maker, Have a Nice Death, Rusted Moss, Beau is Afraid, Spirited Away: Live on Stage, Resident Evil 4 Remake.

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A Bizarre Marriage of MGS5 and Spleunky (feat. Steven Spohn) Apr 21, 2023

From outta nowhere comes one of the weirder titles we've played this year: Mr Sun's Hatbox, a "slapstick roguelike." Joining us to discuss is Steven Spohn, the Senior Director of Development at Able Gamers.

Also on the episode: Dead Island 2, Meet Your Maker, The Strange (Ballingrud), Red Rising (Brown), My Neighbor Totoro, and much more!

For more information about the Able Gamers Gala, head over to: https://ablegamers.org/gala/

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We broke Crab Champions in the best way [Resties] Apr 18, 2023

Crab Champions is this season's unexpected Steam phenomenon. The $10 shooter-roguelike is based on a music video and delivers bluntly on the promise of its title. You play as a crab that seeks to be the champion by obliterating rival crustaceans and critters with a variety of military weaponry. The more you win, the more powerful you make your crab until you're reigning hellfire on these little unlikely targets. We broke the game on our first try. And that ruled. Plus, we dig deep into the mailbag to answer your questions!

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The Super Mario Bros. Movie? Mamma Mia, What a Film! Apr 14, 2023

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is out, which you already know, because everyone on Earth saw it and it made a bajillion dollars. Do you want to know what we thought about it? We're assuming so, because you're reading this. Great! Let's jam.

Also discussed: Psychonauts 2, Dark Souls 3, Brotato, Resident Evil 4 Remake

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Diving Into the Best Games of Q1 Apr 07, 2023

With the first three months of the year behind us, we're taking a beat to discuss our favorite games so far, and there've been a lot. Did you know there's a Peaky Blinders VR game??

Games discussed: Dredge, Sea of Thieves, Hi-Fi Rush, Yakuza: Ishin, RE4 Remake, Forward: Escape the Fold, Paranormasight, Dead Space, Metroid Prime: Remastered, Octopath Traveler 2, Tchia, You Must Build a Boat, Dark Souls 3, Brotato Premium, Minecraft: Caves and Cliffs Soundtrack

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Dredge and Octopath Traveler 2 rule! [Resties] Apr 04, 2023

Dredge is one of 2023's best surprises, a fishing adventure mixed with Lovecraftian horror. Don't worry though: it's not too scary. In fact, Dredge's much more interested in the fishing aspect than you might expect from a game marketed around cosmic terror. Plus, Plante has become obsessed with Octopath Traveler 2. How does someone who dislikes turn-based combat fall in love with this sort of game? And is it recommended for everyone or just people who love RPGs? All that and more on this week's Resties!

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Resident Evil 4 Remake Has a Lot of Nice Things, Stranger Mar 31, 2023

After glancing off the subject our last couple of episodes, we're finally ready to dive deep into Capcom's latest rejuvenation of their classic survival horror franchise, Resident Evil 4 Remake. Also, how buckwild does Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom look?!

Also discussed: Octopath Traveler 2, Dredge, Psychodyssey

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Metal Gear Solid 2's Great Switcheroo Mar 24, 2023

This week, we're joined by GameSpot's Tamoor Hussain to discuss the second installment in the Metal Gear Solid series. How well does the game's AI-controlled vision of the future match up with our own reality two decades later? Also, what's Raiden's whole deal? Like, what's he even DOING here?

Also discussed: Diablo IV beta, You Must Build a Boat, Destiny 2, Octopath Traveler 2, ForeTales, There is No Game: Wrong Dimension, Dark Souls 3, Resident Evil 4 Remake, Dredge

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The best gaming documentary of all time [The Resties] Mar 21, 2023

A few weeks ago, game developer Double Fine surprise-dropped a 22-hour documentary about the seven-year creation of Psychnoauts 2. At least that's the premise on paper. In reality, the stunning TV-length doc is a fearless look inside the day-to-day life of a video game studio -- warts and all. The documentarians, employed by Double Fine, have unprecedented access to practically every person and room . Frush and Plante talk about the series, called Double Fine PsychOdyssey, along with The Last of Us TV adaptation. Plus, a delightful new retro gaming book is a perfect gift for video game newcomers.

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Dead Cells, Sea of Thieves and More From the Grab Bag Mar 17, 2023

In lieu of some big blockbuster release to discuss this week, we've decided to once again firmly grip the handles of the grab bag and upend it all over the dang place.

Games n' stuff discussed include: Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania, Destiny 2: Lightfall, Patch Quest, Sea of Thieves, Pizza Tower, Chained Echoes, Octopath Traveler 2

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Wo Long and Destiny 2: Lightfall Are Very Different Games! Mar 10, 2023

The boys gather to discuss an interesting Souls-like from the Ninja Gaiden team in Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, and Justin attempts to reignite his passions for the world of Destiny with the latest expansion, Lightfall.

Also discussed: Better Call Saul, Johnny Mnemonic, and a smidge of Fortnite for good measure.

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The original Mario movie is totally bonkers [Resties] Mar 07, 2023

The Super Mario Bros. Movie hits theaters next month, but before you see Chris Pratt's rendition of the plumber, why not revisit the original Mario movie? Yes, it's time to watch the all-but-lost 1993 cult classic, starring Bob Hoskins as Mario Mario, John Leguizamo as Luigi Mario, and Dennis Hopper as Bowser. Considering the difficulty of finding a copy of Nintendo's wild first foray into film, our recap and breakdown may be the closest you come to a trip to Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel's Blade Runner-inspired version of the Mushroom Kingdom.

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Kirby's Return to Dream Land Saved Chris Plante's Life Mar 03, 2023

Sometimes, in our hour of greatest need, a hero comes down like a shining beam of light from the heavens to save us. Sometimes, that hero is pink and round, and eats like a million owls and rabbits and stuff, like Kirby does in Kirby's Return to Dream Land.

Also discussed: Pokemon Sleep, Destiny 2: Lightfall, Bloody Hell, Paranormasight

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Revisiting Metal Gear Solid's Weird Game Boy Color Port Feb 24, 2023

We continue our dive into the great and stealthy works of Solid Snake this week, as we've recently played Metal Gear Solid: Ghost Babel on the Game Boy Color. Does it hold up? We should probably stop asking that question of these things.

Also discussed: Atomic Heart, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Destiny 2, Physical: 100, Analogue Pocket

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New Yakuza and the best Game Boy games on Switch [Resties] Feb 21, 2023

The Yakuza series has a new name. "Like a Dragon" is a literal translation of the original Japanese title Ryu Ga Gotoku. Returning to where things started fits the latest release: a remaster of Like a Dragon: Ishin, an action-heavy spin-off set in the Late Edo. The historical setting and standalone story make Ishin a compelling starting point for a series we love. For the back half of the episode, Frush and Plante share their recommendations for listeners preparing to dive into the Game Boy and GBA games now available on Nintendo Switch Online.

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Metroid Prime Remastered Proves that Metroid Prime Still Rules Feb 17, 2023

Just one week after our episode about surprise game releases, Nintendo went ahead and stealth-dropped a remastered version of the classic GameCube Space Pirate-slaying Simulator, Metroid Prime. But is it still fun after almost 20 years and an intensive graphical spit shine? I mean, yeah, we said as much in the title.

Also discussed: PSVR2, Forward: Escape the Fold, 20 Minutes Until Dawn, Knotwords, Dick Tracy

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Hi-Fi Rush Surprise Drops its Way Into Our Hearts Feb 10, 2023

Nothing's better than when you don't know that a game exists, and then POOF! It's just right there on the homepage of whatever digital games distributor you use to get new games. Even better? When it's super fun, like Tango Gameworks' rhythm-based beat-em-up, Hi-Fi Rush!

Also discussed: Forward: Escape the Fold, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Physical: 100, Rock Band, Guitar Hero, DJ Hero, Season, Letterkenny, 20 Minutes Until Dawn

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2023 is already full of great games [The Resties] Feb 07, 2023

We expected 2023 to be an incredible year for video games with Zelda and Starfield on the calendar. However, we didn't expect to have so many great games by early February. This week, we talk about Hitman's incredible "Freelancer" DLC and the meditative experience collection game Season. Plus, Nuclear Blaze and our favorite language-learning app: Busuu.

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It's Necromorphin' Time with Dead Space Feb 03, 2023

Join us as we revisit the USG Ishimura, the pride of Earth's planet-cracking operations and, also, the extremely monster-infested setting of EA's remake of their classic survival horror title Dead Space. Does it still hold up some 15 years after its initial release? (Spoiler alert: Yes. Yes it does.)

Also discussed: Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Mario 64, Half-Life, Fable, Burnout 3: Takedown, Metal Gear Solid, Metroid Prime, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Freelancer, Time's Ours, You Pod to Win the Game, My Perfect Console, Teardown, Vampire Survivors, Paul T. Goldman, The Traitors, Yakuza: Like a Dragon

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Putting a Ring On It With Fire Emblem Engage Jan 27, 2023

Intelligent Systems' long-running series of strategy-RPGs gets even longer this week with the release of Fire Emblem Engage! Join us as we discuss the evolved tactics in this new installment, as well as the ethics of trapping ghost soldiers in Cracker Jack prize rings.

Also discussed: IGF Award Nominees, Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On, Futureport 82, &Juliet

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Better Know a Dungeon! (Plus, Persona 3-5!) [The Resties] Jan 24, 2023

Today we're trying a new format called Better Know a Dungeon (a.k.a. Isn't It Levely). We pick an iconic stage or dungeon and perform an autopsy, revealing what makes it magical. For our experiment, we've selected Elden Ring's Stormveil Castle. For the back half, we help you pick which Persona to play, now that Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5 are widely available.

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Revisiting Metal Gear Solid Jan 20, 2023

To kind-of-celebrate the almost-25th anniversary of Metal Gear Solid, we went back and played a couple different versions of the game to see how well Hideo Kojima's super spy thriller holds up. And hey, how's the pilot episode of HBO's adaptation of The Last of Us?

Also discussed: Sea of Thieves, Traitors, Neon White, Industry, The Shout

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The Hundred Million Jokes of High on Life Jan 13, 2023

This week, we're joined by GameSpot's Lucy James as we discuss Squanch Games' joke-packed first-person shooter High on Life. How many full-belly chuckles did we experience during our time alien bounty hunting? Also, can J.B. Smoove do voices in every game?

Also discussed: Disco Elysium, 100 Ft. Robot Golf, Towerfall, Overcooked, Portal 2, The Stanley Parable, Prey, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, The Past Within, Outpath: First Journey, Dragon Quest IX

Note: The day after we recorded this episode and just hours before it went live, NBC News reported that Justin Roiland, the head of High on Life developer Squanch Games, is facing charges of domestic battery and false imprisonment.

After a lot of debate, we decided to still publish the episode as is because we thought it wouldn’t be fair to the other people at Squanch Games, to our guest for this episode Lucy James, and to our listeners, to just not publish the episode.

When our discussion doesn’t mention this alleged, abhorrent behavior, we wanted you to understand why. If you or someone you love is experiencing domestic abuse, help is available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233. You can also visit their website at https://www.thehotline.org/

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Our 2023 video game predictions! [The Resties] Jan 10, 2023

Welcome to the second-annual Resties Video Game Predictions episode! Each January, Frushtick and Plante make six bold predictions for the upcoming year in video games. We also revisit the previous year's prediction and announce a winner. (The year's champion gets a new, soon to-be-revealed anime statue.) Will Tom Cruise appear in video games? Could cloud gaming go mainstream? Is this the year of AAA mega-hits?

Listen to the episode and find out!

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What Are We Looking Forward To in 2023? Jan 06, 2023

With last year's best games played and adjudicated, we look forward to some of our most anticipated releases of 2023. Sure, you got your Zeldas and your Starfields, but there's way more coming down the pipeline — some of which are out pretty soon!

Games discussed: Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Starfield, Final Fantasy XVI, Diablo 4, Star Wars: Jedi Survivor, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Atomic Heart, Judas, Suicide Squad, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Pragmata, STALKER 2, Fire Emblem Engage, Armored Core 6, Redfall, Alan Wake 2, The Wolf Among Us 2, Playdead's New Game

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Besties 2022 GOTY Extravaganza - Part Two Dec 23, 2022

We continue the ritual of making the ritual slightly different every year, when we bring the final eight down to the final four, and then introduce another contender before we rank the final five. And at last we’ll have the answer to the burning question: what’s the second-best game of 2022?

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Besties 2022 GOTY Extravaganza - Part One Dec 16, 2022

IT BEGINS. Well, it ends. Okay, actually, both. This week, we're taking our top 16 games of the year and pitting them against one another in arbitrary combat until only eight remain. Next week, we'll get things sorted down to a nice, tidy ranking of the five best games of the year. Join us! But like, get comfortable, because this is going to take a while.

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The new Need for Speed is a fun surprise [The Resties] Dec 13, 2022

Need for Speed: Unbound deserved a better launch than this. After a decade of middling entries, EA has returned NFS responsibilities to the exceptional racing developer Criterion Games. The team has produced a street racing game that blends Forza Horizon with the thrills of the Midnight Club games. And it just looks cool! Frush also got Prodeus off his backlog. It’s a solid retro FPS, ideal for playing on a portable like the Switch or the Steamdeck. Plus, we talk through the Besties 2022 bracket!

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Smashing the Gooey Guys of Warhammer 40K: Darktide with Ron Funches Dec 09, 2022

This week, we're joined by beloved Besties guest host Ron Funches as we discuss the gory extravaganza called Warhammer 40K: Darktide. Is Left 4 Dead still fun when it's in space and there's religion and cyberskulls and stuff? Let's find out!

Also discussed: Elden Ring, OlliOlli World, Astronite, Need for Speed Unbound, Marvel Snap, Evil West, WCW Matches from 1991-1992.

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Gone Fishin' with Blade in Marvel's Midnight Suns Dec 02, 2022

Marvel's Midnight Suns is a tactics game from XCOM developer Firaxis, only instead of shooting aliens a hundred times from behind cover, you play cards to beat ass with your best friend, Blade. This is, objectively, a very good idea, but how well does the rest of the game hold up? Also, what's on our backlog as we approach the GOTY proceedings?

Also discussed: Dave the Diver, Pentiment, What the Bat, Binding of Isaac, Andor, Soccer Story, Peglin, Tiny Rogues

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The Video Game Required Reading List: 2010-2014 [The Resties] Nov 29, 2022

The Resties Required Reading List strikes again! Our goal is to curate a "must-play" list of 25 games released between 1980 to 2020. Think of it like Video Games 101. This week, we've selected games from 2010-2014. Join us as we revisit the early days of our careers covering video games! Visit @thebestiespod on Twitter to see a full list of games from this week's episode. Previous picks -- 1985-89: Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, SimCity. 1995-99: Super Mario 64, Pokemon Red and Blue, Final Fantasy 7, Starcraft. 2005-09: Resident Evil 4, Wii Sports, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare;

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Seeing Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Through the Eyes of a Child Nov 25, 2022

It's one of the biggest releases of the year and Justin paid his daughter, Charlie McElroy, to play it for him. Yes, it's Pokémon time once again and we're diving into Scarlet and Violet. We've also got way more to say about Pentiment.

Also discussed: Andor, Fargo Season 4, Spy x Family and Warhammer: Darktide.

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Boldly Going Where No Hedgehog's Gone Before in Sonic Frontiers Nov 18, 2022

Sonic Frontiers, the open-world iteration of Sega's fast rodent simulator, is kind of a mess. But is it the fun kind of mess, like when a can of spray cheese explodes in your car, and it's gross and everywhere, but man it'll be a great story later? Let's talk about it, and also a random assortment of other new releases!

Also discussed: McPixel 3, Somerville, Pentiment, GOTY Award Nominees, Reservation Dogs, Andor

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One huge indie and one tiny one [The Resties] Nov 15, 2022

We are being bombarded by awesome games. This week, we brought two must-try adventures. The first, Somerville, is the spiritual sequel to indie mega-hits Limbo and Inside. The second is Dave the Diver, a game we hadn't heard about until scuba fishing/sushi serving/business management sim skyrocketed up the Steam Charts. The quirky cocktail is one of the most memorable roleplaying experiences in a long, long time. This episode's lineup may be the closest we've come to "you will find something to love, guaranteed." Hope y'all enjoy!

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BOY! Do We Have Thoughts About God of War: Ragnarok Nov 11, 2022

How do you follow up a certified club banger like 2018's God of War? Join us as we discuss Sony Santa Monica's daunting sequel and its unsurprising breakout star. (Spoiler: It's Richard Schiff.)

Also discussed: Signalis, Dave the Diver, Marvel Snap, Binding of Isaac

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Facing our Inner Demons in Bayonetta 3 Nov 04, 2022

Bayonetta is back after a long sabbatical, and now there's like a million of her. Is that too many Bayonettas? Is such a thing possible? Let's find out as we share our thoughts on Bayonetta 3!

Also discussed: Signalis, Marvel Snap, Idle Acorns, Binding of Isaac, Banshees of Inisherin

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A spoiler-free God of War Ragnarok preview! [The Resties] Nov 01, 2022

The Resties grab their axes, string their bows, and open their hearts to sad dads in this special, spoiler-free preview of the first 4-6 hours of God of War Ragnarok. Does Kratos' latest adventure recreate the magic of the original or take any big risks? Frush also has an update on Mewgenics, the long-in-development project from the creator of Binding of Isaac. Plus, some post-Halloween horror movie treats to watch while you feast on candy.

Also discussed: Nightmare Before Christmas, Paranorman, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Children of the Corn, Slumber Party Massacre, Halloween, Blair Witch Project, The Strangers, Psycho, Bride of Frankenstein, Young Frankenstein, House of Wax, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Ginger Snaps, and Ghoulies.

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Mario and Rabbids and Marvel and Sonic and Minions Oct 28, 2022

Mario and Rabbids, two distinguished IPs operating on identical levels of critical acclaim, have been squished together once again in the turn-based stratgizer, Sparks of Hope. Join us as we examine their japes, and also get really into a Marvel-based TCG. 2022's just full of surprises.

Also discussed: God of War: Ragnarok, Resident Evil 8 DLC, Case of the Golden Idol, The Hidden, Willie's Wonderland, Dangerous Game: The Legacy Murders

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A Desperate Dive Into the Grab Bag Oct 21, 2022

Look, we were gonna do Arkham Knights this week, but realized nobody wanted to hear an hour long dunkfest - join us as we pivot to talking about a bunch of good games, instead! With just a liiiiittle dunking for good measure.

Games discussed: Case of the Golden Idol, EverCrawl, Binding of Isaac, I Was A Teenage Exocolonist, Deadeye Deepfake Simulacrum, No Man's Sky

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No Man's Sky, All Rats' Earth [The Resties] Oct 18, 2022

A Plague Tale: Requiem is an exceptionally beautiful, technologically modern video game built with a blueprint from a different era. The Resties discuss the comfort and frustration of Xbox 360-era video game design, the power of graphics, and what makes a great tutorial. Then they empty out the remainder of the mailbag, talking about the future of games, media, and games media. Discussed on this episode: A Plague Tale: Requiem, No Man's Sky, The Invisible Man, House of the Dragon.

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Getting Up Close and Persona(l) Oct 14, 2022

With the impending multiplatform launch of Persona 5 Royal and its portable predecessors, we decided to sit down and discuss all the highs and lows of Atlus's super-social RPG franchise. Also, what's the best way to quit playing a game? Let's find out!

Also discussed: Binding of Isaac: Repentance, In Memoriam series, At Dead of Night, Neon White, Rogue Legacy 2, Tunic, Sniper Elite 5

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Honey, We Shrunk the Us in Grounded Oct 07, 2022

This week, we're playing Obsidian's miniaturized survival sim Grounded, and mostly talking about stripping Rick Moranis of his science license. Also, ROCK AND STONE! By which we mean: We're also talking about Deep Rock Galactic, now that we've all actually played it!

Also discussed: Binding of Isaac, RogueJack, Mars First Logistics, Near Dark, Q: The Winged Serpent

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The Video Game Required Reading List: 1995-1999 [The Resties] Oct 04, 2022

The Resties Required Reading List returns! Our goal is to curate a "must play" list of 25 games released between 1980 to 2020. Think of it like Video Games 101. This week, we've selected games from 1995-1999. Join us as we revisit the moment when video games went mainstream!

Visit @thebestiespod on Twitter to see a full list of games from this week's episode.

Previous picks:

1985-89 - Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, SimCity

2005-09 - Resident Evil 4, Wii Sports, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

This week's bonus recs:

Deep Rock Galactic and When Worlds Collide (1951)

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The Fall 2022 Indie Gaming Pick-A-Mix Sep 30, 2022

We couldn't pick a game to discuss this week, so instead we present to you an installment of Oops! All Indie Games. We've got a bumper crop of backlog material for you to dive into, from slime-based horticulture to interstellar mining simulators.

Games discussed: Trombone Champ, Slime Rancher 2, Shovel Knight Dig, Deep Rock Galactic, The Diofield Chronicle, Steel Rising, Squad 51 vs. the Flying Saucers

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Dreaming the Impossible Dreamlight Valley Sep 23, 2022

We're as surprised as anyone that Dreamlight Valley, Gameloft's Disney-flavored life sim, has enraptured our hearts and our minds. Join us as we force feed Goofy raw fish while hunting the unquiet spirit of Minnie Mouse.

Also discussed: Return to Monkey Island, Final Fantasy X, The Elden Ring Manga, Predator: A Memoir, Arcade Paradise, Slay the Spire

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Game Pass got a killer Pikmin-like, plus the end of Immortality Sep 20, 2022

We forgot to mention the announcement of Pikmin 4 on last week's Besties, maybe because we've been so content with Tinykin, which blends Nintendo's real-time strategy game with chunks of 3D Mario and a heaping cup of Dreamcast magic. After explaining why this colorful indie is worth a download (especially if you have Game Pass) we return to Immortality, this time without fear of spoilers. Plante finally gets to make use of all that time spent on the Criterion Channel. We also chat about Delicatessan and Disney Dreamlight Valley, the latter of which will get the full Besties treatment next week. [Ed. note: A small correction for the episode. True Lies is back on a streaming service! You can currently watch the James Cameron action-comedy on Hulu.]

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We're Not Squidding Around with Splatoon 3 Sep 16, 2022

The great inkening is upon us once again. Join us for a discussion about Nintendo's third installment in their paint-wasting simulator Splatoon! Also, we break down the big announcement's from this week's Nintendo Direct, which is to say, we talk about like a hundred farming games.

Also discussed: Dark Souls 2, Godard films, Severance, Melvor Idle, Slay the Spire, Le Circ Rouge

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Getting All Gussied Up with The Last of Us Part 1 Sep 09, 2022

If you think you just played a version of the original The Last of Us, we're here to tell you that you probably did, but here's a new one with prettier graphics! Well, pretty is maybe not the right word as much as it is far more viscerally depressing now.

Also discussed: Bounty of One, Zor: Pilgrimage of the Slorfs, Arcade Paradise, Dark Souls 2, and Immortality.

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Revenge of the backlog!!! (Plus, new TMNT) [The Resties] Sep 06, 2022

To make room for the new games of the fall video game season, The Resties are clearing out their backlogs. Frushtick is finishing Dark Souls 2 on the Steam Deck. Plante sees Cult of the Lamb to its end. Plus, both Resties get nostalgic with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection. As for the now customary movie recs? Well, it's the beginning of spooky seasons so we're tossing in an Alien AND a Predator.

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A Fun Time at the Movies with Immortality Sep 02, 2022

This week, we're discussing the latest Sam Barlow FMV game, Immortality. It's all about the history of cinema and auteur theory and, tragically, Chris Plante isn't here to explain what all of that means. Also, what other FMV performances have stolen our hearts?

Also discussed: Dark Souls 2, Dark Cloud 2, Alan Wake, Simulacra, Diveki Games, Jetpack Joyride 2

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Returning to a Life of Crime in Saints Row Aug 26, 2022

Crime. Crime never changes. But the perps do, so let's meet the new squad in the Saints Row reboot! Also, what games do we like that you probably despise?

Games discussed: Saints Row, Fallout New Vegas, Madden, SimCity, Heavy Rain, Dark Souls 2, Multiversus, Dark Cloud 2, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Ultimate Chicken Horse

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Video game season is here! [The Resties] Aug 23, 2022

The annual video game deluge has begun. This week, we played not one, not two, but three inventive new games. Arcade Paradise asks players to split their time between running a laundromat and launching a local arcade. Rollerdrome mixes Tony Hawk's Pro Skater with Max Payne. And Drainus is to R-Type what Stardew Valley is to Harvest Moon. What does that mean? Listen to the show and find out!

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Blessed to Play Cursed to Golf Aug 19, 2022

This week, at least three of us dirty dogs are fulfilling our every fantasy by putting our way through purgatory in Cursed to Golf! Also, we dump out the mailbag again, and dive into it like so many leaves.

Also discussed: Minecraft, Journey, Return of the Obra Dinn, Desert Golfing, Her Story, Contradiction, Pokemon Go, Going outside, Poinpy, Gigabash, Rollerdome

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We Have Cult at Home Aug 12, 2022

Cult of the Lamb came out of nowhere and has enchanted us like so many woodland acolytes. Join us as we discuss the finer points of managing a demonic community, and share some of our fondest Mortal Kombat memories for good measure.

Also discussed: Beetlejuice, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Terraria, Pokemon Go, Slay the Spire: Downfall, Poinpy, Universal Paperclips, A Dark Room, The Ensign

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Happy birthday to Mario Kart! [The Resties] Aug 09, 2022

Super Mario Kart sped onto the SNES in August 1992. Thirty years, eight entries, and a mobile game later, Mario Kart is one of the most successful and beloved active franchises. The Resties celebrate the series by unpacking what makes the game so timeless. We share our favorite tracks and racers, then crown our favorite entry. Discussed in this episode: Mario Kart, Fortnite, Fall Guys, Halo Infinite, Harley Quinn on HBO Max, Xenoblade Chronicles 3.

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Our Favorite Games to Bring on the Road (Including Xenoblade!) Aug 05, 2022

How do you pack the perfect video game for a long trip? This week, we speak with resident gaming travel expert and Besties co-host Justin McElroy to learn his secrets to success. Will we mention clicker games? Just you wait! Plus, Plante loves Xenoblade Chronicles 3. Twist!

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The Multiverse is Real and It Has Shaggy Jul 29, 2022

This week we're diving into a wide swath of new game releases, at least one of which kinda came out of nowhere and ended up being super good! Heck, they're all good, but just very different.

On the bill: Forza Horizon 5's new Hot Wheels DLC, EX-Zodiac, and Multiversus. We also discuss Drop 7, Dr. Awesome, Sword & Poker and other games that have been removed from App Stores.

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Stray is the G.O.A.T. of cat games [The Resties] Jul 26, 2022

For over a year, Stray has been one of the most anticipated games on Steam. Does it live up to the hype? For the most part, yes! We explain why you should give this virtual cat some cuddles. Then Frushtick and Plante share their three favorite games that let you play as animals. Prepare for obscure adventures about mosquitos! Discussed on this episode: Stray, Lion King, Lion, Mister Mosquito, Tokyo Jungle, Chip and Dale: Rescue Rangers, Ecco the Dolphin, Tunic, Okami, Dead Cells, and The Empty Man on HBO Max.

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Tackling the Backlog with Tina Sanchez Jul 22, 2022

With Justin and Griffin on tour, we've brought in Tina Sanchez (@teanah), who has worked on some of the biggest franchises in the games industry (and even hosted a podcast with Chris Plante ages ago!). She's here to teach us the magical world of video game producing and how the sauce all comes together into a bigger, better sauce. We're also diving a bit into our backlog, from Yakuza 0 to Outer Wilds and beyond.

Other things talked about: Call of Duty, Apex Legends, God of War Ragnarok, Stray, Deep Rock Galactic and The Rehearsal on HBO.

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Breaking Down the First Half of 2022 Jul 15, 2022

We know that you, a diehard Besties listener, have heard us talk about all the great games that came out so far this year. But if you enjoyed all that jazz, you're gonna LOVE hearing us stack those games up against each other in our mid-year checkpoint special!

Games discussed: Super Auto Pets, Wordle, Vampire Survivors, Nobody Saves the World, Pokemon Legends Arceus, Dying Light 2, Olliolli World, Horizon Forbidden West, Destiny 2: The Witch Queen, Elden Ring, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Tunic, Star Wars Skywalker Saga, Teardown, Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe, Rogue Legacy 2, Citizen Sleeper, V Rising, Hardspace: Ship Breaker, TMNT Shredders Revenge, Neon White, AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative

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The Video Game Required Reading List: 1985-1989 [The Resties] Jul 12, 2022

The Resties Required Reading List returns! Our goal is to curate and contextualize a "must play" list of 25 games released between 1980 to 2020. This week, we've selected games from 1985-1989. Join us as we time travel to the premieres of mega-franchises like Mario, Zelda, Metroid, and Tetris. Let us know what you think of the series and your personal reading list at @thebestiespod on Twitter.

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Chowing Down on Cuphead's Delicious Last Course Jul 08, 2022

We hope you're hungry, because this week brings us Cuphead's shiny new DLC, The Delicious Last Course. Also, we bought egg sandwiches for everyone, and man, we just bought waaaay too many. Take as many as you want. Bring some home to your family.

Other games discussed: Neon White, Hero Emblems 2, Teardown, Clap Hanz Golf, Fall Guys, AI Somnium Files 2

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Partying at the World's Worst Summer Camp in The Quarry Jul 01, 2022

This week, we're playing Supermassive's latest interactive horror movie-game-thing, which we played in a bunch of different ways, some less recommended than others. Also, we discuss the genre's origins in FMV at length, because ... of course we do.

Other games discussed: Until Dawn, Heavy Rain, The Looker, Neon White, Card Shark, Stardew Valley Expanded

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Everyone should try Neon White [The Resties] Jun 28, 2022

Neon White is a speedrunning game for people who've never tried speedrunning, a Dreamcast-like game for folks who never owned a Dreamcast, and a visual novel for gamers who rather play than read. It's a ball of contradictions and easily one of the best games of 2022. Frushtick and Plante also finish the business they started on the most recent episode of The Besties: cleaning out the overstuffed mailbag.

Movies discussed: The Thing, Mad God, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Kuso

TV discussed: Players on Paramount Plus

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It Is, Once Again, Pizza Time with Shredder's Revenge Jun 24, 2022

We're serving up game criticism on a half shell and trashing like a million Foot Clan conscripts as we discuss TMNT: Shredder's Revenge, Tribute's modern take on Konami's classic beat-em-up series.

Also: Mailbag's full! Let's dump it on out. Also discussed: Fall Guys, Fortnite, Yakuza 0, Rogue Legacy 2, Pokemon Shield, Five Dates

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Kicking it Super Hard with Mario Strikers: Battle League Jun 17, 2022

You know Mario, from Mario? He's so much more than a jumping plumber, you know. He's doing soccer now, too. I mean, he's been doing soccer, and a lot of other stuff, and we're going to be talking about ALL that while we share some thoughts about Mario Strikers: Battle League.

Games discussed: No Man's Sky, Rogue Legacy 2, Path of Exile, Fortnite, Vampire Survivor, Yakuza 0

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The surprise big game of the season [The Resties] Jun 14, 2022

Frush and Plante discover Sniper Elite 5 is great... if you turn off the grotesque violence. The Sniper Elite series has been active for over a decade, but its mix of gunfights and Hitman stealth never clicked with the crew until now. What changed? Plus, the games that got us through our Covid infections. Discussed this week: Yoshi Crafted World, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Fall Guys, JSA, and Frush's new book, The Book of Fun.

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Whale Watching in Diablo Immortal Jun 10, 2022

Join us as we bust out our phones and apply for a high interest personal loan with Diablo Immortal! How does Blizzard's hack and slash RPG hold up on phones, and how close has it brought us to abject financial ruin? Find out within.

Games discussed: Diablo Immortal, Resident Evil 4 Remake, Street Fighter 6, Final Fantasy XVI, Soda Crisis, Sniper Elite 5, Super Auto Pets, V Rising

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The Ghost of E3s Past (And Present, And Also Future) Jun 03, 2022

Sure, E3 isn't "officially" happening this year, but there's still a lot of hot, hot gaming news dropping over the next couple of weeks! Join us as we discuss the evolution (and de-evolution) of the industry's (former) big summer event, and what we can expect from The Triple in years to come.

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The Video Game Required Reading List: 2005-2009 [The Resties] May 31, 2022

This week, we launch a new mini-series: The Resties Required Reading List. Our goal is to curate and contextualize a "must play" list of 25 games released between 1980 to 2020. These aren’t the best games or even our favorite games. They’re the games that should be experienced by everyone who wants a fundamental appreciation of the medium. They’re the games that will give you a richer connection with every other game you play. Throughout 2022 and 2023 we'll publish new entries in the series, each episode focusing on a five-year period. Episodes will be sporadic and non-chronological. To kick things off, we've selected 2005-2009. Let us know what you think of the series and your personal reading list at @thebestiespod on Twitter.

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Acting Like a Bunch of Draculas in V Rising May 27, 2022

This week, we're chatting about an up-and-comer on the Steam charts — the vampire survival sim V Rising. Find out why we're so smitten; with special guest Travis McElroy!

Games discussed: V Rising, Everquest TLP, Who Pressed Mute on Uncle Marcus, Vampire Survivors, Stardew Valley

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The Sleeper Hits of Spring 2022 May 20, 2022

This week, we're circling back with some of the lil' guys you might have missed this Spring while you were traipsing in the bluebonnets, or collecting berries or whatever.

Games discussed: Shotgun King, Vampire Survivors, Haiku the Robot, Mini Motorways on Switch, OlliOlli World, Dungeons of Dreadrock, Rogue Legacy 2, Peglin, Who Pressed Mute on Uncle Marcus?, Songpop Party, Forager, Fall Guys, Citizen Sleeper

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Lego Star Wars is like a Rockstar game for kids [The Resties] May 17, 2022

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga reminds us of Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption, in that it feels unsustainably grand. Its creators have crammed nine films worth of characters, planets, and stories, plus winks at corners of the expanded universe, into one game. A report on crunch at the studio, however, raises serious questions about its leadership's decisions to make the game bigger and bigger and bigger. What does it mean for good games to be made in bad ways? Individual creators have filled Lego Star Wars with charming references, clever stages, and some genuinely funny writing. People clearly cared about their contributions to this project. So, this week, we try to parse our feelings of this complicated game and its creation.

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The Definitive Power Ranking of Star Wars Games May 13, 2022

In today's episode, we're exploring the absolutely pristine history of Star Wars video games, and assigning each of them a grade in an EXTREMELY scientific and deliberate manner. It's a journey, y'all.

Also discussed: Nobody Saves the World on Switch, Death's Gambit: Ashes of Vados, Fortnite, Rogue Legacy 2

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Showcasing Our Athleticism with Nintendo Switch Sports May 06, 2022

This week, we're tapping into the Old Ways of E-Bowling and Cyber-Tennis in Nintendo Switch Sports! It's like falling off a log, only the log is a sword, and we're using it to battle our children.

Also discussed: Halo Infinite Season 2, Stanley Parable Ultra Deluxe, Knotwords

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Rogue Legacy 2 benefited a ton from early access [The Resties] May 03, 2022

This week, The Resties revisit Rogue Legacy 2 after nearly two years in Early Access. The developer made great use of that time, delivering a worthy sequel to the original hit. In the second half, it's time to set goals for our summer gaming backlog. Discussed: Persona 4, Patrick’s Parabox, Perfect Tides, Outer Wilds, Unsighted, Fortnite, Halo Infinite, Dark Souls 2, and Uncharted Lost Legacy. Plus, Kaguya-sama: Love Is War (on Hulu and Crunchyroll) and Atlanta (on Hulu).

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How to Keep a Child Entertained (and Other Impossibilities) Apr 29, 2022

Today on the show we're answering a long-requested question: What sorts of games do you play with kids? The Besties weigh in on some of their chosen diversions.

Games discussed include: Monster Legends, ABCYa/ABCMouse/PBSkids, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Super Mario Odyssey, Kirby and the Forgotten World, Roblox, The Room, Humongous Games, and Chuchel.

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The Video Game Movie Canon with Kahlief Adams Apr 22, 2022

With the McElboys on tour, Plante and Frushtick bring in a special guest, Kahlief Adams of the Spawn on Me podcast, to talk about just what makes a great video game movie, and whether we could narrow down five that best represent the medium. Also, what's up with those Goombas?

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Do you have to finish a game to love it? [The Resties] Apr 19, 2022

Do you have to finish a game to fully appreciate it? This week, The Resties discuss the huge time investment of our favorite hobby, and decide how much of a game is enough. In the back half, Plante and Frushtick use a fancy new mod for the original Doom to discuss ray tracing. Learn why the "big thing" in video game graphics still may be years from matter to most players.

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Spoiling the Heck Out of Elden Ring Apr 15, 2022

Look, we told you we'd be talking about Elden Ring for a very long time, and here we are, doing just that. We're going to be talking about the game's first half, and then, after a brief interlude, the second half! And then we're gonna talk about it less in the future, probably!

Other media discussed: Sonic 2, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Old Enough, Perfect Tides, Minx

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The Magical Butts of Tiny Tina's Wonderlands Apr 08, 2022

We're ditching the gruesome violence of the Borderlands franchise in exchange for the whimsical violence of Tiny Tina's Wonderlands; an exchange that then inspires us to reinvent Doom for an all-ages audience.

Also discussed: The Afterparty, Dragon Quest V, Bloons TD 6+, All in the Timing

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The best (and worst) video game controller [The Resties] Apr 05, 2022

Is the Gamecube controller brilliant or busted? The Resties rank the past 35 years of video game controllers in this fever dream of an episode. Then, the duo talks about NORCO, a new point-and-click adventure game set in a distant future Louisiana. Also, Speed Racer!

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Kirby and the Forgotten Stomach Apr 01, 2022

This week we're diving into the latest installment of the long-running Kirby franchise, Kirby and the Forgotten Land. We'll also discuss Sony's attempt to take on the juggernaut that is Game Pass with its new PlayStation Plus service.

Other games discussed: 13 Sentinels, Tunic.

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Embracing the Chaos of Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origins Mar 25, 2022

Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origins is by no means a Great Game, but we'll be gosh-danged if it hasn't charmed the Lv. 6 Shadow Pants off of us. Also, Justin breaks down the phantasmal weirdness of Ghostwire Tokyo!

Also discussed: Tunic, Elden Ring, Drive My Car, Fortnite

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Tunic is retro Zelda with a splash of Fez [The Resties] Mar 22, 2022

This week, The Resties share their growing love of Tunic, an adventure game heavily inspired by the early entries of The Legend of Zelda. Without getting into spoilers, they also explain the game's similarities to indie hit Fez. In the second half, Frushtick and Plante run through Nintendo's mega-busy 2022 release calendar. Will we release get Breath of the Wild 2 this year AND another Pokemon? Our recommendations of the week: Paprika and The French Dispatch.

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Playing the Silver Ball with Jeff Bakalar Mar 18, 2022

Russ is left on his own and so he brought his old pal, Jeff Bakalar of Giant Bomb, to talk about another sort of game: PINBALL. Yes, Jeff knows a lot about pinball and is grilled for all his precious pinball knowledge. Jeff's top 5 tables to look out for at an ardcade: Funhouse, Addam's Family, Jurassic Park, Deadpool, Monster Bash.

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The Best Games of Early 2022 Mar 11, 2022

As we approach the end of the first quarter of 2022, we take a look back at some of the classics that the first three months have brought us. Maybe spread the love throughout the year next time?

Games discussed: Nobody Saves the World, Pokemon Legends Arceus, Uncharted Legacy of Thieves Collection, Olli Olli World, Super Auto Pets, Cyberpunk 2077 revival, Horizon Forbidden West, Dying Light 2, Destiny 2, Elden Ring and Dragon Quest XI. From the Ukraine Games itch.io bundle: TENNNES, A Short Hike, Baba Is You, Celeste, Quadrilateral Cowboy, Golf Peaks, Cloud Gardens, Mortician’s Tale, CrossCode, Kingdom Two Crowns, Wandersong, Super Hot, Ynglet, Towerfall.

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How to play Elden Ring: a kind guide for beginners [The Resties] Mar 08, 2022

Elden Ring is amazing, but it's also intimidating. Since we'll be talking about the game on The Besties throughout 2022, we wanted to help newcomers and lapsed Dark Souls fans take their first steps into this beautiful, but sometimes unforgiving world. Join us as we discuss the best starting class, where to invest upgrades, and the many unspoken rules you should know as you grow from a timid target to the one and only Elden Lord. Plus, more talk on Steam Deck and Valve's surprise, free Portal spin-off.

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We'll Be Talking About Elden Ring for a Long Time Mar 04, 2022

Consider the title of this episode a warning: Elden Ring is a game that we're gonna be discussing A LOT for the foreseeable future, starting in this very episode. Join us as we discuss what works about From Software's new open-world Souls-like, which is to say, everything.

Other games discussed: Puzzle Quest 3, Steam Deck, Colin Farrell

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Fun with Robosaurs in Horizon: Forbidden West Feb 25, 2022

It's feast or famine out there, games-wise, and this week's a FEAST: We're talking about Sony's newest first-party blockbuster, Horizon: Forbidden West. Also, Destiny 2's new expansion is out! And it's pretty good!

Other games discussed: Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Magic the Gathering Arena, Hollow Knight, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, Celeste, Terraria, The Room

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The 5 best "bang for your buck" games + Vampire Survivors [The Resties] Feb 22, 2022

A great video game doesn't have to be expensive. Inspired by the $2.99 phenomenon Vampire Survivors, The Resties choose their five favorite "bang for your buck" video games. Then, Frushtick brings a surprise B-topic that has Plante reconsidering his obsessions! Discussed on this week's episode: Vampire Survivors, the Earth Defense Force series, Fire Emblem Heroes, Drop7, Fortnite, Stardew Valley, Red Faction Guerilla: Re-MARS-tered Edition. Plus, The Rescue on Disney+ and Doom Patrol on HBO Max.

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Besties 10th Anniversary Game of the Decade Spectacular Feb 18, 2022

To celebrate our tenth year of intractable debate over which video games are better than the other video games, we're doing EXACTLY THAT. For over an hour. We're pitting the best games of the last decade against one another, and only ONE survives. (One game, we mean. All the hosts are doing just fine.)

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Raging Against the Dying Light 2 Feb 11, 2022

This week we're discussing Dying Light 2, a game that poses a novel question: What if dead people turned into monsters and you had to hit them with pipes and stuff? Also, we calculate the precise amount of time games are allowed to not be fun before they get fun.

Also discussed: OlliOlli World, Finding Drago, Vampire Survivors, Everyday Shooter

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The definitive list of perfect portable games [The Resties] Feb 08, 2022

Here's an episode for everyone, whether you fell in love with video games on the Game Boy or the Nintendo Switch. In honor of the Steamdeck launch this month, The Resties construct the *perfect* list of the best portable games of all time. To accomplish this worthy task, they first uncover the key components of any magnificent portable game. Discussed on this episode: Spelunky HD, Hades, Tetris, Mario Golf Advance, Fire Emblem Awakening, Fire Emblem: Blazing Blade, Into the Breach, Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time, Persona 4 Golden, and Gravity Rush.

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We Gotta Go Back in Time with Pokemon Legends Arceus Feb 04, 2022

Wondering what's next for the Pokemon franchise? Just how many games could they put out that are basically the same thing? Well, we finally have something pretty dramatically different! The gang dives into Pokemon Legends: Arceus and whether this is finally the game to recommend to newcomers to the franchise.

Also discussed: Vampire Survivors, Station Eleven and, yes, Roblox.

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The (Other) Best Games of the Last 10 Years Jan 28, 2022

As we build towards our 10 year anniversary in February, we decided to look back at some of the winners of The Besties Game of the Year throughout the decade. Were we right? Were we wrong? Let's find out! Each year we'll take a look at the original winner and decide what we'd put up as an alternate to go against it. You won't believe what we have for 2017! Or maybe you will. Yeah, you probably will.

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The Worst Games of Our Childhood [The Resties] Jan 25, 2022

To follow up on the best games of our childhood, The Resties discuss the worst ones. The funny thing about "bad" games when your kid is that they're often just as formative and memorable as the beloved ones. Join us as we wax poetic on the Sega Activator, bad licensed games, and the infamous SNES Superscope. In the back half of the show, we discuss the best Gameboy that money can buy: the Analogue Pocket.

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Everybody Loves Nobody Saves the World Jan 21, 2022

Things come full circle as we once again dip into the Drinkbox catalogue with their newest Action RPG title, Nobody Saves the World! Also, we discuss the enormous and dumb implications of Microsoft buying Activision Blizzard.

Also discussed: A bunch of old Activision titles that will definitely never be revived, Station Eleven, Peacemaker, Hawkeye.

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Fortnite Got Buckwild When We Weren't Looking Jan 14, 2022

We like to think of ourselves as four cool dads who have their finger on the pulse of what's hip with young gamers. That's why, in the year of our lord 2022, we're spending a whole episode discussing Fortnite, a game that has gone COMPLETELY off the rails in the past few years.

Other media discussed include: Mario Paint, Illusion of Gaia, General Chaos, Haunting, Some Baby Mario Game Russ Can't Remember, How To With John Wilson, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Zelda: Oracle of Seasons, Keys and Kingdoms

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2022's Big Video Game Predictions [The Resties] Jan 11, 2022

This week's episode is inspired by our friends on the Triple Click podcast. Frushtick and Plante make twelve bold predictions for the world of video games in 2022. Will the Mario movie be a hit? Will Tom Cruise be the next star of Fortnite? Will Metroid Prime 4 keep the Metroid hype alive? Learn the future! Plus, our movie recs of the week: The Apartment and The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.

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2022's Most Anticipated Games Jan 07, 2022

We're jumping into the next 12 months with gusto. These are the games we'll be watching, including some games that were on our 2021 list but didn't actually come out.

Games discussed: Destiny 2: The Witch Queen, Rune Factory 5, Triangle Strategy, Elden Ring, Starfield, Skin Deep, Sonic Frontiers, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Stray, STALKER 2, Tunic, Cursed to Golf, Horizon Forbidden West, Wordle, Record of Lodoss War - Deelit in Wonder Labyrinth, Coral Island, After Life, Nine Days, Fortnite, the Analogue Pocket.

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The Besties Game of the Year Spectacular - Part Two Dec 24, 2021

THE RITUAL IS COMPLETE. Once again, we've weighed the merits of EVERY VIDEO GAME released in 2021, and named one of them the ultimate victor. May the Gaming Gods bless us with an even richer crop in the coming year, and also happy holidays, or whatever.

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The Besties Game of the Year Spectacular - Part One Dec 17, 2021

It's the day of the show, y'all! We've got a sweet sixteen games from this year up for the GOTY consideration, and by the end of the episode, we'll have whittled them down to an exquisite eight. Join us for a extra-long episode as we begin arbitrarily smashing these pieces of software together until only one survives!

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Shadow of the Colossus + Jet Set Radio = Solar Ash [The Resties] Dec 14, 2021

Ahead of The Besties selecting the Best Game of the Year, Frush and Plante predicted the winners of The Game Awards. Who made the best predictions? You'll have to listen to find out. But first, the duo discusses Solar Ash, a delightful open-world game that blends Jet Set Radio and Shadow of the Colossus.

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The Grappling Hook Brings You Back to Halo Infinite Dec 10, 2021

How much can a single device — one that's been present in video games as long as there's been video games — renovate the Halo formula? As it turns out: A whole bunch. Join us as we discuss Halo Infinite's campaign and multiplayer modes, and talk at length about where Chief's poop goes.

Games discussed: Halo Infinite, Loop Hero on Switch, Binding of Isaac (again), Final Fantasy 14: Endwalker (briefly)

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Our Fall Favorites Leading into GOTY Season Dec 03, 2021

As we near the thrilling climax of 2021, we're taking a seasonal approach to see what games stood out over the last three (or so) months. Joining us this week is Kirk Hamilton (of the Triple Click and Strong Songs podcasts) to dive into this giant leaf pile that is the fall release calendar.

Games discussed: Metroid Dread, Resident Evil 4 VR, Deathloop, Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye, Death's Gambit Afterlife, Forza Horizon 5, Inscryption, Archvale, The Binding of Isaac Repentence, and Wildermyth.

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We overlooked Unsighted, a brilliant Zelda-style indie [Resties] Nov 30, 2021

Unsighted appeared on consoles and PC earlier this year, but we missed it. What a mistake! Frushtick and Plante talk about this brilliant indie game that blends Zelda and Metroidvanias into something new and thrilling. In the back half of the episode, the Resties discuss their favorite new additions to Xbox Game Pass, particularly the intergalactic space exploration chill-out game, Exo One.

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Staying Faithful to Pokemon Shining Pearl and Brilliant Diamond Nov 26, 2021

In which we discuss, with equal levels of enthusiasm, the latest remake from the world of Pokémon, and also the franchise as a whole. Then we take a deep dive into the mailbag, and share a blue million honorable mentions!

Other games discussed include: Pokémon Snap, Pokémon Unite, Pokémon Let's Go, Pokémon Sword and Shield, Forza Horizon 5, Unsighted, Pony Island, Halo Infinite Multiplayer, Binding of Isaac: Repentance, Minecraft's Magic Kingdom Pack.

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Gotta Exorcise 'Em All with Shin Megami Tensei V Nov 19, 2021

Today, we're cracking into the oftentimes impenetrable Shin Megami Tensei series' fifth major installment, and share some thoughts on the masterful GTA Trilogy remasters, which are terrible.

Other media discussed: Halo Infinite Multiplayer, Resident Evil 4 VR, Cape Fear 1962 and Moonlighter.

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Forza Horizon 5 is GotY material [Resties] Nov 16, 2021

On this episode of Resties, Plante and Frushtick dance in the pouring rain of Video Game Season 2021. Forza Horizon 5 and Riders Republic are both a delight, so the Resties compare and contrast the two open-world racing adventures to help you find the right fit. In the second half of the episode, the pair discuss the first year of the Xbox Series X and PS5. Is now the right time to buy a new console... if you can even find one? Plus, the Resties share their recommendations of the week and open the AMA mailbag! Other stuff discussed in this episode: Demon's Souls, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Xbox Game Pass, The French Dispatch, Unpacking, Portal, Mario Kart, the films of Michael Haneke, The Last of Us 2, the Discworld series, The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken, Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Speed Racer (2008), The Night of the Hunter, High & Low (1963).

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The Obligatory Annual Call of Duty Episode Nov 12, 2021

This week, we're breaking down two great tastes that taste great together: The many faces of Call of Duty: Vanguard, and the newly expanded Animal Crossing: New Horizons. We also give a metric ton of iOS recommendations, and argue about the Mario Bros' Mushroom Kingdom citizenship.

Other games discussed: Inscryption, Devil's Gambit, The Binding of Isaac: Repentence, Bloodshore, Nickelodeon All Stars Brawl, Super Stickman Golf 3+, Clap Hanz Golf, Solitarica, SNKRX, Fire Emblem Heroes

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The Card-ians of the Galaxy Nov 05, 2021

In our worst-titled episode to date, we're doing double duty! Join us for a discussion of the extra-creepy deckbuilder Inscryption and the surprisingly charming Guardians of the Galaxy.

Other media discussed: Hearthstone, Telltale's Guardians of the Galaxy, Death's Gambit Afterlife, lots of Godzilla films, Doom Patrol, Nightmare Alley

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The 10 best games on Nintendo Switch Online [Resties] Nov 02, 2021

On this episode of Resties, Plante and Frushtick countdown their top 10 games on Nintendo Switch Online. Of course, Chris has chosen a ridiculous #1. In the back half of the episode, they talk about the Outer Wilds DLC, Echoes of the Eye. Spoilers are limited to the first couple hours of the game and kept as vague as possible. Discussed on this episode: a metric ton of retro games, Outer Wilds, Death's Gambit Afterlife, Universal Paperclips, and Dune.

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3 Besties Are Here 2 Discuss Back 4 Blood Oct 29, 2021

We're without Chris Plante this week, but we're not without a surplus of zombie-based video games to discuss, because, wow, there's a LOT of them coming out right now.

Games discussed include: Back 4 Blood, Resident Evil 4 VR, ElecHead, Inscryption, Metroid Dread, Dying Light on Switch, Final Fantasy X on Switch

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Accessible Gaming with Steven Spohn Oct 22, 2021

This week, we're joined by AbleGamers' chief development officer to talk about the complexity and importance of including accessibility features in games, and also, pizza. Really, lots and lots of pizza talk. We also discuss Far Cry 6 for a few minutes!

Other games discussed: Metroid Dread, Final Fantasy 14, Fortnite, Apex Legends, Satisfactory, Inscryption

AbleGamers: https://ablegamers.org/

Steven Spohn on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stevenspohn

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Take a Skeleton Road Trip with Spookware [Resties] Oct 19, 2021

On this episode of The Resties, Plante and Frushtick hit the road with a trio of skeletons in Spookware. Finally the dream of a horror-themed WarioWare is realized! Other things discussed: Tales of Arise, Tres-Bashers, Dracula on the Criterion Collection, and Cowboy Bebop. If you're looking for our follow-up discussion on accessibility with Steven Spohn of Able Gamers, that episode will drop on October 22, 2021.

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Metroid Dread is Here to Save Us All Oct 15, 2021

It only took 19 years for a true 2D sequel to Metroid Fusion, and now that it's here, we're basking in the glow of what may be the best Metroid game ever made. We know Russ is on board, but how do some of the other Besties handle the greatness that has been placed before them? We also discuss the tricky balance of accessibility and difficulty, and whether there's an obligation on the part of the developer to include certain features.

Other games discussed: Tetris Effect Connected, The Artful Escape, Farm RPG. Also some fun scary movies: Slaxx, The Boys from County Hell, The Columnist, and 13 Ghosts.

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The Golden Age of Sega is Upon Us Oct 08, 2021

This week, we're sorta discussing Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania, but to be honest, it's more of a table setter for Chris' thesis that it's never been a better time to be a Sega fan. Which is, to put it lightly, a divisive position to take.

Other games discussed include: Sonic Mania and Sonic Colors, Phantasy Star Online, Shenmue, Yakuza, Farm RPG, Box One, Jenny LeClue, Diablo 2 Resurrected, and The Exorcist.

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Alan Wake vs. the best JRPG of the year [Resties] Oct 05, 2021

In this, the first official episode of The Besties Resties: Alan Wake Remastered, Tales of Arise, and The Artful Escape are great games. And yet you may have missed them because there are so many new releases hitting all at once. Don't worry, we'll catch you up on the fall's OTHER great games. New episodes of The Besties Resties will drop on every other Tuesday through the rest of 2021.

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The Hidden Gems of the Past 200-ish Episodes! Oct 01, 2021

We're celebrating our 200th episode, or at least the episode we assume is somewhere around our 200th, by talking about hidden gems of this year and the past decade, which is how long we've been doing this show, which is ... man. We need to go lie down for a while.

Games discussed include: TOEM, Eastward, Beast Breaker, Crusin Blast, Antichamber, Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack, Tiny Wings, Jazzpunk, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin, Walkabout Mini Golf and Cookie Clicker!

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Doing the Time Warp Yet Again with Deathloop Sep 24, 2021

This week, we're discussing Arkane's time-traveling Groundhog Day-meets-creative murder sandbox Deathloop! And boy howdy, is there a lot to discuss. We also break down the glut of time looping games that have come out this year, which we've definitely done before, but, hey, it feels appropriate, right?

Other games discussed include: Destiny 2, Elsinore, The Forgotten City, Overboard, Zelda: Majora's Mask, Returnal, Outer Wilds, World Flipper, Prey: Mooncrash, and Eastward.

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WarioWare-ing with Ron Funches Sep 17, 2021

Honorary Besties Ron Funches joins us once again to discuss the latest opus from Mario's pungent counterpart, WarioWare: Get It Together. Other games discussed include: Splitgate, Final Fantasy V, The Forgotten City, Deathloop (briefly!) and a whole mess of other WarioWare games!

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A Very Merry Holiday Season Preview Plus Time-looping Romans Sep 10, 2021

This week we're giving you all a preview of what to expect this holiday season, from the Halos to the Metroids and everything in between. We also discuss The Forgotten City, a wild time-looping narrative game that's guarenteed to get you a minor in philosophy.

Other games discussed: Dishonored: Death of the Outsider, Monster Train: The Last Divinity, Spookware, and Dungeon Village 2.

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No More Heroes and the Power of Egg Steam Sep 03, 2021

No More Heroes 3 explores the question of whether toilet jokes can get old. We also dive into the challenging topic of auteur games, and whether a single person's creative vision can make magic or mayhem in the world of video games.

Also discussed: Out of this World, Cibele, How Do You Do It?, Dys4ia, Might Jill Off, Death Stranding, Spelunky 2, The Forgotten City, Wildermyth, and 100 Foot Wave (which is a show, not a game).

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Speaking sequels with Axiom Verge 2 and Psychonauts 2 Aug 27, 2021

This week, we’re breaking down two sequels that couldn’t be more different from each other: The unique metroidvania romp known as Axiom Verge 2, and the throwback action-platformer Psychonauts 2.

Other games discussed include Spelunky 1 and 2 on Switch, The Vale and Twelve Minutes.

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Living the Dorm Life with Multiplayer Classics Aug 20, 2021

We’re back, and we’re talking about the multiplayer games that defined our college dorm experience, despite the fact that half of us never lived in a college dorm, and also some of the games we discuss came out like, last year.

Games discussed include: Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania, Secret of Mana, Castle Crashers, One Night Ultimate Werewolf, Destiny 2, NBA Jam, NCAA Football, Dropmix, Slime Rancher, Garden Story, Islanders, Spelunky 1&2, Axiom Verge 2, Forgotten City, Wildermyth and, naturally, Final Fantasy XIV.

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Why Zelda: Breath of the Wild could still be GotY in 2021 Aug 13, 2021

Griffin and Justin are off galavanting for a week, leaving the rest of the podcast, Plante and Frushtick, to carry on The Besties name. In honor of that, we're doing a deeper dive into one of the greatest games ever discussed on the podcast: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. What were some of its best ideas and how do we expect things to play out in the still-unnamed sequel?

Other games discussed: Flight Simulator on Xbox Series X, Curse of the Dead Gods on Game Pass, and Wildermyth.

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Prosecuting Kirby's Crimes with The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles Aug 06, 2021

This week on The Besties, we're OBJECTION! talking about the latest entry in the Ace Attorney series, and also OBJECTION! deciding if Kirby is a murderer.

Other games discussed on the show include: Ender Lillies, SNKRX, Final Fantasy XIV, and Out of the Loop.

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Having a Playdate with Death's Door Jul 30, 2021

This week on The Besties we've got a stellar indie action adventure, Death's Door, from the creators of Titan Souls. We're also diving into the unique handheld with a crank, the Playdate. It's yellow! Other games discussed on the show include: Zelda: Skyward Sword, NEO The World Ends with You, Tangle Tower, and The Ascent.

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Can Zelda: Skyward Sword be Saved? Jul 23, 2021

This week on The Besties, we're jumping into the HD remake of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Yes, it's a game that didn't make it very far in our Best Zelda bracket, but maybe some upgrades (and no mandatory motion controls) will pull it up by its own boostraps? There's also the Switch Pr- errr Steam Deck to discuss!

Games discussed on this episode: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Clap Hanz Golf, Beat Saber Custom, Township Tale, Progress to 100, and the films of Brian de Palma, specifically Blow Out and Body Double.

Next week: Death's Door

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The Amazing Indie Games of the Summer Jul 16, 2021

Looking for something new to play this summer? Might we interest you in some incredible indie games? This week, we spotlight Chicory, Overboard, Phantom Abyss, Demeo, and more! Plus, we have a very special guest in the second half!

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Scarlet Nexus is 2021's Overlooked Gem Jul 09, 2021

You might not have heard about Scarlet Nexus, the anime-forward action-roleplaying game released this month. Let's change that. The world's best friends discuss one of the best games of the summer. Then they make time to brainstorm an ideal Nintendo Switch 2 and answer your questions, like, "What is the Breath of the Wild of movies?"

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Mario Golf Raises the Question: What About Golf-Hims? Jul 02, 2021

Mario Golf: Super Rush divides the world's best friends. Yes, the game Plante has hyped for weeks isn't a unanimous hit, but the crew still discusses at length what they love about Nintendo's oddball entry into the plumber's sports series. Justin, Griffin, and Plante also speculate on where Mario sports should go from here. Three words: Ultimate Mario Ultimate.

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The Best Games of 2021's First Half Jun 25, 2021

What are the best games of 2021 at the year's midpoint? With Frushtick away, we agreed to create an unofficial Top 8. We revisited some of our favorite games from previous episodes and also turned to y'all for recommendations. You didn't disappoint, providing tons of cool indie surprises. From Resident Evil 8 to Clap Hanz Golf, these are the top candidates for Bestie 2021.

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Ratchet Versus the E Triple Jun 18, 2021

In a grand confluence, we've got a major event in the gaming year, E3, matched with a legit game release, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart on PS5 (codes provided by Sony). Somehow we'll talk about the highs and lows of both of these major events in one absolutely stuffed episode. Get in here, people!

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Still Deciding the Best Resident Evil Game Jun 11, 2021

Last week we narrowed down the the best Resident Evil games to the final four, and now we're having them duke it out. We've got some truly classic zombie gems going at it this week, and you won't guess what we decide! (Well, you might guess it. In the grand scheme of things there aren't that many options left. But act surprised.)

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The Best Resident Evil Game DECIDED! (Almost) Jun 04, 2021

With the fervor over Resident Evil Village, the gang gathers to figure out whether they can narrow down the very best Resident Evil game of all time. Sure, there's a lot of crud to sift through, but there's gold in these hills! And they're gonna buy shotgun upgrades with this gold!

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You, Mii, and Chris P May 28, 2021

Now that we've entered the peak video game release season, it's time to dive into ... a Switch re-release of a 3DS exclusive featuring Hank Hill. Griffin, Russ, and Chris take a trip back in time to the early 2010s for some 3DS reminicence while discussing Miitopia on Nintendo Switch.

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All The Games We Loved This Spring May 21, 2021

With Frushtick on vacation, the gang shares some of their favorite games from the past couple months, including Subnautic: Below Zero, Nier Replicant, the Masst Effect remaster, and Clap Hanz Golf. If you've finished Resident Evil 8: Village and need something to play next, this episode is for you.

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Resident Evil 8-age and the Briefcase of Fun May 14, 2021

The gang's all together to celebrate yet another actual video game release! Today we're diving into Resident Evil Village, with the first-half dedicated to first impressions and the second half diving into the first half of the game. We know, it's confusing. But at least the property values are low!

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New Pokémon Snap and Returnal, a Mash-up for the Ages May 07, 2021

This week we welcome back the long-wandering Griffin McElroy. And what a week it is! On the docket: two actual, major game releases, New Pokémon Snap and Returnal. They may be about as different as you could imagine, but they do both require you to play the same levels over and over again, so maybe not?

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Still Picking the Best GTA Game Ever Apr 23, 2021

We've narrowed it down to the final four, and now special guest Evan Narcisse (@EvNarc) has joined the club to decide the best GTA game of all time, between Vice City, San Andreas, GTA 4, and GTA 5. Four may enter but only one will leave.

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Picking the Best GTA Game Ever Apr 16, 2021

You find yourself in a city. Your only option? Crime! This week we have special guest Jordan Morris (@Jordan_Morris) filling in for Griffin as we attempt to tackle a tough question: What is the greatest Grand Theft Auto game of all time? And yes, the randomized bracket has returned with a vengeance!

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The Dawn of CyberWar is Upon Us (Also Outriders) Apr 09, 2021

This week we're diving into Outriders, a game that sounds about as generic as is possible within the confines of the English language. And yet, we all think it's pretty damn fun! We also attempt to one-up its generic efforts with a new title of our own.

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Monster Hunter Rise and Shine Apr 02, 2021

Just when you thought it was safe to buy property in Kamura Village, all these monsters show up and wreck the joint! Justin and Russ team up after a last-minute bug fells Chris Plante (and Griffin deals with a new human child situation). Is this finally the Monster Hunter game to not make you hate Monster Hunter games? Hmm ... hard to say, but worth a shot!

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Just the Two of Us . . . Mar 26, 2021

Who better to tackle a mandatory co-op game about divorce than the duo of Plante and Frushtick? The pair take on It Takes Two, the new release from the creators of A Way Out. And with Griffin out in preparation for a forthcoming child and Justin out because divorce makes him sad, it's a complete takeover!

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Loops and Loots with Loop Hero Mar 19, 2021

Just one more loop? The boys jump into the indie darling that's got the nation abuzz: Loop Hero. They also dive into some more review songs and explore whether Griffin and his computer are best friends.

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Still Deciding The Best Zelda Game of All Time Mar 12, 2021

It's all down to this! We've narrowed down the greatest Zelda games of all time to a perfect 8, and now we've got to bring it all the way to number one. Sorry Link's Target Practice fans, this one is just for the big 'uns.

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Deciding The Best Zelda Game of All Time Mar 05, 2021

We thought we'd take some time to dive into a very scientific study: What is the best Zelda game of all time? To determine this, we've started with all 16 main games and, well, stuck them in a randomized bracket for true chaos. We've got some spicy match-ups coming your way, so buckle up!

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Mario 3D World and the Infinite Sadness (of Bowser) Feb 26, 2021

After a week of total chaos, most of the boys from your favorite video game club are back, joined by special guest Elyse Willems of Rooster Teeth & Fun Haus fame. At issue this week: Super Mario 3D World and prescisely the right way to say the name Mario (which is still up for debate!).

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The Nightmare Before March Feb 12, 2021

The gents hop into the scary and tiny world of Little Nightmares 2. They also explore the existential and impossible to answer questions of: Is Luigi's Mansion 3 a horror game, and can kites be scary?

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Waking Up Early with the Boys Feb 05, 2021

This week on The Besties, the gang is diving into some incredible Early Access games, including Teardown, Ender Lilies, Subnautica: Below Zero and Everspace 2. They also introduce a brand new listener appreciation segment that truly stretches the definition of music.

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Hitman 3 and the Great Muffin Assasination Jan 29, 2021

You find yourself in an assassination gone wrong. All you have? A muffin. The boys journey into the World of Assassination with Hitman 3 this week, discovering whether they have what it takes to fill the mighty soles of Agent 47. Join them, won't you?

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The Deepest Cuts of Winter Jan 22, 2021

January may not be known for a rollicking time for major new releases, but that's cool, we'll find a way to keep you busy! Today we dive into a bunch of games that you may have missed while you were busy trying to get Cyberpunk to not crash.

A full rundown of all the games listed: Noita, MO:Astray, Death Stranding, Spiritfairer, Jackbox 7, and Call of the Sea. Also Griffin tries to make a prank phone call.

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Cyberpunking with Ron Funches Jan 15, 2021

We're a bit late to the Cyberpunk 2077 party, but better late than never! Chris Plante will be back soon, but the world-renowned @RonFunches has stepped in to fill his shoes this week. Is Cyberpunk truly that heinous, or is it all a ruse? And can we possibly find a way to make hacking minigames fun? All will be revealed.

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2021's Most Anticipated Games Jan 08, 2021

The Besties gang are back for a brand new year, thanks for sticking with us! In today's episode, we'll each bring 3 games (ahem, Justin) that we're pumped about in the new year. We're talking Breath of the Wild 2, Resident Evil 8age, God of War Ragnanok, Hollow Knight Silksong, and much, much more.

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2020 Game of the Year Part 2 Dec 18, 2020

We’ve gone from 16 and we’re down to 8 of the best games of 2020. Now we’re going to cull down these sweet, adorable baby calves until there’s just one golden cow remaining for the year. The final eight are: Animal Crossing: NH, Paradise Killer, Among Us, Ori 2, Spelunky 2, Monster Train, Kentucky Route Zero, and Hades.

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2020 Game of the Year Part 1 Dec 11, 2020

It’s all been building to this! The boys come together with 16 games duking it out for the best games of 2020 (including 4 listener selections!). Who will live? Who will die? Who will cry? There’s only one way to find out! For the full bracket, check out TheBestiesPod on Twitter.

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Whose Souls? Demon's Souls Nov 27, 2020

The boys brave the fetid swamps and fiery dragons of the prettiest dang PS5 game around, Demon's Souls. Will they survive the Valley of Defilement? Will they find a lovely two bedroom in the Tower of Latria? Only one way to find out!

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PlayStation 5 Launch Extravaganza Nov 20, 2020

The new console launches continue with the debut of the PlayStation 5! The Besties break down all the upgraded design features including the incredible DualSense controller.

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Xbox Series X Launch Spectacular ... Also Vikings! Nov 13, 2020

Just days after the official launch of the Xbox Series X, the gang offers a comprehensive evaluation including how this generational leap compared to the last and upcoming exclusives. Then they enter the Animus and are transported back to the age of Vikings with their review of the new Assassin's Creed Valhalla.

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Those Adorable Watch Dogs Nov 06, 2020

The Besties rode on a drone and hacked their way into the mainframe for this week’s new game: Watch Dogs: Legion! They discuss the impressive open world design of the futuristic post-Brexit London. Critique the play as any character feature. And question if a game release has ever been less fit for the moment? Plus, their review of The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope.

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We Have a PS5, It's Big Oct 30, 2020

Huge news! Russ previews the new sizable PS5 including demonstrating its eject. Then the gang reviews the visual novel real-time strategy game 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim.

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Games That Make Us Go AHHH! Oct 23, 2020

It's October so it must be time to give you the straight up willies. The Besties dive into Twitch phenomenon Phasmophobia, and Justin burns matches in Amnesia: Rebirth. We also explore some of our favorite scary games from throughout history. Join us ... unless you're scared? To be honest, we kinda are.

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Open the Baldur's Gates! We Have an Xbox Series X! Oct 16, 2020

The Besties have gathered at the digital tabletop to review Larian Studios’ recent launch in early access to Baldur's Gate 3! Plus, Chris gives an in-depth report on the Xbox Series X!

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Won't Someone Think of Alderaan? Oct 09, 2020

This week's topic of discussion is the new Star Wars: Squadrons! Together the Besties unpack the lineage of Star Wars flight games. Offer positive reviews for the multiplayer mode. And explore how the game expands into the franchise’s extended universe like never before. Plus, offer up some recent releases they’re playing and answer the fan submitted question of which spacecraft they would eat if forced to?

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Hey Hades, Get Funky! Oct 02, 2020

Join the Besties in their quest of the underworld with 2020’s Hades. They explore the incredibly designed and nuanced gameplay. Discuss the mythological themes. And cannot ignore the fact that all of the characters are very hot. Plus, special guest New York Giraffe discusses their goal to become the God of West 23rd Street!

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Begun These Pre-Order Wars Have (also Spelunky 2 is good) Sep 25, 2020

The gang reviews the sequel to the 2008 original, Spelunky 2. Discuss the recent pre-order madness. Explore Microsoft’s acquisition of game publisher Bethesda Softworks for $7.5 billion. And check in on the state of the console wars.

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Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 with Miles Luna Sep 18, 2020

The iconic skateboarding game is back and newly remastered, my dudes! Animation writer and director, Miles Luna, joins The Besties this week to discuss Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2! They explore the influence of the original 1999 release, play Tony Hawk's Pro Skater trivia, and review the improvements and new features. Plus they discuss the updated soundtrack and come up with their own EPIC original tricks!

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Can Any of Us Beat Up an Avenger? Sep 11, 2020

This week the boys offer an in-depth review of the new Marvel's Avengers! They examine the original storyline with Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel at the center of the story. Discuss the similarities of the multiplayer gameplay with the Destiny series. And breakdown the upcoming releases of the Xbox Series X and the recently announced Xbox Series S.

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What Have You Done To Us, Dear Listeners Sep 04, 2020

The Besties let the listeners decide what games to discuss this week. So hope you're all happy! First, Griffin offers a lackluster review of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered. Then the gang tackles Madden NFL 21, the recent release from the long-running franchise. And finally, they examine the twisted post-apocalyptic RPG Wasteland 3.

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Thank You for Flying Besties Airlines, Enjoy Your Tomato Aug 28, 2020

Join the gang in the virtual cockpit as they fly through the new Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020! Together, they examine the pros and cons of the ultra realistic gameplay and discuss exploring the Earth with the live streaming map technology. Plus, Griffin, Justin and Chris show off their newly learned piloting skills while Russ demonstrates his grasp of altitude.

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The Boys Enter Early Access Aug 21, 2020

Join the Besties’ quest through Rogue Legacy 2, which is now available in early access on Steam. Plus, they offer other titles to check out like Heroes of Hammerwatch. And read fan mail which includes an in-depth look into what Russ has done with all his muscle money.

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A Letter to the Fall Guys Guys Aug 14, 2020

In this episode of The Besties, the boys review the hit online multiplayer battle royale Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout. Plus, pitch their own Fall Guys mini games based on other existing games shows. And answer listener-submitted questions including what other genres, specific games or franchises would they want to have a battle royale mode added to?

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The Best Ideas in Bad Games Aug 07, 2020

Sometimes the worst games do have some redeeming qualities. This week, the gang looks at the best game mechanics, unique story ideas, console technology integration featured in sub-par releases over the years.

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The Best Summer Games You're Not Playing Jul 31, 2020

The Besties recommend some of their favorite games that have come out this summer, including Carrion, The Under Presents, Zach Gage’s Good Sudoku, the updated Noita, and more! Plus, they discuss what upcoming releases they are excited for in the rest of 2020.

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Rolling Paper Mario Jul 24, 2020

This week The Besties take a critical look at Paper Mario: The Origami King, the sixth installment of the Mario Paper series, and explore which power-up items in the Mario franchise they genuinely would want to eat. Plus, they read fan letters and answer who is the better Doctor: Mario or Waluigi? If you’d like to contact the show please reach out to mail@besties.fan.

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The Ghost with the Most of Tsushima Jul 17, 2020

The gang reviews Ghost of Tsushima, the recently released open world action-adventure game set in 13th century feudal Japan. Topics include the Samurai code of honor, the sometimes glacial story pacing, the design of the "Kurosawa mode" and the lackluster mini games. Early copies of Ghost of Tsushima were provided by Sony.

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PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: We Pick a Winner! Jul 08, 2020

In honor of National Video Game Day, The Besties decide the best new console of 2020: the PlayStation 5 vs. Xbox Series X! Using a highly advanced voting system they weighed the tech specs, upcoming video game releases, pricing, and announce their winner. May the best console win.

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Spoilers Ahoy! The Last of Us Part 2 Jul 03, 2020

*SPOILER ALERT*This week’s episode goes all-in on The Last of Us Part II and leaves no virtual corpse unturned. Together, The Besties break down the plot, discuss the controversy and explore in-depth the failings of this game’s bleak view on justice.

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No Spoilers for The Last of Us Part 2 Jun 26, 2020

The Besties kick off a two-part series on The Last of Us Part II with a no spoilers episode. They explore the punishing gameplay, consider the pleasure of headshotting infected pseudo-zombies, and explain the trouble with scavenging Seattle for dirty bandages. Plus, they compete in a zombie apocalypse RPG that tests the gang’s survival skills.

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Justin LOVES Clubhouse Games Jun 19, 2020

That's right Justin absolutely lives for the compilation Clubhouse Games on Nintendo Switch. He can’t get enough of the 51 classic board games, card games, sports stuff and even a piano keyboard! Somehow they manage to shift gears and also discuss the Playstation 5 box design aesthetics and answer fan mail. But it wasn’t easy to stop Justin from talkin’ club.

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The Super Mario Galaxy Isn't Big Enough for the Four of Them Jun 12, 2020

The gang reviews Super Mario Galaxy and picks their best game of the 2007 mini-series. Plus, Uncle Jake Nintendo Plante makes a special appearance to ask for the next great Mario spinoff?

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Nathan Drake and Kratos, best friends forever May 29, 2020

In their on-going mini-series on the greatest games of 2007, The Besties this week discuss Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and God of War II. Together they comment on the trappings of Nathan Drake’s problem solving, why Kratos has no chill and explore fringe Playstation exclusives including the “When I'm Cleaning Windows” song from window washing mini-game Wishi Washi on the EyeToy: Play collection. Plus, answer fan mail for entry level gamers!

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If You Like Halo 3 You Should Put a Ring on it May 22, 2020

This week The Besties are discussing Halo 3! Together they look back to its highly anticipated release in 2007. The criticism around the infamous cliffhanger ending. Their favorite vehicles, weapons and campaigns. Plus, get nostalgic for H3’s limited edition gaming soda.

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BioShock: Wet and Wild Fun! May 15, 2020

Would you kindly join The Besties as they revisit the dystopian RPG shooter BioShock? Together they discuss the influence of Objectivism and environmentalism on its storytelling. The design aesthetic that incorporates Art Deco and steampunk. And critique the effectiveness of the plot twist (spoiler alert!)

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COD4: Should We Feel Bad? May 08, 2020

OORAH! Stand at attention and listen to this week's discussion of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare you maggots. In the second episode of their mini-series on games from 2007, The Besties examine the franchise's first foray into contemporary battle. Plus, Russ tests his co-host's knowledge with some Call of Duty trivia.

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Y'all, Portal Still Rocks May 01, 2020

This week starts off the new series on the best year for video games. Now with the spotlight on 2007, the gang of course had to discuss Portal and game developer Valve! Plus, the boys pitch Portal 3 concepts to a very special guest.

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What Was the Best Year for Video Games Ever? Apr 24, 2020

Today’s special episode takes The Besties into a new direction. With newer releases being put on hold, the gang is looking back at what was the best year for video games ever. Each present cases for why the year stood out and examine all the variables. Listeners can get in on the action by heading over to https://twitter.com/thebestiespod and cast their vote to help pick a winner!

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Final Fantasy 7 Remake Feat. a Hunkier Cloud Apr 17, 2020

This week The Besties are covering the remake of the hit RPG from 1997, Final Fantasy VII. Together they discuss its influential legacy and how the creators have reimagined the original story and evolved its characters. Plus, Plante presents his thesis on why video games as a medium may have entered into a postmodern phase.

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Resident Evil 3: Missing the Large Detective Apr 10, 2020

The gang survives the remake of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis to tell listeners about the bizarre world design of Racoon City (including a train museum and a very normal toy store with a giant hovering baby head). They also explore why Justin finds watching game character’s heads explode less fun than ever before and how Russ decided to bestow Mr. X his new name, “the Large Detective.”

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How to save a dead franchise, or: Old men play Half-Life Alyx Apr 03, 2020

After 15+ years, the influential game franchise is back with Half-Life: Alyx! Follow along for an extremely nerdy conversation about The Besties' experience playing the VR first person shooter and what other franchises they would like to see return.

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Animal Crossing: New Horizons will save us all! Mar 27, 2020

This week, the Besties discuss the highly anticipated Animal Crossing: New Horizons! Is this the most important game possibly in the history of humanity? Will this be the biggest game release on the Nintendo Switch of all time? Together they explore the game play, bug curation and how important the opportunity to virtually go outside is in the this time of the coronavirus.

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DOOM Eternal with Elyse Willems Mar 20, 2020

Elyse Willems (Funhaus) joins The Besties for an in-depth conversation on the newly released Doom Eternal! Topics include ripping of arms and limbs, the world-building of hell on earth and space castles.

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The Best Games You're Not Playing Mar 13, 2020

Before the big game release storm rolls in, The Besties wanted to cover some of the latest smaller titles you might have missed. Including action platformer Bloodroots, mobile game Crossy Road Castle, the third installment in the Ben There, Dan That! series Lair of the Clockwork God and the manga artist Junji Ito influenced WORLD OF HORROR. Plus, they examine the upcoming PS5 versus Xbox Series X and the promise of HDMI 2.1,

https://www.polygon.com/2020/3/4/21151509/xbox-series-x-ps5-specs-4k-8k-tv-hdmi

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The Besties go to the Farm! Mar 06, 2020

Today's episode examines Rune Factory 4 Special Nintendo Switch edition plus Russ challenges the gang to a test if any of the farming simulators they've played over the years have translated into real world knowledge.

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Dreams Feb 28, 2020

This week the boys explore Dreams, the follow up to LittleBigPlanet from developer Media Molecule and discuss their other favorite user-generated content games.

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Sonic the Hedgehog: THE MOVIE Feb 21, 2020

The gang heads to the theaters to see the latest and greatest video game movie adaptation: Sonic the Hedgehog. But what happens if it's actually...good?

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Mario 3 & The Wizard Reboot Feb 14, 2020

Plante ditches the rest of the gang, leaving them with an ancient game that came out around the dawn of time. (Thankfully it was pretty good.) The remaining gang try to reboot the 1989 film, The Wizard, for a new generation.

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Journey to the Savage Planet Feb 07, 2020

The boys head into space and gather a heck of a lot of resources...and laughs? Russ somehow justifies his love for Jojamart, which may be the true good guy of the Stardew Valley universe.

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Kentucky Route Zero / AI Dungeon Jan 31, 2020

After nearly a decade, Kentucky Route Zero (a game first released during the first year of The Besties!) is finally completed. The boys also take a journey into an AI Dungeon to solve a horrible dragon crime.

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The Witcher Special Jan 24, 2020

Because the world has been captured by the magic of Geralt of Rivia, The Besties are diving into Netflix's The Witcher and also The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (newly released on Switch). Toss a coin to them!

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The Greatest Vaporware + Half-Life's Black Mesa Jan 17, 2020

Some games take a year to come out. But some games? Decades. This week The Besties are looking at some of their favorite vaporware, including a project that's been in the works since the mid 2000s: Black Mesa, a fan-made Half-Life recreation.

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The Best Video Game Kings + Shovel Knight: King of Cards Jan 10, 2020

In this episode of The Besties, the boys debate which are the very best video game kings of all time. They'll also dive in to the latest addition to the Shovel Knight franchise, King of Cards.

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Most Anticipated Video Games of 2020 Jan 03, 2020

The Besties are looking ahead at the coming year and asking themselves: Which are the true bangers of 2020? They'll even look ahead and make some prognostications about what to expect from the coming year. Will they be right? Probably not!

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2019 Recap Special Dec 27, 2019

The Besties bid farewell to 2019 with the highs and lows of some of the biggest trends of the year. NOTE: This will be the last full episode on the wide feed. Starting on January 3, 2020, The Besties weekly can only be found on Spotify. Follow and listen for free!

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Game of the Year Part 2 Dec 20, 2019

Time to decide the best video game of 2019. We've tabulated our votes, and we're even including a surprise bracket, as voted on by the fans. Here we go, folks. It's all led to this.

The full list of contenders in this year's GOTY special include:

Round 1 -

A Short Hike

What the Golf

Hypnospace Outlaw

Outer Wilds (Part 1 winner)

Round 2 -

Outer Worlds

Luigi's Mansion (Part 1 winner)

Astral Chain

Pokémon Sword and Shield

Round 3 -

Control

Baba is You

Sekiro

Disco Elysium

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Game of the Year Part 1 Dec 13, 2019

Who better to pick the world's best games than the world's best friends? The Besties kick off the 2019 Game of the Year special with an intense melee of the greatest video games to walk the Earth in the last 12 months. Got a submission? Send it to mail@besties.fan

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Death Stranding Dec 06, 2019

Who likes walking? Justin likes walking! Hideo Kojima's long-awaited walking epic captures Justin's heart, but will the other Besties be as charmed? Also: What other games would be well-served by entering the "Strand" genre?

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Pokémon Sword and Shield Dec 06, 2019

Griffin loves his adorable little pocket monsters and tries his very best to convince the boys that they are truly creatures of god. This is generally ineffectual. Also: Pokémon that get far, far worse the more they evolve.

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Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Dec 06, 2019

The Besties are back! This week they're discussing Respawn's Star Wars game, Jedi: Fallen Order, and diving into the weird world of deep cut Star Wars lore, from Yaddle to jizz (literally the official term for the genre of music in the cantina scene) .

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Best Games of 2018 Dec 25, 2018

Wondering what the best games of 2018 were? Join Justin McElroy, Griffin McElory, Chris Plante and Russ Frushtick as they venture forth and discuss the cream of the crop. Will it be the last Besties episode ever? Yes! Maybe! I don't know! We just hope you enjoy it.

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April 2018 and a Status Update on the Future May 14, 2018

Hello Besties fans! First off, we love all of you! Secondly, we wanted to let you know that we'll be shifting back to just having The Besties as an end-of-year special. You can hear all about it in the episode, but this was the solution we were able to make work with everyone's schedules. While we know you'll miss hearing from us each month, know that we'll do our absolute best to make the end-of-year episode a true banger. But before that, please enjoy this episode where we discuss the very best games of April 2018.

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March 2018 Apr 09, 2018

There were a ton of games trying to beat the Q1 deadline, but as The Besties soon learned, some of those titles may have needed a little more time in the oven. Or maybe they were beyond hope? Who’s to say? Not us, we have no idea. Listen, we don’t know what we’re talking about, OK? We thought you knew.

Games Discussed: Deep Town, Alto’s Odyssey, Vermintide 2, FarCry 5, Ni No Kuni 2, Sea of Thieves, Fortnite

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February 2018 Mar 07, 2018

February is the month of love and we’ve got a crop of games that ... well, we like them. Maybe not like like them, but we regular like them a great deal.

Games discussed: Lemon drinks, Almost a Hero, Monster Hunter World, Slay the Spire, Bayonetta 2, Membrane, The Fall Part 2: Unbound, Xbox One X Backwards Compatibility, Into the Breach, Owlboy.

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January 2018 Feb 09, 2018

Games discussed: Iconoclasts, SOS, Sea of Thieves, Celeste, Subnautica, Monster Hunter World, Shadow of the Colossus.

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The Best Game of 2017 Jan 03, 2018

In defiance of reason, good taste and the laws of both god and man, your pals The Besties sat down and recorded a two-hour-and-forty-five-minute battle royale to decide the best game of 2017. Get comfy, get hydrated.

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November and December 2017 Dec 14, 2017

Since they waited so ding dang long to record their November and because December is a crummy month for releases, The Besties have combined both months into one big (OK, so it’s regular-length) episode. Enjoy!

Games discussed: Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild DLC, Solitairica, Call of Duty: WW2, Star Wars: Battlefront 2, Hearthstone: Kobolds and Catacombs, Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy, Universal Paperclips, Destiny 2: Curse of Osiris, Battle Chef Brigade, Endless Space 2.

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October 2017 Nov 09, 2017

There may be be a bigger month for video game releases in recent memory, but we sure can’t think of one. Join us for a whirlwind tour of October 2017, capped off by an only slightly predictable finale.

Games discussed: Assassin’s Creed Origins, Animal Crossing Pocket Camp, Middle Earth: Shadow of War, The Evil Within 2, Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus, Super Mario Odyssey.

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The Besties pick the best games of September 2017 Oct 04, 2017

September was one of the most jam-packed months of 2017 until ... well, next month. But worry not, dear listener. The Besties are here to filter out all the disgusting chaff and leave you with a heaping plate of gaming wheat. Delicious, delicious wheat.

Games discussed: SteamWorld Dig 2, Danganronpa 3, Heat Signature, Divinity: Original Sin 2, SNES Classic, Metroid: Samus Returns, Cuphead, Golf Story, Destiny 2.

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The Besties pick the best games of August 2017 Sep 15, 2017

We know, we know, it’s late, and it’s really, really hard not to just talk about Destiny 2, but you know what? We don’t. Because we’re true professionals with a vague recollection of games that came out before Destiny 2.

Games discussed: Everybody’s Golf, Absolver, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, Nidhogg 2, Agents of Mayhem, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, Sonic Mania, Tacoma, Lone Echo.

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The Besties pick the best games of July 2017 Aug 15, 2017

It’s a hot one After a slow June, things have picked back up considerably for July. We’ve got a ton of great games to talk about and, most excitingly, one of Russ’ classic characters makes an extremely unexpected return. Games discussed: Destiny 2 Beta, Hidden My Game By Mom, Flipping Legend, Vostok Inc., Mass Effect Andromeda, Miitopia, The End is Nigh, Splatoon 2, Pyre. Theme song by Ian Dorsch Download MP3 Subscribe? Sure, you can subscribe.

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The Besties pick the best games of June 2017 Jul 10, 2017

It’s gotten a little slow, but we’re still here OK, things have slowed down for game releases in June. How slow? Well, one of our games was released in May. But, we’re still here picking the best games of the month, just for you. Games discussed: Final Fantasy 14, Nier: Automata, Wolfenstein: The New Blood, Caveblazers, Cave Story +, Arms, The Surge. Theme song by Ian Dorsch Download MP3" Subscribe? Sure, you can subscribe.

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The Besties pick the best games of May 2017 Jun 09, 2017

April showers bring good games We’re back with another surprisingly great month of games. This May brings us a few out-of-nowhere surprises and a couple of big releases. A happy May to us all! Games discussed: Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, Card Thief, Nier Automata, The Surge, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Injustice 2, Dead Cells, Prey. Theme song by Ian Dorsch Download MP3" Subscribe? Sure, you can subscribe.

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The Besties pick the best games of April 2017 May 09, 2017

It’s only APRIL? Remember when good games only came out after Madden? That’s out the window. It’s been a stunner of a year already for game releases, and the streak continues in April with everything from JRPG/dating games to idle games. Join the Besties as they pick the month’s best. Games discussed: Puyo Puyo Tetris, Office Space: Idle Profits, Flinthook, Kubb, Nier: Automata, The Sexy Brutale, Persona 5, What Remains of Edith Finch, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Theme song by Ian Dorsch Download MP3" Subscribe? Sure, you can subscribe.

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The Besties are picking the best games of March 2017 Apr 07, 2017

You probably guessed it already Just because you almost certainly know what game we picked as the best of March 2017, doesn’t mean you can’t listen and enjoy hearing about all the games that aren’t the best game of March 2017. It’s about the journey, folks. Not the destination. GAMES DISCUSSED: Mass Effect Andromeda, 1-2 Switch, Robo Recall, Nier Automata, Typeshift, Everything, Snipperclips, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Theme song by Ian Dorsch Download MP3" Subscribe? Sure, you can subscribe.

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The Besties pick the best games of February 2017 Mar 06, 2017

At least the games have been good in 2017! Though we still don’t have a great explanation as to why, the first ever Polygon podcast has returned on a monthly basis. Join The Besties (Russ Frushtick, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy and Chris Plante) as they nonsensically attempt to pick the “best” game released in January 2017. GAMES DISCUSSED: Dandy Dungeon, Chess (again), Fire Emblem Heroes, For Honor, Nioh, Horizon: Zero Dawn Theme song by Ian Dorsch Download MP3" Subscribe? Sure, you can subscribe.

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The Besties pick the best games of January 2017 Feb 09, 2017

Yes, they’re back. OK? Though we still don’t have a great explanation as to why, the first ever Polygon podcast has returned on a monthly basis. Join The Besties (Russ Frushtick, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy and Chris Plante) as they nonsensically attempt to pick the “best” game released in January 2017. GAMES DISCUSSED: Dragon Quest Builders, Chess, Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Future Tone, Final Fantasy XV, Gravity Rush 2, Resident Evil 7, Yakuza 0 and Astroneer. Also, the Nintendo Switch. Theme song by Ian Dorsch Download MP3 Subscribe? Sure, you can subscribe.

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The Besties podcast: Best of 2016 Dec 13, 2016

Yes, it's true, we've returned for yet another round of nobody's favorite video game podcast, The Besties. Join your hosts Justin McElroy, Chris Plante, Russ Frushtick and Griffin McElroy as they pick the year's best game with a methodology that ranges from "non-sensical" to "utterly, destructively haphazard." Please enjoy this year's edition before The Besties are once again enveloped by fog and trapped in oblivion for 12 calendar months.

0:07 -- Honorable Mentions
0:24 -- Round 1

Hyper Light Drifter
Overwatch
Superhot
Battlefield 1

0:53 -- Round 2

Pokemon Go
Dishonored 2
Watchdogs 2
Stardew Valley

1:53 -- Round 3

Forza Horizon 3
DOOM
Dark Souls 3
The Witness

2:31 -- Round 4

Fire Emblem Fates
Quadrilateral Cowboy
Inside
Titanfall 2

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The Besties Game of the Year special for 2015 is now available, you monster Dec 28, 2015

Last year, we published a post called "The Final Besties Ever." We're sorry that we lied about that, but we're even sorrier for those of you who made it happen by constantly demanding that we do it. We can't imagine what dark hole is embedded in your heart that you require one of the most universally maligned video game podcasts in history in order for your year to be complete, but that's your cross to bear. True story: If Russ Frushtick's audio sounds odd during this episode, it's because he literally talked into the wrong side of his mic for the whole show, I shit you not. This is the podcast you demanded. This. This is on you. If you'd like to subscribe to The Besties, you still can, believe it or not.

7:00 - Honorable Mentions
31:20 - Round One
1:09:50 - Round Two
1:45:20 - Round Three
2:25:25 - Final Decision
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The Final Besties Ever: 2014's best games battle it out Dec 22, 2014

This is it. The Besties have been on hiatus — which intimates a brief pause in an otherwise regular schedule, so let's call it a "temporary cancellation" — for a few months now, but we've gathered the crew back together for one last hurrah. We're going to talk about video games for a very, very long time, y'all. In this four-hour series finale, we're pitting 2014's best games against one another in unyielding combat to the death. (This isn't Polygon's official Game of the Year lineup, though — those will be announced soon!) For those that have stuck with us from the beginning, through the exploratory episodes, the Chris Grant-a-Tron period, the video specials and countless horrible, imaginary special guests — thank you. Sorry it got so weird there, in the middle. Now: Let's close this out right.

The Games

Dragon Age: Inquisition
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Mario Kart 8
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft
Transistor
P.T.
Far Cry 4
Dark Souls 2
Bayonetta 2
Wolfenstein: The New Order
Destiny
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Titanfall
Sunset Overdrive
Shovel Knight

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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Best games of July 2014 - The Besties Aug 06, 2014

It's fair to say that July 2014 will not go down as the most active month in video game history. There were so few major releases this July that we decided the best way to cope was to go into the deep, dark past. Each Bestie was asked to select one game from their childhood that they love. The rule, though, was that at least two of the remaining three Besties had to have not played that game, so some of us would be playing them with fresh eyes. It was an enlightening experience. Despite coming up with a whole backup plan for the lack of July games, it actually did end up as a pretty solid month, so we spend the top half of the show on some of the new releases, if that's your bag. (Oh, and Justin couldn't make this episode because babies. Don't worry, he'll be back next month!)

5:00 - Some actually good games from July 2014!
31:00 - Actraiser (Frushtick)
43:30 - Quest for Glory (Griffin)
58:00 - Half Time
1:03:00 - News
1:16:00 - River City Ransom (Plante)
1:24:30 - The Beast Within: A Gabriel Knight Mystery (Justin)
1:43:00 - Resties!

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The best games of June 2014 according to The Besties Jul 08, 2014

Remember last month when a surprise cloud of quality games rained down upon us, soaking us in the joys of kart racing and nazi shooting? Those warm rains of spring have passed and what remains is the scorched, dry earth of summer. Sure, a couple of nice games appeared, like oases ready to quench our thirst. But after completing Shovel Knight and Valiant Hearts we returned to our slog, counting the days till the fall deluge. How have you been passing the summer drought?

5:00 - 1001 Spikes
22:00 - Shovel Knight
36:00 - News of the month, E3 Edition
56:00 - Valiant Hearts
1:14:00 - Pixel Junk Shooter Ultimate
1:18:00 - The Resties!

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The Besties: The Best Games of May 2014 Jun 05, 2014

What a peculiar May. Typically, I think of spring as a dumping ground, the soft, warm land where publishers unceremoniously bury games that failed to meet internal creative expectations or sales projections. The past few years have changed that, partly because publishers have learned to tie a AAA game's release to the incoming hype of E3, and partly because many games are released each year that every month is all but guaranteed to have one stand out. There were a lot of games this month that deserve to be on a best of list. And we do our darndest to talk about most of them. Let's continue the conversation in the comments, because I'm sure we missed something.

5:00 - Watch Dogs

41:00 - Transistor

56:00 - News of the month
1:18:00 - Wolfenstein

1:32:00 - Mario Kart 8

1:39:00 - The Resties!

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The Besties: The Best Games of April 2014 May 09, 2014

The ides of March were nothing compared to this! Yes, April is upon us and it seems many game companies are just holding their collective breath in order to make it all the way to May, which happens to be so packed with video games that we can't even deal. April is another story. Knowing that it was going to be a dry month, we held off on Dark Souls 2 until its far-superior PC version came out. Kinda cheating, but hey, who's counting? And besides, there are still a few legitimately April releases to discuss. Some of which we sorta liked!

4:30 - Dark Souls 2
53:00 - Wayward Souls
1:00:30 - News of the month
1:21:00 - Half-time!
1:25:00 - Elder Scrolls Online
1:40:00 - Broforce
1:51:30 - The Resties!

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The Besties: The Best Games of March 2014 Apr 10, 2014

I hope you enjoyed March. The month full of big game releases may be the last of its kind for the foreseeable future. Looking at the calendar, we won't see four weeks so full of hyped AAA and indie games until fall. That's why we chose to withhold Dark Souls 2 from this month's Besties. We can discuss its release on PC next month. April, after all, looks slim by comparison. Anyway, let's live in the now! This month we have four good games, a bag full of reader favorites and some big news involving a certain Lawnmower Man knockoff.

8:30 - Titanfall
25:00 - Mercenary Kings
37:00 - Halftime!
48:00 - Infamous: Second Son
1:14:00 - News of the month
1:24:00 - Luftrausers
1:34:40 - Reader emails

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The Besties: The Best Games of February 2014 Mar 07, 2014

February came and went. The shortest month of the year was practically a wasteland in terms of major game releases. The standout AAA game, Thief, left many of us feeling robbed. And Fable's anniversary wasn't quite worth celebrating. Then again, maybe we were just looking for fun in all the wrong places. Bravely Default, The Last of Us' DLC and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze all got lavished with praise by our reviews team. And hey, I'm always happy to shout my love for Earth Defense Force 2025. You know, maybe it wasn't a bad slate of games, so much as it was a strange one. Just look at the four we chose to discuss: a remake in the mode of Metroidvania, an anthropomorphic number puzzler, an asburdist espionage comedy and a third-person shooter spin-off of a family-friendly real-time strategy game.

5:30 - Thief
14:30 - Jazzpunk
26:00 - Threes!
36:15 - Halftime!
56:00 - Strider
1:08:00 - News of the month
1:25:45 - Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare
1:41:30 - Reader emails

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The Besties: The Best Games of January 2014 Feb 12, 2014

The Besties are back! At the end of 2013, the fate of the show was unclear. We were unsure what the podcast would look like in 2014. But after hearing positive feedback from many of our listeners, we buckled down and came up with a new format. We really like it; we hope you do, too. This year, we will record one extended episode at the end of each month, discussing the best games of the previous 30 or so days. With the new format, we can ensure all four hosts have had time to play the selected games. We think that change alone will produce better conversations. If all goes well, the show will feel more like our end-of-the-year specials. Also, we'll be reading listener mail. So send your thoughts, feelings, questions and deepest, darkest secrets to besties at polygon dot com! We also want to know your favorite games of February and why they're so special. Thanks again to everyone who asked for more Besties. You are why we do the show.

9:20 - Rust
29:00 - Hearthstone
49:00 - Halftime!
55:00 - Loadout
1:05:00 - News of the month
1:23:00 - The Banner Saga

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The Besties Game of the Year 2013 Video Special - Part 2 (Audio only) Dec 30, 2013

In the words of 2 Unlimited, "Y'all ready for this?" The Besties return to finish the fight. Eight games emerged from last week's battle royal, but only one has the grit to claim the title of Besty. Will it be Gone Home? Or Towerfall? Or maybe Zelda? What about The Last of Us, people seemed to like that game, right? The tension is killing me and I already know who takes the title! Stay tuned. We'll notify the winner of the bracket contest shortly!

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The Besties Game of the Year 2013 Video Special - Part 1 (Audio Only) Dec 30, 2013

The time has come! Just like last year, The Besties have come together to celebrate the holidays and decide, once and for all, which game will be crowned the very best of 2013. We narrowed it down to 16 games (four of which came direct from the audience) and pit them against one another in ultimate combat. Who will win? Who will lose? Only one way to find out! (By the way, Part 2 will go live next Monday, December 30. Soon after that, we'll notify the winner of the bracket contest.)

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The Besties 81: 'Twas the night before Besty Dec 14, 2013

I can't believe we're about to film another end of the year Besties Besty Special. But I shouldn't let the excitement spoil this week's episode. Live in the present, Plante! Be here now. Okay, so what do we have? Oh, just a number of heartfelt, respectfully designed video games that challenge our conceptions of the medium. You know, that's all.

3:30 - Best Gachapon machine of 2013 (Heroes of Dragon Age)
19:10 - Best interlude (The Entertainment, Kentucky Route Zero)
30:30 - Halftime!
35:00 - Best reason to reload (Teleglitch: Die More Edition)
41:00 - Best educational game (The Novelist)

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The Besties 80: Thanksgiving surprise Nov 28, 2013

We couldn't let you brave the long trip home all alone. Earlier this week, The Besties recorded a special, pre-holiday episode. Thank goodness, because we'd missed a number of great games during launch month madness. There's so much left to hit before the end of the year! How have you kept up with the holiday releases? Or are you just hoarding a backlog for the long winter ahead? Give us some tips!

3:30 - Best sequel (The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds)
19:10 - Best/worst camera (Tearaway)
33:30 - Halftime!
38:00 - Best Mario game (Super Mario 3D World)
49:00 - Best collectibles (Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag)

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The Besties 79: Left Behind Nov 16, 2013

We know, it's PS4 launch week, but aren't you burnt out on our coverage already? Seriously, between the packed-to-brim StoryStream and 12-hour live video stream, we wager you've had your fill. That's why, this week, we're talking about decidedly not-next-gen stuff. Okay, some talk of PS4 and Wii U slips in there, but we think you'll find it appropriately non-informative. This is, as you've probably discovered, how we do.

4:28 - Best brief tour of Rapture (BioShock Infinite: Burial At Sea: Part One)
21:05 - Best PS4 distraction (Rayman Fiesta Run)
26:48 - Halftime - WobbleGate, The Walking Dead Continuity
33:24 - Best Game of This Year, Next Year (Towerfall on PS4)
41:00 - Best Reason Not to Sleep on Nintendo (New Zelda, New Mario)

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The Besties 78: Our fondest memories of the generation Nov 09, 2013

To send off the current generation of consoles, we decided to do something a little special. There are no winners or losers this week, just our fondest memories from one of gaming's longest console cycles. I had a nice time recording this episode. Like Justin and Griffin, I started covering games professionally during this generation. I can plot my entire career alongside its big releases, studio openings, studio closures, small conferences, big conferences and comic conferences. When the Xbox 360 came out, I was still in college. That's strange to think about. Share a few of your best memories from this generation in the comments. Let's have an old-fashioned reminiscence.

4:00 - Watching Nintendo reveal the Wii

13:15 - Being an early adopter of Rock Band

25:00 - Halftime - Call of Duty: Ghosts

37:00 - Finishing Portal 2

42:00 - Playing through Oblivion with the McElroy clan
1:01:00 - The winner is everyone!

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The Besties 77: A kid-shaped pile of rats Nov 01, 2013

It's almost here. The calamity of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One launch month can be heard in the distance; the vibrations can be felt if you stand still enough. Are you ready? Enjoy these final couple Besties of the current generation. We'll see you on the other side.

2:40 - Best controller upgrade (The PS4 controller)
9:30 - Best book of the week (Device 6)
16:00 - Halftime!
20:00 - Best sail (The Wind Waker HD)
25:30 - Best improvement upon Battlefield 3's miserable single-player campaign (Battlefield 4)
34:00 - The winner is everyone!

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The Besties 76: Poor, poor Sonic Oct 26, 2013

I come here to praise Sonic, not to bury him. Wait, that's wrong. I come here to bury him — or at least the happy memories I once had of him. Fortunately, my besties Justin and Griffin have positive things to talk about, like the surprises of The Stanley Parable and oh my gosh Candy Box 2 is out! So yes, while I'm sad to see the mascot of my childhood continue to struggle through my adult years, I can take solace in the cornucopia of other good games being released on a weekly basis.

3:20 - Best first level of a not-so-good game (Sonic: Lost World)
15:15 - Best tutorial (How to Survive)
22:20 - Halftime!
26:00 - Best endings (The Stanley Parable)
37:00 - The winner is everyone!

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The Besties 75: A very merry Pokémon special Oct 18, 2013

Last week we promised an all Pokémon episode. This week we deliver. The Besties discuss pocket monsters on a level of granularity that ultimately drives Justin to the brink of insanity. Can you handle that? Maybe you're not the sort of person who wants to know about min-maxing Ghastly mating. And maybe weighing the benefits of Grass and Dragon types isn't your cup of tea. Well, to you I say, good riddance and good day! Now that it's just us super fans, let's gather close and tell stories of Squirtle battles long past.

3:31 - Best way to force breed Pokémon (day care)
8:14 - Best item (Exp. Share)
17:15 - Halftime!
20:33 - Best way to make a Pokémon feel real (feed it cupcakes)
24:59 - Best mobile multiplayer of the year so far (Player Search System)
37:43 - The Winner Is!

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The Besties 74 - GD Ritzy's Oct 12, 2013

Russ is gone. We know, we'd thought we'd be thrilled about it too, but damned if we don't miss the little guy. But hey, he'll be back next week, right? Until we're doing our best to cheer ourselves up with video games. Play the pain away.

4:13 - Best Board Game iPad Adaptation (Pandemic)
14:05 - Best Performance by a Supporting Willem Dafoe (Beyond: Two Souls)
24:08 - Halftime!
30:43 - Best Load Screen (GTA Online)
45:58 - The Winner Is!

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The Besties 73 - A bowl of SteamOS Sep 27, 2013

The whole gang is back together! Griffin returns from Japan to regale us with amazing stories of vegetables and video games and video games starring vegetables. By the end of the episode, we get to the big topic of the week: SteamOS. Valve has decided to take down video game consoles! Or are they targeting Windows? Or is their plan something else entirely? With the power of our four noggins, we're bound to uncover the truth in this week's episode of The Besties!

3:00 - Best example of Buyer's Remorse (Grand Theft Auto 5's Social Club)
10:10 - Best talking mask (Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death)
19:30 - Halftime!
32:30 - Healthiest game (Food Practice Shooter)
40:00 - Best alternative to the absurdly long HDMI cable connecting my PC to my TV (SteamOS)
X:XX - The winner is ...

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The Besties 72 - GTYay Sep 20, 2013

This week, Rockstar released Grand Theft Auto 5 and the rest of the games industry politely gave it and its hype plenty of space to do their thing. Justin, Frushtick and I (sadly Griffin is busy covering Tokyo Game Show in Japan) talk about the things we love, like, don't understand and find painfully dull in Grand Theft Auto 5. It's a long conversation, and while we tried to talk about specifics, the conversation moves quickly from one topic to the next. That explains why there's no beat sheet below the audio file today. How are you enjoying GTA 5? Or, did you pass? And if so, why? Let's talk in the comments!

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The Besties 71 - Three's company Sep 13, 2013

Due to technical difficulties only three Besties were able to record this week. Frushtick, Griffin and I try to make magic without the magician, Justin McElroy. Do we succeed? You of course will be the judge. It's been a slow news week, what with the entire games industry trying to distance itself from the media magnet that is Grand Theft Auto 5's upcoming release. So, we stir together a few oddities from the gameosphere into a stew of conversation. Will people remember this episode ever happened a week from now, when citizens have abandoned their earthly duties to roam the virtual world of San Andreas? I sure hope so.

5:50 - Best 2D Minecraft (Junk Jack X)
13:00 - Best byproduct of Microsoft's reverse nefariousness (Steam family sharing program)
21:00 - Halftime!
30:30 - Best effort to make people sort of care about Vita (Vita TV)
40:20 - The winner is...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties 70 - The avuncular episode Sep 06, 2013

Frushtick is an uncle! Yes, the man of a thousand roles has a new one: the grown-up responsible for introducing a child to video games. Congratulations to Russ and the Frushtick clan. We return after a holiday hiatus to discuss everything from a life-affirming platformer to a bowel-purging horror simulator. We apologize upfront for any and all bathroom humor. How did you spend your final days of summer? What did you eat? I ate southern fried food for five consecutive days and my internal organs are now at war with one another. Whoever wins, I lose!

3:23 - Best dose of untarnished joy (the music levels in Rayman Legends)
12:40 - Best virtual colonic (Outlast)
21:24 - Halftime!
26:22 - Best Gauntlet reboot (Hammerwatch)
31:12 - Best tie-in surprise (Splinter Cell: Spider-Bot)
38:15 - The winner is...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties 69 - Live-ish from New York! Aug 23, 2013

You ask for more Grant. You get more Grant. That's how things work here with The Besties. We give the people what they want. But what's this? Zounds! It appears your wish was made on a cursed monkey's paw. You know not what you've done! You see, in exchange for Grant, Griffin McElroy has been expelled to the land of Germany. Though I must say, the curse could not have happened at a more helpful time, what with Gamescom. Any who, somehow Frushtick, Hoops, Grant and myself all happened to be in the New York office this week, so we decided to record the episode the old-fashioned way: sitting uncomfortably in four wheely chairs, waiting for the others to snap under the pressure of extended eye contact.

0:00 - Broadway!
3:10 - The best transition of a video game series from offensive to progressive (Saints Row 4)
16:00 - Best ghost and / or panther simulator (Splinter Cell: Blacklist)
27:30 - Halftime!
34:30 - Best XCOM game of the month (The Bureau: XCOM Declassified)
50:00 - Best free-to-play game ever (Plants vs. Zombies 2)
57:45 - The winner is...

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The Besties 68 - Down in a hole Aug 16, 2013

The gang gets back together before being dashed apart once more. This week on The Besties, the whole gang is back together, which is exciting because the next few weeks will be rife with missing members. So enjoy it while you can! We also get a glimpse into what it takes to drive Griffin mad.

4:05 - Best MetroidVania Spelunky Minecraft (SteamWorld Dig)
13:45 - Best broken piece of shit that oh my god I love please don't leave me (PayDay 2)
27:50 - Halftime!
33:45 - Best way to feel like a monster (Papers, Please)
41:15 - Best example of a forever runner that doesn't feel cheap (Knightmare Tower)
48:00 - The winner is...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties 67 - A wild Grant appears Aug 09, 2013

This week there is no me. Yes, due to a mysterious stomach virus, I, your Besties poster was unable to attend the weekly podcast. But don't worry, because another, balder and smarter Chris filled the vacancy. This week, I hope you enjoy the silky smooth tones of Polygon Editor-in-Chief Chris Grant.

4:05 - The best use of consonants (Rymdkapsel)
15:25 - The best reason to not listen to Russ Frushtick (Earthbound)
24:40 - Halftime!
38:00 - The best career move (John Carmack becomes CTO of Oculus)
48:55 - The best single-player co-op game of the year (Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons)
58:00 - The winner is...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties 66 - Rise of the Sun Aug 05, 2013

What's that sound? Well I'll be! It's the dulcet tones of Mr. David Tach. Yes, this week Dave "Sweet Sweet Butter Voice" Tach fills in for Justin "Hoops" McElroy. We discuss the rising of a triad, the setting of a sun, the returning of a shadow and the escaping of a zero. Won't you join us on this audio expedition?

4:05 - The best new old game (Rise of the Triad)
13:20 - The best old new game (Shadowrun Returns)
21:20 - Halftime!
32:10 - The best PC game that could be a mobile game (Race the Sun)
36:50 - The best game that was on PS+ but isn't anymore (Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward)
43:00 - The winner is...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties 65 - Attack of the Giant Monsters from Outer Space Jul 26, 2013

The theme of this week's Besties is giant monsters. The gang discusses kaiju, space ants and malevolent monolithic mega corps from the not-so-distant future. Like the summer's big films, a number of recent game releases are sci-fi allegories about the way we live now. Or in the case of Attack of the Friday Monsters, the way we lived way back when. We also talk about the week's big news: Microsoft's indie marketplace strategy. But the monsters are the thrust of the episode. I should probably mention there's another large monster that makes an appearance. It's possible you've met him before. He's from New York and has a long neck. I'll let him introduce himself.

3:30 - Best latest strategy update from Microsoft (Xbox One indie self-publishing)
15:00 - Best game you can't buy in the US (Earth Defense Force 4)
22:15 - Halftime!
28:20 - Best game you can buy in the US, unexpectedly (Attack of the Friday Monsters)
37:05 - Best mechanic with the worst implementation (Remember Me)
45:15 - The winner is ...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties 64 - Best of the first half of 2013 Jul 19, 2013

It's that time of the year. The Besties gather around the digital fire to share fond memories of their favorite games, some as old as January itself. Yes, it's the middle of July and we're recounting the best games of the year, so far. Some of you might be surprised to know one of the games is Animal Crossing. But what are the others? To know, you'll have to listen. Or I guess you could read the notes below, but why spoil the magic?

3:45 - Griffin (Animal Crossing: New Leaf)
12:20 - Plante (Towerfall)
19:00 - Halftime!
24:00 - Frushtick (The Last of Us)
33:00 - Justin (Gunpoint)
37:00 - The winner is ...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties 63 - The Last of Russ Jul 12, 2013

It's possible you've never noticed this odd bit of Besties trivia. Each week, we invite a new clone of the original Russ Frushtick to discuss the week's best things. The new clone is cloned from the previous week's clone, Multiplicity style. Surely, you've assumed as much. The strange characters. The shrill introduction. The clues have been on the proverbial bottom of the mug all along. This week, we invited the 63rd member of the Frushtick bloodline to discuss Rogue Legacy. After the podcast, we repeated the weekly chore, locking the clone in a tank full of water and filing that tank into the back of a theater alongside its 62 brothers. This will be the last of Russ. Join us next week when the original Russ Frushtick returns to the show for the first time since episode one!

2:20 - Best family tree in gaming (Rogue Legacy)
14:40 - Best turning point of the week (The Last of Us)
30:00 - Halftime!
35:20 - Best way to play a stealth game (Dishonored, Deus Ex: Human Revolution)
42:00 - Best anniversary of the week (App Store's 5th anniversary)
49:00 - The winner is ...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties 62 - All Animal Crossing, all the time Jun 28, 2013

Welcome to the end of days. It's rare that all four Besties find themselves smitten by a single game, let alone one for weeks on end. And yet, that's just what has happened with Animal Crossing: New Leaf on 3DS. It has taken the quartet by storm, sucking up every day with talk of turnip prices and furniture sets. And it seems they're not alone. There have been more than a few requests for an all-Animal Crossing episode, and now we're delivering. Brace yourselves.

3:30 - Best example that Justin is a masochist
13:00 - Best heart-pounding moment of E3
19:00 - Halftime!
23:54 - Best boat ride
30:15- Best narrative in a video game ever

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The Besties 61 - Welcome back for the first time Jun 21, 2013

Allow me one moment to welcome any new listeners who were introduced to The Besties by our recent E3 video spectacular. The podcast is a little different than what you saw last week. For one, it's not filmed. For two, the rules and structure tend to change — regularly. For three, there are, how do I put this, special guests. Yes, this week, Milton Bradley, the grandfather of board games himself, graced The Besties recording studio to inform us of the games he failed to sneak onto store shelves. These games sure are something, and by something I mean morally repugnant! We also talked about the big news of the week: Griffin bought an Android phone! Oh, and Microsoft changed its controversial policy. And Griffin bought an Android phone. You'll hear all that and more on this week's Besties!

4:35 - Best "switcherooniski" (Xbox One game licensing policy)
21:45 - Best gaming device I've bought this year (HTC One)
29:00 - Halftime!
35:40 - Best screenwriting gig for a popular game designer (Ken Levine is writing the Logan's Run remake (and I predict it will take longer than three months to write, despite what Frushtick says, because Hollywood is Hollyweird))
40:10- Best flashback to shop class (Bridgy Jones)
49:15- The winner is...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties 60 - An embarrassment of riches Jun 07, 2013

Is it Christmas in June? Usually the period around E3 is like a desert in which the year's worst games are left to rot under the sweltering summer sun. But as you may have gleamed from the carousel of review scores on the Polygon homepage, we have been submerged by a flood of excellence: Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Call of Juarez: Gunslinger, The Swapper, Gunpoint, The Last of Us, Don't Starve, Remember Me, State of Decay and the list goes on and on. We discuss a few of those games this week, saving others for later this month. What about next week, you ask? Lean closer and I'll tell you a secret: next Friday we're streaming a special E3 video episode of the Besties live from Los Angeles. Before you run out the door and scream thanks to the heavens, be sure to listen to this week's episode. We'd hate for it to go to waste.

3:40 - Best pocket-sized daily vacation (Animal Crossing: New Leaf)
18:40 - Best sound effect of the year (Gunpoint)
26:23 - Halftime!
30:43 - Best way to start a forest fire (Don't Starve)
38:20 - Best way to die (The Swapper)
43:54 - The winner is...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties Podcast 59 — Griffin buys a Wii U May 31, 2013

I take a break from the podcast to fulfill my civic duty and Griffin McElroy buys a Wii U. I'm genuinely curious what our listeners think about this decision. At first, I was befuddled. It's like when a man buys an expensive umbrella in the middle of a drought. But I've come to see his point. The logic's charming in a really expensive sort of way. What do you think? Would you buy a console to better enjoy a hype train that may or may not arrive at the station?

03:30 - Best unreliable narration in games this year (Call of Juarez: Gunslinger)
14:00 - Best killer app for the Wii U that I purchased over the weekend for some reason (Super Metroid)

23:20 - Half time: E3 hype and a case of the barfs
33:30 - Best mask simulation in video game history (Metro: Last Light)
38:50 - Best use of life's mondernity mundisnus mundanity to build tension in a video game (Metro: Last Light)
43:20 - The winner is...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties Podcast 58 — The best of Xbox One May 24, 2013

Throw us an Xbone, why don't you? We're not sure if you heard, maybe you didn't, but there's a new Xbox coming soon. Well, not soon, but this year, for sure. On The Besties this week, we dive deep and come back with the pearls.

07:30 - Best cell phone feature we're excited to use
17:25 - Best use of FMV that may not be
19:00 - Half time: Ghost dog
29:30 - Best news for publishers in the next generation
38:50 - Best feature that only Russ Frushtick cares about
47:30 - The winner is...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties Podcast 57 - The talking helicopter May 17, 2013

The gang is back in action. On this week's episode of The Besties, there's some derisive Snoopy talk, as well as an anthropomorphic helicopter. Griffin has his doubts and Justin changes his pick at the last minute, much to the chagrin of the other Besties.

03:50 - Best reason to hate Snoopy (Sid Meier's Ace Patrol)
10:25 - Best way to waste $20 (Injustice on iOS)
19:00 - Half time: Daft Punk and a new car
24:00 - Best gaming news story of the decade that is getting worse and worse with every passing day (Shadow of the Eternals)
38:40 - Best way to remake a retro franchise (Thunder Wolves)
41:00 - The winner is...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties Podcast 56 - The backhanded compliment May 10, 2013

Mr. Dave Tach fills in for the absent Griffin McElroy this week. His dulcet tones could melt an ice cap, but are they enough to warm our hearts in Brother M's absence? This episode's a hodgepodge, in which the good is bad, the bad is good and Kickstarter is mediocre. We discuss a handful of video gaming anomalies, like "good bad" games and good games with bad titles. We debate whether rough edges are beauty marks or flaws waiting to be smoothed. We also rap on the reality of Kickstarter projects and the practicality of AAA licensing deals. Whether you prefer one to the other, it's clear that all the money and creative freedom in the world can't guarantee a great game. Also, we talk Canada. Did you know Vancouver is the perfect city? All that and more on this week's Besties.

2:10 - Best reason to be wary of supporting games on Kickstarter (Star Command)
14:30 - Best worst game of the week (Deadly Premonition: The Director's Cut)
29:30 - Half time: Chris goes to Canada
33:30 - Best game with worst title (Mars: War Logs)
43:40 - Best billion dollar partnership for things I probably won't end up caring about (The EA/Disney Star Wars contract)
52:10 - The winner is...

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The Besties Podcast 55 - A mouthful of candies May 03, 2013

I love Candy Box. I'd hate to spoil what Candy Box is. So trust me. Before you press that play button, click this link. Play Candy Box for a few minutes, then leave it open on a browser tab and return for the podcast. Follow these instructions precisely. Fun, right? Confusing, right? Great, let's get to the show. This week, we offend chiropractors, slay mystical beasts, fix the industry's piracy problem and Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box. Also, Candy Box.

3:00 - Best use of Blood Dragons (Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon)
9:50 - Best piracy prevention that is also ironic (Game Dev Tycoon)
19:50 - Half time: Chris goes back to school
26:10 - Best value of the week and also of all time (Neverwinter)
33:30 - Best something something Candy Box (Candy Box)
41:00 - The winner is...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties Podcast 54 - The awkward episode Apr 27, 2013

Griffin couldn't help himself. Drunk off back to back wins, the Brother McElroy brought one of the most awkward topics to date. This business. I believe we discussed the topic with the greatest amount of grace and respect afforded a podcast that occassionally stars a talking giraffe. Speaking of, a certain Long Island zoo animal made an unexpected experience, uncovering Microsoft's elaborate plan to run his uncle out of business. I talk Monaco. Justin talks Star Trek. And Frushtick talks talking blocks. All that and more on this week's Besties.

2:30 - Best Star Trek game of the month (Star Trek)
13:15 - Best acting by a rectangle (Thomas Was Alone)
20:20 - Half time: The Pizza Hut app and special guest
26:30 - Best REDACTED ever (Dragon's Crown)
39:50 - Best love letter to Bonanza Bros. (Monaco)
46:30 - The winner is...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties Podcast 53 - Let's finish this week Apr 19, 2013

Boy, am I happy to end this week. Over the past few days, I've struggled to write, think or care about video games. I've struggled to really do anything. Surely I'm not alone. What an awful week. What an absolutely awful week. And yet, some really amazing things have happened this week. Like this and this and this. Many people are really stepping up. So this weekend I hope you will join me in doing what we love: playing games. And I also hope you'll lend a hand. You could donate blood or money or anything. It's been an awful week, but I believe we can help to make next week better. That's all. This week's Besties doesn't talk about "this week." We tried to focus on the good, which has been the unspoken goal of the show since its creation. I hope you enjoy it. Let's talk about some video games.

4:30 - Best Nintendo Direct

14:30 - Best way to remind yourself how difficult Dishonored was (The Knife of Dunwall DLC)
21:30 - Half time - The recently canceled Ready for Love

25:45 - The best example that in-app purchasing will bring the end of the world (Dungeon Hunter 4)
31:00 - Best reason to throw a controller though a PC monitor (La Mulana)
39:00 - The winner is...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties Podcast 52 - Life choices Apr 12, 2013

Why hello there. This week on The Besties, we've decided to stick with the rules set forth in last week's episode because, hey, consistency has to rear its ugly head once in a while. And if Justin sounds quiet this week, it's because his internet is crap and he only heard about half of every conversation. Either that or he walked away from the mic for a really, really long time without telling anyone.

2:50 - Best reason that Russ Frushtick is an obsessive maniac (BioShock Infinite)
23:30 - Best mash-up of two genres you wouldn't think work well together but do (Guacamelee)
30:30 - Half time - Beard!
33:15 - Best Easter Egg that is better than the actual game it's in (Soda Drinker Pro)
41:00 - Best multiplayer mode for ruining friendships (BattleBlock Theater)
50:00 - The winner is...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties Podcast 51 - New rules Apr 05, 2013

We've read your comments. You miss the original concept of four best friends battling to the death to decide the best game of the week. Or maybe you want less nitty-gritty mechanic talk. Or you're the one soul on Planet Earth that yearns to hear the squeaky pitches of a certain European independent game design counterfeiter. We understand. After 50 episodes, we've decided to fiddle with the rules one (possibly) last time. As of today, four best friends will battle to the death to decide the best game thing of the week. That's right. We're no longer limited to games. We can bring news, songs, artwork, European independent game design counterfeiters, anything! All that matters is we genuinely believe our submission is the best. That way, when the show concludes a battle can be waged to determine the week's winner. Is this the best Besties yet? We sure hope so.

06:30 - Best ATV stunting (Defiance)

16:30 - Best local adversarial game at GDC 2013 (Samurai Gunn)

23:30 - Half time - A very special guest
31:30 - Best rumor that is probably not a rumor, but maybe it is a rumor (Always online Xbox)
43:30 - Best awards show in video games (2013 Game Developers Choice Awards)
50:30 - The winner is...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties Podcast 50 - Gears of War: Judgment and Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon Mar 22, 2013

Let's hear it for the supporting character! This week, we discuss two games based off the less popular sidekicks of major franchises. First, we have the Ballad of Baird, also known as Gears of War: Judgment. The fourth game in the Gears of War franchise has more of what you've come to expect from the franchise, which means hours of carefree body mutilation. Speaking of dead stuff, Justin leans over the campfire to tell us a scary story about the time he reviewed The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct. Sticking to the ghastly theme, we finish the show with a Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, the second game in a series about the lesser-loved plumber turned ghost hunter. Is Dark Moon the 3DS's killer app? Does anyone care about 3DS when we have Super Stickman Golf 2 on our cellphones? Does the video game industry have a morbid fascination with our mutual fleeting mortality? Find out on this week's Besties!

03:00 - Gears of War: Judgment
16:30 - Half Time - The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct
29:30 - Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
46:00 - What's next?

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The Besties Podcast 49 - Ridiculous Fishing and Super Stickman Golf 2 Mar 15, 2013

All mobile all the time. In the history of The Besties, when the gents end up bringing mobile games to the table, it doesn't bode well for the quality of said games. This week is the exception to the rule, as they're talking about two of the best games of 2013 (mobile or beyond!). In other news, Chris Plante literally got off a flight from Japan and recorded the podcast, so if he sounds drowsy, it's probably the sleeping meds coursing through his veins.

04:00 - Ridiculous Fishing
20:00 - Half Time
27:00 - Super Stickman Golf 2
47:00 - What's next?

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties Podcast 48 - Tomb Raider and SimCity Mar 08, 2013

Two big games, including one that works! This week on The Besties, Chris Plante is galavanting out in Japan for work (probably), so we've gone and found his temporary replacement: the incomparable Phil Kollar. Phil authored the Polygon review of Tomb Raider, so who better to detail the highs and lows of Lara's latest adventure. Speaking of Lara, one of her relatives calls in to discuss some qualms he has with her renewed success. And lastly, there's SimCity. Not a whole lot to say on that one. Pretty much controversy-free, that game.

04:00 - Tomb Raider
22:00 - Half Time
28:00 - SimCity
49:00 - What's next?

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The Besties Podcast 47 - Proteus and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Mar 01, 2013

Call it a sick day. Griffin succumbed to the Andromeda Strain this week, leaving Frushtick, Hoops and myself to brave The Besties without him. I confess, it was tough. Fortunately, we had two very different, very unusual games to discuss in the forms of Proteus and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. Proteus is what you might call an art game. Drawn in colorful and simple polygons, the game lacks traditional goals and rules. When Proteus was released a few weeks ago, a band of perturbed critics claimed Proteus wasn't a game at all. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance on the other hand is the stereotypical action video game. The neo-future world is chock-full of robots and foot soldiers that can be sliced like a watermelon in Fruit Ninja. The game has a clear goal and that's KILL, KILL, KILL! To kill or chase a frog: that is the question.

03:00 - Proteus
16:30 - Half Time / The spread of the Andromeda Strain
20:30 - Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
40:30 - What's next? Tomb Raider and SimCity

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The Besties Podcast 46 - Crysis 3 and Bit.Trip Runner 2 Feb 22, 2013

The Besties enter the next generation! This week on The Besties, we talk about the mysterious ghost man living above Griffin's garage. If you think that's grim, just wait till you hear our recap of the PlayStation 4 launch event. Justin does his best to turn our frowns upside down, but is that enough? One of this week's games already looks like it belongs on a next-generation console — and basically demands a next-generation PC. The other game has a long title and a beat we can dance to. Let us know your opinions of this week's games in the comments. And convince Justin why Proteus is good now, before it's too late.

04:30 - Crysis 3
20:30 - Half Time / PlayStation 4 announcement talk
40:00 - Bit.Trip Presents Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien
49:30 - What's next? Proteus and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

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The Besties Podcast 45 - Fire Emblem: Awakening and Dead Space 3 Feb 15, 2013

The Besties are back! This week on The Besties, we discuss babies having babies and then having those babies fight for their baby parents. There's also talk of the thrills and chills of space combat, with an emphasis on the thrills. Hey, look at this, two solid games this week! We're on a roll! Warning: This episode contains spoilers for the movie, Safe Haven. If learning that makes you not want to listen, this probably isn't the podcast for you.

03:00 - Fire Emblem: Awakening
15:00 - Half Time
30:00 - Dead Space 3
48:30 - What's next?

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties Podcast 44 - Antichamber and Ni No Kuni Feb 01, 2013

Long live The Besties! This week's episode revolves around the mysteries of Doritos, Taco Bell and much, much more. Also Plante takes the opportunity to not say anything for the longest time in Besties history. Where was he? What was he thinking? We may never know.

03:00 - Antichamber
15:00 - Half Time
26:00 - Ni No Kuni
42:20 - What's next?

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties Podcast 43 - Temple Run 2 and DMC: Devil May Cry Jan 25, 2013

The march of The Besties continues! This week on The Besties, an old friend stops by for a visit and there's some examination of the latest free-to-play game burning up the charts. Oh yes, and Dante's resurrection is making some people grumpy.

03:00 - Temple Run 2
21:50 - Half Time: THQ
32:35 - DMC: Devil May Cry
48:20 - What's next?

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties Podcast 42 - Kentucky Route Zero and Dark Souls Jan 18, 2013

Oh ye of little faith! The Besties are back for 2013 to warm your hearths and hearts. As per usual, the rules have been changed, but don't worry, it's only to protect the innocent. We've got some new games, we've got some old games and we've got a time machine. Let's get crackin'.

03:00 - Kentucky Route Zero
18:00 - Half Time Battle Royale
23:40- Dark Souls
40:00 - What's next?

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties 41 - End of 2012 Special Part 2 Jan 18, 2013

This is the audio-only version of Part 2 of our end of year video special. Enjoy!

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties 40 - End of 2012 Special Part 1 Jan 18, 2013

This is the audio-only version of Part 1 of our end of year video special. Enjoy!

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties Podcast 39 Dec 15, 2012

This week on The Besties, we take a look back at all the games that have made it into our Hall of Fame of 2012. We also decide which three games from the fan vote are getting resurrected for next week's finals. And, what's this, one of our very first HOF selections gets the boot at the 11th hour? Incredible!

03:00 - Playing catch-up!
20:30 - The user picks!
30:00- Halftime: VGA thoughts!
40:15 - The full HOF list!
51:15 - THE NEXT STEP!

Help The Besties build their Sweet 16 bracket!

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties Podcast 38 Dec 07, 2012

In what is basically the last week of the year in terms of big video game releases, The Besties are concerned with one thing and one thing only: holiday cookies. Oh, what the heck, we'll talk about some games as well! Far Cry 3 is the heavy hitter of the week, but there seem to be some surprising contenders going up against it.

07:00 - Far Cry 3
21:00 - Skyrim: Dragonborn
34:30 - Halftime: The dark corners of Xbox Live
43:00 - Dikembe Mutombo's 4 1/2 Weeks to Save the World
48:45 - THE DECISION

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties Podcast 37 Nov 30, 2012

This week, The Besties examine just how humble you need to be for the Humble Bundle. Also, Griffin tries to explain Persona, much to the chagrin of all involved. There's also a question of how Agent 47 manages to hide in the middle of Chinatown, even as a very tall, very pale white guy.

08:30 - Hitman: Absolution
21:00 - Planetside 2
30:30 - Halftime: Thanksgiving and gambling
34:35 - Persona 4 Golden
45:45 - THE DECISION

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties Podcast 36 Nov 26, 2012

The Besties all trekked off for Thanksgiving last week, but before did, they wanted to share their thoughts on the Wii U! Yes, it's an entire episode dedicated to Nintendo's latest gaming console. Oh, and there's also a special guest who hasn't shown his neck in a while.

01:20 - The Console
11:20 - Nintendo Land
33:50 - Halftime: NYG is going home for the holidays
40:35 - ZombiU
51:00 - THE DECISION

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties Podcast 35 Nov 16, 2012

The Besties are back in fine form, discussing the merits of Michael Crichton and examining the mysteries of frogs and fractions. There's also some talk about a little-known game called Black Ops 2 and some Halo 4 fatigue begins to set in.

03:00 - Halo 4 and Black Ops 2
29:20 - Chip Chain
35:27- Halftime: Griffin hates his cat
40:15 - Frog Fractions
44:45 - THE DECISION

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties Podcast 34 Nov 09, 2012

After a night of heavy drinking, some of The Besties aren't quite up to fighting form. And yet, they press on! In this episode, Assassin's Creed 3 makes its second appearance, and we give some props to some unhappy birds. There's also some mention of a horrifying juice cleanse. Oh yeah, and Halo 4.

05:20 - Assassin's Creed 3
21:00 - Knights of Pen & Paper
29:35 - Halftime: Polygon launch party
33:30 - Angry Birds Star Wars
39:30 - Halo 4
49:00 - THE DECISION

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties Podcast 33 Nov 02, 2012

So it turns out that we don't actually know how to count to 33 in roman numerals, so we're going with tried-and-true 'Merican numbers from now on. Other changes include a new theme song by the talented Ian Dorsch and we're no longer bleeping out cuss words, so tread carefully! With that out of the way, after an unfortunate delay, The Besties are back. Half of them were slammed by Hurricane Sandy while the other half basked with mai tais and sangria. Weather or no, many games were played this week and a new game of the week was crowned.

06:00 - Assassin's Creed 3
15:00 - Hotline Miami
20:45 - Halftime: Hurricane Sandy and Dracula
28:40 - Need for Speed: Most Wanted
38:30 - Punch Quest
47:20 - THE DECISION

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The Besties Podcast XXXII Oct 19, 2012

Besties! Those stunning changes you were expecting? Yeah...sorry...you'll have to wait on those. The Besties are back, in pretty much the form you remember them in. But the changes! They're coming! We swear! And no, the changes don't involve us stopping the podcast. Sorry to disappoint! Ran into a few audio issues this week, so if you hear us talking over each other more than normal, blame evil, evil technology.

04:00 - Retro City Rampage
12:15 - XCOM: Enemy Unknown
18:30 - Halftime: Denpa Men & Spycraft
29:50 - Dishonored
43:30 - THE DECISION

Music: "Little Marcus" by George & Jonathan
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The Besties Podcast XXXI (archive) Oct 07, 2012

Special thanks to Salivation Army for recovering this episode from the archives!

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The Besties Podcast xXx Sep 28, 2012

Besties! Here's our State of the Union: We love video games. Much like Vin Diesel or (to a lesser extent) Ice Cube before us. Won't your join us for our 30th show-ebration? We certainly hope you will.

04:30 - Griffin McElroy - Little Big Planet Vita (PS Vita)
13:00 - Chris Plante - Torchlight 2 (PC)
26:00 - Halftime: Mr. Frushtick Goes to Japan
31:45 - Justin McElroy - The Testament of Sherlock Holmes (PC, 360, PS3)
39:30 - THE DECISION by Russ Frushtick

Music: "Little Marcus" by George & Jonathan
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The Besties Podcast XXIX (archive) Sep 20, 2012

Special thanks to Salivation Army for recovering this episode from the archive!

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The Besties Podcast: Wii U special Sep 14, 2012

Besties! Straight up: We didn't play anything this week. There. We said it. Also, Russ Frushtick is in Japan, so we thought that we'd talk about yesterday's big Wii U event where pricing, dates and much more was revealed. So, what'd we think? Well, you'll have to listen, it took us like a half hour to make. Straight up: We didn't play anything this week. There. We said it. Also, Russ Frushtick is in Japan, so we thought that we'd talk about yesterday's big Wii U event where pricing, dates and much more was revealed. So, what'd we think? Well, you'll have to listen, it took us like a half hour to make. Also, our boss, Chris Grant is there. In closing: Funky Barn.

Music: "Little Marcus" by George & Jonathan
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The Besties Podcast XXVII Sep 07, 2012

Besties! Besties! An old friend visits the show, proclaiming a love for the mightiest shape of them all. There's also some talk about overly complicated board games and the importance of maintaining one's composure when being a ninja. Also, Plante worries about pumpkin-spiced lattes. Welcome, once again, to The Besties.

05:00 - Griffin McElroy - Borderlands 2 (360, PC, PS3)
16:30 - Chris Plante - Rayman Jungle Run (iOS)
26:15 - Halftime: iOS 6 is a snore
31:15 - Justin McElroy - FTL (PC/Mac)
50:30 - THE DECISION by Chris Grant

Music: "Little Marcus" by George & Jonathan
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The Besties Podcast XXVI Aug 31, 2012

Besties! This week on The Besties, Griffiin returns from his escapades. What do the Mannequin movies and Pokemon have in common? So, so much. This week on The Besties, Griffin returns from travelling around the world and Justin attempts to take control of the insanity. We also learn all about the magic of Mexican poop worms.

5:30 - Chris Plante - McPixel (iOS/Android/PC/Mac/Linnux)
11:30 - Griffin McElroy - New Super Mario Bros. 2 (3DS)
21:40 - Halftime: Mexico!
26:00 - Russ Frushtick - Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)
39:50 - THE DECISION by Justin McElroy

Music: "Little Marcus" by George & Jonathan
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The Besties Podcast XXV (archive) Aug 25, 2012

Special thanks to Salivation Army for recovering this episode from the archive!

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The Besties Podcast XXIV Aug 17, 2012

Besties! You know you want to spend the weekend with The Besties. How could you not? Another week has come and gone, and The Besties are here to let you know what games you should be playing. This week, Griffin is in Germany, so the honey-voiced Dave Tach fills in with a seriously depressing game. We also have our very first non-human guest. And Justin eats a pear. Breaking boundaries, wherever we go.

3:10 Dave Tach - Papo and Yo (PSN)
11:30 Justin McElroy - Sleeping Dogs (360/PS3)
24:00 Halftime: Plante likes iOS games
26:10 Russ Frushtick - Dust: The Elysian Tail (XBLA)
33:45 THE DECISION by Chris Plante

Music: "Little Marcus" by George & Jonathan
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The Besties Podcast XXIII Aug 10, 2012

Besties! Your friends The Besties are back with the audio security blanket you need to help snuggle you into the weekend. This week on The Besties, we continue to deal with the staggering lack of releases during the summer months. We get a blast from the past with an unfortunate guest and examine the importance of breakfast in Germany. Also, in a shocking turn, Justin likes FMV games.

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The Besties Podcast XXII (archive) Jul 28, 2012

Special thanks to Salivation Army for recovering this episode from the archives!

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The Besties Podcast XXI Jul 27, 2012

In a week of mediocre games, the Besties turns to gas station sandwiches for entertainment.

This week on The Besties, Griffin's request for bombast is delivered by a mysterious figure from the South. Meanwhile, Dave Tach, the man with cherrywood vocal chords, fills in for a vacationing Justin McElroy. Will Spelunky remain the standing champion? Which demographic will Russ Frushtick offend? Can you find good food at a pitstop? There's only one way to find out!

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The Besties Podcast XX Jul 20, 2012

This week on The Besties, Griffin returns and demands bombast from a fellow co-host. There's also some discussion about whether dolphins can survive in space.

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The Besties Podcast XIX Jul 13, 2012

Your friends The Besties are back with the only reason you get out of bed on Fridays. Join us as we pit the new games of the week against each other to find out which one reigns supreme. Also: Tiny Wings 2! And the epic conclusion of the Mousepocalypse!

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The Besties Podcast XVIII Jul 06, 2012

This week doesn't seem like a fair fight, but at least your buddies The Besties are still getting along. This week: Hear how honestly terrified Justin is of mice, walk the exotic wasteland that is Huntington, WV and be there when a new king game is crowned!

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The Besties Podcast XVII Jun 29, 2012

In this time and political and Today Show-centric turmoil, it's comforting to know your friends The Besties are constant. Some iOS game you've never heard of? Check. Russ Frushtick doing a terrible European accent. You betcha. Come, bask in our stability.

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The Besties Podcast XVI Jun 22, 2012

The Besties settle in for a long summer which may not be the most robust in terms of quality game releases. Justin describes the woes of Steel Battalion, Griffin gives some advice to Wizards of the Coast and there's some discussion over whether Gravity Rush should have actually beaten out Max Payne 3 last week. Also yuks.

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The Besties Podcast XV Jun 15, 2012

The Besties are back from their E3 sojourn and they've been playing all the latest games so they can talk about them, for that is the social contract you and they have entered into. Also, Russ Frushtick shares the sad, sad story of attempting to do a pull-up.

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The Besties Podcast XIV Jun 01, 2012

The Besties square off on Ghost Recon, Dragon's Dogma and Resistance: Burning Skies.

The Commish returns to dole out more Besties justice. This week we've got three big games, but a special nod to a fourth game, Slingshot Racing, which offers up single-touch iOS racing enjoyment with grappling hooks. Plus we're introduced to Special Boy, Justin's ward.

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The Besties Podcast XIII May 25, 2012

The Besties square off on Diablo 3, Max Payne 3 and Quest for Glory.

In what they hope will be the final rule change for at least a few weeks, The Besties introduce a commissioner to help them select the best game of the week. Also, Russ does a Max Payne impression, Justin infuriates Diablo 3 fans and Chris Plante whisks you away to Europe.

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The Besties Podcast XII May 11, 2012

The Besties return with their most unusual rule change yet: They've completely forgone making any sort of decision an instead created an robot version of their editor-in-chief Chris Grant to choose a winner for them.

... Yeah, it's one of those kinds of episodes.

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The Besties Podcast XI May 04, 2012

The Besties return with what's likely to be the most comprehensive discussion of flume and flume-adjacent theme park rides you've ever heard in a podcast. Also? Video games! (Note: You may notice a little audio weirdness: Take heart, we've corrected the problem, and it won't happen again!)

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The Besties Podcast X Apr 27, 2012

This week on The Besties, we've promised to dethrone Journey as the Game of the Year, but will we actually deliver? Can Journey bring about world peace before the show ends? Also, we welcome world-renowned indie developer Jean Baptiste. It's a profound moment.

This week on The Besties, we've promised to dethrone Journey as the Game of the Year, but will we actually deliver? Or can Journey bring about world peace before the show ends? Also, we welcome world-renowned indie developer Jean Baptiste into the studio, which we predict will be a ... divisive moment.

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The Besties Podcast IX Apr 20, 2012

This week on the Besties podcast, Chris Plante expresses his love of pig-related games and talks about his romantic physical therapy experience. We also answer the question: Can a motorcycle single-handedly win World War II? The answer: Yes. Finally, the clock is ticking on Journey, which has thus far failed to achieve true world peace.

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The Besties Podcast VIII Apr 13, 2012

We're all slowly recuperating from the emotional and physical gauntlet which is PAX East, but that didn't stop us from playing the latest games and forcing them to fight each other in an epic, heart-wrenching battle. Be there as Griffin mistakes a human man for a trashcan and we give Journey a deadline for bringing about peace in the Middle East.

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The Besties go to PAX East 2012: A Video Spectacular Apr 11, 2012

Typically, your friends The Besties are hunched like so many scurvy-ridden sailors over their laptops as they pit the week's best games against each other in a fight to the death. But since they were all in one zip code for a change at PAX East, they figured, "Hey, let's take this fight to the streets."

So join Chris Plante, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy and Russ Frushtick as they scream, run, cajole and Johann Sebastian Joust their way to a new champion.

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The Besties Podcast VII Apr 08, 2012

We're a little late but no less passionate for our favorite games of the week. Be there when Griffin makes a case for a game he, in fact, quantifiably does not like. Enjoy Chris' realization that his game is wholly inappropriate for our program. Enjoy a lovely, yet impossible to safely describe adventure game from Justin and Frushtick gives it his all with Hunters 2 and yet falls tragically short.

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The Besties Podcast - VI Mar 30, 2012

This week on The Besties: Plante goes on a safari for the wild "cereal gorilla," Russ tries to convince us that Ouch, My Balls should be the best game of the week, Justin waxes poetic about Sherlock Holmes and Betamax and Griffin refuses to share his secret video game pie.

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The Besties Podcast - V Mar 23, 2012

Last week, we decided that Journey had the ability to bring about peace in the Middle East, what's gonna have even half a shot at beating a game like that? You buddies The Besties are trying to find out! Won't you join them? We hope you will.

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The Besties Podcast IV Mar 16, 2012

We've welcomed Griffin back to our bosom after his absence last week, and he's brought a pretty darn heavy hitter with him: Mass Effect 3. We've had plenty of predictions that Commander Shepard will take the top slot and ride it to December, is that how it all shakes out? Will Russ' dumb marshmallow game thwart his plans? Is anything in Mass Effect 3 better than current favorite SSX's feature that lets you race against the ghost times of your dead father ... and in doing so keep him alive in perpetuity?

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The Besties Podcast III (from the archive) Mar 09, 2012

This episode of The Besties was recorded in a hotel room in San Francisco (hence the garbage audio). But hey, that's what happens when we all (except for Griffin) have to travel for GDC 2012!

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The Besties Podcast III (Live from GDC 2012) Mar 09, 2012

If the audio sounds weird it's because we recorded this, the third ever Besties episode, in a hotel room in San Francisco.

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The Besties Podcast — II Mar 03, 2012

Justin McElroy, Russ Frushtick, Chris Plante and Griffin McElroy return with a new batch of contenders for the world's most prestigious honor: The Bestie. Which of their top picks of the week will reign supreme? And will it be enough to take the top slot from current champion Ziggurat? Listen and find out!

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The Besties: Game of the Year, all year long Feb 24, 2012

It's Game of the Year meets King of the Hill as four of Earth's best friends discuss the week's new releases and decide if any will topple whatever game currently holds the honor. Will Killstroke 4: The Bloodening dethrone your favorite and claim the coveted Bestie award? How long can Professor Wigglebottom's Puzzle Bordello keep hold of the top spot? The choice is in the capable hands of Vox Games' Chris Plante, Justin McElroy, Russ Frushtick and Griffin McElroy. The Besties: Because shouldn't the best of games be chosen by the best of friends?

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