All My Best Friends Are Digital

Why do we allow some games, even ones we enjoy, to drop off and go on the back burner? And why do some get picked up again and not others? It is mysterious, much like why designers continue to insert terrible "comic relief" characters in games like Okami. What We're Playing 01:03 Caitlin: Dead Letter Department (Belief Engine, 2025) 08:50 Mark: Suit for Hire (Godmode Interactive, 2025) 18:34 GOOF:...

King Arthur's World makes us long for Lemmings, and does Nier: Automata peak in the first hour? Our suplexes are German and our fashion sense is questionable this week. What We're Playing 01:03 Mark: God Hand (Clover, 2006) 15:13 Caitlin: Date Everything! (Sassy Chap Games, 2025) 24:13 GOOF: King Arthur's World (Argonaut Software, 1992) 36:11 Feature Game: Nier: Automata (PlatinumGames, 2017) SHOU...

It's protagonist vs. protagonist week here at AMBFAD, and we repeatedly ask--why can't we all just get along? First it's Spy vs. Spy, and then Jan vs. Jan in The Alters. What We're Playing 01:41 Caitlin: A Building Full of Cats 2 (Devcats, 2025) 08:45 Mark: Star Trek: The Next Generation (NES/GB, Imagineering, 1993) 20:25 GOOF: Spy vs. Spy (GBC, Kemco, 1999) 32:50 Feature Game: The Alters (11 Bit...

We run, we gun, we laugh, and we cry with Azure Striker: Gunvolt, and then we overcome jank and feel the call to adventure with Oblivion: Remastered. What We're Playing 01:04 Mark: Bleed 2 (Ian Campbell, 2017) 10:33 Caitlin: Mario Kart World (Nintendo EPD, 2025) 23:28 GOOF: Azure Striker Gunvolt (Inti Creates, 2014) 39:27 Feature Game: The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion Remastered (Bethesda, 2025) SHOUT...

We talk a bit about accessibility in gaming, which is sadly all too often left to modders rather than the developers themselves. The games on the agenda (super serious) are Metroid Prime and Monster Train 2. What We're Playing 01:19 Caitlin: R.E.P.O. (semiwork, 2025) 03:28 Caitlin: Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail (Square Enix, 2024) 07:00 Mark: Iron Meat (Retroware, 2024) 16:32 GOOF: Metroid Prime (R...

We look back to the 3DS and Fire Emblem: Awakening, and question how weak the sauce is in Doom: The Dark Ages. What We're Playing 01:00 Mark: Death Road to Canada (Rocketcat Games, 2016) 12:59 Caitlin: Path of Exile 2 (Grinding Gear Games, 2024) 24:31 GOOF: Fire Emblem: Awakening (Intelligent Systems, 2012) 47:34 Feature Game: Doom: The Dark Ages (id, 2025) SHOUT 1:08:08 Caitlin: Gold Gold Adventu...

We finish our spoiler-free discussion of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Caitlin expresses the view that she was tricked into playing Flashback: The Quest for Identity. What We're Playing 01:30 Caitlin: Do No Harm (Darts Games, 2025) 10:30 Mark: Void War (Tundra, 2025) 21:44 GOOF: Flashback: The Quest for Identity (Delphine Software, 1992) 35:39 Feature Game: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall...

It's the end of the world in both the N64's Sin and Punishment and the new Clair Obscur, and there's lots of ennui to be had. What We're Playing 01:05 Mark: Power Stone 2 (Capcom, 2000) 12:27 Caitlin: Forever Skies (Far From Home, 2025) 17:36 GOOF: Sin & Punishment: Successor of the Earth (Treasure, 2000) 33:23 Feature Game: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive, 2025) SHOUT 1:05:06 Ma...

The N64 continues its redemption tour with F-Zero X, and South of Midnight is a strange mix of the novel and the derivative. What We're Playing 00:50 Caitlin: R.E.P.O. (semiwork, 2025) 11:55 Mark: Astral Ascent (Hibernian Workshop, 2023) 19:01 GOOF: F-Zero X (Nintendo EAD, 1998) 34:34 Feature Game: South of Midnight (Compulsion Games, 2025) SHOUT 1:00:23 Caitlin: Date Everything (Sassy Chap Games)...

We navigate the twisting labyrinths of the human mind in Psychonauts, as well as the twisting labyrinths of the puzzling mansion(s) of Blue Prince. What We're Playing 01:27 Mark: It Takes Two (Hazelight, 2021) 13:03 Caitlin: R.E.P.O. (semiwork, 2025) 19:21 GOOF: Psychonauts (Double Fine Productions, 2005) 38:37 Feature Game: Blue Prince (Dogubomb, 2025) SHOUT 1:04:46 Caitlin and Mark: Malys (Summe...

Mark's alleged contrarian status is tested by the ambitious, legendary Chrono Trigger and the humble, overlooked Call of Juarez: Gunslinger. What We're Playing 01:04 Caitlin: LEGO Super Mario Nintendo Entertainment System (LEGO, 2020) 09:28 Mark: Lonestar (Math Tide, 2025) 18:13 GOOF: Chrono Trigger (Square, 1995) 38:08 Feature Game: Call of Juarez: Gunslinger (Techland, 2013) SHOUT 54:00 Caitlin:...

Nothing but sprites killing hordes of enemies this week, with Guardian Heroes and The Last Spell. Also hardware digressions with Saturn, RetroTink, and video switches. What We're Playing 02:00 Mark: Rogue Loops (Fubu Games, 2025) 06:30 Mark: Capcom vs. SNK 2 (Capcom, 2001) 12:12 Caitlin: Look Outside (Francis Coulombe, 2025) 20:48 GOOF: Guardian Heroes (Treasure, 1996) 38:51 Feature Game: The Last...

We solve murders at our patrons' behest in The Case of the Golden Idol, whereas WE INTERRUPT THESE EPISODE NOTES FOR DYNOWARZ Dynowarz: Destruction of Spondylus! Featuring the most bomb-ass box cover and stodgy gameplay, is Dynowarz one of the greatest games ever or one of the worst games ever? The answer: YES. What We're Playing 01:17 Caitlin: Final Fantasy IV (Square, 1991) 05:29 Caitlin: The La...

It's all sci-fi this week! We've got all your bases covered--speculative crossovers (Split Fiction), anthropomorphic animals (Laika, Starfox 64), and psychological horror (Returnal)! Just stick your arm into the spiky alien machine. It'll probably be fine.  What We're Playing 00:57 Mark: Avowed (Obsidian, 2025) 02:15 Mark: Monster Hunter Rise (Capcom, 2021) 10:13 Mark: Laika: Aged Through Blood (B...

We keep things light, even though they could get grim with an NES game named after a dead baby (Astyanax) and some existential angst with The Friends of Ringo Ishikawa. What We're Playing 02:28 Caitlin: Final Fantasy IV (Obsidian, 2025) 09:23 Mark: Metal Bringer (ALPHAWING, 2025) 21:24 GOOF: Astyanax (Aicom, 1989) 36:38 Feature Game: The Friends of Ringo Ishikawa (yeo, 2018) Interview with the des...

Ecco the Dolphin is cute in Japan but swole in the US, much like the dramatic growth a mushroom provokes in Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Question: would Caitlin try to make Ecco into a hat? What We're Playing 01:06 Caitlin: Avowed (Obsidian, 2025) 02:53 Caitlin: Monster Hunter Wilds (Capcom, 2025) 11:10 Mark: Mullet MadJack (Hammer 95 Studios, 2024) 22:23 GOOF: Ecco the Dolphin (Appaloosa Interactive...

How much ax could an Ax Battler battle if an Ax Battler could battle ax is a question Golden Axe fails to address, but it gets to be brilliant and foundational all the same. We then turn to Avowed, Obsidian's latest RPG. What We're Playing 01:02 Mark: The Hidden Ones (Morefun Studios, 2025) 15:50 Caitlin: A Little to the Left (Max Inferno, 2022) 18:23 Caitlin: Monster Hunter Wilds (Capcom, 2025) 2...

It's all about swords, Aristotle, and romance this week, where we discuss Bushido Blade and Transistor. What We're Playing 00:56 Caitlin: Final Fantasy III (Square, 1990) 10:11 Mark: Whisker Squadron Survivor (Flippfly, 2025) 18:35 GOOF: Bushido Blade (Square, 1997) 30:46 Feature Game: Transistor (Supergiant, 2014) SHOUT 55:45 Caitlin: Suikoden I&II HD Remaster (Konami) 56:49 Mark: Retroid Pocket...

We look back at Namco's other fighting game series, Soul Calibur. Also, in non-fighting games, the best horse game of all time, says Caitlin of Red Dead Redemption 2.  What We're Playing 00:59 Mark: Samurai Shodown, Samurai Shodown II, Samurai Shodown IV (SNK, 2019, 1994, 1996) Matt McMuscles' excellent Samurai Shodown history: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yQoCrZBfIo 13:11 Caitlin: Monster Hun...

We return to the humble beginnings of AMBFAD by discussing the Hellblade sequel, and we further mine Caitlin's childhood with Ch-Ch-Ch-Chip and Dale. What We're Playing 00:52 Caitlin: Monster Hunter: Wilds BETA (Capcom, 2025) 10:10 Mark: Helldivers II (Arrowhead, 2024) 13:10 Mark: Eternal Strands (Yellow Brick Games, 2025) 21:02 GOOF: Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers (Capcom, 1990) 30:55 Feature Game: H...

Fighting games! Castlevania! Crawling over monsters in Dragon's Dogma 2! That pretty much covers all of human endeavors, really. What We're Playing 01:06 Mark: Dead or Alive 6 (Koei Tecmo, 2019) 04:38 Mark: Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. (Sega AM2, 2025) 13:08 Caitlin: Void Crew (Hutlihut Games,, 2024) 24:16 GOOF: Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (Konami, 2003) 25:51 Feature Game: Dragon's Dogma II (Capcom,...

Lots of talk of anime, cats, and anime-related cats this week! We take the Little Kitty to the Big City after we shoot so many things in Gunstar Heroes. What We're Playing 01:53 Mark: Blade Chimera (Team Ladybug, 2025) 09:21 Caitlin: Inkbound (Shiny Shoe, 2024) 18:07 GOOF: Gunstar Heroes (Treasure, 1993) 25:51 Feature Game: Little Kitty, Big City (Double Dagger Studios, 2024) SHOUT 50:40 Caitlin:...

We talk about early indie darling Hyper Light Drifter, as well as Secret of Evermore from Caitlin's childhood. More light Sluggish Heavy Drifter, amirite? What We're Playing 00:56 Caitlin: Metaphor: ReFantazio (Atlus, 2024) 09:40 Mark: 20 Minutes till Dawn (flanne, 2023) 16:38 Mark: Rayman Legends (Ubisoft, 2013) 22:18 GOOF: Secret of Evermore (Square, 1995) 35:05 Feature Game: Hyper Light Drifter...

Having been emancipated from duties to the Veilguard, we return to Metaphor: ReFantazio. We also headbutt Caitlin's childhood with Bonk's Adventure. What We're Playing 00:57 Mark: [REDACTED] (Striking Distance Studios, 2024) 04:30 Mark: Gain Ground (Sega, 1988, 1991, and 1992) 12:22 Caitlin: Helldivers 2 (Arrowhead, 2024) 14:38 Caitlin: Fae Farm (Phoenix Labs, 2023) 19:34 GOOF: Bonk's Aventure (At...

Yet another unintentional theme this week, as we discuss troubled law enforcement officers in both Die Hard Trilogy for the good ol' PSX as well as Disco Elysium. What We're Playing 02:00 Caitlin: Fae Farm (Phoenix Labs, 2023) 11:35 Mark: [REDACTED] (Striking Distance Studios, 2024) 21:36 GOOF: Die Hard Trilogy (Probe Entertainment, 1996) 38:04 Feature Game: Disco Elysium (ZA/UM, 2019) SHOUT 1:05:...