The Besties

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 Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan . Want more episodes? J...

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 ex...

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 Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan . Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebesties for three bonus episo...

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 Get the full list of g...

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...

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 Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan . Want more...

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 Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan . Want more episodes? Join us at patreon.com/thebest...

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, B...

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: TM...

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 Get...

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 a...

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.   Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed...

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...

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 un...

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 Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan . Want mor...

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...

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...

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 Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan . Want more ep...

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...

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 ro...

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 Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.b...

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.     Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besties.fan . Want more...

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, o...

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 Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www...

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 Get the full list of games (and other stuff) discussed at www.besti...