1Upsmanship

Zach introduces us to a unique title this time. A time-loop based, existential mystery game developed by a team of only six or so designers based on a Skyrim mod. Gameplay mostly involves deciphering the larger mystery by altering your choices each loop. While time-loop games are in this year, the group discusses the uniqueness of this title, it’s ethical dilemmas, and the value of fables in gaming. So make sure you listen, then once you finish the episode, go ahead and listen to it again. You’ll get new information each time, I swear.

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Big Bean Jason Pargin, award-winning writer and professional podcaster, drops a deuce! By that we of course mean that he joins us for a second episode in a row! This time around the beans tackle the 8th installment of the Resident Evil franchise. They discuss the scares, the development of the series over time, and why don’t they allow you to kill that baby? I mean, that baby needs to die. Why won’t you let us kill the baby?

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Big Bean Jason Pargin drops by to discuss the PS5 platformer Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, the new PS5 installment in the series by Insomniac Games. The gang discusses the game’s ability to immerse you, the mechanical flaws of the game, and if the chaotic action of the game distracts from the narrative. Everything you’d expect from three men discussing a game about a feline mechanic and his awful robot.

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A unique game by many accounts: released as the first PS5 only major release during a pandemic and with few PS5s actually around. The boys discuss it’s repetitiveness and the uniqueness of a roguelike FPS Triple-A psychological horror game. Is this a new genre? Is this just Risk of Rain 2? Is the story anything? Adam says Adam things. Michael says Michael things. It’s a 1upsmanship episode!

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Zach Ryan returns to discuss the 2015 masterpiece Bloodborne with the fellas. Grab your nearest blood-based weapon and down a few blood vials because it’s time to tackle some heated discussion over the legacy of the game. The hosts discuss its insane story, complexity of games in general, and everyone’s feelings on how good games do optional quests/bosses well.

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The Rhyme Man is back, baby! Let’s get that going as a thing! The Rhyme Man! Did this recent update of the Doom franchise improve the basic game mechanics? Does the lore add much to the game? How do we all feel about “The Rhyme Man?” Most of these questions are answered and more!

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“What kind of cop are you?” That’s a real loaded question, game studio ZA/UM. First, I’m not a cop. Who said I was a cop? And second, maybe to answer that question we’ll have to get into 1800s-esque geopolitical fiction. And maybe make Michael cry. That’s right! This game opened the floodgates of both Michael’s physical tear ducts and the more philosophical ethical sparring of our hosts, Mike and Adam. Listen to hear what they think and where they disagree.

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Michael and Adam considered all their friends and determined that the best Rocket Leaguer of them all is Abe Epperson. Turns out, he’s also bad! They’re all bad! Considering it’s a six-year-old game that still appears to be streamed by many, you’d expect they’d get a guest who’s better at the game. Though it doesn’t help that it’s one of the most challenging learning curves in modern gaming. So let’s chat about what makes Rocket League special and why it still remains relevant.

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Child Michael Swaim visits this episode of 1upsmanship and demands that his co-host plays his favorite game from his formative years. Adam, who wants everyone to know that he does not like Final Fantasy and “sparkly anime boys,” and while that has nothing to do with Psychonauts, would not play this game if left to his own devices. Will Adam break child Michael’s heart and hate this game or will the stars in Swaim’s eyes win over his cold heart? Or is Michael completely wrong and this game can be deleted from history? Listen to find out!

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Max Scoville, another friend/host/podcaster from IGN, joins Michael and Adam to discuss the hopeful hit of 2020, Cyberpunk 2077. Months after the game’s launch, which was sensationalized by its bugs and recalls, can we look at the game with more objective eyes or will it never recover, kid? Well, Samurai, eavesdrop on whether or not this game was worth its decade-long development.

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