Mark remains in the iron grip of tactical RPGs, and so we revisit Vandal Hearts along with critical darling Keeper.

What We're Playing

01:16 Mark: Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage (Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, 2025)

11:36 Caitlin: Sworn (Windwalk Games, 2025)

16:35 GOOF: Vagrant Story (Konami, 1996)

36:33 Feature Game: Keeper (Double Fine, 2025)

SHOUT

48:14 Mark: MENACE (Overhype Studios)

49:12 Caitlin: Pokémon Pokopia (Omega Force)

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With Caitlin's guidance, Mark is slowly going through the generically-titled nineties SNES titles--this time it's Trials of Mana. Absolum is also a pretty weak name. Can the games overshadow their unilluminating titles? ALL WILL BE REVEALED

What We're Playing

01:09 Caitlin: Hidden Folks (Adriaan de Jongh & Sylvain Tegroeg, 1998)

07:27 Mark: Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch (Ocean Drive Studio, 2025)

19:09 GOOF: Trials of Mana (Square, 1995)

40:57 Feature Game: Absolum (Guard Crush Games & Supamules, 2025)

SHOUT

1:02:20 Caitlin: Threads of Time (Riyo Games)

1:05:23 Mark: Dispatch (AdHoc Studio)

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The nineties are calling in a big way! Sonic, The Big Con, and Caitlin even manages to smuggle in an Evangelion reference. Radical.

What We're Playing

00:53 Mark: Akane (Ludic Studios, 2018)

11:40 Caitlin: Phasmaphobia (Kinetic Games, 2020)

21:40 GOOF: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (Sega Technical Institute, 1994)

40:14 Feature Game: The Big Con (Mighty Yell, 2021)

SHOUT

1:01:21 Mark: MagicX One 35 (MagicX)

1:04:55 Caitlin: Final Sentence (Button Mash)

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We get dynastic AF here, with multi-generational dynamics galore. We breed dragon killers with Dragon Valor and look to rescue our dear, grim, chthonic papa in Hades II.

What We're Playing

02:03 Caitlin: Monster Hunter Wilds (Capcom, 2025)

11:12 Mark: Drift Survivor 2 (MEWSTURBO, 2025)

20:36 GOOF: Dragon Valor (Now Production, 1999)

36:20 Feature Game: Hades II (Supergiant, 2025)

SHOUT

1:00:56 Caitlin: Dogpile (Studio Folly, Toot Games, & Foot)

1:02:10 Mark: AXERAS (Inverse Atelier)

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It's a Game Boy-heavy episode, including the popular fan translation of Japanese-only RPG Mother 3. We follow up with the game if "improvisational chaos" I Am Your Beast.

(We apologize for Caitlin's poor audio in this episode)

What We're Playing

01:44 Mark: Fire Emblem: Vision Quest (Pandan [Fan Hack], 2022)

10:41 Caitlin: LEGO Game Boy (LEGO, 2025)

17:59 GOOF: Mother 3 (Brownie Brown/HAL Laboratory, 2006)

43:17 Feature Game: I Am Your Beast (Strange Scaffold, 2024)

SHOUT

58:54 Mark: Possessor(s) (Heart Machine)

59:51 Caitlin: Grave Seasons (Perfect Garbage)

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Growing up can be hard, so we explore some coping mechanisms--Road Trip to the End of the World suggests conjuring an adorable anthropomorphic fish, whereas Deception III endorses trap-based murder. Options!

What We're Playing

01:06 Caitlin: Loop Hero (Four Quarters, 2021)

10:15 Mark: Lost Eidolons (Ocean Drive Studio, 2022)

24:29 GOOF: Deception III: Dark Delusion (Tecmo, 1999)

41:26 Feature Game: Road Trip to the End of the World (Alex Lee and Shark & Pelican Games, 2025)

SHOUT

56:31 Caitlin: Rabbit and Steel DLC (mino_dev)

57:22 Mark: Spirit X Strike (Maicha Studio)

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We, once again, have a shonen problem. Brave Fencer Musashi's abrasive overconfidence is in stark contrast to the cool professionalism of Aliens: Fireteam Elite. Stay frosty, people.

What We're Playing

00:59 Mark: Metal Eden (Reikon Games, 2025)

12:06 Caitlin: Final Fantasy VI (Square, 1994)

21:59 GOOF: Brave Fencer Musashi (Square, 1998)

38:12 Feature Game: Aliens: Fireteam Elite (Cold Iron Studios, 2021)

SHOUT

57:07 Mark: Hades II (Supergiant)

57:46 Caitlin: Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven (Massive Monster)

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How six years can change an industry--from local deathmatch FPS being all the rage (Perfect Dark), to online co-op third-person cover-hugging (Gears of War: Reloaded).

What We're Playing

00:52 Mark: Marfusha: Sentinel Girls (hinyari9, 2021)

10:16 Caitlin: PEAK (Team PEAK, 2025)

20:15 GOOF: Perfect Dark (Rare, 2000)

39:27 Feature Game: Gears of War: Reloaded (The Coalition, 2025)

SHOUT

1:03:22 Mark: Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch (Ocean Drive Studio)

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Metroidvania is a very popular formula. We see how much has it changed in the twenty years between its formalization in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and its indie apotheosis in Hollow Knight.

What We're Playing

00:54 Caitlin: Coral Island (Stairway Games, 2023)

17:35 Mark: Mortal Sin (Nikita Todorovic, 2025)

27:05 GOOF: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (Konami, 1997)

42:50 Feature Game: Hollow Knight (Team Cherry, 2017)

SHOUT

1:00:49 Caitlin: Resident Evil: Requiem (Capcom)

1:02:04 Mark: Runa (Fennec)

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Pocky & Rocky scoffs at so-called difficult games like Soulslikes, and Artis Impact scoffs at the limitations of RPG Maker.

What We're Playing

01:03 Caitlin: Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap (Robot Entertainment, 2025)

08:15 Mark: The Rogue Prince of Persia (Evil Empire, 2025)

18:31 GOOF: Pocky and Rocky (Natsume, 1992)

28:36 Feature Game: Artis Impact (Mas, 2025)

SHOUT

53:03 Caitlin: Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes (Alt Shift)

54:25 Mark: Valor Mortis (One More Level)

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