Podouken

I OFFER YOU 80,000 SWISS FRANCS TO LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE.* The second Listeners' Choice is all about the first arena fighter - the precursor to Super Smash Bros. - NAMCO's The Outfoxies. Join a full house of co-hosts as we talk about this rather obscure game that features a unique cast of characters like a chimp assassin and some eleven-year old homicidal twins. Why was this game called The Outfoxies? Did it ever take off in Japan? What is the best place to store guard sharks when not in use? We answer those questions and talk about arcade PCB prices, evil contractors, Gals Panic, and more Tiger King (for some reason). Special thanks to listener Tim Walker for nominating this game and Owlnonymous for joining us.

*Not legally binding.

Shall we play a game? For the first episode of the Listeners' Choice miniseries we distill Capcom's trivia arcade game, Quiz & Dragons, back to its truest form - a board game! Who will win the trivia battle of 80s sports and Richard Dreyfuss questions? Why does one letter (eclipse vs. ellipse) cause so much drama (thanks autocorrect)? Will knowledge from past Podouken episodes help the hosts get to the end or will their own stupidity condemn them? All of that plus counting teeth, recording during a hurricane, early Image Comics superheroes, and high-pitched character voices. Special thanks to listener Matthew Manduchi for nominating this game.

HOLY SH...EBOYGEN! It's time for another Arcade Obscura where each of the hosts pitch their choice for underrated or underappreciated two-player beat 'em up game. PastBlaster brings us a game from a familiar company that uses six-buttons to possess and destroy your enemies. Rob brings us a sequel from a company that only made two arcade games. Mr. SNK takes the obscure part of this episode to the limit with a noir game we're still not sure even exists, but - if it does - deserved to win the Pulitzer for that year (sorry Updike's Rabbit at Rest). We have a DOGOOOONE good time with this one. Also we coin the term "scifyclops", discuss some larger beat 'em ups, fight Mucus Tick, and maybe fire a host.

CYBORGS AIN'T LADIES!! We grab Technos Japan's ultra-violent and over-the-top The Combatribes by the heels and take it for a spin - and have a lot of fun doing it! Join us as we rediscover this often overlooked beat 'em up playing characters that all skipped leg day. Did we just find Pastblaster's long lost pappy? How did a thrash metal band mascot become this game's villain? Are we cheating by including this game in our two-player brawler series? What post-9/11 changes did this game have to make? All that plus our eulogy to Technos, head bashes, Karnov, cultural insensitivities, Joker, and why this game is better than Double Dragon.

The Mad Gears must pay. We are joined by special guest co-host Chris Antista to discuss Capcom's Final Fight! Capcom goes "huge and cool" to bring us one of the best beat 'em ups ever made. Who is responsible for the Final Fight/Street Fighter II universe and why is it not who you may think? What part did a French historical novel and manga have in giving us the best political body in video games? Why were severed mammal's feet ever a commercially sold product? How did "stuffing" play a key part in Capcom's game development? You want more? How about the favorite foods of the Final Fight crew, glam metal, Breakfast at Tiffany's, ballads, the chip famine, and Don Frye.