The Pitch

A title that follows in the august footsteps of Inspector Gadget.

Kole, Ben, Jala, and David talk about Metal Gear Survive’s strange monetization scheme, DOOM, and we do a Free Play Multiplayer.

• Papers, Please inspired a short film adaptation.
• Warcraft III gets an official tournament and widescreen patch.
• Metal Gear Survive has a possibly exploitative monetization scheme.
• Colonel Campbell reads the recent Mueller indictments.

• Free Play!

• Jala: Metroid: Samus Returns. Nintendo Switch. Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
• Ben: Subnautica.
• David: Monster Hunter: World.
• Kole: Picross S. DOOM.

We said we wouldn't do any more split episodes under the new format for the show that began last year, but we didn't anticipate Ikaruga. Shoot 'em up games are an arcade mainstay that have developed an intense and passionate cult, and Ikaruga is one of the most revered entries in the genre. But it's also incredibly hostile and doesn't teach you how to play it.

Faced with the possibility of coming into the episode bewildered about the shmup genre, we added Jamestown onto the docket... it's a more modern take on the bullet hell portion of the genre, and it has a much more gentle learning curve. The good part is that playing both deepened our appreciation and understanding for both games, so it's all good in the end.

Huge thanks to everyone who voted in our poll!

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Links:

• TASBot plays Ikaruga by Maximum score by keylie in 21:29 - Summer Games Done Quick 2015 - Part 153 - YouTube
• shmuplations.com
• Flash Tub: Marble Madness: The Movie [HD] - YouTube
• Cuphead E3 2017 Trailer (1080p) - YouTube
• Battletoads Level 3: Turbo Tunnel (NES) - YouTube
• 100 Bullets - Wikipedia

Kris and Kole talk about proximity policy, flawed geography, and hostile packaging.

ALSO: We tell you what you want. Nothing better. Kris is laying down. It rained in the house. Cash me ousite ha ba da. Girlscout cookies and week depositories. Helicopter disasters. Exclusionary brands. Australia is not a country. What it’s like to learn now. Goose shit and taxes.

The most Psygnosis-looking non-Psygnosis game is virtually unplayable. Seriously, look up a video of this game.