Sorry its late, but that is almost entirely due to the fact that for the first time in the history of the podcast, SEAN isn't here this week! That means a two man show starring Jon and Nathan, which also means a slight change in the order of operations. That's right, new first THEN the games we played. Revolutionary I know. Stories were a bit light this week as we recorded right on the verge of Gamescom, which is where all the big stuff is going on (including a new Grasshopper game, but we don't mention that at all on this show). Instead we talk about the upcoming ICO/Shadow of the Colossus HD collection and the exciting fact that some unseen aspects of "The Last Guardian" will be glimpsed in a featurette when it drops in September. We also talk about the long-awaited return of Counter-Strike, the only modern military shooter that ever mattered.

Then its games games games, including Catherine, the greatest game ever made (Deadly Premonition to the layman), Shadows of the Damned, Another World, Mario's Picross and a handful of others (been a few days at this point, my memory isn't as a good as a chimpanzee's...that actually IS true, amazing creatures).

Speaking of remarkable apes, Orangutans. Amazing. 97% of their DNA is virtually identical to our own, including whatever it is that makes iPads so fascinating because yes, some genius scientists somewhere are finally allowing our ape brethren to tinker with some of the latest technology and all of us here at the Top Down Perspective could not be happier. Rise of the Planet of the Apes is in theaters now if you want a glimpse at the amazing future that surely awaits us if we continue down this path (fingers AND toes crossed).

All that and a record number of user-submitted questions! Thanks, keep 'em coming.

Ah yes, and our theme song this week is an excerpt from the Suburban All-Star's song "Soccer Riot".