Half-Minute Hero & Final Fantasy XVI

Half-Minute Hero & Final Fantasy XVI

WE ARE BACK and thirstier than ever! We debate issues of male beauty across Half-Minute Hero and Final Fantasy XVI--the former showing JRPGs distilled to their essence, the latter showing JRPGs evolved past recognition. What We're Playing 01:28 Mark: Sakura Wars--Saturn (Sega S2 R&D, 1996) 16:45 Caitlin: Abiotic Factor (Deep Field Games, 2025) 28:06 GOOF: Half-Minute Hero (Opus, 2009) 40:47 Feature Game: Artis Impact (Square Enix Creative Business Unit III, 2023) SHOUT 1:03:06 Mark: Virtua Fighter Crossroads (RGG Studio) 1:04:24 Caitlin: God of War Laufey (Santa Monica Studio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Season 1 in Review

We look back on our collected experiences together, dear digital friends, as we crown our Game of the Year before an unfortunate (and hopefully brief) pause. What We're Playing 01:39 Caitlin: Miscellaneous catchup 02:38 Caitlin: Dogpile (Studio Folly, Toot Games, & Foot, 2025) 11:17 Mark: Terminator 2D: No Fate (Bitmap Bureau, 2025) Season 1 in Review Special Categories 18:34 Thanks for Introducing Me 33:04 SHOUTS that Panned Out 37:48 "I Didn't Think I Liked that Genre" 42:28 Our New Backlog 48:18 Our New Digital Best Friend 53:35 Host-Specific Categories 58:41 Biggest Disappointments 1:03:22 Biggest Pleasant Surprises 1:08:16 A GOAT that Holds Up 1:12:56 AMBFAD Shrugs 1:16:10 Game of the Year 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Change Air Blade & Lost Records: Bloom & Rage

One of Mark's obscure arcade favorites is Change Air Blade, a bizarre little shooter/fighter hybrid. Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is our latest narrative-focused diversion. Also, Caitlin has conquered Metaphor: ReFantazio! Let her achievement spur greater and greater successes. What We're Playing 00:53 Mark: Demonschool (Necrosoft Games, 2025) 13:34 Caitlin: Metaphor: ReFantazio (Studio Zero, 2024) 16:48 Caitlin: Guild Wars Reforged (ArenaNet, 2025) 25:07 GOOF: Change Air Blade (Sammy, 1999) 33:46 Feature Game: Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (Don't Nod Montréal, 2025) SHOUT 1:03:11 Mark: ROMEO IS A DEAD MAN (Grasshopper) 1:06:06 Caitlin: Human Fall Flat 2 (No Brakes Games) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

WarioWare Gold & Detroit: Become Human

Who is a more grounded, realistic, fleshed-out character--Wario in WarioWare Gold, or any of the humans in Detroit: Become Human? What We're Playing 01:00 Caitlin: Fellowship (Chief Rebel, 2025) 12:58 Mark: Silent Hill 2 Remake (Bloober Team, 2025) 26:07 GOOF: WarioWare Gold (Intelligent Systems, 2018) 39:32 Feature Game: Detroit: Become Human (Quantic Dream, 2018) SHOUT 1:01:47 Caitlin: REPLACED (Sad Cat Studios) 1:02:47 Mark: Free Stars: Children of Infinity (Pistol Shrimp) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Silent Hill & Persona 5 Royal

Caitlin's love/hate relationship continues with Silent Hill, and we talk about all kinds of shameful love in Persona 5. What We're Playing 00:51 Mark: Skybolt Zack (DEVS MUST DIE, 2019) 13:39 Caitlin: No, I'm Not a Human (Trioskaz, 2025) 20:51 GOOF: Silent Hill (Team Silent, 1999) 39:12 Feature Game: Persona 5 Royal (P-Studio, 2019) SHOUT 57:49 Mark: Persona 4 Revival (P-Studio) 58:49 Caitlin: My Card Is Better than Your Card (Utu Studios) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]