Explore every episode of the podcast 8-4 Play

As the kids say, "nothing but bangers and mash": Zelda, Onimusha, Orbitals, MGS4, Final Fantasy III / VI (?), Star Wars: Zero Company plus everything from the recent Nintendo Directs and State of Play!

01:26 – Nicknames
06:39 – Onimusha: Way of the Sword
17:01 – Final Fantasy VI
25:48 – Big Walk
28:05 – Orbitals
40:44 – Star Wars: Zero Company
49:42 – News: State of Play x2, Nintendo Direct x2, and more!

A tight 60 (ok 70ish) about The Duskbloods network test, Marvel Tōkon, Beast of Reincarnation, and various Gamescom opening night hijinks.

01:08 – Nicknames
03:41 – The Duskbloods
21:20 – Beast of Reincarnation
25:47 – Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls
47:42 – News: Gamescom, Terranigma, and more!

It's a brand new ep with a whole lot of old: two lost Virtual Boy games, a recap of Quintet's SNES hits, and a return trip to Halo with Campaign Evolved. How many Gabes does it take to wreck a Warthog? The answer won't surprise you. Plus week-old news! 

01:06 – Nicknames
06:53 – Beast of Reincarnation
16:32 – Zero Racers and Dragon Hopper
36:10 – Halo: Campaign Evolved
47:42 – Quintet Games (Soul Blazer, Illusion of Gaia, Terranigma, ActRaiser)
1:03:00 – News: Fire Emblem Direct, Final Fantasy VII Revelation DLC, and more!

Ay? Ay! (Have you been playing Splatoon Raiders? Because we sure have!) Plus the latest in the worlds of video game news and sudden Tokyo summer electrical storms.

01:16 — Nicknames
10:00 — Splatoon Raiders
41:24 — News: Microsoft/Sony Network Outage, Capcom Sales, E3 Archives, and more! 

It's 8-4 Play's Summer Sale! 25% off hosts! 90% off our usual topics! The death of physical media! More layoffs! And balloon animals for the kids!

01:04 — Nicknames
01:41 — News: Physical Games, Microsoft, and more!
47:21 — Rhythm Heaven Groove

Star Fox, Adventures of Elliot, and a now-quaint lil' discussion on physical games (recorded prior to PlayStation's bombshell announcement).

00:47 – Nicknames
06:47 – Star Fox
19:32 – The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales
28:57 – Microsoft, Steam Machines, GTA 6, and more!

Special guest Robert Ashley stops by to talk about his amazing podcast A Life Well Wasted, old EGM / 1up.com memories, and (as required by law in 2026) AI and Xbox.

00:39 – Nicknames

06:54 – A Life Well Wasted

30:27 – Splatoon

34:41 – News: SGF Recap, Microsoft, Steam Machines and more!

RIPPED FROM THE HEADLINES (a couple days ago): Game-by-game-by-game analysis of PlayStation's latest E3 June State of Play, plus…well, mostly that, honestly.

01:44 – Nicknames
13:03 – Sony State of Play

Special guest hosts Snoop Dogg, Seth Rogen, and Willie Nelson celebrate episode #420 by discussing the new Steam controller, Nintendo retirees, and how all our celebrity references are dated af.

01:22 – Nicknames

20:27 – Steam Controller

25:46 – Star Fox

29:20 – News: Nintendo price hikes, XBOX, and more!

Up-to-the-minute Star Fox hot takes, week-or-two-old Saros first impressions, and the ancient mobile flip-phone Japan-only Xenosaga spinoff review you never knew you wanted.

01:10 – Nicknames
06:38 – Star Fox Direct
30:42 – SAROS
41:40 – Xenosaga Pied Piper

17-Bit's Jake and Raj join the crew to chat about dat indie dev life, dat Pragmata life, and dat Tomodachi Life, with a very special message on the dangers of drinking while podcasting.

01:07 – Nicknames
05:13 – Final Fantasy IV
11:30 – Awaysis
37:50 – Tomodachi Life
54:17 – Pragmata
1:00:29 – News: Game Pass price changes, movies based on games, and more!

Do pirates do pilates? Clench your AnEarth and climb Gabe's favorite tower to find out as the crew explores the Switch 2 Edition of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, makes a return trip to Pokopia, dabbles in yet more PC Engine, and debates the latest news and rumors (Star Fox?! Zelda?!?). Plus donuts and ice cream, of course.

00:48 – Nicknames
13:44 – Pokémon Pokopia
19:00 – Super Mario Bros Wonder + Meetup in Bellabel Park
31:33 – Linda Cubed Novelization
33:50 – Final Fantasy IV
41:34 – News: PS5 prices, Nintendo rumors, and more!

Craft yourself a seat by the river and take a load off as we share first thoughts on Pokémon Pokopia, check in on the current state of Monster Hunter Wilds, and catch up on a couple other games + the latest news and Japanese (?) pizza lore. 

00:40 – Nicknames
17:44 – Pokemon Pokopia
37:06 – Monster Hunter Wilds
45:00 – DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined
54:36 – Final Fantasy III
59:49 – News: Pokopia is a hit, PSN rebranding, and more!

Th-th-the gang t-t-talks the g-g-good, the bad, and the silly of Resident Evil Requiem, plus more Zelda, Minishoot Adventures, and Project Helix in news.

01:38 – Nicknames
05:55 – The Legend of Zelda
12:47 – Resident Evil Requiem
52:37 – Minishoot Adventures
55:53 – News: Resident Evil Requiem breaks records, Project Helix, and more!

• 09:58 – The Legend of Zelda
• 33:34 – Awaysis
• 53:01 – Virtual Boy
• 1:01:32 – Nioh 3
• 1:04:25 – Arc Raiders
• 1:10:42 – News: Microsoft, Sony State of Play, and more!

Strap on your climbing gear and watch out for vertigo as we scale the dizzying heights of Cairn and plumb the stereoscopic depths of the Virtual Boy. Plus news!

00:58 – Nicknames
06:18 – Blue Prince
16:37 – Cairn
33:30 – Virtual Boy
52:23 – News: Nintendo Direct recap, Steam Machine delayed, and more!

The crew checks in (hotel humor!) on the 3.0 update and Switch 2 version of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the good and bad of Xbox's latest developer direct, and the horrors and sweet, sweet delights of the upcoming Virtual Boy lineup.

03:51 – Animal Crossing: New Horizons
32:31 – News: Nintendo Rumors, Sony Rumors, Resident Evil rumors and more!

Linda Cubed, DQ7 Reimagined, Castlevania 64, and Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance highlight a mish-mash of new and old impressions alongside the latest news as we kick off 2026 for the second time with a respectable Tight 79!

01:15 – Nicknames
07:00 – Linda Cubed
19:28 – Dragon Quest VII Reimagined Demo
27:27 – Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
37:28 – Castlevania 64 (MASSIVE SPOILERS!)
47:43 – News (AGDQ, Nintendo's Year in Review, and more!)

Friend of the show and former EGM editor Che Chou joins us to ring in 2026 with another freeform Q&A ep fueled by bourbon and filled with New Year's resolutions, holiday memories, GOTY talk, and Cybermorph. HNY!

Time — Topic Discussed

11:40 – Listener Questions

Ring in the holidays with extended Metroid Prime 4 thoughts and an audio tour of the Nintendo Museum's new art exhibit, plus Game Awards recap / reax in news!

Time — Topic Discussed

01:06 – Nicknames
25:00 – Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
51:25 – News: The Game Awards, SEGA Channel games preserved, and more!

With Metroid Prime 4 dropping mere hours before we recorded, we went for the next best thing: a bunch of games from the late 90s! Tune in for talk of Analogue 3D, Radiant Silvergun, Viewpoint 2064, 2D gaming on the PS1, and more—plus some current-century stuff like Ball x Pit and Lumines Arise.

Time — Topic Discussed

01:00 – Nicknames
05:42 – Radiant Silvergun
13:15 – Viewpoint 2064
21:30 – Analogue 3D
39:48 – Nicknames
42:44 – Ball x Pit
48:50 – Lumines Arise
51:22 – News: Game Awards Statue, Dead Rising rumors, and more!

Lumines (loo-meh-nez) Arise, new Hyrule Warriors, Game Awards noms, Metroid Prime 4 hopes and fears, new Steam hardware (x3) and more!

00:45 – Nicknames
13:20 – Lumines: Arise
20:32 – Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
33:11 – News: The Game Awards, Super Mario Galaxy movie, and more!

Hear all about (deep breath) Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake (exhale) and the A-Z of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, with a side of Nintendo news and Halloween in Japan.

Time — Topic Discussed

00:47 – Nicknames
17:30 – DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake
25:31 – Pokémon Legends: Z-A
35:00 – News: Nintendo Switch 2 sales, Animal Crossing updates, Halo on PlayStation, and more!

1UP Show memories, Hollow Knight 2, Little Nightmares 3, Ninja Gaiden 4, FIIIIIVE GOLD-EN! RINGS!! Plus more FFT, RIP Itagaki-san, and a buncha news.

Time — Topic Discussed

00:00 – Nicknames
09:32 – Hollow Knight: Silksong
17:21 – Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
20:59 – Little Nightmares 3
26:25 – Ninja Gaiden 4
30:00 – News: Remembering Itagaki-san, The 1UP Show's 20th anniversary, and more!

Clutch your digiballs and sharpen your sickles as we dive into Silent Hill f, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, Digimon Story Time Stranger, Mario Galaxy 1&2, a bunch of obscure Alfa System games, the latest news, and more! 

Time — Topic Discussed

00:37 – Nicknames
08:49 – Silent Hill f
33:38 – Oreshika & Gunparade March
44:55 – Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
1:05:12 – Digimon Story Time Stranger
1:13:56 – Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2
1:18:52 – News: EA, Microsoft, and more!

It's our favorite time of year: Tokyo Game Show! A cavalcade of special guests pop through to talk about everything we saw at and around day 1 of the show, including Marvel Tokon, Onimusha, RE9, Yakuza Kiwami 3, Age of Imprisonment, Nioh 3, Ghost of Yotei, Dragon Quest 1&2, and lots more!

Time — Topic Discussed

04:48 – TGS Vibes & Merch
08:42 – CAPCOM (Pragmata, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Resident Evil Requiem)
20:38 – Indies (Demonschool, Dreams of Another, I Saw a Flying Saucer, Sobakistan: The Land of Dogs)
27:32 – SEGA (Yakuza Kiwami 3)
33:53 – Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake
38:02 – Sharp X68000 mini
42:00 – Psyvariar 3
42:38 – Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls
52:05 – Scott Pilgrim EX
53:07 – R-Type Tactics
1:03:43 – Reanimal
1:05:39 – Once Upon A KATAMARI
1:08:26 – Digimon Story: Time Stranger
1:14:17 – Monster Hunter Stories 3
1:16:44 – Denshattack!
1:19:17 – Nioh 3
1:23:27 – Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
1:36:47 – Sony's State of Play
1:51:48 – Ghost of Yotei

Get your canned beverage of choice and your ticket for the green car -- it's time to board the bullet train for TGS! For the ride over, we've got a Tight 60 filled with Silksong impressions and a breakdown of all the big news out of last week's mega-sized Nintendo Direct.

Time — Topic Discussed

00:48 – Nicknames
07:37 – Hollow Knight: Silksong
24:43 – Earthion
27:23 – News: Nintendo Direct, TGS leaks, and more!

Turn down the Silksong BGM and turn UP the talk about Metal Gear Solid Delta, the Lumines Arise demo, Exit 8 and Platform 8, and a whole buncha news.

Time — Topic Discussed

00:52 — Nicknames
03:32 — Exit 8 and Platform 8
19:50 — Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
30:50 — Lumines Arise demo
45:16 — News: Nintendo Direct rumors, PS6 rumors, and more!

UFO 50 (buy it!), Mina the Hollower demo (try it!), Neorude (look it up!), Phantasy Star IV (dust it off!), Off (turn it on!), and a whole messa news (listen to it!)

Time – Topic Discussed

01:14 – Nicknames
08:36 – Mina the Hollower impressions
16:11 – UFO 50
31:00 – Neorude The Leading RPG
33:51 – Phantasy Star IV
38:37 – OFF
44:16 – News: Opening Night Live, Kirby Air Riders Direct, and more!

Oops, all games! The Adventures of Elliot, Rematch, Mario Paint, Lunar 2, Earthion, Shin-Chan Summer Vacation, Shinobi, Ninja Gaiden, Dyson Sphere Program (the game, not the vacuum), and news! 

Time – Topic Discussed

00:57 – Nicknames

10:33 – Mario Paint

12:57 – Earthion

14:56 – Donkey Kong Bananza

16:09 – Shin-chan: Me and the Professor on Summer Vacation

19:24 – Rematch

25:05 – Dyson Sphere Program

28:16 – Aliens: Fireteam Elite

29:56 – Lunar 2 Remastered

31:02 – SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance Demo impressions

35:04 – The Adventures of Elliot: The Millenium Tales Demo

40:23 – News: The Nintendo Partner Direct, EVO, and more!

Roy joins to peel back Donkey Kong Bananza, go crazy on Monster Hunter Wilds DLC, and...talk about...Death Stranding 2; also Zelda movie casting, Xbox retreating from $80 games, Switch 2 sales and more!

Time — Topic Discussed

02:04 — Nicknames
09:50 — Donkey Kong Bananza
23:42 — Death Stranding 2
34:31 — Sweet Home
44:22 — News

Mark returns to hawk Lumines Arise and talk about 'Jima's latest, Death Stranding 2; also, Blue Prince bingo speed runs, all that :gestures: Xbox stuff, and obscure Famicom and PC Engine games (because JP)

Time — Topic Discussed

01:41 — PC Engine Talk
16:04 — Death Stranding 2
29:20 — Sweet Home
45:01 — News

Summer is the time for love, Takarazuka, and Death Stranding 2 early access. Plus the latest Switch 2 impressions, Japan life updates, and thoughts on the DK Direct.

00:58 – Nicknames
12:36 – Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
27:30 – Grandia
33:54 – Mario Kart World
54:09 – News: Donkey Kong Bananza Direct, Marathon delayed, and more!

One week and three and a half million units later, tune in to hear the crew's first hands-on impressions of Switch 2 and all the excitement surrounding the launch in Japan, plus the latest news out of Summer Game Fest, State of Play, the Xbox Games Showcase, and more!

Time — Topic Discussed

00:52 – Nicknames
05:38 – Nintendo Switch 2
13:04 – Mario Kart World
27:20 – Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
34:28.– The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
46:25 – News: Splatoon Raiders announced, Switch 2 sales, Summer Game Fest, and more!

With The Second Coming upon us, Digital Foundry's John Linneman joins us for an exhaustive chat through the tech driving Nintendo's new hardware, including a few key lingering questions…

Time — Topic Discussed

00:46 – Nicknames
18:56 – Switch 2 Talk
1:04:16 – FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time
1:13:08 – Luigi's Mansion 3
1:14:33 – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
1:16:27 – Blue Prince
1:21:34 – Doom: The Dark Ages

Tide yourself over this dry spell before the Summer Game Fest feast with (still tasty!) leftovers of Clair Obscur and Blue Prince, plus morsels on gaming media woes and EVO Japan bits in news.

Time — Topic Discussed

01:21 – Nicknames
09:30 – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
15:34 – Blue Prince
19:20 – Blue Prince Spoilers Start
23:41 – Blue Prince Spoilers End
27:34 – News: Giant Bomb, the latest in Switch 2, EVO Japan and more!

Golden Week? This year it's more of a Golden Weekend, sadly, but that hasn't stopped us from putting our vacations on pause to share impressions of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Mario Kart World, and our Switch 2 preorder experiences. Plus news!

Time — Topic Discussed

01:00 – Nicknames
05:54 – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
28:39 – Mario Kart World
39:25 – News: Switch 2 pre-orders, 8bitdo cancels US shipments, and more!

Grab your journal and get ready to scribble extensive notes on Blue Prince, the new Vampire Survivors DLC, the latest Switch 2 news, and Gabe's turf burns in this very special pre-Golden Week Tight 55™︎ episode!

Time — Topic Discussed

00:54 – Nicknames
08:50 – Blue Prince
25:24 – Vampire Survivors: Emerald Diorama
27:22 – News: Switch 2, PS5 prices, and more!

SMAAAAAAASH that C-Button and join our chat all about (what else) Switch 2. Mario Kart! Donkey Kong! The Duskbloods! Pricing! Region-locking! Jorts!

Sure, we may have recorded before yesterday's Nintendo Direct, but that just means we had more time to talk Xenoblade Chronicles X: DE, read up on the latest Monster Hunter Wilds news, and get a 10-minute two-minute history lesson on the origins of the Metal Max franchise.

Time — Topic Discussed

01:57 — Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
35:12 — Metal Max
42:20 — News: Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update, Game Informer returns, and more!

Pull up a slab of cheese nan and dig in to a full episode of (what else?) Monster Hunter Wilds, as the team Gears-of-War-slow-walks you through our first few days with the game.

Time — Topic Discussed

01:50 — Nicknames
04:33 — Monster Hunter Wilds
58:05 — News: Monster Hunter Wilds breaks records, Clovers, and Death Stranding 2

Enjoy the final pod before we go Wild on the new Monster Hunter with…well, MHW review talk! Also solid chatter on some older and / or semi-obscure Japanese gems because, hey, it's us.

Time — Topic Discussed

01:00 — Nicknames
10:08 — Monster Hunter Wilds Review Recap
23:25 — Resident Evil Remastered
32:05 — Grandia
37:24 — Stray Children
44:00 — News: Shuhei Yoshida, NetEase, Monolith closing, and more!

Time — Topic Discussed

01:07 – Nicknames
02:40 – Sony State of Play (and News)
41:24 – Ender Lilies
45:53 – The Legend of Dragoon
49:38 – Cyberpunk 2077
50:54 – Pikmin 4

We did it

We finally outsmarted Nintendo

And all it cost us was…everything

Time — Topic Discussed

02:20 – Switch 2!!

We've barely recovered from our New Year's hangovers, but we're already back and hard at work for you, dear listener, with a brand new ep, recorded live and in person in the year of our lord 202—what's that? We're out of space? Uh...special Q&A ep—enjoy!

Time — Topic Discussed

03:36 – Listener Questions

Time — Topic Discussed

01:27 – Nicknames
15:16 – Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
21:10 – DQ3 SPOILERS START!
23:42 – DQ3 SPOILERS END!
23:48 – Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
29:24 – Pokemon TGC Pocket
34:16 – News: The Game Awards Recap!

Lunar 2: Eternal Blue (localization CONTROVERSY!), PC Engine obscurities (the BEST game you NEVER HEARD OF!!), and checking in on Dragon Quest III HD-2D (Gabe's take will SHOCK you!!!) #smashlike #subscribe #hitthebell

Time — Topic Discussed

00:55 – Nicknames
14:57 – PC-FX Talk
22:35 – Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
27:56 – Lunar 2: Eternal Blue
35:37 – Alarmo Minute
40:54 – News: Alarmo stock, Shuhei Yoshida leaves PlayStation, and more!