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TitlePub. DateDuration
Abnormal Mapping 164: Final Fantasy XI19 Sep 2024

Jackson is joined today by official Final Fantasy Correspondant Austin Walker to talk about Final Fantasy XI - specifically the base game and Rise of the Zilart. It’s been a busy MMO summer and we simply needed to get it out of our systems and into microphones somewhere. Please enjoy this three hour tribute to a game that’s still around and still good as hell.

Thank you so much as always for listening, please rate and review the podcast, and tell all your friends on whatever social media you call home that they should check us out. See you next month!

Send us questions about our game clubs, other games, or gaming in general to abnormalmappingpodcast@gmail.com!

If you would like to support us please visit patreon.com/abnormalmapping for exclusive podcasts!

Things Discussed: Final Fantasy XI, Final Fantasy XIV, all the other Final Fantasies a little too, World of Warcraft and MMOs. It’s mostly just FF11 though.

This Month’s Second Game Club: Mister Mosquito

Music this Episode
One Last Time by Nobuo Uematsu
The Grand Duchy of Jueno by Naoshi Mizuta
Voyager by Naoshi Mizuta

Abnormal Mapping 163: The Forgotten City25 Aug 2024

Em is back from the month off to talk about the joy of a kind of cheesy mystery with a great sci-fi premise as we get to live out our Star Trek: The Original Series dreams by lecturing ancient peoples about how our modern world view is clearly the best one. This sounds like it’s selling The Forgotten City short, but I promise it isn’t, we really liked this game. Sometimes good things are also kind of silly things, is all, and we delight in the silliness in this episode.

Thank you so much as always for listening, please rate and review the podcast, and tell all your friends on whatever social media you call home that they should check us out. See you next month!

Send us questions about our game clubs, other games, or gaming in general to abnormalmappingpodcast@gmail.com!

If you would like to support us please visit patreon.com/abnormalmapping for exclusive podcasts!

Things Discussed: Dwarf Fortress, Neon White, Jackson's MMO Summer, The Forgotten City, Immortals of Aveum

Next Month’s Game Club: A Bonus Final Fantasy XI episode, and then Mister Mosquito at the end of the month!

Music this Episode
The Forgotten City by Michael Allen
The Die is Cast by Michael Allen
The Voice of the People by Michael Allen
Life's Greatest Blessings by Michael Allen

Abnormal Mapping 154: Final Fantasy XV29 Dec 2023

We close out the year with a podcast years in the making, as Molly joins us and we take a road trip with the king to be and his homies and play the much maligned but beloved by us Final Fantasy XV! This podcast will cover the main game and the first three episode DLCs (Gladio, Prompto, Ignis), and there’ll be a follow up podcast on the patreon (free for everyone) in about a week covering the movie, the anime, Episode Ardyn, and the Awful Book. Please look forward to it!

Thank you so much as always for listening, please rate and review the podcast, and tell all your friends on whatever social media you call home that they should check us out. See you next month!

Send us questions about our game clubs, other games, or gaming in general to abnormalmappingpodcast@gmail.com!

If you would like to support us please visit patreon.com/abnormalmapping for exclusive podcasts!

Things Discussed: Coral Island, Granblue Fantasy Versus, The 3rd Birthday, Oboeshoesgames video on The 3rd Birthday, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, Air Combat, The Binding of Isaac, Final Fantasy XV, Final Fantasy broadly

Next Month’s Game Club: James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing

Music this Episode
APOCALYPSIS NOCTIS by Yoko Shimomura
Valse di Fantastica by Yoko Shimomura
Somnus by Yoko Shimomura
Main Theme from FINAL FANTASY by Yoko Shimomura

Timestamps
(00:00:00) - Segment 1: Games Played
(00:29:10) - Segment 2: Final Fantasy XV
(01:58:10) - Segment 3: Questions

Meta Mapping 35: Paper Mario11 Aug 2017

Legends tell of a man, a quiet man, a man who jumps and a man who spins, a man who one day—this day—must rise and save us all. But that man was not available, and so it falls upon this paper plumber to embark upon a journey to the stars to save a princess oft and once more kidnapped. The Mappers embark upon this man’s journey through a twisted land of pun-laden characters and self-aware deconstruction, and arrive finally at the end of their quest with only the corpses of penguins to show for it*.

(*No penguins were harmed in the making of this podcast.)

As a companion piece to this episode, Em produced an zine for Paper Mario, featuring cool and cute paintings and sketches of the characters and the world of this month’s game! You can (and totally should, it’s really good!) pick it up on gumroad.

This episode was brought to you by our patrons. To support our shows, suggest topics, and vote on games, please check out our Patreon. Any amount of support helps a ton!

You can find this podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, and Google Play! We're on all the things!

This Month’s Game Club: Paper Mario

Things Discussed: Papa’s Donuteria, Racially Diverse Kitchen 3, Metal Gear Solid, Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture, Roger Ebert’s Great Movies, Player 2, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl, The Minesweeper Wall, Paper Mario, Super Mario RPG: The Legend of the Seven Stars, Iwata Asks for Paper Mario Sticker Star, Upon Reflection, Retro Game Challenge, NES Remix, Shovel Knight, Attack of the Friday Monsters, Yakuza 3, Gone Home, Her Story

Music This Episode
Blown Away by Kevin MacLeod
Attack of the Koopa Bros. by Yuka Tsujiyoko & Taishi Senda
March Ahead by Yuka Tsujiyoko & Taishi Senda
Nice To Meet You by Yuka Tsujiyoko & Taishi Senda
Detective Mario by Yuka Tsujiyoko & Taishi Senda

Abnormal Mapping 66: Devil May Cry27 Jul 2017

This month we bookend our newest episode with our oldest episode and cover the first Devil May Cry! Inspired by our very first Meta Mapping and voted on by our Patrons, we dig into the past of character action games and Dante, son of Mundus for a trip into all thing stylish and stupid. Come for the combos, stay for the angst. We even touch a bit on old standbys Ninja Gaiden and Bayonetta!

This episode was brought to you by our patrons. To support our shows, suggest topics, and vote on games, please check out our Patreon. Any amount of support helps a ton!

You can find this podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, and Google Play! We're on all the things!

Things Discussed: England's world cup win in 1966, the Paris level of Twisted Metal 2, the Neo Paris of Remember Me, Yoshi's Island, RetroArch, Crash Bandicoot 1 & 2, Abnormal Mapping episode 6 covering Crash Bandicoot, So You're Saying There's A Chance, Devil May Cry

This Month's Game Club: Devil May Cry

Next Month's Game Club: Max Payne (and the movie!)

Music This Episode
Blown Away by Kevin MacLeod
Public Enemy by Masami Ueda
The Theme of Sparda by Masami Ueda
Love Peace and Happiness by Kazumi Totaka

Meta Mapping 28: The King and W14 Jul 201701:23:41

Welcome to Meta Mapping, our journey through old episodes complete with new reflections on our current day thoughts on the episode! Today we're revisiting The King And W, an episode idea that our friend Michaela Joffe came to us with where we would do a little improv and interview Bowser, the King Koopa.

It turned out extremely well, and we're very excited to bring it to you again! It was recorded only a couple years ago, and yet it feels like a whole different world. A lot can change in a short two years.

As always, you can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes. Consider supporting us on Patreon to make future shows possible and receive cool extra gifts.

Music This Episode
Saturday Night Live Theme 1985-1994 by Howard Shore
Blown Away by Kevin MacLeod
Wario Dance Company by Naoko Mitome, Masanobu Matsunaga, Yasuhisa Baba
Gamecube Boot Music by Toru Minegishi
Ignorance is Bliss by Jellyfish

Abnormal Mapping 65: The Second Soundtrack Spectacular06 Jul 201702:11:00

Hello friends, we're here again at the nearly-midpoint of the year for a celebration of music and magic and wonder. Everyone liked our December music episodes so much and they took so long to make we decided to split them into twice-yearly installments, so enjoy this long list of summer tunes based on what we've been playing since we last checked in.

As always, check us out on iTunes, or watch this episode on YouTube if that's your speed. And be sure to support us on Patreon, to keep the good times rolling.

With that, here's the full list of music. Enjoy!

Music This Episode

Dance Through the Danger by Christina Vee from Shantae: Half-Genie Hero

I Made It All Up by Mike Morasky from Portal 2
Influence of the Deep by Yoko Shimomura from Parasite Eve
Cara Mia Addio by Mike Morasky from Portal 2

Route 1 by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose from Pokemon FireRed/LeafGreen
Pewter City by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose from Pokemon FireRed/LeafGreen
Vs Champion by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose from Pokemon Sun and Moon

Saferoom by Miwako Chinone from Resident Evil 7
On A Pale Horse by Martin O'Donnell from Halo: Combat Evolved
Truth and Reconciliation by Martin O'Donnel from Halo: Combat Evolved 1:50-4:28

Linkle's Theme by Masato Koike and Yuki Matsumura from Hyrule Warriors Legends
Price Sidon by Manaka Kataoka, Yasuaki Iwata, and Hajime Wakai from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Attack on Vah Medoh by Manaka Kataoka, Yasuaki Iwata, and Hajime Wakai from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Hyrule Castle by Manaka Kataoka, Yasuaki Iwata, and Hajime Wakai from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Athletic Theme by Asuka Ota, Hajime Wakai, and Koji Kondo from New Super Mario Bros
Beach Overworld by Asuka Ota, Hajime Wakai, and Koji Kondo from New Super Mario Bros
Lonely Rolling Star by Yohihito Yano and Saki Kabata from Katamari Damacy
Everlasting Love by Akitaka Tohyama from We Love Katamari

Old Town by Kohei Tanaka from Gravity Rush
Lei Colmosna by Kohei Tanaka from Gravity Rush 2
A Red Apple Fell From the Sky by Kohei Tanaka from Gravity Rush 2

War to War by Keiichi Okabe and Keigo Hoashi from Nier: Automata
Memories of Dust by Keiichi Okabe and Keigo Hoashi from Nier: Automata
Machine Village by Keiichi Okabe and Keigo Hoashi from Nier: Automata

Prologue (A New Act) by Justin Bell from Pillars of Eternity
Dyrwood by Justin Bell from Pillars of Eternity
Falling Bridge by Takeshi Furukawa from The Last Guardian
Delphinus Delphis by Austin Wintory from Abzu

Theme of Tara by Konami Kukeiha Club from Metal Gear
Red Alert by Konami Kukeiha Club from Metal Gear
Zanzibarland National Anthem by Konami Kukeiha Club from Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
Zanzibar Breeze by Konami Kukeiha Club from Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
Enclosure by TAPPY and Konami Kukeiha Club from Metal Gear Solid
Infiltration by Norihiko Hibino from Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Battle by Norihiko Hibino from Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Battle in the Base by Norihiko Hibino from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Showtime by Norihiko Hibino from Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
No Place To Hide by Nobuko Toda, Shuichi Kobori, and Kazuma Jinnouchi from Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Uninterrupted Signal by Nobuko Toda from Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Zero Allies! by Kazuma Jinnouchi and Akihiro Honda from Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker

Departures/End Credits by Lyndon Holland from Virginia

Abnormal Mapping 64: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords29 Jun 201702:00:10

A year ago this month we played Knights of the Old Republic, and today we complete the saga by taking on Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords. Jump in for a journey of discovery, as we experience one of the most heavily recommended subversions of all the aspects of Star Wars that we thought we didn't like, only to realize that without them our hearts feel empty and we feel lost. Maybe the Star Wars we loved was in our hearts all along.

No, we will never do the MMO.

We are joined by friend of the show Heather Alexandra for segment 2, you can find her work over at Kotaku and follow her on twitter here! You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download directly from the player above.

Things Discussed: our Patreon! which is doing well, Driver: San Francisco, Hollow Knight, Mega Man 6, Life is Strange, Star Wars (the movies), Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Traitor (A New Jedi Order Novel), Episode 50: Jump Cut Genocide covering KotOR 1, our episode about Planescape: Torment, Persona 4

Game Club This Month: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords

Game Club Next Month: Devil May Cry

Music This Episode
Star Wars: Kotor March by Mark Griskey
Star Wars Theme by John Williams
Throne Room by John Williams
I'm Han Solo by Kevin Afflack

Meta Mapping 1: DmC: Devil May Cry16 Jun 201701:50:03

Welcome to Meta Mapping, our first in a series of re-released episodes from the Abnormal Mapping archives with new content made possible by our Patreon subscribers.

We figured it would be best to start with our very first episode, back when all our mics were bad and M used a different name. We didn't want to change any of that, so you get the raw reality of us four years ago for your listening ... pleasure? Pleasure seems like a strong word. We've come a long way, baby! And you can see those humble beginnings here.

As always, you can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes. Consider supporting us on Patreon to make future shows possible and receive cool extra gifts.

Games Discussed This Episode
Gunpoint
DmC: Devil May Cry

Music Used This Episode
Blown Away by Kevin MacLeod
Melancholia by John Robert Matz, Ryan Ike and Francisco Cerda
What the Fuck Is Wrong With You by Combichrist

Abnormal Mapping 63: Myst25 May 2017

The Mappers delve into the past for an examination of two pillars of 90s PC gaming, as we all tackle the mysteries of Myst together (with returning third chair Destiny), and then I take a moment to talk about Full Throttle Remastered with Kotaku's Heather Alexandra. It's a lot of clicking and a lot of puzzle solving in this wave of computer nostalgia.

Note: we have a Patreon! Support us by going to patreon.com/abnormalmapping!

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download directly from the player above.

Things Discussed: Persona 5: Jungian Inception, Forza Horizon 3, Injustice, The Patreon Letters, Full Throttle, Grim Fandango, Heather's review for Full Throttle Remastered, Secret of Monkey Island Special Edition, LOOM, 90s PC games versus console games, Myst, Jeff Gerstmann in the RealMyst Quick Look, Rock Paper Shotgun's Myst Opinions, Life is Strange, The Eternal Quest To Defend Pop Punk

This Month's Game Clubs: Full Throttle Remastered, Myst

Next Month's Game Club: Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords

Music This Episode
Blown Away by Kevin MacLeod
Get Outta Town by The Gone Jackals
Myst Theme by Robyn Miller
The Temple of Achenar by Robyn Miller
The Last Message by Robyn Miller

Abnormal Mapping 62: Pikmin 327 Apr 2017

Miyamoto, tending his garden, suddenly has a brilliant idea. What if he could recapture the feelings of his childhood in game form? What if it was possible to identify the essence of nature and replicate it on a simple disc. It would be overwhelming, yet familiar. Chaotic, yet calm. Hostile, yet intimate. He toiled with his team for years, until finally the public could join him in the garden.

After the sun had set, he opened a laptop, and went to find what the public had said. He did not know if he was truly successful, but he hoped he had reached at least a few. Yet the message he received was not one he understood. He stared at his screen under cover of night, left only with the words: CHIE IS BEST GIRL.

--

This month we are joined by a very special guest for Segment 2, Amr Al-Aaser. Amr Al-Aaser is a games critic. You can find them on twitter, on Medium, Paste, and even donate to their Patreon! They're good people, and we're very glad to have them.

Things Discussed: national health systems, Mark of the Ninja, Mega Man 5, Gravity Rush 2, Need for Speed: the novel based on the movie, the trailer for the NFS movie, Persona 5, Dark Souls, Yakuza, who put the J in JRPGs, GameFAQS, Pikmin 3, Mario 128 demo

This Month's Game Club: Pikmin 3

Next Month's Game Club: Myst

Music This Episode
Blown Away by Kevin MacLeod
Pikmin 3 Title Theme by Asuka Hayazaki, Atsuko Asahi, Hajime Wakai
Twilight River by Asuka Hayazaki, Atsuko Asahi, Hajime Wakai
Fruit Analysis by Asuka Hayazaki, Atsuko Asahi, Hajime Wakai
Pikmin Ai No Uta by Strawberry Flower

Abnormal Mapping 61: Final Fantasy IX29 Mar 201701:30:02

Em and Jackson are here to say goodbye to the Final Fantasy of old and to look forward to new horizons, new podcast art, and a new podcast feed! Final Fantasy IX is a strange game to be approaching after so much time in the SNES Final Fantasies. Does it help to have such immediate context for the games FF9 is trying to reference? Hrm...

Meanwhile, Em takes some time to sit in nature and think about the latest Zelda.

Things Discussed: SquareSpace, Mothering Sunday, TypeShift, 7 Words, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, Pillars of Eternity, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Final Fantasy IX, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within

This Month's Game Club: Final Fantasy IX

Next Month's Game Club: Pikmin 3

Music This Episode
Blown Away by Kevin MacLeod
Black Mage Village by Nobuo Uematsu
Breath of the Wild Theme by Manaka Kataoka and Yasuaki Iwata
Link's Memories by Manaka Kataoka and Yasuaki Iwata
Hyrule Field (Day) by Manaka Kataoka and Yasuaki Iwata
Vamo' Alla Flamenco by Nobuo Uematsu
You're Not Alone! by Nobuo Uematsu
Inseparable Hearts by Nobuo Uematsu
Behind the Door by Nobuo Uematsu

Abnormal Mapping 60: Katamari Damacy23 Feb 201701:28:48

Celebrate the shortest month with the shortest hero as Abnormal Mapping delves into the wide world of rolling up extremely tiny objects in Katamary Damacy. This includes the first game, We Love Katamari, and even some Katamari Forever. Plus, we dip into Keita Takahashi’s development history and philosophy of design. Come for the good conversation, stay for the incredible music. We’re 60 years young and still rolling strong!

This Month’s Game Club: Katamari Damacy

Next Month’s Game Club: Final Fantasy IX

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

Things Discussed: Mortal Kombat 9, the coolness of Ninjas, Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy: Curtain Call, Hatsune Miku Project DIVA Future Tone, Guitar Hero Live, Braid, The Swapper, Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation, Ori & The Blind Forest, Mario Galaxy, Gravity Ghost, Katamari Damacy, The Zelda 1 Map in Zelda 2, Katamari Items Twitter, We Love Katamari, Noby Noby Boy, Beautiful Katamari, Wattam (Coming Soon!), Keita Takahashi’s Twitter, The Katamari of Amigara Fault, Ninja Gaiden, Dark Souls

Music This Episode
Blown Away by Ken MacLeod
Katamari Mambo by Yuri Misumi
Que Sera Sera by Asuka Sakai
Cherry Blossom Color Season by Yuu Miyake
Katamari on the Rocks by Yuu Miyake

Abnormal Mapping 153: Grab Bag 202329 Nov 2023

We keep gaming as we tackle a bunch of small games in a classic grab bag and talk through a whole mess of games that are interesting and worthwhile but often have one or two extremely obvious parts that hold it back. Some of them are reasonable critiques, some of them are just the unfortunate realities of game production, some are just The Times. I think the array of responses and games really makes for a solid episode however, and I hope you’ll agree!

Thank you so much as always for listening, please rate and review the podcast, and tell all your friends on whatever social media you call home that they should check us out. See you next month!

Send us questions about our game clubs, other games, or gaming in general to abnormalmappingpodcast@gmail.com!

If you would like to support us please visit patreon.com/abnormalmapping for exclusive podcasts!

Here’s Where To Get All Four Games This Month:
BETON BRUTAL
The Red Lantern
Inertial Drift (+ DLC)
Silent Bomber

Things Discussed: Signalis, Heretic, Jusant, Valis III, The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog, Super Mario Bros Wonder, The Red Lantern, Firewatch, Beton Brutal, Getting Over It, Inertial Drift, production values in video games, Silent Bomber, the PSX aesthetic, Sean Seanson's video on Silent Bomber, TheGamingBritShow's video on Silent Bomber, petting the dog, Oboe Shoes Games a guy we like a lot, watch Em and Dia play The Dagger of Amon Ra

Next Month’s Game Club: Final Fantasy XV and the four Episode DLCs

Music this Episode
Practice by Micfrog
Mission 03 by Chikayo Fukuda
Coming Home by Hrishikesh Hirway
Shooting Star Overdrive by Turbo

Timestamps
(00:00:00) - Segment 1: Games Played
(00:32:00) - Segment 2: Grab Bag 2023
(01:48:59) - Segment 3: Questions

Abnormal Mapping 59: The Crystal Dynamics Tomb Raider Pentatology30 Jan 201701:41:53

Hello and welcome to 2017 where we’re getting right into the thick of it with a podcast covering five whole video games today. What happens when you take a decade to tell the story of two women equally dedicated to murdering, climbing, exploring, and looting, and pit them against each other? Today we look at two generations of design by a single company, and ask the question: what exactly is Lara Croft’s job? Because she sure isn’t selling these artifacts or writing papers.

Things Discussed: Moderns Warfare 1-3, New Super Mario Bros. U, Super Mario Run, Super Mario Sunshine, Things Were Better Before, the surprisingly nice looking 360 Version of Rise of The Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider Legend, Tomb Raider Anniversary, Tomb Raider Underworld, Tomb Raider (2013), Rise of the Tomb Raider, Hitman, E3, Our Yakuza 3 Episode, Danganronpa

This Month’s Game Club: Tomb Raider Legend, Tomb Raider: Anniversary, Tomb Raider Underworld, Tomb Raider (2013), Rise of the Tomb Raider

Next Month’s Game Club: Katamari Damacy

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

Music This Episode
Blown Away by Ken MacLeod
Tomb Raider Legend Theme by Troels Brun Folmann
Japan 7B by Troels Brun Folmann
Man for All Seasons by Robbie Williams
I Shall Rise by Karen O

Abnormal Mapping 58: The First Annual Soundtrack Showcase Part Deux30 Dec 201602:12:16

Welcome to the very end of the year, where we talk about the good, the bad, and the musical. Please enjoy over two hours of hot, banging audio content. Please enjoy the end of 2016. Please enjoy the end.

Next Month’s Game Club: Tomb Raider Legend, Tomb Raider Anniversary, Tomb Raider Underworld, Tomb Raider (2013), Rise of the Tomb Raider

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

The Best Game Music Choices of 2016!

Witcher 3 – Priscilla’s Song – Marcin Przbylowicz, Mikolai Stroinski
Wolf Among Us – Intro Theme – Jared Emerson Johnson
Stellaris – Gravitation Constant – Andreas Waldetoft
Super Mario World – Athletic Theme – Koji Kondo
Link to the Past – Dark World – Koji Kondo
Super Castlevania 4 – Simon’s Theme – Masanori Adachi, Taro Kudo
Majora’s Mask – Milk Bar – Koji Kondo
Majora’s Mask – Giants’ Theme – Koji Kondo
Sonic the Hedgehog – Starlight Zone – Masato Nakamura
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 – Metropolis – Masato Nakamura
Sonic CD – Stardust Speedway Zone (Bad Future ver) – Spencer Nilsen, David Young, Mark Crew
Sonic Adventure – Azure Blue World – Jun Senoue, Fumie Kumatani, Kenichi Tokoi, Masaru Setsumaru
Yoshi’s Woolly World – Clawdaddy Beach – Tomoya Tomita, Misaki Asada
Kirby: Planet Robobot – Float Islands (Blue Lab Area) – Hirokazu Ando
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze – Mangrove Cove – David Wise, Kenji Yamamoto
Picross 3D Round 2 – Track II – Megumi Ohara, Hirokazu Ando, Shogo Sakai
Super Hexagon – Courtesy – Chipzel
Streets of Rage 2 – Wave 131 – Yuzo Koshiro
Thumper – Road – Brian Gibson
Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst – The Shard – Solar Fields
No Man’s Sky – Blueprint for a Slow Machine – 65daysofstatic
Rez – Rock is Sponge – Joujouka
Stardew Valley – Summer (Tropicala) – ConcernedApe
Stardew Valley – Winter (Nocturne of Ice) – ConcernedApe
Kingdom Hearts – Hikari (Orchestral) – Yoko Shimomura
Auld Lang Syne – Frank Stanley

Backing Music

Rise of the Tomb Raider – Main Theme
Uncharted 4 – Nates Theme 4.0
Firewatch – Hidden Away
The Witness: Ambient Sound
Bullet Hell Monday: Stage One
Heart & Slash – I You
Chameleon Run – Trailer Theme
Oxenfree – Main Theme
The Last Guardian – Main Theme
Call of Duty Infinite Warfare – Menu Theme
Inside – Main Theme
Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Main Theme
Pokemon Sun – Welcome To Alola
Thumper – Tunnel
Rez Infinite – Stage 5
Super Hot – Menu Theme
Stardew Valley – Starwatcher

Abnormal Mapping 57: The First Annual Soundtrack Showcase Part The First16 Dec 201601:44:11

We’re here at the end of the year with a very special Christmas episode, where we celebrate not just the best music of the year, but the best music of the games we played this year. That’s a big list, so this is only half of it. Have a merry Christmas and see you in two weeks!

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

Tales from the Borderlanes – Retrograde – James Blake
The Witcher 2 – A Nearly Peaceful Place – Krzysztof Wierzynkiewicz
Fable – Oakvale – Russell Shaw
Uncharted – Small Beginnings – Greg Edmonson
Alex Kidd in Miracle World – Main Theme – Tokuhiko “BO” Uwabo
Link’s Awakening – Tal Tal Heights – Koji Kondo
Mega Man 3 – Magnet Man – Yasuaki Fujita
Castlevania – Wicked Child – Kinuyo Yamashita, Satoe Terashima
Castlevania 3 – Mad Forest – Yoshinori Sasaki
The Last of Us – The Last of Us – Gustavo Santaolalla
Alien Isolation – Lower Hospital – Christian Henson, Joe Henson, and Alexis Smith
Firewatch – Stay in Your Tower and Watch – Chris Remo
The Last of Us – Left Behind – Gustavo Santaolalla
FFIV – Within The Giant – Nobuo Uematsu
FF6 – Terra’s Theme – Nobuo Uematsu
Yakuza – Scarlet Scar – Hidenori Shoji
Digimon Cyber Sleuth – A Day in A Detective Agency – Masafumi Takada
Digimon Cyber Sleuth – PO-SI-TIVE Pop Girl – Masafumi Takada
Read Only Memories – Step Careful (Lexi’s Theme) – 2Mello
Heart & Slash – I You – Michael Chait
Freedom Planet – Fortune Night – Strife and Woofle
Flywrench – Speeds – Daedelus
Deadly Tower of Monsters – Lost in Space – Patricio Meneses

BACKING MUSIC FOR AWARDS

Dead Rising 3: Nick’s Theme
Uncharted 2: Nate’s Theme 2.0
Sonic 3: Carnival Night
Super Hot: Menu Theme
Battlefield 4: Main Theme
Metal Gear Rising: Rules of Nature
Dead Rising: Fly Routine
The Witcher: Dusk of a Northern Kingdom
Freedom Planet: Freedom Planet Theme
Sonic 2: Emerald Hill Zone
Final Fantasy IV: Theme of Love
Table Tennis Touch: N/A
Hitman Blood Money: Ave Maria
Pure Pool: Voce e Bonito
Majora’s Mask: Title Demo
New Vegas: Main Title
Mega Man 4: Brightman Stage
Kotor: Main Theme
Metroid Fusion: Press Start
Yoshi’s Woolly World: Bounceabout Woods
Dr Langeskov: Beethoven Symphony No. 7 – II: Allegretto (Columbia University Orchestra)
Castlevania Chronicles: Vampire Killer
The Room 2: Main Theme
Rise of the Tomb Raider: Main Theme
Tales From The Borderlands: Carfire on the Highway

Abnormal Mapping 56: Final Fantasy VI23 Nov 201602:02:22

Today we’re rejoined by regular guest and former co-host Destiny Sturdivant for a romp through one of the most storied RPGs of all time. Please enjoy, have a good holiday if you celebrate it, and try to be kind and healthy in these trying times.

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

Things Discussed: Animal Crossing: New Leaf, The Witcher, Thumper, NBA2k17, Presbo, Sombra, Final Fantasy VI, the US FF6 commercial, the horniest character in video games, best birthdays in video games, being in the new games bubble, Idle Thumbs 288 about Titanfall 2, The Great Goal Pole in Super Mario 3D World

This Month’s Game Club: Final Fantasy VI

Next Month: MUSIC and GOTY

Songs in This Episode
Omen by Nobuo Uematsu
Blown Away by Kevin MacLeod
Aria di Mezzo Carattere by Nobuo Uematsu
Coin Song by Nobuo Uematsu
Dancing Mad by Nobuo Uematsu

Abnormal Mapping 55: Jazzpunk27 Oct 201601:23:50

Polyblank, have a seat, we have much business to discuss.

Right. Basically, we need you to listen to this here episode of Abnormal Mapping. They played this videogame Jazzpunk, recorded all manner of thoughts and opinions on it, and for reasons unknown uploaded it to the internet on a publically identifiable server. Your mission is to find any compromising information, ie, anything rude about me, and extract it from the file.

As usual, here are your pills. Good luck, Polyblank.

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

Things discussed: Style Savvy: Fashion Forward, British film history, League of Legends, Sonic Adventure adventures, The Witcher 3, Picross 3D Round 2, FIFA 2017, Ultimate Fantastic Four, Snotgirl, Clean Room, Jazzpunk, Haunting Starring Polterguy, Best Train Levels, Retronauts, Slow Guns, M’s appearance on Badland Girls, Jackson’s anime podcast is not out yet, M’s blog All of the Wonder Woman

This Month’s Game: Jazzpunk
Next Month’s Game: Final Fantasy VI

Music This Month
Blown Away by Kevin MacLeod
Circumflex Apts by Luis Hernandez
Baba Yetu by Christopher Tin
Metroid Title Theme (Analogue Synth remake) by Luminist

Abnormal Mapping 54: Metroid Fusion29 Sep 201600:54:41

The Mappers bring you a short and sweet podcast this time covering a short and sweet game from Em’s past. We also talk anything but games, including the now regular comic book corner segment, where Jackson regales us with tales of the Marvel Ultimate Universe (RIP).

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

Things Discussed: Chameleon Run, Reigns, Roman Reigns, Comics Talk Round Two, Batman: Year One, The Ultimates, East of West, Attack on Titan (the Manga), Metroid Fusion

This Month’s Game Club: Metroid Fusion

Next Month’s Game Club: Jazzpunk

Music This Episode
Blown Away by Kevin McLeod
Main Deck by Minako Hamano Akira Fujiwara
The Truth Reigns by Jim Johnston

Abnormal Mapping 53: The Room Trilogy25 Aug 201601:17:18

The Mappers celebrate the long season of heat by refusing to turn their PCs on and instead delving into the wide world of mobile games. This is a secret place, full of dark mystery and a thousand alluring traps, but they will persevere. Teasing apart of a puzzle is just human nature. The soul of humanity abhors a secret. What could possibly go wrong?

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

Things Discussed: Comics, Atop The Fourth Wall, Assassin’s Creed IV, The Wolf Among Us, Style Savvy, Style Savvy’s British Localization, Jetpack Joyride, The Room, The Room Two, The Room Three, Friends At The Table, This Episode of Yu Gi Oh! Abridged

This Month’s Game Club: The Room 1, 2, and 3

Next Month’s Game Club: Metroid Fusion

Music This Episode
The Room Theme by David Newby
Jetpack Joyride Main Theme by Halfbrick
Dive Man by Minae Fujii

Abnormal Mapping 52: Binary Domain28 Jul 201601:31:45

We’re back with a new Abnormal Mapping, this time with the return (after four weeks) of the glorious Game Club! In the meantime, we deviate from Video Games to talk about all the things that aren’t, mostly TV and movies and our feelings about how episodic shows are broken and need rehabilitation. And then we talk about how games are broken and need rehabilitation. And then then we talk about how WE’RE broken and need rehabilitation. It’s a cycle that never ends, just like this podcast. Maybe.

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

Things Discussed: Tap Tycoon, Inside, Best Persona 4 Girl, Best Persona 3 Boy, Cowboy Bebop, Stranger Things, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Beyond, Alien: Resurrection, Binary Domain, Vanquish, Bionic Commando, Bayonetta, Tales from the Borderlands, Chappie, i Robot

This Month’s Game Club: Binary Domain

Next Month’s Game Club: The Room 1, 2, and 3

Music This Episode
Blown Away by Kevin MacLeod
Julia’s Song by Yoko Kanno
American Currency by Yoko Kanno
Robot Spider by Mitsuharu Fukuyama
Randy Dandy Oh by Sean Dagher, Nils Brown
Let’s Dance, Boys by Hiroshi Yamaguchi

Abnormal Mapping 51: Ctrl+F Sadboys13 Jul 201601:09:41

We said we’d do it, and we weren’t lying. This is our first free form episode, where we just sit and talk about games. Please let us know if it’s okay or not! Neither of us had a lot of confidence in our ability to carry a podcast like this, so we really need validation or feedback. Emails to podcast@abnormalmapping.com!

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

Things Discussed: #BREXIT, Otome vs Tity RPGs, Mega Man, Tony Hawk’s Final 900, The X-Games, blink-182’s New Album, Assassin’s Creed III, Mickey Mouse, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Link’s Awakening, Deads Rising 1-3, The Psycho (1960) of Video Games, Old Games, Analogue: A Hate Story, Hate Plus, Noby Noby Boy, Jackson’s Video Game Waifus

Music This Episode:
Blown Away by Kevin MacLeod
Connor’s Life by Lorne Balfe
Gone Guru by Lifeseeker

Abnormal Mapping 50: Knights of the Old Republic23 Jun 201601:51:38

The Abnormal Mapping podcast survives after its final episode to reach this, its milestone episode. It has been five decades since we began our humble journey, from our first game club of Space War through the Arcade Years and the Decade of Nintendo to this, our current configuration in our fiftieth annual episode. Blades will bleed. Shields will shatter. And we’ll travel back through our memories of a long long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, when the Younglings gathered around their vidscreens and peered into the void to ask the age old question:

“Master Skywalker, what company won E3?”

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

Things Discussed: E3, #SPIDERMANPS4, Spider-Man 2, Mass Effect, Watch Dogs 2’s Promotional Videos, FIFA 17: The Journey, West Bromwich Albion Football Club (The Baggies), David Baddiel, Miitomo, Dishonored II, The Tragedie of Shigeru Miyamoto, Dirt 3, Uncharted 3, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect, Too Many Notes, Kingdom Hearts, Yakuza 3’s tragic love story, The Sasuke Problem

Music This Episode:
Blown Away by Kevin MacLeod
Joy by Shoji Meguro
Football Crazy by Robin Hall and Jimmie Macgregor
Star Wars and the Revenge of the Sith by John Williams
Ballad of the Wind Fish by Minako Hamano and Kozue Ishikawa
Under Logic by Yuzo Koshiro

Abnormal Mapping 152: The Legend of Zelda - Majora's Mask10 Nov 2023

It’s Jackson here with a surprise episode of Abnormal Mapping! This was meant to be a bonus anniversary surprise but scheduling woes got it pushed back a week, but that’s not important: I finally played Majora’s Mask. And I’m joined by my good friend Crystal to talk about it.

Things Discussed: Majora’s Mask, most Zeldas, some Resident Evil.

Next Month’s Game Club: Grab Bag! 2023
BETON BRUTAL
The Red Lantern
Inertial Drift (+ DLC)
Silent Bomber

Music this Episode
Opening by Koji Kondo, Toru Minegishi
End Credits by Koji Kondo, Toru Minegishi

Abnormal Mapping 49: Hitman Blood Money27 May 201601:12:52

A dark day comes in the lives of any video games person. A day where the joy is gone, and the game pad falls to the floor in utter defeat. This is not true despair, though, for that instead can be found on the internet, where said intrepid gamespeople go when their play is through, only to find a cesspool of fear and hate and suffering. That is the true gauntlet of horrors, eroding all of us into shapeless forms of old dreams, spent energies, and a dim animal sense that the world shouldn’t so easily gobble up things that are fun and convert them into things that are burdens.

For three intrepid gamespeople, in one tiny little boat of a podcast, in an endless sea of trivial bullshit? That day is today.

Come for the end. Stay for the beginning. Listen as we render all good things to dust and say goodbye to a friend in this, the last episode of a podcast that was, and a discussion of a podcast that might yet be.

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

Things Discused: Lego Marvel Superheroes, Stardew Valley, Uncharted 2, Hitman: Blood Money, Become A Great Artist in 10 Seconds, Car on a Stick

This Month’s Game Club Game: Hitman: Blood Money

Next Month’s Game Club Game:

Music This Episode
Blown Away by Kevin MacLeod
Home Sweet Home by Keiichi Suzuki and Hirokazu Tanaka
Super Mario 2 Ending Theme by Koji Kondo
Ave Maria by Franz Schubert and Vienna Boys Choir.

Abnormal Mapping 48: Metal Gear Solid V13 May 201601:41:19

Just another day in a podcast without end…
ABNORMAL MAPPING

At last, the time has come. Just under a year ago, I started playing the Metal Gear games, and now, 42 articles and 5 podcasts later, the journey is complete. I hope you have enjoyed the ride, and if you’re new, then feel free to come along on this quest anytime. For this final episode, we’re discussing Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, the honest-swear-to-god-for-real final game in the Metal Gear Solid Trilogy. Come on in for a chat on trauma and colonialism, exploitation and capitalism, and most importatly, The Life and Times of Punished “Venom” Snake.

I am joined in this final episode by @woundww, a friend and writer for the Arcade Review – currently on Kickstarter! – many thanks to them for smart insights throughout.

Fair Warning: There are a couple audio issues in the podcast! Nothing too bad; a little echo, some birds in the background, but I thought I’d give a heads up nonetheless! Enjoy!

Things Discussed

Metals Gear 1 – V

Music This Episode
Heres To You by Joan Baez
Quiet’s Theme by Akihiro Honda, Ludvig Forrsell, and Stefanie Joosten
Nuclear by Mike Oldfield

Abnormal Mapping 47: Lili Child Of Geos29 Apr 201601:18:25

The Mappers take a turn away from video games this spring to talk about M’s experiences watching bad super-hero movies and how many of the wrong things they have learned from video games. With Marvel’s Civil War nearly upon us, the question becomes: how much premium currency do I have to spend to unlock single-mecha-glove Tony Stark in Marvel Heroes/Future Fight/Conquest of Champions/Disney Infinity 3.0? We then talk about how weird and hard it is to write kids entertainment, which I guess could be about Civil War but definitely isn’t because they don’t really make those movies for kids.

They make them for Loot Crate subscribers.

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

Things Discussed: Majora’s Mask 3DS, Miitomo, Stardew Valley, Trackmania Turbo, Chris Kanyon (RIP), Behind the Sausage returns, Thor 2, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Halo and N7 armor design, Injustice: Gods Among Us, Episode II: Attack of the Clones, the Jackie Chan movie of video games, Indian Jones and the Last Crusade, Lili: Child of Geos, Rebel FM

This Month’s Game Club: Lili: Child of Geos

Next Month’s Game Club: Hitman: Blood Money

Music This Episode
Blown Away by Kevin MacLeod
My Enemy by Hans Zimmer, The Magnificent Six, Pharrell Williams, Johnny Marr
Mill Hill theme by Unknown
The Wind Can be Still by ConcernedApe
Sandstorm by Darude

Abnormal Mapping 46: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots15 Apr 201601:23:30

War has changed. In the penultimate podcast, Jackson reaches the ultimate, final ending of the Metal Gear franchise, just over half-way through the number of Metal Gear games. Don’t worry if you don’t understand, we’re here to guide you through on this Nanomachine Odyssey!

My guest for this episode is Austin Howe, Freelancer around the internet and found often on Critical Switch. They’re also on twitter!

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

Things Discussed: Metals Gear 1-4, Peace Walker, Rising, John Cena’s Favourite Anime, Final Fantasy VIII

Music This Episode
Love Theme by Nobuko Toda & Jackie Presti
Father and Son by Harry Gregson-Williams
Metal Gear Saga by Harry Gregson-Williams

Abnormal Mapping 45: Final Fantasy IV25 Mar 201601:00:12

Welcome to another fantastic edition in the internet’s favourite Tella fan club podcast. This month, we’re counting down our top ten Tella moments, and we’re asking our audience the million dollar question: what would you do… with that much MP? Tella all your friends, and rate comment and subscribe!

EDITORS NOTE: we are not fans of Tella or his Moon Dwelling Counterpart and never shall be. The host responsible for implying such a thing has been reprimanded appropriately and regrets their words and deeds. Please enjoy this Tella-free discussion of Final Fantasy IV. Thank you.

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

Things Discussed: Ben Kuchera’s boob controller, booby Vita ad, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Jackson’s thoughts on Season 2 of The Walking Dead, 10000000, Hatsune Miku Project Mirai DX, David Letterman Miku, Wossy, Final Fantasy IV, Legends of Localization breakdown of FF4 script differences, Final Fantasy IV’s two different logos, M’s Final Fantasy XIII breakdown via LP

This Month’s Game Club: Final Fantasy IV

Next Month’s Game Club: Lili: Child of Geos

Music This Episode
Blown Away by Kevin McLeod
Main Theme of Final Fantasy IV by Nobuo Uematsu
Theme of Love by Nobuo Uematsu
Battle with the Four Fiends by Nobuo Uematsu

Abnormal Mapping 44: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater11 Mar 201601:43:38

Emerging from the wreckage of the Big Shell, Jackson travels through time to meet Cameron Kunzelman in the depths of the russian jungle, on a secret mission to stop a tank which can go really fast. In this third entry into the Metal Gear podcasts, Cameron and Jackson drill into the big questions: who does Snake kiss? Is it possible to make an anti-war War Game? And is Metal Gear even that ridiculous at all?

This is a fantastic episode and I hope you can take the time to give it a listen! Big, big thanks to Cameron for stopping by, you can find their writing at This Cage Is Worms, Paste and Twitter, their games here or on Steam, and a variety of Youtube fun stuff, well, on Youtube.

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

Things discussed: Metals Gear 1-5, Shigeru Miyamoto, Final Fantasy VII, Leigh Alexander on MGSV

Music This Episode
Snake Eater by Norihiko Hibino & Cynthia Harrell
Fanfare (FFVII) by Nobuo Uematsu
Way To Fall by Starsailor

Abnormal Mapping 43: Ninja Gaiden Black26 Feb 201601:21:40

do you know the nunchuck man
the nunchuck man, the nunchuck man
do you know the nunchuck man
who lives on ninja lane

Atop a transmission tower, a lone ninja stands and surveys his land. Once, he was a brutal man, a member of the Dragon Lineage who to whom death was second nature and who felt incomplete without a sword clasped in his hand. But with age, the man sought destruction no more, and looked to the future to build. One night, he met Isabelle, who gave him new purpose and – at last – a twinge of hope. For many long years he served as mayor of a beautiful town, and was wanting for nothing more and nothing left. Now, the town is in flames, and Isabelle in ashes. He feels the heat below boil his blood within, and clasps his sword for the last time. Once thought long dead, now vengeful blood runs through the veins of Young Ninja, Ryu Hayabusa…

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

Earlier this week, Jackson wrote an article for ZAM on Autism and The Witness! Check it out here.

Things Discussed: Animals Crossing, M’s farewell to their Animal Crossing: New Leaf town, what we wanted to be when we grew up, Ninja Gaiden Black, Buying Mature Games as Children, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Link to the Past, Buying an Xbox, Tony Hawk, Bayonetta, Ninja Gaiden II, Devil May Cry, Resident Evil, Bloodborne, Destiny, Dead or Alive The Movie, Screened, Beyond the Black Rainbow: The Metal Gear Solid V of Movies, Maybe?

This Month’s Game Club: Ninja Gaiden Black

Next Month’s Game Club: Final Fantasy IV

Music This Episode
Blown Away by Kevin McLeod
Kapp’n’s Song by Shohei Tsuchiya
Airship by Ryo Koike, Wakana Hara
Moat of Zarkhan by Ryo Koike, Wakana Hara
Busy Earnin’ by Jungle

Abnormal Mapping 42: Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty15 Feb 201601:53:18

After conquering the base of Shadow Moses, Jackson continued on to Big Shell, accompanied this time by none other than the fantastic Heather Alexandra! This episode is an in-depth critical discussion on Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, where we talk about (among other things) the game’s commentary on player and player character agency, the societal implications of The Patriots, and the varying quality of the members of that poor Emmerich Family.

I’m incredibly proud of this discussion, so if you’re at all interested in critical discussions on Metal Gear then you should definitely have a listen, I think it’s an intresting conversation about a really dense game. This episode couldn’t have been made without special guest Heather Alexandra, whose writing can be found on her website and you should also follow her on twitter!

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here+.

Things discussed: Metals Gear 1-5, Driving Off The Map, Metal Gear Rising

Music This Episode
Metal Gear Solid Main Theme by TAPPY & Harry Gregson-Williams
Fortune by Norihiko Hibino
Can’t Say Goodbye To Yesterday by Rika Muranaka, Carla White

Minimap: The Witness05 Feb 201600:16:50

In what will hopefully become a semi-regular fixture of short, impomptu podcasts, Em and Jackson sit down to have a chat about The Witness. There aren’t any spoilers for solutions here, and instead we get into our feelings on the cultural context of the game and its creator. Let us know if you enjoy the episode, and we’ll bring you some more when circumstances align!

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

Games Discussed
Braid, Not Myst, The Witness

Music Used
Blown Away by Kevin McLeod

Abnormal Mapping 41: Expand29 Jan 201601:19:02

The Mappers begin the new year with a new podcast about a new video game! There’s no such thing as too much new, as we delve deep into new characters, new shapes, and new possiblities with some new artwork and some new laughs. We also induct new things into the reading list. New. New new new. Please enjoy this new podcast, and maybe let friends (new ones, but old ones too I guess) know, so that they can be new listeners in this new era.

Meatloaf, Pure Pool, The Witcher, Animal Crossing, Shaven Wookie, Destiny, Mass Effect, Beyond: Two Souls, City of Heroes, Star Trek Online, The Sims, Saints Row, Miis, GTA IV, Sleeping Dogs, I am Become Rihanna, the Destroyer of Worlds, The Natural, Expand, When Two Best Friends Make Video Games, CS Go 1.7 Beta, games for children, the “Tears in the Rain” Blade Runner speech, Minecraft LPs, the car story from the Beastcast

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

Reading List Inductees:
Psychology of Video Games
Friends at the Table
Monster Factory

This Month’s Game Club Game: Expand

Next Month’s Game Club Game: Ninja Gaiden Black

Music This Episode
Blown Away by Kevin MacLeod
Mii Channel by Kazumi Totaka
Closure by Christopher Larkin
Slide by Etch Music
Busy Earnin’ by Jungle

Abnormal Mapping 151: Shenmue26 Oct 2023

We’ve been doing this for ten years! Damn, that’s a long time to be doing a monthly game club. But we’ll keep trucking into our second decade as we start a series that neither of us have played before. We’re joined by a guest, Shenmue superfan Dia Lacina, to talk about Ryo and his ridiculous quest for vengeance. Please enjoy this supersized episode, and thank you for however long you’ve been listening!

Thank you so much as always for listening, please rate and review the podcast, and tell all your friends on whatever social media you call home that they should check us out. See you next month!

Send us questions about our game clubs, other games, or gaming in general to abnormalmappingpodcast@gmail.com!

If you would like to support us please visit patreon.com/abnormalmapping for exclusive podcasts!

Things Discussed: a decade of excellence!, Retro Mystery Club Vol 1: The Ise-Shima Case, Shadow the Hedgehog: Reloaded, Half-Life, Journal Updated's episode on Half-Life, Digital Eclipse's new Wizardry remaster, The Lamplighters League, The Secret History of Mac Gaming book, Letterforms & Illusions, Drakmyth Castle, Forza Motorsport (2023), Game Tengoku CruisinMix Special, Jet Set Radio Future, Ys VIII, Shenmue, arcade games vs computer games, a history of being too online in games

Next Month’s Game Club: Grab Bag! 2023
BETON BRUTAL
The Red Lantern
Inertial Drift (+ DLC)
Silent Bomber

Music this Episode
Shenmue by Ryuji Iuchi
Working Man by Ryuji Iuchi
Nightfall by Ryuji Iuchi
Wish... (Vocal Version) by Yumiko Yamamoto

Timestamps
(00:00:00) - Segment 1: Games Played
(00:47:45) - Segment 2: Shenmue
(01:40:50) - Segment 3: Questions

Abnormal Mapping 40: Metal Gear Solid22 Jan 201601:39:26

With the completion of the Metal Gear diaries, Jackson is finally free from this franchise for the rest of time… or so they thought. Instead, they’ve pulled back in to a series of mid-month podcasts here on Abnormal Mapping where he talks to different guests about the various games in the series to highlight and explore multiple perspectives. For the first one, he’s joined by Corey Milne, an Irish Games Critic who wants nothing more than to hear Liquid Snake, with all the vocal might he can muster, utter the magic word: B R O T H E R

Corey’s writing can be found on his website and you can also follow him on twitter!

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

Things discussed: Metals Gear 1-4, Driving Off The Map, Spec Ops The Line

Music This Episode
The Best is Yet To Come by Rika Muranaka & Aoife Ní Fhearraigh
Encounter by TAPPY
Metal Gear Solid Theme by TAPPY

Abnormal Mapping 39: Earthbound30 Dec 201501:29:06

It’s the end of the year, and the Mappers have arrived a little late and a little weary to talk about the year that is now past and the year that lies ahead. 2015 was a mess of a year, like years often are, and in grand tradition we echew game of the year lists to bring you some memories, some japes, and some feelings. What lies ahead for the podcast? Within are the answers. Then, we turn to the games of yesteryear, for a deep conversation about one of the most highly regarded RPGs of all time, GameFAQs and Starman.net’s own … EarthBound.

A big thank you to friend of the show Tracie Mauk for providing the voice of the photographer in this episode.

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

This Month’s Game Club: EarthBound

Next Month’s Game Club: Expand

Things discussed: 2015 Spreadsheet, The Metal Gear Articles, Metals Gear, Zelda, Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy XIII-2, Final Fantasy VII, Ninja Gaiden Black, Yakuza 3, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, The Crew, Alphabear, Neko Atsume, Binding of Issac: Rebirth, Monster Hunter 4: Ultimate, Bloodborne, Etrian Odyssey, The Walking Dead: Season 2, Crusader Kings 2, EarthBound, the EarthBound guide

Music This Episode
Blown Away by Kevin MacLeod
Photographer’s Theme by Keiichi Suzuki and Hirokazu Tanaka
Your Name Please by Keiichi Suzuki and Hirokazu Tanaka
The Sky Runner by Keiichi Suzuki and Hirokazu Tanaka
Runaway Five Left the Building by Keiichi Suzuki and Hirokazu Tanaka
Onett Theme by Keiichi Suzuki and Hirokazu Tanaka

Abnormal Mapping 38: Beeswing27 Nov 201501:38:25

No jokes today, but our second annual Thanksgiving spectacular as we talk about what we’re thankful for and the stories we tell ourselves both in video games and not. That’s followed up by one of our most intimate game club games yet, and a promise for memories to come with next month’s classic game club to round out the year. Hope everyone had a good holiday, if you’re in the part of the world that celebrates it!

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

This Month’s Game Club: Beeswing

Next Month’s Game Club: EarthBound

Things discussed: Fallout, Bloodborne, Monster Factory, Mickey Mouse in the Castle of Illusion, The Sims, Twitch Plays Pokemon, Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival, Mario Lore, Final Fantasy VIII, Assassins’ Creed, Metal Gear Solid 2, Dino Crisis 3, Beeswing, Slacker, Abnormal Mapping continues their efforts to stop the sun, Bend it Like Beckham

Music This Episode
Blown Away by Kevin MacLeod
Beeswing Main Title by Jack King-Spooner*
Beeswing Music Box theme by Jack King-Spooner*
Hell to Up by Silverley Allen
TV Song by Jack King-Spooner*

*names and composer presumed given lack of information

Abnormal Mapping 37: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night30 Oct 201501:27:02

The Mappers take to the Halloween skies of a cursed night long long ago in a castle far far away to discuss the Greatest Video Game Ever Made … Super Bombad Racing.

Items Discussed: Going to GAME in 2015; Bloodborne; Errant Signal’s “Peak Star Wars“; Star Wars in video games (Battlefront 2015 and 2003, Shadows of the Empire, Lego, etc); Castlevania: Symphony of the Night; Leigh Alexander’s writing on SotN; Eva Problem’s “your asshole dad’s castle is back again“; Mike Joffe’s writing on SotN; Vania Mania; Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow; Destiny’s Pokemon Team: Espurr, Eevee, Squirtle, Jigglypuff, Snorlax; Matthew’s Pokemon Team: Wobbuffet, Arcanine, Breloom, Probopass, Victini, Kiefi; Metroid Prime; Donkey Kong Country; Mario 64; Mystical Ninja starring Goemon; Catherine; Star Wars books; Stephen King

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

This Month’s Game Club: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Next Month’s Game Club: Beeswing

Music This Episode
Blown Away by Kevin MacLeod
Dance of Gold by Michiru Yamane
Wood Carving Partita by Michiru Yamane
Rainbow Cemetery by Michiru Yamane
I Am The Wind by Michiru Yamane (feat. Cynthia Harrel)

Abnormal Mapping 36: Framed25 Sep 201501:39:12

A dark night in the bright city. Jackson dashes down an alleyway, a shadow looming behind them. They clutches the attache case close to they chest as they squeeze past a dumpster and into a space that would generously be described as snug for even the overfed cats that dine on the garbage nearby. Em’s close behind, reaching into the tiny space up to their elbow to reach after Jackson, unable to go any further. Growling, they climb up the dumpster, leaping onto the lowest rungs of the fire escape as they use the window to get into the hallway of the building Jackson is squeezing past. As they leap down the steps two at a time, they don’t see the slender cane extend between the bars of the railing until it’s too late, and their’s sprawled out on the cold tile floor of the foyer of the building.

Destiny emerges from behind the stairs, nudging Em’s arm aside with her cane as she steps outside, just to see Jackson emerge from the alleyway and stop to look behind him for pursuit. It’s a distraction they can ill afford. They don’t even feel the needle slip under their skin, they just feels himself sag against the wall as Destiny steps up beside them and removes the case from their now flaccid hands. “Thanks,” she says. “It’s game over for you, though.”

She turns to walk away, Jackson gasping trying to yell after her, their knees buckling as they falls back into the alleyway, and both of them disappear back into the bustle of the city.

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

This Month’s Game Club: Framed

October’s Game Club: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Games Discussed: The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Tomorrow Never Dies, Morning Mario Returns!, Civilization V, Three Beers Deep, our conversation with Lana Polansky, Framed, Hideo Kojima’s tweet, Angry Birds, Boom Blox, Doctor Who, Grim Fandango

Music This Episode
Blown Away by Kevin MacLeod
Baba Yetu by Christopher Tin
Framed Soundtrack by Adrian Moore
The Fragrance of Dark Coffee by Noriyuki Iwadare
Kapp’n’s Song by Shohei Tsuchiya

Abnormal Mapping 35: Paper Mario28 Aug 201501:41:30

Legends tell of a man, a quiet man, a man who jumps and a man who spins, a man who one day—this day—must rise and save us all. But that man was not available, and so it falls upon this paper plumber to embark upon a journey to the stars to save a princess oft and once more kidnapped. The Mappers embark upon this man’s journey through a twisted land of pun-laden characters and self-aware deconstruction, and arrive finally at the end of their quest with only the corpses of penguins to show for it*.

(*No penguins were harmed in the making of this podcast.)

As a companion piece to this episode, Em produced an zine for Paper Mario, featuring cool and cute paintings and sketches of the characters and the world of this month’s game! You can (and totally should, it’s really good!) pick it up at either itch.io or gumroad.

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

This Month’s Game Club: Paper Mario

September’s Game Club: Framed

Games Discussed: Papa’s Donuteria, Racially Diverse Kitchen 3, Metal Gear Solid, Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture, Roger Ebert’s Great Movies, Player 2, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl, The Minesweeper Wall, Paper Mario, Super Mario RPG: The Legend of the Seven Stars, Iwata Asks for Paper Mario Sticker Star, Upon Reflection, Retro Game Challenge, NES Remix, Shovel Knight, Attack of the Friday Monsters, Yakuza 3, Gone Home, Her Story

Music This Episode
Blown Away by Kevin MacLeod
Attack of the Koopa Bros. by Yuka Tsujiyoko & Taishi Senda
March Ahead by Yuka Tsujiyoko & Taishi Senda
Nice To Meet You by Yuka Tsujiyoko & Taishi Senda
Detective Mario by Yuka Tsujiyoko & Taishi Senda

Abnormal Mapping 34: I Don't Give ADAF21 Aug 201501:54:23

A few weeks back, Jackson participated in a panel for the Alternative Digital Arts Festival, run by Zolani Stewart, Austin Howe and Solon Scott. The folks behind ADAF have kindly given us permission to post the panel in our podcast feed for your enjoyment, if you missed it at the time!

It’s a panel on Games & Mental Illnesss, featuring Heather Alexandra, Zeiya Speed and Austin Howe. We discuss representation of Mental Illness, how our own experiences with Mental Illness inform our readings of games, and the responsibilities of portraying Mental Illness narratives for an audience. In addition to the panel, Em, Jackson and Destiny got together a few days later to record a short cast with follow up points and extra discussion.

It all comes together to form a really interesting 2 hour package of great discussion about games, Mental Illness, and the intersection of the two. Please enjoy!

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

August’s Game Club: Paper Mario

Games Discussed: Final Fantasy VIII, Depression Quest, Actual Sunlight, Metal Gear Solid 2, Metal Gear Solid 4, Hellblade, Kane & Lynch 2, Her Story, Silent Hill, The Static Speaks My Name, Cart Life

Music This Episode
Blown Away by Kevin MacLeod
Theme of Laura by Akira Yamaoka
Eternity by Nobuo Uematsu

Abnormal Mapping 33: Her Story24 Jul 201501:54:52

For the description please visit thebestgame.club

Abnormal Mapping 32: Final Fantasy VIII, Part Two10 Jul 201501:54:12

whenever we cast our pods
on the net, on our own
whenever we say our words
wishing they would be heard

we saw you smiling at us three
talking about final fantasy
so click the play button in the corner
of this tiny little bar

It is a glorious day, a day of celebration, of reflection, of escape. The Mappers sit together, Final Fantasy VIII behind them, fading away, knowing that they are free. They had been on a journey together, a journey through time and love and a needlessly labyrinthine battle system. And now, here on the other side, they know that they’ve forged in fire a part of themselves that they shall never lose.

But that is not all that today is. Today shall go down in history, remembered by all for at least the next week and a half. For today is… The Day The Batman Died.

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

July’s Game Club: Her Story

Games Discussed: Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, Metal Gear Solid 2 HD, NiER, Neko Atsume, Tamagotchi, Final Fantasy VIII, Austin’s Article on FF8 fan theories, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Persona 4 and 3, Batman: Arkham Knight

Music This Episode
Blown Away by Kevin MacLeod
Fisherman’s Horizon by Nobuo Uematsu
The Oath byNobuo Uematsu
Maybe I’m a Lion byNobuo Uematsu
Eyes on Me byNobuo Uematsu
Batman Theme by Neal Hefti

Abnormal Mapping 31: Tony Hawk's Project 826 Jun 201501:34:17

The Mappers celebrate the heat of summer with hot jams, hotter skating, and the blazing addition of a third host! The three of them get down to business with a long talk about the sun-drenched streets of sizzling pavement and blasting AC, cars in traffic and the endless parade of city construction. It’s open season on open worlds, a question of what open worlds mean for the formal structure of video games and level design. Then, we skitch behind a stunt car and grind our way through through the … well, the grind of the eighth endeavor of Mr. Anthony “Tony Hawk” Hawke, Esq., also known as Project 8. Friendships are tested, hands are contorted, and we come through the other side with a rousing defensive of youth and play by one of our number, who can never not ollie. He said see you later boy. He wasn’t good enough for us. But he deigns to take us on this Junetime adventure, as we grumble our way through this expansive romp.

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

NOTE: Jackson and Matthew clarified some of the points in this podcast in addendum article, which you can read here.

This Month’s Game Club: Tony Hawk’s Project 8

Next Month: Final Fantasy VIII: Part 2

Games Discussed: A New Host Appears, VaniaMania Returns with Castlevania 2, Jackson’s PS4 Adventure, Grand Theft Auto 4, Skyrim, Assassin’s Creed 2, World of Warcraft, Sleeping Dogs, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Red Dead Redemption, Yakuza 3, Saints Row the Third, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Burnout Paradise, Spider-Man 2, Batman: Arkhams Asylum and City, Tony Hawk’s Project 8, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, this Errant Signal video, skate 2, Crazy Taxi, Goldeneye.

Music This Episode
Blown Away by Kevin MacLeod
Punk Rock Girl by The Dead Milkmen
If You Must by Del The Funky Homosapien
All My Best Friends Are Metalheads by Less Than Jake
Superman by Goldfinger

Abnormal Mapping 150: Demon Turf17 Sep 2023

We celebrate a century and a half of excellence this month as we talk about 3D platforming as we take a thorough look at Demon Turf and talk about platforming for sickos, designing games around the expectations of Nintendo Polish, and what that means in terms of expectations and the war within ourselves to appraise a thing.

Demon Turf is really good, if you like 3D platformers, absolutely check it out, it’s something really special! Ambitious in a way few other games in this space are.

Thank you so much as always for listening, please rate and review the podcast, and tell all your friends on whatever social media you call home that they should check us out. See you next month!

Send us questions about our game clubs, other games, or gaming in general to abnormalmappingpodcast@gmail.com!

If you would like to support us please visit patreon.com/abnormalmapping for exclusive podcasts!

Things Discussed: Paradise Killer, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, The Misadventures of Tron Bonne, El Viento, Top Gear 2, Donkey Kong 94, getting into the weeds about Donkey Kong, Demon Turf, 3D Mario games, Spark 3, 3D Sonic games, Lunistice

Next Month’s Game Club: Shenmue

Music this Episode
Blown Away by Kevin MacLeod
Lets Get Porked Up by Fat Bard
Hot N Cold Beats by Fat Bard
Damps Sea Dog Shanty by Fat Bard

Timestamps
(00:00:00) - Segment 1: Games Played
(00:33:30) - Segment 2: Demon Turf
(01:24:45) - Segment 3: Questions

Abnormal Mapping 30: Splatoon12 Jun 201500:55:48

A silent choice rode the winds that day, its currents bearing only two words, of which only one could remain. “Squid,” it said, “or Kid?” Em snapped awake in sweats, knowing only one thing. This choice would not consume them, this choice would not win. And with one press of the enter key, they recruited their friend into their cause. They drove to their shops, and plugged in their Wii Us, and strove for a third option that they knew did not exist. They would be neither Squid nor Kid, and yet they would be both at the same time.

Em’s article about Mario 2 and Jackson’s endeavors is up and you can read it here!

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

Things Discussed: Darth Vader comic, Match 3 Podcast, The Giant Beastcast, Austin Walker hired at Giant Bomb, Less Than Jake, Linkin Park, Blink 182, Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Morning Mario, our episode on Link to the Past, the ending of Zardoz, POTUS in bicycle accident, Mambo No. 5, The Magic Number, One is the Loneliest Number, Just the Two of Us, Splatoon, Amiibo, WWE Pay Per Views, Halo, Fire Emblem, PT, Silent Hill, Resident Evil, Pre-Rendered Backgrounds, Asura’s Wrath, Street Fighter, Soul Calibur 2, Crazy Taxi, The Offspring.

June’s Game Club Game: Tony Hawk’s Project 8

Music This Episode
Blown Away by Kevin MacLeod
Final Boss (Squid Sisters Ver.) by Toru Minegishi, Shiho Fujii
Splatoon Commercial Music by Unknown

Abnormal Mapping 29: Attack of the Friday Monsters29 May 201501:26:08

We’re joined by our erstwhile third chair for an adventure in the sun-drenched days of a childhood none of us can remember, tearing around 70s Japan with our friends, our backpack fresh and our faces fresher as we make new friends and go on adventures with Attack of the Friday Monsters. There’s more in this episode, but I promise you none of it has anything to do with video games. I’d apologize, but I’m pretty sure 2/3 of our podcast members like it that way.

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

Things Discussed: Super Mario Bros 2., New Super Mario Bros 2., Spelunky, The Binding Of Issac, Scroll VG Issue 10, John Cena’s Giant Hands, Soulja Boy’s flag planted in game crit, Retronauts’ prog rock episode

This Month’s Game Club Game: Attack of the Friday Monsters: A Tokyo Tale

Next Month: Tony Hawk’s Project 8

Music This Episode
Blown Away by Kevin MacLeod
Character Select from SMB2 by Koji Kondo
Toll of Small Happiness by Hideki Sakamoto
Attack of the Friday Monsters Main Theme by Hideki Sakamoto

Abnormal Mapping 28: The King And W08 May 201501:13:39

It’s a very special Abnormal Mapping as we transform the podcast set into a late night studio and invite two of gaming’s most infamous bad boys for a nice sit down chat. The King of the Koopas takes center stage to talk his new book, the geopolitics of the mushroom kingdom, and his complex family life that keeps even a democratically elected monarch on his toes. Then, surprise guest Wario offers us the dirt on Nintendo’s business practices, a new way to look at the history of small games, and what exactly the #evilgames movement entails. It’s the first Abnormal Mapping panel show, and we hope that you enjoy these intimate looks at the lives of the villains we take for granted.

#evilgames

Thanks to Michaela Joffe, who set up these interviews for us. Our mic’s wouldn’t be singed by turtle fire without his contributions.

You can get our podcast on iTunes, on Stitcher, or you can download it directly by clicking here.

Next Game Club: Attack of the Friday Monsters!!

Music This Episode
Saturday Night Live Theme 1985-1994 by Howard Shore
Blown Away by Kevin MacLeod
Wario Dance Company by Naoko Mitome, Masanobu Matsunaga, Yasuhisa Baba
Gamecube Boot Music by Toru Minegishi
Ignorance is Bliss by Jellyfish

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