Sometimes the only way to show that you love is to complain and nitpick, and that's exactly what Caitlin and Mark do with Fire Emblem--a game they both enjoy but think is sometimes borderline absurd. 

What We're Playing

01:04 Mark: Tactical Breach Wizards (Suspicious Developments, 2024)

08:47 Caitlin: Risk of Rain 2: Seekers of the Storm (Gearbox, 2024)

13:14 GOOF: Metroid (R&D Team 1 and Intelligent Systems, 1986) and Metroid: Zero Mission (R&D Team 1, 2004)

25:10 Feature Game: Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Intelligent Systems, 2019)

SHOUT

50:51 Caitlin: Goblin Cleanup (Crisalu)

52:13 Mark: Capcom Fighting Collection 2 (Capcom)

Caitlin reciprocates this week by trying ICO, one of Mark's all-time favourites. They also both explore the coming-of-age story I Was a Teenage Exocolonist, in which you play as... well, let's not undermine the excellent title, shall we?

What We're Playing

00:53 Caitlin: Rabbit and Steel (mino_dev, 2024)

08:45 Mark: Valkyrie Profile (tri-Ace, 1999)

15:11 GOOF: ICO (Team ICO, 2001)

29:54 Feature Game: I Was a Teenage Exocolonist (Northway, 2022)

48:09 Spoilers Begin

56:32 Spoilers End

SHOUT

58:48 Caitlin: Fields of Mistria (NPC Studio)

59:24 Mark: Risk of Rain 2: Seekers of the Storm (Gearbox Software)

It is pretty depressing that Tango Gameworks' reward for the ebullient and excellent Hi-Fi Rush was closure, but we get our own closure by eulogizing their work. There's also much discussion of action RPGs this week, assuming a broad enough definition.

What We're Playing

01:02 Mark: Tales of Arise (Bandai Namco, 2021)

08:09 Caitlin: Diablo IV (Blizzard, 2023)

12:54 GOOF: Legacy of the Wizard (Nihon Falcom, 1989)

24:28 Feature Game: Hi-Fi Rush (Tango Gameworks, 2023)

SHOUT

48:27 Caitlin: Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred (Blizzard)

49:53 Mark: Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree (From Software)

We shot them up last week, and this week we are beating them up. One wonders what them did to deserve all this violence, but we move on to more pressing questions--such as, what ground food is best? And, how many mechanisms is too much, and how many light years past that is Astral Ascent? 

NB: The name of that weird creature in Golden Axe and Altered Beast is a "chicken leg." 

What We're Playing

00:55 Caitlin: Helldivers 2 (Arrowhead, 2024)

06:00 Mark: Streets of Rage 4 (Dotemu, 2020)

11:48 GOOF: Alien vs. Predator (Capcom, 1994)

19:37 Feature Game: Astral Ascent (Hibernia Workshop, 2023)

SHOUT

53:52 Caitlin: Dragon Age: The Veilguard (BioWare)

56:41 Mark: Metal Slug Tactics (SNK)

Mark is some sort of degenerate killjoy who doesn't like Tolkien much, but can Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor win him over regardless? Caitlin's death-march through all the Final Fantasy games continues, as does the mining of classic titles from the NES to fuel GOOF.

What We're Playing

01:04 Caitlin: Final Fantasy II (Square)

07:26 Mark: Have a Nice Death (Magic Design Studios)

12 :17 GOOF: Dragon Spirit: The New Legend (Namco)

23 :53 Feature Game: Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (Monolith)

44:23 Spoilers begin

50:04 Spoilers end

SHOUT

51:57 Caitlin: LEGO Horizon Adventures (Guerilla)

53:39 Mark: Dreamcast Capcom VS SNK 2 in English and Terry Bogard in Street Fighter 6 (Capcom and kind of SNK)

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice tackles the issue of having a mentally ill protagonist head-on. How successful is the portrayal? And how good is the game itself? And perhaps most importantly, can we all get on the same page and acknowledge that Cain from Final Fantasy II (or IV, for you purists) was a massive douche?

What We're Playing

01:12 Caitlin: Hellcard (Thing Trunk, 2024)

05:14 Mark: Cult of the Lamb (Massive Monster, 2022)

12:07 GOOF: Final Fantasy (yes, the FIRST one) (Square, 1987)

26:58 Feature Game: Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice (Ninja Theory, 2017)

52:42 Spoilers begin

1:06:14 Spoilers end

SHOUT

1:06:46 Caitlin: Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail (Square Enix)

1:08:20 Mark: Hades II (Supergiant)

Caitlin said Valkyrie Profile was one of her top 10 games of all time, so let's take a deeper look! Mark reciprocates by listing his own top 10.

What We're Playing

00:41 Mark: Earth Defense Force 4.1 (Sandlot, 2016)

11:15 Caitlin: Flock (Hollow Ponds and Richard Hogg, 2024)

17:24 GOOF: Valkyrie Profile (tri-Ace, 1999)

35:35 Mark's Top 10 Games of All Time

36:07 Honourable Mentions

Destiny/Destiny 2

Dragon Age 2

Dragon Age: Inquisition

Risk of Rain Returns

44:47 Top 10

Star Control II: The Ur-Quan Masters

Vagrant Story

ICO

Silent Hill 2

Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup

Mass Effect

The King of Fighters XIII

Spec Ops: The Line

Persona V Royal

Hades

1:11:20 SHOUT: Dragon Age: The Veilguard (BioWare)

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a strange and unexpected offering, an odd delight amongs a sea of derivative games. Caitlin then reveals her gaming autobiography, her top games of all time.

What We're Playing

02:03 Caitlin: Slay the Spire (Mega Crit, 2019)

06:00 Mark: Pokémon Pinball (HAL Laboratory, 1999)

Tech Dweeb's 10 Must Play Retro Pinball Games: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2X1tC9DjjQ&pp=ygUSdGVjaCBkd2VlYiBwaW5iYWxs

13:15 Feature Game: Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess (Capcom, 2024)

Special Bunraku Performance: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=124HrR-M0iQ

27:19 Caitlin's Top 10 Games of All Time

28:30 Honourable Mentions

Suikoden 

Undertale

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Final Fantasy XVI

33:43 Top 10

Chrono Trigger

Baldur's Gate 3

Hades

Valkyrie Profile

Mass Effect

Shadow of the Colossus

Dragon Age: Origins

Final Fantasy VI

The Witcher 3

Red Dead Redemption 2

SHOUT

58:44 Caitlin: Slay the Spire 2 (Mega Crit)

59:33 Metaphor: ReFantazio (Studio Zero)

Quintet released some bangers on the SNES: ActRaiser, Soul Blazer, and Illusion of Gaia. How does their last one--Terranigma--measure up? And how much chill do you want in your journalism? Or, for that matter, your video games? Caitlin and Mark talk about Times & Galaxy.

What We're Playing

01:04 Mark: TMNT: Splintered Fate (Super Evil Megacorp, 2024)

07:30 Caitlin: Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail (Square Enix, 2024)

12:43 GOOF: Terranigma (Quintet, 1995)

26:51 Feature Game: Times & Galaxy (Copychaser Games, 2024)

37:55 Spoilers Begin

42:44 Spoilers End

SHOUT

49:37 Caitlin: Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (Retro Studios)

51:25 Mark: DNF Duel (Arc System Works)

If you had told us that we would be loving speedrunning in a first-person platformer, i.e. Neon White, we would not have believed you. If you had told us that Caitlin would still be knee-deep in Unicorn Overlord and underimpressed by one of Mark's all-time favourites, we would have easily believed you. 

What We're Playing

03:19 Caitlin: Unicorn Overlord (Vanillaware, 2024)

04:48 Mark: Journey to the Savage Planet (Typhoon Studios, 2020)

GROB commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESsRiSbIuKM&pp=ygUham91cm5leSB0byB0aGUgc2F2YWdlIHBsYW5ldCBncm9i

10:56 GOOF: Prince of Persia (Broderbund, 1989)

24:30 Feature Game: Neon White (Angel Matrix, 2022)

SHOUT

55:17 Caitlin: The Garden Path (carrotcake)

56:36 Mark: Whisker Squadron: Survivor (Flippfly)

Mark has many questions about many things Final Fantasy, and Caitlin is well-equipped to oblige--and Mark is able to recipocrate with a capsule biography of Firebrand, aka Red Arremer. The feature game is Firework, a horror/mystery story from China. Several things are mispronounced.

What We're Playing

00:46 Caitlin: Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail (Square Enix, 2024)

11:45 SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos (SNK Playmore, 2003)

16:58 Demon's Crest (Capcom, 1994)

30:28 Feature Game: Firework (Shiying Studio, 2021)

49:28 Spoilers Begin

1:03:29 Spoilers End

SHOUT

1:04:01 Caitlin: Ace Attorney Investigations Collection (Capcom)

1:05:21 Mark: Garou: City of the Wolves (SNK)

We dip our toes into mobile games this week with a Pokémon sleep tracker and the latest from MiHoYo. The Quintet appreciation continues with Illusion of Gaia, and we check out Unicorn Overlord with some mixed results.

What We're Playing

01:35 Caitlin: Pokémon Sleep (Select Button, 2023)

07:01 Zenless Zone Zero (MiHoYo, 2024)

16:57 GOOF: Illusion of Gaia (Quintet, 1994)

27:47 Feature Game: Unicorn Overlord (Vanillaware, 2024)

SHOUT

50:14 Caitlin: Monster Hunter Wilds (Capcom)

52:14 Mark: Rogue Prince of Persia (Evil Empire)

Whether The Lost Crown is your first Prince of Persia (as it is for Caitlin) or not (as it is for Mark), it's undeniably an influential series of platformers with combat sequences. We'll see how well this latest offering fares. Plus, Mark kind of sort of not really tries Final Fantasy XIV! Maybe. Almost.

What We're Playing

01:21 Caitlin: Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail (Square Enix, 2024)

09:02 Mark: Vanquish (Platinum, 2010)

18:39 GOOF: ActRaiser (Quintet, 1991)

31:09 Feature Game: Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (Ubisoft, 2024)

SHOUT

51:42 Caitlin: Timespinner 2: Unwoven Dream (Lunar Ray)

52:30 Mark: Tactical Breach Wizards (Suspicious Developments)

Survival game Pacific Drive has crafting and personality, but we'll see whether that's a marriage that works, especially given the scant guidance you receive in navigating its world. Conversely, Pokémon Ranger offers far too much guidance for its own good.

What We're Playing

01:02 Mark: Fight'n Rage (sebagamesdev, 2017)

08:09 Caitlin: Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail (Square Enix, 2024)

19:23 GOOF: Pokémon Ranger (HAL Laboratory, 2006)

29:08 Feature Game: Pacific Drive (Ironwood Studios, 2024)

SHOUT

52:03 Caitlin: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (Nintendo)

54:00 Mark: Caves of Qud (Freehold)

We finally show Nintendo some love in the form of The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, and get blown away (in many ways) by Tactical Breach Wizards.

What We're Playing

01:02 Caitlin: Rabbit and Steel (mino_dev, 2024)

08:45 Mark: The Ninja Warriors (Natsume, 1994)

13:24 GOOF: The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (Flagship and Capcom, 2004)

TechDweeb's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TechDweeb

30:19 Feature Game: Tactical Breach Wizards (Suspicious Developments, 2024)

SHOUT

49:58 Mark: Halls of Torment (Chasing Carrots)

52:19 Caitlin: Orcs Must Die: Deathtrap (Robot Entertainment)

All shooting, all the time! Both Rabbit and Steel and Undertale leverage shoot-em-up elements in novel ways, and they form a natural set with the punishing Ikaruga.

What We're Playing

00:57 Caitlin: Core Keeper (Pugstorm, 2024)

08:19 Mark: Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Intelligent Systems, 2019)

13:49 Mark: Rabbit and Steel (mino_dev, 2024)

18:00 Caitlin: Risk of Rain 2: Seekers of the Storm (Gearbox, 2024)

21:21 GOOF: Ikaruga (Treasure, 2001)

30:05 Feature Game: Undertale (Toby Fox, 2015)

SHOUT

52:27 Caitlin: Dragon Age: The Veilguard (BioWare)

53:11 Mark: Iron Meat (Retroware)

It's Halloween here at AMBFAD, and so we are going to discuss some horror games! The retro run-and-gun Zombies Ate My Neighbors hearkens back to a halcyon period of LucasArts, and Still Wakes the Deep will hit you right in the feels.  

What We're Playing

01:05 Caitlin: Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred (Blizzard Entertainment, 2024)

03:51 Caitlin: Rabbit and Steel (mino_dev, 2024)

08:12 Mark: rRootage (ABA Games, 2003)

https://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~cs8k-cyu/

15:27 GOOF: Zombies Ate My Neighbors (LucasArts, 1993)

24:30 Feature Game: Still Wakes the Deep (Chinese Room, 2024)

SHOUT

55:12 Caitlin: Glyphica: Typing Survival (aliasBLACK)

57:40 Mark: NERF Destiny 2 Ace of Spades

Caitlin has no experience with the Persona formula, whereas Mark is a longtime Persona stan--so we have you covered for Metaphor: ReFantazio. Caitlin's blood vendetta against tutorials reaches the game early Blizzard game Blackthorne, and no NPCs will survive her determination to learn as she goes.

What We're Playing

01:08 Mark: Inscryption (Daniel Mullins Games, 2021)

13:07 Caitlin: Neko Atsume 2 (Hit-Point, 2024)

17:34 GOOF: Blackthorne (Blizzard Entertainment, 1994)

31:04 Feature Game: Metaphor: ReFantazio (Studio Zero, 2024)

SHOUT

58:27 Mark: Exodus (Archetype Entertainment)

It's a theme week here at AMBFAD, and we're doing grimy science fiction. From beneath the ground in Fallout to beyond the stars with the Void Bastards, we have you covered--with apologies for the salty language.

What We're Playing

01:14 Mark: Rabbit and Steel (mino_dev, 2024)

02:23 Mark: Street Fighter 6 (Capcom, 2023)

12:20 Caitlin: Core Keeper (Pugstorm, 2024)

20:34 GOOF: Fallout (Interplay, 1997)

35:33 Feature Game: Void Bastards (Blue Manchu, 2019)

SHOUT

56:30 Caitlin: Fable (Playground Games)

58:56 Mark: Windblown (Motion Twin)

Mark continues Caitlin's forced education on the Neo Geo with Shock Troopers, an underappreciated run and gun. They then discuss Death and Taxes, a narrative game with some strange framing choices.

WE INTERRUPT YOUR EPISODE NOTES WITH URGENT HORSE NEWS: A horse game is incoming! 

What We're Playing

01:01 Caitlin: Fire Emblem: Three Houses

07:51 Caitlin: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

09:40 Mark: Halls of Torment (Casing Carrots, 2024)

17:58 GOOF: Shock Troopers (Saurus, 1997)

28:14 Feature Game: Death and Taxes (Placeholder Gameworks, 2020)

44:19 Spoilers Begin

51:25 Spoilers End

SHOUT

52:43 Mark: Windstorm: Legend of the Khiimori (Aesir Interactive and NightinGames)

One ought never to overlook a chance to extol the virtues of Terry Bogard, so we discuss the classic Garou: Mark of the Wolves. In anticipation of the upcoming Veilguard, we touch on all the main Dragon Age games released thus far.

What We're Playing

00:50 Mark: Tactical Breach Wizards (Suspicious Developments, 2024)

02:02 Mark: Anomaly Agent (Phew Phew, 2024)

10:33 Caitlin: Risk of Rain 2 (Hopoo Games, 2020)

21:39 GOOF: Garou: Mark of the Wolves (SNK, 1999)

32:35 Feature Game: Dragon Age (BioWare, 2009-)

SHOUT

1:18:39 Caitlin: Neva (Nomada Studio)

More Dragon Age! Caitlin and Mark have very different takeaways from The Veilguard. We also stress the difference between dwarves and vikings in The Last Vikings, another pre-WoW Blizzard offering.

What We're Playing

01:10 Caitlin: A Tower Full of Cats, and An Arcade Full of Cats (Devcats, 2022-2024)

05:21 Mark: Persona 5 Tactika (P-Studio, 2023)

10:36 Mark: Metal Slug Tactics (Leikir Studio, 2024)

GOOF: The Lost Vikings (Blizzard, 1993)

30:35 Feature Game: Dragon Age: The Veilguard (BioWare, 2024)

SHOUT

1:10:43 Caitlin: Path of Exile 2 (Grinding Gear Games)

1:12:11 Mark: Mass Effect 5 (BioWare)

Thank goodness you're here to join us as we discuss Thank Goodness You're Here! It's all cats and meat pies this week, though thankfully not in combination.

What We're Playing

02:01 Caitlin: A Building Full of Cats, A Tower Full of Cats, and A Castle Full of Cats (Devcats, 2022-2024)

14:53 Mark: Destiny 2 (Bungie, 2017)

27:58 GOOF: Road Rash (Electronic Arts, 1991)

38:05 Feature Game: Thank Goodness You're Here (Coal Supper, 2024)

SHOUT

54:58 Caitlin: A Shelter Full of Cats (Devcats)

55:48 Mark: Retroid Pocket 5 (Retroid)

Caitlin has made her enthusiasm for cats and horses well-known, but let it not be forgotten that she is fond of all manner of other animals as well. It's all kinds of fauna this week, as we revisit The Lion King and look at indie darling Animal Well.

What We're Playing

01:14 Caitlin: Powerwash Simulator (FuturLab, 2022)

11:20 Mark: Inscyption (Daniel Mullins Games, 2021)

13:46 Mark: PortMaster, especially Bleed (Ian Campbell, 2013)

24:20 GOOF: The Lion King (Westwood Studios, 1994)

36:15 Feature Game: Animal Well (Shared Memory, 2024)

SHOUT

53:17 Mark: The Void Rains Upon Her Heart (Veyeral)

55:40 Caitlin: Barkour (VARSAV Game Studios)

The N64 continues its redemption tour with F-Zero X, and South of Midnight is a strange mix of the novel and the derivative.

What We're Playing

00:50 Caitlin: R.E.P.O. (semiwork, 2025)

11:55 Mark: Astral Ascent (Hibernian Workshop, 2023)

19:01 GOOF: F-Zero X (Nintendo EAD, 1998)

34:34 Feature Game: South of Midnight (Compulsion Games, 2025)

SHOUT

1:00:23 Caitlin: Date Everything (Sassy Chap Games) 

1:01:43 Mark: Ayaneo Pocket ACE (Ayaneo)

We navigate the twisting labyrinths of the human mind in Psychonauts, as well as the twisting labyrinths of the puzzling mansion(s) of Blue Prince.

What We're Playing

01:27 Mark: It Takes Two (Hazelight, 2021)

13:03 Caitlin: R.E.P.O. (semiwork, 2025)

19:21 GOOF: Psychonauts (Double Fine Productions, 2005)

38:37 Feature Game: Blue Prince (Dogubomb, 2025)

SHOUT

1:04:46 Caitlin and Mark: Malys (Summerfall Studios)

We look back at Namco's other fighting game series, Soul Calibur. Also, in non-fighting games, the best horse game of all time, says Caitlin of Red Dead Redemption 2. 

What We're Playing

00:59 Mark: Samurai Shodown, Samurai Shodown II, Samurai Shodown IV (SNK, 2019, 1994, 1996)

Matt McMuscles' excellent Samurai Shodown history: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yQoCrZBfIo

13:11 Caitlin: Monster Hunter Wilds Beta (Capcom, 2025)

15:52 Caitlin: The Roottrees are Dead (Robin Ward, 2025)

23:26 GOOF: Soul Calibur II (Namco, 2002)

37:58 Feature Game: Red Dead Redemption 2 (Rockstar, 2018)

SHOUT

1:09:57 Caitlin and Mark: Saros (Housemarque)

We return to the humble beginnings of AMBFAD by discussing the Hellblade sequel, and we further mine Caitlin's childhood with Ch-Ch-Ch-Chip and Dale.

What We're Playing

00:52 Caitlin: Monster Hunter: Wilds BETA (Capcom, 2025)

10:10 Mark: Helldivers II (Arrowhead, 2024)

13:10 Mark: Eternal Strands (Yellow Brick Games, 2025)

21:02 GOOF: Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers (Capcom, 1990)

30:55 Feature Game: Hellblade II: Senua's Saga (Ninja Theory, 2024)

SHOUT

55:49 Caitlin: Monster Hunter: Wilds (Capcom)

56:07 Mark: Sworn (Windwalk Games)

Fighting games! Castlevania! Crawling over monsters in Dragon's Dogma 2! That pretty much covers all of human endeavors, really.

What We're Playing

01:06 Mark: Dead or Alive 6 (Koei Tecmo, 2019)

04:38 Mark: Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. (Sega AM2, 2025)

13:08 Caitlin: Void Crew (Hutlihut Games,, 2024)

24:16 GOOF: Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (Konami, 2003)

25:51 Feature Game: Dragon's Dogma II (Capcom, 2025)

SHOUT

1:01:34 Caitlin abandons all hope and optimism

1:01:36 Mark: Avowed (Obsidian)

Lots of talk of anime, cats, and anime-related cats this week! We take the Little Kitty to the Big City after we shoot so many things in Gunstar Heroes.

What We're Playing

01:53 Mark: Blade Chimera (Team Ladybug, 2025)

09:21 Caitlin: Inkbound (Shiny Shoe, 2024)

18:07 GOOF: Gunstar Heroes (Treasure, 1993)

25:51 Feature Game: Little Kitty, Big City (Double Dagger Studios, 2024)

SHOUT

50:40 Caitlin: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive)

53:04 Mark: Eternal Strands (Yellow Brick Studios)

We talk about early indie darling Hyper Light Drifter, as well as Secret of Evermore from Caitlin's childhood. More light Sluggish Heavy Drifter, amirite?

What We're Playing

00:56 Caitlin: Metaphor: ReFantazio (Atlus, 2024)

09:40 Mark: 20 Minutes till Dawn (flanne, 2023)

16:38 Mark: Rayman Legends (Ubisoft, 2013)

22:18 GOOF: Secret of Evermore (Square, 1995)

35:05 Feature Game: Hyper Light Drifter (Heart Machine, 2016)

SHOUT

53:33 Caitlin: Stage Fright (Ghost Town Games)

55:08 Mark: Valkyrie Squad: Siege Breakers (Digital Crafters)

Having been emancipated from duties to the Veilguard, we return to Metaphor: ReFantazio. We also headbutt Caitlin's childhood with Bonk's Adventure.

What We're Playing

00:57 Mark: [REDACTED] (Striking Distance Studios, 2024)

04:30 Mark: Gain Ground (Sega, 1988, 1991, and 1992)

12:22 Caitlin: Helldivers 2 (Arrowhead, 2024)

14:38 Caitlin: Fae Farm (Phoenix Labs, 2023)

19:34 GOOF: Bonk's Aventure (Atlus, 1989)

33:31 Feature Game: Metaphor: ReFantazio (Atlus, 2024)

SHOUT

57:38 Caitlin: Dave the Diver: In the Jungle (MINTROCKET)

58:46 Mark: MagicX 3:2 clamshell handheld

Yet another unintentional theme this week, as we discuss troubled law enforcement officers in both Die Hard Trilogy for the good ol' PSX as well as Disco Elysium.

What We're Playing

02:00 Caitlin: Fae Farm (Phoenix Labs, 2023)

11:35 Mark: [REDACTED] (Striking Distance Studios, 2024)

21:36 GOOF: Die Hard Trilogy (Probe Entertainment, 1996)

38:04 Feature Game: Disco Elysium (ZA/UM, 2019)

SHOUT

1:05:59 Caitlin: The Outer Worlds 2 (Obsidian)

1:06:57 Mark: Double Dragon Revive (Yuke's)

We explore corrupt afterlife schemes with Grim Fandango and To the Moon! Where's a principled psychopomp when you need one?

What We're Playing

00:59 Mark: Dragon Age: The Veilguard (BioWare, 2024)

05:25 Mark: Crypt Custodian (Kyle Thompson, 2024)

13:23 Caitlin: Infinity Nikki (Papergames, 2024)

22:15 GOOF: Grim Fandango (LucasArts, 1998) and its Remaster (Double Fine, 2015)

36:18 Feature Game: To the Moon (Freebird, 2011)

1:01:15 Spoilers Begin

1:22:02 Spoilers End

SHOUT

1:22:30 Caitlin: Split Fiction (Hazelight Studios)

1:23:36 Mark: OnexPlayer G1 and OnexSugar (OneNotebook)

Green Hat Adventure Boy returns for Ocarina of Time, this time with 100% more horse. Mark continues to get his Rogue-lite on with Ravenswatch.

What We're Playing

01:15 Caitlin: Factorio (Wube Software, 2020)

10:55 Mark: Dead Cells (Evil Empire and Motion Twin, 2018)

19:30 GOOF: The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time (Nintendo EAD, 1998)

35:27 Feature Game: Ravenswatch (Passtech, 2024)

SHOUT

52:58 Caitlin: Dispatch (AdHoc Studio)

54:38 Mark: The King of Fighters XIII: Global Match (SNK)

We wade into a genuine retro gaming controversy. Two Aladdins enter, one Aladdin leaves! Caitlin is thrown into the deep end for her first roguelike Caves of Qud, and in a sad continuation of recent AMDFAD trends, the tutorial is lacking.

What We're Playing

01:20 Mark: Ruiner (Reikon, 2017)

09:26 Caitlin: Uncle Chop's Rocket Shop (Beard Envy, 2024)

21:30 GOOF: Aladdin (Virgin Interactive, 1993) and Aladdin (Capcom, 1993)

37:53 Feature Game: Caves of Qud (Freehold Games, 2024)

Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup: https://crawl.develz.org/

SHOUT

1:01:40 Caitlin: The Witcher 4 (CD Projekt Red)

1:04:07 Mark: Rabbit & Steel DLC (mino_dev)

Mark's alleged contrarian status is tested by the ambitious, legendary Chrono Trigger and the humble, overlooked Call of Juarez: Gunslinger.

What We're Playing

01:04 Caitlin: LEGO Super Mario Nintendo Entertainment System (LEGO, 2020)

09:28 Mark: Lonestar (Math Tide, 2025)

18:13 GOOF: Chrono Trigger (Square, 1995)

38:08 Feature Game: Call of Juarez: Gunslinger (Techland, 2013)

SHOUT

54:00 Caitlin: LUNAR Remastered Collection (GAME ARTS) 

55:02 Mark: Oblivion Remastered (Bethesda)

Heavy questions of metaphysics and cosmology abound. Before Your Eyes is about the afterlife, Goodboy Galaxy questions whether a dog can pet itself, and Wing Commander: Privateer might be one of the circles of Hell.

What We're Playing

03:15 Caitlin: Helldivers II (Arrowhead, 2024)

06:01 Caitlin: Luma Island (Feel Free Games, 2024)

07:58 Mark: Dragon Age: The Veilguard (BioWare, 2024)

09:25 Mark: Prince of Persia: The Warrior Within (Ubisoft Montreal, 2004)

11:05 Mark: Shogun Showdown (Roboatino, 2024)

16:37 GOOF: Wing Commander: Privateer (Origin Systems, 1993)

30:51 Feature Game: Before Your Eyes (GoodbyeWorld Games, 2021)

SHOUT

57:44 Caitlin: Cairn (The Game Bakers)

1:00:01 Mark: Evercade and SNK

Caitlin's Final Fantasy history tour continues! We then turn to Mark's childhood Disney game, The Magical Quest starring Mickey Mouse. Slander may ensue. We finally test the limits of procedural generation with Wildermyth, a tactical RPG that promises satisfying randomly-generated narrative.

What We're Playing

00:55 Mark: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (Ubisoft Montreal, 2003)

10:33 Caitlin: Final Fantasy II (Square, 1988)

15:05 Caitlin: Luma Island (Feel Free Games, 2024)

24:08 GOOF: The Magical Quest starring Mickey Mouse (Capcom, 1992)

36:15 Feature Game: Wildermyth (Worldwalker Games, 2019)

SHOUT

59:50 Caitlin: Marry a Deep One: Innsmouth Simulator (simulinati)

1:00:59 Mark: Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. (Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio)

Shockers abound this week. The World Ends with You is not the title of a Bond movie, it's a great DS game and a mediocre Switch game--and Pentiment is not just a chance to show off your history minor, it's also a murder mystery.

What We're Playing

01:02 Caitlin: Cats Hidden in Germany, Italy, and China (Travellin Cats, 2023-2024

04:28 Caitlin: Luma Island (Feel Free Games, 2024)

04:47 Caitlin: Inscryption (Daniel Mullins Games, 2021)

05:35 Mark: Exit the Gungeon (Dodge Roll, 2020)

15:23 GOOF: The World Ends with You (Square Enix, 2007)

28:45 Feature Game: Pentiment (Obsidian, 2022)

Mild spoilers begin: 38:26

Mild spoilers end: 45:20

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52:48 Caitlin: Critter Café (Sumo Digital)

53:44 Mark: Dungeon Clawler (Stray Fawn Studio)

We play Sifu, the very daunting beat-em-up game, as well as the beloved Beyond Good and Evil.

Not only did Sifu make Caitlin play a tutorial, it was perhaps the greatest disservice imaginable to a superb game. One could say the same about Beyond Good and Evil with respect to Friedrich Nietzsche, but he doesn't deserve any better.

What We're Playing

00:41 Mark: Karate Survivor (Alawar, 2024)

10:08 Caitlin: A Park Full of Cats (Devcats, 2024)

10:47 Caitlin: Tokyo Jungle (Crispy's!, 2012)

20:41 GOOF: Beyond Good and Evil (Ubisoft, 2003)

34:08 Feature Game: Sifu (Sloclap, 2022)

Excellent Sifu guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeVl3wl1Esg&t=1174s

SHOUT

51:47 Mark: Acts of Blood (Eksil Team)

52:44 Caitlin: Strange Antiquities (Bad Viking)

Nothing but sprites killing hordes of enemies this week, with Guardian Heroes and The Last Spell. Also hardware digressions with Saturn, RetroTink, and video switches.

What We're Playing

02:00 Mark: Rogue Loops (Fubu Games, 2025)

06:30 Mark: Capcom vs. SNK 2 (Capcom, 2001)

12:12 Caitlin: Look Outside (Francis Coulombe, 2025)

20:48 GOOF: Guardian Heroes (Treasure, 1996)

38:51 Feature Game: The Last Spell (Ishtar, 2023)

SHOUT

58:20 Caitlin: Scalable Video Switch

1:01:27 Mark: Revenge of the Savage Planet (Typhoon)

We solve murders at our patrons' behest in The Case of the Golden Idol, whereas

WE INTERRUPT THESE EPISODE NOTES FOR DYNOWARZ

Dynowarz: Destruction of Spondylus! Featuring the most bomb-ass box cover and stodgy gameplay, is Dynowarz one of the greatest games ever or one of the worst games ever? The answer: YES.

What We're Playing

01:17 Caitlin: Final Fantasy IV (Square, 1991)

05:29 Caitlin: The Last Meadow (Discord, 2025)

09:55 Caitlin: 33 Immortals (Thunder Lotus Games)

13:40 Mark: Rogue Loops (Fubu Games, 2025)

22:32 GOOF: Dynowarz: Destruction of Spondylus (ACC, 1990)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynowarz:_Destruction_of_Spondylus#/media/File:Dynowarz_-_Destruction_of_Spondylus_(game_box_art).png

36:08 Feature Game: The Case of the Golden Idol (Color Gray Games, 2022)

SHOUT

57:36 Caitlin (Shameless Hyping): Mario Kart World (Nintendo)

58:11 Mark (Serious Hesitation): Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves (SNK)

It's all sci-fi this week! We've got all your bases covered--speculative crossovers (Split Fiction), anthropomorphic animals (Laika, Starfox 64), and psychological horror (Returnal)! Just stick your arm into the spiky alien machine. It'll probably be fine. 

What We're Playing

00:57 Mark: Avowed (Obsidian, 2025)

02:15 Mark: Monster Hunter Rise (Capcom, 2021)

10:13 Mark: Laika: Aged Through Blood (Brainwash Gang, 2023)

16:11 Caitlin: Split Fiction (Hazelight Studios, 2025)

22:57 GOOF: Star Fox 64 (Nintendo EAD, 1997)

42:02 Feature Game: Returnal (Housemarque, 2021)

SHOUT

1:07:41 Mark: Project Gemini (People Can Fly)

We keep things light, even though they could get grim with an NES game named after a dead baby (Astyanax) and some existential angst with The Friends of Ringo Ishikawa.

What We're Playing

02:28 Caitlin: Final Fantasy IV (Obsidian, 2025)

09:23 Mark: Metal Bringer (ALPHAWING, 2025)

21:24 GOOF: Astyanax (Aicom, 1989)

36:38 Feature Game: The Friends of Ringo Ishikawa (yeo, 2018)

Interview with the designer: https://www.theverge.com/2019/6/19/18691106/the-friends-of-ringo-ishikawa-review-interview-yeo

SHOUT

56:31 Caitlin: Paralives (Alex Massé and team)

58:04 Mark: 33 Immortals (Thunder Lotus)

Ecco the Dolphin is cute in Japan but swole in the US, much like the dramatic growth a mushroom provokes in Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Question: would Caitlin try to make Ecco into a hat?

What We're Playing

01:06 Caitlin: Avowed (Obsidian, 2025)

02:53 Caitlin: Monster Hunter Wilds (Capcom, 2025)

11:10 Mark: Mullet MadJack (Hammer 95 Studios, 2024)

22:23 GOOF: Ecco the Dolphin (Appaloosa Interactive, 1992)

Boris Vallejo's "macho" dolphin: https://www.borisjulie.com/product/ecco-the-dolphin/

Japan's "cute" dolphin: https://videogameartarchive.com/image/149804900443

38:42 Feature Game: Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Nintendo EPD, 2023)

SHOUT

55:35 Caitlin: South of Midnight (Compulsion Games)

56:15 Mark: Absolum (Dotemu)

How much ax could an Ax Battler battle if an Ax Battler could battle ax is a question Golden Axe fails to address, but it gets to be brilliant and foundational all the same. We then turn to Avowed, Obsidian's latest RPG.

What We're Playing

01:02 Mark: The Hidden Ones (Morefun Studios, 2025)

15:50 Caitlin: A Little to the Left (Max Inferno, 2022)

18:23 Caitlin: Monster Hunter Wilds (Capcom, 2025)

27:20 GOOF: Golden Axe (Sega, 1999)

44:03 Feature Game: Avowed (Obsidian, 2025)

SHOUT

1:11:19 Caitlin: Dark Deity 2 (Sword & Axe LLC)

1:12:49 Mark: Neon Inferno (Zenovia Interactive)

It's all about swords, Aristotle, and romance this week, where we discuss Bushido Blade and Transistor.

What We're Playing

00:56 Caitlin: Final Fantasy III (Square, 1990)

10:11 Mark: Whisker Squadron Survivor (Flippfly, 2025)

18:35 GOOF: Bushido Blade (Square, 1997)

30:46 Feature Game: Transistor (Supergiant, 2014)

SHOUT

55:45 Caitlin: Suikoden I&II HD Remaster (Konami)

56:49 Mark: Retroid Pocket Flip 2 (Retroid)

King Arthur's World makes us long for Lemmings, and does Nier: Automata peak in the first hour? Our suplexes are German and our fashion sense is questionable this week.

What We're Playing

01:03 Mark: God Hand (Clover, 2006)

15:13 Caitlin: Date Everything! (Sassy Chap Games, 2025)

24:13 GOOF: King Arthur's World (Argonaut Software, 1992)

36:11 Feature Game: Nier: Automata (PlatinumGames, 2017)

SHOUT

55:31 Mark: Persona 4 Revival (Atlus)

57:16 Caitlin: Haunted Paws (LazyFlock)

It's protagonist vs. protagonist week here at AMBFAD, and we repeatedly ask--why can't we all just get along? First it's Spy vs. Spy, and then Jan vs. Jan in The Alters.

What We're Playing

01:41 Caitlin: A Building Full of Cats 2 (Devcats, 2025)

08:45 Mark: Star Trek: The Next Generation (NES/GB, Imagineering, 1993)

20:25 GOOF: Spy vs. Spy (GBC, Kemco, 1999)

32:50 Feature Game: The Alters (11 Bit Studios, 2025)

35:26 Spoilers Begin

36:52 Spoilers End

SHOUT

55:03 Caitlin: Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles (Square Enix)

56:46 Mark: Pragmata (Capcom)