The Besties

What a peculiar May. Typically, I think of spring as a dumping ground, the soft, warm land where publishers unceremoniously bury games that failed to meet internal creative expectations or sales projections. The past few years have changed that, partly because publishers have learned to tie a AAA game's release to the incoming hype of E3, and partly because many games are released each year that every month is all but guaranteed to have one stand out. There were a lot of games this month that deserve to be on a best of list. And we do our darndest to talk about most of them. Let's continue the conversation in the comments, because I'm sure we missed something.

5:00 - Watch Dogs

41:00 - Transistor

56:00 - News of the month
1:18:00 - Wolfenstein

1:32:00 - Mario Kart 8

1:39:00 - The Resties!

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The ides of March were nothing compared to this! Yes, April is upon us and it seems many game companies are just holding their collective breath in order to make it all the way to May, which happens to be so packed with video games that we can't even deal. April is another story. Knowing that it was going to be a dry month, we held off on Dark Souls 2 until its far-superior PC version came out. Kinda cheating, but hey, who's counting? And besides, there are still a few legitimately April releases to discuss. Some of which we sorta liked!

4:30 - Dark Souls 2
53:00 - Wayward Souls
1:00:30 - News of the month
1:21:00 - Half-time!
1:25:00 - Elder Scrolls Online
1:40:00 - Broforce
1:51:30 - The Resties!

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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I hope you enjoyed March. The month full of big game releases may be the last of its kind for the foreseeable future. Looking at the calendar, we won't see four weeks so full of hyped AAA and indie games until fall. That's why we chose to withhold Dark Souls 2 from this month's Besties. We can discuss its release on PC next month. April, after all, looks slim by comparison. Anyway, let's live in the now! This month we have four good games, a bag full of reader favorites and some big news involving a certain Lawnmower Man knockoff.

8:30 - Titanfall
25:00 - Mercenary Kings
37:00 - Halftime!
48:00 - Infamous: Second Son
1:14:00 - News of the month
1:24:00 - Luftrausers
1:34:40 - Reader emails

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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February came and went. The shortest month of the year was practically a wasteland in terms of major game releases. The standout AAA game, Thief, left many of us feeling robbed. And Fable's anniversary wasn't quite worth celebrating. Then again, maybe we were just looking for fun in all the wrong places. Bravely Default, The Last of Us' DLC and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze all got lavished with praise by our reviews team. And hey, I'm always happy to shout my love for Earth Defense Force 2025. You know, maybe it wasn't a bad slate of games, so much as it was a strange one. Just look at the four we chose to discuss: a remake in the mode of Metroidvania, an anthropomorphic number puzzler, an asburdist espionage comedy and a third-person shooter spin-off of a family-friendly real-time strategy game.

5:30 - Thief
14:30 - Jazzpunk
26:00 - Threes!
36:15 - Halftime!
56:00 - Strider
1:08:00 - News of the month
1:25:45 - Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare
1:41:30 - Reader emails

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties are back! At the end of 2013, the fate of the show was unclear. We were unsure what the podcast would look like in 2014. But after hearing positive feedback from many of our listeners, we buckled down and came up with a new format. We really like it; we hope you do, too. This year, we will record one extended episode at the end of each month, discussing the best games of the previous 30 or so days. With the new format, we can ensure all four hosts have had time to play the selected games. We think that change alone will produce better conversations. If all goes well, the show will feel more like our end-of-the-year specials. Also, we'll be reading listener mail. So send your thoughts, feelings, questions and deepest, darkest secrets to besties at polygon dot com! We also want to know your favorite games of February and why they're so special. Thanks again to everyone who asked for more Besties. You are why we do the show.

9:20 - Rust
29:00 - Hearthstone
49:00 - Halftime!
55:00 - Loadout
1:05:00 - News of the month
1:23:00 - The Banner Saga

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In the words of 2 Unlimited, "Y'all ready for this?" The Besties return to finish the fight. Eight games emerged from last week's battle royal, but only one has the grit to claim the title of Besty. Will it be Gone Home? Or Towerfall? Or maybe Zelda? What about The Last of Us, people seemed to like that game, right? The tension is killing me and I already know who takes the title! Stay tuned. We'll notify the winner of the bracket contest shortly!

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The time has come! Just like last year, The Besties have come together to celebrate the holidays and decide, once and for all, which game will be crowned the very best of 2013. We narrowed it down to 16 games (four of which came direct from the audience) and pit them against one another in ultimate combat. Who will win? Who will lose? Only one way to find out! (By the way, Part 2 will go live next Monday, December 30. Soon after that, we'll notify the winner of the bracket contest.)

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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I can't believe we're about to film another end of the year Besties Besty Special. But I shouldn't let the excitement spoil this week's episode. Live in the present, Plante! Be here now. Okay, so what do we have? Oh, just a number of heartfelt, respectfully designed video games that challenge our conceptions of the medium. You know, that's all.

3:30 - Best Gachapon machine of 2013 (Heroes of Dragon Age)
19:10 - Best interlude (The Entertainment, Kentucky Route Zero)
30:30 - Halftime!
35:00 - Best reason to reload (Teleglitch: Die More Edition)
41:00 - Best educational game (The Novelist)

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We couldn't let you brave the long trip home all alone. Earlier this week, The Besties recorded a special, pre-holiday episode. Thank goodness, because we'd missed a number of great games during launch month madness. There's so much left to hit before the end of the year! How have you kept up with the holiday releases? Or are you just hoarding a backlog for the long winter ahead? Give us some tips!

3:30 - Best sequel (The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds)
19:10 - Best/worst camera (Tearaway)
33:30 - Halftime!
38:00 - Best Mario game (Super Mario 3D World)
49:00 - Best collectibles (Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag)

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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We know, it's PS4 launch week, but aren't you burnt out on our coverage already? Seriously, between the packed-to-brim StoryStream and 12-hour live video stream, we wager you've had your fill. That's why, this week, we're talking about decidedly not-next-gen stuff. Okay, some talk of PS4 and Wii U slips in there, but we think you'll find it appropriately non-informative. This is, as you've probably discovered, how we do.

4:28 - Best brief tour of Rapture (BioShock Infinite: Burial At Sea: Part One)
21:05 - Best PS4 distraction (Rayman Fiesta Run)
26:48 - Halftime - WobbleGate, The Walking Dead Continuity
33:24 - Best Game of This Year, Next Year (Towerfall on PS4)
41:00 - Best Reason Not to Sleep on Nintendo (New Zelda, New Mario)

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To send off the current generation of consoles, we decided to do something a little special. There are no winners or losers this week, just our fondest memories from one of gaming's longest console cycles. I had a nice time recording this episode. Like Justin and Griffin, I started covering games professionally during this generation. I can plot my entire career alongside its big releases, studio openings, studio closures, small conferences, big conferences and comic conferences. When the Xbox 360 came out, I was still in college. That's strange to think about. Share a few of your best memories from this generation in the comments. Let's have an old-fashioned reminiscence.

4:00 - Watching Nintendo reveal the Wii

13:15 - Being an early adopter of Rock Band

25:00 - Halftime - Call of Duty: Ghosts

37:00 - Finishing Portal 2

42:00 - Playing through Oblivion with the McElroy clan
1:01:00 - The winner is everyone!

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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It's almost here. The calamity of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One launch month can be heard in the distance; the vibrations can be felt if you stand still enough. Are you ready? Enjoy these final couple Besties of the current generation. We'll see you on the other side.

2:40 - Best controller upgrade (The PS4 controller)
9:30 - Best book of the week (Device 6)
16:00 - Halftime!
20:00 - Best sail (The Wind Waker HD)
25:30 - Best improvement upon Battlefield 3's miserable single-player campaign (Battlefield 4)
34:00 - The winner is everyone!

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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I come here to praise Sonic, not to bury him. Wait, that's wrong. I come here to bury him — or at least the happy memories I once had of him. Fortunately, my besties Justin and Griffin have positive things to talk about, like the surprises of The Stanley Parable and oh my gosh Candy Box 2 is out! So yes, while I'm sad to see the mascot of my childhood continue to struggle through my adult years, I can take solace in the cornucopia of other good games being released on a weekly basis.

3:20 - Best first level of a not-so-good game (Sonic: Lost World)
15:15 - Best tutorial (How to Survive)
22:20 - Halftime!
26:00 - Best endings (The Stanley Parable)
37:00 - The winner is everyone!

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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Last week we promised an all Pokémon episode. This week we deliver. The Besties discuss pocket monsters on a level of granularity that ultimately drives Justin to the brink of insanity. Can you handle that? Maybe you're not the sort of person who wants to know about min-maxing Ghastly mating. And maybe weighing the benefits of Grass and Dragon types isn't your cup of tea. Well, to you I say, good riddance and good day! Now that it's just us super fans, let's gather close and tell stories of Squirtle battles long past.

3:31 - Best way to force breed Pokémon (day care)
8:14 - Best item (Exp. Share)
17:15 - Halftime!
20:33 - Best way to make a Pokémon feel real (feed it cupcakes)
24:59 - Best mobile multiplayer of the year so far (Player Search System)
37:43 - The Winner Is!

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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Russ is gone. We know, we'd thought we'd be thrilled about it too, but damned if we don't miss the little guy. But hey, he'll be back next week, right? Until we're doing our best to cheer ourselves up with video games. Play the pain away.

4:13 - Best Board Game iPad Adaptation (Pandemic)
14:05 - Best Performance by a Supporting Willem Dafoe (Beyond: Two Souls)
24:08 - Halftime!
30:43 - Best Load Screen (GTA Online)
45:58 - The Winner Is!

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The whole gang is back together! Griffin returns from Japan to regale us with amazing stories of vegetables and video games and video games starring vegetables. By the end of the episode, we get to the big topic of the week: SteamOS. Valve has decided to take down video game consoles! Or are they targeting Windows? Or is their plan something else entirely? With the power of our four noggins, we're bound to uncover the truth in this week's episode of The Besties!

3:00 - Best example of Buyer's Remorse (Grand Theft Auto 5's Social Club)
10:10 - Best talking mask (Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death)
19:30 - Halftime!
32:30 - Healthiest game (Food Practice Shooter)
40:00 - Best alternative to the absurdly long HDMI cable connecting my PC to my TV (SteamOS)
X:XX - The winner is ...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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This week, Rockstar released Grand Theft Auto 5 and the rest of the games industry politely gave it and its hype plenty of space to do their thing. Justin, Frushtick and I (sadly Griffin is busy covering Tokyo Game Show in Japan) talk about the things we love, like, don't understand and find painfully dull in Grand Theft Auto 5. It's a long conversation, and while we tried to talk about specifics, the conversation moves quickly from one topic to the next. That explains why there's no beat sheet below the audio file today. How are you enjoying GTA 5? Or, did you pass? And if so, why? Let's talk in the comments!

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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Due to technical difficulties only three Besties were able to record this week. Frushtick, Griffin and I try to make magic without the magician, Justin McElroy. Do we succeed? You of course will be the judge. It's been a slow news week, what with the entire games industry trying to distance itself from the media magnet that is Grand Theft Auto 5's upcoming release. So, we stir together a few oddities from the gameosphere into a stew of conversation. Will people remember this episode ever happened a week from now, when citizens have abandoned their earthly duties to roam the virtual world of San Andreas? I sure hope so.

5:50 - Best 2D Minecraft (Junk Jack X)
13:00 - Best byproduct of Microsoft's reverse nefariousness (Steam family sharing program)
21:00 - Halftime!
30:30 - Best effort to make people sort of care about Vita (Vita TV)
40:20 - The winner is...

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Frushtick is an uncle! Yes, the man of a thousand roles has a new one: the grown-up responsible for introducing a child to video games. Congratulations to Russ and the Frushtick clan. We return after a holiday hiatus to discuss everything from a life-affirming platformer to a bowel-purging horror simulator. We apologize upfront for any and all bathroom humor. How did you spend your final days of summer? What did you eat? I ate southern fried food for five consecutive days and my internal organs are now at war with one another. Whoever wins, I lose!

3:23 - Best dose of untarnished joy (the music levels in Rayman Legends)
12:40 - Best virtual colonic (Outlast)
21:24 - Halftime!
26:22 - Best Gauntlet reboot (Hammerwatch)
31:12 - Best tie-in surprise (Splinter Cell: Spider-Bot)
38:15 - The winner is...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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You ask for more Grant. You get more Grant. That's how things work here with The Besties. We give the people what they want. But what's this? Zounds! It appears your wish was made on a cursed monkey's paw. You know not what you've done! You see, in exchange for Grant, Griffin McElroy has been expelled to the land of Germany. Though I must say, the curse could not have happened at a more helpful time, what with Gamescom. Any who, somehow Frushtick, Hoops, Grant and myself all happened to be in the New York office this week, so we decided to record the episode the old-fashioned way: sitting uncomfortably in four wheely chairs, waiting for the others to snap under the pressure of extended eye contact.

0:00 - Broadway!
3:10 - The best transition of a video game series from offensive to progressive (Saints Row 4)
16:00 - Best ghost and / or panther simulator (Splinter Cell: Blacklist)
27:30 - Halftime!
34:30 - Best XCOM game of the month (The Bureau: XCOM Declassified)
50:00 - Best free-to-play game ever (Plants vs. Zombies 2)
57:45 - The winner is...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The gang gets back together before being dashed apart once more. This week on The Besties, the whole gang is back together, which is exciting because the next few weeks will be rife with missing members. So enjoy it while you can! We also get a glimpse into what it takes to drive Griffin mad.

4:05 - Best MetroidVania Spelunky Minecraft (SteamWorld Dig)
13:45 - Best broken piece of shit that oh my god I love please don't leave me (PayDay 2)
27:50 - Halftime!
33:45 - Best way to feel like a monster (Papers, Please)
41:15 - Best example of a forever runner that doesn't feel cheap (Knightmare Tower)
48:00 - The winner is...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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This week there is no me. Yes, due to a mysterious stomach virus, I, your Besties poster was unable to attend the weekly podcast. But don't worry, because another, balder and smarter Chris filled the vacancy. This week, I hope you enjoy the silky smooth tones of Polygon Editor-in-Chief Chris Grant.

4:05 - The best use of consonants (Rymdkapsel)
15:25 - The best reason to not listen to Russ Frushtick (Earthbound)
24:40 - Halftime!
38:00 - The best career move (John Carmack becomes CTO of Oculus)
48:55 - The best single-player co-op game of the year (Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons)
58:00 - The winner is...

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What's that sound? Well I'll be! It's the dulcet tones of Mr. David Tach. Yes, this week Dave "Sweet Sweet Butter Voice" Tach fills in for Justin "Hoops" McElroy. We discuss the rising of a triad, the setting of a sun, the returning of a shadow and the escaping of a zero. Won't you join us on this audio expedition?

4:05 - The best new old game (Rise of the Triad)
13:20 - The best old new game (Shadowrun Returns)
21:20 - Halftime!
32:10 - The best PC game that could be a mobile game (Race the Sun)
36:50 - The best game that was on PS+ but isn't anymore (Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward)
43:00 - The winner is...

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The theme of this week's Besties is giant monsters. The gang discusses kaiju, space ants and malevolent monolithic mega corps from the not-so-distant future. Like the summer's big films, a number of recent game releases are sci-fi allegories about the way we live now. Or in the case of Attack of the Friday Monsters, the way we lived way back when. We also talk about the week's big news: Microsoft's indie marketplace strategy. But the monsters are the thrust of the episode. I should probably mention there's another large monster that makes an appearance. It's possible you've met him before. He's from New York and has a long neck. I'll let him introduce himself.

3:30 - Best latest strategy update from Microsoft (Xbox One indie self-publishing)
15:00 - Best game you can't buy in the US (Earth Defense Force 4)
22:15 - Halftime!
28:20 - Best game you can buy in the US, unexpectedly (Attack of the Friday Monsters)
37:05 - Best mechanic with the worst implementation (Remember Me)
45:15 - The winner is ...

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It's that time of the year. The Besties gather around the digital fire to share fond memories of their favorite games, some as old as January itself. Yes, it's the middle of July and we're recounting the best games of the year, so far. Some of you might be surprised to know one of the games is Animal Crossing. But what are the others? To know, you'll have to listen. Or I guess you could read the notes below, but why spoil the magic?

3:45 - Griffin (Animal Crossing: New Leaf)
12:20 - Plante (Towerfall)
19:00 - Halftime!
24:00 - Frushtick (The Last of Us)
33:00 - Justin (Gunpoint)
37:00 - The winner is ...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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It's possible you've never noticed this odd bit of Besties trivia. Each week, we invite a new clone of the original Russ Frushtick to discuss the week's best things. The new clone is cloned from the previous week's clone, Multiplicity style. Surely, you've assumed as much. The strange characters. The shrill introduction. The clues have been on the proverbial bottom of the mug all along. This week, we invited the 63rd member of the Frushtick bloodline to discuss Rogue Legacy. After the podcast, we repeated the weekly chore, locking the clone in a tank full of water and filing that tank into the back of a theater alongside its 62 brothers. This will be the last of Russ. Join us next week when the original Russ Frushtick returns to the show for the first time since episode one!

2:20 - Best family tree in gaming (Rogue Legacy)
14:40 - Best turning point of the week (The Last of Us)
30:00 - Halftime!
35:20 - Best way to play a stealth game (Dishonored, Deus Ex: Human Revolution)
42:00 - Best anniversary of the week (App Store's 5th anniversary)
49:00 - The winner is ...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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Welcome to the end of days. It's rare that all four Besties find themselves smitten by a single game, let alone one for weeks on end. And yet, that's just what has happened with Animal Crossing: New Leaf on 3DS. It has taken the quartet by storm, sucking up every day with talk of turnip prices and furniture sets. And it seems they're not alone. There have been more than a few requests for an all-Animal Crossing episode, and now we're delivering. Brace yourselves.

3:30 - Best example that Justin is a masochist
13:00 - Best heart-pounding moment of E3
19:00 - Halftime!
23:54 - Best boat ride
30:15- Best narrative in a video game ever

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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Allow me one moment to welcome any new listeners who were introduced to The Besties by our recent E3 video spectacular. The podcast is a little different than what you saw last week. For one, it's not filmed. For two, the rules and structure tend to change — regularly. For three, there are, how do I put this, special guests. Yes, this week, Milton Bradley, the grandfather of board games himself, graced The Besties recording studio to inform us of the games he failed to sneak onto store shelves. These games sure are something, and by something I mean morally repugnant! We also talked about the big news of the week: Griffin bought an Android phone! Oh, and Microsoft changed its controversial policy. And Griffin bought an Android phone. You'll hear all that and more on this week's Besties!

4:35 - Best "switcherooniski" (Xbox One game licensing policy)
21:45 - Best gaming device I've bought this year (HTC One)
29:00 - Halftime!
35:40 - Best screenwriting gig for a popular game designer (Ken Levine is writing the Logan's Run remake (and I predict it will take longer than three months to write, despite what Frushtick says, because Hollywood is Hollyweird))
40:10- Best flashback to shop class (Bridgy Jones)
49:15- The winner is...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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Is it Christmas in June? Usually the period around E3 is like a desert in which the year's worst games are left to rot under the sweltering summer sun. But as you may have gleamed from the carousel of review scores on the Polygon homepage, we have been submerged by a flood of excellence: Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Call of Juarez: Gunslinger, The Swapper, Gunpoint, The Last of Us, Don't Starve, Remember Me, State of Decay and the list goes on and on. We discuss a few of those games this week, saving others for later this month. What about next week, you ask? Lean closer and I'll tell you a secret: next Friday we're streaming a special E3 video episode of the Besties live from Los Angeles. Before you run out the door and scream thanks to the heavens, be sure to listen to this week's episode. We'd hate for it to go to waste.

3:40 - Best pocket-sized daily vacation (Animal Crossing: New Leaf)
18:40 - Best sound effect of the year (Gunpoint)
26:23 - Halftime!
30:43 - Best way to start a forest fire (Don't Starve)
38:20 - Best way to die (The Swapper)
43:54 - The winner is...

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I take a break from the podcast to fulfill my civic duty and Griffin McElroy buys a Wii U. I'm genuinely curious what our listeners think about this decision. At first, I was befuddled. It's like when a man buys an expensive umbrella in the middle of a drought. But I've come to see his point. The logic's charming in a really expensive sort of way. What do you think? Would you buy a console to better enjoy a hype train that may or may not arrive at the station?

03:30 - Best unreliable narration in games this year (Call of Juarez: Gunslinger)
14:00 - Best killer app for the Wii U that I purchased over the weekend for some reason (Super Metroid)

23:20 - Half time: E3 hype and a case of the barfs
33:30 - Best mask simulation in video game history (Metro: Last Light)
38:50 - Best use of life's mondernity mundisnus mundanity to build tension in a video game (Metro: Last Light)
43:20 - The winner is...

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Throw us an Xbone, why don't you? We're not sure if you heard, maybe you didn't, but there's a new Xbox coming soon. Well, not soon, but this year, for sure. On The Besties this week, we dive deep and come back with the pearls.

07:30 - Best cell phone feature we're excited to use
17:25 - Best use of FMV that may not be
19:00 - Half time: Ghost dog
29:30 - Best news for publishers in the next generation
38:50 - Best feature that only Russ Frushtick cares about
47:30 - The winner is...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The gang is back in action. On this week's episode of The Besties, there's some derisive Snoopy talk, as well as an anthropomorphic helicopter. Griffin has his doubts and Justin changes his pick at the last minute, much to the chagrin of the other Besties.

03:50 - Best reason to hate Snoopy (Sid Meier's Ace Patrol)
10:25 - Best way to waste $20 (Injustice on iOS)
19:00 - Half time: Daft Punk and a new car
24:00 - Best gaming news story of the decade that is getting worse and worse with every passing day (Shadow of the Eternals)
38:40 - Best way to remake a retro franchise (Thunder Wolves)
41:00 - The winner is...

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Mr. Dave Tach fills in for the absent Griffin McElroy this week. His dulcet tones could melt an ice cap, but are they enough to warm our hearts in Brother M's absence? This episode's a hodgepodge, in which the good is bad, the bad is good and Kickstarter is mediocre. We discuss a handful of video gaming anomalies, like "good bad" games and good games with bad titles. We debate whether rough edges are beauty marks or flaws waiting to be smoothed. We also rap on the reality of Kickstarter projects and the practicality of AAA licensing deals. Whether you prefer one to the other, it's clear that all the money and creative freedom in the world can't guarantee a great game. Also, we talk Canada. Did you know Vancouver is the perfect city? All that and more on this week's Besties.

2:10 - Best reason to be wary of supporting games on Kickstarter (Star Command)
14:30 - Best worst game of the week (Deadly Premonition: The Director's Cut)
29:30 - Half time: Chris goes to Canada
33:30 - Best game with worst title (Mars: War Logs)
43:40 - Best billion dollar partnership for things I probably won't end up caring about (The EA/Disney Star Wars contract)
52:10 - The winner is...

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I love Candy Box. I'd hate to spoil what Candy Box is. So trust me. Before you press that play button, click this link. Play Candy Box for a few minutes, then leave it open on a browser tab and return for the podcast. Follow these instructions precisely. Fun, right? Confusing, right? Great, let's get to the show. This week, we offend chiropractors, slay mystical beasts, fix the industry's piracy problem and Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box, Candy Box. Also, Candy Box.

3:00 - Best use of Blood Dragons (Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon)
9:50 - Best piracy prevention that is also ironic (Game Dev Tycoon)
19:50 - Half time: Chris goes back to school
26:10 - Best value of the week and also of all time (Neverwinter)
33:30 - Best something something Candy Box (Candy Box)
41:00 - The winner is...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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Griffin couldn't help himself. Drunk off back to back wins, the Brother McElroy brought one of the most awkward topics to date. This business. I believe we discussed the topic with the greatest amount of grace and respect afforded a podcast that occassionally stars a talking giraffe. Speaking of, a certain Long Island zoo animal made an unexpected experience, uncovering Microsoft's elaborate plan to run his uncle out of business. I talk Monaco. Justin talks Star Trek. And Frushtick talks talking blocks. All that and more on this week's Besties.

2:30 - Best Star Trek game of the month (Star Trek)
13:15 - Best acting by a rectangle (Thomas Was Alone)
20:20 - Half time: The Pizza Hut app and special guest
26:30 - Best REDACTED ever (Dragon's Crown)
39:50 - Best love letter to Bonanza Bros. (Monaco)
46:30 - The winner is...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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Boy, am I happy to end this week. Over the past few days, I've struggled to write, think or care about video games. I've struggled to really do anything. Surely I'm not alone. What an awful week. What an absolutely awful week. And yet, some really amazing things have happened this week. Like this and this and this. Many people are really stepping up. So this weekend I hope you will join me in doing what we love: playing games. And I also hope you'll lend a hand. You could donate blood or money or anything. It's been an awful week, but I believe we can help to make next week better. That's all. This week's Besties doesn't talk about "this week." We tried to focus on the good, which has been the unspoken goal of the show since its creation. I hope you enjoy it. Let's talk about some video games.

4:30 - Best Nintendo Direct

14:30 - Best way to remind yourself how difficult Dishonored was (The Knife of Dunwall DLC)
21:30 - Half time - The recently canceled Ready for Love

25:45 - The best example that in-app purchasing will bring the end of the world (Dungeon Hunter 4)
31:00 - Best reason to throw a controller though a PC monitor (La Mulana)
39:00 - The winner is...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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Why hello there. This week on The Besties, we've decided to stick with the rules set forth in last week's episode because, hey, consistency has to rear its ugly head once in a while. And if Justin sounds quiet this week, it's because his internet is crap and he only heard about half of every conversation. Either that or he walked away from the mic for a really, really long time without telling anyone.

2:50 - Best reason that Russ Frushtick is an obsessive maniac (BioShock Infinite)
23:30 - Best mash-up of two genres you wouldn't think work well together but do (Guacamelee)
30:30 - Half time - Beard!
33:15 - Best Easter Egg that is better than the actual game it's in (Soda Drinker Pro)
41:00 - Best multiplayer mode for ruining friendships (BattleBlock Theater)
50:00 - The winner is...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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We've read your comments. You miss the original concept of four best friends battling to the death to decide the best game of the week. Or maybe you want less nitty-gritty mechanic talk. Or you're the one soul on Planet Earth that yearns to hear the squeaky pitches of a certain European independent game design counterfeiter. We understand. After 50 episodes, we've decided to fiddle with the rules one (possibly) last time. As of today, four best friends will battle to the death to decide the best game thing of the week. That's right. We're no longer limited to games. We can bring news, songs, artwork, European independent game design counterfeiters, anything! All that matters is we genuinely believe our submission is the best. That way, when the show concludes a battle can be waged to determine the week's winner. Is this the best Besties yet? We sure hope so.

06:30 - Best ATV stunting (Defiance)

16:30 - Best local adversarial game at GDC 2013 (Samurai Gunn)

23:30 - Half time - A very special guest
31:30 - Best rumor that is probably not a rumor, but maybe it is a rumor (Always online Xbox)
43:30 - Best awards show in video games (2013 Game Developers Choice Awards)
50:30 - The winner is...

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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Let's hear it for the supporting character! This week, we discuss two games based off the less popular sidekicks of major franchises. First, we have the Ballad of Baird, also known as Gears of War: Judgment. The fourth game in the Gears of War franchise has more of what you've come to expect from the franchise, which means hours of carefree body mutilation. Speaking of dead stuff, Justin leans over the campfire to tell us a scary story about the time he reviewed The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct. Sticking to the ghastly theme, we finish the show with a Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, the second game in a series about the lesser-loved plumber turned ghost hunter. Is Dark Moon the 3DS's killer app? Does anyone care about 3DS when we have Super Stickman Golf 2 on our cellphones? Does the video game industry have a morbid fascination with our mutual fleeting mortality? Find out on this week's Besties!

03:00 - Gears of War: Judgment
16:30 - Half Time - The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct
29:30 - Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
46:00 - What's next?

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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All mobile all the time. In the history of The Besties, when the gents end up bringing mobile games to the table, it doesn't bode well for the quality of said games. This week is the exception to the rule, as they're talking about two of the best games of 2013 (mobile or beyond!). In other news, Chris Plante literally got off a flight from Japan and recorded the podcast, so if he sounds drowsy, it's probably the sleeping meds coursing through his veins.

04:00 - Ridiculous Fishing
20:00 - Half Time
27:00 - Super Stickman Golf 2
47:00 - What's next?

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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Two big games, including one that works! This week on The Besties, Chris Plante is galavanting out in Japan for work (probably), so we've gone and found his temporary replacement: the incomparable Phil Kollar. Phil authored the Polygon review of Tomb Raider, so who better to detail the highs and lows of Lara's latest adventure. Speaking of Lara, one of her relatives calls in to discuss some qualms he has with her renewed success. And lastly, there's SimCity. Not a whole lot to say on that one. Pretty much controversy-free, that game.

04:00 - Tomb Raider
22:00 - Half Time
28:00 - SimCity
49:00 - What's next?

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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Call it a sick day. Griffin succumbed to the Andromeda Strain this week, leaving Frushtick, Hoops and myself to brave The Besties without him. I confess, it was tough. Fortunately, we had two very different, very unusual games to discuss in the forms of Proteus and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. Proteus is what you might call an art game. Drawn in colorful and simple polygons, the game lacks traditional goals and rules. When Proteus was released a few weeks ago, a band of perturbed critics claimed Proteus wasn't a game at all. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance on the other hand is the stereotypical action video game. The neo-future world is chock-full of robots and foot soldiers that can be sliced like a watermelon in Fruit Ninja. The game has a clear goal and that's KILL, KILL, KILL! To kill or chase a frog: that is the question.

03:00 - Proteus
16:30 - Half Time / The spread of the Andromeda Strain
20:30 - Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
40:30 - What's next? Tomb Raider and SimCity

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties enter the next generation! This week on The Besties, we talk about the mysterious ghost man living above Griffin's garage. If you think that's grim, just wait till you hear our recap of the PlayStation 4 launch event. Justin does his best to turn our frowns upside down, but is that enough? One of this week's games already looks like it belongs on a next-generation console — and basically demands a next-generation PC. The other game has a long title and a beat we can dance to. Let us know your opinions of this week's games in the comments. And convince Justin why Proteus is good now, before it's too late.

04:30 - Crysis 3
20:30 - Half Time / PlayStation 4 announcement talk
40:00 - Bit.Trip Presents Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien
49:30 - What's next? Proteus and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The Besties are back! This week on The Besties, we discuss babies having babies and then having those babies fight for their baby parents. There's also talk of the thrills and chills of space combat, with an emphasis on the thrills. Hey, look at this, two solid games this week! We're on a roll! Warning: This episode contains spoilers for the movie, Safe Haven. If learning that makes you not want to listen, this probably isn't the podcast for you.

03:00 - Fire Emblem: Awakening
15:00 - Half Time
30:00 - Dead Space 3
48:30 - What's next?

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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Long live The Besties! This week's episode revolves around the mysteries of Doritos, Taco Bell and much, much more. Also Plante takes the opportunity to not say anything for the longest time in Besties history. Where was he? What was he thinking? We may never know.

03:00 - Antichamber
15:00 - Half Time
26:00 - Ni No Kuni
42:20 - What's next?

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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The march of The Besties continues! This week on The Besties, an old friend stops by for a visit and there's some examination of the latest free-to-play game burning up the charts. Oh yes, and Dante's resurrection is making some people grumpy.

03:00 - Temple Run 2
21:50 - Half Time: THQ
32:35 - DMC: Devil May Cry
48:20 - What's next?

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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Oh ye of little faith! The Besties are back for 2013 to warm your hearths and hearts. As per usual, the rules have been changed, but don't worry, it's only to protect the innocent. We've got some new games, we've got some old games and we've got a time machine. Let's get crackin'.

03:00 - Kentucky Route Zero
18:00 - Half Time Battle Royale
23:40- Dark Souls
40:00 - What's next?

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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This is the audio-only version of Part 2 of our end of year video special. Enjoy!

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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This is the audio-only version of Part 1 of our end of year video special. Enjoy!

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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This week on The Besties, we take a look back at all the games that have made it into our Hall of Fame of 2012. We also decide which three games from the fan vote are getting resurrected for next week's finals. And, what's this, one of our very first HOF selections gets the boot at the 11th hour? Incredible!

03:00 - Playing catch-up!
20:30 - The user picks!
30:00- Halftime: VGA thoughts!
40:15 - The full HOF list!
51:15 - THE NEXT STEP!

Help The Besties build their Sweet 16 bracket!

Theme song by Ian Dorsch
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