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)

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)

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)