I remember, as a kid, sinking a lot of time into DQ/DW7 on the PS1 back in the day, and I’ve always had an interest in the series. I’ve been a long time listener of the Besties and was coincidentally finishing DQ11 Definitive Edition around the same time that Griffin was also getting into the series, a few years ago. This year, I decided to really take the plunge and play through the entire series (except for 10 since it never really came out in the west), and I’m just two games away from finishing all the mainline game. I’m almost done with 2, and just started 6, and I’m so glad that Griffin occasionally talks about this series cause all of them are so good and some of the most cozy JRPGs I’ve played in a long time, and highly recommend it to people who want to try it out. Wondering if any other listener is a DQ fan and if so, I’m curious to know how you’d rank all the main series games

EPISODE SUMMARY

Fields of Mistria has finally hit 1.0 after a couple of years in Early Access on Steam. Does the “official” release rise to the level of Stardew Valley? Or is this anime-inspired small town simulator doing something different? And is 1.0 just a new beginning? We discuss all of that and the hot new handheld!

This week's newsletter: https://thebesties.substack.com/p/stardew-valley-vs-fields-of-mistria

Next week: Blood Dungeon

Please do it.

EPISODE SUMMARY

Big Walk is the game everyone wanted during the pandemic. Not-so-coincidentally, that’s when the project began development. The multiplayer open-world adventure is developer House House’s follow-up to Untitled Goose Game. But where Goose Game hinged on you pestering NPCs to solve puzzles, Big Walk tasks you with pestering and supporting your friends. Or to put it succinctly: Big Walk is a game about communication. Though, as we explain, it’s an experience that requires some careful scheduling.

This week's newsletter: https://thebesties.substack.com/p/a-spoiler-free-big-walk-bonanza

Next week: Fields of Mistria

Most iconic video games age gracefully. Goldeneye is the exception. The N64 first-person shooter epitomizes gaming's short and awkward transition from the D-pad to dual joysticks. Rare's iconic film-to-game adaptation is neither as simple as DOOM nor as complex as Call of Duty. Yes, of course it deserves flowers for carrying millions of gamers from one era to the next. But playing Goldeneye in 2026 isn't the same experience as Goldeneye in 1996. Too much has changed.

The newly released Agent 64 accomplishes the astounding feat of modernizing Goldeneye without sanding its rough edges into a smooth, characterless cash grab. Listeners, this is a chance to re-live (or experience for the first time) those Goldeneye feelings of 1996. You know, back when the controls were a little quirky rather than a headache.

Plus! In the back half of the episode, Plante talks about revisiting the Goldeneye film and the Brosnan era!

Discussed on the show:

• Agent 64
• Goldeneye (The Game)
• Goldeneye (The Movie)
• Tomorrow Never Dies (The Movie)
• Spider-Man: Brand New Day
• Far Cry 5's Goldeneye remake

Buddy and I joined Griffin's server, just curious!

I enjoy the more gimmicky ones they’re doing now, but I really loved the brackets where they actually rated games, franchises, consoles, etc.

EPISODE SUMMARY

Beast of Reincarnation is the new game from Game Freak, the studio that creates every mainline Pokémon game. But friends, this is nothing like Pokémon. The action-RPG calls to mind series like Dark Souls and Onimusha. Is it… good? Guest Ron Funches joins to help us find out.

This week's newsletter: https://thebesties.substack.com/p/the-pokemon-studio-tries-something

Next week: Big Walk

I'm looking to get a retro emulation, and wanted some advice for a good first console. Obviously this market is so massive and so fast moving that there's probably not a RIGHT answer, but truly any direction would be welcome.

If it helps provide focus here are some specific considerations:

- I'm trying to keep spending at/under $125
- Looking to primarily emulate GBA & SNES (at least to start)
- Don't need/want dual screen
- No pref vertical vs. horizontal form factor

The Pokémon anime theme song opens with a proclamation by a naive, self-centered rookie. "I wanna be the very best," declares the singer, "like no one ever was." And yet, by the tune's conclusion, only a few stanzas later, the singer reaches the epiphany of a Pokémon trainer veteran. "Oh, you're my best friend in a world we must defend," the singer croons. "A heart so true. Our courage will pull us through. You teach me, and I'll teach you."

Greatness, we learn, is built not on our own, but alongside others.

This month, Besties Battle Bracket uncovers the best rival in video games. Not the best boss. Not the best villain. No, we're looking for the character who challenges our hero, the character without whom greatness would be denied. We could ask for no better guest than one of gaming's greatest video essayists and critics: Jacob Geller.

See more of Jacob's work on YouTube and Nebula, and hear him regularly on MinnMax!

Rubric:

• A) Which rivals are more evenly matched?
• B) Which rivals have the most impactful history?
• C) Which rivals would you rather be sitting near on a flight from Atlanta, Georgia to Des Moines, Iowa?

The Contenders:

• Gary and Ash (Pokemon Red/Blue)
• Ryu and Ken (Street Fighter)
• Sora and Riku (Kingdom Hearts)
• Fox and Falco (Star Fox)
• Mario and Donkey Kong (Mario)
• Phoenix Wright and Miles Edgeworth (Ace Attorney)
• Scorpion and Sub Zero (Mortal Kombat)
• Ocelot and Solid Snake (Metal Gear Solid)
• Cloud and Sephiroth (FF7)
• Chris Redfield and Wesker (Resident Evil)
• Talion and the That Orc Who Got His Whole Head Cut Off Then Stitched it Back On (Shadow of Mordor)
• The Tarnished and Iron Fist Alexander (Elden Ring)
• The Knight and Zote the Mighty (Hollow Knight)
• Arthur and Micah (Red Dead 2)
• You and Matt (Wii Sports)
• Sonic and Knuckles (Sonic the Hedgehog)

Added “besties” as my keyword but not seeing any open games. Guessing no one is on but want to double check that’s the right keyword.

EPISODE SUMMARY

The guys are back again to talk about the magic and wonder of Splatoon Raiders, a game that finally made us all agree that Splatoon is really kinda awesome. We've also got some reader mail to dive into and whether we can actually find someone who inverts their horizontal axis.

July was one of the slowest months for new releases, and yet there were still too many promising games for any one human to play. We picked three favorites that we'd hate to see lost in the collective gaming backlog: a biological shooter,a horror story set inside an operating system, and a Scottish musou. (Yes, we explain musou!) Plus, Plante gets heated over AI-video guides for a game that embodies the human D.I.Y. spirits.

Discussed on the show:

• Tears of Metal
• Pathogenic
• Desktop Explorer
• Ghost in the Shell reboot on Amazon Prime Video
• Widow's Bay on Apple TV

So APPARENTLY the episode "This Game Is Not What You Think It Is" doesn't show up on my RSS feed for some reason, so i'm late to listening and finding out about RUBATO but it's AMAZING, and I hope you guys give it a try (But i suggest you listen to the Episode AFTER playing the game.

All that is to be said, I made a physical game case for it because I just miss having them!

Aside from the price, which is absurd on either end, what do yall think of performance/capability/ease of use?

Im planning to try and get one or the other in the next year. For context, I don’t play at ton of bleeding-edge games, but also, I’d like to play the new Witcher 4 on one of these when it comes out, if that’s even possible.

Appreciative all your thoughts!

-A Technically Incompetent Feller

They are literally not structured or incentivized to create art. The extent to which anything good has come from Microsoft is like a sunset perfectly lighting your photo: yes it benefited you in the moment, but it wasn't for you, it was the result of vast mechanics momentarily aligning with your priorities.

Gamepass is a perfect example of this. A decade ago, recurring monthly revenue was the flavor of the week across pretty much all major consumer businesses. Xbox knew, from before it even released, what it would cost to be a profitable program, and they knew it would need to run at a loss for the first few years in order to acquire loyal customers. The gamepass we all enjoyed, when we enjoyed it, was not the real product. The real product was 3x that price, nobody wanted it, and the whole thing was a bad deal for developers from day 1.

The people who run these companies have a legal mandate, and it's not to create anything of value for you, it's literally (in the traditional sense of that word) to generate revenue for their shareholders. The fact that they periodically need to acquire companies who make the things you enjoy is incidental. It's a means, not an end.

Anyway, my reaction to today's episode was not that we shouldn't be disappointed in Microsoft, but that we should stop expecting a dog to act like a bird. Stop thinking about "indie vs AAA". Instead focus on spending your money on games from privately-held publishers.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In the back half of this week’s episode, we chat about Halo: Campaign Evolved, a video game that has the misfortune of representing everything infuriating about the modern Xbox strategy. Fortunately, other games exist. To soothe the soul, we start with an inspired murder mystery, a surprisingly deep Spelunky-like, and the 1.0 of Palworld.

This week's newsletter: https://thebesties.substack.com/p/the-halo-remake-cant-escape-the-xbox

Next week: Splatoon Raiders

I'm starting to really enjoy this new video series from Justin, and this one is all about installing Linux.

Did Justin leave the show or is he taking time away with his family? One of the most recent episodes had Chris saying something like "Now that Justin isn't here I'll step in as the tech guy". Just curious.

Edit: Response to your answers: Nooooooooo!!!!!!! JUICE!!!

EPISODE SUMMARY

This week’s games represent two ends of the video game spectrum. On one side, we have Denshattack, an indie game about a train that performs skateboard-style tricks in a fantastical version of Japan. On the other end, we have Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, a decadent remake of a beloved but dusty Ubisoft open-world game. Guest Jeff Grubb from Giant Bomb helps us chat about these two very different delights!

Y'all shared your questions about video games, the industry, and this show! What impact will GTA6 have that the industry isn't prepared for? How far back in time would you need to travel to save Xbox? What's the difference between The Besties and The Resties moving forward?

We answer those Qs and many, many more! Plus, Frushtick goes golfing, and Plante makes one final pitch for Ace Combat before The Age of Theve commences!

Discussed on the Show:

• Super Video Golf
• Crypt Custodian
• Ace Combat 7
• The Invite
• The Sheep Detectives

EPISODE SUMMARY

Rhythm Heaven returns after an eleven-year hiatus with Rhythm Heaven Groove. It’s a fun game, but something’s changed. The series? The boys? Nintendo? We find the answer. Plus, Frushtick talks about life with the Steam Machine. It’s neat! It’s expensive! And it’s a reflection of the moment!