Play This!

Play This! is doing another LISTENER SUGGESTION EPISODE! This time, we are accepting suggestions for any video game that has had it's FIRST FULL RELEASE in 2018. "First" means that if the full version came out for one platform in 2018 but was available on another platform earlier (like Hollow Knight or PUBG), it is ineligible. "Full" means it has to be at least the 1.0 version of the game. Early Access titles (like Slay the Spire), games currently in beta (like Magic the Gathering: Arena), demos of upcoming full games (like Deltarune), and episodic games that have not released their final episode (like Life is Strange 2) are ineligible. Ports and basic remasters of existing games are ineligible (like Shenmue 1 + 2), full remakes are eligible. Other than that, any 2018 release we haven't already played is fair game. The list of games we've played is below, with timestamps for when in the episode we discuss it. The deadline for submissions is Fiday, January 11th. Send your submissions as either a tweet to @playthispodcast, or as an email to feedback@playthispodcast.com! (This episode was recorded December 3, 2018, and we have since played Smash Bros Ultimate. A lot. So no need to recommend it!) 0:02:23 Criteria 2018 Games We've Played So Far: 0:09:42 428: Shibuya Scramble 0:11:13 Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, The 0:12:23 BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle 0:13:41 Detective Pikachu 0:15:19 Detroit: Become Human 0:17:24 Donut County 0:18:20 Dragalia Lost (also Daniel talks about Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links again) 0:21:02 Dragon Ball FighterZ 0:24:40 Ultimate Custom Night (called "Five Nights at Freddy's Ultimate Custom Night" by Sean) 0:27:25 Forza Horizon 4 0:30:54 Indie Pogo 0:34:23 Into the Breach 0:35:12 Jimmy and the Pulsating Mass 0:38:54 Kirby: Star Allies 0:39:39 Longest Five Minutes, The 0:41:39 Minit 0:43:04 Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate 0:44:44 Monster Hunter World 0:48:23 Monster Prom 0:51:37 Nintendo LABO Variety Kit 0:54:34 Octopath Traveler 0:58:59 Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee 0:59:23 Reignman 1:01:09 Sea of Thieves 1:04:05 Slap City 1:06:02 Soulcalibur VI 1:07:24 Spider-Man 1:08:00 Sushi Striker 1:09:37 Ultra Space Battle Brawl 1:10:40 WarioWare Gold 1:12:42 Closing 1:16:43 Special Thanks Play This! Logo by Kessi Riliniki Play This! and Special Thanks Themes by Sean Francis Support us on Patreon to become part of the selection process: https://www.patreon.com/beepboopgroup

Daniel and Sean talk about the rise and fall of Final Fantasy XV, play some cute little games like Minit and Puyo Puyo Tetris, and dig into the recent fighting game release, Soulcalibur VI. Also, the duo announce the next LISTENER RECOMMENDATION EPISODE! (This episode was recorded November 26, 2008. Some discussion may be out of date.) 0:02:02 Video Game News 0:08:01 What Else We've Been Playing (Puyo Puyo Tetris, Minit, Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions) 0:19:18 Soulcalibur VI 0:27:10 "Spoilers" Start Here 1:34:45 Beep Boop Group 1:37:34 Play This!: Pokemon Let's Go! Pikachu and Eevee 1:38:49 Announcement: Listener Recommendation Episode - 2018 Edition Play This! Logo by Kessi Riliniki Play This! and Special Thanks Themes by Sean Francis Support us on Patreon for an exclusive podcast and more goodies: https://www.patreon.com/beepboopgroup

Daniel and AmyLee interrupt your usual video game recommendation programming... because they went to Day of the Devs in San Francisco last month, and have several cool indie games to share impressions of! 0:05:16 A Memoir Blue 0:15:25 Disco Elysium 0:29:48 Eastward 0:38:53 Gris 0:51:15 Ikenfell 1:04:40 Ooblets 1:10:15 Untitled Goose Game 1:16:35 Untitled Paper RPG 1:25:24 Top 3 Play This! Logo by Kessi Riliniki Play This! Theme by Sean Francis

Daniel and Sean talk about some juicy gaming industry rumors, because it's not like anybody's making any official announcements right now. Daniel's discovered a quirky new RPG Maker game, and Sean still loves Spider-Man. The featured game this episode is Into the Breach, a game that takes the turn based strategy genre and reinvents it in many surprising ways. At the end, Sean and Daniel must look to the souls of the past to find the future of the sword. or something 0:01:36 Video Game News 0:28:42 What Else We've Been Playing 0:45:26 Into the Breach 0:56:25 Spoilers Start Here 1:38:40 Play This!: Soulcalibur VI Play This! Logo by Kessi Riliniki Play This! Theme by Sean Francis

Daniel and Sean may not be able to escape, but they've got a lot of catching up to do. The duo discuss a fun Tokyo Game Show announcement, a much less fun Telltale Games development, and a fun..ny pair of event updates? Sean's still in the honeymoon phase with Dragalia Lost, Daniel's lofty expectations were met by 428: Shibuya Scramble and Life is Strange 2, and both boys can't get enough of Spider-Man for the PS4. The first game in the Zero Escape series, 999, gets the spotlight... for better or for worse. Sean recommends his first game as co-host to Daniel. A game... from the FUUUTUUUUURREEE 0:01:18 Video Game News 0:24:00 What Else We've Been Playing 0:54:00 Zero Escape: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors 1:10:30 Spoilers Start Here 2:15:15 Play This!: Into the Breach

Here comes a new player! While Max is on paternal leave, Daniel welcomes Sean as Play This!'s first temporary co-host. The new duo talk about Gamescom announcements, Daniel's love of Wario, and Sean's love of Monster Hunter. Daniel and Sean then give their full impressions of Evoland 2, a celebration of gaming history that... overdoes the celebration a little sometimes. Finally, Daniel gives Sean his first Play This! recommendation: a game from which there is... zero escape. (This episode was recorded September 3, 2018) 01:29 Video Game News 21:39 What Else We've Been Playing 51:49 Evoland 2 1:03:08 Evoland 2 Spoilers Start Here 1:53:56 Play This: 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors Play This! Logo by Kessi Riliniki Play This! Theme by Sean Francis

(This episode was recorded July 29th, 2018.) It's the episode you've all been waiting for! And by "you all", we mean Max! Alongside Daniel, Colin, and Sean, he finally gets to revisit one of his favorite gaming memories, as an extra-sized sendoff episode before he goes off to be a Dad. Also, Daniel scrambles to find news after a lackluster San Diego Comic Con, everyone but Max has bought Octopath Traveler, and the episode ends with not one recommendation, but two! 03:10 Video Game News 27:57 What Else We've Been Playing 54:08 Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2:12:08 Farewell Max 2:19:59 Play This: Evoland 2

Max and Daniel try to make the best of a slow news week by talking about some smaller game announcements from Anime Expo, and Daniel tries the Sonic the Hedgehog movie much to Max's chagrin. Daniel dives deeper into the Life is Strange franchise, and Max still isn't sold on Octopath Traveler. Finally, Max and Daniel have a huge discussion about their second Listener Recommended game, Hollow Knight from fan actualsuperboy! The two have many, many thoughts about their adventures in Hollownest. 2:34 Video Game News 19:52 What Else We're Playing 37:21 Hollow Knight 51:25 Hollow Knight Spoilers Start Here 1:49:49 Play This: Marvel Ultimate Alliance Play This! Logo by Kessi Riliniki Play This! Theme by Sean Francis

Max and Daniel are back from hiatus, and boy do they have some catching up to do! In this bonus length episode, the boys gush over their mutual favorite games from E3. Daniel picks his Kingdom Hearts series playthrough back up, and Max checks out the Steamworld Dig franchise for the first time. Then at long last, Max and Daniel share their thoughts on their first Listener Recommended game, Psychonauts, from listener Kody D. But the Listener Recommendation train hasn't made its last stop just yet. 02:52 Video Game News (E3 Highlights) 39:09 What Else We've Been Playing 1:02:11 Psychonauts 1:15:33 Psychonauts Spoilers Start Here ("so let's start talking about narrative") 2:14:38 Play This!: Hollow Knight Play This! Logo by Kessi Riliniki Play This! Theme by Sean Francis

It's a nice big episode with a lot of exciting things! Max and Daniel discuss Valve acquiring Campo Santo, and their mutual excitement for a cute indie game called Eastward. Daniel brags about his Nintendo Labo creations and talks about his dates in Monster Prom. The two have a discussion about Life is Strange so long that Max Caulfield couldn't rewind through the whole thing, and at long last announce the results of the LISTENER RECOMMENDATIONS you all sent in! 05:16 Video Game News 13:12 What Else Have We Been Playing 27:55 Life is Strange 39:15 Life is Strange Spoilers Start Here 1:46:38 Play This!: Listener Recommendation Logo by Kessi Riliniki Play This! Theme by Sean Francis

Episode 10 of Play This! will have Max and Daniel reading video game recommendations from you, our readers, and picking a recommendation to play and discuss in Episode 11! Send your recommendation, along with your reasoning, to feedback@playthispodcast.com! ELIGIBLE SYSTEMS TO RECOMMEND GAMES FROM: PS1, PS3, PS4, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS (excluding New Nintendo 3DS exclusive games), Nintendo Switch, iOS (must be playable on both iPhone and iPad)

Max and Daniel are joined by Max's wife Stephanie and Daniel's girlfriend AmyLee to talk about their experiences with Kirby Star Allies, in an episode that is almost big as Kirby when he sucks up a bunch of food! The four of them also discuss Sega's latest announcements and Spyro's new look, along with the LATEST HOT GOSSIP on Meghan Markle and the Kardashians! Finally, Amy has a special recommendation. It looks like Max and Daniel are going to have to make some more hard choices. 02:51 Video Game News and HOT GOSS WITH STEPHANIE 24:51 What Else Have We Been Playing 50:43 Kirby: Star Allies 1:02:47 Spoilers Start Here 1:53:13 Play This! Life is Strange (Warning: we casually talk about the final boss of Kirby Star Allies here, whoops I'm so sorry)

Max and Daniel watch Ubisoft squeeze their way out of a hostile takeover, and get excited about upcoming niche localizations like 428: Shibuya Scramble and Zenki Zero. Daniel has two very different pirate-related experiences in Sea of Thieves and Curse of Monkey Island, and Max talks about his relaxing mini-break from video games. The two have a full discussion about Firewatch, and their appreciation of the quiet moments in media. Finally, a different kind of episode is on the horizon yet again! 2:41 Video Game News 11:57 What Else Have We Been Playing 37:17 Firewatch 41:55 Firewatch Spoilers Start Here 1:27:09 Play This!: Kirby Star Allies

Max and Daniel express their excitement for Smash Bros. Switch, Mario Tennis Aces, and other highlights of the March Nintendo Direct. Daniel shows off his Dropmix tunes, Max sheds a single manly tear from playing Florence, and the two give their detailed impression of the beautifully drawn mess that is Odin Sphere Leifthrasir. Finally, Max tells Daniel to make camp with his latest recommendation... campo santo, that is 01:34 Nintendo Direct 17:00 What Else Have We Been Playing 31:21 Odin Sphere Leifthrasir 35:48 Spoilers Start Here 1:30:24 Play This!: Firewatch

Max, Daniel, and special guest Sean contemplate the herculean task of investing in Kingdom Hearts' story and look at some cute, but fake, Pokemon. The gang give their big beefy extended impressions of the slay-a-thon epic Monster Hunter World, and Sean gives Max and Daniel their first game recommendation from a guest. 2:45 Kingdom Hearts III Reveals 11:03 Fake Pokemon Leaks 13:30 What Else Are We Playing 35:05 Email: Persona 5's LGBT Representation 39:23 Monster Hunter World 49:26 In-Depth Impressions 1:43:51 Play This!: Odin Sphere Leifthrasir Play This! logo by Kessi Riliniki Play This! theme by Sean Francis

Max and Daniel get comfy as they catch up on all the January video game news that they missed, and then get... less comfy as they discuss their very complicated feelings about Daniel's recommendation of Persona 5. Then Max gets a really great idea: mix up the format of the podcast without telling his co-host about it! 1:49 Nintendo Direct Highlights 12:21 Nintendo Labo 17:08 Xbox Game Pass 22:47 Nintendo Investors Strategy Meeting News 29:47 Miitomo, Paragon, and Gigantic shutting down 34:29 What Else Have We Been Playing 44:27 Persona 5 Spoiler-Free Impressions 52:21 Persona 5 Spoilers Start Here 1:34:55 E-mail: Novelizations of Video Games 1:45:08 Play This!: MYSTERY GAME

2017 has ended, and some amazing games have come and gone. Max and Daniel bring on guest panelists Colin, Sean, and AmyLee to talk about all of their favorite games of the year in this jumbo-sized special. From Zelda, to Mario, to Cosmic Star Heroine, to one of the most important digital card games of all time, they've got a lot to cover. (Apologies for the occasional audio issues in this special. We'll be back to the usual quality in Episode 005!) TIMESTAMPS 03:04 Best Non-2017 Game We Played in 2017 11:02 Biggest Disappointment 23:40 Best Soundtrack 34:06 Best Cat 39:21 Best Game We Didn't Play 45:34 Honorable Mentions 1:06:57 #5 Picks 1:20:18 #4 Picks 1:43:21 #3 Picks 1:50:02 #2 Picks 2:10:01 #1 Picks 2:26:51 The Play This! 2017 Game of the Year Play This! logo by Kessi Riliniki Play This! theme by Sean Francis

Max and Daniel look into 2018 and talk about which games they're looking forward to most. Max visits his sweet sweet radioactive childhood as he listens to Daniel's impressions of the old-school classic Fallout 2, and Daniel faces the hardest decision he's ever had to make: recommend Persona 4, or Persona 5? 01:30 Nintendo Switch Beats PS2 First Year Sales in Japan 05:04 Most Anticipated Games of 2018 27:13 What Else Have We Been Playing 32:20 Fallout 2 Impressions 36:44 Light to Medium Fallout 2 Spoilers 1:26:00 Play This!: Persona 4... or Persona 5??? Play This! logo by Kessi Riliniki Play This! theme by Sean Francis

Max and Daniel go over Daniel's Video Game Awards and PSX predictions from last time along with some personal highlights from those shows, and acknowledge how great Totodile is. Daniel squeezes out all of Max's Undertale thoughts like a big juicy JRPG-inspired grapefruit, and Max recommends one of his all-time faves to Daniel: the post-apocalyptic classic FALLOUT 2. 03:11 Video Game Awards Prediction Results and Highlights 19:30 PSX Prediction Results and Highlights 29:05 Pokemon Crystal for 3DS Virtual Console 31:36 What Else Have We Been Playing 42:24 Undertale Discussion 54:32 Undertale Spoilers 1:27:18 Play This!: Fallout 2 Play This! logo by Kessi Riliniki Play This! theme by Sean Francis

Max and Daniel are happy that Valkyria Chronicles is back, and talk about their hopes and dreams for Final Fantasy, PSX 2017, and The Game Awards. Daniel and Max go in-depth with their Pyre impressions, and Daniel makes his first recommendation: Undertale, the critically acclaimed RPG from Toby Fox. 03:14 EA removes microtransactions from Battlefront II 06:56 Valkyria Chronicles 4 11:03 Final Fantasy games in 2018 16:00 The Game Awards 2017 Predictions 24:48 PSX Predictions 28:48 What Else We've Been Playing 36:00 Pyre Impressions 39:17 Pyre Spoilers Start Here 01:27:15 Play This!: Undertale Play This! logo by Kessi Riliniki Play This! theme by Sean Francis

In their inaugural episode, Max and Daniel talk about Paris Games Week highlights, get mad at EA, and gush about Super Mario Odyssey. Also, Max makes the podcast's first game recommendation to Daniel: Pyre, by Supergiant Games. Play This! logo by Kessi Riliniki Play This! theme by Sean Francis