1Upsmanship

Zachary Ryan introduces us to a unique time-loop based, existential mystery game developed by a team of only six designers based on a Skyrim mod. The group discusses the uniqueness of this title, its ethical dilemmas, and the value of fables in gaming.

Big Bean Jason Pargin, award-winning writer and professional podcaster, drops a deuce! By that we of course mean that he joins us for a second episode in a row! This time around the beans tackle the 8th installment of the Resident Evil franchise. They discuss the scares, the development of the series over time, and why don’t they allow you to kill that baby? I mean, that baby needs to die. Why won’t you let us kill the baby?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big Bean Jason Pargin drops by to discuss the PS5 platformer Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, the new PS5 installment in the series by Insomniac Games. The gang discusses the game’s ability to immerse you, the mechanical flaws of the game, and if the chaotic action of the game distracts from the narrative. Everything you’d expect from three men discussing a game about a feline mechanic and his awful robot.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A unique game by many accounts: released as the first PS5 only major release during a pandemic and with few PS5s actually around. The boys discuss it’s repetitiveness and the uniqueness of a roguelike FPS Triple-A psychological horror game. Is this a new genre? Is this just Risk of Rain 2? Is the story anything? Adam says Adam things. Michael says Michael things. It’s a 1upsmanship episode!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zach Ryan returns to discuss the 2015 masterpiece Bloodborne with the fellas. Grab your nearest blood-based weapon and down a few blood vials because it’s time to tackle some heated discussion over the legacy of the game. The hosts discuss its insane story, complexity of games in general, and everyone’s feelings on how good games do optional quests/bosses well.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Rhyme Man is back, baby! Let’s get that going as a thing! The Rhyme Man! Did this recent update of the Doom franchise improve the basic game mechanics? Does the lore add much to the game? How do we all feel about “The Rhyme Man?” Most of these questions are answered and more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“What kind of cop are you?” That’s a real loaded question, game studio ZA/UM. First, I’m not a cop. Who said I was a cop? And second, maybe to answer that question we’ll have to get into 1800s-esque geopolitical fiction. And maybe make Michael cry. That’s right! This game opened the floodgates of both Michael’s physical tear ducts and the more philosophical ethical sparring of our hosts, Mike and Adam. Listen to hear what they think and where they disagree.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael and Adam considered all their friends and determined that the best Rocket Leaguer of them all is Abe Epperson. Turns out, he’s also bad! They’re all bad! Considering it’s a six-year-old game that still appears to be streamed by many, you’d expect they’d get a guest who’s better at the game. Though it doesn’t help that it’s one of the most challenging learning curves in modern gaming. So let’s chat about what makes Rocket League special and why it still remains relevant.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Child Michael Swaim challenges his co-host to play his favorite game Psychonauts, while they discuss its story, gameplay mechanics, and unique aesthetic. They debate the game's quality, compare it to other games, and share their experience playing a sequel. They also discuss metal imagery in games, preferences for darker versions, and the impact of triple-A games. Their opinions on Psychonauts and other games are shared, along with mentions of true crime podcasts.

Max Scoville, another friend/host/podcaster from IGN, joins Michael and Adam to discuss the hopeful hit of 2020, Cyberpunk 2077. Months after the game’s launch, which was sensationalized by its bugs and recalls, can we look at the game with more objective eyes or will it never recover, kid? Well, Samurai, eavesdrop on whether or not this game was worth its decade-long development.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.