Ep 422 - Xbox shutters studios because they're too busy to keep up, Sony kicks the Helldivers hornets' nest on Steam, and the Switch 2 announcement has a deadline. Meanwhile, we've got a great lineup of games to chat about, including Hades II, Animal Well, Crow Country, and more!

(0:00) - Intro

(2:20) - Xbox Closes Studios

(36:00) - Sony’s Messy Helldivers 2 Weekend

(54:07) - Switch 2 Announcement Has a Deadline

(1:16:09) - Hades II Impressions

(1:31:24) - A Word From Our Sponsors

(1:34:16) - Animal Well Impressions

(1:54:50) - Crow Country Impressions

(2:02:17) - Vampire Survivors: Operation Guns Impressions

(2:13:26) - John Wick Pinball Impressions

(2:20:20) - Also This Week

(2:39:13) - L&R: Ahead of Their Time

(2:44:54) - L&R: Showcasing Cancelled Games

(2:51:29) - L&R Game: New Faces in New Places

(3:01:23) - Bets

(3:06:39) - Closing

This episode is sponsored by Abiotic Factor: https://store.steampowered.com/app/427410/Abiotic_Factor/

Go to https://www.shopify.com/allies for a one-dollar-per-month trial period to grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in.

Ep 421 - It's Xbox's turn for an indie showcase, and they have some fun new reveals. We're also due for the March sales report and our patrons' Top 10 Fighting Game Specials. Take Two's latest round of layoffs are incredibly frustrating. Plus, we share impressions of Lunar Lander Beyond, Harold Halibut, Phantom Fury, and more.

This episode is sponsored by Abiotic Factor: https://store.steampowered.com/app/427410/Abiotic_Factor/

(0:00 - Intro

(3:48) - ID@Xbox Showcase

(34:10) - March Sales Report

(59:51) - Lunar Lander Beyond Impressions

(1:16:44) - Phantom Fury Impressions

(1:23:59) - Top 10 Fighting Game Specials

(1:37:42) - A Word From Our Sponsors

(1:38:53) - Another Crab's Treasure Runback

(1:47:18) - Harold Halibut Impressions

(1:56:19) - Take Two Shutters Studios

(2:03:54) - Square Enix Content Disposal

(2:18:22) - Also This Week

(2:31:02) - L&R: Current Playtime

(2:40:12) - L&R: Language Learning

(2:42:42) - L&R: What is Baby Mario?

(2:48:40) - Bets

(2:56:11) - Closing

Ep 420 - It's a big week of releases and we start off by focusing on all the great games we've been playing, including Stellar Blade*, Eiyuden Chronicle, Another Crab's Treasure, and more before getting into this week's news on Metaphor, Embracer, and LittleBigPlanet. *Review Copy Provided by PlayStation

(0:00) - Intro

(1:27) - Stellar Blade Impressions

(22:40) - Eiyuden Chronicle Impressions

(46:48) - Another Crab's Treasure Impressions

(1:03:49) - Sand Land Impressions

(1:27:24) - A Word From Our Sponsors

(1:29:21) - Tales of Kenzera: ZAU Impressions

(1:40:24) - POOLS Impressions

(1:43:31) - Metaphor ReFantazio Showcase

(1:53:59) - Embracer Makes Friends

(2:01:21) - LittleBigPlanet's Unceremonious Death

(2:06:09) - Also This Week

(2:20:45) - L&R: Unexpected Dev Connections

(2:25:54) - L&R: Animal Game Protagonists

(2:32:05) - L&R: Favorite Boss Cheese

(2:39:39) - Bets

(2:45:23) - Closing

Go to https://www.shopify.com/allies for a one-dollar-per-month trial period to grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in.

Ep 419 - It's Nintendo's turn to show off some fantastic indie games, including the reveal of SteamWorld Heist II. Meanwhile, we share our takes on Final Fantasy XVI: The Rising Tide, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, and the new Alone in the Dark.

(0:00) - Intro

(2:23) - Keanu Reeves is Shadow the Hedgehog, Who's Next?

(9:44) - Nintendo Indie World Highlights

(34:10) - Lorelei and the Laser Eyes Preview

(48:42) - Final Fantasy XVI: The Rising Tide Impressions

(1:17:42) - A Word From Our Sponsors

(1:20:37) - Alone in the Dark Impressions

(1:32:42) - Also This Week

(1:53:16) - L&R: Playing Your Own Game

(1:58:27) - L&R: Dreaded Bosses

(2:11:07) - L&R: Second Playthrough, Second Wind

(2:19:14) - Bets

(2:24:57) - Closing

Use code ALLIES at https://incogni.com/ALLIES to get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan.

Ep 418 - The latest on Star Wars Outlaws has us ready to navigate the criminal underworld. The Triple-i Initiative reveals a new Prince of Persia and a lot of fresh details on plenty more games. Isla checks out the creepy sniper puzzle game, and Huber finally gets hooked on Balatro.

(0:00) - Intro

(2:48) - Star Wars Outlaws

(24:13) - Children of the Sun Impressions

(32:35) - The Rogue Prince of Persia

(44:35) - More from The Triple-i Initiative

(1:27:10) - A Word From Our Sponsors

(1:30:01) - Saviorless Impressions

(1:33:38) - Huber Gets Hooked on Balatro

(1:52:16) - Also This Week

(2:11:12) - L&R: Childhood Obsessions

(2:26:25) - L&R: Unplayed Recommendations

(2:29:37) - L&R: Bravia a Precursor to Samsung Gaming Hub?

(2:37:37) - Bets

(2:44:15) - Closing

Go to https://www.shopify.com/allies for a one-dollar-per-month trial period to grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in.

Ep 417 - Eternal Strands has some new takes on ideas similar to Shadow of the Colossus, but we aren't fully sold quite yet. Meanwhile, we've got our eye on the next game from the makers of Dead Cells, and Monaco 2 looks promising. Plus, impressions of Open Roads and Llamasoft, as well as our Discord's Top 10 Battle Songs.

(0:00) - Intro

(2:03) - Eternal Strands Reveal

(15:05) - Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story Impressions

(39:55) - Open Roads Impressions

(49:33) - Discord Top 10 and Game Recommendations

(1:14:11) - Monaco 2 Preview

(1:24:58) - Windblown

(1:29:35) - Also This Week

(1:52:56) - L&R: Any Game Art?

(2:01:57) - L&R: Reviving Dead Console Features

(2:11:56) - L&R: Faithful Throwbacks

(2:19:53) - Bets

(2:24:48) - Closing

Ep 416 - Spring is in the air as we look forward to see which new games are just around the corner. We share our thoughts on the Stellar Blade demo, Pepper Grinder, and Princess Peach. Plus, there's another new Marvel game announcement this week that goes full Overwatch. *Stellar Blade Preview Access Provided by PlayStation

(0:00) - Intro

(1:47) - April Game Preview

(45:59) - Stellar Blade Demo Impressions

(53:30) - May Game Preview

(1:21:01) - Pepper Grinder Impressions

(1:34:32) - June Game Preview

(1:55:41) - Princess Peach: Showtime! Impressions

(2:17:21) - Also This Week

(2:31:23) - L&R: Best Time to Announce Microtransactions

(2:41:19) - L&R Game: Hall of 8s

(2:48:14) - L&R: Back to Basics

(2:53:00) - Bets

(2:58:17) - Closing

Games discussed in this episode:

Saviorless

Sons of Valhalla

Children of the Sun

Broken Roads

Ereban: Shadow Legacy

Harold Halibut

Life Eater

Final Fantasy XVI: The Rising Tide

No Rest for the Wicked

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

Lunar Lander Beyond

Phantom Fury

Tales of Kenzera: ZAU

Another Crab's Treasure

Demon Slayer - Sweep the Board

POOLS

Sand Land

Yolk Heroes: A Long Tamago

Abiotic Factor

Endless Ocean Luminous

Indika

Animal Well

Crow Country

Surmount

Homeworld 3

Paper Trail

Hauntii

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

World of Goo 2

Destiny 2: The Final Shape

Blockbuster, Inc.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

#BLUD

Still Wakes the Deep

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble

Luigi's Mansion 2 HD

Ep 415 - It's a huge week as we finally get to gush about Dragon's Dogma 2, Rise of the Ronin, and Unicorn Overlord. We get our first look at Amy Hennig's Marvel game with Captain America and Black Panther. Plus tons of GDC announcements and more. *Rise of the Ronin provided by PlayStation.

(0:00) - Intro

(2:13) - Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra

(10:36) - More GDC News

(28:37) - Dragon's Dogma 2 Impressions

(1:05:34) - Future Games Show Highlights

(1:23:58) - A Word From Our Sponsors

(1:28:35) - Rise of the Ronin Impressions

(1:55:54) - February Sales Report

(2:12:28) - Unicorn Overlord Impressions

(2:36:26) - Also This Week

(2:53:20) - L&R: Dragon's Dogma Pawns

(2:57:45) - L&R: I Need to Talk to Someone

(3:04:40) - L&R Game: Can It... Super Mario?

(3:13:45) - Bets

(3:22:40) - Closing

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Go to https://www.shopify.com/allies for a one-dollar-per-month trial period to grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in.

Ep 414 - HipHopGamer is finally in the house for our longest episode ever, with no shortage of stories, as we talk about using cheat software, the new studios, Contra, Outcast, Pools, and more.

(0:00) - Intro

(2:05) - Get to Know HipHopGamer

(39:19) - Is It Cheating If You're Alone?

(1:17:17) - Triple A or Triple I?

(1:52:42) - POOLS

(1:58:14) - Contra: Operation Galuga Impressions

(2:09:29) - Outcast - A New Beginning Impressions

(2:36:09) - Also This Week

(3:00:50) - L&R: Favorite Soundtracks

(3:15:07) - L&R Game: And the Other One?

(3:28:11) - L&R Game: Dragon Ball or Mixed Drink?

(3:32:28) - Bets

(3:39:05) - Closing

Ep 413 - The games at this week's Xbox Partner Preview are even better after getting a closer look. We share our thoughts on The Outlast Trials and Slave Zero X, we check out our patrons' Top 10 Detectives, and we shake our heads at the mess Warner Bros. is leaving in its wake.

*The Wrong Question was submitted by Andy Schreiner.

(0:00) - Intro

(1:33) - The Wrong Question

(3:47) - Unknown 9: Awakening Preview

(17:27) - Xbox Partner Preview

(1:10:46) - The Outlast Trials Impressions

(1:23:58) - Live Service vs Life Eater

(1:35:11) - A Word From Our Sponsors

(1:37:11) - Patrons' Top 10 Detectives in Games

(1:49:14) - Slave Zero X Impressions

(1:58:54) - Also This Week

(2:13:05) - L&R: Why the Spoilers?

(2:18:52) - L&R: Nintendo is in the Same Race

(2:24:02) - L&R Game: Identify the Smash Trophy

(2:29:59) - Bets

(2:37:28) - Closing

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Ep 412 - The year's historic round of layoffs hits harder this week as PlayStation and EA make massive cuts. Meanwhile, we check out Balatro, No Rest for the Wicked, and the Splatoon 3 DLC, speculate on that new Pokemon announcement, and go through January sales.

(0:00) - Intro

(1:52) - Balatro Impressions

(15:23) - Pokemon Presents

(36:07) - No Rest for the Wicked Preview

(48:33) - January Sales Report

(1:06:03) - Splatoon 3: Side Order Impressions

(1:17:22) - Layoffs at PlayStation, EA, and More

(1:44:33) - Also This Week

(1:51:35) - L&R: Is Another Crash Coming?

(2:04:01) - L&R: A Lull in the Generation

(2:19:05) - L&R: Dream Reimaginings

(2:26:42) - Bets

(2:32:42) - Closing