Caitlin has no experience with the Persona formula, whereas Mark is a longtime Person stan--so we have you covered for Metaphor: ReFantazio. Caitlin's blood vendetta against tutorials reaches the game early Blizzard game Blackthorne, and no NPCs will survive her determination to learn as she goes.

What We're Playing

01:08 Mark: Inscyption (Daniel Mullins Games, 2021)

13:07 Caitlin: Neko Atsume 2 (Hit-Point, 2024)

17:34 GOOF: Blackthorne (Blizzard Entertainment, 1994)

31:04 Feature Game: Metaphor: ReFantazio (Studio Zero, 2024)

SHOUT

58:27 Mark: Exodus (Archetype Entertainment)

It's a theme week here at AMBFAD, and we're doing grimy science fiction. From beneath the ground in Fallout to beyond the stars with the Void Bastards, we have you covered--with apologies for the salty language.

What We're Playing

01:14 Mark: Rabbit and Steel (mino_dev, 2024)

02:23 Mark: Street Fighter 6 (Capcom, 2023)

12:20 Caitlin: Core Keeper (Pugstorm, 2024)

20:34 GOOF: Fallout (Interplay, 1997)

35:33 Feature Game: Void Bastards (Blue Manchu, 2019)

SHOUT

56:30 Caitlin: Fable (Playground Games)

58:56 Mark: Windblown (Motion Twin)

Mark continues Caitlin's forced education on the Neo Geo with Shock Troopers, an underappreciated run and gun. They then discuss Death and Taxes, a narrative game with some strange framing choices.

WE INTERRUPT YOUR EPISODE NOTES WITH URGENT HORSE NEWS: A horse game is incoming!

What We're Playing

01:01 Caitlin: Fire Emblem: Three Houses

07:51 Caitlin: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

09:40 Mark: Halls of Torment (Casing Carrots, 2024)

17:58 GOOF: Shock Troopers (Saurus, 1997)

28:14 Feature Game: Death and Taxes (Placeholder Gameworks, 2020)

44:19 Spoilers Begin

51:25 Spoilers End

SHOUT

52:43 Mark: Windstorm: Legend of the Khiimori (Aesir Interactive and NightinGames)

One ought never to overlook a chance to extol the virtues of Terry Bogard, so we discuss the classic Garou: Mark of the Wolves. In anticipation of the upcoming Veilguard, we touch on all the main Dragon Age games released thus far.

What We're Playing

00:50 Mark: Tactical Breach Wizards (Suspicious Developments, 2024)

02:02 Mark: Anomaly Agent (Phew Phew, 2024)

10:33 Caitlin: Risk of Rain 2 (Hopoo Games, 2020)

21:39 GOOF: Garou: Mark of the Wolves (SNK, 1999)

32:35 Feature Game: Dragon Age (BioWare, 2009-)

SHOUT

1:18:39 Caitlin: Neva (Nomada Studio)

We finally show Nintendo some love in the form of The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, and get blown away (in many ways) by Tactical Breach Wizards.

What We're Playing

01:02 Caitlin: Rabbit and Steel (mino_dev, 2024)

08:45 Mark: The Ninja Warriors (Natsume, 1994)

13:24 GOOF: The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (Flagship and Capcom, 2004)

TechDweeb's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TechDweeb

30:19 Feature Game: Tactical Breach Wizards (Suspicious Developments, 2024)

SHOUT

49:58 Mark: Halls of Torment (Chasing Carrots)

52:19 Caitlin: Orcs Must Die: Deathtrap (Robot Entertainment)

All shooting, all the time! Both Rabbit and Steel and Undertale leverage shoot-em-up elements in novel ways, and they form a natural set with the punishing Ikaruga.

What We're Playing

00:57 Caitlin: Core Keeper (Pugstorm, 2024)

08:19 Mark: Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Intelligent Systems, 2019)

13:49 Mark: Rabbit and Steel (mino_dev, 2024)

18:00 Caitlin: Risk of Rain 2: Seekers of the Storm (Gearbox, 2024)

21:21 GOOF: Ikaruga (Treasure, 2001)

30:05 Feature Game: Undertale (Toby Fox, 2015)

SHOUT

52:27 Caitlin: Dragon Age: The Veilguard (BioWare)

53:11 Mark: Iron Meat (Retroware)

Sometimes the only way to show that you love is to complain and nitpick, and that's exactly what Caitlin and Mark do with Fire Emblem--a game they both enjoy but think is sometimes borderline absurd.

What We're Playing

01:04 Mark: Tactical Breach Wizards (Suspicious Developments, 2024)

08:47 Caitlin: Risk of Rain 2: Seekers of the Storm (Gearbox, 2024)

13:14 GOOF: Metroid (R&D Team 1 and Intelligent Systems, 1986) and Metroid: Zero Mission (R&D Team 1, 2004)

25:10 Feature Game: Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Intelligent Systems, 2019)

SHOUT

50:51 Caitlin: Goblin Cleanup (Crisalu)

52:13 Mark: Capcom Fighting Collection 2 (Capcom)

Caitlin reciprocates this week by trying ICO, one of Mark's all-time favourites. They also both explore the coming-of-age story I Was a Teenage Exocolonist, in which you play as... well, let's not undermine the excellent title, shall we?

What We're Playing

00:53 Caitlin: Rabbit and Steel (mino_dev, 2024)

08:45 Mark: Valkyrie Profile (tri-Ace, 1999)

15:11 GOOF: ICO (Team ICO, 2001)

29:54 Feature Game: I Was a Teenage Exocolonist (Northway, 2022)

48:09 Spoilers Begin

56:32 Spoilers End

SHOUT

58:48 Caitlin: Fields of Mistria (NPC Studio)

59:24 Mark: Risk of Rain 2: Seekers of the Storm (Gearbox Software)