The Besties: Best Games of January 2017 (Feat. Justin, Griffin, Plante and Russ)
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Date: 2023-12-10
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Comments and reviews: 17
-anotherwesley7661
I really appreciate the work you guys do in putting these Besties podcasts together, even though I know the core mechanic of voting for a Best Game Of The X is frustrating and kind of futile. But the process of going through and vetting recent games and then sitting down and presenting them thoughtfully is absolutely terrific, because like many people I find the task of keeping up with gaming news for all platforms incredibly daunting, and I don't think I have ever cold bought a game for any platform that I hadn't had recommended to me in some form or another. The unfortunate result is that left to mine own devices, I end up sleeping on of tons and tons of awesome games and instead settle for playing stuff I already know. Having these fun, introspective, varied recommendations from you guys is just a life saver, and it's been good for me to even go back and listen to some of the archived Besties of the ancient past, because dang have I ever missed out on some cool stuff. I could take or leave the final voting, but if that's the excuse that brings all this to the table, then I welcome it. :) I also deeply appreciate the informed commentary on the differences between western and eastern games, play styles, audience appeal, and all that sort of good stuff that makes me feel smarter and more informed about the industry just for listening to a gamer podcast. Thanks again, gents!
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I really appreciate the work you guys do in putting these Besties podcasts together, even though I know the core mechanic of voting for a Best Game Of The X is frustrating and kind of futile. But the process of going through and vetting recent games and then sitting down and presenting them thoughtfully is absolutely terrific, because like many people I find the task of keeping up with gaming news for all platforms incredibly daunting, and I don't think I have ever cold bought a game for any platform that I hadn't had recommended to me in some form or another. The unfortunate result is that left to mine own devices, I end up sleeping on of tons and tons of awesome games and instead settle for playing stuff I already know. Having these fun, introspective, varied recommendations from you guys is just a life saver, and it's been good for me to even go back and listen to some of the archived Besties of the ancient past, because dang have I ever missed out on some cool stuff. I could take or leave the final voting, but if that's the excuse that brings all this to the table, then I welcome it. :) I also deeply appreciate the informed commentary on the differences between western and eastern games, play styles, audience appeal, and all that sort of good stuff that makes me feel smarter and more informed about the industry just for listening to a gamer podcast. Thanks again, gents!
reply
-magickoopa24
I think the big thing the Switch has over the Wii U is forecast- what games and game-related things are coming in the next 6-12 months. For the Wii U, and correct me if I'm wrong, I don't remember there being any games mentioned on the horizon, just the 30 mediocre games coming on launch and maybe a couple to look forward to. Instead, the things people were most excited for within the coming year was the PS4 and XB1, theorized to come in by the end of 2013. While Nintendo would eventually list out games in development by January, the dialogue about the system was already -Wait until the PS4/XB1, they're coming up soon, - and I'd say the Wii u suffered heavily from that. Compare that with the Switch- the launch lineup is by no means better, but the forecast is way more packed with games that people are interested in, and the dialogue (at least currently) is more -Wait until there are more games, - rather than, say, -Wait for the Scorpio, it's coming up soon. - I dunno, maybe I'm biased, but I don't see the Switch suffering as much as the Wii U did, at least not for the same reasons.
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I think the big thing the Switch has over the Wii U is forecast- what games and game-related things are coming in the next 6-12 months. For the Wii U, and correct me if I'm wrong, I don't remember there being any games mentioned on the horizon, just the 30 mediocre games coming on launch and maybe a couple to look forward to. Instead, the things people were most excited for within the coming year was the PS4 and XB1, theorized to come in by the end of 2013. While Nintendo would eventually list out games in development by January, the dialogue about the system was already -Wait until the PS4/XB1, they're coming up soon, - and I'd say the Wii u suffered heavily from that. Compare that with the Switch- the launch lineup is by no means better, but the forecast is way more packed with games that people are interested in, and the dialogue (at least currently) is more -Wait until there are more games, - rather than, say, -Wait for the Scorpio, it's coming up soon. - I dunno, maybe I'm biased, but I don't see the Switch suffering as much as the Wii U did, at least not for the same reasons.
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-Caloph
The best thing I ever did with astroneer was to go all the way around the base planet. I chose a direction on my compass (North, loaded my backpack with compound to make tethers, and set off. It took me a few hours, and the coolest part was getting to the poles and my compass flipping so I was suddenly going south instead of north and later north instead of south. I did eventually get back to my home base (after tunneling through 6 -7 mountains over the whole trip, but unfortunately all the tethers I put down made the game lag HARD. As in, by the time I was home, every time I placed a tether the game froze for five seconds before allowing me to move again, with about two seconds of lag on every movement. I started a new game after that, and have my original game still saved in case I ever want to circumnavigate the planet! (Albeit at a very slow and choppy pace)
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The best thing I ever did with astroneer was to go all the way around the base planet. I chose a direction on my compass (North, loaded my backpack with compound to make tethers, and set off. It took me a few hours, and the coolest part was getting to the poles and my compass flipping so I was suddenly going south instead of north and later north instead of south. I did eventually get back to my home base (after tunneling through 6 -7 mountains over the whole trip, but unfortunately all the tethers I put down made the game lag HARD. As in, by the time I was home, every time I placed a tether the game froze for five seconds before allowing me to move again, with about two seconds of lag on every movement. I started a new game after that, and have my original game still saved in case I ever want to circumnavigate the planet! (Albeit at a very slow and choppy pace)
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-HunterJE
The observation about Japanese versus Western games and their approach to systems versus realism really fits (at least at the level of generalism, and I'd never really thought about it that way. In common to a lot of my favorite Japanese games of years past (especially in RPG and adjacent genres) is the way you end up learning the systems and rules to a degree where they almost feel more like puzzle games. It seems like it should undermine the storytelling but somehow when done well it's super compelling. Usually if I find myself seeing through the game to the same degree in most Western games it feels like a shortcoming.
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The observation about Japanese versus Western games and their approach to systems versus realism really fits (at least at the level of generalism, and I'd never really thought about it that way. In common to a lot of my favorite Japanese games of years past (especially in RPG and adjacent genres) is the way you end up learning the systems and rules to a degree where they almost feel more like puzzle games. It seems like it should undermine the storytelling but somehow when done well it's super compelling. Usually if I find myself seeing through the game to the same degree in most Western games it feels like a shortcoming.
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polygon
I'm playing Yakuza 3 right now in the hopes of getting into the series and I am just incredibly bored. I feel as though the game is wasting my time with busy work and uninvolving quests mostly related to running an orphanage. Any fans know if this is a problem with the third game, specifically? Or is this series just not for me?
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I'm playing Yakuza 3 right now in the hopes of getting into the series and I am just incredibly bored. I feel as though the game is wasting my time with busy work and uninvolving quests mostly related to running an orphanage. Any fans know if this is a problem with the third game, specifically? Or is this series just not for me?
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-roidroid
i reckon they should allow the games to compete for not just 1 month, but for 2 or 3 months. This way you can test a game's replayability. ie: Astroneer could be a great game we continue to play for years, but these boys arn't going to talk about it ever again coz it just got beat by Resident Evil this month, welp!
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i reckon they should allow the games to compete for not just 1 month, but for 2 or 3 months. This way you can test a game's replayability. ie: Astroneer could be a great game we continue to play for years, but these boys arn't going to talk about it ever again coz it just got beat by Resident Evil this month, welp!
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polygon
Justin: -My name is Justin McElroy and I know the best games of the week. -
Griffin: -The year. -
Justin: -Dipshit. -
Griffin: (laughs) -My name is Griffin McElroy and I actually don't know the best games of the year. -
That was from the 2010 Besties video. That part was so funny.
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Justin: -My name is Justin McElroy and I know the best games of the week. -
Griffin: -The year. -
Justin: -Dipshit. -
Griffin: (laughs) -My name is Griffin McElroy and I actually don't know the best games of the year. -
That was from the 2010 Besties video. That part was so funny.
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-JayOfSpade
Like I'm someone who gets really uncomfortable with grotesque anime fanservices, and I really feel like you're being too hard on Miku. Like she has a hundred outfits, and there's around 5 bathing suits. And some of the bathing suit are just like fun beach times, and I like that.
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Like I'm someone who gets really uncomfortable with grotesque anime fanservices, and I really feel like you're being too hard on Miku. Like she has a hundred outfits, and there's around 5 bathing suits. And some of the bathing suit are just like fun beach times, and I like that.
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-dusty29100
Question: Where can I find a download of the Besties Theme song?
I swear I've had it stuck in my head more times than I can count (perhaps rivaling only the Idle Thumbs theme) and would like the have it implanted in my head for reference should the need arise.
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Question: Where can I find a download of the Besties Theme song?
I swear I've had it stuck in my head more times than I can count (perhaps rivaling only the Idle Thumbs theme) and would like the have it implanted in my head for reference should the need arise.
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-marcbo92
Can everything from polygon please be only Justin and Griffin? You could give credit where credit is due. Such as, - Justin and Griffin McElroy present Russ and Chris' ideas. - Because let's face it you want it to be funny you let the McElroy brothers talk it out!
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Can everything from polygon please be only Justin and Griffin? You could give credit where credit is due. Such as, - Justin and Griffin McElroy present Russ and Chris' ideas. - Because let's face it you want it to be funny you let the McElroy brothers talk it out!
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-jordant8190
'im not gonna play a ps2-era brawler that came out in japan only' griffin. all the main series yakuza games have been translated its only the spin-offs that are japan only
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'im not gonna play a ps2-era brawler that came out in japan only' griffin. all the main series yakuza games have been translated its only the spin-offs that are japan only
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-TheArKabZol
oh my god, a podcast that actually lets you see who's talking so you can learn to recognise the voices as a newcomer. THIS ALONE PUTS EVERY OTHER PODCAST VIDEO TO SHAME.
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oh my god, a podcast that actually lets you see who's talking so you can learn to recognise the voices as a newcomer. THIS ALONE PUTS EVERY OTHER PODCAST VIDEO TO SHAME.
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-Vitreia
Totally agree with Griffin about the first half of FFXV. The presentation is great, but the storytelling was completely nonsensical and I wasn't into the fetch quests.
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Totally agree with Griffin about the first half of FFXV. The presentation is great, but the storytelling was completely nonsensical and I wasn't into the fetch quests.
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-anodosarcade7355
This is polygon, so their portraits are made into polygons. I just got that!
I think I did. I haven't slept in a while.
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This is polygon, so their portraits are made into polygons. I just got that!
I think I did. I haven't slept in a while.
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-SamaraVeler
Eee! Besties is back! This makes me feel so nostalgic for waiting for the bus, especially to get to class at university.
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Eee! Besties is back! This makes me feel so nostalgic for waiting for the bus, especially to get to class at university.
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-kilhoffb
Thank you for adding more content to your already busy schedule
I loved this show, so seriously glad it's back again
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Thank you for adding more content to your already busy schedule
I loved this show, so seriously glad it's back again
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-joebetz6317
Very happy to find this. Just four, cool, down-to-earth bros talking games and zaggin on each other/ us. Stay Gold
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Very happy to find this. Just four, cool, down-to-earth bros talking games and zaggin on each other/ us. Stay Gold
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