Two new games break the rules -- and the mind
Added 2024-03-12 04:04:10 +0000 UTC
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Have you ever looked deep into a Magic Eye and wondered if the Magic Eye was looking back? Have you ever wondered why we drive in a parkway and park in a driveway? Have you ever spent too much time in a freshly painted but poorly ventilated room and found yourself lost in your own mind?
Yes friends, It's time for a trippy episode of The Resties!
This week, we discuss Ultros, a Metroidvania that breaks space and time. And then we wrap our minds around Windowkill, a twin-stick shooter that turns your desktop's windows into battlegrounds
2024 is proving to be a great year for weird games. We couldn't be happier to share them with you!
Games discussed
Stardew Valley live
There are still tickets left... if you live in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Singapore, or Korea.
Other stuff
- Jeremy Parish made a new video essay on Mega Man 2
- There’s never been a better time to set sail in Sea of Thieves
- Akira Toriyama gave us gaming’s most perfect character design
Question for the comments:
What's the weirdest game you've ever played?
Comments
I can't remember the prompt but if it's games we have a memory around I would say monster rancher hop about. Used to play that with my sister and make the most horrid levels that were either finished in one second or were never possible
Whatsup Studmuffin
2025-02-26 10:16:04 +0000 UTCI only ever played MGS2 which might be why I haven't played any other MGS game. Has there ever been an MGS game where Solid Snake peels off the mask to reveal it is still Solid Snake? That seems like it would be peak Kojima.
Dan Reeser
2024-04-07 16:54:04 +0000 UTCIn the category games that transport you back to a specific time of life, it will always be og Banjo-Kazooie. My 2 cousins & I went absolutely bananas when we finally unlocked Click Clock Wood & when we learned about punching in the "secret codes" in the sandcastle. The game's ending (the "sneak peek" of secrets for the "next" game) was my first ever exposure to the idea of cheats/easter eggs. To this day, one of my friends still sends me insta vids/tiktoks w/ BK related music.
David Miller
2024-04-04 21:59:18 +0000 UTCnot a weird game, but I finally caught up and I don’t think I remember you mentioning Tales & Tactics? It’s in early access and made by (some of) the people behind the giant Downfall mod of Slay the Spire. Very similar to Spire in terms of path selection, extent of storytelling, and rogue-like elements, but each fight is an auto battle of little monster guys that you optimize ahead of time. I’ve never played an auto battler before, but this one has really caught my interest/free time in a similar way to Slay the Spire.
Meg
2024-03-27 18:25:43 +0000 UTCI played Mines of Moria, an ASCII rogue-like game from the late Eighties for dozens of hours.
Dan N
2024-03-27 00:29:08 +0000 UTCBy how you described it, Ultros almost feels more Rogue like with Metroid aspects. What do you think?
Steven
2024-03-25 05:50:17 +0000 UTCI don't know if the 25 dollars is worth it from the episode. I know they said to get the download, but are you be happy with the game for 25 dollars Russ? Thanks!
Bryan Gillespie
2024-03-23 21:29:16 +0000 UTCMy wife and I have been loving princess peach showtime. We don't have kids of our own yet, but would this game be similar to a kirby forgotten land? As far as enjoyment for kids? Or is the differing game play to difficult to adapt to for them? How have your kids responded to it if they have played?
Long-Time Bestie, First-Time Patreon
2024-03-23 20:00:59 +0000 UTCThanks so much for answering my question! I now know what y'all are talking about with the rouge games 😁
Notes Reviews
2024-03-22 18:45:52 +0000 UTCThis is such a specific ask, but would you consider doing a Resties episode regarding like… “girl games” (for lack of a better term)? As a girl growing up in the 2000s, I had a pink GameBoy, a pink DS, and occasional access to the family PC. I played a lot of Nintendogs, Cooking Mama, and Barbie Horse Adventure. Also fashion games. I’d be curious to hear them talked about as legitimate games. What genre does Cooking Mama even fall into? What about Nintendogs? I guess sims? Thanks for being a part of my makeup routine twice a week and congrats on starting the Patreon!
Krista Brenholt
2024-03-19 15:55:59 +0000 UTCIdea for Patreon: video content! Even just screen recorded video calls; allows a little more immersion and interaction for those that want it. Sometimes I listen to podcasts while gaming and it’s nice to put faces to the voices or see reactions/images.
Elisha Lucero
2024-03-19 04:10:55 +0000 UTCDoki doki literature club and Undertale I think are the weirdest I’ve experienced (though shoutout to the unexpected evolution of Inscryption too!) On another note - would love if y’all did an episode on games with distinct or beautiful artistic styles. One that comes to mind for me is “Book of Travels” by Might and Delight- it’s an early access TMORPG that has a hand-painted watercolor aesthetic and is a pure exploration game with hidden mechanics (like drinking tea with other travelers to learn how to read in this world). It’s SUPER pretty, the music is amazing, and it’s instantly relaxing. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1152340/Book_of_Travels/
greyandgory
2024-03-18 14:21:03 +0000 UTCI know this isnt entirely your vibe but I think it would be so fun to have yall do a cozy game episode because this really seems to be an emerging genre (I wonder if Justin would like playing those games best)
Val
2024-03-18 09:06:08 +0000 UTCJust came to the comments to shout out Russ' immediate TMBG reference (and it instantly bouncing off Plante) :D
ROLLINKUNZ!
2024-03-16 18:43:01 +0000 UTCYo WIndowkill is AWESOME! Thanks for the great rec! Gonna go fry my GPU now!
Patrick
2024-03-16 08:54:56 +0000 UTCThinking about a game that takes me back to a moment in life - I distinctly remember sitting in church and almost being overcome with excitement thinking about the Game Boy Colour & Pokemon Blue that my parents had promised to get me for Christmas. They got it for me, and it was exactly as dope as I'd hoped.
James Prothero
2024-03-16 05:03:02 +0000 UTCI think the description of what a roguelike game is was absolutely worth my subscription money. Having gotten into games later in life (40+) I'm super wary of what feels like wasting my time on games and the description told me that without a doubt these are not for me! I can now focus elsewhere! Thank you!
Arwen
2024-03-16 02:29:22 +0000 UTCJust remembered Great Greed also exists, also on Game Boy. Fight the ecoterrorist Bio Haz and his fantasy army named after popular snacks and vegetables. YAAA!
Matthew Vinkler
2024-03-15 23:00:36 +0000 UTCMegalit. Game Boy. Also I would say you threw Frush under the bus on the main cast, but he would probably survive that because he is so, so humourously skinny and whatnot.
Matthew Vinkler
2024-03-15 21:12:10 +0000 UTCProbably the weirdest games I've ever played are volumes 1 & 2 of the Triennale Game Collection. Mostly what's weird about them is that they're sold in videogame storefronts at all, because they're actually downloadable media art exhibitions from the Milan Triennale. The games themselves are of extremely variable quality and I'm not sure I recommend them (even though they're free). But they are a very good way to reflect on how confusing it is that we call so many unrelated things "games."
Matthew Parsons
2024-03-15 16:06:09 +0000 UTCThis is such a good list. Cosmo D is probably my favourite indie dev out there
Matthew Parsons
2024-03-15 15:46:30 +0000 UTCFair point!
Chris
2024-03-15 14:29:16 +0000 UTCPotentially, but going to give them some time to figure out their server issues.
Chris
2024-03-15 14:28:36 +0000 UTCMaybe I’m missing something but isn’t Russ’ big twist for Ultros just that it’s a roguelike? You lose everything , start over, but have ways to invest in permanent upgrades, route shortening, and map changes?
Eliot Cirivello
2024-03-15 08:25:21 +0000 UTCThe question of what game makes you think of a time and place super brought me back to being 10 and playing Crash Bandicoot. I would allow my younger sibling to watch me play if they made me toast.
Madison Dahl
2024-03-14 18:40:02 +0000 UTCRE: Ultros - why does it need to "prove" its approach to metroidvanias is "better" than say, Steamworld Dig 2? It's art - fine if you didn't personally enjoy it as much as other games in the genre but I don't think games need to justify design choices in that way (usually - I'm sure you could find exceptions lol)
Thomas Flott
2024-03-14 17:15:46 +0000 UTCAlso - weirdest game I've ever played just might be, Placid Plastic Duck Simulator
Ian Hickey
2024-03-13 21:19:24 +0000 UTCWindowkill looks so cool
Ian Hickey
2024-03-13 21:15:28 +0000 UTCWould you guys do a review on Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection? I don't think it needs a full besties thing, but would be fun to hear y'all chat about it on resties at least
Caleb Ackerman
2024-03-13 20:26:27 +0000 UTCplant saying that there was a lore drop at the nier automata symphony is so on brand for nier ahaha
Shay Park
2024-03-13 14:42:48 +0000 UTCAn act of knight-like bravery!
Chris
2024-03-13 00:23:52 +0000 UTCI never dab my pizza with paper towels I'm so fuckin metal
Isaac Smith
2024-03-13 00:18:28 +0000 UTCWhat I immediately thought of with the prompt of games that bring you back to another time is all sitting around my at my cousins PS2 passing the controller and playing sly cooper, that monsters inc tie in game collectathon with the scream canisters, and being astounded by the PS EYE. We didn’t have any game systems in my house growing up so it was such a rare and exciting thing to feel like we were at the cutting edge of technology over their house. Oh and roller coaster tycoon, being a mad god with power over life and death 😂🎢 great ep ! Might have to check out ultros 👀 I love the colors
Alec
2024-03-12 20:15:51 +0000 UTCThe discussion of what people see as wasting their time is interesting. I love checking things off a to do list in games, so games where the time I take to learn the ropes I am not meaningfully accomplishing things feels like it is wasting my time.
Chase Curtin
2024-03-12 20:09:44 +0000 UTCI love games that mess with your computer in a meta way. Undertale and Doki-Doki Literature Club always come to mind. Maybe I just like 4th wall breaks in general….
ThanaThots
2024-03-12 19:25:03 +0000 UTCSearch action games guys...
Grant Cameron
2024-03-12 16:40:17 +0000 UTCCame to the comments to say the same thing, thank you for this
Jonah Klein-Barton
2024-03-12 16:12:15 +0000 UTCGreat episode! For me, the "weird games" crown would need to go to either Pony Island or Doki Doki Literature Club. I'd probably have to give the nod to Doki though, since I normally *HATE* Japanese life/dating sim type games... but that one was paced juuuust right to keep me suspicious.
Brian Mooney
2024-03-12 14:08:27 +0000 UTCGreat episode, first time I have used Patreon for anything and man, it’s so worth it. Have you guys ever checked out Brotato? I played the hell out of it on mobile and now have it for PS5, purely because I can enjoy it again and grab some trophies. It’s such an easy play but it’s deeper than it appears on the surface!
Overcooked cucumber
2024-03-12 12:28:50 +0000 UTCI’ve never been able to actually see anything in Magic Eye posters. :( But listening to this podcast is kinda like a Magic Ear!
Michael B.
2024-03-12 12:13:50 +0000 UTCI mean, it has to be Glittermitten Grove. I will say no more than this.
Grayson Morley
2024-03-12 12:12:22 +0000 UTCThat statue got me high reference did not go over my head. I thought the mcelboys were the only TMBG fans on the besties, now this podcast is even my-people than it was before
Snoozy
2024-03-12 12:03:11 +0000 UTCOff peak and norwood suite rule so much, and the latter has maybe the best ost of all time
Isaac Smith
2024-03-12 10:57:24 +0000 UTCI live and breathe weird games. Killer7 remains one of my favorites, even if it's well-known, and everything by Keita Takahashi. Others are the Hylics duology; the Off-Peak saga by Cosmo D; King-Spooner's stuff like Sluggish Morss; Magicdweedoo's body of work; and thecatamites' games like Magic Wand and Goblet Grotto. Juice Galaxy is fun too, Wurroom is pleasant, and Producer 2021 is a very recent favorite. There's just too many to pick from, especially in the indie space!
Sweet Wizzle
2024-03-12 09:53:19 +0000 UTCIt's an incredible game. Some former devs from Love-de-Lic worked on that -- one of my favorite studios, whose devs would also go on to work on Chulip and Chibi-Robo. One of my favorite games ever is moon: Remix RPG Adventure, which definitely qualifies as weird, developed by Love-de-Lic. There's a remaster of that out and a spiritual successor being developed called Stray Children. An unrelated homage to moon, called 24 Killers, is also available on Steam. So there's some recs if you liked Contact!
Sweet Wizzle
2024-03-12 09:42:28 +0000 UTCOh man, weirdest game I think I have ever played is "Contact", published by Atlus on the Nintendo DS and heavily Earthbound inspired, what a weird little 4th-wall breaking RPG that was.
Cinna_The_Poet
2024-03-12 09:05:57 +0000 UTCYou are a side-scrollng viking hero dude killing flying demons and super scary monsters. You are also a flying naked baby who plots out and protects farming settlements in an age of antiquity. Roaming around in your flying nimbus town, the Nick Arcade classic, SNES Actraiser never fails to please.
16-Xray
2024-03-12 06:10:36 +0000 UTCSpeaking of obscure 90s games and great sound tracks, there’s this one called Odyssey: Legend of Nemesis that features such bops as Chopin’s Polonaise in f sharp minor Op. 44. Check it out, sound of the summer.
Ccchloister
2024-03-12 05:40:00 +0000 UTCThere are so many weird, obscure computer games from the 90s I could choose from. I wish I could remember their names, they were very formative to me! Weirdest one I do remember is Rodney’s Wonder Window. Looking it up now, it says it’s an educational game, but heaven only knows what it was educating me on (jk it’s educating me on the art of Rodney Greenblat, apparently). As far as recent weirdos, I really enjoyed Anodyne, even if I didn’t fully understand it. The vibes range from funny to spooky to moving. Great soundtrack, too.
Ccchloister
2024-03-12 05:34:08 +0000 UTCThank you SO much for the Star Racer shout-out! (From the Star Racer team ❤️)
natalie gedeon
2024-03-12 05:04:30 +0000 UTCI think Undertale is the weirdest game I have ever played.
Mat Yunker
2024-03-12 04:52:03 +0000 UTCVery excited to listen to this one during my workout today! Love Ultros, and also looking forward to Fesitval of Seaons! 2nd row center seats for the Austin show 😎
Thomas Barker
2024-03-12 04:49:52 +0000 UTCI love being part of the besties patreon, can't wait to listen to this tomorrow at work.
Brad MacDonald
2024-03-12 04:40:20 +0000 UTCwe are not doing any illeginal mednicines.
Zardoz
2024-03-12 04:25:56 +0000 UTCBefore y'all returned to Spotify I sent a tweet to the besties that I'd venmo you each $5 to bring it back. I am now a man of my word and these resties episodes have been worth every penny!
Patrick King
2024-03-12 04:22:05 +0000 UTCIs it weird that I feel so special whenever a new episode drops? It just feels so cool to be in the inner circle 😅
LemsTonight
2024-03-12 04:14:52 +0000 UTC
