Look: if you aren't Monster-Hunter-positive or at least MH-curious, might wanna just skip this ep. Otherwise, enjoy as GaijinHunter Adam Evanko joins to chat about the new Netflix special, Rise and MH Stories 2, what's next for the series, and (of course) Cheetos vs. Potato straws.

This week we debate the strengths and weaknesses of the two big conbini chains in Japan. Who makes the best pasta? The best fried chicken in an envelope? The best onigiri? Listen to find out! Oh, we also talk about video games.

Time – Topic Discussed:

02:01 – Nicknames
21:09 – Pokémon Unite
40:42 – Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters
48:41 – Demon's Souls
53:25 – Apex Legends
1:00:52 – Terranigma
1:03:38 – Listener Questions & Answers

Rainy season is out, Skyward Sword HD is in, Gabe is...all over the place, and it's a four-day weekend in Japan?! Join the holiday celebration as we answer listener questions and talk about Zelda, Steam Deck, crazy auctions, and more!

Time – Topic Discussed:

01:01 – Nicknames
15:45 – The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
31:51 – News: The Steam Deck, Mario & Zelda Auctions, and more!
01:02:49 – Listener Questions & Answers

Ex game-journo and noted theme park connoisseur Michael Donahoe joins us for a deep dive into what he considers the best park on the planet (!): Super Nintendo World.

Time – Topic Discussed:

01:09 – Nicknames
23:34 – Streets of Rage 4
34:22 – Chicory
45:01 – Super Nintendo World Report
01:15:59 – News: The Nintendo Switch OLED, Sony’s Acquisitions, Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut, and more!

The hype train has left with a resounding choo-choo! In its wake, we unpack this year's E3 news and share thoughts on Stranger of Paradise, FF7R Intergrade, 25 years of N64, and more!

Time – Topic Discussed:

01:40 – Nicknames
11:17 – Apex Legends
19:47 – Stranger in Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin
35:20 – Final Fantasy VII Remake: Intergrade
52:07 - Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
54:28 – Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers
1:05:37 – News: E3 Recap; Sonic’s 30th Anniversary, Nintendo 64’s Anniversary, and more!

E3 is (sorta) back, which means it's time to buckle up for another round of baseless speculation, ridiculous predictions, and general mayhem as we once again board the #E3HYPETRAIN!

Time – Topic Discussed:

25:30 – News: Nintendo, Uncharted 4 on PC, E3’s Award show, and more!
34:17 – Nintendo E3 Speculation
57:14 – More News: The EGRETII mini, Yuji Naka’s retirement (?), The Playdate, and more!
01:26:35 – Capcom E3 Speculation
01:33:08 – Microsoft & Bethesda E3 Speculation
01:44:38 – Square-Enix
01:50:30 – Our Wishlists & Last Minute Predictions

Dragon Quest may be getting 'darker' and 'more adult', but we here at 8-4 Play pledge to remain as cute and carefree as ever. Join us for talk of all the recent DQ-related announcements, the latest Switch rumors, a little RE: Village and New Pokémon Snap, and more!

Time – Topic Discussed:

00:50 – Nicknames
13:22 – News: Dragon Quest Announcements, Valve’s portable steam device, new Switch Pro rumors, and more!
1:17:54 – Resident Evil: Village
1:25:48 – Control
1:29:50 – Earthbound
1:39:07 – New Pokémon Snap
1:45:43 – Last Minute Rumors & News: Team Ninja & Final Fantasy, Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Edition, and a little bit more!

No news is good news when the only news is Alex "cvxfreak" Aniel joining us for nearly two hours of impressions of two of the past month's biggest releases: Returnal and Resident Evil Village!

Check out Alex's book Itchy, Tasty: An Unofficial History of Resident Evil

(Thanks to Peter Jonca for the Resident Evil font used in our image!)

Time – Topic Discussed:

01:04 – Nicknames
09:17 – Returnal
41:59 – Resident Evil: Village

It's Golden Week in Japan! Join us for pre-holiday impressions of SaGa Frontier Remastered and NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139, plus the latest news from the worlds of video games and fast food (spoiler: MacDonald is out this week, but McDonald's is -in-).

Time – Topic Discussed:

01:25 – Nicknames
13:05 – SaGa Frontier Remastered
33:29 – NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…
01:01:37 – News: PS5 Sales, PS3/PS Vita stores are here to stay, RE8 news recap, and more!

Impressed with the dioramas in Fantasian, we work together to construct a faithful replica of the 8-4 office. We spare no detail, including our fridge in the state-of-the-art podcast wing filled with tiny Chu-hi!

Time – Topic Discussed:

01:31 – Nicknames
14:21 – Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers
24:26 – Monster Hunter Rise
27:04 – The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
31:42 – Fantasian
40:32 – Dragon Quest X
41:59 – No Man’s Sky
52:03 – News: Nintendo Indies Announcement, the latest Sony happenings, and more!