Markers on the Map: A Gaming Adventure

"Singularly inanimate." This week, we're hooked on WikiGacha, the card opening simulator, and we're not complaining, because it's a great alternative to the actual gacha games! After that, it's onto other games, namely Legacy of Kain: Ascendance, the first new entry in the series in over two decades. Can it possibly live up to the hype? The answer may surprise you. We've also got a few updates on Screamer and Super Mario 64 as our individual playthroughs continue. Then, we've got more Marathon, as we continue to get better and better at this unforgiving extraction shooter. Check out the show on BlueSky @MarkersOnTheMap.

Unlike the Cryo Archive, Screamer has no chill. This week, we're back at it with more Marathon, including a daring and impossibly lucky escape from the Cryo Archive. After that, we get into some co-op rhythm action with Cadence of Hyrule, Crypt of the Necrodancer's Legend of Zelda-themed spinoff. Then, it's onto Milestone's reboot of Screamer, a racing game so full of gameplay mechanics, it's almost upsetting to describe. There's also a lot of wild gaming news this week, from a devastating shakeup at Epic to unfortunate price hikes from Sony. Check out the show on BlueSky @MarkersOnTheMap.

A new flavor that fills at least half a health bar. This week, we're back at it with more Marathon, now that we've both set foot on the visually striking world of Tau Ceti IV. Through devious contracts, vicious life-draining plants, and many intense losses, the runners continue their scavenging across this devastated planet. We've got more, though, including Rift of the Necrodancer's super tough take on the rhythm genre. We also delve into Batman: Arkham Origins as the playthrough of the series continues. There's also more Ghost of Yotei Legends as we take on the Oni, and just the smallest little preview of Pokopia. Check out the show on BlueSky @MarkersOnTheMap.

Something like a ghost runner, but not that Ghostrunner. This week, we're back with some opening thoughts on Ghost of Yotei's new Legends mode, the return of Ghost's own slice of co-op action. A vast system of skills, weapons, and tons of cosmetics highlight this glorious free update to one of last year's greatest games. We've also got more Requiem, as a playthrough has been finished. Plus, more Marathon, now that the full game is released. The world of Tau Ceti IV is out to get each and every runner, and everyone fights back in their own way. There's a whole lot more this week, including a few awesome places we visited! Check out the show on BlueSky @MarkersOnTheMap.

A marathon of games. This week, we've actually played a ton of stuff. We'll start out with some opening thoughts on Resident Evil Requiem, Capcom's ninth main installment in the long-running survival horror series. After that, it's back to Arkham City for more Batman as we continue running through Rocksteady's superhero classics. There's also a little Super Mario 64, a revisit to the Haunted Mansion, and a small start to Grand Theft Auto 3. Then, some games that haven't come out yet in beta or demo form with Marathon and Pragmata, as well as Rave Racer, on consoles for the first time since it's arcade release over 30 years ago. Plus, it was Pokemon Day, so we have some Pokemon-related news! Check out the show on BlueSky @MarkersOnTheMap.

Holy crossovers, Batman! It's the dynamic duo we thought we'd never see: Batman and Pokemon. This week, we're returning to Arkham Asylum for a more in-depth discussion on the ins and outs of Rocksteady's original Dark Knight adventure. After that, we take the first steps into Pokemon Shield, with the journey to becoming champion taking us through the magnificent Galar region. We also have another game that's new to both of us in Ridge Racer 6, the Xbox 360 exclusive that's already a blast to play. Plus, we discuss Sony's closure of Bluepoint games, a devastating story. Check out the show on BlueSky @MarkersOnTheMap.

Break free from the PS3. This week, we're back with Carmageddon: Rogue Shift, a new racer roguelike that blends speed and synergies like never before. Through three maps stuffed with challenging races and constant customization, a new contender arrives in the massive field of repeatable, run-based games. Then, a mighty new State of Play from Sony brings tons of surprises, including Metal Gear Solid 4's debut on consoles that aren't the PS3, the return of Dead or Alive, and a remaster trilogy's completion with Legacy of Kain: Defiance. Check out the show on BlueSky @MarkersOnTheMap.

"The Crew Arrives on a New World." This season's first big lore cutscene takes us into a discussion on one of the most influential games of all time, in its finest form. Yes, it's Prince of Persia for the SNES. Devious platforming, vicious swordplay, and an incredible soundtrack highlight one of the most challenging games of its time. A simple story turned complex through twenty levels of nonstop traps, puzzles, and shadows sets the stage for the daring and classic royal rescue that only a truly seminal game can bring. Check out the show on BlueSky @MarkersOnTheMap.

Riddle me this, Shepard. This week, we're taking you do the late 2000s with a pair of Unreal Engine 3 classics. First up, Mass Effect, BioWare's groundbreaking sci-fi epic. It's a game with its fair share of issues, but narrative stands strong despite some of the gameplay archaisms. After that, Batman: Arkham Asylum takes us back to the glory days of superhero games as the Dark Knight Detective takes combat and stealth to a new level in a Metroidvania-styled island taken over by the Joker. We've also got some big frustrations with Ubisoft's game cancellations. Check out the show on BlueSky @MarkersOnTheMap.

Games of the Year. We’ve each selected our Top 5 games, including our game of the year for 2025. You can expect many things this week. The rebirth of a legendary series. The followup to an open world action masterpiece. The total destruction of an underground world… and the destructed society of an underwater one. A new planet full of intrigue. The return to an island and the journey to others. The jaw-dropping works of one of gaming’s greatest auteurs. They’re all here. Check out the show on BlueSky @MarkersOnTheMap.