The Rumble Pack

This week in the The Rumble Pack. Tony, Nick and Tom dissect exactly how they’re having fun with Bionic Commando: Rearmed.  Tony talks up The Marriage and a boat load of other fancy “indie” games.

Then Tony and Kaz try and determine if Madden ‘09 has improved from 08, except one of them played ‘08 and one played ‘09. Hilarity ensues. And Kaz ignites Tom’s love-hate relationship with Interactive Fiction (Text Adventures), by talking about Frotz for the iPhone.

Oh, and the whole group gets sidetracked by Too Human’s review performance.

 

 Episode 58: Masochistic Gaming [72:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The first annual meeting of The Rumble Pack Art Appreciation Club convenes. Justin’s love for Pixeljunk Eden begins to wilt, Nicolo brings the goods (and a super villain sighting) from this year’s Otacon, and Tom, Tony and Kaz rave about Braid’s fourth dimensional fun. And while we’re all pleased with the downloadable gaming push, we ponder why gamers are so quick to pack away their old favorites

Later in the episode, the group breaks into a discussion of  game pricing which winds, as is traditional for The Pack, into something totally different. Enjoy!

**Sunday Night Community Match: Soul Calibur 4 on the PS3 agan (hopefully the soul still burns!)

 

 Episode 57: 1 Part Artsy, 1 Part Fartsy [75:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Are you ready for some Soul Calibur IV minutiae?! Guard Impacts, heaving bosoms, and rebalanced characters - par for the course with fighting games, but is it still enough? The Rumble Pack sounds off. If fighting games aren’t your thing, we also discuss some downloadable heavy hitters. Tom and Justin offer valuable Geometry Wars 2 pro-tips, while Tony extols the virtues of Pixeljunk Eden’s artsy-fartsy swinging to a skeptical Kaz.

After the break, we talk about the Fat Princess weight debate. We discuss gaming obesity, virtual depictions of women, and broader implications of an irritated gaming community. Put a smile on your face, grab some cake, and listen up!

 

 Episode 56: Bashing of a Higher Calibur [73:03m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

All hands, brace for impact! Sound the alarm! The full cast of the Rumble Pack has assembled for a mission of great importance. Nicolo updates everyone on the massive amount of titles he’s been playing (and keeps one secret), Justin tries to talk about important edutainment, while Kaz, Tony and Tom laugh about the fun they had revisiting old XBLA titles.

In the second half of the show we bring back one of our newer segments in the form of Retrospective: Metal Gear Solid 4, and we guarantee that the analysis here on The Rumble Pack won’t be found anywhere else (for better or for worse). Then we take a Side Quest to visit the recent movie theater phenom The Dark Knight.

All that and a Watchmen update in this week’s episode.

**Sunday Night Community Match: Soul Calibur IV (PS3 only, folks! Give yourself to the Dark Side!)

 

 Episode 55: All About Elephunk [99:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Three of the guys hold a “Late to the Party” party and talk about the games they’ve been playing even if they aren’t the latest and greatest. Tom finally steps into the sneaky shoes of Solid Snake, Kaz reenlists in the Guild Wars, and Tony brags about his fancy new iPhone apps.

Then all attention is turned to E3 as we sum up our thoughts on the proceedings. Does Nintendo hate us? (Ed.’s note: yes!) Can anybody “win” E3? Does it even matter if they did?

**Sunday Night Community Match: XBLA Free-for-All (Achievement Whoring: Together is Better!)

 

 Episode 54: E3? [68:10m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week’s episode is delayed due to technical difficulties. Check back on Thursday night.

We appreciate your patience and clicks.

-The Management

Clown pants, a new interface, and a Final Fantasy bombshell all made Microsoft’s E3 press conference memorable, but did the Rumble Pack like what it saw? Tony, Justin, and Kaz chime in. If you can tear yourself away from all of those gripping E3 headlines (sarcasm), be sure to also tune in for some Too Human demo impressions, more Halo 3 war stories, a shout out to Persona 3 FES, and the fecal follies* of Blue Dragon.

*sorry!

 

 Episode 53: E3 Becomes Us Part 1 [66:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

We may be in the midst of a summer “drought,” but the guys are too busy with their Nintendo DS’s to care. This week, Tony embarks on the second Etrian Odyssey while Tom tells Justin why he shouldn’t be so judgmental towards Final Fantasy Tactics A2. Meanwhile Kaz returns to Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword before confronting its elder, meaner brother. Also, we talk openly* about Yakuza and Mass Effect.

After the break, Kaz springs a surprise, Dyack-centric discussion on the rest of the pack, followed by an apprehensive take on Criterion’s new aerial ambitions. And you thought Burnout motorcycles were wild?! Plus, Chrono Trigger DS celebration, Tom’s PS3 shaped timebomb, and another installment of Bang for your Buck in this week’s Rumble Pack!

*Read: Spoilers

**Sunday Night Community Match:
Halo 3, 8 PM Eastern (Happy Bungie Day!)

 

 Episode 52: Dennis the Menace [76:45m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Kaz, Tony and Justin convene a chill meeting of The Rumble Pack with returning guest Aaron. And the crew discusses the many twists and turns of the game industry this week. Including: more Space Invaders Extreme, Rainbow Six Vegas 2 and Team Fortress 2.

After running down the news the crew introduces a new segment for the podcast. Looking at games after the release window. Starting this episode with Retrospective: Grand Theft Auto 4.

Enjoy a very laid back episode in spite of amazing Diablo III related announcements!

In the bonus round after the show: hilarious pre-recording hijinks, technical difficulties and the crisp audio clarity of stink.

 

 Episode 51: Retrorelaxation [109:01m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download