Steve and Jon tackle this episode Co-op style while Adam ventures across the frozen tundra of Greenland to rescue rare sea birds. Jon’s been playing a lot of Ys Seven on his PSP, and Steve got a little quality time in with Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days, Mafia II, and makes a second attempt at Final Fantasy XIII. They both have some early thoughts on the first hour or so of Metroid: Other M to share as well.

After that comes discussion of Gamescom, Europe’s biggest video game conference. What rocked? What sucked? Listen and learn. This one is much better than the last time we let these two run an episode.

How do you feel about obscure Japanese action role playing games? Are you jonesin’ for some Metroid? Did you dig what you heard out of Gamescom? Share in the comments below, over in the DVD Verdict Jury Room forums, or by emailing feedback@pixelverdict.com.

Blast Processing theme song by Dan “String Vulture” Moore.

You can listen to the show with the player above, download it here, or subscribe through iTunes or by adding our feed to your podcatcher of choice.

To celebrate Halloween, the Pixel Verdict crew—minus a sick Adam—invite you to dip your hand into a bowl of fun-size audio candy, as they discuss their favorite scary games. Get into the spooky spirit with talk of abandoned schools, chainsaw killers, deep space monsters, grim boss fights, and Jonathan Coulton. Plus, take part in a gaming-themed version of “name that tune” with five scary snippets from classic games. How many can you guess without peeking at the answers (posted after the break below)?

What’s your favorite scary game? Let us know in the comments below, over in the DVD Verdict Jury Room forums, or by emailing us at feedback@pixelverdict.com.

You can listen to the show with the player below, download it here, or subscribe through iTunes or by adding our feed to your podcatcher of choice.

Click through for the answers to our Halloween audio quiz …if you dare!

Songs in this episode:

• Transylvania Theme, from DuckTales
• Stage 1 Theme, from Splatterhouse 3
• Ghost House Theme, from Super Mario World
• Cabin Theme, from Friday the 13th
• Graveyard Theme, from Ghosts ‘N Goblins
• Stage 1 Theme, Super Castlevania IV
• “Re: Your Brains,” by Jonathan Coulton

It’s a wild and wooly return to our normal podcast format this week, as Erich, Dave, Adam, and Steve ramble their way through tangents, technical difficulties, innuendo, and the occasional video game talk. Dave hacks his way through a bargain bin purchase of Devil May Cry 4, Adam gets sucked back into World of Warcraft, Erich replays New Super Mario Bros., and Steve talks Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings before laying into Prototype. The crew puts a bow on E3 with final thoughts on games like Just Cause 2, Castlevania: Lord of Shadows, and Assassins Creed 2, leading into a discussion of which games they actually plan on buying before year’s end. (Spoiler: Steve’s going to buy everything.) And if Dave’s Skype connection hadn’t reduced him to feeding text messages for Steve to read aloud, there might actually have been a discussion of this week’s Symposium Ad Nauseum topic: Favorite Capcom Game. Where’s “that guy from Saved By the Bell” when you need him?

What do you plan on picking up this year? Add it to the comments below, or join the discussion in the Jury Room forums. Afraid of public scrutiny? Email us at feedback@pixelverdict.com.

You can listen to the show with the player below, download it here, or subscribe through iTunes or by adding our feed to your podcatcher of choice.