Daniel, Sean, Devyn and Max continue and conclude their deliberations for the best games of 2023. In this second and final part, everyone discusses their runner ups and Top 5 Picks, and the Beep Boop Group 2023 Game of the Year is decided.0:00:00 Runner Ups Explanation0:03:55 Sean's Runner Ups0:07:54 Devyn's Runner Ups0:25:47 Daniel's Runner Ups0:2…

Daniel, Sean, Devyn and Max get together to deliberate their favorite games of 2023. In this part everyone nominates their picks for seven different special categories!0:13:20 GOTY Criteria0:15:58 Best Non-2023 Game of 20230:36:18 Best Non Video Game of 20231:07:35 Best Boss1:33:47 Best Puzzle1:47:36 Babygirl of the Year2:07:14 Best Soundtrack2:19:…

Anne from Pikapi Podcast helps me discuss the music of Pokemon Conquest for the DS. This quirky crossover gave us a lot to talk about, including instrumentation, Japanese history, and a much more recent Pokémon game. On top of all that, there’s a game discussion after the outro that covers...much of the same.Editor's Note: I state in this episode t…

Anne from Pikapi Podcast drops by to discuss the music of PokePark 2: Wonders Beyond for the Wii. This sometimes-forgotten sequel delivers a fresh set of tunes, which have some interesting structural ties to the game. Afterwards, we move on to our feedback section, where we ponder whether the Japanese version of the second movie may have originally…

In the first segment (1:14-28:42), Anne from Pikapi Podcast drops by to discuss the music of Pokemon Rumble Blast for the 3DS. Like practically everything else in this entry, the soundtrack is an expansion of the original Rumble’s, but that didn't stop us from making some interesting observations. If you want to know what we thought of the game its…

In this episode, Anne from Pikapi Podcast joins me to discuss the music of Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii. This entry in the series massively expanded the number of available tracks, so the two of us had to be very picky in narrowing that down. After that topic, we have our feedback section, where I give a detailed explanation of why Pokemon: …

In the first segment (1:22-3:54), I interview Vince Krekeler of Day 2 events, the company that runs many of the regional Pokemon tournaments in the middle of the US. I took this opportunity to talk with him about how things are going for the first full season back from the pandemic, and gave him an opportunity to talk about some of the other events…

Anne from Pikapi Podcast joins me to discuss the music of Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs for the DS. This final entry in the trilogy may not change the Ranger formula drastically, but it does come with a wide array of new tunes. As usual, there’s a game discussion after the outro.Links:Pikapi Podcast: http://pikapipodcast.blogspot.com/Poke Casters …

Anne from Pikapi Podcast drops in to help discuss the music of Pokemon Rumble. This WiiWare title is definitely meatier than My Pokemon Ranch in terms of gameplay, and we try to figure out if the soundtrack follows suit. As usual, there's a gameplay discussion after the outro, where among other things we compare Rumble to Pokemon Unite.Links:Pikapi…

Daniel, Sean, Devyn and Max continue to deliberate their favorite games of 2022. In this part everyone decides their runner ups and their Top 5 Picks, and BBG's 2022 Game of the Year is revealed.0:00:00 Intro0:02:40 Runner Ups Explanation0:05:55 Daniel's Runner Ups0:23:27 Sean's Runner Ups0:34:14 Devyn's Runner Ups0:39:05 Max's Runner Ups0:48:01 Ou…

The first segment (1:14-9:00) contains a pair of voice actor interviews from Anime Milwaukee 2023*. Listen in as Suzie Yeung and Leah Clark share their experiences working on Pokemon. If you'd like to know more about what I did at the convention, look for a link in the episode description.The second segment (9:58-43:30) is a discussion of the music…

Daniel, Sean, Devyn and Max get together to deliberate their favorite games of 2022. In this part everyone nominates their picks for seven different special categories!0:03:44 GOTY Criteria0:05:48 Best Non-2022 Game of 20220:36:30 Best Unfinished Game1:03:24 Best Gaming Non-Game1:42:09 Best Card1:58:05 Best Boss2:24:48 Best Soundtrack2:42:38 Best G…

In the first segment (1:15-24:18), Anne from Pikapi Podcast joins me to discuss the music of My Pokemon Ranch for the Wii. While it might be light in...a lot of areas, this title still had enough material for us to make some observations. As usual, there's a game discussion after the outro.Our second segment (25:22-49:32) is a round of Pokemon musi…

Anne from Pikapi Podcast drops by to discuss the music of Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Darkness, and Sky. This second set of games from the beloved side series features another boatload of tunes, which we try our best to cover, even if we couldn't possibly get to every song we wanted. That said, we do make sure to talk about the game…

Anne from Pikapi Podcast joins me to discuss the music of Pokemon Battle Revolution for the Wii. This follow-up to Genius Sonority's GameCube titles has a number of venues with a diverse set of tunes, plus an announcer to boot. It may also have some shortcomings due to being released early in the system’s life. As usual, if you want to know what we…

In the first segment(1:18-21:20), I interview Michael Haigney, a localizer for early seasons of the Pokemon anime. We talk about his career in entertainment, what the process of adapting an anime is like, and a few of his other experiences. Don't forget to check out his podcast, Original Pokeman.The second segment (22:35-26:14) is an archival inter…

In this episode, Anne from Pikapi Podcast joins me to examine what can be heard behind the vocals of various Pokemon songs. "A Small Thing", "Polkamon", “Blah, Blah, Blah", and several others all get a close listen in this discussion. We may not have found any secret messages, but it does shine light on some interesting aspects of these tunes, and …

In this episode, Anne from Pikapi Podcast drops by to discuss some of the songs from Pokémon 25: The Album. In addition to the tracks themselves, we cover the release strategy, music videos, and whether these songs would work with Secrets of the Jungle.Links:Pikapi Podcast: http://pikapipodcast.blogspot.com/Poke Casters Network: https://www.pokecas…

In this episode, I interview James "D Train" Williams. While many of you will know him as a co-performer of the original PokeRap, it turns out he’s actually had a very extensive career, both as a lead singer and a backup artist. For even more stories, be sure to listen after the outro.Links:D-Train's Website: http://theofficialdtrain.com/…

In this second part of our "Secrets of the Jungle" discussion, we cover the score of the film, and our thoughts on the movie itself. In the process, we revisit a song from a previous Pokemon movie, and make some observations about scientists in the franchise’s recent cinematic outings-there's definitely a pattern.Links:Pikapi Podcast: http://pikapi…

In this first part of our "Secrets of the Jungle" discussion, Anne from Pikapi Podcast helps me go over the movie’s six songs. It’s a lot of material to navigate, but we manage to cover all of them, including comparing the ones that are different between the Japanese and Western versions. So…maybe it's really ten songs then. In any event, we had a …

This episode features a series of interviews from Anime Milwaukee 2022. My first convention in two years, it gave me an opportunity to talk with voice actors from the across the franchise. Characters like Dr. Zed, Detective Decker, and Karen are all represented. If you still want more, you’ll find some outtakes at the end.A press pass was provided …

Super Smash Bros Ultimate is finally finished. After nearly four years of predictions, there's only one thing left for Daniel and Sean to do: predict the entire launch roster of the next Smash Bros.A Smashing Theory Logo by Kessi RilinikiA Smashing Theory and Special Thanks Themes by Sean FrancisCheck us out on Patreon for all sorts of goodies, lik…

In this episode, Anne from Pikapi Podcast drops by to discuss the music of Pokemon Ranger for the Nintendo DS. This final side game of generation three is best known for its touchscreen mechanics, but we manage to get quite a bit out of its varied soundtrack. To find out what we thought of the game itself, and hear even more about audio cassettes, …

In this episode, Anne from Pikapi Podcast joins me to talk about the music of Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red & Blue Rescue Team. These initial entries in Pokemon's most successful side series have a number of interesting facets, including being the only side games with a full-on remake, which adds a third version to every tune. Luckily, the two of us…

Sora is out and Super Smash Bros Ultimate has had its final major update. Daniel and Sean look back at the years they've spent making predictions for the game, and the memories they've made with each other and their listeners.A Smashing Theory Logo by Kessi RilinikiA Smashing Theory and Special Thanks Themes by Sean FrancisCheck us out on Patreon f…

In this episode, Anne from Pikapi Podcast helps me talk about the music of Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness for the GameCube. While it may seem like a slightly expanded version of Colosseum, there's actually a ton of new audio content to cover, with our selections highlighting new areas, new characters, and of course, Shadow Lugia. On top of all that, …

In the first segment (1:45-15:21), Anne from Pikapi Podcast drops by to discuss the music of Pokemon Trozei for the Nintendo DS. While the soundtrack isn't the most extensive, it's certainly worth talking about, with some interesting stylistic choices. As usual, there's a game discussion after the episode outro.In the second segment, Anne and I ret…

The impossible happened, and it's finally time to talk about it. Daniel and Sean break down the reveal of the final DLC character for Super Smash Bros Ultimate.A Smashing Theory Logo by Kessi RilinikiA Smashing Theory and Special Thanks Themes by Sean FrancisCheck us out on Patreon for all sorts of goodies, like a Patron-exclusive podcast, deleted …

First (1:15-20:25), there's an interview with Paul Umbach, co-producer of Aaron Carter's "(Have Some) Fun With The Funk" from the Pokemon: The First Movie soundtrack. In addition to discussing the song, we cover Paul's lengthy musical career, including his time at Jive Records.Our second segment (21:40-31:47) is an archival interview with Neal Coom…

Daniel and Sean crack open Nintendo's September Direct and address all the weirdness inside. Nintendo 64 and Genesis games are gushed over, Deltarune semantics are argued over, Mario movie casting choices are pondered.... and the final Smash Ultimate reveal looms just ahead....A Smashing Theory Logo by Kessi RilinikiA Smashing Theory and Special Th…

In the first segment (1:17-35:20), Anne from Pikapi Podcast helps me discuss the music of Pokemon Dash, the first Nintendo DS Pokemon game. While this racer certainly isn't the most memorable Pokemon title, that didn't stop us from finding plenty to talk about. As usual, there's a game discussion after the outro.Our second segment (36:25-43:17) is …

Fall approaches, and hopefully so does a new Nintendo Direct! Daniel and Sean hypothesize reveals and announcements from games like Metroid Dread to Xenoblade Chronicles 3, and make what just may be... their final Smash DLC predictions.A Smashing Theory Logo by Kessi RilinikiA Smashing Theory and Special Thanks Themes by Sean FrancisCheck us out on…

Anne from Pikapi Podcast drops by to talk about the music of Pokémon Colosseum, the first of many Pokémon games by Genius Sonority. With its western-inspired setting, it gives us plenty to compare to, especially from the world of film. If you want to know what we thought of the game itself, be sure to listen after the outro.Links:Pikapi Podcast: ht…

Special Guest JORDAN FORBES from SHONEN FLOP joins Daniel and Sean on a mission to craft the ultimate, most accurate roster for the upcoming Nickelodeon Smash Bros game.A Smashing Theory Logo by Kessi RilinikiA Smashing Theory and Special Thanks Themes by Sean FrancisCheck out Shonen Flop, a podcast where Jordan and his friend David review cancelle…

The penultimate Fighters Pass 2 character for Super Smash Bros Ultimate has released, and it's Kazuya from the Tekken franchise. Hope you're ready for the world's longest argument over whether or not he's well implemented into the game! Also, impressions of the update and some dream-shattering Mii Costumes.A Smashing Theory Logo by Kessi RilinikiA …

In this episode, Anne from Pikapi Podcast helps me cover the extensive and varied soundtrack of Pokemon Channel. While the game itself isn't exactly well-regarded, the music gives us plenty to talk about, both in terms of production and style. To find out what we thought of the gameplay, be sure to listen after the outro.Links:Pikapi Podcast: http:…

E3 2021 is over, and it was a doozy! Daniel and Sean break down the event, from the biggest surprises and Smash reveals to possibly Daniel's most accurate prediction yet.A Smashing Theory Logo by Kessi RilinikiA Smashing Theory and Special Thanks Themes by Sean FrancisCheck us out on Patreon for all sorts of goodies, like a Patron-exclusive podcast…

E3 2021 is getting closer, and it's time to predict what Nintendo will show at the digital event! Daniel and Sean do a full breakdown of the company's known projects from Breath of the Wild 2 to Splatoon 3, and figure out what else could possibly be brought to the table. Finally, A Smashing Theory explores its biggest question yet: how will Ultimat…

Daniel and Sean kick off their predictions for E3's big 2021 comeback! Which acquisitions and Game Pass games will Microsoft show off? Is NetherRealm Studios' next superhero fighting game going to be Marvel instead of DC? How long can Sean and Daniel argue about One Piece?? Strap in everybodyA Smashing Theory Logo by Kessi RilinikiA Smashing Theory…

In this episode, Anne from Pikapi Podcast drops by to discuss the music of Pokemon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire. This Game Boy Advance sequel takes a rather different approach to its soundtrack, but that doesn’t stop us from making some interesting observations. As usual, we discuss the game itself after the outro.Links:Pikapi Podcast: http://pikapipod…

It's been a while, so Daniel and Sean talk about video games they've been playing lately. Gnosia is an underrated gem, Monster Hunter Rise is a... rated gem, and many other titles are discussed inside from Vagrant Story to every King of Fighters game.A Smashing Theory Logo by Kessi RilinikiA Smashing Theory and Special Thanks Themes by Sean Francis…

A Smashing Theory has been predicting Super Smash Bros Ultimate and other video games for THREE YEARS, and we're reading a bunch of listener mail to celebrate! Daniel and Sean read a bunch of hard hitting questions about things like Smash mains, Mario lore, fighting games in 2021/2022, the Smash Bros Cinematic Universe, and the future of the podcas…

In this between-generations discussion, Anne from Pikapi Podcast drops by to analyze the music of Super Smash Bros. for the N64 and Melee for the GameCube. While these early entries don't have the sheer volume of content featured in later iterations, there's still plenty to cover, even if we did have to include a "wish list" song. As usual, we disc…

There was a gigantic new Nintendo Direct in February and some Pokemon anniversary announcements, but on top of that Pyra and Mythra from Xenoblade 2 just dropped for Smash Bros Ultimate! Daniel and Sean break everything down and figure out what's next for Nintendo and Smash.A Smashing Theory Logo by Kessi RilinikiA Smashing Theory and Special Thank…

A Smashing Theory's 2020 Game of the Year deliberations continue! In Part 2, Daniel, Sean and Lee each rank their Top 5 games of the year. Animal Crossing: New Horizons, FF7 Remake, and more!0:01:54 Sean's #50:06:13 Lee's #50:07:40 Daniel's #50:14:36 Sean's #40:24:15 Lee's #4 (slight spoilers at 0:36:51)0:39:25 Daniel's #40:42:00 Sean's #30:48:56 L…

At long last, it's time for A Smashing Theory's 2020 Game of the Year deliberations! In Part 1, Daniel, Sean, and Lee nominate their personal winners for this year's Special Categories and discuss some games that didn't quite reach their Top 5's, but got close.0:09:05 Best Non-2020 Game of 2020 0:22:02 Best 2020 Game of 20210:34:38 Biggest Disappoi…

Anne from Pikapi Podcast joins in to discuss the music of Pokemon Stadium 2 for the N64. While not as well-known as its predecessor, there's still a lot of material to cover, both on the battling side as well as in the minigames. Honestly, it's pretty impressive for a game with only a single composer. If you want to know what we thought of the game…

2020 is finally over, and it's time to predict Nintendo's Direct game plan for the beginning of 2021! More Smash characters? Announcements from Sega and Toby Fox? A load of anniversary celebrations and first party surprises?? Join us and find out what else we think could happen!A Smashing Theory Logo by Kessi RilinikiA Smashing Theory and Special T…

Boy a LOT happened this month. Join Daniel and Sean for highlights from The Game Awards 2020, December's Indie World, and of course, a full breakdown of Smash Ultimate's unexpected new character: the One Winged Angel himself.Sephiroth discussion begins at 0:54:55A Smashing Theory Logo by Kessi RilinikiA Smashing Theory and Special Thanks Themes by …