The Besties — "Silent Hill and the Heir to Castle Crashers' Crown"

October 10, 2025
Hosts: Chris Plante, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Russ Frushtick

Episode Overview

In this episode of The Besties, the hosts dig into two games: Absalom, an ambitious roguelike beat-em-up from the creators of Streets of Rage 4, and Silent Hill F, the latest entry in the acclaimed horror franchise with a unique 1960s Japanese setting. The crew compares notes, debates what works (and doesn't), and recommends a handful of eclectic new and upcoming games and devices. Between deep game analysis and playful banter, they keep their trademark blend of humor and insight.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Cold Open & Banter: Eggs, Artifacts, and Podcast Housekeeping

[00:00–05:45]

• The episode opens with a classic tangent: the size difference between large and extra-large eggs. Russ describes his confusion, prompting lively debate about yolk size, egg density, and the economics of eggs as a "declaration of power."

  • "I have compared extra large eggs to large eggs in the supermarket repeatedly... they look the fucking same to me." — Russ ([00:10])
  • "We're talking about declaration of power, right?... I'm the sort of person who can get extra large eggs." — Chris ([02:03])

• The hosts transition to showing off new gaming-themed decor and signs Justin picked up at a peddler’s mall, including a "history of PlayStation" sign and a classic "the game can't be paused" sign for parents.

  • "[Showing sign] One day my parents will understand that online games cannot be paused. That's awesome." — Griffin ([05:53])

• Russ emphasizes anything visual needs to go in their newsletter after listener feedback:

  • "Anything visual needs to go in the newsletter. So you need to take a photo..." — Russ ([04:30])

2. Game Spotlight #1: Absalom (Roguelike Beat-Em-Up)

[08:28–26:57]

Game Overview

• Absalom is from GuardCrush (Streets of Rage 4) and DotEmu, blending Hades-style roguelike meta progression with the action and co-op flow of arcade beat-em-ups like Castle Crashers or TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge.

Structure & Progression

• "Structurally... picture a Hades-like, but instead... it's a beat em up in the style of X-Men Arcade or Simpsons Arcade." — Russ ([09:17])
• Micro (per-run) and macro (permanent) progression keep the experience fresh, along with branching FTL-like paths and meaningful upgrades.
• "You’re trying to put together a synergistic sort of thing... a general strategy by enhancing yourself." — Griffin ([09:47])
• "My shortened version is Hades plus Castle Crashers." — Chris ([10:26])

What Sets It Apart

• Frequent branching paths and dynamically changing events make every run feel novel, addressing the genre’s usual repetitiveness.

  • "Usually what people don't like about these games is they're just super repetitive, right?... This game has one of the most brilliant fixes... your point A to point B branches in a variety of number ways, kind of FTL like... It makes it feel like a game game and not an arcade game." — Chris ([11:01])

• Hub world fills with NPCs (for upgrades/story), echoing Hades.

Early Game Pacing & Difficulty

• Some hosts note a slow early game and "unlocking the fun," wishing for more dynamic abilities up-front.

  • "You have to unlock the fun of the game as you go along." — Chris ([15:07])
  • "I wish they would funnel those a little bit more early on." — Justin ([17:04])

• Absalom’s build variety can make a run thrilling or bland depending on luck—some runs pop with wild synergies, others less so.

Combat & Feel

• "Moment to moment gameplay is tight as fuck and I think it is the most fun feeling beat em up that I can maybe ever remember playing..." — Griffin ([18:25])
• "The best, like, 'generous' is the word that kept coming to mind... everyone looks like a little painting. It's gorgeous." — Justin ([19:13])
• Accessibility features (tunable damage, etc.) lower barriers compared to prior DotEmu/GuardCrush games.
• The world and characters: "He-Man meets The Adventure Zone was what I kept thinking... there is a character that hugely resembles Taako from the graphic novel." — Chris/Griffin ([20:13], [20:22])
• Story/light narrative progression affects level paths and encounters, encouraging replay.

Co-op & Technical Performance

• Co-op progression cleverly balances player levels: higher-level players help but don’t blow away progression for newcomers ([12:49])
• Online and local co-op is seamless and lag-free ([26:00])

Final Thoughts on Absalom

• "This is a top fiver for me, I think, of the year." — Griffin ([26:36])
• Others are more measured but impressed by its energy and accessibility.

3. Game Spotlight #2: Silent Hill F (Horror Adventure)

[27:57–40:51]

Game Overview & Setting

• "You are a high school student in 1960s Japan... flowers, evil flowers, red gooey flowers and monster mannequins... It is your job to figure out what happened." — Chris ([29:22])

• The game explores themes of social oppression, isolation, and horror typical of Silent Hill, but with a distinctly Japanese setting.

Gameplay Structure

• Heavy on puzzles—sometimes obscure or frustrating—with "area-wide" locks/solutions reminiscent of classic survival horror.
  • "[I] always forget about that [this] series... it's kind of a puzzle game." — Chris ([30:29])
• Offers separate difficulty for combat and puzzles. Highest puzzle difficulty can outright lie to you if you're wrong.
  • "It tells you it's wrong even if you got it right. Right. It's really twisted." — Justin ([30:53])

Combat & "Powerlessness"

• Theoretically all melee, returning to survival roots, but main character is comically powerful—able to dodge and parry with Bayonetta-like agility.
  • "This is the single most powerful teenager to have ever walked the earth. She shadow dances between realms, killing whatever gets in her way." — Chris ([31:41])
  • Justin: "She's got several classes: pen, geometry, and Bayonetta... She studied Bayonetta moves." ([32:05])
• Combat is described as the weakest element—"tedious" and not frightening, drags down tension ([33:47], [39:51]).

Visuals, Story, and Atmosphere

• The game's artful cinematography and Japanese horror influences are widely praised.
  • "The visuals... quite literally shot is stunning... There are choices with where they place the camera... unsettling and horrific." — Chris ([34:37])
• Sound design and the creeping horror "vibe" land with the cast, but thrills get undercut by rote gameplay.

Puzzles

• Varied quality: some clever, some just fetch-quests or monster dodging.
  • "I think some of the puzzles in this game are pretty bad... and sometimes they're really fucking cool. I really liked the Scarecrow puzzle..." — Griffin ([36:11])
• For some, puzzles are just obstacles to the story and aesthetics.

Big Picture Critique

• Griffin: "As much as they nail the fear with the aesthetics... it is betrayed by the actual playing of it. Because I do think it makes the game less scary when combat isn't threatening so much as it is tedious, which is not a good kind of fear." ([39:39])
• Appeal to "watching" or streaming the game rather than always playing.

4. Recommendations & Honorable Mentions

[41:00–53:10]

Reader Mail

• Follows up on the identity of house centipedes ("little cowboys"), frog fractions sequels, and more.

Game & Device Recommendations

• Clover Pit: Slot machine roguelike with strong synergy mechanics.
  • "It is really, very, very good... can't get enough of these types of games..." — Griffin ([43:10])
• Unfair Flips: Simple clicker/coin-flipping game.
• House of Necrosis: "RE1 as a Mystery Dungeon rogue"; recommended for those curious about turn-based roguelike design ([46:21])
• Anbernic RG476H: A $150 retro handheld with a 4:3 screen that plays up to PS2, praised for quality and utility ([49:38]).

Miscellaneous

• Justin discusses the stacking of shoulder buttons on retro handhelds ([49:12]).
• Super Mario Galaxy 2 is finally officially playable and is praised for its inventive, non-stop design out of the gate ([52:06]).
• Upcoming—Sonic Racing Cross Worlds: "They took the limits off... Minecraft Steve is there." — Chris ([53:10])

5. Segment: Bracket Battle — Most Practical Video Game Car

[53:13–55:17]

• Hosts tease a new Patreon episode, debating the practicality of notable video game vehicles (Half-Life tram vs. Fortnite battle bus), in an exercise of "deranged logic" and humor.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I have compared extra large eggs to large eggs in the supermarket repeatedly... they look the fucking same to me." — Russ ([00:10])
• "Hades plus Castle Crashers." — Chris ([10:26])
• "This is a top fiver for me, I think, of the year." — Griffin ([26:36])
• "She shadow dances between realms, killing whatever gets in her way. This is the single most powerful teenager to have ever walked the earth." — Chris ([31:41])
• "As much as they nail the fear with the aesthetics... it is betrayed by the actual playing of it. Because I do think it makes the game less scary when combat isn't threatening so much as it is tedious, which is not a good kind of fear." — Griffin ([39:39])
• "It is set in a single room with a slot machine and an ATM in it and a little shop..." — Griffin on Clover Pit ([43:10])
• "They took the limits off... Minecraft Steve is there... they do whatever they want over at Sega, and I love it." — Chris ([53:10])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Cold Open & Banter: [00:00–05:45]
• Absalom Discussion: [08:28–26:57]
• Silent Hill F Discussion: [27:57–40:51]
• Reader Mail/Recommendations: [41:00–53:10]
• Bracket Battle (Video Game Car): [53:13–55:17]
• Honorable Mentions/Hardware Corner: [45:25–52:51]

Tone & Style

Lively, banter-filled, occasionally irreverent but always thoughtful. The hosts blend deep genre analysis (roguelikes, beat-em-ups, horror adventure) with jokes and personal anecdotes, making dense game discussions approachable and genuinely funny.

For Non-Listeners

This episode is a rich blend of hands-on impressions, clever analysis, and infectious enthusiasm. Whether you care about the granular differences between Super Mario Galaxy games, niche roguelikes, or just appreciate video game humor, the Besties provide informed perspectives and big laughs — and you'll walk away knowing whether Absalom or Silent Hill F is likely to be your next obsession (or frustration).