The Besties Podcast: "There’s Always a Lighthouse, a Pokémon, a City"

Date: October 31, 2025
Hosts: Chris Plante, Griffin McElroy (absent), Justin McElroy, Russ Frushtick
Theme: Game of the Year energy meets King of the Hill banter as the Besties review and debate their favorite current video games. This episode centers on two main games: the newest Pokémon entry, Pokémon Legends: Z to A, and Double Fine's atmospheric narrative game, Keeper. Plus, mailbag questions, stray recommendations, and signature Besties tangents.

Episode Overview

This episode is a classic mix of tightly-focused game reviews and loose, friendly digressions. The main topics:

• Pokémon Legends: Z to A: The latest, slightly futuristic Pokémon adventure, and how it continues and diverges from Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
• Keeper: A unique art-driven title from Double Fine, starring a sentient lighthouse.
• Community questions and offbeat recommendations round out the show, with plenty of irreverent humor throughout.

Halloween Digression & Regional Folklore Monsters (00:00–05:10)

• The hosts open by sharing Halloween costume woes and funny family stories (00:00–02:45).
• Justin introduces Braxy, the Flatwoods monster from West Virginia folklore, leading to a riff about regional cryptids and Halloween aesthetics (02:16–04:53).

Memorable quote:
Christopher Thomas Plant: "Does California have folklore monsters? I feel like the east coast has all these amazing folk monsters. And then I moved to California and it's like you're the... you're the 5 Freeway." (02:26)

[Main Segment] Pokémon Legends: Z to A — Review & Discussion (05:10–23:13)

Introduction & Setting (05:10–09:32)

• Griffin is absent (humorously attributed to overburdening himself with Pokémon).
• The hosts set up the new game: Pokémon Legends: Z to A (aka Za, Zed Alpha), a follow-up to Legends: Arceus set in a singular, Paris-inspired city.
• It’s described as more action-oriented and less turn-based than mainline titles.
• Notably, it’s the first big Pokémon game on Switch 2, also playable on Switch 1.

Gameplay Impressions & Visuals (09:32–14:13)

• Fast-paced action, real-time battles, freedom to explore the city.
• The city setting feels visually repetitive, almost “PS2/PS3-era,” with streets and assets reused liberally.
• Compared to Arceus, the city setting makes graphical limitations more apparent.

Notable quote:
Christopher Thomas Plant: "It's like that bit in the Simpsons: have you ever noticed in cartoons when they run out of money, they start using the same hallway over and over?" (13:31)

Comparison to Mainline Pokémon & Nostalgia Factor (14:13–19:43)

• Russ prefers the more modern, action-focused Legends-style over traditional turn-based Pokémon, finding mainline entries too formulaic.
• Arceus and Z to A offer the childhood fantasy of walking in a fully realizable Pokémon world.
• While less complex in content than core games, this style taps nostalgia powerfully.

Notable quote:
Russ Frushtick: "When I see Tepig, there is a surge of enthusiasm that runs through my veins that has been in there since the dawn of time. So it is tapping into that nostalgia..." (18:32)

Technical & Design Critiques (19:43–23:05)

• The cleaner graphics and design are kid-friendly and aid gameplay clarity.
• Performance is markedly better, especially on Switch 2 (steady 60fps).
• The simplicity in the world design is both a crutch and a creativity enabler.

Notable quote:
Justin McElroy: "It's a really good... point to remember... they are contextualizing an experience that kids should be able to continue to have just because they are getting older and time is evolving. Like, they should be able to have, like, their own version of it without adults being, like. Time to add guns." (20:56)

Final Thoughts (22:04–23:05)

• Recommended for fans of Arceus, lapsed Pokémon fans, or those with kids.
• Russ: “Would I be playing more if my son weren’t super invested in it? Probably not... they're moving in the right direction, but still not quite there yet.”

[Main Segment] Keeper — The Double Fine Lighthouse Game (23:13–37:55)

Introduction & Background (23:13–24:52)

• Keeper is helmed by Lee Petty (Stacking, Headlander, Rad).
• Its long development was affected by resource shifts during Psychonauts 2 production.

Gameplay Experience (24:52–32:24)

• You play as a magically-animated, sentient lighthouse navigating a surreal, shifting world. The main interaction: shining your light and some light puzzle-solving with the assistance of a bird companion.
• It’s intentionally a “walking simulator” focused on visual exploration and aesthetics more than narrative or complex gameplay.
• The game’s beauty and art direction are highlighted as extraordinary.

Memorable quote:
Justin McElroy: "I never stop in games to look. But… I actually a couple times went back like, did I just—hold on, I gotta go look at that again. Because... you couldn't take it all in." (28:51)

Evolution and Depth (31:06–33:52)

• The mechanics stay simple but evolve enough to stay engaging; new elements are introduced and just as quickly retired.
• The central appeal is not in escalating challenge, but in artistic showcase and emotional experience.

A Noteworthy Departure for Double Fine (32:24–34:55)

• Keeper is unusual among Double Fine's catalog for its lack of humor, irony, or winking irreverence.
• Instead, it demands wholehearted, earnest engagement—reminiscent of a Miyazaki or Chahi game (e.g., Another World).

Notable quote:
Justin McElroy: "There is a craft to making you feel things with game design that is not numbers-based... If you can slow down to engage with it, it is not an addictive experience. It is something you can really enjoy and rewards that enjoyment..." (37:23)

Practical Note

• Strongly recommended to play on the big screen for full appreciation (35:30–35:47).

Mailbag & Meta Discussion (37:55–51:08)

• Game Music in Big Productions (38:02–39:37):
  Insight from a listener about the laborious, unglamorous work of composing radio music for The Outer Worlds 2—many tracks produced, few selected, and little agency for composers.

• How Do They Pick Games for the Show? (39:37–47:20):
  The hosts explain that selection is based on what will make for good conversation, not just personal taste or popularity. Long games and those requiring hours to “get good” often get skipped.
  Justin: “There is a craft to making you feel things with game design that is not numbers-based...” (re: Keeper, 37:23)

• Why Haven't You Done a Full Hades II Episode? (40:08–44:40):
  The hosts find it hard to generate new discussion since most of what they’d say are repeats from the first Hades; expectations are hard to manage for a sequel that is "great, but not as revelatory."

• FMV Game Overload & The 'Pineapple Problem' (48:16–50:59):
  Justin laments being typecast as the “FMV guy”: "It does get a little bit old...hey guys, look at this fucking piece of detritus I found. Does anybody else care? No? OK, well, that's my 30 seconds." (50:12)
  A comedic bit about becoming the 'lighthouse guy' in people's minds rounds out the segment.

Quick Picks & Recommendations (51:08–59:05)

• Christopher Thomas Plant:
  Onirism – A dense, Nintendo 64-style platformer (a la Jet Force Gemini or classic Rare), pleasing after onboarding but plagued by disastrous menus and broken UI at launch (53:05).
  Quote: "This is maybe the worst 1.0 I've ever played of a video game...the menus feel worse than the games this is taking inspiration from and that's just not acceptable." (53:05)

• Russ Frushtick:
  Robbie Hoffman’s standup special (I'm nervous, YouTube) for fans of Hacks, and dry, sharp comedy (55:43).

• Justin McElroy:
  VHS Halloween (Shudder) – The latest entry in the found-footage horror anthology series, perfect October viewing. "I like horror anthologies because they keep you from getting too narratively invested and you don't have to get too bummed out by them." (56:22)

Closing Banter and Upcoming Topics (59:06–End)

• Griffin will return next week.
• Upcoming episode will focus on "catch up" with several games, including Seance at Blake Manor and Road to Empress (an FMV title).
• Lighthearted thank-yous to Patreon supporters with recurring inside jokes.
• The show ends on classic Besties wordplay and sign-offs.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Pokémon’s enduring kid appeal:
  Justin: "They are contextualizing an experience that kids should be able to continue to have...their own version of it without adults being like, 'Time to add guns.'" (20:56)

• On Double Fine’s earnest pivot in Keeper:
  Justin: "It is not using...comedy, you know, games can lean on that. ... But this is really...earnestly expecting you to engage with it in a really direct way." (34:26)

• Meta-joke on podcast routines:
  Justin (as his own parody): "Guys, I want to tell you real quick about Road to Empress. It's an FMV game...The other two are glazing over...If you like that kind of thing, then this is a really good one..." (50:12)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 – Halloween costumes & American folk monsters
• 05:10 – Pokémon Legends: Z to A intro
• 08:37 – Gameplay differences, action vs. turn-based
• 11:19 – Structure, pacing, city design
• 14:33 – Personal preferences, nostalgia, and kid appeal
• 22:04 – Recommendations and final thoughts on Z to A
• 23:13 – Keeper intro and Double Fine legacy
• 26:35 – Exploration, mechanics, camera, puzzle design
• 32:24 – Artistic intent, emotion, Double Fine’s seriousness
• 37:55 – Mailbag: Game music, game selection, Hades II, FMV games
• 51:08 – Recommendations (Onirism, standup, horror)
• 59:06 – Patreon thank-yous, teasers for next week

Summary

A classic, content-heavy, banter-rich Besties episode. Pokémon Legends: Z to A is dissected for its nostalgic power and technical limitations, while Keeper is lauded as a singularly beautiful, emotionally resonant adventure. Alongside thoughtful meta-discussion about podcast curation, the team’s chemistry shines in both criticism and comedy—making this an essential listen for fans of games discourse with a friendly, self-aware twist.