After a brief break we've returned to bring you another episode but this time it's free of Kyle's butt! Here is what we discussed: Prototype 2, Batman Arkham City, Diablo III beta, Walking Dead comics, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, A.R.E.S Extinction Agenda, Armored Core 5

Music in this episode: Super Meat Boy (OCRemix), Starhawk, Kameo

You can reach us at cstrikepodcast@gmail.com, leave a voicemail at (909) 278-7453 or Twitter at criticalstrike

Time for the second music episode of the year and it isn't the Super Nintendo one I promised, sorry! I intended on releasing that one but after hearing the entire episode out, I quickly realized it didn't really have much to it since I used pretty much all those songs on previous Critical Music or Critical Strike episodes over the years. We'll see about a possible release but for now I hope you all enjoy this one!

Music in this episode: Trash80, Zone of the Enders, inFAMOUS 2, Journey, Hard Reset, Everyday Shooter, Chaos Rings, Fatboy Roberts (Geek Remixed), Gravity Daze, Prototype 2, Castle Crashers, Select Start, Saints Row The Third, Retro City Rampage, Sim City 4

You can reach us at cstrikepodcast@gmail.com, leave a voicemail at (909) 278-7453 or Twitter at criticalstrike

Back from PAX and ready to ruin your week with a new episode! This is what we discussed: Our few funny stories at PAX 2012, Pinball Arcade, Street Fighter X Tekken, Syndicate, Mass Effect 3, Silent Hill HD Collection and the conclusion to Kyle's butt story.

Music in this episode: inFAMOUS 2, Jet Set Radio Future

You can reach us at cstrikepodcast@gmail.com, leave a voicemail at (909) 278-7453 or Twitter at criticalstrike

Once again, another episode to ruin your week! Thanks to Mike (mormonrage) from The Fanboys Lunchcast and the Player One Podcast for filling in on this episode for a missing Kyle. This is what we discussed: Dota 2 beta, Microsoft Flight, Waveform, Mass Effect 3, Sine Mora, MLB 12 The Show Vita, Syndicate, Draw Something, clunge.

Music this episode: House of the Dead Overkill, Persona 3

You can reach us at cstrikepodcast@gmail.com, leave a voicemail at (909) 278-7453 or Twitter at criticalstrike

Here is another episode to ruin your week! This is what was discussed: Journey, Kyle's Mass Effect 3 thoughts and woes, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier beta, Bill's troubles with selling items on Amazon, and a question from famed listener Meowfan112.

Music in this episode: Maverick Rising

You can reach us at cstrikepodcast@gmail.com, leave a voicemail at (909) 278-7453 or Twitter at criticalstrike

Oh yeah kids, its on! Here is what we discussed: Kyle's recent "medical" issue, listener questions via twitter, Bill's Final Fantasy XIII-2 experience, The Darkness II, Alan Wake: American Nightmare, Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack, Modnation Racers Roadtrip, SSX.

Music in this episode: Mega Man 9 (OCRemix), Final Fantasy X, Starship Amazing

You can reach us at cstrikepodcast@gmail.com, leave a voicemail at (909) 278-7453 or Twitter at criticalstrike

Its been a long time since I've done a music episode, I've promised one over and over and just couldn't get myself to sit down and hammer one out and when I finally did? I never released it. Yeah, this one has been sitting completed on my hard drive for the last month or so, and I just forgot all about it until a listener asked if I was going to be releasing a music show anytime soon. So here you go everyone! I hope you enjoy it.

Music in this episode: Daytona USA, Einhänder, Battlefield 3, Jamestown: Legend of the Lost Colony, Dead Island, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, Double Dragon II: The Revenge, Infinite Undiscovery, Valkyria Chronicles, Infinity Blade, Modnation Racers, Marvel Pinball, Shatter, The Last Story, Conker's Bad Fur Day

You can reach us at cstrikepodcast@gmail.com, leave a voicemail at (909) 278-7453 or Twitter at criticalstrike

Its been a long time coming but something may have finally been able to pull me back to the handheld market for games, I've tried the Nintendo 3DS, iPad 2 and a few other devices but as you'll hear throughout this episode I recently picked up a PlayStation Vita! It actually came out at a good time because with the current lull in game releases, we really didn't have much to talk about on this show so it. Here is what we discussed: PlayStation Vita, Hot Shots Golf International Tour, Super Stardust Delta, The Simpsons Arcade, Final Fantasy XIII-2, World of Warcraft, Kyle rooting his Droid Bionic, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, Skyrim's Steam workshop.

Music in this episode: OutRun -Shiny New Ferrari (OCRemix), World of Warcraft, Descent II

You can reach us at cstrikepodcast@gmail.com, leave a voicemail at (909) 278-7453 or Twitter at criticalstrike

Its about time we finally got back to doing the show, but its not like we didn't try for the past three weeks to get one done. Quite frankly we've had a whole heap of problems like the plague, a baby monitor screwing up someones internet connection. Either way its about time we got back to doing the show! This episode is a bit longer than normal, I wanted to keep most of the stuff in as it was just fun to do. We also now have a couple of contests going on  so if you want a chance to get a free copy of Dungeon Defenders (Steam), Sanctum (Steam) and Alice: Madness Returns (Origin) make sure you listen to the episode! Here is what we discussed: Fight Night Champion, Jamestown, Final Fantasy XIII, Alice: Madness Returns, Dark Souls, Resistance 3, Triple Town, Order Up!, Dead Space 2.

Music in this episode: Final Fantasy XIII-2, Killer7

You can reach us at cstrikepodcast@gmail.com, leave a voicemail at (909) 278-7453 or Twitter at criticalstrike

Now that we're back together from our little holiday break, its time to settle in and get back to our normal schedule for the show and upcoming future music episodes. It was nice getting back together with the boys even though I said I'd skip out on this episode which probably would have been better if I did because I was not a fan of top 5 game of the year lists this time around. Here is what we discussed: Kyles holiday/anniversary gift issues, Halo CE: Anniversary Edition, Uncharted 1, 2, The Binding of Issac, Bastion, Bills quick summary of Operation Flashpoint: Red River, the World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Raid Finder, Bill spoils the ending of Saints Row The Third,  and of course our top 5 games of 2011.

Music in this episode: New Super Mario Bros.  Mushroom Maddness OCRemix, The Binding of Issac

You can reach us at cstrikepodcast@gmail.com, leave a voicemail at (909) 278-7453 or Twitter at criticalstrike

With Kyle missing from the show due to having to make bacon money, Bill and Josh continue on to create one weird feeling show but atleast fun was had while making it! Next episode expect our yearly game of the year show just like everyone else, its going to be tough trying to create a list with all the amazing games we had this year. Here is what we discussed: Trine 2, Diablo III Beta, Rage crashing, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Uncharted 3 and listener questions & comments.

Music in this episode: Trine 2, Diablo

You can reach us at cstrikepodcast@gmail.com, leave a voicemail at (909) 278-7453 or Twitter at criticalstrike

Thanksgiving is out of the way but having all that open time to play games and chat with everyone over skype was where the real magic came from. Its been a fun week of creating more inside jokes, poking Josh for games he wouldn't normally play and getting another podcast out of the way. Here is what we discussed: Saints Row: The Third, Sonic Generations, inFAMOUS 2, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, listener questions and emails. 

Music in this episode:  Lizards Larry's Funky House of Lowe OC ReMix, Starship Amazing

You can reach us at cstrikepodcast@gmail.com, leave a voicemail at (909) 278-7453 or Twitter at criticalstrike

We're finally into the thick of the season where it seems like every game comes out all at once but we seem to be handling it well by skipping most games to just play Battlefiend 3 and Skyrim! We're not quite sure if we'll be recording within the next two weeks due to thanksgiving and all so if you don't see a new episode then, you're probably used to it anyway! Here is what we discussed this episode:  Listener questions/comments, The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Battlefield 3, Sonic Generations, Pixeljunk Sidescroller, Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, Dark Souls, inFamous Festival of Blood.

Music in this episode: Sonic Generations, de Blob 2, Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

You can reach us at cstrikepodcast@gmail.com, leave a voicemail at (909) 278-7453 or Twitter at criticalstrike

Our third chair Mr Bill finally joined us in his first episode as a member of the podcast, it'll be nice to have that extra person on the show who plays some games that Kyle and myself probably wouldn't get around to play and discuss. Here is what we discussed on this episode: Guardian Heroes, Batman Arkham City, Dungeon Defenders, Forza 4, Dark Souls and Kyle losing a race to his girlfriend Nancy.

Music in this episode: Spike Jones (Big Bad Bill), .hack//sign, Dark Souls

You can reach us at cstrikepodcast@gmail.com, leave a voicemail at (909) 278-7453 or Twitter at criticalstrike

So this is our last episode as a two man show since the great BillyBillBlack will be joining us from this point on. I'm glad to see him get back into doing a podcast and it should be very exciting so see how much fun we'll all be having in the future while doing the show! This episode was pretty sweet due to all the hockey references as Kyle is now becoming a fan of the greatest sport around but as usual hes quick to point out, we're finally back on schedule! Here is what we discussed: NHL 12, Minecraft Pocket Edition, Crimson Alliance, FIFA 12, Gears of War 3 horde mode, Duke Nukem Forever.

Music in this episode: Tron: Legacy, The Brass Bonanza, Talking Classics

You can reach us at cstrikepodcast@gmail.com, leave a voicemail at (909) 278-7453 or Twitter at criticalstrike

Two episodes within just a few days of each other? Yeah, you're welcome! Kyle and I were able to get together this week for a normal episode so we quickly seized the opportunity to pop out another strike to your face and get some older games we've been wanting to talk about off our lists once and for all. Here is what we discussed: Droid Bionic, Warhammer 40k: Space Marine, Limbo, Boarderlands, Hard Reset, NHL 12.

Music in this episode: Desert Planet, Magicka

You can reach us at cstrikepodcast@gmail.com, leave a voicemail at (909) 278-7453 or Twitter at criticalstrike

Its been some time since I sat down and just did a music episode without a theme and frankly its quite nice to not have to stick to any type of restriction like that. This one covered a few requests we've had lingering around over the years so if you have any new ones make sure you try and get them to us!

Music in this episode: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Deathsmiles, Final Fantasy X, Bastion, EverQuest, Sword & Sworcery, Super Street Fighter IV, El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron, Pixeljunk Shooter, Afro Samurai, Torchlight, Skitchin`, Starship Amazing, Hyadain, Radiant Silvergun, inFAMOUS 2.

You can reach us at cstrikepodcast@gmail.com, leave a voicemail at (909) 278-7453 or Twitter at criticalstrike

Its about that time of year that our little summer vacation break from the podcast begins to wind down so we wanted to get together finally and cover a bunch of the games we played since our Funspot trip. Now that we're back from vacation I hope we can get back to our normal schedule and also get back to doing some music episodes so if you have any suggestions for game songs head over here and post the title name for us! Here is what we discussed: Child of Eden, Assassin's Creed II, Portal 2, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Street Fighter III: Third Strike, Pinball Hall of Fame: Williams Collection, Pinball FX 2, El Shaddai

Music in this episode: Street Fighter 3: Third Strike (online edition), Bastion

You can reach us at cstrikepodcast@gmail.com, leave a voicemail at (909) 278-7453 or Twitter at criticalstrike

We're so close to being back on schedule and it was actually really fun recording this episode with Kyle but I think the thing that made it so great was his new microphone. Its funny how something so simple can mix up how you feel about a show after 6 years. Editing was easier and so was recording it. Here is what was discussed: Spotify, Killzone 3, Warhammer 40K: Kill Team, Dungeon Siege 3, Gatling Gears, NCAA 12, Galaga Legions DX, a very awkward story involving Kyle without a shirt on and 80's music playing in public. 

Music in this episode: The Lonely Island, DjCUTMAN - Goon Ball

You can reach us at cstrikepodcast@gmail.com, leave a voicemail at (909) 278-7453 or Twitter at criticalstrike

Well we've had a nice long summer break but its time to get back to recording on a regular schedule. Hopefully things calm down in both our lives so we can spend some more time on all this stuff as we've both missed it! Its also nice to know that Kyle's attention isn't any better after all this time because during the intro he said it was episode 74 even though its actually 75. Regardless of all that, here is what we discussed: Outland, inFAMOUS/inFAMOUS 2, Dungeons and Dragons: Daggerdale, Terraria, ilomilo, World of Keflings, Socom 4, Uncharted 3 beta.

Music in this episode: Animal Crossing, Duke Nukem Forever

You can reach us at cstrikepodcast@gmail.com, leave a voicemail at (909) 278-7453 or Twitter at criticalstrike

It's been two years since I visited this style of music, but now seems like a better time than ever to revisit the chiptune community. I've learned a few new things this time around, there are a ton of new artists who are doing amazing work and chiptunes seem to be getting better and better. I'm happy I took some time off from doing this type of episode because it just feels right now, hopefully everyone enjoys all the hard work these artists have put into their music and shows them a bit of support.

Artists in this episode: minusbaby, syphus, criticalhit, The J. Arthur Keenes Band, Starscream, Cornbeast, Dr. Szliszka, Chetreo, SMILETRON, Nullsleep, Arcade Superstar, Wizwars

We finally got around to recording a actual episode but the best part about it is we were once again joined by our good friend Bill from For Your FYI who has made several appearances in the past. It's always nice to get the guys from that show on here because we always seem to have more fun. It was nice getting together with the boys to do another episode and even answer some questions from twitter. Here is what we discussed: Crappy movies, Sanctum, Crysis 2, Minecraft, Motorstorm Apocalypse, Mortal Kombat, Vanquish, Billy's Roku.

Music in this episode: Motorstorm Apocalypse, Portal 2, Mortal Kombat

You can reach us at cstrikepodcast@gmail.com, leave a voicemail at (909) 278-7453 or Twitter at criticalstrike

About a year ago I promised to everyone that I would do another music episode based on video game bands and for some unknown reason I just never did it. I'm sure that makes me a jerk, but at least its finally done now, right? Either way, I'm happy to finally get this settled and release another music episode since a bunch of new bands have emerged and released their own interpretations with the video game music we've all grown up and loved! I hope you enjoy all their work and that you seek them out to give them support so they may continue to give us these face melting tunes.

Music in this episode: The Megas, Distorted Evolution, FamicomBit, The Protomen, This Place is Haunted, The Kode, Year 200X, Daniel Tidwell, VikingGuitar, Descendants Of Erdrick, The Advantage, Powerglove

You can reach us at cstrikepodcast@gmail.com, leave a voicemail at (909) 278-7453 or Twitter at criticalstrike

Finally getting back into the routine of doing a show, Kyle and I were a bit surprised that we had so many games to discuss to begin with that a few didn't even make it. That isn't exactly something that happens to us too often because we have such limited playing time, but it sure made for a welcome change! Here is what we discussed: MLB The Show 11, Marvel vs Capcom 3, Pixeljunk Shooter 2, Days of Thunder Nascar, Nintendo 3DS, Super Street Fighter IV 3D, Singularity, Fallout New Vegas, Beyond Good & Evil, Red Dead Redemotion, Rift

Music in this episode: Danger Zone (H-Pizzle), Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII

You can reach us at cstrikepodcast@gmail.com, leave a voicemail at (909) 278-7453 or Twitter at criticalstrike

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if you aren't sick of hearing about Penny Arcade Expo East yet, well now you can hear all about our impressions about this years event! It was nice seeing Kyle and Nancy again but I'm pretty sure we were all overwhelmed by the size of the event this year. Thanks to everyone we met and all the great games we got to play but if  you've never been, you should really try and go one year just to experience the pure chaos that is a gathering of thousands of nerds. Here is some of the games we discussed: Swarm, Duke Nukem Forever, Mortal Kombat, Super Street Fighter IV 3D, Dragon Nest, Child of Eden.

Music in this episode: Contra Snow Field OC ReMix

You can reach us at cstrikepodcast@gmail.com, leave a voicemail at (909) 278-7453 or Twitter at criticalstrike