8-4 Play
- Episodes
- 433
- Released
- every two weeks
- Latest episode
- Nov 13, 2026
About the podcast
Every other week, tune into 8-4 Play for talk about Japan, video games, and Japanese video games, straight from the 8-4 offices in beautiful downtown Tokyo.
Episodes 433
8-4 Play 11/13/2026: ROCK OUT WITH YOUR OC(ARINA) OUT
Ocarina. of. Time. Plus a lil Queen's Domain, Belmont's Curse, Where the Seeds Fall, and the news. 00:53 — Nicknames 09:46 — The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 1:05:56 — Queen's Domain 1:16:16 — Where the …
Show notes
Ocarina. of. Time. Plus a lil Queen's Domain, Belmont's Curse, Where the Seeds Fall, and the news.
00:53 — Nicknames 09:46 — The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 1:05:56 — Queen's Domain 1:16:16 — Where the Seeds Fall 1:20:00 — News: Zelda sales, The Duskbloods delayed, a black PS Portal and more!
8-4 Play 10/30/2026: DO BELMONTS DREAM OF RESORT SPORTS?
Don't sleep on this Tight 60™ re: Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, Wii Sports Resort: Switch 2 Edition, Silent Hill: Townfall, and hopefully enough news to earn you the good ending. 01:14 – Nicknames 09:36 …
Show notes
Don't sleep on this Tight 60™ re: Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, Wii Sports Resort: Switch 2 Edition, Silent Hill: Townfall, and hopefully enough news to earn you the good ending.
01:14 – Nicknames 09:36 – Castlevania: Belmont's Curse 19:22 – Nintendo Switch Sports Resort 27:01 – Silent Hill: Townfall 31:46 – Tales of Eternia Remastered 33:45 – News: BioWare closes, PS6 component prices, and more! 51:44 – (SPOILERS) Resident Evil movie
8-4 Play 10/16/2026: BASED COMBAT
Don't you dare punch out of this episode, Maverick! We got heaps of praise for Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, journeys in Silent Hill: Townfall and then we start looking at those Ocarina of Time previews! 00:44 …
Show notes
Don't you dare punch out of this episode, Maverick! We got heaps of praise for Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, journeys in Silent Hill: Townfall and then we start looking at those Ocarina of Time previews!
00:44 – Nicknames 05:27 – Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve 14:17 – Silent Hill: Townfall 18:42 – Star Wars: Galactic Racer 30:02 – News: Sony done with VR, Ocarina of Time previews, and more!
8-4 Play 10/2/2026: OLD MCRONALD
We dive deep into Well Dweller, the Castlevania: Belmont's Curse demo, and Control Resonant, plus new VR glasses from Meta and more Xbox goings-ons in news. 00:56 — Nicknames 06:32 — Well Dweller 15:48 — …
Show notes
We dive deep into Well Dweller, the Castlevania: Belmont's Curse demo, and Control Resonant, plus new VR glasses from Meta and more Xbox goings-ons in news. 00:56 — Nicknames 06:32 — Well Dweller 15:48 — Castlevania: Belmont's Curse 25:22 — Control Resonant 44:48 — News: Donald becomes Ronald, Meta VR Glasses, Microsoft, and more!8-4 Play 9/18/2026: TOKYO GAME SHOW 2026
Best ep of the year streak continues with all killers, no filler: John Linneman, Jason Schreier, Mike McWhertor, Shane Bettenhausen, Jeremy Parish, Chris Kohler and more stop by to talk anything and everything …
Show notes
Best ep of the year streak continues with all killers, no filler: John Linneman, Jason Schreier, Mike McWhertor, Shane Bettenhausen, Jeremy Parish, Chris Kohler and more stop by to talk anything and everything to do with this year's TGS. 01:02 – Intros 15:28 – TGS Merch Haul 24:45 – Castlevania: Belmont's Curse 43:09 – Sonic Pico Park 47:49 – Crazy Taxi: World Tour 53:24 – Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen 55:22 – Control Resonant 1:00:13 – Final Fantasy VII Revelation 1:19:28 – BlizzCon Recap 1:29:19 – Mega Man: Dual Override 1:40:24 – Silent Hill: Townfall 1:44:00 – Cybernetic Attack: Final Mission 1:47:54 – Terranigma 2:05:48 – Kernel Hearts 2:10:52 – Big Walk 2:13:45 – Professor Layton and The New World of Steam 2:20:48 – Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave 2:28:43 – Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve8-4 Play 9/11/2026: TORNEKO ATSUME
As the kids say, "nothing but bangers and mash": Zelda, Onimusha, Orbitals, MGS4, Final Fantasy III / VI (?), Star Wars: Zero Company plus everything from the recent Nintendo Directs and State of Play! 01:26 …
Show notes
As the kids say, "nothing but bangers and mash": Zelda, Onimusha, Orbitals, MGS4, Final Fantasy III / VI (?), Star Wars: Zero Company plus everything from the recent Nintendo Directs and State of Play!
01:26 – Nicknames 06:39 – Onimusha: Way of the Sword 17:01 – Final Fantasy VI 25:48 – Big Walk 28:05 – Orbitals 40:44 – Star Wars: Zero Company 49:42 – News: State of Play x2, Nintendo Direct x2, and more!
8-4 Play 8/28/2026: SALTY MOONTEARS
A tight 60 (ok 70ish) about The Duskbloods network test, Marvel Tōkon, Beast of Reincarnation, and various Gamescom opening night hijinks. 01:08 – Nicknames 03:41 – The Duskbloods 21:20 – Beast of Reincarnation …
Show notes
A tight 60 (ok 70ish) about The Duskbloods network test, Marvel Tōkon, Beast of Reincarnation, and various Gamescom opening night hijinks.
01:08 – Nicknames 03:41 – The Duskbloods 21:20 – Beast of Reincarnation 25:47 – Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls 47:42 – News: Gamescom, Terranigma, and more!
8-4 Play 8/14/2026: RED LED REDEMPTION
It's a brand new ep with a whole lot of old: two lost Virtual Boy games, a recap of Quintet's SNES hits, and a return trip to Halo with Campaign Evolved. How many Gabes does it take to wreck a Warthog? The …
Show notes
It's a brand new ep with a whole lot of old: two lost Virtual Boy games, a recap of Quintet's SNES hits, and a return trip to Halo with Campaign Evolved. How many Gabes does it take to wreck a Warthog? The answer won't surprise you. Plus week-old news!
01:06 – Nicknames 06:53 – Beast of Reincarnation 16:32 – Zero Racers and Dragon Hopper 36:10 – Halo: Campaign Evolved 47:42 – Quintet Games (Soul Blazer, Illusion of Gaia, Terranigma, ActRaiser) 1:03:00 – News: Fire Emblem Direct, Final Fantasy VII Revelation DLC, and more!
8-4 Play 7/31/2026: BOOYAH BROTHERS
Ay? Ay! (Have you been playing Splatoon Raiders? Because we sure have!) Plus the latest in the worlds of video game news and sudden Tokyo summer electrical storms. 01:16 — Nicknames 10:00 — Splatoon Raiders …
Show notes
Ay? Ay! (Have you been playing Splatoon Raiders? Because we sure have!) Plus the latest in the worlds of video game news and sudden Tokyo summer electrical storms.
01:16 — Nicknames 10:00 — Splatoon Raiders 41:24 — News: Microsoft/Sony Network Outage, Capcom Sales, E3 Archives, and more!
8-4 Play 7/17/2026: SCORCHED EARTH
It's 8-4 Play's Summer Sale! 25% off hosts! 90% off our usual topics! The death of physical media! More layoffs! And balloon animals for the kids! 01:04 — Nicknames 01:41 — News: Physical Games, Microsoft, and …
Show notes
It's 8-4 Play's Summer Sale! 25% off hosts! 90% off our usual topics! The death of physical media! More layoffs! And balloon animals for the kids!
01:04 — Nicknames 01:41 — News: Physical Games, Microsoft, and more! 47:21 — Rhythm Heaven Groove
8-4 Play 7/3/2026: COCKY LITTLE FREAKS
Star Fox, Adventures of Elliot, and a now-quaint lil' discussion on physical games (recorded prior to PlayStation's bombshell announcement). 00:47 – Nicknames 06:47 – Star Fox 19:32 – The Adventures of Elliot …
Show notes
Star Fox, Adventures of Elliot, and a now-quaint lil' discussion on physical games (recorded prior to PlayStation's bombshell announcement).
00:47 – Nicknames 06:47 – Star Fox 19:32 – The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales 28:57 – Microsoft, Steam Machines, GTA 6, and more!
8-4 Play 6/19/2026: VACATION WELL WASTED
Special guest Robert Ashley stops by to talk about his amazing podcast A Life Well Wasted, old EGM / 1up.com memories, and (as required by law in 2026) AI and Xbox. 00:39 – Nicknames 06:54 – A Life Well Wasted …
Show notes
Special guest Robert Ashley stops by to talk about his amazing podcast A Life Well Wasted, old EGM / 1up.com memories, and (as required by law in 2026) AI and Xbox.
00:39 – Nicknames
06:54 – A Life Well Wasted
30:27 – Splatoon
34:41 – News: SGF Recap, Microsoft, Steam Machines and more!
8-4 Play 6/5/2026: BLAME IT ON THE RAIN
RIPPED FROM THE HEADLINES (a couple days ago): Game-by-game-by-game analysis of PlayStation's latest E3 June State of Play, plus…well, mostly that, honestly. 01:44 – Nicknames 13:03 – Sony State of Play
8-4 Play 5/22/2026: TOUCHED FUZZY, GOT DIZZY
Special guest hosts Snoop Dogg, Seth Rogen, and Willie Nelson celebrate episode #420 by discussing the new Steam controller, Nintendo retirees, and how all our celebrity references are dated af. 01:22 …
Show notes
Special guest hosts Snoop Dogg, Seth Rogen, and Willie Nelson celebrate episode #420 by discussing the new Steam controller, Nintendo retirees, and how all our celebrity references are dated af.
01:22 – Nicknames
20:27 – Steam Controller
25:46 – Star Fox
29:20 – News: Nintendo price hikes, XBOX, and more!
8-4 Play 5/8/2026: FANTASTIC MR. STAR FOX
Up-to-the-minute Star Fox hot takes, week-or-two-old Saros first impressions, and the ancient mobile flip-phone Japan-only Xenosaga spinoff review you never knew you wanted. 01:10 – Nicknames 06:38 – Star Fox …
Show notes
Up-to-the-minute Star Fox hot takes, week-or-two-old Saros first impressions, and the ancient mobile flip-phone Japan-only Xenosaga spinoff review you never knew you wanted.
01:10 – Nicknames 06:38 – Star Fox Direct 30:42 – SAROS 41:40 – Xenosaga Pied Piper
8-4 Play 4/24/2026: STROOP, THERE IT IS
17-Bit's Jake and Raj join the crew to chat about dat indie dev life, dat Pragmata life, and dat Tomodachi Life, with a very special message on the dangers of drinking while podcasting. 01:07 – Nicknames 05:13 …
Show notes
17-Bit's Jake and Raj join the crew to chat about dat indie dev life, dat Pragmata life, and dat Tomodachi Life, with a very special message on the dangers of drinking while podcasting.
01:07 – Nicknames 05:13 – Final Fantasy IV 11:30 – Awaysis 37:50 – Tomodachi Life 54:17 – Pragmata 1:00:29 – News: Game Pass price changes, movies based on games, and more!
8-4 Play 4/10/2026: NOT MY SYRCUS
Do pirates do pilates? Clench your AnEarth and climb Gabe's favorite tower to find out as the crew explores the Switch 2 Edition of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, makes a return trip to Pokopia, dabbles in yet more …
Show notes
Do pirates do pilates? Clench your AnEarth and climb Gabe's favorite tower to find out as the crew explores the Switch 2 Edition of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, makes a return trip to Pokopia, dabbles in yet more PC Engine, and debates the latest news and rumors (Star Fox?! Zelda?!?). Plus donuts and ice cream, of course.
00:48 – Nicknames 13:44 – Pokémon Pokopia 19:00 – Super Mario Bros Wonder + Meetup in Bellabel Park 31:33 – Linda Cubed Novelization 33:50 – Final Fantasy IV 41:34 – News: PS5 prices, Nintendo rumors, and more!
8-4 Play 3/27/2026: CHAIRING IS CARING
Craft yourself a seat by the river and take a load off as we share first thoughts on Pokémon Pokopia, check in on the current state of Monster Hunter Wilds, and catch up on a couple other games + the latest …
Show notes
Craft yourself a seat by the river and take a load off as we share first thoughts on Pokémon Pokopia, check in on the current state of Monster Hunter Wilds, and catch up on a couple other games + the latest news and Japanese (?) pizza lore.
00:40 – Nicknames 17:44 – Pokemon Pokopia 37:06 – Monster Hunter Wilds 45:00 – DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined 54:36 – Final Fantasy III 59:49 – News: Pokopia is a hit, PSN rebranding, and more!
8-4 Play 3/13/2026: ALICE IN CHAINSAWS
Th-th-the gang t-t-talks the g-g-good, the bad, and the silly of Resident Evil Requiem, plus more Zelda, Minishoot Adventures, and Project Helix in news. 01:38 – Nicknames 05:55 – The Legend of Zelda 12:47 …
Show notes
Th-th-the gang t-t-talks the g-g-good, the bad, and the silly of Resident Evil Requiem, plus more Zelda, Minishoot Adventures, and Project Helix in news.
01:38 – Nicknames 05:55 – The Legend of Zelda 12:47 – Resident Evil Requiem 52:37 – Minishoot Adventures 55:53 – News: Resident Evil Requiem breaks records, Project Helix, and more!
8-4 Play 2/27/2026: LEGEND OF AWAYSIS
17-Bit's Jake Kazdal stops by to talk Zelda anniversary memories, his upcoming game Awaysis, Virtual Boy do's and don'ts, and all the big news out of Microsoft and PlayStation. 09:58 – The Legend of Zelda 33:34 …
Show notes
17-Bit's Jake Kazdal stops by to talk Zelda anniversary memories, his upcoming game Awaysis, Virtual Boy do's and don'ts, and all the big news out of Microsoft and PlayStation.- 09:58 – The Legend of Zelda
- 33:34 – Awaysis
- 53:01 – Virtual Boy
- 1:01:32 – Nioh 3
- 1:04:25 – Arc Raiders
- 1:10:42 – News: Microsoft, Sony State of Play, and more!
8-4 Play 2/13/2026: SEEING RED
Strap on your climbing gear and watch out for vertigo as we scale the dizzying heights of Cairn and plumb the stereoscopic depths of the Virtual Boy. Plus news! 00:58 – Nicknames 06:18 – Blue Prince 16:37 …
Show notes
Strap on your climbing gear and watch out for vertigo as we scale the dizzying heights of Cairn and plumb the stereoscopic depths of the Virtual Boy. Plus news!
00:58 – Nicknames 06:18 – Blue Prince 16:37 – Cairn 33:30 – Virtual Boy 52:23 – News: Nintendo Direct recap, Steam Machine delayed, and more!
8-4 Play 1/30/2026: NO ONE CAN STOP MR. TETROMINO
The crew checks in (hotel humor!) on the 3.0 update and Switch 2 version of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the good and bad of Xbox's latest developer direct, and the horrors and sweet, sweet delights of the …
Show notes
The crew checks in (hotel humor!) on the 3.0 update and Switch 2 version of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the good and bad of Xbox's latest developer direct, and the horrors and sweet, sweet delights of the upcoming Virtual Boy lineup.
03:51 – Animal Crossing: New Horizons 32:31 – News: Nintendo Rumors, Sony Rumors, Resident Evil rumors and more!
8-4 Play 1/16/2026: YOU, ME, AND LINDA'S CUBES
Linda Cubed, DQ7 Reimagined, Castlevania 64, and Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance highlight a mish-mash of new and old impressions alongside the latest news as we kick off 2026 for the second time with a …
Show notes
Linda Cubed, DQ7 Reimagined, Castlevania 64, and Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance highlight a mish-mash of new and old impressions alongside the latest news as we kick off 2026 for the second time with a respectable Tight 79!
01:15 – Nicknames 07:00 – Linda Cubed 19:28 – Dragon Quest VII Reimagined Demo 27:27 – Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance 37:28 – Castlevania 64 (MASSIVE SPOILERS!) 47:43 – News (AGDQ, Nintendo's Year in Review, and more!)
8-4 Play 1/2/2026: BALL DROPPIN' NEW YEAR'S FREE-FOR-ALL
Friend of the show and former EGM editor Che Chou joins us to ring in 2026 with another freeform Q&A ep fueled by bourbon and filled with New Year's resolutions, holiday memories, GOTY talk, and Cybermorph …
Show notes
Friend of the show and former EGM editor Che Chou joins us to ring in 2026 with another freeform Q&A ep fueled by bourbon and filled with New Year's resolutions, holiday memories, GOTY talk, and Cybermorph. HNY!
Time — Topic Discussed
11:40 – Listener Questions
8-4 Play 12/19/2025: PRIME MINISTRY
Ring in the holidays with extended Metroid Prime 4 thoughts and an audio tour of the Nintendo Museum's new art exhibit, plus Game Awards recap / reax in news! Time — Topic Discussed 01:06 – Nicknames 25:00 …
Show notes
Ring in the holidays with extended Metroid Prime 4 thoughts and an audio tour of the Nintendo Museum's new art exhibit, plus Game Awards recap / reax in news!
Time — Topic Discussed
01:06 – Nicknames 25:00 – Metroid Prime 4: Beyond 51:25 – News: The Game Awards, SEGA Channel games preserved, and more!
8-4 Play 12/5/2025: VIEWPOINT 1998
With Metroid Prime 4 dropping mere hours before we recorded, we went for the next best thing: a bunch of games from the late 90s! Tune in for talk of Analogue 3D, Radiant Silvergun, Viewpoint 2064, 2D gaming on …
Show notes
With Metroid Prime 4 dropping mere hours before we recorded, we went for the next best thing: a bunch of games from the late 90s! Tune in for talk of Analogue 3D, Radiant Silvergun, Viewpoint 2064, 2D gaming on the PS1, and more—plus some current-century stuff like Ball x Pit and Lumines Arise.
Time — Topic Discussed
01:00 – Nicknames 05:42 – Radiant Silvergun 13:15 – Viewpoint 2064 21:30 – Analogue 3D 39:48 – Nicknames 42:44 – Ball x Pit 48:50 – Lumines Arise 51:22 – News: Game Awards Statue, Dead Rising rumors, and more!
8-4 Play 11/21/2025: ALL STEAMED UP
Lumines (loo-meh-nez) Arise, new Hyrule Warriors, Game Awards noms, Metroid Prime 4 hopes and fears, new Steam hardware (x3) and more! 00:45 – Nicknames 13:20 – Lumines: Arise 20:32 – Hyrule Warriors: Age of …
Show notes
Lumines (loo-meh-nez) Arise, new Hyrule Warriors, Game Awards noms, Metroid Prime 4 hopes and fears, new Steam hardware (x3) and more!
00:45 – Nicknames 13:20 – Lumines: Arise 20:32 – Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment 33:11 – News: The Game Awards, Super Mario Galaxy movie, and more!
8-4 Play 11/7/2025: RTX-5090 Z-A HD-2D TURBO
Hear all about (deep breath) Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake (exhale) and the A-Z of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, with a side of Nintendo news and Halloween in Japan. Time — Topic Discussed 00:47 – Nicknames 17:30 …
Show notes
Hear all about (deep breath) Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake (exhale) and the A-Z of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, with a side of Nintendo news and Halloween in Japan.
Time — Topic Discussed
00:47 – Nicknames 17:30 – DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake 25:31 – Pokémon Legends: Z-A 35:00 – News: Nintendo Switch 2 sales, Animal Crossing updates, Halo on PlayStation, and more!
8-4 Play 10/24/2025: ONE-UPPED
1UP Show memories, Hollow Knight 2, Little Nightmares 3, Ninja Gaiden 4, FIIIIIVE GOLD-EN! RINGS!! Plus more FFT, RIP Itagaki-san, and a buncha news. Time — Topic Discussed 00:00 – Nicknames 09:32 – Hollow …
Show notes
1UP Show memories, Hollow Knight 2, Little Nightmares 3, Ninja Gaiden 4, FIIIIIVE GOLD-EN! RINGS!! Plus more FFT, RIP Itagaki-san, and a buncha news.
Time — Topic Discussed
00:00 – Nicknames 09:32 – Hollow Knight: Silksong 17:21 – Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles 20:59 – Little Nightmares 3 26:25 – Ninja Gaiden 4 30:00 – News: Remembering Itagaki-san, The 1UP Show's 20th anniversary, and more!
8-4 Play 10/10/2025: THE SILENT HILLVALICE CHRONICLES
Clutch your digiballs and sharpen your sickles as we dive into Silent Hill f, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, Digimon Story Time Stranger, Mario Galaxy 1&2, a bunch of obscure Alfa System games …
Show notes
Clutch your digiballs and sharpen your sickles as we dive into Silent Hill f, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, Digimon Story Time Stranger, Mario Galaxy 1&2, a bunch of obscure Alfa System games, the latest news, and more!
Time — Topic Discussed
00:37 – Nicknames 08:49 – Silent Hill f 33:38 – Oreshika & Gunparade March 44:55 – Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles 1:05:12 – Digimon Story Time Stranger 1:13:56 – Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2 1:18:52 – News: EA, Microsoft, and more!
These are the latest 40 of 433 episodes. You’ll find older episodes in the podcast’s feed.
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