Boss Run

Welcome to Episode 41 of Boss Run! Housh here, back with another stacked week of gaming and the final push for Twitch Affiliate.Here is what we are breaking down on the show this week:📺 Twitch Affiliate Push: We are so close to hitting Affiliate on Twitch! We just need a slight bump in average viewers to finally cross the finish line, so be sure to come hang out during the live streams. https://twitch.tv/billyhoush💿 JRPG Corner: Lost Odyssey & Blue Dragon: The Xbox 360 nostalgia trip continues! We are officially two-thirds of the way through Disc 3 of Lost Odyssey. I also couldn't resist picking up Blue Dragon during the recent backward compatibility sale for just $5. We break down the classic Mistwalker dynamic: if Lost Odyssey is the Xbox 360's Final Fantasy, then Blue Dragon is absolutely its Dragon Quest.🚀 Saros Impressions: I am deep into Saros right now, and the progression loop is incredibly addictive—honestly, it hooks you just like Call of Duty. Whether you win or die on a run, it feeds you a steady drip of lore and skill tree upgrades to cool you off before you inevitably dive right back in. We also discuss how the "Carcosian" modifier can make the runs much more manageable, plus a quick heads-up on a bug that can actually help you snag some of the game's hardest trophies.🔫 A Return to Quake: Taking a break from the new releases to jump back into the arena with Quake Champions. With the recent 2026 trademark filings and the 30th anniversary looming, I am holding out serious hope that we finally get a new Quake game announcement soon.

Welcome back to Episode 40 of Boss Run! Housh here, and this week we are jumping right back into some classic 360 hardware, continuing our epic JRPG journey, and diving into the massive mid-April releases.Here is what we are breaking down on the show this week:🔌 Hardware Check: Identifying the Xbox 360 Jasper: We are digging into the retro hardware vault! I walk you through the foolproof way to identify the highly coveted Xbox 360 "Jasper" motherboard just by looking at the power supply plugs and the 12.1A rating. It is the holy grail for dodging the Red Ring of Death!💿 Lost Odyssey (Disc 2): The Lost Odyssey Twitch stream journey continues! We have officially swapped over to Disc 2. We talk about how the story is unfolding, the combat pacing, and why this game remains an absolute masterpiece of the 360 era.🎮 Pragmata (12-Hour Impressions): I have put a solid 12 hours into Capcom's Pragmata, and I am giving my full, unfiltered impressions of the run-through so far. We discuss the bizarre sci-fi mechanics, the world-building, and how it feels to finally have it in our hands.🚀 Preordering Saros: I officially pulled the trigger and pre-ordered Saros ahead of its launch! We discuss the early reviews and why the consensus that "it is winning over people who didn't click with Returnal" was the exact push I needed to secure a copy.Make sure to hit subscribe, drop a like, and let me know in the comments: Do you still have your original Xbox 360, and have you checked the back to see if it’s a Jasper?

Welcome back to Episode 39 of Boss Run! Housh here, and this week we are shifting gears from the Sega arcade grind to cover a massive week of award news, new releases, and an absolute JRPG classic.Here is what we are breaking down on the show this week:📺 Twitch Stream Update: https://twitch.tv/billyhoush Lost Odyssey: I have been absolutely loving my time streaming Lost Odyssey over on Twitch. We talk about why this classic Xbox 360 JRPG still holds up, the incredible emotional weight of the "Thousand Years of Dreams" sequences, and why this game is an absolute masterpiece for us geriatric millennials.🎮 First Impressions: April Heavy Hitters: The massive mid-April game drops are finally here, and I am giving my early thoughts on what I've played so far:Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream: Is it the weird, chaotic life-sim we've been waiting for on the Switch?Pragmata: Capcom's highly anticipated, bizarre sci-fi fever dream is finally in our hands, and I am breaking down the opening hours.🏆 2026 BAFTA Game Awards Recap: The BAFTAs just wrapped up in London, and we go over the major winners! We discuss Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 taking home Best Game, Dispatch cleaning up with Audio, Animation, and Best Supporting Performer (shoutout to Jeffrey Wright), and Ghost of Yōtei dominating the technical and music categories.📅 Upcoming Release Radar: We wrap up the show looking ahead to the massive games dropping at the end of April and into May 2026. Keep an eye on your wallets for:Saros (April 30)Forza Horizon 6 (May 19)Make sure to hit subscribe, drop a like, and let me know in the comments: Did the BAFTAs get it right this year, or did your favorite game get totally snubbed?

Housh here, and this week is an absolute massive one for the Sega AM2 nostalgia train. I finally did it—I powered through and secured the Platinum trophy for Shenmue II.Here is what we are breaking down on the show this week:🏆 The Shenmue II Platinum Journey: We dive into the final stretch of the game, the grind to get that Platinum, and how the sequel builds on everything established in the first game.🥋 Shenmue Series Recap (The Good & The Bad): Having just played both Shenmue I & II back-to-back, I am doing a full recap of the journey so far.What I Love: The unmatched atmosphere, the deep martial arts training, the chill pacing, and that pure, undeniable classic Sega arcade DNA.What I Hate: The endlessly frustrating QTEs and CQTEs (Command Quick Time Events), the notoriously clunky controls, some of the severe pacing roadblocks, and fighting through the real-life motion sickness brought on by the HD ports.✨ Anticipating Shenmue III Enhanced Edition: We are looking ahead to the newly announced Shenmue III Enhanced Edition dropping later this year! We discuss the publisher switch to ININ Games and the massive quality-of-life updates coming to PC and current-gen consoles, including:A highly anticipated, much larger QTE timing window!Increased NPC density to make Niaowu feel alive.The "Classic Camera Mode" to mimic the feel of I & II.Optional stamina tweaks, combat health restoration, and fast travel updates.

Welcome back to another episode of Boss Run! This week, we are geeking out over some major hardware upgrades and diving deep into the golden era of arcade history.📺 Upgrading the Setup: I finally got my hands on an awesome new TV! We are breaking down the latest in display technology and discussing why getting the right screen is an absolute game-changer for your setup.🕹️ Sega AM2 & The Military-Industrial Complex: We're taking a massive nostalgia trip back to the peak of SEGA arcade cabinets. We dive into the legendary history of the Sega AM2 division (the studio behind Virtua Fighter and Daytona USA) and how they literally took million-dollar flight simulator technology from US military contractors like Lockheed Martin and engineered it into the famous Model 2 arcade board.🥋 The Shenmue Saga Continues: I finally rolled the credits on Shenmue I! We discuss the journey, the pacing, and the payoff as I immediately transition into booting up Shenmue II.📅 April Release Radar: We’re also looking ahead at the heavy hitters dropping this month. We talk about what to expect from:Tomodachi Life: Living the DreamCapcom’s PragmataSaros

Welcome to Episode 36! Housh here, breaking down a heavy week of hardware news and what’s in the current gaming rotation.📉 Hardware & Industry NewsPS5 Price Hikes (April 2): Sony is raising console prices globally. The US PS5 Pro jumps $150 to $899.99 USD, while the Canadian Pro hits a massive $1,099.99 CAD. You only have a few days left to buy at the current price!Epic Games Layoffs: Epic is cutting 20% of its workforce (roughly 1,000 people) as Fortnite engagement slows and costs outpace revenue.🎮 What We're PlayingCurrently Playing: Crimson Desert and Shenmue 1&2 HD on PS4 (powering through the motion sickness ahead of the Shenmue 3 upgrade). Taking a much-needed break from Marathon.Upcoming Radar: The Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream drops April 16, right before Capcom's Pragmata officially launches on April 17.

Is Microsoft finally listening to PC gamers? This week on Boss Run, we discuss Microsoft’s surprising new commitment to strip the forced "AI slop" out of Windows and refocus on raw gaming performance.Then, we are dropping back into Marathon to break down the chaotic new Cryo Archives zone and discuss how Ranked mode actually feels now that the player base is settling into the meta. Finally, we give our raw, day-one first impressions of Crimson Desert—does Pearl Abyss's massive open-world action RPG actually live up to the years of hype?

This week on Boss Run, we need to have a serious talk about the state of premium gaming hardware and knowing when to walk away from a franchise.If you are dropping top dollar on a "Pro" controller, you shouldn't be tethered to a USB-C cable after a single extended session. We are breaking down the incredibly frustrating battery life of the DualSense Edge and discussing why standard over-ear headsets are a nightmare for anyone who wears glasses. If you are tired of the clamping fatigue, I am explaining why making the jump to In-Ear Monitors (IEMs) is the single best audio upgrade you can make for your setup.On the software side, it is officially time to call it: after this current season, I am completely walking away from the Call of Duty grind. Bungie’s Marathon has entirely taken over the rotation, and we are diving deep into why this extraction shooter is hitting all the right notes. Finally, we wrap up the episode by going through the newly announced BAFTA Games Awards nominations to see who actually deserves to take home the hardware this year.

Boss Run is officially in its solo era! This week, the gaming industry is an absolute mess. Sony is shutting down Bluepoint Games, Xbox just handed the keys to an AI executive, and Toshihiro Nagoshi lost his studio funding.On the gameplay side, I'm talking about my time with Yakuza 3 Kiwami & Dark Ties, Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined, Resident Evil Requiem, and Marathon. Grab a coffee, drop into the solo queue, and let's get into it!

While Sam has been thrashing it in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4, Billy has been enjoying some cherished classics from the past such as Chibi-Robo! and Syberia. We discuss the brief drought of new titles before the deluge in October.

Sam can't stay away from Dune: Awakening and Billy is still up to no good in Mafia: The Old Country. We breakdown the current announcements from Gamescom and what we are looking forward to.

Sam is winding down on Dune: Awakening and Billy is steady mobbin' it in Mafia: The Old Country but both of us are gushing over the Battlefield 6 Beta. We discuss what worked and what we are worried about after spending some time in BF6.

Billy completes Donkey Kong Bananza and starts Pillars of Eternity. Sam is loving Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 and started back up Baldur's Gate 3. We're both hyped for the Battlefield 6 beta test.

Billy is closing in on the final act of Donkey Kong Bananza and Sam has entered the world of extreme sports...on the PC.

Sam gears up for the Dune: Awakening base building contest and Billy goes bananas over Donkey Kong Bananza. We both proclaim our excitement over the upcoming Battlefield 6 announcement.

Sam is competing making bases in Dune Awakening and Billy is striving for platinum in Death Stranding 2. We discuss Japanese development team names and Pedro Pascal in this week's episode.

Sam has his fill of Dune Awakening and moves on to Assassin's Creed Shadows. Billy is still in love with Death Stranding 2 and we discuss films adapted from games.

Billy is addicted to Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Sam hits endgame in Dune: Awakening.

Billy gives his review of RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army and attempts to explain the Shin Megami Tensei franchise. Sam is deep into his Dune Awakening addiction as he inches forward to endgame.

Sam is still awakening his Dune and Billy completes his Witcher 3 Wild Hunt. We both give our first expressions of FBC: Firebreak and discuss the upcoming Games as a Service titles. Finally, Billy gushes over Nintendo's Donkey Kong Bananza Direct.

Billy gives his first impressions of the Switch 2 and Mario Kart World. Sam admits to his addiction to Dune: Awakening and we go through all the newly announced games during Not-E3 weekend.

We give our opinion on The Division 2's Battle for Brooklyn DLC and go through all of Sony's latest announcements during their State of Play event kicking off Not-E3 weekend.

Sam goes over the goods of The Division 2's Battle for Brooklyn DLC while discussing his time with Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon. Billy starts his investigation in the Lovecraftian The Sinking City Remastered and talks about his experience repairing controllers.

Sam gets deeper into Disco Elysium while Billy struggles with The Witcher 3 after finishing Assassin's Creed Shadows. We go over June's big releases and discuss Bungie's issues with plagiarism.

Sam gives more impressions of Disco Elysium and Billy is getting close to completing Assassin's Creed Shadows. We discuss the Mafia series to gauge our interest in Mafia: The Old Country and give our takes on the Doom series.

Sam starts Disco Elysium and Billy finally plays The Division 2 in a gaming switcheroo. Billy has final thoughts on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and we both discuss our time with the Arc Raiders tech test.

Billy goes through his harrowing time preordering a Switch 2 and hands-on time at the Nintendo Switch 2 Toronto Experience. Sam is hyped on the upcoming Division 2 DLC and the Oblivion Remaster.

Sam tries the Oblivion Remaster while Billy discusses the joy of completing Planescape: Torment. We discuss our excitement towards Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and the Internet's pessimism towards new games.

To our surprise we both finished playing games. Sam reviews his experience with Atomfall and Billy gushes over Disco Elysium. We discuss Marathon, subscription services, and the perils of being a famous Fortnite streamer.

We have a hamfisted discussion about PC shaders while Billy explores the world of Disco Elysium. Sam plans to join a political protest and we talk about buying launch consoles.

Sam updates us on his adventures in Atomfall while Billy experiences technical issues in Assassin's Creed Shadows. We go over the launch details for the Nintendo Switch 2 and discuss the expensive future of gaming.

Billy gives his first impressions of Assassin's Creed Shadows. Sam is still struggling with his Division 2 addiction but takes time to play Songs of Rats. We discuss MMOs and speculate about the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 announcement.

Billy gives his overall impressions of the Mass Effect Trilogy after completing it and we discuss the controversies surrounding Assassin's Creed Shadows in anticipation of its release.

Billy and Sam discuss Mass Effect 3 while anticipating Assassin's Creed Shadows. We also give our opinions on ethical use of artificial intelligence in game development.

Billy platinums Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii and Sam shamelessly reinstalls Tom Clancy's The Division 2. We discuss gamer fatigue and ways to get around it. Also speculate what we can anticipate with the latest entry in the Assassin's Creed series: Assassin's Creed Shadows.  

We rank the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 maps! Sam updates us on his Avowed shenanigans while Billy searches for booty to plunder in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.

We go through the nominees and winners of the 2025 Canadian Game Awards. Billy fights through a cold while anticipating the release of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. Sam tells us more of the campaign in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II as he prepares to step into the world of Avowed.

Sam is crafting night vision potions in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II while Billy is the Forrest Gump of Early Access. We spoil Silent Hill 2 and Mouthwashing then go over the latest games announced during Playstation's State of Play event.

Sam gives us some early impressions of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II while Billy breaks the law in Tokyo Xtreme Racer. We discuss back buttons on pro controllers and the future of the Battlefield series.

We discuss early access games, issues with Path of Exile 2 multiplayer, and Sam tells us about the No Man's Sky update. Billy is excited to have been chosen to try the Nintendo Switch 2 in April and allegedly acquiring a game he can't purchase in Canada yet.

We discuss our favourite games of 2024 as well as what to look forward to this year. Billy might have an opportunity to try Switch 2 and Sam reminisces about ASCII Pac-Man.