Unless Batman: Arkham trilogy which is due to arrive tomorrow turns out to not run horrendously on Switch, Tanuki Justice will mark my final purchase for the year. It was released in October but I only just downloaded it last week and upon pressing start, a huge idiot grin was instantly plastered across my face. What a fantastic game to end the year on!

Well it’s that time of year again people, when best of 2023 lists of all shapes and sizes begin to crop up across every corner of the internet. And here at The Dorkside that means it’s time to check off the top ten Nintendo Switch games that yours truly played over these last 12 months. In compiling and ranking this countdown though, my personal rule was that each title had to be released in 2023 which added up to precisely 10 purchases. Meaning that the first couple of games here managed to make the list purely by virtue of fitting into that guideline.

Which isn’t to say that Gravity Circuit is a bad game, far from it!

Rob and Ray are along for the ride in not one but FIVE exciting adventures with the great Indiana Jones. Join us as we reminisce, discuss and rank every movie featuring the legendary hero in this, our first Character Cast!

Click here to listen!

Now before all three of you get too excited, listen: I have absolutely no intention of writing up Holiday Horror flicks all throughout Christmastime the way I did in September and October. At least I don’t think that’s gonna happen. But who knows? Until we find out, consider this write-up a one-off because to be totally honest, scary Christmas movies are a sub-genre I’m not really all that familiar with and haven’t been compelled by in the past. Not to sound like a prude, but the idea of introducing slashers or monsters into the season has always felt a bit tacky to me. But many years back I came across a little something called Christmas Evil from 1980 and whoa boy, did it become quite the exception!

The whole daylight savings “turn the clock back an hour” thing this time of year really seems to be rough on all of you outgoing, extroverted, weekend warrior, morning person types, but I love it. The main issue is apparently that nighttime has taken over and there’s a tragic shortage of daylight. Well, that’s kinda my jam so it’s pretty exciting when nature finally decides to provide a nonstop blanket of cold and darkness. For me, it signals that the winter season is officially upon us and along with it a time filled with beautiful lights, nostalgic sounds, comforting smells and of course big holiday Nintendo releases.

In the aftermath of a Joss Whedon patched together interpretation of DC’s Justice League release, a long and hard fought internet nerd war ensued. Warner Brothers studio finally caved in, agreeing to give a very vocal internet fanbase what they desperately wanted: Director Zack Snyder’s completed cut of his original vision for the first big budget live action showing of the Justice League. Did it live up to the hype? Join Rob and Ray as we dive in and discuss this 4 hour Superhero monstrosity!

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This podcast originally recorded May 2021

Batman Returns is a classic 16-bit sidescrolling beat ’em up where players assume the role of the Dark Knight as he attempts to murder hundreds of criminals before the Penguin steals Christmas. This was one of those games that I wanted more than anything as kid. But since I was never given Nintendo related gifts outside of my birthday and the occasionally stellar report card, unfortunately it was one of many to slip through the cracks.

Well I’ve been an adult for a while now and obviously scored a copy at the first opportunity many years ago so here’s what I think about it!

For Beatles fans, there are a few stages you go through when there’s an announcement that “new” material by the band is coming. There’s of course excitement at the idea of listening to something by the Fab Four that you’ve never heard before. Then there’s the anticipation leading up to the release date as all sorts of articles and clips spring up offering details about the track. Finally there’s the actual playing of the music which at first, is less listening and more dissecting.

So now after having given this so called “last” song 3 or 4 dozen spins, is it any y’know… good?

Happy Halloween everyone! Here we are in 2023 with an all new spooky show devoted to one of Ray’s all time favorites: Fred Dekker’s 1987 cult classic The Monster Squad! And how does Robman feel about the movie? Better throw this on in the background while you’re carving up those pumpkins to find out!

Click here to listen!