MARATHON is brutal, stylish, and not here to be your friend

MARATHON is brutal, stylish, and not here to be your friend

Author: SIFTER April 13, 2026 Duration: 33:40

Marathon, the new extraction shooter from Bungie, is harsh, competitive, and unforgiving from the jump. Intentionally so.

Hosted by Kyle Pauletto, with Gianni Di Giovani and Chris Button.

Read our full review here: Marathon is brutal, stylish, and not here to be your friend

Pocket Casts: You can now rate the show on Pocket Casts, give us a five star review learn more by heading here https://pocketcasts.com/ratings

A copy of Marathon on PC was provided to SIFTER for the purposes of this review.

Apple Arcade: Enjoy unlimited access to over 200 incredibly fun games with no ads and no in-app purchases. From puzzle and adventure games to sports, racing, and multiplayer action games, everyone can count on finding something to love. Head to sifter.com.au/arcade to start your free trial* of Apple Arcade today and you'll be supporting independent video games journalism. *New subscribers only. AU$9.99/month after free trial. Plan automatically renews after trial until cancelled.

You can support SIFTER's independent gaming journalism by

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SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Adam Christou, Chris ButtonNaomi JacksonCat Jahne is Social Producer, Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia and Apple for their support of SIFTER.


Ever find yourself scrolling through endless video game reviews that all seem to say the same thing? Drop Rate takes a different path. Hosted by Chris Button, this podcast digs deeper than a simple score, offering thoughtful critique and honest analysis that challenges how you see your favourite hobby. It’s not just about whether a game is good or bad, but why it matters, how it fits into the broader landscape, and what it’s actually like to play. Each episode brings together sharp voices from games journalism, dissecting the latest releases across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The conversations here feel like the kind you’d have with a knowledgeable mate after a long session-nuanced, sometimes surprising, and always grounded in a genuine passion for the medium. For listeners tired of surface-level takes, this SIFTER production provides a space where games are treated with the serious, yet joyful, discussion they deserve. Tune in for a video game podcast that prioritises insight over hype, and leaves you with more to think about long after the credits roll.
Author: Language: en-au Episodes: 94

Drop Rate - Video game reviews that'll make you think
Podcast Episodes
Scarlet Nexus & Mass Effect Legendary Edition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:02
Nicholas jumps into new franchise Scarlet Nexus by Bandai Namco which is capital A Anime to the core and Adam needed no excuse to jump back into the remastered Bioware RPG Mass Effect Legendary Edition. Pixel Sift is pro…
E3 2021 Extravaganza [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:21
Gianni, Fiona, Adam and Nick sit down to discuss the completely online E3 2021 streamed around the world for all to enjoy. We've found our highlights and can't wait to share them with you, but why not share yours with us…
Resident Evil Village & New Pokémon Snap [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:44
Gianni jumps into the NEO-ONE for the on-rails photography adventure New Pokémon Snap that firmly ticks the nostalgia boxes, as our first Mainstream guest Games Journalist Nicholas Kennedy (JB HiFi Stack Magazine and The…
Monster Hunter Rise & FANTASIAN [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:40
Gianni relives his JRPG playing youth on his phone with the new game from Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi's Mistwalker Studio in FANTASIAN, as Adam zips around riding big dogs hunting beasts in Monster Hunter Ri…
John Romero live at XRWA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:28
John Romero is a pinnacle of the game development industry and most people know or love his work. Titles such as Doom, Wolfenstein, Commander Keen and his newest game Empire of Sin have been delighting players for years.…
Why YOU should give Valorant esports a go [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:31
Ben Green is an ESL Australia shoutcaster and is one of the people behind the university Valorant tournament Red Bull Campus Clutch and he says now is the perfect time for you to get involved. He shares what the competit…
Loop Hero & Valheim [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:22
Adam is placing cards, making runs and taking risks in the retro inspire rogue-like Loop Hero and Gianni is picking up rocks building houses and trying to survive the nordic afterlife in Valheim. Pixel Sift is produced b…
The Medium & Monster Sanctuary [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:51
Gianni tries not to get too spooked in the split-screen spirit world of The Medium by Bloober Team and Adam collects monsters and jumps around platforms in the metroidvania styled Monster Sanctuary by Moi Rai Games Pixel…
Games of the Year 2020 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:36
Gianni, Adam, Mitch, Fiona and Daniel explore their favourite games of 2020, a year with a stack of amazing titles. Gianni: Umurangi Generation by Tali FaulknerAdam: Hades by Supergiant GamesDaniel: Ori and the Will of t…
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity & Super Mario 3D All-Stars [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:45
Gianni knows how it's going to end but fights on anyway in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity and Mitch finally picks up a Nintendo Switch and proceeds to play a GameCube game in Super Mario 3D All-Stars. Pixel Sift is pro…