Press The Buttons

Some video games are better the second time around when you know the plot twists and most effective strategies. On this week's episode we're discussing games so nice, we played them twice (or three times, or four, or ten...). Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and toss this RSS feed into your podcast aggregation software of choice, and be sure to catch up on past episodes if you're joining us late. Remember that you can reach us via , you can leave a message on the Power Button...

We're back after an extended medical hiatus! Join us as we discuss what we've played during our time away such as Little Kitty, Big City, the re-released Aero the Acro-bat, Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition, and much more. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and toss this RSS feed into your podcast aggregation software of choice, and be sure to catch up on past episodes if you're joining us late. Remember that you can reach us via , you can leave a message on the Power Button hotline...

We wrap up our Virtual Boy discussion with the games you can't play and a few finished games that have leaked out over the years. Join us! Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and toss this RSS feed into your podcast aggregation software of choice, and be sure to catch up on past episodes if you're joining us late. Remember that you can reach us via , you can leave a message on the Power Button hotline by calling (720) 722-2781, and you can even follow us social...

When Blake Grundman visited me in April he finally had the chance to play a real live Nintendo Virtual Boy from 1995 and my collection of sixteen games, so on this week's episode of the podcast we go game by game to get Blake's takes on the experience. Did Galactic Pinball live up to expectations? How bare bones is Mario Clash really? Does he want to flog Golf? And is Nester's bowling really so funky? Join us and find out! Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and toss...

Thanks to some new legal requirements from the European Union, Apple is now required to allow emulators in its walled garden of an App Store worldwide. This opened the door for retro console emulation to the masses spanning the Atari 2600 and Commodore 64 through Nintendo's iconic hardware and beyond up to the Sony PlayStation Portable. On this week's podcast we're discussing what this means, what your options are, and why it'll be a long time before you can fire up a PlayStation 3 game natively on your iPad. Please emulate responsibly! Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen...

Held over for one more weekend, it's Blake Grundman live and in person with me at the microphone, and this episode we have some more shopping purchases to share before we tear into a topic near and dear to Blake's heart: Star Wars. Kick back with us for a while and let's have some fun. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and toss this RSS feed into your podcast aggregation software of choice, and be sure to catch up on past episodes if you're joining us late. Remember...

We have an extra special episode this week! Usually Blake Grundman and I record the show from our respective secretive lairs at opposite ends of the United States, but we're celebrating the end of my twelve long chemotherapy treatments for cancer, so the time was beyond right for Blake to jump in his car and come speeding across the nation to hang out at the Press The Buttons Compound for a few days. For years I've told Blake about the amazing retro indie toy, video game, and comic shops in Florida, so I took him on a series of day...

Following on from last week, back in 2018 we did a two-part look (Episodes 269 and 270) at video games remade with new or changed features such as The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening gaining a color expansion as Link's Awakening DX. I don't know if you've noticed, but video game publishers are still doing this sort of thing six years later, so it's time to take another look at the topic. This one is so large that we're breaking it into pieces; Part 1 was released last week and this is Part 2. Download this week's episode directly from...

Back in 2018 we did a two-part look (Episodes 269 and 270) at video games remade with new or changed features such as The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening gaining a color expansion as Link's Awakening DX. I don't know if you've noticed, but video game publishers are still doing this sort of thing six years later, so it's time to take another look at the topic. This one is so large that we're breaking it into pieces; Part 1 is available right now with Part 2 coming next week. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the...

I sent my international buyer, Blake Grundman, overseas to acquire some rare gaming antiquities for me. That is, he picked up some fairly priced amiibo and games that are hard to find and not so fairly priced here. This leads into a discussion on how else to play retro games whose corporate ownership has turned to dust over the decades, and that's how we get into hacking devices to run emulators. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and toss this RSS feed into your podcast aggregation software of...

We were fortunate enough to get advance access to the new Digital Eclipse Gold Master series of documentary releases, Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story, so for this week's episode of the podcast we discuss the title, its interactive exhibits, and the 42 games and light synthesizers included. From Attack of the Mutant Camels to Hover Bovver to Tempest 2000, there's quite a collection of history here. Join us and find out what all the fuss is about. Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story is available now on all major platforms. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player...

We're strolling on the shady side of the tracks this week as we focus on some favorite retro ROM hacks and the baked-in achievements that go with them. All of this talk of emulation inevitably leads us to touch on the Nintendo/Yuzu Switch emulator lawsuit, too. Join us and bring your ROM patching tools for some new takes on old fun. ROM Hacks Mentioned In This Episode The Real Ghostbusters Remastered Sonic 3D Blast Director's Cut Mega Man X3 - Zero Project Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 Color Edition Mega Man World 5 DX Smash Remix Ghostbusters - Special...

We have a hodge podge of smaller topics for you on this week's podcast as we touch on the recent Nintendo Direct, Microsoft taking select Xbox games to other platforms, retrogaming emulation made easy, the Borderlands movie trailer, and much more. Join us for another reach into the grab bag! Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, toss this RSS feed into your podcast aggregation software of choice, and be sure to catch up on past episodes if you're joining us late. Remember that you can...

Another year done, so it's time for us to look back for our annual Game Of The Year episode. There are some surprises on this year's list as we each have a Top 6 that we're counting down, plus there's honorable mentions and a separate list for best remastered releases of the year. Join us for a supersized show! Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, toss this RSS feed into your podcast aggregation software of choice, and be sure to catch up on past episodes...

Now that the dust has settled and 2023 is in the books, it's time for our annual look back at the video gaming industry's biggest news of the year, and folks, I hate to say it, but it's pretty dire. Lots of bad news came out of last year including layoffs, leveraged buyouts, and lesser quality games at higher prices. We're going to revisit it all over nearly ninety minutes, so get comfortable and settle in. It's going to be a bumpy ride. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music...

Listen to this week's podcast or there will be... trouble. We're focusing on RoboCop: Rogue City for the Sony PlayStation 5, Microsoft Xbox X|S, and PC this week, discussing all of the ways that it honors the original films and how much of an asset Peter Weller is to the RoboCop characterization. Minimal spoilers for this one, so if you're planning on playing it, it's a safe listen. If you're on the fence about it, hopefully I can persuade you. I recommend a making-of documentary about the original film, too, called RoboDoc. Also, at the end things spin into a...

We're back after an extended medical hiatus, and this week we're focusing on the recently released remake of Super Mario RPG for the Nintendo Switch. Marvel as Blake Grundman explains where he hit the wall with this game and had to bail out, plus I annoy him by explaining the unexplained convoluted path to opening the hidden casino and earning the mysterious Star Egg item. I also explain where I've been in my recent medical struggles and tell the story behind my recent hospitalization over the holidays. Join us! Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player...

Way back in 2019, Blake Grundman started playing Marvel's Spider-Man for the Sony PlayStation 4 and couldn't wait to finish it. We said we would revisit the topic once he had, and he finally just completed it last week. Better late than never! And so this week we're finishing that conversation originally started in Episode 289 as well as going to the Miles Morales sequel that he also finished last week, and along the way I slip in some thoughts on Spider-Man 2 which I finished while Blake was playing catch-up. There are no spoilers for Spider-Man 2 in this...

We have a special supersized double-length episode for you this week with lots to talk about. First, I visited Verse, an augmented reality experience that uses the Microsoft Hololens to allow players to explore a surreal garden of animals and the outer reaches of our solar system. Next, Blake tackled Sega's recently released Sonic Superstars with his son and just had a terrible time of things. Third, I spent a weekend with Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. Wonder and smiled the entire time. Finally, we have a teaser for our next show in two weeks where we discuss Sony's Spider-Man 2....

This week's podcast is a hodgepodge of smaller topics that don't have the structure needed for a full hour of discussion, so it's a lot more easy-going and breezy than the average show. Join us as we flit around for 75 minutes through Sea of Stars, Magician Lord, Starfield, simulators for mowing lawns, simulators for power washing, and whatever else is on our minds as we clear out some mental baggage. Also, I have an important update about my health and how it will impact the recording of upcoming episodes. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the...

Nintendo saw fit to release a new Nintendo Direct presentation this past week, showcasing a variety of games for the Switch for the rest of 2023 and into the summer of 2024. On this week's podcast, we're discussing the announcements that interested us the most from remakes of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and Mario vs. Donkey Kong to, um, remakes like Luigi's Mansion 2 HD and Super Mario RPG, and... hey, Princess Peach: Showtime and F-Zero 99 are new games! Join us for nearly ninety minutes of conversation. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player...

We've been playing a lot of games lately as we come out of the summer season, so before the holidays hit with all of their big new releases, we're spending an hour discussing what we've been playing lately as we clear out the backlogs and sample new releases. Blake Grundman and I both have some harsh words for the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge DLC, I finished the World Tour storyline in Street Fighter 6, Blake is on his way in Starfield, and I'm just setting out in Sea of Stars. Honorable mentions to Baldur's Gate 3 and...

Jordan Mechner was a man with a dream: a dream of making a game for the Apple II about a karate man who punches and kicks his way past minions to save a princess. Forty years ago he created Karateka, and now Digital Eclipse has partnered with Mechner to create The Making of Karateka for modern platforms. This digital documentary exhibition features video interviews, design document scans, and playable prototypes of Karateka as well as a modernized remake. On this week's podcast, we spend an hour discussing this first in Digital Eclipse's new Gold Master Series of making-of titles to...

Lately I've been thinking about strength, mostly because when playing Street Fighter 6, the game won't let you forget about it. Capcom has found a way to modernize the classic series and add some new tricks to the experience, and on this week's podcast episode I convince Blake that he needs to play this game. It has an RPG mode now! Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, toss this RSS feed into your podcast aggregation software of choice, and be sure to catch up on...

Microsoft's purchase of Activision Blizzard is becoming more and more likely by the day, so on this week's show we discuss what that means for the video game industry. We also dip into the Activision Blizzard catalog and talk about some forgotten games that Microsoft could do well with reviving once they own them. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, toss this RSS feed into your podcast aggregation software of choice, and be sure to catch up on past episodes if you're joining us late....

We're celebrating the fortieth anniversary of Nintendo's Family Computer in a big way on the podcast this week with a supersized discussion about the history of the console, its unique accessories, special games, and fun facts. Don't you dare say it's the fortieth anniversary of the Nintendo Entertainment System! We're not doing that episode until 2025. Also, there's more to say about Doctor Who: The Edge of Reality from last week. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, toss this RSS feed into your podcast aggregation...

We're blowing The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom wide open on this week's episode with total spoilers including the game's key story twist and ending, so please join us when you're ready to hear all about it. Before we get into that though, we dip into a little bit of Doctor Who: The Lonely Assassin and the difficulty of buying Steam gift cards. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, toss this RSS feed into your podcast aggregation software of choice, and be sure...

Nintendo wowed us with some exciting announcements in its most recent Nintendo Direct showcase including a remake of Super Mario RPG, a new adventure for Princess Peach, amiibo for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and the highly detailed Super Mario Bros. Wonder. On this week's episode, we're breaking it down and discussing the announcements that intrigued us the most. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, toss this RSS feed into your podcast aggregation software of choice, and be sure to catch up...

With Not-E3 in full swing for the summer, all of the big publishers are holding digital events to debut new trailers and announcements, so on this week's episode of the podcast we turn our attention to Sony's recent PlayStation Showcase. Yes, they showed Spider-Man 2, but did you notice everything else? We'll take you through the items of interest. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, find us on Stitcher, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, toss this RSS feed into your podcast aggregation software of choice, and be sure to catch...

Link and Princess Zelda are back in Hyrule for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for the Nintendo Switch which means that so are we, and we're spending this episode's discussion talking about my time spent wandering around Hyrule seeing the sights and checking out whatever interests me without accomplishing any of the story which means there are no spoilers in this episode. We'll circle back to the meaty stuff later. This week is all exploratory fluff. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, find us on Stitcher, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music...

After twenty long years I have finally completed Metroid Prime from Nintendo and Retro Studios, so with the game now back for another encore on the Switch, let's spend an hour discussing it. We'll also cover another 2002 hit, Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection, if we have time, but we won't have time. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, find us on Stitcher, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, toss this RSS feed into your podcast aggregation software of choice, and be sure to catch up on past episodes if...

We When Nintendo makes a movie, it's basically required that we go see it, so on this week's podcast it's time to spend ninety minutes discussing The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Break out the spoiler warning for this one because we cover our thoughts on the plot, casting, soundtrack, potential sequel, and so much more. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, find us on Stitcher, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, toss this RSS feed into your podcast aggregation software of choice, and be sure to catch up on past episodes...

We all make snap judgments from time to time, and sometimes those quick decisions take us in the wrong direction. On this week's podcast, we're discussing games that we immediately dismissed for one reason or another and then later tried only to discover that they are actually fantastic. Would you believe that we initially passed on such classics as Mega Man, BioShock, and Sly Cooper? There's plenty more where those came from in this supersized episode. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, find us on Stitcher, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and Google...

Stand back! This week on the podcast we have assorted tales of interest about our recent hardware adventures. Blake's MacBook that he uses for recording his half of the podcast unexpectedly died the day before we recorded this episode, so we're playing fast and loose with no editing this week. Listen to how Blake upgraded his pinball table to contain over two-hundred additional tables, thrill as I more than double the internal storage of my Sony PlayStation 5 with a new Samsung 980 Pro hard drive, and marvel at Blake's new Steam Deck. We're coming alive with seventy minutes of...

Nintendo dusted off the megaphone earlier this month and announced a lot of new games and remasters, so this week on the podcast we're finally getting around to discussing it all. From Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe to the shadow dropped Metroid Prime Remastered to the collection of Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games, there's something new/old for everyone. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, find us on Stitcher, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, toss this RSS feed into your podcast aggregation software of choice, and be sure...

Nintendo, Microsoft, EON Productions, and who knows who else finally made a deal to bring the 1997 shooter GoldenEye 007 for the Nintendo 64 back for a re-release on Nintendo Switch and the modern Microsoft Xbox platform. On this week's podcast, we're shooting in and out through post-Cold War Russia to explore which version of the game plays better today, which cheats are still available to the skilled player, how much fun we're still having with this game more than twenty-years later, and so much more. Join us for 0075 minutes of discussion. Download this week's episode directly from PTB,...

As we do every January, it's time to take a look back at our picks for Game of the Year. 2022 brought us a number of fantastic titles that we're still raving about including Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge, Stray, Sonic Origins, and many more. Which game will take the coveted slot of our number one pick? Join us for a supersized two hour discussion and find out! Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, find us on Stitcher, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, toss...

New year, new news recap! The end of 2022 means it's time for us to look back on the biggest video gaming news of the year and put it all in context one last time. We have everything from Embracer embracing everyone to Sony relaunching PlayStation Plus with new tiers to FIFA and Electronic Arts parting ways and much, much more. Join us for a supersized episode. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, find us on Stitcher, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, toss this RSS feed into your podcast aggregation...

As the holiday season is upon us and people are planning to spend time with family, we thought it was the perfect time to recommend video games perfect for some family multiplayer fun time. Gather the kids, your siblings, your parents, and everyone in your circle who enjoys controllers to spend some time with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection, Kirby's Dream Buffet, and many more. Join us! Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, find us on Stitcher, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, toss this...

There's lots to do in the open zones of the Starfall Islands in Sonic Frontiers, and since I spent thirty hours last week seeing it all and earning the platinum trophy, it seems only right to spend this episode of the podcast discussing the game. Before we get into that though, Blake Grundman regales us with tales of his recent European tour and we take a suggestion from the audience and give The Pinball Wizard for PC, iOS, and Nintendo Switch a spin. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, find us on Stitcher, subscribe...

Following on from our last episode where we discussed the closing of Google Stadia, this week's episode follows on from that theme with a discussion of games and modes you cannot play anymore because support for them has been terminated by their publisher. Spend an hour with us in gaming's graveyard. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, find us on Stitcher, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, toss this RSS feed into your podcast aggregation software of choice, and be sure to catch up on past episodes if you're joining us...

We're in the weather bunker this week as the clean-up from Hurricane Ian continues, but after we check in with podcast meteorologist Dalton Galloway, we discuss the sudden but inevitable end of Google's Stadia service and what that means for all of its customers. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, find us on Stitcher, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, toss this RSS feed into your podcast aggregation software of choice, and be sure to catch up on past episodes if you're joining us late. Remember that you can reach us...

Nintendo and Sony both knocked us out last week with new announcements including the return of Goldeneye 007 for the Switch's online service, a new God of War: Ragnarok trailer for the PlayStation 5, Kirby's Return to Dream Land getting new life as a Deluxe remastering, PSVR2 information, and a long-awaited title drop for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Join us as we discuss all of this news and more. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, find us on Stitcher, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, toss this...

Order yourself a pizza and settle in as we have a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles feast for you on this week's podcast with discussions of Shredder's Revenge and the recently released Cowabunga Collection. Before we get to that though, we answer a listener request and I tell the story of acquiring an actual honest to goodness Claptrap robot from the Borderlands series to give my wife for her birthday. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, find us on Stitcher, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, toss this RSS feed into your...

We're celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of Nintendo's famed pink puffball Kirby on this week's episode of the podcast, so join us for a bottomless feast of Kirby memories and favorite moments. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, find us on Stitcher, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, toss this RSS feed into your podcast aggregation software of choice, and be sure to catch up on past episodes if you're joining us late. Remember that you can reach us via , you can leave a message on the Power Button hotline by...

When you spend forty-five days in the hospital like I did, you miss a lot of video gaming industry news. That's why on this week's podcast, Blake Grundman fills me in on all of the stuff that I missed. Join us for months worth of events jammed down into ninety minutes. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, find us on Stitcher, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, toss this RSS feed into your podcast aggregation software of choice, and be sure to catch up on past episodes if you're joining us...

Now then, where were we? Sorry to be away for so long, but that's what happens when one of the show hosts dies. Don't worry too much though! I got better. Join us for an all new episode in which I tell the harrowing tale of just what happened to me, and then Blake Grundman steers us into discussing my rehab game of choice, Sonic Origins. It's great to be back! Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, find us on Stitcher, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, toss this RSS feed...

With 2021 complete and in the books, it's time for us to take our annual look at our personal picks for Game of the Year. Join us for a supersized show in which we count down our top five picks, honorable mentions, and even a few dishonorable mentions. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, find us on Stitcher, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, toss this RSS feed into your podcast aggregation software of choice, and be sure to catch up on past episodes if you're joining us late. Remember that...

Acquisitions. Xbox Game Pass. Banjo-Kazooie back on a Nintendo platform. 2021 was a wild year for video gaming news, so it's time for us to take our annual look back at the biggest events in the gaming world for the last year. Settle in and join us for ninety minutes of discussion. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, find us on Stitcher, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, toss this RSS feed into your podcast aggregation software of choice, and be sure to catch up on past episodes if you're joining...

Microsoft stunned the business world this week by laying out nearly $70B in cash to acquire Activision-Blizzard. We have definite opinions about this purchase, so this week's podcast is dedicated to discussing the ramifications of what this means to the video game industry. Blake also has a few gears to grind regarding gaming streaming culture catchphrases and controller holders shaped like beloved characters. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, find us on Stitcher, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, toss this RSS feed into your podcast aggregation software of choice, and...

After more than a decade of waiting and wondering, fans finally have the chance to play the long-gestating Metroid Dread. On this week's show, we discuss Nintendo's "Metroid 5" and how well we think it lives up to its impossible levels of hype. Minimal spoilers on this one, so don't worry about accidentally learning story beats you would rather not know. Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, find us on Stitcher, subscribe via iTunes, Amazon Music Podcasts, and Google Podcasts, toss this RSS feed into your podcast aggregation software of choice, and be sure...