Retro Records

So it turns out there CAN be great video games made from an existing IP. Join us as we talk about Disney and how it put it's trust in Capcom to make one of the most successful and beloved games on the NES. Discord: https://discord.gg/27VmktSf8N

Join us this week as we talk about our game play experience of Altered Beast here in 2024! Discord: https://discord.gg/fyaAGY7Cqu

It's the Genesis for Sega in North America. Join us as we talk about the new 16-bit system that's about to give Nintendo a run for their money. Originally packaged with that new console was Altered Beast, hoping to raise Sega from it's grave. We talk about all of it on this week's episode. Welcome to your doom!

Grinding - The act of repeating an action or set of actions, including non-repetitive tasks to achieve a desired result at a level of certain difficulty, typically for an extended period of time, such as earning experience points, in-game loot and currency, or to improve a character's stats. Also known as farming, treadmilling, and pushing the bar.

In the States, Dragon Warrior may be a sleeper hit. But in Japan it's a monumental part of pop culture. Join us as we dive into just how important this game is, not only for Japan, but for the development of future JRPGs. All the building blocks for them start right here and in ways you might not expect.

Super Mario Land is an oddity. The game itself is definitely a different vibe and aesthetic than the Mario we know and love but the things it spawned can only be described as outright eccentric. Join us as we dig into the weird and wacky world of Super Mario Land. It isn't just a game. There's an entire 90's experience hiding underneath this unassuming pocket Mario adventure. Discord - https://discord.gg/HTsnEYPz2N

It's easy to think of Tetris as JUST a puzzle game but the impact this simple puzzle game had is truly remarkable. Not only is it important to the initial success of the Game Boy but it infiltrated culture in a way we haven't really seen up to this point. There are even studies that point to Tetris tapping into a fundamental part of the human brain. The story of Tetris is a story of perseverance and passion. It's a story of how simple ideas can sometimes be the most impactful. This episode takes us down rabbit holes we weren't expecting and we share it all. Discord - https://discord.gg/QgJFYWUjcB

Navigate sewers, city streets, sky scraper roofs, and underwater mine fields as your favorite Ninja Turtle! Which, let's be honest, should be Donatello in this game. Donnie's the real MVP here. In this nostalgic trip into one of the 80's biggest pop culture phenomenons we talk about the UK's aversion to Ninja's, the licensing issues that held this game back, our experience playing the game here in 2023, and whatever else comes to mind. Join us as Splinter teaches us how to be n̶i̶n̶j̶a̶ fighting teens! Discord - https://discord.gg/QgJFYWUjcB

Finally a sequel got it right! Mega Man 2 took what made the first game great and improved it in almost every way. Join us as we explore how the legacy of this game reaches well beyond the gaming industry, how passion projects lead to greatness, the mystery of the Metal Blade, and so much more. We couldn't shut up about this game and there's plenty of good reasons why. Don't miss it!

From its colossal soundtrack to its diverse settings to its in-depth story told through its revolutionary Tecmo Theater (which we call cut scenes nowadays), Ninja Gaiden is a clear step in the evolution of video games. It wears its influences on its sleeve and creates something completely new and breathtaking for its time. This episode is packed with news about the gaming industry in 1989 as well as our love for this game. You won't want to miss this one! Discord - https://discord.gg/QgJFYWUjcB

Are you ready to go on another adventure to save Zelda? Not that Zelda. It's a different Zelda from the past but is also the mother of your Zelda. But your Zelda is also different from all the other Zelda's that are born in Hyrule. Understand? Neither do we! But there's a Zelda that's tired and we gotta use the all powerful Triforce of Courage to... to wake her up... or something... So grab your sword and shield and go fight all the stuff in the dungeons! Discord - https://discord.gg/QgJFYWUjcB

Come with us as we journey through the expanded world of Castlevania, searching for the body parts of Count Dracula to rid of us of this curse. We talk about the development of the game, how one song became the theme to the Castlevania franchise, and how horribly lost we found ourselves because the town's folk just aren't really sure what they're saying. What a horrible night to have a curse!

Part 2 of our Super Mario Bros. Episode!

With a game as iconic as Super Mario Bros 2 it's hard not to find a lot to talk about. Join us in the first part of our discussion on Super Mario Bros 2 as we talk about the development of the game and the iconic music. Stayed tuned next week for Part 2 when we talk about our gameplay experience! I hope everyone is looking forward to the new year!

Metal Gear *Said it Solid Snakes Voice* Join us as we talk about the birth of an incredible series that pushed the bounds of what gaming could be. Metal Gear is a game too ambitious for its time but still wound up being something special in it's own weird way. We dive into Hideo Kojima's first endeavor, how his ideas were limited by the hardware of the 80's, and uh how great it is to hide in boxes. All this and a whole lot more! Sneak on in and give it a listen! You won't regret it!

Double Dragon... the epic story where you have to save the universe! Wait no... the epic story where you have to save a fantasy land! Wait thats not right either... The epic story where some girl gets gut punched then you walk slowly to rescue her...? Yep that's the story of Double Dragon! Join us as we talk about the game that spawned the beat 'em up revolution in the late 80's and early 90's and how the legacy doesn't really hold up here in 2022.

If you've ever wanted to feel like an action star then look no further than Contra. The 80's oozed macho and this game is a perfect time capsule of that time. Join us as we talk about one of the hardest games of all time, how it popularized the iconic Konami Code, and what it's like to play it for the first time here in 2022.

Mega Man is the ultimate rebel! Resisting his reprogramming by Dr. Wily, he sets out to defeat the robot masters and restore peace to the world. In this episode we talk about the first game in the series that spawned countless sequels and a new mascot for Capcom. We delve into the development team that created this iconic character and brought the world of Mega Man to life. And we gush about it... A LOT. Oh and we also make fun of the cover art because... come on.

There's much more than meets the eye when it comes to Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! A newbie might see a clip of this game and think it's not worth playing but if given the chance you quickly see why it was one of the best selling games on the NES. It oozes charm and it's filled with little secrets that make it easy to come back for more. We talk about all this and more on this episode! So give it a listen and experience for yourself what it's like to take on the champ, Mike Tyson!

Immerse yourself in a fantasy world of adventure and heroics! Where you journey like Frodo Baggins, explore dungeons like Indiana Jones and... look like Peter Pan? The Legend of Zelda is a timeless classic. In this episode we gush about it, talk about the people who made it, gush about it, talk about our experience playing it, and gush about it some more. There's so much to be said about The Legend of Zelda and we do our best to cover all of it. Sit back, relax, and listen to this episode with a friend because "It's dangerous to go alone!"

In Space No One Can Hear You Scream! That's what the tagline of Alien says but the sentiment could easily carry over to Metroid. It's not hard to see the influence of Ridley Scott's Alien on this game. Join us as we talk about that and a whole lot more. We dive into the ins and outs of this game, the things that make it great (and maybe not so great), and our experience playing through it here in 2022.

Exploring the history of the gaming industry one retro game at a time! Today we're talking about Konami's Castlevania just in time for Halloween. We're also digging more specifically into the years of 1986 and 1987 in the North American video game market. If you love this game as much as we do you'll love this episode!

Exploring the history of the gaming industry one retro game at a time! Today we're talking Super Mario Bros. and the rise, fall, and rise again of the video game industry. As well as the actual development of the game and our own experiences with the game. Join us as we discover the birth of modern gaming.