Ultra 64

As a special bonus, please enjoy the first episode of my new show, PUPPET MASTERS / CASTLE FREAKS! This is a deep dive into the Full Moon universe of B-movie horror, where my co-host Jarrod Hornbeck and I will be watching and reviewing every movie in this prolific and wild catalog! In this first episode, we cover the original PUPPET MASTER from 1989, the film that started Full Moon Features and inspired a massive franchise. If you enjoy this episode, subscribe to Puppet Masters / Castle Freaks wherever you get your podcasts! 

As a free bonus, here's the debut episode of my new show CINEMARCADE, with my co-hosts Jennifer Bannister and Justin Wilhelm! If you want to hear more, subscribe to CinemArcade on Spotify, Podbean, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Just dropping in real quick to announce a few exciting new projects coming very soon! 

Our five-year journey has come to an end! This week, we're looking back at Wii Universe with an epic-length retrospective of the series. We're giving our definitive final ranking of all Wii U games, sharing some stats and stories from throughout the show, and generally just trying to fight back the tears.  Thank you, thank you, thank you once again to our incredible listeners for coming on this goofy little adventure with us for the last five years, and we'll see you again down the line! Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Email: ultra64podcast.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod

This is it! After dozens of games and hundreds of hours of gameplay, we've arrived at the VERY LAST GAME in the Wii U catalog! To celebrate this momentous event, we had to bring in some of our favorite guests for one of the most influential games of the last decade! The entire Vidjagame Apocalypse crew (Matthew Allen, Chris Antista, and Mikel Reparaz) join us to talk LEGEND OF ZELDA: BREATH OF THE WILD. This game dropped day-and-date with the release of the Switch, so the Wii U version tends to be overlooked, but it can't be denied that this game forever changed how we think about ZELDA and reinvented how we approach open-world games. Join us as we dig in to this massive adventure, and be sure to come back next week for our FOUR-HOUR final episode spectacular!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com) ultra64podcast.com  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week: FINAL EPISODE! 

This week, we're taking a leap of faith with one of the biggest franchises of the last 20 years! Ubisoft's ASSASSIN'S CREED series became a cultural phenomenon when it debuted in 2007, with each subsequent game only getting bigger. We're looking at the two Wii U entries this week: first, we're travelling back to the American Revolution-set ASSASSIN'S CREED III; then, it's all aboard for the golden age of piracy with the swashbuckling ASSASSIN'S CREED IV: BLACK FLAG!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod Next week's episode: Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 

The PAPER MARIO series made it's big debut back in the N64 games, and it was one of our highest-rated titles on that entire system. But over the years, the series has lost some of it's luster as it drifted a bit from it's RPG mechanics. PAPER MARIO: COLOR SPLASH may be almost unrecognizable as an RPG, but how does it stand on its own merits? We're digging into that this week, with this colorful, gorgeous-looking adventure! Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com) ultra64podcast.com  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64podcast  Next week's episode: Assassin's Creed III/ Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

Crank up your flashlights and keep your cricket bats at the ready, because this week we're travelling to foggy London to take on the zombie apocalypse with Ubisoft's ZOMBIU! This launch game set out to be Ubi's Wii U killer app, and uses the GamePad in some of the most creative ways we've seen so far; do the game's ambitious survival mechanics make it memorable, or is this just one more for the zombie horde?  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Paper Mario: Color Splash 

This week, we've got three of Nintendo's cutest characters in perhaps the most adorable forms they've ever been in! I mean, come on, Kirby is made of clay! Yoshi is made of wool! Toad has a little pith helmet! What more do you need? Lynsey Pennington returns to help us tackle the simple yet charming puzzle adventure CAPTAIN TOAD: TREASURE TRACKER; then, we draw the line for the touch-screen heavy platformer KIRBY AND THE RAINBOW CURSE; and finally, we're unravelling the latest adventure of everyone's favorite green dinosaur with YOSHI'S WOOLLY WORLD!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: ZombiU

We've reached the very last episode of Bonus 64, and we're closing it out by playing an unheralded Nintendo series with one of our favorite friends and supporters! Elliot Jay O'Neill is back to discuss the KID ICARUS series! From it's origins as one of the earliest NES games to it's long-delayed revival on the 3DS, old Pit has had a fascinating trajectory over the last nearly 40 years. We're playing the infamously tough original, it's Game Boy sequel OF MYTHS AND MONSTERS, and the strange and ambitious 3DS launch title KID ICARUS: UPRISING! Prepare for amazing 3D shooting and some serious hand cramps!  This marks the last of our Patreon-supported bonus episodes, but we still have more than 200 bonus eps available for just $5 a month at Patreon.com/ultra64pod! We want to thank Elliot and all of our Patrons once again for all the amazing support over the years!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com 

FIRE EMBLEM. SHIN MEGAMI TENSEI. Two great tastes that taste great together? That's what we're finding out this week as we play the JRPG mash-up TOKYO MIRAGE SESSIONS #FE! This week, we're joined by one of our faves, Vidjagame Apocalypse host Mikel Reparaz, who helps us talk through this ambitious crossover that takes its two fantasy series and blends them with the world of Japanese pop music. Is this destined for superstardom or is it another one-hit wonder?  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker / Kirby and the Rainbow Curse / Yoshi's Woolly World 

It's time to hack and slash our way through endless hordes with some historically-sourced heroes, because this week we're playing two games in the WARRIORS series! Koei's action series helped the company graduate from stodgy strategy RPGs to epic action, and the franchise has gone from Three Kingdoms-era China to Nintendo's mythical land of Hyrule. Does the simple formula still hold up, or has the repetitive gameplay worn out it's welcome like we wear out the Y button?  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE

The cheapie movie-tie in genre thrived on the Wii U, but today we're playing our last batch of low-effort platformers based on cartoons! Obviously, our crappy game correspondent Ailish Collins had to return to help us do justice to games based on SMURFS 2, PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR, and SNOOPY'S BIG ADVENTURE (based on the 2015 PEANUTS MOVIE). Are these titles about the quality levels you'd expect, or are there some surprises? Find out now!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Warriors Orochi 3 Hyper / Hyrule Warriors 

Pac is Bac, in cartoon form! We're playing PAC-MAN AND THE GHOSTLY ADVENTURES 1 and 2, two games based on the popular Disney XD show that briefly brought Pac-Man to a whole new generation. We're contrasting and comparing both games, plus looking at Pac-Man's brief but lucrative history as a platforming star!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: The Smurfs 2 / Penguins of Madagascar / Snoopy's Grand Adventure 

For those who want a little apocalyptic mythology and head-slicing thrown in with their ZELDA, the DARKSIDERS series is here to answer the call! We're playing both Wii U entries in THQ's slick adventure game series, playing as different Horsemen of the Apocalypse as we carve through hordes of demons, angels, and all kinds of creepy-crawlies in between.  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventure 1 and 2 

Hop into the King of Red Lions and hoist your sails, because this week we're playing one of the most beloved games in one of the most beloved series of all time! LEGEND OF ZELDA: WIND WAKER HD is a completely remastered edition of the 2003 GameCube game, featuring a gorgeous native 1080p transition and some subtle but welcome changes to the overall gameplay. While the original game was derided for it's bold new cartoon art style, it's gone on to enjoy a long life as a fan favorite. We're finding out how well this one has held up over the years, and why it might be one of the best arguments yet to dust off your Wii U.  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Darksiders / Darksiders II 

We've played a few games featuring Sonic in supporting roles, but this week, the Blue Blur is taking the spotlight with two games that showcase multiple sides of his gaming persona! First, we're playing SONIC LOST WORLD, a 2D/3D throwback to the heyday of the character when the only rule was, "Gotta Go Fast!" Then, we're looking at the TV-based adventure SONIC BOOM: RISE OF LYRIC, which holds the ignominious distinction as the lowest-rated and lowest-selling game in the whole series; does it transcend it's reputation or has it been fairly maligned? Find out now! Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD 

We're joined once again by one of our top-tier Patreon supporters to bring you a special bonus episode! Scott Burger returns to discuss WHAT REMAINS OF EDITH FINCH, a beautiful and unique game from Giant Sparrow that attempts to tackle issues you rarely see explored in video games. This is a game about death, family, trauma, healing, and mental illness, and it covers a lot of ground in it's scant two hour run time. Plus, Scott and Woody talk about their experience growing up on the game's setting, Orca's Island!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com Instagram: @ultra64podcast   

It's time to strap some guns to your feet and get real sexy, because this week we're playing the wildly over-the-top action epic BAYONETTA series! From the creators of DEVIL MAY CRY, BAYONETTA features a hypersexual heroine, a gleefully nonsensical plot, and some of the best action gameplay around. Thanks to a nice bonus disc included in the Wii U-exclusive BAYONETTA 2, we're playing both games in the series so far, grappling with some of the themes of the series and discussing Nintendo's bizarre decision to adopt Bayonetta as one of their own.  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Sonic: The Lost World / Sonic Boom: The Rise of Lyric 

We're back once again for the first in our last batch of Patreon-funded bonus episodes! Our Wonder Red-tier Patreon supporter CJ Baker returns to discuss his entry into the Kirby series, the exceptional SNES game KIRBY SUPER STAR! This 1996 classic packs a ridiculous amount of value into it's simple cart, demonstrating the pink puffball's elasticity in more ways than one! We're breaking down all 8 substantial modes on this game, from an abridged remake of the original Game Boy KIRBY to an ambitious Metroidvania-style adventure. Plus, Woody's favorite party game!  A very special thanks to CJ for his support over the years! The Wonder Red tier has been discontinued, but there are still dozens of episodes of bonus content at Patreon.com/ultra64pod, now a flat $5 a month!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod   

We've got a quadruple-dose of cartoon-based games this week, and like those sexist Happy Meal two-packs, we've got options for boys and options for girls, although really the best option might be neither. First, we're playing two games based on the Cartoon Network action series BEN 10 OMNIVERSE, about a young boy who can transform into 10 different alien warriors. Then, we're enrolling in MONSTER HIGH, two games based on the hit fashion doll-turned-multimedia franchise, starring a clique of fashion-forward monster girls.  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Bayonetta / Bayonetta 2 

The XENOBLADE series has been kicking around in some form or another since the late 90s, but it's only recently that it has ascended to a Nintendo-blessed blockbuster franchise. This week, we're playing the Wii U-exclusive entry in the series, XENOBLADE CHRONICLES X, which takes on more of a spacefaring sci-fi aesthetic with faster combat and big honkin' mechs to drive around. We're digging deep into the origins of the series, and seeing how this one compares to the rest of the highly-acclaimed RPG series.  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Ben 10 Omniverse / Ben 10 Omniverse 2 / Monster High: Ghoul School / Monster High: 13 Wishes 

Sharpen your blades and join us as we play what may be the goriest game on the entire system! NINJA GAIDEN is one of the rare series to innovate the action genre in two completely different eras, on the NES and on the original Xbox, but Ryu Hayabusa's star has dimmed a bit in recent years. Today, we're playing his one and only entry on the Wii U, a remastered and expanded version of NINJA GAIDEN 3 called RAZOR'S EDGE! While NG3 was considered a disappointment, RAZOR'S EDGE tries to reverse the game's fortunes with refined controls, new touch screen abilities, and lots of cost-of-living improvements.  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod Next week's episode: Xenoblade Chronicles X   

How are we gonna do an episode about a game we already did an episode about? It's easy when it's MARIO KART 8. The biggest game on the Wii U (and on the Switch, for that matter!), there's always something new to discover. But at it's core, MARIO KART is all about getting together with your good buddies and having a race, and we've brought two of our favorites to dodge our shells: Rosie Crow and Lynsey Pennington!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge 

This week, we're putting away childish things... after we're done playing with them, of course, because we're knocking out the last of our toys-to-life games! After the wild success of SKYLANDERS, everyone wanted in on the plastic-figurine-as-game-pieces craze, and these two games are the most prominent rivals to Activision's pioneering series. Firstly, we're playing DISNEY INFINITY, which has the benefit of Disney's massive backlog of Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars characters to play with. Then, we're playing LEGO DIMENSIONS, which plumbs the multiverse for a wild array of characters and items that you'll actually build in real-life.  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod Next week's episode: Mario Kart 8 

It's time for us to cut a rug with Ubisoft's mammoth dancing series JUST DANCE!  We're playing through more games than we've ever attempted in one episode, a whopping NINE games in the venerable series that span the entire lifecycle of the Wii U! It's a lot for two clumsy boys to tackle on our own; luckily, we're joined by dancer, teacher, and owner of Evolution Dance Company, Emma Obukowicz, who can give us some context and let us see just how good of a dancing simulator this series is.  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Disney Infinity / Lego Dimensions 

It's party time... for the last time. We're playing the last round of generic party games, and we're looking at arguably the high point and the low point of the genre on Wii U. Of course, it's not a proper party without Dan Reese, and he joins us as we sort through some inscrutable minigame collections. First up, it's the bafflingly-titled, hilariously cheap collection FAMILY PARTY 30 GREAT GAMES OBSTACLE ARCADE SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM; then, we're playing the Nintendo-sanctioned version WII PARTY U, featuring much more competent gameplay and the terror that is Party Phil.   Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Just Dance 

Prepare to get splatted, because this week we're playing SPLATOON, the most successful original IP on the Wii U! We're talking all about the history of this squid-filled delight, and how Nintendo brought their own unique spin to the arena shooter genre!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Family Party 30 Great Games Obstacle Arcade / Wii Party U 

This is it! The very last batch of sports games we will ever play on this show! We're delving into a wide range of sports today, but luckily we've got our old favorite Josiah Coolidge back in the studio to provide his expert insight! We're closing out sports by revisiting the MADDEN franchise with MADDEN NFL 13; then we're hitting the lanes with BRUNSWICK PRO BOWLING; finally, Mario and the gang are facing off for a game of MARIO TENNIS: ULTRA SMASH! Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song" "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com) ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Splatoon  

This week, we're looking at game adaptations of a couple of Disney TV favorites! Bad game aficionado Ailish Collins returns to help us play PHINEAS AND FERB: THE QUEST FOR COOL STUFF, based on the hit show about two inventive brothers and their summertime adventures. Then, we're heading back to the 80s with the remastered version of DUCKTALES from WayForward and Capcom. This remake of the classic NES game retains a lot of the music and gameplay from the original, with a vibrant new visual overhaul.  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com) ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Madden NFL 13 / Brunswick Pro Bowling / Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash 

The brothers are back! This week, we're playing two of the premier games for the Wii U: the side scrolling throwback NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. U and it's standalone spin-off NEW SUPER LUIGI U! We're gonna dive deep into some of Mario's most successful and beloved games of all time, plus take a look back at that most iconic of times, the Year of Luigi! This episode earns a full Steve-chievement.  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: DuckTales: Remastered / Phineas and Ferb: The Quest for Cool Stuff

This week, we're busting out a couple more minigame collections, with a couple of revitalized classics in the mix. WII SPORTS CLUB is an HD remake of the original pack-in game WII SPORTS, which had the benefit of online play but the detriment of an odd release model. RABBIDS LAND sees the RAYMAN enemies taking the limelight with a MARIO PARTY-style minigame collection that actually makes some pretty clever use of the GamePad!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowksi  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: New Super Mario Bros. U / New Super Luigi U 

This week, our top-tier Patreon supporter CJ Baker returns to talk about the excellent 2017 remake WONDER BOY: THE DRAGON'S TRAP! The WONDER BOY series was the flagship franchise of the Sega Master System, and despite never being a bit hit in the U.S., it has grown a huge following around the world. We look back at the fractured history of the series as it went from simple arcade platformer to innovative open-world action RPG, and look towards the future as we chart the surprisingly successful recent reboot of the series!  To join us on air to play a game of your choice, check out the Wonder Red tier at Patreon.com/ultra64pod! 

Can you dig it? This week, we're playing two hit indie games that center all around the moving of dirt! Firstly, we're playing TERRARIA, a 2D MINECRAFT clone that is one of the 10 best-selling games of all time! Then, we're playing STEAMWORLD COLLECTION, a compilation of two games, STEAMWORLD DIG and STEAMWORLD HEIST, that might just become your new small-scale favorites.  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com) ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod Next week's episode: Wii Sports Club / Rabbids Land 

We've played a lot of LEGO games on this series, and today we're fitting the final bricks into place! Neal Crow returns to the show to help us talk about a random roundup of LEGO games. First, we're playing the fast and funny cop comedy LEGO CITY UNDERCOVER. Then, we're playing three movie adaptations, one based on Peter Jackson's THE HOBBIT trilogy, another based on STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS, and finally we're closing it out in-house with the adaptation of THE LEGO MOVIE!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com) ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Terraria / Steamworld Collection 

This week, we're checking back in with the MARIO PARTY series, and making an appearance at an amiibo Festival as well! Corinne Kempen joins us as we play MARIO PARTY 10 and ANIMAL CROSSING: AMIIBO FESTIVAL, two board game-style adaptations of Nintendo characters that take very different approaches to the genre.  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com) ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Lego City Undercover / Lego The Hobbit / Lego The Lego Movie Videogame / Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens 

This week, we're embracing our inner hackermen as we play Ubisoft's ambitious, expensive spectacle WATCH DOGS. This open-world game lets you take control of the city of Chicago from your smart phone, allowing you to hack everything from ATMs to security cameras to traffic lights. There's an impressive amount of game here, but does this high-profile event game hold up nearly a decade later?  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Mario Part 10 / Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival 

We're back on our fitness grind, and this time we chose NOT to play them on the hottest day of the year! First, we're getting tone with Ubisoft's YOURSHAPE: FITNESS EVOLVED 2013, and then we're dancing around the globe with ZUMBA FITNESS WORLD PARTY! Listen now to lose a guaranteed* five pounds! (*not a guarantee) Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Watch Dogs 

This week we're gathering up a few odd little games that don't quite fit in anywhere else, but darn it they'll always have a home with us! First, we're playing the bare-bones arcade port TANK! TANK! TANK!, which promises three times the tanks of the average game. Then, we're playing RUNBOW, a fast-paced, stylish platformer/racer which supports up to nine players for wild local multiplayer. Finally, we're talking about TUMBLESTONE, a small but addictive indie match-3 puzzle game.  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod Next week's episode: YourShape: Fitness Evolved 2013 / Zumba Fitness World Party 

The MONSTER HUNTER games are some of the most popular in the world, but the learning curve can be intimidating for new players. Luckily, we've brought in a ringer to help us explain the many working pieces of hunting monsters! Garrit Manker from the Co-Hops podcast comes by to help us parse through the complex and beautiful world of Capcom's multiplayer RPG, in all it's bone-busting, cat-befriending, egg-waddling splendor! Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Tank! Tank! Tank! / Runbow / Tumblestone   

As a special treat for you, we have a new bonus episode courtesy of one of our top-tier Patreon supporters! The great Scott Burger returns with another dizzyingly complex and smart game, the indie roguelike COGMIND! Made by just one programmer over the course of several years, COGMIND casts you as a newly-sentient robot trying to escape a research lab, and offers more than 1000 different ways to customize yourself to do so!  If you want to join us to talk about any game of your choice, check out the Wonder Red tier at patreon.com/ultra64pod!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  ultra64podcast.com Twitter: @ultra64podcast Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  

This week we're witnessing an iconic team-up that took an event as big as the Olympics to manifest! Mario and Sonic set their differences aside long enough to share billing in the MARIO & SONIC series, taking them to various Olympic games to compete in mini-game versions of real-life Olympic events. This time, we're talking about the games for the 2014 winter event in Sochi, Russia, and the 2016 summer games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil! Does this series go for the gold or is it stuck with the shameful, shameful bronze? Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate 

We're saluting those about to rock this week with GUITAR HERO LIVE! GUITAR HERO was a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon that spurred most everyone to drop money on colorful plastic guitars, but a glut of sequels and imitators overwhelmed the market. LIVE is Activision's attempt to revitalize the series, with a new play style, a live stage show aesthetic, and an ambitious streaming service for new songs. We break down the new style of play and decide if this new spin on a classic formula is worth your time! Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Mario & Sonic at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games / Mario & Sonic at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games 

We're assembling heroes this week in every sense of the word! This week, we're closing the loop on both BATMAN and MORTAL KOMBAT by playing some games that highlight the best of both. First, the NetherRealm-developed fighting game INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US, where DC  heroes and villains throw down in a MK-esque battle royale! Then, we're checking back in with the LEGO series for two of the Caped Crusader's best selling titles, LEGO BATMAN 2 and 3!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod Next week's episode: Guitar Hero Live 

Our good friend Elliot Jay O'Neill is back for another bonus episode! This time, instead of discussing a particular game, we're diving deep into amiibo, Nintendo's answer to the toys-to-life craze! Unlike SKYLANDERS, amiibos are more free-floating, working with several games rather than having one platform built around them, and this has helped them endure longer than the competition. We look deep into the history of the figures, discuss their collectible value, and try to pinpoint the lasting appeal of the slickly-designed figures.  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod 

We're revisiting a couple of classic game shows this week! It's been a while since we played JEOPARDY and WHEEL OF FORTUNE on the Nintendo 64; how have the games changed in the interim? Ailish Collins returns to help us spin that wheel and question those answers! And she may have underestimated Steve's propensity for trivia...  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Injustice: Gods Among Us / LEGO Batman 2: DC Superheroes / LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham 

This week we're cracking into one of the biggest series of all time, the unstoppable juggernaut that is Activision's CALL OF DUTY! The series has been dominating sales charts and online bandwidth for years, but for those of us who tune in and out of the series, is there still anything to recommend from the earlier generation? We'll find out this week as we play CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II and it's sequel, CALL OF DUTY: GHOSTS! Get 20% off @manscaped + FREE shipping with promo code UNIVERSE at manscaped.com! #ad #manscapedad Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Jeopardy! / Wheel of Fortune 

We'd planned to make this an all-Dreamworks episode, but just because the Penguins couldn't make it, that's no reason to stop the party! Ailish Collins joins us this week as we make a hard pivot from animation adaptations to misbegotten party games! We played THE CROODS: PREHISTORIC PARTY, a minigame collection based on the hit movie; we follow it up with GAME PARTY CHAMPIONS, the latest in a series of shovelware compilations! The games may break, but the party never stops here at Wii Universe! Get 20% off @manscaped + FREE shipping with promo code UNIVERSE at manscaped.com! #ad #manscapedad Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod Next week's episode: Call of Duty: Black Ops II / Call of Duty: Ghosts

We're travelling to magical, anime-inspired worlds this week! Firstly, we're taking flight with RODEA: THE SKY SOLDIER, the oft-delayed action game from the creator of SONIC THE HEDGEHOG! Then, we're looking at SHANTAE: 1/2 GENIE HERO, a breakthrough Kickstarter success that finally gave the plucky, hair-whipping heroine her first proper hit!  Get 20% off @manscaped + FREE shipping with promo code UNIVERSE at manscaped.com! #ad #manscapedad Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: The Croods: Prehistoric Party / The Penguins of Madagascar 

Get ready to experience the brutality of nature... in the most adorable possible way, of course. This week, we're playing PIKMIN 3, which for a long time was considered THE reason to own a Wii U! This third chapter in Shigeru Miyamoto's strategy/action hybrid adds three new astronauts, two new varieties of Pikmin, and tons of new abilities, locations, and secrets to find. So get up off your Dapper Blobs and help us take out some bulborbs!  Get 20% OFF @manscaped + Free Shipping with promo code UNIVERSE at MANSCAPED.com! #ad #manscapedpod Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod Next week's episode: Rodea the Sky Soldier / Shantae: 1/2 Genie Hero 

This week we're trying out the toys-to-life genre for the first time with the series that started it all, SKYLANDERS! Activision's groundbreaking series lets you scan real-life figurines into the action with a special portal; luckily, friend of the show Neal Crow has a wide variety of figures for us to try out! This week, we're talking about all 5 games that appear on the Wii U, including GIANTS, SWAP-FORCE, TRAP TEAM, SUPERCHARGERS, and IMAGINATORS! Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Pikmin 3