Retro Game Squad Podcast

CONTENT WARNING: this podcast episode contains the following: vulgar language & humor; discussions involving M-Rated games such as Conker's Bad Fur Day, Quake II & Max Payne; the history of the ESRB; the crowning of our Retro Game of 2024; and prolonged hatred for the act of typing. 
(Special thanks to UltraSteve for the chip-tunes epilogue)

Our squad gets whipped into shape as we do some reconnaissance with some military-themed games. Mission objectives include looking at titles such as Military Madness, BattleTanx: Global Assault, Army Men: Sarge's Heroes, and more. Jeff also shares his enthusiasm for M.R.E.'s, and Alex puts the guys through some basic (gaming) training.

Grab your popcorn buckets, because the crew is here to review video games based on movies! With its not-so-shiny reputation, we're here to see if the stigma holds true by taking a look at games based on Die Hard, The Lawnmower Man, The World is Not Enough, and more. We also have some movie trivia, and Jeff repeatedly shakes his fist at the clouds, "old-man" style.
(Special thanks to listener Thomas for our trivia exploits!)

It’s time to dodge some lasers as we blast into the world of shoot-’em-ups! Alex gets to geek out by going over the history of the genre, the different varieties of shmups, the early days of bullet-hell games, and fires off some beginner tips. We also cover shooters such as Batsugun, R-Type Delta, Gate of Thunder & more, and Jeff refuses to participate in any video game tutorials.

With Halloween fast approaching, we get in a frightful mood with games such as A Nightmare on Elm Street, Demon’s Crest, Splatterhouse 2, and more. Also, Jeff shares his passion for horror & slasher movies and tells the horrid tale of a cursed Super NES cartridge that consumes all who dare to play it…
(Special thanks to Joe/Electrichead for the eerily appropriate epilogue)

On the heels of our last episode, we go back to a simpler time, and take a look at some of the 2D platformers of yesteryear. Covered are games such as Batman: The Video Game, Vectorman 2, Wario Land 3, & more. We also read listener submissions about memories of Super Mario Bros. 3, and Jeff takes a stand in calling Football "Soccer".

Taking our gaming into the third dimension, we jump into the world of 3D platformers. Discussed are a variety of games such as Jumping Flash!, Spyro the Dragon, Croc: Legend of the Gobbos, and more. Also, Jeff and Jon try their best in a listener-submitted trivia game, and the atrocious camera in Earthworm Jim 3D causes us to lose our marbles.

Completing our foray into the Game Boy's legacy, we focus on the Game Boy Color, covering the hardware and various types of cartridges out there. Also covered are games such as Wendy: Every Witch Way, The Fish Files, Spider-Man 2: The Sinister Six, & more. In addition, we crown a Retro Game of 2022, Alex gushes about Beast Wars, and Jon gets some mileage out of his PalmPilot.

Celebrating our 10-year anniversary with a community-focused episode, we indulge in games such as DoDonPachi, Command & Conquer: Red Alert, Brunswick Circuit Pro Bowling, & more. We also get some feedback from our listeners in the form of letters & voicemails, take a stroll down memory lane by recounting how the squad met & the moments that led to the creation of the show, and Jeff ends up shirtless yet again.

Dusting off our Memory Cards and DualShock controllers, the crew goes all in on the Sony PlayStation. Covering games such as Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, Omega Boost, Hot Shots Golf 2, and more, we also explore the different ways in which you can play PSX games in 2022, & detail some of the different hardware mods available to enhance your PlayStation experience, all with a side of tuna sandwich recipes.

Saving countless kids from ennui during car rides and doctor's visits, the Nintendo Game Boy was a staple of handheld gaming, and we're here to talk about it. We discuss its hardware & impact on the industry, as well as games such as Hammerin’ Harry, Battle Unit Zeoth, and Chikyuu Kaihou Gun ZAS, all before Alex goes on a tirade upon seeing that one of his favorite games has been defiled.

Feeling adventurous, we put a bow on 2021 by checking out some “darling” action-adventure games such as The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past, The Guardian Legend and Beyond Oasis. We also mull over our choices to crown our Retro Game of The Year, and Greg tells us about the time his indifference to the N-Gage resulted in cold, hard cash.

Retro Nick returns to share his dirty humour and vast PC Engine knowledge as we explore some of the lesser known titles on NEC’s diminutive console such as Spriggan, Kaze Kiri Ninja Action, Gotzendiener, and more. We also cover some of the new TurboGrafx-16 & PC Engine relevant hardware options out there, and delve into the history and lore of the greatest super-hero of them all: Bravoman!

Joined by special guest Chris Alaimo of Classic Gaming Quarterly, we turn to the NES to discover new and unique games made for this iconic platform. Featuring discussion on games such as Micro Mages, Pac-Man C.E., Log Jammers, and more, we also offer a little insight into the growing homebrew scene, all while Jeff escapes the heat as Jeff does; shirtless.

We commemorate our 64th episode of the show with a Jeff-centric look at the fun-tastic Nintendo 64. In addition to an in-depth overview of the hardware, we also cover games such as Super Mario 64, WipeOut 64 & WCW/NWO revenge, and turn up the nostalgia as our readers join us in sharing our favorite memories of the platform, all while Jeff issues multiple gaming challenges to be settled in his clubhouse.

The crew finishes off the year by having another look at modern games made in the "Retro" style by getting addicted to games such as Ion Fury, Xeno Crisis, Demon's Tilt, and more. We also talk about our favorite current-generation and retro games we played in 2020, and open a mysterious holiday gift from overseas.

Alex hits the streets in this mini episode to offer an in-depth analysis of Streets of Rage 4. From the gameplay to the visuals, to hidden secrets and samples of this game's stellar soundtrack, no stone is left unturned as we aim to find out if this long-awaited sequel is a worthy entry in this well-beloved franchise.