Retrovaniacs

Episode 57 : Resident Evil (PlayStation)

For Halloween 2017, we've decided to look back at one of the defining games in survival horror, the original Resident Evil for PlayStation!  We look back, from an era where some of the shortcomings of this game are undeniable-- but does it still hold up now?  Does this game actually work better with it's original limitations, or is this another case of a game that time has not treated too kindly?

Episode 56: Attack of the Killer Tomatoes (NES)

Halloween 2017 starts off with a SPLAT as we look at the video game based on the cartoon based on the sequel to the 1978 "classic", Attack of the Killer Tomatoes.
 
Want to skip the intro where we bare our souls to you (or more accurately just say what we've been playing lately)?  Skip to 9:26.
 
Also discussed, some retro and not-so-retro selections for your Halloween gaming month!
 
Next week, we return to one of the masters of Survival Horror, as we look at Resident Evil.

Episode 55 : Michael Jackson's Moonwalker (Genesis)

Everybody knows Michael Jackson's hits, but have you played Michael Jackson's video game?  We certainly did, and this week we're looking at Michael Jackson's Moonwalker for the Sega Genesis.  Based on the movie of the same name, we're going to help MJ save children from the evil Mr. Big, and probably pull of some incredible dance moves on the way-- but is this a case of "Can't Stop Til You Get Enough", or is it just plain "Bad"?   Listen to this one, and find out if we liked this one, and if any of us "Beat It".
I'm not sorry for those puns.
We also discuss the SNES Classic, and our attempts to get one, and there's some more news on the Atari Box, and it's not really good news.
Next episode : Halloween month starts, and we're going to take on Attack of the Killer Tomatoes for the NES.

Episode 54 : Mega Man Legends (PlayStation)

Mega Man made that 32 bit jump many classic games made, the leap into 3d.   Would this be a Super Mario 64-esque success, or a Bubsy 3D abomination?   Or would it be something wholly different...
We also take a listener question about classic games we are afraid to play now because they won't meet our expectations.
Next episode : We all learn how to Moonwalk.

Episode 53 : Super Black Bass (SNES)

Labor day and summer vacations are over, and the Retrovaniacs are here to ease you out of vacation with a relaxing review of Super Black Bass for the Super Nintendo.  Calmly float around in a lake, catching fish and winning tournaments in a pure state of relaxation -- or if you are Jeremy P, this could be the most frustrating game you've played for this podcast. 
Also, we take a look at a recent retro-styled release, Sonic Mania!  Is this finally the 2d Sonic Game we've been waiting for, or does it miss the mark much like every other Sonic game since the 16-bit era?
Next week we look at a classic icon's odd strays into the third dimension...
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Want to skip right to the fishing?  Start at 10:40!
Tired of fishing and want to hear what we think of Sonic Mania?  Skip ahead to 48:01!
If you want to sneak by the sleeping Ogre Lord, turn to 152.

Episode 52: Flashback (Genesis/SNES/3DO/etc)

This week we again did not review a fishing game, but instead take on a multi-platform sci-fi action adventure game, Flashback.  The follow up game to Another World, Flashback merged PC adventure puzzle games and 2d action platformers, and wrapped it in a neat story that's part Total Recall, part They Live, part The Running Man-- really how could that go wrong?
Also discussed this week, the newest AtGames Sega Flashback unit.  Will this be as nice as more recent official retro system releases?
Next episode : Ok I mean it we're really doing Super Black Bass.

Episode 51: Final Fantasy VIII (PlayStation)

THIS ISN'T SUPER BLACK BASS!?  No, as Billy was unavailable this week, the Jeremy's instead delayed that episode and instead took this chance to talk about where Final Fantasy VIII went wrong.  We apologize in advance for a very negative episode about FFVIII, but we do go into detail about what specifically we don't like, and it's not just that the characters are hateable and the story is awful.
*** This episode is filled with spoilers, so if you haven't played FFVIII and really want to (we are sorry), then please skip this one. ***
Jeremy P has tried playing through this game many, many times, and most recently spent several weeks of 2017 getting to the very end of it before life forced him to throw in the towel.  Will he play it again?  What exactly doesn't he like about this game?
We also talk about the Atari Box, or wonder what exactly it is.
Next game -- Who knows?

Episode 50: Earthworm Jim series (Multiplatform)

It's our 50th episode, and we wanted to cover a classic game series that wasn't one of the major characters, so we chose Earthworm Jim!  We take close looks at the first two games in the series, and a glancing look at the regrettable 3D entry. 
Next episode... Fishing?
If you want to skip straight to Jim talk, start off at 8:40!

Episode 49: Uninvited (NES)

This week, the Retrovaniacs take a (spoiler filled) look at an NES port of a Macventure title, Uninvited!  Was anyone able to complete this graphic point-and-click adventure without looking up some hints?  Did any of us finish this game at all?   Listen to find out!  Spoilers abound here though, so if you somehow are in the middle of this game and don't want to figure out what the tomato monster is -- probably stop at around the 30 minute mark!
*** AGAIN PLEASE NOTE, LOTS OF SPOILERS HERE! ***
Afterwards, the Jeremys talk way too much about Persona 5, but that won't happen until 53:30, so you should stop there if you don't want some very minor early game spoilers.
Want to skip the pre-game updates, start up the show at 5:40!
Next up it's episode 50, and that means we take on a classic series starting one of our favorite invertibrates!
 

Episode 48 : Wonder Boy III The Dragon’s Trap (Master System)

(Edit 1/3/23 - This episode stopped loading, so we re-uploaded this one.  Hope it's not showing up as new in your feeds-- if so, sorry!)
This episode we take a look not only at the Sega Master System game Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap, but also discuss the recent remake for modern consoles.  How does the remake hold up, but more importantly, is this the sort of game that needed a remake at all?
We also answer a listener question, about if we have considered comparing all ports of a specific game or games, and we somehow talk about the Virtual Boy instead.
Want to skip right to the game?  Try starting at 9:43!