Retrovaniacs

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!

Episode 47 : Vectorman (Genesis)

The three of us take a look at a 1995 Sega Genesis game we had never played before, Vectorman!  Included on several collections of Genesis games, most notably the Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, Vectorman seemed to be Sega's answer to Donkey Kong Country-- but how does it hold up in 2017?
Want to skip right to Vectorman?  Start listening at 12:14!
Next episode we hit another time-relevant favorite of Jeremy P's with Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap for the Sega Master System.
 

Episode 46 : Disney Afternoon Classics (NES)

Something different this time, a modern retro compilation episode!  Billy returns to discuss one of the best compilations of classic NES titles -- the Disney Afternoon Collection!   We cover all 5 titles, Ducktales and Ducktales 2, Chip and Dale's Rescue Rangers 1 & 2, Talespin, and Darkwing Duck.   Have these titles aged well?  Does this collection provide enough to make it worth grabbing?  (Spoilers: the answer to both is a resounding yes!)
Also, as Billy is here, Jeremy and Billy discuss their new Switches and what they think of them, and we all mourn the end of the NES Classic.
Next episode : Back to basics, one classic console game discussed -- Vectorman for the Genesis

Episode 45 : Skyblazer (SNES)

Jeremy P and Jeremy take on a SNES game that both of us thought was another game when we heard it.  Skyblazer for the SNES is actually NOT Soulblazer, and is instead an amalgamation of many SNES action adventure games we had played previously.
Does this make this game notably amazing like chocolate and peanut butter, or not as great like pickles and caramel. I don't know what that means, but clearly I need to eat.
Billy should return next week, when we celebrate the release of the Disney Afternoon Classics collection, as we play ALL 6 games in their original NES format.

Episode 44 : Military Madness (TurboGrafx-16)

Billy is MIA still, but the show must go on -- and so the Jeremys cover a strategy classic for the TurboGrafx, Military Madness.
Also -- Jeremy P talks a little Zelda and the Switch release, and both of us gush over the recently announced "Disney Afternoon Classics" collection hitting in less than a month, which is probably the best gaming announcement of 2017.