Retrovaniacs

Episode 38: Tomba! (Playstation)

Doing something a little different this week -- before Retrovaniacs the podcast, there was just Retrovania.net, a site where we posted video reviews and gaming articles.  One of those reviews was on Tomba! for the Sony Playstation.   This review received the most criticism from folks who didn't agree with Jeremy Gregory -- including Jeremy Parmentier.    One Jeremy loves it, one Jeremy hates it, and Billy Holiday is here playing for the first time. 
We're taking a second look at Tomba!, an interesting 2D/3D questing platformer for the Sony Playstation, and then we spend FAR too long discussing our thoughts on the first 10-20 hours of Final Fantasy XV!   So -- if you have no interest in hearing about FFXV, you can skip the last half of the show!
 

Episode 37 : Golgo 13 (NES)

We take on yet another listener request, Golgo 13 : Top Secret Mission for the Nintendo Entertainment System.   A game that combines adventure sections with several other gameplay styles, that spans the globe is certainly an ambitious game to design -- but is it any fun?
We also discuss classic games we love that we can also see why if we had never played them beforet today may not be as highly regarded.
Next week : Tomba! for the Playstation

Episode 36 : Kid Icarus (NES)

Billy returns to Retrovanicas this week!  Just in time for the release of the NES Classic, we're taking a lengthy look at Kid Icarus, a classic that is also a featured game on the Classic!   We dig deep into this game which Jeremy P has declared is "his favorite NES game of all time"-- and both Billy and Jeremy hadn't played it before, so this one could cause some fist fights.
We also kick the show off with a special announcement of sorts, and finally Billy gets to tell us all what he thinks of the switch!
 
Next episode we take on another listener request - Golgo 13!
 

Episode 35 : 16-Bit Castlevanias (Halloween 2016)

We may be short one Billy Holiday this week, but don't be scared -- he will be back next episode!  This week, however, the Jeremys take you on a journey spanning 4 years and 3 consoles to discuss Super Castlevania 4 (SNES), Castlevania Bloodlines (Genesis), Dracula X (SNES), and the japanese only Castlevania : Rondo of Blood (PC Engine CD)!
Next week, we return to our usual format and take on Kid Icarus for the NES!
Happy Halloween!

Episode 34: Monster Party (NES)

We kick off October's Halloween Retroween right, with an episode about one of the strangest games on the NES, Monster Party!  We know we said we were doing Kid Icarus, but that's not going to happen until November now -- we've got to get in the Halloween spirit!
Also, Jeremy P really thinks he's getting a PS4, so he has some questions regarding the newly released Slim and the soon-to-be-released Pro.
Retroween continues next time in Episode 35, a 16-bit Castlevania extravaganza!

Episode 33 : Air Zonk (TurboGrafx-16)

Another listener request this time, we're looking at Air Zonk for the Turbografx-16, a branch of the Bonk family of games that takes the franchise from side-scrolling action game to shooter.  Could this finally be a TG-16 game that Billy and Jeremy don't hate?
Also discussed, notable game save losses that brought the three of us back from a gaming high to yet another depressing low.
Next week : Jeremy and Billy finally play a guaranteed NES classic they somehow have missed over the past 30 years.

Episode 32 : Robocop Vs Terminator (Genesis)

Robocop fights Terminators. We shouldn't have to say any more to sell you on this, but that would be a 5 second podcast, so instead we say a lot more about the game including: a comparison between this and the Super Nintendo version of this game, a discussion of time travel mechanics, and thankfully completely ignore the Terminator movies after T2.
We also tackle a listener question regarding what game we would play if we knew this was our last few minutes alive!
In an unprecedented display of planning, we have our next two games already chosen!  First up is Air Zonk for the TurboGrafx-16 (listener request), and then we take on one of Jeremy P's favorite games of all time, Kid Icarus for the NES.

Episode 31 : Super Mario RPG (SNES)

Join the Retrovaniacs as we take on our first RPG - Super Mario RPG: Secret of the Seven Stars!   An interesting effort by Square and Nintendo from 1996, but does it hold up today?  Does anyone fondly remember Mallow?  Why isn't Geno more popular?  This and many other questions will arise as we take on the longest game we've looked at to date!
Also discussed, game controllers we loved or always wanted!
Next episode will be Robocop vs The Terminator for the Sega Genesis!

Episode 30 : Kendo Rage (SNES)

This week we take on our 2nd listener request for the podcast, Kendo Rage for the SNES!   Listen as we fumble our way through a 2d action/platformer with interesting bosses, and ... well, maybe that's the high note.   Lots of little audio problems were dealt with to record this episode, so as bad as parts of it may sound, it was WAY worse before Jeremy P spent an evening or two working on it.
Also discussed, a listener question regarding emulation versus units like the upcoming mini NES and the Atari/Intellivision/Colecovision Flashback units, and why grown men are excited about 30 old NES games coming out again in November.
Get ready, because next week we take on the RPG genre for the first time with Super Mario RPG for the Super Nintendo!

Episode 29 : Goonies 2 (NES)

Brush up on your Truffle Shuffle and make sure to have a Baby Ruth on hand, because this week we're delving into one of Jeremy P's favorite games, Goonies 2 on the NES.
We also discuss the upcoming NES Mini, which is probably going to be way bigger than the Wii U and NX, despite being based on technology from 30+ years ago!
Next week, we tackle another listener request, a game we know nothing about -- Kendo Rage for the SNES.
Make sure to follow us on Twitter (@retrovaniacs) to get some extras like snapshots of the Official Nintendo Player's Guide entry for this game, Vines, and random feedback about each episode and videos on Retrovania.net.