We revisit the TurboGrafx-16 yet again, as we cover what became the mascot of the system in the US, Bonk, in his first outing. Did the little caveman with a giant noggin have what it takes to hold up to Sonic and Mario and make the TG-16 a force in the market again? Well, obviously not-- but Bonk still had a lot of promise. As a reminder, Kyle VonKubik's t-shirt Kickstarter still has a few weeks left, it's almost fully funded, but there's still a little bit of time to order an exclusive retro-de...
Aug 23, 2018•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 45
A listener request from Kyle VonKubik (see more below), this episode we definitely bit off more than we could chew, covering 2 completely different RPGs on the same source material, the pen and paper FASA RPG, Shadowrun. Do either of these versions do the cyberpunk classic justice, and what makes them different? We try to cover a lot in this hour+, and it probably got a little messy. Kyle VonKubik is also doing a Kickstarter for an amazing t-shirt design, Arkado Returns, which ends September 12t...
Aug 07, 2018•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 44
SURPRISE! We weren't sure what we were covering this episode when you last heard from us, but due to Jeremy's broken leg situation, we had to make it something you could play on Switch-- and the re-release of Top Hunter: Roddy and Cathy (originally on the Neo Geo) seemed like a solid choice. None of us played this before, so we went into this with no pre-conceived notions! Does this one hold up, or is it another case of "this may have been fun 25 years ago, but what is this?" We also push a neat...
Jul 19, 2018•56 min•Ep. 43
This time we take a look at Super Metroid for the Super Nintendo, a game that is highly regarded as a classic game. Instead of seeing if it's a good or bad game, we instead focus on what makes this game so good-- And does it still play well in 2018? We also take a listener question about our most nostalgic game purchase, and that leads us down memory road as we say goodbye to a retail icon and it's wonderfully mysterious game cage in the 80s/90s. Want to skip hearing about what else we've been p...
Jul 05, 2018•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 42
This time we revisit the Sega Master System, to look at a forgotten mascot of a major gaming powerhouse -- Sega's Alex Kidd, in his first adventure! How effective is a game where Paper-Rock-Scissors is the method for combat? Listen to find out! We also discuss the other games in the Alex Kidd series, including his foray into the Genesis, before Alex got sent to the rest home for former mascot characters. Want to skip right to the good stuff? Then listen from 8:19! __________________________ If y...
Jun 15, 2018•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 41
It's a pocket-sized episode of Retrovaniacs, this time looking at the first handheld Zelda game -- Link's Awakening (and the color re-release that came out a few years later)! Does this game hold up to the best the series has to offer, or will this wallow with the later DS entries in the area of "this was a better idea than reality"? We also discuss the new Atari VCS Indiegogo success (?) and Jeremy P gets way too excited about the Intellvision Entertainment announcement. Want to skip straight t...
May 31, 2018•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 40
To celebrate the Mega Man X collections, coming out this summer, we decided it was time to look at the first game in the second major Mega Man series-- Mega Man X for the Super Nintendo. Also discussed, "go to" classic arcade games, in the arcades of our dreams. Want to skip right to Mega Man X? Start listening at 9:24! __________________________ If you enjoy this podcast, why not write a review wherever you download it from? It's easy, and helps people find us by accident. Intro song is "8-Bitt...
May 15, 2018•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 39
This time we take a look at the original Road Rash for the Sega Genesis. Road Rash is another series that spawned a series of sequels and then just sort of faded away. We have our thoughts on why that may have happened. Do you want to skip over Jeremy P talk about Persona 4 Golden (again)? Then skip right to 8:50! __________ If you enjoy this podcast, why not write a review wherever you download it from? It's easy, and helps people find us by accident. Intro song is "8-Bitter" by Subtastics, and...
May 02, 2018•50 min•Ep. 38
This episode, we try a game none of us have played before - Sub Terrania on the Sega Genesis! Based on the box, this looked to be a fairly standard top down shooter, but don't judge this game by it's box... We also discuss some of the new retro announcements by Sega (Shenmue remakes and Mini-Genesis), and... the Rampage movie? Want to skip hearing about things that aren't Sub Terrania? Skip to 8:50! __________ If you enjoy this podcast, why not write a review wherever you download it from? It's ...
Apr 19, 2018•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 37
Jeremy P makes another valiant effort to find a TurboGrafx-16 game that everyone will enjoy, as we take a look at 1991's Silent Debuggers! Does he succeed? Also, is it possible to use the word "Slog" and have it mean something good? How mad was Billy that we waited for him to cover this game? We also answer a listener question, regarding the good and bad of Sega and Nintendo's early efforts in the US Market! Want to skip the pre-show rambling and skip right to the good stuff? Skip to the 8:00 ma...
Mar 30, 2018•59 min•Ep. 36
In honor of the release of Kirby Star Allies (and in no way because we just picked a game at random and Jeremy P was slow to edit the show), we're posting our look at Kirby Super Star for the Super NES. This game, which is also on the SNES Classic, is different from the previous Kirby releases, but how different? This was our first look at Kirby as a whole, so did we love it, or did we determine our previous lack of interest in Kirby was completely valid? Listen and see! Also discussed, our thou...
Mar 16, 2018•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 35
We return to the Neo Geo for the 2nd time, this time for launch title Magician Lord. Will a game we all remember for "not getting past the first level" end up any less frustrating when being played on a home console? Listen to find out! Don't want to hear about what else we've been up to? Skip to the 6:00 mark! Magician Lord is available on the original Neo Geo, but thankfully can also be purchased on the Playstation Network, on the Switch, probably on XBox Live, and is also available on the Wii...
Feb 27, 2018•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 34
Have you ever helplessly wandered around in a casino, talking to everyone just to figure out where to play Draw Poker? If so, have we got the game for you this week. We're playing Casino Kid for the NES! We also talk way too long about Monster Hunter World, but thankfully we waited until the end of the episode. Next episode, we return to the Neo Geo for some Magician Lord! _____ Do you like us? Why not tell a friend? Or review us on iTunes? Or hijack a radio station and play it over the airwaves...
Feb 14, 2018•53 min•Ep. 33
Stick and Move! Stick and Move! It's about time we take a look at another sports-ish title, and so we've gotten into the ring with a legend -- Mike Tyson's Punch Out!! for the NES. We talk about all the games in the Punch Out series a little, but we go the full three rounds with the NES classic. Next week: We're visiting the Golden Crumbs Casino to meet our destiny...
Jan 30, 2018•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 32
Our short unintended hiatus is over, and the first episode of 2018 is here! This time, we take a look at Super Star Wars, and it's sequels Super Empire Strikes Back and Super Return of the Jedi! This topic was supposed to hit right around the release of The Last Jedi, but, well, it didn't. But, that gave us more time to play three separate games to discuss. Want to skip right to the game? Start listening at 10:11! New theme music for 2018 - "8-Bitter" by Subtastics If you have a question about r...
Jan 15, 2018•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 31
"What could PAWSsibly go wrong?" Bubsy asks you that question at the start of his first game, and we take some time to really take a deep look at not only Bubsy, but the sequels to determine the answer to that question. We also answer a listener question, about admitting when you may have been wrong about not liking a game. Next episode we celebrate the release of The Last Jedi with a look at a much younger Luke and his passage off Tatooine with the classic SNES trilogy of Star Wars games....
Nov 28, 2017•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 30
We're taking on another listener request, from George (@captaingodbody on Twitter), who asked us to cover "any classic Alien game". So, we chose the Super Nintendo game based on the third best movie in the Alien franchise, Alien 3. We also take a few minutes to talk with George on his thoughts on the game, and compare it a little to the Genesis version of this game, which was the first game made based on the film -- this came out a year later. Next week... oh boy, it's Bubsy time....
Nov 15, 2017•58 min•Ep. 29
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?
Oct 31, 2017•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 28
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....
Oct 17, 2017•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 27
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 ...
Oct 05, 2017•56 min•Ep. 26
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.
Sep 22, 2017•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 25
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...
Sep 05, 2017•59 min•Ep. 24
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? Nex...
Aug 14, 2017•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 23
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 so...
Jul 29, 2017•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 22
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!
Jul 07, 2017•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 21
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! *** Afterw...
Jun 13, 2017•1 hr 5 min
(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 ga...
May 30, 2017•1 hr 10 min
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....
May 06, 2017•1 hr 4 min
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 n...
Apr 25, 2017•1 hr 6 min
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 Afternoo...
Apr 07, 2017•1 hr 8 min
