Tokyo resident and returning guest Genki is back as we explore Square Enix’s new store in Shibuya, Square Enix Garden! How many plushies are there? Which music box is the best? Should there be a Heartless statue? What’s up with the Square Enix Cafe? We answer all these questions and more! Plus I do a backflip and rave about Donkey Kong 94, now on NSO! Follow our guest! Twitter: https://x.com/Genki_JPN YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GenkiGamer (0:00) - Intro Feature (0:53) - Square Enix Garde...
Mar 23, 2025•39 min
Suikoden is back, and author Aidan Moher is here to dig into Suikoden I & II HD Remaster from Konami! We explore Suikoden’s impact on the JRPG landscape, if this new version delivers, and reveal some shocking Super Bomberman R2 lore. And I give all the details on my latest trip to Donkey Kong Country in Universal Studios Japan! Follow our guest! Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/aidanis.fun Newsletter: https://astrolabe.aidanmoher.com/ Upcoming book about Suikoden: https://astrolabe.aidanmoh...
Mar 09, 2025•1 hr 13 min
Brad from Game Vecanti joins to chat about retro Japanese games that finally got an English localization! From Princess Maker to Trails to Mr. Driller, we explore over a hundred Japanese classics that you can finally play in English! Plus I rave about the samurai roguelite Shogun Showdown and share the deets on Nintendo’s latest hanafuda merch! Follow our guest! Retro game list: https://sites.google.com/view/retro-games-with-new-locs Twitter: https://x.com/Baust528 Site: https://sites.google.com...
Feb 23, 2025•36 min
Author Lewis Packwood returns to chat about video game consoles you’ve never heard of, all which are housed in his amazing book Curious Video Game Machines! Consoles for girls, barcode gaming, machines you strap to your body… we dive into the wonderfully weird world of obscure consoles and how some of them had a major impact on Nintendo! Plus I take a look at the Y2K era inspired puzzle game Vividlope! Follow our guest! Site: https://lewispackwood.com/ Curious Video Game Machines (US Amazon): ht...
Feb 09, 2025•45 min
Source Gaming’s Joshua Goldie returns as we dive into 1997’s cult classic Moon: Remix RPG Adventure! We dive into everything weird and wonderful about this anti-RPG and how it influenced so many developers. Plus, we take a peek at the next generation as we discuss the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal! And I take you inside a very busy Earthbound pop up shop in Shinjuku! Follow our guest! Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/nantenjex.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NantenJex (0:00) - Intro Ga...
Jan 26, 2025•1 hr 55 min
Daan Koopman aka NintenDaan joins the podcast to share about his journey into the jungles of Donkey Kong Country in Universal Studios Japan! We explore every inch of the park, from the innovative minecart ride to the hot dog stand to Funky’s merch shop! Plus, I share my final thoughts on Dragon Quest III HD2D! Follow our guest! Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/nintendaan.bsky.social Twitter: https://x.com/NintenDaan YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NintenDaan (0:00) - Intro Feature (0:52) - Do...
Jan 12, 2025•41 min
Dinosaur Kirby, roguelite Star Fox, and new princesses? YouTube Dale Clayton returns as we share our predictions for Nintendo in 2025! How will Switch 2 amaze and baffle us? What’s Nintendo cooking up for the next Mario movie? Will we be able to actually buy a Switch 2 in Japan? We share our 100% accurate guesses! In the feature, I take you to the golden streets around Tokyo Station to check out the Super Mario Marunouchi Bright Holiday illumination event! Follow our guest! YouTube: https://yout...
Dec 29, 2024•1 hr 3 min
2024 is coming to a close, so what better time to chat about the best games that came out this year! And the best games that didn’t come out this year! And just games in general! Podcaster Josh from the Still Loading Podcast returns as we chat about our favorite games in 2024. New games, old games, DLC, we create a one of a kind list about what blew us away this year! And in the feature, I share even more Japanese gaming pamphlets ranging from flyers shaped like bananas and gigantic free Nintend...
Dec 15, 2024•1 hr 38 min
One of the biggest games in Japanese history is back: Dragon Quest III! JRPG superfan ChristophRPG joins as we chat about the newest HD2D version and how the original game’s stellar game design still shines in 2024. Plus I take you back in time to give you all the details of Dragon Quest III’s original launch in Japan! How many kids were arrested for truancy? You gotta listen to find out! Follow our guest! Twitter: https://x.com/ChristophRPG Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/christophrpg.bsky.so...
Dec 01, 2024•45 min
Pokemon + Japanese art = one amazing exhibit! Returning guest Dale Clayton joins as we rave about the fantastic Pokemon x Kogei art exhibit happening right now in Tokyo featuring incredible Pokemon themed pieces from Japan’s best craftsmen. We also island hop to give some detailed thoughts on Mario & Luigi Brothership! Plus, some big news including the long-awaited reveal of Donkey Kong Country at Universal Studios! Follow our guest! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dale_dpg (0:00) - Intro ...
Nov 17, 2024•1 hr 3 min
Is Metal Slader Glory the most important game ever? Maybe! Author Lewis Packwood joins as we unravel the incredible history of HAL Laboratory’s Famicom adventure game, Metal Slader Glory. Perhaps the most ambitious Famicom title, its tumultuous development may have led to the creation of the Nintendo we know today! Plus, I take you to beautiful Tachikawa as we hit up its gaming hot spots! Follow our guest! Site: https://lewispackwood.com/ Book: https://www.casemateipm.com/9781399073776/curious-v...
Nov 03, 2024•50 min
Starfish or star? Who knows! YouTuber The RPG Mongers joins as we chat about the Starfy series, one of Nintendo’s most underrated platformers! Mostly a Japan only franchise, it’s recently gained new popularity thanks to a worldwide NSO release. We explore its tumultuous development origins, dive into how it’s unique from other platformers, and try to craft Starfy’s ultimate Smash moveset. Also I give some final thoughts on the monsterific The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom! Follow our guest! ...
Oct 20, 2024•37 min
Nintendo Museum has opened its doors, and returning guest KyotoGamer is here to tell us all about it! We get into every single detail from getting tickets, to umbrella holders, to burger toppings, to prototype controllers, to box quality, to how you should spend your coins… literally EVERYTHING about the Nintendo Museum is covered in-depth! In the games section, I rave about two of the year’s best games: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom and Astro Bot! Follow our guest! Instagram: https://ww...
Oct 06, 2024•1 hr 32 min
DJ Tatsujin of Gemubaka joins as we venture to the strange and wonderful world of Red Earth! Why did Capcom make a fantasy boss rush fighting game right before Street Fighter III? How do you actually get good? Who should be in Monster Hunter? We get into everything about one of Capcom’s most obscure fighters. And I take a look at the newly released Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection! In the feature section, join me as I take you to Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise to check out their Animal Cr...
Sep 22, 2024•53 min
Nintendo superfan Zalman joins as we unravel the mysteries of the Famicom Detective Club series! What was once a niche Japan only franchise now as a worldwide release with Emio - The Smiling Man! We explore Yoshio Sakamoto’s fascination with the series, why adventure games are so appealing to Nintendo, and Ayumi Tachibana’s Smash moveset. In the games, I take a look at all the secrets housed in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Master Works! Plus a whole lotta news including the best stu...
Sep 08, 2024•50 min
Game translator Lone joins the podcast to chat about The Secret of Mother 2 / Earthbound exhibit happening right now in Tokyo! We chat about Earthbound’s 30th anniversary events, the analog nature of game design in the 90s, and if Life Noodles will make us live longer. In the games section I run down the roguelite monster battler Dicefolk! Plus, thoughts on the upcoming Nintendo Museum in Kyoto! Follow our guest! Twitter: https://twitter.com/lonechallenger (0:00) - Intro Games (0:54) - The Secre...
Aug 25, 2024•37 min
Joshua ‘Nantenjex’ Goldie AKA The Nintendo Chronicler returns as we explore Eiji Aonuma’s directorial debut: the Japan only Marvelous: Another Treasure Island! We touch on the game’s origins as a CD title, the unique three person gameplay structure, its impact on Zelda and everything else! In the feature, I take you down to Yokohama to experience the Dragon Quest Carnival! Follow our guest! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NantenJex Twitter: https://twitter.com/MrNantendo Linktree: https://link...
Aug 11, 2024•1 hr 3 min
Author Oscar Bown joins to chat about Club Nintendo, the rewards program that was the predecessor to My Nintendo which featured dozens of amazing, one of a kind items. We explore the history of Club Nintendo, talk about the weirdest rewards, and dig into our guest’s upcoming book featuring every single Club Nintendo item! In the games section, I aim for the top with Nintendo World Championships. Plus some news including new games and happenings in Tokyo! Follow our guest! Kickstarter: https://ww...
Jul 28, 2024•39 min
Tako no Himitsu developer Christophe Galati returns to talk about the newest octopi related project: Tako no Himitsu: Ocean of Secretss, a GBA inspired JRPG! We explore the game’s origins in Kyoto, what it takes to make your dream game, and how to get Motoi Sakuraba to write a song for your game! In the feature, I take you to Kawasaki to visit Pokemon Fit Shop XY, a Kalos-themed pop up shop featuring plushies of all the Gen VI Pokemon! And in the news, I run down some amazing upcoming gaming eve...
Jul 14, 2024•50 min
Author Matt Alt joins as we chat about Nakano Broadway, one of the most iconic geek hotspots in Tokyo! We delve into how a symbol of Asian modernity turned into a haven for retro enthusiasts, our rarest and most exciting finds, and discuss possible futures for this otaku pirate hangout. Plus, I give some final thoughts on the Switch version of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and dig deep into the Nintendo Direct! Follow our guest! Blog: https://blog.pureinventionbook.com/ Pure Invention: How...
Jun 30, 2024•58 min
Ryan from Autumn Pioneer, the developer of Shashingo: Learn Photography With Japanese joins the podcast to talk about his photo-snapping edutainment game with a Tokyo flair! We dig into using video games to learn languages, the joy of photography games, and tons of obscure Japanese oddities. In the feature, I take you to Odaiba’s amazing retro arcade that is one of the best in all of Tokyo! Check out Shashingo: Learn Japanese With Photography here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1632490/Shas...
Jun 16, 2024•54 min
Wizardry co-creator Robert Woodhead and Digital Eclipse’s Justin Bailey join the pod to talk about Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, the new remaster of the iconic 1981 dungeon crawler. We explore that game’s incredible legacy, how Digital Eclipse is bringing it to modern audiences, and it’s important impact on the Japanese gaming scene. I also take a look at the Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door remake on Switch! Plus, I take you to the real life Pallet Town right here in Tokyo! ...
Jun 02, 2024•54 min
Danny Bivens from The Famicast returns to chat about the Nintendo 64 in Japan! We unravel the Japanese side of Nintendo’s first 3D console, highlight our favorite Japan-only games, chronicle the 64DD, and of course tell you the greatest N64 color you may have missed! Plus we venture back to Hyrule to chat about The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s one year anniversary. I also look at the indie hit Animal Well and dig into some of the biggest Nintendo news of the decade! Follow our guest! ...
May 19, 2024•1 hr 15 min
Alola Pixie returns to chat about Poké Lids, unique Pokemon themed utility lids all over Japan! We chat about how these lids are promoting local culture, give our recommendations on which ones to check out, and debate whether or not you should take a week-long trip to find Mew. In the games section, I dive into Endless Ocean Luminous! Plus, a bit of news including a surprising upcoming Nintendo game! Follow our guest! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alola.pixie/ Twitter: https://twitter.com...
May 05, 2024•36 min
Kelsey Lewin joins the pod to chat about WonderSwan turning 25 years old! We examine the unique legacy of the handheld, recommend what games to put on your radar, and chronicle the saga of getting a pregnancy peripheral. In the games, I look at the first western release ever of Wrecking Crew ‘98 and the Japanese indie horror hit The Exit 8! Follow our guest! Twitter: https://twitter.com/kelslewin Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kelslewin.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tentike...
Apr 21, 2024•49 min
Vincent from Gamer Travels Japan joins the podcast to chat about the interactive augmented reality exhibit Pokemon Colors! Bicycling to chase Charizard, shaking trees to lure Snorlax… we give you the details on everything to do and see at this unique event! In the games section, I bite into the wagashi themed board game KASHIDO and give the final verdict on Princess Peach: Showtime! Follow our guest! Gamer Travels Japan: https://www.instagram.com/gamertravelsjapan/ (0:00) - Intro Feature (0:58) ...
Apr 07, 2024•37 min
Josh from the Still Loading Podcast returns as we explore Akira Toriyama’s incredible legacy in gaming. From Dragon Quest to Chrono Trigger to Tobal, we delve into his one-of-a-kind art and amazing contribution to video games. In the games section, I give early impressions on Princess Peach Showtime and post-game thoughts on Splatoon 3 Side Order! Follow our guest! Still Loading Podcast: https://www.stillloadingpodcast.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/StillLoadingPod Threads: https://www.thread...
Mar 24, 2024•1 hr
Chris from KaniPro Games returns to chat about porting games to the Switch! We chronicle the journey to get his game, Violet Wisteria, from Steam to consoles and dive into what’s it like to develop for a Nintendo console! Also, I share some early thoughts on Unicorn Overlord and tell you what Pokemon Z-A is going to be about! Follow our guest! Violet Wisteria on Nintendo eShop: https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/violet-wisteria-switch/ Other console stores: https://www.eastasiasoft.com/g...
Mar 10, 2024•38 min
Vincent from Gamer Travels Japan returns to take us to the official Pokemon Cafe in Tokyo! We run down every detail about this chill cafe including what Charmander tastes like and what you need to know before your visit! Plus I look at a trio of exciting Switch releases: Mario vs. Donkey Kong, Splatoon 3 Side Order, and Balatro! Follow our guest! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gamertravelsjapan/ (0:00) - Intro Feature (0:58) - Pokemon Cafe w/ Gamer Travels Japan Games (22:03) - Mario vs. D...
Feb 25, 2024•50 min
David from Project Goemon takes us on a trip to a wild version of Edo era Japan as we chat about the Ganbare Goemon series, aka Mystical Ninja starring Goemon! We explore the series’ unique blend of Japanese culture with comedy, recommend some Japan only Goemon games, and of course tell you Goemon’s ultimate Smash move set. In the games section, I share some thoughts on the first part of Another Code Recollection, Another Code: Two Memories. Plus a deep dive into the latest Nintendo financials a...
Feb 11, 2024•43 min
