Retronauts Micro 72: Super Mario Sunshine mailbag
Yeah, it's another Mario mailbag as our Sunshine episode received way too many listener letters to be contained in the main episode. Sam, Henry, Bob, and Jeremy offer equal time to some very different Sunshine opinions than our own
44m Oct 20, 2017
44m
Retronauts Episode 121: King of Fighters/Lost Game Experiences
Two Micro episodes combine powers to become a full episode! First, Kurt and Rob of Hardcore Gaming 101 join to discuss King of Fighters. Then, Ben and Benj follow up with a home gaming-focused counterpart to our recent arcade memories episode.
2hr 3m Oct 16, 2017
2hr 3m
Retronauts Episode 120: Super Mario Sunshine
Taking a break from our string of glowing Mario retrospectives, we have a not-so-glowing look at vintage Mario. Yeah, 2002 is vintage now. Henry Gilbert and Sam Claiborn join us to discuss what's great about Super Mario Sunshine... but mostly what's not.
1hr 31m Oct 09, 2017
1hr 31m
Retronauts Micro 71: Iwata, The Switch, and NES Golf
Thanks to some industrious hackers, we've recently learned that a digital version of Golf for the NES has been secretly implanted into the firmware of every Nintendo Switch as a tribute to Satoru Iwata. But how was it discovered, how can you play it, and why did Nintendo choose Golf of all games? On this disturbingly relevant episode of Retronauts Micro, host Bob Mackey and guest Henry Gilbert ...
30m Oct 06, 2017
30m
Retronauts Episode 118: SEGA's arcade history, 1988-1990
It's another dive into the classic arcade works of SEGA as Ben, Benj, and Jeremy visit the years 1988, 89, and 90 and all kinds of great and interesting games like Altered Beast, Gain Ground, Galaxy Force, and more!
1hr 59m Oct 02, 2017
1hr 59m
Retronauts Episode 119: Yoshi's Island
Yoshi's Island hasn't been re-released in its original, unadulterated form since its 1995 debut, but the upcoming launch of the SNES Classic promises to make this platforming legend slightly more available (while supplies last). And to mark the recirculation of Nintendo's last hurrah for the Super Nintendo, we sat down for an episode-length discussion all about Yoshi's gorgeous, inventive, and ...
1hr 39m Sep 25, 2017
1hr 39m
Retronauts Micro 70: The Apple II Breaks Out
Jeremy speaks to game and computer historian David Craddock about his new book of Apple II game developer interviews, "Break Out," including David's most interesting experiences meeting the people who created video game history.
49m Sep 22, 2017
49m
Retronauts Episode 117: Zork
Former Computer Gaming World boss Jeff Green joins Jeremy and Bob to explore the world of the Great Underground Empire, consider Zork's influence on gaming, and do their best not to be eaten by a Grue.
1hr 44m Sep 18, 2017
1hr 44m
Retronauts Episode 116: Arcade memories feat. the Retronauts community
Jeremy, Ben, and Benj reminisce about the experience of living through the golden age of arcades, with many additional memories coming in the form of an hour-long listener mailbag segment.
2hr 1m Sep 11, 2017
2hr 1m
Retronauts Micro 69: Mario Series Listener Mail
With the recent release of Mario + Raving Rabbids, and with Super Mario Odyssey's launch lurking just a few months away, we're currently undergoing a sort of Mario Madnessmuch like the same outbreak that attacked several million children back in '88. To celebrate this resurgence in all things Mario, join Retronauts' own Bob Mackey and special guest/Mushroom Kingdom expert Henry Gilbert as the t...
1hr 11m Sep 08, 2017
1hr 11m
Retronauts Episode 115: Food Mascot Games
Not long ago, corporations employed colorful cartoon characters to lure hungry and impressionable children into their dens of corn-based products. And, since this time period happened to overlap with the rise of video games, several food mascots ended up starring in their very own interactive experiences. On this episode of Retronauts, join Bob Mackey, Jeremy Parish, Henry Gilbert, and Chris An...
1hr 54m Sep 04, 2017
1hr 54m
Retronauts Episode 114: Gradius
Kurt Kalata and Rob Russo join us from Hardcore Gaming 101 to delve into the history of Konami's legendary Gradius series. From its prequel (Scramble) to its most recent spinoff (Otomedius), we blast our way through the span of the entire series!
2hr 1m Aug 28, 2017
2hr 1m
Retronauts Micro 68: Dragon Slayer
Fresh from Long Island Retro Gaming Expo, Jeremy and Bob yield the floor to Kurt Kalata and Rob Russo from Hardcore Gaming 101 to explain the history of Falcom's Dragon Slayer series. Just in time for the PS4 debut of the latest spinoff, Tokyo Xanadu!
59m Aug 25, 2017
59m
Retronauts Episode 113: Final Fantasy Adventure & Secret of Mana
Jeremy, Bob, and Chris hunker down to discuss the entirety of Square Enix's Mana series but only make it through the first two games: Final Fantasy Adventure for Game Boy and Secret of Mana for SNES. (Whoops, we accidentally went extremely in-depth.)
1hr 55m Aug 21, 2017
1hr 55m
Retronauts Episode 112: Tetsuya Mizuguchi on Rez and SC5 - Metal Gear's 30th - Fire Pro
Jeremy speaks with legendary developer Tetsuya Mizuguchi on his start in games, the genesis of Space Channel 5 and Rez, and face-mounted Game Gears. Later, Kishi and Kim Justice join to discuss Metal Gear's anniversary and Fire Pro World, respectively.
2hr 10m Aug 14, 2017
2hr 10m
Retronauts Micro 67: Little Nemo, the Dream Master
We NES kids know Little Nemo best from his classic Capcom platformer, but what about the character's role in a revolutionary newspaper comic from the early 20th century? And what of Little Nemo's extraordinarily expensive and fairly obscure box office flop that spawned two different video games? On this episode of Retronauts Micro join Bob Mackey, Henry Gilbert, and Mikel Reparaz as the gang tr...
50m Aug 11, 2017
50m
Retronauts Episode 111: Metroidvania II - The NES years
Following up on the first Metroidvania episode from a few months back, we collect the jump boots and circle back around to take a look at the next stage of the genre's evolution: The NES era.
1hr 54m Aug 07, 2017
1hr 54m
Retronauts Episode 110: Super Mario Bros. 3
Ah, Super Mario Bros. 3. What more can be said about Nintendo R&D4's grand finale for the 8-bit era? Well, we managed to fill 90 minutes discussing this timeless game, so the answer is "a whole lot." On this episode of Retronauts, join Bob Mackey, Jeremy Parish, Ray Barnholt, and Henry Gilbert as the crew takes a closer look at one of Nintendo's greatest creations, and find it's still worth bea...
1hr 45m Jul 31, 2017
1hr 45m
Retronauts Micro 66: Batman's portable adventures
Chris Sims and Benj Edwards help Jeremy field a patron request to explore the Game Gear version of Batman... along with a bunch of other handheld titles we gave short shrift in our recent classic Batman games survey.
1hr 4m Jul 28, 2017
1hr 4m
Retronauts Episode 109: The Dig Dug-Mr. Driller Multiverse
Ray Barnholt and Henry Gilbert join Bob and Jeremy to discuss gaming's original expanded universe: Namco's Dig Dug, which turns out to be a part of the same lineage (literally) as Mr. Driller and Baraduke.
1hr 54m Jul 24, 2017
1hr 54m
Retronauts Episode 108: Marathon, Super NES Classic, Final Fantasy VIII
Jeremy, Ben, and Benj talk about Bungie FPS classic Marathon in a Micro-sized conversation that balloons out of control into a full-length episode. Then, Retronauts bloggers Kishi and Kim Justice drop in to discuss the Super NES Classic Edition & Final Fantasy VIII (in that order).
2hr 9m Jul 17, 2017
2hr 9m
Retronauts Micro 65: Farewell, Genyo Takeda
Chris Kohler and Jose Otero join Jeremy and Bob to mark the impending retirement of Nintendo veteran Genyo Takeda, one of the most tenured game creators still working. From EVR Racer to StarTropics to MMC tech, a freeform discussion of a gaming legacy.
43m Jul 14, 2017
43m
Retronauts Episode 107: SEGA's arcade history, vol. 2
Jeremy, Ben, and Benj convene again to continue their discussion of SEGA's chronology of arcade classics. This time, we take aim at the years 1986 & 87, with greats like Out Run, After Burner, Quartet, Alien Syndrome, and more!
1hr 57m Jul 10, 2017
1hr 57m
Retronauts Episode 106: Final Fantasy V
Our 30th anniversary deep-dive series continues with the fifth entry in the Final Fantasy franchise, the 16-bit cult obsession Final Fantasy V. Bob and Jeremy are joined by pop culture pundit Shivam Bhatt and Chris Kohler, who wrote the book on the game.
1hr 55m Jul 03, 2017
1hr 55m
Retronauts Micro 64: Kabuki Quantum Fighter
Jeremy, Benj, and Chris convene again to discuss that all-time classic... no, wait. To discuss weirdo niche NES action game Kabuki Quantum Fighter. Aimless digressions, collective confusion, and unflattering Batman comparisons abound!
39m Jun 30, 2017
39m
Retronauts Episode 105: Cancelled games
Not all games are lucky enough to see a release. Some stew for years in development, only to be cancelled and shoved into storage or, in most cases, discarded entirely. On this episode of Retronauts, join Bob Mackey, Jeremy Parish, Dave Rudden, and Chris Antista as the crew examines the most notable games that nearly crossed the finish line.
1hr 47m Jun 26, 2017
1hr 47m
Retronauts Episode 104: Metroidvania origins, vol. 1
Benj Edwards and Chris Sims join Jeremy for what was intended to be a quick overview of 8-bit games that helped define non-linear platforming but ultimately gets bogged down in exploring side paths as in any metroidvania worth its salt, really.
1hr 55m Jun 19, 2017
1hr 55m
Retronauts Micro 63: The Simpsons Arcade
On this very special episode synergistically (but not cynically) engineered to help launch the brand-new Talking Simpsons Patreon campaign, we take a look at what many people consider the best Simpsons game in the 25 years we've had them: Konami's arcade masterpiece. With its gorgeous graphics, fun Easter eggs, and surprising faithfulness to the source material, this colorful brawler wowed us b...
59m Jun 16, 2017
59m
Retronauts Episode 103: A game music primer, plus Darius and Gunstar Heroes
Game music expert James Eldred shares some helpful advice on finding and building a collection of classic soundtracks. Plus: In-depth with Ship To Shore's Darius and the DataDiscs Gunstar Heroes set.
1hr 41m Jun 12, 2017
1hr 41m
Retronauts Episode 102: The Legend of Zelda - Link's Awakening
Jeremy and Bob wax rhapsodic with Henry Gilbert and Kat Bailey as they harmonize to sing the praises of the first portable Zelda: The iconoclastic and frequently surreal Link's Awakening.
1hr 42m Jun 05, 2017
1hr 42m
Retronauts Micro 62: The TI-99 4A revisited
We circle back to the original Retronauts Micro topic to do it proper justice. Ben, Benj, and Jeremy tackle the TI-99/4A: Its history, its games, and... well, that's about it.
53m Jun 02, 2017
53m
Retronauts Episode 101: Mario Kart
Racing series come and go, but, over the last 25 years, Mario Kart has remained the most popular and relevant one out there. But what keeps this wildly unrealistic take on competitive driving so many laps ahead of its contemporaries? Join Bob Mackey, Jeremy Parish, and Henry Gilbert as the crew explores the ups, downs, and various rainbow roads of Nintendo's long-running racer.
1hr 49m May 29, 2017
1hr 49m
Retronauts Episode 100: The advent of CD-ROM gaming
For our 100th full episode since our crowdfunded relaunch, we complete a long-overdue Kickstarter obligation by inviting backer Daniel Hawks to join us in a discussion of the early days and notable landmarks of CD-ROM gaming.
1hr 31m May 22, 2017
1hr 31m
Retronauts Micro 61: Splatterhouse at MGC
Live from a very noisy Milwaukee stage, Jeremy and Bob are joined by Splatterhouse experts and world record holders Caitlin Oliver and Kevin Bunch to contemplate the complete history of Namco's gross-out brawler franchise.
53m May 19, 2017
53m
Retronauts Episode 99: Snatcher LP, Final Fantasy Brass de Bravo, and more
The latest Retronauts Radio features an extended look at the new soundtrack release of Hideo Kojima's legendary SEGA CD adventure Snatcher, the latest Brass de Bravo Final Fantasy album, Taito on TG16, and more!
1hr 24m May 15, 2017
1hr 24m
Retronauts Episode 98: Mac Gaming in the 80s
Retronauts East's journey through the history of Apple-based gaming continues with an in-depth look at the unique world of monochrome Mac gaming. Ben Elgin, Benj Edwards, and Jeremy Parish discuss the miracle of the mouse and the hotness of HyperCard.
1hr 52m May 08, 2017
1hr 52m
Retronauts Micro 60: The Simpsons - Bart's Nightmare
The Simpsons might have gotten off on the wrong foot with 8-bit consoles, but Our Favorite Family's 16-bit debut was... kinda better? On our latest Talking Simpsons crossover episode, join Bob Mackey, Henry Gilbert, and Chris Antista as the crew gives Bart's Nightmare the Retronauts treatment.
53m May 06, 2017
53m
Retronauts Episode 97: BRO-totypes
Steve Lin joins Jeremy and Bob to discuss that most primal of video game forces: Manly video games about manly men. We explore the pop social forces behind the rise of rugged 8-bit heroes, and how those beefy classics shaped modern game sensibilities.
1hr 42m May 01, 2017
1hr 42m
Retronauts Episode 96: Ghostbusters
'80s kids couldn't help but grow up with a Ghostbusters fixation, even if the games based on this popular property were often as fun as drowning in a river of slime. On this episode of Retronauts, join Bob Mackey, Jeremy Parish, Kat Bailey, and Mikel Reparaz as the crew digs into every Ghostbusters game to see how well each one captures that essential ghostbusting spirit. And if you think all o...
1hr 32m Apr 24, 2017
1hr 32m
Retronauts Micro 59: Atari's SwordQuest
Jeremy and Benj discuss the history of Atari's fascinating, extravagant, and incomplete SwordQuest series with (literally!) one of the authors of the game's new comeback: Comics scribe Chris Sims.
52m Apr 21, 2017
52m
Retronauts Episode 95: The 8-bit adventures of Batman
Renowned Batmanologist and comics scribe Chris Sims joins Jeremy Parish and Benj Edwards to explore the lore of early Batman games and how they fit into the evolution of the character's franchise.
1hr 49m Apr 17, 2017
1hr 49m
Retronauts Episode 94: The music of Castlevania III, Shovel Knight, Galaxy Force II, and Contra III | Retronauts Radio
Boss Key Studios audio expert Jack Menhorn joins Jeremy for an in-depth discussion of the latest new releases of retro- and retro-style game soundtracks: Mondo's Contra III and Castlevania III, Brave Wave's Shovel Knight, and DataDiscs' Galaxy Force II!
1hr 49m Apr 10, 2017
1hr 49m
Retronauts Micro 58: The Zelda Treasure Jingle Quiz
Since weve all got Breath of the Wild on the brain, why not celebrate The Legend of Zeldas most unsung musical moments? On this episode of Retronauts Micro, join Bob Mackey, Chris Antista, Henry Gilbert, and Brett Elston as the crew assembles to put their knowledge of Zeldas famous doo doo doo DOOOO ditty to the test. You know the one were talking about.
29m Apr 08, 2017
29m
Retronauts Episode 93: Castlevania's portable legacy
Castlevania superfan Shane Bettenhausen joins Bob and Jeremy to discuss the next set of vampire-slaying classics to go under the retrospective lens: The series' six "Igavania" entries for Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS.
1hr 50m Apr 03, 2017
1hr 50m
Retronauts Episode 92: Celebrity games
Though video games were considered the domain of nerds until fairly recently, this stigma certainly didn't stop celebrities from attaching their names to all manner of misguided interactive experiences. On this episode of Retronauts, join Bob Mackey, Jeremy Parish, Henry Gilbert, and Chris Antista as the crew takes a tour of the many celebrity-based that baffled them over the past three decades...
1hr 47m Mar 27, 2017
1hr 47m
Retronauts Micro 57: Blaster Master & Blaster Master Zero
It's a different application for the Retronauts Micro format this week as Jeremy uses the show to present a review of the newly released Blaster Master Zero alongside a series retrospective.
34m Mar 24, 2017
34m
RETRONAUTS HAS A BRAND-NEW PODCAST FEED!
Hey! Listen! The Retronauts podcast has partnered with the PodcastOne network, so if you've just downloaded this episode, head on over to http://www.podcastone.com/retronauts to subscribe to our new feed. You can also pick up our PodcastOne feed through iTunes, or any other podcast program or app. And if you're having trouble, try unsubscribing and re-subscribing. Thanks for listening, and I ho...
3m Mar 21, 2017
3m
Retronauts Episode 91: Retronauts East - SEGA's golden arcade era, pt. 1
Ben Elgin and Benj Edwards reconvene with Jeremy to explore the first half of SEGA's arcade output. Like the games we're discussing, the episode starts off a bit shaky, but everything is awesome by 1985. Pengo! Zaxxon! Space Harrier! Hang On! And more!
2hr 5m Mar 20, 2017
2hr 5m
Retronauts Episode 90: Retronauts Radio 3 - Zelda 30th Anniversary Symphony & Nintendo incidental music
Bob joins in for a slightly different episode of Retronauts Radio! We discuss the recent CD release of the 30th anniversary Zelda concert series and look at the history of incredible incidental music in Nintendo's non-game apps.
1hr 27m Mar 13, 2017
1hr 27m
Retronauts Micro 56: An audio-sampling sampler
Retronauts Micro returns on a biweekly schedule! Jeremy kicks things off with a follow-up to last year's look at FM synthesis in games by exploring a flip side: A brief (and at all comprehensive) history of audio sampling vis-a-vis video games.
28m Mar 10, 2017
28m