Retrovaniacs

Another Patron request, we're looking at Cheetos' Mascot Chester Cheetah ("It ain't easy bein cheesy") and his 2nd 16-bit console game, Chester Cheetah : Wild Wild Quest. We followed Chester on a platform adventure game across the country in search of the map to Hip City, and made some new friends and enemies along the way. We also talked about boiled peanuts, game cheesing, and answered just a sl...

This time we're taking on another Patron request - Werewolf: The Last Warrior for the NES!  This game is an action platformer where you play a werewolf- can that go wrong?  We play it and let you know! Want to read the comic that came with the game?  Check it out here : https://online.anyflip.com/nmmt/itdu/mobile/ Want to jump right into the game?  Start around the 8:00 mark! Join us over on our D...

We're taking on another Patron request, this time on Shadow Hearts for the PlayStation 2! This RPG is a bit different from most turn-based RPGs, in that everything you do has some specific timing involved, the setting is a little out of the ordinary, and your main character can turn into different demons during the game. Is this a game worth checking out today? We played through it to give you our...

It's our last show of 2024, and as tradition dictates we're going to clean out the mailbag to kick off the new year.  However, this year we're also taking on the Action MAX by Patron request, which was a videotape requiring home light gun console released in 1987.  We compared this system with another toy/game that was out the same time, Captain Power. This is a little different than our usual far...

We've got another patron request, this time we're looking at Diddy Kong Racing for the N64! Often maligned by Billy, is this really deserving of the "Poor man's Mario Kart" title he has given it, or is this an N64 game worth hunting down? We also take some Christmas themed questions, and food questions, and Christmas food questions. Want to start right at the game?  Jump in around the 8 minute mar...

For our final episode of D'OH-vember, we're taking a look at The Simpson's Hit and Run -- a Springfield take on Grand Theft Auto!  Is this worth playing if you are a Simpsons fan, a GTA fan, or neither? We also answer questions from you on... why The Simpsons of all things, plus some bad gaming memories and maybe a Thanksgiving question. Join us over on our Discord to discuss games, food, or reall...

Welcome to D'OH-vember!  We're talking about a 16-bit entry in the Simpsons console game lineup, The Simpson's Bart's Nightmare! Originally released on SNES and Genesis, we all played the SNES version for this review. Bart has to complete a paper and waits until the last minute, and he falls asleep. We guide Bart through a series of dreamlike games to collect the pages of his paper to try and save...

Our 2nd Halloween episode for 2024, we're taking a look at Patron-requested Cold Fear!  This game came out right before Resident Evil 4, and maybe because of that it didn't really get as appreciated as it might have had it come out a year earlier. We played it again today to see if it's worth your time for a good scare! We also answer a whole pumpkin's worth of your questions, some scary, some les...

Our first Halloween episode of Retrovaniacs for 2024!  We're talking about Harvester for the PC, a point-and-click adventure game with an interesting twist both in story and in gameplay, a Patron Pick!  This 1996 adventure game tried to blend traditional adventure game puzzles with combat and a very adult storyline, and in some ways it succeeds -- but in others not so much. Also covered, we previe...

This time we're talking about Konami NES action platformer, Bucky O'Hare!  Based on the comic and TV show that none of us were extremely familiar with, this looks to be Konami's take on Mega Man -- but is it a clone of a classic series or something else entirely? Want to jump right into the game?  Start at the 8:15 mark! Join us over on our Discord to discuss games, food, or really anything over a...

This episode we're taking another Patron request, this time for Neutopia for the Turbografx-16!  This game is definitely the TG16's take on The Legend of Zelda, but is it too much like that game or does it offer enough to stand out? Want to jump right into the game?  Start at the 10:45 mark! Join us over on our Discord to discuss games, food, or really anything over at  https://discord.gg/pb76x32u...

We're covering another wrestling game, sort of?  WWF Betrayal is actually a side scrolling beat em up for the Game Boy Color, featuring 4 of the biggest stars WWF had to offer in 2001.  This game was developed by WayForward, who make some of the nicest retro-styled games to this day.  Was this a good blend of a solid license and a great developer? We also answer a question posed last episode about...

This week we're looking at Ghost in the Shell for the Sony Playstation, a game based on the manga and universe of the anime we were all familiar with at the time. Is this a game worth playing if you love the anime, hate the anime, or just generally like mecha? We've played through it again to let you know our thoughts. Want to climb over the intro in your tank and get right to the game?  Start at...

We're taking a look at the Metroid series first game into a 3D environment with 2002's Metroid Prime.  Released at the same time as Metroid Fusion - a more standard 2d Metroid game on the Game Boy Advance, this was a game developed by Retro Studios for Nintendo that tried to take the series into literally a new dimension.  Did it succeed in it's purpose, and is this still worth playing now?  We'll...

We're doing another patron request, this time we're looking at The Fantastic Adventures of Dizzy (aka Fantastic Dizzy) for the NES!  The Dizzy series was pretty big in Europe due to it's popularity on home computers, but in the US we didn't really get into it - but in 1991, Codemasters and Camerica made a big bet on Dizzy for the NES, building a new game that took the "Greatest Hits" of the previo...

200 episodes?  It's hard to believe but its true.  And we're marking this occasion by looking back at one of our earliest games - General Chaos for the Sega Genesis!  In episode 4, we looked at this game and it's the one that we've gotten the most pushback on.  So, we're looking at it again with new (yet more experienced) eyes to see if we were wrong. We also go through a ton of mail, talk about t...

You and a friend get to play as two questionably heroic historical figures, rescuing your island nation from a cruel overlord - we're playing the NES port of SNK's Guerilla War, as requested by Ralph M.! Also discussed, saturday morning memories, Castlevanias that might stink, and remakes, remasters, and more! Want to jump right into the game?  Start at the 7:40 mark! Join us over on our Discord t...

Another game requested by our patrons, and this one comes from Patrick who wants us to talk about a bonafide classic game, Metal Gear Sold 3 : Snake Eater! We've covered the original Metal Gear Solid in the past and liked it, but many people regard this as the finest game in the series.  Do we think that's the case in 2024?  Listen to hear our thoughts! Also discussed -- Monster Hunter, AVGN thoug...

As requested by our Patron Antonio, we're talking about Mafia, which was released for the PC, and then ported to the PS2 and Xbox!  Jeremy P played through the PS2 version, and Jeremy G played a little bit of all of them, and we're here to tell you if we think they are worth revisiting today! Also, we answered some of your questions, including least favorite gaming era, how manly we are, and speak...

Another patron request, we're talking about Super Adventure Island II for the Super Nintendo! We have played New Adventure Island for the TG16 before for the show, and we had all played earlier Adventure Island games, so we assumed this was yet another standard platformer where you collect fruit and run from left to right-- and we were wrong! This is a true adventure game, with an overworld, inven...

We conclude our FFVII coverage (see our most recent bonus shows for patrons on FFVII Advent Children and our round-table about Remake) with a look at the startlingly different take on the FFVII gameplay with Final Fantasy VII : Dirge of Cerberus for the PlayStation 2!  This game let you play as Vincent in a mostly solo adventure that wasn't an RPG but a 3rd person shooter with RPG elements, and we...

We're covering another request - Suikoden for the PlayStation!  This game is a classic style JRPG that adds a large cast of playable characters, large scale battles, and an upgrade system that allows you to really modify your party in many ways.  This game led to a series that was prevalent on the PlayStation 1 and 2, but has faded out over the years, although there is an HD remaster on the way. ...

It's our first episode of 2024, and we're starting it off with a Patron requested game, Body Harvest for the Nintendo 64 as picked by Joey H.!  This game was developed by the company that would go on to make Grand Theft Auto III and change the landscape, and it has a lot of the things we'd see in that game-- but is there a reason this never had the success as their later offerings?  We'll tell you...

As we hit the end of 2023, we're looking back at our favorite games of the year, somme disappointments, and the games we've covered. Really though?  We answered your mail.  As always, it was a wide range of questions that are probably not suitable for the kids.  So put on some headphones, and enjoy as we clean out our mailbox and prep for 2024.  Join us over on our Discord to discuss games, food,...

We love the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - in the arcades, NES, and SNES we've had some great games, but we had never played the TMNT counterpart to Turtles in Time -- TMNT : The Hyperstone Heist. Now we have, and we're here to talk about it. And we've got another bonus for your Turtles fans-- after our episode we have posted the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) movie review from Movie Smash! -...