A Gamer Looks At 40

In 1993, Nintendo ran a Legend of Zelda comic, in 12 parts, in Nintendo Power Magazine. The  comic was amazing. Not only was it a way for us to experience the 16 bit exploits of Link without bothering our parents for a new cartridge, it expanded on the lore for existing LttP pros. It's classic, cheesy, and perfect for a dumb idea. In this episode, Blue, Ryan and Donnie join me in an unrehears...

On this continuation of last week's Part 1, we talk more memories, Link to the Past's legacy, various odds and ends, and a final word on the very nature of what makes a game timeless. Starring (all handles from Twitter): Steve Luzader Andrew Craig Blue (@wytersview), Donnie (@donniegretro) and Ryan (@retrogamebrews) of @gamersweekpc Greg Sewart (@sewart) of @p1podcast Trevor and Jeff of...

What can you say about one of the greatest games ever made? How do you cover a game that's been the topic of hundreds, maybe thousands, of articles, review shows, and Twitter arguments? The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past falls into this rarified category. Universally beloved and investigated to death. The answer is surprisingly easy: tell people stories and personal recollections. On thi...

In my family growing up, Halloween was a lesser holiday. We did the standard trick-or-treating, costumes, and careful inspection of candy looking for sharp objects everyone did. But as we grew older, our appreciation for both the holiday and the scary media that comes from it grew and grew. On this loose and easy episode of A Gamer Looks at 40, my brother and I share stories of childhood Halloween...

Growing up, Zelda 2 was known as the "bad Zelda game". As the sentiment evolved from friends on the playground to angry gamer dude YouTubers, my thoughts were in line with the crowd, even though I had never played the game. And why would I? Loud voices online all agree, the thing stinks. Why waste time on a terrible experience? On this episode, I shed my preconceived notions and backed b...

A gold case. An epic theme. A cave in the middle of nowhere. Those humble beginnings birthed a decade spanning series that's still beloved to this day. Join a smashing cast of Zelda fans and I as we discuss the original Legend of Zelda for the NES. First impressions, lasting memories, and the occasional critique.  Starring: Seth Sturgill of the All N Podcast (@allnpodcast) Mike Albertin of Ga...

In Part 2 of our introductory walk through the Legend of Zelda series, we examine if the character of Link matters to the series, if the twisted lore is required knowledge, and whether or not the classic Zelda formula works today. Starring: Seth Sturgill of the All N Podcast (@allnpodcast) Allen Petrozzi Andrew Craig Ryan aka @gameswithcoffee Dan of @retrologicgames Donnie and Blue of @gamersweekp...

One day in the early 80's, Shigeru Miyamoto looked back and thought about his days roaming the Kyoto countryside as a youth. The result of his daydream was The Legend of Zelda, a landmark franchise full of action, adventure, and exploration. To kick off a multi-month exploration of this world class series, we take a look at Zelda as a comprehensive work before diving into the individual eras....

In honor of the coming Legend of Zelda series, I give you one of my favorite episodes from last year. Andrew Craig and Greg of the Level Zero podcast (@levelzeropod on Twitter) share two stories of how the Legend of Zelda shaped them in both serious and hilarious ways. My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40 My Facebook: facebook.com/agamerlooksat40 My Insta: @agamerlooksat40 My Patreon: patreon.com/agamerlo...

It's ooky. It's kooky. It's one of the best point and click adventures ever made. And yes, it still holds up today. Featuring unique humor, sensational music, and the occasional scary nurse, this Luscasarts classic is a personal favorite. Join Blair Farrell and I as we revisit this one of a kind game and discuss why it's a modern classic. Starring Blair Farrell of comicbookvide...

Endlessly mocked and memed by the internet, Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub Zero marks the beginning and end of what might have been a cool bit of lore expanding games. But shoddy controls, poorly acted cut scenes, and an overall lack of polish rightfully placed this title into bargain bin territory. On this episode of Tales From the Bargain Bin, Blair Farrell shares his history with this bizarre b...

NOTE: This episode as some cussing in it. If you're in your car with kids, save this for when you have some alone time. As many of you know, Bioshock is one of my favorite series. Each entry presents a fantastic immersive sim experience rich with exciting gameplay, fascinating lore, and rich story. And theme upon themes upon themes.  Except Bioshock Infinite. I've spent many a Twitter th...

These days, I need to chill. Relax. Contemplate. What I didn't think I needed was a swim in a virtual fish tank with all manner of manta rays, swordfish, and sharks. But that's exactly what Abu offers. A wonderful, frictionless aquatic experience that hides a rich lore and story beneath it's seemingly simple waves. But I didn't get any of that. I had fun playing with the fishie...

Our first BTS Bonus episode is a replay of one of my favorite conversations on the show - a talk with Paul Tesi, also known as MegaRetroMan online. In 2019, Paul entered the Classic Tetris World Championship as a relative newbie and took down the greatest Tetris player who ever lived. A story of triumph that's tempered by the harsh realities of winning big in a niche competition, this episode...

Remember the Nintendo Power contests? I sure do. Feverishly filling out the punch out entry card, begging my mom to mail it and hoping for the best was a bi-monthly tradition. The contests ranged from the mundane to insane, but it was always fun to check out the prizes and dream.  But who won these things? Who actually took home the grand prizes? A couple of the famous ones are well documented, bu...

The cadence of the show is changing for months of August and September. Fancy what's going on? Give this quick update a listen! Support the show

What's a bandicoot? In the days before the internets, this question rattled around my brain along with the names of my favorite hockey players, random facts about Garbage Pail kids, and the shocking complexity of physics force diagrams. And there it stayed unanswered until the smashing and debonair Mike Albertin of Games My Mom Found suggested a game for this edition of Tales from the Bargain...

The audio equivalent of turning lemons into lemonade, Side Quests allows me to share the awesome stories and entertaining insights that didn't make the main episodes for whatever reason. From mediations on the nature of difficulty to dunking on beloved consoles, this edition of Side Quests run the gambit from funny to thoughtful, clever to comical. Listen today! Or tomorrow! Whenever is conve...

When you've been married to somebody for seven years and known them for double that time, it's easy to think you know everything. Luckily for everyone involved, that's never the case. On this special anniversary edition of A Gamer Looks at 40, I chat with my wife, Jamie, about all things gaming. The wrinkle? Jamie isn't a gamer. What starts as a fun conversation about the mediu...

What do you get when you take a city kid out of the suburbs and stick him on the edge of a lake in a pop-up camper? A semi-disastrous weekend that makes for a semi-entertaining piece of side content for this very podcast. Staring Pete Harney (@cipherzero on Twitter) My Twitter: @agamerlooksat40 My Facebook: facebook.com/agamerlooksat40 My Insta: @agamerlooksat40 My Patreon: patreon.com/agamerlooks...

What do you get when you cross a controversial first person shooter with an average breakfast cereal and throw it into 5.7 million cereal boxes? A generation of kids whose first Doom clone was Chex Quest. Join loyal patron, Twitch channel viewer, and my brother-in-law Pete Harney as we discuss this surprisingly solid shooter, favorite breakfast cereals, and the never ending allure of shameless pro...

In the days before websites, social media, and the hellish world of click-bait, we had videogame magazines. They weren't just an information source. They were a window into another world. When you have the funds for give games a year, videogame magazines allowed us to play the titles without owning them. There are few things more nostalgic than flicking through an old Nintendo Power or GamePr...

Before nearly every interview, I assault - I mean - kindly ask my guests three silly questions with the hope of getting equally silly answers. What often occurs is a find side conversation, neat anecdote or touching tale. On this week's three questions episode, we discuss national monuments, game shows, and corporate shakeups. 12 guests, three questions, 90 minutes worth of fun.  Starring in...

Part of the joy of doing this podcast is hearing how games shaped people's lives. If music and movies can do so, why can't videogames? On this week's episode, I chat with professor of game design and studio founder Daniel Greenberg. Where most people can cite moments and memories of Final Fantasy 6, Daniel professes the game as a formative title in his life.  From personal connectio...

What do you get when you create an animated TV show filled with teenagers with bad British accents protecting the something from nefarious henchmen? James Bond Jr, the TV show. What do you get when you make a game off this very average cartoon? James Bond Jr the video game. Join my brother and I as we clumsily attempt to fill a 30 minute episode with comments on the game, GameFAQs reviews, and a t...