Classic Gaming Today: A Retro Gaming Podcast

Jordan Mechner is computer and video game royalty...but back in the early 80s, he was simply a Yale student trying to make his mark on the still new computer game industry.  Karateka would be the result of his early efforts.  Join me as we jump back in time to learn how the game was made as we determine whether, nearly 40 years later, the title is still worth your time to play today. Join the disc...

Sometimes good things come in small packages!  Join me as we discuss Super Mario Land, Mario's first adventure for the Nintendo Gameboy system all the way back in 1989.  Learn how the game was made, why Shigeru Miyamoto was not involved in its creation, and whether Sarasaland is still fun to visit today.  Can a Gameboy screen provide a worthwhile Mario experience?  There's only one way to find out...

Ask nearly anyone from the 90s to name their favorite Sega titles, and I bet Streets of Rage 2 would be on many of those lists.  Join me as we discuss Sega's classic brawler, including how it was created, its overall legacy, and whether it's still worth your time to clean up the streets and bring Mr. X to justice! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today?  Sign up as a patron...

When Eric Chahi released Out of This World (or Another World), he created a masterpiece that would stand the test of time.  Heart of the Alien was the Sega CD exclusive sequel to that classic.  Learn how the game was made and discover whether lightning struck twice, even though Chahi wasn't involved in the creation of the title.  Is it worth it to once again visit this unique desolate alien world?...

DAY-TO-NA!!!  Join me as we discuss one of the most popular, exhilarating arcade games of all-time, as we dive deep into Sega's Daytona USA!  Learn how the game was made and why, even all these years later, it still holds a special place in everyone's heart as THE multiplayer racing game of the 90s.  Is it still worth your time to get behind the wheel of this one?  Tune in to find out! Join the di...

Our fourth and final deep dive into the early works of id Software focuses on Quake, the successor to Doom and probably the game most responsible for rocket jump-related deaths in the mid-90s.  Learn how id once again evolved their first person shooter formula while, at the same time, creating a true 3D engine that would serve as the blueprint for many titles to come.  Does it feel as good to play...

Rip and tear through the hordes of hell, as we discuss Doom, one of the most influential computer games ever created!  Learn how the id Software team evolved from their Wolfenstein 3D roots to deliver an experience that had never been seen before.  Is it still worth it to play the Father of the first person shooter genre?  There's only one way to find out! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more...

Have you ever played an interactive cartoon?  If so, you just might have played Dragon's Lair, an early 80s arcade title that utilized Laserdisc technology to deliver a never-before-seen level of animation and visual spectacle.  Learn how designer Rick Dyer and Don Bluth and his animation team worked their magic in creating a pivotal title in video game history, and discover whether it's worth you...

For many people, Diablo was the first true "action" RPG.  For others, though, especially in the early 90s, Shadow Caster was the game many people gravitated to when they wanted an RPG-like experience that didn't require dissecting scores of numbers and stat points in order to maximize their builds.  Join me as we talk about how Shadow Caster was created, where it sits in computer gaming history, a...

Little known fact - when Mario isn't busy saving the Mushroom Kingdom, or practicing his day job as a plumber, he sometimes moonlights as a...hotel bellhop?  Join me as we talk about Hotel Mario, the CD-I exclusive that asks the question, "what would happen if the only way to save the princess was to shut...every...door!"  Learn how the game was made, why it exists, what Nintendo was thinking, and...

Time paradoxes and JRPG gameplay await as we tackle Chrono Trigger!  Learn how a dream team of designers, developers, artists and composers came together to create one of the most beloved titles from the 1990s, after which we ask the question - does Chrono Trigger still hold up today?  Is the game a timeless classic, or simply not worth your time?  Listen in to find out! Join the discussion on Dis...

Police Quest is one of those classic Sierra titles that many adventure gamers hold in high regard.  Blue Force, developed by a group of ex-Sierra employees, was Tsunami Media's attempt at capturing that Sierra magic.  Learn how the game came to be, and listen in as we determine whether this point-and-click adventure is worth your time today.   Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gami...

It's time to revisit ID Software's early years, as we delve into the grandfather of first person shooters, Wolfenstein 3D!  Learn how the ID team made the leap from 2D platformers to a pseudo 3D engine, after which we'll talk about whether the game holds up today, or if it's just too elderly to keep up with its descendants.   Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today?  Sign up...

Life is like a hurricane!  Join me as we discuss DuckTales, one of the quintessential NES platformers, released back in 1989.  Learn why licensed titles (usually) don't turn out all that great, and why DuckTales reversed that trend.  We'll discuss how the game was made, its relevance in history, and whether you should go back to visit Duckburg today.  Is DuckTales still platforming gold?  It's tim...

In the mid-90s, Nintendo needed something to help compete in an ever-evolving console market.  With their own next gen system delayed, they turned to developer Rare to figure out how to save the day.  Donkey Kong Country was the end result. Join me as we look at how the game came into being, followed by a discussion to determine if the game still holds up today.  Is Donkey Kong Country still worth...

Dust off your alien blaster and join me as we explore the world of Commander Keen!  We'll talk through how the game was created, its overall historical significance, and why you may (or may not) want to play the game today.  Undeniably an important game in computing history, but does it make it into our Pantheon of Classic gaming?  There's only one way to find out... Join the discussion on Discord...

It's time to take back the streets of Metro City, as we dive deep into the arcade classic side-scrolling beat'em up, Final Fight.  As we always do, we'll discuss the history of the game, including its relevance to the arcade scene of the late 80s / early 90s and how it is forever linked to the Street Fighter series.  Then, we'll discuss what it feels like to actually play the game in 2022 to deter...

Join me on an adventure into a desolate, alien world as we explore the 1991 cinematic platform adventure game Another World (or Out of this World in North America).  As is customary, we'll talk about the historical context surrounding the game before we dive deep and figure out if it's still worth your time to play today.  Does Out of this World belong in the Pantheon of Classic Gaming?  There's o...

Shake it baby!  Join me as we discuss one of the quintessential first person shooters of the mid-90s, Duke Nukem 3D.  Released by 3D Realms in 1996, Duke Nukem is a nuanced story of love, drama, and intrigue, where...nah, actually, you just blow stuff up.  How well does The Duke hold up today?  Tune in and find out! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today?  Sign up as a patr...

Fore!  Join me as we discuss Neo Turf Masters, an arcade golf game for the Neo Geo arcade and home systems, released in 1996 by the Nazca Corporation.  Can the typically slower sport of golf translate into a fast-paced arcade experience to stand the test of time?  Listen in and find out! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today?  Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGami...

Stay on target and join me as we discuss Star Wars: Rebel Assault, an on-rails shooter released by LucasArts back in 1993.  Learn how the game was made and discover whether Rebel Assault still holds up today, nearly 30 years after its release.  Does Rebel Assault deserve a spot in the Pantheon of Classic Gaming?  Let's find out! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today?  Sign...

Join me as we explore one of Blizzard's (yes, that Blizzard) earlier video game efforts, The Lost Vikings!  Released in 1992, The Lost Vikings was a puzzle platformer that had you navigate three Vikings, all with different skills, through a number of devious levels, all in the hopes of defeating the evil Tomator and returning home.  Did we manage to save our Viking companions?  Tune in to find out...

Don't stand around playing tiddlywinks in your birthday suit, there's a killer on the loose, and you've got to find him (or her)!  Join us as we discuss the full motion video adventure game, Ripper, developed by Take 2 Interactive and filled to the brim with a ton of Hollywood "talent".  We'll discuss the history behind the making of the game, after which we'll discuss what it feels like to actual...

As our new podcast launches, join me to discuss the puzzle / platform title Lemmings, released back in 1991 for the Amiga and, eventually, other systems.  Learn about how the game was made and where it sits in history, and learn if this is one of those classic experiences that stay fresh, even 30 years after it was created. Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today?  Sign up a...