The Retro Breakdown

Hey all, it's only been a few weeks for you all, but Tom and I haven't recorded an episode in months, so there's lots to talk about! We got Diablo, Octopath, Chained Echoes, Tape to Tape, and pool. Like, just regular billiards. Also, we're not really talking about it yet, but we've started a Dokapon Kingdom playthrough every Monday on the Twitch channel listed below! Send us an...

After a week off, Jessi fills in for Tom this week and we talk about our recent trip to Frankfurt, public transportation, the beginning of Dokapon, and of course, comparisons of Dark Souls 2 to Dark Souls 1 after Jessi's first playthrough came to a close. Send us an email to read on the show!  theretrobreakdown@gmail.com TW's Discord:  https://discord.gg/dTrBruG Podcast games streamed live...

Conversation number 1 billion about what we hope Nintendo does (and does not) do with their next console starts up this week's episode, followed by a battle of disappointments that leads to us just mercilessly dunking on Spore. The music in Code Name: Viper is by far the best thing about it. The optimal experience is just to listen to the music and forget the game exists altogether. But it was...

"This action hero is MONEY," the back of the cracked jewel case tells us about Largo Winch, a character from a bygone era where billionaires were considered protagonists and not a reason to bring back guillotines. This guy owns an oil company, airline, news network, and is opening a chemical plant in Venezuela, and we're supposed to root for him. Luckily, "We Have James Bond at...

Another trip to the local game store, N64 troubleshooting, stories of ad-set at our retail jobs, and the guilty pleasures we have in eating bad food that's still good somehow. Talking about crappy gas station food seems ESPECIALLY relevant to Wario somehow. Wario Land 3 is weird and quirky and outstanding and distinctly different from just about anything else. Send us an email to read on the s...

A last-minute substitution on this week's game leads to a great discussion of how we can go back in time and save Yuji Naka from himself. Also, beating up perverts with Mahjong, a short retrospective on Final Fantasy 4, and the best characters in Octopath Traveler 2. Also, as luck would have it, Kuru Kuru Kururin is also very fun! This was a good week. Send us an email to read on the show!  th...

Things just kinda work out this week as we play a classic Power Rangers game just as the classic Power Rangers nostalgia movie hits Netflix. Also, this game is BETTER THAN YOU THINK ACTUALLY PLAY IT! Meanwhile, Tom refers to Final Fantasy 2 as, and I quote, "so good." Discuss. Send us an email to read on the show!  theretrobreakdown@gmail.com TW's Discord:  https://discord.gg/dTrBruG...

We went into The Bouncer expecting a high degree of oddity, and we were not disappointed. So much so that actually describing it proved something of a challenge. Also, thus begins the GAME FRANCHISE ELIMINATION TOURNAMENT courtesy of our friend Swoggles, who we agree at this point is essentially like an unofficial show producer. Send us an email to read on the show!  theretrobreakdown@gmail.com TW...

This week we eliminate four classic games from existence, correct the record on excitement for video games, and talk about Tom's bizarre dream about, ironically, Nights Into Dreams. Burgertime Deluxe is a fun game and a decent upgrade from its simplistic original arcade edition, but don't expect too much from it, aside from a bizarre story and a shockingly high level of violence. Send us a...

TW trades in used games for the first time in a decade, E3 is cancelled again (the bigger news might actually be that it was technically un-cancelled for a time?), and we talk even more about Zelda - the final reward for Kinstones in Minish Cap, the generally assumed "original plans" for Ocarina of Time's Hyrule Field, and where you can and cannot ride a bear. Also, we don't ment...

It's a week of adulting as we talk about deciding to make grown-up big number purchases, work things, and how we both own the original Deus Ex like three times between the two of us, for a grand total of like $2.90. Also, Kinstones are bad and they should feel bad. They say they bring you happiness and that is a lie. 10/10. Send us an email to read on the show!  theretrobreakdown@gmail.com TW&...

We're back after a week off with a game that is essentially WarioWare, but made by Sega for arcades in the 90s! Also, we talk bootlegs and hacks, as well as one game that is neither - a Famicom game where you can simulate running for the 1988 American presidential election. Send us an email to read on the show!  theretrobreakdown@gmail.com TW's Discord:  https://discord.gg/dTrBruG Podcast...

Birthday! Zelda Multiworld randomizer! Kenshiro fitness boxing! New Diablo seasons! Comfort games! Games with great lore that we don't actually like! Loss of Consciousness by G-Force! Also, we're on break next week. See you again on March 21st! Send us an email to read on the show! theretrobreakdown@gmail.com TW's Discord: https://discord.gg/dTrBruG Podcast games streamed live at: twitch.tv/timewa...

Wario gets more play this week, as we go from the first in his spin-off title to his first-ever appearance, even though he looks like a mutant from a cheap horror movie. But more importantly, apparently Mario and Wario have been feuding over castles since childhood? When did Wario have a castle? When did MARIO have a castle? Is this all part of that forgotten lore like the time that they said all...

Yes, we are aware that an hour-long podcast is considered "normal" for basically anyone else, but it's micro for us. We still manage to cram a lot into an hour's time, though, including Theatrhythm, Hi-Fi Rush, and a brief story about a failed hair dye job. Send us an email to read on the show! theretrobreakdown@gmail.com TW's Discord: https://discord.gg/dTrBruG Podcast games streamed live at: twi...

There's a lot to get into this week, and by that I mean "we discuss a bunch of stuff from the Nintendo Direct, almost exclusively." Then we begrudgingly discuss Beyond Oasis, a game that is violently average and betrays every high expectation we have of it with its absolutely boring mediocrity I MEAN YOU'LL HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE EPISODE TO FIND OUT Send us an email to read on the show! theretrobre...

Reminder that Sonic Mania is the best Sonic game and it's not close. Also, Marvel Snap is fun. I've realized since recording this that rationing your energy is how they push you into the shop, but honestly I'm having fun just with the decks I have now, so it's all good! Send us an email to read on the show! theretrobreakdown@gmail.com TW's Discord: https://discord.gg/dTrBruG Podcast games streamed...

Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope continues to be exceptionally fun, expect when it gets dull, and occasionally mean? Also, we pick our favorite Mario, Zelda, and Megaman games, and ALMOST go off on a rant about Sonic, but we're saving that one. Mario Golf is interesting, because it's completely obsolete in every way, and yet is still pretty much the blueprint for better, more modern Mario Golf game...

The game with 5 very expensive songs and a famous announcer is essentially an improved sequel to RPM Racing, even though TW is more familiar with the predecessor. It's good, but definitely not meant for a single sitting. Also: getting angry that you own things, not understanding achievement boosting, and TW's stint as a Kusogrande host! Also, which game would you want a Hideo Kojima-directed seque...

I'll be honest, this is also a Mario Party 1 podcast, because we essentially talk about both. Yes, the skin on our palms will indeed come up, of course. We also discuss Wings of Vi, the extreme need for content moderation on Know Your Meme, and the fact that the Deception series is just Home Alone with anime gore. Also, I would say you DON'T need to watch Initial D, but I'm enjoying it. Send us an...

Listen, I just want to say that all of the accounts I mentioned have been cashed out and closed as of the time of this episode's release. Don't gamble, kids. Anyway, we're starting this year off right, with Castlevania Symphony of the Night for the Tiger Game.com! We haven't played a DS game, but sure, let's hit the Game.com. This is an unreleased prototype of a game that was made for the Game.com...

Happy New Year and welcome to technically sort-of our 4th year of The Retro Breakdown! We're starting this one off with a deeper discussion on River City Girls 2, some lesser-known games that we've been enjoying, and what anime we want to see a smaller indie-style game of, which leads to us discovering that we played the exact same 1990's card-based RPG in Japanese without really knowing what was...

It's that time again! We played video games for 47 podcasts this year, and now it's time to separate the amazing ones from the ones we totally forgot about and never want to talk about again. From Sonic 3 to Riven to Home Alone (again), please enjoy the Retro Breakdown's 2022 Tier List! Send us an email to read on the show! theretrobreakdown@gmail.com TW's Discord: https://discord.gg/dTrBruG Podca...

It's December, and that means it's time for our third annual review of an awful Home Alone game, this one for Genesis (and not actually THAT awful?) We also talk River City Girls 2, Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core: Reunion, Bayonetta 3, and TW's stint on GDQ. FACT: This Home Alone game has a Pain meter, and that basically makes it the best Home Alone game by default. Send us an email to read on the...

I suppose technically it can't be plagiarism if you're just sampling your own music, but still, give that ending theme a listen this week. Anyway, Tom and TW have a look at an upcoming Disney remaster this week, while also talking about their completely opposite reactions to the original announcement of Kingdom Hearts. Also, what video game world would you want to live in after the game's ending?...