The Retro Wildlands - A Gaming Podcast

Every 2nd Sunday in February, warriors from different realms gather on the field of battle and prove their mettle before the people. Warriors clad in shining armor - including helmets, shoulder pads - take to the field. But these warriors aren’t ordinary men. They are titans, forged through the fires of almost 20 battles, relentless in their pursuit of the one thing that drives us all. In the end,...

Every gaming console has those games people consider to be essential. Games you absolutely must have in your collection. And Ice Hockey is one of those games for the original Nintendo. The box art may give you the impression that this is just another sports title, but nay nay! While Ice Hockey is a simple game, that's the beauty of this title and a big reason this game is easy to pick up and play...

While 2024 may be in the rear view mirror now and we race onwards into 2025, I thought it would be fun to highlight my 10 favorite games that I played last year! These games are a mixture of both modern and retro and really made an impression on me.  So why don't you take a load off by the campfire my friends and allow me to regale you with my thoughts and experiences with 10 great video games. Th...

It's no secret that the Metal Gear franchise is notorious for its convoluted story and cast of memorable, yet quirky characters. However beyond that, the series contains unique stealth-based gameplay elements and sometimes some innovative ideas. But when it comes to which in the series people think is the best, MGS3: Snake Eater is often at the top of people's lists. But why is that? Well, today o...

When the Super Nintendo hit the market it was quick to show the world what the next level in video games would be all about. Contra III: The Alien Wars not only showed off the graphical power of the system in ways we hadn't seen yet, it was a blast to play. Who wants to watch a cheesy action movie when you can star in your own? Come take a load off by the campfire as I take you through Contra III...

I stumbled across Cat Quest one day and through it looked interesting. Until I played it... What followed was a whimsical journey full of monsters, loot and... cats! Check out my in-depth review of Cat Quest. Who knows? Maybe it'll scratch your itch for a competent Action RPG. Opening - 0:00 Intro - 1:56 Game Summary - 3:59 Story - 5:20 Presentation - 7:10 Gameplay - 9:13 Conclusion - 15:46 Closin...

The original Resident Evil on the Sony Playstation was one of the most iconic and influential games to come out in 1996. While the GameCube remake is considered the definitive way to play this survival horror classic, the original will always have a spooky charm about it. From the B-Movie plot to the terrible voice acting, there's a lot to love. And it's the perfect game to revisit this Halloween!...

Some news I wanted to share. The Retro Wildlands is going to the next level. https://superpodnetwork.com/podcast/the-retro-wildlands-a-gaming-podcast

The Super Nintendo has its fair share of unique games and Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts is pretty high on that list. While this game is known for the dark creatures you'll be battling and how you may sometimes find yourself fighting in your underwear, it was always the game's unforgiving difficulty that stuck with me. Is this game as hard as people say and is this game a worthy one for spooky season? Wil...

To celebrate the Retro Wildlands podcast turning 2 years old, it felt like a good time to throw together another Question and Answer episode where members of the community asked me questions about whatever they wanted! In the show today, I'll answer questions like, what console generation is the cut off for Retro? What's my favorite genre of music? Where do I stand with the Sega/Nintendo console w...

Of all the games I've played so far on my retro journey, none have been more divisive, polarizing, and thought provoking. Often times referred to as the "black sheep" of the franchise, Zelda 2's side-scrolling approach to action role-playing certainly stands out. But even through much of this game wasn't carried forward, does that mean what's here isn't worth your time? With RPG elements, decent c...

Video games can be very immersive and find creative ways through gameplay and storytelling to pull the player into a one of a kind experience. But not all games have deep mechanics or a story that sticks with you long after you experience it. Some games are just dumb fun and give you nothing more than a simple task to focus on. And in the case of Rush'n Attack, that task is to get to the end of ea...

Considered by some to be the best old school Resident Evil experience while considered by others to be the absolute worst. Code Veronica has always been a game in the RE series that I've found fascinating. For the time, it was the most graphically impressive and it came with a pretty involved story. But there was just something about it that never really clicked with me. With talks of more Residen...

Video game weapons can come in all shapes and sizes. They can be as simple as a sword to as unique as a Zero Point Energy Field Manipulator.  The weapons we wield in games can be the tools we need to literally save the world, or they can be nothing more than tools to slay our enemies and see their remains splayed out at our feet.  Some weapons can represent the characters that wield them and symbo...

The only bad thing about growing up as a Nintendo kid was missing out on the Sega Genesis. Of all the games in its library, I'm constantly told I need to try Gunstar Heroes, a run and gun shooter where the action is fast and the challenge is real. With silky smooth graphics and an emphasis on combining weapons, this one seems like it'll check all the boxes. But is Gunstar Heroes a game worthy of y...

Influential. Important. Impactful. Significant. Glorious. When Doom was released on PC back in 1993, it wasn't hard to see the impact it made on gaming then, but who knew what sort of impact it would still make on gaming, and even our own culture today.  Born with simple, yet revolutionary coding techniques, Doom is widely available and can run on most anything. Even a bunch potatoes! But is "the...

There's been thousands of video games made in the last 30 years, but none have seemingly stood the test of time like Super Metroid. While its influence on gaming is undeniable, it wasn't until recently that I finally got to play this game from start to finish. While my mission was to rescue the last Metroid, my real concerns lay elsewhere. I had to know. Was Super Metroid really as good as people...

Sometimes it's easy to dismiss a game for what it is on the surface. In the case of Top Gun on the NES, it's often viewed as just a "licensed video game". The most common thing people tend to remember about this game is how hard it was to land. But is there more to this "crash into the ocean simulator"? I argue, yes. Yes there is.  Come join me by the campfire today as we take a look at a game bas...

Many game franchisees are remembered for various reasons, but Metal Gear Solid will always be remembered for its crazy story, memorable characters, awesome voice acting and one-of-a-kind use of console hardware. We live now in time where the single player cinematic experience is almost common place, but it all started somewhere, and I argue it started with Metal Gear Solid. Join me by the campfire...

Every family or friend group has one. The odd ball. The outcast. The black sheep. The same goes for video game franchisees. For us Westerners, Super Mario Brothers 2 for the NES was just such a game. Some consider it to be one of the better platformers in the series. Others won't touch it with a 10 foot pole. And on today's episode, I wanted to see if I could figure out why. Join me by the campfir...

While the original Nintendo was known for its tough library of games, many consider Ninja Gaiden to be one of the toughest. Requiring precise platforming and cat-like reflexes, this game is a true challenge for anyone who wishes to take it on. But even despite the difficulty, people keep telling me this game is fun. How can something that's designed to beat you into the ground be "fun"? Well, I fi...

There are just some games that immediately come to mind when you think of a specific gaming console. When I think of the Sega Genesis I think of games like Sonic The Hedgehog 2, Streets of Rage 2 and Earthworm Jim. I also think of Golden Axe! It was a hack and slash beat 'em up that was ported to the Genesis from the Arcade. Featuring medieval warriors with swords and axes in hand, its impact to t...

Some things just go together well. Peanut butter and jelly. Steak and eggs. Nintendo and... Square? Super Mario meets Final Fantasy in this epic adventure known as Super Mario RPG! Some say this is "baby's first RPG" and not very challenging. Others say there's a depth and charm here that's unmatched. What do I think? Well, with a game like this there was no way I could tackle this alone! Joining...

Considered by many to be the definitive survival horror experience and a narrative masterpiece, Silent Hill 2 is a game that is still being talked about and analyzed today. From its characters to its symbolism, this game's identity is known by many and while the story plays out in a specific way, this game continues to impact players on an individual level. What makes this game a narrative masterp...

Sometimes video games set out to make a statement and NARC was one of those games. Released at the tail end of the "Just Say No" anti-drug campaign, NARC highlighted the real world War on Drugs... by allowing players to exact some good old fashioned street justice! This run and gun shooter was pretty violent for the time and the subject matter was fairly mature. But does a game like NARC have a pl...