Tokyo Game Life

Video essayist IdolismJ joins to look at Buriki One, SNK’s under the radar attempt at making an MMA fighting game! We dig deep into this obscure fighter, the Hyper Neo Geo 64, orange hair, and how it’s a perfect time capsule for a moment in Japanese pop culture history. And in the feature segment, I take you inside Capcom Osaka, the company’s biggest merch store in Japan! Follow our guest! YouTube...

Pro Mario Kart player Vantox joins as we chat about the competitive scene and mastering Mario Kart! How can you go from 24th place all the way to the top? Plus I share more details on the Switch 2 launch games I’ve been playing, and share my demo impressions on Donkey Kong Bananza! Follow our guest! Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/vantox_ Twitter: https://x.com/vnt__x (0:00) - Intro Feature (0:50) -...

YouTuber Dale Clayton is back as we delve into the Switch 2 launch in Japan! We chronicle our journey to getting one in Japan and chat about the hardware’s record-breaking launch in the country! Plus we look at Mario Kart World, Welcome Tour, and a smattering of other games we’re playing on Nintendo’s newest console! Follow our guest! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dale_dpg Bluesky: https://bsk...

Game preservationist Caitlyn Pascal joins to chat about electro-mechanical games, the machines that dominated Japanese arcades before video games! We explore the fascinating history on how some of the biggest arcade titans got their start making these one-of-a-kind devices that showcased amazing technology, and talk about Caitlyn’s effort to preserve this important chapter of gaming history! And I...

YouTuber Dale Clayton is back as we dive into a Nintendo Switch retrospective! We go year by year exploring the highs, lows, and weirds of Nintendo’s greatest console. In the feature section, I talk about one of Nintendo’s best merch partners, EDITMODE! Follow our guest! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dale_dpg Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/daledpg.bsky.social (0:00) - Intro Games (0:50) - S...

YouTuber 4amLaundry joins as we chat about retro game shopping in Tokyo! We recommend our favorite shops, games, and analyze the state of retro game hunting in Japan! And I take a look at Kairosoft’s Heian City Story! Follow our guest! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@4amLaundry Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/4amlaundry (0:00) - Intro Feature (0:55) - Retro Game Shopping in Tokyo w/ 4amLaundry Gam...

What’s up with moai in video games? You’re gonna find out as game developer and creator of moai.games joins as we chat about moai in Japanese games! We explore Japan’s fascination with these mysterious statues, why Konami loves them so much, and reveal our favorite moai! Plus I take a look at Koei’s ambitious strategy game Uncharted Waters: New Horizons before closing out with some Japan-focused S...

Japanese mascots, yakuza, kei trucks, and more can be found as you explore the Japanese countryside in Promise Mascot Agency from Kaizen Game Works! Game director Oli Clarke Smith joins to talk about how this unique amalgamation of ideas came together to make the game, working with legendary game dev Ikumi Nakamura, assembling an all-star voice cast, and more! Also I give all the details on my tri...

Tokyo resident and returning guest Genki is back as we explore Square Enix’s new store in Shibuya, Square Enix Garden! How many plushies are there? Which music box is the best? Should there be a Heartless statue? What’s up with the Square Enix Cafe? We answer all these questions and more! Plus I do a backflip and rave about Donkey Kong 94, now on NSO! Follow our guest! Twitter: https://x.com/Genki...

Suikoden is back, and author Aidan Moher is here to dig into Suikoden I & II HD Remaster from Konami! We explore Suikoden’s impact on the JRPG landscape, if this new version delivers, and reveal some shocking Super Bomberman R2 lore. And I give all the details on my latest trip to Donkey Kong Country in Universal Studios Japan! Follow our guest! Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/aidanis.fun Ne...

Brad from Game Vecanti joins to chat about retro Japanese games that finally got an English localization! From Princess Maker to Trails to Mr. Driller, we explore over a hundred Japanese classics that you can finally play in English! Plus I rave about the samurai roguelite Shogun Showdown and share the deets on Nintendo’s latest hanafuda merch! Follow our guest! Retro game list: https://sites.goog...

Author Lewis Packwood returns to chat about video game consoles you’ve never heard of, all which are housed in his amazing book Curious Video Game Machines! Consoles for girls, barcode gaming, machines you strap to your body… we dive into the wonderfully weird world of obscure consoles and how some of them had a major impact on Nintendo! Plus I take a look at the Y2K era inspired puzzle game Vivid...

Source Gaming’s Joshua Goldie returns as we dive into 1997’s cult classic Moon: Remix RPG Adventure! We dive into everything weird and wonderful about this anti-RPG  and how it influenced so many developers. Plus, we take a peek at the next generation as we discuss the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal! And I take you inside a very busy Earthbound pop up shop in Shinjuku! Follow our guest! Bluesky: https:/...

Daan Koopman aka NintenDaan joins the podcast to share about his journey into the jungles of Donkey Kong Country in Universal Studios Japan! We explore every inch of the park, from the innovative minecart ride to the hot dog stand to Funky’s merch shop! Plus, I share my final thoughts on Dragon Quest III HD2D! Follow our guest! Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/nintendaan.bsky.social Twitter: http...

Dinosaur Kirby, roguelite Star Fox, and new princesses? YouTube Dale Clayton returns as we share our predictions for Nintendo in 2025! How will Switch 2 amaze and baffle us? What’s Nintendo cooking up for the next Mario movie? Will we be able to actually buy a Switch 2 in Japan? We share our 100% accurate guesses! In the feature, I take you to the golden streets around Tokyo Station to check out t...

2024 is coming to a close, so what better time to chat about the best games that came out this year! And the best games that didn’t come out this year! And just games in general! Podcaster Josh from the Still Loading Podcast returns as we chat about our favorite games in 2024. New games, old games, DLC, we create a one of a kind list about what blew us away this year! And in the feature, I share e...

One of the biggest games in Japanese history is back: Dragon Quest III! JRPG superfan ChristophRPG joins as we chat about the newest HD2D version and how the original game’s stellar game design still shines in 2024. Plus I take you back in time to give you all the details of Dragon Quest III’s original launch in Japan! How many kids were arrested for truancy? You gotta listen to find out! Follow o...

Pokemon + Japanese art = one amazing exhibit! Returning guest Dale Clayton joins as we rave about the fantastic Pokemon x Kogei art exhibit happening right now in Tokyo featuring incredible Pokemon themed pieces from Japan’s best craftsmen. We also island hop to give some detailed thoughts on Mario & Luigi Brothership! Plus, some big news including the long-awaited reveal of Donkey Kong Countr...

Is Metal Slader Glory the most important game ever? Maybe! Author Lewis Packwood joins as we unravel the incredible history of HAL Laboratory’s Famicom adventure game, Metal Slader Glory. Perhaps the most ambitious Famicom title, its tumultuous development may have led to the creation of the Nintendo we know today! Plus, I take you to beautiful Tachikawa as we hit up its gaming hot spots! Follow o...

Starfish or star? Who knows! YouTuber The RPG Mongers joins as we chat about the Starfy series, one of Nintendo’s most underrated platformers! Mostly a Japan only franchise, it’s recently gained new popularity thanks to a worldwide NSO release. We explore its tumultuous development origins, dive into how it’s unique from other platformers, and try to craft Starfy’s ultimate Smash moveset. Also I g...

Nintendo Museum has opened its doors, and returning guest KyotoGamer is here to tell us all about it! We get into every single detail from getting tickets, to umbrella holders, to burger toppings, to prototype controllers, to box quality, to how you should spend your coins… literally EVERYTHING about the Nintendo Museum is covered in-depth! In the games section, I rave about two of the year’s best...

DJ Tatsujin of Gemubaka joins as we venture to the strange and wonderful world of Red Earth! Why did Capcom make a fantasy boss rush fighting game right before Street Fighter III? How do you actually get good? Who should be in Monster Hunter? We get into everything about one of Capcom’s most obscure fighters. And I take a look at the newly released Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection! In the fea...

Nintendo superfan Zalman joins as we unravel the mysteries of the Famicom Detective Club series! What was once a niche Japan only franchise now as a worldwide release with Emio - The Smiling Man! We explore Yoshio Sakamoto’s fascination with the series, why adventure games are so appealing to Nintendo, and Ayumi Tachibana’s Smash moveset. In the games, I take a look at all the secrets housed in Th...

Game translator Lone joins the podcast to chat about The Secret of Mother 2 / Earthbound exhibit happening right now in Tokyo! We chat about Earthbound’s 30th anniversary events, the analog nature of game design in the 90s, and if Life Noodles will make us live longer. In the games section I run down the roguelite monster battler Dicefolk! Plus, thoughts on the upcoming Nintendo Museum in Kyoto! F...

Joshua ‘Nantenjex’ Goldie AKA The Nintendo Chronicler returns as we explore Eiji Aonuma’s directorial debut: the Japan only Marvelous: Another Treasure Island! We touch on the game’s origins as a CD title, the unique three person gameplay structure, its impact on Zelda and everything else! In the feature, I take you down to Yokohama to experience the Dragon Quest Carnival! Follow our guest! YouTub...