Super Podcast Bros. Retro Gaming Show

There are few video games that can be described as completely and truly unique. In 1998, one of those games was released in Japan for the Sony PlayStation under the name LSD: Dream Emulator. Its eclectic blend of the abstract and surreal has generated small, but passionate, cult following and the game has become the subject of countless Let’s Play videos after re-emerging in the late 2000s. But does it have merits beyond those of a sideshow curiosity? Does this journey into the realm of the subconscious offer more than mere novelty value to the average retro gamer? Find out on this new episode of Super Podcast Brothers!

Just days after losing an entire episode, we dust ourselves off and get back to work with this brand new bonus episode. We discuss the the tragedy that was losing a a fantastic 55th episode, as well as some hypothetical "what if" scenarios that would have changed the course of gaming history. What if the Famicom had come to America under the Atari banner? Could better quality control of a few certain games have prevented the video game crash of 1983? We attempt to answer these questions and more.

As obnoxious as it may be, advertising is seemingly as ubiquitous as the air we breathe. Barely a second goes by when our eyes and ears aren’t being bombarded with corporate logos and slogans from all angles. The wheels of media are greased with sponsorship dollars, and of course the medium of video games is no exception. As companies have searched for new ways to present their brands to young audiences, video games have become an increasingly obvious way to do just that. The gaming industry grows larger, and so does the money pouring in from fast food restaurants, teen clothing brands, and mobile phone manufacturers attempting to get one step ahead of the competition. We’re looking at the evolution of product placement in video games, and discussing its effect on the experience thereof, on this, the 54th episode of Super Podcast Bros.

The concept was devised by the same brilliant mind that brought us E.T. and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. A tenuous and prolonged development cycle nearly crippled the project all together, but in 1995, The Dig, LucasArts’ newest adventure game, was finally released for PC. Long separated from the hype and anticipation surrounding its creation, we’re taking our own look at the grand science fiction epic to see where it stands among the adventure gaming juggernauts of the era.

We’re back after a short summer break and taking a look at a trilogy of games that helped define the PlayStation brand. Crash Bandicoot helped legitimize Sony’s presence in the gaming industry, and despite miring in mediocrity ever since, the orange marsupial has remained a gaming icon right up to the present day. Surely there must be a reason for that… right? Find out on this episode of Super Podcast Brothers!

On the previous episode of Super Podcast Brothers, with some assistance from our listeners, we began our quest to identify the one hundred very best video game songs of all time. The first fifty selections were all excellent and memorable in their own right, and now we run down the last fifty to determine which single pick stands above the rest. From the Atari 2600 to the Xbox 360, we pulled from nearly every corner of video game history to compile this enormous and distinguished list of gaming tunes. Ladies and gentlemen, here it is… the second half of our top 100 video game songs countdown!

We mostly judge the quality of video games based on their visual merits. It's natural enough, the primary link between player and on-screen avatar is one built around what our eyes can tell us; using our sight to navigate levels, battle enemies, and avoid obstacles. However, some of gaming's most iconic titles are also defined by their musical scores; the stellar audio accompaniments that accent memorable moments in ways graphics can not. This episode is the first piece of a two-part celebration of the 100 greatest video game songs ever composed; a list selected by us and our listeners.

Super Mario Kart ignited the kart racing genre in 1992. Just a few years later, Nintendo brought its sequel into 3D as a way to demonstrate their new 64-bit system's built-in 4 player capabilities. Mario Kart 64 still stands as a nostalgic favorite among gamers young and old due to its simplistic and chaotic gameplay. Twenty years later, does the title function as more than a sentimental placeholder on the game shelf? Find out on this episode of Super Podcast Brothers!

WrestleMania season is now behind us, but we're still in the grappling spirit, and excited to talk about our favorite wrestling games ever made. Through the generations, many challengers have stepped into the ring, but very few were true championship contenders. Which games were able to grab that brass ring and stand tall as immortal superstars... the very best in the world? Find out on this, the 48th episode of Super Podcast Brothers.

Fresh off of the massively successful Final Fantasy VII, SquareSoft set off to further establish their legacy as one of the PlayStation's best developers. While their sci-fi RPG, Parasite Eve, took plenty of cues from their existing catalog, it set out to blaze a trail of its own by bringing together genre-bending gameplay and impressive cinematic flair. Nearly two decades later, is the game's survival horror-inspired role-playing action still enjoyable? We'll let you know, and also read some creepy fan fic.

On this very special episode of Super Podcast Brothers, Andy swears and yells a lot. He also got distracted by Zelda and forgot to prep the Parasite Eve Special. We push that show out a few days and instead offer up this potpourri of gaming related news and tidbits. We start by talking (okay, shouting) about JonTron's controversial statements and end by begrudgingly confessing our love for overpriced Nintendo-branded plastic.

In the wake of the Wii U's failure, Nintendo kicks off a new era with the release of the Switch. We're taking a look back at forty years of console launches and discussing the most recent system launch game; The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. We'll debate what makes a good launch title and what effect those games can have on the ultimate success of their respective systems. All that and more on this new episode of Super Podcast Bros. (not) Live!

No more heroes, fuzzball... The time has come to discuss the single greatest achievement in the history of video games. Pop music had The Beatles. Cinema had Citizen Kane. Gaming has Werewolf: The Last Warrior. In 1990, Data East unleashed their epic masterpiece into the world. Nothing has been the same ever since. There have been many games that have dared to follow in its wake, but there can only be one Werewolf: The Last Warrior. Come along with us as we celebrate the apex of interactive digital media on this new episode of the Super Podcast Bros. Live!

In 1982, General Consumer Electronics attempted to bring vector gaming into homes with the release of the Vectrex. While the system was not a financial success during its commercial run, it has enjoyed a prolonged lifespan that continues to this day, due to a loyal fan following and ongoing homebrew development. We discuss our favorite games for the system, whether or not Vectrex is right for you, and so much more!

In our first segment we step out of the past and jump forward into the future as we offer up our analysis of the upcoming hybrid console, Nintendo Switch. We then change gears and discuss an explosive early title from the Nintendo 64’s library, Turok: Dinosaur Hunter. Does the pioneering first person shooter hold up 20 years later? Or does it fall victim to the rigors of time and merely stand as a footnote in classic gaming history? Find out on this new episode of Super Podcast Bros. Live!

It was an interesting year for the Super Podcast Bros. Retro Gaming Show. We stepped away in May, possibly never to return. Five months later, we returned to the air stronger than we've ever been. We are so thankful for everyone that has stuck with us and those who are just discovering the show now. To close out the year, we are taking a look at the last twelve months and highlighting our favorite moments and games that we experienced along the way. We also jump in the wayback machine and select the very best games from 2006, 1996, 1986, and 1976. 2107 will no doubt be our best year yet! We hope you will join us!

It was the most obvious movie-to-video game crossover there ever was. Epic space battles, gunfights, and lightsaber duels... What more could you want in a game? Thankfully, many of the efforts to bring the Star Wars universe to the interactive medium of video games were phenomenal successes... Others are just fun to mock. We also pay our respects to Carrie Fisher, who brought to life one of the franchises' most beloved characters. This is our second attempt to complete this episode... Got to love technical difficulties.

There is so much to say about LucasArts' 1998 masterpiece adventure title, Grim Fandango, and we're attempting to give it proper tribute in this long form discussion. The Art Deco Land of the Dead has plenty of interesting characters and locales, so come along with us as we cross the Sea of Lament in our 40th episode of Super Podcast Bros!

With so many games out there to play, there are some that just don't get the proper recognition they deserve. We attempt to rectify that in this new episode of the show. We also go live for the very first time! And predictably, no one called us... But we did talk about a lot of awesome games! Come join us as we count down the greatest unloved games ever made.

It seems like only yesterday that we were speculating about Nintendo's mysterious new hardware code-named Dolphin. That hardware ultimately became the Gamecube and remains one of Nintendo's most interesting and polarizing consoles. It didn't live long, but it had some amazing games. We're looking at our favorite ten and discussing some of the most important events in the console's lifespan. We're also offering SUPER HOT TAKES on the NES Classic debacle (?)... and Andy gets a SNES!