Classic Gaming Today: A Retro Gaming Podcast

Grab your lightgun of choice and join me as we tackle the arcade classic, Operation Wolf! Learn about the evolution of lightgun technology, discover why Operation Wolf was made in the first place, and listen in to see if it's still worth your time to embark on an action packed set of military-themed missions, even today! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Grab your flashlight and your Pajama Man mask, and join me on a junior adventure into the world of Pajama Sam! Learn why Humongous Entertainment was founded, discover how the game was made, and learn whether it's still worth your time to face your fear of the dark, even today! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

For me, music is one of the core components that contributes to the enjoyment, and engagement, of a video game title, and this episode is another of our deep dives into some of the classic soundtracks from those games. In today's episode, we'll look at a selection of games and songs submitted by all of you, along with your own personal comments and memories about these titles! If you want to learn more about me and my past, both podcast related and otherwise, I highly encourage you to check out Dave Morton's Sunscreen over on Spotify! I had the honor of being Dave's very first guest, so definitely click the link if you want to listen in on some memories I legitimately hadn't thought about for 25+ years. Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Grab your favorite jellybeans and take a trip to Blobolonia, as we explore the NES puzzle platformer, A Boy and His Blob! Learn how the game was made, why David Crane is particularly proud of his work on the title, and discover whether it's still worth your time to feed sweets to an anthropomorphic blob, even today! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Grab your baseball bat, a slice of pizza, and your favorite yo-yo and join me on a cross-town road trip as we discuss the Super Nintendo RPG classic, Earthbound! Learn how the game was made and why it eschewed traditional RPG norms to focus on suburbia as opposed to medieval villages and ancient worlds, and discover whether it's still worth your time to save the world from an evil alien menace, even today! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Try to get up before the ref counts to ten, as we discuss the NES classic , Mike Tyson's Punch Out! Learn how a surplus of inventory led Nintendo to develop the title, listen to why the game featured star boxer Mike Tyson as its final boss, and discover whether it's still worth your time to lace up your gloves and step into the ring, even today. Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Set sail on yet another voyage, as we discuss Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge! Learn how the game was made, in what ways it improved upon its predecessor, and whether it's still worth your time to take on Ghost Pirate Captain LeChuck, even today! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

What do you get when you combine the wit of Douglas Adams, the pre-rendered graphics of Myst, and a...text parser interface?!? You get Starship Titanic, the first person point and click adventure game that has you investigating the titular ship and attempting to help the various robotic inhabitants onboard that vessel. Learn how the game was made, why its text parser interface was revolutionary for the 1990s, and discover if you should spend hours trying to type to space faring robotic companions, even today. Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

What do you get when you take over-the-top Sega arcade action and marry it with true 3D beat'em up gameplay? Dynamite Cop! In this Patreon sponsored episode, learn how the game was made, why the film "Die Hard" was influential in its development, and discover whether it's worth your time to beat up some bad guys with a gigantic fish, even today! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Grab your flight gear and join the mercenary fighting brigade as we discuss the shareware classic Raptor: Call of the Shadows! Learn how the game was made, discover why it was so unique in the computer gaming space when it first released, and find out whether it's still worth your time to upgrade your ship and laser beam your enemies to death, even today. Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

What do ghouls, ghosts, and an underwear clad knight named Arthur have in common? Find out in our newest episode, focused on the Super Nintendo title, Super Ghouls 'n' Ghosts! Learn how the game was made, why it was intentionally tuned to be so darn challenging, and discover whether it's worth your time to play through this one today...and then do it all over again to get the "true" ending. Does Super Ghouls 'n' Ghosts rank amongst our Pantheon of Classic Gaming? There's only one way to find out! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Dust off your whips, and grab your holy water, as we dive into the classic vampire hunting title, Castlevania! Learn about the mythology behind vampirism, see how early Hollywood horror films influenced the title, and discover whether it's still worth your time to battle Dracula and his evil minions, even today. Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

For me, music is one of the core components that contributes to the enjoyment, and engagement, of a video game title, and this episode is our third deep dive into some of the classic soundtracks from those games. In today's episode, we'll look at a cross-section of games from across the landscape of Point and Click Adventure titles, as I pick some of my favorite, and most personally significant, tracks from that particular genre of gaming. Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

It's time to bring arcade action into our living rooms, as we discuss Sega's Altered Beast, the game that would end up being the Genesis / Mega Drive pack-in title for a couple years, before Sonic decided to run circles around everyone (literally). Learn about Sega's arcade roots, how Altered Beast transformed the landscape of home gaming, and discover whether it's still worth your time to shapeshift your way through this arcade experience, even today! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Almost exactly 25 years ago, the world of online gaming would change forever, as EverQuest would release to the market and, in one fell swoop, capture the hearts, minds, and imaginations of gamers everywhere. Learn how the game evolved from the text-based MUDs of the 70s and 80s and discover why it became so popular that it would eventually become known as "EverCrack". Then, join me on a trip down my own personal memory lane as we explore our first "Nostalgia Trip" episode, where we don't look at the game as it exists today, we talk about what the game was like when it first released, and what the world of EverQuest, and its players, meant to me. Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

It's time for another full motion video classic, as we dive into the voyeuristic world of Night Trap! Learn how the game evolved from a VHS exclusive title into one of the games that would help spearhead the creation of video game content ratings around the world, discover why a unique stage play from the mid-80s inspired the original creation of the title, and find out whether it's worth your time to protect a bunch of slumber party pals, even today! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

What do you get when you take H.R. Giger's artwork and combine it with a point and click adventure? The answer to that question is Dark Seed! Learn how the game was made, why the development team chose to collaborate with Giger in the first place, and whether the game is still worth your time, even today! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Who's the raddest 1990s kid around? Kid Chameleon! Join me as we discuss how the game was created, why it has a decidedly American flair, and learn whether it's still worth your time to explore Kid Chameleon's virtual reality landscapes today! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

What happens when a Parisian vacation goes very, very wrong? Find out as we explore the Revolution Software point-and-click classic, Broken Sword (or Circle of Blood, depending on where you live)! Learn how the game was made, the ways it evolved from Revolution Software's earlier work, and whether it's still worth your time to go on a globe-trotting adventure with George and Nico, even today. Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Take to the skies with me as we discuss the classic console flight simulator, Pilotwings! Learn about the history of flight simulation in general, discover why Pilotwings was unique in comparison to other flight titles released through the early 1990s, and learn whether it's still worth your time to strap on a rocket belt and crash into nearby landscapes, even today. Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Join me as we discuss Link's first 3D adventure, and a game that many people consider to be the best game of all time, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time! Learn how the game was made, why it set the standard for so many features that would become commonplace in future titles, and discover whether Ocarina of Time remains a Legend, even today. Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Come join me as we discuss one of the gaming world's favorite Nintendo mascots, and resident puff ball, Kirby! Learn how the game was made, why it almost didn't release to market, and discover whether it's still worth your time to fire up your Gameboy and traipse through Dream Land today! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

For me, music is one of the core components that contributes to the enjoyment, and engagement, of a video game title, and this episode is our second deep dive into some of the classic soundtracks from those games. In today's episode, we'll look at a cross-section of games from the SNES, Nintendo's 16-bit console, as I pick some of my favorite, and most personally significant, tracks from that particular system. Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

It's time to dive into a post-apocalyptic Australian Outback as we tackle the third person point and click adventure title, Beneath a Steel Sky! Learn how the company behind the game, Revolution Software, got its start, why Beneath a Steel Sky's engine is more advanced than the engines used by competitor companies like Sierra Online and LucasArts, and learn whether it's still worth your time to play the game today. Will Beneath a Steel Sky make it into our Pantheon of Classic Gaming? There's only one way to find out! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Join me as we discuss our favorite mustachioed plumber's third outing, Super Mario Bros. 3! Learn all about Mario's origin story, how Super Mario Bros. 3 was made, why it is such a beloved classic, and learn whether the game still hold's up to a playthrough today. Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Join me on an island-hopping isometric quest, as we discuss Little Big Adventure! Learn how the title evolved and inherited from early survival horror games, why it is so beloved amongst the broader gaming community, and whether the title still holds up today, despite some very 1990s design decisions. Will Little Big Adventure make it into our Pantheon of Classic Gaming? There's only one way to find out! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Happy Holidays everyone! In the spirit of the holidays, I thought it might be fun to "gift" everyone with an episode of the podcast that was previously only available to our Patreon members. I hope you all enjoy! ------- Original Patreon show notes below: In the late 80s, one amateur radio station decided to fund the creation of a show dedicated to the best news and reviews in modern gaming - Pixelated Power was the result of that funding. From 1987 to 1998, Pixelated Power went on the air one night a month to discuss the latest gaming news, the hardware and gadgets that people were most looking forward to, the best magazines of the time, and various other aspects of video game pop culture. The recording releasing today previously aired on December 25, 1989. Listening to it today, we can glean some additional insight into a period of time we now call classic, and as such, it provides an interesting "blast from the past" that I'm hoping everyone enjoys. ------- Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Join me as we discuss the Blue Bomber's second outing, Mega Man 2! Learn about the origins of Mega Man as a character, discover how the first two games in the series were made, and find out whether Mega Man 2 is still worth your time today. Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Grab your motorcycle and join me on a cross-country voyage through the world of Full Throttle! Learn how the game was made, why it's unique amongst its LucasArts adventure game brethren, and determine whether experiencing life as a biker is still worthwhile today. Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Two combatants enter the ring...only one can survive! Join me as we dive into our first "Shareware Showdown" episode, pitting everyone's favorite macho manly man, Duke Nukem, vs. Amazonian warrior, Jill of the Jungle! Learn about the early history of shareware, how these two games came to be, and whether each deserves your attention today. There can be only one winner...which one will it be? There's only one way to find out! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Join me as we discuss what many people consider to be one of the worst games of all time, E.T. for the Atari 2600! Learn how the game was made, why it's a bit unfair to automatically label the title as a subpar experience, and discover if I agree with the rest of the internet as to E.T.'s overall status in computer and video game history. Will E.T. defy the odds to make it into our Pantheon of Classic Gaming? There's only one way to find out! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

The original Doom has been ported to nearly anything that has a screen and can use electricity (and maybe even some devices that don't), and across those ports, numerous changes have been made to make the game actually runnable. Doom 64, however, is different, as it represents an entirely original experience, targeted exclusively for the Nintendo 64 console. Learn how the game was made, how it enhances the Doom experience beyond its original incarnation, and whether the title is still worth your time today. Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

For me, music is one of the core components that contributes to the enjoyment, and engagement, of a video game title, and this episode is our first deep dive into some of the classic soundtracks from those titles. In today's episode, we'll look at a cross-section of games from the NES, Nintendo's 8-bit console, as I pick some of my favorite, and most personally significant, tracks from that particular console. Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Prevent an evil tentacle uprising as we explore the LucasArts classic point-and-click adventure title, Day of the Tentacle! Learn how the game was made, why it's considered a classic adventure experience, and whether the game still holds up when compared to modern titles. Does Day of the Tentacle still rank among the best adventure games ever made? There's only one way to find out! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Join me as we explore the world of helicopter simulation...sort of, in our discussion on Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf! Learn about the game's inspirations, why it was created in the first place, and whether this particular 16 bit action title is still worth your time today. Will Desert Strike make it into the Pantheon of Classic Gaming? There's only one way to find out! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Join me on a geographic adventure as we determine, once and for all, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego! Learn how the game was made, why its creator nearly disowned its existence, and discover whether it's still worth your time to grab your almanac for some geographic sleuthing today! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

What do you get when you mix a foul mouthed squirrel who's having a really bad day with one of Nintendo's most well-respected development partners? You guessed it, you get Conker's Bad Fur Day! Learn how one of Rare's most mature titles was created, why it was delayed numerous times prior to release, and join me as we determine whether this 3D platforming adventure still holds up today. Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

The man in the hat is back! Join me as we discuss one of the finest archaeological adventures ever put on disk, as we take a look at Lucas Arts classic point and click adventure title, Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis! Learn how the game was made, why it deviated from traditional Indiana Jones movie scripts, and whether it's still worth your time to don a fine leather jacket today. Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Run, jump, and skateboard your way through our next episode dedicated to the classic NES platforming title, Adventure Island! Discover how the game was made, learn why it bears more than a striking resemblance to Sega's Wonder Boy, and find out if the game holds up today, 37 years after it was originally released. Can Master Higgins make his way into our Pantheon of Classic Gaming? Tune in to find out! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Return to the mansion that started the "survival horror" genre, or at a minimum, popularized it, as we discuss the very first Resident Evil! Learn how the game was made, where its primary inspiration came from, and whether it's still worth your time to unravel the mysteries of the Spencer clan. Does Resident Evil make it into our Pantheon of Classic Gaming, or is this one experience that is too horrific to revisit? There's only one way to find out! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Take the fight to the Skaarj as we discuss the first person shooter classic, Unreal! Learn about the Unreal engine, how Tim Sweeney turned a lifelong passion for mechanics into an ultra-successful game development career, and discover whether Na Pali still looks as good today as it did back in 1998. Does Unreal make it into our Pantheon of Classic Gaming? There's only one way to find out! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Keep a lookout for three-headed monkeys, as we try to figure out The Secret of Monkey Island! Learn how the game was made, why adventure games suck, and what we can do about it (TM), and discover whether it's still worth your time to participate in a few rounds of insult sword fighting today. All that, and more...all you have to do is click play! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Join me as we celebrate our one year anniversary of the podcast, with a review of our current Pantheon of Classic Gaming and a definitive, at least as of today, ranking of our top 10 Pantheon entries! It's been a heck of a year, and I've loved making this podcast - I can't wait to see what the future has in store! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

It's time to get sneaky, as we explore the stealth-action classic, Metal Gear Solid! Learn how Hideo Kojima's early life experiences and cinematic inspirations led to his overall approach to making games as we look at the evolution of both the Metal Gear series as well as Kojima himself, in order to determine whether Metal Gear Solid is still worth playing today. Does Metal Gear Solid sneak its way into our Pantheon of Classic Gaming? There's only one way to find out! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Move over Mario, as we discuss Sonic the Hedgehog! Learn about the history of the infamous "console wars" of the 80s and 90s, discover why Sega believed Sonic could be their secret weapon in the battle with Nintendo, and finally, listen in as we determine whether the original Sonic the Hedgehog is still a worthwhile experience to play today. Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Before Secret of Monkey Island...before Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis...before Sam & Max...there was Maniac Mansion! Learn how the game was made, including the origins of the venerable SCUMM engine, which would be used for nearly every LucasArts adventure title to follow. Discover why Ron Gilbert decided to make Maniac Mansion an adventure game in the first place (hint: it has to do with a certain other company's fiendishly hard adventure titles). And, finally, learn whether it's worth your time today to return to the Edison Mansion. Does Maniac Mansion belong in our Pantheon of Classic Gaming? Listen and find out! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Grab your dragon sword and sharpen your shuriken, as we discuss the original Ninja Gaiden title! Learn how the game began life as an arcade title that would, eventually, make its way to the Nintendo Entertainment System, and listen as we dive deep into how the development team made the game a reality, including the reasoning behind why Act VI was so...darn...difficult (no, I'm not bitter). Does Ninja Gaiden still hold up today? There's only one way to find out! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

What is a bandicoot anyway? Find out in our podcast episode, where we discuss how and why Crash Bandicoot was made, learn why Crash isn't not Sony's mascot, and determine whether the game still holds up today when compared to modern titles. All of that and more, only on Classic Gaming Today! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

It's a cartoon world, and we're just living in it...or at least, that's the premise of Toonstruck, a point and click adventure game that combines full motion video sequences with animated cartoon scenes to create a sort of reverse Who Framed Roger Rabbit kind of scenario. Learn how the game was made, what happened to the long rumored sequel, and whether the game still retains its charm today. Can Toonstruck stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Sierra and LucasArts adventure titles of yore? There's only one way to find out! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!

Get ready to FINISH HIM as we discuss this week's game, Mortal Kombat! Learn about the origins of the one-on-one fighting game genre, find out why Johnny Cage bears more than a passing resemblance to Jean Claude Van Damme, and discover whether the original arcade "Klassic" still holds up today! Join the discussion on Discord! Want more Classic Gaming Today? Sign up as a patron at Patreon.com/ClassicGamingToday!