Play Retro Show

A small household robot helps a struggling family by cleaning, solving problems, and exploring a home where everyday objects become towering environments. With limited battery life, unlockable tools, and a day-night cycle. Chibi-Robo!Plug into Adventure for the Gamecube blends exploration, light puzzles, and character-driven storytelling into a quiet, unconventional adventure from Skip Ltd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam & Max Hit the Road (1993) follows freelance police Sam and Max as they investigate a missing Bigfoot, leading them on a cross-country adventure through bizarre tourist attractions and absurd encounters. Using classic point-and-click gameplay, players gather clues, solve puzzles, and unlock new locations while navigating the game’s signature humor and mini-games in classic LucasArts fashion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An investigation through rain-soaked Los Angeles as a Blade Runner tracks replicants, gathers evidence, and navigates shifting loyalties in Westwood’s 1997 adventure. Featuring branching outcomes, randomized character roles, and systems built around player choice, Blade Runner stands apart from traditional point-and-click games Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paper Mario (N64, 2000) is a turn-based RPG where Mario must rescue Princess Peach after Bowser steals the wish-granting Star Rod and uses it to become invincible. Mario travels eight colorful worlds, recruiting party members and using timing-based combat to pull off attacks. It's known for charming writing and a playful paper aesthetic that's baked into the gameplay itself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Players guide Ecco (a bottle nose dolphin) through interconnected ocean environments, managing oxygen, using sonar to communicate and solve environmental puzzles, and uncovering a science fiction story-line involving time travel and alien forces for the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive with a Sega CD version that enhances the experience with CD-quality audio and an expanded introduction. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Star Trek: Borg (1996) was an interactive FDM (full-motion video) game published by Simon & Schuster Interactive. You play as Qaylan Furlong, a Starfleet cadet whose father was killed at the Battle of Wolf 359. Q shows up (played by John de Lancie, reprising his TNG role) and sends you back in time to that battle, giving you a chance to change the outcome and save your father. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Return to Zork (1993): Replacing Infocom’s classic text parser with a first-person point-and-click interface, full-motion video performances, and voice acting. Set across Port Foozle and beyond, the game blends exploration, inventory puzzles, and frequent failure states in a design that retains the series’ unforgiving roots while embracing early 1990s multimedia presentation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bad Mojo (1996) - A PC adventure game that places players in the role of a man transformed into a cockroach, navigating a decaying apartment through environmental interaction and exploration rather than traditional puzzles. The game emphasizes atmosphere, symbolism, and survival, using pre-rendered environments, ambient sound design, and fragmented narration to convey its themes. ROACHES! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kirby’s Dream Course (1994) is an isometric action-puzzle golf game developed by HAL Laboratory for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Combining miniature-golf mechanics with Kirby’s signature copy abilities, the game challenges players to defeat enemies and reach the goal cup using precision shots, physics, and strategic power-ups rather than traditional platforming. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

GORF (1981) A fixed shooter developed by Midway that combines multiple space-combat styles into a single arcade experience. Across five distinct missions ranging from Space Invaders-style formations to Galaga-inspired flagship battles. The game escalates difficulty through faster enemies, tighter patterns, and increasingly aggressive attacks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sega Rally Championship (1995) established arcade rally racing with distinct surface physics, short technical stages, and licensed cars tuned for specific terrain types. The original Model 2 arcade release and its Sega Saturn conversion feature classic courses like Desert, Forest, and Mountain, along with cars such as the Toyota Celica GT-Four and Lancia Delta HF Integrale, emphasizing precision driving over pure speed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scott sits down with Warren Davis for a deep look at the creation of one of the great arcade games of all time, Q*Bert, as well as his direct impact on everything from the Joust series to Mortal Kombat to Terminator 2: Judgement Day. Check out his book: ‘Creating Q*bert and Other Classic Video Arcade Games’! Some amazing insight in this episode with Warren, and we hope enjoy it!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Astro Boy: Omega Factor (2003) for the Game Boy Advance and Astro Boy (2004) for the PlayStation 2. Both titles were released during the franchise’s early-2000s resurgence and offer different approaches to action gameplay, platform strengths, and adaptation of the Astro Boy property. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here's what we do on pre-shows for supporters! A free one this month! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 200!! Pinball on the Sega Saturn - Digital Pinball: Last Gladiators, Digital Pinball: Necronomicon, Hyper 3-D Pinball (Tilt!), Pinball Graffiti and more bringing pinball table flipping action to our living rooms during the 90s. SEGA! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Forgotten Realms Gold Box series is a set of AD&D computer role-playing games developed by SSI using the Gold Box engine. Beginning with Pool of Radiance in 1988, the series allowed players to carry a single party of characters across four connected adventures set in the Forgotten Realms. These games established many conventions of computer RPGs, including turn-based tactical combat, party management, and faithful implementations of tabletop Dungeons & Dragons rules.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Descent (1995) and Descent II (1996) are six-degrees-of-freedom first-person shooters developed by Parallax Software for MS-DOS. Set entirely inside fully 3D mine complexes, the games emphasize free movement, spatial awareness, and objective-based level design. Known for their technical ambition, mouse-and-keyboard flight-style controls, and unforgiving enemy AI, the Descent series remains one of the most distinct FPS experiences of the DOS era.Uncut Video: https://youtube.com/live/iER-PDsesac?feature=share  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A turn-based tactical strategy game developed by Sir-Tech Canada for MS-DOS. Players recruit mercenaries from the Association of International Mercenaries (A.I.M.) to liberate the fictional island nation of Metavira from enemy control. The game blends squad-based tactical combat with strategic planning, character relationships, and resource management.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A First-person shooter developed by LucasArts for MS-DOS using an in-house game engine. Introduces mercenary Kyle Katarn and the Imperial Dark Trooper project. Features mission-based FPS gameplay, environmental objectives, vertical level design using the Jedi Engine, and an arsenal of Star Wars weapons. Later ported to Macintosh and PlayStation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Blizzard Entertainment’s real-time strategy game featuring three fully asymmetric factions: Terran, Zerg, and Protoss. Built around resource management, base construction, unit control, and a branching story told through three linked campaigns. Released for Windows and Mac OS. Expanded the same year with the official StarCraft: Brood War expansion and two licensed mission packs, Insurrection and Retribution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2003 Action-adventure from Ubisoft Montpellier combining stealth, melee combat, hovercraft exploration, and a photography-based investigation system. You play as Jade, a photojournalist uncovering a conspiracy on Hillys involving the DomZ and the Alpha Sections. Released on PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, and Windows. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Taking our favorite retro Harvest Moon games on the road with our GameBoys for some cozy gameplay while riding in the backseat of the family car. With a look back at the console games that made it possible. Harvest Moon for the SNES and HARVEST MOON: BACK TO NATURE for the PS1 and their portable little siblings.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Max Payne (2001) and Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne (2003) — Remedy Entertainment’s third-person neo-noir shooters that introduced bullet-time gunplay, graphic-novel storytelling, and hard-boiled narration to the early-2000s gaming landscape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Halo: Combat Evolved (2001, Xbox / 2003, PC). A first-person shooter developed by Bungie Studios and published by Microsoft Game Studios as the flagship launch title for the original Xbox. Its combination of open-ended combat, vehicles, and science-fiction storytelling helped define console FPS design for the following decade. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A first-person shooter developed by Third Law Interactive and published by Gathering of Developers, based loosely on Todd McFarlane’s comic series. Players assume the role of circus performers empowered by the four KISS personas to prevent the birth of a supernatural being known as the Nightmare Child.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scooby-Doo Mystery (1995) for the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Both titles shared the same name but were completely different games developed by separate studios: Illusions Gaming Company and Argonaut Software. The Genesis version took a point-and-click adventure approach with investigation and dialogue mechanics, while the SNES version played as a platforming mystery with clue collection and a fear meter system. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1990) and Elvira II: The Jaws of Cerberus (1991) from HorrorSoft — two Amiga and DOS adventure titles that combined RPG elements, point-and-click mechanics, and horror themes under the Accolade label. We also review Elvira: The Arcade Game (1991), a platform-action title from Flair Software, and briefly discuss the licensed pinball machines Elvira and the Party Monsters (1989) and Scared Stiff (1996). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Clock Tower, the horror adventure series that helped define the “chase-and-hide” genre. Beginning with Clock Tower: The First Fear (1995, Super Famicom), we follow orphan Jennifer Simpson’s desperate escape from the mansion of the murderous Scissorman, through its 3D PlayStation sequel, the psychological spin-off The Struggle Within and more.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Q*bert (Arcade, 1982), Gottlieb’s isometric puzzle-action game that became one of the most recognizable mascots of the golden age of arcades. We’ll also look at its sequels Q*bert’s Qubes (1983) and Q*bert 3 (1992, SNES) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Star Trek: 25th Anniversary (1992, DOS/Amiga), Interplay’s episodic adventure that combined bridge command, away team puzzles, and space combat to capture the feel of The Original Series. Star Trek: Judgment Rites (1993), which refined the formula with stronger puzzles and full cast voice acting, and compare them with the action-focused NES and Game Boy versions released under the same name. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Deus Ex (2000) on PC, developed by Ion Storm and directed by Warren Spector, is a cyberpunk-themed immersive sim that combined first-person shooting with RPG systems, dialogue choices, and multiple paths through each mission. Players controlled JC Denton, a nano-augmented agent navigating a world of conspiracies, branching choices, and emergent gameplay. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bubsy the Bobcat debuted in Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind (1993) on the SNES and Genesis, a colorful platformer built around speed and Bubsy’s glide ability. The series continued with Bubsy II (1994), adding hub-based level selection, multiplayer, and gadgets; Fractured Furry Tales (1994) on Atari Jaguar, which rethemed the action around fairy tales; and Bubsy 3D (1996) on PlayStation, which attempted early 3D platforming with exploration and collectibles. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s Play Retro is a special episode! Scott and Brian talking about the making of great soundtracks in games, retro or otherwise, and why it might just be the best source of music for anyone trying to find something that reaches them in a deeper way. Video: https://youtu.be/2Pey9lj1xlE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Metal Slug debuted in 1996 on SNK’s Neo Geo hardware, developed by Nazca Corporation. It quickly became known for its fluid hand-drawn animation, chaotic run-and-gun action, and humorous take on war. The original game introduced the iconic Metal Slug tank, prisoner rescues, and over-the-top boss battles that set the tone for the series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Data East side-scrolling action-platformer where two cavemen battle rival tribes, dinosaurs, and prehistoric beasts to rescue kidnapped cavewomen. Known for its humor, colorful design, and 2-player co-op. The game was later ported to SNES, Genesis, and NES with varying changes to difficulty, level design, and presentation. The series continued with Joe & Mac Returns (1994, Arcade) and Joe & Mac 3: Lost in the Tropics (1994, SNES), while Congo’s Caper (1992, SNES) served as a spin-off. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we discuss 90s era Shadowrunl; The SNES version (1993, Beam Software/Data East) presents an isometric action-adventure with a strong narrative focus, following protagonist Jake Armitage as he uncovers a conspiracy in a cyberpunk Seattle. The Genesis version (1994, BlueSky Software/Sega) takes an open-world approach with real-time combat, Matrix hacking, and more direct role-playing elements. We also briefly discuss Shadowrun for Sega CD, an unfinished and unreleased version in development by Compile. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A pulp-inspired action-adventure game paying homage to 1950s sci-fi horror, especially the film Them!. You play geologist Greg Bradley, investigating a meteor crash near the fictional town of Lizard Breath, only to discover an outbreak of giant radioactive ants. Gameplay blends point-and-click adventure, time-sensitive decision-making, and action minigames.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Incredible Machine, a series that turned complex cause-and-effect chain reactions into one of the most oddly satisfying puzzle experiences of the '90s and paid homage to the genius of Rube Goldberg and his machines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HoMM3 by New World Computing. The third entry in the series and the most beloved. A turn-based strategy game where you control heroes, build up towns, gather resources, and command fantasy armies on adventure maps and in tactical grid-based combat. The campaign follows Queen Catherine Ironfist as she fights to restore her father's kingdom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Monolith's The Operative: No One Lives Forever and its sequel. A pair of first-person shooters from the early 2000s. Combining stealth mechanics, innovative for the time AI, and a 60s spy aesthetic Cate Archer’s adventures delivered humor, gadgets disguised as everyday objects, and level design that combined gameplay and storytelling to keep it fresh throughout. Also, good luck finding a copy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Microsoft’s monster truck racing series that became a surprise hit on Windows in the late ’90s and spawned console and handheld versions. From early Direct3D experiments to 4-player split-screen chaos on the Nintendo 64, these games delivered giant physics, loud engines, and more yeehaw than you could handle.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RoboCop. From the arcade sensation with its crunchy beat ‘em up action to the many home ports (some good, some… less so), RoboCop left a trail of justice—and quarters—in its wake. We’ll explore the original RoboCop arcade game, RoboCop 2 and 3, and briefly touch on the glorious chaos of RoboCop vs. Terminator. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Lost Vikings and its sequel star Erik, Baleog, and Olaf—sarcastic Norsemen solving puzzles through alien ships, pyramids, and futuristic worlds. Released in the early '90s by Silicon & Synapse (now Blizzard), the games mix platforming, brain teasers, and humor. And it holds up! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Lucasfilm Games: the iconic Fate of Atlantis, in both its Graphic Adventure and lesser known Action Game forms, and the earlier Last Crusade adaptations. These games brought Indy’s globe-trotting exploits to 8-bit, 16-bit, and DOS screens through a mix of cinematic storytelling and witty puzzles.Less so in the Action Games. But still. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.