The Retrograde: A Video Game Podcast

We're back with our FIFTH quarantine bonus episode where we spoil everything you need to know about the Alex Garland miniseries Devs! We couldn’t decide whether to call this episode "FIVEntine" or "QuaranTEN-DIVIDED-BY-TWO" so instead we just focused on discussing one of the most fulfilling and dense pieces of television science fiction we've seen in a long time. Heads up: If you haven't finished watching the show, or plan to watch it later, this episode is full of spoilers. Tune in for our theories and a full breakdown of our thoughts, but feel free to reach out, share your own, and tell us how wrong we are.

This week we emerge with a banger as we revisit Gears of War on the Xbox 360! Find out if this epic game is still a blast to play, or if we'd rather leave it in the ground where it belongs. On top of gushing over our past experience with the game, Mikey tries to explain away his Eminem obsession, and we outline the odd similarities between Ash Ketchum and Michael Vick.

We're back with a bonus FOURantine episode where we let you into our safe spaces to listen to us talk about our favourite save spaces in video games! Everything's on the table: from familiar towns in an otherwise dangerous world, to small areas where the baddies just can't get to you. Which safe areas in games are most memorable to you?

This week we live out this pandemic's worst case scenario as we revisit Left 4 Dead! 12 years later, are these hordes of zombies still worth breaking out of your safe house for? We also find some time to gush over Alex Garland's show Devs, Mikey's struggle with Sekiro, and Andrew's obsession with Dark Side of the Ring.

Welcome back to our stagnant lairs where we've recorded another bonus episode which we've called QuaranTHREEne! This time around we've made it a companion to our next full length episode. You'll have to listen to find out what game we're doing, but as a hint: today we drafted our ideal team of 4 survivors in a zombie apocalypse. Tune in to us so you can tune out of your usual day-to-day monotony! Search "The Retrograde" wherever you get your podcasts! theretrogradepod.com/episodes/quaranthreene

This week we get co-operative with a look back at the classic indie title Castle Crashers! Is this beat-em-up RPG worth rounding up a few friends to go back and visit? We also question what makes some games great to play with friends, but terrible to play alone. Plus: all the TV and games we've been catching up on over the past week!

Hello again D-Pads! We're back again with a bonus episode because we've found ourselves with quite a bit of time on our hands. Join us for another check-in from the depths of our own self-isolation while we catch each other up remotely on what we've been playing to pass the time. There's a little bit of Animal Crossing, mixed with a dash of Stardew Valley, a pinch of Sekiro, and a dollop of shenanigans. Search "The Retrograde" wherever you get your podcasts!

Happy 100th Episode! To celebrate our centennial recording (not counting bonus episodes) we take some time to do a full #RetrogradeSpective! Over the last 100 episodes, what games were we most pleasantly surprised by? Which games broke our hearts in an inconsolable, irreparable way? Most importantly: if we could choose ONE GAME to honourarily move into the ranks of our "Chevy Silverado Like a Rock Dwayne Johnson and Johnson a Family Company Trophy Hall of Fame Trophy" at the expense of a game that's already there, which would it be!? Let us know what you think! What episodes were your favourite? What games were you most disappointed by? But most importantly, THANK YOU to all of the D-Pads who have stuck with us all this time!

This week we're taken on a guide by local Toronto legend Jesse Borg to check out UN Squadron! Andrew and Mikey missed this "bullet hell" "loot-shooter" hybrid as kids, but does it still deserve a place in their lives today? We also talk about the games which we loved as kids in spite of no one else knowing about them. Search "The Retrograde" on any podcast app.

Hey D-Pads! We wanted to check in on everyone's isolation with a bite sized bonus episode! Our goal is to try to find a bit of levity in spite of everything going on in the world. It's more of a traditional, modern day gaming podcast this time around, but there's nothing wrong with that! Join us for 20 minutes or so as we talk about what we're getting up to in order to stay safe, and stay sane. We'll be launching a few of these bonus episodes sporadically with the goal to get our minds OFF of how scary the world can be right now, so take a load off, and let us into your ear holes! Search "The Retrograde" wherever you get your podcasts!

This week we're joined by gaming journalist @TheRileyLittle for a Smash from the Past with a look back at Super Smash Bros on the N64! We know the modern iterations are top notch, but can the original entry still hold its own? Riley's love of this franchise is on display as we do a deep dive on the history of Smash Bros, and the improvements of its successors. Search "The Retrograde" on any podcast app. Theretrogradepod.com/episodes/smash-bros

This week we take on the titan that is Shadow of the Colossus for the Playstation 2! Does this game still loom large to this day, or is it now living in the shadow of more modern games? On our journey we question the logic behind The Magic School Bus, give some impressions of the current state of Fortnite, and question whether or not we should be recording these podcasts in the nude with #ReviewInTheBuff.

This week we're joined by the producer Memorecks on our journey back to Donkey Kong Country for the SNES! Memorecks created the theme song to The Retrograde, and as a kid he had to receive help from his mom to beat this game. Is it worth renewing your passport to visit this Country, or were we all just blinded by the flashy 3D graphics? Also, it's a great week to catch up on all the games we've been catching up on, from The Forest, to Subnautica, to Red Dead Redemption 2.

This week we fight our way through one of the most notoriously difficult games of all time: Battletoads for the NES! Is the challenge alone enough to warrant torturing your mind by looking at these monstrous cousins of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Or does this game lose the battle, and the war? Also, Andrew spends far too much time talking about #Fraser, and we determine Mikey dresses like a Coldplay fan.

Just in time for his cinematic debut, this week we look back at Sonic Adventure on the Dreamcast! It was a beloved game for one of us, but can Sonic's entry into the world of 3D games keep up with the pace of today's modern games? We also delve into the mystery behind Sonic's bizarre sexualization, look up the hedgehogs named after ourselves, and get pumped up about the return of The Mighty Ducks!

This week we take to the skies in a galaxy far far away with a look back at Star Wars: Rogue Squadron! It may have come out a long time ago, but does this flight combat game hold up over 20 years later? We also catch up on some TV shows like The Outsider, McMillions, and Avenue 5. Finally, is it TOO LATE to convince Andrew that The Last Jedi isn't all that bad?

This week we welcome Aldo and Mitch from @TheSoFlyCrew to talk about Fishing in video games. Specifically, we're focusing on Bass Masters Classic on the SNES! It's a fishing-focused episode as we break down the best fishing mechanics in video games, and talk about what makes the perfect mix of reality versus fun. This game was a favourite of ours growing up, but does it hold up by today's standards? Search "The Retrograde" on any podcast app.

This week we decided to wage war on anthropomorphic trees as we revisit Kirby's Dream Land for the Gameboy! Is this little pink mascot worthy of his fame, or is this game a true nightmare? We also break down the movie 1917 and the new Steven King show The Outsider, plus Mikey questions whether Kirby deserves the attention he gets.

In life, sometimes you make the wrong decision. This week, we decided to play Celebrity Deathmatch for the Playstation, and gained absolutely zero life experience in the process! Come explore this claymation abomination with us so that you never have to experience it yourself! We also spoil Rise of Skywalker, and draft our own team of celebrities to duke it out to the death! Let us know your ideal team with #RetroDeathmatch.

We shift to a different brand of #Football this week as we look back at #FIFA99 for the N64! We welcome our guest Richie AKA DJ Grump of Radio Sucio to talk all things videogames, including a full Pokemon catchup, our biggest issues with campaigns in video games, and a brief #GoldenGlobes wrap up! Was this early entry into the footy franchise deserving of a golden boot? Or is it getting an early red card?

Happy New Year, D-pads! This week we embrace the start of the NFL Playoffs by rushing back to NFL Blitz! Is this game still the smashing success you remember, or does it deserve some time on the sidelines? We also introduce the world to our brand new soundboard, and spoil The Watchmen and Succession!

This week we break take some time to savour our top 10 Video Games of the decade! That's right: we saved our best top 10 list of the decade for the last top 10 list of the decade. Ring in the new year in style as we reminisce over the games that meant the most to us over the past 10 years. We've even included a Midnight Countdown Timer for those of you who want to blast this episode at your trendy New Years Eve party. Make sure to let us know what we missed with #RetroGame10! Thanks for listening all year long, and Happy New Year!

This Christmas Eve we take a trip to Nakatomi Plaza to visit the game based on the most iconic Christmas Movie of all time: Die Hard Arcade! Does this game rise to the heights of Nakatomi itself? Or should it die harder than any of the movies which came after number 3? It's a great chance for us to gush over one of the most perfect action movies of all time, all while getting into the Holiday Spirit. We break down our favourite scenes, and Mikey makes his childhood dreams come true. How? You'll just have to listen to find out!

It's another special episode as we get closer to the end of the decade! Andrew and Mikey put the games on hold in order to count down our Top 10 Favourite Movies of the Decade! It turns out that in the decade many people associate with the meteoric rise in quality of television, it turns out the medium behind the Silver Screen still found a way to hold its own. We want to hear your picks as well, so reach out to us on any of our social media pages using #RetroMovie10 if there's anything we missed!

This week we slap our hands firmly to our face and scream in an incredibly iconic manner as we're forced to revisit Home Alone for the NES! Oh, the things we endure for you! Was this game better off being left to the Wet Bandits? We get into the holiday cheer as we celebrate the Home Alone franchise in all of its glory--for better, and for worse. And what would our podcast be if we didn't also find some time to disagree about The Irishman, The Watchmen, and Knives Out?

It's a special episode to start ringing in the end of the decade! Andrew and Mikey step away from Video Games for the week to count down our Top 10 TV Series from the past decade! In what many may look back on as the decade that best defined the blurring of the lines between movies and television, which shows will be eternally revered as the forerunners in this golden age? We want to hear your picks as well, so reach out to us on any of our social media pages using #RetroTV10 if there's anything we missed!

This week we dust off the Star Wars Story nestled between the battles of Hoth and Endor: it's Shadows of the Empire! Was this N64 shooter worthy of the Star Wars name, or is the force no longer strong with this one? In this Star Wars focused episode we also give our impression on The Mandalorian, Jedi: Fallen Order, and rank our overall favourite entries into Star Wars lore!

This week we get back behind the wheel to revisit one of the original open world driving games: Driver for the Playstation. Was this wheelman simulator just an undercover bust, or is it worth going along for the ride? We also dip our toes into the world of Death Stranding, dig a bit deeper on Luigi's Mansion 3, and talk about the subtle differences between American and Canadian drinks.

This week we take a break from the past to visit the much anticipated Luigi's Mansion 3 on the Nintendo Switch! Only one of us has a history with the franchise, but is this entry into the series good enough to keep two cynical 30-somethings entertained? With a much deeper focus on our initial gameplay than usual, we aim to find out! We also make sure to give some updates on our progress with The Outer Worlds, Disco Elysium, and the surprise we didn't even realize we had: Apple TV!

This week Mikey takes Andrew on a journey back to a game he left behind so many years ago: Comix Zone for the Sega Genesis! Was Mikey right to call this his first true video game disappointment, or was he just awful at games back then? We also catch up on The Outer Worlds, Disco Elysium, Overwatch 2, and break down the trainwreck of tweets exposing the creative process of David Benioff and DB Weiss.

This week we square up against one of the behemoths of the fighting game world with Tekken 2 on the Playstation! We're joined by comedian and fellow podcaster Jacob Sharpe (@JacobASharpe) as we determine whether or not this game deserves its rightful spot in the pantheon of fighters. In honour of Halloween we also draft a team of fighters hand picked from the world of horror movies, and give some recommendations on new movies to hit Netflix.

We give in to our bloodlust this week as we revisit the original God of War for Playstation 2! Does this all-out Greek Mythology Carnage Simulator from 2005 warrant its spot on Mount Olympus, or has it petrified over time like another one of Medusa's victims? We also rank our favourite videogame weapons of all time, and peel back even more layers on Joker AND El Camino.

This week we take a trip to the long forgotten Space Station: Silicon Valley! Does the original concept of this relic from Rockstar's past make this game worth remembering, or is it better off left in the past? We also weigh in on Blizzard's recent controversies, catch up on our current gaming habits, and try to guess the difference between made up, purposely absurd plots, and ACTUAL shows coming to network television this year.

Take a trip back through an alternate history to get your hands on Command and Conquer: Red Alert! Does this imaginative entry from the golden age of Real Time Strategies fade away with age, or did it win the battle AND the war? We also do a deep dive into Joker, update our Borderlands 3 progress, and Mikey begs you to watch Sound and Fury.

With the remake hot off the presses, this week we decided to look back at the ORIGINAL Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening on the Gameboy! How does it differ from the nearly perfect revisit on the Nintendo Switch? Was this wacky entry into the Zelda franchise what dreams were made of, or should it have been left sleeping just like the Wind Fish itself? We also talk Borderlands 3, Ad Astra, Untitled Goose Game, and the Emmys!

This week we shift our focus to the world of Racing games with Gran Turismo. Is this trailblazer of the sim racing genre still up to spec? Or is it overdue for a tune up? We also catch up on 2 of this year's most anticipated movies, and rank our top 3 HBO Characters of all time.

Just in time for the franchise's annual release, we take a look back at the first NHL game to introduce the skill stick: NHL 07. Is this game changer still a Stanley Cup contender, or should it be put on ice? We also update the world on Toronto's "TIFF," our thoughts on Fleabag, and our favourite Stephen King movies of all time.

Sail off to the golden age of point-and-click as we look back at The Secret of Monkey Island! On the way we share some thoughts on the recent Dave Chappelle set, The Joker, and Far: Lone Sails. Find out if this is a true buried treasure, or if this game should walk the plank.

Everyone's favourite Cartoon Family returns this week in everyone's favourite arcade beat-em-up! It's The Simpsons Arcade! Is the tear through Springfield still as pleasant as you remember? Or should you just stay at home-er? We also recap D23, talk about Mindhunter and Glow, and Mikey recommends Spiderman on the PS3! Search "The Retrograde" wherever you get your podcasts!

This week we turn away from the rigours of the modern day when we look back at Harvest Moon for the GBC! Does this farming pioneer hold a candle to its modern competitors like Stardew Valley? We also catch up on our playthroughs of Horizon: Zero Dawn, and, of course, draft our ideal team of vegetables. Trust us: it's important.

This week we check up on the classic puzzle game Dr. Mario! Is this bizarre offshoot worthy of his degree? We also gush over Amazon Prime's The Boys, Succession, and catch up on the games we've been playing.

They just don't make platformers like this anymore. This week we look back at the original Ratchet and Clank on the PS2! Was this franchise destined for greatness from the very beginning, or should we forget about the first entry? Also: We give some opinions on The Boys, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and talk Madden 20, and Horizon Zero Dawn.

This week we take a look back at the history of arguably the most influential sports franchise of all time: Madden! Are its annual iterations enough to warrant staying away from the earlier games, like this week's Madden 2004? Or is each and every entry timeless? On top of tracing the history of the franchise, we find time to make up call signs for one another in anticipation of Top Gun 2, and predict which modern games will be fodder for Retrograde reviews 20 years from now.

This week, we choose Pokemon Stadium for the N64! Is this beefed up battle simulator still strong enough to play today? In this extra long episode, we also gush over Top Gun 2, recap the phase 4 announcements for the MCU, and rank our top 5 Quentin Tarantino Movies.

Crawl back into those dungeons with us as we take a look back at Gauntlet Legends for the N64! Is this co-op classic still worth waging war for? We also discuss the show Chernobyl, the endgame of The Division 2, and choose our ideal team of bank robbers with #Robtrograde!

Join us for one last run as we finish off our hunt for the best Snowboarding game with Cool Boarders 2 for the Playstation! Does this chilly gem take the cake for the best boarding game out there? Also: which movies should NEVER be made into a videogame? We've got some final updates on The Division 2, and some new TV recommendations!

This week we munch some tasty powder when we look back at 1080 Snowboarding! It's a games-heavy episode as Mikey updates us on 4 brilliant games you should be playing this summer, and Andrew gets excited for NBA 2K20 Find out if this circle-spinning snowboarding simulator is worth the price of a lift ticket.

Oil up those muscles and lace up those boots. This week it's the 16 bit powerhouse WWF: Raw for the Sega Genesis! It's a wrestling heavy episode, but we make room to catch up on what we've been playing, and to gush over Detective Pikachu. Is this love letter to the golden age of wrestling worth going back to? Or did it make us tap out?

Travel back even farther in time than usual as we reminisce over Turok: Dinosaur Hunter! Is this fossil worth digging up, or is it better left in the dirt? And what would our podcast be without an in depth analysis of the logistics of Pokemon followed up by a ranking of our top 3 Pixar movies?

Hot on the trail of Cruis'n 2SA, this week The Retrograders sit down in the middle of Nashville airport to give their first impressions on the recent E3 festivities, and recap our Cruis'n 2SA road trip! It's like the hand-made Etsy version of our usual podcast, but with more ruggedness and less sleep to back it up. We recorded it on a phone, so bare with us as we struggle with the audio quality the week. We're back with a regular episode next week--stay tuned!