Classic Gaming Today
Every week, we look at the gaming experiences of the past, through the eyes of the present! We’ll discuss each game’s historical context, as well as provide a verdict as to whether a given game is worth your time to visit, or revisit, today.
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Episodes
Monday Jan 16, 2023
Monday Jan 16, 2023
Have you ever played an interactive cartoon? If so, you just might have played Dragon's Lair, an early 80s arcade title that utilized Laserdisc technology to deliver a never-before-seen level of animation and visual spectacle. Learn how designer Rick Dyer and Don Bluth and his animation team worked their magic in creating a pivotal title in video game history, and discover whether it's worth your time today to visit, or revisit, Singe's domain!
Monday Jan 09, 2023
Monday Jan 09, 2023
For many people, Diablo was the first true "action" RPG. For others, though, especially in the early 90s, Shadow Caster was the game many people gravitated to when they wanted an RPG-like experience that didn't require dissecting scores of numbers and stat points in order to maximize their builds. Join me as we talk about how Shadow Caster was created, where it sits in computer gaming history, and how well it holds up today!
Monday Jan 02, 2023
Monday Jan 02, 2023
Little known fact - when Mario isn't busy saving the Mushroom Kingdom, or practicing his day job as a plumber, he sometimes moonlights as a...hotel bellhop? Join me as we talk about Hotel Mario, the CD-I exclusive that asks the question, "what would happen if the only way to save the princess was to shut...every...door!" Learn how the game was made, why it exists, what Nintendo was thinking, and whether it holds up today. Is Hotel Mario worth a reservation? There's only one way to find out!
Monday Dec 26, 2022
Monday Dec 26, 2022
Time paradoxes and JRPG gameplay await as we tackle Chrono Trigger! Learn how a dream team of designers, developers, artists and composers came together to create one of the most beloved titles from the 1990s, after which we ask the question - does Chrono Trigger still hold up today? Is the game a timeless classic, or simply not worth your time? Listen in to find out!
Monday Dec 19, 2022
Monday Dec 19, 2022
Police Quest is one of those classic Sierra titles that many adventure gamers hold in high regard. Blue Force, developed by a group of ex-Sierra employees, was Tsunami Media's attempt at capturing that Sierra magic. Learn how the game came to be, and listen in as we determine whether this point-and-click adventure is worth your time today.
Monday Dec 12, 2022
Monday Dec 12, 2022
It's time to revisit ID Software's early years, as we delve into the grandfather of first person shooters, Wolfenstein 3D! Learn how the ID team made the leap from 2D platformers to a pseudo 3D engine, after which we'll talk about whether the game holds up today, or if it's just too elderly to keep up with its ancestors.
Monday Dec 05, 2022
Monday Dec 05, 2022
Life is like a hurricane! Join me as we discuss DuckTales, one of the quintessential NES platformers, released back in 1989. Learn why licensed titles (usually) don't turn out all that great, and why DuckTales reversed that trend. We'll discuss how the game was made, its relevance in history, and whether you should go back to visit Duckburg today. Is DuckTales still platforming gold? It's time to find out!
Monday Nov 28, 2022
Monday Nov 28, 2022
In the mid-90s, Nintendo needed something to help compete in an ever-evolving console market. With their own next gen system delayed, they turned to developer Rare to figure out how to save the day. Donkey Kong Country was the end result.
Join me as we look at how the game came into being, followed by a discussion to determine if the game still holds up today. Is Donkey Kong Country still worth your time? Tune in to find out!
Monday Nov 21, 2022
Monday Nov 21, 2022
Dust off your alien blaster and join me as we explore the world of Commander Keen! We'll talk through how the game was created, its overall historical significance, and why you may (or may not) want to play the game today. Undeniably an important game in computing history, but does it make it into our Pantheon of Classic gaming? There's only one way to find out...
Monday Nov 14, 2022
Monday Nov 14, 2022
It's time to take back the streets of Metro City, as we dive deep into the arcade classic side-scrolling beat'em up, Final Fight. As we always do, we'll discuss the history of the game, including its relevance to the arcade scene of the late 80s / early 90s and how it is forever linked to the Street Fighter series. Then, we'll discuss what it feels like to actually play the game in 2022 to determine, once and for all, whether Final Fight belongs in the Pantheon of Classic Gaming.