Backwards Compatible

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This week on Backwards Compatible, we’re cracking open the panels of Comix Zone for the Sega Genesis—a visually striking, brutally difficult beat-’em-up that dropped in July 1995.

Lou and I talk through the game’s unique comic book aesthetic, its place in mid-’90s gaming, and why it still stands out nearly 30 years later. We get into what made it so innovative, what held it back from getting a sequel, and whether it’s due for a modern-day revival.

Plus: we talk broader ideas around reviving dead franchises, adapting comics into games, and how graphics evolution shaped the '90s. If you ever felt like you were literally inside a comic book, this one’s for you.

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This week, Lou and I jump off the top rope and into the wonderfully weird world of WrestleMania: The Arcade Game—Midway’s over-the-top, digitized brawler that mashed Mortal Kombat with the WWF’s New Generation Era.

But that’s not all. This episode is a bit of a wrestling grab bag (hey, I’m still getting over a cold, cut me some slack!):

🕹️ We review WrestleMania: The Arcade Game – Is it a legit classic or just a button-mashing curiosity?

🎮 A quick look at WWF In Your House on PS1 – the weird, clearly inferior sequel you probably forgot existed.

🤼 We also get into WrestleMania 41 hype, our thoughts on the New Generation Era of wrestling (hello neon and Lex Express!).

It's chaotic, nostalgic, and full of bad Vince McMahon impressions.  

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No ne content this week because I’m out sick (boo!), but instead of leaving your podcast feed empty, we’re opening up the Backwards Compatible Vault and bringing you a segment from a past episode where Lou and I dug deep into Batman Forever—both the movie and the video game.

This one’s got it all:
 🦇 Over-the-top Jim Carrey energy
 🦇 Neon chaos and rubber suits
 🦇 The weird, clunky SNES/Genesis Batman Forever game that tried to be Mortal Kombat but… wasn’t
🦇 Lou having THOUGHTS about Val Kilmer’s Bat-performance

It’s a fun flashback to a chaotic era of movie tie-ins, and a nice little slice of our podcast history. Thanks for bearing with us this week, and fingers crossed I’m back in full Bat-health for episode 47!

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Nintendo has finally lifted the curtain on the Switch 2, and Lou and I are diving deep into all the details. From preorder requirements (Nintendo is really making sure you’re a real fan this time) to hardware specs, launch titles, and some eyebrow-raising first-party game prices, there’s a lot to unpack.

We break down the best and worst parts of the Switch 2 reveal, including:
🎮 Loyalty-based preorders – You’ll need a year of Nintendo Switch Online and 50+ hours of playtime just to get in line.
🎮 New features like GameShare & GameChat – Are these actually useful, or just Nintendo playing catch-up?
🎮 GameCube classics returning – F-Zero GX, Wind Waker, and Soul Calibur 2 with Link are finally coming back!
🎮 That $80 price tag for Mario Kart World – Is Nintendo testing the waters for higher-priced games?
🎮 4K docked mode, 120 FPS handheld play, and magnetic Joy-Cons – A true next-gen leap?

With a stacked launch lineup and some surprising third-party support (Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition on a Nintendo console?!), this could be Nintendo’s most ambitious console yet. But are there red flags? Tune in as we break it all down!

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Episode 44 - The Best (and Worst) Retro Game Collections

Lou and I are diving into the world of game compilations, remasters, and collections! Some are incredible value-packed bundles, while others feel like quick cash grabs. But before we go any further, let's get something out of the way—Lou absolutely hates the original Tomb Raider games on PS1. Like, with a passion. He thinks they control like a drunk tank rolling down a hill. So, if you’re a Tomb Raider fan, prepare for some heated opinions!

We also talk about what makes a game collection truly great. Super Mario All-Stars on SNES set the gold standard, not just bundling games together but actually improving the graphics and gameplay—something modern collections rarely do. On the flip side, we discuss disappointments like Super Mario 3D All-Stars and GTA Trilogy: The Definitive Edition, which somehow managed to make their games worse.

From Rare Replay to The Orange Box, we break down the best bang-for-your-buck collections, while also debating whether digital-only bundles are helping or hurting game preservation. Are these collections the best way to play retro games legally, or is emulation still king? Tune in and find out!

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Lou and I are taking a trip back 16 years to one of the most anticipated sequels of all time—Street Fighter IV! After years of experimentation, Capcom brought the series back to its roots, combining the best of Street Fighter II and III into what many consider the greatest Street Fighter game ever made.

We break down what made SFIV such a hit, including the return classic 2D gameplay, PLUS the introduction of new mechanics like Focus Attacks and Ultra Combos. And we talk about the roster— thankfully SFIV brought back almost ALL of the fan favorites from SFII, but not only that -- Capcom also spiced things up with characters from its own gaming past, like Abel, Rufus, Cody and Poison. 

Was Street Fighter IV the ultimate revival, or did it still leave something to be desired? Kick back and enjoy the episode as we share our thoughts!

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Lou is off this week, but my buddy Derek makes his triumphant return! Back in episode 8, we tackled Sonic the Hedgehog 1, and, well... I didn’t hold back my criticisms. But this time, we’re talking Sonic 2, and I’m happy to report there’s a lot more good than bad here. We break down what makes Sonic 2 a massive improvement—better level design, the introduction of the spin dash, and, of course, the debut of Tails. But it’s not all smooth loops and blast processing—there are still some frustrating moments (looking at you, Metropolis Zone).

Join us as we revisit one of the Sega Genesis’s finest games and decide whether Sonic 2 truly lives up to the hype!

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Cowabunga! In episode 41, Lou and I are diving shell-first into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time on the SNES. This game is often considered one of the greatest beat ‘em ups of all time, but how does it compare to its arcade counterpart? We break down the differences, from smoother gameplay and tighter controls on the SNES to the arcade’s flashy four-player mayhem. We also take a detour to discuss The Hyperstone Heist, the Sega Genesis-exclusive TMNT game that often gets overshadowed by Turtles in Time.

Along the way, we talk about what makes a great beat ‘em up, our favorite levels and boss fights, and why this game still holds up decades later. So grab a slice of pizza, fire up your SNES, and join us for a trip through time with the heroes in a half shell!

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Episode 40 is here, and Lou and I are talking about one of my all-time favorite games—Dead Rising on the Xbox 360! Hot take: this is the best zombie franchise Capcom has ever made. Yeah, I said it. Resident Evil may have the horror, but Dead Rising has the chaos, creativity, and pure absurdity of being trapped in a shopping mall during the apocalypse.

We break down everything that makes this game special—from smacking zombies with a giant teddy bear to discovering all the wild easter eggs pulled straight from classic horror movies. It’s got B-movie charm, ridiculous weapons, and a dose of social satire that makes you question if the zombies or the mall-goers were worse.

Of course, it’s not perfect. The timed missions will stress you out, and the save system feels like a relic from the Stone Age. But even with those flaws, Dead Rising is a masterpiece of mayhem. So grab a lawnmower, throw on a Servbot mask, and join us for this episode!

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Episode 39 is here, and Lou and I are spinning our way into Crash Bandicoot on the PS1! While it’s a fantastic game, it definitely has its flaws—mainly, the brutal difficulty. Precision platforming in a Z-axis environment can be frustrating, and we debate whether Crash should even be considered a true 3D platformer since you’re always limited to just two directions at a time.

We also take a dive into the history behind the game, Sony’s quest for a mascot, and how Crash became a PlayStation icon. Then, because we can’t help ourselves, we go off on a tangent about the wild world of collecting retro games new in box just to never open them—because honestly, what’s the point?

So, grab your Aku Aku mask and join us for this jam-packed episode!

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