Fine Time

When the perfect song meets the perfect moment and the right visual, that's when video games ascend to a high plane and become magic in your hands. Andre is joined by Andrew Elmore to discuss those personal moments they had with video games where the music took them to places unimaginable.

Intro and Outro music taken from the Andrew Elmore album Lost Areas 01, available on Bandcamp here.

Andrew Elmore's Portfolio - https://elmore.design/

Check out Andrew's video on Resident Evil: Dead Aim right here.

Andrew Elmore on Bluesky - @elmore.zone

Follow Fine Time on Twitter at @FineTimePodcast

[00:00] Intro, Introductions, and Premise

[05:11] Resident Evil Save Room (Makoto Tomozawa, Koichi Hiroki, Masami Ueda)

[15:11] Batman (NES) Game Over (Naoki Kodaka)

[21:37] Air Fortress Escape Sequence (Hideki Kanazashi)

[30:18] Castlevania: Rondo of Blood - "Portrait of a Ghost Ship" (Jigokuguruma Nakamura)

[38:17] Dragon Spirit (NES) Cave Road (Shinji Hosoe, arranged by Masakatsu Maekawa)

[48:34] Rez - Area 5 (Adam Freeland - "Mind Killer")

[01:02:39] HyperZone - Bioplant (Jun Ishikawa)

[01:13:38] Outro

Andre played Penny's Big Breakaway, Kevin runs through a smattering of arcade games, we talk about the Stellar Blade demo, and much more on our latest. If you listen on Apple Podcasts, please give us a five-star review! Thanks for listening!

Twitter: @FineTimePodcast

Andre: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me

Steve: @monotonegent.fineti.me

Kevin: @kevinflevin89.fineti.me

[00:00] Intro and Chill

[08:15] Andre played Penny's Big Breakaway

[23:57] Kevin's Arcade Extravaganza (RayForce, Pigskin 621 AD, Cowboys of Moo Mesa, Wonderboy 3: Monster Lair, Magic Sword, etc.)

[53:53] It's Time To HIt The Showers!

[55:42] Stellar Blade

[01:19:45] Goodbye, Super Mario Maker

[01:32:46] See You Next Time!

A movie starring Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton, directed by George Miller? On the surface it sounded like just the thing we needed to bring us back to the movies after the pandemic, but as it turns out, Three Thousand Years of Longing was a dud. Andre and Steve let their morbid curiousity get the best of them and decided to watch this COVID-compromised oddity.

Twitter: @FineTimePodcast

Andre on Bluesky: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me

Steve on Bluesky: @monotonegent.fineti.me

We played the Splatioon 3 DLC as well as the newest Shiren the Wanderer, and then we discuss the marketibility of PS5 Pro, fast travel in video games, Switch2 facing competition from handheld PCs, and so much more in this latest edition fo the Big Deal. Thanks for listening!

Twitter: @FineTimePodcast

Andre: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me

Steve: @monotonegent.fineti.me

Kevin: @kevinflevin89.fineti.me

[00:00] Intro

[02:18] Steve played Splatoon 3 DLC Side Order

[10:58] Andre played Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island

[27:35] It's Time To Hit The Showers!

[30:45] How can Sony market PS5 Pro?

[39:27] Dragon's Dogma 2 director calls out fast travel

[52:02] Does Switch 2 face competition from handheld PCs?

[01:14:15] Break Time!

[01:06:49] Over/Under Game

[01:21:51] Fuck, I Was Wrong

[01:31:09] See Ya!

What was once one of the most infamous games to never leave Japan, the third installement of the Mana series finally did come to America in 2019, and a remake came in 2020. Good things come to those who wait, but was Trials of Mana worth the time? You bet it was! Andre and Vin talk about every aspect of this incredible game and compare the Super Famicom original to the PlayStation 4 remake! Which one is better?

Twitter: @FineTimePodcast

Andre: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me

Vin: @lucentai.bsky.social

[00:00] Introduction and Premise

[05:01] History of Mana: The Journey to Trials

[19:27] Game Structure and Comparsions To Secret of Mana

[26:25] Reasons We Love Trials of Mana

[31:43] Graphical Fidelity, Character Models, and Art Direction

[46:20] Level Design, Control, and Quality of Life

[01:02:05] Combat

[01:17:01] Programming Quirks and Class Changes

[01:33:45] Music

[01:37:41] Bosses

[01:47:07] Remake-Only Additons

[01:52:44] Visions of Mana

[01:56:37] Bye!

Andre gives a comprehensive review of the Steam Deck OLED and we answer every single question submitted to us in our Listener Mailbag, Right now on Fine Time. Rate us, review us, love us.

Twitter: @FineTimePodcast

Andre: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me

Steve: @monotonegent.fineti.me

Kevin: @kevinflevin89.fineti.me

[00:00] Intro

[01:30] Andre got a Steam Deck OLED

[06:34] Steam Deck: Hardware, Build Quality, and Screen

[16:05] Steam Deck: Software, Compatibility, and User Friendliness

[31:04] Steam Deck: Emulation and Desktop Mode

[34:40] Steam Deck: Various Games Tested

[44:52] Break Time!

[46:15] Welcome To Our Listener Mailbag!

[46:37] Objectively terrible game that we love?

[50:24] Ultimate three-person fighting game team?

[53:00] What game would we destroy each other in?

[54:39] Top three mascot characters?

[57:42] Series we want to play but haven't?

[01:00:50] Most recommended episodes of Fine Time?

[01:04:06] Best video game movie adaption?

[01:06:10] Game we could beat without dying?

[01:09:55] Movies that don't click for us?

[01:19:53] Lasting appeal of Roman Reigns?

[01:22:02] Are we plumbers and do we wear ties?

[01:23:28] Guilty pleasure movie?

[01:26:54] State of Nintendo Switch Online?

[01:30:31] Least favorite game genre?

[01:33:47] Opinion on Palm Pilot games?

[01:35:18] Food you thought was normal but it's actually weird?

[01:38:13] Video game with the best-looking food?

[01:41:30] Food that ended up disappointing us?

[01:49:02] Five arcade games to play for eternity?

[01:53:54] See You Next Time!

Quest 64 has a bad reputation, biut is that reputation deserved? Andre is joined by Mike, the man behind the @Quest64Official account on Twitter to talk about how Quest 64 was seen when it came out, why it's percieved the way it is now, playing it for the first time today, and other games that have unfairly deserved reputations.

Check out Mike at @Quest64Official

Follow the show at @FineTimePodcast

[00:00] Intro and origins of @Quest64Official

[05:10] Perception of Quest 64 in 1998

[11:49] Playing Quest 64 today

[33:19] Evoluiton of Quest 64's perception to present day

[36:47] Games with unfair reputations (Kobe Bryant in NBA Courtside, Castlevania: Dracula x, Castlevania 64, Blue Stinger)

[01:00:37] Quest 64's place in the Nintendo 64 library

[01:07:45] Outro

We played Mario vs. Donkey Kong and Pocket Card Jockey, Nintendo files a lawsuit against the Switch emulator Yuzu, we cover the highlights of the Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase, and tons more on this new Big Deal. Enjoy, share, and please rate us!

Twitter: @FineTimePodcast

Andre: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me

Steve: @monotonegent.fineti.me

Kevin: @kevinflevin89.fineti.me

[00:00] Intro

[02:01] Mario vs. Donkey Kong

[28:26] Pocket Card Jockey

[38:03] Break Time!

[39:11] Steve Presents Pokemon Presents

[46:17] Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase 2.21.2024 (Epic Mickey Rebrushed, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, Monster Hunter Stories, Unicorn Overlord, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble, etc.)

[01:18:42] Nintendo vs. Yuzu

[01:39:38] Spanish Peanuts

[01:47:28] See You Next Time!

In the annals of music history, some songs get enshrined as gods, and many more fall through the cracks. Andre is joined by Evan to discuss their favorite topic: Is this popular song overrated, underrated, or properly rated in our current time?

If you want to listen to the songs as we talk about them, here's a playlist:

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3uK7akb

Tidal: https://bit.ly/3uU2msf

[00:00] Intro

[04:33] Meredith Brooks - "Bitch"

[11:04] Christina Aguilera - "Dirrty"

[15:23] Bruce Springsteen - "Dancing In the Dark"

[20:14] Cracker - "Low"

[25:53] Taylor Swift - "Bad Blood"

[33:39] Christopher Cross - "Sailing"

[37:26] Jane's Addiction - "Been Caught Stealing"

[43:09] Paula Abdul - "Promise of a New Day"

[46:38] Loverboy - "Working For the Weekend"

[53:58] Yes - "Owner of a Lonely Heart"

[58:16] Dr. Dre feat. Eminem - "Forgot About Dre"

[01:01:01] Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Dani California"

[01:03:19] Matchbox 20 - "Real World"

[01:06:37] See you next time!

Microsoft addresses the rumors, the potential power of the Switch 2, Kevin reviews the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro and so much more on this new, hot, and fresh Big Deal. Enjoy the show, and thanks for listening!

Twitter: @FineTimePodcast

Andre: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me

Steve: @monotonegent.fineti.me

Kevin: @kevinflevin89.fineti.me

Watch Kevin's repair video for the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro and see his cool hair right here.

[00:00] Intro

[02:07] Kevin invested in a Retroid Pocket 4 Pro

[06:08] RP4P: Hardware Quality and Self-Repair

[12:50] RP4P: Emulation Expereince and Quality

[22:55] RP4P: Accessories, Docking, and Ease of Use

[27:41] RP4P: Our Approach To Emulation

[33:46] RP4P: The Advancement of Technology and Wrap-Up

[40:00] Break Time, Pt. 1

[41:52] No Nintendo Direct? But Why?

[46:27] Potential Price and Form Factor of Switch 2

[53:40] Xbox Addresses the Rumors

[01:27:04] Break Time, Pt. 2

[01:27:52] Is Arrogant Sony Back?!

[01:32:17] Place Your Bets!

[01:45:41] See You Next Time