This week I'm talking about off-brand Mario, Mario Is Missing!

What began as an earnest attempt at broadening the Mario brand turns into a case study of confused design that has no interest in valuing your time. I break down why this game fails as both a learning tool and as a video game and how the marketing doomed it before it even hit store shelves.

WARP ZONES

NFS Most Wanted (4:16) Radiant Historia (6:19) Previous History (9:02) Development (13:29) Retro Recollections (22:31) Story (28:56) Gameplay (36:06) Presentation (48:08) Final Thoughts (52:36)

THE SHOW NOTESMario Is Missing! List of Factual Errors

The Main Quest is brought to you by the supporters on Patreon SeekYeWisdom - Chris Coplien - Eric Gess - XeroSam - LowFiveAlex - Vanfernal - Leathco - RyanPlayerOne - Poppy The Masked Keaton - Lars Uncle - B-Ross - Aiden Bisco - Raging Demon - Rob Worthen - Matt aka Stormageddon

To easily submit your own Retro Recollections or hang out with other like-minded gamers, come join the Discord

The intro and outro was supplied by the artist Adhesive Wombat from the 2016 album Sticky Tracks

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One of the foundations of the "beat em up" genre, I'm tackling Capcom's Final Fight! Not the arcade but the ambitious yet deeply compromised Super Nintendo port. I breakdown its beginnings as a Street Fighter sequel, and whether or not flashy enemy AI and a punishing grind are all worth playing...single player??

WARP ZONES (2:54) Intro & Plugs (6:34) Games I'm Playing (13:00) Previous History (15:34) Development History (25:29) Retro Recollections (30:16) Story (38:32) Gameplay (45:22) Presentation (50:20) Final Thoughts

THE SHOW NOTES

He Is Coming

Kerbal Space Program The Main Quest is brought to you by the supporters on Patreon SeekYeWisdom - Chris Coplien - Eric Gess - XeroSam - LowFiveAlex - Vanfernal - Leathco - RyanPlayerOne - Poppy The Masked Keaton - Lars Uncle - B-Ross - Aiden Bisco - Raging Demon - Rob Worthen

To easily submit your own Retro Recollections or hang out with other like-minded gamers, come join the Discord

The intro and outro was supplied by the artist Adhesive Wombat from the 2016 album Sticky Tracks

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2025 comes to a close with my Top 10 Game of the Year breakdown. I revisit my mid year rankings and reflect on how my tastes shifted over the course of the year. From surprise indie standouts and retro revisits to one all consuming obsession, it is a year that certainly defined me as a "Gamer". I also look ahead at what's waiting in the backlog next and what's in store for the podcast in 2026!

THE SHOW NOTES

Episode 112 - Final Fantasy VIII

A Review: Issue #12

Super Metroid: Recipe For A Classic Slice

The Main Quest is brought to you by the supporters on Patreon SeekYeWisdom - Chris Coplien - Eric Gess - XeroSam - LowFiveAlex - Vanfernal - Leathco - RyanPlayerOne - Poppy The Masked Keaton - Lars Uncle - B-Ross - Aiden Bisco - Raging Demon - Rob Worthen

The intro and outro was supplied by the artist Adhesive Wombat from the 2016 album Sticky Tracks

To easily submit your own Retro Recollections or hang out with other like-minded gamers, come join the Discord

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It's Game of the Year season once again, and the panel from last year's Symposium returns to finish what we started.

Matt Storm, Eric Gess, Kade Call, and Phil Morgan join me for a 2.5 hour deep dive into how GOTY conversations have (or haven't) changed over the past year. We dig into the flood of new releases, the strange rules around what "counts," and the ongoing dominance of exclusives. It's a thoughtful, funny, and honest look at why we still care about celebrating the games we love.

THE SHOW NOTES

Catch Up With Last Year's Discussion

Find & support my guests: Matt Storm | Fun & Games/ Reignite Kade Call | Gaming Memories Phil Morgan | Deleted Saves Eric Gess | The Unlockables

The Main Quest is brought to you by the supporters on Patreon SeekYeWisdom - Chris Coplien - Eric Gess - XeroSam - LowFiveAlex - Vanfernal - Leathco - RyanPlayerOne - Poppy The Masked Keaton - Lars Uncle - B-Ross - Aiden Bisco - Raging Demon - Rob Worthen

The intro and outro was supplied by the artist Adhesive Wombat from the 2016 album Sticky Tracks

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BIG MONEY! BIG PRIZES! I LOVE IT!

In this episode of The Main Quest, I team up once again with SeekYeWisdom to dive into Super Smash TV, Williams' hyper violent, game show inspired twin-stick shooter that set the tone for arcade excess in the early '90s. We unpack how Smash TV connects to the DNA of Mortal Kombat and Robotron 2084, and how its mix of satire, capitalism, and gore made it a cult classic. We compare it to the arcade original, and debate how well the console version translates without true twin sticks.

WARP ZONES

We're Playing Remnant 2/Space Marine 2 and Titan Souls (5:12) Development (26:26) Previous History's (53:15) Story & Gameplay (59:21) Presentation (1:35:40) Final Thoughts (1:44:13)

THE SHOW NOTES

Find & support my guest over on Twitch

Smash T.V. cover performed by Medley Man

The Main Quest is brought to you by the supporters on Patreon SeekYeWisdom - Chris Coplien - Eric Gess - XeroSam - LowFiveAlex - Vanfernal - Leathco - RyanPlayerOne - Poppy The Masked Keaton - Lars Uncle - B-Ross - Aiden Bisco - Raging Demon - Rob Worthen

The intro and outro was supplied by the artist Adhesive Wombat from the 2016 album Sticky Tracks

To easily submit your own Retro Recollections or hang out with other like-minded gamers, come join the Discord

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What's left to say about Super Mario World?

I'm finally doing the damn thing with returning guest Eric Gess (The Unlockables, 9 To 5 Bears). Instead of regurgitating the same analysis, we break the game down by "worlds", exploring its timeless design, hidden secrets, and why it still feels perfect decades later. We're heavy on the nostalgia, dumb jokes, and a few spicy takes on why Mario 3 might not actually be the king.

WARP ZONES

Guest Intro (2:43) World 1: Previous Histories (12:43) World 2: Discoverability (35:16) World 3: Gameplay (58:30) World 4: Vibes and Presentation (1:15:08) World 5: Legacy (1:36:40) World 6: Throat Goat (1:55:33) World : Final Thoughts (2:3:59)

THE SHOW NOTES

Find & support my guest over at Unlockables | 9 To 5 Bears

Sonic Raving VS Mario Kart World

The Main Quest is brought to you by the supporters on Patreon SeekYeWisdom - Chris Coplien - Eric Gess - XeroSam - LowFiveAlex - Vanfernal - Leathco - RyanPlayerOne - Poppy The Masked Keaton - Lars Uncle - B-Ross - Aiden Bisco - Raging Demon - Rob Worthen

The intro and outro was supplied by the artist Adhesive Wombat from the 2016 album Sticky Tracks

To easily submit your own Retro Recollections or hang out with other like-minded gamers, come join the Discord

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In this Ghoulcade finale, I am joined by Matt Storm and Chris Dominguez to dissect Nintendo's 1994 masterpiece, Super Metroid. From development hurdles and poor sales to speedrunning innovations and the infamous Meridia, my crew debates whether Super Metroid truly deserves its legendary status. Along the way, we share personal histories, hot takes, and community recollections that cover everything from Chozo jump scares to why Samus might secretly be gaming's most terrifying protagonist...

WARP ZONES Intros (3:22) Previous History (14:33) Development (26:28) Retro Recollections (51:15) Story (57:15) Gameplay (1:15:00) Ridley's Believe It Or Not! (2:00:15) Presentation (2:09:15) Final Thoughts (2:19:13)

THE SHOW NOTES

Find & support my guests: Matt Storm - Fun and Games | Reignite Chris Dominguez - A Novel Console | Consoles N Stuff

The Main Quest is brought to you by the supporters on Patreon SeekYeWisdom - Chris Coplien - Eric Gess - XeroSam - LowFiveAlex - Vanfernal - Leathco - RyanPlayerOne - Poppy The Masked Keaton - Lars Uncle - B-Ross - Aiden Bisco - Raging Demon - Rob Worthen

To easily submit your own Retro Recollections or hang out with other like-minded gamers, come join the Discord

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Enjoy this free preview of a Patreon exclusive episode!

THE SHOW NOTES

Find & support my guest over at: Toby VonDoom and Secret Levels Shane and Retro Hangover Phil and Deleted Saves | BlueSky

All of the music contained in the full episode can be enjoyed on Spotify

The Main Quest is brought to you by the supporters on Patreon SeekYeWisdom - Chris Coplien - Eric Gess - XeroSam - LowFiveAlex - Vanfernal - Leathco - RyanPlayerOne - Poppy The Masked Keaton - Lars Uncle - B-Ross - Aiden Bisco - Raging Demon - Rob Worthen

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Springfield deserves better. Bart chases his homework through a janky hub world, awkward mini-games, and one of Acclaim's messiest licensed efforts. Leatcho returns to break down why this game feels more Shelbyville than Springfield, from the chaotic design to the surprising development story of Bill Williams. Plus: community retro recollections and plenty of Simpsons references along the way.

WARP ZONES

Aliens, Ghosts & Oblivion (3:42) Previous History's & Development (19:00) Retro Recollections & Story (36:41) Gameplay (49:02) Back That Ad Up (1:27:08) Presentation (1:33:51) Final Thoughts (1:40:27)

THE SHOW NOTES

Find & support my guest over at The Afterglow | Grimglow

The Main Quest is brought to you by the supporters on Patreon SeekYeWisdom - Chris Coplien - Eric Gess - XeroSam - LowFiveAlex - Vanfernal - Leathco - RyanPlayerOne - Poppy The Masked Keaton - Lars Uncle - B-Ross - Aiden Bisco - Raging Demon - Rob Worthen

To easily submit your own Retro Recollections or hang out with other like-minded gamers, come join the Discord

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The Ghoulcade returns!

Phil and I sink our fangs into Super Castlevania IV! Konami resurrects their spooky NES franchise and refines what Castlevania actually plays like. Refining controls, messing up timelines and dividing fans. Remake? Reboot? Or just one of the weirdest Castlevania games out there?

WARP ZONES

AI Movies & RPG's (4:39) Previous History's (20:25) Development (30:29) Retro Recollections (51:49) Story (1:01:54) Gameplay (1:08:18) Sucks To Suck (1:34:11) Presentation (1:47:19) Final Thoughts (2:00:37)

THE SHOW NOTES

Find & support my guest over at Deleted Saves | X | Bluesky

The Main Quest is brought to you by the supporters on Patreon SeekYeWisdom - Chris Coplien - Eric Gess - XeroSam - LowFiveAlex - Vanfernal - Leathco - RyanPlayerOne - Poppy The Masked Keaton - Lars Uncle - B-Ross - Aiden Bisco - Raging Demon - Rob Worthen

To easily submit your own Retro Recollections or hang out with other like-minded gamers, come join the Discord

Subscribe: RSS | YouTube | Apple | Spotify | and More