Old Game Boys

In our last main level, Bioware took us to a Wuxia-inspired fantasy world in Jade Empire. In this week's bonus level, Steve and Korwin take you to a variety of other imagined RPG settings they'd really love to see. With wacky mechanics like cartoon logic and wilder concepts like creating downstream progression for your MLM scheme, which RPG setting would you most want to see?

Games referenced include...

Baldur’s Gate, Barkley: Shut Up and Jam Gaiden, Bully, Captain Tsubasa, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, Cuphead, Dragon Quest, EA Sports College Football, Epic Mickey, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, Golf Story, Grand Theft Auto VI, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Inazuma Eleven, Jade Empire, Kingdom Hearts, Luck Be A Landlord, Madden NFL, Mass Effect, Mouse: PI for Hire, NBA Street, Paper Mario, Persona 4, Pokemon Red and Blue, Resident Evil (2002), Rollercoaster Tycoon, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, Sonic Frontiers, Sonic and the Black Knight, Sonic and the Secret Rings, Sonic x Shadow Generations, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Yu-Gi-Oh! Nightmare Troubadour, Yu-Gi-Oh! The Eternal Duelist Soul, Yu-Gi-Oh! The Sacred Cards

Wherein the Old Game Boys' Awards are all tallied,

Bioware is finally confronted,

And the fun factor of Jade Empire is decided.

Steve and Korwin have come far, from borderland school to the ruins of Dirge, and now the fate of Jade Empire depends on the decisions before them. With a fantastical, Wuxia-inspired martial arts adventure behind them and two vastly different reviews ahead, the Old Game Boys ready for your inevitable listening in the podcast medium of your choice.

Games referenced include...

Anthem, Baldur’s Gate, Baldur’s Gate 3, Bioshock, Chrono Trigger, Civilization IV, Dark Souls, Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening, Divine Divinity, Divinity: Original Sin II, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Dynasty Warriors, Fire Emblem, Galaga, God of War, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Ikaruga, Jade Empire, John Woo’s Stranglehold, Mass Effect, Mass Effect: Andromeda, Max Payne, Neverwinter Nights, Psychonauts, Resident Evil (2002), Resident Evil 4, Shadow of the Colossus, Sifu, Star Wars: Fall of the Old Republic, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Tales of Symphonia, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, The Witcher, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Having just blasted through Sonic 3 & Knuckles with blinding speed, Steve and Korwin decided to look into some of the older Sonic and Knuckles comics. And boy, did they have some issues! This pun pales in comparison to those uttered within the pages of these weathered old comic books, and arguably, it is those very puns that made one of our cohosts the way he is today.

This bonus level, the Old Game Boys are here to take you through some of these debatably sacred texts of old, including such classics as...

• Sonic the Hedgehog #13
• Sonic & Knuckles
• Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble
• Knuckles' Chaotix
• Super Sonic vs. Hyper Knuckles
• Sonic's Friendly Nemesis Knuckles
• Knuckles the Echidna: The Dark Legion

That many Knuckles books in one episode!? You gotta be ECHIDNAing me! (Hey, they can't all be winners.) Give it a listen! And in a few short weeks, come back to hear all about Jade Empire!

The blog referenced in this episode is "Thanks, Ken Penders." Read more about it by selecting the link above!

Games referenced include...

Jade Empire, Knuckles’ Chaotix, Myst, Resident Evil, Sonic & Knuckles, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood,, Sonic Superstars, Sonic Unleashed, Sonic the Fighters, Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble, Super Mario World, Tails Adventure, Tails Skypatrol, Tomb Raider

Ba-da, da-da-da, da-da! (crash) COME ON!

That's right, it's another twofer! With the latest in lock-on technology, the Old Game Boys lock in on two great games combined into one incredible title: Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and Sonic & Knuckles. Learn more about which shield is the best shield, which Badnik is Doctor Robotnik's favorite, how involved the King of Pop may or may not have been in the composition of this game's soundtrack, and how to pronounce Hydrocity Zone! All this and more await you in this attitude-packed agenda!

Games referenced include...

Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Banjo-Kazooie, DragonBall Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3, Duck Hunt, Hunt: Showdown 1896, Jade Empire, Minecraft, Secret Agent Barbie, Sonic & Knuckles Collection, Sonic 3D Blast, Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic CD, Sonic Generations, Sonic Jam, Sonic Mania, Sonic Mega Collection, Sonic Mega Collection Plus, Sonic Origins, Sonic R, Sonic Spinball, Sonic X Shadow Generations, Sonic and Knuckles, Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Super Mario World, Super Metroid, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Sims

Having finished fresh playthroughs of Super Mario World (the game), Korwin-acus and Mega Steve take another trip to Videoland to experience Super Mario World (the Saturday morning cartoon)! Learn all about the adventures of Mario and Luigi (that's MAMA Luigi to you!), Yoshi, Princess Toadstool, and the rest of the dumb Flintstones. Plus, as a bonus, we get to experience the daring exploits of Kevin Keene, aka. Captain N: The Game Master. Check it out!

Games referenced include...

Beast Machines: Transformers, Beast Wars: Transformers, Castlevania, Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Cuphead, Donkey Kong Country, Dragon Quest, Dragon’s Lair, Ducktales, Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy IV, Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy VII, Kid Icarus, Max Payne, Mega Man, Metal Gear Solid, Metroid, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Sonic & Knuckles, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, Super Metroid, Tales of Symphonia, Tetris

Buckle up, buckaroos. You're in for a WORLD of fun this time! This month, Steve and Korwin take a ride with Yoshi into the SNES classic, Super Mario World! In this game, Mario, Luigi, and that lovable green scamp, Yoshi, go toe-to-toe with Bowser's seven children. (Six if you're Korwin and just happened to forget one.)

Games referenced include...

Altered Beast, Devil World, Doki Doki Panic, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest, Ducktales, F-Zero, Final Fantasy VII, Gunstar Heroes, Kaizo Mario World, Luigi’s Mansion, Luigi’s Mansion 3, Mario Kart 64, Mario Party, OutRun, Pokemon Red Version and Pokemon Blue Version,, Sonic & Knuckles, Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles, Space Harrier, Star Fox (1993), Star Fox (2026), Star Fox 64, Star Fox Zero, Super Dram World 3, Super Mario 3D World: Bowser’s Fury, Super Mario 64, Super Mario Advance, Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario Bros. 2: The Lost Levels, Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario Land, Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins, Super Mario Odyssey, Super Mario World, Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island, Super Smash Bros. Melee, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Yoshi’s Story

When last we met, we played Secret Agent Barbie - a game that was strangely nostalgic in spite of never having played it previously. It got ol' Korwin and Steve thinking about other old games we both felt a soft spot for, regardless of their overall quality.

Games referenced include...

Bad Dudes, Barbie Fairy Tales, Barbie as Princess Bride, Chrono Trigger, Dragon Quest, Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride, Faith: The Unholy Trinity, Jumpstart First Grade, Jumpstart Kindergarten, Little Computer People, Math Blasters, Mischief Maker, Myst, Pokemon Red and Blue Version, RoboCop: Rogue City, Rollercoaster Tycoon, Secret Agent Barbie, Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic Adventure 2 Battle, Sonic Free Riders, Sonic Riders, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Speedy Gonzales, Star Wars: Dark Forces, Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Land, Super Mario World, Tiny Toon Adventures: Babs’s Big Break, Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue, Wishbone and the Amazing Odyssey,

You asked for it, and the Old Game Boys delivered! The overwhelming winner of our second Audience Choice poll was unsurprisingly Secret Agent Barbie! This month, Steve and Korwin doll themselves up and embark on a game of Tactical Barbiespionage Action!

Games referenced include...

007: First Light, Adventures with Barbie: Ocean Discovery, Barbie (1983), Barbie (1991), Barbie Beach Vacation, Barbie Cool Looks Fashion Designer, Barbie Cool Stuff For Computers, Barbie Explorer, Barbie Fashion Designer, Barbie Fashion Pack Games, Barbie Generation: Girl Gotta Groove, Barbie Jewelry Designer, Barbie Magic Hair Styler, Barbie Nail Designer, Barbie Print and Play, Barbie Race & Ride, Barbie Sticker Designer, Barbie Storymaker, Barbie Talk With Me, Barbie Team Gymnastics, Barbie Vacation Adventure, Barbie and Her Magical House, Barbie as Princess Bride, Barbie as Sleeping Beauty, Barbie: Digital Makeover, Barbie: Game Girl, Barbie: Magic Genie Adventure, Barbie: Magic Genie Bottle, Barbie: Pet Rescue, Barbie: Retro Rewind, Barbie: Super Model, Barbie: Super Sports, Batman Vengeance, Bioshock, Call of Duty, Crash Bandicoot, Detective Barbie 2: The Vacation Mystery, Detective Barbie in the Mystery of the Carnival Caper, Detective Barbie: The Mystery Cruise, Disney Infinity, Half-Life, Halo: Combat Evolved, Kelly Club, Magic Fairy Tales: Barbie as Rapunzel, Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, Math Blasters, Metal Gear Solid, Minecraft, Rollercoaster Tycoon, Secret Agent Barbie, Secret Agent Barbie: Royal Jewels Mission, Shenmue, Skylanders, Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus,, Stardew Valley, Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People, Super Mario World, Tomb Raider, Working Woman Barbie, Yakuza 0

What makes for a compelling narrative in video games? The story? The lived experience? Perhaps a blend of the two? For this week's bonus level, Steve and Korwin take a step back from Half-Life and go full-tilt into a discussion on narrative experiences in video games!

Games referenced include...

007 First Light, Assassin’s Creed, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Bioshock, Call of Duty, Caves of Qud, Cyberpunk 2077, Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, Death Stranding, Deus Ex, Donkey Kong Bananza, Dwarf Fortress, Dying Light, Fate/Stay Night, Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy VII, Forza Horizon 4, Frostpunk, Frostpunk 2, Gears 5, Ghost of Tsushima, God of War (2018), Hades, Half-Life, Half-Life 2, Hitman: World of Assassinations, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Marvel’s Avengers, Max Payne, Monster Hunter, Need for Speed Underground, No More Heroes, RESIDENT EVIL requiem, Red Dead Redemption 2, Rimworld, STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl, Secret Agent Barbie, Shadow of the Colossus, Sid Meier’s Civilization, Spec Ops: The Line, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Steins;Gate, Super Mario 3D World: Bowser’s Fury, Telltale Games’ The Walking Dead, The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, The Last of Us: Part Two, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom,, The Sims, Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4, Tsukihime, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End

This is the game that put Valve on the map. This is a game that set out to push the envelope on what the first person shooter genre was capable of. This month, take a trip with Steve and Korwin to the perilous halls of Black Mesa as they discuss their time with Gordon Freeman in Half-Life.

Next month, the Old Game Boys tackle the game that YOU voted on: Secret Agent Barbie!

Games referenced include...

Bioshock, Black Mesa, Counter-Strike, Crash Bandicoot, DOOM, Dark Souls, Day of Defeat, Diablo, God of War (2018), Goldeneye 007, Half-Life, Half-Life 2, Half-Life Source, Half-Life: Alyx, Left 4 Dead, Left 4 Dead 2, Metroid Prime, Portal, Portal 2, Quake, Quake II, Red Dead Redemption, Secret Agent Barbie, Silent Hill 2, Spec Ops: The Line, Star Wars: Dark Forces, Starcraft, Team Fortress Classic, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, The Legend of Zelda, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos