Retro Spectives

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is a game that served as direct inspiration for titles like Dark Souls and Hollow Knight despite being released in 1997. Its influence can be seen not only in these games, but in the entire genre of metroidvania. Has Symphony of the Night stood the test of time or does it wallow in the shadow of those it inspired? On today’s episode, we answer this question by examining the following:

• Is having deviously hidden features a reward for the investigative
  gamer, or just cryptic nonsense?
• Can the aesthetics of a 22 year old game stand up to modern
  offerings?
• Is Castlevania’s soundtrack truly a symphony, or just nails on a
  chalkboard?

If you enjoyed the show and would like to continue the conversation, feel free to head on over to our Discord which you can  find here or on our website. Thanks for listening!

Prince of Persia: Warrior Within was a stark departure from its prequel in terms of aesthetic. What was originally a whimsical adventure turned into a dark and edgy romp. But it also gained a far more sophisticated combat system and tried to build on its inspired platforming mechanics. Does it succeed in bringing these elements together, or is it all edge with no substance?

In today’s episode, we look at:

• What exactly is so special about Prince of Persia’s platforming?
• Does the ‘free-form’ combat system deliver on its promise of being a dynamic and reactive experience?
• Just how many bugs can one game have?

All these and more, in the third episode of Retro Spectives!

If you enjoyed the show and would like to continue the conversation then feel free to head on over to our Discord which you can  find here or on our website. Thanks for listening!

When Banjo-Kazooie came out, it bucked the trend of 3d platformers. It had no interest in really testing your platforming chops, honed from hundreds of hours of playing Super Mario 64. It didn’t want to put you through a gauntlet of combat challenges. It simply presented a series of beautiful and detailed worlds for you to explore to your hearts content.

On this week’s episode, Pat and James ask:

• Do Banjo Kazooie’s controls still hold up today? They were made in the early eras of 3d platforming, after all.
• Exactly how much fun is it to pick up hundreds of collectables?
• Is Patrick a bad guy for not listening to the music?

Join us as we figure out if Banjo-Kazooie has stood the test of time!
 

If you enjoyed the show and would like to continue the conversation, feel free to head on over to our Discord which you can  find here or on our website. Thanks for listening!

In this inaugural cast of Retro Spectives, Pat and James seek the truth by breaking down the following questions:

• Just how difficult is Doom? It was hard in the past, but have all our years of popping heads in call of duty made it a cakewalk?
• Are its levels a masterpiece of design or just confusing mazes?
• How many toxic pits will we go diving into for some bullets or in hope of finding a secret?

We answer these questions and more on the very first episode of Retro Spectives!

If you enjoyed the show and would like to continue the conversation then feel free to head on over to our Discord which you can  find here or on our website. Thanks for listening!