Smashterpieces

The clock tower bell chimes, the shadow of the moon looms close. A sense of despair fills the air. Surely this couldn’t actually happen, right? The sad truth is that it can, and it is. We have three days. Today’s episode is to discuss a game close to both of our hearts, Smashterpiece #30: The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. Why is it that we love this game so much? Is this potentially the best game on our entire list? Why is the world of Termina so impactful? What about that sweet sweet music? All this and more in today’s episode, including our plans for the latest character release.

Join us next time as we set off on an adventure through the Isle O’ Hags in Smashterpiece #31: Banjo-Tooie

We may be done with Castlevania on our main lineup, but it’s impossible to ignore the fact that we haven’t touched one of its most iconic entries. This bonus episode features our discussion on one of the most famous genre shifts in gaming history, establishing itself as the second half of an entire genre title. It’s really too bad that we’re both just sorta lukewarm on the whole thing. Today on Smashterpieces we’re talking about Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, the first of the franchise to be classified as “Igavania” and the second half of the “Metroidvania” name. How do we feel about comparing this game to the other half, Super Metroid? Why do we feel like this game has such a poor sense of progression? And what are our thoughts on the Inverted Castle? All this and more in today’s bonus episode!

We’ll hopefully be back in a few weeks with our episode on Smashterpiece #30: The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, stay tuned!

A shower of beautiful prismatic shards falls down all around us, raining from the heavens in a sparkling display of splendor. Looking around at this wonder of nature, only one thought crosses my mind… We better get under shelter, those things are probably falling at terminal velocity. While we’re there, let’s talk about Kirby! It’s time for Smashterpiece #29: Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, a game where you can turn Kirby into a refrigerator. This fact makes it the greatest game of all time, this is not up for debate. We’re joined by Neal Ronaghan of Nintendo World Report to provide his further knowledge of the Kirby universe and provide a direct comparison to Kirby 64’s predecessor Kirby’s Dream Land 3. What do we think of the copy ability merging powers that this game gives Kirby? What are some of our favorite combos? How good is this game’s soundtrack? Gundam? All that and more in today’s episode!

Join us next time when we’re met with a terrible fate in a doomed world in Smashterpiece #30: The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask!

We have collected, collected some more, and then collected all over again. The collecting has worked to forge us into higher beings, made powerful by the immense potassium we have ingested that would kill any lesser ape were they to devour the bananas we have endured. Now, in our gluttonous sleep, there is only one question left to ask: how the hell is this one of Joe’s favorite games of all time? That’s right, we’re back with our episode on the infamous Smashterpiece #28: Donkey Kong 64. What are the host’s differing views on this controversial game that ends our time in the 90’s? Why exactly does Joe like this game so much? How are the bosses and the dynamic soundtrack? All this and more in today’s episode!

Join us next time when we take off for the stars to collect some shards in Smashterpiece #29: Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards!

Back in the olden days of 2019 we spent about three months both playing Final Fantasy VII, one of the most iconic and influential JRPGs ever made, for the first time. As luck would have it this was done just in time for Square Enix to release the first part of their heavily requested and highly anticipated remake. So how did it turn out? Is it comparable to the original in terms of quality, or should Square not have bothered? What do we think of some of the changes they made? How is everybody’s characterization in comparison to the original? Did the soundtrack meet our high expectations? How about that ending? All that and more in this very special bonus episode!

We’ll be back in a few weeks with our regular episode on Donkey Kong 64, see you then!

Pull out your camera, grab a handful of apples, and tune up your poke flute, we’re going on a safari! We’ve finally hit our first trip into the biggest media franchise in existence, even if it happens to be through a spinoff game. It’s time for Smashterpiece #27: Pokémon Snap, a strange little rail shooter where your only real goal is to get the best shot (or a lot of times any shot at all). What do our hosts remember about growing up during the height of Pokémania? Why is this such a bizarre game and where did it even come from? How do they feel about having summoned a sequel after 20 years through their words alone? All that and more in today’s episode!

Join us next time when we collect… a lot… of things in Smashterpiece #28: Donkey Kong 64

It’s taken almost two years, but we’ve finally made it into a time period where the reason for the season exists. It’s time for a very special episode about the original Super Smash Bros, the game that started it all. We talk way too long about this game, from its humble 12 character roster, to the lack of side specials, to our fun with the side modes like Break the Targets and Board the Platforms. Not to mention the origin story of the franchise, our favorite stages, the most forgotten original music in the franchise’s 20 year history, we leave no stone unturned!

Join us next time as we raise our cameras and try to get the perfect shot in Smashterpiece #27: Pokemon Snap

We’ve finally arrived, riding into Hyrule Castle with naught but a fairy at our side and an ocarina in our pocket. We’ve got a job to do. It’s time for Smashterpiece #26, one of the most famously influential games of all time, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time! This time we’re joined by Sol, the designer of our lovely logo, to talk about the game that wrote the book on how to make a 3D action adventure game. What are some of the most interesting things that can be learned from taking a closer look at this game? What are our favorite and least favorite dungeons to traverse? How was our experience going through a randomized version of the game after the fact? All this and more in today’s episode!

Join us next time for a special episode where we discuss the first reason for the season (or in this case podcast): Super Smash Bros!

Who’s footprints are these…? AHA! HQ, we have located a new episode of Smashterpieces! Send reinforcements! Meanwhile we’ll get our sneaking gear ready and head off into the Alaskan wilderness. It’s time for Smashterpiece #25: Metal Gear Solid! For the first and possibly only time both hosts played two quite different versions of the game, giving them a chance to compare and contrast the pros and cons of each one. Will Melanie, representing the original PlayStation classic, be able to top Joe, representing the controversial GameCube remake, in a battle of video game comparison? What was the cultural impact of this game back in 1998? What are our experiences with the rest of the Metal Gear series as well? And what do we think of our first truly vocal song? All that and more in today’s episode!

Join us next time as we travel back and forth through time to save Hyrule in Smashterpiece #26: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Hey you! Would you like to see what it’s like to go… even further… BEYOND? No? Well, that’s too bad, because it’s time to focus your ki and transform into a Super Saiyan! Today’s episode is discussing the game representing Son Goku himself, 2018’s Dragon Ball FighterZ. How does this game feel even to those who aren’t going pro any time soon? What should this game mean to long time Dragon Ball fans? And why is most of this episode just Joe gushing about Dragon Ball lore? All this and more in this very special episode of Smashterpieces! Join us next time as we tell you that Geno probably isn’t going to ever be in Smash.