Still Loading Podcast

Wrapping up backlog month this year is a doozy of a game that took me over 80 hours to beat it along with it's DLC. I am joined by my Still Muppeting (join the patreon to listen) co-host with the mo-host, Doug Lief, to talk about Horizon Forbidden West.

This game is a text book example of the "bigger must be better" philosophy in sequels, and largely... it works! Doug and I had a lot of fun playing through and talking about this game. It was a game that was hard for me to put down. Even now writing this nearly 7 months after beating it I just wanna go back and play it again. We talk about what changes were made to the Horizon formula, the expansion of the world/lore and of course it's amazing story.

Follow Nostalgium Arcanum on Bluesky HERE

Listen to Nostalgium Arcanum HERE

Check out Nostalgium Arcanum on Patreon HERE

Shout-out Song: Shafts of Sunlight Artist: Mel Decision, Treyt Original Composer(s): Alexis Smith, DarkMessenger, Joe Smith, Jonathan Williams, Joris de Man Album: N/A https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR04983

End Song: The Edgerunner with Blazing Hair Artist: Treyt Original Composer(s): Alexis Smith, DarkMessenger, Joe Smith, Jonathan Williams, Joris de Man Album: N/A https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR04596

Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast

Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/

Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

Sequels are hard man. It's super challenging to take what made the first game in a series good, update it, make it fresh and more challenging while also not alienating new players coming to the series for the first time. I'm not sure if today's game entirely succeeds at this but it puts in one of the better efforts for a sequel. This week I am joined by Mike aka Dongled from the YouTube channel of the same name to talk about Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest!

With a new character coming to the table and a familiar one leaving, the titular character no less, this game was surprisingly risky for the developer of the game, Rare, to make. Like I said above, finding that balance of new and exciting but warm and familiar, is tough to do; but Rare somehow managed to pull it off.

Mike and I talk about the new things they added to the game, new themes/world settings, the music and so much more.

Go play Donkey Kong County 2

Follow Mike on Bluesky HERE Check out Dongled on YouTube HERE

Follow XVGM Radio on Bluesky HERE Listen to XVGM Radio HERE

Shout-out Song: All Aboard the Glitter Express Artist: Light Pillar Original Composer: David Wise Album: N/A https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03126

End Song: By Your Side *Donkey Kong Country 2* Artist: Mega Ran & K-Murdock (Bits & Rhymes) Original Composer: David Wise Album: Forever Famicom DLC 2 https://megarankmurdock.bandcamp.com/album/forever-famicom-dlc-2

Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast

Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/

Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

This week on the show we drink some rusty nails and go into the underbelly of NYC. All for revenge. An also for bullet time of course. This on the show we are talking about Max Payne! Helping me break down Max's slow descent into madness is returning guest Phil Morgan from the Deleted Saves podcast! Between super bad film noir monologues (mostly from me) and some intelligent discussion of the game (mostly from Phil), we break down everything this game has to offer. With a healthy dose of Sam Lake appreciation too!

Follow Deleted Saves on Bluesky HERE! Listen to Delete Saves HERE!

Check out Phil's Art HERE!

Shout-out Song: Flight 142 Artist: Sabrepulse Original Composer: N/A Album: Paragon https://sabrepulse.bandcamp.com/album/paragon

End Song: Where'd You Find That Acid? Artist: Sabrepulse Original Composer: N/A Album: Paragon https://sabrepulse.bandcamp.com/album/paragon

Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast

Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/

Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

Two years ago I finally crossed the original Sonic the Hedgehog game off my backlog. I am following up that episode by covering the sequel for backlog month this year! I am joined by returning guests, Zach from the Classic Gaming Brothers Podcast and my good friend Jordan Kuhns to break down the speedy hedgehog's sequel, Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

As always I ask the age old question, which name for the antagonist is better... Dr Egghead or Dr Robotnik? But we also talk about the game and what not.

Follow Classic Gaming Brothers on Bluesky HERE Check out their Podcast/Website HERE

Follow Jordan on Bluesky HERE

Shout-out Song: Sky High Artist: NoTuX Original Composer: Masato Nakamura Album: N/A https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03613

End Song: Chemical Burn Artist: OverShield Original Composer: Masato Nakamura Album: N/A https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03495

Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast

Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/

Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

There are monumentally important games that come out and don't get the recognition they deserve. They are heralded by the people who have played it as one of the best and many game developers cite it as an inspiration. Andre from Fine Time joins me on this one to dive into the Quintet SNES launch title ActRaiser. ActRaiser is one of the games I described above. A game that doesn't get as much recognition even though it deserves it and is cited by game devs as a inspiration and building block for games to come.

Dre and I break all this down. We discuss what makes this game unique, strategies for ruling our people, cherub cheeks and a whole lotta biblical references.

Follow Andre on Bluesky HERE Follow Fine Time on Bluesky HERE Check out Fine Time's Link Tree HERE

Shout-out Song: Thy Followers Artist: Russell Cox Original Composer: Yuzo Koshiro Album: FX3 Remastered https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR00745

End Song: Fillmore Freestyle Artist: MkVaff Original Compsoer: Yuzo Koshiro Album: N/A https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR00211

Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast

Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/

Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

Only in the last few years have I finally delved into the Remedy-verse of video games. Two years ago I played Alan Wake for the first time and this year my Patrons chose Max Payne as one of my backlog month games (an episode on which you will hear in a month or so!). I also played Control this year.

This game is just straight vibes man. It builds such a fully realized world and it was a joy to both explore it and discuss it in this episode. I am joined by Matt Storm from the "Fun" & Games Podcast and Try from My Life in Gaming to break down the game that basically started the Remedy-verse as we know it today! We discuss the skill trees, the exploration, the story. We cover it all and you should REALLY play this game before getting to the spoiler section of the episode.

Follow Matt on Bluesky HERE Check out "Fun" & Games Podcast HERE

Check out My Life in Gaming on Bluesky HERE Check out My Life in Gaming on YouTube HERE

Shout-out Song: Survivors Artist: Jake Kaufman Album: FX3 Remastered https://virt.bandcamp.com/album/fx3-remastered

End Song: Choppastyle Artist: Jake Kaufman Album: FX3 Remastered https://virt.bandcamp.com/album/fx3-remastered

Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast

Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/

Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

We come to speak of the glory of.... HERCUFLEAS! This week on the show Dexter Morrill returns to break down episode 14 of the Super Mario Bros. Super Show! We go back to mythological times and learn about the very real Great Balls of Fire that King Koopa wants to steal to.... roast.. marshmellows....

Follow Dexter on social media! Instagram BlueSky

Shout-out Song: Fourty Eight Hours (Super Mario 2) Artist: Dj Cutman Original Composer: Koji Kondo Album: Volume III https://djcutman.bandcamp.com/album/volume-iii

End Song: Underground Pipe Society [Super Mario Bros. 3 - World 7 Map] Artist: DDRKirby(ISQ) Original Composer: Koji Kondo Album: Volume 1 https://ddrkirbyisq.bandcamp.com/album/remixes-volume-1

Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast

Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/

Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

Once in a while a game comes along and enrages you beyond any words you have in your vocabulary but that game simultaneously also provides you with one of the most profound experiences you have ever had playing a video game. NieR Replicant is that game to me. Returning to the show is my good friend Andrew Kinsey from The EXP Point to help me break it all down. We discuss what this game does well, why I loathe it, why its amazing and why I never want to play it again.

Shout-out Song: Ancient Dreams Artist: Dj Mystix, Sabivee Original Composer(s): Kakeru Ishihama, Keigo Hoashi, Keiichi Okabe, Takafumi Nishimura Album: N/A https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR02474

End Song: Kaine (Absolution) Artist: DigiE, Katskachi Original Composer(s): Kakeru Ishihama, Keigo Hoashi, Keiichi Okabe, Takafumi Nishimura Album: N/A https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03390

Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast

Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/

Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

I have been told I NEED to go to Long Island Retro Gaming Expo for years now. And for years I kept making excuses like "Ohhhh I don't wanna drive through NYC" or "Ohhhhh hotels are dumb" etc. But let me tell you. They were all dumb excuses. This convention was amazing. On this episode I talk about my experience at the convention and you will also get to here from a number of really great guests about their experience at the convention! Make sure you follow all their stuff below!

Check out Long Island Retro Gaming Expo HERE!

Yoshil Twitch - Instagram

Try/My Life in Gaming YouTube - Twitch - Bluesky - Instagram - Backloggery

Dan Greenberg Bluesky

G to the Next Level Twitch - YouTube - Bluesky - Instagram

AshSaidHi Website - Bluesky - Instagram - Twitch

Shout-out Song: Miranda's Last Dream Artist: Ultrasyd Album: Chipsters EP Remastered https://ultrasyd.bandcamp.com/album/chipsters-ep-remastered

Audio Clip Songs: 1-Stickerbrush Symphony 2-Aquarium Park 3-Astral Observatory 4-Cianwood City/Ecruteak City Artist: Helynt Original Composer(s): 1-David Wise 2-Tomoya Ohtani 3-Koji Kondo 4-Go Ichinose Album: Super Lofi World https://gamechops.com/super-lofi-world/

End Song: Gravitational Collapse Artist: Ultrasyd Album: Who Cares https://ultrasyd.bandcamp.com/album/who-cares

Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast

Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/

Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

The NES in North America got 677 games. In Japan there was over 1000 games released. In this episode I chat with returning guest Joe Bourrie to talk about a Kickstarter he has going on to get a book he has worked over 5 years on published, it's called "Beyond the NES". Beyond the NES is a curated look at games that came out on the Famicom only in Japan and have yet to be introduced to North American gamers in any meaningful way. This book is Joe's attempt to remedy that unfamiliarity and I would say does so REALLY well.

I tasked Joe with finding comparable Famicom exclusive games to some of our more well known titles on the NES in North America. Love Zelda? There are some cool games we didn't get that you may like. What about Mega Man? There are a bunch of cool games that we didn't get that might scratch that itch. Beyond the NES is a great look into what we missed in North America on the NES and is well worth supporting.

Follow Joe on Bluesky HERE Check out the Kickstarter for Beyond the NES HERE Check out Joe's Etsy shop HERE

Shout-out Song: Trip to the Tropics (Star Tropics) Artist: Dj Cutman Original Composer: Yoshio Hirai Album: Volume III https://djcutman.bandcamp.com/album/volume-iii

End Song: Mario's Rooftop Party Artist: Dj Cutman Original Composer: Koji Kondo Album: Volume IV https://djcutman.bandcamp.com/album/volume-iv

Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast

Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/

Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod