The Daily Daze

Sega's Genesis (Mega Drive) and Nintendo's Super Nintendo - they were the topic of every school debate in the early '90s, but decades later, these rival machines STILL trigger passionate reactions in dedicated fans. Which system really was "the best?" Usually, it depends on who's being asked, but hindsight never lies. Looking back, one system was great...but the other became timeless. One was money well spent, but the other became transcendent...its titles still a source of inspiration for aspiring game design. One is remembered...but one is still relevant.

Visit lostnostalgia.com for more old-school, wistful goodness.


Thanks to Decktonic for the opening/closing tune.

Sonic the Hedgehog is still a gaming superstar, but his games appeal to different audiences. Some prefer his classic 2-D excursions; others like his more free-roaming adventures. And yet, the complaints are rife for either approach: "2-D Sonic can't do anything new/3-D Sonic misses the point!" Are these naysayers being unreasonable...or might they have a point? Might they be noticing...a certain inconvenient truth?

Visit lostnostalgia.com for more retro news and reviews.


Thanks to Decktonic for the intro/outro tune

The "switcheroo" or "body swap" is an oft-repeated trope in cartoons, books, and film...but the premise stems from a singular source. After author Mary Rodgers imagined a daughter swapping bodies with her pretty mother, a new franchise--nay, a new genre--was born. Today's show examines the freaky franchise five times over: 1 book, 4 films. Are they kitschy classics or simply kitsch? 

Some are definitely freakier than others.

One’s imagination is precious--it's the tool one uses to visualize the spoken, the inferred, the otherwise unseen. But do modern games, what with their HD photorealism...rob people of this fundamental, very human ability? Maybe games don't need to be quite so...on the nose.

Visit www.lostnostalgia.com for more old-school goodness.


Thanks to Decktonic for the tune.

Nintendo loves remaking and remastering its ancient games, including the 2024 rerelease of Mario vs. Donkey Kong. But with all the reboots and redos, why doesn't the Big N bring back the ape's best--the Game Boy's phenomenal Donkey Kong '94? Isn't it time to revisit this tragically neglected classic?

Please visit www.lostnostalgia.com for more critical thought and retrospection on all things vintage.


Thanks to Decktonic for the music. 

For nearly 29 years, Charles Martinet had provided Nintendo's Super Mario with his iconic voice. All the "wahoos" and "mama mias" came courtesy of the actor's style and invention. In a very real sense, Martinet was Mario; he'd become the face of the world-recognized star. And that, perhaps, was exactly the problem. In 2023, The Big N "retired" Martinet in favor of an unknown performer with little experience...leaving fans sad and plenty baffled. Why did Nintendo drop its long-running celebrity? The reasons are one of jealousy and money; as this episode explores, no servant shall rise above his master.

Please visit www.lostnostalgia.com for more critical thought and retrospection on all things vintage.


Thanks to Decktonic for the music.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a huge hit, but the fans must decide--does it support, or subvert, the character's lore and legacy? Mr. Pacario compares the film with Mario's (once?) accepted origin, examining the complements and contradictions between the classic canon and its big-screen counterpart. The fairy tale versus the blockbuster, essentially...

Swing by www.lostnostalgia.com for more thoughtful perspectives and retrospectives on the world of popular art and lost media, the niche and nostalgic, plus everything in-between!


Thanks to decktonic.com for the opening/closing tune!

The illustrious Studio Ghibli is one of the industry's preeminent leaders in theatrical anime, and standing at its center is the legendary animator and director, Hayao Miyazaki. Indeed, his name is almost synonymous with the studio itself thanks to his many mesmerizing films, from the whimsical My Neighbor Totoro to the sometimes grim and violent Princess Mononoke. But one work stands apart from his others--not because it's the best, but because it's the weirdest. And most inexplicable. And maybe...just maybe...a little bit flawed. For this podcast, we examine the beautifully rendered but often nonsensical, Ponyo. Does it honor the Ghibli brand? Or is this film just too fishy for its own good?

Please visit www.lostnostalgia.com for more anime, gaming, and retro goodness!


Thanks to decktonic.com for the bumper music

Not known for its shooters, the Super Nintendo still hosted one of the greatest shoot 'em ups of the 16-bit age--the inimitable Pocky and Rocky. The game's obscure status, however, meant that millions missed experiencing this sublime romp...until now, that is. Thanks to developer Natsume, the series returns as Pocky and Rocky Reshrined, a remake/sequel hybrid ready to be played by a new generation of gamers. But, is it still good? That's, hmmm, a complicated question.

Early anime lovers from decades ago know of Project A-KO--it was one of the 1980's great anime films, serving as both an introduction for new fans of the medium, and a brave, farcical sendup for those already well-acquainted with the art form. But, years later, does this brash fantasy of beautiful, superpowered school girls raining destruction across a picturesque cityscape still entertain? Still hold relevancy? Still make sense? Pacario provides his own analysis, deciding whether Project A-KO is a-ok!