The Old SwitchAroo: Gaming Retro with Mike and Jaymo |A Nintendo Switch Online retro gaming podcast

Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil is putting video games back on the big screen as he puts his spin on how to recreate the experience and sensation of playing a survival horror game into a film. Mike and Jaymo have both checked out the movie, so Jaymo can come at the movie from the perspective of someone that played the games and Mike as someone that saw one of the gimmicky 3D movies once but never played the games. We’ll also touch a little on our experience with Zach Cregger’s other horror films before we get into a very spoiler-filled discussion of the whole movie.

Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy theme song! Subscribe to The Old SwitchAroo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed. You can also join the fun on https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com, where you'll find links to our Discord, social media, and so much more!

(0:00) Intro

(1:15) Resident Evil prior experiences

(4:32) Zach Cregger films

(7:20) Resident Evil (2026)

(1:04:10) NintenDO or NintenDON’T

To hear Zach Cregger share some of his insight into writing and making Weapons, check out the episode he did with fellow WKUK Timmy Williams (and from our Ninja Gaiden episodes) on the horror movie podcast Timmy cohosts, Urn Fulla Popcorn: Episode 22 - Weapons (2025) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPPOQMtd04Q

For a little more of Derick’s opinion on Dolby Vision, you can check out the Underrated movie podcast’s recording of the Next Stages of Movie and Theater Evolution panel from San Diego Comic-Con 2026 where Derick talks a bit about why he likes that format during the first question: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vktTm0OxFsQ

Comedian Jackie Kashian and game designer Andy Ashcraft are locking in for a spoiler-laced talk about Lock’s Quest (Nintendo DS, 2008) with Mike and Jaymo as part of The Old SwitchAroo’s epic quest to research and review every retro game in Nintendo Switch Online’s Nintendo Classics catalog.

In this episode, we discuss how Jackie’s using stand-up comedy to be a force for good and dig back to some old merch that Mike had to explain to his mom, Jaymo nerds out about Andy’s experiences working on Flagen Brothers for the Sega Dreamcast, Jackie shares some memorable gaming moments like the Bonita Zakos from Stretch Panic on the Sony PlayStation, and everybody explains to Mike what gaming on the Nintendo DS was like. In the main event, as we get deep into the world of Lock’s Quest, Andy shares inside perspectives from his role as a creative manager for THQ working with the developer 5th Cell to make Lock’s Quest.

Watch out for spoilers for Lock’s Quest, Planet of the Apes, and Citizen Kane.

Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy theme song! Subscribe to The Old SwitchAroo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com, where you'll find links to our Discord, social media, and so much more!

Game on, everyone.

(0:00) Intro

(1:09) Welcoming Jackie Kashian and Andy Ashcraft

(30:06) Lock’s Quest

(1:10:50) Mini-Game Minute: Components Opponents

(1:15:06) Lock’s Quest (con’t)

(1:20:49) NintenDO or NintenDON’T

(1:21:50) Jackie’s plugs

(1:23:33) Andy’s plugs

(1:24:20) Outro

For more of Jackie Kashian, you can check out her two podcasts, The Dork Forest (https://jackiekashian.com/the-dork-forrest) where she’s having comedians share the things they’re really into and The Jackie and Laurie Show (https://jackieandlaurieshow.com/) with her and Laurie Kilmartin.

For her albums, stand-up specials, tour dates, and more, the one-stop shop is: https://jackiekashian.com/

For more of Andy Ashcraft, you can check out his podcast Ethics and Video Games (https://ethicsandvideogames.com/) that he co-hosted with Shlomo Sher, and Andy also recommends checking out his Schlomo Sher’s related book, Play Nice: The Ethics of Video Games

SPOILER WARNING: In this episode of “The Old SwitchAroo: Screentime,” we debate which episode of X-Men ‘97: Season 2 reigns supreme! Jaymo is once again joined by cosplay influencer Bryan Lee along with returning guest, Ryan “Warboss5” Lay. After recapping each episode with a little amateur poetry, we pit each story from this wild season against one another in a single-elimination bracket until a winner is declared 'Best Episode of X-Men '97: Season Two!'

Want to see more of Bryan’s cosplay & social-activism? Hit him on on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@BryanLee

And on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bryan.s.lee/

Dare you venture into Ryan’s Dungeons & Dragons campaigns? Check out his page at the Dungeon Masters Guild here: https://site.dmsguild.com/browse.php?author=Ryan%20Lay

Enjoy the rockin’ chiptune cover of the X-Men theme? Plenty more where that came from! Check out 8 Bit Composer’s YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@8bitcomposer

Thanks for listening!! Subscribe to The Old SwitchAroo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com, where you'll find links to our Discord, social media, and so much more!

Game on, everyone. 

(0:00) Intro

(1:08) Welcoming Bryan

(2:41) Welcoming Ryan

(6:15) Preliminary Bracket: Round 1

(18:09) Preliminary Bracket: Round 2

(38:14) Preliminary Bracket: Round 3

(55:01) Preliminary Bracket: Round 4

(1:13:25) Semi-Finals Round 1

(1:14:49) Semi-Finals Round 2

(1:16:51) Finals

(1:24:49) Season 1 vs Season 2

(1:27:00) Outro

Scharonne from 40 Something Gamers brings a beat down in beat’em ups Double Dragon (NES, 1988) and Double Dragon II: The Revenge (NES, 1990) with Mike and Jaymo as part of The Old SwitchAroo’s epic quest to research and review every retro game in Nintendo Switch Online’s Nintendo Classics catalog.

In this episode, Scharonne shares his artistic influences, we look at how Double Dragon and Double Dragon II: The Revenge changed when they were both ported from the arcade to the home console and wonder if the losses were worth it, the charm that came from 90s video game movies including the Los Angeles-set mayhem of 1994’s Double Dragon movie, and Jaymo may find some vindication about Zelda II. Finally, Double Dragon may have one of the most unforgivable video game manuals of all time.

Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy theme song! Subscribe to The Old SwitchAroo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com, where you'll find links to our Discord, social media, and so much more!

Game on, everyone.

(0:00) Intro

(1:20) Welcoming Scharonne from 40 Something Gamers

(7:15) Double Dragon

(36:43) NintenDIS-or-DAT

(39:22) Double Dragon (con’t)

(43:17) Double Dragon II: The Revenge

(1:08:30) NintenDO or NintenDON’T

Check out Scharonne on the 40 Something Gamers podcast on all podcast platforms, including Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3YfII057Bl61WCY5WPWkIE

Double Dragon manual: https://www.thegameisafootarcade.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Double-Dragon-Game-Manual-1.pdf  

Double Dragon II manual: https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clv/manuals/en/pdf/CLV-P-NACHE.pdf  

The Man Who Created Double Dragon by Matt Leone | Polygon: https://www.polygon.com/2012/10/12/3495124/the-man-who-created-double-dragon/

“Did Double Dragon have the most random redesigns of any game heroes? The answer: YES!” | NeoGAF: https://www.neogaf.com/threads/did-double-dragon-have-the-most-random-redesigns-of-any-game-heroes-the-answer-yes.479304/

Double Dragon by LRock in 12:04 - SGDQ2018 | Games Done Quick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJ-VKdb2dNE

Double Dragon II: Wander of the Dragons | Metacritic: https://www.metacritic.com/game/double-dragon-ii-wander-of-the-dragons/

The Double Dragon II remake is so bad you shouldn't even waste time reading this review by Chad Sapieha | Financial Post: http://business.financialpost.com/2013/04/09/the-double-dragon-ii-remake-is-so-bad-you-shouldnt-even-waste-time-reading-this-review/

Review: Double Dragon II: Wander of the Dragons by Nikola Suprak | Hard Core Gamer: https://web.archive.org/web/20190502161917/http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2013/04/18/review-double-dragon-ii-wander-of-the-dragons/

Double Dragon II: Wander Of The Dragons review – worst game ever by David Jenkins | Metro GameCentral: http://metro.co.uk/2013/04/15/double-dragon-ii-wander-of-the-dragons-review-worst-game-ever-3616685/

Double Dragon II: The Revenge by sinister1 in 13:01 - SGDQ2018 | Games Done Quick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrhLgH5Rhk0

Stiltskin from the shrugbuds joins the party for some Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (GameCube, 2005) with Mike and Jaymo as part of The Old SwitchAroo’s epic quest to research and review every retro game in Nintendo Switch Online’s Nintendo Classics catalog.

In this episode, we welcome our first fairy tale creature that predates video games, discuss the place for tactical combat in the JRPG genre, try to understand the significance of Anna as a recurring character in the Fire Emblem franchise, weigh the pros and cons of the weapons triangle, and even touch upon how video games can create worlds that explore patterns that can mirror the dangers that human nature produce in the real world.

Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy theme song! Subscribe to The Old SwitchAroo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com, where you'll find links to our Discord, social media, and so much more!

Game on, everyone.

(0:00) Intro

(1:20) Welcoming Stiltskin

(5:46) Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (GameCube)

(1:03:45) Mini-Game Minute: Clash or Pass

(1:10:14) Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (con’t)

(1:33:17) NintenDO or NintenDON’T

Join Stiltskin and the shrugbuds community on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/shrugbuds and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@shrugbuds

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance Manual: https://www.scribd.com/document/505304853/Fire-Emblem-Path-of-Radiance-Manual

My Roommate Won't Stop Sneezing (STILTSKIN - Episode #6) | Shrugbuds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFjOk6tAHjM

Fire Emblem Radiant Dawn Development Staff Interview | Nintendo Dream, April 2007: https://web.archive.org/web/20070618061417/http://www.nindori.com/interview/156FE/index.html

Ancient Language | Serenesforest.net: https://serenesforest.net/path-of-radiance/miscellaneous/ancient-language/

List of characters in Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance | Fire Emblem Wiki: https://fireemblemwiki.org/wiki/List_of_characters_in_Fire_Emblem:_Path_of_Radiance

SSj3Butch returns to the arena to help pit Killer Instinct (SNES, 1994) and Killer Instinct Gold (N64, 1996) to help Mike and Jaymo decide which Killer Instinct reigns supreme as part of The Old SwitchAroo’s epic quest to research and review every retro game in Nintendo Switch Online’s Nintendo Classics catalog.

In this episode, we discuss the video game music that was so good that the SNES release came with an included CD, how robots gave Killer Instinct a mechanical leg up over competitors like Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter, try to disentangle some of the ways that Killer Instinct parodied Street Fighter, and assess whether the XBox One reboot of Killer Instinct ever delivered.

Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy theme song! Subscribe to The Old SwitchAroo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com, where you'll find links to our Discord, social media, and so much more!

Game on, everyone.

(0:00) Intro

(1:00) Welcoming Butch

(4:13) Killer Instinct (SNES) vs Killer Instinct Gold (N64)

(1:03:24) NintenDO or NintenDON’T

Check out SSJ3Butch on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/ssj3butch

Killer Instinct SNES Manual: https://www.videogamemanual.com/snes/Killer%20Instinct%20(USA).pdf

Killer Instinct 64 Manual: https://www.videogamemanual.com/n64/Killer%20Instinct%20Gold%20(USA).pdf

Killer Instinct (Arcade) | The Cutting Room Floor: https://tcrf.net/Killer_Instinct_(Arcade)

FIGHT ON: The Killer Instinct Story (Documentary) | Hold Back to Block: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks4eZoG94Vs

Killer Instinct - All Character Endings! (SNES) | White Boy Gaming: https://youtu.be/f2pzSHWcW7Y?si=yr73297Gm1OIHgCV  

Nintendo 64 - Killer Instinct Gold - Longplay All Endings | ElewPlay: https://youtu.be/Br7rIjgBop4?si=1-H082eD_tWfY8gB

Timmy Williams, part of Whitest Kids U’ Know and co-host of the Urn Fulla Popcorn podcast, is ready to enter the ninja games as he makes his return to The Old SwitchAroo to explore the ninja sequels Ninja Gaiden II (NES, 1990) and Super Ninja Boy (SNES, 1993) with Mike and Jaymo as part of The Old SwitchAroo’s epic quest to research and review every retro game in Nintendo Switch Online’s Nintendo Classics catalog.

In this episode, Timmy shares some of the experiences involved in making Mars, the Whitest Kids U’ Know animated movie that was released to the masses earlier this year with both a limited theatrical run and a Blu-Ray release. Then we get down to business to defeat the games, covering along the way a weird Pepto-Bismol reference, the risque sprites that didn’t make it to the final version of Super Ninja Boy, how Europe had three different non-compatible versions of the NES including one from Mattel, and if anyone working on Ninja Gaiden II was a fan of Lucio Fulci’s The Beyond. Find out if Super Ninja Boy is the game that finally breaks Jaymo!

Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy theme song! Subscribe to The Old SwitchAroo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com, where you'll find links to our Discord, social media, and so much more!

Game on, everyone.

(0:00) Intro

(0:59) Welcoming Timmy Williams

(3:10) Whitest Kids U’ Know - Mars

(11:12) Super Ninja Boy (SNES)

(51:29) Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos (NES)

(1:23:49) NintenDO or NintenDON’T

(1:41:52) Outro

Timmy Williams can be found talking horror movies with his co-host Shandi on Urn Fulla Popcorn: https://urnfullapopcorn.com/  

For more info about the Whitest Kids U’ Know’s final project, the animated movie Mars, check out https://wkukmars.com/ or order it directly from MediaOCD: https://mediaocd.com/product/whitest-kids-u-know-mars-blu-ray/

Ninja Gaiden 2 manual: https://www.thegameisafootarcade.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Ninja-Gaiden-II-The-Dark-Sword-of-Chaos-Game-Manual.pdf

Super Ninja Boy manual: https://www.videogamemanual.com/snes/Super%20Ninja%20Boy%20(USA).pdf

Proto:Super Ninja Boy | The Cutting Room Floor: https://tcrf.net/Proto:Super_Ninja_Boy

Presidential Props, Season 3, Episode 3 | Whitest Kids U’ Know: https://youtu.be/oTNNQIXK9Nk?si=16yFXjXroB0VBitI&t=42

Office Insubordination, Season 2, Episode 9 | Whitest Kids U’ Know: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfrsFiBB_wA

Super Ninja Boy Walkthrough by Dalton Of Zeal | RPGClassics: https://shrines.rpgclassics.com/snes/snb/walkthrough.shtml

NES Longplay [058] Ninja Gaiden II: Dark Sword of Chaos | World of Longplays: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzb4Tonx0WI

Ninja Gaiden II by TheRetroRunner in 10:49 - Awesome Games Done Quick 2025 | Games Done Quick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1qCrkDvpH8

Jennifer Miller Hammel, host of Classical California’s Arcade, is t-spinning her way in to discuss the titanic tuneful tetrad of Tetris (Game Boy, 1989), Tetris (NES, 1989), Tetris DX (Game Boy Color, 1998), and Tetris 99 (Nintendo Switch, 2018) with Mike and Jaymo as part of The Old SwitchAroo’s epic quest to research and review every retro game in Nintendo Switch Online’s Nintendo Classics catalog.

In this episode, Jennifer shares her efforts to get video game music from game rooms to the concert hall, including how she’s brought video game music into both Classical California’s mornings and always streaming on Classical California’s Arcade featuring both video game music and the classical music that influenced it. Everyone shares some of their favorite video game soundtracks, from Street Fighter and Cruis’n USA to Everybody's Gone to the Rapture, and Jennifer gives her perspective on how video game music can follow the same trajectory that John Williams took film scores on to get the music integrated into modern classical music performances.

Once they pick up the controllers, Jennifer helps contextualize the music attached to Tetris, from the now-iconic Tetris theme Korobeiniki and The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy to the original music created for Tetris DX. We’ll also take a very big leap down the rabbit hole that has been the quest to beat Tetris on the NES, including discussing the Classic Tetris World Championship and how players have met every new challenge that has been found in Tetris over the last few years. And Mike will share one of the most unpredictable Tetris reviews he thinks you’ve ever heard.

Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy theme song! Subscribe to The Old SwitchAroo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com, where you'll find links to our Discord, social media, and so much more!

Game on, everyone.

(0:00) Intro

(0:59) Welcoming Jennifer Miller Hammel

(16:45) Tetris (GB)

(50:20) Tetris (NES)

(1:11:53) Tetris DX (Game Boy Color)

(1:19:28) Tetris 99 (Nintendo Switch)

(1:28:53) NintenDO or NintenDON’T

(1:36:25) Outro

Catch Jennifer Miller Hammel in the mornings on Classical California or anytime by checking out the always-streaming Arcade: https://www.classicalcalifornia.org/arcade

Tetris (NES) Manual: https://www.retrogames.cz/manualy/NES/Tetris_(Nintendo)_-_NES_-_Manual.pdf

Tetris DX Manual: https://www.thegameisafootarcade.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Tetris-DX-Game-Manual.pdf

Tetris Opera - Video Games Live (VGL) - Vocals by Jillian Aversa | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1yZEs-hBHo

Objective Ministries Tetris Review: https://objectiveministries.org/zounds/gaming.html

Tetris Official Website - Fun Facts: https://tetris.com/news/fun-facts

First person to play a videogame in space | Guinness World Records: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/109300-first-person-to-play-a-videogame-in-space

Jeopardy! messed up by taking a silly gaming meme at face value by Michael McWhertor | Polygon: https://www.polygon.com/2019/10/9/20906250/jeopardy-tetris-viral-photoshop-joke/

World’s biggest game of Tetris played out on 2,000 drones by Anthony Cuthbertson | The Independent: https://www.the-independent.com/tech/worlds-biggest-game-of-tetris-drones-b2885283.html

Complete History Of The Soviet Union, Arranged To The Melody Of Tetris | pigwiththefaceofaboy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWTFG3J1CP8

Nintendo A Cappella by Redefined: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSBIAGCulDw

The History of Tetris World Records | Summoning Salt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOJlg8g8_yw

Blindfolded speedrunner BlazeingPhoenix is ready to barrel through Donkey Kong (NES, 1986) and Donkey Kong (Game Boy, 1994) with Mike and Jaymo as part of The Old SwitchAroo’s epic quest to research and review every retro game in Nintendo Switch Online’s Nintendo Classics catalog.

In this episode, we talk about the impressive world of blindfolded speedruns and BlazeingPhoenix takes us on his journey into blindfolded speedrunning, including watching Ocarina of Time blindfolded as part of Games Done Quick and trying to beat Kingdom Hearts blindfolded before submitting the first blindfolded Donkey Kong speed run and speedrunning Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition for GDQ Hotfix. Along the way, we’ll also look at how Donkey Kong began design as a Popeye-themed game before evolving to the giant gorilla we all know in a decision that would see Nintendo and Universal Studios face off over the rights to King Kong, what causes the Donkey Kong kill screen, and how Donkey Kong on the Game Boy nearly had a level editor years before Mario Maker would make its debut.

Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy theme song! Subscribe to The Old SwitchAroo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com, where you'll find links to our Discord, social media, and so much more!

Game on, everyone.

(0:00) Intro

(1:10) BlazingPhoenix

(10:30) Donkey Kong (NES)

(38:05) NintenDis or Dat

(41:58) Donkey Kong (Game Boy)

(1:04:47) NintenDO or NintenDON’T

Watch more of BlazeingPhoenix at https://www.twitch.tv/blazeingphoenix and https://www.youtube.com/@Blazeingphoenix.

And if all this has you motivated to try some blindfolded speedrunning of your own, check out https://blindfoldedgaming.com/

Donkey Kong (NES) manual: https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clv/manuals/en/pdf/CLV-P-NAAEE.pdf

Donkey Kong (Game Boy) manual: https://www.retrogames.cz/manualy/GameBoy/Donkey_Kong_-_GameBoy_-_Manual.pdf

The History of Blindfolded Punch-Out | Summoning Salt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZT6JEOC3D8  

Mike Tyson's Punch-Out - 2 player 1 controller blindfolded speedrun w/ sinister1 @ AGDQ 2020 [23:39] | zallard1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4HnZ4-_HzI 

Blindfolded Mike Tyson's Punch-Out in 15:57.76 (World Record) | Summoning Alt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eelj0jv-4u0  

Super Mario 64 Relay by 70 Runners in 1:55:53 - Awesome Games Done Quick 2026: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-VFPEh59k4 (Mike got the number of stars wrong)  

Games Done Blindfolded Day 1 - GDQ Hotfix Speedruns: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9erTZ7jpvMk&t=6760s  

My GDQ's Games Done Blindfolded Run | NWC NES Edition by Blazeingphoenix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmzwaoJ--Yo

Awesome Games Done Quick 2015 - Part 169 - Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Blindfolded) by Runnerguy2489: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhHMW_atNG4&t=807  

Kingdom Hearts 1 Blindfolded Speedrun! World First Completion by Bubzia! | Bubzia - Blindfolded Speedruns: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOTWE9aEmtc  

Game Over: How Nintendo Conquered the World by David Sheff: https://www.amazon.com/Game-Over-Nintendo-Conquered-World/dp/0679736220/

Mario Origins: How A Popeye Game Became Donkey Kong by "Critical Kate" Willaert | ACriticalHit: https://www.acriticalhit.com/hidden-influences-mario-how-popeye-game-became-donkey-kong/

From UVA Law Student to Beloved Nintendo Character: The Story of John Kirby, Jr. by Ryan Moore | Virginia Law Weekly: https://www.lawweekly.org/col/2023/11/12/from-uva-law-student-to-beloved-nintendo-character-the-story-of-john-kirby-jr

World's First | Blindfolded Donkey Kong (NES) | any% [2:23] | Blazeingphoenix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPqjc362XMs  

Donkey Kong 1994 Wonder Life Special - APE Inc. Official Nintendo Guide: https://archive.org/details/donkey-kong-1994-ape-official-nintendo-guide/Donkey%20Kong%201994%20APE%20Official%20Nintendo%20Guide

Markivus Nious from 40 Something Gamers is ready to run and gun through Contra: Hard Corps (Sega Genesis / Mega Drive, 1994) with Mike and Jaymo as part of The Old SwitchAroo’s epic quest to research and review every retro game in Nintendo Switch Online’s Nintendo Classics catalog.

In this episode, Markivus shares his perspective as a musician on video game music, we discuss how the American version of Contra: Hard Corps was much more difficult than the Japanese version of the game in order to stymie the American rental market, how the Contra franchise turned into Probotector in some parts of Europe, and the way a Castlevania cameo in Contra: Hard Corps stands in between the player and primate romance. We also get a bit more serious with a look at Contra’s roots in the Iran-Contra Affair and how games like Contra relate - or don’t relate - to violence in the real world.

Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy theme song! Subscribe to The Old SwitchAroo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com, where you'll find links to our Discord, social media, and so much more!

Game on, everyone.

(0:00) Intro

(1:10) Welcoming Markivus from 40 Something Gamers

(5:30) Contra: Hard Corps

(56:12) NintenDO or NintenDON’T

Check out Markivus Nious on 40 Something Gamers and his other projects at https://www.spreaker.com/user/nious-media--8222146 and on Youtube @markivus: https://youtube.com/@markivus

Contra Hard Corps manual: https://manuals.sega.com/genesismini/pdf/CONTRA_HARD_CORPS.pdf

Strangest Thing Cinematic Instrumental by Markivus Nious: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU0s4ItMip8

Contra: Hard Corps by NickBGoHard in 18:04 - AGDQ2020 | Games Done Quick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5zpRvCwkZ8

[ESA Winter 2023] Contra Hard Corps Speedrun in 18:19 (JP Browny - Lab/Surrender route) | Greenalink: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJfbfaIhQ-o

Contra: Hard Corps – 1994 Developer Commentary | BEEP! Mega Drive, October 1994 via shmuplations: https://shmuplations.com/contrahc/