The Retro Breakdown

The Retro Breakdown

By TimeWandererLeisureVideo Games
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The Retro Breakdown episodes

  • Nights Into Dreams and the Segata Sanshiro

    This week, we talk about the absolute best thing the Sega Saturn brought to our lives. We also spend a little time talking about NiGHTS Into Dreams.


    Maybe we're missing something here?

    Discord: https://discord.gg/dTrBruG

    Manual: https://www.gamesdatabase.org/Media/SYSTEM/Sega_Saturn/Manual/formated/NiGHTS_into_Dreams..._-_1996_-_Sega.pdf

    1 hr 42 min
  • James Pond 2: Operation Robocod and the Penguin Bombs

    Tom and Dean talk about console version differences, Tim Follin, and the change in the video game hype cycle.

    But mostly, we talk about James Pond 2: Operation Robocod, which is certifiably the most bizarre game we have played for the podcast yet.

    Discord: https://discord.gg/dTrBruG

    Manual: https://segaretro.org/images/2/21/James_Pond_2_MD_AU_Manual.pdf

    1 hr 37 min
  • Ristar and the "Younger Audience"

    TW and Tom have somewhat differing opinions on one of the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive's swan song games. But then a mid-90s EGM interview sets off an age-old debate:

    "IT LOOKS LIKE THIS GAME HAS COLOR IN IT, DOES THAT MEAN IT'S FOR BABIES?"

    TW has words about this, and maybe derails the conversation.

    TW's Discord: https://discord.gg/dTrBruG

    EGM Interview on Ristar: https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_65/page/n217/mode/2up

    Manual: https://segaretro.org/images/a/a1/Ristar_md_us_manual.pdf

    1 hr 55 min
  • Super Mario Sunshine and the No-Reason DK Rap

    We finally did it. We finally recorded our episode about Mario Sunshine, after weeks and weeks of hinting at it. We have differing, but overall mixed opinions. At the end of the day, it's still a Mario game, and it's good.


    BUT...

    (Dean's note - I kept meaning to bring this up during the discussion, and I forgot, but I think it bears mentioning. This game has one of the most disappointing Bowser fights in the entire franchise. It feels like a FIRST Bowser fight, not the FINAL one.)

    TW's Discord: https://discord.gg/dTrBruG

    Manual:

    https://www.gamesdatabase.org/Media/SYSTEM/Nintendo_GameCube/Manual/formated/Super_Mario_Sunshine_-_2002_-_Nintendo.pdf

    1 hr 36 min
  • Bonus: Oops! All Yakuza!

    Tom and Dean hit the record button getting ready to talk about Super Mario Sunshine, and then just agree to talk about Kusogrande, Yakuza, and 13 Sentinels. Because not every Retro Breakdown needs to have a retro breakdown.


    I don't know, we're making the rules up as we go.

    2 hr 6 min
  • Super Ghouls n' Ghosts and the BORK BORK

    Yeah, it's hard. It's punishing. But there's a beautiful logic that makes it all work, and we think that's beautiful.


    Well, Dean does. Tom sort of enjoyed it, but also never wants to see it again.

    Discord: https://discord.gg/dTrBruG

    Manual: https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clvs/manuals/common/pdf/CLV-P-SABDE.pdf

    That link to Dean's Nexus store: nexus.gg/TimeWanderer

    2 hr 15 min
  • The Peace Keepers and the Better than Expected Corruption

    The Peace Keepers is what happens when you take the basic premise of "walk to the right and punch things," but then you make the punch not work.


    That being said, there is some fun to be had here, largely in the the wild translation, and the story of how it came to be. Game localization in the 90s was a wild experience.

    Discord: https://discord.gg/dTrBruG

    More info on the Peace Keepers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Peace_Keepers

    Summary of multiple Endings: http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/snes/d/pk.htm


    1 hr 29 min
  • Super Mario 64 HD and the Beatles of Videogames

    Nobody needs to be told at this point that Super Mario 64 is a good game.


    But we're gonna do it anyway, as well as discuss the 3D All-Stars collection in general and try to keep ourselves from talking about Mario Sunshine instead. We also discuss favorite/least favorite stages, and talk a bit about the game's place in history.

    Discord: https://discord.gg/dTrBruG

    Mario 64 Manual: https://www.gamesdatabase.org/Media/SYSTEM/Nintendo_N64//Manual/formated/Super_Mario_64_-_1996_-_Nintendo.pdf

    1 hr 51 min
  • S.C.A.T. and the Specialized Cybernetic Attack Team

    It's funny, because that's what the game is called. But also, THAT'S WHAT THE GAME IS CALLED.


    This game was okay, but if there's one thing to know about it, it's that the composer for Contra also did the music for S.C.A.T., and he said S.C.A.T. was his favorite soundtrack to make. Legit confirmed this game's music is better than Contra's.

    Probably.

    Discord: https://discord.gg/dTrBruG

    S.C.A.T. Manual: http://www.digitpress.com/library/manuals/nes/SCAT.pdf

    1 hr 21 min

About The Retro Breakdown

From the publisher's feed

Every week, Dean (twitch.tv/timewanderer) and Tom discuss current gaming news, and then check out some old (or sometimes new) piece of gaming history to see how it holds up, and test the strength of…