May 16, 2023

VIDEO WIZARDS PODCAST – Episode 26: March 1985

4 hours 35 minutes

In episode 26 of Video Wizards, we get sucked into the cultural maelstrom of March 1985, where the global arcade industry has picked up the pieces and is striking back with, well, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back by our good friends at Atari and Konami’s cutesy, sugary vertical shoot ’em up TwinBee. Namco, meanwhile, are digging in a different direction for Dig Dug II and SEGA unveil the princess of all ninjas.

In terms of gaming at home, home computers like the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore C64 and MSX dominate the European continent and there is a lot of rootin’ tootin’ sharp shootin’ going on in the classified sections of the mid 80s computer game mags. And where Run-D.M.C. have Hip Hop on lock with their King of Rock album, Rock itself sees an influx of acts from the Germanic regions. Also, chart music has never been this massive, as all pop acts and production teams are properly firing on all cylinders.

Feel even more heat as we look at funny flicks The Last Dragon and Police Academy 2 and examine the early beginnings of subscription TV. Add in your regular dosage of world and local news, Bon Jovi blastings, personal memories from your hosts and expected conversation derailments and it’s clear to see that the Video Wizards time travel tour remains on track!

The top billing arcade games of the era we discuss on Episode 26, L-R: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, TwinBee, Dig Dug II, SEGA Ninja / Ninja Princess

Other music used in this episode:

BGM 1 – by ??? for TwinBee, 1985

Stage BGM – by ??? for SEGA Ninja / Ninja Princess, 1985

Ghostbusters – by Ray Parker Jr., David Crane & James Software Ltd. for Ghostbusters (ZX Spectrum), 1985

Operator – by Midnight Star, 1984

Mr. Telephone Man – by New Edition, 1985

Nightshift – by The Commodores, 1985

You Talk Too Much – by Run-D.M.C., 1985

Quasimodo – by Allied Forces, 1985

No Time to Cry – by Sisters of Mercy, 1985

Easy Lover – by Philip Bailey & Phil Collins, 1984

You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) – by Dead or Alive, 1984

Material Girl – by Madonna, 1985

We Close Our Eyes – by Go West, 1985

Some Like it Hot – by The Power Station, 1985

Sussudio – by Phil Collins, 1985

Shout – by Tears for Fears, 1984

This is Not America – by David Bowie & Pat Metheny Group, 1985

Jungle Love – by The Time, 1985

This is My Night – by Chaka Khan, 1985

Hill Street Blues (Theme) – by Mike Post, 1981

Episode edited by: Michiel Kroder

And finally: our special thanks to Andy Hofle.

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By Michiel Kroder, Ben Cartlidge

88 ratings