Remember The Game? Retro Gaming Podcast

It's the episode before Halloween, so of course we have to cover one more "scary" game. And I can't think of a better option than one of the OG scary games, and honestly, just one of the best games on the NES altogether: Castlevania.  This bad boy has been near the top of the "most requested" list for years now, but the issue was that I just didn't play a ton of it growing up. I used to rent it sometimes, but the Medusa heads and stairs gave me nightmares and I never went back. So I spent 3 days just binging the game in preparation of this podcast, and we actually recorded it minutes after I beat the game on stream (and I was still pretty riled up).  My boy Mark McCue is my guest this week (he spent a large chink of this past week playing Castlevania to get ready for this episode as well), and we had a great time talking about stupid stairs, evil Medusa heads, a certain fight against a certain dead guy, and most importantly, about why Castlevania is an all-time classic. And before we fall through some stairs, I scrape together another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, we talk about the impact Goldeneye 007 will have on Nintendo's Switch Online subscriber count. Is the Xbox Series S becoming an issue? And can Pokemon only say their names, or are they named after the only word they can say?? Plus we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', too! This one features 3 Konami NES classics: Base Wars, Metal Gear, and Top Gun.  Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGame Instagram: @MemberTheGame Twitch.tv/MemberTheGame Youtube.com/RememberTheGame And if you want access to over 250 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame

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I can't definitively say what game we get the most requests to cover on the show, but I know Grand Theft Auto IV is near the top of the list. And after spending a massive chunk of the past couple weeks playing it, it's time to go bowling (if you know, you know).  I've never been the biggest fan of the GTA series. I think they're fun to fuck around in, but the only one I played around the time of it's release was Vice City, which I didn't love. I finally played San Andreas a couple years ago and adored it, and I've been jonesing to play IV and V ever since.  Longtime supporter of the show, Mr. Doug Dorn, sponsored this episode, finally giving me the kick in the ass I needed to get around to playing GTA IV, and I'm so damned glad he did. This game is now easily my favourite Grand Theft Auto (until I play V, apparently), and it was great chatting with Doug and finding out why this game means so much to him. And after that, my buddy (and the Roman to my Niko) Andre, comes by the show and we get into the seedy underbelly of Liberty City, and talk about what makes this game so damned good. And before we go bowling, I toss together another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, we talk about old gaming cartoon like Captain N and The Super Mario Bros. Super Show. Why the hell does Super Mario World end at 96 exits and not 100?? And what's the deal with the constant short stock on Nintendo's N64 Switch controller?? Plus we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', too! This one features 3 grand Grand Theft Autos: Vice City, San Andreas, and Liberty City Stories.  Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGame Instagram: @MemberTheGame Twitch.tv/MemberTheGame Youtube.com/RememberTheGame And if you want access to over 250 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame You can check out The Good Enough Gamer on Youtube at: youtube.com/channel/UCTXCVSGZJUYWoeF-6pncmWw And you can find Andre's new wrestling show at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeZh7hUW1xH20M9EttBfgng/videoshttps://www.facebook.com/AndreAndMelballhttps://www.twitch.tv/andreandmelball

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It's October, so you know we have to cliche it up and roll out at least one episode about a scary game. And for my money, scary games don't get much better than Dead Space. This bad boy is hella fun to play, and it's scary as fuck, too! Resident Evil 4 was my first real experience with a "horror" game, and I loved it. When I saw Dead Space, I thought "that looks like a better Resident Evil 4". And I don't think it's a hot take to put these games in the same S Tier of survival horror. Two of the best to ever do it.  My buddy Patrick returns to the show this week, and we spent an hour talking about why the game mechanics, controls, sound, atmosphere, and practically everything else about Dead Space is almost perfect. If you haven't played it yet, hopefully we can convince you to grab your plasma cutter (and a change of pants) and give it a shot! And before we enter zero gravity, I toss together another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, we talk about the spring system I use here on RTG. Someone asks my gaming experience is different when I play a game for the podcast vs just playing it for fun. And do you ever feel guilty about playing video games?? Plus we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', too! This one features 3 more survival horror heavies: F.E.A.R. 2, Fatal Frame, and Condemned: Criminal Origins.  Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGame Instagram: @MemberTheGame Twitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 250 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame And you can check out Patrick's handywork at:

https://linktr.ee/burgerfinger

Or on Instagram:

@burgerfinger

@discount.lion.safari

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I know some of you want more PC love on the podcast. The problem is, I haven't played anything PC. I think we've literally covered every PC game I've played in my life on the show already. So if I play something new, bet your ass it's gonna get an episode of RTG. And our Patreons decided I should play Half Life last month, so here we are. I didn't love playing with mouse & keyboard (in fact, I fucking hated it), but I sure liked this game. Even 20+ years later its release, I can see what a monumental, influential game this is. I really feel like it's one of those games every gamer should experience, and I'm glad I finally have. (The last 25% of the game sucks, though.) My buddy Tyler is back this week, and we spent over an hour talking about Valve's game debut, and one of the most important first-person shooters ever made. Half Life is pretty dope, and it was worth going against my anti-PC heritage to experience. And before we swing crowbars, I toss together another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, we talk about cloud gaming, and what role it could play in gaming in the future. Someone asks me to break down the new PS Plus tiers. And what does a game have to do to get me to buy it on multiple platforms? Plus we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', too! This one features 3 of the greatest retro PC shooters ever: Duke Nukem 3D, DOOM, and Wolfenstein 3D. Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 250 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame And you can check out Tyler's short film, 'Quiet Enable', at:

YouTube.com/s762official

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Working my way through the Sega Genesis library has been one of the coolest things about hosting this podcast. There's so many games on the other side of the console war trenches that I've always wanted to get my hands on, and most of the titles I've gotten to haven't disappointed.  TMNT: Hyperstone Heist is the latest game I've crossed off my list, and I'm not sure how I feel about it. I didn't disappoint me, but it didn't blow my socks off, either. I feel like it's too good of a game to simply call it a lesser Turtles in Time...but...it's kind of a lesser Turtles in Time...  I found this to be a tough game to review, because we've covered Turtles in Time (twice), and most of the best features of Hyperstone Heist are the same features from Turtles in Time. But I got my buddy Mark McCue on the phone, we to a 16-bit beat 'em up about one of the best franchises in the history of the universe, and we did our best not to shortchange Hyperstone Heist on this episode. Because it really is a pretty solid game.  And before we talk turtles, I toss together another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, we talk about the prospects of more RPG episodes of the podcast in the future. What video game character do you want to punch in the teeth the most? And does anyone actually enjoy blowing in NES cartridges? Plus we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', too! This one features 3 Genesis beat 'em ups: Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: The Movie, Spider-Man & Venom: Maximum Carnage, and X-Men 2: The Clone Wars. Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 250 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame

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Every couple months, we dedicate an episode of the show to "revisiting" a game we covered back in the early days of the podcast, when we had even less of an idea of what we were doing than we do now. And this week, we're taking another look at one of my absolute favourite games of all-time, and for my money, the best Mega Man game ever created - Mega Man X.  I think this game is a stone's throw from being perfect. It looks great, plays well, and the soundtrack is one of the best in all of retro gaming. I suppose you could argue it's a littttttle easy (for a Mega Man game), and there's a particular jump that just chaps my ass, but other than that, I have a really hard criticizing X's debut title. It's just a damned good video game. The one and only Bradley McCue gave me a call this week, and we went through what makes X so rad, and even got into a little strategy talk (which is a rare thing here on RTG, as I normally suck at the games we're talking about). I could talk about this game every week. I hope y'all enjoy it! And before we talk X, I toss together another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, we talk about the modern games that'll be considered "classics" someday. What's the optimal number of party members for an RPG? And what do you do to combat gamer burnout? Plus we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', too! This one features 3 Mega Man games: Mega Man X: Command Mission, Mega Man Legends, and Mega Man: Battle Network. Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 250 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame

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I consider myself fairly well traveled when it comes to the NES. I've played MOST of the big titles in some capacity, and I know most of the origin stories when it comes to Nintendo's mainstream franchises. But one that's always eluded me was Metroid. So while I was on holidays in July, I decided to break out my Switch and see where Samus came from. And while I'm glad I've experienced her first game, I can confidently say that I never want to play it again, haha.  This game is innovative, creative, easy to look at, and pretty damned fun. But it's also hard. NES hard. And if you know NES hard, you know that I resisted the urge to throw my Switch in the ocean on a few occasions. I had to look up a map, and I'm not even ashamed of it. My buddy Daniel is the biggest Metroid fan I know, but he missed this one back in the day, too. So we both just finished our first run through Metroid on the NES, and we got together to talk about the years it took off both of our lives. Holy fuck, why does it have to be so hard???? And before we talk Samus, I toss together another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, we talked about how I pick my guests for the show. If I could go drinking with one gaming character, who would it be? And why the hell is RTG not on TikTok?? Plus we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', too! This one features 3 "NES Tough" games: Blaster Master, Fester's Quest, and Battletoads. Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 250 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame

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I don't think I've ever ragequit/returned/ragequit/returned a video game as many times as I did Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee. This game is clever, very easy on the eyes, creative as fuck, and TOUGH AS NAILS. The controls are weird, the checkpoints suck, and your margin for error is practically non-existent. I spent the entire playthrough getting angry. But when I finally finished the game, I wanted to go back and play it again. This game is so fucked. One of our listeners by the online handle of 'Blaine the Hoagie Man' sponsored this episode, tolerated my repeated ragequitting, and managed to convince me that Oddworld belongs up there with Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy VII, and Resident Evil as one of the defining games in the original PlayStation's library. He swung by the show this week to explain why he thought I'd enjoy this game, and why it didn't break him back in the 90's.  And after I chat with Blaine, I give my buddy Tyler a call to break down the good, the bad, and the odd that makes up Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee.  And before we talk farts and stuff, I toss together another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, we talked about whether or not mobile gaming is a threat to handhelds like the Nintendo Switch and the Steam Deck. How do I determine the value of a game when I think about buying it? And what's the best retro compilation available on modern consoles these days? Plus we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', too! This one features 3 games that contain farts (yes, seriously): Conker's Bad Fur Day, Fable, and Boogeyman. Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 250 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame And you can check out Tyler's short film, 'Quiet Enable', at: YouTube.com/s762official

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It took 212 episodes, but we're finally talking Silent Hill. Silent Hill 3, to be exact. People have been asking for us to show this franchise some love since the early days of RTG, and the only reason it took this long is because, well, I'm a bitch when it comes to scary stuff.  But one of our listeners by the name of Ryan finally kicked me in the ass and told me to suck it up by sponsoring an episode of the show about how favourite game in the series, Silent Hill 3. So I played it. I sent hours getting freaked out by the sound of static while trying to open locked doors, and now that I've finally rolled the credits on a Silent Hill game, I get why y'all pushed for this so much. This is a pretty damned good video game. Ryan pops by the show to explain why Silent Hill 3 was his poison, and then my buddy Patrick makes his return to the show to help me break down the good, the bad, and the gruesome of the third entry in the Silent Hill series.  (And no, I haven't played Silent Hill 2 yet. But I will.) And before we silence hills, I roll out another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, someone asks if I regret selling my video game collection? When do we think the next Nintendo console will drop? And why do I refuse to use walkthroughs for my games?? Plus we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', too! This one features 3 niche horror classics: Clock Tower, System Shock 2, and ManHunt. Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 250 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame And you can check out Patrick's handywork at: https://linktr.ee/burgerfinger Or on Instagram:@burgerfinger@discount.lion.safari

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Wave Race 64 was added to the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack library last week, and I figured it'll probably never be this topical again, so let's strike while the iron's wet. I've been looking for an excuse to cover this one on the podcast anyway. I remember playing it back when I got my 64 and thinking the water physics were incredible, and the game itself was really fun.  I've been playing it over the past couple days to get ready for the show, and even after all these years, those statements hold true. The water is STILL incredible, and the game is STILL really fun! I was actually surprised by just how well this mofo has aged, to tell you the truth. My younger brother, Josh, is my guest again this week, and it was a real trip going back to 1996 and talking about a game we used to play together as kids (and as much as I hate to admit it, a game he used to be able to kick my ass at). Wave Race 64 hold up, and hopefully this week's podcast convinces you to give it a spin. And before we race on waves, I CRUSH another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, someone asks how I deal with haters and negative listeners online. How does Yoshi's Island stack up against Super Mario World? And do I think I'll ever stop buying new consoles and games? Plus we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', too! This one features 3 N64 racers: Excitebike 64, Star Wars Episode I: Racer, and Ridge Racer 64 Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 250 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame

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I think most of our listeners know I'm a Mario fan-boy. We've covered most of his games from the old days, with Super Mario All-Stars  being a rare exception. I know this is a phenomenal collection of games, and you probably know it, too. But we've already covered all the included games in greater detail on their own episodes of the podcast. I wasn't sold there was enough meat on the bone to justify talking about them all again.  But then I started replaying it, and remembered just how incredible this collection is. Better graphics, better music, save files, a never before released (in North America) Mario game. Super Mario All-Stars is phenomenal, and dammit, it's time to give it its due on RTG. David Rae makes his triumphant return to the show this week. He was my guest for the Lost Levels, Super Mario Bros 2, and Super Mario Bros episodes, and we talked about what made this collection special, what other NES games would have benefitted from the All-Stars treatment, and whether or not these games are the greatest remasters of all-time... And before we star is all the way up, I stumble through another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, I answer a bunch of "will this game ever get an episode of the podcast?' questions. Why do I hate Assassin's Creed? (I don't.) And what games have let me down and surprised me the most over the years? Plus we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', too! This one features 3 SNES platforming greats: Donkey Kong Country, Super Mario World, and SMW2: Yoshi's Island.  Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame And you can find David and his podcast 'Quantum Kickflip' at:www.quantumkickflip.comTwitter: @quantumkickflipInstagram: @quantumkickflip

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Splinter Cell is a tough episode for me. I was once a secret agent that snuck into Government agencies to steal briefcases full of data sticks, and it isn't something I like to talk about. Also, it's a really impressive game, but it's a stealth game, and as an impatient dipshit, I fucking hate stealth games.  So this is one of those episodes where I'm trying to walk the line and explain why I don't really like it, but why there's not really a lot wrong with it, either. It's not perfect, but it's revolutionary as hell. And honestly, I think it has a better game engine than it's stealthy opposition, Metal Gear.  My buddy, Bradley McCue, returns to the show this week. He's a big Metal Gear fan, I don't particularly like stealth games, and I thought we'd be the perfect duo to review a stealth game that isn't Metal Gear. And before we anger all you Splinter Cell junkies, I sneak in (see what I did there?) another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, we get into our most satisfying gaming moments. A listener asks me what I would have done differently if I could go back in time and call the shots at Sega. And will physical copies of modern video games be sought after like NES cartridges are in thirty years? Plus we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', too! This one features 3 Xbox badasees: Hitman 2, Max Payne, and Thief: Deadly Shadows.  Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame And you can check out Bradley's Instagram at: @thegamingodyssey

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I feel like every time I try a PlayStation 2 game I missed out on back in the day, I talk about how much I regret sleeping on that damned console. That theme continues this week, because we're talking about June's Patreon Poll winner: Ratchet & Clank. And this game charmed the hell out of me. The PS2 really was a beast. I've played the modern 2 R&C games on the PS4 & PS5, but this was my first time checking out the origins of the franchise. The controllers and camera and stuff are a little wonky by today's standards, but the game is still fire. The voice acting, graphics, weapons, characters, gameplay; all great. I get why people that started with this game stuck with the franchise over the last couple decades now. I'm a fan.  Especially when it comes to Clank. Love that little bastard! My buddy Darren, who happens to be a Ratchet & Clank super-fan, returns to the show this week, and we spent a solid hour talking about what makes this game, and series, so damned charming. And before we talk about clanking ratchets, I serve up another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, we talk about female gamers, and whether or not I know many of them. Someone throws a BRUTAL play one/remake one/erase one at me. And which major console has the proper button layout on their controller? Plus we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', too! This one features 3 of the highest rated games of 2002: GTA: Vice City, Metroid Prime, and Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4.  Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame And you can check out Darren's Twitch streams over at: Twitch.tv/AdjectiveandNoun

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Pokemon episodes make me nervous. I love the passion, but you pokemaniacs are hardcore, and sometimes my limited pocket monster knowledge ends up getting me a little heat, because I just don't know that franchise well enough. And Pokemon Gold/Silver/Crystal is easily the generation of Pokemon games we've had the most requests for. So the pressure is on.  I put over 45 hours into my first ever play-through of Pokemon Gold just to prepare for this episode, and while I don't know everything about these games, I know why so many people consider Gen II to be top tier in the world of Pokemon. So does my buddy Miklos. He's a diehard Pokemon junkie, and he joined me on the show this week to talk about what makes Gen II so special.  AND this episode was sponsored by longtime community member, Deendonian, who swung by to talk about what these games mean to him, and we get into his hobby of speed running them, as well!  You can check his Pokemon streams out at twitch.tv/deendonian And before we talk about trapping animals in little balls, we serve up another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, we talk about whether or not indie games can overtake AAA games for top spot on the gaming food chain. Which games are better story tellers; retro titles, or modern games? And who's my favourite Ninja Turtles villain? Plus we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', too! This one features 3 complete console libraries: The Game Boy Color, The Game Boy Advance, and The Nintendo DS. Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame

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I've been away on holidays, and to kill two birds with one stone, I've handed the keys to the S.S. RTG to someone else for the first time in our 4+ year history. FORMER RTG Hall of Fame Mark McCue and his bro Bradley are covering me this week, and talking about a game that I've had so many requests for I hear them in my sleep - The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask.  I hate this God damned game, I refuse to talk about it, and so the guys are covering me while I'm away AND crossing a game off my backlog at the same time. For all of you that have ben asking a Mask episode for years, this is it. This is the one. I hope you like it because that damned game is never getting another chance to be on my show.  And before the guys get into some weirdo named Majora and their freaky mask, the serve up another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, I don't remember what they talk about because we recorded this episode over a month ago. BUT, the blow in some cartridges. And we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', too! This one features 3 N64 heavyweights: xi, Super Mario 64, and Banjo-Kazooie. Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame And don't forget to check out Mark McCue's debut comedy album, Son of a Drama Teacher, on BandCamp! Thanks again for the cover, boys! You're both banned from the Hall, though.

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I'm away on holidays this week, so I thought I'd give everyone a free bump and release a previously Patreon exclusive episode of Expansion Pass. This time, it's Expansion Pass #26 - Gamer Confessions. One of the most popular episodes of XP we've ever done. Listeners confess their darkest gaming secrets, and I judge them accordingly. 

This originally went live in September of 2020, and it was such a hit, we published a second edition last September. And Gamer Confessions III will show up this Fall. 

I hope you enjoy the extra episode, and if you do, consider supporting us on Patreon for $2/month. You'll get instant access to over 200 bonus podcasts, and get 2 additional episodes every week!

Patreon.com/RememberTheGame

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This episode of 'Remember The Game?' is sponsored by Ekster wallets. You know exactly which wallets I'm talking about - those rad ones with the push button where your cards pop out of the top. It looks like something James Bond would carry. I have one, and I absolutely LOVE it.  Plus, it has a tracker in it, so I can't lose it like I have so many others over the years.  The hot dogs can save up to 20% on their purchase by using the promo code 'RTG' at shop.ekster.com/RTG Check them out at

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 What can we say about WWF No Mercy that hasn't already been said a million times? The best wrestling game from the best wrestling era ever. As good as it gets for multi-player on the Nintendo 64. Tight controls, awesome gameplay, fantastic modes. This game is everything a pro wrestling video game should be.  In fact, it's so good, we're doing a second episode about it. I knew we were going to continue our 'revisited' series after episode 200, and I also knew that WWF No Mercy was gonna be the next one we were going back to. I love this game so much, I could probably do a weekly show about it.  My buddy Marc Majeau (who also co-hosts the outstanding MCTV podcast) makes his RTG debut this week, and we spent over an hour just marking out about ladder matches, the 3D, hitting opponents with a ring bell, and Scotty 2 Hotty's infamous worm (if you know, you know).  And before we show little mercy, I serve up another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, we talk about the dude that bought $40,000 worth of Nintendo stock just to ask where the hell F-Zero is. What kind of screen do I play my retro games on? And was JBL a good WWE Champion? PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring 3 wrestling classics: WWF Attitude, WWF SmackDown, and WWF Wrestlemania: The Arcade Game. Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame And if you're interested in checking out Marc's podcast, MCTV, you can find it here: Twitter: @MCTVPodcastInstagram: @MCTVPodcasthttps://linktr.ee/MCTVPodcast

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I don't know how to describe Snake Rattle N Roll. A cult classic? A hidden gem? I think people that grew up with it, love it. And if you didn't play it as a kid, you probably won't like it now. But for my money, it's one of the best, most creative games on the NES. And it's about damned time it got its own episode of RTG. If you've never played it, you control a snake and you have to climb a mountain and eat pieces of yourself without getting stepped on or blown up, and the whole game is in an isometric view and features some of the toughest platforming on the NES. And if that didn't convince you? You also get to fight toilet seats. C'mon now. My brother Josh and I used to play this all the time as kids, so this felt like the perfect episode for him to make his RTG debut. We talk about how stupidly difficult Snake Rattle N Roll was, why we loved it anyway, he tells me about the final boss (as I've never got there before), and yes, we tell a couple stories about fighting as kids. And before we Rattle and Roll, I serve up another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, we talk about Mario sports games, and whether or not the magic is gone. What's the best time of day to do your gaming? And will Breath of Fire ever get some love around these parts? PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring 3 Rare developed NES gems: Battletoads, RC Pro-Am, and NARC. Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame

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This podcast is sponsored by Better Help. They offer affordable, confidential online therapy with trained counselors that specialize in a variety of topics and issues. Visit BetterHelp.com/RememberTheGame and get 10% off your first month. Taking care of your mental health is important, and talking to someone is the first step.  Betterhelp.com/RememberTheGame Sports games are weird, because "old" sports games, like NHL '13 or Madden '14, are completely worthless today. But "older" sports games, like NHL '94, NBA Jam, and Tecmo Bowl, are timeless. Absolutely timeless. In twenty years, nobody will be playing this year's Madden game, but people will STILL be hosting Tecmo Bowl tournaments. THAT'S how good this damned game is. I didn't play a lot of sports games as a kid, aside from hockey and wrestling, but I'm slowly making up for lost time in my old age. Tecmo Bowl happened to find it's way to the top of the list, and holy hell, I get it now. I get all of it. The tournaments. "No Bo". Why people still play these games over Madden. It's just, immaculate. So simple to learn, so fun to play. I'm mad at myself for not playing it sooner.  My buddy Brad DID play Tecmo Bowl as a kid, and we almost got through an entire episode without arguing with each other, because we both just agree that this game slaps, and it should have gotten an episode of RTG a long time ago. It's time to right that wrong. And before we Bowl some Tecmo, I serve up another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, I lay out my stance on reproduction cartridges of retro games. What do I think of the situation with Vince McMahon right now? And do I have any interest in attending E3 in person anymore? PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring 3 NES sports classics: Baseball Stars, Tecmo Super Bowl and Mike Tyson's Punch-Out! Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame

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I don't think it's an exaggeration to call Mario Tennis one of the most influential video games ever made. Not only did it convince Nintendo that they could put Mario into any game they want and we'd buy it up, but it also introduced a character that would go on to become one of the most popular creations to ever come out of the house of Mario - Waluigi. I hated that son of a bitch when this game came out, but like so many of you, the internet has made him into the hero Nintendo never thought he could be. So when you look at the whole package, we have the debut of a legend, and one of the best multi-player games on one of the best multi-player consoles of all-time. I don't know if it's possible NOT to love Mario Tennis.  My buddy and former RTG Hall of Famer, Mark McCue, gave me a call this week, and we had a nice long rally of a chat talking about why Mario Tennis is so damned good, as playable today as it was in 2000, and why Waluigi is a boss, despite being OP as fuck in his debut. And before we deuce it up, I serve up another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This time around, I make my stance on playing or not playing Metal Gear Solid 3 clear. Has PlayStation completely dropped the ball when it comes to promoting the new PS Plus tiers? And if I had to give up coffee, what would I do? PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring 3 more tennis titles: Super Tennis, Hot Shots Tennis and Virtua Tennis. Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame

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This podcast is sponsored by Better Help. They offer affordable, confidential online therapy with trained counselors that specialize in a variety of topics and issues. Visit BetterHelp.com/RememberTheGame and get 10% off your first month. Taking care of your mental health is important, and talking to someone is the first step.  Betterhelp.com/RememberTheGame It has been 18 years since Fable was released, and if you weren't part of the gaming eco-system back in those days, you might not remember the INSANE hype around this game. Fable was gonna be the most revolutionary game since Super Mario Bros. It was gonna change gaming forever. It was going to be legendary.  And then it came out.  And we played it.  And it was...fine. It's not a bad game by any means. It's just kinda...fine.  My buddy Keegs joins me on the show this week, and we get into the stuff we liked, loved, and hated about Fable. It might not have changed gaming forever, but that doesn't mean it was a bad game. It was just...fine. And before we Fable it up, I serve up another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This time around, we get into the topic of micro-transactions, and whether or not they're the black eye on gaming we all make them out to be. Does anyone else get excited for a long gaming session and then struggle to pick something to play? And will we ever cover Neo-Geo or Turbo Grafx games on the show? PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring 3 of the heaviest hitters from 2004: Metal Gear Solid 3, Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, and KOTOR II. Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame

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This podcast is sponsored by Better Help. They offer affordable, confidential online therapy with trained counselors that specialize in a variety of topics and issues. Visit BetterHelp.com/RememberTheGame and get 10% off your first month. Taking care of your mental health is important, and talking to someone is the first step.  Betterhelp.com/RememberTheGame Welp, we did it. 200 episodes. From "Nobody will listen to this anyways" to the biggest video game podcast in Canada in just under 4 years. Fucking eh. Thank you all! And to celebrate 200 of these monstrosities, we're finally talking about the most requested game in the history of the show: Final Fantasy Tactics. **If that's all you're here for, skip to about 42:30** I was nervous this bad boy wouldn't live up to the expectations, but I'm happy to say that if you're a diehard FFT fan, the only thing you might hate about this episode is that I don't know as much about the game as you do. I loved this game, and my buddy David Rae and I spent over 90 minutes explaining what makes it so great (aside from a certain bullshit boss fight in chapter 3).  Seriously, thank you all for the support, and I really hope this episode lives up to your expectations the same way Final Fantasy Tactics lived up to mine. And before I inevitably let you down, I bake up another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, someone calls me out on my flip flopping Aerith stances. Have I ever performed stand-up comedy while stoned? And why do I fear Metroid on the NES? PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring 3 of the most requested games in RTG history: Portal, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, and Diablo II.  Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame And you can find David and his podcast 'Quantum Kickflip' at:www.quantumkickflip.comTwitter: @quantumkickflipInstagram: @quantumkickflip

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I'm just gonna lay my cards on the table here - I don't like Mickey Mouse. I think he's creepy, his voice is annoying, and Donald Duck should frame him for murder and take over as the face that runs the place at Disney. And whether it's due to my hatred of Mickey or just my lack of sophistication, I don't think I've ever played a Mickey Mouse game before this one. So I went into Castle of Illusion expecting it to suck... But to my surprise, it's actually a pretty competent platformer! I don't think it does anything revolutionary, and I certainly don't think it's among the Genesis's best game like some people do. But I didn't hate my time with this game.  I'm rolling solo this week, I'm whacked out on Benadryl, and I'm ready to explain my Mickey sucks but his video game doesn't. And before that, I bake up another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, someone asks me what I think Nintendo's let impressive franchise is. Is going commando ever socially acceptable? And what was the response to covering a 3DS game on a "retro" gaming podcast? PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring three cartoon characters: Tiny Toons: Buster Busts Loose, Bugs Bunny: Lost in Time, and World of Illusion - Starring Mickey Mouse & Donald Duck.  Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame

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The GBA and the PS2 are the consoles I get the most requests for, and as I've explained, I just didn't play them much in their prime, so I'm slowly catching up on the catalogs. You could lump the 3DS into that conversation, too. I don't get as many requests for episodes about its best games, but I've also only played a handful of titles on it, so the podcast options are pretty limited.  Fortunately, I DID play The Legend of Zelda: Link Between Worlds. And I'll plant my flag in the sand right now - this is not only my favourite game on the 3DS, its one of my favourite Zelda games of all-time. As a card-carrying Link to the Past fanboy, this game was a fantasy come to life. It's a sequel to one of the greatest games ever made, and while they had every opportunity to fuck it up, they didn't. In some way, I actually this is a better game than its older brother, and I'm pumped that it's the first 3DS review in the almost 200 episode history of RTG.  My buddy Mark McCue gave me a call this week, and we had a nice, beefy chat about that time Link rented tools from a rabbit, turned into a painting, and did all the other stuff he does in every other game.  **PLUS, we plug Mark's first stand-up comedy album, which releases TODAY! It's called 'Son of a Drama Teacher', and you can find it on Bandcamp through Billy James Records.  Show McCue some love!!!** And before we talk renting boomerangs and stuff, I bake up another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, we talk about the best Metroidvanias on the Switch. What horror game has scared me the most? And I address the rampant speculation that I hate the PSP. PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring three sequels: Silent Hill 2, Half-Life 2, and Final Fantasy X-2.  Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame

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This episode of RTG is sponsored by Better Help. BetterHelp.com/RememberTheGame Sometimes the best way to deal with an issue is to simply talk to someone. Unfortunately, that can be easier said than done. But Better Help is making is easier than ever. They offer secure, confidential, online therapy sessions with professional, licensed counsellors, specializing in things like depression, stress, family conflicts, LGBT matters, and more.  You can get 10% off your first month of Better Help services by visiting BetterHelp.com/RememberTheGame. Join the over 1 million people that are living a happier life after talking to Better Help today. And we thank them for sponsoring the podcast. We've been talking about doing an episode of this show about Yo! Noid for, man, it has to be years at this point, doesn't it? I was worried there wouldn't be enough meat on the pizza to talk about. I was sweating that nobody aside from my guest and I ever played it to begin with. And I was a little nervous the noid would show up and start wrecking my pizzas... But we finally threw caution into the wind, and recorded what could very well be the first ever podcast dedicated to the NES "classic" that is Yo! Noid.  My pal Tyler makes his return to the show this week, and we talked about the stupid skateboard levels, the boring pizza eating contests, the cheap, cheap, CHEEEEAAAAAP deaths that this stupid game is full of, and why despite all of those faults, this is still a pretty adequate NES game. I know it took forever, but enjoy your damned Yo! Noid podcast! And before we talk pizzas and Noids, I bake up another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, we get into the fact that Nintendo, PlayStation and XBx all have the 'X' button on their controllers in a different spot, and why it needs to stop. As a comedian, am I getting nervous that someone will rush the stage and beat me up after seeing what happened to Dave Chapelle? And should we let our gaming backlogs get to us? PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring three mascot-centric duds: Cool Spot, Chester Cheetah's Wild Wild Quest, and MC Kids.  Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame

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A few months ago, we reviewed Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. I didn't really like it, and I took a lot of shit for that opinion (which I stand by, screw that stupid inverted castle). This week, we're looking another Castlevania - Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow. And I'm happy (and relieved) to say that it was everything I wanted SOTN to be. This game is outstanding.  From the bad-ass soul sucking (and you can suck EVERY enemy in the game!), to the simplified inventory system, to the lack of a hidden second half of the game without fucking telling you it's there, Aria of Sorrow absolutely blew my expectations out of the water. I'm no Castlevania expert, but in my limited experience with the series, I'd probably place Sorrow atop my official Vania of Castle rankings.  Plus, what kind of beast was the GBA? Such a powerhouse of a console! My buddy Bradley McCue returns to the show this week, (he was actually my guest on the Symphony of the Night episode as well), and we didn't butt heads nearly as much this time around. He had a couple more nitpicks than I did, but at the end of the day we both agreed that Aria of Sorrow is just a damned fine piece of video game.  And before we talk Sorrowing Arias, I roll out another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, we talk about what's a better investment of your gaming dollar: a AAA game, or a handful of random indie titles? We talk about Achievements/Trophies for retro games via the website RetroAchivements. And what's the toughest game I've played in the past year or so? PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring three Castlevania Classics: Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, Super Castlevania IV, and Castlevania: Bloodlines.  Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame

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I've recorded over 500 podcasts since I launched this show, and I sleep easy at night knowing that if I ever erase them (which, I mean, is fairly likely. You know how I am with computers...), I have a backup, thanks to folks over at Backblaze! They offer unlimited backups for both PCs and Macs for just $7/month! And it's super easy to do, even I was able to figure it out!

You can get a full-feature 15 day trial (with no credit card required!) at Backblaze.com/RTG. Check 'em out! Final Fantasy VII is one of those games everyone knows. Maybe you haven't played it, but I'm willing to bet Gil to Materia that if you're listening to this episode, you know about this game. It's one of the most iconic, influential, and popular JRPGs ever made. So we decided to dedicate a second episode to it.  When we first covered FF7 back on episode 12, I was a little hard on it. I like the game just fine, but it's not in my top 3 Final Fantasies. And I think sometimes it gets just a little overhyped because of its impact on the industry. But since that episode, I've played quite a few RPGs, including Final Fantasy VII Remake,  and I've really grown to appreciate what this game did a lot more. I'm glad we're giving Cloud and friends another chance in the big chair, and I had a lot of fun recording this episode.  My childhood friend Daniel makes his return to the show this week, and we went in a little bit of a different direction for this episode. We still talked about our memories of the game and everything, but we really got into the characters, material system, and stuff like that, and kinda stayed away from the story and everything. If you're a Final Fantasy VII fan, I think you'll really enjoy this.  And before we talk Shinra, I get into another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, I share my opinion on the Rise of the TMNT animated series. Can the Steam Deck dethrone Nintendo as the go-to portable gaming device? And with the TMNT and Sonic collections right around the corner, what other retro gaming franchises would we like to see get a compilation re-release? PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring three PlayStation RPGs: Legend of Dragoon, Suikoden II, and Vagrant Story.  Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame

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There's absolutely no reason why I should like this game. It's a JRPG, and it has random encounters, tons of grinding, practically no story, and it'll kill you without blinking, and you won't have been able to save for at least the last hour. I should despise this game.  But y'know what? I love it.  I don't know what it is about the original Dragon Warrior that wets my whistle. Maybe it's just the heavy layer of nostalgia sauce. But whatever it is, it's a powerful drug. I adore this game. It's almost beautiful in it's simplicity, and while diehard modern day JRPG fans might find it a little bland for their tastes, I'll always prefer it to some of the fancier, deeper, funking role playing games of today. Making his return to the show this week is my buddy and fellow comedian, podcaster, and NES geek, the gentleman of RTG, David Rae, and we had a nice beefy chat about how boring this game is, and why (for the most part) it works really well.  Minus losing half your gold when you die. Fuck that.  And before we talk slime(s), I get into another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, I give a few of my must play Game Pass picks to someone that's new to Xbox. We also sing the praises of the PlayStation 5 controller. And if I could instantly be a pro-level player of any game genre, what would it be? PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring three NES RPGs: StarTropics, Crystalis, and Willow.  Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame And you can find David and his podcast 'Quantum Kickflip' at:www.quantumkickflip.comTwitter: @quantumkickflipInstagram: @quantumkickflip

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A lot of people dunk on the tank controls of the original Resident Evil games, but I always thought they worked pretty well when it came to dealing with slow moving zombies. But how they stack up in Dino Crisis, when you use those same controls against dinosaurs?  Actually, not horribly.  Dino Crisis gets referred to as "Resident Evil with dinosaurs", and I think it's a pretty fair comparison. Similar controls, graphics, that same fixed camera, and horrible inventory systems. But I think the puzzles are better, the enemies are cooler, and with the exception of Resident Evil 2, I think Dino Crisis does "late 90's PlayStation survival horror" better than Resident Evil does. My guest this week is my buddy Tyler, who makes his return to the podcast to talk about Regina (which was say wrong, as you'll hear shortly), stupid crane puzzles, dinosaurs, and crawling through heat vents. It's all about Dino Crisis week, baby! And before we talk what a piece of shit Gail is, I get into another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, someone asks why I love wrestling games so much, when they seemingly just do the same thing over and over again. Which non-Nintendo franchises am I praying for the video games Gods to revitalize? And let's talk about my let's plays for a minute... PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring three dino-centric games: Jurassic Park (SNES), DinoPark Tycoon, and Turok: Dinosaur Hunter.  Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame

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With the new Sonic movie coming out this week, I thought it would be a great time to talk about the little blue blur's debut. We're finally talking about the original Sonic The Hedgehog. Personally, I think it's a revolutionary game, but the gameplay is mid, at best.  However... The music, graphics, speed, and characters in this game are iconic. I'm such a big fan of Sonic himself, and my love of gaming history prevents me from really dunking on the aspects of this game that I don't like as much.  My buddy (and FORMER RTG Hall of Famer) Mark McCue joins me on the show this week, and we spent about half of the episode talking about the game itself, and the other half on Sonic's legacy, and the impact this game had on gaming back in the early 90's. No Angry Adam this week, just straight up admiration for one of the most important and iconic games in retro gaming - Sonic the Hedgehog.  And before we talk Sonic, it's another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, we talk about what gaming would look like today if Sega hadn't dropped the ball in the 90's. A listener asks if anyone else spends more time collecting games than actually playing them? And how does it make me feel to be told people use this podcast to fall asleep? PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring three Sonic games: Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic CD, and Sonic Adventure 2.  Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame

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You know how it feels to try a food you've never really had before? That nervous excitement? Thats how I felt going into Need For Speed: Most Wanted. Outside of kart racers, I've never been a racing game guy. I don't know cars, or parts, or strategies. But this game won our Patreon Poll, and I'm a man of my word. So I fired it up, and it was really damned fun! I loved the lack of technical car specs, not having to fix my ride after each race, and I LOVED the cheesy cutscenes. Seriously, the forage is off the charts in this game. I don't think I'll become a racing game guy after this, but I had a really good time. At least, until I got stuck near the end of the game and realized how much I suck at these games. My buddy Joe makes his return to the show this week, and as a much bigger car/racing game fan than I am, he was the perfect guest to bounce game gossip off of. We had a great chat about what makes this game so fun, and why everyone out there that feels like I do about driving games should give this one a shot. And before we talk about Razor and his cheesiness, it's another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, we talk about the dope-ass community we've built around here. Who's the greatest tag team in WWE/WWF history? And what do I think of the PSP? PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring three racers: Gran Turismo 3, Burnout 3 and Midnight Club 3.  Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame

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I don't think there's franchise that I've grown more fond of since the beginning of this podcast than Resident Evil. I went from only playing a couple of the mainline games, to running through most of the core games in the series. But I always slept on Code Veronica, because I assumed it was just a half-assed spin-off.  Turns out, it's kinda like Resident Evil 3.5 as far as the main series goes, and it's actually pretty fun! There's a boss fight on a plane that can get bent, and getting rid of a fire extinguisher screwed me over, but it's still a solid RE experience. Aside from that stuff (and Steve. Fuck that guy.), this game is really fun! This episode was sponsored by Slick Rick, one of the longest running hot dogs in the pack, and I'm really pumped that he convinced me to give this game a shot. We had a chat about why Resident Evil: Code Veronica meant so much to him, and then my buddy Patrick and I explained everything we liked (and hated) about Claire's return to the spotlight.  And before we talk about Steve and his uselessness, it's another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, someone asked if I prefer playing retro games on their native hardware, or current consoles? We also talk about the new Mario Kart tracks, and what non-fiction video game books are worth a glance. PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring three early 2000's Capcom classics: Devil May Cry, Viewtiful Joe, and Okami.  Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame

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If you've never heard of Gun.Smoke, don't skip this episode. I was in the same boat as you until about a month ago. But now I know this game very, very well, and my life is better for it. It's an arcade port of a tough but fair, auto scrolling run and gun. And if it isn't perfect, it's damned close.  I can't get enough of these types of games. One of my favourite things about hosting this podcast is discovering retro titles that I missed back in the day, and this week is a shining example of that.  This episode was sponsored by Holms, a longtime member of our community, and I can't thank him enough for his generosity, and for introducing me to Billy Bob, ninjas, a bullet sponge of a horse, and the rest of the greatness that is, Gun.Smoke.  And before we talk about the wild west, I scrape together another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'! This week, I respond to the controversy surrounding last week's heated argument about who's on the cover of the Contra box. I also pick my favourite single player wrestling game campaign mode. And do I plan to keep re-visiting games we covered in the early days of the podcast moving forward? PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring three NES arcade ports: Galaga, Donkey Kong, and Paperboy.  Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame

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It took wayyyyyy too long for Contra to make an appearance on the podcast, and that's a mistake I'll never fully forgive myself for. But I can dwell on past mistakes, or try to be better in the present, and I'm a positive guy. So we're finally talking Contra, and I cannot fucking wait. I adore this game (and its little brother Super C, too!) These games are the definition of "tough, but fair". If you practice and put in the time, you can beat these games. I can beat both of them, and they're two of the prouder accomplishments I list on my gaming resume. You get out what you put in with Contra.  Or you can just use the Konami code. My buddy and fellow old man, Brad, returns to the show this week, and we talk about what makes these games so damned good. I explain why I think the SNES Contra is inferior. We do a deep dive into what the 'S' in S-weapon stands for. And it gets a little heated when we talk about who the guys on the cover are based on. Fuck, I love Contra.  And before we talk shooting aliens, I drop another steaming edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro' on ya! This week, I answer some questions about the podcast itself that come up from time to time. I also answer the question: Ninja Turtle movies: CGI or live action? And if I had to take one RTG guest as my partner for The Amazing Race, who would it be? PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring three of Konami's NES heavies: Castlevania III, TMNT III: The Manhattan Project, and Super C.  Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month, and 5% of our patreon income every month will be donated to our 24 hour Extra-Life charity stream at the end of the year! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame

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Every once and a while, I fire up a retro game that I missed back in its heyday, and it rocks my world so hard that I spend the next week kicking myself for not playing it sooner. Shadow of the Colossus is one of those games.  Its controls leave a little to be desired, but everything else about it is just, beautiful. The story, bosses, music, graphics are all spectacular, and there's no fat to be found. 'Less is more' should be this game's motto. It's a legitimate work of art.  This week's episode was sponsored by RTG community member JohnnyCCDC over on Patreon, and I can't thank him enough for the support, and for showing me the error of my non-Colossi battling ways. We have a nice chat about why this game scratches him where he itches, and then my buddy Miklos manipulated his way back onto the podcast (and by that, I mean I called him), and we broke it down for another hour or so. All kind of Colossus goodness over here this week! And before we talk about Colossus shadows, I drop another steaming edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro' on ya! This week, we talk about our hopes for Sony's rumoured 'PlayStation Spartacus' service. We talk about the  legendary Bebop and Rocksteady, and which iteration of them is best. And how much longer will physical video games be a thing? PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring three of the PS2's best: GTA: San Andreas, Metal Gear Solid 3, and Silent Hill 2.  Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame And check out JohnnyCCDC's deets here: Instagram: @JohnnyCCDC

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I think one of the hottest debates among retro gamers is "which console had the better RPG library? The SNES or the original PlayStation?" And frankly, I don't think I'm knowledgable enough to offer a serious opinion. (But the SNES is the correct answer.) I don't play a ton of JRPGs these days, but I used to. And I've played a bunch of the SNES's best, such as Earthbound, Final Fantasy II & III, Chrono Trigger, Super Mario RPG. But one that always seemed to fall off my radar was Secret of Mana. It won our Patreon Poll in January, though. So I finally sat down and gave this bad boy a play-through. And it left me very...conflicted.  I don't know if I've ever liked a game that annoyed me more than this. The menu navigation, collision detection, lack of navigation, subpar story, and stupid inventory system all grinder my gears. But despite all of that, I still had a great time playing it. I say it all the time, but if a game is fun, I can look passed a lot of problem.  My buddy Keegs makes his return to the show this week, and it was a weird episode, because we probably spent more time talking about the stuff we didn't like than the stuff that we did, but at the end of the podcast, came around and slapped a pretty good score on this game. Secret of Mana is a funky title, and if you haven't played it yet, maybe we can convince you to give it a shot (just make sure you look up a walkthrough before you do). And before we talk about Mana secrets, I drop another steaming edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro' on ya! This week, we talk about games we're reminded of when we hear retro console load-up chimes. Are indie games proving that a game doesn't have to look like a blockbuster movie to be considered a work of art? And how do you avoid seeing gameplay of an upcoming game when it's embargo lifts a week (or longer) before it's release date?? PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring three of the SNES's best RPGs: Final Fantasy III, Chrono Trigger, and EarthBound.  Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame If you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame1

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I'm tossing a disclaimer into the very beginning of this description - If you're looking for a podcast that breaks down the strategies, intricacies, and fine details of Pokemon Red & Blue, you might want to keep looking. That's not us. But if you're just looking for a big fat syringe of nostalgia, and a couple of nerds talking about a pair of games they grew up adoring? C'mon in! I put Super Mario Bros. on the pedestal of all pedestals around here, due to the impact it had on gaming, and one of the largest franchises in the industry. And I don't think it's an exaggeration to put Pokemon Red & Blue on that same level. I think everyone that grew up in the late 90's had Pokemon fever. And yeah, the movies, toys, TV shows, and future video games are all great. But we wouldn't have any of them with the OGs: Red & Blue.  My buddy Andre and I took a trip down memory lane this week, and had a HELL of a time talking about our experiences with Pokemon from back in the day. I defend Bulbasaur, we talk about how everyone SHOULD hate Nintendo for the way they monetize these series (but we don't), and we get into our favourite, and least favourite, Pokemon from the original 150.  And yes, it's 150. Mew sucks. And before we talk about 'em all, I host another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'!  This week, we ponder the future of gaming and whether or not "consoles" as we know them will keep releasing forever. Someone asks what gaming would look like today if SEGA had won the console wars instead of Nintendo. And if I could DE-make one modern game into an SNES iteration, which would it be? PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring three Pokemon spinoffs: Pokemon Puzzle League, Pokemon Stadium, and The Pokemon Trading Card Game.  Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame If you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame

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What can we say about Mass Effect 2 that hasn't already been said? It's probably the best game in one of the best trilogies in the history of this industry. The story telling, characters, combat, graphics, voice-acting; all top shelf. It might not be perfect, but if it isn't, it's damned close.  But you've probably already heard all this. We've realized there isn't anything new we can say about Mass Effect 2. So we're just gonna say the same stuff everyone else has been saying about it for over a decade, but we're gonna splash some hot dog water on top of it to give it that unique RTG flavour. This episode of the show was sponsored by a member of our community, Zach Shepard, on Patreon. We spend a few minutes chatting about why Mass Effect 2 means so much to Zach, and get his official score (along with his picks for best party members), before my buddy Chris and I geek out all over the place and explain why we both think this is simply one of the greatest video games ever made.  And before we get to gushing, I host another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'!  This week, I explain the origin of my anti-PC gaming stance. We talk about pre-ordering games, and if it's necessary, or worthwhile, in 2022. And who would I rather go on a road trip with; Ashley from Resident Evil 4, Tidus from FFX, or Navi from Ocarina of Time? (None, BTW) PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring three BioWare RPGs: Jade Empire, Star Wars KOTOR, and Dragon Age: Origins.  Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame If you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame And check out Zach's friend Jason May's information here: Jason May is an illustrator out of Rhode Island, USA. He has a YouTube show, Jason May Draws, where he and Chris Gugliotti, another illustrator, draw audience suggestions. Family friendly with a lot of retro references, a lot of Remember the Game audience members would enjoy the show. Jason has worked on tons of original works while recently doing a few Lego holiday books. His newest book “I love you to pieces” is out on bookshelves now. Chris has worked on DC’s Teen Titans and Wonder Woman and is currently working on his new mini series “Into the Emberdoham” Check them out at youtube.com/c/JasonMayDraw every Wednesday night, 7pm EST

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Sonic Adventure 2 won our Patreon Poll in December, and I gotta be honest, I was excited. The original Sonic Adventure wasn't perfect, but it was fun enough. And the consensus seemed to be that the sequel was better. I was told there'd be no Big the Cat. Shadow's kinda cool. Fucking eh, let's go.  But then I played it. And I have to be honest. This is one of the worst game I've ever played of the podcast. The Sonic and Shadow levels are pretty dope. It's too bad that they're only about 25% of the fucking game. Everything else is mashing B with Tails/Eggman, or the most tedious, obnoxious, boring scavenger hunts I've ever experienced with Knuckles/Rouge. This game should have been called "crappy spin-off levels with occasional appearances by the two characters on the cover". What a joke.  "Well, the best part of the game is the Chao Garden." Oh, the mini game that has nothing to do with SONIC?? The guy I bought the game to play as!?!?? Unacceptable.  Angry Adam is in his final form on the show this week, and my friend Kait (who likes this game a lot) tries to calm him down, to minimal success. Kait explains why she likes this game, and I yell about why I hate it. And make no mistake - I fucking HATE it. Fortunately, it isn't all angry. Because before I crap all over your childhood, I host another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'!  This week, we talk about which Rare titles we want to see make the leap over to the Switch's Nintendo 64 Online service. When are we gonna get our hands on Metroid Prime 4? And I toss around my long standing idea of hosting an indie game podcast. PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring three of RTG's worst - Virtual Bart, Ecco the Dolphin, and Mario is Missing. Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame

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**I'm away this week, so there's no episode of RTG. But I hope you enjoy this spoiler-free review of Metroid Dread**

For this week's episode, I'm sharing my thoughts on Metroid Dread for the Nintendo Switch. Is it too difficult? Is it worth all the hype? Can I get away from an E.M.M.I? Listen and find out!

And like all my review podcasts, the review portion is spoiler-free, but I have added a short spoiler cast to the end of the show (I'll warn you several times before the spoilers start!)

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The following podcast is intended for mature audiences. It may contain opinions and comments about Castlevania: Symphony of the Night that some might find offensive. Listener discretion is advised. Symphony of the Night is considered by many to be one of the greatest video games of all-time. It's one of the pioneers of the Metroidvania genre (hence the name), and it's easily one of the games I've been asked to review the most over the years. I'd never played it before, so when it won our Patreon poll, I was excited. I love metroidvanias, I love retro games, this should be a lay-up, right?? Well, not exactly. I gotta be honest - I didn't love this game. Truth be told, I didn't like it very much at all. It looks great, it sounds nice. I respect what it did for a genre I love so much. But I found it, kinda boring. Tedious. And "the best part of the game" is hidden in the most obnoxious fashion possible. I, I just don't get why this game is so popular.  But my guest, Bradley McCue, does. He loves this game, which is why he was the perfect ying to my yang this week. I had no choice but to agree with some of the stuff he loved, and he had no choice but to come along with a few mechanics that I hated.  And I want to be clear. There's no Angry Adam this week. I don't rip SotN a new ass or anything. I respect its legacy, and I tried my best to show as much. But I don't like this game, and this week, I'm gonna tell you why. And of course, before I completely ruin my reputation and RTG comes crashing down all around me, I run through another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'!  This week, we talk about how damned good Sega Genesis soundtracks are. Were we better gamers when we were kids? And what's the best controller for the Nintendo Switch? PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring three pre-SotN Castlevania games - Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, Super Castlevania IV, and Castlevania: Bloodlines. Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame

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I thought I had played all the best games that the SNES had to offer. Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts never jumped out at me as a must-play title. But I finally got around to playing it last year, and realized the error of my ways.  Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts IS a must-play title, and it's absolutely one of the best games on the SNES. Consider my stance corrected.  This game is tough as fuck, but it rarely feels unfair. Practice pays off, and it clearly subscribes to the old school logic of "get good" or die trying. And you will die. A lot. I'm not ashamed to admit that I can't quite beat this game, but as you'll hear on this week's show, it doesn't stop me from loving it anyway. The SNES isa till the gold standard for retro gaming in my eye(s), and Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts is a prime example of why.  My buddy Tyler returns to the show this week. He didn't play much of the SNES version of the game, but he sunk a ton of time into Ghouls 'N Ghosts in the arcade. So we're kinda going over both games this week and talking about how they're very hard not to love, despite the fact that it doesn't really feel like they love you back.  And of course, before we talk about fighting ghouls in your underwear, I run through another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'!  This week, we talk about resellers, and whether or not they're as bad as society thinks they are. If you're new to the Xbox universe, is the Series S and GamePass all you need? And would you rather EVERY game in the future be open-world, or none of them? PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring three Capcom SNES  games - Final Fight 2, X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse, and Demon's Crest. Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you want access to over 200 bonus podcasts, along with multiple new shows EVERY WEEK, consider showing us some love over at Patreon. Subscriptions start at just $2/month! Patreon.com/RememberTheGame

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I've never hidden the fact that I'm a card carrying Mega Man fanboy. I love that little blue bastard so much. And we've reviewed of a few of his games on the podcast over the years, but his debut title has slipped under the radar. Admittedly, that might be because it just isn't as good as most of his other games, but it's a still a really fun, solid (and tough) NES platformer. It's also where the Blue Bomber started, and it's time to give it it's due.  I'm rolling solo this week, not because I couldn't get anyone to talk Mega Man, but because I didn't want to bug any of my friends to record a podcast over the holidays. And I'm so damned passionate about this game (and franchise) that I had no problem carrying a conversation on with myself.  I get that Mega Man isn't for everyone, but if I turn even one more person onto the greatness that is the Mega Man series with this episode, I'll sleep easy knowing I made the world a better place. And before I go down on that Mega Man meat, I stumble through another edition of the 'Remember The Game? Infamous Intro'!  This week, I talk about the way female characters are portrayed in video games. Someone asks what advice I would offer myself if I go back to the launch of this podcast. And does anyone else feel pressure to get to the end of a game that seems to be taking too long? PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring three Capcom NES  games - Ghosts N Goblins, Bionic Commando, and Little Nemo: The Dream Master. Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame

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I'm away for holidays this week, so I thought I would release an episode of our Patreon exclusive show 'Expansion Pass' for everyone to enjoy. This was episode #50, and I ranked my favourite SNES games of all-time. 

I hope you enjoy the podcast, and Happy Holidays!

And if you're interested in gaining instant access to our entire bonus podcast library, check out Patreon.com/RememberTheGame!

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I've said it before, and I'll say it again; the Nintendo GameCube is the greatest (pre-online) multiplayer console in history. And while the Mario Kart, wrestling games, and Mario Parties were fun, the Mario sports games are the titles that I have the best memories of. Baseball, golf, tennis, and soccer. It's like the Mount Rushmore of Mario sports games. And it's about time we start talking about them.  The Waluigi to my Wario, former hall of fame Mark McCue returns to the show this week, and we're taking a nice long look at Super Mario Strikers (Mario Smash Football on the other side of the pond). It was Nintendo's golden goose's first attempt at playing some footie, and it's didn't disappoint. From fun gameplay, to 'easy to learn/tough to master' mechanics, to electrocutions, this game is just straight up fun to play. Especially with friends. I fucking adore this game, and I'm pray that this episode of the podcast wills the gaming Gods into giving us another entry in the Strikers franchise in the near future.  And before we get our red cards or whatever soccer players get, I sneak in the final 2021 edition of the 'Remember The Game Infamous Intro'!  This week, we talk about the games that are on the "no fly" list here at RTG Industries. Is multiplayer a better experience online, or in person? And if Adam could design a Christmas video game, what would it be like? PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring three other "arcadey" sports games - Mutant League Hockey, Base Wars, and MegaMan Soccer. Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameFacebook.com/MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you wanna check ol' Mark McCue out on TikTok, hit him up @barkmccue Thanks for all the love this year, hot dogs. Happy Holidays!

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Final Fantasy X is one of the games that listeners have been asking us to review ever since we launched the podcast. And seeing as it's the 20th anniversary of Tidus & friends here in North America this week, I figured it was time to talk Blitz Ball.  I didn't play a ton of PlayStation 2 back in it's prime, but Final Fantasy X was one of the few PS2 games that I dedicated some screen time to. I didn't get around to finishing the game until this year when I picked it up for my Switch, but I've always enjoyed my time with it. Great graphics, good story, fun combat, one of the best mini games in Final Fantasy history. I have some minor nitpicks, but by and large, this is a hell of a video game. One of our Discord moderators, Keegs, makes his RTG debut this week, to talk about one of his favourite games of all-time. I don't know if I hold it in that high of regard, but FFX is one of the most iconic games in gaming history, I respect the hell out of (most of) it, and it's about damned time we showed it some love on this stupid show. And before we laugh ( HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, ugh), I sneak in another edition of the 'Remember The Game Infamous Intro'!  This week, we talk about games that we can just lose ourselves in for hours at a time. Did you ever lend someone a game and never get it back? And is it harder to review a remake or remaster if you're nostalgic for the original version of a game? PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring three PS2 RPG heavyweights - Dragon Quest VIII, Persona 4, and Final Fantasy XII. Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameFacebook.com/MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you're interested in supporting my 24 hour Extra Life charity stream on December 18 and 19, you can find more information at RememberTheGamePodcast.com!

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Every month, our supporters on Patreon get to vote for a game that want to hear us cover on the podcast. The poll is made up of games listeners have been asking for, that I've never played. Sometimes this results in an episode where I just get pissed off at how bad a game is. And sometimes it results in me finally playing a game that I should have played a long-ass time ago.  Fortunately for all you Luigi's Mansion fans, this time around, its scenario #2. This game is a must-play for any Nintendo GameCube fan. I'm still confused as to why they launched a console with a vacuuming simulator starring the character that was previously relegated to younger siblings, but at the end of the day, I guess it doesn't matter. From the graphics, to the sound, to the mansion itself, Luigi's Mansion oozes charm. I had a fucking blast playing this game. My buddy Darren returns to the show this week, and we spent a good hour chatting about the many things we loved about this game, as well as the minor nitpicks that we didn't. We tried to figure out why Nintendo decided to come out of the gate with this game instead of a Mario title, too. If you're a GameCube fan, you're gonna dig this episode. And before we bust (or suck?) ghosts, I sneak in another edition of the 'Remember The Game Infamous Intro'!  This week, we talk about the increasing number of video games being made into TV shows. Sony doesn't really have one "front and centre" mascot, and maybe they don't really need one. And what does Adam think of the Angry Video Game Nerd? PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring three of the GameCube's best - Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, Metroid Prime, and Animal Crossing. Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameFacebook.com/MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you're interested in supporting my 24 hour Extra Life charity stream on December 18 and 19, you can find more information at RememberTheGamePodcast.com!

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Every time we talk about a Sega Genesis game, I bring up that I was a Nintendo kid in the 90's, and I love discovering great games that I missed out on. And this week, that all applies again. I fired up Gunstar Heroes after hearing for years that it's one of the best titles the Genesis has to offer, and damned if that isn't spot on. I'm a huge Contra fan, but this might be the best run and gun I've ever played (that isn't called Cuphead.) Saturday morning cartoon graphics, customizable weapons, characters with different traits and perks, levels that are playable in any order you want, a banging soundtrack. This game has it all. I thought Streets of Rage 2 was a lock for my favourite Genesis game of all-time, but Gunstar Heroes has me reconsidering that number 1 spot. My pal Chris returns to the show this week. He's a fitting guest considering he's one of the Sega kids that has been hounding me to play this game forever, and we had a great time talking about a great game. Gunstar Heroes is a retro gaming gem, and if you haven't already played it, I hope this podcast convinces you to right that wrong ASAP. And before we become heroes, I sneak in another edition of the 'Remember The Game Infamous Intro'!  This week, we sing the praises of the PlayStation 4 game library. I talk about games that I'm scared to start playing, despite wanting to figure them up. And on the heels of last week's Ocarina of Time podcast, a listener asks me to try and convince them the game is worth playing, despite my mixed opinions on it. PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring three of my favourite Genesis games - Shinobi 3, Earthworm Jim 2, and ToeJam and Earl. Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameFacebook.com/MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And if you're interested in supporting my 24 hour Extra Life charity stream on December 18 and 19, you can find more information at RememberTheGamePodcast.com!

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The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. I've never hidden the fact that I have very mixed opinions of this game. I played it when it came out in 1998 (pre-ordered one of the gold cartridges!), but it wasn't until this past couple weeks that I finally beat the Nintendo 64 version for the first time. Before then, I'd only ever finished the 3DS port. And going back to the original version in preparation for this podcast, I was reminded of why I can't decide whether or not I like Ocarina of Time as a whole.  The nostalgia this game triggers is off the charts. And I respect the hell out of it's legacy and what it did for 3D gaming, Nintendo, and the Zelda franchise. But I can't be convinced that it doesn't control like a shopping cart, and Navi and that stupid owl are co-favourites in the "Most annoying character ever" championship tournament.  So revisiting this game is a slippery slope. I'm not gonna come in here and crap all over a game thats beloved by so many of us, but I'm not gonna pretend it's perfect when it just isn't, either. My buddy Bradley McCue returns to the show this week, as a card carrying Zelda fanboy, and we break down the 'yays' & 'nays' of one of the most iconic video games ever created; The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. (It's pronounced 'Oak-a-rhine-ah of Tim', FYI). And before we risk alienating half our listeners, I sneak in another edition of the 'Remember The Game Infamous Intro'!  This week, we talk about trying to focus on a game with so many other screens around to distract you while you're playing. Someone asks why sports games seem to be getting worse every year. And are you willing to look by a game that ships full of bugs and glitches, if it's still fun to play? PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring three of the "middle of the pack" Zelda games - Zelda 2, The Minish Cap, and Twilight Princess. Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameFacebook.com/MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And you can check out Bradley's movie podcast 'Little Movie Dates' wherever you get podcasts, or on Instagram @LittleMovieDates

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I love Mega Man. And I love the Game Boy. But Mega Man on the Game Boy? It shouldn't work. And the first four times they tried it, it doesn't really look like it did. But as the old saying goes, the fifth times the charm! Because Mega Man V...is...awesome. It looks good. It controls well. It sounds great. It has a different story with different robot masters. And it has a robotic cat. He kinda sucks, but still. This game takes that NES Mega Man goodness we all knew and loved and puts it in your pocket on a puke green screen, and it works so damned well. I would argue this game is better than a couple of the NES Mega Man games, to be honest. My buddy Patrick is a Game Boy super fan, and he returns to the show this week to combine his handheld nerdiness with my Mega Man obsession, and we churned out a podcast that's almost as good as Mega Man V itself. And before we fight planets and Tango, I sneak in another edition of the 'Remember The Game Infamous Intro'!  This week, I talk about games that I never would have tried without GamePass. A listener challenges me to read a comment full of ten dollar words (and I fail miserably). And which Metroid villain would you rather run into in a dark alley? SA-X, or an E.M.M.I? PLUS, we have another round of 'Play One, Remake One, Erase One', featuring what might be the three best Mega Man games ever created - Mega Man 2, Mega Man 3, and Mega Man X. Are you on social media? Of course you are. So follow us!  Twitter: @MemberTheGameInstagram: @MemberTheGameFacebook.com/MemberTheGameTwitch.tv/MemberTheGame And you can check out Patrick Discount Lion Safari (shout out to anyone that get's that reference!) here: Instagram:@burgerfinger@discount.lion.safari DiscountLionSafari.bandcamp.com

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