

Play Retro Show
Scott Johnson
Scott Johnson and Brian Dunaway talk about retro video games! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 7, 2025 • 1h 18min
PLAY RETRO 159: The SSX Series
SSX, EA Sports BIG’s legendary snowboarding series that defined arcade-style extreme sports in the early 2000s. From the original SSX on the PS2 to the fan-favorite SSX Tricky and the open-world masterpiece SSX 3, these games combined fast-paced racing, gravity-defying tricks, and an unforgettable soundtrack. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 4, 2025 • 1h 25min
PLAY RETRO 158: Space Quest
Space Quest I: The Sarien Encounter, Space Quest II: Vohaul’s Revenge, and Space Quest III: The Pirates of Pestulon. These games, developed by Sierra’s "Two Guys from Andromeda" (Mark Crowe and Scott Murphy), combined comedy and science fiction in a way that few adventure games had done before. QUEST IN SPACE!!!!! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 21, 2025 • 1h 19min
PLAY RETRO 157: Pole Position
Pole Position and Pole Position II, the classic arcade racing games that defined an entire genre. Developed by Namco and distributed by Atari in the US released in the early '80s, Pole Position introduced the world to realistic track-based racing with qualifying rounds, intense time-based competition, and scaling sprite graphics that made players feel like they were truly behind the wheel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 14, 2025 • 1h 14min
Play Retro 156: Wario Land for Game Boy
Wario Land 1–4, the beloved side-scrolling platformer series that gave Mario’s greedy, garlic-loving rival a starring role. Beginning with Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 on the Game Boy, the series evolved into a creative and quirky take on platforming, replacing traditional power-ups with bizarre transformations, treasure-hunting mechanics, and Wario’s signature brute force. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 7, 2025 • 1h 29min
Play Retro 155: Dino Crisis
Survival horror meets dinosaurs. Regina and her team are sent to a mysterious research facility where prehistoric creatures are on the loose. Capcom’s attempt to mix survival horror with dinosaurs. Released in 1999, Dino Crisis introduced players to a sci-fi thriller where Velociraptors and T-Rexes replaced zombies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4 snips
Jan 31, 2025 • 1h 34min
PLAY RETRO 154: Fuzion Frenzy!
Dive into the excitement of Fuzion Frenzy, Microsoft’s chaotic party game for the original Xbox! The hosts reminisce about nostalgic mini-games that fueled competitive fun among friends. They also explore the quirky world of third-party controllers and the unique ads from gaming's past, like the unforgettable Taco Bell promotion. Catch reflections on the evolution of gaming culture, and a humorous take on kitchen misadventures, all while discussing what makes couch multiplayer experiences so memorable.

Jan 25, 2025 • 1h 2min
PLAY RETRO 153: Wave Race 64
Wave Race 64: a showcase game for the Nintendo 64 showing off the power of the N64 with this early 3d game on water that challenges the player to control their vehicle while bouncing around on choppy water. Look at those waves! Produced by Shigeru Miyamoto and developed by Nintendo EAD players compete for 1st place by out racing and stunting their way past their opponents. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 17, 2025 • 1h 29min
PLAY RETRO 152: X-COM - UFO Defense
X-Com: UFO Defense (or UFO: Enemy Unknown outside North America) and its terrifying underwater sequel, X-Com: Terror from the Deep. Developed by MicroProse and released in the 1990s, these games combined base-building, resource management, and squad-based tactical combat to create a genre-defining experience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 12, 2025 • 1h 22min
PLAY RETRO 151: After Burner
After Burner is a high-speed, adrenaline-pumping arcade flight combat game developed by Sega and designed by the legendary Yu Suzuki. Released during Sega's golden age of arcade innovation, it introduced players to the thrill of piloting an F-14 Tomcat fighter jet in intense dogfights. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 6, 2025 • 1h 19min
PLAY RETRO 150: Eternal Champions
Sega released Eternal Champions in hopes of capitalizing on the fighting game mania that the game industry was in the midst of following the massive success of Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat. The game tried to set itself apart with unique features such as a heavier emphasis on its story, characters pulled from different time periods, reflectable projectiles, force fields, fighters that carried weapons, a training mode where players had to defend themselves against robotic traps, a novel method of executing moves, and elaborate stage-specific finishing moves called "Overkills". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


