ToastyFrog
Inexplicable Treasure Hate
It looks like the numbering got muddled due to the holiday episode. I'm sure this is because, as Curufinwe points out any time this thread is bumped, we're stupid, lazy, incompetent idiots.
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Retronauts Podcast Thread
- Thread starter krae_man
- Start date
It looks like the numbering got muddled due to the holiday episode. I'm sure this is because, as Curufinwe points out any time this thread is bumped, we're stupid, lazy, incompetent idiots.
Kobun Heat
Member
I'm not quite sure what I said, but we played Celtic Moon at our wedding reception.
LegendOfGood
Member
I enjoyed the Uematsu episode. Was cool to have everyone unanimously expressing some well-deserved love for his work.
I also appreciated the ample amount of spliced-in music. Helped create context for the tunes they were referring to.
I also appreciated the ample amount of spliced-in music. Helped create context for the tunes they were referring to.
Kobun Heat
Member
Nope. Had to quit for the day. Mitsuda will get his epic episode later.
Fenster Mayhew
Member
Our official feed only contains 125 episodes, which should all be numbered correctly—I just scrolled through my phone to check. We did do a handful of special episodes that weren't numbered, so that may be throwing you off.
My best friend had both the Legend of Zelda and Jurassic Park themes as part of his wedding, so I'm really not judging anyone.
charlequin
Banned
Oh I didn't take it seriously at all, I just found it really amusing that it came up when talking about exactly the song I actually used. I guess it's just pretty wedding-y music, especially in a string arrangement. We did not, however, wind up following through with our other, way dweebier plan to put Cloud and Tifa action figures on the cake.
Also, Celtic Moon is hella good. Just in general the episode spotlighted exactly the stuff I'd want to hear about from every game, but especially that particular disc is an all-time-great arranged album so I was glad you brought it up.
That surprises me. I felt like they did a really good job of showcasing the great stuff about Uematsu that people don't usually talk about, even. Surely something in the episode must've tempted you to give him another shot!
Great episode - I especially enjoyed hearing some of Uematsu's pre-Final Fantasy music. It's also always nice hearing kind words about FFVIII, a crazy, underrated, experiment of a game.
Fantasy Life isn't mentioned at all, and I'm very happy about that. I guess it's just me, but I keep seeing people praising that game's soundtrack, but I found it obnoxious and it wasn't long before I would listen to something else while playing it. Having to listen to this march every time I was in the main town was just too much.
Fantasy Life isn't mentioned at all, and I'm very happy about that. I guess it's just me, but I keep seeing people praising that game's soundtrack, but I found it obnoxious and it wasn't long before I would listen to something else while playing it. Having to listen to this march every time I was in the main town was just too much.
ToastyFrog
Inexplicable Treasure Hate
When I reviewed Fantasy Life I kept the volume all the way down for most of the game, or just loud enough that I could hear only the sound effects. I really couldn't stand the music for some reason. Loved everything else about the game, though.
RadarScope1
Member
It's ... a joke? We're all nerds here.
Fenster Mayhew
Member
Aww... the Fantasy Life OST might have been a little cloying, but there's still some great tracks on there:
https://youtu.be/H6yTin_39EU
https://youtu.be/KUA0svXviJg
There's even an honest-to-god drinking song for when you're knocking back "barley juice" at one of the game's "cafes." (Rated E for Everyone)
https://youtu.be/lzb-FGP4dfU
And the Blue Dragon song I was thinking of during the recording wasn't "Gibral Castle," it was actually "Army of the Holy Sword," which sounds like it could have come from a Final Fantasy:
https://youtu.be/EX3Gmhs_W_0
https://youtu.be/H6yTin_39EU
https://youtu.be/KUA0svXviJg
There's even an honest-to-god drinking song for when you're knocking back "barley juice" at one of the game's "cafes." (Rated E for Everyone)
https://youtu.be/lzb-FGP4dfU
And the Blue Dragon song I was thinking of during the recording wasn't "Gibral Castle," it was actually "Army of the Holy Sword," which sounds like it could have come from a Final Fantasy:
https://youtu.be/EX3Gmhs_W_0
ah well, i forgive you guys. for anyone who wants to check it out, here's my suggestions i posted in an uematsu thread once
Fenster Mayhew
Member
Our Ocarina of Time episode is now live for all of you good boys and girls (and even the bad ones):
http://www.usgamer.net/articles/retronauts-toots-on-the-ocarina-of-time
http://www.usgamer.net/articles/retronauts-toots-on-the-ocarina-of-time
RadarScope1
Member
Never seen The Never-Ending Story, Bob? Worth seeing for sure. That was "the" movie rented a zillion times as a kid...
nckillthegrimace
Member
I'm surprised that so many people on the press side think Wind Waker has the best combat of any 3D Zelda. The parry command is literally a win prompt, so it's hard to understand the effusive praise.
Also, there's a bit of conflation with Majora's Mask in this episode. The "fast mask," or Bunny Hood, only gives you a speed boost in MM. And the Gerudo getting freaked out by bees is also from MM.
Speaking of Gerudo, they are associated with the spirit temple, not the fire one that had the chants removed. That's the Goron temple.
Finally, Nintendo has revisited the time mechanic in more depth, ie it has an actual effect on puzzles and gameplay. Bob's favorite Zelda, Skyward Sword, makes brilliant use of the concept with the timeshift stones in the desert area and its dungeons.
I'm not sure how to respond to Jeremy's assertion that Ocarina won't be this timeless classic that deserves to canonized as an essential game. It's been nearly 20 years. It's already there, even if parts of it have been executed better by later games.
Also, there's a bit of conflation with Majora's Mask in this episode. The "fast mask," or Bunny Hood, only gives you a speed boost in MM. And the Gerudo getting freaked out by bees is also from MM.
Speaking of Gerudo, they are associated with the spirit temple, not the fire one that had the chants removed. That's the Goron temple.
Finally, Nintendo has revisited the time mechanic in more depth, ie it has an actual effect on puzzles and gameplay. Bob's favorite Zelda, Skyward Sword, makes brilliant use of the concept with the timeshift stones in the desert area and its dungeons.
I'm not sure how to respond to Jeremy's assertion that Ocarina won't be this timeless classic that deserves to canonized as an essential game. It's been nearly 20 years. It's already there, even if parts of it have been executed better by later games.
They're probably right about OoT being a generational thing. It had a similar impact for me that the original Zelda had for a lot of kids in the 80s. It wasn't my first Zelda game (I had played LTTP and Link's Awakening beforehand) but it was the first Zelda game where the world felt "alive," even if the overworld was pretty empty. I still remember going to the Hyrule market for the first time and thinking how lively it was. It made the future portion of the game feel that much darker when it became a zombie wasteland. I also remember thinking how daunting the dungeons looked, and how if I were Link, I'd run away immediately after entering the Deku Tree. I never got that sense from the 2D Zelda games, though they're great for different reasons.
Great episode overall, and it was interesting to hear from people who were a little older than me when the game originally came out.
Great episode overall, and it was interesting to hear from people who were a little older than me when the game originally came out.
I just made a co-worker watch that movie.
Gotta teach these youngins some culture.
Excellent post. I also never understood the press hype for the Wind Waker-combat, but rationalized it as just another part of the Zelda-cycle and a bi-effect of both Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword being hit pretty hard by journalists and other "core" gamers for its use of motion-control. Your time mechanic point points in the same direction, as it is a feature that is excellently used in a game lot of people in the press didnt really play.
By the way, I know its unreasonable to expect that you guys get everything right every time, but I love the show. Keep up the good work!
firehawk12
Subete no aware
I still hold out hope that someone somewhere will pay them to do a BBS Door Game episode. Or I guess barring that, a MUD episode. Just something on the history of multiplayer games and what they were before Quake and Everquest.
I hope the guys decide to take requests again, too. I've been listening back through the old epsidoes, and it's sometimes neat to hear them go out of their comfort zone.
Personally, I'd love a new episode on Roguelikes and more coverage of cheesy videogame media like the Megaman cartoon or the Dragon Warrior cartoon that briefly aired in the US. I'd also want a Sega CD episode.
I recently upped my patreon pledge to $5 just because I like the podcast so much and backed Jeremy for $6 at the same time. So I'll enjoy whatever the crew comes up with.
firehawk12
Subete no aware
I know that consoles and particularly Nintendo is what people like to talk about, and that's fine. I'm sure if this was a European retro podcast every episode would be about the ZX Spectrum or the Mega Drive. But yeah, I just wouldn't mind them doing something that is completely new to them and is actually not that well documented (at least by the well known retro game writers on the Internet).
I personally think they should keep talking mostly about the stuff they know, since there is most enthusiasm and interesting discussion about it. But there is definitely room for somebody to talk about old pc-games, 8-bit computers and the like, but i think that space should probably be filled by somebody else. Jaz Rignall has said some very interesting things about that stuff when he was on for instance, and would be a great participater in such a show, but dont know who else. I guess the Retro Gamer crew is probably the best?
Fenster Mayhew
Member
I appreciate the feedback, and I just wanted to say that some of these broader or more popular topics—for me, at least—are chosen mostly out of necessity. Preparing for a show takes hours and hours as-is (I average about 3 hours for every set of show notes), so it really helps to already have some knowledge going into a topic. I also like to replay the games we talk about, so you can factor in 5-8 hours of that sort of "research" per episode as well. That said, Japanese games are kinda my thing, but, with each set of episodes we record, I try to at least do one outside of that subject matter. I'm definitely making an effort to include more PC stuff, since I did (and do) A LOT of PC gaming in my life, and I'd like the show to reflect that in some way.
The thing is, when we were doing our backer-requested episodes, we would often work the requesters to choose topics they like that were more approachable for us—at least I did. Still, we did get some criticism (which I agree with) that some of these shows lacked energy, since we were cruising along based on dry notes and research, rather than our own experiences. Then there's also the fact that we need our guests to be aware of the subject matter as well, so if we did a series overview of, say, Derby Stallion, it might be hard to pull in someone who knows enough to talk about it. (It was surprisingly hard to find a guest who could talk about Half-Life 2, for crying out loud.)
I really like the current state of Retronauts, but the only way for it to be more "thorough" would involve our Patreon making four times what it's doing now so we could make it our full-time jobs. As much as I'd love to explore a fully unknown series from top-to-bottom, I also have a full-time job, and other stuff on the side. But I think even with the more popular topics, we've done a good job of going outside of the obvious discussions. It's also important to point out that new people are finding Retronauts every day, so it's nice for them to be able to zero in on episodes featuring games they know well. After doing episodes on Mario World and a Link to the Past, I noticed our numbers really jumped, so it's clear our audience really likes this kind of content.
The weird thing about Retronauts feedback is how contradictory it is. After posting an episode, I'll see some positive comments roll in, then I'll wake up the next day and see people complaining about the stuff the positive people like. At this point, I think you should just trust that we're trying to make the best show we can, and accept you might not like some episodes as much as others. (Though I still welcome feedback.) Anyhow, thanks for listening!
The thing is, when we were doing our backer-requested episodes, we would often work the requesters to choose topics they like that were more approachable for us—at least I did. Still, we did get some criticism (which I agree with) that some of these shows lacked energy, since we were cruising along based on dry notes and research, rather than our own experiences. Then there's also the fact that we need our guests to be aware of the subject matter as well, so if we did a series overview of, say, Derby Stallion, it might be hard to pull in someone who knows enough to talk about it. (It was surprisingly hard to find a guest who could talk about Half-Life 2, for crying out loud.)
I really like the current state of Retronauts, but the only way for it to be more "thorough" would involve our Patreon making four times what it's doing now so we could make it our full-time jobs. As much as I'd love to explore a fully unknown series from top-to-bottom, I also have a full-time job, and other stuff on the side. But I think even with the more popular topics, we've done a good job of going outside of the obvious discussions. It's also important to point out that new people are finding Retronauts every day, so it's nice for them to be able to zero in on episodes featuring games they know well. After doing episodes on Mario World and a Link to the Past, I noticed our numbers really jumped, so it's clear our audience really likes this kind of content.
The weird thing about Retronauts feedback is how contradictory it is. After posting an episode, I'll see some positive comments roll in, then I'll wake up the next day and see people complaining about the stuff the positive people like. At this point, I think you should just trust that we're trying to make the best show we can, and accept you might not like some episodes as much as others. (Though I still welcome feedback.) Anyhow, thanks for listening!
Criticism is the best form of flattery, isnt that what they say? Anyways, I just want to say that I think you guys produce the best gaming podcast on the internet, even though I can get annoyed sometimes, and disagree often (which is not a bad thing really). So keep up the good work guys!
charlequin
Banned
Honestly, with stuff like the "Slow Life" episode, the long-awaited VALIS ep, Micros on stuff like Zillion, Echo Night, or Otocky, etc. it hasn't felt to me like there's been any shortage of unusual stuff in Volume IV. The requests are cool in their own right (there was some stuff in Volume III I probably never would have heard about otherwise) but I think the topic selection right now is good.
Etrian Oddity
Member
Yeah, that was pretty... weird sentiment.
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
OoT is an utterly fantastic game... And even though I'm 31 I certainly grew up on it. It came out when I was turning 14... Certainly not too old for it to be in my childhood, more or less.
I'm not sure if I felt it towered over everything else I had played on SNES or was playing at the time on PS1. It's just another Chrono Trigger, FF6 or FF7-level game. So maybe by "generational" it means you had to have been quite young indeed (like 10 and under) and with N64 as your first and perhaps only console, to think of it as a towering giant over all other games.
I definitely know a lot of people in their mid-20s with Zelda tattoos and who talk about how great the story was or whatever. Must be OoT kids. (That story was kinda thin compared to the jRPGs I had grown up on... But hey... When you're a kid it'd seem so epic)
I always prefer the episodes where the crew are all very familiar and personally interested in the topic at hand. There is more personality in them, and the opinions and impressions come from a more genuine place. The occasional out-of-left-field topic is fine, of course, but they will never be my preferred Retronauts. I was weened on the 1UP episodes, so I'll always love the snark and sincerity that only first-hand knowledge can supply. There's so much material from Retronauts' first seasons that can now be revisited with nearly a decade more of hindsight; go for it.
You guys just do you, and leave the haters to quibble in the comments sections.
Now then, everyone hold hands and wish for some strange convergence of events that will allow for the fabled Jeremy Parish, Ray Barnholt, Scott Sharkey, Chris Kohler, Jenn Frank, Shane Bettenhausen, Christrian Nutt, Bob Mackey spectacular. I have no idea what the topic would be, but who cares?
As, for the Zelda discussion. I grew up playing Majora's Mask at a friend's house long before I ever played Ocarina. This undoubtedly makes me a horrifying monster, but it is what it is. I've always preferred MM, but I just take everyone else's word on the importance of Ocarina. OoT was still fun when I played through it with a friend a couple of years ago with a friend, but part of that may have been a contact high because she loved it so much growing up and knew it inside out.
You guys just do you, and leave the haters to quibble in the comments sections.
Now then, everyone hold hands and wish for some strange convergence of events that will allow for the fabled Jeremy Parish, Ray Barnholt, Scott Sharkey, Chris Kohler, Jenn Frank, Shane Bettenhausen, Christrian Nutt, Bob Mackey spectacular. I have no idea what the topic would be, but who cares?
As, for the Zelda discussion. I grew up playing Majora's Mask at a friend's house long before I ever played Ocarina. This undoubtedly makes me a horrifying monster, but it is what it is. I've always preferred MM, but I just take everyone else's word on the importance of Ocarina. OoT was still fun when I played through it with a friend a couple of years ago with a friend, but part of that may have been a contact high because she loved it so much growing up and knew it inside out.
They kind of did that once, I believe. But now, way after the statute of limitations, it could probably be much more interesting.
ToastyFrog
Inexplicable Treasure Hate
Well, I hear that there's this one podcast that turns 10 years old this fall, which means it will become eligible for discussion on Retronauts.
firehawk12
Subete no aware
Snipped for brevity, but thanks for replying in part to me. I still listen to the show and enjoy it, and I appreciate the look at Nintendo/Japanese games as well, even after all these years. I think I was just a bit thrown by Ocarina of Time being a topic, because for me I was a teenage so in my mind it's not "retro" like a NES or SNES game. But I also realize that most of your audience is probably under 20 so for them, that is their Link to the Past.
I think part of my request would be that it would be nice if you guys could educate people who would not have ever heard of these older technologies in the first place. There are going to be people who don't know what a modem is and how important the early era of BBSes influenced multiplayer games. But I guess there's a balance between being educational and being entertaining.
Fenster Mayhew
Member
The terrifying thing is, Ocarina of Time is now a few years away from being as old as the original Legend of Zelda was when Retronauts started in 2006.
Etrian Oddity
Member
Would be great. I always dug the first episode of A Life Well Wasted. Believe it was called "The Death of EGM". That podcast was done (hopefully not dead) by Robert Ashley.
RadarScope1
Member
You guys are doing great. The show rocks. There's always going to be people who like and don't like any creative effort. You all need to have more confidence in your product! It's the best of its kind out there. Not that it can't be improved over time; however, I do think it's gotten better as it's gone on. The video Mircos are a great touch. Just keep it up.
The game is almost two decades old. It's way retro at this point. And it's nearly always worth talking about... such a great game.
hosannainexcelsis
Member
I'm not sure that you realize how old the N64 really is. I'm 27 and late SNES to early N64 is my prime video game nostalgia period (Yoshi's Island, Super Mario RPG, Super Mario 64, Diddy Kong Racing, Ocarina of Time).
If you are 20 or younger now, that means you were 2 or younger when Ocarina of Time came out, and so definitely weren't playing it. Wind Waker or Twilight Princess are more likely to be the first Zelda game of people in that age group.
ToastyFrog
Inexplicable Treasure Hate
Ocarina of Time is 18 this year; the very first episode of Retronauts in 2006 touched on Final Fantasy III, which was 16 at the time.
They'll need a bigger room from the sound of it.
I really love going back and listening to the episode that was half E3 memories before and half during the show. But I too would love this.
charlequin
Banned
Somebody who was born after Majora's Mask was released could have legally been a NeoGAF member for three years now.
Agreed, really loving the podcast right now.
RadarScope1
Member
You guys need to track down NeoGAF's D.Lo to help do an overview of Konami's 8 and 16 bit libraries. He owns, like, nearly all of those games...
This is what happens with me. As someone who is in their 40's, the N64 is not something even remotely 'retro' for me.
My 'Link to the Past' is the original Zelda, if that. heh
That said, I've been a Retronauts listener since 06 and although I am not as big of a fan of this newer 2.0 iteration of it (I miss the mix of guests especially - Christian, Shane, Sharkey, Kohler), I mainly listen for Jeremy and it is nice to tune into once in awhile mixed in with my replays of all the older stuff.
It was great having Ray back in for that PSP episode...even though PSP isn't 'retro'.
Fenster Mayhew
Member
It was great having Ray back in for that PSP episode...even though PSP isn't 'retro'.
I appreciate the roundabout insult, but please let's not have the "What is retro?" discussion again.