Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Podouken

The late '80s were packed with pop-culture obsessions: arcades, action movies, neon aesthetics, and of course, a nationwide fascination with ninjas. Sleek, masked warriors showed up everywhere from toys to TV, shaping the era's love of fast, flashy combat. But no arcade game captured the ninja craze as perfectly as Sega's  iconic side-scrolling adventure, Shinobi.

How did Shinobi perform a bait and switch on poor kids at the arcade? Is a mining engineering degree the perfect educational pursuit to get into game design? Did Pastblaster enjoy Free Play Florida 2025? What is the earliest ninja arcade game and can the hosts guess it even with one of them owning it?

Listener questions include what our favorite "one then done" fighting game is and if you could have one power from an original video game character what would it be? Join the Podouken Discord and ask your own questions that could be included in a future episode: discord.gg/k5vf2Jz

You can also like, comment, and subscribe to our YouTube channel where we post our listener question segments and additional content: https://www.youtube.com/@podoukenpodcast2716.

Thanks to Talysman on the Podouken Discord for the Listeners' Choice game nomination!

The music is fading and the lights are coming up on our Rhythm miniseries. Time for the final encore as each host picks one more game for this rhythm Arcade Obscura.

The first pick is a helluva ride that features a very familiar arcade character. The next pick takes us to heaven with a development contract made in hell. Our final pick may be one of the most obscure games we've ever featured and requires you to bring a friend.

We field your questions like if any arcade machine could be perfectly resurrected, what would be our choice to bring back from the dead, and which video game music would we like to hear performed by ukulele? Join the Podouken Discord and ask your own questions that could be included in a future episode: discord.gg/k5vf2Jz

You can also like, comment, and subscribe to our YouTube channel where we post our listener question segments and additional content: https://www.youtube.com/@podoukenpodcast2716.

Lights go dim, the tokens drop, the carousel spins - it'll never stop.

From haunted houses to freakish feats, the bosses roar and shotgun greets.

So pump that gun and don't delay, the Midway's mad and here to stay.

This ain't no game for hearts too civil… It's the podcast ode to CarnEvil!

Why do we know so much about the local "insane asylum" called Sunland? Do jiggle physics apply to ghostly apparitions? Has Rob taken Halloween decorating too far? Did CarnEvil give us the first video game version of Krampus?

The listener questions answered in this episode include what insane occupation an arcade game has trained us for and, in a Saw scenario, what arcade attract mode would we least want to be trapped with? Join the Podouken Discord and ask your own questions that could be included in a future episode: discord.gg/k5vf2Jz

You can also like, comment, and subscribe to our YouTube channel where we post our listener question segments and additional content: https://www.youtube.com/@podoukenpodcast2716

This episode we talk about the Cave shooter series that is almost as fun to say as it is to play - Mushihimesama. We are joined by Gameboy Guru, host of the Shoot the Core-cast, to pick up Rob's slack on this series. Why does this game fulfill our bug life fantasies in a way that Pixar never could? How do the insane Captain Auction prices from the Museum of Pinball negatively affect collectors? What odd connection do My Buddy dolls and PastBlaster share? Additional discussion includes our favorite Gameboy games, what Jarrod named his pet soundboard, Joy-Con drift, and stories about Norm Macdonald.

Time to cover the complete arcade history of Treasure - the game developer that gave us Radiant Silvergun, Ikargua, and… that's it! We explore these two fun SHMUPs that mix the shooter genre with a dash of puzzle mechanics. What mysterious explosion set us up the bomb for a plot device? How is Treasure still open after no new game releases since 2014? Why is Ikaruga so divisive? We also enjoy some cawfee tawk about new shooter genre mashups, an update on Atari tokens, the correlation between Nickelodeon slime and male pattern baldness, and the pizza debate rages on.

Our 50th episode is ESPecially good as we explore Cave's bullet hells with butterfly wings - ESP Ra.De., Espgaluda, and Espgaluda II. How do you pronounce these games? What does the Michael Bay masterpiece, and Ewan McGregor/Scarlett Johansson star vehicle, "The Island" have to do with ESP Ra.De.? Did Rob make it past level 1? Enjoy an hour of bonus content that includes an appearance by the mighty Monarch, an intense debate about that best trash pizza, Naruto, and we share a deeply personal and cautionary tale about a once great arcade company *cough* Atari *cough*

Are you ready to get prosecuted to the full extent of the jam? If so, join us as we whack the beehive that is the DonPachi series by Cave - and others. Why was DonPachi considered a critical failure even though it launched Cave shooters? When did counting the number of bullets on screen become the measure of the best STG? How did the death of Toaplan give birth to some many great shmups? Will Rob (Ron?) survive giving his controversial thoughts on the first two games? Also in this episode: subliminal messages in Futurama, the worst question you can ask a colorblind person, the merits of Konami golf games, the secret schemes of mattress stores, suicide cults, and much more.

We get loopy with the historically (in)accurate Capcom shooter series based on middle-aged white men's favorite war, the 194X series. Count with us as we cover 1942, 1943, 1941, 19XX, and 1944 in a way that's totally not confusing. How easy is it to beatbox the 1942 theme? What was famed game designer Yoshiki Okamoto's highest grossing game? Is Jarrod a flat earther? Are keytars still a thing? Also covered: Resident Evil movies, the huge hog of Tallahassee, Rob's musical tribute to 1942, the most annoying arcade attract modes, and the correct way to pronounce the name of 80's singer Sade.

We're blasting off on the first episode of our new SHMUP miniseries with the shooter that set the mold for horizontal STGs - Konami's Gradius. How did this accidental hit become such a groundbreaking series? What anime movie had a huge influence on the design and weaponry of the Vic Viper? How many aliases do the Gradius and Salamander games have? Is this the most repeated arcade game of all time? No STG would be complete without some talk about Morning Music, board issues, weapon strategy, and the obvious Friends connection. We also cover cheap Jeopardy questions, proctology exams, tiny snipers, a Lake Placid pinball game, and bad Mark Wahlberg quotes.

It's time for another Arcade Obscura where each of the hosts pitch their choice of underrated or under-appreciated driving-based arcade game. Rob goes full 'Merica with a cross-country racer that features the first appearance of a beloved video game mascot. Mr. SNK breaks all the rules (or does he?) and doubles down on the obscure part of the episode. PastBlaster goes prime time with an over-the-top driver produced by an arcade legend. How do you define an arcade game? Is the weapon breaking system in Breath of the Wild trash? Will the debate ruin friendships and destroy this podcast? Tune in to this needlessly long episode to find out!

Explore the arcade series birthed by the unholy alliance of a Nintendo license developed by Namco running on a Sega board - Mario Kart Arcade GP. It's the two biggest video game characters in a race to the finish as we close out our final featured episode in the Drivers miniseries. Why didn't Namco include more of their characters in the GP series? Is the Mario Kart music really all it's cracked up to be? What are the console origins of Mario Kart? We fly right off the rails with the unofficial fourth member of the Podouken crew - Jarrod's (new) ancient soundboard. Plus we talk Smash Bros tournaments, banana peels, the proper way to say MKAGPDX, and end with a literal stinger.

We're drifting into the final turn of our Drivers miniseries by talking about Sega's most prolific driving game series, Initial D. So hop in our Trueno GT-APEX - just don't bump the tofu - and settle in for a two plus hour exploration of this manga turned anime turned arcade. Why does this mix of Japanese mountain racing and pop music Eurobeat work so well? How did Pastblaster and Mr. SNK go halfsies on IDAS? Can we count high enough to cover all the arcade games released in this series? Enjoy some very specific talk about local landmarks, tailgating BMWs, dbags with drivers licenses, and the short history of the long running Fast & the Furious franchise.

Hop in and take a ride down Memory Lane as the Podouken crew tours the USA, world, and other exotic locations while exploring the Midway Games classic Cruis'n USA. How did this game give Rob his most gruesome arcade injury and almost get him arrested? What led the creator of Defender and Robotron to create a digitized racing game? Which arcade developed by Atari is the lost Cruis'n game? We also give some arcade buying tips, get in some Raw Thrills, tell a few of our scariest arcade buying stories, count roaches, and discuss strategies on dealing with mall cops.

Woo-wee! There's no avoiding it any longer. While these games don't rank highly on our personal lists, we must talk about one of the most influential and long-lasting series in light gun arcade games, Big Buck Hunter.

Do we represent the snobby gaming community? How did appealing to the "Bubba factor" make this popular game series thrive? What is the connection between the hosts, Big Buck Hunter, and the Florida State University football team? Who's that I hear… is it… could it be… Sound Boy?!

Our listener questions in this episode ask us to forecast what arcade game will have the largest legacy 50 years from now, what's a question a first-time arcade buyer should ask, and our favorite twist or innovation in a light gun game. Join the Podouken Discord and ask your own questions that could be included in a future episode: discord.gg/k5vf2Jz

You can also like, comment, and subscribe to our YouTube channel where we post our listener question segments and additional content: https://www.youtube.com/@podoukenpodcast2716

The hosts let loose with their inner Florida Man to discuss the quintessential Florida game - Daytona USA. Let's go away to the land of alligators, bath salts, and bike weeks and explore how Sega ended up creating the most iconic NASCAR(ish) game ever. How did this music get composed for a stock car racing game? What kind of money did Sega spend to get a huge head start the 3D gamescape? Why was Sega Europe so upset with the game's development? We also get a rolling start on other topics like why the beach is the worst place on earth, the first auto-tuned song, and the importance of #41. And if you'd like to avoid spoilers about the new Mortal Kombat movie then tune out the last 20 minutes (just like Mr. SNK).

It's time to gas up the Ferraro Testabossa, select our favorite synthwave radio station, and feel the wind in our hair as we take a drive with Sega's OutRun. Join us as we take a ride through Yu Suzuki's career and talk about the birth of Taikan games. How did OutRun's memorable music nearly become lost forever? What type of innovations did Suzuki want to include in Sega arcades? Why was the USA too dangerous for a research mission? As is the Podouken way we take plenty of detours to cover things like the artistry of airbrushing, Pastblaster's movie ranking scale, horny Mahjong games, iconic car asses, and the worst Star Wars movie.

Warning: Listening discretion is advised. We hold a serious discussion about the first truly controversial arcade game - Death Race. What led Exidy to release this death simulator upon an unsuspecting public? How did something so outrageously graphic make its way into the American arcade? Who was responsible for shining a bright light on this dark subject? Along the way we do cover some less serious topics like how to properly ship arcade parts, the rarity of Stadium Events, Roger Corman films, the use of Pooneh Ghoddoosi as a safe word, and "Je suis la jeune fille!"

It's time for another Arcade Obscura where each of the hosts pitch their choice of underrated or underappreciated sports-based arcade game. PastBlaster serves up a gorgeous attract mode, but may not deliver on the gameplay. Mr. SNK comes out of the gate with what could be the best disc game on the Neo Geo. Rob flexes his muscles with a game that includes a fire spitting Universal monster. It's the final minutes of our Sportsball series! Don't miss our debates about budget cartoon licenses, opinions on horse girl anime (yay or neigh?), the insane prices of some Nintendo games, and which host goes home with a literal work of art..

It all comes down to this! We hit the highlights from the best arcade football game - Midway's NFL Blitz. The Jamming of sports continues as Midway hunts for their next hit and scores a touchdown with a new technology. How did this "quicker-hitting game" go over with the NFL? Did Blitz fulfill its creator's promise of being "the most violent football game ever designed"? What moves were so offensive that they were removed from the game? How do you input the super-secret code to activate late hits? We also dig into the story of the newly rediscovered Power-Up Baseball, talk about one of our favorite arcade experiences, and explain what sports are to Jarrod.

It's our 37th episode (in a row) and we're crashing the net with our most requested sports game - NBA Jam. We break down all the boomshakala basics and dig deep to uncover some little known facts with the help of author Reyan Ali - who literally wrote the book on NBA Jam! How did a vid kid go from a Pong console to making the most iconic basketball game ever? What are the origins of "Boomshakala!"? Is the NBA Jam arcade game haunted? What Midway secrets are still out there? All that plus we grab our Sneakers and make a Beer Run, explore the promise of Pleasure Domes, talk about bad first impressions, and praise the savior of pinball (and arcades).

It's time to hit the links with maybe the best arcade golf game, but definitely the best Neo Geo golf game - Neo Turf Masters! We put skin in the game by exploring the Major Titles that led up to Turf Masters by its developer Nazca. Is a camel a vehicle? Can Mr. SNK settle on what Neo Geo carts will fill his six-slot? What part did Jimbo Fisher play in an arcade horror story? How many people actually watched Val Kilmer's movie, The Saint? Why is music this good in a golf game? So join us as we play the full course and discuss Metal Slug, getting a virtual hole in one, Golden Tee, and Steve the Japanese game designer.

It's (somehow) our first Nintendo episode! And just like real life we wait until our mid-thirties to get into Nintendo games. We talk about a sports game way before it's time - Punch-Out!! How did a company directive to use more hardware lead to this game? Does arcade Punch-Out!! cross the line with racial stereotypes? Is "Body Blow" the first waaaaay overused sound bite in video games? How much does a Punch-Out!! arcade cost? What game could it never top in Japanese arcades? We also talk about the Mandela Effect between the arcade and console versions of the game, offer a limited edition giveaway, explore the history of Nintendo's first game designer, reveal tattoos, and discuss Mario's papa.

A new miniseries kicks off with "the dumbest, simplest game ever made" - Pong! You'll want to sit in on this history lesson as we recount the origin of video arcade games which includes hippy candles, Nolan Bushnell, celestial bodies, Al Alcorn, and all the *bleeps* and *bloops* that built Atari. Exactly how many Pong clones were there? Which came first: the home video console or the video arcade game? How did a lie lead to the fastest-growing company in U.S. history at the time? Who really came up with the idea for Pong? Along the way we get sidetracked with memories of Videotopia, entertain the thought of a Street Fighter/Computer Space conversion, discuss the Pong RPG, and Pastblaster gets triggered by an eclipse (or was it an ellipse?).

Insert Coin is a new Documentary released by Director Joshua Tsui and Writer Andrew Hayward that discusses the history of the Midway arcade teams responsible for several smash hits of the 90's. The Podouken Crew watched this together and provided a short review of the film!

Please support this awesome documentary by renting/buying via Alamo Draft House direct, or watch it on Amazon Prime! "The oral history of a team of geeks and misfits in the back of a Chicago factory creating the biggest video games (Mortal Kombat, NBA JAM, and others) of all time."

ACTION! We put the pedal to the metal in our light gun miniseries with Namco's Time Crisis. Seek cover as we explore the entire series starting with V.S.S.E. agent Richard Miller and ending with whatever Time Crisis 5 was.

Did Namco's attempt to top Sega's Virtua Cop succeed? Is Time Crisis 2 the most complete light gun game experience? What are the most addictive roguelikes? Does Wild Dog, leader of Wild Dog, own a wild dog?

With the Krispy Kreme/Pac-Man donut partnership it seems like a good time for us to identify which arcade character we think would make the best flavor for a donut. We also answer: if the last video game we played were turned into a pinball machine, what would it be like, and what gameplay features would it have? Join the Podouken Discord and ask your own questions that could be included in a future episode: discord.gg/k5vf2Jz

Speaking of Pac-Man donuts, you can check out our review of them exclusively on the Podouken YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@podoukenpodcast2716

We hit the Pac-pot of obscure Pac-Man games as we cover the Pac arcade games from 1984 to current: Pac smuggles fairies across borders in Pac-Land, enters the isometric 3D world in Pac-Mania, goes virtual in Pac-Man VR, fights to the death in Pac-Man Battle Royale, gets ticket rabies in Pac-Man Chomp Mania, and goes big before going home in World's Largest Pac-Man. So join us as we send Pac-Man off right for his 40th anniversary with an important answer provided by Doug Macrae, settle on the best Pac-Man game, and get to know the new ghosts Funky, Spunky, and Kinky. That and we talk about our favorite frozen treats, pitch the perfect game to HAL Labs, listen to Napster dance mixes, and review futuristic kitchen design.

We go Pac in time to review the Pac-Man games of 1983: Pac & Pal, Professor Pac-Man, and Jr. Pac-Man. Namco and Bally/Midway are not happy with each other and it's leading to a messy divorce. Pac-Man gets a pal that is either a ghost or a dog (but sadly not Forest Whitaker), receives a doctorate in annoying image quizzes, and leaves the missus to care for their first born. How did GCC contribute to the rise and fall of Pac-Man? Why did a stolen concept turn into the worst Pac-Man game? What makes Jr. Pac-Man's mazes thicc? Can it really be a Pac-Man game if it has no stick? Also discussed: art appreciation, the necessities of clearing your search history, Romeo + Juliet, and a tease for our upcoming Insert Coin commentary.

Our Pac-xploration continues as we talk about the remaining Pac-Man games of 1982: Pac-Man Plus, Super Pac-Man, and Baby Pac-Man. Bally and Midway get into "quantity over quality", Namco follows up Puck-Man with their first official sequel, and pinball (which inspired Pac-Man) becomes part of the Pac-family. We also get the story of Baby Pac-Man's development straight from the designer himself! Exactly how does Pac-Man's anatomy work? Why did Midway release an expansion to Pac-Man just a month after releasing Ms. Pac-Man? What is Pac-Man's darkest timeline? That plus the origins of the Pac-children, Mortal Kombat jazz designs, and an important message about butt health.

Honey, doncha you know, she's more than Pac-Man with a bow! The Pac series continues with the ultimate genderbend - Ms. Pac-Man. We waka-waka-walka through the crazy origins of the best Pac-Man game (don't AtGames us) as we explore its very litigious history. How did a bunch of college dropouts make one of the best arcade games ever? What part did Atari play in the creation of this classic? What's Ms. Pac-Man's real name? Find out the history of GCC and the somewhat unknown role they played in video game history. And since it's a Pac-Man game it must have a pinball origin story, right? All those topics plus we find what really sticks in Mr. SNK's craw, launch a Super Missile Attack, and find out how Time magazine birthed an arcade conspiracy with legs.

It's time to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Pac-Man with the start of all Pac miniseries! Podouken finally talks about the big yellow ball in the room, NAMCO's Pac-Man. We delve into the often recounted (and often incorrect) history of arcadedom's most influential game and tell what part pinball played in birthing it into existence. How did the most expensive coin-flip in history go so wrong for one arcade company? What compensation did Pac-Man's creator get for making the most popular arcade game of all time? What date should we use when determining the release date of a game? It's pinball, Popeye, pizza, Pac-Man, professors, and Pixels for this Podouken podcast.

We get in the damn robot and play some of Sega's Virtual On! The final Listeners' Choice episode takes on your second/third/fourth favorite brand of giant, bipedal, murder robots. Listen as Borelo, Madlle, and Rod-TGH tell of the history and lamentations involved with buying and moving a Virtual On: Cyber Troopers unit. We marvel at the technical achievements made by the Sega AM3 team on an aged arcade board. We talk a lot about the current state of Mortal Kombat. How beefy is this big boy cabinet? What is your Virtuaroid name? How does The Last Starfighter fit into all this? Get those answers plus: Fast Food Fighters, the brief history of Gundam, VOOT Christ, deadlifts, and a talk with listener Andrew Olivera who nominated the game.

I OFFER YOU 80,000 SWISS FRANCS TO LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE.* The second Listeners' Choice is all about the first arena fighter - the precursor to Super Smash Bros. - NAMCO's The Outfoxies. Join a full house of co-hosts as we talk about this rather obscure game that features a unique cast of characters like a chimp assassin and some eleven-year old homicidal twins. Why was this game called The Outfoxies? Did it ever take off in Japan? What is the best place to store guard sharks when not in use? We answer those questions and talk about arcade PCB prices, evil contractors, Gals Panic, and more Tiger King (for some reason). Special thanks to listener Tim Walker for nominating this game and Owlnonymous for joining us.

*Not legally binding.

Shall we play a game? For the first episode of the Listeners' Choice miniseries we distill Capcom's trivia arcade game, Quiz & Dragons, back to its truest form - a board game! Who will win the trivia battle of 80s sports and Richard Dreyfuss questions? Why does one letter (eclipse vs. ellipse) cause so much drama (thanks autocorrect)? Will knowledge from past Podouken episodes help the hosts get to the end or will their own stupidity condemn them? All of that plus counting teeth, recording during a hurricane, early Image Comics superheroes, and high-pitched character voices. Special thanks to listener Matthew Manduchi for nominating this game.

HOLY SH...EBOYGEN! It's time for another Arcade Obscura where each of the hosts pitch their choice for underrated or underappreciated two-player beat 'em up game. PastBlaster brings us a game from a familiar company that uses six-buttons to possess and destroy your enemies. Rob brings us a sequel from a company that only made two arcade games. Mr. SNK takes the obscure part of this episode to the limit with a noir game we're still not sure even exists, but - if it does - deserved to win the Pulitzer for that year (sorry Updike's Rabbit at Rest). We have a DOGOOOONE good time with this one. Also we coin the term "scifyclops", discuss some larger beat 'em ups, fight Mucus Tick, and maybe fire a host.

CYBORGS AIN'T LADIES!! We grab Technos Japan's ultra-violent and over-the-top The Combatribes by the heels and take it for a spin - and have a lot of fun doing it! Join us as we rediscover this often overlooked beat 'em up playing characters that all skipped leg day. Did we just find Pastblaster's long lost pappy? How did a thrash metal band mascot become this game's villain? Are we cheating by including this game in our two-player brawler series? What post-9/11 changes did this game have to make? All that plus our eulogy to Technos, head bashes, Karnov, cultural insensitivities, Joker, and why this game is better than Double Dragon.

Welcome to the hardboiled streets of 90s Chicago where a crime wave is at an all time high. It's up to you, officer Don Marshall, and you, Unnamed Female, to fight crime with as many bullets as possible. Then travel to the Wild West to also fight crime with as many bullets as possible. This is Konami's Lethal Enforcers arcade series.

How was a knee-burning, motion-sensing game responsible for adding another arcade to the Lethal Enforcers family? Do you know all the words to the Hey Dude theme song? Is the Justifier the best possible name for a light gun peripheral? Was this game an inspiration for a certain scene in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight?

We are asked what our favorite gun design is from arcade light guns (and our least favorite) and perhaps the question that Rob has been waiting his entire life to answer: who would win in the ultimate showdown between Aliens versus Predator versus RoboCop versus Terminator. Join the Podouken Discord and ask your own questions that could be included in a future episode: discord.gg/k5vf2Jz

You can also like, comment, and subscribe to our YouTube channel where we post our listener question segments and additional content: https://www.youtube.com/@podoukenpodcast2716

The Mad Gears must pay. We are joined by special guest co-host Chris Antista to discuss Capcom's Final Fight! Capcom goes "huge and cool" to bring us one of the best beat 'em ups ever made. Who is responsible for the Final Fight/Street Fighter II universe and why is it not who you may think? What part did a French historical novel and manga have in giving us the best political body in video games? Why were severed mammal's feet ever a commercially sold product? How did "stuffing" play a key part in Capcom's game development? You want more? How about the favorite foods of the Final Fight crew, glam metal, Breakfast at Tiffany's, ballads, the chip famine, and Don Frye.

Are you a bad enough dude or dudette to listen to this episode? That's right, we're talking about the game that sounds like it was made by an 80s word generator (and probably was) - Bad Dudes Vs. DragonNinja. The President has been kidnapped! What will it take to get Blade and Striker - the baddest sweatpant-wearing dudes in NYC - to go rescue him? Some machismo and a side of hamburgers, evidently. Who are the DragonNinja? How many lives can you justify taking to rescue a President? How many curse words can we say each episode and still keep our PG-13 status? We also make the perfect pitch for a Bad Dudes movie, marvel at Data East's attention to detail, and wonder how bad you have to be to jump through helicopter blades.

What do you get when you mix a little Rambo, a lot of Conan, some Altered Beast, throw in some swords and sorcery, and put it all on a PCB that likes to kill itself? Golden Axe! Somehow this is our first featured Sega game so we play a game to see how much Sega history we include in this episode. What exactly makes a game an "arcade game"? How did we lose any chance of ever getting a La Croix sponsorship? What are our Golden Axe names? Why is there such a thing as a pampelmousse? We also cover cap kits, the Floor is Lava, a kingdom with no pants, Tron 3, and It ickiness.

A new miniseries kicks (and punches) off with twin brothers trying to rescue their one lover -- Technos Japan's Double Dragon. What 1970s film did Technos use for inspiration to bring about the age of the arcade brawler? How many enemies does it take to really slow down a game? Why did we record the worst skit in podcast history? We take a serious look at graphic violence against women in arcade games, a less serious look at MAME builds that we hate, and talk the nostalgia of RC car racing. All that and Lorenzo Lamas, getting pushy with coin pushers, throuples, big people fitting in tiny cars, and NES soundtracks.

It's time to put all the pieces together and finish the Puzzlers miniseries with our choices for the overlooked or obscure games in the genre. What virtual insanity leads us to consider Jamiroquai a villain? Can Windows screensavers make compelling gameplay? Why does Mr. SNK know so much about adult-themed arcade games? Along the way we attempt to demystify the jargon related to JAMMA, monitor resolutions, and the differences between DOT and EDOT. Plus, Rob loses his Photoshop license, CGI hedgehog calves, and the journey to possibly the worst video game take ever.

Capcom brings us the perfect mix of fisticuffs with gem debuffs - plus a heavy dose of chibi - with Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo. What is the connection between puzzles and violence that makes us love this game so much? The hosts go down the rabbit hole of Kirsten Dunst movies (beware of spoilers), talk about hyperphantasia, and determine who would emerge victorious in Trapper Keeper v. Lisa Frank: Civil War. You want more? How about the longest arcade title, alleged murder hornets, rogue developers, Maximilian Dood, and why this isn't quite the darkest timeline (but it's close).

In this ground-breaking episode we dig into a family tree that spawned not one, but two NAMCO classics. We discuss Mr. Driller and use geological genealogy to trace his origins to Dig Dug. Along the way we start spilling some arcade collecting stories that include how Jarrod first met Adam and Rob. Is an "arcade sense" a real thing and if not what is causing this tingling? What is the worst named video game console? Who emerged victorious in the saga of the Bit Wars? Also in this darkest timeline: Neo Geo slippers for ants, leather bondage meets video games, 

Mr. SNK goes stalking, and Armageddon (but not the one you think).

Bustin' makes us feel good as we explore the origins of Taito's Puzzle Bobble (or Bust a Move). We try to make sense of the Bubble Bobble family tree which includes a long, lost ancestor. Why was this MVS cart one of the most bootlegged Neo Geo games? What about Bub and Bob made them so attractive to the fairer sex? What reasons are given for popping all these bubbles? Where do Bub and Bob fall on the Kingdom Animalia spectrum? Also included for your pleasure: stuttering, Young MC, attract modes played at the Gates of Hell, Snood, and forbidden initials.

It's all downhill from here as we roll with Marble Madness. We discuss the Doogie Howser of arcade games who at the age of 18 created a major arcade hit for Atari and went on to do a whole lot more in the video game industry. How hard does this soundtrack slap? Why has this world record score held up for over 35 years? Is marble racing the new sport that will save us in this post-COVID world? All that plus the real-life Mortal Kombat tournament that never was, why having the right ball sack is very important, Tiger King, Phil Collins, and we give names to the nameless Marble Madness enemies.

Strap in for our most profane episode yet (or not, as we'll explain). It's time to talk about Gottlieb's biggest arcade hit - Q*bert! Find out how this game by Warren Davis and Jeff Lee became a pop culture sensation. How did this isometric exercise become so @!#?@! good? What are some alternative uses for 9-inch floppy disks? Are air fryers magic? Also on this episode we discuss the Superman II game that never was, how Wal-Mart is responsible for giving us fishing and candy cabs, Mr. Boston, Apollo 11, and squid balls.

Step into the rotting halls of Curien Mansion, where bullets fly and the undead just won't stay down. With cinematic flair, branching paths, and enemies that lurch ever closer, this horror-themed arcade shooter became one of the best in the light gun genre. Welcome to Sega's The House of the Dead.

How did a broom help bring a terrifying boss to life? What are the worst words used in place of "zombies"? Why didn't they check the barn for Sophia at the beginning of the season? How did this blood-soaked game play resurrect zombie pop culture worldwide?

But enough questions! Do you want some answers? We identify our favorite arcade-related merchandise (that aren't the games themselves), try to think of what games we look cool playing (hint: the answer is none), and discuss the most ambitious projects to recreate arcade hardware. Join the Podouken Discord and ask your own questions that could be included in a future episode: discord.gg/k5vf2Jz

You can also like, comment, and subscribe to our YouTube channel where we post our listener question segments and additional content: https://www.youtube.com/@podoukenpodcast2716

The pieces have fallen into place for our new miniseries and we're facing a Soviet invasion! Tetris breaks through the Iron Curtain to take hold of American and Japanese cultures, but in very different ways. Find out how Tetris has affected all of our lives in this Giant-sized episode! What Tetromino do you identify as? What caused arcade suicides to skyrocket? Why are we so obsessed with Crane Game Toreba? Also in this episode: Dr. Pepper Studio, Chuck E. Cheese game theory, and why Rob will not be taking his Tetris exams this year.

We're bringing the Invaders from Space miniseries in for a landing as the co-hosts talk about their pick for underrated or obscure space shooter. Did Mr. SNK and PastBlaster switch brains? Is it possible to have romantic feelings for huge balls of exploding gas? Which featured game from this arc is the best space shooter? This could or could not be the best podcast episode ever. Boundaries are crossed! Celestial kinks are exposed! All that plus Nintendo Vs talk, cocktails, and we tease our next miniseries.

Beware, I live! The untold (until now) history of Sinistar is explored with the help of the co-creators of the game: John Newcomer and Noah Falstein. Get the inside information on how Williams created some of the best arcades of all time. How did the waning popularity of pinball contribute to video game success? Who created the iconic design and sound of Sinistar? Exactly how many Sinistar games were produced? We also talk about s'ing p's, League of Legends, and beautiful cockpits.