Main Quest Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

This week I'm talking about off-brand Mario, Mario Is Missing!

What began as an earnest attempt at broadening the Mario brand turns into a case study of confused design that has no interest in valuing your time. I break down why this game fails as both a learning tool and as a video game and how the marketing doomed it before it even hit store shelves.

WARP ZONES

NFS Most Wanted (4:16)
Radiant Historia (6:19)
Previous History (9:02)
Development (13:29)
Retro Recollections (22:31)
Story (28:56)
Gameplay (36:06)
Presentation (48:08)
Final Thoughts (52:36)

THE SHOW NOTES

Mario Is Missing! List of Factual Errors

The Main Quest is brought to you by the supporters on Patreon
SeekYeWisdom - Chris Coplien - Eric Gess - XeroSam - LowFiveAlex - Vanfernal - Leathco - RyanPlayerOne - Poppy The Masked Keaton - Lars Uncle - B-Ross - Aiden Bisco - Raging Demon - Rob Worthen - Matt aka Stormageddon

To easily submit your own Retro Recollections or hang out with other like-minded gamers, come join the Discord

The intro and outro was supplied by the artist Adhesive Wombat from the 2016 album Sticky Tracks

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One of the foundations of the "beat em up" genre, I'm tackling Capcom's Final Fight! Not the arcade but the ambitious yet deeply compromised Super Nintendo port. I breakdown its beginnings as a Street Fighter sequel, and whether or not flashy enemy AI and a punishing grind are all worth playing...single player??

WARP ZONES

(2:54) Intro & Plugs
(6:34) Games I'm Playing
(13:00) Previous History
(15:34) Development History
(25:29) Retro Recollections
(30:16) Story
(38:32) Gameplay
(45:22) Presentation
(50:20) Final Thoughts

THE SHOW NOTES

He Is Coming

Kerbal Space Program

The Main Quest is brought to you by the supporters on Patreon
SeekYeWisdom - Chris Coplien - Eric Gess - XeroSam - LowFiveAlex - Vanfernal - Leathco - RyanPlayerOne - Poppy The Masked Keaton - Lars Uncle - B-Ross - Aiden Bisco - Raging Demon - Rob Worthen

To easily submit your own Retro Recollections or hang out with other like-minded gamers, come join the Discord

The intro and outro was supplied by the artist Adhesive Wombat from the 2016 album Sticky Tracks

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On today's Patron selected episode I'm discussing one of the most beloved Game Boy Advance titles. Golden Sun has a lot going for it and is Camelot Software's golden child but is it everything it's cracked up to be? Should it have been a Gamecube game? Does it need a remake? And is this possibly the best soundtrack in the entire GBA catalog? Come on in as I talk about all of this and a ton more on this special episode!

WARP ZONES

Intro (2:36)
Previous History's (4:28)
Development (6:58)
Story (19:14)
Gameplay (30:09)
Presentation (44:56)
Final Thoughts (53:44)

THE SHOW NOTES

The Main Quest is brought to you by the supporters on Patreon
SeekYeWisdom - Chris Coplien - Eric Gess - XeroSam - LowFiveAlex - Vanfernal - Leathco - RyanPlayerOne - Poppy The Masked Keaton - Lars Uncle - B-Ross - Aiden Bisco - Raging Demon - Rob Worthen

The intro and outro was supplied by the artist Adhesive Wombat from the 2016 album Sticky Tracks

To easily submit your own Retro Recollections or hang out with other like-minded gamers, come join the Discord

Subscribe: RSS | YouTube | Apple | Spotify | and More

Cecil may have a redemption arc, but the rest of the party is completely irredeemable...

Matt Storm is back, and we're talking about the first 16-bit Final Fantasy! From its conception and "spoony" localization, to a cast of characters so dumb they nearly hand the planet over to the bad guys but still fall backwards into saving it.

WARP ZONES

Previous History's (5:12)
Development (20:35)
Game Design (34:41)
Story (1:07:00)
Presentation (1:23:00)
Legacy (1:47:39)
Sorry I Tried To Kill You That One Time (1:52:58)
Final Thoughts (2:02:20)

THE SHOW NOTES

Find & support my guest over at "Fun" and Games Podcast | Reignite

The Main Quest is brought to you by the supporters on Patreon
SeekYeWisdom - Chris Coplien - Eric Gess - XeroSam - LowFiveAlex - Vanfernal - Leathco - RyanPlayerOne - Poppy The Masked Keaton - Lars Uncle - B-Ross - Aiden Bisco - Raging Demon - Rob Worthen

The intro and outro was supplied by the artist Adhesive Wombat from the 2016 album Sticky Tracks

To easily submit your own Retro Recollections or hang out with other like-minded gamers, come join the Discord

Subscribe: RSS | YouTube | Apple | Spotify | and More

We're officially off to the....races!

Matt Storm (Fun & Games/Reignite) returns for the start of SNES coverage as we take a high-speed dive into F-Zero, Nintendo's flashy, futuristic racer. We break down its roots as a Mode 7 tech demo, the absence of two-player, and why it still kind of rules despite being brutally unfair.

We dig into Captain Falcon's bounty hunting origins, a quick dunk on Final Fantasy XVI, and an earnest longing for the return of real ass game manuals.

Fretless/Date Everything! (3:02)
Previous History's/Development (16:00)
Retro Recollections (37:29)
Story (41:42)
Gameplay (51:44)
Chart Toppers! (1:13:21)
Presentation (1:22:15)
Final Thoughts (1:33:35)

THE SHOW NOTES

Find & support my guest over at "Fun" and Games Podcast | Reignite

Fretless - The Wrath of Riffson

Date Everything!

Star Racer

"Fun" and Games #168 Star Racer

F-Zero GP Legend Anime

Level 71 - F-Zero X | Remember 64 Podcast

The Main Quest is brought to you by the supporters on Patreon
SeekYeWisdom - Chris Coplien - Eric Gess - XeroSam - LowFiveAlex - Vanfernal - Leathco - RyanPlayerOne - Poppy The Masked Keaton - Lars Uncle - B-Ross - Aiden Bisco - Raging Demon - Rob Worthen

The intro and outro was supplied by the artist Adhesive Wombat from the 2016 album Sticky Tracks

To easily submit your own Retro Recollections or hang out with other like-minded gamers, come join the Discord

Subscribe: RSS | YouTube | Apple | Spotify | and More

Before diving into the Super Nintendo library, I'm taking a moment to reflect on what the console meant to me growing up. From moving into a new home and finding my first real friends, to renting games based on box art and falling in love with RPG's.

I'm sharing those early memories, how the SNES shaped the way I play, and a few predictions for what my Top 10 might look like by the end of this journey.

THE SHOW NOTES

Paul Rudd Plays a Super Nintendo

Paul Rudd Plays a Switch 2

Super Mario World commercial 

The Main Quest is brought to you by the supporters on Patreon
SeekYeWisdom - Chris Coplien - Eric Gess - XeroSam - LowFiveAlex - Vanfernal - Leathco - RyanPlayerOne - Poppy The Masked Keaton - Lars Uncle - B-Ross - Aiden Bisco - Raging Demon - Rob Worthen

The intro and outro was supplied by the artist Adhesive Wombat from the 2016 album Sticky Tracks

To easily submit your own Retro Recollections or hang out with other like-minded gamers, come join the Discord

Subscribe: RSS | YouTube | Apple | Spotify | and More

After two years of playing through Sega's 16-bit library, I'm closing the book with my personal top 10 picks. Genesis, Sega CD, 32X. The games I loved, the ones that surprised me, and the weird ones I probably like too much. It's a laid-back sendoff to an era that meant more than I expected.

THE SHOW NOTES

The Main Quest is brought to you by the supporters on Patreon
SeekYeWisdom - Chris Coplien - Eric Gess - XeroSam - LowFiveAlex - Vanfernal - Leathco - RyanPlayerOne - Poppy The Masked Keaton - Lars Uncle - B-Ross - Aiden Bisco - Raging Demon - Rob Worthen

The intro and outro was supplied by the artist Adhesive Wombat from the 2016 album Sticky Tracks

To easily submit your own Retro Recollections or hang out with other like-minded gamers, come join the Discord

Subscribe: RSS | YouTube | Apple | Spotify | and More

In this episode I dive into Sega's history - from postwar Japan to the Master System's global impact, through the highs of the Genesis and the chaos of the Sega CD and 32X. It's a story of ambition, innovation, and how Sega ultimately undermined its own success.

THE SHOW NOTES

Streets of Rage 2 Commercial

Night Trap: 25 Years Later / My Life In Gaming

The Main Quest is brought to you by the supporters on Patreon
SeekYeWisdom - Chris Coplien - Eric Gess - XeroSam - LowFiveAlex - Vanfernal - Leathco - RyanPlayerOne - Poppy The Masked Keaton - Lars Uncle - B-Ross - Aiden Bisco - Raging Demon - Rob Worthen

The intro and outro was supplied by the artist Adhesive Wombat from the 2016 album Sticky Tracks

To easily submit your own Retro Recollections or hang out with other like-minded gamers, come join the Discord

Subscribe: RSS | YouTube | Apple | Spotify | and More

This week I team up with Ginger and Willie from Grand Rapidians Play Video Games for a chaotic Power Hour sendoff to the Sega Genesis.

What starts as an earnest look at Sonic Spinball quickly spirals into stories about mail trucks, vaginal fortresses, buttholes with teeth. and pinball physics that absolutely do not work. And yet, there's actual insight into why this game turned out the way it did.

WARP ZONES

SHOW START! (3:25)
Previous History's (8:52)
Development (13:44)
Retro Recollections/Story (24:05)
Gameplay (38:05)
Oral Fixation (55:08)
Presentation (1:06:55)
Final Thoughts (1:15:34)

THE SHOW NOTES

Find & support my guest over at Apple Podcasts!

The Main Quest is brought to you by the supporters on Patreon
SeekYeWisdom - Chris Coplien - Eric Gess - XeroSam - LowFiveAlex - Vanfernal - Leathco - RyanPlayerOne - Poppy The Masked Keaton - Lars Uncle - B-Ross - Aiden Bisco - Raging Demon - Rob Worthen

The intro and outro was supplied by the artist Adhesive Wombat from the 2016 album Sticky Tracks

To easily submit your own Retro Recollections or hang out with other like-minded gamers, come join the Discord

Subscribe: RSS | YouTube | Apple | Spotify | and More

In the premiere episode of "Quest Givers," I sit down with game developer Chris Anderson of Newt Industries—creators of Risk System, Garbinge, and the upcoming Bangle & Maggie.

We discuss how a chance playground meet-up sparked a development partnership, how Chris's early PC tinkering turned into indie game passion, and the major challenges of the gaming industry.

THE SHOW NOTES

Find & support my guest over at:
Newt Industries website | Newt Industries on X | YouTube

Risk System Trailer

Purchase a copy of Risk System at VGYNsoft | Hidden Trap

Purchase Risk System digitally | Steam | itch.io

-Risk System Giveaway-

I'm giving away a free physical copy of Risk System! (PS4/Switch)

How to enter:

• Join The Main Quest Discord

• Tell me your favorite shmup in the #Risk-System-Giveaway channel

Bonus Entry:

• Follow Newt Industries on social media

• Share a screenshot in the giveaway channel

Deadline: Monday, July 14th
Winner will be announced shortly after in Discord and on social media

The Main Quest is brought to you by the supporters on Patreon
SeekYeWisdom - Chris Coplien - Eric Gess - XeroSam - LowFiveAlex - Vanfernal - Leathco - RyanPlayerOne - Poppy The Masked Keaton - Lars Uncle - B-Ross - Aiden Bisco - Raging Demon - Rob Worthen

The intro for 'Quest Givers' was specially supplied by the artist SeekYeWisdom

To easily submit your questions for future guests or hang out with other like-minded gamers, come join the Discord

Subscribe: RSS | YouTube | Apple | Spotify | and More