Explore the retro video games in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog every two weeks as lifelong pals Mike & Jaymo are joined by a whole host of new and old friends. Each episode is a new set of retro games from the NES, SNES, N64, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, and Sega Genesis/Mega Drive as they further their quest to research & review all 300+ games available on the Nintendo Switch Online Nintendo Classics catalog.
Dust off your d-pads and game on, everyone.
Check out www.theoldswitcharoo.com for more about the show and bonus game reviews
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S3E04: Metroid and Metroid II -or- Aran, So Far Away
Season 3 · Episode 4
Wednesday, April 23, 2025 • Duration 01:40:32
Our theme song-genius Kristal Fields is back on board with her friend Nick to talk Metroid (NES, 1987) and Metroid II: Return of Samus (Game Boy, 1991) with Mike and Jaymo as part of their epic quest to research and review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog!
In this episode, we’ll work out just what a Metroid really is, where the Narpas Sword that World of Warcraft ‘borrowed’ from this series came from, in way the Alien franchise influenced Planet Zebes, and how Justin Bailey could help you see Samus in a whole new “revealing” light.
Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy theme song! Subscribe to The Old SwitchAroo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com, where you'll find access to our Discord, voicemail, and so much more!
S3E03: Pilotwings and Pilotwings 64 -or- In-Flight Entertainment
Season 3 · Episode 3
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 • Duration 01:28:07
Colleen is taking off into Pilotwings (SNES) and Pilotwings 64 (N64, 1996) with Mike and Jaymo on board as part of their epic quest to research and review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog!
In this episode, we’ll look at how Mode 7 graphics were originally destined for flying insects, argue over both American sea monsters and if these games should count as Mario games, remember the shuttle program, and spoil one of the big twists of The Phantom Menace (but an album did it first).
Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy theme song! Subscribe to The Old SwitchAroo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on www.theoldswitcharoo.com, where you'll find access to our Discord, voicemail, and so much more!
Lite Switch: Dec 4, 2024 | the Nintendo Music app, Vampire Survivors, Meta Quest, and more
Season 2 · Episode 17
Wednesday, December 4, 2024 • Duration 41:52
Join Mike and Jaymo for a special episode of The Old SwitchAroo Lite Switch, where they take a break from their usual deep dives into the Nintendo Switch Online catalog to share what gaming and gaming-related activities they've been up to during the offseason. This episode explores the newly released Nintendo Music app, a service that has quickly captured Jaymo's heart with its ambient tracks from beloved Games like Animal Crossing. Meanwhile, Mike shares his thoughts on the app's limited content and hopes for its future potential.
They also discuss the shifting landscape of console gaming, with Jaymo diving into the accessibility of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on Game Pass and Mike and Jaymo reminiscing about the nostalgic thrill of hotel gaming. Additionally, Jaymo shares his experiences with the Meta Quest 3, highlighting the immersive boxing game Thrill of the Fight, and the physics-based RPG Blade and Sorcery: Nomad, which brings a Dark Souls aesthetic to virtual reality.
Thanks for tuning in! Don't forget to subscribe or follow us on YouTube, Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen to podcasts, so you're ready for the exciting launch of Season 3. Visit https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com to find all our social media links and share your thoughts on this episode or what you'd like to hear in future ones. We'd love to know your favorite Nintendo music tracks!
Game on, everyone.
(0:00) Intro
(1:03) Nintendo Music App Discussion
(13:46) Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
(23:54) Vampire Survivors: Ode to Castlevania
(32:14) Meta Quest 3 and Thrill of the Fight
(36:20) Blade and Sorcery: Nomad
(40:45) Outro
Show notes created by
S2E16: 16th Bit Retro-Spective Season 2 Finale
Season 2 · Episode 16
Wednesday, November 20, 2024 • Duration 01:39:08
Celebrate the end of another season of The Old SwitchAroo with the 16th-bit Retro-spective Season 2 Finale as Mike and Jaymo reflect on their epic quest to research and review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog!
In this episode Mike and Jaymo go head-to-head as they're quizzed on this season’s games from all our wonderful guests in “Guess Hosts”, we look at the high and low scores of the season in The Old Switcharoonies, and we see if Jaymo’s been doing the reading in “RTFM, People”.
Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy new theme song! Subscribe to The Old SwitchAroo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com, where you'll find access to our Discord, voicemail, and so much more!
Game on, everyone.
(0:00) Intro
(3:31) Introducing Guess Hosts with Kat from KatCanSew https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC09aLi9u4NVxxjasCLNsndw
(6:10) Q1. S02E01 - Justin
(7:47) Q2. S02E01 - Jonathan
(10:06) Q3. S02E02 - Cori
(11:30) Q4. S02E03 - Derick from the Underrated movie podcast - https://underratedmoviepodcast.com/
(13:53) Q5. S02E04 - Jordan from Arcadiology - https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ql7rukdzlUxlrQcsTW3As
S2E15: Gunstar Heroes and Sin and Punishment -or- Treizure Warning
Season 2 · Episode 15
Wednesday, November 6, 2024 • Duration 01:29:28
Brad from Arcadiology helps us mine for rare gems looking at two games from Treasure, Gunstar Heroes (Genesis, 1993) and Sin and Punishment (N64, 2000), as part of Mike and Jaymo’s epic quest to research and review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog!
In this episode we look at how Treasure cut their teeth with McDonalds, what giant robots and kaiju can teach us about dealing with loss, and why it is that Sin and Punishment has the weirdest grip on the Nintendo 64 controller we’ve seen.
Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy new theme song! Subscribe to The Old SwitchAroo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com, where you'll find access to our Discord, voicemail, and so much more!
Game on, everyone.
(0:00) Intro
(1:00) Welcoming Brad from Arcadiology
(3:36) Gunstar Heroes
(46:28) Sin and Punishment
(1:21:54) NintenDO or NintenDON’T
Brad can be found on the Arcadiology podcast on Spotify (https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/arcadiologypodcast) and wherever else you get podcasts
S2E14: Zombies Ate My Neighbors and Ghoul Patrol -or- Revenge of the B Movie
Season 2 · Episode 14
Wednesday, October 23, 2024 • Duration 01:34:55
We scare up Nick and Josh from Smashing Game Time to blast through Zombies Ate My Neighbors (SNES, 1993) and Ghoul Patrol (SNES, 1994) as we take a detour from Mike and Jaymo’s epic quest to research and review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog!
In this episode we look at why chainsaws were replaced with axes when Zombies went overseas, Jaymo gets burned by how much difference a flamethrower can make, try to figure out how much of Ghoul Patrol’s original game design is peeking through, and dabble in some light true-crime podcasting as we touch upon the American jazz-loving serial killer the Axeman of New Orleans.
Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy new theme song! Subscribe to The Old SwitchAroo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com, where you'll find access to our Discord, voicemail, and so much more!
Game on, everyone.
(0:00) Intro
(1:00) Welcoming Nick and Josh
(5:12) Zombies Ate My Neighbors
(55:56) Ghoul Patrol
(1:06:04) Minigame Minute: ?tahw yaS
(1:08:08) Ghoul Patrol (continued)
(1:27:30) NintenDO or NintenDON’T
Smashing Game Time is a weekly video game podcast hosted by two (sometimes three) brothers who grew up gaming together. When they’re not talking about the news of the week or what they’re playing, they’re sitting down with developers to chat about new and upcoming games.
S2E13: Castlevania -or- It's Not Too Late to Whip It
Season 2 · Episode 13
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 • Duration 01:38:02
Kai raises the stakes as our grim-grinning guest comes out to analyze Castlevania (NES, 1987) and Castlevania: Legends (Game Boy, 1997) as part of Mike and Jaymo’s epic quest to research and review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog!
In this episode we whip our way through all the questions other podcasts are afraid to ask: Just how animated can Simon Belmont get? What was the secret ending that got Sonia Belmont fired from the Castlevania canon? And of course, what IS a man?
Plus, Mike and Kai Hammer away at the cryptic credits of Castlevania in the Monster Match for another graveyard smash, with a full exhumation over on our web site of Castlevania's Crazy Cinema Credits (https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com/blog/castlevanias-crazy-cinema-credits/).
Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy new theme song! Subscribe to The Old SwitchAroo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com, where you'll find access to our Discord, voicemail, and so much more!
Game on, everyone.
(0:00) Intro
(1:18) Welcoming Kai
(4:22) Castlevania
(37:27) Minigame Minute: Monster Match
(47:11) Castlevania (continued)
(58:44) NintenDISorDAT
(1:01:20) Castlevania Legends
(1:29:24) NintenDO or NintenDON’T
You can find Kai on Instagram at (https://instagram.com/captainprincesskitty)
S2E12: Yoshi, Wario's Woods, and Dr. Mario -or- Drop It Like It's Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha-Hot!
Season 2 · Episode 12
Wednesday, September 25, 2024 • Duration 01:18:42
Things really fall into place when Lisa from the Geek Pop Podcast connects with three Mario-related drop-puzzlers — Yoshi (NES, 1990), Wario’s Woods (NES, 1994), and Dr. Mario (Gameboy, 1990) — as Mike and Jaymo continue their epic quest to research and review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog!
In this episode we’ll study how Yoshi gave birth to Pokemon, reveal Wario’s Woods connection to Japanese radio comedians, and expose Dr. Mario’s little-known original profession!
For another dose of Dr. Mario, check out Mike and Jaymo’s first take on the franchise with Dr. Mario (NES) and Dr. Mario 64 (N64) back in Season 1, Episode 6 (https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com/episode-6-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-megavitamins/).
Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy new theme song! Subscribe to The Old SwitchAroo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on www.theoldswitcharoo.com, where you'll find access to our Discord, voicemail, and so much more!
Game on, everyone.
(0:00) Intro
(1:10) Welcoming Lisa
(7:17) Yoshi
(27:54) Wario’s Woods
(53:19) Dr. Mario
(1:09:15) NintenDO or NintenDON’T
You can find Lisa and the whole Geek Pop podcast at as well as on Twitter (), Instagram (), and Facebook ().
S2E11: Kirby Super Star and Kirby's Dream Land 3 -or- Kirb'etizers
Season 2 · Episode 11
Wednesday, September 11, 2024 • Duration 01:59:58
Derick McDuff of the Underrated movie podcast returns and brings Kurosh Jozavi of the The KJP Show to talk Kirby Super Star (SNES, 1996) and Kirby’s Dream Land 3 (SNES, 1997) with Mike and Jaymo, continuing their epic quest to research and review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog!
In this episode we’ll check out all the Kirby Super Star game modes, debate the drawbacks of Kirby’s animal companions in Dream Land 3, try to see through how the SNES pseudo hi-res mode allowed it to easily display transparencies, and reveal a rare cameo appearance from the voice of Masahiro Sakurai himself! Kurosh, Derick, and Mike also go head-to-head-to-head to see who can snag the most G from a vault of obscure references in The Great Cave Offensive.
Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy new theme song! Subscribe to The Old SwitchAroo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com, where you'll find access to our Discord, voicemail, and so much more!
Game on, everyone.
(0:00) Intro
(0:52) Welcoming Derick
(1:15) Welcoming Kurosh
(5:48) Kirby Super Star
(43:00) Mini-Game Minute: The Price is Fight
(54:23) Kirby Super Star (continued)
(1:11:56) Kirby’s Dream Land 3
(1:47:28) NintenDO or NintenDON’T
(1:57:31) Derick’s Final Thoughts
S2E10: The Legend of Zelda A Link to the Past -or- Top Down Downright Done Right
Season 2 · Episode 10
Wednesday, August 28, 2024 • Duration 01:51:45
Zelda streamers RiRiYells and SSJ3Butch return to clash swords with Mike and Jaymo discussing The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES, 1991) and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Four Swords (GBA, 2002), continuing their epic quest to research and review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog!
In this episode, we’ll take our first step into trying to understand the wild world of Zelda randomizer runs, try to figure out if Link to the Past is better on the SNES or Game Boy Advance in NintenDISorDAT, and the best and worst of Link to the Past’s cavalcade of enemies.
Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy new theme song! Subscribe to The Old Switch-a-roo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com, where you'll find access to our Discord, voicemail, and so much more!
Game on, everyone.
(0:00) Intro
(1:19) Welcoming RiRi
(1:51) Welcoming Butch
(5:02) The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
(44:32) Mini-Game Minute
(1:01:13) NintenDISorDAT
(1:28:19) Four Swords
(1:44:22) NintenDO or NintenDON’T
Follow RiRi on Twitch at RiRiYells (https://www.twitch.tv/ririyells)
“Iwata Asks - Sin and Punishment: Successor of the Skies” [with Masato Maegawa] by Satoru Iwata | Nintendo: https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Iwata-Asks/Iwata-Asks-Sin-and-Punishment-Successor-of-the-Skies/Iwata-Asks-Sin-and-Punishment-Successor-of-the-Skies/1-The-N64-Controller-Provides-Inspiration/1-The-N64-Controller-Provides-Inspiration-214087.html
You can find Smashing Game Time anywhere you get podcasts, on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5L7liJsLEwOz8_UjUs55Uw) and at https://www.smashinggametime.com/
Super Mario Adventures #10 | Nintendo Power Issue 41, October 1992, page 62: https://archive.org/details/nintendo-power-issue-041-october-1992/page/62/mode/2up
You can find more from Derick and the Underrated movie podcast at https://underratedmoviepodcast.com/, wherever you get your podcasts, and on social media. This Kirby episode wasn’t enough Popstar for you? Then check out the Aug. 12, 2024 episode (#143) of Underrated to hear Jaymo and Derick in the groove on Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.
Kurosh and the KJP Show: A Gaming Experience is on YouTube at @kujoprime (https://www.youtube.com/@kujoprime)
Discussion Between Miyamoto & Horii - originally from Game Staff List Association Japan: https://glitterberri.com/developer-interviews/miyamoto-horii-discussion/
Special Bonus Contest - Nintendo Power Issue 16 (September/October 2007): https://archive.org/details/nintendopowerissue016septemberoctober1990/page/n11/mode/2up
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