Before Secret of Monkey Island...before Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis...before Sam & Max...there was Maniac Mansion!  Learn how the game was made, including the origins of the venerable SCUMM engine, which would be used for nearly every LucasArts adventure title to follow.  Discover why Ron Gilbert decided to make Maniac Mansion an adventure game in the first place (hint: it has to do with a certain other company's fiendishly hard adventure titles).  And, finally, learn whether it's worth your time today to return to the Edison Mansion.  Does Maniac Mansion belong in our Pantheon of Classic Gaming?  Listen and find out!

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Grab your dragon sword and sharpen your shuriken, as we discuss the original Ninja Gaiden title!  Learn how the game began life as an arcade title that would, eventually, make its way to the Nintendo Entertainment System, and listen as we dive deep into how the development team made the game a reality, including the reasoning behind why Act VI was so...darn...difficult (no, I'm not bitter).  Does Ninja Gaiden still hold up today?  There's only one way to find out!

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What is a bandicoot anyway?  Find out in our podcast episode, where we discuss how and why Crash Bandicoot was made, learn why Crash isn't not Sony's mascot, and determine whether the game still holds up today when compared to modern titles.  All of that and more, only on Classic Gaming Today!

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It's a cartoon world, and we're just living in it...or at least, that's the premise of Toonstruck, a point and click adventure game that combines full motion video sequences with animated cartoon scenes to create a sort of reverse Who Framed Roger Rabbit kind of scenario.  Learn how the game was made, what happened to the long rumored sequel, and whether the game still retains its charm today.  Can Toonstruck stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Sierra and LucasArts adventure titles of yore?  There's only one way to find out!

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Get ready to FINISH HIM as we discuss this week's game, Mortal Kombat!  Learn about the origins of the one-on-one fighting game genre, find out why Johnny Cage bears more than a passing resemblance to Jean Claude Van Damme, and discover whether the original arcade "Klassic" still holds up today!

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Join me for a groovy good time as we discuss The Operative: No One Lives Forever!  Learn how game company Monolith came to be, how the LithTech engine evolved from its DirectX heritage, and whether No One Lives Forever, one of the most underrated games in recent memory, still holds up today.

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Boom-shaka-laka!  Join me on the basketball court as we discuss the arcade classic, NBA Jam!  Learn about its origins as we deep dive the game's history, even going as far back as Pong (yes, that Pong) to discover how, and why, the game was made.  Then, explore what it feels like to play the game today, in order to determine whether it's still worth your time.  Does NBA Jam join the hallowed halls of the Pantheon of Classic Gaming?  There's only one way to find out!

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Grab your pistol as we hunt some replicants in the third person point-and-click adventure title, Blade Runner!  Learn how the game was made, why it was similar, but different, to the movie, and whether it's still worth your time to play today.  Is Blade Runner the cyberpunk adventure you've been waiting for?  Listen in to find out!

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What happens if you take one part Final Fantasy, two parts Secret of Mana, and add a touch of American pop culture?  You end up with Secret of Evermore, an action RPG released back in 1995.  Learn how the game was made, why it is unique in Square's catalog of RPGs, and whether it's worth your time to play it today.  Does Secret of Evermore merit inclusion in the Pantheon of Classic Gaming, or should Evermore's existence remain a secret?  Tune in to find out!

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Grab your favorite go-kart and join me as we discuss Super Mario Kart, the grandfather of the kart racing genre!  Learn how the Super Nintendo's launch titles paved the way for what would be Nintendo's first Mario crossover title, why Mode 7 graphics are awesome, and whether the experience of playing the game still holds up today.  Does Mario Kart make it to the finish line, or will it slip on a banana peel?  Tune in to find out!

It's time to save the world as we embark on a discussion on the LucasArts classic, The Dig.  Learn how the game was made, how Steven Spielberg and George Lucas were involved, and whether the experience of playing the title is still worthwhile to seek out today.  Does The Dig warrant inclusion in our Pantheon of Classic Gaming?  There's only one way to find out!

Join me as we discuss one of the most beloved video games of all time, The Legend of Zelda!  Learn how it was made, what it was inspired by, why the second quest exists in the first place, and whether the game still is worth a playthrough today.  Does the game truly deserve its legendary reputation?  Listen to find out!

In the early 90s, game companies were experimenting with a bunch of different technologies, trying to find a way to make their mark on the video game and arcade market.  One of those companies was American Laser Games.  Learn how the company came to be, why full motion video in arcade titles was a revolutionary experience (for the time), and whether their broader discography is still a worthwhile use of your time today.  Do any American Laser Games titles belong in our Pantheon of Classic Gaming?  There's only one way to find out!

Cow launched!  Join me as we discuss Earthworm Jim, a zany, side-scrolling run-and-gun platformer developed by Shiny Entertainment.  Learn how the titular hero came to be, why the toy market of the late 80s influenced the development of the title, and whether it still feels as fresh to play today as it did when it was originally released.  

Do a barrel roll!  Or, maybe not, but do join me as we look at Star Fox, a true 3D-space combat game released on the Super Nintendo back in the early 90s.  Learn how the game was made, what new technology had to be created in order to enable the for-the-time advanced 3D visuals, and whether the title still holds up against our modern gaming expectations.

Make way...for our next podcast episode focused on Prince Ali himself, Aladdin, for the Sega Genesis!  Learn how the game was made, why the graphics and animations looked so darn good and, join me as we discuss and discover whether the game still holds up today, 30 years after it was originally released.  Does Aladdin belong in our Pantheon of Classic Gaming, or should it be buried in the Cave of Wonders?  There's only one way to find out!

Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start!

Join me as we discuss Contra, the father of the run-and-gun genre from the late 80s.  Learn how the game was made, why the Konami code even exists, and how well the game holds up today, well over 30 years following its original release.

Before Hideo Kojima became one of the most well-known game designers in the world, he was simply a young developer who loved the cinema, and who wanted to apply cinematic techniques to the games he was creating.  One of his earliest titles was Snatcher, a visual novel adventure game set in a dystopian cyberpunk world filled with cybernetic clones determined to take over the human race.  Learn how the game was created, what influenced Kojima's early work, and how well the game holds up today.  Is Snatcher the newest member of our Classic Gaming Pantheon?  There's only one way to find out!

Come with me if you want to live!  Or, rather, listen in, as we discuss the creation of three 16-bit Terminator titles, spanning the Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, and Sega CD consoles.  Learn why it took so long for a licensed Terminator title to be created, how each game was made, and which of the three remains worth your time today.

Join me as we discuss our second Gameboy title, Super Mario Land 2!  Learn how the game improved upon its predecessor, why the introduction of Wario into Mario lore was so significant, and whether the game still feels as good to play today as when it was released around 30 years ago!

It's time to use our head...literally...as we discuss the Turbografx-16 platformer, Bonk's Adventure.  Learn how the game was created, why Bonk became a sort of mascot for the Turbbografx system, and whether the prehistoric action still holds up today!

After Eric Chahi created Another World / Out of This World, cinematic platformers were all the rage, including elsewhere in Delphine Software.  As Chahi basked in the glory of his newly released masterpiece, Paul Cuisset was working on a game of his own, and one that would define his career almost the same way that Out of This Word became Chahi's claim to fame.  Cuisset's game was, of course, Flasback.  Learn how the game was created and whether you should still play it today, despite being over 30 years old!

You all know I love full motion video games...and Sewer Shark is undeniably one of those games, so, you know it's going to be a good time!  Join me as we dive deep into the creation of Sewer Shark - learn how the game originated as a never-released title for the failed Hasbro Control Vision console before finally getting a second chance on the Sega CD years later, and listen in as we determine whether becoming a sewer jockey today is as fun as it was intended to be back in the early 90s.

Jordan Mechner is computer and video game royalty...but back in the early 80s, he was simply a Yale student trying to make his mark on the still new computer game industry.  Karateka would be the result of his early efforts.  Join me as we jump back in time to learn how the game was made as we determine whether, nearly 40 years later, the title is still worth your time to play today.

Sometimes good things come in small packages!  Join me as we discuss Super Mario Land, Mario's first adventure for the Nintendo Gameboy system all the way back in 1989.  Learn how the game was made, why Shigeru Miyamoto was not involved in its creation, and whether Sarasaland is still fun to visit today.  Can a Gameboy screen provide a worthwhile Mario experience?  There's only one way to find out!

Ask nearly anyone from the 90s to name their favorite Sega titles, and I bet Streets of Rage 2 would be on many of those lists.  Join me as we discuss Sega's classic brawler, including how it was created, its overall legacy, and whether it's still worth your time to clean up the streets and bring Mr. X to justice!

When Eric Chahi released Out of This World (or Another World), he created a masterpiece that would stand the test of time.  Heart of the Alien was the Sega CD exclusive sequel to that classic.  Learn how the game was made and discover whether lightning struck twice, even though Chahi wasn't involved in the creation of the title.  Is it worth it to once again visit this unique desolate alien world?  You'll have to listen to find out!

DAY-TO-NA!!!  Join me as we discuss one of the most popular, exhilarating arcade games of all-time, as we dive deep into Sega's Daytona USA!  Learn how the game was made and why, even all these years later, it still holds a special place in everyone's heart as THE multiplayer racing game of the 90s.  Is it still worth your time to get behind the wheel of this one?  Tune in to find out!

Our fourth and final deep dive into the early works of id Software focuses on Quake, the successor to Doom and probably the game most responsible for rocket jump-related deaths in the mid-90s.  Learn how id once again evolved their first person shooter formula while, at the same time, creating a true 3D engine that would serve as the blueprint for many titles to come.  Does it feel as good to play today as it did back when it was released?  Listen and find out!

Rip and tear through the hordes of hell, as we discuss Doom, one of the most influential computer games ever created!  Learn how the id Software team evolved from their Wolfenstein 3D roots to deliver an experience that had never been seen before.  Is it still worth it to play the Father of the first person shooter genre?  There's only one way to find out!

Have you ever played an interactive cartoon?  If so, you just might have played Dragon's Lair, an early 80s arcade title that utilized Laserdisc technology to deliver a never-before-seen level of animation and visual spectacle.  Learn how designer Rick Dyer and Don Bluth and his animation team worked their magic in creating a pivotal title in video game history, and discover whether it's worth your time today to visit, or revisit, Singe's domain!

For many people, Diablo was the first true "action" RPG.  For others, though, especially in the early 90s, Shadow Caster was the game many people gravitated to when they wanted an RPG-like experience that didn't require dissecting scores of numbers and stat points in order to maximize their builds.  Join me as we talk about how Shadow Caster was created, where it sits in computer gaming history, and how well it holds up today!

Little known fact - when Mario isn't busy saving the Mushroom Kingdom, or practicing his day job as a plumber, he sometimes moonlights as a...hotel bellhop?  Join me as we talk about Hotel Mario, the CD-I exclusive that asks the question, "what would happen if the only way to save the princess was to shut...every...door!"  Learn how the game was made, why it exists, what Nintendo was thinking, and whether it holds up today.  Is Hotel Mario worth a reservation?  There's only one way to find out!

Time paradoxes and JRPG gameplay await as we tackle Chrono Trigger!  Learn how a dream team of designers, developers, artists and composers came together to create one of the most beloved titles from the 1990s, after which we ask the question - does Chrono Trigger still hold up today?  Is the game a timeless classic, or simply not worth your time?  Listen in to find out!

Police Quest is one of those classic Sierra titles that many adventure gamers hold in high regard.  Blue Force, developed by a group of ex-Sierra employees, was Tsunami Media's attempt at capturing that Sierra magic.  Learn how the game came to be, and listen in as we determine whether this point-and-click adventure is worth your time today.  

It's time to revisit ID Software's early years, as we delve into the grandfather of first person shooters, Wolfenstein 3D!  Learn how the ID team made the leap from 2D platformers to a pseudo 3D engine, after which we'll talk about whether the game holds up today, or if it's just too elderly to keep up with its ancestors.  

Life is like a hurricane!  Join me as we discuss DuckTales, one of the quintessential NES platformers, released back in 1989.  Learn why licensed titles (usually) don't turn out all that great, and why DuckTales reversed that trend.  We'll discuss how the game was made, its relevance in history, and whether you should go back to visit Duckburg today.  Is DuckTales still platforming gold?  It's time to find out!

In the mid-90s, Nintendo needed something to help compete in an ever-evolving console market.  With their own next gen system delayed, they turned to developer Rare to figure out how to save the day.  Donkey Kong Country was the end result.

Join me as we look at how the game came into being, followed by a discussion to determine if the game still holds up today.  Is Donkey Kong Country still worth your time?  Tune in to find out!

Dust off your alien blaster and join me as we explore the world of Commander Keen!  We'll talk through how the game was created, its overall historical significance, and why you may (or may not) want to play the game today.  Undeniably an important game in computing history, but does it make it into our Pantheon of Classic gaming?  There's only one way to find out...

Join me on an adventure into a desolate, alien world as we explore the 1991 cinematic platform adventure game Another World (or Out of this World in North America).  As is customary, we'll talk about the historical context surrounding the game before we dive deep and figure out if it's still worth your time to play today.  Does Out of this World belong in the Pantheon of Classic Gaming?  There's only one way to find out...

Shake it baby!  Join me as we discuss one of the quintessential first person shooters of the mid-90s, Duke Nukem 3D.  Released by 3D Realms in 1996, Duke Nukem is a nuanced story of love, drama, and intrigue, where...nah, actually, you just blow stuff up.  How well does The Duke hold up today?  Tune in and find out!

Fore!  Join me as we discuss Neo Turf Masters, an arcade golf game for the Neo Geo arcade and home systems, released in 1996 by the Nazca Corporation.  Can the typically slower sport of golf translate into a fast-paced arcade experience to stand the test of time?  Listen in and find out!

Stay on target and join me as we discuss Star Wars: Rebel Assault, an on-rails shooter released by LucasArts back in 1993.  Learn how the game was made and discover whether Rebel Assault still holds up today, nearly 30 years after its release.  Does Rebel Assault deserve a spot in the Pantheon of Classic Gaming?  Let's find out!

Join me as we explore one of Blizzard's (yes, that Blizzard) earlier video game efforts, The Lost Vikings!  Released in 1992, The Lost Vikings was a puzzle platformer that had you navigate three Vikings, all with different skills, through a number of devious levels, all in the hopes of defeating the evil Tomator and returning home.  Did we manage to save our Viking companions?  Tune in to find out!

Don't stand around playing tiddlywinks in your birthday suit, there's a killer on the loose, and you've got to find him (or her)!  Join us as we discuss the full motion video adventure game, Ripper, developed by Take 2 Interactive and filled to the brim with a ton of Hollywood "talent".  We'll discuss the history behind the making of the game, after which we'll discuss what it feels like to actually play the game in 2022.  Will Ripper make it into the Pantheon of Classic Gaming?  Tune in to find out!

As our new podcast launches, join me to discuss the puzzle / platform title Lemmings, released back in 1991 for the Amiga and, eventually, other systems.  Learn about how the game was made and where it sits in history, and learn if this is one of those classic experiences that stay fresh, even 30 years after it was created.