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Episode 399: Formative Gaming Experiences (Patreon)

Published:
2021-08-23 12:00:00
Imported:
2021-08

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Content

It's been a long, long time since a Retronauts East session has happened in person. Something about a lockdown? Anyway, it happened again! And probably won't happen again, due to changing life circumstances—but don't worry, Retronauts East fans. This lineup isn't going away, just working a little differently.

But since this was a somewhat momentous occasion on a couple of levels, we decided to go for a more personal, experiential topic than usual: The game experiences (and, y'know, games) that turned us into fans of this whole thing in the first place. Enjoy fond reminiscences by Benj, Ben, and Chris... and I promised I tried not to rehash anecdotes I've shared about my formative experiences on previous episodes, but with hundreds of Retronauts podcasts in the archives, I can't make any promises!

Art by John Pading, and edits by Greg Leahy.

Music this episode: 

  • Super Mario World: Special World
  • Deadly Towers: Castle Hall
  • Mortal Kombat (Arcade): The Pit Bottom
  • Metroid: Kraid's Lair
  • Super Mario RPG: Nimbus Land / Dragon's Lair Trilogy: Menu Theme
  • Shining Force Gaiden II (A.K.A. The Sword of Hajya): The Brave Men of Cypress
  • Space Harrier (Arcade): Battle Field
  • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Donkey Kong Opening
  • Super Mario Bros. 3: Ending

Files

Comments

Michael Castleberry

I wish I had a specific "aha!/come to Jesus" moment with games. I was born in 1980, and my first gaming memories were playing my parents' Magnavox Odyssey 2, and I have this very specific memory of family game night, playing Computer Golf on it with my parents. I was already sold on loving games thanks to that system and arcades by the time the NES hit our shores, but some of my best memories are playing Mario and Zelda at my best friend's house down the street. So, any chance we get an Odyssey 2 episode sometime?

Anonymous

Have always had a special place in my heart for Deadly Towers. Something about its visuals always spoke to me. I did eventually beat the game on original hardware some years ago (with a guide naturally). While the game is hardly a hidden gem, I love that the developers swung for the fences and really tried for something unique.

Anonymous

Great one as usual, very pleasant surprise to hear my name and my email!! And Chris was dead on about the 99 potions thing because I’m literally experiencing that with Persona 5 Strikers right now and pretty much every RPG I’ve ever played. It wasn’t a direct result of the rarity of the Hammer Brothers suit…but more of the “you never know when you’re gonna need this” feeling whenever you have the chance to stock up on stuff!

Angel S.

Another beautiful episode, thanks for sharing my Mortal Kombat story. I’m gonna pull out some Animalities now.

David Hendren

I wish I had or could remember that “moment” where I knew I’d love video games, but I don’t... I’m an ‘87 baby and my two older brothers already had (and were addicted to) the NES by the time I was born, so I feel like I’ve always been around video games even when I was a baby/toddler. I do remember watching them and me trying to play games that I eventually would love later on in my life (like Mega Mans 2 and 3, and Super Mario 3 after world 2), but no game really sticks out to me as that one game that would alter my life forever.

David G

I don't know the moment, but I do know the trigger: I went to an after school and summer day care center that, for whatever reason, had a full arcade. The games they had were about 5-10 years old that point, so about 1980-85 machines in the late 80s/early 90s. Every day after school and every summer day I had the opportunity to play Mr. Do, Super Pac-Man, Pinbot, Donkey Kong, and my personal favorite, Tron. I had an NES at home, which was fine, but the arcades made a much more lasting impact. The sounds and the feel of a proper joystick could never be matched at home. That is, until my second major experience: getting a Genesis and playing Sonic at home for the first time in 1981. The graphic and audio leap from NES to Green Hill Zone was incredible, and I'll never forget the first time I heard "SEEEEEE-GAAAAA"

Anonymous

Jeremy's "whatever someone played when they were 8 or 9 years old is their favorite game" works for me. Mine was Chrono Trigger! Maybe not favorite favorite, but it's top 3.

Branwen Shoop

Oh geez, when you were talking about how crazy it seemed to rent 2 games a week..... uhh.... I rented 3 NES games a week every weekend for YEARS. 😅 To be fair, it's an easy explanation when ppl ask "how in the hell did you get like this??!"

Anonymous

Space Invaders cocktail table at the local Pizza Hut, circa 1979, hooked me on arcade games. Then the magnificent port of that game to 2600 with its bazillions of different configurations hooked me on consoles. So...well played, Space Invaders!

Kevin Bunch
>>66369660

I for one do enjoy talking about the Odyssey2, and know experts on the topic as well...