Episode 584: Contra Operation Galuga & Toxic Crusaders (Patreon)

Stuart: Wahey! No sooner have I put out one collection of dual interviews in Making of Karateka / Double Dragon Gaiden, I’m straight back in with another double feature, and this one’s a doozy. As well as chatting with the returning Tomm Hulett about his career and the upcoming Contra: Operation Galuga (of which he is the director), I’ve also got a lovely in-depth chinwag with Freakzone Games’ head honcho, Sam Beddoes, the multi-talented director, designer and musician on such titles as Manos: The Hands of Fate, both Angry Video Game Nerd titles and, of course, the upcoming Toxic Crusadersbelt scroller.

I’ve been wanting to talk to Tomm for a while as we’ve been chatting on and off via social media and come up with a good deal of ideas for episodes; expect to hear more of us in the future, but this here’s a nice little taster and hopefully it’ll whet your appetite for the new Contra in 2024. You can trust this team to deliver an experience worthy of that series, and if you like Contra stay tuned for a focused episode on the subject which I hope to get out there as soon as possible.

As for Monsieur Beddoes, the idea of speaking to him came to me amidst one of my many replays of Angry Video Game Nerd 1&2 Deluxe, a title I’ve been back to many times. Knowing as I did that there was Freakzone Games blood in 2024’s Toxic Crusaders, I figured I had to try and get Sam on the show to chat about his career in game-makery. And it turned into a bit of an epic, with a metric ton of fun and some great info, so I’m hoping you’ll enjoy it. With luck I’ll get Sam back too, perhaps alongside a certain Bulmer…

Anyroad, it’s a ruddy-bloody fun episode and I hope you dig it. By all means let me know in the comments either way, and as paying Patreon supporters you have every right to be as abusive as possible. After all, you are paying for that level of access, and I want to be here for you, Nauties. I want every episode I make to be like an uncomfortable, somewhat itchy bear hug from yours truly. Ditto every word I write, natch. Anyway, the description’s finished now. Bye.

Art by Salem Sloane; edits by Greg Leahy

• 01:34 - Contra: Operation Galuga: Time to Introduce Ourselves
• 10:52 - Contra 4: Stage 5 - Ocean
• 25:40 - Contra 4: Black Viper
• 35:17 - Contra 4: Stage 1 - Jungle (Hard Mode)
• 41:56 - Contra: Operation Galuga: Knock Harder
• 43:57 - Angry Video Game Nerd I & II Deluxe: Naggi Sucks! (Tutorial)
• 55:46 - Manos: The Hands of Fate: El Paso
• 1:07:58 - Angry Video Game Nerd I & II Deluxe: Thy Farts Consumed
• 1:20:10 - Angry Video Game Nerd I & II Deluxe: Nerds vs. Ninjas
• 1:30:28 - Angry Video Game Nerd I & II Deluxe: Happy Fun Candy Time
• 1:41:00 - Spectacular Sparky: Option Select (Menu)
• 1:54:51 - Toxic Crusaders (2023 Demo): Tromaville, 3pm
• 2:07:08 - Spectacular Sparky: Time to Tango (Mid-Boss Theme)
• Closing - Toxic Crusaders (2023 Demo): Radioactive Rave