NES Episodes

Timmy Williams, part of Whitest Kids U’ Know and co-host of the Urn Fulla Popcorn podcast, is ready to enter the ninja games as he makes his return to The Old SwitchAroo to explore the ninja sequels Ninja Gaiden II (NES, 1990) and Super Ninja Boy (SNES, 1993) with Mike and Jaymo as part of The Old SwitchAroo’s epic quest to research and review every retro game in Nintendo Switch Online’s Nintendo Classics catalog. In this episode, Timmy shares some of the experiences involved in making Mar...

Jennifer Miller Hammel, host of Classical California’s Arcade, is t-spinning her way in to discuss the titanic tuneful tetrad of Tetris (Game Boy, 1989), Tetris (NES, 1989), Tetris DX (Game Boy Color, 1998), and Tetris 99 (Nintendo Switch, 2018) with Mike and Jaymo as part of The Old SwitchAroo’s epic quest to research and review every retro game in Nintendo Switch Online’s Nintendo Classics catalog. In this episode, Jennifer shares her efforts to get video game music from game rooms to the c...

Blindfolded speedrunner BlazeingPhoenix is ready to barrel through Donkey Kong (NES, 1986) and Donkey Kong (Game Boy, 1994) with Mike and Jaymo as part of The Old SwitchAroo’s epic quest to research and review every retro game in Nintendo Switch Online’s Nintendo Classics catalog. In this episode, we talk about the impressive world of blindfolded speedruns and BlazeingPhoenix takes us on his journey into blindfolded speedrunning, including watching Ocarina of Time blindfolded as part of Games...

Alex will be sharing his wisdom as he joins Mike and Jaymo for Solomon’s Key (NES, 1987) as part of The Old SwitchAroo’s epic quest to research and review every retro game in Nintendo Switch Online’s Nintendo Classics catalog! In this episode, Alex shares how he first saw Solomon’s Key beaten on a VHS tape, we look at Solomon’s Key’s reskins and sequels, and Jaymo puts Mike and Alex to the test with a challenge of riddles. Plus, we get sidetracked with a bit of a revisit to Punch-Out!! Tha...

This episode’s visiting team is Brad and Jordan from Arcadiology, and they’re in position at the line of scrimmage for Tecmo Bowl (NES, 1989) as they face off against Mike and Jaymo as part of The Old SwitchAroo’s epic quest to research and review every retro game in Nintendo Switch Online’s Nintendo Classics catalog! In this episode, Jordan shares his history with football on and off the field, we’ll look at how player likeness rights changed the later releases of Tecmo Bowl, no one is ab...

Happney is as good as his sword when he talks Crystalis (NES, 1990) as he joins Mike & Jaymo on The Old SwitchAroo’s epic quest to research and review every retro game in Nintendo Switch Online’s Nintendo Classics catalog! In this episode, we talk about the influence of Studio Ghibli films like Castle in the Sky and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind on Crystalis, try to figure out if this was SNK’s answer to The Legend of Zelda, and the ways that the aesthetics of this game seem to overla...

Cyril from Defunct Games armors up for Ghosts ‘n Goblins (NES), Ghouls ‘n Ghosts (Sega Genesis/Mega Drive), and Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts (SNES) as he joins Mike & Jaymo on The Old SwitchAroo’s epic quest to research and review every retro game in Nintendo Switch Online’s Nintendo Classics catalog! In this episode, we talk about the value of preserving contemporary game reviews of retro video games, Capcom’s mostly forgotten former mascot Captain Commando and the Captain Commando Challenge Se...

Chico D Mar is at the starting line for F-Zero (SNES, 1990) and F-Zero 99 (Switch, 2023) as he joins Mike and Jaymo on The Old SwitchAroo’s epic quest to research and review every retro game in Nintendo Switch Online’s Nintendo Classics catalog! In this episode, we appreciate the character design from Takaya Imamura and the comic book artwork from Valiant Comics, including both the box art and an in-manual comic drawn by Arthur Nichols. We also learn how Captain Falcon was originally inten...

Andrew Linde from “Nothing New: A Remake Podcast” uncovers hard truths about Clu Clu Land (NES, 1985), Mario’s Picross (Game Boy, 1995), and Mario’s Super Picross (SNES, 1995) as he joins Mike & Jaymo on The Old SwitchAroo’s epic quest to research and review every retro game in Nintendo Switch Online’s Nintendo Classics catalog! In this revealing episode, we discuss how Animal Crossing helped expose a new generation to retro titles, how Bubbles the balloonfish made waves as a female protag...

It’s an absolute punch-up as Timmy Williams from The Whitest Kids U’ Know joins Mike and Jaymo as they play the all-time classic Ninja Gaiden (NES, 1988) and the not-so-classic Kung Fu Heroes (NES, 1989) as part of their epic quest to research and review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online’s Nintendo Classics catalog! In this episode, we explore how the Whitest Kids can be used as teaching tools,, learn why the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles weren’t allowed in Europe, behold the retu...

Josh Covel from the Still Loading podcast and his frequent guest Dexter Morrill join Mike and Jaymo to fly too close to the sun in Kid Icarus (NES, 1987) as part of an epic quest to research and review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog! In this episode, Mike finally gets to talk too much about Captain N: The Game Master as we learn about Still Loading’s episode-by-episode watch through mini-series, how Kid Icarus was one of the first games to use the MMC1 mapper chip to s...

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 Bai...

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 m...

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! ...

Long-time friend Bryan steps into the ring with Mike and Jaymo in the ring for Punch-Out!! (NES, 1987) and Super Punch-Out! (SNES, 1994), continuing their epic quest to research and review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog! In this episode, we match up Punch-Out!! and Super Punch-Out!! in a head-to-head bout sponsored by the Cable Club podcast. We’ll debate whether Punch-Out!! holds up or not with Mr. Dream replacing Mike Tyson, unveil the hidden two-player mode in Super ...

Mike and Jaymo are joined by Margo (aka TikTok’s Mrs.Librarian) as they go down the tubes playing Super Mario Bros (NES, 1985) and The Lost Levels (NES, 1986) as part of their epic quest to research and review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog! In this episode, we try to figure out if the Super Mario Bros box art is a snuff graphic, Mike and Margo go toe-to-toe in Super Mario trivia with Mario Mythbusters, and we trace the origin of the Kaizo Mario craze back to a rare fl...

Twitch streamer SSJ3Butch joins Mike and Jaymo for three animal platformers, Mappy-Land (NES, 1986), Flicky (Sega Genesis, 1991), and Spanky’s Quest (SNES, 1991), as part of their epic quest to research and review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog! In this episode, we also check out Mappy: The Beat, the 2013 Mappy animated series produced by webcomic creators Scott Kurtz and Kris Straub, discuss Flicky’s appearances in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, and marvel at the h...

Mike & Jaymo hit a grand slam as they swing & steal their way through "Baseball" (NES) and "Super Baseball Simulator 1.000" (SNES) in their epic quest to research & review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog! Today's episode covers all the bases, including the manipulative math behind MLB's "greatest" player, a rare glimpse into Edgar Allan Poe's poorly written fan-fiction, and even an impromptu musical finale at the bottom of the ninth! Thanks for listening, and be sure to fo...

Mike, Jaymo, & Twitch personality RiRiYells form a Triforce of wisdom as they search and slash their way through the "The Legend of Zelda" and "Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link" in their epic quest to research & review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog! Treasures in store include uncovered audio of the franchise's first-ever speaking role, the steamy undertones of Link's "heart meter," and the most infamous glitch on the NES (but not the one you think!) Thanks for listen...

Mike and Jaymo rev & race their way through Excitebike, Vs. Excitebike, and Excitebike 64 in their epic quest to research & review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog! Today's stunts include some far-fetched foresight for the Fast & Furious franchise, a detour through outrageous and outdated Nintendo peripherals, and a Mario racing game that time forgot! Thanks for listening, and don't forget to Subscribe to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! Game o...

Mike and Jaymo blast & bomb their way through Xevious: The Avenger and Star Soldier in their epic quest to research & review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog! Along the way, they'll fly through Vietnam war themes, hidden messages in source code, and the Foreigner Belt. Let us know if you think Star Soldier is a NintenDO or a NintenDON'T. Thanks for listening, and don't forget to Subscribe to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! Game on, everyone. (0:0...

Mike and Jaymo flip out with Justin and Jonathan as they play Pinball and Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball in their epic quest to research & review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog! On the table will be how pinball become legal in the US, how to find success in Las Vegas, and the misleading works of author Betsy Byars. Thanks for listening, and don't forget to Subscribe to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! Game on, everyone. (0:00) Intro (14...

Mike and Jaymo swallow up Kirby's Dream Land, Kirby's Adventure, and Kirby's Dream Land 2 in their epic quest to research & review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog! Float on over as they debate Jigglypuff's crab-like evolutionary history, pay tribute to old timey burlesque, and debate how dark matter does (or does not) work. Let them know whether you think Kirby's Dreamland 2 is a Ninten-Do or Ninten-Don't! Thanks for listening, and don't forget to Subscribe to get mo...

Mike and Jaymo are practicing medicine without a license with Dr. Mario & Dr. Mario 64 in their epic quest to research & review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog! It's just what the doctor ordered as Mike and Jaymo discuss how Dr. Mario ties in to modern medical practices, what makes a good puzzle game, and Chinese console law. Let them know whether you think Dr. Mario and Dr. Mario 64 are Ninten-Do's or Ninten-Don'ts! Thanks for listening, and don't forget to Su...