Welcome to another episode of Retrotopia: Another Video Game Podcast. This is a show where we, Alan, Brian, and Sam, get together to discuss video games from years gone by. We like to look at video games from the perspective of lifelong gamers and how they hold up in the retro sphere.

This week, we are discussing Mario is Missing!, a Super Nintendo and NES game released in 1993 that flips the classic formula on its head by making Luigi the star of the show. Instead of jumping through Goomba-stomped levels, players travel the globe in an educational adventure where Luigi must recover stolen artifacts and rescue his brother from Bowser. It’s part platformer, part geography lesson, and entirely different from what fans expected at the time—making it one of the most infamous oddities in Mario’s long history.

You can join in on the fun FOR FREE over at patreon.com/retrotopia

There, you can participate in the 9-Bit Banter Box, comment on the Game of the week, take part in polls, and listen to the Patreon exclusive Quick Play or get RetroBytes 15 days early with an exclusive Patreon topic. You can also join The Hero tier for $2 a month and choose a host to play and review a game for Quick Play and listen to Retrotopia After Dark, where we start each week with a little warm-up and chat.

Find us on social media at linktr.ee/retrotopia

Instagram, Twitter, BlueSky, YouTube, and a link to our Discord can all be found here.

Direct Discord Link: https://discord.gg/Fn63vQ4CPc

Find Retrotopia Merchandise at https://retrotopia.dashery.com/

We have many designs and are adding more all the time. Get T-Shirts, Hoodies, Mugs, Stickers, Magnets, Hats, and more.

Because it's Super Mario Bros. 40th Anniversary, we're sharing this with everyone. Welcome to Quick Play, the Patreon-exclusive spin-off of the Retrotopia Podcast! This is where we shine a spotlight on games that don't quite fit our main show — maybe they're too short, too weird, or just too wild — but still deserve some love. Each episode, one of us dives in solo to give you a bite-sized review.

Brian is talking about Super Mario Bros., a game about running, jumping, and stomping your way through the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue Princess Toadstool from the evil Bowser. Released on the NES in 1985, it’s the platformer that defined the genre and set the standard for video games to come. But this episode isn’t about the gameplay, it’s about the fascinating details behind its creation. From the clever hardware tricks the developers used to squeeze so much game onto a tiny cartridge, to how Shigeru Miyamoto and his team designed Mario’s look and movement with technical limitations in mind, Brian dives into the hidden stories that shaped one of the most influential games of all time.

You can join in on the fun FOR FREE over at patreon.com/retrotopia

There, you can participate in the 9-Bit Banter Box, comment on the Game of the week, take part in polls, and listen to the Patreon exclusive Quick Play or get RetroBytes 15 days early with an exclusive Patreon topic. You can also join The Hero tier for $2 a month and choose a host to play and review a game for Quick Play and listen to Retrotopia After Dark, where we start each week with a little warm-up and chat.

Find us on social media at linktr.ee/retrotopia

Instagram, Twitter, BlueSky, YouTube, and a link to our Discord can all be found here.

Direct Discord Link: https://discord.gg/Fn63vQ4CPc

Find Retrotopia Merchandise at https://retrotopia.dashery.com/

We have many designs and are continually adding more. Get T-Shirts, Hoodies, Mugs, Stickers, Magnets, Hats, and more.

Welcome to another episode of Retrotopia: Another Video Game Podcast. This is a show where we, Alan, Brian, and Sam, get together to discuss video games from years gone by. We like to look at video games from the perspective of lifelong gamers and how they hold up in the retro sphere.

This week we are discussing Gunstar Heroes, a Sega Genesis game released in 1993 that redefined the run-and-gun genre with its explosive action, chaotic screen-filling battles, and inventive weapon system. Developed by Treasure in their debut title, the game throws players into a fast-paced fight against the Empire, blending nonstop shooting, melee attacks, and gravity-defying set pieces. With its unique ability to combine weapon types, wildly imaginative boss encounters, and a story that escalates into all-out intergalactic war, Gunstar Heroes quickly cemented itself as one of the most beloved and influential 16-bit shooters of all time.

You can join in on the fun FOR FREE over at patreon.com/retrotopia

There, you can participate in the 9-Bit Banter Box, comment on the Game of the week, take part in polls, and listen to the Patreon exclusive Quick Play or get RetroBytes 15 days early with an exclusive Patreon topic. You can also join The Hero tier for $2 a month and choose a host to play and review a game for Quick Play and listen to Retrotopia After Dark, where we start each week with a little warm-up and chat.

Find us on social media at linktr.ee/retrotopia

Instagram, Twitter, BlueSky, YouTube, and a link to our Discord can all be found here.

Direct Discord Link: https://discord.gg/Fn63vQ4CPc

Find Retrotopia Merchandise at https://retrotopia.dashery.com/

We have many designs and are adding more all the time. Get T-Shirts, Hoodies, Mugs, Stickers, Magnets, Hats, and more.

RetroBytes is the show where the three of us sit down, crack open some random video game topics, and let the conversation run wild. Every episode is part nostalgia trip, part heated debate, and part comedy show we never rehearsed. This week, we’re diving into the games of our Summer break, Licensed Music in Games, Our Origin Stories, and Getting Over that Gaming Slump. We're unpacking the stories, quirks, and memories that make them worth talking about. And of course, no RetroBytes episode would be complete without our signature segment, Choose 1, Lose 1—the game where we go head-to-head, forcing each other into impossible choices, questionable logic, and plenty of laughs along the way. You can join in on the fun FOR FREE over at patreon.com/retrotopia where you can get this show 15 DAYS EARLY with an extra topic and much more.

There, you can participate in the 9-Bit Banter Box, comment on the Game of the week, take part in polls, and listen to the Patreon exclusive Quick Play or get RetroBytes 15 days early with an exclusive Patreon topic. You can also join The Hero tier for $2 a month and choose a host to play and review a game for Quick Play and listen to Retrotopia After Dark, where we start each week with a little warm-up and chat.

Find us on social media at linktr.ee/retrotopia

Instagram, Twitter, BlueSky, YouTube, and a link to our Discord can all be found here.

Direct Discord Link: https://discord.gg/Fn63vQ4CPc

Find Retrotopia Merchandise at https://retrotopia.dashery.com/

We have many designs and are continually adding more. Get T-shirts, Hoodies, Mugs, Stickers, Magnets, Hats, and more.

Welcome to another episode of Retrotopia: Another Video Game Podcast. This is a show where we, Alan, Brian, and Sam, get together to discuss video games from years gone by. We like to look at video games from the perspective of lifelong gamers and how they hold up in the retro sphere.

This week we’re blasting off into the future with F-Zero, the lightning-fast Super Nintendo launch title released in 1990 (Japan) and 1991 (North America/Europe) that showed the world exactly what the SNES could do. This wasn’t just a racing game—it was a showcase of Mode 7 graphics, letting players rip across futuristic tracks at breakneck speeds in anti-gravity machines that felt like they were straight out of a sci-fi comic book. With its sharp turns, deadly obstacles, and that unforgettable high-energy soundtrack, F-Zero turned white-knuckle reflexes into an art form. And while the roster of four racers—led by the iconic Captain Falcon—kept things simple, the sheer speed and challenge made it a must-play for anyone who wanted to test their limits. It wasn’t just a game, it was a glimpse into the future of racing, and it set the stage for one of Nintendo’s most stylish and adrenaline-fuelled franchises.

You can join in on the fun FOR FREE over at patreon.com/retrotopia

There, you can participate in the 9-Bit Banter Box, comment on the Game of the week, take part in polls, and listen to the Patreon exclusive Quick Play or get RetroBytes 15 days early with an exclusive Patreon topic. You can also join The Hero tier for $2 a month and choose a host to play and review a game for Quick Play and listen to Retrotopia After Dark, where we start each week with a little warm-up and chat.

Find us on social media at linktr.ee/retrotopia

Instagram, Twitter, BlueSky, YouTube, and a link to our Discord can all be found here.

Direct Discord Link: https://discord.gg/Fn63vQ4CPc

Find Retrotopia Merchandise at https://retrotopia.dashery.com/

We have many designs and are adding more all the time. Get T-Shirts, Hoodies, Mugs, Stickers, Magnets, Hats, and more.

Welcome to another episode of Retrotopia: Another Video Game Podcast. This is a show where we, Alan, Brian, and Sam, get together to discuss video games from years gone by. We like to look at video games from the perspective of lifelong gamers and how they hold up in the retro sphere.

This week we’re diving into Pokémon Gold and Silver, the legendary Game Boy Color sequels that dropped in 1999 (Japan) and 2000 (North America/Europe) and completely redefined what a follow-up game could be. These weren’t just “more Pokémon” slapped onto Red and Blue—Gold and Silver gave us an entirely new Johto region, 100 fresh Pokémon to catch, and game-changing innovations like the day and night cycle, an internal clock that synced to real-world time, and the debut of Dark and Steel types to shake up battles forever. On top of that, they introduced breeding, held items, and a ton of new mechanics that made the world feel more alive than ever before. And just when you thought the adventure was over, the game blew everyone’s mind by letting you travel back to the Kanto region from the original games—turning one cartridge into basically two full Pokémon journeys. These games weren’t just sequels; they were an evolution, setting the gold standard (pun intended) for how to expand a beloved series.

You can join in on the fun FOR FREE over at patreon.com/retrotopia

There, you can participate in the 9-Bit Banter Box, comment on the Game of the week, take part in polls, and listen to the Patreon exclusive Quick Play or get RetroBytes 15 days early with an exclusive Patreon topic. You can also join The Hero tier for $2 a month and choose a host to play and review a game for Quick Play and listen to Retrotopia After Dark, where we start each week with a little warm-up and chat.

Find us on social media at linktr.ee/retrotopia

Instagram, Twitter, BlueSky, YouTube, and a link to our Discord can all be found here.

Direct Discord Link: https://discord.gg/Fn63vQ4CPc

Find Retrotopia Merchandise at https://retrotopia.dashery.com/

We have many designs and are adding more all the time. Get T-Shirts, Hoodies, Mugs, Stickers, Magnets, Hats, and more.

Welcome to another episode of Retrotopia: Another Video Game Podcast. This is a show where we, Alan, Brian, and Sam, get together to discuss video games from years gone by. We like to look at video games from the perspective of lifelong gamers and how they hold up in the retro sphere.

This week we are discussing Contra—or Probotector, depending on where you live—an NES game released in 1988 that set the standard for fast-paced, side-scrolling run-and-gun action. Packed with explosive weapon upgrades, relentless enemy waves, and the infamous Konami Code for extra lives, this arcade-style shooter challenged players’ reflexes and teamwork as they battled through alien-infested jungles, military bases, and bizarre bio-mechanical lairs.

You can join in on the fun FOR FREE over at patreon.com/retrotopia

There, you can participate in the 9-Bit Banter Box, comment on the Game of the week, take part in polls, and listen to the Patreon exclusive Quick Play or get RetroBytes 15 days early with an exclusive Patreon topic. You can also join The Hero tier for $2 a month and choose a host to play and review a game for Quick Play and listen to Retrotopia After Dark, where we start each week with a little warm-up and chat.

Find us on social media at linktr.ee/retrotopia

Instagram, Twitter, BlueSky, YouTube, and a link to our Discord can all be found here.

Direct Discord Link: https://discord.gg/Fn63vQ4CPc

Find Retrotopia Merchandise at https://retrotopia.dashery.com/

We have many designs and are adding more all the time. Get T-Shirts, Hoodies, Mugs, Stickers, Magnets, Hats, and more.

Welcome to another episode of Retrotopia: Another Video Game Podcast. This is a show where we, Alan, Brian, and Sam, get together to discuss video games from years gone by. We like to look at video games from the perspective of lifelong gamers and how they hold up in the retro sphere.

This week, we are discussing Metroid: Other M, a Nintendo Wii game released in 2010 that blends fast-paced third-person action with first-person shooting mechanics to tell a deeply personal story about bounty hunter Samus Aran. Developed by Team Ninja and Nintendo, Other M explores Samus’s emotional vulnerability following the events of Super Metroid, as she responds to a mysterious distress call aboard a derelict research vessel. The game shifts between cinematic storytelling and high-octane gameplay, featuring a controversial yet ambitious attempt to humanize one of gaming’s most iconic silent protagonists.

You can join in on the fun FOR FREE over at patreon.com/retrotopia

There, you can participate in the 9-Bit Banter Box, comment on the Game of the week, take part in polls, and listen to the Patreon exclusive Quick Play or get RetroBytes 15 days early with an exclusive Patreon topic. You can also join The Hero tier for $2 a month and choose a host to play and review a game for Quick Play and listen to Retrotopia After Dark, where we start each week with a little warm-up and chat.

Find us on social media at linktr.ee/retrotopia

Instagram, Twitter, BlueSky, YouTube, and a link to our Discord can all be found here.

Direct Discord Link: https://discord.gg/Fn63vQ4CPc

Find Retrotopia Merchandise at https://retrotopia.dashery.com/

We have many designs and are adding more all the time. Get T-Shirts, Hoodies, Mugs, Stickers, Magnets, Hats, and more.