Nostalgium Arcanum
A Repository For The Pop Culture That Made Us Who We Are
Displaying 7 items of Nostalgium Arcanum with the tag "video game".
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Shadow of the Colossus
August 3rd, 2026 | 2 hrs 30 mins
bluepoint, fumito ueda, game, gamer, gamers, games, gaming, ico, jrpg, playstation, ps2, retrogame, retrogamer, retrogamers, retrogames, retrogaming, rpg, rpgs, sony, the last guardian, ueda, video game, video games, videogame, videogames
"Shadow of the Colossus" truly casts a colossal shadow. When the question arises as to whether video games are art, this game is always Exhibit A in favor. Haunting, simultaneously minimalist and maximalist, Fumito Ueda's masterpiece challenged gameplay design in order to perfectly meld play with emotion. We're joined by guests Professors Funky and Aria from the Tabletop Hot Takes podcast (https://tabletop-hot-takes.captivate.fm/) to wander the Forbidden Lands and go aggro on skyscraper-sized beasts, but perhaps at the cost of our souls.
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Paper Mario
May 18th, 2026 | 1 hr 34 mins
game, gamer, gamers, games, gaming, jrpg, mario, n64, nintendo, retrogame, retrogamer, retrogamers, retrogames, retrogaming, rpg, rpgs, video game, video games, videogame, videogames
Far from, leaving us flat, Paper Mario injected whimsy and dimensionally creative play into the standard turn-based RPG formula for an unforgettable romp through the Mushroom Kingdom. We're joined by Emily Merritt (@aspecificegg) of the No Small Games podcast (https://nosmallgames.com/) to unfold why this highly unusual game is so special.
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Super Mario Kart
January 12th, 2026 | 1 hr 20 mins
16 bit, game, gamer, gamers, games, gaming, mario, nintendo, racing, racing game, retrogame, retrogamer, retrogamers, retrogames, retrogaming, snes, super nintendo, video game, video games, videogame, videogames
3... 2... 1... Go!!! By 1992 Mario had conquered koopas, rescued the princess (again and again), played tennis, practiced medicine, and more, but that year launched a new venture, Super Mario Kart. Buoyed by the Mode 7 chip, a new racing genre was born as beloved Nintendo characters zipped around tracks, blasting each other with shells, lightning bolts and more. Guest comedian Rich Baker (@richbakeractor) grabs a controller and joins us to revisit the first entry in this venerable franchise.
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Ninja Gaiden
August 4th, 2025 | 1 hr 20 mins
game, gamer, gamers, games, gaming, nes, ninja, nintendo, nintendo entertainment system, retrogame, retrogamer, retrogamers, retrogames, retrogaming, video game, video gamer, video games, video gaming
1988's Ninja Gaiden was a leap forward in video game storytelling, featuring splashy cut scenes, a propulsive soundtrack, and notorious difficulty. Ryu Hayabusa faces off against military goons, relentless wildlife, and otherworldly grotesque demons in his quest to keep Jaquio and the forces of darkness at bay. Guest comedian Rich Baker (@richbakercoaching) joins us to give this unforgiving landmark game the Nintendo seal of quality.
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Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
June 2nd, 2025 | 1 hr 18 mins
arcade, boxing, game, gamer, gamers, games, gaming, mike tyson, nes, nintendo, retrogame, retrogamer, retrogamers, retrogames, retrogaming, sports, video game, video gamer, video games, video gaming
We get in the ring with Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! (later known as just Punch-Out!!). This NES classic cleverly disguises puzzles and pattern recognition within its colorful cast of memorable pugilists. Comedian Rich Baker (@richbakercoaching) joins us to put the smackdown on one of the most beloved titles in Nintendo's library. TKO!
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Blockbuster Video
April 28th, 2025 | 1 hr 21 mins
1980s, 1990s, 80s, 90s, blockbuster, dvd, entertainment, film, films, games, gaming, genesis, movie, movies, nes, nintendo, sega, snes, super nintendo, vhs, video, video game, video games
It's time to be kind and rewind back to the days when home media rental was a pillar of daily life. Whether it was Blockbuster, Hollywood Video, or your local mom-and-pop shop, renting movies and games was a ritual of living in the 80s an 90s that is now lost to the dominance of streaming. We're joined by Chris Coplien of the Retro Hangover podcast to rack up a few very late fees in service to the lost world of video rental.
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16-Bit Disney Games
November 27th, 2023 | 1 hr 6 mins
aladdin, animation, cartoon, cartoons, castle of illusion, disney, games, genesis, megadrive, mickey mouse, retrogames, retrogaming, sega, snes, super nintento, the lion king, video game, video games
In the early 1990s Disney animation recaptured its magic and along with it came a wave of memorable video games for the consoles of the era. This episode we're joined by Phil Head of the Spectrum Days podcast (@SpectrumDaysPod) and Eileen Mayse (@i_lean) to revisit Aladdin, The Lion King, and Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse. Grab a controller, some cheetos, and join us for at least 16 bits.