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Sequels are hard man. It's super challenging to take what made the first game in a series good, update it, make it fresh and more challenging while also not alienating new players coming to the series for the first time. I'm not sure if today's game entirely succeeds at this but it puts in one of the better efforts for a sequel. This week I am joined by Mike aka Dongled from the YouTube channel of the same name to talk about Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest! With a new character coming to the table and a familiar one leaving, the titular character no less, this game was surprisingly risky for the developer of the game, Rare, to make. Like I said above, finding that balance of new and exciting but warm and familiar, is tough to do; but Rare somehow managed to pull it off. Mike and I talk about the new things they added to the game, new themes/world settings, the music and so much more. Go play Donkey Kong County 2 Follow Mike on Bluesky HERE Check out Dongled on YouTube HERE Follow XVGM Radio on Bluesky HERE Listen to XVGM Radio HERE Shout-out Song: All Aboard the Glitter Express Artist: Light Pillar Original Composer: David Wise Album: N/A https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03126 End Song: By Your Side *Donkey Kong Country 2* Artist: Mega Ran & K-Murdock (Bits & Rhymes) Original Composer: David Wise Album: Forever Famicom DLC 2 https://megarankmurdock.bandcamp.com/album/forever-famicom-dlc-2 Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/ Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

This week on the show we drink some rusty nails and go into the underbelly of NYC. All for revenge. An also for bullet time of course. This on the show we are talking about Max Payne! Helping me break down Max's slow descent into madness is returning guest Phil Morgan from the Deleted Saves podcast! Between super bad film noir monologues (mostly from me) and some intelligent discussion of the game (mostly from Phil), we break down everything this game has to offer. With a healthy dose of Sam Lake appreciation too! Follow Deleted Saves on Bluesky HERE! Listen to Delete Saves HERE! Check out Phil's Art HERE! Shout-out Song: Flight 142 Artist: Sabrepulse Original Composer: N/A Album: Paragon https://sabrepulse.bandcamp.com/album/paragon End Song: Where'd You Find That Acid? Artist: Sabrepulse Original Composer: N/A Album: Paragon https://sabrepulse.bandcamp.com/album/paragon Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/ Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

Two years ago I finally crossed the original Sonic the Hedgehog game off my backlog. I am following up that episode by covering the sequel for backlog month this year! I am joined by returning guests, Zach from the Classic Gaming Brothers Podcast and my good friend Jordan Kuhns to break down the speedy hedgehog's sequel, Sonic the Hedgehog 2. As always I ask the age old question, which name for the antagonist is better... Dr Egghead or Dr Robotnik? But we also talk about the game and what not. Follow Classic Gaming Brothers on Bluesky HERE Check out their Podcast/Website HERE Follow Jordan on Bluesky HERE Shout-out Song: Sky High Artist: NoTuX Original Composer: Masato Nakamura Album: N/A https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03613 End Song: Chemical Burn Artist: OverShield Original Composer: Masato Nakamura Album: N/A https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03495 Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/ Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

There are monumentally important games that come out and don't get the recognition they deserve. They are heralded by the people who have played it as one of the best and many game developers cite it as an inspiration. Andre from Fine Time joins me on this one to dive into the Quintet SNES launch title ActRaiser. ActRaiser is one of the games I described above. A game that doesn't get as much recognition even though it deserves it and is cited by game devs as a inspiration and building block for games to come. Dre and I break all this down. We discuss what makes this game unique, strategies for ruling our people, cherub cheeks and a whole lotta biblical references. Follow Andre on Bluesky HERE Follow Fine Time on Bluesky HERE Check out Fine Time's Link Tree HERE Shout-out Song: Thy Followers Artist: Russell Cox Original Composer: Yuzo Koshiro Album: FX3 Remastered https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR00745 End Song: Fillmore Freestyle Artist: MkVaff Original Compsoer: Yuzo Koshiro Album: N/A https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR00211 Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/ Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

Only in the last few years have I finally delved into the Remedy-verse of video games. Two years ago I played Alan Wake for the first time and this year my Patrons chose Max Payne as one of my backlog month games (an episode on which you will hear in a month or so!). I also played Control this year. This game is just straight vibes man. It builds such a fully realized world and it was a joy to both explore it and discuss it in this episode. I am joined by Matt Storm from the "Fun" & Games Podcast and Try from My Life in Gaming to break down the game that basically started the Remedy-verse as we know it today! We discuss the skill trees, the exploration, the story. We cover it all and you should REALLY play this game before getting to the spoiler section of the episode. Follow Matt on Bluesky HERE Check out "Fun" & Games Podcast HERE Check out My Life in Gaming on Bluesky HERE Check out My Life in Gaming on YouTube HERE Shout-out Song: Survivors Artist: Jake Kaufman Album: FX3 Remastered https://virt.bandcamp.com/album/fx3-remastered End Song: Choppastyle Artist: Jake Kaufman Album: FX3 Remastered https://virt.bandcamp.com/album/fx3-remastered Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/ Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

We come to speak of the glory of.... HERCUFLEAS! This week on the show Dexter Morrill returns to break down episode 14 of the Super Mario Bros. Super Show! We go back to mythological times and learn about the very real Great Balls of Fire that King Koopa wants to steal to.... roast.. marshmellows.... Follow Dexter on social media! Instagram BlueSky Shout-out Song: Fourty Eight Hours (Super Mario 2) Artist: Dj Cutman Original Composer: Koji Kondo Album: Volume III https://djcutman.bandcamp.com/album/volume-iii End Song: Underground Pipe Society [Super Mario Bros. 3 - World 7 Map] Artist: DDRKirby(ISQ) Original Composer: Koji Kondo Album: Volume 1 https://ddrkirbyisq.bandcamp.com/album/remixes-volume-1 Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/ Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

Once in a while a game comes along and enrages you beyond any words you have in your vocabulary but that game simultaneously also provides you with one of the most profound experiences you have ever had playing a video game. NieR Replicant is that game to me. Returning to the show is my good friend Andrew Kinsey from The EXP Point to help me break it all down. We discuss what this game does well, why I loathe it, why its amazing and why I never want to play it again. Shout-out Song: Ancient Dreams Artist: Dj Mystix, Sabivee Original Composer(s): Kakeru Ishihama, Keigo Hoashi, Keiichi Okabe, Takafumi Nishimura Album: N/A https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR02474 End Song: Kaine (Absolution) Artist: DigiE, Katskachi Original Composer(s): Kakeru Ishihama, Keigo Hoashi, Keiichi Okabe, Takafumi Nishimura Album: N/A https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03390 Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/ Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

I have been told I NEED to go to Long Island Retro Gaming Expo for years now. And for years I kept making excuses like "Ohhhh I don't wanna drive through NYC" or "Ohhhhh hotels are dumb" etc. But let me tell you. They were all dumb excuses. This convention was amazing. On this episode I talk about my experience at the convention and you will also get to here from a number of really great guests about their experience at the convention! Make sure you follow all their stuff below! Check out Long Island Retro Gaming Expo HERE! Yoshil Twitch  -  Instagram Try/My Life in Gaming YouTube  -  Twitch  -  Bluesky  -  Instagram  -  Backloggery Dan Greenberg Bluesky G to the Next Level Twitch  -  YouTube  -  Bluesky  -  Instagram AshSaidHi Website  -  Bluesky  -  Instagram  -  Twitch Shout-out Song: Miranda's Last Dream Artist: Ultrasyd Album: Chipsters EP Remastered https://ultrasyd.bandcamp.com/album/chipsters-ep-remastered Audio Clip Songs: 1-Stickerbrush Symphony 2-Aquarium Park 3-Astral Observatory 4-Cianwood City/Ecruteak City Artist: Helynt Original Composer(s): 1-David Wise 2-Tomoya Ohtani 3-Koji Kondo 4-Go Ichinose Album: Super Lofi World https://gamechops.com/super-lofi-world/ End Song: Gravitational Collapse Artist: Ultrasyd Album: Who Cares https://ultrasyd.bandcamp.com/album/who-cares Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/ Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

The NES in North America got 677 games. In Japan there was over 1000 games released. In this episode I chat with returning guest Joe Bourrie to talk about a Kickstarter he has going on to get a book he has worked over 5 years on published, it's called "Beyond the NES". Beyond the NES is a curated look at games that came out on the Famicom only in Japan and have yet to be introduced to North American gamers in any meaningful way. This book is Joe's attempt to remedy that unfamiliarity and I would say does so REALLY well. I tasked Joe with finding comparable Famicom exclusive games to some of our more well known titles on the NES in North America. Love Zelda? There are some cool games we didn't get that you may like. What about Mega Man? There are a bunch of cool games that we didn't get that might scratch that itch. Beyond the NES is a great look into what we missed in North America on the NES and is well worth supporting. Follow Joe on Bluesky HERE Check out the Kickstarter for Beyond the NES HERE Check out Joe's Etsy shop HERE Shout-out Song: Trip to the Tropics (Star Tropics) Artist: Dj Cutman Original Composer: Yoshio Hirai Album: Volume III https://djcutman.bandcamp.com/album/volume-iii End Song: Mario's Rooftop Party Artist: Dj Cutman Original Composer: Koji Kondo Album: Volume IV https://djcutman.bandcamp.com/album/volume-iv Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/ Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

The Final Fantasy Fantasy Draft is here again! Every year I invite 4 amazing people on the show to battle it out in fantasy draft form to put together their best possible Final Fantasy game. Joining the show this year are Georgie from Press Pause Radio, Andrew Bluett from his YouTube channel of the same name, Ty Schalter from FunFactor Podcast and Patrick Brickhouse from the Retro Blast Podcast! Once you listen to the episode make sure you go to the Google Form link below and vote for who you felt drafted the best Final Fantasy game! Vote HERE Make sure you go follow and support all my wonderful guests! Georgie's Socials/Links Follow Georgie on Bluesky HERE Follow Press Pause Radio on Bluesky HERE Check out Press Pause Radio's website HERE Andrew's Socials/Links Follow Andrew on Bluesky HERE Check out Andrew's YouTube channel HERE Ty's Socials/Links Follow Ty on Bluesky HERE Follow FunFactor on Bluesky HERE Check out FunFactor's website HERE Patrick's Socials/Links Follow Retro Blast Podcast on Bluesky HERE Check out Retro Blast Podcast's website HERE Shout-out Song: Ahead On Our Way Artist: Rifti Beats Original Composer: Nobuo Uematsu Album: Chocobo & Chill II https://gamechops.com/chocobo-and-chill-2-final-fantasy-lofi/ Break Song #1: Gold Saucer Artist: Rifti Beats Original Composer: Nobuo Uematsu Album: Chocobo & Chill II https://gamechops.com/chocobo-and-chill-2-final-fantasy-lofi/ Break Song #2: Fisherman's Horizon Artist: Rifti Beats Original Composer: Nobuo Uematsu Album: Chocobo & Chill II https://gamechops.com/chocobo-and-chill-2-final-fantasy-lofi/ End Song: Terra's Theme Artist: Rifti Beats Original Composer: Nobuo Uematsu Album: Chocobo & Chill https://gamechops.com/chocobo/ Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/ Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

The finale of our watch along series on the Legend of Zelda cartoon has come to an end, and if you'll EXCUSSEEEE MEEEE princess, I am happy to be done with it. Of course I am joined by co-host with the mo-host Dexter Morrill to break down this last episode. Link becomes a ghost? Gannon just gives up on his plan? What is going on with this episode!? Oh and the Mario live action segment is a repeat one.... Boooooooo Follow Dexter on social media! Instagram BlueSky Shout-out Song: Ocarina of Time Artist: Joshua Morse Original Composer: Koji Kondo Album: Zelda Funk https://gamechops.com/zelda-funk/ End Song: Lost Woods Artist: Joshua Morse Original Composer: Koji Kondo Album: Zelda Funk https://gamechops.com/zelda-funk/ Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/ Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

There are many areas of game history that have not been given their due diligence in research. And for a long while I never had a second thought about cheat codes or cheating in video games in general other than the cursory Konami Code Easter egg or the news story about some game hacker. That was until I read my guest's recently published book. I'm joined by Nate Drake to talk about his book on the history of cheating in video games called "I Am Not Good". I had a great conversation with Nate about his work on the book, his inspiration for writing it, his personal favorite cheat codes and if big head mode should come back or not... And of course much more. Please note I did receive a review copy of this book. Check out Nate on Bluesky HERE Buy Nate's book HERE Shout-out Song: Pie in the Sky Artist: Karl Brueggemann Album: Micropower https://karlbmusic.bandcamp.com/album/micropower End Song: Telemart Artist: Karl Brueggemann Album: Micropower https://karlbmusic.bandcamp.com/album/micropower Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/ Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

You all knew this coming. It HAD to happen. It's finally here. My nearly 3 hour episode on the new James Bond game, 007 First Light. I have been anticipating this game for quite some time and I'm not gonna lie ya'll it did not let me down even in the slightest. It lived up to all my hopes for it. Joining me to break down this game in all it's glory is returning friend of the show and fellow Bond fanatic Thrak from The 3DO Experience podcast and the Call of Duty Thrak Ops podcast. We talk about how this game feels like James Bond in every way possible. We talk about how the gameplay makes you feel like Bond, the sound design, the cinematic nature of the game and so much more. We do a big spoiler dive into the story of the game as well which we do shoutout clearly before we dive in. If you love James Bond like I do you will not want to miss this episode. Check out Thrak's solo show, Call of Duty Thrak Ops HERE! Follow Thrak on Bluesky HERE! Shout-out Song:  Switching The Body - from Thunderball (LoFi Version) Artist: Rich Douglas Original Composer: John Barry Album: The Spy Who Chilled Me (A James Bond 007 Lofi Project) https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-spy-who-chilled-me-a-james-bond-007-lofi-project/1808713529 End Song: First Light Artist: Lana Del Rey Album: 007 First Light Soundtrack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFPy8rDmPLM Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/ Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

Ten years ago the world felt a little brighter. Ten years ago Pokémon Go came out and took the world by storm. It was a game that crossed generation gaps, got people up and moving and out in their neighborhoods. It encouraged us to explore areas we thought we knew only to discover new things about our own towns. Jared Moss from Play Along Podcast joins me for this one to chat about all things Pokémon Go! And for it's 10th anniversary we also solicited some clips from friends of the show! So get out the door, put this podcast on and catch some Pokémon, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Follow Play Along Podcast on Bluesky HERE Check out everything else Play Along Podcast related HERE A HUGE shoutout to everyone who submitted audio clips for this episode! Go follow them on their socials below! Follow Kevin from Game Sandwich on Bluesky HERE Follow Adam Gumbert on Bluesky HERE Follow Dave Jackson on Bluesky HERE Follow CGDannyB on Bluesky HERE Follow Mike and Neil from Switch 2 the Past on Instagram HERE Follow Mike from the Old Switcharoo Podcast on Bluesky HERE Follow Gen Moonen from "Fun" and Games on Bluesky HERE Shout-out Song: Pokémon Gym Artist: Helynt Original Composer: Junichi Masuda Album: Super Lofi World 3 https://gamechops.com/super-lofi-world-3/ End Song: Azalea Artist: Ben Briggs feat. Voia Original Composer: Go Ichinose, Junichi Masuda Album: Ultraball https://gamechops.com/ultraball/ Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/ Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod

Don't underestimate Toad. He may just get a super star and become... THE TOAD WARRIOR! It's another Mario Super Show episode! And of course I am joined by my co-host with the mo-host Dexter Morrill to break down this wild episode. Between robotic love interests, eating nothing but dry pasta, pasta sauce being gasoline and so much more, this episode goes (well drives) places you wouldn't expect. Follow Dexter on social media! Instagram BlueSky Shout-out Song: Steam Gardens 2 Artist: Helynt Original Composer: Koji Kondo, Naoto Kubo, Shigetoshi Gohara, Shiho Fujii Album: Mario & Chill 2 https://gamechops.com/mario-and-chill-2/ End Song: What The Funk! Artist: Tansunn Original Composer: Koji Kondo Album: N/A https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR00456 Get Still Loading Podcast merch! https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/ Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod