The Old SwitchAroo: Gaming Retro w/ Mike and Jaymo

Explore the retro video games in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog every two weeks as lifelong pals Mike & Jaymo are joined by a whole host of new and old friends. Each episode is a new set of retro games from the NES, SNES, N64, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, and Sega Genesis/Mega Drive as they further their quest to research & review all 250+ games available on the Nintendo Switch Online catalog. So dust off your d-pads and game on, everyone.

S2E16: 16th Bit Retro-Spective Season 2 Finale

Celebrate the end of another season of The Old SwitchAroo with the 16th-bit Retro-spective Season 2 Finale as Mike and Jaymo reflect on their epic quest to research and review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog! In this episode Mike and Jaymo go head-to-head as they're quizzed on this season’s games from all our wonderful guests in “Guess Hosts”, we look at the high and low scores of the season in The Old Switcharoonies, and we see if Jaymo’s been doing the reading in “RTFM, People”. Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy new theme song! Subscribe to The Old SwitchAroo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on ⁠⁠https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com⁠⁠, where you'll find access to our Discord, voicemail, and so much more! Game on, everyone. (0:00) Intro   (3:31) Introducing Guess Hosts with Kat from KatCanSew https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC09aLi9u4NVxxjasCLNsndw (6:10) Q1. S02E01 - Justin (7:47) Q2. S02E01 - Jonathan (10:06) Q3. S02E02 - Cori (11:30) Q4. S02E03 - Derek from the Underrated movie podcast - https://underratedmoviepodcast.com/ (13:53) Q5. S02E04 - Jordan from Arcadiology - https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ql7rukdzlUxlrQcsTW3As (15:52) Q6. S02E05 - Twich's SSJ3Butch - https://www.twitch.tv/ssj3butch (18:15) Q7. S02E06 - Kristal from the Lazy Circles (21:31) Q8. S02E07 - Margo - Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@mrs.librarian (23:27) Q9. S02E08 - Warboss5 - Youtube https://www.youtube.com/warboss5 (26:40) Q10. S02E09 - Bryan - Instagram http://instagram.com/bryan.s.lee (28:58) Q11. S02E10 - Twitch's SSJ3Butch - https://www.twitch.tv/ssj3butch (32:14) Q12. S02E11 - Kurosh from The KJP Show - https://www.youtube.com/@kujoprime (34:40) Q13, 14. S02E12 - Lisa from Geek Pop podcast- https://geekpoppodcast.wordpress.com/ (39:48) Q15. S02E13 - Kai - Instagram https://instagram.com/captainprincesskitty  (42:58) Q16, 17. S02E14 - Josh and Nick from Smashing Game Time - https://smashinggametime.com (46:41) Q18 - Brad from Arcadiology - https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ql7rukdzlUxlrQcsTW3As (53:11) Title Speed Run (54:35) The Old SwitchAroonies Award Show (1:18:16) RTFM, People (1:34:23) The Old SwitchAroo Swish List (1:36:34) Outro Don’t forget to visit our Discord (https://discord.gg/ug6MX9gCkZ) and vote for the best and worst games of Season 2! Jaymo’s Pokemon Tumbr Post https://www.tumblr.com/mrnerdteacher/183130449599/4-reasons-why-basing-the-first-live-action-pokemon

11-20
01:39:08

S2E15: Gunstar Heroes and Sin and Punishment -or- Treizure Warning

Brad from Arcadiology helps us mine for rare gems looking at two games from Treasure, Gunstar Heroes (Genesis, 1993) and Sin and Punishment (N64, 2000), 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 look at how Treasure cut their teeth with McDonalds, what giant robots and kaiju can teach us about dealing with loss, and why it is that Sin and Punishment has the weirdest grip on the Nintendo 64 controller we’ve seen. Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy new theme song! Subscribe to The Old SwitchAroo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on ⁠⁠https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com⁠⁠, where you'll find access to our Discord, voicemail, and so much more! Game on, everyone. (0:00) Intro   (1:00) Welcoming Brad from Arcadiology (3:36) Gunstar Heroes  (46:28) Sin and Punishment (1:21:54) NintenDO or NintenDON’T Brad can be found on the Arcadiology podcast on Spotify (https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/arcadiologypodcast) and wherever else you get podcasts Gunstar Heroes manual: https://manuals.sega.com/genesismini/pdf/GUNSTAR_HEROES.pdf Sin and Punishment manual: https://www.nintendo.com/eu/media/downloads/games_8/emanuals/nintendo_8/Manual_Nintendo64_SinAndPunishment_EN.pdf "Masato Maegawa 'Gunstar Heroes' Supervisor" - Masterpiece Album: Vol 12 Gunstar Heroes | Sega  https://www.sega.jp/fb/album/12_gunstar/interview1.html “Iwata Asks - Sin and Punishment: Successor of the Skies” [with Masato Maegawa] by Satoru Iwata | Nintendo: https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Iwata-Asks/Iwata-Asks-Sin-and-Punishment-Successor-of-the-Skies/Iwata-Asks-Sin-and-Punishment-Successor-of-the-Skies/1-The-N64-Controller-Provides-Inspiration/1-The-N64-Controller-Provides-Inspiration-214087.html

11-06
01:29:28

S2E14: Zombies Ate My Neighbors and Ghoul Patrol -or- Revenge of the B Movie

We scare up Nick and Josh from Smashing Game Time to blast through Zombies Ate My Neighbors (SNES, 1993) and Ghoul Patrol (SNES, 1994) as we take a detour from Mike and Jaymo’s epic quest to research and review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog! In this episode we look at why chainsaws were replaced with axes when Zombies went overseas, Jaymo gets burned by how much difference a flamethrower can make, try to figure out how much of Ghoul Patrol’s original game design is peeking through, and dabble in some light true-crime podcasting as we touch upon the American jazz-loving serial killer the Axeman of New Orleans. Plus in another episode’s bonus blog rambling, Mike digs into many more of the film and general pop culture references that are infesting Zombies Ate My Neighbors: https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com/blog/zombies-ate-my-references/ Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy new theme song! Subscribe to The Old SwitchAroo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on ⁠⁠https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com⁠⁠, where you'll find access to our Discord, voicemail, and so much more! Game on, everyone. (0:00) Intro (1:00) Welcoming Nick and Josh (5:12) Zombies Ate My Neighbors (55:56) Ghoul Patrol (1:06:04) Minigame Minute: ?tahw yaS (1:08:08) Ghoul Patrol (continued) (1:27:30) NintenDO or NintenDON’T Smashing Game Time is a weekly video game podcast hosted by two (sometimes three) brothers who grew up gaming together. When they’re not talking about the news of the week or what they’re playing, they’re sitting down with developers to chat about new and upcoming games. You can find Smashing Game Time anywhere you get podcasts, on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5L7liJsLEwOz8_UjUs55Uw) and at https://www.smashinggametime.com/ Zombies Ate My Neighbors and Ghoul Patrol: https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/zombies-ate-my-neighbors-and-ghoul-patrol-switch/ Zombies Ate My Neighbors manual: https://archive.org/details/zombies-ate-my-neighbors-usa/ Ghoul Patrol manual: https://www.retrogames.cz/manualy/SNES/Ghoul_Patrol_-_SNES_-_Manual.pdf Interview: Toshiyasu Morita (SOA Technical Director) by Ken Horowitz | Sega-16: https://www.sega-16.com/2008/02/interview-toshiyasu-morita/ Zombies Ate My Neighbors by teddyras in 36:44 - SGDQ2019 - Games Done Quick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF6l_n6HVaQ Ghoul Patrol Speedrun - 21:45 [WR] - Le_Hulk: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1604831288

10-23
01:34:55

S2E13: Castlevania -or- It's Not Too Late to Whip It

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 man? Plus, Mike and Kai Hammer away at the cryptic credits of Castlevania in the Monster Match for another graveyard smash, with a full exhumation over on our web site of Castlevania's Crazy Cinema Credits (https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com/blog/castlevanias-crazy-cinema-credits/). Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy new theme song! Subscribe to The Old SwitchAroo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on ⁠⁠https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com⁠⁠, where you'll find access to our Discord, voicemail, and so much more! Game on, everyone. (0:00) Intro   (1:18) Welcoming Kai (4:22) Castlevania  (37:27) Minigame Minute: Monster Match (47:11) Castlevania (continued) (58:44) NintenDISorDAT (1:01:20) Castlevania Legends (1:29:24) NintenDO or NintenDON’T You can find Kai on Instagram at captainprincesskitty (https://instagram.com/captainprincesskitty) Castlevania Anniversary Collection: https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/castlevania-anniversary-collection-switch/ Castlevania manual Castlevania Legends manual: https://www.thegameisafootarcade.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Castlevania-Legends-Game-Manual.pdf Castlevania - Developer Commentary | Shmuplations: https://shmuplations.com/castlevania/ 9 Most Annoying Enemies in Video Game History by Emma Boyle | WhatCulture: https://whatculture.com/gaming/9-most-annoying-enemies-in-video-game-history Castlevania by Komrade in 12:59 - SGDQ2018 - Games Done Quick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz1f-THEfjM⁠ Castlevania Legends by TempestMask1000 in 26:39 - Summer Games Done Quick 2024 - Games Done Quick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCqC5gfGN58

10-09
01:38:02

S2E12: Yoshi, Wario's Woods, and Dr. Mario -or- Drop It Like It's Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha-Hot!

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! For another dose of Dr. Mario, check out Mike and Jaymo’s first take on the franchise with Dr. Mario (NES) and Dr. Mario 64 (N64) back in Season 1, Episode 6 (https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com/episode-6-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-megavitamins/). Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy new theme song! Subscribe to The Old SwitchAroo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on ⁠⁠www.theoldswitcharoo.com⁠⁠, where you'll find access to our Discord, voicemail, and so much more! Game on, everyone. (0:00) Intro   (1:10) Welcoming Lisa (7:17) Yoshi  (27:54) Wario’s Woods (53:19) Dr. Mario (1:09:15) NintenDO or NintenDON’T You can find Lisa and the whole Geek Pop podcast at https://geekpoppodcast.wordpress.com/ as well as on Twitter (geekpoppodcast), Instagram (geekpop), and Facebook (GeekPoppin). Yoshi manual: https://www.digitpress.com/library/manuals/nes/Yoshi.pdf Wario’s Woods manual: https://gameadvanceplaythroughs.weebly.com/uploads/1/1/5/8/11580409/__warios_woods_instruction_manual.pdf Satoshi Tajiri (Game Freak) vs. Tsunekazu Ishihara (Creatures) Talk | Nintendo Online Magazine: https://web.archive.org/web/20151113010805/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/nom/0007/taidan1/page02.html Game Freak Director Junichi Masuda On The Making Of Yoshi And Pokemon by Alistair Wong | Siliconera: https://www.siliconera.com/game-freak-director-junichi-masuda-on-the-making-of-yoshi-and-pokemon Super Mario Adventures #10 | Nintendo Power Issue 41, October 1992, page 62: https://archive.org/details/nintendo-power-issue-041-october-1992/page/62/mode/2up

09-25
01:18:42

S2E11: Kirby Super Star and Kirby's Dream Land 3 -or- Kirb'etizers

Derick McDuff of the Underrated movie podcast returns and brings Kurosh Jozavi of the The KJP Show to talk Kirby Super Star (SNES, 1996) and Kirby’s Dream Land 3 (SNES, 1997) with Mike and Jaymo, continuing their epic quest to research and review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog! In this episode we’ll check out all the Kirby Super Star game modes, debate the drawbacks of Kirby’s animal companions in Dream Land 3, try to see through how the SNES pseudo hi-res mode allowed it to easily display transparencies, and reveal a rare cameo appearance from the voice of Masahiro Sakurai himself! Kurosh, Derick, and Mike also go head-to-head-to-head to see who can snag the most G from a vault of obscure references in The Great Cave Offensive. Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy new theme song! Subscribe to The Old SwitchAroo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on ⁠⁠https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com⁠⁠, where you'll find access to our Discord, voicemail, and so much more! Game on, everyone. (0:00) Intro   (0:52) Welcoming Derick (1:15) Welcoming Kurosh  (5:48) Kirby Super Star (43:00) Mini-Game Minute: The Price is Fight (54:23) Kirby Super Star (continued) (1:11:56) Kirby’s Dream Land 3 (1:47:28) NintenDO or NintenDON’T (1:57:31) Derick’s Final Thoughts You can find more from Derick and the Underrated movie podcast at https://underratedmoviepodcast.com/, wherever you get your podcasts, and on social media. This Kirby episode wasn’t enough Popstar for you? Then check out the Aug. 12, 2024 episode (#143) of Underrated to hear Jaymo and Derick in the groove on Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. Kurosh and the KJP Show: A Gaming Experience is on YouTube at @kujoprime (https://www.youtube.com/@kujoprime) Kirby Super Star manual: https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clvs/manuals/common/pdf/CLV-P-SAAQE.pdf Kirby’s Dream Land 3 manual: https://archive.org/details/kirby-s-dream-land-3-1997-nintendo Nintendo Classic Mini: SNES developer interview – Volume 6: Kirby Super Star by Akinori Sao: https://www.nintendo.com/en-za/News/2017/October/Nintendo-Classic-Mini-SNES-developer-interview-Volume-6-Kirby-Super-Star-1298937.html

09-11
01:59:58

S2E10: The Legend of Zelda A Link to the Past -or- Top Down Downright Done Right

Zelda streamers RiRiYells and SSJ3Butch return to clash swords with Mike and Jaymo discussing The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES, 1991) and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Four Swords (GBA, 2002), continuing their epic quest to research and review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog! In this episode, we’ll take our first step into trying to understand the wild world of Zelda randomizer runs, try to figure out if Link to the Past is better on the SNES or Game Boy Advance in NintenDISorDAT, and the best and worst of Link to the Past’s cavalcade of enemies. Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy new theme song! Subscribe to The Old Switch-a-roo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on ⁠⁠https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com⁠⁠, where you'll find access to our Discord, voicemail, and so much more! Game on, everyone. (0:00) Intro   (1:19) Welcoming RiRi (1:51) Welcoming Butch  (5:02) The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (44:32) Mini-Game Minute (1:01:13) NintenDISorDAT (1:28:19) Four Swords (1:44:22) NintenDO or NintenDON’T   Follow RiRi on Twitch at RiRiYells (https://www.twitch.tv/ririyells) Butch on Twitch at SSJ3Butch (https://www.twitch.tv/ssj3butch) The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past manual: https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clvs/manuals/common/pdf/CLV-P-SAAEE.pdf The Legend of Zelda - A Link to the Past and Four Swords manual: https://www.thegameisafootarcade.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/The-Legend-of-Zelda-A-link-to-the-Past-Four-Swords-Game-Manual.pdf Discussion Between Miyamoto & Horii - originally from Game Staff List Association Japan: https://glitterberri.com/developer-interviews/miyamoto-horii-discussion/ The Top 100 Games of All Time (2007) | IGN: https://web.archive.org/web/20080917190825/http://top100.ign.com:80/2007/index.html IGN (2007) The Top 100 Games of All Time - Readable list | Video Game Canon: https://www.videogamecanon.com/lists/ign-2007/ Special Bonus Contest - Nintendo Power Issue 16 (September/October 2007): https://archive.org/details/nintendopowerissue016septemberoctober1990/page/n11/mode/2up Gallery: A Link to the Past Enemies | ZeldaDungeon.net: https://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/Gallery:A_Link_to_the_Past_Enemies Legend of Zelda A Link to the Past SNES Japanese Commercial #1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjpHzLYHkwA

08-28
01:51:45

S2E09: Punch-Out!! -or- Let's Get Ready to Rage Quit!

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 Punch-Out!!, and marvel at the insane levels that Punch-Out!! speed runners have achieved. Will these two games be O.K. or K.O.ed? Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy new theme song! Subscribe to The Old Switch-a-roo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on ⁠⁠https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com⁠⁠, where you'll find access to our Discord, voicemail, and so much more! Game on, everyone. (0:00) Intro (1:17) Welcoming Bryan (7:35) Punch-Out!! vs Super Punch-Out!! (1:34:05) NintenDO or NintenDON’T Find Bryan on Instagram at bryan.s.lee (https://www.instagram.com/bryan.s.lee) and YouTube as bryanlee Episode sponsor The Cable Club Podcast is also available on YouTube @TheCableClubPodcast Mike Tyson's Punch Out!! Manual: https://archive.org/details/mike-tysons-punch-out-nes-hiresscans Super Punch Out!! Manual: https://archive.org/details/super-punch-out-usa 10 Things You Didn't Know About Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! On NES by Reycarlo Abella | GameRant: https://gamerant.com/mike-tyson-punch-out-nes-trivia/ Profile: Minoru Arakawa by Glen Bayer | Nsidr: https://www.nsidr.com/archive/profile-minoru-arakawa/ Which Punch Out!!! Boxer is the Biggest Cheater?/Infractions | Bumbles McFumbles Wiki Which Punch Out!! Boxer is the Biggest Cheater 2 - The Rumble in the Jungle - Bumbles McFumbles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_JCv-ldJXU Super Punch-Out!!'s Secret Two-Player Mode Discovered After 28 Years by Kat Bailey | IGN: https://www.ign.com/articles/super-punch-out-secret-two-player-mode-discovered Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! in 14:46.48 (World Record) - Summoning Salt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOm8tJZUv9I Blindfolded Punch-Out in 18:03.54 (World Record) - Summoning Salt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc9XE6zns7A Mike Tyson's Punch-Out - 2 player 1 controller blindfolded speedrun w/ sinister1 @ AGDQ 2020 [23:39] - zallard1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4HnZ4-_HzI Summoning Salt's World Record Explained - Bismuth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STVeGPkqHtQ The Quest to Beat Matt Turk - Summoning Salt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBR9ypSOTGQ World Record Progression: Mike Tyson - Summoning Salt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt1DFNSNbRk The History of Blindfolded Punch-Out - Summoning Salt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZT6JEOC3D8 The History of Mike Tyson's Punch-Out World Records - Summoning Salt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR1r_9yiKG4 The History of Super Punch-Out World Records - Summoning Salt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRF6LTEYLBA

08-14
01:42:17

S2E08: Breath of Fire I and II -or- The Wyrm Turns

Ryan (aka Warboss5) rejoins Mike and Jaymo as they dive deep into the classic RPGs Breath of Fire (SNES, 1993) and Breath of Fire II (SNES, 1994), continuing their epic quest to research and review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog! In this episode, we explore the origins of the Dragon Clan, debate the merits of archaic turn-based combat, and discover the hidden depths of these two epic tales. Ryan shares his love for old RPGs and how Breath of Fire II’s intriguing storyline and character development kept him hooked. We also discuss the quality-of-life improvements in the sequel, the peculiar translation quirks, and the unforgettable moments that make these games stand out. Along the way we also touch upon Japanese toilet ghosts, facehuggers, and, for some reason, the Gilligan’s Island castaways. Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy new theme song! Subscribe to The Old Switch-a-roo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on ⁠⁠https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com⁠⁠, where you'll find access to our Discord, voicemail, and so much more! Game on, everyone. (0:00) Intro (1:30) Welcoming Ryan (6:00) Breath of Fire (40:08) Mini-Game Minute: Rosetta Stone (43:13) Breath of Fire Cont’d (51:40) Breath of Fire II (1:36:07) NintenDO or NintenDON’T Ryan on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@warboss5 Breath of Fire manual: https://archive.org/details/breath-of-fire-usa Breath of Fire II manual: https://archive.org/details/breath-of-fire-ii-us Dragon Ball GTFS Commentary | Episodes 20-22 - FourStarBento (Discussion of Japan and spoilers): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG9xcR5O7ow&t=7m34s Japanese Breath of Fire II Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11ieCeUa-8o Power Profiles: Keiji Inafune - Nintendo Power Issue 220 ( October 2007): https://archive.org/details/nintendo-power-issue-220-october-2007/page/80/mode/2up Mike’s party gets wrecked by the witch Nimufu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Esr_L3kwlMQ&t=15640s

07-31
01:45:02

S2E07: Super Mario Bros and the Lost Levels -or- Hooked on the Brothers

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 floppy-disk-based Nintendo console not released in North America! Then stick around for NintenDISorDAT, as we debate if these games are better played in the original NES format or their glammed up re-releases from the 1993 SNES compilation Super Mario All-Stars. Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy new theme song! Subscribe to The Old SwitchAroo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on ⁠⁠https://theoldswitcharoo.com⁠⁠, where you'll find access to our Discord, voicemail, and so much more! Game on, everyone. PS: Think you’re Jump Man enough to take on Jaymo’s Kaizo-level? Enter the course code 6H4-GWQ-SDG in Super Mario Maker 2! Plus, if you upload a screenshot to the Mini-Game Minute section of our Discord proving you reached the flagpole, you might win a special prize (if you’re fast enough, that is!) (0:00) Intro   (1:07) Welcoming Margo   (3:19) Super Mario Bros.   (10:53) Mini-Game Minute: Mario Mythbusters (18:23) Super Mario Bros. Cont’d (37:51) Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels   (56:02) NintenDISorDAT   (1:01:21) NintenDO or NintenDON’T   Follow Margo on TikTok: @mrs.librarian: https://www.tiktok.com/@mrs.librarian Super Mario Bros. Manual: https://archive.org/details/Super-Mario-Bros-Manual-NES-1985 Super Mario All-Stars Manual: https://bdjogos.com.br/manuais/870-super-mario-all-stars-super-nintendo-manual-usa.pdf Super Mario Bros 2 The Lost Levels Japanese Commercial - VG Legacy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWsZCoGFLwg Super Mario Bros. Any% Speedrun in 4:54.631 *WR* - Niftski: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Khu9BB2g4Ks Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels Any% 8-4 Speedrun in 7:51.956 (without loads) *WR* - Niftski: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL0Lcei_nio World Record Progression: Super Mario Bros - Summoning Salt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdAkY7RfajY 4-2: The History of Super Mario Bros.' Most Infamous Level - Summoning Salt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1AHCaokqhg Super Mario Bros: The Human Limit - Summoning Salt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rIJNT7dCmE Super Mario's Invisible Difficulty Settings - Game Maker's Toolkit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkvyYTSKTQY

07-17
01:13:46

S2E06: Doomsday Warrior and Fighter's History -or- The Next Bison Wannabes

Kristal returns to join Mike and Jaymo for two more “street” fighting games: Fighter's History (SNES, 1994) and Doomsday Warrior (SNES, 1993), as part of their epic quest to research and review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog! In this episode, we dig into the extremely French reason Capcom lost its plagiarism lawsuit against Data East over Street Fighter 2 similarities, try to determine if Doomsday Warrior was really meant as an early-90s environmental cautionary tale, and Mike and Kristal even put their Geo-Guesser skills to the test playing "Where in the World is Karnov's Winnebago?" Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy new theme song! Subscribe to The Old Switch-a-roo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on ⁠⁠https://theoldswitcharoo.com⁠⁠, where you'll find access to our Discord, voicemail, and so much more! Game on, everyone. (0:00) Intro   (1:08) Welcoming Kristal of The Lazy Circles   (6:39) Fighter’s History   (30:08) Mini-Game Minute: Where in the World is Karnov’s Winnebago? (32:43) Fighter’s History Cont’d (42:47) Doomsday Warrior   (1:15:13) NintenDO or NintenDON’T    Find the Lazy Circles on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thelazycircles/ Find Kristal on Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/revoltingingenue/ Fighters History manual: https://www.retrogames.cz/manualy/SNES/Fighters_History_-_SNES_-_Manual.pdf Doomsday Warrior manual: https://archive.org/details/doomsday-warrior-snes-instruction-booklet

07-03
01:21:53

S2E05: Animal Platformers -or- You and Me, Baby, Ain't Nothing But Mascots

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 high honors awarded to anyone that could prove they were a Natsume Game Master in Spanky’s Quest. Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy new theme song! Subscribe to The Old Switch-a-roo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on ⁠⁠https://theoldswitcharoo.com⁠⁠, where you'll find access to our Discord, voicemail, and so much more! Game on, everyone. (0:00) Promo for Strange and Beautiful Network (0:38) Intro   (1:49) Welcoming Butch   (4:05) Mappy-Land   (29:16) Flicky   (49:32) Spanky’s Quest   (1:22:15) NintenDO or NintenDON’T   (1:28:12) Hodag Talk   Follow Butch on Twitch! - https://www.twitch.tv/ssj3butch Strange and Beautiful Network - https://www.strangeandbeautiful.club/  Mappy-Land Manual: https://archive.org/details/MappyLandNESHiResScans   Flicky Manual: https://segaretro.org/Flicky#Mega_Drive_version   Spanky’s Quest Manual: https://archive.org/details/spankys-quest-usa⁠ The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers: Volume 3 by John Szczepaniak: http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/books/the-untold-history-of-japanese-game-developers-volume-3/   (Post-outro hodag) I Know What I Saw: Modern-Day Encounters with Monsters of New Urban Legend and Ancient Lore by Linda S. Godfrey: https://www.amazon.com/Know-What-Saw-Modern-Day-Encounters/dp/0143132806⁠

06-19
01:30:55

S2E04: Star Fox Trilogy -or- Gen. Pepper's Only Arwing Band

Jordan Carothers swoops in from the ⁠Arcadiology⁠ podcast to join Mike and Jaymo as they barrel roll through the Star Fox trilogy (Star Fox on the SNES, Star Fox 64 or Lylat Wars on the Nintendo 64, and Star Fox 2 on the Super NES Classic) as part of their epic quest to research and review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog! In this episode we divebomb through the history and impact of the Star Fox trilogy, including the groundbreaking tech of the Super FX graphics chip and the industry-shaking inclusion of the Rumble Pak. We'll also explore how Star Fox 2 languished from when it was completed in 1995 to when it was finally released in 2017. We even get a little amorous with the Arwing pilots in a silly game of “Marry, Fox, Kill!” You can find ⁠Arcadiology⁠ (where Jordan and the Wiggens brothers play and rate a new arcade game every two weeks) on most podcasting platforms. You can also check out the ⁠Apr. 2, 2024 episode (#13)⁠ (https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/arcadiologypodcast/episodes/Arcadiology-13-Joe--Mac-Returns-1994-e2hrkbg) to hear when Mike joined the ⁠Arcadiology⁠ (https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/arcadiologypodcast) crew to talk about Joe and Mac: Returns (1994). Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy new theme song! Subscribe to The Old Switch-a-roo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on ⁠⁠https://theoldswitcharoo.com⁠⁠, where you'll find access to our Discord, voicemail, and so much more! Game on, everyone. (0:00) Intro (1:13) Welcoming Jordan from ⁠Arcadiology⁠ (5:34) Star Fox trilogy (22:15) Joy Pros (46:39) Minigame Minute: Marry, Fox, Kill (49:23) Joy Cons (54:19) High Score and 30 Years Ago (1:02:59) NintenDO or NintenDON'T ⁠Star Fox manual⁠⁠: https://archive.org/details/star-fox-usa-rev-2 ⁠Star Fox 64 manual⁠: https://www.nintendo.com/eu/media/downloads/games_8/emanuals/nintendo_8/Manual_Nintendo64_LylatWars_EN.pdf ⁠Star Fox 2 manual⁠: https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clvs/manuals/starfox2/html/USen/index.html “Do Star Fox Pilots Really Have to Amputate Their Legs?“ - CBR: https://www.cbr.com/star-fox-characters-legs-amputated/

06-05
01:13:27

S2E03: Pokemon Snap -or- Aperture Science

Derick McDuff from the Underrated movie podcast joins Mike and Jaymo this episode to try to catch 'em all on film for an a-Mew-zing exploration of Pokemon Snap (1999) from the Nintendo 64 as part of an epic quest quest to research and review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog! In between reminiscing about our favorite parts of Pokemon Snap, we'll also explore how this game evolved from a Jack and the Beanstalk game, what Pokemon's absence kept Pokemon Snap at only 63 possible Pokemon instead of 64, and have our own real-world Pokemon Snap showdown that may make you see the game through a new lens. It's 'wonderful'! You can find more from Derick through his linktree for the Underrated movie podcast (https://linktr.ee/underratedmoviepodcast) wherever you get your podcasts as well as on social media. You can check out the Feb. 26, 2024 episode (#131) to hear Mike and Derick's conversation about Drew Goddard's "Bad Times at the El Royale". Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal for our catchy new theme song! Subscribe to The Old Switch-a-roo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on https://theoldswitcharoo.com, where you'll find access to our Discord, voicemail, and so much more! Game on, everyone. (0:00) Intro (0:58) Welcoming Derick McDuff (4:51) Pokemon Snap (9:41) Pokeon Snap Trivia : Behind the Camera (28:04) Joy Pros (54:10) Snap Judgments Mini-Game (1:02:02) Joy Cons (1:18:22) NintenDO or NintenDON'T Pokemon Snap manual: https://www.retrogames.cz/download_N64_manual.php?id=1090

05-22
01:26:24

BONUS | Screentime: X-Men '97 Elimination Bracket

Welcome back to The Old Switcharoo: Screentime! Here, we give you our rants, raves, and reviews from the world of film and television. Tonight Jaymo is joined by cosplay influencer Bryan Lee along with fellow cosplayer/Disney-enthusiast Phuong to review Season 1 of X-Men '97 on Disney Plus. After recapping the show with a little amateur poetry we pit each story from this groundbreaking series against one another in a single elimination bracket until a winner is declared 'Best Episode from X-Men '97: Season One!' Thank you for listening, and be sure to follow our special guests on social media to check out all their cosplay creations and musical dabblings https://www.instagram.com/bryan.s.lee https://www.youtube.com/@BryanLee https://www.instragram.com/the.glass.phoenix Don't forget to subscribe to The Old Switch-a-roo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed, and be sure to check out next week's episode when we zoom in on Pokemon Snap for the Nintendo 64. You can also join the fun on https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com, where you'll find access to our Discord, voicemail, and so much more! Game on, everyone. (0:00) Intro (5:10) "To Me, My X-Men" vs "Mutant Liberation Begins" (11:24) "Fire Made Flesh" vs "Motendo" (17:45) "Remember It" vs "Lifedeath" (22:37) "Bright Eyes" vs "Tolerance is Extinction" (36:11) Semi-Finals Round 1 (39:23) Semi-Final Round 2 (48:58) Finals (53:15) And the Winner is...

05-19
55:37

S2E02: Ecco the Dolphin -or- Glorious Porpoise

Mike, Jaymo, and ocean enthusiast Cori Gibb dive into "Ecco the Dolphin" (1992) on the Sega Genesis in their epic quest to research & review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog! In this splashy episode we explore the unseen alien invasion that sunk Atlantis, Jacques Cousteau's hilarious foray into 90's marketing, and the shockingly clever way dolphins get high beneath the waves. Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal for our catchy new theme song! Subscribe to or follow The Old Switch-a-roo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com, where you'll find access to our Discord, voicemail, and so much more! Game on, everyone. (0:00) "We Doing Filmographies" Promo (0:47) Intro (7:17) Box Art: Dolphin Two Ways (9:34) Ecco the Dolphin Trivia Deep-Dive (20:12) Joy Pros (44:09) Joy Cons (1:08:49) NintenDO or NintenDON'T Ecco the Dolphin manual: https://segaretro.org/File:Ecco_The_Dolphin_MD_US_Manual.pdf Dolphin Speak: Did A Dolphin Really Say "Seaweed"? - The Dodo: https://www.thedodo.com/dolphin-speak-did-a-dolphin-re-495261229.html Ecco The Dolphin Commercial with Jacques Cousteau: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyeddBqSb1A Speedrun by Bluegrass at Summer Games Done Quick 2014: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAybWLFfkb8 Speedrun by GrimShins at Awesome Games Done Quick 2021: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lXr6MSpqKw

05-08
01:14:27

S2E01: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 -or- Welcome to the Next Level

The Old Switch-a-roo is back and better than ever! Mike, Jaymo, and his boisterous brothers Justin and Jonathan spin dash through "Sonic the Hedgehog 2" (Sega Genesis/Mega Drive) in their epic quest to research & review every retro game in the Nintendo Switch Online catalog! In this fast-paced episode, we deep-dive/debate to create a Zone Tier List, grapple with the moral gray areas of retro-gaming Robin Hoods, discuss if Tails really brings anything to the team, and mostly just try to avoid getting punched! Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal for our brand-spanking-new theme song! Subscribe to The Old Switch-a-roo to get more retro goodness delivered straight to your feed! You can also join the fun on https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com, where you'll find access to our Discord, voicemail, and so much more! Game on, everyone. (0:00) Intro (6:19) Back-to-Back Box Art (12:11) Trivia the Hedgehog (18:48) Joy Pros (30:14) Zone Tier List (1:01:02) Joy Cons (1:06:20) & Knuckles (1:09:02) NintenDO or NintenDON'T

04-24
01:17:40

Lite Switch: April 19, 2024 | Video Game TV Shows, The Room 4, Shredder's Revenge, and more

Get ready to hit the rewind button on your consoles, because Mike and Jaymo are here with the final installment of The Old Switch-a-roo: Lite Switch before they blast into season two! In this episode, our dynamic duo takes a break from their usual retro roundup to chat about their recent gaming exploits and the exciting media landscape that's merging the worlds of video games and television. Jaymo kicks things off with an update on his journey through the Splatoon 3 roguelike, where he's inching closer to the true ending. He also dives into the fiery new addition to Marvel Snap, where Red Hulk's power grows with your opponent's unspent energy, adding a sizzling layer of strategy to the game. Mike, on the other hand, is still ensnared by the card-flipping mayhem of Belatro, where unlocking jokers is a high-stakes game. He's also ventured into the enigmatic world of The Room 4: Old Sins, unraveling occult mysteries through a puzzle box of an attic. The gaming chatter doesn't end there! The guys discuss the animated X-Men '97 series, with a special nod to an episode that'll resonate with retro game lovers. Plus, they share their surprise and curiosity over Comedy Central's announcement of a Golden Axe animated series and ponder whether Knuckles will punch up the Paramount Plus lineup. For a dose of co-op nostalgia, Mike recounts his complete playthrough of Shredder's Revenge with a friend, while Jaymo reflects on the game's unlimited credits and if they lose the challenge of the classic arcade experience. As they gear up for season two, Mike and Jaymo tease the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 2 episode featuring Jaymo's brothers and invite you to join the hype train. So make sure to subscribe, follow, and leave a review for The Old Switch-a-roo on your favorite podcast platform. Don't miss out on the season two premiere dropping on April 24, where the conversation zooms into Sonic speed. Until then, visit https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com for all things retro gaming, and share your thoughts on what you're excited to hear next season. Game on, everyone, and keep it retro with Mike and Jaymo! (0:00) Intro (0:55) Champion Cinema podcast promo (1:15) Splatoon 3 Updates (2:58) Bellatro's Card-Capturing Craze (4:57) Marvel Snap (7:18) X-Men '97 and Gaming TV (8:22) Golden Axe Animated Series Speculation (10:18) Knuckles Series Anticipation (11:46) The Room 4: Old Sins - Puzzle Box Mysteries (14:09) Shredder's Revenge: A Beat 'em Up Binge (19:43) Season Two Teaser: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (20:17) Outro Show notes created by https://headliner.app

04-19
20:42

Lite Switch: April 5, 2024 | MARVEL SNAP, Tangle Tower, Slipstream Rogue Space, and more

Plug in your controllers and power up your nostalgia, because Mike and Jaymo are back with another episode of The Old Switch-a-roo: Light Switch! While we eagerly await the launch of season two, our favorite gaming gurus are here to share their off-season gaming adventures, from reaching Infinite in Marvel Snap to unraveling the mysteries of Tangle Tower. Join Jaymo as he brags about his ascent to the highest ranks in Marvel Snap's X-Men vs. Avengers season, and hear Mike's thoughts on the charming detective game Tangle Tower, where murder, mystery, and a quirky cast collide. The guys also delve into the vibrant world of Splatoon 3's DLC, where Jaymo's ink-slinging prowess shines in a kaleidoscope of color. But that's not all! Mike has been entranced by the MMO roguelike Slipstream: Rogue Space, where Twitch-based teamwork is key to surviving the starry expanse (and a shout out to RiRiYells for captaining the ship). And Jaymo's been getting his retro fix with Flicky, a Sega Genesis classic that's all about timing and arcade nostalgia. As the countdown to season two continues, our hosts tease the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 2 episode featuring Jaymo's brothers, and they want your thoughts on the soon-to-be-released Knuckles series. Will it be a hit or a miss? Chime in with your predictions! Ready your ears for April 24, 2024, when The Old Switch-a-roo returns with a speed-dashing start to the new season. Until then, subscribe, follow, and join the conversation on https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com, where you can connect with Mike, Jaymo, and fellow retro enthusiasts. Don't forget to rate and review if you love the show. Game on, everyone, and stay retro! (0:00) Intro (0:57) Marvel Snap Infinity Rank Achievement (2:24) Tangle Tower: A Detective's Delight (7:02) Splatoon 3 DLC: A Colorful Conclusion (10:01) Slipstream: Rogue Space and Community Gaming (13:51) Flicky and the Genesis Gems (15:06) Season Two Teaser: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (15:52) Outro Show notes created by https://headliner.app

04-05
16:40

Lite Switch: March 22, 2024 | X-Men '97, Balatro, Burnout Paradise, and more

Dive into another installment of The Old Switch-a-roo: Light Switch, where Mike and Jaymo take a break from the retro game deep dives to chat about their current gaming escapades and other geeky pursuits. In this laid-back episode, our dynamic duo discusses everything from the mesmerizing roguelike card game Belatro to the colorful ink-splattered world of Splatoon 3's new expansion. Mike shares his newfound appreciation for Burnout Paradise, revisiting the high-speed chases with a fresh perspective, while Jaymo recounts his experience with the X-Men '97 Fan Event and the animated series' triumphant return (featured in the bonus Screentime episode). The guys also touch on the arcade nostalgia with Joe and Mac Returns and tease the upcoming Starfox series exploration with special guests from the Arcadiology podcast. So, whether you're into illegal poker hands, hovering DeLoreans, or squid kids in a grayscale dystopia, this episode has something for every type of gamer. Don't forget to subscribe to The Old Switch-a-roo so you won't miss out on the grand return with season two, starting on April 24, 2024, where the conversation will speed into Sonic the Hedgehog 2 with some returning special guests. Visit us at https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com for all our socials, blog posts, and more gaming chatter. Drop us a review or your thoughts on this episode - we're all ears! Game on, everyone, and stay tuned for more retro revelry with Mike and Jaymo. Show notes created by https://headliner.app 0:00 Intro 0:55 X-Men '97 5:13 Joe and Mac: Returns 10:38 Star Fox 13:21 Balatro 25:18 Splatoon 3 33:48 Burnout Paradise 43:16 Outro

03-22
44:29

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