Legion Gaming Podcast

Episode 9: Our Best and Worst Games of 2023

2023 is quickly closing and it's been one of the best years in gaming ever. The last time releases were this great was in 1998 with games like Metal Gear Solid, Half-Life, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Starcraft and countless others. In this episode, our friends Mike and Randy join us to talk about our favorite games we played in 2023 but also dive in to games we thought were disappointing. There's bound to be some controversial takes with a list that includes Dave the Diver, Street Fighter 6, Spider-Man 2, Forza Motorsport, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Starfield, Super Mario Wonder, and even some retro picks! Pour yourself a nice class of crisp and refreshing Surge soda and find out what each of us thought was our 2023 Game of the Year. Press Start to Continue!
 
Next week: Aladdin - The Final Verdict (Genesis/SNES)
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Episode 8: Mortal Kombat 30th Anniversary (Genesis/SNES)

Prepare yourself! The original Mortal Kombat ports were released on September 13th, 1993 and in this episode Deucy and I celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the series and compare the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis versions. We talk about the development and release of the arcade, how fatalities were introduced, the origins of the mysterious and hidden green ninja Reptile, the GameGear and GameBoy ports, and which version we prefer. We dive into the history of the iconic blood code and how the ESRB ratings system was created because U.S. Congress was upset about video game violence! Mortal Kombat has cemented its legacy into gaming history and we had a lot of fun talking about our memories - you might be surprised that one of us thinks the SNES version is better! There is no knowledge that is not power so join us as we immerse ourselves in 30 years of MORTAL KOMBAT!
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Episode 7: Our Top 10 Resident Evil Games

Itchy, tasty. Resident Evil debuted on the Playstation in 1996 and codified the survival horror genre. 27 years and nearly as many games later, this franchise has grown to be one of the biggest and most impactful in all of video games. For Deucy and I, Resident Evil is one of our favorite series EVER. In this episode, both of us are excited to share our personal Top 10 Resident Evil games. We cover the history of the series, the movies, the books, some of the toys, and a lot more in this horror filled retrospective. There's even a bit of discussion on some of the spin-offs like Resident Evil Gaiden for the GameBoy Color and we managed to slip in Resident Evil: Survivor for the PS1 thanks to a special guest list from my brother Bob. You'll hear everything from PS1, Dreamcast, PS2, Gamecube, PS5 and yes - even the Game.Com. Get your ink ribbons ready -  We're here to save your day and share memories and so much more about RESIDENT. EVILLLLLLL
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Episode 6: Diddy Kong Racing (N64)

In this week's episode, Deucy and I jump in the driver seat of a very unique kart racer for the Nintendo 64 - Diddy Kong Racing! Originally released in December 1997, DKR filled a holiday release gap for the N64. This game has a far more interesting history than you may expect with it originally starting out as an RTS (Real-Time Strategy) game that was totally unrelated to Diddy Kong. We talk about the development of the game, the "Real Time Dynamic Animation" tool/buzzword that was prevalent in magazines, and how Diddy Kong ultimately ended up being the star of the show. I talk about my experience playing through much of the Adventure Mode for the first time in over two decades and why this mode needs to make a comeback in the next Mario Kart game. We also dive into our memories of the game and inevitably compare the difference between DKR and Mario Kart 64. Strap in to your aeroplane, kart, hovercraft, or couch and enjoy our scenic drive through one of the N64's best racing games!
NEXT WEEK: Our Top 10 RESIDENT EVIL Games
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Episode 5: Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (N64)

A long time ago, 27 years to be exact, in a galaxy not so far away Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire for the Nintendo 64 released. In our special fifth episode, we revisit one of the N64's earliest greats and talk about the media project that was Shadows of the Empire, long before Disney took over and made it the norm. We dive into the history of the series, the development of the game, and chat through each of the levels. We've have a lot of fond memories of Shadows of the Empire and some not so fond - like the game's bosses that just get more and more difficult (in a bad way) as the game goes on.  We also go into review from the time to tell you what some popular gaming magazines thought when it released and why Nintendo Power said to stay away from the Jedi difficulty.
 
Don't miss this retro gaming love letter to one of our favorite N64 games in this Star Wars packed episode!  Join us, padawans, as we guide you through the Shadows of the Empire saga. Press Start to Continue
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Episode 4: Batman: The Video Game (NES)

In our fourth episode, Deucy and I revisit Batman: The Video Game for NES! We talk about what we've been playing lately and then dive into Batman's development history, how Sunsoft got the Batman movie license, and try to piece together why Batman has a gun in one version of the game. I also share my experience playing through the entire game (the first time I've ever beaten it!) and talk about the gauntlet and test of endurance that is Level 5-2. You'll also hear about the different ports and how Batman eventually came to the Nintendo. Like the Joker said in the movie, "If you gotta go, go with a smile" - join us for a dance in the pale moonlight and enjoy our breakdown of one of the best licensed games on the NES. Press Start to Continue!
 
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Episode 3: Disney Afternoon Collection NES Games

You won't need a fast pass or pay insane money to revisit Disney in our newest episode! In this episode, Deucy and I talk through the SIX classic NES games that are on the Disney Afternoon Collection - available on Playstation 4/5, XBox One/Series, and PC for dirt cheap). We share our memories of the cartoons and playing the early Disney games including Duck Tales, TaleSpin, Darkwing Duck, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, Duck Tales 2, and Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers 2. Reviews from the time, tips, memories, nostalgia are all here and Deucy shares his expertise on all things Disney and Darkwing in this trip through some of gaming's most iconic licensed games.
You can always send us a note or reach us at legiongamingpod[at]gmail.com, on Twitter at LegionGamingPod, and Instagram at LegionGamingPodcast. Press Start to Continue!

Episode 2: Our Top 10 NES Games (with special guests Mike and Randy)

This week, we're giving you more bang for your (free) buck! Deucy and I asked our friends Mike and Randy to join us for our Top 10 NES Games episode and share their lists and memories. Our lists have festered long enough and each of us name our favorite Nintendo games that molded our love for gaming. There's bound to be some surprises and also some classics you'll expect to see on anyone's list.
 
We'll talk about why no one like's Captain America and the Avengers and a choice that leaves Mike nearly speechless. Mega Man 2 or Mega Man 3? Don't miss this mega-sized episode and let us know what YOUR favorites are or send your baffled reactions to legiongamingpod[at]gmail.com, on Twitter at LegionGamingPod, and Instagram at LegionGamingPodcast. Press Start to Continue!

Episode 1: Mega Man X (SNES)

Welcome to Legion Gaming! A retro gaming retrospective podcast hosted by lifelong best friends (really, over 30 years), Donny (DonVanDam) and Deucy. We love to talk about video games and share our passion with other gamers. Each episode we'll revisit some of our favorite video games over the last 35+ years and talk about development, history, memories, and how well these games hold up. Come with us back to the future and get ready for Deep Dives, Top 10 Lists, Retrospective comparisons, and more!
 
The year is 20XX and in our first episode, we cover the Capcom Super NES classic Mega Man X! This was our very first recording and we chose a game that we couldn't stop playing back in 1994. We go through the development of Mega Man X and how Capcom envisioned the evolution of the Mega Man series on the then next-gen console, the SNES. You may learn that some very familiar Capcom staff also worked on Mega Man X and more of your favorites. Deucy and I talk about how we solved the mystery of how we went from Mega Man 6 to Mega Man "10"(X) as kids and discovered we were playing a whole new series in the Mega Man Universe. Don't miss our favorite music and bosses and why we consider this one of the best games in the entire Super Nintendo library.
 
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