Ultra 64

This week, we're checking back in with the Kongs for the first time since DONKEY KONG 64! While that game was a fun but bloated exercise in excess, TROPICAL FREEZE is lean and mean, a tough, 2-D platformer that brings the DKC series back to it's roots.  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Need For Speed: Most Wanted U / The Fast and the Furious: Showdown / Hot Wheels: World's Best Driver 

Haven't heard of LEGEND OF KAY? Don't worry, you're not alone, but if it's earning an anniversary edition 10 years after it's original release, it must be good, right? Right? This German import blends Zelda-style exploration with kung-fu and platforming, starring a hot-tempered young cat who needs to save the world from an army of invading gorillas and rats. Find out if this HD upgrade of a PS2 game is worth discovering or better left in the vault.  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze 

One of the very last games to get a physical release on the Wii U, the hit indie AXIOM VERGE had a long, strange trip to hitting the console. This week, our old friend Aaron George stops by to help us decide if this Metroidvania was worth the wait. We're charting the history of the game's one-man production, talking about the cool indie publisher Limited Run, and figuring out why it took almost 5 years for the goodie-laden Multiverse Edition to come out.  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Legend of Kay: Anniversary 

We're sneaking into the new year with TOM CLANCY'S SPLINTER CELL: BLACKLIST, the final entry in Ubisoft's acclaimed stealth series. We're checking back in with Sam Fisher and company after a long time away from the series, and a lot's changed, but the same low-light stealth antics still shine through.  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Legend of Kay: Anniversary 

Happy New Year! As a special bonus to celebrate our flawless victory over 2021, here's part one of our new Ultra 64 DD series on the MORTAL KOMBAT series. In this episode, we're covering the first 4 arcade classics, and the seismic cultural impact they had on the early 90s and beyond. To hear the rest of the series, as well as more than 100 more episodes on everything from METROID to LEGACY OF KAIN, sign up at patreon.com/ultra64pod!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com 

Wonder-eyes, Red! This week, we're playing THE WONDERFUL 101, a weirdo cult artifact and one of the Wii U's most notable exclusive releases! PlatinumGames' hyperactive action game puts you in control of up to 100 masked superheroes who can join together into elaborate shapes to help fight an alien invasion! It's all super creative, but is it any fun?  Happy holidays to everyone! We'll be taking a slight break through the end of the year but Wii Universe will be back January 1!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next episode: Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist 

We've got a special bonus episode for you, courtesy of our top-tier Patreon supporter and good friend Scott Burger! Scott joins us to talk about maybe the most influential game of this century, the game that drove FPS mania to a new level and single-handedly made Microsoft a major player on the gaming scene: HALO: COMBAT EVOLVED! Join us as we celebrate 20 years of Master Chief and company, looking back at the history and singular impact of Bungie's hit series. If you want to join us on an episode to discuss a game of your choice, check out the Wonder Red tier of patreon.com/ultra64pod!  Hosted by Steve Guntli  Logo by Corinne Kempen  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod 

This week we don the cowl and cape to take on two of Batman's best adventures, BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY and BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS! The ARKHAM games are some of the best action-adventure games ever, but how well do these sprawling, cinematic adventures translate to the Wii U?  To hear a break down of the full ARKHAM series, as well as every other BATMAN game, check out our other show, Ultra 64 DD, at patreon.com/ultra64pod!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: The Wonderful 101 

It's the return of MEGA MAN... sort of. MIGHTY NO. 9, from former Capcom legend Keiji Inafune, apes the style and gameplay of the Blue Bomber almost exactly, but something has gone missing during the game's famously tortured production. This week we're charting the game's early Kickstarter success and long road to release, and seeing if this game and it's army of child robots lives down to it's reputation.  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project  (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Batman: Arkham City / Batman: Arkham Origins 

For our latest bonus episode, we're delving deep into the human mind for the stunning action game HELLBLADE: SENUA'S SACRIFICE! Special guest CJ Baker joins us to dig into Ninja Theory's audacious, self-published gem, which follows a Pict warrior woman as she attempts to rescue her lover from the Norse realm of Hel. The game explores psychosis and loneliness like few other games have before, using stunning visuals and binaural 3D sound to convey Senua's condition.  If you want to join us on-air to talk about a game of your choice, sign up at the Wonder Red tier at patreon.com/ultra64pod!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  ultra64podcast.com Twitter: @ultra64podcast Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  

What hath WII SPORTS wrought? Well, ESPN SPORTS CONNECTION for one thing! This week, we're playing Ubisoft's attempt at the casual-gaming phenomenon, featuring six different minigames with GamePad control! Join us for all your favorites: tennis! Golf! Soccer! Football! Baseball!... Kart racing?  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Mighty No. 9

EDIT: So, so sorry for all the technical hiccups this week; we have no idea what's causing them, but this should take care of all final issues.  One of the best-selling ZELDA games of all time makes the leap to the Wii U with a stellar visual upgrade, but do the clearer visuals cast the game's flaws into relief? That's what we're discussing this week, as we're joined by our friend Zack Strong to talk LEGEND OF ZELDA: TWILIGHT PRINCESS HD! The game offers some of the coolest dungeons and items in the series' history, but does the languid pace and too much backtracking weigh the game down?  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: ESPN Sports Connection 

Edit: we're reuploading this episode because listeners reported some weird technical glitches where the episode restarted in the middle; hopefully this will take care of it!  We've got another bonus episode courtesy of one of our top-tier Patreon supporters! Sean Neal-Lunsford joins us to talk about an all-timer, the hugely influential BioWare RPG STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC! KOTOR has developed a rabid fanbase since it debuted in 2003, thanks to it's exceptional story and memorable characters. But do the game's antiquated graphics and mechanics hold the game back or is the game still as much of a thrill to play today?  If YOU want to join us on an episode, check out the Wonder Red tier at Patreon.com/ultra64pod!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod 

We had a slight interruption in our planned game this week; luckily, the ever-reliable Rayman has stepped in to pick up the slack! We played RAYMAN LEGENDS, the sequel to the hit 2011 reboot RAYMAN ORIGINS! This slick, funny 2D platformer was designed to be a Wii U exclusive before going multiplatform, so this version boasts some features you won't find anywhere else, so bring your friends and ram-a-lam!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD

Thanks to the generosity of our Wonder Red-tier Patrons at Patreon.com/ultra64pod, we've got a couple of bonus episodes coming your way this month! Joshua Weber joins us to discuss his game of choice, the stunning and brilliant 2019 indie OUTER WILDS! From it's music to it's visuals to it's unbridled sense of exploration, OW is a real gem, but is the opacity of its goals too much?  If you want to join us on-air to talk about the game of your choice, check out the Wonder Red tier at patreon.com/ultra64pod for more info!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod 

If you're going to steal, you might as well steal from the best, and this week we've got two games who attempt to bite MARIO KART's style. Local kart-racing enthusiast Lynsey Pennington is back to help us play the SEGA-themed SONIC AND ALL-STARS RACING TRANSFORMED, followed by HELLO KITTY KRUISERS, which brings beloved Sanrio characters to the blacktop.  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: ESPN Sports Connection 

Just in time for Halloween, we're diving back into the world of RESIDENT EVIL for the one and only series entry on the Wii U! We played RESIDENT EVIL: REVELATIONS, an HD upgrade of a handheld game that still manages to be visually dazzling and super goopy! Local zombie expert Lynsey Pennington joins us to discuss how this game differs from it's console counterparts.  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com) ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing Transformed / Hello Kitty Kruisers 

We've got a double-dose of the old webhead this week! We played two games loosely based on the 2012 Andrew Garfield AMAZING SPIDER-MAN movies. The movies were little-loved, but the games provide the early DNA for the webslinger's future adventures. The question is, is there a reason to go back to these one's when Insomniac's game has perfected the formula? Or are these titles AMAZING on their own?   Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: stevenguntli@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod Next week's episode: Resident Evil: Revelations 

Ever wonder what it would be like to play DONKEY KONG as Link? Or battle the tree in KIRBY'S ADVENTURE while being attacked by Boos? Then this re-re-remix is for you! NES REMIX PACK combines two downloadable games, NES REMIX 1 and 2, into one easily digestible package, with bite-sized challenges from dozens of original NES titles, including special cross-over levels combining two or more games in new and weird ways. The game is like a mainline rush of classic NES nostalgia, but does it hold up to our keen scrutiny? Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64podcast  Next week's episode: Amazing Spider-Man / Amazing Spider-Man 2  

This week, we try to find out if life in plastic really is fantastic as we play two games based on Barbie! We played the minigame collection BARBIE DREAMHOUSE PARTY and the weird pet-rescue simulator BARBIE AND HER SISTERS: PUPPY RESCUE, and we're joined by two of our favorite ladies, Lynsey Pennington and Kathi Ciskowski, to help us parse through the long and complicated social history of Barbie and the rare video game series marketed almost solely to girls.  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: NES Remix Pack