The Old SwitchAroo: Gaming Retro with Mike and Jaymo |A Nintendo Switch Online retro gaming podcast

Markivus Nious from 40 Something Gamers is ready to run and gun through Contra: Hard Corps (Sega Genesis / Mega Drive, 1994) with Mike and Jaymo as part of The Old SwitchAroo’s epic quest to research and review every retro game in Nintendo Switch Online’s Nintendo Classics catalog.In this episode, Markivus shares his perspective as a musician on video game music, we discuss how the American version of Contra: Hard Corps was much more difficult than the Japanese version of the game in order to stymie the American rental market, how the Contra franchise turned into Probotector in some parts of Europe, and the way a Castlevania cameo in Contra: Hard Corps stands in between the player and primate romance. We also get a bit more serious with a look at Contra’s roots in the Iran-Contra Affair and how games like Contra relate - or don’t relate - to violence in the real world.Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy 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 links to our Discord, social media, and so much more!Game on, everyone.(0:00) Intro(1:10) Welcoming Markivus from 40 Something Gamers(5:30) Contra: Hard Corps(56:12) NintenDO or NintenDON’TCheck out Markivus Nious on 40 Something Gamers and his other projects at https://www.spreaker.com/user/nious-media--8222146 and on Youtube @markivus: https://youtube.com/@markivusContra Hard Corps manual: https://manuals.sega.com/genesismini/pdf/CONTRA_HARD_CORPS.pdfStrangest Thing Cinematic Instrumental by Markivus Nious: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU0s4ItMip8Contra: Hard Corps by NickBGoHard in 18:04 - AGDQ2020 | Games Done Quick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5zpRvCwkZ8[ESA Winter 2023] Contra Hard Corps Speedrun in 18:19 (JP Browny - Lab/Surrender route) | Greenalink: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJfbfaIhQ-oContra: Hard Corps – 1994 Developer Commentary | BEEP! Mega Drive, October 1994 via shmuplations: https://shmuplations.com/contrahc/

SPOILER WARNING: Today we’re joined once again by Kyle Ford (ByeDoom, Steam Team) and Instragram’s Bryan.S.Lee to present an in-depth review of Mortal Kombat 2, in theatres everywhere May 2026. We break down the theatrical poster, present some behind-the-scenes trivia from The Crypt (aka IMDB.com) and even play a game of “Choose Your Fighter” before breaking down the JoyPros and JoyCons of every fight and fatality!Thanks for listening, and big thanks to HubRobert for the incredible violin cover! 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 links to our Discord, social media, and so much more!Game on, everyone.(0:00) Intro(1:00) Introducing Bryan(1:23) Introducing Kyle(3:25) Poster Breakdown(6:42) IMDB Behind-the-Scenes Trivia(10:48) Mini-Game Minute: Choose Your Fighter(30:13) JoyPros/JoyCons: Prologue(40:21) JoyPros/JoyCons: Round 1(54:00) Joy Pros/JoyCons: Round 2(59:05) JoyPros/JoyCons: Final Round(1:10:11) NintenDo or NintenDon’t(1:14:21) OutroTo check out the ByeDoom RSS Scrubber and Steam Team, visit www.HouseofKyle.comAnd to bask in the glory of Bryan’s cosplay & activism, visit https://www.instagram.com/bryan.s.lee/Hun Robert’s hype grooves can be found at https://www.youtube.com/@HunRobert

Steve Guntli from CinemArcade, Ultra 64, and Wii Universe takes a seat at the round table to discuss Zelda clone Quest for Camelot for the Game Boy Color (1998) - and the film of the same name - with Mike and Jaymo as part of The Old SwitchAroo’s epic quest to research and review every retro game in Nintendo Switch Online’s Nintendo Classics catalog.In this episode, we discuss how the Quest for Camelot movie was shaped (and dwarfed) by the Disney Renaissance, the struggles of Warner Brothers Feature Animation (and the underappreciated film that is Cats Don’t Dance), how not to rip off The Legend of Zelda games, the illustrious resume of Titus Interactive, and Jaymo and Steve pitch their ideas on how to make a good Quest for Camelot game.Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy 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 links to our Discord, social media, and so much more!Game on, everyone.(0:00) Intro(1:20) Welcoming Steve Guntli(7:37) Quest for Camelot(10:55) Quest for Camelot, the movie(36:45) Quest for Camelot, the game(1:02:05) NintenDO or NintenDON’TCheck out Steve’s current movie and video game podcast CinemArcade at https://linktr.ee/cinemarcade  Or join Steve in the Full Moon cinematic catalog with Puppet Masters / Castle Freaks: https://linktr.ee/puppetmasterscastlefreaksFor Steve’s podcast that inspired Jaymo, check out the evergreen Ultra 64: Wii Universe: https://www.ultra64podcast.com/Quest for Camelot Manual: https://www.videogamemanual.com/gbc/Quest%20for%20Camelot%20(USA).pdfA Misguided ‘Quest’? By Jeffery Wells | The Record: https://web.archive.org/web/20250103182334/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record-article-about-quest-for-came/60193384/Wayne's World by Ritzblues in 23:20 - Summer Games Done Quick 2023: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R96-Wye_2MA

Josh from Smashing Game Time and Star Wars cosplayer Bryan Lee hit the track with Jaymo in this special Lite Switch episode devoted to Star Wars Episode One: Racer, released for the Nintendo 64 in 1999. We begin our discussion by comparing the trilogy of Star Wars trilogies in our Mini-Game Minute: Marry, Force, Kill! From there, we blast our way through the unconventional box art, debate the problematic characterizations of Star Wars aliens, and even reveal the collectible card games that threaten total destruction of our wallets! Happy Early Star Wars Day, and May the Force Be With You, Always…Thanks for listening! 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 links to our Discord, social media, and so much more!Game on, everyone.(0:00) Intro(1:30) Welcoming Bryan(2:12) Welcoming Josh(2:47) May the 4th Be With You(4:20) Mini-Game Minute: Marry, Force, Kill(14:36) Box Art Breakdown(19:34) Knowledge is Nintendo Power(32:07) JoyPros of Episode One: Racer(55:05) JoyCons of Episode One: Racer(1:15:11) NintenDo or NintenDon’t(1:18:20) OutroCheck out Josh at https://www.smashinggametime.com/Follow Bryan’s adventures in cosplay at https://www.instagram.com/bryan.s.lee/Star Wars Episode I: Racer [30s] TV Commercial 2 for Nintendo 64 - N64 - 1999: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoPLjWogaF8

Jaymo’s brothers are back from outer space to see who will survive Alien Storm (Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, 1991), joining Mike and Jaymo as part of The Old SwitchAroo’s epic quest to research and review every retro game in Nintendo Switch Online’s Nintendo Classics catalog!In this episode, Jaymo pulls back the curtain on Sega’s AM1 Division and Team Shinobi as the Amusement Machine behind Alien Storm, we compare this to its stylistic forebearer Golden Axe and speculate about how the continues could’ve been handled better, and we all try to figure out what it is about the Nintendo Switch Online games that leads to such inconsistent frame rate performance when playing online multiplayer. Then Jaymo hosts a Mini-Game Minute: AI for Detail.Thanks for listening, and a very special thanks to Kristal Fields of The Lazy Circles for our catchy 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 links to our Discord, social media, and so much more!Game on, everyone.(0:00) Intro(1:05) Welcoming Justin and Jonathan(3:10) Alien Storm(27:25) Mini-Game Minute: AI for Detail(34:58) Alien Storm (cont’d)(47:30) NintenDO or NintenDON’TAlien Storm manual: https://dn710301.ca.archive.org/0/items/Alien_Storm_1991_Sega_US/Alien_Storm_Manual.pdf