Welcome to the Main Quest Podcast! The #1 retro-gaming podcast on the internet! Each episode is a deep dive dedicated to the games we grew up with, learning how they were made and how well it holds up today. No toxic opinions, no boring pretentious scripts, no meticulous breakdown of every little aspect of the game. It's all about having fun and sometimes at the games expense. Have yourself a listen! And always remember, it's okay to like a video game.
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After six years, hundreds of episodes, and more conversations about retro games than anyone asked for, the Main Quest has hit another milestone! On this Side Quest episode I take a step back to reflect on my journey from the early days of the program, its return, to the incredible year of growth, guest, and community support that followed. But I'm not only looking back...I'm also looking ahead. My…
The Final Fantasy everyone forgot takes center stage! This week I'm joined by Chris Coplien and Marc "Try4ce" Duddleson to dive into the experimental, often overlooked, Final Fantasy V! We break down the mechanics, do a deep dive on the story, and why this one is often overshadowed by its SNES siblings. Is this really the best Final Fantasy of the 16-bit era?? THE SHOW NOTES Find & support my…
Do you remember Super Adventure Island ? Maybe I'm the only one... This week I'm joined by Ashton Ruby to revisit one of Hudson Soft's most successful franchises. Are flashy graphics and a bumpin' soundtrack enough to carry cookie cutter game play? It might be a good game but "Super" doesn't always guarantee a classic. WARP ZONES (0:22) Intro (2:50) Ashton & Gaming (13:54) Previous Histories…
This week we are talking about one of the most striking and divisive games of the early 90's, Out of This World! Coury Carlson and I dive into the cinematic presentation, trial and error game design, and the challenges of porting the game to the Super Nintendo. Whether you consider the game a masterpiece or a miserable experience, we certainly hammer down why it remains unforgettable. WARP ZONES…
Original Air Date January 16th, 2026 for Patrons With Resident Evil Requiem just a week away, I'm returning to Capcom's survival horror juggernaut for a predictions episode! I reflect on where Resident Evil has been since Village , what I hope the next mainline entry prioritizes, and why atmosphere, restraint, and identity matter more than spectacle or fan service. I also touch on the series'…
This week I'm talking about off-brand Mario, Mario Is Missing! What began as an earnest attempt at broadening the Mario brand turns into a case study of confused design that has no interest in valuing your time. I break down why this game fails as both a learning tool and as a video game and how the marketing doomed it before it even hit store shelves. WARP ZONES NFS Most Wanted (4:16) Radiant…
One of the foundations of the "beat em up" genre, I'm tackling Capcom's Final Fight ! Not the arcade but the ambitious yet deeply compromised Super Nintendo port. I breakdown its beginnings as a Street Fighter sequel, and whether or not flashy enemy AI and a punishing grind are all worth playing...single player?? WARP ZONES (2:54) Intro & Plugs (6:34) Games I'm Playing (13:00) Previous History…
2025 comes to a close with my Top 10 Game of the Year breakdown. I revisit my mid year rankings and reflect on how my tastes shifted over the course of the year. From surprise indie standouts and retro revisits to one all consuming obsession, it is a year that certainly defined me as a "Gamer". I also look ahead at what's waiting in the backlog next and what's in store for the podcast in 2026! THE…
It's Game of the Year season once again, and the panel from last year's Symposium returns to finish what we started. Matt Storm, Eric Gess, Kade Call, and Phil Morgan join me for a 2.5 hour deep dive into how GOTY conversations have (or haven't) changed over the past year. We dig into the flood of new releases, the strange rules around what "counts," and the ongoing dominance of exclusives. It's a…
BIG MONEY! BIG PRIZES! I LOVE IT! In this episode of The Main Quest , I team up once again with SeekYeWisdom to dive into Super Smash TV , Williams' hyper violent, game show inspired twin-stick shooter that set the tone for arcade excess in the early '90s. We unpack how Smash TV connects to the DNA of Mortal Kombat and Robotron 2084 , and how its mix of satire, capitalism, and gore made it a cult…
