The NXpress Nintendo Podcast
2022-01
Episodes
Thursday Jan 27, 2022
Thursday Jan 27, 2022
Banjo-Kazooie Switch Discussion
This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill discuss a topic quite absurd, the adventure of a bear and bird! That’s right, folks, it’s time for the gang to go all-out on their reactions to the recent addition of Banjo-Kazooie to the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. This 1998 3D platforming classic holds a special place in gaming history as one of the pinnacles of its genre, a masterpiece that perfected the exploratory platformer formula through an adventure brimming with charming rhymes, silly characters, and secrets around every corner! The boys celebrate the game with a wide-ranging discussion, sharing Campbell’s impressions as a first-time player, Cameron’s experienced reminiscences, and Marc’s enthusiasm for the game (even if he may be a fake fan).
Cameron and Campbell take a break from all the rarified excitement to chill out with the playable drug trip that is The Artful Escape. Maybe it doesn’t have the most involved gameplay around, but this latest cinematic romp from Annapurna Interactive succeeds in delivering a stunning package of audiovisual splendor, telling a psychedelic tale of musical self-discovery. Fans of David Bowie and Pink Floyd will find plenty to love in this glam rock experience!
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Playlist:LFXIV – NXpress Intro00:50 – Main Event: Banjo-Kazooie Switch Discussion“Spiral Mountain” – Banjo-Kazooie52:30 – Indie Spotlight: The Artful Escape“Treasure Trove Cove” – Banjo-Kazooie
Friday Jan 21, 2022
Friday Jan 21, 2022
This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill react to what is already one of 2022’s biggest pieces of gaming news: Microsoft is set to purchase Activision Blizzard for an eyewatering sum of $68.7 billion (yes, billion with a B). While this is obviously a major development in the ongoing console wars between PlayStation and Xbox, just how will the Activision Blizzard acquisition affect Nintendo players? It’s a seismic shift in the industry with plenty of implications for fans of the Big N: does this mean that Crash Bandicoot and Spyro, which have recently become frequent sights on Switch, will leave the Nintendo ecosystem after all? What will this acquisition do to the Switch’s burgeoning big-name third-party support? And with so many major names now under one roof at Microsoft, do we even need traditional E3 press conferences anymore? The hosts cover all these questions and more in a discussion as wide-ranging as Microsoft’s shopping list.
Next up, it’s time to jam out with an indie spotlight on the delightful arcade revival that is Windjammers 2! This follow-up to Data East’s cult-classic 1994 arcade hit is a worthy successor that takes the original game’s winning formula and dials it up to 11 with new mechanics, characters, and abilities–all wrapped up in DotEmu’s signature stunning art direction. It might suffer from a steep learning curve, but it’s not hard for the adrenaline to set in and make this a blisteringly fast and competitive multiplayer blast!
You can listen to our show on YouTube | Stitcher | iTunes | Podbean | Spotify | Listen Notes | iHeartRadio | Player FM | Amazon Audible
Playlist:LFXIV – NXpress Intro00:42 – Main Event: Activision Blizzard acquisition discussion“N. Sanity Beach” – Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy31:50 – Indie Spotlight: Windjammers 2“Boulder Dash” – Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
Wednesday Jan 12, 2022
NXpress Nintendo Podcast 266: Chicory: A Colorful Tale Switch Review
Wednesday Jan 12, 2022
Wednesday Jan 12, 2022
This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill are joined by friend of the show, Goomba Stomp writer, and creator of amazing stuff, Marty Allen! In this cute animal extravaganza, the gang starts by reacting to the cinematic masterpiece that’s sure to sweep this year’s Oscars–and of course, we’re talking about the Pokemon Company’s latest animation, Bidoof’s Big Stand. A true tear-jerker in every way, this 8-minute clip is well worth all fans of everyone’s favorite HM slave.
After that, the gang takes an emotional detour to discuss Chicory: A Colorful Tale, a surprisingly impactful journey packed with adorable critters, plenty of food and animal puns, a painterly gameplay loop, and a poignant story of burnout, acceptance, and coming to terms with one’s whole self. It’s yet another hit from the makers of Wandersong, an accessible adventure that lets the player paint their own story–an experience sure to resonate with anyone who has a passion for creativity.
Closing things out, Campbell and Cameron bow out as our resident Animal Crossing experts, Marc and Marty, take the lead sharing their impressions on the Animal Crossing New Horizons DLC. New Horizons might be past its prime, but the new content is more than enough to entice new players back to their islands–and it might just lure in some new players, too (unless you’re a curmudgeon like Campbell). Animal Crossing fans will want to tune in!
You can listen to our show on YouTube | Stitcher | iTunes | Podbean | Spotify | Listen Notes | iHeartRadio | Player FM | Amazon Audible
Playlist:LFXIV – NXpress Intro00:42 – Opening: Bidoof’s Big Stand Discussion“Special Announcement” – Bidoof Day14:00 – Main Event: Chicory: A Colorful Tale“Dinners, The Big City” – Chicory: A Colorful Tale50:00 – Animal Crossing: New Horizons DLC catchup with Marty“Appie Foothill” – Chicory: A Colorful Tale
Wednesday Jan 12, 2022
Wednesday Jan 12, 2022
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link Review
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link was an incredibly assured attempt to rewrite the rules of the entire series. Unfortunately, most people just don’t like change and because it was different and harder than the original, many fans of the series hated the entry. Fast forward more than two decades and we decided to revisit the black sheep of the Zelda family. What follows is a segment from episode 46 of the NXpress Nintendo Podcast in which Ricky, Patrick, Tim, and Arron got into a heated argument about the merits of Zelda II. Enjoy!
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Friday Jan 07, 2022
NXpress Nintendo Podcast 265: Our Most Anticipated Indie Games of 2022
Friday Jan 07, 2022
Friday Jan 07, 2022
This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill kick off the year with an episode spotlighting many of their most anticipated indie games of 2022. While platforms like Xbox and PS5 are definitely attracting plenty of indie talent this year, the Nintendo Switch certainly seems poised to remain the king of the indie scene with much-anticipated titles like Sea of Stars, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, OlliOlli World, and many, many more! The hosts provide just a glance at what the future will hold for fans of the independent gaming scene this year.
Moving on from the indie excitement, what better way to warm up during the cold days of January than by cozying up with an old-school RPG? That’s exactly what leads the hosts to a discussion of the N64’s recently re-released Paper Mario on the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. Cameron shares his thoughts on this early 3D classic, sparking a conversation that spans the gang’s hopes for future additions to NSO, the issues plaguing N64 games on Switch, and the convoluted state of roleplaying Mario spinoffs. It’s a quirky smorgasbord for this year’s first show!
You can listen to our show on YouTube | Stitcher | iTunes | Podbean | Spotify | Listen Notes | iHeartRadio | Player FM | Amazon Audible
Playlist:LFXIV – NXpress Intro00:42 – Main Event: Most Anticipated Indie Games of 2022“Title” – Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door26:00 – Talking Point: Death’s Door & Paper Mario NSO Impressions“Olivia’s Theme” – Paper Mario: The Origami King
Friday Dec 31, 2021
NXpress Nintendo Podcast 264: Looking Back on 2021, Predicting 2022
Friday Dec 31, 2021
Friday Dec 31, 2021
This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill finally bid adieu to 2021 and ring in a new year with a load of bold predictions for Nintendo’s 2022! Before getting to that, though, the hosts start things off by reminiscing on all the goods that the Big N brought to the table in 2021, including everything from this year’s deluge of excellent indies to the incredible reinvention of the Mario formula with Bowser’s Fury and even a handful of historical gems like the Famicom Detective Club games. Of course, that’s not even to mention the jaw-dropping reveals of E3 2921, including Metroid Dread–from the beginning of the year to its final days, Nintendo certainly gave the hosts plenty to highlight!
After celebrating all the best of 2021, it’s time to theorize what could be in store for Nintendo in 2022. Each host shares their predictions for the good and the bad lying in wait for the next year, raising major questions: will COVID continue to delay game development? Will we see Breath of the Wild 2 resurface at last for a 2022 release? And could we even get a revival of long-neglected franchises like Golden Sun? Only time will tell! Don’t forget to come back to this episode in December 2022 and see who’s right.
You can listen to our show on YouTube | Stitcher | iTunes | Podbean | Spotify | Listen Notes | iHeartRadio | Player FM | Amazon Audible
Playlist:LFXIV – NXpress Intro00:42 – Main Event: 2021 Highlights“New Year’s Eve 11:55 a.m.” – Animal Crossing: New Horizons35:00 – Talking Point: 2022 Predictions“Happy New Year!” – Animal Crossing: New Horizons