The NXpress Nintendo Podcast
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Episodes
Monday Dec 19, 2022
Monday Dec 19, 2022
And the award goes to…Bill Clinton? This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill celebrate Awards Season by reacting to the good, the bad, and the utterly bizarre at the 2022 Game Awards, along with reviews of the much-anticipated Switch RPGs Harvestella and Crisis Core – Final Fantasy VII – Reunion.
The gang kicks things off by running through the biggest announcements at the Game Awards of 2022 that were most relevant to Nintendo fans. From a sequel to one of the best roguelikes on the market to a surprise follow-up to a controversial award winner, the show certainly did bring a few exciting bits of news for fans of the Big N. Yet nothing compares to the biggest delight of the show: a new trailer for The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which goes where few other game movies have gone before: using music from the source material in the actual film. What a novelty!
Next up, Cameron turns things down a notch with impressions of two Square Enix RPGs that might fail to meet expectations. First up is Harvestella, the apocalypse-meets-farming-sim whose promising premise suffers under a repetitive, basic, and surprisingly barebones gameplay loop. Then, there’s the baffling Crisis Core, a followup to Final Fantasy VII with an excellent remaster for modern platforms that does little to address the oddities of the original release.
Don’t forget: If you want to suggest a discussion topic, share your thoughts on a recent episode, or simply chat with the NXpress crew, feel free to email us at videogameseditor@goombastomp.com!
You can listen to our show on YouTube | Stitcher | iTunes | Podbean | Spotify | Listen Notes | iHeartRadio | Player FM | Amazon Audible
Playlist:LFXIV – NXpress Intro0:39 – Main Event: The Game Awards 2022“Opening – Bombing Mission” – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate27:00 – What We’ve Been Playing: Disappointing RPGs“Genova” – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Wednesday Oct 19, 2022
NXpress Nintendo Podcast 306: Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope Review
Wednesday Oct 19, 2022
Wednesday Oct 19, 2022
Get ready for an NXpress of galactic proportions! This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill review the most anticipated RPG to hit the Switch this month (well, one of them at least). Before Marc reviews Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, though, the gang responds to an urgent question from an NXpress listener: what’s the best Andross fight in the Star Fox series? The hosts compare the mad scientist’s appearances throughout Star Fox on the SNES, Star Fox 64, and Star Fox Adventures to assess which game has the best showdown.
After that, it’s on to the main event: Marc’s all-encompassing review of Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, the sequel to one of 2017’s most surprisingly delightful Switch exclusives. This follow-up takes Mario and the Rabbids crew to the stars with an adventure that adds new dimensions to the original’s already solid strategic gameplay loop. It might be lacking in the writing and music departments, but Sparks of Hope succeeds where it matters most with creative and satisfying tactical gameplay that makes the game one of the best representatives of its genre on Switch. Tune in for Marc’s all-encompassing thoughts!
Don’t forget: If you want to suggest a discussion topic, share your thoughts on a recent episode, or simply chat with the NXpress crew, feel free to email us at videogameseditor@goombastomp.com!
Saturday Oct 15, 2022
Saturday Oct 15, 2022
Mushroom kingdom, here we come! This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill share their thoughts on the first official trailer for The Super Mario Bros. Movie and review a delightfully wholesome indie game. Starting things out strong, the gang dives headfirst into analyzing asking the age-old question: how will it compare to the infamous 1992 live-action Mario movie? Chris Pratt might not be everyone’s first choice to voice Nintendo’s mascot on the silver screen, but the gang comes to a consensus: how about we give him a chance? Cautious optimism is the name of the game for Illumination and Nintendo’s feature film collaboration.
Next up, Marc and Campbell shine an indie spotlight on The Spirit and the Mouse, a charming 3D adventure collectathon that shows what life must be like as a little mouse solving problems in a beautiful French village. This little adventure is short but incredibly sweet: without even a damage system, the game lets its laidback puzzles shine, offering up a serene and relaxing experience that players shouldn’t miss.
You can listen to our show on YouTube | Stitcher | iTunes | Podbean | Spotify | Listen Notes | iHeartRadio | Player FM | Amazon Audible
Playlist:LFXIV – NXpress Intro0:39 – Main Event: The Super Mario Bros. Movie Debut Trailer Discussion“New Donk City” – Super Mario Odyssey26:00 – Indie Spotlight: The Spirit and the Mouse Review“Opening Theme” – The Super Mario Bros. Super Show
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
NXpress Nintendo Podcast 301: Yacht Club Games’ Celia Schilling Talks Shovel Knight Dig
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
Shovels at the ready, it’s time to dig in! This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill are joined by longtime friend of the show, Celia Schilling, for a sweeping discussion of Shovel Knight Dig! The gang picks Celia’s brain about everything there is to now ahead of the launch of this much-anticipated new entry in the Shovel Knight series.
As a roguelike platformer, Shovel Knight Dig is certainly a notable departure from other Shovel Knight games. Celia discusses Yacht Club’s partnership with famed browser game developer Nitrome, Dig’s place in the wider Shovel Knight pantheon, and what it takes to launch a successful spinoff. Shovel Knight fans will want to tune in for plenty of spoiler-free info about Dig ahead of its launch on September 23rd!
Playlist:LFXIV – NXpress Intro0:50 – Main Event: Shovel Knight Dig Interview“Goldenrod City” – Qumu“Halls of the Usuper” – Shovel Knight
Wednesday Jun 29, 2022
NXpress Nintendo Podcast 291: Nintendo Direct Mini Partner Showcase June 2022 Reactions
Wednesday Jun 29, 2022
Wednesday Jun 29, 2022
Let’s be honest, you never saw it coming. This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill react to the latest and greatest Nintendo Direct Mini Partner Showcase of June 2022. It may not have been the E3 blowout most were expecting, but to say that Nintendo brought the goods would be an understatement. The Big N corralled an amazing lineup of third-party development partners with an assortment of big reveals, from well-known fan favorites like Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak to surprise reveals like NieR: Automata. It may not mean much, but this was easily the best Partner Showcase yet–it even managed to make Sonic Forces look good, and that’s no mean feat!
And this all leads to the news that many have been waiting for since the Switch made its debut way back in 2017: Persona 5 Royal, Persona 4 Golden, and Persona 3 Portable are all coming to Switch in the near future. Yes, we know that life will change, and it has changed for the better. The Switch has officially become the best console for JRPGs, such that we spend an exhaustive segment just listing out all the great adventures at home on Nintendo’s hybrid platform!
Let’s be honest, you never saw it coming. This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill react to the latest and greatest Nintendo Direct Mini Partner Showcase of June 2022. It may not have been the E3 blowout most were expecting, but to say that Nintendo brought the goods would be an understatement. The Big N corralled an amazing lineup of third-party development partners with an assortment of big reveals, from well-known fan favorites like Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak to surprise reveals like NieR: Automata. It may not mean much, but this was easily the best Partner Showcase yet–it even managed to make Sonic Forces look good, and that’s no mean feat!
And this all leads to the news that many have been waiting for since the Switch made its debut way back in 2017: Persona 5 Royal, Persona 4 Golden, and Persona 3 Portable are all coming to Switch in the near future. Yes, we know that life will change, and it has changed for the better. The Switch has officially become the best console for JRPGs, such that we spend an exhaustive segment just listing out all the great adventures at home on Nintendo’s hybrid platform!
That’s just some of what the gang explores in this deep-dive discussion of every single announcement from the June Nintendo Direct Mini Partner Showcase!
This episode of the NXpress Nintendo Podcast is brought to you by MANSCAPED™, the best company in men’s below-the-waist grooming. Use discount code STOMP on your next order at manscaped.com to receive 20% off and free worldwide shipping!
You can listen to our show on Stitcher | iTunes | Podbean | Spotify | Listen Notes | iHeartRadio | Player FM | Amazon Audible
Playlist:LFXIV – NXpress Intro00:43 – Event: Nintendo Direct Mini Partner Showcase Discussion“Life Goes On” – Persona 528:00 – Event: Nintendo Direct Mini Partner Showcase Discussion“Take Over” – Persona 5 Royal
Saturday Jun 25, 2022
Saturday Jun 25, 2022
Cowabunga it is. This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill react to the Nintendo Direct that absolutely everyone was waiting for (sarcasm intended) and review what might just be another GotY contender on Switch. The gang starts out by reacting to the Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Direct with a perfectly balanced slate of impressions: whether or not you chose to watch this much-anticipated Direct or you’re holding out for that elusive general Direct, the hosts serve up a slate of hot takes for what’s sure to be one of the summer’s biggest games.
After that, it’s time for the hosts to dish out the spiciest of takes regarding Aspyr’s unpatched, apparently known game-breaking bug that makes it completely impossible to finish the new Switch version of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords. How did this ever get past QA? As always, let’s blame capitalism.
Closing things on a much more radical note, the gang grab their pizza and ninja gear to review the long-awaited Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge. This beat ’em up from Dotemu and Tribute Games is every bit as good as we’d hoped, and then some: whether you grew up with the Turtles in the 80s, 90s, or 2000s, this bodacious brawler has a little something for everyone (plus one of this year’s best soundtracks). It’s the perfect multiplayer bash for two thirds of podcast hosts!
Cowabunga it is. This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill react to the Nintendo Direct that absolutely everyone was waiting for (sarcasm intended) and review what might just be another GotY contender on Switch. The gang starts out by reacting to the Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Direct with a perfectly balanced slate of impressions: whether or not you chose to watch this much-anticipated Direct or you’re holding out for that elusive general Direct, the hosts serve up a slate of hot takes for what’s sure to be one of the summer’s biggest games.
After that, it’s time for the hosts to dish out the spiciest of takes regarding Aspyr’s unpatched, apparently known game-breaking bug that makes it completely impossible to finish the new Switch version of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords. How did this ever get past QA? As always, let’s blame capitalism.
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Closing things on a much more radical note, the gang grab their pizza and ninja gear to review the long-awaited Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge. This beat ’em up from Dotemu and Tribute Games is every bit as good as we’d hoped, and then some: whether you grew up with the Turtles in the 80s, 90s, or 2000s, this bodacious brawler has a little something for everyone (plus one of this year’s best soundtracks). It’s the perfect multiplayer bash for two thirds of podcast hosts!
This episode of the NXpress Nintendo Podcast is brought to you by MANSCAPED™, the best company in men’s below-the-waist grooming. Use discount code STOMP on your next order at manscaped.com to receive 20% off and free worldwide shipping!
You can listen to our show on YouTube | Stitcher | iTunes | Podbean | Spotify | Listen Notes | iHeartRadio | Player FM | Amazon Audible
Playlist:LFXIV – NXpress Intro00:43 – Opening: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Direct Discussion“Panic in the Skies” – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge28:00 – Talking Point: Aspyr and the Game-Breaking KOTOR 2 Glitch40:00 – Main Event: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge Review“Title Theme” – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
Sunday Dec 19, 2021
NXpress Nintendo Podcast 262: Indie World December 2021 Reactions
Sunday Dec 19, 2021
Sunday Dec 19, 2021
This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill serve up a compact yet jam-packed episode brimming with hot takes about Nintendo’s last Direct presentation of the year, December 15’s Indie World showcase. Stuffed with incredible indie games from start to finish, this latest direct had a little something for everyone (especially if you’re a fan of a certain pup with a paintbrush). Starting things off with a bang with the Chrono Trigger spiritual successor Sea of Stars, the gang walks through every announcement of the show, including the emotional gut punch of After Love EP, the delightful surprise of Dungeon Munchies, the boardgame mysteries of Let’s Play! Oink Games, and the horrifying debut of Omori. There may not have been a giant dump of shadow drop releases as in previous directs, but at least Spring 2022 will be positively stacked!
In the final segment, Cameron takes a break from all the indie conversation by talking about another indie game–none other than Devolver Digital’s Loop Hero, which has just made its long-awaited debut on Switch. As tough as it may be to put into words, Loop Hero delivers a strategic experience unlike anything else on the market–and of course, it’s a perfect fit for Switch!
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: Indie World December 2021 Reactions“The Town of Luncheon” – Chicory: a Colorful Tale44:00 – Indie Spotlight: Loop Hero“Title” – Loop Hero
Friday Oct 15, 2021
Friday Oct 15, 2021
This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, longtime Goomba Stomp writer and former editor Mike Worby joins Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill to review the long-awaited Metroid Dread. Over a decade in the making, Nintendo has teamed up with Mercurysteam once again to officially revive the 2D Metroid formula, and Mike walks the hosts through everything that makes Dread such a triumphant comeback. Stuffed with secrets in its sprawling map and posing plenty of challenge in its many boss battles, Metroid Dread isn’t just a successful revival of a dormant series, but it pushes its genre forward with bold new ideas – even including a few ideas from series like Dark Souls. In any case, whether you’re a series veteran like Mike or a newcomer like Marc, there’s no denying that Samus’s latest mission has all the makings of a modern classic.
Next up, Marc takes the gang on a throwback tribute to celebrate the glory days of Pac-Man with a review of Pac-Man: Birth of an Icon, a beautifully made book commemorating the fortieth anniversary of one of gaming’s most recognizable icons. This week’s closing spotlight ends on a high note as Campbell reviews the recent Switch version of Tetris Effect Connected, a technically faithful port of the most memorable and musical take on the Tetris formula.
You can listen to our show on YouTube | Stitcher | iTunes | Podbean | Spotify | Listen Notes | iHeartRadio | Player FM | Amazon Audible
Playlist:LFXIV – NXpress Intro00:46 – Main Event: Metroid Dread Review“Theme of Samus Aran” – Metroid Dread45:45 – Talking Point: Pac-Man: Birth of an Icon“Pac-Man (Club Mix)” – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate1:02:35 – Spotlight: Tetris Effect Connected on Switch“Classic Score Attack” – Tetris Effect Connected
Friday Sep 10, 2021
NXpress Nintendo Podcast 248: What Is A Metroidvania, Anyway?
Friday Sep 10, 2021
Friday Sep 10, 2021
This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill tackle one of life’s biggest questions – just what is a metroidvania, really? Before getting to that, though, the gang takes a moment to appreciate the recently-announced Lego Mario 64 set, an incredible tribute to one of the greatest games of all time that presents enticing possibilities as to what the future could hold for collaborations between the Big N and Lego.
In the Main Event, the hosts celebrate the impending release of Metroid Dread with a wide-ranging discussion about all things metroidvania, sharing their experiences with the genre, their hopes for its future, and their opinions about what makes a game a metroidvania. From the beginnings of the genre with Super Metroid and Symphony of the Night all the way to modern classics like Hollow Knight, the metroidvania genre has played host to some of the very best games of the past few decades, and for all the hosts’ hopes, questions, and issues, there’s no telling where it might go next–until we get our hands on Metroid Dread, at least.
You can listen to our show on YouTube | Stitcher | iTunes | Podbean | Spotify | Listen Notes | iHeartRadio | Player FM | Amazon Audible
Playlist:LFXIV – NXpress Intro00:41 – Opening Topic: Lego Super Mario 64 Set“Title Theme” – No More Heroes16:55 – Talking Point: What Is a Metroidvania?“Start The Battle” – No More Heroes III38:30 – Indie Spotlight: Hoa“Credits” – No More Heroes
Friday Jul 30, 2021
Friday Jul 30, 2021
Pokemon Unite Switch Review
This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill pick up their phones for a mobile-centric extravaganza highlighting the Pokemon Company’s biggest addition to the Switch and mobile library, Pokemon Unite. Before that, though, the gang kicks things off by paying their respects to the recently-deceased Dr. Mario World, the latest sign of Nintendo’s changing and shifting approach to mobile game development. With the Big N’s success in the mobile landscape being mixed at best, just what lies on the horizon for Nintendo titles beyond the Switch?
Next up, the hosts head to the Aeos Islands region as Marc reviews Pokemon Unite, the results of Tencent and The Pokemon Company’s grand mobile collaboration. MOBAs may not be the most accessible genre around, but Unite manages to make its battle arena gameplay simple to grasp with familiar characters and streamlined mechanics. Cameron closes out the show with a comprehensive look at Eldest Souls, an unabashedly soulslike indie boss rush title that blends the frenetic combat of Hyper Light Drifter and solemn battles of Shadow of the Colossus into an uncompromisingly brutal yet satisfying mix.
You can listen to our show on YouTube | Stitcher | iTunes | Podbean | Spotify | Listen Notes | iHeartRadio | Player FM | Amazon Audible
Playlist:LFXIV – NXpress Intro00:40 – Nintendosage: What does Dr. Mario World shut down mean for Nintendo?“Fever” – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate17:30 – Main Event: Pokemon Unite Review“Title Theme” – Pokémon Unite40:00 – Indie Spotlight: Eldest Souls“Burning Battlefield” – Pokémon Season 1