The NXpress Nintendo Podcast
Pokemon
Episodes
Sunday Nov 27, 2022
Sunday Nov 27, 2022
Mixed feelings, I choose you! This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill are joined by friend of the show and Pokemon expert Bradley (AKA Yoshiller) to dive deep into their thoughts on the latest and quite possibly greatest entries in the Pokemon franchise, Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. In this wide-ranging discussion, the panel dissects the games in all their glitchy glory by asking the big questions: is its open-world gameplay loop an improvement from previous games? How does the Tera mechanic work, and how does it affect competitive play? Does the lineup of included Pokemon meet expectations? And of course, the Cufant in the room: how bad is the performance really.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet may be trending on Twitter nonstop for all its insane glitches, but under the technically iffy surface lies one of the best Pokemon games in recent memory. The hosts share their varying experiences with the franchise leading up to this newest entry: whether you’re in it for the competitive mechanics, new Pokemon, or just the sweet vibes, the Paldea region truly does have it all, leading to the most refined Pokemon gameplay loop in years.
While the hosts grapple with the mountains of technical issues plaguing the game, at the end of the conversation, its clear that Pokemon fans will have something special to look forward to in Scarlet and Violet. All this and so much more in this Terastallized discussion!
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!
Friday Aug 05, 2022
Friday Aug 05, 2022
RPG overload, I choose you! This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill return from their brief hiatus for an episode packed to the brim with roleplaying delights. The gang starts out by reacting to the latest Pokemon Presents showcase, which gave us so much more than just an adorable bread dog: alongside a bundle of exhilarating mobile game updates, we also got a deep dive into the fascinating world of Scarlet and Violet with a presentation that might have given us more questions than answers. Will we have access to the legendary Pokémon right from the start? How will the three stories work in the open world environment? Will we ever be able to use the Pokéball Plus controller again? Only time will tell, and there’s always time for Game Freak to hurt us again.
Next up, we keep the monster-catching fun going by reviewing Coromon, an RPG that takes just a little inspiration from Pokémon. It may not be the most original adventure around, but it’s plenty of good fun with beautiful graphics, deep combat, and engaging exploration for those who want a lovely little RPG to tide them over until we’re graced with Scarlet and Violent.
Last but most definitely not least, Campbell celebrates the lost masterpiece that is Live a Live, the formerly Japan-exclusive RPG that has finally received its international debut with an HD-2D remake. This 1994 classic has not only become one of the most beautiful games on Switch thanks to its stunning graphical upgrade, but the core content shines brighter than ever: this is one of the most inventive RPGs from the genre’s golden age in the 90s, and its unconventional gameplay structure and deep worldbuilding still deserve to be played by all genre aficionados.
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Playlist:LFXIV – NXpress Intro00:43 – Opening: Pokémon Presents Reaction“Legendary Battle” – Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu & Let’s Go Eevee22:50 – Indie Spotlight: Coromon“Dive” – Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire43:30 – Live a Live Review“Near Future Opening” – Live a Live
Thursday Jun 02, 2022
Thursday Jun 02, 2022
Here at NXpress Towers, we believe in Lechonk supremacy. This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill celebrate what would have been the first week of E3 season by sharing a mix of hot takes and first impressions. The hosts kick things off by reacting to the latest trailers for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet and, most controversially, Sonic Frontiers. Big shocker: Pokemon is packed with cute pocket monsters that have set Twitter on fire, and Sonic Frontiers has seemingly already botched its massive potential with an extraordinarily underwhelming seven-minute gameplay trailer. In other news: water is wet.
After so much breaking news, it’s time to go for a blast from the past, so Marc and Campbell give their thoughts on two of the latest retro collections to hit the market. Marc reviews Pac-Man Museum +, which may have a few perplexing design decisions that hamper its convenience and accessibility, but it’s still an admirable lineup for fans of one of gaming’s most recognizable arcade icons. Next up, Campbell spotlights the Wonder Boy Collection, a compilation of some of the unsung heroes of the platforming history–an excellent lineup for platforming fans, but one that also suffers from some bizarre design decisions.
Lastly, it’s time for the usual indie spotlight, so Marc and Cameron dive into the darkly aquatic world of Silt. This may be the most terrifying game ever made for thalassophobes, but it’s nonetheless an excellent atmospheric adventure for players who’ve enjoyed titles like INSIDE and Limbo in the past.
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Playlist:LFXIV – NXpress Intro00:43 – Opening: Pokémon and Sonic Frontiers Preview Discussion“Viridian Forest” – Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu & Let’s Go Eevee20:20 – Main Event: Pac-Man Museum+ and Wonder Boy Collection Review“Japanese Title Theme” – Pac-Mania47:20 – Indie Spotlight: Silt Review“Adventure” – Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap
Friday Mar 11, 2022
NXpress Nintendo Podcast 275: Should Triangle Strategy Put You to Sleep?
Friday Mar 11, 2022
Friday Mar 11, 2022
Triangle Strategy Impressions
This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill share their thoughts on some of the biggest recent Switch releases and look ahead to the inevitable Game of the Year. Cameron and Marc kick things off by sharing their early impressions of Triangle Strategy, the latest brilliantly named HD-2D experience from Square Enix. The question soon arises: is Triangle Strategy poised to be the long-awaited spiritual successor to Final Fantasy Tactics, or is it more like the Silmarillion of the strategy genre? Its extraordinarily slow pace and exposition-heavy dialogue might make the hosts’ eyelids heavy, but they hold out hope for it to pick up the tension later in the campaign.
The show takes a detour to a therapy session as Campbell airs his grievances about the extraordinarily disappointing action game, Aztech Forgotten Gods. This game might have demonstrated so much potential back in its early announcement trailers, but the finished product squanders all its ambition through a dreary open world, rough combat system, and an excruciatingly heavy-handed narrative. And that’s not mentioning how hideous it is on Switch–take a look at the screenshot at the bottom of this post to see the horrors for yourself, although we take no responsibility for any trauma that may ensue.
After all the disappointments in the show so far, the hosts cleanse their palattes to discuss what is sure to be 2022’s greatest game, Kirby and the Forgotten Land. Cameron, Marc, and Campbell sure have a mouthful of praise for the game’s recent demo on Switch!
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Playlist:LFXIV – NXpress Intro00:43 – Main event: Triangle Strategy Impressions“Main Theme” – Triangle Strategy29:30 – Indie Spotlight: Aztech Forgotten Gods Rant“Menu Theme” – Kirby and the Rainbow Curse46:30 – Kirby and the Forgotten Land Impressions“The Rest Area” – Kirby and the Rainbow Curse
Wednesday Mar 02, 2022
NXpress Nintendo Podcast 274: Should We Be Excited for Pokémon Gen 9?
Wednesday Mar 02, 2022
Wednesday Mar 02, 2022
Industry oversaturation, I choose you! This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill react to the announcement of Pokémon Gen 9, discuss the spiciest reincarnation of Switch Pro rumors, discuss Nintendo’s implementation of a trophy-esque rewards system for Switch Online, and review the adventure of a very good dog.
Starting things out with the recent Pokémon Presents showcase, the gang runs through the event’s many minor announcements (who could forget the 2.5-year anniversary of Pokémon Masters EX?) before getting to the real main event: the reveal of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, set for release later this year. Of course, with only a month passed since the launch of Pokémon Legends Arceus, the schedule of Gen 9 leads the hosts to ask the natural question: do we even need these games in 2022? The hosts have more than a few mixed feelings, but the powers of apple dinosaur and pompa-duck may win them over for the next generation of pocket-monster-catching after all.
With everyone’s Pokémon rants out of the way, the gang discusses the recent datamine hinting at the existence of a Switch Pro, suggesting that a hardware revision for Nintendo’s hybrid wonder might be in the works after all–and in other news, water is wet. This naturally leads the boys to share their thoughts on Nintendo’s recently announced missions and rewards system for Switch Online, which might not be as robust as the trophy and achievements systems on other platforms, but could still provide a healthy incentive to return to some of NSO’s legacy content.
Wrapping things up on an uplifting note, the gang gushes over Grapple Dog, an adorable and acrobatic platformer where you can pet the dog. Really, that’s all that needs to be said.
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Playlist:LFXIV – NXpress Intro00:52 – Main event: Pokémon Presents and Gen 9 Reactions“Burning Battlefield” – Pokémon Season 131:20 – Switch Pro Rumors + NSO Missions and Rewards System Discussions“Bonneton” – Super Mario Odyssey43:30 – Indie Games Spotlight – Grapple Dog“Proceed” – Grapple Dog
Sunday Feb 13, 2022
NXpress Nintendo Podcast 271: Pokemon Legends: Arceus Review
Sunday Feb 13, 2022
Sunday Feb 13, 2022
Pokemon Legends: Arceus Review
This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, Campbell Gill and special guest Yoshiller keep the fun going after their Direct discussion with an in-depth exploration of the good, the bad, and the (literally) ugly of Pokemon Legends Arceus! What begins as a cheerful celebration of everything the game does right soon delves into the deeper issues posed by this radical departure from the traditional Pokemon franchise.
Pokemon Legends Arceus might just be the most revolutionary entry the series has ever had, but does that give it a free pass to leave out vital accessibility and quality features? What impact will it have on the franchise as a whole? Will it splinter the fanbase going forward? What features will we see carried over into Gen 9? Yoshiller and the hosts answer all these questions and more in this expansive expedition into Arceus.
Make sure you don’t miss this week’s previous episode, where Yoshiller and the hosts describe everything you need to know about the stunning February 2022 Nintendo Direct.
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Playlist:LFXIV – NXpress Intro01:02 – Main event: Pokémon Legends: Arceus Review“Warden Battle” – Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Friday Nov 26, 2021
Friday Nov 26, 2021
This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill ring in the holiday season with a jam-packed show full of hot takes and shopping tips. Before all that, though, the gang starts things out with a discussion of the recently-released letter from Microsoft offering to purchase Nintendo. Just what does this rejected offer say about Microsoft’s approach to getting games on the original Xbox, and how would history have been different had the Big N accepted?
Moving on to the Main Event, Marc and Campbell share their mixed thoughts about Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl–and saying it’s a mixed bag would likely be an understatement! Despite Diamond and Pearl being some of the most beloved Pokémon titles of the past 15 years, these remakes leave plenty to be desired–from big-picture topics like graphics and random encounters all the way down to something as simple as walking Pokémon. Even the most nostalgic fans may find themselves taking issue with this revamp, so it seems that not even the glories of a wild Bidoof could save this project.
The gang ends the show on a high note by sharing their picks for this year’s holiday stocking stuffers–whether you want to give the gift of hours of puzzling bliss or the potential for learning a new skill, the hosts have you covered for picking out the perfect gaming-themed presents ahead of Black Friday.
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Playlist:LFXIV – NXpress Intro00:45 – Opening Topic: Microsoft’s Offer for Nintendo“Vs. Dialga/Palkia” – Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl14:50 – Main Event: Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Review“Battle! Team Galactic Commanders” – Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl48:35 – Closing Topic: Holiday Stocking Stuffers“Route 209” – Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
Thursday Sep 23, 2021
NXpress Nintendo Podcast 250: Indieland 2021 And Epilogue GB Operator Review
Thursday Sep 23, 2021
Thursday Sep 23, 2021
This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill are joined by TOVG producer Michael Barryte for a jam-packed indie extravaganza episode. Michael kicks things off with a behind-the-scenes look at Indieland 2021, a charity live stream starring the Completionist and a host of indie developers around the globe raising money to support dementia research and treatment. Not only does the show support a good cause, but it also showcases a hugely diverse lineup of indies ranging from recent hits like Axiom Verge 2 and Toem to deeper cuts like Blossom Tales and Revita. Michael gives the hosts a deep dive behind the scenes, providing a thorough look at what it takes to put a program together.
Indies take a backseat in the next segment, as Marc takes center stage to celebrate the incredible Epilogue GB Operator, a groundbreaking devices that lets you play Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games in full 4k on the device and control setup of your choice. Whether you’re looking to homebrew your own creations or simply re-experience some nostalgic favorites, Epilogue’s peripheral is sure to deliver everything you’re aiming for–and more. Lastly, Cameron gives a quick spotlight on Toem, an idyllic Swedish photography adventure that feels like a playable breath of fresh air.
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 Topic: Indieland Discussion“Title Theme” – Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga34:40 – Talking Point: Epilogue GB Operator Review“Mom’s Hometown” – Mother 350:00 – Toem Indie Snippet“Title” – Pokémon Fire Red
Friday Aug 20, 2021
Friday Aug 20, 2021
This week on the NXpress Nintendo Podcast, Cameron Daxon, Marc Kaliroff, and Campbell Gill tackle a supersized episode packed with reactions about all things Pokémon and reviews of every new indie under the sun. Starting things off, all boys break down all there is to know about the recent Pokémon Presents showcase, from the bevy of updates for the countless Pokémon mobile games to massive blowouts on Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl and Pokémon Legends Arceus.
Next up, the gan dive into an indie game extravaganza as each host reviews many of the most notable indies that released following the most recent Indie World presentation. Campbell kicks things off with a deep dive into Boyfriend Dungeon and the perhaps overblown controversy surrounding it, while Cameron provides a wholesome break with the wonderfully wholesome Garden Story. Meanwhile, Marc takes the hosts on an island vacation with Islanders: Console Edition, before Campbell gives another breakdown about the surprisingly bold sequel Axiom Verge 2. Closing things out, Marc provides a look at Pile Up!
You can listen to our show on YouTube | Stitcher | iTunes | Podbean | Spotify | Listen Notes | iHeartRadio | Player FM | Amazon Audible
Playlist:LFXIV – NXpress Intro00:59 – Opening Topic: Pokémon Presents Discussion“Vs. Trainer” – Pokémon Diamond and Pearl25:50 – Indie Spotlight: Boyfriend Dungeon, Garden Story, Islanders, Axiom Verge 2, Pile Up!“Battle! Team Galactic Boss” – Pokémon Diamond and Pearl
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.
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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