Ep.253 – A Bear, A Bird, and a Classic - The Story of Banjo-Kazooie
In this week’s episode, we explore the whimsical world of Banjo-Kazooie (1998), Rare’s beloved 3D platformer that helped define the Nintendo 64 era. We trace its surprising evolution from a scrapped RPG called Project Dream into a genre-defining collect-a-thon starring a bear and a bird. Along the way, we look at how Rare pivoted in response to Super Mario 64, embraced exploration over precision platforming, and created one of gaming’s most iconic duos. We also touch on the legacy of the series, the controversial Nuts & Bolts, and Banjo’s continued presence in games like Super Smash Bros. It’s a nostalgic celebration of creativity, reinvention, and the golden age of Rare.
Find out more at https://a-trip-down-memory-card-lane.pinecast.co
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Ep.252 – Sanity Slips Away - The Psychological Horror of Eternal Darkness
Today, we’re descending into the depths of Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem, the 2002 GameCube classic that dared to blur the line between player and character. We begin by exploring how Canadian developer Silicon Knights transitioned from strategy games to psychological horror under the guidance of Denis Dyack, with Eternal Darkness evolving from a Nintendo 64 project into one of the GameCube’s most ambitious launch titles. Along the way, we examine the game’s Lovecraftian influences, complex narrative spanning centuries, and groundbreaking sanity system that played tricks on players’ minds in unforgettable ways. Though it struggled commercially, its critical acclaim and cult following secured its legacy as a pioneer in interactive horror. So steel your nerves and question your reality—it’s time for a sanity-shattering trip down Memory Card Lane!
Find out more at https://a-trip-down-memory-card-lane.pinecast.co
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Ep.251 – Scalpel, Please - The Story of Trauma Center (with Ryan Shepherd)
Today, we’re scrubbing in for a deep dive into the Trauma Center series, Atlus’ bold foray into surgical simulation that began with Under the Knife on the Nintendo DS. We begin by exploring how a team of RPG veterans—best known for their work on Shin Megami Tensei and Persona—pivoted from demons and dungeons to scalpels and styluses, inspired by the DS’s touchscreen to create something truly different. Then we follow the franchise’s evolution across consoles and concepts, from the Wii’s motion-controlled Second Opinion and its co-op sequel New Blood, to the return-to-form Under the Knife 2, and finally the genre-blending, multi-discipline drama Trauma Team. Along the way, we highlight how science fiction, high-stakes gameplay, and emotional storytelling helped these games carve out a unique niche. So steady your hand and grab your stylus—it’s time for today’s life-saving trip down Memory Card Lane!
Find out more at https://a-trip-down-memory-card-lane.pinecast.co
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Ep.250 – Hail to the Wait - The Long Road to Duke Nukem Forever
Today, we’re tracing the radioactive legacy of Duke Nukem Forever, the infamously delayed sequel that became the poster child for development hell. We begin by revisiting the success of Duke Nukem 3D and how 3D Realms’ ambition to create a bigger, bolder follow-up spiraled into a 15-year odyssey of missed deadlines, engine swaps, and studio turmoil. Along the way, we explore how shifting technology and industry standards turned anticipation into parody, culminating in Gearbox Software’s eventual rescue and the game’s long-awaited—but divisive—2011 release. So grab your shades and ego boost for today’s long-delayed trip down Memory Card Lane!Hail to the Wait - The Long Road to Duke Nukem Forever
Find out more at https://a-trip-down-memory-card-lane.pinecast.co
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Ep.249 – Ribbit and Rage - The Legacy of Battletoads
Today, we’re leaping into the outrageous world of Battletoads, Rare’s 1991 beat-‘em-up that combined over-the-top action with punishing difficulty and a heavy dose of ‘90s attitude. We begin by exploring how Rare’s founders reverse-engineered the Famicom to win over Nintendo, setting the stage for their prolific NES era. Then, we’ll dive into the origins of Battletoads as a deliberate attempt to rival the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—complete with edgy humor, gross-out names, and brutally creative levels. Finally, we’ll chart the series’ evolution across Game Boy, SNES, arcade, and modern reboots, and reflect on its cult legacy as one of gaming’s most notoriously difficult franchises. So grab your speeder bike and brace yourself for the Turbo Tunnel on today’s radical trip down Memory Card Lane!
Find out more at https://a-trip-down-memory-card-lane.pinecast.co
Would you like to learn new things about your favorite video games, and the people who create them?
A Trip Down Memory Card Lane is a weekly video game history podcast that uses the current week in gaming history as a guide to tell you interesting stories about the history of video games, gaming consoles, game designers, the gaming studios they've founded, and more.
Join hosts David Kassin and Robert Kassin as they take an often-chronological look at the people, companies, technologies, and developmental processes that have helped bring your favorite video games to life on each week's trip down Memory Card Lane.
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