Main Quest Podcast

The Games That Owned Me in 2025 (Game of the Year)

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 SHOW NOTES Episode 112 - Final Fantasy VIII A Review: Issue #12 Super Metroid: Recipe For A Classic Slice The Main Quest is brought to you by the supporters on Patreon SeekYeWisdom - Chris Coplien - Eric Gess - XeroSam - LowFiveAlex - Vanfernal - Leathco - RyanPlayerOne - Poppy The Masked Keaton - Lars Uncle - B-Ross - Aiden Bisco - Raging Demon - Rob Worthen The intro and outro was supplied by the artist Adhesive Wombat from the 2016 album Sticky Tracks To easily submit your own Retro Recollections or hang out with other like-minded gamers, come join the Discord Subscribe: RSS | YouTube | Apple | Spotify | and More

Game Of The Year Symposium II

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 thoughtful, funny, and honest look at why we still care about celebrating the games we love. THE SHOW NOTES Catch Up With Last Year's Discussion Find & support my guests: Matt Storm | Fun & Games/ Reignite Kade Call | Gaming Memories Phil Morgan | Deleted Saves Eric Gess | The Unlockables The Main Quest is brought to you by the supporters on Patreon SeekYeWisdom - Chris Coplien - Eric Gess - XeroSam - LowFiveAlex - Vanfernal - Leathco - RyanPlayerOne - Poppy The Masked Keaton - Lars Uncle - B-Ross - Aiden Bisco - Raging Demon - Rob Worthen The intro and outro was supplied by the artist Adhesive Wombat from the 2016 album Sticky Tracks Subscribe: RSS | YouTube | Apple | Spotify | and More

Super Smash T.V.: When Life Gives You D-Pads...

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 classic. We compare it to the arcade original, and debate how well the console version translates without true twin sticks. WARP ZONES We're Playing Remnant 2/Space Marine 2 and Titan Souls (5:12) Development (26:26) Previous History's (53:15) Story & Gameplay (59:21) Presentation (1:35:40) Final Thoughts (1:44:13) THE SHOW NOTES Find & support my guest over on Twitch Smash T.V. cover performed by Medley Man The Main Quest is brought to you by the supporters on Patreon SeekYeWisdom - Chris Coplien - Eric Gess - XeroSam - LowFiveAlex - Vanfernal - Leathco - RyanPlayerOne - Poppy The Masked Keaton - Lars Uncle - B-Ross - Aiden Bisco - Raging Demon - Rob Worthen The intro and outro was supplied by the artist Adhesive Wombat from the 2016 album Sticky Tracks To easily submit your own Retro Recollections or hang out with other like-minded gamers, come join the Discord Subscribe: RSS | YouTube | Apple | Spotify | and More

Super Mario World: The Obligatory Episode

What's left to say about Super Mario World? I'm finally doing the damn thing with returning guest Eric Gess (The Unlockables, 9 To 5 Bears). Instead of regurgitating the same analysis, we break the game down by "worlds", exploring its timeless design, hidden secrets, and why it still feels perfect decades later. We're heavy on the nostalgia, dumb jokes, and a few spicy takes on why Mario 3 might not actually be the king. WARP ZONES Guest Intro (2:43) World 1: Previous Histories (12:43) World 2: Discoverability (35:16) World 3: Gameplay (58:30) World 4: Vibes and Presentation (1:15:08) World 5: Legacy (1:36:40) World 6: Throat Goat (1:55:33) World : Final Thoughts (2:3:59) THE SHOW NOTES Find & support my guest over at Unlockables | 9 To 5 Bears Sonic Raving VS Mario Kart World The Main Quest is brought to you by the supporters on Patreon SeekYeWisdom - Chris Coplien - Eric Gess - XeroSam - LowFiveAlex - Vanfernal - Leathco - RyanPlayerOne - Poppy The Masked Keaton - Lars Uncle - B-Ross - Aiden Bisco - Raging Demon - Rob Worthen The intro and outro was supplied by the artist Adhesive Wombat from the 2016 album Sticky Tracks To easily submit your own Retro Recollections or hang out with other like-minded gamers, come join the Discord Subscribe: RSS | YouTube | Apple | Spotify | and More

Super Metroid: Recipe For A Classic Slice

In this Ghoulcade finale, I am joined by Matt Storm and Chris Dominguez to dissect Nintendo's 1994 masterpiece, Super Metroid. From development hurdles and poor sales to speedrunning innovations and the infamous Meridia, my crew debates whether Super Metroid truly deserves its legendary status. Along the way, we share personal histories, hot takes, and community recollections that cover everything from Chozo jump scares to why Samus might secretly be gaming's most terrifying protagonist... WARP ZONES Intros (3:22) Previous History (14:33) Development (26:28) Retro Recollections (51:15) Story (57:15) Gameplay (1:15:00) Ridley's Believe It Or Not! (2:00:15) Presentation (2:09:15) Final Thoughts (2:19:13) THE SHOW NOTES Find & support my guests: Matt Storm - Fun and Games | Reignite Chris Dominguez - A Novel Console | Consoles N Stuff The Main Quest is brought to you by the supporters on Patreon SeekYeWisdom - Chris Coplien - Eric Gess - XeroSam - LowFiveAlex - Vanfernal - Leathco - RyanPlayerOne - Poppy The Masked Keaton - Lars Uncle - B-Ross - Aiden Bisco - Raging Demon - Rob Worthen To easily submit your own Retro Recollections or hang out with other like-minded gamers, come join the Discord Subscribe: RSS | YouTube | Apple | Spotify | and More