Shine Get! A Video Game Collecting Podcast

What's Next for Xbox?

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:12:42 +0000

XBOX has been on a heck of a brand trajectory over the last several decades. From plucky upstart on launch to the market dominance of the Xbox 360 to the slow decline of the One into the Series it's been nothing short of a roller coaster. Cal & Murph discuss what went wrong and what could be coming next. What the heck is up with Project Helix anyways?

Episode #42

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Weird, Wonderful & Useless Video Game Peripherals

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 17:20:17 +0000

Video game history is full of just plain strange video game peripherals. The Power Glove, the DK Bongos, the GameBoy Printer & more. On this one, Cal & Murph discuss some of their favorites!

Episode #41

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Is It Worth it to Collect for the Wii U?

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 15:39:04 +0000

The Wii U has a complex history - stumbling right out of the gate, it went on to be decently supported by Nintendo & few others. Over a decade removed from its launch, what is collecting and playing on the system like in 2026?

Episode #40

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Pokemon Games are Stupid Expensive with Dan (ModAnon)!

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:16:25 +0000

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Cal has always loved Pokemon - but for this one, he needs some help. Friend of the show Dan joins to talk about their love of all-things Pokemon. Murph isn't that caught up - so we get to educate him on how much these dang games cost these days.

Episode #39

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It's Okay to Sell Your Video Games.

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 14:45:39 +0000

Simply sell stuff. Cal has been thinking about the size of his video game collection, along with others he has, & is looking to downsize. How did he get here? What will he do? Plus, how does Murph feel about his collections? He has a sick plan for 2026.

Episode #38

Every Game We Played in 2025

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 17:19:12 +0000

YEAR IN REVIEW!! As 2025 comes to an end, Cal & Murph can't help but look back on their year in gaming. Which games did they play that stuck with them the most? What were the highs and the lows? We discuss!

Episode 37

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Ranking Console Boot Ups!

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 16:25:38 +0000

There's few things in video games more memorable than a console's venerable boot up sound. We hear it ever time we start gaming and some have even entered larger cultural consciousness. On this one, Cal & Murph tier-list an arbitrary list of console boot ups. Join us.

Episode #36

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The Varied History of Backwards Compatibility

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 15:28:50 +0000

Cal & Murph love backwards compatible consoles. As the industry has changed and evolved, ability to play older games on your newer consoles has waxed and waned. On this one, we talk through how different manufacturer's obviously value it differently and which consoles do it the very best.

Episode #35

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Unfun Sections of Good Games

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 05:06:55 +0000

On this one, Cal & Murph discuss the parts of great games that they don't like as much. Join us as we discuss common friction points from titles that we - other than a bit here and there - completely loved. Not trying to be negative, it was just a fun idea. :) Thanks for listening!

Episode #34

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Video Game Consoles We DON'T Want In Our Collections!

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 12:34:12 +0000

Cal & Murph love to collect video games. They also love to collect consoles! There ARE consoles they won't collect for though - what are they? It turns out, even the consoles they "won't" collect for, they're still interested in, but just can't get around to it. Listen to them discuss why these consoles just don't hit the mark for their interests!

Episode #33

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0:00 - Intro

3:05 - Virtual Boy

8:50 - Atari 2600

14:30 - NES

22:05 - Playstation Vita

31:38 - Sega Dreamcast

39:44 - Atari Jaguar

44:05 - Game Boy Micro / Sega Nomad

53:10 - Sega CD

1:00:00 - Recent Pickups

Physical vs. Digital Video Games!

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 15:01:17 +0000

When you're buying a video game, you often have to make an immediate decision: do you want the game physically or digitally? Collecting makes the thought a little bit easier and some games are literally only available physically, but there are downsides to having to keep track of something. Cal & Murph discuss what they buy, how, and why.

Episode 32

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0:00 - Intro

0:42 - Main Topic

1:35 - How do We Decide What We Buy?

6:00 - The Difficulty & Ease of Digital Games

16:40 - Lets Talk Nintendo

24:50 - Digital Media Induces Decision Paralysis

29:24 - The Intentionality of Physical Things

31:10 - Storing Any Game is Annoying

40:20 - Modern Physical Games Aren't Real

47:14 - Video Game Preservation (Or Lack Thereof)

55:45 - Recent Pickups

Getting Into the Final Fantasy Series with Paige (TheMaverickGirl)!

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 13:22:26 +0000

The Final Fantasy series can be daunting for a new player. 16 numbered games, tons of spinoffs, and more gameplay styles than you can shake a stick at is a lot to take in for any gamer. So where to start? In this special episode, Cal and Murph are joined by special guest and Final Fantasy aficionado Paige Smith, AKA TheMaverickGirl, to talk about the highs and lows of the series, what makes it special, and why it's something every fan of video games should at least try.

Episode #313

Ranking Cal's Entire GameCube Console Collection

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 12:59:08 +0000

On this episode Cal is the star, because that's right, we're taking an in depth look at every single GameCube he owns! From a Panasonic Q to a dev kit to a 1 in 50 Heineken GameCube, Cal and Murph go over all of them, and because this is the internet, of course rank them in order from least to most cool. Grab your Wavebird and boot up that classic GameCube intro, cause this is a topic you won't want to miss!

Episode #30

00:00 - Intro

02:41 - DOL-101 Special Editions

08:32 - Stock DOL-001

11:38 - DOL-001 Special Editions

13:20 - Much Ado About Jewels

16:52 - Spice Orange

24:57 - Starlight Gold

27:46 - Pearl White

34:14 - HeineCube

40:38 - Char's Customized

47:38 - Teal Dev Console

50:39 - Hanshin Tigers

57:41 - Panasonic Q

01:07:13 - Tales of Symphonia

01:15:30 - What is Cal Missing?

01:21:29 - Recent Pickups

Building Out Your Game Collection On a Budget

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 11:23:49 +0000

If you're looking to add more quality games to your collection without breaking the bank, we have the solution. With both must-play classics and enjoyable deep cuts available for under $15, we made a list of 15 games that you can get on the cheap!

Episode #29

00:00 - Intro

0:25 - Main Topic

4:50 - Super Mario Bros/Duck Hunt

7:35 - Super Mario Galaxy

10:05 - Madworld

14:53 - Kingdom Hearts 1.5 + Kingdom Hearts 2.5

20:25 - F-Zero

23:09 - Need for Speed: Underground 2

28:30 - Aladdin

30:57 - Sonic GT 2002/Jet Set Radio Future

34:08 - Sonic the Hedgehog 2

38:16 - Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D

43:29 - Grand Turismo 1/2

46:35 - Mass Effect Trilogy

51:40 - Virtua Cop

54:38 - Lego Star Wars

57:50 - Just About Any Great PS2 & Xbox Game!

1:03:30 - Recent Pickups

Our First Time Thoughts About Clair Obscure: Expedition 33

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 12:54:53 +0000

Cal and Murph have both just finished playing through Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 by Sandfall Interactive, and boy, do they have thoughts. How do they feel about the gameplay? The plot? And how about that ending? Be warned, there are spoilers ahead, so proceed at your own risk!

Episode #28

00:00 - Intro

02:38 - What Piqued Our Interest?

07:33 - First Impressions

14:02 - Gameplay Thoughts

35:17 - End of Act 1

45:47 - Act 2

1:01:59 - End of Act 2

1:15:08 - Act 3

1:26:54 - The Ending

1:43:04 - The Music

1:47:49 - Closing Thoughts

1:48:49 - Recent Pickups

Ranking Every Mario Kart Game - Episode 27

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 15:37:48 +0000

The podcast has a new name and a new look, welcome to the Shine Get Podcast!

To commemorate this momentous occasion (and now that Mario Kart World has been out for a bit), Cal and Murph decide to go through the entire Mario Kart series and rank every game from worst to best. Do any of the classics stand a chance against the modern titans? Where do the hosts land on the Mario Kart 8 vs. World debate? All that and more in this weeks episode!

00:00 - Intro

04:43 - 9.

08:03 - 8.

12:33 - 7.

20:12 - 6.

26:17 - 5.

31:36 - 4.

37:52 - 3.

50:41 - 2&1

1:03:43 - Recent Pickups

PS3 vs. Xbox 360: The Battle of the HD Consoles - Episode #25

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 15:20:15 +0000

CONSOLE WARS! Many of us grew up right around the time of the Playstation 3 and the Xbox 360 - they're near and dear to both Cal & Murph's hearts so we decided to pit them against eachother to find out which one we think comes out on top!

0:00 - Intro

0:35 - Main Topic

5:20 - Tale of the Tape

7:30 - Strengths & Weaknesses of Both

16:55 - THE GAMES!

18:55 - Favorite Xbox 360 Exclusives

26:30 - Favorite PS3 Exclusives

34:20 - Many of the Best Games are on Both!

40:55 - Backwards Compatibility!

47:22 - Collecting for These Consoles

49:22 - What Console Version to Get?

1:05:45 - Recent Pickups!

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Sports Games: Oversaturated, Yet Underappreciated - Episode #24

Tue, 27 May 2025 14:25:44 +0000

Sports games have a long history of being both massively purchased 0 and also massively maligned by gamers everywhere. The key franchises release year after year while more boutique titles steal our hearts while commercially failing. Cal loves em' though, so we're gonna talk about 'em. What's fun? Can you collect them? That & more!

0:00 - Intro

0:30 - Main Topic

1:45 - Why do Sports Games have a Bad Rap?

8:25 - Do We Play Sports Games?

16:30 - What Happened to Arcade Titles?

23:38 - Collecting Sports Games

28:50 - The Fantasy Mode

35:55 - Playing Older Sports Games

43:23 - Recent Pickups

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Our Favorite Star Wars Games - Episode #23

Tue, 13 May 2025 16:05:00 +0000

STAR WARS GAMES!!! An epic universe surely deserves games to match. Cal & Murph run through many of our favorites from the long and varied history of games that take us to that long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

0:00 - Intro

0:30 - Main Topic

4:00 - Lego Star Wars

13:30 - Battlefront 1/2 (Classic)

21:24 - Battlefront 1/2 (Modern)

27:30 - Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader

31:14 - Shadows of the Empire

34:44 - Masters of Teräs Käsi

37:36 - Episode 1: Racer

41:40 - Knights of the Old Republic 1/2

46:05 - The Force Unleashed

51:45 - Jedi Fallen Order/Survivor

57:08 - The Clone Wars

1:00:21 - Recent Pickups

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Re-Discovering the Joy of Rhythm Games - Episode #22

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 13:05:07 +0000

Plenty of gamers remember the golden era of readily accessible rhythm games - Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero, Rockband and more dominated the space for several years. But what happened since? Cal & Murph reflect on our favorite Rhythm games, what newer games from the genre we enjoy, and ones we want to play as well.

00:00 - Intro

1:02 - Main Topic

2:00 - Why did Murph Get Back into Rhythm Games?

5:13 - More than Guitar Hero

7:30 - PaRappa the Rapper

13:17 - Dance Dance Revolution

19:30 - Donkey Konga

22:22 - Taiko Drum Master/Taiko no Tastujin

24:07 - Guitar Hero/Rockband

35:10 - Patapon / Elite Beat Agents

38:55 - Channel 5

40:48 - Just Dance

45:02 - Thumper

46:38 - Beatsaber

51:20 - Hi-Fi Rush

54:20 - What Rhythm Games We Want to Play

1:01:00 - Recent Pickups

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Modding Your Retro Consoles - Episode #21

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 20:09:29 +0000

Cal & Murph have been excited about a very specific console mod recently - so they decided to talk about modding your Retro consoles more generalized! What kinds of mods are available? What pros and cons do they offer? Are they worth it? What do we with was more prevelant in the scene?

00:00 - Intro

00:30 - Main Topic

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How to CONQUER Your Gaming Backlog - Episode #20

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 16:10:05 +0000

If you play video games at all, you are familiar with the dreaded backlog. It creeps up on you; slowly piles up until you are drowning in games you want to play but can never seem to get to. In this episode, Cal and Murph walk through some tips on how you can beat your backlog, find joy in playing games again, and get back to some happy gaming.

Episode #20

00:00 - Intro

00:27 - Main Topic

03:13 - Prioritize

09:18 - Stop Buying More

16:33 - Slow & Steady

24:52 - Guides

27:25 - The Completion Mindset

31:28 - Moving On

37:02 - Peer Pressure

39:19 - Making Yourself Happier

41:38 - Wrap Up

44:49 - Recent Pickups

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Our DEFINITIVE Video Game Controller Tier List - Episode #19

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 15:07:59 +0000

Controllers are the interface between us and the game that we're playing - and have even dictated much of video game design along the way! On this episode, we talk about which controllers are our favorite, which just plain stink, and the plenty in the middle. What are you favorite controllers and why? Episode #19

00:00 - Intro

00:34 - Main Topic

03:13 - Atari 2600

06:15 - NES

10:00 - Sega Genesis

13:25 - SNES

18:03 - Sega Genesis 6 Button

20:00 - Sega Saturn Model 1 & 2

23:27 - Playstation

26:53 - Nintendo 64

36:26 - Dualshock 1 (Playstation)

41:10 - Sega Dreamcast

44:45 - Dualshock 2 (Playstation 2)

49:40 - The Duke (Xbox)

54:23 - Nintendo Gamecube

1:00:35 - Xbox Model 2

1:02:55 - Xbox 360

1:04:45 - Nintendo Wii

1:09:22 - Dualshock 3 (Playstation 3)

1:13:24 - Wii U Gamepad

1:17:30 - Wii U Pro Controller

1:20:48 - Dualshock 4 (Playstation 4)

1:25:50 - Xbox One

1:27:40 - Joycons (Nintendo Switch)

1:30:54 - Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

1:33:20 - Xbox Series

1:34:52 - Dualsense (Playstation 5)

1:39:48 - The Level Up Controller Tier List!

1:44:01 - Recent Pickups

1:49:20 - Outro

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What Will Be the Nintendo Switch's Legacy? - A Retrospective - Episode #18

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 13:26:12 +0000

With the Nintendo Switch 2 on the horizon, it's time to take a look back on the first Switch console: its successes, its failures, and its overall legacy. As one of the best selling video game consoles of all time, does it deserve all of its success and praise?

00:00 - Intro

00:39 - Main Topic

05:29 - Our Experiences

16:33 - Switch Hardware

36:38 - The Games!

1:06:55 - Final Thoughts

1:17:14 - Switch Online

1:17:59 - Recent Pickups

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How to Organize Your Game Collection (and Game Room) - Episode #17

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 13:54:40 +0000

So, you want to build your ultimate game room? Unfortunately, that requires a lot of thought and planning. You have to figure out where your games go, where your consoles go, how they're hooked up, etc. In this episode, Cal and Murph take a look at how they've organized their game collections in the past, how they have things organized now, as well as tips, tricks, and other things they wish they did differently!

00:00 - Intro

01:20 - Main Topic

03:43 - Organizing Our Games

22:42 - Organizing Our Consoles

41:32 - Controllers & Accessories

57:08 - Final Thoughts

59:58 - Recent Pickups

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Our Top Comfort Games - Episode #16

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 11:00:00 +0000

While venturing into new and challenging games is often a lot of fun way to spend your free time, it's great to play something you're familiar with and love. A comfort game, if you will. On this episode, Cal & Murph talk about comfort games, why we think we have them and what some of our own are!

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How to Get Started Retro Game Collecting (On a Budget!) - Episode #15

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 16:09:34 +0000

Getting into retro game collecting can seem super daunting. Cost of hardware, software, scalers, splitters; it's very easy to get lost in nitty gritty of it all. In this episode, Cal and Murph break down step by step what you need to get started in your retro game collecting journey, as well as provide some tips and tricks to help out even the most advanced of collectors.

Episode #15

00:00 - Intro

02:16 - Starting Out

03:13 - Buy a PS2

10:15 - Connecting to an HDTV

15:16 - Expanding Your Collection

17:45 - Scalers and Connections

23:40 - Where to Buy Retro Games?

32:17 - How to Use Pricecharting

34:11 - Loose vs. CIB

38:03 - Buying Accessories

42:09 - Final Thoughts

47:19 - Recent Pickups

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Nintendo DS vs. PSP (PlayStation Portable): Which is the Better Handheld? - Episode #14

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 13:21:09 +0000

The release of Sony's PlayStation Portable was realistically the only time anyone was able to challenge Nintendo in the handheld gaming space, and with the DS on Nintendo's side, what a challenge it was! Cal and Murph put these two titans of the portable gaming market head to head by examining the hardware, software, and everything in between in order to see which was the true king of the generation.

00:00 - Intro

01:49 - Our Experiences

08:46 - Hardware

24:17 - The Best DS Games

35:24 - The Best PSP Games

55:23 - Waxing Poetically About RPGs

58:03 - Backwards Compatibility?

1:06:46 - Collecting in the Present Day

1:20:11 - Recent Pickups

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Forgotten Video Games You Probably Missed! (Our Favorite Hidden Gems) - Episode #13

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 17:04:43 +0000

With how many video games have come out over time, it's easy for games to slip through the cracks. Some games don't live up to expectations that were set to high or just don't get the love the deserved. Heck, some titles just have fallen off modern gamer's radar. Join Cal & Murph as they dig up some of their favorites of these titles, their hidden gems!

00:00 - Intro

01:50 - What is a Hidden Gem?

03:25 - Gladius

08:25 - James Bond 007: Nightfire

13:30 - Auto Modelista

18:30 - WWE! Smackdown vs. Raw 2006

25:00 - WrestleMania 2000

31:24 - Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life

41:25 - Sunset Overdrive

46:13 - Are "Hidden Gems" a Dying Breed?

55:44 - Recent Pickups

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Why You Aren't Enjoying Retro Games (And How to Fix It) - Episode 12

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Has this ever happened to you: You like the idea of playing classic, older games, but when you actually play them, they aren't as fun as you thought they’d be? What's up with that? Cal and Murph tackle this surprisingly common scenario by taking a deep dive into what people struggle with when playing retro games, and potential ways to get in the right mind-set.

00:00 - Intro

03:00 - Hardware/Software Limitations

17:52 - Controls

24:36 - Lack of QOL

32:51 - How to Get Around These Problems

39:44 - If All Else Fails

53:32 - Recent Pickups

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A Beginner's Guide to the Original (OG) Xbox - Episode 11

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 14:22:45 +0000

Collecting for the OG Xbox is great. The games are mostly cheap, and the hardware is awesome. However, it definitely has a perception as being nothing more than a Halo machine. What other games do Cal and Murph recommend when getting into collecting for the Original Xbox?

00:00 - Intro

00:45 - Our History

05:02 - Quick Facts

08:49 - The Good

18:56 - The Bad

23:27 - Special Editions and Revisions

33:43 - Best Exclusives

43:37 - SEGA

45:50 - Best 3rd Party Games

50:38 - Backwards Compatibility

54:38 -The Modding Scene

1:04:42 - Recent Pickups

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Remakes vs. Remasters - What's Going On? - Episode 10

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 15:39:28 +0000

The terms remake and remaster get thrown around a lot, but what do each of them mean? How much do Cal and Murph expect out of each? Are they a net positive or negative to gamers and the game collecting scene? All this and more on this episode of the Level Up Podcast!

00:00 - Intro

01:11 - Criteria

06:37 - What We're Looking For

08:53 - Remakes/Remasters and Collecting

14:09 - What Makes a Good One?

24:00 - What Makes a Bad One?

35:14 - Unnecessary Remakes/Remasters

45:04 - Our Dream Remakes/Remasters

50:47 - Recent Pickups

@LevelUpPod_

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Murph: @alsonamedjosh

Re-Rating the Top 10 Games on Metacritic - Episode 9

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 15:11:49 +0000

Metacritic can be a great way to find some of the best games of all time, but do all the games deserve to be there? Cal and Murph take a deep dive and look at the top 10 best games of all time as listed by Metacritic and re-evaluate them with a modern lens.

00:00 - Intro

03:08 - Metroid Prime

13:54 - Red Dead Redemption 2

22:13 - Perfect Dark

31:47 - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3

38:35 - Breath of the Wild

49:46 - Mario Galaxy 1& 2

56:30 - Grand Theft Auto IV

01:04:24 - SoulCalibur

01:09:28 - Ocarina of Time

01:18:03 - Final Rankings

01:22:42 - Recent Pickups

Video Game Stores: An Honest Discussion - Episode 8

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 15:45:00 +0000

GameStop Retro was announced recently as an initiative to pivot the largest video game retail giant into the classic video game space. Does GameStop know what they're getting into? Is this a service die-hard collectors would even use? In this episode, Cal and Murph break down the announcement, and talk about what they want from an ideal retro video game store.

0:00 - Intro

00:36 - Main Topic

43:53 - Recent Pickups

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Cal: @Nintendo_Cal

Murph: @alsonamedjosh

A Beginner's Guide to Collecting for the GameCube! - Episode 7

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 13:04:09 +0000

So you want to get into GameCube collecting but don't know where to start? Join Cal and Murph as they talk about the best, must have games for any GameCube owner's library, as well as other tips and recommendations for hardware and accessories!

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Games We LOVE That Everyone Else HATES - Episode 6

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 14:30:00 +0000

Its easy to hate on things, but what about the hidden gems that got overlooked? Can we even call some of these hidden gems? In this episode, Cal and Murph each talk about 3 games that they really love even though the general consensus might not be so positive.

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Popular Games We Hate - Episode 5

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 10:00:00 +0000

There are a lot of popular games that are popular for a reason... but what if we just don't like them? Today Cal & Murph are getting the irrationality out of the way, talking about the games that everyone else loves but they just can't understand. Mario 64 hate incoming, unfortunately.

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Our Video Game Collecting Holy Grails (That We Own!) - Episode 4

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 12:42:16 +0000

When you're collecting, there are always going to be grails to add to your collection. Cal & Murph already have some - what are they and were the worth the trouble?

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The Dreamcast: Sega's Most Successful Failure - Episode 3

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 12:10:05 +0000

The Dreamcast is looked fondly upon by many gamers today, but is it warranted? Cal and Murph take a deep dive into the legacy of Sega's final console, its library, and all the weirdness and quirkiness that comes with it.

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Are CRT TVs Worth It For Retro Gamers? - Episode 2

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 19:35:39 +0000

Many gamers swear by the Cathode Ray Tube Television, claiming it to be the ultimate piece of tech for a retro game setup. But is this true? Cal and Murph talk about the pros and cons of CRTs, what they're good for, what they're bad at, and the reality of living with a CRT in the household to hopefully come to the conclusion of whether they really are worth it or not. Episode #2 Follow us on Twitter/X! @LevelUpPod_ Cal: @Nintendo_Cal Murph: @alsonamedjosh

Why the GameCube Means So Much To Us - Episode 1

Tue, 21 May 2024 22:00:29 +0000

The Nintendo Gamecube is pretty awesome - at least Cal & Murph think so. On this episode we wax poetic about the system, what we love about it, and the obvious problems it also had. Also - why are the games so dang expensive?

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Follow Murph: https://x.com/AlsoNamedJosh

Follow Cal: https://x.com/Nintendo_Cal