A present and past videogame podcast

In this related media review, today I want to talk about a very interesting podcast in Spanish. A critical but at the same time very interpersonal podcast on different analytical aspects of the most current video games as well as those that are currently in the trunk of time. Under the title “The past is now”, two young people of Andalusian origin give a voice to a generation that has lived under the wing of technology. Cabesa Freeman and Ivelias Zero are the two commentators who, for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes on average, recount their experiences and their criticisms of various points of analysis on video games and consoles.

The podcast that is available on the Spotify platform was created in 2021. Since then these two young people have not stopped uploading content that is classified as independent and cultural. In my review today, I wanted to take as an analysis sample the last chapter available on the platform: Special bonus phases. On this I will give my opinion and my experience as a listener, extrapolating these details to its general description.

In this way, the chapter begins with a general description about the aspect that is going to be treated. And it is that for an hour and nine minutes, the commentators develop what is known as the bonus phases of video games. An aspect that today is less common, and that not many developers get to squeeze. Therefore, the tour covers only retro games and especially games that were played on arcade machines.

For the total unaware, the bonus stages are an added part that retro video games used to include. They would break the rhythm of the game and suddenly you would play something different within the same game. Change the gameplay of the game, modify the pace and give another scenario with other different objectives. Getting a power up or some special item can unlock the true ending. These bonus phases, as they explain, could also be played as an interlude in the game. On many occasions it was the space between one phase and another.

Through different guests, the commentators begin to talk about some of the most mythical bonus phases in history, giving them many examples of video games from the 80s and 90s that developed this part of the game. But not only do they detail the name of that video game, but each guest names their favourite bonus phase and explains it in detail. For example, the bonus phase of “Crash Bandicoot 3”, where you had to get gems and watches to get to the true ending because there were two special levels, and to get to those levels you had to get each one of the boxes, and many of them. they were in the bonus phase. These phases became totally essential for the full development of the game.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Between comments, anecdotes and laughs, the podcast deals with this particular aspect of gamer in a very entertaining and fun way that makes you feel like you’re in a conversation with friends. Without a doubt, I think it is a very accessible podcast for anyone who has never even been a part of the gamer world. It is very clear and with a very popular language. It’s fun, direct and it becomes very tempting to keep listening to it. It also makes very good use of the sound effects and the bumpers that introduce the guests, which gives it a light rhythm.

Undoubtedly, as a player and lover of older games, I have really enjoyed listening to talk in a pleasant and critical way about this aspect of video games that I had never considered. However, I have to say that one of the things that this podcast could improve would be to reduce the personal anecdotes of the commentators that often have little to do with the general appearance. I think this aspect is what makes it unique and at the same time very personal, but excess can often be dangerous. Sometimes they lose the thread, and you end up forgetting the main point.

Likewise, I think it would have been nice if in this podcast they also talked about the current games that do have these bonus phases. Despite commenting that currently it is not usually developed in normal video games, I think it would have been nice to comment on one that did have it.

Despite these aspects to improve, I firmly believe that it is a very innovative podcast, since it has created a perfect mix of criticism and fun that makes you learn and enjoy at the same time. Without a doubt, it is one of those podcasts that I would recommend even to those who are completely unaware of the world of video games.

 

-Basic info: Authors: Cabesa Freeman and Ivelias Zero | Platform: Spotify | Duration: 79 minutes | Release date: 20 november 2022 | Genre: Videogames

-Pictures source: Screenshots from the podcast online avalaible in the platform Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Gt3Hh4DmIM8K42no36kbf?si=1b159e65fb184880 . Screenshots from the videogame “Crash Bandicoot 3”

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