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Lace up your cleats and dust off your NES cartridges because this week’s Play Comics is kicking off with a real goal-scorer! We’re diving headfirst into the pixelated pitch of Tecmo Cup Soccer Game, the NES classic that’s more RPG than FIFA. Join us as we explore this 8-bit reimagining of the beloved Captain Tsubasa manga, where special moves are more powerful than Pelé’s right foot and every match is a turn-based tactical showdown.

And who’s that coming onto the pitch? Oh sweet we’re joined by the incomparable Luke Herr from D’OhMance Dawn, who’s here to add some romantic flair to our soccer shenanigans. Will Luke score a hat-trick of puns? Can our host avoid getting a red card for excessive enthusiasm? And just how many soccer metaphors can we cram into one episode? Tune in to find out!

So grab your controller, warm up those thumbs, and get ready to shout “GOOOOOAAAAAL!” at your podcast app. It’s time to see if Tecmo Cup Soccer Game lives up to its manga roots or if it’s just playing offside with our nostalgia. Let’s kick off this episode!Continue Reading

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Ready your decks and shuffle those cards, because this episode of Play Comics is about to take you on a wild ride through the pixelated world of Yu-Gi-Oh! Join us as we dive deep into the Game Boy Advance classics Eternal Duelist Soul and The Sacred Cards. These games are based on the legendary manga that taught us all how to dramatically shout “It’s time to duel!” without any hint of irony.

This week, we’re not just drawing cards—we’re drawing in the expertise of the one and only David Arnold! You might know him from his insightful and hilarious takes on Are You My Mother? and Gimmicks. David’s here to help us navigate the labyrinth of duels, traps, and monster summons, all while keeping our life points intact.

Expect a whirlwind of witty banter, nostalgic nods, and perhaps a few too many references to the heart of the cards. Whether you’re a seasoned duelist or just here for the laughs, this episode promises to be a critical hit. So, grab your Duel Disk, tune in, and let’s see if we can summon some podcast magic!Continue Reading

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Welcome back, wrestling aficionados and gaming geeks, to another electrifying episode of Play Comics! This week, we’re diving headfirst into the ring with Ultimate MUSCLE: Legends vs New Generation on the GameCube—a game that packs more punches than a heavyweight championship bout and more laughs than a Kid Muscle training session.

We’re not tackling this muscle-bound madness alone. Joining us is none other than Doug Wood —an all-around comic connoisseur and arguably one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet on the internet. Seriously, if kindness were a wrestling move, Doug would be the undisputed champion.

In this episode we’ll explore how this game, based on the Ultimate Muscle anime (itself a continuation of the legendary Kinnikuman manga), brings the larger-than-life Choujins to your living room. Expect a whirlwind of cell-shaded animation, over-the-top wrestling moves, and a storyline that pits the old guard against the new generation in a battle for the ages.

So, lace up your boots, don your spandex, and get ready to rumble as we body slam our way through the quirks and charms of Ultimate MUSCLE: Legends vs New Generation. And remember, in the immortal words of Kid Muscle: “There’s a big thing called survival!”Continue Reading

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Greetings, fellow Play Comics aficionados and Dragon Ball Z fanatics! It’s time to power up your ki and get ready for an adventure unlike any other. We’re diving headfirst into the wild world of the Dragon Ball Z Collectible Card Game on the Game Boy Advance, and trust us, it’s going to be a blast!

But wait, there’s more! Joining us on this epic journey is the one and only Kyle Billie from The Rad(io) Shorts podcast. With his wicked sense of humor and infectious enthusiasm, we know Kyle will bring a whole new level of fun and excitement to our exploration of this classic card game. Just imagine the shenanigans we’ll get into as we battle it out with our favorite characters and try to outsmart each other with clever strategies.

So, whether you’re a seasoned card game pro or a die-hard Dragon Ball Z fan, you won’t want to miss this episode. Get ready to laugh, strategize, and reminisce about the good old days of portable gaming. It’s going to be a wild ride, and we’re thrilled to have you along for the journey!Continue Reading

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Get ready for a dragon duel of epic proportions! In this corner, we have Dragon Power, the janky NES game that tried and failed to cash in on Dragonball mania. And in this corner, we have the original Dragonball manga, which captures all the absurdity and excitement that Dragon Power completely whiffed on! Let’s get ready to ruuuuumble!

Please give a warm, silly welcome to our special guest judge for today’s podcast, the one and only Kyle “Game Genie” Federline! When he’s not dropping hot takes on the K&K Indie Gaming podcast, Kyle spends his time teaching his kids about the wonders of games from his childhood and trying to find gaming’s biggest hidden gems in the indie scene. Get ready as Kyle lends his unique blend of gaming wisdom and snark to judge today’s retro showdown!Continue Reading

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Sometimes things get missed. Like not realizing that a game is based on a comic. Or missing an NES game because you didn’t realize that a game was based on a comic. I know it’s a shock that I could miss something. Or an entire country can miss out on a wonderful franchise that you’d think would be a great fit if only people would know it existed and could give it a chance.

Good thing I have Doc Issues here from Capes on the Couch to help fix that mistake as we take a look at M.U.S.C.L.E. and the Kinnikuman manga that really should have been a hit over here but for some reason wasn’t because “Americans won’t get it” or something silly like that.Continue Reading

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Digging back into the NES days with this one because I somehow missed it. Which in a weird way makes sense because I don’t think anybody that I knew back in the day would have known that Destiny of an Emperor was based on a manga. Or even what a manga was for that matter, but that’s a different issue.

Good thing we have Joey DiCarlo from So Wizard here to help take a look at this early NES RPG. Because we’re both old and can appreciate this one for what it is without wondering why it doesn’t have the sensibilities of a PS4 game.Continue Reading

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Sometimes calling something a game is a rather strong use of the word. Especially when you’re looking at it through American eyes. Double especially back in the early to mid 1990s when we just didn’t really have the concept of visual novels over here.

Listen in as Nick Weaver, creator of the Thumbles comic on Webtoon, joins the show to help take a look at a portion of the gaming medium that we didn’t have much context for based on a manga that we also didn’t have much context for over on this side of the world.Continue Reading

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It’s not often that I’ve seen a comic really follow along an entire family tree. Maybe a bit down the line but generation after generation after generation after….. well, you get the idea. Too bad I’m not a expert on the Jostar family legacy.

Good thing David Weinburger from Shonen Flop who thankfully is all over this one. Things will probably get a bit bizarre.Continue Reading