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Attention, pixel-pushing pals and manga maniacs! Prepare to embark on a thrilling journey through the digital pages of gaming history as we dive into the world of The Mafat Conspiracy, the NES sequel to Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode. This episode of Play Comics is locked and loaded with more action than Duke Togo’s sniper rifle!

We’re joined by the legendary Dean Guadagno from The Video Game Library, who’s here to help us unravel the mysteries of this 8-bit espionage extravaganza. Get ready to dodge bullets, navigate 3D mazes, and race Ferraris as we explore how the world’s deadliest assassin made his mark on Nintendo’s beloved console.

So grab your favorite controller, adjust your scope, and get ready to infiltrate the Mafat Revolutionary Group’s hideout. It’s time to discover if The Mafat Conspiracy lives up to its manga roots or if it’s just another case of pixel propaganda. Let’s dive in, agents!Continue Reading

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Attention, pixel pugilists and manga maniacs! Prepare to have your mind blown faster than you can say “Omae wa mou shindeiru” because Play Comics is about to unleash a Genesis gem that’ll make your thumbs twitch with nostalgia. We’re diving headfirst into the post-apocalyptic world of Last Battle, a game that’s more thinly veiled than a sumo wrestler in a tutu when it comes to its connection to Fist of the North Star.

Joining us on this journey through radioactive wastelands and questionable localization choices is none other than Chris Brown, animator extraordinaire and head of education at a cartoon museum. With his encyclopedic knowledge of all things animated, Chris will help us separate the wheat from the chaff, or in this case, the Kenshiro from the Aarzak.

So grab your favorite energy-restoring meat, practice your best “ATATATATATA!” battle cry, and get ready to press start on an episode that’s sure to leave you seeing pressure points. It’s time to explore a game where the only thing more explosive than the gameplay is the spontaneous combustion of your enemies!Continue Reading

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Krillin’ it softly, podcast lovers! It’s time to dust off your Game Boy Advance and charge up your Ki for an episode so epic, it’ll make Frieza cry for his momma! We’re diving into The Legacy of Goku 1 & 2, where pixels meet power levels and button mashing meets “But I haven’t even reached my final form!”

But wait, what’s that? Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s the legendary Troytle Power from TroytlePower Presents: The Power Play-Throughs Podcast, with TroytlePower and Too Young For This Trek, swooping in like Goku on a Flying Nimbus! He’s flying solo today, leaving his Too Young for this Trek co-pilots behind – probably stuck in a time chamber or something.

Get ready to laugh harder than Buu at a pie-eating contest as we dissect these Dragon Ball-inspired handheld adventures. Will Troytle’s power level be high enough to handle our intense scrutiny? Or will he need to fuse with the nearest inanimate object to survive our witty banter? Tune in to find out in this episode that’s more unpredictable than Vegeta’s mood swings!

So grab your favorite dragon radar, set your scouter to “fun,” and prepare for a podcast experience that’s more satisfying than finding all seven Dragon Balls. It’s Play Comics time, and we’re about to go full Kaio-ken on these Game Boy Advance classics!Continue Reading

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Welcome to another episode of Play Comics, where we shuffle the deck of video game adaptations and draw a card from the past! This week we’re diving into the world of Yu-Gi-Oh! The Duelists of the Roses, a game that takes the historical British War of the Roses and gives it a fantastical twist through the lens of the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga. Imagine Richard III and Henry Tudor not as mere historical figures, but as duelists with decks full of monsters and magic!

Joining us for this epic clash of history and fantasy is the illustrious Michael Bivens from Quest for 5 and Alcove. Michael brings his unique perspective and a flair for the dramatic as we explore how this PlayStation 2 classic blends card battles with royal intrigue. Whether you’re a fan of history, card games, or just love a good mash-up, this episode is sure to entertain and enlighten.

So grab your Millennium Puzzle and prepare for a duel of epic proportions! Will the Yorkists or the Lancastrians claim victory in this card-based battlefield? Tune in to find out, and maybe you’ll learn a trick or two to use in your next duel.Continue Reading

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Welcome back to another thrilling episode of Play Comics! This week, we’re diving headfirst into the time-warping, demon-slaying world of InuYasha: A Feudal Fairy Tale, the PlayStation classic that brought the beloved manga and anime series to the gaming console. Get ready for a journey through feudal Japan, where sacred jewels and half-demons reign supreme.

But hold onto your sacred arrows, because we’ve got a special treat for you! Joining us today is the multi-talented Josh Wells, the creative force behind Character Wells and part of the new audio drama series set in the DC universe, The Mortalverse. Josh brings his unique perspective and boundless enthusiasm to our discussion, making this an episode you won’t want to miss.

Whether you’re a die-hard InuYasha fan or a newcomer to the series, this episode is packed with insights, laughs, and a touch of nostalgia. So grab your Tessaiga, tune in, and join us on this feudal fairy tale adventure!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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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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Spy stories are spy stories. And yet we still love them. There’s just something about spies that sits well in our hearts. Because in the end, spy stories are about an individual overcoming a situation where everything is stacked against them. So while spy stories might have a lot of the same elements running through them, there’s a big variety in how those elements are used and woven in and out of each other.

Listen in as Cory Byrd from Byrds Eye View Comics helps to take a look at Golgo 13 Top Secret Episode. We discuss his connection to the Japanese culture, manga in general, and Golgo 13 means in the grand scheme of history.

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Yu-Gi-Oh is something I never really got into growing up. Or now for that matter since I’ve gotten into some things now that I should have gotten into when I was younger. Although I was kind of around it since I was into Pokemon and Magic: the Gathering so it’s not a totally 100% new thing to me. Plus the memes.

Good thing I somehow convinced Luke Herr to come back for another session of “Luke Explains Things To Chris that Chris Should Already Know About.” This time he takes on Yu-Gi-Oh and a combo shot of games in Forbidden Memories and Dark Duel Stories. Will we be trapped in the shadow realm for attempting this? Only one way to find out!Continue Reading

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Sometimes I just get confused when it comes to localization decisions. Why can’t we get the manga license with our games? Did they think we wouldn’t like a plane based shooter because it had a comic with it that we didn’t recognize?

Good thing that I have Steampunk Link and Emmy Zero from SNEScapades here to help straighten things up. Listen in as we try to solve this and other mysterious aspects of this early SNES Era gem.

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These days when a series is based all around fighting and punching people in the face it’s a surprise when there isn’t a fighting game to go along with it. But did you know that there was a time when Street Fighter II hadn’t come out yet? And that people were making fighting games before it?

Listen in as Andrew Mecha Davis from Popanimecomics joins the show to help take a look at Fist of the North Star 10 Big Brawls for the King of the Universe to help solve the mystery of why this anime hasn’t been bigger in the US. And possibly set a new record for longest Play Comics episode title. I’m too lazy to actually go check on that one though, it just feels right.Continue Reading

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Post apocalyptic mayhem. New societies and population groups popping up and insisting that they are living the right way. The power struggle between might and right. Giant weaponized vehicles storming across the desert sands. OK, maybe not that last one, but what do I know?

Good thing I have Jordan Forbes from Shonen Flop to help me out with a look at Fist of the North Star on NES. Listen in as we look at yet another game that should have been featured earlier in the run of the show but I just didn’t know it was based on a comic so we’re making up for it now.
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One of the things that I like about anime (and manga probably too if I’d consistently read it) is magical realism. There’s just something cool about a world where paper animals can be brought to life or dragons are real or things like that and it’s not a big deal. Or where people can fall into a haunted spring and get transformed if they’re hit with the right, or wrong, temperature of water.

Listen in as Steampunk Link from SNEScapades comes on the show to talk about this game about a crazy manga where people switch genders and turn into animals nobody seems to really care about anything except literally fighting over a girl before school. Except the teachers, they don’t care at all.Continue Reading