It's all been building up to this! We're saying goodbye to the Nintendo 64 with a massive final episode! We've aggregated our lists into one definitive ranking of Nintendo 64 games, and we're going over the entire list, sharing memories and thoughts on the games as we go! Again, a massive thank you to everyone who has listened, guested, and helped make this show possible! Stay subscribed! We'll be back with Wii Universe on March 6!

This is it! We've finally done it: the VERY LAST GAME in the Nintendo 64 catalog! It's all been leading to this: TONIC TROUBLE, a forgotten platformer from the creator of RAYMAN! You play as a hapless space janitor who spills a magical tonic onto Earth, making all the world's vegetables come to life, so naturally we have to discuss the moral and ethical ramifications of that. 

The catalog may be over, but we're not done with the N64 just yet! Tune in next week for an extra-EXTRA-long episode where we look back at the entire show and unveil the definitive ranking of all N64 games! 

It's our penultimate game for the Nintendo 64, and we saved a biggie. PERFECT DARK is Rare's high-profile follow-up to GOLDENEYE, and it's one of the most ambitious, technically accomplished, and replayable games on the entire system! Bennett Williamson and Scott Burger are back to help us discuss all the alien conspiracies, counter-operatives, and hidden slices of cheese Joanna Dark's adventure has to offer!

We're finally, FINALLY finished with racing games on the Nintendo 64! And we're ending on a high note with Midway's RUSH trilogy! These goofy arcade racers are all about big air and big crashes, but does it deserve to step out of CRUIS'N's shadow and fly on their own futuristic car wings?

We're digging deeper than ever before with this special, Patreon-funded episode! Superstar-tier Patron Scott Burger joins us to discuss DWARF FORTRESS, the esoteric underground hit that's often cited as a direct influence on MINECRAFT! Fellow DF enthusiast Dan Reese is on hand, as well, and we need all the backup we can get: this game is famous for it's high difficulty, prohibitive complexity, and often confusing visual style that uses ASCII symbols instead of graphics. It's our greatest challenge yet! 

Be sure to check out the Superstar tier over at Patreon.com/ultra64pod if YOU want to join us to talk about any game of your choice! 

Your mission, should you choose to accept it: check out our latest episode on MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE, the third-person stealth action game based on the smash-hit 1996 movie! This week we're joined by Andy Bowman from the Monkey Off My Backlog podcast, who has been attempting to set the speed run world record on this game! We'll hear all about Andy's speed running methods, plus a history of the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE franchise and the troubled production history behind this potentially-cool game!

Hello there, children! We're reassembling the MARIO PARTY crew for one last party, as we dig in to the trivia/party game hybrid SOUTH PARK: CHEF'S LUV SHACK! Dan Reese, Rosie Crow, and Nicole Vettese help us answer a barrage of vaguely scatological trivia questions and play SOUTH PARK riffs on classic arcade games. Plus, we look into the history of Chef/Isaac Hayes, and answer the burning question: birthright or buttwipe?

It's a momentous day here on Ultra 64: after three years, we're finally finished with sports games on the Nintendo 64! This week, we play our last two ice hockey games, EA's NHL '99 and Konami's NHL BLADES OF STEEL '99! We look back on the hockey highlights of 1999, say goodbye to the digitized representation of the Great One, and have another suite of awesome listener letters!

We're saying goodbye to the Nintendo64's few RPGs, and we're sending it off in style. AIDYN CHRONICLES: THE FIRST MAGE is an epic fantasy that came out late in the N64's lifecycle, with a huge world and an eclectic cast of characters. Can this one rise to PAPER MARIO / OGRE BATTLE status or is this just another wannabe QUEST 64?

This week, we're inadvertently celebrating the works of Acclaim Studios London as we're following up on last week's busted cart and moving forward into the... future? We played RE-VOLT, an R/C car racing gaming that surprisingly still has a vibrant fan community, and ARMORINES: PROJECT S.W.A.R.M, a first-person shooter based on one of the most obscure comic book properties ever. Plus, twists! Turns! Thrills! Cliffhangers!

Farfegnugen! This week, we're playing BEETLE ADVENTURE RACING and STUNT RACER 64, two fun, light, goofy racers! We look at the history of the VW Beetle, celebrate the last of the Blockbuster rental exclusives, and try to find as many secret routes as we can. Plus, our first unofficial two-parter: RE-VOLT, the third game we meant to play this week, broke down, so it will be attached to our episode next week!

Kooloo Limpah! Holy hell, we've got a massive, moon-sized episode bearing down on you this week. We're talking about LEGEND OF ZELDA: MAJORA'S MASK, a game so huge and divisive and complex that we needed to assemble a whole Travelling Wilburys of podcasters just to cover it! We're joined once again by ZELDA superfan Caleb Sanders, and all three hosts of the amazing Vidjagame Apocalypse podcast: Mikel Reparaz, Chris Antista, and Matthew Allen!
In addition to our huge discussion, we also have some very exciting new about the future of the show, and a whole suite of awesome letters from listeners. Don't miss this one!

It's a wet and wild episode as we attempt to allay our election night anxieties with some booze and boatercycles. This week, we played the N64 classic WAVE RACE 64, the arcade stalwart HYDRO THUNDER, and POLARIS SNOCROSS, one of the few snowmobile racing games, period! Our favorite Lynsey Pennington is on hand to help us talk water physics and generally be slap-happy and silly. 

ALSO! Next week's episode is going to be a big one; not only have we lined up some amazing guests, but we're discussing LEGEND OF ZELDA: MAJORA'S MASK, and we're making a big announcement about the future of the show! Don't miss it!

Just in time for Halloween, we're playing Acclaim's SHADOW MAN. Based on the hit Valiant Comic, it's the story of a man who can move between the worlds of the living and the dead, and it comes with some of the most elaborate and rich backstory of any N64 game. Take a walk on the Deadside with us as we discuss magical teddy bears, snakes with top hats, and maybe the worst marketing decision ever made by a video game company.

We're pulling on our driving gloves once again to play yet another round of racing games! This time, we're covering the weirdly prolific TOP GEAR series, which offers four very different racing experiences, all of which are somehow completely unrelated to the popular TV show. Whether it's hyperactive motorcycles or cars with teeth, we've got you covered! Plus, some amazing discussion questions from listeners! 

This week, we're more than prepared to rumble as we're taking on the sweet science, boxing! We played three boxing games this week: EA's more realistic KNOCKOUT KINGS 2000, and two games in Midway's goofball arcade series READY 2 RUMBLE BOXING! Of course, this means plenty of fascinating history, no small amount of PUNCH-OUT talk, and everyone's favorite: a Michael Buffer minigame. 

It's all about Nintendo's adorable, insatiable pink puffball this week, as Maddie Copp (@othatsraspberry) joins us to play KIRBY 64: THE CRYSTAL SHARDS. The character makes his 3D debut in a big way, offering dozens of new powers and some cute new friends, but does the game itself hold up? Also, we look at the rich, and surprisingly seedy, history of the character, reveal the amazing history behind Kirby's namesake, and ponder the most important question: what does Kirby feel like? 

We're closing out our series on soccer this week with the big daddy of all football games, EA's blockbuster FIFA series! We look at three games from the N64 era that represent a transitional period for the series. Plus, we look at the history of FIFA games, dig into some player histories, and offer a masterclass on how to tell the perfect joke. 

GOLDENEYE shook (not stirred) the world when it was released in 1997; so how does the slick, EA-produced sequel stack up? Let's find out! This week, we're playing 007: THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH, and as has become tradition, we watched the corresponding movie as well! Join us to talk confusing multiplayer modes and discuss the fascinating enigma that is Dr. Christmas Jones. 

We fought through global pandemics and skies choked with ash, but we still managed to squeeze out a socially-distanced four-player session of MARIO PARTY 3! Take that! We're joined once again by our favorite party people Dan Reese, Rosie Crow, and Nicole Vettese as we play through one of the series' most divisive titles, a game that made a lot of big changes that haven't returned since. Plus, Nicole takes us through the clever new Dual Mode, and we discuss the overwhelming cuteness of a little guy named Tumble. 

This week we're taking a trip to the island of misfit N64 games to play three games that don't really fit in anywhere. First, there's the leak-plugging puzzle game WETRIX, followed by the grappling-hook racer IGGY'S RECKIN' BALLS, and then RAT ATTACK, which... also exists. It's the weirdest and wildest selection of games we've encountered so far! 

We bid a fond farewell to our dinosaur hunting days as we play the last two games in the storied TUROK series on Nintendo 64! First, it's the surprisingly cinematic TUROK 3 brings Lovecraftian horror (and a pretty rad grappling hook) to the TUROK universe. Then, we play the fast, fun, and goofy arena shooter TUROK: RAGE WARS, with it's cache of amazingly weird weapons. 

We've played MARIO KART and DIDDY KONG RACING, but what about all those other cart racers choking on their gravel? This week, we're looking at three kart racers who made an attempt for the kart racing cup: the crafty LEGO RACERS, the gleefully obscene SOUTH PARK RALLY, and the family-friendly MICKEY'S SPEEDWAY USA. Join us as we look at the forgotten Rare game on the N64, talk power-ups from plastic missiles to talking poop, and get caught up on a ton of reader letters! 

We've got a goregasmic surprise for you this week! As Superstar-tier Patreon supporters, Elliot Jay O'Neill and BT Calloway get to join us on air to talk any game of their choosing. And since they're super cool dudes, they chose HOUSE OF THE DEAD: OVERKILL, the profane, gory, wildly over-the-top lightgun shooter that brought a little welcome grindhouse sleaze to the Wii. We talk about the history of the storied HOUSE OF THE DEAD arcade games, the unfortunate reality of Uwe Boll's film adaptation, and we experience true envy at the Australian-exclusive peripherals our guests are packing. 

If YOU want to join us on-air to talk about any non-Nintendo 64 game of your choosing, head over to Patreon.com/ultra64pod and check out the Superstar tier! Slots are available! 

Shake shake! This week we're looking at MISCHIEF MAKERS, a unique, 2-D side-scrolling platformer from the legendary developers at Treasure! Noted maker of mischief Neal Crow joins us once again to break down the ball-grabbing, jewel-collecting, monster-shaking action in a title that split our hosts down the middle. 

We love the smell of Nintendo 64 in the morning. This week, we're hopping behind the stick for three helicopter (ish) games for the N64: the succinctly titled CHOPPER ATTACK, the on-rails shooter KNIFE EDGE: NOSE GUNNER, and the minor EA blockbuster NUCLEAR STRIKE 64! We're bringing the helicopter fun facts society is craving for a fun and goofy episode about some frankly pretty bad games! 

With BANJO-TOOIE, Rare may have finally out-Rared themselves. The sequel to BANJO-KAZOOIE takes everything from that game and cranks it to 11; we're talking massive levels, hundreds of characters, first-person bird shooting, statue soccer, turning into an armored truck, and all the unfortunate caricatures you can handle. Luckily, Rosie Crow and Tyler Detrick are on hand to help us sort through the almost overwhelming amount of content packed into this single cart. 

Also, don't forget to check out Steve's new podcast, ROGER'S LIST, now available on Apple Podcasts! 

Prepare for battle! This week, we're saying goodbye to the powerhouse POKEMON franchise on the N64 with two of the series' biggest hits: POKEMON STADIUM and POKEMON STADIUM 2! TL Foster (@TravisLFoster) is back to help us check out these truly unique games, which essentially act as Olympic training grounds for your Game Boy playground battles. We discuss the surprising intricacy of the Pokemon battle system, break down our favorite Kids Club minigames, and look at the history of one of Nintendo's strangest and coolest peripheral, the Transfer Pak.

Also, check out TL's show "Live From The Poolhouse," wherever you get your podcasts!

This week, we're deploying COMMAND AND CONQUER into perhaps hostile territory, as the RTS classic attempts to take ground on the Nintendo 64. We look back at the history of the once-prolific series, including a deep dive into the dearly departed Westwood Studios, and see if C&C can break the console RTS curse. Also, we're both very tired and overhot this episode, so it gets a little slappy. 

Get ready to treat your road rage with a trio of aggressive combat racers! S.C.A.R.S. imagines a horrible future where cars are animals and animals are cars; ROAD RASH 64 has teams of angry bikers wailing on themselves with chains; and CARMAGEDDON 64 takes Roger Corman's DEATH RACE and runs with it, envisioning a future hellscape where zombies rule the world. Join us as we examine the bugnuts origins of animal-based racing, look at the origins of EA's first big series, and... have we found the worst game on the Nintendo 64?!

Fire up your tractor beam and climb into your hot dog car, because this week we're playing the adorable and under-played ROCKET: ROBOT ON WHEELS! This clever little platformer casts you as a helpful robot who tries to save an intergalactic theme park through innovative physics-based puzzles. We dig into the history of it's developer, Sucker Punch, and explore the many surprising ways to play! 

This week we're playing the very last of our basketball games on the N64! We're looking at Nintendo's blockbuster NBA COURTSIDE series, and Fox's much less accomplished COLLEGE HOOPS 99! We dig into the history of Nintendo's partnership with L.A. Lakers icon Kobe Bryant, look into the complicated history of college sports games, and enjoy some fantastic letters from all over the world! 

Slap that little pink bow on your head, because this week we're paying tribute to the first lady of video games, Ms. Pac-Man, with her 2000 puzzle platformer MAZE MADNESS! Corinne Kempen joins us to dig in to the pellet-munching action as Ms. Pac-Man explores ancient Egypt, haunted houses, and ice caves in this charming adventure. Join us as we learn about the history of the gaming icon, enjoy some surprisingly great multiplayer, and beat our arsenal of Pac-puns into the ground! 

It's time for another selection of racing games, the N64 genre that keeps on giving! This week we're playing Titus' AUTOMOBILI LAMBORGHINI, and two from Midway, CALIFORNIA SPEED and WORLD DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIP! These games are a nice mix of wild and wacky and straight-down-the-line sim, and one of them might just be the best-looking game on the entire system! Plus, we answer questions from listeners!

The amazing Maddie Copp (@othatsraspberry) joins us this week to look back at the Nintendo 64's biggest and best RPG! The red plumber's last N64 adventure sees him dropping a dimension but gaining a whole universe of fun, with great new characters and a long, adorable quest! Plus, we dig into the history of Mario RPGs, discuss how Bowser is the secret MVP, and try to rein in our burgeoning obsession with Li'l Oinks! 

Crack open your old toy chest, because this week we're playing three games based on popular kids toys! We played pint-sized party game MICRO MACHINES 64 TURBO, stunt racer HOT WHEELS TURBO RACING, and TONY HAWK-wannabe RAZOR FREESTYLE SCOOTER! Plus: we're finally allowed in the same room again!

It's tail time! This week, we're playing two of the quippiest platformers on the system, GEX 64: ENTER THE GECKO and it's sequel, GEX 3: DEEP COVER GECKO! The sardonic lizard has a deep bench of pop culture references and nowhere else to send them but straight into your earholes! We talk about Gex's origins as the star of the Panasonic 3DO, explore the ethical ramifications of lizard-on-human love, and generally try to keep ourselves from getting a headache. 

Fans of GRAND THEFT AUTO, get ready to meet the granddaddy of 3D sandbox games! This week, we're playing BODY HARVEST, the influential early open-world game from the makers of GTA! We're joined by the wonderful Mikel Reparaz (@wikiparaz), host of the Vidjagame Apocalypse podcast, to help break down all the tractor-stealing, bug-blasting, body-harvesting action! 

GO FOR IT! This week, we're travelling to a wacky, magical Feudal Japan with MYSTICAL NINJA STARRING GOEMON and GOEMON'S GREAT ADVENTURE! Fan-favorite guest Blair Gorman (@SKELETON_BLOOD_) is back to help us tackle these utterly delightful adventure games. We learn about the history of the GOEMON series, learn about the real-life folk hero that inspired the character, and we finally, FINALLY rebrand as the first male stripper podcast! 

Surprise! Courtesy of our Superstar-tier Patreon supporter Jordan Collins, this week we're talking about MARIO KART 8 DELUXE, the biggest (and best?) iteration of MARIO KART to date! Jordan joins us to talk about the evolution of the series and walk us through our very first online races! Plus: piranha plant cops-and-robbers! The sad fate of the Wii U! And racing that literally drives us up the wall! 

If you want to join us to talk about any game of your choice, head over to Patreon.com/ultra64pod and sign up at the Superstar tier! Slots are limited, so act fast! 

Duck and cover! This week, we're talking about one of the most influential games you've never heard of, WINBACK: COVERT OPERATIONS! This scrappy little METAL GEAR-a-like actually invented what we think of as modern cover-based shooters; there effectively is no GEARS OF WAR or UNCHARTED without WINBACK. The game is innovative, but is it any fun to play? Plus: we discuss the dating status of Jean-Luc Cougar, tell the tale of the mysterious villain known as Gunt, and speculate once again just what is in all those damn crates. 

I hope y'all are ready to bounce, because bouncing is what Tigger's do best, and this week we're talking about TIGGER'S HONEY HUNT! Our wonderful Disney correspondent Mikayla Nicholson joins us to look into the history of the residents of the Hundred-Acre Wood. We watch 2000's THE TIGGER MOVIE to really inundate ourselves in all things T-I-Double Guh- Er, and discover one of the best-looking games on the Nintendo 64! 

What hath DOOM wrought? This week, we're playing two games that budded off from the intensely successful FPS series: the sword-and-sorcery variant HEXEN: BEYOND HERETIC, and JOHN ROMERO'S DAIKATANA, one of the most legendary flops in gaming history from the bad-boy visionary behind id Software's megahit. Is HEXEN a worthy successor? Is DAIKATANA as bad as you've heard? And just what happened during the production of that game? All of these answers and more!

This week, I HUNGER... for some classic arcade games! And Midway delivers with MIDWAY'S GREATEST ARCADE HITS, VOLUME 1, a compilation of six beloved games from the golden age of arcades! Join us as we dig into the history of ROBOTRON 2084, JOUST, SINISTAR, ROOT BEER TAPPER, SPY HUNTER, and DEFENDER! Run, run, run, don't walk! 

This week, we are saying goodbye to wrestling games on the N64, and we're going in style, talking about two of the most beloved games in the genre, and two that are considered the bottom of the barrel. Wrestling game MVP Blake Goetsch joins us once, and we're also joined by TL Foster, host of Cheap Popcast and a bona-fide wrestling expert, who helps us answer our last lingering questions about the world of sports entertainment! It's our biggest and dorkiest episode yet, and when the dust settles... do we actually like wrestling games now?!

Charge up your thrusters and feed your robot dog, because we're taking off with JET FORCE GEMINI! Rare's unsung space shooter may be one of the most divisive titles we've looked at yet! Join us as we dig into the surprisingly massive world of JFG, save furry happy creatures that are definitely not Ewoks, and try to work out our complicated feelings about this game!

We're hitting the thrusters and blasting into hyperspace this week, as we take on one of the rarest genres on the N64, 2-D shoot-em-ups! We play the arcade space shooters STAR SOLDIER: VANISHING EARTH and ASTEROIDS HYPER 64, and look into the history of the "shmup," the impact of ASTEROIDS, and debate the appeal of the infamous "bullet hell" game. 

It's the most wonderful time of the year: Morphin' Time! This week, we're digging in to the world of POWER RANGERS, and we're joined by two new friends from Australia to help us tell our Zords from our Putties! Elliot Jay O'Neill and BT Calloway (from THE SIMPSONS INDEX and THRONE OF GAMES podcasts) join us to look back on the legitimate phenomenon that was POWER RANGERS, and play one of the more infamous games on the system, POWER RANGERS LIGHTSPEED RESCUE. Does it live down to its reputation or are there some coins of power to be found? 

Fans of adorable creepy-crawlies rejoice, because this week we're playing A BUG'S LIFE, the colorful platformer based on Disney Pixar's second-ever film! Mikayla Nicholson joins us as we revisit the original film to see where it ranks among Pixar's canon, discuss the great BUG'S LIFE/ANTZ feud of 1998, and see how the game holds up compared to other Disney platformers! 

We're closing the books on STAR WARS on the N64 this week, as we play STAR WARS: ROGUE SQUADRON, one of the system's most acclaimed! STAR WARS superfans Josiah Coolidge and Dan Reese join us as catch up on the world of STAR WARS, discuss the strange and sad history of Factor 5, and see if we can crash into a stormtrooper on the ground with an X-Wing (spoiler: you totally can). 

Never heard of UNDERHERO? Neither had we! Luckily, we were given the chance to talk about it, thanks to our Patreon supporter Andy Bowman, who, as a Superstar-tier Patron, gets to join us on the show to talk about any non-Nintendo 64 game! Andy joins us to talk about this under-the-radar indie title, a charming, funny RPG that draws heavily from PAPER MARIO! It's a fun conversation and a cool game, so thanks to Andy for bringing it to our attention! 

If you want to join us to talk about a game of your choice, check out the Superstar tier over at Patreon.com/ultra64pod!

Whether you're a baseball fan or a baseball hater, rejoice! Because this week we're talkin' baseball for the very last time! Dan Reese joins us to dig in to GT's MIKE PIAZZA'S STRIKE ZONE, EA's TRIPLE PLAY 2000, and Konami's BOTTOM OF THE 9TH! Plus, the great home run record chase of 1998, and an amazing letter from a listener in the heart of the coronavirus outbreak! 

Falcon PUNCH! This week we're talking about the granddaddy of them all, the Nintendo fighting game that would launch one of the major franchises in gaming, SUPER SMASH BROS! Keith Granger and Jordan Smith join us to get into the hot and heavy four-player action as we discuss the origins of the classic casual fighter, the overpowered awesomeness of Kirby, and our dream SMASH line-ups. 

ALSO! As an extra bonus, we'll be releasing a special episode later this week all about SUPER SMASH BROS MELEE, courtesy of our Superstar-tier patron Jordan Collins! It's twice the SMASH, so watch for that in your feed in a few days! 

It's everyone's favorite, a trio of random racing games! We played V-RALLY EDITION 99, ROADSTERS, and RALLY CHALLENGE 2000, three largely unremarkable racing games that nonetheless gave us an opportunity to learn about the insane sport that is rally racing! Plus, we got some amazing discussion questions from listeners to help us fill the time! And next week, we'll be playing one of the N64's biggest titles, SUPER SMASH BROS!

This week on the show, we're doffing our smoking jackets and retiring to the parlor for some fine brandy, rich cigars, and games of gentlemanly temperament. Which is to say, we played VIRTUAL CHESS 64 and VIRTUAL POOL 64! Discover shockingly ugly graphics! Bizarrely terrible cameras! And pretty good versions of their respective games? 

Fans of tortured clay puns, your day has come! This week we're talking about CLAYFIGHTER 63 1/3, the third entry in the oddball parody series, and CLAYFIGHTER: SCULPTOR'S CUT, the rarest and most valuable game on the entire N64! We get our hands dirty talking about the history of clay animation, take the developers to task for not spellchecking their manual, and figure exactly what SCULPTOR'CUT offers for our extra several hundred dollars. 

We finally get the chance to play one of our most-requested episode: the mega smash hit kart racer DIDDY KONG RACING! Kart racing prodigy Lynsey Pennington returns to help us settle the eternal debate between Rare's kart/plane/hovercraft racer and Nintendo's seminal classic. Plus, we meet iconic N64 characters Banjo and Conker for the first time, and answer the question: is Diddy Nintendo's Poochy?

This week, we're making two of pop culture's most iconic ducks face off in a no-holds-barred fight to the finish! Actually, we're playing two pleasant, low-stakes platformers, and we're having a good time doing it. Duck expert Dan Reese and duck novice Zoe Bronstein join us to talk the history of the two famous ducks, find a pretty decent CRASH BANDICOOT analog on the N64, and delve into some of the more... unsavory elements of a duck's anatomy. 

Blitz them whoops! It's time to rev up for some motocross games! We're pitting EA's realistic dirtbike sim SUPERCROSS 2000, Acclaim's sloppy and goofy JEREMY MCGRATH'S SUPERCROSS 2000, and Nintendo's classic update EXCITEBIKE 64 against each other in a no-holds-barred freestyle match. Plus, history of supercross! Supercross slang! Classic EXCITEBIKE! 

It's time to very literally RING in the new year as we delve into the Nintendo 64's most notorious game, SUPERMAN. Comic book superfan Jarrett Galante returns to help us make sense of what many have called the worst game ever made; does it live down to it's reputation or is there anything to salvage? Also, the rich history of Superman in video games! The complicated legal saga of the series' creators! More stuff! 

This week, we're doffing our monocles and stepping into the high-glamour world of Formula 1 racing! We're quenching our need for speed with three F1 racers, F1 POLE POSITION 64, MONACO GRAND PRIX, and F1 WORLD GRAND PRIX, as well as it's American cousin, INDY RACING 2000! Learn the very truncated history of the high-cost, high-risk world of F1 racing, and thrill as we struggle to tell these games apart! 

Also, check us out on this week's episode of VIDJAGAME APOCALYPSE, where we join the guys for their GAME OF THE YEAR discussion! Find it wherever you get your podcasts!

Break out that random bucket of plastic toys you acquired somehow, because it's time to play ARMY MEN! 3DO's aggressively-marketed series was trying hard to be the next big thing; let's see if there's any reason why it should have been! Kevin Kim joins us to talk plastic warfare, interdimensional portal running, and all the sexism the late 90's video game industry could muster. 

I'm positively giddy! Because this week we're playing one of the all-time great puzzle games, POKEMON PUZZLE LEAGUE, which takes the timeless TETRIS ATTACK formula and gives it an appealing Poke-makeover. Puzzlehead Nate Pasma joins us as we go into a brief history of the POKEMON anime, dig through the dizzying number of modes, and discuss the relative merits of flinging garbage at each other. 

Sharpen up your knife-frisbees and ready your battle cry, because this week we're revisiting the pinnacle of 90's TV cheese as we play HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS and XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS: TALISMAN OF FATE! Nicole Vettese is back in the studio to help us play through the ZELDA-aping adventures of Kevin Sorbo and the arena fighting game stylings of Lucy Lawless and company. For anyone who wants to know who would win in a fight between Bruce Campbell and Karl Urban, this is the episode for you!

We're hitting the greens once again, this time with a bunch of Nintendo characters as the Mario Sports franchise kicks off in earnest! Megan Sutton and Aidan Clements join us to talk arcade golf games, sort through the game's surprising number of modes, and debate if Mario is enough to make you forget you're still playing a golf game.

Yippee! This week we're playing STAR WARS EPISODE 1: BATTLE FOR NABOO, and to mark the occasion, we did the unthinkable and rewatched the disastrous 1999 blockbuster THE PHANTOM MENACE to see if it's as bad as we remember (it really, really is)! We're joined by STAR WARS superfan Dan Reese, who gritted his teeth and endured both EPISODE 1 and this car combat game that really pushes the limits of what the human eye can interpret.

Ka-BOOM! This week we're playing that magical unicorn: the underrated RARE game! We're playing BLAST CORPS this week, a racing/destruction/puzzle game that's really not like anything else out there. We discuss the Zen of video game destruction, the surprisingly deep backstory of the BLAST CORPS universe, and struggle to think of a word to capture our excitement.

Time to get wicked gnarly, brahs, because this week we're shredding the slopes with Midway's TWISTED EDGE EXTREME SNOWBOARDING, South Peak's BIG MOUNTAIN 2000, and Nintendo's first-party smash hit, 1080 SNOWBOARDING! We dig into the history of "snurfing," explore the surprisingly exclusive snowboarding video game genre, and test our knowledge of 90's snowboarding slang! 

And don't forget, our Patreon is live NOW, with one exclusive bonus episode ready to go and another one launching this week! Sign up now at patreon.com/ultra64pod! 

To celebrate 2 solid years of podcasting excellence (don't laugh), we are playing one of N64's biggest titles, and one of the most influential and important games ever, GOLDENEYE 007. To help us tackle this seminal title, we're joined by Mikel Reparaz (@Wikiparaz) of the VIDJAGAME APOCALYPSE podcast, and Diana Goodman (@LeCineNerd) of THIRTY TWENTY TEN! We talk about James Bond, "GoldenEye" the movie, iconic multiplayer, small development teams, and dog costumes, and it couldn't have been cooler if it had been put on ice (shaken, not stirred). 

Also, some very exciting news: ULTRA 64 is launching a Patreon! We'll be offering patrons two additional bonus episodes per month, plus plenty of other treats and surprises down the line. Our first episode (available for donors RIGHT NOW!) is all about Treasure's fan-favorite N64 import, SIN AND PUNISHMENT!

Be sure to check out patreon.com/ultra64pod for more details! 

Happy Halloween week! We're celebrating everyone's favorite spoopy season by playing the horror action game NIGHTMARE CREATURES! Certified horror-head Lynsey Pennington joins us once again to dissect Activision's Victorian era frightfest, which was once on track to be the next big thing in horror games. What happened? Listen and find out!

Also, don't forget to tune in next week, because we are finally playing GOLDENEYE 007! And we're joined by some pretty awesome guests, so you won't want to miss it!

We're hitting the hoops once again, and our sports correspondent Josiah Coolidge is back to help us figure out just what the hell they did to NBA JAM. The beloved arcade classic has undergone a drastic overhaul; we'll let you know if it's for the best. Plus: NBA LIVE, EA's long-running baller series!

This week we're playing a trio of coin-op classics updated for the go-go 90s: the N64 version of what may be the greatest arcade game ever made, ROBOTRON 64; the surprisingly fun puzzle-platformer LODE RUNNER 3D; and PAPERBOY, one of the most bizarrely ugly games on this or any system.

Tanx for downloading! This week, we're tankful to be talking about BATTLETANX and BATTLETANX: GLOBAL ASSAULT, two fast and furious tank fighting games with an unexpectedly bizarre plot. Bennett Williamson joins us to discuss the history of the failed 3DO console, reminisce about scorched teddy bears, and enter a needlessly misogynistic post-apocalyptic future where women are used as currency.

We fully enter the storied Attitude Era of wrestling this week, the bloody, over-the-top heyday of the sport, as we play through WCW Nitro, WWF Attitude, and WCW Mayhem. Blake Goetsch returns to help tamp down Woody's rage at having to play wrestling games, Steve's ongoing attempts to get into wrestling, plus the rise of our horrifying create-a-wrestler.

This is it! Steve finally gets to be done talking about football! And we couldn't have asked for a better series to close out on; these days, MADDEN is the biggest and only-est game in town, so take a trip back to when Madden was only pretender to the crown with these five titles. Sports Correspondent Josiah Coolidge is back to give us some modern context about the series, explore the bizarre, NFL-less first entry, and of course go into the sordid history of the Madden Curse.

It's a big week for us! It's our 100th episode, and we're celebrating by playing MARIO KART 64 with some of our favorite people! Mikayla Nicholson, Lynsey Pennington, and Nicole Vettese are on hand to play one of the N64's signature titles, the game that defined party games for an entire generation, MARIO KART 64! It's one of our most requested games, and we had a blast digging out secrets, discussing favorite tracks, and trying to nail the timing on that boost trick. 

Thanks to everyone for listening and supporting us through this goofy little project! 

We're in grappling-hook heaven this week as we play the tongue-lashing platformer CHAMELEON TWIST and it's sequel, CHAMELEON TWIST 2! This week, Steve gets some of his long-held biases challenged, we reminisce about adorable pet lizards, and we puzzle over why the chameleons look so little like chameleons. 

Also: next week is our 100th EPISODE! And to celebrate, we're playing one of the most-beloved games on the entire platform, MARIO KART 64! So tell your friends to check it out!

Everybody do the worm! This week, we're taking on Team 17's classic turn-based strategy game WORMS ARMAGEDDON, and we're joined by none other than Doug McCambridge of the excellent Good Time Great Movies podcast (@GTGMcast)! We look back into the history of invertebrate warfare, unearth the trove of weird and wacky weapons at our disposal, and discuss the game's status as a collector's item!

It's Turok 2 Furious this week, as we revisit the classic series just in time for it's fancy new Switch remaster! Brendan Francis and first-time guest Natasha McPhaden join us this week as we cerebrally bore into the high-expectation sequel, find updates into the world of Turok, and go on a manic monkey hunt!

Who says you need limbs to have a good time? This week, we're playing RAYMAN 2: THE GREAT ESCAPE, Michel Ancel's critically-acclaimed 3D platformer, and we're asking the big questions, like: What exactly is a Rayman? Will BEYOND GOOD AND EVIL 2 ever come out? And just what is it with French developers and major downer endings?

This week we're lacing up our skates and taking on The Great One as we play two games starring Wayne Gretzky... and a third that's suspiciously similar. Hockey fan Jeff Nelson joins us to talk about all the fast-paced, arcade-y action of the N64's first-ever 4-player game- and then discuss why the developers seemed to make the exact same game three times. 

ALSO! Out new podcast JEST FRIENDS is now available on iTunes! In this limited series, Steve, Woody, and Mikayla Nicholson are attempting to read through David Foster Wallace's daunting masterwork INFINITE JEST, 50 or so pages at a time. Read along with us and join in on the discussion!

We're taking to the skies this week, so it's a good thing we have a Crow! Neal Crow returns to help us talk about two high-flying games that take two very different approaches to airplane games: the laid-back tech demo PILOTWINGS 64 and the dogfight-heavy oddity AERO FIGHTERS ASSAULT. Join us as we dig into the history of flight simulators search for hidden secrets in the Pilotwings map, and meet a talking dolphin wearing a hat!

Tango down! This week, we're refusing to let the terrorists win by playing TOM CLANCY'S RAINBOW SIX, the oft-forgotten N64 port of the classic tactical shooter. The game has some ambitious ideas, but can the N64 hardware keep up? Plus, we look into the hugely successful "Tom Clancy's" brand and search for other literary gaming adaptations.

In honor of our badass women's national soccer team and their international victory, we're going for the gold with two more soccer games: the slick EA Sports joint WORLD CUP 98, and MIA HAMM SOCCER 64, the first (and maybe only!) female-exclusive sports video game. We're joined by the lovely Emma Delaney to talk ladies, soccer, and ladies soccer in a rowdy and lively conversation.

The fur flies this week as we play an unusual but strangely perfect pairing of games: TOM AND JERRY FISTS OF FURRY and POWERPUFF GIRLS: CHEMICAL X-TRACTION are two arena fighting games a la POWER STONE, made by the same developer, but with wildly different results! The violence may be animated, but believe me, there will be blood: @SKELETON_BLOOD_! That's the Twitter handle for Blair Gorman, artist, musician, and all around cool person, who joins us to geek out about cartoons, concoct some new catchphrases, and bear witness to what might be our most contentious rankings ever!

Right about now it's time to talk about biggity-Buck Bumble! This week we're joined by Jeremy Hatfield to discuss the never-was mascot turned internet sensation Buck Bumble! Buck's one and only game ever produced some frustrating gameplay but that theme song sure is a banger.

We put our cards on the table this week with GOLDEN NUGGET 64, the N64's one and only casino game! Card shark (or is it card sharp?) Nicole Vettese joins us as we play through 10 Vegas staples, from poker to craps, and see if there's any fun to be had from digital betting. Plus: obscure gaming laws! Inappropriate hand gestures! Murderous roulette wheels! And more gambling puns than you can shake a pair of dice at! 

Start yer engines, motorheads, because this week we're taking on the world of stock car racing! We played the Gran Turismo clone GT 64, and two NASCAR games; that's right, another block of generic racing games! Thank goodness we have some great discussion questions and letters from our lovely listeners to help us pass the time! 

Also, we're now on Instagram! Follow us @ultra64podcast!

Everybody needs somebody to love, but does anyone love BLUES BROTHERS 2000? This week, we played the baffling adaptation of the flop 1998 movie, and as a bonus, we watched the flop 1998 movie with resident film expert Mikayla Nicholson! Join us as we explore the history of the Blues Brothers, meet infamous developers Titus, and try to think of a property LESS worthy of a video game than this movie. 

And don't forget out contest for the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time vinyl soundtrack is on until June 22nd! To enter, retweet the pinned post on our Twitter page for one entry; leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcast or tag us with #ultra64 in your favorite Zelda memories for two entries; or come up with some creative way of promoting the show through music, art, or some other form for three entries. 

Hey! Listen! We've got one of the biggest and best games of all time this week! We're joined by amateur Zelda historian Caleb Sanders to dig into the rich history, the confusing timelines, and the troubled production that lead to Ocarina of Time. It's a super-sized episode for a super-sized game.

Plus, we're giving away a copy of the Ocarina of Time Soundtrack! It's a beautiful vinyl pressing from IAm8Bit and would make an excellent addition to anyone's collection. There are three ways to enter: retweet our pinned post @ultra64podcast on Twitter for one entry; give us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts for two entries; and find some other creative way to promote the show (art, videos, etc.) and you'll get three entries. Do all three, and that's six entries! Contest is open until June 22nd!

We're delving deep into the dungeons of Castle Shadowgate for SHADOWGATE 64: TRIALS OF THE FOUR TOWERS, a puzzle/adventure/RPG hybrid that puts the "meh" in medieval! We look into the history of one of the most niche genres in gaming, the MacVenture, and explore a rich fantasy mythology that has had surprising staying power. 
And don't miss next week, when we cover one of the biggest games of all time, LEGEND OF ZELDA: OCARINA OF TIME! We'll be giving away a beautiful copy of the soundtrack on vinyl, so don't forget to tune in for your chance to win!

Boomshakalaka! This week, we're revisiting our long-lost episode, and we're doing it in style. We played the arcade-sports classic NBA HANGTIME and its sequel, the awkwardly-named NBA SHOWTIME: NBA ON NBC, but we're not in it alone: we're joined by gaming journalist/author/Palette-Swap Ninja lead singer/all-around good dude Dan Amrich, who tells the story of just how he came to be a hidden character in HANGTIME! 

Open up a box of Cheesy Poofs and get ready to respect our authori-tah, because this week we're talking about SOUTH PARK, the first-person shooter that was the must-have game for edgelords in 1998! Emily Aguila, friend of the show and host of WORLD OF TOMORROW and GOING CAST, joins us to work out our complicated feelings for the show, and our less-complicated feelings about the game. 

Gather up your worms and head on down to the ol' fishin' hole, because this week we're going fishing! We played BASS HUNTER 64 and BASSMASTERS 2000, the two sport fishing games for the N64, and we had a hell of time doing it! Join us to discuss our personal fishing histories, argue over the best and worst fishing games, and generally gripe about how hard it is to catch bass! 

Spin that wheel and phrase all your answers in the form of a question, because we're playing the game versions of game show staples WHEEL OF FORTUNE and JEOPARDY! Tyler Detrick and Melanie Strickland, hosts of the Bard Alcohol Content podcast, and fan favorite Dan Reese are back to talk Trebek, game show history, and weird FMV game show hosts! Plus, the antics of Fungus and Jeff! 

Get your kit on, ya hooligans, because this week we're talking about soccer for the first time! Jeremy Hatfield returns to help us kick our way through the three games in Konami's INTERNATIONAL SUPERSTAR SOCCER series on the N64! Plus, we discuss the worldwide popularity of the sport, why it's been slow to catch on in the states, and just who is the best country in the world: Mexico or Portugal? 

Once again we find ourselves playing a weird game we've never heard of, and once again our amazing listeners stepped up with their own creative, funny plot summaries for SPACE STATION SILICON VALLEY! Join us as we talk about this weird and charming little platformer, discuss how it contains the DNA for GRAND THEFT AUTO, and struggle to keep Steve awake after two days without sleep! 

The original kombatants return for another round of minigame-fueled mayhem as we make our long-belated return to MARIO PARTY! Rosie Crow, Dan Reese, and Nicole Vettese are back and raring to take the crown back from last time's party champion, Woody. Plus, cowboy hats! 

How many video games can claim to be the national pastime for an entire country? STARCRAFT sure can; Blizzard's monumental hit redefined a genre and invented competitive e-sports, but is the N64 port any good? Our old friend Scott Burger stops by to help us find out! Join us as we flashback to our fondest (and most painful) STARCRAFT memories, discuss the seismic impact the game has had on the culture, and of course construct more pylons. 

Our old friends Rosie and Mikayla join us once again to talk about the laconic thrills of HARVEST MOON 64, the gentle, unassuming farming RPG that gets real addictive real fast. We talk about the history of sim games, talk some tricky gender politics around games, try not to turn into a STARDEW VALLEY podcast, and only barely make any hoe jokes.

It's our 75th episode, and to celebrate we've turned our game selection over to our lovely listeners! And you picked STAR WARS: SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE, which is great, because it gives us an excuse to get into the rich and weird world of the STAR WARS Expanded Universe! Join us as we take Dash Rendar on his tangentially-related adventures between EMPIRE and JEDI, and find out if this early N64 favorite holds up or should be sent down the garbage chute. 

Hail to the king (of misogynistic, retrograde toxic masculinity), baby! This week, we're revisiting the uniquely 90's DUKE NUKEM 64 and its spin-off, DUKE NUKEM: ZERO HOUR. Friend of the show Lynsey Pennington is back to help us dig through the sordid history of Duke's inception, wrestling with just how the hell to control these games, and introduce Steve to this mysterious concept called... porn? 

Also, thanks to everyone who voted in our listener contest! You have spoken and we have listened: for our 75th episode, we will be playing STAR WARS: SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE!

We're finally jumping into the squared circle to challenge our first batch of wrestling games, and man, is there a lot to dig into! Luckily, we've got wrestling fan Blake Goetsch to help us dig through the wild history, fascinating characters, and our own complicated feelings about professional wrestling. We tackle the first three wrestling games for the system, WCW/nWo WORLD TOUR, WWF WAR ZONE, and WCW/nWo REVENGE, and try desperately to keep our facts straight. 

Also, our poll to pick the game for our 75th episode is still up and running for another week! Don't forget to head over to ultra64podcast.com to cast your vote by March 16th to determine what we play! 

This week, we’re joined by Dr. Mario enthusiast Kathy Peacock Duncan, and actual doctor Nicole Vettese to discuss DR. MARIO 64, one of Nintendo’s premiere puzzle games. Join us as we look back at the history of the franchise, discuss how DM64 is actually a secret Wario game, and help us settle the debate once and for all: are Mario and Dr. Mario the same person?

Also, we’re coming up on our 75th episode, and as has become a tradition, we want you to help us choose what we play! Head over to ultra64podcast.com and cast your vote to help move a game up the list!

Swing into action with DISNEY'S TARZAN, the action platformer based on the weirdly forgotten 1999 movie of the same name! We're joined once again by Disney correspondent Mikayla Nicholson as we discuss the history of Edgar Rice Burroughs' timeless character, watch and review the film in question, and play the game itself, in all of it's chiptuned-Phil-Collins glory! Does TARZAN deserve to be amongst the ranks of other Disney platformers like ALADDIN and THE LION KING, or does it go the way of HOME ON THE RANGE? 

It's time to tackle another N64 football franchise, one that hopefully won't make Steve have an aneurysm: we're playing all four NFL BLITZ games, and we're savoring the ultra-violent, arcade-style goofiness. We're joined once again by Josiah Coolidge to talk turbo boosters, late hits, and the NFL's sketchy history of dealing with violence. Plus, Steve gets more facts wrong about football! 

The prodigal Bomberman returns this week for one of his weirder entries: BOMBERMAN HERO, a single-player platformer with absolutely no multiplayer whatsoever. Does the lack of the core feature of the Bomberman series hurt the experience, or should you blast through anyway? Speaking of blast, we also played the oddball puzzle-platformer CHARLIE BLAST'S TERRITORY, a port of a game that hadn't yet been released with a totally different character and different title. Things get weird. 

We're jumping back into the ring for another round of fighting games; this time, we're playing the bizarre fighter/RPG hybrid FLYING DRAGON and Rare's once and future MORTAL KOMBAT killer, KILLER INSTINCT GOLD! We're joined by fighting game superfan Dion Fountain as we attempt to make (and break) combos, parse through obtuse character backstories, and explore our knowledge of perverted arcade games. 

Truck yeah! It's time for another round of generic racing games. This time, we're getting down and dirty with a trio of redneck racing staples, OFF-ROAD CHALLENGE, MONSTER TRUCK MADNESS 64, and DESTRUCTION DERBY 64. And guess what? One of these is our new worst game. Which one? Listen and find out. 
Also listen to hear us answer discussion questions from you, our listeners! And if you want us to answer one of your questions on a future racing episode, send your question to our email or Twitter accounts. 

You're not dreaming: there's a brand new Nintendo 64 game on the market, and this week, we're playing it! 40 WINKS, the long-gestating port of a 1999 Playstation game, has finally arrived on the N64 after a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign. We decide if this 3-D platformer was worth the wait! 

This is it! The big one! We've reached our 64th episode, so it felt only right to celebrate with the game that truly defines what it means to be 64. We travel into the Mushroom Kingdom, exploring the rich history of the MARIO franchise and dispelling some of the myths that have surrounded the series since the beginning. Oh dear lord, this game is just so good...

BOMBERMAN fanatic Aaron George and local retro gaming expert Jeremy Hatfield join us for the explosive action of BOMBERMAN 64 and it's sequel, THE SECOND ATTACK! We delve into the history of one of gaming's most enduring franchises, try to parse the confusing origin story of the man who poops bombs, and do whatever we can to shut the dog up. 

We've got another surprise bonus episode for you guys! Since we just played our 100th game for the show, we thought it might be fun to go back and acknowledge some of the best and worst of the show so far. We debate over which games had the best graphics, music, and multiplayer, as well as the bad games we secretly love, the weirdest games in the library so far, and many more categories! 

Another day, another game with baffling cover art we need our audience to interpret. This week, we played FORSAKEN 64, and since we had no idea what it was about, we asked our beloved audience to send in their imagined plot descriptions, and man did they deliver, with some of the smartest and funniest plots we've heard yet. We're joined by the hilarious Tyler Detrick, who helps us parse out just what FORSAKEN is about. 

Tis the season for blasting Cacodemons and wielding double chainsaws! This week, we played DOOM 64, the N64 exclusive port of one of the most influential and successful games of all time. We delve into the fascinating history of id Software, explore the controversy that surrounded the title at every turn, and desperately try to see what the hell is going on. Happy holidays, everyone!

Prepare to crack your virtual bullwhips and don’t forget your fedora, because this week we’re swinging into action with everyone’s favorite archeologist/ adventurer with INDIANA JONES AND THE INFERNAL MACHINE. Indy’s first foray into 3-D was bafflingly a Blockbuster exclusive on home consoles; did the poor distribution give Indy’s game a raw deal, or does it deserve to be lost in a warehouse? Find out now!

Nicole Vettese joins us once again to take a trip back into the golden age of arcade games with the compilation game NAMCO MUSEUM 64! This greatest-hits cart has PAC-MAN, MS. PAC-MAN, GALAGA, GALAXIANS, DIG-DUG, and POLE POSITION, so you'd best believe we're gonna nerd out about it. 

This week, we're joined by Danielle Rupinski (owner of the Rook and Rogue board game pub) and Katie Bray (all around awesome person) to discuss the N64 adaptation of MONOPOLY, the world's most famous board game. Join us as we dig into the sordid history of the game, it's evolution from a socialist teaching tool to a capitalist fever dream, and it's reputation as a destroyer of families. 

We're trying something a little different this week! Since baseball is inherently kind of boring to talk about, and since we've already covered it once before, this week Steve and Woody provide running commentary as Josiah Coolidge and Dan Reese play ALL-STAR BASEBALL live in the studio! Expect thrilling action, rambling non-sequitors, inappropriate references to 9/11, and lots of cheesy announcer voices! 

And the theme song is stuck in your head.... now. This week, we played the candy-coated platform YOSHI'S STORY, a game that, for all it's saccharine cuteness, is pretty divisive among gamers. We're joined by our old friend Lynsey, and by Kyle Duncan Graham, host of the Infinite Grenade Launcher podcast. Special thanks to Kevin Kim for the recording on Kyle's end.

This week we're going to fly like eagles into the future, as we examine a trio of high-speed futuristic racers. We're joined by everyone's favorite Irishman, Ollie Brady of the Best Acquaintances podcast, to determine which light speed racer actually has a future. 

Just in time to be late for Halloween, we played Capcom's OG spook-em-up, Resident Evil 2! Horror superfan Lynsey Pennington joins us once more to talk about the legendary horror series and it's surprisingly accomplished N64 port. 

Surprise! We have an extra episode for y'all this week! Since Ultra 64 is now celebrating it's 1-year anniversary, we thought we'd break format a bit and talk about a few games that were meant to come out for the Nintendo 64 but never did. This week, we played a couple games that eventually found their way onto the Gamecube, and talk about some of the rumored games that sadly never came to be. 

This week we played the RPG-iest RPG on the system, Atlas' OGRE BATTLE 64! Obviously we needed some backup to tackle this hugely complex tactical RPG, so we brought in an expert: John Brandon, co-host of the exceptional SQUARE ROOTS podcast! John joins us to talk about the history of tactical RPGs, the appeal of playing a game that requires at least one degree to learn, and of course, the music of Queen. 

Know what's groovy? Earthworm Jim! The 16-bit icon had a brief but memorable impact on the gaming world, and this week we're evaluating his one and only foray into the world of 3D! Know what's less groovy? Problematic creators! But we'll get into that, plus all the pig-wrasslin', cow-launchin', worm-whippin' action you can stomach.

Holy *%^$ing hell, this week's episode is a &%^*ing doozy. We played Rare's infamously filthy platformer CONKER'S BAD FUR DAY, with our old friend Zack Strong. The game is notorious in gaming circles for it's profanity and crass content, but is it actually any good? Find out now! 

Also, enter now for a chance to win a copy of the CONKER soundtrack on two beautiful vinyl LPs! There are four ways to enter: retweet our pinned post on Twitter with the hashtage #ultra64, join our Facebook page, write us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, or submit potential T-shirt artwork to our email address! Enter before 10/27/18! 

We're taking it to the hole this week, as Josiah Coolidge helps us tackle our first round of basketball games, Konami's IN THE ZONE series. Join us for some of the wildest and weirdest hoops action on the system, and enjoy our slap-happy antics as we talk b-ball history, Real Housewives, and of course Space Jam. 

Also, thanks to everyone who voted in our listener contest! You spoke and we listened: our 50th episode will be about CONKER'S BAD FUR DAY! Tune in next week for that! 

This week, we're going to infinity and/or even further, as the delightful Mikayla Nicholson joins us to talk about the adaptation of Pixar's TOY STORY 2. We dig into the history of the venerable animation studios, the waning reliability of Disney-licensed games, and the illogical physics of the TS world. 

Don't forget, out 50th Episode Listener Poll is still up until October 7th! As of this posting, it's still anyone's game. Cast your vote at ultra64podcast.com!

It's a particularly rowdy episode this week as we're joined by the lovely Emma Delaney to discuss the virtual pet game HEY YOU! PIKACHU! We go into the history of voice-controlled games, explore the digital pet craze of the late 90s, and dig into the secret brainwashing conspiracy inside fake babies. Plus, wine! A lot of wine! 

Also, this week we are announcing our latest LISTENER'S CHOICE CONTEST! We're letting our listeners pick from one of 10 frequently-requested games for us to play on our upcoming 50th episode! Go to ultra64podcast.com before October 7th to cast your vote!

This week, we put our bodies to the test as we play INTERNATIONAL TRACK AND FIELD 2000. Actual track and field athlete Nicole Vettese joins us to discuss the history of the controller-punishing sub-genre of running games, delve deeper into the world of Blockbuster exclusives, and put our actual bodies on the line as we attempt to break Usain Bolt's world land speed record. Ready, set, go!

For this gorilla-sized episode, we're examining one of the biggest games to grace the N64: Rare's DONKEY KONG 64. Luckily, we have help: the Attempted Murder (siblings Neal and Rosie Crow) return to help us sort through this epic story with five apes, eight massive worlds, and literally hundreds of collectibles. Is this Rare's finest moment or the game where the storied studio finally jumps the shark? 

Holy unsucsessful game adaptation, Batman! We're spending some quality time with the Caped Crusader this week, and we're joined by actor/comedian Jarrett Galante to tackle the Bat's extensive history, his underrated future, and his notorious N64 game, "BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER!" 

It's time for a bubble-busting puzzle gaming action as the U64 gang (along with Puzzle Game Consultant Nicole Vettese and Steve's dear friend/sworn enemy Kim Turpin) tackle Taito's adorably addictive BUST-A-MOVE series. Join us for an in-depth exploration of dragon genders, terrible cover art, and late-80s hip-hop as we bank shots and break hearts. 

Strap on your knife shoes and barrel at the opponent with no regard for your safety: we're playing some hockey! Marvel in the story of the sports game Steve actually owned! Thrill at the exploration of international theme songs! Vibrate in anticipation for the return of Sports Desk Correspondant Nicole Vettese! 

The arcade racing favorite finds an early home on the N64, and we're here to cover the whole series! Special guest Robert Brower joins us to talk about the legacy of Midway's arcade staple and it's relevance in the racing game pantheon! Plus more ridiculously insulting French stereotypes and DELAWARE!

This week, we're tackling the two most baby-oriented games to ever exisit, ELMO'S LETTER ADVENTURE and NUMBER JOURNEY. We delve into the history of Sesame's Street's divise red monster, and struggle with our all-too-human urge to dunk on games made for children too young to safely operate a Nintendo 64. 

It's a 3-D triple feature, in that we have three fighting games that all start with D, and have literally no other characteristics! Join us as we struggle to find a stand-out character, give SPACE JAM a much-needed dressing-down, and crown a new worst game!

The legendary Blue Bomber makes his one and only appearance on the N64, and we couldn't be happier, because it gives us a chance to gush about one of our favorite classic game characters. Engage in exuberant robot monkey dancing with us as we delve into the history of the robot formerly known as Rockman, and find out if the character can survive the transition to 3-D. 

It's a big week at Ultra 64! Not only did we get a new theme song, courtesy of the amazing band The Octopus Project, but we found a way to outsource a lot of our work for this episode onto YOU, our brilliant audience! This week, we played STARSHOT: SPACE CIRCUS FEVER, and we had no idea what this game was about, so we reached out to our listeners to submit their own ideas, and you guys delivered in a big way! Tune in to hear all the amazing responses, and then brace yourself for the weirdness of what this French import is ACTUALLY about. 

Do you feel that rumbling? It must be the seismic impact of id Software's seismic hit, QUAKE, and it's sequel, QUAKE II! Our old buddy Phil Ortego joins us this week to talk about id's other great shooter franchise, and see if these genre classics translate well to the N64. Also, some forbidden words, dueling Carmacks, and plenty of love for Nine Inch Nails. 

This week, we try out the ambitious shooter/strategy hybrid BATTLEZONE: RISE OF THE BLACK DOGS, and discover a series that has stealthily developed a cult following that is still thriving to this day. We discuss the gulf that exists between PC and console gamers, wrestle with some flawed mechanics, and marvel at just what a crazy year 1998 was for games. 

Are you ready for some football? We're not sure we are, but we're taking a shot anyway. Josiah Coolidge joins us to talk about four entries in the one-time Madden challenger series NFL QUARTERBACK CLUB. Meanwhile, we get into some of darkest territory yet, as Steve works through his issues with football, Josiah works through his issues with FORTNITE, and Woody works through his lack of issues. 

Strap on your Rumble Pak! It's time to head into deep space of the Lylat System with everyone's 3rd favorite anthropomorphic furry space guardian. It's Star Fox 64! Relive the glory days of doing a barrel roll and receiving VHS tapes in the mail from Nintendo Power magazine. Only on Ultra 64!

Get ready  for a triple dose of vehicular excitement fired straight into your ear holes! It's Ultra 64's first of many racing roundups! We played  MRC, Penny Racers, and Ridge Racer 64. We also discuss unrelated video game movies, music, and lifelong skills.  Will any of these games cruise past our low expectations? What does MRC really stand for? Why does Woody have to keep playing Penny Racers? Tune in and find out! 

Today on Ultra 64, we explore the N64's contribution to the legacy of the most important puzzle game ever. We play Tetrisphere, Magical Tetris Challenge, and the New Tetris! Learn about the history of Tetris, why Tetrisphere has a super confusing name, how Minnie Mouse makes terrible cookies, and angry rantings hidden in the code of New Tetris. Only on Ultra 64!

Ready your peanuts and Cracker Jacks, because we're going out to the old ball game to revisit the glory days of Seattle sports hero Ken Griffey, Jr. Certified Mariners fan Josiah Coolidge stops by to help the non-sportos get a grasp on the finer points of the game, discuss what it was like to be a fan during the height of Griffey-mania, and play through a couple of surprisingly great baseball games. 

This week, we're doing our best to preserve our fond Nicktoon memories in the face of games so bad, they make us envy Melville the bug (look it up). Lynsey Pennington joins us once again to discuss the history of Klasky Csupo's classic cartoon, fumble through the rules of a maddeningly opaque board game, and question why the hell Rugrats in Paris takes place in Paris at all.

Happy Mother's Day, true believers! Celebrate Mom with an episode about her favorite game: SPIDER-MAN, the lesser-known port of the PlayStation smash! Experience the excitement as Stupendous Steve and Wonderful Woody delve into the sordid history of your friendly neighborhood web-slinger! Thrill as we battle Spidey's old enemies, The Camera and the Cut-Scene Thief! Relive your fondest memories of Shinobi! Excelsior! 

We're SERVING up some fun this week, with a double dose of tennis action: first, the middle-of-the-road sports sim All Star Tennis 99, and then the all-time fan favorite Mario Tennis! Sports desk correspondant Nicole Vettese is brought along for the action, with all the sports trivia and agonizing puns you can endure! It's ACES, guys! ACES! 

This week, we're taking it to the streets for the quaintly antiquated brawler FIGHTING FORCE 64! We delve into the history of beat-em-ups, discuss the STREETS OF RAGE sequel that could have been, and prove that winners actually do sometimes use drugs as Steve struggles to podcast behind some substantial painkillers. 

You voted, and we obliged! For our 25th episode, we played STAR WARS: EPISODE 1 - RACER, perhaps the only redeemable thing to emerge from the monstrous disappointment that was PHANTOM MENACE. We're joined by U64 favorites Jessica Cartwright and Nicole Vettese, who help us discuss movie scenes that would benefit from the RACER treatment, speculate about the cumbersome title, and help determine whether kamizake racing is actually a valid strategy. 

As a classic gaming podcast, we get so few chances to be on the cutting edge of anything, so when the opportunity arises, you know we've gotta jump on it. This week, we played two versions of the arcade classic RAMPAGE (World Tour and Universal Tour), and then, in a bit of a break in format, we take a group trip to the movies to see, and review, the new Dwayne Johnson blockbuster "Rampage!" How does this big-budget tentpole compare to the languid thrills of the original? Tune in to find out! 

Also, we're very excited to announce the winner of our listener contest! You voted, so for our 25th episode, we will be playing: STAR WARS: EPISODE 1 RACER! Thanks to everyone who participated!

Transform and roll out! This week we played the obscure fighting game based on the forgotten spin-off of one of the most bafflingly popular franchises of all time, TRANSFORMERS: BEAST WARS TRANSMETALS. Join us as we power through as much of the game as our nausea will allow, delve into the history of Blockbuster-exclusive video games, and reveal the sordid truth behind craft-based folk musician Jim Crochet.

Also, there's still one week left on our fabulous LISTERNER POLL, and the race is getting really tight. Remember to cast your vote for the game we'll play on our 25th episode by going to ultra64podcast.com! Polls close April 14th, so jump on it!

Happy Easter Fools Day! You'd be forgiven for thinking this week's title is a joke, but I assure you, QUEST 64 is very much real. Join us as we put in some quality time with maybe the least imaginative RPG ever... that is still, by default, one of the best RPGs on the system. 

Also, we are thrilled to announce our new LISTENER'S POLL! You, our loveable listeners, get to choose what game we play for our upcoming 25th episode! We polled Twitter, Facebook, and real life to hear the games you want us to play, and compiled a list of 10 surprisingly diverse games from the back half of our catalogue. Vote today at ultra64podcast.com! Polling stays open until April 14th, and we'll announce the winner on April 15th. Vote today!

This week we played SCOOBY DOO CLASSIC CREEP CAPERS, which pays like a toddler version of Resident Evil. We delve into the rich history of Scooby Doo as a franchise, debate whether anyone actually likes these cartoons, and then a groundbreaking discovery: a lost episode of "Scooby Doo, Where Are You?" that we managed to find through sheer luck and coincidence! 

This week, we try out a hidden gem, the weird fighter/action/RPG hodgepodge HYBRID HEAVEN. Along with HH superfan Jeremy Hatfield, we discuss the odd fighting system, the out-there, heavily Kojima-esque storyline, and parse through the theory that this has secret roots in the Metal Gear Solid universe. 

We're facing down a triple threat of Midway fighting games this week, each one jockeying to steal Mortal Kombat's crown. Will any of them be successful? You probably already know the answer to that. But still, tune in for burly super soldiers, tempting femme fatales, and faux-fatalities a-plenty. Plus, competing movie trailers, awkward acroynms, and nipple pipes. 

It's a golf triple feature this week on Ultra 64! We discuss three games that take to the links, and we're joined once again by Sports Desk Correspondant Nicole Vettese to dig in to all the hot golf action: the glitz, the glamour, the khaki. Could this be the sexiest episode yet? Better believe it, baby. 

It's a family affair this week on Ultra 64, as siblings Rosie and Neal Crow join us to talk about their childhood favorites, Snowboard Kids 1 and 2. The gang discusses the series' quirky blend of kart racer and snowboard stunt game and determine whether these cult classics are worth rediscovering.

Rev up your engines and strap on your machine guns, because this week we're diving into the sordid history of the briefly-popular car combat subgenre. Steve, Woody, and special guest Josiah Coolidge tackle the TWISTED METAL rip-off VIGILANTE 8 and it's sequel, the aptly-named SECOND OFFENSE. Is the genre worth a second coming, or is it better left on the scrap-heap? 

This week, we play the beloved first-person shooter Pokemon Snap, with our delightful special guest Jessica Cartwright. We dive in to the first-ever 3-D Poke-game, and explore the weird and innovative marketing history of the game. You've gotta catch this one! Get it? 

MORTAL KOMBAAAAAAAT!!!! Dun dun dun dun dun-dun dun dun dun dun-dun-dun/ babababababb.... you get it. Now that the theme song to the Mortal Kombat movie is stuck in your head, battle that ear worm with a brand new episode of Ultra 64! This week, we're joined by special guest Scott Burger to talk the storied history of the MK franchise, and later we're joined by special guest Maggie Mae for our first-ever edition of Ultra 64 Reader's Theatre to recreate some of the finest moments from Mortal Kombat 4. 

Man, we couldn't be more excited for this week's episode. We're talking Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1, 2, and 3, and we're talking about it with one of the funniest people on the planet: Betsy Sodaro, who you'll recognize from TV appearances (Disjointed, Bob's Burgers, Superstore), movies (The To-Do List, Monster's University), and more podcasts than you can even count (Horny 4 Horror, Comedy Bang Bang, Improv 4 Humans, Off Book, many, many more). It was such a delight to talk to Betsy, and the games themselves were the best kind of nostalgia trip. Join us!

For those about TUROK: we salute you! This week, we dive into a stone-age classic, Acclaim's TUROK: DINOSAUR HUNTER. We learn about the surprisingly long history of the series, and find out how the series was kind of an underdog story. Enjoy! 

We have three total strike-outs this week, and not in the way they probably hope. We ripped the band-aid on bowling games this week, with three ten-pin titans, BRUNSWICK CIRCUIT PRO BOWLING, MILO'S ASTRO LANES, and SUPER BOWLING. It's a bit of a slog, but at least we have Nicole Vettese, our lovely sports desk correspondent, to share our pain. Subscribe, download, rate, and review, on iTunes, Soundcloud, and now Stitcher! 

Happy New Year! As we barrel forward into the future, the Castlevania franchise makes a noble attempt to do the same, with their first-ever 3-D entries, Castlevania and Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness. We discuss the strange case of the "sequel" released within a year of the original, and debate whether or not these games are actually, you know, good. 

Also, Ultra 64 is now on Stitcher! Be sure to subscribe, download, rate, and review on whatever platform you choose! 

What the world needs now, is Glove, sweet Glove! 

For our final show of 2017, we played the forgotten platform Glover! It's one of my new favorite episodes, so do us a favor and give us a listen, won't you? Happy New Year!

A Merriest of Christmases, one and all! The stockings are hung, the tree is lit, and the space motorcycles are tearing around a devastated planet at fantastic speeds, as is the tradition of the season. Join us as we discuss that most Christmas-y of games, Extreme-G, and it's holiday compatriot, Extreme-G 2. Episodes available to download now!

Is there any finer day of the week than New Episode Day? None springs to mind. 

This week, we are joined by our good friends Lynsey Pennington and Zack Strong to discuss GAUNTLET LEGENDS, a perfectly okay adaptation of the arcade classic. We discuss the relative merits of food, standing on traps, and sewer tentacles, while also commemorating the official completion of the Nintendo 64 collection! Tune in, won't you?

Ice, ice, babies! It's time to get chilly with MORTAL KOMBAT MYTHOLOGIES: SUB-ZERO. This attempt at a platforming/beat-em-up adaptation of the red-hot MK license is a notorious bomb, but is it better than it's reputation suggests? You'll have to tune in to find out. 

But the more important thing to learn from this episode is that our very own Woody Ciskowski is responsible for producing a Mortal Kombat movie that's actually a little better than all existing Mortal Kombat movies! Check it out here, but don't forget to download and listen to the episode for the proper context. 

This week we go for the... well, not Gold, exactly. What do they give you for 15th place? Tin? Sure. This week, we go for the Tin with NAGANO WINTER OLYMPICS 98, a game that captures the... existence of the Winter Games. It was a bit of a slog, but luckily my lovely wife Nicole Vettese was on hand to give us a little Olympic background and help us share the pain. We also briefly touch upon OLYMPIC HOCKEY NAGANO 98, which we'll go into more thoroughly on a later episode, but it's worth noting here just for how blatantly exploitative and lazy it is. Enjoy!

It's time for Episode 4: Banjo-Kazooie! Man, this game is fantastic; it might be the best-looking game on the entire system, and it still plays great (awkward camera aside). Plus, the almost complete lack of backstory for these characters means we can craft all kinds of weird and dark head canon to amuse ourselves. We're joined once again by Rosie Crow, who has emerged unscathed from the Mario Party episode and is ready to dive in to whimsical, bird-and-bear based platforming. 

As mentioned in the episode, here's Nintendo's attempt at an edgy commercial for this game, so get N on this episode, or get out. Nah, just playing, get on N here. 

Episode 3: Mario Party is up and likely triggering stress flashbacks as we speak! We were super happy to be joined by special guests Rosie Crow, Dan Reese, and Nicole Vettese for a four-player smackdown of, dare I say, Biblical proportions. If you've ever known the sublime joy of dominating a match for 20 rounds, only to have your victory snatched away at the last second because someone collected more coins than you, then this episode is for you! Who will come out on top? Tune in now to find out! 

And don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review us on iTunes! It really helps us out and helps get the word out about our show. Thanks guys!

Episode 2 is live! come hear us talk about the forgotten fighters Fighters Destiny and Fighter Destiny 2 (no 's'), which may or may not be the best 3-D fighters on the system. Meet memorable characters like... Ryu, sort of! And the clown guy! And I think there's  female fighter? Maybe two? And Diet Dennis Rodman! And... ok the characters aren't great. But how does the game hold up? You'll just have to tune in to find out!

IT'S HAPPENING, PEOPLE! After weeks and weeks of planning, stressing, organizing, occasionally napping, and wrestling with complicated podcast hosting and editing software I can't even begin to understand, our first episode is up on iTunes! Visit here and subscribe, listen, and write a review to get the word out! 

In this first episode, we discuss the general format of the show, give a little history and trivia on the system itself, and finally we discuss our first game, the forgotten arcade reboot SPACE INVADERS. Does it hold up compared to the iconic original? No, of course not, but it makes for a fun episode anyway. And try not to get too excited.