The Retro League – An Overview of the First 12 Episodes

Gaming podcasts are a dime a dozen, retro gaming podcasts are slightly more rare.  Retro gaming podcasts that deal with actual retro content (Xbox and PS2 are not retro, sorry) are extremely rare.  That is where The Retro League shines and stands head and shoulders above their competition in this slightly clouded genre of podcasting. The Retro League features the antics and commentary of 5 different hosts (Hemrawc, Jungle Rat Rob, Nick, Rubyclaw and Hugues Johnson), while other podcasts only give you two hosts at best which become extremely stale rather quickly.  Each episode features a mix of the 5 hosts which can help keep things fresh and interesting without getting boring.

Cheap contests are not the norm for TRL, instead they focus on great content that you will definitely wan to listen to more than once.  While other gaming podcasts seem to be the cure for insomnia (those podcasts shall remain nameless to protect the sleepy), TRL is fresh and interesting in their design and presentation. Each show features a roundtable style of discussion on topics that are brought up, either by league members or through e-mails.  There is the occasional rant by a single host but even those are on target.

In the first 12 episodes, discussions have run the gamut of classic titles such as Frankenstein’s Monster for Atari 2600 up to distribution of retro titles on newer consoles (Nintendo Virtual Console leading the way on this front).  There is some discussion of newer games but it is kept short and concise and not allowed to take over the show like other “retro” gaming podcasts. Keeping the show fresh are interesting segments like “Retro Game of the Week” which is done on other podcasts under various names but even here, it receives special treatment.  This segment is not treated as an afterthought just so that the podcast can claim retro in the title, Retro Game of the Week is a prominent segment and one that all of the available hosts discuss. Another segment, one that the League admits is borrowed from another podcast, The Nintendo Retrocast,  is called “The Price is Wrong.”  In TPW, the hosts that are on the show compete in a familiar gameshow type environment over the pricing of Ebay auctions for retro games and systems.  Just like the gameshow that it is based on, contestants attempt to get as close as possible to the correct price without going over.  Some interesting items have been brought up in this segment and more will surely follow in the coming episodes.

The Retro League is a breath of fresh air in a genre that is quickly turning stale (I have listened to quite a few podcasts, it takes just the right personalities, voices, topics and well, pacing to be good, something not many have).  Don’t let another 12 episodes pass you by before you check out The Retro League and their brand of retro goodness.

The Retro League is a weekly podcast that releases episodes at the beginning of the week.  For more information or contact information please visit The Retro League’s homepage.