Cocktail Mode: Retro Games, Cocktails and Banter

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast Andy and Dave are putting on their trench coats as they dive into Bullfrog’s 1996 cyberpunk tactical classic: Syndicate Wars!

We break down the grim fight between the EuroCorp Syndicate and the Church of the New Epoch. We reminisce about modifying cyborg agents with heavy ordnance driving tanks through rain-slick neon streets and the sheer chaotic satisfaction of firing off a Persuadertr...

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy & Dave are braving the Sultan's dungeons and racing against the clock in the 1989 cinematic platforming classic: Prince of Persia!

We’re diving into the game that revolutionized video game animation through Jordan Mechner’s groundbreaking rotoscoping technique, bringing unprecedented fluidity and life to every leap, ledge-grab, and sword clash. We discuss the sheer panic ...

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are putting the top down, tuning the radio, and hitting the gas to tackle the 1986 arcade classic: OutRun!

We break down the game's ground-breaking use of Super Scaler technology, creating a high-speed sense of scale and motion unlike anything else on the block. We dive into the breezy, sun-drenched coastal atmosphere following your driver and passenger in the iconic red Ferrari...

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are turning down the lights, loading their dual pistols, and stepping into a dark, dystopian cyberpunk underworld to tackle the 2000 PlayStation classic: Fear Effect!

We break down the game's groundbreaking use of cel-shaded anime graphics layered over streaming full-motion video backgrounds, creating a visual style unlike anything else on the block. We dive into the dark, super...

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are locking onto their targets, blasting into deep space, and celebrating a massive milestone; the 30th anniversary of Taito's legendary 1996 polygon shmup masterwork: RayStorm!

We take on the spectacular vertical shooter that brought the iconic "Ray" trilogy into the third dimension. We’ll also break down the other games in the series RayForce (1994) and RayCrisis (1998)....

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are cranking up the engines and taking a scenic, high-speed trip through racing history with Kaneko’s 1994 arcade classic: Mille Miglia: The Great 1000 Miles Rally!

We look back at this beautifully crafted isometric racer that pays homage to Italy's legendary open-road endurance race. We’ll celebrate the absolute joy of drifting vintage sports cars - from classic Alf...

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are hitting the pitch and stepping back into the mid-90s to celebrate the dawn of a football gaming revolution: the International Superstar Soccer (ISS) games!

We are diving into Konami's legendary Super Nintendo and Mega Drive era, looking back at the original 1994 masterpiece and the iconic ISS Deluxe and then through the series' hay-day on the original PlayStation.

We reminis...

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are flexing their mental muscles with the ultimate arcade block-dropper: Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo!

Capcom's genius 1996 spin-off took legendary fighters like Ryu, Chun-Li, and Morrigan, shrunk them down into adorable chibi sprites, and threw them into a viciously competitive puzzle matrix. 

We break down the absolute chaos of the counter-gem system, the tactical stress...

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are hitting the virtual hardwood to look back at the 1999 Sega Dreamcast masterpiece: NBA 2K!

We are diving deep into the visual marvel that launched a legacy, celebrating the game that blew everyone away with its photorealistic graphics, smooth animations, and Allen Iverson crossing up defenders on the cover. We discuss how Visual Concepts completely changed the sports gaming l...

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are revving their engines and bracing for the G-force as they revisit Geoff Crammond’s 1989 gravity-defying masterpiece: Stunt Car Racer!

We’re heading back to the high-altitude tracks to look at the game that turned 3D wireframe graphics into a nail-biting survival experience. We break down the sheer terror of hearing that "crack" in the chassis after a heavy landin...

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave journey through the streets of America through a 1980s Japanese lens as they revisit the 1988 coin-op original: Shadow Warriors (AKA Ninja Gaiden)!

We’re heading back to the smoky arcades to look at the side-scrolling beat 'em up that feels worlds apart from its famous NES cousin. We break down the visceral joy of the "neck-flip" throw, the punishing difficulty of those ho...

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are checking their G-diffusers and heading for Corneria to revisit the 1993 Super FX powerhouse: Star Wi... I mean Fox! We’re blasting off with Fox McCloud and his crew to look back at the polygon revolution that changed the SNES forever. We break down the chaotic joy of trying to keep Slippy Toad alive and why those flat-shaded shapes still hold more charm than a modern 4...

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the game with the most beautifully animated carnage in arcade history: Metal Slug!

We’re diving into the legendary SNK pixel art that turned the run-and-gun genre into a hand-drawn masterpiece. We break down the frantic joy of the "HEAVY MACHINE GUN!", the slapstick charm of the bulging-eyed enemies, and how this Neo Geo crown jewel ...

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave leave the shakers at home to  travel back through the decades to unlock the ultimate retro gaming library with the CEO and founder of Antstream Arcade, Steve Cottam!

This free-wheeling chat covers cloud gaming, latency, AI, Spectrum vs Amstrad vs MSX, IP frustrations, and exploring how Antstream is bringing thousands of classic titles - from the 2600 to the PlayStation - di...

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are shrinking down to tabletop size to revisit the absolute mayhem of 1991 with the Codemasters classic: Micro Machines!

We’re taking a pint sized roadtrip through the series that turned breakfast tables, bathtubs, and pool tables into high-stakes racetracks. We break down the frantic joy of the "screen-elimination" mechanic, and how this charming franchise proved that big...

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are taking to the skies to earn their flight licenses in the 1990 SNES classic: Pilotwings!

We’re diving into the game that served as the ultimate showcase for Nintendo’s Mode 7 technology, transforming flat 2D maps into a pseudo-3D playground that blew minds at the SNES launch. We discuss the Zen-like calm of the hang glider, the high-altitude tension of the skydivi...

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are heading to the "World Center of Racing" to talk about the legendary Daytona USA in celebration of its real-world inspiration, the Daytona 500!

We’re revving up the engines on Sega’s arcade titan, discussing everything from the accuracy of the track layout to how and why the high-pitched "DAYTONAAAAA!" vocals of Takenobu Mitsuyoshi still live rent-free in our head...

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are blasting off into the Sega-blue skies of 1985 to revisit a true arcade behemoth: Space Harrier!

We’re taking a deep dive into Yu Suzuki’s psychedelic masterpiece, discussing the thrill of the hydraulic motion cabinet, remembering the iconic music and sound design, and chatting about why this game remains one of THE all time great arcade experiences.

Tune in for n...

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are warping back to the golden age of 8-bit vector graphics to sit down with a true legend: Ian Oliver, the coding mastermind behind iconic games from the era including 3D Starstrike and Carrier Command!

We chat about how Ian and the Realtime Games team managed to squeeze lightning-fast, wireframe 3D out of the ZX Spectrum, effectively bringing the Star Wars arcade experience in...