Starter Quest
A podcast where we look at classic video games through the eyes of a noob. Each episode, Alessandro Crolla shares his 30 years of gaming experience with gaming newcomer Jen Hughes by taking a deep dive through a classic game, to see how it holds up to fresh eyes and beginner thumbs.
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Episodes
Thursday Sep 22, 2022
Thursday Sep 22, 2022
Come join us for our first double feature episode! We take the battle to the arcades to find out which classic fighting game is going to take home the title of Starter Quest Champion; between the Japanese legend Street Fighter II, and the American classic Mortal Kombat. Two games will enter, and only shall leave with the title of being better for our resident noob!
Episode theme 1 - Frets of Fury by vertexguy
Episode theme 2 - Mortal Konfrontation by The Dual Dragons
CONTENTS
(00:37) Introduction (05:19) Pre-playthrough interview(26:29) Rules of gameplay(27:43) Intermission to post-playthrough(33:03) History & design (50:17) Street Fighter II - The plot (ish)(52:30) The Fighters 1 - Chun-Li, Ryu, Ken, E. Honda(01:12:21) The Fighters 2 - Blanka, Zangief, Guile, Dhalsim(01:30:43) The 4 Heavenly Kings - Balrog, Vega, Sagat, M.Bison(01:47:51) Victory! Ending cutscenes(01:54:12) Jen's Street Fighter II tier list(01:57:13) Mortal Kombat - The plot(01:58:21) The Fighters 1 - Liu Kang, Raiden, Kano(02:08:57) The Fighters 2 - Johnny Cage, Sub Zero, Scorpion, Sonya(02:22:39) The Final Fights - Endurance run, Goro, Shang Tsung(02:33:08) Victory! Ending cutscenes, and the absence of Reptile(02:45:30) Jen's Mortal Kombat tier list(02:47:53) Aftermath, legacy, & Final analysis(03:01:43) Write-in stories(03:05:26) Conclusion - The 3 Jens (plus a bonus Jen)
Thursday Aug 11, 2022
Thursday Aug 11, 2022
We play our first game on the Super Nintendo to play a proper J-RPG this time with the deeply underrated Earthbound. Come listen along as we hear the tale of Jen’s out of this world experience with a game that is supposedly a stinker (according to the ads).
Episode theme - Twoson Hits the Road by djpretzel
CONTENTS
(00:18) Introduction (06:27) Pre-playthrough interview(21:46) Rules of gameplay(23:50) Intermission to post-playthrough(36:36) History & design(46:04) Prologue(50:15) Starting off - Onett & Twoson(58:55) Jeff joins the jam - Threed & Fourside(01:13:59) I dream of Poo - Summers to Scaraba(01:21:16) The last notes - Deep Darkness to Lost Underworld(01:25:17) All the melodies - Magicant to Giygas(01:31:14) Giygas... Just Giygas... And epilogue too(01:41:41) Aftermath and analysis(01:46:35) Write-in stories(01:51:55) Conclusion - The 3 Jens
Sunday Jun 12, 2022
Sunday Jun 12, 2022
We go back to the world of PC gaming to introduce Jen to her very first FPS game, as we summon the highly influential Doom from the depths of hell. Come listen in as Jen starts to descend into madness by putting herself through the worst that hell has to offer.
Episode theme - Hangarmageddon by Evil Horde - Available as part of The Dark Side of Phobos album
CONTENTS
(00:25) Introduction (03:47) Pre-playthrough interview(14:23) Rules of gameplay(19:30) Intermission to post-playthrough(25:11) History & design(38:05) Story recap(43:11) Episode 1 - Knee Deep in the Dead(58:25) Episode 2 - The Shores of Hell(01:03:48) Episode 3 - Inferno(01:09:19) Episode 4 - Thy Flesh Consumed(01:17:33) Aftermath, analysis, and legacy(01:28:29) Write-in stories(01:32:41) Conclusion - The 3 Jens
Monday Apr 25, 2022
Monday Apr 25, 2022
We take our first trip to Sega’s side of the nineties to see how they do what Nintendon’t with their mascot franchise, as we review Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (the game, not the movie). Listen in as we take a journey to see if Jen can keep up with the fastest character in gaming and his bizarre influences.
Episode theme - Spunktastic by DjjD & Ectogemia
Tuesday Mar 01, 2022
Tuesday Mar 01, 2022
We get out our Game Boy Advance SPs and go through our first RPG game to play the legendary Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen. Listen along and find out how Jen handles an adventure of catching Pokémon, winning gym badges, fighting Team Rocket, and trying to find silly nicknames for all her monsters.
Episode theme - WHAT TYPE ARE YOU by Theory of N
Monday Dec 13, 2021
Monday Dec 13, 2021
We take our first look at the adventure game genre and play the PC cult classic of The Secret of Monkey Island. Come join us as we find out which makes us laugh first; this game's sense of humour, or Jen's ability to handle point & click mechanics.
Episode Theme - Late in the Caribbean by Rozovian
Friday Oct 22, 2021
Friday Oct 22, 2021
We welcome you through the wonderful journey of exploring classic video games through the eyes of a newcomer. In the first episode, we go back to the NES and play one of the best titles on the system in Super Mario Bros. 3. Join us to see how a platforming noob can handle gaming's most iconic character.
Episode theme - What the Funk! by Tansunn