PixlBit

Yeah! It's Patreon-funded now but you can get most of the podcasts free still.

I'm looking forward to that new Contra game! That's all WayForward as far as I know. Retronauts had an interview with one of the main devs. It's sounding good.

Bloodstained was not developed by WayForward, though maybe they assisted in some way. I saw that the game is still getting the occasional update, which is crazy to me. I wonder if they finally fulfilled all the Kickstarter stretch goals. It's been five years since the game came out! I want a proper sequel!

I'm not familiar with Gaplus but that sounds pretty cool.

I bought Mario Vs. Donkey Kong before a band trip in high school. I have a lot of good memories of working through the levels while in the back of a 15-passenger van. Later I played Donkey Kong '94 and playing them in that order really worked out since the original Game Boy game is the better game. I never did play any of the sequels because I was annoyed that they changed the gameplay so much to focus on the minis. I just wanted more puzzle platformer levels with Mario!

Any relics or items should show up on the map (though I don't remember if you have to unlock the map first). It's really exciting when you start evolving the weapons! Once you get the grimoire, it will show you any weapon evolutions you've discovered.

Dude, Space Invaders: Infinity Gene sounds really cool. And it's 15 years old! How did I not know about this?

The levels in Vampire Survivors do have bounds but depending on the level it might be a giant open space or sectioned off or themed in some way. The level from the first DLC, for instance, has some open grass areas, a forest, a village, a lake...and maybe something I can't remember lol. There are also relics to pick up in most levels that give you permanent upgrades or unlock weapons or characters as well as items to help in that particular run. There is a lot to find and uncover in this game! Are you playing it now too?

It's hard to put into words what exactly it is about Vampire Survivors that is so compelling but whatever it is, the game nails it. Sounds like Catlord does not.

That Yakuza game set in the '80s is the one I'm playing! I wouldn't be a good actual gangster either lol but I'll beat down fools in '80s Japan all day!

The graphics for Vampire Survivors are definitely NES+, so those would need a bump down for Atari, but the main problem is the crazy number of enemies that eventually flood the screen. It's only happened to me once or twice but I've had slow down on the Switch from the sheer chaos on screen.

Yes, RWBY is a Rooster Teeth production and I give it a hearty recommendation! Just remember, if you decide to watch it, that the budget for the first season or two was tiny. It has definitely grown since then. Arrowfell is a single-player game but there is a multiplayer one called Grim Eclipse. I haven't played it yet though.