Episode 650: Modern Retro - Antonblast & Grapple Dog

Stuart: I still don’t know what to call throwback games. I don’t like “throwback games” because it kind of seems negative. I used to say “faux-retro” to distinguish from actual retro games until some guy online castigated me for ages because “retro” covers that distinction anyway. I hate him, it’s been years and I’m still waking up furious about it – every single day. Anyway, the reason I bring this stuff up at all is because I don’t want any of you shouting at me for covering something so new it’s not out yet (Antonblast), or has just come out (Grapple Dogs), but I wanted to get some fancy interviewin’ done because gosh darn it, I’m enthusiastic about these games and I think you should be, too.

Speaking to both Tony Grayson (Antonblast, Summitsphere) and Joseph Gribbin (Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines, Medallion Games) about their respective platformers was a pleasure, though I was concerned prior to the discussions that there’d be a lot of commonality to the conversations. Thankfully, I was mistaken; both chats turned out very different. You’ll see (hear?) what I mean; both interviewees were forthcoming in distinct ways and I think it’s an interesting snapshot of the two games and their respective, well, states of existence. Gaming can be a fickle community (oh, not you, you’re great) and it was nice to drill into the reality of game development for this podcast.

With an absolute glut of indie platformers on the scene, I wanted to spotlight a couple of my favourites from different sides of the pond. I think you, dear reader, will enjoy both of the games covered, and I urge you to check them out. I never know how these things are going to go – I don’t consider interviews especially high on my list of viable skills – but this went well! I was also concerned about it coming off as advertorial, which is something I have less than zero interest in producing, but listening back there’s definitely a fascinating gear shift to each side of the episode, something – if I dare say so myself – reflects an honesty that you don’t often hear from this sort of thing. Let me know in the comments what you think. I have some more interviews coming up, at least one of which was terrifying. But I’ll tell you that story when I get there.

Art by Leeann Hamilton; edits by Greg Leahy.

• 02:00 - Antonblast: It's Opening Hour!

• 11:57 - Antonball Deluxe: Anton's Theme

• 20:53 - Antonblast: Character Select

• 30:39 - Antonblast: Slowroast Sewer

• 41:45 - Antonblast: Jam Jungle Jammin'

• 50:27 - Antonblast: Boss Rush

• 58:01 - Antonblast: It's Happy Hour!

• 59:05 - Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines: Enter Grapplers

• 1:12:56 - Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines: Here's Mrowing At You, Kid

• 1:21:53 - Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines: The Dog At The End Of The Universe

• 1:36:34 - Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines: Oil in the Sky

• 1:42:36 - Grapple Dog: Skeleton Funk

• Closing - Grapple Dog: Skeleton Funk (cont.)