The Retro Wildlands - A Gaming Podcast
The Retro Wildlands, a gaming podcast hosted by Nomad! Nomad invites you to sit by the campfire while he shares with you his thoughts and experiences about a video game he’s discovered or rediscovered while roaming the gaming wildlands. Using game music and sound, you’ll be pulled right into the game as we go! If you’ve played the game before, nostalgia surely awaits! If not, you’ll figure out if it’s a game you want to put your time in or not. So what are you waiting for? Come join our expedition!
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Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
After a short time away, The Retro Wildlands is preparing to resume expeditions into the gaming wildlands once more! In this brief episode, I'll check in by sharing what’s changed during our hiatus, and map out what lies ahead as we chart a course for the show's return on January 8th, 2026.
Saturday Nov 08, 2025
Saturday Nov 08, 2025
Even adventurers need to rest by the campfire now and then! I’m taking a short break from exploring the Wildlands to gear up for the next leg of the journey. In this quick update, I’ll share what’s coming next and when new expeditions will begin again.
Friday Oct 17, 2025
Friday Oct 17, 2025
Darkness falls across the Wildlands, and the time has come to face the games that once haunted my dreams. In this episode, I’m sharing my personal Top 10 spooky favorites, the ones that made my palms sweat and my heart race long after I turned the console off. From eerie pixel adventures to heart-pounding survival horror, these are the titles that still give me chills. Grab your flashlight, settle in by the campfire, and join me as we revisit the games that made fear fun... and unforgettable.
Intro - 0:00Honorable Mentions - 5:38Number 10 - 12:30Number 9 - 18:23Number 8 - 25:40Number 7 - 33:00Number 6 - 40:04Number 5 - 45:25Number 4 - 53:06Number 3 - 59:07Number 2 - 1:08:51Remaining Community Comments - 1:15:25Number 1 - 1:22:55Closing Gratitude - 1:31:58
Check out our NEW website!https://theretrowildlands.com/
The Retro Wildlands is part of the SuperPod Network of gaming podcasts and content! Check us out!https://superpodnetwork.com/
Join the SuperPod Lounge Discord Server!https://discord.com/invite/7zXbMvVQks
Follow the Retro Wildlands on Social Media!https://linktr.ee/retrowildlands
Check out the Retro Wildlands on YouTube!https://www.youtube.com/@retrowildlands
Check out this deep dive into Shadow Man from the Waffling Taylors podcast!https://wafflingtaylors.rocks/2023/03/10/shadow-man-open-the-gates-jaunty/
Tuesday Sep 30, 2025
Tuesday Sep 30, 2025
Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest is often remembered as the “baby's first RPG", an entry designed to introduce Western players to the genre. But did Square’s big experiment actually work? In this episode, I share my thoughts on Mystic Quest, highlight what makes it stand out from the rest of the Final Fantasy series, and even play through some of the adventure together with you. Whether you’re nostalgic for Mystic Quest, discovering it for the first time, or just curious about this quirky slice of RPG history, this episode is all about revisiting one of Final Fantasy’s strangest detours.
Intro - 0:00Campfire Catchup - 5:45The Stanley Parable - 15:43Campfire Catchup Cont. - 18:00Community Comments - 19:23Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest - 27:16Closing Gratitude - 1:24:41
Check out our NEW website!https://theretrowildlands.com/
The Retro Wildlands is part of the SuperPod Network of gaming podcasts and content! Check us out!https://superpodnetwork.com/
Join the SuperPod Lounge Discord Server!https://discord.com/invite/7zXbMvVQks
Follow the Retro Wildlands on Social Media!https://linktr.ee/retrowildlands
Check out the Retro Wildlands on YouTube!https://www.youtube.com/@retrowildlands
Monday Sep 01, 2025
Monday Sep 01, 2025
Frank Castle is one of Marvel’s darkest and most controversial characters—but is he a misunderstood anti-hero or just a symbol of unchecked violence? And does his character translate to fun video game experiences? In this episode, I dust off The Punisher’s 1991 NES outing to see if Frank Castle’s one-man war on crime translated into 8-bit fun—or frustration. I'll also share my personal thoughts on The Punisher as a character: is he a necessary anti-hero or just a brutal vigilante gone too far?
Intro - 0:00Campfire Catchup - 7:33Metroid Prime Thoughts - 13:42Community Comments - 22:03The Punisher - 30:07Closing Gratitude - 1:21:16
Check out our NEW website!https://theretrowildlands.com/
The Retro Wildlands is part of the SuperPod Network of gaming podcasts and content! Check us out!https://superpodnetwork.com/
Join the SuperPod Lounge Discord Server!https://discord.com/invite/7zXbMvVQks
Follow the Retro Wildlands on Social Media!https://linktr.ee/retrowildlands
Check out the Retro Wildlands on YouTube!https://www.youtube.com/@retrowildlands
Thursday Jul 24, 2025
Thursday Jul 24, 2025
Growing up, all of us at one point wanted to be the hero. The one who saves the day and banishes evil. And while the title of hero is something we sometimes strive for, it's the journey that really gives us that lasting impression. In this episode of the show, we're continuing our journey to become the Hero of Hyrule. Using game music and sound, we'll touch on some of my favorite dungeons, battles and moments in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.
Intro - 0:00Campfire Catchup - 5:25Robocop Rogue City - 12:34Metroid Dread - 15:35Listener Comments - 21:19Intro 2 - 26:44Legend of Zelda A Link to the Past - 28:12Closing Gratitude - 1:13:51
Check out our NEW website!https://theretrowildlands.com/
The Retro Wildlands is part of the SuperPod Network of gaming podcasts and content! Check us out!https://superpodnetwork.com/Join the SuperPod Lounge Discord Server!https://discord.com/invite/7zXbMvVQksFollow the Retro Wildlands on Social Media!https://linktr.ee/retrowildlandsCheck out the Retro Wildlands on YouTube!https://www.youtube.com/@retrowildlands
Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
A game like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past doesn't really need an introduction. It's widely considered one of retro-gaming's elite, and contains an adventure that still resonates with us today. In it, we all get a chance to answer the call to adventure and become the hero we've always dreamed to be.
Join us by the campfire as we journey into the unforgettable opening moments of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. From the thunderstorm that sets the tone to Link’s midnight rescue mission at Hyrule Castle, we break down how the game masterfully introduces its world, mechanics, and narrative stakes within minutes. We’ll examine the atmosphere, music, and design choices that pull players in from the start, and discuss why this prologue remains one of the most iconic and effective in gaming history.
Intro - 0:00Campfire Catchup - 5:53A Link to the Past - 30:38Closing Gratitude - 1:32:22
The Retro Wildlands is part of the SuperPod Network of gaming podcasts and content! Check us out!https://superpodnetwork.com/
Join the SuperPod Lounge Discord Server!https://discord.com/invite/7zXbMvVQks
Follow the Retro Wildlands on Social Media!https://linktr.ee/retrowildlands
Check out the Retro Wildlands on YouTube!https://www.youtube.com/@retrowildlands
Check out my guest appearance on The Waffling Taylors podcast!https://open.spotify.com/show/4FGq88C3CMJwUDvCxtJRGq
Check out my guest appearance on What Are Your Three? A Channel 3 Podcast!https://open.spotify.com/episode/4JoErKS9K2tpA8aNJDiwyq?si=-vouFnbzRnmrmlzCJzArKwhttps://channel3.gg/whatareyourthree/
Saturday May 17, 2025
Saturday May 17, 2025
They say you have to walk before you run. Whenever I hear that phrase, I sometimes think about the video games that pioneered genres and unique ideas. And the game we're covering today always comes to mind. Considered the granddaddy of first-person shooters, Wolfenstein 3D is the game where you, as an angry square-jawed spy, escape captivity while single-handedly taking on an entire army, because subtlety is for cowards.
Join us by the campfire as I take you through an iconic FPS experience. There is a simplicity to Wolfenstein 3D that I never really appreciated, and in a time where complicated game mechanics and convoluted stories seem to rule the space, sometimes the simplest experiences are the best. Even if the edges are a little rough.
Intro - 0:00Campfire Catchup - 7:02Wolfenstein 3D - 25:35Closing Gratitude - 1:14:48
The Retro Wildlands is part of the SuperPod Network of gaming podcasts and content! Check us out!https://superpodnetwork.com/
Join the SuperPod Lounge Discord Server!https://discord.com/invite/7zXbMvVQks
Follow the Retro Wildlands on Social Media!https://linktr.ee/retrowildlands
Check out the Retro Wildlands on YouTube!https://www.youtube.com/@retrowildlands
Check out my guest appearance on The 3DO Experience Podcast!https://superpodnetwork.com/podcast/the-3do-experience-with-bill-and-thrak/episode/the-3do-experience-episode-81-wolfenstein-3d-the-classic-fps-brought-to-3do-ft-nomad-of-the-retro-wildlands
Monday Apr 28, 2025
Monday Apr 28, 2025
Whether it's metroidvanias, action adventure games or just good games in general that you love, Chasm is an indie gem I discovered in the gaming wildlands that I think you need to see. It may not be perfect, but I'll bet it'll scratch an itch you didn't know you had. Let's check it out together in my deep dive review!
Intro - 0:00Game Summary - 1:56Story - 4:25Presentation - 5:58Gameplay - 8:45Conclusion - 16:28Closing Gratitude - 18:07
The Retro Wildlands is part of the SuperPod Network!https://superpodnetwork.com/
Join the SuperPod Lounge Discord server!https://discord.com/invite/7zXbMvVQks
Follow the Retro Wildlands on Social Media!Linktree: https://linktr.ee/retrowildlandsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/retrowildlands/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrowildlands/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/retrowildlands.bsky.socialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@retrowildlands
Tuesday Apr 08, 2025
Tuesday Apr 08, 2025
The best thing about discovering new-to-me retro video games is coming across a game I wish I knew about growing up. While some games on the original Nintendo can be iconic, revolutionary and tough as nails, sometimes the best hidden gems are the ones that are simple, clean fun. They execute a simple premise well and they don't beat you senseless with that "NES Tough" gameplay. Jackal, a top down run and gun shooter, is very much the latter and I really, really wish it didn't take me this long to finally play this game.
Join me in the wildlands as I take you through the action-packed vehicular combat game you have to try on the NES. If you haven't played this game before, you're in for a treat. So strap in, my friends! You are an elite soldier, a skilled driver and above all else... A JACKAL.
Intro - 0:00Campfire Catchup - 6:35Jackal - 25:44Closing Gratitude - 1:08:15
The Retro Wildlands is part of the SuperPod Network of gaming podcasts and content! Check us out!https://superpodnetwork.com/
Join the SuperPod Lounge Discord Server!https://discord.com/invite/7zXbMvVQks
Follow the Retro Wildlands on Social Media!https://linktr.ee/retrowildlands
Check out the Retro Wildlands on YouTube!https://www.youtube.com/@retrowildlands
Check out my guest appearance on The Waffling Taylors!https://open.spotify.com/episode/0qTD8SQzWPIXoXaODKCb5C?si=93ca5755568247e7
Check out my guest appearance on the 3DO Experience!https://superpodnetwork.com/podcast/the-3do-experience-with-bill-and-thrak/episode/the-3do-experience-episode-81-wolfenstein-3d-the-classic-fps-brought-to-3do-ft-nomad-of-the-retro-wildlands
Check out The Gaming Mixologist's Jackal themed drink!https://www.instagram.com/thegamingmixologist/reel/DDIPsKKSCnh/https://www.tiktok.com/@thegamingmixologist/video/7444308827790413098
The Retro Wildlands
