Tokyo Game Life

Video essayist IdolismJ joins to look at Buriki One, SNK’s under the radar attempt at making an MMA fighting game! We dig deep into this obscure fighter, the Hyper Neo Geo 64, orange hair, and how it’s a perfect time capsule for a moment in Japanese pop culture history. And in the feature segment, I take you inside Capcom Osaka, the company’s biggest merch store in Japan!Follow our guest!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IdolismJBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/idolismj.yase.world(0:00) - IntroGames(0:48) - Buriki One w/ IdolismJFeature(39:57) - Capcom Store OsakaNews(49:25) - New stores and events at Shibuya ParcoSocial media:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.socialTwitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelifeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelifeWebsite: https://tokyogamelife.com/Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Pro Mario Kart player Vantox joins as we chat about the competitive scene and mastering Mario Kart! How can you go from 24th place all the way to the top? Plus I share more details on the Switch 2 launch games I’ve been playing, and share my demo impressions on Donkey Kong Bananza!Follow our guest!Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/vantox_Twitter: https://x.com/vnt__x(0:00) - IntroFeature(0:50) - Mastering Mario Kart w/ VantoxGames(21:45) - More Switch 2 launch gamesNews(41:15) - Donkey Kong Bananza impressions, new events in TokyoSocial media:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.socialTwitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelifeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelifeWebsite: https://tokyogamelife.com/Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!Send questions and suggestions to: tokyogamelife@gmail.com

Dale Clayton, a YouTuber and devoted Nintendo enthusiast living in Japan, joins the conversation about the highly anticipated Switch 2 launch. He shares his thrilling journey to securing the console during a record-breaking launch. The discussion dives into Mario Kart World, detailing gameplay mechanics and exciting new features. They also critique character unlock systems and explore nostalgic aspects of customization. With insights into anti-scalping measures and potential upcoming games, Dale's experiences highlight the vibrant Nintendo culture in Japan!

Game preservationist Caitlyn Pascal joins to chat about electro-mechanical games, the machines that dominated Japanese arcades before video games! We explore the fascinating history on how some of the biggest arcade titans got their start making these one-of-a-kind devices that showcased amazing technology, and talk about Caitlyn’s effort to preserve this important chapter of gaming history! And I look at some classic titles in Capcom Fighting Collection 2!Follow our guest!Early Arcades Japan: https://earlyarcadesjapan.blogspot.com/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cpi.bsky.social(0:00) - IntroFeature(0:53) - Electro-mechanical games w/ Caitlyn PascalGames(37:31) - Capcom Fighting Collection 2News(54:03) - NSO games, new Pokemon merch, Death Stranding 2 in TokyoSocial media:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.socialTwitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelifeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelifeWebsite: https://tokyogamelife.com/Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

YouTuber Dale Clayton is back as we dive into a Nintendo Switch retrospective! We go year by year exploring the highs, lows, and weirds of Nintendo’s greatest console. In the feature section, I talk about one of Nintendo’s best merch partners, EDITMODE!Follow our guest!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dale_dpgBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/daledpg.bsky.social(0:00) - IntroGames(0:50) - Switch Retrospective w/ Dale ClaytonFeature(1:33:05) - EDITMODE: Nintendo ApparelNews(1:39:57) - Switch 2 in Japan updatesSocial media:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.socialTwitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelifeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelifeWebsite: https://tokyogamelife.com/Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!Send questions and suggestions to: tokyogamelife@gmail.com

YouTuber 4amLaundry joins as we chat about retro game shopping in Tokyo! We recommend our favorite shops, games, and analyze the state of retro game hunting in Japan! And I take a look at Kairosoft’s Heian City Story!Follow our guest!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@4amLaundryTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/4amlaundry(0:00) - IntroFeature(0:55) - Retro Game Shopping in Tokyo w/ 4amLaundryGames(39:34) - Heian City StoryNews(46:14) - Switch 2 preorder updates, new game merchSocial media:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.socialTwitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelifeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelifeWebsite: https://tokyogamelife.com/Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

What’s up with moai in video games? You’re gonna find out as game developer and creator of moai.games joins as we chat about moai in Japanese games! We explore Japan’s fascination with these mysterious statues, why Konami loves them so much, and reveal our favorite moai! Plus I take a look at Koei’s ambitious strategy game Uncharted Waters: New Horizons before closing out with some Japan-focused Switch 2 news!Follow our guest!Website: https://www.gingerbeardman.com/Moai website: https://moai.games/Itch.io: https://gingerbeardman.itch.io/YOYOZO: https://blog.gingerbeardman.com/2023/11/21/yoyozo-how-i-made-a-playdate-game-in-39kb/Emoji history: https://blog.gingerbeardman.com/2024/05/10/emoji-history-the-missing-years/(0:00) - IntroFeature(0:54) - Moai in Japanese games w/ Matt SephtonGames(30:50) - Uncharted Waters: New HorizonsNews(36:45) - Mario Kart World Direct, Switch 2 preorders in JapanSocial media:Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.social⁠Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelifeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelifeWebsite: https://tokyogamelife.com/Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Japanese mascots, yakuza, kei trucks, and more can be found as you explore the Japanese countryside in Promise Mascot Agency from Kaizen Game Works! Game director Oli Clarke Smith joins to talk about how this unique amalgamation of ideas came together to make the game, working with legendary game dev Ikumi Nakamura, assembling an all-star voice cast, and more! Also I give all the details on my trip to Nintendo Osaka, and dive deep into the surprising Switch 2 Direct!Follow our guest!Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chopemon.bsky.socialKaizen Game Works: https://bsky.app/profile/kaizengameworks.comPromise Mascot Agency store links: https://kaizengameworks.com/portfolio-items/promise-mascot-agency/eShop link: https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/promise-mascot-agency-switch/(0:00) - IntroGames(1:01) - Promise Mascot Agency w/ Oli Clarke SmithFeature(33:59) - Nintendo OsakaNews(41:58) - Nintendo Switch 2 DirectSocial media:Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLifeBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.socialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelifeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelifeWebsite: https://tokyogamelife.com/Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!Send questions and suggestions to: tokyogamelife@gmail.com

Tokyo resident and returning guest Genki is back as we explore Square Enix’s new store in Shibuya, Square Enix Garden! How many plushies are there? Which music box is the best? Should there be a Heartless statue? What’s up with the Square Enix Cafe? We answer all these questions and more! Plus I do a backflip and rave about Donkey Kong 94, now on NSO!Follow our guest!Twitter: https://x.com/Genki_JPNYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GenkiGamer(0:00) - IntroFeature(0:53) - Square Enix Garden w/ GenkiGames(26:03) - Donkey Kong 94News(35:31) - Playtest credit info, Pokemon Center Hiroshima movingSocial media:⁠Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.socialTwitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelifeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelifeWebsite: https://tokyogamelife.com/Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Suikoden is back, and author Aidan Moher is here to dig into Suikoden I & II HD Remaster from Konami! We explore Suikoden’s impact on the JRPG landscape, if this new version delivers, and reveal some shocking Super Bomberman R2 lore. And I give all the details on my latest trip to Donkey Kong Country in Universal Studios Japan!Follow our guest!Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/aidanis.funNewsletter: https://astrolabe.aidanmoher.com/Upcoming book about Suikoden: https://astrolabe.aidanmoher.com/suikoden-1-2-history-boss-fight-books-2026/(0:00) - IntroGames(0:50) - Suikoden I & II HD Remaster w/ Aidan MoherFeature(46:20) - Return to Donkey Kong Country in Universal Studios JapanNews(1:07:27) - Pokemon Presents 2025Social media:Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLifeBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tokyogamelife.bsky.socialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tokyogamelifeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@tokyogamelifeWebsite: https://tokyogamelife.com/Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!