Tokyo Game Life

Josh from the Still Loading Podcast joins me to chat about the best games of 2022 so far. What games have impressed us six months into the year? Is Persona 3 secretly 2022’s GotY? We also chat about the dozens of new game announcements and highlight our favorites. In the feature, I explore Dorama, a used games shop located in a very cool part of Tokyo. The Switch also has two high profile game releases: Mario Strikers Battle League and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge. I’ll share my thoughts on these games in this Nintendo Directless episode! Be sure to follow my guest on social media! Still Loading Podcast: https://stillloading.libsyn.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/StillLoadingPod (0:00) - Intro (1:52) - Best Games of 2022 So Far with Still Loading Podcast News (26:57) - Summer Games Fest (38:50) - Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase (44:43) - Wholesome Games Direct (48:52) - Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Dragon’s Dogma II (52:08) - Pokemon Snap coming to NSO (54:55) - Japanese software and hardware sales Feature (59:42) - Dorama, used goods shop Games (1:11:49) - Mario Strikers Battle League (1:23:44) - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge (1:32:41) - Japanese Gaming Phrase of the Week (サイドビュー saido byuu) (1:33:13) - Japanese Tweet of the Week: https://twitter.com/mokumokuren/status/1534850431205412864 (1:33:35) - Closing Social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tokyogamelife YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpuRpKHGfsC3_45I3QVocxA Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/ Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app! Send questions and suggestions to: tokyogamelife@gmail.com

Otome game fan and YouTuber Resting Peach Face joins the podcast this week to talk about, what else, otome games! More than just dating sims for women, the genre carved out a unique niche in the Japanese game market and is rapidly growing overseas. We talk about the history of the genre, what makes a great otome game, the upcoming even if TEMPEST, and whether or not you should fall in love with someone who shoves you in a dog cage. I also dig deep into Buddy Mission BOND, the only Nintendo published Switch game that has yet to leave Japan! And game announcements are ramping up, so I throw out my predictions for a June 2022 Nintendo Direct. Plus Pokemon, Pokemon, Pokemon! Be sure to follow my guest on social media! Resting Peach Face on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RestingPeachFace Resting Peach Face on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PeachTheOtome (0:00) - Intro Feature (1:18) - Otome games with Resting Peach Face Games (23:19) - Buddy Mission BOND (31:57) - Nintendo Direct June 2022 Predictions News (47:37) - Pokemon Scarlet and Violet second trailer (52:54) - Junichi Masuda becomes Chief Creative Fellow at The Pokemon Company (54:38) - Mischievous Pichu collaboration and Pokemon scrubs (55:37) - PlayStation State of Play June 2022 (1:00:03) - Furyu announces Trinity Trigger (1:01:05) - Super Bomberman R Online ending online service (1:02:35) - Umihara Kawase and others join NSO (1:04:06) - Final Fantasy VII collaboration at Square Enix Cafe (1:04:46) - Japanese Gaming Phrase of the Week (キラータイトル kiraa taitoru) (1:05:23) - Japanese Tweet of the Week: https://twitter.com/CHAPPIKA38/status/1530795413246459904 (1:05:46) - Closing Social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpuRpKHGfsC3_45I3QVocxA Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tokyogamelife Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/ Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Sakura Wars fans burntends and Matt B join the podcast to talk Sakura Wars GB! We get into everything about this surprisingly important title. Did you know Sakura Wars GB is the first Sega game on Nintendo hardware? I also do a deep dive into the best place to play retro Game Boy titles: the Analogue Pocket. And join me in the alleys of Shinjuku to check out 8bitcafe, a retro gaming themed bar. It has a Super Famicom Box, what’s not to love?Be sure to follow my guests on social media!Burntends: https://twitter.com/burntends2Matt B: https://twitter.com/matto_biiMatt B’s Sakura Wars YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/MattoBii(0:00) - IntroGames(2:15) - Sakura Wars GB with burntends and Matt B(30:15) - Analogue PocketFeature(41:07) - 8bitcafe retro gaming bar in ShinjukuNews(51:10) - Indie World May 2022(53:53) - Pokemon Home now compatible with BDSP and Pokemon Legends Arceus(55:21) - Kirby 64 on NSO and new Kirby plushies(56:52) - My Famicase Exhibit in Ogikubo(58:22) - Bandai Namco Cross Store and Pokemon Center Okinawa opening soon(59:48) - Japanese software and hardware sales(1:01:25) - Japanese Gaming Phrase of the Week (うんゲー ungei)(1:02:01) - Japanese Tweet of the Week: https://twitter.com/Chatgris8/status/1526675001885065216?s=20&t=3pM-KXyYtzuh8V8Kdr1LzQ(1:02:31) - ClosingSocial media:Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLifeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tokyogamelifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpuRpKHGfsC3_45I3QVocxAWebsite: https://tokyogamelife.com/Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!Send questions and suggestions to: tokyogamelife@gmail.com

Save me Mr Tako developer Christophe Galati joins me to talk about the origins of this Game Boy inspired title, the upcoming physical release, cooking takoyaki and more! Nintendo also has a new first party release this month, Nintendo Switch Sports! I chronicle my quest to become the first six sport all-star. And as always, I hit the streets of Tokyo to talk about BEEP, a unique retro game shop that specializes in old Japanese computers. The news has a rundown on the latest Splatoon info and five figure Final Fantasy statues! Christophe Galati’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisDeneos My guest appearance on Still Loading Podcast: https://stillloading.libsyn.com/still-loading-223-tokyo-game-life See me reach the final round in MinnMax’s Trivia Tower: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUt_wpSAuMI (0:00) - Intro Games (2:48) - Save me Mr. Tako with developer Christophe Galati (24:46) - Nintendo Switch Sports (38:16) - Mario Golf (N64) Feature (48:26) - BEEP retro game and computer shop in Akihabara News (1:00:52) - Splatoon 3 gets a date (1:03:19) - $12,000 Final Fantasy VI statue (1:04:09) - Mini Pikmin erasers on sale at Nintendo Tokyo (1:05:00) - Embracer Group buys Square Enix’s western studios (1:06:57) - Japanese software and hardware sales (1:08:20) - Japanese Gaming Phrase of the Week (コネロス konerosu) (1:09:05) - Japanese Tweet of the Week: https://twitter.com/moku_ssbu/status/1519968936737275904?s=20&t=FP_-NtquDpwUIcSFJ1RTtw (1:09:31) - Closing Social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tokyogamelife YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpuRpKHGfsC3_45I3QVocxA Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/ Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app! Send questions and suggestions to: tokyogamelife@gmail.com

Let’s go older than old school! We take a look at Nintendo’s origins in this episode’s feature on hanafuda, a traditional Japanese card game that was Nintendo’s first product. Hanafuda expert and YouTuber Omitsu joins me to chat about this ancient game and how to become a koi koi master. Is koi koi the best game ever? Find out as I rank all 51 games in Clubhouse Games for Switch. I also chat about my final thoughts on Elden Ring, and the news is filled with Final Fantasy shirts, Yoshi pajamas, Kirby stickers, and Earthbound plushies. Be sure to follow Omitsu on her social media accounts! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omitsu_hanafuda/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaIuCUXkqPxZ73Bqymj7wHw (0:00) - Intro Feature (2:42) - Hanafuda with Omitsu Games (13:46) - Ranking all 51 games in Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics (32:56) - Elden Ring endgame thoughts News (47:30) - Xenoblade 3 moved up to July (50:58) - Nintendo purchases land in Kyoto (51:35) - Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy/Game Boy Advance emulator leak (54:07) - Final Fantasy Uniqlo and Super Mario Gelato Pique clothing campaigns (55:14) - Sonic Origins and Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising get dates (57:43) - GrimGrimoire OnceMore and Bugsnax coming to Switch (59:08) - Pokemon TCG Dark Phantasma (59:53) - Kirby and Mother/Earthbound pop up shops in Tokyo (1:01:57) - Japanese software and hardware sales (1:03:22) - Japanese Gaming Phrase of the Week (裏技 urawaza) (1:03:55) - Japanese Tweet of the Week: https://twitter.com/pokeyugami/status/1513062298604433410?s=20&t=Gqct_jtZhfkoeWJqO2J_ag (1:04:28) - Closing Social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tokyogamelife YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpuRpKHGfsC3_45I3QVocxA Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/ Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app! Send questions and suggestions to: tokyogamelife@gmail.com

Pink puff power has taken over the podcast as this episode is all about Kirby! Fellow Tokyo resident Genki joins me to talk about Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Kirby’s first 3D adventure. I also take a peek at some retro Kirby titles, Kirby’s Dream Land 3 and Kirby’s Dream Course. This episode’s feature is all about Yamashiroya, a six-story toy shop in Tokyo that’s home to amazing exclusive Kirby merchandise. How many Kirby plushies can you buy? Is HAL’s first 3D Kirby game the best yet? Should Marx be in jail? All will be answered in this episode! Be sure to follow Genki on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Genki_JPN (0:00) - Intro Games (2:25) - Kirby and the Forgotten Land with Genki (19:11) - Kirby’s Dream Land 3 (28:35) - Kirby’s Dream Course Feature (36:06) - Yamashiroya, a toy shop featuring exclusive Kirby merch News (55:14) - Breath of the Wild 2 delayed until 2023 (58:44) - Kirby collaborations in Japan and Grammy win (1:00:45) - Mario Golf coming to NSO (1:01:37) - Nobody Saves the World and Pocky and Rocky Reshrined get dates (1:02:29) - Yoshitaka Amano exhibition in Tokyo (1:02:53) - Japanese Software and Hardware Sales (1:04:53) - Japanese Gaming Phrase of the Week (移植 ishoku) (1:05:41) - Japanese Tweet of the Week: https://twitter.com/goegoezzz/status/1510461682186739713?s=20&t=5ZNCpJLpKiTfacWMGWYEQw (1:06:14) - Closing Social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tokyogamelife YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpuRpKHGfsC3_45I3QVocxA Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/ Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app! Send questions and suggestions to: tokyogamelife@gmail.com

Race into spring with this racing game themed episode! I explore pro racing simulator arcade DDR Akiba, where you can experience the closest thing to driving on a real Japanese speedway. If realism isn’t your thing, I also look at a trio of fascinating Nintendo racers. Mario Kart 8’s Booster Course Pass gives new life to the Switch’s best selling game. F-Zero X reminds us of the N64’s impressive hardware. And Stunt Race FX is an odd yet important relic of Nintendo history. (0:00) - Intro Feature (2:28) - Racing Simulation Pro Shop DDR Akiba Games (14:50) - Mario Kart 8 Booster Course Pass (28:39) - F-Zero X (39:44) - Stunt Race FX News (49:14) - Alien Soldier, Super Fantasy Zone, and Light Crusader on Nintendo Switch Online (50:39) - Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Mythical Pokemon (52:12) - Kirby 30th Anniversary Concert (53:05) - Nintendo Switch Online Missions and Rewards (54:30) - Elden Ring Sales (57:10) - Yuka Morii Exhibition in Tokyo (57:54) - Japanese Software and Hardware Sales (59:51) - Japanese Gaming Phrase of the Week (芋 imo) (1:00:26) - Japanese Tweet of the Week: https://twitter.com/blacktangent/status/1504469997245980674?s=20&t=iwGjQNpa0Un7TBfCbJwinQ (1:01:02) - Closing Social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tokyogamelife YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpuRpKHGfsC3_45I3QVocxA Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/ Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app! Send questions and suggestions to: tokyogamelife@gmail.com

Strategies, souls, and songs, this episode has it all! I’m joined this week by Ultra Healthy Video Game Nerd to get the details on the Tokyo Game Music Show 2022, an event where you can meet and greet iconic Japanese video game musicians. We talk about the best Japanese game music, house bands, and how to turn the PC Engine into an instrument. Then I go castle crazy talking about Triangle Strategy and Elden Ring. If castles aren’t your thing, how about cars? I check out Cruis’n Blast, the newest entry in a long dormant series. In the news, I speculate about Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, run down the State of Play, and ponder about Kirby boxes. Be sure to follow Ultra Healthy Video Game Nerd on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ultrahealthyvi1 (0:00) - Intro Feature (2:18) - Tokyo Game Music Show 2022 with Ultra Healthy Video Game Nerd Games (20:41) - Triangle Strategy (32:30) - Elden Ring (43:45) - Cruis’n Blast News (49:56) - Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (55:27) - Pokemon TCG Expansion: Time Gazer and Space Juggler (56:03) - Nintendo Switch OLED Kirby box (56:45) - Advance Wars 1 + 2 Reboot Camp delayed again (57:55) - PlayStation State of Play March 2022 (1:01:40) - Japanese software and hardware sales (1:03:37) - Japanese Gaming Phrase of the Week (安全地帯 anzenchitai) (1:04:01) - Japanese Tweet of the Week: https://twitter.com/heat_maroon/status/1501430045705121792?s=20&t=BIQB5tBKYbHszr_I4kEKgw (1:04:29) - Closing Social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tokyogamelife YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpuRpKHGfsC3_45I3QVocxA Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/ Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app! Send questions and suggestions to: tokyogamelife@gmail.com

We take it to the streets of Tokyo this episode! Special guest Kaori joins me as we talk about the Street Fighter 35th anniversary exhibit in Shibuya. We discuss iconic Street Fighter art, the power of Chun Li, and proper hadoken techniques. I’ve wrapped up Pokemon Legends Arceus, so now’s the time to wildly speculate about future Pokemon Legends games. If you’re more of a pixel person, I also dig deep into the classic Card Fighters Clash and the incredibly addictive Retro Bowl. On the news front, there’s a lot of fighting games and eShop talk, so get those wallets ready! (0:00) - Intro Feature (2:33) - Street Fighter 35th Anniversary Exhibit with Kaori Games (15:19) - Future Pokemon Legends Speculation (26:19) - SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters Clash (37:18) - Retro Bowl News (45:23) - Capcom Fighting Collection (48:58) - Street Fighter 6 (49:29) - Card Fighters Clash 2 might be localized (49:58) - Soul Hackers 2 (51:17) - Nintendo acquires SRD (51:48) - Wii U / 3DS eShop stores closing (53:59) - Nier Automata pop up shop and anime (54:44) - Touken Ranbu Warriors tops Japanese software sales (55:44) - Pokemon Day preview (56:14) - Japanese Gaming Phrase of the Week (当てなげ atenage) (56:48) - Japanese Tweet of the Week: https://twitter.com/japanretrogame/status/1494204482686955524?s=20&t=yuqabwNfJFqV01LLik4sTA (57:18) - Closing Social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tokyogamelife YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpuRpKHGfsC3_45I3QVocxA Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/ Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app! Send questions and suggestions to: tokyogamelife@gmail.com

Let’s celebrate games both new and old! This episode’s feature is all about Hard Off, the famous used goods shop in Japan. I talk to official Hard Off fan ambassador Alex Kraus about retro game hunting, rare finds, and the mysteries of the junk corner. I also dig into the February 2022 Nintendo Direct, give my thoughts on Pokemon Legends Arceus’ postgame, and try out the roguelike autobattler dungeon crawler Vivid Knight. Be sure to follow our guest Alex Kraus on Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexfkraus (0:00) - Intro Feature (1:43) - Hard Off with Alex Kraus, official Hard Off fan ambassador Games (17:05) - February 2022 Nintendo Direct Reactions (36:01) - Pokemon Legends Arceus Postgame (47:04) - Vivid Knight News (53:44) - Nintendo 2021 Q4 Financial Report (56:08) - Sega sells arcade business (57:06) - Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden (57:51) - Japanese hardware and software sales (59:19) - Japanese gaming word of the week (リセットマラソン risetto marason) (1:00:00) - Japanese tweet of the week: https://twitter.com/Ara_love_kirby/status/1491966411618791426 (1:00:27) - Closing Social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tokyogamelife YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpuRpKHGfsC3_45I3QVocxA Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/ Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app! Send questions and suggestions to: tokyogamelife@gmail.com