Arcade Castle - Episode 21 - Gradius

Arcade Castle: A Gaming Podcast

In Episode 21 of the Arcade Castle, John Finds himself separated from Patrick by the Bacterian Empire and the robotic foot soldiers from Berzerk, both of which seem to be allied with the computer virus Omnicron.

Taking refuge in a 'Human Storage Facility' on one of the Bacterian Flagships, John chances upon his old friend and now pressganged janitor, Kevin, who is being forced to clean the dust from the relics and debris of humanity, one such relic is the board game of Gradius from 1986!

Busting out his trusty podcasting equipment, John doesn't let a opportunity to talk about a board game pass him by, despite the settings and circumstances, with Kevin having the honor of being the first ever guest host on the Arcade Castle Podcast.

In this episode of the podcast, Arcade Castle talks at length about the history of schmups, from their beginnings in the 1970s to their current state in 2020, as well as talking about the watershed game within that timeline, its impact, and influence in the gaming industry: Gradius.

Additionally, we look at the board game adaptation of Gradius that was released by Party Joy in 1986. We discuss its features, graphics, gameplay, and mechanics. We look at how well the board game captures the schmuppy-ness of Gradius and how (if at all)the strategies you utilize in the video game and board dovetail with one another.

To find out this, and more, check out Episode 20 of the Arcade Castle Podcast!

********************************** Webpage: www.arcadecastle.com Additionally, you can find us on Itunes (and a number of podcast services), Twitter, Facebook, BoardGameGeek, and Instagram! Check out our videos on Youtube! You can contact us at: [e-mail] Also, if you like the new theme song, check out Tony Robot at: www.facebook.com/louisvilletonyrobot/ ***********************************

Episode Outline:

00:00 - 20:00 - Arcade Castle talks about the history, and significance of Gradius, as well as its cultural impact. They talk about flying space snakes, the Konami Code, schmups, and more! Kevin introduces himself and tells the audience a little about his gaming history.

20:00 - 40:00 - Arcade Castle looks at the Gradius board game, how it operates, and the strategies you bring to the table when playing it. They compare it to the digital source material it sprung from and how well it adapts this revolutionary game to cardboard and plastic.

40:00-60:00 - John and Kevin talk about what, if any, improvements can be brought to the table, and how those improvements would bring the tabletop adaptation closer to the arcade experience.