Welcome back to the Almost Gamers Podcast, where your co-hosts Matt Firek (a.k.a. Dr. Fire K, a.k.a. Matty Flames) and Andrew Wilds (a.k.a. The Andman) lean deep into their middle-aged gamer chaos. Episode 2 kicks off with laughs about cheese boards and anti-pretzel agendas, before diving into what they’ve been playing, what they’ve been stuck in, and the cursed childhood retro video games that have haunted them for decades.
*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, including links to Amazon, and as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We only recommend resources, products, and services that we adore and find to be useful. If you happen to make a purchase using one of our affiliate links, we will earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Read more about our policies here.
Retro Video Games & New Releases: Two Lifelong Gamers Review the Games that Broke Them
The Almost Gamers Podcast returns with Old-School Struggles, Modern Obsessions, and a Keyboard Review in "Episode 2: Settings"
The dynamic duo is back with another installment of Almost Gamers, and this time, they are talking about their most memorable retro video games of the past and those they love (to hate) in present-day.
Games covered in this episode include:
Producing this one was a delight. I hope you enjoy the video game reviews as much as I did. Especially the parts where the duo talk about what broke them, lol.
Don’t forget to follow the podcast here!
🎮 Avowed: The Skyrim-Lite That Took Over Matt’s Life
Matt opens up about falling hard for Avowed, Obsidian’s action-RPG that flew a bit under the radar. What started as a “time killer” before Assassin’s Creed ended up consuming him for 40+ hours—and counting.
“It’s like Skyrim, but without the headaches,” he says.
Highlights include:
- No crime system (steal whatever you want!)
- No weight for ingredients
- Simplified leveling and crafting
- Vertical exploration and light platforming
- Garrus’ voice actor as a companion (!!)
He also confesses to modding the skill system to allow for wilder multiclass builds like a gun-wielding, spell-casting, dodge-rolling combat bard. Is that cheating?
“I call it fun,” Matt says.
🎮 Minecraft: Midlife Medieval Obsession
Meanwhile, Andrew has fallen—again—into the pixelated world of Minecraft. What started as a father-daughter castle project turned into a one-man crusade to build an entire fantasy renaissance city. The twist? His daughter ultimately called him out: “Dada, all you do is play Minecraft.”
Instead of finishing Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Andrew is living out his midlife, medieval dreams block by block. He even teases a possible podcast listener tour of his growing world.
🎮 Dragon Age: The Veilguard – First Impressions (Sort Of)
Andrew briefly dabbles in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, admits it’s changed a lot from the original, and drops it almost as fast as he installed it. The verdict?
“Maybe one day. Right now, I’m building a city in Minecraft.”
🎮 Baldur’s Gate 3 Update: Still in Act 2
Matt is still slowly crawling through Baldur’s Gate 3, possibly navigating the Shadow Realm backward.
That’s what makes him an “almost” gamer.
Retro Video Games That Broke Us
This episode’s standout segment is a trip down memory lane—specifically, to the impossible games of the pre-internet era.
Be sure to listen in to hear Matt and Andy’s breakdown of the retro video games that left indelible marks (and at least +10 damage) on their childhood psyches. Here are the highlights:
Highlights:
- Ghosts and Goblins (NES): Two-hit death, chaos everywhere, no power-ups. The retro video game that was “hard for hard’s sake.” 👻
- Who Framed Roger Rabbit (NES): Turns out this retro video game ended was unbeatable due to a bug. Matt and Andy spent hours of game play thinking it was their fault. 🐰
- X-Men (Sega Genesis): Andy recalls how this retro video game was so difficult it literally required you to press the reset button on the console to progress to the end. “No one would think to do that.” 🦹🏻♀️
- Silent Hill (PS1): Andrew and his childhood buddy Steve spent literal hours rowing a boat in the wrong direction. What could be more fun? 😂
- Kung Fu (NES), Echo the Dolphin (Sega), Battletoads, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles — a rundown of the retro video games that taught Matt and Andy hard life lessons like “failure is inevitable” and “you will never be able to do this”. You know, real self-esteem building games. 🐢
Matt’s Video Game Hardware Emporium: Spotlight on the Tiny Keyboard That Could
Matt brings out his Razer Huntsman 60% keyboard—a compact, RGB-lit device perfect for gaming from the couch. No numpad, no function keys, just clicky goodness for WASD warriors.
“It’s the cutest damn keyboard you’ve ever seen,” Matt says proudly. “Just don’t try to run Excel on it.”
Listen to episode 2 here to hear the rest of Matt’s product review of the Razer Huntsman 60% keyboard.
Video Game News, Reviews, and Nostalgia
Matt and Andy round out the episode with the latest in video game news that matters (to them), including a few more quick hitter game reviews and a sprinkling of nostalgia for all you millennial gamers out there.
Silent Hill f (or Forte?):
A new Silent Hill game set in Japan. The vibe? “Normal… BAM! Now it’s weird.” Looks promising, even if the title’s pronunciation is still a mystery.
Chrono Trigger Turns 30:
One of Almost Gamers’ most beloved retro video games turns 30 years old. (Though Matt refuses to believe it.)
Oblivion Remake Rumors:
Could be in Unreal Engine. Could overshadow the Skyblivion fan project. Could break the internet if Todd Howard shadow-drops it.
Game Informer Returns:
After being shuttered, Game Informer is back with the original team and physical magazines on the way. Vinyl’s back—why not game mags?
GTA VI Buzz:
Both hosts are lukewarm on the upcoming behemoth. They discuss their love for the Grand Theft Auto games, both old and new, but they admit the upcoming release isn’t something they need to play.
“I’ll play it,” Andrew says, “but I could live the rest of my life without it.”
Love for Retro Video Games Keeps Them Coming Back
Whether reminiscing about getting stuck in Silent Hill’s lake or breaking down keyboard form factors, Matt and Andrew of Almost Gamers keep it real, ridiculous, and relentlessly nostalgic.
They might complain about the games that broke them, but it’s a kind of brokenness they love to hate. And that love for retro video games and new video game releases that are just as challenging, always keeps these almost gamers coming back for more.
Stay tuned for Episode 3, where Matty Flames and The Andman discuss dragon-riding, the thrill of a good-looking vista, and hot dog buns. Like ya do.
