Hardcore Gaming 101

Latest Episodes:

C: The Contra Adventure (and Rollerdrome!) May 27, 2025

Show notes

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank the other Konami series that wanted to go on an adventure. Then stick around for Rollerdrome, an extreme sports/dystopic bullet-time third-person shooter hybrid!

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be RODEA THE SKY SOLDIER — the Yuji Naka-produced Wii game that was released just in time for the Wii U's demise! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

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Check out what games we've already ranked on the Big Damn List, then nominate a game of your own via five-star review on Apple Podcasts! Take a screenshot and show it to us on our Discord server! Intro music by NORM.

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Castlevania: The Adventure (and Dee Dee Planet!) May 20, 2025

Show notes

Join the HG101 gang, and returning special guest Sara Leen/Saralene, as they discuss and rank the Castlevania game that blazes along at a bewildering speed. Then stick around for Dee Dee Planet - the eternally-delayed follow-up to ChuChu Rocket!

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be SABAN'S POWER RANGERS ZEO: FULL TILT BATTLE PINBALL — the game that allegedly puts the battle in battle pinball! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

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Command & Conquer: Generals (and MyHouse.wad!) May 13, 2025

Show notes

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank a well-received offshoot of the classic RTS. Then stick around and join our returning special guest DavidxNewton for MyHouse.wad, a Doom wad that's way, way more than a Doom wad!

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be ENDURO RACER — the Master System/Mark III's port of Yu Suzuki's follow-up to Hang-On! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

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Earth Defense Force 6 (and Escape Velocity Nova!) May 06, 2025

Show notes

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank 2022's installment of the series that will always be a ten out of ten in our hearts. Then stick around for Escape Velocity Nova, the third and final entry of Ambrosia Software's celebrated Mac series!

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be TAZ-MANIA — a game about a cartoon character whose dad is a Tasmanian devil version of Bing Crosby who loves orange juice! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

Follow the show on Bluesky to get the latest and straightest dope.

Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge (and Moorhuhn Hunter!) Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank a beloved sequel to a beloved adventure. Then stick around for Crazy Chicken, Germany's most popular PC game of the early 2000s!

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be ROCKET KNIGHT — the long awaited return of Konami's rocket powered possum knight Sparkster.! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

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Driver 2 (and Left Alive!) Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank the Wheelman's triumphant return to the Playstation. Then stick around for LEFT ALIVE, Ilinx's 2019 stealth action game!

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be VIRTUA RACING: FLATOUT — the PS2 tribute to one of Sega's forgotten Virtuas! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

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Wanted: Dead (and Pursuit Force!) Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank one of those games that's supposedly so bad it's good. But is it? Listen and find out! Then, remember PURSUIT FORCE? We do!

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be THE THIRD WORLD WAR — the slowest military sim on the Sega CD! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

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Disruptor (and 5D Chess With Multiverse Time Travel!) Apr 08, 2025

Show notes

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank the forgotten PS1 FPS by Insomniac Games. Then stick around for 5D CHESS WITH MULTIVERSE TIME TRAVEL, which is somehow exactly what it claims to be!

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be GUTS 'N' GARTERS IN DNA DANGER — this Cabal-clone for MS-DOS! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

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Disgaea (and Mr. Do!) Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank Nippon Ichi's cult classic strategy RPG. Then stick around for MR. DO, the arcade classic about a clown who came to throw down! And imitate Dig-Dug!

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be REVENGE OF THE GATOR — the GameBoy game that could have been called UNCLE AL'S PINBALL GATOR-GRUDGE, but wasn't! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

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Metroid Dread (and Zero Wing!) Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

MARCHROIDVANIA HAS BEEN HERE THIS WHOLE MONTH! We just forgot to write it in the show notes. Join the HG101 gang as they discuss and rank Metroid's triumphant 2D return to new ideas! Then stick around for ZERO WING, a game the internet noticed.

This weekend's Patreon Bonus Get episode will be THE ADVENTURES OF COOKIE & CREAM — FromSoft's brutally difficult take on ultra-cute 3D platformers! Donate at Patreon to get this bonus content and much, much more!

Follow the show on Bluesky to get the latest and straightest dope.