#kodansha — Public Fediverse posts

Sailor Moon Another Story with Cass Proffitt (Distant Echoes)

Some magical girl stories are content with sparkly transformations and heartfelt speeches. This is not one of those stories. This time on Play Comics we’re warping through the glitter-strewn chaos of Sailor Moon: Another Story, the Super Famicom RPG that took the 90s manga and anime vibes, mashed them with branching timelines and turn-based redemption arcs, and asked, “What if destiny needed a save state?” It’s console combat where emotional baggage weighs more than your inventory, and every villain monologue comes with a friendship discount.

Chris isn’t battling cosmic paradoxes solo though. Cass Proffitt from Distant Echoes jumps into the senshi squad to help unpack how this game balances moon crystal lore with JRPG grind, and whether it’s a radiant tribute to Sailor Moon or just the sparkliest timeline meltdown in gaming history. Together they’re digging into what survived the trip from Naoko Takeuchi’s pages to console controllers, complete with overdramatic plot twists and Jupiter’s undefeated punch stat.

Dust off your brooch, queue the theme song, and prepare for senshi squad analysis laced with villain rehab debates and moon prism power-ups that hit different on pixelated screens.

Learn such things as:

• Why Another Story might actually be canon. Sort of. Maybe.
• How localization shaped the Western Sailor Moon fandom.
• What the point of it all is if you don’t even have a cat to help guide you along the way.
• And so much more!

You can find Cass on their podcast Distant Echoes.

If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in.

You can read the full thoughts from CountZeroOr here:

Why we never got them? Well, I’d probably say it’s a combination of a couple factors: First, for much of the 16-bit console generation (and the 8-bit console generation before that), there was still a very considerable anti-Japan bias in terms of marketing of console games, based on the idea that American audiences wouldn’t buy anything actively presented as being Japanese, so Anime presentations were out (this is part of the reason why the first Ranma 1/2 fighting game was changed into “Street Combat”) – the Golgo 13 games were viewed as something of an outlier.

While some later titles in the 90s would take chances on presenting themselves as being more anime (i.e. Ranma 1/2 Hard Battle), they were also titles for properties generally marketed to guys, as also around this time video game marketing was increasingly getting more gendered, something that would continue throughout the 90s and into the 2000s and beyond. As a property targeted for girls, Sailor Moon didn’t fit in the gender essentialist marketing plans of the video game industry.

The fact that, since it’s a RPG, it also has a ton of text to localize and translate (versus to the Sailor Moon beat-em-ups), certainly didn’t help.

The next episode is going to be Uncanny X-Men. That’s right, we’re taking another look at the NES game. What are your experiences with this one? If they remade it today what characters would you want included that weren’t in the original?

If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store.

Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix.

You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicspodcast on Threads, @playcomics on YouTube, or the Play Comics website.

If you want to hear Chris talk with Karrington Martin about the lessons we learned from children’s media and how crazy it is that we’re supposed to just forget about that now that we’re adults, then Sugar, Spite, and Everything is Fine is probably something you should check out.

A big thanks to Anime Field Guide and To the Batpoles! for the promos today.

Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who saves every cat just in case it’s magical. Especially the one that’s a Red Lantern.

Mobile Suite Gundam Federation vs Zeon with Derek Van Dyke (Super Deluxe GamesCast, Castle Bravo)

Prepare your beam sabers and polish your Zaku helmets-this episode of Play Comics is about to launch straight into the Universal Century! We’re diving headfirst into the PS2 classic Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation vs Zeon, where the only thing more intense than the space battles is trying to pronounce “RX-78-2” three times fast.

Joining the fray is none other than Derek Van Dyke from Super Deluxe GamesCast and Castle Bravo, who’s here to help us decide once and for all: Is it better to fight for the Federation, or is life just more fun in a mono-eyed mobile suit? Expect hot takes, cooler mobile suits, and at least one attempt to dodge a colony drop with nothing but sheer podcasting bravado.

So grab your joystick, pick a side, and get ready for a barrage of wit, wisdom, and way too many references to Newtypes. The One Year War has never sounded this entertaining.

Learn such things as:

• How real is the science of Gundam?
• Do you really have to play as one of the characters to have a game that feels right?
• If I thought of a story arc that already existed, does that make me a genius or just guilty of pre-plagarism?
• And so much more!

You can find Derek on BlueSky and of course as part of the Super Deluxe GamesCast and Castle Bravo.

If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in.

If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store.

Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix.

You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscaston Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Groupon Facebook.

A big thanks to the Kickstarter campaign for I Brought A Gorilla to a Gunfight and The Monitor Tapes for the promos today.

Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who really wants you to know that no real life children were made to do war crimes in the making of this podcast episode.

Mobile Suit Gundam Encounters in Space with George (Shortbox Summary)

This week on Play Comics, we’re taking you on a high-speed tour through Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space, a PS2 classic that’s equal parts thrilling dogfight simulator and love letter to Universal Century lore. From piloting iconic mobile suits to reenacting pivotal battles from the One Year War, this game has everything a Gundam fan could ask for—except ground-based combat (but hey, who needs dirt when you’ve got asteroids?).

Joining us for this cosmic adventure is George from Shortbox Summary, who brings his signature wit and deep knowledge of pop culture to the discussion. Together, we’ll explore what makes Encounters in Space stand out among Gundam games, share our favorite moments from its sprawling story modes, and maybe even speculate about Zeon’s questionable interior design choices. Strap in—it’s going to be a bumpy ride through the stars!

Learn such things as:

• Did George really say starting with SD Gundam is a viable option for me?
• If you can’t find a character you like here, are you even trying?
• Zoomy zoomy, shooty shooty giant robots got big booties.
• And so much more!

You can find George on Bluesky @shortboxsummary.bsky.social and of course over at Shortbox Summary.

If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in.

If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store.

Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix.

You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscaston Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Groupon Facebook.

A big thanks to the Zombie Date Night 2 Kickstarter campaign and the BicentenniKILL + Invasion from Planet Wresletopia Kickstarter campaign for the promos today.

Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who would rather be a mech than a pilot.

Welcome back, fellow mecha maniacs, to another electrifying episode of Play Comics! This week, we’re strapping into our mobile suits and diving headfirst into the pixelated battlefield of Gundam Wing: Endless Duel on the Super Famicom. Prepare for a high-octane journey through the cosmos as we dissect this classic fighting game based on the legendary Mobile Suit Gundam franchise.

But wait, there’s more! We’re thrilled to announce the return of our dynamic duo of guests, the incomparable Billy and the ever-enthusiastic Erinn! These two are back by popular demand, ready to share their insights, banter, and perhaps a few heated debates about their favorite Gundam pilots and mobile suits.

Billy is a seasoned fighting game player who has mastered the intricacies of Endless Duel’s combat system, while Erinn is a die-hard Gundam fan with an encyclopedic understanding of the series’ lore and mecha designs. Together, they bring a unique perspective to the discussion, blending gameplay analysis with a genuine appreciation for the source material. Their chemistry and friendly banter are sure to keep the conversation engaging and entertaining throughout the episode.

Learn such things as:

• Does anything good come along with giant robots?
• Is this finally the game where having a plot of “Everyone fights” actually works?
• How does Papa Roach play into any of this?
• And so much more!

You can find Billy nowhere online because he’s a hermit who hides out in those secret places of the internet that only we know about.

You can find Erinn inside the laser that your cat is chasing, manically laughing because she’ll never get caught.

If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in.

If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store.

Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix.

You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook.

A big thanks to Spawnography and Tooth and Nail for the promos today.

Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who thinks that a roomba is a robot.

https://playcomics.com/gundam-wing-endless-duel-with-billy-and-erinn/

#ASCIIMediaWorks #BClub #Bandai #BillyCommanderCast #ChangWufei #ComicBomBom #ComicWalker #DelRayBooks #DengekiComics #DuoMaxwell #Egmont #Erinn #Gakken #HeeroYuy #JitsugyoNoNihonSha #KadokawaShoten #Kodansha #LadyUne #LucereziaNoin #MEDIACOMIX #MediaWorks #MixxEntertainment #QuatreRaberbaWinner #Shogakukan #SuperNintendo #Tokyopop #TrowaBurton #VerticalInc #Viz #ZechsMerquise

Attention all Gundam fanatics and mech maniacs! Today we’re blasting off into the cosmos with Mobile Suit Gundam Zeonic Front for the PlayStation 2!

Joining us is none other than Scott Wachter from the wildly popular podcast The Recap From Mercury. Scott’s expertise lies in overanalyzing obtuse science fiction plots, so he’s the perfect wingman to navigate the tangled narrative threads of the One Year War.

Will the valiant Federation pilots emerge victorious against the dastardly Zeon forces? Can any of us mere mortals comprehend the sheer scale of these titanic mech battles? And is Scott prepared to have his mind blown by the sheer excess of beam spam?

Strap in tight and get ready for rocket-powered robot rampage as we go full psyco gundam on Zeonic Front! The battlefield drama awaits…just try not to get caught in the crossfire. Over and out, soldiers!

Learn such things as:

• Is everyone in the wrong uniform really a bad guy?
• How can a simple TV programming snafu change the course of a generation?
• Do we need more games where you play as the villains?
• And so much more!

You can find Scott on Twitter @fs_wachter, Bluesky @fs-scott.bsky.social, and on his own Gundam specific podcast The Recap From Mercury.

If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in.

If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store.

Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix.

You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook.

A big thanks to Film Rage and Bring Your Own Mech for the promos today.

Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who controls his Mechs with an Atari Jaguar controller.

https://playcomics.com/mobile-suit-gundam-zeonic-front-with-scott-wachter-recap-from-mercury/

#ASCIIMediaWorks #BClub #Bandai #ComicBomBom #ComicWalker #CPOManning #DelRayBooks #DengekiComics #Egmont #EnsCharlotteHepner #EnsNikkiRoberto #Gakken #JitsugyoNoNihonSha #KadokawaShoten #Kodansha #LCDRGarretSchmitzer #LtLouRoher #LtRenchef #LtSandra #LtSophieFran #MCPOMattAustin #MEDIACOMIX #MediaWorks #Migaki #MixxEntertainment #PlayStation2 #POLeeSwaggard #ScottWachter #Shogakukan #Tokyopop #VerticalInc #Viz

Gundam Battle Assault 2 with Billy (CommanderCast)

Hey there fellow Gundam fanatics and Play Comics aficionados! Get ready to power up your mechs and dive into the wild world of Gundam Battle Assault 2, the classic PS1 game that has us all itching for some intense mecha showdowns. And who better to join us on this epic journey than our returning guest, the one and only Billy, who’s graced us with his presence on previous episodes like X-Men Mutant Academy, Ghost in the Shell, Turok 2, and Batman and Robin?

But let’s be real, folks. This time around, it’s all about giant robots duking it out in epic battles that would make even the most hardened Gundam fan swoon. And with Billy’s expert insights and witty banter, we’re sure to have a blast exploring every nook and cranny of this classic game.

So strap in, get ready to activate your beam sabers, and let’s dive into the world of Gundam Battle Assault 2!

Learn such things as:

• Did cartoons ever not get made as commercials for toys?
• Is it better to have balanced rosters or source material realistic ones?
• Wait, games other than Street Fighter get to make innovations?
• And so much more!

You can find Billy nowhere online because he’s a hermit who hides out in those secret places of the internet that only we know about.

If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you’re interested in.

If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store.

Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix.

You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicscast on Twitter and in the Play Comics Podcast Fan Group on Facebook.

A big thanks to Japan on Film and Screen Snark for the promos today.

Intro/Outro Music by Best Day, who doesn’t see the difference between these mechs and the ones he built with Lincoln Logs.