Ultra 64 : Wii Universe

As a special bonus, please enjoy the first episode of my new show, PUPPET MASTERS / CASTLE FREAKS! This is a deep dive into the Full Moon universe of B-movie horror, where my co-host Jarrod Hornbeck and I will be watching and reviewing every movie in this prolific and wild catalog! In this first episode, we cover the original PUPPET MASTER from 1989, the film that started Full Moon Features and inspired a massive franchise. If you enjoy this episode, subscribe to Puppet Masters / Castle Freaks wherever you get your podcasts!

As a free bonus, here's the debut episode of my new show CINEMARCADE, with my co-hosts Jennifer Bannister and Justin Wilhelm! If you want to hear more, subscribe to CinemArcade on Spotify, Podbean, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Just dropping in real quick to announce a few exciting new projects coming very soon!

Our five-year journey has come to an end! This week, we're looking back at Wii Universe with an epic-length retrospective of the series. We're giving our definitive final ranking of all Wii U games, sharing some stats and stories from throughout the show, and generally just trying to fight back the tears.  Thank you, thank you, thank you once again to our incredible listeners for coming on this goofy little adventure with us for the last five years, and we'll see you again down the line! Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Email: ultra64podcast.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod

This is it! After dozens of games and hundreds of hours of gameplay, we've arrived at the VERY LAST GAME in the Wii U catalog! To celebrate this momentous event, we had to bring in some of our favorite guests for one of the most influential games of the last decade! The entire Vidjagame Apocalypse crew (Matthew Allen, Chris Antista, and Mikel Reparaz) join us to talk LEGEND OF ZELDA: BREATH OF THE WILD. This game dropped day-and-date with the release of the Switch, so the Wii U version tends to be overlooked, but it can't be denied that this game forever changed how we think about ZELDA and reinvented how we approach open-world games. Join us as we dig in to this massive adventure, and be sure to come back next week for our FOUR-HOUR final episode spectacular!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com) ultra64podcast.com  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week: FINAL EPISODE!

This week, we're taking a leap of faith with one of the biggest franchises of the last 20 years! Ubisoft's ASSASSIN'S CREED series became a cultural phenomenon when it debuted in 2007, with each subsequent game only getting bigger. We're looking at the two Wii U entries this week: first, we're travelling back to the American Revolution-set ASSASSIN'S CREED III; then, it's all aboard for the golden age of piracy with the swashbuckling ASSASSIN'S CREED IV: BLACK FLAG!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod Next week's episode: Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The PAPER MARIO series made it's big debut back in the N64 games, and it was one of our highest-rated titles on that entire system. But over the years, the series has lost some of it's luster as it drifted a bit from it's RPG mechanics. PAPER MARIO: COLOR SPLASH may be almost unrecognizable as an RPG, but how does it stand on its own merits? We're digging into that this week, with this colorful, gorgeous-looking adventure! Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com) ultra64podcast.com  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64podcast  Next week's episode: Assassin's Creed III/ Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

Crank up your flashlights and keep your cricket bats at the ready, because this week we're travelling to foggy London to take on the zombie apocalypse with Ubisoft's ZOMBIU! This launch game set out to be Ubi's Wii U killer app, and uses the GamePad in some of the most creative ways we've seen so far; do the game's ambitious survival mechanics make it memorable, or is this just one more for the zombie horde?  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Paper Mario: Color Splash

This week, we've got three of Nintendo's cutest characters in perhaps the most adorable forms they've ever been in! I mean, come on, Kirby is made of clay! Yoshi is made of wool! Toad has a little pith helmet! What more do you need? Lynsey Pennington returns to help us tackle the simple yet charming puzzle adventure CAPTAIN TOAD: TREASURE TRACKER; then, we draw the line for the touch-screen heavy platformer KIRBY AND THE RAINBOW CURSE; and finally, we're unravelling the latest adventure of everyone's favorite green dinosaur with YOSHI'S WOOLLY WORLD!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: ZombiU

We've reached the very last episode of Bonus 64, and we're closing it out by playing an unheralded Nintendo series with one of our favorite friends and supporters! Elliot Jay O'Neill is back to discuss the KID ICARUS series! From it's origins as one of the earliest NES games to it's long-delayed revival on the 3DS, old Pit has had a fascinating trajectory over the last nearly 40 years. We're playing the infamously tough original, it's Game Boy sequel OF MYTHS AND MONSTERS, and the strange and ambitious 3DS launch title KID ICARUS: UPRISING! Prepare for amazing 3D shooting and some serious hand cramps!  This marks the last of our Patreon-supported bonus episodes, but we still have more than 200 bonus eps available for just $5 a month at Patreon.com/ultra64pod! We want to thank Elliot and all of our Patrons once again for all the amazing support over the years!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com

FIRE EMBLEM. SHIN MEGAMI TENSEI. Two great tastes that taste great together? That's what we're finding out this week as we play the JRPG mash-up TOKYO MIRAGE SESSIONS #FE! This week, we're joined by one of our faves, Vidjagame Apocalypse host Mikel Reparaz, who helps us talk through this ambitious crossover that takes its two fantasy series and blends them with the world of Japanese pop music. Is this destined for superstardom or is it another one-hit wonder?  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker / Kirby and the Rainbow Curse / Yoshi's Woolly World

It's time to hack and slash our way through endless hordes with some historically-sourced heroes, because this week we're playing two games in the WARRIORS series! Koei's action series helped the company graduate from stodgy strategy RPGs to epic action, and the franchise has gone from Three Kingdoms-era China to Nintendo's mythical land of Hyrule. Does the simple formula still hold up, or has the repetitive gameplay worn out it's welcome like we wear out the Y button?  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE

The cheapie movie-tie in genre thrived on the Wii U, but today we're playing our last batch of low-effort platformers based on cartoons! Obviously, our crappy game correspondent Ailish Collins had to return to help us do justice to games based on SMURFS 2, PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR, and SNOOPY'S BIG ADVENTURE (based on the 2015 PEANUTS MOVIE). Are these titles about the quality levels you'd expect, or are there some surprises? Find out now!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Warriors Orochi 3 Hyper / Hyrule Warriors

Pac is Bac, in cartoon form! We're playing PAC-MAN AND THE GHOSTLY ADVENTURES 1 and 2, two games based on the popular Disney XD show that briefly brought Pac-Man to a whole new generation. We're contrasting and comparing both games, plus looking at Pac-Man's brief but lucrative history as a platforming star!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: The Smurfs 2 / Penguins of Madagascar / Snoopy's Grand Adventure

For those who want a little apocalyptic mythology and head-slicing thrown in with their ZELDA, the DARKSIDERS series is here to answer the call! We're playing both Wii U entries in THQ's slick adventure game series, playing as different Horsemen of the Apocalypse as we carve through hordes of demons, angels, and all kinds of creepy-crawlies in between.  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventure 1 and 2

Hop into the King of Red Lions and hoist your sails, because this week we're playing one of the most beloved games in one of the most beloved series of all time! LEGEND OF ZELDA: WIND WAKER HD is a completely remastered edition of the 2003 GameCube game, featuring a gorgeous native 1080p transition and some subtle but welcome changes to the overall gameplay. While the original game was derided for it's bold new cartoon art style, it's gone on to enjoy a long life as a fan favorite. We're finding out how well this one has held up over the years, and why it might be one of the best arguments yet to dust off your Wii U.  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Darksiders / Darksiders II

We've played a few games featuring Sonic in supporting roles, but this week, the Blue Blur is taking the spotlight with two games that showcase multiple sides of his gaming persona! First, we're playing SONIC LOST WORLD, a 2D/3D throwback to the heyday of the character when the only rule was, "Gotta Go Fast!" Then, we're looking at the TV-based adventure SONIC BOOM: RISE OF LYRIC, which holds the ignominious distinction as the lowest-rated and lowest-selling game in the whole series; does it transcend it's reputation or has it been fairly maligned? Find out now! Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD

We're joined once again by one of our top-tier Patreon supporters to bring you a special bonus episode! Scott Burger returns to discuss WHAT REMAINS OF EDITH FINCH, a beautiful and unique game from Giant Sparrow that attempts to tackle issues you rarely see explored in video games. This is a game about death, family, trauma, healing, and mental illness, and it covers a lot of ground in it's scant two hour run time. Plus, Scott and Woody talk about their experience growing up on the game's setting, Orca's Island!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com Instagram: @ultra64podcast

It's time to strap some guns to your feet and get real sexy, because this week we're playing the wildly over-the-top action epic BAYONETTA series! From the creators of DEVIL MAY CRY, BAYONETTA features a hypersexual heroine, a gleefully nonsensical plot, and some of the best action gameplay around. Thanks to a nice bonus disc included in the Wii U-exclusive BAYONETTA 2, we're playing both games in the series so far, grappling with some of the themes of the series and discussing Nintendo's bizarre decision to adopt Bayonetta as one of their own.  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  Theme song: "Truck" by The Octopus Project (theoctopusproject.com)  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod  Next week's episode: Sonic: The Lost World / Sonic Boom: The Rise of Lyric

We're back once again for the first in our last batch of Patreon-funded bonus episodes! Our Wonder Red-tier Patreon supporter CJ Baker returns to discuss his entry into the Kirby series, the exceptional SNES game KIRBY SUPER STAR! This 1996 classic packs a ridiculous amount of value into it's simple cart, demonstrating the pink puffball's elasticity in more ways than one! We're breaking down all 8 substantial modes on this game, from an abridged remake of the original Game Boy KIRBY to an ambitious Metroidvania-style adventure. Plus, Woody's favorite party game!  A very special thanks to CJ for his support over the years! The Wonder Red tier has been discontinued, but there are still dozens of episodes of bonus content at Patreon.com/ultra64pod, now a flat $5 a month!  Hosted by Steve Guntli and Woody Ciskowski  Logo by Corinne Kempen  ultra64podcast.com  Twitter: @ultra64podcast  Email: ultra64podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @ultra64podcast  Patreon: patreon.com/ultra64pod