Starter Quest

1 Creator

A podcast where we look at classic video games through the eyes of a noob. Each episode, Alessandro Crolla shares his 30 years of gaming experience with gaming newcomer Jen Hughes by taking a deep dive through a classic game, to see how it holds up to fresh eyes and beginner thumbs.

#33 in the Top 100 Indie video games All time chart

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17 Listeners

2 Comments

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Top 10 Starter Quest Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Starter Quest episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Starter Quest for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Starter Quest episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Kirby Superstar

Starter Quest

01/24/23 • 104 min

Our first episode to feature a guest host as we invite our editor Mark O'Hare out from the editing booth to come talk about one of his favourite games.
We go back to the world of platforming for a game (or should I say 8 games) with Nintendo's most adorable pink abomination, in Kirby Superstar. Come join us for platforming’s last chance to impress our resident noob before she writes the genre off as something she doesn’t like.

Episode theme - Ska Buffet (All You Can Eat: Clean Version) by The OverClocked Plaid Muffins

CONTENTS
(00:14) Introduction
(04:30) Pre-playthrough interview
(16:41) Rules of gameplay
(18:02) Intermission to post-playthrough
(25:32) History & design
(33:30) Music
(36:14) Spring Breeze
(42:12) Gourmet Race
(43:43) Dyna Blade
(52:13) Megaton Punch
(53:20) The Great Cave Offensive
(01:00:27) Samurai Kirby
(01:01:26) Revenge of the Meta Knight
(01:07:59) Milky Way Wishes
(01:21:04) Final ranking
(01:22:53) Aftermath, legacy, & Final analysis
(01:33:08) Write-in stories
(01:36:08) Conclusion - The 3 Jens

6 Listeners

1 Comment

Doom (1993)

Starter Quest

06/12/22 • 100 min

We go back to the world of PC gaming to introduce Jen to her very first FPS game, as we summon the highly influential Doom from the depths of hell. Come listen in as Jen starts to descend into madness by putting herself through the worst that hell has to offer.

Episode theme - Hangarmageddon by Evil Horde - Available as part of The Dark Side of Phobos album

CONTENTS

(00:25) Introduction
(03:47) Pre-playthrough interview
(14:23) Rules of gameplay
(19:30) Intermission to post-playthrough
(25:11) History & design
(38:05) Story recap
(43:11) Episode 1 - Knee Deep in the Dead
(58:25) Episode 2 - The Shores of Hell
(01:03:48) Episode 3 - Inferno
(01:09:19) Episode 4 - Thy Flesh Consumed
(01:17:33) Aftermath, analysis, and legacy
(01:28:29) Write-in stories
(01:32:41) Conclusion - The 3 Jens

6 Listeners

1 Comment

Earthbound

Starter Quest

08/11/22 • 118 min

We play our first game on the Super Nintendo to play a proper J-RPG this time with the deeply underrated Earthbound. Come listen along as we hear the tale of Jen’s out of this world experience with a game that is supposedly a stinker (according to the ads).

Episode theme - Twoson Hits the Road by djpretzel

CONTENTS

(00:18) Introduction
(06:27) Pre-playthrough interview
(21:46) Rules of gameplay
(23:50) Intermission to post-playthrough
(36:36) History & design
(46:04) Prologue
(50:15) Starting off - Onett & Twoson
(58:55) Jeff joins the jam - Threed & Fourside
(01:13:59) I dream of Poo - Summers to Scaraba
(01:21:16) The last notes - Deep Darkness to Lost Underworld
(01:25:17) All the melodies - Magicant to Giygas
(01:31:14) Giygas... Just Giygas... And epilogue too
(01:41:41) Aftermath and analysis
(01:46:35) Write-in stories
(01:51:55) Conclusion - The 3 Jens

6 Listeners

Side Quest 01 - DLC 2022 (Retrospective & Outtakes)

Starter Quest

02/23/23 • 82 min

Welcome to our very first bonus episode of the podcast; Side Quest.

In this inaugural episode, we take a look back over our first full year (and the 2 episodes from 2021) of the podcast. We give our thoughts and feedback on each episode, share our highlights, and make some corrections to the mistakes we made.
We also share some cut content from our first 8 episodes to bring you a few outtakes, derailed discussions, and other hilarious pieces we salvage from the cutting room floor.

Episode theme - Love Everlasting by DDRKirby(ISQ)

CONTENTS
(00:26) Introduction
(02:08) Super Mario Bros 3
(10:36) Secret of Monkey Island
(14:58) Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen
(18:47) Sonic the Hedgehog 2
(25:49) Doom
(31:07) Earthbound
(34:02) Street Fighter 2 vs Mortal Kombat
(40:16) Resident Evil
(44:32) Final thoughts, and favourite & worst episodes
(48:10) Outtakes
(01:21:23) Outro

6 Listeners

Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen

Starter Quest

03/01/22 • 117 min

We get out our Game Boy Advance SPs and go through our first RPG game to play the legendary Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen. Listen along and find out how Jen handles an adventure of catching Pokémon, winning gym badges, fighting Team Rocket, and trying to find silly nicknames for all her monsters.

Episode theme - WHAT TYPE ARE YOU by Theory of N

5 Listeners

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

Starter Quest

07/16/23 • 127 min

We take the adventure game genre back to court, and play one of gaming's very few Law-em-up games, with Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. With our Nintendo DS in one hand, and our kangaroo law degree in the other, we try to defend our clients from the wrath of lying witnesses, evil prosecutors, and feckless judges.
DISCLAIMER: The views of this podcast are for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered legal advice for if you are sued in the pure glaikit Jamerican justice system.
Episode theme - Court Begins - 2020 version by The Consouls
CONTENTS
(00:20) Introduction
(03:02) Pre-playthrough interview
(21:01) Rules of gameplay
(22:12) Intermission to post-playthrough
(33:48) History & design
(38:18) Music & sound design
(42:42) Epsiode 1 - The First Turnabout
(53:26) Episode 2 - Turnabout Sisters
(01:06:00) Episode 3 - Turnabout Samurai
(01:17:46) Episode 4 - Turnabout Goodbyes
(01:27:00) Episode 5 - Rise from the Ashes
(01:33:09) Aftermath & legacy
(01:36:06) Final analysis
(01:50:40) Write-in stories
(01:57:46) Conclusion - The 3 Jens

5 Listeners

Resident Evil

Starter Quest

10/31/22 • 140 min

Happy Halloween! To celebrate the month of scares we play our first PlayStation game to play the highly influential zombie classic Resident Evil. Come join our cowardly noob as we try to spend a night alone in the house of survival horror.

Episode theme - Resident Evil 1 - Save Room Music Remix by Mono Memory

CONTENTS
(00:20) Introduction
(03:52) Pre-playthrough interview
(17:79) Rules of gameplay
(20:03) Intermission to post-playthrough
(25:01) History & design
(35:14) Music
(42:03) The back story & opening scenes
(51:10) Chapter 1 - Meeting the Mansion
(01:11:18) Chapter 2 - To the Guardhouse
(01:17:16) Chapter 3 - Back to the Mansion & into the Sewers
(01:26:05) Chapter 4 - Finding the Secret Laboritory
(01:42:13) Chapter 5 - The Final Escape
(01:49:10) Compared to Chris - The other playthrough
(01:55:50) Aftermath, legacy, & Final analysis
(02:08:16) Write-in stories
(02:12:34) Conclusion - The 3 Jens

5 Listeners

1 Comment

Street Fighter II v Mortal Kombat

Starter Quest

09/22/22 • 193 min

Come join us for our first double feature episode! We take the battle to the arcades to find out which classic fighting game is going to take home the title of Starter Quest Champion; between the Japanese legend Street Fighter II, and the American classic Mortal Kombat. Two games will enter, and only shall leave with the title of being better for our resident noob!

Episode theme 1 - Frets of Fury by vertexguy

Episode theme 2 - Mortal Konfrontation by The Dual Dragons

CONTENTS

(00:37) Introduction
(05:19) Pre-playthrough interview
(26:29) Rules of gameplay
(27:43) Intermission to post-playthrough
(33:03) History & design
(50:17) Street Fighter II - The plot (ish)
(52:30) The Fighters 1 - Chun-Li, Ryu, Ken, E. Honda
(01:12:21) The Fighters 2 - Blanka, Zangief, Guile, Dhalsim
(01:30:43) The 4 Heavenly Kings - Balrog, Vega, Sagat, M.Bison
(01:47:51) Victory! Ending cutscenes
(01:54:12) Jen's Street Fighter II tier list
(01:57:13) Mortal Kombat - The plot
(01:58:21) The Fighters 1 - Liu Kang, Raiden, Kano
(02:08:57) The Fighters 2 - Johnny Cage, Sub Zero, Scorpion, Sonya
(02:22:39) The Final Fights - Endurance run, Goro, Shang Tsung
(02:33:08) Victory! Ending cutscenes, and the absence of Reptile
(02:45:30) Jen's Mortal Kombat tier list
(02:47:53) Aftermath, legacy, & Final analysis
(03:01:43) Write-in stories
(03:05:26) Conclusion - The 3 Jens (plus a bonus Jen)

5 Listeners

Final Fantasy VII

Starter Quest

04/03/23 • 191 min

We return to the PlayStation for another epic journey into the world of Japanese roleplay gaming, to play one of it’s most famous (and expensive) titles with Final Fantasy VII. Come join us as we tell the tale of adventure, love, eco-terrorism, and Chocobos.

Episode theme - A World of Piano by kLuTz

CONTENTS
(00:21) Introduction
(04:53) Pre-playthrough interview
(19:41) Rules of gameplay
(20:57) Intermission to post-playthrough
(36:12) History & design
(45:19) Introduction to Midgar - Meet Cloud & Barret
(53:41) A love Triange Forms - Tifa & Aerith join the party
(01:06:49) Storming the Shinra Building - Rescuing Aerith & Red XII
(01:13:54) What Happened Five Years Ago... - The Legend of Sephiroth
(01:19:54) Through the Forest and the Ocean - Yuffie Attacks!
(01:22:17) The Most Magical Place on the Planet - The Gold Saucer
(01:32:06) Back to Neibelheim - Vincent Rises, Cid Rebels
(01:43:37) Locating the Lost Lands - The Temple of the Ancients & The Forgotten City
(01:50:55) Through the Northern Continent - Snowboarding to the North Crater
(01:54:51) The End of Days... - Finding Cloud
(02:00:28) A Very Important Quest of Supposed Importance - Saving the Huge Materia
(02:10:35) Time for Some History - Aerith's plan and Vincent's Past
(02:15:10) The Boys (and Girls) Are Back in Town - Return to Midgar
(02:18:11) The Final Battle - Finishing Sephiroth
(02:30:48) Aftermath & legacy
(02:36:57) Final ranking & analysis
(02:57:46) Write-in stories
(03:03:54) Conclusion - The 3 Jens

4 Listeners

1 Comment

Duke Nukem 3D

Starter Quest

05/27/23 • 118 min

It’s time for another shot at shooting, as we take to the streets of Neo Los Angeles to play PC’s most un-PC character; Duke Nukem 3D. Come join us as we grab a big gun in one hand, a hot babe in the other, and spit angry takes over gaming’s biggest meathead (until Super Meat Boy, obviously).

Episode theme - Bassbag by bLiNd - Available as part of BadAss: Paragons & Renegades album
CONTENTS
(00:17) Introduction
(04:53) Pre-playthrough interview
(16:11) Rules of gameplay
(19:11) Intermission to post-playthrough
(32:16) History & design
(45:35) Back story...Kinda
(51:28) Epsiode 1 - L.A. Meltdown
(01:05:58) Episode 2 - Lunar Apocalypse
(01:15:30) Episode 3 - Shrapnel City
(01:23:50) Aftermath & legacy
(01:29:26) Final analysis
(01:45:25) Write-in stories
(01:49:48) Conclusion - The 3 Anti-Jens

4 Listeners

1 Comment

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Podcast Q&A

Why did you start this show?

To help Jen learn more about these video games she has always heard about, but had never tried.

What is your favourite other podcast that isn't yours?

The Attitude Era podcast. Easily the funniest wrestling podcast going, and huge inspirations for what we do on ours.

How did you come up with the name for your podcast?

Honestly... We can't remember. The show was going to be called "Jen's Never Played..." where the name would include the game of the month (Jen's Never Played Doom, for example), but we didn't like the name that much and were trying to come up with something better. While planning our first episode and saying we still needed a name, Jen looked to me puzzled, and said "I thought we agreed on Starter Quest?" First time I ever heard of the name, but it was brilliant! No clue who suggested it.

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