The Best Games Period

After a great many technical issues (OUR ENTIRE EDITING COMPUTER DIED!), we are finally proud to present our episode on Banjo-Kazooie! Rare's 1998 N64 followed in Mario 64's groundbreaking footsteps with a song in its heart and positively radiating whimsy. The collectible-heavy 3D platformer starred the anthropomorphic bear Banjo and his bird pal Kazooie. The duo takes off on an adventure to defeat the powerful witch Gruntilda who has kidnapped Banjo's sister because she's... too cute?

Does Banjo-Kazooie hold up as well today as it did in the late 90s or is it seen through rose-colored glasses for its undeniable charm?

Outro music: Banjo-Kazooie 'Big Room Gobi' by B-laze (http://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03593)

You can follow the show on Twitter: @BestGamesPeriod Or download the podcast from Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/thebestgamesperiod

Don't forget to sign up for Extra Life to help sick and injured kids in hospitals around the US and Canada by playing games!

Support us on Patreon! - https://www.patreon.com/bestgamesperiod

In the mid 90s Nintendo partnered with UK developer Rare to develop a game based on their Donkey Kong character. The resulting game, Donkey Kong Country for the Super Nintendo, temporarily catapulted the animated gorilla into wide popularity. The resulting creative freedom this allowed Rare in potential sequels led to the release of Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest in 1995 and Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble in 1996. Debate over which of the two sequels reigned supreme raged for years. We've invited podcaster and graphic designer Dean Stephenson on the show to help settle the question once and for all in our second versus episode.

You can follow Dean on Twitter @deanrobot - ask about his podcast and shirts (he likes being the middleman for his own stuff!)

Outro music: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest 'Sinfonía del Sabio' by Leandro Abreu (http://ocremix.org/remix/OCR02805)

You can follow the show on Twitter: @BestGamesPeriod Or download the podcast from Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/thebestgamesperiod

Support us on Patreon! - https://www.patreon.com/bestgamesperiod

The PlayStation 2 title that blended the magics of Disney and Final Fantasy into one crazy package, Kingdom Hearts captured the imaginations of a generation of gamers with a smorgasbord of previously unthinkable crossovers the likes of which had never been seen in video games before. The action-RPG, though regarded by many as a classic now, seemed to be a big gamble that Disney and Square were only willing to take because of the ailing finances of their respective companies. Now, more years than many would care to admit later, the third official installment of the series seems to be on track to release.

Does the original Kingdom Hearts hold up as one of the best games of all-time?

Outro music: Kingdom Hearts 'Protect Your Kingdom' by Smooth4Lyfe (http://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03532)

You can follow the show on Twitter: @BestGamesPeriod Or download the podcast from Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/thebestgamesperiod

Don't forget to sign up for Extra Life to help sick and injured kids in hospitals around the US and Canada by playing games!

Support us on Patreon! - https://www.patreon.com/bestgamesperiod

Growing out of a prototype conceived for the Super Nintendo, Super Mario hit the gaming landscape like a thunderbolt of Italian stereotypes in 1996. Shigeru Miyamoto had managed to push back the launch of the Nintendo 64 from its prime holiday release window in 1995 to give a handful of precious months to finish development on Super Mario 64. It was a massive gamble, but the release delivered a landmark example on how to create a 3D platformer on consoles that shaped generations of games and gamers.

Looking back on it over two decades later, can Super Mario 64 still be considered one of the best games period or has time taken its toll?

Outro music: Super Mario 64 'Toadstool's Groove' by Tetrimino (http://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03215)

You can follow the show on Twitter: @BestGamesPeriod Or download the podcast from Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/thebestgamesperiod

Don't forget to sign up for Extra Life to help sick and injured kids in hospitals around the US and Canada by playing games!

Support us on Patreon! - https://www.patreon.com/bestgamesperiod

One of the most critically acclaimed titles of 2013, The Last of Us served as the PlayStation 3's swan song. Pushing the system to its limits, Naughty Dog's foray into a grim, apocalyptic vision of the future became a title that would be talked about for years to come for its presentation, pacing, characters, and gripping story. A film adaptation was announced following the massive success of The Last of Us. At the tail end of 2016, Sony unveiled a sequel. This week we take a look at the infected ruins of America as experienced by Joel and Ellie on their road trip through a world where a human life is as cheap as a bullet. Is The Last of Us one of the best games period?

Outro music: The Last of Us 'Sarah' by nckmusic (http://ocremix.org/remix/OCR02995)

You can follow the show on Twitter: @BestGamesPeriod Or download the podcast from Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/thebestgamesperiod

Support us on Patreon! - https://www.patreon.com/bestgamesperiod