Nintendo Cartridge Society

This week, Patrick and Mark dive deep into the music in the menus of Nintendo’s consoles and games, and surface with some real gems. Plus, Switch consoles are out in the wild, Breath of the Wild DLC is announced, and a gentle plea for Nintendo to stop announcing news on Tuesdays.

Who is the deleter? What is MB? Didn’t I fight this boss already? All those questions and more are asked and (partially) answered as Patrick and Mark reflect on the final cut-scene-heavy hours of Metroid: Other M.

With 1-2-Switch on the horizon, Patrick Patrick and Mark Mark reminisce about the sometimes goofy, sometimes ugly history of Nintendo’s mini-game collections. Plus, they get pumped up for the Splatoon 2 Testfire and don’t know what to make of the grimdark tone of Netflix’s new Castlevania animated series.

Power has been nice! Any objections, Adam? Patrick and Mark fought Ridley, which means there’s all kinds of crazy stuff to talk about. Clones? Goo? Evolution? Plus: the Nightmare. Two good bosses! Both less chaotic and more exciting than anything that has come before. Plus, a spirited debate about how to responsibly dispose of waste in outer space!

Gird your loins and prepare for battle! Patrick and Mark take to the fields of war and test the mettle of Nintendo’s latest mobile offering: Fire Emblem Heroes. A little drop of rain can hardly hurt them now!

Patrick and Mark do their best to not make too many Borat jokes as they discuss their favorite boss fight in game so far. (Very nice!) They realize that one of the game’s primarily mechanics is failure, which is deeply depressing. Instead of solving puzzles, you just need to fail at it. Daddy didn’t say you could solve the puzzle!

Patrick and Mark get off to a real mistake-o-rama start, but then it’s all strawberry nerds as they catch up on Nintendo news from the past week. Later, it’s the final installment in their epic, three-part Hardware Round-Up. They tackle what went so, so right and what went so, so wrong with the Wii, 3DS and Wii U.

Don’t worry - now that you’ve been burning for a solid 30 minutes, Patrick and Mark give you permission to enable your heat armor. AREN’T THEY KIND? Your hosts debate what is real and what is artificial on this space station. Trees? Simulated. Volcanos? Probably real! And - is it possible that it’s the combat that ruins this combat-focused action game?

After last week’s Fire Emblem Direct, Patrick and Mark ponder the question “hey, what’s up with Fire Emblem?” Plus, a round-up of the latest Switch news (Shovel Knight! I Am Setsuna! A second Legend of Zelda!??!). Oh, and they totally saw Split. No spoilers.

Patrick and Mark have some fun trying to figure out what they’re supposed to be calling these Galactic Federation dudes. Marines? Recruits? Never mind, they’ll just use first names. Your hosts demand sass-tisfaction as the action elements of the game quickly overshadow the atmospheric and storytelling portions. Also, how many times can you describe a creature in this game by combining two other animals? (1) Chocobo-Pikachu (2) Spider Ent (3) Flying Jellyfish with Fangs (4) probably others...

The blessed Day of Pre-order is upon us! Nintendo’s big Switch presentation was last week and Patrick and Mark are here to break down the good, the bad and the awkward. Plus, the thrilling conclusion to the million-dollar bet.

(Listen to part two after you defeat the worm bosses in Sector 1). Join your brain-fried hosts as they try to process the first hour-and-a-half of Metroid: Other M. Confession time: Patrick and Mark don’t enjoy it. But, it’s the early-going, and the experience has mostly been marred by the now-infamous crappy cut scenes. Patrick and Mark struggle, but they do find (at least one) good thing to say about it.

With the Switch presentation fast approaching, Patrick and Mark have one last shot at predicting EVERYTHING about Nintendo’s new system. The stakes? A million dollars. The predictions? Ranging from obvious to outrageous! Plus, a listener email prompts a discussion about impossible game mechanics.

Dig through bargain bins or plop down the $19.99 on the Wii U eShop - it’s time to play the much maligned* Metroid: Other M! Get started with Patrick and Mark as they contemplate the huge life mistakes that lead them to this moment. *Patrick and Mark will say one nice thing about the game in every episode. (Listen to part one before you start the game).

Patrick and Mark forego the usual format to bring you a playlist of Nintendo music they use when they get down to work. Video game music isn’t all fun and games. I mean, it is, but it can also be motivating and empowering and all that good stuff. You get it. I’m being clear, right? I’m being clear.

Patrick and Mark recap the year in Nintendo, from the highest highs (Pokemon) to the lowest lows (did you find that NES Classic yet, brah?). And is it Tokyo Mirage Sessions “Hashtag” FE? Or “Sharp” FE?? Or “Pound” FE??? (Probably not “Pound.”) Add Patrick and Mark as friends on Super Mario Run! 7246-4398-4595 for Patchkick (aka Patrick) and 2400-8178-8052 for Ace (aka Mark).

Put on your best pair of underwear, Patrick and Mark are giving their thoughts on the recent backlash towards Nintendo before launching into a full-on review of Super Mario Run. Plus, the latest Switch rumors, and hey, what *does* Mark’s boss think of Home Alone? Add Patrick and Mark as friends on Super Mario Run! 7246-4398-4595 for Patchkick (aka Patrick) and 2400-8178-8052 for Ace (aka Mark).

Patrick and Mark celebrate ten magical episodes with a trip to the mall and a spectacular parade of news. So much news! Super Mario Run, Jimmy Fallon, Super Nintendo World at Universal Theme Parks, and a NEW Super Nintendo Game?!?! Plus, three-quarters of a contest announcement where you can win [REDACTED].

Patrick and Mark check in on Pokemon and the NES port of Ghosts ‘n Goblins before moving on to Nintendo games that never were (Diddy Kong Racing Adventure and Wind Waker 2). Then after oohing and ahhing over the Breath of the Wild trailer, it’s time for Part II of Patrick and Mark’s ever-expanding Nintendo Hardware Round-Up.

Patrick and Mark debug last week’s episode with the help of a lister email before digging into Pokemon Sun and Moon like Snorlax into a pile of Chesto Berries! Plus, they recant about the game awards and debate the appeal of Mario vs. Zelda.