After fleeing the law in Liberty City, Strider escapes to a galaxy far far away. With his resilient Ratchet (Clinical Psychologist Avner Faulk) and his trusty Clank (Marconi) Digital Wanderlust boldly goes where no one has gone before in a bid to see whether it is possible to truly escape mother earth.

It’s time for Sonic The Hedgehog to take a back seat for a moment as the chief mascot of SEGA, as the InRetroSpect Review Show dusts off Ristar from the collection to see whether you should be adding it to your games collection. Is this relatively forgotten SEGA platformer a shining star when reviewed 15 years later, or does it burn up on re-entry? Xero investigates.

With all this sporting action going on I bet you haven’t left the house in a while. Or you’ve been naughty and spent a lot of your beans on drinking noxious substances and maybe fattening up the waistline as you watch the people run around hitting stuff. So here comes the ultimate sollution, it’s Free, Fun and Enjoyable. It’s July’s Free Play!

Here is where you can play Auditorium.

And here is where you can play N.

And to get ahead of the game, the games for Episode 10 are here.

Before you know it another month of Freeplay gaming will be up upon your doorstep! So here is a handy little nudge to finding out where you can get a little tickle in discovering the games we’ll be playing for episode 10!

You can play Record Flipping here!

And you can find Playstation Home on your XMB. If not you’ll have to go here I’m afraid.

Let us know your comments and thoughts either here on the website or at @inretweetspect. Maybe you’ll get mentioned on next month’s show.

InRetroSpect is not responsible for the content on external sites.

It’s not nice being lost. It wastes your time, my time, and the time of many others as you flap around in a panic. However, there is no reason to worry cause in the world of Video Games getting lost is never an option. Look in the right places you’ll always have a walkthrough to rely on and a friendly hand to guide you. But if you use them are you cheating? Should you be straddled in dishonour for just getting a little help? Marconi finds out.

With our feet back on terra firma, Strider and French Marxist theorist Guy Debord take us on a drift through Liberty City “The Worst Place in America”, to find its places of interest. Is it possible to play Grand Theft Auto 3 without breaking the law? Find out in the latest episode of Digital Wanderlust.

Xero takes a look at this Super Nintendo Japanese Role Playing Game ‘classic’, trying incredibly hard to not make any bad time related puns. Is it just the same as any other JRPG? Does its focus on choice offer anything new? Tune in to find out!

Put your wallets away! Put down the cheque book and pen! Stop begging your dad for money! You’re dining with the InRetroSpect crew from now on and we don’t like charging you a bean. Even more so we want you to be enjoying things for free even when you’re not fortunate enough to be around us.  So here we go with another Freeplay, where Xero (Pete), Dan (FrostieDee), Kris (Strider), and Sam (Marconi), tell you how to enjoy your time for free!

This month we look at the fun that comes from not shooting stuff, shooting stuff, and why we should be shooting stuff at all.

Test your ability not to shoot here!

Test your trigger finger here!

And to get ahead of the game, the games for Episode 9 are here!

To keep up with the fast world of gaming on the fly and on the free, you can take this opportunity to now get a heads up on the future games we are going to be covering on the next edition of FreePlay. Next month we’ll be discussing N+ and exercising our lug holes with Auditorium.

So, to download N+ go here: CLICK

and to control the music go here: CLICK

Let us know how you got on with your comments and suggestions and you never know maybe you’ll get mentioned in the next episode of FreePlay.

InRetroSpect is not responisble for the content on external sites.

Knowledge is power and a power many of us don’t have the time to access and wield. We could read books, speak to people and download the entirety of Wikipedia, but maybe the solution to the power already lies in our hands. Could the Video Games we play give us the knowledge and intelligence we need to get on in this world? Marconi pulls himself away from the works of Tolstoy to look at the world of knowledge and whether computer games are the next encyclopedias to train up our minds.

Follow Marconi on Twitter! Click!

I can see the pub from ‘ere! From walking along the mosquito biting plains of Bolivia, Strider now teams up with French sociologist Michel de Certeau in the second of a series of podcasts, this time examining the digital city from the omnipresent views of the sky above our heads, as he takes Sim City into his care. What could psycho-geography say about this one? Avoid listening if scared of heights…

Featured music by A Fine Day For Sailing

and more by Strider just a click or a tweet (@DigitalStrider) away!

InRetroSpect is not responsible for content on external sites.

Flying reptiles, lazer weapons, tribal warfare, it’s a weird world that Panzer Dragoon paints, but is it one you should spend any time in? Xero investigates this Sega Saturn classic.

Dry your eyes, pack up for the weekend, celebrate or commiserate, cause the election is over and the bindweed of politics is grasping for your attention no more. However the InRetroSpect crew are still after your ears, so join us for the month of May!

We take pleasure in looking at the games that only cost you your precious time on earth, and also this month we’ll be casting our mouths off at how you behave online! Naughty, Naughty!

The mind bending Continuity be here!

Play along to Quake Live here!

and for more clicking action get a heads up for the edition next month HERE!

Next episode we will be discussing Hidden and Dangerous Deluex, one of the original tactical shooters; and a game of true self control, Don’t Shoot the Puppy.

To join in on the fun; download Hidden and Dangerous [Download] from here!

and play Don’t Shoot the Puppy [Flash] at http://www.rrrrthats5rs.com/games/dont-shoot-the-puppy/.

Did you manage to leave the puppy alive? Post your questions and opinions in the comments below.

InRetroSpect is not responsible for content on external sites.

It is almost considered cool these days to assume that violence in video games is influencing our youth. Though how come many of us have never been affected by what we have played? Marconi delves into his past to see why many of us sympathise with the industry rather than joining in with the attack!

Join Marconi on Twitter! Clickedy Click!

Why do we explore? Strider puts Tomb Raider on the psychoanalyst’s couch in the first of a series of walks that attempts to answer this question. Featuring music from ‘A Fine Day For Sailing’.

The return to the world stage of the most beloved 2D fighter series of all time, but is this a superb addition to the Street Fighter stable or one one-on-one brawler to avoid? Xero investigates…

Another new month can only mean a few things!  More pinching and punching of your close friends and family. A new chance to start that diet and once again the InRetroSpect guys have mashed their heads together and taken a critical eye over the games you can play for free! Separating the wheat from the chaff once again is; Xero (Pete); Marconi (Sam); FrostieD (Dan); Strider (Kris); and Loz (err…Loz)!

This month we’ve been toiling in the fields of;

• Just Cause 2 [PS3/360]
• Miami Shark

And also recount our adventures on the Freeplay game of the month: Free Realms

Play the Flash game of the month: Miami Shark

Play the Freeplay game of the month here.

Get a head start on next month’s podcast here!

It is nice to be rewarded and recognised! Nice to be spotted on the street and hailed as the champion of your field. That same feeling is now in our home, now available with every game we buy! However, are the trophies and awards we get whilst playing games just a case of “all that glitters is not gold”?!

Follow Marconi on Twitter!

In this month’s episode of the InRetroSpect Review Show, Xero takes Air Combat for a spin. Is Namco’s port of the arcade title still a dream to play after 15 years? Listen now to find out!

Habits can become the root of all genius! The guys getting together to record another Freeplay within a month, is certainly a good habit indeed. Once again Xero (Pete), FrostieD (Dan), Marconi (Sam) and new inductee Stryder (Kris) straddle the burning fence of critical games debate. As usual they will be examining exactly what you can do with all the fluff hanging around in your pocket. It could only be Freeplay!

This week we take a look at the demos for:

• Aliens Vs. Predator [PS3/360]
• Battlefield Bad Company 2 [PS3/360]
• Sonic and Sega All-Star Racing [360]
• Heavy Rain [PS3]

And discuss the Freeplay game of the month: Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

To play the game of the month for Free just go here!

And to play next month’s Freeplay game of the month just go here!

The future of the gaming landscape is nearly upon us. It’s time to take the controller out of your hands and put those inactive limbs into action. Will it be all that though? The peripheral is in Marconi’s sights.

Oh, what’s this? Another episode of InRetroSpect? Fantastic. This month, Xero looks at the unique little 3D platformer that is Jumping Flash, but the big question is, is it any good?

Everything seems to be being rebooted at the moment, Batman, James Bond, Battlestar Gallactica, now prepare yourself for the reboot of Freeplay. It’s still all about the gaming you can do for free but we got Pete (Xero), Dan, (FrostieD), Sam (Marconi) and myself (Balaenidae) all together to talk about it.

This week we take a look at the demos for:

• Modnation Racers (beta) [PS3]
• Soul [360]

And discuss the Freeplay game of the month: Grand Theft Auto

If you wish to download Grand Theft Auto for free just go to this page and sign up.

Why do we do it? Why do we make love to the console? Spend hours and hours on the same game, playing it over and over!? Self gratification or self mutilation?

This month Xero dusts off Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island to see if it holds up some 15 years later. Is the sequel to one of Miyamoto’s finest works any good? Download and find out!

Where have all the bosses gone? Fancy Mochicans., exposed limbs, and fancy smamshy graphics don’t cut any more. I want the old fights back! Who fancies some Rock, Scissor, Paper!?

This month Xero reviews Wing Commander III.

Not just one of the first games to use FMV, but one of the first mediums to use full CGI backgrounds. It cast  a full cast of professional characters (although it was not the first game to do so) including Mark Hamill, Malcom Mcdowell, John-Rys-Davies, and Tom Wilson [Who played Biff from Back to the Future fact fans]. Wing Commander III didn’t just pionner with it’s use of CGI, it also had the highest budget of any game made to that date ($4m).

The movies may have been groundbreaking, but were they any better than other failed attempts at intergrating live-action FMV? More importantly although billed as an interactive movie, was the interactive part any good? Xero Investigates.

So this is it, our new website. Take a pew and have a look around. It has our entire back catalogue to browse through and we’re hoping to have lots of new content for you in the coming weeks. We already have a couple of new authors, as well as the old team to provide regular content. Even with all this we’re still looking for more. So if you want to have your voice heard why not check out our contribute section.

Now you’re here why not take a look at Mafia Wars: Keeping It In The Family, from our new contributor Popi Rouge.

Or how about some audio juice instead, listen to Marconi’s new episode of Through the Reticle: Narative III – Frankenstein. If you’re subscribed in iTunes  it should be ready for download (if not, then what are you waiting for! Subscribe now). If you don’t use iTunes then you’re going to have to re-subscribe with your podcatcher of choice here.

A big thanks goes out to Sayontan who’s help with his Suffusion Theme was invaluable.

So have a browse, leave us some comments and submit us that article you’ve been hanging on to.

You could say I had a very productive morning on this rainy indescript Tuesday, having bought my first property and collected three gifts from a close friend. No ordinary gifts but three very expensive paintings: one a Dali, one Matisse, and a Warhol, all originals. Unfortunately all fictitious, two-dimensional and presented by an equally two dimensional Mafia king. Maybe it wasn’t a very productive morning simply another diversion on that great killer of time: Facebook.

We all do it.

We will all admit to visiting our own little profile, checking messages, clicking on a feed that is almost, but not quite, related to someone we know. Before long you’ve scrolled through an album of photos just to see what that ‘someone’ looks like, ‘accepted’ a tarot reading that will automatically update every week, and played on a variety of weird games. It is unsurprising then that there are currently 25 million of us playing Mafia Wars through Facebook. Not to mention that unlike a PS3 game or Xbox title, this is totally free. The very concept of the Mafia has been shaped into a game that specifically plays to the benefits of such a large social networking site. The creators have crafted a product that links connections with friends and family directly to a game; a game all about image projection.

Free to play and easy to join.

The Mafia is one of the most famous of all organised crime organisations. Whereas most of us know nothing about the real workings of Mafia culture, there lies an atmosphere surrounding the name created by fictional films, books and games. A dark romance, if you like, fuelled by this lack of knowledge. We are left to fill in the gaps using our own imaginations and thus the Mafia lends itself to remaining secret and yet possessing a very public world of fiction. ‘Public’ and ‘private’ correspond and compliment each other for the Mafia image. It is the same for anyone using Facebook (the clue is in the name): an allocated page to create your own ‘image’ without the world knowing the complex inner workings of your ‘self’. It captures your face, the surface and self-made image ready to present to the outside world. The game effectively encourages image promotion. You can ‘publish’ your criminal activities for all the world to see. This begs an important question; why is it that this game is socially acceptable to us whereas a similar themed game, such as GTA, must answer to the general public for influencing the youth of today towards violent crime?

The acceptable face of crime?

The answer lies not in any monitoring on Facebook’s part. True, to have access to your own profile there are age restrictions, but so too are retail games labelled with similar age restrictions. Surely Facebook, as a far more accessible tool, poses more of an influence and threat? Yet at the crux of this question lies a fundamental difference between the two games. Similar as they are in theme and aim, the role of the player lies poles apart. Throughout Mafia Wars you barely need to be involved, it is self propelling. At no point is any action taken. The dirty, dark, tension-filled atmosphere of an underworld society is transported into a glowing table of achievements and presents. When asked to perform a task, the player proceeds to view a gun being loaded with bullets, strongly resembling a ‘think’ tool for the program. It is as if you must wait for the computer to decide if you have completed the task correctly and fully. A human hand never enters to place the bullets into the gun. The entire game rests on the past and future tense as dictated by the game itself. Therefore no responsibility lies in the present, or upon the player. The in-action and lack of visible human involvement of the game distances its players in a way that makes them feel secure in its confines. This is true of the wider confine of Facebook, a tool used for sharing events and thoughts past, and those coming up. Not only that but a wider breadth of players can be involved, the player must rely on Facebook friends and correspondences and accept invitations in order to grow and gain strength, much like the workings of Facebook itself. When designing a game such as Mafia Wars it too has to adhere to the wider Facebook ‘genre’ and the new fiction of Mafia Wars can only be based within its marketed context.

Hold on, I'm thinking...

Facebook is easily accessible, leisurely and as noted earlier, it is possible to spend many hours procrastinating on just this one site, while it is also used fleetingly to reply to mails or check updates and Mafia Wars has to cater for both cases. And importantly it is a very easy game to play. There is no adrenaline rush as you complete a job which might have taken hours of your time in Grand Theft Auto, none of the old fashioned swearing and hurling the controller across the room in aggravation. Mafia Wars keeps you totally at its mercy, holding you with the addictive sense of achievement from doing nothing. That rainy Tuesday I also ‘mastered’ some new skills, warehouse robbery for example, all by just clicking a button. Never did I even see the inside of the warehouse, or the outside for that matter. Where is the danger? Mafia Wars is simple, and seemingly harmless.

The stark contrast of ‘action and inaction’ and ‘public vs. private’ that makes up the Mafia Wars game within Facebook (as it is important to keep it in the social network context) also holds a certain resonance with our political views today. It is almost as if we are secretly cheering and subsequently joining, a network based on criminality through our own disappointment in our government system. In a time of financial uncertainty, there is a small thrill in making millions of fictional dollars working for a fictional underworld culture. And through this there lies always in the background the knowledge that we are at war. The war abroad has become in a way a ‘Mafia’ image, it is spun to us through the press and no-one is certain of the truths under the fiction. Perhaps we feel that little bit more in control when playing our own small, two dimensional wars, after all, it is easy to feel safe within the confines of Facebook, surrounded by family and friends.

THIS PODCAST CONTAINS SPOILERS. For the final narrative focused Through The Reticle, Marconi examines what might make the perfect narrative driven video game. Looking at Metal Gear Solid, Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time and Batman: Arkham Asylum for inspiration, can the ultimate story be created, or will he create a monster?

A true 3D racer on the Super Nintendo? It can’t be done surely? It certainly can, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good… Xero investigates this classic, but largely forgotten racer from 1994.

Through The Reticle is the monthly opinion show from Marconi examining various aspects of video games and video games culture. This month, the exploration of narrative continues with cult comic classic: Comix Zone. Pirandello? Pffft. what did he know?

Final Fantasy 6 is one of those rare games that we hold up as a paragon of design, a title that we reminisce about fondly with friends. A perfect game then to take apart piece by piece to analyse whether it is still a classic RPG tale, or if its quality is now just a legend.

“Through The Reticule” is a new podcast that aims to cross hairs with the usual perceptions of gaming life and brings you regular features looking at different and sometimes untouched areas of gaming development and gaming life. Examining exact areas of how games have changed themselves and the world around them, and how we have, in turn, changed them!

Streets Of Rage 3 was a side-scrolling brawler for the Mega Drive, how well has it held up after 15 years? Xero investigates…

Micro Machines was developed by Codemasters. Codemasters were most famous at the time for the Dizzy games, now they are more likely to be associated with racing games such as the Colin McRae franchise.

Micro Machines 2 Turbo Tournament was released 3 years after the original. It added hover boats and helicopters to franchise as well as a head to head mode. Codemasters developed the ‘J-Cart’ for the game which placed two controller ports on the cartridge allowing 4 people to play the game without the use of a 4 player adapter. The game would eventually be remade in the form of Micro Machines Turbo Tournament ‘96 exclusively for the Sega Mega Drive (Genesis).

Join us as Xero find out whether the game was a revolution in racing games leading to Codemasters future success in the genre, a fun distraction or a waste of time?

Sorry about the delay in service but here it is!

King of Fighters, an SNK classic that was originally released on the Neo Geo arcade and home console, bringing together charactors from Fatal Fury and Art of Fighting, as well as revised versions of characters from Ikari Warriors and Psycho Soldier, and original characters created specifically for the game.

Is the nostagia factor all that should bring you back to this game or is there more substance to it? Xero finds out.

As usual you can contact us via e-mail, Facebook or Twitter, dont forget to leave us comments or questions and even reviews.

FrostieD has finished his video for our second ever episode FIFA International Soocer, in which Xero looks at the birth of a giant. Let us know what you think by emailing us, tweeting us or commenting!

FrostieD has finished his video for our newest video Wario’s Woods. Don’t forget to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

In this month’s show, Xero reviews the last game to be released on the NES, Wario’s Woods. Was it a classic game for the system to go out on, or let down by the hardware limitations? Does it compare to other puzzle games like Dr. Mario or Dr Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine? Xero finds out.

Comments? Questions? Send them to xero@inretrospectpodcast.com, join in on the InRetroSpect Facebook group or follow us on twitter.

For links to any of our other content or just to have a look check out our website http://inretrospectpodcast.com and let us know what you think of it!

Good ole’ FrostieD has been working hard to catch up videos for old episodes of InRetroSpect Reviews, and to that end has finished his video for our first episode: InRetroSpect Reviews: Mortal Kombat.

So If you haven’t heard it yet or fancy seeing it again in sparkly new video style, check it out, Don’t forget to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

It’s time for FreePlay, the (mostly, sorta, kinda) monthly show about  all the gaming you can do for free.

This episode Xero and Loz take a look at  the difference in demos that appear on both consoles, some demos which are exclusive to each console, and of course some free independent games you can find on the Internet. Plus they find out what UFC stands for and  discuss why Vin Diesel is so awesome.

This months demos are:

• Red Faction
• UFC
• Guitar Hero Metalica
• Zen Pinball
• Vin Diesel’s The Wheelman

And the Games of the Month are:

• Mirrors Edge 2D
• Windowsill
• Feed the Head
• Dad and me

As usual any comments or questions are welcome, just e-mail them to xero@inretrospectpodcast.com or loz@inretrospectpodcast.com, alternatively send a reply to our twitter @inretweetspect.

**UPDATE**
The PlayStation Blog has just answered why there is a difference between the 360 and PS3 demos

So the multi-player version will hopefully be up at some point for PS3 peeps to enjoy.

You can now WATCH InRetroSpect Reviews on gametrailers [on the site - 26/11/2009]! Thanks to our new member of staff FrostieD for putting this together.

We should be putting out a new video episode a few days after each new InRetroSpect Reviews. Plus FrostieD is working hard to put together videos for backcatalouge shows so watch this space.

So take a look and let us know what you think!

I wanted to wait until I knew they had told all of their friends and updated their facebook statuses, and so…

It gives me great joy to announce the engagement of cherry_red to xeroxeroxero.

I have known both Xero and cherry for six years now and for four of those years they have been a couple. They are two of the most passionate and loving people that I know, and that is doubly true when it comes to how they feel about each other. Some people seem to naturally fit, like daffodils and Spring or retro geeks and the Dreamcast, some matches just feel right.

Finally, tolerance is key when it comes to relationships and so I have to thank Cherry for hers. She puts up with Xero and me running this podcast, be that giving us time to discuss it or just staying very quiet while it is recording, not an easy task with some of the things Xero comes out with.

I wish you both many years of happiness, long may your love last.

In this month’s show, Xero take a look at Virtua Racing. One of the best games ever? Certainly with some of the best named characters ever. Is the game easy to play, a hardcore gamers dream or neither? Xero finds out.

Comments? Questions? Send them to xero@inretrospectpodcast.com, join in on the InRetroSpect Facebook group or follow us on twitter.

For links to any of our other content or just to have a look check out our new website http://inretrospectpodcast.com and let us know what you think of it!

This month Xero reviews Street Fighter 2 Turbo, the things that made the series so popular and what’s changed for the better.

Comments? Questions? Send them to xero@inretrospectpodcast.com, join in on the InRetroSpect Facebook group or follow us on twitter.

With some much improved recording equipment Xero and Loz Talk about the latest demos including Resident Evil, Halo Wars and Watchmen.

To check out the titles from this month’s show simply go to http://fretsonfire.sourceforge.net/ for Frets on fire, and http://www.factor5.com/downloads.shtml for R-Type.

Comments? Questions? Send them to xero@inretrospectpodcast.com, join in on the InRetroSpect Facebook group or follow us on twitter.

In this months show, Xero looks at The Lion King A high budget movie tie-in, is it better than the movie tie-ins of today or even worse? Xero finds out. Comments? Questions? Send them to xero@inretrospectpodcast.com, join in on the InRetroSpect Facebook group or follow us on twitter.

In this months show, Xero looks at Ridge Racer a classic arcade racer. Comments? Questions? Send them to xero@inretrospectpodcast.com or join in on the new InRetroSpect Facebook group.

Loz and Xero kick off this background noise filled new show documenting all the free gaming you can do.

To check out the titles from this month’s show simply go to http://www.interactivestory.net/ for Facade, and http://www.virtualnes.com/ for Virtual NES. Make sure to check out http://inretrospectpodcast.com/ for other epidodes. To mail the show send your questions, suggestions etc to xeroxeroxero@hotmail.com and we’ll answer them on the next show!

A new year, a new review, this time with an old friend Sonic. But does Sonic 3 belong in your collection? Xero finds out.

This week Xeroxeroxero takes a look back at Fifa International Soccer and computer game AI

Xero takes a look at Mortal Kombat examining the story, the gameplay and the controversy.