Cocktail Mode: Retro Games, Cocktails and Banter

Space Harrier - Cocktail Mode: Retro Games, Cocktails and Banter - S03E03

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are blasting off into the Sega-blue skies of 1985 to revisit a true arcade behemoth: Space Harrier!
We’re taking a deep dive into Yu Suzuki’s psychedelic masterpiece, discussing the thrill of the hydraulic motion cabinet, remembering the iconic music and sound design, and chatting about why this game remains one of THE all time great arcade experiences.
Tune in for nostalgia, development stories, general banter, and the perfect drinks to accompany your trip to the Fantasy Zone!
Andy’s Cocktail
Dave’s Cocktail 
#SpaceHarrier #RetroGaming #Sega #ArcadeClassic #YuSuzuki #SuperScaler #80sGaming #CocktailMode #VideoGameCocktails #NostalgiaPodcast #GamingHistory #FantasyZone #SegaAM2

Ian Oliver Interview - Cocktail Mode: Retro Games, Cocktails and Banter - S03E02

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are warping back to the golden age of 8-bit vector graphics to sit down with a true legend: Ian Oliver, the coding mastermind behind iconic games from the era including 3D Starstrike and Carrier Command!
We chat about how Ian and the Realtime Games team managed to squeeze lightning-fast, wireframe 3D out of the ZX Spectrum, effectively bringing the Star Wars arcade experience into our living rooms. There’s insight into the high-stakes pressure of 1980s software development, and the legacy of a game catalogue that proved the "speccy" could handle the third dimension with style.
As usual, we’ve also selected a cocktail each to match the theme of the episode.
Tune in for a break-neck journey through the ̶t̷r̷e̷n̷c̷h̷e̷s̷ equatorial duct of the ̶D̷e̷a̷t̷h̷ ̷S̷t̷a̷r̷ a hollowed-out moon!... or at least the closest thing that 1984 (and fear of litigation) could offer!
Andy’s Cocktail
Dave’s Cocktail
Spectaculator
Diffords Guide
 
#3DStarstrike #ZXSpectrum #RetroGaming #CocktailMode #IanOliver #RealtimeGames #VectorGraphics #80sGaming

Metropolis Street Racer - Cocktail Mode: Retro Games, Cocktails and Banter - S03E01

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are hitting the high-gloss streets of the year 2000 to revisit the Dreamcast’s definitive urban racer: Metropolis Street Racer (MSR)!
We’re diving deep into the game that famously prioritized "style over speed" and paved the way for the Project Gotham Racing series. We break down the revolutionary (and occasionally brutal) Kudos system, the technical feat of recreating London, Tokyo, and San Francisco with pinpoint accuracy.
And as usual we attempt to pair a sophisticated, city-inspired drink that perfectly captures the vibe of this fantastic game.
Tune in for a nostalgic journey through one of the Dreamcast’s most stylish exports, complete with expert pairing, retro banter, and a few "joker" laps along the way!
Andy’s Cocktail
Dave’s Cocktail
Farewell of Bizarre Studios
#MetropolisStreetRacer #Dreamcast #RetroGaming #CocktailMode #Kudos #BizarreCreations #PGR

Christmas Special - Cocktail Mode - Retro Games, Cocktails and Banter - S02E26

Merry Christmas! The season of giving is here, but which games deserve a spot under your Christmas Tree?
This week on Cocktail Mode, Andy and Dave are getting festive for the annual Holiday Special! They’ll be counting down their highly debatable list of the 12 Games of Christmas: the perfect Retro Video Games to play with family and friends, and maybe get them to finally understand your obsession with games from the 20th Century!
And in true Cocktail Mode fashion, they’ll attempt to pair a festive cocktail that perfectly complements a night of Holiday Gaming Marathon chaos.
Grab your eggnog (spiked, of course!), settle in, and tune in for a smashing good time! 
Andy's Christmas Cocktail
Dave's Christmas Cocktail
 
Links and friends of the show (Not affiliated)
Torinak (Online Spectrum Emulator)
https://www.consolemad.co.uk/
https://retrocomputermuseum.co.uk/
https://www.amigalive.com/
Bill Bailey 'Argos' (Youtube)
https://evercade.co.uk/
Bomber Man Trade-up Story (imgur)
https://www.thebowlinggreen.uk/
 

50th Episode Special - Cocktail Mode: Retro Games, Cocktails and Banter - S02E25

So it's come to this: A Cocktail Mode list episode!
Andy and Dave are ready to unleash their most ambitious, potentially most divisive, and almost certainly most overlong episode yet: Our Top 50 Retro Games!*
Did your favourite make it? Did we choose the same 25 games each? Did ANY Nintendo games make the cut? What is the meaning of that asterisk?
Listen in and find out!
Of course we have to shoe-horn in the usual Cocktail or two, but considering how much we struggle with finding drinks for a single game, how on earth are we going to manage for FIFTY!?
Andy's Cocktail
Dave's Cocktail
 
Friends of the show: (Not affiliated)
https://www.consolemad.co.uk/
https://www.amigalive.com/
https://www.diffordsguide.com/
 

Bushido Blade - Cocktail Mode: Retro Games, Cocktails and Banter - S02E24

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, we're bowing to one of the most unique and respected fighting games ever made: Bushido Blade on the original PS1!
Andy and Dave explore why this One-Hit Kill Samurai simulator remains a definitive Cult Classic. We break down the revolutionary mechanics that set this Squaresoft title apart from every other fighting game - no health bars, no time limits, just pure, sudden-death duel tension. We're talking body-part damage, the honour system, and why it's considered by many to be the best PS1 fighting game.
And finally, we tackle the all-important question: How do you pick a cocktail to match the honour, precision, and sudden violence of a samurai duellist? 
Andy’s Cocktail
Dave’s Cocktail
 
Friends of the show (not affiliated):
Torinak
Amiga Live
https://www.consolemad.co.uk/
 

Cocktail Mode - Trailer

Smash TV & The Running Man - Cocktail Mode: Retro Games, Cocktails and Banter - S02E23

Welcome back to the Cocktail Mode podcast, where we're pairing the ultimate dystopian action experience with a dangerous drink!
This week, we’re loading up on VCRs and Toasters to cover the bloody crossover between the legendary 1990 Arcade Classic, Smash TV, and the definitive Arnold Schwarzenegger movie, The Running Man (1987) - Just in time to set you up for Edgar Wright and Glenn Powell's new version of Steven Kings pre-emptive dystopian reality TV novel.
Join us as we dive into the frantic Twin-Stick Shooter action and the hyper-consumerist nightmare that made Smash TV a technological marvel. .
We’ll discuss how these two pieces of entertainment defined the 90s action genre and, of course, we'll each select a powerful, high-proof cocktail that mirrors the chaotic energy and ruthless efficiency of the Smash TV arena. Good luck, you'll need it—tune in now!
Andy's Cocktail
Dave's Cocktail
 

Alien vs Predator - Cocktail Mode: Retro Games, Cocktails and Banter - S02E22

Clear the sector and grab your coins! This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, we’re dropping into the definitive 90s beat 'em up experience: Capcom’s Alien vs. Predator Arcade from 1994!
We break down everything that made this Capcom AVP game a legendary, fan-favourite Retro Gaming experience. Discover how it perfected the Final Fight style formula with gorgeous, massive sprites and intense co-op action.
We’re discussing the playable characters—the ferocious Predator Warrior and the fan-favourite human cyborg, Major Linn Kurosawa—and why fans often call this the best Alien vs. Predator game ever made. We dive into the game’s immaculate design and whether this Arcade Classic still holds up as one of the best licensed 90s games.
If you love classic Capcom beat 'em ups and strategic arcade action, hit subscribe now!
Andy's Cocktail
Dave's Cocktail

Alien Breed (ft Rico Holmes) - Cocktail Mode: Retro Games, Cocktails and Banter - S02E21

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, we're locking down the bulkheads and checking our motion trackers because we're (ostensibly) featuring the iconic sci-fi shooter: Alien Breed!
We say 'ostensibly' because Andy and Dave are joined by special guest Rico Holmes, the man behind the concept and art of Alien Breed and who has worked across multiple franchises for Team17. Rico provides an exclusive, inside look at what it was like to work at Team17 in the early days - and to be honest - we had so much fun we almost forgot to talk about Alien Breed at all!
Andy's Cocktail
Dave's Cocktail
Rico's Cocktail