Y2Gamers

This week, we fly deep into the Bacterian Empire and face the insane challenge that await us in the original arcade version of Gradius 3! 

For those who grew up playing Gradius 3 on the SNES and have fond memories of it like I did, this certainly AIN'T IT! Prepare to experience some of the most difficult shooting levels ever to reach into your pocket and dissolve quarters by the truckload. 

Will we prevail or will the endless barrage of indestructible bubbles or homing crystals crush us into space dust? Find out in our epic Season 5 Premier of...

Universal Century 0079...

A lone BonusLizard sits down in front of his television and after decades of otaku fandom, finally embarks on a journey to the front lines of the epic One Year War in Mobile Suite Gundam...for the first time ever. 

Join us as we take a closer look at Japan's biggest anime franchises that has endured the test of time for nearly 50 years -- filling our man-child lives with great stories, toys, and games!

So what are you waiting for? Time to press that 'Play' button!

This week on Y2Gamers, we return to the chaos that the Borg is reigning down on the Alpha Quadrant, but more specifically, everyone’s favorite first officer - William T. Riker.

Join us as we recap the action and drama-packed episode of Best of Both Worlds Part 2, revisit some of the Nexf Gen classic games of the time, and share many many laughs at Warp Speed!

So what are you waiting for? Time to hit that Play Button!

Captain's Log: November 19, 2025.

After an extended shore-leave, the Y2Gamers crew has embarked on another fascinating mission: to explore a seminal moment in Star Trek history - the ambitious Best of Both Worlds from the Next Generation! 

Join us on the bridge of the Enterprise as we re-live some of the most challenging moments facing Picard's crew as they confront the Trek universe's most fearsome foe: the BORG Collective! 

Resisting this episode is futile!

This week on Y2Gamers, we take a hit from Shredder's de-mutation ray-gun and crawl back into our shells to play two 90's uber-classics: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Arcade) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game (NES). 

Being arguable the centerpiece of many of your arcade and living room gaming experiences growing up, we put these two versions head-to-head and see which one gets the Pizza Pie! The results will surprise you!

If you enjoy this episode, please considering liking and subscribing to our podcast. If you have any thoughts you'd like to s...

For our very last episode of 2024, we are bringing you a very special conversation about the Neon Genesis Evangelion TV series...a category-defining show that remains as powerful today as was almost 30 years ago. 

In this very special edition, we discuss how NGE TV has impacted us over the last 3 decades and how our impression of the show, as well as our understanding of its themes continue to transform as we age through life. This analysis is accompanied by discussions of how the masterfully crafted music played a key role in establishing the mood of the show, a...

For our very last episode of 2024, we are bringing you a very special conversation about the Neon Genesis Evangelion TV series...a category-defining show that remains as powerful today as was almost 30 years ago. 

In this very special edition, we discuss how NGE TV has impacted us over the last 30 decades and how our impression of the show, as well as our understanding of its themes continue to transform as we age through life. This analysis is accompanied by discussions of how the masterfully crafted music played a key role in establishing the mood of the show, a...

For our very last episode of 2024, we are bringing you a very special conversation about the Neon Genesis Evangelion TV series...a category-defining show that remains as powerful today as was almost 30 years ago. 

In this very special edition, we discuss how NGE TV has impacted us over the last 30 decades and how our impression of the show, as well as our understanding of its themes continue to transform as we age through life. This analysis is accompanied by discussions of how the masterfully crafted music played a key role in establishing the mood of the show, a...

Just in time for Halloween, we travel this week into deep space, revisiting the terror on LV-426 in James Cameron's epic horror-action film: Aliens.

Undoubtedly one of the most memorable blockbusters of the 80's, the film is full of iconic moments and quotes that live on nearly 40 decades later! Today, we take you through many of those classic moments, while providing some fun behind-the-scenes insights that will be sure to make your next watch-through an even richer experience!

So ready those exo-suits and watch out for those face huggers...it's time to press that "Play"...

This week on Y2Gamers, Nick and I punch, kick, and piledrive our way through the rough, crime-filled streets of Metro City in Capcom's Final Fight. For the game that was intended to be Street Fighter's direct sequel, Capcom pulled out all the stops to ultimately craft a masterpiece that would literally define a new category of arcade brawlers for generations to come. 

Join us as we explore the revolutionary gameplay mechanics of the time, dish on our favorite baddies, and poke fun at the trash-diving hilarity of it all in this week's can't-miss episode! 

So...

Welcome to part two of Nick’s Tokyo adventures. After beating the Tokyo Marathon, Nick hung around for an additional week checking out all the geekiest delights Japan had to offer.

From maid caffès to retro gaming arcades, we get into the nitty gritty details of how the holiest of destinations for Otaku culture has changed since Nick last set foot in Japan over 25 years ago!

So settle in for another very special extended episodes of Y2Gamers! Time to press that Start Button!

And as always, please help us out by lik...

Welcome to a special Summer episode of Y2Gamers! 

We've got an extra-special episode this week: my exclusive interview with Nick after he returned from running the Tokyo Marathon! Yes, Otaku can be athletic too!

Join us as Nick shares his excitement of racing down the streets of Tokyo, how he prepped to win, and the sheer emotion of crossing that finish line! And of course, there's also the magic of returning to Japan for the first time in 15 years!

So common! Time to press that Jog Button!

Welcome to a special Summer episode of Y2Gamers! 

We've got an extra-special episode this week: my exclusive interview with Nick after he returned from running the Tokyo Marathon! Yes, Otaku can be athletic too!

Join us as Nick talks about the excitement of racing down downtown Tokyo, how he prepped, how others failed and triumphed, and the sheer emotion of crossing that finish line!

So common! Time to press that Jog Button!

Hot on the heels of the premiere of X-Men '97, we "Time Flip!" back to the very beginnings of the X-Men Animated Series - the two-parter "Night of the Sentinels!" Giant robots, wheelchairs, and the stabby-stab-stabs of adamantium claws! This episode has everything a prepubescent kid of the time could want in a Saturday morning cartoon!

Learn about the show's difficult journey from concept to air, its connections with Capcom's masterpiece Marvel fighting games, and what about the show we thought changed children's TV forever!

So "Let's Go, Bub!" It's time to hit that play...

For those of you lucky to be around back in the beginning of the 90's, you know that you were in for one of the most exciting decades in Geek History! Today, we remember our favorite movies and games of that blockbuster year including:

- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie
- Robocop 2
- Home Alone
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Arcade Game
- Super Mario Bros. 3

So without further ado, let's hit that start button to time warp back to some of our most favorite moments in 1990! 

A...

For our first episode of 2024, we time capsule ourselves into the 22nd century world of Reploids and Mavericks to replay through one of gaming's biggest triumphs: Mega Man X. Join us as we explore every nook and cranny of the incredibly animated and interactive stages as we pursue the ultimate evil : the diabolical Sigma!

Which weapons will we choose to defeat him? What new discoveries will we uncover, even decades after our initial playthroughs? Is Dr. Light actually just an old Ryu??

Charge up your X-Buster and let's find out in this action-packed episode!
 

This week, we swing into one of the all-time greatest comic book film adaptations: Sam Raimi’s 2004 Spider-Man 2! Combining Raimi’s masterful grasp of horror elements, zany comic-booky fun, and of course Alfred Molina’s bang-on interpretation of Doc-Ock, Spider-Man 2 kept us on our toes and continues to entertain even 2 decades later.  Join us on our rewatch as we revisit this pre-MCU world of Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker to share our thoughts on the film as well as a ton of fun facts. So what are you waiting for? Get those web-shooters ready, cause it’s time to hit that Pl...

This week, we revisit a truly epic entry into the history of anime: the Princess Mononoke! What was once supposed to be Miyazaki's final film before his retirement (yeah, right!), Princess Mononoke has proven itself to be a classic that continues to ring true relevance to our world today. Join us as we relive our first experience watching it for the first time in theaters in '99 and then going deep into the story, characters, and themes. So get ready to press that play button, we're setting off for the demon-infested forests of Irontown!

This week, we follow the drum rolls deep into the forests of mayhem in our Super Vehicle-001: the Metal Slug! A classic by any measure, this superbly animated run-n'-gunner of the 90's quickly became one of the key pillars of SNK's arcade experience. In this episode, we take a special look at what made this game so memorable for us, exploring our favorite (and not-so-favorite) game mechanics, talk about or favorite weapons, and take all of you through our playthroughs...heavy machine guns and all! Hope you brought your quarters, folks...its time to save some hostages!! 

This week, we rewind return ourselves into the 1990s video store to explore the before and after of anime's biggest moment: the jump into disc-based media. From early fansub culture to taking a look at how anime went mainstream in America, this week's show is sure to bring back a big hit of nostalgia for all of us. 

If you'd like to support us, please like our show and hit the Follow or Subscribe button. It really helps us out and allows us to keep the great content coming! Thanks

This week, we thwip-thwip-thwip our way through Sam Raimi's hallmark 2002 film: Spider-Man, a movie that in many ways reshaped the landscape of superhero movies for decades to come! Join us on our re-watch analysis as we revisit classic scenes, discuss curious directorial choices, as well as make a some sticky webby jokes that amuse mostly ourselves! It's time to discover the hero inside!

This week on Y2Gamers, we  visit a fiercely competitive time in the 90's arcade scene between industry giants Namco and Sega! Specifically, taking a closer look at one of the categories that these two giants helped make famous: the light gun shooter - featuring Namco's Time Crisis and Sega's The House of the Dead. We take you 6ft. under to revive our fondest memories of those titles and put the Action Pedal to the metal to reconstruct what made these games such a BANG of a good time! 

We conclude our 2-Part Street Fighter 6 extravaganza this week by diving deep into the depths of SF6's bold new game mechanics. Nick, our resident fighting game sensei, takes us to school with his impressions on gameplay and what it takes to win. We follow things up by sharing our thoughts on the ambitious new World Tour mode as well as things we wish Capcom will add in future DLCs. Get your virtual quarters ready, New Challengers...it's time again to Go for Broke!

SF6 is Amazing (for now, at least)! It's the game that Nick and I have been waiting for as fighting game fans for a long, long time...ever since the last titan of the franchise: SFIII: Third Strike molded our hands to that infamous Sega Dreamcast controller. :P
 
 But why was it a wait? Why did SF IV and V not quite hit the spot for us and so many other genre and franchise fans out there? Before we take a deeper look into what begins to make SF6 so great, we take a visit back over th...

SF6 is Amazing (for now, at least)! It's the game that Nick and I have been waiting for as fighting game fans for a long, long time...ever since the last titan of the franchise: SFIII: Third Strike molded our hands to that infamous Sega Dreamcast controller. :P

But why was it a wait? Why did SF IV and V not quite hit the spot for us and so many other genre and franchise fans out there? Before we take a deeper look into what begins to make SF6 so great, we take a visit back over...

We take the path of the World Warrior this week and explore the granddaddy of the fighting game genre: Street Fighter II. While cross-firing Hadoukens (aka fire balls), we explore the very beginnings of the franchise from the inception of the messy-but-necessary Street Fighter (or Fighting Street), to SFII and all of its Turbo-Championship-Special-Rainbow-Dash-Plus-Hyper Fighty variations that made a great game into a legendary one.

And no, we couldn't cover everything in a single hour! But that's what subscriptions are for, am I right? Hope you enjoy today's episode and the start of our Warrior's Journey!

Marvelous! We've made it to our 10th episode! Thanks to everyone who's listened to us so far! If you haven't subscribed yet, now is the time!

This week, we revisit the birth of an uncanny age of Marvel gaming: the Marvel v Capcom Universe.  With the powerful advancement of the CPS-II arcade system, Capcom brought our favorite comic book and cartoon characters to life like none of us have ever seen! We will cover all the MvCU games from The Punisher arcade brawler to Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter with more coming up in a future e...

Ah, Japan! The holy land of much of nerd and geek culture as we know it today! 

This week, we share our experiences of our very first times traveling to the Land of the Rising Gundam--I mean Sun--back when we were but high school students. We detail all the surprises and disappointments of our first journeys as well discuss what it was like to live with a Japanese family! Oh, and of course there can't be a podcast about Japan without some mention of some extreme local delicacies! We literally bring the mouth feel of rare meat t...

For those of you who made (or lost) your riches on GameStop stock this year, perhaps you might be also curious as to what life is like day-to-day as an employee. Luckily, we are here to give you the insider's view from our time as employees from our part time days!

This week's episode follows one particular game store in North Carolina as it transitions from a Waldensoftware into a GameStop and covers our ups and downs during that transformation. We also recount some of our most memorable in-store moments with colleagues and customers. After this show...

This week, take a journey down the rabbit hole with Ming and Nick as we rocket back to a truly special time for sci-fi movies: the 1990's! We cover the core classics from Terminator 2: Judgement day, to the Star Treks & Wars, to the game-changing Matrix, covering their histories and discuss how they changed our lives in a deep, and profound way! Like, seriously! They really did!

Get your popcorn ready, put your phones on silent and enjoy the show!

Remember the days when tons and tons of like-minded people got together to celebrate their passion for a common interest? Sadly, the global pandemic has put a big STOP sign on live conventions over the last few years  so we've decided to re-live some great memories of attending our first anime convention: Animazement, in North Carolina. 

From getting cash-drained in the dealer's room to the intense battle in the art auctions, we bring the convention magic back to life in all of its glory. 

Oh yeah...Zangief Fan Art, anyone? :P 

For those of us who remember PC gaming in the 90's, few milestones can be as important as the introduction of "powerful" 3D acceleration cards that started the performance rift with consoles. In our 5th episode, Nick and Ming harken back to the days before RGB lights and water cooling...where 3D gaming was just getting started. You might even find a head crab or two along the way... :P

If you enjoy our podcast, please help us out and hit the subscribe button and drop us a line at y2gamers@outlook.com! We'd love to...

Always seemingly the underdogs of their generations, both the Saturn and the Dreamcast struggled against the likes of Sony and Nintendo during their all-too-short lifespans. But yet they remain our favorite systems of their time because of the insane amount of quality import titles that were otherwise not easily available to American gamers. Arcade-perfect 2D fighters, flowery JRPGs, and other oddities made for a truly memorable decade of gaming. Join us this week on Y2Gamers as we remember two of the very best systems and import games from Sega's sunsetting hardware days!

So which was it? Was it "Transform & Roll-Out!" or "Activate Interlocks!" on weekday afternoons that got you started on the path of anime fandom? This week, Ming and Nick take a look at the memorable "starter" cartoons and anime of our childhoods that formed the foundations of our otaku lifestyles. From Transformers to Neon Genesis Evangelion: We take you back!

On this week's Y2Gamers, Ming and Nick think back to one of the cultural highlights of 90's gaming: the Arcade. Before online gaming and the sunsetting of many of our shopping malls, Arcades were where you got together with your friends and rivals to play the latest and greatest and prove your skills as a champion. There was nothing quite like the excitement of stepping into one. Whether you grew up with them like us, or are curious about what gaming standing-up is like, you are in for a treat! Get your quarters ready, folks!

We'd...

Welcome to the Y2Gamers Podcast, a place where two long time friends and gaming rivals co-op and talk about a golden age of gaming, anime, and geek culture at the turn of the millennium. Each week, across the Pacific Ocean, we explore a fun new topic through our unique and wacky vantage points and share plenty of laughs along the way! 

On our premiere episode, we've got a special double-whammy! First, Ming and Nick go way back to our earliest memories of what video game stores were like in the early 90's, from the gaming wall a...