It’s time for another Arcade Obscura where each of the hosts pitch their choice of underrated or under-appreciated driving-based arcade game. Rob goes full ‘Merica with a cross-country racer that features the first appearance of a beloved video game mascot.... Read more 

Podouken

Arcade Obscura (Drivers) – Episode 046

They’re obscure. They’re underrated. They’re our choices for the Arcade Obscura shmups! Mr. SNK brings us a lovely bouquet of Sega space shooter (please consult with your physician before playing). Rob (AKA Ron, AKA Robdog Storm) goes meta with an... Read more 

Arcade Obscura (Shmup Dump) – Episode 054

We’re bringing the Flying Pancake in for a landing on the Shmup Dump miniseries with Psikyo’s Strikers 1945 series. Can you stop the evil forces of C.A.N.Y. and find the very suggestive secret ending? How many times is PastBlaster going... Read more 

Strikers 1945 – Episode 053

This episode we talk about the Cave shooter series that is almost as fun to say as it is to play – Mushihimesama. We are joined by Gameboy Guru, host of the Shoot the Core-cast, to pick up Rob’s slack... Read more 

Mushihimesama – Episode 052

Time to cover the complete arcade history of Treasure – the game developer that gave us Radiant Silvergun, Ikargua, and… that’s it! We explore these two fun SHMUPs that mix the shooter genre with a dash of puzzle mechanics. What... Read more 

Radiant Silvergun / Ikaruga – Episode 051

Our 50th episode is ESPecially good as we explore Cave’s bullet hells with butterfly wings – ESP Ra.De., Espgaluda, and Espgaluda II. How do you pronounce these games? What does the Michael Bay masterpiece, and Ewan McGregor/Scarlett Johansson star vehicle,... Read more 

ESP Ra.De. – Episode 050

Are you ready to get prosecuted to the full extent of the jam? If so, join us as we whack the beehive that is the DonPachi series by Cave – and others. Why was DonPachi considered a critical failure even... Read more 

DonPachi – Episode 049

We get loopy with the historically (in)accurate Capcom shooter series based on middle-aged white men’s favorite war, the 194X series. Count with us as we cover 1942, 1943, 1941, 19XX, and 1944 in a way that’s totally not confusing. How... Read more 

194X – Episode 048

We’re blasting off on the first episode of our new SHMUP miniseries with the shooter that set the mold for horizontal STGs – Konami’s Gradius. How did this accidental hit become such a groundbreaking series? What anime movie had a... Read more 

Gradius – Episode 047

Explore the arcade series birthed by the unholy alliance of a Nintendo license developed by Namco running on a Sega board – Mario Kart Arcade GP. It’s the two biggest video game characters in a race to the finish as... Read more 

Mario Kart Arcade GP – Episode 045

We’re drifting into the final turn of our Drivers miniseries by talking about Sega’s most prolific driving game series, Initial D. So hop in our Trueno GT-APEX – just don’t bump the tofu – and settle in for a two... Read more 

Initial D – Episode 044

Hop in and take a ride down Memory Lane as the Podouken crew tours the USA, world, and other exotic locations while exploring the Midway Games classic Cruis’n USA. How did this game give Rob his most gruesome arcade injury... Read more 

Cruis’n USA – Episode 043

The hosts let loose with their inner Florida Man to discuss the quintessential Florida game – Daytona USA. Let’s go away to the land of alligators, bath salts, and bike weeks and explore how Sega ended up creating the most... Read more 

Daytona USA – Episode 042

It’s time to gas up the Ferraro Testabossa, select our favorite synthwave radio station, and feel the wind in our hair as we take a drive with Sega’s OutRun. Join us as we take a ride through Yu Suzuki’s career... Read more 

OutRun – Episode 041

Warning: Listening discretion is advised. We hold a serious discussion about the first truly controversial arcade game – Death Race. What led Exidy to release this death simulator upon an unsuspecting public? How did something so outrageously graphic make its... Read more 

Death Race – Episode 040

A PODCAST FOR ARCADE LOVERS. From the owners of 100+ arcade and pinball cabinets, and the proprietors of a real-life arcade comes PODOUKEN, a brand new podcast that takes a deep dive into the world of video arcade games, and explores the history, story, strategy, art, music, restoration, preservation and fun of arcade games.