The Cane and Rinse videogame podcast

For those times when minigames are just too time-consuming, Mario's evil doppelganger Wario (with a little help from Nintendo R&D1) invented microgames. Leon, Darren and returning guest Dan Clark explore the world of game development, Made in Wario style. As usual our community contributors also have their say on the subject of WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! on the Game Boy Advance, plus we also talk about the local multiplayer mayhem of the GameCube incarnation, WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$! Music used in this issue: Track 1: WarioWare Inc by Ryoji Yoshitomi & Kyoko Miyamoto Track 2: You need some practice by Ryoji Yoshitomi & Kyoko Miyamoto Cane and Rinse 165 was edited by Darren Gargette

In this show Ryan, Josh, Karl and Sean confer about Queasy Games' 2012 side-scrolling musical platformer - Sound Shapes. They discuss their own experiences with the game, the various artists involved in the soundtrack and the title's level creation tools. Music used in this issue: Track 1: Hills 'n Spills by I Am Robot and Proud Track 2: Personnel by Jim Guthrie Track 3: Touch the People by Beck Cane and Rinse 164 was edited by Ryan Hamann

The last game in the series by Team Silent, Silent Hill 4: The Room is a game that so brazenly experiments with the established formula, the internet conjured forth a myth to explain its existence. One that Josh , Sean and Karl are quick to debunk. There are many dark corners to explore and mysteries to uncover within the confines of Room 302, and we discuss whether all these secrets, are worth experiencing. Music used in this issue: Track 1: Tender Sugar by Akira Yamaoka Track 2: Room of Angel by Akira Yamaoka Cane and Rinse 163 was edited by Sean O'Brien

In our first Assassin's Creed podcast for over three years we belatedly catch up with the series' fifth instalment, Assassin's Creed III. Leon, Brian, Jay and Sean debate the technical and storytelling merits and failings - both inside and outside of the Animus - of Ubisoft Montreal's 2012 American Independence epic. We have plenty of contributions from the community too, including surely the least positive set of Three Word Reviews in the history of the podcast. Music used in this issue: Track 1: Assassin's Creed III Main Theme Variation by Lorne Balfe Track 2: Fight Club by Lorne Balfe Cane and Rinse 162 was edited by Jay Taylor

In the second of four Wolfenstein podcasts we turn our attention to Gray Matter's 2001-2003 PC and console FPS, Return to Castle Wolfenstein. Leon, Tony and Karl see what BJ Blazkowicz got up to (shooting fascists) in this id Tech 3 take on the Wolfenstein 3D formula of corridors, souped-up super Nazis and hidden caches of ill-gotten gold. A couple of our listeners just about recall the F5/F9, quicksave/quickload shenanigans too. Music used in this issue: Track 1: Intro Movie by Bill Brown Track 2: Return to Castle Wolfenstein Main Theme by Bill Brown Track 3: SS Elite Guard Assault by Bill Brown Track 4: Action! by Bill Brown Track 5: Assassination by Bill Brown Cane and Rinse 161 was edited by Ryan Hamann

Join us as we explore the spider infested, alien contested and shop keeper invested world of Derek Yu's 2008 and 2012 rogue-like, platforming, homage to the likes of Rick Dangerous, Spelunky. Josh, James, Darren and Sean focus their attention on the 2012 remake, as it's the game that we are, and most of you listening will probably be, most familiar with. However, do not fear, the original freeware title gets its time in the sun. Music used in this issue: Track 1: Title screen by Eirik Suhrke Track 2: Adventure by Eirik Suhrke Track 3: Yeti Caves by Eirik Suhrke Cane and Rinse 160 was edited by Darren Gargette

We're less than halfway through our Silent Hill series of podcasts and yet already concluding the 'original' and 'classic' trilogy. 2003's Silent Hill 3 which retreads the unhallowed ground of its predecessors, Leon, Josh and Sean - along with our esteemed contributors - discuss whether it does so surefootedly or not. The panel also make time to chew over the brace of spin-off Silent Hill movies. Music used in this issue: Track 1: Never Forgive Me, Never Forget Me by Akira Yamaoka Track 2: End of Small Sanctuary by Akira Yamaoka Track 3: Please Love Me...Once More by Akira Yamaoka Cane and Rinse 159 was edited by Sean O'Brien

A slightly under-the-weather Leon (cold), Karl (stomach ache) and Dan Clark (headache) huddle together to celebrate Sonic Team's much misunderstood Saturn exclusive (at the time though no longer), NiGHTS into dreams... We also talk about the festive wonders of Christmas NiGHTS, the game's legacy and also hear from some truly besotted community members. Music used in this issue: Track 1: Fragmented Nights by Tomoko Sasaki, Naofumi Hataya and Fumie Kumatani. Track 2: DREAMS DREAMS by Tomoko Sasaki, Naofumi Hataya and Fumie Kumatani. Cane and Rinse 158 was edited by Ryan Hamann

Tony, along with guests Gary Blower (GameBurst) and Brad Galloway (GameCritics) take a look at the Activision published Skylanders series - covering Spyro's Adventure, Giants, Swap Force and Trap Team. Music used in this issue: Track 1: The SWAP Force by Lorne Balfe Track 2: A New Chieftess by Lorne Balfe Cane and Rinse 157 was edited by Jay Taylor

"Select your vehicle." Fond festive memories of Christmas '97's gleeful kart, hovercraft and plane adventure: Diddy Kong Racing. Leon, Darren, Karl and our community peer through a haze of Nintendo 64 fuzz to Rare's candy cane (and rinse) fuelled sugar rush. Music used in this issue: Track 1: Diddy Kong Racing Theme by David Wise Track 2: Walrus Cove by David Wise Track 3: Timber’s Island medley by David Wise Cane and Rinse 156 was edited by Darren Gargette

Can we already reached the peak of the Silent Hill series after only two of our eight planned podcasts on the series? According to many we may well have done but do our panel of Leon, Josh and Sean agree? And how about our esteemed forum and Twitter contributors? This and other, much darker matters are discussed in our Silent Hill 2 issue. Music used in this issue: Track 1: Theme of Laura by Akira Yamaoka Track 2: Promise (Reprise) by Akira Yamaoka Track 3: Promise by Akira Yamaoka Cane and Rinse 155 was edited by Sean O'Brien

Leon, Darren, Josh and Ryan explore the vast, chaotic world of Super Smash Bros. from its pre-millennial inception on N64 up to and including Brawl on Wii. There's plenty of talk about the hardcore tournament scene surrounding the GameCube's Melee too of course, plus as usual we hear from members of the Cane and Rinse community. GAME SET! Music used in this issue: Track 1: Opening Theme (Super Smash Bros. Melee) by Hirokazu Ando, Tadashi Ikegami and Shogo Sakai Track 2: Menu (Super Smash Bros. Melee) by Motoi Sakuraba (An adaptation of the Opening Theme listed above) Track 3: Mute City (Super Smash Bros. Melee) by Naoto Ishida and Yumiko Kanki, arranged for Super Smash Bros. Melee by Hirokazu Ando, Tadashi Ikegami, and Shogo Sakai (Originally from F-Zero) Cane and Rinse 154 was edited by Ryan Hamann

In this issue, James Carter, Ryan Hamann, Brian Tarran and Jay Taylor discuss Keiichiro Toyama's gravity defying PlayStation Vita title - Gravity Rush (a.k.a. Gravity Daze). They talk about their thoughts regarding the title's distinctive visual style and setting, the music and not forgetting the actual gameplay itself. There is also, as always, the community contributions and the three word reviews too. Music used in this issue: Track 1: Discovery of Gravitation by Kohei Tanaka Track 2: Pleasure Quarter by Kohei Tanaka Cane and Rinse 153 was edited by Jay Taylor

In the first of four podcasts looking into the storied history of the (Castle) Wolfenstein saga, we start with the late Silas Warner's 1981 stealth/action hybrid for 8-bit computers. After gasping in awe and wonder at the ambition of its 1984 sequel, Beyond Castle Wolfenstein, Leon, Tony and guest Andi "Johnny Wolfenstein" Hamilton (of Midnight Resistance) then move onto the at least equally influential proto-Doom, Wolfenstein 3D (1992) as well as its same-year successor, Spear of Destiny.

Cane and Rinse returns for its fourth year with the start of our Silent Hill series. In the first of eight podcasts dedicated to Konami's horror franchise, Leon, Josh, Karl and Sean turn off the state highway to visit the, erm, sleepy town of Silent Hill once more. We discuss, along with contributions from the community - the original 1999 game for PlayStation (PSone), as well as the fictional - and real life - events that inspired Keiichiro Toyama's unsettling directorial debut. Music used in this issue: Track 1: Silent Hill by Akira Yamaoka Track 2: Silent Hill (Otherworld) by Akira Yamaoka Cane and Rinse 151 was edited by Sean O'Brien