The Retro Hour (Retro Gaming Podcast)

This week we’re joined by legendary composer Yuzo Koshiro, recorded live at Retromessa in Norway, for the story behind the iconic Streets of Rage soundtracks. From the club music that inspired those unforgettable beats to getting the most out of the Mega Drive, Yuzo shares how he helped shape the sound of Sega—and reveals his role designing moves and voicing characters in Streets of Rage 2! Plus, we talk Revenge of Shinobi, Sonic and his return to Mega Drive development with Earthion.
Plus, Modern Vintage Gamer joins us for the news!
MVG: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernVintageGamer/videos
Contents:
00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories
50:27 – Yuzo Koshiro Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com
Go to https://surfshark.com/retrohour or use code RETROHOUR at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark!
Play Expo Blackpool: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/
Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs
We need your help to ensure the future of the podcast, if you’d like to help us with running costs, equipment and hosting, please consider supporting us on Patreon:
https://theretrohour.com/support/
https://www.patreon.com/retrohour
Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8
Website: http://theretrohour.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/
X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour
Show notes
C64 and Spectrum handhelds delayed: https://lnk.ua/Y92W4t1J7
Super Mario 64 SNES port: https://lnk.ua/IzOyma94q
Amiga Addams Family backgrounds edition: https://lnk.ua/guzIbbISR
GoldenEye 007 goes third-person: https://lnk.ua/mPTCUlTqm
Binky launches on C64: https://lnk.ua/My9oxsebG
Lost SNES Railroad Tycoon footage: https://lnk.ua/hwttaGmyJ
Real coin slot for emulators: https://lnk.ua/fxCnlQe5C

This week, we’re joined by legendary game designer Warren Spector to explore the stories behind Ultima, Deus Ex and Epic Mickey. From the Dungeons & Dragons session that changed his life to John Romero’s offer to make his dream game, Warren shares how he championed player freedom, why Deus Ex almost became a Command & Conquer RPG, and what working with Mickey Mouse meant to him.
Paul Drury's The Arcade book: https://lnk.ua/vLieP7PVA
Contents:
00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories
55:50 – Yuzo Koshiro Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com
Go to https://surfshark.com/retrohour or use code RETROHOUR at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!
Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs
PlayEXPO Blackpool: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/
We need your help to ensure the future of the podcast, if you’d like to help us with running costs, equipment and hosting, please consider supporting us on Patreon:
https://theretrohour.com/support/
https://www.patreon.com/retrohour
Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8
Website: http://theretrohour.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/
X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour
Show notes
Gun.Smoke Comes to Amiga: https://lnk.ua/9VVzy7Q1w
Pixar vs Nintendo: https://lnk.ua/gtcZcmiay
The Return of Motion Gaming: https://lnk.ua/jFAg9AEnd
Crazy Taxi Netflix Film Announced: https://lnk.ua/AhvVYnhYS
Matthew Smith Spectrum Collection: https://lnk.ua/0L1SD3zv3
Star Wars Trilogy on Dreamcast: https://lnk.ua/4KpQVGPUT

Recorded live at Retromessa in Norway, we sit down with legendary video game composer Yuzo Koshiro for part one of our conversation, exploring his Nintendo years. From his earliest piano lessons to the orchestral sounds of ActRaiser, the infectious grooves of Super Adventure Island and the worlds of Etrian Odyssey and Super Smash Bros., Yuzo shares the stories and influences behind his music. Plus, audience questions uncover his favourite games, the origins of his YK2 alias and a contribution to Terranigma he’d forgotten he made!
Slope's Book Kickstarter: https://lnk.ua/N6GM8pALm

Contents:
00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories
54:46 – Yuzo Koshiro Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com
Go to https://surfshark.com/retrohour or use code RETROHOUR at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!
Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs
PlayEXPO Blackpool: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/
We need your help to ensure the future of the podcast, if you’d like to help us with running costs, equipment and hosting, please consider supporting us on Patreon:
https://theretrohour.com/support/
https://www.patreon.com/retrohour
Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8
Website: http://theretrohour.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/
X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour
Show notes
Neo Geo AES+ Delayed: https://lnk.ua/lorIBnZ5Q
New Lotus Trilogy Remake: https://lnk.ua/NbvwYx8su
RPCS3 Adds Physical Disc Support: https://lnk.ua/xkdGOKL4z
Rare’s Project Dream Leaks Online: https://lnk.ua/15LPiFgPB
Ocarina of Time Remake: https://lnk.ua/Z0YTZRr2Z
Metal Slug Collection Hits Switch: https://lnk.ua/nXKpK6iQA

How do you turn a handful of pixels into one of gaming’s most recognisable characters? Recorded live at RetroMessa 2026, Dan and Joe meet illustrator Duncan Gutteridge, whose hand-painted artwork helped define Sonic’s European image during SEGA’s 16-bit glory years. Duncan recalls reimagining Sonic 2, creating artwork for Sonic 3 and Knuckles, working with airbrushes, phones and fax machines, and enjoying a level of creative freedom that would be almost unthinkable today. He also reveals the fate of his long-lost original Sonic paintings.
Amiga Bill Links: Twitch.tv/AmigaBill
https://YouTube.com/@AmigaBill
https://AmigaBill.tv
Twitch.tv
Contents:
00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories
1:06:00 – Duncan Gutteridge Interview
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com
Go to https://surfshark.com/retrohour or use code RETROHOUR at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!
Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs
PlayEXPO Blackpool: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/
We need your help to ensure the future of the podcast, if you’d like to help us with running costs, equipment and hosting, please consider supporting us on Patreon:
https://theretrohour.com/support/
https://www.patreon.com/retrohour
Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8
Website: http://theretrohour.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/
X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour
Show notes
New Doom-Style Shooter for 3DO:  https://lnk.ua/znInXLNwM
GTA Arrives on Amiga:  https://lnk.ua/ERRtnHKLk
Portrait Ridge Racer Port:  https://lnk.ua/m0xu68aPx
New 4:3 Retro Gaming Monitor:  https://lnk.ua/PZX3RS7zK
LEGO PlayStation 1 Set Revealed:  https://lnk.ua/fAPHMgWXi
Portal Demake Arrives on GBA:  https://lnk.ua/QqQkLQGr5

It's Ravi's final episode of the podcast, we give him a good send off!  Plus, we bring you our Best of British panel from RetroMessa, featuring Mike Dailly (DMA Design), Glen O'Connell (Psygnosis), Duncan Gutteridge (Sega UK) and Brian Watson (DMA Design) for a panel discussion about British gaming history, iconic games and the moments that helped shape an entire era.
Contents:
00:00 – The Week’s Retro News Stories
1:05:50 – Best of British
Please visit our amazing sponsors and help to support the show:
Bitmap Books – https://www.bitmapbooks.com
Go to https://surfshark.com/retrohour or use code RETROHOUR at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!
Check out PCBWay at https://pcbway.com for all your PCB needs
PlayEXPO Blackpool: https://www.playexpoblackpool.com/
We need your help to ensure the future of the podcast, if you’d like to help us with running costs, equipment and hosting, please consider supporting us on Patreon:
https://theretrohour.com/support/
https://www.patreon.com/retrohour
Join our Discord channel: https://discord.gg/GQw8qp8
Website: http://theretrohour.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theretrohour/
X: https://twitter.com/retrohouruk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrohouruk/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theretrohour.com
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/theretrohour
Show notes
Sonic Demo Lands on Amiga: https://lnk.ua/Ifux6frxr  
Terranigma Returns to Modern Hardware: https://lnk.ua/6ciLNoEyo  
Cyberpunk 2077 C64 Coming Soon: https://lnk.ua/snpuA7Lj0  
Fall From Space Features Arita: https://lnk.ua/6l5mCdvCs  
Atari and Activision Reunite: https://lnk.ua/0V34uriWa  
New Mega Drive Arcade Controller: https://lnk.ua/DAfat7AK3  
Zool Collection Coming to Jaguar: https://lnk.ua/P4xQT4jFN
Pillow Fort Album Hits GBA: https://lnk.ua/zxB3hMk3R