One Stage at a Time

DOOMGuy takes on Deimos Lab, our favorite level so far!

We talk about games we’re currently playing and unknowingly immediately have to eat our words about Donkey Kong Country 2!

We talk Final Fantasy and Donkey Kong …

We finally finish Sonic the Hedgehog for the Sega Game Gear! Yes, it's a shorter game, but it certainly felt longer as we struggled through pale imitations of better Sonic games. But we arrived at the final boss of the …

We moan and complain and gripe about our bodies and barcades and you punk kids get off our lawn!
And that music is too damn loud!
We discuss E2M3: Refinery, from DOOM (1993)!
Also:
We talk about the legend himself, Sandy …

We are Robotnik's personal Terminator as we chase him into the air! There is no escape for him. Sonic will find him and punish him.

We tackle Sky Base Zone: Act 2!

And we hate it.

Sonic the Hedgehog struggles through …

We take on Containment Area, the second area of DOOM (1993), episode 2! We get lost amongst the boxes and punch our way through! Mostly because we’re out of ammo, but also because of a wicked power-up!

Also:

The …

We discuss the Sky Zone Act 1 in Sonic the Hedgehog for the Sega Game Gear!

We also talk Balan Wonderworld, the upcoming game by Yuji Naka with art direction by Naoto Ohshima, creators of Sonic the Hedgehog and Nights …

The boys arrive on the shores of Hell! We take on level E2M1: Deimos Anomaly, in the original DOOM (1993)!

We find a new weapon, the Plasma Rifle, and an exciting brand new enemy, the feared Cacodemon! We also happen to …

The boys discuss Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie (1996), also known as Sonic OVA! Is it the definitive version of Sonic the Hedgehog? 

They also discuss the Sonic the Hedgehog Game Gear level "Scrap Brain: Act III!"

…

We discover the source of all our troubles (or so we think) as we reach the Phobos Anomaly, the final level in DOOM, Episode 1! 

We meet the first "boss" of the game and take on 2 (count 'em, TWO) Barons of Hell! We …

The boys twist and turn through Computer Station, E1M7 in DOOM (1993)!

We discuss the design of this level, the surprising treats as it makes you backtrack and the long-range battles that can ensue! We talk secrets and …

We discuss Central Processing from DOOM (1993) and its BASIC music! Is this dull soundtrack what's in DOOMGuy's iPod? Yes, iPod. The level is mazes …

Andy, Sam, and Aaron (or is it Scorpion?) take on Phobos Lab, the fifth level in DOOM (1993)!

In this episode:

A bunch of stupid horseshit! A discussion of the naming of the levels! Finding secrets and new power ups! …

Seriously. Do NOT search for the Lara-Su Chronicles.

We are joined by Ed Tirado and Jared Vandergriff as we take on Scrap Brain Zone, Act II, in Sonic the Hedgehog for the Sega Game Gear!

It's an interesting stage, but …

Your comrades bodies litter the floor and you're tearing through hordes of imps and demons!

Joined by Sam Ingersoll once again, we take on E1:M4, …

Ed returns to take on Scrap Brains Zone: Act 1 in Sonic the Hedgehog for the Sega Game Gear!

In this episode, Aaron gets cancelled! Like, immediately.

We discuss the odd name that is Scrap Brain. Aaron forgets what …

Make them feel the bite of your sword! Joined by special guest Sam Ingersoll, we take on Military Base, E1M9, the first secret level in DOOM (1993)!

…

Clashing with Robotnik at the end of Labyrinth Zone! Yes, we're playing Sonic the Hedgehog for the Sega Game Gear, Labyrinth Zone, Act III!

We discuss the epic(?) battle and the differences between this version and the …

What fuels Doomguy's rage? Is he mad because motherfuckers keep shooting him? Or about all the statues being torn down?

We obliterate the Toxin refinery, from DOOM (1993)! We encounter new and dangerous enemies, new …

Still Lost in Labyrinth Zone!

The boys discuss Labyrinth Zone, Act 2, in Sonic the Hedgehog for the Sega Game Gear! The level is harrowing but oh so very slow! But really, what is the point of it? Is it for 16-bit Sonic …

DOOM continues as we attack the Nuclear Plant! We wade into this sea of enemies and find NEW WEAPONS, including the iconic DOOM Chain Saw! Also, this …

Sonic's origins with Ed Tirado! Who created him, why, and he almost had a girlfriend named Madonna?!

We also talk about Labyrinth Zone, Act 1 from Sonic the Hedgehog for the Sega Game Gear! How did the conversion from …

Your buddies are dead. You have only a pistol. They know you're here.

We start the original 1993 classic DOOM! Joined by special guest Sam Ingersoll, …

Ed joins us to battle Dr. Robotnik as we finish the Jungle Zone in Sonic the Hedgehog for the Sega Game Gear!

Is this battle epic or sadly mundane? How does it stack up against previous 

Also, we discuss the Sonic the …

Reflecting on Donkey Kong Country, as a whole.

Where does Donkey Kong Country for the Super Nintendo stand amongst classic video games?

Is it seminal …

Talking the Sonic Underground TV Show!
Joined by Ed Tirado & Jared Vandergriff once again, the boys discuss Jungle Zone, Act 2, for the Sega Game Gear and Sonic Underground!
Also:
-Ed & Jared teach us about …

On a VERY SPECIAL EPISODE of One Stage at a Time, we discuss the final boss of the game, King K. Rool! What is his motivation? Does he want all the …

Ed and Jared join us to continue our journey through Sonic the Hedgehog for the Sega Game Gear as we play through Jungle Zone, Act 1!

In this episode:

-Aaron gets his dreams shattered!

-Ed's Sonic DeviantArt takes …

Joined by Mike Votaw, DDR extraordinaire, the boys take on Master Necky Senior in Donkey Kong Country for the Super Nintendo! They talk about his …

Ed and Jared join us to talk about Sonic the Hedgehog for the Sega Game Gear! We are playing Bridge Zone, Act 3, the Robotnik battle!

Also in this episode:

What was Sonic’s motivation when he mercilessly attacked …

Kate and Mike join us for the very last platforming level of Donkey Kong Country for the Super Nintendo, appropriately named “Platform Peril!”

In this episode:

-All the ins and outs of Platform Peril

-the Nintendo …

Joined by Ed and Jared, this episode we talk about Bridge Zone Act 2, one of the few auto-scrolling levels in all of Sonic the Hedgehog! We also …

We’re in the thick of it now, folks! Joined by Mike & Kate Votaw, the One Stage at a Time Podcast takes on Loopy Lights, one of the final levels …

We start Bridge Zone! Sonic the Hedgehog for the Sega Game Gear deviates from the Genesis version already in the second zone!

Joined by Ed Tirado, they discuss the merits of Tails and how he has been disrespected by the …

Get out of here, bird!

First time guest Ed Tirado joins the boys as they dig deep in Misty Mine from Donkey Kong Country for the Super Nintendo! They …

Things get dark, real dark, as the boys encounter Dr. Robotnik himself for the first time!

Can Andy, Aaron, and special guest Jared defeat the good doctor or can they easily defeat him? Is the entire blood feud between …

Joined by Jared Vandergriff once again, the boys take on Manic Mincers, the 35th stage in Donkey Kong Country for the Super Nintendo!

They talk about how there are no innocents on Kongo Island (except maybe Manky), what …

Joined by Jared once again, Aaron & Andy discuss Green Hill Zone Act 2 for the Sega Game Gear!
This level is a pretty big departure from the first act and the boys talk about how that sets it apart from its Genesis …

The boys start a brand new (and FINAL) world, the Chimp Caverns! Joined by Jared once again, they play through Tanked Up Trouble in Donkey Kong …

The boys start a brand new adventure! They're racing into the handheld realm by playing Sonic the Hedgehog for the Sega Game Gear!
Joined by Jared once more, they talk about everyone's favorite blue blur and his 8-bit …

Aaron, Andy, and Jared face off with Boss Dumb Drum at the top of Kremcroc Industries, Inc. What has driven this poor steel drum to suicidally attack the Kongs? And is this low-effort boss fight surprisingly pretty good?

The boys descend into Blackout Basement, the 32nd level of Donkey Kong Country for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System!

They talk about:

•  what …

The quarantine continues and we are crawling up the walls!

Aaron and Andy discuss Mine Cart Madness, from Donkey Kong Country for the Super Nintendo! They talk about what works in the level, secrets, and other …

Aaron and Andy once again record remotely to discuss Poison Pond, an underwater level from KremKroc Industries, Inc. in Donkey Kong Country for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System! They talk about the bane of gamers …

The boys offer up a report from the quarantine zone. Elevator Antics, Stage 3 of Kremcroc Industries, Inc., is a treacherous trek through the Kongo caves. David Wise has us covered with a chill, ambient Cavedweller …

Joined once again by the wonderful Kate Votaw, the boys play through Trick Track Trek in Donkey Kong Country for the Super Nintendo!

Also, which Star …

Joined once again by superstar Kate Votaw, the One Stage pod discusses Oil Drum Alley from Donkey Kong Country for the Super Nintendo! A remarkably …

Joined by first-time guest Kate Votaw, the boys talk about the most important cultural touchstone of our time, the movie Sonic The Hedgehog! What …

Joined once again by special guest Mike Votaw, the One Stage Boys discuss Rope Bridge Rumble from Donkey Kong Country for the Super Nintendo! They talk about the final appearance of Winky the Frog and whether he is a …

Aaron, Andy, and special guest Mike venture into the deep dark caverns of Torchlight Trouble! They discuss the final animal friend, Squawks the Parrot! Mike finally learns how to run, what the title of "Kong" actually …

Special guest Mike Votaw joins Aaron and Andy as they discuss Croctopus Chase from Donkey Kong Country for the Super Nintendo! They talk about water …

The boys recruit special guest Mike as they continue their treacherous trek through Gorilla Glacier in Ice Age Alley! Today we're battling a double …

Today we're getting demolished by ice physics in Slip-Slide Ride! The boys, joined by good friend Jack, have a tough road to hoe on this one. At …

We've got ice physics and blast barrels as the gang makes its first foray into Gorilla Glacier. Snowbarrel Blast may just be the hardest stage so far, but at least it's got a banger of a BGM. Do we have what it takes to …

Featuring special guest Jack, this episodes showcases Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong taking on a new, more difficult breed of boss, Queen B! The boys …

We're going underwater again in Clam City, the fourth stage of Vine Valley! Jack joins us again for this tricky dive into the waters of DK Isle. Where's Engarde when you need him? Then in the Lore Corner, we examine …

Today on the program we're enlisting Expresso the Ostrich's help to uncover an unprecedented number of bonus stages in Orang-Utan Gang! There's also an extended riff about the Godfather, featuring Cranky as Vito and …

Today on the program we visit Temple Tempest and meet Expresso the Ostrich, a brand new animal friend. Can our new horse help us survive another forbidden temple? And can Aaron take a gorilla in a fight? Let's find out …

Andy and Aaron discuss Forest Frenzy, the 15th level in Donkey Kong Country for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System!
How do Donkey and Diddy fit into the ecosystem of DK Island?
Is the country really Donkey Kong's if …

The gang invades a quaint tree-top village. Blast barrels, buzzy boys, and bottomless pits give us a hard time. We groove to another swell track by Eveline Novakovic (Fischer). And in a new segment, Supplementary …

Chimp Caverns is behind us, Vine Valley lies ahead. We're getting a rude welcome to the forest in Vulture Culture. But how can forest and jungle …

It's boss time on the pod, friends. Meet Master Necky, a baffling monstrosity cloaked in mystery. Is this turning into a body horror game? Then later, some History on Knight Lore, a proto-Rare classic.

---

This episode …

We get anthropological in an mysterious ancient temple. Aaron brandishes a weapon in the studio. Krusha laughs at Diddy Kong's puny physique. We …

The gang dodges Rockcrocs in Stop and Go Station. Also, we explore the secret history of Mario's crimes in Donkey Kong Jr. Will we ever see Cranky's son again??

---

This episode is sponsored by
· Anchor: The easiest way …

It's cave time again, folks. In the third stage of World 3, we're bouncing on tires, and bouncing on Winky. That's double bouncing. Also in this …

The gang gets traumatized by the first true wall of the game, Mine Cart Carnage. Former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura stops by the studio. And in a new segment, we get stunned by speedrunning strats.

---

This episode …

The Kongo Jungle is in the rearview and it's on to Monkey Mines. Jared joins the gang to discuss the first stage of World 2, Winky's Walkway. We meet our new animal pal, Winky the Horse (read: frog) and learn a bit …

We defeat Very Gnawty at the end of World One. Much discussion of Candy Kong's unsettling character model. Shocking revelation that Diddy is a monkey, not a chimpanzee. A galleon appears on the horizon.

---

This episode …

Today on the pod, the gang meets Funky Kong, a chill surfer dude and licensed pilot. After that we blast through Barrel Canon Canyon, the final and …

Today the gang goes for a swim in Coral Capers! The first underwater stage is fraught with Croctopuses, but we've got Enguarde the Swordfish on our side. Also in this stage, the history of Rare!

---

This episode is …

The gang bounces past tires, snakes, and bees in stage 1-3 of Donkey Kong Country, Reptile Rumble! And in our first Lore Corner of the season, we investigate the OG DK, Cranky Kong!

---

This episode is sponsored by
· …

The gang swings through Ropey Rampage in this exciting episode! Night sets on the jungle as we brave bottomless pits, swinging ropes, and a rainy foreground layer. Surely the game can't get harder from here?

---

This …

Welcome to Donkey Kong Country! Today the gang rolls through Jungle Hijinx and meets our heroes. Our guests Gwen and Ponyta are gonna need Rambi the …

Andy and Aaron take a break and look back over their arduous journey through Super Mario Brothers. In this Bonus Round episode we talk favorite …

We've reached the end of our journey. In this episode, World 8-4, the Castle of Kooper. Andy and Aaron break down the traps and challenges of the final stage, a worthy finale to a legendary game. In the final history …

This week the boys are nearing the end of their adventure, but first they have to conquer the outer walls of Kooper's Castle! In this, their final test before the end, Aaron and Andy go up against an army of Hammer Bros …

The gang have reached the antepenultimate stage of the game! Special guest Dave returns for World 8-2, quite possibly the hardest stage in the game. …

The boys have reached World 8 at last, and they're already regretting it. World 8-1 is the hardest stage so far, not to mention the longest one, and …

The boys struggle through another castle maze as they finish up the penultimate world in Super Mario Brothers for the Nintendo Entertainment System! …

Today the boys reach the penultimate stage of World 7, another remix, and it's deja-ouch all over again! Computer science correspondent Mike explains …

In this exciting episode, the gang dives underwater in World 7-2 of Super Mario Brothers! Aaron laments that this is another remix stage. Special Guest Mike barely survives an encounter with Bloopers and Cheep Cheeps. …

The boys are joined once again by Mike and show their age as they discuss new subjects like Jerry Orbach, Back to the Future, and writing checks! …

Today on the program, it's the sixth castle! Aaron gets a hammer to the face from the toughest Bowser impostor yet. Special guest Jack is shocked and appalled by the concept of Dry Bowser. Andy just wants to talk about …

The boys are back for another athletic stage in World 6-3! Jack takes us on a delightful tangent about Vanilla Ice. Aaron expounds on how all these …

The boys are back for another exciting episode, and this time they're conquering World 6-2 of Super Mario Brothers! Jack Attack is back in the mix, and he's getting redemption for 6-1. Also in this episode: the gang …

The boys are back for another glorious world! This time we're going to World 6-1 for another night stage. Special Guest Jack gets thrown into the …

Today it's just the original OSAAT duo, and they've got a good one for you! Aaron Nieson, wild man, conquers a giant fire bar in the World 5 castle. Andy examines the early arcade career of legendary game developer …

The boys face down their most difficult challenge yet in World 5-2! Jacob struggles with Hammer Bros and a secret (read: trap) underwater area. Aaron …

The boys are getting deja vu in this first (of many) remix stage! In this episode, Jacob narrowly avoids a midair collision with an angry Bullet …

The boys are joined by good friend and brother to Aaron, Jacob Wilson, as they embark upon world 5-1! They talk about new challenges in the game and delve into the strange new trailer for the Sonic the Hedgehog movie!

…

The boys are tackling World 4's castle in this exciting episode! Aaron Nieson, Glitch-Eater, triggers a strange glitch and breaks the looping maze. Andy goes on a long tangent about the original pitfall. Special guest …

In this episode: Mushroom platforms in another exciting athletic stage; Aaron encounters a mysterious floating enemy; special guest Jared objects when Andy describes Yoshi's New Island as an "interquel"; and the history …

Jared joins us again for another trip to the underground in World 4-2! Today the boys visit not one, but two warp zones; explore the mysteries of romance with the Nintendo Love Tester; and bask in the glory of Captain …

It's the gang's first harrowing encounter with Lakitu as we embark on World 4! Our good friend Jared joins us as we discuss our Nintendo beginnings, the sentience of Lakitu's cloud, and whether or not Super Mario Land …

Jay joins the gang once again as we challenge World 4's castle in this exciting episode! Also in this episode, Andy and Aaron debate the merits of Switch graphics vs. current-gen graphics. And in the Lore Corner, the …

Today the gang tackles more bizarre, giant plant life in World 3-3! Jay joins Andy and Aaron once more to discuss glitches, infinite lives tricks, and the immortal classic Tron. Also in this episode, a discussion of the …

This time the boys are heading to World 3-2 where they meet a gauntlet of Koopa Troopas and Goombas out for blood! We also take a look at Nintendo's earliest ventures: hanafuda cards, taxi cab services, and even love …

The boys embark on the next leg of their adventure in World 3! This time our buddy Jay joins us as we meet the first Hammer Brother ever and discuss Andy's favorite level in the game, World 3-1. Also in this episode, a …

The boys are joined by Mike once more as they challenge the World 2 castle! Another Bowser impostor is on the horizon, and another punishing castle …

The gang heads to World 2-3 and gets absolutely terrorized by flying Cheep Cheeps! What is the deal with these horrifying creatures, and just how are …

The boys go for a swim in the very first water level in Mario history! Mike joins the pod again to discuss the mediocrity of water stages, the moral …

It's deja vu all over again as the boys return to the overworld with special guest Mike! They're climbing beanstalks to the clouds, delving into Nintendo's origins, and pondering the philosophical implications of this …

Aaron and Andy take on the first castle with special guests Cheffon Lemay & Ponyta Pokemon! The gang traverses the treacherous first castle and meets up with Bowser for the first time ever. But why did Bowser fill …

Andy and Aaron visit World 1-3, the first athletic stage! We traverse giant mushrooms suspended above a bottomless pit, and discuss the Great North American Video Game Crash of 1983. Can the boys survive? Or will they …

Aaron and Andy go underground for World 1-2 of Super Mario Brothers! As the boys get deeper into the game, they meet Piranha Plants, discuss everyone's favorite Player 2, Luigi, and become increasingly confused about …

Andy and Aaron tackle World 1-1 of Super Mario Brothers! How did Nintendo hook a generation of kids with this single stage? And what's Mario's last name? The boys discuss all this and more on our inaugural episode.

intro …

Aaron and Andy explain themselves. Join us, won't you, on a wild retrospective journey through Super Mario Brothers for the Nintendo Entertainment System, one stage at a time.

intro music: "8-bit Eighties" by injury (…