Cocktail Mode: Retro Games, Cocktails and Banter

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are revisiting the true granddaddy of open-world driving: Durell Software's 1986 classic, Turbo Esprit! Joined by special guest David ‘Sprex’ Spreckley, we reminisce about an 8-bit technical marvel that pioneered free-roaming city driving long before Grand Theft Auto made it a global phenomenon. Mike Richardson’s masterpiece gave gamers fully navigable city maps complete with working traffic signals, pedestrians, fuel management, and high-stakes car chases. Plus, Sprex fills us in on Turbo Spirit: Cruise Anywhere - his upcoming love letter to Turbo Esprit that lets you drive down virtually any real-world road, arriving on PC later this year.   Andy’s Cocktail: https://www.instagram.com/p/Da_jNU7vaob/ Dave’s Cocktail: https://www.diffordsguide.com/cocktails/recipe/36052/ Sprex’ Cocktail: https://makemeacocktail.com/en/cocktail/7650/   Friends of the show (Not sponsored or affiliated):  DiffordsGuide.co.uk ConsoleMAD.co.uk Anstream.com Amigalive.com https://retrocomputermuseum.co.uk/ https://www.youtube.com/@skydivedparcelproductions   #CocktailMode #VideoGameCocktails #RetroGaming #TurboEsprit #DurellSoftware #ZXSpectrum #Commodore64 #AmstradCPC #LotusEsprit #8bitGaming #RetroGamer #OpenWorldGames #CruiseAnywhere #TurboSpirit  

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are strapping into the anti-gravity rig to revisit the game that 90s post-pub gaming: Psygnosis’s 1996 masterpiece, WipEout 2097 (aka WipEout XL)! We’re taking a break-neck lap through the title that brought full-on club culture to the original PlayStation. We break down the game's brutal airbrake mechanics, The Designers Republic’s iconic visual style, and a soundtrack stacked with The Prodigy, Chemical Brothers, and Underworld. As usual, we’ve shaken up a pair of cocktails to keep our hands steady through every plasma bolt and track wall. Andy’s Cocktail: https://cocktailwhisperer.com/tag/industrial-revolution/ Dave’s Cocktail: https://clinkclinkdrink.com/2019/02/28/fire-starter/   Friends of the show (Not sponsored or affiliated): DiffordsGuide.co.uk ConsoleMAD.co.uk Anstream.com www.amigalive.com https://retrocomputermuseum.co.uk/ Dominik Diamond http://turbospirit.world/    #Wipeout2097 #WipeoutXL #RetroGaming #Psygnosis #PlayStation #PS1 #90sGaming #CocktailMode #VideoGameCocktails #DesignersRepublic #Prodigy #AntiGravityRacing  

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast Andy and Dave are putting on their trench coats as they dive into Bullfrog’s 1996 cyberpunk tactical classic: Syndicate Wars! We break down the grim fight between the EuroCorp Syndicate and the Church of the New Epoch. We reminisce about modifying cyborg agents with heavy ordnance driving tanks through rain-slick neon streets and the sheer chaotic satisfaction of firing off a Persuadertron into a crowded plaza - then contrast it with the 1993 original and see how its bleak vision of the future holds up today. To match the cold high-tech dystopian atmosphere we’ve shaken up a pair of sharp dangerously smooth cocktails.    Andy's Cocktail: https://www.diffordsguide.com/cocktails/recipe/335/ Dave's Cocktail: https://www.diffordsguide.com/cocktails/recipe/1002/   Friends of the show (Not sponsored or affiliated): DiffordsGuide.co.uk ConsoleMAD.co.uk Antstream.com retrocomputermuseum.co.uk AmigaLive.com http://turbospirit.world/   #CocktailMode #CocktailModePodcast #RetroGamingPodcast #CocktailsAndGaming #SyndicateWars #Bullfrog #BullfrogProductions #PeterMolyneux #DosGames #Playstation1 #PS1Classic #RetroGaming #Cyberpunk #TacticalStrategy #PCGaming #90sGaming #CyberpunkVibes #RetrogamingCommunity #CraftCocktails #CocktailRecipes

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy & Dave are braving the Sultan's dungeons and racing against the clock in the 1989 cinematic platforming classic: Prince of Persia! We’re diving into the game that revolutionized video game animation through Jordan Mechner’s groundbreaking rotoscoping technique, bringing unprecedented fluidity and life to every leap, ledge-grab, and sword clash. We discuss the sheer panic of the ticking 60-minute time limit, the brutal precision of the spikes and chomper traps, and why landing a successful counter-attack in a duel feels so intensely rewarding. We also celebrate the game's atmospheric minimalism, cinematic storytelling, and its immense legacy that paved the way for modern action-adventure gaming. Obviously there’ll also be two "dungeon-defying" cocktails to help you survive the sands of time!   Andy’s Cocktail: https://www.today.com/recipes/ubiquity-cocktail-recipe-t294314 Dave’s Cocktail: https://www.boxesandbooze.com/cocktails/white-mouse     Friends of the show (Not sponsored or affiliated): DiffordsGuide.co.uk ConsoleMAD.co.uk Antstream.com retrocomputermuseum.co.uk AmigaLive.com   #PrinceOfPersia #RetroGaming #GamingHistory #JordanMechner #CinematicPlatformer #DOSGaming #80sGaming #CocktailMode #VideoGameCocktails #NostalgiaPodcast #Rotoscoping #1989Games #AppleII  

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are putting the top down, tuning the radio, and hitting the gas to tackle the 1986 arcade classic: OutRun! We break down the game's ground-breaking use of Super Scaler technology, creating a high-speed sense of scale and motion unlike anything else on the block. We dive into the breezy, sun-drenched coastal atmosphere following your driver and passenger in the iconic red Ferrari, the branching highway routes, and the legendary soundtrack that defined an entire era of Sega blue-sky gaming. To match the effortless, summer-ready beach vibe, we’ve shaken up a pair of sharp, dangerously smooth cocktails. Andy’s Cocktail: https://www.diffordsguide.com/cocktails/recipe/13236/ Dave’s Cocktail: https://www.diffordsguide.com/cocktails/recipe/1939/   Get Outrun for the Game Boy Color from Rocketship Park on itch.io https://rocketshippark.itch.io/what-if-outrun   Friends of the show (Not sponsored or affiliated): DiffordsGuide.co.uk ConsoleMAD.co.uk Antstream.com retrocomputermuseum.co.uk AmigaLive.com   #outrun #sega #arcade #retrogaming #80sgaming #racinggames #synthwave #yusuzuki #retrocollective #cocktailmode #videogamecocktails #nostalgiapodcast #gaminghistory  

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are turning down the lights, loading their dual pistols, and stepping into a dark, dystopian cyberpunk underworld to tackle the 2000 PlayStation classic: Fear Effect! We break down the game's groundbreaking use of cel-shaded anime graphics layered over streaming full-motion video backgrounds, creating a visual style unlike anything else on the block. We dive into the dark, supernatural storyline following mercenaries Hana, Glas, and Deke, the tense puzzle-solving, and the unique "Fear" meter that replaced traditional health bars with heart-pounding stress mechanics. To match the sleek, high-stakes Hong Kong noir atmosphere, we’ve shaken up a pair of sharp, dangerously smooth cocktails. We debate the game's unforgiving tank controls, reminisce about the sheer scale of its multi-disc adventure, and see how the thing fairs in comparison to its sequel ‘Retro Helix’. Andy’s Cocktail: https://www.diffordsguide.com/cocktails/recipe/29164/ Dave’s Cocktail: https://microdistillery.co.uk/store/negroni-cans   Friends of the show (Not sponsored or affiliated): DiffordsGuide.co.uk ConsoleMAD.co.uk Antstream.com retrocomputermuseum.co.uk AmigaLive.com   #feareffect #playstation #ps1 #retrogaming #00sgaming #survivalhorror #cyberpunk #eidos #retrocollective #cocktailmode #videogamecocktails #nostalgiapodcast #gaminghistory  

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are locking onto their targets, blasting into deep space, and celebrating a massive milestone; the 30th anniversary of Taito's legendary 1996 polygon shmup masterwork: RayStorm! We take on the spectacular vertical shooter that brought the iconic "Ray" trilogy into the third dimension. We’ll also break down the other games in the series RayForce (1994) and RayCrisis (1998). We reminisce about piloting the R-Gray ships, the sweeping cinematic camera angles and the massive fleet battles. To celebrate three decades of arcade excellence, we’ve shaken up a pair of cocktails fit for the cockpit. Andy’s Cocktail: https://www.diffordsguide.com/cocktails/recipe/20186/ Dave’s Cocktail: https://www.diffordsguide.com/cocktails/recipe/24145/   Friends of the show (Not sponsored or affiliated): DiffordsGuide.co.uk ConsoleMAD.co.uk Antstream.com retrocomputermuseum.co.uk AmigaLive.com #raystorm #taito #shmup #retrogaming #90sgaming #rayforce #raycrisis #rayz #zuntata #arcadeclassics #shootemup #cocktailmode #videogamecocktails #nostalgiapodcast #gaminghistory

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are cranking up the engines and taking a scenic, high-speed trip through racing history with Kaneko’s 1994 arcade classic: Mille Miglia: The Great 1000 Miles Rally! We look back at this beautifully crafted isometric racer that pays homage to Italy's legendary open-road endurance race. We’ll celebrate the absolute joy of drifting vintage sports cars - from classic Alfa Romeos to iconic Ferraris - through tight Italian villages and winding mountain passes. We celebrate the game's gorgeous sprite artwork, the frantic checkpoint-chasing gameplay, and to match the sophisticated, vintage Italian spirit of the rally, we’ve mixed up a pair of our usual pun-based cocktails. Andy’s Cocktail: https://www.diffordsguide.com/cocktails/recipe/17597/ Dave’s Cocktail: https://www.diffordsguide.com/cocktails/recipe/3972/   Friends of the show (Not sponsored or affiliated): DiffordsGuide.co.uk ConsoleMAD.co.uk Antstream.com retrocomputermuseum.co.uk AmigaLive.com https://bhd.itch.io/opposite-lock-rally   #millemiglia #thegreat1000milesrally #kaneko #retroarcade #retrogaming #90sgaming #arcaderacing #classiccars #vintageracing #racinggames #cocktailmode #videogamecocktails #nostalgiapodcast #arcadeclassics  

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are hitting the pitch and stepping back into the mid-90s to celebrate the dawn of a football gaming revolution: the International Superstar Soccer (ISS) games! We are diving into Konami's legendary Super Nintendo and Mega Drive era, looking back at the original 1994 masterpiece and the iconic ISS Deluxe and then through the series' hay-day on the original PlayStation. We reminisce about the glorious, fast-paced arcade gameplay, the unforgettable legends like Babangida, and the horrendous commentary that still echoes in our heads. To keep our energy up through extra time, we’ve mixed up a pair of stadium-ready cocktails. Andy’s Cocktail: https://share.google/aimode/SdKoGyndvuMuiFyfw Dave’s Cocktail: https://www.diffordsguide.com/cocktails/recipe/4311/   Friends of the show (Not sponsored or affiliated): DiffordsGuide.co.uk ConsoleMAD.co.uk Antstream.com retrocomputermuseum.co.uk AmigaLive.com   #internationalsuperstarsoccer #iss #issdeluxe #konami #snes #supernintendo #megadrive #sega #retrogaming #90sgaming #sportsgaming #footballgames #retrofootball #cocktailmode #videogamecocktails #nostalgiapodcast

This week on the Cocktail Mode podcast, Andy and Dave are flexing their mental muscles with the ultimate arcade block-dropper: Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo! Capcom's genius 1996 spin-off took legendary fighters like Ryu, Chun-Li, and Morrigan, shrunk them down into adorable chibi sprites, and threw them into a viciously competitive puzzle matrix.  We break down the absolute chaos of the counter-gem system, the tactical stress of building giant power gems, and debate our favourite character attack patterns. To match the bright, high-energy arcade aesthetics, we’ve mixed up two vibrant, punchy cocktails to keep us sharp during our matches. Andy’s Cocktail: https://www.diffordsguide.com/cocktails/recipe/3622/ Dave’s Cocktail: https://www.diffordsguide.com/cocktails/recipe/21145/   Friends of the show (Not sponsored or affiliated):  DiffordsGuide.co.uk ConsoleMAD.co.uk Antstream.com retrocomputermuseum.co.uk AmigaLive.com   #superpuzzlefighter #capcom #retroarcade #retrogaming #90sgaming #streetfighter #darkstalkers #puzzlefighter #cocktailmode #videogamecocktails #nostalgiapodcast #gaminghistory #arcadeclassics