Series
DF Retro
Documentary
DF Retro explores the technology, innovation and history of video games from the past, giving them a modern re-evaluation while exploring just how even the most simple video games helped pave the way for the most advanced current generation blockbuster. Hosted and produced by Digital Foundry's John Linneman.
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Seasons & episodes
S1 · 21 epS2 · 17 epS3 · 22 epS4 · 29 epS5 · 8 epS10 · 3 ep
- 1Quake Sega Saturn Analysis: The Impossible Port30 May 2016 · 5mFirst in an occasional series where we take a look at some remarkable games from previous console eras. Here, John analyses Lobotomy Software's port of Quake. It shouldn't run on Sega Saturn, but somehow - it does.
- 2Shenmue: A Game Ahead Of Its Time5 Jun 2016 · 15mJohn revisits a genuine Dreamcast classic - Yu Suzuki's stunning Shenmue. But what made it so special, and what's the best way to play the game today?
- 3Duke Nukem 3D: Come Get Some... Ports!3 Jul 2016 · 12mDF Retro returns with a bang. This time, John takes a look at five different console ports of Duke Nukem 3D all ported by different studios. Does Duke hold up across all of them? Watch to find out.
- 4The Birth Of Unreal Engine On Console10 Jul 2016 · 10mJohn tackles Unreal Tournament on consoles. As the very first set of console games powered by Unreal technology, Unreal Tournament for PlayStation and Dreamcast mark the beginning of an era.
- 5Half-Life: The Shooter Redefined On PC, PS2 And Dreamcast17 Jul 2016 · 15mJohn takes a look back at Half-Life, one of the most influential shooters in history. What impact did it have on the industry, how were the console ports, and what's the best way to enjoy it today? They're waiting for you, in the test chamber.
- 6Castlevania Symphony of the Night In-Depth Analysis23 Jul 2016 · 16mJohn takes on Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. How did the game work on PlayStation and what went wrong with the Sega Saturn port? We seek the answer to this question and more within.
- 7The Nintendo Launch Spectacular: NES/SNES/N64/GCN/Wii30 Jul 2016 · 19mAs a new Nintendo system draws closer to launch, John takes a moment to look back at some of the most impressive launch titles to grace each of Nintendo's consoles. From the original NES to the Nintendo 64 all the way up to the Wii, it's all here and captured on original hardware.
- 8Half-Life 2: The Shooter Evolved6 Aug 2016 · 24mJohn returns to the world of Half-Life for a look at its sequel - Half-Life 2. We revisit Half-Life 2 across every major platform from its original PC release running on vintage hardware to the Japanese exclusive arcade game and, of course, the various console ports including the original Xbox version. We even take the time to check out a couple mods for good measure including the Cinematic Mod. So grab that crowbar and tune in for our biggest episode yet.
- 9Rare's N64 Classics: GoldenEye and Perfect Dark14 Aug 2016 · 24mJohn takes a look back are the classic Rare shooters for Nintendo 64 - GoldenEye 007 and Perfect Dark. These innovative classics helped shape an entire genre on consoles but do they stand the test of time? We take a look at each game's accomplishments and performance in 2016 in addition to removing Nintendo 64's default anti-aliasing for a sharper image.
- 10Deus Ex is A PC Classic, But What About PlayStation 2?28 Aug 2016 · 16mJohn takes a look back one of the greatest PC games of all time - Deus Ex. Then we jump over and examine its port on PlayStation 2 - a port which should never have worked out but somehow manages to play very well. We finish it all up with some mod recommendations so be sure to stick around till the end.
- 11Ridge Racer 5 and Ridge Racer Type 4 PS2/PS13 Sept 2016 · 11mJohn takes a trip to Ridge City for a weekend of racing action. We start with a look at PlayStation 2's first game which offers a wonderful blend of arcade racing, tight controls and a beautiful presentation. Then we move over to arguably the best racing game on the original PlayStation - Ridge Racer Type 4. We even take a quick look at the bonus disc included with the game for good measure.
- 12MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat: DOS/Win95/3DFX/PS1/Saturn11 Sept 2016 · 13mJohn steps back into the Activision classic MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat. We explore how the game looks in its various forms on PC and determine the best way to play it today. We also take a look at the completely different arcade style version of the game released on consoles.
- 13MDK: Shiny Entertainment's PC Masterpiece18 Sept 2016 · 18mJohn returns to examine Shiny Entertainment's PC masterpiece. It's a PC game by console developers designed to push the limits of the platform circa 1997 and it does so with a look all its own. We take a look at the original software rendered versions alongside a couple different 3D accelerated versions before. Then we stack it all up against Neversoft's PlayStation 1 port of the game - one of the studio's first releases before striking gold with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. Oh, and we discuss the best way to play MDK on a modern PC. All this and more is packed into this massive episode of DF Retro.
- 14Daytona USA and Why Frame-Rate Has Always Mattered1 Oct 2016 · 18mThe forecast is calling for blue blue skies. That's right, it's Daytona USA. At the time of its release, Daytona USA was the single most technically impressive game ever made and we explore each of the major iterations of the game. Daytona also helped illustrate just how important frame-rate is and was during this time. So join us as we fire up the game on Saturn, Dreamcast, the PC, and even the PlayStation 3.
- 15Silent Hill 2: Horror Perfected on PS2/Xbox/PC/PS316 Oct 2016 · 24mJohn pays a visit to Silent Hill for a look at this fan favorite. Silent Hill 2 remains one of the most revered experiences on the PlayStation 2 but it was also a technical masterpiece in its day. With impressive visual techniques and a disturbing art style, Silent Hill 2 still holds up even now. It was also ported to a number of different platforms and John explores each of these ports including the much maligned Silent Hill HD Collection.
- 16Origin Systems and the Crusader Series on PC/PS1/Saturn/PSP23 Oct 2016 · 17mJohn explores one of the most important developers in PC gaming history - Origin Systems. From Ultima to Wing Commander, Origin produced a wide variety throughout its existence but today we're going to focus on the Crusader series. Created by Tony Zurovec, Crusader is an advanced isometric shooter which delivered striking SVGA graphics in a time when most PC games were still 320x200. We also explore its semi-sequel, No Regret, along with the console iterations of the original game.
- 17Metroid Prime: First Person Action Redefined GC/Wii30 Oct 2016 · 17mJohn revisits Retro Studios classic installment in the Metroid series. Now in first person, Retro and Nintendo manage to perfectly translate the essence of the Super NES classic into full 3D. Metroid Prime delivers some of the richest visuals on the GameCube all at a rock solid 60 frames per second. We follow up with a quick look at the Wii version of the game and check out Metroid Prime running on the PC using Dolphin Ishiiruka.
- 18Tomb Raider Analysed on PS1/Saturn/DOS/Win9513 Nov 2016 · 15mJohn returns to Lara Croft's original adventure, comparing the Saturn and PS1 versions, along with the various PC editions - and what's the best way to revisit this classic on today's hardware?
- 19Shenmue 2: A Masterpiece Revisited27 Nov 2016 · 33mJohn revisits Shenmue 2, checking out what made it special, how well it holds up today and the best way to play in the 21st century. Plus: all the Xbox vs Dreamcast graphics comparisons and performance tests you'll need.
- 20Ico Revisited - The Ueda Collection: Part 111 Dec 2016 · 19mTo celebrate the arrival of The Last Guardian, Digital Foundry Retro revisits the Ueda Collection on PlayStation 2, starting with Ico.
- 21Shadow of the Colossus Revisited - The Ueda Collection: Part 218 Dec 2016 · 19mJohn revisits Shadow of the Colossus, revealing early concept work, deep-diving into the brilliant technology, then moving on to the best way to play this PS2 classic today.
Details
- Created by
- John Linneman
- First aired
- 30 May 2016
- Last aired
- 9 Mar 2025
- Status
- Returning Series
- Language
- English
- Network
- YouTube
- Episodes
- 100
Cast
- JJohn LinnemanHimself
