Retrotopia: Another Video Game Podcast · Alan, Brian, and Sam

Retrotopia Talks Home Alone (SNES)

·1 hr 44 min·5 clips

Brian invites listeners to the McAllister house to explore Home Alone on SNES with pizza and jokes.

This episode focuses on the 1990 Super Nintendo game *Home Alone*, based on the popular Christmas film. Host Brian is joined by co-host Alan for a retrospective discussion and gameplay commentary. The episode opens with a humorous skit referencing the film's plot and characters. The hosts begin by describing the game's premise, which tasks players with controlling Kevin McAllister to set traps and evade the Wet Bandits. They note the game's development by Imagineering and its release alongside the film's home video launch. Brian and Alan detail specific gameplay mechanics, such as collecting items to build defenses and navigating the house's two floors. They reference the limited enemy AI and repetitive level design as points of critique. The conversation covers the game's visual presentation and its use of the film's core theme music. A segment is dedicated to comparing this title to other *Home Alone* games on different platforms. The hosts also briefly touch upon the cultural impact of the film franchise during the early 1990s. A surprising insight is that the game omits the iconic McCallister house facade, using only interior maps. They find the trap-setting mechanics less strategic and more about frantic item collection. The hosts express amusement at the simplistic enemy patterns, which involve predictable patrol routes. Brian recalls the challenge of managing Kevin's limited stamina during escape sequences. Alan points out the odd inclusion of non-canon items, like slingshots, as usable weapons. The most memorable moment involves their shared frustration with the game's strict time limit for each level. The tone is casual and nostalgic, filled with banter and personal anecdotes from the hosts' childhoods. The style is a conversational review, blending critique with affectionate humor toward a flawed licensed game. Fans of retro licensed games or the *Home Alone* franchise would enjoy this lighthearted critique. Listeners seeking deep technical analysis or a positive review might find it less engaging.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Retrotopia: Another Video Game Podcast