Tales from the Backlog
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- 11. Nov. 2026
Über den Podcast
A video games podcast where Dave Jackson and guests break down and discuss the games they play. Each episode looks at one game in depth, focusing on mechanics, story, music and other aspects, with no spoilers until a clearly marked spoiler wall in the middle.
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237: Final Fantasy XIII (with Jenny Windom - Geeks & Grounds)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog What is Final Fantasy if not divisive? Arguably no game in the series is more …
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Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogWhat is Final Fantasy if not divisive? Arguably no game in the series is more divisive than Final Fantasy XIII (Square Enix, 2009). I didn't like it when I played it back then, but I've since spoken to a lot of people that really love it, which activated my "I need to see what they like about it" brain worm. So here we are! I'm also glad to have brought Jenny Windom back on board for the discussion. As always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy!
Guest info: Jenny Windom (she/her)
- Check out Geeks and Grounds https://www.geeksandgrounds.com/
- Check out Wholesome Games https://wholesomegames.com/
- Listen to The Indie Council https://theindiecouncil.carrd.co/
- Follow on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/kimchica.bsky.social
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Podcast Start
- 0:15 Introductions
- 6:50 Our Histories with FF13 and the Series
- 12:46 Top-Level Thoughts
- 21:30 World and Story Setup
- 29:48 Characters, Pacing and Hallways
- 44:12 Paradigm System and Combat
- 53:13 Side Quests and Crystarium
- 1:05:35 Art and World Design
- 1:16:08 Music
- 1:26:43 Who Should Play FF13?
- 1:31:40 Geeks & Grounds and all of Jenny's Work
- 1:37:30 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous
- 1:39:42 Spoilers- Fang, Vanille and Backstory
- 1:50:40 Spoilers- Vanille & Sazh, Anger, Hope & Snow
- 2:19:25 Spoilers- Lightning, Fate, Duty and Free Will
- 2:41:03 Spoilers- Ending and Backstory
Music used in the episode is credited to Masashi Hamauzu unless otherwise noted. Tracks used: The Promise, Defiers of Fate, Blinded By Light, The Archylte Steppe, Saber's Edge, The Sunleth Waterscape, Lightning's Theme, Desperate Struggle, Battle Results
Check out Dave on NOLANerdcast https://www.youtube.com/@NOLAnerdcast
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
Tales from the Backlog Fifth Birthday Mailbag! (with Matt aka Stormageddon)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog Five whole years of Tales from the Backlog! Here's a mailbag episode to …
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Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogFive whole years of Tales from the Backlog! Here's a mailbag episode to celebrate, and I really appreciate everyone who wrote in questions on Discord and Patreon!
Guest info: Matt aka Stormageddon (they/them)
- Check out all of Matt's work https://djstormageddon.com/
- Follow on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/djstormageddon.com
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Podcast Start
- 0:21 Introductions
- 2:51 Recapping Five Years
- 9:53 Balancing Playing for "Work" vs "Fun"
- 13:17 Dropping Games I Don't Enjoy?
- 19:01 Organizing and Juggling Podcast Work
- 24:40 Working Through Self-Doubt
- 28:50 Has My Relationship With Gaming Changed?
- 31:48 Games I Want on the Show But "Can't"
- 34:00 Most Memorable Games on the Show
- 36:20 Episodes I'd Approach Differently
- 38:00 Pleasant or Unpleasant Surprises
- 40:58 How Do I Pick Guests?
- 43:42 I'm Not Sick of This or Burnt Out Yet?
- 46:20 Things I've Learned
- 49:16 Books that Influenced Our Approach
- 53:14 Keeping Track of Progress in Multiple Games
- 54:41 What Have I Learned from Guests?
- 56:50 Have I Gained an Appreciation for a Genre?
- 1:00:45 What Year Have I Covered Most?
- 1:02:46 Games I Love That Wouldn't Make Good Episodes?
- 1:05:29 Advice for Our Past Podcasting Selves
- 1:09:40 Patron Thank-You Break
- 1:11:31 Keaton's Alien Zoo Question
- 1:15:06 Reigniting Passion for Gaming
- 1:21:12 Easiest or Hardest Difficulty Curse
- 1:23:11 Backlog Games We'll Never Play
- 1:25:50 Non-Gaming Lightning Round
- 1:52:12 Matt's Work on "Fun" and Games & Reignite
Music used in the episode:
- Dance Party! (Bayonetta 3 OST- Masahiro Aoki)
- The Hideout (808 Mix) (Hi-Fi RUSH OST- Shuichi Kobori)
- Goal (Astro Bot OST - Kenneth C. M. Young)
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
236: Alan Wake (with Nick Coffman)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog I somehow missed Alan Wake along the way. I remember playing the AWE DLC in …
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Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogI somehow missed Alan Wake along the way. I remember playing the AWE DLC in Control, watching Alan's face superimposed on the screen, thinking "who the hell is this guyOHH Yeah okay they did those games too". I knew I'd need to play Alan Wake at some point, and here we are. This game is not good, but it's a hell of a lot of fun to talk about. Hope you enjoy the discussion! As always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy!
Guest info: Nick Coffman (he/him)
- Check out GG Tribune https://ggtribune.com/
- Check out Hollywood Time$ https://www.hwoodtimes.com/
- Listen to Stand N' Watch https://www.hwoodtimes.com/podcasts
- Follow on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/nickcoffman.com
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Podcast Start
- 0:18 Introductions
- 4:30 Our Histories with Alan Wake and Remedy
- 7:58 Top-Level Thoughts About Alan Wake
- 12:57 Story Setup and Alan the Writer
- 21:01 Stephen King and Art Come to Life
- 29:24 Twin Peaks and Presentation
- 38:58 Gameplay and Combat
- 58:49 Metanarrative Fiction and the Creative Process
- 1:03:16 Sound and Music
- 1:08:28 Miscellaneous Thoughts
- 1:12:46 Who Should Play Alan Wake?
- 1:21:34 Nick's Writing and Podcasts
- 1:27:50 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous
- 1:30:05 Spoilers- What Happens
- 1:43:46 Spoilers- Art, Artists and Creativity
- 2:01:17 Spoilers- The Signal & The Writer
- 2:09:51 Spoilers- More Noteworthy Stuff
Music used in the episode is credited to Petri Alanko unless otherwise noted. Tracks used: Main Menu, Welcome to Bright Falls, Generic Battle 15, Children of the Elder Gods (Poets of the Fall), Manuscript, War (Poets of the Fall), Tom the Diver
Check out Dave on Geeks & Grounds discussing Look Outside: https://geeksandgrounds.com
Check out Dave on Date With Us discussing Doki Doki Literature Club: https://datewith.usCover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
235: Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (with Baron Jones - LV1 Gaming)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog Longtime listeners of the show will agree with me here when I say- I never …
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Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogLongtime listeners of the show will agree with me here when I say- I never thought this day would come. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (Capcom, 2017) always seemed like it would be too scary for me, and I would never play it as a result. But, I said the same thing about Resident Evil 4, so here we are. Not only did I play Resident Evil 7, I had my eyes open enough of the time to remember stuff and bring it to the podcast! I hope you enjoy the discussion I had with Baron Jones of LV1 Gaming. As always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy!
Guest info: Baron Jones (he/him)
- Check out LV1 Gaming https://lv1gaming.com/
- Check their YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@LV1Gaming20
- Follow on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/baronj67
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Episode Start
- 0:19 Intros
- 4:02 Our Histories with Resident Evil
- 9:52 Top-Level Thoughts
- 18:09 Story Setup and Meet the Bakers
- 31:56 Ethan, Disempowerment and Tension
- 43:06 First-Person Perspective and Presentation
- 50:20 A Stressful, Uneven Ride
- 58:27 Boss Fights and Flowers for Level Design
- 1:08:14 Who Should Play?
- 1:10:34 LV1 Gaming
- 1:17:16 Spoiler Walls and Patron Thank-Yous
- 1:19:03 Spoilers- Jack's Domain
- 1:35:54 Spoilers- Marguerite's Domain
- 1:44:35 Spoilers- Lucas' Domain
- 1:50:34 Spoilers- The Boat House, The Choice & The Story Shift
- 2:09:28 Spoilers- Ending Sequence
Music used in the episode is credited to Akiyuki Morimoto, Satoshi Hori, Miwako Chinone, Brian D'Olivera and Cris Velasco. Tracks used: Go Tell Aunt Rhody, A Loving Message, Welcome to the Family, Safe Room, Garage, The Choice- Love
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
234: SKALD: Against the Black Priory (with Phil Morgan - Deleted Saves)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog For some, the halcyon days of PC gaming involved D&D-based RPGs with unwieldy UI …
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Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogFor some, the halcyon days of PC gaming involved D&D-based RPGs with unwieldy UI and gauntlet-shaped mouse cursors, and that is precisely what SKALD: Against the Black Priory (High North Studios, Raw Fury, 2024) is calling back to with its mix of sword-and-sorcery fantasy and cosmic/Lovecraftian horror. It's well-worth your time if you're nostalgic or even curious about that era of RPGs, while not being nearly as obtuse or and without relying on advance knowledge of early D&D systems. This episode's guest, Phil Morgan, has an extensive history with that bygone era of CRPGs, even appearing on this podcast to discuss the original Baldur's Gate, so we had a great conversation here. As always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy!
Guest info: Phil Morgan (he/him)
- Listen to Deleted Saves https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/deleted-saves/
- Check out Phil's art: https://philmorganart.com
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Podcast Start
- 0:18 Introductions
- 6:02 Our Histories with SKALD and Its Inspirations
- 10:11 Top-Level Thoughts about SKALD
- 18:15 Story Setup
- 22:13 Pixel Art and Writing
- 30:43 Subverting D&D Tropes
- 37:29 Role-Playing
- 48:38 Combat
- 56:54 Controller vs Mouse/Keyboard
- 1:04:54 Music and Sound
- 1:09:35 Closing Thoughts and Who Should Play?
- 1:13:48 Deleted Saves and Westland
- 1:18:37 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous
- 1:23:08 Spoilers- Early Game Quests
- 1:38:27 Spoilers- Horryn
- 1:47:37 Spoilers- Firgol
- 1:57:06 Spoilers- The Story Expands
- 2:07:04 Spoilers- Ending Sequence and Thoughts
Music used in the episode is credited to Surt R. Tracks used: Against the Black Priory, The Curse of Knowledge, Sellsword's Honor, Horryn's Plight, Shores of Idra, Tomes Bound in Skin, Bane of the Starstrider
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
233: The Walking Dead, Season One (with Aaron Angle - A Top 3 Podcast)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog Everyone's got that game, book, movie, etc that a longtime friend has been …
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Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogEveryone's got that game, book, movie, etc that a longtime friend has been recommending for years, decades or more and you just haven't quite gotten around to it. One of those for me and one of my oldest friends was Telltale's series of games based on The Walking Dead. For many reasons, despite believing that the games would be good, I just waited a wild amount of time to finally give them a shot, and hey- we did it! And I brought that friend back onto the podcast to give season one the deep dive treatment. As always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy!
Guest info: Aaron Angle (he/him)
- Check out A Top 3 Podcast https://atop3podcast.fireside.fm/
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Title Card
- 0:35 Introductions
- 5:19 Our Histories with The Walking Dead
- 9:21 Top-Level Thoughts about The Walking Dead
- 13:57 Story Setup, Characters, Tone
- 27:21 Choices and Consequences
- 46:19 Puzzles and QTEs
- 51:18 Art, Music and Sound
- 1:01:46 Who Should Play?
- 1:04:14 A Top 3 Podcast
- 1:07:23 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous
- 1:09:06 Spoilers- Episode 1
- 1:25:35 Spoilers- Episode 2
- 1:40:23 Spoilers- Episode 3
- 1:56:01 Spoilers- Episode 4
- 2:11:09 Spoilers- Episode 5
Music used in the episode: Clementine, Twist of Fate, Terror Mysterious, Folk Loop, Mother and Son, The Guantlet, Jewelry Store
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
232: Panzer Dragoon Saga (with Chris Coplien - Retro Hangover)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog Games gather reputations for a variety of reasons, but one of the most unique …
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Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogGames gather reputations for a variety of reasons, but one of the most unique among those are the games that are so hard to purchase that above all, they have a reputation for being expensive. Panzer Dragoon Saga (Team Andromeda, Sega, 1998) is one of the top examples of that phenomenon nowadays, after only tens of thousands of English-language copies were pressed, Team Andromeda was shuttered quickly after the game's release and Sega now claims to have lost the source code. All of this may leave you wondering...what is Panzer Dragoon Saga like as a game? I was certainly left wondering that, and Chris Coplien of Retro Hangover was up for the task of discussing the game behind the massive price tag. As always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy!
Guest info: Chris Coplien (he/him)
- Check out Retro Hangover https://linktr.ee/retrohangover
- Follow on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/retrohangover.bsky.social
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Start
- 0:24 Introductions
- 5:13 Our Histories with Panzer Dragoon Saga
- 13:16 Top-Level Thoughts
- 20:41 Story Setup and Worldbuilding
- 28:16 Pacing and Storytelling
- 33:41 Visual Presentation
- 39:04 Music
- 43:05 Combat
- 1:07:41 Exploration and Side Quests
- 1:16:37 Who Should Play?
- 1:20:12 Retro Hangover Podcast
- 1:24:40 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous
- 1:26:37 Spoilers- Setting the Stage
- 1:42:26 Spoilers- Some Big Themes
- 1:51:53 Spoilers- A Philosophical Dilemma
- 1:59:16 Spoilers- Uncovering a Very Familiar Trope
- 2:17:28 Spoilers- Revisiting the Dilemma and Ending
Music used in the episode is credited to Saori Kobayashi and Mariko Nanba. Tracks used: Behold the Precious Wings, A Premonition of War, Metamorphosis 1, Atolm Dragon, Rest, Area 3 Background, Wandering, Breath of Life
Panzer Dragoon Story and Lore Walkthrough https://youtu.be/BVc7QxiAO1k
Max Derrat's Development History Video: https://youtu.be/sIqM80qEY8sCover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
231: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (with Gooey & McKenna - Flashback 64)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog One of these days it was bound to happen, the remake announcement solidified it …
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Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogOne of these days it was bound to happen, the remake announcement solidified it- it's time to give The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo, 1998) the Tales from the Backlog treatment. This was Dave's favorite game for decades and is still by far one of the most influential games in his life, but this was the first time in a while that he had played all the way through it. Join Dave and special guests Gooey and McKenna of Flashback 64 for the deep dive. As always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy!
Guest info: Gooey (they/he) and McKenna (she/her)
- Check out Flashback 64 https://flashback64.com/
- Follow on Bluesky http://bsky.app/profile/flashback64.com
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Podcast Start
- 0:16 Introductions
- 7:48 Our Histories with Ocarina of Time
- 12:10 Top-Level Thoughts
- 18:50 Story Setup, Storytelling and Cinematography
- 31:57 Navi and Handholding
- 36:26 Combat
- 42:16 The N64 Controller
- 46:41 "The Zelda Formula" and Exploration
- 57:50 Dungeons and Complexity
- 1:12:56 Visual Flourishes and Art Design
- 1:25:41 Our Hopes for the Remake
- 1:35:33 Soundtrack
- 1:45:50 Re-Evaluating Childhood Favorites and Who Should Play?
- 1:57:48 Flashback 64
- 2:05:29 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous
- 2:07:06 Spoilers- The Water Temple Is Good
- 2:30:08 Spoilers- Favorite Temples and Ganon's Castle
- 2:35:12 Spoilers- Sheik and More Temple Talk
- 2:47:48 Spoilers- A Theory for the Remake
Music used in the episode is credited to Koji Kondo. Tracks used: Title Theme, Kokiri Forest, Saria's Song, Forest Temple, Kakariko Village, Hyrule Field, Gerudo Valley, Zora's Domain, Zelda's Theme
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
Do Video Games "Hold Up"? (with Retro Spectives)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog When we talk about older games, we often use phrases like "this holds up!" or …
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Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogWhen we talk about older games, we often use phrases like "this holds up!" or "this hasn't aged well!", but what do we mean when we say stuff like that? What do they hold up against? What aspects age well or poorly? Are there better ways to convey our thoughts? To help me dig into this, I've brought Patrick and James from the Retro Spectives Podcast back to the show. Hope you enjoy the discussion!
Guest info: Patrick Arthur (he/him) and James Tuerlings (he/him)
- Check out Retro Spectives podcast https://rspodcast.net
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Episode Start
- 0:22 Introductions
- 2:50 Topic Introduction
- 10:00 Why Do We Say Things Have Aged Poorly?
- 54:36 Patron Thank-Yous
- 56:29 Does This Hold Up?
- 1:39:07 Conclusions and Wrap-Up
- 1:57:59 Retro Spectives Podcast
Music used in the episode:
- Bloody Tears (Castlevania II: Simon's Quest)- Kenichi Matsubara, Satoe Terashima
- Save Theme (Resident Evil (2002))- Shisaku Uchiyama, Makoto Tomozawa, Misao Senbogi
- Ending Theme (Dragon Warrior)- Koichi Sugiyama
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
230: Quest 64 (with Mike aka Quest64Official)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog What's the worst game you've ever played? That's the question of the day, and a …
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Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogWhat's the worst game you've ever played? That's the question of the day, and a fairly common answer to that question for a long time has been Quest 64 (Imagineer, 1998). But does Quest deserve to be in that conversation? What is it actually like as a game, outside of the memes and reputation? That's what we're exploring in this episode, and to do so, I brought on the man doing his part to heal the conversation around Quest, "bad" games, and the Nintendo 64 in general, Mike aka Quest64Official. As always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy!
Guest info: Mike aka Quest64Official
- Follow Mike on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/quest64official.bsky.social
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Beginning
- 0:16 Introductions
- 4:50 Our Histories with Quest 64
- 14:44 Top-Level Thoughts
- 22:35 Story Setup and the Adventure as Story
- 28:32 The Solo RPG Experience
- 40:24 Big Dungeons
- 44:39 Character Building
- 49:19 Combat
- 1:06:25 Visuals and Music
- 1:15:59 Who Should Play Quest 64?
- 1:24:34 Quest64Official and the Power of Memes
- 1:32:50 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous
- 1:34:34 Spoilers- Favorite Sections and Story
- 1:50:20 Spoilers- Challenge Runs and Different Play Styles
Music used in the episode is credited to Masamichi Amano. Tracks used: Holy Magic Century, Holy Plains, Highlands, Battle, Dondoran, Final Battle, Staff Roll
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
229: The Beginner's Guide (with Matt aka Stormageddon - "Fun" and Games, Reignite)
Update 10/1/2026 Several references were made in this podcast to YouTuber and critic Jacob Geller and his work. This podcast was released before his sexual assualt on another person was brought to light. Matt …
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Update 10/1/2026 Several references were made in this podcast to YouTuber and critic Jacob Geller and his work. This podcast was released before his sexual assualt on another person was brought to light. Matt and I condemn these actions, and our hearts go out to the victim and everybody else who had traumatic memories brought up to the surface by the news. -Dave
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogAfter the breakout success of The Stanley Parable, Davey Wreden's next game is a bit darker and a lot more personal. The Beginner's Guide (Everything Unlimited Ltd, 2015) examines a lot of things, but at the forefront is the relationships we have with others and some complex and slippery situations that can arise. To say more would be to start spoiling things, but luckily we have a discussion longer than the game itself. As always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy!
Guest info: Matt aka Stormageddon (they/them)
- Listen to "Fun" and Games https://funandgamespod.com/
- Listen to Reignite https://reignitepod.libsyn.com/
- Follow on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/djstormageddon.com
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Title Card
- 0:16 Introductions
- 4:38 Our Histories with Davey Wreden's Games
- 9:49 Top-Level Thoughts
- 13:38 Story and Game Setup
- 19:53 Narration and Thematic Overview
- 24:42 Who Should Play?
- 31:53 "Fun" and Games and Reignite
- 37:36 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous
- 39:51 Spoilers- Davey & Coda
- 58:53 Spoilers- Thematic Exploration
- 1:31:24 Spoilers- More Thematic Exploration
- 1:52:51 Spoilers- Ending
Music used in the episode is credited to Ryan Roth. Tracks used: Vertibrae, The Whisper Machine, Stars, D.S. Al Coda, Escape from This Place
Check out Dave on Super Pod Saga talking about some great games you can get for under $5 full price- https://superpodsaga.com/episodes/5-buck-bangers-downwell
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
228: Golden Sun (with Rebekah Valentine)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog It's not every day you revisit a favorite game from your teenage years, but today …
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Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogIt's not every day you revisit a favorite game from your teenage years, but today is that day as special guest Rebekah Valentine (Kotaku) joins me to discuss Golden Sun, one of the most beloved Game Boy Advance games. Camelot and Nintendo ended up splitting the game into two, and in this episode we focus on the first game, though we do discuss The Lost Age quite a bit as well. As always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy!
Guest info: Rebekah Valentine (she/her)
- Check out her work at Kotaku https://kotaku.com/author/rvalentine
- Check out Reb's look back at Golden Sun https://kotaku.com/25-years-ago-golden-sun-video-game-adventure-2000721340
- Check out Reb writing as if it were 2002 again https://kotaku.com/golden-sun-the-lost-age-sequel-warp-week-2000723015
- Follow on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/duckvalentine.bsky.social
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Title Card
- 0:18 Introductions
- 5:30 Our Histories with Golden Sun
- 12:47 Top Level Thoughts
- 17:42 Acknowledging The Lost Age
- 25:31 Story Setup
- 33:50 Golden Sins and Silent Protagonists
- 44:29 Story Thoughts
- 52:25 Combat and Djinn System
- 1:09:18 Equipment, Resource Conservation, Puzzles
- 1:28:25 Soundtrack
- 1:38:22 Wrap-Up Thoughts and Who Should Play?
- 1:45:15 Reb's Work at Kotaku
- 1:50:06 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous
- 1:52:27 Spoilers- Golden Sun's Story and The Lost Age Setup
- 2:12:42 Spoilers- Dave Might Play The Lost Age?
Music used in the episode is credited to Motoi Sakuraba. Tracks used: Main Theme, World Map, Enemy Battle, Lighthouse Theme, Sol Sanctum, Main Menu, Battle With Saturos, Vale and Vault
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
227: Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin (with Gen Moonen - "Fun" and Games)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog Join Dave and special guest Gen Moonen ("Fun" and Games) as they discuss Konami's …
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Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogJoin Dave and special guest Gen Moonen ("Fun" and Games) as they discuss Konami's 2006 entry in the Castlevania franchise, Portrait of Ruin. By this point, the series had largely moved past dual-screen and touchscreen gimmicks, settling on putting the menus and map on the bottom screen with the action on top. Add in a dual-protagonist setup and you've got a recipe for a good metroidvania experience. It's not reinventing the wheel, but it's likely got what you're looking for, and there's value in that. Check out the discussion for more, and as always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy!
Guest info: Gen Moonen (they/she)
- Check out "Fun" and Games https://funandgamespod.com/
- Follow on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/gnoisegenerator.bsky.social
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Title Card
- 0:22 Introductions
- 6:56 Our Histories with Castlevania
- 12:40 Top-Level Thoughts
- 19:51 Story Setup and Dual Protagonists
- 24:52 Castlevania Stories and Humor
- 31:19 Character Swapping Gameplay
- 44:52 Metroid vs Vania
- 50:13 Boss Fights, Painted Worlds and The Castle
- 1:03:52 Metroidvania Upgrades
- 1:08:41 Visual Design
- 1:16:40 Who Should Play?
- 1:25:50 "Fun" and Games Podcast
- 1:30:31 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous
- 1:32:44 Spoilers- Painted Worlds and The Vampire Killer
- 1:53:38 Spoilers- More Story & Boss Fights
Music used in the episode is credited to Michiru Yamane unless otherwise noted. Tracks used: Gallery of Labyrinth, Invitation of a Crazed Moon (Yuzo Koshiro), Chaotic Playground, Victorian Fear, Name Entry, Crucifix Held Close, The Night Flows
Check out Dave on Nostalgium Arcanum talking about Final Fantasy X: https://nostalgiumarcanum.fireside.fm/
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
226: Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age (with Andre - Fine Time)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog Join Dave and special guest Andre (Fine Time, Neo Geo Go!, The Silent …
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Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogJoin Dave and special guest Andre (Fine Time, Neo Geo Go!, The Silent Discographer) as they discuss Square Enix's latest entry in the main Dragon Quest series, Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age. For a certain style of RPG (that Dragon Quest arguably pioneered), it doesn't get better than this. Dragon Quest XI doesn't reinvent any part of its genre, but executes at top level throughout, though we still have some questions about directions that the story goes. This is a masterpiece, and we hope you enjoy the conversation. As always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy!
Guest info: Andre (he/him)
- Check out Fine Time https://fineti.me/
- Check out Neo Geo Go! https://neogeogo.show/
- Check out The Silent Discographer https://the-silent-discographer.simplecast.com/
- Follow on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/pizzadinosaur.fineti.me
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Title Card
- 0:31 Introductions
- 6:06 Our Histories with Dragon Quest
- 10:19 Top-Level Thoughts
- 18:16 Story Setup and Thoughts
- 32:59 Feels Like Coming Home- Art & Music
- 51:03 Tickington
- 54:46 Combat and The Fun-Sized Forge
- 1:10:14 Thoughts on the Silent Protagonist
- 1:18:36 Lightning Round Thoughts
- 1:23:32 Who Should Play?
- 1:28:35 Andre's Podcasts
- 1:34:12 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous
- 1:37:07 Spoilers- Some Early-Ish Story Talk
- 1:50:18 Spoilers- Act 2 Story
- 2:00:33 Spoilers- Act 3 Story
Music used in the episode is credited to Koichi Sugiyama. Tracks used: Overture, The Hero Goes Forth with Determination, Olé! Sylvando!, Unflinchable Courage, Bustling Town, Rab the Wizard, Light Though the Leaves of Love, Echoes of an Elusive Age
- Check out Dave on Nostalgium Arcanum talking about our favorite video game soundtracks: https://nostalgiumarcanum.fireside.fm/
- Check out Dave on The Rookie Run talking about Ocarina of Time https://www.youtube.com/@TheRookieRunVideoGamePodcast
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
225: Arco (with Luis Aguasvivas)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog Join Dave and special guest Luis Aguasvivas as they discuss Arco (Franek, Max …
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Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogJoin Dave and special guest Luis Aguasvivas as they discuss Arco (Franek, Max Cahill, Bibiki and Fayer, 2024). Arco blends tactical turn-based combat with a revenge story spanning multiple protagonists. It's an ambitious game that coalesces in some magical ways, but falls short in some others, making it ripe for discussion. As always, no spoilers in the episode for a while- enjoy!
Guest info: Luis Aguasvivas (he/they)
- Check out Luis's writing https://aguaspoints.com/
- Follow on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/aguaspoints.bsky.social
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Title Card
- 0:20 Introductions
- 3:56 Our Histories with Arco
- 6:52 Top-Level Thoughts
- 13:13 Story Setup
- 17:52 Multiple Protagonist Structure
- 22:58 Dramatic Irony and Post-Colonial Narratives
- 28:48 Visual Design
- 35:33 Soundtrack
- 40:13 Combat
- 49:38 Fantasy Elements and Morality System
- 1:03:55 Who Should Play?
- 1:07:55 Luis' Writing
- 1:11:58 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous
- 1:14:20 Spoilers- Different Story Paths
- 1:26:01 Spoilers- Act Five
- 1:39:41 Spoilers- Tizo's Story
- 1:51:22 Spoilers- Violence as Interaction in Games
- 2:01:54 Spoilers- Fighting the Ocean in Historical Fiction
Music used in the episode is credited to Bibiki. Tracks used: Arena y Alquitrán, Forgotten Memories, Blood Spit, Whispers of Magic, Where Iyos Live, Sempiternal
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
224: Titanium Court (with Emily Merritt - No Small Games)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog Join Dave and special guest Emily Merritt (No Small Games) as they do their best …
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Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogJoin Dave and special guest Emily Merritt (No Small Games) as they do their best to unpack AP Thompson's Titanium Court. Even AP Thompson's simplified description of "a match-3 tower defense game for people who like to read" still hides a mountain of detail, so this was a fun discussion about those component parts and especially how they tie together into a genuinely interesting narrative and commentary on the way we play games and "consume" media in general. As always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy!
Guest info: Emily Merritt (she/her)
- Check out No Small Games https://nosmallgames.com/
- Follow on Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/aspecificegg
- Follow on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/aspecificegg.bsky.social
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Title
- 0:20 Introductions
- 4:52 Our Histories with Titanium Court
- 8:18 Top-Level Thoughts
- 14:59 Story Setup and Worldbuilding
- 22:46 Theatre Inspiration and Humor
- 33:02 Visual Design
- 41:04 Music
- 48:45 Gameplay- Jobs and Goals
- 59:23 Gameplay- High/Low Tide
- 1:12:22 "Addictive" Games
- 1:17:24 Who Should Play?
- 1:23:04 No Small Games
- 1:28:19 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous
- 1:30:17 Spoilers- Curses Lifted
- 1:45:11 Spoilers- Story Discussion
- 1:57:00 Spoilers- Story, Continued
Music used in the episode is credited to AP Thompson. You can purchase the soundtrack on Steam. Tracks used: Chimera Solo, Timeskip Titlecard and the Ten Years Later, The One AP Doesn't Like, Metamind Defense Grid Blues, Biome Select, Fourth Quarter, For a Dollar
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
223: Pokémon Conquest (with Jared Moss - Play Along Podcast)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog Join Dave and special guest Jared Moss (Play Along Podcast) as they take over the …
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Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogJoin Dave and special guest Jared Moss (Play Along Podcast) as they take over the land in Pokémon Conquest. This crossover between Pokémon and Nobunaga's Ambition puts the familiar monsters in tactical grid-based combat, with satisfying (if slow) progression. It's a fun twist on the familiar, even if it makes zero effort to tell an accompanying story with any juice. Please enjoy the discussion, and as always- no spoilers for a while!
Guest info: Jared Moss (he/him)
- Listen to Play Along Podcast https://linktr.ee/PlayAlongPodcast
- Follow on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/playalong.bsky.social
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Title Card
- 0:27 Introductions
- 5:20 Our Histories with Pokémon/Conquest
- 9:17 Top-Level Thoughts
- 16:10 Story Setup and Thoughts
- 23:31 Teambuilding and Conquering the Land
- 37:43 Turn-Based Tactics
- 55:48 The Gateway to Grand Strategy?
- 1:06:13 Soundtrack
- 1:08:03 Wrap-Up Thoughts
- 1:12:39 Pacing for Handheld Play
- 1:16:36 Who Should Play?
- 1:21:13 Play Along Podcast
- 1:26:03 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous
- 1:28:04 Spoilers- Favorite Pokémon and Teams
- 1:42:58 Spoilers- Story and Final Fights
Music used in the episode is credited to Shin-ichiro Nakamura, Ayako Toyoda and Takashi Yoshida. Tracks used: Main Theme, Episode Opening, Normal Battle, Dungeon Theme 1, Map Theme 1, Staff Roll
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
Video Game Music Appreciation 101 (with Rick Firestone & Charlie Young)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog Join Dave and special guests Rick Firestone (Pixel Project Radio) and Charlie …
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Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogJoin Dave and special guests Rick Firestone (Pixel Project Radio) and Charlie Young for an introductory lesson about how to listen to and discuss video game music in more effective ways. The episode starts with some terminology and examples, then moves to a "close listening" exercise where you can apply what was taught earlier. Hope you enjoy!
Guest info:
- Charlie Young (he/him)
- Rick Firestone (he/him)
- Check out Pixel Project Radio https://linktr.ee/pixelprojectradio
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Title Card and Introductions
- 2:00 Topic Introduction
- 7:36 Developing a Palate- Melody, Harmony, Rhythm
- 19:37 Developing a Palate- Timbre, Instrument Choice, Dynamics
- 33:42 Developing a Palate- Texture and Form
- 46:07 Developing a Palate- Character, Affect
- 1:00:39 Patron Thank-Yous
- 1:02:39 Close Listening- Champion Cynthia (Pokemon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum)
- 1:14:43 Close Listening- Decisive Battle: Yu Yevon (Final Fantasy X)
- 1:29:04 Close Listening- Gone Angels (Library of Ruina)
- 1:48:02 Close Listening- Alicia (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)
- 2:09:02 Outro and Pixel Project Radio
Music used in the episode:
- Earthbound OST- The Runaway Five on the Move! (Akio Ohmori, Ritsuo Kamimura, Keiichi Suzuki, Hirokazu Tanaka)
- Blue Prince OST- Stories of All Manor (Trigg & Gusset)
- Super Mario Bros OST- Ground Theme (Koji Kondo)
- Final Fantasy IX OST- Vivi's Theme (Nobuo Uematsu)
- Final Fantasy IX OST- Steiner's Theme (Nobuo Uematsu)
- Dark Souls OST- Gwyn, Lord of Cinder (Motoi Sakuraba)
- Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector OST- Signalchaser (Amos Roddy)
- Pokemon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum OST- Champion Cynthia (Go Ichinose)
- Final Fantasy X OST- Final Battle (Masashi Hamauzu)
- Final Fantasy X OST- Zanarkand (Nobuo Uematsu)
- Library of Ruina OST- Gone Angels (Studio EIM)
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 OST- Alicia (Lorien Testard, Alice Duport-Percier)
Video-
- 5th Elite Four Battle Cynthia- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vzpDrO9dH0
- Pokemon Trauma Cynthia Battle Flashbacks- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOEKlXY-SYc
- Final Fantasy X Trailer- https://youtu.be/riNzVUJumM8
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
222: Mina the Hollower (with Matt aka Stormageddon - "Fun" and Games)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog Join Dave and special guest Matt aka Stormageddon ("Fun" and Games, Reignite …
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Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogJoin Dave and special guest Matt aka Stormageddon ("Fun" and Games, Reignite podcasts) as they discuss Yacht Club Games' long-awaited action adventure game, Mina the Hollower. Blending several influences from The Legend of Zelda, Castlevania, FromSoftware's catalogue and more, Mina the Hollower still managed to carve out a strong identity of its own while leaving a lasting impression. Listen in to find out more, and as always, no spoilers for a while.
Guest info: Matt aka Stormageddon (they/them)
- Listen to "Fun" and Games https://funandgamespod.com/
- Listen to Reignite https://reignitepod.libsyn.com/
- Follow on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/djstormageddon.com
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Title Card
- 0:23 Introductions
- 6:41 Personal Histories with Yacht Club Games
- 12:34 Top-Level Thoughts
- 20:08 Story Setup and Weapon Choice
- 23:20 Exploring Influences
- 28:50 Visual Design and GBC Aesthetic
- 32:47 Burrowing Gives Mina Its Identity
- 43:47 Ways to Mitigate Difficulty
- 58:14 Open-Ended Structure and Exploration
- 1:09:07 Lightning Round!
- 1:14:34 Modifiers, Feats and Achievements
- 1:25:04 Music and Sound
- 1:34:43 Who Should Play?
- 1:40:15 "Fun" and Games, Reignite Podcasts
- 1:46:24 Spoiler Wall & Patron Thank-Yous
- 1:48:13 Spoilers- Weapons, Areas, Bosses
- 2:12:43 Spoilers- Final Boss and Ending
Music used in the episode is credited to Jake Kaufman unless otherwise noted. Tracks used: Cinematic - Intro, A Sinking Feeling (Loner's Landing), The Congealed, Gator Gallop (Nox's Bayou), A Sickly Shore (Bone Beach), Central Ossex, The Brilliant Truth (Radiant Manor), End Credits
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
221: Minishoot' Adventures (with Roger Reichardt - Gamerheads Podcast)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog Join Dave and special guest Roger Reichardt of Gamerheads Podcast as they discuss …
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Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogJoin Dave and special guest Roger Reichardt of Gamerheads Podcast as they discuss Soulgame Stuidio's 2024 top-down twin-stick shooting adventure, Minishoot' Adventures. The weird apostrophe will catch your attention, but the fantastic controls and satisfying gameplay will keep you grinning from ear to ear from start to finish. Or at least, that's how it went for us. As always, no spoilers in the episode until we warn you!
Guest info: Roger Reichardt (he/him)
- Check out Gamerheads https://www.gamerheadspodcast.com/
- Follow on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/rogueleader76.bsky.social
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Preview and Title Card
- 0:22 Introductions
- 5:30 Our Histories with Minishoot' Adventures
- 11:35 Top-Level Thoughts
- 18:28 Story Setup and Storytelling
- 26:44 A More Approachable Bullet Hell
- 34:06 Very Reasonable Challenge
- 39:27 Sound and Visual Design
- 45:57 Exploration and World Structure
- 56:16 Soundtrack
- 1:01:41 Wrap-Up Thoughts
- 1:06:32 Who Should Play?
- 1:09:31 Gamerheads Podcast
- 1:13:58 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous
- 1:15:59 Spoilers- The Secret of the Apostrophe
- 1:19:33 Spoilers- Story Talk
Music used in the episode is credited to Séverin Larose. Tracks used: Main Title, Dungeon, Boss, Battle, Overworld, Credits
Check out an interview with Séverin Larose on "Fun" and Games podcast: https://funandgames.libsyn.com/episode-210-minishoot-adventures
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
220: Pyre (with AJ Fillari)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog Join Dave and special guest AJ Fillari as they discuss Pyre (Supergiant Games …
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Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogJoin Dave and special guest AJ Fillari as they discuss Pyre (Supergiant Games, 2017). As your crew makes their way through their underworld hellprison, you take part in competitive rites with the goal of earning your freedom. The game explores the rhythms of sport and competition, win or lose, as well as political allusions, what it means to return home, and much more. Dave and AJ also discuss Supergiant's continuity as a studio and how it helps them consistently put out good games. As always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy!
Guest info: AJ Fillari (they/any)
- Listen to dotzip podcast https://dotzip.online/
- Follow on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/ajfillari.bsky.social
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Title Card
- 0:27 Introductions
- 5:54 Our Histories with Supergiant Games
- 9:52 Top-Level Thoughts
- 17:20 Story Setup
- 24:45 Push and Pull Decision Making
- 31:56 You Gotta Lose Sometimes
- 43:26 Playing in the Rites
- 56:26 Cast of Characters and Reactivity
- 1:01:44 Art and Visual Design
- 1:06:13 Music
- 1:15:56 Who Should Play?
- 1:20:21 dotzip and AJ's work
- 1:25:06 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous
- 1:26:49 Spoilers- Politics, Exile and Freedom
- 1:38:09 Spoilers- How Did Our Rites Go?
- 1:51:44 Spoilers- Who Should Go Free?
- 2:07:32 Spoilers- Endgame Results
- 2:14:02 Spoilers- Finale Music and Wrap-Up
Music used in the episode is credited to Darren Korb. Tracks used: In the Flame (with Ashley Barrett), Surviving Exile, Glorious Tradition, Thrash Pack, Strange Voyage, Never to Return (with Ashley Barrett), Bound Together (with Ashley Barrett)
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
219: Drakengard (with IdolismJ)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog Join Dave and special guest IdolismJ as they tackle Drakengard (Cavia, Square …
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Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogJoin Dave and special guest IdolismJ as they tackle Drakengard (Cavia, Square Enix, 2003). Drakengard has a reputation for being bad, unplayable, interesting and edgelordy to a certain extent, and we can confirm that some, but not all of those, are correct. Drakengard challenges the player in ways that most games don't, driving you crazy alongside the protagonist. Whether the effect is intentional or accidental, Drakengard certainly left an impression on us. Listen in to find out more, and as always, no spoilers for a while!
Guest info: IdolismJ (he/him)
- Check out Jay's YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@IdolismJ
- Support on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cw/idolismj
- Follow on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/idolismj.yase.world
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Title Card
- 0:18 Introductions
- 4:26 Our Histories with Drakengard and Nier
- 7:28 Top-Level Thoughts about Drakengard
- 11:53 Story Setup and Caim's Well-Being
- 21:40 Following the Plot
- 27:43 Combat- "Is It Bad on Purpose?"
- 40:28 Music to Go Insane to
- 50:14 Air Combat
- 58:00 Auteur Theory, Revisited
- 1:08:54 Art, Party Members, Voice Acting
- 1:18:10 Who Should Play Drakengard?
- 1:21:58 IdolismJ on YouTube
- 1:27:16 Spoiler Wall & Patron Thank-Yous
- 1:29:04 Spoilers- Things Get Worse Until They End
- 1:39:23 Spoilers- Ending A
- 1:47:44 Spoilers- Ending B
- 1:51:55 Spoilers- Ending C
- 2:00:38 Spoilers- Ending D and Some Hairy Subject Matter
- 2:16:49 Spoilers- Ending E and Connection to Nier
Music used in the episode is credited to Takayuka Aihara unless otherwise noted. Tracks used: Weapon Select, First Chapter - Sky, Fifth Chapter - Ground, Fourth Chapter - Ground (Nobuyoshi Sano), Fifth Chapter - Sky, First Chapter - Castle Interior, Eighth Chapter - Closing (Nobuyoshi Sano), Route C Staff Roll, Mission Clear (Nobuyoshi Sano)
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
218: Fire Emblem: Three Houses (with Claire - Date With Us)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog Join Dave and special guest Claire as they deep dive Fire Emblem: Three Houses …
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Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogJoin Dave and special guest Claire as they deep dive Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Intelligent Systems, Kou Shibusawa, Nintendo, 2019). They discuss the life sim and battle elements, how they tie together to make you fear permadeath even more, the four playthroughs, and much more. As always, no spoilers for a while!
Guest info: Claire (she/her/any)
- Check out Date With Us podcast https://www.datewith.us
- Check out Claire on Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/claireafterall
- Get a sick wrestling belt https://www.trophysmack.com/
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Title Card
- 0:21 Introductions
- 5:03 Our Histories with Fire Emblem
- 7:35 Top-Level Thoughts
- 14:36 Story Setup and Choosing Your House
- 23:49 Life Sim Elements and How To Spend Time
- 30:00 Teaching and Character Building
- 36:11 Relationship/Support Mechanics
- 40:25 Relationship and Dating Elements
- 55:36 Combat and Permadeath
- 1:05:18 Combat Basics
- 1:15:00 What's New in the DLC?
- 1:19:56 Soundtrack
- 1:26:10 Visual Design and Art
- 1:31:57 Who Should Play?
- 1:38:17 Date With Us and Claire's Streaming
- 1:44:36 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous
- 1:46:26 Spoilers- Story Discussion
- 2:29:39 Spoilers- MVPs and Results
Music used in the episode:
- The Crest of Flames (Yuka Tsujiyoko)
- Fódlan Winds (Takeru Kanazaki)
- Life at Garreg Mach Monastery (Takeru Kanazaki)
- Tearing Through Heaven (Hiroki Morishita)
- Tempest of Seasons (Rei Kondoh)
- A Guide for the Future (Takeru Kanazaki)
- A New Dawn (Takeru Kanazaki, Rei Kondoh)
- The Land Beloved by the Goddess (Takeru Kanazaki)
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
217: Many Nights a Whisper (with Flora Merigold)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog Join Dave and special guest Flora Merigold (Epilogue Gaming, Left Behind Game …
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Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogJoin Dave and special guest Flora Merigold (Epilogue Gaming, Left Behind Game Club) as they discuss Many Nights a Whisper (Deconstructeam, Selkie Harbour, 2025). Many Nights a Whisper puts you in a high-pressure situation and asks you to make tough choices that will have an impact on whether you make the climactic shot or not. We discuss the marriage of narrative and mechanics, our approaches to granting or denying wishes, the shot, and much more. As always, there are no spoilers for a while.
Guest info: Flora Merigold (she/her)
- Check out Epilogue Gaming https://epiloguegaming.com/author/flora-merigold/
- Check out Left Behind Game Club https://leftbehindgame.club/
- Follow Flora on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/floramerigold.bsky.social
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Title
- 0:16 Introductions
- 3:53 Personal Histories with Many Nights a Whisper
- 5:44 Top-Level Thoughts
- 13:09 Story Setup and Wishes
- 20:29 Wishes, Tension and Thematic Explorations
- 38:53 Practice Makes Perfect
- 44:45 Music and Visuals
- 46:35 Who Should Play?
- 49:15 Flora's Creative and Artistic Work
- 53:41 Spoiler Wall & Patron Thank-Yous
- 55:56 Spoilers- Pink Cats and Healthy Tobacco
- 1:06:39 Spoilers- Removing Animal Souls and Making Gender Irrelevant
- 1:20:46 Spoilers- No More Work and Wanting a Nemesis
- 1:41:33 Spoilers- Mounting Pressure, No More Sleep, No More Religion
- 1:56:04 Spoilers- The Last Wish
- 2:09:53 Spoilers- The Shot and Final Musings
Music used in the episode is credited to fingerspit. Tracks used: Many Nights a Whisper, Ten Years Ago You Were Chosen, Doing My Best Is All I Can Give Them, New Strength, My Heart's Faint Call, The Ceremony, Into the Moonless Night
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
216: Isles of Sea and Sky (with Jesse Guarascia)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog Join Dave and special guest Jesse Guarascia (noclip, noclip_2 and more) as they …
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Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogJoin Dave and special guest Jesse Guarascia (noclip, noclip_2 and more) as they strengthen their block-pushing muscles for a deep dive into Isles of Sea and Sky (Cicada Games, 2024). They discuss its rich world full of secrets, why Sokoban-style puzzles feel like a great foundation for weird narratives or layers of secrets, whether the open-ended design works well, and much more. As always, no spoilers for a while.
Guest info: Jesse Guarascia (he/him)
- Check out noclip https://www.youtube.com/@NoclipDocs
- And check out noclip2 https://www.youtube.com/@Noclip2
- And Blowback! https://blowback.show/
- Follow on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/jesseguarascia.com
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Title
- 0:22 Introductions
- 6:16 Our Histories with Isles of Sea and Sky
- 11:26 Top-Level Thoughts
- 18:38 Game Setup and Open Structure
- 29:19 Puzzle Design
- 40:40 Sokoban as a Base Layer for Building Secrets
- 53:15 Visual Design
- 1:00:00 Music and Sound
- 1:03:32 Who Should Play?
- 1:08:28 Jesse's Work at NoClip and More
- 1:16:53 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous
- 1:19:17 Spoiler Section
Music used in the episode is credited to Craig Collver. Tracks used: Isles of Sea and Sky, Ancient Island, Stoney Cliffs, Tidal Reef, From Sea to Sky
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
215: Kingdom Hearts (with Leah Haydu)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog Join Dave and special guest Leah Haydu (Cane and Rinse, Character Issues) as they …
Shownotes
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogJoin Dave and special guest Leah Haydu (Cane and Rinse, Character Issues) as they discuss Kingdom Hearts (Square Enix, 2001). Leah is a longtime fan and Dave just played for the first time, and that led to a great conversation about the infamous story, the Disney and Final Fantasy tie-ins, the action-RPG combat, and the simplicity at the "heart" of it all. Listen in for more, and as always, no spoilers for a while.
Guest info: Leah Haydu (she/her)
- Check out Character Issues https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-character-issues-podcast/id1530881747
- Check out Cane and Rinse https://caneandrinse.com/
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Title Card
- 0:29 Introductions
- 4:02 Our Histories with Kingdom Hearts
- 9:50 Top-Level Thoughts
- 19:24 Story Setup and Disney Stuff
- 33:10 Final Fantasy Stuff
- 35:16 Understanding Kingdom Hearts
- 43:25 The "Heart" of the Story
- 51:11 More Music Talk
- 58:16 Gummi Ship
- 1:02:32 Combat
- 1:23:45 Some Gameplay Criticisms
- 1:30:26 Who Should Play?
- 1:34:00 Character Issues & Cane and Rinse Podcasts
- 1:40:24 Spoiler Wall & Patron Thank-Yous
- 1:42:08 Spoilers- Disney Worlds
- 1:54:58 Spoilers- Let's Talk Plot
- 2:04:13 Spoilers- Sora, Riku and Ansem
- 2:16:55 Spoilers- Final Bosses and Ending
Music used in the episode is credited to Yoko Shimomura: Dearly Beloved, Destiny Islands, Hollow Bastion, Welcome to Wonderland, Traverse Town, The End of the World, Dearly Beloved -Reprise-
Check out Unlockables Podcast for an extensive dive into the story of Kingdom Hearts: https://unlockables.fireside.fm/tags/guiding%20keys
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
214: Cairn (with Rachel Watts)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog Join Dave and special guest Rachel Watts (Thinky Games, Indieventure podcast) as …
Shownotes
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogJoin Dave and special guest Rachel Watts (Thinky Games, Indieventure podcast) as they discuss Cairn (The Game Bakers, 2026). Cairn is a meticulous, thoughtful climbing game that takes you into the mind of an elite athlete as she attempts a climb that has never been done before. While it has some (unintentionally) frustrating moments, Cairn is an extremely strong and affecting game- listen in to find out more, and as always, no spoilers for a while!
Guest info: Rachel Watts (she/her)
- Check out Thinky Games https://thinkygames.com
- Check out Indieventure https://indieventurepodcast.co.uk
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Title Card
- 0:23 Introductions
- 5:09 Our Histories with The Game Bakers & Cairn
- 8:58 Top Level Thoughts
- 17:32 Story Setup and Characterizing Aava
- 31:40 Climbing Mechanics
- 37:36 High Difficulty Meets a Few Shaky Systems
- 54:53 Visual Design, Sound Design and Music
- 1:03:12 Survival on Mt. Kami
- 1:17:58 Who Should Play Cairn?
- 1:24:32 Thinky Games and Indieventure Podcast
- 1:28:54 Spoiler Wall & Patron Thank-Yous
- 1:30:30 Spoilers- Fun Moments & Tough Challenges
- 1:54:19 Spoilers- Let's Talk About Aava
- 2:22:42 Spoilers- Ending Discussion
Music used in the episode is credited to Martin Stig Andersen, Gilda and The Toxic Avenger. Tracks used: The Mountain is Calling, Rise, Fatigue Is In Your Head, Only the Mountain, In My Gut, Stars, Part of a Whole
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
213: Hitman 3 & Freelancer Mode (with Scott Danielson)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog Join Dave and returning guest Scott Danielson as they dive into the third and …
Shownotes
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogJoin Dave and returning guest Scott Danielson as they dive into the third and final entry in the Hitman: World of Assassination Trilogy (IO Interactive), as well as its roguelike mode, Freelancer. This whole package is an absolute treat, and this also brings the Tales from the Backlog Hitman Episode Trilogy to a close. Listen in for allllll (most) of our thoughts!
Guest info: Scott Danielson (he/him)
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Title Card
- 0:25 Introductions
- 8:25 Our Histories with Hitman
- 12:39 Top-Level Thoughts
- 17:13 Story Setup
- 24:43 Levels and Locations
- 34:16 What's New and Mission Stories
- 43:26 The Sandbox and Freelancer Mode
- 1:02:32 Other Bonus Missions
- 1:09:07 Who Should Play Hitman?
- 1:17:03 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous
- 1:18:57 Spoilers- Dubai
- 1:37:53 Spoilers- Dartmoor
- 1:50:43 Spoilers- Berlin
- 2:10:03 Spoilers- Chongqing
- 2:27:31 Spoilers- Mendoza
- 2:41:54 Spoilers- Carpathian Mountains
- 2:53:56 Spoilers- Ending and Ambrose Island
Music used in the episode is credited to Niels Bye Nielson. Tracks used: Death Awaits, Best-Laid Plans, Sceptres of Dubai, End of an Era, Planning, Death in the Family, Chongqing Requiem, Mission Accomplished
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
212: The Séance of Blake Manor (with Brian Edwards - Cane and Rinse, Character Issues)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog Join Dave and special guest Brian Edwards as they dive into one of 2025's most …
Shownotes
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogJoin Dave and special guest Brian Edwards as they dive into one of 2025's most acclaimed games, The Séance of Blake Manor (Spooky Doorway, Raw Fury, 2025). It's a captivating mystery set in an Irish countryside manor-turned-hotel, full of both literal and figurative ghosts, culminating in a grand séance. It's full of memorable characters, fantastic voice performances, Irish folklore and mythology, and always manages to keep you guessing. Check out the podcast for more.
Guest info: Brian Edwards (he/him)
- Check out the Character Issues podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-character-issues-podcast/id1530881747?l=zh-Hant-TW
- Check out Cane and Rinse https://caneandrinse.com/
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Title Card
- 0:16 Introductions
- 4:24 Personal Histories
- 7:59 Top-Level Thoughts
- 14:15 Story Setup and Cast of Characters
- 24:18 Spooky Atmosphere
- 29:00 Character Schedules and the Passage of Time
- 41:41 Lack of Deductive Reasoning
- 48:43 Some Mechanical Frustrations
- 56:09 Some Puzzly Puzzles
- 58:44 Irish Folklore & Mythology
- 1:05:31 Who Should Play?
- 1:09:40 Character Issues & Cane and Rinse
- 1:19:04 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous
- 1:20:57 Spoilers- Favorite Moments and Storylines
- 1:49:27 Spoilers- What's Going On Here?
Music used in the episode is credited to Clement Panchout. Tracks used: The Séance of Blake Manor, Vincent Varley, Blake Manor I, Courtyard, The Ritual, Serenade for Evelyn Deane (End Credits)
Check out Dave's guest DJ set on Chillscape: A Chill VGM Podcast: https://superpodnetwork.com/podcast/chillscape-a-chill-vgm-podcast
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
211: Baby Steps (with Josh Galecki - Pixelated Playgrounds)
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog Join Dave and special guest Josh Galecki (Pixelated Playgrounds, Moonroof …
Shownotes
Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklogJoin Dave and special guest Josh Galecki (Pixelated Playgrounds, Moonroof Studios) to take a long walk into the woods of Baby Steps. Developed by Bennett Foddy, Gabe Cuzillo and Maxi Boch and published by Devolver Digital, Baby Steps is an extremely unique game, one where its story of its failson protagonist meshes with its frustrating-yet-rewarding gameplay for a very rewarding and genuinely funny experience. Check out the podcast for more.
Guest info: Josh Galecki (he/him)
- Check out Pixelated Playgrounds https://www.pixelatedplaygrounds.com/
- Check out Josh's games on Steam https://store.steampowered.com/search/?developer=Moonroof%20Studios
- Check out more of Josh's games on itch https://joshuagalecki.itch.io/
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 Title Card
- 0:11 Introductions
- 5:42 Our Histories with Baby Steps
- 9:42 Top-Level Thoughts
- 15:11 Characterization of Nate
- 20:18 Walking Mechanics
- 26:56 Difficulty and World Design
- 40:19 Hating On Nate and Comedy
- 54:27 Visuals, Music and Sound
- 59:13 Who Should Play Baby Steps?
- 1:04:16 Pixelated Playgrounds and Moonroof Studios
- 1:08:40 Spoiler Wall & Patron Thank-Yous
- 1:10:17 Spoilers- Jim, The Manbreaker, Other Challenges
- 1:32:19 Spoilers- Let's Talk About Nate
- 1:42:28 Spoilers- Nate's Journey and Endings
- 1:55:43 Accomplishments vs Achievements
- 2:04:23 Guys...Where Are We?
Sound clips in episode were captured in game.
The Secret Lives of Games interview with Bennett Foddy & Gabe Cuzillo- https://eggplant.show/152-walking-over-it-with-gabe-cuzzillo-and-bennett-foddy-baby-steps
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
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