Shows
Tales from the Backlog193: Asura's Wrath (with Nick & Will - Friday Night Gamecast)Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
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Some games just stand out from the pack, and with its episodic anime structure, QTE-heavy cutscenes and South Asian religious inspirations, there is nothing quite like Asura's Wrath (CyberConnect2, Capcom, 2012). A quintessential flawed game that everyone should try, Asura's Wrath overcomes its bad combat and dated approach to player engagement by just simply being cooler and more hype than basically every other game...
2025-11-262h 13Tales from the Backlog191: Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (with Kate & Emily - No Small Games)Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
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Modern Pokémon games are divisive, but rarely due to technical performance. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (Game Freak, 2022) released in an embarrassing state, and are hoping for a comeback with their recent Switch 2 editions. So now that the bugs are squashed and the framerate is stable, what kind of game was lurking under all of those issues? Listen in to find out....
2025-11-122h 44Tales from the Backlog188: Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye (with Rick Firestone)Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
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As I said way back in The Outer Wilds episode, I respect the hell out of that game and think it's a miracle, but I didn't love it as much as others, and I kind of wish I could Eternal Sunshine that game out of my mind and try again. But as it turns out, the Echoes of the Eye expansion gave me...
2025-10-222h 10Tales from the Backlog187: Fear & Hunger (with Adam Bucceri)Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- https://discord.gg/kAqSBb6jH2
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Sometimes a game's reputation precedes it in a way that makes you question whether you want to play it at all, and Fear & Hunger (Miro Haverinen, 2018) certainly fits that bill. Punishing difficulty, harsh teaching, extreme content warnings and more put me off from playing the game for a while, but I'm glad to have played it now, and all of that made for...
2025-10-152h 53Tales from the Backlog179: Blue Prince (with Jenny Windom)Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- https://discord.gg/kAqSBb6jH2
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You know a game is good when it kicks off a new round of discourse about genre names, right? Regardless, Blue Prince (Dogubomb, 2025) is the latest hit in a type of knowledge-is-power game that is really appealing to certain types of gamers. The only difference is that we seem to fully know the full depths of previous games like Animal Well, Outer Wilds...
2025-08-202h 41
School of Podcasting: Expert Tips for Launching and Growing Your PodcastDead Air, Depression, and Dispatch Dave: Inside Sirius Satellite RadioI've known Dave Hooper (host of Build a Big Podcast and Author of Big Podcast) since he put on the radio for the first time on Music Business Radio. When I heard that Dave had scored a job at Sirius I wanted the inside scoop on what it's like to work there, and what the heck is a "Producer."Dave explains that he got the job while being in "a funk" and he used that situation to introduce more "real" topics to channel 146 at 7 AM and Road Dog Trucking. I also share one sentence that...
2025-08-1837 minTales from the Backlog170: Lunacid (with Dave Cox)Support my work on Patreon
I was admittedly very late to the King's Field and Shadow Tower bandwagons, energized by my love for FromSoftware's modern titles and a desire to dig into their history some more. However, I didn't anticipate loving those games so much that I wanted more like them, and that's where Kira LLC's Lunacid (2023) entered the fray. Lunacid is a fantastic game, leaning more on the exploration and vibes of those FromSoftware dungeon crawlers than the opaque RPG mechanics, capturing the spirit in a modern way. A true indie success- listen in to find...
2025-06-182h 36Tales from the Backlog166: Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown (with Derek Van Dyke)Support my work on Patreon
I can hear it now- "Another Ace Combat game? Didn't Dave just do one?" and the answer to those questions is "You bet your ass I'm doing another one, I'm IN IT NOW"....ahem, Ace Combat rules, and Ace Combat 7 (Bandai Namco, 2019) is the most Ace Combat that Ace Combat has ever been. Join us as we give it the deep dive!
Guest info: Derek Van Dyke
Follow on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/derekvandyke.bsky.social
Check out Derek's past work on SDGC https://officialsdgc.com/
Check out...
2025-05-211h 50Tales from the Backlog164: Monster Hunter Wilds (with Brad Gallaway)Support my work on Patreon
Review code provided by Capcom. Thank you!
Monster Hunter has been around for a long time, but has only recently fully broken into the mainstream. And with mainstream success comes grumbling from longtime fans. Is the game actually too streamlined? Does quality of life take away from quality of game? And what about the new focus on the story? All that and more in this lengthy discussion.
Guest info: Brad Gallaway
Check out written game reviews on GameCritics https://gamecritics.com/
Listen to So...Videogames! https://gamecritics...
2025-05-072h 17Tales from the Backlog162: Prey (2006) (with Asa GreenRiver)No, this isn't the Arkane Studios Prey, this is the one that Arkane was forced to name their game after for no good reason. In fact, that's what got me interested in Human Head Studios' Prey (2006) in the first place, even before I learned what the game is about. So what did we think of this shooter caught between two eras, with seemingly 10 different puzzle mechanics? How did we find a rare AAA attempt at indigenous representation? Listen in and find out!
Guest info: Asa GreenRiver
BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/agreenriver.bsky.social
TikTok https...
2025-04-232h 01Tales from the Backlog160: Sifu (with Ryan Juengling - List Off)From the first trailer, I knew that Sifu (Sloclap, 2022) looked like a game I wanted to play. There was just one small thing- it released two weeks before Elden Ring, and I was clearing the decks in a big way. No mental bandwidth to get stuck in a demanding action game. And so I waited. And waited. And forgot about it. And waited some more. And now, in 2025, after Elden Ring is (maybe) finished, it was time to revisit Sifu. And boy...it was worth the wait.
Guest Info: Ryan Juengling of List Off
Listen to...
2025-04-091h 44Tales from the Backlog159: Metaphor: ReFantazio (with Scott White)Only one studio out there can inspire the following sentence- the first time I saw the menu UI in Metaphor: ReFantazio, I knew that Atlus and Studio Zero were cooking. They've mastered the art of making menu-based RPGs flashy and stylish, as well as mastering the "Persona" calendar-based structure in general. On several fronts, this is the best game this studio has made, but left us wanting in a few areas as well. Listen in to this deep dive discussion and let us know what you think!
Guest info: Scott White
Check out his writing: https...
2025-04-022h 13Tales from the Backlog158: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (with Geoff Moonen - "Fun" and Games)In my ongoing first-time playthrough of the Metal Gear Solid series, we've arrived at the canonical end of Solid Snake's story, while seeing series creator Hideo Kojima at his most self-indulgent (yet) and most creative. Metal Gear Solid is a series of multitudes, and 2008's Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is no different. Listen in to find out what we thought!
Guest info: Geoff Moonen
Check out "Fun" and Games podcast https://funandgames.libsyn.com/
Follow Geoff on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/geoffmakesnoise.bsky.social
Need a voice actor? https://www.geoffmoonen.com/
2025-03-262h 49Tales from the Backlog155: Shenmue (with Luis Aguasvivas)I remember reading about Shenmue (AM2 of CRI, Sega, 2000) in the magazines back in the day and really marveling at how cool it all sounded- a revenge/investigation story, a town with characters that live their own lives outside of interacting with you, life in small-town Japan...but I didn't have a Dreamcast, so I never got to play it and eventually forgot about it as everyone else seemed to move on too. But over the past 5 years, I've also become a huge fan of the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series, and I eventually decided it was finally time...
2025-03-051h 52
The Future of PodcastingFuture of Podcasting: Daniel and Dave's 2025 WishlistDave and Daniel share their biggest wishes for the future of podcasting in 2025, highlighting the need for cross-app comments as a critical feature to enhance audience engagement. They discuss the potential benefits this could bring to both listeners and podcasters, fostering a sense of community and interaction that is often lacking in the current landscape. They also examine the complexities of implementing such features, considering various technical approaches and the importance of making it easy for users to participate. The conversation also touches on the evolving landscape of podcast monetization, particularly the desire for streamlined...
2025-01-2249 minTales from the Backlog2024 In Review/Games of the YearDave recaps his favorite games that released in 2024 and discusses the year in podcasting, gaming and more. Catch Dave's favorite games from other years that he played for the first time in 2024 on Patreon, available to all paid patrons!
TIMESTAMPS:
Intros/Reminiscing 0:18
Honorable Mentions 5:40
#10 13:44
#9 18:01
#8 21:15
#7 26:38
#6 32:01
#5 36:34
#4 41:17
#3 46:40
#2 52:26
#1 and thank yous 59:23
Music used in the episode:
1000xRESIST - The Orchard (At Peace) (Drew Redman)
1000xRESIST - The Youngest Looks (Drew Redman)
1000xRESIST - Watcher (Drew Redman)
Animal Well - Animal Well (Billy Basso)
Animal Well - Dawn Chorus (Billy Basso)
Animal Well - Flames (Billy Basso)
Balatro...
2025-01-011h 12Tales from the Backlog147: Batman: Arkham Origins (with Mick Arcade)Check out more information on the ongoing SAG-AFTRA video game actor strike and support the actors in any way that you can.
Batman video games got a resurgence with 2009's Arkham Asylum, continued to be critically acclaimed with 2011's Arkham City, and then started to become divisive with 2013's Arkham Origins and especially 2015's Arkham Knight. Since Arkham Origins takes place during Christmas, we've chosen to dive into that one. Arkham Origins seems to be the odd one out, the black sheep, when discussing this series, and we don't understand why- if the reason for disliking this...
2024-12-231h 32Tales from the Backlog141: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (with Aaron Angle & Ryan Arrington)Final Fantasy VII Remake started this epic remake project off with a bang, and it left us with a few questions, namely "what will they do with Aerith?" and "how will they handle the more open world nature of the game post-Midgar?". Both of those answers came in somewhat messy and/or convoluted forms, which I won't spoil here in the podcast description, but it's a good thing we have nearly 3 hours of podcast here to discuss it all!
Guest info: Aaron Angle of [A Top 3 Podcast](atop3podcast.fireside.fm) & Ryan Arrington.
TIMESTAMPS
...
2024-11-132h 53Tales from the Backlog...On Backlogs (with Matt aka Stormageddon & Marcus Stewart)To celebrate 3 years of Tales from the Backlog, I figured it was time to talk about the namesake of the show- The Backlog. Do we get FOMO as dozens of great games release every year? Do we feel pressure to complete the games we buy? What's the best approach to keep our habits healthy? All this and much more in this discussion episode!
Guest info:
Matt aka Stormageddon of "Fun" and Games and Reignite podcasts.
Marcus Stewart of The Indie Informer. Find Marcus on Twitter and Twitch.
Music used in the episode:
Pandora's Place...
2024-11-062h 10Tales from the Backlog140: Decarnation (with Jala Prendes - Jala-chan's Place, The Level & Dave Cox - Monster Dear Monster)Have you ever thought to yourself, "how scary could this pixel art horror game be? It's just pixels!". If so, you and I are the same. And granted, Decarnation (Atelier QDB, 2023) isn't an in-your-face type of horror. It's more of a psychological, empathetic horror and dread for what your character is going through. And it's very, very effective! This is a really unique horror game with fantastic pixel art, sound design and music- highly recommended!
Guest info: Jala Prendes of Jala-chan's Place and The Level podcasts & Dave Cox of Monster Dear Monster podcast.
TIMESTAMPS
...
2024-10-302h 44Tales from the Backlog138: Silent Hill (with Stephanie Klimov - Boss Rush Network)As a fan of Silent Hill 2 (episode 10 of Tales from the Backlog, by the way), I figured at some point I would need to go back and play the original. Silent Hill (Team Silent, Konami, 1999) was really interesting to go back and play, for a couple of reasons, most notably that I thought I knew what the game and town's whole deal was, but that was apparently not the case in the first game. The other surprise was that I found this pretty breezy from a mechanical perspective, which was welcome after really struggling through Resident Evil 1. It was...
2024-10-161h 50
The Future of PodcastingPodcasting 2.0: What's Cooking in the Future of Audio?Get ready to dive into the future of podcasting as Dave Jackson and Daniel J. Lewis explore exciting new developments in the industry. They discuss recent innovations in podcast tools, including Captivate's new AI transcription features that offer users enhanced control over their podcasting content. Focusing on how technology is reshaping the way podcasters create and distribute their shows, they share insights on the impact of always-on displays and mirroring capabilities for a more interactive listening experience. Additionally, they touch on the importance of platforms like Pocketcast adopting podcasting 2.0 features and the potential for future collaborations in...
2024-10-0332 minTales from the Backlog136: Omori (with Aaron Angle - A Top 3 Podcast)Sometimes a game has such striking and memorable art that one screenshot will implant that game into your head, even if you never play it. Omori (Omocat, 2020) was almost one of those games for me. A combination of thinking the game would be too scary and having tons of other games available kept Omori on the periphery for a long time, until today's guest, Aaron, played it and kept (lovingly) pestering me to play it. And while I can't say that I loved every aspect of the experience, the story and presentation of mental health struggles were good enough...
2024-10-022h 23Tales from the Backlog134: A Space for the Unbound (with CGDannyB)Friends of the show probably know that I love games (especially indie games) set in "uncommon" real world settings- those outside of the US, Japan and Western Europe. Mojiken Studio's 2023 title A Space for the Unbound is one of those, set in Indonesia. That was the draw for me- an emotional story set in a place that I've been in real life. I didn't quite know what kind of emotional story lay in wait for me though, and despite a bumpy road, the way this story pays off and executes on its promise was truly remarkable. In the podcast...
2024-09-182h 03Tales from the Backlog133: Final Fantasy IV (with Chris Coplien - Retro Hangover & Jenny E.)Final Fantasy is one of the most well-represented series on this podcast, and its anthology structure means you can pick and choose which games you want to play without fear of playing out of order. So this year, I wanted to make sure I played a foundational one- Final Fantasy IV. I expected this to be the turning point where Square and the Final Fantasy team started to prioritize story and characters, and you can really see their attempts here, including some cool marriages of gameplay and narrative that later games no longer do. I really enjoyed my time...
2024-09-112h 25Tales from the Backlog132: Pony Island (with Chris - 1H1D)Do you ever feel like you missed the boat on a game? Maybe it was really influential and subsequent games used its "trick"? Maybe you wonder if that OG still has the juice even though you couldn't possibly go into the game completely blind? These were the thoughts running through my mind as I booted up Pony Island by Daniel Mullins Games for the first time in 2024. I'm happy to say that despite I'll never get the "true" experience, Pony Island has a lot more going for it than mere gimmicks. This is a game that actually has something...
2024-09-041h 25Tales from the Backlog130: Dave the Diver (with Dave Cox - Monster Dear Monster)Dave the Diver, despite clearly having a great character name, is not my kind of game. Mintrocket's dive-collect-sell-upgrade-dive loop is one that I'm not very motivated by, but Dave the Diver got such unanimous acclaim that I had to take note. And apparently the patrons of the show wanted me to play it as well, because it won one of the montly polls. And this was an interesting episode to make, because I absolutely despise this game. Part of a critic's challenge is articulating why something hits or misses, and usually I'm on the other side of that challenge...
2024-08-212h 10Tales from the Backlog128: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (with Deadbeatpunk - WTFDYW!?)I am FINALLY caught up with Ryu Ga Gotoku and Sega's Yakuza/Like a Dragon franchise, and let me tell you, it feels great to play the games as they release now. This time, in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Ichiban, Kiryu and friends take on the streets of Honolulu. This episode talks about the new story, the unique logistical challenge that the non-Japanese setting presented, giant sharks, baby fetish men making snow, and much more.
Joining me for the discussion is DeadbeatPunk, the nicest man on the internet and host of WTFDYW?! podcast. Each episode of...
2024-08-072h 23
School of Podcasting: Expert Tips for Launching and Growing Your PodcastBecause of My Podcast: Dave EditionMy last day at Libsyn was July 12th, 2024. I'm starting a new chapter in my podcasting career, and so to announce the next chapter, I thought it might be fun (and maybe inspirational? ) for newbies to see what is possible with a podcast. Last week I talked about my journey through technology. I explained that where I am now is NOT where I started and it took years to get here. Today I'm talking about the most important benefit of podcasting (and it's not money, or fame). It's relationships. You will see that one teacher gave me a...
2024-07-2957 minTales from the Backlog126: Cocoon (with Brenden Groom - Pass the Controller)Every now and then, I want to take a break from story-focused games and just play a puzzle-ass puzzle game. Geometric Interactive's Cocoon was just what the doctor ordered, from that perspective. But Cocoon's world hinted at a deeper story, one that seems inaccessible yet present, and that left me with a feeling of want, despite how great the puzzle experience was. Listen to the episode for more! And also a big shoutout to patron Matt aka Stormageddon for submitting this game into the poll it ended up winning! Thanks Matt!
Joining me for the discussion about...
2024-07-241h 15
School of Podcasting: Expert Tips for Launching and Growing Your PodcastDave Jackson’s Journey from Basic Gear to Professional PodcastingI had two people ask me about the "Behind the Scenes" operations of the School of Podcasting. I was nervous about doing this episode. If you're new to the show, I normally don't talk about myself for 47 minutes. As I had two people ask similar questions, I thought I'd share information about:Where I Started (start ugly - great book)My first podcast setupMy first "business office"Why and how I upgraded (and why you probably don't need to).What I'm using now for the podcast and the...
2024-07-2249 minTales from the Backlog122: Mother 3 (with Rebekah Valentine)Famously never localized for an English-speaking audience, HAL Laboratory and Brownie Brown's Mother 3 has almost become a meme at this point. So much so that I wondered if it could live up the inflated expectations that I unwittingly put on games that are unavailable or difficult to find, a kind of forbidden fruit syndrome. So I made sure to put Mother 3 on my Backlog Resolutions list for 2024 and hey! It's pretty good! It's a lot like Earthbound in good and bad ways, and I like the story of Mother 3 for different reasons than I liked Earthbound's story. Looks like...
2024-06-262h 41Tales from the Backlog121: The Last Guardian (with Chris - Franchise Festival)Fumito Ueda's trilogy of Playstation games- Ico, Shadow of the Colossus and The Last Guardian- are idiosyncratic, minimalist art pieces. The final game in the trilogy, before the unfortunate dissolution of Japan Studio, was The Last Guardian, showcasing the uneasy partnership between an unnamed boy and a large, fearsome beast named Trico. The Last Guardian pushes back on the idea that games need to be responsive and frictionless, instead forcing you to rely on your shaky communication with an animal to progress through the game. Your mileage may vary with how willing you are to put up with this...
2024-06-192h 11Tales from the Backlog117: The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (with Jared - Play Along Podcast)As the Legend of Zelda series has pivoted to free-flowing and creativity-focused open words, "The Zelda Formula" has fallen by the wayside, left in the memories of those who grew up with it. That's certainly the case for me, as I welcomed the change that Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom brought to the series. However, the old ways still hold a place in my heart, and I was happy to revisit The Minish Cap for this episode. This marks an interesting period in the series, where Capcom worked with Nintendo to develop the handheld Zelda...
2024-05-221h 53
Podcast Website Tips: Growing Your Podcast via the WebWhy Every Podcaster Needs a Website: Insights from Dave JacksonIn this episode of "Your Podcast Website," host Dave Jackson emphasizes the importance of having a dedicated website for podcasters. He argues that relying solely on social media platforms can be precarious, as they are subject to changes and shutdowns that could disconnect creators from their audiences. Using examples like MP3.com, Friendster, and MySpace, Dave illustrates the risks of building a presence on platforms that podcasters don't own. He advocates for a personal website to centralize all activities and ensure control over content and audience interaction. The episode is packed with practical advice on website creation, optimizing for...
2024-04-1914 minTales from the BacklogCRPG History & The Breakout Success of Baldur's Gate 3 (with Felipe Pepe - The CPRG Book)During the first few months after Baldur's Gate 3 released, I heard a similar refrain coming from my friends and people on social media- people would say something like "I normally don't play RPGs like this, but I love Baldur's Gate 3! Flash forward 6 months and now Baldur's Gate 3 has swept the major award shows and broken into the top 10 most-played list on Steam. How did a game from such a niche genre break into the mainstream?
In order to answer this, I invited CRPG historian and writer/editor for The CRPG Book, Felipe Pepe, on to the show...
2024-04-172h 05Tales from the Backlog113: The Case of the Golden Idol (with NinaStruggles)From the first time I saw a screenshot of The Case of the Golden Idol, by Color Gray Games, I was struck by these caricaturish portraits and knew I'd have to follow up on it someday. Then the comparisons to a favorite of mine, Return of the Obra Dinn, started rolling in and I knew I would have to play it sooner rather than later. And a big shoutout to community member Soccr for buying this for me in our Discord server Secret Santa! Yay!
Joining me to discuss The Case of the Golden Idol is NinaStruggles...
2024-04-101h 57Tales from the BacklogEvaluating Retro Games RoundtableIn this discussion, Dave is joined by Chris Coplien (Retro Hangover podcast), Rick Firestone (Pixel Project Radio podcast) and Andre (Fine Time podcast) to discuss the challenges and our personal approaches to evaluating retro games. In this episode, we discuss our perspectives and some specific games like Rocket Knight Adventures, Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Monkey Ball, Kingdom Hearts, Dragon Quest/Dragon Warrior and many more!
Support Tales from the Backlog on Patreon! or buy me a coffee on Ko-fi!
Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server!
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2024-02-282h 38Tales from the Backlog95: F-Zero X (with Dave Pietrangelo - Remember 64)To my knowledge, this is the only podcast ever recorded at over 1000 km/h. F-Zero X, by Nintendo EAD for the Nintendo 64 features hyperspeed racing, buttery smooth gameplay and an absolutely incredible shredding speed metal soundtrack. Joining me on this high-speed podcast is Dave Pietrangelo of Remember 64, Back in My Day, Creature Cast and Console Creatures. You can find everything Dave is doing by following this link!
TIMESTAMPS
Intros/Personal Histories/Opening Thoughts 1:57
Story Setup/Character Backstories 19:27
Soundtrack/Visuals 39:43
Gameplay 53:52
Gameplay, continued/Closing Thoughts 1:15:32
NO SPOILER WALL
Support Tales...
2023-11-151h 38Tales from the Backlog92: Dead Space (2023) (with Chris aka Vertigo2Hell)Put another tally in the "Dave is covering a game on the podcast that he swore he'd never play" list- life came at me fast, I suppose. Dead Space (2023), Motive Studio and EA's remake of the original Dead Space from 2008 is an incredible visual upgrade on already great gameplay, though it does wear out its welcome as it seems to run out of novel gameplay ideas well before the story has wrapped up. Joining me to discuss Dead Space is Chris aka Vertigo2Hell, a Twitch streamer who specializes in horror game streams. You should give him a follow...
2023-10-181h 55Tales from the BacklogWhat Makes a Good Remake? (with Dylan & Dave - Offshore Gamecast)Remakes are so hot these days. From 20+ year old influental titles like Metroid to games that were still available on modern platforms like The Last of Us, love em or hate em, remakes here to stay. So in this episode, Dave & Dylan from Offshore Gamescast join me to discuss when remakes are wanted, why some succeed and what we'd like to see in the future. You can find all things Offshore Gamescast at their website!
Support Tales from the Backlog on Patreon! or buy me a coffee on Ko-fi!
Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord...
2023-07-191h 35Tales from the BacklogWhy We Love the Yakuza/Like a Dragon Series (with Matt aka Stormageddon)- Producer's ChoiceDave is joined by Matt aka Stormageddon for another Producer's Choice episode, focusing on why we love the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series. Ryu Ga Gotoku's long-running crime melodrama series has introduced us to some of our favorite protagonists, side characters and level 100 weirdos through the years, so we wanted to take some time and talk about it. You can find all of Matt's wonderful podcasts ("Fun" and Games, Reignite, Screen Snark) on your favorite podcast app or at their website.
Producer's Choice is a bonus series on Tales from the Backlog, where Patreon supporters at the "...
2023-05-211h 46
Collabcast by IAOA with Captain Dave JacksonCollabcast by IAOA with Captain Dave Jackson TrailerCollabcast by IAOA with Captain Dave Jackson is a weekly podcast for independent insurance agency owners. We provide the guests who move our industry with selfless collaboration and innovation.
2023-04-0400 minTales from the Backlog66: Nier: Replicant (with Brian Edwards- Character Issues, Cane and Rinse)Dave is joined by Brian Edwards of Character Issues and Cane and Rinse podcasts to discuss Nier: Replicant. Yoko Taro's 2010 cult classic got a makeover in 2021, so let's find out how it is! Nier will do anything to save his sick sister Yonah, and along the way he meets a stellar supporting cast of characters, including the stuck-up talking book Grimoire Weiss, the scantily clad badass Kaine, and the lovable Emil. Joining me to discuss the story, characters and gameplay is none other than Brian Edwards! You may have heard Brian on the wonderful Character Issues and Cane and...
2023-03-222h 50
Your Podcast Consultant: Podcast Tips To Avoid Podcasting MistakesDave Jackson: The Honest Podcast ConsultantPodcasting is an exciting way to share your ideas and passions with the world. But if you’re looking to monetize your podcast, then you need to have an audience. Unfortunately, many aspiring podcasters think that just by podcasting for a certain amount of time, they will be able to make money. This is not the case. As Dave Jackson, the honest podcast consultant, explains, you can’t monetize dust. To make money from your podcast, you need to have a sizable audience. While there are some rare occasions where you can make money with a small audi...
2023-03-1508 minTales from the Backlog45: 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim (with Rick Firestone - Pixel Project Radio)If you're experiencing some audio skipping in the episode, please delete and re-download. Had a bit of an issue that I think should be cleared up now. Thanks! -Dave
Want a cool sci-fi story that will keep you guessing and melt your brain? Want a nice beginner's intro to visual novels? Want a very, very mediocre and easy real-time strategy game? Look no further! 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim has you covered! Developed by Vanillaware and published by Atlus in 2019, 13 Sentinels is a game where I enjoyed the story a LOT, got through the RTS sections, and had some...
2022-09-281h 51Tales from the Backlog42: Spec Ops: The Line (with Chris Coplien - Retro Hangover)There are games with good stories, there are games with great gameplay, and there are games where gameplay directly feeds into the story to create an experience you'll never forget. Spec Ops: The Line (Yager Development, 2012) is one of those games. Chris Coplien from Retro Hangover joins Dave for a discussion about the incredible things that this game does.
TIMESTAMPS:
Intros and Personal Histories 00:54
Story Setup and Themes 14:49
Combat and Gameplay 39:37
Final Thoughts 53:54
Spoiler Wall 59:44
Check out Retro Hangover! It's a very entertaining and informative retro gaming podcast.
...
2022-09-072h 29Tales from the Backlog41: The Last of Us (with Ben Robinson - Play Along Podcast)Some games are released, garner acclaim and fans, and fade into our Nostalgia centers. Some games, however, keep growing until they are something much bigger. The Last of Us is a trend-setter, influencing the direction of Sony's first-party titles of the past decade, while also being remastered AND remade before spinning out into a multimedia franchise. But does it deserve the hype and continuing obsession? Is it truly one of the greatest video games ever made?
Dave is joined by Ben Robinson of Play Along Podcast to discuss the original PS3 release and the PS4 remaster.
2022-08-312h 33Tales from the Backlog39: Deathloop (with Morgan Remington - Intergalactic Pinecone)After years of making critically acclaimed games in a genre that doesn't historically sell, Arkane Studios jumped on the roguelike time loop trend with their flashy, stylish Deathloop. It should have been a home run, right? The marriage of Arkane Studios' best-in-class level design and aesthetics with a game concept that would require players to use their tools creatively, lest they need to start over from square one. But was it the harmonious marriage we were waiting for? In this episode, Dave was joined by Morgan Remington, captain of the Intergalactic Pinecone, to discuss.
TIMESTAMPS:
Intros...
2022-08-171h 54Tales from the Backlog38: Vampire Survivors (with Chris Rettig)Vampire Survivors is a special game. There are no complicated mechanics to learn, no story to keep track of, no lore to uncover, no enemy attack patterns to learn, no crafting systems, and no loot tables, and despite this, we can't stop playing it. It is pure video game, and it is a breath of fresh air in an era where video games keep getting bigger and more complex. Dave is joined by good friend and milk resale extraordinaire Chris Rettig to discuss Vampire Survivors. Please note, as this was in **Early Access* at the time of recording, we...
2022-08-101h 57Tales from the BacklogElden Ring Bosses Tier List (with Jim Rodeman)Wrapping up Elden Ring month, as per tradition, Dave is joined by Jim Rodeman to tier-rank the Elden Ring bosses. TOGETHAAAAA we go through all of the bosses labelled as "Great Enemy" and above!
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2022-07-271h 53Tales from the BacklogElden Ring for the FromSoftware Newbie (with Aaron Angle and Ryan Arrington)During the pre-release marketing cycle for Elden Ring, the game's director and FromSoftware president Hidetaka Miyazaki made comments to the effect that "Elden Ring will be the most accessible FromSoftware game to date, and that we think that more people will finish Elden Ring than any of the previous games". Dave is joined by Aaron Angle and Ryan Arrington to discuss one simple question- why is Elden Ring the most approachable FromSoftware game for new players? We also read some listener responses from first-time players!
TIMESTAMPS:
Personal Histories with FromSoftware, Why Elden Ring? 0:37
Build Variety...
2022-07-201h 26Tales from the BacklogFromSoftware and the Open World (with Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamers)Elden Ring Month continues! FromSoftware certainly didn't invent the open world, and they didn't really invent any of the open world design decisions that helped make Elden Ring a success. So what makes a good open world? In this Break from the Backlog, Dave is joined by Andrew and Dylan from Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamers to discuss open-world games as a whole, as well as how FromSoftware learned from the best to make Elden Ring.
TIMESTAMPS:
Intro, Personal Histories, Good Open Worlds 0:33
Checkboxes and Map Markers- Eeevillll(?) 44:17
Demerits 56:20
Elden Ring 1:14:25
Going Forward 1:51:28
2022-07-132h 11Tales from the Backlog36: Elden Ring (with Ryan Juengling- List Off!)Elden Ring Month has begun on Tales from the Backlog! Up first, Dave is joined by Ryan Juengling from List Off! to discuss FromSoftware's game of the generation candidate, Elden Ring. With the elevator pitch of simply "Open-world Dark Souls" and wild expectations from fans, Elden Ring had a higher bar to clear than many new releases. Did it meet or even exceed expectations, or did it fall short? Listen in to find out!
TIMESTAMPS
Intros, Personal Histories, Opening Thoughts 00:46
First Impressions, Approachability 13:20
Open World, Exploration 51:19
Platforming, Crafting 1:19:12
Story, Boss Fights 1:38:41
...
2022-07-063h 22Tales from the Backlog34: Yakuza: Like a Dragon (with Rick Firestone - Pixel Project Radio)Dave is joined by Rick Firestone from Pixel Project Radio to discuss Ryu Ga Gotoku's refresh of the Yakuza franchise. Yakuza: Like a Dragon brings a new protagonist and turn-based combat into the franchise, so tune in to find out how Rick and Dave feel about it.
TIMESTAMPS:
Intro, Personal Histories and Opening Thoughts 0:26
Story Setup 13:34
Combat 47:37
Side Content and Final Thoughts 1:19:28
Spoiler Wall 1:41:15
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2022-06-222h 43Tales from the Backlog33: Unsighted (with Nave - Gaming Together Podcast)Dave is joined by Nave from the Gaming Together Podcast to discuss Studio Pixel Punk's inventive action game, Unsighted. Unsighted merges a little bit of Zelda, a little bit of metroidvania, a little bit of Souls and a unique time mechanic- listen in to find out what we thought!
*I experienced some recording issues that caused a sound quality drop in this episode- technology is a real pain sometimes! Thanks for understanding!
TIMESTAMPS:
Intro, Personal Histories and Opening Thoughts 0:52
Story Setup, Time Mechanic and Map/Metroidvania 11:45
Combat, Bosses, Crafting and Side Quests 49:12
2022-06-152h 08Tales from the Backlog32: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (with Alan Nichols - A Top 3 Podcast)Dave is joined by Alan Nichols to discuss The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. What was once little brother to the much more popular Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask has begun to resonate with many of us who grew up with the N64 during our childhoods. Add in some things that hit a bit closer to home since the pandemic started, and we have a game worth revisiting. But did the gameplay hold up? Listen to find out what we think.
*I experienced some technical issues wirh my track recording that affected sound quality. Hope it doesn't...
2022-06-082h 34Tales from the Backlog31: Shadow of the Colossus (with Adam Bucceri)Dave is joined by tabletop RPG developer Adam Bucceri to discuss Shadow of the Colossus. Originally released on the PS2 back in 2005, Shadow of the Colossus stands today as a truly unique experience in gaming, one that has yet to be replicated. Find out what we thought, plus a discussion on the merits of game remakes!
TIMESTAMPS:
Intro/Personal Histories 0:42
Story and Presentation 18:12
Gameplay 40:20
Soundtrack, Remakes, and Final Thoughts 1:09:43
Spoiler Wall 1:41:30
Follow Adam on Twitter and check out ENTER THE SURVIVAL HORROR on his itch.io page, and
...
2022-06-012h 46Tales from the BacklogDark Souls 3 Bosses Tier List (FULL SPOILERS) (with Jake Anderson)(Full spoilers!) Dave is joined by returning guest Jake Anderson to tier-rank the bosses in Dark Souls 3. This is a game with some boss fights that are among the best in the whole series, and some that are straight up Not Fun. Find out where we're ranking bosses like Abyss Watchers, Dancer of the Boreal Valley, Slave Knight Gael and Sister Friede.
Make your own Dark Souls 3 bosses tier list here
And share it with us in the Discord!
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2022-05-251h 43Tales from the Backlog30: Dark Souls 3 (with Adam Rivera)Dave is joined once again by Adam Rivera to discuss the finale (for now) in the Dark Souls series. Dark Souls 3 combined the faster gameplay of Bloodborne with the usual Dark Souls gameplay, but was it a happy marriage? And what's going on with all the fan service? Find out how we feel in this episode!
*Both Adam and I had some technical issues in this recording that affected the audio quality, but the conversation is worth it, I promise! Sorry!
TIMESTAMPS:
Story and gameplay changes pt 1 12:52
Gameplay changes pt 2 42:22
Bosses and...
2022-05-182h 39Tales from the Backlog29: Pokemon Legends: Arceus (with Jared Moss - Play Along Podcast)Dave is joined by Jared Moss from Play Along Podcast to discuss Game Freak's 2022 hit, Pokemon Legends: Arceus. Representing a major shakeup to the established Pokemon formula, Legends makes changes to nearly every core mechanic that we've all come to know as "how Pokemon works". Was it really the game that fans have been asking for for decades? Listen in to find out what Dave and Jared thought.
TIMESTAMPS:
Personal histories 8:42
Story, gameplay, catching Pokemon 34:13
Battles 1:19:00
Final thoughts 1:40:58
Spoiler Wall 1:50:42
Find everything Play Along Podcast HERE!
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2022-05-112h 27Tales from the Backlog28: It Takes Two (with Aaron Angle - A Top 3 Podcast)Dave is joined by the author of the Book of Love, Aaron Angle, to discuss Hazelight Studio's 2021 Game of the Year winner, It Takes Two. This game has garnered a lot of attention, and Dave and Aaron agree that some parts of the game really deserve all of the accolades. The other parts, on the other hand? Listen in to find out.
Timestamps:
Personal histories, story and gameplay 7:45
Sound design, music and final thoughts 59:50
Spoiler wall: 1:18:35
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2022-05-042h 03Tales from the Backlog27: Returnal (with Ryan Delaney)Dave is joined by Ryan Delaney to talk about Housemarque's 2021 action roguelike hit, Returnal. Returnal brings bullet hell to 3D and adds an intriguing sci-fi story on the roguelike structure. Did this work for us on all fronts? Find out in the episode.
*The Returnal: Ascension DLC was announced and release after this episode was recorded. I added a small section at the end about my story theories, but Ryan and I did not discuss it. It's fun though, you should try it!
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2022-04-272h 19Tales from the Backlog26: Earthbound (with Keith Gasper - The Main Quest)Dave is joined by Keith from the wonderful The Main Quest podcast to talk about 1994's cult classic JRPG, Earthbound.
Find everything Main Quest HERE!
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2022-04-203h 17Tales from the BacklogBloodborne Bosses Tier List (FULL SPOILERS) (with Andrew & Dylan - Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamers)Dave is joined by Andrew Kimball and Dylan Wren from Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamers to tier rank the Bloodborne bosses. This episode contains full spoilers for Bloodborne!
Find Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamers on your podcast platform of choice, YouTube, Twitch or their website and follow them on Twitter and Instagram.
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2022-04-132h 51Tales from the Backlog25: Bloodborne (with Moonborne & Jake Anderson)Dave is joined by Moonborne and Jake Anderson to take on FromSoftware's incredible gothic/Lovecraftian horror classic, Bloodborne. FromSoftware took a big swing with Bloodborne, a game marketed as a werewolf slaying game but with a decidedly cosmic twist. Did that big swing connect? Check out the episode to find out.
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2022-04-063h 26Tales from the Backlog24: Metroid Dread (with Eric Gess - The Unlockables & Sidequesting Podcast)Dave is joined by the wonderful Eric Gess to discuss Nintendo & MercurySteam's long-awaited entry in the beloved Metroid franchise, Metroid Dread. After a long wait, Metroid Dread released with smooth and snappy controls, upgraded combat, and a new gameplay challenge with the EMMI zones. Listen in to hear what we thought of everything!
TIMESTAMPS OF NOTE: Spoiler Wall 1:48:30
For all things Eric and Unlockables, click here!
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2022-03-302h 13Tales from the Backlog23: Persona 5 (with Aaron Angle and Ryan Arrington)Dave is joined by Aaron Angle and Ryan Arrington to discuss both Persona 5 and its expansion, Persona 5 Royal, the latest in the long-running series by Atlus. Hailed as a modern JRPG classic, Persona 5 brings addictive life sim mechanics, snappy turn-based combat, stylish visual design and one hell of a soundtrack. Is there anything it can't do? Listen in to find out!
TIMESTAMPS: Persona 5 11:52,
Spoiler wall 2:10:33
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2022-03-232h 39Tales from the Backlog22: Before Your Eyes (with Brian Edwards - Cane & Rinse)Dave is joined by Brian Edwards from Cane & Rinse to discuss GoodbyeWorld Games' wonderful experiment with interactivity, Before Your Eyes.
TIMESTAMPS: Intro 0:00, Before Your Eyes 10:55, Spoiler Wall and Content Warning, 1:00:41
Find Brian on Twitter, at his blog, and on his Twitch channel.
Listen to Cane and Rinse on Apple, Spotify or wherever else you podcast, follow them on Twitter and Instagram, and please consider supporting them on Patreon. You can also join their forums at their website.
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2022-03-162h 08Tales from the Backlog21: King's Field: The Ancient City (with mysticreferee)Dave is joined by mysticreferee to discuss part of FromSoftware's past, King's Field IV aka King's Field: The Ancient City. For everybody who has jumped on the FromSoftware train in recent years, whether it was back on the PS3 with Demon's Souls or even Elden Ring, here is a game from an older version of FromSoftware, but it still shows a lot of the world building, atmosphere and even early versions of some of the mechanics that we now strongly associate with From.
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2022-03-092h 59Tales from the Backlog20: Blasphemous (with Chris Nelson)Dave is joined by the ultimate penitent one, Chris Nelson, to discuss The Game Kitchen's 2019 metroidvania, Blasphemous. Blasphemous is much more on the "vania" side of the metroidvania genre, and it brings some truly stellar imagery and pixel art, as well as some simple but fun combat to the table. Find out how we feel in detail in the episode!
TIMESTAMPS: Intro 0:00, Blasphemous 8:14, Spoiler Section 1:31:30
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2022-03-022h 07Tales from the Backlog19: Darkest Dungeon (with Andrew Tavin - TV Nopes and House of House)Dave is joined by Andrew Tavin, host of the TV Nopes and House of House podcasts to discuss Red Hook Studio's 2016 dungeon crawler, Darkest Dungeon. Darkest Dungeon brings pantheon-level turn-based combat, as well as heavy Lovecraft influence and some interesting mechanical ideas to the dungeon crawler genre. Find out how we feel in this thorough breakdown of the game!
TIMESTAMPS: Intro 0:00, Darkest Dungeon 25:38, Spoiler Section 2:19:50
Find TV Nopes on your favorite podcast app or at its homepage
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2022-02-233h 00Tales from the Backlog18: Death's Door (with Brian and Ryan - List Off!)Dave is joined by both of the hosts of the List Off! podcast to discuss Acid Nerve's 2021 indie darling, Death's Door. Death's Door was a surprise hit in 2021, bursting on the scene with a great art direction and soundtrack, and paying homage to 2D Zelda games of the past. But was it all as cool as a crow wielding a bright red lightsaber? Listen in to find out!
TIMESTAMPS: Intro 0:00, Death's Door 12:39, Spoiler Section 1:18:18
Click here for everything List Off!
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2022-02-161h 52Tales from the BacklogDark Souls Bosses Tier Rankings (with Jack Allen)The Furtive Pygmy Jack Allen returns, as we put every boss in Dark Souls into a tier list. Do the tier list yourself and share it with Dave on the podcast socials! Let's compare!
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2022-02-141h 36Tales from the Backlog17: Dark Souls (with Jack Allen)Dave is joined by Jack Allen to talk about the perfect Valentine's Day game- Dark Souls. Don't give up, skeleton! Dark Souls is a game that changed the way many people, your host included, look at video games, and specifically the way people look at difficulty in video games. Find out why we think this is truly worthy of that Game of the Decade title.
TIMESTAMPS: Intro 0:00, Dark Souls 10:50, Spoiler Section 2:21:47
Find Jack and his artwork at https://www.instagram.com/jackallencaricatures/ and his other pages
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2022-02-093h 11Tales from the Backlog16: A Short Hike (with Ryan Delaney)In the fourth edition of the Lazy Sunday Series focusing on short indie games, Dave is joined by Ryan Delaney to discuss Adam Robinson-Yu's charming hiking game, A Short Hike. In a gaming landscape full of punishing action games, blockbuster AAA titles and promises of hundred of hours of content, sometimes all your soul needs is a short hike with some cute animal characters.
TIMESTAMPS: Intro 0:00, A Short Hike 12:30, Spoiler Section 45:00
The making of A Short Hike GDC talk
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2022-02-0756 minTales from the Backlog15: Hitman 2 (with Scott Danielson)Dave is joined by Scott Danielson for part 2 of their own personal Hitman World of Long Podcasts Trilogy. Did you enjoy Hitman (2016)? You'll probably enjoy this game. Did you enjoy our episode about Hitman 1? Don't answer that, but you'll enjoy this episode as we dive deep into what makes this game, and this series, so good.
TIMESTAMPS: Intro 0:00, Hitman 2 14:50, Spoiler Section 1:45:43
Hitman Speedrun Explained- Tomatoanus
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2022-01-313h 48Tales from the Backlog14: The Messenger (with Alfredo - The Dukes of Gaming)Dave is joined by the Duke of Education himself, Alfredo Takori of the Dukes of Gaming podcast to discuss Sabotage Studio's 2018 retreaux action platformer, The Messenger. This is a game that excels in its presentation and basic Ninja Gaiden-esque gameplay, but has a few big tricks up its sleeve. Does it pull them off? Listen in to find out.
TIMESTAMPS: (0:00 intro, 15:09 The Messenger discussion, 1:35:47 spoiler wall)
Check out the Dukes of Gaming Podcast
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2022-01-242h 18Tales from the Backlog13: Disco Elysium (with Rick Firestone - Pixel Project Radio)Dave is joined by Rick Firestone of Pixel Project Radio to discuss ZA/UM's 2019 classic, Disco Elysium. Disco Elysium was a popular pick for 2019 Game of the Year, and Rick and Dave not only agree with that status, but would both put this game in their personal all-time pantheon of must-play games. Listen in to find out why!
TIMESTAMPS: Intro 0:00, Disco Elysium 12:40, Spoiler Section 2:10:00
Noah Caldwell-Gervais on Disco Elysium
Listen to Pixel Project Radio on Apple and Spotify
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2022-01-173h 44Tales from the Backlog12: Florence (with Heather Siddiqui and Nick Greenberg)In the 3rd edition of the Lazy Sunday series focusing on short indie games, Dave is joined by Heather Siddiqui and Nick Greenberg to discuss the 2018 interactive visual novel by Mountains, Florence. Florence is a very short game that packs a huge emotional punch, brilliantly conveying emotions via color, music and simple gameplay mechanics.
TIMESTAMPS: Intro 0:00, Florence 10:50, Spoiler Section 41:50
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2022-01-102h 10Tales from the Backlog11: Hollow Knight (with Jim Rodeman)Dave is joined by anthropomorphic centipede Jim Rodeman to discuss Team Cherry's legendary metroidvania, Hollow Knight. Standing alone at the top of Metroidvania Mountain is a surprise indie hit, one that marries the lonely atmosphere of Dark Souls with best-in-class map design and fun, expressive combat.
TIMESTAMPS: Intro 0:00, Hollow Knight 12:23, Spoiler Section 1:33:35
Game Maker's Toolkit- The World Design of Hollow Knight
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2022-01-032h 13Tales from the Backlog2021 In ReviewDave discusses his year in gaming, including the top games he played for the first time in 2021, each game he played that was actually released in 2021, and eventually naming his top 3 games from 2021 in the process. Thank you all for listening as the show has gotten off the ground, and I look forward to continuing to grow and improve in 2022.
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2021-12-311h 14Tales from the Backlog10: Silent Hill 2 (with Adelaide Lohkamp)Dave is joined by Adelaide Lohkamp (she/her), who emerged from the endless fog to discuss Konami's pillar of the survival horror genre, Silent Hill 2.
Dave is NOT a horror game fan, and also has trouble playing older games with very outdated gameplay and/or mechanics....so what is it that automatically vaulted Silent Hill 2 onto his "must-play" list? Listen in to find out, and keep that radio handy.
*Note I refer to Adelaide by another name in the episode, but as preferences have changed since the recording date, please use the name Adelaide when referring...
2021-12-272h 13Tales from the Backlog9: Gone Home (with Jake Anderson)[Support Tales from the Backlog on Patreon!](patreon.com/realdavejackson) or buy me a coffee on Ko-fi!
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Listen to A Top 3 Podcast on Apple, Spotify and [other podcast platforms](atop3podcast.fireside.fm)! In the second entry in the Lazy Sunday series focusing on short indie games, Dave is joined again by newly typecasted Walking Sim enthusiast Jake Anderson to talk...
2021-12-201h 53Tales from the Backlog8: Death's Gambit: Afterlife (with Moonborne)Dave is joined by stylish combat enthusiast Moonborne to discuss White Rabbit's incredible entry into the 2D soulslike genre, Death's Gambit. Death's Gambit, with its Afterlife expansion, is more than worthy of a seat at the table of the best 2D soulslikes, and a fun metroidvania to boot. Throw in a story that takes some interesting turns, and some cool lore ideas, and this is one that's an easy recommendation for fans of soulslikes and/or metroidvanias.
TIMESTAMPS: Intro 0:00, Death's Gambit 8:27, Spoiler Secton 1:46:50
Moonborne on Twitter
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2021-12-132h 51Tales from the Backlog7: Dragon's Dogma (with Adam Rivera)Dave is joined by professional griffin rider Adam Rivera to discuss Capcom's uncanny western RPG, Dragon's Dogma. This is a game where the combat shines, and the story goes in some really weird places with some of gaming's strangest pacing. And did you know that wolves hunt in packs?
TIMESTAMPS: Intro 0:00, Dragon's Dogma 8:15, 1:29:15
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2021-12-062h 06Tales from the BacklogHappy 20th Smash Melee + GameCube Games Tier ListIn a very special bonus episode, Dave talks about good memories playing Smash Melee and then tier ranks 42 other GameCube games. Do the tier list yourself!
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2021-12-0349 minTales from the Backlog6: SOMA (with Ryan Delaney)Dave is joined by Ryan Delaney to discuss Frictional Games' existential horror classic, SOMA. This is a game with an absolutely top-level story that simply has to be experienced, but does the simplistic gameplay drag down the overall experience? Listen to find out what we think.
TIMESTAMPS: Intro 0:00, SOMA 9:40, Spoiler Section 41:50
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2021-11-292h 02Tales from the Backlog5: Firewatch (with Jake Anderson)In the first in the Lazy Sunday series focusing on short indie games, Dave is joined by climbing safety enthusiast Jake Anderson to discuss Campo Santo's hit walking sim, Firewatch. Firewatch is at the same time critically acclaimed and a bit of a lightning rod for criticism. Find out what Dave and Jake think in the episode.
TIMESTAMPS: Intro 0:00, Firewatch 12:15, Spoiler Section 44:47
GDC Talk on making the world of Firewatch
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2021-11-221h 42Tales from the Backlog4: Hades (with Aaron Angle and Jim Rodeman)Dave is joined by Aaron "The Minotaur" Angle and nectar enthusiast Jim Rodeman to discuss Supergiant's latest hit, Hades. Hades brings some things to the table that will bring in players who don't normally play roguelites or fall off of them quickly. Listen to find out if it it was enough for us.
TIMESTAMPS: (Intro 0:00, Hades 11:47, Spoiler Section 1:24:28)
NoClip documentary series chronicling the making and release of Hades
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2021-11-152h 15Tales from the Backlog3: Hitman (2016) (with Scott Danielson)Dave is joined by Helmut Kruger enthusiast Scott Danielson to discuss the 2016 reboot of the Hitman series. This is the first game in the truly wonderful World of Assassination Trilogy. Join us as we go in detail about what makes this game work, and our favorite memories of each level in the spoiler section.
TIMESTAMPS: (Intro 0:00, Hitman 11:30, Spoiler Section 1:17:44)
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2021-11-082h 29Tales from the Backlog2: Ghost of Tsushima (with Aaron Angle and Ryan Delaney)Dave is joined by Aaron Angle and Ryan Delaney to discuss Sucker Punch Productions' 2020 hit, Ghost of Tsushima. This is a stunningly beautiful open world game that does not quite transcend genre tropes, but does a great job to hide them and build immersion. Throw in a few fun new mechanics and some great story moments, and you've got a recipe for a damn good game.
TIMESTAMPS: Intro 0:00, Ghost of Tsushima 15:05, Spoiler Section 1:27:20
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2021-11-012h 01Tales from the Backlog1: Rocket League (with Aaron Angle and Ryan Arrington)Dave is joined by Aaron Angle and Ryan Arrington to discuss Rocket League, one of the best modern sports games available. For this game to be the topic of the first episode of this show, you know it's a special one. Smooth controls, kinetic action, and all of the highs and lows that you get playing real sports- it's all here.
TIMESTAMPS: Intro 0:00, Rocket League 14:26, no spoiler section)
Noclip documentary about the making of Rocket League
[Support Tales from the Backlog on Patreon!](patreon.com/realdavejackson) or buy me a coffee on Ko-fi!
2021-10-251h 20