Tales from the Backlog

Jaksot

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  Do Video Games "Hold Up"? (with Retro Spectives) 16.09.2026 2t 3min

  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 "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/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog
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  230: Quest 64 (with Mike aka Quest64Official) 09.09.2026 2t 1min

  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 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/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog
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  229: The Beginner's Guide (with Matt aka Stormageddon - "Fun" and Games, Reignite) 02.09.2026 2t 31min

  Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog After 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/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog
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  228: Golden Sun (with Rebekah Valentine) 26.08.2026 2t 32min

  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 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/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog
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  227: Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin (with Gen Moonen - "Fun" and Games) 19.08.2026 2t 23min

  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 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/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog
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  226: Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age (with Andre - Fine Time) 12.08.2026 2t 32min

  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 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/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog
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  225: Arco (with Luis Aguasvivas) 05.08.2026 2t 14min

  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 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/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog
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  224: Titanium Court (with Emily Merritt - No Small Games) 29.07.2026 2t 31min

  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 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/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog
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  223: Pokémon Conquest (with Jared Moss - Play Along Podcast) 22.07.2026 2t 5min

  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 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/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog
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  Video Game Music Appreciation 101 (with Rick Firestone & Charlie Young) 15.07.2026 2t 16min

  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 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/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog
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  222: Mina the Hollower (with Matt aka Stormageddon - "Fun" and Games) 08.07.2026 2t 36min

  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 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/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog
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  221: Minishoot' Adventures (with Roger Reichardt - Gamerheads Podcast) 01.07.2026 1t 40min

  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 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/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog
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  220: Pyre (with AJ Fillari) 24.06.2026 2t 33min

  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, 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/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog
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  219: Drakengard (with IdolismJ) 17.06.2026 2t 36min

  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 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/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog
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  218: Fire Emblem: Three Houses (with Claire - Date With Us) 10.06.2026 2t 54min

  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 (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/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog
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  217: Many Nights a Whisper (with Flora Merigold) 03.06.2026 2t 36min

  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 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/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog
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  216: Isles of Sea and Sky (with Jesse Guarascia) 27.05.2026 1t 44min

  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 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/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog
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  215: Kingdom Hearts (with Leah Haydu) 20.05.2026 2t 31min

  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 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/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog
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  214: Cairn (with Rachel Watts) 13.05.2026 2t 41min

  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 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/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog
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  213: Hitman 3 & Freelancer Mode (with Scott Danielson) 06.05.2026 3t 10min

  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 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/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog