Tales from the Backlog

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- https://discord.gg/kAqSBb6jH2 Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi- https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson Nobody is more skeptical of a new Soulslike on the block than me. Too often, Soulslikes build around the superficial qualities of FromSoftware's hits and neglect the secret sauce (or miss it entirely). Luckily for me and those who feel the same way, Round8 Studio and Neowiz knocked it out of the park with their Pinocchio-inspired Soulslike, Lies of P. I felt right at home playing through this, and it turned into a really fun conversation. Guest info: Rob Garcia (he/him) and Kelvin Rolon (he/him) * Check out The Gaming Duo https://www.gamingduopod.com/ * Follow on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/thegamingduo.bsky.social TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:28 Intros * 5:40 Personal Histories with Soulsborne and Lies of P * 11:50 Personal Histories with Pinocchio * 15:40 Opening Thoughts About Lies of P * 19:20 Story Setup and Adapting Pinocchio * 34:33 Visual Design * 41:14 Music * 49:09 Difficulty and How to Succeed * 58:56 Weapons and Tools * 1:18:17 Level Design and Exploration * 1:28:21 Boss Fights * 1:33:45 Closing Thoughts and Recommendations * 1:38:14 The Gaming Duo Podcast * 1:41:38 SPOILER WALL and Patron Thank-Yous * 1:43:38 Spoiler Section- Top 3 Boss Fights * 2:05:26 Story Discussion * 2:19:47 Backstory, Comparisons to the Book and Post-Credits Scene Music used in the episode is from the Lies of P OST. Tracks used: * Main Menu (Round8 Studio Sound Team, YK Music) * Divine Service (Electronic Boutique) * Feel (DJ Mocha, Seo Ja Young) * Dreadful March (Studio LAY-BACK) * Judgement of Mourning (Studio LAY-BACK) * Hotel Krat (Studio LAY-BACK) * Quixotic (bermei.inazawa, foolen) * Eventide Hotel (Silun Lee) Social Media: BlueSky- https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/ Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- https://discord.gg/kAqSBb6jH2 Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi- https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson 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 just that chance. Did lightning strike twice? Did the game that "you can only truly play once" work again? Listen in and find out. Guest info: Rick Firestone (he/him) * Check out Pixel Project Radio https://linktr.ee/pixelprojectradio * Follow Rick on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/pixelprojectradio.bsky.social TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:23 Introductions * 6:08 Thoughts About Outer Wilds * 9:11 Thoughts About Echoes of the Eye * 24:14 Pixel Project Radio Podcast * 26:42 SPOILER WALL and Patron Thank-Yous * 28:40 Spoiler Section- Initial Discoveries * 48:05 Spoiler Section- A New World to Explore * 1:24:00 Spoiler Section- Story Analysis and Endings Music used in the episode is credited to Andrew Prahlow. Tracks used: The River, River's End, Elegy for the Rings, Echoes of the Eye, Departure Check out Dave on Retro Hangover's King of Games '99 series: https://linktr.ee/retrohangover Check out Dave on The Tiny Game Chronicles: https://tinyurl.com/m5jhfat9 Social Media: BlueSky- https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/ Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- https://discord.gg/kAqSBb6jH2 Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi- https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson 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 a great conversation. Content warnings for Fear & Hunger: https://www.doesthedogdie.com/media/17804 Guest info: Adam Bucceri (he/him) * Check out Adam's games https://boocherry.itch.io/ TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:15 Intros * 6:03 Our Histories with Fear & Hunger * 9:55 Should We Play Fear & Hunger 1 or 2? * 11:27 Opening Thoughts About Fear & Hunger * 17:24 Content Warnings * 26:15 Game Setup and Character Selection * 31:15 Difficulty and Learning How to Play * 44:55 Player-Hostile Design and Pressures * 58:34 Immersive Sim Elements, Experimentation and Emergent Narrative * 1:07:47 Combat * 1:21:36 Visuals and Sound Design * 1:27:20 Closing Thoughts and Recommendations * 1:34:20 Adam's Games and Creative Works * 1:37:18 SPOILER WALL and Patron Thank-Yous * 1:39:18 Spoiler Section- The Girl, Le'garde and Fun Discoveries * 2:26:35 Spoiler Section- Endings Music used in the episode is credited to Miro Haverinen. Tracks used: Fear & Hunger, The Four Apostles, Pulse & Anxiety, Ancient City, Tomb of the Gods, Everyday Schoolday Check out Dave's guest appearance on The Pre-Order Bonus about Rain World- https://www.patreon.com/c/preordercast Social Media: BlueSky- https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/ Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- https://discord.gg/kAqSBb6jH2 Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi- https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson It's been a real joy working my way through the Silent Hill series alongside doing this show, starting all the way back in episode 10(!) with Silent Hill 2. Today, I'm playing the sequel to Silent Hill 1, which is NOT Silent Hill 2...it's Silent Hill 3, and I've brought on the perfect guest to discuss what many fans to agree to be the last truly good Silent Hill game for many years. Guest info: Kaye Ross (she/her) * Check out all of the wonderful Duckfeed podcasts https://duckfeed.tv/ * Check out Kaye's horror game streams https://www.twitch.tv/duckfeedtv TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:28 Intros * 4:56 Our Histories with Silent Hill 3 * 10:35 Opening Thoughts About Silent Hill 3 * 14:51 Story Setup * 21:53 Aesthetics and Horror * 30:25 Sound Design and Music * 37:14 Heather As a Protagonist * 43:37 Puzzles and Riddles * 50:32 Tank Controls and Combat * 1:03:49 Final Thoughts and Recommendations * 1:06:36 The Many Podcasts at Duckfeed.tv * 1:11:09 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-You's * 1:13:11 Spoiler Section- Heather & The Cult * 1:36:39 Spoiler Section- Heather & Harry Music used in the episode is credited to Akira Yamaoka. Tracks used: You're Not Here, End of Small Sanctuary, Breeze- In Monochrome Night, Something Long Forgotten, Sickness Unto Foolish Death, Hometown Social Media: BlueSky- https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/ Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- https://discord.gg/kAqSBb6jH2 Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi- https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson This year, we're kicking off horror month with a first- a visual novel! It's the first one I've covered on the show, though I enjoy them from time to time, and Slay the Princess (Black Tabby Games, 2023) is certainly an interesting one. It's a choose your adventure visual novel with memorable visuals and a very interesting opening choice- you were sent here to slay the princess, so...do you? Listen in to find out how we felt about it! Guest info: Matt aka Stormageddon (they/them) * Check out "Fun" and Games and Reignite podcasts https://linktr.ee/dj_stormagedddon * Follow Matt on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/djstormageddon.com TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:22 Intros * 4:33 Personal Histories with Slay the Princess and Visual Novels * 8:21 Opening Thoughts About Slay the Princess * 12:56 Story Setup and Choose Your Adventure Structure * 27:53 Presentation * 37:07 Closing Thoughts and Recommendations * 41:40 "Fun" and Games, Reignite Podcasts * 46:59 SPOILER WALL and Patron Thank-Yous * 48:39 Spoiler Section- Our Many Diverse Playthroughs * 1:18:45 Spoiler Section- The Shifting Mound and Endings Music used in the episode is credited to Brandon Boone. Tracks used: The Princess, The World-Ender, Fragmentation, Reality Unwound, The Shifting Mound Social Media: BlueSky- https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/ Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- https://discord.gg/kAqSBb6jH2 Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi- https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson Sometimes, all it takes to grab your attention is a single screenshot, and Ultros (Hadoque, Kepler Interactive, 2024) is definitely one of those games. Every screenshot drips with color and is so rich with detail, it beckons you to come see what's going on. And once you're in, a beautiful soundtrack, lush soundscape and layered story grabs hold, but that's not all that's waiting for you. Ultros is a singular type of game, the type of game that I'm always thrilled to discuss on the podcast. Guest info: John Rogers (he/they) * Check out everything Gaming in the Wild https://gaminginthewild.carrd.co/ * Check out Lost in Cult's Ultros: Design Works, written by John! https://www.lostincult.co.uk/ultros TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:34 Intros * 6:05 Our Histories with Ultros & Metroidvanias * 9:06 Opening Thoughts About Ultros * 13:55 Story/Setting Setup * 15:01 Art and Visual Design * 26:02 Music and Sound Design * 38:00 Emergent Story * 46:51 Gameplay- Combat and Plant Care * 1:03:55 Closing Thoughts and Recommendations * 1:06:51 Gaming in the Wild and Lost in Cult's Design Works- Ultros * 1:13:49 SPOILER WALL and Patron Thank-You's * 1:15:57 Spoiler Section- Business As Usual * 1:32:11 Spoiler Section- A Change * 1:45:13 Spoiler Section- A New Course of Action Music used in the episode is credited to Ratvader. Tracks used: Ouji Saint, Dark Sleep, Gärdner’s Pilgrimage, Dream Lament, But This Time It's Something Different, Ultros Ahimsa Social Media: BlueSky- https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/ Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- https://discord.gg/kAqSBb6jH2 Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi- https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson There are more than enough sports games to go around out there, but the culture of sports does not begin and end on the field of play. There is an entire culture surrounding sports, and I've never played a game that tackles that culture quite like Despelote (Julián Cordero and Sebastián Valbuena, 2025) does. It also takes you back to a slice of childhood in a way that no other game can really claim- it's really something else. Tune in for the discussion! Guest info: Moises Taveras (he/him) * Check out the Despelote review that Moises wrote https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/despelote-review-miraculous-slice-of-life-soccer-game-pulls-a-hat-trick/ * Check out other writing by Moises on Endless Mode https://www.endlessmode.com/author/moises-taveras * Follow Moises on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/platanoranger.bsky.social TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:16 Intros * 4:11 Personal Histories with Despelote and Sports * 15:21 Opening Thoughts About Despelote * 20:01 Story Setup and Community Around Sports * 38:14 Childhood and Visual Presentation * 46:52 Taking You to a Time and Place and Sound Design * 53:26 Gameplay * 1:07:11 Final Thoughts and Recommendations * 1:12:32 Moises' Writing and Where You Can Find It * 1:15:06 SPOILER WALL and Patron Thank-Yous * 1:16:27 Spoiler Section Music and game ambiance used in the episode is credited to Sebastián Valbuena Social Media: BlueSky- https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/ Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- https://discord.gg/kAqSBb6jH2 Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi- https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson Sometimes a game you'd never heard of will break out with a 90+ on the review aggregator websites and immediately turn heads, and that's exactly what happened to me with Bionic Bay (Mureena Oy, Psychoflow Studio, 2025). One screenshot was all it took to make me want to check it out, and then a patron vote sealed the deal. Bionic Bay- cool game! Guest info: Harry Loizides (he/him) * Check out everything Six One Indie does https://www.sixoneindie.com/ * Get ready for the upcoming Six One Indie Showcase https://www.sixoneindie.com/showcase * Check out Harry's writing for Geek Therapeutics https://geektherapeutics.com/ TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:32 Intros * 4:36 Our Histories With Bionic Bay * 7:33 Opening Thoughts About Bionic Bay * 10:13 Story/Game Setup * 15:57 Visual Presentation * 22:20 Music * 27:32 Platforming Abilities and Structure * 40:33 Floaty Jumps, Ragdoll Physics and Comedy * 49:17 Closing Thoughts and Recommendations * 53:45 Six One Indie and Geek Therapeutics * 1:02:18 SPOILER WALL and Patron Thank-Yous * 1:04:03 Spoiler Section- Favorite Levels, Gimmicks, and Theorycrafting Music used in the episode is credited to Francisco Javier Pérez. Tracks used: Polarity, The Grand Egg, Swap, Polarity (Reprise), Bionic Bay Social Media: BlueSky- https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/ Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- https://discord.gg/kAqSBb6jH2 Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi- https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson Everybody has that game they played a hundred times as a kid and therefore can't be objective about anymore, and for us, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is NOT one of those! Both my guest Ty and I both tried the game at various points, but never quite got on with it. The podcast has now given us a chance to revisit Nintendo's landmark title and give it the deep dive treatment- so listen in to find out how we felt this time! Guest info: Ty Schalter (he/him) * Check out FunFactor podcast http://www.funfactorpod.com!/ * Follow Ty on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/tyschalter.com TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:15 Intros * 6:03 Our Histories with Zelda and A Link to the Past * 10:59 Opening Thoughts About A Link to the Past * 18:11 Story Setup * 27:58 Visuals * 31:59 World/Map Design * 35:44 Music * 47:13 Combat * 58:41 Difficulty Curve, Exploration and Secrets * 1:10:00 "The Zelda Formula" * 1:18:41 Dungeons * 1:23:23 Closing Thoughts and Recommendations * 1:38:37 FunFactor Podcast and Ty's Work Online * 1:45:24 SPOILER WALL and Patron Thank-You's * 1:47:49 Spoiler Section Music used in the episode: Title, File Select, Opening Demo, Hyrule Castle, Dark World, Kakariko Village, Ending Social Media: BlueSky- https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/ Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- https://discord.gg/V3ZHz3vYQR Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi- https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden (Don't Nod, 2023) represents a different type of game that Don't Nod has been making alongside their popular choice-based narrative games like Life is Strange and Lost Records: Bloom and Rage. With 2018's Vampyr, Don't Nod took a swing a narrative, decisions-matter action RPG, and while I liked Vampyr a lot, the decisions-matter part of it left a lot to be desired. Five years later, they took another swing at that type of game with Banishers, and really righted that specific area. Decisions matter in Banishers in a way they don't matter in most games, and it led to one of the most effective stories I've played in a while. Guest info: Erik (he/him) * Listen to Pages of Play podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pages-of-play/id1755937349 * Check out Erik's written work on So Many Games https://somanygames.co.uk/ TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:32 Intros * 5:03 Histories with Don't Nod and Banishers * 8:29 Opening Thoughts * 16:22 Story/World Setup and Characters * 28:43 Inciting Plot Event and Choice/Morality System * 37:51 Tough Choices * 48:02 Presentation and Side Quest Writing * 59:00 Combat * 1:13:37 World Design and Vibes * 1:22:50 Boss Fights * 1:27:20 Recommendations * 1:30:20 Pages of Play Podcast * 1:36:38 SPOILER WALL and Patron Thank-Yous * 1:38:06 Spoiler Section- Side Stories Tying Into the Main Story * 2:17:10 Spoiler Section- The Nightmare * 2:32:08 Spoiler Section- Endings Music used in the episode is credited to Trevor Morris. Tracks used: Main Menu, The Harrows, Intimate Moment- Harmony Social Media: BlueSky- https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/ Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- https://discord.gg/kAqSBb6jH2 Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi- https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson 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, Fez, Tunic, etc....but nobody knows how deep Blue Prince goes. It's also rich with interesting design choices and contradictions, more story than meets the eye, a lowkey amazingly good soundtrack and more. Tune in for the discussion! Guest info: Jenny Windom * Check out the Geeks & Grounds game club podcast https://www.geeksandgrounds.com/ * Check out Wholesome Games https://wholesomegames.com/ * Check out Wanderstop https://store.steampowered.com/app/1299460/Wanderstop/ * Check out Jenny on Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/kimchica * Check out Jenny on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/kimchica TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:28 Intros * 5:23 Personal Histories with Blue Prince * 8:50 Opening Thoughts About Blue Prince * 15:40 Story Setup and Top Level Thoughts * 17:59 Note-taking and Organization * 25:44 Drafting Mechanic, Goal Setting and Randomness * 42:55 Getting Better at Blue Prince * 47:52 "This Game Doesn't Respect My Time" * 53:28 You Said This Was a Puzzle Game * 1:03:59 Art and Music * 1:15:04 Closing Thoughts/Recommendations * 1:18:49 Geeks & Grounds, Wholesome Games * 1:25:50 SPOILER WALL/Patron Thank-You's * 1:28:00 Spoiler Section- Discoveries and the Quest for Room 46! * 2:16:00 Spoiler Section- How Deep Does This Go? and The Story, As We Know It Music used in the episode is credited to Trigg & Gusset Tracks used: Stories of All Manor, Vanitas, Bequest, Westwardly Winds, Visions of Emerald, Departure, The Baron of Mount Holly. Purchase the soundtrack here: https://triggandgusset.bandcamp.com/album/blue-prince-the-original-soundtrack Check out Dave's guest appearance on Flashback 64: https://flashback64.com/ Social Media: BlueSky- https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/ Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- https://discord.gg/kAqSBb6jH2 Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi- https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson A good friend of mine likes to say "every game is somebody's favorite game", but I'm always intrigued when some oddball picks enter those conversations, and DoubleFine's Psychonauts is mentioned often enough that I felt like I had to play it someday. And my show patrons (thank you!) made it a point to vote it onto the show, so away we go for a discussion about a fascinating game! Guest info: Marc aka Try of My Life in Gaming * Check out My Life in Gaming on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@mylifeingaming * Check out The Backloggery https://backloggery.com/ TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:18 Intros * 4:46 Personal Histories with Psychonauts * 10:34 Opening Thoughts * 16:20 Story Setup, Comedic Tone * 23:48 Visual Aesthetic * 32:25 Music * 35:37 Voice Acting * 40:49 A Fun Story with Odd Pacing * 55:43 Platforming and Combat * 1:13:15 Cool But Unintuitive * 1:27:11 Wrap-Up Thoughts/Recommendations * 1:33:57 My Life In Gaming/The Backloggery/King of Games * 1:42:32 SPOILER WALL/Patron Thank-Yous * 1:44:33 Spoiler Section Music used in the episode is credited to Peter McConnell. Tracks used: Title and Credits Montage, Whispering Rock Psychic Summer Camp, The Meat Circus, Fighting for the Cause in Lungfishopolis, Agent Cruller's Sacred Hall, The Milkman Conspiracy Social Media: BlueSky- https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/ Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- https://discord.gg/kAqSBb6jH2 Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi- https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson Hazelight Studios were already on the map before their Game of the Year winner It Takes Two, but that game was so much fun that everyone, including me, was waiting to see what their next offering would be like. And it turns out, 2025's Split Fiction is very similar- a ton of fun to play, gorgeous graphics, bad story, and great gaming memories made with a friend. Tune in to find out more. Guest info: Aaron Angle * Check out A Top 3 Podcast https://atop3podcast.fireside.fm/ TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:32 Intros * 4:49 Our Histories with Hazelight and Split Fiction * 6:46 Opening Thoughts About Split Fiction * 11:30 Story Setup * 26:55 Loudly Bad vs Quietly Bad * 34:10 Gameplay and Difficulty * 40:17 Changing Up Gameplay * 47:57 Visuals/Music * 58:41 Truly a Cooperative Game * 1:03:46 Recommendations/Closing Thoughts * 1:10:12 A Top 3 Podcast * 1:12:51 SPOILER WALL/Patron Thank-Yous * 1:14:47 Spoiler Section Music used in the episode is credited to Gustaf Grefberg and Jonatan Järpehag. Tracks used: * Gravity Bike (Gustaf Grefberg) * Split Fiction Main Theme (Jonatan Järpehag) * The Legend of the Sandfish (Gustaf Grefberg) * The Monkey King (Jonatan Järpehag) * In Memory of Blake Hudson (Jonatan Järpehag) Social Media: BlueSky (https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/) Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

Support my work on Patreon (https://patreon.com/realdavejackson) Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server (https://discord.gg/bptGyEWbk7) Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi (https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson) I didn't hear about Dragon Quest for a very long time, probably an embarrassingly long time, and once I played one, I didn't....get it. It all seemed too plain, too simple, too lacking in complexity, and while a part of me was relieved to suddenly have less "homework" to do as I'm forever catching up on RPGs that I missed, part of me felt an ever-present need to "get it". Yada yada yada, I finally had another reason to try Dragon Quest, starting with Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride on DS, and folks....I get it now. Tune in to find out how I got there. Guest info: Chris Coplien of Retro Hangover * Listen to Retro Hangover https://linktr.ee/retrohangover * Check out the first of Dragon Quest V's episodes in the King of Games 1992 tournament https://retrohangover.captivate.fm/episode/king-of-games-92-round-1-match-4-sonic-the-hedgehog-2-vs-dragon-quest-v * Follow on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/retrohangover.bsky.social TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:42 Intros * 6:10 Personal Histories with Dragon Quest V * 12:15 Opening Thoughts * 14:54 Story Setup/Generational Structure * 26:19 Overcoming Constraints/Presentation * 34:26 Story Themes/Cozy Charm * 45:16 Soundtrack/Influence * 56:10 Gameplay- Combat/Monster Collecting * 1:12:05 Final Thoughts/Recommendations * 1:14:45 Retro Hangover Podcast * 1:19:23 SPOILER WALL/Patron Thank-You's * 1:21:15 Spoiler Section- Act 1 and 2 * 2:06:04 Spoiler Section- Act 3 and Closing Thoughts Music used in the episode is credited to Koichi Sugiyama. Tracks used: Overture, Overworld, Town, Battle, Melody in an Ancient Town, The Ocean, Zenithia, Saint Social Media: BlueSky (https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/) Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures Listen to A Top 3 Podcast on Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-top-3-podcast/id1555269504), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2euGp3pWi7Hy1c6fmY526O?si=0ebcb770618c460c) and other podcast platforms (atop3podcast.fireside.fm)!

Support my work on Patreon (https://patreon.com/realdavejackson) Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server! (https://discord.gg/bptGyEWbk7) Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi (https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson) Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has risen to the gaming mainstream with its beloved Like a Dragon series, and when a hot streak occurs, a heat check often follows, and there is no bigger heat check than a game where you play through a Hawaiian pirate adventure starring the series' lovable maniac, Goro Majima. So why has Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii fallen out of the conversation, even among series diehards? Did the heat check connect, or is it the beginning of a downturn? All that and more in this great conversation. Guest info: Brian Edwards * Listen to the Cane and Rinse podcast https://caneandrinse.com/ * Listen to the Character Issues podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-character-issues-podcast/id1530881747 * Follow Brian on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/characterissues.bsky.social TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:20 Intros * 5:45 Personal Histories With Yakuza Series * 9:53 The Yakuza Secret Sauce * 14:12 Opening Thoughts about Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii * 20:34 Like a Dragon Series Fatigue? * 35:15 Story Setup, Majima the Leading Man * 45:40 Framing Device, Substories, Goofs * 1:11:18 Pirate Gameplay, Ship Combat * 1:33:51 Action Combat * 1:44:59 Mini-Games and Side Activities * 1:52:36 Closing Thoughts/Recommendations * 1:57:57 Character Issues, Cane and Rinse * 2:02:33 Spoiler Wall/Patron Thank-Yous * 2:04:37 Spoiler Section- Substories * 2:18:42 Spoiler Section- Main Story and Ending Music used in the episode: * Anchors Aweigh (Saori Yoshida) * Nameless Traveler (Saori Yoshida) * Palekanian Dance (Yuri Fukuda) * Mad Dog (Keitarou Hanada) * Echoes of Hope (Kazuki Takagi) * Masaru's Love Journey (Mitsuhara Fukuyama) Check out the King of Games 1999 tournament on Retro Hangover! https://linktr.ee/retrohangover Social Media: BlueSky (https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/) Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures Listen to A Top 3 Podcast on Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-top-3-podcast/id1555269504), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2euGp3pWi7Hy1c6fmY526O?si=0ebcb770618c460c) and other podcast platforms (atop3podcast.fireside.fm)!

*Spoiler section includes some spoilers for key moments and/or themes in Nier Automata, Persona 5 Royal and Metaphor ReFantazio. Support my work on Patreon (https://patreon.com/realdavejackson) Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server! (https://discord.gg/bptGyEWbk7) Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi (https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson)! Once or twice a year, a game will hook me so strongly that not only can I not stop playing it, I can't stop thinking about it. If it's not the constant pull to get back on the sticks and play, it was the constant pull to think about the story. Sandfall Interactive caught lightning in a bottle with their debut game, and I couldn't wait to have this conversation and share it all with you. Guest info: Michael Higham * Read Michael's review of Expedition 33 https://www.ign.com/articles/clair-obscur-expedition-33-review * Follow Michael on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/brazyazn.bsky.social TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:42 Intros * 6:25 Personal Histories with Expedition 33 * 9:31 Opening Thoughts about Expedition 33 * 13:12 Story Setup/Worldbuilding/A Strong Story Hook * 24:15 Cast of Characters * 31:29 Overview of Themes * 39:55 Comic Relief in a Bleak Story * 45:15 Music/Presentation * 1:03:02 Combat- Dodging and Parrying, Difficulty * 1:14:57 Combat- Offense and Character Building * 1:28:28 Closing Thoughts/Recommendations * 1:36:28 Michael's Work at IGN * 1:39:37 SPOILER WALL/Patron Thank-You's * 1:41:20 Spoiler Section- What's Happening? * 2:07:28 Spoiler Section- Endings and Interpretations * 2:39:13 Spoiler Section- Optional Bosses, More Thoughts, "For Those Who Come After" Music used in the episode: * Alicia (Lorien Testard, Alice Duport-Percier) * Lumière (Lorien Testard, Alice Duport-Percier) * Gustave (Lorien Testard) * World Map- In Lumière's Name (Lorien Testard) * Une vie à t'aimer (Lorien Testard, Alice Duport-Percier, Victor Borba) * Our Painted Family (Lorien Testard) * We Lost (Lorien Testard, Alice Duport-Percier, Victor Borba) * Verso (Music Box) (Lorien Testard) * Is It a Gestral or a Volleyball? (Lorien Testard) You can purchase the soundtrack here: https://lacedrecords.bandcamp.com/album/clair-obscur-expedition-33-original-soundtrack Social Media: BlueSky (https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/) Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures Listen to A Top 3 Podcast on Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-top-3-podcast/id1555269504), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2euGp3pWi7Hy1c6fmY526O?si=0ebcb770618c460c) and other podcast platforms (atop3podcast.fireside.fm)!

Support my work on Patreon (https://patreon.com/realdavejackson) Two podcasters entered the room on a collision course, one with a backlog the size of a mobster's rap sheet, the other with one foot in the past. There was only one way out of this mess- one podcast to end them all. The subject was an old friend, if you consider a man out of options a friend. A man with a thirst for revenge that nothing could quench- Max Payne. Guest info: Nomad (The Retro Wildlands) * Listen to The Retro Wildlands https://linktr.ee/retrowildlands * Check out the Superpod Network https://superpodnetwork.com/ * Follow Nomad on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/retrowildlands.bsky.social TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:32 Intros * 5:24 Our Histories with Remedy and Max Payne * 10:36 Opening Thoughts About Max Payne * 16:00 Story Setup/Revenge Themes * 23:00 Neo-Noir Storytelling and Presentation * 32:25 Remake Talk * 34:25 Music * 38:22 Combat * 52:02 Other Gameplay * 1:00:23 Closing Thoughts/Recommendations * 1:08:13 The Retro Wildlands Plugs * 1:15:11 SPOILER WALL/Patron Thank-Yous * 1:16:35 Spoiler Section- Plot Twists and Mysteries * 1:25:18 Spoiler Section- Revenge and Vigilantism Music used in the episode is credited to Kärtsy Hatakka and Kimmo Kajasto. Tracks used: Max Payne Theme, Graphic Novel, Whack Him, Mr. Big, Max Payne Theme (Short Version) Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server! (https://discord.gg/bptGyEWbk7) Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi (https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson)! Social Media: BlueSky (https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/) Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures Listen to A Top 3 Podcast on Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-top-3-podcast/id1555269504), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2euGp3pWi7Hy1c6fmY526O?si=0ebcb770618c460c) and other podcast platforms (atop3podcast.fireside.fm)!

Support my work on Patreon (https://patreon.com/realdavejackson) As a lifelong Indiana Jones agnostic, there was no way that MachineGames would make an Indiana Jones game I would care about, right? Right? Well, it certainly looked that way when the first gameplay trailer for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle dropped. But then I started hearing my activation phrases start to bounce around- "this is like Hitman", "this is like Dishonored", so I knew I had to give it a try. And boy am I glad that I did! Guest info: Dan of The Greatest Story Ever Played * Check out the podcast https://linktr.ee/thegreateststoryeverplayed * Follow Dan on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/storyeverpod.bsky.social TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:36 Intros * 3:33 Personal Histories with Indiana Jones and The Great Circle * 7:55 Opening Thoughts * 11:33 Story Setup and Troy Baker as Indiana Jones * 16:35 A Great Villain and Supporting Cast * 24:54 Music and Visual Presentation * 34:36 Combat and Stealth * 48:28 Side Quests, Exploration and Level Design * 1:04:19 Final Thoughts/Recommendations * 1:08:24 The Greatest Story Ever Played Plugs * 1:13:07 SPOILER WALL/Patron Thank-Yous * 1:14:46 Spoiler Section Music used in the episode is credited to Gordy Haab. Tracks used: The Great Circle, A New Adventure Awaits, Where Are We, Gina's Theme, Signs of the Stones, Until the Next Adventure Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server! (https://discord.gg/bptGyEWbk7) Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi (https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson)! Social Media: BlueSky (https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/) Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures Listen to A Top 3 Podcast on Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-top-3-podcast/id1555269504), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2euGp3pWi7Hy1c6fmY526O?si=0ebcb770618c460c) and other podcast platforms (atop3podcast.fireside.fm)!

Support my work on Patreon (https://patreon.com/realdavejackson) Strange Scaffold is a rare game studio that gets as much, or maybe even more, positive attention for their workplace ethos and number of releases per year as they do for their games themselves. I found myself in that same position, with great respect for their process, but no experience with the games themselves....until now! El Paso, Elsewhere is an emotional take on neo-noir, vampire stories, Max Payne and boomer shooters, and it works really well! Guest info: Jacob McCourt and Luke Lewis * Check out their shared podcast Crossplay Conversations https://www.youtube.com/@crossplayconvos * Check out Lukewarm Games https://www.lukewarmgames.com/ * Follow Luke on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/lukewarmlewis.bsky.social * Check out Left Behind Game Club https://leftbehindgame.club/ * Check out Jacob's written reviews on The Gaming Brief https://thegamingbrief.ca/ * Follow Jacob on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/jacob.bsky.social TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:22 Intros * 4:20 Personal Histories with Strange Scaffold/El Paso, Elsewhere * 10:43 Top-Level Thoughts on El Paso, Elsewhere * 15:10 Story Setup * 20:49 Presentation and Storytelling * 27:02 Music * 34:39 Shooting and Bullet Time * 48:57 Gameplay Pacing * 55:03 Closing Thoughts/Recommendations * 1:01:27 Jacob and Luke Plug Their Stuff! * 1:11:31 SPOILER WALL/Patron Thank-Yous * 1:13:45 Spoilers- Janet, Draculae and James * 1:33:06 Spoilers- Addiction, Being a Good Person, Endings Music used in the episode is credited to R.J. Lake and LAKE SAVAGE. Tracks used: a forty-six story motel, GONNA CUT, GHOSTIN' THE MAINFRAME, audio demon, almost exactly the same, next time on elpasoball z. * Buy the score- https://spellmynamewithabang.bandcamp.com/album/el-paso-elsewhere-part-one-the-score * Buy the rap album- https://spellmynamewithabang.bandcamp.com/album/el-paso-elsewhere-part-two-the-album Check out an interview with Xalavier Nelson Jr on the Gamerheads Podcast. (https://www.gamerheadspodcast.com/post/el-paso-elsewhere-interview-with-xalavier-nelson-jr) Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server! (https://discord.gg/V3ZHz3vYQR) Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi (https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson)! Social Media: BlueSky (https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/) Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures Listen to A Top 3 Podcast on Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-top-3-podcast/id1555269504), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2euGp3pWi7Hy1c6fmY526O?si=0ebcb770618c460c) and other podcast platforms (atop3podcast.fireside.fm)!

Support my work on Patreon (https://patreon.com/realdavejackson) 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 out why. Guest info: Dave Cox of Monster Dear Monster * Check out Monster Dear Monster podcast https://www.monsterdear.monster/ * Follow Dave on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/senplus.bsky.social TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:27 Intros/Personal Histories/Opening Thoughts * 11:53 Story/World Setup * 28:51 PS2-era Presentation/Controls * 40:53 Soundtrack * 47:52 Gameplay/RPG Mechanics * 1:09:07 World Design/Exploration * 1:13:53 "Breaking the Level Design" * 1:29:49 Closing Thoughts/Recommendations/Guest Plugs * 1:38:57 SPOILER WALL/Patron Thank-Yous * 1:41:13 Spoiler Section- Discoveries and Easter Eggs * 2:04:22 Spoiler Section- Story and Ending Music used in the episode is credited to Kira LLC. Tracks used: * River of Death (Akuma Kira) * The Great Well (Jarren Crist) * Washed Away (Akuma Kira) * Falling To My Death (Jarren Crist) * Serence (Jarren Crist) * The World and You (Akuma Kira) * Serence (Reprise) (Jarren Crist) * Purchase the soundtrack- https://store.steampowered.com/app/2692630/LunacidOriginalSoundtrack/ Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server! (https://discord.gg/bptGyEWbk7) Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi (https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson)! Social Media: BlueSky (https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/) Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures Listen to A Top 3 Podcast on Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-top-3-podcast/id1555269504), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2euGp3pWi7Hy1c6fmY526O?si=0ebcb770618c460c) and other podcast platforms (atop3podcast.fireside.fm)!