Episodes

  • 141: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (with Aaron Angle & Ryan Arrington)

    141: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (with Aaron Angle & Ryan Arrington)
    Nov 13 2024
    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 Intros/Personal Histories/Opening Thoughts 0:24 Story Setup 13:39 Story, continued 32:51 Presentation 49:24 Combat/Open World 1:03:07 Minigames 1:25:03 Closing Thoughts/Recommendations 1:32:02 SPOILER WALL/Patreon Thank-Yous 1:38:31 Music used in the episode: Main Theme of FFVII - Battle Edit (Nobuo Uematsu) Nibelheim Train Graveyard Theme (Nobuo Uematsu) Eager SOLDIER (Nobuo Uematsu, Shotaro Shima) The Gold Saucer - Night Out with Tifa (Nobuo Uematsu) Midgardsormr (Nobuo Uematsu, Yoshitaka Suzuki) Queen's Blood (Mitsuto Suzuki, Junnosuke Usui) Fiddle de Chocobo (Nobuo Uematsu) Cosmo Canyon - Sanctum of Planetology (Nobuo Uematsu) Aerith's Theme - The White Materia (Nobuo Uematsu) J-E-N-O-V-A - Tenacity (Nobuo Uematsu) Aerith's Theme - Return to the Planet (Nobuo Uematsu) You can purchase the soundtrack via Square Enix (https://na.store.square-enix-games.com/final-fantasy-vii-rebirth-original-soundtrack). Check out Dave talking about Final Fantasy and modern RPGs on Fine Time (https://finetimepodcast.libsyn.com/) and Crossplay Conversations (https://plnk.to/crossplayconvos?to=page) podcasts this week! Support Tales from the Backlog on Patreon! (https://patreon.com/realdavejackson) or buy me a coffee on Ko-fi (https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson)! Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server! (https://discord.gg/V3ZHz3vYQR) Social Media: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/) Twitter (https://twitter.com/tftblpod) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TalesfromtheBacklog/) Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://www.instagram.com/jackallencaricatures/ and his other pages (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)!
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    2 hrs and 53 mins
  • ...On Backlogs (with Matt aka Stormageddon & Marcus Stewart)

    ...On Backlogs (with Matt aka Stormageddon & Marcus Stewart)
    Nov 6 2024
    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 (https://linktr.ee/dj_stormagedddon) podcasts. * Marcus Stewart of The Indie Informer (https://the-indie-in-former.com/). Find Marcus on Twitter (https://twitter.com/MarcusStewart7) and Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/marcusstreamsgames). Music used in the episode: * Pandora's Place (Yakuza 0)- SEGA Sound Team * Frozen Soul (Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere)- Tetsukazu Nakanishi * Yoga (Wii Fit)- Toru Minegishi, Manaka Tominaga Check out Dave's guest appearance on Retro Hangover (https://linktr.ee/retrohangover) discussing System Shock 2! Support Tales from the Backlog on Patreon! (https://patreon.com/realdavejackson) or buy me a coffee on Ko-fi (https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson)! Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server! (https://discord.gg/V3ZHz3vYQR) Social Media: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/) Twitter (https://twitter.com/tftblpod) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TalesfromtheBacklog/) Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://www.instagram.com/jackallencaricatures/ and his other pages (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)!
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    2 hrs and 11 mins
  • Games I Played at GDEX 2024

    Games I Played at GDEX 2024
    Nov 1 2024
    Here are the games I played at GDEX 2024 gaming convention in Columbus, Ohio! Games mentioned in the episode: Skate Fish (https://whitethorngames.com/skatefish) Tales of Thisrea (https://mindforgestudios.com/games/download.html?game=tales-of-thisrea) Zakumba: Astraia (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1430350/Zakumba_Astraia/) Dark Sky (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1454960/Dark_Sky/) Derelict (https://nowavesgames.itch.io/derelict) Mole Maiden (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2000780/Mole_Maiden/) Quiet On Set (https://www.youtube.com/@SkookumArts) RA RA BOOM (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2335060/RA_RA_BOOM/) Intro/Outro music composed by Bert Cole- check them out at bitbybitsound.com (https://bitbybitsound.com/) Support Tales from the Backlog on Patreon! (https://patreon.com/realdavejackson) or buy me a coffee on Ko-fi (https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson)! Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server! (https://discord.gg/V3ZHz3vYQR) Social Media: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/) Twitter (https://twitter.com/tftblpod) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TalesfromtheBacklog/) Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://www.instagram.com/jackallencaricatures/ and his other pages (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)!
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    27 mins
  • 140: Decarnation (with Jala Prendes - Jala-chan's Place, The Level & Dave Cox - Monster Dear Monster)

    140: Decarnation (with Jala Prendes - Jala-chan's Place, The Level & Dave Cox - Monster Dear Monster)
    Oct 30 2024
    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 (https://www.jalachan.place/) and The Level podcasts (https://www.thelevelpodcast.com/) & Dave Cox of Monster Dear Monster (https://www.monsterdear.monster/) podcast. TIMESTAMPS Intros/Personal Histories/Opening Thoughts 0:23 Story Setup/Theme Introductions 13:35 Presentation 31:32 Gameplay 42:05 SPOILER WALL/Patron Thank-Yous 1:08:06 Music used in the episode is credited to fleur et bleue, Akira Yamaoka, ALT 236 & AL 9000. You can support the artists by buying the soundtrack, part 1 (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2445810/Decarnation_Soundtrack__Cauchemar/) and part 2 (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2445860/Decarnation_Soundtrack__Rve/).Tracks used: fleur et bleue - Tout Depend de Toi, Decarnation, Grolia, Orfevre De La Nuit, The Cell, Cracks in the Mask, Lizzy et Marco Support Tales from the Backlog on Patreon! (https://patreon.com/realdavejackson) or buy me a coffee on Ko-fi (https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson)! Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server! (https://discord.gg/V3ZHz3vYQR) Social Media: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/) Twitter (https://twitter.com/tftblpod) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TalesfromtheBacklog/) Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://www.instagram.com/jackallencaricatures/ and his other pages (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)!
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    2 hrs and 45 mins
  • 139: Devotion (with Jill Grodt - The Indie Informer)

    139: Devotion (with Jill Grodt - The Indie Informer)
    Oct 23 2024
    Stop me if you've heard this story before. A game that I once thought would be too scary for me to play, so I spoiled the entire story for myself only to realize that it sounded too good to not experience for myself. Add Devotion (Red Candle Games, 2019) to that list. Despite the controversy surrounding the game and subsequent delisting from all major storefronts, this one is worth seeking you. You can purchase and download it directly from the Red Candle Games website (https://shop.redcandlegames.com/app/devotion). Guest Info: Jill Grodt, editor-in-chief of The Indie Informer (https://the-indie-in-former.com/) and podcaster on The Indie Council podcast. Find more from Jill on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@theindieinformer) and Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/theindieinformer). TIMESTAMPS Intros/Personal Histories/Opening Thoughts 0:26 Story Setup/Gameplay 14:32 Horror/Presentation 37:02 SPOILER WALL 53:15 Content warnings for Devotion (https://www.doesthedogdie.com/media/829192) Music used in the episode is credited to Vincent Yang. You can support them by purchasing the album directly from the Red Candle Games website (https://shop.redcandlegames.com/app/devotion). Tracks used: Devotion, Lady of the Pier (Gong Li Fang), Come on! Have a Bite, A Way of No Return, Lady of the Pier (Du Mei Shin) Support Tales from the Backlog on Patreon! (https://patreon.com/realdavejackson) or buy me a coffee on Ko-fi (https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson)! Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server! (https://discord.gg/V3ZHz3vYQR) Social Media: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/) Twitter (https://twitter.com/tftblpod) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TalesfromtheBacklog/) Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://www.instagram.com/jackallencaricatures/ and his other pages (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)!
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    1 hr and 57 mins
  • 138: Silent Hill (with Stephanie Klimov - Boss Rush Network)

    138: Silent Hill (with Stephanie Klimov - Boss Rush Network)
    Oct 16 2024
    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 an interesting trip back through history, and led to a great conversation! Guest Info: Stephanie Klimov, podcaster and editor for Boss Rush Network (https://bossrush.net/) TIMESTAMPS Intros/Personal Histories with Silent Hill/Opening Thoughts 0:21 Story Setup 12:58 Presentation 26:48 Gameplay 43:48 Closing Thoughts/Plugs/Housekeeping 59:42 SPOILER WALL 1:08:12 Music used in the episode is credited to Akira Yamaoka. Tracks used: Silent Hill, Led Into Madness, Meeting Cybil, No Dream, Tears of Blood, Dr. Kaufmann, Killing Time Content Warnings for Silent Hill (https://www.doesthedogdie.com/media/20795) Catch Dave on the Gaming Memories Podcast (https://youtu.be/p39i2LJSuBA?si=8gAn7bU6ul0jf49r)! Support Tales from the Backlog on Patreon! (https://patreon.com/realdavejackson) or buy me a coffee on Ko-fi (https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson)! Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server! (https://discord.gg/V3ZHz3vYQR) Social Media: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/) Twitter (https://twitter.com/tftblpod) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TalesfromtheBacklog/) Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://www.instagram.com/jackallencaricatures/ and his other pages (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)!
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    1 hr and 50 mins
  • 137: Deadly Premonition (with Patrick & James - Retro Spectives)

    137: Deadly Premonition (with Patrick & James - Retro Spectives)
    Oct 9 2024
    There has been a lot of talk about the cult classic "7/10 game" lately, and no game better exemplifies this than Deadly Premonition (Access Games, 2010). It's one of those games where the average might land on 7/10 because there will be a lot of 10's and a lot of 3's in the review score distribution. Memorable characters, poor graphics, lifelike town, terrible combat, fun mystery and rough performance combine to create a very interesting game, to say the least. Guest info: James Tuerlings and Patrick Arthur of Retro Spectives podcast (https://www.rspodcast.net/). TIMESTAMPS Intros/Personal Histories/Opening Thoughts 0:32 Story Setup/Twin Peaks Influence 14:40 Gameplay 42:03 Music/Presentation 1:15:51 Closing Thoughts/Recommendations/Plugs 1:28:18 SPOILER WALL 1:46:39 Polygon interview (https://www.polygon.com/features/2013/2/12/3977154/the-sinners-sandwich-deadly-premonitions-creator-on-making-a-good-bad) with Deadly Premonition director Swery65. Music used in the episode is credited to Riyou Kinugasa, Takuya Kobayashi and Hiromi Mizutani. Tracks used: Greenvale, FBI Special Agent, Found You!, Underground, The Woods and the Goddess, Raincoat Killer, Red Tree, The Goddess Support Tales from the Backlog on Patreon! (https://patreon.com/realdavejackson) or buy me a coffee on Ko-fi (https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson)! Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server! (https://discord.gg/V3ZHz3vYQR) Social Media: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/) Twitter (https://twitter.com/tftblpod) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TalesfromtheBacklog/) Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://www.instagram.com/jackallencaricatures/ and his other pages (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)!
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    2 hrs and 48 mins
  • 136: Omori (with Aaron Angle - A Top 3 Podcast)

    136: Omori (with Aaron Angle - A Top 3 Podcast)
    Oct 2 2024
    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 to see me through to its emotional conclusion. I'm very glad I took Aaron's recommendation seriously, for once. Guest info: Aaron Angle of A Top 3 Podcast (https://www.atop3podcast.fireside.fm) TIMESTAMPS Intros/Personal Histories/Opening Thoughts 0:23 Story Setup/Themes 11:36 Presentation/Music 30:35 Gameplay/Combat 41:12 SPOILER WALL 59:52 Music used in the episode is credited to Bo En, Jami Lynn and Pedro Silva. You can support them by purchasing the album on Steam (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1508300/OMORI_Soundtrack/) or Bandcamp (https://omori.bandcamp.com/album/omori-ost)! Tracks used: Title, WHITE SPACE, By Your Side, Tussle Among Trees, Trees..., World's End Valentine, OMORI, DUET Content warnings for Omori (https://www.doesthedogdie.com/media/738399) Check out Dave's guest appearance on Pages of Play (https://open.spotify.com/show/3yHrOPlMwAvWhl2Tq153GZ?si=aa2dd3c2abc14183&nd=1&dlsi=a575520bf6374291) podcast! Support Tales from the Backlog on Patreon! (https://patreon.com/realdavejackson) or buy me a coffee on Ko-fi (https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson)! Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server! (https://discord.gg/V3ZHz3vYQR) Social Media: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/) Twitter (https://twitter.com/tftblpod) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TalesfromtheBacklog/) Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://www.instagram.com/jackallencaricatures/ and his other pages (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 (https://www.atop3podcast.fireside.fm)!
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    2 hrs and 24 mins