エピソード

  • 175: Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (with Brian Edwards)

    175: Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (with Brian Edwards)
    2025/07/23
    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)!
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    2 時間 38 分
  • 174: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (with Michael Higham)

    174: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (with Michael Higham)
    2025/07/16
    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)!
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    3 時間 7 分
  • 173: Max Payne (with Nomad - The Retro Wildlands)

    173: Max Payne (with Nomad - The Retro Wildlands)
    2025/07/09
    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)!
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    1 時間 45 分
  • 172: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (with Dan - The Greatest Story Ever Played)

    172: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (with Dan - The Greatest Story Ever Played)
    2025/07/02
    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)!
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    1 時間 57 分
  • 171: El Paso, Elsewhere (with Jacob McCourt & Luke Lewis)

    171: El Paso, Elsewhere (with Jacob McCourt & Luke Lewis)
    2025/06/25
    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)!
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    1 時間 56 分
  • 170: Lunacid (with Dave Cox)

    170: Lunacid (with Dave Cox)
    2025/06/18
    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)!
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    2 時間 36 分
  • 169: South of Midnight (with Kate Sánchez)

    169: South of Midnight (with Kate Sánchez)
    2025/06/11
    Support my work on Patreon (https://patreon.com/realdavejackson) Some games just grab your attention from the first trailer, and South of Midnight is one of those games. A breathtaking art style and a gothic Southern fantasy setting? South of Midnight jumped straight to the top of my to-play list, and it did not disappoint. Guest info: Kate Sánchez of But Why Tho? * Check out all of the writing and reporting on But Why Tho? https://butwhytho.net/ * Check out Kate's article on the folklore inspirations in South of Midnight https://butwhytho.net/2025/04/south-of-midnight-real-southern-folklore/ * Follow Kate on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/ohmymithrandir.bsky.social TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:30 Intros/Personal Histories/Opening Thoughts * 13:54 Story Setup/Folklore/Southern Gothic Storytelling * 46:37 Presentation- Visuals/Music * 1:01:46 Gameplay/Combat * 1:21:49 Recommendations/Guest Plugs * 1:30:37 SPOILER WALL/Patron Thank-Yous * 1:32:26 Spoiler Section Music used in the episode is credited to Olivier Deriviere. You can purchase the soundtrack here (https://olivierderiviere.bandcamp.com/album/south-of-midnight-original-game-soundtrack). Tracks Used: Hazel's Story, The Storm, The Floods, Two-Toed Tom (Boss Fight), The Full Story, The Story Ends 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)!
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    2 時間 26 分
  • 168: Persona 4 Golden (with Flora Merigold)

    168: Persona 4 Golden (with Flora Merigold)
    2025/06/04
    Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Persona games are a tough sell for a guy who does a weekly podcast like this, so thank you to my wonderful patrons for voting Persona 4 Golden onto the show. While it has all of the pacing issues that you would expect an 80 hour game to have, I thought this is, in some ways, the best of the Persona 4/5/Metaphor trio that I've played in the last five years. Tune in to the episode to find out why. Guest Info: Flora Merigold * Find her writing at Epilogue Gaming https://epiloguegaming.com/flora-merigold/ * Hear her on Left Behind Game Club https://leftbehindgame.club/ * Follow her on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/floramerigold.bsky.social TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:22 Intros * 4:40 Personal Histories with Persona and Persona 4 * 8:07 Opening Thoughts about Persona 4 Golden * 16:05 Murder Mystery Story Setup * 21:55 Characters and Problematic Representation(?) * 37:13 Story Themes and PSA for New Players * 49:03 Visuals * 57:12 Music * 1:05:42 Dungeon Crawling and Combat * 1:28:03 Life-Sim Gameplay * 1:44:52 Closing Thoughts/Recommendations/Plugs * 1:55:14 SPOILER WALL/Patron Thank-Yous * 1:56:49 Spoilers- Kanji, Naoto and Representation * 2:37:34 Spoilers- Teddie and Rise and More Music used in the episode is credited to Shoji Meguro. Tracks used: Glimpse of a Memory, Signs of Love, Like a Dream Come True, Heartbreak, Heartbeat, Reach Out to the Truth (First Battle), Sauna, Studio Backlot, Junes Theme, Your Affection, Results Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi (https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson)! Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server! (https://discord.gg/bptGyEWbk7) 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://www.instagram.com/jackallencaricatures/ and his other pages (https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures)
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    3 時間 18 分