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PODCAST

Tales from the Backlog

A video games podcast where Dave Jackson and guests break down and discuss the games they play. Each episode looks at one game in depth, focusing on mechanics, story, music and other aspects, with no spoilers until a clearly marked spoiler wall in the middle.

leisure video games

All Episodes

1:44:19

160: Sifu (with Ryan Juengling - List Off)

Tales from the Backlog ·

2025/04/09

From the first trailer, I knew that Sifu (Sloclap, 2022) looked like a game I wanted to play. There was just one small thing- it released two weeks before Elden Ring, and I was clearing the decks in a big way. No mental bandwidth to get stuck in a demanding action game. And so I waited. And waited. And forgot about it. And waited some more. And now, in 2025, after Elden Ring is (maybe) finished, it was time to revisit Sifu. And boy...it was worth the wait. Guest Info: Ryan Juengling of List Off *

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2:13:51

159: Metaphor: ReFantazio (with Scott White)

Tales from the Backlog ·

2025/04/02

Only one studio out there can inspire the following sentence- the first time I saw the menu UI in Metaphor: ReFantazio, I knew that Atlus and Studio Zero were cooking. They've mastered the art of making menu-based RPGs flashy and stylish, as well as mastering the "Persona" calendar-based structure in general. On several fronts, this is the best game this studio has made, but left us wanting in a few areas as well. Listen in to this deep dive discussion and let us know what you think!Guest info:

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2:49:47

158: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (with...

Tales from the Backlog ·

2025/03/26

In my ongoing first-time playthrough of the Metal Gear Solid series, we've arrived at the canonical end of Solid Snake's story, while seeing series creator Hideo Kojima at his most self-indulgent (yet) and most creative. Metal Gear Solid is a series of multitudes, and 2008's Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is no different. Listen in to find out what we thought!Guest info: Geoff Moonen * Check out "Fun" and Games podcast https://funandgames.libsyn.com/ * Follow Geoff on BlueSky

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1:59:57

157: Unpacking (with Kate Hunter - No Small Games)

Tales from the Backlog ·

2025/03/19

Ever since the podcast started in 2021, I always knew I'd do an episode about Unpacking (Witch Beam, 2021) someday. John Fogerty sang that someday never comes, but here we are, and Unpacking is on the show! Unpacking is a great example of using the interactivity of video games to tell a story in a unique, gameplay-forward way. Through the ONE SIMPLE TRICK of unpacking boxes and organizing your stuff when you move, a life story is told, and it's fantastic. Listen in for the deep-dive

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1:51:06

156: Mouthwashing (with Ash Parrish)

Tales from the Backlog ·

2025/03/12

Mouthwashing (Wrong Organ, 2024) is a rare horror game that gets scarier after you finish the game. Its nonlinear structure, reality-blurring presentation and subtle (at times) storytelling leave you to put the pieces together yourself. Once you do that, you'll find a strikingly real story where the most unbelievable thing is the fact that it takes place in outer space. We had a great discussion on the show about what this game says about certain types of leaders, what "taking responsibility" means,

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1:52:58

155: Shenmue (with Luis Aguasvivas)

Tales from the Backlog ·

2025/03/05

I remember reading about Shenmue (AM2 of CRI, Sega, 2000) in the magazines back in the day and really marveling at how cool it all sounded- a revenge/investigation story, a town with characters that live their own lives outside of interacting with you, life in small-town Japan...but I didn't have a Dreamcast, so I never got to play it and eventually forgot about it as everyone else seemed to move on too. But over the past 5 years, I've also become a huge fan of the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series, and I

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2:23:27

154: Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (with John...

Tales from the Backlog ·

2025/02/26

When Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (Jump over the Age / Gareth Damian Martin, 2025) was announced, it was a surprise, but it also jumped straight to the top of my most anticipated games list. And while it fulfills the promise of a sequel by doubling down on the strengths of the first game, it also introduces some harsh mechanics that took a lot of people by surprise. Join us as we dig into all aspects in this discussion. Guest info: John Rogers, host of Gaming in the Wild. Find him at

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1:56:33

153: Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War (with MarcoMeatball)

Tales from the Backlog ·

2025/02/19

Sometimes I think I know about video games, and then a series that I'd been ignoring for years absolutely blows me away. Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War (Namco, 2004) is one of those games. Exhilerating air combat, the best spectacle that the PS2 could offer, and a grand and amazing soundtrack all set the hooks, then a surprisingly good story pulls you along for the ride. I'm truly flourishing in my new Ace Combat arc, and this is the first of many Ace Combat episodes on the show. Guest info:

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1:20:36

152: The Plucky Squire (with Roger Reichardt - The...

Tales from the Backlog ·

2025/02/12

Entering 2024, there were very few indie games as hotly anticipated as The Plucky Squire (All Possible Futures, Devolver Digital)...but then release date came, it got good-not-great reviews, and seemed to inspire more disappointment than anything else. So what happened? And how is the game, actually? Buckle up, because we've got you covered.Guest info: Roger Reichardt of The Gamerheads Podcast- https://www.gamerheadspodcast.com/ TIMESTAMPS * Intros/Personal Histories/Opening Thoughts 0:26 * Story

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1:58:17

151: Tacoma (with CtrlAltNoob)

Tales from the Backlog ·

2025/02/05

Fullbright made a name for themselves with 2013's Gone Home, leading many to anticipate their next project. 2017's Tacoma, however, seems to have come and gone without much fanfare. It is a fairly simple game that may not reach the emotional peaks of Gone Home, but Tacoma is a very good game in its own right. And then, due to director Steve Gaynor's workplace behavior during the development of Open Roads, Fullbright was all but gone, leaving Tacoma kind of hanging in the "forgotten and

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2:14:10

150: Mad Max (with Jacob Price & Cameron Warren - The...

Tales from the Backlog ·

2025/01/29

Learn about and support the SAG-AFTRA union and video game actors on strike (https://www.sagaftra.org/contracts-industry-resources/contracts/interactive-media-video-game-strike).Whenever the topic of "7/10 games" or "underrated games" or "bargain bin gems" comes up, Mad Max (Avalanche Studios) is almost guaranteed to be mentioned in the conversation. This game isn't tied into the movie storylines, but it does a great job of getting you into the grimy, desolate, hyper-masculine and violent world of

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2:41:12

149: Nine Sols (with Josh)

Tales from the Backlog ·

2025/01/22

As a fan of Red Candle Games' previous projects, Devotion (episode 139) and Detention (bonus episode on Patreon), Nine Sols instantly leapt onto my watchlist as soon as it was announced. However, as it released, I was a bit nervous to dive into it due to its Sekiro-inspired combat. I like Sekiro a lot, but did I want another one right then? Luckily, a few friends (including Josh, today's guest) convinced me to give it a whirl...and I was not disappointed. The combat is smooth and satisfying, the art

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3:01:57

148: Pathologic 2 (with Jack)

Tales from the Backlog ·

2025/01/15

I once heard the original Pathologic (Ice-Pick Lodge) described as "the best game you shouldn't play", which is an oddly appealing pitch to me. I need to see what it is that puts it in that category, ya know? Luckily for me, Pathologic 2 exists and seems to be the preferred way for many to get the Pathologic experience, and I was not disappointed with what I got. Dense worldbuilding, intriguing and mysterious characters, harsh but meaningful survival systems and more await anyone who decides to take

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1:51:04

Backlog Resolutions 2025

Tales from the Backlog ·

2025/01/08

In 2024, we began a new community event in the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- the Backlog Resolutions Challenge. A big group of us picked a list of games that had been collecting dust in our libraries and resolved to play them! This episode is all about how that challenge went- what worked, what didn't work, why most of us didn't complete our lists, and any adjustments we are making going into the 2025 challenge. If you'd like to join us, hop in the Discord server

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1:12:26

2024 In Review/Games of the Year

Tales from the Backlog ·

2025/01/01

Dave recaps his favorite games that released in 2024 and discusses the year in podcasting, gaming and more. Catch Dave's favorite games from other years that he played for the first time in 2024 on Patreon, available to all paid patrons!TIMESTAMPS: * Intros/Reminiscing 0:18 * Honorable Mentions 5:40 * #10 13:44 * #9 18:01 * #8 21:15 * #7 26:38 * #6 32:01 * #5 36:34 * #4 41:17 * #3 46:40 * #2 52:26 * #1 and thank yous 59:23 Music used in the episode: * 1000xRESIST - The Orchard (At Peace) (Drew

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1:32:53

147: Batman: Arkham Origins (with Mick Arcade)

Tales from the Backlog ·

2024/12/23

Check out more information (https://www.sagaftra.org/contracts-industry-resources/contracts/video-game-strike/take-action) on the ongoing SAG-AFTRA video game actor strike and support the actors in any way that you can. Batman video games got a resurgence with 2009's Arkham Asylum, continued to be critically acclaimed with 2011's Arkham City, and then started to become divisive with 2013's Arkham Origins and especially 2015's Arkham Knight. Since Arkham Origins takes place during Christmas, we've

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1:57:32

146: System Shock 2 (with Doug Lief - Nostalgium...

Tales from the Backlog ·

2024/12/18

System Shock 2 **(Looking Glass Studios/Irrational Games**, 1999) contains one of the most iconic images in gaming (the scifi horror Medusa-esque SHODAN) and one of the most iconic spiritual sequels in gaming (the Bioshock series), but I still feel like experience with System Shock 2 itself is relegated to those who were there playing on PC in 1999. What was it about this game that made it so foundational for the Bioshock series and so many other modern games? Well, it's a good thing I have this

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2:12:28

145: Void Stranger (with Steve - Indie Quest,...

Tales from the Backlog ·

2024/12/11

It all started with an elevator pitch, courtesy of someone on the Axe of the Blood God podcast- "A sokoban puzzle game with a JRPG story". Sign me up! Void Stranger (System Erasure, 2023) does boast those things, but to my surprise, Void Stranger is so full of secrets as well. But if you want to get at those secrets, Void Stranger will challenge you in more ways than one. Join us as we dive into this one-of-a-kind experience.Guest Info: Steve from Indie Quest

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2:51:51

144: Control (with Nick & Will - Friday Night Gamecast)

Tales from the Backlog ·

2024/12/04

Remedy Entertainment have built a sort of extended universe by this point, but 2019's Control is both the piece that introduced a lot of people to their world and the key that unlocked the possibility for an extended universe in the first place. Control's Men in Black-meets-SCP Foundation setting is ripe for creative sci-fi storytelling and Remedy took full advantage of that. Despite some hiccups in the story and gameplay that may wear out its welcome, Control is an undeniably cool game. Guest

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2:10:58

143: Shadow Tower: Abyss (with Adelaide Lohkamp)

Tales from the Backlog ·

2024/11/27

What was FromSoftware up to before Demon's Souls? Most people know about the King's Field series, and the Armored Core sickos have been around too, but they were even more prolific in the RPG and dungeon crawler space than just King's Field. Shadow Tower: Abyss (2003), the sequel to the Playstation game Shadow Tower, was never officially localized in English, but thanks to FromSoftware's explosion in popularity, the cottage industry of Souls creators, and most importantly a fan translated ROM, we

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238 results

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