Episodes

  • 171: El Paso, Elsewhere (with Jacob McCourt & Luke Lewis)

    171: El Paso, Elsewhere (with Jacob McCourt & Luke Lewis)
    Jun 25 2025
    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 hr and 56 mins
  • 170: Lunacid (with Dave Cox)

    170: Lunacid (with Dave Cox)
    Jun 18 2025
    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 hrs and 36 mins
  • 169: South of Midnight (with Kate Sánchez)

    169: South of Midnight (with Kate Sánchez)
    Jun 11 2025
    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 hrs and 26 mins
  • 168: Persona 4 Golden (with Flora Merigold)

    168: Persona 4 Golden (with Flora Merigold)
    Jun 4 2025
    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 hrs and 18 mins
  • 167: Lorelei and the Laser Eyes (with Jesse Guarascia)

    167: Lorelei and the Laser Eyes (with Jesse Guarascia)
    May 28 2025
    What if Resident Evil 1 was just puzzles? What if it was also about eccentric artists and how they view their art and the creative process vs how their work is perceived? Lorelei and the Laser Eyes (Simogo, 2024) is that game! Tune in to find out how we felt about it! Guest Info: Jesse Guarascia * Find Jesse's work on Noclip's YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@NoclipDocs * Support Noclip on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cw/noclip * Check out Blowback https://blowback.show/ * Follow on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/jesseguarascia.com TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:35 Intros/Personal Histories/Opening Thoughts * 15:10 Story Setup/Story Themes * 34:40 Puzzles * 51:23 Presentation * 1:09:11 Closing Thoughts/Recommendations/Guest Plugs * 1:18:49 SPOILER WALL/Patron Thank-Yous * 1:21:12 Spoiler Section Music used in the episode is credited to Linea Olsson, Daniel Olsén and Jonathan Eng. You can purchase the soundtrack here (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2940730/Lorelei_and_the_Laser_Eyes__Original_Soundtrack/). Tracks used: * Titles (Linea Olsson, Daniel Olsén) * Art (Linea Olsson, Daniel Olsén) * Mind Game (Linea Olsson, Daniel Olsén) * Quiz Club (Daniel Olsén) * The Black Arts Coffee Club (Linea Olsson, Daniel Olsén, Jonathan Eng) * Interrogation (Daniel Olsén, Jonathan Eng) * The Last Dream (Linea Olsson, Daniel Olsén) * How It Ends (Linea Olsson, Daniel Olsén) 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/bptGyEWbk7) Social Media: BlueSky (https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social) 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 19 mins
  • 166: Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown (with Derek Van Dyke)

    166: Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown (with Derek Van Dyke)
    May 21 2025
    Support my work on Patreon (https://patreon.com/realdavejackson) I can hear it now- "Another Ace Combat game? Didn't Dave just do one?" and the answer to those questions is "You bet your ass I'm doing another one, I'm IN IT NOW"....ahem, Ace Combat rules, and Ace Combat 7 (Bandai Namco, 2019) is the most Ace Combat that Ace Combat has ever been. Join us as we give it the deep dive! Guest info: Derek Van Dyke * Follow on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/derekvandyke.bsky.social * Check out Derek's past work on SDGC https://officialsdgc.com/ * Check out Castle Bravo for all of your Godzilla needs https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/castle-bravo-a-godzillaverse-retrospective/id1591745386 TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:31 Introductions/Personal Histories/Opening Thoughts * 14:37 Story Setup * 34:04 Music/Visual Presentation * 45:25 Gameplay * 1:01:04 Closing Thoughts/Recommendations/Guest Plugs * 1:11:23 SPOILER WALL/Patron Thank-You's * 1:13:53 Spoiler Section Music used in the episode is primarily credited to Keiki Kobayashi. Tracks used: Daredevil, Sol Squadron, Yinshi Valley, Archange, Skies Unknown, Hush 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/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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    1 hr and 51 mins
  • PAX East 2025 Wrap-Up

    PAX East 2025 Wrap-Up
    May 19 2025
    Support my work on Patreon- https://www.patreon.com/realdavejackson PAX East 2025 show floor was dominated by indie games, and here are all 17 of the indie games that I had a chance to play! Thank you to the folks at PAX for allowing me to cover the convention! TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Intro * 0:47 Tanuki: Pon's Summer https://store.steampowered.com/app/3218570/TANUKIPonsSummer/ * 2:39 Airframe Ultra https://store.steampowered.com/app/2522120/AirframeUltra/ * 4:18 Ultimate Sheep Raccoon https://store.steampowered.com/app/2923350/UltimateSheepRaccoon/ * 6:04 Mycopunk https://store.steampowered.com/app/3247750/Mycopunk/ * 7:39 BOTSU https://store.steampowered.com/app/885160/BOTSU/ * 9:20 GIGASWORD https://store.steampowered.com/app/1885930/GIGASWORD/ * 11:07 Altered Alma https://store.steampowered.com/app/2190700/AlteredAlma/ * 12:41 Constance https://store.steampowered.com/app/2313700/Constance/ * 13:54 The Berlin Apartment https://store.steampowered.com/app/2280430/TheBerlinApartment/ * 15:47 Compensation Not Guaranteed https://store.steampowered.com/app/2795590/CompensationNotGuaranteed/ * 18:10 Undusted: Letters from the Past https://store.steampowered.com/app/2891020/UndustedLettersfromthePast/ * 19:49 Fresh Tracks https://store.steampowered.com/app/3202950/FreshTracks/ * 22:17 Nocturne https://store.steampowered.com/app/1374860/Nocturne/ * 24:13 Fretless: The Wrath of Riffson https://store.steampowered.com/app/2429050/FretlessTheWrathofRiffson/ * 25:45 The Lacerator https://store.steampowered.com/app/2339330/TheLacerator/ * 27:30 Demonschool https://store.steampowered.com/app/1900250/Demonschool/ * 29:39 Love Eternal https://store.steampowered.com/app/3010610/LOVEETERNAL/ * 31:13 Video Game Trivia, Six One Indie Showcase and Thank You** Check out Jacob Mccourt https://www.youtube.com/@JacobMcCourt for the Video Game Trivia show I was in, and follow Six One Indie https://www.youtube.com/@SixOneIndie for more indie game announcements on May 22nd! Intro/outro music composed by Bert Cole- https://www.bitbybitsound.com Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server! (https://discord.gg/V3ZHz3vYQR) 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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    34 mins
  • 165: SUPERHOT (with Emily Merritt - No Small Games)

    165: SUPERHOT (with Emily Merritt - No Small Games)
    May 14 2025
    Support my work on Patreon https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Is it really the most innovative shooter I've played in years? SUPERHOT Team struck gold with this idea, did just enough with it, and got out before things got stale. Now that's what I call SUPER. HOT. Guest info: Emily Merritt aka aspecificegg * Check out No Small Games https://nosmallgames.com/ * Follow No Small Games on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/nosmallgames.bsky.social * Catch Emily on Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/aspecificegg * Follow Emily on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/aspecificegg.bsky.social TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:14 Intros/Personal Histories/Opening Thoughts * 11:07 Story Setup/Presentation * 26:35 Gameplay * 52:58 Closing Thoughts/Recommendations/Guest Plugs * 1:01:30 SPOILER WALL/Patron Thank-Yous * 1:02:55 Spoiler Section Music used in the episode: SUPER. HOT. by SUPERHOT Team Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server! (https://discord.gg/V3ZHz3vYQR) Social Media: BlueSky (https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social) 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 35 mins