Tales from the Backlog

By Dave JacksonLeisure Video Games Games

Tales from the Backlog episodes

May 14, 2025165: SUPERHOT (with Emily Merritt - No Small Games)
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!
Social Media:
BlueSky
Instagram
Twitter
Facebook
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://www.instagram.com/jackallencaricatures/ and his other pages
Listen to A Top 3 Podcast on Apple, Spotify and [other podcast platforms](atop3podcast.fireside.fm)!
Support Tales from the Backlog
1 hr 36 min
May 07, 2025164: Monster Hunter Wilds (with Brad Gallaway)
Support my work on Patreon
Review code provided by Capcom. Thank you!
Monster Hunter has been around for a long time, but has only recently fully broken into the mainstream. And with mainstream success comes grumbling from longtime fans. Is the game actually too streamlined? Does quality of life take away from quality of game? And what about the new focus on the story? All that and more in this lengthy discussion.
Guest info: Brad Gallaway
Check out written game reviews on GameCritics https://gamecritics.com/
Listen to So...Videogames! https://gamecritics.com/category/podcasts/so-videogames/
Follow Brad on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/bradgallaway.bsky.social
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Title Card
0:28 Intros/Personal Histories/Opening Thoughts
15:11 New Player Experience/Fight Prep
35:04 Monster Fights/Upgrades and Gear
1:04:32 Story/Presentation
1:24:12 Closing Thoughts/Recommendations/Guest Plugs
1:33:10 SPOILER WALL/Patron Thank-Yous
1:35:23 Spoiler Section
Music used in the episode is credited to Miwako Chinone. Tracks used:
Main Title Theme
Proof of a Hero (Wilds Version)
Nu Udra Battle Theme
Mizutsune Battle Theme
Rey Dau Battle Theme
Suja Village Daytime
Zoh Shia Battle Theme Phase 1- Arrant Calamity
Quest Clear Theme
Check out Dave on Pixel Project Radio giving first impressions on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 https://open.spotify.com/episode/2EYHKnevmhrHHa5kTMCOLb
Check out Dave on Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamers talking about Monster Hunter Wilds (May 5th) https://www.fngamers.com/
Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server!
Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi!
Social Media:
BlueSky
Instagram
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures
Listen to A Top 3 Podcast on Apple, Spotify and [other podcast platforms](atop3podcast.fireside.fm)!
Support Tales from the Backlog
2 hr 18 min
April 30, 2025163: Vagrant Story (with Aidan Moher)
Like many of Square's RPGs of the late 90's and early 2000's, Vagrant Story is an ambitious, flawed, divisive and fantastic RPG, full of big ideas that didn't get a chance to full develop into what was planned. What we got was only one part of a larger saga (see also: Xenogears from just a few years prior), a game that stands on its own, proudly displaying all of the rough edges and brilliant ideas for all to see. It made for a great discussion on the podcast!
Guest info: Aidan Moher
Check out Aidan's new podcast FunFactor https://funfactorpod.com/
Find Aidan's writing on Astrolabe https://astrolabe.aidanmoher.com/
Find Aidan's book Fight, Magic, Items https://fightmagicitems.rocks/
Look forward to Aidan's next book about Suikoden 1 and 2 https://astrolabe.aidanmoher.com/suikoden-1-2-history-boss-fight-books-2026/
Follow on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/aidanis.fun
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Title Card
0:38 Intros/Personal Histories/Opening Thoughts
14:58 Story Setup/Themes/Localization
42:35 Presentation
1:03:32 Combat/Equipment
1:36:21 Closing Thoughts/Recommendations/Plugs
1:45:45 SPOILER WALL/Patron Thank-Yous
1:47:38 Spoiler Section
Music used in the episode is credited to Hitoshi Sakimoto. Tracks used: Opening Movie, Greyland Event Climax, Snowfly Forest, Dullahan, Minotauros, Remembrance, Dawn of Lea Monde, Fanfare
Support Tales from the Backlog on Patreon! or buy me a coffee on Ko-fi!
Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server!
Social Media:
BlueSky
Instagram
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://www.instagram.com/jackallencaricatures/ and his other pages
Listen to A Top 3 Podcast on Apple, Spotify and [other podcast platforms](atop3podcast.fireside.fm)!
Support Tales from the Backlog
2 hr 35 min
April 23, 2025162: Prey (2006) (with Asa GreenRiver)
No, this isn't the Arkane Studios Prey, this is the one that Arkane was forced to name their game after for no good reason. In fact, that's what got me interested in Human Head Studios' Prey (2006) in the first place, even before I learned what the game is about. So what did we think of this shooter caught between two eras, with seemingly 10 different puzzle mechanics? How did we find a rare AAA attempt at indigenous representation? Listen in and find out!
Guest info: Asa GreenRiver
BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/agreenriver.bsky.social
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@agreenriver07
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@borderlineentertainment
Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/BorderlineEntertainment
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Title Card
0:25 Intros/Personal Histories/Opening Thoughts
12:07 Story Setup/Indigenous Representation/Presentation
37:43 FPS Gameplay/Puzzles
1:04:10 Closing Thoughts/Recommendations/Housekeeping
1:15:58 SPOILER WALL/Patron Thank-Yous
1:17:58 Spoiler Section
Music used in the episode is credit to Jeremy and Julian Soule. Tracks used: Prey Overture, Aniwyah Calling, Desperate Measures, Upside Down, The Land of the Ancients
Check out Dave on Retro Hangover discussing Psychonauts! https://retrohangover.captivate.fm/episode/psychonauts-milk-mans-delicious-milk-ft-dave-jackson
Support Tales from the Backlog on Patreon! or buy me a coffee on Ko-fi!
Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server!
Social Media:
BlueSky
Instagram
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://www.instagram.com/jackallencaricatures/ and his other pages
Listen to A Top 3 Podcast on Apple, Spotify and [other podcast platforms](atop3podcast.fireside.fm)!
Support Tales from the Backlog
2 hr 2 min
April 16, 2025161: Wanderstop (with Matt aka Stormageddon & CGDannyB)
Review code provided by Ivy Road- thank you!
I think we all viewed Davey Wreden's new project announcement, a "cozy game about making tea", with a bit of side-eye. Is it really just going to be about making tea? You sure there isn't going to be a subversion in there? Are you still reading this? Well, Wanderstop is here, and it may not have the type of subversion that we expected, but it is most definitely not just a cozy game about making tea. This is a longer episode, because there is just that much to discuss. Grab a mug and enjoy!
Guest Info: Matt Storm aka Stormageddon and CGDannyB
Listen to Matt's podcasts: "Fun" and Games- https://www.certainpov.com/fun-and-games and Reignite- https://www.certainpov.com/reignite
Find Matt on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/djstormageddon.com
Find Danny's streams, Playlog Podcast, YouTube channel and more- https://solo.to/cgdannyb
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Title Card
0:36 Intros/Personal Histories/Opening Thoughts
16:13 Story Setup/Themes Overview
38:36 Gameplay and Story, Presentation
1:16:24 Recommendations/Guest Plugs
1:32:00 Spoiler Wall/Patron Thank-Yous
1:33:44 Spoiler Section
Music used in the episode is credited to C418. You can purchase the soundtrack here- https://c418.bandcamp.com/album/wanderstop-fm. Tracks used: Introduction, The Fighter, Unknowable, Broom, Wanderstop pt. 1, Boredom, Trust, Farewell
Support Tales from the Backlog on Patreon! or buy me a coffee on Ko-fi!
Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server!
Social Media:
BlueSky
Instagram
Twitter
Facebook
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://www.instagram.com/jackallencaricatures/ and his other pages
Listen to A Top 3 Podcast on Apple, Spotify and [other podcast platforms](atop3podcast.fireside.fm)!
Support Tales from the Backlog
2 hr 46 min
April 09, 2025160: Sifu (with Ryan Juengling - List Off)
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
Listen to their show, including an episode with Dave! https://listoff.buzzsprout.com/
Follow on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/listoffpodcast.bsky.social
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Title Card
0:22 Intros/Personal Histories/Opening Thoughts
9:46 Story Setup/Presentation
29:30 Combat
52:05 Roguelike Structure/Route Planning
1:06:56 SPOILER WALL/Patron Thank You's
1:09:23 Spoiler Section
Music used in the episode is credited to Howie Lee. Tracks used:
Martial Mastery
Twin Villains
Crash the Dancefloor
Enter the Gang Turf
The Wuguan
Fearless
Check out Dave's appearance on the new Gamerheads Podcast game show, The 1Up Showdown: https://youtu.be/mkr8lo3iSCg?si=Jrp8lv0bNlIUFlBH
Support Tales from the Backlog on Patreon! or buy me a coffee on Ko-fi!
Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server!
Social Media:
BlueSky
Instagram
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://www.instagram.com/jackallencaricatures/ and his other pages
Support Tales from the Backlog
1 hr 45 min
April 02, 2025159: Metaphor: ReFantazio (with Scott White)
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: Scott White
Check out his writing: https://linktr.ee/scottwhite
Check out RPG University podcast: https://linktr.ee/RPGU_IP
Follow on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/professorrpg.bsky.social
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Title Card
0:35 Intro/Personal Histories/Opening Thoughts
10:43 Story Setup
35:05 Presentation
46:25 Combat/Archetype System
59:47 Life Sim Gameplay
1:15:43 SPOILER WALL, Patron Thank-Yous
1:17:37 Spoiler Section
Music used in the episode is credited to ATLUS Sound Team. Tracks used:
Call of Magic (Shoji Meguro)
A Brief Respite (Shoji Meguro)
Castle of Dread (Maiko Katagiri, Shoji Meguro)
Warriors in Valour (Keisuke Honryo, Shoji Meguro)
Journey's Legs (Shoji Meguro)
Ode to Heroes (Shoji Meguro)
Hero's Awakening (Shoji Meguro)
Formidable Foe (Shoji Meguro)
King's Verdict (Shoji Meguro)
Check out Dave's guest appearance on Pixelated Playgrounds about Persona 4 Golden: https://www.pixelatedplaygrounds.com/bookclub
Support Tales from the Backlog on Patreon! or buy me a coffee on Ko-fi!
Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server!
Social Media:
BlueSky
Instagram
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://www.instagram.com/jackallencaricatures/ and his other pages
Listen to A Top 3 Podcast on Apple, Spotify and [other podcast platforms](atop3podcast.fireside.fm)!
Support Tales from the Backlog
2 hr 14 min
March 26, 2025158: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (with Geoff Moonen - "Fun" and Games)
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 https://bsky.app/profile/geoffmakesnoise.bsky.social
Need a voice actor? https://www.geoffmoonen.com/
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Title Card
0:28 Intros/Personal Histories/Opening Thoughts
18:42 Story Setup
35:02 Story Themes/Presentation
54:08 Gameplay
1:18:28 Final Thoughts/Plugs
1:30:24 SPOILER WALL
1:32:18 Spoiler section
Music in the episode is credited to Harry Gregson-Williams. Tracks used:
Old Snake
Metal Gear Saga
Midnight Shadow
Haven Troopers
Breakthrough
Drebin 893
Guns of the Patriots
Father & Son
Everything Begins
Check out Dave's guest appearance on Pixels and Polygons! https://open.spotify.com/show/1scBiQBcm6u03qSjFkDvzD?si=k1OReY87SRSamyl6bPgiCw
Support Tales from the Backlog on Patreon! or buy me a coffee on Ko-fi!
Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server!
Social Media:
BlueSky
Instagram
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://www.instagram.com/jackallencaricatures/ and his other pages
Listen to A Top 3 Podcast on Apple, Spotify and [other podcast platforms](atop3podcast.fireside.fm)!
Support Tales from the Backlog
2 hr 50 min
March 19, 2025157: Unpacking (with Kate Hunter - No Small Games)
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 conversation!
Guest Info: Kate Hunter aka Katerblossom
Listen to her podcast No Small Games https://nosmallgames.com/
Follow her on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/katerblossom.bsky.social
Check her streams out on Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/katerblossom
TIMESTAMPS
Title Card 0:00
Intros/Personal Histories/Opening Thoughts 0:26
Story Setup 11:47
Gameplay/Music/Presentation 26:12
Final Thoughts/Recommendations/Housekeeping
Spoiler Wall/Patron Shoutouts 48:38
Spoiler Section 50:34
Music used in the episode is credited to Jeff van Dyck. You can purchase the soundtrack on Bandcamp. Tracks used:
Unpacking Theme
Child's Play
Own Two Feet
Friends for Life
Infatuation
Lost and Found
Home Sweet Home
Support Tales from the Backlog on Patreon! or buy me a coffee on Ko-fi!
Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server!
Social Media:
Bluesky
Instagram
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://www.instagram.com/jackallencaricatures/ and his other pages
Support Tales from the Backlog
2 hr
March 12, 2025156: Mouthwashing (with Ash Parrish)
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, analogues to the games industry and much more!
Guest info: Ash Parrish, journalist and critic for The Verge.
Find her work here https://www.theverge.com/authors/ash-parrish
Follow her on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/adashtra.bsky.social
Check out the Insert Credit Show https://www.youtube.com/@insertcreditshow
Content warnings for Mouthwashing: https://www.doesthedogdie.com/media/1312968
TIMESTAMPS
Title Card 0:00
Intros/Personal Histories/Opening Thoughts 0:16
Story Setup/Themes Overview/Presentation 9:30
Closing Thoughts/Recommendations/Housekeeping 30:54
SPOILER WALL 37:50
Music used in the episode is credited to Martin Halldin. You can purchase the soundtrack on Steam. Tracks used:
Main Theme
Medium Rare
The Windows are Plastic
Dragonbreath Theme
Heroes
Support Tales from the Backlog on Patreon! or buy me a coffee on Ko-fi!
Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server!
Social Media:
BlueSky
Instagram
Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://www.instagram.com/jackallencaricatures/ and his other pages
Listen to A Top 3 Podcast on Apple, Spotify and [other podcast platforms](atop3podcast.fireside.fm)!
Support Tales from the Backlog
1 hr 52 min

About Tales from the Backlog

From the publisher's feed

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…