Email [email protected] to have your gaming questions, comments, and concerns addressed directly on the next podcast.

This is Bard's Backlog, a weekly video game review & deep dive show. Hosted by Joshua Gallegos, each episode discusses the game of the week and whether it can be entered into the esteemed Hall of Games, though that happens after the panel cracks open the strange {DEFAULT} segment.

Jared and Josh face perhaps the most testing video game ever to be nominated: the infamous, the beloved, DARK SOULS. Does Jared's casual-ness get in the way of the game's vision? Was Josh able to FINALLY beat a Souls game? What gripes, fears, and struggles were realized in their painful journeys through Lordran? All this is discussed and more in the longest Bard's Backlog yet!

Timestamps:

02:37 - Housekeeping

06:11 - Guilty pleasure meals

13:24 - Coffee brands for intermittent fasting

16:00 - Tha Games We Playin'

26:11 - {DEFAULT} - Most anticipated 2021 game

31:46 - THE PICK: Dark Souls

33:40 - First and overall impressions

1:12:38 - Playability

1:25:44 - Gameplay

1:58:46 - Backtracking

2:07:57 - Favorite NPCs, bosses, and encounters

2:22:14 - World design

2:41:30 - Story

2:52:52 - Visuals

2:56:32 - How it has destroyed our relationships

2:58:30 - Final gripes

3:02:23 - Verdict

Email [email protected] to have your gaming questions, comments, and concerns addressed directly on the next podcast.

This is Bard's Backlog, a weekly video game review & deep dive show. Hosted by Joshua Gallegos, each episode discusses the game of the week and whether it can be entered into the esteemed Hall of Games, though that happens after the panel cracks open the strange {DEFAULT} segment.

This time, Jared and Josh tackle the Internet darling, Undertale! Do Sans, Papyrus, and co. win over our critical hearts? Or does its simplicity undermine what would otherwise be a classic? Check out our conversation—and learn a bit about history along the way!

Timestamps:

02:36 - Dust Bowl trivia

04:13 - Housekeeping

07:10 - Favorite US President?

18:58 - Tha Games We Playin'

28:43 - {DEFAULT} - REAL OR FAKE: Mario Rabbids Weapons

35:56 - Mortal Kombat movie talk

38:25 - THE PICK: Undertale

1:58:26 - MEGALOVANIA

Email [email protected] to have your gaming questions, comments, and concerns addressed directly on the next podcast.

This is Bard's Backlog, a weekly video game review & deep dive show. Hosted by Joshua Gallegos, each episode discusses the game of the week and whether it can be entered into the esteemed Hall of Games, though that happens after the panel cracks open the strange {DEFAULT} segment.

This time, Jared and Josh take a long look at perhaps the weirdest AAA Switch title - Mario + Rabbids! How did these two franchises collide? WHY would you combine them? Is it any good at all? Listen and discover a truly strange marriage between Ubisoft and Nintendo, and find out if it makes it into the Hall of Games!

Timestamps:

03:47 - Housekeeping

06:29 - Tha Games We Playin'

22:10 - {DEFAULT} - If we had one perfect remake we could will into existence, what would we choose?

30:53 - THE PICK: Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle

Email [email protected] to have your gaming questions, comments, and concerns addressed directly on the next podcast.

This is Bard's Backlog, a weekly video game review & deep dive show. Hosted by Joshua Gallegos, each episode discusses the game of the week and whether it can be entered into the esteemed Hall of Games, though that happens after the panel cracks open the strange {DEFAULT} segment.

After a hiatus meant to give more time with the pick this week, Josh listens to Jared RANT about the latest addition to the Fire Emblem franchise. Is this ambitious strategy game capable of pulling off its lofty goals? Or does it eventually collapse under its complexities? Listen and see what we thought of a game many hail as one of the finest Nintendo Switch games!

Timestamps:

09:45 - Housekeeping

10:32 - Best anime op's?

18:02 - Tha Games We Playin'

27:32 - {DEFAULT} - What virtual worlds would be fun to inhabit?

34:28 - THE PICK: Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Email [email protected] to have your gaming questions, comments, and concerns addressed directly on the next podcast.

This is Bard's Backlog, a weekly video game review & deep dive show. Hosted by Joshua Gallegos, each episode discusses the game of the week and whether it can be entered into the esteemed Hall of Games, though that happens after the panel cracks open the strange {DEFAULT} segment.

This week, Josh and Jared gush over quite possibly the best rogue-like of all time (and perhaps the actual GOTY for 2020?). An obvious pick for the Hall of Games, check out our dissection of Hades and its appeal. Listen and find out why it's such a shoe-in for the Hall!

Timestamps:

06:52 - Housekeeping

10:49 - Should we be a confederacy?

17:44 - Tha Games We Playin'

31:12 - {DEFAULT} - Our video game origins

39:25 - THE PICK: Hades

Tweet @videogamebard or @JaredTBen to have your gaming questions, comments, and concerns addressed directly on the next podcast.

This is Bard's Backlog, a weekly video game review & deep dive show. Hosted by Joshua Gallegos, each episode discusses the game of the week and whether it can be entered into the esteemed Hall of Games, though that happens after the panel cracks open the strange {DEFAULT} segment.

This week, Josh takes the helm once again to discuss a sleeper hit from 2020: Immortals: Fenyx Rising! Does this Breath of the Wild / Assassin's Creed / Saturday morning cartoon / Greek myth knockoff have enough cohesion to be worthy of entering the Hall of Games? Is it too much of a rip-off, or does it carve its own path successfully? Are Zeus and Prometheus funny or terrible? Listen and find out!

Timestamps:

00:52 - Housekeeping

07:32 - What would you do if stuck in a time loop?

12:25 - Tha Games We Playin'

24:20 - {DEFAULT} - Too many remasters?

37:16 - THE PICK: Immortals Fenyx Rising

Tweet @videogamebard or @JaredTBen to have your gaming questions, comments, and concerns addressed directly on the next podcast.

This is Bard's Backlog, a weekly video game infocast & deep dive show. Hosted by Joshua Gallegos, each episode discusses the game of the week and whether it can be entered into the esteemed Hall of Games, before the panel cracks open the strange {DEFAULT} segment.

This week, Josh and Jared FINALLY tackle the great JRPG Xenoblade Chronicles (specifically the Switch version). Does this insane experience repel Jared, and attract Josh? Or vice verse? Will the guys be able to handle all the Japanese tropes? Does the 11-year-old game deserve to be entered into the Hall of Games? Listen and see!

Timestamps:

00:50 - Housekeeping

01:51 - The Games We Playin'

21:34 - {DEFAULT} - What motivates you??

32:56 - THE PICK: Xenoblade Chronicles: DE

Tweet @videogamebard or @JaredTBen to have your gaming questions, comments, and concerns addressed directly on the next podcast.

This is Bard's Backlog, a weekly video game infocast & deep dive show. Hosted by Joshua Gallegos, each episode discusses the game of the week and whether it can be entered into the esteemed Hall of Games, before the panel cracks open the strange {DEFAULT} segment.

This week, Josh and Jared present you with our meatiest episode yet as we categorize our Game of The Year awards for 2020!

Timestamps:

01:06 - Housekeeping

03:35 - Our favorite chips

06:44 - The Games We Playin'

29:33 - {DEFAULT} - 2021 ambitions

34:57 - Game of the Year Awards!!

Tweet @videogamebard or @JaredTBen to have your gaming questions, comments, and concerns addressed directly on the next podcast.

This is Bard's Backlog, a weekly video game infocast & deep dive show. Hosted by Joshua Gallegos, each episode discusses the game of the week and whether it can be entered into the esteemed Hall of Games, before the panel cracks open the strange {DEFAULT} segment.

This week, Josh and Jared catch up after a long period of time off!

Timestamps:

00:30 - WE BACK

08:37 - Update on our gaming lives

35:00 - Jared Lore (A Default Segment)

Tweet @videogamebard or @JaredTBen to have your gaming questions, comments, and concerns addressed directly on the next podcast. Welcome to the modern day.

This is Bard's Backlog, a weekly video game infocast & deep dive show. Hosted by videogamebard.com senior editor Joshua Gallegos, each episode discusses the game of the week and whether it can be entered into the esteemed Hall of Games, before the panel cracks open the strange {DEFAULT} segment. Occasional interviews notwithstanding.

This week, Josh and Jared finally nominate a long-standing favorite, and a game oft appearing in Tha Games We Playin segment: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The two discuss the history of the Smash franchise and how it has impacted them over the years, as well as the game's insane amount of content and depth of play. But will that be enough to see the game entered into the Hall of Games? Listen and see!

Timestamps:

01:54 - Housekeeping

04:28 - Tha Games We Playin

16:32 - PICK OF THE WEEK: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

38:55 - Mid-Podcast Game - NAME THAT FRANCHISE