Tales from the Backlog

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Join Dave and special guest Matt aka Stormageddon ("Fun" and Games, Reignite podcasts) as they discuss Yacht Club Games' long-awaited action adventure game, Mina the Hollower. Blending several influences from The Legend of Zelda, Castlevania, FromSoftware's catalogue and more, Mina the Hollower still managed to carve out a strong identity of its own while leaving a lasting impression. Listen in to find out more, and as always, no spoilers for a while.

Guest info: Matt aka Stormageddon (they/them)

Listen to "Fun" and Games https://funandgamespod.com/

Listen to Reignite https://reignitepod.libsyn.com/

Follow on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/djstormageddon.com

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Title Card

0:23 Introductions

6:41 Personal Histories with Yacht Club Games

12:34 Top-Level Thoughts

20:08 Story Setup and Weapon Choice

23:20 Exploring Influences

28:50 Visual Design and GBC Aesthetic

32:47 Burrowing Gives Mina Its Identity

43:47 Ways to Mitigate Difficulty

58:14 Open-Ended Structure and Exploration

1:09:07 Lightning Round!

1:14:34 Modifiers, Feats and Achievements

1:25:04 Music and Sound

1:34:43 Who Should Play?

1:40:15 "Fun" and Games, Reignite Podcasts

1:46:24 Spoiler Wall & Patron Thank-Yous

1:48:13 Spoilers- Weapons, Areas, Bosses

2:12:43 Spoilers- Final Boss and Ending

Music used in the episode is credited to Jake Kaufman unless otherwise noted. Tracks used: Cinematic - Intro, A Sinking Feeling (Loner's Landing), The Congealed, Gator Gallop (Nox's Bayou), A Sickly Shore (Bone Beach), Central Ossex, The Brilliant Truth (Radiant Manor), End Credits

Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson

Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog

Join Dave and special guest Roger Reichardt of Gamerheads Podcast as they discuss Soulgame Stuidio's 2024 top-down twin-stick shooting adventure, Minishoot' Adventures. The weird apostrophe will catch your attention, but the fantastic controls and satisfying gameplay will keep you grinning from ear to ear from start to finish. Or at least, that's how it went for us. As always, no spoilers in the episode until we warn you!

Guest info: Roger Reichardt (he/him)

Check out Gamerheads https://www.gamerheadspodcast.com/

Follow on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/rogueleader76.bsky.social

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Preview and Title Card

0:22 Introductions

5:30 Our Histories with Minishoot' Adventures

11:35 Top-Level Thoughts

18:28 Story Setup and Storytelling

26:44 A More Approachable Bullet Hell

34:06 Very Reasonable Challenge

39:27 Sound and Visual Design

45:57 Exploration and World Structure

56:16 Soundtrack

1:01:41 Wrap-Up Thoughts

1:06:32 Who Should Play?

1:09:31 Gamerheads Podcast

1:13:58 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous

1:15:59 Spoilers- The Secret of the Apostrophe

1:19:33 Spoilers- Story Talk

Music used in the episode is credited to Séverin Larose. Tracks used: Main Title, Dungeon, Boss, Battle, Overworld, Credits

Check out an interview with Séverin Larose on "Fun" and Games podcast: https://funandgames.libsyn.com/episode-210-minishoot-adventures

Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson

Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog

Join Dave and special guest AJ Fillari as they discuss Pyre (Supergiant Games, 2017). As your crew makes their way through their underworld hellprison, you take part in competitive rites with the goal of earning your freedom. The game explores the rhythms of sport and competition, win or lose, as well as political allusions, what it means to return home, and much more. Dave and AJ also discuss Supergiant's continuity as a studio and how it helps them consistently put out good games. As always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy!

Guest info: AJ Fillari (they/any)

Listen to dotzip podcast https://dotzip.online/

Follow on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/ajfillari.bsky.social

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Title Card

0:27 Introductions

5:54 Our Histories with Supergiant Games

9:52 Top-Level Thoughts

17:20 Story Setup

24:45 Push and Pull Decision Making

31:56 You Gotta Lose Sometimes

43:26 Playing in the Rites

56:26 Cast of Characters and Reactivity

1:01:44 Art and Visual Design

1:06:13 Music

1:15:56 Who Should Play?

1:20:21 dotzip and AJ's work

1:25:06 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous

1:26:49 Spoilers- Politics, Exile and Freedom

1:38:09 Spoilers- How Did Our Rites Go?

1:51:44 Spoilers- Who Should Go Free?

2:07:32 Spoilers- Endgame Results

2:14:02 Spoilers- Finale Music and Wrap-Up

Music used in the episode is credited to Darren Korb. Tracks used: In the Flame (with Ashley Barrett), Surviving Exile, Glorious Tradition, Thrash Pack, Strange Voyage, Never to Return (with Ashley Barrett), Bound Together (with Ashley Barrett)

Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson

Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog

Join Dave and special guest IdolismJ as they tackle Drakengard (Cavia, Square Enix, 2003). Drakengard has a reputation for being bad, unplayable, interesting and edgelordy to a certain extent, and we can confirm that some, but not all of those, are correct. Drakengard challenges the player in ways that most games don't, driving you crazy alongside the protagonist. Whether the effect is intentional or accidental, Drakengard certainly left an impression on us. Listen in to find out more, and as always, no spoilers for a while!

Guest info: IdolismJ (he/him)

Check out Jay's YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@IdolismJ

Support on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cw/idolismj

Follow on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/idolismj.yase.world

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Title Card

0:18 Introductions

4:26 Our Histories with Drakengard and Nier

7:28 Top-Level Thoughts about Drakengard

11:53 Story Setup and Caim's Well-Being

21:40 Following the Plot

27:43 Combat- "Is It Bad on Purpose?"

40:28 Music to Go Insane to

50:14 Air Combat

58:00 Auteur Theory, Revisited

1:08:54 Art, Party Members, Voice Acting

1:18:10 Who Should Play Drakengard?

1:21:58 IdolismJ on YouTube

1:27:16 Spoiler Wall & Patron Thank-Yous

1:29:04 Spoilers- Things Get Worse Until They End

1:39:23 Spoilers- Ending A

1:47:44 Spoilers- Ending B

1:51:55 Spoilers- Ending C

2:00:38 Spoilers- Ending D and Some Hairy Subject Matter

2:16:49 Spoilers- Ending E and Connection to Nier

Music used in the episode is credited to Takayuka Aihara unless otherwise noted. Tracks used: Weapon Select, First Chapter - Sky, Fifth Chapter - Ground, Fourth Chapter - Ground (Nobuyoshi Sano), Fifth Chapter - Sky, First Chapter - Castle Interior, Eighth Chapter - Closing (Nobuyoshi Sano), Route C Staff Roll, Mission Clear (Nobuyoshi Sano)

Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson

Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog

Join Dave and special guest Claire as they deep dive Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Intelligent Systems, Kou Shibusawa, Nintendo, 2019). They discuss the life sim and battle elements, how they tie together to make you fear permadeath even more, the four playthroughs, and much more. As always, no spoilers for a while!

Guest info: Claire (she/her/any)

Check out Date With Us podcast https://www.datewith.us

Check out Claire on Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/claireafterall

Get a sick wrestling belt https://www.trophysmack.com/

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Title Card

0:21 Introductions

5:03 Our Histories with Fire Emblem

7:35 Top-Level Thoughts

14:36 Story Setup and Choosing Your House

23:49 Life Sim Elements and How To Spend Time

30:00 Teaching and Character Building

36:11 Relationship/Support Mechanics

40:25 Relationship and Dating Elements

55:36 Combat and Permadeath

1:05:18 Combat Basics

1:15:00 What's New in the DLC?

1:19:56 Soundtrack

1:26:10 Visual Design and Art

1:31:57 Who Should Play?

1:38:17 Date With Us and Claire's Streaming

1:44:36 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous

1:46:26 Spoilers- Story Discussion

2:29:39 Spoilers- MVPs and Results

Music used in the episode:

The Crest of Flames (Yuka Tsujiyoko)

Fódlan Winds (Takeru Kanazaki)

Life at Garreg Mach Monastery (Takeru Kanazaki)

Tearing Through Heaven (Hiroki Morishita)

Tempest of Seasons (Rei Kondoh)

A Guide for the Future (Takeru Kanazaki)

A New Dawn (Takeru Kanazaki, Rei Kondoh)

The Land Beloved by the Goddess (Takeru Kanazaki)

Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures