Tales from the Backlog

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Join Dave and special guest Andre (Fine Time, Neo Geo Go!, The Silent Discographer) as they discuss Square Enix's latest entry in the main Dragon Quest series, Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age. For a certain style of RPG (that Dragon Quest arguably pioneered), it doesn't get better than this. Dragon Quest XI doesn't reinvent any part of its genre, but executes at top level throughout, though we still have some questions about directions that the story goes. This is a masterpiece, and we hope you enjoy the conversation. As always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy!

Guest info: Andre (he/him)

Check out Fine Time https://fineti.me/

Check out Neo Geo Go! https://neogeogo.show/

Check out The Silent Discographer https://the-silent-discographer.simplecast.com/

Follow on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/pizzadinosaur.fineti.me

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Title Card

0:31 Introductions

6:06 Our Histories with Dragon Quest

10:19 Top-Level Thoughts

18:16 Story Setup and Thoughts

32:59 Feels Like Coming Home- Art & Music

51:03 Tickington

54:46 Combat and The Fun-Sized Forge

1:10:14 Thoughts on the Silent Protagonist

1:18:36 Lightning Round Thoughts

1:23:32 Who Should Play?

1:28:35 Andre's Podcasts

1:34:12 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous

1:37:07 Spoilers- Some Early-Ish Story Talk

1:50:18 Spoilers- Act 2 Story

2:00:33 Spoilers- Act 3 Story

Music used in the episode is credited to Koichi Sugiyama. Tracks used: Overture, The Hero Goes Forth with Determination, Olé! Sylvando!, Unflinchable Courage, Bustling Town, Rab the Wizard, Light Though the Leaves of Love, Echoes of an Elusive Age

Check out Dave on Nostalgium Arcanum talking about our favorite video game soundtracks: https://nostalgiumarcanum.fireside.fm/

Check out Dave on The Rookie Run talking about Ocarina of Time https://www.youtube.com/@TheRookieRunVideoGamePodcast

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 Luis Aguasvivas as they discuss Arco (Franek, Max Cahill, Bibiki and Fayer, 2024). Arco blends tactical turn-based combat with a revenge story spanning multiple protagonists. It's an ambitious game that coalesces in some magical ways, but falls short in some others, making it ripe for discussion. As always, no spoilers in the episode for a while- enjoy!

Guest info: Luis Aguasvivas (he/they)

Check out Luis's writing https://aguaspoints.com/

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

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Title Card

0:20 Introductions

3:56 Our Histories with Arco

6:52 Top-Level Thoughts

13:13 Story Setup

17:52 Multiple Protagonist Structure

22:58 Dramatic Irony and Post-Colonial Narratives

28:48 Visual Design

35:33 Soundtrack

40:13 Combat

49:38 Fantasy Elements and Morality System

1:03:55 Who Should Play?

1:07:55 Luis' Writing

1:11:58 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous

1:14:20 Spoilers- Different Story Paths

1:26:01 Spoilers- Act Five

1:39:41 Spoilers- Tizo's Story

1:51:22 Spoilers- Violence as Interaction in Games

2:01:54 Spoilers- Fighting the Ocean in Historical Fiction

Music used in the episode is credited to Bibiki. Tracks used: Arena y Alquitrán, Forgotten Memories, Blood Spit, Whispers of Magic, Where Iyos Live, Sempiternal

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 Emily Merritt (No Small Games) as they do their best to unpack AP Thompson's Titanium Court. Even AP Thompson's simplified description of "a match-3 tower defense game for people who like to read" still hides a mountain of detail, so this was a fun discussion about those component parts and especially how they tie together into a genuinely interesting narrative and commentary on the way we play games and "consume" media in general. As always, no spoilers for a while- enjoy!

Guest info: Emily Merritt (she/her)

Check out No Small Games https://nosmallgames.com/

Follow on Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/aspecificegg

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

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Title

0:20 Introductions

4:52 Our Histories with Titanium Court

8:18 Top-Level Thoughts

14:59 Story Setup and Worldbuilding

22:46 Theatre Inspiration and Humor

33:02 Visual Design

41:04 Music

48:45 Gameplay- Jobs and Goals

59:23 Gameplay- High/Low Tide

1:12:22 "Addictive" Games

1:17:24 Who Should Play?

1:23:04 No Small Games

1:28:19 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous

1:30:17 Spoilers- Curses Lifted

1:45:11 Spoilers- Story Discussion

1:57:00 Spoilers- Story, Continued

Music used in the episode is credited to AP Thompson. You can purchase the soundtrack on Steam. Tracks used: Chimera Solo, Timeskip Titlecard and the Ten Years Later, The One AP Doesn't Like, Metamind Defense Grid Blues, Biome Select, Fourth Quarter, For a Dollar

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 Jared Moss (Play Along Podcast) as they take over the land in Pokémon Conquest. This crossover between Pokémon and Nobunaga's Ambition puts the familiar monsters in tactical grid-based combat, with satisfying (if slow) progression. It's a fun twist on the familiar, even if it makes zero effort to tell an accompanying story with any juice. Please enjoy the discussion, and as always- no spoilers for a while!

Guest info: Jared Moss (he/him)

Listen to Play Along Podcast https://linktr.ee/PlayAlongPodcast

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

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Title Card

0:27 Introductions

5:20 Our Histories with Pokémon/Conquest

9:17 Top-Level Thoughts

16:10 Story Setup and Thoughts

23:31 Teambuilding and Conquering the Land

37:43 Turn-Based Tactics

55:48 The Gateway to Grand Strategy?

1:06:13 Soundtrack

1:08:03 Wrap-Up Thoughts

1:12:39 Pacing for Handheld Play

1:16:36 Who Should Play?

1:21:13 Play Along Podcast

1:26:03 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous

1:28:04 Spoilers- Favorite Pokémon and Teams

1:42:58 Spoilers- Story and Final Fights

Music used in the episode is credited to Shin-ichiro Nakamura, Ayako Toyoda and Takashi Yoshida. Tracks used: Main Theme, Episode Opening, Normal Battle, Dungeon Theme 1, Map Theme 1, Staff Roll

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 guests Rick Firestone (Pixel Project Radio) and Charlie Young for an introductory lesson about how to listen to and discuss video game music in more effective ways. The episode starts with some terminology and examples, then moves to a "close listening" exercise where you can apply what was taught earlier. Hope you enjoy!

Guest info:

Charlie Young (he/him)

Rick Firestone (he/him)

Check out Pixel Project Radio https://linktr.ee/pixelprojectradio

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Title Card and Introductions

2:00 Topic Introduction

7:36 Developing a Palate- Melody, Harmony, Rhythm

19:37 Developing a Palate- Timbre, Instrument Choice, Dynamics

33:42 Developing a Palate- Texture and Form

46:07 Developing a Palate- Character, Affect

1:00:39 Patron Thank-Yous

1:02:39 Close Listening- Champion Cynthia (Pokemon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum)

1:14:43 Close Listening- Decisive Battle: Yu Yevon (Final Fantasy X)

1:29:04 Close Listening- Gone Angels (Library of Ruina)

1:48:02 Close Listening- Alicia (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)

2:09:02 Outro and Pixel Project Radio

Music used in the episode:

Earthbound OST- The Runaway Five on the Move! (Akio Ohmori, Ritsuo Kamimura, Keiichi Suzuki, Hirokazu Tanaka)

Blue Prince OST- Stories of All Manor (Trigg & Gusset)

Super Mario Bros OST- Ground Theme (Koji Kondo)

Final Fantasy IX OST- Vivi's Theme (Nobuo Uematsu)

Final Fantasy IX OST- Steiner's Theme (Nobuo Uematsu)

Dark Souls OST- Gwyn, Lord of Cinder (Motoi Sakuraba)

Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector OST- Signalchaser (Amos Roddy)

Pokemon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum OST- Champion Cynthia (Go Ichinose)

Final Fantasy X OST- Final Battle (Masashi Hamauzu)

Final Fantasy X OST- Zanarkand (Nobuo Uematsu)

Library of Ruina OST- Gone Angels (Studio EIM)

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 OST- Alicia (Lorien Testard, Alice Duport-Percier)

Video-

5th Elite Four Battle Cynthia- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vzpDrO9dH0

Pokemon Trauma Cynthia Battle Flashbacks- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOEKlXY-SYc

Final Fantasy X Trailer- https://youtu.be/riNzVUJumM8

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