Tales from the Backlog

• 176: Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride (with Chris Coplien - Retro Hangover)

  Support my work on Patreon (https://patreon.com/realdavejackson) Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server (https://discord.gg/bptGyEWbk7) Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi (https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson) I didn't hear about Dragon Quest for a very long time, probably an embarrassingly long time, and once I played one, I didn't....get it. It all seemed too plain, too simple, too lacking in complexity, and while a part of me was relieved to suddenly have less "homework" to do as I'm forever catching up on RPGs that I missed, part of me felt an ever-present need to "get it". Yada yada yada, I finally had another reason to try Dragon Quest, starting with Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride on DS, and folks....I get it now. Tune in to find out how I got there. Guest info: Chris Coplien of Retro Hangover * Listen to Retro Hangover https://linktr.ee/retrohangover * Check out the first of Dragon Quest V's episodes in the King of Games 1992 tournament https://retrohangover.captivate.fm/episode/king-of-games-92-round-1-match-4-sonic-the-hedgehog-2-vs-dragon-quest-v * Follow on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/retrohangover.bsky.social TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:42 Intros * 6:10 Personal Histories with Dragon Quest V * 12:15 Opening Thoughts * 14:54 Story Setup/Generational Structure * 26:19 Overcoming Constraints/Presentation * 34:26 Story Themes/Cozy Charm * 45:16 Soundtrack/Influence * 56:10 Gameplay- Combat/Monster Collecting * 1:12:05 Final Thoughts/Recommendations * 1:14:45 Retro Hangover Podcast * 1:19:23 SPOILER WALL/Patron Thank-You's * 1:21:15 Spoiler Section- Act 1 and 2 * 2:06:04 Spoiler Section- Act 3 and Closing Thoughts Music used in the episode is credited to Koichi Sugiyama. Tracks used: Overture, Overworld, Town, Battle, Melody in an Ancient Town, The Ocean, Zenithia, Saint 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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• 175: Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (with Brian Edwards)

  Support my work on Patreon (https://patreon.com/realdavejackson) Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server! (https://discord.gg/bptGyEWbk7) Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi (https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson) Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has risen to the gaming mainstream with its beloved Like a Dragon series, and when a hot streak occurs, a heat check often follows, and there is no bigger heat check than a game where you play through a Hawaiian pirate adventure starring the series' lovable maniac, Goro Majima. So why has Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii fallen out of the conversation, even among series diehards? Did the heat check connect, or is it the beginning of a downturn? All that and more in this great conversation. Guest info: Brian Edwards * Listen to the Cane and Rinse podcast https://caneandrinse.com/ * Listen to the Character Issues podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-character-issues-podcast/id1530881747 * Follow Brian on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/characterissues.bsky.social TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:20 Intros * 5:45 Personal Histories With Yakuza Series * 9:53 The Yakuza Secret Sauce * 14:12 Opening Thoughts about Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii * 20:34 Like a Dragon Series Fatigue? * 35:15 Story Setup, Majima the Leading Man * 45:40 Framing Device, Substories, Goofs * 1:11:18 Pirate Gameplay, Ship Combat * 1:33:51 Action Combat * 1:44:59 Mini-Games and Side Activities * 1:52:36 Closing Thoughts/Recommendations * 1:57:57 Character Issues, Cane and Rinse * 2:02:33 Spoiler Wall/Patron Thank-Yous * 2:04:37 Spoiler Section- Substories * 2:18:42 Spoiler Section- Main Story and Ending Music used in the episode: * Anchors Aweigh (Saori Yoshida) * Nameless Traveler (Saori Yoshida) * Palekanian Dance (Yuri Fukuda) * Mad Dog (Keitarou Hanada) * Echoes of Hope (Kazuki Takagi) * Masaru's Love Journey (Mitsuhara Fukuyama) Check out the King of Games 1999 tournament on Retro Hangover! https://linktr.ee/retrohangover 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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• 174: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (with Michael Higham)

  Support my work on Patreon (https://patreon.com/realdavejackson) Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server! (https://discord.gg/bptGyEWbk7) Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi (https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson)! Once or twice a year, a game will hook me so strongly that not only can I not stop playing it, I can't stop thinking about it. If it's not the constant pull to get back on the sticks and play, it was the constant pull to think about the story. Sandfall Interactive caught lightning in a bottle with their debut game, and I couldn't wait to have this conversation and share it all with you. Guest info: Michael Higham * Read Michael's review of Expedition 33 https://www.ign.com/articles/clair-obscur-expedition-33-review * Follow Michael on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/brazyazn.bsky.social TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:42 Intros * 6:25 Personal Histories with Expedition 33 * 9:31 Opening Thoughts about Expedition 33 * 13:12 Story Setup/Worldbuilding/A Strong Story Hook * 24:15 Cast of Characters * 31:29 Overview of Themes * 39:55 Comic Relief in a Bleak Story * 45:15 Music/Presentation * 1:03:02 Combat- Dodging and Parrying, Difficulty * 1:14:57 Combat- Offense and Character Building * 1:28:28 Closing Thoughts/Recommendations * 1:36:28 Michael's Work at IGN * 1:39:37 SPOILER WALL/Patron Thank-You's * 1:41:20 Spoiler Section- What's Happening? * 2:07:28 Spoiler Section- Endings and Interpretations * 2:39:13 Spoiler Section- Optional Bosses, More Thoughts, "For Those Who Come After" Music used in the episode: * Alicia (Lorien Testard, Alice Duport-Percier) * Lumière (Lorien Testard, Alice Duport-Percier) * Gustave (Lorien Testard) * World Map- In Lumière's Name (Lorien Testard) * Une vie à t'aimer (Lorien Testard, Alice Duport-Percier, Victor Borba) * Our Painted Family (Lorien Testard) * We Lost (Lorien Testard, Alice Duport-Percier, Victor Borba) * Verso (Music Box) (Lorien Testard) * Is It a Gestral or a Volleyball? (Lorien Testard) You can purchase the soundtrack here: https://lacedrecords.bandcamp.com/album/clair-obscur-expedition-33-original-soundtrack 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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• 173: Max Payne (with Nomad - The Retro Wildlands)

  Support my work on Patreon (https://patreon.com/realdavejackson) Two podcasters entered the room on a collision course, one with a backlog the size of a mobster's rap sheet, the other with one foot in the past. There was only one way out of this mess- one podcast to end them all. The subject was an old friend, if you consider a man out of options a friend. A man with a thirst for revenge that nothing could quench- Max Payne. Guest info: Nomad (The Retro Wildlands) * Listen to The Retro Wildlands https://linktr.ee/retrowildlands * Check out the Superpod Network https://superpodnetwork.com/ * Follow Nomad on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/retrowildlands.bsky.social TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:32 Intros * 5:24 Our Histories with Remedy and Max Payne * 10:36 Opening Thoughts About Max Payne * 16:00 Story Setup/Revenge Themes * 23:00 Neo-Noir Storytelling and Presentation * 32:25 Remake Talk * 34:25 Music * 38:22 Combat * 52:02 Other Gameplay * 1:00:23 Closing Thoughts/Recommendations * 1:08:13 The Retro Wildlands Plugs * 1:15:11 SPOILER WALL/Patron Thank-Yous * 1:16:35 Spoiler Section- Plot Twists and Mysteries * 1:25:18 Spoiler Section- Revenge and Vigilantism Music used in the episode is credited to Kärtsy Hatakka and Kimmo Kajasto. Tracks used: Max Payne Theme, Graphic Novel, Whack Him, Mr. Big, Max Payne Theme (Short Version) 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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• 172: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (with Dan - The Greatest Story Ever Played)

  Support my work on Patreon (https://patreon.com/realdavejackson) As a lifelong Indiana Jones agnostic, there was no way that MachineGames would make an Indiana Jones game I would care about, right? Right? Well, it certainly looked that way when the first gameplay trailer for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle dropped. But then I started hearing my activation phrases start to bounce around- "this is like Hitman", "this is like Dishonored", so I knew I had to give it a try. And boy am I glad that I did! Guest info: Dan of The Greatest Story Ever Played * Check out the podcast https://linktr.ee/thegreateststoryeverplayed * Follow Dan on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/storyeverpod.bsky.social TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:36 Intros * 3:33 Personal Histories with Indiana Jones and The Great Circle * 7:55 Opening Thoughts * 11:33 Story Setup and Troy Baker as Indiana Jones * 16:35 A Great Villain and Supporting Cast * 24:54 Music and Visual Presentation * 34:36 Combat and Stealth * 48:28 Side Quests, Exploration and Level Design * 1:04:19 Final Thoughts/Recommendations * 1:08:24 The Greatest Story Ever Played Plugs * 1:13:07 SPOILER WALL/Patron Thank-Yous * 1:14:46 Spoiler Section Music used in the episode is credited to Gordy Haab. Tracks used: The Great Circle, A New Adventure Awaits, Where Are We, Gina's Theme, Signs of the Stones, Until the Next Adventure 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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