Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog

Join Dave and guest Bryan Skursha as they deep dive Death Howl (The Outer Zone, 11 Bit Studios, 2025) on their journey through the underworld to find out what the hell a soulslike deckbuilder even is. Brutal turn-based combat, a story about grieving and a mother's love, and all the fucked up guys a gamer could ask for. Listen in to find out more!

Guest info: Bryan Skursha (he/him)

• Check out Pixelated Playgrounds https://www.pixelatedplaygrounds.com/
• Follow on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/bsushi.bsky.social

TIMESTAMPS

• 0:00 Title Card
• 0:18 Introductions
• 5:39 Our Histories with Death Howl
• 10:50 Top-Level Thoughts
• 15:42 Story Setup
• 23:58 Dreamy, Hazy Visuals and Sound
• 40:01 Combat Basics and Deckbuilding Strategy
• 54:58 Is It Soulslike?
• 1:05:00 Open-Ended Structure and Side Quests
• 1:10:22 Combat Depth
• 1:16:40 Who Should Play Death Howl?
• 1:19:00 Pixelated Playgrounds
• 1:22:55 Spoiler Wall & Patron Thank-Yous
• 1:24:58 Spoilers- Favorite Areas, Bosses, Decks
• 1:41:00 Spoilers- Final Area and Final Bosses
• 1:55:46 Spoilers- Story Discussion

Music used in the episode is credited to Chris Bjørumslet & Malte Burup. Tracks used: Death Howl, Olvi, Shadows of Rot, Cantharsis, Meadows of Delusion, Moon Eel, Ever Since Your Heart Stopped Beating

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 Josh Leslie as they discuss Skate Story, developed by Sam Eng and published by Devolver Digital in 2025. How does the skating compare to touchstone games like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater or skate.? How does its poetic storytelling land? How do the aesthetics enhance other aspects of the game? All this and more- enjoy!

Guest info: Josh Leslie (he/him)

• Check out IndieQuest podcast https://indiequest.buzzsprout.com/
• Check out The Monthly Mishap podcast https://monthlymishap.buzzsprout.com/

TIMESTAMPS

• 0:00 Title Card
• 0:21 Introductions
• 5:00 Our Histories with Skate Story
• 9:05 Top-Level Thoughts
• 16:00 Story Setup and Poetic Storytelling
• 23:42 Open Zones and City Life
• 27:58 Visuals and Music
• 41:00 Skating and Downhill Sections
• 50:48 Boss Encounters and Challenges
• 59:43 Plan and Perform
• 1:03:30 Recommendations
• 1:07:13 Josh's Work- IndieQuest and The Monthly Mishap
• 1:11:34 Spoiler Wall & Patron Thank-Yous
• 1:13:21 Spoilers- Eating the Moons
• 1:31:08 Spoilers- Emotional Arc & Interpretations
• 1:50:20 Spoilers- Final Boss and Ending
• 1:56:32 Spoilers- We Still Exist

Music used in the episode: Collapsing, Like Clouds Into Smoke (Blood Cultures), Where the City Can't See (Blood Cultures), Redvoid (John Fio), Lyceum (John Fio), Alcian Blue (Blood Cultures), Hole in the Sun (Blood Cultures), Godhook (John Fio)

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

Bioshock is a title that carries weight, nearly 20 years after its 2007 release by 2K Boston and 2K Australia, and it feels like one that every gaming podcast eventually talks about. And hey, it's our turn this time- Bioshock has long been a favorite of mine that I've revisited through the years. But when put under the Tales from the Backlog microscope, does it hold up under pressure or does it spring a leak? Listen in to find out.

Guest info: Joseph Hooper (he/him)

• Check out Crossplay Conversations https://www.youtube.com/@crossplayconvos
• Check out Can't Pause on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@cantpause
• Check out Player Player https://playerplayerpod.com/

TIMESTAMPS

• 0:00 Title Card
• 0:26 Introductions
• 5:25 Our Histories with Bioshock
• 9:20 Top-Level Thoughts
• 14:25 Story Setup
• 21:30 Learning Backstory Via Audio Logs
• 26:40 Rapture and Ideology
• 35:18 Big Daddies, Little Sisters and Moral Choices
• 44:24 Combat Mechanics
• 54:00 Some Immersive Sim DNA
• 1:03:29 Combat Balance & Difficulty
• 1:13:26 Visual Design and Music/Sound
• 1:22:27 Who Do We Recommend Bioshock To?
• 1:24:38 Joseph's Podcasts and YouTube Channel
• 1:28:26 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous
• 1:30:13 Spoilers- Would You Kindly? and Fontaine
• 1:44:48 Spoilers- Rapture's Downfall
• 2:01:37 Spoilers- Other Major Players
• 2:14:00 Spoilers- Big Daddy and Endings

Music used in the episode is credited to Garry Schyman unless otherwise noted. Tracks used: Under the Sea (Bobby Darin), Welcome to Rapture, Mr. Bubbles - Little Sister, Dancers on a String (Reprise), Through the Docks, Cohen's Masterpiece, Leaving Rapture

Gameplay footage used with permission from World of Longplays on YouTube, gameplay by Spazbo4. www.longplays.org

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