Game & Watch with Aaron & James

"In my restless dream, I see that town. Silent Hill. You promised you'd take me there again someday. But you never did. Well, I'm alone there now, in our "special place". Waiting for you." Armed with nothing but a plank of wood, Aaron and James are ready to confront the physical manifestation of their own psyches as they discuss an iconic horror game from a franchise that has had its ups and downs. They'll talk about the strengths and weaknesses of the remake relative to the 2001 original, including a detailed look at the atmosphere for which the game is renowned. And as usual they'll offer some inspired casting and director choices that (in their opinion) are superior to those of the forthcoming film adaptation.

"The Ruins held knowledge. We sold our souls for it. Altars built of concrete. Fed with blood and bone." This week, Aaron and James climb off their meat hooks and blast their way through cultists and eldritch horrors in this indie retro-inspired first-person shooter. Is this another Doom or Quake clone, or is there more meat to be found? Listen and find out! Or just play the game! Or buy the game, play it, and then listen! You've got options.

Your hosts have never been shy about professing their love for the Final Fantasy series and they aren't about to stop now. This week, Aaron and James invite two returning guests on to draft party members from one of their all-time favorite franchises. From DPS monsters to unbeatable black mages to summoners and healers, they draft some of the very best characters (and some surprises, too) from the very best the mainline series has to offer. Which characters will have the raw strength, magical powers, personality, humor -- and even sex appeal -- to warrant a spot in their parties? Listen in and find out!

"I am an appetite, nothing more." This week, Aaron and James start spooky season off with the 2024 Robert Eggers remake of a vampire classic. Join your hosts as they explore some of the acting and character choices, deviations from the original, and much more. What was Eggers' goal with remaking this movie? Does it earn the right to stand on its own? Does Nicholas Hoult play a cuck too often? These questions and more will (maybe) be answered!

Rating scales and gaming have gone hand in hand for as long as games have been around - but how much do they really mean? Join Aaron, James, and a returning guest as they discuss the idea of a “7 out of 10” game. What does that say about the game? The reviewer? Listen to find out the answers!

Play forever! This week, Aaron and James rapturously rave about a truly fantastic (and generously ample) compilation of 80s-inspired video games. There are arcade-style games here, RPGs, platformers, adventure games, strategy games, and even more to love here. Join in as your hosts break down the fictional lore behind this collection of games, talk about some of their current favorites, and on more than one occasion reflect in awe of the game’s abundance of creativity and design quality. It’s very likely you’ll find your next addiction among these 50 titles!

“This is a true story that happened in my town. So this one Wednesday is like a normal day for the whole school, but today was different. Every other class had all their kids, but Mrs. Gandy's room was totally empty. And do you know why? Because the night before, at 2:17 in the morning, every kid woke up, got out of bed, walked downstairs, and into the dark... and they never came back.” Need we say anything else? Enjoy!

“It’s tail time!” It certainly is tail time, folks. The time has come for Aaron and James to discuss a guilty pleasure, an icon of the mascot platformer era, and quite possibly the greatest video game of all time. Join Aaron as he’s dumbfounded by James’ shockingly extensive history with the game, after which your hosts dive into the gritty details of the Media Dimension and all the levels it has to offer. They also take some time to reflect on the game’s ironic (and unironic) fanbase and its place in 3D platformer history. Let’s hope Aaron and James decide to keep the podcast going after this, because it’s awfully tempting to end on a masterpiece.

"I'm literally a fool, what's your excuse?" Join Aaron and James this week as they discuss the massively successful poker-themed roguelite. They break down the basic mechanics and then dive into the details that make this game so addicting. Then, stay tuned as they jump into their personal likes and ... more likes. And stick around until the end to hear their favorite jokers along with some pro tips on how to maximize your score!

“Rebellions are built on hope.” Having decided to take a break from covering some of the lesser loved (or fully hated) Star Wars movies, Aaron and James are joined this week by a very special returning guest to discuss one of the much better entries in the franchise. Join them as they go in depth on the performances, characters, pacing, nostalgia, and some of the more controversial moments. Heck, Aaron might have some controversial thoughts of his own. But say what you will about this entry, one thing’s for sure: Ben Mendelsohn must be starving because he devoured every last bit of scenery.

We’ve seen that movie adaptations of video games can work - or, at least be financially successful. The reverse is true as well - as evidenced by many of the classic 90s hits like Goldeneye 007. But what makes adaptations work in either direction? Join Aaron, James, and a special returning guest as they discuss adaptation successes and failures, and what adaptations they’re each dying to see. Enjoy!

“Should pale death, with treble dread, make the ocean caves our bed, God who hears the surges roll deign to save our suppliant soul.” This week, Aaron and James are your wickies, guiding you to the shores of madness. Join them as they gleefully spill the beans on what they think of Robert Eggers’ multivalent psychological horror film, from its meticulous construction to its masterful atmosphere. They explore its use of marine lore, Lovecraftian themes, and not-so-subtle sexual subtext. Try not to lose your mind along the way.

Yazoo! This week, Aaron and James discuss one of the many, many '90s 3D platformers that came (and went) in the wake of Super Mario 64. How does this one measure up to others in its tier? Heck, how does it measure up to other reptile-based platformers??? Only one way to find out!

The draft is back! After a bit of a hiatus, Aaron and James bring some familiar voices back to draft games from two, count 'em, TWO pivotal years in gaming history. The transition to 3D graphics and the advent of new genres changed the gaming world forever, but there were also plenty of incredible 16-bit games that closed out the previous era. Listen and find out who took your favorites!

Special Episode: The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct by Game & Watch with Aaron & James

"There's one thing a Saiyan always keeps: his pride!" This week, Aaron and James wade into the considerably large pool of video games from everyone’s favorite martial arts anime! Listen as they talk about the numerous series and one-offs this franchise has to offer, as well as personal experiences with the games and franchise as a whole. Thank you for everything, Toriyama-san!

"Hey, Pam, remember when I said this car was death proof? Well, that wasn't a lie. This car is 100% death proof. Only to get the benefit of it, honey, you REALLY need to be sitting in my seat." It’s been a long time coming, but this week Aaron and James finally tackle a film from the legendary director (and terrible actor), Quentin Tarantino! Does this complete cut of the Grindhouse feature rise to the lofty heights the famed filmmaker is known for? Or does it get bogged down in his tendency for overindulgence? Or perhaps a little bit of both? Get ready for some sexy, gory, exploitative fun, and whatever you do, don’t be going left!

Join Aaron and James this week as they debut a new special episode format: the Game Pitch Challenge! Each of the hosts picks a game or series the other hasn't played (and might even be purposefully avoiding) and gives their enthusiastic reasons why the other should check it out! Aaron gives James a tour of the hit franchise Monster Hunter, and then James gives the 411 on the much-loved Yakuza/Like a Dragon series. Will minds be changed? Can gaming passion be adequately explained? And how does Joel Edgerton fit into all of this? The only way to find out is to listen!

“I went to sleepaway camp so long ago that it was the Stone Age. No, but seriously, it wasn't the Stone Age... it was the Ice Age! No, really, it was the Stone Age.” Join Aaron and James this week on a trip back in time to a fictionalized 1981 summer camp romp! Director David Wain, numerous members of The State, and MANY other funny people combine talents to pull off what might the one of the funniest, most quotable, silliest cult comedies of all time. Listen in to catch our thoughts on the best gags and more!

“Many monarchs have come and gone. One drowned in poison, another succumbed to flame. Still another slumbers in a realm of ice. Not one of them stood here, as you do now. You, conqueror of adversities. Give us your answer.” Aaron and James are joined again by a special guest to wrap up their discussion of an underappreciated entry in the Dark Souls series. This week, they explore the world and lore of Drangleic in detail -- its areas, its occupants, and its ties to the first game. Which areas of the game do they find most (and least) fascinating? Which boss approaches are the most painful? How good are the DLCs? These questions and many more will be answered!