web02.fireside.fm Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:15:00 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Tales from the Backlog - Episodes Tagged with “Giant Squid” https://talesfromthebacklog.fireside.fm/tags/giant%20squid Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500 A video games podcast where Dave Jackson and guests break down and discuss the games they play. Each episode looks at one game in depth, focusing on mechanics, story, music and other aspects, with no spoilers until a clearly marked spoiler wall in the middle. en-us episodic A video games podcast where Dave Jackson and guests take a game out of the backlog, play it and discuss their experiences in depth, with no spoilers until they warn you. Dave Jackson A video games podcast where Dave Jackson and guests break down and discuss the games they play. Each episode looks at one game in depth, focusing on mechanics, story, music and other aspects, with no spoilers until a clearly marked spoiler wall in the middle. yes video games, games, video games podcast, games podcast, tales from the backlog, tales from the backlog podcast Dave Jackson talesfromthebacklogpod@gmail.com 196: Sword of the Sea (with AndresPlays) https://talesfromthebacklog.fireside.fm/196 802e1561-03b5-4674-bf52-aa087425ad26 Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500 Dave Jackson full Dave Jackson Dave is joined by AndresPlays to discuss Giant Squid's 2025 sand-surfing adventure game, Sword of the Sea. 1:52:08 yes Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- https://discord.gg/kAqSBb6jH2 Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi- https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson There is a certain type of atmospheric (usually) indie game that gets praised for its tone, vibes and emotional impact, but sometimes criticized for underbaked or limited gameplay mechanics. Walking sims used to get the brunt of this, but the same could also be said for games like Sword of the Sea director Matt Nava's most famous works, Journey and Abzu. Sword of the Sea may not be an intentional response to those criticisms, but it does add more "involved" gameplay into the fold, incorporating sand surfing and tricks into your verb set. It then begs the discussion- on paper, adding more involved gameplay is good, right? But is that always the case? Guest info: AndresPlays (he/him) * Twitch, Writing and More https://linktr.ee/andresplays93 * Follow on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/andresplays.bsky.social TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:19 Introductions * 4:50 Our Histories With Matt Nava's Games and Sword of the Sea * 7:43 Opening Thoughts About Sword of the Sea * 14:35 Game Setup and Visual Presentation * 20:00 Speed and Sand Surfing * 36:16 Music and Visual Presentation * 39:54 Lack of Punch and Impact * 56:01 Top-Level Story Thoughts * 1:01:05 Closing Thoughts and Recommendations * 1:06:24 AndresPlays- Writing, Streaming and Little Victories * 1:11:37 Spoiler Wall & Patron Thank-Yous * 1:14:28 Spoiler Section- Story Interpretations * 1:28:05 Hype Moments and Ending Music used in the episode is credited to Austin Wintory. Tracks used: From a drop, a flame, One drop remained, Unpredictable and joyous, Swimming in the sky, Sacred River, A city where none live Check out Dave on Geeks & Grounds analyzing Final Fantasy X https://www.geeksandgrounds.com/ Check out Dave on Pixel Project Radio analyzing NieR: Automata https://linktr.ee/pixelprojectradio Check out Dave on the King of Games 1999 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 games, video games, games podcast, video games podcast, video game critique, video game analysis, sword of the sea, sword of the sea review, sword of the sea critique, sword of the sea analysis, indie games, indie game review, indie game critique Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- https://discord.gg/kAqSBb6jH2
Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi- https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson

There is a certain type of atmospheric (usually) indie game that gets praised for its tone, vibes and emotional impact, but sometimes criticized for underbaked or limited gameplay mechanics. Walking sims used to get the brunt of this, but the same could also be said for games like Sword of the Sea director Matt Nava's most famous works, Journey and Abzu. Sword of the Sea may not be an intentional response to those criticisms, but it does add more "involved" gameplay into the fold, incorporating sand surfing and tricks into your verb set. It then begs the discussion- on paper, adding more involved gameplay is good, right? But is that always the case?

Guest info: AndresPlays (he/him)

TIMESTAMPS

  • 0:00 Title Card
  • 0:19 Introductions
  • 4:50 Our Histories With Matt Nava's Games and Sword of the Sea
  • 7:43 Opening Thoughts About Sword of the Sea
  • 14:35 Game Setup and Visual Presentation
  • 20:00 Speed and Sand Surfing
  • 36:16 Music and Visual Presentation
  • 39:54 Lack of Punch and Impact
  • 56:01 Top-Level Story Thoughts
  • 1:01:05 Closing Thoughts and Recommendations
  • 1:06:24 AndresPlays- Writing, Streaming and Little Victories
  • 1:11:37 Spoiler Wall & Patron Thank-Yous
  • 1:14:28 Spoiler Section- Story Interpretations
  • 1:28:05 Hype Moments and Ending

Music used in the episode is credited to Austin Wintory. Tracks used: From a drop, a flame, One drop remained, Unpredictable and joyous, Swimming in the sky, Sacred River, A city where none live

Check out Dave on Geeks & Grounds analyzing Final Fantasy X https://www.geeksandgrounds.com/
Check out Dave on Pixel Project Radio analyzing NieR: Automata https://linktr.ee/pixelprojectradio
Check out Dave on the King of Games 1999 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

Support Tales from the Backlog

]]> Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson
Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- https://discord.gg/kAqSBb6jH2
Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi- https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson

There is a certain type of atmospheric (usually) indie game that gets praised for its tone, vibes and emotional impact, but sometimes criticized for underbaked or limited gameplay mechanics. Walking sims used to get the brunt of this, but the same could also be said for games like Sword of the Sea director Matt Nava's most famous works, Journey and Abzu. Sword of the Sea may not be an intentional response to those criticisms, but it does add more "involved" gameplay into the fold, incorporating sand surfing and tricks into your verb set. It then begs the discussion- on paper, adding more involved gameplay is good, right? But is that always the case?

Guest info: AndresPlays (he/him)

TIMESTAMPS

  • 0:00 Title Card
  • 0:19 Introductions
  • 4:50 Our Histories With Matt Nava's Games and Sword of the Sea
  • 7:43 Opening Thoughts About Sword of the Sea
  • 14:35 Game Setup and Visual Presentation
  • 20:00 Speed and Sand Surfing
  • 36:16 Music and Visual Presentation
  • 39:54 Lack of Punch and Impact
  • 56:01 Top-Level Story Thoughts
  • 1:01:05 Closing Thoughts and Recommendations
  • 1:06:24 AndresPlays- Writing, Streaming and Little Victories
  • 1:11:37 Spoiler Wall & Patron Thank-Yous
  • 1:14:28 Spoiler Section- Story Interpretations
  • 1:28:05 Hype Moments and Ending

Music used in the episode is credited to Austin Wintory. Tracks used: From a drop, a flame, One drop remained, Unpredictable and joyous, Swimming in the sky, Sacred River, A city where none live

Check out Dave on Geeks & Grounds analyzing Final Fantasy X https://www.geeksandgrounds.com/
Check out Dave on Pixel Project Radio analyzing NieR: Automata https://linktr.ee/pixelprojectradio
Check out Dave on the King of Games 1999 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

Support Tales from the Backlog

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