web02.fireside.fm Thu, 09 Apr 2026 01:55:29 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Tales from the Backlog - Episodes Tagged with “Sandfall Interactive” https://talesfromthebacklog.fireside.fm/tags/sandfall%20interactive Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400 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 174: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (with Michael Higham) https://talesfromthebacklog.fireside.fm/174 1d8af5f9-d3fd-45ed-b85d-ba6f7c389675 Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400 Dave Jackson full 1 Dave Jackson Dave is joined by Michael Higham to discuss Sandfall Interactive's 2025 debut RPG, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. 3:07:28 yes *Spoiler section includes some spoilers for key moments and/or themes in Nier Automata, Persona 5 Royal and Metaphor ReFantazio. 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)! games, video games, games podcast, video games podcast, video game critique, video game analysis, clair obscur review, clair obscur analysis, clair obscur podcast, clair obscur critique, expedition 33, clair obscur expedition 33, expedition 33 review, expedition 33 analysis, expedition 33 critique, jrpg podcast, jrpg analysis, jrpg retrospective, rpg podcast, best rpgs, 2025 games, goty 2025, best 2025 games *Spoiler section includes some spoilers for key moments and/or themes in Nier Automata, Persona 5 Royal and Metaphor ReFantazio.

Support my work on Patreon
Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server!
Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi!

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

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

Listen to A Top 3 Podcast on Apple, Spotify and [other podcast platforms](atop3podcast.fireside.fm)!

Support Tales from the Backlog

]]> *Spoiler section includes some spoilers for key moments and/or themes in Nier Automata, Persona 5 Royal and Metaphor ReFantazio.

Support my work on Patreon
Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server!
Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi!

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

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

Listen to A Top 3 Podcast on Apple, Spotify and [other podcast platforms](atop3podcast.fireside.fm)!

Support Tales from the Backlog

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