The Gaming Backlog "Book Club"

The Gaming Backlog "Book Club"
  • 4.8 (6)
  • Video Games

There are so many great new video games released each year and gamers are pulled in so many different directions by the abundance of options, but have significantly less time to play than ever before, between work, other entertainment, other activities and life in general. This has led most gamers to build up some degree of a backlog of games and the need to then decide which game to start next. Rather than staring at your library of available games, join Alex and Andrew as they lead conversation around a single video game at a time, following a traditional "book club" format and chatting each week about the most recent chapter or section. Join the conversation on Discord at https://discord.gg/9xdX3znWQn

  1. 5d ago

    SQ2.3 Signalis full playthrough

    The Gaming Backlog "Book Club” hosts chat about their full playthrough and story of Signalis, ruminate on what it all means and try to give our best guess as to what is actually happening in Elster and Ariane’s ordeal. Can we escape fully intact? Or was the replika mind transference doomed to fail from the start? Time will tell. As will a lot more research and discussion on Discord. Catch up with our first Side Quest season about Hades before we finally finish it soon, hang on until our next Side Quest season kicks off, or check out our ongoing standard season about Cyberpunk 2077! We want to hear all of your thoughts about Signalis, from gameplay to music and sound design, to any and every theory, investigation, correlation, opinion, and analysis you have about the game and its story. Take part in our conversation by joining The Gaming Backlog "Book Club" Discord server at https://discord.gg/9xdX3znWQn or finding it through our LinkTree link on Instagram. Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro and spoiler warning(00:02:27) - Alex's addiction to Signalis(00:05:34) - Enemy types and floor crawlers(00:07:16) - Sierpinski station environments(00:09:03) - First boss fight: Mynah(00:12:14) - Ammo management and inventory discussion(00:14:02) - Adler, Isa, and elevator shaft flashback(00:17:16) - Falke unit lore and bioresonance(00:20:34) - Flashlight/stun baton mishaps and Adler's diaries(00:22:11) - Entering the mines(00:23:22) - Lost in the mines and Nowhere transition(00:28:47) - The Nowhere's horrors and locked rooms(00:30:07) - Nitro express ammo and weapon guesses(00:32:24) - Cage boss fight and Isa's rifle(00:35:43) - Radio transmitter puzzle struggle(00:39:36) - Nowhere meta puzzles and enemy-stuffed rooms(00:41:33) - Escaping the Nowhere and false credits(00:43:11) - Post-credits: waking as Elster on the Penrose(00:45:06) - Ariane's rooms and ship notes(00:46:19) - New Elster look and crashed Penrose again(00:48:27) - Revisiting Sierpinski and Red Skull Adler(00:49:54) - Rotfront and the butterfly puzzle(00:53:09) - Issa's fate and tarot card puzzle(00:55:11) - Identity confusion: Ariane and the twins(00:57:18) - Final boss: Commander Falke(01:01:12) - Adler's final confrontation and ending choice(01:02:48) - Multiple endings and the Promise ending(01:09:05) - Overall impressions and gameplay reflections(01:11:45) - Ship of Theseus and identity themes(01:15:04) - Lore, propaganda, and puzzle item mysteries(01:18:30) - Favorite weapons and first-person segments(01:22:36) - Final ratings and scores(01:25:56) - Closing thoughts and sign-off

    SQ2.3 Signalis full playthrough

  2. Oct 30

    13.10 Cyberpunk 2077 Part 9

    The Gaming Backlog "Book Club” hosts chat about the end of Phantom Liberty in Cyberpunk 2077, Heist 2.5, lying and conniving against Kurt Hansen, and the choices we made to cap off our time in Dogtown in very different ways. We also discuss some of the new Cyberpunk Edgerunners 2 update 2.5 gameplay perks! Stay tuned for next week's episode to learn more about Johnny Silverhand’s history, and knock out every last side quest you can possibly manage to complete, all while sharing some tips, tricks and stories along the way. We want to hear how this section of Cyberpunk 2077 went for you. Take part in our conversation by joining The Gaming Backlog "Book Club" Discord server at https://discord.gg/9xdX3znWQn or finding it through our LinkTree link on Instagram. Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro and Discord Invite(00:01:04) - Cyberware Update 2.5 and Appearance Changes(00:03:50) - New Weapons and Loadout Discussion(00:05:29) - Cyberware Upgrades and Sandevistan Builds(00:10:14) - Side Quests: Spy in the Jungle Boss Fight(00:13:12) - Spy in the Jungle Aftermath and Other Side Jobs(00:16:20) - Talent Academy Quest Recap(00:19:06) - Heist 2.5: Abducting Aurore and Emerick(00:22:06) - Infiltrating the Stadium as Aurore/Emerick(00:24:34) - The Reed vs Songbird Betrayal Choice(00:27:53) - Firestarter Quest: Alex's Path(00:32:13) - Firestarter Quest: Reed's Path and Hanson Boss Fight(00:38:04) - Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos Begins(00:41:07) - Spaceport Infiltration with Songbird(00:50:51) - Control Tower Fight and Black Wall Daemon Power(00:53:38) - Reed's Ultimatum and Betraying Songbird(00:58:07) - Tracking Max Tac Convoy to Free Songbird(01:03:03) - Cynosure Facility and Cerberus Horror Sequence(01:06:54) - Saving Somi and the Core Confrontation(01:12:26) - Credits and Epilogue Reflections(01:14:17) - Phantom Liberty Final Thoughts and Review(01:17:28) - Looking Ahead: Side Quests and Eventual Season Wrap-Up

    13.10 Cyberpunk 2077 Part 9

  3. Oct 23

    13.9 Cyberpunk 2077 Part 8

    The Gaming Backlog "Book Club” hosts chat more about Phantom Liberty in Cyberpunk 2077, the Heist 2.0, playing Casino Royale at the Black Sapphire party, and hatching a plan to get Songbird out of Kurt Hansen’s grasp and even Dogtown altogether. Will it work? Your guess is as good as ours! Stay tuned for next week's episode to hear about the Heist 2.5 turns out, and wrapping up our time in Dogtown, all while sharing some tips, tricks and stories along the way. We want to hear how this section of Cyberpunk 2077 went for you. Take part in our conversation by joining The Gaming Backlog "Book Club" Discord server at https://discord.gg/9xdX3znWQn or finding it through our LinkTree link on Instagram. Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro and welcome(00:00:34) - Appearance changes and cyberware upgrades(00:03:12) - Gang stronghold bases and loot(00:06:37) - Heist 2.0: Scuba infiltration(00:08:50) - Her Majesty pistol and perk builds(00:10:57) - Sniper overwatch sequence for Reed(00:12:22) - Infiltrating the high society party(00:15:53) - Finding Songbird and Hansen's arrival(00:18:50) - Lizzy Wizzy concert(00:19:54) - Reed's assessment and plan with Songbird(00:20:36) - Casino Royale-style roulette(00:22:44) - Hansen's betrayal proposition(00:23:37) - Escaping and 24-hour wait time(00:25:43) - Side activities: cyberpsychos and cars(00:27:12) - Dazed and Confused side quest: Lena Molina(00:32:29) - Birds with Broken Wings: plan to retrieve Songbird(00:33:01) - Songbird's confession and transceiver mission(00:35:27) - Face swap courtesy of Farida(00:36:16) - Aaron the boxer and gorilla arms(00:38:03) - Session wrap-up and reflections(00:39:22) - Game Update 2.5 and Edgerunners 2 news(00:41:59) - Next session goals and outro

    13.9 Cyberpunk 2077 Part 8

  4. Oct 19

    SQ2.2 Signalis first impressions

    The Gaming Backlog "Book Club” hosts share first impressions about Signalis after spending some time tiptoeing through the exceedingly creepy environments. They discuss their preferred ways of getting around, and share tips, tricks & stories from the early hours. Stay tuned for the final episode of this Side Quest season to discuss Signalis as a whole, including its mysterious story. We want to know how you’ve enjoyed the early hours of Signalis so far. Take part in our conversation by joining The Gaming Backlog "Book Club" Discord server at https://discord.gg/9xdX3znWQn or finding it through our LinkTree link on Instagram. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction and Inventory Options(00:01:58) - First Impressions and Progress Comparison(00:03:43) - Menu Tips and Radio Frequencies(00:06:29) - Settings, Graphics, and CRT Mode(00:08:27) - Manual, Controls, and Combat Mechanics(00:10:17) - No Autosave and Healing Mechanics(00:12:50) - Starting Gameplay and Early Exploration(00:16:02) - Crash Site, Ship, and Ice Planet Setting(00:19:29) - The King in Yellow and Story Inspirations(00:23:48) - First Enemy Encounters and Combat Feel(00:26:49) - Health System and Stealth Mechanics(00:30:56) - Level Design, Locked Doors, and Cameras(00:33:12) - Overall Impressions and Gameplay Feel(00:35:39) - Speculating on the Story and Gestalts(00:39:47) - Post-Credits Secret and Closing Thoughts

    SQ2.2 Signalis first impressions

  5. Oct 16

    13.8 Cyberpunk 2077 Part 7

    The Gaming Backlog "Book Club” hosts chat about delving further into Dogtown and the story of Phantom Liberty in Cyberpunk 2077, meeting sleeper agent Solomon Reed, his old “friend” Alex, tangling with Voodoo Boys and doing some favors for Mr. Hands for a massive favor in return. Dogtown is the Wild West of Night City, so it’s fitting how crazy society is here. Stay tuned for next week's episode to hear about everything new revelations, another infiltration which is basically Heist 2, and our misadventures and investigations in Dogtown, all while sharing some tips, tricks and stories along the way. We want to hear how this section of Cyberpunk 2077 went for you. Take part in our conversation by joining The Gaming Backlog "Book Club" Discord server at https://discord.gg/9xdX3znWQn or finding it through our LinkTree link on Instagram. Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro and schedule notes(00:01:15) - Edgerunners season 2(00:02:43) - V's appearance customization check-in(00:03:18) - Meeting Solomon Reed(00:05:18) - The oath decision debate(00:06:30) - Mr. Hand's gigs and Dogtown travel pass(00:08:23) - Ripper doc Anthony Anderson and scav confrontation(00:11:34) - Meeting Alex the sleeper agent(00:13:27) - Infiltrating Slider's hideout(00:17:17) - Contacting Somi and Slider's fate(00:18:53) - Planning the hotel heist with Mr. Hands(00:20:44) - Comparing Mr. Hand's side gigs(00:26:13) - Meeting Mr. Hands and planning with Solomon and Alex(00:27:33) - Looking ahead to next session(00:28:56) - Outro and follow info

    13.8 Cyberpunk 2077 Part 7

  6. Oct 12

    SQ2.1 Expectations for Signalis

    The next Side Quest season of The Gaming Backlog "Book Club” covers Signalis. While not the type of game we would typically play as a side quest, we want to enjoy a spooky season experience in spooky season itself, so we’ll be playing throughout the month of October, alongside the ongoing Cyberpunk 2077 season. Join us as we uncover the mysteries in deep space. Stay tuned for our next Side Quest episode for our first impressions of how things are looking after starting up Signalis, and share some tips, tricks and stories along the way. We want to hear your expectations for Signalis. Take part in our conversation by joining The Gaming Backlog "Book Club" Discord server at https://discord.gg/9xdX3znWQn or finding it through our LinkTree link on Instagram. Chapters (00:00:01) - Intro: Hades Side Quest Unfinished Business(00:01:56) - How Side Quest Seasons Work(00:02:50) - Signalis Plan and Background(00:04:27) - Gameplay Style and Influences(00:05:43) - Alex's Prior Experience with Signalis(00:08:32) - Literary Influences and Personal Excitement(00:10:03) - Wishlist History and PS Plus(00:11:13) - Changing Gaming Preferences and Survival Horror Growth(00:12:46) - Atmosphere, Sound Design, and Playing Tips(00:14:14) - Wrap Up and Schedule Going Forward

    SQ2.1 Expectations for Signalis

  7. Oct 9

    13.7 Cyberpunk 2077 Part 6

    The Gaming Backlog "Book Club” hosts chat about the start of Phantom Liberty in Cyberpunk 2077, taking up Songbird’s offer to help us solve our Relic predicament, while also becoming embroiled in strange coup attempt involving NUSA and Dogtown. Stay tuned for next week's episode to hear about everything we discovered, and our adventures and investigations in Dogtown, Night City, all while sharing some tips, tricks and stories along the way. We want to hear how this section of Cyberpunk 2077 went for you. Take part in our conversation by joining The Gaming Backlog "Book Club" Discord server at https://discord.gg/9xdX3znWQn or finding it through our LinkTree link on Instagram. Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro and Discord Invitation(00:01:24) - Character Appearance and Panam Texts(00:03:52) - Judy's Questline Wrap-up(00:05:42) - River's Questline: I Fought the Law(00:06:37) - The Hunt: Dark Cult Quest and BD Investigation(00:10:04) - Randy's Rescue and Family Dinner Setup(00:13:00) - Dinner with River's Family and Romance Path(00:15:10) - Water Tower Night and Morning After(00:16:21) - Juggling Judy and River(00:17:22) - End of River's Questline and Dream On(00:19:16) - Side Quests: Braindance Vendor and Antique Deck(00:21:28) - Starting Phantom Liberty: Songbird and the Relic(00:23:45) - New Relic Perk Tree(00:25:41) - Entering Dogtown and the Black Market(00:28:08) - Black Market Side Quests and Easter Eggs(00:30:29) - War Zone: Approaching the Crashed Ship(00:33:11) - Meeting President Myers(00:34:58) - Escape Chase and Garage Firefight(00:38:02) - Chimera Mech Boss Fight(00:43:43) - Character Builds and Leveling Systems(00:47:16) - Aftermath, Hideout Intruders, and Wrap-up

    13.7 Cyberpunk 2077 Part 6

  8. Oct 5

    Collab 1.1 Transmissions from the Lylat System

    Andrew from The Gaming Backlog "Book Club” joined Jaymo from The Old SwitchAroo in the skies and stars of the Star Fox Remake’s online Battle Mode across all 6 maps, tested out the AR GameChat functionality of the Nintendo Switch 2, and chatted about the Star Fox franchise overall, including their experiences with Star Fox 64 and this new version. They even created a Battle Mode map tier list. Watch the video feed of the battles at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Og2xtqRpBbc. Between getting over a cold and audio capture and compression issues, voices may be a bit fuzzy at times, so the video version is the best option. Like the heavy metal Corneria cover? Be sure to check out https://www.youtube.com/@Merton_VG_Metal. What do you think of our Battle Mode map tier list and the Star Fox remake overall? Take part in the conversation by joining The Gaming Backlog "Book Club" Discord server at https://discord.gg/9xdX3znWQn. You can also join The Old SwitchAroo’s Discord server through their website https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com/. Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro and crossover announcement(00:01:15) - Star Fox experience and franchise discussion(00:02:53) - Starting Battle Mode on Venom(00:04:35) - Star Fox 64 battle mode memories and side games(00:06:51) - Venom match gameplay(00:08:04) - Venom recap and Splatoon comparisons(00:10:02) - Sector Y black hole asteroid match(00:11:32) - Power-ups and multiplayer design discussion(00:14:02) - Favorite campaign maps discussion(00:15:41) - Fichina meteor match(00:16:57) - Looter shooters and Splatoon tangent(00:18:18) - Ideas for new Star Fox map concepts(00:20:49) - Backlog podcast preview and Switch 2 talk(00:21:38) - Ficina recap and moving to Corneria(00:22:28) - Corneria king of the hill match(00:26:00) - Marry Fox Kill discussion(00:28:12) - Versus mode on cargo map(00:32:56) - Favorite Star Wolf members and final match moments(00:33:56) - Building the battle mode tier list(00:37:59) - Katina discussion and final tier list results(00:40:51) - Closing remarks

    Collab 1.1 Transmissions from the Lylat System
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There are so many great new video games released each year and gamers are pulled in so many different directions by the abundance of options, but have significantly less time to play than ever before, between work, other entertainment, other activities and life in general. This has led most gamers to build up some degree of a backlog of games and the need to then decide which game to start next. Rather than staring at your library of available games, join Alex and Andrew as they lead conversation around a single video game at a time, following a traditional "book club" format and chatting each week about the most recent chapter or section. Join the conversation on Discord at https://discord.gg/9xdX3znWQn

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