Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Backlog Files

The first major Pokémon Pokopia DLC takes players underwater; but Bubbly Basin succeeds because it does more than simply move the existing gameplay loop beneath the surface.

Adam looks at the submerged remains of Cerulean City, the surprisingly effective swimming mechanics, Pokopia’s environmental storytelling and why this expansion made the wider Pokémon world feel more cohesive than ever. But while Bubbly Basin successfully brought him back to Pokopia, did it actually add enough new content of its own?

Plus, with another major area still coming, where can Pokopia possibly go next?

As Sony doubles down on an all-digital PlayStation future, Adam considers what the industry is asking players to surrender in exchange for convenience.

Without physical games, consumers could lose the ability to buy used copies, lend games to friends, discover overlooked releases in stores and preserve purchases beyond the lifespan of Sony’s servers. The episode also explores the danger closed storefronts pose to indie developers and why digital games should include permanent offline access and transferable licenses.

Sony has the right to build an all-digital console. Players also have the right to decide that a temporary license is not worth the price of ownership.

A Nintendo Direct finally arrived, so join Adam as he breaks down what it actually means. The Ocarina of Time remake is real but shown without a frame of gameplay, Kingdom Hearts IV lands on Switch 2 at launch, and Square Enix turns up in force. So why does a stacked lineup feel so empty if you don't already own the console? Join in for a conversation about ports versus system-sellers, the conspicuous absence of Mario and the next Zelda, and the GTA VI-shaped hole hanging over the entire holiday season.

Succession Planning is now available for pre-order wherever you get your e-books! https://books2read.com/u/bzE9g9

Adam discusses the jump to Generation III with Pokemon Ruby and Pokemon Sapphire.

Join Adam as he discusses the demo for Princess Peach: Showtime!

Adam wraps up Gen II in his quest to rank every Pokemon game with Pokemon Stadium 2.

Join Adam as he discusses the new game Garden Life: A Cozy Simulator.

A code for this game was provided by the publisher at no cost for the purpose of this review.

Adam discusses Pokémon Crystal.

Join Adam for a brief look back at the history of Dune in video game form including the most recent strategy game Dune: Spice Wars.

Join Adam as he discusses the subtext from the February 2024 Pokemon Presents presentation and the announcement of Pokemon Legends Z-A.

Adam makes predictions for the Pokémon Presents presentation on 2/27/24 and discusses Pokémon Gold and Silver

Adam discusses Pokémon Puzzle League and Pokémon Puzzle Challenge.

With the remake of Mario Vs Donkey Kong hitting shelves, Adam discusses the original game from 2004 and whether it warrants a full remake.

We covered the console version on the channel, so this week on The Backlog Files I'm taking the Game Boy Advance port of Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure out of the backlog. It's Tony Hawk in a Disney coat of paint, squeezed onto handheld hardware that doesn't want to cooperate, and it gets me thinking about something bigger: the slow disappearance of the on-ramp game, the accessible entry point that teaches you a genre. Why has nobody but Nintendo kept making them? Where's the kid-friendly Soulslike? Plus a look back at the strange era of GBA ports that tried to be the console game and ended up something else entirely.

Succession Planning is now available for preorder wherever you get your ebooks: https://books2read.com/u/bzE9g9

Adam looks back at Pokémon Pinball and whether it holds up or not.

With the Nintendo 64, Pokémon took a big step into the 3D arena with Pokémon Stadium. Is it as good as it seemed back then? Should The Pokémon Company bring back the battle simulator spin-off? Join Adam for a discussion.

How well does the Game Boy Color video game adaptation of the Pokémon Trading Card Game stand up? Adam discusses if the game is as good as it was back in 2000.

2024 is off to a controversial start with the arrival of Palworld aka "Pokémon with Guns." Join Adam for a discussion of the game itself and the plagiarism accusations that have come to light since its release.

Adam discusses 1998's Hey You, Pikachu! for the Nintendo 64.

The spin-off deep dive begins, and the first entry earns full marks. Adam revisits Pokémon Snap on Switch Online and makes the case that the N64 camera game is still the best thing the franchise did outside the mainline, because it grasped early that the richest Pokémon spin-offs treat the creatures as animals to observe rather than fighters to command. Why the game's concision is its greatest strength, the environmental puzzles that still delight, the one roster limitation holding it back from perfection, and why it's a 5 out of 5 all the same.

Adam continues his quest to find the best Pokemon game and discusses Pokemon Yellow.

Welcome to the first episode of The Backlog Files and join Adam as he discusses Pokemon Red and Blue.

Adam looks back at the Nickelodeon licensed game The Fairly OddParents: Breakin' Da Rules for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube.

Join Adam for a discussion of the indie games Retrowave and Snakeybus.

Fifteen years after it launched alongside the Nintendo 3DS, does Pilotwings Resort still hold up? Adam revisits the dormant flight series Nintendo resurrected as a glasses-free-3D showcase, and digs into a launch window built almost entirely on tech demos and ports. The controls are still great, the game around them is still thin, and somehow they made Free Flight grindy. A look at what Pilotwings always was, why it probably should have come bundled in the box, and whether a Switch 2 entry could finally give this series the engine it deserves.

Join in for an aggregation of the reviews for the 9th generation of Pokemon including a review of Pokemon Violet and the subsequent reviews of both The Teal Mask and The Indigo Disk.

Good-Feel knows how to make a Yoshi game look and feel inviting, but the question has always been whether there's enough underneath. On today's Backlog Files, Adam reviews Yoshi and the Mysterious Book; the Switch 2 exclusive that has charm to spare and a genuinely clever premise, but leaves you wondering if Yoshi deserves more of a challenge than this. Is delightful enough?

Adam discusses the new indie Paper Mario-like: Escape From Ever After.

Pokemon Champions is finally here and Adam discusses the borderline disastrous launch.

Adam discusses probably the worst game that's been discussed on this show, Neopets: Mega Mini Game Collection.

With The Super Mario Galaxy Movie releasing this week, Adam looks back at the Wii game Super Mario Galaxy.

Let's look back at 2002 and Nintendo's kind of risky experimental title Super Mario Sunshine!

Adam discusses what is probably the 30th anniversary Pokemon title - Pokemon: Pokopia!

Adam has never played a Splatoon game in his life, and Splatoon Raiders might be his game of the year. A look at why this single-player looter-shooter spin-off is the clearest argument yet for what the Switch 2 can actually do, how the grind hits that rare Pokémon-level joy that never becomes a chore, why the difficulty curve nails what recent Nintendo games keep getting wrong, and the one buried setting you need to change in the first five minutes. Turn off the motion controls and thank us later. A full 5 out of 5.

You can watch the first hour of Splatoon Raiders gameplay on the channel at youtube.com/@MWPNewsGaming

Well, they're definitely ports of FireRed and LeafGreen.

So Pokemon Wind and Waves will not be arriving in 2026, despite the leaks indicating otherwise. What does this mean for the 30th anniversary of the franchise and a mostly vacant year for releases?

Adam discusses the latest Sonic the Hedgehog game, Sonic X Shadow Generations.

Adam finally plays Mario Kart World! Join in as he discusses how this changes the franchise going forward.

Adam continues his quest for a fun hockey game to play on PC and also discusses the ad for Pokemon that aired during the Super Bowl.

Adam discusses GameStop's obvious death rattle as it circles the drain.

With the first and only DLC pack for Pokemon Legends: Z-A out, Adam gives his thoughts on The Mega Dimension.

Adam discusses the new cozy survival crafting game Winter Burrow.

Adam discusses the new metroidvania Gigasword from Akupara Games.

A copy of the game was provided by Akupara Games for review purposes at no cost.

Adam discusses Out of the Park Baseball 26 and the fact that apparently Gamergate is still a thing.

Adam dives into News Tower, an indie tycoon game about running a 1930s New York newspaper that turns out to be far deeper than it looks. Why the simple weekly loop hides three interlocking games, a newspaper sim, an HR-and-employee-happiness game, and a Factorio-style optimization puzzle, and why the faction-influence system, balancing the church, the mayor, and organized crime, is the smartest thing in it. Plus where it lands on the short list of comfort games that never get uninstalled. A full 5 out of 5.

So with video games getting more expensive, Adam explores the appeal of the randomizer mod for older games.

Adam discusses the new Katamari game: Once Upon A Katamari.

Adam discusses what works and what doesn't in Pokemon Legends: Z-A.

With two days to go until the release of Pokemon Legends: Z-A, Adam looks back at Pokemon Legends: Arceus and what the next entry could bring to the table.

Adam discusses the new remake of PAC-Man World 2 for modern consoles and PC.