Game & Watch with Aaron & James

“I've seen enough horror movies to know any weirdo wearing a mask is never friendly.” This week, Aaron and James head back to Camp Crystal Lake (or is it Camp Forest Green?) with two returning guests to discuss the 6th entry in the Friday the 13th franchise. They’ll discuss where this franchise and Jason Voorhees sit among the other slasher franchises and iconic killers before diving into the movi...

This week, Aaron and James cover a BBC broadcast documenting an investigation of paranormal events in the home of an innocent family. These events totally happened in real life and without a doubt happened live on air. And they might also have traumatized audiences across the UK. Listen in and find out more!

"If I let you go, do you think that you can fly?" Before getting lost in New York or carrying the One Ring to Mordor, Macaulay Culkin and Elijah Wood starred in this family-oriented psychological thriller. Do the young stars have the acting chops to navigate such disturbing material? Who is Mr. Highway? Is this an early 90’s gem, or a misfire that should be lost to time? Listen in as Aaron and Jam...

It’s time to draft again! The year is 2003 and we’re still in the first half of the sixth generation of video game consoles. The GameCube is hot, the Game Boy Advance is arguably even hotter. and the Xbox is … also there. The entire Game Boy crew is back to draft the best team they can. Who will walk away triumphant and who will walk away with regret? Listen and find out!

“Hold on to your butts." What can Aaron and James say about this first entry in one of the biggest franchises on the planet that other people haven’t said before? Probably not a lot, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a fun conversation while doing it! Join them as they wrap up Sam Neill month (may he rest in peace) with the film that put him on the map for blockbuster movie audiences!

“I have to. He wrote me this way.” Take a little drive with Aaron and James to the quaint town of Hobb’s End, where the children are totally fine and there are zero tentacled beings from the cosmic otherworld. In honor yet again of the late, great Sam Neill, your hosts explore another of his roles. They'll discuss the film’s successes and failures in tackling Lovecraftian horror, among many other...

“I can't exist by myself because I'm afraid of myself, because I'm the maker of my own evil.” This week, Aaron and James attempt to make sense of this enigmatic cult film. The filming process took a psychological toll on its lead actors and it’s not difficult to see why, but what resulted is unquestionably an intriguing and unpredictable ride that delivers its themes of doppelgangers and divorce w...

“Don’t you believe me?” Join Aaron and James as they fondly remember screen icon Sam Neill in this harrowing nautical thriller. Can a film with only three cast members work? How does the film compare to the original novel? Why does Billy Zane keep getting typecast as villains at sea? Listen to hear the answers to these and other hard-hitting questions!

"And that will lead to another clue, and that will lead to another clue!" We may live in a politically divided world, but we can hopefully all agree that Nicolas Cage running around solving riddles and searching for treasure is something everyone can enjoy at least a little bit. Join Aaron and James this week as they discuss the highs and lows of Disney’s treasure hunting adventure. They’ll talk a...

“We're quite a hit. A big hit with Earth, the star so full of stuff. A star now apparently full of our fans!” Sequels are a tricky endeavor. How do you keep things fresh while maintaining the spirit of what came before? Join Aaron and James as they discuss this cult sequel in the delightfully strange Katamari series. Does it warrant the praise lavished on it by fans, or is it just a rolling mess o...

“You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig.” Get out the spaghetti, because this week Aaron and James tackle one of their favorite films and one of the most iconic Westerns of all time. From the brilliant direction to the superb score, this ain’t your American Western. But amidst all the incredible imagery and sounds, do all it...

“Love won't save you, Padmé. Only my new powers can do that.” Whether you sighed reading that line or not, there’s no arguing the George Lucas didn’t save some of his best prequel ideas for this trilogy capper. Join Aaron, James, and a returning special guest as they find the good amongst the dark side of this Star Wars entry. If you’re a fan of the series or not, there’s something for you in this...

"Using a shovel as a weapon... what a groundbreaking idea!" Aaron, James, and a special returning guest conclude Mega May with a 2D platforming classic that wears its Mega Man influences on its sleeve, but stands amongst the best indie games in its own right. You will dig this episode! (Shovel pun.)

“Once the airport is mine, I'll control the city!” Mega May continues this week with the ‘90s American animated adaptation of Mega Man! Join Aaron and James as they explore three select episodes of the show and explore their ‘90s charm, middling animation, unintentional comedy, loving homages to the game series, and more.

"Jack in!! MegaMan, Execute!" Mega May continues this week with an entry in Capcom’s tactical role-playing spin-off series. While Aaron.exe and James.exe think this game might have succeeded a bit more in the early 2000s than in today’s gaming era, there are still some high highs to discuss among some of the very low lows. Get your cyber phones ready (or whatever cyber equipment you use to listen...

"X, you shouldn't expect to defeat him, he is designed to be a war machine. Remember, you have not reached full power yet. If you use all the abilities you were designed with, you should become stronger... You may even become as powerful as I am." In his latest adventure, the heroic X faces off against Gaming Backlog Man, Completionist Man, and a special returning guest. Can X overcome his toughes...

"I missed that Raccoon City hospitality." This week, Aaron and James decide if Capcom nailed the latest entry in this 30-year-old survival horror series. Despite its popularity, critical acclaim, and efforts to honor Resident Evil's past does it live up to the hype? And where do Aaron and James rank it compared to other top contenders from the franchise? Listen and find out!

It's finally time. It's finally Prime. This week, Aaron and James tackle the pod's most requested* game. One of the best examples of Nintendo bringing one of its series to 3D and one of the best Gamecube games to boot, this classic has aged exceptionally well. Join your hosts as they explore the beautifully-detailed world of Tallon IV, laud the progression and environmental storytelling, and so mu...

“Checkpoints go up at fifteen miles. Your fugitive's name is Dr. Richard Kimble. Go get him!” This week, Aaron, James, and a very special returning guest discuss a bonafide 90s classic! There’s a lot to gush about when it comes to this thriller - from the snappy dialogue and stellar supporting cast to the incomparable duo of Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones at the height of their acting powers. N...

It’s time for another Game Pitch Challenge! (And no, we couldn’t think of a better title!) This week, Aaron and James each pick a game or series the other hasn't played and give their best pitch to the other to give it a shot. James starts things off by explaining how the indie gem Tunic is perfect for Aaron’s action/adventure/puzzle tastes. Then, Aaron leverages James’ love of the Persona series...

“SAY YOU WANT TO LIVE!! WE ARE YOUR FRIENDS!” In honor of season two of Netflix’s questionable adaptation of everyone’s favorite pirate crew, this week, Aaron and James do some swashbuckling rankings! How do the various sagas compare to each other? Which nakama are top tier and which are not worthy of a place on this legendary crew? And finally, listen to hear some thoughts on the season 2 premier...

"Pokémon aren't meant to fight. Not like this." In the late 1990s, Pokémania was a genuine cultural force. Schoolyards were abuzz with rumors of how to catch Mew, game shops couldn’t stock booster packs of the trading card game fast enough, and this film would go on to be one of the highest grossing animated films of the decade. Join Aaron, James, and a special returning guest as they ask: Did it...

"Cor blimey!" Join Aaron and James as they delve into what might be the best, most approachable entry into a legendary series whose contribution to the JRPG genre is unquestionable. What sets this series - and this game in particular - apart from the rest of the JRPG pack? Does the late, great Akira Toriyama’s design work compensate for safe, by-the-book RPG mechanics, story, and gameplay? Or does...

“You owe me a pizza.” This week, Aaron, James, and a returning special guest tackle the first entry in the remake of one of the most beloved video games of all time. This is a game with divisive plot changes, newly-fleshed out characters, a completely revamped and modernized combat system, and oh so much nostalgia. How does the remake fare with each of these things? And how does the game challenge...

The Game Boys (working title) are back for another fantasy draft! This week, the entire crew joins Aaron and James for another exciting draft year. From the release of the Gamecube to the PS2 asserting itself as a force to be reckoned with, this was truly a monumental year in gaming history. You can count on a few wild picks in this one, to be sure. Will your favorite games be selected? Only one w...