Game & Watch with Aaron & James

Your hosts have never been shy about professing their love for the Final Fantasy series and they aren't about to stop now. This week, Aaron and James invite two returning guests on to draft party members from one of their all-time favorite franchises. From DPS monsters to unbeatable black mages to summoners and healers, they draft some of the very best characters (and some surprises, too) from the...

"I am an appetite, nothing more." This week, Aaron and James start spooky season off with the 2024 Robert Eggers remake of a vampire classic. Join your hosts as they explore some of the acting and character choices, deviations from the original, and much more. What was Eggers' goal with remaking this movie? Does it earn the right to stand on its own? Does Nicholas Hoult play a cuck too often? Thes...

Rating scales and gaming have gone hand in hand for as long as games have been around - but how much do they really mean? Join Aaron, James, and a returning guest as they discuss the idea of a “7 out of 10” game. What does that say about the game? The reviewer? Listen to find out the answers!

Play forever! This week, Aaron and James rapturously rave about a truly fantastic (and generously ample) compilation of 80s-inspired video games. There are arcade-style games here, RPGs, platformers, adventure games, strategy games, and even more to love here. Join in as your hosts break down the fictional lore behind this collection of games, talk about some of their current favorites, and on mor...

“This is a true story that happened in my town. So this one Wednesday is like a normal day for the whole school, but today was different. Every other class had all their kids, but Mrs. Gandy's room was totally empty. And do you know why? Because the night before, at 2:17 in the morning, every kid woke up, got out of bed, walked downstairs, and into the dark... and they never came back.” Need we sa...

“It’s tail time!” It certainly is tail time, folks. The time has come for Aaron and James to discuss a guilty pleasure, an icon of the mascot platformer era, and quite possibly the greatest video game of all time. Join Aaron as he’s dumbfounded by James’ shockingly extensive history with the game, after which your hosts dive into the gritty details of the Media Dimension and all the levels it has...

"I'm literally a fool, what's your excuse?" Join Aaron and James this week as they discuss the massively successful poker-themed roguelite. They break down the basic mechanics and then dive into the details that make this game so addicting. Then, stay tuned as they jump into their personal likes and ... more likes. And stick around until the end to hear their favorite jokers along with some pro ti...

“Rebellions are built on hope.” Having decided to take a break from covering some of the lesser loved (or fully hated) Star Wars movies, Aaron and James are joined this week by a very special returning guest to discuss one of the much better entries in the franchise. Join them as they go in depth on the performances, characters, pacing, nostalgia, and some of the more controversial moments. Heck,...

We’ve seen that movie adaptations of video games can work - or, at least be financially successful. The reverse is true as well - as evidenced by many of the classic 90s hits like Goldeneye 007. But what makes adaptations work in either direction? Join Aaron, James, and a special returning guest as they discuss adaptation successes and failures, and what adaptations they’re each dying to see. Enjo...

“Should pale death, with treble dread, make the ocean caves our bed, God who hears the surges roll deign to save our suppliant soul.” This week, Aaron and James are your wickies, guiding you to the shores of madness. Join them as they gleefully spill the beans on what they think of Robert Eggers’ multivalent psychological horror film, from its meticulous construction to its masterful atmosphere. T...

Yazoo! This week, Aaron and James discuss one of the many, many '90s 3D platformers that came (and went) in the wake of Super Mario 64. How does this one measure up to others in its tier? Heck, how does it measure up to other reptile-based platformers??? Only one way to find out!

The draft is back! After a bit of a hiatus, Aaron and James bring some familiar voices back to draft games from two, count 'em, TWO pivotal years in gaming history. The transition to 3D graphics and the advent of new genres changed the gaming world forever, but there were also plenty of incredible 16-bit games that closed out the previous era. Listen and find out who took your favorites!

Aaron and James give their first impressions of the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct and unpack their hopes and expectations for the next generation of Nintendo. Enjoy!

"There's one thing a Saiyan always keeps: his pride!" This week, Aaron and James wade into the considerably large pool of video games from everyone’s favorite martial arts anime! Listen as they talk about the numerous series and one-offs this franchise has to offer, as well as personal experiences with the games and franchise as a whole. Thank you for everything, Toriyama-san!

"Hey, Pam, remember when I said this car was death proof? Well, that wasn't a lie. This car is 100% death proof. Only to get the benefit of it, honey, you REALLY need to be sitting in my seat." It’s been a long time coming, but this week Aaron and James finally tackle a film from the legendary director (and terrible actor), Quentin Tarantino! Does this complete cut of the Grindhouse feature rise t...

Join Aaron and James this week as they debut a new special episode format: the Game Pitch Challenge! Each of the hosts picks a game or series the other hasn't played (and might even be purposefully avoiding) and gives their enthusiastic reasons why the other should check it out! Aaron gives James a tour of the hit franchise Monster Hunter, and then James gives the 411 on the much-loved Yakuza/Like...

“I went to sleepaway camp so long ago that it was the Stone Age. No, but seriously, it wasn't the Stone Age... it was the Ice Age! No, really, it was the Stone Age.” Join Aaron and James this week on a trip back in time to a fictionalized 1981 summer camp romp! Director David Wain, numerous members of The State, and MANY other funny people combine talents to pull off what might the one of the funn...

“Many monarchs have come and gone. One drowned in poison, another succumbed to flame. Still another slumbers in a realm of ice. Not one of them stood here, as you do now. You, conqueror of adversities. Give us your answer.” Aaron and James are joined again by a special guest to wrap up their discussion of an underappreciated entry in the Dark Souls series. This week, they explore the world and lor...

"Bearer of the curse…Seek souls. Larger, more powerful souls. Seek the King, that is the only way. Lest this land swallow you whole… As it has so many others." For this momentous episode, Aaron and James are far from crestfallen as they are joined by a very special returning guest to discuss an entry in one of their all-time favorite video game series. A divisive game, it is not without its detrac...

“Ideas are like fish. If you want to catch little fish, you can stay in the shallow water. But if you want to catch the big fish, you’ve got to go deeper. Down deep, the fish are more powerful and more pure. They’re huge and abstract. And they’re very beautiful.” This week, Aaron and James pay tribute to the late director, David Lynch. Listen as they discuss the man himself, his artistry, their ex...

With the year coming to a close, Aaron and James reflect once more on the games they played in 2024. As usual, they'll surprise you (and each other) with some of their picks. Hopefully some of your favorites made their lists!

“One man's toxic sludge is another man's potpourri.” It’s the holiday season, and we’ve got a special present for all of our listeners! Join Aaron, James, and a surprise returning guest to discuss this controversial adaption of a holiday classic. Do the comedic style of Jim Carrey and the magic of Dr. Seuss work together? Or should Ron Howard get a lump of coal for his directorial efforts? Listen...

"Can I ask you something, Kittridge? If you're dealing with a man who has crushed, shot, stabbed, and detonated five members of his own IMF team, how devastated do you think you're gonna make him by hauling Mom and Uncle Donald down to the county courthouse?" Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to listen to Aaron and James discuss the finer points of this 1996 action spy film. Does Br...

Lately, it seems like every other game announcement is a remake or remaster of an old favorite. But what’s the difference? And what games deserve a second chance at life? That’s what Aaron and James will debate in this episode! Each has their own ideas about the muddled differentiation between remakes, remasters, ports, and reboots, and each has a list of six games that deserve the treatment. Ther...

Thought Spooky Season was over? Surprise! And the surprises don’t stop there. This week, Aaron leads James through a horror-themed mystery segment guaranteed to shock and provoke some divisive reactions, to say the least! James then takes the wheel and gives his thoughts on some of the MANY horror films he digested this October. May Spooky Season live in our hearts all year long!