Game & Watch with Aaron & James

"That was two wishes. Take your time with the third. Or you will wish you had never been born." This week, Aaron and James show you the world ... a world of subpar animation! Join your hosts as they ask that age old question: does a TV budget and the lack of Robin Williams make for a poor Aladdin sequel? Or, like a diamond in the rough, does this direct-to-video flick rise above expectations? Grab...

"We're not tools of the government, or anyone else. Fighting was the only thing... the only thing I was good at. But... at least I always fought for what I believed in." This week, Aaron and James are joined on the battlefield by a returning special guest as they infiltrate Shadow Moses Island and discuss the groundbreaking and definitive entry in the stealth/action genre. How do they feel about H...

What a year it was! With 2023 coming to a close, Aaron and James have decided to list the top 10 games they played for the first time this year. If you know them well, some of their selections won't come as a surprise, but they're guaranteed to each have some surprises for you (and for each other). Please enjoy!

"Rules are rules and this is a place where we make love, not war." This week, Aaron, James, and a very special guest jet off to the galactic melting pot city of Alpha, where there is no shortage of culture and wonder. Listen in as they discuss this very imaginative but flawed Luc Besson film. There is much to admire in this sci-fi adventure, and even more for which to criticize Dane DeHaan.

"My boy, I made Snoke." This week, join Aaron, James, and a special guest as they discuss the controversial last entry in the numbered Star Wars saga. Whether it’s the Frankensteining of Carrie Fisher, a deeply unearned kiss, or everyone’s favorite new character, Klaud, this is a film that makes many bold choices. You don’t have to be ALL the Sith to know that these choices have … mixed results, a...

“Dear Mario, please come to the castle. I've baked a cake for you. Yours truly, Princess Toadstool, Peach.” It's our 100th episode!!! 120 stars for 100 episodes seems like bad math, but that didn’t stop Aaron and James from revisiting the original, trailblazing 3D entry in the Mario series! Come for the in-depth analysis, and stay to hear them wax nostalgic over a childhood favorite. Does it stand...

This week, Aaron and James celebrate their 99th episode! (Not Episode 99, mind you. We get that it’s confusing.) Join them as they reminisce about the podcast’s origin and past, name some of their favorite episodes and memories, and share their plans for the future. What does the future hold for the pod? Will Kingdom Hearts Corner return? Will they redo How the Grinch Stole Christmas for no reason...

Gotta go fast! This week, join Aaron, James, and very special returning guest as they discuss a (mostly) beloved sequel for one of gaming's most divisive mascots, Sonic the Hedgehog. This episode has no shortage of praise, but also no shortage of criticism and tough questions asked. For instance, is any Sonic game TRULY higher than a 7 out of 10? Are gamers deluding themselves? Does Sonic have a c...

This week, Aaron and James continue their spooky season celebration by discussing some of their favorite and least favorite horror movie tropes. The final girl, the phantom trip, the bathroom mirror, and much, much more! We hope you enjoy!

"Nothing does it to me like fried chicken!" Get ready for paradoxical daytime horror as Aaron and James discuss a truly special entry in the genre. We have a doozy of an episode this week, involving rubber claws that can punch through human chests, a Water Museum, and some good old fashioned KFC. Listen for the night/day killing - stay for possibly the greatest bathroom scene in all of cinema!

"So we just gonna ignore the bear then?" Join Aaron and James this week as they come full circle, all the way from Episode 2’s "Hereditary," to Ari Aster’s sophomore feature. Get ready to play Skin the Fool as your hosts chat about spoilery murals, family tragedies, Florence Pugh's outstanding performance, and finding unexpected things in your pie. Strap on your Hårga culting shoes and join us!

"The faces of those four men who're here to change destiny ... burn their images into your eyes!" This week, Aaron and James set sail to break down a beloved early arc of a beloved anime. Listen in as they discuss the arc's impact on them as fans, their love of the characters (especially Nami), and Oda-san's successes with storytelling and emotional resonance. Fans of the manga and anime should no...

Ready for some fishing, ya'll?! Join Aaron and James this week as they play a quirky, Game Boy generation throwback fishing game! Come unwind and enjoy this breezy fishing sim as your hosts discuss worm diggin', fish reelin', strange nightmares, and Eldrich fish goddesses. Wait, what? Never mind. So, uh, just relax, get your basses down to the lake, and have a blast with this simple, delightful sl...

The draft is back! This time, Aaron and James are joined yet again by three veteran guests of the show (and experienced drafters) to tackle the year 2011. There was no shortage of games this year … unless you want to talk about whatever the hell Nintendo was doing (or not doing, for that matter). Enjoy!

"I was born without an accent." It's been a long road to get to Episode 69, and let's just say: we're coming all over you. This week, join Aaron, James, and a very special guest as they cover a truly baffling 2002 comedy from the same minds as Mr. Show. It is a movie, nay, a film, that makes us question what it means to be a man of the people, why anyone wants to see a dog eat vomit, and whether D...

“Stop trying. Take long walks. Look at scenery. Doze off at noon. Don’t even think about flying. And then, pretty soon, you’ll be flying again.” With broomsticks in hand, Aaron, James, and a returning special guest navigate this wonderful, timeless Studio Ghibli film about growing up. Join them as they discuss their favorite Ghibli-isms present in the film, touch on the differences between the Jap...

"Someone get this hothead outta here!" This week, Aaron, James, and a very special guest take on Christopher Nolan's trilogy-capping Batman film. Does Nolan balance Bane, Catwoman, and common sense, all in one script? Or do the results get blown to hell, like a four-megaton bomb over the bay of Gotham? Only one thing is for certain: Ben Mendelsohn is a treasure. So grab your popcorn and buckle up...

This week, Aaron and James take a journey into the mind. Gaming psychology takes center stage in this special episode, where the boys discuss completionism and game backlogs. How do we typically choose games to play? What are our completionist tendencies? Why do we let our backlogs get so big? What is "game dread," and why does it plague James's life? All this and more!

Listen up, you filthy [cute] animal [friends]. This week, Aaron and James are joined by special guests Rick the Hamster, Coo the Owl, and Kine the Sunfish, as they tackle the short-but-sweet Kirby classic for Game Boy. We never quite figure out why animals are being kept in sacks, but maybe that’s all part of the game’s charms.

Like overbearing mothers everywhere, Aaron and James go a little bit mad sometimes. This week’s madness involves Hitchcock’s classic 1960 thriller. Listen as the guys tiptoe around the most spoiled twist in movie history, dissect the three-act structure, and get smitten by the charming Anthony Perkins …until he’s not so charming. Enjoy!

The year is 1994. Some of us might have been wee lads, but our hearts were already filled with the love for gaming. Join Aaron, James, and three returning guests as they fantasy draft yet again -- this time from the 16-bit era! Buckle up for an absolutely insane variety of selections, from tried and true classics to wacky surprises. This draft is not one to miss!

"Why the hell didn't you make him finish school?!" This week, Aaron and James, adorned with fedoras and bullwhips in hand, break down the much-maligned entry in the Indiana Jones franchise. They discuss the ways in which they've warmed up to the film since its original release, but make sure to emphasize some of its most glaring missteps (useless characters included) along the way. Do they, like m...

What better time than the 4th of July to talk about the joy that a different country brings us? This week, Aaron and James share their top five favorite anime openings, or "OPs," as they're also called. First they share their criteria for the selections and then dive in to their lists - each of which have some modern favorites and some older classics. Check this episode out to see if your favorite...

Groovy? This week, plasma blasters in hand, Aaron and James dive into the 1994 platformer that launched one of the stranger franchises of the 90s. Join them as they discuss the game in relation to other mascot platformers of the era, its surreal art style, and its origins, all while asking the big question: did it stand the test of time, or, like many other games of the 8-and-16-bit eras, did it a...

From his comedic roles to his dramatic roles to his ... completely unhinged comedic roles, what isn't to love about Jim Carrey? Now that he's possibly retired, Aaron and James decided to go through their favorite performances of his. Will your favorite Carrey performance make their lists? Will "The Number 23" see a positive critical reevaluation in our lifetimes? Listen, and find out!