Game & Watch with Aaron & James

"Oh, there must be some mistake. Our children are in the backyard. Right, honey?" It’s the classic parenting blunder we’ll all make at some point: shrinking your kids. This week, Aaron and James take a trip to the backyard with this 1989 Disney comedy. Topics of discussion include questionable parenting styles, late-80s practical effects, Rick Moranis’ country music career, and whether Wayne Szali...

"Groovy." This week, armed with chansaws and sawed-off shotguns, Aaron and James take on Kandarian demons and have a hell of a time discussing this beloved horror/comedy classic. There is no shortage of praise here as they break down the exceptional camerawork, makeup, effects, and more!

Yes, yes, you should have seen this coming -- it’s draft time again. This time, Aaron and James are joined by three recurring guests to draft from one of the most monumental years in modern gaming. This draft has it all: surprises, passion picks, and some underplayed gems. Enjoy!

To the surprise of no one, Aaron and James still have Zelda fever, and so it’s time for another Zelda episode! This week, your hosts have curated a list of categories and are naming their favorite Zelda game for each one. Which game has the best Link? The best Zelda? The best story? The best music? Listen in to find out which games they picked for these and more! Lastly, stick around to hear their...

Now that Tears of the Kingdom is finally here, Aaron and James decided to pay homage this week to their favorite dungeons from the Legend of Zelda series. They've considered factors ranging from aesthetic to boss fights, and have come up with ironclad, official lists that they'll definitely never change or think twice about. Will your favorite dungeon make either of their lists? Listen in and find...

"Everyone chooses death too hastily." Join Aaron, James, and a rotating selection of party members like Cecil, Rosa, Rydia, and Kain, as they work their way through this JRPG classic. They discuss how Square successfully elevated this game compared to the first three entries in the series, debate whether the lack of party management is a good thing, laud the differences between the OG and the Pixe...

“You give me a time and a place, I give you a five minute window. Anything happens in that five minutes and I'm yours. No matter what. Anything happens a minute either side of that and you're on your own. Do you understand?" In this case, give Aaron and James a roughly two-hour window to discuss this Nicolas Winding Refn cult hit. Anything that happens in this two hours and we’re yours -- and that...

We’re drafting again! Join Aaron, James, and three special guests as they navigate the wealth of games released in 2002, reflect on their personal gaming histories, and share hearty stories about couch co-op and the earlier days of online gaming. The competition returns but, as always, common ground is found amongst all (particularly at the expense of one console). It’s the beauty of the medium. G...

Let’s-a-go! The wait is over and Mario is back on the big screen. Join Aaron and James along with a very special guest as they dive into the 2023 Super Mario Bros. Movie. Listen as they talk about their favorite (and least favorite) Easter eggs, analyze the discourse surrounding the movie, and try and figure out when they’ll introduce WaPeach into the franchise. And then stick around as they discu...

It's something Aaron and James have often pondered, both with each other and in their own heads -- what makes a television show one of our favorites? You'd think there should be a systematic, logical ranking system with agreed-upon criteria to evaluate such a thing, right? Well, it's not that simple. This week, join a sprawling romp through Aaron's and James' TV memories as they rank their persona...

"Kill the wabbit!" This week, Aaron and James, equipped with spears and magic helmets, break down this delightful, classic Looney Tunes short. Listen in as James reminisces about his early exposure to Looney Tunes and Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, all while your hosts contemplate how many children were first exposed to opera through this film.

Sometimes a topic comes along that can't wait -- a topic that begs, nay, screams to be discussed. This is one such emergency. From deep within his movie-making lair, famed flop auteur Tommy Wiseau has unleashed a trailer upon us all. Join Aaron and James as they break down the first trailer to the next Wiseau-ian masterpiece.

"A world where man will never stand ... to realize that world, I decided that I would engrave it on a canvas." This week, Aaron and James visit the Guertena Art Gallery and submit themselves to its Eldritch horrors as they explore every detail of this cult classic. Listen as they heap praise on the game’s premise and (most of its) tone, while also lamenting the ways in which it might have fallen s...

Now that Nintendo Switch Online has brought us a wealth of retro games from our childhoods and beyond, Aaron and James decided to evaluate the current catalog. Join them this week as they run through their personal favorites, discuss some confusing additions, and name their most-anticipated or most-hoped-for releases.

The year was 1997. We played outside, read Animorphs, and built LEGOs. But most of all, we played video games, and we stood in awe together as gaming continued to take its early steps into 3D. So, what better way to honor that year in gaming history than to host this podcast’s very first video game draft! Join Aaron, James, and two incredible return guests as they compete in good fun to draft thei...

"I don't know if what is happening is fair, but it's the only thing I can think of that's close to justice." This week, Aaron and James are joined by a very special guest to break down this surreal, tense psychological thriller/horror film. Listen in as they dissect the film's characters, construction, and tone, all while facing harsh truths about their own dark senses of humor. Everyone has a lin...

Mario and Wario are bitter boyhood rivals, a battle for a kingdom ensues, and an alien watches from the moon. Yes, that’s somehow the plot to this Game Boy classic! Join Aaron and James as they dissect the political intricacies of the Mushroom Kingdom and figure out why Mario might actually be the villain of this game.

“Thanks for everything, Herc. It's been a real slice.” This week, Aaron and James are joined by a very special guest (the best guest of all time, James might say) to discuss this underrated Disney animated classic. The three of them break down the movie’s plot, music, and characters, weigh the pros and cons of the movie’s liberties with Greek Mythology, and contemplate how different (and sociopath...

"It's your decision. I'm interested to see what you'll choose." What is consciousness? What defines a human being? How do you pronounce Domhnall Gleeson's first name? Join Aaron and James as they ponder these questions and many others about this fantastic sci-fi thriller. Enjoy a deep-dive conversation about the characters, twists, and why James' cat might be inside his walls. Is this episode just...

“Let the past die. Kill it, if you have to. That's the only way to become what you were meant to be." (Yep. Starting this one off with a Last Jedi quote.) This week, Aaron and James are joined by not one, but two very special guests to go to war over where the movies in this classic franchise should be ranked. Listen in as they discuss their respective rankings and histories with the franchise, de...

Gotta love 'em all! Or, maybe not. This week, Aaron and James tackle the first 151 Pokémon and discuss what makes Pokémon designs fly or flop. Tune in to hear them give their top and bottom three Pokémon, all while wondering which James hates more - the entirety of Pokémon Scarlet/Violet or [POKÉMON NAME REDACTED].

“Time passes, people move … Like a river’s flow, it never ends." This week, Aaron and James tackle the Adult Link portion of the game. Will the evil king Ganondorf be stopped? How will your hosts rank all of the game's dungeons?? Was [REDACTED] really [REDACTED] the whole time??? Will there be another fifty episodes???? These questions and more, answered in Part 2!

Hey! Listen! A boy meets a fairy ... two friends decide to start a podcast ... there's no telling what roads destiny may take you down, as Aaron and James celebrate FIFTY episodes (kind of, but who's really counting)! To mark the special occasion, they've decided to discuss one of the most beloved games of all time. In Part 1, listen as they talk about their histories with this classic, its legacy...

“For so long I've felt drawn here. So many tales full of wonders and horrors. No longer could I resist. I just had to see it for myself.” This week, Aaron and James are joined by a very special guest to dissect a truly excellent indie Metroidvania and achievement in game development. Much like the game’s protagonist, they explore the vast depths of Hollownest and uncover its secrets, stopping alon...

"Just give it one season, and I promise this show gets good!" How many times have we heard that one before? In this special episode, Aaron and James discuss Investment Watching - is it REALLY worth it to slog through an entire season of a TV show to get to the "good stuff"? Or the first hour of a movie? Or a film in a franchise? They'll explore this topic and definitively answer the question!