Game & Watch with Aaron & James

"Welcome to prime time, bitch!" This week, Aaron and James originally decided to do group hypnosis, only to find that neither of them have a dream power capable of defeating Freddy Krueger. Instead, they settled on discussing this wonderfully silly horror gem of the 80s. Tune in as they break down why this movie is such a good time despite its faults.

"When the red moon hangs low, the line between man and beast is blurred. And when the Great Ones descend, a womb will be blessed with child." In Part 2 of their Bloodborne coverage, Aaron and James are again joined by a special guest and take a look at the areas, lore, and bosses that make this game iconic. If you're into cosmic childbirth, rural fishing villages, or abandoning whole swaths of soc...

Fear the old blood. This week, Aaron and James are joined by a very special guest to talk about one of their absolute favorite games - a game with so much to offer that they need two episodes to do it! In Part 1, join them as they take a deep dive into the development, design, themes, and gameplay. And tune in next time to Part 2, where they'll dissect the story and dense lore.

In this very special episode, Aaron and James break down their love for FromSoftware's iconic Souls series of video games (+Bloodborne) and why the series holds such a special place in their lives. Then, they discuss their excitements, hopes, and fears for the upcoming Elden Ring.

[Insert least annoying quote from the musical here, if possible.] This week, Aaron and James attempt to discuss what James would describe as the movie equivalent of eating broken glass. What is a Jellicle cat? Who is Rum Tum Tugger? Why is he a curious cat? Who am I? What is going on? We've got questions, but if you're looking for answers, well ... look elsewhere.

X gonna give it to ya. This week, Aaron and James spend some time with the newest release in the long-running Metroid series. Does it live up to nearly 20 years of expectations? Well, if you were hoping for character names like "Quiet Robe," and "Raven Beak," you're in luck. And if you were hoping for an impactful, emotional story or gripping gameplay ... well, there's always Metroid 6. Give a lis...

Oh my! This week, Aaron and James take a trip to the Hundred Acre Wood to gush about one of their favorite TV shows. Join them as they discuss episode highlights and get into topics that no other podcast has the guts to touch. Topics like: Is Christopher Robin actually just a feral child living in his dead parents' house? Is Tigger actually kind of annoying? And last but not least, get ready for s...

It was the Fat Turban Boy King, in Toad House, with the Hammer. In this episode, Aaron and James aren't playing Clue, but the NES classic, Super Mario Bros. 3! By adding more deadly weapons, murderous enemies, and seven countries ruled by cis, white men, it's no wonder this game is still beloved today. Give it a listen and decide who you like better - Viking King or Gandalf King. Enjoy!

"We had such potential... such promise. But we squandered our gifts, our intelligence. Our blind pursuit of technology only sped us quicker to our doom." This week, Aaron and James discuss a forgotten animated endeavor of the late aughts. Join them as they explore the unrealized potential of the movie and interrogate, among other things, Aaron's hatred of the term "steampunk."

“Only I have the brains to rule Lylat!” Join your hosts as they trust their instincts and dissect a classic of the N64 era. Tune in as they do a barrel roll, attack an enemy base or two, make way for Katt, and determine whether Slippy is such a screw up after all.

Fahoofores dahoodores indeed! In their very first episode about a work made for TV, Aaron and James gush about one of the most beloved Christmas stories and specials of all time. Join them as they laud all that Chuck Jones brings to this adaptation, discuss the religious implications of the story, and give a firm scolding to all of the pervy fan fiction writers out there.

"And suddenly I was a shark." This week, Aaron and James join the titular Edith on her exploration of the haphazard and beautiful Finch home. Together, they try to find out just exactly why each member of this tragic family has disappeared or died, and learn a thing or two about the joys of indie gaming along the way. (Recorded: 11/24/21)

Dellow felegates! After spending too many episodes sifting through mediocre works of so-called "filmmaking," Aaron and James decided to tackle a real masterpiece. Join them as they break down possibly the most entertaining entry of George Lucas' much-maligned prequel trilogy and ask the important questions, like: Why did Padme fall for a tantrum-throwing baby like Anakin? Does Dexter Jettster know...

Guh-huh! For the final installment of their four-episode miniseries, Aaron and James break down a classic 3D platformer, and one of James' favorite and most-replayed games of all time. Listen as they talon trot their way through discussing the level design, swimming mechanics, and much more. And of course, the comparisons to Mario 64 are inevitable. (Recorded: 10/17/21)

There's toxic fandom, and then there's hobbling. For the third installment of their four-episode miniseries, Aaron and James are held captive by one of Aaron's favorite movies and a definitive classic of the thriller genre. Pour a glass of wine and listen to them discuss casting choices, the psychology of the iconic Annie Wilkes character, and whether Rob Reiner is actually a good director. (Recor...

"All of our history ... our art and science ... All to meet the needs of that ... beast." In the second installment of their four-episode miniseries, Aaron and James travel back in time to the 90s era of JRPGs and discuss a universally-praised classic of the genre that James should have played decades ago. Follow them on their journey as they discuss the plot at length (36:36) - (1:50:06), explore...

“Trois, douze, merde!” This week, Aaron and James begin a four-episode series in which each of them games and watches some of each other's favorite games and films for the very first time. And what a better way to start the series than isolating audiences with James' penchant for surrealism. Take a drive with the hosts through Paris as they decipher the film's events and discuss a character whose...

Life is but a dream. Aaron and James crash land on Koholint Island this week and wander the Zelda-less world of a handheld classic. Although power, wisdom, and courage are nowhere to be found in this game (or their commentary, for that matter), there is plenty to love and explore. Come for the discussion of why the game has endured, and stay for the debate about whether exploration in 2D Zeldas is...

It's so hard to find good help these days. This week, Aaron and James tackle - you guessed it - another horror movie, and the debut of a very promising director. They discuss its religious themes, its use of voice over narration, its visual motifs, interpretations of its ending, and much more. (Recorded: 7/6/21)

In another special episode of the show, Aaron and James sit down to talk about horror in film and gaming. They break down what they love about the genre in general, and then share their top 5 favorite horror movies (11:58), followed by their top 5 favorite horror sequences in video games (50:26).

It's not easy being the evil brother. This week, Aaron and James go back to the Game Boy era and talk about two games in the Wario Land franchise that have annoyingly similar titles. Sure, this franchise is an interesting brand of 2D platforming, but it really cannot be overstated how similar the titles of these two games are. It's not all that's discussed in this episode, of course, but boy is it...

For their very first "special episode," Aaron and James chat about the infamous Nintendo Directs. In addition to discussing the most-recent Directs, they break down what Directs are, talk about their dream announcements, and theorize about what led Nintendo to move away from its traditional E3 presentations. And as a final treat, Aaron attempts to guess the voice cast of the upcoming Super Mario m...

Turn on the tape deck and put yourself to bed. This week, Aaron and James learn about the origin of love from a wonderful musical drama/comedy. They explore their favorite songs from the soundtrack, the underrated work of Michael Pitt, the meaning of the final scene, and how the movie was ahead of its time. (Recorded: 5/24/21)

Everyone remembers the first time they had their head cut off with a chainsaw. This week, Aaron and James have a blast diving into a beloved survival horror classic and what makes it so infectiously gratifying. (Recorded: 5/7/21)

We've all been in love. We've all experienced loss. And we've all been turned into a pig. This week, Aaron and James travel to the Adriatic Sea to dissect a charming Studio Ghibli film. They compare the sub with the dub, gush about Miyazaki, and see how this one measures up to some of the more famous work from the studio. (Recorded: 4/25/21)