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The Gaming Backlog "Book Club” hosts chat more about Phantom Liberty in Cyberpunk 2077, the Heist 2.0, playing Casino Royale at the Black Sapphire party, and hatching a plan to get Songbird out of Kurt Hansen’s grasp and even Dogtown altogether. Will it work? Your guess is as good as ours! Stay tuned for next week's episode to hear about the Heist 2.5 turns out, and wrapping up our time in Dogtown, all while sharing some tips, tricks and stories along the way. We want to hear how this section of Cyberpunk 2077 went for you. Take part in our conversation by joining The Gaming Backlog "Book Club" Discord server at https://discord.gg/9xdX3znWQn or finding it through our LinkTree link on Instagram. Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro and welcome(00:00:34) - Appearance changes and cyberware upgrades(00:03:12) - Gang stronghold bases and loot(00:06:37) - Heist 2.0: Scuba infiltration(00:08:50) - Her Majesty pistol and perk builds(00:10:57) - Sniper overwatch sequence for Reed(00:12:22) - Infiltrating the high society party(00:15:53) - Finding Songbird and Hansen's arrival(00:18:50) - Lizzy Wizzy concert(00:19:54) - Reed's assessment and plan with Songbird(00:20:36) - Casino Royale-style roulette(00:22:44) - Hansen's betrayal proposition(00:23:37) - Escaping and 24-hour wait time(00:25:43) - Side activities: cyberpsychos and cars(00:27:12) - Dazed and Confused side quest: Lena Molina(00:32:29) - Birds with Broken Wings: plan to retrieve Songbird(00:33:01) - Songbird's confession and transceiver mission(00:35:27) - Face swap courtesy of Farida(00:36:16) - Aaron the boxer and gorilla arms(00:38:03) - Session wrap-up and reflections(00:39:22) - Game Update 2.5 and Edgerunners 2 news(00:41:59) - Next session goals and outro

The Gaming Backlog "Book Club” hosts share first impressions about Signalis after spending some time tiptoeing through the exceedingly creepy environments. They discuss their preferred ways of getting around, and share tips, tricks & stories from the early hours. Stay tuned for the final episode of this Side Quest season to discuss Signalis as a whole, including its mysterious story. We want to know how you’ve enjoyed the early hours of Signalis so far. Take part in our conversation by joining The Gaming Backlog "Book Club" Discord server at https://discord.gg/9xdX3znWQn or finding it through our LinkTree link on Instagram. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction and Inventory Options(00:01:58) - First Impressions and Progress Comparison(00:03:43) - Menu Tips and Radio Frequencies(00:06:29) - Settings, Graphics, and CRT Mode(00:08:27) - Manual, Controls, and Combat Mechanics(00:10:17) - No Autosave and Healing Mechanics(00:12:50) - Starting Gameplay and Early Exploration(00:16:02) - Crash Site, Ship, and Ice Planet Setting(00:19:29) - The King in Yellow and Story Inspirations(00:23:48) - First Enemy Encounters and Combat Feel(00:26:49) - Health System and Stealth Mechanics(00:30:56) - Level Design, Locked Doors, and Cameras(00:33:12) - Overall Impressions and Gameplay Feel(00:35:39) - Speculating on the Story and Gestalts(00:39:47) - Post-Credits Secret and Closing Thoughts

The Gaming Backlog "Book Club” hosts chat about delving further into Dogtown and the story of Phantom Liberty in Cyberpunk 2077, meeting sleeper agent Solomon Reed, his old “friend” Alex, tangling with Voodoo Boys and doing some favors for Mr. Hands for a massive favor in return. Dogtown is the Wild West of Night City, so it’s fitting how crazy society is here. Stay tuned for next week's episode to hear about everything new revelations, another infiltration which is basically Heist 2, and our misadventures and investigations in Dogtown, all while sharing some tips, tricks and stories along the way. We want to hear how this section of Cyberpunk 2077 went for you. Take part in our conversation by joining The Gaming Backlog "Book Club" Discord server at https://discord.gg/9xdX3znWQn or finding it through our LinkTree link on Instagram. Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro and schedule notes(00:01:15) - Edgerunners season 2(00:02:43) - V's appearance customization check-in(00:03:18) - Meeting Solomon Reed(00:05:18) - The oath decision debate(00:06:30) - Mr. Hand's gigs and Dogtown travel pass(00:08:23) - Ripper doc Anthony Anderson and scav confrontation(00:11:34) - Meeting Alex the sleeper agent(00:13:27) - Infiltrating Slider's hideout(00:17:17) - Contacting Somi and Slider's fate(00:18:53) - Planning the hotel heist with Mr. Hands(00:20:44) - Comparing Mr. Hand's side gigs(00:26:13) - Meeting Mr. Hands and planning with Solomon and Alex(00:27:33) - Looking ahead to next session(00:28:56) - Outro and follow info

The next Side Quest season of The Gaming Backlog "Book Club” covers Signalis. While not the type of game we would typically play as a side quest, we want to enjoy a spooky season experience in spooky season itself, so we’ll be playing throughout the month of October, alongside the ongoing Cyberpunk 2077 season. Join us as we uncover the mysteries in deep space. Stay tuned for our next Side Quest episode for our first impressions of how things are looking after starting up Signalis, and share some tips, tricks and stories along the way. We want to hear your expectations for Signalis. Take part in our conversation by joining The Gaming Backlog "Book Club" Discord server at https://discord.gg/9xdX3znWQn or finding it through our LinkTree link on Instagram. Chapters (00:00:01) - Intro: Hades Side Quest Unfinished Business(00:01:56) - How Side Quest Seasons Work(00:02:50) - Signalis Plan and Background(00:04:27) - Gameplay Style and Influences(00:05:43) - Alex's Prior Experience with Signalis(00:08:32) - Literary Influences and Personal Excitement(00:10:03) - Wishlist History and PS Plus(00:11:13) - Changing Gaming Preferences and Survival Horror Growth(00:12:46) - Atmosphere, Sound Design, and Playing Tips(00:14:14) - Wrap Up and Schedule Going Forward

The Gaming Backlog "Book Club” hosts chat about the start of Phantom Liberty in Cyberpunk 2077, taking up Songbird’s offer to help us solve our Relic predicament, while also becoming embroiled in strange coup attempt involving NUSA and Dogtown. Stay tuned for next week's episode to hear about everything we discovered, and our adventures and investigations in Dogtown, Night City, all while sharing some tips, tricks and stories along the way. We want to hear how this section of Cyberpunk 2077 went for you. Take part in our conversation by joining The Gaming Backlog "Book Club" Discord server at https://discord.gg/9xdX3znWQn or finding it through our LinkTree link on Instagram. Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro and Discord Invitation(00:01:24) - Character Appearance and Panam Texts(00:03:52) - Judy's Questline Wrap-up(00:05:42) - River's Questline: I Fought the Law(00:06:37) - The Hunt: Dark Cult Quest and BD Investigation(00:10:04) - Randy's Rescue and Family Dinner Setup(00:13:00) - Dinner with River's Family and Romance Path(00:15:10) - Water Tower Night and Morning After(00:16:21) - Juggling Judy and River(00:17:22) - End of River's Questline and Dream On(00:19:16) - Side Quests: Braindance Vendor and Antique Deck(00:21:28) - Starting Phantom Liberty: Songbird and the Relic(00:23:45) - New Relic Perk Tree(00:25:41) - Entering Dogtown and the Black Market(00:28:08) - Black Market Side Quests and Easter Eggs(00:30:29) - War Zone: Approaching the Crashed Ship(00:33:11) - Meeting President Myers(00:34:58) - Escape Chase and Garage Firefight(00:38:02) - Chimera Mech Boss Fight(00:43:43) - Character Builds and Leveling Systems(00:47:16) - Aftermath, Hideout Intruders, and Wrap-up

Andrew from The Gaming Backlog "Book Club” joined Jaymo from The Old SwitchAroo in the skies and stars of the Star Fox Remake’s online Battle Mode across all 6 maps, tested out the AR GameChat functionality of the Nintendo Switch 2, and chatted about the Star Fox franchise overall, including their experiences with Star Fox 64 and this new version. They even created a Battle Mode map tier list. Watch the video feed of the battles at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Og2xtqRpBbc. Between getting over a cold and audio capture and compression issues, voices may be a bit fuzzy at times, so the video version is the best option. Like the heavy metal Corneria cover? Be sure to check out https://www.youtube.com/@Merton_VG_Metal. What do you think of our Battle Mode map tier list and the Star Fox remake overall? Take part in the conversation by joining The Gaming Backlog "Book Club" Discord server at https://discord.gg/9xdX3znWQn. You can also join The Old SwitchAroo’s Discord server through their website https://www.theoldswitcharoo.com/. Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro and crossover announcement(00:01:15) - Star Fox experience and franchise discussion(00:02:53) - Starting Battle Mode on Venom(00:04:35) - Star Fox 64 battle mode memories and side games(00:06:51) - Venom match gameplay(00:08:04) - Venom recap and Splatoon comparisons(00:10:02) - Sector Y black hole asteroid match(00:11:32) - Power-ups and multiplayer design discussion(00:14:02) - Favorite campaign maps discussion(00:15:41) - Fichina meteor match(00:16:57) - Looter shooters and Splatoon tangent(00:18:18) - Ideas for new Star Fox map concepts(00:20:49) - Backlog podcast preview and Switch 2 talk(00:21:38) - Ficina recap and moving to Corneria(00:22:28) - Corneria king of the hill match(00:26:00) - Marry Fox Kill discussion(00:28:12) - Versus mode on cargo map(00:32:56) - Favorite Star Wolf members and final match moments(00:33:56) - Building the battle mode tier list(00:37:59) - Katina discussion and final tier list results(00:40:51) - Closing remarks

The Gaming Backlog "Book Club” hosts chat about romance and finding love in Night City, in the dystopia of Cyberpunk 2077, helping out our friends and zeroing the scum of the earth. Stay tuned for next week's episode to hear about the start of the Phantom Liberty story expansion, all while sharing some tips, tricks and stories along the way. We want to hear how this section of Cyberpunk 2077 went for you. Take part in our conversation by joining The Gaming Backlog "Book Club" Discord server at https://discord.gg/9xdX3znWQn or finding it through our LinkTree link on Instagram. Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro and Reminders(00:00:46) - Which Radio Station Did You Listen to Most this Week?(00:02:21) - V's Appearance and Style Changes(00:04:49) - Finding Love in Night City(00:05:53) - Judy's Apartment and Evelyn's Death(00:07:32) - Brain Surgeon Escort Side Job(00:10:23) - Cyberpsychos and Ghost in the Shell Reference(00:12:03) - Meeting Maiko and Woodman Confrontation(00:14:09) - Taking Down Woodman(00:15:39) - Planning the Clouds Takeover(00:20:47) - Pisces Mission - Confronting Hiromi Sato(00:25:58) - Fallout of the Clouds Takeover(00:27:30) - Pyramid Song - Judy's Final Mission(00:30:08) - Underwater Atlantis and Emotional Moments(00:32:55) - Judy Romance Conclusion(00:34:50) - Panam's Romance Path - Riders on the Storm(00:37:27) - Rescuing Saul and Aftermath(00:38:43) - More Cyberpsycho Fights and Panam's Rifle(00:40:42) - Stealing the Militech Tank(00:43:50) - Tank Bonding and Intimacy with Panam(00:46:08) - Panam Promotion(00:46:51) - Relic Collapse and Recovering with Panam(00:48:20) - Wrapping Up Romance Arcs(00:49:53) - Next Episode Preview - Phantom Liberty

The Gaming Backlog "Book Club” hosts chat about all of Act 2 in Cyberpunk 2077, as we dig and investigate with Judy Alvarez until we find out what happened to Evelyn Parker, including what she knows about the Heist, work with Panam Palmer to retrieve the Relic’s schematics from Anders Hellman, track down the Voodoo Boys for an answer to our Johnny Silverhand issue, and help Goro Takemura arrange a meeting with Hanako Arasaka. Stay tuned for next week's episode to hear about our downtime and (mis)adventures doing the dirty work of Night City across side jobs and gigs, and decide whether or not to pull a Harvest Moon 64 and woo our romantic partner of choice, all while sharing some tips, tricks and stories along the way. We want to hear how this section of Cyberpunk 2077 went for you. Take part in our conversation by joining The Gaming Backlog "Book Club" Discord server at https://discord.gg/9xdX3znWQn or finding it through our LinkTree link on Instagram. Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro and spoiler warning(00:00:26) - Radio stations and music picks(00:02:43) - Appearance mods and Japantown apartment(00:06:40) - Meeting Rogue and the plan to find Hellman(00:09:08) - Heading to the Badlands, meeting Panam(00:13:15) - Aldecaldos camp and stakeout prep(00:13:56) - Quickhack builds and combat styles(00:19:21) - Ambushing Nash's crew for revenge(00:23:11) - Taking down Hellman's AV convoy(00:26:06) - Motorcycle chase and Death Stranding Easter egg(00:29:38) - Capturing Hellman and grim diagnosis(00:34:36) - Side quests: nomad car, Dex's body, iconic weapons(00:40:42) - Balatro Easter egg and cameo voice actors(00:42:27) - Riders in the Storm and roller coaster side quest(00:48:28) - Rescuing Evelyn from Fingers(00:53:51) - Finding Evelyn and Double Life fallout(00:55:42) - Meeting Oda and Wakako, parade intel(00:59:59) - Voodoo Boys and the Grand Imperial Mall(01:07:58) - Cyberspace flashback: Johnny and Alt(01:10:38) - Rescuing Alt and Arasaka Tower assault(01:13:51) - Aftermath in the church and Phantom Liberty hook(01:16:38) - Infiltrating the warehouse with Takemura(01:19:03) - Parade infiltration and Oda boss fight(01:24:14) - Escape, Hanako meeting, and Takemura's fate(01:27:16) - Johnny's deal and final build talk(01:29:19) - Wrap-up and next episode plans

The Gaming Backlog "Book Club” hosts chat about video game-related events, activations and experiences in the latest Bookmark episode. Just anything that doesn’t only involve literally using a controller to play a game on a screen. Join us as we discuss some of these moments we’ve had the luck to participate in over our many, many years playing games. Tune in next time to continue our current season about Cyberpunk 2077. Take part in our conversation by joining The Gaming Backlog "Book Club" Discord server at https://discord.gg/9xdX3znWQn or finding it through our LinkTree link on Instagram. Chapters (00:00:01) - Intro and bookmark episode setup(00:01:02) - Halloween Horror Nights: Last of Us and Fallout houses(00:03:28) - Dreaming of a Dead Space haunted house(00:05:25) - BioShock as the dream haunted house(00:06:45) - Pikachu VW Bug at Ghirardelli Square, 1995(00:08:43) - Nintendo stores in New York and Kyoto(00:10:54) - Pokemon Center in Kyoto and Japan wishlist(00:12:57) - Pokemon trading card game history and play(00:14:09) - Pokemon Worlds in Anaheim and pop-up store(00:16:45) - Current decks and card collecting with nephew(00:17:34) - Japan-exclusive Pokemon card sets(00:19:19) - 30th anniversary card frenzy and scalpers(00:20:08) - Pokepark Kanto and Japan developer stores(00:21:28) - San Francisco's Metreon PlayStation store(00:23:40) - Retro gaming expos and conventions(00:25:34) - Meeting voice actors at conventions(00:28:37) - E3 and Game Awards missed opportunities(00:31:35) - Summer QA job at Electronic Arts(00:33:25) - Fighter jet and mech battle simulators(00:34:43) - Video game murals and statues in Mexico City(00:36:02) - Super Nintendo World experience at Universal(00:37:48) - Universal Studios land changes: Simpsons to Pokemon(00:38:55) - Missed opportunities: Tomb Raider escape room and concerts(00:41:15) - Closing thoughts and more missed pop-up events

The Gaming Backlog "Book Club” hosts chat about the beginning of Act 2 in Cyberpunk 2077, dealing with the fallout of the Heist and coming to terms with the new normal, while expanding our access to Night City and meeting a whole new cast of intriguing and deadly characters. Stay tuned for next week's episode to hear about everything we discovered, and our encounter with the Voodoo Boys, all while sharing some tips, tricks and stories along the way. We want to hear how this section of Cyberpunk 2077 went for you. Take part in our conversation by joining The Gaming Backlog "Book Club" Discord server at https://discord.gg/9xdX3znWQn or finding it through our LinkTree link on Instagram. Chapters (00:00:01) - Intro and radio station chat(00:02:01) - Appearance and cyberware modifications(00:02:55) - Vehicles and the Delamain side quest(00:05:28) - First-person driving experiences(00:06:21) - Photo mode and smart frames(00:07:33) - Photo mode pose Easter eggs(00:12:19) - Meeting Takemura at Tom's Diner(00:16:15) - Johnny's reappearance and moving forward(00:17:03) - Calling Judy and finding leads on Evelyn(00:19:48) - Lizzie's Bar and the Lizzie pistol(00:21:32) - Smart weapons and cyberware tangent(00:24:19) - Infiltrating Clouds(00:27:59) - Confronting Woodman(00:29:49) - Wrapping up Automatic Love and next steps(00:31:14) - Side quests: Delamain car, Shoot to Thrill, boxing(00:35:20) - More side quests: Happy Together, Buck Ravers, Heroes(00:37:00) - Jackie's ofrenda ceremony(00:41:40) - Jackie's motorcycle and tarot murals(00:43:43) - New apartment purchase(00:45:12) - Build discussion: Sandevistan, stats, and perks(00:50:46) - Weapon loadouts and combat style(00:56:10) - Crafting and weapon mods deep dive(00:58:49) - Iconic weapons and closing thoughts(00:59:48) - Next episode roadmap and Act 2 quest paths

The Gaming Backlog "Book Club” hosts chat about side quests, cyberpsycho hunts, side jobs and other gigs, installing upgrades and exploring Night City by foot and by car while blasting our preferred radio stations, all before the buildup to and execution of the Heist, including braindance editing, Militech secret meetings, and acquiring a flathead spider bot from Maelstrom. Stay tuned for next week's episode to hear about where the monumental events of the Heist and the repercussions that come with them, lead us to next, all while sharing some tips, tricks and stories along the way. We want to hear how the Heist in Cyberpunk 2077 went for you. Take part in our conversation by joining The Gaming Backlog "Book Club" Discord server at https://discord.gg/9xdX3znWQn or finding it through our LinkTree link on Instagram.

The Gaming Backlog "Book Club” hosts chat about video game accessories and peripherals (that actually affect the way we play) in the latest Bookmark episode. Join us as we discuss everything from pro controllers and fight sticks, to the GameShark and Game Boy game link cable. Tune in next time to continue our current season about Cyberpunk 2077. Take part in our conversation by joining The Gaming Backlog "Book Club" Discord server at https://discord.gg/9xdX3znWQn or finding it through our LinkTree link on Instagram.

The Gaming Backlog "Book Club” hosts chat about the opening hours of Cyberpunk 2077, getting familiar with our chosen origin points and the friendly (and not so friendly) faces in our neck of the woods, before delving into Night City and working our way through some jobs in Watson, and finally meeting Dexter in a limo to take on one hell of an assignment. Time for the big leagues! Stay tuned for our next episode to hear about how we tackle our proving ground job from Dex, more meetings with fixers, how we take down cyberpsychos, modify ourselves, and whatever is about to happen in a motel, all while sharing some tips, tricks and stories along the way. We want to hear how the early hours of Cyberpunk 2077 went for you. Take part in our conversation by joining The Gaming Backlog "Book Club" Discord server at https://discord.gg/9xdX3znWQn or finding it through our LinkTree link on Instagram.

Season 13 of The Gaming Backlog "Book Club” covers Cyberpunk 2077. We discuss our expectations for the game based on what we know of CDProjekt Red games and open world RPGs in general. Can we get Johnny out of heads and reclaim our consciousness? Plug in, mod yourself to your heart’s content, take down anyone in your way, and find out! Stay tuned for the next episode to discover how this story all kicked off, in Cyberpunk 2077 Part 1, and share some tips, tricks and stories along the way. We want to hear your expectations for Cyberpunk 2077. Take part in our conversation by joining The Gaming Backlog "Book Club" Discord server at https://discord.gg/9xdX3znWQn or finding it through our LinkTree link on Instagram.

The Gaming Backlog "Book Club” hosts chat about our experiences visiting and revisiting Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Super Mario World, discovering all the wonders within, the unique and innovative gameplay mechanics, technical and graphical prowess for their time, and embrace all the nostalgia. Mike and Jaymo from The Old Switcharoo podcast come along for the ride, comparing the two games despite their many, many differences, and wax lyrical about what has helped Super Mario World and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 stand the test of time. Check in next time to learn about the next game from the backlog that we’ll be playing. We want to hear what you thought of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Super Mario World. Take part in our conversation by joining The Gaming Backlog "Book Club" Discord server at https://discord.gg/9xdX3znWQn or finding it through our LinkTree link on Instagram. Chapters (00:00:00) - Super Mario World vs Sonic The Hedgehog 2(00:01:48) - Nintendo Switch Online Review & Play(00:05:22) - What Has Been Each Of Our Favorite Games On Your Podcast?(00:08:03) - Super Mario World & Sonic The Hedgehog 2(00:13:42) - Two of Your Favorite Games(00:18:03) - Mike's Never Played Much Zelda(00:19:34) - Experiences(00:20:53) - Super Mario World & Sonic 2(00:21:59) - Super Mario World First(00:22:13) - Super Mario 3D: The SNES vs Game Boy Advance(00:27:25) - Super Mario World: The Complete Breakdown(00:32:31) - The Secret to Playing 'Mario'(00:33:18) - Super Mario World: Two Player(00:37:57) - Super Mario 3D: The Difficulty(00:40:44) - Super Mario World: The Yoshi Coins(00:43:28) - Super Mario World's Secret Enemies(00:45:38) - Sonic 2 Boss Fight(00:49:23) - Mario Kart 8(00:51:35) - The First Stall In A Bathroom(00:52:14) - Favorite Super Mario 3D Levels(00:55:33) - Yoshi's Food World(00:58:23) - Targeting Monty Mole in Mario Party(01:00:52) - Donkey Kong Country vs Super Mario World(01:01:53) - Super Mario World: Bowser vs Peach(01:03:49) - Sonic 2 on Nintendo Switch Online(01:09:34) - Sonic 2: The Japanese Design(01:12:07) - Sonic 2(01:13:27) - Sonic 2: Slow and Steady(01:18:47) - Sonic 3 & Knuckles vs. Super Mario World(01:22:12) - Sonic 2 Robotnik vs Eggman(01:26:12) - Metal Sonic 2 Final Level(01:29:30) - Sonic 2: Knuckles the Hedgehog(01:31:13) - Sonic 2 vs Super Mario World(01:34:02) - Super Mario World vs. Sonic 2(01:35:35) - Mario vs Sonic: Who Did It First?(01:37:26) - Mario vs Sonic: Who Had The Ride First?(01:39:44) - Mario vs Sonic The Hedgehog(01:43:36) - Mario vs Sonic 2(01:44:53) - Sonic 2 vs. Super Mario World(01:46:18) - Super Mario World vs. Sonic 2(01:48:17) - Super Mario World vs Sonic 2: A 10/10(01:52:18) - If You Had To Save Super Mario World vs. Sonic 2(01:53:10) - Sonic 2 vs Super Mario World(01:55:38) - Sonic 2: Debug Mode Cheat Code(01:58:43) - What Do You Want For Your New Mario or Sonic Game Genre?(02:00:52) - The Old Switcharoo: Super Mario World & Sonic The Hedgehog 2