Introducing: Backwards Compatible

A positive space for games I’m loving, even if they’re a bit out of date

Is it stupid to start a second blog when you barely have enough time to post on the first? Maybe! But I feel like I am splitting audiences every post. My other space, “Stoked On with Peter Bennett,” is a space where I talk about things I love. Am I currently stoked on it or have I just been reminded of a lifelong love? That’s where it goes. It’s about a ton of things I like and a lot of those have ended up being video games. I want a space to write about games that doesn’t feel like it alienates all of my non-gaming audience. This will be that space, so if that sounds good, you’re in the right spot.

I want to write about the games that I play, but I am only occasionally trying a new release. This year I’ve played 2 new releases and tried to stream Avowed, but it’s just a little too finicky on Xbox Cloud Gaming. I played all of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle streaming straight to my TV and Retroid Pocket 5 with no problems, but I can’t get Avowed to work well enough to be fun. But also this year I have dipped into dozens of retro games and I’ve played several hours of a few older games that I’m just itching to talk about.

I don’t want to spoil too much, but you can definitely expect something on Persona 4 Golden, multiple Kingdom Hearts games, and more. I have also recently purchased a PlayStation 3 for the first time in my life, so there’s a lot going on there. I have added some classics to my collection already and I’m diving into a few a bit deeper. Speaking of which, I’ll likely dive into some hardware and accessories talk. I’ve been on that retro game emulator kick since the beginning of Covid lockdowns.

I also wrote a whole Stoked On post about the Indiana Jones game, which was my GOTY of 2024. I guess I wrote a whole top ten! Maybe I’ll repost that here now that I’m separating them out. But suffice to say I’m playing new releases too. I am stoked for the Switch 2 and will be trying to buy one on release day. You bet I’ll have a lot to talk about in the early days of that console release if they can stack the lineup like it seems like they are.

The reason “Backwards Compatible” resonates with me is that I’m into the current state of gaming, but also interested in the history and classics. I’ve been in and out of gaming my whole life. From a young age, I was encouraged to play outside and didn’t have many video games until a bit later in life. I also was never allowed a handheld, so I’ve got a ton of catching up to do. I do not resent my parents for this decision, though I do think it made me feel even more drawn to gaming, as it became a treasured thing I got to do at friend’s houses during sleepovers or on long summer afternoons between skateboarding sessions. I mean, my first Pokémon game that I played all the way through was Pokémon Emerald on an early emulator in late high school. I did play a bit of Yellow on a friend’s game boy color in the backseat of a car on a road trip, but that ended poorly. Let’s leave it at I don’t do well with screens in cars…

Basically I’m playing games a lot and I want to express my opinions about them, maybe even start conversations. Video games have been impactful in my life and there’s so many incredible games out there that are just waiting to change how I think about something. These won’t necessarily be reviews, but simply discussions and opinions. I may get something day one, I may play it four months late, or I might talk about playing 2006’s Oblivion for the first time! (I’m currently doing this and about 10 hours in. What a vibe.)

Let me know what you think about the games I talk about or tell me about ones that you resonated with. I’m here for it all. I hope this is the start of something very fun. Thanks for reading!

P.S. My first regular post is up now! Go check it out!