Podcast Archives

Retro Encounter 458 – Suikoden Revisited

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on April 24, 2025

All of this podcasting in front of a children. In this week’s episode of Retro Encounter, four enthusiastic series veterans and one newbie get together to discuss the original Suikoden to celebrate the recent remaster. Does the game still hold up? Can we stop ourselves from talking about the series… Read More »

Random Encounter 321 – Lunar Eternal Blue Prince

Posted by Jonathan Logan on April 21, 2025

On this episode of Random Encounter, we’re looking at a new classic puzzle-adventure game and a packaged duo of some of the best RPGs ever released on the PSX! First, Gio and Tin are here to give us a walk-through tour of Blue Prince, the hit rogue-lite puzzle adventurer. This game came out of nowhe… Read More »

Retro Encounter 457 – BioWare Draft

Posted by Wes Iliff on April 10, 2025

It doesn’t matter how many draft picks get stolen. We will hold the line! Oh yes, it’s time for another draft episode! This time around, we’re drafting from some of BioWare’s most celebrated games…alongside one or two that are a bit less celebrated. Who will steal Garrus before anyone else? How many… Read More »

Random Encounter 320 – Let’s Switch (2) It Up

Posted by Jonathan Logan on April 7, 2025

On this episode of Random Encounter, we chat about everything that happened last week and, BOY, did a lot happen last week! First up, Dom is here to talk about the recent sci-fi Souls-like AI LIMIT. Does it live up to its inspirations, or does it fall just as flat as AI does in the real world? Then,… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 158 – Winter 2025: Pirates, Urban Myths, Magnolias, and More

Posted by Mike Salbato on March 31, 2025

Continuing our new run of quarterly new music updates is our first episode for 2025, and it’s a truly notable start. We have a range of new music today, from well composed soundtracks that play homage to earlier console generations to new projects from popular Minecraft composer C418. We also contin… Read More »

Retro Encounter 456 – The RPGs That Made Us

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on March 27, 2025

I wanna be an RPG fan when I grow up. This week on Retro Encounter we gather to discuss the RPGs that defined our taste. Not necessarily our favorites, but games that helped us understand what we value in an RPG or in games in general. Does Final Fantasy show up? Who likes the most obscure Metroidva… Read More »

Random Encounter 319 – I’d Kill for a Good Cup of Tea!

Posted by Jonathan Logan on March 24, 2025

On this episode of Random Encounter, it’s time to sink into the shadows and brew some tea, because we’re talking about Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Wanderstop! Assassin’s Creed Shadows is finally here! This long-awaited game has been delayed multiple times over the last year, but was that extra time… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 157 – Visual Novel Soundscapes

Posted by Patrick Gann on March 18, 2025

It’s visual novel day at Rhythm Encounter! Following one of the quickest sign-up processes ever for our show, four visual novel fans have come together to share thoughts on the music of eight visual novels, but they discuss so many more in the process. We all quickly learned that this topic will hav… Read More »

Retro Encounter 455 – Tales of Graces f Part II

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on March 13, 2025

I’ve traveled back in time from next week. Please listen to this episode. This week on Retro Encounter, the panel gets back together to discuss the second half of Tales of Graces f. Our discussion ranges from the increasingly excellent combat, the less than excellent dungeon design, and the good, th… Read More »

Random Encounter 318 – Monster Hunting the Most Elusive Game: A New Suikoden

Posted by Jonathan Logan on March 10, 2025

On this episode of Random Encounter, it’s time to chat about a remaster and a new game in two long-running series! First up, Zach’s prayers have been answered: Suikoden I&II HD Remaster: Gate Rune & Dunan Unification Wars is finally out! This remaster of the first two Suikoden games has been… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 156 – (Xenoblade) X Gon’ Give It To Ya

Posted by Mike Salbato on March 6, 2025

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is almost here, so what better time to dive into this musically fascinating “side” tale from 2015? Many fans were surprised that the first Xenoblade Chronicles was not followed by a “2” (though that happened later), but by Xenoblade Chronicles X. The name a… Read More »

Retro Encounter 454 – Tales of Graces f Part I

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on February 27, 2025

We have to look for the podcast, Cheria. It’s the only way. On this week’s Retro Encounter we get together to talk about the first half of Tales of Graces f, a game renowned for its combat system, and maybe less so for its storytelling. Four players of varying knowledge (and skill) talk about whethe… Read More »

Random Encounter 317 – Pirate Watcher in Eora

Posted by Jonathan Logan on February 24, 2025

On this episode of Random Encounter, we’re talking about two of the most highly anticipated games of 2025! We’ve been eagerly awaiting Obsidian’s answer to Skyrim for years, and Avowed is finally here. A spin-off of the beloved CRPG Pillars of Eternity series, Avowed replaces the isometric view and… Read More »

Random Encounter 316 – Canadian Encounter

Posted by Jonathan Logan on February 19, 2025

On this episode of Random Encounter, we’re celebrating all things Canadian! For absolutely no reason (certainly not related to any current events in February 2024), Jono has gathered a few of his fellow Canucks at RPGFan to chat about some of their favourite Canadian games. The thing about games fro… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 155 – Music of the Year 2024: Part II

Posted by Mike Salbato on February 17, 2025

It’s time for more of 2024’s best RPG music! In the last episode, we featured nine excellent songs from last year, and today we return with Part II, bringing nine more tracks! Look for some Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, Flowstone Saga, a double dose of Stellar Blade, and more! Scarlet Moon’s Jays… Read More »

Retro Encounter 453 – Hironobu Sakaguchi Encounter

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on February 13, 2025

This is his story. This week on Retro Encounter, we take a deep dive into the themes, obsessions, and gameplay quirks of the “father” of Final Fantasy: Hironobu Sakaguchi. How much did he really matter to the series? Does his work after leaving Final Fantasy hold up? Who can’t stop talking about the… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 154 – Music of the Year 2024: Part I

Posted by Mike Salbato on February 10, 2025

It’s time for Music of the Year! 2024 was absolutely stacked with game releases. Some even felt it was one of the all-time best years in gaming. And the side effect of a year filled with excellent games means a year of excellent soundtracks. For this annual special, we let each panelist bring on thr… Read More »

Random Encounter 315 – Sleepless in Ephinea

Posted by Jonathan Logan on February 3, 2025

On this episode of Random Encounter, it’s a double dose of sci-fi and fantasy! First, Aleks joins us to talk about Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, a sci-fi RPG with a strong tabletop influence. As a sequel to 2022’s Citizen Sleeper, Starward Vector expands its universe with multiple settings and… Read More »

Retro Encounter 452 – Final Fantasy IX Part II

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on January 30, 2025

Bring my beloved Retro Encounter to me. This week we dive into the second half of Final Fantasy IX, chatting about the emotional story beats, rooster men, and terrible card games that some of us somehow enjoy. Does it still hold up all these years later? Listen in to find out! Featuring: Zach Wilker… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 153 – Build Your Own RPG Soundtrack: Hard Mode

Posted by Mike Salbato on January 27, 2025

Almost exactly a year ago, four panelists came together to build a soundtrack to an imaginary RPG out of 8 fragments of other RPGs. Today, we’re doing it again, except our “Hard Mode” rules dictate that we must choose songs from our source games with different use cases. So our Town Theme could be a… Read More »

Random Encounter 314 – The Switch 2 is Real (and Other Stories)

Posted by Jonathan Logan on January 20, 2025

On this episode of Random Encounter, Jono is back to chat with the panel about two recent big January releases! First up, Wes has managed to fight through hundreds upon hundreds of foes to deliver their verdict on Dynasty Warriors: Origins! This latest entry in the long-running series dramatically c… Read More »

Retro Encounter 451 – Final Fantasy IX Part I

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on January 16, 2025

Doesn’t it feel nice to listen to Retro Encounter under the stars? This week, the new host and a few huge fans dive into the first half of Final Fantasy IX. How does this classic hold up? Do we like the combat? Which monster doesn’t like Vivi very much? Listen in to find out! Featuring: Zach Wilkers… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 152 – New Year, New Music

Posted by Mike Salbato on January 13, 2025

Between our recent milestone of 150 episodes and the start of a new year, we will have some fun changes coming to Rhythm Encounter, starting with this episode. New games and music release all the time that don’t always fit with our episode themes. Starting today, we will release a “new music” episod… Read More »

Random Encounter 313 – Jono-Less Encounter

Posted by Jonathan Logan on January 6, 2025

On this first episode of Random Encounter for 2025, Jono is missing, and it’s up to the panel to find him! Just kidding; we aren’t a semi-educational game from the 1990s. Jono has bronchitis this week, so it’s up to the brand-new full-time host of Retro Encounter, Zach Wilkerson, to fill in for him!… Read More »

Retro Encounter 450 – Thank You, Good Night, and Good Luck

Posted by Michael Sollosi on January 2, 2025

“Saying goodbye doesn’t mean anything. It’s the time we spent together that matters, not how we left it.” In a reminiscence-heavy episode of Retro Encounter, four panelists discuss the podcast’s origin story, recording process, and favorite episodes and memories of nearly ten years of podcasting. Lo… Read More »

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