Suikoden III evokes the halcyon days of the PlayStation 2, when RPGs were many, UI conveniences were few, and Konami actually made video games. Suikoden III’s politically-charged story and army of named characters are consistent with its predecessors, but it’s split narrative and pants-optional wate… Read More »
On this episode of Random Encounter, the panel comes together to talk about Square Enix’s latest offering, Outriders, that Abe’s reviewing for the site. Meanwhile, Caitlin has enthusiastically jumped into the unique, artful world of Fantasian on Apple Arcade. Some random side-banter a… Read More »
What RPG uses dice-roll physics, requires rare drops from Skeleton Mages, and is exclusive to the 3DS Shop? Crimson Shroud and absolutely nothing else! Yasumi Matsuno (Tactics Ogre, Final Fantasy XII) teamed up with Level-5 (Dark Cloud, Dragon Quest VIII) to produce one of the most unique RPGs for t… Read More »
Final Fantasy XIV’s 2017 expansion had players visit the highlands of Gyr Abania and the steppes of Othard, but not as a tourist. Stormblood is a game about casting the light of liberation unto an oppressed people, and helping them tear down an imperialist regime. Stormblood is quite personal and po… Read More »
In this episode, the panel is back from a short break to answer more questions from the Phoenix Edge community! The discussion begins with what separates a good side quest from the all-too-common fetch quest or monster slaying quest. The conversation then transitions to what qualifies a game as an R… Read More »
On this episode of Random Encounter, we’ve got a panel talkin’ about nothing new but some things new to us. Most of us are still journeying through Bravely Default II! Nicholas got through Yakuza 5 and has his sights set on Yakuza 6, planning to make good on his 100% achievement… Read More »
One of the most common reader or listener comments that RPGFan social media receives is “not an RPG,” and we take some umbrage at that. RPGFan prides itself on covering a diverse array of games, which includes some games that might be considered hybrid RPGs or RPG-adjacent. Today, Retro Encounter re… Read More »
Two Retro Encounter panelists played through four Muramasa: The Demon Blade endings and still can’t stop gushing over the 2D action RPG’s gorgeous backgrounds. But those backdrops aren’t the only shiny things in Vanillaware’s theatrical tour de force – there’s also the lusciously animated food, the… Read More »
On this episode of Random Encounter, the panel talks about what they’ve been playing lately and then dives into some RPGs with underlined titles (mostly.) The Project Triangle Strategy demo is pretty great, but needs some work. Bravely Default II is out now and it’s a big one we’… Read More »
Before 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim (but after Odin Sphere) the art-focused JRPG developer Vanillaware made Muramasa: The Demon Blade, an action RPG steeped in Japanese folklore and following a long tradition of ninja action arcade games. But how compelling are the characters, animations, and other eleme… Read More »
It was early in 1996 when a couple of modest, lightly-janky Gameboy games were released in Japan, beginning a phenomenon that is persisting (and thriving) to this day. Those games were Pokémon Red and Green, the very first generation of Satoshi Tajiri and Game Freak’s monster-catching series! A quar… Read More »
This week, the panel dedicates a full episode to discuss the latest Final Fantasy VII announcements! This includes an overview of the new features and enhancements coming to FFVII Remake Intergrade on PS5; followed up by news and speculation of the new Yuffie DLC episode. The conversation concludes… Read More »
In 2015, Final Fantasy XIV players trekked to the north and looked to the sky in Heavensward, the fan-favorite expansion game that raised character levels to 60 and introduced Eorzeans to Ishgard. Three FFXIV players of varying experience levels discuss their love of Heavensward and Ishgard, from th… Read More »
On this episode of Random Encounter, we bring on a couple of RPGFan staff to discuss ethnic diversity and representation in games, and what that’s meant to them over the years. It’s a tough topic to discuss, cause it’s big. In the spirit of this discussion, alongside some research, Greg is finally g… Read More »
This week, the panel gives their in-depth thoughts on Square Enix’s recent Project Triangle Strategy Demo release. This includes conversation discussing the story, the voice acting, the music, the battle system, and that gorgeous HD-2D retro aesthetic! Afterward, the panel breaks down the other RPG… Read More »
Retro Encounter’s panel finished Radiant Historia earlier this month, and dissects the endgame of Stocke and his companions. The time traveling, turn-stealing, wheelin’ and dealin’ son of a king has some major decisions to make. Is Radiant Historia stylin’ and profilin’ to Retro Encounter’s preferen… Read More »
On this episode of Random Encounter, a whole new set of voices join our hosts to discuss the rest of the Best of the Year 2020 feature! Some new staff and special guests get into the various categories and the games that set themselves apart, as well as their individual recommendations that stole th… Read More »
This week, the panel weighs-in on the gorgeous Mass Effect: Legendary Edition trailer, as well as the explosion of news surrounding the upcoming release. Afterward, Eric does a deep-dive—to the moon and back—on Final Fantasy XIV’s newest expansion announcement, Endwalker. The panel also briefly give… Read More »
Radiant Historia found many RPG fans in the last days of the Nintendo DS, and today Retro Encounter celebrates it on the 10th anniversary of its North American release. Parallel timelines, shoving enemies around a grid, Yoko Shimomura tunes, and suspicious botanical practices all take center stage i… Read More »
This week, the panel gushes about their preference for stylized RPG graphics, but concedes what a more realistic aesthetic can offer. Afterward, a podcast listener questions if free-to-play games such as Genshin Impact and Pokémon GO waste player’s time with time-sink mechanics. Finally, a guilty p… Read More »
On this episode of Random Encounter, we look back at the best of 2020 in conjunction with the written feature of the same theme! The panel largely discusses the big contenders: Final Fantasy VII Remake, Hades and 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. But we suitably go off on our own loves from the past year as… Read More »
In advance of the 2021 release of Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, Retro Encounter is recording four Final Fantasy XIV episodes in 2021! Each will feature a different panel and focus on the panelists’ personal experiences with Final Fantasy XIV, then discuss the characters, stories, and contents on one… Read More »
The worldwide release of Ryu Ga Gotoku 7 made a big splash in 2020, as the first Yakuza game with turn-based combat, the first Yakuza game not to star Kazuma Kiryu, and the first Yakuza game in 15 years with English-language voice acting. At least four RPGFan… Read More »
This week, the panel reviews the next 6 months of 2021, and discusses 9 RPGs that are expected to release within that window! This includes conversation on Bravely Default II, NieR Replicant, Tales of Arise, Monster Hunter Rise, Persona 5 Strikers, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, Ys IX, Cris Tales,… Read More »
This week, the panel catches-up on all the latest FFVII Remake news and speculation. This includes discussion over the recent Square Enix trademark of the phrases, “Ever Crisis” & “The First Soldier.” Afterwards, there is some interesting Twitter activity from Square, that may indicate details o… Read More »
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