This week on Retro Encounter, we dive into the second half of Persona 5, including all the post-game Royal content. Did this game really need to be longer? What do we think of the new content? Just how long can one game be? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Audra Bowling, Michael Sollosi; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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This week on Retro Encounter, we dive into the first half of Persona 5. We discuss the dazzling style, combat, and the sometimes less than dazzling structure. Who do we want to romance? Does the game still hold up? Does Morgana ever let us do anything but sleep? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Audra Bowling, Michael Sollosi; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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This week on Retro Encounter, we dive into the 2022 Obsidian masterpiece Pentiment, a game about murder, religion and the stories we tell about those things. Is there a right answer? Who do we accuse? Why are Socrates and God on the same screen? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Hilary Andreff, Aleks Franiczek, Ben Love, Matt Wardell; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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This week on Retro Encounter, we chat about bosses. But not just any bosses--no, we talk about final bosses. They're supposed to be a final challenge, but are they always? Do we even want a challenge at the end? How many bosses do we love that lose to the power of friendship? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Alana Hagues, Matt Wardell; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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This week on Retro Encounter we dive into the second half of Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade. How much of the story do we actually get to experience? How much do we enjoy the late game maps? What are our favorite support conversations? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Audra Bowling, Ben Love, Lucas Greene; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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This week on Retro Encounter we're discussing the first half of the first game localized to the West of that most famous SRPG series: Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade. Does the host jive with the squares and the RNG? Do we even discuss the story? Who is the early game MVP? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Audra Bowling, Ben Love, Lucas Greene; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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On this week's episode of Retro Encounter, we discuss something that has only been awarded once at RPGFan: a perfect score. So, each panelist brings on one game they think deserves a perfect score and defend it against the panel. But there can be only one! Who will be our winner? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Matt Wardell, Aleks Franiczek, Ben Love; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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On this week's episode of Retro Encounter, we chat about the twisty, turny second half of 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. Do all the plot points land? Who was our favorite character? Is there actually a reason they're naked in the Sentinels? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Aleks Franiczek, Ben Love; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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On this week’s episode of Retro Encounter, we're jumping through time and getting inside our mechs in the first half of Vanillaware's 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. We talk about our first impressions of the game, some frustrating encounters with crepes and cats, and the basic but addictive nature of Destruction Mode.

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Aleks Franiczek, Ben Love; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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On this week's episode of Retro Encounter, we cover the most interesting RPGs of the year, but this time, we flash it back to 1995. We discuss design decisions, varying localization quality, and those insane encounter rates. Does someone bring on a really bad RPG just for the fun of it? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Lucas Greene, Ben Love, Mike Salbato; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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This week on Retro Encounter, we undertake a difficult endeavor yet again: making a tier list of one of the most popular RPG franchises. This time, it's Dragon Quest! Do things get heated? Who really loves a 100 hour game? Does anything finish in D tier? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Aleks Franiczek, Michael Sollosi; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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1. [Intelligence] “Obsidian”
2. [Lie] “Not Obsidian”

This week on Retro Encounter, we're discussing the legendary history and output of Obsidian Entertainment. Four Obsidian-heads form a party and break down the developer’s different eras, from their beginnings as part of Black Isle Studios to their current output as part of Microsoft, and everything in between. Are there any Alpha Protocol apologists on the panel? Which of us is morally bankrupt enough to enjoy Tyranny? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Aleks Franiczek, Wes Iliff, Jono Logan, Matt Wardell; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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On this week's episode of Retro Encounter, we revisit one of the host's favorites: Final Fantasy Tactics. Three veterans and one newcomer discuss the job system, combat, death sounds, and that excellent story. How does the new version stack up to previous versions? Is the game still as breakable all these years later? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Aleks Franiczek, Michael Sollosi, Matt Wardell; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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On this week's episode of Retro Encounter, we finish up the second half of Star Ocean: The Second Story. We become friends with an ancient psychic beast, gather up the last remaining party members, wast time in the aptly named Fun City, and finally take the fight to the Ten Wise Men threatening the universe. And saw so, so many endings.

Featuring: Ben Love, Audra Bowling, Matt Wardell, Rob White, Steph Sybydlo; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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On this week's episode of Retro Encounter, we got marooned on an underdeveloped planet called Expel and discussed Tri-Ace's western debut title Star Ocean: The Second Story. We compared the finer points of the PSX original with Second Evolution and Second Story R, which characters make the best party members, and how best to break the game using the special skill system!

Featuring: Ben Love, Audra Bowling, Matt Wardell, Rob White, Steph Sybydlo; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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On this week's episode of Retro Encounter, we dive into the wild and wacky world of Yoko Taro, best known for his work on the NieR and Drakengard franchises. We discuss game design, themes, and just how many Taro games one person can play in a month without going insane. Can we make sense of Taro's madness? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Aleks Franiczek, Ben Love, Pat Gann; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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On this week's episode of Retro Encounter, we finally finish Drakengard. We cry, we wail. Oh wait, that's the characters. Just how messed up are the additional endings? Can anyone ever truly be happy? Do rhythm games belong in an RPG? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Aleks Franiczek, Ben Love, Steph Sybydlo; Edited by Paul Dennis

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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In this week's episode of Retro Encounter, we are in pain. Wait, I mean we're playing Yoko Taro's first directorial effort: Drakengard. We discuss the first ending, the (purposely?) frustrating gameplay, all while trying to avoid going insane. Can a game that's not fun be good? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Aleks Franiczek, Ben Love, Steph Sybybldo; Edited by Paul Dennis

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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In this week's episode of Retro Encounter, the host re-opens the RPG confessional, a place where we admit to series that we've never played before, much to our shame. Don't worry, though, we're just here to encourage our friends to play good stuff! Who has never touched the Xenoblade Chronicles series? What about the most famous RPG franchise in the world? Sure everyone has played Dragon Quest, right? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Lucy Gray, Paul Skevington, Matt Wardell; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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This week on Retro Encounter, the panel is back to dig into the story-heavy second half of Breath of Fire II. Who can't stand the solo sections? Just how long can a final dungeon be? Is this the first time we killed God? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Mike Salbato, Matt Wardell; Edited by Paul Dennis

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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On this week's episode, two old veterans and one newcomer dive into the 1995 SNES RPG Breath of Fire II. A game known for its brutal grind and maybe even more brutal localization, some of the panelists still have a soft spot for it all these years later. Is the localization really that bad? How does the gameplay hold up? Do we ever get new dungeon music? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Mike Salbato, Matt Wardell; Edited by Paul Dennis

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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In today's episode, the panel gets back together to discuss the second half of Fallout: New Vegas. Our conversation covers The Strip, the endgame, the DLC, and of course, Richie Marcus. Does The Strip live up to its name? Which ending did we pick? Who among us takes up cannibalism? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Audra Bowling, Aleks Franiczek, Jono Logan, Matt Wardell; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Whether you're a fan of the original Deus Ex, the two more recent games Human Revolution or Mankind Divided, or maybe even Invisible War, we have you covered in this retrospective. Oh, and don't forget to check out the brand-new retro reviews of each game on RPGFan.com!

Featuring: Jono Logan, Patrick Gann, Pete Leavitt, Matt Wardell, and Tom Naylor; Edited by Jono Logan

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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On this week's episode of Retro Encounter, we're chatting about the opening hours of the 2010 Obsidian classic Fallout: New Vegas. Can the host finally get his head around a WRPG? Do any of us actually do the main quest? Is Fisto the greatest character in an RPG? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Audra Bowling, Aleks Franiczek, Jono Logan, Matt Wardell; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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This week on Retro Encounter, we do the impossible: try to create a top 10 list for 90s RPGs. Does the best game finish at the top? Do we have anything except JRPGs on our list? Did we leave out your favorites? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Aleks Franiczek, Alana Hagues, Jimmy Turner; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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On this week's episode of Retro Encounter, four of our panelists take a deep dive into Suikoden II. Who defends Jowy? Is Shu still be the best? How much Neclord hate can the host take? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Paul Dennis, Aleks Franiczek, Rob White; Edited by Paul Dennis

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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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 as a whole? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Kyle Cantelon, Paul Dennis, Aleks Franiczek, Rob White; Edited by Paul Dennis

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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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 choices will determined entirely by romance compatability? Will anyone remember Anthem exists, and does it have any memorable characters? Listen on for the answers to these questions, and more! This is guaranteed to be your favorite podcast on the Citadel!

Featuring: Wes Iliff, Aleks Franiczek, Michael Sollosi, Matt Wardell; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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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 Metroidvanias? Who surprises the host with their love for racing games? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Lucas Greene, Ben Love, Paul Skevington; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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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, the bad and the ugly of the Future Arc. Which game would we like to see get the remaster treatment next? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Wes Iliff, Paul Skevington, Michael Sollosi; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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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 whether Tales of Graces f lives up to its reputation, the delightful characters, the sometimes frustrating dungeon design, and much more. Listen in!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Wes Iliff, Paul Skevington, Michael Sollosi; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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This week on Retro Encounter, we take a deep dive into the themes, obsessions, and gameplay quirks of one 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 their disdain for Lost Odyssey? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Aleks Franiczek, Matt Wardell; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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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 Wilkerson, Mario Garcia, Wes Iliff, Rob White; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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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 Wilkerson, Mario Garcia, Wes Iliff, Rob White; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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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. Longtime showrunner Michael Sollosi officially steps down to hand off the podcast's reins to a new host, but also an old friend. 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Alana Hagues, Peter Triezenberg, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Retro Encounter 450 Game Journal Poll! 

2024 is (finally) behind us, and there is plenty to talk about. In one of the strongest years for RPGs in recent memory, five Retro Encounter panelists bring ten games to show and tell in discussing a few of their favorite RPGs of the calendar year. Fittingly, the conclusion to the Year of the Dragon has Dragon Quest, Dragon Age, and Like a Dragon feature prominently. 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Wes Iliff, Joshua Lindquist, Jonathan Logan, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Dragon Quest III's open-ended exploration and high-stakes story comes to a conclusion for our four intrepid panelists, who struggled through volcanoes, ghosts, and unchecked capitalism to obtain the six orbs and take on Dragon Quest III's final run of antagonists. Surprise reunions, incredible series-wide callbacks, and version comparisons all enter the discussion in the latest episode of Retro Encounter! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Aleks Franiczek, Wes Illiff, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Dragon Quest III on RPGFan
Dragon Quest III HD-2D on RPGFan

A podcast episode appears! Dragon Quest III was a blockbuster success in Japan in 1988, and its nonlinear progression, fun job system, and spirit of adventure influenced every Dragon Quest game to come. DQ3 also has a shiny new 2024 HD-2D remaster, and today on Retro Encounter different panelists play the NES 1988 and 2024 versions to compare, contrast, and celebrate this landmark Japanese RPG. 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Aleks Franiczek, Wes Illiff, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Dragon Quest III on RPGFan
Dragon Quest III HD-2D on RPGFan

Metaphor: ReFantazio is one of 2024's most acclaimed RPGs, about a royal succession that spirals out of control into a struggle for the soul of the world's people. Clashes of ideologies, dramatic character turns, and robust combat and job systems are highlights of this modern classic. So who's our favorite character? What name does the host get wrong for nearly two hours? Listen to us trying to decipher the metaphors of Metaphor! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Alana Hagues, Tin Manuel, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Metaphor: ReFantazio on RPGFan

Retro Encounter concludes its 2024 Zelda Month with a second episode on A Link to the Past for the SNES, discussing the game's excellent second half of Dark World exploration and dungeoneering. So which panelist loves Misery Mire and which one hates the moth at the end of Skull Woods? What are our favorite Link to the Past items and glitches? Listen for a great discussion! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Joshua Lindquist, Jonathan Logan; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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A Link to the Past on RPGFan

A Link to the Past is an unassailable classic of a Super Nintendo game, as a crystallization of multiple gameplay concepts that established the formula for dozens of Zelda games going forward, but also as an entertaining action RPG that has stood the test of time. Three Zelda veterans comprise the Retro Encounter panel today, and take a delightful nostalgia trip with a discerning eye in today's Retro Encounter! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Joshua Lindquist, Jonathan Logan; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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A Link to the Past on RPGFan

The Legend of Zelda series has long starred a hero named Link seeking a princess named Zelda, but in 2024 the roles reversed for the first time on a Nintendo system. Echoes of Wisdom's (sort of) new protagonist also sports an item-duplicating monster-summoning Tri-Rod and explores a beautifully rendered Hyrule. Naturally, three Zelda enthusiast Retro Encounter panelists were excited to play Echoes of Wisdom last month, and convened today to discuss it front to back, spoilers included. 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Tin Manuel, Mike Salbato; Edited by Paul Dennis

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom on RPGFan

Retro Encounter begins a month of Zelda celebration for a Nintendo November to remember! Five panelists draft parties of their favorite Zelda characters, items, abilities, and locations in a snake draft format, all while trying to snag their favorites before others can snipe them off the board. So what's the first overall pick? Who dared draw from the Philips CDi well? Listen to the episode to find out! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Hilary Andreff, Aleks Franiczek, Lucas Greene, Noah Leiter; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Here at RPGFan, we don't cover dedicated horror games often (other than the odd Until Dawn or The Quarry), but we still love the excitement of being scared! To celebrate All Hallows' Eve this year, a Retro Encounter panel highlights a few of the scariest moments from RPGs. From Dark Souls monstrosities to Suikoden psychopaths to Zelda zombies, this podcast has it all. Take a chance and roll the dice on Retro Encounter! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Audra Bowling, Lucy Gray, Dom Kim; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Retro Encounter's host demonstrates contrition in today's episode, admitting on-air that there's at least one good Kingdom Hearts game out there. The panelists also discuss their favorite boss fights, Disney worlds, and character struggles of Kingdom Hearts, which might differ if you're playing on Normal, Proud, or Critical. Today our Dearly Beloved panel discovers their personal Sanctuary in Retro Encounter. 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Aleks Franiczek, Peter Triezenberg, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Paul Dennis

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Kingdom Hearts II on RPGFan

Kingdom Hearts II, one of the most celebrated sequels in the Square Enix catalog, finally gets an episode (the first of two!) on Retro Encounter. Within, we discuss the game's dynamic combat, the earnestly made Disney worlds, and plenty about Kingdom Hearts II's mysterious black robed mostly-antagonists. 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Aleks Franiczek, Peter Triezenberg, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Paul Dennis

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Kingdom Hearts II on RPGFan

When Ogre Battle retreats to the shadows, who keeps the beacons lit? When Princess Crown fails to draw an audience, who picks up the bag and keeps marching? When Japan shows a lack of interest in Starcraft, who ties the series to a tower defense game and a visual novel and waves that enticingly over the crowds? Of course, we all know when to cry out to Vanllaware, and every couple of years, we know they'll send us an answer. But where did they come from? How do they keep surviving on niche titles? And most importantly, how does our intrepid panel feel about their entire ouvre? Find the answer to these questions and more with a Very Special Episode of Retro Encounter!

Featuring: Wes Iliff, Gio Castillo, Ben Love, Nick Mangiaracina; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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In honor of the recent release of Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, we decided to get a few of our biggest XIV fans together to discuss the previous expansion, Endwalker. As the end of the Hydaelyn/Zodiark arc that dominated the first decade or so of Final Fantasy XIV, there is certainly a lot to talk about, with topics ranging from our favorite hub city to the best dungeons in the expansion. Do we still love Estinien? Can anyone match Venat? Which panelist spent the last five hours of the expansion in tears? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Audra Bowling and Mike Salbato; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker on RPGFan

Day of the Tentacle was a tentpole release in LucasArts's excellent run of classic adventure games from the late 1980s through the late 1990s, and its very specific dialog, puzzle logic, and sense of humor made it a cult classic. But how do two Day of the Tentacle longtime fans and one relative newcomer feel about this struggle of teenager versus tentacle in 2024? Listen to find out, in our final episode of Retro Encounter's September of Adventure! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Hilary Andreff, Jonathan Logan; Edited by Jonathan Logan

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Day of the Tentacle on RPGFan

The Case of the Golden Idol made a splash in 2022, with its compelling murder mysteries, political intrigue, and puzzle adventure gameplay. It also has a decidedly retro look to it, so naturally a few of us wanted to play it. Today, three Retro Encounter panelists break down the mechanics, story, and future of Case of the Golden Idol, including its upcoming sequel. 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Aleks Franiczek, Jonathan Logan; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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The Case of the Golden Idol on RPGFan

Firewatch is the only release of indie game studio Campo Santo, but made quite an impact when it came out in 2016. Four Retro Encounter panelists played Firewatch recently, and today discuss everything from Firewatch's quotidian gameplay, clever use of anticlimax, and fabulous dialog both in writing and performance. So did we find Firewatch enlightening, disappointing, or just a pleasant walk in the woods? Listen to find out! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Aleks Franiczek, Jonathan Logan, Rob White; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Firewatch on RPGFan

 FromSoftware has produced an excellent run of fantasy RPGs since 2009's Demon's Souls, to which point its extended family of action RPGs comprises a genre all its own. And of course, if you can organize RPGs into a series, then Retro Encounter will attempt to draft them in time for American football season. So which player seizes Anor Londo in the first round? How many big two-handed swords are drafted? What player dons a giant mech suit? Listen to find out! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Aleks Franiczek, Rob White, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Retro Encounter concludes its eight-month-long playthrough of the Dragon Age trilogy, with a discussion of what's wrong with the Grey Wardens, what's worse in the Winter Palace, and much more. Dragon Age: Inquisition was a phenomenon in 2014, and the panel is excited to get to its long-awaited sequel in 2024. It's bears, barbarians, Titans, and Dread Wolves in the latest episode of Retro Encounter! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Audra Bowling, Paul Dennis, Aleks Franiczek, Wes Iliff; Edited by Paul Dennis

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Dragon Age: Inquisition on RPGFan

Retro Encounter played the first two Dragon Age games in the last nine months, so naturally there would come the time to finish the fight. Dragon Age: Inquisition escalates and expands the conflicts and concepts of the first two Dragon Age games, from the Mage-Templar war to the plight of Dalish Elves, in a 2014 Game of the Year contender. So how does today's Retro Encounter panel find this decade-old open-world? Listen to find out! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Audra Bowling, Paul Dennis, Aleks Franiczek, Wes Iliff; Edited by Paul Dennis

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Dragon Age: Inquisition on RPGFan

Downloadable content used to be a video game luxury, but in 2024 it's an inevitability. But while day-one patches, frivolous additions, and pay-to-win models are frustrating or bad, sometimes an RPG's extra content is worth your time and hard drive space. In today's episode of Retro Encounter, four panelists detail a few of their favorite DLCs, including postgame epilogues, optional challenging bosses, and bonus characters.  

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Audra Bowling, Aleks Franiczek, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Very few podcast, article, or video topics on the internet get folks more enthusiastic or more up in arms than tiers, lists, or a combination thereof. On today's emotional episode of Retro Encounter, four panelists play a fantasy-draft style game to place the main-series Final Fantasy games (plus FF Tactics) into five tiers. What quintet of RPGs land in the coveted S tier? Which panelists skipped the PS3 and PS4 entries in the series? Listen to find out! Prepare to feel feelings! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Kyle Cantelon, Aleks Franiczek, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Over six years ago, we got together to chat about the instant indie class, Undertale. But, Undertale's staying power is so strong that we decided to get together and chat about it again, this time with an all new panel. Is Papyrus still delightful every time he comes on screen? Did any of us have the heart to do a Genocide run? Hot dog? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Alana Hagues, Aleks Franiczek; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Undertale on RPGFan

Five Retro Encounter panelists recently finished the first Dark Souls, and it's every bit as impressive, intense, and moving today as it was in 2011. Today the panel talks about the game's undercooked second-half environments, the fully-realized DLC episode, and the emotional turmoil upon discovering why certain bosses were present in their current forms. Dark Souls 1 isn't punishing or unfair, just be patient! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Gio Castillo, Aleks Franiczek, Dom Kim, Ben Love; Edited by Paul Dennis

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Dark Souls on RPGFan

The Dark Souls of RPGFan podcasts has finally arrived! Dark Souls is one of the most celebrated RPGs of the 2010s, helping to establish an entire new genre of RPG. Today, one Dark Souls newcomer and four Souls-like veterans discuss this challenging, carefully-crafted RPG, from its interconnected setting to the intense boss fights of Dark Souls's first half. 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Gio Castillo, Aleks Franiczek, Dom Kim, Ben Love; Edited by Paul Dennis

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Dark Souls on RPGFan

Since time immemorial (May of 2019), Retro Encounter has hosted quiz shows to determine which Retro Encounter panelist knows the most about the subject we celebrate every day on our beloved website. Today, five former RPGFan quiz show winners duke it out in a trivia free-for-all to determine who is the true Champion of Champions. We've started, so we'll finish.  

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Patrick Gann, Alana Hagues, Wes Iliff, Tyler Trosper, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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The PlayStation 4 was a massively successful console, with incredible sales, an official lifespan of seven years, and game releases continuing to the present day. And moreso than its predecessor, the PS4 had a rich selection of RPGs. Today, four Retro Encounter panelists each composed individual top ten lists of PS4 RPGs, and then collated those individual lists into a final top eleven (there was a tie). In this episode, our panel goes over their thoughts and feelings on these eleven titles, plus a few extras and honorable mentions. So what fan favorites make the list, or fail to make the list? Listen and find out! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Aleks Franiczek, Kyle Cantelon, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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This week we get the panelists back together to chat about the second half of Grandia II. Listen in while we talk about late game changes in tone, how well the pacing holds up, and if Ryudo is still endlessly hilarious.

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Ben Love, Claton Stevenson; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Grandia II on RPGFan

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes was one of the most hotly anticipated RPG releases of 2024, as a successor to the fan-favorite Suikoden series in all but name, written and designed by Suikoden's late creator Yoshitaka Murayama. So did Eiyuden live up to expectations? Are we excited for a potential Eiyuden sequel? Listen to find out! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Audra Bowling, Gio Castillo, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes on RPGFan

Grandia II felt like an RPG ahead of its time in 2000, with sophisticated active-time battles, smart underlying systems, and clever writing anchored by Ryudo, Grandia II's sarcastic protagonist. Today's episode of Retro Encounter discusses the characters, mechanics, and first-half story of Grandia II, especially how its modern touches and angst contrast against the earnest optimism of the first Grandia. 

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Ben Love, Claton Stevenson; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Grandia II on RPGFan

Content Warning: this podcast episode addresses many sensitive topics, including mental health issues and self-harm. 

Is Omori an offbeat retro-styled RPG about a journey through a young person's psyche? A story about a group of friends reconnecting after drifting apart following tragic circumstances? Or a harrowing depiction of trauma surrounding the death of a child? Well, Omori is all three of these things, and Retro Encounter is here to break it all down for you. Join us as we discuss this strange journey of an RPG full of humor and heart. 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Hilary Andreff, Audra Bowling, Jimmy Turner; Edited by Paul Dennis

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Omori on RPGFan

No one of sound mind plays an RPG out of spite. Players want to enjoy the games they play, sometimes with a fair amount of hype and anticipation beforehand. Today, we walk in between joy and despair, and discuss ten games that the panel wanted to love but struggled to connect with. A few of these are broadly popular, while others are from specific series dear to one panelist's heart. So which panelists dislike NieR and Xenogears? Who played an awful five-dollar DS RPG? Listen to find out what RPGs we found hard to love! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Audra Bowling, Kyle Cantelon, Tin Manuel; Edited by Paul Dennis

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Content Warning: this podcast episode addresses many sensitive topics, including mental health issues and self-harm. 

Omori is an indie game that takes on dark themes such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and loss in a thoughtful, poignant manner. But it’s also chock-full of subversive humor and game mechanics that manipulate emotional states to create interesting puzzles both in navigation and combat. Four Retro Encounter panelists discuss the early hours of Omori, from its unique tone and mechanics to speculation on its endgame (to be addressed in part II!). Give it a listen! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Hilary Andreff, Audra Bowling, Jimmy Turner; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Omori on RPGFan

Three RPGFan panelists are joined by RPG enthusiast YouTuber David Vinc to discuss the favorites and frustrations about the world of RPGs. Does our guest prefer the predictable comfort of Dragon Quest or the unstable beauty of Final Fantasy? Which panelist has played Lufia II dozens of times? How about games where you recruit dozens of characters? It’s an episode all about the RPGs we obsess over! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Kyle Cantelon, Lucas Greene, David Vinc; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Back in February, Persona 3 Reload released, much to the delight of many on staff, So, this week, two veterans of Persona 3 and one newbie get together to chat about Persona 3 Reload. How does this one compare to the rest of the series? What’s our favorite party composition? Is Koromaru still the bestest boy? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Aleks Franiczek, Alana Hagues; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Persona 3 Reload at RPGFan

Arc the Lad II is an improvement over the first in nearly every way, as a more dramatic, dynamic, and lengthy PS1 RPG only held back by some technical limitations, a lack of save points, and an excess of towers. Four Retro Encounter panelists played Arc the Lad II last month, and this game holds up well enough to have a great discussion. 

Featuring: Wes Iliff, Audra Bowling, Ben Love, Nick Mangiaracina; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Arc the Lad II at RPGFan

While it was a launch title for the PSOne in Japan, Arc the Lad was something of a swan song by the time it finally released in the West. It also stands as one of the final works of the now-defunct Working Designs localization company. Today our four panelists dig into this hidden classic, Finding equal parts joy and frustration in something of a proof of concept for its own sequel. Love Arc the Lad? Never heard of it? There’s something for everyone in today’s Retro Encounter!

Featuring: Wes Iliff, Audra Bowling, Ben Love, Nick Mangiaracina; Edited by Paul Dennis

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Arc the Lad at RPGFan

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, one of the most anticipated RPGs of 2024, reimagines many of the most dramatic and emotional moments of Final Fantasy VII, from Cloud’s flashback to Barret’s hometown and beyond, in a segmented open world environment driven by a mix of action combat and classic Final Fantasy ATB. Four Retro Encounter panelists / FF VII aficionados recently finished FF VII Rebirth, and reacted with a mix of joy, frustration, and confusion. We break down those feelings and more in today’s Retro Encounter! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Gio Castillo, Tin Manuel, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Paul Dennis

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Final Fantasy VII Rebirth at RPGFan

But boy, long-running RPG series sure can! Back when a small group of developers at Interplay Productions released Fallout in 1997, I'm sure they couldn't imagine they were setting the foundations for one of the most iconic RPG series of all time. From its humble beginnings as an isometric CRPG to Bethesda's first-person RPG take on the series, Fallout has gone through several genre and tonal shifts over the years. And with the first season of a brand-new Prime Video TV show coming out, Amazon is set to bring the world of Fallout to our TV screens for the first time.

This makes it the perfect time to look back on the long-running series and find out exactly what it was about Fallout that set the RPG world on fire!

Featuring: Jonathan Logan, Abraham Kobylanski, Jimmy Turner; Edited by Jonathan Logan

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Fallout Review
Fallout 2 Review
Fallout 3 Review
Fallout: New Vegas Review
Fallout 4 Review
Fallout 76 Review
Fallout - Season One Review

Omega Force, a subsidiary of Koei Tecmo, has made a name for itself over the past 25 years with dozens of entries into its Musou series, Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors in particular. Today, a Retro Encounter panel discusses Musou's origins as historical sims, its litany of different series, and its later evolution as a video game sub-genre Today, the larger Omega Force family includes Musou entries for Zelda, Dragon Quest, Persona, and many other beloved video game and anime series. 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Audra Bowling, Wes Iliff; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity on RPGFan
Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree's Woe and the Blight Below on RPGFan
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes on RPGFan
Persona 5 Strikers on RPGFan
Touken Ranbu Warriors on RPGFan

Retro Encounter sees Final Fantasy IV through to its logical conclusion, from journeys to the center of the earth to heartbreaking family reunions, then, Alice, you’re going to the moon. Four Retro Encounter panelists talk the second half of Final Fantasy IV, including the changes made to the Pixel Remaster and Nintendo DS versions. Lali Ho! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Aleks Franiczek, Lucas Greene, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster on RPGFan
Final Fantasy IV DS on RPGFan

Final Fantasy IV is a 1991 RPG full of colorful characters and high drama. But how does it hold up after 33 years of perspective? Four Retro Encounter panelists who grew up (separately) playing Final Fantasy IV give the classic SNES RPG another look (together), discussing everything from the opening cutscenes to Kain’s second betrayal. Or is it his third betrayal? Eventually you lose count. 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Aleks Franiczek, Lucas Greene, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster on RPGFan
Final Fantasy IV DS on RPGFan

Ichiban Kasuga returns in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Ryu Ga Gotoku 8 in Japanese), teaming up with former Like a Dragon protagonist Kazuma Kiryu in a wild turn-based open-world RPG set in both Japan and Hawaii. Four RPGFan staff, all of whom highly anticipated Infinite Wealth prior to its release in January, are ready to bring all of their thoughts and feelings into the Sujimon Arena, from the worst marriage proposal of all time to our heroes trading final battles. No need to hold back - step forward if you want to listen! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Gio Castillo, Jonathan Logan, Tin Manuel; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth on RPGFan

Dragon Age II had a mixed critical reception back in March of 2011, so we’re giving it a fresh perspective in March of 2024. Today’s Retro Encounter panel makes an exodus to Kirkwall to determine how they feel about DA2’s excellent characters and dialogue juxtaposed with DA2’s one-city setting and rigid timeframe? Listen and find out! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Audra Bowling, Aleks Franiczek, Wes Iliff; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Dragon Age II on RPGFan

Four RPGFan staff played through Dragon Quest XI this month, and it left them full of feelings. But were those feelings satisfying or wanting? How did they find DQ11’s notorious third act? Spoiler alert: this is a wonderful video game, despite what other RPGFan podcast hosts might say. 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Gio Castillo, Wes Iliff, Tin Manuel; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Dragon Quest XI on RPGFan