Podcasts by Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast
Kat Bailey, Nadia Oxford, and Eric Van Allen explore Final Fantasy, Skyrim, and all the best in the wonderful world of role-playing video games! Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/bloodgodpod
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Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within - Commentary of the Blood God from 2023-11-27T11:00
It's the DVD commentary you didn't know you wanted! If you haven't already, now's the time to watch the movie that may have shaped RPG history more than any other. Time for L'arc en Ciel, the most ...
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Persona 5 Tactica, Mario RPG Remake, Ranking the Persona Spin-offs, and More from 2023-11-21T06:30
There are more Persona spin-offs than there are stars in the night sky but luckily most of them are pretty darn good! Listen as Kat, Nadia, and Eric discuss the Phantom Thieves' latest heist in Per...
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Live Action Zelda w/ Alex Stedman from 2023-11-13T11:00
This is Miyamoto. It's actually happening. A live action Legend of Zelda is on the way. How much faith do we have in the team behind it? What is our dream casting? And how can we talk about Love Ac...
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Star Ocean 2: The Second Story R Review w/ Jada Griffen from 2023-11-06T11:00
Did you know Tri-Ace was founded when the members of Wolf Team developing Tales of Phantasia grew tired of Namco's involvement and split off to create their own studio in the middle of development?...
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The Best SpoOoOky RPGs! from 2023-10-30T10:00
"Darkness falls across the land. The midnight hour is close at hand." Uhhhh Persona vibes much?!The history of RPGs is inextricably tied to horror and it's the perfect time of year talk about the s...
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Our Favorite RPG Music of 2023, Biggest Surprises, and More from 2023-10-23T10:00
It's Letter Tiiiiime! It's Letter Tiiiime! It's a very special Mailbag episode this week as Kat, Nadia, and Eric answer questions about everything from cheesecake and boss fights to the very future...
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Microsoft and Activision Blizzard w/ Reb Valentine from 2023-10-16T22:00
More like Acquisition Blizzard, heh. If you want a guest who can explain the ins-and-outs of the business side of this colossal consolidation of industry titans while also explaining why it's relev...
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Baldur's Gate III Final Thoughts, For Now from 2023-10-09T10:00
Everything has been leading to this. Through the battles, the story beats, and the very very attractive party members, it's time to wrap up the conversation on what may end up being the biggest "ga...
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The History of Quintet w/ Anthony John Agnello and Scott White from 2023-10-02T10:00
Before NieR's depressing side quests, Quintet was giving kids lessons about the uncaring neutrality of the universe back in the 90s! Journey through the morally-grey, bleak worlds of Quintet and it...
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Cyberpunk 2.0 w/ Michael Higham from 2023-09-25T10:00
We're back in Night City jacking into the firewalls of cyber-brains and scrapping digi-cops or whatever with the new Phantom Liberty expansion! Is this Cyberpunk 2077's redemption arc or would you ...
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Nintendo Direct and State of Play from 2023-09-18T21:00
The past week's one-two punch from Nintendo and Sony have us floored by a panoply of RPG announcements and reveals. How will we recover? As we lay there in a stupor all we can do is reflect on the ...
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Sea of Stars w/ Brenden Groom from 2023-09-11T10:00
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/bloodgod and get on your way to being your best self. Finally, a throwback RPG inspired by classics like Chrono...
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Starfield and Friends w/ Michael Higham from 2023-09-04T13:00
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/bloodgod and get on your way to being your best self. It's time to party with special guest Michael Higham as t...
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Baldur's Gate 3's Tabletop Origins w/ Mikel Reparaz from 2023-08-28T08:00
Did you know Baldur's Gate is actually based off of a really obscure game called Dungeons and Dragons? And you play it in your head! And it makes you worship the devil! Here to discuss the dungeon ...
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Mega Man X: Command Mission w/ David Oxford and Steve Watts from 2023-08-21T08:00
Plan ahead for the fall and pick up a new scarf because it's Nadia's time to shine with an episode all about Mega Man's OTHER foray into the world of RPGs, Mega Man X: Command Mission. Timelines ge...
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Baldur's Gate 3 Initial Review Impressions w/ Kenneth Shepard from 2023-08-07T16:08:10
Hot (like, heat dome hot) off the heels of the wildly successful charity livestream and Final Fantasy XIV Fan Fest it’s time to talk Baldur’s Gate 3. Eric and special guest Kenneth Shepard are here...
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What Makes a Good Character Creator? from 2023-07-25T01:32:48
Welcome back to Axe of the Blood God. Kat is not here for this week's episode because she headed out for San Diego Comic Con, a known slaughtering ground where Harry Potter cosplayers will take out...
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Chrono Cross, The World Ends With You, and Other Summer RPGs from 2023-07-18T00:01:15
It's summertime, playing Zelda in your car, heading to a LAN party, and the night air is filled with wildfire smoke. Welcome to a laid back episode of Axe of the Blood God, where we just chill out ...
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Our Review of The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie w/ Cam Hawkins from 2023-07-11T01:12
We've got some fellow old people listening to this show (may your tubes of Voltaren be ever on sale), and I think we can all take a little comfort in the fact many of Falcom's RPGs, including the e...
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Our Review of 2023's RPGs (So Far) from 2023-07-03T23:44:30
It's summer! That means it's time to grab a burger off the grill, fish a cold one out of the cooler, lie back on a Muskoka chair (ask your local Canadian), and talk about the year in RPGs so far. 2...
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Our Final Fantasy XVI Review w/ Alex Donaldson from 2023-06-27T01:41:22
After what seems like forever and a day, Final Fantasy XVI has finally arrived on the PlayStation 5. Except, it hasn't really been forever, has it? Game director Naoki Yoshida runs a tight ship, to...
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Our Diablo IV Review w/ Len from 2023-06-20T00:14:54
I, Nadia, take over hosting duties on Axe of the Blood God this week, which is apropos for an episode that's about Satan. That's right, we review the long-awaited Diablo IV with our very good frien...
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A Look at All the RPGs at Summer Game Fest 2023 - Especially Starfield from 2023-06-15T21:40:23
On a very special episode of Axe of the Blood God ("special" meaning "very off schedule"), Kat, Nadia, and Eric talk about everything they saw at Prince Geoffry's Summer Game Fest 2023. Kat and Eri...
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Summer 2023 RPG Preview and SGDQ w/ moonblazewolf from 2023-06-06T02:01:37
The summer is getting started, and we've got no shortage of games ahead. But before we look at all the games waiting to steal our time, we've got speedrunner Moonblazewolf, fresh off their run of C...
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Octopath Traveler II Deep Dive w/ The Black Stones from 2023-05-29T22:24:41
Howdy, friends! We've got a treat that'll make y'all happier than a fox in a henhouse! This week, we have an in-depth discussion about Octopath Traveler II, an excellent choice from our $100 Patron...
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Our Continued Review of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom....Continues from 2023-05-22T23:58:41
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think Ocarina of Time is a big game, but that's just peanuts ...
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Sharlayan Dropouts: Field Studies - The Twinning from 2023-05-17T02:34:25
Kick back and relax as Field Studies returns for a guided audio commentary track through fan-favourite Shadowbringers dungeon, The Twinning. Sharlayan Dropouts host Victor Hunter takes you through ...
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Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Review w/ Tom Marks and Mike Mahardy from 2023-05-15T23:44:07
Gosh, it feels like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will never get here. This wait is torture–hold on, you're saying Tears of the Kingdom is out now? Oh wow. Holy crap. Uh…let's start tal...
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Honkai: Star Rail: Great RPG or Gatcha Vending Machine? w/ Daniel Alba from 2023-05-08T23:06:13
All aboard, gatcha sickos. Honkai: Star Rail is now available to download. It's totally free, just like miHoYo's preceding game, Genshin Impact, but you can bet the awesome-looking characters in th...
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Microsoft is Forever Doomed to Fruitlessly Pursue Activision Blizzard w/Nicole Carpenter from 2023-05-01T21:22:42
Hey Microsoft! How's that Activision Blizzard deal coming along? …Oh. That bad, huh? Well, we're sure everything will be fine. Psst. That's a lie, dear listeners. We actually brought Polygon's own...
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Class Conscious: Thieves in RPGs from 2023-04-24T19:27:58
It's another Class Conscious episode of Axe of the Blood God, and we're going after the class that was elected "Most Likely to Steal your Heart and your Wallet" in high school: the Thief. Thieves h...
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Can Starfield Save Xbox's Generation? And Does It Really Need Saving from 2023-04-17T22:34:42
Once upon a time, Microsoft opened up its mouth and swallowed the near entirety of the western RPG market. Fallout, Elder Scrolls, Fable--their home is on the Xbox now. That's great, but we have to...
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PAX East 2023: The Ultimate RPG Draft! from 2023-04-10T16:00
We're taking a breather this week, but fret not: for those who couldn't make it to our panel at PAX East 2023, this week we're uploading the audio from it! Kat, Nadia, and Eric were joined by frien...
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E3 is Kaput! For Realsies this Time! And Tears of the Kingdom Talk w/ Reb Valentine from 2023-04-03T20:52:33
Ding, dong, E3 is dead. Which E3? We don't know. The once world-famous video game trade show has endured so many trials and tribulations, it's hard to way which iteration is getting axed. Let's jus...
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Diablo IV Beta Impressions, PAX East, and a Mailbag from 2023-03-27T13:13:14
Kat, Eric, and Nadia are all together in the same room for PAX East! There they share their adventures through PAX East and GDC, their thoughts on the Diablo 4 beta, and much more. Also in this epi...
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Diablo IV Beta Impressions, PAX East, and a Mailbag from 2023-03-27T13:13:14
Kat, Eric, and Nadia are all together in the same room for PAX East! There they share their adventures through PAX East and GDC, their thoughts on the Diablo 4 beta, and much more. Also in this epi...
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Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShop Game Recommendations from 2023-03-20T19:32:27
This week on Axe of the Blood God, Nadia, Kat, and Eric bid sayonara to the best RPGs on the Nintendo 3DS and the [snide snicker] Wii U. Nintendo is yanking the plug on the 3DS and Wii U digital st...
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Axe of the Blood God 400: So, What's an RPG? w/ Felipe Pepe from 2023-03-13T16:58:08
Axe of the Blood God has now officially hit 400 episodes, and what better way to celebrate than return to the root of it all and ask: just what is an RPG? Kat, Nadia, and Eric are joined by The CRP...
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Axe of the Blood God 400: So, What's an RPG? w/ Felipe Pepe from 2023-03-13T16:58:08
Axe of the Blood God has now officially hit 400 episodes, and what better way to celebrate than return to the root of it all and ask: just what is an RPG? Kat, Nadia, and Eric are joined by The CRP...
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Final Fantasy XVI Preview w/ Ash Parrish and Michael Higham from 2023-03-06T22:19
Final Fantasy XVI Preview w/ Ash Parrish and Michael Higham Why do they call it "FINAL Fantasy" when there are sixteen--oh God please put the serrated knives away, I'm just joking. This week, ...
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The Octopath Traveler 2 Review w/Jason Schreier from 2023-02-27T19:29
All of life's paths intersect and intertwine, so it was inevitable the Axe of the Blood God would walk down Octopath Traveler 2's twisted roads. This week we're joined by Bloomberg's Jason Schreier...
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Rad RPG Recommendations w/Rebekah Valentine from 2023-02-20T22:30
Axe of the Blood God listeners often come to us for RPG recommendations, and we're happy to oblige (with help from our good friend Rebekah Valentine). We're especially happy when said recommendatio...
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Tears of the Kingdom + The Return of Baten Kaitos, Etrian Odyssey, and Level-5 from 2023-02-13T22:44
February is truly when the northern hemisphere gets winter-weary, so hurrah on Nintendo for lighting our lives with another Nintendo Direct presentation. And what an unexpected presentation it was....
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Sharlayan Dropouts Valentione’s Day Special: FFXIV’s Top 12 Simpable Hotties from 2023-02-09T05:23
It’s the battle of the babes this month on Sharlayan Dropouts as we go wall-to-wall to figure out which hotties buff our hosts to max potency. That’s right, we’re ranking the Top 12 stone foxes, th...
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Forsooth! This Way Madness Lies w/Robert Boyd from 2023-02-07T00:43
Madness? This...is...no, no, I'm not going to finish this. Drag me, I deserve it. Just make sure to eviscerate me while listening to our awesome conversation with Robert Boyd, the maker of This Way...
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Are We Past the Golden Age of RPGs? Or Are We Living In It? from 2023-01-30T19:40
When you think of the "RPG Golden Age," what comes to mind? The SNES, certainly--who can deny the brilliance of Chrono Trigger? (Except for Eric Van Allen, who has been banished to the Naughty Step...
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Fire Emblem Engage w/ Alyse Stanley from 2023-01-24T00:06
Eric had to shoulder the entirety of the show last week because Kat went skiing and Nadia had the audacity to catch COVID, but the gang is well and truly back together this week! Writer and WaPo ed...
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Let's Talk About Chained Echoes w/ Austin Walker from 2023-01-16T16:59
Kat and Nadia are both out this week, so Eric shifts into a different gear to chat about the mech-fantasy RPG Chained Echoes with Friends at the Table's Austin Walker! The pair discuss 2022's late-...
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Sharlayan Dropouts, Episode 19: An Audio Tour of the Lost City of Amdapor from 2023-01-14T00:26
Put on your Hawaiian shirt and cargo shorts because it’s tourist season in Eorzea! In this episode of Sharlayan Dropouts we’re taking you on a guided tour. Either listen as a standalone episode or ...
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Which Trends Will RPGs Adopt Most Over the Next 10 Years? from 2023-01-09T19:30
Not a single person is ready for 2023, but guess what! It's happening anyway! Time is kind of a dick like that. So Kat, Nadia, and Eric just steel themselves this week and take the full-bodied plun...
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What to Expect From Axe of the Blood God in 2023! from 2023-01-02T23:53
Hello and welcome to Year 3 of the Axe of the Blood God! It's going to be an absolutely massive year for RPGs, and that means big things for the podcast. Here's just some of what we have planned as...
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The Axe of the Blood God's Big Ol' 2023 RPG Preview from 2023-01-02T16:57
Happy New Year! 2023's launch also marks the launch of new RPGs. Like, lots of RPGs. This is going to be a busy, busy year. Kat, Nadia, and Eric go over their most anticipated titles for the upcomi...
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The RPG Year in Review 2022 w/ Mike and Victor from 2022-12-26T22:24
The year is coming to a close, and so we're looking back on all the role-playing games 2022 delivered. Kat, Nadia, and Eric are joined by the Sharlayan Dropouts Mike and Victor to help break down a...
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The Games We Loved (But Weren't So Hot On Later) from 2022-12-19T16:59
Kat has returned to the Axe of the Blood God, and all she got was a nasty cough. Well, that and memories that'll last a lifetime, or something like that. She's come back home just in time to enjoy ...
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Sharlayan Dropouts: Hoplology 101 - The Veil of Wiyu from 2022-12-14T22:29
Fans of Ivalice, the history of visual novels, and the works of Jean-Luc Godard might just find something to sink their teeth into this episode. Victor explores the many twists and turns in the sur...
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The 2022 Game Awards + This Year's Hidden Gem RPGs w/Lucas White from 2022-12-12T17:00
The universe has survived another bout of Geoff Keighly's Game Awards, where the real awards are the memes mined from cynical adults' Twitter timelines. Does that work grammatically? Eh, whatever. ...
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The Year of Tactics 2022 Recap w/ Leana Hafer from 2022-12-05T17:23
This week on Axe of the Blood God, friend of the pod Len joins Kat, Nadia, and Eric as they talk about one of this year's most popular RPG sub-genres: The strategy game. From turn-based to real tim...
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Pantheon of the Blood God: Mass Effect from 2022-11-29T00:43
For the June 2021 edition of Pantheon of the Blood God, Kat, Nadia, and Eric take a deep dive into the first game of the Mass Effect series! They trace its origins as the follow-up to Knights of th...
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Sharlayan Dropouts 2022 Thanksgiving Special w/ Aidan Moher from 2022-11-25T23:52
Hop on the airship back to your hometown and listen to your favourite Final Fantasy XIV podcast, now on the free feed! The Dropouts bring a very special guest to family dinner, author of Fight, Mag...
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Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Review w/ Reb Valentine from 2022-11-21T17:55
This week on Axe of the Blood God, IGN's Rebekah Valentine joins Kat, Nadia, and Eric as they step into Pokemon Heaven courtesy of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Wait a second. Maybe it's more like Po...
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Star Ocean: The Divine Force Review w/ John Linneman from 2022-11-14T17:04
This week on Axe of the Blood God, Digital Foundry's John Linneman joins Kat, Nadia, and Eric for a detailed discussion about Star Ocean: The Divine Force. It's been a Canis Major's age since Squar...
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Final Fantasy XVI Controversy, Twitter's Implosion, and Other Messy Discourse from 2022-11-07T19:36
This week on Axe of the Blood God, Kat, Nadia, and Eric lose themselves to chaos. The smash launch of Marvel Snap dang near caused something to snap in their brains, it seems. Or maybe they're just...
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Class Conscious: Monks w/ Danielle Riendeau from 2022-11-01T06:15
This week on the Axe of the Blood God RPG podcast, Kat and Nadia have both gone out for cigarettes, which means that Eric is in charge. Our boy keeps his head on his shoulders and invites Mike Will...
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Pantheon of the Blood God: Phantasy Star from 2022-10-28T00:26
To honor the legacy of Rieko Kodama, who passed earlier this year, we are releasing this episode for free to all listeners. For the August 2021 edition of Pantheon of the Blood God, Kat and Nadia...
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Talking P5 Royal, Mario + Rabbids, Trails From Zero + Kat's Steam Deck Apology w/ Scott White from 2022-10-24T21:31
The weather is truly colorful and crisp — provided you live in the northern hemisphere and aren't currently in the grip of a climate change-fueled heatwave. Either way, it's a good time to stay ind...
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Special: Tim Rogers on Boku no Natsuyasumi, Why PlayStation is the Best Console, Taco Tico, and More from 2022-10-20T03:24
Following the release of Action Button's new review of Boku no Natsuyasumi, we welcome Tim Rogers to talk about this PS1 classic, which has plenty of connections to modern RPGs like Persona 5. Natu...
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Pantheon Mini: Valkyria Chronicles from 2022-10-17T15:51
War is hell. Unless you're talking about Valkyria Chronicles, the much-celebrated tactics RPG by Sega. See, war is still hell in Valkyria Chronicles, but it's also very pretty and fun to play. This...
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Cyberpunk Sequel, Witcher Trilogy: Analyzing All of the CDPR Announcements from 2022-10-10T21:03
This week on Axe of the Blood God, Kat, Nadia, and Eric talk about CD Projekt Red's (overly?) optimistic road map for the future of Cyberpunk 2077 and the Witcher series. Looks like CD Projekt is w...
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Does Cyberpunk 2077 Deserve Its Redemption Arc? w/ Kenneth Shepard from 2022-10-03T18:15
CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077 is currently experiencing something of a redemption arc. Does the (hugely) troubled RPG necessarily deserve said arc, though? Well…yes, but also no. This week on Axe...
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99 Potions x Axe of the Blood God: Our Problematic Faves from 2022-09-26T21:02:35
For this week's episode we're joined by the very talented folks behind 99 Potions, Fantbyte's dedicated RPG podcast that was unfairly cut short by the site's recent layoffs. In solidarity with our ...
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The September Nintendo Direct: Paradise for RPG Fans, Paradise Plus for Farming Game Fans from 2022-09-19T15:24:36
This week on the Axe of the Blood God RPG podcast, Kat is out and Nadia learns one more time that it's really just that easy to take an inherently chaotic podcast and make it twice as dizzying. Fri...
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Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Harvestella, Tactics Ogre Reborn, and More in the Fall 2022 RPG Preview from 2022-09-12T14:32:32
This week, Axe of the Blood God tackles the 2022 fall RPG preview—which feels like a nutty thing to say, since summer only started yesterday. Right? Right…? Oh.Thankfully, RPGs help take away the ...
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Rings of Power, House of the Dragon, and RPGs + Autumn of Avatar Book 1, 1-6 w/ Alex Stedman from 2022-09-05T16:00:55
The fall season is upon us, and more fantasy shows than you can shake a wizard's staff at are popping up! Since RPGs and fantasy have a fair bit to do with one another, we brought on IGN's Alex Ste...
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Does Sony Need More First-Party RPGs? from 2022-08-29T16:00:05
It's a slim week at the Blood God, so we dipped into our rainy day bucket of topics to discuss Sony's first-party games. Does it need more first-party offerings, or should it stick to its third-par...
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Souls Hackers 2 Review w/ Michael Higham and Diego Argüello from 2022-08-22T15:53:38
This week on Axe of the Blood God, Kat, Nadia, and Eric have a (digital) devil of a time talking about Soul Hackers 2. They're joined by Fanbyte.com superstars Michael Higham and Diego Argüello, wh...
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Delays, Delays, Delays + What's the Right Length for an RPG? from 2022-08-15T14:50:15
This week on Axe of the Blood God: It's letter tiiime, it's letter tiiime! Kat, Nadia, and Eric answer questions asked by YOU, our grand Blood God listeners! What is the gang's favorite class in Xe...
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Game Developer Quest: Falcom - 1980s, Pokemon Reax from 2022-08-09T04:16:46
It's another busy week on Axe of the Blood God. Two hefty topics are packed into one convenient episode: New Pokemon Scarlet and Violet information, on top of the beginning of the Nihon Falcom Deve...
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Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Review w/ Autumn Wright from 2022-08-01T13:00:04
This week on Axe of the Blood God, it's time to bask in the Monado's power! Special guest Autumn Wright talks to Kat, Nadia, and Eric about Xenoblade Chronicles 3. How does the third game in this s...
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Live A Live Review w/ Reb Valentine from 2022-07-26T17:33:55
This week on Axe of the Blood God, Nadia and Eric are joined by their special friend, Reb Valentine of IGN. Together, they Live A Live, Laugh A Laugh, and Love A Love. That's right: Reb reviewed th...
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The 10 Best RPG Parties Of All Time, Ranked w/ Ben Hanson and John Carson from 2022-07-20T13:00:43
Today on a very special episode of Axe of the Blood God, Kat, Nadia, and Eric party down with friends of the show Ben Hanson and John Carson. Nota bene: "Party down" in this instance means...
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How Gundam Has Inspired RPGs Through the Years + Genesis Mini 2 Reax from 2022-07-18T16:11:06
The Axe of the Blood God charity stream is over, and somehow Kat, Nadia, and Eric came out the other side with their limbs and sanity intact. They also came out with $10,000+ raised for Trans Lifel...
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Pantheon of the Blood God: Persona 5 from 2022-07-14T05:17:01
For the December 2021 edition of Pantheon of the Blood God, Kat and Nadia are joined by Fanbyte's Nerium Strom and Michael Higham for an exploration of Persona 5! During their lengthy discussion, t...
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Pantheon Mini: Does Fallout New Vegas Deserve To Be #1? w/ Khee Hoon Chan and Jay Castello from 2022-07-11T15:56:25
After the (ahem) fallout of our #1 pick for the Top 25 RPGs of All Time, we got together with Khee Hoon Chan and Jay Castello to talk about whether it deserves to be the top-rated RPG of all time. ...
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PC RPG Quest - 2010s: The Great Convergence w/ Len Hafer from 2022-07-04T13:00:10
Summer is a time for schmoozing with friends, which is why Axe of the Blood God invited veteran guest Len Hafer to talk about the best video game genre in the whole wide world. (Psst—that means RPG...
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The Mid-Year Review 2022: From Pokemon Legends To Citizen Sleeper from 2022-06-27T04:35:59
This week on Axe of the Blood God, recent political going-ons have the gang physically, mentally, and spiritually taxed. Kat, Nadia, and Eric elect to take it easy and do a mid-year check-in of the...
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Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Reax, Another Kat Breakdown, And RPG Makers w/ Vivicomplex from 2022-06-21T01:34:24
This week on Axe of the Blood God, Kat has an intense war flashback to spring 2020. If you don't recall, Final Fantasy 7 Remake absconded with a little bit of her soul, and she's never been quite t...
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The Xbox and Summer Games Fest Recap + Final Fantasy 7 Event Predictions from 2022-06-13T15:00:27
This week on Axe of the Blood God, Kat and Eric are joined by not one, but two Alexes to break down the summer showcases! RPG Site's Alex Donaldson and freelancer Alex J. Kane are here to discuss t...
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Final Fantasy XVI is Real, Pokémon Has Chonky Bois, And Kat Returns from 2022-06-06T14:57:36
This week on Axe of the Blood God, Kat rejoins Eric and Nadia after her adventure on the high seas. She's a little unsteady on her legs, not to mention lightly brined by sea salt, but that's not ab...
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Class Conscious: Dragoons in RPGs from 2022-05-30T13:00:23
This episode was not entirely Nadia's idea, we swear. Really, can anyone deny the sheer cool factor of the Final Fantasy series' take on dragon knights? If you're not, maybe this episode will make ...
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The Top 25 RPG Remake Breakdown from 2022-05-23T13:00
This week on Axe of the Blood God, Kat has run off to do sailor junk on the high seas, so Nadia and Eric hold the rig together by themselves. Well, that's not entirely true. Kat joins them from Sea...
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The Top 25 RPGs Of All Time Remake 2022 from 2022-05-18T15:52:07
It's time at last to share our newly-revised list of the 25 best RPGs of all time! For much of 2022 we've been slowly collecting potential nominees for an update to the list that we made several ye...
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PC RPG Quest - 2000s: How MMORPGs Changed RPGs Forever w/ Amy Dunham from 2022-05-16T13:00:34
This week on Axe of the Blood God, the gang takes a step into the fascinating and revolutionary (if jagged and polygonal) world of massive multiplayer online RPGs from the 2000's. Kat, Nadia, and E...
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The Quest for the Axe of the Blood God - A D&D Adventure from 2022-05-13T16:52:18
As a special thank you to our listeners for helping us reach $6000 two months in a row, we recently hosted a very special D&D 5e session with special guest DM Shivam Bhatt. Now it's available for e...
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We Pick An Isometric RPG For Nadia to Play w/ Leana Hafer from 2022-05-09T19:46:13
Tired of the same ol' RPGs? Why not try changing your perspective? This week by Patron request, Nadia, Kat, and Eric talk about isometric RPGs with some help from Leana Hafer of Three Moves Ahead...
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Class Conscious: Healers In RPGs from 2022-05-02T16:45:38
The Blood God is back in full force after Eric and Nadia's trip out to Boston. We're continuing our unofficial Job Hunt with a discussion about White Mages and healers in RPGs! How has healing evol...
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The State of Final Fantasy In 2022 - PAX East Live from 2022-04-25T13:00:33
Axe of the Blood God was at PAX East over the weekend, where Nadia and Eric were joined by special guests Scott White and Ash Paulsen! In a special live panel, they discuss the State of Final Fanta...
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The Big Kingdom Hearts IV Reveal w/ Ash Paulsen from 2022-04-18T15:53:02
This week's Axe of the Blood God is simple and clean. Friend of the show and Good Vibes Gaming host Ash Paulsen joins Kat, Nadia, and Eric to talk about Square Enix's surprise Kingdom Hearts 4 anno...
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The PC RPG Quest - 2000s: Golden Age Or Dark Age? w/ Jeff Green from 2022-04-11T14:39:03
This week on Axe of the Blood God, the PC RPG Quest continues! The gang is joined by their friend Jeff Green, who was at the epicentre of the major shift PC gaming underwent in the 2000's. On the s...
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E3 Canceled, Breath of the Wild 2 Delayed, PS Plus Revamped from 2022-04-04T13:00:32
This episode of Axe of the Blood God comes at the end of a discourse-heavy week. E3 is pretty much dead, which spurs Kat, Nadia, and Eric into sharing their best E3 memories (Nadia still has her Wi...
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Witcher 4's Reveal, Colossal Cave's Return, And Notebook Nostalgia from 2022-03-28T13:00:49
This week's episode of Axe of the Blood God is utterly bewitching. True, Kat, Nadia, and Eric are enthralling company in every circumstance—but with the recent announcement of (not) Witcher 4, how ...
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Stranger of Paradise and Persona 4 Arena Ultimax w/ Michael Higham from 2022-03-14T13:00:54
This week on Axe of the Blood God, we're spoiling for a fight. That's why we pushed Kat off her chair this week and offered it to Michael Higham, Fanbyte's fighting game expert extraordinaire. What...
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Pokémon Scarlet&Violet Reveal + Triangle Strategy and Steam Deck Review Reactions from 2022-03-07T17:29:42
The three co-hosts have been reunited after many weeks apart, and just in time to talk about a whole bunch of news! There's a new generation of Pokémon on the horizon, Triangle Strategy is out, and...
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Elden Ring Review Reactions w/ Easy Allies' Isla Hinck and Prima's Jesse Vitelli from 2022-03-01T07:25:38
Greetings, disciples of the Blood God. Kat is not with us this week; she's going to try her hand at being a pirate on the open seas. There's an excellent chance she'll be back next week, though. De...
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Next-gen Cyberpunk and RIP in Peace to the Wii U/3DS eShop from 2022-02-21T10:03:45
It's down to a pair this week, as Kat and Eric gather to investigate the state of Cyberpunk 2077 with its brand-new next-gen patch and lament the loss of more eShop content. Make sure you get your ...
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Nintendo Direct JRPG-palooza, A Lost Classic's Return, And Lost Ark's Massive Debut from 2022-02-14T16:53:20
There are people out there who hang onto news about Nintendo Directs the way a religious person might fervently cling to signs of Jesus' return. Humanity is still waiting on the second coming of th...
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Pokemon Legends: Arceus Review w/ Reb Valentine and Kenneth Shepard from 2022-02-07T16:57:46
Kat's gone, so Eric and Nadia assemble an Elite 4 to review Pokemon Legends: Arceus. IGN's Rebekah Valentine and Fanbyte's Kenneth Shepard join the show to chat about how the new direction has pann...
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Pokemon Legends: Arceus Reactions, Polish vs. Innovation, And Band Pranks from 2022-01-31T14:00:56
We're in the throes of winter, but Pokemon discourse is hotter than ever. This week, Kat, Nadia, and Eric talk about the opening hours of Pokemon Legends Arceus, Game Freak's attempt to take the Po...
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PC RPG Quest - 1990s: Meet the PC-98 + The Mega Activision Blizzard Acquisition from 2022-01-24T17:08:08
We're going back to the '90s again here on Axe of the Blood God, but here's a twist: We're going back to '90s Japan. Yes, it's another PC Console Quest, and we've invited our good friend PC98 Audi ...
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When Is An RPG Too Long... Or Too Short? from 2022-01-17T17:41:31
We may be in the dead of winter, but Axe of the Blood God is hotter than ever. So sayeth the show's fans, anyway. It's true! No word of a lie! Ahem. This week, Kat, Nadia, and Eric talk about a hod...
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The Indie RPG 2022 Preview + Top 25 RPG Remake and GDQ from 2022-01-10T19:22:23
New year, new Axe of the Blood God! Our new Stars of Destiny tier has kicked off in earnest, and we had our first live taping of the podcast, followed by a special post-show discussion. That's rig...
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The 2022 RPG Preview: From Pokemon Legends to Starfield from 2022-01-03T15:31:24
We're already three days into 2022! No refunds on the year, suckers. Don't worry, the Axe of the Blood God will be around to pick you up whenever you need it…and going by recent trends, everyone is...
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What to Expect From Axe of the Blood in 2022! from 2021-12-31T21:38:24
We've had an amazing 2021, and we're hoping 2022 will be even better! Nadia, Eric, and Kat get together to share their hopes and dreams for the new year along with the following: - Info on a brand...
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Axe of the Blood God RPG Year in Review 2021 from 2021-12-29T20:54:05
This week on Axe of the Blood God, Kat, Nadia, and Eric say farewell to 2021 by looking back on the year's greatest RPG triumphs (and a few, er, not-triumphs). 2021 was a bit slim on major triple-A...
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Pantheon of the Blood God: Final Fantasy VIII from 2021-12-27T19:24:36
To celebrate the end of 2021, we're making a Pantheon of the Blood God available to all of our listeners as a special thank you for all of your support! In this edition of Pantheon of the Blood Go...
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Sharlayan Dropouts Episode 6: The One Where We Review Endwalker from 2021-12-25T23:40:27
"Live thy life to the fullest, but knowest thou always that the end walks ever closer." Is that an OK Urianger impersonation? Bah, whatever. Point is, Nadia, Mike, and Victor review Final Fantasy 1...
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The Game Awards Reax&LGBTQ+ Representation From Catherine To Final Fantasy V from 2021-12-20T11:00
Kat's away this week on Axe of the Blood God, so Nadia takes the reigns, and chaos reins. Wait. Strike that. Reverse it. Thank you. Eric is on-hand to help co-host, of course, and a very special g...
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PC RPG Quest - 1990s: The Silver Age Of RPGs from 2021-12-13T18:11:12
Turn on Nickelodeon and feed your Tamagotchi, because it's time for the '90s PC RPG Quest here at Axe of the Blood God. John Walker of Buried Treasure joins Kat, Nadia, and Eric as they talk about ...
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Is a Chrono Cross Remake On the Way? from 2021-12-06T11:00
Last week was the Giving of Thanks, and Eric returned to his ancestral home to prepare the necessary sacrifices. That means Kat and Nadia are alone for this episode, just like the good ol' days of....
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Sharlayan Dropouts Episode 5: Endwalker Predictions Featuring Victor's FFXIV Lore TED Talk from 2021-12-02T03:04:07
When we last met our Warriors of Light, they were confident they'd be Thal's balls-deep in Endwalker by this point. Fate had other plans in mind, as Endwalker won't be accessible until December 3. ...
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Shin Megami Tensei 5 Review from 2021-11-29T18:40:32
What, you wanna listen to Axe of the Blood God's very special Shin Megami Tensei 5 episode, guest starring Game Informer's Kim Wallace? Hmmm... gimme one life stone. I'll also take 300 macca and a ...
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Cowboy Bebop Complete Series Ranking: The Top 10 from 2021-11-24T23:04:27
In Part 3 of our complete Cowboy Bebop series ranking, we tackle the Top 10 alongside What a Cartoon's Henry Gilbert! In so doing we tackle some of the following topics: - What's the deal with Jul...
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Is This Shin Megami Tensei's Big Moment? from 2021-11-22T13:56
This week on Axe of the Blood God, Kat, Nadia, and Eric discuss how Atlus would really love it if the west got the hang of making demonic pacts. We know Shin Megami Tensei V is out, and we know it'...
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The Cowboy Bebop Complete Series Ranking, Part 2 from 2021-11-17T11:00
In Part 2 of our complete Cowboy Bebop series ranking, we tackle episodes 16 through 10! In so doing, we hit some of the following topics: - Our personal favorite episodes - How Cowboy Bebop pays ...
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Defending Legend of Dragoon w/ SuperDerek RPGs from 2021-11-15T11:00
Well I'll tell you what, that daggum Kat recently got herself in a whole heap of Twitter trouble when she sassed Legend of Dragoon. On this week's episode of Axe of the Blood God, Kat apologizes fo...
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The Cowboy Bebop Complete Series Ranking, Part 1 from 2021-11-10T11:00
Cowboy Bebop is one of the greatest anime ever made, and with a live-action series headed to Netflix, now is the perfect time to revisit this animated classic! We're joined by What a Cartoon and Ta...
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PC RPG Quest - 1980s: The Rise of JRPGs w/ PC98 Audi from 2021-11-08T17:15:26
This week on Axe of the Blood God, Kat, Nadia, and Eric board the Magic School Bus and travel back to the very beginnings of JRPG development. PC98 Audi from Digital Foundry makes a guest appearanc...
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An Ode to the Ogre Battle Series from 2021-11-01T10:00
This week on Axe of the Blood God, Nadia, Kat, and Eric battle ogres with the help of a very special guest, Waah! Yes, our generous $100 Patron finally gets to shine on-stage, and he's picked a ver...
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Sharlayan Dropouts Episode 4: The Big Huge Hands-On Endwalker Preview Explosion from 2021-10-27T20:18:09
Smoke 'em if you got 'em because it's time for a brand-new episode of Sharlayan Dropouts--Axe of the Blood God's cool and fashionable Final Fantasy XIV podcast. This week, Nadia and Mike talk about...
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How Dragon Slayer and Xanadu Changed RPGs As We Know Them from 2021-10-25T10:00
There be dragons and dragon slayers in this week's episode of Axe of the Blood God. Faithful Patron Brian Cowan (thank you!) requested that Nadia, Kat, and Eric wade neck-deep into the fascinating ...
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The Spookiest RPG Creepypastas from 2021-10-18T16:15:48
Axe of the Blood God gets sPooOoOoky this week as Kat, Nadia, and Eric talk about "creepypasta" RPGs. Creepypasta is a weird term, but you're probably familiar with what it entails: Stories about h...
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Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous Review w/ Jason Wilson from 2021-10-11T10:00
Who amongst us is truly righteous? It's probably not a great idea to look at Axe of the Blood God for paragons of virtue. That's why Nadia, Kat, and Eric invited Jason Wilson back this week to revi...
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PC RPG Quest - 1980s: The Golden Age Of RPGs from 2021-10-04T10:00
The '80s are alive and well in our souls -- and on Axe of the Blood God, too. This week, Nadia and Kat are joined by their good pal Jason Wilson as they continue the PC RPG Quest. It all started in...
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Sharlayan Dropouts: FFXIV Live Letter Discourse and Sad Scholar Memes from 2021-09-30T16:19
It's a new month, which means the Sharlayan Dropouts have huddled themselves in the smoke hole again. (They just keyed Fourchenault's Chocobo chariot; best they lay low for a while.) Nadia, Vict...
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Sharlayan Dropouts: FFXIV Live Letter Discourse and Sad Scholar Memes from 2021-09-30T16:19
It's a new month, which means the Sharlayan Dropouts have huddled themselves in the smoke hole again. (They just keyed Fourchenault's Chocobo chariot; best they lay low for a while.) Nadia, Victor,...
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The Spooniest Episode: Bards In RPGs from 2021-09-27T10:00
This week on Axe of the Blood God, Nadia and Kat get a little spoony and talk about one of the oldest and most controversial RPG classes: The Bard. Generous $50 Patron Drew Waranis requested we tal...
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The Great Tales Ranking, Part 2 from 2021-09-25T04:29:27
In this special episode of Axe of the Blood God, we continue our celebration of Namco Bandai Tales series by ranking all of its biggest games -- from the lowly Tales of the Tempest to the much-love...
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Tales of Arise Review w/ Eric Van Allen from 2021-09-20T10:00
Tales of Arise has finally arrived, and it's bigger than ten Super Bowls. This week, Kat and Nadia are joined by USgamer alumni (and Normandy FM podcast host) Eric Van Allen as they dive deep into ...
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The Great Tales Ranking, Part 1 from 2021-09-15T16:22:14
In this special episode of Axe of the Blood God, we continue our celebration of Namco Bandai Tales series by ranking all of its biggest games -- from the lowly Tales of the Tempest to the much-love...
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The Fall 2021 RPG Preview: The RPGs to Watch This Holiday Season from 2021-09-13T13:00
Summer's going fast, nights are growing colder. It's nearly fall --and with fall comes the holiday games rush. This week, Kat and Nadia discuss some of the RPGs we can expect to see stuffed in the ...
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Final Fantasy IV Turns 30, And We Rank Its Heroes from 2021-09-06T12:54:41
This week on Axe of the Blood God, Kat is absent and it takes Nadia a grand total of ten minutes to wreck the joint. With no Kat to enforce the rules, Nadia is free to jabber about Final Fantasy IV...
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Pantheon Mini: Lord of the Rings: The Third Age from 2021-08-30T06:42:34
We've been there, and now we're back again: The Summer of the Rings draws to its close with a mini Pantheon of the Blood God episode. Kat and Nadia go in-depth with EA's The Lord of the Rings: The ...
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PC RPG Quest - 1970s: Of Mainframes and Roguelikes from 2021-08-23T13:00
It's finally time to start the PC RPG Quest, because without knowledge of our past, there can be no future. This week, Kat and Nadia look back at the primal roots of RPGs, especially games written ...
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Sharlayan Dropouts: How Will the World of Warcraft Exodus Change Final Fantasy XIV? from 2021-08-18T18:47:25
Sprouts! Sprouts everywhere! There's been a massive influx of new players to Final Fantasy XIV, thanks in part to an exodus from World of Warcraft. FFXIV is generally known for its friendly comm...
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Sharlayan Dropouts: How Will the World of Warcraft Exodus Change Final Fantasy XIV? from 2021-08-18T18:47:25
Sprouts! Sprouts everywhere! There's been a massive influx of new players to Final Fantasy XIV, thanks in part to an exodus from World of Warcraft. FFXIV is generally known for its friendly communi...
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In Honor of Smaug - RPG Dragons And Why We Love Them from 2021-08-16T10:00
There be dragons on today's very special episode of Axe of the Blood God. Kat and Nadia talk about the best dragons in RPGs -- and by "best," they kind of mean "worst" because everyone knows dragon...
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NEO: The World Ends with You Review w/ Rebekah Valentine and Imran Khan from 2021-08-09T10:00
The world is coming to an end again, and you are coming to an end with it. We all are. This week on Axe of the Blood God, Kat and Nadia talk about Neo The World EndS With You alongside Imran Khan o...
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The Best RPG Mini-Games, Our Favorite Dinosaurs, And More from 2021-08-02T13:00
Summer's at its hottest and we're right in between big RPG releases. That can only mean one thing for the Axe of the Blood God: It's Letter Tiiiime, it's Letter Tiiiiime! This week, Nadia and Kat c...
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Summer of the Rings: How Tolkien Helped Define RPGs from 2021-07-26T05:46:01
What do RPGs owe to J.R.R. Tolkien's works? Everything... or something dang near close to it. This week, author David Craddock joins Kat and Nadia to talk about The Lord of the Rings' influence on ...
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Sharlayan Dropouts: Our Final Fantasy XIV Podcast is Here! from 2021-07-21T21:46:20
Welcome to our latest project at Axe of the Blood God: Sharlayan Dropouts! In this new monthly podcast, Nadia Oxford and a rotating selection of guests will talk about all things Final Fantasy X...
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Sharlayan Dropouts: Our Final Fantasy XIV Podcast is Here! from 2021-07-21T21:46:20
Welcome to our latest project at Axe of the Blood God: Sharlayan Dropouts! In this new monthly podcast, Nadia Oxford and a rotating selection of guests will talk about all things Final Fantasy XIV ...
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Monster Hunter Stories 2 Review w/ Casey DeFreitas from 2021-07-19T06:16:23
My pet monster! Pet monster, I love you! This week's episode is all about Monster Hunter Stories 2, and how we love Nargacuga so very, very much. Kat and Nadia are joined by a special guest: IGN's ...
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The RPG Mid-Year Review 2021 from 2021-07-12T10:00
2021 is half over. Scream and protest all you want; nothing will change. Instead of mulling over the inexorable march of time, why not think about RPGs instead? This week, Nadia and Kat do a mid-ye...
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The Console RPG Quest Finale: Ranking the Greatest RPG Consoles! from 2021-07-05T07:03:45
Well, the RPG Console Quest is behind us. That can only mean one thing: It's time to make a list. This week, Kat and Nadia rank the consoles according to their contributions to the RPG genre. Which...
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The Console RPG Quest: Nintendo Switch from 2021-06-28T10:00
It is the very end, my friends — the very end of Axe of the Blood God's RPG Console Quest! This week, Kat and Nadia talk about the healthy RPG library that's up for grabs on the Nintendo Switch. Fr...
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E3 2021 Recap: Chaos! from 2021-06-21T10:00
Oh no, it's E3 again. Kat and Nadia talk about the press conferences they've already seen (Square Enix, Microsoft) and speculate on the ones that haven't yet happened (Nintendo). Come for the discu...
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A Deep Dive into Final Fantasy Music w/ Alex Moukala from 2021-06-14T16:09:17
Kat is away this week, which means it's another golden opportunity for co-host Nadia Oxford to conduct studies on the cleansing properties of fire. Actually, everything goes very well thanks to a v...
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Pressing Reset, Saga Frontier&E3 Predictions w/ Jason Schreier from 2021-06-07T14:20:40
This week on the Axe of the Blood God RPG podcast: Education! Sort of. Esteemed games journalist, writer, and reporter Jason Schreier joins Kat and Nadia to talk about his book, Press Reset: Ruin ...
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The Console RPG Quest: Nintendo Wii U from 2021-05-31T16:02:58
The Console RPG Quest is nearing its end, and this week Kat and Nadia look back at a real winner: The Wii U! And in this instance, "winner" actually means "loser," and "loser" actually means "Oh Go...
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Going Massive on Mass Effect Legendary Edition w/ Eric Van Allen from 2021-05-24T15:25:17
This week, Kat and Nadia go massive on Mass Effect! USgamer alumni and absolute Mass Effect sage Eric Van Allen joins the podcast to have a long, involved talk about Mass Effect Legendary Edition. ...
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The Earthbound Halloween Hack And Other Famous RPG ROM Hacks from 2021-05-17T10:00
This week on Axe of the Blood God, Nadia and Kat talk all about ROMs. (To clarify, they have a discussion about modified game files. Rom the Space Knight does not enter into the picture.) Hacked RO...
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Lunar, Ys, and More: The Earliest RPGs on CD from 2021-05-10T10:00
Another Patron-requested topic approaches! This week, Kat and Nadia take on a very special request to talk about the semi-lost "in between" era of CD JRPGs. If you're an old person, you'll know all...
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The Women of Final Fantasy from 2021-05-03T10:00
Today on a very special episode of Axe of the Blood God, we host our very first Patreon-sponsored guest! Giuseppe Spinella joins Kat and Nadia for a very thoughtful conversation about the women of ...
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The Console RPG Quest: PlayStation Vita from 2021-04-26T10:00
Vita means Life — if your definition of “Life” is “Deader than vulture-stripped roadkill.” Yes, Axe of the Blood God pays its dues to the PlayStation Vita this week in the latest RPG Console Quest....
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How to Tame the Toughest RPGs + Fantasian Impressions from 2021-04-19T10:00
A new week, a new milestone! This time Kat and Nadia get to answer a question sent in by a generous Patron: How do we get into new RPGs without becoming so intimidated that we run in the opposite d...
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Monster Hunter Rise Review Roundtable w/ Nerium Strom&Mike Minotti from 2021-04-12T18:26:07
Are there monsters under your bed? There are a whole bunch under ours, and we couldn’t be happier about it. Monster Hunter Rise is on the Nintendo Switch, and it’s a monster-whacking gem. Kat and N...
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A Preview of Pantheon of the Blood God for System Shock 2 from 2021-04-06T10:00
It's time for another Pantheon of the Blood God, and this month we're joined by former CGW Editor in Chief Jeff Green to explore System Shock 2! Join us for a special preview as we explore its hist...
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Axe of the Blood God 300: The RPGs That Made Us from 2021-04-05T10:00
By the Dragonlord's pantaloons! Axe of the Blood God has hit episode 300, and we couldn't be prouder to bring it to you! Kat and Nadia hosted a live show, but if you missed out, here's the neat 'n ...
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What Makes a Good Action RPG? Feat. Dark Souls, Diablo II, and More from 2021-03-29T10:00
Wowzers! Kat and Nadia are one episode away from the big 3-0-0! Despite being on the cusp of a momentous occasion, they decide to chill out this week and talk about action RPGs. What makes a good a...
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The Console RPG Quest: Nintendo 3DS from 2021-03-22T10:00
Remember when corporations really tried to make 3D media a permanent thing? Axe of the Blood God remembers. In fact, this week our RPG Console Quest takes us back to the Nintendo 3DS, a handheld th...
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Persona 5 Strikers&Bravely Default 2 Reviews [No Spoilers] w/ Samantha Nelson from 2021-03-15T10:00
Two highly-anticipated games, Bravely Default 2 and Persona 5 Strikers, had the gall to come out simultaneously. Kat and Nadia are determined to give both titles equal attention, but that’s a lot o...
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Memories of the '90s RPG Fandom w/ Andrew Vestal from 2021-03-08T11:00
With Kat out romping with faeries or whatever people do on vacation, Nadia is left to host an entire episode all by her lonesome. Or is she? This week, Nadia calls on a very old friend, Andrew Vest...
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A Preview of Pantheon of the Blood God for Final Fantasy VIII from 2021-03-03T04:49:33
It's once again time for Axe of the Blood God to evaluate a classic RPG for induction into the Pantheon of the Blood God, and this entry is one of the most controversial (and underrated!) games of ...
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The Ys IX Review w/ Game Informer's Kim Wallace from 2021-03-01T11:00
It’s a tough, tough world out there right now, and we hope you’re keeping well, Blood God listeners. This week, we take things Ys-y (HAH!) as Game Informer’s Kimberly Wallace joins Nadia in a lengt...
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The Console RPG Quest: PlayStation 3 from 2021-02-22T11:00
Axe of the Blood God’s noble Console RPG Quest continues, and this week we dissect the RPG legacy of a very interesting system: The PlayStation 3. Sony’s first HD console was hobbled right from the...
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Gathering of the Disciples - February 2021 from 2021-02-19T21:22:58
Nadia and Kat host a live discussion with the Axe of the Blood God community! They share plans for an exciting community event for March, where Television of the Blood God stands following the conc...
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Mass Effect Returns, Tabletop Talk, and Much More w/ Austin Walker from 2021-02-15T17:08:57
What an eventful week. Nadia's wayward Xbox Series X showed up on her doorstep (well, it showed up in the Walmart pick-up area), and we have a very special guest: Austin Walker of Waypoint and Frie...
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The Indie RPGs to Watch in 2021 from 2021-02-08T16:25:33
It’s time to dish out some hugs and kisses to indie RPGs. This week, Kat and Nadia talk about the independently-developed RPGs they’re most excited for in 2021, including She Dreams Elsewhere, Cris...
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The 90s Anime We Loved, and the RPGs They Created w/ Bob Mackey&Henry Gilbert from 2021-02-01T11:00
The only thing you should fear more than the Blood God’s axe is the Blood God’s anime obsession. This week, Kat and Nadia talk to Bob Mackey and Henry Gilbert talk about how anime and RPGs uplift o...
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The Console RPG Quest: Nintendo Wii from 2021-01-25T11:00
Get out of your chair and start waggling because it’s time for the Axe of the Blood God Wii Console Quest! This week, Nadia and Kat discuss the strange, often troubled RPG history of Nintendo’s rev...
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Gathering of the Disciples - January 2021 from 2021-01-23T01:31:31
In our first ever Community Update, Kat and Nadia get together for a live conversation with Axe of the Blood God's community! They talk about which RPGs they've been playing of late, share an updat...
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The 2021 RPG Preview: From Final Fantasy XVI to Elden Ring from 2021-01-18T11:00
It's officially 2021, and the brand-new year already seems poised to keep on dishing out the same trials and tribulations that made 2020 so special. Kat and Nadia take a nice break from the plague ...
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The Great Final Fantasy Ranking, Part 2 from 2021-01-11T11:00
Axe of the Blood's special quest to rank all of the numbered Final Fantasy games (and their direct sequels) continues with the Top 10! With the help of special guest Ash Paulsen of Good Vibes Games...
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Witcher Watch Episode 1: The End's Beginning from 2021-01-06T17:51:20
Nadia and Kat kick off their episode-by-episode exploration of The Witcher Season 1 with a discussion of how the show was made and a look at the first episode! Swords! Sorcery! A tower of naked wo...
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Witcher Watch Episode 1: The End's Beginning from 2021-01-06T17:51:20
Nadia and Kat kick off their episode-by-episode exploration of The Witcher Season 1 with a discussion of how the show was made and a look at the first episode! Swords! Sorcery! A tower of naked...
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The Future of Axe of the Blood, Patreon Info, and More! from 2021-01-04T18:37:26
The Axe of the Blood God Patreon is officially live! Nadia and Kat get together to talk about where the show stands in 2021, what listeners to the free feed can expect going forward, and some of th...
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The Great Final Fantasy Ranking, Part 1 from 2021-01-04T18:03:47
To celebrate the launch of the Axe of the Blood God Patreon (http://patreon.com/bloodgodpod), we are undertaking a massive quest: a two-part ranking all of the numbered Final Fantasy games, as well...
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Every New Beginning Comes From Some Other Beginning's End from 2020-12-28T14:00
It's closing time for USgamer. Mat and Eric, the site's last guardians, join Nadia and Kat on the last Blood God produced under the USgamer banner. They recall their time with the site and reminisc...
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The RPG Year in Review 2020 from 2020-12-21T14:00
The end of 2020 draws near! Command? Nadia and Kat look back on a turbulent year and consider everything that's happened: game delays caused by COVID-19, Microsoft's Bethesda acquisition, the Cyber...
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Cyberpunk 2077 Review Roundtable [No Spoilers] w/ Carolyn Petit&Alex Donaldson from 2020-12-14T09:46:12
Polygon and RPG Site reviewers Carolyn Petit and Alex Donaldson join the show to analyze the biggest RPG of 2020: Cyberpunk 2077! They talk about the ways that it does (and doesn't) push the cyberp...
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A CD Projekt Retrospective + Impressions for Atelier Ryza 2 and Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon from 2020-12-07T09:51
With Cyberpunk 2077 finally due out this week, it's time to take a harder look at the studio that is CD Projekt. Where did it come from? How did it rise to the top of the RPG heap over the past gen...
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The RPG Quiz Show of the Blood God! from 2020-11-30T08:00
This week we're taking a break and trying something new at Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Quiz Show! Kat plays host as Nadia, Eric, and Mathew Olson compete to see who knows the most about the role-p...
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The Fall 2020 RPG Release Roundup + More Yakuza: Like a Dragon Chatter from 2020-11-23T08:00
We're firmly in the teeth of the 2020 release season, and the RPGs are arriving fast. Kat and Nadia circle back on some of the RPGs they missed, including Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin, WoW: Shadowlands...
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Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory, Final Fantasy 14, And an Announcement from 2020-11-16T13:00
Kat and Nadia bid farewell to Mike Williams the only way they know how—with a lengthy conversation about Final Fantasy 14. They also welcome back old friend Ash Paulsen, who joins the group to talk...
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Axe of the Blood God Next-Gen Launch Extravaganza! from 2020-11-09T03:10:30
The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are out this week, and we've got the whole gang to break it all down over the course of a two hour mega-pod extravaganza! Kat, Mike, Nadia, and Eric are here to ...
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The Console RPG Quest: PlayStation 4 from 2020-11-02T04:45:55
In a continuation of their look back on the most recent console generation, Kat and Nadia examine the outsized impact of the PlayStation 4 on RPGs. From the return of Japan to the "mainstreaming" o...
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The Console RPG Quest: Xbox One + Crown Tundra Impressions from 2020-10-26T06:15:42
With the next generation of consoles mere weeks away, we're jumping ahead in the Console RPG Quest to the Xbox One! While at first glance the Xbox One's RPG legacy is quite weak, there's more to it...
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What Would an RPG Battle Royale Look Like? from 2020-10-19T05:24:08
Kat and Nadia take a break from the grind of the RPG release schedule to talk about how some of today's most popular genres can be combined with the wonders of role-playing, including battle royale...
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Baldur's Gate 3 Early Access w/ Larian's Swen Vincke from 2020-10-12T06:34:57
Larian founder Swen Vincke returns to the podcast to discuss the initial feedback on Baldur's Gate 3's early access release, turn-based vs. real-time with pause, dice rolls, and more! (Starts aroun...
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The Xbox 360 Console RPG Quest + Genshin Impact w/ Mike Williams from 2020-10-05T22:36:03
The Console RPG Quest officially arrives in the HD era with the Xbox 360 RPG Quest! Nadia and Kat talk about the impact of online, the waning fortunes of the Japanese industry, the super success of...
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The Hades Review w/ Eric Van Allen from 2020-09-28T03:36:16
Kat and Nadia are joined by USgamer News Editor Eric Van Allen to sing the praises of Hades, the amazing roguelite by Supergiant Games that is now out of Early Access. The trio discuss its relation...
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Microsoft Acquires Bethesda Emergency Reaction Roundtable! from 2020-09-21T21:19:48
In a move with enormous implications for the games industry as a whole, but especially for RPGs, Microsoft has acquired Bethesda, the publisher responsible for Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, and Starf...
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A Huge Week for RPGs: Reacting to Final Fantasy XVI, Harry Potter, and More from 2020-09-21T05:41:03
Kat and Nadia react to a huge week for RPG announcements, breaking down Avalanche's Harry Potter game, Monster Hunter Rise, and the PS5 price announcement. Then it's time to talk Final Fantasy XVI,...
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The Fall RPG Preview 2020 from 2020-09-14T06:44:54
The fall release season is officially upon us, and that means it's time to preview all of the big RPGs that will carry us to the end of the year. Kat and Nadia sit down to preview Cyberpunk 2077, T...
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The Console RPG Quest: PlayStation Portable from 2020-09-07T07:48:27
The latest edition of the Console RPG Quest explores the legacy of Sony's initial foray into the handheld space: the PlayStation Portable! Kat and Nadia recall Sony's attempt to create "the Walkman...
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The Story of Moon: RPG Remix Adventure, Wasteland 3 Impressions, Final Fantasy Woes from 2020-08-31T07:00
In 1997, a small group of former devs from Konami and Square got together to make Moon: RPG Remix Adventure, an affectionate parody and tribute to the role-playing genre. More than 20 years later, ...
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The State of Indie RPGs w/ She Dreams Elsewhere's Davionne Gooden from 2020-08-24T13:00
Kat Bailey is on vacation, so hapless co-host Nadia Oxford takes over the Axe of the Blood God with help from USgamer news editor, Eric Van Allen. The duo put out out the small fires that invariabl...
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Remembering Square's Famous Summer of Adventure 2000 from 2020-08-17T04:54:39
It was the year 2000, and Square was pushing three big RPGs on the Sony PlayStation. The games themselves—Chrono Cross, Threads of Fate, and Legend of Mana—met with a mixed reception, but the Summe...
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The Console RPG Quest: Nintendo DS from 2020-08-10T10:00
The latest entry in the Console RPG Quest series takes on the Nintendo DS, the legendary "third pillar" that did its part to carry Nintend for more than a decade. From Etrian Odyssey to Dragon Ques...
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Next-Gen RPGs: Imagining New Settings, Reactive Worlds, and More from 2020-08-03T10:00
With the next generation of consoles nearly upon us, Kat is joined by Reviews Editor Mike Williams and Senior Editor Caty McCarthy to discuss the future of the genre. What surprises do the PS5 and ...
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Eiyuden Chronicle Live Reaction + Fable, Avowed, and the SMT 3: Nocturne Remaster from 2020-07-27T07:21:17
It's a super busy week for RPG news as Kat and Nadia talk about all the Shin Megami Tensei announcements while breaking down the big Fable and Avowed reveals from the Xbox showcase. This is all on ...
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The Paper Mario: The Origami King Review w/ GameXplain's Andre Segers from 2020-07-20T07:00
GameXplain's Andre Segers joins the podcast to review Paper Mario: The Origami King with Kat and Nadia. Why is the latest game in the venerable series proving so contentious among Nintendo fans? Is...
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CrossCode Review + Paper Mario: Origami King Review Impressions from 2020-07-13T07:08:04
Close to a decade after its original crowdfunding campaign, CrossCode is finally on console! Kat and Nadia are joined by Hirun Cryer, who explains why this beautiful indie RPG is worth your attenti...
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The Console RPG Quest: Xbox + Fallout TV Show Reaction from 2020-07-06T07:00
The original Xbox didn't have that many role-playing game, but it was nevertheless a watershed moment for both console history and the RPG genre. Kat and Nadia look back on Microsoft's entry into t...
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5 Games Like Diablo 2 You Should Play + Why We Don't Want a Pokemon Diamond&Pearl Remake from 2020-06-29T07:00
It's Diablo 2's 20th anniversary, and Kat and Nadia are here to talk about its remarkable descendants, including Titan Quest, Torchlight, and other classics (plus some newer games)! Plus, Cyberpunk...
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The Console RPG Quest: WonderSwan + Cyberpunk Delay, Pokemon Snap, and More from 2020-06-22T07:00
The latest entry in the Console RPG Quest tackles both the WonderSwan and the Neo Geo Pocket, two cult favorite handhelds nevertheless trapped in the shadow of the Game Boy. Are their RPG legacies ...
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Reacting to the PS5 Reveal, Persona 4 Golden on PC, and Project Athia from 2020-06-15T10:00
It's E3! ... Sort of. Kat and Nadia react to the PS5 reveal and lament the general lack of RPGs; talk about Persona 4 Golden being liberated from the Vita, and speculate on Square Enix's newly-reve...
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A Special Preview of Branching Narratives With Jeff Green from 2020-06-08T13:00
We're launching a brand new podcast at USgamer! In this special preview of Branching Narratives, Jeff and Kat sit down to talk about Jeff's journey through the industry; why they're launching a con...
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How RPGs Have Handled Social Commentary Over the Years from 2020-06-08T08:22:54
In the course of USG raising more than $7000 for Black Lives Matters during a live stream, Axe of the Blood God recently held a live discussion about social commentary in RPGs. That segment is incl...
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The Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition Review from 2020-06-01T07:40:16
Kat, Nadia, and USG Senior Editor Caty McCarthy render their final verdict on Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition, where they talk about the new content, the biggest changes, and whether the f...
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The Console RPG Quest: Game Boy Advance from 2020-05-25T07:00
The Console RPG Quest continues with an exploration of one of Nintendo's less popular handhelds. Regarded as a bit of a tweener in its day, trapped as it was between the Nintendo DS and Game Boy, i...
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Xenoblade Chronicles Review Impressions, Paper Mario Controversy, Ghost of Tsushima, More Track of the Week from 2020-05-18T07:00
There's lots to talk about in the news, so Nadia and Kat take some time to talk through the recent PS5 tech demo, the Ghost of Tsushima gameplay reveal, and the surprising controversy around Paper ...
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The Failed RPGs We Want to Come Back from 2020-05-11T07:00
Some RPGs become successful franchises, and others simply vanish into history, regardless of merits. This episode covers the latter, with Nadia and Kat discussing lost gems including Alpha Protocol...
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The Console RPG Quest: Nintendo GameCube from 2020-05-04T07:00
Maligned in its day, the Nintendo GameCube is now fondly remembered by Nintendo fans. But what about its RPGs? Kat and Nadia continue the Console RPG Quest by exploring the legacy of Baten Kaitos, ...
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The Trials of Mana Remake Review from 2020-04-27T07:00
Kat and Nadia sit down to review Trials of Mana remake, and in the process delve into a bigger question: Does the Mana series hold up? Nadia thinks yes, but Kat isn't so sure. The pair also delve i...
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Fallout 76: Wastelanders Impressions. Plus: A Brand New Segment! from 2020-04-20T07:00
It's a great big multiplayer RPG episode as USG's Play Together Week gets underway! Kat and Nadia are joined by Mike Williams to reminisce about Final Fantasy 11, discuss the World of WarCraft: Sha...
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Should Xenogears Get a Remake? Plus, FF7 Remake's Wild Ending from 2020-04-13T07:00
Special guests Steve Bowling of GameXplain and Alex Donaldson of VG247 join Kat to discuss Final Fantasy 7 Remake's unique ending, and what might come next [10:35 to 57:00 if you want to avoid spoi...
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The Final Fantasy 7 Remake Review [No Spoilers] from 2020-04-06T20:16:05
Senior Guides Writer Jake Green joins Kat for a non-spoiler review discussion of Final Fantasy 7 Remake! They talk about what it gets right (the characters and soundtrack), where it suffers (the pa...
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Remembering the Compilation of Final Fantasy 7 w/ MinnMax's Ben Hanson from 2020-03-30T10:00
MinnMax's Ben Hanson joins Kat and Nadia as a special guest to remember the awkwardness that was Square's direct to video era. From Advent Children to Crisis Core, the trio recount the good and bad...
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The Persona 5 Spoilercast: All We Want to Do is Date Boys from 2020-03-24T01:39:38
With Persona 5 Royal just a week away, Nadia, Eric, Hirun, and Caty get together for a spoiler-filled and in-depth conversation about the original game. They discuss Persona 5's history; social lin...
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The Greatest RPGs Intros From the Mako Reactor Attack to Escaping Dragons in Skyrim from 2020-03-16T10:00
Which RPGs have the best intros? Kat and Nadia talk through the introductory sequences in some of the best RPGs ever made, and why they work and don't work. Why does Final Fantasy 7's opening hit s...
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Mailbag! RPG Commandments, the JRPGs That PC RPG Fans Should Play, and More from 2020-03-09T05:40:14
It's a Mailbag of the Blood God this week as Kat and Nadia tackle all of your biggest questions! This week's questions include: - Why do RPG protagonists always seem to use swords?- What are the B...
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The Console RPG Quest: PlayStation 2 + Final Fantasy VII Remake and Baldur's Gate 3 from 2020-03-02T09:25:43
The Console RPG Quest continues with our exploration of the PlayStation 2, just in time for its 20th anniversary! We talk about its incredibly deep library of RPGs; the rise of companies like NIS a...
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The Tropes We Love (and Hate) to See in RPGs from 2020-02-24T11:00
This week's episode tackles the tropes that Kat and Nadia love (and hate) to see in RPGs. From customizable characters to sewer levels; flowery monologues to confusion status effects, Kat and Nadia...
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Console RPG Quest: Sega Dreamcast w/ Shane Bettenhausen from 2020-02-17T07:52:14
Former 1UP/EGM writer Shane Bettenhausen returns to talk about the Dreamcast's RPG legacy, the greatness of Phantasy Star Online and Skies of Arcadia, and its sneaky interesting catalog of import R...
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A Closer Look at the State of JRPGs in 2020 from 2020-02-10T06:50:16
Having chosen the best RPGs of the 2010s, Kat and Nadia conclude by taking a closer look at where JRPGs stand as the new decade gets underway. They talk about what the return to consoles have meant...
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How the 2010s Changed RPGs from 2020-02-03T07:33:18
Kat and Nadia look back on the decade that was the 2010s for RPGs! They discuss some of the biggest storylines; look back on the most interesting RPGs, and talk about the games that didn't make it ...
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Mailbag! Best Short RPGs, Temtem, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, and More! from 2020-01-27T11:00
It's another Axe of the Blood God mailbag! We tackle all of our your questions as we wrap up the first month of 2020. Some of the topics that we cover in this month's mailbag: - Can we expect a tr...
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Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Switch Review, Fire Emblem DLC, Byleth in Smash Bros. from 2020-01-20T09:11:19
Tokyo Mirage Sessions#FE is out on Nintendo Switch, and Kat and Nadia is here to see whether it holds up! Was it undeservedly overlooked on Wii U? Or should it have stayed in the studio? Plus, bran...
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Console RPG Quest: Nintendo 64 from 2020-01-13T09:12:01
The Console RPG Quest continues with the Nintendo 64! We discuss Nintendo's break with Square; why it was an important turning point in Nintendo's history, and why its RPG library ended up being so...
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The Axe of the Blood God 2020 RPG Preview! from 2020-01-06T08:00
It's a brand new year, and that means new RPGs! Join Kat and Nadia as they get excited about Cyberpunk 2077, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Tales of Arise, and all the rest of this ...
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USG End of the Year Special Extravaganza 2019 from 2019-12-23T11:00
The end of 2019 is upon us, and that means it's time to discuss all of our favorite games! Eric Van Allen and Mathew Olson join the pod to talk Goose Game, Trails of Cold Steel 3, Fire Emblem: Thre...
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2019 RPG Recap: The Best and Worst in the Year of RPGs from 2019-12-16T08:00
Kat and Nadia are joined by Caty to recap the year that was 2019 in RPGs! They discuss all the big stories, the big trends, and the biggest games, including: - The Year of the Switch Port - BioWar...
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The Console RPG Quest: Sony PlayStation from 2019-12-09T11:00
Just in time for its 25th anniversary, Kat and Nadia delve into the RPG legacy of the PlayStation! The pair discuss its massive impact on the genre; share their favorite memories, and discuss class...
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The Dungeons&Dragons Mini-Renaissance from 2019-12-01T08:00
New games, new updates, and a booming streaming culture has contributed to a mini-renaissance for Dungeons&Dragons. Dicebreaker's Sara Elsam joins us to talk about how that happened, as well to tal...
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Axe of the Blood God Mailbag: Game Awards Nominations, Bahamut Lagoon, and More! from 2019-11-25T08:00
Nadia and Kat talk some more about Pokemon Sword and Shield, and some of the surprising references within. (Trust Kat to be able to identify actual real-world stadiums within Galar region.) There's...
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The Pokemon Sword and Shield Review&Romancing SaGa 3 from 2019-11-18T08:00
Pokemon Sword and Shield is here! GameSpot Pokemon Master Kallie Plagge joins Kat and Nadia to talk about the joys (and the controversies) of the latest generation of Pokemon! [Review begins at 17:...
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The Death Stranding Spoilercast and Why Mass Effect Needs a Remaster from 2019-11-11T08:00
Kat takes a break from the RPG beat to talk about one of the biggest games of the year: Death Stranding! She's joined by Eric Van Allen and Hirun Cryer to discuss Bridge Babies, deconstructing Amer...
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Console RPG Quest: Sega Saturn from 2019-11-04T08:00
The Console RPG Quest returns with the Sega Saturn! We're joined by Digital Foundry's John Linneman to discuss the technology, games, and history that make it a unique standout in the history of co...
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The Outer Worlds Review&Interview With Obsidian's Leonard Boyarsky and Nitai Poddar from 2019-10-28T07:00
Developers Leonard Boyarsky and Nitai Poddar come on the show to talk about the development of The Outer Worlds, Boyarsky's feelings on Fallout 3, and more. Plus, Mike talks about his review of the...
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October RPG Reviews: Trails of Cold Steel 3, Little Town Hero, Disco Elysium from 2019-10-21T07:00
With the RPG deluge continuing, Kat and Nadia are joined by Caty and Mike to pick through the biggest releases, including Trails of Cold Steel 3, Disco Elysium, and Little Town Hero. Plus, we talk ...
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Indivisible Review&October Mailbag of the Blood God from 2019-10-14T10:00
The mailbag returns as Kat and Nadia talk about what RPGs genre novices should tackle first; revisit the legacy of Final Fantasy 13, and more! Plus, they review Indivisible, the new RPG by the crea...
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Console RPG Quest: Jaguar, 3DO, NeoGeo, CDi from 2019-10-07T07:00
We're almost finished the 16-bit era in our Console RPG Quest, but first we have to talk about some of the lesser-known consoles of the period. We take a shotgun approach in this episode, covering ...
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Our Favorite Portable RPGs from 2019-09-30T10:00
What's better than an RPG? An RPG you can stuff in your pocket and tote around like a designer dog. (Please do not shove tiny dogs into your pockets.) With Kat overseas taking care of Big Editor Th...
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The Axe of the Blood God Fall 2019 RPG Preview from 2019-09-23T07:58:58
The Fall 2019 release period is here! To prepare for the oncoming deluge of games, Kat and Nadia talk about all the biggest RPGs of the season, including Outer Worlds, Pokemon, Disco Elysium, and m...
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Console RPG Quest: Super NES w/ Kotaku's Chris Kohler from 2019-09-16T07:00
Kotaku editor and Retronauts veteran Chris Kohler join Kat and Nadia to discuss what may be the greatest RPG console of them: The Super Nintendo! They recall their history with Nintendo's 16-bit ma...
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The Big Nintendo Direct Recap, MHW Iceborne Review, Dreamcast and Final Fantasy 8 from 2019-09-09T10:00
Axe of the Blood God is back after an impromptu hiatus, and there's a ton to cover! Kat and Nadia look back on the 20th anniversary of the Dreamcast and Final Fantasy 8, recap the big Nintendo Dire...
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Oninaki Review, Dragon Quest 11 S Impressions, and a Mailbag! from 2019-08-26T10:00
Tokyo RPG Factory takes its third crack at making a successful RPG. Is Oninaki the game that finally puts them over the top? Nadia shares her review! Plus, our impressions of the Dragon Quest 11 de...
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Console RPG Quest: Sega Genesis, Grandia HD, Witcher 3 Switch Impressions from 2019-08-19T19:18:48
It's a busy week on Axe of the Blood God as Kat and Nadia share their respective impressions of Witcher 3 on Switch and Grandia HD, and also sneak in a little more Fire Emblem: Three Houses chatter...
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The Best RPG Romances from 2019-08-12T07:34:40
In the wake of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Kat is joined by Caty McCarthy and Eric Van Allen to talk about the best RPG romances. Which games do it best? What are their secrets? And most importantly...
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Console RPG Quest: Game Boy, Kat Plays The Outer Worlds from 2019-08-05T06:33:12
The Game Boy's 30th anniversary is upon us, and as it happen, it's the next stop in our ongoing Console RPG Quest! Kat and Nadia reflect on their time with the tiny handheld, the incredible RPGs th...
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Fire Emblem: Three Houses Review Roundtable w/ GameSpot's Kallie Plagge and Gamesbeat's Mike Minotti [Spoilers] from 2019-07-29T09:14:06
Kat is joined by GameSpot's Kallie Plagge and Gamesbeat's Mike Minotti to review Fire Emblem: Three Houses. With Three Houses now out in the wild, the spoiler limiters are officially OFF for this b...
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Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 Review, Final Fantasy 14: Shadowbringers Review from 2019-07-22T07:37:17
Mike Williams returns to the show to review the new Switch exclusive action RPG, Marvel Ultimate Alliance, as well as to provide his long overdue thoughts on the new Final Fantasy 14: Shadowbringer...
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Switch Lite Revealed, Fire Emblem: Three Houses Review Impressions, Dragon Quest Builders 2 Review from 2019-07-15T10:00
After a bit of a drought, Nadia and Kat finally have some new RPGs to play! Kat is busy playing Fire Emblem: Three Houses, and she thoughts on its battle system, how the academy system works, and w...
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Sonic Chronicles and Other Franchises That Became RPGs Against the Will of God from 2019-07-08T13:00
With Kat on vacation, Nadia and special guest host Ray Barnholt bust out the gasoline and matches and make a huge fire. Then they sit beside the flames and have a nice chat about non-RPGs franchise...
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FF7's Golden Saucer, Slay the Spire Review, and a Mea Culpa from 2019-07-01T10:00
Kat and Nadia didn't quite do the PC Engine's RPG legacy justice with their last episode, so they circle back to talk about one of its best franchises: Cosmic Fantasy! Plus, Kat shares her thoughts...
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Console RPG Quest: TurboGrafx-16 from 2019-06-24T10:00
The Console RPG Quest returns as Kat and Nadia examine the RPG legacy of a console that has been in the headlines lately: The TurboGrafx-16! They talk about the success of Far East of Eden, the out...
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E3 2019 Wrap-up: Kat Loses Her Mind Over Pokemon, FF7 Remake is Game of the Show, and More from 2019-06-17T04:36:10
E3 2019 is over at last, and Caty is ready with her report from the field. She joins Nadia and Kat to talk about her impressions after playing Final Fantasy 7 Remake; share her thoughts on the Year...
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E3 2019 Reax: Final Fantasy 7 Remake Hype, Keanu in Cyberpunk 2077, and More! from 2019-06-11T06:57:09
We got a deeper look at Final Fantasy 7 Remake at E3 2019, and Kat and Nadia are hyped. They react to the updated battle system and talk about all the ways that it successfully captures the spirit ...
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E3 2019 Preview: New Xbox, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Cyberpunk, and More from 2019-06-03T10:00
E3 2019 is just a week away, and Axe of the Blood God is here with a full preview of all the major storylines and announcements from this years show. What can we expect from the new Xbox? Will Fabl...
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Console RPG Quest: Sega Master System and Game Gear from 2019-05-27T10:00
The Console RPG Quest continues with a look at the Sega Master System and Game Gear: two consoles that were overshadowed by their competitors from Nintendo but nevertheless gave us some quality RPG...
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Console RPG Quest: The Nintendo Entertainment System from 2019-05-20T10:00
We covered the early days of Atari and Intellivision, but console RPGs were really born on the NES. Join Kat and Nadia for Part 2 of the Console RPG Quest as they remember the console that gave us ...
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Detective Pikachu Review and Final Fantasy 7 Remake Trailer Reactions from 2019-05-13T10:00
Detective Pikachu is now out, and Nadia and Kat are here with their review! Listen as they talk about how well the Pokemon ultimately come out; Bill Nighy, and why it works as a video game movie. P...
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Console RPG Quest: Exploring the RPG Legacy of Every Console to Date from 2019-05-06T10:00
With the Top 25 RPG countdown now complete, it's time for Kat and Nadia to embark on a brand new quest. Enter the Console RPG Quest: a multi-part series that will take us through the history of RPG...
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Best RPG Animal Buddies, SteamWorld Quest Review from 2019-04-29T10:00
From Interceptor to Boo, animal buddies have a strong history in RPGs. Kat and Nadia trace their history from the days of Dragon Quest 5 to the present day, discussing their various usages, as well...
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Mailbag! Joker in Smash, BioWare's Next-Gen Plans, Final Fantasy X on Switch and More from 2019-04-22T17:54:07
Kat and Nadia go through their extensive mailbag to talk about which popular games deserve RPG spinoffs; BioWare's next-gen plans, and how to introduce people to this wonder and crazy genre that we...
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Final Fantasy 7 On the Switch is the Best of Times and the Worst of Times from 2019-04-15T13:00
Kat abandoned USG to go run with the bulls in Spain, so it's up to Nadia and special guests Anthony John Agnello and John Learned to keep the show afloat (they are both recovering from the black pl...
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The Top 25 RPG Wrap-up and Honorable Mentions from 2019-04-08T10:00
The Top 25 RPG Countdown is officially finished! But there are a whole bunch of amazing RPGs we didn't get a chance to cover. From Paper Mario: Thousand Year Door, to Final Fantasy Tactics, to Ulti...
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Axe of the Blood God 200: RPG Bests from 2019-04-01T10:00
It's Axe of the Blood God's 200th Episode, and also the end of the Top 25 RPG Countdown! To celebrate, Kat and Nadia pick some more bests from RPG history. What's the best RPG soundtrack? How about...
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Bloodlines 2, Final Fantasy 6 vs. Final Fantasy 7, Top 25 RPGs #2: Planescape: Torment from 2019-03-25T10:00
Kat and Nadia wrap up GDC by talking Google Stadia and Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2, a sequel that they're already excited to play. Then it's on to number two on the Top 25 RPG Countdown:...
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Top 25 RPGs of All Time #3: Witcher 3 from 2019-03-18T10:00
Caty joins Kat to discuss #3 on our Top 25 list of RPGs: Witcher 3! The pair talk its splendid open world, its fantastic writing, and the expert way it handles romances. Kat has even come around on...
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The Biggest RPG Plot Twists and Top 25 RPGs #4: Final Fantasy 6 from 2019-03-11T10:00
Final Fantasy 6 is the latest entry in our Top 25 RPG countdown, and in honor of one of the greatest RPGs ever made, it's time to talk about the biggest RPG plot twists! Nadia and Kat talk Star Oce...
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Talking Darkest Dungeon and Darkest Dungeon 2 With Red Hook Studios from 2019-03-07T02:05:25
In a special interview episode of Axe of the Blood God, Kat sits down with Red Hook Studios developers Chris Bourassa and Tyler Sigman to talk about the making of Darkest Dungeon, the creation of i...
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Top 25 RPGs: Suikoden 2 With Special Guest Jason Schreier from 2019-03-04T11:00
Kotaku's Jason Schreier returns for number five on our Top 25 RPG countdown: Suikoden 2! He joins Kat and Nadia to talk about 108 Stars of Destiny, Iron Chef cooking challenges, Luca Blight vs. Kef...
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Anthem Review, BioWare's Decline, and Farewell to Reggie from 2019-02-26T00:25:10
Kat bids farewell to Reggie Fils-Aime as he heads into a well-deserved retirement, then digs into Anthem alongside guest Mike Williams. And the question is: What the heck happened? The pair talk ab...
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Final Fantasy 8 Was Good, Blizzard's Uncertain Future, Top 25 RPGs: Ultima 7 from 2019-02-18T11:00
Last week's Activision Blizzard layoffs cast a pall over Blizzard, developer of the most successful MMORPG ever made. Kat and Nadia discuss what it all means, why the layoffs were especially brutal...
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Top 25 RPG Countdown: Fallout, How Anthem Can Avoid the Mistakes of Star Wars: The Old Republic from 2019-02-11T11:00
With Nadia away, Mike Williams returns for #7 on the Top 25 RPG Countdown list: Fallout! Mike and Kat talk about its amazing writing, the memorable world it created, and why the rest of the Fallout...
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The Retro RPGs We Lost With the Wii Shop Closure (And Where to Find the Rest) from 2019-02-04T11:00
The Wii Shop is officially gone, making high-quality versions of everything from Chrono Trigger to Faxanadu much harder to find. Nadia and Kat go through the list to highlight the various affected ...
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Kingdom Hearts 3 Review [No Spoilers], Anthem's Potentially Fatal Flaw from 2019-01-28T11:00
Having looked back on the history of Kingdom Hearts, it's time to talk about the newest game in the series: Kingdom Hearts 3! Caty, Kat, and Nadia get together to talk about how well it wraps up th...
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Looking Back on Kingdom Hearts: How it Reflects Animation History, Making Sense of Its Crazy Story from 2019-01-21T11:00
Kat and Nadia are joined by Kingdom Hearts fan Caty McCarthy to look back on the history of the series up until now. How does it reflect animation history, and what the heck is up with that story? ...
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Top 25 RPG Countdown: Dragon Quest V, The Big Destiny Split, and More from 2019-01-14T11:00
Kat and Nadia leap back into the Top 25 RPG countdown with the best Dragon Quest of them all: Dragon Quest V! The pair explain why its epic sweep, monster hunting mechanics, and odd (but hilarious)...
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Five Big Questions as We Preview 2019 in RPGs from 2019-01-07T11:00
Kat and Nadia ask five big questions as they preview the year 2019 in RPGs. Will Kingdom Hearts 3 live up to expectations? Will Anthem save BioWare? And what about Persona 5 on Switch. Plus, we tal...
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Our Favorite RPG of 2018 (And a Couple Overlooked Gems) from 2018-12-31T10:30
Kat and Nadia conclude 2018 by each choosing their favorite RPG of 2018, as well as a couple underrated gems. Then they do one last mailbag while looking ahead to 2019. Learn more about your ad cho...
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USG Game of the Year Special Extravaganza 2018 from 2018-12-17T11:00
Kat and the entire USG gang get together to recap all of the best games of 2018! From Red Dead Redemption 2 to Return of the Obra Dinn, we argue over what worked, what didn't work, and whether they...
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2018 RPG Recap: The Best and Worst in the Year of RPGs from 2018-12-10T08:55:42
Many RPGs were released in 2018. Some of them were good, others were very bad. Kat and Nadia go through the calendar and talk about the high points and low points of an interesting year in RPGs, co...
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The Top 25 RPGs: Should it be Persona 4 or Persona 5? from 2018-12-03T06:50:40
Persona 4 was a transformative RPG in many respects. Persona 5 might be even better. But which one should be represented in our Top 25 RPG Countdown? Kat and Nadia are still torn, so they've decide...
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Top 25 RPG Countdown: Baldur's Gate 2 from 2018-11-26T05:06:36
Mass Effect and KOTOR are more popular, but Baldur's Gate 2 is BioWare's magnum opus. Guest Troy Goodfellow joins Kat to break down the story, the world, and all the other reasons that this magnifi...
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We Review Pokemon Let's Go and Fallout 76! Plus: New Final Fantasy XIV Expansion! from 2018-11-19T11:00
It's an RPG double-whammy as Nadia and Kat talk about why Pokemon Let's Go works so well, and reviews editor Mike Williams discusses why Fallout 76... uh... doesn't. It's a mixture of cute cuddly m...
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Fire Emblem 15th Anniversary Retrospective, Tabata's Shocking Resignation, and Geno from 2018-11-12T11:00
On the 15th anniversary of Fire Emblem's release in America, Kat and Nadia remember the first entry to make it overseas. They talk Marth and Roy's first appearance in Smash Bros. Melee, the reasons...
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Deltarune, Diablo 3 on Switch, and Top 25 RPGs #11: Morrowind from 2018-11-05T11:00
Kat and Nadia talk about some of the announcements from Blizzcon, including a Diablo mobile game, as well as the surprise appearance of Deltarune, the new game by Toby Fox. Then the pair share thei...
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The 5 Best RPG Cowboys, Fallout 76 Beta Impressions, More Persona 5 from 2018-10-29T10:00
Yee-haw! Red Dead Redemption 2 is here, and Kat and Nadia are here to rank their five favorite RPG cowboys (there are more than you think!) Plus, Kat and Nadia share their impressions of Fallout 76...
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Top 25 RPGs: KOTOR + Kat Returns to Persona 5 (Again) from 2018-10-22T16:28:57
Kat is playing Persona 5... again! She and Nadia discuss her very slow progress through an admittedly great RPG while also taking some time to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Mother 3's fansub. T...
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Reviewing The World Ends With You on Switch + Assassin's Creed Odyssey from 2018-10-15T10:00
Caty McCarthy returns to talk about The World Ends With You's move to Nintendo Switch, where the group talk about how the controls translate, co-op, playing on the big screen, and the new endgame c...
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Answering the Big Questions About Fallout 76 + Top 25 RPGs #13: Fallout New Vegas from 2018-10-08T11:00
It's a week in which Axe of the Blood God pushes the big red button as Nadia returns from her trip to West Virginia to share her experience with Fallout 76. Kat and Nadia talk about what it's like ...
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Valkyria Chronicles 4 Review [No Spoilers] + Chris Avellone Interview from 2018-10-01T10:00
Chris Avellone, writer of Pathfinder: Kingmaker, Fallout 2, and Divinity Original Sin 2, joins Kat to talk his newest game, making evil decisions in RPGs, and the state of RPG writing today. But no...
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The Top 25 RPG Countdown: Pokemon Gold/Silver, Plus: PS1 Classic RPGs from 2018-09-24T07:00
With the PlayStation Classic being officially announced, Nadia and Kat discuss the its rich RPG legacy and talk about which games will be announced for it yet (c'mon Valkyrie Profile). Then they co...
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Where the Heck is Final Fantasy VIII on Switch? Plus: Brian Fargo on Bard's Tale 4 and a Switch Mea Culpa from 2018-09-17T10:00
A lot of Final Fantasy games just got announced for Switch. Final Fantasy VIII is not one of them. Nadia and Kat discuss its relative merits and discuss why it's getting ignored, plus delve a bit i...
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Dragon Quest XI Review (No Spoilers) | 09/10/2018 from 2018-09-10T09:01:10
Kat and Nadia are here to offer their spoiler-less review of Dragon Quest XI! Is it really just "more Dragon Quest VIII?" How does the cast stack up? And what about that music? The pair have plenty...
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PAX West LIVE: Celebrating Mass Effect w/ Austin Walker, Matthew Allen, Mike Williams from 2018-09-04T20:28:48
We take our Top 25 RPG countdown LIVE to PAX West, where we talk Renegade vs. Paragon, Male Shepard vs. Female Shepard, Kaidan vs. Ashley, and laugh along to the infamous alien sex scene. Special g...
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World of WarCraft: Battle for Azeroth w/ Mike Williams, Top 25 RPG Countdown #17 from 2018-08-27T07:47:16
Mike Williams returns to talk about his massive history of World of WarCraft on USgamer, as well as to share his thoughts on the latest expansion. Then Nadia and Kat go over number 17 on their ongo...
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Five Things We Miss Most From Classic RPGs | 08/20/2018 from 2018-08-20T20:32:18
Nadia and Kat take a break from the Top 25 RPG countdown to talk about what they miss from classic RPGs. Remember overworlds? Large party sizes? Fricking cloth maps? The pair reminisce about those ...
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History of RPGs With Jeremy Parish, Part 2: The Second Wave from 2018-08-13T07:00
Kat is once again joined by Retronauts host Jeremy Parish to explore the history of RPGs. This time they dive into PLATO, Wizardry, and Bard's Tale as they explore about the rise of the "second wav...
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Top 25 RPG Countdown #19: Phantasy Star IV from 2018-08-06T07:00
1UP alum Shane Bettenhausen joins Kat to talk about the best Genesis RPG ever: Phantasy Star IV! Plus, Nadia and Kat talk about space RPGs, what sets them apart from their counterparts in other sub...
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Banner Saga 3 Review, Top 25 RPG Countdown #20 from 2018-07-31T03:09:55
Kat is joined by Hirun Cryer to review Banner Saga 3. Does it effectively close the epic tactical RPG series? How does the gameplay hold up? And is being depressing necessarily a bad thing? Then Di...
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The Top 25 RPG Countdown #21: World of WarCraft from 2018-07-23T07:00
Kat is joined by Mike Williams and Vidjagame Apocalypse co-host Matthew Allen to discuss number 21 on our Top 25 RPG Countdown: World of WarCraft! They talk about its RPG roots, why it changed MMOR...
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Octopath Traveler Review, Top 25 Countdown #22: Vampire: The Masquerade from 2018-07-16T18:15:53
GameXplain co-host Derrick Bitner joins Kat and Nadia to review Octopath Traveler. Do the sprites match the quality of the environments? Which character did each host pick first? And can Nadia and ...
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Octopath Traveler Review Pt. 1, Top 25 Countdown #23: Nethack from 2018-07-09T15:20:46
Nadia shares her initial impressions of Octopath Traveler, including the battle system, the graphics, and more. Then David Craddock returns to talk about Nethack, its remarkable support through the...
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Ultima and Teletype RPGs, Top 25 RPG Countdown #24: Tactics Ogre from 2018-07-02T07:00
Our old friend Jeremy Parish returns to discuss the first entry in his new series about the history of RPGs, which covers Ultima, Teletype RPGs, and Richard Garriott's early programming experiments...
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The Top 25 Best RPG Countdown Begins! from 2018-06-25T05:14:30
It's finally time! Kat and Nadia commence Axe of the Blood God's countdown of the Best 25 RPGs with an in-depth discussion of number 25 on our list! We discuss its history, what makes it stand out,...
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E3 Wrap-Up: Recapping our Tetsuya Nomura Interview, The Beginning of the End of the Current Generation of Consoles, and More from 2018-06-18T07:00
Kat and Nadia wrap up E3 2018 with a discussion of Valkyria Chronicles 4's Switch port, Fallout 76, Cyberpunk 2077, and more! Does Pokemon Let's Go prove that we no longer need random encounters in...
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E3 2018! Cyberpunk 2077, Starfield, Square Enix's Disappointing Press Conference, and More! from 2018-06-11T22:03:05
It's officially E3 2018, and Nadia and Kat are here to break down the first run of announcements! They talk about Square Enix's missed opportunity, Kingdom Hearts 3's new trailer, Cyberpunk 2077, S...
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Fallout 76, Pokemon Let's Go, Moonlighter | 06/01/2018 from 2018-06-04T07:00
Kat and Nadia talk about Pokemon Let's Go, why the Kanto Pokedex is overrated, and what they would like out of Gen 8 on the Switch (hint: it's not another new region). Then they dive into Fallout 7...
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Pillars of Eternity 2 Review and Detective RPGs With Doc Burford | 05/24/2018 from 2018-05-28T07:00
Doc Burford returns to review Pillars of Eternity 2 with Kat. How does the sequel to Obsidian's cult favorite isometric RPG stack up to the original? Find out in this spoiler-free discussion! Plus,...
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Kat Returns With Pokemon Leaks, Kingdom Hearts 3, and SMT Strange Journey Redux | 05/18/2018 from 2018-05-21T07:00
Kat is officially back! And she and Nadia celebrate by talking Pokemon leaks, the first hands-on with Kingdom Hearts 3, and SMT Strange Journey Redux! Can you believe that Kingdom Hearts 3 is actua...
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What a Wonderful Night to Talk About Castlevania | 05/14/2018 from 2018-05-14T22:17:08
Kat's on vacation for a few seconds more, so it's Anthony and Nadia again, along with special guest John Learned! This week, the trio talks about the excellent features John wrote for USgamer about...
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Long Lost RPGs We Desperately Want to Play, but Probably Never Will | 05/07/2018 from 2018-05-07T18:56:45
Kat had the nerve to take a vacation, so Nadia drags out a ghost-editor from her history as a freelancer, Anthony John Agnello, and orders him to co-host this week. They talk about old times before...
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From the Impact of Graphics to the First Super Robot Wars You Should Play | 04/29/2018 from 2018-04-30T07:00
Kat and Nadia talk about their favorite RPG stories, the impact that art style can have, and many other topics including Persona 5, Radiant Historia, and Bojack Horseman. Then Kat jumps into her gu...
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Where Ni No Kuni 2's Story Went Wrong | 04/23/2018 from 2018-04-23T18:51:58
Kat and Nadia have discuss Ni No Kuni 2's story and where it went wrong as they wrap up their conversation about Level-5's sequel [22:52]. Plus: The pair talk about Monster Hunter World's new event...
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The 5 Best Legendary Weapons in RPG History | 04/13/2018 from 2018-04-16T07:00
Kat and Nadia delve into Final Fantasy, World of WarCraft, and more to find the best legendary weapons in RPG history. From weapons that helped define their series, to weapons that were impossible ...
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Two RPGs at a Crossroads | 04/09/2018 from 2018-04-10T00:27:04
What do Dragon Quest XI and World of WarCraft have in common? They're two RPGs asking themselves, "What's next?" Kat and Nadia discuss that, Kat's other experiences at PAX East, and her hands-on wi...
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Should Dragon Quest XI be on the 3DS? | 03/30/2018 from 2018-04-02T07:00
The Alliance Alive is out on 3DS, but it won't be joined by Dragon Quest XI. Kat and Nadia talk about the spiritual successor to Legend of Legacy [5:00] before moving on to the news that Dragon Que...
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Ni No Kuni 2's Insane Opening, Zanki Zero, Ultima Online War Stories | 03/26/2018 from 2018-03-26T15:53:54
Kat returns from a busy week at GDC to talk Bard's Tale and Zanki Zero, as well as to share some of Ultima Online's craziest war stories. Then Nadia and Kat talk about Ni No Kuni 2's insane opening...
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Our Ni No Kuni 2 Review! | 03/19/2018 from 2018-03-19T12:00
Kat and Nadia settle down to review Ni No Kuni 2! [22:00] How does the combat hold up? Why does the overworld look like it was imported from the PS2? And will Evan Pettiwhisker be the first against...
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Nintendo Direct Recap, Radiant Historia, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 | 03/09/2018 from 2018-03-12T07:00
Kat and Nadia are joined by RPG enthusiast Anthony Agnello to recap Thursday's Nintendo Direct, including the news that South Park is coming to the Switch, and Dark Souls is getting an Amiibo (at l...
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A Tribute to Demon's Souls, the Chrono Trigger Port Disaster | 03/02/2018 from 2018-03-05T08:00
Kat is joined by Demon's Souls experts David Craddock to pay tribute to Demon's Souls as its servers shutdown. Plus, Kat and Nadia rail against the sloppy PC port of Chrono Trigger, and wonder what...
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The Best RPG Endings | 02/23/2018 from 2018-02-26T08:00
Kat and Nadia dive into the best RPG endings and why they work [20:00], with the discussion touching on Final Fantasy X, Fallout, Planescape Torment, the Mass Effect games, Breath of Fire, Chrono T...
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Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Secret of Mana Remake | 02/18/2018 from 2018-02-19T08:00
Nadia returns from her adventures in Japan to discuss why the Secret of Mana remake doesn't hold up to the original [15:00]. Meanwhile, Kat is playing Kingdom Come: Deliverance [27:00], and she has...
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Making Meaningful Decisions in RPGs | 02/09/2018 from 2018-02-10T01:29:46
Kat is joined by guest hosts Caty and Mike to discuss the difficult dance of making meaningful decisions in RPGs, breaking down the endings of Witcher 3, Mass Effect 3, Chrono Trigger, and more in ...
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Panzer Dragoon Saga's 20th Anniversary With The RInger's Ben Lindbergh | 02/02/2018 from 2018-02-03T01:27:43
We celebrate Panzer Dragoon Saga's 20th Anniversary with Ben Lindbergh, author of The Ringer's massive retrospective on Sega's lost classic [26:10]. We talk about the ways it broke new ground, its ...
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Monster Hunter World Review, Cosmic Star Heroine Report #2 | 01/27/2018 from 2018-01-27T08:34:52
The wandering adventurer Bob Mackey returns to the Blood God to discuss what may already be one of the biggest games of 2018: Monster Hunter World! [27:30] Plus, Kat and Nadia talk about the recent...
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Fable Revival Rumors, The Cosmic Star Heroine Report #1 | 01/18/2018 from 2018-01-19T11:00
Kat and Nadia get together to discuss rumors of a Fable revival from Playground Games [8:16], Fable's legacy of ambition and disappointment, and why you should buy Darkest Dungeon the Switch. Then ...
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Our Most Anticipated RPGs for 2018 | 01/12/2018 from 2018-01-12T22:49:56
Kat and Nadia dive into the upcoming RPGs of 2018 with previews of Valkyria Chronicles 4, Dragon Quest XI, Pillars of Eternity Deadfire, the World of WarCraft expansion, Monster Hunter World, and m...
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Final Fantasy IX Report Wrap-up&RPGs We Played Over Winter Vacation from 2018-01-05T23:10:20
What RPGs did Kat and Nadia play over the holidays? Not the ones you might have expected! The pair talk about revisiting Secret of Evermore, Witcher 3, and Darkest Dungeon before officially wrappin...
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The 2017 RPG Year in Review Spectacular | 12/21/2017 from 2017-12-22T01:42:35
With Nadia out sick, Kat is instead joined by Mike to talk about the year in RPGs, argue about Horizon Zero Dawn, and pick the five essential RPGs of 2017. We've got a lot to cover, from Final Fant...
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Xenoblade Chronicles Chapter 3 and Final Fantasy IX Report #10 | 12/15/2017 from 2017-12-15T11:00
Kat and Nadia talk about the peculiarities of Xenoblade Chronicles 2's battle system, what do with common Blade cores, and more as Kat continues through Chapter 3 of the Switch's new RPG. Then Kat ...
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Breath of the Wild DLC, Kat Plays Xenoblade Chronicles 2, NieR Automata | 12/08/2017 from 2017-12-09T01:32:26
Kat and Nadia discuss Breath of the Wild's award-winning night at The Game Awards, the sudden arrival of Champions' Ballad DLC [15:50], and the Romancing Saga 2 announcement [09:05]. Then the pair ...
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Our Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Review [No Spoilers], Secret of Mana Report #3 | 12/01/2017 from 2017-12-01T22:28:52
Kat and Nadia team up to talk about the week's biggest RPG news as the bid farewell to Demon's Souls, discuss Bungie's decision to throttle XP gain in Destiny 2, and Final Fantasy XV's ongoing run ...
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What We're Thankful for in the World of RPGS 2017 | 11/22/2017 from 2017-11-24T11:00
Kat and Nadia celebrate Thanksgiving by talking about what they're grateful for in the RPG space this year (50:50), but not before discussing Sega's surprise Valkyria Chronicles 4 announcement (10:...
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Pokemon Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon Review, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Impression, FFIX Report #9 | 11/17/2017 from 2017-11-17T21:17:58
Kat and Nadia talk about a big week for RPG releases as Nadia shares her initial thoughts on the review version of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and Kat explains why Pokemon Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon should be...
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Horizon Zero Dawn DLC Review, Nadia's Dive Into Etrian Odyssey V, FFIX Report #8 | 11/10/2017 from 2017-11-11T03:24:27
Kat and Nadia talk about Horizon Zero Dawn's new DLC and the advantages of disadvantages of dropping a new adventure into the middle of a story (19:30); Nadia's adventures in Etrian Odyssey V (5:00...
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The Xbox's Checkered RPG History, Final Fantasy IX Report #7 | 11/03/2017 from 2017-11-03T22:29:46
Kat and Nadia get together to discuss the possibility to Yoko Taro directing a Final Fantasy game, recount the checkered history of RPGs on the Xbox (20:00), and dive into the big battle at Alexand...
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Witcher 3's Influence on AC Origins, SMT V Announcement, FFIX Report #6, Secret of Mana Report #2 from 2017-10-28T00:19
Kat and Nadia get together to discuss Kat's recent addition to Destiny 2; the Witcher 3's influence on 2017's biggest games, and the announcement of Shin Megami Tensei 5 before delving into Vivi's ...
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Etrian Odyssey 5, South Park Review, Secret of Mana Remake, FFIX Report #5 | 10/20/2017 from 2017-10-20T21:26:20
It's a packed episode as Kat and Nadia dive into Etrian Odyssey 5, preview the Secret of Mana Remake, and review South Park. Then Kat and Nadia pick up the Final Fantasy IX Report as they discuss a...
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Loot Boxes, Ys VIII Localization Controversy, the Secret of Mana Report, Final Fantasy IX Report #4 | 10/13/2017 from 2017-10-13T21:17:14
Kat and Nadia talk about loot boxes and their relationship to RPGs and debate the need to redo Ys VIII's localization before moving into a brand new report: The Secret of Mana Report! Join Kat as s...
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Golf Story, Mario&Luigi, Final Fantasy IX Report, and Chris Kohler | 10/06/2017 from 2017-10-06T18:54:10
Kat and Nadia discuss a couple of this week's biggest RPG releases—Dragon's Dogma and Mario&Luigi—as well as Golf Story, then jump into the third Final Fantasy IX Report [16:00]. How cool is that a...
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Final Fantasy Report #2 and SNES RPGs... From Hell from 2017-09-29T18:37:14
Kat and Nadia continue their quest through Final Fantasy IX with the second Final Fantasy IX Report (38:45), share their adventures in acquiring an SNES Classic, and pick the five worst SNES RPGs! ...
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The Final Fantasy IX Report Begins! | 09/22/2017 from 2017-09-22T20:35:14
Kat and Nadia talk about Final Fantasy XV on the Switch, Monster Hunter World, and Nier: Automata's sales success, then jump into the main topic: Our first Final Fantasy IX report! (13:23). Then Mi...
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Project Octopath Traveler Looks Awesome! | 09/15/2017 from 2017-09-15T19:40:32
Kat and Nadia go LIVE with their thoughts on all the info from this week's Nintendo Direct, include Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and The Alliance Alive. They also share their impressions on Project Octop...
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Fallout New Vegas With Obsidian and FFVII's 20th Anniversary | 09/08/2017 from 2017-09-08T18:07:25
Kat and Nadia welcome back Josh Sawyer and Feargus Urquhart for a Fallout New Vegas retrospective that delves into why it's such a beloved cult classic (35:42), while also talking about South Park'...
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Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire With Obsidian's Josh Sawyer | 09/01/2017 from 2017-09-01T20:11:48
Legendary RPG designer Josh Sawyer returns to dive deep into Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire's story, premise and multi-classing (18:30), but not before Kat has a healthy rant about NBA 2K18's sta...
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Counting Down the Most Exciting RPGs of Fall 2017 | 08/25/2017 from 2017-08-25T20:26:25
Kat and Nadia talk about the weirdness of Assassins' Creed x Final Fantasy (which is indeed a real thing), then count down the biggest RPGs of Fall 2017! (22:00) Pokemon! Xenoblade Chronicles 2! So...
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We Build Our Perfect RPG Party | 08/17/2017 from 2017-08-18T06:07:54
What party would Kat and Nadia build if they could take any character from any RPG ever? That's what they explore in this week's episode of Axe of the Blood God! (18:00). Also, Nadia recounts her t...
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A Deep Dive Into RPG Battle Systems | 08/10/2017 from 2017-08-11T10:00
Friend of the podcast Steve Tramer returns to have an honest discussion about Persona 5's flaws and extol the virtues of NieR Automata (12:26). Then the pair dive into this episode's main topic: ba...
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Is Atlus Milking the Persona Series Too Much? | 08/04/2017 from 2017-08-04T20:30:49
Kat and Nadia get together to discuss Dragon Quest XI's confirmation for North America, the push toward even more Persona spinoffs (13:00), and thoughts after playing the Final Fantasy XV Multiplay...
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The USgamer Podcast Returns! | 08/02/2017 from 2017-08-03T02:41:42
The USgamer Podcast is back and we're sharing the first episode with our Axe of the Blood God listeners! Kat, Nadia, Caty, and Mike get together to talk Splatoon 2 (4:00), the NHL 18 Beta (11:00), ...
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The World Ends With You is 10 Years Old! | 07/28/2017 from 2017-07-28T08:21:05
Kat, Nadia, and guest Caty McCarthy get together to discuss Final Fantasy XV's weird new multiplayer (2:00), rag on Miitopia (12:45), and review Pyre (26:14). That's all leading up to the main topi...
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The Persona 4 Golden and Chrono Trigger Report Finales! | 07/20/2017 from 2017-07-21T10:00
Kat and Nadia finally wrap up their Chrono Trigger (22:00) and Persona 4 Golden (47:36) reports, but not before diving into Final Fantasy XII and (gasp) Kingdom Hearts 3. It's a historic first for ...
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Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age Review and a Huge "What-if" | 07/14/2017 from 2017-07-14T23:42:15
Kat and Nadia dive into "The Pokemon Mystery Files," Ni No Kuni 2's delay, and an old man yellling at Fallout 4 before reviewing Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age (28:54). In the process, they inve...
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Our Stormblood Review, Breath of the Wild DLC, and More from 2017-07-07T09:02:25
Kat and Nadia band together once more to talk about the Breath of the Wild DLC and a recent interview with Nihon Falcom president Toshiro Kondo. Then Mike Williams comes aboard to review Stormblood...
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The SNES Classic Appears, Valkyria Revolution Fails | 06/30/2017 from 2017-07-01T00:13:03
Kat and Nadia break down the RPGs of the SNES Classic, talk about the latest batch of Final Fantasy XV's DLC (24:30), and lament the utter failure of Valkyria Revolution (37:40). Read more at http...
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Ever Oasis, .hack, and Sakaguchi's Terra World | 06/23/2017 from 2017-06-23T18:59:55
With E3 2017 done and dusted, Kat and Nadia settle in to talk about the Terra Battle sequels (03:00), Pillars of Eternity moving to console (14:10), Final Fantasy XIV's Stormblood expansion (19:30)...
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E3 2017: Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Anthem, Beyond Good&Evil 2, and More from 2017-06-16T10:00
Kat and Nadia recap all of the big announcements from the past week at E3 including Anthem (3:00), the announcement that Xenoblade Chronicles 2 will be out this year (9:35), a new Pokemon generatio...
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Pokemon Ultra Sun&Moon, Mass Effect Andromeda's Woes, and E3 2017 | 06/07/2017 from 2017-06-09T10:00
Kat and Nadia talks about Game Freak's decision to favor the 3DS over the Switch with Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon (05:50), Kotaku's report on the woes of Mass Effect Andromeda (25:45) and the ...
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Where I Am Setsuna Went Wrong, Where Elders Scrolls Online Has Gone Right | 06/02/2017 from 2017-06-02T07:34:16
Kat and Nadia get together to discuss Indivisible's move to the Switch (5:00), the Monster Hunter XX announcement (11:40), and where I Am Setsuna went wrong (23:22). Then Mike Williams returns to d...
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The Chrono Trigger Report Returns! | 05/26/2017 from 2017-05-26T18:20:39
Kat and Nadia talk about the Final Fantasy VII Remake (4:20), Dragon's Dogma Dark Arisen (8:55), and Divinity Original Sin 2 (17:20) before diving into a brand new Chrono Trigger Report (22:20). Pl...
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Fire Emblem Echoes and Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age | 05/19/2017 from 2017-05-20T00:04:47
Kat and Nadia talk about the importance of NPCs in the context of Destiny 2 (1:00), review Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia (7:30), and offer their impressions after a couple weeks with Fina...
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Skyrim Isn't the Best RPG of All Time | 05/12/2017 from 2017-05-12T10:00
Kat and Nadia share Fire Emblem: Shadows of Valentia impressions (5:00) and rant about Skyrim topping Game Informer's Top 100 RPGs of All Time list (22:00), then welcome news editor Matt Kim and hi...
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Our Trails in the Sky the 3rd Review, Deep Learning in RPGs, and More | 05/05/2017 from 2017-05-05T10:00
Kat and Nadia use the latest episode of the RPG podcast to cover a wide range of topics, including Morrowind's 15th anniversary (01:00), Nadia's initial thoughts on Persona 5 (5:20), Deep Learning ...
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Diving Deep Into RPG Dungeons | 04/28/2017 from 2017-04-28T21:16:05
Kat and Nadia delve deep into RPG dungeons this week (30:44), where they talk about their origins, their purposes, and what makes them enjoyable. They also share some of their favorites! Also in th...
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Fire Emblem: Shadows of Valentia Impressions&Cosmic Star Heroine | 04/21/2017 from 2017-04-21T19:11
Kat and Nadia get together to discuss Fire Emblem: Shadows of Valentia (2:00) before being joined by Cosmic Star Heroine creator Robert Boyd for a discussion of the trials and travails of developin...
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Why We Love RPGs | 04/14/2017 from 2017-04-14T20:25:28
It's Axe of the Blood God's 100th episode, and after a quick discussion about Dragon Quest XI, Kat and Nadia use the occasion to talk about their history with the genre and why it means so much to ...
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Persona 5's Streaming Controversy and Seiken Densetsu 3 on Switch | 04/07/2017 from 2017-04-07T17:44:48
Kat and Nadia get together to talk about the possibility of Seiken Densetsu 3 getting an official English release on Switch (1:04), then talk about their progress through Breath of the Wild (12:40)...
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FFXV DLC, Persona 5 (No Spoilers), and Destiny 2 | 03/31/2017 from 2017-03-31T20:49:25
Kat is joined by Nadia and Caty for another Persona 4 Golden Report (20:34), Persona 5 chatter (42:34, no spoilers), and a look at the Final Fantasy XV DLC (03:00). Then Destiny superfan Doc Burfor...
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What Went Wrong With Mass Effect Andromeda? (No Spoilers) | 03/24/2017 from 2017-03-24T18:31:37
Kat is joined by special guest Rowan Kaiser this week for a spoiler-free discussion on what's gone wrong with Mass Effect Andromeda (24:05), as well as to look back on the original trilogy. Plus, K...
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Nier Automata, Persona 4, Chrono Trigger, and Andromeda Drama | 03/17/2017 from 2017-03-17T18:18:58
This week's episode of Nadia and Kat goofing on Mass Effect Andromeda's odd animation problems (1:00) before returning to Persona 4 (10:45) and Chrono Trigger (26:27). Then Caty returns to talk Nie...
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Diving Deep into Zelda: Breath of the Wild | 03/10/2017 from 2017-03-10T20:51:42
Kat and Nadia talk about their experiences with the Nintendo Switch (1:00), then dive deep into a discussion of Breath of the Wild covering its differences from previous games, its difficulty, its ...
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Revisiting Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy XV, and More | 03/03/2017 from 2017-03-03T23:41:15
Kat invites friend of the pod Steve Tramer aboard to talk about Horizon Zero Dawn's quest design (04:20) before taking a deep dive back into Final Fantasy XV (10:30). Then Kat shares another Chrono...
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Chrono Trigger, Horizon Zero Dawn Review, and Persona 3 | 02/24/2017 from 2017-02-24T18:23:28
USgamer's new reviews editor Caty McCarthy joins Kat and Nadia to talk Persona 3 (04:40) and Horizon Zero Dawn (22:20). Then Kat and Nadia have a frank conversation about review scores (40:15) befo...
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Nioh and Fire Emblem Heroes | 02/10/2017 from 2017-02-10T11:00
Kat and Nadia discuss Teddy's big reveal in their latest Persona 4 Golden Report, then talk about the ways in which microtransactions corrupt RPGs in Fire Emblem Heroes. 00:00 Intro05:12 Personal ...
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Hands-on With Switch, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Where the Heck is Final Fantasy VII? | 02/02/2017 from 2017-02-03T11:00
Kat shares her experiences with the Switch and Horizon Zero Dawn, Nadia rants about the absence of Final Fantasy VII Remake, and the pair deliver their verdict on whether Kat should play Persona 3 ...
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Life After Pokemon Bank, Dragon Quest VIII&Torment: Tides of Numenera Interview | 01/27/2017 from 2017-01-27T21:52:33
Kat and Nadia discuss the recently announced Pillars of Eternity sequel, life after Pokemon Bank, and Dragon Quest VIII before hopping into an interview with Brian Fargo about Torment: Tides of Num...
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Fire Emblem and the Switch's RPGs | 01/20/2017 from 2017-01-20T20:35:54
Kat and Nadia goof on one another for their travails in Final Fantasy IV and Persona 4 Golden (and talk about curry) before settling down to look at the Switch's announced RPG lineup and its long-t...
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What We Learned From Final Fantasy VII's Oral History | 01/13/2017 from 2017-01-14T01:39:05
Kat and Nadia welcome Polygon's Matt Leone discuss everything we learned from his mammoth oral history of Final Fantasy VII. Uematsu was jealous of Suikoden? Square almost killed off the entire cas...
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Our Most Anticipated RPGs of 2017! | 01/06/2017 from 2017-01-06T19:15:17
Kat and Nadia conduct another Persona 4 Golden Report, talk some Final Fantasy IV, then settle into a discussion of the most interesting RPGs of 2017. Persona 5! Mass Effect Andromeda! Horizon Zero...
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The 2016 RPG Year in Review Spectacular | 12/22/2016 from 2016-12-23T11:00
Kat and Nadia get together to recap all of the most interesting RPGs before picking the Blood God's Chosen RPG of 2016. Pokemon! Final Fantasy XV! Fire Emblem Fates! Dragon Quest VII! Deus Ex! Witc...
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Star Wars, the Switch, and a Persona 4 Update | 12/16/2016 from 2016-12-17T02:40:31
Mike Williams joins Kat and Nadia to explain why he thinks Knights of the Old Republic is the best Star Wars game ever made. Then, Nadia shares a Persona 4 update before the pair talk Valkyria Revo...
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Persona, Ni No Kuni 2, and Final Fantasy XV's Patches | 12/09/2016 from 2016-12-09T23:39:42
Nadia returns to the show to share some opening thoughts on Persona 4 Golden, speculate on Ni No Kuni 2, and take a dice into SD Gundam Generation Genesis. Then it's back to Final Fantasy XV as the...
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Our Final Fantasy XV Review (No Spoilers) | 12/02/2016 from 2016-12-02T20:55:27
Polygon's Phil Kollar and long-time JRPG enthusiastic Miguel Concepcion join Kat to go in-depth on Final Fantasy XV. Does the open-world world? Is that combat actually better than it seems? And wha...
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Pokemon Stars, the Vita's Secret Strength, and Thanksgiving Memories | 11/25/2016 from 2016-11-25T23:12:02
Kat and Nadia recall their misspent youths playing RPGs over Thanksgiving, then delve into the Vita's secret strengths and rumors of Pokemon Stars for the Nintendo Switch, before finishing off with...
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Our Pokemon Sun and Moon Review | 11/18/2016 from 2016-11-19T00:42:40
Kat and Nadia recount Conan O'Brien's Clueless Gamer segment on Final Fantasy XV and discuss the latest Persona 5 delay, then dive deep into Pokemon Sun and Moon. Is the story successful? How are t...
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Mass Effect Andromeda, Tyranny, Grandia 2 | 11/09/2016 from 2016-11-11T09:00
Kat and Nadia put aside their post-election gallows humor to discuss the recent Mass Effect Andromeda info dump, the first hours of Tyranny, and what RPGs they would like to see from the villain's ...
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Skyrim Remastered, Exist Archive, and RPG Accessibility | 11/04/2016 from 2016-11-04T20:48:36
Nadia and Kat have a lot to rant about as they take on Skyrim Special Edition, Exist Archive, and what accessibility means for the RPG genre. Does Skyrim hold up? Does Exist Archive deserve to call...
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Final Fantasy XV Impressions and a Chat With Wasteland 3's Brian Fargo | 10/28/2016 from 2016-10-28T19:46
Legendary RPG designer Brian Fargo joins the pod to discuss Wasteland 3, his history with the series, the evolution of RPGs, and what it was like to make games back in the '80s. But first, Jeremy a...
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Nintendo Switch! | 10/21/2016 from 2016-10-21T18:05:05
Kat and Nadia go in-depth on Nintendo's newest console. Is it the heir to the Japanese market? Can it go toe-to-toe with the Xbox One and PlayStation 4? And just how excited are we to play Skyrim o...
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Pokemon Sun&Moon, Bravely Default, and More Dragon Quest Builders | 10/14/2016 from 2016-10-14T17:35:12
Nadia and Kat share some additional thoughts on Dragon Quest Builders, then Kat talks about her hands-on experience Pokemon Sun&Moon and how it's coming along. In the second segment, they puzzle ov...
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Dragon Quest Builders, Stardew Valley Update, Steamworld Heist, and Yo-Kai Watch 2 | 10/06/2016 from 2016-10-07T07:00
Kat and Nadia make their first foray into Dragon Quest Builders, examine Darkest Dungeon's foray onto console, and heap (deserved) praise on Steamworld Heist. Then Bob drops by to share his thought...
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More Persona 5, Wasteland 3, and Sports Games as RPGs | 09/30/2016 from 2016-09-30T17:16:05
Kat and Nadia share some more thoughts on Persona 5's import version, discuss the Wasteland 3 announcement, and revisit the merits of Dragon Quest on mobile. Then, at 31:15, Bryan Wiedey of pastapa...
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Persona 5 and SMT 4: Apocalypse | 09/23/2016 from 2016-09-23T20:26:17
Elliot Gay returns to share his thoughts on the first 40 (!) hours of Persona 5, then sticks around to offer his opinion on Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse and Super Robot Wars OG: The Moon Dwell...
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Let's Review Dragon Quest VII! | 09/16/2016 from 2016-09-16T21:23:43
Kat and Nadia get together to discuss a remake that's been a long time coming in North America: Dragon Quest VII. What's the story like? Does it improve on the flawed PSX version? And how long does...
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Trails of Cold Steel 2, Valkyrie Profile, and World of WarCraft: Legion | 09/09/2016 from 2016-09-09T20:29:56
Kat and Nadia take a look at Trails of Cold Steel 2, then Kat takes an Underrated RPG pitch for her favorite RPG of all time: Valkyrie Profile. Afterward (38:38), Jaz and Mike drop by to discuss th...
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SNES in Perspective: Final Fantasy | 09/02/2016 from 2016-09-02T17:54:50
Kat, Nadia, and Bob continue their ongoing "SNES in Perspective" series with the big one: Final Fantasy. How did the SNES change Final Fantasy and vice versa? What was it about the 16-bit era that ...
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Divinity: Original Sin 2's Chris Avellone&Swen Vincke | 08/26/2016 from 2016-08-26T07:49:44
Kat and Bob get together to discuss the little known SNES RPG Robotrek, then Kat welcomes Chris Avellone and Swen Vincke to discuss Divinity: Original Sin 2 - the sequel to 2014's breakout hit RPG....
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Secret of Mana, Final Fantasy XV, and Another RPG Pitch | 08/19/2016 from 2016-08-19T04:09:35
Kat and Nadia chat about some of the latest RPG news (and lament Ash's Pokemon League failures) before diving into the Super Nintendo's impact on the Seiken Densetsu series (20:15) and discussing a...
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SNES RPGs in Context, Shadow Hearts, and Localization Hell | 08/12/2016 from 2016-08-12T19:24:42
Kat and Bob get together to pay their respects to Manabu Daishima, talk about Dragon Quest X on the NX and how it's still alive (02:50), true tales of localization hell (12:15), how the move to the...
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From Ys to Witcher 3 to Golden Sun (And More) | 08/04/2016 from 2016-08-05T02:27:04
Kat and Nadia mark the final days before the next storm of games hit by discussing Ys: Oath in Felghana; Kat's difficulty in engaging with Witcher 3 (12:40); why Dragon Age Inquisition is underrate...
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I Am Setsuna with Kotaku's Jason Schreier from 2016-07-29T17:26:35
JRPG nerds unite as Kotaku's Jason Schreier joins Kat and Nadia for this week's episode of the podcast. The trio begin by discussing Trails of Cold Steel before moving on to reviewing I Am Setuna (...
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Fall 2016 RPG Preview | 07/22/16 from 2016-07-23T00:19:17
On this week's Kat-less episode, Bob, Mike, and Nadia dive into the many RPG releases of the next few months while lamenting their lack of free time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho...
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Pokemon Go and Monster Hunter Generations | 07/15/2016 from 2016-07-15T20:24:16
Pokemon Go mania has gripped the Internet, but not Bob Mackey, who is this week's guest. Kat and Bob debate the merits of Pokemon Go, then review Monster Hunter Generations (24:00) in this monster-...
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8-4 Play x Axe of the Blood God II | 07/08/2016 from 2016-07-08T01:19:43
Kat once again teams up with the crew from 8-4 Play to discuss the progress JRPGs have made over the past 10 years. How has Japanese game development changed, and where is it going? We crack open a...
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The Best RPGs of 2016 (So Far) | 07/01/2016 from 2016-07-01T19:12:55
Kat, Bob, and Nadia discuss Final Fantasy's latest turn on mobile and review the new Star Ocean (15:40) before moving on to discuss the best RPGs through the first half of 2016 (33:56). Odin Sphere...
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Grand Kingdom&Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE | 06/24/2016 from 2016-06-24T18:45:27
With E3 2016 now behind them, Kat and Nadia talk about why RPGs struggle to demo well at big events before jumping into a discussion of Grand Kingdom - the new tactics RPG from NISA. Then, in the s...
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The RPGs of E3 2016 | 06/16/2016 from 2016-06-17T04:36:14
Kat, Jeremy, and Mike come together to discuss RPGs including Horizon: Zero Dawn, Persona 5, Dragon Quest Builds, and of course, Zelda in their post-E3 wrapup show. Lots and lots of RPGs to cover a...
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Final Fantasy XII HD, Super Robot Wars V, and More Odin Sphere | 06/10/2016 from 2016-06-10T17:19:46
Angels sound from on high as Square Enix finally announces the Final Fantasy XII HD Remake, and our fearless leader Jeremy Parish drops by to share his love for one of the franchise's most controve...
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The Push to Revive Suikoden, Odin Sphere, and More | 06/03/2016 from 2016-06-03T20:45:13
It's a packed episode this week as Kat and Nadia revisit Bravely Second and Dragon Quest Monster Joker 2, offer initial thoughts on Odin Sphere Leifthrasir (27:00), discuss the campaign to revive S...
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Dragon Quest Turns 30! | 05/27/2016 from 2016-05-28T00:33:11
Nadia, Bob, and Kat share all of their favorite things from 30 years of Dragon Quest while also getting input from the fans. Favorite monsters, favorite moments, and of course, our favorite games -...
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Mario RPG, Yo-Kai Watch 2, and Oblivion PSP (!?) | 05/20/2016 from 2016-05-20T21:55:57
Kat, Nadia, and Bob talk about the latest RPG news, including the announcement of Yo-Kai Watch 2 and the appearance of Oblivion PSP footage, then take a trip back to 1996 to revisit Mario RPG and S...
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Valkyria Chronicles, Persona 5 News, Lost RPGs | 05/06/2016 from 2016-05-06T16:23:30
Kat and Nadia revisit Valkyria Chronicles, which is getting remastered for the PlayStation 4, discuss the recent Persona 5 news, and talk about the lost RPG franchises that they miss the most. Lea...
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The Best and Worst of RPG Boss Fights | 04/29/2016 from 2016-04-29T07:24:23
What are the best RPG boss fights? And what makes a good RPG boss fight in the first place? Nadia and returning guest SteveTramer join Kat to dissect this crucial aspect of creating a good roleplay...
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Bravely Second | 04/22/2016 from 2016-04-22T18:43:24
Nadia joins Kat to discuss Bravely Second, the sequel to the surprise hit retro RPG. How does it stack up to its predecessor? What is it about retro RPGs that seems to inspire so much passion in it...
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Dark Souls 3 Review Roundtable | 04/15/2016 from 2016-04-15T19:26:51
Kat returns to host a review roundtable with Dark Souls experts Bob Mackey and Phil Kollar of Polygon, with topics including the new combat abilities, questions about linearity, covenants, and whet...
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Final Fantasy XV is Real | 04/01/2016 from 2016-04-01T19:55:26
Nadia joins Kat to discuss Final Fantasy XV's release date, the Brotherhood anime, and the Platinum Demo. Is this real life? Or is this just fantasy? We'll know soon enough. Kat and Nadia also take...
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Salt&Sanctuary and an Interview with Tyranny Director Brian Heins | 03/25/2016 from 2016-03-25T18:09:56
Nadia and guest John Learned join Kat to discuss Salt&Sanctuary from the point of a view of both a Dark Souls fan and a non-fan. Then director Brian Heins talks about the concept behind Obsidian's ...
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I Am Setsuna, Tyranny, and VR: 03/18/2016 from 2016-03-18T17:13:58
Steve Tramer returns for a special GDC episode in which he and Kat discuss Square Enix's I Am Setuna, the newly-revealed Tyranny, XCOM 2, and the pros and cons of VR as it relates to RPGs. Pokken T...
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Our Favorite Legend of Zelda | 03/11/2016 from 2016-03-11T16:54:37
Nadia and Bob join Kat to discuss our recent Legend of Zelda rankings and share their favorite games in the series. Plus, we delve once again into the Odin's Sphere remake, Pokken Tournament, and t...
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Obsidian's Josh Sawyer | 03/04/2016 from 2016-03-04T18:37:40
Obsidian's Josh Sawyer joins Kat to reflect on Pillars of Eternity a year later, explain his approach to RPG design, discuss the development of the expansions, and talk about what's next for Obsida...
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Pokemon's 20th Anniversary | 02/26/2016 from 2016-02-26T20:30:43
Kat and Nadia discuss how Pokemon got them into anime, recall the Pokemon Black and Lavender Town creepypastas, and share some of their favorite monsters on the 20th anniversary of Pokemon Red and ...
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Fire Emblem Fates&Project X Zone 2 | 02/19/2016 from 2016-02-19T19:24:34
Mike and Kat discuss map design, crazy King Garon, and the difference between Birthright and Conquest in their in-depth review of Fire Emblem Fates. Afterward, Nadia explains to Kat why she ended u...
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Breath of Fire and Final Fantasy IX | 02/12/2016 from 2016-02-12T19:01:58
Can an RPG succeed on mobile? Has Breath of Fire held up in the years since its 2016 heyday? Kat and Nadia ponder these questions and more as Breath of Fire 3 and Final Fantasy IX make their triump...
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What Makes a Good RPG Story?: 02/05/2016 from 2016-02-05T19:22:07
Stiv Tramer returns to discuss the possibility of an official localization for Mother 3, then delves deep into the nature of narrative in RPGs. What are the different types of RPG stories? What are...
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Final Fantasy Explorers&Mario and Luigi: Paper Jam: 01/29/2016 from 2016-01-29T20:08:22
GamesBeat's Jason Wilson joins Kat to discuss the merits of Square Enix's latest foray into the Monster Hunter genre, then Bob drops by to share this thoughts on Mario&Luigi: Paper Jam and Dragon's...
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Interview: Exploring the Darkest Dungeon With Tyler Sigman: 01/22/2016 from 2016-01-22T09:13:28
Red Hook Studios designer Tyler Sigman talks about how the art and design of Darkest Dungeon has come together over the past year, as well where his new RPG stands at release and where it's going. ...
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What Hot in Japan 2016: 01/15/2016 from 2016-01-15T19:24:20
Elliot Gay returns to talk about the RPGs that are big in Japan, including SMT x Fire Emblem and Odin Sphere. We also cover what's coming out for the rest of the year, and go more in depth with Tra...
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Counting Down the Most Interesting RPGs of 2016: 01/08/2016 from 2016-01-08T21:08:49
What are the most intriguing RPGs of 2016? Bob and Mike join Kat to discuss Persona 5, Final Fantasy XV, and all the rest of the most exciting RPGs of the new year. Learn more about your ad choices...
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The Best RPGs of 2015: 12/18/2015 from 2015-12-19T00:48:49
What are the best RPGs of 2015? What were our main takeaways from this year in roleplaying games? Bob, Mike, Kat, and newcomer Nadia Oxford all share their thoughts on what has been a packed year f...
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Final Fantasy VII Remake, Ni No Kuni 2, and Bloodborne DLC | 12/11/2015 from 2015-12-12T01:21:45
This past weekend brought with it a ton of RPG news, and Bob and Kat are here to review it alongside special guest John Learned. What does the gang think about Final Fantasy VII going episodic? Can...
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Xenoblade Chronicles X (And the Rest of the Series): 12/04/2015 from 2015-12-04T21:10:56
Polygon's Phil Kollar is back to help Kat recount the journey from Xenogears to Xenoblade Chronicles X, then the two break down the latest from Tetsuya Takahashi and Monolith Soft. We also have ano...
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Fallout 4, Stella Glow, and Valkyria: Azure Revolution: 11/20/2015 from 2015-11-20T19:37:48
Kat and Bob are joined by Polygon's Phil Kollar to discuss Fallout 4's opening, the sometimes confusing mechanics, and the case of the missing Dogmeat. Then, Kat and Bob lament the death of the mid...
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Dragon Quest VII&VIII Arrive at Last&Trails in the Sky SC Interview: 11/17/2015 from 2015-11-17T20:24:48
Dragon Quest VII and VIII for Nintendo 3DS have finally been confirmed for North America! Jeremy and Kat have lots of thoughts on that and Nintendo's other news. Then, XSEED's Jessica Chavez joins ...
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Bethesda's RPGs, How RPGs Can Improve, and Another Giveaway: 11/06/2015 from 2015-11-06T23:38:46
Steve Tramer returns to discuss the high points and low points of Bethesda RPGs over the years and the one way RPGs as a whole can improve. Plus: We're giving away a free copy of Fallout 4 on Xbox ...
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Sword Coast Legends, Divinity, and a Mailbag Giveaway Winner: 10/29/2015 from 2015-10-30T06:51:54
Jason Wilson joins Kat to discuss the new Dungeons&Dragons MMORPG Sword Coast Legends and the console port of Divinity: Original Sin. Plus: We announce the winner of our Dragon Quest Heroes Slime C...
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Tales of Zestiria and Dragon Quest Heroes: 10/25/2015 from 2015-10-26T07:01:27
Mike joins Kat to discuss his review of Tales of Zestiria, then Kat and Bob determine whether Dragon Quest Heroes does justice to one of the best RPG franchises ever. Bonus: A Yo-kai Watch discussi...
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Legend of Legacy, Final Fantasy XII and RPG Localization: 10/19/2015 from 2015-10-19T20:22:49
USgamer contributor John Learned joins Kat to discuss what he learned about the localization of Final Fantasy XII in his recent interview, with some added discussion about Legend of Legacy and the ...
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Disgaea 5 and Other Tactical RPGs: 10/09/2015 from 2015-10-09T23:34:18
Mike Williams joins Kat to discuss Disgaea 5, the difficult challenges facing NIS, and what he likes to see in a tactical RPG. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Undertale, P4: Dancing All Night, and a Belated TGS Recap: 10/02/2015 from 2015-10-02T04:50
Kat and Bob delve into the most curious RPG since Earthbound in Undertale, then jump into Persona 4: Dancing All Night before taking a belated look at the RPGs that came out of TGS. Learn more abou...
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Wrapping Up Destiny: The Taken King: 9/25/2015 from 2015-09-25T12:44:53
Jaz joins Kat to talk about the evolution of Destiny, what the expansion fixes, and what can still be improved. Do the RPG elements work now, or is it still a confusing mess of random systems? Here...
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Lots and Lots of RPGs (and Metal Gear): 9/18/2015 from 2015-09-18T23:32:15
Steve Tramer returns to talk Shadowrun Hong Kong and the delay of Persona 5, with Kat musing on Xenoblade Chronicles X and ranting about Destiny: The Taken King. Bonus: A random Metal Gear Solid 5 ...
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Secrets of Diablo II: 9/11/2015 from 2015-09-11T23:52:05
Stay Awhile and Listen and Dungeon H@cks author David Craddock joins Kat to talk about the story behind Diablo II's tumultuous development, the earliest days of Roguelikes, and as always, what make...
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Fire Emblem Fates: 08/22/2015 from 2015-08-23T01:53:29
Elliot Gay returns to share his thoughts on Fire Emblem Fates and other recent Japanese RPGs. What's the difference between Birthright and Conquest? How does it compare to Awakening? You can find t...
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The Best RPGs Since 2000: 8/14/2015 from 2015-08-14T19:39:09
With USgamer's Best 15 Games Since 2000 list now complete, Kat convenes the crew to talk about the best RPGs on the list. Jaz and Mike drop by to reminisce about World of WarCraft, then Bob once ag...
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Turn-based RPGs in Modern Gaming: 8/07/2015 from 2015-08-08T00:17:51
Bob and Steve join Kat to discuss the evolution of turn-based RPGs, their appeal versus real-time combat, and the news that the Final Fantasy VII remake's gameplay is in for "dramatic changes." Wha...
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Dragon Quest XI, Final Fantasy Explorers, and Odin Sphere: 7/31/2015 from 2015-08-01T00:34:32
On the heels of several interesting RPG announcements, Jeremy Parish checks in to share his thoughts on Dragon Quest XI, Final Fantasy Explorers, and the Odin Sphere remake. Learn more about your ...
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Mailbag! RPG Soundtracks, Victor Vran, and More: 7/23/2015 from 2015-07-24T06:52:51
Rowan Kaiser returns to talks about what he's playing lately and answer questions from the mailbag. What's our favorite RPG soundtrack? Do JRPGs have a future on console? We (mostly) answer these q...
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USgamer x 8-4 Play: 7/17/2015 from 2015-07-17T05:54:33
It's a mega crossover event as Kat heads to Japan to join the 8-4 Play cast for an afternoon of Japanese RPGs, Fire Emblem: Awakening, and chuhai. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone...
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Four Job Fiesta, Vagrant Story, and Persona 5: 7/06/2015 from 2015-07-06T23:30
Steve Tramer returns to explain why you should be running the Final Fantasy V Four Job Fiesta right now, why he doesn't like Vagrant Story, and why he's excited to play Persona 5. Learn more about ...
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Kat and Jeremy React to the Final Fantasy VII Remake: 6/23/2015 from 2015-06-23T19:32:36
The Final Fantasy VII remake is actually happening! Kat and Jeremy share their reactions the day after it happens, then go on to discuss the surprise Nier remake. Learn more about your ad choices. ...
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Earthbound's 20th Anniversary&Looking Ahead to E3: 6/12/2015 from 2015-06-12T06:26:42
On the occasion of Earthbound's 20th anniversary, WayForward's Tomm Hulett shares his love for the Nintendo classic with Kat and Bob as the three offer trivia, analyze the battle system, and more. ...
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Xenoblade Chronicles X Import Preview&Massive Chalice: 6/08/2015 from 2015-06-08T18:29:44
Our old friend Richard from Japan pops in to talk about the first 70 hours of Xenoblade Chronicles X, then Double Fine's Brad Muir talks about the trials and tribulations of designing Massive Chali...
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A Deeper Dive into Witcher 3&Destiny: 5/29/2015 from 2015-05-29T18:34:40
Kotaku's Kirk Hamilton joins Kat to talk about his two favorite subjects - Destiny and The Witcher 3. The pair revisit Witcher 3's combat, talk about the game's depiction of sex, and discuss Destin...
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The Witcher 3: 5/22/2015 from 2015-05-22T23:31:03
Kat, Mike, and guest Jason Wilson break down The Witcher 3's expansive open world, quest design and combat. Does it stack up to the best RPGs on the market? The crew have differing opinions. Learn ...
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Canvassing the RPG Landscape I: 5/15/2015 from 2015-05-15T22:05:17
Jason Wilson returns to canvass the RPG landscape with Kat, covering a host of topics including fetch quests, Persona Q, and Xenoblade Chronicles, as well as the best RPGs so far this year. Learn ...
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Diablo and Marvel Heroes with David Brevik: 5/8/2015 from 2015-05-08T20:05:36
David Brevik joins Kat to talk about the evolution of Marvel Heroes, remember his days with Blizzard North, and share his updated feelings on Diablo III. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit meg...
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Bravely Second and What Else is Hot in Japan: 4/24/2015 from 2015-04-24T15:52:46
Japan correspondent Elliott Gay joins Kat to share his initial thoughts on Bravely Second, Super Robot Wars Z3, and Yokai Watch vs. Pokemon as the pair discuss what's happening in the Japanese RPG ...
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Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin and Path of Exile: 4/17/2015 from 2015-04-17T22:04:38
Mike Williams joins Kat to share his perspective on Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin as a relative newcomer to the series, as well as his thoughts on Dragon Age and Netflix's Daredevil. Then...
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The Gateway Guide to Roguelikes: 4/10/2015 from 2015-04-10T19:20:11
Guest Steve Tramer joins Kat and Jeremy to talk Roguelikes on the occasion of the release of Etrian Mystery Dungeon in the latest episode of our RPG podcast. What makes a good Roguelike? Why are Ro...
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Pillars of Eternity: 4/02/15 from 2015-04-03T06:12:22
GamesBeat editor Jason Wilson and writer Rowan Kaiser join Kat to break down Obsidian's love letter to the Infinity Engine RPG. Does the style still hope up after all these years? Or is Pillars of ...
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Bloodborne: 3/27/15 from 2015-03-27T08:30:51
Polygon's Phil Kollar joins Bob and Kat to discuss From Software's exciting new dungeon crawler, as well as the Souls series itself. Does Bloodborne live up to the Souls series' lofty reputation? O...
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Final Fantasy XV Demo and Final Fantasy Type-0 HD: 3/20/15 from 2015-03-20T04:50:50
Nine years and a name change after its first announcement, Final Fantasy XV finally has a demo. Does it live up to expectations? Kat and Jeremy analyze Episode Duscae, then hop into another long-aw...
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Final Fantasy VI and Cosmic Star Heroine: 3/13/15 from 2015-03-13T07:40:15
Kat, Bob, and Jeremy inaugurate the "Canon of the Blood God," where they decide whether to add Final Fantasy VI to the canon. Plus, Kat interviews Robert Boyd, creator of the upcoming retro-styled ...
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Chatting with Richard Garriott and Shadowrun Chronicles' Jan Wagner: 3/06/15 from 2015-03-06T08:22:04
Richard Garriott offers an update on Shroud of the Avatar as well as some of his philosophy on game design in this special episode for GDC 2015. Plus, Cliffhanger's Jan Wagner speaks frankly on the...
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What is an RPG?: 2/20/15 from 2015-02-20T22:11:27
Kat, Bob, and Jeremy kick off the very first episode of USgamer's new RPG podcast with the age old question, "What exactly is an RPG?" You know, aside from a miserable pile of secrets? We explore t...
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