Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast

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 conversational podcast, and how it's all going to work. Stay tuned for the first full episode on June 10! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 included in this episode, in which we are joined by Eric Van Allen and VG247's Alex Donaldson, who talk about the failings of Vampire: The Masquerade and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, the successes of Final Fant...

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 fan-favorite RPG holds up. Plus: Track of the Week, a potential World Ends With You sequel, Kat's favorite podcasts, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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, it has grown in esteem as fans have come to better appreciate its beautiful graphics and large library. But what about its RPG legacy? Tune in and listen as Kat and Nadia remember Pokemon Ruby, Fire Emble...

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 Mario. Then Kat shares her thoughts on Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition, and listeners get to weigh in on the failed RPGs they want to make a comeback! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit meg...

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, Resonance of Fate, The Last Story, Kingdom of Amalur: Reckoning, and more. Do these games deserve another chance? Maybe, maybe not, but they at least deserve to be remembered. Learn more about your ad...

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, Tales of Symphonia, Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door and the rest of the RPGs that defined the GameCube. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 into the Secret of Mana soundtrack, celebrate Fire Emblem's 30th anniversary, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: Shadowlands Alpha, and revisit Fallout 76 through its new Wastelanders update. Is it finally worth returning to Fallout 76? The Blood God crew weighs in! Plus: We're introducing a brand new segment this wee...

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 spoilers]. Then Nadia returns to ponder whether Xenogears and Suikoden 2 should get remakes, talk about quests that can be completed without violence, and compare the Switch's current RPG library to that of...

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 padding), and whether it lives up to all the hopes, dreams, and speculation of the past 15 years. Don't worry, this episode has NO SPOILERS. Read our review here: https://www.usgamer.net/articles/final-fan...

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 of the compilation, and wonder whether it deserves any sort of mention in Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Plus: Nadia's Bravely Default 2 impressions!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adcho...

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 links; amazing soundtrack, and whether or not the ending ultimately works. Also, Nadia and Hirun chime in with a bit of (not as spoiler-filled) chatter about Persona 5 Royal. Does Persona 5 still hold up af...

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 so hard? What about Mass Effect 2? The pair explain what a really good intro can do for a story, and all the ways that a bad one can sap an otherwise good RPG's momentum. Learn more about your ad choices....

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 Blood God's commandments for succeeding in RPGs? - Why are airships so awesome? - Do we feel guilty over dropping an especially long RPG? - What are some of our favorite examples of customization in an RP...

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 and Level-5, and classics like Final Fantasy 10 and Persona 3. Plus, Kat recently got a chance to check out Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Baldur's Gate 3, and she has lots of thoughts! Get ready because we'v...

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 talk about the elements that draw their attention, and the elements that immediately turn them off. It's a discussion that delves deep into some of the key components of the RPG genre, and game design i...

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 RPGs. Plus, staff writer Hirun Cryer drops by to discuss the new Fire Emblem: Three Houses DLC, Persona 5 Royal, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 for the genre; the proliferation of cheap and accessible graphics technology, and the sneaky importance of Steam. Plus, Kat has some hot takes about the Vita. Check it out! Learn more about your ad choi...

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 on USG's Top 100 RPGs of the Decade. Plus: The duo analyze Final Fantasy 7 Remake's latest trailer! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 truly innovative JRPG in 2020? - What are the best short RPGs? - Which otherwise good RPGs have been ruined by a design or story choice? - What's one think we wish all RPGs would adopt? - Is Kat really a Hu...

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, brand new Fire Emblem: Three Houses DLC, Byleth in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and your reactions to the N64 Console RPG Quest! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 light [23:50]. Plus: We talk about Pokemon Sword and Shield's newly-announced DLC and what it means for the series going forward! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 year's biggest games! Plus, we talk about the potential impact of a new console generation, the Witcher on Netflix, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: Three Houses, and the rest of the best games of the year. Get a fire going, grab a mug of hot chocolate, and have a listen as we wrap up 2019! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices