RPGFan's Retro Encounter

Three years hence the War of the Knights...The old ways rang of their death knell, a fresh wind began to blow. The path the one knight chose, he continued being a knight even after. This week on Retro Encounter, our panel returns to discuss the second half of Falcom's oft-forgotten dark fantasy action RPG Xanadu Next. We cover the game's creative boss fights, the emergence of Castle Strangerock fr...

Still...An ancient castle that only appears in the mist, and a holy sword that rests therein...It's like a fairy tale! Just hearing about it makes my heart beat faster! This week on Retro Encounter, a panel of Falcom afficianados (and one relative newcomer) explores the ruins of Xanadu Next 's Harlech Island. Released all the way back in 2005 (and brought to US shores courtesy of XSEED Games in 20...

This podcast is historically accurate. You can attack its weak point for massive damage. The era of the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii was a monumental one. The advent of high-definition visuals, the improvement of online play for consoles, and unprecedented console processsing power lead to seven-plus years of generation-defining video games. Naturally, we're here today to talk about the RPGs....

…Whatever. This week on Retro Encounter, the panel is back to offer their thoughts on all the (beautiful?) nonsense that happens in the second half of Final Fantasy VIII. Which one of us prefers Triple Triad over the entire rest of the game? Did our positive impressions crumble under the weight of the many, many plot twists? Wait. What's even going on here... and does it matter? Listen in for our...

I dreamt I was a podcast host. On this week’s episode of Retro Encounter, a panel of four veterans and one newbie takes advantage of Zach’s absence to play the controversial but undeniably stylish Final Fantasy VIII. How do we feel about its unconventional design and storytelling choices? Is the cast of fashionable teenage soldiers brilliantly or nonsensically written? What does “Junctioning” even...

Quit the idle chit-chat and let's listen to Retro Encounter. This week on Retro Encounter, we dive into the second half of Persona 5 , including all the post-game Royal content. Did this game really need to be longer? What do we think of the new content? Just how long can one game be? Listen in to find out! Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Audra Bowling, Michael Sollosi; Edited by Zach Wilkerson Opening...

Looking cool, Retro Encounter. This week on Retro Encounter, we dive into the first half of Persona 5 . We discuss the dazzling style, combat, and the sometimes less than dazzling structure. Who do we want to romance? Does the game still hold up? Does Morgana ever let us do anything but sleep? Listen in to find out! Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Audra Bowling, Michael Sollosi; Edited by Zach Wilkerso...

Retro Encounter is the only reason to do anything in this life. This week on Retro Encounter, we dive into the 2022 Obsidian masterpiece Pentiment , a game about murder, religion and the stories we tell about those things. Is there a right answer? Who do we accuse? Why are Socrates and God on the same screen? Listen in to find out! Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Hilary Andreff, Aleks Franiczek, Ben Lo...

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

...wrong. I am a podcast. This week on Retro Encounter we dive into the second half of Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade . How much of the story do we actually get to experience? How much do we enjoy the late game maps? What are our favorite support conversations? Listen in to find out! Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Audra Bowling, Ben Love, Lucas Greene; Edited by Zach Wilkerson Opening and ending music...

For years, I've podcasted. Now, let those podcasts show their worth! This week on Retro Encounter we're discussing the first half of the first game localized to the West of that most famous SRPG series: Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade. Does the host jive with the squares and the RNG? Do we even discuss the story? Who is the early game MVP? Listen in to find out! Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Audra Bow...

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

I love you, and that's why I gotta listen to Retro Encounter. On this week's episode of Retro Encounter, we chat about the twisty, turny second half of 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim . Do all the plot points land? Who was our favorite character? Is there actually a reason they're naked in the Sentinels? Listen in to find out! Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Aleks Franiczek, Ben Love; Edited by Zach Wilkerson...

I don't trust much in this post-war world, but if there's one exception, it's my Retro Encounter. On this week’s episode of Retro Encounter, we're jumping through time and getting inside our mechs in the first half of Vanillaware's 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim . We talk about our first impressions of the game, some frustrating encounters with crepes and cats, and the basic but addictive nature of Destr...

I sure hope this episode isn't BadBad. On this week's episode of Retro Encounter, we cover the most interesting RPGs of the year, but this time, we flash it back to 1995. We discuss design decisions, varying localization quality, and those insane encounter rates. Does someone bring on a really bad RPG just for the fun of it? Listen in to find out! Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Lucas Greene, Ben Love,...

I hope there is something really amazing on top. If we dont find Dragon Quest V , it is all your fault. This week on Retro Encounter, we undertake a difficult endeavor yet again: making a tier list of one of the most popular RPG franchises. This time, it's Dragon Quest ! Do things get heated? Who really loves a 100 hour game? Does anything finish in D tier? Listen in to find out! Featuring: Zach W...

Who is the greatest Western RPG developer? [Intelligence] “Obsidian” [Lie] “Not Obsidian” This week on Retro Encounter, we're discussing the legendary history and output of Obsidian Entertainment. Four Obsidian-heads form a party and break down the developer’s different eras, from their beginnings as part of Black Isle Studios to their current output as part of Microsoft, and everything in between...

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

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

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

Women, children, the elderly...doesn't matter. If you listen to Retro Encounter, you're going to have a good time. On this week's episode of Retro Encounter, we dive into the wild and wacky world of Yoko Taro, best known for his work on the NieR and Drakengard franchises. We discuss game design, themes, and just how many Taro games one person can play in a month without going insane. Can we make s...

If you wish to live, choose only Retro Encounter! On this week's episode of Retro Encounter, we finally finish Drakengard . We cry, we wail. Oh wait, that's the characters. Just how messed up are the additional endings? Can anyone ever truly be happy? Do rhythm games belong in an RPG? Listen in to find out! Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Aleks Franiczek, Ben Love, Steph Sybydlo; Edited by Paul Dennis...

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

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

You've got to jump into the podcast! This week on Retro Encounter, the panel is back to dig into the story-heavy second half of Breath of Fire II . Who can't stand the solo sections? Just how long can a final dungeon be? Is this the first time we killed God? Listen in to find out! Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Mike Salbato, Matt Wardell; Edited by Paul Dennis Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri...