RPGFan's Retro Encounter

2019 has barely begun and Retro Encounter will try something a little different. The four panelists are sick and tired of talking about RPGs for 170 episodes, so for 171 they'll try the opposite route and talk about their favorite video games and video game series that RPGFan doesn't cover. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Alana Hagues, Nathan Lee, Peter Triezenberg Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: r...

The Retro Encounter episode that yours truly dreaded to record is here. Kingdom Hearts, the popular Square-Disney crossover PS2 RPG, gets discussion worthy of its cult following. Deep appreciation for Kingdom Hearts' voice acting and music and considerably less appreciation for the designs of a few early stages are the stories of the day in our first Kingdom Hearts episode. Featuring: Peter Trieze...

Retro Encounter indulges in its host's selfish whims and does a deep dive discussion into Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of An Elusive Age, the latest title in the seminal Japanese RPG series. Important characters, plot points, modern RPG amenities in a traditional series, and weaponized nostalgia are all brought up, but the music isn't. It was for the best. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Alana Hagues, Rob...

Retro Encounter puts a bow on 2018 by discussing several of its video game highlights, including games that quest, games that hunt, games that spin, games that code, and even games that Go. Here's to the year that's gone and to the year about to begin! Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Robert Fenner, Alana Hagues, Leona McCallum, Peter Triezenberg Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgfan.com Twit...

The Retro Encounter panel's original plan was to record a single episode about battle systems in RPGs, but there ended up being so much to discuss that we're splitting it into two episodes. Today we focused on turn-based combat, from the earliest Japanese RPGs through grid-based systems to whatever the hell Final Fantasy XII is. So check the attacks queue, wait your turn, and strike that episode l...

Kotaro Uchikoshi's visual novel has an intriguing beginning and a dramatic middle, but the end is where it's at. Today's episode of Retro Encounter goes deep into the finale of 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors. Neuroscience, quantum physics, and prosopagnosia all feature prominently in a surprisingly academic episode of Retro Encounter! Featuring: Hilary "Hilary" Andreff, Trent "The Stran...

This month on Retro Encounter a group of puzzle enthusiasts try to escape a sinking ship in 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors, the DS visual novel and puzzle adventure filled with murder, intrigue, and arithmetic. In the first Retro Encounter episode dedicated to 999, discussion centers on the game's cast, structure, and numerous instances of the number 9. There are A LOT. Featuring: Hilar...

Retro Encounter is legally required to do at least one Pokémon episode a year, and we complete our quota with a very special Pokemon episode! Four Pokémon enthusiasts devise teams for a theoretical Elite Four, and then conspire to build a team for a worthy Champion. Really though, it's an excuse to discuss our favorite Pocket Monsters. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Alana Hagues, Nathan Lee, Peter Tr...

Happy Turkey Day from Retro Encounter! It was too challenging to devote an entire episode to the best RPG turkeys, so the discussion ended up being about RPG foods and feasts instead. The panelists break down their favorite cooking systems, foodie side quests, and the most delicious-looking meals in RPGs. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Hilary Andreff, Keegan Lee, Tris Mendoza Get in Touch: RPGFan.com...

It's time for the Sun to set on this game journal and your three Adepts are back, back, back again with a second Golden Sun podcast! Come join us as we discuss solving colour-based puzzles while colourblind; try to figure out if this game was just a stealth remake of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone; and fall in love with everyone's favourite man-eating basement amphibian, Toadonpa! Featur...

Join us on the first part of our November game journal, the GBA classic Golden Sun, as our three intrepid editors unravel the myriad mysteries of Weyard. Is Kraden a bad role model for children? Is Vale the worst starting town in an RPG? And will Tris be able to keep himself from spoiling the sequel before the end of this game journal!? Find out all that and more! Featuring: Leona McCallum, Keegan...

It's the most wonderful time of the year, which means Retro Encounter is getting its spook on. Host Marcos Gaspar assembles the crew to have a brief discussion on Japanese indie no-budget horror titles, followed by a playthrough of Mermaid Swamp. Four friends embark on a camping trip to the mountains, but a stalled engine sees them forced to spend the night at a kindly old gentleman's decrepit man...

Our Mega Man Legends experience concludes this week, in which Mr. Volnutt travels through a few tiresome elemental dungeons and buys expensive shoes. Our hero learns how to circle-strafe and all about his past in the second half of his second game, and we talk all about it on Retro Encounter! Featuring: Robert Fenner, Scott Clay, Mike Salbato Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgfan.com Twi...

New islands, new robots, and new pirates are in store for our panelists as Mega Man Legends month continues. In our first episode on Mega Man Legends 2, the panelists go over the game's multitude of improvements made to Mega Man Legends 2 as well as the characters and plot points encountered in the first two islands. We admire Mega Man Volnutt, but maybe not as much as Tron Bonne does, in today's...

Our discussion of the first Mega Man Legends concludes in our new podcast episode. Who is the mysterious robot at the center of the ruins? How much Zenny do you need to upgrade all the weapons? What's on TV in Mega Man's airship? All these questions and more, featured on this week's episode of Retro Encounter! Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Scott Clay, Robert Fenner, Mike Salbato Get in Touch: RPGFan...

Retro Encounter celebrates the recent release of Mega Man 11 by revisiting the two action RPG adventures of the Blue Bomber on the original PlayStation! Today we play through the first half of Mega Man Legends, exploring the ruins under Kattelox Island and lamenting the weaknesses of early 3D action games. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Scott Clay, Robert Fenner, Mike Salbato Get in Touch: RPGFan.com...

Suikoden II is a true cult classic, and five podcast panelists try their best to do it justice in our second Suikoden II podcast. Vampires are hunted, unstoppable forces meet immovable objects, and endgame scenarios are flagged in the thrilling conclusion to Suikoden II. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Alana Hagues, Keegan Lee, Leona McCallum, Tris Mendoza Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgf...

Somehow, we've barely talked about Nintendo's decades-long series of strategy RPGs on Retro Encounter, so today is the day we correct that injustice! Series origins, favorite characters, the future of Fire Emblem, and the state of the fan community are all discussed. Together we ride! Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Nathan Lee, Leona McCallum, Peter Triezenberg Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro...

Suikoden II was the most-requested Retro Encounter game (from listener emails) for the first three years of the podcast, so today we give the people what they want! Luca Blight's savagery, Jowy Atreides' ambition, and Nanami's role as the perfect big sister are all topics on the latest Retro Encounter episode. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Alana Hagues, Keegan Lee, Leona McCallum, Tris Mendoza Get i...

Retro Encounter fooled its listeners good in April of this year, so in September the same three panelists make it up by rattling off a list of top ten SNES RPGs, for real this time. Did we include any Quintet games? How many Final Fantasy games made it? Listen and learn! Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Keegan Lee, Peter Triezenberg Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgfan.com Twitter: @rpgfanco...

Join us for the exciting conclusion of our Shadow Hearts game journal as we tour Europe! It's a refreshing melding of the familiar and fantastical as we meet vampires, psychic London orphans, and even some really likable townsfolk. We reminisce and talk about connections with the rest of the series (mostly Koudelka) as we learn the truth about the man who calls himself Roger Bacon and see what hap...

150 episodes in, and Retro Encounter still can't stay on topic. For this milestone episode five panelists read a collection of listener emails received over the past month, with topics ranging from great RPG battle systems to white whales to suggestions to future episodes. And, perhaps appropriately, episode 150 clocks in at almost exactly 150 minutes. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Robert Fenner, Al...

What mischief will our panel get into as we follow along with the Rude Hero and play through this PS2 gem? We're discussing this title's abundant atmosphere - the spooky, ghostly, and humorous - as the party journeys through East Asia. Some of us are returning to this tale of malice and soul graveyards, while one of us is playing it for the first time. One of us is new to Retro Encounter entirely!...

Final Fantasy VII is an unassailable classic in the eyes of many RPG fans, and naturally Retro Encounter's panelists are divided on their feelings about the upcoming FF VII remake. What parts are we concerned may get cut? Should the game move to action-oriented combat? Will Sephiroth's role expand? All of this and more. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Leona McCallum, Rob Rogan, Peter Triezenberg Get i...

Setting is an extremely important element to any RPG, adding to a game's visual, interactive, and tonal presentation. So naturally a few Retro Encounter panelists have thoughts. Four panelists each present a few of their favorite RPG worlds, detailing why they're great to explore and to experience. Featuring: Hilary Andreff, Alana Hagues, Leona McCallum, Michael Sollosi Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Em...