State of the Arc Podcast

In the seventh episode of our deep-dive analysis of Xenogears, Bart confronts Sigurd and Citan about their ties to Solaris. Then, plans are made to usurp power from Shakhan and put Bart back on the throne. Time Codes: 1. Intro (0:00) 2. Bart Confronts Sigurd and Citan (0:17) 3. Massive Tangent About A Game We Want Someone To Make (26:08) 4. Battle Plans To Take Back Bart's Throne (33:37) 5. Calm B...

In the sixth episode of our deep-dive analysis of Xenogears, we escape Bledavik and make our way to Nisan. Here we learn about the origins of Nisan's church and its founding figure (Sophia) who bears a remarkable resemblance to Elly. We also make an effort to summarize Carl Jung's influences on this game. Time Codes: 1. Intro and Update On FF Retrospectives (0:00) 2. Battle Against Ramsus (03:18)...

In the fifth episode of our deep-dive analysis of Xenogears, the introduction to the Yggrasil through rescuing Margie and... Chu Chu... This part of the game is amazing. The cinematography and the character development we witness here are integral to understanding Xenogears. Timecodes: 1. Intro (0:00) 2. Yggdrasil (1:06) 3. Enneagram (46:30) 4. Yggdrasil attacked (1:10:50) 5. Ramsus intro (1:26:40...

In the fourth episode of our deep-dive analysis of Xenogears, we're joined once again by Chris and Eric from Retrograde Amnesia to cover Dazil through the Yggdrasil. From translation to philosophy, this part of the game sets the stage for all the events that will follow. Time Codes: 1. Intro (0:00) 2. Dazil (3:00) 3. Desert (30:10) 4. Grahf (36:40) 5. Captured (1:00:52) 6. Liberation (1:17:20) 7....

In the third episode of our deep-dive analysis of Xenogears, we're joined once again by Chris and Eric from Retrograde Amnesia to cover Lahan Village through the Blackmoon forest. There's a lot to talk about in this short introductory section of the game! Retrograde Amnesia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-ZMfpromeak2dHU4IybFYw Timecodes: 1. Opening Political Exposition Dump (0:00) 2. T...

In this second episode of our deep-dive analysis of Xenogears, we're joined by Chris and Eric from Retrograde Amnesia to cover a very basic introduction to gnostic cosmology and the opening cutscene of the game--which is filled to the brim with symbolism and foreshadowing! Retrograde Amnesia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-ZMfpromeak2dHU4IybFYw Timecodes: 1. Introduction To This Week's...

In the first episode of our deep-dive analysis of Xenogears, we cover the development history of this JRPG classic. We'll introduce you to the creators who conceived the world and show how they secured the opportunity to create a brand new IP for Squaresoft--one which was meant to push the industry in ways Final Fantasy simply wasn't doing. Time Codes: 1. Intro (0:00) 2. Where To Begin? (4:17) 3....

In this fourth episode of our deep-dive analysis of Nier Replicant, we look at Grimoire NieR and other supplementary materials to help us understand the story better. Next, we move on to Xenogears and hope everyone will join us next week! Time Codes: 1. Intro (0:00) 2. Overview of the Podcast (1:34) 3. Grimoire Nier (8:00) 4. Emil and Sodom and Gomorrah (1:49:21) 5. Roberto Szeck, Kaine’s Portrait...

In this third episode of our deep-dive analysis of Nier Replicant, we look at the recontextualization of the B and C routes, as well as endings B, C, D, and E. We also discuss the new Episode Mermaid scenario added to Seafront! Time Codes: 1. Intro (0:00) 2. Corrections From Last Time (5:16) 3. Beginning Our Discussion On Route B (35:38) 4. Discussion On The Effectiveness Of Route B's Recontextual...

In this second episode of our deep-dive analysis of Nier Replicant/Gestalt, we look at all the key story events leading up to the A ending of the game. Since there is a lot to cover, we will mostly be focusing on summarizing those events and dissecting the technical execution of each scene. Next time, we'll focus a little more on character analysis and philosophy. Time Codes: 1. Intro (0:00) 2. Ni...

In this first episode of our deep-dive analysis of Nier Replicant/Gestalt, we look at the key members of the development staff and the reasoning behind their creative decisions in turning Nier into its own IP rather than a direct Drakengard sequel. We also examine the thought process and style of director Yoko Taro, and how his observations of human nature shaped the themes of Nier. After that, we...

In this episode, we analyze the end of disc 3 and the conclusion of the story in disc 4 of Final Fantasy 8. This culminates in the party entering the Lunatic Pandora to confront Seifer and Adel, as well as the initiation of time compression, and the final showdown with the sorceress Ultimecia herself. Time Codes: 1. What Game Are We Covering Next? (0:00) 2. Flower Field Scene And Additional Though...

In this episode, we analyze disc 3 of Final Fantasy 8, which begins with Squall waking up in his room at Balamb Garden and realizing Rinoa has fallen into a coma. As Edea unveils that a sorceress from the future is behind all the chaos that's been happening, Squall is forced to evaluate his feelings, his emotional trauma, and whether he wants to continue leading the Garden--all while his desperati...

In this third episode of our deep-dive into Final Fantasy VIII, we examine the entirety of disc two, which includes an escape from D-District Prison, the destruction of a Galbadian missile base, navigating a civil war within Balamb Garden, crashing into Fisherman's Horizon, saving Balamb Village from the clutches of the Sorceress, learning the truth of our characters' origins in a certain orphanag...

In this second episode of our deep-dive into Final Fantasy VIII, we examine the graduation of our party members from students at Balamb Garden into full members of SeeD, then continue all the way through the end of disk 1--which culminates with the failed assassination attempt on the sorceress Edea.

In this first episode of our deep-dive into Final Fantasy VIII, we look at the key members of the development staff and the reasoning behind their decisions to mix things up and take FF8 in a very different direction from past entries. We also examine the style of director Yoshinori Kitase and character designer Tetsuya Nomura--this being their first opportunity to do things the way they saw fit w...

You guys have voted for Final Fantasy VIII to be our first game to cover in a multi-episode, long-form analysis. We've got lots of great info ready for the first episode! Looking forward to sharing it with you. Join Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/vWzXpTc Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/resonantarc Twitter: @resonantarc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/resonantarc

We will be adjusting our podcast format starting with the next episode! Moving forward, we are going to have the audience select a game for us to do a deep dive on, which we will analyze over multiple episodes. Please vote on which game you'd like us to start with by clicking on the following strawpoll: https://www.strawpoll.me/21134118 Time Codes: 1. Patreon Announcements (0:51) 2. Changing The F...

Final Fantasy XVI has been officially announced, and today we're giving our thoughts on the first trailer. We'll also discuss what we've been up to over the past few months, give some updates on videos we're working on, and more! Steel Lake Studio: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtO2ECGzLXSaimfQtwbvv6w Parallel Quest Podcast: https://www.steellakestudio.com/parallelquest FF16 Japanese Trailer (E...

We're back in the studio again! Today we discuss how recent events are accelerating change in the game industry, how Lost Odyssey explores the burdens of immortal life, and the problems with writing time travel stories. Time Codes: 1. Accelerating Change In The Game Industry (3:15) 2. How Lost Odyssey Explores The Burdens Of Immortality (19:15) 3. The Problem With Writing Time Travel Stories (53:3...

Pat Holleman joins me again, alongside Hian (a game developer living and working in Japan) to talk more about our thoughts on the Final Fantasy VII Remake as well as what we think the "spirit" of Final Fantasy is. We also dig into series creator Hironobu Sakaguchi's JRPG formula. Pat's Upcoming Video Game "Quartet": https://quartetrpg.com/ Pat's Reverse Design Series: http://thegamedesignforum.com...

Time Codes: How Has Your Audience Responded To The Ending?: 3:58 What Were Your Expectations For FF7R When First Announced?: 12:27 How Do You Define A Remake? What Is The Purpose Of A Remake?: 27:47 Was Square's Marketing Misleading?: 53:26 What Do You Think Square Got The Most Right With FF7R?: 1:06:14 Discussion On FF7R's Design Philosophy And Similarity To FF13: 1:18:35 Discussion On FF7R's Com...

Today we discuss our thoughts on Dragon Quest Your Story, Final Fantasy The Spirits Within, and the Final Fantasy VII Remake demo. Casen's Dragon Quest Your Story Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak3oANe5dfs TIME CODES: 1. Patreon Questions (2:36) 2. Should Adaptions Be Judged By Faithfulness To Source Material? (22:29) 3. Thoughts On Dragon Quest Your Story (39:25) 4. Thoughts On Final Fant...

Today we discuss what we believe the "spirit" of Final Fantasy is, as well as what makes a good "foil" character. TIME CODES: 1. What Is The Spirit Of Final Fantasy? (6:22) 2. What Makes A Good Foil Character? (35:00)

Today we give our thoughts on the Witcher Netflix series and look back on our favorite games of both 2019 and the last decade as a whole. TIME CODES: 1. Thoughts On The Witcher (Netflix) (2:52) 2. Our Favorite Games Of 2019 (33:06) 3. Our Favorite Games Of The Decade (1:05:05)