Strife's Sanctum

Another nice anime here. With a title like this, they could have messed up big time. However, with a more educational/thought provoking idea concerning how monsters/monster girls/demihumans work in society, this provides a wholesome attitude for a fun time. Podcast Schedule (Based on Saturday Upload Dates) September 9th: River City Girls 1&2 September 16th: The Quintessential Quintuplets Septe...

Finishing off the original Ace Attorney Trilogy, Trials and Tribulations brings together the best of all three games, with a story that ties together everything in an amazing three final cases. Add in some levity in two other smaller scale cases, and you have what is widely considered the best Phoenix Wright game by a wide margin. Podcast Schedule (Based on Saturday Upload Dates) September 2nd: In...

I reviewed the original Trigun a few months back. If you haven't listened to the review yet, go here first: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/citizen-strife/episodes/Strifes-Sanctum-Podcast-84-Trigun-e1vtcej It seems only fitting that now the (first?) season of Stampede is done, that this gets reviewed as well. What started as a sort of stiff, belabored reimagining turned into a unique,...

You're not seeing double: after doing a version of this on my own, Leigh contacted me and asked talk about her own experiences with FF7's litany of minigames...so she did. Podcast Schedule (Based on Saturday Upload Dates) August 19th: Trigun Stampede August 26th: Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations September 2nd: Interviews With Monster Girls September 9th: River City Girls 1&2 Sep...

I've played FF7, I've done a podcast on FF7, but there's still tons more to be mined from one of the biggest games of all time. This week's podcast is a more thorough examination of something FF7 did maybe a little too much of: sidequesty bullcrap. This game is littered with sidequests and minigames big and small. Some are awesome (G-Bike/Mog House/Chocobo Breeding), some are not (...

This week's anime review is a show about half mobster drama, half monster killing spree. While it still holds up after 20 years, a lot of the things I remember liking and disliking have still held true. The mob/yakuza family dynamic isn't anything you haven't seen before, but the characters make for a compelling story in most cases. The issues arise when taking the action sequences out...

This game was a love letter to old school Final Fantasy. It maybe a little too much follows tradition, all while trying to do a rug pull that is a cool idea, but terrible execution. However, the gameplay is a revitalization of the job system, adding synchronicity between party members and turn order to make a cool all-around game that turn-based fans would love. Podcast Schedule (Based on Sunday U...

It's been two years since I began doing podcast reviews. I enjoy doing it, and it's a change of pace from all the gaming stuff, and an outlet to talk about what I've done (or what Leigh and I have done together). It'll be nice to reflect on things as well. The games that worked, didn't work, and things I learned from them. Podcast Schedule (Based on Sunday Upload Dates) July 30...

This week's anime review takes us back to Remnant. RWBY has seen it's up and downs, but it went in a totally different direction this season. Going for a more "Alice in Wonderland" approach, RWBY spent time dealing with the main four again, which was a nice change from other seasons. Alongside strong character worth with Jaune and Neo, Volume 9 went back to basics with success. P...

Before hitting it big with Xenoblade, Monolith Soft was an independent company led by former Squaresoft veterans. They wanted to take their Xenogears game and spin it off into a intense multi-part space opera game franchise. While Xenosaga didn't reach either the game amount nor critical or commercial success, it is hard to deny its place in JRPG history. It was a tentpole franchise for me in...

An anime that flew under the radar for me, Yamato is a remake of a 1970s space opera classic. While the "fighting aliens and terra forming Earth" stuff isn't a new concept, this show succeeds by taking time to learn about the individual characters on both sides. It is an appreciated detail that goes a long way to turn this into a must watch. Podcast Schedule (Based on Sunday Upload D...

For my 100th episode, I had very few topics in mind. I knew I'd have to do something I considered special. That said, it makes all the sense in the world to celebrate the completion of a full P4G playthrough by talking about it at length. The uploads are still a couple weeks from finishing at time of posting, so bear that in mind before watching. Podcast Schedule (Based on Sunday Upload Dates)...

Legend of Legaia complete, now it's time for Leigh and I to discuss our experiences. Podcast Schedule June 18th: Chobits June 25th: Persona 4 Golden *100th Episode* July 2nd: Space Battleship Yamato 2199/2202 July 9th: Xenosaga Episode 1: Der Wille zur Macht July 16th: RWBY Volume 9 July 23rd: 2-Year Podcast Anniversary If you're interested in more Leigh shenanigans, check out her Twitch s...

Another trip down memory lane with a comedy that has deeper meaning than one would immediately see. Chobits has some poignant moments that stand the test of time for me, and I recommend this as an easy watch. Podcast Schedule June 25th: Persona 4 Golden *100th Episode* July 2nd: Space Battleship Yamato 2199/2202 July 9th: Xenosaga Episode 1: Der Wille zur Macht July 16th: RWBY Volume 9 July 23rd:...

This week sees the return of original programming. We start with a nice romantic comedy from last year. A couple of interesting characters, a good lewdness that doesn't stray TOO far, and a great sense of comedic timing help this show standout. I'm happy it is getting a second season soon. Podcast Schedule: June 11th: Legend of Legaia w/LeighClipse June 18th: Chobits June 25th: Persona 4 G...

Mega May concludes with a game that has a battle system that carries its entire runtime. While it apes Pokemon in writing and tone, MMBN's grid based action card system is so unique, it stands on its own as a game (and franchise) that found an audience and re-release to this day. Podcast Schedule: June 4th: My Dress-Up Darling June 11th: Legend of Legaia w/LeighClipse June 18th: Chobits June 2...

Mega May continues with a departure from the norm: Legends. A 3D shooter/platformer type game in the vein of Tomb Raider, Legends goes for a very kid friendly presentation. However, it offers good characters and heavy customization options for Mega Man (Volnutt) to use against enemies. Podcast Schedule: May 28th: Mega Man Battle Network June 4th: My Dress-Up Darling June 11th: Legend of Legaia w/L...

Mega May continues with the second in the X lineup. While the game has some advancements, they also take a couple steps back in presentation (lack of environmental disruption of later stages). However, the game still features some great music, and continues the slightly darker bend of the Mega Man mythos. For those who haven't listened to the X1 episode, please go here first: https://spotifyan...

*Posting this a few days early because of vacation* This week starts what I hope will be a recurring series each year: Mega May! There are so many Mega Man games, it'd be hard to do them scattered throughout the year. So, I'll do my best to condense multiple games into one month. I'll start with the game that began it all, Mega Man. While it is a solid experience, it shows its age with...

This week's anime review is a sleeper hit from late last year. If you're looking for a period piece show with class drama and a dash of mysticism, this one fits the bill. It is held together by the two main leads. Podcast Schedule (Based on Sunday Dates): May 7th: Mega Man 1/Powered Up May 14th: Mega Man X2 May 21st: Mega Man Legends May 28th: Mega Man Battle Network June 4th: My Dress-Up...

This week's game review is one of the staples of Square's golden era of the 90s. Widely regarded as one of the best JRPG ever, Chrono Trigger is made by veterans of Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy developers. Fashioning an all new story, Chrono Trigger managed to create many new standards for the genre. While it isn't my favorite of the vaunted SNES JRPGs, I would be remiss if I didn&#3...

If you missed the first episode reviewing SxF, check this out first https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/gnyU9cRp3yb This week, we dive back into the ridiculous antics of the Forger Family. They add a new family member, deal with love triangles, family drama, but still maintains the awesome rush of comedic energy from the first half. Podcast Schedule (Based on Sunday Dates): April 23rd: Chrono Tri...

This week's review goes all the way back to 1987. First on the MSX2 home computer, and then ported to the NES, this was the start of the crazy headtrip that was the Metal Gear franchise. It's a grounded start, given what I know about the franchise in the Solid days. The limitations of the old school hardware forced a very simple, puzzle like game. There's still a multitude of weapons,...

This week's anime review is a trip down memory lane. Alongside Chobits, this is my favorite show from CLAMP. Made concurrently while Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle was airing, xxxHOLIC is a comedy horror with leanings into the occult and ayakashi/yokai spirits (similar to Mushi-shi). Held together by a unique art style and a fascinating female lead character, this show is one I always enjoy re-wa...

There are very few games in the past decade I would put on par with the golden age 90s/early 2000s icons. Ys VIII, Dragon Quest XI, Persona 5, and this. From a long line of critically acclaimed brawler games from an underrated franchise that is finally getting its due, Like A Dragon takes Yakuza in an amazing new direction. It amps up Yakuza's half crime thriller/half insane weird sandbox styl...