RPGFan's Retro Encounter

Grim Fandango continues to stun our panel with its original setting and sharp wit, and continues to frustrate that same panel with 1990s adventure game design. But what were the panel's overall feelings? Does Manny manage to rescue Mercedes? How fast does Glottis go? These questions and more are answered in today's podcast. Featuring: Alana Hagues, Marcos Gaspar, Michael Sollosi Get in Touch: RPGF...

Blizzard's Diablo series is over twenty years old, and over three games and two official expansions it's changed in leaps and bounds. Three of RPGFan's premier Diablo fanboys examine the evolutionary arc of the series, from the plodding walking speed of the original 16-floor dungeon to the satisfying gameplay of the Diablo III Necromancer class. Join us for a gothic fantasy Retro Encounter retrosp...

Retro Encounter gets spooky in August with a playthrough of the classic 1998 LucasArts adventure game, Grim Fandango. Snappy dialog, obtuse puzzles, aggressive fiery beavers, and mysterious cat races all make an appearance in Grim Fandango's first two days, as Manny Calavera seeks justice for himself and his clients. Featuring: Alana Hagues, Josh Curry, Marcos Gaspar, Michael Sollosi Get in Touch:...

Several RPGFan staff are big fans of Pokemon, so of course they have strong feelings about the different generations of Pokemon games. In today's episode, three panelists argue to determine the best overall Pokemon generation, with some discussion followed by a vote. Naturally, the arguments are adamant, not timid. Featuring: Peter Triezenberg, Alana Hagues, Michael Sollosi Get in Touch: RPGFan.co...

The GameCube is not the first console many people think of when we think about RPGs. If it doesn't come into your mind eventually, though, you're doing something wrong. We look back at the best multiplayer RPGs and forgotten gems on the system, and of course, with it being Nintendo, we could not escape without talking about some of their most famous mascots. This was where the Tales of series expl...

Four EarthBound panelists return to discuss Earthbound's alternately charming, bizarre, disturbing, and satisfying finale, from deserts to swamps to prehistoric underworlds (?) and alien attacks from the distant past (???). It's another hour of EarthBound banter from Retro Encounter! Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Hilary Andreff, Robert Fenner, Keegan Lee Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgf...

Last year, four Retro Encounter panelists had a blast playing Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, a murder mystery novel rife with twists and turns. In 2017, three of those four panelists return for a special one-off episode on its sequel, Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair. There's a lot to discuss about this island in the sun; we'll be playing and having fun! Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Alana Hagues,...

EarthBound is one of the oddest, most original Japanese RPGs on the Super Nintendo, and over the years it's amassed a cult following dwarfing that of Happy-Happyism. In this week's Retro Encounter, four panelists explore EarthBound's first half, taking Giant Steps all the way to Summers in summer. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Hilary Andreff, Robert Fenner, Keegan Lee Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email...

Produce! was a game developer operating from 1990 to around 2000, and their output in that era resulted in three strange, unique, and fascinating RPGs: The 7th Saga, Brain Lord, and Mystic Ark. For today's Retro Encounter, one knowledgeable Produce! historian and one inquisitive 7th Saga fanboy discuss those three titles in exhaustive detail. Featuring: Robert Fenner, Michael Sollosi Get in Touch:...

When we last visited Dragon Quest V in Retro Encounter, our hero was incapacitated in a stranger's front lawn, but a chance meeting with his family has him return to action! Continue the Dragon Quest V's hero's journey as he rescues his wife, avenges his father, and raises his children while defeating a demon grandmaster. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Keegan Lee, Robert Steinman Get in Touch: RPGFan...

It's no secret that we here at RPGFan love Xenoblade Chronicles. We wanted to do a full playthrough of the game for Retro Encounter, but (and this will surprise no one) it's just too damn long. So instead, we gathered a panel of Xeno fans to chill and chat about all things Xenoblade. Join us as we discuss the world, story, gameplay, and music of one of the best RPGs of the past decade! Featuring:...

The people have spoken! Earlier this year, readers and listeners voted for Retro Encounter to play Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride, and today Retro Encounter delivers! Our three panelists discuss the tragic life story of Dragon Quest V's hero, the game's motley menagerie of monsters, and the heroine's extremely brief pregnancy. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Keegan Lee, Robert Steinman Get...

A Bird Story, Kan Gao's second indie hit, is a preview for the upcoming game Finding Paradise, but is a beautiful silent film of a game in its own right. With zero lines of dialog and a runtime of under 90 minutes, A Bird Story won't take up much time to play, but it quickly seized the hearts of these two Retro Encounter panelists. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Peter Triezenberg Get in Touch: RPGFan...

Everyone has a what-if game. Or several. A game that only exists in theory, in the dreams of gamers who wish their favorite developers could make a title with everything they ever wanted. In today's Retro Encounter, Rob and Peter wax hypothetical about video game projects that they wish could happen in the future, from unconfirmed Sega sequels to Nintendo meta-projects. Featuring: Robert Fenner, P...

The Retro Encounter crew continues their journey through the blasted hellscape of Darksiders, going through The Black Throne and beyond. Tune in to hear our thoughts on the game's final dungeon and the final stages of War's journey, as well as some speculation on what a potential Darksiders III. Hey, we didn't think they'd go and announce it before the episode came out! Featuring: Peter Triezenber...

We've talked about Zelda games before on the podcast, but what about Zelda-likes? This week on Retro Encounter the panel dives into Darksiders, the brutal, edgy action game inspired by Zelda, God of War, and others. Join us as our panelists guide the incarnation of War as he wages war through a battleground of angels, demons, and all manner of horrors. Featuring: Peter Triezenberg, Marcos Gaspar,...

In their second Tales of the Abyss episode, Retro Encounter re-examines the principal characters, breaks down the motivations of the game's villains, and tries to make sense of the ending. Some of these endeavors are more successful than others. So what are the overall thoughts of three Tales-playing veterans? Either listen to the episode or read The Score. Featuring: Stephanie Sybydlo, Alana Hagu...

For some reason, Mario "Mario" Mario and Luigi "Mario's brother" Mario are renowned as stars of platforming adventures, wacky sports titles, and chaotic fighting games, when we all know that their finest work is in RPGs. Three Retro Encounter panelists break down the Mario RPGs, from their SNES beginnings to last year's Color Splash. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Peter Triezenberg, John Tucker Get i...

Tales games are ever-present JRPGs, and recently it feels like a new one gets released every year. This week the Retro Encounter panel looks back to the Tales heyday and examines a series fan favorite, Tales of the Abyss. They go deep into the game's heavily political story, complex cast of characters, and Jade's dark sardonicism. Especially that last one. Featuring: Stephanie Sybydlo, Alana Hague...

Inspired by the recent announcement of the Seiken Densetsu Collection for the Nintendo Switch, Retro Encounter devotes an entire episode to celebrating the highs and lows of Seiken Densetsu. The discussion topics range from the first four Mana classics, to the ill-advised Mana revival in 2006, to some unusual tangents into Radiant Historia and the 2000 Summer of RPG. Give it a listen! Featuring: M...

Retro Encounter is legally allowed to podcast about Persona once a year, so in 2017 we're tackling the groundbreaking 2006 PS2 RPG: Persona 3. The panelists get deep into playable characters, social links, Tartarus, Nyx, and more in this very Persona(l) episode of Retro Encounter. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Robert Fenner, Alana Hagues Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgfan.com Twitter: @...

Do we love seeing dogs in RPGs? Do all dogs go to heaven? Which dog is the best dog? Who let the dogs out? Yes, yes, all of them, and undetermined. None of those questions are addressed in this week's Retro Encounter, but Alana and Mike talk about dogs for an hour regardless. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Alana Hagues Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgfan.com Twitter: @rpgfancom Instagram:...

So a polite robot, a gallant frog, and a cavewoman without an understanding of personal space walk into a bar, and save the world from the apocalypse? Join us for the conclusion to RPGFan's podcast all about Chrono Trigger, where the panel explores endgame strategies, storyline theories, and the other mysteries of Squaresoft's 1995 classic. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Chris Gebauer, Alana Hagues,...

Four Retro Encounter panelists gather to come up with a list of a few of their favorite games. Sound familliar? Possibly. Regardless, today's podcast is an exercise to determine Retro Encounter's favorite Final Fantasy game. What could possibly go wrong? Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Alana Hagues, Stephanie Sybydlo, Peter Triezenberg Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgfan.com Twitter: @rpgf...

Chrono Trigger is one of the few RPGs that's widely considered to be an all-time (ha!) classic. Today four Retro Encounter panelists break down the first half of Square's 1995 Dream Project, right up until the first visit to Zeal. Join us discussing the past, present, and future of Chrono Trigger! Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Chris Gebauer, Alana Hagues, Peter Triezenberg Get in Touch: RPGFan.com E...