Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast

It's a great big multiplayer RPG episode as USG's Play Together Week gets underway! Kat and Nadia are joined by Mike Williams to reminisce about Final Fantasy 11, discuss the World of WarCraft: Shadowlands Alpha, and revisit Fallout 76 through its new Wastelanders update. Is it finally worth returning to Fallout 76? The Blood God crew weighs in! Plus: We're introducing a brand new segment this week! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Special guests Steve Bowling of GameXplain and Alex Donaldson of VG247 join Kat to discuss Final Fantasy 7 Remake's unique ending, and what might come next [10:35 to 57:00 if you want to avoid spoilers]. Then Nadia returns to ponder whether Xenogears and Suikoden 2 should get remakes, talk about quests that can be completed without violence, and compare the Switch's current RPG library to that of the 3DS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senior Guides Writer Jake Green joins Kat for a non-spoiler review discussion of Final Fantasy 7 Remake! They talk about what it gets right (the characters and soundtrack), where it suffers (the padding), and whether it lives up to all the hopes, dreams, and speculation of the past 15 years. Don't worry, this episode has NO SPOILERS. Read our review here: https://www.usgamer.net/articles/final-fantasy-7-remake-review Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MinnMax's Ben Hanson joins Kat and Nadia as a special guest to remember the awkwardness that was Square's direct to video era. From Advent Children to Crisis Core, the trio recount the good and bad of the compilation, and wonder whether it deserves any sort of mention in Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Plus: Nadia's Bravely Default 2 impressions! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Persona 5 Royal just a week away, Nadia, Eric, Hirun, and Caty get together for a spoiler-filled and in-depth conversation about the original game. They discuss Persona 5's history; social links; amazing soundtrack, and whether or not the ending ultimately works. Also, Nadia and Hirun chime in with a bit of (not as spoiler-filled) chatter about Persona 5 Royal. Does Persona 5 still hold up after three years? Listen and decide for yourself! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Which RPGs have the best intros? Kat and Nadia talk through the introductory sequences in some of the best RPGs ever made, and why they work and don't work. Why does Final Fantasy 7's opening hit so hard? What about Mass Effect 2? The pair explain what a really good intro can do for a story, and all the ways that a bad one can sap an otherwise good RPG's momentum. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a Mailbag of the Blood God this week as Kat and Nadia tackle all of your biggest questions! This week's questions include: - Why do RPG protagonists always seem to use swords? - What are the Blood God's commandments for succeeding in RPGs? - Why are airships so awesome? - Do we feel guilty over dropping an especially long RPG? - What are some of our favorite examples of customization in an RPG? - What JRPGs would we recommend to someone who grew up with PC RPGs like Baldur's Gate? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Console RPG Quest continues with our exploration of the PlayStation 2, just in time for its 20th anniversary! We talk about its incredibly deep library of RPGs; the rise of companies like NIS and Level-5, and classics like Final Fantasy 10 and Persona 3. Plus, Kat recently got a chance to check out Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Baldur's Gate 3, and she has lots of thoughts! Get ready because we've got a huge podcast for you this month! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's episode tackles the tropes that Kat and Nadia love (and hate) to see in RPGs. From customizable characters to sewer levels; flowery monologues to confusion status effects, Kat and Nadia talk about the elements that draw their attention, and the elements that immediately turn them off. It's a discussion that delves deep into some of the key components of the RPG genre, and game design in general, and will hopefully get you thinking about the elements you love to hate and see in games as well. Don't miss out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former 1UP/EGM writer Shane Bettenhausen returns to talk about the Dreamcast's RPG legacy, the greatness of Phantasy Star Online and Skies of Arcadia, and its sneaky interesting catalog of import RPGs. Plus, staff writer Hirun Cryer drops by to discuss the new Fire Emblem: Three Houses DLC, Persona 5 Royal, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Having chosen the best RPGs of the 2010s, Kat and Nadia conclude by taking a closer look at where JRPGs stand as the new decade gets underway. They talk about what the return to consoles have meant for the genre; the proliferation of cheap and accessible graphics technology, and the sneaky importance of Steam. Plus, Kat has some hot takes about the Vita. Check it out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kat and Nadia look back on the decade that was the 2010s for RPGs! They discuss some of the biggest storylines; look back on the most interesting RPGs, and talk about the games that didn't make it on USG's Top 100 RPGs of the Decade. Plus: The duo analyze Final Fantasy 7 Remake's latest trailer! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's another Axe of the Blood God mailbag! We tackle all of our your questions as we wrap up the first month of 2020. Some of the topics that we cover in this month's mailbag: - Can we expect a truly innovative JRPG in 2020? - What are the best short RPGs? - Which otherwise good RPGs have been ruined by a design or story choice? - What's one think we wish all RPGs would adopt? - Is Kat really a Hufflepuff? Plus, Mike joins us as we talk Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, Temtem, and the new Kingdom Hearts 3 DLC! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tokyo Mirage Sessions#FE is out on Nintendo Switch, and Kat and Nadia is here to see whether it holds up! Was it undeservedly overlooked on Wii U? Or should it have stayed in the studio? Plus, brand new Fire Emblem: Three Houses DLC, Byleth in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and your reactions to the N64 Console RPG Quest! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Console RPG Quest continues with the Nintendo 64! We discuss Nintendo's break with Square; why it was an important turning point in Nintendo's history, and why its RPG library ended up being so light [23:50]. Plus: We talk about Pokemon Sword and Shield's newly-announced DLC and what it means for the series going forward! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a brand new year, and that means new RPGs! Join Kat and Nadia as they get excited about Cyberpunk 2077, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Tales of Arise, and all the rest of this year's biggest games! Plus, we talk about the potential impact of a new console generation, the Witcher on Netflix, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The end of 2019 is upon us, and that means it's time to discuss all of our favorite games! Eric Van Allen and Mathew Olson join the pod to talk Goose Game, Trails of Cold Steel 3, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, and the rest of the best games of the year. Get a fire going, grab a mug of hot chocolate, and have a listen as we wrap up 2019! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kat and Nadia are joined by Caty to recap the year that was 2019 in RPGs! They discuss all the big stories, the big trends, and the biggest games, including: - The Year of the Switch Port - BioWare's Struggles - The Year Long National Pokedex Obsession - Fire Emblem: Three Houses being just great - Outer Worlds being... good? - Disco Elysium changing how we think about character progression - ... And much more! It all adds up to the Blood God's Pick for the Best RPG of 2019! Join us as we wrap yet another amazing year in RPGs! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just in time for its 25th anniversary, Kat and Nadia delve into the RPG legacy of the PlayStation! The pair discuss its massive impact on the genre; share their favorite memories, and discuss classic RPGs ranging from Chrono Cross to Beyond the Beyond. Is PS One the most important RPG console ever? The answer is more complicated than you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New games, new updates, and a booming streaming culture has contributed to a mini-renaissance for Dungeons & Dragons. Dicebreaker's Sara Elsam joins us to talk about how that happened, as well to talk about her evil bard; adventures in being a DM, and roleplaying vs. systems-based RPGs. Bonus: We take a look at Mistover, a KRPG dungeon crawler, and decide if it deserves the Blood God's blessing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nadia and Kat talk some more about Pokemon Sword and Shield, and some of the surprising references within. (Trust Kat to be able to identify actual real-world stadiums within Galar region.) There's also a lot of end-of-the-year talk about the upcoming Game of the Year Awards, and some of the curious snubs that happened in this year's nominations. Oh Disco Elysium, where art thou? Finally, after all the talk and the news is squared away, it's time for a big mailbag episode, including: 1. Why Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire is good 2. Should Bahamut Lagoon be brought back? 3. How do we handle our backlog? 4. More Sega Saturn RPGs 5. Why Super Hylide was an interesting Sega Genesis RPG 6. Recommendations for more sci-fi RPGs like R-Type Command Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pokemon Sword and Shield is here! GameSpot Pokemon Master Kallie Plagge joins Kat and Nadia to talk about the joys (and the controversies) of the latest generation of Pokemon! [Review begins at 17:22] Plus, we discuss the return of Romancing SaGa 3, and wonder whether Anthem can be saved with a "Realm Reborn" reboot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kat takes a break from the RPG beat to talk about one of the biggest games of the year: Death Stranding! She's joined by Eric Van Allen and Hirun Cryer to discuss Bridge Babies, deconstructing America, and clocking bandits over the head with cargo. This one is full of spoilers so beware! Plus: Why it's time for Mass Effect to be remastered. Spoilers begin at 17:40 and continue for the rest of the episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Console RPG Quest returns with the Sega Saturn! We're joined by Digital Foundry's John Linneman to discuss the technology, games, and history that make it a unique standout in the history of consoles. Plus, some Death Stranding review chatter, and a recap of the Diablo 4 and World of WarCraft announcements! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Developers Leonard Boyarsky and Nitai Poddar come on the show to talk about the development of The Outer Worlds, Boyarsky's feelings on Fallout 3, and more. Plus, Mike talks about his review of the game. It's an all Outer Worlds podcast as we go in-depth on this spiritual successor to Fallout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the RPG deluge continuing, Kat and Nadia are joined by Caty and Mike to pick through the biggest releases, including Trails of Cold Steel 3, Disco Elysium, and Little Town Hero. Plus, we talk Witcher 3 on Switch, whether it's been a good generation for games, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The mailbag returns as Kat and Nadia talk about what RPGs genre novices should tackle first; revisit the legacy of Final Fantasy 13, and more! Plus, they review Indivisible, the new RPG by the creators of Skullsgirls. Does it live up to the legacy of Valkyrie Profile? Find out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're almost finished the 16-bit era in our Console RPG Quest, but first we have to talk about some of the lesser-known consoles of the period. We take a shotgun approach in this episode, covering the RPG histories of the 3DO, Jaguar, NeoGeo, and CDi (they exist!) Also, we say a few words about AlphaDream as it files for bankruptcy, and talk more about portable RPGs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What's better than an RPG? An RPG you can stuff in your pocket and tote around like a designer dog. (Please do not shove tiny dogs into your pockets.) With Kat overseas taking care of Big Editor Things for the site this week, Nadia teams up with Eric to discuss the beauty of portable RPGs, and talks about some of their favorite handheld adventures. Also in this episode: The Grandia HD Collection is getting a big patch, and Eric gives his in-depth impressions of GreedFall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Fall 2019 release period is here! To prepare for the oncoming deluge of games, Kat and Nadia talk about all the biggest RPGs of the season, including Outer Worlds, Pokemon, Disco Elysium, and more. Plus, Caty joins the crew to extol the virtues of Ni no Kuni, and they talk Switch Lite, Apple Arcade, and Link's Awakening. The long wait is over; now it's time to play some games! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kotaku editor and Retronauts veteran Chris Kohler join Kat and Nadia to discuss what may be the greatest RPG console of them: The Super Nintendo! They recall their history with Nintendo's 16-bit marvel, talk about why it was initially controversial, and explain why it holds up so well today. Plus, Link's Awakening impressions, a Sega Genesis Mini Review, and some TGS discussion! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Axe of the Blood God is back after an impromptu hiatus, and there's a ton to cover! Kat and Nadia look back on the 20th anniversary of the Dreamcast and Final Fantasy 8, recap the big Nintendo Direct that included a Tokyo Mirage Sessions announcement for Switch, and do a quick Final Fantasy ranking. Then Kat reviews Monster Hunter World: Iceborne and talks about why it's a phenomenal expansion, and why RPG fans should definitely check it out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tokyo RPG Factory takes its third crack at making a successful RPG. Is Oninaki the game that finally puts them over the top? Nadia shares her review! Plus, our impressions of the Dragon Quest 11 demo on Switch, and a big ol mailbag in which we talk about RPG tragedies, the rare SSI Gold Box game on Genesis, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a busy week on Axe of the Blood God as Kat and Nadia share their respective impressions of Witcher 3 on Switch and Grandia HD, and also sneak in a little more Fire Emblem: Three Houses chatter for good measure. Then it's on to the Console RPG Quest for the Sega Genesis, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Phantasy Star, Shining Force, the Sega CD... Kat and Nadia celebrate an amazing RPG legacy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the wake of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Kat is joined by Caty McCarthy and Eric Van Allen to talk about the best RPG romances. Which games do it best? What are their secrets? And most importantly of all... Triss or Yennefer? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Game Boy's 30th anniversary is upon us, and as it happen, it's the next stop in our ongoing Console RPG Quest! Kat and Nadia reflect on their time with the tiny handheld, the incredible RPGs that it spawned, and how it transcended its humble origins to become one of the most important platforms ever. Plus, Kat reports back after playing The Outer Worlds, and she has more thoughts on the ongoing Pokemon National Dex controversy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kat is joined by GameSpot's Kallie Plagge and Gamesbeat's Mike Minotti to review Fire Emblem: Three Houses. With Three Houses now out in the wild, the spoiler limiters are officially OFF for this big review roundtable! Kat, Kallie, and Mike talk about how their playthroughs went and what they thought about the end, plus topics including the combat, romances, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Williams returns to the show to review the new Switch exclusive action RPG, Marvel Ultimate Alliance, as well as to provide his long overdue thoughts on the new Final Fantasy 14: Shadowbringers expansion. In the spirit of Comic-Con, there's also a bunch of talk about the Marvel Cinematic Universe! Plus, Nadia and Kat talk a little more about Fire Emblem: Three Houses! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a bit of a drought, Nadia and Kat finally have some new RPGs to play! Kat is busy playing Fire Emblem: Three Houses, and she thoughts on its battle system, how the academy system works, and whether it successfully makes the transition to console. Meanwhile, Nadia has a review of Dragon Quest Builders 2! Plus: The pair talk about whether they're picking up the Switch Lite, and why it means big things for Pokemon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Kat on vacation, Nadia and special guest host Ray Barnholt bust out the gasoline and matches and make a huge fire. Then they sit beside the flames and have a nice chat about non-RPGs franchises that were made into RPGs. Turns out not every RPG spin-off can match the quality of Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, though. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kat and Nadia didn't quite do the PC Engine's RPG legacy justice with their last episode, so they circle back to talk about one of its best franchises: Cosmic Fantasy! Plus, Kat shares her thoughts on the Golden Saucer, Dyne, the politics of North Corel, and more. Plus: Full reviews of Slay the Spire and Bloodstained! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Console RPG Quest returns as Kat and Nadia examine the RPG legacy of a console that has been in the headlines lately: The TurboGrafx-16! They talk about the success of Far East of Eden, the outsized impact of Nihon Falcom on its RPG library, its success in Japan, and more! Plus, Kat has an update on her Final Fantasy 7 playthrough, and Nadia talks about the release of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

E3 2019 is over at last, and Caty is ready with her report from the field. She joins Nadia and Kat to talk about her impressions after playing Final Fantasy 7 Remake; share her thoughts on the Year of Keanu, and discuss all the rest of the RPGs at E3. Plus, Kat vents over the news that the latest Pokemon generation won't feature the entire Pokedex. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We got a deeper look at Final Fantasy 7 Remake at E3 2019, and Kat and Nadia are hyped. They react to the updated battle system and talk about all the ways that it successfully captures the spirit of the original. Plus, they talk about Microsoft's lackluster showing, Cyberpunk's surprise Keanu Reeves reveal, and all the rest of the big RPG news from the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

E3 2019 is just a week away, and Axe of the Blood God is here with a full preview of all the major storylines and announcements from this years show. What can we expect from the new Xbox? Will Fable put in an appearance? What about that rumored George R.R. Martin game? Nadia and Kat talk about all these, plus Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Cyberpunk, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Console RPG Quest continues with a look at the Sega Master System and Game Gear: two consoles that were overshadowed by their competitors from Nintendo but nevertheless gave us some quality RPGs (mostly Phantasy Star). Kat and Nadia and explore Sega's early 8-bit legacy, talk about some of the notable RPGs to appear on each (and the SG-1000, too), and ponder why the Master System's RPG library isn't stronger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We covered the early days of Atari and Intellivision, but console RPGs were really born on the NES. Join Kat and Nadia for Part 2 of the Console RPG Quest as they remember the console that gave us some of our greatest RPG franchises: Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, Megami Tensei, and more. Why was the NES such fertile ground for RPGs? And do its greatest RPGs still hold up? We answer all of these questions as our epic Console RPG Quest continues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Detective Pikachu is now out, and Nadia and Kat are here with their review! Listen as they talk about how well the Pokemon ultimately come out; Bill Nighy, and why it works as a video game movie. Plus, with Final Fantasy 7 Remake finally reemerging, Kat and Nadia share all of their reactions to the new teaser as well as the decision to drop the original battle system. And they welcome a new member to the USG team as well! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the Top 25 RPG countdown now complete, it's time for Kat and Nadia to embark on a brand new quest. Enter the Console RPG Quest: a multi-part series that will take us through the history of RPGs large and small. We'll be talking about powerhouses like the SNES and PlayStation 2, but also curiosities like Wonderswan. First up: Colecovision, Intellivision, and Atari 2600! Find out how these early consoles took their first halting steps into the RPG genre in the days before Dragon Quest! Plus, Nadia plays Trails of Cold Steel, we read your letters, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Interceptor to Boo, animal buddies have a strong history in RPGs. Kat and Nadia trace their history from the days of Dragon Quest 5 to the present day, discussing their various usages, as well as ranking their five favorites (spoiler: Dogmeat is in there, because Dogmeat is a very good boy). Plus, Kat and Nadia review SteamWorld Quest! Does Image and Form's popular indie series successfully make the transition to card-based RPG? Find out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices