Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast
511 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 days ago - ★★★★★ - 374 ratingsKat Bailey, Nadia Oxford, and Eric Van Allen explore Final Fantasy, Skyrim, and all the best in the wonderful world of role-playing video games! Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/bloodgodpod
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Episodes
Can Square Enix Be Saved and Does It Need Saving?
May 06, 2024 13:00 - 1 hourA slew of un-announced titles from Square Enix have just been skewered by the masamune in a grand restructuring. In the wake of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's sales, where does our beloved JRPG machine go from here? The odds of getting a Various Daylife 2 seem slimmer than ever. Kat, Nadia, and Eric discuss the future of the house that Final Fantasy built and more on this week's episode! Listen AD-FREE and get hundreds of hours of bonus episodes by subscribing at patreon.com/bloodgodpod Also in th...
Fallout 4 Mini-Pantheon, Metaphor GOTY '24?
April 29, 2024 12:00 - 1 hourLet's re-litigate like it 2015! Does Fallout 4 deserve the hate that it gets in certain circles? With the current-gen update and the TV series bringing Fore-out back to the Fall-front it's time for Kat and Eric to go head-to-head and determine if Fallout 4 is one of the greats of the genre or deserves to be cast into the Pandaemonium pit. Also in this episode: Eiyuden Chronicles' bumpy patches Metaphor ReFantazio Kat rides a rollercoaster and finishes Unicorn Overlord in that order This W...
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Review w/ Lucas White
April 22, 2024 07:00 - 1 hourWhen you consider inflation that's really only gonna get you as far as seventy-ish heroes. Either way the spiritual successor of Suikoden has arrived! Is it worth the wait? Did they manage to fit all them heroes into the Switch version? Eric, Nadia, and special guest Lucas White discuss this much-anticipated crowd-funded torch-bearer of the late Yoshitaka Murayama's legacy. Also in this episode: Class of Heroes Nier: AutoNadia Hades 2 Turtle Power Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 05:52 - Main...
Is The Fallout TV Show Any Good?
April 15, 2024 12:00 - 1 hourDid you know Walton Goggins has his own distillery? You can buy Walton Goggins-branded gin if you want. And if you, like me, happily embrace any opportunity to see beloved character-actor Walton Goggins on screen then boy howdy the new Fallout show is for you! A veritable overpour of Goggins -- much like how one might make a generous cocktail with the fine spirits from Walton Goggins' distillery! How many more times can I type 'Walton Goggins'?! At least once more; Walton Goggins! Kat, Nadia,...
RPGs and Fighting Games w/ Mitchell Saltzman and Brenden Groom
April 08, 2024 12:00 - 1 hourThey share more than just fireballs! Kat and Eric are joined by special guests Brenden Groom and Mitchell Saltzman to discuss why these are two genres that taste great together! What fighting games would make a great RPG? What RPG would make a great fighting game? Where is there already plenty of crossover? And why is 2B in all of them anyway? Also in this episode: Tidus is fine The return of Kat's Persona 3 Quest!! Kissin' cousins Content Warning Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 04:30 - Main...
Dragon's Dogma 2 Review w/ Jesse Vitelli
April 01, 2024 20:04 - 1 hourHope you like car wrecks because this week's episode of Axe of the Blood God is hosted by Nadia Oxford. With Kat Bailey out on another cigarette run and Eric's vocal cords being shredded apart by PAX Pox, Nadia's forced to try and keep order. This week's guest is writer Jesse Vitelli, who has plenty to say about Visions of Mana, Dragon's Dogma 2, and how to get banned from Chuck E Cheese for life. Also in this episode: Balatrio? Baltaro? Balto? 20th Century [Digital] Boy Five Nights at Fre...
Retronauts X AotBG: Toriyama’s Legacy, Dragon’s Dogma, No Baldur’s Gate 4, and the 90s
March 26, 2024 00:30 - 1 hourWhat is this, a crossover episode?! Our old pals Bob Mackey and Henry Gilbert of Retronauts, Talking Simpsons, and What A Cartoon fame stop by the Blood God studios to offer their animation history expertise while discussing some of the biggest games of the year as well as the classics they've been catching up on. Also in this Episode: Why manga is more successful than Western comics No more Baldur's Gate from Larian Bob Cing's the praises of Another Code The golden age of Streetpassing ...
Unicorn Overlord Review, FF7 Rebirth Dating, And More
March 19, 2024 00:07 - 1 hourVanillaware has done it again; defying conventional wisdom, they've gifted us the most Sega Saturn game we've seen in ages. Emerging from an alternate universe where Ogre Battle was revered as much as it's tile-based cousins, Unicorn Overlord is here. Does it conquer this oft-unexplored branch of the SRPG family tree or is it a little too uni-corny? Join Kat, Nadia, and Eric as they discuss this exciting new entry in Vanillaware's off-beat canon. Either way there will be some VERY GOOD charac...
Paying Tribute to Akira Toriyama, Unicorn Overlord, and More
March 11, 2024 17:21 - 1 hourAkira Toriyama died on March 1, leaving behind a legacy that includes Dragon Ball, Dragon Quest, and an incredible impact on both games and anime. With Eric out, Kat and Nadia are joined by Victor Hunter and Ash Paulsen to break down he changed RPGs, our memories of watch Dragon Ball, and more. Also in this Episode: Kat is obsessed with Unicorn Overlord! Still more Final Fantasy VII Rebirth chatter! Game rentals and puzzle solving! And much more Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 5:00 - Main To...
Does Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Have the Best Characters in the Series? Plus: Layoffs, Balatro, and More
March 04, 2024 18:45 - 1 hourIf you're going to mosey you might as well mosey with the best. The cast of Final Fantasy 7 has always been a fan favourite; does Rebirth give these characters more room to breathe or just a lot of filler? And what other FF cast compares to them? Kat, Nadia, and Eric discuss the best ensembles of the series and more in this character-driven episode of Axe of the Blood God! Also in this Episode: Napster Unicorn Overlord I'm a Dune, he's a Dune, she's a Dune, we're all Dunes More layoffs! ...
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Review w/ Nick Limon
February 26, 2024 17:35 - 1 hourIt's the spoiler-free Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Spectacular! The panel has had plenty of time with Rebirth, or as I like to call it "Final Fantasy VII-3". Does it improve upon Remake? Does it stand on it's own? Do you need to play the lost mid-200s Japanese feature phone game Before Crisis to fully grasp the importance of the character of Cissnei? Kat, Nadia, Eric, and special guest Nick Limon talk about all this and more on A Very FF7 episode of Axe of the Blood God! Also in this Episode: E...
Xbox Business Update, Tribute to Suikoden's Creator, and the RPGs That Make Us Go Sicko Mode
February 19, 2024 13:00 - 1 hourIt's letter tiiiiime, it's letter time!! It's everyone's favourite time of year; Letter Time! Join Kat, Nadia, and Eric as they tackle some hard-hitting questions like "what's your favourite juice?" If you'd like to submit questions for our next mailbag episode be sure to join our discord at patreon.com/bloodgodpod! Also in this Episode: Helldivers 2 What roles do the hosts like to play and why Because Nadia got high, Nadia got high, Nadia got high Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 3:30 - Letter ...
Why Making a Great RPG Romance Is Harder Than Ever
February 12, 2024 13:00 - 1 hourLove is in the air; as long as the project roadmap has made allowances for it in the overall budget! Kat, Nadia, and Eric talk about the best and worst relationships in RPGs. How do you write a natural relationship in a videogame? Should relationships just be a means to an end? Will anyone bring up Sakura Wars? It's an S-rank Support Conversation on this week's episode of Axe of the Blood God! Also in this Episode: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Demo out now! The flames of the console wars are f...
How Did Persona Get So Big, Persona 3 Reload Impressions, State of Play, and More w/ Kenneth Shepard
February 05, 2024 12:00 - 1 hourThe Three Musketeers, 3 Ninjas, Persona 3. Just a few examples of franchises that began with 3. And here to celebrate the remake, Persona 3 Reload, are Kat, Nadia, Eric, and special guest Kenneth Shepard! They discuss differences between the original, the perfect starting off point for players new to the series, and why there's never been a Persona 1 or 2! Also in this Episode: Vote Princess Maker 2 for the Pantheon Granblue Fantasy: Relink The Year of Shadow the Hedgehog Linda³ Again! LE...
Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth Review w/ Jesse Vitelli
January 29, 2024 13:00 - 1 hourCanadian chart-topping darlings BNL once said "If I had a million dollars I'd buy you a house." Unfortunately with inflation being the way it is a million dollars can hardly get you a downpayment anymore. No my friend, what you need to get anywhere in this world is wealth. INFINITE WEALTH. And Ichiban is bringing it in his latest adventure. Come join Kat, Nadia, Eric, and special guest Jesse Vitelli as they discuss the equal parts madness and heart of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth as the ons...
Game Developer Quest: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio w/ Michael Higham
January 22, 2024 21:00 - 1 hourYou down with RGG? Yeah, you know me! From Super Monkey Ball to Infinite Wealth, our prestigious panel covers the history and key players of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. Eric, Nadia, and special guest Michael Higham discuss the runaway success of the Yakuza/Like A Dragon series, the charm of 1988 Kamurochō, and the role these games have played in their own personal lives and careers. Much like Like A Dragon itself, this episode is full of heartfelt sentimentality contrasted with borderline absurdist...
Ranking the Top 5 RPG Studios 2024 w/ Ethan Gach
January 15, 2024 13:00 - 1 hour2024's RPG landscape is already being defined by a handful of big titles. But those games aren't made in a vaccuum. They're made by people! People who work at studios! And those studios have names. Listen as Kat, Eric, and special guest Ethan Gach discuss the 5 biggest studios that are already shaping the present and future of RPGs. Also in this Episode: Final Fantasy V Recap! Games Done Quick! Granblue Fantasy! Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 06:10 - Main Topic - Top RPG Studios of 2024 06:16 ...
What Will Be The Best RPG of 2024?
January 08, 2024 13:00 - 1 hourThere are some questions we as a species will always be asking; Is consciousness inherent to our universe? Is time a construct? What cool new video games will come out in 2024? 10 hard-hidding questions will be asked of our intrepid panel and you'll hear Kat, Nadia, and Eric dole out answers like it's their job. What can we look forward to? What surprises are in store that we don't even know we want to look forward to? The Switch 2, acquisitions, the GaaS event horizon; all this and more in t...
The Most Anticipated RPGs of 2024
January 01, 2024 14:00 - 1 hourThere's never been a more appropriate year to anticipate RPGs than this one! Whether it's "Like A", "Quest", or "Dogma 2", the Year of the Dragon is bound to bring you something you'll sink a not-insignificant part of your year into! Join Kat, Nadia, and Eric as they each talk about their Top 5 Most Anticipated RPGs of 2024 and more! Also in this Episode: Will we be getting a Switch 2 in 2024? Will the PS5 and Xbox ever feel like the current gen? Garfield? Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 06:40 ...
A Look Back at the RPGs of 2023
December 25, 2023 20:27 - 2 hoursMerry Chrysler! We here at Axe of the Blood God prepared this very special episode that takes both a deeply critical and celebratory look at the nutty year that just passed us by. We had RPGs galore! Have we ever seen such bounty? New Zelda! New Baldur's Gate! New Cyberpunk...sort of! But we had troubles galore, too. Layoffs and downsizing left and right. The end of vintage game media websites and game studios. What awaits us in 2024? We dunno! But we can guarantee the Blood God will always b...
Hidden Gems of 2023 w/ Reb Valentine
December 18, 2023 11:00 - 1 hourThe Holidays are right around the corner and you know what that means? That's right! All the children who have been good year 'round gather at the local podcast to hear the wise old hosts dispense their recommendations for the year! But what's this? Mean Mr. Grinch stole aaaaaall the popular games this year! Fret not, little one. Just because mainstream gaming media hasn't covered it doesn't mean it's not worth curling up with next to the fire. In fact, just for you we've compiled a list of w...
The Game Awards 2023 Recap: An Embarrassment of RPG Riches and Just Plain Embarrassment
December 11, 2023 14:00 - 1 hourSponsored by Factor It was an embarrassment of RPG riches as well as just plain embarrassment at this year's Game Awards 2023 as Keighley Fest 2023 once again brought us trailers, celebrities, and way too much Hideo Kojima. Nadia, Kat, and Eric recap everything that happened at this year's show, including the major reveals (Monster Hunter! Exodus!), the winners (Baldur's Gate 3... a lot!) and controversies (maybe don't play developers off the stage when they're trying to honor dead colleagues...
Is Darkest Dungeon 2 an Underrated Gem of 2023? w/ Matthew Salisbury
December 04, 2023 16:00 - 1 hourThe year 2023 has been absolutely packed with RPGs, and there's always something flying under the radar. Darkest Dungeon 2 might just be one of those - a follow-up to a beloved dungeon-crawler that still feels like it hasn't had quite the same impact as its predecessor. So one of our Patreon supporters joined us this week to talk the Darkest Dungeon series and why it's worth keeping an eye on the sequel. We dive into the history, mechanics, dark humor, and gorgeous art of the Darkest Dungeon ...
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within - Commentary of the Blood God
November 27, 2023 11:00 - 2 hoursIt's the DVD commentary you didn't know you wanted! If you haven't already, now's the time to watch the movie that may have shaped RPG history more than any other. Time for L'arc en Ciel, the most bizarre performance of Steve Buscemi's career, and the Final Fantasy story that most closely resembles the works of L. Ron Hubbard! This episode is best experienced as a commentary alongside playback of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within but also functions perfectly well as a stand-alone podcast so p...
Persona 5 Tactica, Mario RPG Remake, Ranking the Persona Spin-offs, and More
November 21, 2023 06:30 - 1 hourThere are more Persona spin-offs than there are stars in the night sky but luckily most of them are pretty darn good! Listen as Kat, Nadia, and Eric discuss the Phantom Thieves' latest heist in Persona 5 Tactica. Even the Persona Q series gets some love! Good! It deserves it! Plus, Nadia takes us on a Geno Whirl-wind journey through Super Mario RPG. Editor's Note: Yes, Kat's microphone cuts out at a certain point. But consider this; maybe it'll be something we can all laugh about ten years fr...
Live Action Zelda w/ Alex Stedman
November 13, 2023 11:00 - 1 hourThis is Miyamoto. It's actually happening. A live action Legend of Zelda is on the way. How much faith do we have in the team behind it? What is our dream casting? And how can we talk about Love Actually instead? All these questions and more will be answered by Kat, Nadia, and special guest Alex Stedman! For what it's worth I think they missed their chance when Jonathan Taylor Thomas aged out of playing Link in the 90s but no one bothered to ask me. I also think every live action adaptation s...
Star Ocean 2: The Second Story R Review w/ Jada Griffen
November 06, 2023 11:00 - 1 hourDid you know Tri-Ace was founded when the members of Wolf Team developing Tales of Phantasia grew tired of Namco's involvement and split off to create their own studio in the middle of development? And then in 2019 the mobile game Star Ocean: Anamnesis featured a crossover event with Tales, bridging the two series after nearly a quarter-century? Anyway this episode is all about the new remake of Star Ocean 2 with special guest Jada Griffen! George Yang is also supposed to be here but the best...
The Best SpoOoOky RPGs!
October 30, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour"Darkness falls across the land. The midnight hour is close at hand." Uhhhh Persona vibes much?! The history of RPGs is inextricably tied to horror and it's the perfect time of year talk about the scariest parts of our favourite games, as well as the RPGs that are straight up capital "H" Horror. Bloodborne, Undertale, Vampire: The Masquerade and more on this hair-raisingly scary episode with your terrifying hosts Bat Scale-y, Blah!-dia Axeford, and BEWARE-ic Vamp Hell-en. Also in this Episode...
Our Favorite RPG Music of 2023, Biggest Surprises, and More
October 23, 2023 10:00 - 1 hourIt's Letter Tiiiiime! It's Letter Tiiiime! It's a very special Mailbag episode this week as Kat, Nadia, and Eric answer questions about everything from cheesecake and boss fights to the very future of this podcast! If you want to take part in future mailbag episode,s and get a chance to have your questions answered, check out the Axe of The Blood God Discord by subscribing at patreon.com/bloodgodpod. Also in this Episode: - Long Gone Days, Super Mario Wonder, and even more from Baldur's Gate...
Microsoft and Activision Blizzard w/ Reb Valentine
October 16, 2023 22:00 - 1 hourMore like Acquisition Blizzard, heh. If you want a guest who can explain the ins-and-outs of the business side of this colossal consolidation of industry titans while also explaining why it's relevant to the culture and future of RPGs, you can't find anyone better than the one and only Reb Valentine. Listen as Kat, Nadia, and Reb discuss exactly what this means and how it will effect us all going forward, for better or worse. And maybe Kat is sort of kinda starting to enjoy some parts of Star...
Baldur's Gate III Final Thoughts, For Now
October 09, 2023 10:00 - 1 hourEverything has been leading to this. Through the battles, the story beats, and the very very attractive party members, it's time to wrap up the conversation on what may end up being the biggest "game", let alone RPG, of 2023, Baldur's Gate III. Kat has wrapped up her 100+ hour journey and the gang has plenty to say about their personal experiences. Spoiler Warning: Mango(?) Also in this Episode: - Nadia has myriad difficulties with animals - To save-scum or not to save-scum - River Dancing th...
The History of Quintet w/ Anthony John Agnello and Scott White
October 02, 2023 10:00 - 1 hourBefore NieR's depressing side quests, Quintet was giving kids lessons about the uncaring neutrality of the universe back in the 90s! Journey through the morally-grey, bleak worlds of Quintet and its adorable 16-bit veneer with host Nadia Oxford and special guests Anthony John Agnello and Scott White! Terranigma, Illusion of Gaia, ActRaiser, Soul Blazer and more in this retrospective deep dive! Also in this Episode: - Sad goats - The only podcast that has ever talked about Robotrek - Mysteriou...
Cyberpunk 2.0 w/ Michael Higham
September 25, 2023 10:00 - 1 hourWe're back in Night City jacking into the firewalls of cyber-brains and scrapping digi-cops or whatever with the new Phantom Liberty expansion! Is this Cyberpunk 2077's redemption arc or would you be better off watching a holo-prog in your cogni-puter? I have no idea what terms they use for things in Cyberpunk but I feel like I must be pretty close. I'm sure there's a drug called like, FRAG or something. Anyway, special guest Michael Higham returns to talk with Eric and Nadia about all that a...
Nintendo Direct and State of Play
September 18, 2023 21:00 - 1 hourThe past week's one-two punch from Nintendo and Sony have us floored by a panoply of RPG announcements and reveals. How will we recover? As we lay there in a stupor all we can do is reflect on the choices that got us here. Someday we'll redouble our efforts and re-enter the fray. But for now, in the interim, we can do naught but ice our wounds and talk for an hour-and-a-half about the incredible games on the horizon. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Unicorn Overlord, SaGa Emerald Beyond, and Eiyuden ...
Sea of Stars w/ Brenden Groom
September 11, 2023 10:00 - 1 hourThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/bloodgod and get on your way to being your best self. Finally, a throwback RPG inspired by classics like Chrono Trigger! But perhaps Sea of Stars is hiding something truly special? No spoilers this episode but prepare to have your interest piqued by this very special little homage to the JRPG golden age full of twists and turns. Kat, Nadia, and Eric are joined by special guest Brenden Groom of the Pass the C...
Starfield and Friends w/ Michael Higham
September 04, 2023 13:00 - 1 hourThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/bloodgod and get on your way to being your best self. It's time to party with special guest Michael Higham as the crew talks about hotly anticipated sci-fi epic Starfield. What works, what doesn't, and do either of those things matter if you're having a nice time in Todd Howardland? Also in this Episode: -Get lost in a Sea of Stars -Maybe Ashoka is good! -Hey you, reading this. Play Ghost Trick. -How do you...
Baldur's Gate 3's Tabletop Origins w/ Mikel Reparaz
August 28, 2023 08:00 - 1 hourDid you know Baldur's Gate is actually based off of a really obscure game called Dungeons and Dragons? And you play it in your head! And it makes you worship the devil! Here to discuss the dungeon mastery of Baldur's Gate 3 with Kat and Eric is special guest Mikel Reparaz of Vidjagame Apocalypse. Also in this Episode: -The Art of Save Scumming -Short King smooching -More deeply frustrating layoffs -Kat's EA Rant™ -The end of The Summer of Korra Timestamps: 41:40 - Random Encounters 44:00 - ...
Mega Man X: Command Mission w/ David Oxford and Steve Watts
August 21, 2023 08:00 - 1 hourPlan ahead for the fall and pick up a new scarf because it's Nadia's time to shine with an episode all about Mega Man's OTHER foray into the world of RPGs, Mega Man X: Command Mission. Timelines get twisted, fan-favourite characters show up and then are never heard from again, and poor X and friends get Randam Hajile'd! Also in this Episode: - Nadia and David discuss writing the official Maverick Hunter Field Guide - Everyone agrees Absolute Zero and Iron Maiden are great designs - Nadia refl...
1998 in RPGs - AotB x Retronauts at Long Island Retro Gaming Expo
August 14, 2023 07:00 - 1 hourYou don't have to go home but you CAN stay here and listen to this pretty fly panel from the Long Island Retro Gaming Expo all about the landmark year for RPGs that was 1998! Pokemon, Baldur's Gate, Ocarina of Time, Panzer Dragoon Saga, Parasite Eve and more! You'll believe in life after love once you listen to the hosts of Axe of the Blood God and Retronauts (the Armageddon and Deep Impact of video game podcasts) tell you all about the important games released that year, the cultural shifts ...
Baldur's Gate 3 Initial Review Impressions w/ Kenneth Shepard
August 07, 2023 16:08 - 1 hourHot (like, heat dome hot) off the heels of the wildly successful charity livestream and Final Fantasy XIV Fan Fest it’s time to talk Baldur’s Gate 3. Eric and special guest Kenneth Shepard are here to spill some preliminary beans. Plus, summer movie talk; two titans of merchandising join forces this summer with heartfelt stories touching on powerful themes to briefly take your mind off the monstrous greed of the people at the top of the industry food chain! Also in this Episode: -“We HAVE to ...
Baldur's Gate 3, Final Fantasy XIV's New Expansion, Armored Core VI, and More
August 01, 2023 06:26 - 1 hourIn this week's episode we're joined by Larian Studios director Swen Vincke... very briefly. Unfortunately technical difficulties kept us from going in deep on this particular interview, but we'll have him back soon! In the meantime, special guest Len Hafer has plenty to say about her experience with Baldur's Gate 3 and more. Final Fantasy XIV has a new expansion! Kat and Eric talk about their Armored Core VI experiences Legend of Korra sure has some politics, huh? This episode was part of...
What Makes a Good Character Creator?
July 25, 2023 01:32 - 1 hourWelcome back to Axe of the Blood God. Kat is not here for this week's episode because she headed out for San Diego Comic Con, a known slaughtering ground where Harry Potter cosplayers will take out your eye with their wands before you can even say "something something Patronus." No fear: Our good friends Ash Parrish and Kenneth Shepard are here to fill in the gap. We're talking all about character creators, from the basic three-choice templates to Baldur Gate 3's dong-and-dumplings slider. (w...
Chrono Cross, The World Ends With You, and Other Summer RPGs
July 18, 2023 00:01 - 1 hourIt's summertime, playing Zelda in your car, heading to a LAN party, and the night air is filled with wildfire smoke. Welcome to a laid back episode of Axe of the Blood God, where we just chill out and talk about associations between summer and RPGs. That means everything from the RPGs we played during our summer break to the best tropical environments in RPGs past and present. Just remember: The secret to better RPGs is more giant centipede monsters. Also in this Episode: The Microsoft/Sony/...
Our Review of The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie w/ Cam Hawkins
July 11, 2023 01:12 - 1 hourWe've got some fellow old people listening to this show (may your tubes of Voltaren be ever on sale), and I think we can all take a little comfort in the fact many of Falcom's RPGs, including the epic The Legend of Heroes saga, are about as old as us. Heroes has had a lot of time to pump out some good storytelling, including the still-celebrated Trails sub-series. But even mighty things come to an end eventually. In this episode we invite Trails fanatic Cam Hawkins to talk about the game that...
Our Review of 2023's RPGs (So Far)
July 03, 2023 23:44 - 1 hourIt's summer! That means it's time to grab a burger off the grill, fish a cold one out of the cooler, lie back on a Muskoka chair (ask your local Canadian), and talk about the year in RPGs so far. 2023's been disgustingly busy with huge releases like Final Fantasy XVI, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Diablo IV, and so much more. Your time on this planet is finite, so listen and decide which of these billion hour games are worth playing, and which should be punted onto the backlog th...
Our Final Fantasy XVI Review w/ Alex Donaldson
June 27, 2023 01:41 - 1 hourAfter what seems like forever and a day, Final Fantasy XVI has finally arrived on the PlayStation 5. Except, it hasn't really been forever, has it? Game director Naoki Yoshida runs a tight ship, to be sure--but will a timely release be enough to make Final Fantasy fans fall in love with the series' first serious attempt at telling a story with Witcher levels of grit and grime? Friend of the show and VG247 writer Alex Donaldson is here to talk to us about this much-anticipated game of thrones ...
Our Diablo IV Review w/ Len
June 20, 2023 00:14 - 1 hourI, Nadia, take over hosting duties on Axe of the Blood God this week, which is apropos for an episode that's about Satan. That's right, we review the long-awaited Diablo IV with our very good friend and frequent Blood God guest, Len. There's a lot riding on Diablo IV, as Activision Blizzard is currently weighed down by troubled times that are largely of their own making. How does it play? How's the story? How does Act-Bliz's fascination with "always online!" sit with Diablo IV's dark, gothic ...
A Look at All the RPGs at Summer Game Fest 2023 - Especially Starfield
June 15, 2023 21:40 - 1 hourOn a very special episode of Axe of the Blood God ("special" meaning "very off schedule"), Kat, Nadia, and Eric talk about everything they saw at Prince Geoffry's Summer Game Fest 2023. Kat and Eric actually attended the show, so they have amazing insight about the games on display--especially the RPGs. And oh, were there ever a lot of RPGs. That Xbox deluge is late, sure, but rest assured it's on its way. And it's bringing Starfield with it. Also in this episode: Oh my God Final Fantasy 7 R...
Summer 2023 RPG Preview and SGDQ w/ moonblazewolf
June 06, 2023 02:01 - 1 hourThe summer is getting started, and we've got no shortage of games ahead. But before we look at all the games waiting to steal our time, we've got speedrunner Moonblazewolf, fresh off their run of Chained Echoes at SGDQ 2023! We talk all that plus the news of the day and the start of Book 2 in our Summer of Korra. Also in this episode: Street Fighter 6 has all of us in its clutches Big, beefy ships Mindflayer worms! In your mind! Tenzin's GOAT status in Korra Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro / ...
Octopath Traveler II Deep Dive w/ The Black Stones
May 29, 2023 22:24 - 1 hourHowdy, friends! We've got a treat that'll make y'all happier than a fox in a henhouse! This week, we have an in-depth discussion about Octopath Traveler II, an excellent choice from our $100 Patron and special guest, The Black Stones! The talk avoids major story spoilers, but there's still tons to go over because Octopath Traveler II is a pretty special game. Its battle system is unique and highly engaging, its music is to die for, and its story is masterfully written and seamlessly interwove...