Podcast Archives

Random Encounter 292 – The Lord of All Unicorns

Posted by Jonathan Logan on March 18, 2024

On this episode of Random Encounter, we’re looking at two very different kinds of follow-ups to beloved games: a spiritual successor and a fan game. First up, we’re talking about a long-awaited revival of Ogre Battle-style SRPGs with Vanillaware’s Unicorn Overlord (the most bizarre na… Read More »

Retro Encounter 408 – Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Spoilercast

Posted by Michael Sollosi on March 14, 2024

The real Infinite Wealth was the friends we made along the way. Ichiban Kasuga returns in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Ryu Ga Gotoku 8 in Japanese), teaming up with former Like a Dragon protagonist Kazuma Kiryu in a wild turn-based open-world RPG set in both Japan and Hawaii. Four RPGFan st… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 129 – Level One: RPG Beginnings

Posted by Mike Salbato on March 11, 2024

Previously on Rhythm Encounter, we have talked about some important first impressions, namely some of our favorite intro themes, and even title screen music. But what happens next is just as important: the opening hours of an RPG can really set the stage for what’s to come. When thinking about our f… Read More »

Retro Encounter 407 – Dragon Age II

Posted by Michael Sollosi on March 7, 2024

Can you SMELL what the Hawke is cooking? Dragon Age II had a mixed critical reception back in March of 2011, so we’re giving it a fresh perspective in March of 2024. Today’s Retro Encounter panel makes an exodus to Kirkwall to determine how they feel about DA2’s excellent characters… Read More »

Random Encounter 291 – Let’s Explore a Mystery Dungeon!

Posted by Jonathan Logan on March 4, 2024

On this episode of Random Encounter, we’re taking a look at a long-running RPG series that has only made sporadic, but noteworthy, appearances here in the West! Mystery Dungeon began as a Dragon Quest IV spinoff back in 1993, but since then, there have been dozens of games in the seri… Read More »

Retro Encounter 406 – Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age Part II

Posted by Michael Sollosi on February 29, 2024

If I could turn back time / If I could find a way Four RPGFan staff played through Dragon Quest XI this month, and it left them full of feelings. But were those feelings satisfying or wanting? How did they find DQ11’s notorious third act? Spoiler alert: this is a wonderful video game, despite what o… Read More »

Random Encounter 290 – The Rebirth of Final Fantasy VII

Posted by Jonathan Logan on February 27, 2024

On this episode of Random Encounter, it’s finally time to talk about one of the most anticipated “Part 2s” in video game history: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth! Ever since part 1 of the FFVII remake trilogy, Final Fantasy VII Remake, was released in 2020, we’ve been desperate to know where the story is… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 128 – Compilation of Final Fantasy VII

Posted by Mike Salbato on February 26, 2024

Do we at RPGFan like Final Fantasy VII? Off course! That’s why we’re ready for…a reunion of tracks from across the expansive (and still growing) FFVII universe. The timing here is intentional to celebrate the fantastic music associated with FFVII as we all get ready to enjoy Final Fantasy VII Rebirt… Read More »

Retro Encounter 405 – Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age Part I

Posted by Michael Sollosi on February 22, 2024

I love it when villagers rhyme / it makes me as glad as a slime Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age was hailed as an instant classic when it launched worldwide in 2018, and with more than five years of perspective our panel agrees. They discuss Dragon Quest XI’s charming characters, rock-solid… Read More »

Random Encounter 289 – Go East, Young Man, and Farm!

Posted by Jonathan Logan on February 19, 2024

On this episode of Random Encounter, we’re “cranking” up our game to chat about a farming-centric piece of DLC for a pixel-art action RPG and a rogue-like on a tiny, black-and-white screen. First, Nick is here to share his thoughts about the farming DLC for 2021’s Eastward, Eastward: Octop… Read More »

Retro Encounter 404 – The Dragon of Dojima

Posted by Michael Sollosi on February 15, 2024

Rock the Dragon. Kazuma Kiryu starred in at least a dozen video games in the last eighteen years and experienced a remarkable fictional life. In today’s podcast, two of RPGFan’s most enthusiastic Like a Dragon advocates examine the life and times of the Dragon of Dojima, as part of Retro Encounter’s… Read More »

Retro Encounter 403 – Unpopular RPG Opinions

Posted by Michael Sollosi on February 8, 2024

Opinions are like cats. The internet is full of them. We mostly fall into conventional wisdom here on Retro Encounter when it comes to what games deserve celebration and which games do not (there will not be an episode on Beyond the Beyond anytime soon), but we don’t always go with the grain.… Read More »

Random Encounter 288 – Relinked and Reloaded

Posted by Jonathan Logan on February 5, 2024

On this episode of Random Encounter, we’re looking at a remake of an 18-year-old game and the release of a game that felt like it took 18 years to come out. Since its announcement in 2016, Granblue Fantasy: Relink has been on many RPG fans’ most anticipated lists (it was on ours in 2020, 2022, 2023,… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 127 – Music of the Year 2023

Posted by Mike Salbato on February 1, 2024

It’s finally time to celebrate the music of the (last) year! As you know by now, a great deal of incredible games released in 2023, and with them, many notable soundtracks. Our panel today brought some of their favorite songs of 2023, featuring music from some Square Enix heavy hitters to some lovel… Read More »

Retro Encounter 402 – The RPG Drafty Awards

Posted by Michael Sollosi on February 1, 2024

Should we double check the envelope? We’re in the middle of entertainment awards show season, and it’s high time Retro Encounter decides a worthy ballot for the RPGs with the best characters, music, visuals, gameplay, and story. But to make things interesting, we’re drafting four games for each cate… Read More »

Retro Encounter 401 – Moon: Remix RPG Adventure

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on January 25, 2024

Fill my heart with Retro / And let me play RPGs forevermore We’re back this week to discuss the second half of Moon, a game that parodies RPGs so much it almost becomes an Adventure game. How does the second half of the game compare with the first? Did we get all the love? Just how many frustrating… Read More »

Random Encounter 287 – Infinite Content

Posted by Jonathan Logan on January 24, 2024

On this episode of Random Encounter, we’re chatting about the latest installment in the Yakuza franchise, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and the indie point-and-click adventure game, Lil’ Guardsman. First, Jono dives into Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, the direct sequel to 2020’s Yakuza: Like a Dr… Read More »

Retro Encounter 400 – Shark Party

Posted by Michael Sollosi on January 18, 2024

FOUR HUNDRED BABIES If you’ve listened to a Retro Encounter multiple of 50 before, you know that the panel is going to come up with a public poll for a future Retro Encounter episode. This time around, we’re having a shark party! The panel will “invest” in pitches from twelve Retro Encounter panelis… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 126 – Build Your Own RPG Soundtrack

Posted by Mike Salbato on January 15, 2024

We’re kicking off the new year on Rhythm Encounter with a brand-new kind of episode: Building a soundtrack from pieces of other games. We distilled our imaginary RPG down to eight core musical moments — title, overworld, town, dungeon, battle, emotional, final boss, and ending, to be specific — and… Read More »

Retro Encounter 399 — Moon: Remix RPG Adventure

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on January 11, 2024

Bubby, if you ain’t got Retro Encounter, you’ll stop breathing and pass the heck out. After waiting over two decades, we finally got a localization of this quirky gem, Moon: Remix RPG Adventure. So, we got three of our panelists to discuss the first half of the game. We talk about the odd gameplay m… Read More »

Random Encounter 286 – Who Says You Always Need to Save the Princess?

Posted by Jonathan Logan on January 8, 2024

Welcome to 2024! This year at Random Encounter, we’re on the road to episode 300, so let’s start the new year right by chatting about some games! First up, Jerry is here to talk about the experimental visual novel, Slay the Princess. In complete opposition to just about every video game plot ever, h… Read More »

Retro Encounter 398 – Super Mario RPG Revisited

Posted by Michael Sollosi on January 4, 2024

Movin’ to the country / I’m gonna eat a lot of Toadstools Super Mario RPG turned 27 in 2023 (!), and to celebrate, Nintendo and ArtePiazza released a snazzy new remake. Three Retro Encounter enthusiasts discuss the new remake’s new look, gameplay adjustments, and breezy difficulty, as well as Mario… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 125 – Long Time Listener, First Time Caller

Posted by Mike Salbato on January 2, 2024

To celebrate the new year, we put together a special episode before we return to our regularly scheduled topics, with a short episode full of music dedications. We were inspired by the idea of radio DJs who take listener calls and offer up dedications on air, so we polled the RPGFan staff, asking th… Read More »

Retro Encounter 397 – 2023 Year in Review

Posted by Michael Sollosi on December 28, 2023

2023 and Me In true RPGFan podcast fashion, Retro Encounter always looks back. In an annual tradition since 2015, a Retro Encounter panel examines the previous year of RPGs and highlights a few favorites. What RPG is labeled a platonic ideal? What two 2023 downloads might be among the best DLC… Read More »

Random Encounter 285 – RPGFan’s Most Anticipated Games of 2024

Posted by Jonathan Logan on December 26, 2023

On the final 2023 episode of Random Encounter, we’re chatting about all the games we’re excited about that are coming in 2024! At the end of December, RPGFan publishes one of the year’s biggest features: our most anticipated games expected to come out next year. And that means a chance to get togeth… Read More »

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