Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast

The Final Fantasy Tactics you played back on the PS1 is not the real Final Fantasy Tactics. In fact, if you played it in the West you missed out on entire games-within-games that not only flesh out the world of Ivalice, but hold clues to the future of Square Enix. And these secrets are all tucked away in... Sound Novels!That's right, this week Victor and Nadia are joined by experts in the history of Japanese adventure games, Tom James and BowlofLentils, to discuss how The Ivalice Chronicles is steering us back onto the path of understanding the lineage of this misunderstood genre. Visual novels, sound novels, adventures games, point-and-clicks, text adventures, dating sims, oteme games, galge? What do they have in common and what makes them completely different? Find out on this expository episode of Axe of the Blood God! Sorry if you thought this was going to be about like, the nature of remakes or adaptations and the Ship of Theseus or whatever, but we've got sound novels to talk about! Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com Also in this episode: Eternal Sonata Vanillaware's alternate Princess Maker timeline Doshin the Giant Why Inspector Gadget owes his life to Lupin III We mention Hollow Knight: Silksong purely for SEO purposes 428 Shibuya Scramble Famicom Detective Club FURTHER READING: BowlofLentils Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@bowloflentils Tom James' Blog:https://dateemups.com/ Sharlayan Dropouts - The Veil of Wiyu:https://bloodgodpod.com/sharlayan-dropouts-lore-veil-of-wiyu/ Timestamps: 7:20 Main Topic - Ivalice Chronicles Resurrecting the Lost Sound Novels 1:32:08 - Random Encounters 1:36:08 - Nadia’s Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] Contact - [YU-NO: a girl who chants love at the bound of this world] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kat, Nadia, Eric, and Victor discuss their favorite weddings in RPGs, whether they serve the plot or they just think they’re neat! If you get married in FFXIV you get a sick Chocobo mount (the good kind of sick). Does marrying Shane in Stardew Valley fix him? No, girl, run!  Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com Also in this episode: A tier list of Final Fantasy XIII characters. Final Fantasy XIV third party mods controversy. Turning your wedding table into a sovereign nation. Timestamps: 9:41 Main Topic - Weddings in RPGS 1:03:32 - Random Encounters 1:27:08 - The Tavern 1:57:30 - Nadia’s Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] Pub - [Lunar Knights] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] Stand By Me - [Final Fantasy XV] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They grow Geoff Keighleys in Europe too?!A bevy of announcements have poured in from Gamescom so Kat, Nadia, and Eric are here to sift through it all and give you the straight dope.Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.comNote: Microsoft and the Xbox brand remain subjects of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement for their complicity in the ongoing apartheid and genocide of Palestine. In the interest of journalism we've chosen to cover Microsoft but encourage you to visit https://www.bdsmovement.net/microsoft for more information. Also in this episode: BSG but it's FTL! Monster Hunter Wilds x Final Fantasy XIV Performance on Switch 2: Elden Ring, Cyberpunk, and more Bottles of Brownie Batter Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines 2's development hell Pokemon TCG Pocket Updates Zero Parades Magic: The Gathering Update Lads and Bros playing Footy Bizarre Print Ads Timestamps: 3:28 - Main Topic 56:40 - Random Encounters 1:02:28 - The Tavern - Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, PlayStation Price Increase 1:39:28 - Bonus Mailbag! Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] Pub - [Lunar Knights] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] eScape - [Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More like Lame Key Cards. Kat, Nadia, Eric, and Victor discuss the pros and cons of physical vs digital and what it means specifically to the history and culture of RPGs. Could it be that sometimes BOTH approaches are appropriate and that instead of pitting them against each other we should be addressing the underlying corporate systems that prevent us from experiencing art as anything other than consumers? Probably!Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.comNote: Microsoft and the Xbox brand remain subjects of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement for their complicity in the ongoing apartheid and genocide of Palestine. In the interest of journalism we've chosen to cover Microsoft but encourage you to visit https://www.bdsmovement.net/microsoft for more information. Also in this episode: The joy of getting a map with a game The frustration of downloading mandatory patches EA really is the worst What Tales game needs a remaster Hernias and Ronald McDonald Timestamps: 6:30 - Main Topic - Game Key Cards and the Importance of Physical Game Releases 1:05:14 - Random Encounters 1:11:04-ish - The Tavern - Dragon Age and Mass Effect Remasters, Tales of Xillia Remaster 1:34:00 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] Pub - [Lunar Knights] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] The Hollow City - [Tales of Xillia 2] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To HD-2D, or not to HD-2D? That is the question Eric, Nadia, and special guest Timothy Monbleau are asking on this week's episode.From retro revivals like Live-A-Live and Dragon Quest to brand-new throwbacks like Octopath Traveler and The Adventures of Elliot, Square sure loves its depth-of-field-and-bloom-filled pixel-art dioramas! But should EVERY mid-budget RPG be adopting this style or is there a time and place for this look? All that and more on a very anachronistically aliased episode of Axe of the Blood God!Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com Also in this episode: Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound Super Smash Bros Beach Volleyball He Is Coming Eric's in his Movie Era Nadia hates Casablanca Timestamps: 8:48 - Main Topic - Adventures of Elliot and the Future of HD-2D 57:36 - Mailbag 1:03:20 - Random Encounters 1:04:28 - The Tavern 1:28:10 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] Pub - [Lunar Knights] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] One With Hope I - [OCTOPATH TRAVELER: Champions of the Continent] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elliot is killing the adventurer industry.Big Switch 2 RPG news as we react to the announcements coming out of the latest Nintendo Direct! Kat, Nadia, and Eric discuss the pros and cons of digital storefronts, the impact tariffs are having on video games, and more Magic: The Gathering talk!Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com Also in this episode: The Adventures of Elliot: The Millenium Tales Octopath Traveler 0 Monster Hunter Stories 3 Persona 3 Reload Game Key Card Controversy Switch Price Increases Monster Hunter Wilds Eeveelution Tier List Why Fast-Travel is Killing RPGs Magic: The Gathering Pre-release My Girl spoilers Timestamps: 5:36 - Main Topic - Switch 2 Partner Direct 58:08 - Random Encounters - Monster Hunter Wilds 1:12:32 - The Tavern - Eric's Magic Pre-release Report 1:31:20 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] Pub - [Lunar Knights] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] Bestower of Wealth - [OCTOPATH TRAVELER Arrangements Break & Boost Vol.2] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As The Bee Gees once said, "Give me that knight fever!"Polish up your plate mail, pledge fealty to your lord of choice, and prepare to get chivalry wit it; we're talking knights!Eric, Nadia, and special guest Len Hafer discuss Paladins, Dark Knights, Pegasus Knights, Dragon Knights, Onion Knights, and more on this deep dive into the archetypes and mechanics that make characters sing. It's Class Conscious: Knights!Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com Also in this episode: Is Donkey Kong Bananza an RPG? No but we're talking about it Should you have a Switch 2 yet? Eric's Final Fantasy IX Update! I thought Donkey Kong wanted to kill me Timestamps: 8:06 - Main Topic - Retro Handhelds 58:08 - Random Encounters 1:00:56 - The Tavern - Donkey Kong Bananza 1:26:16 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] Pub - [Lunar Knights] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] Rose of May - [Final Fantasy IX] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is that a bespoke third-party retro handheld in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?Special guest Jake Steinberg joins Kat, Nadia, and Eric to discuss the rise of the boutique industry of retro handhelds that has emerged over the past decade. From playing vintage GBC carts to emulation machines that can give you a PS2 in your hands, the crew gives you everything you need to know to start your journey into the world or retro handhelds!For more of Jake check out his Youtube channel:https://youtube.com/@jakesteinberg?si=Z2kaNkSkH-qNwSQlTune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com Also in this episode: The problems with the state of game preservation Why the Playdate rules Live Action Zelda casting news Eric's Final Fantasy IX Update The Best Games of the PSP Timestamps: 6:56 - Main Topic - Retro Handhelds 58:108 - Random Encounters 1:18:48 or so - The Tavern 1:47:32 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] Pub - [Lunar Knights] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] A Little Friendship - [Golden Sun] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Letter Tiiiime, It's Letter Tiiiime!Kat, Nadia, and Eric answer your burning questions this week as well as discuss Naoki Yoshida's recent comments about the future of Final Fantasy and celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Final Fantasy IX. All that and quite a bit of talk about pizza on this week'sTune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com Also in this episode: Fahrensius' origin story Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 Subnautica news Final Fantasy IX Retrospective Kat says "The MMOs don't count" and I'll never forgive her Gundam TCG The Tale of the Talking Finger Timestamps: 6:56 - Main Topic - Mailbag - What RPG would you speedrun? 14:56 - What ISN'T an RPG? 28:28 - What sharacter have we seen age the most? 37:20 - What's Nadia's favourite pizza place? 45:20 - What games use non-active party members the best? 55:44 - Where does Poe's name come from? 57:20 - Boardgame Sidequest? 1:02:16 - Random Encounters 1:24:40 - The Tavern 1:47:32 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] Pub - [Lunar Knights] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] Not Alone Jazz Arrangement - [Square Enix Jazz - Final Fantasy] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Note: Microsoft and the Xbox brand remain subjects of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement for their complicity in the ongoing apartheid and genocide of Palestine. In the interest of journalism we've chosen to cover Microsoft's recent layoffs but encourage you to visit https://www.bdsmovement.net/microsoft for more information.In the wake of an 80 billion dollar investment in AI and the layoff of over 9000 workers, Microsoft ain't lookin' so hot. What does this mean for the rest of the video game industry? Special guest Giovanni Colantonio joins Eric and Nadia to precisely that!Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com Also in this episode: The starfish part of Animorphs Who tanks the Uber driver? Persona 5: The Phantom X's Subway Slammer Summer Games Done Quick Battle Train Rematch Umamusume Timestamps: 6:56 - Main Topic - What Is Happening At Xbox? 1:02:16 - Random Encounters 1:04:00 - The Tavern 1:20:32 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Entry of the Gladiators - [Julius Fucik] Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] Pub - [Lunar Knights] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] Palma - [Phantasy Star] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices