Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast

It'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 that God will unfurl at your feet when it's time for your soul to be judged.Also in this Episode: It's fun to fumble around in TOTK's dark depths! Wait, we mixed up "fun" and "terrifying" again. Did you know a Sharpie isn't sufficient for redacting words in a legal document? Sony does now. We kick off Book 3 coverage in Legend of Korra If you're a Sonic fan, listen to The Cult. And if you're not a Sonic fan, listen to The Cult. Just play Ys. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro/2023 In Review 49:36 - Random Encounters 1:02:31 - Side Quest (Rain Code, BattleBit Remastered, Sonic Adventure 2) 1:10:07 - Summer of Korra 1:23:04 - Nostalgia Nook/Outro Music Used in this Episode Do Your Best! [Breath of Fire III] The Legend of Korra Main Theme [The Legend of Korra] A Curious Tale [Secret of Mana] Sealed Time [Ys: The Oath in Felghana] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After 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 (and Chocobos).Also in this episode: You're going to have grandkids before you see Elder Scrolls VI What's deader than dead? E3's prospects The rumored "SNES RPG remake" isn't Chrono Trigger, but it's in the same vein, kind of... A 50-foot Korra the Explorer epic beam struggles her way into Book 3 If Alf, Alvin the Chipmunk, and Miss Piggy tell you to stop doing drugs, keep at it. You're already too far gone; just get your money's worth. Timestamps 00:00 - Intro/Final Fantasy XVI Review 1:04:25 - Side Quest (Nintendo Direct/Super Mario RPG Remake) 1:10:32 - Random Encounters 1:15:12 - Summer of Korra 1:25:12 - Nostalgia Nook/Outro Music used in this episode: Let's Go Down the Wine River [Super Mario RPG] Do Your Best! [Breath of Fire III] The Legend of Korra Main Theme [The Legend of Korra] A Curious Tale [Secret of Mana] Weapons Factory [Super Mario RPG] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I, 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 feel? Is the Druid class the best? (Yes.) Stay awhile and listen.Also in this episode: The Fire Emblem game that started everything (in the West) is coming to the GBA via NSO. Roy's our boy! Something something Microsoft Activision Blizzard acquisition deal stalled Things are heating up in The Legend of Korra, but they're also cooling down because it's pretty chilly at the poles A Gameboy is just a phone that only plays Pokemon Walk forever in the light of the Crystal, Kittyboy Tighthole Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro/Diablo IV 38:27 - Random Encounters 45:39 - Summer of Korra 58:12 - Nostalgia Nook/Outro Music used in this episode: Do Your Best! [Breath of Fire III] The Legend of Korra Main Theme [The Legend of Korra] A Curious Tale [Secret of Mana] Ark [Persona 5] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On 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 Rebirth exists Oh my God Metaphor: ReFantazio exists Sandland looks great, because Toriyama is the King of Character Design Korra breaks up with her cop boyfriend, lol Kat and Nadia will be at the Long Island Retro Gaming Expo on August 11 through 13. Be there or be square (enix) Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro/Summer Games Fest 48:20 - Starfield  58:16 - Best of Show 1:03:30 - Summer of Korra 1:20:00 - Nostalgia Nook/Outro Music used in this episode: The Legend of Korra Main Theme [The Legend of Korra] A Curious Tale [Secret of Mana] The Poet and the Muse [Alan Wake] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 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 / SGDQ talk w/ moonblazewolf 25:45 - Random Encounters 29:56 - Summer 2023 RPG Preview 1:20:06 - Summer of Korra 1:35:46 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook / Outro Music used in this episode: Do Your Best! [Breath of Fire III] A Curious Tale [Secret of Mana] Champions of the Sky [Chained Echoes] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Howdy, 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 interwoven into the game's mechanics. Shucks, I guarantee this episode'll have you eatin' better than a sow in an apple field! Also in this Episode The PlayStation Showcase sure did happen Should we drop numbers from Final Fantasy game titles? No. But let's grouse about it anyway A new Dragon Quest Monsters game is in development because sometimes the world is OK Our watch of The Legend of Korra reaches the end of Book One Game Genie! It was rad! It was waaaay far out!! And so on Timestamps 00:00 - Intro 06:21 - Octopath Traveler II 56:48 - Random Encounters 1:02:45 - The Tavern/What We're Playing 1:25:05 - Summer of Korra 1:41:55 - The Nostalgia Nook/Outro Music Used in this Episode Do Your Best! [Breath of Fire III] Octopath Traveler Main Theme [Octopath Traveler II] The Legend of Korra Main Theme [The Legend of Korra] A Curious Tale [Secret of Mana] Partitio's Theme [Octopath Traveler II] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think Ocarina of Time is a big game, but that's just peanuts compared to Tears of the Kingdom. That's why Kat, Nadia, and Eric are assembling once again to talk about their progress in Nintendo's Dodongo-sized hit. The discussion yields some minor spoilers (as well as childlike enthusiasm), but they're minor. Turns out playing Tears of the Kingdom for a solid week hardly makes a dent in this veritable wall of content.Also in this Episode: Sony is hosting a PlayStation Showcase. If we're good, we might get information about FF7R. We have a release date for Pokemon Home compatibility with Scarlet and Violet! Oh wait, no we don't. Do Cassette Beasts bleed magnetic tape? Controller Discourse™ Victoria Day Special: Cool Firework Mishaps Discussion Time Stamps: 00:00 - Intro 02:45 - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom 42:40 - Random Encounters 45:25 - The Tavern/What We're Playing 1:02:05 - The Summer of Korra 1:15:30 - The Nostalgia Nook/Outro Music Used in this Episode: Chasm Theme [The Legend of Zelda: TOTK]] Do Your Best! [Breath of Fire III] The Legend of Korra Main Theme [The Legend of Korra] A Curious Tale [Secret of Mana] Horse Ride [The Legend of Zelda: TOTK] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kick back and relax as Field Studies returns for a guided audio commentary track through fan-favourite Shadowbringers dungeon, The Twinning. Sharlayan Dropouts host Victor Hunter takes you through the history of the Crystal Tower, the cascading effect that delays in the mid-2000s had on Square that are still being felt today, and the crystalline metaphor at the heart of this tragic-but-hopeful tale.Spoiler level: Yellow. The Twinning quest is available at the conclusion of Shadowbringers.Music: A Long Fall - Final Fantasy XIV Shadowbringers Full Speed Ahead - Final Fantasy XIII Eternal Wind - Lightning Returns Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gosh, it feels like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will never get here. This wait is torture–hold on, you're saying Tears of the Kingdom is out now? Oh wow. Holy crap. Uh…let's start talking about the biggest game of 2023! (So far.) We brought in Tom Marks from IGN, who reviewed the game alongside Polygon's Mike Mahardy. We have a pile of discourse about what Tears of the Kingdom does differently from its direct predecessor, Breath of the Wild, as well as what it does better…and worse. (Gasp!) Our talk is spoiler-free, so jump right in like a half-naked blonde guy leaping down into Hyrule from an impossible height.Also in this episode: Rumblings of a new Nintendo handheld. We'll probably see it in 2024, but when exactly? Dragon Age: Dreadwolf is likewise looking at a 2024 release Summer of Korra goes into episodes 4, 5, and 6. Long live pro-bending! If hearing bells out of nowhere means you're losing your mind, what does hearing the Zelda theme out of nowhere entail…? Music used in this episode: Do Your Best! [Breath of Fire III] The Legend of Korra Main Theme [The Legend of Korra] A Curious Tale [Secret of Mana] The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Main Theme [The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All aboard, gatcha sickos. Honkai: Star Rail is now available to download. It's totally free, just like miHoYo's preceding game, Genshin Impact, but you can bet the awesome-looking characters in the banner events will wear your resolve down to a nub. But there's more to Star Rail than gatcha, right? After all, it's a full-bodied RPG with hours of content. Does it actually feel like a traditional turn-based adventure, or is strangled by its own sales pitch? We talk about Honkai: Star Rail's launch and beyond with avowed Genshin fan, Good Vibes Gaming's Daniel Alba.Also in this episode: Kat's digging deep into Final Fantasy V Nadia plays Final Fantasy XIV's NiER raid. Everything turns out great Xbox boss Phil Spencer is sowwy Redfall is not very good :3 Korra discourse gets underway with episodes 1 through 3 Nadia is picking up Tears of the Kingdom in the same store she picked up Ocarina of Time, because traditions must be honoured and the old gods must be sated Music used in this episode: Do Your Best! [Breath of Fire III] Login Music [Honkai: Star Rail] The Legend of Korra Main Theme [The Legend of Korra] A Curious Tale [Secret of Mana] Main Zelda Theme Orchestrated [The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices