Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast

Hey Microsoft! How's that Activision Blizzard deal coming along? …Oh. That bad, huh? Well, we're sure everything will be fine. Psst. That's a lie, dear listeners. We actually brought Polygon's own Nicole Carpenter to discuss the myriad ways this gargantuan acquisition attempt is going poorly for the Big M. And whatever's bad for Microsoft is probably bad for a lot of western RPG studios.Buck up. It's not all doom and gloom. We also talk about: Hokai: Star Rail finds immediate success with its patented Anime Chicks and Dudes in Space sales method. Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes is getting a deserved Switch remake Goodbye Waypoint :(  The Summer of Korra begins! How a remake of a historic Square Enix game can potentially teach you how to make napalm the way your grandma used to (Well, not anymore) Music used in this episode: Do Your Best! [Breath of Fire III] Xbox Series X start-up sound [Microsoft/Xbox] The Legend of Korra Main Theme [The Legend of Korra] A Curious Tale [Secret of Mana] Floating Continent [Final Fantasy VI Pixel Remaster] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's another Class Conscious episode of Axe of the Blood God, and we're going after the class that was elected "Most Likely to Steal your Heart and your Wallet" in high school: the Thief. Thieves have been part of the RPG landscape forever. These lithe, sticky-fingered tricksters excel at jacking stuff from enemies (and innocents) while avoiding traps and setting down a few of their own. Gosh, what a scummy bunch, right? Not exactly. Thieves do their secret work for myriad reasons, with myriad methods. We talk about all of it (along with special guest Lucas White), from the boomerang-flinging thieves of Dragon Quest to Final Fantasy VI's roguish Locke Cole, who is totally not thinking about Rachel right now.Also in this episode: Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster discourse Advance Wars 1+2 Reboot Camp is out, and war is over Live A Live is coming to PC, PS4, and PS5 and you should play it The Pantheon Thunderdome is upon us! Who will survive the cull? The Legend of Zelda: A P.I. Had to Rescue This Manga Music used in this episode: Do Your Best! [Breath of Fire III] Locke Cole's Theme [Final Fantasy VI Pixel Remaster] Torn from the Heavens [Final Fantasy XIV] A Curious Tale [Secret of Mana] Forged in Crimson [Final Fantasy XIV] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once upon a time, Microsoft opened up its mouth and swallowed the near entirety of the western RPG market. Fallout, Elder Scrolls, Fable--their home is on the Xbox now. That's great, but we have to ask: Where are all these RPGs that are supposed to be dropping from your well-stocked loins, Microsoft? Starfield is finally secured for a release this year, yes, but we don't have much information on what's supposed to follow. Is the dream corroding from the inside? Kat, Nadia, and Eric talk all about what's going wrong with the Xbox Series X/S's RPG scene, and how it might be patched up.Also in this episode: Nintendo's banger of a Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom trailer FFXVI's also-banger trailer of Clive going Eikon-on-Eikon This week's Pantheon re-evaluation: Fire Emblem: Three Houses The Worlds of power Nintendo books make reading fun and cool, kids! Honest! Oh God, just open a book. Please. Music in this episode: Do Your Best! [Breath of Fire III] Xbox Series X start-up sound [Microsoft/Xbox] Torn from the Heavens [Final Fantasy XIV] A Curious Tale [Secret of Mana] Antique Cowboy [Ragnarok Online] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're taking a breather this week, but fret not: for those who couldn't make it to our panel at PAX East 2023, this week we're uploading the audio from it! Kat, Nadia, and Eric were joined by friends of the show Michael Higham and Scott White to host a fantasy draft, making the perfect RPG in the process. We touch on many topics, including: The value of a villain Truly memorable game soundtracks And yes, what is an RPG? All that and more in our special panel episode. A huge thanks to everyone who came out in person, and we hope to host even more in the future! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ding, dong, E3 is dead. Which E3? We don't know. The once world-famous video game trade show has endured so many trials and tribulations, it's hard to way which iteration is getting axed. Let's just say E3 2023 was supposed to be the show's big comeback, and it's getting cancelled instead. Kat, Nadia, Eric, and Reb are all E3 veterans, so they find lots to chew over here. What hobbled this year's show? What's next for the E3 brand, if anything? Which RPGs were bolstered by E3 hype back in the olden days?Also in this episode: Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom looks "hype af," as the kids say. When you fish with Dredge, you fish with Satan. When you Slay the Princess, you also fish with Satan. We have our new Pantheon game! Which Zelda title are we playing this month? Happy [Japanese] Anniversary, FFVI! Do you name your RPG characters? And if not, what's wrong with you? Music used in this episode: Do Your Best! [Breath of Fire III] Torn from the Heavens [Final Fantasy XIV] A Curious Tale [Secret of Mana] FFVI: The Impresario OCREmix [Jake Kaufman, Tommy Pedrini] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kat, Eric, and Nadia are all together in the same room for PAX East! There they share their adventures through PAX East and GDC, their thoughts on the Diablo 4 beta, and much more.Also in this episode  It's Morbin Time Nadia is very confused by Fire Emblem Engage's story The gang try to come up with their best RPG-themed cocktails and it goes... poorly? We reveal the next Pantheon vote! Unfortunately, no post show this week owing to lack of a stream and being on the road. We'll be off next week, but we'll be posting the panel audio along with plenty more content to come.Want merch? Check us out at shop.bloodgodpod.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nadia, an RPG enthusiast, joins Kat and Eric to discuss must-buy RPG recommendations for the closing Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShop. They dive into games like Radiant Historia, Persona Q, SMT IV, and Strange Journey Redux. Other topics include Tears of the Kingdom's price, a Bloodborne revisit, and the closure of the eShop. Listen for more game recommendations and insights into the RPG legacy of Nintendo's consoles.

Axe of the Blood God has now officially hit 400 episodes, and what better way to celebrate than return to the root of it all and ask: just what is an RPG? Kat, Nadia, and Eric are joined by The CRPG Book editor Felipe Pepe to discuss what makes a virtual role-playing game different from all the others. Other topics include: We're still on the Octopath Is Zelda an RPG? A revisit of one of our past Pantheon contestants Nadia's strange, strange trip Music used in this episode: Do Your Best! [Breath of Fire III] A Curious Tale [Secret of Mana] Mines [Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Final Fantasy XVI Preview w/ Ash Parrish and Michael Higham Why do they call it "FINAL Fantasy" when there are sixteen--oh God please put the serrated knives away, I'm just joking. This week, we invited Verge's Ash Parrish and freelance writer/regular guest Michael Higham to talk about their hands-on impressions of Final Fantasy XVI alongside our own Eric. How does it look? How does it play? How does it sound? And what about Producer Naoki Yoshida's controversial remarks about the term "JRPG?" We waddle right into it all, like a herd of Chocobos into a mud pit. Also in this episode: Octopath Traveler 2 rules As does Fire Emblem Engage Elden Ring DLC will get here when it gets here Re-examining Chrono Cross in the context of the Pantheon Bar Mitzvahs are crunk Music used in this episode: Do Your Best! [Breath of Fire III] Heavensward title screen [Final Fantasy XIV] Awakening trailer music [Final Fantasy XVI] Torn from the Heavens [Final Fantasy XIV] A Curious Tale [Secret of Mana] Hopes and Dreams [Undertale] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All of life's paths intersect and intertwine, so it was inevitable the Axe of the Blood God would walk down Octopath Traveler 2's twisted roads. This week we're joined by Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, who was less than enthused about the original Octopath Traveler. How does its sequel fare? Let's just say a game studio can learn a lot in five years. Also in this episode: The Last of Us on HBO will steal your emotions and make you its slave Nadia is watching a cat destroy the world (in Dragon Ball Super) Is Mass Effect still deserving of being in the Pantheon? Nadia's new saga: Sex, Death, and Zip Ties--the Life of a Pigeon Music used in this episode: Do Your Best! [Breath of Fire III] Intro theme [Octopath Traveler 2] Partitio's theme  [Octopath Traveler 2] Torn from the Heavens [Final Fantasy XIV] A Curious Tale [Secret of Mana] Partitio's theme 2 [Octopath Traveler 2] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices