Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast

MinnMax's Ben Hanson joins Kat and Nadia as a special guest to remember the awkwardness that was Square's direct to video era. From Advent Children to Crisis Core, the trio recount the good and bad of the compilation, and wonder whether it deserves any sort of mention in Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Plus: Nadia's Bravely Default 2 impressions!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Persona 5 Royal just a week away, Nadia, Eric, Hirun, and Caty get together for a spoiler-filled and in-depth conversation about the original game. They discuss Persona 5's history; social links; amazing soundtrack, and whether or not the ending ultimately works. Also, Nadia and Hirun chime in with a bit of (not as spoiler-filled) chatter about Persona 5 Royal. Does Persona 5 still hold up after three years? Listen and decide for yourself! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Which RPGs have the best intros? Kat and Nadia talk through the introductory sequences in some of the best RPGs ever made, and why they work and don't work. Why does Final Fantasy 7's opening hit so hard? What about Mass Effect 2? The pair explain what a really good intro can do for a story, and all the ways that a bad one can sap an otherwise good RPG's momentum. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a Mailbag of the Blood God this week as Kat and Nadia tackle all of your biggest questions! This week's questions include: - Why do RPG protagonists always seem to use swords? - What are the Blood God's commandments for succeeding in RPGs? - Why are airships so awesome? - Do we feel guilty over dropping an especially long RPG? - What are some of our favorite examples of customization in an RPG? - What JRPGs would we recommend to someone who grew up with PC RPGs like Baldur's Gate? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Console RPG Quest continues with our exploration of the PlayStation 2, just in time for its 20th anniversary! We talk about its incredibly deep library of RPGs; the rise of companies like NIS and Level-5, and classics like Final Fantasy 10 and Persona 3. Plus, Kat recently got a chance to check out Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Baldur's Gate 3, and she has lots of thoughts! Get ready because we've got a huge podcast for you this month! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's episode tackles the tropes that Kat and Nadia love (and hate) to see in RPGs. From customizable characters to sewer levels; flowery monologues to confusion status effects, Kat and Nadia talk about the elements that draw their attention, and the elements that immediately turn them off. It's a discussion that delves deep into some of the key components of the RPG genre, and game design in general, and will hopefully get you thinking about the elements you love to hate and see in games as well. Don't miss out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former 1UP/EGM writer Shane Bettenhausen returns to talk about the Dreamcast's RPG legacy, the greatness of Phantasy Star Online and Skies of Arcadia, and its sneaky interesting catalog of import RPGs. Plus, staff writer Hirun Cryer drops by to discuss the new Fire Emblem: Three Houses DLC, Persona 5 Royal, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Having chosen the best RPGs of the 2010s, Kat and Nadia conclude by taking a closer look at where JRPGs stand as the new decade gets underway. They talk about what the return to consoles have meant for the genre; the proliferation of cheap and accessible graphics technology, and the sneaky importance of Steam. Plus, Kat has some hot takes about the Vita. Check it out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kat and Nadia look back on the decade that was the 2010s for RPGs! They discuss some of the biggest storylines; look back on the most interesting RPGs, and talk about the games that didn't make it on USG's Top 100 RPGs of the Decade. Plus: The duo analyze Final Fantasy 7 Remake's latest trailer! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's another Axe of the Blood God mailbag! We tackle all of our your questions as we wrap up the first month of 2020. Some of the topics that we cover in this month's mailbag: - Can we expect a truly innovative JRPG in 2020? - What are the best short RPGs? - Which otherwise good RPGs have been ruined by a design or story choice? - What's one think we wish all RPGs would adopt? - Is Kat really a Hufflepuff? Plus, Mike joins us as we talk Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, Temtem, and the new Kingdom Hearts 3 DLC!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices