Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast

Kat is joined by Hirun Cryer to review Banner Saga 3. Does it effectively close the epic tactical RPG series? How does the gameplay hold up? And is being depressing necessarily a bad thing? Then Divinity: Original Sin 2 writer Kevin VanOrd and Gamesbeat's Jason Wilson join us to discuss number 20 in our Top 25 RPG Countdown: Divinity: Original Sin! Find out why this 2014 sleeper hit deserves to be considered a modern classic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kat is joined by Mike Williams and Vidjagame Apocalypse co-host Matthew Allen to discuss number 21 on our Top 25 RPG Countdown: World of WarCraft! They talk about its RPG roots, why it changed MMORPGs forever, and why it continues to command a loyal audience to this day. Then Kat and Nadia respond to some of the more heated feedback from last episode's Octopath Traveler review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GameXplain co-host Derrick Bitner joins Kat and Nadia to review Octopath Traveler. Do the sprites match the quality of the environments? Which character did each host pick first? And can Nadia and Derrick convince Kat to upgrade from Prologue? Then, Kat is joined by guest Ryan Allen to add Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines to the Top 25 RPG countdown. They talk about how it's risen above its troubled development history, its amazing roleplaying possibilities, and why it's still supported by a cadre of dedicated fans to this day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nadia shares her initial impressions of Octopath Traveler, including the battle system, the graphics, and more. Then David Craddock returns to talk about Nethack, its remarkable support through the years, and tales of YASDs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our old friend Jeremy Parish returns to discuss the first entry in his new series about the history of RPGs, which covers Ultima, Teletype RPGs, and Richard Garriott's early programming experiments. Then we dive into number 24 on our Top 25 RPGs of All Time countdown: Tactics Ogre! We talk about its rich storyline, excellent tactics, and what sets it apart from its successor Final Fantasy Tactics (which is also great). Find out why Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together is yet another underrated RPG gem! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's finally time! Kat and Nadia commence Axe of the Blood God's countdown of the Best 25 RPGs with an in-depth discussion of number 25 on our list! We discuss its history, what makes it stand out, some of its best moments, and ultimately why it holds up. Don't miss out! Plus, we're joined by GameXplain's Ash Paulsen to talk about Ys VIII's Switch port and its ongoing localization woes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kat and Nadia wrap up E3 2018 with a discussion of Valkyria Chronicles 4's Switch port, Fallout 76, Cyberpunk 2077, and more! Does Pokemon Let's Go prove that we no longer need random encounters in Pokemon? Are we okay with Cyberpunk 2077 being a shooter? How awesome does Fire Emblem look? And what's it like to be in the same room as Tetsuya Nomura? All that as we also announce a new weekly feature for the second half of 2018! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's officially E3 2018, and Nadia and Kat are here to break down the first run of announcements! They talk about Square Enix's missed opportunity, Kingdom Hearts 3's new trailer, Cyberpunk 2077, Shadows Die Twice, Elder Scrolls 6, and Starfield, then share what they want to see from Sony and Nintendo.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kat and Nadia talk about Pokemon Let's Go, why the Kanto Pokedex is overrated, and what they would like out of Gen 8 on the Switch (hint: it's not another new region). Then they dive into Fallout 76 and Moonlighter, with asides into Stardew Valley and Battletech. Join them! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Doc Burford returns to review Pillars of Eternity 2 with Kat. How does the sequel to Obsidian's cult favorite isometric RPG stack up to the original? Find out in this spoiler-free discussion! Plus, Kat and Doc wax poetic over Dragon Age: Origins, preview Disco Elysium, and ponder how to make detective RPGs work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices