Sponsored by FactorIt was an embarrassment of RPG riches as well as just plain embarrassment at this year's Game Awards 2023 as Keighley Fest 2023 once again brought us trailers, celebrities, and way too much Hideo Kojima. Nadia, Kat, and Eric recap everything that happened at this year's show, including the major reveals (Monster Hunter! Exodus!), the winners (Baldur's Gate 3... a lot!) and controversies (maybe don't play developers off the stage when they're trying to honor dead colleagues!). All that and more in this week's episode of Axe of the Blood God!Also in this Episode: GTA VI mania! Dragon Age gets a short reveal Nadia's Christmas Pit Timestamps:00:00 - Intro/Pantheon poll winner07:45 - Game Awards 2023 Announcements, Winners, and Controversies1:05:00 - Random Encounters1:08:00 - The Tavern1:26:38: Nadia's Nostalgia NookMusic Used in this Episode:Do Your Best! - Breath of Fire IIIA Curious Tale - Secret of ManaMaze of Life - Persona Q Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The year 2023 has been absolutely packed with RPGs, and there's always something flying under the radar. Darkest Dungeon 2 might just be one of those - a follow-up to a beloved dungeon-crawler that still feels like it hasn't had quite the same impact as its predecessor.So one of our Patreon supporters joined us this week to talk the Darkest Dungeon series and why it's worth keeping an eye on the sequel. We dive into the history, mechanics, dark humor, and gorgeous art of the Darkest Dungeon this week.Also in this Episode: Kat is starting Final Fantasy V again! Eric asks why there hasn't been a Godzilla RPG yet Nadia throws another curve ball in the Nostalgia zone Timestamps:00:00 - Intro/Pantheon poll winner10:45 - Darkest Dungeon talk44:04 - Random Encounters1:06:25 - The Tavern1:23:48: Nadia's Nostalgia NookMusic Used in this Episode:Do Your Best! - Breath of Fire IIIA Curious Tale - Secret of ManaClash on the Big Bridge - Final Fantasy V Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the DVD commentary you didn't know you wanted!If you haven't already, now's the time to watch the movie that may have shaped RPG history more than any other. Time for L'arc en Ciel, the most bizarre performance of Steve Buscemi's career, and the Final Fantasy story that most closely resembles the works of L. Ron Hubbard!This episode is best experienced as a commentary alongside playback of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within but also functions perfectly well as a stand-alone podcast so pick your poison and join Kat, Nadia, Eric, and Victor as we dig around Within and see what those Spirits are up to!MOVIE STARTS - 10:08FINAL THOUGHTS - 1:48:17 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are more Persona spin-offs than there are stars in the night sky but luckily most of them are pretty darn good! Listen as Kat, Nadia, and Eric discuss the Phantom Thieves' latest heist in Persona 5 Tactica. Even the Persona Q series gets some love! Good! It deserves it! Plus, Nadia takes us on a Geno Whirl-wind journey through Super Mario RPG.Editor's Note: Yes, Kat's microphone cuts out at a certain point. But consider this; maybe it'll be something we can all laugh about ten years from now. And besides, the solution I came up with it cosmically funny and won't bother anyone.Also in this Episode:- Final Fantasy on N64! No way!- Eric Got Through: Mellow Zone Act 1- A social experiment involving AnimaleseTimestamps:00:00 - Intros39:28 - Random Encounters1:20:22 - Nadia's Nostalgia NookMusic Used in this Episode:Do Your Best! - [Breath of Fire III]A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]Beware the Forest's Mushrooms - [Super Mario RPG] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is Miyamoto. It's actually happening. A live action Legend of Zelda is on the way. How much faith do we have in the team behind it? What is our dream casting? And how can we talk about Love Actually instead? All these questions and more will be answered by Kat, Nadia, and special guest Alex Stedman!For what it's worth I think they missed their chance when Jonathan Taylor Thomas aged out of playing Link in the 90s but no one bothered to ask me. I also think every live action adaptation should end with a Red Hot Chili Peppers drop like the Death Note movies do. Again, no one asked me. Adaptation (2002) is really the only good adaptation anyway. Go watch that.Also in this Episode:- One Piece is good- Disney is bad- Avatar might be fine?- Baldur's Gate and Starfield.Timestamps:00:00 - Intros44:48 - Random Encounters1:00:48 - Baldur's Gate Talk Begins1:21:04 - Baldur's Gate Talk Ends, Starfield Talk Begins1:32:00 - Nadia's Nostalgia NookMusic Used in this Episode:Do Your Best! - [Breath of Fire III]A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]Fairy Fountain (Pause) - [Cadence of Hyrule] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you know Tri-Ace was founded when the members of Wolf Team developing Tales of Phantasia grew tired of Namco's involvement and split off to create their own studio in the middle of development? And then in 2019 the mobile game Star Ocean: Anamnesis featured a crossover event with Tales, bridging the two series after nearly a quarter-century? Anyway this episode is all about the new remake of Star Ocean 2 with special guest Jada Griffen! George Yang is also supposed to be here but the best laid plans of mice and men etc.Luckily it's still a great discussion about Star Ocean's place in the genre and beyond!This episode is sponsored by Factor. Head to factormeals.com/axeRPGadventure50 and use promo code axerpgadventure50 for 50% off!Also in this Episode:- Thirsty Suitors- World of Warcraft is prepping for the next 20 years- USGamer was a really good website!Timestamps:00:00 - Intros04:17 - Main Topic - Star Ocean 2 R26:00 - Random Encounters29:04 - The Tavern59:44 - Nadia's Nostalgia NookMusic Used in this Episode:Gentle Wind - [Baten Kaitos]Do Your Best! - [Breath of Fire III]A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]Affinity Love Club - [Soul Hackers] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Darkness falls across the land. The midnight hour is close at hand."Uhhhh Persona vibes much?!The history of RPGs is inextricably tied to horror and it's the perfect time of year talk about the scariest parts of our favourite games, as well as the RPGs that are straight up capital "H" Horror. Bloodborne, Undertale, Vampire: The Masquerade and more on this hair-raisingly scary episode with your terrifying hosts Bat Scale-y, Blah!-dia Axeford, and BEWARE-ic Vamp Hell-en.Also in this Episode:- World of Horror- Slay the Princess- Class choices for Baldur's Gate III Co-opTimestamps:00:00 - Intros04:17 - Main Topic - Spooky RPGs46:08 - Random Encounters48:16 - The Tavern1:06:34 - Nadia's Nostalgia NookMusic Used in this Episode:Do Your Best! - [Breath of Fire III]A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]Coffin Fetish - [Shadow Hearts] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Letter Tiiiiime! It's Letter Tiiiime!It's a very special Mailbag episode this week as Kat, Nadia, and Eric answer questions about everything from cheesecake and boss fights to the very future of this podcast! If you want to take part in future mailbag episode,s and get a chance to have your questions answered, check out the Axe of The Blood God Discord by subscribing at patreon.com/bloodgodpod.Also in this Episode:- Long Gone Days, Super Mario Wonder, and even more from Baldur's Gate III and Chrono Trigger- Michael Keaton is great no matter what universe he's in- Nadia vs Nuns- Nature is reclaiming Kat's childhoodTimestamps:00:00 - Intros56:08 - Random Encounters58:00 - The Tavern1:35:44 - Nadia's Nostalgia NookMusic Used in this Episode:Do Your Best! - [Breath of Fire III]A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]The Grand Duchy of Jeuno - [Final Fantasy XI] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More like Acquisition Blizzard, heh. If you want a guest who can explain the ins-and-outs of the business side of this colossal consolidation of industry titans while also explaining why it's relevant to the culture and future of RPGs, you can't find anyone better than the one and only Reb Valentine. Listen as Kat, Nadia, and Reb discuss exactly what this means and how it will effect us all going forward, for better or worse. And maybe Kat is sort of kinda starting to enjoy some parts of Starfield?Also in this Episode:- Call of Duty yaoi- PS5 Slim- Our unslakable thirst for expanded universes and endless IP churn is merely an extension of our fear of death- In Stars and Time seems cool!- Nadia has played Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth!Timestamps:02:00 - Intros49:44 - Random Encounters1:02:40 - The Tavern1:35:44 - Nadia's Nostalgia NookMusic Used in this Episode:Gentle Wind - [Baten Kaitos]Do Your Best! - [Breath of Fire III]A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]Cosmo Canyon - [Super Smash Bros. Ultimate] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everything has been leading to this. Through the battles, the story beats, and the very very attractive party members, it's time to wrap up the conversation on what may end up being the biggest "game", let alone RPG, of 2023, Baldur's Gate III. Kat has wrapped up her 100+ hour journey and the gang has plenty to say about their personal experiences.Spoiler Warning: Mango(?)Also in this Episode:- Nadia has myriad difficulties with animals- To save-scum or not to save-scum- River Dancing through Thordan Unreal- Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty also exists!- More Chrono Trigger ReportTimestamps:00:00 - Intros51:20 - Baldur's Gate Talk Ends, Random Encounters Begin55:12 - The Tavern1:21:50 - Nadia's Nostalgia NookMusic Used in this Episode:Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III]A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]Chaotic Dance - [Baten Kaitos] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices