
Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast
Kat Bailey, Nadia Oxford, and Eric Van Allen explore Final Fantasy, Skyrim, and all the best in the wonderful world of role-playing video games! Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/bloodgodpod
Latest episodes

Jan 1, 2024 • 1h 35min
The Most Anticipated RPGs of 2024
There's never been a more appropriate year to anticipate RPGs than this one! Whether it's "Like A", "Quest", or "Dogma 2", the Year of the Dragon is bound to bring you something you'll sink a not-insignificant part of your year into! Join Kat, Nadia, and Eric as they each talk about their Top 5 Most Anticipated RPGs of 2024 and more!Also in this Episode:
Will we be getting a Switch 2 in 2024?
Will the PS5 and Xbox ever feel like the current gen?
Garfield?
Timestamps:00:00 - Intro06:40 - Main Topic - RPGs We're Looking Forward To1:25:16 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook1:26:16 - Nadia's BONUS NOOKMusic Used in this Episode:Do Your Best! - [Breath of Fire III]A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]New Year's Day (2 AM - 5 AM) - Animal Crossing New HorizonsGames Mentioned in this Episode:Dragon's Dogma 2Persona 3 ReloadUnicorn OverlordElden Ring: Shadow of the ErdtreeFinal Fantasy VII: RebirthMetaphor: ReFantazioVampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2DecapoliceLike A Dragon: Infinite WealthDragon Quest III HD-2DEiyuden Chronicle: Hundred HeroesVisions of ManaFinal Fantasy XIV: DawntrailCitizen Sleeper 2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 25, 2023 • 2h 18min
A Look Back at the RPGs of 2023
Merry Chrysler! We here at Axe of the Blood God prepared this very special episode that takes both a deeply critical and celebratory look at the nutty year that just passed us by. We had RPGs galore! Have we ever seen such bounty? New Zelda! New Baldur's Gate! New Cyberpunk...sort of!But we had troubles galore, too. Layoffs and downsizing left and right. The end of vintage game media websites and game studios. What awaits us in 2024? We dunno! But we can guarantee the Blood God will always be with you. That's what Christmas is all about.In this episode:
Our Game of the Year!
Zelda, Zelda, Baldur's Gate, Zelda!
The Super Mario RPG remake is great!
Starfield discourse that's as long and girthy as Luigi's schlong
And lots more!
Music used in this episode:
Tantal [Xenoblade Chronicles 2]
Narshe March [Final Fantasy VI]
Secret of Mana Santa art source Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 18, 2023 • 1h 52min
Hidden Gems of 2023 w/ Reb Valentine
The Holidays are right around the corner and you know what that means?That's right! All the children who have been good year 'round gather at the local podcast to hear the wise old hosts dispense their recommendations for the year! But what's this? Mean Mr. Grinch stole aaaaaall the popular games this year! Fret not, little one. Just because mainstream gaming media hasn't covered it doesn't mean it's not worth curling up with next to the fire. In fact, just for you we've compiled a list of wonderful games no one seems to be talking about! Let Eric, Nadia, and beloved guest Reb Valentine (along with a mail-in ballot from our editor abroad, Victor Hunter) tell you what you missed while you were being a sweet angel 24/7.Also in this Episode:
End of E3-gelion
The Game Awards speeches that weren't
Nadia's burnt-beard-filled Christmas Pit
Timestamps:00:00 - Intro1:10:40 - Random Encounters1:27:36 - The Tavern1:41:52 - Nadia's Nostalgia NookMusic Used in this Episode:Do Your Best! - [Breath of Fire III]A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]Jeuno Starlight Celebration - Final Fantasy XI [Square Enix X'mas Collection] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 11, 2023 • 1h 44min
The Game Awards 2023 Recap: An Embarrassment of RPG Riches and Just Plain Embarrassment
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

Dec 4, 2023 • 1h 35min
Is Darkest Dungeon 2 an Underrated Gem of 2023? w/ Matthew Salisbury
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

Nov 27, 2023 • 2h 4min
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within - Commentary of the Blood God
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

Nov 21, 2023 • 1h 31min
Persona 5 Tactica, Mario RPG Remake, Ranking the Persona Spin-offs, and More
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

Nov 13, 2023 • 1h 42min
Live Action Zelda w/ Alex Stedman
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

Nov 6, 2023 • 1h 16min
Star Ocean 2: The Second Story R Review w/ Jada Griffen
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

Oct 30, 2023 • 1h 22min
The Best SpoOoOky RPGs!
"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