State of the Arc Podcast

In the third episode of our deep-dive analysis of Xenogears, we're joined once again by Chris and Eric from Retrograde Amnesia to cover Lahan Village through the Blackmoon forest. There's a lot to talk about in this short introductory section of the game! Retrograde Amnesia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-ZMfpromeak2dHU4IybFYw Timecodes: 1. Opening Political Exposition Dump (0:00) 2. Thoughts On The Effectiveness Of Xenogears Opening As A Hook (5:31) 3. Lahan Village (16:00) 4. Citan's House (38:12) 5. The Destruction Of Lahan Vilalge (1:01:57) 6. Blackmoon Forest (1:17:05) 7. Wrapping Up (1:41:26)

In this second episode of our deep-dive analysis of Xenogears, we're joined by Chris and Eric from Retrograde Amnesia to cover a very basic introduction to gnostic cosmology and the opening cutscene of the game--which is filled to the brim with symbolism and foreshadowing! Retrograde Amnesia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-ZMfpromeak2dHU4IybFYw Timecodes: 1. Introduction To This Week's Guests (0:00) 2. A Fair Warning About So-Called "Spoilers" (4:05) 3. Extra Tidbits Of Dev History (5:38) 4. An Intro To Gnostic Cosmology (12:03) 5. Analysis Of The Prologue/Opening Cutscene (26:52) 6. Spoiler Warning (1:17:06) 7. End of Spoilers (1:23:03) 8. Wrapping Up (1:35:49)

In the first episode of our deep-dive analysis of Xenogears, we cover the development history of this JRPG classic. We'll introduce you to the creators who conceived the world and show how they secured the opportunity to create a brand new IP for Squaresoft--one which was meant to push the industry in ways Final Fantasy simply wasn't doing. Time Codes: 1. Intro (0:00) 2. Where To Begin? (4:17) 3. Getting To Know The Creators (9:12) 4. The Purpose Of Criticism (59:27) 5. Religious Controversy (1:11:35) 6. Hellish Localization Efforts of Richard Honeywood (1:23:22) 7. Explaining Aizuchi--There's A Lot Of This In Xenogears (1:38:39) 8. Developers Were Overworked On Xenogears (1:51:26) 9. What To Keep In Mind As You Start Xenogears (2:00:33)

In this fourth episode of our deep-dive analysis of Nier Replicant, we look at Grimoire NieR and other supplementary materials to help us understand the story better. Next, we move on to Xenogears and hope everyone will join us next week! Time Codes: 1. Intro (0:00) 2. Overview of the Podcast (1:34) 3. Grimoire Nier (8:00) 4. Emil and Sodom and Gomorrah (1:49:21) 5. Roberto Szeck, Kaine’s Portrait (2:00:55) 6. Greg Troyan, Melodrama (2:03:37) 7. Angst, a few points (2:09:57) 8. ICE, Drakengard Connection (2:15:56) 9. Slave, Disagree on B (2:16:50) 10. Jace1551, localization (2:38:39) 11. Final thoughts and feelings (2:40:53) 12. Ending, onward to Xenogears (2:53:57)

In this third episode of our deep-dive analysis of Nier Replicant, we look at the recontextualization of the B and C routes, as well as endings B, C, D, and E. We also discuss the new Episode Mermaid scenario added to Seafront! Time Codes: 1. Intro (0:00) 2. Corrections From Last Time (5:16) 3. Beginning Our Discussion On Route B (35:38) 4. Discussion On The Effectiveness Of Route B's Recontextualization (57:21) 5. Summary Of Each New Scenario In Route B (1:24:21) 6. Scenes Added To Route C (1:49:55) 7. The Aerie And Shadowlord's Castle Recontextualized (1:52:25) 8. Miscellaneous Notes (1:56:26) 9. Thoughts On Ending B (2:06:28) 10. Thoughts On Endings C and D (2:19:20) 11. Thoughts On Ending E (2:31:34) 12. Wrapping Up (2:50:21)

In this second episode of our deep-dive analysis of Nier Replicant/Gestalt, we look at all the key story events leading up to the A ending of the game. Since there is a lot to cover, we will mostly be focusing on summarizing those events and dissecting the technical execution of each scene. Next time, we'll focus a little more on character analysis and philosophy. Time Codes: 1. Intro (0:00) 2. Nier Replicant Remaster Thoughts (3:53) 3. Act 1 Revisiting The Aerie (28:04) 4. Act 1 Visiting Facade (42:30) 5. Act 1 Visiting The Forest Of Myth (1:08:45) 6. Act 1 Visiting The Haunted Manor (1:20:49) 7. The End Of Act 1 (1:30:39) 8. Five Year Time Skip--Beginning Of Act 2 (1:40:18) 9. Act 2 Revisiting The Haunted Manor/Underground Lab (1:44:38) 10. Act 2 Freeing Kaine From Petrification (1:52:16) 11. Act 2 Key Fragments To The Shadowlord's Castle (2:02:16) 12. Act 2 Revisiting The Junkheap (2:04:01) 13. Act 2 Revisiting Facade (2:09:38) 14. Act 2 Revisiting The Forest Of Myth (2:18:22) 15. Act 2 Revisiting The Aerie (2:25:42) 16. Act 2 The Shadowlord's Castle And Ending A (2:39:07) 17. Wrapping Up (3:19:23)

In this first episode of our deep-dive analysis of Nier Replicant/Gestalt, we look at the key members of the development staff and the reasoning behind their creative decisions in turning Nier into its own IP rather than a direct Drakengard sequel. We also examine the thought process and style of director Yoko Taro, and how his observations of human nature shaped the themes of Nier. After that, we dive into Nier’s prologue, show why it is such a strong hook for the story, and continue up through the Junkheap and Seafront areas. Time Codes: 1. Introduction (0:00) 2. Development History (05:06) 3. Drakengard E Ending Spoiler Warning (27:25) 4. What is Nier's Core Theme? (39:30) 5. Summary and Analysis of Nier's Prologue (1:02:32) 6. Summary and Analysis of the Village (1:20:13) 7. Summary and Analysis of Lost Shrine (1:29:31) 8. Summary and Analysis of Song of the Ancients (1:37:33) 9. Summary and Analysis of the Aerie (1:44:02) 10. Summary and Analysis of the Junkheap (2:03:18) 11. Summary and Analysis of Seafront (2:10:56) 12. Wrapping Up (2:15:14)

In this episode, we analyze the end of disc 3 and the conclusion of the story in disc 4 of Final Fantasy 8. This culminates in the party entering the Lunatic Pandora to confront Seifer and Adel, as well as the initiation of time compression, and the final showdown with the sorceress Ultimecia herself. Time Codes: 1. What Game Are We Covering Next? (0:00) 2. Flower Field Scene And Additional Thoughts On Opening FMV (3:11) 3. The Role Of The Sorceress' Knight (32:00) 4. Explaining Time Compression And Who Ultimecia Is (39:15) 5. Meeting Laguna And The Process Of Surviving Time Compression (51:29) 6. Thoughts On How Seifer Was Handled In The Final Act (1:13:08) 7. End Of The Game (1:26:31) 8. Casen Reconsiders His Opinion About Squall On The Ragnarok (1:34:39) 9. FF8's Greatest Strengths And Weaknesses (1:47:09) 10. Why We Don't Want To Discuss Fan Theories (1:52:21) 11. Response To A Comment On Our Critique Of Galbadia vs. Balamb Garden (2:00:14) 12. Thank You To Those Who Watched And Commented On This Series (2:04:18) 13. Touching On The Lore Of The Great Hyne (2:05:26) 14. Response To A Comment On Our Critique Of Basketball Court Scene (2:10:55) 15. Response To A Comment On Our Critique Of Vocal Eyes On Me During Romantic Scene (2:15:16) 16. Our Apology To Throwaway Mcgee (2:19:15) 17. Thoughts On Ultimecia As A Villain (2:21:40) 18. Does The Many Worlds Theorum Apply To FF8? (2:23:00) 19. Response To A Comment About Dialogue Options For Squall (2:24:55) 20. Response To A Comment About Error Ratio (2:27:36) 21. A Female Perspective On The Romance In FF8 (2:31:46) 22. More Comments On Dialogue Options For Squall (2:32:28) 23. Response To "It's A Fantasy Story" As A Dissmisal of Criticism (2:33:42) 24. Wrapping Up (2:45:19)

In this episode, we analyze disc 3 of Final Fantasy 8, which begins with Squall waking up in his room at Balamb Garden and realizing Rinoa has fallen into a coma. As Edea unveils that a sorceress from the future is behind all the chaos that's been happening, Squall is forced to evaluate his feelings, his emotional trauma, and whether he wants to continue leading the Garden--all while his desperation to save Rinoa boils over.

In this third episode of our deep-dive into Final Fantasy VIII, we examine the entirety of disc two, which includes an escape from D-District Prison, the destruction of a Galbadian missile base, navigating a civil war within Balamb Garden, crashing into Fisherman's Horizon, saving Balamb Village from the clutches of the Sorceress, learning the truth of our characters' origins in a certain orphanage, and a final clash between Balamb and Galbadia Garden!