Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast - podcast cover

Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast

Axe of the Blood Godbloodgodpod.com
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

Episodes

Bonus: New Xbox Handheld, Persona 4 Revival, and Showcase Reax

Editor's Note: While we opted to cover this showcase, we would be remiss if we didn't once again highlight the ongoing Xbox boycott A Persona 4 remake! An Xbox handheld! Some actual RPGs! But no Fable? Kat and Nadia react to the Xbox Showcase and speculate on what's in store in 2026. Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniv...

Jun 12, 202532 min

Switch 2 Impressions, State of Play and SGF Recap

This episode is a Podcast Key Card™. To download the episode, an internet connection and enough free space in your Nintendo Switch 2 system memory or microSD Express card are required. Once the episode is downloaded, you’re ready to play!Kat and Nadia recap their Switch 2 experience so far, what RPGs to look forward to in the Switch 2's future, and what was announced at Sony's State of Play and Summer Games Fest.Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch....

Jun 09, 20251 hr 33 min

Elden Ring: Nightreign Review, SGF Predictions w/ Mitchell Saltzman

FromSoftware's multiplayer Elden Ring experience is here and we're here to figure out exactly what it even is. Kat, Nadia, Eric, and special guest Mitchell Saltzman discuss this divisive new addition to Elden Ring and more on this week's Axe of the Blood God!Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at h...

Jun 02, 20251 hr 39 min

Console RPG Quest: Switch - Definitive Edition, Fantasy Life i

Join Kat, Nadia, and Eric for the final Console RPG Quest episode on the Nintendo Switch before the Switch 2 arrives. They delve into the Switch's immense success, its impact on the RPG genre with hits like Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Fire Emblem, and the rise of HD-2D, plus its role as a haven for classic and indie RPGs. The hosts and community share their favorite titles and discuss the challenges Pokemon faced, Level 5's return with Fantasy Life i, and the legacy of the Switch heading into the next generation.

May 26, 20251 hr 42 min

The Future of Kingdom Hearts, Giant Bomb's Return w/ Mike Minotti

You're getting 'Norted! And you're getting 'Norted! And YOU'RE getting 'Norted!Xakt, Dianxa, Ixerc, and special guest Kexim are here to discuss the old adage; "When Nomura closes one door, he opens another with a very large key"Missing Link's cancellation and Kingdom Hearts IV's new screenshots have stirred up conversation and Giant Bomb's own KH expert Mike Minotti is here to tell us all about itTune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, ...

May 19, 20251 hr 38 min

No Expedition 33 Mini-Map Isn't a Bad Thing, FF + MtG Reax, and Sakura Wars 2 in English

The hosts discuss the role of minimaps and friction in RPGs, focusing on Expedition 33's design choices. They explore the impact of minimaps on immersion and navigation, and debate intentional game design versus player preference. The episode includes live reactions to Final Fantasy x Magic: The Gathering cards and delves into shoujo games like Sakura Wars 2.

May 12, 20251 hr 36 min

Are Games Too Expensive, The Collapse of Games Media

The rent is too damn high!Hey, it's rough out there. But as development costs climb, retail prices skyrocket, and the institutional knowledge of decades of journalism slips out from under us due to corporate greed, Kat, Nadia, and Eric are at least here to explain what this means for the future of RPGs!Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celeb...

May 05, 20251 hr 47 minEp. 509

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Review w/Kenneth Shepard

Sacre Bleu! Incroyable! Tabarnak! We get to say all these words and more on this week's episode of Axe of the Blood God, which is about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Special guest Kenneth Shepard joins Kat, Nadia, and Eric (they're together again!) on this quest to ask this Paintress lady what her whole deal is. Also in this episode: Stop right there, criminal scum! Suddenly, Oblivion Remastered. Breath of Fire 4 is on PC! What does this portend? The Gang Pre-Orders the Switch 2 The Hundred Line ...

Apr 28, 20251 hr 51 min

The Lunar Remastered Review, Switch 2 Updates w/ Lucas White

How many licks DOES it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? Eric, Nadia, and special guest Lucas White won't find out in the Lunar: Remastered Collection but they'll sure discuss localization choices like it. Find out if the new re-release does justice to these cult classics of the 32-bit era. Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebra...

Apr 21, 20251 hr 51 min

Class Conscious: Black Mage w/ Timothy Monbleau

I am the Black Mage! I casts the spells that makes the peoples fall down! Time to put on your robe and wizard hat; we're talkin' Black Mages! From Vivi to Donald Duck, all your favourite magic missile-slingers are here and ready to nuke Eric, Nadia, and special guest Timothy Monbleau! Special Thanks to Edwyn "Omahdon" Tiong, voice of Black Mage. Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at h...

Apr 14, 20251 hr 45 min

Switch 2 Direct and Hands-on Impressions w/ Brian Shea

Should've called it the Swiitch. Kat, Nadia, Eric, and special guest Brian Shea tell you everything you need to know about the Nintendo Direct Switch 2 announcements plus Brian's hands-on experience at the recent press event. There's a slew of RPGs of all stars and stripes heading for the console. Whether you'll be able to get your little hands on them without selling a body part or two remains to be seen. But at least we can talk about them for free! Tune in to live recordings of the show every...

Apr 07, 20251 hr 58 min

Switch Direct Reax, Switch 2 Direct Predictions, and Pillars of Eternity Turns 10

This podcast of mine glows with an awesome power! Its hot takes tell me to treat you! TAKE THIS! My love, my anger, and ALL my opinions! Super Robot Wars is joined by some other games also announced in the opening left hook of the Nintendo Direct one-two punch combo. Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new m...

Mar 31, 20251 hr 49 min

Xenoblade Chronicles X Switch Review, GDC Recap, and a Persona 4 Remake Wishlist

Living here in New LA, fighting villains from afar. You got to find first gear in your giant robot car. The Xenoblade saga on Switch is now complete with the inclusion of Xenoblade Chronicles X (Xenoblade Cross if you're nasty). But it's been 10 years since the original release on WiiU; has it aged well? The very idea of video games "aging well" is a concept invented by tech-capitalists so don't ask me that. Instead ask "How much of the current open-world RPG landscape do we owe to it, do the ga...

Mar 24, 20251 hr 51 min

Atelier Yumia Review and Series Primer w/ Lucas White

The only two good things to come out economic recession. Eric, Nadia, and special guest Lucas White are here to give the long-running, cult-classic Atelier series it's flowers. But can the latest entry, Yumia, hang with the Ryzas and the Maries and the Irises and the Eschas and the Logys? Listen up to find out! Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodp...

Mar 17, 20251 hr 31 min

Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Review, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Preview, and More w/ Aidan Moher

Oscar season has passed but the stars are still out; all 108 of them! Kat, Nadia, and Eric are joined by a special guest who literally wrote the book on Suikoden; Aidan Moher! They discuss the ups and downs of the recently released remaster and whether they are the versions of Suikoden you should play! Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod Also i...

Mar 10, 20251 hr 43 min

Axe of the Blood God 500: 10 Years of the Podcast, 10 Greatest RPGs

Wanna feel old? Well don't! You're only 10 years older than you were when Axe of the Blood God started and if you placed the entirety of your life so far in Carl Sagan's cosmic calendar you would exist as a mere blip in the final second of the final day. But there's never been a better blip to exist in than this one if you're really into RPGs! So join Kat, Nadia, Eric, and Victor as they discuss what they believe to be the finest RPGs the last 10 years had to offer. Whether you're a new listener...

Mar 03, 20252 hr 11 min

Monster Hunter Wilds Review, Final Fantasy x MtG, and More!

It's just another MonHun Monday! Bring your Cool Drinks to survive the Hot Takes in our review of Monster Hunter Wilds. Will this be the entry that makes MonHun skeptics take the leap? Kat, Nadia, and Eric discuss this Elder Dragon-sized game! Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod Also in this episode: Final Fantasy x Magic: The Gathering Remembe...

Feb 24, 20251 hr 33 minEp. 499

Avowed Review, State of Play, and More w/ John Carson

Obsidian's new covert entry in the Pillars of Eternity world is out now; but is it just a Skyrim-like? I don't mind telling you upfront; no. But what IS it, I hear you screaming? Kat, Nadia, Eric, and special guest John Carson are here to tell you! Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod Also in this episode: The February Cornucopia of RPGs Pokemon...

Feb 17, 20251 hr 28 minEp. 498

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Review, Final Fantasy Live Letter, and More w/ Jason Fanelli and Leana Hafer

The only thing orthodox about this episode of Axe of the Blood God is the allusions the Catholicism! Eric is joined by special guest Leana Hafer to talk RPG news and they're both joined by other special-guest Jason Fanelli and other other special guest Nadia Oxford to dig into one of the biggest RPGs of 2025 so far; Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at...

Feb 10, 20252 hr 2 minEp. 497

Shorter RPGs Without Sacrificing Story, Citizen Sleeper 2, and P3 Reload Final Thoughts

It is once again Letter Tiiiiiiime. Kat, Nadia, and Eric answer YOUR burning questions like: What are some big freaky guys? If you'd like a chance to have your letters read on a future episode join us over on the discord! Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod Also in this episode: The future of BioWare after layoffs How to handle spoilers and lea...

Feb 03, 20251 hr 58 minEp. 496

Are We In A Turn-Based Renaissance?

If it is then Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is looking like The Birth of Venus. Why did turn-based RPGs ever fall out of vogue? Did they ever? Kat, Nadia, and Eric discuss the mainstream resurgence of the turn-based RPG and wether we might be seeing even more on the horizon. All that and more on this menu-based episode of Axe of the Blood God! Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at ht...

Jan 27, 20251 hr 42 minEp. 495

Switch 2 Reactions, Remembering David Lynch, and More w/ Jon Cartwright

The Switch 2 is here! Well, it's THERE. Somewhere. But now we know that when it gets HERE it will look like that! And sometimes that's all you can ask for in this crazy world. Join Kat, Nadia, Eric, and Good Vibe's Gaming's Jon Cartwright as they discuss everything we know and everything we DON'T know about Nintendo's new console. Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.p...

Jan 21, 20251 hr 50 minEp. 494

Why Is Everything An RPG? w/ Reb Valentine

If everything is an RPG then nothing is an RPG. Nadia, Eric, and special guest Reb Valentine are here to discuss the RPG-ification of games over the past decade and change; what does it mean to adopt RPG-like mechanics? When are systems metaphor for player action and when are they a means to pad out a progression loop for commercial value? Are either of those things better than the other? All this philosophy and more, Horatio, on this episode of Axe of the Blood God! Tune in to live recordings o...

Jan 13, 20251 hr 59 minEp. 493

The 2025 RPG Preview, Switch 2 Speculation, and More

It's a new year, and that means a whole lot more RPGs are on the way to ruin our backlogs and occupy our time. Kat, Nadia, and Eric gather together to talk about all the big hits you should look out for, as well as: What's Nintendo going to do in 2025? Who drew Persian like that? The Blood God buys the super-expensive Terra statue? Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:50 - The 2025 RPG Preview Music used in this episode: The AOTBG Intro Theme Sophisticated Fight [The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky]...

Jan 06, 20251 hr 42 min

Pantheon of the Blood God - Dragon Quest Builders 2

The Blood God hosts are taking a quick holiday break so as a treat we're pulling a classic episode of Pantheon of the Blood God out from behind the paywall! Listen to this deep-dive into Dragon Quest Builders 2 and if you like what you hear subscribe at the $10 tier to access the entire back catalogue of Pantheon of the Blood God. Or better yet, give the gift of the Blood God this holiday season with Patreon's new subscription gifting feature. Regular episodes will be back soon but until then en...

Dec 30, 20241 hr 31 min

The 2024 Blood God RPG Awards

The appointed time is upon us. You've waited all year to hear the Axe of the Blood God's best RPG picks for 2024 (er, right?) and we're ready to dish. Nadia, Kat, and Eric hash out the winners in this extra thicc episode. Several categories are up for discussion beyond "Best RPG of 2024," such as this year's best character performance, this year's best visuals, and, uh, this year's best "freaky little guy." To listen is to understand, so shove this episode into your ear-holes, and we'll see you ...

Dec 23, 20242 hr 9 min

Game Awards Reax, Elden Ring Nightreign, Witcher 4, and RPG Hidden Gems of 2024

It is done. Geoff Keighley descended from Gamer Mountain with the results of 2024's Game Awards scrawled onto two stone tablets. (Brought to you by Mountain Dew.) Kat, Eric, and Nadia understandably have opinions about the games that were snubbed, and the games that received recognition. How about you? Do you agree with Geoff's decrees? Are you with us? Or against us? Listen to this episode and use your heart to decide. And make sure to have a hard think about overlooked gems this year while we ...

Dec 16, 20241 hr 35 min

PlayStation 30th Anniversary, Path of Exile Hits Early Access, Fantasian Mini-Review

Pour yourself a delicious bowl of proprietary memory cards and fire up an unskippable cutscene; we're talking all about what 30 years of Playstation has meant for RPGs! Are we in a better timeline than the one where Square stuck with Nintendo? Find out on this week's episode! Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod Also in this episode: Pokemon TCG...

Dec 09, 20241 hr 44 min

Pantheon of the Blood God - Lunar: Silver Star Story

The Blood God hosts are taking a quick holiday break so as a treat we're pulling a classic episode of Pantheon of the Blood God out from behind the paywall! Listen to this deep-dive into Lunar: Silver Star Story and if you like what you hear subscribe at the $10 tier to access the entire back catalogue of Pantheon of the Blood God. Or better yet, give the gift of the Blood God this holiday season with Patreon's new subscription gifting feature. Regular episodes will be back soon, including our y...

Dec 02, 20242 hr 8 min

Romancing SaGa Series Primer, Game Awards Nominations, and Sony's Looming Acquisition w/ Lucas White

I hope you don't mind missables because there's no perfect route through this episode; it's time for Romancing SaGa! Kat, Nadia, and Eric are enlightened by special guest Lucas White's SaGa knowledge as they discuss both of this year's SaGa entries: Emerald Beyond and Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven! Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod A...

Nov 25, 20241 hr 44 min
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