We love RPGs here at RPGFan, but that doesn't mean we're fans of everything in RPGs. We all have vexations, annoyances, and pet peeves about RPGs, so we decided to air those complaints in a special, very negative podcast episode. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Dom Kim, Peter Triezenberg Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgfan.com Twitter: @rpgfancom Instagram: @rpgfancom Facebook: rpgfancom Twitch: rpgfancom...
Retro Encounter gives the people what they want! The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap won a poll to be covered on Retro Encounter earlier this year, and is an interesting piece of the Zelda canon in its own right. Gust Jars, Kinstones, and two very magical hats feature prominently in this big Legend of Zelda adventure in which Link becomes very small. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Greg Delmage, Chris Gebauer Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgfan.com Twitter: @rpgfancom Instagram: @rpgfanc...
What is Zelda? Do we want a future Zelda game with Zelda playable? Do we like it in 2D or 3D? Is Zelda an RPG? Whatever you want it to be, of course, both, and surprisingly yes. This episode of Retro Encounter is a disorganized, open-ended discussion of Zelda tradition, Zelda weirdness, and what Zelda means to us. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Nathan Lee, Stephanie Sybydlo Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgfan.com Twitter: @rpgfancom Instagram: @rpgfancom Facebook: rpgfancom Twitch: rpgf...
2018 marks the 25th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, the Game Boy Zelda game with no Zelda, no Sages, no Hyrule, and some unique mechanics and situations relative to other Zelda games. The second of four Zelda-themed episode in Retro Encounter's Zelda month. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Chris Gebauer Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgfan.com Twitter: @rpgfancom Instagram: @rpgfancom Facebook: rpgfancom Twitch: rpgfancom...
In the third installment of Retro Encounter's "favorite game within a particular series" miniseries, five Retro Encounter panelists break down every title in the storied selection of The Legend of Zelda video games. After focusing the discussion on a predetermined final four, the panel votes on an overall favorite to provide a definitive, authoritative, mathematical answer to the Best Zelda conundrum. Also: sexy fish-men. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Nathan Lee, Rob Rogan, Stephanie Sybydlo, Pete...
The Super Nintendo is a beloved console that delivered some of the greatest role-playing video games ever devised. Retro Encounter loves the SNES and also loves ranking things, and in today's special podcast these two passions meet when our three panelists count down the ten greatest RPGs for the Super Nintendo. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Keegan Lee, Peter Triezenberg Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgfan.com Twitter: @rpgfancom Instagram: @rpgfancom Facebook: rpgfancom Twitch: rpgfan...
Keegan and Robert's journey into the heart of despair continues! After playing midwife to the Alley of Lingering Sighs, the two venture into the lower wards in search of the infamous night hag Ravel Puzzlewell. Along the way, they fill out their remaining party slots with a range of misfits, before chasing the past to the nexus of Law and Chaos. Brothels for conversation, fallen angels, skull pillars, and ambulatory mortality ahoy, in Planescape: Torment Part II. Featuring: Keegan Lee, Robert Fe...
Maybe your favorite RPG is an original story, or maybe your favorite RPG stands on the shoulders of giants? Today's Retro Encounter episode discusses RPG adaptations of other works, including non-RPG video games, novels from all over the world, blockbuster movies, and more. After going down a list of favorite RPG adaptations, the three panelists each propose a hypothetical nonexistant RPG adaptation from their fertile imaginations. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Keegan Lee, Peter Triezenberg Get in...
This week Retro Encounter takes on Planescape: Torment, the classic PC RPG based on the popular Dungeons and Dragons setting Planescape. Torment has a reputation for terrific writing and a malleable story, and it's about time that Retro Encounter covered a western RPG again. Isn't it? Featuring: Keegan Lee, Robert Fenner Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgfan.com Twitter: @rpgfancom Instagram: @rpgfancom Facebook: rpgfancom Twitch: rpgfancom...
Some RPGs just can't stay RPGs. Whether it's stylishg fighting games, colorful roguelikes, nostalgic music games, or free-to-play card games, RPGs have spun off into a myriad of genres. Today on Retro Encounter, four panelists discuss their favorite RPG spinoffs, then concoct some theoretical RPG spinoffs of their own. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Robert Fenner, Kyle Kortvely, Nick Ransbottom Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgfan.com Twitter: @rpgfancom Instagram: @rpgfancom Facebook: r...
A new challenger appears in our second Valkyrie Profile episode, where a Valkryie Profile superfan joins our two-person panel from the first episode to break down the second half of the tri-Ace cult classic. Dramatic story turns, challenging dungeons, and the darkly tragic world of Valkryie Profile take center stage in this richly detailed Retro Encounter. Featuring: Robert Fenner, Hilary Andreff, Stephanie Sybydlo Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgfan.com Twitter: @rpgfancom Instagram...
This week's Retro Encounter podcast celebrates the Lunar New Year's Year of the Dog with the most godlike dog in all of video games. Okami, starring the canine artist-god Amaterasu, has been praised like the sun over the years, and today Retro Encounter discusses its highs and lows. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Hilary Andreff, Caitlin Argyros Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgfan.com Twitter: @rpgfancom Instagram: @rpgfancom Facebook: rpgfancom Twitch: rpgfancom...
Two Retro Encounter panelists played through the first three chapters of Valkyrie Profile for your listening pleasure. Tri-Ace's wild interpretation of Norse myth became a cult hit as well as a rare, sought-after PlayStation disc. Included in the discussion: difficulty levels, battle systems, strange stats, and early characters and dungeons... in profile. Featuring: Robert Fenner, Hilary Andreff Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgfan.com Twitter: @rpgfancom Instagram: @rpgfancom Faceboo...
Ah, cats - stubborn, aloof, proud creatures who enjoy lazing around, eating and bringing you dead animals as presents. There are as many cat lovers as there are dog lovers on the site, so on the cusp of Year of the Dog, we decided to celebrate all things feline instead. These cats are anything but lazy, and this episode is sure to be paw-some as our panellists discuss wannabe movie star cats, space cats and magical cats. Featuring: Alana Hagues, Robert Fenner, Keegan Lee Get in Touch: RPGFan.com...
Monster Hunter World is upon us, and it's the first video game blockbuster hit of 2018. A game from last week isn't quite retro enough for Retro Encounter though, so three of RPGFan's most enthusiastic Monster Hunter fans hop on the show to talk about their personal experiences, weapon mains, and many years of hunting wyverns, dinosaurs, and giant pink fart monkeys. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Nathan Lee, Nick Ransbottom Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgfan.com Twitter: @rpgfancom Ins...
This week, our host is extremely excited to play the Power Rangers-inspired indie strategy RPG Chroma Squad, and two other Retro Encounter panelists are at least willing to humor him. So is the rainbow-hued Chroma Squad a Tokusatsu triumph, or a sad Sentai send-up? Listen in for the panel's thoughts. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Robert Fenner, Hilary Andreff Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgfan.com Twitter: @rpgfancom Instagram: @rpgfancom Facebook: rpgfancom Twitch: rpgfancom...
Retro Encounter continues its January indie games month with a very special episode all about the 2015 smash hit Undertale! Undertale was programmed, written, and composed by a single creator, but it takes three Retro Encounter panelists to properly dissect this subversive cult favorite. This episode experienced some technical difficulties, so I apologize in advance for occasional lapses in audio quality. Featuring: Chris Gebauer, Dom Kim, Rob Rogan Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgfa...
The indie game scene is thriving in 2018, but ten years ago was a different time. Today, three Retro Encounter panelists examine OFF, a 2008 French-language indie title created in RPGMaker 2003. The group walks through OFF's entire plot before attempting to interpret the surrealist gem's themes and metaphors. Featuring: Robert Fenner, Nilson Carroll, Michael Sollosi Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgfan.com Twitter: @rpgfancom Instagram: @rpgfancom Facebook: rpgfancom Twitch: rpgfancom...
Retro Encounter unites the Yorae Dragon in our second Breath of Fire IV episode. Both panelists are Breath of Fire IV fans, one from childhood and one newly minted. We talk endgame scenarios, edgame characters, difficulty spikes, and fancy dragons in our first Retro Encounter of 2018! Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Alana Hagues Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgfan.com Twitter: @rpgfancom Instagram: @rpgfancom Facebook: rpgfancom Twitch: rpgfancom...
Continuing a Retro Encounter annual tradition, six panelists talk the year in video games, from January's Tales of Berseria to December's Xenoblade Chronicles 2. 2017 was such a dense year for RPGs that there is a lot to talk about. In addition, the panel briefly discusses their favorite RPGFan podcasts and features of the year and a few 2018 games they're looking forward to. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Robert Fenner, Marcos Gaspar, Alana Hagues, Dom Kim, Peter Triezenberg Get in Touch: RPGFan.c...
Retro Encounter listeners voted back in September on a future Retro Encounter game, and now we finally deliver! Breath of Fire IV won the poll, and the duo behind The Good Dogs of RPGs podcast reunites to discuss the first chapter of the 2000 Capcom classic. You know, back when Capcom used to create classics. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Alana Hagues Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgfan.com Twitter: @rpgfancom Instagram: @rpgfancom Facebook: rpgfancom Twitch: rpgfancom...
Two Retro Encounter panelists discuss the game that started it all in our fifth Final Fantasy podcast in as many weeks. We discuss Final Fantasy I's story, gameplay, influence, and even apocryphal development stories in this episode, with the oldest subject in Retro Encounter's brief history. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Robert Fenner Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgfan.com Twitter: @rpgfancom Instagram: @rpgfancom Facebook: rpgfancom Twitch: rpgfancom...
Retro Encounter's stroll down memory lane for Final Fantasy's 30th anniversary continues, with the panelists discussing the PS2 era to the present. The Fabula Nova Crystallis project, our favorite Final Fantasy XIV jobs, and late-game Blitzball strategy. Kilika Beasts forever. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Hilary Andreff, Alana Hagues, Mike Salbato Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgfan.com Twitter: @rpgfancom Instagram: @rpgfancom Facebook: rpgfancom Twitch: rpgfancom...
This podcast began its life as a well-intentioned jaunt through our favorite Final Fantasy memories for the 30th anniversary of the Final Fantasy series. It ended up being a monstrous meditation on more than fifteen Final Fantasy games that needed to be split into two halves. In this episode four panelists discuss their favorite parts of Final Fantasies I through IX, with the second half of the series saved for another day. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Hilary Andreff, Alana Hagues, Mike Salbato G...
The aspiring filmmakers of Square Enix attempted Final Fantasy animated films three times over the past 17 years. Three Retro Encounter panelists watched them all and put on their headsets to discuss the three films: Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within; Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children; and Kingsglaive: FInal Fantasy XV. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Keegan Lee, Peter Triezenberg Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgfan.com Twitter: @rpgfancom Instagram: @rpgfancom Facebook: rpgfancom Twitc...
Earlier this year, Retro Ecounter discussed one of the most debated topics - what is the best Final Fantasy game? After deliberation, there was one clear winner, and that's the subject of today's episode. Three Retro regulars get together to discuss Final Fantasy IX and sing its praises. You'll here them gushing about the characters, looting through the sidequests, and picking up all of those little references. Get together with us as we discuss Zidane and company's adventure! Featuring: Alana H...
BlizzCon 2017 is behind us, and Retro Encounter original host Jolly Josh Curry reunites with Entitled Mike Sollosi to discuss all of the Blizzard goodness revealed and elaborated at the show. From a new Hearthstone expansion to classic 2004 World of Warcraft servers, two of RPGFan's Blizzard junkies have plenty to discuss. Unless it's about Diablo. Whether you hang out in Azeroth, Sanctuary, or The Nexus, there's something to love here! (Alright maybe not Sanctuary.) Featuring: Michael Sollosi, ...
It's the time of year to celebrate the creepy, the kooky, and the altogether ooky. Three of Retro Encounter's horror aficionados discuss their favorite horror RPGs, scary video game moments, or unexpectedly creepy parts of otherwise cheery RPGs. Seriously, what's with those Tomato Men in Secret of Mana? Featuring: Robert Fenner, Alana Hagues, Dom Kim Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgfan.com Twitter: @rpgfancom Instagram: @rpgfancom Facebook: rpgfancom Twitch: rpgfancom...
Our three panelists were busy the past two weeks and nobody was able to finish Digital Devil Saga in time for the podcast. It's an embarrassing Retro Encounter first. That doesn't mean there was a lack of discussion, though! Listen on for our continuing thoughts on Digital Devil Saga, including its characters, folklore connection, and novel adaptation Quantum Devil Saga. Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Robert Fenner, Peter Triezenberg Get in Touch: RPGFan.com Email us: retro@rpgfan.com Twitter: @rpg...
Who needs ultimate weapons? Not us here at Retro Encounter! While we might have explored the subject before, this week's episode looks at all things stupid and fun - Wacky Weapons! Two returning panelists from the Ultimate Weapons episode take a look over RPG history and discuss the strangest weapons and equipment they've ever wielded against the big bad. Grab your golf clubs, brooms and water pistols dear listeners - it's time to battle! Featuring: Alana Hagues, Peter Triezenberg Get in Touch: ...
