Combo Chain - A JRPG Podcast

Tales of the Abyss is a bold game, particularly for a series as risk-averse as Tales. This game takes big chances from the jump, from its initially-unlikeable protagonist to its constant efforts to undermine the story tropes you expect in such a game. Robert joins us to discuss this PS2/3DS JRPG classic that doesn't get the credit it deserves, a game with a thrilling narrative that often subverts the genre's tropes.

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One of the greatest, and perhaps most underrated, JRPG's of the 16-bit generation, Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium is a sci-fi epic with a narrative and mechanics before its time. Alexander McConnell joins us to discuss the definitive conclusion to this four game saga, delving into its epic scope, charmingly sleazy protagonists, magical cats, and dad joke-spouting aliens.

We need your help covering the costs of hosting and producing Megaten Marathon and Combo Chain, which are more than $500 a year. Plus, we’re giving away early-access episodes to contributors. Please help if you can! https://tinyurl.com/megatenchain

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As Composer Frédéric Chopin lies on his deathbed from tuberculosis, in a parallel universe he's an anime bad boy in a fantasy world, doing battle with an industrialized empire and nasty anthropormphised beans. Eternal Sonata may not be the strangest premise for a JRPG ever, but it's certainly in the running. In this episode, Dani Siller of Escape This Podcast and Solve This Murder joins us to unpack this truly bizarre curio of the PS3/XBox 360 era.

We need your help covering the costs of hosting and producing Megaten Marathon and Combo Chain, which are more than $500 a year. Plus, we’re giving away early-access episodes to contributors. Please help if you can! https://tinyurl.com/megatenchain

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Sharpen up those Blitzball skills 'cos we're heading back to Spira. Final Fantasy X expert extraordinaire Andy Reinhold joins Paul for a deep dive into the themes, characters, and misconceptions about one of the most unusual and abstract entries in the franchise. Join us as we explore the heady themes, investigate who the game's true protagonist is, and learn why that infamous laughter scene is actually good.

We need your help covering the costs of hosting and producing Megaten Marathon and Combo Chain, which are more than $500 a year. Plus, we’re giving away early-access episodes to contributors. Please help if you can! https://tinyurl.com/megatenchain

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Take flight into an age of adventure, where swashbuckling sky pirates do battle with an unjust empire and ancient godlike figures. Skies of Arcadia is the product of Sega RPG royalty—Phantasy Star creator Rieko Kodama and the team behind Panzer Dragoon Saga. Released originally for the Dreamcast, and later on the GameCube, the game is a cult classic that deserves greater appreciation. Join Paul and Robert as we discuss its endless charms, its painfully dated faults, and how much it deserves a remaster or sequel.

We need your help covering the costs of hosting and producing Megaten Marathon and Combo Chain, which are more than $500 a year. Plus, we’re giving away early-access episodes to contributors. Please help if you can! https://tinyurl.com/megatenchain

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Ah, Star Ocean...the venerable sci-fi JRPG series that plays more like a bad episode of Star Trek TOS than the epic, interstellar adventure it's always aspired to. In this episode, Fletch and Paul delve into the madness that is the original Super Famicom entry in the series, try to figure out why a spacefaring adventure ends up as a sword and magic fantasy title, and wrap our heads around some truly mad twists. We also pour one out for the dearly departed (or deeply comprised) Tri-Ace. But in the end, it's not all bad...actually, it's pretty bad, but a good time is had by all.

We need your help covering the costs of hosting and producing Megaten Marathon and Combo Chain, which are more than $500 a year. Plus, we’re giving away early-access episodes to contributors. Please help if you can! https://tinyurl.com/megatenchain

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Paul and Leland Cheuk delve into the sordid (yet strangely wholesome) underbelly of Japanese life in this ep on Yakuza Zero. Topics include putting a chicken in charge at your law firm, how may thrusts the thrusting guy can make an hour, and the sopa opera excesses of the Tojo Clan and their subordinates.

Any amount helps! Please head over to Mirror Image Studios on Patreon and pledge what you can!

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We venture into a mysterious land with an even more mysterious forest in Ys: Memories of Celceta, recently re-released for the PS4. A fleet-footed action-RPG that doesn't outstay its welcome, Ys: Memories of Celceta is the game where the brave (and commonly amnesiac) Adol finally earns the hallowed title of Adventurer with a capital A. Topics include what makes a great action-RPG, the mess that is Ys canon, and the real-life occult origins of Ys lore.

Any amount helps! Please head over to Mirror Image Studios on Patreon and pledge what you can!

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With special guest Fletch in tow, we delve into one of the strangest, fascinating, and underrated Final Fantasy entires: Lightning Returns. Fletch and Paul sign the praises of a game that is over the top in all of the best ways, introduces innovative mechanics, and features best emotionless girl Lightning as the harbinger of the apocalypse for a delightfully ridiculous world. Unfairly maligned at its release, the game has become a cult classic in recent years, and for good reason. Join us as we discuss death cults, chicken seers, Louis Vuitton cross-promotions, and the brilliance of a battle system built on costume changes.

Any amount helps! Please head over to Mirror Image Studios on Patreon and pledge what you can!

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It's a slow news...season? Rest of the year? So Allisa and Paul take a deep dive into Final Fantasy 7 Remake, We also discuss Allisa's Trials of Mana review, the delay of Digimon Survive, and much more!

Spoiler note: Listen out for a couple spoiler warnings before we discuss some endgame elements of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and skip ahead to the time stamps we recommend if you haven't beaten the game yet!

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Theme song is "Chiptronical" by Patrick de Arteagna

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