Pixel Project Radio: A Video Game Podcast

(00:00:00) When The End Comes, We Won't Disappear | Nine Sols (Ep. 181)

(00:01:19) The Fantastic OST

(00:18:39) Story Discussion Begins

(00:20:24) An Exceptionally Brief Intro to Taoism

(00:37:41) In Medias Res

(01:00:16) A Rough Timeline

(01:20:29) Ending Discussion

Thank you all for listening.

Relevant Links
8bitmusictheory on Nine Sols
TV Obsessive article
YouTube Dev Interview
"Behind the Music"
Into Indie Games article

Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to [email protected]! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also click here to join the free Discord server or connect with the show on Bluesky and Instagram!

"Every parry is a conversation. What are you trying to tell me, Yi?"

This week begins the conversation around Nine Sols, a "Taopunk" 2024 release from Red Candle Games. Part Metroidvania and part Souls-like, Nine Sols challenges players not just mechanically but intellectually, weaving the dichotomy of science and spirituality throughout a tale of revenge quest. Co-host Erik (Pages of Play) joins for both part I and part II; this episode covers our general thoughts, development history, mechanics, and art style. Oh, and of course...can't forget about discussions on difficulty and "getting gud!" Hope you love the show today. Please enjoy!

Relevant Links
TV Obsessive article
YouTube Dev Interview
"Behind the Music"
Into Indie Games article



Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to [email protected]! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!

(00:00:00) Intro and Background

(00:25:06) A (Very) Brief Introduction to Mitsuda's Sound

(00:48:32) Selected Works: Chrono Trigger

(01:22:23) Selected Works: Chrono Cross

(01:49:35) Selected Works: Shadow Hearts 2

(02:00:56) Selected Works: Sea of Stars (Brief)

(02:02:54) Selected Works: Mario Party (Brief)

(02:08:49) Non-Game Music

(02:18:54) Wrapping Up

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also click here to join the free Discord server or connect with the show on Bluesky and Instagram!

Yasunori Mitsuda is a name that hardly needs an introduction to those steeped in JRPGs—but both his catalogue and his tastes are broader than you might expect. Nick (Friday Night Gamecast) co-hosts as we give an introduction (an admittedly very broad introduction) to his works and style. Although many of our favorites were left out, there is discussion aplenty. We talk two major works, a few lesser-known titles, non-game music, music theory analysis, and much more. Hope you love the show today. Please enjoy!

Referenced Links
2000 Interview, Shmuplations 
2003 Interview, Shmuplations 
Square Enix Music interview, 20005

Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to [email protected]! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!

(00:00:00) Intro and Overview

(00:12:55) Development

(00:21:26) Art: Pixar by Any Other Name

(00:43:31) Mechanics: Platforming, Rot Fellers, and More

(00:55:33) Combat: Dark Souls?

(01:14:31) Gamelan and Kena's Musical Inspirations

(01:26:03) A Brief Narrative Discussion

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also click here to join the free Discord server or connect with the show on Bluesky and Instagram!

This week, co-host Jake (Pre-Order Bonus Podcast) joins to discuss Kena: Bridge of Spirits! Kena made waves as a Souls-like with a deceptive face—"Disney meets Dark Souls," it's been called. A journey through the lands sees the titular Kena rounding up the almost-actionably-Pixar Rot to aid her in guiding wayward spirits home. But is Kena more than a series of homages and influences? Join us as we discuss the narrative, character writing, composition process, combat philosophy, and much more. Hope you love the show today. Please enjoy!

Relevant Links:
Dev interview 2020, Gameinformer
Gamelan from the Center for World Music
Live Gamelan performance
The short film "Terrible Fate"

Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to [email protected]! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also click here to join the free Discord server or connect with the show on Bluesky and Instagram!

It's a bonus episode all about some of my favorites in the gaming realm! I like these sorts of episodes from time to time and thought this would be a nice breather. Please enjoy!

Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to [email protected]! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!

(00:00:00) Preliminary/Recap Discussion

(00:15:35) Searching for the Trifor- I mean, the Dragon Gods

(00:34:22) Return to Fort Dragonia (Chrono Trigger Intensifies)

(00:46:11) Chronopolis and FATE

(01:01:47) Cool Lore that Rick Overlooked

(01:06:31) FATE Falls, Dragons Rise

(01:13:09) One of Cross's Most Touching—and Hidden—Scenes

(01:26:23) Spaceships? Sure. Why Not.

(01:30:56) Belthasar, Ho-Ho-Ho Guy, Explains

(01:41:27) Dragon God

(01:50:26) The Most Important Character in the Series

(02:13:21) Final Battle and Ending Discussion

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also click here to join the free Discord server or connect with the show on Bluesky and Instagram!

Until we meet again...

The final episode on Chrono Cross is here! Though, in truth, another ten more would have been perfectly fine. All of the threads—of fate, of FATE, of the narrative—come together here, neatly or no. Co-host Chris (Retrograde Amnesia podcast) joins to wrap it up and discuss potential plot holes, essential lore that is completely missable, and, of course, the ending. There is SO much to talk about with Chrono Cross. It's a very special game, and we hope that you feel the same...at least about these episodes. Hope you love the show today. Please enjoy!

Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to [email protected]! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!

This week: a special bonus episode into your feeds! Thank you for all of your patience as I work through scheduling stuff. Please enjoy all of the cheesy goodness of the hit (in my eyes) 1995 movie, MORTAL KOMBAT!

Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to [email protected]! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!

(00:00:00) The PS1 Wildchild | Tomba! / Tombi! (Ep. 176)

(00:04:15) Personal Histories

(00:10:56) Community Forum

(00:16:00) Development

(00:27:07) Art Style (and a Digression on Difficulty)

(01:03:19) Mechanics: An Action Game?

(01:17:36) Tomba's Event System

(01:33:22) Music and Sound

(01:51:28) Boss Fights and Wrapping Up

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also click here to join the free Discord server or connect with the show on Bluesky and Instagram!

I usually put a game quote up top...but just imagine Tomba yelling and making Tomba noises, instead.

This week, first-time co-host Georgie (Press Pause Radio) joins to take a step into the halcyon days of the Playstation 1—because we're talking Tomba!, the sole series created by Whoppee Camp. Tomba is pure "early video game" in more ways than one; join Rick and George as they discuss the signature "Events" system, the surprising amount of freedom (and frustration) throughout, good-time music, and beatin' up pigs. Who doesn't love that? What I DO hope you love...is the show today. Please enjoy!

Referenced Links
1997 Developer Interview
2024 Developer Interview
A full list of in-game Events


Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to [email protected]! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also click here to join the free Discord server or connect with the show on Bluesky and Instagram!

(Note: This episode contains discussion of sexual assault.)

"I'm so sorry I failed you, Buddy. I miss you so much."

The Lisa series returns to Pixel Project Radio as we discuss Lisa the Joyful, the Kickstarter goal-turned-sequel to Austin Jorgen's cult hit Lisa the Painful. Joyful picks up as Buddy, Olathe's last living woman/girl. After the wake of Brad's self-satisfying redemptive warpath, she finally knows autonomy. Aaron (Super Pod Network) joins to discuss whether Joyful is able to ask the uncomfortable, meaningful questions that Painful asked of the players...or whether it lives meekly in the shadow of its older sibling. This, a brief look at the insane music, discussions on character depiction, and more. Hope you love the show today. Please enjoy!

Referenced Links
Original Kickstarter
eeeeeYUHH HUH
"'Sup, Holmes?" with Austin Jorgensen

Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to [email protected]! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!

(00:00:00) Choices and Divergences | Chrono Cross (Ep. 174)

(00:07:08) Viper Manor

(00:33:06) Escape to Guldove

(00:48:09) Saving Kid and the Hunt for the Frozen Flame

(01:11:41) Confrontation

(01:16:48) The Utility of the Silent Protagonist

(01:35:05) The Search for Self

(02:01:00) Parting the Dead Sea

(02:07:55) The Nature of Time

(02:39:16) Wrapping Up

Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! You can also click here to join the free Discord server or connect with the show on Bluesky and Instagram!

"“We…No..Everyone worked to save the planet’s future for nothing…It’s all because of you! You killed it! You…! So many lives were supposed to be saved…how could you do such a thing?! It’s all your fault that the world is going to end up like this, Serge! Murderer!"

The analysis of Chrono Cross continues! Co-host Chris (Retrograde Amnesia podcast) joins once more as the game begins to show contrasts—contrasts with its established tone, and contrasts to the ideals established by its predecessor, Chrono Trigger. Why struggle against fate? Is the universe fixed? Musings on determinism, a Zelbess mini-musical analysis, Fargo smokin' stogies, and much more. Hope you love the show today. Please enjoy!

Referenced Links:
Chrono Cross's beautiful pre-rendered backgrounds
How the greatest Japanese RPGs of the ‘90s came to the West
The Chrono Compendium

Thank you for listening! Want to reach out to PPR? Send your questions, comments, and recommendations to [email protected]! And as ever, any ratings and/or reviews left on your platform of choice are greatly appreciated!