RPGFan's Random Encounter

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're talking about two awesome RPGs released at the tail end of 2022.

First up, Caitlin talks about her experience with the retro-indie JRPG, Chained Echoes. Primarily developed by a single person for the last seven years, this incredible JRPG evokes all those feelings back in the 16-bit age but with a ton of modern touches. It's simply an astonishing achievement. And Abe is here to discuss a ground-up remake of a classic Squaresoft Super Famicom TRPG that we missed out on back in the 90s, Front Mission 1st: Remake. Is it as good as the original, or does it just miss the mark? 

Featuring: Jono Logan, Caitlin Argyros, and Abraham Kobylanski; Edited by Jono Logan

Get in Touch:
RPGFan.com
RPGFan Shop
Email us: [email protected]
Twitter: @rpgfancom
Instagram: @rpgfancom
Facebook: rpgfancom
Twitch: rpgfancom

This Episode's Related Links:
Chained Echoes Review
Front Mission 1st: Remake Review

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're talking about the games we're most excited about in 2023!

Each and every December, RPGFan publishes one of the year's biggest features: a look ahead at the upcoming year. And this week on the show, our panel gets to geek out over it! What games do we think will be delayed? What games do we think are going to be disappointments? And what games will end up eating months of our lives? Find out in this week's episode! 

Featuring: Jono Logan, Tom Cox, Sam-James Gordon, Tin Manuel, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Jono Logan

Get in Touch:
RPGFan.com
RPGFan Shop
Email us: [email protected]
Twitter: @rpgfancom
Instagram: @rpgfancom
Facebook: rpgfancom
Twitch: rpgfancom

This Episode's Related Links:
RPGFan's 35 Most Anticipated Games of 2023

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're catching up on some of the biggest and best RPGs over the last few weeks and months.

First, Niki walks us through the bug-laden fields of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet! Then, Des flies us into the great beyond with his thoughts about Star Ocean: The Divine Force! And finally, Hilary and Jono get to geek out at the surprise drop of a brand-new game from the creators of Kingdom of Loathing and West of Loathing: Shadows Over Loathing!

Featuring: Jono Logan, Hilary Andreff, Niki Fakhoori, Des Miller; Edited by Jono Logan

Get in Touch:
RPGFan.com
RPGFan Shop
Email us: [email protected]
Twitter: @rpgfancom
Instagram: @rpgfancom
Facebook: rpgfancom
Twitch: rpgfancom

This Episode's Related Links:
Star Ocean: The Divine Force Review
Shadows Over Loathing Review
West of Loathing Review

On this episode of Random Encounter, Jono and Michael Sollosi team up to speak with the gang behind Zeboyd Games about their latest title: This Way Madness Lies!

Robert Boyd and William Stiernberg at Zeboyd Games have been turning out innovative indie RPGs since Breath of Death VII: The Beginning in 2010. And in their latest release, This Way Madness Lies, they improbably mash up the popular Japanese anime genre of Magical Girls with the works of the English Bard himself, William Shakespeare! Somehow, Robert and Bill managed to take some time out of their hectic release-week schedule to sit down and talk with us about the origins of the game, its development, and where Zeboyd might be going from here!

Featuring: Jono Logan, Michael Sollosi, Robert Boyd, William Stiernberg; Edited by Jono Logan

Get in Touch:
RPGFan.com
RPGFan Shop
Email us: [email protected]
Twitter: @rpgfancom
Instagram: @rpgfancom
Facebook: rpgfancom
Twitch: rpgfancom

This Episode's Related Links:
Zeboyd 2022 Reddit AMA
This Way Madness Lies Review

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're talking about asexual representation in video games.

A few weeks ago, RPGFan published a feature by our own Caitlin Argyros, focusing on asexual characters in RPGs. Spoiler alert: it's a pretty short list. Though queer representation has been on the rise over the last decade, the aspec community still struggles to be seen and heard in all forms of media, including gaming. This week, Jono and Caitlin discuss various types of representation in video games, the nature of roleplaying as someone who doesn't experience sexual or romantic attraction, and what the future might hold for characters on the asexual and aromantic spectrums.

Featuring: Jono Logan, Caitlin Argyros; Edited by Jono Logan

Get in Touch:
RPGFan.com
RPGFan Shop
Email us: [email protected]
Twitter: @rpgfancom
Instagram: @rpgfancom
Facebook: rpgfancom
Twitch: rpgfancom

This Episode's Related Links:
Why Representation Matters: A Look at Asexual Characters in RPGs
The Asexual Visibility and Education Network | asexuality.org
Cody Daigle-Orians (@acedadadvice) / Twitter
The Ace Couple (@The_Ace_Couple) / Twitter

On this episode of Random Encounter, Jono and GC are taking a comprehensive look at Yakuza/Like a Dragon!

Every now and then, RPGFan publishes a game primer to help newcomers get into a new series. We've covered Trails, Tales, and Xenos, and now it's time to cover Yakuza! With its recent rebranding into "Like a Dragon," the long-running Yakuza series looks to be taking another big step into its future. If you've ever wanted to sample all the delights the district of Kamurocho has to offer, then this podcast has you covered. We ask all the big questions! Where do you start? Where do you end? And most importantly: do you want to learn how to play Mahjong?

Featuring: Jono Logan, GC Vazquez; Edited by Jono Logan

Get in Touch:
RPGFan.com
RPGFan Shop
Email us: [email protected]
Twitter: @rpgfancom
Instagram: @rpgfancom
Facebook: rpgfancom
Twitch: rpgfancom

This Episode's Related Links:
So you want to get into The Yakuza Series
GC Vasquez YouTube Channel
Yakuza Remastered Collection for PlayStation 4 Review - YouTube Video
RGG Studio Announces Like a Dragon 8, Releasing in Early 2024

On this episode of Random Encounter, it's Random Book Club again!

Here at RPGFan, we love our JRPGs: Tales, Trials, and everything in between. But to understand where the genre came from, we need to look back almost forty years to two legendary Japanese creators: Yuji Horii (Dragon Quest) and Hironobu Sakaguchi (Final Fantasy).

In the recent JRPG history book, Fight, Magic, Items: The History of Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and the Rise of Japanese RPGs in the West, author Aidan Moher explores not just the origins of the genre but also how it evolved through the 20th and 21st centuries. This week, Jono and Hilary get the opportunity to interview Aidan about his new book, his own history with JRPGs, and where he thinks the video game book publishing industry will be going in the future! 

Featuring: Jono Logan, Hilary Andreff; Edited by Jono Logan

Get in Touch:
RPGFan.com
RPGFan Shop
Email us: [email protected]
Twitter: @rpgfancom
Instagram: @rpgfancom
Facebook: rpgfancom
Twitch: rpgfancom

This Episode's Related Links:

• Fight, Magic, Items Official Website
• Random Encounter 247 – Random Book Club – The Art of Point-and-Click Adventure Games
• Final Fantasy
• Dragon Quest
• Final Fantasy VII Review (from 1998!)

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're tackling one of the biggest news weeks in recent memory!

First up, we're discussing the recent Nintendo Direct, speculating about the big Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom announcement, and wondering how these 2023 release dates can possibly be coming up so fast. Then, we're embracing our inner fanboys to discuss the massive amount of Yakuza... I'm sorry, the massive amount of LIKE A DRAGON news that dropped last Wednesday! There are a ton of stories to get through, so let's get started! 

Featuring: Jono Logan, Nick Mangiaracina, Mike Sollosi; Edited by Jono Logan

Get in Touch:
RPGFan.com
RPGFan Shop
Email us: [email protected]
Twitter: @rpgfancom
Instagram: @rpgfancom
Facebook: rpgfancom
Twitch: rpgfancom

This Episode's Related Links:
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Releases on Nintendo Switch May 12th, 2023
Like a Dragon: Ishin! Launches February 21st, 2023
RGG Studio Announces Like a Dragon 8, Releasing in Early 2024
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name Announced for 2023 Release
Suikoden I & II HD Remaster Coming 2023 to PS4, Xbox, Switch and PC
Suikoden Retro Review

On this episode of Random Encounter, Jono is, once again, tempted to play Final Fantasy XIV!

With the release of the 6.2 patch of FFXIV, Mike is taking up the torch to try and convince Jono to create an account. Will he be successful? And Audra is here to chat about Dusk Diver 2, an anime-inspired action RPG with more than a few elements of Yakuza/Persona! Plus, Gamescom was last week, so everyone is excited to speculate about all the news from the show! 

Featuring: Jono Logan, Audra Bowling, Mike Salbato; Edited by Jono Logan

Get in Touch:
RPGFan.com
RPGFan Shop
Email us: [email protected]
Twitter: @rpgfancom
Instagram: @rpgfancom
Facebook: rpgfancom
Twitch: rpgfancom

This Episode's Related Links:
Dreams From Our Wildest Hearts: Penny Blood and Armed Fantasia Dual Developer Interview
Final Fantasy XIV Patch 6.2 Gets New Trailer, August 23rd Release Date
Dusk Diver 2 Review

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're going virtual!

First, Caitlin examines the origins of a virtual band in the music biopic game, We Are OFK. Then, Brian steps into a virtual fantasy world in one of the only full-scale JRPGs available on VR platforms, RuinsMagus. And finally, Jono is back in Nova Scotia and is trying to teach his Mom how to play video games. It's... not going great, but there is always hope! 

Featuring: Jono Logan, Caitlin Argyros, Brian Mackenzie; Edited by Jono Logan

Get in Touch:
RPGFan.com
RPGFan Shop
Email us: [email protected]
Twitter: @rpgfancom
Instagram: @rpgfancom
Facebook: rpgfancom
Twitch: rpgfancom

This Episode's Related Links:
We Are OFK Review