RPGFan's Random Encounter

On this episode of Random Encounter, it's pure chaos as the panel walks Jono through their thoughts on some of the latest RPGs!

Making their first appearance on the show, Izzy is here to break down the "story of an angry man" that is Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin. Then Niki shares her thoughts about Square Enix's latest 2D-HD entry, Triangle Strategy. And Des (another first-timer!) climbs in a futuristic mech to chat about the upcoming space strategy RPG, Relayer!

Featuring: Jono Logan, Niki Fakhoori, Des Miller, Izzy Parsons; Edited by Jono Logan

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This Episode's Related Links:
Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin Review
Project Triangle Strategy’s Invisible Feature and the Trials of Gaming while Colorblind

On this episode of Random Encounter, the panel looks back to the golden age of RPGs with the Pixel Remasters of Final Fantasy IV, V, and VI!

We tackled the first three entries in the Pixel Remaster series (I, II, and III) back in Episode 221, but it's time to move to a new generation of console, the Super Nintendo! Cory dives into the first SNES entry, Final Fantasy IV, to see if it still holds up (it absolutely does). Alana gushes about her love of the Final Fantasy V job system and its general sense of adventure. And Audra has played Final Fantasy VI for the very first time, and (spoiler alert), she adored it!

Featuring: Jono Logan, Audra Bowling, Alana Hagues, Cory Tischbein; Edited by Jono Logan

Get in Touch:
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This Episode's Related Links:
Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Review
Final Fantasy II Pixel Remaster Review
Final Fantasy III Pixel Remaster Review
Final Fantasy IV Pixel Remaster Review
Final Fantasy V Pixel Remaster Review
Final Fantasy VI Pixel Remaster Review
Random Encounter 221 - First Fantasies
Retro Encounter 316 – Final Fantasy V Part I
Retro Encounter 317 – Final Fantasy V Part II

On this emergency episode of Random Encounter, we're talking about a game that has every RPG fan buzzing: Elden Ring!

The latest Souls-like masterpiece from the wizards at FromSoftware, Elden Ring looks to be the current front-runner for Game of the Year (and maybe Game of the Decade if these crazy-high review scores are to be believed). This week, Jono is talking with Bob Richardson about what makes Elden Ring's open world special, the innovations it brings to the Souls-like genre, and how the title didn't just meet, but completely blew away our expectations! 

Featuring: Jono Logan, Bob Richardson; Edited by Jono Logan

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This Episode's Related Links:
Elden Ring Review

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're talking about two games that take place in very different types of open worlds!

First up, Caitlin walks us through the expansive open world of Horizon Forbidden West, the sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn. Improving on the original in almost every way, Forbidden West allows you to adventure in a world full of post-apocalyptic beauty (with better climbing mechanics, thank heavens)! We then take a deep dive (literally) with Dom into the world of fishing in Moonglow Bay. Taking place on the east coast of Canada, Moonglow Bay offers a small open world of a poor fishing village that you can upgrade through hard work (and lobster traps) into a thriving community!

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

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This Episode's Related Links:
Horizon Zero Dawn Review
Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds Review
Horizon Forbidden West Review
Moonglow Bay Review

On this episode of Random Encounter, it's time to pull out our pencil-and-paper Pokédex because we're going back to when Pokémon ruled the Earth!

Pokémon Legends: Arceus is the latest entry in the long-running Pocket Monsters series, and just about everyone is talking about how it could revitalize future titles. Our panel discusses what they think about the new semi-open world, beautiful 19th-century presentation, and apparently blood-thirsty Pokémon. We are also talking with Abe about Drinkbox Studios' newest Action RPG, Nobody Saves the World. With a Saturday-Morning-Cartoon graphic style and innovative combat, the title seems to continue Drinkbox's high standards of quality games (Have you played Guacamelee? It's pretty awesome!). 

Featuring: Jono Logan, Abraham Kobylanski, Joshua Lindquist, Niki Fakhoori; Edited by Jono Logan

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This Episode's Related Links:
Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Nobody Saves the World Review

On this episode of Random Encounter, it's time to look at some of the best games of the previous year!

RPGFan has released our annual Games of the Year feature, and this week, we're taking a deep dive. Join Jono, Alana, Brian, and Wes as they dig into the various categories, pick out their personal favorites, and (inevitably) end up adding multiple games to their backlogs for 2022! 

Featuring: Jono Logan, Alana Hagues, Brian Mackenzie, Wes Iliff; Edited by Jono Logan

Get in Touch:
RPGFan.com
Email us: [email protected]
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This Episode's Related Links:
RPGFan Games of the Year 2021: Overall Awards
RPGFan Games of the Year 2021: Editors’ Awards
Bravely Default II Review
Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny Review
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! Review
Eastward Review
Fantasian (Part One) Review
Fantasian (Part Two) Review
Final Fantasy VII Remake Review
Final Fantasy VII Remake Episode INTERmission Review
Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker – 25. Review Journal Book XXV: Footfalls Review
Genshin Impact Review
Impostor Factory Review
Loop Hero Review
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Review
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition Review
Monster Hunter Rise Review
New Pokémon Snap Review
NieR Re[in]carnation Review
NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139... Review
Scarlet Nexus Review
Shin Megami Tensei V Review
Super Robot Wars 30 Review
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Tales of Arise Review
The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles Review

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're doing a little bit of cleanup! Some super interesting games were released at the very end of 2021, and we have some folks who played them!

Audra is here to talk about her experience playing both Another Eden: The Cat Beyond Time and Space and its Chrono Cross-related DLC, Complex Dream. Dom is excited to chat about the recent PC port of Monster Hunter Rise. And Neal gets to delve into an incredibly long-running Japanese-only series with Super Robot Wars 30! Plus, Jono rants a little bit about finally playing Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age. (Spoiler: He doesn't love it! Shock and gasp!)

Featuring: Jono Logan, Audra Bowling, Dom Kim, Neal Chandran; Edited by Jono Logan

Get in Touch:
RPGFan.com
Email us: [email protected]
Twitter: @rpgfancom
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This Episode's Related Links:
Another Eden: The Cat Beyond Time and Space Review
Another Eden: The Cat Beyond Time and Space – Complex Dream Review
Monster Hunter Rise (PC) Review
Super Robot Wars 30 Review
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition Review

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're taking a look in our crystal ball to preview the games of 2022!

Every December, RPGFan publishes an extensive feature focusing on the games we're most excited for in the upcoming year. And this week, we get to talk about it! Does the panel think that Final Fantasy XVI will be released in 2022 or be delayed for another year? How about Starfield? Will BOTW 2 finally get a release date and an official title? We may not have definitive answers to these questions, but we have lots of speculation!

Featuring: Jono Logan, Mike Salbato, Mike Sollosi, Steven Mattern; Edited by Jono Logan

Get in Touch:
RPGFan.com
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This Episode's Related Links:
Square Enix Responds to Continued Final Fantasy XIV Congestion
Sea of Stars Confirmed for Nintendo Switch Release With New Trailer
RPGFan’s 30 Most Anticipated Games of 2022
Forspoken Preview
Retro Encounter 302 – The Great Ace Attorney Spoilercast
So you want to get into the Tales Series…

On this episode of Random Encounter, it's awards night! The Game Awards 2021 were last Thursday, and so was our recording date! The resulting episode? Pure chaos! 

Jono, Brian, and Niki try to talk about Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl and Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc Anniversary Edition, but Mr. Geoff Keighley keeps throwing brand-new game trailers at them. Can they figure out the titles of the massive games being announced while also keeping the show on track? Well, there's a first time for everything...

Featuring: Jono Logan, Brian Mackenzie, Niki Fakhoori; Edited by Jono Logan

Get in Touch:
RPGFan.com
Email us: [email protected]
Twitter: @rpgfancom
Instagram: @rpgfancom
Facebook: rpgfancom
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This Episode's Related Links:
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Review
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc Anniversary Edition Review

On this episode of Random Encounter, Greg is back!

Greg and Jono reunite for Thanksgiving (despite both of them being Canadian) to talk about the fun of Final Fantasy-themed battle royales (Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier), the joys of retro-style adventure game throwbacks (Obduction), the excitement of unsubstantiated rumors (Chrono Cross remake), and the delights of visual novels! Plus, there is some big, big news about the future of Random Encounter moving forward! Happy Thanksgivings! 

Featuring: Jono Logan, Greg Delmage; Edited by Jono Logan

Get in Touch:
RPGFan.com
Email us: [email protected]
Twitter: @rpgfancom
Instagram: @rpgfancom
Facebook: rpgfancom
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This Episode's Related Links:
Rhythm Encounter 72 – Game Music Concerts
Chrono Cross
Final Fantasy VII The First Soldier
RPGFan’s Essential Visual Novels