Doesn't it feel nice to listen to Retro Encounter under the stars?

This week, the new host and a few huge fans dive into the first half of Final Fantasy IX. How does this classic hold up? Do we like the combat? Which monster doesn't like Vivi very much? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Mario Garcia, Wes Iliff, Rob White; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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"Saying goodbye doesn’t mean anything. It’s the time we spent together that matters, not how we left it."

In a reminiscence-heavy episode of Retro Encounter, four panelists discuss the podcast's origin story, recording process, and favorite episodes and memories of nearly ten years of podcasting. Longtime showrunner Michael Sollosi officially steps down to hand off the podcast's reins to a new host, but also an old friend. 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Alana Hagues, Peter Triezenberg, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Retro Encounter 450 Game Journal Poll! 

Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time. 

2024 is (finally) behind us, and there is plenty to talk about. In one of the strongest years for RPGs in recent memory, five Retro Encounter panelists bring ten games to show and tell in discussing a few of their favorite RPGs of the calendar year. Fittingly, the conclusion to the Year of the Dragon has Dragon Quest, Dragon Age, and Like a Dragon feature prominently. 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Wes Iliff, Joshua Lindquist, Jonathan Logan, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Life is like a hurricane / Here in Townburg

Dragon Quest III's open-ended exploration and high-stakes story comes to a conclusion for our four intrepid panelists, who struggled through volcanoes, ghosts, and unchecked capitalism to obtain the six orbs and take on Dragon Quest III's final run of antagonists. Surprise reunions, incredible series-wide callbacks, and version comparisons all enter the discussion in the latest episode of Retro Encounter! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Aleks Franiczek, Wes Illiff, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Dragon Quest III on RPGFan
Dragon Quest III HD-2D on RPGFan

The more Dragon Quest changes, the more Dragon Quest stays the same. 

A podcast episode appears! Dragon Quest III was a blockbuster success in Japan in 1988, and its nonlinear progression, fun job system, and spirit of adventure influenced every Dragon Quest game to come. DQ3 also has a shiny new 2024 HD-2D remaster, and today on Retro Encounter different panelists play the NES 1988 and 2024 versions to compare, contrast, and celebrate this landmark Japanese RPG. 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Aleks Franiczek, Wes Illiff, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Dragon Quest III on RPGFan
Dragon Quest III HD-2D on RPGFan

"My favorite book is Moby Dick; no symbolism, just a simple tale about a man who hates an animal."

Metaphor: ReFantazio is one of 2024's most acclaimed RPGs, about a royal succession that spirals out of control into a struggle for the soul of the world's people. Clashes of ideologies, dramatic character turns, and robust combat and job systems are highlights of this modern classic. So who's our favorite character? What name does the host get wrong for nearly two hours? Listen to us trying to decipher the metaphors of Metaphor! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Alana Hagues, Tin Manuel, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Metaphor: ReFantazio on RPGFan

For a true hero isn't measured by the size of his strength, but by the strength of his heart.

Retro Encounter concludes its 2024 Zelda Month with a second episode on A Link to the Past for the SNES, discussing the game's excellent second half of Dark World exploration and dungeoneering. So which panelist loves Misery Mire and which one hates the moth at the end of Skull Woods? What are our favorite Link to the Past items and glitches? Listen for a great discussion! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Joshua Lindquist, Jonathan Logan; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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A Link to the Past on RPGFan

Sky, Sea, Earth, and a Kidnapped Princess

A Link to the Past is an unassailable classic of a Super Nintendo game, as a crystallization of multiple gameplay concepts that established the formula for dozens of Zelda games going forward, but also as an entertaining action RPG that has stood the test of time. Three Zelda veterans comprise the Retro Encounter panel today, and take a delightful nostalgia trip with a discerning eye in today's Retro Encounter! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Joshua Lindquist, Jonathan Logan; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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A Link to the Past on RPGFan

Zelda! The Zeldster! Zeldarino! Zelmeister! Making copies! 

The Legend of Zelda series has long starred a hero named Link seeking a princess named Zelda, but in 2024 the roles reversed for the first time on a Nintendo system. Echoes of Wisdom's (sort of) new protagonist also sports an item-duplicating monster-summoning Tri-Rod and explores a beautifully rendered Hyrule. Naturally, three Zelda enthusiast Retro Encounter panelists were excited to play Echoes of Wisdom last month, and convened today to discuss it front to back, spoilers included. 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Tin Manuel, Mike Salbato; Edited by Paul Dennis

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom on RPGFan

Are you ready for some Sploosh Kaboom!? 

Retro Encounter begins a month of Zelda celebration for a Nintendo November to remember! Five panelists draft parties of their favorite Zelda characters, items, abilities, and locations in a snake draft format, all while trying to snag their favorites before others can snipe them off the board. So what's the first overall pick? Who dared draw from the Philips CDi well? Listen to the episode to find out! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Hilary Andreff, Aleks Franiczek, Lucas Greene, Noah Leiter; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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