RPGFan's Retro Encounter

Even in a video game, humans are too trusting.  Many of the most storied plot twists in RPGs have a central character performing an unexpected turn or betraying the player's trust.  In today's episode of Retro Encounter five panelists detail over a dozen great video game traitors, from A (Apollo Justice) to Z (YakuZa Kiwami).  

Is one panelist among us... an imposter?   No guarantees. 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Niki Fakhoori, Alana Hagues, Nathan Lee, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Micah Coates

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In the final episode of Persona Month, we gather again to discuss the end of Persona 2: Innocent Sin. Discussion topics include the continuously terrible dungeons, childhood trauma, Adolf Hitler, and Jesus. Somehow, we try to make sense of all those things on this episode.

Yes, this game goes some places. So does our discussion!

Featuring Zach Wilkerson, Alana Hagues, Leona McCallum, Jo Padilla; Edited Brian Ingemanson

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Persona 2: Innocent Sin review

This week on Retro Encounter, four panelists get together to talk about Persona 2: Innocent Sin, the PS1 RPG that we never saw until its PSP remake over 10 years later. Topics include the engaging characters, the less than engaging combat, and somehow...disaster bisexuals. Don't ask. Just listen.

Be sure to check out next week's episode to hear the end of our month of Persona!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Alana Hagues, Leona McCallum, Jo Padilla; Edited by Brian Ingemanson

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Persona 2: Innocent Sin review

Rhythm Encounter is back for the first time since 2017!  (This is an different podcast entirely).  But in a Grand Cross of a cosmic coincidence, Rhythm Encounter's return occurs during Retro Encounter's Persona Month, so we (Retro) chose to do an episode all about the music of the Persona series to celebrate their (Rhythm) return.  

Bop along to our jams, and check the tracklist below!   

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Hilary Andreff, Alana Hagues, Peter Triezenberg; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Tracklist
00:00:00 - Aria of the Soul (Margaret's Theme) - Persona 4 Arena Ultimax OST
00:09:40 - Boss Battle - Persona 2: Innocent Sin OST (PSP)
00:13:59 - Map 1 - Persona 2: Eternal Punishment OST (PSP)
00:27:35 - Tartarus (Thebel Block) - Persona 3 OST
00:29:04 - Mass Destruction - Persona 3 OST
00:42:44 - Heaven - Persona 4 OST
00:45:40 - Light the Fire Up In the Night (Dark Hour ~ Extend) - Persona Q: Sound of the Labyrinth
01:01:09 - Beneath the Mask - Persona 5 OST
01:05:55 - Last Surprise (Taku Takahashi Remix) - Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight OST
01:30:37 - Bonus Track! 

Persona 4 stars a group of meddling teenagers (and one bear) determined to bring a serial killer to justice, but what makes that killer tick?  Retro Encounter jumps into the TV World and journeys into the mind of a murderer in a new episode of RPG Villains.  The identity of Persona 4's culprit constitutes a spoiler, so listener beware. 

Turn this whodunnit into a yaheardit! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Hilary Andreff, Lucy Gray, Jo Padilla; Edited by Michael Sollosi

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Persona 4 Golden review (PS Vita)
Persona 4 Golden review (PC)

This. Is. RPGeopardy! RPGFan is hosting a third quiz show in which four RPGFan staff compete for absolutely nothing at all in a trivia competition where the clues are (mostly) all about RPGs. Retro Encounter's most frequent host wrote the rounds, so don't be surprised to hear multiple Dragon Quest(ions). 

Can you figure out This, That, and The Other? Listen and find out! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Alana Hagues, Nilson Carroll, Jo Padilla, Tyler Trosper, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Michael Sollosi

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Retro Encounter just hit a new milestone, and that means another self-congratulatory gimmick episode.  Retro Encounter solicited listener emails all summer, and today we read and react to all that we received.  At episode's end, we pick five games from the listener suggestions to be part of a new listener poll!  Please listen to the episode and then vote in the survey! 

It's too late to write us an email, but you can vote in the survey for a future Retro Encounter game journal!   

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Alana Hagues, Jo Padilla, Peter Triezenberg, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Micah Coates

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Episode 250 survey for future Retro Encounter episode! 

Retro Encounter draws their shared adventure in the Beanbean to a close in this podcast episode, discussing Luigi's solo missions, the collection of the Beanstar pieces, the brothers' journey through Joke's End, and confronting the final villains in a surprising moment of body horror.

Today, Superstar Saga. Next week, episode 250!

Featuring: Peter Triezenberg, Pete Leavitt, Jo Padilla, Michael Sollosi

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RPGFan Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga 3DS review

Retro Encounter tackles the 2003 GBA classic Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga this week, and the panel is divided on whether the game's timed-hits combat, silly humor, and early-aughts dungeon puzzles have aged well or poorly. The panel is unanimous on Superstar Saga's treatment of coffee and condiments. 

So is Superstar Saga a classic coffee grind, or just a grind? Listen to find out! 

Featuring: Peter Triezenberg, Pete Leavitt, Jo Padilla, Michael Sollosi

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RPGFan Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga 3DS review

Retro Encounter's journey to unite the Valerian isles, expel the manipulative Knights Loslorien, and stave off invasion from a hell dimension comes to a close, with the messy conclusion to Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together.  Collectivist vs. Individualist ideals, how characters are treated in different ending paths, and Yasumi Matsuno's love of obscure content all feature heavily. 

What endings did we get?  Is it worth it diving into the post-game?  Listen and find out!   

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Nilson Carroll, Jo Padilla, Zach Wilkerson

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RPGFan Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together PSP review