RPGFan's Retro Encounter

"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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Aren't you scared? Well that's just fine.

Here at RPGFan, we don't cover dedicated horror games often (other than the odd Until Dawn or The Quarry), but we still love the excitement of being scared! To celebrate All Hallows' Eve this year, a Retro Encounter panel highlights a few of the scariest moments from RPGs. From Dark Souls monstrosities to Suikoden psychopaths to Zelda zombies, this podcast has it all. Take a chance and roll the dice on Retro Encounter! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Audra Bowling, Lucy Gray, Dom Kim; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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I learned to live half alive / Now you want me one more time

Retro Encounter's host demonstrates contrition in today's episode, admitting on-air that there's at least one good Kingdom Hearts game out there. The panelists also discuss their favorite boss fights, Disney worlds, and character struggles of Kingdom Hearts, which might differ if you're playing on Normal, Proud, or Critical. Today our Dearly Beloved panel discovers their personal Sanctuary in Retro Encounter. 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Aleks Franiczek, Peter Triezenberg, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Paul Dennis

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Kingdom Hearts II on RPGFan

In the night I hear 'em talk / The coldest story ever told

Kingdom Hearts II, one of the most celebrated sequels in the Square Enix catalog, finally gets an episode (the first of two!) on Retro Encounter. Within, we discuss the game's dynamic combat, the earnestly made Disney worlds, and plenty about Kingdom Hearts II's mysterious black robed mostly-antagonists. 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Aleks Franiczek, Peter Triezenberg, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Paul Dennis

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Kingdom Hearts II on RPGFan

The Leifthrasir Hand of Darkness

When Ogre Battle retreats to the shadows, who keeps the beacons lit? When Princess Crown fails to draw an audience, who picks up the bag and keeps marching? When Japan shows a lack of interest in Starcraft, who ties the series to a tower defense game and a visual novel and waves that enticingly over the crowds? Of course, we all know when to cry out to Vanllaware, and every couple of years, we know they'll send us an answer. But where did they come from? How do they keep surviving on niche titles? And most importantly, how does our intrepid panel feel about their entire ouvre? Find the answer to these questions and more with a Very Special Episode of Retro Encounter!

Featuring: Wes Iliff, Gio Castillo, Ben Love, Nick Mangiaracina; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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And amidst deepest despair, Retro Encounter everlasting.

In honor of the recent release of Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, we decided to get a few of our biggest XIV fans together to discuss the previous expansion, Endwalker. As the end of the Hydaelyn/Zodiark arc that dominated the first decade or so of Final Fantasy XIV, there is certainly a lot to talk about, with topics ranging from our favorite hub city to the best dungeons in the expansion. Do we still love Estinien? Can anyone match Venat? Which panelist spent the last five hours of the expansion in tears? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Audra Bowling and Mike Salbato; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker on RPGFan