RPGFan's Retro Encounter

What possible harm could an insane, mutant tentacle do? 

Day of the Tentacle was a tentpole release in LucasArts's excellent run of classic adventure games from the late 1980s through the late 1990s, and its very specific dialog, puzzle logic, and sense of humor made it a cult classic. But how do two Day of the Tentacle longtime fans and one relative newcomer feel about this struggle of teenager versus tentacle in 2024? Listen to find out, in our final episode of Retro Encounter's September of Adventure! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Hilary Andreff, Jonathan Logan; Edited by Jonathan Logan

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Day of the Tentacle on RPGFan

One more thing, there are a couple of loose ends I'd like to tie up. Nothing important, you understand.

The Case of the Golden Idol made a splash in 2022, with its compelling murder mysteries, political intrigue, and puzzle adventure gameplay. It also has a decidedly retro look to it, so naturally a few of us wanted to play it. Today, three Retro Encounter panelists break down the mechanics, story, and future of Case of the Golden Idol, including its upcoming sequel. 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Aleks Franiczek, Jonathan Logan; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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The Case of the Golden Idol on RPGFan

We didn't start the fire

Firewatch is the only release of indie game studio Campo Santo, but made quite an impact when it came out in 2016. Four Retro Encounter panelists played Firewatch recently, and today discuss everything from Firewatch's quotidian gameplay, clever use of anticlimax, and fabulous dialog both in writing and performance. So did we find Firewatch enlightening, disappointing, or just a pleasant walk in the woods? Listen to find out! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Aleks Franiczek, Jonathan Logan, Rob White; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Firewatch on RPGFan

The Dark Souls of Retro Encounter fantasy drafts

 FromSoftware has produced an excellent run of fantasy RPGs since 2009's Demon's Souls, to which point its extended family of action RPGs comprises a genre all its own. And of course, if you can organize RPGs into a series, then Retro Encounter will attempt to draft them in time for American football season. So which player seizes Anor Londo in the first round? How many big two-handed swords are drafted? What player dons a giant mech suit? Listen to find out! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Aleks Franiczek, Rob White, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Trespassers will be contemplated

Retro Encounter concludes its eight-month-long playthrough of the Dragon Age trilogy, with a discussion of what's wrong with the Grey Wardens, what's worse in the Winter Palace, and much more. Dragon Age: Inquisition was a phenomenon in 2014, and the panel is excited to get to its long-awaited sequel in 2024. It's bears, barbarians, Titans, and Dread Wolves in the latest episode of Retro Encounter! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Audra Bowling, Paul Dennis, Aleks Franiczek, Wes Iliff; Edited by Paul Dennis

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Dragon Age: Inquisition on RPGFan

An Inquisition that everyone saw coming. 

Retro Encounter played the first two Dragon Age games in the last nine months, so naturally there would come the time to finish the fight. Dragon Age: Inquisition escalates and expands the conflicts and concepts of the first two Dragon Age games, from the Mage-Templar war to the plight of Dalish Elves, in a 2014 Game of the Year contender. So how does today's Retro Encounter panel find this decade-old open-world? Listen to find out! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Audra Bowling, Paul Dennis, Aleks Franiczek, Wes Iliff; Edited by Paul Dennis

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Dragon Age: Inquisition on RPGFan

This episode free with the Podcast of the Year edition

Downloadable content used to be a video game luxury, but in 2024 it's an inevitability. But while day-one patches, frivolous additions, and pay-to-win models are frustrating or bad, sometimes an RPG's extra content is worth your time and hard drive space. In today's episode of Retro Encounter, four panelists detail a few of their favorite DLCs, including postgame epilogues, optional challenging bosses, and bonus characters.  

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Audra Bowling, Aleks Franiczek, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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A, B, C, D, FF3 / Feels like a mid-rank to me

Very few podcast, article, or video topics on the internet get folks more enthusiastic or more up in arms than tiers, lists, or a combination thereof. On today's emotional episode of Retro Encounter, four panelists play a fantasy-draft style game to place the main-series Final Fantasy games (plus FF Tactics) into five tiers. What quintet of RPGs land in the coveted S tier? Which panelists skipped the PS3 and PS4 entries in the series? Listen to find out! Prepare to feel feelings! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Kyle Cantelon, Aleks Franiczek, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Michael Sollosi

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Despite everything, it's still Retro Encounter.

Over six years ago, we got together to chat about the instant indie class, Undertale. But, Undertale's staying power is so strong that we decided to get together and chat about it again, this time with an all new panel. Is Papyrus still delightful every time he comes on screen? Did any of us have the heart to do a Genocide run? Hot dog? Listen in to find out!

Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Alana Hagues, Aleks Franiczek; Edited by Zach Wilkerson

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Undertale on RPGFan

What is bravery without a dash of recklessness? 

Five Retro Encounter panelists recently finished the first Dark Souls, and it's every bit as impressive, intense, and moving today as it was in 2011. Today the panel talks about the game's undercooked second-half environments, the fully-realized DLC episode, and the emotional turmoil upon discovering why certain bosses were present in their current forms. Dark Souls 1 isn't punishing or unfair, just be patient! 

Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Gio Castillo, Aleks Franiczek, Dom Kim, Ben Love; Edited by Paul Dennis

Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri

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Dark Souls on RPGFan