State of the Arc Podcast

We carry you through the early 90's in this episode. Some of the best games in gaming history come out during this time, and most were released for the Super Nintendo. This is one of the most exciting era's in video game history! Thanks for watching!

A big thanks to Pat for joining us again, you can find his newest game, Quartet, here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1307960/Quartet/

**Listen on Spotify**: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gIzzvT3AfRHjGlfF8kFW3

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**Listen on iTunes**: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/state-of-the-arc-podcast/id1121795837

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Before the golden age, JRPGs were undergoing an exciting period of experimentation! In Part 2 of our History of JRPGs series, we're joined once again by game designer and author Pat Holleman to explore the years 1988–1990, when Japanese developers began pushing the boundaries of what an RPG could be.

From Final Fantasy II's unconventional progression systems, which led to the birth of SaGa, to Dragon Quest IV's ambitious storytelling, we examine how the industry's biggest franchises continually reinvented themselves and borrowed ideas from one another. We also explore the early histories of Ys, Phantasy Star, Megami Tensei, Mother, and Fire Emblem, along with overlooked classics like Crystalis.

Why were developers so willing to radically reinvent successful games? How did technological limitations shape their creative decisions? And how did these experiments lay the foundation for the golden age that followed? Join us as we trace the evolution of one of gaming's most beloved genres and discover how these formative years helped define the RPGs we know today!

Time Codes:

1. Intro (0:00)

2. How Technological Limitations Shaped JRPGs (2:50)

3. Dragon Quest III and Rapid Innovation (5:30)

4. Why Early JRPG Sequels Were Experimental (12:28)

5. Final Fantasy II and the Origins of SaGa (15:49)

6. Ys II and the History of Nihon Falcom (21:12)

7. The Birth of SaGa and Its Influence on Pokémon (29:38)

8. Phantasy Star II (36:20)

9. Mother and Its Lasting Influence (43:44)

10. Dragon Quest IV (51:14)

11. Final Fantasy III (56:54)

12. Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II (1:01:48)

13. Phantasy Star III (1:05:14)

14. Fire Emblem and the Birth of Tactical JRPGs (1:12:59)

15. Crystalis: An Overlooked NES Classic (1:17:02)

16. The JRPG Landscape in 1990 (1:19:30)

**Listen on Spotify**: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gIzzvT3AfRHjGlfF8kFW3

**Listen on Soundcloud**: https://soundcloud.com/resonantarc

**Listen on iTunes**: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/state-of-the-arc-podcast/id1121795837

**Listen on Pocket Cast**: http://pca.st/NJsJ

Discord Link: https://discord.gg/RFMF6gpHr

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resonantarc

Hello everyone! We're hard at work on a lot of behind-the-scenes things I wanted to update you on. We've got new episodes on the History of JRPGs, Silent Hill 2, and Chrono Trigger in the works, plus a brand-new studio space we're VERY close to debuting. I just need a little more time to get things in order, so thank you for your patience as we transition to a new look and format for the show!

Discord Link: https://discord.gg/RFMF6gpHr

Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/resonantarc

Twitter: https://twitter.com/resonantarc

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resonantarc

Casen has never played J-Pop Sphere Hunters before, and so this travesty is quickly being amended. The thing about Final Fan-Service X-2 is that, unlike its namesake, it presents us with the aftermath of its own deconstructed world. What to do now? Is the rampant fan service part of the results of bringing about such a world? The Idol culture an adequate replacement of previous religious traditions? What happens in the power vacuum after a theocracy has been toppled? We tackle all this and more in our exciting discussion on Final Fantasy X-2, a game that is often misunderstood, and often perfectly understood all too well. We discuss religion, tradition, deconstruction, the difficulty of reconstruction, the wisdom of patience, and the way that we can idolize games (like Final Fantasy X).

**Listen on Spotify**: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gIzzvT3AfRHjGlfF8kFW3

**Listen on Soundcloud**: https://soundcloud.com/resonantarc

**Listen on iTunes**: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/state-of-the-arc-podcast/id1121795837

**Listen on Pocket Cast**: http://pca.st/NJsJ

Discord Link: https://discord.gg/RFMF6gpHr

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/resonantarc

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resonantarc

Kingdom Hearts IV is coming out next year and the new trailer is FIRE. We thought we were done with the series, and now our collective curiosities are peaked! Joining us today is Best Guy Ever @BestGuyEver ! https://www.youtube.com/@BestGuyEver/videos , and his podcast https://www.youtube.com/@InternetGeniusShow .

**Listen on Spotify**: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gIzzvT3AfRHjGlfF8kFW3

**Listen on Soundcloud**: https://soundcloud.com/resonantarc

**Listen on iTunes**: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/state-of-the-arc-podcast/id1121795837

**Listen on Pocket Cast**: http://pca.st/NJsJ

Discord Link: https://discord.gg/RFMF6gpHr

Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/resonantarc

Twitter: https://twitter.com/resonantarc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/resonantarc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resonantarc

Nintendo just gave us our best look yet at the Ocarina of Time remake, and while nearly everything about it appears remarkably faithful to the original, its new visual direction left us with a lot to talk about!

In this episode, Casen goes into the latest Nintendo Directs completely blind as we react to the Ocarina of Time remake, debate Link's redesigned appearance and the game's new art style, and ask how much a remake should preserve the original's visual identity. Then we jump into the rest of Nintendo's announcements, including Final Fantasy VII Revelation, Fire Emblem, Xenoblade Chronicles, Resident Evil, Metroid, Persona, Romancing SaGa, and several surprises we weren't expecting.

What did you think of the new look for Ocarina of Time? Is this exactly what you wanted from a remake, or has something been lost in translation?

Time Codes:

0:00 – Intro

1:27 – Zelda’s 40th Anniversary Direct

3:01 – Ocarina of Time Remake Reveal

9:25 – Our First Impressions

10:36 – Something About the Art Direction Feels Off

16:03 – What Happened to Link’s Face?

17:27 – Is Link’s New Design Too Busy?

24:01 – The Plastic / Porcelain Look

26:01 – Moving Away From the Original Art

29:13 – Was Puppet Theater an Influence?

30:58 – Why Art Direction Matters

35:27 – Final Fantasy VII Revelation & Crisis Core

36:11 – Star Fox

36:59 – Fire Emblem

38:07 – Pikmin & a Very Silent Hill-Looking Game

38:53 – Xenoblade Chronicles 3

39:33 – The Climbing Game

40:32 – Resident Evil Remakes

42:21 – The New Wii Sports?

43:34 – Metroid: Ravenous

44:53 – Eternal Anima

45:33 – Romancing SaGa 3

46:24 – Persona 4 & Persona 6

47:20 – Kirby Gets Weird

48:47 – Our Nintendo Direct Standouts

50:28 – Outro

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gIzzvT3AfRHjGlfF8kFW3

Listen on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/resonantarc

Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/state-of-the-arc-podcast/id1121795837

Listen on Pocket Casts: http://pca.st/NJsJ

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resonantarc

Gamescom 2026 brought a lot of news for upcoming RPGs. In today's episode, we break down the latest Final Fantasy VII Revelation trailer, including the expanded Weapon encounters, Vincent's new backstory, the Fits system, and the enormous challenge Square Enix faces in marketing the final chapter without spoiling some of the biggest moments in the original Final Fantasy VII.

We also dig into Persona 4 Revival and the controversy surrounding Atlus' approach to remakes, including whether "quality of life" improvements can fundamentally alter the design and spirit of the original games.

Then there's Terranigma. After more than 30 years, one of the greatest—and most inaccessible—SNES RPGs is finally being rereleased worldwide. We go through what we currently know about the new release, its vanilla and enhanced modes, the involvement of original staff, and the strange controversy surrounding the music used in its reveal trailer.

Plus: The Witcher 3 is somehow getting another major overhaul AND a new expansion; former Witcher developers are building their own RPG; and China's AAA game industry keeps producing graphically astounding-looking games.

What surprised you most from Gamescom?

#FinalFantasyVII #Terranigma #Persona4 #Gamescom #JRPG

Time Codes:

1. Intro (0:00)

2. Gamescom 2026 Reactions (1:49)

3. Final Fantasy VII Revelation (2:41)

4. Vincent's Expanded Backstory (8:20)

5. The New "Fits" Class System (14:32)

6. How Do You Market FFVII's Final Act? (15:52)

7. Nonlinear Paths & One Ending (17:54)

8. Persona 4 Revival (20:24)

9. Why Persona Remakes Are Controversial (25:17)

10. Does "Quality of Life" Change the Game? (31:39)

11. Is Persona Losing Its Original Art Direction? (35:18)

12. Could Persona Actually Look Like an Anime? (42:11)

13. Terranigma Is FINALLY Back (44:43)

14. What Exactly Is This Terranigma Rerelease? (49:26)

15. Vanilla vs. Enhanced Mode (54:00)

16. The Terranigma Music Controversy (58:07)

17. The Witcher 3 Is Getting ANOTHER Remaster (1:08:05)

18. A Brand-New Witcher 3 Expansion (1:10:27)

19. A New RPG From Former Witcher Developers (1:14:15)

20. China's AAA Games Are Getting Ridiculous (1:17:28)

21. What's Coming Next on Resonant Arc (1:20:45)

The 2002 remake of Resident Evil is often considered one of the greatest (and most faithful) video game remakes ever made. But is it really as faithful as its reputation suggests?

In this episode of The Remake Trials, we compare Resident Evil (1996) with Resident Evil (2002), explore the strange development history behind both games, examine how the remake transforms the original’s horror, discuss tank controls, Crimson Heads, Lisa Trevor, B-movie filmmaking, authorial intent, and the changing identity of Resident Evil. And at the end, we place REmake on our Remake Fidelity Matrix.

Is Resident Evil Remake still the gold standard for faithful remakes? Maybe, but it’s more complicated than we thought.

Time Codes:

(0:00) Intro

(1:31) The Remake Fidelity Matrix

(3:42) Welcome to The Remake Trials

(5:35) Was Resident Evil Supposed to Be Campy?

(11:41) The Strange Story Behind the Voice Acting

(13:06) Shinji Mikami on Horror and Comedy

(19:28) Resident Evil vs. The Evil Dead

(23:39) The Remake’s Biggest Change: Tone

(29:18) What Was Resident Evil Trying to Be?

(36:05) Was the Campiness Intentional?

(44:35) Why Capcom Wanted to Remake Resident Evil

(49:54) Who Owns a Work After It’s Released?

(58:23) Making Resident Evil “Scarier”

(1:04:08) B-Movie Horror vs. Gothic Horror

(1:15:54) Lisa Trevor Changes the Story

(1:18:42) How a Remake SHOULD Change Things

(1:23:14) Crimson Heads and Surprising Returning Players

(1:25:23) Why Tank Controls Actually Work

(1:29:36) Resident Evil’s Japanese Horror Connection

(1:33:30) The Three Types of Camp

(1:36:18) The Resident Evil Remake Paradox

(1:38:12) So How Faithful Is REmake?

(1:44:18) What Is the “Spirit” of a Work?

(1:51:12) Comparing the Gameplay

(1:56:25) How Resident Evil Changed as a Series

(1:59:29) The Lost Style of Classic Survival Horror

(2:03:19) The Death of B-Movies and Mid-Budget Games

(2:10:04) Final Verdict: The Fidelity Matrix

Sources For Further Reading:

Lynne Harris Interview: https://www.gamesradar.com/making-of-resident-evil-shinji-mikami-interview/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Shinji Mikami Interview: https://www.gamesradar.com/making-of-resident-evil-shinji-mikami-interview/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Kenichi Iwao Interview: https://www.crimson-head.com/interviews/kenichi-iwao-interview?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Original Developers Interview: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/resident-evil-creator-shinji-mikami-reflects-on-th/1100-6435918/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Hiroyuki Kobayashi Interview: https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/7017/bexclusiveb-res-producer-speaks-out?utm_source=chatgpt.com

REmake Mikami/Kobayashi Interview: https://survivhor.biohazardfrance.net/morbidcreations/re_behind/int_remake/int_remake_1.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn had the impossible task of rebuilding a failed MMO, and its music had to help redefine what Final Fantasy XIV could be.

In this episode of The Music of Final Fantasy, we're joined by composer and musician @AlexMoukalaMusic to break down Masayoshi Soken's soundtrack for A Realm Reborn, how his background in sound design shaped his approach to composition, and what makes FFXIV's music different from the work of Nobuo Uematsu.

We discuss Soken's philosophy of prioritizing the player experience in writing, the surprising techniques behind some of the soundtrack's massive sounds, why certain vocals and instruments are deliberately filtered for long MMO encounters, and the countless ways A Realm Reborn weaves the musical history of Final Fantasy into something new.

We also talk about Uematsu's continuing influence on the series, the collaborative nature of FFXIV's enormous soundtrack, the importance of Yoshida's direction, and why Casen walked away convinced this may be one of the greatest video game soundtracks of the last 20 years.

And according to Alex… the best is still yet to come.

Thanks again to Alex Moukala for joining us! Check out his channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEKRfoZ5t1VBdWfn9k6UgXw

Time Codes:

1. Intro (0:00)

2. Background on Masayoshi Soken and how the music of A Realm Reborn was made (5:46)

3. Breakdown of individual tracks from the OST (41:44)

In this episode, we're joined once again by Keith Comito to revisit the final scene of Xenogears! We examine what the confrontation between Fei and Krelian is really saying about human suffering, love, free will, and our desire to truly understand one another.

We also explore the Gnostic philosophy underlying Xenogears, the Wave Existence, the Path of Sephirot, the symbolism of Ouroboros, and the game's recurring image of the one-winged angels. More importantly, we ask whether Xenogears ultimately rejects the very Gnostic worldview it spends the entire game constructing.

Is Krelian right that human beings can never truly understand one another? Is perfect unity preferable to the pain and uncertainty of individual existence? Or is our imperfection and continued attempts to understand and love one another the very thing that makes human life meaningful?

Perhaps Xenogears' answer isn't that humanity will someday achieve perfect understanding, but that we keep trying, and that's where meaning is found.