Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast

The Switch 2 is here! Well, it's THERE. Somewhere. But now we know that when it gets HERE it will look like that! And sometimes that's all you can ask for in this crazy world. Join Kat, Nadia, Eric, and Good Vibe's Gaming's Jon Cartwright as they discuss everything we know and everything we DON'T know about Nintendo's new console. Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod Also in this episode: Remembering David Lynch's monumental influence on gaming The dark side of Mario Paint Kat's Final Fantasy XIV Progress report! Timestamps: 04:16 - Main Topic - SWITCH 2 REVEALED 59:44 - Random Encounters 1:36:32 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] Audrey's Dance - [Twin Peaks] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If everything is an RPG then nothing is an RPG. Nadia, Eric, and special guest Reb Valentine are here to discuss the RPG-ification of games over the past decade and change; what does it mean to adopt RPG-like mechanics? When are systems metaphor for player action and when are they a means to pad out a progression loop for commercial value? Are either of those things better than the other? All this philosophy and more, Horatio, on this episode of Axe of the Blood God! Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod Also in this episode: Harvest Moon Memories Our holiday gaming sessions BIG GAMES COMING TO SWITCH 2 Nine Sols What's wrong with game awards categories Final Fantasy XII is a really good video game Snakes & Ladders Timestamps: 05:50 - Main Topic - Why Is Every Game An RPG Now? 1:03:32 - Random Encounters 1:08:04 - The Tavern 1:45:20 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] Pub - [Boktai DS] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] Lilycove City - [Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a new year, and that means a whole lot more RPGs are on the way to ruin our backlogs and occupy our time. Kat, Nadia, and Eric gather together to talk about all the big hits you should look out for, as well as: What's Nintendo going to do in 2025? Who drew Persian like that? The Blood God buys the super-expensive Terra statue? Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:50 - The 2025 RPG Preview Music used in this episode: The AOTBG Intro Theme Sophisticated Fight [The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Blood God hosts are taking a quick holiday break so as a treat we're pulling a classic episode of Pantheon of the Blood God out from behind the paywall! Listen to this deep-dive into Dragon Quest Builders 2 and if you like what you hear subscribe at the $10 tier to access the entire back catalogue of Pantheon of the Blood God. Or better yet, give the gift of the Blood God this holiday season with Patreon's new subscription gifting feature. Regular episodes will be back soon but until then enjoy this classic: Dragon Quest Builders 2 is an action RPG that's literally about building yourself up from scratch. You cook the food that sustains you. You build the forges that fire your swords. Heck, you want to sleep in an Inn? Build it yourself, lazybones. And when you do, it just feels so good. Minecraft's blood runs thick through Dragon Quest Builders 2, but Square Enix's game adds so much more to Mojang's classic block-building phenomenon. At least that's what Nadia says. But is it Pantheon worthy? That's what Eric and Nadia are here to discuss alongside two very prominent Builders with beautiful voices: Jon Cartwright and Brandon Jones! Topics of Discussion: The joys of building affronts to God Malroth Rulez #1 Are these Bri'ish accents actually any good? Eric builds one big toilet for his villagers and forces them all to go at the same time Tom Nook blows goats, I have proof. Music Used in Episode: The Dragon Quest Theme (Dragon Quest Builders 2) Cave Theme (Dragon Quest Builders 2) Bustling City (Dragon Quest Builders 2) Gateway (Mega Man X8) Village Theme: Khrumble Dun (Dragon Quest Builders 2) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The appointed time is upon us. You've waited all year to hear the Axe of the Blood God's best RPG picks for 2024 (er, right?) and we're ready to dish. Nadia, Kat, and Eric hash out the winners in this extra thicc episode. Several categories are up for discussion beyond "Best RPG of 2024," such as this year's best character performance, this year's best visuals, and, uh, this year's best "freaky little guy." To listen is to understand, so shove this episode into your ear-holes, and we'll see you in 2025. Thanks for your continued support! Also in this episode 2024's biggest RPG news stories Our holiday plans (spoilers, we're all putting down roots for two weeks) TEETH TEETH TEETH Jingle Bells, Santa smells [like sulphur] Timestamps 00:00 - Intro 05:10 - RPG Awards 1:36:42 - Random Encounters 1:38:27 - The Tavern 1:56:50 - Nostalgia Pit Music used in this episode Don't Cry, Baby [Ragnarok Online] Jenova Lifeclinger [Final Fantasy VII Rebirth] Game Opening [Metaphor] Heismay's Awakening [Metaphor] Faring in the Ocean [Steamworld Heist 2] No Promises to Keep [Final Fantasy VII Rebirth] Warriors of Valor [Metaphor] The Promised Consort [Shadow of the Erdtree] Brush Your Teeth [Raffi] Campanella Stage 1 [UFO 50] Adventure [Dragon Quest III 2DHD] Mass Destruction [Persona 3 Reload] Hero's Awakening [Metaphor] Do Your Best! [Breath of Fire III] Patty's Pub [Dragon Quest IX] Ding Fries are Done [Peter Griffin] Welcome, My Lord [Ragnarok Online] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is done. Geoff Keighley descended from Gamer Mountain with the results of 2024's Game Awards scrawled onto two stone tablets. (Brought to you by Mountain Dew.) Kat, Eric, and Nadia understandably have opinions about the games that were snubbed, and the games that received recognition. How about you? Do you agree with Geoff's decrees? Are you with us? Or against us? Listen to this episode and use your heart to decide. And make sure to have a hard think about overlooked gems this year while we talk about our own "hidden" favourites. Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and Discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod Also in this episode Intergalactic planetary, planetary Intergalactic Give Steam World Heist 2 its due Siri has opinions about Witcher 4's Ciri Eric's cat has opinions about everything Sweet Valley Twins fans rise up Time stamps 00:00 - Intro 08:30 - Main topic: The 2024 Game Awards 47:21 - Random Encounters 52:27 - The Tavern: Overlooked RPG Gems for 2024 1:19:52 - The Nostalgia Nook Music used in this episode Battle Theme [Metaphor: Refantazio] Do Your Best! [Breath of Fire III] It's a Sin [Pet Shop Boys] Paddy's Pub [Dragon Quest IX] A Curious Tale [Secret of Mana] Faring in the Ocean [Steam Powered Giraffe] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pour yourself a delicious bowl of proprietary memory cards and fire up an unskippable cutscene; we're talking all about what 30 years of Playstation has meant for RPGs! Are we in a better timeline than the one where Square stuck with Nintendo? Find out on this week's episode! Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod Also in this episode: Pokemon TCG Pocket Update! What's happening with Elden Ring 2? Path of Exile 2 Fantasian: Neo Dimension is here! Timestamps: 01:44 - Main Topic - How Playstation Shaped RPG History 54:08 - Random Encounters 1:01:16 - The Tavern 1:28:24 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] Pub - [Boktai DS] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] A Good Beating - [Fantasian] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Blood God hosts are taking a quick holiday break so as a treat we're pulling a classic episode of Pantheon of the Blood God out from behind the paywall! Listen to this deep-dive into Lunar: Silver Star Story and if you like what you hear subscribe at the $10 tier to access the entire back catalogue of Pantheon of the Blood God. Or better yet, give the gift of the Blood God this holiday season with Patreon's new subscription gifting feature. Regular episodes will be back soon, including our year-end lists, but until then enjoy this classic: For the March 2023 edition of the Pantheon of the Blood God, Kat, Nadia, and Eric are joined by Anthony John Agnello and Aidan Moher for Lunar: The Silver Star Story! Their increasingly unhinged conversation covers the following: The story of Working Designs Luna's Boat Song SHADOW MADNESS And much, much more! Then the verdict: Is Lunar: Silver Star Story worthy of the Pantheon of the Blood God? Listen in and find out! As always, a huge thanks to our $10 and up Patrons for all your support! Every month we pick a new RPG for Pantheon contention, which is voted on by the Blood God community at large. Next up: Super Mario RPG! Join the Discord to discuss the episode, and to follow our Monthly Game Club discussions! Time Stamps 00:00 - Introduction 05:00 - Hosts' history with the Lunar series 24:20 - Lunar's development history 57:29 - Critical reception 1:16:20 - Does Lunar deserve to be in the Pantheon? 1:43:20 - The Verdict 1:56:00 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I hope you don't mind missables because there's no perfect route through this episode; it's time for Romancing SaGa! Kat, Nadia, and Eric are enlightened by special guest Lucas White's SaGa knowledge as they discuss both of this year's SaGa entries: Emerald Beyond and Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven! Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod Also in this episode: Who got snubbed in the Keighleys? Is Sony going to ruin anime forever? What is Obsidian cooking with Avowed? Final Fantasy XIV Update! Timestamps: 07:44 - Main Topic - Romancing SaGa Primer 41:22 - Random Encounters 45:24 - The Tavern 1:28:24 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] Pub - [Boktai DS] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] Battle - [Romancing SaGa 2] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Canadian kid's game show "UH-OH" character Punisher once said; IT'S SLIME TIME. Kat, Nadia, Eric, and special guest Cam Hawkins discuss the newest DQ from SE. Is the HD-2D remake of Famicom classic Dragon Quest III the definitive version? Is it a good jumping off point for new players of the series? Did you know it's actually Dragon Quest VI in Japan? All this and more in this episode of Axe of the Blood God! Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod Also in this episode: Pokemon TCG Pocket update! A whole lotta Falcom talk for the Ys and Trails/Kiseki-heads Eric's Dragon Age: The Veilguard update Nadia teaches us how to swear Victor finally picks a theme song for The Tavern Timestamps: 00:00 - Main Topic - Dragon Quest III HD-2D 37:22 - Random Encounters 47:04 - The Tavern 1:35:44 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] Pub - [Boktai DS] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] Village - [Dragon Quest III] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey, it's a bit bonkers out there! Why not retreat for a moment into the human race's oldest form of escapism; video games! Games like Stardew Valley are no-brainers but you may be surprised what kinds of games our panel takes comfort in when it feels like the world is burning down around them. All this and more on this week's Axe of the Blood God! Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod Also in this episode: Mario and Luigi: Brothership Mass Effect! Now for TV! Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket Star Trek beef Kat's Persona 3 update! Timestamps: 00:00 - Main Topic - Cozy RPGs 44:40 - Random Encounters 1:01:36 - The Tavern 1:35:44 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] Town Theme - [Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone look under your chair and put on your custom "Kiss the Rook" aprons I've made for you because it's time to dig into another of the massive RPGs of the year -- Dragon Age: The Veilguard! From character creation to romance, from classes to dungeon design, the writing and the role-playing, the good and the bad; Kat, Nadia, Eric, and special guest Leana Hafer cover it all on this very special episode of Axe of the Blood God! Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod Also in this episode: Xenoblade Chronicles X is back! Dragon Quest III HD-2D Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket Monster Hunter Wilds Timestamps: 07:12 - Main Topic - Dragon Age: The Veilguard 1:06:40 - Random Encounters 1:11:12 - The Tavern 1:40:00 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] Leliana's Dance - [Dragon Age: Origins] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been a dragon's age since we've had a new Dragon Age but the time has finally arrived. Kat, Nadia, and Eric discuss the entire series, its influences, its impact, and more as we get closer to the launch of Veilguard! Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod Also in this episode: Monster Hunter Wilds Beta The retro collecting rabbit hole You all need to save the Saturn talk for a Victor episode More Emio: The Smiling Man! Halloween stories Timestamps: 00:00 - Main Topic 1:06:40 - Random Encounters 1:13:20 - The Tavern 1:34:24 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BAT! Join Kat, Nadia, and your old pal from the edit bay Victor Hunter as they discuss the hottest (and sometimes the most mechanically interesting) characters in RPGs; the dhampir! They're not JUST for bisexuals! Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod Also in this episode: Come play FFXI with us Astar, a robot from Planet Danger More Metaphor! Timestamps: 00:00 - Main Topic 1:14:00 - Random Encounters 1:18:16 - The Tavern 1:31:20 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] Solar Boy Django - [Boktai 2: Solar Boy Django] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's time to Fantazio. Again! Kat, Nadia, and Eric, are joined by IGN's Michael Higham to discuss the biggest RPG release of October, Metaphor: ReFantazio. Take a shot every time someone mentions Persona, or for the full effect take a shot every time someone doesn't mention SMT. All that plus leaks, anime recommendations, passionate pleas from Nadia to end the console wars, and more on this week's jam-packed episode of Axe of the Blood God! Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod Also in this episode: The Game Freak hack Waypoint's corpse Before Your Eyes Persona 3 Update! Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO Timestamps: 04:16 - Main Topic 1:03:28 - Random Encounters 1:15:44 - The Tavern - Waypoint 1:53:56 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] Cinematic Tale - [Persona Q2] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unionizations, lay-offs, tragic passings! It's been A Year! Eric, Nadia, and special guest Jesse Vitelli discuss the biggest headlines of the year and take a look at the latest Legend of Zelda! It's an episode of tonal whiplash and fond reminiscence! Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod Also in this episode: Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games were fun! Mrs. Incredible. I'll say she is. Subscribe to Jesse's newsletter: Send News Dragon Quest at the centre of the culture war Cadet Kelly Timestamps: 00:00 - Main Topic 1:03:56 - Random Encounters 1:09:58 - The Tavern - Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom 1:33:52 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] Skull Pirates - [Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's extra beefy episode of Axe of the Blood God, we welcome special guest Jason Schreier and talk about his upcoming book, Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment. Tune in for a preview that brings context to some of Blizzard's biggest successes, mishaps, and controversies, including its campus culture, the sexual harassment lawsuit leveled against it, and the infamous Cosby Suite. Also in this episode: First impressions of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Gosh, the PS5 Pro sure exists Nintendo! Put a GBA game slot on Switch 2, you cowards! See a horse? Download a horse How Nadia lost her pocket money to rigged potato chip giveaways Time Stamps 0:00 - Intro/Main topic [Blizzard] 52:34 - Random Encounters 1:18:50 - The Tavern 1:29:07 - Further Blizzard Discussion: The Cosby Suite 1:54:24 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music used in this episode: Do your Best! [Breath of Fire III] Patty's Pub [Dragon Quest XI] A Curious Tale [Secret of Mana] Battle Theme [Metaphor: ReFantazio] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No, you see these are uh... Pocket Buddies! And we don't catch'em. We seal'em! In uh, Pocket Orbs! Kat, Nadia, and Eric discuss Nintendo's suit against the creators of Palworld and what this means for patents and Pokemon-esque projects going forward. Plus, the crew has been playing some Dragon Age Veilguard! Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod Also in this episode: The appeal of fine Pokemon china You'll never guess where these Pirate Yakuza are! UFO50 Final Fantasy VII Orchestra Timestamps: 03:12 - Main Topic 36:36 - Random Encounters 44:18 - The Tavern - Dragon Age 1:31:07 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] Virbank City - [Pokemon Black and White 2] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

And it doesn't even have a new Ridge Racer. Kat, Nadia, and Eric discuss the PS5 Pro, it's fascinating price point, Astrobot, Sony's future, and more on this week's episode of Axe of the Blood God! Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod Also in this episode: Emio: The Smiling Man Where are there squirrels? Praise Bahamut! A Baldur's Gate III Co-op update! When did YOUR eyesight start going, listener? Timestamps: 04:56 - Main Topic - PS5 Pro 40:32 - Random Encounters 44:32 - The Tavern 1:17:04 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] Jungle - [PlayOnline Viewer] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the first time since 2006's Dawn of Mana (a totally fun game, don't let anyone tell you otherwise) we have a new mainline entry in the storied Seiken Densetsu series. Does Visions of Mana prove that the mana tree still has plenty of good years left in'er, or is the vision getting blurry? Kat, Nadia, and Eric discuss this colourful action RPG and more on this episode of Axe of the Blood God! Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod Also in this episode: Witch Hat Atelier Bring back Slayers! More Final Fantasy VI discussion Everyone definitely agrees Legend of Mana is the best Timestamps: 03:12 - Main Topic - Visions of Mana 39:08 - Random Encounters 43:12 - The Tavern 1:16:32 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook - CONTENT WARNING 1:22:24 - End of Content Warning Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] Cliff Town Gato - [Legend of Mana] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices