Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Game Developer Quest: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio w/ Michael Higham Jan 22, 2024

Show notes

You down with RGG? Yeah, you know me!

From Super Monkey Ball to Infinite Wealth, our prestigious panel covers the history and key players of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. Eric, Nadia, and special guest Michael Higham discuss the runaway success of the Yakuza/Like A Dragon series, the charm of 1988 Kamurochō, and the role these games have played in their own personal lives and careers. Much like Like A Dragon itself, this episode is full of heartfelt sentimentality contrasted with borderline absurdist comedy!

Also in this Episode:

Great tattoo ideas
BuT Is iT An RpG?!?!?
Visions of Mana!
Eric has been playing Palworld...
The Art of Fare Evasion

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

07:00 - Main Topic - Developer Quest: RGG

1:02:28 - Random Encounters

1:13:12 - The Tavern

1:26:58 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook

Music Used in this Episode:

Do Your Best! - [Breath of Fire III]

A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]

Pure Love in Kamurocho - [Yakuza 0]

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Ranking the Top 5 RPG Studios 2024 w/ Ethan Gach Jan 15, 2024

Show notes

2024's RPG landscape is already being defined by a handful of big titles. But those games aren't made in a vaccuum. They're made by people! People who work at studios! And those studios have names.

Listen as Kat, Eric, and special guest Ethan Gach discuss the 5 biggest studios that are already shaping the present and future of RPGs.

Also in this Episode:

Final Fantasy V Recap!
Games Done Quick!
Granblue Fantasy!

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

06:10 - Main Topic - Top RPG Studios of 2024

06:16 - CD Projekt Red

09:56 - ATLUS

13:28 - Square Enix

19:04 - FromSoftware

27:50 - Larian

54:44 - Random Encounters

57:12 - GDQ

1:02:56 - The Tavern

1:21:58 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook

Music Used in this Episode:

Do Your Best! - [Breath of Fire III]

A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]

The Day Will Come (From Final Fantasy V) - [Final Fantasy XIV - Endwalker]

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What Will Be The Best RPG of 2024? Jan 08, 2024

Show notes

There are some questions we as a species will always be asking; Is consciousness inherent to our universe? Is time a construct? What cool new video games will come out in 2024?

10 hard-hidding questions will be asked of our intrepid panel and you'll hear Kat, Nadia, and Eric dole out answers like it's their job. What can we look forward to? What surprises are in store that we don't even know we want to look forward to? The Switch 2, acquisitions, the GaaS event horizon; all this and more in this interrogatory episode of Axe of the Blood God!

Also in this Episode:

Sonicshortergamesmeme.jpg
Axe of the Blood God officially endorses Metaphor: ReFantazio for 2024
Eric has played a bunch of Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth and didn't tell us!

This episode is sponsored by Factor. For 50% off head to factormeals.com/axerpgadventure50 and use code: axerpgadventure50

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

05:36 - Main Topic - 10 Big Questions for 2024

51:15 - Random Encounters

57:04 - Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth Preview

1:21:58 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook

Music Used in this Episode:

Do Your Best! - [Breath of Fire III]

A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]

Headquarters - [Skies of Arcadia]

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The Most Anticipated RPGs of 2024 Jan 01, 2024

Show notes

There's never been a more appropriate year to anticipate RPGs than this one! Whether it's "Like A", "Quest", or "Dogma 2", the Year of the Dragon is bound to bring you something you'll sink a not-insignificant part of your year into! Join Kat, Nadia, and Eric as they each talk about their Top 5 Most Anticipated RPGs of 2024 and more!

Also in this Episode:

Will we be getting a Switch 2 in 2024?
Will the PS5 and Xbox ever feel like the current gen?
Garfield?

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

06:40 - Main Topic - RPGs We're Looking Forward To

1:25:16 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook

1:26:16 - Nadia's BONUS NOOK

Music Used in this Episode:

Do Your Best! - [Breath of Fire III]

A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]

New Year's Day (2 AM - 5 AM) - Animal Crossing New Horizons

Games Mentioned in this Episode:

Dragon's Dogma 2

Persona 3 Reload

Unicorn Overlord

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth

Metaphor: ReFantazio

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2

Decapolice

Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Dragon Quest III HD-2D

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

Visions of Mana

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail

Citizen Sleeper 2

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A Look Back at the RPGs of 2023 Dec 25, 2023

Show notes

Merry Chrysler! We here at Axe of the Blood God prepared this very special episode that takes both a deeply critical and celebratory look at the nutty year that just passed us by. We had RPGs galore! Have we ever seen such bounty? New Zelda! New Baldur's Gate! New Cyberpunk...sort of!

But we had troubles galore, too. Layoffs and downsizing left and right. The end of vintage game media websites and game studios. What awaits us in 2024? We dunno! But we can guarantee the Blood God will always be with you. That's what Christmas is all about.

In this episode:

Our Game of the Year!
Zelda, Zelda, Baldur's Gate, Zelda!
The Super Mario RPG remake is great!
Starfield discourse that's as long and girthy as Luigi's schlong
And lots more!

Music used in this episode:

Tantal [Xenoblade Chronicles 2]
Narshe March [Final Fantasy VI]

Secret of Mana Santa art source

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Hidden Gems of 2023 w/ Reb Valentine Dec 18, 2023

Show notes

The Holidays are right around the corner and you know what that means?

That's right! All the children who have been good year 'round gather at the local podcast to hear the wise old hosts dispense their recommendations for the year! But what's this? Mean Mr. Grinch stole aaaaaall the popular games this year! Fret not, little one. Just because mainstream gaming media hasn't covered it doesn't mean it's not worth curling up with next to the fire. In fact, just for you we've compiled a list of wonderful games no one seems to be talking about! Let Eric, Nadia, and beloved guest Reb Valentine (along with a mail-in ballot from our editor abroad, Victor Hunter) tell you what you missed while you were being a sweet angel 24/7.

Also in this Episode:

End of E3-gelion
The Game Awards speeches that weren't
Nadia's burnt-beard-filled Christmas Pit

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

1:10:40 - Random Encounters

1:27:36 - The Tavern

1:41:52 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook

Music Used in this Episode:

Do Your Best! - [Breath of Fire III]

A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]

Jeuno Starlight Celebration - Final Fantasy XI [Square Enix X'mas Collection]

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The Game Awards 2023 Recap: An Embarrassment of RPG Riches and Just Plain Embarrassment Dec 11, 2023

Show notes

Sponsored by Factor

It was an embarrassment of RPG riches as well as just plain embarrassment at this year's Game Awards 2023 as Keighley Fest 2023 once again brought us trailers, celebrities, and way too much Hideo Kojima. Nadia, Kat, and Eric recap everything that happened at this year's show, including the major reveals (Monster Hunter! Exodus!), the winners (Baldur's Gate 3... a lot!) and controversies (maybe don't play developers off the stage when they're trying to honor dead colleagues!). All that and more in this week's episode of Axe of the Blood God!

Also in this Episode:

GTA VI mania!
Dragon Age gets a short reveal
Nadia's Christmas Pit

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro/Pantheon poll winner

07:45 - Game Awards 2023 Announcements, Winners, and Controversies

1:05:00 - Random Encounters

1:08:00 - The Tavern

1:26:38: Nadia's Nostalgia Nook

Music Used in this Episode:

Do Your Best! - Breath of Fire III

A Curious Tale - Secret of Mana

Maze of Life - Persona Q

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Is Darkest Dungeon 2 an Underrated Gem of 2023? w/ Matthew Salisbury Dec 04, 2023

Show notes

The year 2023 has been absolutely packed with RPGs, and there's always something flying under the radar. Darkest Dungeon 2 might just be one of those - a follow-up to a beloved dungeon-crawler that still feels like it hasn't had quite the same impact as its predecessor.

So one of our Patreon supporters joined us this week to talk the Darkest Dungeon series and why it's worth keeping an eye on the sequel. We dive into the history, mechanics, dark humor, and gorgeous art of the Darkest Dungeon this week.

Also in this Episode:

Kat is starting Final Fantasy V again!
Eric asks why there hasn't been a Godzilla RPG yet
Nadia throws another curve ball in the Nostalgia zone

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro/Pantheon poll winner

10:45 - Darkest Dungeon talk

44:04 - Random Encounters

1:06:25 - The Tavern

1:23:48: Nadia's Nostalgia Nook

Music Used in this Episode:

Do Your Best! - Breath of Fire III

A Curious Tale - Secret of Mana

Clash on the Big Bridge - Final Fantasy V

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Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within - Commentary of the Blood God Nov 27, 2023

Show notes

It's the DVD commentary you didn't know you wanted!

If you haven't already, now's the time to watch the movie that may have shaped RPG history more than any other. Time for L'arc en Ciel, the most bizarre performance of Steve Buscemi's career, and the Final Fantasy story that most closely resembles the works of L. Ron Hubbard!

This episode is best experienced as a commentary alongside playback of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within but also functions perfectly well as a stand-alone podcast so pick your poison and join Kat, Nadia, Eric, and Victor as we dig around Within and see what those Spirits are up to!

MOVIE STARTS - 10:08

FINAL THOUGHTS - 1:48:17

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Persona 5 Tactica, Mario RPG Remake, Ranking the Persona Spin-offs, and More Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

There are more Persona spin-offs than there are stars in the night sky but luckily most of them are pretty darn good! Listen as Kat, Nadia, and Eric discuss the Phantom Thieves' latest heist in Persona 5 Tactica. Even the Persona Q series gets some love! Good! It deserves it! Plus, Nadia takes us on a Geno Whirl-wind journey through Super Mario RPG.

Editor's Note: Yes, Kat's microphone cuts out at a certain point. But consider this; maybe it'll be something we can all laugh about ten years from now. And besides, the solution I came up with it cosmically funny and won't bother anyone.

Also in this Episode:

- Final Fantasy on N64! No way!

- Eric Got Through: Mellow Zone Act 1

- A social experiment involving Animalese

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intros

39:28 - Random Encounters

1:20:22 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook

Music Used in this Episode:

Do Your Best! - [Breath of Fire III]

A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]

Beware the Forest's Mushrooms - [Super Mario RPG]