Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Console RPG Quest: Switch - Definitive Edition, Fantasy Life i May 26, 2025

Show notes

The Nintendo Switch™ Family of Video Gaming Entertainment Consoles is dead. Long live the Nintendo Switch 2™ Family of Video Gaming Entertainment Consoles.
Kat, Nadia, and Eric deliver the final judgement on the Switch's contributions to the RPG landscape. From Pokemon's bumpy road to Fire Emblem's revival to Square's blunderbuss, it's all here in this satisfyingly clickable episode of Axe of the Blood God!
Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com

In this episode:

Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Octopath Traveler/2
Pokemon's Switch Legacy
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Xenoblade Chronicles X

Timestamps:

5:50 - Main Topic - Switch RPG Quest: Definitive Edition
1:00:56 - Random Encounters
1:11:04 - The Tavern - Fantasy Life
1:22:16 - Xenoblade Chronicles X Final Thoughts
1:31:20 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook

Music Used in this Episode:

Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III]
Pub - [Lunar Knights]
A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]
Your Voice - [Xenoblade Chronicles X]

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The Future of Kingdom Hearts, Giant Bomb's Return w/ Mike Minotti May 19, 2025

Show notes

You're getting 'Norted! And you're getting 'Norted! And YOU'RE getting 'Norted!
Xakt, Dianxa, Ixerc, and special guest Kexim are here to discuss the old adage; "When Nomura closes one door, he opens another with a very large key"
Missing Link's cancellation and Kingdom Hearts IV's new screenshots have stirred up conversation and Giant Bomb's own KH expert Mike Minotti is here to tell us all about it
Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com

Also in this episode:

Justice for 358/2 Days
Nintendo Store San Fransisco
Bravely Default HD
Do serial killers like Aerosmith?

Timestamps:

10:08 - Main Topic - What is the future of Kingdom Hearts?
47:20 - Random Encounters
49:12 - Final Fantasy x Magic the Gathering
1:04:48 - Nintendo Store
1:25:00 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook

Music Used in this Episode:

Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III]
Pub - [Lunar Knights]
A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]
Dearly Beloved (Swing Ver.) - [Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory]

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No Expedition 33 Mini-Map Isn't a Bad Thing, FF + MtG Reax, and Sakura Wars 2 in English May 12, 2025

Show notes

The maps are mini but the discourse is maxi!
Kat, Nadia, and Victor embrace their cartographical spirit this week as they discuss the pros and cons of the mini-map; Does EVERY game need them? Do NO games need them? At what point should you meet the game's systems where they are and adapt? Find out on this week's disorientingly good episode of Axe of the Blood God!
Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com

Also in this episode:

LIVE reactions as the Final Fantasy x Magic: the Gathering cards are revealed!
Sakura Wars 2 fan-translation
Dokyusei
Tokimeki Memorial ~forever with you~ Emotional
Play Maddy Thorson's latest Super Mario World romhack, Masterpiece, with art by friend of the show, darcydee
Miserable Canadian clowns

Timestamps:

07:20 - Main Topic - Do RPGs need mini-maps?
40:44 - Random Encounters
45:20 - Final Fantasy x Magic the Gathering Reactions
1:02:08 - The Tavern: Sakura Wars 2, Dokyusei, Tokimeki Memorial
1:20:20 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook

Music Used in this Episode:

Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III]
Pub - [Lunar Knights]
A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]
Continuation of the Dream - [Sakura Wars 2]

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Are Games Too Expensive, The Collapse of Games Media May 05, 2025

Show notes

The rent is too damn high!
Hey, it's rough out there. But as development costs climb, retail prices skyrocket, and the institutional knowledge of decades of journalism slips out from under us due to corporate greed, Kat, Nadia, and Eric are at least here to explain what this means for the future of RPGs!
Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com

Also in this episode:

Gameification of Disney World
Chrono Trigger remake - PSYCH!
Fandom is the worst website in the world
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 impressions update!
Final Fantasy Magic: The Gathering hype

Timestamps:

05:50 - Main Topic - What to do about expensive video games
52:08 - Random Encounters
55:24 - Polygon and Giant Bomb's collapse
1:10:28 - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 update
1:30:16 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook

Music Used in this Episode:

Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III]
A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]
Enjoyment Theme - [Sakura Wars 2]

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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Review w/Kenneth Shepard Apr 28, 2025

Show notes

Sacre Bleu! Incroyable! Tabarnak! We get to say all these words and more on this week's episode of Axe of the Blood God, which is about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Special guest Kenneth Shepard joins Kat, Nadia, and Eric (they're together again!) on this quest to ask this Paintress lady what her whole deal is.

Also in this episode:

Stop right there, criminal scum! Suddenly, Oblivion Remastered.
Breath of Fire 4 is on PC! What does this portend?
The Gang Pre-Orders the Switch 2
The Hundred Line is just what the Danganronpa sicko ordered.
We drive a carpool directly into a dancing baby.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro/Housekeeping
03:00 - Main Topic (Clair Obscur review)
50:15 - Random Encounters
1:00:04 - The Tavern
1:39:38 - 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)
Je Suis Fatigue (Tom Cardy)

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The Lunar Remastered Review, Switch 2 Updates w/ Lucas White Apr 21, 2025

Show notes

How many licks DOES it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?

Eric, Nadia, and special guest Lucas White won't find out in the Lunar: Remastered Collection but they'll sure discuss localization choices like it. Find out if the new re-release does justice to these cult classics of the 32-bit era.

Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod, subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod and celebrate our 10th Anniversary with new merch at https://shop.bloodgodpod.com

Also in this episode:

Updates on the Switch 2 pre-orders
SaGa x Vampire Survivors for the sickos
Eric's Sunderfolk review
Why Pokemon cards are BANNED

Timestamps:

09:08 - Main Topic - Switch 2 Hands-on Impressions
52:08 - Random Encounters
56:08 - The Tavern - Switch 2, SaGa x Vampire Survivors, Sunderfolk
1:35:24 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook

Music Used in this Episode:

Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III]
Pub - [Lunar Knights]
A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]
Adventure Road - [Lunar 2 - Eternal Blue]

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Class Conscious: Black Mage w/ Timothy Monbleau Apr 14, 2025

Show notes

I am the Black Mage! I casts the spells that makes the peoples fall down!

Time to put on your robe and wizard hat; we're talkin' Black Mages!

From Vivi to Donald Duck, all your favourite magic missile-slingers are here and ready to nuke Eric, Nadia, and special guest Timothy Monbleau!

Special Thanks to Edwyn "Omahdon" Tiong, voice of Black Mage.

Also in this episode:

Final Fantasy XIII re-examined?!
Blue Prince Impressions
Amagami mentioned
Everyone's Donald Duck impressions

Timestamps:

04:00 - Main Topic - Switch 2 Hands-on Impressions
1:04:40 - Random Encounters
1:05:56 - The Tavern - Final Fantasy XIII and Blue Prince
1:31:41 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook

Music Used in this Episode:

Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III]
Pub - [Lunar Knights]
A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]
Mystic Mysidia - [Final Fantasy IV: Celtic Moon]

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Switch 2 Direct and Hands-on Impressions w/ Brian Shea Apr 07, 2025

Show notes

Should've called it the Swiitch.

Kat, Nadia, Eric, and special guest Brian Shea tell you everything you need to know about the Nintendo Direct Switch 2 announcements plus Brian's hands-on experience at the recent press event. There's a slew of RPGs of all stars and stripes heading for the console. Whether you'll be able to get your little hands on them without selling a body part or two remains to be seen. But at least we can talk about them for free!

Also in this episode:

Mario Kart Worlds
Donkey Kong Bananza
Bring back Mario Paint
Dark Pictionary

Timestamps:

04:00 - Main Topic - Switch 2 Hands-on Impressions
1:03:12 - Random Encounters
1:05:16 - The Tavern - Switch 2's RPG Line-up
1:40:40 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook

Music Used in this Episode:

Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III]
Pub - [Lunar Knights]
A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]
Romantic Vagrant - [Bravely Default: Flying Fairy]

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Switch Direct Reax, Switch 2 Direct Predictions, and Pillars of Eternity Turns 10 Mar 31, 2025

Show notes

This podcast of mine glows with an awesome power!

Its hot takes tell me to treat you! TAKE THIS!

My love, my anger, and ALL my opinions!

Super Robot Wars is joined by some other games also announced in the opening left hook of the Nintendo Direct one-two punch combo.

Also in this episode:

What games do we want to see "Switch 2 Versions" of?
The bizarre development behind Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2
How to get a pet in Night City
Pokemon TCG Pocket Update
Don't smoke

Timestamps:

06:20 - Main Topic - Nintendo Direct
58:40 - Random Encounters
1:08:16 - Pillars of Eternity Anniversary
1:15:46 - The Tavern - Cyberpunk and Pokemon TCG Pocket
1:40:40 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook

Music Used in this Episode:

Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III]
A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]
The Lazy Detective Agency - [Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army]

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Xenoblade Chronicles X Switch Review, GDC Recap, and a Persona 4 Remake Wishlist Mar 24, 2025

Show notes

Living here in New LA, fighting villains from afar. You got to find first gear in your giant robot car.

The Xenoblade saga on Switch is now complete with the inclusion of Xenoblade Chronicles X (Xenoblade Cross if you're nasty). But it's been 10 years since the original release on WiiU; has it aged well? The very idea of video games "aging well" is a concept invented by tech-capitalists so don't ask me that. Instead ask "How much of the current open-world RPG landscape do we owe to it, do the gameplay elements designed for the WiiU transpose to the Switch well, and exactly how fantastic a game is it?"

All these questions and more will be answered by Kat, Nadia, Eric, and Victor on this interstellar episode of Axe of the Blood God!

Also in this episode: