RPGFan's Random Encounter

On this episode of Random Encounter, it's time to pull out our pencil-and-paper Pokédex because we're going back to when Pokémon ruled the Earth!Pokémon Legends: Arceus is the latest entry in the long-running Pocket Monsters series, and just about everyone is talking about how it could revitalize future titles. Our panel discusses what they think about the new semi-open world, beautiful 19th-century presentation, and apparently blood-thirsty Pokémon. We are also talking with Abe about Drinkbox Studios' newest Action RPG, Nobody Saves the World. With a Saturday-Morning-Cartoon graphic style and innovative combat, the title seems to continue Drinkbox's high standards of quality games (Have you played Guacamelee? It's pretty awesome!). Featuring: Jono Logan, Abraham Kobylanski, Joshua Lindquist, Niki Fakhoori; Edited by Jono LoganGet in Touch:RPGFan.comEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancomThis Episode's Related Links:Pokémon Legends: ArceusNobody Saves the World Review

On this episode of Random Encounter, it's time to look at some of the best games of the previous year!RPGFan has released our annual Games of the Year feature, and this week, we're taking a deep dive. Join Jono, Alana, Brian, and Wes as they dig into the various categories, pick out their personal favorites, and (inevitably) end up adding multiple games to their backlogs for 2022! Featuring: Jono Logan, Alana Hagues, Brian Mackenzie, Wes Iliff; Edited by Jono LoganGet in Touch:RPGFan.comEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancomThis Episode's Related Links:RPGFan Games of the Year 2021: Overall AwardsRPGFan Games of the Year 2021: Editors’ AwardsBravely Default II ReviewDisgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny ReviewDoki Doki Literature Club Plus! ReviewEastward ReviewFantasian (Part One) ReviewFantasian (Part Two) ReviewFinal Fantasy VII Remake ReviewFinal Fantasy VII Remake Episode INTERmission ReviewFinal Fantasy XIV: Endwalker – 25. Review Journal Book XXV: Footfalls ReviewGenshin Impact ReviewImpostor Factory ReviewLoop Hero ReviewMarvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy ReviewMass Effect: Legendary Edition ReviewMonster Hunter Rise ReviewNew Pokémon Snap ReviewNieR Re[in]carnation ReviewNieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139... ReviewScarlet Nexus ReviewShin Megami Tensei V ReviewSuper Robot Wars 30 ReviewSuper Smash Bros. UltimateTales of Arise ReviewThe Great Ace Attorney Chronicles Review

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're doing a little bit of cleanup! Some super interesting games were released at the very end of 2021, and we have some folks who played them!Audra is here to talk about her experience playing both Another Eden: The Cat Beyond Time and Space and its Chrono Cross-related DLC, Complex Dream. Dom is excited to chat about the recent PC port of Monster Hunter Rise. And Neal gets to delve into an incredibly long-running Japanese-only series with Super Robot Wars 30! Plus, Jono rants a little bit about finally playing Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age. (Spoiler: He doesn't love it! Shock and gasp!)Featuring: Jono Logan, Audra Bowling, Dom Kim, Neal Chandran; Edited by Jono LoganGet in Touch:RPGFan.comEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancomThis Episode's Related Links:Another Eden: The Cat Beyond Time and Space ReviewAnother Eden: The Cat Beyond Time and Space – Complex Dream ReviewMonster Hunter Rise (PC) ReviewSuper Robot Wars 30 ReviewDragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition Review

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're taking a look in our crystal ball to preview the games of 2022!Every December, RPGFan publishes an extensive feature focusing on the games we're most excited for in the upcoming year. And this week, we get to talk about it! Does the panel think that Final Fantasy XVI will be released in 2022 or be delayed for another year? How about Starfield? Will BOTW 2 finally get a release date and an official title? We may not have definitive answers to these questions, but we have lots of speculation!Featuring: Jono Logan, Mike Salbato, Mike Sollosi, Steven Mattern; Edited by Jono LoganGet in Touch:RPGFan.comEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancomThis Episode's Related Links:Square Enix Responds to Continued Final Fantasy XIV CongestionSea of Stars Confirmed for Nintendo Switch Release With New TrailerRPGFan’s 30 Most Anticipated Games of 2022Forspoken PreviewRetro Encounter 302 – The Great Ace Attorney SpoilercastSo you want to get into the Tales Series…

On this episode of Random Encounter, it's awards night! The Game Awards 2021 were last Thursday, and so was our recording date! The resulting episode? Pure chaos! Jono, Brian, and Niki try to talk about Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl and Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc Anniversary Edition, but Mr. Geoff Keighley keeps throwing brand-new game trailers at them. Can they figure out the titles of the massive games being announced while also keeping the show on track? Well, there's a first time for everything...Featuring: Jono Logan, Brian Mackenzie, Niki Fakhoori; Edited by Jono LoganGet in Touch:RPGFan.comEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancomThis Episode's Related Links:Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl ReviewDanganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc Anniversary Edition Review

On this episode of Random Encounter, Greg is back! Greg and Jono reunite for Thanksgiving (despite both of them being Canadian) to talk about the fun of Final Fantasy-themed battle royales (Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier), the joys of retro-style adventure game throwbacks (Obduction), the excitement of unsubstantiated rumors (Chrono Cross remake), and the delights of visual novels! Plus, there is some big, big news about the future of Random Encounter moving forward! Happy Thanksgivings! Featuring: Jono Logan, Greg Delmage; Edited by Jono LoganGet in Touch:RPGFan.comEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancomThis Episode's Related Links:Rhythm Encounter 72 – Game Music ConcertsChrono CrossFinal Fantasy VII The First SoldierRPGFan’s Essential Visual Novels

On this episode of Random Encounter, our panel descends deep into Dracula's Castle to deliver their thoughts about the recent Castlevania Advance Collection.Between 2001 and 2003, Konami released three Castlevania titles for the Game Boy Advance (Circle of the Moon, Harmony of Dissonance, and Aria of Sorrow). These games revived the Symphony of the Night-style of 2D-exploration gameplay and cemented the term "Metroidvania" in our minds forever. In this episode, Jono and Mike get a chance to dive back into some fond GBA memories while Audra and Niki get to experience the Castlevania universe for the first time! Plus, we finally get a definitive answer to the question, is the double jump the best upgrade in video game history?Featuring: Jono Logan, Audra Bowling, Niki Fakhoori, Mike Sollosi; Edited by Jono LoganGet in Touch:RPGFan.comEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancomThis Episode's Related Links:Castlevania Advance Collection ReviewCupid Parasite ReviewDeath’s Gambit: Afterlife ReviewCastlevania: Circle of the Moon ReviewCastlevania: Harmony of Dissonance ReviewCastlevania: Aria of Sorrow ReviewRetro Encounter 191 – Castlevania: Symphony of the Night RevisitedRetro Encounter 302 – The Great Ace Attorney SpoilercastRetro Encounter 234 – Castlevania The Animated Series

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're dipping our toes into some games highly inspired by the 80s and 90s!Abe is here to talk about the surprisingly excellent Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, waxing rhapsodic about its superb story and incredible 80s soundtrack! Then, Niki dives into the earliest era of the SNES with the surprise remake of the cult-favorite hybrid side-scroller/city-builder title, Actraiser Renaissance. And finally, Jono dips into the spirit of the 90s with Kathy Rain: Director's Cut, a remake/remaster of the 2016 indie point-and-click adventure game. Featuring: Jono Logan, Niki Fakhoori, Abraham Kobylanski; Edited by Jono LoganGet in Touch:RPGFan.comEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancomThis Episode's Related Links:Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy ReviewActraiser Renaissance ReviewKathy Rain: Director’s Cut Review

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're talkin' Tales!RPGFan's recent feature "So You Want to Get Into the Tales Series..." took a deep dive into dozens of Tales games to help you find your best entry point. This week, we have the author of that feature, Wes Iliff, and Tales superfan, Steph Sybydlo, to talk about their experiences with the games and where YOU should start if you want to get into the beloved long-running series! Featuring: Jono Logan, Wes Iliff, Stephanie Sybydlo; Edited by Jono LoganGet in Touch:RPGFan.comEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancomThis Episode's Related Links:So You Want to Get Into the Tales Series...Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition ReviewTales of Berseria ReviewTales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World ReviewTales of Arise ReviewWashington Post: The video game review process is broken. It’s bad for readers, writers and games.

On this episode of Random Encounter, it's the latest Yakuza Encounter! Jono is super excited to dive into the newest spinoff Yakuza game, Lost Judgment, with Caitlin, and learn more about otome games (including Olympia Soirée) with Niki!Plus, the panel takes a look at some of the most exciting RPG Nintendo Direct news from last week, as well as come up with a definitive answer to the age-old question, "Which is the best video game animal?" Their answers may surprise you! (Hint: It's cats. It's always cats.)Featuring: Jono Logan, Caitlin Argyros, Niki Fakhoori; Edited by Jono LoganGet in Touch:RPGFan.comEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancomThis Episode's Related Links:Lost Judgment ReviewOlympia Soirée ReviewDefining Joseimuke, and Attempting to Define OtomeYakuza Is For Men | GC Vazquez YouTube Video