State of the Arc Podcast

In the first episode of our Vagrant Story deep-dive, we examine the game's development history and examine the opening cinematics that set the stage for the story! shmuplations interview: https://shmuplations.com/vagrantstory/ Time Codes: 1. Into (0:00) 2. Key Developers (1:50) 3. Things You Should Know Before Playing (5:44) 4. Start Screen Movies (10:55) 5. Opening Scene Of The Game (42:23) 6. Duke Bardoba and Rosencrantz (1:09:30)

In this episode of our Hellblade analysis, we cover the remainder of the game. From the retrieval of Gramr, to the confrontation of Hela. We even go into a bit of the controversy surrounding this game. For Vagrant Story, you'll want to play up to the point where Hardin and Sydney have an argument about whether their cause is lost. Sydney then "compels" Hardin a bit so that he'll calm down and agree. That cutscene is where you want to play up to. Sorry I can't be more specific. It's hard to describe. Time Codes: 1. Intro (0:00) 2. Hela’s Bridge (1:07) 3. The Beach Trials (30:36) 4. Pulling Out the New Sword (1:00:06) 5. Confronting Hella (1:20:52) 6. Responding to the Polygon Article (1:42:37)

Quick announcement! We'll be uploading the podcast tomorrow instead of today. We apologize for the delay. I'm recovering from a medical procedure and Casen is recovering from illness.

In this episode of our Hellblade analysis, we cover the development history and the intro of the game up through the Surtr and Valravn boss fights! Time Codes: 1. Into (0:00) 2. Development History (6:20) 3. Mike's Experience With Voice Hearing (45:44) 4. Senua's Arrival In Helheim (1:09:02) 5. Trials of Fire and Surtr (1:40:18) 6. Valravn (1:51:47)

In the last episode of our Final Fantasy Tactics analysis, we finish up chapter 4 and respond to comments from our viewers! Thank you for joining us for this series. Next week we'll be covering Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice. 1. Intro (0:00) 2. Beginning of Ch. 4 (1:41) 3. Ramza and Delita (11:10) 4. Poisoning Soldiers (49:52) 5. Looking for Alma (1:31:53) 6. The Nether World (2:05:06) 7. The Ending (2:27:15) 8. Q&A (2:56:49)

In today's episode, we finish chapter 3, where Ramza appeals to Zalbaag, hoping he will do something about Dycedarg's scheming. Then, he heads off to stop the church from escalating the war between Larg and Goltanna. Meanwhile, Delita and Ovelia grow closer and he secretly plots to overthrow the nobility. Time Codes: 1. Intro (0:00) 2. Goltana and Council (00:23) 3. Meeting Orran Durai (10:33) 4. Meeting with Zalbag (13:38) 5. The Inquisition (22:04) 6. Inclusion of Fantasy and the Divine (42:49) 7. Book of Germonique and Christianity (1:01:29) 8. Delita and Ovelia (1:59:46) 9. Marach and Rafa (2:25:04) 10. Riovanes Castle (2:37:45)

In today's episode, we finish up the end of chapter 1, where Tietra meets with a tragedy that changes Delita forever. Then we move full steam into chapter 2, where the Church of Glabados enters center stage. We're covering all of chapter 2 so strap in. There's a lot to discuss! Time Codes: 1. Intro (0:00) 2. Finishing Chapter 1 (1:59) 3. Chapter 2/Orbonne Monastery and Dorter (41:59) 4. Zeirchele Falls (49:49) 5. The Castled City of Zaland (1:14:51)) 6. Balias Tor and Accompanying Cutscenes (1:25:45) 7. Lionel Castle and Goug Machine City (1:46:44) 8. Port City of Warjilis, Golgollada Gallows (2:03:14) 9. Delita and Ovelia at Lionel Castle (2:15:40) 10. Weigraf At the Lenalian Plateau (2:24:50) 11. Lionel Castle, End of Chapter 2 (2:26:04)

In today's episode, we dive into the opening chapter of Final Fantasy Tactics! We also spend time on the movies that play on the start screen, how the game is framed by Arazlam's narration, and cover everything from Orbonne Monastery through the Thieve's Fort/Brigand's Den battle. Time Codes: 1. Intro (0:00) 2. Title Screen Movies (0:30) 3. Arazlam's Narrated Intro and Opening Credits (13:07) 4. Orbonne Monastery (19:01) 5. Gariland (38:14) 6. The Death Of Barbaneth Beoulve (43:54) 7. Mandalia Plains/Rescuing Algus (51:37) 8. Eagrose Castle (56:48) 9. Dorter (1:08:58) 10. Sand Rat's Sietch (1:12:42) 11. Return To Eagrose Castle (1:16:47) 12. Brigand's Den (1:19:52) 13. Eagrose Attacked! (1:20:45)

In the first episode of our Final Fantasy Tactics deep-dive, we look at the development history of the game, including Yasumi Matsuno's transition from creating the Ogre series at Quest to working with Hironobu Sakaguchi at Square Soft. We also dive into the background of Ivalice--its kings and its wars--and how those things relate to the overall situation at the start of the game. 1. Intro (0:00) 2. Development History(1:06) 3. Background On Ivalice, Its Kings, And Its Wars (1:05:02)

In the final episode of our deep-dive analysis of Mass Effect, we escape the Citadel with Captain Anderson's help, pursue Saren through the Mu relay, learn about the fate of the Protheans, and fight to the bitter end to stop Sovereign from reawakening the Reapers and destroying all organic life in the galaxy! 1. Final Fantasy Tactics Won The Vote! (0:00) 2. Grounded On The Citadel (3:24) 3. Ilos (10:09) 4. The Conduit and Saving The Citadel (37:10) 5. Discussion On The Ending (1:06:43) 6. Discussion On How Romance Was Handled (1:12:28) 7. Overall Feelings On ME1 (1:22:33) 8. Responding To Comments (1:28:21)