RPGFan's Retro Encounter

Aurora borealis? At this time of day? Localized entirely in the Freil Empire? Yes! But all our panelists had to wait until the World of Evil near the end of the game to see it.  And in many ways, it is a riveting, yet quickly escalating conclusion as we make our way through the second half of this older Quintet GEM. Listen on to hear us wax poetical about the fleeting nature of existence when we visit the Mountain of Souls, ponder Dr. Leo's motives and...whatever's going on in his lab, and finally uncover the truth about King Magridd (jury's out on whether he's actually a good king). Oh, and then there's settling the score with Deathtoll and finding out what happens when your divinely mandated objectives are met but you still rather like humanity.  Featuring: Hilary Andreff, Greg Delmage, Kyle Seeley, Mike SalbatoGet in Touch:Email us: retro@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomRelated Links:RPGFan.comRPGFan: Soul Blazer ReviewRetro Encounter Episode 5-1: Terranigma Part IRetro Encounter Episode 5-2: Terranigma Part IIRetro Encounter Episode 5-3: Terranigma Part III

The group hunts out monster lairs around the globe to some amazing slap-bass tunes as they discuss the very well-received early Quintet RPG Soul Blazer...and discover the importance of waiting at the title screen for game intros on some of those old titles. This segment of our divinely inspired adventure covers up through St. Elles (the third area of the world), but it still includes a range of unique creatures, such as talking elevators and rafts, goats musing on the nature of reincarnation, and a rather inept mill owner. Does Blazer's journey through the empire hold up? How does one blaze a soul? Or is it BLADE a soul? Find out this and more, and don't forget to tune in for Part 2 as well, because you know you want to see what happens when you reverse a bargain with Deathtoll.Featuring: Hilary Andreff, Greg Delmage, Mike Salbato, Kyle Seeley

Retro Encounter is a little more serious than usual this week, as five panelists discuss video games as escapism, video game characters with whom we identify, and specific emotional attachments to video games, in the context of mental health and self-care. It's an episode full of personal stories and serious topics, and about how video games can be rewarding in ways other than simple fun. Featuring: Hilary Andreff, Lucy Gray, Alana Hagues, Jo Padilla, Zach Wilkerson

Retro Encounter wraps on Tokyo Mirage Sessions FE with a discussion on the game's second half, including standoffish new co-workers, tokusatsu superheroes, and whatever the hell The Opera of Light is supposed to be.Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Nathan Lee

Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE sounds like a fever dream. Atlus makes another RPG about teens saving the world from extra-dimensional shadows by teaming up with spirits, except all of the shadows and spirits are Fire Emblem characters and all of the teens are pop stars? Two Retro Encounter panelists dissect and celebrate the Mad Libs weirdness of one of the Wii U's signature RPGs. Also that's a musical sharp sign and not a hashtag.Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Nathan Lee

The spice must flow! Retro Encounter once again muses on the hypothetical and the unlikely in our second Adaptations episode! What movies, books, and TV shows would Peter, Tina, and Audra like to see turned into video games, and how would we go about it? All I know is that I'm kicking myself for not mentioning Tron. Featuring: Peter Triezenberg, Audra Bowling, Tina Olah

Dragon Quest V is a video game near and dear to the hearts of many Dragon Quest fans, but how about its animated adaptation? Three Retro Encounter panelists tackle Dragon Quest: Your Story, a cartoon that makes some very strange decisions in retelling the story of Dragon Quest V. Sort of.Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Alana Hagues, Zach Wilkerson

NieR: Automata ramps up the drama in its second half, with 2B, 9S, A2, and other androids with alphanumeric designations exploring post-apocalyptic earth. Our panelists talk about the philosophy, fashion, hard decisions, and even the end credits of NieR: Automata, and how all of the above hurt their feelings.Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Caitlin Argyros, Jo Padilla, Zach Wilkerson

Retro Encounter discusses the 2017 RPG superhit NieR: Automata, in which the panelists discuss the philosophy, action, music, colors, and more of Yoko Taro's magnum opus. Nothing can stop us from getting to the end of A route, except for aggressive moose.Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Caitlin Argyros, Jo Padilla, Zach Wilkerson

Retro Encounter thought that a game of "Wed, Bed, Behead?" was too disturbring for a G-rated program, so we added an explicit tag and removed murder. Three RPGFan panelists put forth sets of hypothetical bachelors and bachelorettes and play a 1970s Dating Game remade for the 2000s.Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Stephanie Sybydlo, Peter Triezenberg