Are you ready for some Sploosh Kaboom!? Retro Encounter begins a month of Zelda celebration for a Nintendo November to remember! Five panelists draft parties of their favorite Zelda characters, items, abilities, and locations in a snake draft format, all while trying to snag their favorites before others can snipe them off the board. So what's the …

It's been awhile since our last instrument spotlight, so in this episode, we're sharing some favorite RPG songs featuring woodwinds, like flutes, ocarinas, and more! Whether it's the incredibly moving sounds of Xenoblade Chronicles 3, the adventurous Dark Cloud 2, or Final Fantasy III's Maiden of Water, we have a lot to cover, so join us on this lo…

On this episode of Random Encounter, we have another two GOTY contenders for you! First up is Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the first new Dragon Age in a decade ! After BioWare's last two flops, they desperately needed a win, and it certainly sounds like they got one with this new installment of the long-running and beloved series! Audra is here to sh…

Sa mga kilala ko, I can confidently say Nintendo ang gateway namin sa video games. Super Mario 3, Ice Climber, Battle City, at marami pang iba. Hindi siguro ako gamer at podcaster ngayon kung hindi dahil sa Nintendo games.In this episode, nagkwentuhan kami nila Bonbon at Dre tungkol sa history namin sa Nintendo. Bakit binibili pa rin ng tao 'yung g…

Aren't you scared? Well that's just fine. Here at RPGFan, we don't cover dedicated horror games often (other than the odd Until Dawn or The Quarry), but we still love the excitement of being scared! To celebrate All Hallows' Eve this year, a Retro Encounter panel highlights a few of the scariest moments from RPGs. From Dark Souls monstrosities to S…

Dahil sa success ng Metaphor: ReFantazio, ito na ba ang bagong flagship ng Atlus over Persona? Captured ba whole gaming experience kung ini-speedrun mo 'yung game sa 1st playthrough? Also, may sense pa ba mag post ng gaming achievements kung wala namang taga-"Nice one, baby"? In this episode, nagbabalik si Daddy Grim at si MasterRCB na inspired raw…

I learned to live half alive / Now you want me one more time Retro Encounter's host demonstrates contrition in today's episode, admitting on-air that there's at least one good Kingdom Hearts game out there. The panelists also discuss their favorite boss fights, Disney worlds, and character struggles of Kingdom Hearts, which might differ if you're p…

Somehow it's been four years since Rhythm Encounter's last Halloween episode, back in 2020's episode 56. Well, it's time we rectified that. A sequel to that episode and a spiritual successor to our previous episode about the works of Michiru Yamane, our panel dug into our gaming experiences to find music for the most spooky time of year. You'll fin…

May PoC na character? Woke 'yan! Hindi textbook pretty 'yung babaeng/lalakeng protagonist? Woke 'yan! May LGBTQ+ na character? Woke 'yan! May pronouns? Woke 'yan! Hindi ko na alam. Ano na ba ang ibig sabihin ng woke in video games? In this episode, nagkwentuhan kami nila Bonbon and Dre tungkol sa woke and DEI in video games. Totoo bang go woke go b…

In the night I hear 'em talk / The coldest story ever told Kingdom Hearts II, one of the most celebrated sequels in the Square Enix catalog, finally gets an episode (the first of two!) on Retro Encounter. Within, we discuss the game's dynamic combat, the earnestly made Disney worlds, and plenty about Kingdom Hearts II's mysterious black robed mostl…

On this episode of Random Encounter, two first-timers are joining us to chat about two of the year's biggest games! First up, Zek is joined by Zach to rave about Atlus' latest RPG, Metaphor: ReFantazio. Known for the Shin Megami Tensei and Persona series, Metaphor offers a brand-new world full of all the things you love about previous Atlus games: …

The Leifthrasir Hand of Darkness When Ogre Battle retreats to the shadows, who keeps the beacons lit? When Princess Crown fails to draw an audience, who picks up the bag and keeps marching? When Japan shows a lack of interest in Starcraft, who ties the series to a tower defense game and a visual novel and waves that enticingly over the crowds? Of c…

We are at the beginning of "spooky season," and while this isn't (yet) our Halloween episode, October is a fine time to shine a spotlight on composer Michiru Yamane, known in our parts for her excellent work on the Castlevania and Suikoden series. That means some games you may expect, but definitely some you wouldn't, from this talented composer. S…

Astro Bot reminded me of the main reason why I play video games - to have fun. Buong playthrough ko, bawat levels, bawat gimmicks, bawat cameos, nahuhuli ko 'yung sarili kong nakangiti at nakatulala sa TV. Ang sarap maging bata ulit!In this episode, sinamahan ako ng fan favorite na si Sky para magkwentuhan tungkol sa Astro Bot. Bakit walang FF char…

And amidst deepest despair, Retro Encounter everlasting. In honor of the recent release of Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, we decided to get a few of our biggest XIV fans together to discuss the previous expansion, Endwalker. As the end of the Hydaelyn/Zodiark arc that dominated the first decade or so of Final Fantasy XIV, there is certainly a lot to…

Reveal ng Ghost of Yotei and its female protagonist. Buhay na naman ang internet sa kanya-kanyang diskurso tungkol sa female lead at voice actor nito. Thoughts?In this episode, nagkwentuhan kami nila Bonbon at Dre tungkol sa mga games sa State of Play. Mga games na excited kami at mga games na not our jam.Also, it's happening. LUNAR REMASTERED COLL…

On this episode of Random Encounter, it's time to chat about some recent game compilations! Game compilations are not only a fantastic way to re-experience older games, but they also offer excellent value for your money! Even if the games are a little old, you're still getting multiple games for the price of one. And if you're lucky, the developer …

New chapter ng TGS! I'm thrilled and excited beyond words to announce na moving forward, tatlo na kaming hosts ng podcast. Ako na PlayStation ang main platform, si Bonbon na #PCMasterRace, at si Dre na platform agnostic. Itong combo at differences naming tatlo, for sure magbibgay ng new flavor sa show at mas malawak na range ng mga topics na pweden…

What possible harm could an insane, mutant tentacle do? Day of the Tentacle was a tentpole release in LucasArts's excellent run of classic adventure games from the late 1980s through the late 1990s, and its very specific dialog, puzzle logic, and sense of humor made it a cult classic. But how do two Day of the Tentacle longtime fans and one relativ…

There are countless reasons we play and love RPGs, and often those that become our favorites have powerful stories and characters. But pitting your party against often overwhelming odds requires inspirational music for the optimal effect. In this episode we share both music and RPGs that have inspired US in turn, whether it's through bombastic batt…

Kung mahal rin ang Switch 2 with minimal improvements, bibilhin mo pa rin ba? Thoughts sa easy mode/beginner mode sa games? Considered cheating ba kapag gumagamit ng guide/walkthrough sa games?In this episode, kasama ko pa rin sila MasterRCB at Duckbird para pagkwentuhan 'yung mga games na nalaro at natapos namin. Last 2 months na lang 'tong projec…

One more thing, there are a couple of loose ends I'd like to tie up. Nothing important, you understand. The Case of the Golden Idol made a splash in 2022, with its compelling murder mysteries, political intrigue, and puzzle adventure gameplay. It also has a decidedly retro look to it, so naturally a few of us wanted to play it. Today, three Retro E…

Upgraded GPU, Advanced Ray Tracing, and AI-Driven Upscaling sa halagang $699. Overpriced ba or tama lang? Mas okay bang mag build na lang ng PC kesa gumastos sa PS5 Pro? Dahil hindi kami techie ni Norvin at marami kaming tanong, I invited our go-to tech guy na si Bri (Cheap Takes) para pagusapan ang PS5 Pro. Pre-order day 1 or pass? *** You can fol…

On this episode of Random Encounter, Jono and Hilary geek out over a fantastic book focusing on the localization of beloved indie RPG, Undertale. Video game localizations have come a long way since the days of spoony bards. When we usually think about game localization, we think Japanese to English. But what about the other way around? Legends of L…

We didn't start the fire Firewatch is the only release of indie game studio Campo Santo, but made quite an impact when it came out in 2016. Four Retro Encounter panelists played Firewatch recently, and today discuss everything from Firewatch's quotidian gameplay, clever use of anticlimax, and fabulous dialog both in writing and performance. So did …

Mahigit isang buwan na, I announced that I'm looking for a co-host. Isa si TRESE sa sumagot ng form at nagpakita ng interest na maging part ng TGS. So invited him for a podcast episode to test our on-air chemistry. Walang specific topic. Random kwentuhan lang about games and life in general. :D*** You can follow PlayStation Pilipinas at:FB: https:/…

With fall (or autumn, if you prefer) around the corner for many of us, it feels like a good time for relaxing music. While we did a pair of episodes focused on relaxing RPG music about four years ago (see Episode 54 and Episode 55), this time, RPGFan's biggest lo-fi fans got together to listen and chat about lo-fi RPG music. Sometimes these are str…

The Dark Souls of Retro Encounter fantasy drafts FromSoftware has produced an excellent run of fantasy RPGs since 2009's Demon's Souls, to which point its extended family of action RPGs comprises a genre all its own. And of course, if you can organize RPGs into a series, then Retro Encounter will attempt to draft them in time for American football …

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're talking politics! Well, no, not really, but there are some jokes about politics in here... First up, Izzy has played the first new Mana game since 2020's Trials of Mana remake, Visions of Mana! With spiky hair, lush landscapes, and real-time RPG action, it's undeniably a Mana game, but does it live up to t…

Mahigit isang buwan na, I announced that I'm looking for a co-host. Isa si GG Fist Bump (Zach Darvin) sa sumagot ng form at nagpakita ng interest na maging part ng TGS. So invited him for a podcast episode to test our on-air chemistry. Walang specific topic. Random kwentuhan lang about games and life in general. :D*** You can follow PlayStation Pil…

Trespassers will be contemplated Retro Encounter concludes its eight-month-long playthrough of the Dragon Age trilogy, with a discussion of what's wrong with the Grey Wardens, what's worse in the Winter Palace, and much more. Dragon Age: Inquisition was a phenomenon in 2014, and the panel is excited to get to its long-awaited sequel in 2024. It's b…

So many of our beloved RPG soundtracks are filled with great music, and often have songs named in the same dramatic flair as the games and their narratives. And then sometimes, we find great tracks in our RPGs with names like "No No I don't die Noooo!" or "Rouen 'But-dad-dead-bed'," and those are the songs we are showcasing in this episode. It's al…

Tatlong buwan na lang finale na ng Project Ubos Backlogs 2024. Kaso prang mabagal pa rin ang usad. Tsk Anyway, kasama ko pa rin sila Grim, Master RCB, at Duckbird. Nagkwentuhan kami tungkol sa video game IPs na okay gawan ng ibang form of media dahil sa napaka-rich na lore. Kwentuhan rin tungkol sa mga boring na intro, struggles sa pagubos ng backl…

An Inquisition that everyone saw coming. Retro Encounter played the first two Dragon Age games in the last nine months, so naturally there would come the time to finish the fight. Dragon Age: Inquisition escalates and expands the conflicts and concepts of the first two Dragon Age games, from the Mage-Templar war to the plight of Dalish Elves, in a …

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're chatting about some of video game history's most prolific anthropomorphic animal crimefighters! First up, Jono binge-plays the brand-new remaster of the third season of Telltale Games' Sam & Max series: The Devil's Playhouse. Lovingly remastered by Skunkape Games, does this remaster bring the 2010 point-an…

Kay Norvin na punong abala sa episode na 'to. Sa mga tumulong sa kanya. Sa mga sumagot ng form. Sa mga nanood ng live. Sa mga naging co-host ko. Sa mga naging guest ko. Sa mga Patreon subscribers. Sa community na nabuo natin. Sa mga nakinig simula episode 1 hanggang ngayong episode 200 at sa mga susunod pa. MARAMING MARAMINNG SALAMAT! <3 Thank you …

This episode free with the Podcast of the Year edition Downloadable content used to be a video game luxury, but in 2024 it's an inevitability. But while day-one patches, frivolous additions, and pay-to-win models are frustrating or bad, sometimes an RPG's extra content is worth your time and hard drive space. In today's episode of Retro Encounter, …

Hindi ko dapat balak bilhin 'to pero nung nalaman ko 'yung bankruptcy news ng Vanillaware, ito siguro 'yung perfect time para i-apply 'yung lagi kong china-champion sa podcast... "VOTE WITH YOUR WALLET!". And I'm happy to report that this game delivered. In this episode, sinamahan ako ng aking former co-host na si Dell at singer/composer na si Lanc…

Part two of our handheld RPG music celebration continues — and concludes — today! Last time, we brought you some of our favorite tracks from Nintendo DS RPGs, and this time we talk about the DS' competition, the Sony PSP. The PSP was a haven for RPGs, especially considering its support of playing PSOne/PSN titles. From a surprise track by Nobuo Uem…

A, B, C, D, FF3 / Feels like a mid-rank to me Very few podcast, article, or video topics on the internet get folks more enthusiastic or more up in arms than tiers, lists, or a combination thereof. On today's emotional episode of Retro Encounter, four panelists play a fantasy-draft style game to place the main-series Final Fantasy games (plus FF Tac…

On this episode of Random Encounter, we’re chatting about heisting steam-powered robots and the foggiest post-apocalyptic city you've ever seen. First up, Ben embraces his inner robot pirate with the sequel to 2015's TRPG, Steamworld Heist, Steamworld Heist II. The latest entry in the multi-genre Steamworld series, Heist II delivers a side-scrollin…

Several weeks ago, I announced that I'm looking for a co-host. Isa si Chino ng G3 sa sumagot ng form at nagpakita ng interest na maging part ng TGS. So invited him for a podcast episode to test our on-air chemistry. Walang specific topic. Random kwentuhan lang about games and life in general. :D*** You can follow PlayStation Pilipinas at:FB: https:…

Despite everything, it's still Retro Encounter. Over six years ago, we got together to chat about the instant indie class, Undertale. But, Undertale's staying power is so strong that we decided to get together and chat about it again, this time with an all new panel. Is Papyrus still delightful every time he comes on screen? Did any of us have the …

It's a handheld celebration! We had so much fun with our Game Boy Advance music episode last fall, we're back for two more handheld episodes, starting with the Nintendo DS! Nintendo's little experimental handheld made waves upon its announcement, and once the dust settled on many gimmicky titles, some great games made their way into our hearts. And…

Several weeks ago, I announced that I'm looking for a co-host. Isa si JM Cruz ng Zero Hour Discussions sa sumagot ng form at nagpakita ng interest na maging part ng TGS. So invited him for a podcast episode to test our on-air chemistry. Walang specific topic. Random kwentuhan lang about games and life in general. :D*** You can follow PlayStation Pi…

What is bravery without a dash of recklessness? Five Retro Encounter panelists recently finished the first Dark Souls, and it's every bit as impressive, intense, and moving today as it was in 2011. Today the panel talks about the game's undercooked second-half environments, the fully-realized DLC episode, and the emotional turmoil upon discovering …

On this episode of Random Encounter, we’re diving into a magical alpine journey and revisiting a classic RPG. First up, Abe joins us to discuss Dungeons of Hinterberg. This action RPG with Zelda and Persona-like elements is set in a beautiful Austrian resort town, combining combat, puzzles, and social interactions. How do these elements come togeth…

Ano ba ang sexual orientation ni Kanji ng Persona 4? Gaano kahirap maging Master Rank sa League of Legends? Anong meron sa Stardew Valley at ang laking tulong nito sa mental health ng tao? Kapag ba pinanood mo lang 'yung playthrough ng isang game sa YT imbes na bilhin, maituturing pa rin ba 'yon na suporta sa devs? Also, sobrang ganda raw ng Until …

Let's praise the sun! Doo-doo-doo-doo The Dark Souls of RPGFan podcasts has finally arrived! Dark Souls is one of the most celebrated RPGs of the 2010s, helping to establish an entire new genre of RPG. Today, one Dark Souls newcomer and four Souls-like veterans discuss this challenging, carefully-crafted RPG, from its interconnected setting to the …

The indie RPG scene is ever expanding, and while indie RPG music makes its way into many a Rhythm Encounter episode, we wanted to make an episode just about celebrating the music from indie devs. We enjoyed it so much, we may even make this a regularly recurring topic! But, for now, come journey through a wide variety of music from some of our favo…