Retro Encounter(s) Archive

Retro Encounter 104 – Digital Devil Saga Part I

Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner was a PS2 Atlus experiment; two games made in the image of Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne, starring transforming cannibals in a post-apocalyptic landscape. Two Digital Devil Saga veterans and one newbie explore the bleak, brutal RPG with a critical eye. Is the cult cla… Read More »

Retro Encounter 103 – Quintet Encounter

Quintet! Whether it’s a hands-on deity rebuilding civilization, children exploring the different sides of the human condition, or rainbow robot rumbles, Quintet games always feel unique and interesting. Today Retro Encounter throws back to the 90s with an in-depth discussion of Quintet’s RPGs. Featu… Read More »

Retro Encounter 102 – Final Fantasy XII Part II

Three Retro Encounter panelists reconvene to discuss the second half of Final Fantasy XII, going deep into its ending and optional content. Hunts, espers, music, and romantic shipping each take center stage in today’s episode. Featuring: Caitlin Argyros, Robert Fenner, Peter Triezenberg Listen and s… Read More »

Retro Encounter 101 – Final Fantasy XII Part I

Retro Encounter returns to Dalmasca with Final Fantasy XII, the PlayStation 2 classic recently remastered for PlayStation 4. In this first episode our panelists talk classes, characters, and personal memories of Final Fantasy XII, especially the game’s excellent localization and Vaan’s impressive ab… Read More »

Retro Encounter 100

Retro Encounter’s first episode posted in May of 2015, and today in September of 2017 Retro Encounter hits triple digits. For its hundredth outing, six recurring Retro panelists play an elimination game to determine a future episode subject, and also wax nostalgic about Encounters past. The end resu… Read More »

Retro Encounter 99 – Favorite RPG Casts & Characters

Today is Casts & Characters day on RPGFan! To accompany the site featured articles, Retro Encounter has five of the feature writers present to talk about their favorite RPG ensembles. Final Fantasy VII’s Planeteers, Borderlands 2’s weirdo heroes, Persona 4’s Scooby gang, Koudelka’s bickering her… Read More »

Retro Encounter 98 – Ultimate Weapons

Ultimate weapons. When you find one in an RPG, it’s a symbol of accomplishment, a trophy representing high dedication and near-completion of its game. Sometimes they’re lying around in a late dungeon, but most of the time players jump through strange, specific hoops to obtain them. And four RPGFan p… Read More »

Retro Encounter 97 – Grim Fandango Part II

Grim Fandango continues to stun our panel with its original setting and sharp wit, and continues to frustrate that same panel with 1990s adventure game design. But what were the panel’s overall feelings? Does Manny manage to rescue Mercedes? How fast does Glottis go? These questions and more are ans… Read More »

Retro Encounter 96 – Viva Diablo!

Blizzard’s Diablo series is over twenty years old, and over three games and two official expansions it’s changed in leaps and bounds. Three of RPGFan’s premier Diablo fanboys examine the evolutionary arc of the series, from the plodding walking speed of the original 16-floor dungeon to the satisfyin… Read More »

Retro Encounter 95 – Grim Fandango Part I

Retro Encounter gets spooky in August with a playthrough of the classic 1998 LucasArts adventure game, Grim Fandango. Snappy dialog, obtuse puzzles, aggressive fiery beavers, and mysterious cat races all make an appearance in Grim Fandango’s first two days, as Manny Calavera seeks justice for himsel… Read More »

Retro Encounter 94 – Pokemon Green Shield Version

Several RPGFan staff are big fans of Pokemon, so of course they have strong feelings about the different generations of Pokemon games. In today’s episode, three panelists argue to determine the best overall Pokemon generation, with some discussion followed by a vote. Naturally, the arguments are ada… Read More »

Retro Encounter 93 – GameCube Encounter

The GameCube is not the first console many people think of when we think about RPGs. If it doesn’t come into your mind eventually, though, you’re doing something wrong. We look back at the best multiplayer RPGs and forgotten gems on the system, and of course, with it being Nintendo, we could not esc… Read More »

Retro Encounter 92 – EarthBound Part II

Four EarthBound panelists return to discuss Earthbound’s alternately charming, bizarre, disturbing, and satisfying finale, from deserts to swamps to prehistoric underworlds (?) and alien attacks from the distant past (???). It’s another hour of EarthBound banter from Retro Encounter! Featuring: Mich… Read More »

Retro Encounter 91 – Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair

Last year, four Retro Encounter panelists had a blast playing Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, a murder mystery novel rife with twists and turns. In 2017, three of those four panelists return for a special one-off episode on its sequel, Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair. There’s a lot to discuss about… Read More »

Retro Encounter 90 – EarthBound Part I

EarthBound is one of the oddest, most original Japanese RPGs on the Super Nintendo, and over the years it’s amassed a cult following dwarfing that of Happy-Happyism. In this week’s Retro Encounter, four panelists explore EarthBound’s first half, taking Giant Steps all the way to Summers in summer. F… Read More »

Retro Encounter 89 – Fresh Produce!

Produce! was a game developer operating from 1990 to around 2000, and their output in that era resulted in three strange, unique, and fascinating RPGs: The 7th Saga, Brain Lord, and Mystic Ark. For today’s Retro Encounter, one knowledgeable Produce! historian and one inquisitive 7th Saga fanboy disc… Read More »

Retro Encounter 88 – Dragon Quest V Part II

When we last visited Dragon Quest V in Retro Encounter, our hero was incapacitated in a stranger’s front lawn, but a chance meeting with his family has him return to action! Continue the Dragon Quest V’s hero’s journey as he rescues his wife, avenges his father, and raises his children while defeati… Read More »

Retro Encounter 87 – Xenoblade Chronicles

It’s no secret that we here at RPGFan love Xenoblade Chronicles. We wanted to do a full playthrough of the game for Retro Encounter, but (and this will surprise no one) it’s just too damn long. So instead, we gathered a panel of Xeno fans to chill and chat about all things Xenoblade. Join us as we d… Read More »

Retro Encounter 86 – Dragon Quest V Part I

The people have spoken! Earlier this year, readers and listeners voted for Retro Encounter to play Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride, and today Retro Encounter delivers! Our three panelists discuss the tragic life story of Dragon Quest V’s hero, the game’s motley menagerie of monsters, and… Read More »