Rpg Fan's Random Encounter

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're looking at a new classic puzzle-adventure game and a packaged duo of some of the best RPGs ever released on the PSX!First, Gio and Tin are here to give us a walk-through tour of Blue Prince, the hit rogue-lite puzzle adventurer. This game came out of nowhere for a lot of folks, trapping them inside the shifting rooms of this puzzling mansion. Does it live up to its inspirations like Outer Wilds and Riven?And then, Zach is here to chat about a series very near and dear to us here at RPGFan: Lunar! The Lunar Remastered Collection is finally out, packaging Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete and Lunar: Eternal Blue Complete in one package! Zach has played through both games many times, but did the new quality-of-life features enhance his experience?Featuring: Jono Logan, Gio Castillo, Tin Manuel, and Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Jono LoganGet in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads:

On this episode of Random Encounter, we chat about everything that happened last week and, BOY, did a lot happen last week!First up, Dom is here to talk about the recent sci-fi Souls-like AI LIMIT. Does it live up to its inspirations, or does it fall just as flat as AI does in the real world?Then, Zach joins the panel to chat about the Switch 2 Direct! In many ways, the full reveal was everything we hoped for, but there could be some warning signs for this new console as we move further into 2025. Tariffs, presales, and bear (markets), oh my.Featuring: Jono Logan, Dom Kim, Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Jono LoganGet in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancomThis Episode's Related Links:AI LIMIT ReviewNintendo Switch 2 Direct RPG RundownDeltarune Chapters 1-4 Will Launch on June 5th [UPDATE]Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Releases This Winter on Switch 2Bravely Default: Fl

On this episode of Random Encounter, it's time to sink into the shadows and brew some tea, because we're talking about Assassin's Creed Shadows and Wanderstop!Assassin's Creed Shadows is finally here! This long-awaited game has been delayed multiple times over the last year, but was that extra time well spent? Tom is here to tell us his thoughts about the latest entry in the long-running series!Tom also recently played the latest game from The Stanley Parable's Davey Wreden, Wanderstop. What appears to be a simple cozy game on the surface is actually a deep and thoughtful meditation on how to recover from burnout (something I think many of us can relate to, given the last few years). Will it appeal to both fans of the genre and those who are looking for a more narrative-based experience?And finally, Jono gets to chat about an amazing new visual novel from the geniuses at inkle, Expelled! An Overboard! Game. This follow-up to 2021's Overboard! might be the perfect sequel, delivering everything that made the or

On this episode of Random Encounter, it's time to chat about a remaster and a new game in two long-running series!First up, Zach's prayers have been answered: Suikoden I&II HD Remaster: Gate Rune & Dunan Unification Wars is finally out! This remaster of the first two Suikoden games has been highly anticipated for years by fans of the series, but does it live up to their hopes?Then, Zek chats about the excellent (though slightly light on content) new entry in the Monster Hunter franchise: Monster Hunter: Wilds. The series has become more and more popular in the West with every entry. Will this new game make a similar impression on the fanbase?Finally, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a game that came out of nowhere in 2024, is nearing release in April. Zek played through the demo, and it sounds like it might just live up to, or even exceed, RPG fans' expectations!Featuring: Jono Logan, Zek Lu, and Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Jono LoganGet in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rp

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're talking about two of the most highly anticipated games of 2025!We've been eagerly awaiting Obsidian's answer to Skyrim for years, and Avowed is finally here. A spin-off of the beloved CRPG Pillars of Eternity series, Avowed replaces the isometric view and strategic "real-time-with-pause" combat with an FPS perspective. Jerry is a massive Pillars fan, so does he think Avowed does Skyrim better than Skyrim?Then, Jono is here to chat about the latest Like a Dragon game, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. For the first time since the Yakuza Kiwami 2 DLC, we get to play as the Mad Dog of Shimano himself, Goro Majima. Or should we say Sea Dog, as Majima has taken up a new profession as a pirate captain. Pirate Yakuza looks wild, but does it deliver all the high-seas hijinks it promises?Featuring: Jono Logan and Jerry Williams; Edited by Jono LoganGet in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rp

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're celebrating all things Canadian!For absolutely no reason (certainly not related to any current events in February 2024), Jono has gathered a few of his fellow Canucks at RPGFan to chat about some of their favourite Canadian games. The thing about games from up north is, much like Canadians themselves, you might not realize they are Canadian at first glance. But don't worry because our panel is here to let you in on our maple-scented secrets.Steph is ready to virtually chat about 1000xResist, a 2024 GOTY contender from Vancouver-based developer Sunset Visitor. Matt is sailing the dead seas with Spiritfarer from Montreal-based developer Thunder Lotus Games. Jono is solving the mystery of The Crimson Diamond, created by Toronto-based solo dev Julia Minamata. And Aleks is storming the cottage of Toronto-based developer Black Tabby Games to Slay the Princess! And that's just the beginning!Featuring: Jono Logan, Aleks Franiczek, Matt Wardell, and Stephanie Sybydlo; Edited

On this episode of Random Encounter, it’s a double dose of sci-fi and fantasy!First, Aleks joins us to talk about Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, a sci-fi RPG with a strong tabletop influence. As a sequel to 2022’s Citizen Sleeper, Starward Vector expands its universe with multiple settings and companions. If you love tabletop RPGs, then this could be the sleeper hit of 2025!Next, Paul dives into Tales of Graces f Remastered, experiencing a classic Tales game for the first time. Bandai Namco has been on a roll with Tales re-releases, and this remaster brings Tales of Graces, originally a 2009 Japan-only Wii game (and later a 2012 English PS3 release), back with updated visuals and quality-of-life improvements. With one of the best combat systems in the series, is it worth revisiting?And finally, the panel discusses Sony’s failed foray into live-service gaming. With major cancellations making headlines, what went wrong (I'll give you a hint: The answer rhymes with Portnite)?Featuring: Jono Logan, Aleks Fra

On this episode of Random Encounter, Jono is back to chat with the panel about two recent big January releases!First up, Wes has managed to fight through hundreds upon hundreds of foes to deliver their verdict on Dynasty Warriors: Origins! This latest entry in the long-running series dramatically cuts back on playable characters and weapons to provide a much more streamlined action-RPG experience. But did Origins manage to land a successful combo on Wes?Next, Abe shares his thoughts on Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana. This remaster of 2005’s PSP title Ys: The Oath in Felghana, itself a remake of 1989’s Famicom classic Ys III: Wanderers from Ys, brings the series back into the spotlight. Does it feel like a relic of the past, or does it shine as brightly as it did in the PSP’s glory days?Finally, the entire panel weighs in on the Switch 2 announcement trailer and shares their hopes for Nintendo’s new console in 2025!Featuring: Jono Logan, Abraham Kobylanski, and Wes Iliff; Edited by Jono LoganGet in Touch:RPG

On this first episode of Random Encounter for 2025, Jono is missing, and it's up to the panel to find him!Just kidding; we aren't a semi-educational game from the 1990s. Jono has bronchitis this week, so it's up to the brand-new full-time host of Retro Encounter, Zach Wilkerson, to fill in for him!Joining Zach is Neal, who is chatting about the recent remake of one of the first RPG indie hits ever: Breath of Death VII: The Beginning: Reanimated. Released on Xbox Live Arcade back in 2011, Zeboyd Games' original Breath of Death VII delivered a fun, retro-style JRPG with nostalgic 8-bit graphics. This remake updates the visuals to stunning 16-bit while also delivering a brand-new soundtrack from HyperDuck SoundWorks! Does this remake live up to the original?Audra is also joining the panel to chat about the Ace Attorney-inspired adventure Paper Perjury. With delightfully pixelated graphics and compelling mysteries galore, did Paper Perjury have Audra standing up, pointing her finger, and screaming "Objection?"Fea

In our final Random Encounter of 2024, we’re diving into the games we’re most excited to play in 2025!Every December, RPGFan unveils one of our biggest features: a list of the most anticipated games for the year ahead. What better way to close out 2024 than by joining our panel on Random Encounter to celebrate the titles we’re excited for as we count down to the new year?From Avowed to the Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, it's time to spread the spirit of the season by sharing our excitement for what 2025 has in store!Featuring: Jono Logan, Aleks Franiczek, Kyle Cantelon, Wes Iliff, and Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Jono LoganGet in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancomThis Episode's Related Links:RPGFan’s 30 Most Anticipated Games of 2025

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're chatting about gaming's biggest night: The Game Awards 2024!After a few rocky years, The Game Awards have finally hit their stride for their 10th anniversary. There were some astonishing reveals, wonderful tributes, and a surprising amount of empathy for those struggling in today's gaming industry. With announcements ranging from the epic (The Witcher IV) to the epically unexpected (Elden Ring Nightreign) this show had it all. All in all, it was a pretty fun three-plus hours!With so much to talk about, we've assembled a panel ready to dive into the details of the show and chat about all the games that have us excited for 2025 and beyond!Featuring: Jono Logan, Claton Stevenson, Gio Castillo, and Tin Manuel; Edited by Jono LoganGet in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancomThis Episode's Related Links:Ōkami Sequel Revealed; Hideki Kamiya to Reprise Director Ro

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're chatting about previews of two games we're excited for in 2025!First up is a hands-on preview of Obsidian's newest first-person RPG, Avowed. A spin-off from the beloved Pillars of Eternity series, Avowed is being presented as Obsidian's answer to Skyrim. That said, it has an identity all its own, avoiding the full-on open world for a series of expansive zones, similar to their previous RPG, The Outer Worlds. Mark got a chance to play through some of the early game, and he is excited to share his impressions!Next, we sent Zek all the way down to LA for a hands-on preview of Path of Exile 2, the sequel to the long-running, free-to-play action RPG, Path of Exile. What started as a Diablo-clone has evolved into a game with a massive community of fans who support the game through cosmetics and other ethical in-app purchases. Does this sequel live up to the standard set by the original, or did they literally sell out? Zek thinks it's the latter, and we hope so too!Featurin

On this episode of Random Encounter, we are chatting about a long-awaited remake and an unexpected spin-off!First, Zach is here to share his experience with the Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. This ground-up remake of the beloved Famicom/NES JRPG has been a long time coming, first announced in 2021. With updated graphics, mechanics, storyline, and scope, this second coming of DQIII (or given prior remakes, third coming? Maybe fourth? No, fifth!) might be the perfect jumping-on point for folks interested in the iconic, long-running series!Then, Caitlin joins us to discuss one of the most unexpected spin-offs in years: LEGO Horizon Adventures. Essentially a lighthearted remake of the first game in the Horizon series, Horizon Zero Dawn, LEGO Horizon takes everything we love about this beautiful post-apocalyptic world and translates it into LEGO. That means stunning Lego recreations of many machine beasts, including Watchers, Thunderjaws, and Tallnecks! Does this LEGO spin-off capture what makes the Horizon series

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 share all of her thoughts on how Dragon Age has evolved since Dragon Age: Inquisition back in 2014!And then Ben is here to torture Jono by chatting about Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven! A remake of Super Famicom's Romancing Saga 2 from back in 1993, Revenge of the Seven lovingly reimagines the epic storyline set over hundreds of years and dozens of generations of heroes. Don't let Jono's grumbling about the series put you off because this might be a dark horse favorite for GOTY!Featuring: Jono Logan, Audra Bowling, and Ben Love; Edited by Jono LoganGet in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rp

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: close character relationships, incredible world-building, and jaw-dropping UI. It's absolutely in the running for GOTY 2024!But another contender for GOTY is the brand-new entry in the Zelda series, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, and Paul and Mike are here to talk about it! While it may look like a retro-inspired 2D Zelda game on the surface, this title brings a shockingly novel innovation to the series: Zelda as a playable character. Imagine!Featuring: Jono Logan, Mike Salbato, Paul Skevington, Zach Wilkerson, and Zek Lu; Edited by Jono LoganGet in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfan

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 will have gone the extra mile to add quality-of-life features, remastered graphics and sound, and lots of additional bells and whistles!So, Zach is here to discuss the Castlevania Dominus Collection, a compilation of all three DS-era Castlevania games (Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin, and Order of Ecclesia). These, along with the titles in the Castlevania Advance Collection, were the games that cemented the portmanteau "Metroidvania," so they are well worth a second (or maybe even first) look.Then, Jono gets to chat about one of his favorite series with the release of the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection. Combining Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth

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 Localization is a book series written by professional video game and anime translator Clyde Mandelin. In his latest volume, Legends of Localization Book 3: Undertale, Mandelin walks us through the incredible process of taking Undertale, a Western love letter to JRPGs, and localizing it for Japanese audiences. The book is absolutely loaded with amazing insights, entertaining anecdotes, and fascinating tidbits about the monumental effort it takes to translate and localize this uniquely quirky game. Join Jono and Hilary as they take a deep dive into this fascinating tome! Featuring: Jono Logan and Hilary Andreff; Edited by Jono LoganGet in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmai

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 the heights of the series' golden age on the SNES?Then, Jerry reviews what's been described as the first AAA video game ever developed in China, Black Myth: Wukong. Does this stunning Souls-like portend the rise of the AAA Chinese gaming industry, or is it a missed opportunity in the politics of soft power (See, jokes about politics! Whee!)?Featuring: Jono Logan, Izzy Parsons, and Jerry Williams; Edited by Jono LoganGet in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancomThis Episode's Related Links:Visions of Mana ReviewCollection of Mana ReviewTrials of Mana ReviewBl

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-and-click up to speed? Or is it left as roadkill on the highway of history? Then, Hilary chats about the recent demo of the eagerly awaited revival of the Mana series: Visions of Mana. Coming out on August 29th, does this demo deliver that classic Mana taste?    Finally, Abe teams up with the turtles-in-a-half-shell to rescue Master Splinter in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Spintered Fate. Rather than the tried-and-true, beat-em-up genre, Splintered Fate pulls its inspiration from Hades. And boy, it pulls a LOT of inspiration! Is this Hades-like worth playing, or is it better left in the sewers? Featuring: Jono Logan, Hilary Andreff, and Abraham Kobylanski; Edited

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-scrolling, turn-based spin on XCOM-style gameplay with a healthy dose of adorable steam-powered robots. Does it live up to the first game and the rest of the series?  Then, did the hit Amazon series leave you craving a new Fallout game? Well, as usual, the modders are doing what Bethesdon't with the astonishing full Fallout 4 conversion mod, Fallout London. This mod completely recreates London, England and its boroughs, giving the famous city a post-nuclear apocalypse vibe. Yes, it was made by fans, but can it deliver a New Vegas-style experience to Fallout 4?Featuring: Jono Logan and Ben Love; Edited by Jono LoganGet in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.c