RPGFan's Random Encounter RPGFan

On this week's Random Encounter, we're all in on Not-E3 2024!
For video game fans, this is one of the biggest weekends of the year, with nonstop announcements, trailers, and demos to fill your every waking hour! They've sure been filling ours, and that's why we've assembled an expert panel to break down the biggest RPG news from the shows for you. From Summer Game Fest to the Xbox Showcase, it's Not-E3 time!
Featuring: Jono Logan, Kyle Cantelon, Noah Leiter, and Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Jono Logan

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This Episode's Related Links:Demonschool Orientation Week: Demo PreviewMetaphor: ReFantazio Hands-On at Summer Game Fest

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're chatting about the early access release of one of the most anticipated games in recent memory: Hades II.
In October 2020, Supergiant Games' roguelike masterpiece Hades finally exited early access and entered the Steam and Epic libraries of countless gamers. And now, its direct sequel, Hades II, has entered early access. But this isn't a barebones experience. There is already more content in Hades II than in many completed games. Jerry and Tin have been fighting their way through the underworld and beyond to deliver their thoughts about this already incredible experience and where it might go in the future.
And then, it's Not-E3 preview time! The next episode of Random will be breaking down the biggest news from Summer Game Fest, various developer directs, and other presentations, but for now, enjoy our absolutely baseless predictions of what we might expect from video games' Christmas in June!
Featuring: Jono Logan, Jerry Williams, and Tin Manuel; Edited by Jono Logan
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This Episode's Related Links:Hades ReviewHades II Hands-On Preview

On this episode of Random Encounter, Jono invites two of the folks behind the recent indie game Lil' Guardsman onto the show to chat about its development.
Back in the early days of the pandemic, Toronto-based composer Scott Christian and his business partner Artiom Komarov made the remarkable decision to leave their successful careers and jump into the indie dev scene. Recruiting a small but passionate team of programmers, designers, and writers, they founded Hilltop Studios and successfully launched their first title, Lil' Guardsman, in January 2024. But it wasn't an easy road to get there!
As Jono happens to be very old friends with both Scott and Lil' Guardsman co-writer Jeremy Lapalme, this seems like a perfect opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at the realities of indie game dev. What's it like to build an indie studio and develop your dream game from scratch? And is that dream within reach of anyone? Let's talk about what it's like being an indie developer in 2024!
Featuring: Jono Logan, Scott Christian, and Jeremy Lapalme; Edited by Jono Logan
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This Episode's Related Links:Lil' Guardsman ReviewHilltop Studios HomepageLil' Guardsman Steam Page

On this episode of Random Encounter, Zach joins the party to chat about the recent spiritual successor to the Suikoden series, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, and the new DLC for Final Fantasy XVI, The Rising Tide.
Hundred Heroes has been one of our most anticipated JRPGs since its Kickstarter back in 2020. Led by Suikoden creator Yoshitaka Murayama, Hundred Heroes promised a return to the style of PSX Suikoden games (especially Suikoden II) with gorgeous 2D graphics and an epic narrative focused on war-torn countries, base-building, and character recruitment. Zach is one of the biggest Suikoden fans out there, so we can't wait to find out if he enjoyed the game as much as he hoped! 
Then, Zach also shares his thoughts on The Rising Tide, the DLC of one of his favorite games of the last few years, Final Fantasy XVI. As the last piece of DLC coming out for XVI, does it put a bow on the top of this much-loved entry of the series?
Oh, and Jono is grouchy about Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.
Featuring: Jono Logan and Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Jono Logan
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This Episode's Related Links:Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes ReviewEiyuden Chronicle: Rising ReviewFinal Fantasy XVI ReviewFinal Fantasy XVI: Echoes of the Fallen ReviewFinal Fantasy VII Remake ReviewFinal Fantasy VII Rebirth Review

On this episode of Random Encounter, ex-host Random Greg Delmage returns to share his film expertise while chatting about the new Fallout TV show!
Video game adaptations are hot right now, and Amazon has just dropped what might be the best one yet: Fallout! Based on the long-running RPG series, Fallout, the show is an exploration of the far future after a nuclear war in the 21st century destroyed all of civilization. With a pitch-perfect mix of dark humor, brutal violence, and a retro-50s future aesthetic, Fallout translates everything we love about the games into a brand-new, in-continuity story set in the LA Wasteland.
Jono reviewed the entire series for the site last week (spoiler: he loved it), and he's excited to be reunited with Greg to chat about why this series should be of interest to all of the RPG fans out there!
Featuring: Jono Logan and Greg Delmage; Edited by Jono Logan
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This Episode's Related Links:Fallout Season One ReviewRetro Encounter 412 – Fallout EncounterFallout ReviewFallout 2 ReviewFallout 3 ReviewFallout: New Vegas ReviewFallout 4 ReviewFallout 76 Review

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're looking at a game-of-the-year contender and the latest from one of the industry's most visionary indie devs. 

First up, Izzy is here to chat about Dragon's Dogma 2. The sequel to Capcom's cult-classic Dragon's Dogma, DD2 is the true realization of many of the ahead-of-their-time gameplay mechanics of its predecessor. However, this positive fanfare has recently been overshadowed by the controversy of predatory microtransactions included in this full-price game. Do these money-grubbing measures really impact players' overall enjoyment of the title?

Then, Tim is here to chat about Lucas Pope's latest game, Mars After Midnight. Known for his indie classics Papers, Please and Return of the Obra Dinn, Pope has moved from consoles and PC over to the crank-enhanced handheld known as the Playdate. Does the tiny screen and simplified gameplay hurt MaM, or do the limitations inspire brilliance?

Featuring: Jono Logan, Izzy Parsons, and Tim Rattray; Edited by Jono Logan
Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomInstagram: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom
This Episode's Related Links:Dragon's Dogma 2 ReviewDragon's Dogma ReviewDragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen ReviewMars After Midnight ReviewReturn of the Obra Dinn Review