RPGFan's Retro Encounter

RPGFan
RPGFan
  • 4.6 (73)
  • Video Games
  • Updated Biweekly

Join the RPGFan crew as they play through and discuss classic RPGs and adventure games!

  1. 5d ago

    490 - The Legend of Zelda Tier List Part I

    Retro! Retro! Kooloo-Limpah! This week’s Retro Encounter marks the return of the tier list! This time around we’re ranking 20 entries in The Legend of Zelda franchise. What better way to celebrate 40 years of the beloved series than for our four panelists to upset each other with their differing takes? Apparently, opinions were so strong and thorough that we had to divide the lengthy recording into two episodes. What games did we prioritize for our first nine picks? What ranked higher: Zelda II: Adventure of Link or Tears of the Kingdom? The answer may or may not surprise you, and you'll have to listen in to find out! Featuring: Aleks Franiczek, Ben Love, Mike Salbato, Matt Wardell; Edited by Zach Wilkerson Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: retro@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

    490 - The Legend of Zelda Tier List Part I

  2. Jul 2

    489 - Xanadu Next Part II

    Three years hence the War of the Knights...The old ways rang of their death knell, a fresh wind began to blow. The path the one knight chose, he continued being a knight even after. This week on Retro Encounter, our panel returns to discuss the second half of Falcom's oft-forgotten dark fantasy action RPG Xanadu Next. We cover the game's creative boss fights, the emergence of Castle Strangerock from the depths of Lake Orwell, and wax poetically about the bittersweet ending sequence. Give it a listen and find out why Xanadu Next remains one of Falcom's all-time classic titles. Featuring: Aleks Franiczek, Ben Love, Audra Bowling; Edited by Zach Wilkerson Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: retro@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

    489 - Xanadu Next Part II

  3. Jun 18

    488 - Xanadu Next Part I

    Still...An ancient castle that only appears in the mist, and a holy sword that rests therein...It's like a fairy tale! Just hearing about it makes my heart beat faster! This week on Retro Encounter, a panel of Falcom afficianados (and one relative newcomer) explores the ruins of Xanadu Next's Harlech Island. Released all the way back in 2005 (and brought to US shores courtesy of XSEED Games in 2016), Xanadu Next is one of Falcom's oft-forgotten classics, with a dark, somber tone and slower pace influenced by Yasumi Matsuno's Ivalice universe (Vagrant Story in particular). We discuss Charlotte Wells and our unnamed protagonist knights' inauspicious start to their investigation of Harlech Island's ancient mysteries, how the game's combat compares to other isometric action RPGs like Diablo, and the merits of interconnected world design. Give it a listen if you love Falcom's golden era of PC releases, or if you're curious about the game's ingenious (at times frustrating) key economy. Featuring: Aleks Franiczek, Ben Love, Audra Bowling; Edited by Zach Wilkerson Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: retro@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

    488 - Xanadu Next Part I

  4. Jun 4

    487 - Top 10 PSWii60 RPGs

    This podcast is historically accurate. You can attack its weak point for massive damage. The era of the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii was a monumental one. The advent of high-definition visuals, the improvement of online play for consoles, and unprecedented console processsing power lead to seven-plus years of generation-defining video games. Naturally, we're here today to talk about the RPGs. Today, four RPGFan panelists compiled a list of ten RPGs that debuted on one or more of the above consoles, and they have a lot to say about them. So which panelist thinks highly of Folklore? How many BioWare games made the cut? How does Final Fantasy XIII figure into this? Listen for all that and more, in today's Retro Encounter! Featuring: Michael Sollosi, Aleks Franiczek, Ben Love, Matt Wardell; Edited by Zach Wilkerson Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: retro@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

    487 - Top 10 PSWii60 RPGs

  5. May 21

    486 - Final Fantasy VIII Part II

    …Whatever. This week on Retro Encounter, the panel is back to offer their thoughts on all the (beautiful?) nonsense that happens in the second half of Final Fantasy VIII. Which one of us prefers Triple Triad over the entire rest of the game? Did our positive impressions crumble under the weight of the many, many plot twists? Wait. What's even going on here... and does it matter? Listen in for our definitive breakdown of the game’s achievements, flaws, and that whole trippy ending sequence. Featuring: Aleks Franiczek, Ben Love, Paul Skevington, Steph Sybydlo, Rob White; Edited by Zach Wilkerson Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: retro@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

    486 - Final Fantasy VIII Part II

  6. May 7

    485 - Final Fantasy VIII Part I

    I dreamt I was a podcast host. On this week’s episode of Retro Encounter, a panel of four veterans and one newbie takes advantage of Zach’s absence to play the controversial but undeniably stylish Final Fantasy VIII. How do we feel about its unconventional design and storytelling choices? Is the cast of fashionable teenage soldiers brilliantly or nonsensically written? What does “Junctioning” even mean? Listen in to find out! Featuring: Aleks Franiczek, Ben Love, Paul Skevington, Steph Sybydlo, Rob White; Edited by Zach Wilkerson Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: retro@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

    485 - Final Fantasy VIII Part I

  7. Apr 23

    484 - Persona 5 Part II

    Quit the idle chit-chat and let's listen to Retro Encounter. This week on Retro Encounter, we dive into the second half of Persona 5, including all the post-game Royal content. Did this game really need to be longer? What do we think of the new content? Just how long can one game be? Listen in to find out! Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Audra Bowling, Michael Sollosi; Edited by Zach Wilkerson Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: retro@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

    484 - Persona 5 Part II

  8. Apr 9

    483 - Persona 5 Part I

    Looking cool, Retro Encounter. This week on Retro Encounter, we dive into the first half of Persona 5. We discuss the dazzling style, combat, and the sometimes less than dazzling structure. Who do we want to romance? Does the game still hold up? Does Morgana ever let us do anything but sleep? Listen in to find out! Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Audra Bowling, Michael Sollosi; Edited by Zach Wilkerson Opening and ending music by Miles Morkri Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: retro@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom

    483 - Persona 5 Part I
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About

Join the RPGFan crew as they play through and discuss classic RPGs and adventure games!

Information

  • Channel
    RPGFan
  • Creator
    RPGFan.com
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    490
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    RPGFan's Retro Encounter

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