State of the Arc Podcast

Resonant Arc
  • 4.8 (291)
  • Arts
  • Updated Weekly

Our podcast breaks down the techniques of great storytelling across our favorite games, movies, literature, and music. I also occasionally upload music I've arranged or composed!

  1. 4d ago

    Why We Keep Remaking The Odyssey After 3,000 Years | State of the Arc Podcast

    Nearly 3,000 years after Homer’s epic was first told, The Odyssey remains one of the most influential and frequently retold stories ever created. Christopher Nolan’s new film has brought Odysseus back to the center of popular culture, but no single adaptation can explain why this story has survived for millennia. In this episode, Mike and Casen explore the origins, structure, translations, and evolving legacy of The Odyssey. We examine how generations of writers and filmmakers have reinterpreted Homer; what different adaptations preserve, change, or misunderstand; and why Odysseus remains such a fascinating and difficult hero: clever, resilient, selfish, brutal, and relentlessly determined to return home. From Homer, Chapman, Alexander Pope, and Emily Wilson to the 1997 miniseries, The Return, and Christopher Nolan’s adaptation, this is a conversation about the strange power of a story that has outlived civilizations, and why it will continue to be told for another 3,000 years. Which version of The Odyssey first captured your imagination? Time Codes: 1. Intro (0:00) 2. Casen Recites The Opening Lines Of The Poem In Greek (4:56) 3. Mike's Personal History With The Odyssey (11:17) 4. The Many Translations Of The Odyssey (27:04) 5. 7 Different Versions Of The Opening Lines: Which Should You Read? (50:44) 6. Summary Of The Original Story In The Poem (1:06:20) 7. The Screen Adaptations Of The Odyssey (1:23:26) 8. Ulysses 1954 (1:24:29) 9. L'Odissea 1968 (1:27:45) 10. The Odyssey 1997 (1:29:49) 11. The Return 2024 (1:55:42) 12. Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey 2026 (2:16:05)

    Why We Keep Remaking The Odyssey After 3,000 Years | State of the Arc Podcast

  2. 6d ago

    YouTube Doesn't Want You To See Our Podcast

    UPDATE: Good news—the final copyright claim was released this morning, so the full Odyssey episode is now available. You can watch it here: https://youtu.be/whPLEd8W0NM YouTube blocked our video! Unjustly! It should be cleared for release soon. Working on disputes behind the scenes. In the meantime, I wanted to update everyone on the Chrono Trigger analysis, extra Star Fox commentary, and more! Time Codes: 1. What Happened To This Week's Episode? (0:00) 2. Update On The Chrono Trigger Analysis (3:03) 3. Follow Up On Our Star Fox Commentary (7:28) 4. Wrap Up (16:14)

    YouTube Doesn't Want You To See Our Podcast

  3. Jul 29

    Top 10 Best Final Fantasy Scenes

    What are the greatest scenes in the history of Final Fantasy? In a series filled with some of the most memorable characters, worlds, and music, how can one possibly pick the 10 best? Today, we set out to do just that, definitively, once and for all! Do you disagree with our list? It's okay to be wrong! Tell us your wrong opinions in the comments below! Time Codes: 1. Intro (0:00) 2. Honorable Mentions (3:30) 3. Number 10 | Final Fantasy 1 (8:35) 4. Number 9 | Final Fantasy 10 (13:54) 5. Number 8 | Final Fantasy 4 (26:51) 6. Number 7 | Final Fantasy Tactics (32:17) 7. Number 6 | Final Fantasy 10 (40:00) 8. Number 5 | Final Fantasy 9 (45:44) 9. Number 4 | Final Fantasy 7 (57:14) 10. Number 3 | Final Fantasy 6 (1:05:35) 11. Number 2 | Final Fantasy 8 (1:17:07) 12. Number 1 | Final Fantasy 7 (1:34:53)

    Top 10 Best Final Fantasy Scenes

  4. Jul 23

    The Bizarre Final Fantasy Sequel No One Remembers | State of the Arc Podcast

    Final Fantasy V got a sequel, but it's not the kind you'd expect. Released as a four-part anime OVA in 1994, Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals takes place 200 years after the SNES game and follows a new cast of heroes trying to protect the elemental crystals. Despite its connection to Final Fantasy V, this OVA looks, sounds, and often feels detached from the game that inspired it. In this episode, we explore the anime’s unusual production history, Hironobu Sakaguchi’s limited involvement, director Rintaro’s radically different artistic approach, the bizarre English localization, and whether this forgotten sequel captures any of the spirit of Final Fantasy at all. Have you seen Legend of the Crystals? And does it deserve to be remembered—or was it forgotten for a reason? V Jump Article Scans: https://animarchive.tumblr.com/post/176156122473/final-fantasy-legend-of-the-crystals-ova-4-page?ref=cinema-purgatorio.ghost.io

    The Bizarre Final Fantasy Sequel No One Remembers | State of the Arc Podcast

  5. Jul 15

    Sony Just Killed Physical Media | State of the Arc Podcast (ft. Del Walker )

    With Sony's recent announcement that it will end the production of physical media for video games after January 2028, discussion has ramped up about consumer rights to own their games, game preservation, and how markets and pricing will be affected. Today we are joined by Del Walker, an AAA game developer who has worked for Naughty Dog, Sega, and Rocksteady, to discuss what this means for both players and developers, and what we need to do to ensure our culture and rights are protected. You do not have a choice. You must check out Del's YouTube channel. It's fantastic: https://www.youtube.com/@UCIBJU0VHwZbEFl32GfRgZMQ

    Sony Just Killed Physical Media | State of the Arc Podcast (ft. Del Walker )

  6. Jul 8

    Does The Star Fox Remake Pass The Test? | The Remake Trials

    Welcome to The Remake Trials, a new series where we put classic games and their remakes on trial—not simply to ask whether the remake is “good” or “bad,” but to ask whether it understands the spirit of the original. For our first case, we’re looking at Star Fox: the original SNES game, Star Fox 64, Star Fox 64 3D, and the new remake. Using our Remake Fidelity Matrix, we break down the difference between surface-level faithfulness (the “letter of the law”) and deeper spiritual faithfulness: the emotional effect, dramatic function, visual identity, soundscape, pacing, and energy that made the original work resonate in the first place. What makes Star Fox feel like Star Fox? Is it the Star Wars influence? The puppet aesthetic? The arcade-like simplicity? The layered difficulty? The unforgettable voice performances? The way dialogue, music, and sound effects lock together as one percussive soundtrack? And when a remake changes the voices, characterizations, cutscenes, tone, and presentation, is it betraying the original—or translating it for a new generation? In this episode, we put Star Fox through The Remake Trials. #StarFox #Nintendo #Remake #StarFox64 #ResonantArc Time Codes: 01. Intro (0:00) 02. How Do We Judge Remakes? The Remake Fidelity Matrix (01:18) 03. Our History With Star Fox (15:27) 04. What Is The "Spirit" of Star Fox? (26:25) 05. The Voice Cast (1:08:40) 06. How Fox McCloud's Personality Was Changed (1:15:44) 07. Direct Comparisons between Star Fox 64, 3D, & The New Remake (1:35:10) 08. Final Verdict (2:45:58)

    Does The Star Fox Remake Pass The Test? | The Remake Trials

  7. Jul 1

    Can A Video Game Prepare You For Death?

    What are the most spiritual games you've ever played? What does spirituality mean to you? Have you ever had a transcendent experience while playing a game? In this episode, we break down some of our most profound experiences playing games — games that weren't just emotional but deeply spiritual. This includes games like Xenogears, Ico, Journey, Terranigma, Death Stranding, Outer Wilds, and many more. What are some of your picks? Let us know in the comments below! Time Codes: 01. Intro (0:00) 02. What Does Spirituality Mean? (01:29) 03. Honorable Mentions (08:49) 04. Casen's First Pick: Ico (26:51) 05. A Couple More Honorable Mentions (37:20) 06. Mike's First Pick: Terranigma (39:10) 07. Casen's Second Pick: Death Stranding (48:45) 08. Mike's Second Pick: Journey (1:01:23) 09. Casen's Third Pick: Wind Waker (1:08:53) 10. Mike's Third Pick: Outer Wilds (1:25:01) Discord Link: https://discord.gg/RFMF6gpHr Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/resonantarc Subscribe Star: https://www.subscribestar.com/resonant-arc Twitter: https://twitter.com/resonantarc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/resonantarc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resonantarc TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@resonantarc

    Can A Video Game Prepare You For Death?

  8. Jun 24

    The REAL Reason Sakaguchi Left Square | State of the Arc Podcast

    Why did Hironobu Sakaguchi leave Squaresoft in 2001? People have long held the answer to be the movie Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. However, that makes no sense. Think about it. Sakaguchi was their best game producer. Why demote him for a movie that flopped? Why not just put him back in charge of games which he is obviously VERY good at and is the company's central product? We tackle these questions and tell the real reason why Sakaguchi left Squaresoft after being removed from his top position over gaming content. Afterwards, we eat English candy and talk about the Hitoshi Sakimoto concert! Thanks to all who came, it was a huge success! **Listen On Spotify**: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gIzzvT3AfRHjGlfF8kFW3 **Listen On Soundcloud**: https://soundcloud.com/resonantarc **Listen On iTunes**: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/state-of-the-arc-podcast/id1121795837 **Listen On Pocket Cast**: http://pca.st/NJsJ Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/resonantarc Subscribe Star: https://www.subscribestar.com/resonant-arc Twitter: https://twitter.com/resonantarc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/resonantarc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resonantarc TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@resonantarc

    The REAL Reason Sakaguchi Left Square | State of the Arc Podcast
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4.8
out of 5
291 Ratings

About

Our podcast breaks down the techniques of great storytelling across our favorite games, movies, literature, and music. I also occasionally upload music I've arranged or composed!

Information

  • Creator
    Resonant Arc
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    370
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    State of the Arc Podcast

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