Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast

I, Nadia, take over hosting duties on Axe of the Blood God this week, which is apropos for an episode that's about Satan. That's right, we review the long-awaited Diablo IV with our very good friend and frequent Blood God guest, Len. There's a lot riding on Diablo IV, as Activision Blizzard is currently weighed down by troubled times that are largely of their own making. How does it play? How's the story? How does Act-Bliz's fascination with "always online!" sit with Diablo IV's dark, gothic feel? Is the Druid class the best? (Yes.) Stay awhile and listen.

Also in this episode:

• The Fire Emblem game that started everything (in the West) is coming to the GBA via NSO. Roy's our boy!
• Something something Microsoft Activision Blizzard acquisition deal stalled
• Things are heating up in The Legend of Korra, but they're also cooling down because it's pretty chilly at the poles
• A Gameboy is just a phone that only plays Pokemon
• Walk forever in the light of the Crystal, Kittyboy Tighthole

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Intro/Diablo IV
• 38:27 - Random Encounters
• 45:39 - Summer of Korra
• 58:12 - Nostalgia Nook/Outro

Music used in this episode:

• Do Your Best! [Breath of Fire III]
• The Legend of Korra Main Theme [The Legend of Korra]
• A Curious Tale [Secret of Mana]
• Ark [Persona 5]

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Merry Chrysler! We here at Axe of the Blood God prepared this very special episode that takes both a deeply critical and celebratory look at the nutty year that just passed us by. We had RPGs galore! Have we ever seen such bounty? New Zelda! New Baldur's Gate! New Cyberpunk...sort of!

But we had troubles galore, too. Layoffs and downsizing left and right. The end of vintage game media websites and game studios. What awaits us in 2024? We dunno! But we can guarantee the Blood God will always be with you. That's what Christmas is all about.

In this episode:

• Our Game of the Year!
• Zelda, Zelda, Baldur's Gate, Zelda!
• The Super Mario RPG remake is great!
• Starfield discourse that's as long and girthy as Luigi's schlong
• And lots more!

Music used in this episode:

• Tantal [Xenoblade Chronicles 2]
• Narshe March [Final Fantasy VI]

Secret of Mana Santa art source

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There are some questions we as a species will always be asking; Is consciousness inherent to our universe? Is time a construct? What cool new video games will come out in 2024?

10 hard-hidding questions will be asked of our intrepid panel and you'll hear Kat, Nadia, and Eric dole out answers like it's their job. What can we look forward to? What surprises are in store that we don't even know we want to look forward to? The Switch 2, acquisitions, the GaaS event horizon; all this and more in this interrogatory episode of Axe of the Blood God!

Also in this Episode:

• Sonicshortergamesmeme.jpg
• Axe of the Blood God officially endorses Metaphor: ReFantazio for 2024
• Eric has played a bunch of Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth and didn't tell us!

This episode is sponsored by Factor. For 50% off head to factormeals.com/axerpgadventure50 and use code: axerpgadventure50

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

05:36 - Main Topic - 10 Big Questions for 2024

51:15 - Random Encounters

57:04 - Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth Preview

1:21:58 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook

Music Used in this Episode:

Do Your Best! - [Breath of Fire III]

A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]

Headquarters - [Skies of Arcadia]

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Eric had to shoulder the entirety of the show last week because Kat went skiing and Nadia had the audacity to catch COVID, but the gang is well and truly back together this week! Writer and WaPo editor Alyse Stanley joins the crew to talk about Fire Emblem Engage, a.k.a Aquafresh Teen Dragon Force. Just kidding. The Blood God loves the toothpaste hero, and we love Fire Emblem Engage in general. How much? Plug this week's show into your ears and find out.

Also in this episode:

• Yes, you can get married in Final Fantasy XIV
• Industry layoffs, oh God why
• Kat is playing Crisis Core. GONGAGA
• We re-visit Tales of Vesperia. Is it Pantheon material, or nah?
• That one time Nadia found a naked lady in her Super Nintendo game

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The past week's one-two punch from Nintendo and Sony have us floored by a panoply of RPG announcements and reveals. How will we recover? As we lay there in a stupor all we can do is reflect on the choices that got us here. Someday we'll redouble our efforts and re-enter the fray. But for now, in the interim, we can do naught but ice our wounds and talk for an hour-and-a-half about the incredible games on the horizon. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Unicorn Overlord, SaGa Emerald Beyond, and Eiyuden Chronicle just to name a few!

Also in this Episode:

If it isn't Paper Mario, you old dog, you. How long has it been? Feels like a Thousand Years!

Star Ocean: Second Story R. The 'R' stands for 'Really Good So Far'!

Unity did a big oops

Starfield, Kat has some notes

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intros

07:20 - Main Topic

27:44 - FF7 Spoiler Warning

44:00 - FF7 Discussion Ends

45:36 - Random Encounters

58:32 - The Tavern

1:30:00 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook

Music Used in this Episode:

Do Your Best! - [Breath of Fire III]

A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana]

Town of Good Harvest - [Baten Kaitos II]

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