Episode 146: Wizardry IV - The Cosmic Cube

This week, we send Sibyl to the Phantom Zone, but also discuss the money-making powers of Backjack Magic, child labor, Persona creation, the dangers of being a gang leader, and whether or not Eikichi can Say It. Plus, new lows in fan translation from Massa Joka! Also everyone starts breaking progression systems in their own ways. This runthrough is not going to be very balanced for anybody save Ryan. Support Us On Patreon to hear Chris and Ryan's FF14 podcast and the Boku No Stop Premium anime podcast! Listen to Ryan's band at Cannon & DeVaron and their solo work as Catastrophizer Read Matt's yuri reviews on Okazu

This week, actual gameplay happens, and Sibyl learns that literally nobody else has gone down this road before. We're in for a good time and a lot of bitching as the game's opening dungeon is full of so much more flavor and detail than the series is going to see again for decades. Support Us On Patreon to hear Chris and Ryan's FF14 podcast and the Boku No Stop Premium anime podcast! Listen to Ryan's band at Cannon & DeVaron and their solo work as Catastrophizer Read Matt's yuri reviews on Okazu

This week, we break the seal on one of the big franchises... but not the game you're thinking. It's three old people trying to explain to the youths that Persona didn't always mean jazz, teens, and calendars. At one point in time, people could be gay and/or adults! All this and more as we venture into the new old realm and expect them to reveal this remake any day now. Episode art this season will be pulled, if it isn't a game screenshot, from the Persona: Tribute Illustrations art book. Support Us On Patreon to hear Chris and Ryan's Three Kingdoms podcast and the Boku No Stop Premium anime podcast! Listen to Ryan's band at Cannon & DeVaron and their solo work as Catastrophizer Read Matt's yuri reviews on Okazu

This week, Jack and the gang bring this whole fight to a conclusion through three very FF14-based DLCs, complete with rat tails, new job classes, monsterfuckin', a guy named Greg, the most unoptimized bridge in Cornelia, and a man who was gonna spew bullshit from the instant we meet him. Also, now that your editor has started playing FF14 and grinding out literally everything: Chris' comment is correct, DLC2 really is just adapting a relic weapon grind from 14 to a single-player game. It hurts so bad. Support Us On Patreon to hear Chris and Ryan's Three Kingdoms podcast and the Boku No Stop Premium anime podcast! Listen to Ryan's band at Cannon & DeVaron and their solo work as Catastrophizer Read Matt's yuri reviews on Okazu Special Guest: Shin Garrett.

This week, we wrap our crystal exploration by revisiting MMO locales, arguing about how far you should go with verticality in a Souls-like title, and preparing the groundwork for a brutal emotional journey home. Support Us On Patreon to hear Chris and Ryan's FF14 podcast and the Boku No Stop Premium anime podcast! Listen to Ryan's band at Cannon & DeVaron and their solo work as Catastrophizer Read Matt's yuri reviews on Okazu Special Guest: Shin Garrett.

This week, it's time to pay the piper (our way?), as we wrap the main game of Stranger of Paradise with the very emotional journey to destroy Chaos and save the world of Corneria. Except clearly we don't get there quite as expected, and there's more story to come in the DLC next time... Support Us On Patreon to hear Chris and Ryan's FF14 podcast and the Boku No Stop Premium anime podcast! Listen to Ryan's band at Cannon & DeVaron and their solo work as Catastrophizer Read Matt's yuri reviews on Okazu Special Guest: Shin Garrett.

This week, mechanics and plot and everything begins weaving a tapestry with the party fully assembled, and the cattiest queer in Final Fantasy not named "Kefka" takes the stage. Plus: MILFs, orbs, dress-up, and The Difficulty Problem Is Solved. Support Us On Patreon to hear Chris and Ryan's FF14 podcast and the Boku No Stop Premium anime podcast! Listen to Ryan's band at Cannon & DeVaron and their solo work as Catastrophizer Read Matt's yuri reviews on Okazu

It is new season time again, and we're taking a short detour into the absolutely fantastic Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, the answer to a question nobody asked: "what if the mechanical geniuses behind Nioh remade Final Fantasy 1 as a tragedy, and one of the strongest games in the entire franchise ensued?" Plus, in the over a year since this was recorded, your humble editress can confirm: yes, that stage IS the not-quite-first dungeon in FFXIV. Who knew? (Half of the hosts in the room.) Support Us On Patreon to hear Chris and Ryan's FF14 podcast and the Boku No Stop Premium anime podcast! Listen to Ryan's band at Cannon & DeVaron and their solo work as Catastrophizer Read Matt's yuri reviews on Okazu

The story of Werdna comes to an end, or several ends, as we discuss the metaphysics and metapuzzles of Wizardry IV's final floors. Above, below, and more - we're all here and we're going to look at how we got there. Plus: an interjection from future Sibyl! The document I mention in the cut-in is behind this link, and I highly recommend clicking and reading through. It's a delight. We'll be back next month with the debut of our Final Fantasy Origin: Stranger of Paradise season. Support Us On Patreon to hear Chris and Ryan's Romance of the Three Kingdoms podcast and the Boku No Stop Premium anime podcast! Listen to Ryan's band at Cannon & DeVaron and their solo work as Catastrophizer Read Matt's yuri reviews on Okazu

Folks: it's here, the final boss of Wizardry IV: a three-floor megachallenge known as the Cosmic Cube. We also include some host backtracking for items which are needed to find your way out of this three-dimensional disaster, and movie reviews with a side of musical critique! Get ready for an extravaganza. Support Us On Patreon to hear Chris and Ryan's FF14 podcast and the Boku No Stop Premium anime podcast! Listen to Ryan's band at Cannon & DeVaron and their solo work as Catastrophizer Read Matt's yuri reviews on Okazu