22. Conceive a Smaller Podcast

It's been a long time coming. In the shadow of the launch of Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Evan and Nick revisit the often-forgotten Wii U essential: Xenoblade Chronicles X. For a second run at the Xenoblade structure and a first try at both HD development and open-world design, this game is one of Evan's personal favorites- but why? In this episode, we cover a number of mechanical concepts that set the game apart from the titles that bookend it, and hopefully gush enough to generate more interest in this criminally underappreciated sci-fi epic. In this episode: Introduction and History - (0:00:35) Combat and Classes - (0:13:37) Skells and Exploration - (0:22:27) Quests and Party Members - (0:50:43) Online Play and Outro - (0:57:09) Don't forget to send your Quest(ion) ideas to us @RPGPodQuest on Twitter, or by sending us email at [email protected]!

This week, we select one passable joke contained within the episode to use as its title. And by "we," I mean me, Evan. Cut me some slack. We talk about some weird Square Enix stuff that was announced last week before delving into our recently played games. There's an eclectic mix from across systems, here, and if you're looking to donate to those suffering in Ukraine, Nick recommends some RPGs from the recent Humble Bundle. In our quests, Fewture discusses long lost Game Cube titles, Evan recounts the hell that is Mass Effect 3, and a game that Nick finds impenetrable... on console. In this episode: Introductions - (0:00:35) News - Diofield Chronicle, Valkyrie Elysium, Chrono Trigger PC Update (0:01:55) New Games - Dodgeball Academia, Nobody Saves the World, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin (0:10:15), Super Dodgeball Advance, Trails in the Sky, Risk of Rain, Humble Bundle Games for Ukraine: Littlewood, Backspace Bouken, Ganbare! Super Strikers (0:13:26), Potato Flowers in Full Bloom Demo, Xenoblade Definitve Edition, Neurodeck (0:19:35) Quests - Fewture: An RPG with the Most/a very immersive world (0:34:35), Evan: PLAY an RPG of your co-host’s choosing! OR PLAY an RPG chosen by the audience (0:43:14), Nick: A frustrating RPG (0:51:44) Quest Rolls and the Job System - (1:00:20) Plugs - (1:11:10) Don't forget to send your Quest(ion) ideas to us @RPGPodQuest on Twitter, or by sending us email at [email protected]!

Fewture is out this week, but Nick and Evan are still more than willing to assault one another mentally by talking about games they love. After reviewing the more fascinating parts of the Pokemon Presents announcements, Nick is determined to inflict emotional damage on Evan by talking about the Legend of Heroes games. Evan attempts to retaliate by talking about Xenoblade Chronicles to no avail, so he brings up Zelda in an attempt to quell the beast. Then, Nick misinterprets his quest, while Evan suffers through the opening hours of the third game in a trilogy that released on the Wii U. In this episode: Intros - (0:00:58) News - Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Pokemon Arceus DLC thoughts (0:01:58), Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero English Dates Announced (0:25:07) New Games - Legend of Heroes (0:25:54), Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition and a Zelda tangent (0:42:37), Kirby and the Forgotten Land Demo (1:02:21) Quests - Nick - The most difficult/a very hard final boss in an RPG (1:04:06), Evan - BOSS BATTLE: PLAY an RPG of your co-host’s choosing! OR PLAY an RPG chosen by the audience (1:12:43) Quest Rolls and the Job System - (1:31:20) Outros and Plugs - (1:34:40)  Don't forget to send your Quest(ion) ideas to us @RPGPodQuest on Twitter, or by sending us email at [email protected]!

We begin with a new host this week in the form of Fewture, who has plenty of neat games to talk about. That's good, because outside of his quest, Evan's docket is pretty sparse, although Nick has been keeping up with the video game times with a small glimpse at Elden Ring, among others. We then discuss Fewture's RPG history, iconic towns, and a wild RPG known as Nepenthe.  In this episode: Introductions - (0:00:35) News - Soul Hackers 2 (0:03:00) Games - Steam Next Fest: Small Saga, Symphony of War (0:10:06) Lost Ark, Nox, Nobody Saves the World, Elden Ring (0:15:05)  Quests -  Fewture's RPG History (0:43:05), Evan: A great town from an RPG (0:48:08), Nick: ENEMY ENCOUNTER: PLAY an RPG-maker or fan-made game (0:56:33) Dice Rolls and the Job System - (1:05:58) Plugs and Outro - (1:14:03) Don't forget to send your Quest(ion) ideas to us @RPGPodQuest on Twitter, or by sending us email at [email protected]!

We lost a member of the expedition, but we keep on trucking. We discuss the sad news surrounding the Wii U and 3DS Eshops, Nick weighs in on another Mobile phone game (but it’s OK, it’s on the Switch), and Evan dives into Monark, a classic Evan game. We then head out for our quests, with Evan lamenting an overshadowed Wii classic, and Nick talking about his first ever Shin Megami Like RPG.  Introductions - (0:00:29) News (WiiU / 3ds Eshop end of life) - (0:01:40)  Games -  Egglia Rebirth (0:05:30), Monark (0:12:06), Triangle Strategy Demo (0:27:54) Other games: Picross, Puzzle and Dragons Switch (0:33:12)  Quest Time -  Evan: An RPG that deserves a sequel (0:36:04), Nick: An RPG that is “all-gimmick, no-polish” (0:45:00)   Dice Rolls and the Job System - (0:55:10) Plugs and Outro - (0:57:35) Special Note: Nick edited this episode, and is very very rusty. So be nice, it was a learning exercise.

We talk video games. And the Nintendo Direct. Timestamps to come.

Jeremy was away last week, which means it's time for a no-holds barred discussion about Pokémon Legends. Well, we talk about some other stuff, too. Nick shares his go-to co-op fix in LEGO City Undercover, while Evan... talks about Pokémon Legends. Then, our quests take us to distant lands: first to Japan for a Shonen Jump Famicom Mini, and then to China to take a look at Genshin Impact, among other mobile titles. In this episode: Introductions - (0:00:35) News - (0:01:55) Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden New Games (and still kinda News) - (0:13:35) LEGO City Undercover, good co-op or co-viewing games, and Nintendo sales figures, (0:23:46) Pokémon Legends Arceus Quests - (0:52:29) Nick: ENEMY ENCOUNTER: Play a game released before 1990 (1:12:36) Evan: A Mobile RPG Worth Playing Live Rolls and the Job System - (1:30:08)  Plugs and Outro - (1:32:50) 

On the precipice of breaking into Pokemon Legends Arceus, the party has other games to debate, bemoaning the lack of RPG depth in the story mode of Mario Golf Super Rush, demoing a new JRPG from Shin Megami Tensei veterans, and playing the most popular MMORPG of the current era (it's FFXIV). Then, they report on quests that pose numerous difficulties, and Evan must concede a truth about late 80s RPGs that he finds deeply unsettling. In this episode: Introductions - (0:00:35) New Games - (0:02:00) Final Fantasy XIV, (0:12:35) Mario Golf Super Rush, (0:23:32) Monark Demo, (0:31:35) Pokemon Legends Arceus, (0:40:38) Vast: The Crystal Caverns, (0:45:25) Guild of Ascension  Quests - (0:48:29) Jeremy: An RPG series you could just never get into, (1:04:24) Nick and Evan: An RPG released before 1990 that you DON'T consider to be an RPG Live Rolls and the Job System - (1:23:50) Plugs and Outro - (1:30:30)

Up is down! Black is white! One host leaves early, the others must fend for themselves! In the interest of setting up quests for next episode, we clear them out first, discussing niche relatable protagonists, niche JRPGs, and one of Evan's personal favorite games (even though it's not his quest). We then discuss the news of Microsoft's fiscal irresponsibility before covering games that we have been playing. In this episode: Introductions - (0:00:35) Quests - (0:02:00) Jeremy's Quest, (0:11:00) Evan's Quest, (0:26:05) Nick's Quest Live Rolls and the Job System - (0:44:50) News - (0:49:55) Majora's Mask on NSO, Microsoft's Blizzard Activision Acquisition Nick's New Games - (1:01:30) The Great Ace Attorney, Archlion Saga Jeremy's New Games - (1:19:10) RPGolf Legends, Hearthstone Evan's New Games - (1:31:27) Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom, Lumines, Eternal Radiance Plugs and Outro - (1:45:55)

Happy New Year! As we move into 2022, the PodQuest continues by making up for lost time. We discuss a number of holiday-break games, some of which are timely and relevant, and some of which are old N64 games that are still somehow timely thanks to Nintendo Switch Online. Then, the party reports on their quests, taking pot shots at The Witcher and Pokemon (such bravery, much controversy) while singing the praises of a KEMCO release, of all things. In this episode: Introductions - (0:00:35)  News - (0:01:40) Dragon Quest III HD2D Fakeout, E3 Online Musings New Games - (0:08:16) Darksiders III, (0:16:50) Final Fantasy Legend, (0:26:06) Loop Hero, (0:32:11) Unsighted, (0:36:15) Yoshi's Story, (0:40:15) Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars, (0:47:50) Mario Party Superstars Quests - (0:53:00) Jeremy's Quest, (1:02:10) Nick's Quest, (1:14:55) Evan's Quest  Live Rolls and Plugs - (1:26:20)