The XBox 360 was a JRPG treasure trove in its early days thanks to Microsoft's attempt to appeal to the east. When they got Hironobu Sakaguchi, the father of Final Fantasy to make a few games, we paid attention. On this week's show, Pascal, Wheels, and Ryan M. gain immortality while discussing Lost Odyssey.

The post RPG Backtrack 324 – My Immortal appeared first on RPGamer.

When Final Fantasy XIII released, it was the most divisive title in the series.  Now that fourteen years have passed, how does RPG Backtrack really feel?  Our guests Wheels, Pascal, Ryan M., and Leogrim can at least agree on one thing, Hope is still annoying.

The post RPG Backtrack 323 – That Time Shiva Was a Motorcycle appeared first on RPGamer.

On this week's backtrack, we bring a story arc that has crossed two decades, three console generations, and nine games together in one explosive finale.  Kelley, Matt, and Josh were crazy enough to finish this massive story.  Sounds like a Kiseki game to us.

The post RPG Backtrack 314 – Cold Steel Finale appeared first on RPGamer.

What happens when Japan's most popular RPG decides to mimic the world's most popular sandbox game? Find out along with guests Robert Albright and Anna Marie Privitere as we mine some slimes and craft a castle or two!

The post RPG Backtrack 224: Slimecraft appeared first on RPGamer.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was one of the first major RPGs for the Nintendo Switch (if you don't count Breath of the Wild).  Does it live up to the legacy of the Xeno series? Join us along with guests Alex Fuller and Michael Apps as we dive into the Cloud Sea!

The post RPG Backtrack 223: Blade-y Driver appeared first on RPGamer.

The last game in the Trails in the Sky trilogy took ten years to come to the United States. That's a long wait! At least you don't have to wait that long for us to talk about it. Join us as one long-time host says goodbye, and two new hosts take the helm along with some familiar friends to discuss Trails in the Sky the 3rd.

The post RPG Backtrack 222: Third Trail’s a Charm! appeared first on RPGamer.

Imageepoch made one final game featuring witches before the company disappeared, and Stella Glow proved a quite decent swan song.  It's the subject of today's Backtrack, in fact.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 221: Can’t You Hear Me Yell-a? appeared first on RPGamer.

After learning some things with Lunar, Game Arts created a series called Grandia that has quite a bit to recommend.  We have some new points of view eager to chime in on this series today.

Games covered:

• Grandia
• Grandia Xtreme
• Grandia III

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 220: Grand Game Arts appeared first on RPGamer.

Falcom has delivered a number of titles over the years that aren't part of its currently-ongoing series, and we tackle a sextet of them here.  From the Zwei titles to Brandish: The Dark Revenant, this covers quite a bit of ground.

Games covered (alphabetical order):

• Brandish: The Dark Revenant
• Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure
• Popful Mail
• Xanadu Next
• Zwei: The Arges Adventure
• Zwei: The Ilvard Insurrection

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 219: Peregrine Falcom appeared first on RPGamer.

Every now and then, a Musou title crosses over into the realm of something we cover at RPGamer.  A quartet of these games from the worlds of Dragon Quest, The Legend of Zelda and Fire Emblem somehow prompted one of our lengthiest dissertations yet.

Games covered (alphabetical order):

• Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree’s Woe and the Blight Below
• Dragon Quest Heroes II
• Fire Emblem Warriors
• Hyrule Warriors

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 218: Tell It to the Musou Marines appeared first on RPGamer.

In Japan it's called Mother, while for North America it's called Earthbound.  Either way, Shigesato Itoi's series is unique and worth some discussion.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 217: The Mothers of Invention appeared first on RPGamer.

Once upon a time, a Dream Team of RPG talent created something called Chrono Trigger.  Years later, a sequel called Chrono Cross made its way onto store shelves.  The tale of these two titles is told today.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 216: Time After Time appeared first on RPGamer.

Not satisfied with a single venture into the RPG realm, South Park returned in 2017 with another turn-based excursion through a small mountain town in Colorado.  Be prepared for language that is in keeping with the source material.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 215: Captain Diabetes appeared first on RPGamer.

This week's show takes us on a journey through time and space. With Live a Live finally coming to the west in 2022, we thought it would be a great time to chat about this obscure Super Famicom port with the three Ryans (Costa, McCarthy, and Radcliff) and Wheels.

The post RPG Backtrack 313 – Eight Lives A-Lived appeared first on RPGamer.

Remakes of Fire Emblem games were limited to the DS, until the second entry in the series saw a 3DS rendition.  Something that originated on the Famicom occasioned quite a bit of discussion, presented here for listeners to enjoy.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 214: Echoes in My Mind appeared first on RPGamer.

After a lengthy and problematic development cycle, Final Fantasy XV was released to the world in 2016.  Many people subsequently played it and have a variety of things to say regarding the experience on this episode.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 213: The Boys Are Back in Town appeared first on RPGamer.

The Fallout series has gone through a number of permutations, and we've covered everything predating the fourth numbered one.  The time has come to give Fallout 4 an episode all to itself.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 212: The Roaches Did Survive appeared first on RPGamer.

Considering it was a brand-new intellectual property, Horizon Zero Dawn succeeded beyond what most publishers would have expected.  We have a lot of people ready to explain just why it succeeded today.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 211: On the Horizon appeared first on RPGamer.

What happens when the Shin Megami Tensei concepts are extended into other series, such as Etrian Odyssey and Fire Emblem?  We get interesting fusions like the first Persona Q and Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE, both of which are the focus on this episode.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 210: Genre Splicing appeared first on RPGamer.

Pokémon is such a sprawling series that it contains numerous titles varying from its usual template.  We tackled a lot of them in this episode, and while the result may not be comprehensive regarding every Pokémon spinoff, it wasn't for lack of effort.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 209: The Pokemon Are Restless appeared first on RPGamer.

Our progress in covering Tales of games continues with a pair called Xillia 1 and 2.  Quite a bit is happening in this pair, and hopefully anyone curious is enlightened by the discussion.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 208: Year XIL in the Land of LIA appeared first on RPGamer.

A long-running series in Japan has only made occasional trips across the Pacific, but we managed to play some of all the ones that did.  Here's a discussion on the sizable Summon Night lineage.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 207 – It Comes by Summon Night appeared first on RPGamer.

Founded as a subsidiary of Idea Factory, the Compile Heart company has been aiding and abetting a deluge of games over the years.  These titles range somewhat in quality, and our latest discussion is an attempt to give some useful background on the developer's sizable catalog.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 206: The Tell-tale Compile Heart appeared first on RPGamer.

Atlus would not be rushed into making a fifth main Persona game.  Now that it's finally been out long enough to warrant a Backtrack, plenty of things can be said about it, and many of them will be heard on this episode.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 205: Nancy Drew and the Case of Otherworldly Entities appeared first on RPGamer.

RPG Backtrack continues MMO month with a chat about Final Fantasy XIV's sophomore expansion, Stormblood. Robert and Noodle join the group to re-capture Doma castle in this exciting show!

The post RPG Backtrack 312 – The Last Samurai appeared first on RPGamer.

The Legend of Zelda in recent years has produced a couple of nonlinear adventures for the 3DS and Switch.  Breath of the Wild, in particular, produced some disparate thoughts for the benefit of our listeners.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 204: Link Goes Wild appeared first on RPGamer.

A quick glance at the Yo-kai Watch games might superficially indicate nothing more than another portable monster collection title, but there's quite a bit more to distinguish them.  Going into what makes this series distinct requires quite a few puns to be mentioned.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 203: YO, KAI, Watch This! appeared first on RPGamer.

Let us return to the earlier days of the Kingdom Hearts series.  This episode contains an attempt to disseminate the pertinent points of Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts II.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 202: I’m Gonna Wreck It! appeared first on RPGamer.

In recent years the release of new entries in the Dragon Quest series hasn't been very frequent.  Dragon Quest VIII and Dragon Quest IX have nevertheless been around long enough to warrant a Backtrack, and here it is.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 201: Return of the Dragon appeared first on RPGamer.

It was a time when relatively few RPGs crossed the Pacific, and not all of those that did were memorable.  For our 200th episode, talking about the most operatic Final Fantasy on the Super Nintendo just seemed like a great idea -- and it was.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 200: An Octopus at the Opera appeared first on RPGamer.

Nintendo keeps putting Mario into the RPG realm, so it's time to catch up with the 3DS installments that aren't remakes.  It's also time to reflect a bit on the very first time Mario entered an RPG.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 199: What a ‘Stache appeared first on RPGamer.

A little title about exploring a large swathe of the galaxy, originally released on the PC and later on the Genesis, hasn't seen a new installment in decades but still inspires fond memories.  This is the story of Starflight and its sequel.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 198: First Starflight I See Tonight appeared first on RPGamer.

After over 77,000 Kickstarter backers contributed to Obsidian's campaign, a new title named Pillars of Eternity came to pass.  We have quite a bit to say about this title that deliberately evokes the PC RPGs of a now-bygone era.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 197: A Pillar Is Forever appeared first on RPGamer.

The 3DS saw some later Etrian Odyssey games that changed the core principles a bit.  Two of them added significant narratives, and another mixed in Mystery Dungeon mechanics.  One of these stratagems was more successful.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 196 – Map It Out appeared first on RPGamer.

Developers were once consumed by the need to push technological prowess as much as possible, but in recent years a smorgasbord of titles that evoke earlier generations has been created.  We here tackle a hefty helping of this sort of RPG, using a lineup that varies wildly in style and quality.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 195: Old Wave appeared first on RPGamer.

This week's show kicks off MMO month for 2024, where we talk about World of Warcraft's most popular expansion. Andi, Robert, Ryan, and Pascal all hop aboard the airship to Northrend to re-experience the downfall of the Lich King.

The post RPG Backtrack 311 – Renaissance Festival in Arthas’s Backyard appeared first on RPGamer.

Just when it seemed safe to talk about the seventh Dragon Quest, it was remade for the 3DS.  Now that a little time has passed and the official Backtrack Statute of Limitations has expired, we can discuss this sizable title.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 194: Chasing the Dragon appeared first on RPGamer.

The time has come to delve further into the twisty world of Pokémon in its fifth and sixth generations.  Unexpectedly, since he never played a game in the series, we also pay tribute to Macstorm with this episode.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 193: In Soviet Russia, Pokémon Catch You appeared first on RPGamer.

The Saturn received a number of exclusive titles that have yet to be ported elsewhere, and among them were several Working Designs gems.  One that is very fondly remembered by those fortunate enough to have played it is Dragon Force, and there is quite a bit to say in its favor.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 192: Harpies, Dragons and Cavalry, Oh My appeared first on RPGamer.

Three-dimensional visuals are used by most developers now.  Vanillaware is an important exception to that trend, and its Dragon's Crown, Odin Sphere and Muramasa demonstrate just how nice two-dimensional things can look.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 191: Just Plain Vanillaware appeared first on RPGamer.

Arc Rise Fantasia is a game that received something of a bad deal when it was localized, and even now hasn't been experienced by many.  Perhaps a few converts will be made after listening to this episode.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 190: A Wii ARF appeared first on RPGamer.

Previous Fire Emblem titles were self-contained, but Fates is a different experience in its structure.  Nintendo and Intelligent Systems made some interesting decisions here, and we delve into them at length.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 189: No Fates but What We Make appeared first on RPGamer.

Once upon a time we managed to sustain an episode of the Backtrack that talked about Disgaea for an astoundingly long time.  Even more games in the series have been released since then, but this time our ruminations aren't quite so sprawling.

The post RPG Backtrack Episode 188: D2 The Mighty Prinnies appeared first on RPGamer.

The Langrisser series has only come across the Pacific legitimately on two occasions in different centuries, and neither is the high point of a venerable tactical franchise. Join us for a talk about its multifaceted components that includes extensive artwork discussion.

The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 187: “We’re Going to War” appeared first on RPGamer.

Radiant Historia was a fairly late release for the DS, and garnered quite a devoted following from those who were able to obtain it. Now that the game has received a 3DS remake, the task of unraveling its complex structure has fallen onto us.

The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 186: “You Can Make History Young Again” appeared first on RPGamer.

A massive series from Capcom called Monster Hunter involves exactly what the title implies. Once the thrill of Monster Hunter gets into someone's blood it seems to supplant all other desires, as this episode amply demonstrates.

The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 185: “The Hunt Is On” appeared first on RPGamer.

This week's RPG Backtrack discusses Nexomon and Nexomon: Extinction, a pair of charming monster collecting games with a quirky sense of humor. Anna and Ryan Costa join the show this week to wrap up Monster Menagerie May.

The post RPG Backtrack 310 – Omicron Mons appeared first on RPGamer.

In a world with little life left and lots of clues about what went wrong, a young man must puzzle a way to survive. This is a story of Fragile Dreams, and here we talk about one of the Wii's unconventional highlights.

The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 184: “Fragile, It Must be Italian” appeared first on RPGamer.

Completing the localization of Trails in the Sky's Second Chapter was not a task for the lighthearted, but XSEED eventually persevered. This episode details why that was a good thing for the growing ranks of Falcom fans outside Japan.

The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 183: “Estelle Is Swell” appeared first on RPGamer.

Tales games just keep coming, and a couple of more recent ones come under the microscope today. One was embraced by almost everyone while the other comes with many more reservations.

The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 182: “Hearts of Graces” appeared first on RPGamer.