Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast

Kat Bailey, Nadia Oxford, and Eric Van Allen explore Final Fantasy, Skyrim, and all the best in the wonderful world of role-playing video games! Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/bloodgodpod

Leisure
Video Games
Technology
251
The Hades Review w/ Eric Van Allen
Kat and Nadia are joined by USgamer News Editor Eric Van Allen to sing the praises of Hades, the amazing roguelite by Supergiant Games that is now out of Early Access. The trio discuss its relationship to Diablo; how Supergiant is beating Blizzard at...
64 min
252
Microsoft Acquires Bethesda Emergency Reaction ...
In a move with enormous implications for the games industry as a whole, but especially for RPGs, Microsoft has acquired Bethesda, the publisher responsible for Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, and Starfield. What will this mean for role-playing games? How...
46 min
253
A Huge Week for RPGs: Reacting to Final Fantasy...
Kat and Nadia react to a huge week for RPG announcements, breaking down Avalanche's Harry Potter game, Monster Hunter Rise, and the PS5 price announcement. Then it's time to talk Final Fantasy XVI, as Kat and Nadia analyze its announcement trailer,...
88 min
254
The Fall RPG Preview 2020
The fall release season is officially upon us, and that means it's time to preview all of the big RPGs that will carry us to the end of the year. Kat and Nadia sit down to preview Cyberpunk 2077, Trails of Cold Steel 4, Yakuza 7, World of WarCraft...
88 min
255
The Console RPG Quest: PlayStation Portable
The latest edition of the Console RPG Quest explores the legacy of Sony's initial foray into the handheld space: the PlayStation Portable! Kat and Nadia recall Sony's attempt to create "the Walkman for the 21st century," the rise of Monster Hunter and...
84 min
256
The Story of Moon: RPG Remix Adventure, Wastela...
In 1997, a small group of former devs from Konami and Square got together to make Moon: RPG Remix Adventure, an affectionate parody and tribute to the role-playing genre. More than 20 years later, it's finally out for Nintendo Switch, and Kat and...
72 min
257
The State of Indie RPGs w/ She Dreams Elsewhere...
Kat Bailey is on vacation, so hapless co-host Nadia Oxford takes over the Axe of the Blood God with help from USgamer news editor, Eric Van Allen. The duo put out out the small fires that invariably crop up when Kat's out of town while they discuss...
76 min
258
Remembering Square's Famous Summer of Adventure...
It was the year 2000, and Square was pushing three big RPGs on the Sony PlayStation. The games themselves—Chrono Cross, Threads of Fate, and Legend of Mana—met with a mixed reception, but the Summer of Adventure 2000 said more about where Square...
58 min
259
The Console RPG Quest: Nintendo DS
The latest entry in the Console RPG Quest series takes on the Nintendo DS, the legendary "third pillar" that did its part to carry Nintend for more than a decade. From Etrian Odyssey to Dragon Quest IX, Kat and Nadia discuss its remarkable RPG...
73 min
260
Next-Gen RPGs: Imagining New Settings, Reactive...
With the next generation of consoles nearly upon us, Kat is joined by Reviews Editor Mike Williams and Senior Editor Caty McCarthy to discuss the future of the genre. What surprises do the PS5 and Xbox Series X hold for RPGs? Will it all be...
58 min
261
Eiyuden Chronicle Live Reaction + Fable, Avowed...
It's a super busy week for RPG news as Kat and Nadia talk about all the Shin Megami Tensei announcements while breaking down the big Fable and Avowed reveals from the Xbox showcase. This is all on top of word that the Suikoden creators are getting...
66 min
262
The Paper Mario: The Origami King Review w/ Gam...
GameXplain's Andre Segers joins the podcast to review Paper Mario: The Origami King with Kat and Nadia. Why is the latest game in the venerable series proving so contentious among Nintendo fans? Is there a way to revive the series's fortunes? And what...
71 min
263
CrossCode Review + Paper Mario: Origami King Re...
Close to a decade after its original crowdfunding campaign, CrossCode is finally on console! Kat and Nadia are joined by Hirun Cryer, who explains why this beautiful indie RPG is worth your attention. Plus, Kat explains why she's still digging Pokemon...
64 min
264
The Console RPG Quest: Xbox + Fallout TV Show R...
The original Xbox didn't have that many role-playing game, but it was nevertheless a watershed moment for both console history and the RPG genre. Kat and Nadia look back on Microsoft's entry into the console market and talk about Knights of the Old...
71 min
265
5 Games Like Diablo 2 You Should Play + Why We ...
It's Diablo 2's 20th anniversary, and Kat and Nadia are here to talk about its remarkable descendants, including Titan Quest, Torchlight, and other classics (plus some newer games)! Plus, Cyberpunk 2077 impressions, why Pokemon Diamond & Pearl...
75 min
266
The Console RPG Quest: WonderSwan + Cyberpunk D...
The latest entry in the Console RPG Quest tackles both the WonderSwan and the Neo Geo Pocket, two cult favorite handhelds nevertheless trapped in the shadow of the Game Boy. Are their RPG legacies worth remembering? Kat and Nadia discuss! Plus, the...
77 min
267
Reacting to the PS5 Reveal, Persona 4 Golden on...
It's E3! ... Sort of. Kat and Nadia react to the PS5 reveal and lament the general lack of RPGs; talk about Persona 4 Golden being liberated from the Vita, and speculate on Square Enix's newly-revealed Project Athia. Plus chatter about the Demon's...
60 min
268
A Special Preview of Branching Narratives With ...
We're launching a brand new podcast at USgamer! In this special preview of Branching Narratives, Jeff and Kat sit down to talk about Jeff's journey through the industry; why they're launching a conversational podcast, and how it's all going to work....
15 min
269
How RPGs Have Handled Social Commentary Over th...
In the course of USG raising more than $7000 for Black Lives Matters during a live stream, Axe of the Blood God recently held a live discussion about social commentary in RPGs. That segment is included in this episode, in which we are joined by Eric...
78 min
270
The Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition Re...
Kat, Nadia, and USG Senior Editor Caty McCarthy render their final verdict on Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition, where they talk about the new content, the biggest changes, and whether the fan-favorite RPG holds up. Plus: Track of the Week, a...
71 min
271
The Console RPG Quest: Game Boy Advance
The Console RPG Quest continues with an exploration of one of Nintendo's less popular handhelds. Regarded as a bit of a tweener in its day, trapped as it was between the Nintendo DS and Game Boy, it has grown in esteem as fans have come to better...
85 min
272
Xenoblade Chronicles Review Impressions, Paper ...
There's lots to talk about in the news, so Nadia and Kat take some time to talk through the recent PS5 tech demo, the Ghost of Tsushima gameplay reveal, and the surprising controversy around Paper Mario. Then Kat shares her thoughts on Xenoblade...
77 min
273
The Failed RPGs We Want to Come Back
Some RPGs become successful franchises, and others simply vanish into history, regardless of merits. This episode covers the latter, with Nadia and Kat discussing lost gems including Alpha Protocol, Resonance of Fate, The Last Story, Kingdom of...
81 min
274
The Console RPG Quest: Nintendo GameCube
Maligned in its day, the Nintendo GameCube is now fondly remembered by Nintendo fans. But what about its RPGs? Kat and Nadia continue the Console RPG Quest by exploring the legacy of Baten Kaitos, Tales of Symphonia, Paper Mario: The Thousand Year...
84 min
275
The Trials of Mana Remake Review
Kat and Nadia sit down to review Trials of Mana remake, and in the process delve into a bigger question: Does the Mana series hold up? Nadia thinks yes, but Kat isn't so sure. The pair also delve into the Secret of Mana soundtrack, celebrate Fire...
71 min