It's been almost exactly 11 years to the day since we last welcomed video game arranger, producer, and saxophonist Sean Schafianski onto Rhythm Encounter, so it's long past time we had him on again! With a string of excellent new arrangement albums throughout last year and this year, there's so much to talk about. From his work on Jazz Arrange Vers…

What about podcasts? You guys got any podcasts? In this week's episode of Retro Encounter, the host re-opens the RPG confessional, a place where we admit to series that we've never played before, much to our shame. Don't worry, though, we're just here to encourage our friends to play good stuff! Who has never touched the Xenoblade Chronicles series…

On this week's Random Encounter, we're discussing a mobile-based gacha spinoff of a beloved JRPG and a Wii U classic that has finally made its way to a modern console! Persona 5 has more than its share of spinoffs, including Persona 5 Royal, Persona 5 Strikers, Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight, and Persona 5 Tactica, and now there is a new game to a…

Narinig ko sa isang content creator na ang indie game space raw ang epicenter ng creativity when it comes to video game development and I agree 100%. Malawak ang mundo ng videogames, hindi na lang 'to natatapos sa AAA games na palaging napaguusapan ng mga tao sa SocMed at madalas lumabas sa newsfeed mo. Gets rin 'yung wiring sa utak natin bilang ga…

First time sa TGS history na may dalawang spoilercast episode sa isang game. Ganon kaganda 'tong Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. It demands nuanced conversation na sobrang hirap makuha sa comment section. In this alternate version, si Norvin naman ang conversation driver at ako 'yung nasa passenger seat. Kasama rin namin si MM at si EdgyWeeeb na accor…

Sabi ni Carl Jung "No matter how isolated you are and how lonely you feel, if you do your work truly and conscientiously, unknown allies will come and seek you" In this 7th episode of Project Ubos Backlogs 2025, may dumating na reinforcement at lahat din kami may natapos na game. Nagkwento si Dar tungkol sa Trails From Zero, ako sa Death Stranding …

Call it spring, some spring and some summer, or the most accurate but boring moniker, "Q2 2025," but the second quarter of this year saw the release of some VERY musically important titles in RPGFan's coverage. While Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 looms over everything in the RPG space for this time period, there were many notable other releases that …

You've got to jump into the podcast! This week on Retro Encounter, the panel is back to dig into the story-heavy second half of Breath of Fire II. Who can't stand the solo sections? Just how long can a final dungeon be? Is this the first time we killed God? Listen in to find out! Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Mike Salbato, Matt Wardell; Edited by Paul…

Ghost of Yotei Hype, Uma Musume Craze, & Multiplayer Game Etiquette. Bring Your Own Topic (BYOT) ay bagong segment sa TGS kung saan bawat episode ay may baon kaming bite-size topic all about games in general. Open for guests! Reach out lang kayo, batuhan niyo lang ako ng topic, then G! *** You can follow PlayStation Pilipinas at: FB: https://www.fa…

On this week's Random Encounter, we're playing an updated classic, a spin-off of a modern classic, and talking about the weirdest game I have heard of in a long time! First up, Mark is taking off his nostalgia goggles to give the recent remaster of the CRPG classic Neverwinter Nights 2 an updated look! Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition follows…

The Switch 2 is here! Is what we would have opened with had this episode gone up on time. Still, Nintendo's latest is the newest console on the market and it's doing pretty well, so we gathered up some fans of Nintendo music for this one. To try something new and to celebrate a wider range of Nintendo music history, each panelist was allowed to cho…

It is podcasts. On this week's episode, two old veterans and one newcomer dive into the 1995 SNES RPG Breath of Fire II. A game known for its brutal grind and maybe even more brutal localization, some of the panelists still have a soft spot for it all these years later. Is the localization really that bad? How does the gameplay hold up? Do we ever …

Mga character na namatay, plot twist, new gameplay mechanics, at marami pang iba. Kadalasan, gamit na gamit ang element of surprise sa games mapa-negative man or positive ang impact sa atin. In this episode, ginulat ko sila Bonbon at Dre sa topic kasi hindi ko sinabi bago mag rercording. Element of surprise nga e. ^_^ *** You can follow PlayStation…

Akalain mo 'yun? Naka-6 months na kami sa project na 'to at wala pang nag-quit? Good job! Malupet na rebanse rin this episode kasi lahat kami may natapos na laro. Finally, after several years, natapos ko na ang Horizon Forbidden West. Si Norvin rumatrat ng games at platinum trophies. Isa sa mga natapos niya 'yung Control pero wala raw siyang nainti…

Say what you want about your average mobile game, but there are a growing number of great RPGs you can play on your phone. Sure, some have hostile gacha mechanics, and many of the best get shut down eventually, but the care, budget, attention, and talent that goes into some mobile RPG soundtracks is no less than their console or PC brethren. In som…

You hear that? Richie Marcus likes Retro Encounter! In today's episode, the panel gets back together to discuss the second half of Fallout: New Vegas. Our conversation covers The Strip, the endgame, the DLC, and of course, Richie Marcus. Does The Strip live up to its name? Which ending did we pick? Who among us takes up cannibalism? Listen in to fi…

On this week's Random Encounter, we're back to business as usual! Not-E3 and the release of the Switch 2 hit us like a hammer. But now that things have finally settled down, it's time to chat about some games! First up, Aleks gets a chance to talk up the long-awaited Chapters 3+4 of Toby Fox's follow-up to Undertale, Deltarune! Chapters 1+2 release…

Nagbalik loob si Norvin sa trophy hunting pero this time, mas piling game na lang 'yung target niya i-platinum. Ako naman e mas inspired mag plat dahil sa Project Ubos Backlogs 2025 at para may entry sa Battle of the Backlogs event ng PlayStation Trophy Hunters Philippines.So naisip kong makipag kwentuhan tungkol sa trip na 'to.Kwentuhan tungkol sa…

It's been nearly nine years since we published our first episode about RPG forest music, so it is high time we revisited the topic! Forest music comes in several varieties, from contemplative to mysterious, upbeat to foreboding, and many more. Today's long-awaited episode covers RPG music with a real range, both in terms of styles but also in that …

We always love to celebrate birthdays here at Retro Encounter, and one of our all-time favourite RPGs/immersive sims has a big one coming up! Deus Ex is turning 25 years old! In honour of this momentous occasion, we've assembled a panel of fans to chat about each entry in the series. Whether you're a fan of the original Deus Ex, the two more recent…

Clever puzzles, creative platforming, tight combat, and exciting exploration - lahat 'yan meron sa Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Sa totoo lang, mauubusan ako ng adjective para i-describe kung gaano kaganda itong game e. Hindi perfect kasi I think may problema sa presentation ng story, na nagkaroon lang ako ng pake sa bandang huli. Pero overall,…

On this week's Random Encounter, we've finally recovered from Not-E3, so now it's time to talk about the Switch 2! Nintendo's long-awaited follow-up to the Switch has finally released and, surprise, it's still the Switch! The Nintendo Switch 2 is burning up the sales charts and already consuming countless hours of folks' time. That said, there has …

On this week's Random Encounter, the Summer Game Fest (AKA Not-E3) season is officially upon us! For video game fans, this period is like early Christmas. With nonstop gaming announcements, there is something for everyone! This week, our panel has been working hard keeping up with all the major events, so it's time to share our favourite games from…

PlayStation acquired EVO way back 2021, may magandang relationship ang Marvel at PlayStation, they also revealed their first wireless fight stick. Isang baraha na lang pusoy na e. Enter Arc System Works! Put them all together and we have Marvel Tokon Fighting Souls. Hindi ako ma-fighting game pero super hyped ako dito and looking forward sa mga cha…

Ganito talaga kapag walang natatapos na backlogs e. Naging recorded kwentuhan 'yung isang oras sa mahigit na apat na oras na podcast. Anyway, may kwentuhan pa rin naman about games. In this episode, nagkwento si Norvin tungkol sa Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights at realistic na hulma ni Lara Croft, si Tito Teej nagkwento tungkol sa kung bakit G…

You know, I tried to measure my charisma on Retro Encounter once. The microphone burst into flames. On this week's episode of Retro Encounter, we're chatting about the opening hours of the 2010 Obsidian classic Fallout: New Vegas. Can the host finally get his head around a WRPG? Do any of us actually do the main quest? Is Fisto the greatest charact…

Unang klase sa Humanities noong college nagtanong ‘yung professor namin “What is beauty?”. Bida bida at palabiro akong sumagot na “Beauty is ”. Syempre hiyawan buong klase. Marami pang sumagot after ko, kanya-kanyang explanation kung ano ang maganda para sa kanila. Nakakatawa na ‘yung maganda sa kanila e panget para sa akin at ‘yung maganda sa akin…

On this week’s episode of Random Encounter, we’re doing a deep dive into the game everyone is talking about: Sandfall Interactive's Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. In this lengthy, full-blown spoilercast, we chat about the beautiful music, the combat, the story, and argue about who loves Esquie the most. Does the panel adore the game as much as the ho…

This podcast are sick. This week on Retro Encounter, we do the impossible: try to create a top 10 list for 90s RPGs. Does the best game finish at the top? Do we have anything except JRPGs on our list? Did we leave out your favorites? Listen in to find out! Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Aleks Franiczek, Alana Hagues, Jimmy Turner; Edited by Zach Wilker…

Indie, G? ay new segment sa TGS dedicated for indie games! This year, resolution ko na mag commit at maglaro ng indie games every month at syempre pagusapan sa podcast. In this episode, nagkwentuhan kami nila Dre, S1lvz, Gio, at Sky tungkol sa Blue Prince. Isang puzzle adventure game na may rougelike elements developed by Dogubomb and published by …

Years in the making and first episode na nagsama lahat ng hosts ng TGS. Isang henyo master. Iba't-ibang category. Dos por dos. Game? Enjoy! :) *** You can follow PlayStation Pilipinas at: FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/playstationpilipinas1/ *** You can follow Vivz & @TheAraAraChannel at: FB: https://www.facebook.com/thearaarachannel IG: https…

There will always be that one game that defined our childhood. That one game that we will always champion as our favorite video game of all time - Lunar Silver Star Story 'yun sa amin ni MC. In this episode, nagkwentuhan kami ni MC tungkol sa history at memories namin sa Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete sa PS1 at sa experience namin sa Remastered …

GAMEPLAY IS KING raw. Agree ba? To be honest, noon pinaka may bigat 'yung story for me e. Pero ngayon, mas may chance na matapos ko 'yung pangit na story pero maganda ang gameplay kesa sa napakagandang story pero olats naman ang gameplay. In this episode, nag-draft kami ni Dhrey ng mga games na for us the best 'yung gameplay. Kayo ano 'yung game na…

Listeners. Do you want...our podcast? On this week's episode of Retro Encounter, four of our panelists take a deep dive into Suikoden II. Who defends Jowy? Is Shu still be the best? How much Neclord hate can the host take? Listen in to find out! Featuring: Zach Wilkerson, Paul Dennis, Aleks Franiczek, Rob White; Edited by Paul Dennis Opening and en…

Habang sila Norvin, Tito Teej, at Dar ay tumatapos ng backlogs, ako naman e umuubos ng oras sa frontlogs. Pero oks lang dahil hindi ko pwedeng palampasin 'tong Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - ito 'yung most anticipated game ko ng 2025 e. Anyway, jampacked kwentuhan dahil sa mga natapos naming (?) backlogs. Nagkwento ako about sa Lunar Remastered Coll…

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're looking at a stylish upcoming turn-based RPG and a remaster of a sprawling open-world classic! First, Zek is here to discuss Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a game that might end up being his favorite JRPG of this generation. This stylish title is capturing attention with an incredible voice cast and fresh ta…

First episode sa TGS history na wala ako. Sa wakas! Natupad na 'yung pangarap kong umabsent. Lol Kidding aside, wala pa kasi akong drive laruin 'tong Split Fiction. Baka sa future, let's see! Buti na lang nalaro nila Dhrey, Norvin, at Bonbon para mapagusapan nila dito sa podcast. Magnum opus na ba 'to ng Hazelight at ni Josef Fares? GOTY contender …

RPG title screens bear a heavy burden. They're one of the first things we see in a game, making them one of the best places to leave a strong first impression. And often, a key component of that is the music. Several years ago, we highlighted eight standout title screen tracks in episode 71, and today, with a new panel, we're highlighting eight mor…

All of this podcasting in front of a children. In this week's episode of Retro Encounter, four enthusiastic series veterans and one newbie get together to discuss the original Suikoden to celebrate the recent remaster. Does the game still hold up? Can we stop ourselves from talking about the series as a whole? Listen in to find out! Featuring: Zach…

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're looking at a new classic puzzle-adventure game and a packaged duo of some of the best RPGs ever released on the PSX! First, Gio and Tin are here to give us a walk-through tour of Blue Prince, the hit rogue-lite puzzle adventurer. This game came out of nowhere for a lot of folks, trapping them inside the sh…

Maundy Thursday for Betrayal, Good Friday for Sacrifice, Black Saturday for Silence / Waiting, & Easter Sunday for Resurrection / Redemption. Iba't-ibang tema bawat araw na tungkol sa video games. Disclaimer: Spoiler-heavy itong episode. Kung ayaw niyo ma-spoil, I highly suggest na wag niyo pakinggan. Ito 'yung mga games na nabanggit namin: Bioshoc…

Umpisa na ng roadblock sa project na 'to. Ako, si Norvin, at si Tito Teej, kaming tatlo walang natapos na backlog. Ang salarin? Monster Hunter Wilds at Split Fiction. Ganon talaga e. May mga new games talaga na hindi kayang palampasin at paniguradong uubos ng oras. Bawi na lang sa susunod. Buti pa si Dar may dalawang games na natapos. Totoo nga yat…

It doesn't matter how many draft picks get stolen. We will hold the line! Oh yes, it's time for another draft episode! This time around, we're drafting from some of BioWare's most celebrated games…alongside one or two that are a bit less celebrated. Who will steal Garrus before anyone else? How many choices will determined entirely by romance compa…

On this episode of Random Encounter, we chat about everything that happened last week and, BOY, did a lot happen last week! First up, Dom is here to talk about the recent sci-fi Souls-like AI LIMIT. Does it live up to its inspirations, or does it fall just as flat as AI does in the real world? Then, Zach joins the panel to chat about the Switch 2 D…

Sobrang lala. Hyped and excited habang nanonood ng Nintendo Direct kaso after ng presentation parang na-pop 'yung balloon ko ni Ingleshera halata. $80 for Mario Kart World, Physical version na mas expensive pero susi lang ang laman, Spiritual successor ng Bloodborne pero multiplayer, at PWD simulator. Deserved ba ng Nintendo mag set ng bagong presy…

Playing games for 3 decades now, hindi ko na maalala 'yung huling game na nag-self insert ako sa bidang character. Most of the time, lente lang sila to experience the game. Iba dito sa Yakuza: Like A Dragon. Higit pa sa naka-relate, pinangarap kong maging si Ichiban Kasuga. Na sana pareho kami ng outlook sa buhay. Cringe e 'no? Pero tangina ganon e…

"Iba na talaga ang kabataan ngayon" I know boomer statement but I also think there's some truth to it. Totoo nga ba? Kumusta na ba ang mga kabataan ngayon? Kumusta na ba ang mga guro ngayon? Kumusta na ba ang lagay ng edukasyon sa Pinas? In this episode, nagkipag-kwentuhan sa akin si Tito Teej ng Backlog Na Naman! Budolcast tungkol sa buhay niya bi…

Continuing our new run of quarterly new music updates is our first episode for 2025, and it's a truly notable start. We have a range of new music today, from well composed soundtracks that play homage to earlier console generations to new projects from popular Minecraft composer C418. We also continue to take our definition of music from a certain …

I wanna be an RPG fan when I grow up. This week on Retro Encounter we gather to discuss the RPGs that defined our taste. Not necessarily our favorites, but games that helped us understand what we value in an RPG or in games in general. Does Final Fantasy show up? Who likes the most obscure Metroidvanias? Who surprises the host with their love for r…

On this episode of Random Encounter, it's time to sink into the shadows and brew some tea, because we're talking about Assassin's Creed Shadows and Wanderstop! Assassin's Creed Shadows is finally here! This long-awaited game has been delayed multiple times over the last year, but was that extra time well spent? Tom is here to tell us his thoughts a…