Best Resonant Arc Podcasts (2025)

1
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Review | The Best RPG In 20 Years? 28:02

4d ago28:02

28:02

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 came out of nowhere and has left us completely stunned. This game has just changed the industry for the better. This review has NO SPOILERS, but tons of footage! As a disclaimer, we have not yet finished it. Mike is around 20 hours in and Casen is around 35 hours in. But wow, this game is absolutely worth playing. Please…

1
Death of the Author: Finding Meaning in Art | State of the Arc Podcast 1:35:24

6d ago1:35:24

1:35:24

Daniel Santos @DanielSantosAnalysis joins us to discuss 'death of the author', which is a method of engaging with art that does NOT involve any consideration for what the author intended for the work to mean. Though we started out there, we slowly moved into topics like AI, God, Objectivity and whether or not people really are seeing Jesus in their…

1
Life Is IL-LO-GI-CAL | Terranigma Analysis (Ep.3) | State of the Arc Podcast 2:09:07

11d ago2:09:07

2:09:07

The way that life and the world are presented in this game is endlessly charming. We proceed through the resurrection of all of the the animals up to the moment that humans are reborn, which is the end of chapter 2. Leave a comment and support us on Patreon if you enjoy this content. Thank you! **We're Now On Spotify**: https://open.spotify.com/sho…

1
Preserving Good Old Games | State of the Arc Podcast 1:06:54

13d ago1:06:54

1:06:54

Mike has on Adam and Marcin from Good Old Games to discuss the importance of game preservation. With so many games being made every year, it is easy for consumers and producers to lose sight of how to best preserve the forgotten relics of the past. Please consider supporting us on Patreon if you have the means. Thanks for watching!Good Old Games: w…

1
The Greatest RPG You Never Played | Terranigma Analysis (Ep.2) | State of the Arc Podcast 2:14:35

18d ago2:14:35

2:14:35

This game is beautiful, and the first Chapter, which we cover here, is not one you'll soon forget. Not only that, it's funny and strange in all the best ways. It feels like a taste of that golden age of RPG's, but one that many people missed out on. Play this game now, for your own good. You'll thank me later. Leave a comment and support us on Patr…

1
The Switch 2 Is Seriously Impressive | State of the Arc Podcast 41:13

20d ago41:13

41:13

We now know everything we wanted to know about the Switch 2! Well, almost everything. Due to pricing questions we are waiting for more information before we include that issue in our discussion. In the mean time, that direct was wonderful and there are some exciting things coming from Nintendo! Thank you for watching and remember to subscribe and j…

1
The Mysterious Development History Of Terranigma (Ep.1) | State of the Arc Podcast 1:35:40

25d ago1:35:40

1:35:40

Terranigma is one of the most touching and beautiful games ever made. It is near the top of Mike's list of favorite games ever and Casen is now playing it for the first time. We cover the history of the games development, including why it never came to the America, and what may have happened to the lead developers who seem to have vanished in an en…

1
A Switch Eulogy: Looking Back | State of the Arc Podcast 1:00:23

27d ago1:00:23

1:00:23

The Switch 2 has been announced, thus signaling that the end of the Switch's life is imminent. As we look back on a life well lived, we remember the good times. The games that made us laugh and cry, the experiences that we'll always remember. The Switch may not be long for this world, but it will always live on inside our hearts. May it rest in pea…

1
Should Final Fantasy DOWNGRADE to AA? | State of the Arc Podcast 1:49:08

1M ago1:49:08

1:49:08

Join us and The Night Sky Prince as we discuss the future of Final Fantasy. AAA games have massive budgets and have become risky investments, which is why most studios prefer to play it safe when handling hundreds of millions of dollars to create one game. The downside of this is that players are left with a homogenized product that doesn't look or…

1
The Music of Final Fantasy VIII and IX | State of the Arc Podcast 1:44:26

1M ago1:44:26

1:44:26

Final Fantasy 8 and 9 have some of the best music in video games. Nobuo Uematsu put his heart into these scores and it shows. Don't forget to support us on Patreon if you enjoy the content. Thank you!Link to survey: https://forms.gle/oVbHZJWDRsAef5Rp7 Time Codes:1. Intro (0:00)2. FF8 (4:16)3. FF9 (57:50)**We're Now On Spotify**: https://open.spotif…

1
The Music of Final Fantasy VII | State of the Arc Podcast 1:35:16

2M ago1:35:16

1:35:16

Final Fantasy 7 has one of the best soundtracks in the history of video games. We analyze it to figure out why that is. We got stories, background information and more about this specific game and we lay it all out right here. This was supposed to include all of the PS1 era final fantasy games but it ended up just being about FF7. There might be a …

1
The Music of Final Fantasy | SNES Era | State of the Arc Podcast 1:17:50

2M ago1:17:50

1:17:50

We now look back on the music of Final Fantasy throughout the SNES era. Nobuo Uematsu levels up and creates some of the most moving and beautiful songs in all video games. We cover Final Fantasy IV, Final Fantasy V and Final Fantasy VI in this video. Don't forget to support us on Patreon if you enjoy the content. Thank you!Time Codes:1. Intro (0:00…

1
The Music of Final Fantasy | NES Era | State of the Arc Podcast 1:29:59

2M ago1:29:59

1:29:59

We look back on the music of Final Fantasy throughout the NES era. Nobuo Uematsu is a genius and fantastic musician, and with the limitations he had, he delivered some truly incredible and iconic soundtracks between Final Fantasy I, Final Fantasy II and Final Fantasy III. Don't forget to support us on Patreon if you enjoy the content. Thank you!Tim…

1
Way Deeper Than You Remember | The NeverEnding Story Analysis | State of the Arc Podcast (Ft. Keith Comito) 1:40:19

2M ago1:40:19

1:40:19

In today's episode, we're talking about the 1984 classic fantasy film, The NeverEnding Story, a staple of my childhood and one of my all-time favorite films. Both this film, and the novel it is based on, are rich with symbolism, meaning, and contain a thematic richness that may surprise you. Join us as we revisit this amazing film from our childhoo…

1
Why Children SHOULD Play Video Games | State of the Arc Podcast 1:24:07

2M ago1:24:07

1:24:07

Lots of people think that video games are a waste of time. Well, that may depend on how they're used and what games are being played. In this episode, we examine many of the health benefits that can be derived from a healthy video game diet. Playing games can lead to the acquisition of a surprisingly large number of skills. Skills that your parents…

1
Is Turn Based Combat OUTDATED? | State of the Arc Podcast 50:43

2M ago50:43

50:43

Is turn-based combat dying in video games? Is it already dead? Or is it just outdated, being kept on life support by us old geezers? Possibly an even more important question... can Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 help tilt the scales towards what is obviously the superior form of simulated digital combat? Magic The Gathering as a computer: https://arxi…

1
Unqualified For Free Will | Metal Gear Solid 2 Analysis (Finale) | State of the Arc Podcast 2:47:00

2M ago2:47:00

2:47:00

Today, we are joined by our friend Max Derrat to analyze the ending of Metal Gear Solid 2! If you haven't heard of him, check out his channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@maxderrat/featuredAfter escaping from Arsenal Gear, the fortress falls out of the sky and crashes into Manhattan Island. Raiden is contacted by a different AI impersonating the …

1
TURN THE GAME OFF RIGHT NOW! | Metal Gear Solid 2 Analysis (Ep.7) | State of the Arc Podcast 2:00:52

3M ago2:00:52

2:00:52

Raiden awakens on Arsenal Gear, where Solidus reveals he had killed Raiden's parents and raised him as a child soldier during the Liberian Civil War. After this, Olga frees Raiden, explaining she is a Patriot double agent forced to help him in exchange for her child's safety. After the Colonel begins acting erratically, it is revealed that he is a …

1
Top 20 Game Soundtracks | The Best Music In Video Games | State of the Arc Podcast 2:05:21

3M ago2:05:21

2:05:21

What video games have the best music? We each made a list of the top 10 video game soundtracks of all time. For this video, we did not include Final Fantasy music. That will be treated in a separate video in the future. Do you agree with our picks? Whose list resonates with you the most? Let us know! And don't forget to support us on Patreon if you…

1
A Family "Affair" | Metal Gear Solid 2 Analysis (Ep.6) | State of the Arc Podcast 1:34:14

3M ago1:34:14

1:34:14

After the assassination of President Johnson, the Colonel asks Raiden to honor his last directive—to rescue computer programmer Emma Emmerich, step-sister of Otacon, and help her upload a virus into Arsenal Gear’s AI system, GW. On the way to the flooded Shell 2 core where she is trapped, Raiden encounters Vamp again, who survived bullet wounds to …

1
Bring Back Pre-Rendered Backgrounds! | State of the Arc Podcast 58:17

3M ago58:17

58:17

Pre-rendered backgrounds have been disrespected and become a thing of the past in modern video games. That needs to change. Bring them back! We discuss this and more in our latest episode. Remember to subscribe and join us on Patreon! **We're Now On Spotify**: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gIzzvT3AfRHjGlfF8kFW3**Listen On Soundcloud**: https://sou…

1
Who Are The Patriots? | Metal Gear Solid 2 Analysis (Ep.5) | State of the Arc Podcast 1:40:25

3M ago1:40:25

1:40:25

On his way to rescue President Johnson, Raiden is confronted by the terrorist commander, who claims to be Solid Snake. Enraged by this, Pliskin reveals himself as the true Solid Snake and fires on the imposter from a helicopter. Utilizing an advanced exoskeleton, the terrorist leader evades Snake's attack and boards a Harrier being piloted by Vamp.…

1
Is The Switch 2 The FUTURE Of Gaming? | State of the Arc Podcast 49:34

3M ago49:34

49:34

The Switch 2 has been announced. The board is set, the pieces are moving. Now is the time for gamers to decide what their future will be. Or will it be decided for them? Is this a contest of pure power? Or can finesse and convenience win the day? Only time will tell. But the Switch 2 is shaping up to be a serious contender for best console of all t…

1
Laugh and grow fat! | Metal Gear Solid 2 Analysis (Ep.5) | State of the Arc Podcast 1:26:52

3M ago1:26:52

1:26:52

After Raiden and Pliskin disarm the C4 planted within Shells 1 and 2, Raiden receives shocking news from a now-mobile Peter Stillman. All the C4s (planted in places where severe damage could not be done to the Big Shell) were nothing more than diversions for the real explosives, large enough to disturb the structure's integrity. Additionally, the r…

1
How Final Fantasy VII Pulled Off Its Mind-Bending Twist | State of the Arc Podcast 1:05:30

3M ago1:05:30

1:05:30

A plot twist is an interesting thing. Many stories try to pull off such a feat, few succeed. In terms of video games, Final Fantasy VII is one that pulled off its twist remarkably. We were going to talk about a few other games, but the time was well spent in focusing mostly just on FF7. And the Metal Gear Solid example is mid-game. That game pulls …

1
War As A Video Game | Metal Gear Solid 2 Analysis (Ep.3) | State of the Arc Podcast 1:29:42

4M ago1:29:42

1:29:42

Two years after the sinking of the USS Discovery, with Solid Snake confirmed dead and framed as the primary suspect, new FOXHOUND recruit Jack (codenamed Raiden) is sent to infiltrate the off-shore decontamination facility known as Big Shell, constructed shortly after the sinking of the Discovery, which, according to the government, spilled thousan…

1
UNDERRATED Games You're Sleeping On | State of the Arc Podcast 1:32:05

4M ago1:32:05

1:32:05

What does the word underrated even mean? We've never been big fans of the words underrated or overrated, but we figured that if we define our terms we can actually have a decent discussion! Lots of games have, for one reason or another, evaded the public consciousness; despite being incredible games! If the only way we can talk about some of these …

1
The Snake Returns | Metal Gear Solid 2 Analysis | State of the Arc Podcast 1:30:00

4M ago1:30:00

1:30:00

Snake returns in our analysis of the very beginning of Metal Gear Solid 2. This is exactly what players wanted and Hideo Kojima delivered on it big-time... with a bit of a twist. We play up to end of the boat mission, where everything ends in chaos. Not only the characters, but the player as well. This exciting sequence is packed with symbolism, re…

1
Games We Missed In '24, Games We Want In '25 | State of the Arc Podcast 45:40

4M ago45:40

45:40

We couldn't play everything we wanted to in 2024 but as luck would have it, there will actually be another year starting soon! It will be called 2025 so that means we get a whole extra year! But with this unexpected extra time comes with its own hurdle, apparently even though we didn't get to play everything we wanted to play in 2024, there will st…

1
The Shocking Development History Of Metal Gear Solid 2 | State of the Arc Podcast 1:29:36

4M ago1:29:36

1:29:36

Metal Gear Solid 2 went through a grueling process in development that lead to big changes needing to be made. Kojima got to tell the story in his style, of course, but was more constrained in the type of story he was allowed to tell. But something shocking happened towards the end of development that changed the course of the game, and all of hist…

1
Are You BLINDED By NOSTALGIA? | State of the Arc Podcast 48:14

4M ago48:14

48:14

Why do you like the things that you like? Can good art be objectively measured? Is nostalgia really such a bad thing? We tackle questions like this in our latest episode of the podcast. Look, guys, we recorded this after midnight on a Friday like 4 days before Christmas, give us a little slack. We love you and hope all is well! Enjoy our fun discus…

1
Why You Should (Re)Play Metal Gear Solid 2 6:09

4M ago6:09

6:09

Next week, on Christmas Day, we'll be beginning our deep-dive into Metal Gear Solid 2, Hideo Kojima's follow-up to the PS1 stealth action masterpiece. In this video, I explain why you should play (or replay) the game alongside us.By Resonant Arc

1
Final Fantasy Intros Ranked | State of the Arc Podcast 1:56:17

5M ago1:56:17

1:56:17

Which Final Fantasy games start off with bang, and which ones whimper pathetically on the floor? Which intros propel these games to legendary status, and which ones would the games be better off without? We discuss the qualities at the beginning of each game and rank them in order, from best to worst. It turns out, Final Fantasies all have pretty g…

1
Which Game Will We Cover Next? 6:51

5M ago6:51

6:51

The votes are in! The patrons have chosen! But which game will we cover next for a long-form analysis on our podcast? Metal Gear Solid 2? Terranigma? Why not both? Will we EVER cover Final Fantasy 9? Find out today!Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/resonantarcSubscribe Star: https://www.subscribestar.com/resonant-arcTwitter: https://twitter.com…

1
Top 10 Intros That Make Games LEGENDS | State of the Arc Podcast 1:27:23

5M ago1:27:23

1:27:23

The intro to art is often the most important part. Video games are no exception. If a dev team can pull off a good intro, they likely will be able to pull off a good game. To craft the perfect intro takes a lot of coordination between the directors, producers, musicians and the dev team. When it's done right, it almost always spells success for the…

1
Seeing With Eyes Unclouded By Hate | Princess Mononoke Analysis | State of the Arc Podcast 2:04:33

5M ago2:04:33

2:04:33

In today's episode, we're covering Hayao Miyazaki's masterpiece, Princess Mononoke. Set during Japan's late Muromachi period and incorporating fantastical elements, the tale centers on Ashitaka, a young prince of the Emishi people, as he becomes entangled in a conflict between the forest's spirits and the humans exploiting its resources. The film e…

1
Discard your memories of past games | The Philosophy of Mono No Aware | State of the Arc Podcast 1:21:26

5M ago1:21:26

1:21:26

Today, my good friend Hian and I discuss the concept of Mono No Aware in Japanese culture—the "Romance of Impermanence" and the beauty of letting go while maintaining the appreciation of precious memories.Hian's Essay: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EsKkfrt8wyaZUqwWjsnJDg1jNGoWM80s/view?usp=drive_link…

1
It's Not A Lake, It's An Ocean | Alan Wake Analysis (FINALE) | State of the Arc Podcast 1:41:51

5M ago1:41:51

1:41:51

Having just finished Alan Wake, we couldn't help but notice the Jungian symbolism woven into the story. This is a story about Alan's journey to face himself, his shadow, and leave behind a persona (and image of himself) he has grown to hate.By Resonant Arc

1
How To Learn A Language FAST | State of the Arc Podcast 1:13:38

5M ago1:13:38

1:13:38

I became fluent in Spanish in 4 months. Here is how I did it, and the good news is, it's something that you can do too! It's a basic, easy method that anyone can do. But it's not exactly a thing that you'd expect. I am currently studying Swedish with this same method to great success. Check it out! What language do you want to learn? SUBS2SRS: http…

1
CONSOLE WAR! Sony vs. Nintendo Through The Years | State of the Arc Podcast 1:24:21

5M ago1:24:21

1:24:21

The console war is upon us, whether we would risk it or not! In which case, which side are we on? This matchup is specifically between Sony and Nintendo, with only mentions of Sega and X-Box. We've developed an objective criteria with which to judge these behemoths of the gaming world. Each console from the beginning to the most recent generation w…

1
Who Pulls Alan From Cauldron Lake? | Alan Wake Analysis (Ep3) | State of the Arc Podcast 1:07:48

5M ago1:07:48

1:07:48

Sheriff Sarah Breaker takes Allan in for questioning. Alan's phone rings, his wife's voice faintly coming through, followed by a chilling voice dictating Alan's next moves if he ever wants to see her alive again. At Lovers' Peak, the kidnapper demands Alan's manuscript, claiming it foretells future events. Their confrontation escalates, leading to …

1
Nightmares Exist Outside Of Logic | Alan Wake Analysis: (Ep.2) | State of the Arc Podcast 1:08:28

5M ago1:08:28

1:08:28

Alan Wake, a famous crime novelist from New York City, lives in a world of stories, especially those with supernatural elements. But he's been suffering from writer's block for two years, so he and his wife Alice head to the remote town of Bright Falls for some peace and quiet. Suddenly, Alan finds himself driving along a dark road at night, and be…

1
The TOP 10 Games of ALL TIME | State of the Arc Podcast 2:03:38

6M ago2:03:38

2:03:38

Do you want to know what the top ten games of all time are? I think it's time to settle this once and for all. Mike and Casen go head to head in all out war as they try to settle this age old question once and for all. The rules are simple. For each match-up, from #10 to #1, the points get higher and higher. The winner of the #10 spot gets 1 point,…

1
Apologies And Correcting The Record 9:16

6M ago9:16

9:16

This is just a quick message in response to a great conversation I had over the phone with Zakogdo. I wanted to correct the record in some areas where he felt we misrepresented him and let you guys know where the future of this conversation lies on our channel.By Resonant Arc

1
Alexander O. Smith Returns to Discuss Localization | State of the Arc Podcast 3:19:02

6M ago3:19:02

3:19:02

Alexander O. Smith returns to talk game translation and localization. What words did he sneak into every Final Fantasy game that he translated? How would he have tackled current controversial translations? All this and more are discussed in this exciting episode of the Resonant Arc Podcast. Alexander's Instagram account: http://www.instagram.com/ao…

1
How Alan Wake Was Created | Alan Wake Analysis: (Ep.1) | State of the Arc Podcast 1:14:04

6M ago1:14:04

1:14:04

In today's episode, we begin our deep dive into Alan Wake, a 2010 action-thriller game from Remedy Entertainment. In this first episode, we'll tell the story of the game's development, getting into the creators' headspace and setting up the themes and deeper meaning the game will explore. Join us!By Resonant Arc

1
Afflicted By A Hero | Dune: Part Two Analysis | State of the Arc Podcast 1:35:28

6M ago1:35:28

1:35:28

Disclaimer for this episode:It has come to my attention since recording this episode (months ago) that there is some controversy surrounding the discussion of Paul Atreides as a "hero" among fans of the series. There are many who reject the idea that Frank Herbert's intention was misunderstood, as I state at the beginning of the video. I hope peopl…

1
Have Translators Gone TOO FAR? | State of the Arc Podcast 2:11:07

6M ago2:11:07

2:11:07

How far is too far? If a translator tries to use common phrases and manners of speaking in the target language but does so at the expense of the source language's intention, who is to blame? We conducted an interview with Zakogdo over text and asked him some of these exact questions. Zakogdo is someone who talks about the localization of Japanese g…

1
Dreams Are Messages From The Deep | Dune: Part One Analysis | State of the Arc Podcast 1:56:17

6M ago1:56:17

1:56:17

Today, we'll be analyzing Dune: Part One, the 2021 film adaptation of Frank Herbert's classic 1965 novel. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, renowned director of Blade Runner 2049, Arrival, and Sicario, this movie tells roughly the first half of the story. It is filmed to the brim with great filmmaking to break down and is without question one of our fa…

1
The Perfect Remake? | Silent Hill 2 w/ Max Derrat | State of the Arc Podcast 1:17:05

6M ago1:17:05

1:17:05

Silent Hill 2 Remake has delivered a new experience to fans of the original while taking great care to maintain the spirit of the original and the result is something that comes as close to perfection as I've ever seen. They threaded the needle perfectly and even improved the experience in many ways. Max Derrat drops by to talk all things Silent Hi…

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Resonant Arc Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen