State of the Arc Podcast

E3 didn't go away, it still lives on in our hearts... and online thanks to all the Direct's and State of Play's and all that. Luckily all these things are coming out around the time E3 used to take place anyway, so we don't have to miss out on anything. In this episode, we give our thoughts on Final Fantasy VII: Revelation, Final Fantasy: Resonance, Persona 6, Lost Hellden, Threads of Time, Xenoblade: Genesis, Vivarium, Tales of Eternia, gen Atlas, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake and much more! Mike is currently in London awaiting the Hitoshi Sakimoto concert, so this episode was done remotely. Hope you all enjoy! What were your favorites?

Hitoshi Sakimoto Concert Details: https://www.fairfield.co.uk/events/lmp-the-colours-of-harmony-2026

**Listen On Spotify**: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gIzzvT3AfRHjGlfF8kFW3

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**Listen On iTunes**: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/state-of-the-arc-podcast/id1121795837

**Listen On Pocket Cast**: http://pca.st/NJsJ

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The Dragon Quest 40th Anniversary livestream has come and gone, and the reaction from fans has been... mixed.

After years of silence, Square Enix finally reintroduced Dragon Quest XII, but the announcement raised lots of questions. Why was the game rebuilt from the ground up? What happened during development? Could starting over actually be the best thing that ever happened to the project?

Joining me this week is Darryl from Final Fantasy Union as we discuss the Dragon Quest XII reveal, Square Enix's latest financial results, Capcom's remarkable resurgence, and the development philosophies that have separated Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy for nearly forty years.

We also dive into the development history of Chrono Trigger, the legacy of Yuji Horii and Hironobu Sakaguchi, and why some classic RPGs continue to resonate with new generations of players decades after their release.

Final Fantasy Union
https://www.youtube.com/@FinalFantasyUnion

Datalog
https://www.youtube.com/@thedatalog

Defenders of the Crystal Vol. 3 Kickstarter
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/finalfantasyunion/the-defenders-of-the-crystal-an-encyclopedia-of-jobs?ref=b0ixah

Hitoshi Sakimoto 40th Anniversary Concert
https://www.fairfield.co.uk/events/lmp-the-colours-of-harmony-2026

#DragonQuest #DragonQuestXII #JRPG #ChronoTrigger #FinalFantasy #SquareEnix #StateOfTheArc #ResonantArc

Time Codes:
1. Intro (0:00)
2. Guest Introduction (1:25)
3. Hitoshi Sakimoto Concert | Meet Up With Us! (6:03)
4. Dragon Quest 40th Anniversary Livestream Reactions (14:03)
5. Square Enix Latest Financial Report (45:52)
6. Chrono Trigger Retrospective (59:29)

What are the best RPGs for someone who has never played a JRPG before? Which games teach the foundations of the genre without overwhelming new players? And which games can genuinely turn a casual player into a lifelong fan?

We break down why games like Chrono Trigger, Dragon Quest, Pokémon Yellow, Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, Persona 5, Golden Sun, EarthBound, Suikoden II, Super Mario RPG, and Final Fantasy IV remain some of the most approachable and emotionally resonant entry points into the genre.

Along the way, we talk about:

Why turn-based combat is NOT outdated, the hidden brilliance of abstraction in classic JRPG design, why Pokémon “hacks into the childhood psyche”, how JRPGs teach players complex systems intuitively, why nostalgia is actually a good thing, and the games we’d introduce to our own children.

Whether you’re trying to introduce a friend, spouse, or child to JRPGs for the first time, or you’re just reflecting on the games that shaped you, this was one of our favorite conversations in a long time.

#JRPG #ChronoTrigger #FinalFantasy #Pokemon #Persona5 #EarthBound #Suikoden #GoldenSun #Nintendo #RetroGaming #VideoGames #ResonantArc

Time Codes:
1. Introduction (0:00)
2. Chrono Trigger (4:09)
3. Dragon Quest (9:23)
4. Pokémon (19:19)
5. Ni No Kuni (31:30)
6. Persona 5 (43:00)
7. Golden Sun (50:05)
8. Earthbound (56:55)
9. Suikoden I & II (1:06:30)
10. Final Fantasy IV (1:17:43)

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We talk Chrono Trigger and the future scheduling for our channel. Then we answer questions from Patreon! Enjoy the podcast, and don't forget to become a part of our Patreon community if you have the means. Thanks for watching!

**Listen On Spotify**: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gIzzvT3AfRHjGlfF8kFW3

**Listen On Soundcloud**: https://soundcloud.com/resonantarc

**Listen On iTunes**: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/state-of-the-arc-podcast/id1121795837

**Listen On Pocket Cast**: http://pca.st/NJsJ

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Ever wondered why Cloud feels like an anti‑hero, why Squall radiates lone‑wolf introvert energy, why Zidane is so charismatic, or why Tidus is secretly one of the most emotionally intelligent protagonists in the series?

In this episode, we break down the real psychology behind your favorite Final Fantasy characters using:
The Meyers-Briggs MBTI
Color Code

From FFVII, FFVIII, FFIX, and FFX, we analyze how each hero’s personality shapes their journey — and why these characters feel so alive decades later.

We cover fan‑favorites like:
Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, Sephiroth
Squall, Rinoa, Quistis, Seifer
Zidane, Garnet, Vivi, Steiner, Kuja
Tidus, Yuna, Auron, Lulu, Wakka

And we explore how their personality types influence:
Their relationships
Their growth arcs
Their leadership styles
Their mythic roles in the story
Their emotional strengths and flaws

If you’ve ever taken a personality test and thought,
“Which Final Fantasy character am I actually closest to?” this episode is for you.

Whether you’re a psychology nerd, a Final Fantasy fan, or both, this is one of our most fun deep‑dives yet. Enjoy the podcast, and don't forget to become a part of our Patreon community if you have the means. Thanks for watching!

**Listen On Spotify**: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gIzzvT3AfRHjGlfF8kFW3

**Listen On Soundcloud**: https://soundcloud.com/resonantarc

**Listen On iTunes**: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/state-of-the-arc-podcast/id1121795837

**Listen On Pocket Cast**: http://pca.st/NJsJ

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