State of the Arc Podcast
Our podcast breaks down the techniques of great storytelling across our favorite games, movies, literature, and music. I also occasionally upload music I've arranged or composed!
Episodes
July 1, 2026 • 104 mins
What are the most spiritual games you've ever played? What does spirituality mean to you? Have you ever had a transcendent experience while playing a game?
In this episode, we break down some of our most profound experiences playing games — games that weren't just emotional but deeply spiritual. This includes games like Xenogears, Ico, Journey, Terranigma, Death Stranding, Outer Wilds, and many more.
What are some of your p...
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Mark as Played
June 23, 2026 • 106 mins
Why did Hironobu Sakaguchi leave Squaresoft in 2001? People have long held the answer to be the movie Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. However, that makes no sense. Think about it. Sakaguchi was their best game producer. Why demote him for a movie that flopped? Why not just put him back in charge of games which he is obviously VERY good at and is the company's central product? We tackle these questions and tell the real reason wh...
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June 17, 2026 • 61 mins
Sometimes the most compelling villains are the ones who correctly identify a real problem: a collapsing society, a broken system, an impossible moral dilemma, or a truth the hero would rather avoid. In this episode, we look at four video game villains who may have been right in their diagnosis—but heinously wrong in their prescription.
Time Codes:
1. Intro (0:00)
2. Metal Gear Solid 2 (3:54)
3. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (2...
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June 9, 2026 • 69 mins
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 Et...
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June 3, 2026 • 87 mins
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 Fina...
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May 27, 2026 • 92 mins
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...
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May 19, 2026 • 113 mins
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...
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May 12, 2026 • 86 mins
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 persona...
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May 5, 2026 • 123 mins
We analyze the story and characters of Final Fantasy IX to pluck out the elements of the Hero's Journey as outlined by Joseph Campbell and Christopher Vogler. Joining me is Gavin from @overleveledgames . 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**: htt...
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May 3, 2026 • 145 mins
We discuss the wild and inspiring development history of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The development for this game took many wild turns, as the team learned and grew. After watching this, maybe you might want to see if you can't get a start on that game you've been wanting to make for years... I hope you enjoy! Thanks for watching, and don't forget to support us on Patreon~ https://www.patreon.com/resonantarc
**We’re Now O...
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April 28, 2026 • 116 mins
We listen to the OST for Final Fantasy 14 1.0, Before Meteor. This soundtrack was primarily composed by the legendary Nobuo Uematsu, and was the final game in the Final Fantasy series that he composed for. In some ways, he shows everything he has learned on his long journey through so many Final Fantasy games, and also how he grew outside of video games in general, as a musician. This is the most unique soundtrack of his career, an...
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Mark as Played
April 14, 2026 • 76 mins
We revisit the ending of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. This time we take it as far as we can go. We focus on the philosophical justifications for each choice in the ending scenario. We discovered some surprising things, and come to a very similar conclusion in the end. I hope you enjoy! Thanks for watching, and don't forget to support us on Patreon~ https://www.patreon.com/resonantarc
**We’re Now On Spotify**: https://open.s...
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April 7, 2026 • 162 mins
We finally make the choice. Which one, you ask? The right one, of course! Join us as we have a discussion with Dude McGuy and Keith Comito from www.lifespan.io . Thanks for watching, and don't forget to support us on Patreon~ https://www.patreon.com/resonantarc
**We’re Now On Spotify**: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gIzzvT3AfRHjGlfF8kFW3
**Listen On Soundcloud**: https://soundcloud.com/resonantarc
**Listen On iTunes**: h...
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April 6, 2026 • 73 mins
Final Fantasy Tactics doesn’t sound like a typical Final Fantasy game. That’s exactly why it works.
In this episode, we break down the soundtrack of Final Fantasy Tactics, composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto and Masaharu Iwata, and explore how its music reinforces the game’s darker tone, political narrative, and tactical gameplay.
Instead of upbeat, heroic themes, Tactics leans into restraint; using repetition, pacing,...
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Mark as Played
March 31, 2026 • 106 mins
We play Act 3 in this episode, and stop JUST SHORT of the ending and the return to Lumiere. That being said, we talk about end of game spoilers here. SPOILERS, BEWARE! Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is such a blast to play! Thanks for watching, and don't forget to support us on Patreon~ https://www.patreon.com/resonantarc
**We’re Now On Spotify**: https://open.spotify.com/show/4gIzzvT3AfRHjGlfF8kFW3
**Listen On Soundcloud**: ...
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March 26, 2026 • 131 mins
Final Fantasy XV didn’t just have a troubled development; it was built on a foundation that would never work. Square Enix created Crystal Tools for Final Fantasy XIII, a highly linear game… and then tried to use that same technology to build an open-world project in Versus XIII. What followed was nearly a decade of delays, engine rewrites, and constant restructuring, until the original vision collapsed into something e...
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Mark as Played
March 19, 2026 • 25 mins
Monster Hunter Stories 3 surprised us!
What looked at first like a smaller Monster Hunter spinoff turned out to be one of the most engaging JRPG experiences we’ve had so far this year. From its layered turn-based combat to its monster ecology systems and mythic symbolism embedded in its world, there is far more going on here than we anticipated.
In this video, we break down why Monster Hunter Stories 3 works, what makes its...
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March 9, 2026 • 73 mins
For those interested in attending the Sakimoto concert in London, you can learn more and buy tickets here: https://www.fairfield.co.uk/events/lmp-the-colours-of-harmony-2026
What do many JRPG's understand about faith that churches often miss? Here are the ways that JRPGs preach faith more effectively (especially for young people) than churches. This is one where Mike and Casen find common ground amidst general disagreement on the ...
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Mark as Played
March 2, 2026 • 48 mins
If Chrono Trigger doesn't need a remake, is there any value in remaking it anyways? What if it does need a remake? Does a remake of Chrono Trigger have anything to offer newer audiences? Or is the whole "new audiences" shtick a gimmick to turn all our conversations about a beloved game into discussions on the merits and demerits of the remake itself (as has happened to many other games that are reintroduced in this manner). Or shou...
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February 22, 2026 • 133 mins
The way you critique games says far more about your thinking, your communication, and even your relationships than you might realize.
In this episode, we break down what good criticism actually looks like, why so many people approach it the wrong way, and how learning to critique art properly can genuinely improve your life. From heated online debates to everyday conversations, the skills behind thoughtful criticism are the same s...
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Mark as Played
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