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
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...
Listen
Watch
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.spotify...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
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**: https:/...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
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, and shifting musi...
Listen
Watch
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**: https:...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
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 else entirely....
Listen
Watch
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 comba...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
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 ...
Listen
Watch
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...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
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...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
February 15, 2026 • 63 mins
I always felt like I was born in the wrong time. I grew up on science fiction-- Star Trek, Star Gate, Star Wars--but I knew I would never live in a world where I could actually sit in the cockpit of a spaceship and travel to other planets. Now I've come as close as I ever will! After finally diving into VR, with games like No Man’s Sky, Elite Dangerous, Resident Evil 4, and Half-Life: Alyx, I had a moment that genuinely surprised m...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
February 8, 2026 • 93 mins
Meta cut several studios and fired over a thousand people who were working on Virtual Reality and now we're wondering if VR will EVER catch on. What are the biggest obstacles to VR finally catching on, or will it just never be something the majority of people feel comfortable with? Join us and Keith Comito of Lifespan.io to discuss THE FUTURE. Thanks for watching and support us on Patreon if you like what we do! https://www.patreon...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
February 1, 2026 • 77 mins
Another week, another quote from a Final Fantasy developer that made people on X mad. We give our take on what Hamaguchi actually said, then take a look at an AI-slop Zelda trailer and talk about Dragon Quest's 40th anniversary!
Time Codes
01. Intro (0:00)
02. FF7R Director Made The Internet Mad Again (1:11)
03. AI Slop Zelda Trailer (24:16)
04. Dragon Quest 40th Anniversary (1:01:20)
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
January 25, 2026 • 79 mins
We got to play the demo of Dragon Quest VII Reimagined and absolutely loved it! But then, of course, we got curious about the original DQ7 game and so Casen started playing it and.... Wow. These games are quite different. If you are new to the series or a seasoned veteran of all things Dragon Quest, we'd love to hear from you! What are your thoughts on this new reimagined version of the game? If you enjoy deep-dive game design anal...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
January 18, 2026 • 95 mins
If there is no spoon, then what's to keep you from bending it with your mind? Or is it you that bends instead? Here is part 2 of our analysis of That Matrix! Will Neo save the planet? Find out in not this movie but the ones after but this movie is still awesome! 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/4gIzzvT3AfRHjG...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
January 13, 2026 • 106 mins
For this episode, we decided to go back through all of the breadcrumbs left by the storytellers throughout acts 1 and 2. Don't watch this episode if you have not yet gotten to the very start of act 3. 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
Watch
Mark as Played
January 6, 2026 • 106 mins
What if we're all in The Matrix....? Are we in a simulation? How is the word "simulation" best defined? 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**: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/state-of-the-arc-podcast/id...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
December 30, 2025 • 141 mins
We play through the end of Act 2 and stop right at the very beginning of Act 3. This is where much of the games mystery is revealed and we can finally talk more openly about what's been going on in this game the whole time. We fight the Paintress and discover her secrets. 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/4gIz...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
December 25, 2025 • 104 mins
Act 2 kicks off with a quest for the heart of the paintress. We meet Monocco and get to have a lot more fun before a very dark and unfortunate ending. We're glad you can join us as we discuss this roller coaster of emotions. 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**: ht...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
December 16, 2025 • 65 mins
We meet the man from the beach again, and things go poorly for the party. Act I ends and Act 2 begins without much hope. But we do meet a new character named Verso. The party has to regroup and move forward despite having even less chance than ever of completing their task. 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/4g...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Popular Podcasts
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Nancy Grace dives deep into the day’s most shocking crimes and asks the tough questions in her new daily podcast – Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. Nancy Grace had a perfect conviction record during her decade as a prosecutor and used her TV show to find missing people, fugitives on the run and unseen clues. Now, she will use the power of her huge social media following and the immediacy of the internet to deliver daily bombshells! Theme Music: Audio Network