Old Game Plus

We discuss the design and structure of the Dark World, and its first three dungeons. The next episode will be in two weeks, and will cover dungeons 4-6 in the Dark World. Image Gallery for this episode.

We discuss the Desert Palace, the Tower of Hera, obtaining the Master Sword, and fighting Agahnim at Hyrule Castle. The next episode will be in two weeks, and will cover dungeons 1-3 in the Dark World. Image Gallery for this episode.    

We begin with a short segment of A Link to the Past, taking us through the first introductory dungeon, along with various discussion of game mechanics and the history and significance of Zelda. The next episode will be in two weeks, and will go through the boss fight with Agahnim and the end of the game's first act. Links: The long discussion about Ocarina of Time that Jay and @perculia did in blog format. Jay's phone lock screen for some years now. "Official" Zelda series timeline, from Hyrule Historia. Actual image from Nintendo Power guide. Image gallery from this segment.

The end of our discussion on Final Fantasy 6! Kefka's Tower, the ending, and a discussion of the overall design and balance of the game. We also announce our next game!  Hear what it is in the final five minutes of this episode, or check back here or on our twitter within a few days.  Our first segment of the new game will be posted in two weeks, and we will cover the first few hours of gameplay.   Image gallery for this episode. Article on the art of the FF6 Steam/iOS remake.

Though we have completed the game at this point, we shift topics for one episode before our conclusion.  We have guest Nathaniel Chapman on to discuss the music of Final Fantasy 6 with us.  Topics include leitmotif, Final Fantasy battle music, the differences between NES- and SNES-era musical technology, and the game's climactic piece Dancing Mad. In our next episode in two weeks, we will conclude our discussion on Final Fantasy 6 with Kefka's Tower and our overall thoughts on the game, and we will also announce our next game! As always, you can keep up with any developments on our twitter.   Links relating to this episode: Full FF6 OST, for reference Bird singing Chocobo theme Related to our discussion of Shadow's theme, the Balance and Ruin reinterpretation "A Fistful of Nickels" Dancing Mad, OST version Dancing Mad, Black Mages Michelangelo's Pietà, and the composition of the third statue fight Examples of Kefka sequence in SNES version, with elegant transitions between the four movements of Dancing Mad

We complete all of the remaining optional content in the World of Ruin, leaving only Kefka's Tower remaining. Our next episode in two weeks will not be the final episode, instead it will be a special interlude discussing the music of Final Fantasy 6, with our coworker Nathaniel Chapman as a guest.  However, since we'll be talking about the whole game including Kefka and the ending, it's recommended you finish the game anyway. The episode following that will return normal discussion, covering Kefka's Tower and our concluding thoughts. Around that time, you can also keep an eye on our twitter for discussion of our next game!

We fill out the remainder of the party, by visiting the Phoenix Cave and Narshe, and a few other places.  Now with all 14 party members gathered, we're very close to the end. The next episode in two weeks will cover everything outside of Kefka's Tower.  The main pieces of content are optional dungeons in: Fanatics' Tower Doma Castle Ancient Castle (clue for location is picked up outside Fanatics' Tower) Reminder that we're now on Twitter at @ogpluscast! Image Gallery from this episode.

We discuss the overall structure and design of the World of Ruin, and then reunite with Cyan, Relm, Gau, Shadow, and Interceptor. This post will be updated with more details on what we expect to cover in the next episode in two weeks, but we are at least planning to include the quests/characters in: Narshe and the caves behind Narshe The star-shaped mountain range Mobliz Triangle Island At the end of this segment, we will have all 14 characters in the party. Finally, listeners can now follow us on Twitter!  Go to @ogpluscast to keep up to date with discussions, plans, announcements, questions, and anything else. Image Gallery from this episode.

Setting out into the desolate World of Ruin, we find the first few lost friends and once again gain the ability to travel by air. For those playing along: now that we are into the open-ended segment of the World of Ruin and can visit nearly any location by air, it's a little more complicated to track what will happen in each segment.  We will do our best to note which areas/quests are likely to be in the next segment so that you're likely to have seen the things we're covering in a given show.  For the next segment (two weeks from now), we expect to cover questlines/characters that are in: Maranda and Zozo Jidoor Veldt and the Cave on the Veldt Image Gallery from this episode.

The game's first act closes with the Esper Cave, the showdown at Thamasa, and the finale at the Floating Continent.  We end with a major change to the world and a discussion of Shadow's fate. For those playing along, the next segment will go through Daryl's Tomb. Content note: suicide, on the upcoming segment. Image Gallery from this segment.

This segment takes us to the Sealed Gate to the Esper World, the return to Vector and the Imperial Banquet, and on a boat trip to Crescent Island and Thamasa. For those playing along, the next episode (planned for two weeks from now) will go through the Floating Continent and the major act break that comes after it. Some spoilers for Chrono Trigger at 36:30-37:00. The FF6 t-shirt that Melissa has seen Jay in regularly (13:05). Image Gallery from this segment.  

After Terra's unexpected transformation, we search for her in Zozo, then proceed to the famous scene in the Opera House, gain an airship, and explore the Magitek Research Facility. For those playing along, the next episode (planned for two weeks from now) will go through the first story scene in Thamasa (the house on fire). Image Gallery from this segment.

In a long episode, we complete the three scenarios and reunite the party at Narshe, and engage in the battle there that ends the first major arc of this story. For those playing along, the next episode (planned for two weeks from now) will cover through the Research Facility and the story scene that follows it. Images: Rescuing the general from her Imperial cell Cyan's family rides off to the other side Gau and Sabin dance Interceptor takes down an enemy Terra communes with the frozen Esper

Now underway with the game, we witness the opening scene with Terra and the Esper, and venture to Figaro Castle, South Figaro, and the Returner Hideout.  Episode ends after the fight with Ultros and the split into three scenarios. For those playing along, the next episode (planned for two weeks from now) will cover the three scenarios and the boss fight that follows them. Images: Original US SNES box art The opening crawl Edgar and Locke pause fighting to discuss Always good advice

Introducing a series of podcasts where we play through the much-loved classic Final Fantasy VI and discuss it along the way.  We plan to post an episode every two weeks, each covering a few more hours of gameplay, until we finish the game. We hope that some of you will take the chance to play along with us, especially those of you who have not played before.  One reason we begin with this short announcement is that, if you like, you can start playing within the next two weeks, before we post the first full episode. We will primarily be basing our discussion on the SNES original version (called Final Fantasy III in English the time), in case you'd like to try to find a way to play that.  A remastered version with significant art differences is available on Steam, iOS, and Android.  A version closer to the SNES original is available on Game Boy Advance and PlayStation 1. If you choose to follow along--our first segment will cover the start of the game through the start of the three "scenarios."