Normandy FM: Recent Episodes
Normandy FM
Eric Van Allen and Kenneth Shepard come together for a multi-part video game retrospective podcast. Normandy FM does episodic analysis of video games, starting with Bioware's Mass Effect series, going on to discuss other genres and studios. Tune in to the discussion and join in by playing along with us!
Mass Effect | 51 Eps. Dragon Age | 47 Eps. Jade Empire | 5 Eps. The Last of Us | 16 Eps. Final Fantasy X | Ongoing
Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Time to put the dragon in Dragon Age. This episode Tauriq Moosa joins us to talk about facing the Evanuris' dragons, the consequences of the city choice earlier in the game, and we also check in on a suspicious well in the Wetlands. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Bluesky:Normandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdrTauriq: @tauriq
Sorry for the very long delay. We're back to check in with the remaining members of the Veilguard, including Emmrich, Harding, Bellara, and Taash. Enjoy the show!Follow us on Bluesky:Normandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdr
With the group still reeling from Weisshaupt, we do our best to try and ease some tensions and minds. We help Neve, Davrin, and Lucanis settle some of their affairs, and we start to learn some terrifying truths about the Wardens and Crows along the way. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Bluesky:Normandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdr
We had to take a brief detour from our Dragon Age: The Veilguard journey to head to Boston for PAX East. For the fourth year in a row, Normandy FM hosted Video Game Tinder, in which we and a group of panelists swiped left and right on all your favorite video game heroes and villains. This time featuring Giant Bomb's Jan Ochoa, Perfect Garbage's Son M., and Yaniir's Jen Vinson. We've also included the Google Slide presentation for you to follow along with here:https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1WcUZgrVjPn2AnjRHLjHkcI3s29h6zSvvj8cdnUXlaKE/edit?slide=id.g3da35a75db2_2_45#slide=id.g3da35a75db2_2_45Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Bluesky:Normandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdrJan: @janochoaSon: @bogboogieJen: @yaniir
The Evanuris are descending upon the Grey Warden's home base, and thanks to the First Warden's stubbornness, they have no idea what they're up against. GamesRadar's Rollin Bishop joins us as we head to Weisshaupt, fight hella Darkspawn, and put our team's bonds to the test.Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Bluesky:Normandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdrRollin: @rollinbishop.com
Before we get on with the plot, we wanted to check in with all Dragon Age: The Veilguard's party members and set the stage for future episodes. We talk the split between Neve and Lucanis after the dragon choice, the awkward realness of Taash's relationship with their mother, and end up getting philosophical about death with Emmrich. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Bluesky:Normandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdr
As we head back out into Thedas, we meet two new friends...and one old one.This episode we recruit Taash and Emmrich, and then meet up with Morrigan, who has smuggled someone into Minrathous for a quick meet and greet that picks at old Dragon Age wounds.Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on BlueskyNormandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdr
As word of a new Blight spreads across Thedas, it was only natural the Wardens would show up asking questions. In this episode, we try to find a Warden who will listen to us about the gods, and make one of Dragon Age: The Veilguard's most difficult decisions.Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Bluesky:Normandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdr
If we're gonna take down the elven gods, we're gonna need some help. Time to start building the Veilguard. This episode Harding may have found a new connection to her ancestors, Neve investigates Venatori schemes in Minrathous, and we go underwater to find a mage killer.Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Bluesky:Normandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdr
After five years, we're heading back to Thedas. In the first episode of our feature-length Dragon Age: The Veilguard retrospective, we're sorting through a ton of conflicting feelings. We talk about the RPG's reported development struggles, getting used to being in Rook's shoes, our feelings on the series' hard pivot into an action RPG, and much, much more. Today is Dragon Age Day, so we're uploading this episode a little earlier than planned. We'll be picking up our regular biweekly cadence at the beginning of 2026, and if you want early access to episodes, you can get them by becoming a patron.http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Bluesky:Normandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdr
Happy N7 Day?This year BioWare showed some concept art of angry Krogan and not much else. We talk about what we do and don't know about Mass Effect 5, as well as talk a little bit about the upcoming Dragon Age: The Veilguard season. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on BlueskyNormandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdr
After a few delays and breaks in between, we are finally at the Nier finale. In this episode, Eric gives Ken a crash course in all the extended Nier universe and we try and come to a conclusion as to what it all means. If you want to follow along, here's Eric's presentation:https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/161hdqsQAW6lr5TDVpxoGvwivXFbKLQaev3EBAyjk1PQ/edit?slide=id.g39da7802510_1_0#slide=id.g39da7802510_1_0Enjoy the show! We'll see you back in Thedas when we start Dragon Age: The Veilguard in the new year.Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Bluesky:Normandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdr
Remember how we said Nier Replicant had a new ending added to it? We decided to save it for the last. Well, almost. We still have the external media episode after this. Michael Higham returns for the final gameplay episode of our Nier season in which we go back and play Replicant's Ending E, discuss how it connects both Nier games in new surprising ways, and lament once again that we didn't get to play as Kaine before. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Bluesky:Normandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdrMichael: @brazyazn
All roads lead to Ending E. In our Nier Automata finale we talk about the final endings, Devola and Popola's big hero moment, and prepare to go back to Nier Replicant for one final showdown.Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Bluesky:Normandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdr
Before we head to the end of Nier Automata, we have to go check up on an old friend. It's the Emil episode as we talk about the game's secret boss and all it implies about the state of the world.Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Bluesky:Normandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdr
It is getting worse for our android heroes as we keep going through Route C. Diego Argüello returns to talk about A2 learning to care and 9S falling into madness. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Bluesky:Normandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdrDiego: @diegoarguello
The reigning guest champ Natalie Checo returns after a long hiatus as we talk about the beginning of Nier Automata's Route C. We talk about passing the torch to the final playable character, unpack the surprisingly timely themes of Automata, and somehow find a way to talk about KPop Demon Hunters. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Bluesky:Normandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdrNatalie: @heartimecia
We did all of Route A over again...as 9S. This episode covers the broad strokes of Nier Automata's Route B, so if you haven't played through the whole thing, come back later. Moises Taveras returns alongside first-time guest Sam Greszes as we talk about 9S, the reveals of his hacking abilities, and wonder what the **** those asterisks are. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Bluesky:Normandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdrMoises: @platanorangerSam: @sam.robotsfightingdinosaurs.com
We finished Nier Automata. The credits rolled, so it's over. Right? Riiiiiight?Nah. We finished Route A and returning guest Sam Greer joins us to talk about Automata's first closing chapter. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on BlueskyNormandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdrSam: @sammgreer
This episode we close the book on Adam and his attempts to roleplay humanity. We head down to the Copied City and pontificate on Nier's vision of synthetics trying to figure out what humanity was all about long after the humans are gone from this world.Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on BlueskyNormandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen:@shepardcdr
As 2B and 9S explore more of Nier Automata's desolate world, we find new ways that robots try to imitate humanity and speculate about what it all means.Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Bluesky:Normandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdr
Another PAX East, another Video Game Tinder panel. Well, until they stop letting us make fools of ourselves. This year we're joined by Michael Higham, Jenna Stoeber, Asa GreenRiver, and returning swiper Anya Combs as we swipe left and right on fake dating profiles for real video game characters. We've also included a Google Slides link of the presentation so you can follow along and see the profiles Eric made. Enjoy the show!Slideshow: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1rdr4Oa2P6Ui5fvcPOTg_ThOhXDR6azk_7HlrCmCUbvg/edit?slide=id.p#slide=id.pBecome a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Bluesky:Normandy FM: @normandyfm.bsky.socialAnya: @anyacombsherhair.bsky.socialEric: @seamoosi.bsky.socialKen: @shepardcdr.bsky.socialMichael: @brazyazn.bsky.socialJenna: @thejenna.bsky.socialAsa: @agreenriver.bsky.social
As we make our way through Nier Automata's post-apocalyptic world, we stumble upon an amusement park. Here we find some interesting wrinkles in how Automata frames its android vs. machine war and ponder if it succeeds in some of the ways we felt The Last of Us didn't. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on BlueskyNormandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdr
BioWare has been hit with layoffs and reassignments as it pivots to Mass Effect 5, and that includes veteran talent that helped make the Dragon Age series what it is today. Ken and Eric sit down to try and figure out what it all means, ponder the future of the studio, and look toward our upcoming Veilguard season.Follow us on Bluesky:Normandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdr
Now that folks are rolling credits on Dragon Age: The Veilguard, we wanted to take some time to break down our spoiler-filled overarching thoughts. Ken and Eric are joined by returning guests Ash Parrish and James Whitbrook as we talk about Rook, the ending, Varric, Solas, and all the other big reveals in The Veilguard. Think of it as an appetizer before our full season covering the game next year. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Bluesky:Normandy FM: @normandyfm.bsky,socialEric: @seamoosi.bsky.socialKen: @shepardcdr.bsky.socialAsh: @adashtra.bsky.socialJames: jwhitbrook.bsky.social
It's time to head back down to Earth as we learn more about what's happened in the world of Nier since the events of Replicant. This episode we talk the beginnings of the connections between games, how Automata uses UI for storytelling, and how we're feeling about the game's genre-blending. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on BlueskyNormandy FM: @normandyfmEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdr
Oh, hey. Don't know if y'all heard but a little game called Dragon Age: The Veilguard is out on October 31. Ken and Eric both got review copies for the game, and so we had to come together for a (spoiler-free, except for what BioWare has already talked about) review. We talk Rook, the party, the game's limited carry over from previous games, and the action RPG combat. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Twitter/BlueskyNormandy FM: @normandyfmshowEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdrRead Ken's review on Kotaku:https://kotaku.com/dragon-age-veilguard-4-review-dreadwolf-rook-action-rpg-1851681954
We're back in the trenches of Nier, but things look a little different this time. It's time to start Nier Automata and unpack the apparent genre shift between the sequel and Replicant, 2B and 9S' dynamic, and how much better the game feels to play.Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Twitter:Normandy FM: @normandyfmshowEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdr
The boys got to go hands-on with Dragon Age: The Veilguard and talked with some of the developers at BioWare. In this BioBit, we talk about the many hours we got to play, our feelings on Rook, the action RPG pivot, the state of Dragon Age, and what the next two months mean for BioWare. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Twitter:Normandy FM: @normandyfmshowEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdr
We finally finished Nier Replicant (until Ending E, which we'll be covering at the very end of the Nier season). It took us a lot longer than it was supposed to, but Alex Donaldson is here to help us unpack endings C and D as we finally prepare to head into Nier Automata.Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Twitter:Normandy FM: @normandyfmshowEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdrAlex: @APzonerunner
We beat the game...again! Julie Muncy returns to talk about Nier Replicant's Route B, the merits of the game's replayability, Kaine's perspective, and we get into a big ol' lore dump midway through.Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Twitter:Normandy FM: @normandyfmshowEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdrJulie: @juliemuncy23
The boys went to Summer Game Fest this year, but Ken saw an hour of Dragon Age: The Veilguard behind closed doors. In this very special BioBit, we talk about the name change, the cinematic trailer, and everything Ken saw in Los Angeles. But we also talk about some of the cool games we saw at Summer Game Fest, from Game of the Show Sonic X Shadow Generations and some cooler indie games coming this year. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Twitter:Normandy FM: @normandyfmshowEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdr
We've reached the ending. Well, one of them. This episode we're talking about Nier Replicant's ending A. Ken finally gets some answers on questions he's been asking all season, but Eric assures him there will be more questions to ask in the future.Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Twitter:Normandy FM: @normandyfmshowEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdr
First time, long time friend of the show Jesse Vitelli joins Normandy FM as we collect the final pieces of the key to the Shadowlord's castle in Nier Replicant. This episode we head back to the Aerie and do a war crime, then we head back to Facade to wrap things up there.Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Twitter:Normandy FM: @normandyfmshowEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdrJesse: @jessevitelli
Nier is still in its Zelda era as we continue revisiting different areas of Replicant's big world. This episode we head back to Facade, the Junk Heap, and the Forest of Myth as we explore Nier's revenge-driven obsession, the humanity of the shades, and celebrate Emil as Normandy FM's latest gay icon.Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Twitter:Normandy FM: @normandyfmshowEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdr
They didn't ban us last time, so we did Video Game Tinder at PAX East 2024. With the help of returning guests Kate Sánchez and Jenny Windom, as well as newcomers Anya Combs and Ben Starr, we swiped right and left on some of your favorite video game characters. Since the panel has a visual element, we've included a link to a Google Slide doc of the presentation for you to follow along.Slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ZqG-RbtP1DmXx1tRt5rV_4MS2yPZPyij48c0zqtIYPk/edit#slide=id.pEnjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Twitter:Normandy FM: @normandyfmshowEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdrKate: @OhMyMithrandirJenny: @kimchica25Anya: @AnyaynABen: @The_Ben_Starr
Now that we've reassembled our party, it's time to get back to trying to save Yonah. This episode we start our grand re-introduction tour as we search for missing pieces of a device that may help us reach the Shadowlord's lair. But we'll also be revisiting some old friends, learning stuff about the team, and dealing with some of the new stuff added to Replicant. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Twitter:Normandy FM: @normandyfmshowEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdr
Time has skipped and Nier is older, somehow. Michael Higham returns to join us as we learn the truth about Emil's power, discuss body horror, and Nier Replicant's pacing. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Twitter:Normandy FM: @normandyfmshowEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdrMichael: @michaelphigham
Happy Holidays, folks. We wanted to give you all a surprise gift before we take off to our respective corners: a Baldur's Gate 3 spoilercast.Ash Parrish returns alongside Normandy FM newcomer James Whitbrook to talk about Larian's D&D epic, and we barely got to scratch the surface of everything we wanted to talk about.Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Twitter:Normandy FM: @normandyfmshowEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdrAsh: @adashtraJames: @Jwhitbrook
Isaiah Colbert, The Otaku without Borders joins us as we talk about Nier Replicant's time skip and just douse the episode in anime references.Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Twitter:Normandy FM: @normandyfmshowEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdrIsaiah: @ShinEyeZehUhh
Hey, sorry we were a little late with this. We are here to talk about the N7 Day reveals, from the teaser trailer, the transcripts, the art, and also the state of BioWare as it deals with layoffs, pickets, and lawsuits.Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Twitter:Normandy FM: @normandyfmshowEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdr
It's time to meet "the best boy." This episode Tatum joins us to head to Emil's manor, where we find a spooky subplot and a lengthy Resident Evil homage. We also talk about the merits of Brother Nier and Dad Nier and wonder if the distinction really matters if both of them are 1000+ years old.Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Twitter:Normandy FM: @normandyfmshowEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdrTatum: @NoWayTatum
Our journey to curing Yonah continues as we head to the Forest of Myth. This week we talk about Nier Replicant's different approaches to shaking up the hacking and slashing, and how it sometimes works and sometimes doesn't.Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Twitter:Normandy FM: @normandyfmshowEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdr
Hello. We're back in Night City for an episode because Cyberpunk 2077 got an expansion. Michael Higham joins us to talk about Phantom Liberty, the 2.0 update, and that new ending in a jam-packed episode. We assess the state of Cyberpunk 2077 and what a "redemption arc" in the era of live-service games even means.This episode has full spoilers for Phantom Liberty starting at the 24:30 mark, so if you haven't finished the expansion yet, come back when you have. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Twitter:Normandy FM: @normandyfmshowEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdrMichael: @michaelphighamRead our Phantom Liberty reviews:Eric: https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-cyberpunk-2077-phantom-liberty-pc/Ken: https://kotaku.com/cyberpunk-2077-phantom-liberty-update-review-idris-elba-1850852291Michael: https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/cyberpunk-2077-phantom-liberty-review-the-songbird-sings/1900-6418116/
This episode we're headed to Facade and get to talk about the cultures that sprout up in Nier Replicant's version of the post-apocalypse.
Also in this show, we talk about episode rollout for the Nier season, and try our best not doomsay about BioWare in a mini BioBit.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
In our second episode we take a look at some of the towns throughout Nier Replicant, talk about the core mechanics, and meet Kaine.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Hey. We're back! Sorry it took so long.
This season we're diving into the Nier series, starting with Nier Replicant, the remaster of the original game. In this first episode we talk through the series' Drakengard backstory, our history with the series, and play through the first section of the story of Nier and Yonah.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Hey folks! It's been a minute.At this year's PAX East we had a fun panel with returning guest Janet Garcia and newcomers Carli Velocci and Jarrett Green. Eric made Tinder profiles for a handful of video game characters and the panel decided whether or not they'd swipe right or left on your faves. We've included a Google Presentation link of the slides for y'all to follow along with the audio. Hope y'all enjoy!https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/196Pi8T2ylJo6c5G2gkdVUqgzmNbx_36keYoIXMpinkM/edit#slide=id.g2099762164c_0_71All that being said, you might be wondering "where's the Nier season?" This is basically us giving you some signs of life that Normandy FM still exists and we're looking to come out of hibernation soon. Ken has been healing up well, and while he's still not quite at 100%, as you can tell from this panel, he can speak pretty well, again. Thanks for your patience, and we'll be back soon.Follow us on Twitter:Normandy FM: @normandyfmshowEric: @seamoosiKenneth: @shepardcdrJanet: @GameonysusCarli: @velocciraptorJarrett: @Jarrettjawn
And so V and Johnny Silverhand's story comes to an end.In our Cyberpunk 2077 finale, we talk about all the games' endings and why we picked the ones we did in the end of our respective playthroughs. We touch on the inner politics of Arasaka, finding a new family in the Aldecaldos, and what it means to stay in Night City after everything V has been through.We also close out the episode by talking about what's next for Normandy FM.Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Twitter:Normandy FM: @normandyfmshowEric: @seamoosiKenneth: @shepardcdr
Hey everyone. We wanted to take a moment ahead of the Cyberpunk 2077 finale to set some expectations, as the show will have to go on a brief hiatus ahead of the Nier season. Some life stuff has come up and we're not going to be able to pick up right after Cyberpunk as we planned, so we wanted to take a quick second to put this announcement on the podcast feed where everyone would hear it. But don't worry! We will be back as soon as we're able. This isn't goodbye.Follow us on Twitter:Normandy FM: @normandyfmshowEric: @seamoosiKenneth: @shepardcdr
Before we head into the finale, we've got some odds and ends to clean up. Collin MacGregor and Sam Greer join us to talk through some of Cyberpunk 2077's Act 3 side quests, and we work through our feelings on the uneven segment of the game, and hypothesize why it ran out of steam at the very end. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Twitter:Normandy FM: @normandyfmshowEric: @seamoosiKenneth: @shepardcdrCollin: @BeguiledGamerSam: @SamMGreer
After patiently waiting for a dozen episodes, it's time for Ken's V to find love. This episode is all about Kerry Eurodyne, his feelings about the life he's made, how Johnny's return has thrown a wrench into it, and how Ken's V can fix him.Enjoy the show!Send questions for our upcoming Q&A to normandyfm@gmail.comBecome a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Twitter:Normandy FM: @normandyfmshowEric: @seamoosiKenneth: @shepardcdr
It's finally time to talk about the man in our head. It's the Johnny Silverhand episode.Tim Rogers joins us as we talk through Johnny Silverhand's relationship to those in life and in death, discuss how Cyberpunk 2077 handles V's autonomy as Johnny starts to take control, and finally meet Ken's boyfriend: Kerry Eurodyne.Enjoy the show!Send questions for our upcoming Q&A to normandyfm@gmail.comBecome a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Twitter:Normandy FM: @normandyfmshowEric: @seamoosiKen: @shepardcdrTim: @108Action Button: @actionbuttonAction Button's Cyberpunk 2077 review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnBKX_vdYQI&t=1885s
IGN's Matt Kim joins us to talk about Goro Takemura and how he helps us set up Cyberpunk 2077's final decision, but doesn't do much else.In this episode we talk about how Goro embodies Asian stereotypes often perpetuated in the Cyberpunk genre, and how he offers one of the game's best conversations about class issues, but does nothing with it.Enjoy the show!Send questions for our upcoming Q&A to normandyfm@gmail.comBecome a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Twitter:Normandy FM: @normandyfmshowEric: @seamoosiKenneth: @sheparcdrMatt: @LawofTD
It's a big episode this week as we're joined by IGN's Alan Torres and TheGamer's Andrew King to talk about the standout side quests of Cyberpunk 2077's second act.Alan joins us to talk through the drawbacks of interfering with the Nomad's business, and talking through how Cyberpunk handles grief and ceremony around Jackie's death.Andrew returns as we put the spotlight on the good and bad of Delamain, and get real heavy about the ethical conundrums of martydom and belief as it pertains to a death row inmate's theatrical execution.Then Ken and Eric wrap things up by talking about how the Peralez's establishing themselves as a power in Night City might be playing into a larger conspiracy. Enjoy the show!Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Twitter:Normandy FM: @normandyfmshowEric: @seamoosiKenneth: @shepardcdrAlan: @Alan7615Andrew: @funnelchest94
Riley MacLeod returns to help us talk about Cyberpunk 2077's cop turned private investigator River Ward.This episode we talk about Cyberpunk's take on the detective game, the game's vision of cops and law enforcement, as well as the window River's story has into a domestic quiet life for a V who chooses to romance him. Or the life the game insists on trying to force on women and tease gay men with.Enjoy the show!Riley's Cyberpunk 2077 review:https://kotaku.com/cyberpunk-2077-the-kotaku-review-1845946628Become a Normandy FM patron:http://patreon.com/normandyfmFollow us on Twitter:Normandy FM: @normandyfmshowEric: @seamoosiKenneth: @shepardcdrRiley: @rcmacleod
It's time for our Panam episode where we talk about everyone's favorite Nomad and the contrast in how Cyberpunk 2077 handles her story.
Julie Muncy joins us as we help Panam deal with discord within her clan, and touch on some of Cyberpunk 2077's romance systems, portrayal of the Nomad culture, and how it sells that home is not a place, but a people.
Enjoy the show!
Julie's Cyberpunk 2077 review on USGamer: https://www.usgamer.net/articles/cyberpunk-2077-review
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Julie: @juliemuncy23
It's time for a special episode as Kate Sánchez and Fūnk-é Joseph return for a Cyberpunk: Edgerunners spoilercast. We're taking a break from the video game to talk about Netflix's anime set in Night City, and how we think it surpasses Cyberpunk 2077's depiction of life as a merc under Arasaka's thumb.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Ken: @shepardcdr Kate: @OhMyMithrandir Fūnk-é: @funkefly But Why Tho: @ButWhyThoPC
A roundup of where you can follow and support the Fanbyte staff, courtesy of Lotus: https://twitter.com/LotusLovesLotus/status/1571967439016968193
This week we're heading out of Night City lines to try and find more answers about the Relic, but we'll also be taking a quick detour on the way to our destination.
Continue Podcast's David Roberts joins us as we head into the Badlands to find Hellman, but not without the help of Panam Palmer, a Nomad working in Night City. We also take some time to help Afterlife bartender Claire do some street racing, but even her fast car can't drive fast enough to escape her past.
Sorry.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr David: @davidrobots Continue Podcast: @ContinuePod
Natalie Flores makes her grand return to the show to talk all about Judy for the first of our four companion shows.
This episode is about our favorite braindance expert as she attempts to make real change for the sex workers of Night City, and our panel tries to reckon with Judy's hope in the face of Cyberpunk 2077's unending cynicism.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Natalie: @heartimecia
As we search for more solutions to our relic problem, An Eloquent Attempt at Ire joins us as we head to Pacifica to talk to the Voodoo Boys.
This episode of our Cyberpunk 2077 retrospective spotlights one of the gangs of Night City, as well as touches on how trustworthy Johnny's worldview is when he might be an unreliable narrator. Then we delve into questions of alliances, and wonder if any group in Night City can be trusted.
Enjoy the show!
Production note: We ran into some unfortunate audio issues with this one. We've attempted to salvage the conversation and bring y'all a good episode, even if it doesn't match up to our typical audio standards. But that's the nature of recording podcasts remotely. Tech issues happen. We hope y'all will still enjoy this episode for the quality discussion.
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Ire: @eloquentire
As we search for a solution to having Keanu Reeves in our head, Diego Argüello and Alma Roda-Gil join us as we go looking for Evelyn Parker.
This Cyberpunk 2077 episode takes us to the seedier sides of Night City and engages in the city's views on sex workers, protecting them, and what they need protection from. It's a heavy one.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Diego: @diegoarguello66 Alma: @knifefemme
After we did all that prep work last episode, it's time to finally begin the heist. John Warren returns alongside newcomer Carolyn Petit to talk about how The Heist embodies Cyberpunk 2077's potential before large swaths of the game squander it. We also get sidetracked talking about V as a protagonist, the underlying humanity of the cyberpunk genre, and finally meet Keanu Reeves as Johnny Silverhand.
Enjoy the show!
Fear of a Yellow Planet: Why We Need to Actually Understand Cyberpunk, Fanbyte: https://www.fanbyte.com/features/fear-of-a-yellow-planet-why-we-need-to-actually-understand-cyberpunk/
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr John: @FloppyAdult Carolyn: @carolynmichelle
Before we go off to the heist, we've got to meet who we're working for. This episode, Ken and Eric travel through Night City to meet Evelyn Parker and the Maelstrom so we're best equipped to steal from Arasaka royalty.
We also talk about general feelings on Cyberpunk 2077's open world, our host's approach to roleplaying V, and why this game works for Ken when other open world games don't.
Enjoy the show!
You Can Turn Down Alcohol In Cyberpunk 2077, Kotaku: https://kotaku.com/you-can-turn-down-alcohol-in-cyberpunk-2077-1845852572
Cyberpunk 2077 Epileptic PSA, Game Informer: https://www.gameinformer.com/2020/12/07/cyberpunk-2077-epileptic-psa
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
It's time for a new era of Normandy FM, as we leave Spira and head into Night City. It's time for Cyberpunk 2077.
After our hosts talk about all the baggage and fallout surrounding the game's launch, Ken and Eric talk about the game's three life paths, how they come together, and how they frame both their versions of V going into the main game.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
It's been a hot minute since we had a BioBit, and even longer since it was about Dragon Age. In this episode of our BioWare news show, we talk about the Dragon Age: Dreadwolf title reveal, as well as our feelings about the Dragon Age: Absolution anime coming to Netflix. Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
So...Final Fantasy X and X-2 have an extended universe because Square-Enix doesn't know how to let a good thing go. For our final episode of our Final Fantasy X season, we talk about all the bullshit Square put out in its efforts to expand upon the world of Spira. And only one of the three we're talking about are any good. But we have to contend with them and talk about what a Final Fantasy X-3 that follows them might look like.
Works discussed: Final Fantasy X-2: Last Mission Final Fantasy X-2.5: ~Eien no Daishō~ Final Fantasy X: ~Will~
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
If you weren't able to make it to Boston for PAX East 2022, we've got the audio recording of our Normandy FM x Fanbyte x Axe of the Blood God crossover panel: Defend Your Problematic Fave. This panel was a collaboration between us and our coworkers Niki Grayson of Fanbyte and Nadia Oxford of Axe of the Blood God, where we talked about our favorite video game sickos and freaks, then asked the audience to tell us theirs. However, unlike our Mass Effect and Dragon Age ranking panels, this was also a fairly visual panel that requires some visual aid. So we have included the giant Google Slide presentation we used for you to scroll through while you listen.
Google Slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Hwmz6gIqGtYUpIqs-CxzrUC5XSMudrTRSTcIg7LvB3s/edit#slide=id.p
Art by @JuliaBaritz used in Kenneth's presentation: https://twitter.com/JuliaBaritz/status/1288146205437042688
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Fanbyte: @FanbyteMedia Axe of the Blood God: @bloodgodpod Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Niki: @godsewa Nadia: @nadiaoxford
It's time to say goodbye to Spira. Well, we would like to, but we've still got that extended universe garbage to deal with after this. But we are finally finished with the two main games of our Final Fantasy X season, as we're wrapping up Final Fantasy X-2.
We check in on some of the late-game content, talk about how X-2 gates exposition behind its hardest segments, and eventually, we head into the Farplane to destroy Vegnagun and stop Shuyin.
To everyone who's joined us on our trip from Zanarkand and back, thank you! We still have another episode left to talk about Final Fantasy X-2: Last Mission and the aforementioned extended universe garbage, but this concludes the main segments of our Final Fantasy X retrospective. Onward to Night City!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Shuyin threatens Spira with destruction, but we first need to make sure things are in order for after the fight.
This episode we're wrapping up most of the Chapter 5's side stories. From Wakka and Lulu's baby, Kimahri's status as a Ronso elder, and we get to the bottom of how Maechen knows so much about Spira's past.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Ken: @shepardcdr
Jenny Windom is back to help us talk through Final Fantasy X-2's fourth chapter. It's the shortest in the game, but one of its most memorable.
Yuna wants to help bring the warring factions of Spira together, and what better way to do that than with a concert in the Thunder Plains? This episode we talk about the significance of music in Final Fantasy X-2, and how one song illustrates the parallels between Spira's past, its present, and the two sets of lovers at its center.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Jenny: @kimchica25
This episode we finally come face to face with the man Yuna's been searching for. But it's not who she wanted to see.
We round out Chapter 3 fighting dark aeons, solidifying our dresspheres, and finally meeting the man in the sphere that started our journey.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Spira is in a state of disarray as fiends are pouring out of the temples...but we have some time to check in elsewhere.
This episode we talk Sphere Break, new dresspheres, and ask if Kimahri's role in this game is as bad as Lulu's.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Jessica Howard returns as we sneak into Leblanc's domain and then head to the depths of Bevelle. We're not prepared for the reveals in either.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Jessica: @awildjessichu
We got the Awesome Sphere...now what are we gonna do with it?
Nina Freeman joins us to discuss the centrist politics of Final Fantasy X-2, stealing uniforms to set up a heist, and how the game's portrayal of more overt sexuality is actually great worldbuilding.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Nina: @PersocomNina
Hana Kim joins us as we check in with all the Hotspots of Final Fantasy X-2's first chapter.
Wakka and Lulu are navigating parenthood, the Youth League and New Yevon are fighting, and Cid turned Zanarkand into a goddamn theme park. There's a lot to unpack.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron:
http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Hana: @_hanatwothree
This episode we're finally being let loose in the world of Spira, and that means Kenneth and Eric have to confront all the ways it's different than before.
Our Final Fantasy X-2 retrospective continues with an episode all about the side quests in the game's first chapter. We talk the Youth League, New Yevon, the fate of the Guado, and somehow, Disney's Encanto.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
It's time for a new age of Spira and a new season of Normandy FM. We're headed into Final Fantasy X-2, but we also have to make a quick pitstop on the way.
This week we're talking Final Fantasy X: Eternal Calm, a short film that hinted at a future so tantalizing Square Enix made a sequel.
Then we get into Final Fantasy X-2 proper. We talk dresspheres, ATB, pop concerts, and how Yuna's growth mirrors Spiras.
Enjoy the show!
Watch Final Fantasy X: Eternal Calm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmlIBCCeAXk
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
It's a big episode this week, and that's because we decided to combine the planned remaining two episodes of our Final Fantasy X retrospective into one long finale.
This week we tackle the endgame content of Final Fantasy X, from optional aeons to celestial weapons. But then we head into the belly of the beast and take Sin down from the inside.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
We've made it to Zanarkand. So it's time to get the Final Aeon and defeat Sin.
Or is it?
Jessica Howard returns to talk about the ruined state of Zanarkand, how Yunalesca embodies Final Fantasy X's themes, and about how Auron's place in this world makes a lot of sense in hindsight.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Jessica: @awildjessichu
It's time for the dreaded Mt. Gagazet. Often considered one of the hardest segments in Final Fantasy X, the Ronso homeland contains a forced fight with Kimahri, the infamous Seymour Flux fight, and some major plot revelations about Tidus' past along the way.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Jenny Windom joins us as we head into Bevelle, which is essentially a greatest hits segment of everything that makes Final Fantasy X great.
We start the show battling on an airship and end with a quiet moment between our heroes in Macalania Woods. There's a lot in between, so strap in.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Jenny: @kimchica25
Hey, our show's music is good, right? Well, here's our theme song uninterrupted by the podcast.
The song was composed by 3D Blast, whose work you can find on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/3DBLAST4EVER
And on Bandcamp:
https://3dblast.bandcamp.com/
Kyle Campbell joins us as we head into the Al Bhed safe haven called Home. Only to find that it's not as safe as we hoped for. This week we talk about Wakka's inability to just not be a racist asshole, Tidus' journey from asshole jock to the protagonist he was always meant to be, and finally learn about the secret nobody wanted him to know since his arrival in Spira.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Kyle: @Levit0
Well, another N7 Day has come and gone, and this time there was a poster teasing the next Mass Effect game. And folks, our hosts somehow found a way to talk about it for an hour. In a new episode of BioBits, our BioWare news show, we talked about what it's like being online when people are speculating about a game we know nothing about and don't seem to actually care what it looks like as long as they get more.
Enjoy the show!
Link to the poster: https://twitter.com/masseffect/status/1457467946461188100?s=20
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
It's time for the turning point of Final Fantasy X, as we head into Macalania Temple. Ash Parrish returns as we talk through Wakka's racism, Yuna's transformation, and Seymour's truth.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Ash: @adashtra
Hello Normandy crew. It has been a hot minute since we talked about BioWare on this podcast, but luckily we have an excuse to now, as People Make Games has scooped both our hosts and has talked with some ex-BioWare devs about what it was like to be in that studio during the Mass Effect 3 ending controversy.
It's time for another episode of our BioWare news show BioBits, where we'll talk about some original drafts of the ending, the controversy's affect on how we talk about video games online, and how freeing it can be to criticize something without expecting it to be changed. Enjoy the show!
People Make Games' video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhtgjmkcht8
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Ashley Oh joins us as we take a long stroll from Djose to the Thunder Plains, dealing with Wakka's racism, Seymour's skeeviness, and getting our final party member along the way.
This week we talk the homogenous culture of Spira under Yevon, talk about how Rikku adds so much to the party without fully giving away what her deal is just yet, and we talk about how Yuna's selflessness may be about to put her in harm's way.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Ashley: @itsashleyoh
We've made a few stops into a few different towns, but now we have to deal with the long and winding road of a pilgrimage with a little help from Aimee Hart.
This week we're walking down the Mi'ihen Highroad to start unraveling Yuna and Wakka's respective religious indoctrination, and we'll also be trying to help the Crusaders fight Sin. We'll also start to delve more into Seymour's character, and how he's positioned in Final Fantasy X's early act.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Aimee: @AimemeRights
HA HA HA HA HA.
We're in Luca. John Warren returns to help us talk through Blitzball, Tidus' daddy issues, Seymour's bad vibes, and the laughing scene that is perfect, actually.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr John: @FloppyAdult
This week we're headed to Kilika and Fanbyte's Mike Williams and Good Vibes Gaming's Ash Paulsen are here to help us sort through all the grief that entails.
We spend a chunk of the episode discussing the iconic Sending scene, what it means to grieve in the world of Spira. We also talk about how Wakka is the Tim Tebow of Blitzball?
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Mike: @AutomaticZen Ash: @AshPaulsen Good Vibes Games: @GVGOfficial
With Rikku gone, we find ourselves at the village of Besaid with MinnMax's Suriel Vazquez.
This week we talk about Tidus learning to blend in with the folks of Spira, Wakka's never having considered playing Blitzball to win, and what makes Yuna stand out in a world of characters ready to write us off.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Suriel: @SurielVazquez
It's time for a new season of Normandy FM as we head from post-apocalyptic Seattle to Spira.
In the first episode of our Final Fantasy X retrospective, we step into the shoes of Tidus, who goes from a star athlete to fighting monsters with a sword he's clearly never used.
We also talk a bit about the Sphere Grid, the state of Final Fantasy's identity crisis, and how Rikku is one of the best characters in the game.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
It's time to break the cycle.
Natalie Flores returns to round out our Last of Us retrospective as we talk Joel's motivation, Abby and Lev's future, and Ellie taking her agency back as she finally decides to let go.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Natalie: @heartimecia
Oh, hello there! You may have noticed we're nearing the end of our Last of Us retrospective and haven't talked about what's next.
So here's a little bonus episode to talk about the future of Normandy FM for the next...I dunno, year or so!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Riley MacLeod joins us as we walk through our final day in Seattle.
This week we talk Abby and Lev's respective disillusionment from their factions, the goals of defining what is "good" and "bad" representation, and how the game turns us against Ellie in a real, tangible way.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Riley: @rcmacleod
Fūnk-é Joseph joins us as we talk about Abby's change of heart regarding Lev and Yara, how the culture clash between the WLF and Seraphites manifests between her and the kids, and we also deal with some of The Last of Us Part II's most overt horror segments.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Fūnk-é: @funkefly
Ty Galiz-Rowe returns to talk about Abby, as we finally make the switch from one vengeful woman ready to cross the country to another.
This week we talk about The Last of Us Part II's second protagonist, the truth behind her vendetta, and what life is like after you've found revenge.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Ty: @owoathkeeper Uppercut: @uppercutcrit
Game Informer/Game Query god among men Blake Hester finally makes his Normandy FM debut to talk about Ellie's third and final day in Seattle as her revenge tour reaches its conclusion(?).
This week we talk about the reveal that Ellie knew all along what Joel did at the end of The Last of Us Part I, and talk about what we're supposed to feel about her conquest in Part II. Also here we talk about Ellie's inability to let go, the final kills on Ellie's list, and ponder just who is the woman we've been trying to reach all this time?
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Blake: @metallicaisrad
Ash Parrish returns to make some salient points about why Ellie's second day in Seattle is a low point for The Last of Us Part II.
This week we talk about our co-hosts' clearly divergent playstyles, question just what the state of Joel and Ellie's relationship was, and how one scene marks a turning point for our protagonist in ways narratively effective and also horrifyingly tone deaf.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Ash: @adashtra
"Tell me another story about the Shepard."
"It's getting late, but okay. One more story..."
We have one more roundtable for y'all about Mass Effect: Legendary Edition. Natalie and Ash return to talk Mass Effect 3 with us. We talk payoff, character writing, and of course, the ending. And maybe we talk a little bit about the future of the franchise at the end.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Ash: @adashtra Natalie: @heartimecia
Ellie's first day in Seattle sets up the conflicts going on beyond her revenge tour, but it also is full of some memorable, quiet moments along the way. Janet Garcia joins us as we contend with The Last of Us Part II's OWBS and also how the game tries to humanize the members of the WLF we fight along the way.
We also take a trip down memory lane as Ellie thinks back on a birthday gift from Joel she'll never forget.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Janet: @Gameonysus
It's time for the second of our Mass Effect: Legendary Edition roundtables as Fanbyte's Elise Favis and GameSpot's Lucy James and Michael Higham join us to talk all about Mass Effect 2.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Elise: @elisefavis Lucy: @lucyjamesgames Michael:@michaelphigham
It's time to jump four years into the future and see how Joel and Ellie's life in Jackson panned out. In our first episode covering The Last of Us Part II, Natalie Flores returns to talk through what American culture looks like in the apocalypse, how Ellie and Dina's relationship is introduced, and the instigating incident that throws our heroine's life into a spiral.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Natalie: @heartimecia
The Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is here, so that means Normandy FM is headed back home to talk about all three games again with a roundtable of great guests.
First up, John Warren and Kat Bailey join us to talk about the first Mass Effect, how well the foundations of the series have aged, and why Kenneth had to play through the game twice.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Kat: @The_Katbot John: @FloppyAdult
It's time to close out our The Last of Us Part I episodes with the Left Behind DLC. Sam Greer returns to talk about Ellie's past, how video games survive in the apocalypse, and how TLOU as a franchise handles the preservation of queer culture.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Sam: @SamMGreer Glass House Games: @GHGShow
It's the Last of Us Part I finale here on Normandy FM, as Vikki Blake joins us as we head into Salt Lake City. This week we talk about Joel's final decision, the merits of saving one at the cost of the many, and how not giving the player a choice can be a meaningful gameplay moment.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Vikki: @_vixx
Uh, remember that time we covered Mass Effect for this show? Well, it turns out we missed out on one of those game's true endings. So we decided we'd make a BioBit to cover it, talk about our feelings heading into Mass Effect: Legendary Edition for the show, and announce the line-up for our LE Roundtable episodes.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
This week we're going through what is probably the darkest segment of The Last of Us: Winter.
Fanbyte's Danielle Riendeau joins us as we talk through playing as Ellie, how violence can be framed as an act of love, and David, the worst person in the goddamn game.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Danielle: @Danielleri Fanbyte: @FanbyteMedia
After a couple thousand miles of trucking it across the country, Joel and Ellie have finally found Tommy. This week Bryden Keks joins us as we talk about the happy reunion between Joel and his little brother, Ellie finally making the man confront his traumatic past, and how she finally starts to come into her own as a capable fighter. By necessity, really.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Bryden: @BrydenKeks
Our lovely car ride takes an unexpected turn as Joel and Ellie head into Pittsburgh. This week, Alan Wen joins us as we talk Joel's gradual trust in Ellie and how it contrasts with our new friends: brothers Sam and Henry.
We also make a stop in an abandoned sewer, navigate a no man's land covered by a mouthy sniper, and talk about what it means to have a childhood when you're in the post-apocalypse.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Alan: @DaMisanthrope
This week Paste intern Moises Taveras is our guest as we head into Bill's Town. It's time for gays being toxic to each other, biology lessons, and a deep dive into the psyche of a man who insists on being alone.
We also took some time to talk about the Bloomberg report that a Last of Us remake is in the works, and what the story surrounding it means for PlayStation.
Bloomberg's story: https://www.fanbyte.com/news/new-report-paints-sony-as-risk-averse-and-stifling-developers-for-the-hits/ Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Moises: @PlatanoRanger
With Ellie in hand we're headed to the capitol building and Madeline Blondeau is joining us to make the delivery. This week we talk about how Ellie's naivety tells us a lot about The Last of Us' world, how the game communicates danger with the Clickers, and how Tess goes out on her own terms.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Bella: @vhsvvitch Rocketto Punchi Podcast: @RockettoPunchi
It's time for another episode of BioBits, our Bioware news show. Fanbyte News Editor and Kenneth's boss Imran Khan joins us to talk about the latest update on the Mass Effect: Legendary Edition remasters. For easy reference, here are the links to Bioware's breakdown and IGN's comparison footage that we'll be discussing.
Legendary Edition breakdown: https://www.ea.com/games/mass-effect/mass-effect-legendary-edition/news/gameplay-calibrations
IGN comparison video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qL-7-2dL0A0
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Imran: @imranzomg
It's time for a new chapter as Normandy FM makes the transition from "Bioware retrospective" to "video game retrospective." We're talking about The Last of Us.
SDGC's John Phipps joins Ken and Eric to talk the game's depiction of fatherhood as we run through its iconic opening sequence, the dated (but accessible) stealth, and maybe at the very end we meet up with someone who will grow to be more important than Joel could ever know.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr John: @GameDadJP SDGC: @officialSDGC
It's our last Bioware episode (for now) as we head back to Mass Effect to talk about what is probably one of the best pieces of story in the whole series: Mass Effect Andromeda: Annihilation.
We talk about the tie-in novel's humanless view of the Mass Effect universe, how it gives closure on some of Andromeda's hanging threads, and wonder aloud if the next Mass Effect game will address the power dynamics of Bioware's science fiction universe.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Somehow after last week we managed to have more negative feelings about Dragon Age's anime movie than Mass Effect's. Dawn of the Seeker stars Cassandra Pentaghast in a story before we met her in Dragon Age II. And man, is she unrecognizable in this nothing ass film.
We also took some time to talk about Dragon Age 4 pivoting to single player only, as the news didn't seem to merit a whole BioBit.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Bioware announced that it's officially ending development on its planned Anthem overhaul. So we got together to talk about how we got here and what this likely means for Bioware moving forward.
Also we talked about Henry Cavill and the prospect of him being involved in Mass Effect and why a movie about Shepard would be stupid as heck.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
This week we're returning to Mass Effect to discuss the series' anime movie following James Vega. Mass Effect: Paragon Lost feels like two movies in one: one that was bad, and another that had a semblance of a good idea. Neither of which feels properly connected to the games it's based on.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Parting is such sweet sorrow. This week we wrap up our Jade Empire season with Khee Hoon Chan and Andrew King is here to help ups tie it off with a neat bow.
It's time to take down Master Li, although there are a few decisions to make along the way. We also talk about our romantic conclusions, the final decision, and whether or not Jade Empire succeeds at painting greys in its red and blue morality.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Khee Hoon: @crapstacular Andrew: @funnelchest94
It's time for the week of The Big Twist of Jade Empire. Jason Coles joins us to talk about rushed romances, spirit worlds, and whether staring at a baseball too long counts as a "flaw" in martial arts teachings.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Khee Hoon: @crapstacular Jason: @EnotheStrife
Sam Greer joins us as we head into the Imperial City to unmask Death Hand's plot....or is it his plot? Who can say?
This week we infiltrate the Lotus Assassins, go through the RPG equivalent of a Hitman level, and see the beginnings of Jade Empire's romance. This means we're also gonna unpack the extremely messy ways it handles its queer relationships, which is always fun.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Khee Hoon: @crapstacular Sam: @SamMGreer Glass House Games: @GHGShow
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is upon us, so it's time for another episode of BioBits. Ken and Eric talk about the remaster of the original trilogy, changes being made to Mass Effect, and our hopes for how conversations around the series might change a decade later.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Tien's Landing is a dysfunctional town, so we're spending an unexpectedly long time here as we solve everyone's problems. As well as our own.
This week we set out to get a new flyer and wind map, but leave with a huge group of weirdos helping us find Master Li. But the main topic of the week is the weirdness of Jade Empire's morality system, which seems to get more rigid and binary as the game goes on.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Khee Hoon: @crapstacular
Welcome to the first episode of BioBits, a series of mini-Normandy FM episodes for when things happen in the Bioware world. This week, a report from The Gamer revealed Jack was originally meant to be pansexual in Mass Effect, but Bioware was worried about a second wave of controversy with Fox News. Gayming Magazine's Aimee Hart joins us to talk our way through our feelings about what it all means and if this explanation is better or worse than the homophobic garbage Bioware spouted out a decade ago.
Enjoy the show!
The Gamer's report: https://www.thegamer.com/mass-effect-2-jack-gay-pansexual-fox-news/
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Aimee: @AimemeRights
We're back with a new season, a new series, and a new co-host. It's Jade Empire time here at Normandy FM.
Khee Hoon Chan joins us for the first episode of our Jade Empire retrospective, where we dive into how Bioware made a fantasy version of China that isn't actually China. There's a lot to unpack this season. We also talk about the limitations of its morality system, the hidden depth of its combat, and how the game handles exposition (by not handling it at all).
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Khee Hoon: @crapstacular
Hey everyone. We're a few days away from starting the Jade Empire season, and with it is coming a few changes to the show and how we're going to both allow it to grow into something new, as well as keep true to its roots and what you've all come to know and love from us.
This includes changes to the Patreon, bonus episodes about Bioware news as it happens, and a few recaps for some external Mass Effect and Dragon Age media. Since we know a lot of you get updates on things through the podcast feed, we wanted to put it all in audio form for everyone to hear as we head into Jade Empire.
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Hey everybody! As celebration of finishing Dragon Age, we decided to do another Q&A session as a thanks for sticking with us. In which we talk about which Bioware characters we'd spend quarantine with, unpack the state of Cyberpunk 2077, and maybe casually drop a big announcement about the show's future in there too? Who can say?
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Art by @MattHTaylor on Twitter Music by @3DBLAST4EVER on Twitter
Friends, it's time to say goodbye to Thedas.
In our Dragon Age finale, we talk about Inquisition's final DLC: "Trespasser." Here we'll say goodbye to our friends in the Inquisition, stop a war with the Qunari, and find Solas and demand some answers.
We close out the show talking about the future of the Dragon Age series, if it's possible for Bioware to do right by the Inquisitor, and what are our overall feelings on the franchise heading into Dragon Age 4.
We'll also do some housekeeping about the future of Normandy FM in 2021, and maybe touch on that Mass Effect teaser at the end.
Thank you all for coming on this journey with us from the Blight to the Breach. We'll see you in 2021.
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Art by @miz0mei on Twitter Music by @3DBLAST4EVER on Twitter
It's time to wrap up the base game of Dragon Age: Inquisition, but it's not really the ending.
This week we take out Corypheus once and for all, start to say goodbye to everyone before realizing they plan to stick around, then deal with the fallout of Solas' departure and what it means for Flemeth.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Art by @miz0mei on Twitter Music by @3DBLAST4EVER on Twitter
We're in the home stretch now as we've got one more story mission to do before the end of Dragon Age: Inquisition, and Morrigan is the star of the show.
The Inquisition is headed to the Temple of Mythal, where we'll find secrets of elven history, learn about how Tevinter rewrote it, and make a big decision about Morrigan's future. Following that, we'll talk about one of Inquisition's best moments that gets retroactively worse after the game is over.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Art by @miz0mei on Twitter Music by @3DBLAST4EVER on Twitter
Ty Galiz-Rowe returns in our final guest episode of Dragon Age as we talk about one of Dragon Age's constants: Leliana.
This week we discuss her journey from Lothering to Skyhold and how she is emblematic of some of Dragon Age's greatest strengths and weaknesses.
We wrap up the show with some talk about Bioware's future and possibilities for an Andromeda sequel.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Ty: @ty_grrrrrrrr Uppercut: @uppercutcrit
Art by @miz0mei on Twitter Music by @3DBLAST4EVER on Twitter
Chase Carter returns to defend Blackwall's honor, and he won't be getting any backtalk from the rest of us, because we're all pretty jazzed about him here at Normandy FM.
We talk about the tension between a player's knowledge of the Grey Wardens and how one might want to keep some things close to his chest. And how all of that comes tumbling down when we know the truth about Blackwall, if that is his real name.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Chase: @chasewrites
Art by @miz0mei on Twitter Music by @3DBLAST4EVER on Twitter
Ash Parrish makes her Normandy FM proper debut to talk about Vivienne, who brings a new and more nuanced view of the Mage and Templar conflict than anyone else in the Dragon Age universe.
We also wrap up the show talking about N7 Day, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, and the possibilities of another Mass Effect game.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Ash: @adashtra
Art by @miz0mei on Twitter Music by @3DBLAST4EVER on Twitter
There's treason afoot in Orlais, but conflict seldom happens on the battlefield there. So this week, we're putting on our best clothes and heading to the Winter Palace for Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts.
As we uncover the secrets of The Game and all of Orlais' political intrigue, both our hosts came to different conclusions about who should lead the country and leveraged their power accordingly. In between all that we see a familiar face, and wrap up everything slow dancing on a balcony.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Art by @miz0mei on Twitter Music by @3DBLAST4EVER on Twitter
Liana returns to talk about Cullen and his series-long arc from mage-hating Templar to...basically still that.
Cullen is struggling with Lyrium addiction, and is looking to us for guidance on how he should proceed. We're all pretty much on the same page, but we don't all have the same feelings on how it turns out.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Liana: @DirtyEffinHippy
Art by @miz0mei on Twitter Music by @3DBLAST4EVER on Twitter
The Gamer's Cian Maher joins us to talk about Cole. Despite making some jabs at him over the season, we do come to an understanding by the end.
We also talk a little bit about the perception of when Bioware "lost its magic," and talk about how Baldur's Gate III seems to be picking up the slack.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Cian: @cianmaher0
Art by @miz0mei on Twitter Music by @3DBLAST4EVER on Twitter
It's time to talk about favorite storyteller one more time, as Inquisition finally lets Varric Tethras be the character he deserved to be.
Fanbyte's John Warren joins us to talk about Varric's past finally showing up at Skyhold's doorstep, what he's still not willing to talk about two games in, and what it means when he finally gets to tell his own story instead of someone else's.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr John: @FloppyAdult Fanbyte: @FanbyteMedia
Art by @miz0mei on Twitter Music by @3DBLAST4EVER on Twitter
Cassandra Pentaghast is the subject of this week's episode, as Mike Williams joins us to talk about the Inquisition's Seeker of Truth.
This week we learn about just how deep the rot of the Chantry goes, and we have to talk Cassandra through it as she reckons with what it means for her faith.
Along the way we'll talk about how Cassandra lets her walls down to reveal that she's kind of a dork and loves sappy romance novels, and we even squeeze in a little bit of Baldur's Gate III talk at the end.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Mike: @AutomaticZen
Art by @miz0mei on Twitter Music by @3DBLAST4EVER on Twitter
We're finally back to the plot for a week, as we see what's up with the Grey Wardens and Hawke. It's like a big reunion of all the characters and factions we used to play as.
In Here Lies the Abyss, Hawke and a Grey Warden companion determined by your choices come together to help stop a plan to unravel the Wardens and summon a demon army. Along the way we'll talk about the faith-related implications of some of the reveals, how the Fade personifies fear, and how Dragon Age is really just putting old characters through the grinder to further the development of the Inquisition.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Art by @miz0mei on Twitter Music by @3DBLAST4EVER on Twitter
Fanbyte's Steven Strom joins us to talk about Iron Bull, and despite being a fan favorite, we realized we had a lot to unpack about the Inquisition's resident Qunari spy.
Along with talking about Bull's companion quest, romance, and some unpleasant enabling behavior, we also talk a little bit about Krem and how Bioware uses dialogue options to take some direct stances on his identity.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Steven: @stevenstrom Fanbyte: @fanbytemedia
Art by @miz0mei on Twitter Music by @3DBLAST4EVER on Twitter
Podcast rival DJ Stormageddon joins us this week to talk about Josephine, Dragon Age's politics, and the dangers of playing The Game.
Josie's got some long standing family drama that has her in the sights of an assassin, and we've gotta decide if we're going to take the long, complicated political way out, or the efficient, sneaky way suggested by Leliana.
We also touch on her rom-com romance, the difference between an advisor and a party member, and what Josie's role in Dragon Age 4 should be.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Matt: @dj_stormaggedon Reignite: @reignitepod
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Hello everyone! We did a PAX Online panel ranking all the companions of the Dragon Age series, and we naturally went over the time limit. So naturally, we thought it was important for us to keep the full discussion online somewhere without the time constraints we had in the live show. So here it is! Natalie, Ash, and Josh join us as we determine the true hierarchy of Dragon Age party members.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @sheparcdr Natalie: @heartimecia Ash: @adashtra Josh @BearPunch
Art by @miz0mei on Twitter Music by @3DBLAST4EVER on Twitter
Natalie comes back around one more time for the episode only she is qualified to appear on, as this week we're talking about Solas. The Inquisitor's Fade expert needs help saving a spirit friend, but on the way we'll talk about how he can be a mentor, a lover, or, if nothing else, a begrudging coworker.
There's also a fair bit of spoiler talk in the latter half of the show, but we mention it with no ambiguity if you're playing along with us and this is your first time playing through Inquisition.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Natalie: @heartimecia
Art by @miz0mei on Twitter Music by @3DBLAST4EVER on Twitter
Sera is the star of the show this week, as Josh Silverman returns to talk all about the friend of Red Jenny.
We talk about Sera's commitment to taking down the 1% of Thedas, clarity under her nonsense, and a heartwarming romance between her and how it eluded Eric once again.
At the end of the show we also talk about the Dragon Age 4 teaser we saw at Gamescom, with spoilers for Inquisition during. So tread lightly.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Josh: @BearPunch Bear Punch: @BearPunchMedia
Art by @miz0mei on Twitter Music by @3DBLAST4EVER on Twitter
This week we begin our Dragon Age: Inquisition companion episodes, and we're starting with Kenneth's one true Dragon Age boyfriend.
Dorian has some unresolved issues with his family, and we break down how Inquisition uses magical allegories to have a frank discussion about homophobia, both external and internal. We also talk about what we can extrapolate about Tevinter culture from our time with Dorian, and how Bioware's care for him gives us hope for his role in the future of Dragon Age.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Art by @miz0mei on Twitter Music by @3DBLAST4EVER on Twitter
Haven is being attacked, and the Inquisition with it. This week we meet Corypheus as the Inquisitor, and talk about his first impression as the main villain.
Also we reach Skyhold, deal with the weight of being deemed the Herald of Andraste, and maybe we'll even meet an old friend in an unprecedented scene for the Dragon Age franchise.
As a bonus, we also talk about Mass Effect Trilogy Remaster rumors to close the episode.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Art by @miz0mei on Twitter Music by @3DBLAST4EVER on Twitter
You're getting two episodes for the price of one this week, folks. As we've got dealings to make with the mages...and also the templars.
In pursuit of an alliance with the mages, Kenneth and his Tevinter boyfriend are getting into time travel antics. Meanwhile, Eric is guided by a mysterious spirit through his own headspace after he attempts to recruit the templars to the cause. We go through both routes, talk about the fallout, get heated about the way Dragon Age ended the mage/templar war so unceremoniously, and also talk about all the Open World Bullshit.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Art by @miz0mei on Twitter Music by @3DBLAST4EVER on Twitter
We've reached the final Dragon Age season (for now) and the sky is literally being torn apart. Dragon Age: Inquisition begins with a hole in the sky pouring demons into Thedas, the complete dismantling of the Chantry's systems, and a new hero at the center of all of it.
In our first Inquisition episode we talk about how the game is an achievement in Bioware-style role-playing, a middle ground between Origins' tactical play and DAII's action-oriented combat, and maybe dip into how it might have been the beginning of Bioware's current identity crisis.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Art by @miz0mei on Twitter Music by @3DBLAST4EVER on Twitter
At the request of a listener, we asked if there was interest in us doing a special Q&A episode, and as it turns out, there definitely was. As a thanks for all of your support, we sat down and answered some questions y'all had about Bioware, video games, our jobs, and at one point someone asked for our social security numbers.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Art by @miz0mei on Twitter Music by @3DBLAST4EVER on Twitter
It's time to close the book on Dragon Age II. For better or worse.
This week we get into how Bioware never really managed to sell the two-sided conflict of Templars and Mages, and how that really gets exemplified in the final fights.
We also talk about whether Hawke was ever the protagonist of Dragon Age II, how the game fits into the large scope of the universe, and whether or not Bioware can pull off a story of this scale again.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
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Double Fine's Harper Jay joins us to talk about the most controversial, frustrating, and fascinating characters in Dragon Age II.
Merrill and Anders' conclusions are complicated, and are thoughts on them are equally so. Merrill's not ready to give up on the Eluvian, and Anders is asking us to help with a potion to separate him and Justice...right?
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Harper: @transgamerthink
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Josh Silverman is back to help us close the book on Aveline and Varric's stories as we near the end of Dragon Age II.
Aveline has to deal with a thorn in her side returning after a six year disappearance, and Varric is dealing with some spooky things left over in Bartrand's estate.
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We're here to close out Fenris and Isabela's stories this week, and I guess we can also throw Sebastian in there because that's about as much care as Bioware gave him.
Isabela has heard word that Castillion is in Kirkwall, and Fenris' long lost sister just arrived in town, too. It's time to settle some affairs as we head into the end game.
Also, Leliana is here. For some reason.
Enjoy the show!
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We've reached the final act of Dragon Age II, and things are...not looking so hot for our podcast's darling as the story's weakest points become blatantly apparent.
This week we're running errands for Meredith and Orsino while also realizing how little we've gotten to know these major players. We'll also get to check in real quick with an old friend, though we're not sure exactly how we feel about his inclusion.
Enjoy the show!
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Ty Galiz-Rowe returns to walk with us in the Deep Roads once more. This week we're talking Dragon Age II's "Legacy" DLC, and all the messy ramifications it has for Hawke, the Darkspawn, and Dragon Age at large.
Enjoy the show!
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It's time to wrap up Act II, and this week we've got necromancy, pirate deserters, and a Qunari revolt.
Aimee Hart returns as we discuss the fate of Hawke's mother, Isabela's loyalty (or lack thereof), and what makes the Arishok such a compelling protagonist.
Enjoy the show!
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We're nearing the end of Act II, which means we've got to check in with the last of our crew to see what they're up to. Anders is getting paranoid about the Templars, Varric has an update on Bartrand's whereabouts...and Sebastian is here too, I guess.
We talk about how Varric's story can be changed entirely by the presence of one party member, Sebastian doesn't fuck, and how Anders is quietly making the play for the actual protagonist of Dragon Age II.
Enjoy the show!
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Natalie Flores reclaims her spot as most frequent guest to talk about Isabela and Fenris' roles in Act II.
While our discussion of Isabela is gated off by some plot stuff we'll get to later in the season, we talked a fair bit about Fenris, dealing with his trauma, and just how healthy is the relationship between him and Hawke if they're rivals?
We also take some time to talk about hypothetical TV or movie adaptations of Bioware games.
Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Natalie: @heartimecia
Chase Carter comes along to discuss two of Dragon Age II's most diametrically opposed party members: Aveline and Merrill. This week Aveline needs us to be her wingmen, while Merrill is just trying to live her best blood mage life when we are inserted into her problems and given a level of authority in her life that makes us all very uncomfortable.
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Chase: @chasewrites Rules and Roles: @RulesRolesPod
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We're in Act II now, which means Hawke has an estate and the Viscount has Qunari to deal with. This week we talk about some dealings with the Arishok, dealing with a serial killer, and heading into the Fade once more.
Also this week, we discuss the perks and drawbacks of the Friendship/Rivalry system, the less deliberate enemy encounters of DAII, and of course we've gotta touch on the rumored Mass Effect remaster.
Enjoy the show!
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We've got the gold to fund the expedition. It's time to head into the Deep Roads.
This week, Hawke is about to ascend to nobility by way of cold, hard cash. But not before we make a decision about the fate of our remaining sibling, and one outcome is definitely preferable to others.
Beyond that, Bartrand is a dick and Merrill is confusing. We also talk about EA Play and our hopes that Dragon Age 4 might make an appearance.
Enjoy the show!
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Before we head into the Deep Roads we've gotta scrape together some gold coins to give to Bartrand to convince him to let us tagalong. On the way, we get a grand tour of all the dysfunction of Kirkwall. From tensions between the Qunari and the city, mages possessing templars, and Chantry sisters scheming their schemes.
Enjoy the show!
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Hawke's crew could always use a little more drama, so this week we're picking up Fenris and Isabela.
One shows us just how hostile a rival romance can get, while the other throws a wrench (or a dagger) into another person's romantic plans.
We also talk about Tevinter from the perspective of a slave, how Isabela fits into Dragon Age II's story despite being optional, and check in on Aveline along the way.
Enjoy the show!
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After a year in Kirkwall, it's time for us to start...actually doing anything of consequence in here. This week we look for a Grey Warden who can help us navigate the Deep Roads and find two familiar faces occupying one face.
Then we meet Merrill on our way to fulfill our promise to Flemeth, where we end up undermining our own character with another.
Finally, we wrap things up by giving our siblings something to fight for.
Enjoy the show!
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We're Kirkwall bound as we finally reach the wonders of Dragon Age II.
This week we shift over to the perspective of Hawke, the Champion of Kirkwall. While we know one day this character will become well-regarded, right now they're attempting to outrun the Blight and they lose a sibling along the way. But they're not particularly broken up about it, though.
Also this week we talk about the major improvements Dragon Age II brings to the dialogue systems of both DA and Mass Effect, how it makes companion relationships more nuanced than probably any other Bioware game, and even make some comparisons to the imagery of Parasite.
Enjoy the show!
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We're finally done. This week we're wrapping up Dragon Age: Origins with the Witch Hunt DLC, which brings Morrigan back into the fold for one grand season finale.
But not before we do a bunch of retreading of old ground with strangers we don't like or care about. Then we wrap things up with a long conversation about whether anything Witch Hunt appears to be setting up actually matters. (It does not.)
Enjoy the show!
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Ty has come back to speak on a subject only they are qualified to, as it's time for us to take this fight to the Mother.
This week we wrap up Dragon Age: Awakening and its...somewhat anticlimactic finale. There will be major revelations surrounding the Darkspawn, betrayal, and an entire city going up in flames.
Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Ty: @ty_grrrrrrrr Uppercut: @uppercutcrit
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We are, by some miracle or possibly Maker-designated torture, still making our way through Awakening. This week we recruit three new Wardens to our cause and learn a bit more about what seems to be a Darkspawn civil war?
Also this week, glitches that take away mementos from lost loves, more feelings on Broodmothers, and guilt because conscripting people is murder, actually.
Enjoy the show!
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We're not out of the woods yet, as Dragon Age: Origins continues with an expansion pack.
Dragon Age: Awakening makes a...questionable first impression on a few fronts, but the show demands we see it through. This week we find our Wardens with a new position in the Grey Warden hierarchy and with that comes a new group of children to babysit. Including a major character who seems unrecognizable from how most people know him.
Oh, and Alistair shows up at some point.
Enjoy the show!
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We've made it to the long-awaited end of Dragon Age: Origins. With the Landsmeet we're finally taking the fight to Loghain in Denerim, and it ends on a...theatrical note.
Also this week we finally end the Blight once (but not for all, according to the lore). And to do that we've gotta make some decisions that could have longstanding consequences for the world of Thedas.
But they won't.
Enjoy the show!
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We have one more faction to recruit to help fight the Blight, but nothing is ever simple for a Grey Warden. This week Aimee Hart joins us as we head down to Orzammar, which is on the cusp of a civil war. To the point where they're apparently chill will letting a human make major decisions about their government?
We also talk about the padding of Deep Roads, the excessive gendered horror of the broodmother, and the origins of golems in the Dragon Age universe.
Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Aimee: @honhonitsaimee Fodlan FM: @FodlanFm
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Getting to the Urn of Sacred Ashes required us to go through a cult, a few dragons, some made up tests by a spirit from a few centuries ago, and two (2) recording sessions.
This week Andrew King joins us and is bringing a new perspective, as he's a Bioware baby and is playing through Dragon Age: Origins for the first time.
Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Andrew: @funnelchest94
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The Dalish Elves are also coming upon some extremely not good luck when we need them to help us fight the Darkspawn, so this week Ty Galiz-Rowe returns to help us settle some elf/werewolf drama.
Also this week we're discussing Bioware's update on Anthem and wonder what it means for the game, the studio, and the future of Dragon Age and Mass Effect.
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We're headed to Redcliffe this week and while we're here we've gotta save a possessed child from a demon...but not before dealing with a whole bunch of other drama.
The city is under attack, and it's up to us to get these civilian's battle ready in one day. Then we'll head into Arl Eamon's home and save his family while he takes a long nap.
Also this week we talk Dragon Age: Origins' messy approach to romance, and maybe Kenneth is starting to see the bright side of his singular option.
Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
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It's time for an episode so dreadful we wanted to get it out of the way as quickly as possible. Josh Silverman returns to join Eric and Kenneth as they head back to the Circle of Magi and the much maligned Fade. One day we'll have an episode that won't be just dunking on this game. We promise.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Constantly Calibrating: @ConCalPod Josh: @BearPunch
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It's a low energy episode this week as the boys recover from PAX South to talk about a game they're still not particularly jiving with just yet. This episode we're talking about Ostagar and how it propels Dragon Age: Origins forward. Also on the docket is talk of Alistair's fractured future, Morrigan and Flemeth's mysterious role in all of this, and how Leliana's consistent presence in the Dragon Age universe.
Enjoy the show!
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For those of you that couldn't make it, we wanted to get a recording of Eric and Kenneth's PAX South panel featuring Josh Silverman and Kate Sánchez ranking the Mass Effect squadmates. We did manage to do that, but we weren't able to get a recording through the equipment. So, we did record the whole thing on Eric's phone, and while it might not be the best we could have hoped for, it is the one we've got. Also the phone was right next to Kenneth so his voice is especially loud.
But we make do with what we've got. Thanks to everyone who came to the panel. Your enthusiasm made it even better, even though you're all wrong about Kaidan.
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Normandy FM is beginning a new retrospective series focusing on Bioware's Dragon Age series. Starting with Dragon Age: Origins, Eric Van Allen and Kenneth Shepard are breaking down all the best and worst parts of the world of Thedas. This week we discuss the multiple origin stories the game begins with, along with how they can frame a player's perception of the universe right out the gate.
Enjoy the show!
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Well Normandy crew, it seems our time among the stars has finally come to an end. This week we're wrapping up Mass Effect: Andromeda and getting out all the feelings that come with that.
We're finally learning all Alec's secrets, wrapping up our respective love stories, and saving Meridian from the Archon. Our work in settling Andromeda is done...or is it?
To cap things off, we talk about the possibility of an Andromeda sequel, Bioware's current path, and what we're looking forward to discussing when we start our Dragon Age retrospective next year.
Thank you to everyone who followed us on this journey through the Milky Way to Andromeda. We hope you'll join us again in 2020 when we make the jump to Thedas.
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
In our penultimate Mass Effect: Andromeda episode we've got some loose ends to tie up.
We've got to settle things between the exiles and the Initiative, see if we can patch things up with the Krogan, and learn some more about the Kett's inner workings along the way. It's time for some real OWBS, friends.
Enjoy the show!
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It's all about Jaal this week, folks.
But in actuality it's about some of Andromeda's worst story beats and the execution of such.
Ginny Woo returns and Ty Galiz-Rowe comes onto the show for the first time to talk about how Jaal is a vehicle through which Bioware attempts to downplay some of Andromeda's worst truths. And things get rowdier than usual.
Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Ty: @ty_grrrrrrrr Ginny: @ginnywoes
This week we're having a group therapy session for Peebee, whose commitment issues are finally getting a face and her Remnant scholar ambitions are getting an end goal.
Jess Cogswell joins us to unravel Peebee's loyalty mission, the abusive relationship with her ex, and how it all gets tangled up in her desire to discover the unknown of Andromeda.
Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Jess: @jessacogs
Nakmor Drack's on the hunt for someone sabotaging the Krogan's livelihood in Andromeda. Naturally, we're here to help.
Constantly Calibrating's Josh Silverman comes aboard the Tempest to run through our Krogan grandfather's loyalty mission, his relationship with his clan, and how Kesh gave him a new lease on life.
Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Josh: @BearPunch
A Turian is our topic of discussion today so a returning guest must be here.
Natalie Flores returns to talk Vetra's loyalty mission, her relationship with Sid, and finally living for herself after years of living to protect Sid.
Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Natalie: @heartimecia
Prima Games EIC and noted Bioware enthusiast Liana Ruppert joins us on a rescue mission of Liam's own making as we discuss one of Mass Effect Andromeda's funniest missions but also one of its most heartfelt.
We talk how Liam's impatience ends up hurting his cause, and how he might evolve more in a possible future Mass Effect game. Along the way we get into some rants about how Andromeda played out in the public eye and the greater implications it has about the state of fan/developer relations.
Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Liana: @DirtyEffinHippy
We're kicking off our Andromeda loyalty missions with Cora, who somehow became our go to contact for finding the Asari ark.
Aron Garst joins the show to talk what the mission means for Cora's relationship with the Asari, the possible Pathfinder line-ups, and how this romance got more love than almost anyone else.
Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Aron: @GarstProduction
This week we're on a hunt for the Archon's ship and his map to Meridian. But like most things in Andromeda, this mission is about to get a lot more complicated.
In this episode we'll be finding not one but two of the missing Arks and crowning Pathfinders in the process. But not before we take a detour to the Omega-esque Kadara Port.
Also this week, we touch base on romances, drudging up old Milky Way conflicts, and at one point Eric mentions letting Sloane Kelly murder him.
Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
It's time to rescue the Moshae and come across some unsettling truths about the Kett along the way.
This week we talk revelations on the Kett's motivations in the Heleus Cluster, Jaal's emotional scenes in a typically stoic series, and whether Mass Effect: Andromeda is just too open to hone in on level design like the series used to.
We also close out the show by discussing Greedfall, the latest RPG from Spiders that is basically a Bioware game in a time without them.
Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
We recorded two episodes in the course of a two day period so this one's kinda messy.
But along with nonsense like recalling our college experience and thinking of the untapped potential audiences, we'll be finally touching down on Aya to make contact with the Angara.
This week we'll talk about our feelings on the Angara's culture, Andromeda's MCU leanings, and some extremely aggressive flirting on behalf of one Tempest engineer.
Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
We've got our ship, our crew and our mission, it's time to try and settle an outpost on Eos.
This week we'll be attempting to find humanity its first home on a seemingly uninhabitable planet and maybe run across a few new friends along the way.
We also talk about all the baggage of Mass Effect: Andromeda's open worlds and how the game is able to make the most of its new setting...for better or worse.
Enjoy the show!
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Shepard's story may be over, but Normandy FM isn't done delving into Bioware's science fiction universe just yet. In this episode we begin our Mass Effect: Andromeda retrospective, and the hosts are divided on the game more than they've ever been.
This week we head to the Andromeda galaxy to try and salvage what's left of the galaxy's 600-year-long one-way trip. As Ryder, Eric and Kenneth are swapping moral codes, meeting new friends and adversaries, all in the name of finding humanity a new home. We'll also talk about Mass Effect's new open-world structure, better romances, and Cora's questionable relationship with Asari culture.
Enjoy the show!
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It's time to end the Reaper War. Eric and Kenneth come together for a finale a trilogy in the making as we lead the assault on London. We talk final goodbyes, the end of our respective love stories, and the final downard spiral of The Illusive Man.
Then, of course, we discuss the true nature of the Catalyst, the pros and cons of the Extended Cut, and the final decision that wraps everything up.
From us to you, thank you to everyone who listened, was a guest, and of course all our patrons for keeping this show going. We hope you've enjoyed our trilogy retrospective, and we hope to see you again soon when we head to the Andromeda galaxy.
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Thanks to all our special guests: Cassidee Moser: @cassideemoser John Phipps: @mistermegative Wout McDutch: @TheHashtag0nist Ginny Woo: @ginnywoes Preston Dozsa: @prestondozsa Matt Storm: @DJ_Stormageddon MJ Bradley: @ihoardlibraries Javy Gwaltney
Featured music: "Vigil" cover by CaidaVidus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ceq6-GVAexI
It's time for the long-awaited Citadel episode.
We talk about the final Mass Effect 3 DLC, the banter, the hangouts, and of course, the party of three generations of Normandy crew.
We end the show talking about our feelings on Citadel as an ending to the Mass Effect trilogy, and how its existence colors our perception of the controversy that surrounded ME3.
Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Discovering the origins of the Reapers will take us to the deep depths of the ocean, and Game Query's AJ Moser is here to dive into the Leviathan DLC with us.
This week we discuss a discovery for the history books and the large ramifications they have on the Mass Effect universe as a whole.
Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr AJ: @radmure
We're headed to the final stretch, so it's off to the Asari homeworld in search of information on the Catalyst, but it won't be without obstacles in the form of a sword-wielding non-character boss fight.
After Thessia, we investigate Sanctuary, a safe-haven for refugees and Miranda's unfinished business with her father.
Also on the agenda is talking with a drunken Tali, a heated fight with Joker, and a moment of clarity for Javik.
Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfm Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
We're finally touching on some of Mass Effect 3's great DLC, the first of which is a crash course in all things Omega, Aria T'Loak, and Mass Effect's first Turian woman.
Ginny Woo comes aboard to talk about the Omega DLC, falling back into Renegade habits, and the powerful force that is thirst for Asari badasses.
We also close out the show talking about our hopes for Dragon Age 4 and shameful romancing of one James Vega.
Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Ginny: @ginnywoes
Before we head into the final stretch of Mass Effect 3, we've got some loose ends to tie up. This week we'll be checking in with Miranda, Samara, James, and seeing just how little Bioware can get away with giving Jacob and Zaeed.
Also this week we'll be doing something a little different by ranking our favorite Mass Effect squadmates on air to see how we feel about each character as we near the end.
Enjoy the show!
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The Quarians are ready to take their homeworld by any means necessary, but Legion has another solution.
This week we delve into the Geth consensus to get a glimpse of the synthetic race's history, dodge roll our way to the death of another Reaper, and then decide the fate of two species. For better or worse.
Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
With one galaxy-wide crisis averted, it's time to fix another one. The Quarians have decided to go to war during the Reaper invasion so it's time to babysit a bunch of admirals this week.
We help save the Quarians from themselves, try to help Tali through her newfound promotion, and Legion comes on board to help things along.
Also closing out the show is discussion about a theoretical Mass Effect game post-ME3 and things get heated.
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Wout "Hashtagonist" McDutch comes to Normandy FM to talk about Reaper Asari, Bioware's apparent disdain for Jacob Taylor, and Mass Effect 3's multiplayer mode.
Samara and Jacob have some personal business to attend to in the midst of the war, and we're here to help out one of them and also roast the life out of the other. Then we talk about our experiences with ME3's multiplayer and its prophetic use of microtransactions and loot boxes.
Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Wout: @TheHashtag0nist
We've got some things to catch up on before we get headed into Mass Effect 3's next big conflict, so we've decided to dedicate an entire episode to a few sidequests on the Citadel and some character stuff that didn't quite fit in to any of the other episodes. We discuss Aria's quest line to recruit some gangs, talk about how Traynor and Cortez's relationships are so far beyond most crew members in the series, and then shoot some bottles with Garrus on the Citadel.
We also end the show with some talk about E3 ahead of next week.
Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
This week we're going to the Citadel for what will no doubt be a completely uneventful trip to the center of galactic society which is definitely not under siege by Cerberus and won't result in the death of a close friend. We talk about Kaidan and Ashley's final test of trust, how much Kai Leng sucks to death and picking up the last living Prothean.
Also on the agenda is a closer look at how Mass Effect 3 handles romance, gives a tribute to the fallen, and saying goodbye to another friend going out in the blaze of glory.
Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
It's a fateful day for the Krogan race as we head to Tuchanka to cure the Genophage...or do we? We talk about the various ways the trip the Shroud can go, and give a proper goodbye to an old friend on the way. It's a somber one this week, folks.
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
It's time to dive headfirst into intergalactic diplomacy. The Turians need the Krogan's help in holding Palavan before they can commit resources to the Crucible, and the Krogans have one condition: a cure for the Genophage.
Jay Malone returns to join us on a trip to the Salarian homeworld, where we meet the last hope for the Krogan race. After that, Wrex has a favor to ask about some missing scouts and we stop by the Citadel to check in with Miranda.
Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Jay: @surfingkane
It only took three games and 25 episodes of this show, but we, along with Natalie, finally get to talk about some canon gays on this week's episode of our Mass Effect retrospective.
Here's the quick rundown: - EDI's got a body and it's weird. - Cortez and Traynor show that queer representation was actually easy to implement all along. - Kaidan and Ashley are up for Spectre candidacy. - Garrus helps us track down the Turian Primarch. - Thane's adapting to a quiet life on the Citadel. - Jack is a teacher now but is still barely wearing a shirt.
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Natalie: @heartimecia
It's finally time. The Reapers are here. Season 3 begins with the longest episode yet, where we discuss Mass Effect 3's improved combat, The Kid, and the canonical sexual tension between Kenneth's Shepard and Kaidan. Also on the docket, we talk about how Kaidan and Ashley differ from one another, meet up with Liara, and talk about whether or not we buy into the Indoctrination Theory.
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
We have one more stop to make in Mass Effect 2, and it's a fairly underwhelming DLC. While Arrival does have a somewhat interesting lead in to ME3, much of the mission feels relatively ordinary in the face of some of ME2's better missions. We also end the show talking about how our favorite Mass Effect characters rank up with our favorite characters in video games.
Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
It's finally time. We've got the crew, upgraded the ship, and unshackled an AI. It's time for the Suicide Mission. Eric and Kenneth go through the Omega-4 Relay for one final push against the Collectors. It's time to make some life and death calls, save the crew, and hopefully get everyone out in one piece.
Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
SDGC's John Phipps comes aboard Normandy FM to discuss two of the best and most important loyalty missions in Mass Effect 2. Tali and Legion's loyalty missions have far-reaching consequences over the entire galaxy, and we're here to talk about how these characters set up some of the most important decisions of the trilogy.
Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr John: @mistermegative SDGC: @officialSDGC
It's time to reunite with Liara for a mission as we aid her quest to take down the Shadow Broker. We talk how Mass Effect 2's DLC helped set a precedent for Bioware's post-launch content, a redeeming romance for Liara, and how we feel about the reveal of the Shadow Broker.
To cap off the show, we talk about Kotaku's report on Anthem's troubled development and Bioware's very bad response.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Kotaku's story: https://kotaku.com/how-biowares-anthem-went-wrong-1833731964
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
It's a short one this week, as we talk about Mass Effect 2's DLC squadmates and how the game does them dirty. Both Kasumi and Zaeed get the short end of the stick when it comes to dialogue, but one of them definitely fairs better than the other.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
This week we're taking a break from dealing with the Normandy crew's personal problems to deal with issues that are affecting the galaxy at large as we speak. Which basically means we've got some critical plot missions to clean up before the Suicide Mission. This week we're headed to two unsettling destinations: an abandoned(?) Collector's ship and a derelict Reaper. Nothing bad ever happens from sneaking into an enemy vessel, right? Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
IGN's Cassidee Moser stops by to talk about two emotionally heavy loyalty missions. Both Samara and Thane have some unfinished business with their children, and one ending is definitely going to be happier than the other. We talk about the questionable implications of Morinth's predatory ways, how Thane embodies Mass Effect's tonal shift, and maybe get some hot takes from a cat...again.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Cassidee: @cassideemoser
Noted Turian Enthusiast Natalie Flores drops by Normandy FM to talk two of her favorite Mass Effect characters: Miranda and Garrus.
In part 3 of our Loyalty Mission episodes, we talk the political implications of Miranda's saving her sister, Garrus' stagnant but meaningful role in Mass Effect 2, and find out Eric's cat is actually his third eye.
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Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Natalie: @heartimecia
It's a rough week aboard the Normandy as we go see what's up with Jacob's dad and Jack's past. Jack is divisive between our hosts, but Kenneth and Eric come together to roast the life out of of Jacob Taylor and Bioware's portrayal of him and his loyalty mission. Also, if you hadn't heard, Bioware has a new game out and Kenneth has beaten it. We round the show out with some talk about the state of Anthem.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
The Normandy lands on Tuchanka for our first loyalty mission episode as we have tearful reunions with Wrex, questionable puberty rituals with Grunt, and the beginning of one of Mass Effect's greatest stories with Mordin.
Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Tali is the last of our dossiers to get through, and since there's an odd number of recruitment missions to get through we spend a lot of this episode talking about things other than recruiting her. We drop by Haestrom to see what Tali's up to, then go on a tangent about the extended Mass Effect universe and discuss our feelings on Bioware's upcoming Anthem.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
We're headed to Ilium this week to see a familar-but-not-so-familiar face, as well as a few new ones. We check in on Liara, who is extremely chill about Shepard being alive for some reason. After that, we'll bring in two of the most dangerous Normandy crew members yet in Thane and Samara.
Enjoy the show!
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM - @normandyfmshow Eric - @seamoosi Kenneth - @shepardcdr
This week on Normandy FM Kenneth is reunited with his boyfriend to be and Eric gets to see a racist who has definitely not learned anything since we last saw her. Kaidan and Ashley make their briefest of returns to the spotlight and we use it to talk about how the two handle the same role in fairly different ways.
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Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmsho Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Jack and Grunt come on to the Normandy this week as we talk about two relatively underwhelming recruitment missions. First we head out to find Warlord Okeer, only to find his operation isn't quite what we were expecting. Then it's off to Purgatory to find some of Mass Effect 2's most problematic writing yet and also Jack.
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Jay Malone joins Eric and Kenneth to talk about Normandy FM's first trip to Omega and things quickly go off the rails.
We're recruiting Mordin and Archangel this episode, but not before curing a plague, beating up some mercs, and meeting the one true queen of Omega.
Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr Jay: @surfingkane
Season 2 is here and it's got takes hotter than a Collector Ship beam cutting through the Normandy. In this episode we start discussing Mass Effect 2 and all the leaps forward it made...as well as a few setbacks. We also talk about the future of the show, both in the short term and long term, including some guest announcements and changes to the show's Patreon. Enjoy the show!
Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Follow the show on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
It's time to ruin Saren's big day. In this season finale Eric and Kenneth are taking the fight to Ilos, resulting in some fairly different outcomes on more than a few choices. Kenneth continues to be the hardened Renegade while Eric is the reasonable Paragon. We also talk our overarching thoughts on Mass Effect 1, what we're excited to see in Mass Effect 2, and tease what's to come in future episodes of Normandy FM.
Become a patron of Normandy FM: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
It's time for the episode we've all been waiting for. This week Kenneth and Eric are talking Virmire and all the sacrifices it requires of them. This episode has it all: impassioned arguments about Ashley and Kaidan, discussions about Sovereign's introduction as a Reaper, and even a guest appearance from Aretha Franklin.
Support the show on Patreon: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Feros kinda sucks. But we here at Normandy FM are here to eat our vegetables before we get to the stuff we actually want to talk about. But it's all uphill from here. Kenneth and Eric discuss the questionable inclusion of Mass Effect's least interesting story mission, the forced implementation of the Mako, and ponder the decisions the Thorian made in setting up its lair. Also we touch on the beginning of Cerberus, the Normandy crew's showing its true colors, and gearing up for the emotional roller coaster of Virmire.
Enjoy the show!
Help keep Normandy FM afloat: http://patreon.com/normandyfm
Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
This week, Eric and Ken grapple with some mommy issues, delve into corporate espionage, and clean up a mean rachni infestation. It's horror and more this week on Normandy FM, the favorite Mass Effect retrospective of rachni queens and Spectres alike.
Liara comes aboard the Normandy this episode and brings with her some Asari discourse. Also in this episode, Kenneth and Eric discuss Mass Effect's portrayal of sex and consent, the Mako being a garbage can on wheels, and a whole lot more.
Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Normandy FM docks on the Citadel in episode 2, where Eric and Kenneth discuss the growth of characters like Garrus, Wrex, and Tali, as well as the lack thereof for some other members of Shepard's crew. Beyond the Normandy crew, this episode dives into the cultures and relationships of Mass Effect's various alien races and Shepard's promotion to Spectre.
Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr
Welcome to Normandy FM, where Eric Van Allen and Kenneth Shepard revisit the Mass Effect series. In this first episode the two discuss Eden Prime, the questionable decisions of a Renegade player, and ask what is Mass Effect's problem with gay men?
Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr