163: Vagrant Story (with Aidan Moher)

Tales from the Backlog

Like many of Square's RPGs of the late 90's and early 2000's, Vagrant Story is an ambitious, flawed, divisive and fantastic RPG, full of big ideas that didn't get a chance to full develop into what was planned. What we got was only one part of a larger saga (see also: Xenogears from just a few years prior), a game that stands on its own, proudly displaying all of the rough edges and brilliant ideas for all to see. It made for a great discussion on the podcast!

Guest info: Aidan Moher

• Check out Aidan's new podcast FunFactor https://funfactorpod.com/
• Find Aidan's writing on Astrolabe https://astrolabe.aidanmoher.com/
• Find Aidan's book Fight, Magic, Items https://fightmagicitems.rocks/
• Look forward to Aidan's next book about Suikoden 1 and 2 https://astrolabe.aidanmoher.com/suikoden-1-2-history-boss-fight-books-2026/
• Follow on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/aidanis.fun

TIMESTAMPS

• 0:00 Title Card
• 0:38 Intros/Personal Histories/Opening Thoughts
• 14:58 Story Setup/Themes/Localization
• 42:35 Presentation
• 1:03:32 Combat/Equipment
• 1:36:21 Closing Thoughts/Recommendations/Plugs
• 1:45:45 SPOILER WALL/Patron Thank-Yous
• 1:47:38 Spoiler Section

Music used in the episode is credited to Hitoshi Sakimoto. Tracks used: Opening Movie, Greyland Event Climax, Snowfly Forest, Dullahan, Minotauros, Remembrance, Dawn of Lea Monde, Fanfare

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Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://www.instagram.com/jackallencaricatures/ and his other pages

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