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 | 23 Eps. Cyberpunk 2077 | 15 Eps. Nier | 26 EPs. Dragon Age: The Veilguard | Ongoing…
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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/normandyfm Follow us on Bluesky: Normandy FM: @normandyfm Eric: @seamoosi Ken: @shepardcdr 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: @normandyfm Eric: @seamoosi Ken: @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/normandyfm Follow us on Bluesky: Normandy FM: @normandyfm Eric: @seamoosi Ken:…
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 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/normandyfm Follow us on Bluesky: Normandy FM: @normandyfm…
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:…
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/normandyfm Follow us on Bluesky Normandy FM: @normandyfm Eric: @seamoosi Ken:…
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/normandyfm Follow us on Bluesky: Normandy FM: @normandyfm Eric: @seamoosi…
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/normandyfm Follow us on Bluesky: Normandy FM: @normandyfm Eric:…
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…
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/normandyfm Follow us on Bluesky Normandy FM: @normandyfm Eric: @seamoosi Ken: @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:…
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…
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/normandyfm Follow us on Bluesky: Normandy FM: @normandyfm Eric: @seamoosi Ken: @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/normandyfm Follow us on Bluesky: Normandy FM: @normandyfm Eric: @seamoosi Ken: @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/normandyfm Follow us on Bluesky: Normandy FM: @normandyfm Eric: @seamoosi Ken: @shepardcdr Diego: @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/normandyfm Follow us on Bluesky:…
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:…
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/normandyfm Follow us on Bluesky Normandy FM: @normandyfm Eric: @seamoosi Ken: @shepardcdr Sam: @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/normandyfm Follow us on Bluesky Normandy FM: @normandyfm Eric: @seamoosi…
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/normandyfm Follow us on Bluesky: Normandy FM: @normandyfm Eric: @seamoosi Ken: @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…
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/normandyfm Follow us on Bluesky Normandy FM: @normandyfm Eric:…
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: @normandyfm Eric: @seamoosi Ken: @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…
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/normandyfm Follow us on Bluesky Normandy FM:…
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…
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/normandyfm Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Ken:…
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/normandyfm Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM:…
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/normandyfm Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow…
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/normandyfm Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Ken: @shepardcdr Julie: @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…
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/normandyfm Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Ken:…
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/normandyfm Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow…
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/normandyfm Follow us on Twitter:…
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:…
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…
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/normandyfm Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Ken: @shepardcdr Michael: @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/normandyfm…
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/normandyfm Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Ken: @shepardcdr Isaiah: @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/normandyfm Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Ken: @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/normandyfm Follow us on Twitter: Normandy…
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/normandyfm Follow us on Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Ken: @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…
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:…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
