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 | 23 Eps. Cyberpunk 2077 | 15 Eps. Nier | 26 EPs. Dragon Age: The Veilguard | Ongoing Twitter: Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Kenneth: @shepardcdr

BioBit: "Future"

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

11-12
47:27

Nier Finale: [Z-A]

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_0 Enjoy 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/normandyfm Follow us on Bluesky: Normandy FM: @normandyfm Eric: @seamoosi Ken: @shepardcdr

10-29
01:42:31

Nier Replicant, Episode 14: Memor[y] feat. Michael Higham

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/normandyfm Follow us on Bluesky: Normandy FM: @normandyfm Eric: @seamoosi Ken: @shepardcdr Michael: @brazyazn

10-01
01:38:17

Nier Automata, Episode 11: Omnes Una Manet No[x]

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

09-17
01:24:56

Nier Automata, Episode 10: [W]ish You Were Here

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

09-03
49:33

Nier Automata, Episode 9: [V]iolent Ends feat. Diego Argüello

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

08-20
01:44:59

Nier Automata, Episode 8: Confl[u]ence of Worlds feat. Natalie Checo

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: Normandy FM: @normandyfm Eric: @seamoosi Ken: @shepardcdr Natalie: @heartimecia

08-06
01:18:45

Nier Automata, Episode 7: [T]ake Two feat. Moises Taveras and Sam Greszes

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/normandyfm Follow us on Bluesky: Normandy FM: @normandyfm Eric: @seamoosi Ken: @shepardcdr Moises: @platanoranger Sam: @sam.robotsfightingdinosaurs.com‬

07-23
01:59:38

Nier Automata, Episode 6: Become A[s] Gods feat. Sam Greer

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

07-09
01:43:41

Nier Automata, Episode 5: Simulac[r]a

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 Ken:@shepardcdr

06-25
42:23

Nier Automata, Episode 4: May [Q] Think

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

06-05
56:17

PAX East Video Game Tinder III Panel feat. Anya Combs, Jenna Stoeber, Michael Higham, Asa GreenRiver

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.p Become a Normandy FM patron: http://patreon.com/normandyfm Follow us on Bluesky: Normandy FM: @normandyfm.bsky.social Anya: @anyacombsherhair.bsky.social Eric: @seamoosi.bsky.social Ken: @shepardcdr.bsky.social Michael: @brazyazn.bsky.social Jenna: @thejenna.bsky.social Asa: @agreenriver.bsky.social

05-13
01:00:59

Nier: Automata, Episode 3: A Walk in the [P]ark

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: @seamoosi Ken: @shepardcdr

02-04
44:42

BioBit - Vigilance

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

01-29
55:04

BioBit: Dragon Age: The Veilguard Spoilercast feat. Ash Parrish and James Whitbrook

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/normandyfm Follow us on Bluesky: Normandy FM: @normandyfm.bsky,social Eric: @seamoosi.bsky.social Ken: @shepardcdr.bsky.social Ash: @adashtra.bsky.social James: jwhitbrook.bsky.social

12-04
02:14:52

Nier Automata, Episode 2: M[o]del Behavior

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: @normandyfm Eric: @seamoosi Ken: @shepardcdr

11-29
01:17:37

BioBit: Dragon Age: The Veilguard Review

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/normandyfm Follow us on Twitter/Bluesky Normandy FM: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Ken: @shepardcdr Read Ken's review on Kotaku: https://kotaku.com/dragon-age-veilguard-4-review-dreadwolf-rook-action-rpg-1851681954

10-25
01:54:39

Nier Automata, Episode 1 - This Ca[n] Continue

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: @shepardcdr

09-18
52:44

BioBit: We Played Dragon Age: The Veilguard

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: @normandyfmshow Eric: @seamoosi Ken: @shepardcdr

09-14
01:12:06

Nier Replicant, Episode 13 - You Can (Not) Re[M]ake feat. Alex Donaldson

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 Eric: @seamoosi Ken: @shepardcdr Alex: @APzonerunner

09-04
01:16:51

Kim Hawko Vitiello

this man says 'uh' and 'um' more than anyone I've ever heard

04-28 Reply

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