Franchise Festival

Chris & Hamilton walk through the second act of Mass Effect 3, from recruiting Javik (Ike Amadi) to Tuchanka and the Citadel's Cerberus takeover. Along the way, the Rachni Queen - or her clone - makes an exciting appearance!Disclaimer: This is a re-recorded episode. We are still having some odd audio issues despite switching to Zoom, so we beg your patience with the slightly lower audio quality - we're continuing to troubleshoot, and hope to have the gremlins worked out soon.

Hamilton, Spencer, and Chris cover the first phase of Commander Shepard's Mass Effect 3 journey, from a trial on Earth to a daring escape from Sur'Kesh. We're reunited with Anderson, Jack, Ashley, Liara, Mordin, Wrex, and more. Also James is there.

Chris and Hamilton discuss the development and gameplay generalities of Mass Effect 3 before setting up the plot with an overview of Mass Effect 2's "Arrival" DLC mission.

Chris, Hamilton, and Spencer discuss their favorite games of 2025 (more or less), along with some honorable mentions. Don't worry, it's spoiler-free! Topics include: The Seance at Blake Manor The Roottrees Are Dead Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles Pokemon Legends: Z-A Monster Train 2 Metaphor: Refantazio Blue Prince Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Death Stranding 2: On The Beach Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii World of Warcraft Classic Hollow Knight: Silksong Song Samples (in order): "Battle Theme" - Metaphor: Refantazio "Westwardly Winds" - Blue Prince "Strive" - Hollow Knight: Silksong "Indigo" - Death Stranding 2 "Lumiere" - Clair Obscur

Chris and Hamilton conclude their whirlwind tour through Mass Effect 2 with the Lair of the Shadow Broker mission, Legion's recruitment, and the climax of the Collectors' nefarious plot.

Chris, Spencer, and returning guest Lily discuss nearly all remaining loyalty missions in Mass Effect 2 and make a surprising discovery on-board the derelict Collector vessel. Be sure to check out Lily's great work at The Avocado and on her Patreon page!

Chris, Hamilton, and Spencer are joined by The Avocado's Lily Bones to discuss Mass Effect 2 recruitments (Samara, Thane, and Tali) as well as the loyalty missions for Garrus and Jack. Please note that we had some audio issues with this recording, so Lily's farewell is absent from our wrap-up and you may hear some minor audio distortion from time to time. Worry not, though: you can still find Lily's excellent work on The Avocado and support her on Patreon.

Chris, Hamilton, and Spencer discuss the first third or so of Mass Effect 2's plot, from the prologue to the rescue mission on Horizon. This covers most of recruitments, which means you get to meet Mordin Solus in this episode!

Chris, Hamilton, and Spencer are joined by Matt Storm (aka Stormageddon) to discuss the development, gameplay, and universe of Mass Effect 2 (2010). Be sure to check out Matt's Linktree to find more of their work!

Chris, Hamilton, and Spencer navigate the back half of Mass Effect's narrative, from Feros to the final confrontation with Saren.

Chris, Hamilton, and Spencer wind their way through the first half of Mass Effect's plot, from character creation to Noveria. Along the way, we also discuss party member backstories, the Asteroid X57 bonus mission, and how exactly one should pronounce "Benezia."

Chris, Spencer, and Hamilton discuss the development, gameplay, and background lore of Mass Effect (2007). Come for the BioWare history, stay to find out which alien species is the biggest bunch of nerds. Sources/Links: The Art of the Mass Effect Trilogy: Expanded Edition "Mass Effect is Inspired by...Final Fantasy?" - Luke Plunkett for Kotaku Turians (Mass Effect Wiki) NASA Stanford torus (Wikipedia)

We close the book on Season 4 with a round-up of topics on Capcom's Mega Man, including: personal histories with the series, favorite entries, least favorite entries, biggest surprises, and more!

Chris and Hamilton discuss the development, gameplay, stages, and bosses of Mega Man 11 (2018).

Hamilton and Chris discuss Inti Creates' Mega Man ZX, including its origins as a potential Mega Man Zero 5 and its awkward (yet admirable) efforts to infuse the Mega Man formula with Metroidvania mechanics. Along the way, we uncover surprising connections to Shantae and Ace Attorney. Sources IGN interview with producer Ken Horinouchi Capcom Unity Blog interview with character designer and scenario writer Makoto Yabe

Chris and Hamilton are joined by special guest Patrick of the Boss Rush Network to discuss Inti Creates' first entry in the Mega Man series: Mega Man Zero (2002). Be sure to support Patrick's work by visiting https://bossrush.net/, following him on Twitter using the handle @Auditor415, and backing the network on Patreon. Sources Jeremy Parish - “Companions Through Life and Death: The Story of Inti Creates and Mega Man” (US Gamer/VG247) Mega Man Zero: Official Complete Works

Hamilton and Chris conclude their coverage of Capcom's Mega Man Battle Network (2001) with a close look at the game's plot. Even as the level design grows tedious and the story meanders, boss fights remain a highlight.

Chris and Hamilton tackle the development, gameplay, and early hours of Mega Man Battle Network (2001). Along the way, they lavish praise on the deckbuilder format and uncover the startling commonality between Capcom's abandoned IPs. Sources: Interview - "Mega Man Battle Network Started Out As A Horror Game" (Inside Games, via MMBN3D and Rockman Corner) Mega Man Battle Network Complete Works

Chris, Hamilton, and Spencer discuss Mega Man X4 (1997), the first Mega Man X game developed from the ground-up for 32-bit consoles. Are the updates worthwhile, or do they just over-complicate a classic formula? Development Sources: Mega Man X4 – 1997 Developer Interview (Sega Saturn Magazine, via Shmuplations) Mega Man X: Official Complete Works Book

Chris and Spencer discuss the development, gameplay, and plot of 1997's Mega Man Legends (Nintendo loyalists may know it as Mega Man 64). If our show piques your interest, don't miss the great development team interviews available on shmuplations.

Hamilton and Chris go in-depth with Capcom's first 32-bit Mega Man game: Mega Man 8! Along the way, your hosts give a primer on the series' extended sidekick roster, offer their thoughts on the (in)famous auto-scroll stages, and get to the bottom of why this game's voice acting is so... unique.

Chris and Hamilton are joined by special guest Nadia Oxford, author of the Maverick Hunter's Field Guide, to talk about Mega Man X (1993). Along the way, they learn about Capcom's difficulty growing Mega Man past its 8-bit roots, discuss changes between the original and its 2006 remake, and let listeners in on Dr. Cain's secret weakness. Be sure to support Nadia's work over at Axe of the Blood God!

Chris, Hamilton, and Spencer talk about the first Mega Man game developed after the departure of creator Akira Kitamura: Mega Man 3! Along the way, your hosts discuss yet another troubled development period, a bewildering localization, and what happens when you build a tower out of snakes.

Chris, Hamilton, Spencer and special guest Eddie V (@thatretrocode) discuss the development, gameplay, and stage design of Capcom's Mega Man 2. Don't miss Eddie's work over on The Boss Rush Network!

Chris, Hamilton, and Spencer embark on a new season covering Capcom's 11 classic Mega Man side-scrollers. Unfortunately, in order to appreciate the heights which the series would later reach, this requires taking a critical look at the franchise's inauspicious 1987 debut. Even so, there's always joy to be had in learning about abandoned concepts and early installment weirdness! Sources on development information include: Shmuplations - The Birth of Mega Man (2011) Game Developer - Crushed: Inside Capcom's Marketing Feud with Acclaim and Mortal Kombat (2022) The Reploid Research Lavatory - The Rockman Character Collection (1991)

Hosts Chris, Spencer, and Hamilton got into the eggnog and decided to cover the Resident Evil: Death Island CG movie as a Christmas bonus show. It may not have been a great film, but we all had a great time talking about it! Happy holidays, friends!

Hello listeners, this is your Franchise Festival host Chris. We just wanted to provide a few quick announcements: (1) There is no new episode on the public feed this month, as we’re taking a short break between seasons to recuperate and enjoy the holidays with our family and friends. (2) Patrons will get our annual Game of the Year podcast on or around December 15th. If you’d like to hear it, please subscribe to at patreon.com/franchisefestival for as little as $3/month. You’ll also get access to the full back catalog of bonus shows, including some very strange Resident Evil spinoff episodes and a bunch of indie game coverage from Season 3. (3) We’ll be shutting down our website in 2024. It’s pretty expensive to maintain, and the data indicates that most of you listen either through podcast apps or our Patreon page. Consequently, the Patreon will become our new home on the web. Public feed episodes are still posted there for free listening, so you don’t need to be a member to enjoy it. (4) Finally, our fourth season starts on January 1, 2024. In case you missed it, our plan is to cover Capcom’s Mega Man series from start to finish over the course of eleven shows. We’ll also be releasing patron-exclusive bonus shows on remakes, spinoffs, adaptations, and spiritual successors. We appreciate your interest in the show and look forward to joining you all again next year. We’d also like to express a very special thank you to our patrons: Cheatachu, Celeste, Ed, Loren, Quinley Thorne, Cedric the Owl, Jarathen, and Jasper - you bring joy to our hearts and inspire us to make the best content we can. Thanks for listening, everybody! Goodbye.

Hamilton, Spencer, and Chris offer their final thoughts on the topics covered in Season 3. Along the way, they recount their favorite and least favorite games in these franchises, whether there are any similarities between Supergiant and Sonic the Hedgehog, what they'd like to see in the future. Finally, Season 4's topic is announced at the end... This episode, like all episodes in Season 3, was made possible by our patrons! Thank you to Cheatachu, Quinley Thorne, Celeste, Ed, Loren, Jasper, Cedric the Owl, and Jarathen.

Hamilton and Chris explore Sonic the Hedgehog's first "open zone" adventure, Sonic Frontiers (2022). Along the way, they discuss the game's development, its peculiar minigames, and how well it succeeds at shifting the franchise away from linear stage design. Noteworthy sources include interviews with Sonic Team Creative Officer Takashi Iizuka by IGN and Eurogamer.

Spencer and Chris get downright crunchy with Supergiant's Hades (2020), working through the finer details of how its gameplay systems interact with one another to produce one of the best roguelikes of the last decade. Along the way, they explore how Hades was made and how the elusive good ending plays out. Sources MCV Interview with Jen Zee Gamasutra Interview with Greg Kasavin Noclip Documentary Series - "Hades: Developing Hell"

Chris and special guest Celeste Roberts go in-depth with NoCode's Stories Untold (2017). Along the way, they manage to discuss Zork (1977), Cold War-era cyanide tooth capsules, and the Alien film franchise. For more from Celeste, please check out the Boss Rush Network, Another Zelda Podcast, and Read Only Magazine! Also, this episode was guest-edited by Carly Pryor! You can find more of her great work on Instagram and YouTube.

Chris and Hamilton recall the first 20 years of Sonic the Hedgehog by taking a close look at Sega's Sonic Generations (2011). Along the way, they discuss what happened to the property over the preceding decade and why some characters' names were changed during the localization process.

Chris and Spencer discuss the development, gameplay, characters, and story of Supergiant's Pyre (2017). Enjoy! If you'd like more details on how Pyre was made, we recommend NoClip's documentary on the subject.

Chris and Spencer discuss The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - including development details and what's changed from Breath of the Wild - in a largely spoiler-free informal addendum to Season 1. Sources: - Nintendo Developer Roundtable - Washington Post Interview with Eiji Aonuma by Gene Park

Chris, Hamilton, and special guest Rosalie discuss the development, gameplay, and plot of Sonic Adventure 2 (2001). Along the way, they also explore the game's amazing soundtrack and what led Sega to exit the home console market in the early 2000s. Let's escape from the city together, folks! You can find Rosalie online at littlerecordgirl.com and on Twitter at @lilrecordgirl.

Chris, Spencer, and special guest Stephanie (from the Boss Rush Network) discuss their impressions of the Resident Evil 4 remake several weeks after its release, paying special attention to changes from the original's gameplay, characters, and enemies. You can find Stephanie on Twitter at @klimov_author.

Chris and Spencer discuss the development, gameplay, and story of Supergiant's Transistor (2014). Check out NoClip's documentary for more information on how this game was made!

Chris and Hamilton discuss one of the best platformer games ever made: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles! In this episode, you'll learn about Sega's evolution from its arcade origins, how Sonic the Hedgehog was created, and McDonalds' unlikely role in this game's notoriously bifurcated release. After working through the game's history, your hosts wrap things up with a thorough look at every zone, boss, and wacky enemy.

Chris and Spencer kick off the third season of Franchise Festival with a discussion of Supergiant's Bastion (2011). Along the way, they explore how the game was made, analyze the enemies and weapons in each stage, and make the case for both ending choices. Noteworthy Sources: Noclip - "The Making of Bastion"

Chris, Hamilton, and Spencer offer their final thoughts on the Resident Evil franchise. Along the way, they discuss favorite games, locations, characters, and monsters, while also speculating about what might be next for Capcom's beloved survival horror behemoth. Stick around to the end for an announcement about Franchise Festival's Season 3 topic!

Chris and Hamilton are joined by returning guests Arielle (@huggablehipster) and Kamijace (@kamijacegaming) to discuss Resident Evil Village. As they dive into its plot and cut content, the crew explores how Covid-19 impacted development, how well the Duke fits into the game world, and which monster scares them the most. Be sure to subscribe to Arielle's YouTube channel Huggable Hipster and Kamijace's podcast The Weekly Cooldown for more insights from our distinguished guests!

Hamilton, Spencer, and Chris discuss Capcom's Resident Evil 3 Remake. Along the way, they explore the game's development, assess the merits of Nemesis' glow-up, and debate how this controversial game compares to the universally-beloved Resident Evil 2 Remake.

Chris, Hamilton, and Spencer finally return to Raccoon City for a discussion of 2019's long-awaited Resident Evil 2 Remake. Along the way, your hosts explore the game's development, the magic of Mr. X, and how the characters have been updated from their blocky 1998 forms. For more on how the game was made, we encourage you to check out Capcom's own series of Resident Evil 2: Roundtable videos featuring members of the development team and beta footage available on YouTube.

Chris, Spencer, and Hamilton are joined by special guest Adam Bucceri to discuss the development, gameplay, and plot of Resident Evil 7. Our longest episode yet include cut enemies, tips to get you past the toughest bosses (spoiler: crouch), and plenty of praise for the franchise's scariest moments. A quick content warning, though: this episode includes descriptions of some pretty graphic violence, even by Resident Evil standards, so proceed carefully if you have a sensitive stomach. Don't miss Adam's excellent tabletop games, including the Resident Evil-inspired Enter the Survival Horror, available now at https://boocherry.itch.io/!

Chris and Hamilton discuss the criminally underrated Resident Evil: Revelations 2. Along the way, they uncover cut content, encounter the series' best invisible monster, and explore the surprising thematic connection between this game and Frictional's Soma (2015). Noteworthy Sources: Interview: Resident Evil Revelations 2 director talks about the game’s story, structure, and cut contentInterview - Resident Evil: Revelations 2Interview: Producer Michiteru Okabe on Resident Evil: Revelations 2TGS 2014 - Resident Evil: Revelations 2

The Franchise Festival crew performs a deep dive on Resident Evil: Revelations' development, gameplay, and plot with Arielle Danan (@HuggableHipster). Along the way, we speculate about mechanical connections to Dead Space and lore connections to Resident Evil: Code Veronica. We may not have enjoyed the game as much as previous series entries, but we still had a great time discussing Capcom's attempt to revive traditional survival horror. You can find Arielle on Twitter, YouTube, Patreon, and TikTok. Sources: "The Making of Resident Evil: Revelations"2012 David Jenkins interview with Capcom’s Masachika Kawata for the UK’s Metro2012 Richard George interview with Masachika Kawata for IGN2011 Nintendo "Iwata Asks" interview with Masachika Kawata concerning Resident Evil: Mercenaries 3D and Resident Evil: Revelations"Are Lisa Trevor and Alice The Same Person? Diving Into the story of Resident Evil"

Chris and Hamilton return to Resident Evil 6, working their way through its dense - well, arguably incomprehensible - plot. We've got international intrigue, a visit to the ocean floor, chainsaw arms, and even evil clones in play! This episode also covers each of the game's many bosses in detail. If you missed Resident Evil 6 (Part 1), you can find it on our website or your preferred podcast app.

Here is a collection of outtakes from our episodes on Resident Evil: Code Veronica, Resident Evil Zero, Resident Evil 5, "Zombies!", and Resident Evil 6 (Part 1); there's an abnormally high amount of Bandersnatch talk for some reason! We appreciate your patience and will deliver our Resident Evil 6 (Part 2) episode on June 1, 2022.

Chris and Hamilton discuss the development, gameplay, and monster designs of Resident Evil 6, exploring how best to approach the game's unwieldy four-campaign structure and glibly dismissing prognosticators of the "next big thing." Noteworthy Sources 1up.com Interview with director Eiichiro Sasaki and Yoshiaki HirabayashiPlayStation Blog interview with executive producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi, director Eiichiro Sasaki, and producer Yoshiaki HirabayashiGamedeveloper.com interview with director Eiichiro Sasaki and Yoshiaki HirabayashiGeekxGirls Interview with Michelle LeeGeekxGirls Interview with Sergia Louise AndersonGeekxGirls Interview with Kat RandolphGeekxGirls Interview with Sara FletcherNoah Caldwell-Gervais - "A Thorough Look at Resident Evil"

Chris, Hamilton, Spencer, and special guest Carly discuss the history of zombie media. After chatting about their favorite zombie movies, games, and TV, they get down into the weeds with which zombie tropes are still worth saving and which need to be buried. And yes, Typing of the Dead merits a mention. You can find Carly at @pryorexperience on Instagram! With regard to sources, we recommend the following PBS videos for an even more scholarly overview of zombie history... The Origins of the Zombie, from Haiti to the U.S.; Why George Romero Changed Monster Movies Forever; and Modern Zombies: The Rebirth of the Undead