Amazing Gamers welcomes Bluesky’s #1 Tokyo Mirage Sessions fan Kat (@skeletonkat.bsky.social) into the conversation to discuss how that game is often overlooked even by Atlus RPG fans.

A longtime fan of the Shin Megami Tensei series, Kat remembers some fans thinking the first TMS trailer was an April Fool’s Day joke, and we discuss how expectations was a major factor for this game, which was originally billed as a SMT/ Fire Emblem crossover.

Instead, we got a SMT in the style of Persona that was set in the entertainment industry—which also happens to be great looking, with good dungeons and an addictive combat system.

The fact TMS got a Switch port—when so many classic Atlus games are stuck on old hardware- has us suggesting that Atlus fans give it another try, and judge it on its own merits.

We also discuss Oldsona Trilogy Remake > Persona 4 Remake….and what makes Oldsona special.

• Oldsona—it’s very much a triology
• Persona 1- a game like no other, but an acquired taste
• Persona 2—as good as any story in the series
• You can make an incredible playlist from Persona 2
• Does Metaphor sand down too much friction the series is famous for
• Meh on Persona 4 remake
• Best SMT game? Strange Journey….

Atlus classics stuck on old hardcare

Amazing Gamers welcomes back Dana Forsythe (ComicBooksInBoston on IG) to discuss writing about games and music.

Dana proposed a new collaboration for game reviews (which I think is an amazing idea) and we also discussed the critic's role.

This comes shortly after my debut game review, for Civilization 7 in Nintendo Force Magazine (the May/June issue). I also get into how even greats like Roger Ebert occasionally got it wrong.

We also touch on Dana's discovering Chrono Trigger, his stint as a columnist for Paste Magazine, and the great times he's had covering music fests, such as Boston Calling.

And we close out with a story about my son, who will probably go pro as a Mario Maker 2 Master Builder, if that's a thing...

I love Persona 4, but it's not even in my top 5 of projects I'd like to see from Atlus.

It's funny how we've gone from Persona 4 being difficult to access to arguably too much Persona 4....

In this episode I share my thoughts on that whole thing-- starting with how I dusted off the PS3 a few years back, because it was the only way I could experience this previously underappreciated classic.