• 1 hour 21 minutes
    Episode 152: Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin - The Whole Grindy End

    This week, Jack and the gang bring this whole fight to a conclusion through three very FF14-based DLCs, complete with rat tails, new job classes, monsterfuckin', a guy named Greg, the most unoptimized bridge in Cornelia, and a man who was gonna spew bullshit from the instant we meet him.

    Also, now that your editor has started playing FF14 and grinding out literally everything: Chris' comment is correct, DLC2 really is just adapting a relic weapon grind from 14 to a single-player game. It hurts so bad.

    Special Guest: Shin Garrett.

    Support Lightning Strikes Thrice

    24 August 2026, 10:00 am
  • 32 minutes 11 seconds
    Episode 150: Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin - Fire & Water Crystals

    This week, we wrap our crystal exploration by revisiting MMO locales, arguing about how far you should go with verticality in a Souls-like title, and preparing the groundwork for a brutal emotional journey home.

    Special Guest: Shin Garrett.

    Support Lightning Strikes Thrice

    11 August 2026, 10:00 am
  • 1 hour 28 minutes
    Episode 151: Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin - Chaos Awakens

    This week, it's time to pay the piper (our way?), as we wrap the main game of Stranger of Paradise with the very emotional journey to destroy Chaos and save the world of Corneria.

    Except clearly we don't get there quite as expected, and there's more story to come in the DLC next time...

    Special Guest: Shin Garrett.

    Support Lightning Strikes Thrice

    11 August 2026, 10:00 am
  • 1 hour 38 minutes
    Episode 149: Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin - Wind & Earth Crystals

    This week, mechanics and plot and everything begins weaving a tapestry with the party fully assembled, and the cattiest queer in Final Fantasy not named "Kefka" takes the stage. Plus: MILFs, orbs, dress-up, and The Difficulty Problem Is Solved.

    Support Lightning Strikes Thrice

    15 June 2026, 10:00 am
  • 1 hour 26 minutes
    Episode 148: Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin - Mechanics through Bikke

    It is new season time again, and we're taking a short detour into the absolutely fantastic Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, the answer to a question nobody asked: "what if the mechanical geniuses behind Nioh remade Final Fantasy 1 as a tragedy, and one of the strongest games in the entire franchise ensued?"

    Plus, in the over a year since this was recorded, your humble editress can confirm: yes, that stage IS the not-quite-first dungeon in FFXIV. Who knew? (Half of the hosts in the room.)

    Support Lightning Strikes Thrice

    1 June 2026, 10:00 am
  • 1 hour 28 minutes
    Episode 147: Wizardry IV - A Tree of Gods

    The story of Werdna comes to an end, or several ends, as we discuss the metaphysics and metapuzzles of Wizardry IV's final floors. Above, below, and more - we're all here and we're going to look at how we got there. Plus: an interjection from future Sibyl!

    The document I mention in the cut-in is behind this link, and I highly recommend clicking and reading through. It's a delight.

    We'll be back next month with the debut of our Final Fantasy Origin: Stranger of Paradise season.

    Support Lightning Strikes Thrice

    12 January 2026, 11:00 am
  • 1 hour 43 minutes
    Episode 146: Wizardry IV - The Cosmic Cube

    Folks: it's here, the final boss of Wizardry IV: a three-floor megachallenge known as the Cosmic Cube. We also include some host backtracking for items which are needed to find your way out of this three-dimensional disaster, and movie reviews with a side of musical critique! Get ready for an extravaganza.

    Support Lightning Strikes Thrice

    29 December 2025, 11:00 am
  • 1 hour 4 minutes
    Episode 145: Wizardry IV - The Maze of Wandering

    Editor's note: This podcast was recorded during November 2024. Don't @ us about how weird some of it reads in hindsight.

    This week gives us what your humble editrix describes as "the worst dungeon crawler map in the history of the genre". You wanna hear what that's like, right? 'Course you do.

    Support Lightning Strikes Thrice

    15 December 2025, 11:00 am
  • 1 hour 23 minutes
    Episode 144: Wizardry IV - Creatures of Light & Darkness

    Editor's note: This podcast was recorded during November 2024. Don't @ us about how weird some of it reads in hindsight.

    This week is... actually probably the nicest episode we're going to have for a while. Learn about pleasant nerds from yesteryear and have a laugh at some of the funniest "why did I do that" item tricks the game throws at you.

    Don't worry, soon it'll get vicious again. I promise.

    Support Lightning Strikes Thrice

    1 December 2025, 11:00 am
  • 1 hour 36 minutes
    Episode 143: Wizardry IV - Realm of the Whirling Dervish

    Editor's note: This podcast was recorded before November 2024. Don't @ us about how weird some of it reads in hindsight.

    KNIVES OUT KNIVES OUT KNIVES OUT

    Alright, here we go, it's what the sickos have been waiting for, the second nastiest floor in the game. See how different ports make this a different challenge for everyone, and watch procrastination bite people in the whole ass.

    Also, Sibyl does a terrible Brenda Romero.

    Support Lightning Strikes Thrice

    3 November 2025, 11:00 am
  • 1 hour 2 minutes
    Episode 142: Wizardry IV - Temple of the Dreampainter

    Editor's note: This podcast was recorded in November 2024. Don't @ us about how weird some of it reads in hindsight.

    The first stage that gets some "okay, this concept rocks" out of everyone, and also inspires more rants than any other so far. You know you're in for a good time when the hosts begin to turn on each other, and we haven't even made it halfway through the game.

    Support Lightning Strikes Thrice

    20 October 2025, 10:00 am
  • More Episodes? Get the App