Brain Lords: Video Games of the Mind

This week on Brain Lords we Present: Talking. In this Podcastable Teaser we bring on guest Super Bunnyhop to Parse the Terror still seen in P.T. For a game that doesn’t technically exist, Silent Hills completely reshaped the Playable Trauma of modern horror games. But was that always the case or does this Polished Take on Amnesia exist beyond its creators and controversy?
Questions, Comments, Suggestions?CONTACT US: brainlordspod@gmail.com
Kyle - Cute Monster Props
Jorge - JMV
Special guest - Super Bunnyhop
THINGS DISCUSSED 
The Nintendo DS, Resident Evil Deadly Silence, Shin Megami Tensei Devil Summoner, Guilty Gear Dust Strikers, Advanced Wars Dual Strike, Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow, Kirby Triple Deluxe, Super Smash Bros.
So what's the deal with PT anyways? (0:10:11)
P.T. aka Playable Teaser aka Silent Hills aka Silent Hillz: Boyz in da Hood, Extra Credits: Dark Souls 2, 
What about PT’s controversy is worth preserving? (0:25:54)
Metal Gear Solid V, Penumbra series, Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Is PT really the trailblazer that we think it is? (0:34:04)
Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid Delta, Slender: The Eight Pages, Resident Evil 7, Takeshi’s Challenge, Space Invaders, Dark Souls, 
Game Ratings: Games That Break the 4th Wall (0:46:28)
Inscryption, Hypnospace Outlaw, Death Stranding, Monkey Island, Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge, Loom, Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes, Conker’s Bad Fur Day, Gex, Doki Doki Literature Club
Does PT have merit in a vacuum? (1:09:43)
Is PT still alive in other games? (1:19:24)
O.D., Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
Closing Thoughts (1:33:55)
 PT Unreal
The Question Zone (1:42:44)
while many horror games (especially silent hill) delve into thematically dark/taboo subjects, how obvious should these subjects be? should they be more abstract and left up to interpretation or do you think abstraction as whole can be too much and leave the viewer wondering what the fuck they just played - Eddie's phtoshopped eyebrows
Wouldn't it have been funny if Silent Hills came out and it was actually just not a good game? #morbiussweep -MorbiusFan69
Does anyone actually know how to reach the ending of PT? I’ve tried multiple times and can never pass the final puzzle. -The Wine Ghost
As a native Georgian, what are you favorite hiking spots? Also what do you think P.T. would have looked like as a full game? -Rata Güera
Rosemary’s Baby, The VVitch, Halloween, The Educated Imagination - Northrop Frye
The Rec Room (1:56:56)
Twin Peaks, Custom Robo, Fear and Hunger, Darkest Dungeon, Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc, Stinky Tofu (臭豆腐), King of the Hill Season 14

This week on Brainlords we have a Halloween episode about drowning, being hunted, the dark, and the undead, all the hallmarks of our favorite…children’s platformers? Special guest Shannon Strucci scares us silly with stories of Spyro and Sonic being just as spooky as Silent Hill! How scary can a game be before it’s considered horror and why do so many games from our childhood leave us so traumatized?
Questions, Comments, Suggestions?CONTACT US: brainlordspod@gmail.com
Kyle - Cute Monster Props
Jorge - JMV
Special guest - Shannon Strucci
THINGS DISCUSSED 
Shamurai Champloo, Cowboy Bebop, Space Dandy, Michiko y Hatchin, Carol and Tuesday, Deadly Premonition
The Scariest Non-Horror Games with Shannon Strucci (0:06:50)
Fear of WATER (0:15:35)
Subnautica, Half Life, Sonic the Hedgehog, Tomb Raider, Mario 64, Fallout New Vegas, Fallout 4, Metroid, Kingdom Hearts, Star Wars Shadows of the Empire, The Legend of Zelda Windwaker, Ecco the Dolphin, UFO50, Dredge, Banjo Kazooie,  
Fear of the DARK (0:30:31)
Vermis, Dragon Quest, Breath of Fire 2, Breath of Fire 4, Metaphor Refantazio, Half Life 2, Undertale, Super Metroid, Minecraft, The Stanley Parable,  
Fear of the DEAD (0:47:14)
Super Mario World, Psychonauts, Illusion of Gaia, Legend of Zelda Majora's Mask, The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time, Darkstalkers, OFF, Blanksword, Baldur’s Gate 3, Spyro the Dragon
Game Ratings: Unkillable or Pursuer Style Enemies (1:11:22)
Bubble Bobble, Silent Hill 2, Super Bomberman R, Mouthwashing, Metroid Fusion, Metroid Dread, Zone of the Enders, Resident Evil 2 REmake, Resident Evil 7, Final Fantasy 8, Super Mario Bros 3, Super Mario Bros 2 (Doki Doki Panic)
Fear of the UNCANNY (1:32:23)
The Exit 8, Okami, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, Sherlock Holmes Nemesis, The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom, Metal Gear Solid, Blue Prince, Gorogoa, Gone Home, Donkey Kong Country, Resident Evil, Baby Bullet, Tomba, Heart of Darkness, Another World, 
Fear of BEING HUNTED (1:54:07)
The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, Megaman Legends, Turok, Jurassic Park (SNES), R-Type, Life Force, Ape Escape, 
Closing Thoughts (2:08:50)
A Hat in Time
The Question Zone (2:14:04)
Cryptmaster
miski spooky edition says: ecco the dolphin is one of the most lonely, claustrophobic, haunting games I've ever played. it's underwater sonic but all the time because you're a mammal that needs to breathe. Oh and it's based on the beliefs of a scientist who slowly poisoned their brain chemistry and ruined their career forever from doing way way too many psychedelics in an isolation chamber and thought he could teach dolphins to speak and they could tell him about aliens? oh god. oh no.
DevilDiceSurprise asks: what video game monster awoke "something" in you lmao
Resident Evil Village
The Rec Room (2:25:24)
Umigari, It Takes A War, GO VOTE, Vote for leftists that will actually regulate power companies, Fatum Betula, Welcome to Elderfield, Godhusk, Absolum, Dragon’s Crown, The Boys, Invincible 

On the eve of the release of Pokemon ZA, fresh off a major leak, the Brianlords ask the question: does Game Freak deserve it? Your ire, your pity, and alllll of your sorrow, this company was once a shining example of an early Japanese indie and is now burning out its staff on an endless stream of Pokemon. We talk about the non-Pokemon Gamefreak games, the company’s history, and what it means to have a highly polished action game in the works. Plus a bonus mailbag sharing your Pokemon memories!
What does Game Freak Deserve
Questions, Comments, Suggestions?CONTACT US: brainlordspod@gmail.com
Kyle - Cute Monster Props
Jorge - JMV
THINGS DISCUSSED 
Victory GundamWhat does Game Freak Deserve?
Fields of Mistria, The Last of Us
Your history with Pokemon (0:7:02)
Pokemon Red and Blue, Mendel Palace, Quinty, Drill Dozer, Pulseman, Jerry Boy, Tembo the Badass Elephant, Harmonknight, Pocket Card Jockey, Pokemon Black and White 2
 What is the current state of Game Freak (0:17:39)
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Pokemon ZA, Pokemon Snap, Beast of Reincarnation
How has Game Freak handled the Pokemon franchise? (0:29:59)
Pokemon Green, Pokemon Sun and Moon, Let’s Go Eevee, Let’s Go Pikachu, I EXPOSED What’s Really Going On At Game Freak,  Pokemon Timeline Hints and 7 Other Details about Sword and Shield, Music Credit: Alex Heflin - Cinnabar Island, Shin Megami Tensei V
Can Game Freak exist outside of Pokemon (0:57:15)
Little Town Hero, UFO50, Pac Man, Smart Ball, Magical Taruruto-kun, Yoshi, Bushi Seiryūden: Futari no Yūsha, Click Medic, Giga Wrecker,  Umamusame: Pretty Derby, Lies of P, Yokai Watch
Game Ratings: Non-Pokemon Game Freak games (1:09:22)
Rocket Slime Adventure
Has Game Freak earned good faith or does it deserve hate? (1:22:03)
Pokemon Concierge, Pokemon Trading Card Game, Pokemon Pinball, Fire Emblem Engage
The jury’s verdict on Pokemon (The Question Zone) (1:43:49)
Palworld
The Rec Room (2:05:03)
Candy Rangers, Magi Nation, Beastieball, Cassette Beasts, Animorphs (GBC), Robomon, Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress, Paranoia Agent, Tokyo Godfathers, Paprika, Psychonauts

This week on Brainlords we complain about the price of games nowadays. But then why did the games of yesteryear feel like a better deal despite being $80 well before Mario Kart 8? Is there anything you can do to appreciate an artform that seems so designed to take most of your paycheck? And yet somehow indie games should honestly cost more! Find out why as we release this episode for the same price as some of the best video games ever, free!
Kyle - Cute Monster Props
Jorge - JMV
THINGS DISCUSSED
Hollow Knight: Silksong, Battle Angel Alita, Metropolis, Milk Inside a Bag of Milk Inside a Bag of Milk, Milk Outside a Bag of Milk Outside a Bag of Milk, 
Is Gaming a Financial Burden? (0:08:40)
Star Fox 64, Breath of Fire
New games and consoles are too expensive (0:12:33)
 NBA 2K21, Mario Kart World, GTA6, Outer Worlds 2, Borderlands 4,  Nintendo Virtual Boy, Switch 2, Pokemon ZA, Pokemon, Donkey Kong Bananza Emerald Rush, Breath of the Wild, Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion, Bowser’s Fury, Helldivers 2, Split Fiction, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Lies of P, Space Marine 2,  
Old Games and consoles were too expensive (0:33:59)
Street Fighter II, God of War, Astro Bot
Game Ratings: Video Game Collectors Editions (0:47:47)
Unicorn Overlord, Horizon Zero Dawn, Blaster Master Zero, Super Mario Galaxy, Catherine, Odin’s Sphere, Bayonetta 3, Sonic Mania, Death Stranding, Culdcept Revolt, MGSV, 
The Best Games are Free (1:08:03)
Kyle’s List of Amazing Free Games and Mods : Dwarf Fortress, Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup, Doom the Roguelike, Nethack, Spelunky, Cave Story, Knytt, Untitled Story, N+, Super Meat Boy, Commander Keen, Space Funeral, Oregon Trail, Off, Barkley Shut Up and Jam Gaiden, Yume Nikki, Cave Story, Lisa the First, Doki Doki Literature Club, IB horror Museum, One Shot, Battle For Wesnoth, Samarost 1, GTA 1&2, Frog Fractions, MUGEN, Spooky’s House of Jumpscares, The Stanley Parable, AM2R, Beetle Ninja, Lunacid Tears of the Moon, Dweller’s Empty Path, Franken, Myhouse.wad, The Forgotten City, Black Mesa
UFO50, Metal Gear Solid: Delta, Warframe, Infinity Nikki, Overwatch 2, Newer Super Mario Bros Wii, Steamworld Dig, Fall Guys, Flesh Blood and Concrete, SWOLLEN TO BURSTING UNTIL I AM DISAPPEARING ON PURPOSE
 
Indie Games Are Too Cheap (1:26:42)
 
How much money do Steam Games make?, Hollow Knight, Crystal Story: Dawn of Dusk, Peak, Shovel Knight, Stardew Valley, PLEASE SAVE HORNET ALL SHE NEEDS IS THE NUMBERS ON YOUR CREDIT CARD, Judero, Look Outside, Peak
 
The Question Zone (1:43:49)
 
With the rising cost of mainstream games and consoles, will we see a new renaissance of indies or will everyone just move on to free to play games? -Oracle of WageTheft 
 
Borderlands 4 
Are there repercussions of having a generation of kids whose comfort games are all free to play games or games as a service or are we simply old man yelling at cloud (gaming)? - Slime A Lime 
Roblox
Questions, Comments, Suggestions?CONTACT US: brainlordspod@gmail.com
The Rec Room (1:53:35)
Putting Italian Sausage on your grilled cheese, using mayo instead of butter on your grilled cheese, Steamworld Dig, Steamworld Dig 2, Diablo 2, An Untitled Story, Football: 17776, Gunbuster. Urusei Yatsura: Only You 

This week on Brainlords we look back on the 8 years we’ve had the Nintendo Switch to determine what we'll be looking back on even later! We take a ~nostalgic~ tour through the final days of the WiiU, getting the console in its early years, the peak years of its greatest hits, playing during the pandemic, and the twilight years that preceded the Switch 2. Are these just rose (and blue) tinted glasses or was there truly something special about the first merger of Nintendo’s handheld and console hardware that truly can’t be replicated again?
Questions, Comments, Suggestions?CONTACT US: brainlordspod@gmail.com
Kyle - Cute Monster Props
Jorge - JMV
THINGS DISCUSSED
DearS, OFF
Remember the early days of the Switch? (0:08:24)
The Elder Scrolls Skyrim, Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild, NBA 2K, Mario Kart 8, Splatoon 2,  Super Bomberman R, Waku Waku 7, Blaster Master Zero, Golf Story, Fast RMX, Puyo Puyo Tetris
Remember the prime years of the Switch? (0:24:16)
Metroid Prime Remastered, Metroid Dread, Mario Tennis Aces, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Pokken Tournament, Mario 3D World, Mario Bros U, Hyrule Warriors, Captain Toad’s Treasure Tracker, Celeste, Gris, Shovel Knight, The Missing: JJ Macfield and the Island of Memories, Deltarune, Yooka-Laylee, Hollow Knight, Super Mario Odyssey, The Flipgrip, Downwell, Gunbird, Sengoku Blade, Donkey Kong Arcade, Super Smash Bros Ultimate
Game Ratings: Smash Bros Ultimate DLC Trailers (0:54:42) 
Banjo Kazooie, Kingdom Hearts, Persona 5,  Minecraft, Final Fantasy 7,  
Remember the Switch during the Pandemic? (1:11:06)
Shin Megami Tensei V, Animal Crossing New Horizons, The DragonCon Marriott carpet, Ring Fit Adventure, Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics, Octo Expansion, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity,  Paper Mario: The Origami King, Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring The Legend of Zelda, Mario 3D All Stars, Bowser’s Fury, Metroid Dread, Cruis’n Blast
Remember the final years of the Switch? (1:25:09)
Super Mario RPG, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Demon Throttle, Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster, Megaman X, Deadly Premonition 2, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3, Bayonetta 3, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Princess Peach: Showtime!, Mario and Luigi: Brothership, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, Stardew Valley
The Question Zone and Switch Memories (1:36:47)
Pokemon Scarlet
What do different types of lore do to your enjoyment of a game? For example, well done in game lore with a fleshed out world? Or game lore pertaining to the making of the game, or why something is the way it is in the game because of an experience or idea that someone got from their personal life and made it into a game mechanic or story beat? Or perhaps other types of lore I am not thinking of? Who knows? - Mariochief
Signalis, Dark Souls, ActRaiser 2
Do you think there's a chance for DEEP LORE that isn't horror/tragedy-adjacent to be impactful? Does it need at least a veneer of maturity to catch on or be impactful, or can it be satisfying to uncover if it isn't super dark? - irwegwert
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, The Legend of Zelda: Windwaker, Donkey Kong Country
What Switch games in your backlog do you want to play the most? - MyBodyisBready
Live A Live, Luigi's Mansion 3, Gal Metal
Who are the people you most associate with the Switch? - Mamamiyamoto
Legend of Mana, Theatrythm Final Fantasy, Chocobo GP 
The Rec Room (1:55:01)
Labyrinth of the Demon King, Mario Paint, Mario Paint, Sonic Expo 

This week on Brainlords we celebrate the final moments before Silksong can no longer be delayed. Jorge doesn’t get what the deal is with Silkposting while Kyle is removing the clown makeup as we speak. We go over the humble origins of Hollow Knight to discuss if it really is that good (yes) and how we got here with eight years of hype and memes. How has the Metroidvania genre fared since then and what do we do now that Silksong, a game made with the opposite of crunch is finally out?
THINGS DISCUSSED
Baulder’s Gate 3, Undertale
Explain the Silksong Hype for me (0:05:38)
Hollow Knight, Silksong
Is Hollow Knight good? (0:07:35) 
The Wanderer’s Journal - Fangamer, Megaman X, Ducktales (NES)
I don’t get Silksong Hype (0:31:43)
RALSIE PLUSH ONLY $36 BUY NOW!!!, Folding Ideas presents: Silkposting, Despelote, Mother 3, Mother 64, Marvel’s Deadpool VR,
Game Ratings: Indie Metroidvanias (0:58:33)
Chasm, Metroid Dread, Dandara, Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight,  Momodora: Moonlit Farewell, Axium Verge, Metroid, Super Metroid, Castlevania, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Cave Story, Yume Nikki
Hey MetroidVanias, you doin’ alright? (1:14:31)
Iconoclasts, Metroid Fusion, La Mulana 2, The Messenger, Monster Boy and The Cursed Kingdom, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Haiku the Robot, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Tales of Kenzera: Zau, Megaman Zero, Megaman ZX, Blasphemous 2, Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus, Crowsworn, Nine Sols, Earthbound, Lisa: The Painful RPG, Shadow Labrynth, Tunic, Batman:  Arkham Asylum, Metroid Prime 4, NieR: Automata, Stellar Blade, Black Myth: Wukong
So what now? Post Silksong Jokes and the Jason Schrier Interview (1:27:39)
Why Silksong Took Seven Years to Make, Dark Souls, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Deltarune
Closing Thoughts (1:38:52)
The Question Zone (1:41:29) 
Why are Souls games fans so illiterate? Jokes aside, are there fandoms out there you think have lost the ability to interpret games on their own without relying on interpretations of the story by big name YouTubers? I think the Souls fans definitely rely too heavily on YouTube videos to tell them what to think -Meowtroid 
 
Final Fantasy 7
 
What is your personal Silksong, as in is there a piece of media that you personally feel has gone through the same silent period that Silksong has? - Untitled Zangoose
 
Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway’s Flash, Iron-Blooded Orphans, The Witch from Mercury, Gundam Build Fighters, Barkley Shut Up and Jam Gaiden, Mother 3
 
 can you think of any works that are "anti-lore"? (i.e. works that seem to reject or rebuff a database-style approach) or is the fandom simply too powerful and capable of turning anything into a wiki? - isyourguy
 
13 Sentinels Aegis Rim, Donkey Kong Bananza, Mario Odyssey, Lies of P,  
 
The Rec Room (1:56:58)
 
Megalopolis, Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway, Gundam Unicorn, Gundam: The Origin, City: The Animation, New Panty and Stocking, Pop Team Epic, Azumanga Diaoh, Odin’s Sphere, Demonschool, Into the Breach, Fangamer Pinverse, OFF,  
 

This Week on Brainlords, special guest Voidburger takes us on a scenic tour through Silent Hill. Some game theories seem to have a life of their own but what happens when that becomes the death of your enjoyment? Jorge discusses being secretly dead the whole time while Kyle explains why Pokémon is actually dark and twisted. Will this episode be a dream all along or a nightmare of fan theories?!
Questions, Comments, Suggestions?CONTACT US: brainlordspod@gmail.com
Kyle - Cute Monster Props
Jorge - JMV
Special Guest - Voidburger
THINGS DISCUSSED
Earthbound, Undertale, Deltarune, Super Mario RPG,
SQUALL IS DEAD THEORY  (0:06:17)
Final Fantasy 8, Abnormal Mapping Podcast, The Rugrats, The Sixth Sense
DARK POKEMON THEORIES (0:29:30)
Pokemon Series, Digimon, Thomas the Tank Engine, Piglet’s Big Game, Choo-Choo Charles, FLCL
SILENT HILL LORE (0:43:46)  
Silent Hill 2, Until Dawn
Game Ratings: Games that are secretly dark (1:10:55)
Omori, Doki Doki Literature Club, Majora’s Mask, Psychonauts, Psychonauts 2, Final Fantasy IX, Illusion of Gaia, Deltarune, The Legend of Zelda Link’s Awakening 
WHO IS THE ROARING KNIGHT?! - DELTARUNE THEORIES (1:26:01)
Alan Wake 2, Remedy Games, Half-Life, Anodyne, They Stanley Parable
THE QUESTION ZONE (1:50:00)
how  do you feel about creators changing plots based on theories (either liking the theory more than what they had planned, or changing it to "one up" the audience when people realize whats going to happen)  -chewing on the bars of my cage like a dog
Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth,  Avatar the Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra
Which game do you think has the most unnecessary or inconsequential lore? And which game do you think was enhanced the most by the theories and deep lore surrounding it? -Old Man Splimbo
Five Nights at Freddy’s, The Legend of Zelda series, Donkey Kong Bananza, Willy’s Wonderland, Drakengaurd, NieR Automata, NieR Replicant
what makes creepypasta and secret lore theories so compelling to kids? -Old Fart
Do you think fandoms have done more harm than good in media spaces these days and contribute to eroding media literacy overall? Something I've come to resent them for is not allowing something to remain unexplained for example is a big part of why I find myself unable to connect with fan communities now a days. -Old millenial who yells at clouds. 
What do you think of the “you shouldn’t put much more effort into it than the writers did” rule for video game theories?  -Pikachu was a dream the whole time
Megaman X
Do you have a general guideline of when setting and world building details move from "adding to the experience" into "The Lore™"? Like when does "oh this item has the same symbol that one character had on their jacket" turn into "I have shut the game down and rolled out my chalkboard" for you?  -Pedantic in Peoria
Feelings on plot twists that are figured out by fans before a games release such as "Venom Snake is really the Doctor" or "FF7 Remake is actually a sequel to FF7" because something in the lore gave it away immediately. -Edwardo the Terrible
Metal Gear Solid V, Metal Gear Solid Grounds Zeroes
For years I've hated the Zelda timeline, because it poisons any discussion of the series with speculation about contradictory, inconsequential details that don't matter. Are there any fan theories that you dislike because the Discourse is annoying? -Enemy of Time
Earthbound, 
Closing thoughts and Rec Room (2:07:10)
Outer Wilds, Voidburger - The Virgin Maw vs The Chad Pyramidhead, Voidburger- Video Essay about Adventure Games and the Gay 90s, Mouthwashing, Games Done Quick

This week on Brainlords we’re upping the difficulty to Legendary! Why do we keep coming back to the only medium that you might not even be good enough to experience? We share our histories with Gamer Rage (tm) and discuss some games that are better for having all the hardest parts in the beginning in order to conclude which game is *perfectly* difficult.
Questions, Comments, Suggestions?CONTACT US: brainlordspod@gmail.com
Kyle - Cute Monster Props
Jorge - JMV
  
THINGS DISCUSSED
Death Stranding 2
How do you balance difficulty and frustration in games? (0:11:35) 
Halo: Combat Evolved, Control, Doom, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, Devil May Cry,  Bayonetta
What games have the ideal difficulty curve? (0:22:57)
DMC3, Stranger of Paradise, Armored Core Series, Zone of the Enders, Gatcha Force, Custom Robo,  Silent Hill series, Resident Evil series, Star Fox 64,  
Should games have personalized difficulty options? (0:40:27)
 Celeste, Claire Obscure: Expedition 33, Doom: The Dark Ages, Dark Souls series, Lies of P, Sekiro 
Do you rage at games? (0:54:29)
Deltarune Ch3
Game Ratings: Secret Bosses (1:04:10)
Final Fantasy I, Final Fantasy VII, Bloodborne, Kingdom Hearts 1&2
 
What is the ideal reward for difficulty? (1:22:02)
Deltarune Ch1, FZero GX, Paper Mario, Anarchy Reigns
What is a Perfectly difficult game? (1:34:08)
Muramasa Demon Blade, Yoshi’s Island, Tunic
The Question Zone (1:54:28)
What are your favorite easy games? - I’m Too Young to Diane
Kirby Superstar, Kirby’s Epic Yarn, Felix the Cat (NES)
What is the gaming achievement you are most proud of? - SwordOfKings128
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds
The Rec Room (2:02:10) 
 Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator, Animal Crossing: New Horizons,  Lucah: Born of a Dream, Death of a Wish, Friendship ft Tim Robinson, Summer Wars, Wolf Children

 
This week on Brainlords we are living in a Nightmare…Bart’s Nightmare! Or is it Buster’s Bad Dream? We discuss the wonderful world of Licensed games, advertisement games, and video game product placements to ask the question: Are they even art? Kyle compares a good Disney game that has nothing to do with its license to a bad Simpsons game that gave him an emotional response. Jorge discusses how to find validation as a working class artist when you don’t get to choose what you work on. The one thing we can agree on? The amazing taste of Nissin Cup Noodles. *smiles at camera*
 
Questions, Comments, Suggestions?CONTACT US: brainlordspod@gmail.com
Kyle - Cute Monster Props
Jorge - JMV
 
THINGS DISCUSSED:
Zbots, Slitterhead, 20XX, 30XX,
Is a Licensed Game only art if it's good? (0:10:58)
Goof Troop (SNES), The Great Circus Mystery starring Mickey & Minnie, Bart’s Nightmare, Virtual Bart, Shaq Fu, Wayne’s World SNES, Home Improvement: Power Tool Pursuit! 
Is there artistry in *really* nailing a license? (0:32:26)
Dragon Ball FighterZ, Inuyasha: A Feudal Fairy Tale, One-Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows, My Hero One's Justice, Jump Super Stars, Jump Ultimate Stars, Jump Force, Cool Spot, Pepsiman
Can product placement say anything meaningful that isn’t goofy by proxy? (0:49:15)
Darkened Skye, The Sims, Death Stranding, Alan Wake, FFXV, Monkey Ball, SNK Allstar
Game Ratings: Overrated, underrated, and accurately rated Tiny Toons Adventures Games (1:08:10)
Buster Busts Loose, Tiny Toons (NES), McKids, Buster’s Bad Dream, Dizzy’s Candy Quest, Wacky Sports Challenge, Acme All-Stars, Tiny Toons: How I Spent My Summer Vacation
BONUS QUESTION: Why are Tiny Toons Adventure games so good and Looney Toons Games so bad? (1:17:46)
Speedy Gonzales: Los Gatos Banditos, Sylvester and Tweety Breakfast on the Run, Infogrames, Bug’s Crazy Castle
What role do celebrities play in making better or worse art? (1:21:09)
The Last of Us, Death Stranding 2, Onimusha 3, City of the Wolves, 
What’s it like working on a license? (1:27:44)
NoClip Burger King Games documentary,  Robocop Rogue City, CalorieMate LIQUID FOR GAME CREATORS
The Question Zone: GET READY (1:44:32)
Are we headed towards the age of Fortnitification of all games - Number One Heehomie
Fortnite, Mortal Kombat, Smite
What game world would you like to immigrate to? Yes you will have to immigrate to that game’s government system. - True Inky
Megaman Battle Network, Donkey Kong Country 1-3, Tropical Freeze 
Why was the Era of Capcom/Konami Disney tie-in games so good and how would you describe the current era of licensed games. -Steamboat William
Aladdin (SNES, Little Mermaid (NES), Ducktales (NES), Batman Arkham Games, Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League, Redfall, The Walking Dead (Telltale), Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Star Wars Rogue Squadron, Transformers Devastation, Legend of Korra (PlatinumGames)
The Rec Room (1:59:58)
TMNT Splintered Fate, TMNT Tactical Takedown, Shredder’s Revenge, The Protomen: Act 1, Megaman 5, Yo Noid 2, Nubby’s Number Factory, Simpsons Summer of 4ft2 Original Airdate VHS rip, Ultimate Love Songs collection

This week on Brainlords, we discuss our favorite genre of music, SOUNDTRACK: VIDEO GAME. Kyle and Jorge each pick their OSTs of the year from 2015 to 2024 and guess each other's lists for some friendly competition. Is game music less memorable than the squarewaves of yesteryear or are we actually in a golden age?
Spoiler warning: Extremely mild spoilers for Death Stranding 2, Undertale, Deltarune, and Signs of the Sojourner. (Mostly just minor moments and describing the context around interesting songs.)
Questions, Comments, Suggestions?CONTACT US: brainlordspod@gmail.com
Kyle - Cute Monster Props
Jorge - JMV
 
THINGS DISCUSSED:
Death Stranding 2, Super Mario Bros,
10 Years 10 Soundtracks - What makes video game music more effective than music in other mediums? (0:04:15) 
2015 (0:15:06)
Axiom Verge, Splatoon, Undertale, FF Brave Exvius
2016 (0:25:54)
Redout, Aram Shahbazians, Orientalism: Desert Level Music vs Actual Middle-Eastern Music, Hyper Light Drifter, Death’s Door, Va11 Hall-A, FFXV
2017 (0:34:59)
Sonic Mania, Nier Automata, Nier Replicant, Stellar Blade, Pyre, Breath of the Wild, Rivals of Aether, 
2018 (0:43:03)
Into the Breach, Celeste, Lena Rain, Xenoblade, The Tetris Effect, Deltarune, Radiant Historia
2019 (0:50:47)
Sayonara Wild Hearts, Disco Elysium, 13 Sentinels, Hypnospace Outlaw
Game Ratings - Overrated, underrated, and accurately rated licensed tracks in a video game. (1:00:35)
Lollipop Chainsaw, Gears of War, FFXV, MGSV, Rock and Roll Racing, Saints Row 3
2020 (1:10:10)
FFVII Reamake, 13 Sentinels, Paper Mario: Origami King, Signs of the Sojourner, Sakuna of Rice and Ruin,
2021 (1:20:03)
Shin Megami Tensei V, Inscription, Chicory: A Colorful Tale, Bravely Default 2, Cult of the Lamb
2022 (1:28:56)
Neon White, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, TMNT Shredder's Revenge, Tunic, Live Alive
2023 (1:36:01)
Alan Wake 2, Gravity Circuit, Octopath Traveler 2, Lies of P, Air Twister, Pizza Tower
2024 (1:43:46)
1000 x Resist, Unicorn Overlord, Nine Sols, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble, Another Crabs Treasure
What’s changed about video game music in the past 10 years? (1:53:02)
What are we listening to in 2025? (1:57:47)
Clair Obscure, Deltarune Ch3+4, Cave Story
The Rec Room (2:04:48)
To a T, 30XX, Rewatching Andor, Having very little trust and patience for the people selling you a house.