Video Games Are Bad For You

Our summer mini series continues! We're covering Dark Souls 3 from start to finish. For part three, we discuss the Road of Sacrifices, the Crystal Sage, and the differences between Hidetaka Miyazaki and Hideo Kojima. This episode is brought to you by BRAINWAVE: official newsletter of the Video Games Are Bad For You podcast. Receive fresh content from us, every week, straight to your inbox. No spam. No BS. Just good old fashioned games analysis. Sign up for BRAINWAVE here: http://tinyurl.com/y5mexwjl   Don't forget to send questions to videogamesbadforyou@gmail.com. Follow us on twitter @VideoGamesBad4U And subscribe to us on iTunes!   Music Credits: Reunion by Jahzzar Green Lights by Jahzzar http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/ All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0   Let That Sink In by Lee Rosevere Quizitive by Lee Rosevere Where Was I by Lee Rosevere Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere You're Enough, Version 1 by Lee Rosevere Everywhere by Lee Rosevere Featherlight by Lee Rosevere http://freemusicarchive.

Our summer mini series continues! We're covering Dark Souls 3 from start to finish. For part two, we discuss the level design of the Undead Settlement and the creative spark that has fueled the Souls series, from beginning to end. This episode is brought to you by BRAINWAVE: official newsletter of the Video Games Are Bad For You podcast. Receive fresh content from us, every week, straight to your inbox. No spam. No BS. Just good old fashioned games analysis. Sign up for BRAINWAVE here: http://tinyurl.com/y5mexwjl   Don't forget to send questions to videogamesbadforyou@gmail.com. Follow us on twitter @VideoGamesBad4U And subscribe to us on iTunes!   Music Credits: Reunion by Jahzzar No End Ave by Jahzzar Wound by Jahzzar http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/ All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0   Let That Sink In by Lee Rosevere Curiousity by Lee Rosevere What Have You Done by Lee Rosevere Quizitive by Lee Rosevere Compassion Keys Version 1 by Lee Rosevere Thinking It Over by Lee Rosevere http://freemu

Here we kick off our summer mini series, covering Dark Souls 3 from start to finish! To get us started, we examine the game's early phases: its opening cinematic, Iudex Gundyr and the High Wall of Lothric. This episode is brought to you by BRAINWAVE: official newsletter of the Video Games Are Bad For You podcast. Receive fresh content from us, every week, straight to your inbox. No spam. No BS. Just good old fashioned games analysis. Sign up for BRAINWAVE here: http://tinyurl.com/y5mexwjl   Don't forget to send questions to videogamesbadforyou@gmail.com. Follow us on twitter @VideoGamesBad4U And subscribe to us on iTunes!   Music Credits: Reunion by Jahzzar http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/ All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0   All The Answers by Lee Rosevere Where Was I by Lee Rosevere Going in Circles by Lee Rosevere Compassion Keys Version 2 by Lee Rosevere Let That Sink In by Lee Rosevere Thinking It Over by Lee Rosevere You're Enough Version 2 by Lee Rosevere Decompress by Lee Rosevere http:

Recently, Kotaku published an argument that we should stop using the word "Metroidvania." But what if this thought misses why we have genre in the first place? Read the original (and very fun) Kotaku piece @ https://kotaku.com/stop-calling-games-metroidvania-1836051152   This episode is brought to you by BRAINWAVE: official newsletter of the Video Games Are Bad For You podcast. Receive fresh content from us, every week, straight to your inbox. No spam. No BS. Just good old fashioned games analysis. Sign up for BRAINWAVE here: http://tinyurl.com/y5mexwjl   Don't forget to send questions to videogamesbadforyou@gmail.com. Follow us on twitter @VideoGamesBad4U And subscribe to us on iTunes!   Music Credits: Take Me Higher by Jahzzar The Shine by Jahzzar http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/ All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0   Quizitive by Lee Rosevere http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0

This week, we celebrate a month of BRAINWAVE: official newsletter of the Video Games Are Bad For You podcast. Receive fresh content from us, every week, straight to your inbox. No spam. No BS. Just good old fashioned games analysis. Topics covered: Graphic design in classic games; the artistry of Gato Roboto; and the anger of Neon Genesis: Evangelion. For more content like this, sign up for BRAINWAVE here: http://tinyurl.com/y5mexwjl   Don't forget to send questions to videogamesbadforyou@gmail.com. Follow us on twitter @VideoGamesBad4U And subscribe to us on iTunes!   Music Credits:   Little Chance by Jahzzar Take Me Higher by Jahzzar Green Lights by Jahzzar No End Ave by Jahzzar Main Square by Jahzzar   http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/ All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0   Curiousity by Lee Rosevere Quizitive by Lee Rosevere Waiting For The Moment That Never Comes by Lee Rosevere   http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0

We are caged in the hallways of our childhood homes.   This episode is brought to you by BRAINWAVE: official newsletter of the Video Games Are Bad For You podcast. Receive fresh content from us, every week, straight to your inbox. No spam. No BS. Just good old fashioned games analysis. Sign up for BRAINWAVE here: http://tinyurl.com/y5mexwjl   Don't forget to send questions to videogamesbadforyou@gmail.com. Follow us on twitter @VideoGamesBad4U And subscribe to us on iTunes!   Music Credits:   Little Chance by Jahzzar The Wrong Way by Jahzzar Green Lights by Jahzzar Italia 90 - Jahzzar The Shine - Jahzzar http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/ All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0   Quizitive by Lee Rosevere What Have You Done by Lee Rosevere Looking Back by Lee Rosevere Curiousity by Lee Rosevere Going Home by Lee Rosevere http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0

When did advertising become our friend? Topics covered: culture and E3 2019; expectations for Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2; and a juxtaposition between Devolver's postmodernism and Death Stranding's authenticity.   This episode is brought to you by BRAINWAVE: official newsletter of the Video Games Are Bad For You podcast. Receive fresh content from us, every week, straight to your inbox. No spam. No BS. Just good old fashioned games analysis. Sign up for BRAINWAVE here: http://tinyurl.com/y5mexwjl   Don't forget to send questions to videogamesbadforyou@gmail.com. Follow us on twitter @VideoGamesBad4U And subscribe to us on iTunes!   Music Credits:   Little Chance by Jahzzar The Wrong Way by Jahzzar The Shine by Jahzzar Green Lights by Jahzzar Bloom by Jahzzar http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/ All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0   Quizitive by Lee Rosevere Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere Waiting for the Moment That Never Comes by Lee Rosevere http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere All songs li

We are defined by our limitations — for better and for worse. Topics covered: From Software speculation with Elden Ring; and the nostalgic delight of Castlevania.   This episode is brought to you by BRAINWAVE: official newsletter of the Video Games Are Bad For You podcast. Receive fresh content from us, every week, straight to your inbox. No spam. No BS. Just good old fashioned games analysis. Sign up for BRAINWAVE here: http://tinyurl.com/y5mexwjl   Don't forget to send questions to videogamesbadforyou@gmail.com. Follow us on twitter @VideoGamesBad4U And subscribe to us on iTunes!   Music Credits: The Shine by Jahzzar Take Me Higher by Jahzzar Little Chance by Jahzzar No End Ave by Jahzzar Italia 90 by Jahzzar   http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/ All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0   Quizitive by Lee Rosevere Going Home by Lee Rosevere Curiousity by Lee Rosevere Waiting For The Moment That Never Comes by Lee Rosevere   http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere All songs licensed under CC By-S

Jonathan Blow's recent comments about originality in the indie game scene bring a lot of questions to light. Is he right? What's an original game? Does originality even matter? We unpack all of this in this week's mini episode. This episode is brought to you by BRAINWAVE: official newsletter of the Video Games Are Bad For You podcast. Receive fresh content from us, every week, straight to your inbox. No spam. No BS. Just good old fashioned games analysis. Sign up for BRAINWAVE here: http://tinyurl.com/y5mexwjl   Don't forget to send questions to videogamesbadforyou@gmail.com. Follow us on twitter @VideoGamesBad4U And subscribe to us on iTunes!   Music Credits: Green Lights by Jahzzar No End Ave by Jahzzar   http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/ All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0   Quizitive by Lee Rosevere   Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere   http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0

This week, we celebrate a month of BRAINWAVE: official newsletter of the Video Games Are Bad For You podcast. Receive fresh content from us, every week, straight to your inbox. No spam. No BS. Just good old fashioned games analysis. Topics covered: Mirror images in Skyrim; Ganon's growth in The Legend of Zelda; and alien dreams in Defender and Spore. For more content like this, sign up for BRAINWAVE here: http://tinyurl.com/y5mexwjl   Don't forget to send questions to videogamesbadforyou@gmail.com. Follow us on twitter @VideoGamesBad4U And subscribe to us on iTunes!   Music Credits: Italia 90 by Jahzzar Little Chance by Jahzzar The Wrong Way by Jahzzar Bloom by Jahzzar So Easy by Jahzzar   http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/ All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0   Quizitive by Lee Rosevere Waiting for the Moment That Never Comes by Lee Rosevere Featherlight by Lee Rosevere   http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0

Architecture lends structure to our daily lives. It also textures the worlds of games and submerges us in alternate realities. Topics covered: level design in Halo; the imaginative wonder of Look, Your Loot; and the alien landscapes of Aven Colony. This episode is brought to you by BRAINWAVE: official newsletter of the Video Games Are Bad For You podcast. Receive fresh content from us, every week, straight to your inbox. No spam. No BS. Just good old fashioned games analysis. Sign up for BRAINWAVE here: http://tinyurl.com/y5mexwjl   Don't forget to send questions to videogamesbadforyou@gmail.com. Follow us on twitter @VideoGamesBad4U And subscribe to us on iTunes!   Music Credits: The Shine by Jahzzar Little Chance by Jahzzar Green Lights by Jahzzar Bloom by Jahzzar   http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/ All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0   Quizitive by Lee Rosevere What Have You Done by Lee Rosevere Going Home by Lee Rosevere Featherlight by Lee Rosevere Curiousity by Lee Rosevere   http://freemusi

The controversy surrounding violence in video games has dipped over the years, but there's still a lot to unpack. Topics covered: MK11, Smash TV, and Agony's failure.   This episode is brought to you by BRAINWAVE: official newsletter of the Video Games Are Bad For You podcast. Receive fresh content from us, every week, straight to your inbox. No spam. No BS. Just good old fashioned games analysis. Sign up for BRAINWAVE here: http://tinyurl.com/y5mexwjl   Don't forget to send questions to videogamesbadforyou@gmail.com. Follow us on twitter @VideoGamesBad4U And subscribe to us on iTunes!   Music Credits: The Wrong Way by Jahzzar Little Chance by Jahzzar Take Me Higher by Jahzzar Main Square by Jahzzar No End Ave. by Jahzzar http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/ All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0   Quizitive by Lee Rosevere Let's Start at the Beginning by Lee Rosevere Waiting for the Moment That Never Comes by Lee Rosevere Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere All

We can give The Legend of Zelda a tough time, here on the podcast. But that's because we love the series so much. This week, we give Zelda its due and celebrate the brilliance of Nintendo's finest institution. Topics covered: Majora's Mask at 20; the oceans of Wind Waker; the dungeons of Twilight Princess.   This episode is brought to you by BRAINWAVE: official newsletter of the Video Games Are Bad For You podcast. Receive fresh content from us, every week, straight to your inbox. No spam. No BS. Just good old fashioned games analysis. Sign up for BRAINWAVE here: http://tinyurl.com/y5mexwjl   Don't forget to send questions to videogamesbadforyou@gmail.com. Follow us on twitter @VideoGamesBad4U And subscribe to us on iTunes!   Music Credits: Main Square by Jahzzar Bloom by Jahzzar Little Chance by Jahzzar Green Lights by Jahzzar No End Ave. by Jahzzar http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/ All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0   Quizitive by Lee Rosevere Let's Start at the Beginning by Lee Rosevere Looki

With the recent fiasco surround the Sonic trailer, we examine different ways that games have dealt with the dreaded uncanny valley. Topics covered: Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda, Ocarina of Time.   This episode is brought to you by BRAINWAVE: official newsletter of the Video Games Are Bad For You podcast. Receive fresh content from us, every week, straight to your inbox. No spam. No BS. Just good old fashioned games analysis. Sign up for BRAINWAVE here: http://tinyurl.com/y5mexwjl   Don't forget to send questions to videogamesbadforyou@gmail.com. Follow us on twitter @VideoGamesBad4U And subscribe to us on iTunes!   Music Credits: The Shine by Jahzzar The Wrong Way by Jahzzar Little Chance by Jahzzar Green Lights by Jahzzar http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/ All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0   Quizitive by Lee Rosevere Featherlight by Lee Rosevere Looking Back by Lee Rosevere http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0

Some scientists speculate that our reality is merely a simulation. But what does that imply? And what does our collective fixation on simulated worlds say about our own lives?   This episode is brought to you by BRAINWAVE: official newsletter of the Video Games Are Bad For You podcast. Receive fresh content from us, every week, straight to your inbox. No spam. No BS. Just good old fashioned games analysis. Sign up for BRAINWAVE here: http://tinyurl.com/y5mexwjl   Don't forget to send questions to videogamesbadforyou@gmail.com. Follow us on twitter @VideoGamesBad4U And subscribe to us on iTunes!   Music Credits: Italia by Jahzzar The Wrong Way by Jahzzar Little Chance by Jahzzar No End Ave. by Jahzzar Green Lights by Jahzzar http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/ All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0   Quizitive by Lee Rosevere Featherlight by Lee Rosevere What Have You Done by Lee Rosevere http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0

Examining Persona 5: The Royal, we ask what added content might mean for a longer game. And we ask what the content push, in general, means for the games industry.   This episode is brought to you by BRAINWAVE: official newsletter of the Video Games Are Bad For You podcast. Receive fresh content from us, every week, straight to your inbox. No spam. No BS. Just good old fashioned games analysis. Sign up for BRAINWAVE here: http://tinyurl.com/y5mexwjl   Don't forget to send questions to videogamesbadforyou@gmail.com. Follow us on twitter @VideoGamesBad4U And subscribe to us on iTunes!   Music Credits: The Wrong Way by Jahzzar The Shine by Jahzzar http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/ All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0   Quizitive by Lee Rosevere http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0

It's METROID WEEK here at the podcast. All week, we're celebrating SUPER METROID's 25th anniversary — the good, the bad, and the motherly. Today, we take apart SUPER METROID, in an attempt to understand — or re-understand it — in a way that we seldom see discussed. It's not a retrospective; it's a retro-retrospective. This episode is brought to you by BRAINWAVE: official newsletter of the Video Games Are Bad For You podcast. Receive fresh content from us, every week, straight to your inbox. No spam. No BS. Just good old fashioned games analysis. Sign up for BRAINWAVE here: http://tinyurl.com/y5mexwjl   Don't forget to send questions to videogamesbadforyou@gmail.com. Follow us on twitter @VideoGamesBad4U And subscribe to us on iTunes!   Music Credits: Step On by Jahzzar Main Square by Jahzzar Little Chance by Jahzzar No End Ave by Jahzzar Green Lights by Jahzzar http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/ All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0   Quizitive by Lee Rosevere Featherlight by Lee Rosevere Looking B

It's METROID WEEK here at the podcast. All week, we're celebrating SUPER METROID's 25th anniversary — the good, the bad, and the motherly. Today, we talk about HOLLOW KNIGHT and the metroidvania's fixation on ancient ruins, with a heartfelt nod towards Notre Dame Cathedral. This episode is brought to you by BRAINWAVE: official newsletter of the Video Games Are Bad For You podcast. Receive fresh content from us, every week, straight to your inbox. No spam. No BS. Just good old fashioned games analysis. Sign up for BRAINWAVE here: http://tinyurl.com/y5mexwjl   Don't forget to send questions to videogamesbadforyou@gmail.com. Follow us on twitter @VideoGamesBad4U And subscribe to us on iTunes!   Music Credits: Bloom by Jahzzar http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/ All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0   Quizitive by Lee Rosevere Featherlight by Lee Rosevere Looking Back by Lee Rosevere Let's Start at the Beginning by Lee Rosevere http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere All songs licensed under CC B

Messy art is important, but often overlooked. Today, we examine the weird, the wonderful, and the strange of game design. Topics covered: an analysis of FEED ME BILLY (just in time for GLASS STAIRCASE!), a review of SEKIRO, and a recap of the YOSHI'S ISLAND series, leading up to YOSHI'S CRAFTED WORLD. This episode is brought to you by BRAINWAVE: official newsletter of Video Games Are Bad For You. Receive fresh content from us, every week, straight to your inbox. Sign up for BRAINWAVE here: http://tinyurl.com/y5mexwjl   Don't forget to send questions to videogamesbadforyou@gmail.com. Follow us on twitter @VideoGamesBad4U And subscribe to us on iTunes! Or Spotify!   Music Credits: Italia 90 by Jahzzar Little Chance by Jahzzar The Shine by Jahzzar Green Lights by Jahzzar http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/ All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0   Quizitive by Lee Rosevere Featherlight by Lee Rosevere Puzzle Pieces by Lee Rosevere http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere All songs licensed under CC

So, Joker looks good? And Zack Snyder's Batman kills people? This podcast: a State of the Union regarding our favorite geriatric vigilante. This episode is brought to you by BRAINWAVE: official newsletter of Video Games Are Bad For You. Receive fresh content from us, every week, straight to your inbox. Sign up for BRAINWAVE here: http://tinyurl.com/y5mexwjl   Don't forget to send questions to videogamesbadforyou@gmail.com. Follow us on twitter @VideoGamesBad4U And subscribe to us on iTunes!   Music Credits: Take Me Higher by Jahzzar http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/ All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0   Quizitive by Lee Rosevere What Have You Done by Lee Rosevere Looking Back by Lee Rosevere http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere All songs licensed under CC By-SA 4.0