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Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video Games

Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video Games

209 episodes — Page 1 of 5

Zero Brightness Ep. 191: Ok, We Didn't Like Resident Evil 9

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See Title.

Apr 9, 20262h 11m

Bonus: My Thoughts on Silent Hill F

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A bonus episode from the Patreon for you to check out. Go to https://www.patreon.com/zerobrightness for more!

Feb 26, 20261h 3m

Zero Brightness Ep. 190: Emergency Broadcast from the Military Occupied Twin Cities, MN

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This is an Emergency Broadcast from the Military Occupied Twin Cities, MN.

Jan 26, 20261h 36m

Zero Brightness Ep. 189: Merry Freakmas (Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within)

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Justin joins to talk about his obsession with Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within - a sci-fi action movie set at Christmas time. We also talk about other non-holiday movies set at Christmas, how Square tried to go Hollywood, whether or not you should watch Eyes Wide Shut with your family and why Jingle All the Way is the best movie.

Dec 24, 20251h 25m

Ep. 188: Horses, Censorship and Other Unsettling Things

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Some thoughts on the Horror game Horses and the censorship surrounding it.

Dec 16, 20251h 12m

Zero Brightness Ep. 187: No More Notes (Halloween 2025)

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We're back with another Halloween indie game roundup - featuring discussions of "Buckshot Roulette," "Exit 8," "Umigari," "Heartworm," "Children of Clay" and "That Night, Steeped By Blood River"

Oct 28, 20252h 1m

Zero Brightness Ep. 186: You Should Play Cronos: The New Dawn

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Some thoughts on Bloober Team's latest - as well as the history and future of survival horror

Oct 8, 20251h 7m

Bonus: Why I Love the Alien Franchise

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A bonus episode from the Patreon. Sign up there for more like this! https://www.patreon.com/zerobrightness

Sep 29, 20251h 12m

Zero Brightness Ep. 185: Ridley Scott Understood AI

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Exploring the Horrors of AI through the lens of Ridley Scott's Alien and Blade Runner films.

Sep 26, 20251h 17m

Zero Brighntess Ep. 184: Media Won't Save Us

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An episode exploring the shortcomings of media analysis, video essays and online activism - and why we should go outside and do real world stuff.

Jul 3, 20251h 37m

Zero Brightness Ep. 183: Everything Sucks, But Slitterhead Doesn't

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Justin joins to talk more about Slitterhead but we mostly ended up talking about how the video games industry is cooked, the internet is cooked, America is cooked, etc.

Jun 4, 20252h 21m

Zero Brightness Ep. 182: You Should Play Slitterhead (and Siren and Gravity Rush)

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Let's talk about the brilliant works of Keiichiro Toyama and how nice it is to see 90s Japanese Auteurs get a second chance at fulfilling their bizarre creative dreams.

May 15, 20251h 22m

Zero Brightness Ep. 181: Why Josh Thinks You Should Play Returnal

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Josh tells a dedicated hater all of the reasons why Returnal is an all-time banger. Hater responds.

Apr 28, 20251h 19m

Zero Brightness Ep. 180: The One About the Dreamcast (Part 2)

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...in which we take a look at Carrier, Illbleed, Blue Stinger, Resident Evil: Code Veronica, and The Ring: Terror's Realm

Feb 27, 20252h 40m

Zero Brightness Ep. 179: How to Survive in America

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Because America is the Real Survival Horror

Feb 14, 20251h 2m

Zero Brightness Ep. 178: The One About the Dreamcast (pt. 1)

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This time, we talk about the rise of the Sega Dreamcast. Next time, we talk about its library of Horror Games.

Dec 31, 202455 min

Zero Brightness Ep. 177: The One About the Arcade (Darkstalkers, Street Fighter, Etc.)

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Episode 177 is all about getting back into fighting games, loving the Darkstalkers series, embracing weird hobbies, growing up in the early 00s, playing a lot of different 90s capcom classics and going to the arcade. Watch Some Documentaries: The Lost Arcade: https://tubitv.com/movies/100026747/the-lost-arcade Insert Coin: https://youtu.be/7zx5GunyUS4?si=XraDqYx3P2UDjCU1

Nov 28, 20242h 4m

Zero Brightness Ep. 176: Maybe I am a Depressing Bastard (2024 Halloween Special)

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Justin joins to talk about three amazing indie horror games: Shinkansen 0, Mouthwashing and Hollowbody. Happy Halloween, ya filthy animals!

Oct 31, 20241h 46m

Zero Brightness Ep. 175: The one about the Silent Hill 2 Remake

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Vincent joins to discuss the highs and lows of Bloober Team's Silent Hill 2 Remake - a game that we do not agree on, sort of. We get into the things they've changed as well as the many references to the original - and how it all comes together in this year's biggest AAA horror game.

Oct 30, 20241h 28m

Zero Brightness Ep. 174: (Are) 3D Castlevania Games Bad (?)

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It's supposed to be phrased like a question but. c'mon, we all know these games suck. Justin and Bea join to help me sort through this lamentable group of games. What is a 3D Castlevania game? A miserable pile of secrets!

Sep 3, 20241h 41m

Zero Brightness Ep. 173: Magic, Creativity and You (Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree)

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a short seminar.

Aug 6, 20241h 1m

Bonus: Are We in a New Video Games Market Crash?

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This is a little taste of the Patreon-exclusive show ZB+. Subscribe for more! https://www.patreon.com/zerobrightness

Jun 4, 202452 min

Zero Brightness Ep. 172: You Don't Wanna Know What's Under This Apron (Crow Country)

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We played Crow Country and wanted to talk about how amazing it is - but then we also wanted to talk about 90s rap, bad remakes, the video game industry, BBLs and how we're the world's pre-eminent Horror Video Game Podcast. We the best music!

Jun 1, 20241h 43m

Zero Brightness Ep. 171: Cucks (Alone in the Dark 2024)

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Monica and I made an episode about the new Alone in the Dark game and we are definitely getting cancelled for it.

Apr 23, 20241h 23m

Bonus: A Rundown of the Alone in the Dark Series

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A bonus ep from the Patreon giving you a run-down of all the various attempts to reboot Alone in the Dark. We'll have a full episode on the new game soon. Check out our Patreon for more like this!

Apr 2, 202431 min

Zero Brightness Ep. 170: Grief, Nostalgia and Rock'n'Roll (ft. Lamniformes)

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Ian (from the band/podcast/substack, etc. Lamniformes) stops by to talk about their fantastic new album - a very nu-metal influenced experimental rock record - as well as some favorite topics on this show, including using Dark Souls to process loss and the recent surge in Y2K nostalgia. Ian's new record: https://linktr.ee/Lamniformes The Dark Souls Article: https://lamniformes.substack.com/p/my-time-in-lordran?utm_source=%2Fsearch%2Fdark%2520souls&utm_medium=reader2

Mar 29, 20242h 2m

Zero Brightness Ep. 169: What the Heck is Kojima up to?

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Josh stops by to talk about all the recent Kojima-related news and speculate on Death Stranding 2, OD and more. We also sideline into all sort of trifling BS - as Hideo would want it. Check out Josh's music: https://seracmpls.bandcamp.com/album/the-ledger https://cachempls.bandcamp.com/album/cache

Mar 4, 20241h 32m

Zero Brightness Ep. 168: The Slow Burn (Lunacid, A Space for the Unbound)

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Some thoughts on slowing down, changing your brain, playing dungeon crawlers and petting every cat that you see.

Feb 22, 20241h 14m

Bonus: Lies of P Rocks

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A bonus ep from the patreon while you wait for the main show to return. Subscribe over there for more stuff like this!

Jan 17, 202449 min

Zero Brightness Ep. 167: Merry Goopmas (Parasite Eve)

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Episode 167 is: a conversation with Justin about Parasite Eve - an appreciation of that game's weirdly awesome mechanics, insanely good music and unexpected Christmas spirit - an exploration of why Jingle All the Way is the best xmas movie by far - some thoughts on goop

Dec 25, 20231h 27m

Zero Brightness Ep. 166: Who gets to be Human?

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Episode 166 is: about Palestine - about sci-fi - about humanism - about empathy - about people

Dec 20, 20231h 14m

Zero Brightness Ep. 165: World is Bugs (Hollow Knight)

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Episode 165 is: a slightly unhinged chat with Josh about Hollow Knight and game design in modern metroidvanias - a list of my favorite internet videos - another list of the weirdest places I've ever slept - kind of a weird one

Nov 30, 20231h 22m

Zero Brightness Ep. 164: The Alan Within 2 (Alan Wake 2 Impressions)

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Episode 164 is: some thoughts on Alan Wake 2 after playing about half of the game

Nov 10, 202358 min

Zero Brightness Ep. 163: Halloween Indie Game Roundup '23

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Episode 163 is: a discussion with Justin about a bunch of indie games - a list of stuff for you to check out this Halloween - some thoughts on How Fish is Made, Maple County, Parasocial, Stop Burying Me Alive Beautiful, Other Side and C.H.A.I.N.G.E.D.

Oct 31, 20231h 25m

Zero Brightness Ep. 162: Revisionist Evil pt. 4 - Resident Evil 3

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Episode 162 is: an exploration of the original Resident Evil 3 and the approach Capcom took when remaking one of the more unique entries in the RE series

Oct 18, 202354 min

Zero Brightness Ep. 161: Revisionist Evil pt. 3 - Resident evil 2

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Episode 161 is: a run-down of the various versions, editions, remakes and re-releases of one of the greatest horror video games of all time - Resident Evil 2

Oct 9, 202351 min

Zero Brightness Ep. 160: The Nostalgia Cycle (PS1 and PS2 Horror)

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Episode 160 is: sort of about the time I tried to make an episode and failed - sort of about Shadow Hearts, Koudelka and Baroque - sort of about memory and nostalgia - sort of about media consumption

Sep 11, 202356 min

Zero Brightness Ep. 159: Decarnation is a 10

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Episode 159 is: a discussion with Justin about the fantastic narrative horror game Decarnation - some thoughts on good storytelling in video games - a few random observations on topics including Metal Wolf Chaos, Afroman and mispronouncing words

Sep 1, 20231h 20m

Zero Brightness Ep. 158: The One About Death (Soul Reaver, Nier Automata, etc.)

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Episode 158 is: a discussion of Death Mechanics in video games - some thoughts on Death as a Diegetic element - an essay that touches on Shadow Man, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, Dark Souls, Nier: Automata and others - not actually as foreboding as the title makes it sound

Aug 11, 202351 min

Zero Brightness Ep. 157: The Quarry is (Allegedly) A Video Game

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Episode 157 is: a conversation with Vincent and Monica about Supermassive's The Quarry - an interrogation of Vincent's love for these games (even though they are highly questionable) - an argument about the new Scream movies (and like 15 other movies and TV shows) - some thoughts on werewolf dicks

Jul 26, 20231h 15m

Zero Brightness 156: A Low-Key Review of Amnesia: The Bunker

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Episode 156 is: very low-key - some thoughts on the Amnesia series as well as its new entry - kind of an ad for the patreon

Jul 10, 202340 min

Zero Brightness 155: Kojima is My Dad (Snatcher)

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Episode 155 is: a conversation with Josh about Hideo Kojima's Snatcher - a discussion of the things that have (and haven't) aged well about the game - an appreciation of Blade Runner and the game's many other 80s film influences - a few thoughts about SimAnt check out Josh's new album at https://cachempls.bandcamp.com/album/cache

Jul 4, 20231h 31m

Zero Brightness 154: Anime is the Real Survival Horror (Code Vein, Scarlet Nexus)

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episode 154 is: a conversation with Justin about two anime-inspired action-adventure games, Code Vein and Scarlet Nexus - a discussion about good and bad tropes in anime - the discovery that anime vampires are maybe cool actually

Jun 12, 20231h 1m

Zero Brightness 153: The Legend of Zelda Games Are Horror

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Episode 153 is: a conversation with Ellie (You Don't Need Maps)about horror elements in just about every mainline Legend of Zelda game - a deep dive on 80s Dark Fantasy - a discussion of the series' influence on Action-RPGs and internet horror - a breakdown of the shocking similarities between Twilight Princess and My Chemical Romance

Jun 1, 20231h 42m

Zero Brightness 152: Ada's Glasses No Longer Explode (Resident Evil 4 Remake Pt. 2, RE4 VR)

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Episode 152 is: a conversation with Vincent about the Resident Evil 4 Remake - an exploration of all the different ways we now have to play RE4 (including VR) - some speculation on where the series will go next - a brief discussion of impractical spy gadgets

May 17, 20231h 20m

Turn it Off 1.7: Bandersnatch, Bandersnatch (Alice in Wonderland [2010])

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We discuss the last 7 months of Hollywood News in the Hollywood Minute before going down the rabbit hole to visit a beautiful fantasy world

May 8, 20231h 4m

Zero Brightness 151: Talking About Every Soulslike Game Ever

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Episode 151 is: a discussion of the Dark Souls-inspired Soulslike genre including thoughts on Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order, Death's Gambit, Code Vein, Tunic, Hollow Knight, Mortal Shell and many more; a dissection of the impact that FromSoft has had on modern games; a run down of our likes and dislikes as it pertains to the genre; just a good old-fashioned free-wheeling games discussion

May 4, 20231h 45m

Zero Brightness 150: What's New in the Resident Evil 4 Remake ?

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Episode 150 is: a conversation with Justin about what's new in the RE4 remake - a reflection on the surprisingly complex economy of Resident Evil 4 - an appreciation of the suplex - the reveal of the greatest line in video game history

Apr 18, 20232h 7m

Zero Brightness 149: "That's Good TV" (HBO's The Last of Us)

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Episode 149 is: two conversations (with Monica and Josh) about the Last of Us TV show - a discussion about writing adaptations - an attempt to figure out how to survive the apocalypse - a psychoanalysis of angry gamers

Apr 5, 20231h 48m

Zero Brightness 148: Revisionist Evil Pt. 2 (Resident Evil 4)

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Episode 148 is: a different take on Resident Evil 4 - a love letter to Funcoland - a defense of my favorite game in the series - an exhaustive breakdown of the best intro sequence in video game history

Mar 21, 202352 min