Shows
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 93: Heart and Soul (Hyper Light Drifter)Episode 93 is a love letter to Hyper Light Drifter, a game that unexpectedly perfects the "super hard post-apocalyptic ambient hack and slash" genre that has rose to prominence on the strength of games like Dark Souls, Breath of the Wild and Nier. Joined by returning guest Justin, we break down how HLD delivers on the promise of those games in a way that is more fun and emotionally resonant while also delivering an amazing aesthetic experience. Also discussed: buying a GPU at a Burger King, the fear of death, difficulty in games and soundtrack recommendations
2021-02-082h 09Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesBonus: Talking About Dark SoulsAs I do periodically, I decided to make an episode of our Patreon-exclusive bonus show Zero Brightness Plus available to everyone - this one, specifically, because it will give you some helpful background for tomorrow's episode. If you like what you hear, you can subscribe at patreon.com/zerobrightness and get episodes like this once per week!
2021-02-0740 minZero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 92: Tracing Paper Blues (More Video Game Movies)Zero Brightness heads to the theater in this episode, where we take a look at more film adaptations of horror games; specifically, the two Silent Hill movies and the new Detention TV series. I'm joined first by Whitney Chavis for a discussion of the many ways that the Silent Hill adaptations pay respect to the original games while also totally fumbling any attempt at presenting deeper themes or a consistent story. Later, Monica Coleslaw breaks down the bizarre way that Detention 2020 re-contextualizes the original game's heavily political narrative into a skin-crawling "love" story. We take the good, we take the...
2021-01-252h 41Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEp 91: Player Two (Co-Op Horror Games)Zero Brightness returns with the start of a new season and format for the show! Episode 91 finds Ali joined by returning guests Monica and Vincent (as well as new friend Justin) for an examination of co-op horror games including Resident Evil 5, Obscure, and Phasmophobia. We also take a look at the pre-history of multiplayer RE games, examine the weirdly racist and misogynistic tone of 00s-era survival horror and discuss the current state (and future of) the podcast. Better get started, it’s a pretty long ep.
2021-01-062h 35Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEp 90: Marathons (2020 Year-End Wrap-up)Instead of a normal "best of 2020" list, we run down the games we played the most this year in order to distract ourselves from life - the real survival horror.
2020-12-281h 07Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEp. 89: Them ChangesA few updates on the show and what to expect from Zero Brightness next year.
2020-12-1417 minZero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEp 88: What Is Scary?We talk about what we find to be scary in Horror games and dissect the different tactics that devs use to scare players and create tension, anxiety and fear.
2020-12-071h 24Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEp 87: Silent Hill OriginsWe experience Silent Hill Origins - the world's okayest Silent Hill game - and end up having a discussion of the many questionable habits that all western-developed SH games seem to share. We also talk beating up monsters with toasters. confusing lore and one Tragic Travis.
2020-11-3058 minZero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEp 86: VisageWe get very, very scared by the new PT-influenced horror game Visage. We talk about why the game's first-person walking-sim style gameplay is so horrifying and dissect it's many obtuse puzzles and odd design choices. Spoilers are very clearly marked within the episode so you shouldn't be surprised by anything - a nice change from this game, which definitely took a couple years off my life.
2020-11-231h 25Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEp. 85: Amnesia RebirthWe check out Amnesia Rebirth, the new entry in the Amnesia series that finds the original devs (Frictional) returning to the franchise that established them as a fixture in the horror genre. We talk about how the ten years of experience they've accrued has led to a much more sophisticated game - albeit one still very grounded in 2010-style game design. We also discuss torture-based economies, racist horror writers, classic vines and simulated birth in video games. It's a time, that's for sure. (first 45 minutes are spoiler free, spoiler section is clearly tagged)
2020-11-161h 27Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEp 84: Hitman 2It's time for more Hitman talk! We discuss the second batch of stages, the various and wacky ways you can kill people and why easy mode is clutch if you want to play every stage like an episode of Mr. Bean.
2020-11-091h 20Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEp. 83: Dead SpaceHappy Halloween! Our long-awaited discussion of Dead Space is finally here - and a couple days early at that. As expected, there are many hot takes and rebuttals - although you probably will not see the reference to a certain overlooked wii game coming. Just remember that you all asked for this!
2020-10-311h 00
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEp. 82: Resident Evil 4We're almost to Dead Space, so we have to talk about Resident Evil 4 - either the Greatest Game Ever or a disgusting pile that ruined horror games, depending on which host you ask. We debate the merits of its action-heavy gameplay, tense-but-not-scary atmosphere and absurdly over-the-top cutscenes - complete with exploding sunglasses and tiny napoleons. Is RE4 the Citizen Kane of survival horror or is it The Room? Listen in to find out!
2020-10-261h 47Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesBonus: Patreon 2.0 UpdateA little update on some changes to our patreon. Head to patreon.com/zerobrightness to check it out!
2020-10-2005 minZero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP. 81: Echo Night 2We check out Echo Night 2, a game never officially released in the west and only recently patched with a fan translation. We discuss the many ways in which it tries to build out the basic Ghost Friendship Simulator gameplay of the first one - with results that vary widely in quality - as well as its super-90s goth aesthetic and incomprehensible plot. It's Echo Night, alright!
2020-10-1958 min
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP. 80: Is it Possible to Ethically Consume Video Games?We try to answer the title question for ourselves. In the process, we discuss racism and bigotry in media, fair labor practices and what responsibility the consumer has in fighting for or against their own values when consuming media.
2020-10-121h 12Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 79: Dead By Daylight (with Vincent/LiterallyFigurative)We discuss the asymmetrical online slasher movie simulator Dead By Daylight with our friend Vincent from our Discord. We try to talk about the finer points of the game but mostly end up debating whether it's best experienced as a competitive pursuit or an S-tier spooky hangout game.
2020-10-051h 08Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEp. 78: Eversion and Pony IslandWe discuss two of the big Meta Horror games that keep coming up in conversations about all of the other weird/indie/meta games we've covered on the show. We discuss Eversion's simple yet effective mind tricks and Pony Island's utterly bizarre take on a Horror game. We also talk about working in a guitar store for a surprisingly long amount of time, but that's cool too.
2020-09-2858 minZero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP. 77: The Evil Within 2We finally get around to talking about how The Evil Within 2 is an amazing, unsung gem of the eighth generation. We discuss its many quirks, from amazing open-world gameplay to a villain that can only be described as "Cutie Hannibal." You couldn't make this stuff up, even if you were injecting CBD straight into your neck like our guy Sebastian does!
2020-09-211h 33Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEp 76: Carrion (2020)Retro Month winds down as we check out Carrion, a unique twist on the Metroidvania formula that has you playing as the monster - an amorphous predatory blob hell-bent on turning a perfectly good space station into a blood-splattered mess of exposed wires and gore. What a jerk!
2020-09-1445 min
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 75: Faith (2017)Retro Month takes a modern detour as we check out Faith, the Atari-style horror game developed by Airdorf Games and released in 2017. James thinks it's a masterpiece and Ali thinks it has more in common with the flawed-but-fascinating game we covered in the NES Horror episode.
2020-09-0759 minZero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 74: NES Horror GamesWe take a look at a few licensed horror games on the Nintendo Entertainment System and find a surprisingly ambitious cross-section of ideas that predict where the Survival Horror genre would eventually go. In this pre-history of horror, we're checking out Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th and Monster Party. Turns out some of the crappy platformers on the NES have more going on under the hood!
2020-08-3154 minZero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 73: Sega Genesis Horror GamesRetro Month Begins! Episode 73 finds us discussing a handful of Horror games that were available on the Sega Genesis, the 16-bit console favored by the cool kids who smoked cigs and watched R-rated movies. We are mostly talking Devilish, Decap Attack and Haunting Starring Polterguy but - as per usual - it goes all over the place.
2020-08-2454 minZero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 72: The Dread X CollectionWe run through The Dread X Collection, a new virtual game jam inspired by PT and sharing some similarities with the Haunted PS1 Demo Disc. We talk about the highs and lows of the collection as well as why we love bite-sized indie games - especially after a summer of epic-length disappointments.
2020-08-171h 11Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 71: The Count LucanorWe're talking The Count Lucanor, the predecessor to Yuppie Psycho that established a lot of that game's style and mechanics. We break down the game's classically structured puzzles, heavy atmosphere and dark fantasy aesthetics. The Vibes Are Real.
2020-08-1039 minZero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP. 70: D (1995) and D2 (1999)We discuss D and D2, the bizarre works of auteur Kenji Eno. We breakdown his contentious relationship to the games industry and some of the influences that make this series interesting to read about but not very fun to play.
2020-08-0358 minZero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP. 69: The Fatal Frame (2014) and Detention (2019)FilmsWe take a look at two exceptional video-game-to-movie adaptations that stand out from the pack of generally terrible, bone-headed "re-imaginings" - Mari Asato's "Fatal Frame" and John Hsu's "Detention." We talk a lot about East Asian Horror and what makes a good adaptation while dissecting the finer points of these surprisingly great films. Be warned - this is basically "Uncle Ali's J-Horror Corner Pt. II" so the tangents are real.
2020-07-271h 06Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesBonus: Shower Thoughts on RepresentationAs a supplement to our discussion of race and gender in Deadly Premonition 2, we're making our Zero Brightness Plus episode on Representation (from January 2020) available to the public. If you like what you hear, we do an episode like this every week for our Patreon subscribers. You can sign up at patreon.com/zerobrightness to hear all 40-something episodes and get more every week.
2020-07-2232 minZero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP. 68: Deadly Premonition 2(Day-One Review)We attempt to review the launch-day version of Deadly Premonition 2 - a feat that is mostly impossible due to a combination of broken gameplay, extremely buggy code and an offensive plot that has already been retconned (but not yet patched!). Was all of this a terrible mistake? Are our hazy memories of Greenvale just beautiful lies? Listen on to find out. This episode is spoiler-free until the last 30 minutes, which are marked with a very prominent audio tag.
2020-07-201h 48Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 67: Black Bird (2018) and DeathsmilesWe talk about two Horror SHMUPs, a rare sub-sub-genre of games that mix the gameplay of classic arcade shoot-em-ups with the aesthetics of horror. We discuss the visceral delights (and Bullet Hell-induced headaches) of dodging and shooting as well as the bits of story and Edward Gorey-inspired aesthetics sprinkled throughout these games.
2020-07-131h 12Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP. 66: Hitman (2016)We're talking about... Hitman? Listen, I don't have some amazing reason why we're talking about Hitman besides that it's really good and you should play it. We also talk about where we're at with the show, the joys of open-ended gameplay and the adventures of Agent Forty-leven, the world's shittiest super-spy.
2020-07-061h 53Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 65: DreadoutWe're talking Dreadout, a modern take on the classic PS2-style survival horror genre. Does it transcend its scrappy, low-budget development or is it just a mess? We don't agree, so we spend an hour trying to sort it out.
2020-06-291h 03Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEp 64: The Last of Us Part IIWe attempt to cover The Last of Us Part II; the sprawling, controversial and eagerly awaited follow-up to Naughty Dog's modern classic. Fittingly, we have an epic-length conversation that covers everything from internet trolls to people being confused by bodybuilders. Somewhere in there, James assigns a numerical score to a video game and Ali pauses the show to freestyle about how much he hates the police. Just another episode, nothing to see here!
2020-06-252h 05Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesBonus: What is the Monogenre? (and status update)To tide y'all over until we have our Last of Us 2 episode read later this week, we've made on of our patreon-exclusive episodes free to the public. It's a highly relevant discussion of AAA action adventure games and if you like what you hear, you can sign up at patreon.com/zerobrightness
2020-06-2246 minZero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 63: The Last of Us (with Monica Coleslaw)We finally tackle The Last of Us, Sony's megaton Horror exclusive that has been equally era-defining and controversial. Monica Coleslaw joins for a discussion of video game violence, TV adaptations, bad dads and the suspicious way in which all AAA video games are sorta the same. Press R1 to come back next week for a discussion of the sequel!
2020-06-151h 32Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 62: Amnesia: The Dark DescentOur discussion of Amnesia: the Dark Descent turns into an "opposite day" version of our Alone in the Dark episode, wherein we debate the merits of historical significance versus the all-important "Fun Factor." It's a GamePro reader's dream!
2020-06-081h 10Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 61: Why We Talk About What We Talk AboutWe have a discussion about police violence (largely centered around the George Floyd protests in Minneapolis) and what role art has in spurring on social change - relating it back to the topics we repeatedly bring up like media representation and messaging.
2020-06-051h 13Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 60: Alone in the Dark (1992)We’re discussing Alone in the Dark, the 1992 PC Game that is widely considered to be the starting point of Survival Horror. We go back and forth while trying to figure out if its a charming antique or a frustrating relic
2020-05-261h 02Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 59: NightcryWe're talking about Nightcry, the irredeemably awful "spiritual successor" to Clock Tower that fails on every level. James mounts a small yet sturdy defense of the game as we both dissect its merits as a MST3K-style experience. Questions abound. like "is it so bad it's funny?" and - more importantly - "Why did we subject ourselves to this?"
2020-05-181h 06Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 58: Disaster Report 4We're talkin' Disaster Report 4, the brand new PS2-style survival game that time-traveled to use from 2011 with all of its weirdness fully intact. We discuss what makes this game good-bad, its budget-game lineage and how its out-of-place lasciviousness gives it "Big Boomer Energy." It's Disaster Report, dawg, we had to get weird on this one.
2020-05-111h 22Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 57: Yuppie PsychoWe're talking Yuppie Psycho, a 2D Survival Horror game that mixes 16-bit gameplay with classic survival horror and garnishes the whole thing with a dark but quirky slice-of-life workplace character drama. Topics discussed include hiding under desks, work efficiency trends, monster energy drink and capitalism. Now get back to work, ya slackers!
2020-05-041h 01Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 56: Prey(2017)Ali finally gets his way as we discuss Prey, the massively underrated and mostly forgotten 2017 immersive sim that managed to marry sci-fi scares to open-ended gameplay. We discuss the finer points of the Immersive Sim genre while trying to figure out why no-one will play our favorite games. For the record: I did install Hitman and I'm gonna play it.
2020-04-271h 29Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 55: The Cat Lady (With Pam D)We are joined by very special guest Pam D (of Cannot Be Tamed) to discuss the over-the-top PC horror adventure game The Cat Lady - a game that plays out like an unholy combination of The Babadook, Kill Bill and Harvester. Topics discussed include weird voice acting, industrial goth music, excessive gore and smoking cigarettes for breakfast. Remember to feed your cats!
2020-04-201h 41Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 54: Dino CrisisListen, if Resident Evil 2 wants to wear a dinosaur costume then I AM HERE FOR IT. Join us as we grab some popcorn and experience the TBS original movie of first-gen survival horror, Dino Crisis. To quote the game itself: It's just like that movie!
2020-04-131h 03Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 53: Resident Evil 3 RemakeThe much anticipated Resident Evil 3 Remake is here and we're diving deep into its wildly different take on the source material. We discuss this action-packed thrill ride of a game as well as the weirdly polarized response it has received from critics and fans. Guess they weren't ready for the John Wick of the RE franchise... but I was.
2020-04-061h 53Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 52: Night In The WoodsWe tackle the beloved indie adventure game Night in the Woods but something's a bit... different. Topics covered include mental health, secret murals, cute cats and Depression - both the emotional and economic types. No tiny crimes were committed in the making of this episode!
2020-04-011h 54Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 51: The Sinking City (with Monica Coleslaw)Monica Coleslaw (of Demon Daddies) joins for a discussion of Sinking City, the open-world horror game set in an H.P. Lovecraft-inspired city full of fishmen, monkeymen and era-appropriate racism. Come with us on a journey into our mind palace as we discuss janky gunplay, weird Switch ports and phlegmy demons.
2020-03-301h 11Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesBonus: Resident Evil 3 Demo DiscussionWe had a brief discussion of the RE3 demo and realized that it would've appeared in an episode that's coming out after the game's release, so we're releasing it now! A few lil hot takes on that crazy demo. Jump in our discord and tell us what you think.
2020-03-2606 minZero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEp. 50: Silent Hill 4It's our 50th episode and we're spending this special time tackling Silent Hill 4, the divisive end of the original series run. In classic ZB fashion, we can't agree and end up debating the merits of obtuse progression, enemy gauntlets, weird lore and a main antagonist who basically amounts to incel Freddy Kreuger. You can' t make this shit up. Thanks for sticking with us for 50 episodes!
2020-03-232h 10Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesBonus: Status Update and Disco ElysiumA quick status update and another preview of our Patreon-exclusive bonus episodes. This is a discussion of Disco Elysium, with more available every week at patreon.com/zerobrightness
2020-03-1751 minZero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 49: Scary Moments In Non - Horror GamesAnother topic episode where we discuss some great scary moments from non-horror games. We run the gamut from Ecco the Dolphin's alien exploits to Half Life 2's haunted house.
2020-03-161h 02Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 48: Games That Don't ExistWe discuss all the horror games/creepy games that you can't play, from creepypastas to weird youtube series and everything in between. Let's get weird!
2020-03-091h 02Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 47: The Haunted PS1 Demo DiscWe take a look at the Haunted PS1 Demo Disc, a collection of lo-fi indie horror games inspired by the gloriously chunky days of PS1 horror gaming. We talk the highlights (and lowlights) of this surprisingly large and diverse collection of bite-size spook-em-ups that finds you doing everything from hacking coffins and collecting cats to outrunning sentient ramen packets and solving zombie crimes. Good stuff.
2020-03-021h 16Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP. 46: Kentucky Route Zero (Pt. 2)We continue our discussion of Kentucky Route Zero by breaking down the plot and talking about the finer points of the game's sprawling, reference-heavy narrative.
2020-02-241h 50Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 45: Kentucky Route Zero (Part 1)We start our discussion of Kentucky Route Zero - the long-gestating, densely-layered indie game that was recently collected in a complete edition - by picking apart its influences and aesthetics. We talk about Lynch, Magical Realism, Socialism, Gas Stations, Cinematic Platformers and one-legged ghosts. Get in the car, loser, we're cruisin' the zero!
2020-02-171h 33
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 44: GaleriansWe're talking about the weird, often overlooked PS1 classic Galerians, one of the very few games that cops the late 80s/early 90s Japanese Cyberpunk/Techno Goth aesthetic (think Akira meets The Prodigy). We break down the many film and music influences on this genre as well as wax poetic about the joys of exploding heads with psychic angst. It's all tank controls and ornate chokers from here on in, folks!
Tips For Starting Galerians:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DdxVjteFnCyPeuMy_xUU0FIxrSDjFN6SiJRoDaHm8n0/edit
2020-02-101h 18
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEp 43: Clock Tower PS1 (aka Clock Tower II)We tackle the PS1 Clock Tower sequel (sensibly titled Clock Tower II in Japan, annoyingly called Clock Tower in the US) and end up debating the merits of this contentious title. Is is a rare gem in the tiny canon of Argento-inspired games or is it complete and utter garbage?
2020-02-031h 15
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 42: Echo NightWe're throwing it back to the original Echo Night game, which also happens to be the original Walking Sim. We discuss the many facets of this 1998 PS1 classic, from its forward thinking design to its super crusty controls - stopping along the way to discuss, among other things, why all From Software NPCs end their sentences with "Heh heh heh..."
2020-01-271h 12
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 41: Paratopic & Claire (Indie Horror Rodeo Pt. 3)We're back at the Indie Horror Rodeo, exploring a couple of games that made waves by combining vintage aesthetics with downright bizarre approaches to narrative and gameplay. Paratopic takes us on a disjointed, dystopian journey while Claire guides us to the heart of Silent Hill - by making us constantly check the map, of course.
2020-01-201h 11
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 40: Devotion (Game of the Year Edition)After pulling our punches in the Red Candle Games episode, we decided to circle back and go full tilt on discussing Devotion (2019). We leave no stone unturned and no spoiler unspoiled as we dissect the sadly de-listed Taiwanese horror masterpiece. Fair warning: Ali won't stop bringing up his shitty childhood and going on political rants. James is pretty well behaved, though, so that's a win.
That Eurogamer interview:
https://tinyurl.com/uvepktp
That Reddit post:
https://tinyurl.com/w4zmp9x
2020-01-131h 35
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 39: Resident Evil 7We pick apart the Resident Evil series' big, striking comeback/reinvention and find that it's a lot weirder and thornier than we remember.
2020-01-061h 41
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 38: Best Of 2019We discuss our favorite Horror games of 2019 and the best older Horror games we played this year. We also spend a lot of time talking about how bad all the "best of 2019" lists have been this year. Wait, another episode of effusive praise and uninvited hot takes? What a shocking twist ending to the year!
2019-12-301h 14
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 37: Indie Horror Rodeo Pt. 2(Doki Doki Literature Club and IMSCARED)We dive into discussing two very meta, very weird indie horror games when we talk about Doki Doki Literature Club and IMSCARED. These games raise all sorts of questions, like: Am I on a list for playing these? Did I really get a virus? What the heck is an eversion? Answers to these questions and more await you inside!
The Polygon article mentioned within:
https://www.polygon.com/2012/11/14/3590430/dont-be-a-hero-the-full-story-behind-spec-ops-the-line
2019-12-231h 16
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 36: Yume Nikki16-bit month comes to a close as we tackle Yume Nikki, the bizarre and mysterious Art-PG game that I like so much that I named a band after it. We talk about its many strange quirks and weird characters, as well the heavy influence its had on the many internet-based horror stories, walking simulators and indie games that have been made in the years since its original release.
2019-12-161h 15
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 35: Lone Survivor16-bit month continues as we discuss Lone Survivor, the 2D Side-Scrolling Survival Horror game that - quite improbably - manages to incorporate heavy doses of all your favorite PS1 classics while introducing more modern survival elements and a whole bunch of commentary on mental health and violence. We also discuss Silent Hill and David Lynch, the game's two big influences - which we promise are relevant topics, we're not just looking for excuses to praise Yamaoka Senpai and Dave-kun.
2019-12-091h 22
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesBonus: The Economics of Gamer RageTo celebrate the 10th episode of our Patreon-exclusive bonus podcast Zero Brightness Plus, we decided to give everyone a taste! This is Episode 8, where we talk about Gamer Rage taking over the media and games culture. If you like what you hear, you can sign up at our Patreon to check out the backlog and get new episodes every Thursday.
2019-12-0539 min
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 34: Zombies Ate My Neighbors (and Ghoul Patrol)16-bit month rolls along with an absolute corker of an episode where we start talking about the classic 1993 horror-action game Zombies Ate My Neighbors and end up debating which dinosaur-themed retro action game most aggressively sexualizes its scaly, anthropomorphic hulks. In between all that? Only god knows.
2019-12-021h 13
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 33: The Splatterhouse TrilogyWe discuss the original trilogy of Splatterhouse games, which brought the gruesome aesthetic of 80s shock-horror to the world of Arcade beat-em-ups. We chart this highly influential series' evolution from the rudimentary smashing of the arcade original to the surprisingly complex mechanics of the third, Genesis-exclusive title. Somebody cut Namco a check!
2019-11-251h 28
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 32: The SufferingWe check out The Suffering, a much requested action/horror title from the heyday of the PS2. We discuss its many forward thinking ideas while trying to figure out if it's any fun to actually sit down and play.
2019-11-181h 20
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEp 31: Fatal Frame 2We're back for more as we check out Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly aka the one where Tecmo really gets their shit together; a dark, cinematic upgrade to the original that creates a different kind of horror. We also talk ghostly pictures, bad ports, scared teens, Meat Loaf and a whole bunch more. It gets weird, in a good way.
2019-11-111h 34
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 30: The Music of Silent Hill, Pt. 1It's our 30th episode and we're discussing the music of Silent Hill! We dive deep into the influences of the artist behind these iconic tunes (Akira Yamaoka) as well as the finer points of these fantastic soundtracks. We also give you a heaping helping of music recommendations, with more to come in future installments.
Playlist for all of our recommendations and references dropped in our Silent Hill 1 discussion: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4k6m8nDi9sC_7rqamiXPYH8NxvgBU7db
2019-11-041h 34
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 29: Evil Within (with Cole Benson)We're joined by our friend and fellow musician Cole Benson to tackle The Evil Within, a massive and bizarre horror game from the mind of Shinji Mikami. It's our Halloween special and *boy* is it special, with our conversation ranging from nuts and bolts game talk to figuring out what's inside the game's iconic green ooze and everything in between.
2019-10-281h 53
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 28: KuonWe're talking about Kuon, the From Software-developed PS2 game that has taken on mythical stature due to its rarity. We break down what it's like to actually play the game - a mix of asymmetrical storytelling, classic Survival Horror gameplay and rubbing bloody cloths on things. Grab your kimono and Clorox wipes, its' about to get nasty in here.
2019-10-211h 34
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 27: BlasphemousWe drag ourselves through the Bosch-style hellscape of The Game Kitchen's new Gothic Metroidvania game Blasphemous and try to answer the big questions that it poses. We're talking mechanics, influences, dashing around with a giant sword, existential dread, pure frustration and giant evil babies - so you know it's gonna be a good time.
2019-10-141h 33
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 26: Clock Tower (SNES)We tackle Clock Tower, not only the first 16-bit game we've played for the show but THE 16-bit horror game - a work whose influence has been strongly felt in the genre despite its janky, uh, everything. We talk about its direct inspirations (Argento's Phenomena and Suspiria) as well as its many quirks, including a heavily randomized gameplay experience. You won't believe who we both accidentally killed! Just kidding, it's Lotte. It's always Lotte.
2019-10-071h 31
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 25: Deadly Premonition Pt. 3 (with Whitney Chavis)We head back to Greenvale with our guide Whitney Chavis (creator of the Welcome to Greenvale and Silent Hill Historical Society websites) who enlightens us on a lot of stuff we missed in our first two Deadly Premonition episodes. We also talk the metaphysics of the Red Room, tons of wild theories and plot analyses and even a little bit of Silent Hill at the end. Buckle up, we took the scenic route on this drive!
2019-09-302h 17
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 24: Alan WakeWe go on a writers' retreat with our boy Alan Wake and end up workshopping his new stuff (it's not very good) while trying to figure out exactly what is going on with his game.
2019-09-231h 17
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 23: Eternal DarknessWe "discuss" Eternal Darkness, which is a nice way of saying we have a pretty rousing debate over its merits. Is it a one-of-a-kind classic or a three-out-of-ten? We also discuss its influences, including HP Lovecraft, 90s horror movies, Stephen King and much more.
2019-09-161h 44
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 22: Man of MedanWe discuss Supermassive Games' new interactive movie/game The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan (which we played together!) and dredge up terrifying memories of the Sega CD, David Bowie's weird Sci-Fi game, Dragon's Lair and more.
2019-09-091h 13
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 21: Blair Witch (2019)We're back with our buddies (?) Bloober Team and checking out their new game, a riff on the legendary Blair Witch franchise that mixes classic lost-in-the-woods vibes with a heavy dose of that patented Polish Psychedelia. We discuss the ups and downs of this surprising new game as well as dumb bumper stickers and Very Good Dogs.
2019-09-021h 27
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 20: Fatal FrameWe go back to the start of the Fatal Frame franchise and find that it’s a bit weirder than you may remember. We’re talking haunted cameras and annotated flow charts as we explore a very Japanese haunted house. J-Horror Forever.
2019-08-261h 56
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 19: Silent HillWe tackle Silent Hill - the one that started it all in 1999 on the PS1 - and cultivate a newfound appreciation for this super ambitious game. We're talking music references, drug cults, g4m3r5, circle strafing an alpha demon and much more.
2019-08-192h 07
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 18: Resident Evil Remake RemasterWe take a look at the remastered remake of Resident Evil, the one that started it all. We call it ReRe and talk mods, big snakes, door puzzles and 10-hour soothing save room megamixes. Get ready to relax and study to these lo-fi hip-hop beats in the Spencer Mansion, nerds.
2019-08-121h 31
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 17: Deadly Premonition (Pt. 2)It's part two of our discussion of the cult classic Deadly Premonition! Hold on to your butts, cuz we got almost two and a half hours of breaking down plots, analyzing themes, sweet musical cues and spoiling all the everything. Listen to part one first, obvs.
2019-08-052h 20
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 16: Deadly Premonition (Pt. 1)It is time. We're talking about Deadly Premonition, the completely batshit, cult classic Twin Peaks simulator. There's so much going on that our coverage of it is a two-parter - this is the first half where we discuss shaving in dungeons, trying to get this game to run on PC, the joys of talking to yourself and much more.
2019-07-291h 24
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 15 - Bloodstained: Ritual of the NightWe played that new Castlevania that's called something else for legal reasons. Ali talks about the Game Boy Advance a lot and James has big plans for his bath water.
2019-07-221h 42
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 14: OnimushaWe're talking Samurai Resident Evil (or Ninja BioHazard, if you're nasty). We also recorded this at the end of a long day, so we get loopy and start talking about gamers pissing themselves and pornographic PS2 games. For fun's sake!
2019-07-151h 28
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 13: Little Nightmares (2.5D Horror Pt. 2)We conclude our discussion of 2.5D Horror Games (i.e. spooky Cinematic Platformers) by diving into Little Nightmares. It's full of creepy, provocative imagery and a whole lot of running to the right.
2019-07-0854 min
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEp 12: Limbo and Inside (2.5D Horror Pt. 1)We discuss Limbo and Inside, the two horror-themed cinematic platformers by developer Playdead. This is part of a longer discussion of 2.5D horror games that will conclude next week with a breakdown of Little Nightmares. Lots of cute, in-game avatars were accidentally harmed in the making of this episode.
2019-07-011h 27
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 11: Blood and DuskWe're shooting stuff and getting spooked as we discuss Blood (1997) and Dusk (2018) - two games that combine the Horror and FPS genres.
2019-06-241h 31
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 10: Silent Hill 3We try and figure what is going on in Silent Hill 3.
2019-06-171h 43
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 9: Observer and ObservationWe journey into Sci-fi Horror as we explore Observer (the GOOD Bloober Team game) and Observation (the new joint from No Code, the developers of Stories Untold). Come with us now on a journey through time and space!
2019-06-101h 38
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 8: Layers of Fear 2We played Layers of Fear 2 and we have opinions
2019-06-031h 13
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 7: Free Red Candle Games (Devotion and Detention)We discuss Red Candle Games - the developer behind Devotion and Detention - who have received both critical acclaim and extreme censure from the Chinese government. We pick apart the social and political situation behind these events (including the muted reaction from US Journalists) as well as what makes these games noteworthy.
2019-05-271h 23
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 6: Does Silent Hill 2 Hold Up?We dissect Silent Hill 2 and discuss whether or not the Horror classic still holds up today, in terms of themes and gameplay. Are its Lynchian vibes and slow-paced action still entrancing or has it soured like a skittering pile of raw meat? In the quest to answer this, we discuss its film influences and dark aesthetics. Also Zelda, just cuz.
2019-05-201h 40
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 5: I Remember The Past (The Glass Staircase and Stories Untold)We talk about The Glass Staircase and Stories Untold as we try to figure out if nostalgia can be an aesthetic/design principle or if it's always cheap gimmick. We also complain about the games industry and Dark Souls, because I could do that all day.
2019-05-131h 48
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 4: Soma, Anti-Games and the Meaning of LifeWe talk about SOMA - which spirals into a discussion of Anti-games, Existentialism, the Nation of Islam, violence, speculative fiction, euthanizing the last human alive, working at guitar stores, what it means to be alive, etc. Easy listening, you know.
2019-05-061h 29
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 3: Hide Em Ups (Outlast and Alien: Isolation)We talk about "Hide Em Ups" a more recent sub-genre of Horror games that boomed a few years ago and has remained a part of the landscape. We also deep-dive into two of the best hiding-in-lockers-simulators, Alien Isolation and Outlast. We also talk a lot less about Heavy Metal, but probably the same amount about old Genesis games. We can't be stopped!
2019-04-241h 38
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 2: Indie Horror Rodeo (Layers of Fear, Lost In Vivo, September 1999, Vanishing of Ethan Carter)We're talking a handful of atmospheric Indies (Vanishing of Ethan Carter, Layers of Fear, September 1999 and Lost in Vivo) as well as thoughts on Art, walking simulators, Black Metal and internet racism. I swear it's more fun than that sounds!
2019-04-041h 30
Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video GamesEP 1: Resident Evil is Weird (Resident Evil 2 Remake)In our inaugural episode, we talk about the Resident Evil 2 remake as well as the series' bizarre development history and general propensity for weirdness. Contains admissions of guilt re: piracy and playing old RPGs in fast-forward.
2019-03-051h 31