Mind Controllers

As some of you might know, I've been looking for a job. Fortunately, after 9 months of searching, I finally have one! Unfortunately, that means a lot less time in my schedule to work on the podcast. So, the schedules weren't able to align this week and we are taking a break for this week! Joe and Craw have been playing Split Fiction, in addition to more Avowed, and we will tell you all about it ne...

Spoilers for It Takes Two Trigger Warnings: Divorce Today we dive deep into It Takes Two, the award winning game of the year from 2021 that features the most extensive cooperative gameplay of any game we’ve seen. We chat about the foundations of Couples Therapy, what makes a strong relationship, and how the game  pivots our main characters, who are on the brink of divorce, into something more...

Craw and Joe reunite to talk about Street Fighter League and this past weekend’s latest Fatal Fury beta. We then touch on Joe’s time with Pirate Yakuza, Craw’s debate over getting monster hunter, and speculate what occurred in the latest Pokemon Presents! We also touch on the (unfortunate) latest studio closures. We finish it up with an article on Problematic Video Game Use. So come hang out with...

Craw, Joe, and Courture have come together to have a more focused discussion on Monster Hunter Wilds! We chat about our history with the franchise, what defines Monster Hunter, our likes and dislikes of the game, and what to expect from Wilds! Then we chat a bit about the other games we’ve been playing and the news from this week! Games we talked about this week: Monster Hunter Wilds, Kingdom Come...

Spoilers for Thank Goodness You’re Here Craw has been having a crazy time with Thank Goodness You’re Here, a silly game filled with British humor that feels more like watching a cartoon than playing a video game (not a bad thing)! Joe is back on his favorite genre with Romancing Saga Minstrel Song, and spending some time with Street Fighter. And we both played a decent amount of Monster Hunter Wil...

Spoilers for Metaphor Refantazio Trigger Warnings: Racism Today, we talk about the world of Metaphor Refantazio and how it creates and manipulates anxiety as a key part of its story. We then apply Affect Control Theory to our favorite antagonist, Louis, and how that shapes our view of him throughout the game. Timestamps: Introduction - 00:09 Description - 01:10 Experience with the Game - 03:48 Spo...

Spoilers for Bleach and Alan Wake 2 It’s Joe and Craw, talking about the games they’ve played this week! Joe tells us about his latest obsession, Bleach, and Mega64’s The Room. Craw discusses a new metroidvania, his time with Ninja Gaiden Black 2, and a bit about Eternal Strands. Then we chatted about the recent gaming news. Come hang out with us! Games we talked about this week: Zenless Zone Zero...

HEAVY SPOILERS FOR METAPHOR REFANTAZIO Joe and Craw teamed up to talk all about Metaphor ReFantazio, how much we loved it, and the impact some of the characters had on us. If you are experiencing any sort of mental health distress, or just need someone to talk to, please call 988 contact some of these resources gathered on https://www.nimh.nih.gov/   Feel free to message us with suggestions f...

It’s the first Scatterbrained of the year! And we have the whole squad on. We sat down and chatted a lot about Marvel Rivals, and some other games that came out last year that we are still getting through, in addition to some initial thoughts on Dynasty Warriors: Origins. Couture also schools us on Squirrel Girl Lore. Come hang out with us during our first Scatterbrained of the year! Games we talk...

We had a full house for this episode as the crew welcomed Memo to take part in the Fantasy Critics Draft. We all took turns choosing games we believe would rate well, made a few enemies along the way, and came out of it better people! Come listen to us as we try to build the best roster of video games coming out this year! If you are experiencing any sort of mental health distress, or just need so...

Spoilers for Before Your Eyes (2021) Today, we finally discussed our favorite games we played this year in 2024! We tried to keep it spoiler free, but there might be a bit of story spoilers, especially for an older game that Craw played. Thank you all so much for joining this year, and we can’t wait to continue hanging out with everyone in 2025! Bonus unrelated story at the end of this pod! Timest...

Slight spoilers for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle This week on Scatterbrained: Craw is flying solo this week! He tells us about his a bit lackluster time with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, then talks about a puzzle game he does like: Case of the Golden Idol. He also enjoyed Path of Exile 2, a new diablo-like game that's in early access. Lastly, he tells us his quick thoughts on some Swi...

This week on Scatterbrained: We're coming to you early take on The Game Awards! Joe tells us about his time learning about the Stalker lore, then goes into the fun of co-op Borderlands. Craw tells us about his time with puzzle games (ish?) Case of the Golden Idol and Indiana Jones. Then we end it by going through some of our favorite categories of the game awards!  Games we talked about this...

This week on Scatterbrained: It’s the Brandon duo! Courture chats about his current card obsession: Balatro. Craw played Case of the Golden Idol, an indie puzzle game that everyone was raving about when it was released a few years ago. And then we rant about our disappointment with Microsoft, Xbox, and Starfield Games we talked about this week: Balatro, Legends of Runeterra, Metaphor Refantazio, C...

Slight spoilers for Metaphor Refantazio and Silent Hill 2 This week on Scatterbrained: The whole crew is back together again! We start off with Silent Hill 2 Remake then chat about Metaphor Refantazio as Joe wrapped it up last week and Craw is still going through it. Then Joe chats briefly about Romancing Saga 2. Courture ventures forth into Final Fantasy 14, the hit MMO with a memeable free-trial...

This week on Scatterbrained: We have a short episode and Craw tells you all about Beastieball! Then we quickly chat about some gaming news headlines before sending you on your way :) Games we talked about this week: Beastieball If you are experiencing any sort of mental health distress, or just need someone to talk to, please call 988 contact some of these resources gathered on https://www.nimh.ni...

This week on Scatterbrained: We are once again joined by Brandon Courture! Joe is out for the next couple of weeks, so Brandon and Brandon really give Scatterbrained’s title a run for its money. We chatted about our feelings on the current state of affairs in our country, Brandon Courture’s trip to Japan, and then finally some of the games we’ve been obsessed with this week. We close it out by sha...

Spoilers for Metaphor: Refantazio through 2/3s of the game This week on Scatterbrained: We cannot stop playing Metaphor: ReFantazio and we might be addicted. We also chat about Firewalk Studios unfortunately shutting down and more games journalism layoffs. Games we talked about this week: Metaphor: ReFantazio, Pokemon TCG, Pokemon Go If you are experiencing any sort of mental health distress, or j...

Spoilers for Metaphor Refantazio This week on Scatterbrained: Craw is flying solo again this week and chats a bit more about Metaphor: ReFantazio. Then, we discuss Nintendo’s latest Playtest demo leak and one of the best Metroidvanias did not meet sales expectations Games we talked about this week: Metaphor: ReFantazio, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown If you are experiencing any sort of mental he...

Spoilers for Persona 3 Reload and DLC Today we talk about Persona 3 Reload and DLC, and how the silent protagonist is an agent for the player. Joe also touches on the themes of Persona 3 and how it deals heavily with death, grief, and purpose. Timestamps: Introduction - 00:00 Spoiler Warning - 02:39 Persona 3 and the Silent Protagonist - 03:38 P3R Description - 03:54 The Silent Protagonist - 07:34...

Spoilers for The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom This week on Scatterbrained: We are once again joined by Brandon Courture! Courture tells us about his upcoming trip to Japan, then tells us about the now PvE focused Legends of Runeterra. Joe and Craw talk about The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, and a bit about Craw’s annoyances with the game. Games we talked about this week: Legends of Rune...

Spoilers for Persona 3 Reloaded DLC and Metaphor ReFantazio Demo This week on Scatterbrained: We are joined by a special guest, Brandon Courture! Brandon tells us about his time with Warhammer 40k Space Marines 2. Joe tells us more about Street Fighter’s latest character and how P3R DLC wraps up. And Craw talks about his time with the Metaphor: ReFantazio demo and how it explores classicism and ra...

Spoilers for Persona 3 Reloaded DLC And Star Wars Outlaws! This week on Scatterbrained: Joe talks about his time with Persona 3 Reload, the interesting post game of Castlevania:Circle of the Moon. Brandon talks about his time playing Star Wars Outlaws and is enjoying it enough, and dipped into Fortnite?!. Then we discuss some of the exciting announcements from Sonic Central, Level 5, and Playstati...

Spoilers for Persona 3 Reloaded DLC! This week on Scatterbrained: Joe tells us about his poor fight stick controller and some fighting games, in addition to P3R. Brandon wraps up and platinums Astro Bot and loves this game! Then we talk about all the crazy video game news that happened this week! Games we talked about this week: Marvel Vs. Capcom Collection, Persona 3 Reload DLC, Astro Bot, Star W...

This week on Scatterbrained: Joe tells us about Castlevania Collection and Zenless Zone Zero. Brandon chats about his time with Astro Bot, and his time with Fields of Mistria. Then, we quickly discuss the PS5 Pro announcement and wonder what Sony is thinking?! Games we talked about this week: Castlevania, Zenless Zone Zero, Dragon’s Dogma 2, Astro Bot, Fields of Mistria  If you are experienci...