The Lore Research Lab

The Mario Franchise is one of the most well known video game franchises of all time, the face of the Nintendo brand, and has been going strong for around 35 years. But what is there to know about this franchise? What were its origins, and what is the franchise’s relationship to video game consoles? Listen to part one of this episode to learn about a summary of the franchise's origins and the conso...

In response to the latest news from the Pokémon franchise, we have learned of a core series game that will be introduced in 2022: Pokémon Legends: Arceus . For new fans, this may come across as perplexing, and considering the latest remakes are based in the same region within this universe, what does this all mean? What could this game be about as one situated in a distant past, what are some inte...

Just today, the Pokémon franchise has some big news for us about the upcoming games we shall see come out this year, later this year, and next year. Listen to an unfiltered rambling from one of the researchers here at The Lore Research Lab as they struggle to contain their excitement and discuss near immediate thoughts, ideas, and what this means for the franchise (and The Lab) after watching the...

Immortals Fenyx Rising is a fairly new addition to the video game library; its open-world environment demands exploration, and its action-packed game style has won it acclaim. But is it worth playing? How has it adapted and reimagined the Greek pantheon of gods as part of the gaming experience? One half of the Lore Research Lab’s verbally inconsistent duo is back for their second ever solo episode...

One of the Nintendo Switch titles that propelled its meteoric rise in the gaming scene, Super Mario Odyssey is a fun adventure that sees Mario exploring many worlds and eclectic locations that are nothing short of dazzling and spectacular! Behind that spectacle is an interesting background, myth, and history that (potentially) underpins the framework of the game; first of all, what is an Odyssey?...

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Using the example of actual animals in comparison to Pokémon, we know how we associate certain creatures with certain environments; think of sharks in relation to water, as one example. Pokémon Typings are based on this premise - the idea that these diverse beings are associated with a specific kind of element. But what are those elements? What is a Pokémon typing? What are its functions, and how...

As the consumers of video games, players can be really creative in the ways they decide to play a game, which has resulted in many self-imposed challenges that increase the difficulty of a game without any technical modifications; these challenges rely on the player’s commitment to carrying out the self-imposed rules, while also limiting how much freedom the player has, making every decision count...

Starter Pokémon are the Pokémon players are first introduced to in the core series games. But what is their purpose? Can they generate nostalgia? The Lore Research Lab's duo continues their discussion on Starter Pokémon in this second part, drawing conclusions that arise from talking about Starter Pokémon. Timestamps: 00:06 - Starter Pokémon [Generation IV-VI] > 02:12 - The Sinnoh Starters >...

Starter Pokémon are the Pokémon players are first introduced to in the core series games. But what is their purpose? Can they generate nostalgia? The Lore Research Lab's duo reunites to discuss at great length what Starter Pokémon are across generations and the first ones introduced in this first part. Timestamps: 00:53 - Starter Pokémon Origins 26:33 - Starter Pokémon [Generation I-III] > 27:0...

A year ago, the Pokémon franchise released the latest core series game, Pokémon Sword and Shield. With the release of the DLC this year, there has been some buzz around these installments, both good and bad. Reviews tend to be mixed, but is there a way to discern the quality of these games? What is the deal with them, what is there to know? How do they compare to earlier installments? Is it a game...

As the consumers of video games, players can be really creative in the ways they decide to play a game, which has resulted in many self-imposed challenges that increase the difficulty of a game without any technical modifications (although in many cases, some people do modify the games); these challenges rely on the player’s commitment to carrying out the self-imposed rules, while also limiting ho...

You might have heard about this multi-media franchise known as Pokémon ; even if you don’t play Nintendo games or know a thing about Pokémon , there is a good chance you know who Pikachu is. This episode will introduce the basics about the core series Pokémon games, what Pokémon are, breaking down controls, storylines, staples to gameplay, and more!  Timestamps:  00:21 - The Pokémon Fran...

Welcome back to The Lore Research Lab! If you are new here, welcome to The Lore Research Lab! This episode marks the beginning of a new season for The Lab, so there is some housekeeping to be done; what happens at The Lore Research Lab? What will we discuss here, and what has already been discussed? Will there be any updates for returning listeners? It is time to answer those questions! (Creator's...

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild handles many cultures at once, all with nuance; this allows the game to feel as immersive as it is. The Hylians, for example, were the race most devastated by the Great Calamity, so what is left of them implicitly informs the player of Hylian history. But what about ancient cultures? What about missing histories in other parts of Hyrule? The Zonai are a myst...

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild handles many cultures at once, all with nuance; this allows the game to feel as immersive as it is. The Hylians, for example, were the race most devastated by the Great Calamity, so what is left of them implicitly informs the player of Hylian history. But what about ancient cultures? What about missing histories in other parts of Hyrule? The Zonai are a myst...

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has demonstrated its capacity to depict diverse races and allow them to feel unique, realized, and realistic in many ways. The Rito are a group of anthropomorphized birds who behave like bipedal Hylians but like other races in Hyrule, are distinguished. Their isolated lifestyle, societal structure, cultural values, and the mysterious areas surrounding the ar...

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has an unexpected prequel! The Lore Research Lab is here to announce and share the good news about Hyrule Warriors : Age of Calamity , a combat-based Zelda game focused on the events that occurred 100 years ago prior to the events of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild , and how this new game may or may not affect the Lab's meta-theories and analyses on...

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild handles many cultures at once, all with nuance; this allows the game to feel as immersive as it is. The Hylians, for example, were the race most devastated by the Great Calamity, so what is left of them implicitly informs the player of Hylian history. But what about ancient cultures? What about missing histories in other parts of Hyrule? The Zonai are a myst...

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild handles many cultures at once, all with nuance; this allows the game to feel as immersive as it is. The Hylians, for example, were the race most devastated by the Great Calamity, so what is left of them implicitly informs the player of Hylian history. But what about ancient cultures? What about missing histories in other parts of Hyrule? The Zonai are a myst...

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild handles many cultures at once, all with nuance; this allows the game to feel as immersive as it is. The Hylians, for example, were the race most devastated by the Great Calamity, so what is left of them implicitly informs the player of Hylian history. But what about ancient cultures? What about missing histories in other parts of Hyrule? The Zonai are a myst...

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild handles many cultures at once, all with nuance; this allows the game to feel as immersive as it is. The Hylians, for example, were the race most devastated by the Great Calamity, so what is left of them implicitly informs the player of Hylian history. But what about ancient cultures? What about missing histories in other parts of Hyrule? The Zonai are a myst...

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is all about the tasks its hero, Link, must accomplish for the betterment of society, a role meant only for him. His duty to be the hero predicates the future of Hyrule; this bumbling mess of an episode looks at the characterization of the hero, how Link’s character follows the typical journey of the hero, and more! Resources: Matyszak, Philip. The Greek and...

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild handles many cultures at once, all with nuance; this allows the game to feel as immersive as it is. The Hylians, for example, were the race most devastated by the Great Calamity, so what is left of them implicitly informs the player of Hylian history. But what about ancient cultures? What about missing histories in other parts of Hyrule? The Zonai are a myst...

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild handles many cultures at once, all with nuance; this allows the game to feel as immersive as it is. The Hylians, for example, were the race most devastated by the Great Calamity, so what is left of them implicitly informs the player of Hylian history. But what about ancient cultures? What about missing histories in other parts of Hyrule? The Zonai are a myst...