Zero Brightness - A Podcast About Horror Video Games

Michelle returns to talk about Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - the game that basically created the ecosystem that has allowed 2D and 3D Metroidvania games to flourish in the modern day. We talk about the huge influence it's had on modern gaming while also breaking down what makes SoTN such an amazing game, one that still holds up and plays better than pretty much all of the games that have fo...

Justin joins for a discussion that returns to the issue of ethical consumption and what responsibility the consumer bears in the late-capitalist hellscape wherein we currently reside. We talk about boycotts and consumer choices in the face of scandals like the Activision-Blizzard lawsuit and the Cyberpunk fiasco, as well as what consumers can do to support diversity in the industry without blandly...

Animator Michelle Brost joins for a conversation about Bloodborne that spans as many topics as humanly possible - including how your artistic temperament effects your gaming habits, the aesthetic of Catholic guilt, losing limbs in heavy machinery, why it's impossible to talk about Neon Genesis Evangelion with other people and much more. You can check out Michelle's work and find links to her new f...

A little essay on why I found Bloodborne to be so engaging despite my checkered history with the Souls series. Includes some comparisons between the various entries in this long running series as well as an analysis of the ways that Fromsoft incorporate ideas and concepts from some of my most- and least-loved 16-bit action games. Also includes a lot of Shinobi III and cello talk, so you have been...

Comics artist Hannah Vardit joins for a discussion of Junji Ito and adaptations inspired by the game World of Horror. We also discuss Horror Manga, 90s toys, J-Horror movies, waiting for a new Silent Hill game and Adam West getting kicked out of an orgy - among other things. You can check out Hannah's work at https://hannahvardit.com/

We conclude our discussion about Resident Evil 8 by discussing the finer details of the plot and the many unexpected detours that the game takes in its second half. We also speculate on where the series will go after this and the lasting legacy that this massive entry in the series will have based on the many improvements it makes to its predecessors. Is RE8 the new RE2? Will the earth run out of...

You knew it was coming, but did you know it would be 4 hours long? Our epic-length and extremely in-depth discussion of Resident Evil 8 starts with a spoiler-free overview of our thoughts and feelings on the game before diving into a spoiler-light, beat-by-beat analysis of the game. Topics discussed include the massive changes to combat, aesthetics and storytelling that the game introduces; the ec...

Justin joins for a discussion of Outlast 2, a problematic game that has lurked in the margins of the show since the very beginning. We finally break down why this game was such a disappointment as it overstuffs it gameplay with wonky mechanics and its story with try-hard edginess - a choice that ultimately reveals why writers need to carefully consider the themes and topics they want to explore in...

Vincent joins for a discussion of Silent Hill 3, the anachronistic and often underrated gem of the series - and maybe survival horror overall. We also discuss the concept of "peak survival horror," how humor can enhance horror and why Heather is an extremely relatable protagonist that stands out amongst the sea of sad-man survival horror protags. Also featuring my cat Clovis because she wouldn't l...

I talk a little bit about what's going on in Minneapolis right now before trying to rank every Resident Evil game, tier-list style, and giving some thoughts on the RE8 demo.

Justin - our resident 7th gen expert - and I unpack the shade constantly thrown at the seventh video game generation by this show in an attempt to figure out if the 360/PS3 era was actually bad or if there is something there worth returning to. We also discuss some of the biggest 7th gen horror games like Alan Wake, Fear, Bioshock and Dead Space. It gets complicated!

I'm joined by Cole for a discussion of Dying Light - the parkour zombie action adventure game - that mostly ends up being a lengthy and weird conversation about problematic media, overly horny reddit comments, toxic fandoms, spy movies, abusive workplaces, badly done accents, trying for a better future and loving something in spite of itself.

Episode 95 is all about perception; a discussion of Resident Evil 6 that tries to understand the weird reputation that this game has earned through years of trash talking and dismissal. I'm joined by Justin for a discussion that also touches on the weird way that the RE games are ranked, the time-vs.-money dilemma in gaming, breaking your body while playing Mario Party, skipping cutscenes and what...

Cole Benson joins me for a conversation about Killer7, experimental music, Boris, scammers, bad movies, etc. Musical interludes by Otomo Yoshihide, Masafumi Takada and Family Computer

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...

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...

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 sur...

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.

A few updates on the show and what to expect from Zero Brightness next year.

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.

We 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.

We 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.

We 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, raci...

It'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.

A little update on some changes to our patreon. Head to patreon.com/zerobrightness to check it out!