This Week on Brainlords, special guest Voidburger takes us on a scenic tour through Silent Hill. Some game theories seem to have a life of their own but what happens when that becomes the death of your enjoyment? Jorge discusses being secretly dead the whole time while Kyle explains why Pokémon is actually dark and twisted. Will this episode be a dream all along or a nightmare of fan theories?!

Questions, Comments, Suggestions?

Kyle - Cute Monster Props

Jorge - JMV

Special Guest - Voidburger

THINGS DISCUSSED

Earthbound, Undertale, Deltarune, Super Mario RPG,

SQUALL IS DEAD THEORY  (0:06:17)

Final Fantasy 8, Abnormal Mapping Podcast, The Rugrats, The Sixth Sense

DARK POKEMON THEORIES (0:29:30)

Pokemon Series, Digimon, Thomas the Tank Engine, Piglet’s Big Game, Choo-Choo Charles, FLCL

SILENT HILL LORE (0:43:46)  

Silent Hill 2, Until Dawn

Game Ratings: Games that are secretly dark (1:10:55)

Omori, Doki Doki Literature Club, Majora’s Mask, Psychonauts, Psychonauts 2, Final Fantasy IX, Illusion of Gaia, Deltarune, The Legend of Zelda Link’s Awakening 

WHO IS THE ROARING KNIGHT?! - DELTARUNE THEORIES (1:26:01)

Alan Wake 2, Remedy Games, Half-Life, Anodyne, They Stanley Parable

THE QUESTION ZONE (1:50:00)

how  do you feel about creators changing plots based on theories (either liking the theory more than what they had planned, or changing it to "one up" the audience when people realize whats going to happen)  -chewing on the bars of my cage like a dog

Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth,  Avatar the Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra

Which game do you think has the most unnecessary or inconsequential lore? And which game do you think was enhanced the most by the theories and deep lore surrounding it? -Old Man Splimbo

Five Nights at Freddy’s, The Legend of Zelda series, Donkey Kong Bananza, Willy’s Wonderland, Drakengaurd, NieR Automata, NieR Replicant

what makes creepypasta and secret lore theories so compelling to kids? -Old Fart

Do you think fandoms have done more harm than good in media spaces these days and contribute to eroding media literacy overall? Something I've come to resent them for is not allowing something to remain unexplained for example is a big part of why I find myself unable to connect with fan communities now a days. -Old millenial who yells at clouds. 

What do you think of the “you shouldn’t put much more effort into it than the writers did” rule for video game theories?  -Pikachu was a dream the whole time

Megaman X

Do you have a general guideline of when setting and world building details move from "adding to the experience" into "The Lore™"? Like when does "oh this item has the same symbol that one character had on their jacket" turn into "I have shut the game down and rolled out my chalkboard" for you?  -Pedantic in Peoria

Feelings on plot twists that are figured out by fans before a games release such as "Venom Snake is really the Doctor" or "FF7 Remake is actually a sequel to FF7" because something in the lore gave it away immediately. -Edwardo the Terrible

Metal Gear Solid V, Metal Gear Solid Grounds Zeroes

For years I've hated the Zelda timeline, because it poisons any discussion of the series with speculation about contradictory, inconsequential details that don't matter. Are there any fan theories that you dislike because the Discourse is annoying? -Enemy of Time

Earthbound, 

Closing thoughts and Rec Room (2:07:10)

Outer Wilds, Voidburger - The Virgin Maw vs The Chad Pyramidhead, Voidburger- Video Essay about Adventure Games and the Gay 90s, Mouthwashing, Games Done Quick