This week, in the first non-Pokémon episode (finally) of Professors Play, the professors delve into the depths of Hades (the video game) lore. Hades is a roguelite asymetrical beat-em-up, based on Greek mythology. Sounds cool, but what does that even mean? Tune in to find out, via a discussion on video game genres and on Greek mythology--some of which might just make you understand the nuances of this game a little better.

Welcome back to Professors Play after our winter break hiatus! In the last episode of our Scarlet & Violet series, the professors explore the lore of the Pokémon universe, and try to explain what are Pokémon, how the Pokémon world is set up economically, and why Pokémon and humans cohabitate. We believe we have enough pieced together that we can all join Professors Oak, Birch, Sonia, and others, as qualified professors in the Pokémon universe!

We did it—we finished our nuzlocke run and the game! Well, some of us did… In this episode of PP, Phil, Brandon, and Jon provide their thoughts on the entirety of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. This episode has FULL SPOILERS (even Phil and Brandon were spoiled in here, ugh), so again, beware if you want to experience the story for yourself first—definitely come back and listen later though!

From considering these games the closest to the original vision set out by the series decades ago to providing commentary on AI ethics, this episode has it all! In the end, we provide what will be a staple element of PP: a roselia, ferrothorn, budew—a play on the typical rose, thorn, bud conversation method—moment in which we discuss our favorite part (rose), least favorite part (thorn), and something we would like to see more of in the future (bud).

For our second episode (overall and in this series--symmetry!), Phil, Jon, and Brandon discuss their first impressions with Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. This episode has some spoilers for the early game (but nothing "major"), so beware if you want to go dive into these as complete unknowns. 

Take a listen to hear our thoughts on Pokémon walking in the wild and how that made us feel (and what that means for video game psychology), the changes made to the gameplay of the Pokémon series (including but not limited to using legendary Pokémon as glorified bicycles), and some of our nuzlocke tales of woe (not all of our Pokémon made it, RIP).

Welcome to the first episode of Professors Play! This episode features Professors Jon, Brandon, and Phil discussing the upcoming Pokémon games, Scarlet & Violet (you may have heard of them), and prepare for their (mostly) masked Nuzlocke Challenge attempt. Turns out, setting up a Nuzlocke Challenge with multiple people takes some negotiating. Listen on to see the rules they settled on, but for simplicity's sake, see them below as well!

Pokémon SV PP Nuzlocke Rules of Engagament:

1. Any Pokémon that faints will be boxed in a separate box only for fainted Pokémon.

2. First species rule: Players may only catch one Pokémon per area; this Pokémon must be of a new species.

3. If the first encounter in an area is a double battle, you may select either of the two Pokémon to catch. If the player already owns one, they can only catch the other.

4. Level cap: Players must only “overlevel” to a max of 10 levels above the next gym leader.

5. Gyms must be tackled in level order.

6. Held items, master balls, experience share are allowed.

7. Player must nickname all their Pokémon; nickname must be meaningful to player, and may not repeat nicknames.

8. If players black/white out (all Pokémon defeated), instead of a game over, players must restart from the last gym battle with ONLY the Pokémon left in their box.

9. Players may not catch any new Pokémon until they reach a new area, and must use only what was in their box until then.

10. If players have no usable Pokémon in their boxes, they must restart the entire game.

11. Players may receive Pokémon from NPCs and via Mystery Gifts, but those count as their encounter for an area and may not catch a Pokémon in that area.

12. If player receives a Pokémon in an area in which they have already caught a Pokémon (they have already used their one encounter), they must refrain from catching a new Pokémon in the next new area.

13. In other words, the gifted Pokémon takes place of the next new area encounter.

14. Shiny Pokémon may be caught regardless of how many encounters have been done in an area; however, they may only be used if said Shiny Pokémon is the first they encounter in the area.

15. Players may bring in one (1) Pokémon from other games, but the level cap still applies.

16. The battle style may be “set” or “switch”.

17. Players are allowed one (1) HP healing item and one (1) status ailment curing item per battle.

18. If players use Full Restores or similar, all-healing/restoring items, these count of both the HP healing and status ailment healing item, and may only use one (1) of these total.

19. Held berries do not count as healing items.

20. Day care and Poke Jobs (and the like) cannot be used by Nuzlocke Challenge egible Pokémon.

21. Camping buffs are allowed.

22. No limit in item purchasing.

23. Rare and experience candies are allowed.

24. Players must keep track of where they capture each Pokémon.

25. The PP Nuzlocke Challenge Rules do not apply in two scenarios:

a. Plot related battles in which the outcome is determined for you by the game (Plot Armor).

b. Tera Raid Battles: Players may engage in these, but may not use the Pokémon caught, unless it is a Tera Raid battle in which all 3 PP members take place. In these, the PP Nuzlocke Challenge Ruleset will apply as normal. However, players may keep and use the items dropped in ALL Tera Raid Battles.