Pokémon appear in a variety of shapes, sizes, and forms; one important determinant of these characteristics is what is known as a “Type”, giving Pokémon unique attributes based on the Type’s element, power, and so on. With 18 types in total, there are many to review; in the third installment of this miniseries known as “Pokémon Rants”, The Lab’s verbally fumbling duo tackle “Grass Types”, the Pokémon that constitute this typing, an analysis that includes technical information, design analyses, and other thoughts on what it means to be a Grass Type Pokémon.

Timestamps:

00:24 - Type Overview + Background

04:39 - Technical Information

24:50 - Appearances + Moves

> 25:00 - Pure Grass Types

> 35:45 - Primary Grass Types

> 42:41 - Secondary Grass Types

> 45:14 - Grass Type Moves

51:04 - Atypical Case Studies + Concluding Thoughts

Links/Resources:

- Grass (Type)

- Type

- Move

- Ability

“Pokédex: All 482+8 Pokémon & Post-Story Guide – Pokémon Diamond Version and Pokémon Pearl Version.” Edited by Lawrence Neves. Prima Games, 2006.

“Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version – The Official Pokémon Johto Guide and Pokédex.” Edited by Michael G. Ryan and Lawrence Neves. Bellevue: The Pokémon Company International, 2009.

(Creator's Note: We recommend that you listen to the rants in order for continuity purposes (so things make sense), but this is optional. Sorry for any background noise and cuts. We do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from the content discussed in this episode; images have been taken from the cited guidebooks and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

Across the core series Pokémon games, there are a number of stories to play through, unique locations to discover, and all kinds of Pokémon to be caught in the wild. This episode focuses on Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, released in 2009 (Japan) as remakes of Pokémon Gold and Silver, games that were released in 1999; how do remakes work in the Pokémon franchise, and what is there to know about these four games? Why are the remakes worth discussing? You can find that out here in this descriptive episode on lore, storytelling in early Pokémon games, and a whole lot more!

Timestamps:

05:27 - Preliminary Information (Gold & Silver + Technical Info Context)

> 06:30 - Abilities

> 13:08 - Impact of Abilites

> 14:13 - The "Physical/Special Split"

> 23:43 - The Remake Formula

> 27:17 - Summary of Points

30:30 - Basic Premise

34:10 - Geography, Story & More

> 35:19 - What's New in HGSS

> 36:41 - Gameplay Basics

> 40:00 - The Johto Region

> 49:36 - Story Beats (Main Game)

> 1:19:10 - Story Beats (Post-Game)

1:24:51 - Characters

1:43:01 - Johto's Soundtrack

1:50:03 - Concluding Thoughts

Links/Resources:

- Pokémon Red and Green Versions

- Pokémon Red and Blue Versions

- Pokémon Gold and Silver Versions

- Generation IV 

> Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions

> Version Exclusive Pokémon (HGSS)

> Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver OST Playlist

> Ho-oh's Theme

> Lugia's Theme

- Legendary Pokémon 

- Damage Category > "Physical/Special Split"

- Ability

- Move

Pokémon Examples:

- Sandshrew

- Slaking

“Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version – The Official Pokémon Johto Guide and Pokédex.” Edited by Michael G. Ryan and Lawrence Neves. Bellevue: The Pokémon Company International, 2009.

(Creator's Note: I do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from the content discussed in this episode; images have been taken from the cited guidebook and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

A repackaged version of previous information released by The Lab; in light of the recent mini-surge of Zelda content (Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, new trailer footage for the Breath of the Wild sequel), this episode will serve to re-introduce key information about The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, describing story details, characters, extensive gameplay explanations, other miscellaneous information discussed in past episodes, and much more in a fun episode that looks back and forward!

Timestamps:

00:28 - Preliminary Information

05:42 - The (Extremely) Complex Story + Principal Characters & Entities

18:02 - Game Structure & Gameplay Details (Part 1)*

> 18:33 - Game Structure Pointers

> 19:07 - Quests

> 23:10 - Overworld Context

> 25:13 - Commands

> 27:40 - Sheikah Technology

31:14 - Game Structure & Gameplay Details (Part 2)*

> 32:00 - Sheikah Menu Inventories

>> 32:03 - Weapons

>> 33:05 - Armour

>> 34:02 - Materials

>> 34:42 - Cooked Dishes

>> 36:56 - Key Items

> 37:45 - Other Menus

> 42:43 - On-Screen Display

> 48:03 - Systems Menu

48:52 - Run from Everything! (Monsters & Enemies)**

1:07:58 - Explore the Wild!

1:14:30 - Meet the Locals! (Cultural Groups in Hyrule)

1:22:07 - Age of Calamity Context

1:28:51 - The Inflection Point

Links/Resources:

- Breath of the Wild Tapestry

- Hyrule Interactive Map

- "Free the Divine Beasts" Quest

- "Captured Memories" Quest

- Menu Interface (Reference)

- Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity

Aonuma, Eiji. The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia, translated by Michael Gombos et al. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books, 2013.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - The Complete Official Guide Expanded Edition, edited by Maura Sutton, et al. Piggyback Interactive Limited, 2017.

Kayama, Naoyuki et al. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Creating a Champion, translated by Keaton C. White. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books, 2018.

Sao, Akinori, Ginko Tatsumi, and Chisato Mikane. The Legend of Zelda: Encyclopedia, translated by Keaton C. White. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books, 2018.

(*Creator's Note: Due to the number of things to keep track of, this list presents a condensed and simplified explanation of game controls, game structure and so on. ** To clarify what was said in the episode, some monsters introduced in this game are new, while others have already existed in the franchise. I do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from the content discussed in this episode; images have been taken from the cited guidebooks and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

Pokémon appear in a variety of shapes, sizes, and forms; one important determinant of these characteristics is what is known as a “Type”, giving Pokémon unique attributes based on the Type’s element, power, and so on. With 18 types in total, there are many to review; in the second installment of this miniseries known as “Pokémon Rants”, The Lab’s verbally incoherent duo tackle “Water Types”, the Pokémon that constitute this typing, an analysis that includes technical information, design analyses, and other thoughts on what it means to be a Water Type Pokémon. 

Timestamps: 

00:42 - Type Overview + Background

07:30 - Technical Information

27:12 - Appearances + Moves

> 27:40 - Pure Water Types

> 41:33 - Primary Water Types

> 52:14 - Secondary Water Types

> 57:20 - Water Type Moves

1:05:43 - Atypical Case Studies + Concluding Thoughts

Links/Resources:

- Water (Type)

- Type

- Move

- Ability

“Pokédex: All 482+8 Pokémon & Post-Story Guide – Pokémon Diamond Version and Pokémon Pearl Version.” Edited by Lawrence Neves. Prima Games, 2006.

“Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version – The Official Pokémon Johto Guide and Pokédex.” Edited by Michael G. Ryan and Lawrence Neves. Bellevue: The Pokémon Company International, 2009.

(Creator's Note: We recommend that you listen to the rants in order for continuity purposes (so things make sense), but this is optional. Sorry for any random background noise and for the typos (we also had technical issues recording). We do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from the content discussed in this episode; images have been taken from the cited guidebooks and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

Nintendo Direct E3 has presented gamers with news that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's Sequel is progressing nicely in development, revealing new trailer footage of the upcoming game set to release in 2022. The Lab's bumbling researcher discusses this news at length and analyzes the presented trailer footage in conjunction with ideas and theories argued by The Lab previously, inferring (incoherently) what the implications are for this upcoming sequel and its relationship to The Legend of Zelda franchise. 

Timestamps:

00:51 - New Footage!

02:33 - Trailer Context

05:40 - Trailer Analysis

29:05 - Breath of the Wild Sequel Trailer: Reflections and Thoughts (Conclusion)

45:47 - Last Minute Thoughts 

The Lore Research Lab Episodes (For Reference*):

- Season 1, Ep. 5 (Zelda & Mythology)

- Extra #1 (Ocarina of Time Background)

- Extra #2 (Skyward Sword Background)

- Extra #4 (Breath of the Wild Sequel Teaser Analysis)

- Season 1, Eps. 15-17, 19-22, 24, 25 (Zonai Breakdown)

Links/Resources:

- Sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2019 Teaser Footage)

- Breath of the Wild Tapestry 

- Nintendo Direct E3

> Skyward Sword HD (1:13:41)

> Breath of the Wild Sequel (1:16:21)

Aonuma, Eiji. The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia, translated by Michael Gombos et al. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books, 2013.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - The Complete Official Guide Expanded Edition, edited by Maura Sutton et al. Piggyback Interactive Limited, 2017.

Kayama, Naoyuki et al. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Creating a Champion, translated by Keaton C. White. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books, 2018.

Sao, Akinori, Ginko Tatsumi, and Chisato Mikane. The Legend of Zelda: Encyclopedia, translated by Keaton C. White. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books, 2018.

(*Creator's Note: It would help to listen to these episodes specifically, but listening to Season 1 would help in providing a better range of context due to the amount of Legend of Zelda information discussed in that Season. Sorry for any random background noise; had some technical issues recording this episode. There were a number of edits I made so you can get a better sense of the analysis as well, which may come across as abrupt when listening. I will add that this is not a finalized rant on theories and such. My organizational skills are phenomenal, as you can tell. Thanks for tuning in!)

A sequel to a game originally released in 1999, New Pokémon Snap presents players with a different approach to learning about Pokémon; instead of catching them all, it is up to the player to photograph them all in a variety of locations to understand the creatures better. But what else is there to know about the game? What is the nature of gameplay? Is it a game worth getting? Find out here!

Timestamps:

00:32 - Introductory Notes

03:16 - A (Not So) Brief History of Pokémon Snap & Development

> 11:11 - New Pokémon Snap Development

14:51 - New Pokémon Snap's Premise

18:01 - Interactive Gameplay + Setting

26:35 - Conclusion

Links/Resources:

- Pokémon Snap

- HAL Laboratory

- New Pokémon Snap

- Satoru Iwata

> (Unofficial Listing) Iwata's Gameography

Nintendo. New Pokémon Snap. Bandai Namco. Nintendo Switch. 2021.

“Nintendo Strikes Blockbuster Deal.” IGN, June 21, 2012.

Valentine, Rebekah. “New Pokémon Snap was Given to Bandai Namco Because of Pokkén Tournament.” IGN, April 14, 2021.

(Sorry for any random sounds in the background. I do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from this game; images have been taken from my own game and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

Pokémon appear in a variety of shapes, sizes, and forms; one important determinant of these characteristics is what is known as a “Type”, giving Pokémon unique attributes based on the Type’s element, power, and so on. With 18 types in total, there are many to review; in the first installment of this miniseries known as “Pokémon Rants”, The Lab’s verbally incoherent duo tackle “Fighting Types”, the Pokémon that constitute this typing, an analysis that includes technical information, design analyses, and other thoughts on what it means to be a Fighting Type Pokémon.

Timestamps:

00:24 - Type Overview + Background

08:41 - Technical Information

25:59 - Appearances

> 29:46 - Pure Fighting Types

> 38:49 - Primary Fighting Types

> 42:20 - Secondary Fighting Types

48:37 - Atypical Case Studies + Concluding Thoughts

Links/Resources:

- Fighting (Type)

- Type

- Move

- Ability

“Pokédex: All 482+8 Pokémon & Post-Story Guide – Pokémon Diamond Version and Pokémon Pearl Version.” Edited by Lawrence Neves. Prima Games, 2006.

“Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version – The Official Pokémon Johto Guide and Pokédex.” Edited by Michael G. Ryan and Lawrence Neves. Bellevue: The Pokémon Company International, 2009.

(Creator's Note: We recommend that you listen to the rants in order for continuity purposes (so things make sense), but this is optional. Sorry for any random background noise. We do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from the content discussed in this episode; images have been taken from the cited guidebooks and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

Nintendo video games tend to promote simplicity and relative innocence, making the games produced by the company easy to consume and highly marketable. However, it is worth noting that from the various entities faced across Nintendo games, there is a strange trend that shows a number of characters/monsters (usually enemies) having disembodied hands or actual, villainous, sentient hands. Why is that? And considering the primary demographic of Nintendo games, why would a motif this bizarre (at best) and grotesque (at worst) be a mainstay in designs? Join The Lab’s researching duo best known for typos and bad jokes through this investigation on hand-based/related characters in Nintendo franchises.

Timestamps:

00:36 - The Issue at Hand

11:15 - "Hands On" Scenarios

15:20 - Hands of Terror (Legend of Zelda)

45:31 - Give Me a Hand (Mario)

55:55 - A Handful (Pokémon)

1:40:33 - Handling a Conclusion

Links/Resources:

The Legend of Zelda

- Bongo Bongo (Pictured in Thumbnail)

- Floormaster

- Dead Hand

- Stallord

- Gohma

- Captain Keeta

- Reddit Hyrule Map

Mario

- Knucklotec

- Eyerok

- Stairface Ogre

Pokémon 

- Generation V Pokedex

- Generation VI Pokedex

- Generation VII Pokedex

Aonuma, Eiji. The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia, translated by Michael Gombos et al. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books, 2013.

Kayama, Naoyuki et al. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Creating a Champion, translated by Keaton C. White. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books, 2018.

“Pokédex: All 482+8 Pokémon & Post-Story Guide – Pokémon Diamond Version and Pokémon Pearl Version.” Edited by Lawrence Neves. Prima Games, 2006.

Sao, Akinori, Ginko Tatsumi, and Chisato Mikane. The Legend of Zelda: Encyclopedia, translated by Keaton C. White. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books, 2018.

Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia - The Official Guide. Translated by William Flanagan and Zack Davisson. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books, 2015.

(Creator's Note: Some content in this episode deals with religions and myths in the real world; all research discussing such information is explained and described solely from a scholarly perspective. Apologies for the audio cuts (which were due to technical difficulties). We do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from the discussed game; images have been taken from our own copies of the game and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

Nintendo announced (within the last couple of months that) Super Mario 3D World, a title originally belonging to the Wii U, would be ported to the Nintendo Switch and become available to new and old players. Along with this port came a side story that changes everything we know about Mario; Bowser’s Fury. How does this game shake things up for the franchise, and what makes this game a masterpiece? This second part continues the discussion on gameplay in Bowser's Fury and the significance of this in the context of Mario games.

Resources/Links:

- Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury (Info)

- Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury (Overview Trailer)

Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia - The Official Guide. Translated by William Flanagan and Zack Davisson. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books, 2015.

(Creator's Note: I might have missed certain details at the time this is uploaded, but any missing information (maybe information regarding controls) will be added at a later date. I do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from this game; images have been taken from my own game and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

Nintendo announced (within the last couple of months that) Super Mario 3D World, a title originally belonging to the Wii U, would be ported to the Nintendo Switch and become available to new and old players. Along with this port came a side story that changes everything we know about Mario; Bowser’s Fury. How does this game shake things up for the franchise, and what makes this game a masterpiece? This episode breaks down a brief history of Super Mario 3D World, discussing Bowser’s Fury at length, bringing in a guest to talk about fun things that occur in this game. 

Timestamps: 

00:47 - Super Mario 3D World Context + Background

> 01:50 - Super Mario 3D Land (2011)

> 02:50 - Super Mario 3D World (2013)

> 05:11 - 3D World’s Premise + Gameplay

15:17 - Bowser’s Fury Synopsis

19:26 - Spoiler Alert

19:44 - Special Segment: Clueless Guest discusses Bowser’s Fury

Resources/Links: 

- Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury (Info) 

- Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury (Overview Trailer) 

Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia - The Official Guide. Translated by William Flanagan and Zack Davisson. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books, 2015. 

(I do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from this game; images have been taken from my own game and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)