More new footage has been released on the upcoming games Pokémon Scarlet and Violet! Check out this episode to learn more about jumping into a Paldean Journey!

Timestamps:

02:08 - Discussing Trainer #1: Highland Encounters with Terastalizing Pokémon

15:39 - Discussing Trainer #2: Crafting, Trading & Seeking out the Herba Mystica!

28:09 - Discussing Trainer #3: Take on the Gym Leaders, Rising in Ranks

49:20 - Discussing Trainer #4: Character Customizations, Picnicking & Photo Time! + Concluding Thoughts

Links:

- Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Official Website

- Jump into a Paldean Journey Trailer

- Seek Your Treasure! | Pokémon Scarlet & Pokémon Violet Trailer

- Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Competitive Play Trailer

(Creator's Note: I do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from this game; images have been taken from the "Jump into a Paldean Journey" trailer and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

This episode introduces the concept of “spin-offs” in video games, using the example of the Mario franchise to demonstrate how spin-offs can be unique from the canon they derive from, and how consistency within a franchise can be effective in this form of video gaming.

00:33 - What are Spin-Offs?

> 03:36 - "The Formula for Variety"

10:16 - Interpreting Mario Spin-Offs

> 11:17 - Memorable Spin-Offs

> 16:43 - Entertaining Spin-Offs

> 26:23 - Serious Spin-Offs

Links/Resources:

- What makes Mario music so catchy? (Scruffy)

- List of Mario Spin-Off games (not definitive)

> The Mario and Luigi Series

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

(Creator's Note: I do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from this game; images have been taken from Mario Party Superstars and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

New footage on Pokémon Scarlet & Violet has been released! This episode has The Lab's founder, joined by a returning guest discussing the new footage and their thoughts on what this game has in store for players as its release date closes in!

Timestamps:

00:57 - Preamble + Structure of the Episode

02:34 - Starfall Street Analysis

18:56 - Path of Legends Analysis

35:55 - Victory Road Analysis

54:07 - General Discussion + Looking at the Version Exclusives

Links:

- Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Official Website

- Seek Your Treasure! | Pokémon Scarlet & Pokémon Violet Trailer

- Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Competitive Play Trailer

(Creator's Note: I do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from this game; images have been taken from the "Seek Your Treasure!" trailer and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

With the new Nintendo Direct video (13.9.2022), it has been announced that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild sequel now has a name - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom! This episode unpacks what we know so far about this upcoming game slated to release in mid 2023, what this trailer can tell us about lore in the franchise, and other details that demonstrate what Tears of the Kingdom may do differently from its direct predecessor.

Timestamps:

00:45 - Housekeeping

02:26 - Reviewing what we know so far

> 04:05 - Updating my ideas

> 04:41 - First Look Trailer Review

> 14:31 - E3 2021 Trailer Review

> 25:51 - Launch Timing Update Review

42:17 - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Trailer

Links/Resources: 

- First Look Trailer (2019)

- E3 2021 Trailer

- Launch Timing Update Trailer

- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Trailer

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: I do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from this game; images have been taken from the "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom" trailer and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

This brief episode addresses the recent trailer on Pokémon Scarlet & Violet competitive play!

Links/Resources: 

- Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Official Website

- Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Competitive Play Trailer

(Creator's Note: I do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from this game; images have been taken from the competitive play trailer and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

This episode briefly discusses the new trailer released for Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, slated to release in November of 2022!

Links:

- Pokémon Presents on Pokémon Scarlet & Violet (Check Timestamps in Video description)

- Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Official Website

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is one among the many Zelda installations, first hitting stores in 2013. In a game where the player, as Link, is expected to traverse between two very different worlds, what does this mean within the broader Legend of Zelda chronology and lore? This episode explores background on this game's development, its storyline, other game mechanics and miscellaneous details, concluding with thoughts that aim to answer this question. 

Timestamps:

00:37 - Background & A Link Between Worlds' Storyline

> 01:54 - Background and Game Development

> 07:20 - The Story Beats

38:27 - The Two Worlds

> 38:57 - Hyrule and Lorule

> 43:26 - Mother Maimai

> 45:25 - Ravio's Shop

> 46:31 - The Items

> 51:44 - The Bosses

> 59:08 - The Music

1:09:11 - Theories on A Link Between Worlds

> 1:09:30 - The Timelines in The Legend of Zelda Chronology (Background)

> 1:14:42 - On the Triforce(s), Link/Ravio & Zelda/Hilda Comparisons, Role of the Sages, Hyrule & Lorule impacting the Triforce

Links/Resources:

- The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds 

> Bosses

> Enemies

> Items 

> Ganon’s Resurrection (0:28-2:22)

- Ryo Nagamatsu (Composer) 

The Lore Research Lab Reference Episodes

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

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

(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.)

This brief episode sees The Lore Research Lab's founder ranking the bosses from Kirby and the Forgotten Land, along with general opinions on the battles and overall enjoyment with the bosses themselves.

Links:

- The Bosses

- All Boss Battles (Video)

(Creator's Note: For non-Spotify listeners, there is only an audio option available. 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.) 

In the Pokémon franchise, there are many regions to adventure to, dependent on the game you own. In this episode, The Lore Research Lab’s founder is joined by an enthusiastic guest to discuss the Hoenn region, introduced in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, revamped in the remakes Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.

Timestamps:

00:32 - Conceptualizing Hoenn

> 02:23 - What inspired the Hoenn Region?

> 03:15 - New Mechanics (Double Battles)

> 05:25 - Physical and Special Type Designations

> 09:45 - Before Hoenn (Previous Generations + what Hoenn does differently)

16:42 - Pokémon in Hoenn

> 37:50 - The Legendary Pokémon 

59:57 - Life in Hoenn + Miscellaneous Details

> 1:00:00 - Notable Characters

> 1:34:17 - Hoenn's Environments

> 1:44:20 - Towns, Cities, and Landmarks

Links/Resources:

- Hoenn Region 

> Hoenn Pokédex 

> Legendary Pokémon (Generation III)

> Latios and Latias

- Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald Soundtrack (YouTube Playlist)

- Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire Soundtrack (YouTube Playlist)

- Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire All Cutscenes (Starting from 17:22)

- Rayquaza Cutscene (Emerald)

- Rayquaza Cutscene (ORAS)

The Lore Research Lab Reference Episodes

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

In this brief episode, the found of The Lab discusses the soon-to-be-released spin-off game Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, succeeding the mainline series game Fire Emblem: Three Houses.

Links:

- Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes Trailer

> Adrestian Empire Trailer

> Kingdom of Faerghus Trailer

> Leicester Alliance Trailer