Spring is here and it’s time for Ani-May. For a once-a-year special, we crossover into the world of animation. So many middling games are adaptations of anime but what about the other way around? We explore the obvious and not so obvious anime inspirations behind our favorite games. Musical guest bansheebeat helps us spot all the robot cyborgs that are just like our Japanese anime.

Questions, Comments, Suggestions? CONTACT US: brainlordspod@gmail.com

Kyle - Cute Monster Props

Jorge - JMV

Dylan - bansheebeat

THINGS DISCUSSED

Salamander, Odd Taxi, Nirvana The Band the Show, Patlabor 2, Riki-Oh

Dylan’s 1st Pick: Angel’s Egg (0:13:47)

Unbeatable, Gal Metal, Angel’s Egg, Dark Souls, Berserk, Elden Ring, Metroid Prime Remaster, FFII, FFV, Psychonauts 2

Jorge’s 1st Pick: Mobile Suit Gundam (0:33:54)

Zone of the Enders, Mobile Suit Gundam, Armored Core, Diaclone, Transformers, Macross, Mobile Suit Gundam: Zeonic Front, Robotech

Kyle’s 1st Pick: Future Boy Conan and Early Miyazaki Works (0:53:41)

Future Boy Conan, Lupin III, Death Stranding, Tokimeki Memorial, The Incredible Tide, Laputa Castle in the Sky, Naussicaa of Valley of the Wind, The Legend of Zelda Series, Final Fantasy 1, Dragon Quest 7, The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild / Tears of the Kingdom, Sly Cooper, Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy IX

Game Ratings: Anime/Video Game Adaptations (1:09:25)

Battle Arena Toshinden, Street Fighter 2, Pokemon, Umamusume Pretty Derby, Cyberpunk 2077, Cyberpunk Edgerunners, The Idolmaster, One Piece: Grand Battle, One Piece: Pirate Warriors, Nier Automata Ver. 1.1a, Serial Experiments Lain, Her Story

Dylan's 2nd Pick: Animal Treasure Island (1:43:12)

Animal Treasure Island, The Legend of Zelda Phantom Hourglass, Princess Crown, Dungeons and Dragons: Shadow over Mystara, Odin’s Sphere, Undertale, Super Mario RPG, Brandish, Shin Megami Tensei, Megaman X, Illusion of Gaia

Jorge's 2nd Pick: Battle Angel Alita (1:56:07)

Gunnm, Final Fantasy VII, Akira, Hollow Knight Silksong, Pragmata

Kyle's 2nd Pick: Megazone 23 Part 1&2 (02:08:55)

Megazone 23, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, Bubblegum Crisis, Gunbuster, Giant Robo, Giant Robo Gaiden: Ginrei

The Question Zone (2:22:06)

Hey Brainlords!

If I recall correctly, Brendan Bigley and Stephen Hilger from the Into the Aether podcast coined the term “Gatepunk” as a replacement for metroidvania. The term is meant to evoke the lock and key nature of these games’ progression, and how players are gated by abilities, items, or knowledge of the game world and/or systems. In doing so, it avoids the pitfall of relying upon previous games to describe the genre, while still conveying the nature of the gameplay. I honestly think that this is my favorite Metroidvania alternative, despite (or maybe because of) the tongue-in-cheek “punk” suffix.

I just discovered Brainlords and have been really enjoying it, especially your FF episode with Andrew Bluett. Keep it up!

Also, I just started a blog where I mostly write about indie and retro games that catch my interest or deserve more attention. You guys might like it and can find all my stuff on my linktree here

Sincerely, PK Play

Demon Tides, Demon Turf, Treasure Master, Desert Punk, Witch Hat Atelier

The Rec Room (2:29:39)

Void Stranger, Zero Ranger, Clock Tower, Dario Argenta Films, Therapy, Evil Zone, Yokai Watch, The Backworld, The Legend of Aang, The Amazing Digital Circus, Lackadaisy, Knights of Guinevere, Monkey Wrench, I Don’t Wanna be a Magical Girl, Wheels and Roses