Curious Arcade

About Curious Arcade

Exploring Strange and Obscure Corners of the Gaming World...

Publisher

Curious Arcade

Category

leisure

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

12 May 2021

Latest episode

18 Jan 2026

Latest episodes

14 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   18 Jan 2026

   A Deep Dive into del Toro’s Frankenstein (2025) | Mirrors, Monsters, and Madness

   Exploring the strange world of Frankenstein (2025) through a historical and literary lens. Watch: https://youtu.be/FcLfmJFl4Ds Read: https://curiousarcade.medium.com/a-deep-dive-into-del-toros-frankenstein-2025-mirrors-monsters-and-madness-ab48e2b4266a What’s up with the giant Medusa head? Why does Mia Goth play both Victor’s mother and his love interest? And what’s with all the red? These are just some of the questions pondered in this half-hour episode on Frankenstein (2025). In addition, we explore how the director reshapes Mary Shelley’s tale with reference to both the 1818 and 1831 texts. For fans of the macabre, we also trace how real-life galvanic experiments inspired the visuals of Victor’s public demonstration. Other topics include the strange patterns on Elizabeth’s dresses, the director’s obsession with circles, the striking Christ-like imagery, and all those ornate mirrors—with another famous monster from Gothic fiction making a last-minute guest appearance. CHAPTERS: 0:00 Intro 0:48 The Far North 1:48 Superhuman Abilities 3:36 Life Eternal 4:52 Circles 5:36 Victor’s Mother 7:38 William 8:30 Victor’s Father 10:10 Guardian Angel 12:08 Anatomical Theatre 12:45 Galvanism 16:38 Promethean Men 18:47 Evelyn Tables 20:05 John Hunter 20:56 Elizabeth 22:43 Bodies 23:43 Medusa 24:28 Lightning 25:54 Jesus 27:03 Cycle of Abuse 28:28 Mirrors & Reflections 31:31 Outro #Frankenstein #GuillermoDelToro #FilmAnalysis

2. 

   9 Nov 2025

   Late night at the IMAX with del Toro’s Frankenstein – Quick Review

   A quick review of Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein after a late-night screening at the BFI IMAX. From thunderous sound design to raw emotion, this films feels alive in every sense. Here’s what it was like to witness del Toro’s vision on the biggest screen possible. #Frankenstein #DelToro #IMAX #Review

3. 

   4 Apr 2025

   Split Fiction Review: A Game of Two Halves

   Exploring the two halves of Hazelight’s fantasy/sci-fi extravaganza. Watch: https://youtu.be/uzci8DLCZqU Read: https://medium.com/@curiousarcade/split-fiction-review-a-game-of-two-halves-7c666179ddae ‘Whenever I hear Josef Fares introduce one of his games I’m reminded of a wacky substitute teacher, the kind who throws out the textbooks, replaces them with bongos, and five minutes later the classroom looks like a scene from King Kong. In interviews he is always banging his drum about ‘passion’. He’s passionate about what he does, and he hopes that players will feel that same passion in his games. ‘Passion’ is one of those words that children love to use and teachers hate to see used. But Fares doesn’t care about the rules, and he is not afraid of using a well-worn cliché. Like its director, Split Fiction is wild and energetic, fond of using familiar phrases as much as it is of shaking things up. At its heart is a simple child-like desire to excite, delight, and surprise.’ Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:49 Story 1:54 Levels 2:44 Co-op 3:23 Gameplay 5:48 Writing 8:52 Conclusion 9:40 Weird Moments #SplitFiction #gaming #review

4. 

   7 Mar 2025

   Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Review: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

   Exploring the good, the bad, and the ugly in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Watch: https://youtu.be/_Zz-wiSBzcE Read: https://medium.com/@curiousarcade/indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle-review-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-8ce25c8efb88 'The Great Circle is an action-adventure game with the emphasis on adventure. It's immersive, and exciting, but not always that exciting. You'll be doing more shooting with your camera than with your gun, and you'll be plumbing just as many pipes as you will be tombs and temples. A great amount of care and attention and snakes has gone into making it feel like a classic Indy adventure. And while it largely succeeds in this mission there are some noticeable flaws in the machinery. These range from strange glitches to curious behaviours to a stalled side quest. And yet The Great Circle still forms an undeniably impressive whole. This is an immersive, sometimes exciting, adventure game, presented in a lush cinematic package. Look past the occasional shoddiness and there is an awful lot to like here.' CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 0:48 The Good 20:10 The Bad 30:56 The Ugly 32:23 Conclusion #indianajonesandthegreatcircle #review #adventuregames

5. 

   15 Mar 2024

   The Disneyland-Inspired Design of Psychonauts 2: Dark Rides, Hidden Spirals & Magic Bottles

   Exploring the influence of Walt Disney on the theme-park-like world of Psychonauts 2. This one begins with a throwaway line from Lili that casually reveals the design philosophy of Psychonauts as a whole. To truly get it, we need to go back to the days that Tim Schafer, the writer of Psychonauts, worked for Ron Gilbert on the Monkey Island games. When creating the first Psychonauts game, Schafer clearly had Disney, and Monkey Island, in mind. What follows is a rundown of the key design principles behind Disneyland and Psychonauts 2. Hubs, secrets, false fronts, textures, magical transitions, and wienies are the hot topics. If that last one confuses you, just know it has something to do with Walt Disney’s dog. Or if you’d rather not hear such tales, you can skip to the last chapter ‘Recap’ for a two-minute crash-course summary. Besides Disney, this video also touches on the level design of pioneering shooter Doom, the concept of the Potemkin village, and the swish spy headquarters of sixties spy series The Man From U.N.C.L.E. While the ideas of Disney have helped shape the world, these pop-culture influences have lent it much colour. CHAPTERS 0:00 “a theme park after hours” 1:11 Hubs 2:32 Secrets Within Secrets 4:21 Wienies 5:40 False Fronts 6:21 Murals 7:20 Textures 8:52 Seamless Transitions 11:36 Recap #Psychonauts2 #Disneyland #Design

6. 

   23 Feb 2024

   An A to Z Lore Guide to Lies of P - Oz, Paracelsus, Pinocchio & more

   Exploring the strange and arcane lore of Lies of P, starting with the word ‘apple’. With alchemy at its heart, this video covers a multitude of topics, including the devil, Paracelsus, the wonderful world of Oz, Gnosticism, the Bible, Greek myths, greed, ancient meteorite worship, Blade Runner, and Pinocchio (of course). Beginning with the word ‘apple’, this video rollercoasters across a range of alchemical-related topics. Watch the video from start to finish or skip to the desired chapter if you prefer a quick snack. Below, I’ll list a few points of interest. The Pinocchio chapter lists (almost) all Pinocchio-related references in the game. The Monad chapter lists the allusions to real-life alchemical figures, and includes a brief summary of Gnosticism. The Oz chapter discusses the colourful landscapes, magical items, and grisly monsters we can come to expect in the sequels to Lies of P. The Paracelsus chapter examines the similarities between the game’s Paracelsus and the historical and mythical Paracelsus. The God chapter dissects the god who was torn apart, in relation to the Greek notion of sparagmos, the alchemical process of solve et coagula, and ancient gods such as Dionysus and Osiris. The Ergo chapter touches on a very likely inspiration for the name. The Devil chapter looks at the myth of Faust, made reference to in the game through the painting of Pinocchio, and villains such as Victor and Simon Manus. Enjoy the ride. CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 0:21 Apple 1:48 Blue 3:09 Covenant 4:26 Cure 5:39 Curse 6:46 Devil 11:47 Ergo 14:06 Father 15:27 God 20:21 Human 22:03 Immortality 25:29 Jesus 28:08 Knight 29:18 Legendary 30:17 Light 31:38 Metals 33:19 Monad 35:26 Night 36:26 Oz 41:28 Paracelsus 42:56 Pinocchio 44:57 Quest 45:54 Reincarnation 46:27 Simon 48:34 Sophia 50:32 Trinity 51:56 Uroboros 53:50 World 55:36 XYZ #LiesofP #Pinocchio #lore

7. 

   26 Oct 2023

   My Honest Thoughts on Lies of P

   My honest thoughts on Lies of P, in relation to goats, mountains, and Italian aperitifs. After completing Lies of P, at long last, I started to question whether I actually enjoyed doing so. A complete novice to the Soulslike genre, I muddled through the boss fights, mostly with the help of explosive throwables and bait in the form of a battle Specter. Still I thought I was enjoying the game. Until the final chapter. This is a meaty experience. Upon reaching chapter 6 of 11, I was surprised to see I had been playing for over 20 hours. It’s difficult to complain that this game isn’t long enough. But whether it is too long is another matter. For newcomers, I gathered that this is a game best played in short bursts. A desire to blitz through it will only lead to heartbreak, and possible brain-break. It’s something you take your time with, like a tall glass of wine. Try to take too much in one go and you may feel like a bridge has fallen on your head. Which is appropriate because this game has you falling through plenty of them. In fact, if you come across any surface made of wood, it’s well worth analysing with a suspicious eye. Or, if you’re too lazy for that, just goad one of your puppet friends into stepping on it first. Central to this discussion is the question: Is this game fun? Putting aside the frustrations, there is much to enjoy, whether it’s the moreish puppet-farming feedback loop, the motive, and emotive, sound design, or the brilliantly animated character designs. The music is pretty nice too, as are those mysterious belle-époque vistas. Lies of P offers pleasures aplenty. But after scraping through three bosses in a row, you aren’t really thinking that. You are just trying to get your brain back in gear and your heart rate down to a steady ticking. CHAPTERS: 0:00 Intro 0:53 Level Design 2:41 Gameplay 5:06 Difficulty 8:26 Enemy Design 9:37 Story 12:15 Conclusion #LiesofP #honest #review

8. 

   29 Sept 2023

   The Vale: Shadow of the Crown Review – An Audio-Based Action Adventure Game

   Exploring the world of immersive audio gaming with The Vale: Shadow of the Crown. The Vale places you in the shoes of blind princess Alex. Your father is dead. Your brother has been crowned the new king. Meanwhile, you are being whisked away to a small keep in the Borderlands, on the outskirts of the kingdom. That is until your caravan is attacked by an invading army. From there you find yourself alone. But not for long. This is a heroine’s journey, set in a medieval fantasy realm brimming with colourful places and characters. Except the colours are left largely to your imagination. Similarly to the blind swordsman Zatoichi, you must heighten your sense of hearing in order to successfully navigate the realm. This one is full of vicious animals, monsters, and tribal warriors. Being able to pinpoint the position of your enemy is vital for combat. The creaking of armour, the snarling of a wolf, the grunting of a soldier. The sound of feet shuffling around you in a quarter-circle. You must listen before you act, whether it be with words, a shield, or a sword. What makes The Vale special is not so much the individual elements as the manner in which they are presented. A routine rat-hunting mission gains a new dimension in the world of audio-based gaming. Skulking across a squelchy cellar floor, you must listen out for the sound of squeaking and gnawing to locate each individual rat, before striking out in their direction with a shovel. Traditional role-playing missions gain a new level of intimacy, as you are forced to slow down, and make note of your surroundings, before making a move. At the same time, the immersive audio places you right in the centre of the action. The Vale is built for the visually impaired in mind, but it can be enjoyed by sighted players too. Perhaps the best way to think of it is as an interactive radio play. The voice-acting, sound effects, and music are of the same quality you would expect from a top-tier radio drama. But the binaural audio adds an immersive quality, more so because the audio reacts in real-time to the player’s movements. Which is all to say that playing The Vale for the first time is like experiencing a brand new type of videogame, made up of elements that are at once strange and familiar. CHAPTERS: 0:00 Intro 0:49 Development 1:30 Story 2:29 Gameplay 5:49 World 7:13 Likes 8:05 Dislikes 9:03 Conclusion #TheVale #Audio #Gaming

9. 

   1 Sept 2023

   The Pinocchio-Themed Characters of Lies of P

   Exploring the links between Lies of P and The Adventures of Pinocchio, as well as that one forgotten film adaptation that currently sits at 0% on Rotten Tomatoes. When developing a new Soulslike game, South Korean developer Neowiz Games wanted to make sure it had widespread appeal. For the setting, the art team focused on the concept of “Gotham Paris”. And so the architecture in the game is belle époque with a gothic twist, at once familiar and darkly different. While, for the story, the writers turned to Pinocchio for inspiration. But not so much the Disney version as the original Italian novel by Carlo Collodi. The Adventures of Pinocchio is far more ghastly than the simplified Disney adaptation. For instance, the Disney film shows Pinocchio and his friend Lampwick being turned into donkeys. But it conveniently forgets Lampwick’s fate from the novel – he is worked to death at a farm – so that Pinocchio, and the audience, can revel in the puppet’s feel-good transformation. Other episodes from the novel that didn’t make the Disney cut include the killing of the Talking Cricket by Pinocchio with a hammer; the hanging of Pinocchio by a pair of assassins; the catching and near-frying of Pinocchio by the Green Fisherman (a monstrous cave-dwelling humanoid); and the surprise appearance of four ink-black rabbits carrying a small coffin meant for the boy puppet. Lies of P focuses on the darkness of the original tale. Those four black rabbits are now a ragtag brotherhood of assassins, who seek to persecute Pinocchio whenever he spins a lie. The three mentors – Geppetto, the Blue Fairy, and the Talking Cricket – all feature in somewhat altered forms. Geppetto is less an aged grump and more a suave, fashionably dressed genius inventor, likely harbouring a dark secret or two. The Blue Fairy is Sophia, a blue-haired woman with magical powers, an otherworldly voice, and a curious affinity for butterflies. The Talking Cricket is Gemini, a crackle-voiced computer program housed inside a lantern. The characters have been changed to fit the fashionable, and automaton-centred, world of late 19th-century Paris. There are characters in the game that merely allude to characters from the novel. For example, there is a flame-powered robot called Fuoco, who alludes to the character of Mangiafuoco from the novel, the menacing head of a puppet theatre. Similarly, the Parade Master, the very first boss in the game, alludes to the character of the circus ringmaster, a top-hat-and-tailcoat master of ceremonies who rules the donkey-Pinocchio with an iron whip. Through these playful allusions, Lies of P invites the player to think about the inspiration behind a name, and rediscover the classic children’s tale on which the game is based. 0:00 Introduction 1:07 Pinocchio 2:54 Sophia 3:22 Gemini 4:07 Parade Master 4:49 Antonia 5:07 Polendina 5:39 Mad Donkey 6:04 Geppetto 6:46 Venigni 7:18 Shark Sub 7:51 Fuoco 8:47 Black Rabbits 9:50 Conclusion #LiesofP #Pinocchio #Soulslike

10. 

    29 Aug 2023

    An Architectural Tour of Gothic Paris in Lies of P

    Exploring the Gothic (and Belle Époque) architecture of Lies of P, while ignoring the killer puppets. When designing the Paris-like city of Krat in Lies of P, the arts team were asked to focus on the concept of “Gotham Paris”. Whether “Gotham” is a mistranslation of “Gothic” is up to debate. But the point is the designers were asked to steep the game in an atmosphere of mystery. The castle-like structures, moody vistas, crows, and cobblestone plazas contribute to this effect. Walking the streets of Krat feels like stepping back in time. Investigating all the little nooks and crannies makes one aware of an extra level of history, one which stretches beyond the late 19th century setting on which the game is based. The level design pilfers from the best of European architecture. It’s not just France. The art-nouveau-inspired Alchemist’s Bridge can attest to that. There’s lots of continental eye candy on display. However, it is Parisian design that seems to hold the most sway here. Whether it’s the curving canopies above entranceways or the petite lamp posts atop parapets, one can see the city’s influence in almost every facet of level design. Ornamentation is the name of the game, and Lies of P has it in spades. What sets Lies of P’s environments apart from Bloodborne’s is the melding of Gothic elements to Belle Époque architecture. These are opulent surroundings that the player won’t much mind returning to time and time again. (This they are bound to do due to the game’s rock-hard difficulty.) The mysterious Gothic motifs, involving snakes, candelabras, and alchemical symbols, lend themselves well to the swirly cast-iron structures of Krat. The art nouveau decoration provides the eye candy. The strange motifs, and historical settings, invite the eyes to dig a little deeper. #LiesofP #Gothic #Gaming *** CHAPTERS: 0:00 Intro 0:44 Central Station 1:54 Station Plaza 2:54 Hotel Krat (Ext.) 5:36 Hotel Krat (Int.) 7:26 Elysion Boulevard 7:59 City Hall 8:20 Alchemist’s Bridge 9:31 Outro *** Music Credits: Django 'N' Go Royalty free music by Giorgio Di Campo for @FreeSound Music http://freesoundmusic.eu (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbHJYRUZieHdIUC1tUnR3N013SmROdTRfZjFxQXxBQ3Jtc0tueE5QQ1Q3ZGRaRVRXSGNpUFNLYm5KWkxwZnBEZWFDM0gxZEp3QzhPa2tvWkN4Z1dKckpHamhWQkRYT3FMdjlDZXFpOGlIM2FSdVdKQ0JvNGJCMWc5Tm9qOG54Nmh0NDYtOFhVLXVPTzB2MlNfS3FYbw&q=http%3A%2F%2Ffreesoundmusic.eu%2F&v=N9Sdvtg6zao) https://www.facebook.com/freemusicfor... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbUNrTHBUbm42MlRLUUFwOExtZGY2aXhSaEpJd3xBQ3Jtc0ttd3paNFp2RDNoRkpaVlEyUnJUdVBHdnVvZEljXzVXbHlQdHNqbVk1VnFPSmtzMnNPeWxOaVJRZ2NiRGttU09RUHowZUNQakQ5WXFxNnMxSEFyajB0bk9lYUVkRW5FeV9WWDlRT2MzczloYmxxbDhjNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ffreemusicforyoutube%2F&v=N9Sdvtg6zao) / freesoundmusic   (https://youtube.com/freesoundmusic) Original video: • Django 'n' Go   n...   (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9Sdvtg6zao&t=0s) Dark Walk Music: Dark Walk by Kevin MacLeod Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3612-dark-walk License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Clouds in the Sky Royalty free Music by Giorgio Di Campo for FreeSound Music http://freesoundmusic.eu (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbU0xOUoyVjlLMkhOM2lpRmRNMmZYR203bkt1UXxBQ3Jtc0ttaXhVS3lydzR4TGI1TnVGNVpxZ19BaFlmTjFtd2k5X3M5R3NxQnlBZFNnbTZsdHJCY29sMWNjMUFqdFkxTE15cjFfVUJKOVZaWmx3SW1MTFk0Z0lQNkU5b3JvY3VpZ3hBdDF6cnFaWGxXaF9tMEdXaw&q=http%3A%2F%2Ffreesoundmusic.eu%2F&v=MhvG7d0eAP4) https://www.facebook.com/freemusicfor... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVBLdWFYWnYxQy1Ub0U5d29sTnVtVU1tSWdad3xBQ3Jtc0tuV3ROdjcxZERaQVJfZDViTnRuYnNsejEzOHJVR011TTljSS1ZbDNvUE5TMHlqLVJ3eUxMNDk0aUNEZG9kWFU0ZlloT3VkenV3VFBDcTVRRDQ4a3BXWUlranZmbVNIV2w1M1RrSDBOTkdmc1B3QjRNUQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ffreemusicforyoutube%2F&v=MhvG7d0eAP4) / freesoundmusic   (https://youtube.com/freesoundmusic) Original video: • Clouds In The Sky...   (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhvG7d0eAP4&t=0s) Download mp3: https://link-to.net/49870/CloudsInThe... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa05ibVJTMUhfcmFodk9BSEZoWktTRHFkbXZlQXxBQ3Jtc0tsU0ZQcF9wYTIySFBCUFY0b3p4RmFVTE92Rk5wdTdPcVJRYWE4eGdyMmp0S3NpOGN6b3R4ejZvQ1ZfTkFTN2VTdndIQVdRUldfNHk5dWhVQ1E3b0hyQloxbXY0bkFwVVVtb1NDNFFkdEhudEhWeWVkbw&q=https%3A%2F%2Flink-to.net%2F49870%2FCloudsInTheSkyMp3&v=MhvG7d0eAP4) Siamo Venuti Royalty free music by Giorgio Di Campo for FreeSound Music http://freesoundmusic.eu (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbm40ekFBWjJibXRXb0dTNFMyUDFMbUZYdHVHUXxBQ3Jtc0ttSENCdmY4bjdqRXdLSlNRbDI0Z0RRbzFpT2c2cWx3eGkwdWl4NXphNDJ6SmtHZUZqLWRrTkptTGVyN1BnV2hMbURDRG9fT0pvRjZpZjJTMWdMc1E3R3V0UWprSlRPTzB4YnlIWG9Ca1BGMS11LUZ1SQ&q=http%3A%2F%2Ffreesoundmusic.eu%2F&v=krZH5T9DFps) https://www.facebook.com/freemusicfor... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa05SajlpbGFSWFIxT3VUdFJhV2ZISjU3SmlHUXxBQ3Jtc0ttNHJaWkRZWmNSeldhNlgtNXp3WmlkV281U1ctNjk5a0F0Z3pzbC04NnYyTTZkVS1UOXg1ZmZlV1V1WElnVWpzejBoMi02Y1NBM0R1ZjUzYkw4YWRDM3V1WXJyaWNybXBIMTd4dVpMLTNhSmxyc19adw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ffreemusicforyoutube%2F&v=krZH5T9DFps) / freesoundmusic   (https://youtube.com/freesoundmusic) Original video: • Siamo Venuti  -  ...   (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krZH5T9DFps&t=0s) Download link mp3: https://link-to.net/49870/SiamoVenutiMp3 (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbHcxcGJmRE53cHhyb0dUYWNWQ012c2U3YU1KQXxBQ3Jtc0tsYXJCUnQ0SS1MVzl3MDFhZmd6ZjJHZjVURFVoekFhN1ozckpSVmRXMmU5dkY2OUZMWTFwdUpaeXJENkkzcmRpdF9RYmpPeXdHTXQ5eHNDWXc2Ml8tVk1PSlh0ZkFHc1ZDbkJFaDd0TTh0LW9HOFI3VQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Flink-to.net%2F49870%2FSiamoVenutiMp3&v=krZH5T9DFps)

11. 

    24 Feb 2023

    The Hero’s Journey in Psychonauts Part 2/2 ft. The Lion King, Frankenstein, Hamlet & The Bible

    This second part starts on the edge of a cliff. From there it takes a deep dive into the mid-life crisis, exploring topics as vast as Frankenstein, brain-machine technology, and wayward orphans. Long-lost fathers, cliff-edge tussles, and Holy Grails are common features of the hero’s journey. These can be found in much of Hollywood’s output, from The Lion King to Hitchcock thrillers to Indiana Jones. And yet it's those Lucas films that share the most DNA with Schafer’s work. Just as Star Wars and Indiana trade in nostalgia, Psychonauts tells a comfortingly classic tale of a gallant knight braving his darkest fears to slay a dragon. Except the knight wears a trench coat. And the dragon is a giant fire-flinging butcher with two heads. Music Credits: Bassa Island Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3424-bassa-island-game-loop Bass Walker by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3423-bass-walker The Path of the Goblin King by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4503-the-path-of-the-goblin-king I Knew a Guy by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3895-i-knew-a-guy Morgana Rides by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4080-morgana-rides Covert Affair by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3558-covert-affair Road To Dark Tower by Rafael Krux Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5314-road-to-dark-tower Artist website: https://www.orchestralis.net/ Ghost Town by Rafael Krux Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5416-ghost-town Artist website: https://www.orchestralis.net/ Frost Waltz by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3781-frost-waltz Fox Tale Waltz Part 1 Instrumental by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/7917-fox-tale-waltz-part-1-instrumental Night Of Mystery by Alexander Nakarada Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/7469-night-of-mystery Artist website: https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com/ Cool Man by Sascha Ende Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/462-cool-man Artist website: https://www.sascha-ende.de Cool Vibes by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3553-cool-vibes Thunderbird by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4527-thunderbird Halls of the Undead by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3846-halls-of-the-undead Graveyard Shift by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3823-graveyard-shift Moonlight Hall by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4077-moonlight-hall Opium by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4172-opium Mining by Moonlight by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4055-mining-by-moonlight Silver Flame by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4362-silver-flame Some Amount of Evil by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4388-some-amount-of-evil The Snow Queen by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4511-the-snow-queen Frozen Star by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3782-frozen-star Dreams Of War by Rafael Krux Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5404-dreams-of-war Artist website: https://www.orchestralis.net/ Ancient Mystery Waltz (Vivace) by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/7911-ancient-mystery-waltz-vivace Crowd Hammer by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4983-crowd-hammer Curse of the Scarab by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3573-curse-of-the-scarab Private Reflection by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4241-private-reflection Rites by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4292-rites Tabuk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4453-tabuk River Fire by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4294-river-fire Arcadia by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3377-arcadia Adventure by Alexander Nakarada Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6092-adventure Artist website: https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com/ Call to Adventure by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3470-call-to-adventure Adventure Beyond by Alexander Nakarad

12. 

    17 Feb 2023

    The Hero’s Journey in Psychonauts Part 1/2 ft. Star Wars, Indiana Jones, The Matrix & Greek Myths

    In the late forties Joseph Campbell laid out the mythic pattern that underlies every story ever told. George Lucas discovered it in the seventies while writing Star Wars. And Tim Schafer likely studied it while writing adventure games for LucasArts. This first part explores the Hero's Journey in Psychonauts, in connection to Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and The Matrix. It also looks at the films that inspired the game's oddball visuals, from the stop-motion creations of Tim Burton to the surreal dreamworks of David Lynch. Finally, it touches on a few spy and mystery tropes, with a little help from Bluebeard and James Bond. Music Credits: Opportunity Walks by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4173-opportunity-walks Groove Grove by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3831-groove-grove Hard Boiled by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3857-hard-boiled Infados by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3914-infados Mining by Moonlight by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4055-mining-by-moonlight Rites by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4292-rites Silver Flame by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4362-silver-flame Airport Lounge by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3347-airport-lounge Crinoline Dreams by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3560-crinoline-dreams Bassa Island Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3424-bassa-island-game-loop Shades of Spring by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4342-shades-of-spring Dances and Dames by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3585-dances-and-dames Frost Waltz by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3781-frost-waltz Call to Adventure by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3470-call-to-adventure Darkest Child var A by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3614-darkest-child-var-a Passing Action by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4197-passing-action The Path of the Goblin King by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4503-the-path-of-the-goblin-king Volatile Reaction by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5014-volatile-reaction River of Io by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4296-river-of-io Cool Vibes by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3553-cool-vibes Bossa Antigua by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3454-bossa-antigua Tabuk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4453-tabuk Mystery Bazaar by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4107-mystery-bazaar Expeditionary by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3731-expeditionary Thunderbird by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4527-thunderbird Graveyard Shift by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3823-graveyard-shift Loopster by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4991-loopster In Your Arms by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3906-in-your-arms Morgana Rides by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4080-morgana-rides- Halls of the Undead by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3846-halls-of-the-undead Wizardtorium by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4639-wizardtorium License for all tracks: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license #Psychonauts #StarWars #Matrix 0:00 Introduction 2:19 Archetypes 5:03 Shadow 5:58 Hero 7:18 Gods 8:05 Myths & Dreams 9:00 Pop Culture 10:07 Vogler’s Memo 12:09 Heroic Roots 14:23 Star Wars 15:47 Cartoons & Comics 16:33 Saturday Matinee Serials 17:13 Pulp Science Fiction 18:24 Mythological Ps

13. 

    4 Jun 2021

    The Dark Side of Psychonauts - Moles/Monsters/Psychics/Spies

    Investigating mysteries in the dark spy world of Psychonauts. Mind control experiments, secret detention camps, high-ranking spies, and suspected moles. These are just some of the covert cases to have inspired the dark spy world of Psychonauts. The GPC, or Geodesic Psychoisolation Chambers, have always seemed shady. There's a good reason for that. These sensory deprivation cells have roots in the murky mental trials of the CIA. In fact, the existence of Whispering Rock Psychic Summer Camp can be traced back to one of their top-secret sub-projects. Underground locations are notoriously good at hiding secrets. Ford's Sanctuary shines a light on the wider role of the Psychonauts agency. Those floating holographic screens offer a rare glimpse into the outside world, while also hinting at the clandestine activities of the organisation. Agents like Milla and Sasha are rooted in a fantastical world of spies. Cold war types like James Bond, dull and inconspicuous, best reflect the character of Sasha. While traces of Milla show in a seventies Bond girl. Although Milla does somewhat defy the stereotype. Moles first came into the public consciousness through John le Carré's seminal spy thriller Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. The characters in his book were inspired by real-life communist spies. Exploring these cases offers an insight into the mindset of a traitor, and may even help unveil the Motherlobe mole. In Psychonauts, a monster may not be quite as evil as she appears on the surface. It was the case with Linda, and likely so with Maligula. Walt Disney villains, an Inuit myth, and a Roman emperor are all somehow interlinked. At the heart of this tangled web lie the Galochios. Raz's origins, left a mystery in the first game, could be traced back to that fortune-telling family. There are bread-crumb trails in the first game, easy to miss, but obvious once you sight them. Beneath it all is a hidden nest of theories. See if you can spot them all. Double agents, triple agents, split-personality agents. In the words of Sherlock Holmes: "Once you have eliminated the possible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." In the world of Psychonauts, that makes everyone a suspect... 0:00 Spies - GPC/MKUltra/KUBARK/Zubek 2:49 Sanctuary/U.N.C.L.E./Bond 4:37 Moles - Tinker/Hollis/Five/Circus 6:32 Reasons/Files/Brains/Secrets 9:25 Intermission 9:54 Psychics - Espionage/Theories/Divination 10:37 Galochios/Tunnel/Cloaked Figure 11:54 Monsters - Maligula/Caligula/Ursula/Sedna 13:46 Brainiac Boss 14:18 End of Message MUSIC CREDITS Walking Along by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4603-walking-along License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Spy Glass by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4410-spy-glass License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Dances and Dames by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3585-dances-and-dames License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Covert Affair by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3558-covert-affair License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Deadly Roulette by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3625-deadly-roulette License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Comfortable Mystery by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3531-comfortable-mystery License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

14. 

    12 May 2021

    A Brief History of Typing Games - From Alien Zaps to Zombie Attacks

    Exploring the strange and curious history of typing games, from the late seventies to the modern day. Take a leisurely tour of this offbeat, yet surprisingly profitable, gaming genre. It begins in the late seventies with the work of freelance writer (and programmer) Dick Ainsworth, who was commissioned by Bally to make an “educational” game for their home arcade. Ainsworth laid the foundations for future typing games, pioneering a programming technique that helped advance the field of AI. The tour continues to the early eighties with the first proper typing games and commercially successful educational games for the home computer. MasterType (1981) and Typo Attack (1982) added a keyboarding slant to addictive tried-and-tested arcade gameplay. With more professionals taking up the computer, there remained a gap in the market for a serious typing game. That gap was plugged by Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing (1987). Soon enough the mysterious master typist became a software icon. Stories abounded about her miraculous typing exploits. But reporters just couldn’t seem to grab hold of her. Super Mario took on her mantle in Mario Teaches Typing (1992), a typing platformer (typeformer?) published by Nintendo. Then onto the late nineties where Sega performs some strange alchemy, mixing a zombie-blaster with a typing mechanic in Typing of the Dead (1998). It’s a weird but somewhat winning formula. Sega dabbles with the formula all the way through to the 2010s, releasing a steady stream of variations on their type-to-shoot classic. The last stop showcases some fresher takes on the typing genre, with the parodic David Lynch Teaches Typing (2018) and the demonic The Textorcist (2019), games every bit as strange as their titles suggest. The tour ends with a questioning gaze cast over the future of typing games. With phones practically glued to children’s fingertips, and more exciting forms of interaction emerging in the mainstream, one might ask if the keyboard even has a future… 0:00 1978: Bingo Math 2:53 1979: Microsoft Typing Tutor 4:31 1981: MasterType 5:47 1982: Typo Attack 7:18 1987: Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 10:56 1992: Mario Teaches Typing 12:20 1996: House of the Dead 14:26 1998: Typing of the Dead 17:02 2001: English/Flick of the Dead 19:59 2018: David Lynch & The Textorcist Music Credits: Cool Vibes by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3553-cool-vibes License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license George Street Shuffle by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3800-george-street-shuffle License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Sidewalk Shade - slower by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4353-sidewalk-shade---slower License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Modern Jazz Samba by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4063-modern-jazz-samba License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Pixelland by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4222-pixelland License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Welcome to the Show by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4614-welcome-to-the-show License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Ultralounge by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5010-ultralounge License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Lobby Time by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3986-lobby-time License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

160,068

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Podcast Authority Score: 46 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

48

Social presence

0

YouTube

82

Engagement

27

Contact Curious Arcade

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.