Zero Context 15: death or calculator

Content warning: suicide plays a central role in Virtue’s Last Reward and is discussed briefly in episode.

After what feels like an eternity within the barren halls of Virtue’s Last Reward, Axe and Nathalie escape into a world they scarcely recognize. With little time to process what’s occur, they are funneled back into the facility where the facts of this diabolical game are finally disclosed. Is Akane as twisted as she seems? Who is the worst dad among us? Does anyone really care about being tortured for science? No? Sorry? Hey, put that knife awa—

Next time on Zero Context
- Start Zero Time Dilemma -> [Lose] the coin flip -> Play each team’s fragment -> Follow [Gab] vote -> Choose [C-Team] -> Choose fragment with [Akane holding a chainsaw]

Things Discussed
- Voice actor corner: Old Akane (JP: Yoshiko Sakakibara; EN: Cindy Robinson) and Young Akane (JP: Miyuki Sawashiro; EN: Ali Hillis)
- Post VLR syndrome
- “The Video Game Endings We'll Never Forget, For Better Or Worse” by Kotaku Staff
- Final Fantasy XIII game club
- Opening the catbox again…and again…
- Demanding more from branching narratives
- Axe reaching through their notes app termite mound
- Secret worst Cube sequel
- Putting L in the Nonary Game
- Supervillain girlboss Akane Kurashiki
- How radical radical-6 is
- Time travel paradoxes (I’m sorry)
- “A Spoiler Filled Interview With Zero Time Dilemma’s Director” by Siliconera Staff (Note: it is in fact filled with ZTD spoilers)
- Project Bluebird direct action
- Maybe the last reward was the friends we made along the way
- Prior predictions
- Your questions answers

Intro: “Virtue’s Last Reward ～Piano～” by Shinji Hosoe
Outro: “Demise” by Shinji Hosoe

Subscribe on Pocket Casts, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get podcasts. You can support Axe and Nathalie on their respective Ko-Fi pages, and keep up with them on Twitter @wing_blade_ and @BOOitsnathalie. You can follow the show and get exclusive research notes on Cohost.

Send your questions/comments/complaints to questions@kritiqal.com.