Additional Posts From This Author
As any gamer over the age of 30 will admit, gaming felt a lot simpler back in the day. Immediacy and simplicity characterized the average game back then. A few buttons became more than enough to facilitate memorable adventures. Standardized co-op games functioned as intended, and only a single purchase was necessary to get the...
Single-player games have plenty of merits, but nothing beats the fun factor and satisfaction of taking on various challenges alongside another person, whether a friend or just a helpful stranger. Sharing a victory with somebody else or simply playing alongside them and using the game as a social platform creates a special kind of experience...
Video games combine several different artforms working together, making them special, but also quite demanding of their creators. When discussing graphics, dialogue, and gameplay, soundtracks can get lost in the shuffle, though To do our part in reversing that, here we present what we feel have emerged as the best video game soundtracks of all...
The lineage of video game consoles will forever be long and wide, stretching as far back as the 1970s and, in all likelihood, well into the future. Different companies tried out a lot of different technologies while all shooting for the same goal: to deliver the highest possible standard for gaming to as many people...
Reinvigorating an old video game and reshaping it for modern audiences will always be a tall order. Given that, it may not be too surprising that many of them fall flat on their faces. This becomes all the more disappointing, considering that the original game already exists and shows the way. Whether through losing sight...
Video game sequels have an amazing opportunity. They get to revisit previous worlds and improve on their tenets. However, the mark of outstanding video game sequels has never been an ability to just iterate on its predecessor – but to outclass it. Setting new benchmarks within the confines of a previous game remains a tall...
Every couple of years or so gamers get to see something special- a game that breaks the mold, tries something new, and ushers in a new era. Not every innovation becomes successful of course, but some go well beyond success by changing the rules and expectations of gamers forever. Find here a collection of the...
Despite the genre becoming more varied than ever, first-person shooters still provide some of the most demanding gaming experiences. For over 30 years, these challenging shooters have continued to captivate and immerse players with unforgiving environments, relentless enemies, and dwindling resources. Given the genre’s ability to remain relevant, the most challenging first-person shooters span gaming...
People have loved a good brain teaser puzzle since long before video games, but as it turns out, gaming has become the best way to do it. Puzzle games have become a mainstay in the gaming landscape and command a large audience. More great puzzle games drop every year as the genre continues to gain...
Video games have portrayed female characters in many different ways over the years, and not always with the whole “damsel in distress” thing. While that still has its place, developers have begun to include a growing number of female video game leads to help provide fresh stories. As a result, gaming has tons of great female...
2023 turned into a fantastic year for single-player video games, but 2024 shows even more promise. With current-gen consoles finally coming into their own and many delayed 2023 projects bubbling to the surface with dates set for the coming year, gamers plenty of reason for excitement about 2024 single-player games. 1. Stellar Blade The flashy...
Reviving a classic arcade game poses a dangerous road. Sometimes, these attempts fall flat on their faces with unnecessary changes, bad execution of good ones, or misfires in other areas. That said, some revivals of classic arcade games succeed with flying colors by bringing old ideas forward and peppering them with new ones. Here we...
Video game characters always work best when they evoke strong feelings from the player. Whether that be empathy, idolation, or even hatred. Hated characters in particular can be interesting, as they’re not always intended to turn out that way. Whether intentional or not, though, the most hated video game characters in gaming will live on...
Games getting canceled never feels good. While some projects run over budget, fall behind schedule, and thus earn the axe, gamers still lament any video game getting scrapped. Often some of these canceled projects looked rather promising before being put to pasture. That said, sometimes these projects get retooled and resurrected. With that grain of...
Despite being over a decade old, Grand Theft Auto V still looks, sounds, and plays excellent. With time comes more innovation though, and there now exist several ways in which open-world games have outgrown some of the mechanics of GTA V. With Grand Theft Auto VI inevitably on its merry way, we think the time...
Open-world games have become an industry mainstay. The freedom to explore large areas, approach objectives in multiple ways, and stumble across amusing distractions will always be an excellent format for video games, but some do it better than others. To celebrate the formula and parse the best from the best, have a look at the...
Throughout the expanse of video games, there exists a growing list of characters who, despite their top-notch design, languish in the shadows as underrated or even forgotten. Writers creating wonderful characters doesn’t always mean they will live on in the hearts of millions. Perhaps that’s where lists like this come in to illuminate those who...
For over 20 years, the Silent Hill series has been synonymous with psychological horror. Captivating gamers with unsettling narratives, the games have shocked them with disturbing imagery and overwhelmed them with atmospheric tension. Despite the series sitting dormant for the better part of the last decade, the influence of Silent Hill remains strong. Even the...
The blue blur of nostalgia hasn’t always hit the mark, but he hasn’t stopped trying. Being a part of gaming for over 30 years is an accomplishment, though. So, in reverence to what he's done so far, here are the 15 best Sonic games of all time: 1. Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (1992) Continuing and...
While the definitions of “retro” and even “horror” can sometimes spark debate, no one would deny when something has successfully given an audience the creeps. Horror games have been around much longer than some gamers realize, and many older titles hold up better than conventional wisdom might expect. Whether it’s their shocking imagery, disturbing storylines,...
With a small handful of hotly-anticipated video games sucking much of the oxygen out of the room every year, who could blame anyone for missing a few hidden gems along the way. Whether judged unfairly or just passed over too quickly, a lot of underrated games fly under the radar every year. That’s where we...
Full-motion video games have a somewhat spotty reputation. Developers used FMV to enhance gameplay, cutscenes, or both at the end of the 20th century–an impressive feat given the limitations of gaming tech up until that point. Arcades became the primary laboratories of the industry in the early 90’s, and among the many eye-catching gimmicks that...
Unlike games from its successors, the PlayStation 1 library has not aged well on multiple fronts. With each passing year, the archaic controls, primitive graphics, and limited gameplay of the PS1 become harder to overlook as gamers encounter its incredible library. Despite PlayStation showing a solid willingness to bring old games into the 21st century...
Horror games come in all shapes and styles, as do their fans. For that reason, game critics–like us–face an impossible task to determine the “best” with any degree of objectivity or certainty, but we can still try. With that in mind, here we present our best shot at ranking the best horror games of all...
Horror games stay in style for many, but Halloween approaching only magnifies the allure of a spooky adventure. Whether it mixes in puzzles, action or sticks with the standard survival horror playbook, a good horror game can impact the player in ways other genres can only dream of. Thankfully for all of us, Sony’s PlayStation...
Whether because of nostalgia, stubbornness, or some combination thereof, more and more gamers spend their precious free time with games that remind them of yesteryear. Something about games made before 2003 feels timeless and welcoming. Not being bogged down with multiple intricate systems, hundreds of characters, and more particle effects than our eyes know how...
Video game villains play extremely important roles for the stories in which they exist. Driving the conflict and motivating the protagonist, compelling villains can often make the difference between a good game and a great one. So while it’s a dirty job, somebody’s got to do it. Some villains go about it with more gusto...
As classic consoles fail and retro games become rarer, gamer options for experiencing classic games of yesteryear narrow. With this, every passing year, modern console manufacturers and software developers become the stewards of these classic games. Thankfully, due to the digital future, gamers don't have to contend with expensive or time-consuming ordeals to maintain a...
One of gaming’s oldest genres, the “beat ‘em up,” has managed to hang on to relevance since its inception. Despite the peaks and valleys, the age-old formula of beating the tar out of baddies in a 2D environment while racking up points still holds true as a great way to spend a few hours alone...
Platforming games define the entire video game medium to many players. Through their historical significance, world-building, and vast variety, there has always been something for everyone within the platforming space. A platforming game doesn’t have much without a great main character, though, so the time has come to sort out the best platformer characters the...
Everyone knows video game developers always look out for new and interesting ideas, and sometimes, that means repurposing an established franchise from a different medium. Some of these work out better than others, though. For every Batman: Arkham City, gamers get at least one Lord of the Rings: Gollum. That being said, this handful of...
As Old Man Winter closes in and various holiday scents whisper throughout our homes, millions find themselves cozying up with classic holiday-themed movies and TV specials to set the mood. This can extend into video games as well, though! From large levels blanketed in snow to festive costumes and soundtracks, games can summon a heaping...
The film industry has begun a new era of looking at video games for new ideas. Gamers need to let Hollywood know what fans would like to see, considering that some games deserve a movie adaptation more than others. Here are video games that we think could translate well into movie tie-ins. 1. Grand Theft...
All video games have elements that feel out of place, gratuitous, or just unnecessary. While some of these issues come down to preference at the end of the day, a handful of video game mechanics have overstayed their welcome. If not retooled, these archaic video game mechanics should disappear as soon as possible. Game developers,...
Gameplay is always the key component that makes or breaks a video game. Still, some offer such memorable video game stories that they more than make up for some weaknesses in other areas. Great video game stories can exist in any entertainment medium, but games combining great stories with intuitive gameplay can have a greater...
Sony’s gaming powerhouse brand remains one of the biggest names in gaming to this day. Ever since it emerged in the 90s with the original PlayStation, its cutting-edge games, memorable characters, and innovative mechanics have helped define the industry and steer the medium into more compelling and interesting directions. Get ready to button mash: here...
As developers look to squeeze more juice from existing franchises, the redundancies of endless sequels wear thin to many gamers. One way to avoid this could be to take a closer look at giving video game sidekicks their own spin-offs. That way, designers can kill two birds with one stone, with the brand recognition developers...
