Jake Buchalter-Staff Writer

Editorial Team

Staff Writer

August, 2012
5+ Years in the Gaming Journalism Industry, 10+ Years Experience in the Design & Illustration industries, & 25+ Years of Experience gaming in general
Indie Games, Roguelike, Fighting
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About Jake Buchalter

Jacob Buchalter (he/him) is a full-time Staff Writer based in the US and is an all-around creative media-obsessed individual who truly cares a bit too much about pop culture media, art, and all things gaming. He also streams games to show his obsessions over at FoolJuice on Twitch.

Jake is a perfectionist honestly to his own detriment, as he'll almost always at least triple-check any information he puts into any article to make sure it's correct (feel free to let him know if there's anything he missed).

Additionally, Jacob Buchalter is an absolute lore fiend when it comes to any IP, and will almost always have all the lore in his brain ready to gush about if anyone ever gives him an excuse to do so. 

Jake also has a relatively diverse background in the creative industry, as he has worked in many different fields and has experience with a lot of different mediums & formats. Lastly, Jake has a deep love and respect for any artist in the gaming industry, especially in regard to character design or UI/UX design, since he has illustration, design, and motion graphic experience himself. 

Proudest Gaming Achievement

Getting every Steam Achievement in a game called Enter the Gungeon. That game has a truly overwhelming amount of content in it and it only gets more difficult the further you go, so fully clearing it out was not only a ton of fun but also incredibly rewarding. 

Favorite Games

My favorite games list is always growing every year, but off the top of my head, I would say Enter the Gungeon, Hades, Hades 2, Metal Gear Solid IV: The Phantom Pain, Skul: The Hero Slayer, Risk of Rain 2, Deep Rock Galactic, any Monster Hunter game, Remnant 2, Bloodborne, Tiny Rogues, and Atomicrops. 

Industry Focus

My focus in a broader sense is on the gaming industry as a whole, with a secondary focus on the different artistic fields related to gaming such as UI Design, UX Design, Character Design, Environmental Art, Effects Design (AKA VFX), and so on.

In a more specific sense, my focus is typically on the roguelike, soulslike, and all-around indie areas of the gaming industry as a whole. I've put so much time into so many different roguelikes as well as soulslikes, and I have so much respect for indie developers for the massive workload they take on to create a game. 
 

Latest

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MultiVersus: Best Standard Perks, Ranked

The Standard Perks in Multiversus are the last category of Perks you can equip & are honestly the most impactful. Here are the best ones, ranked.

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13 Strongest Characters In Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy, Ranked

The power scaling of characters in Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy is pretty off the walls. Among these absolute powerhouses, these are the strongest.

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Skul The Hero Slayer - Best Inscriptions Header Image
Best Inscriptions In Skul: The Hero Slayer

There are a lot of confusing inscriptions in Skul: The Hero Slayer that can be hard to parse. So let's go over some of the best ones in the game.

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Best Quintessences In Skul: The Hero Slayer

Quintessences in Skul: The Hero Slayer are an extra ability players can use that typically has a visually bombastic effect. These are the best ones.

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The Best Boons For Every Weapon In Hades

From the Stygian Blade to the Fists of Malphon, let's go over the best Boon options for players for each Infernal Arm and their Aspects in Hades.

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All The Gods In Hades, Ranked

Hades (and now it's sequel as well) are two incredibly beloved roguelikes. And, of all the gods that appear in them, these are the best.

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Hades 2: Chardybis Boss Guide

Charybdis is a boss fight in Hades 2 that you'll eventually reach after making enough progress on the surface. Here's how to easily get past it.

Hades 2 - Example of a full fight against Infernal Cerberus
Hades 2: Infernal Cerberus Boss Guide

Fighting against the Infernal Cerberus in Hades 2 can be pretty difficult. So, let's talk about how to get this rabid pup clean and under control.

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Hades 2: How To Get More Death Defiances

Death Defiances in Hades 2 are basically your 'lives', as they're a way to stop yourself from dying. Here's how to get more of them in-game.

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Hades 2: How to Get Nightmares

Nightmares are a late-game resource in Hades 2 that a lot of people probably don't have access to yet. For the ones that do, here's how to get them.

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Hades 2: Polyphemus Boss Guide

Polyphemus is the first boss you'll encounter after reaching the surface world for the first time in Hades 2. Here's exactly how to beat him.

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Hades 2: Chronos Boss Guide

Melinoë is ready to beat the Titan of Time at the bottom of Tartarus in Hades 2, but once you get there, fighting him is a different story entirely.

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Hades 2: Scylla & the Sirens Boss Guide

When you first reach Scylla at the bottom of Oceanus in Hades 2, she can seem pretty overwhelming. Here's how to defeat this deep-sea siren.

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Hades 2: Hecate Boss Guide

Hecate is far from the most difficult fight Hades 2 has, but she's not exactly a pushover. Here are some tips to help you get past her.

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Hades 2: Psyche and Grasp Explained

Figuring out all the new systems in Hades 2 can take a bit of work. The Grasp Meter or your 'Grasp of the Arcana' is a great example of this.

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Hades 2: How to Get Ash (& What To Do With it)

There are a ton of new resources to keep track of in Hades 2, with Ashes being the number one example. So, let's explain this new material in depth.

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Hades 2: Omega Variant Attacks Explained

Omega Moves are a new system in Hades 2 that are basically more elaborate charge attacks, so let's go over exactly how they work.

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Remnant 2: Forgotten Kingdom Goddess's Rest Guide

The Goddess's Rest is one of the more mysterious new locations Remnant 2's Forgotten Kingdom DLC introduces. Here's everything you can find in it.

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Remnant 2: Thorn Long Gun Explosive Builds

The new Thorn Long Gun found in Remnant 2's Forgotten Kingdom DLC is a beast of a weapon. Let's look at some builds that use it the best.

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Remnant 2: Can You Save Private Jack Driver?

Private Jack Driver is probably the most likable NPC in Remnant 2's Forgotten Kingdom DLC, so of course we want to save him if possible.