Nick Rodriguez-Contributor

Staff Writer

Contributor

August, 2023
Bachelor's Degree in Creative Writing, University of Illinois
Action RPG, From Software, Mass Effect
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About Nick Rodriguez

Nick is a freelance writer from Chicago, IL, with a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His lifelong belief in the artistic power of video games led him to contribute to TheBestWarGames and ScreenRant, platforms where he has managed to share helpful news content, thoughtful opinion pieces, and more than a few hot takes.

While he believes all gaming genres and categories have worth, Nick's interests lie primarily in the realm of single-player experiences, with hand-crafted stories, tight and challenging gameplay, and emotive, unique visual and audio design. On the industry side of things, he is committed to supporting creators, identifying and criticizing exploitation, and combating negativity and toxicity.

Aside from gaming, he enjoys long-distance running, reading, contributing to his blog, working on his Honda CX650C, writing fiction, and having a beer or two.

Favorite Games

- Bloodborne
- Disco Elysium
- Death Stranding
- Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
- Mass Effect 2
- Red Dead Redemption 2
- Dead Space
- Signalis
- Hades
- BioShock
- Super Mario Galaxy
- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Industry Focus

A bit of everything, but with a particular affinity for indie games, industry news, gaming events, and new technology.

Favorite Console

Easy win for the PS2.

Latest

Promotional Drawing of Lucy Ella Purnell from the Fallout TV Show
We Could've Received A Fallout Movie 28 Years Ago, And I'm Actually Glad We Didn't

Fallout is now a successful multimedia franchise, but this may never have happened if a certain 1998 movie adaptation got the green light.

Yakuza Gang of Dragon Shin in Kamurocho
Gang of Dragon Really Looks Like the Yakuza Series with a Grand Theft Auto Makeover

Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi's new video game, Gang of Dragon, hails back to the roots of the series but also gives it a GTA makeover.

Killing Moon Phantom Liberty Mission from Cyberpunk 2077 with Songbird
Cyberpunk 2077's Cancelled DLC 2 is the Silver Lining that Sets the Stage for Cyberpunk 2

Cyberpunk 2077's canceled second DLC serves as a great staging ground for a location or story in the eventual release of Cyberpunk 2.

Max and Chloe Standing by a Fire in Life Is Strange Reunion
Life is Strange: Reunion is Fine and All, But Let's Not Pretend Chloe and Max's Story Was Ever a "Saga"

Life is Strange is returning to its roots with Life is Strange: Reunion, but it kind of feels like a backslide more than a welcome homage.

THe Protagonist Picking up a Sword in Fable
Fable Has Brought Its Biggest Controversy to Rest, But It Shouldn't Have Been an Issue in the First Place

Playground Games' long-awaited Fable reboot just squashed one of the most enduring, absurd, frivolous gaming controversies of the last few years.

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Resident Evil 2 Resident Evil 4 Resident Evil Requiem Different Versions of Leon S Kennedy
Resident Evil Requiem Represents the Final Form of Leon S. Kennedy

Leon S. Kennedy is making his grand return in Resident Evil Requiem, where he will be more powerful, wise, and weathered than ever.

Dark Souls Solaire
The Soulslike Video Game Boom Has Reached a Breaking Point, But That's a Good Thing

Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring have sparked a soulslike frenzy, but the genre is reaching a breaking point.

Trails in the Sky First Chapter OpenCritic Review Score
The 90 OpenCritic JRPG Remake That Proves Choice Still Matters Over Cinematics and Spectacle (& It's Not Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth)

A beloved classic RPG recently got a hefty remake, serving as a reminder that blockbuster cinematics aren't the end-all, be-all for game storytelling.

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clair-obscur-expedition-33-gustave-beasts-of-reincarnation-game-rant
Beast of Reincarnation and Expedition 33 Are Two Sides of the Same Combat Coin

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 innovated with its turn-based combat, and it looks like Beast of Reincarnation plans to do something similar.

Standing Outside the Farmer's Store in Hillshade Farm
New Open-World Game on Steam Channels Stardew Valley Energy Into a Massive, Living Farm Paradise

A burgeoning Steam indie title aims to provide a slower, more realistic take on the farming sim gameplay popularized by the likes of Stardew Valley.

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The Player Looking at Creatures and Palworld's Cattiva in Voidling Bound
New Creature Collector on Steam Takes Palworld's "Pokemon With Guns" Energy and Applies It to No Man's Sky

An upcoming action-RPG on Steam promises to offer a unique experience, while still borrowing from the likes of Pokemon and Palworld.

Airship Combat in Echoes of Elysium
New Survival RPG on Steam is a Hodgepodge of Valheim, Raft, and Final Fantasy's Airships

An imminent survival-RPG on Steam looks to combine the best parts of various games, while adding a dash of X-factor for good measure.

Mime Enemies Ganging Up in LEGO Batman Legacy of the Dark Knight
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight's Combat is the Arkham Ace Up Its Sleeve

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight looks pretty good, but its Arkham-inspired gameplay elements are what's really worth getting excited about.

Titan Lost Boss Battle in Final Fantasy 16
The 89 OpenCritic RPG That Makes Final Fantasy 16 Feel Slow in Comparison

Final Fantasy 16 introduced some new elements to the series formula, but one Square-published ARPG hits the same high notes even better.

Microsoft Gift Card with Xbox Series X
Some Xbox Gamers Are Getting Free Gift Cards

Xbox players on both console and PC are getting free gift cards from Microsoft, raising questions about the company's generosity.

The Full Party in Yakuza Like a Dragon
Like a Dragon Dev Comments on the Future of the Series

In a recent interview, long time Like a Dragon developer explains his thoughts and plans regarding future entries in the franchise.

Arthur and the Van der Linde Gang Riding at Sunset in Red Dead Redemption 2
Why Red Dead Redemption 2 Never Received an Official GOTY Edition

While many consider it a must-play and a masterpiece, Red Dead Redemption 2 has still never gotten a Game of the Year release.

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Eddie Velvet Performing onstage in Silver Pines
New Steam Game is Like Silent Hill Meets Metroid With a Dash of Twin Peaks for Good Measure

An upcoming indie survival horror game is landing on Steam later this year, and it looks like a treat for Metroid, Silent Hill, and Lynch fans.

Grand Theft Auto 6 Paul Bautista Loading Screen Art
Every Character Revealed for GTA 6 So Far (and What We Know About Them)

Although GTA 6 still feels far away, Rockstar Games has drawn back the curtain on some of its eccentric, unconventional cast members.

Mary Read and Anne Bonne Being Escorted in Assassin's Creed 4 Black Flag
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced: What Happens in Mary Read's Cut Content

Real-world female pirate Mary Read plays a significant role in Assassin's Creed: Black Flag, but this be even bigger in the rumored remake.

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