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 The Best War Games and Screen Rant, 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

Star Wars Outlaws Bounty Hunter
Star Wars Outlaws May Have Missed Its Mark, But Its Premise Shouldn't Be Taken for Granted

Though Star Wars Outlaws didn't quite reach the heights players were hoping for, it's premise is strong and should be used for future games.

Raidou Remastered
Persona 6 Shouldn't Interrupt Atlus' Most Recent Gameplay Trend

Atlus has been leaning into action-RPG concepts, Persona 6 should continue this trend, even though the series is historically turn-based.

The Elder Scrolls Online Khajit
The Elder Scrolls 6 Should Allow Fans to Literally Fight Like Cats and Dogs

If Bethesda plans to update its roster of playable races, then one particularly intriguing fantasy race should be brought into the fray.

mass-effect-4-geth-game-rant
Mass Effect 4: Predicting What the Geth's Role May Be

The Geth have historically been an essential part of the Mass Effect franchise, and they could be making a comeback in Mass Effect 4.

The Witcher 4 Trailer Ciri
The Long Wait For The Witcher 4 Won't Be All Cons

It's looking like The Witcher 4 might not arrive until 2027 or even later, which is disappointing, but could be for the best.

elden-ring-read-dead-redemption-2-game-rant
Red Dead Online Could Find New Life By Following Elden Ring's Lead

Red Dead Online has languished over the years, but taking some notes from FromSoftware's multiplayer endeavors could help bring it back.

nintendo-switch-2-xbox-one-console-game-rant
Why the Switch 2 is Being Compared to the Xbox One

The Nintendo Switch 2 looks promising, but some of its stranger features are prompting comparisons to the Xbox One's rough 2013 launch.

Mass Effect Hideo Kojima
How Mass Effect 4 Can Benefit by Learning from an Unlikely Hideo Kojima Game

Though BioWare and Kojima Productions couldn't seem more different, Mass Effect 4 could learn some lessons from a recent Kojima-helmed title.

Elden Ring Nightreign Co-Op
Elden Ring Nightreign's Character Approach Opens Up a Fresh Lore Opportunity

Elden Ring Nightreign is taking a decidedly fresh approach with its characters, opening new doors for creative narrative expression.

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Hogwarts Legacy Ranrok
Hogwarts Legacy 2 Should Learn One Lesson From Shadow of the Erdtree

If Hogwarts Legacy gets a sequel, it should take some notes from Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, which expanded the base game in important ways.

The Witcher 4 The Elder Scrolls 6
Fantasy Video Game Fans Can't Rule Out One Massive Competition in 2027

It's looking like 2027 might wind up being a banner year for fantasy RPG fans, as it could be the venue for two hotly anticipated sequels.

Mario Kart World Daisy Jet Ski
Mario Kart World May Feature the Series’ Most Overpowered Item Yet

Mario Kart World is a breakout entry in the franchise for several reasons, but one particular mechanic could be the biggest game-changer of all.

4
Mass Effect 3 Melee Combat Biotic
Mass Effect 5's Combat Should Take a Page Out of Doom's Playbook

As BioWare hones in on combat for the next Mass Effect game, learning from Id Software's modern Doom games could be a smart move.

Red Dead Redemption Jack Marston Epilogue
The Case Against Red Dead Redemption 3

The gaming community at large has clamored for more Red Dead Redemption, but it might be best to let the series rest, at least for a while.

10
Nintendo Switch 2 Console Mario Kart
One Nintendo Switch 2 Component Is Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

The Nintendo Switch 2 is a fairly significant hardware upgrade, but one design choice represents the console's regression from its predecessor.

Nintendo Switch 2 Joy Con
The Nintendo Switch 2's Familiar Design Is a Double-Edged Sword

The Nintendo Switch 2 is strikingly similar in appearance to its predecessor, which can be viewed as both a good and a bad thing.

Astro Bot Sly Cooper Level
Astro Bot: What Would a Sly Cooper Hero Level Look Like?

As Astro Bot grows into a longer series, drawing upon other popular Sony IP is inevitable, and Sly Cooper would be a great choice.

1
God of War Greece
God of War's Rumored Return to Greece Could Kill Two Birds With One Stone

God of War might be making a pit stop back to its Greek roots, which could come with a multi-pronged benefit, if rumors are true.

Nintendo Switch GameCube
Nintendo Switch Online's Massive Switch 2 Upgrade Comes With One Big Downside

The Nintendo Switch 2 is getting an ostensibly major expansion to Nintendo Switch Online, but this could spell trouble for classic Nintendo fans.

Animal Crossing New Horizons City Center
Animal Crossing: The Argument For and Against a Switch to Third-Person Perspective

Animal Crossing is famous for its isometric, rigid camera perspective, but there could be value in switching things up for the next entry.