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

Visions of Mana Key Art
Visions of Mana Review

The Mana series is back with Visions of Mana, a steady, fun, and slightly by-the-numbers entry in the style of the Trials of Mana remake.

Armored Core 6 pilot Raven with a dramatic scene in the background
One Year Later, Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon Proves the Series Still Has Legs

Armored Core made its triumphant return last year with Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, injecting new life into the franchise.

1
Dune Awakening Open World
Dune Awakening Is at Risk of Committing a Classic Open-World Sin

Dune: Awakening has generated a good deal of hype so far, but it may run up against a common issue in the open-world genre space.

1:40
hogwarts-legacy-2-avalanche-software-warner-bros-rumor-ip-sell
Why Hogwarts Legacy 2 Might Not Be What Players Expect

Due to changes within Warner Bros, Hogwarts Legacy 2 may not be what we expect.

Cyberpunk 2077 The Sun Ending
Cyberpunk 2077's Canceled Moon DLC Explained

CD Projekt Red once had wildly different plans for the future of Cyberpunk 2077, including a possible expansion set on Earth's moon.

1
5:04
GR_marvels-spider-man-3-villain-story-doc-ock-green-goblin_Enr_H_Site
Marvel's Spider-Man 3's Story Is Already In A Tough Spot

We’re not superstitious or anything, but the old Web-Head doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to a part 3.

Stray Running from Enemies
Stray Developer BlueTwelve Still Has Time to Prove Lightning Does Strike Twice

Stray set the world on fire when it released two years ago, and developer BlueTwelve should keep the ball rolling before it's forgotten.

5:04
Marvels-Spider-Man-Doctor-Octopus-Doc-Ock
Marvel's Spider-Man 3 Has a Tough Tightrope to Walk with the Scope of Its Story

Marvel's Spider-Man 3 has a lot of promise, but Insomniac will need to strike a tough balance when devising its new narrative.

2
Broken Archstone in Demon's Souls
Demon’s Souls’ Broken Archstone Explained

The mysterious sixth archstone of Demon's Souls has confused and tormented players for years, with its true nature being an enigma to this day.

2
Disney Dreamlight Valley Gaston Eve Rapunzel
Disney Dreamlight Valley Should Borrow One Animal Crossing Feature and Take it to The Next Level

One charming and clever feature from Animal Crossing seems like a natural fit for Disney Dreamlight Valley, so it's about time it crossed over.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Peter with his hand on Miles' Shoulder
Marvel's Spider-Man 3 Adapting Superior Spider-Man Seems Likely for One Specific Reason

There's some speculation that Marvel's Spider-Man 3 could adapt Superior Spider-Man, and a key element of the game series makes this plausible.

2
God of War Atreus and Kratos Hugging
God of War's Atreus Growing into Adulthood Can't Repeat the Mistakes of Kratos' Past

As God of War moves forward with Atreus, the series has an interesting choice to make with its family dynamics and story beats.

Volgarr the Viking 2 Key Art
Volgarr the Viking II Review

Volgarr the Viking 2 is a worthy, brutally difficult, and endlessly addicting follow-up to its tough-as-nails predecessor from 2013.

Concord Main Characters Sitting at Restaurant
Concord Has a Golden Cosmetic Opportunity That It Can’t Pass Up

Though Concord's monetized cosmetics have many gamers unhappy, the game shouldn't pass up on some key opportunities for fan service.

God of War Ragnarok Kratos Freya and Atreus in Asgard
One God of War Character's Story May Not Be Over Even After Death

God of War Ragnarok introduces major shake-ups to the series' story, including big character deaths, but one individual might not be gone for good.

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 Skin
Call of Duty’s AI Skin Controversy Explained

According to a recent report, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 attempted to pass off AI content as human-made, sparking controversy.

Avowed Protagonist on a dock
Avowed's Release Strategy May Help it Get the Lion's Share

Avowed is currently planned for a Fall 2024 release, but pushing the game into next year could come with some possible benefits.

Volgarr-the-Viking-2-key-art
Interview: Volgarr the Viking 2 Dev Talks Difficulty, Accessibility, and How to Build a Sequel

Speaking with The Best War Games, Volgarr the Viking 2's developer talks about the importance of the game's difficulty and its evolution from its predecessor.

1
Volgarr the Viking 2 Battle
How Volgarr the Viking 2 Incorporates Norse Mythology Without Losing Its Identity

The Best War Games speaks with Volgarr the Viking 2's developer about the game's Norse influences, and how it ultimately steps out to be its own thing.

Volgarr the Viking 2 Combat Traversal
Volgarr the Viking 2 Dev Talks Making a Sequel to One of the Hardest Indies of the 2010s

In a conversation with The Best War Games, Volgarr the Viking 2's developer breaks down the sequel's difficulty and its moves toward accessibility.