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

Bo Path of the Teal Lotus Key Art
Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus Review

Squid Shock Studios lets loose an astonishing debut in the form of Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus, a silky-smooth metroidvania platformer.

The Last of Us Part 2 Ellie Dina Baby Ending
The Argument For and Against The Last of Us 3 Having Multiple Protagonists

The Last of Us 3 could repeat the series' tradition of multiple protagonists, though this comes with both positives and negatives.

1
Cattle Country Carriage Opening
Stardew Valley Meets Red Dead Redemption Twofold in Cattle Country, and That's a Big Win

Cattle Country, an upcoming life sim game by Castle Pixel, looks to meld Stardew Valley with the wild-west charm of Red Dead Redemption.

1
Red Dead 2 Arthur Morgan Chapter Tier List
Red Dead Redemption 2 Chapter Tier List

Red Dead Redemption 2 is often hailed as one of the best video game stories ever told, but not every step of the journey is created equal.

judas-bioshock-callisto-protocol-dead-space-game-rant
Judas Can Be to BioShock What The Callisto Protocol Tried to Be to Dead Space

Judas is paralleling The Callisto Protocol in some interesting ways, but it will hopefully bear better fruit as a spiritual BioShock successor.

God of War Ragnarok Kratos and Thor opening fight
God of War's Next Saga Can Hit the Ground Running By Following One Early-Game Trend From The Norse Saga

The two most recent God of War games have instantly memorable, action-packed openings, and the series' next big entry should follow suit.

Tim Robinson Skate 4 Trailer
Skate 4's Latest Trailer is a Good Omen for the Game's Story Priorities

A recent trailer for Skate 4 sheds a bit of light on the game's tone, and it could bode well for the upcoming project's narrative.

Joel the Last of Us Part 2 Flashback Scene
Why The Last of Us Show's Season 2 Episode 1 Will Bear the Weight of The World on its Shoulders

Season 2 of The Last of Us is in a precarious position, as fans of the game series are well aware the show will have to get a key story beat right.

3
Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Fight
As Difficult as Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Is, It Shows that FromSoftware Is Listening to Player Feedback

Much ink has been spilled about Shadow of the Erdtree's difficulty, but less has been said about the steps it takes with accessibility.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble Key Art
Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble Review

Super Monkey Ball is back with Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble, the series' first new game in over a decade, and a worthy entry at that.

1
legend-of-zelda-echoes-of-wisdom-links-awakening-game-rant
Why Link Probably Won't Be Totally Absent in Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is making series history by featuring Zelda as the protagonist, but she may not replace Link entirely.

2
cybercity in stray
Stray On Switch Is a Double-Edged Sword

In some ways, Stray is the perfect Nintendo Switch game, but it could also be a tricky marriage between software and hardware.

The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess Link and Midna
Where Are The Rumored Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker and Twilight Princess Remakes

Despite high consumer demand and a bevy of rumors, modern releases of Wind Waker and Twilight Princess have yet to rear their heads.

5
Dragon Quest 3 HD 3D Classes
Every Dragon Quest 3: HD-2D Class Explained

With Dragon Quest 3 being remade for modern consoles, it's worth taking a look at what players can expect from its class system.

1:56
metroid-prime-4-beyond-cross-gen-switch-2-graphics-performance
Why Metroid Prime 4 Could Launch on the Switch and Switch 2

Why Metroid Prime 4 could be a cross-gen title.

Defender's Quest 2 Mists of Ruin Key Art
"It Doesn't Need to be a Fortnite" - Xalavier Nelson Jr. on Defender's Quest 2 and Indie Development

The Best War Games speaks with Xalavier Nelson Jr. about what it takes to make a good game, and how Defender's Quest 2 is delivering its narrative.

Defender's Quest 2 gameplay screenshot with logo
Xalavier Nelson Jr. Discusses How Defender’s Quest 2 Retains the Soul of the Original

Talking with The Best War Games, Defender's Quest 2 lead writer Xalavier Nelson Jr. explains how the game iterates while keeping its predecessor's soul intact.

1:56
Metroid_Prime_4_Samus_Close_Shot
Why Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Could Be a Cross-Gen Game

Metroid Prime 4's reveal was one of the highlights of the recent Nintendo Direct, but the game could be part of something even bigger for Nintendo.

3:02
mario-luigi-brothership-thousand-year-door-2024-rpgs
Another Super Mario Game is Joining the Mario RPG Roster in 2024

Nintendo’s most recent Direct made it clear that they’re ramping up for a number of ambitious releases within their more popular franchises, like The Legend of Zelda and Metroid Prime. But Super Mario fans also have what looks to be the next awesome RPG for the franchise coming this fall, Mario and Luigi: Brothership.

Defender's Quest 2 Logo Gameplay
Xalavier Nelson Jr. Talks About How Defender’s Quest 2’s Story Feeds Its Gameplay

In a conversation with The Best War Games, Defender's Quest 2 co-lead Xalavier Nelson Jr. touches on what makes the upcoming game's narrative so special.