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

Hollow Knight Silksong Sidesteps Common Soulslike Problem
How Hollow Knight: Silksong Sidesteps a Common Soulslike Problem

Hollow Knight: Silksong is as much a soulslike as it is a metroidvania, and at least one design choice elevates it above its genre competition.

Hollow Knight Silksong Press Kit Combat
Hollow Knight: Silksong Makes a Lot of Improvements, but One of Its Smaller Touches Shouldn't Be Overlooked

Team Cherry pulled out all the stops with Hollow Knight: Silksong, but one design choice deserves special praise and attention.

Hollow Knight Silksong Death
Hollow Knight: Silksong's First Patch Catches the Game's Biggest Criticism Early

Although it's been showered with praise, Hollow Knight Silksong launched with one shortcoming that Team Cherry is already looking to fix.

Hollow Knight Silksong Cornifer
One Hollow Knight Character's Absence in Silksong Seemed Devastating — Until I Met His Replacement

Hollow Knight: Silksong features an all-new cast, which had me feeling heartbroken until I got a good, long look at the newcomers.

Hollow Knight Silksong Hornet
Hollow Knight Silksong's Story Feels Radically Different, and There's an Obvious Reason Why

Hollow Knight Silksong's narrative is ultimately more effective than its predecessor's, and there's a fairly obvious reason why.

Sword of the sea PS PLus
4 PlayStation Plus Games to Play This Week (9/7 - 9/13)

With more and more games falling upon PS Plus like an avalanche, it can be hard to know what to play; browse these new suggestions for a good pick.

Solar Ash Laval Level
5 Short Games to Play This Weekend (9/6 - 9/8)

Another weekend, another chance to play some tight, focused games: check out these recommendations for all-killer, no-filler experiences.

Lost Soul Aside FromSoftware Build Unbeatable
Lost Soul Aside’s ‘FromSoftware’ Build is Virtually Unbeatable

Lost Soul Aside isn't a soulslike, but one playstyle can definitely make players feel like they're in a FromSoftware game—on the enemy's side.

Hollow Knight Silksong
Hollow Knight Silksong Has Already Made History

Hollow Knight Silksong's release has brought digital storefronts to their knees, proving, beyond a doubt, that the game is historic.

lost-soul-aside-ff-stranger-of-paradise-game-rant-feature (1)
For Better and for Worse, Stranger of Paradise Fans Might Like Lost Soul Aside

Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is similar to Lost Soul Aside in a number of interesting ways, prompting further analysis.

Lost Soul Aside China Hero Project
Lost Soul Aside’s Development Story is Just as Fascinating as the Actual Game

Lost Soul Aside was developed as collaboration between burgeoning Chinese developer Yang Bing and Sony, and it's been a long time coming.

Lost Soul Aside Boss Fight
One Lost Soul Aside Move Is Basically a Cheat Code

Lost Soul Aside's combat is flashy and often intense, but one particular maneuver makes for especially breezy, cheap-feeling battles.

Gears of War Reloaded Marcus
Gears of War: Reloaded: The Case for and Against Fixing the Gnasher

Gears of War: Reloaded has garnered a handful of complaints, with one common criticism being leveled at the Gnasher, an extremely powerful shotgun.

if-halo-comes-to-playstation-cannot-repeat-mistakes-of-gears-of-war-reloaded-game-rant
If Halo Ever Comes to PlayStation, It Can't Repeat the Mistakes of Gears of War Reloaded

Gears of War: Reloaded is unlikely to be the last major Xbox exclusive to come to PlayStation, and it should also be the last with multiplayer issues.

Gears of War Reloaded Xbox and PS5
Gears of War: Reloaded Is a Rare Moment of Console War Peace

Gears of War: Reloaded is an historic moment in the gaming industry, if for no other reason than that it unites PlayStation and Xbox fans.

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The Knightling Key Art
The Knightling Review

Indie action-adventure game The Knightling soars with its traversal and vibes, but sinks with its combat and narrative design.

Lost Soul Aside Clair Obscur Gustave
Lost Soul Aside Probably Should Have Followed Clair Obscur's Lead in One Respect

Though they couldn't be more different, Clair Obscur executed a smart release strategy that could have benefited Lost Soul Aside.

Risk of Rain 2 PlayStation Plus Logo
3 PlayStation Plus Games to Play This Week (9/1 - 9/8)

PlayStation Plus can be a little overwhelming at times, so check out some of these suggestions to make your game search a little easier.

Gears of War Horde Silverback
After Skipping Gears of War: Reloaded, One Classic Mode Is a Must-Have for the Next Remaster

Gears of War: Reloaded features a glaring omission, and if there's ever a follow-up, it would be wise to keep this axed game mode in mind.

Gears of War Reloaded Dom and Marcus
Gears of War Reloaded Makes a Case for the Return of the 2000s Most Controversial Gaming Trend

Gears of War: Reloaded is a blast from the past, and proves that even the most maligned gaming trends can have a second life.