Staff Writer

Contributor

February, 2023
Bachelor's in Creative Writing from McNeese State University, and over 20 years of video game experience from the NES to the XBox Series S.
Dead by Daylight, Shin Megami Tensei, Pokemon
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About Devin Friend

Devin Friend is a graduate of McNeese State University with a bachelor's degree in creative writing. Starting from the day that he played Super Mario Kart on a Super Nintendo that he received as a gift, he has been fascinated with games. That compared with a childhood love of cartoons formed a desire to research and analyze all things fictional. He digs deep into many games, looking into characters, plotlines, and other sources of information that can be found, either critiquing or expanding on the world of the game in question. There is a special place in his heart for older games, especially those that he either grew up with, or has spent a lot of time revisiting over the years. Game glitches, cheats, and innovative strategies are particular points of interest for him. When not playing games or writing about them, Devin is frequently brainstorming ideas for his dream of being a published novelist.

Favorite Games

Yakuza: Like a Dragon, WarioWare: Get It Together!, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Pokemon Moon, Yu-Gi-Oh: Forbidden Memories, and Stardew Valley.

Proudest Gaming Achievement

Beat Sonic and the Black Knight on the day it was released.

Favorite Anime

The Way of the Househusband

Latest

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Red Dead Redemption 3's Protagonist Should Lean Into One Difference From GTA

Red Dead Redemption 3's protagonist is still an unknown quantity, but GTA 6 has presented a way to emphasize the contrast between them.

Petey Piranha, Kamek, and Wiggler in art for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's Booster Course Pass
How Mario Kart 9 Could Draw Influences from the Series' Biggest Milestones

The Mario Kart series may not have reached its current status without a few important innovations, which are likely to influence the Switch 2 entry.

Trevor Philips from Grand Theft Auto 5 in front of the Vice City sign from Grand Theft Auto 6's trailer
One of GTA 5's Most Memorable Secrets Could Inspire a Hilarious Grand Theft Auto 6 Activity

Grand Theft Auto 5 had a memorably creepy easter egg that could lead to new line of side missions in GTA 6's version of Vice City.

Elliot, Harvey, and Abigail from Stardew Valley looking shocked in front of the chocolate shop from Haunted Chocolatier
Haunted Chocolatier May Be Oddly Perfect for an Embattled Video Game Quest Type

Haunted Chocolatier has a lot of potential, and it even might have a chance to make something good out of an unpopular gameplay trope.

Skeledirge, Meowscarada, and Quaquaval in front of Uva Academy from Pokemon Violet
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Starters Make a Case for a Different Starter Type Trio

Pokemon always uses the same starter types in its main series games, but Scarlet and Violet drew attention to another potential trio.

4
Wyll reading the Book of Dead Gods from Baldur's Gate 3
Dungeons and Dragons Needs Updated Rules for an Area Where Baldur's Gate 3 Excelled

Baldur's Gate 3 has a simply yet incredibly useful mechanic that could inspire a new set of ideas for Dungeons & Dragons to work with.

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Ryoji Mochizuki over a shot from Persona 3 Reload's intro
Ryoji Mochizuki's Social Link is Sorely Missed in Persona 3 Reload

Ryoji Mochizuki doesn't have his Social Link in Persona 3 Reload, and it shows how important Portable's expansion of his character was.

1
Diddy Kong flying a plane from Diddy Kong Racing over a race from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Mario Kart 9 Shouldn't Miss the Chance to Call Back to Diddy Kong Racing's Best Feature

Mario Kart's next installment could find a fantastic source of inspiration in Diddy Kong Racing when it comes to new features.

Hank Hill from King of the Hill over a shot from Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 1's trailer
What to Expect from Fortnite's Rumored King of the Hill Crossover

King of the Hill could be coming to Fortnite, and it can bring a lot more than just Arlen's best propane salesman to the game.

Impa, Purah, Robbie, and Paya from The Legend of Zelda over Kakariko Village from Tears of the Kingdom
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, BotW's Sheikah Can't Fall By the Wayside Again

Breath of the Wild led to a huge boost in relevance for the Sheikah, and hopefully they won't be sent back into the background.

1
A shot of the beach from Grand Theft Auto 6's trailer
Grand Theft Auto 6: The Case For and Against Reviving One of the Series’ Most Iconic Easter Eggs

Grand Theft Auto games are full of references and throwbacks, and GTA 6 could include one piece of series history as an easter egg.

Zelda receiving the sword in The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of WIsdom
Echoes of Wisdom Puts Pressure on the Next Zelda Game to Innovate on Combat

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom completely rewrote the series' rulebook, and its approach to combat can influence its future.

1
The entrance to the mines from Stardew Valley
One Type of Stardew Valley Enemy is Begging for More Lore

If Stardew Valley delves deeper into its roster of enemies in a future update, one available option stands out above the rest.

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Persona 5 Tactica May Be a Black Sheep, But It Deserves a Sequel Anyway

Persona 5 Tactica may not have left players stunned, but the game's formula has more than enough promise to lead to another spin-off.

A barbarian with an axe backed up by a Githyanki ally in Dungeons & Dragons
Two Dungeons and Dragons Classes Embody The Concept of 'Zero to Hero'

Seeing one's character grow over the course of a Dungeons & Dragons campaign is always fun, and two classes embody that feature well.

1
Silhouette of Vincent from Stardew Valley over a shot of a fireplace from Haunted Chocolatier's trailer
Two Stardew Valley NPCs Could Form the Perfect Connection to Haunted Chocolatier

Two of Stardew Valley's NPCs could be surprisingly good candidates to make a solid connection between it and Haunted Chocolatier.

Fortnite Godzilla Monster Floodgates
Godzilla in Fortnite Opens the Floodgates for a Ton of Other Monsters

Godzilla just made his way into Fortnite, and there's good reason to think that the King of Monsters could start a trend for the game.

Two survivors meeting in the State of Decay 3 trailer
The Case for State of Decay 3 to Overhaul its Legacy Goals

Legacy goals kept players busy in State of Decay 2 during playthroughs, but State of Decay 3 can overhaul this source of missions.

Band practice from Persona 4
How Persona 6 Could Take School Clubs to New Heights of Immersion

School clubs have provided plenty solid Social Links in Persona games, but Persona 6 could expand their role for its protagonist.

State of Decay 3 Wishlist
State of Decay 3 Feature Wish List

State of Decay 3 has a lot of options ahead of it in terms of gameplay mechanics and can thrive with a mixture of old and new features.

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