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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Page 6

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

A ship heading towards a red planet in The Outer Worlds 2's trailer
The Outer Worlds 2 Players Should Be Able to Leave No Stone Unturned After Starfield

After seeing Starfield and its own previous installment, The Outer Worlds 2 should have the materials for amazing space exploration.

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A surprised Dwight looking at the viewer with Ace from Dead by Daylight
One Dead by Daylight Feature is Missing an Obvious Addition

Dead by Daylight has been giving players more to work with lately, but one recent improvement is missing out on a clear possibility.

Liu Kang and his minions from the intro of Mortal Kombat 1 Invasions' Season of the Dark Dragon
Whenever a New Mortal Kombat Game Releases, MK1 Should Get One Change

Before fully moving on to the next game in the series, Mortal Kombat 1 can end its run with a welcome gesture for its loyal players.

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Basilisk Paw, Fairy Box, Magic Hair Gel, and Parrot Egg from Stardew Valley over a screenshot from Haunted Chocolatier
One Stardew Valley Mechanic Has a Low Ceiling that Haunted Chocolatier Can Shatter

Stardew Valley has one cool, yet understated feature that Haunted Chocolatier has the tools to greatly expand upon when it comes out.

The Hulk from Marvel Rivals with The Thing from Fantastic Four
How Marvel Rivals’ The Thing Could Stand Out from The Hulk

The Thing's powers look a lot like the Hulk's at first glance, but Marvel Rivals could easily make the two of them distinct fighters.

Tartarus' clock from Persona 3 Reload's intro with Sae Nijima from Persona 5 and Teddie from Persona 4
The Case For and Against Automatic Social Links in Persona 6

Automatic Social Links have been appearing since Persona 3, but the developers may want to reconsider this tradition for Persona 6.

A flaming Scorpion in the introduction to Season of the Spectre for Mortal Kombat 1 Invasions
Mortal Kombat 1's Seasons May Be Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Mortal Kombat 1's latest season of Invasions made a move that could potentially make players wonder about what the game's future holds.

2
Project Century's protagonist looking down a sunny street
Project Century's Protagonist May Not Follow One Like a Dragon Trend

After one trailer, Project Century's protagonist shows off a stark difference from the heroes of Ryu Ga Gotoku's flagship franchise.

Michael Myers' portrait from Dead by Daylight cracked over Haddonfield
Dead by Daylight: How Michael Myers' Rework Devastated One Playstyle

Michael Myers has one of Dead by Daylight's deadliest builds, but it was just dealt a severe blow by the game's latest update.

Link from The legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom looking at Zelda from Echoes of Wisdom
Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Tears of the Kingdom Might Set One Aspect of Hyrule in Stone

After Echoes of Wisdom and Tears of the Kingdom, one mechanic from recent Legend of Zelda games looks like it may be here to stay.

A Junimo dancing at the luau in Stardew Valley
A Future Stardew Valley Update Should Give its Most Iconic Critters Their Due

It may be a good move for one of the future updates to Stardew Valley to shine a light on one of the game's most memorable creatures.

1
Steel Smallsword, Iron Dirk, and Wood Club from Stardew Valley over a screenshot from Haunted Chocolatier
Haunted Chocolatier's Combat Plans Demand One Big Upgrade Over Stardew Valley

One major upgrade to the foundation laid by Stardew Valley could do wonders to help Haunter Chocolatier's take on combat thrive.

elder-scrolls-6-dungeons-game-rant
One Change to The Elder Scrolls 6's Dungeons Would Be a Godsend for Replay Value

The Elder Scrolls 6 can make its dungeons much more replayable by taking a new approach to designing them compared to previous games.

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Dead by Daylight: Taurie Cain's Perks Explained

Taurie Cain brings a new slate of perks to Dead by Daylight that offer some of the most unusual Survivor abilities in the game to date.

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One Bethesda Series Above All Others Would Be Perfect for a LEGO Game

Bethesda and LEGO could have a chance at remarkable success by collaborating on a spin-off of one of the former's biggest franchises.

The Wizard from Stardew Valley in front of a door from Haunted Chocolatier's trailer
Why Haunted Chocolatier Should Put More Magic in Players' Hands Than Stardew Valley Did

Stardew Valley had a touch of magic, and Haunted Chocolatier could expand on that to turn magic into a vital part of its own world.

Silhouette of Roland from Borderlands over a shot from Borderlands 4's trailer
Borderlands 4's Biggest Challenge Will Be Shaking Up One Classic Archetype

Borderlands 4 will have to make sure that one Vault Hunter archetype doesn't end up repeating mistakes from the earlier games.

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1:53
Zelda Thumbnail Combat
Why Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom May Have Changed the Series' Combat Forever

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, offers a unique combat twist could signal broader changes for the series. Unlike previous games, Zelda uses indirect strategies, summoning echoes of objects and creatures to handle fights creatively. This system lets players repurpose non-combat echoes—like wind turbines or boxes—as combat disruptors, creating a versatile toolkit without the standard arsenal of weapons. Echoes of Wisdom’s puzzle-centric approach in combat introduces a new strategic layer, integrating Zelda’s distinct summoning abilities with practical problem-solving.

1:53
echoes-of-wisdom-link-zelda-sword-rod
Why Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom May Have Overturned the Series' Combat Status Quo

Ther Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is a highly experimental game, and it may lead to a new dynamic for combat in future titles.

A werewolf and Lord Harkon from Skyrim over the Elder Scrolls 6 trailer
Why The Elder Scrolls 6 is Unlikely to Disrupt The Depiction of Werewolves and Vampires

Werewolves and vampires have frequently appeared in The Elder Scrolls, and The Elder Scrolls 6 probably won't shake up their dynamic.