Mark Smith-Contributor

Staff Writer

Contributor

May, 2023
Creative Writing (BA)
RPG, The Elder Scrolls, Final Fantasy
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Page 15

About Mark Smith

Mark has been thinking and writing about games since a Gameboy Pocket and a copy of Link's Awakening was first placed into his tender, seven-year-old hands.

Since then, he snagged a creative writing (BA) degree, roleplayed as a banker, an English teacher, and finally, a games writer – all while pursuing his true passion: inhabiting and creating virtual worlds.

As well as writing about, reading about, thinking about, talking about, dreaming about, and generally fantasizing about video games, Mark also dabbles with game development.

Proudest Gaming Achievement

I make my own video games (achievement unlocked!), which you can check out (and play for free) here:

https://markgsmith.itch.io/

Favorite Games

Mark's favorite game worlds are found in titles such as the Elder Scrolls, Metal Gear Solid, Jak and Daxter, and Guild Wars.

Favorite Console

The PS2 had all the bangers, but who can deny the divine right of PC gaming?

Latest

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The Best Games With The Worst Graphics

These legendary games aren't exactly known for their stellar graphics...

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The Legend Of Zelda: The Art Style Of Each Entry, Ranked

The Legend of Zelda has experimented with several art styles throughout its long history. Here's how they stack up.

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The 8 Best Games About Creating Games

The following games flip the script by letting players take the role of developer or publisher.

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Against The Frost: 8 Games About Surviving An Icy Apocalypse

Players will have to put all of their skills to use to survive these icy environments.

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The 7 Most Evil Elves In Video Games, Ranked

Some video game elves have sinister goals and will stop at nothing to see them achieved, and others are evil purely for the sake of it.

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8 Games That Locked Their True Endings Behind Paid DLC

Some of the most disappointing endings in games tried to win fans back through a true ending, locked behind a paid DLC.

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10 Best First-Person Immersive Sims, Ranked

Immersive sims tap into a player's creativity when it comes to solving problems and conflicts. In first-person, they become even more fun.

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10 Video Game Universes That Would Be Great Settings For RPGs
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These video game universes serve as prime candidates for potential RPGs down the road.

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Every Mario Game Genre, Ranked

Mario has been around for decades and helmed racing tournaments, fighting events, and the classic platformers. Yet, which Mario genre is the best?

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Games With The Best User Interfaces In The Biz

A well-executed UI can often be a tricky thing to pull off. Luckily, these games show how it's done.

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The Legend Of Zelda: Every Recurring Side Character In The Series

Despite spanning multiple eons and timelines, the Legend of Zelda series is full of beloved recurring characters.

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6 Indie Developers Punching With AAA Budgets

These games may be made by independent developers, but the money behind them rivals some AAA games.

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8 Games With The Most Realistic & Brutal Combat

These games feature the most realistic and brutal combat of all.

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8 RPGs With The Biggest Active Party Sizes
RPG

In RPGs, traveling with a few companions is nothing new. These games, however, up the ante by allowing players to recruit a large party of followers.

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12 Great Games Where You Play As An Engineer

The following games let you step into the shoes of an engineer. Some offer a laid-back experience, while others have you fighting for your life.

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The Legend Of Zelda: The Minor Races Of Hyrule (And Beyond) Explained

The Legend of Zelda is home to a variety of different races. Though some play minor roles, they often have a great deal of backstory attached to them.

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10 Video Game Protagonists With The Highest Human Body Counts

As iconic as these video game protagonists are, their murderous human body count is concerningly high.

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The Legend Of Zelda: The Major Races Of Hyrule (And Beyond) Explained

The Legend of Zelda franchise has introduced fans to many memorable characters from a variety of races. Here's a breakdown of them.

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8 Games That Found Ways To Make Failure Fun

Failure is not always the option that players desire, but these games do a good job of providing some fun in these moments of devastation.

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The 10 Most Interesting Gods In The Elder Scrolls Series

The gods of the Elder Scrolls universe make for some interesting reading. Players even get to meet some of them!