Mark Smith-Contributor

Staff Writer

Contributor

May, 2023
Creative Writing (BA)
RPG, The Elder Scrolls, Final Fantasy
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    articles
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Page 8

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

Things Guild Wars 3 Could Learn From The Previous Games
7 Things Guild Wars 3 Could Learn From The Previous Games

With Guild Wars 3 confirmed as in development, it is time to examine the other two games in the series and learn from the past.

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guild wars best secondary professions
Guild Wars: Best Secondary Profession Combinations

Guild Wars' most exciting feature is its secondary profession system, but which professions mix the best?

Guild Wars 2 Best Masteries Ranked
Guild Wars 2: Best Masteries, Ranked

Guild Wars 2's mastery system allows for horizontal progression, but which masteries rise above the rest?

most iconic rangers in video games
5 Most Iconic Video Game Rangers, Ranked

Fearless explorers and deft sharpshooters, the rangers in games like Horizon and Metro challenge gamers to master combat, stealth, and survival.

guild wars 2 rpgs with an elementalist class
5 Best RPGs With An Elementalist Class

With frost, flame, hurricane, and quakes, the elementalist classes in games like Grim Dawn and Guild Wars demonstrate what true power looks like.

Best RPGs With An Illusionist Class
5 Best RPGs With An Illusionist Class

Illusionists like tricksters in Dragon's Dogma 2 and mesmers in Guild Wars allow RPG players to engage their enemies in indirect, unpredictable ways.

best video games with scythe weapons
6 Best Games With Scythe Weapons

There's no better weapon for mowing down enemies in video games than a scythe, as games like Dante's Inferno and Grim Dawn demonstrate.

Final Fantasy Games With The Deepest Lore Ranked
Final Fantasy: 7 Games With The Deepest Lore, Ranked

Final Fantasy games have always offered compelling gameplay and beautiful worlds, but these games have some truly deep lore.

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The Legend Of Zelda Best Versions Of Majora's Mask, Ranked
The Legend Of Zelda: Best Versions Of Majora's Mask, Ranked

Majora's Mask has had many re-releases on many different platforms over the years, but some are better than others.

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Best Video Game Characters Voiced By Clancy Brown, Ranked
5 Best Video Game Characters Voiced By Clancy Brown, Ranked

From Crash Bandicoot to Fallout, Clancy Brown is a veteran in the voice-acting business, and these are his most stand-out video game characters.

Guild Wars Best Professions, Ranked
Guild Wars: Best Professions, Ranked

The original Guild Wars offered an excellent array of playstyles through each of its professions, but which one is the best?

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Guild Wars 2 Best Mounts, Ranked
Guild Wars 2: Best Mounts, Ranked

Guild Wars 2 is famous for its incredible suite of mounts, all of which have their own use cases, but which one is objectively the best?

Best RPGs That Use Visual Dice Roll Mechanics disco elysium citizen sleeper
5 Best RPGs That Use Visual Dice Rolls During Gameplay

Computer RPGs like Citizen Sleeper and Disco Elysium have long roots in tabletop games, which made heavy use of dice, and these games honor that past.

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strongest assassin in the elder scrolls lucian lachance cicero naryu virian
The Elder Scrolls: 5 Strongest Assassins In The Series, According To The Lore

The history of Skyrim, Morrowind, and all Tamriel has been shaped by the assassin's hand. These are the strongest according to The Elder Scrolls lore.

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grimdark edgelords watch_dogs prototype shadow the hedhehog
8 Most Grimdark Edgelord Protagonists In Video Games, Ranked

From Deus Ex's Adam Jensen to Final Fantasy 7's Vincent Valentine, some of the most famous video game protagonists have been notorious edgelords.

Guild Wars 2 Every Expac And Living World Season, Ranked
Guild Wars 2: Every Expac And Living World Season, Ranked

Guild Wars 2 has had a long and storied history, marked by great expansions and Living World updates that made it a beloved staple in the MMO genre.

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best mods for vanilla morrowind
6 Best Vanilla-Friendly Mods To Modernize Morrowind

The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind is an amazing RPG, but time has not been kind to this classic. These vanilla-friendly mods help revitalize the game.

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best modern turn based rpgs persona pathfinder octopath traveler
10 Best Recent Turn-Based RPGs, Ranked
RPG

You know if everyone took turns in real fights the world would be a much safer place. Or someone would use a summon in their first attack

Pokemon Dugtrio, Vanillux, Magneton
6 Pokemon Made Out Of Smaller Pokemon

Many Pokemon resemble real-life animals, monsters, or objects, but these Pokemon resemble a bunch of smaller Pokemon all stuck together.

Airships, Wheelies Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
8 Best Vehicles In The Final Fantasy Series, Ranked

Much like Final Fantasy's characters, monsters, and worlds, the party's transportation options are usually crafted with impressive style and flair.

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