Martin Wood-Features Writer

Staff Writer

Features Writer

January, 2022
MA Literature & Culture, BA English
Pokemon, Minecraft, The Legend of Zelda
  • 323
    articles
  • 323
    Features

Page 4

About Martin Wood

Having worked as a writer since 2014, Martin Wood started as a gaming academic before joining TheBestWarGames. His passion and aspirations for the field began with his childhood favorites, like Pokemon Silver and Jak & Daxter. Now an advocate for the critical study of gaming and backed by a Master's in Literature & Culture specializing in digital media from the University of Birmingham, he's hoping to share his ideas and insight with others. When he's not cooking up new articles though, he'll either be "researching" new games or trying his hand at some game design of his own.

Favorite Games

Despite its age and hit-and-miss legacy, the Jak & Daxter trilogy will always have a special place in my heart alongside others like Pokemon, Uncharted, and Assassin's Creed.

However, my most recent favorites include the likes of The Legend of Zelda Switch games, the Horizon series, and Control.

Favorite Console

Thanks to games like Super Mario Odyssey, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and its sequel Tears of the Kingdom, it has to be the Nintendo Switch for proving that you don't need the highest specs to deliver a great gaming experience. I can't wait to see what comes next with the Switch 2!

Industry Focus

With my academic specialization in digital media, I'm driven to engage with gaming at a deeper cultural and technical level.  I want to understand what makes games tick, why they succeed or fail, how future games might evolve moving forward, and so much more.

Ultimately, I want my enthusiasm and ideas to help encourage others to see gaming as more than just entertainment, but as a fascinating field worth digging into.

Latest

Pokemon Legends Z-A Jirachi Zygarde
Pokemon Legends: Z-A's Battle Royale Could Be Hiding A Mythical Pokemon

Despite being a major change to the series' battling mechanics, Pokemon Legends: Z-A's new Z-A Royale might have teased a Mythical Pokemon's return.

Pokemon Legends Z-A Mega Evo Ride Pokemon
Pokemon Legends: Z-A's Leaked Mega Evolutions Could Replace A Pokemon Legends: Arceus' Feature

Pokemon Legends: Z-A's leaked Mega Evolutions could have inadvertently revealed how the game might revamp a key mechanic from Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

Dragon Age Veilguard Mass Effect 4 DLC
How Dragon Age: The Veilguard May Foreshadow Mass Effect 4's Plans

Looking back on Dragon Age: The Veilguard and its lack of post-launch content could help set expectations for BioWare's next game, Mass Effect 4.

1
Pokemon Legends Z A Missing Mega Evolution
Pokemon Legends: Z-A Might Finally Make Good on One Missing Mega Evolution Counterpart

According to the leaked list of Mega Evolutions coming in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, one side of a Pokemon duo might finally get an overdue Mega Evolution.

Pokemon Scarlet Violet Z A Mechanics
One Minor Feature From Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Could Be A Major Pokemon Legends: Z-A Mechanic

Pokemon Legends: Z-A's latest trailer might have potentially revealed a major mechanic originating from a small feature in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.

Aloy and a hologram copy of Aloy from the Horizon series.
Sony's Leaked Aloy AI is Itself a Twist on Horizon's Story and Themes

With divided views on the use of generative AI, Sony's choice to build from the Horizon series' lore and narratives with an Aloy AI is remarkable.

Dead as Disco Sifu HiFi Rush Comparison
Hi-Fi Rush and Sifu Fans Should Keep an Eye On This Debut Indie Game

While Hi-Fi Rush and Sifu fans hold out hope for sequels, Brain Jar Games' debut indie game could be the perfect alternative until then.

Iconic Zelda Character Tears of the Kingdom
In Hindsight, One Iconic Zelda Character Absent from Tears of the Kingdom Was a Missed Opportunity

While their comeback could have been perfect for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Nintendo missed its chance to feature a classic character.

2
Aloy from Horizon Forbidden West in mid-combat with a human enemy.
The Horizon MMO Could Be a Godsend for a Feature Forbidden West, Zero Dawn Struggled With

After Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West, an upcoming MMO spin-off could finally address a key area of gameplay where the series fell short.

7
A Minecraft player hides behind a tree from another player who has potentially detected their presence.
Minecraft’s Latest Feature Could Throw a Wrench in One Classic Community Game Mode

Despite being helpful for Minecraft's typical players, a new UI feature could cause unintentional consequences for the game's multiplayer experience.

A selection of copper and tuff blocks from Minecraft's 1.21 Tricky Trials update in a Mangrove Swamp biome.
Minecraft's Metal and Gem Blocks are Long Overdue to Follow in Copper's Footsteps

After Minecraft's last major update overhauled copper blocks, it's about time Mojang considered doing the same with its other metal and gem blocks.

1
Bioware Anthem Reboot Options
BioWare's Best Option for an Anthem Reboot May Not Be Anthem at All

While a direct reboot of Anthem might face an uphill struggle, there might already be a simpler, more beneficial alternative that BioWare could use.

Horizon Forbidden West Tribe Balance
Horizon Forbidden West Struck the Perfect Balance of Tribes for Horizon 3

Horizon Forbidden West may have struck the right balance after adding several new tribes to the series, something which Horizon 3 should try to keep.

Pokemon Legends Z A Starters Chosen
Pokemon Legends: Z-A - Why Were Its Starters Chosen?

After Pokemon Legends: Z-A's latest trailer confirmed its starter Pokemon, there could be some interesting reasons behind Game Freak's final choices.

8
A desert biome with rain and snow in different chunks.
Minecraft's Desert Biome Updates Should Be Complemented With a New Weather Type

As part of Minecraft's updates to enhance its Overworld, the recent desert and badlands biome changes could lead to an overdue revamp of its weather.

1
Chikorita and Totodile from Pokemon Legends: Z-A starter trio alongside a silhouette of Cyndaquil.
One Unlucky Pokemon is Getting the Short End of the Stick in Legends: Z-A

Pokemon Legends: Z-A's latest trailer finally confirmed its starter trio, but it also seems that one starter Pokemon might have missed out.

1
Anthem 2025 Second Chance
Anthem: Why You Should Give it a Second Chance

Though it wasn't an initial hit for BioWare, Anthem still has the potential makings of a good game if players and developers give it a second chance.

2
Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Live Action Movie
Why a Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Movie is Not as Surprising as it Might Seem

Though it isn't even out yet, the fact that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is getting a movie adaptation makes sense when looking deeper into the game.

Pokemon PokeMinutes Social Media
One Pokemon Social Media Series Could Be the Basis for a New Type of Spin-Off

The positive response to Pokemon's new series found across social media highlights the untapped potential for a new slice-of-life spin-off game.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard blueprints alongside Mass Effect's N7 figure.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard's Party Members Are A Perfect Blueprint for Mass Effect 4

The new direction BioWare took with its party members in Dragon Age: The Veilguard is something that upcoming Mass Effect 4 could take notes from.

5