Nick Rodriguez-Contributor

Editorial Team

Contributor

August, 2023
Bachelor's Degree in Creative Writing, University of Illinois
Action RPG, From Software, Mass Effect
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About Nick Rodriguez

Nick is a freelance writer from Chicago, IL, with a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His lifelong belief in the artistic power of video games led him to contribute to The Best War Games and Screen Rant, platforms where he has managed to share helpful news content, thoughtful opinion pieces, and more than a few hot takes.

While he believes all gaming genres and categories have worth, Nick's interests lie primarily in the realm of single-player experiences, with hand-crafted stories, tight and challenging gameplay, and emotive, unique visual and audio design. On the industry side of things, he is committed to supporting creators, identifying and criticizing exploitation, and combating negativity and toxicity.

Aside from gaming, he enjoys long-distance running, reading, contributing to his blog, working on his Honda CX650C, writing fiction, and having a beer or two.

Favorite Games

- Bloodborne
- Disco Elysium
- Death Stranding
- Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
- Mass Effect 2
- Red Dead Redemption 2
- Dead Space
- Signalis
- Hades
- BioShock
- Super Mario Galaxy
- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Industry Focus

A bit of everything, but with a particular affinity for indie games, industry news, gaming events, and new technology.

Favorite Console

Easy win for the PS2.

Latest

Skyrim Giant Close-Up
Why Skyrim's Giants Deserve a Deep Dive in The Elder Scrolls 6

Giants have long been underexplored in The Elder Scrolls, and The Elder Scrolls 6 could be the first in the series to change that.

Fallout 76 Playable Ghouls
Fallout 76 Could Go Full Cyberpunk 2077 with One Playable Race After Ghouls

Fallout 76's playable ghouls are right around the corner, and they could pave the way for another, potentially more interesting playable race.

Star Wars Empire at War
It's Time for Star Wars to Return to a Neglected Genre

As the Star Wars IP continues to grow its footprint in gaming, it ought to circle back to a long-forgotten genre that gels with the source material.

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Hogwarts Legacy House Cup Scene
If Hogwarts Legacy 2 Embraces Multiplayer, It Already Has the Perfect Stand-In For a Classic Mechanic

There have been rumblings about Hogwarts Legacy 2 incorporating some form of multiplayer, and there's one clever way it could do that.

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The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess Hero Fight
The Nintendo Switch 2 Keeps the Door Open for One Small Zelda Tradition

As the Legend of Zelda series moves into the Switch 2 era, it will likely retain one long-running tradition, at least for the 3D releases.

Nintendo Switch Logo The Witcher 3
The Nintendo Switch 2's More Powerful Hardware Poses a Big Question Regarding Third-Party Games

With the Nintendo Switch 2 serving up beefier hardware than its predecessor, it will be interesting to see how Nintendo handles third-party games.

1:26
cyberpunk-2077-project-orion-smaller-changes-customization-details-launch (1)
Project Orion Should Learn from Cyberpunk 2077's Many Post Launch Updates

Project Orion can gain a lot from learning from Cyberpunk 2077's disastrous launch.

Cronos The New Dawn Gameplay
Cronos: The New Dawn Needs to Balance its Setting Carefully

Bloober Team is continuing to expand its portfolio with Cronos: The New Dawn, which is going to have to strike a precarious balance.

Spider-man 2 Venom holding Peter Parker with Superman Logo
A Superman Video Game Could ‘Steal’ One of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s Coolest Tricks

Whenever a new Superman game hits the market, it could get a lot of mileage out of borrowing an iconic moment from Marvel's Spider-Man.

Clockwork Revolution Make Break Narrative
Clockwork Revolution's Main Gimmick Could Make or Break its Narrative

Clockwork Revolution is looking extremely promising, hinging on a central narrative mechanic that is risky, but hopefully rewarding.

Doom the Dark Ages Key Art
Doom: The Dark Ages Skipping Multiplayer May Be a Worthy Trade-Off

Doom: The Dark Ages will be skipping multiplayer, in contrast to its two predecessors, but this may ultimately be a good thing.

1:26
Cyberpunk 2077 Male V Shooting from a Car
Project Orion Can't Afford to Walk Back Cyberpunk 2077's Smaller Post-Launch Changes

Cyberpunk 2077 has come a long way, and its sequel Project Orion should be taking lessons from every aspect of its journey, no matter how small.

Mass Effect FemShep with Halo Master Chief Helmet
The Mass Effect Franchise Should Follow in Halo's Footsteps

BioWare has a lot riding on Mass Effect 4, but the risk could be spread out by taking a similar approach as the Halo franchise.

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The Last of Us Until Dawn Adaptations
How Until Dawn and The Last of Us Represent Two Sides of the Game Adaptation Spectrum

Two major Sony properties, Until Dawn and The Last of Us, are in the midst of large-scale adaptations, but they are being approached very differently.

Lies of P Ending
Why Lies of P Makes Neowiz's Survival Horror Game That Much More Enticing

Lies of P developer/publisher Neowiz is reportedly working on a survival horror game, which could repeat the excellence of its last major project.

Orcs Must Die Deathtrap Key Art
Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap Review

Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap has a few screws that could be tightened, but is overall a strong continuation of the series' action-strategy gameplay.

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Doom the Dark Ages Doom Slayer with Shield
Doom: The Dark Ages' Shield Saw Has One Major Challenge to Overcome

Doom: The Dark Ages looks great so far, but the Shield Saw, one of its central mechanics, could be playing a risky game in some ways.

Joja Mart Stardew Valley Expanded
A Stardew Valley Spin-Off Based on Joja Would Have the Lion's Share of Potential

JojaCorp has long been considered an underdeveloped part of vanilla Stardew Valley, and a theoretical spin-off game could address that.

Tales of the Shire Gardener NPC
Tales of the Shire Can Make Its NPCs Stand Out in One Simple Way

Weta Workshop's Tales of the Shire is following a lot of cozy gaming staples, but one major design choice could help it stand out from the crowd.

Final Fantasy 7 Crisis Core Cloud Strife Ending
Why Final Fantasy 7's Cloud is the Series' Most Tragic Protagonist

Final Fantasy 7's Cloud is known for many things, but his convoluted backstory is perhaps the most interesting, and tragic, aspect of his character.

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