Nick Rodriguez-Contributor

Staff Writer

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

Robocop Rogue City Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and RoboCop: Rogue City Should Spark a Revolution

Though they are rather different, Robocop Rogue City and Indiana Jones and the Crystal Circle share a similarity that other games can learn from.

6
Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test Reveals Playtest Time Restrictions
Elden Ring Nightreign Should Only Be the First to Revive a Forgotten Industry Trend

2025 will see the release of Elden Ring Nightreign, a co-op Elden Ring spin-off that should only be the start of a long-forgotten trend.

Hades 2 Tartarus
Hades 2's True Ending at Launch Needs to Make One Story Beat Clear

Hades 2 still isn't finished, and when its true ending gets revealed, it may need to address one burning question for the franchise.

God of War Ragnarok Valhalla DLC Freya and Kratos Talking
God of War Ragnarok's DLC is a Trend the Next Game Should Continue

God of War Ragnarok's Valhalla DLC is arguably one of the best parts of the game, and the next entry in the series should learn from it.

1
Hogwarts Legacy Players Discover Unique Encounter
Even If It Lacks Proper Multiplayer, Hogwarts Legacy 2 Could Find a Middle Ground By Studying an Unlikely Franchise

Multiplayer features in Hogwarts Legacy 2 have been widely discussed in the wake of the first game, and one Nintendo IP could offer a good blueprint.

Cyberpunk 2077 Officer West NCPD
How Cyberpunk 2077's NCPD Could Become More Frightening in a Sequel

The Night City Police Department is one of Cyberpunk 2077's most interesting factions, and it can be fleshed out in Project Orion.

Kingdom Hearts 3 Sora and Goofy
Kingdom Hearts 4 Should Take One Page from Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's Combat Book

When Kingdom Hearts 4 eventually comes out, it would be nice to see it shake up the series' combat, and watching FF7 Rebirth is one way to do that.

Elden Ring Nightreign Centipede Demon
If FromSoftware’s Big Elden Ring Nightreign Gamble Pays Off, Then Its Next Step Seems Obvious

FromSoftware is continuing to step out of its comfort zone with Elden Ring Nightreign, which could shape the next chapter of the studio.

Elden Ring Nightreign Triforce
The Zelda Series Should Be Watching Elden Ring Nightreign Closely

FromSoftware is taking a bold leap with Elden Ring Nightreign, and this move could serve to inspire The Legend of Zelda's next steps.

1
God of War Ragnarok Atreus Getting Attacked
Aging Up God of War's Atreus for His Potential Standalone Game Would Come With One Huge Benefit

Part of the speculation surrounding Atreus' possible stand-alone game is the notion of a time skip, which would come with at least one advantage.

7
Red Dead Redemption 2 Reaches New Milestone on Steam
Like The Witcher, Red Dead Redemption Needs Another Way to Reinvent Itself

Red Dead Redemption doesn't have much room for growth beyond Red Dead Redemption 2, and this comes down to a shortage of Arthur Morgan successors.

1
Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty Pliskin
Metal Gear Solid 2 Getting the Delta Treatment Could Be Easier For One Big Reason

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is set for a 2025 release, and if Konami decides to repeat this approach, MGS2 is probably the easiest candidate.

3
Heather Mason in Silent Hill 1
Silent Hill 1 and 3 Remake Rumors Explained

Rumors and speculation have abounded about remakes of Silent Hill and Silent Hill 3, which would chase 2024's successful Silent Hill 2 remake.

4
God of War Ragnarok Atreus Game Wind
God of War Ragnarok's Playable Atreus Takes the Wind Out of a Possible Standalone Game

Atreus is playable in God of War Ragnarok, which is great, but also makes the possibility of him leading his own game a bit less novel.

1
Fable Protagonist Avowed Background
Fable May Find Itself Between The Hammer and The Anvil

The Fable reboot is slated to release in 2025, but it's positioned between two massively anticipated fantasy RPGs that could steal its thunder.

18
Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League Deadshot
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Needs to End With a Serious Bang

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is drawing to a close this month, and despite its rough reception, it ought to finish strong.

Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League Team PlayStation Plus-1
One of PlayStation Plus' Free Games for January 2025 Is Too Little, Too Late

PlayStation Plus is adding one of 2024's most publicized games to its Essentials Tier this month, but it's a bit poorly timed.

2
Alan Wake Welcome to Bright Falls
How Remedy's Mixture of Genres Could Affect Its Connected Universe Synergy

Remedy's interconnected universe has a lot of promise, but the broad spectrum of genres in the studio's portfolio could pose a challenge.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
Nintendo's First Major Release of 2025 Could Trap One Series Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Nintendo is kicking off 2025 with a big remaster, but this could outline a disappointing future for the franchise in question.

Sega 2025 Start
Sega is Primed to Start 2025 With a Bang

Sega has been planning to breathe new life into many of its classic franchises, and 2025 could be the year that this plan kicks into gear.

1