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

Cyberpunk 2077 Female V The Witcher Geralt
For Better or Worse, CD Projekt Red is Putting the Witcher and Cyberpunk's Eggs in the Same Basket

Famous developer CD Projekt Red is changing tack with Project Orion and The Witcher, and this introduces a great deal of risk.

No More Heroes 3 PS Plus
4 Best PS Plus Games to Play This Week

Whether you're an avid PS Plus user or looking to try the service for the first time, these four games can help guide you to the right place.

1
cyberpunk-2077-2-sequel-orion-ace-up-sleeve-game-rant-4k-1
Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel Project Orion Just Revealed the Ace Up Its Sleeve

At long last, news has broken about one part of Project Orion, Cyberpunk 2077's code-named sequel, and it's quite a game-changer.

GTA 6 Jason and Lucia Trailer 2
GTA 6’s Trailer 3 Needs to Play the Ace It’s Been Keeping Up Its Sleeve

Grand Theft Auto 6's first two trailers have been great, but the next time it shows its face, it needs to bring out the big guns.

1
Cyberpunk 2077 Night City Nighttime
Cyberpunk 2077: Project Orion's Biggest Story Question Sticks Out Like a Sore Thumb

Project Orion is shrouded in mystery, and one part of the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel will be especially illuminating, whenever it's revealed.

Skate 4 Kickflip
What to Expect From Skate 4's Early Access Updates

Skate 4 has arrived in early access, but EA and Full Circle have plans to greatly expand it over the next few weeks and months.

Catherine Full Body
Best Games About Relationships

Put down the guns and blades and face some really scary stuff (other people) with these three great games about human relationships.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Sailing
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag’s Rumored Remake May Be Sailing on Rough Waters if One Detail is True

A new leak has sprung about Ubisoft's rumored Assassin's Creed 4: Blag Flag remake, and it looks like the studio could be playing with fire.

stardew-valley-switch-2-checks-and-x-game-rant-feature
Stardew Valley Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Checks 3 Important Things Off Players’ Wish Lists, But Leaves One Feature Hanging

Stardew Valley's arrival on the Nintendo Switch will be joined by a slew of great, new features, but one upgrade seems to have been forgotten.

Pokemon Pokopia Ditto
Pokemon Pokopia Fails to Practice What Nintendo Preaches

Pokemon: Pokopia looks cool, but it complicates Nintendo's public-facing philosophy with respect to intellectual property and copyright.

Harmony of Aetheria Naruto
New Game Turns Naruto’s Talk no Jutsu Into a Main Gameplay Mechanic

Talk no Jutsu is a famous anime staple, and one upcoming indie project is trying to turn it into an ambitious battle mechanic.

Nintendo Wii Virtual Boy
After Virtual Boy, Nintendo Switch 2 is Starting to Feel Like the Wii Generation All Over Again

Nintendo recently announced a new Virtual Boy, making the Nintendo Switch 2 feel like a blast from the past in more ways than one.

PlayStation Plus This War of Mine
3 PlayStation Plus Games to Play This Week (9/15 - 9/21)

As PlayStation Plus continues to expand, so too do players' already-abundant options; check out these recommendations for a more curated look.

Female V Corpo
Cyberpunk 2077: Why Project Orion Needs to Preserve the Corpo Lifepath Above All Others

It's not clear whether Project Orion will retain Cyberpunk 2077's Lifepath system, but if it does, at least one major element should be retained.

Endling Extinction is Forever
4 Short Games to Play This Weekend (9/12 - 9/14)

If you're looking for a stopgap, palette-cleanser, or short-and-sweet story, then these short games might be a good fit for your weekend.

Animal Crossing Isabelle Pokemon Pokopia
September's Switch 2 Direct Didn't End the Wait For a New Animal Crossing, But It Brought the Next Best Thing

Sadly, Nintendo is still being tight-lipped about the next Animal Crossing, but a recently announced game might just fill the void.

Hell is Us Combat
Hell is Us Struggles With The Basics, But Nails Something Few Games Can

Despite fumbling some of its basic elements, Hell is Us still excels in at least one major area, which is more than can be said about most games.

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Resident Evil Requiem Hell is Us
If Resident Evil Ever Takes Another Crack at Open-World, Hell Is Us Is the Perfect Template

As it turns out, Resident Evil isn't going open-world with Requiem, but if it ever does, then Hell is Us just might be the perfect blueprint.

Hell is Us Horizon Forbidden West Aloy
Hell Is Us Is Horizon Zero Dawn, Forbidden West All Over Again

Just like Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West, Hell is Us suffers from being overshadowed by another, far more monumental, video game release.

hell-is-us-holding-mirror-game-rant
How Hell is Us Holds a Mirror Up to the AAA Scene

Hell is Us offers a bold vision of semi-open-world design, and in so doing, it reveals the shortcomings of open-world gaming as a whole.