The Importance of Halo
Halo’s impact on the shooter genre cannot be overstated. With Halo: Infinite on the horizon, this series needs to return to its roots.
Author: Ben Vollmer
‘The Outer Worlds’ is Good, But It’s Missing Something
Obsidian’s The Outer Worlds may be this year’s best reminder of how good storytelling can be in video games, but something has become abundantly clear to me a few dozen hours into the game:...
Yooka Laylee’s “Impossible Lair” is the Hardest Boss You’ll Face All Year
Yooka Laylee and the Impossible Lair isn’t always a hard game. Just getting from the beginning to the end of a world is pretty simple, especially when you consider the available tonics that can...
Rupees are a Farce: An Essay on Bogus Video Game Economies
The Legend of Zelda has a tight reinforcement loop. Even a moderate level of exploration will lead to a treasure chest, which is opened alongside a satisfying chime and Link looking like he just...
Three and Out – ‘Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice’
It is Ben’s recommendation that you listen to Yuka Kitamura’s score of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice while reading. Beneath Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice’s core is a simmering swath of magical realism. The game unfolds...
‘Dark Souls,’ Depression, and Difficulty Settings
In the summer of 2013, I found myself on the wrong end of what had been a long battle with depression. The kind where getting out of bed seems like an arduous task, and...
Three and Out – ‘Resident Evil 2’ Remake
It is Ben’s recommendation that you listen to Capcom’s score of Resident Evil 2 while you read the review. While playing Resident Evil 2, I was reminded why I am so motivated to play...
