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How Elden Ring Turns Its Player into an Outer God
The Outer Gods of Elden Ring aren't just extra lore: they're also the cipher to understanding the player's place in the Lands Between.
Podcast
With a Terrible Fate Podcast Episode 17: Silent Souls
This week on the podcast: analyzing Dark Souls and Silent Hill through the lens of a hypothetical mashup, plus PAX West 2021 reflections.
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Critical Review: The Path to Necron as Elenchus in Final Fantasy IX
Where some JRPGs represent philosophical views, Final Fantasy IX tricks its player into actually doing philosophy without even realizing it.
Podcast
With a Terrible Fate Podcast Episode 16: Scarlet Nexus
This week on the podcast: analysis and discussion of Bandai Namco's "brain punk" JRPG, Scarlet Nexus.
Podcast
With a Terrible Fate Podcast Episode 14: Maps—Salvation or Sin?
Listen in on a discussion of how maps can interfere with—or improve—the storytelling of your favorite video games.
Podcast
With a Terrible Fate Podcast Episode 11: EarthBound’s Flavor Text
Enjoy a conversation with Max Gorynski about the latest in his Comprehensive Theory of EarthBound, plus meditations on Nintendo hardware, collectibles, and narrative metagames.
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Why Final Fantasy VII Remake’s Church is so Memorable (and How to Analyze It)
The Sector 5 Church isn't just the most incongruous building in Midgar: it also plays a quietly pivotal role in Final Fantasy VII Remake.
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The Second Impact of NieR: Automata’s Ending E
NieR: Automata's Ending E is a case study in how to completely erase the distinction between gameplay and story.
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Critical Review: Final Fantasy VII Remake is Completely Incomplete
How Final Fantasy VII Remake turned a cliffhanger ending into an unexpected path to "boundless, terrifying freedom" for Cloud—and Sephiroth.
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The Horror of Code Vein is You
The hidden achievement of Code Vein's fusion of Dark Souls with JRPGs is that it quietly turned you, its player, into a monster.