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.
All Articles
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.
All Articles
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.
All Articles
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.
All Articles
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.
All Articles
The Language of Trophies in Final Fantasy VII Remake
Getting the platinum trophy in Final Fantasy VII Remake doesn't just add playtime to the game: it also changes how we understand the story.
All Articles
The Importance of Context in Gaming: A Case Study of The Witness
The Witness is an icon of minimalist video-game storytelling. But when—and how—can minimalism go too far?
All Articles
Come Out to Play: The Warriors And Adaptation into Video Games
In an industry that still doesn't seem to have fully cracked the code on story adaptation, one 2005 game has lessons worth learning.