Storytelling | With A Terrible Fate

Pokémon Rose Episode 9: “Is Celebi Real?”

A reflection on an early moment in Pokémon history when a new legendary Pokémon blurred the lines between time travel in real and fictional worlds.

By Dan Hughes, 2 weeks ago May 22, 2023

Pokémon Gold and Silver teach a master class in how to design a postgame that marries a sequel with the game that preceded it.

By Dan Hughes, 1 month ago May 4, 2023

The esoteric mystery of Tales of the Abyss gives us the gift of a mystical experience in the simple act of playing a video game.

By Aaron Suduiko, 1 month ago May 1, 2023

A study of the Johto region as a master class in world-building a video-game sequel.

By Dan Hughes, 2 months ago April 18, 2023

Tune into With a Terrible Fate's Twitch channel on April 20th at 7p ET for a live conversation with Sean McGarry, creator of Hero's Purpose!

By Caymus Ducharme, 2 months ago April 13, 2023

As the number of Pokémon grew in Pokémon Gold and Silver, the trainer's chosen bond with one particular, special Pokémon only deepened.

By Dan Hughes, 2 months ago April 10, 2023

A reflection on how Pokémon Gold and Silver presented a radical model for the "Pokémon sequel" at the height of Pokémania.

By Dan Hughes, 2 months ago April 3, 2023

A reflection on the role that the Pokémon anime had in cultivating a generation of gamers, on the occasion of Ash's final episode.

By Dan Hughes, 2 months ago March 27, 2023

Dissecting the subtle ways in which Mewtwo set the Pokémon postgame standard for over 20 years.

By Dan Hughes, 3 months ago March 20, 2023

A case study of how the storytelling of a linear game can open its world.

By Aaron Suduiko, 3 months ago March 17, 2023