Features
A collection of popular and longer posts written for here, or reprinted from elsewhere. Not to be confused with Articles, which are links to things I've written on other sites, or aglets, which are the bits of plastic on the ends of your shoelaces. Comments welcome on any of them - they're all still read, I promise.
Magic and mayhem in Bethesda’s most beautiful, burnable, lightning-shockable world to date. With just a teeny-tiny little bit more cynicism.
Unto the corner of my study, we commit the newly harvested carcass of our brother departed, to replace it with something sleeker, faster and not-crap.
On using my iPad to go back for a second read of one of my favourite early-90s game magazines – the SNES guide with a style all its own.
Digging into the past of a genre I love to find a way it might regain its greatness once again. Or at least, stop sucking as much as it does now.
Genuine question. If the fan-favourite FemShep character didn’t accidentally exist, would Bioware have been able to create her?
When you can sell on a beloved name, who needs quality? Take me away… I don’t miiind. Just as long as you promise me, you’ll improve your game design…
Winter comes early this year, as the greatest Holiday Special since Star Wars finally prepares to hit the airwaves. Are you ready for the festivities?
A quick look at the two biggest distraction-free writing tools for the Mac – the old and the new – and at the greatest writing font ever created.
A quick review of – deep breath – Hardcoregaming101.net Presents: The Guide to Classic Graphic Adventures. A must-read book for anyone who loves the genre.
I wanted a big budget, film noir experience in this amazingly high-budget adventure. A ‘Noire’ experience just isn’t close enough.
A look back at one of the best adventure/RPG… what? Villains? Antagonists? In Quest for Glory IV, saving the day wasn’t quite that simple.
A look at the somewhat confused narrative of magic and magecraft in Dragon Age II. How do you have a story about oppression when nobody in it really cares?
In which story and the nature of interactive fiction collide in some interesting ways that have nothing to do with its paranormal investigations.
The more I played Dead Rising 2, the more I imagined two developers locked in constant war. On the left, Mr. Fixit. On the right, Mr. Silly. Who will win?
Get Started In Planescape Torment
Consider this a public service announcement for anyone who wants to play, but got scared off by the intimidating and confusing opening areas.
X-Com is all about beating the odds. It’s about fighting back. It’s a Rocky montage with laser guns. It’s about the moment you finally go on the offensive.
Comedy is hard. Let’s see how a legend of adventure gaming made us laugh back in the 90s, even if it isn’t at the top of its game any more.
In which we defend the PC’s most famous lothario… mostly, at least… against his distorted reputation over the years.
A look at the themes of mercy and fatherhood that ended up making Bioshock 2 more than just your average shooter, and Subject Delta more than a slave.
An intimate look at two of the best romances you might fall into – and a fair bit more – from Bioware’s latest sci-fi epic.