John Learned

The Surge 2 Review: Deck 13 Takes a Proper Step Out of From Software's Shadow

Deck 13 continues to march forward in the increasingly-crowded Soulslike genre.

Dark Souls Needs to Die: My Complicated Relationship With the Series That Helped Me Beat Cancer

How a quest to master Dark Souls and cope with cancer became a personal curse.

We Were Madmen: A Diary of Demon's Souls' Final Days

From the beginning of the final month to the last moment, we take a tour through the end of From Software’s seminal action-RPG.

"Make it Biblical:" How Vagrant Story Changed Game Localization

INTERVIEW: Alexander O. Smith and Rich Amtower go in-depth on the game that helped elevate localization into an artform.

How a Parry Saved Street Fighter: 20 Years of 3rd Strike

Everyone loves a comeback.

Sekiro Spoiler FAQ - Your Questions Answered, and All the Endings Explained

Got questions about any of the multiple endings of Sekiro? We've got all the answers, as well as character fates and more, right here.

Dark Souls Remastered Review - Nintendo Switch Update

From Software finds a classic sitting next to a forgotten bonfire. This review now includes impressions of the Nintendo Switch version of Dark Souls Remastered.

The Oral History of EVO: The Story of the World's Largest Fighting Game Tournament

The history of the Evolution Championship Series as told by the people who have been there from the beginning.

The Surge Review

The imperfect next step.

Nioh PlayStation 4 Review: A Worthy Heir

Nioh mostly measures up to the high standards set by other Soulsborne games.

Reproduction Cartridges and Elegant Piracy

How a byproduct of emulation became gaming’s Cuban Cigar.

A Voice for Ivalice: The Localization and Voice Acting of Final Fantasy XII

Now almost ten years removed, the localization team and voice actors look back on a magnificent work of game translation.

Street Fighter V Stress Test: Notes from the Underground

This past weekend, the Street Fighter V beta lurched back to life. Here's what we found.

Zen and the Art of the Art Book: The Close Relationship Between Udon and the Video Game Industry

How Udon Entertainment gives the super fan insight into a game’s production.

For Whom the Fight Bell Trolls

How the fighting game community's most notorious villain barely lifts a finger.

A Fighting Chance to Live: The Story of FightCade

How FightCade saved an online classic gaming community from the brink of doom.

Getting Strong Now: The Pros Share Their Training Tips for EVO

Daigo, Combofiend, and Seth Killian on how they prep for the fight game community's most prestigious tournament.