Here’s something I teach in my history classes – innovation requires risk-taking, and risk-taking produces both failures and masterpieces. Chrono Cross is a masterpiece produced through genuine risk-taking. It’s the sequel to Chrono Trigger, one of the most beloved JRPGs ever made. So what does Square do? They…

I came to Spyro the Dragon expecting a charming but simple 3D platformer. What I found was a game that understands that elegance beats complexity every single time. Coming from construction, I appreciate something about how the best solutions are often the simplest ones that do exactly what…

I spent fifteen years in IT management learning to appreciate systems that are elegantly designed. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is that kind of game – it takes the Metroidvania formula that Super Metroid established and perfects it. The game understands exactly what makes the formula work and…

I’ve been gaming since 1982, and I’ve watched how racing games evolved from pure arcade simplicity to serious simulations. Gran Turismo is the moment console racing games proved they could be serious simulations. Over 150 cars with distinct handling characteristics. Dozens of tracks. A career mode spanning 60+…