I’ve been analyzing fighting game balance since the 16-bit era, which means I understand when a 3D fighting game is genuinely balanced versus when it just appears balanced. Tekken 3 achieves genuine balance. Eight characters with completely distinct fighting styles. Every character is viable competitively. The frame data…

I came to Resident Evil completely fresh with no childhood attachment, expecting a dated survival horror game. What I found was a masterclass in how constraint-driven design creates genre-defining experiences. Coming from construction, I understand something about how limitations force elegance. Resident Evil’s tank controls, fixed camera angles,…

I’ve been gaming since the early 1980s, which means I’ve watched enough ambitious projects to recognize when a developer genuinely understands their vision. Metal Gear Solid is Hideo Kojima showing absolute mastery of game design and narrative simultaneously. This is a stealth game where stealth isn’t just an…

Here’s the thing about Final Fantasy VII that people who didn’t live through 1997 don’t understand – this game was a cultural moment. Not just in gaming. In mainstream culture. People who’d never played a video game heard about FFVII. Cloud became iconic. Aerith’s death scene had people…