Criticism

Here’s a small selection of my reviews, impressions, and opinion pieces for Kotaku that include both written and video formats.

Video

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Is The Escape We All Need Right Now

Animal Crossing: New Horizons arrived at a time that no one could have predicted and while the world felt like it was burning all around us, this little digital vacation helped me hold onto some sense of normalcy.

Red Dead Redemption 2’s Amazing Detail

Before the release of Red Dead Redemption 2, I went through the game’s unmatched attention to detail in a fun video that had some really fun references to my favorite West Coast hip hop artists.

My Favorite Games of 2019

2019 was a phenomenal year for games and I decided to put my top ten favorites into a list in the spirit of a cheesy high school yearbook video complete with end credits and all. K.I.T.

Streets of Rage 4: The Kotaku Review

I’ve been playing this series since I was a child so getting the opportunity to review a new entry in the series was an absolute dream come true. I explain a bit of the game’s legacy and why it earns its place as a worthy successor nearly 30 years after its last entry.

Sayonara Wild Hearts: The Kotaku Review

One of my favorite games of 2019, Sayonara Wild Hearts is a perfect example of the accessible blend of simple mechanics with unapologetic style. This also happens to be one of my most favorite videos too. <3

Editorial

Forza Horizon 5 Is Motorsport Heaven On Earth

Had the pleasure of reviewing Forza Horizon 5 for Fanbyte and got to wax poetic about the wonders of motorsport and Mexico.

Tetris Effect: The Kotaku Review

I’ve played Tetris my entire life so when the opportunity came to review a new take on the formula by one of my developers, I jumped at the chance to review the game for the site. Tetris Effect is a testament to perfect design mixed with a sincere message that especially drives its euphoric message home when played in virtual reality. My only regret is not having the time to make a video version at the time, but the written review is something I’m still extremely proud of till this day. Read here.

Google Stadia Just Ain’t it

I had the opportunity to get access to Google’s entry into the gaming world with Stadia and spent several weeks testing out its new service. While the technology at play works well, the lack of features out of the gate left much to be desired. Read my review here. I also sat down with Joshua Rivera to discuss Google’s stumble out of the gate for my video series Viewpoints.