Brendan Hesse
@brendanlh.bsky.social
Deals Editor at GameSpot | DRPG Sicko at The Crawl: http://youtube.com/thecrawl | Other bylines: Lost In Cult, Lifehacker, PopSci, EGM, IGN, Digital Trends | My games: http://the-crawl.itch.io | He/Him (PFP: @alzandah.bsky.social)
This is also how I'm landing on these remakes, which is surprising as someone who thinks DQ3 SFC is a perfect RPG and historically preferred og DQ1 to DQ2.
Getting close to finishing Dragon Quest 2 HD-2D. I was not expecting this one to be my favorite of the 3!
November 18, 2025 at 12:44 AM
This is also how I'm landing on these remakes, which is surprising as someone who thinks DQ3 SFC is a perfect RPG and historically preferred og DQ1 to DQ2.
Reposted by Brendan Hesse
Rebecca Heineman's last message was for people to look up her departed partner, Jennell Jaquays.
Jaquays was so influent to tabletop RPGs that "Jaquaysing" became a verb for designing complex, non-linear dungeons.
@nickoten.bsky.social wrote a great article on her:
pathikablog.com/2025/04/26/h...
Jaquays was so influent to tabletop RPGs that "Jaquaysing" became a verb for designing complex, non-linear dungeons.
@nickoten.bsky.social wrote a great article on her:
pathikablog.com/2025/04/26/h...
How Jennell Jaquays Evolved Dungeon Design, Part 1: Pre-Jaquays Dungeons
(This is a slightly cleaned up version of my two Bluesky threads on Jennell Jaquays, preserved in a hopefully easier to read format. Thank Amanda P for reminding me that having these things stored …
pathikablog.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Rebecca Heineman's last message was for people to look up her departed partner, Jennell Jaquays.
Jaquays was so influent to tabletop RPGs that "Jaquaysing" became a verb for designing complex, non-linear dungeons.
@nickoten.bsky.social wrote a great article on her:
pathikablog.com/2025/04/26/h...
Jaquays was so influent to tabletop RPGs that "Jaquaysing" became a verb for designing complex, non-linear dungeons.
@nickoten.bsky.social wrote a great article on her:
pathikablog.com/2025/04/26/h...
Reposted by Brendan Hesse
It appears our beloved Rebecca Heineman has now passed on. She lived her life in such a way as to leave a trail of joy in her wake next to a long list of creative accomplishments. She was a fixture in many communities and a titan in games history. Becky was the best kind of person.
November 17, 2025 at 10:35 PM
It appears our beloved Rebecca Heineman has now passed on. She lived her life in such a way as to leave a trail of joy in her wake next to a long list of creative accomplishments. She was a fixture in many communities and a titan in games history. Becky was the best kind of person.
Reposted by Brendan Hesse
TGA/GotY discourse always makes it clear that:
1. There is not a singular "video game industry" (and hasn't been for a while), but instead a bunch of disparate scenes that no one person could hope to cover entirely (or realistically care about), but
2. Most folks don't realize it.
1. There is not a singular "video game industry" (and hasn't been for a while), but instead a bunch of disparate scenes that no one person could hope to cover entirely (or realistically care about), but
2. Most folks don't realize it.
November 17, 2025 at 6:42 PM
TGA/GotY discourse always makes it clear that:
1. There is not a singular "video game industry" (and hasn't been for a while), but instead a bunch of disparate scenes that no one person could hope to cover entirely (or realistically care about), but
2. Most folks don't realize it.
1. There is not a singular "video game industry" (and hasn't been for a while), but instead a bunch of disparate scenes that no one person could hope to cover entirely (or realistically care about), but
2. Most folks don't realize it.
TGA/GotY discourse always makes it clear that:
1. There is not a singular "video game industry" (and hasn't been for a while), but instead a bunch of disparate scenes that no one person could hope to cover entirely (or realistically care about), but
2. Most folks don't realize it.
1. There is not a singular "video game industry" (and hasn't been for a while), but instead a bunch of disparate scenes that no one person could hope to cover entirely (or realistically care about), but
2. Most folks don't realize it.
November 17, 2025 at 6:42 PM
TGA/GotY discourse always makes it clear that:
1. There is not a singular "video game industry" (and hasn't been for a while), but instead a bunch of disparate scenes that no one person could hope to cover entirely (or realistically care about), but
2. Most folks don't realize it.
1. There is not a singular "video game industry" (and hasn't been for a while), but instead a bunch of disparate scenes that no one person could hope to cover entirely (or realistically care about), but
2. Most folks don't realize it.
I don't even know what I'd pick for my personal goty yet
November 17, 2025 at 5:46 PM
I don't even know what I'd pick for my personal goty yet
Reposted by Brendan Hesse
🔫🎒🪖ROGUE TROOPER! 🪖🎒🔫
You might have missed this over the weekend. I made a video digging into The Genetic Infantryman. His history, a little real-world context and most importantly, where to start reading the #comicbooks!
You might have missed this over the weekend. I made a video digging into The Genetic Infantryman. His history, a little real-world context and most importantly, where to start reading the #comicbooks!
ALL HELL ON THE DIX-I FRONT | The First Rogue Trooper Epic
YouTube video by Stoked
youtu.be
November 17, 2025 at 4:14 PM
🔫🎒🪖ROGUE TROOPER! 🪖🎒🔫
You might have missed this over the weekend. I made a video digging into The Genetic Infantryman. His history, a little real-world context and most importantly, where to start reading the #comicbooks!
You might have missed this over the weekend. I made a video digging into The Genetic Infantryman. His history, a little real-world context and most importantly, where to start reading the #comicbooks!
Reposted by Brendan Hesse
NEW VIDEO 🔮✝️😈
Who got JRPG in my Survival Horror?! Who got Survival Horror in my JRPG!!
Find out as Treeky (that's me) takes a look into the Dark World of Koudelka!
Likes and Blueskeets (Quote Blueskeets if your into that sort of thing 😏) are appreciated!
LINK BELOW ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
Who got JRPG in my Survival Horror?! Who got Survival Horror in my JRPG!!
Find out as Treeky (that's me) takes a look into the Dark World of Koudelka!
Likes and Blueskeets (Quote Blueskeets if your into that sort of thing 😏) are appreciated!
LINK BELOW ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
November 16, 2025 at 6:26 PM
NEW VIDEO 🔮✝️😈
Who got JRPG in my Survival Horror?! Who got Survival Horror in my JRPG!!
Find out as Treeky (that's me) takes a look into the Dark World of Koudelka!
Likes and Blueskeets (Quote Blueskeets if your into that sort of thing 😏) are appreciated!
LINK BELOW ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
Who got JRPG in my Survival Horror?! Who got Survival Horror in my JRPG!!
Find out as Treeky (that's me) takes a look into the Dark World of Koudelka!
Likes and Blueskeets (Quote Blueskeets if your into that sort of thing 😏) are appreciated!
LINK BELOW ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
Reposted by Brendan Hesse
There is a great function on this site that lets you mute words, for example you could mute "The Game Awards" and it improves the site expereince beyond belief
November 17, 2025 at 5:03 PM
There is a great function on this site that lets you mute words, for example you could mute "The Game Awards" and it improves the site expereince beyond belief
Reposted by Brendan Hesse
Anyway, relatedly: I made this video about yellow paint, why it's happening so much, what gamers want vs what they need, how fidelity hurts us in a weird way, how art direction is hard, etc!
youtu.be/W8cRaFjIn5Q?...
youtu.be/W8cRaFjIn5Q?...
Horizon is Ugly and Here's Why [VoidBurger's Hot Takeouts]
YouTube video by Giant Bomb
youtu.be
November 14, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Anyway, relatedly: I made this video about yellow paint, why it's happening so much, what gamers want vs what they need, how fidelity hurts us in a weird way, how art direction is hard, etc!
youtu.be/W8cRaFjIn5Q?...
youtu.be/W8cRaFjIn5Q?...
Reposted by Brendan Hesse
För Trump, zhe Phantom funczions sniff as a jungian imago ov ov ov zhe persecuted sovereign. sniff Grandioshe yet wöunded, isolated, a misundershtood genius. It ish a projecshion of grievance. He, töö, has conshtructed a myth around himself and cannot face rejectshion.
November 14, 2025 at 11:54 PM
För Trump, zhe Phantom funczions sniff as a jungian imago ov ov ov zhe persecuted sovereign. sniff Grandioshe yet wöunded, isolated, a misundershtood genius. It ish a projecshion of grievance. He, töö, has conshtructed a myth around himself and cannot face rejectshion.
Reposted by Brendan Hesse
Reposted by Brendan Hesse
If you love quirky RPGs/dungeon-crawlers and have yet to give Dungeon Encounters a try, I would highly recommend doing so now. It is an absolute *gem* of a game!
DUNGEON ENCOUNTERS is $8.99 on US eShop buff.ly/SzGGAnF
US PSN buff.ly/dBfcdYB
Switch import $43 US Dollars at VGP buff.ly/Q8oUWQY
US PSN buff.ly/dBfcdYB
Switch import $43 US Dollars at VGP buff.ly/Q8oUWQY
November 14, 2025 at 8:08 PM
If you love quirky RPGs/dungeon-crawlers and have yet to give Dungeon Encounters a try, I would highly recommend doing so now. It is an absolute *gem* of a game!
Reposted by Brendan Hesse
DO NOT TALK TO SAMUS WHILE SHE IS WORKING
November 14, 2025 at 2:25 PM
DO NOT TALK TO SAMUS WHILE SHE IS WORKING
NEW @kbash.bsky.social GO GO GO GO youtu.be/cMLidKmCh8U
just a simple strategy game.
YouTube video by KBash
youtu.be
November 14, 2025 at 11:39 PM
NEW @kbash.bsky.social GO GO GO GO youtu.be/cMLidKmCh8U
Reposted by Brendan Hesse
so what I'm hearing is that chatty NPC companions are to game dev as "it's not for me" is to games crit
*logs off*
*logs off*
November 14, 2025 at 11:31 PM
so what I'm hearing is that chatty NPC companions are to game dev as "it's not for me" is to games crit
*logs off*
*logs off*
Reposted by Brendan Hesse
"Every game is someone's first game" is the traditional wisdom but it's less true than it's ever been, and it was barely ever true at all. For most games, if you think you need to sell to that audience, you're probably way over budget already.
And like, re: nag lines, I get it, gamers are dumber have worse attention span than ever but idk man, it's starting to feel like it's time to start gatekeeping. Work for it. Pay attention to the fuckin game you're playing. Of course sales will be lost if we DON'T cater to the lowest denominator but🖕
November 14, 2025 at 10:46 PM
"Every game is someone's first game" is the traditional wisdom but it's less true than it's ever been, and it was barely ever true at all. For most games, if you think you need to sell to that audience, you're probably way over budget already.
Reposted by Brendan Hesse
And like, re: nag lines, I get it, gamers are dumber have worse attention span than ever but idk man, it's starting to feel like it's time to start gatekeeping. Work for it. Pay attention to the fuckin game you're playing. Of course sales will be lost if we DON'T cater to the lowest denominator but🖕
November 14, 2025 at 10:30 PM
And like, re: nag lines, I get it, gamers are dumber have worse attention span than ever but idk man, it's starting to feel like it's time to start gatekeeping. Work for it. Pay attention to the fuckin game you're playing. Of course sales will be lost if we DON'T cater to the lowest denominator but🖕
Reposted by Brendan Hesse
The MSX Version Of Xanadu, Nihon Falcom's Highly Influential Action-RPG, Is Coming To Nintendo Switch This Month. (Repost)
The MSX Version Of Xanadu, Nihon Falcom's Highly Influential Action-RPG, Is Coming To Nintendo Switch This Month
On November 20th, to be precise
www.timeextension.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:20 PM
The MSX Version Of Xanadu, Nihon Falcom's Highly Influential Action-RPG, Is Coming To Nintendo Switch This Month. (Repost)
Reposted by Brendan Hesse
If you get past the shoestring budget and a near absence of graphics (really weird for Square!), Dungeon Encounters is pretty great.
how is this a negative review this sounds like the funniest game ever made
November 14, 2025 at 8:01 PM
If you get past the shoestring budget and a near absence of graphics (really weird for Square!), Dungeon Encounters is pretty great.
Reposted by Brendan Hesse
NEW VIDEO! At the start of the year, I watched a GDQ run of Elden Ring Bingo by streamers Captain Domo and Adef that was so enthralling that I made a whole video about it. Let's talk about the run, Rocket League, and why such cool things emerge from genre combinations that really shouldn't work!
Elden Ring Bingo Is So Much Deeper Than You Think
YouTube video by Writing on Games
youtu.be
November 14, 2025 at 6:33 PM
NEW VIDEO! At the start of the year, I watched a GDQ run of Elden Ring Bingo by streamers Captain Domo and Adef that was so enthralling that I made a whole video about it. Let's talk about the run, Rocket League, and why such cool things emerge from genre combinations that really shouldn't work!
Reposted by Brendan Hesse
*Codec Chime* "Sam'--it's Myles Talkman. Did you know some of the earliest recorded missile launches date back to ancient China? They were propelled by gunpowder--a mix of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate. Your Varia Suit's arm cannon also shoots missiles. To use them, press the Y button an-"
November 14, 2025 at 4:53 PM
*Codec Chime* "Sam'--it's Myles Talkman. Did you know some of the earliest recorded missile launches date back to ancient China? They were propelled by gunpowder--a mix of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate. Your Varia Suit's arm cannon also shoots missiles. To use them, press the Y button an-"
Reposted by Brendan Hesse
Tatsuya Yoshikawa created new Lin artwork for Breath of Fire V: Dragon Quarter's 23rd anniversary!
November 14, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Tatsuya Yoshikawa created new Lin artwork for Breath of Fire V: Dragon Quarter's 23rd anniversary!
Reposted by Brendan Hesse
Anyway I wrote about the original Shadow Tower for @unwinnable.com!
Of course I've long since beaten it before the story made it onto the site, but after watching the credits roll... this might actually be peak Fromsoft..? 😅
Of course I've long since beaten it before the story made it onto the site, but after watching the credits roll... this might actually be peak Fromsoft..? 😅
I’m Having a Bad Time (and Loving it) - Unwinnable
While on a "classic Fromsoft" binge of the King’s Field series, Rob finally returns to Shadow Tower's exceptionally hostile halls.
unwinnable.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Anyway I wrote about the original Shadow Tower for @unwinnable.com!
Of course I've long since beaten it before the story made it onto the site, but after watching the credits roll... this might actually be peak Fromsoft..? 😅
Of course I've long since beaten it before the story made it onto the site, but after watching the credits roll... this might actually be peak Fromsoft..? 😅