Sea of Stars brought me in with its clever gameplay, pretty worlds, and exciting battle system, but the vibes made me want to stay.
Author: Sam Martinelli
Sam Martinelli
Sam has been playing video games since his earliest years and has been writing about them since 2016. He’s a big fan of Nintendo games and complaining about The Last of Us Part II. You either agree wholeheartedly with his opinions or despise them. There is no in between. A lifelong New Yorker, Sam views gaming as far more than a silly little pastime, and hopes though critical analysis and in-depth reviews to better understand the medium's artistic merit. Twitter: @sam_martinelli.
Do video games like Gears of War 2 and Uncharted 4 hold up? Sam shares why summer is a great time to replay old favorites.
In episode 1 of The Punished Podcast, we discuss the difference between remakes and remasters, then share memories of the Nintendo DS.
Everything works just fine, nothing feels out of place or underbaked, but Exoprimal just isn’t that fun. Learn more in our Exoprimal review.
It’s a special edition of Punished Notes, as we celebrate Volume 30! To honor the occasion, here are 30 notes for your reading pleasure.
If you’re burned out on massive 3D AAA games, get excited. Mario, Sonic, and Prince of Persia are all returning to their 2D roots.
Every time I turn on TOTK, a million thoughts pop into my head that I could potentially write about. Honestly, I’d rather just keep playing.
How does Tears of the Kingdom compare to rest of the series? Where should Zelda go next? Get our early Tears of the Kingdom impressions here.
In Vol. 18 of Punished Notes, I discuss a pair of gaming remakes, MLB The Show’s take on baseball history, and the Super Mario Bros. movie.
E3 2023 is dead, and E3 as a whole may be done for good. In memoriam, the Punished Backlog editorial team shares its thoughts on the expo.