Sigma Star Saga DX is a tale of highs and lows. The lows can be pretty rough, but the highs are lofty enough.
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 through critical analysis and in-depth reviews to better understand the medium's artistic merit.
Twitter: @sam_martinelli.
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In this episode of The Punished Podcast, we discuss the role of review scores in the gaming industry, especially for us as critics.
In a Punished Notes dedicated entirely to Resident Evil Requiem, Sam wonders if the post-zombification of the game’s world bears a resemblance to our own post-pandemic one.
2026’s Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is a great RPG and a great game overall, but is it actually a good remake?
The Punished Backlog writers have already covered their favorite Pokémon games. But what about our actual favorite pocket monsters?
In our list of the best Pokémon Games, find out how the generations stack up in honor of Pokémon’s 30th anniversary.
In our Big Hops review, read why this indie platformer nails 3D platforming gameplay but unfortunately nails basically nothing else.
In his latest Punished Notes, Sam gets into some New Year’s Gaming Resolutions, as well as a few predictions (and hopes) for some big gaming anniversaries coming up. Also: Wuthering Heights?
Presenting the most anticipated video games of 2026, but in a stylish package: our annual Fantasy Gaming league. New year, new season.
As part of our Game of the Year coverage, here are some DIFFERENT awards for the year’s best games!