RE8 isn’t just a solid survival horror game; it’s also a great Zelda-like. Here are the similarities between Resident Evil Village and Zelda.
Sam Martinelli
Sam Martinelli
Sam has been playing video games since his earliest years and has been writing about them since 2016. He joined The Punished Backlog in 2017 and became an Editor in Fall 2021. 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.
Bluesky: @sam-martinelli.bsky.social
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From the Breath of the Wild sequel to 2D Metroid rumors, we dive into Nintendo at E3 2021 and share our personal hopes and predictions.
Despite some tropes, the Titanfall 2 campaign manages to blend storytelling and gameplay in near perfect fashion. Here’s why it’s a classic.
We celebrate the life and legacy of Microsoft’s second console by chatting about our top Xbox 360 games, moments, and memories.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion just turned 15 years old, which begs the question: Does Oblivion still hold up in 2021? No, but also yes.
In this edition of Punished Notes, I talk the genius of Bowser’s Fury, delve into The Medium’s stunning tech, and celebrate my washer/dryer.
Just a few hours into my first-ever playthrough of Dragon Quest XI, I felt a sense of comfort and relief reminiscent of fond childhood memories, despite never playing a Dragon Quest game before. Turns out, it’s a nostalgia not for classic JRPGs, but rather a simpler time in gaming overall.
Welcome to the first post in our latest series, “Punished Hall of Fame.” In these pieces, writers at The Punished Backlog induct some of their favorite titles into this site’s own prestigious Hall of Fame. In this inaugural edition, Super Nintendo classic Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest will be the very first inductee.
It’s a fresh year, meaning out with the old (aka terrible) and in with the new! As with years past, here are my gaming goals for 2021.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: 2020 sucked. This year’s games were mostly great, and some in particular helped me get through some dark times, but the world is still a mess. That said, I want this list to be mostly a positive experience for anyone reading it. Here’s a Game of the Year tier list of every 2020 game I played.