Articles by Hayes Madsen

"One of the challenges with Metaphor was that the length of each battle could vary quite a bit" - composer Shoji Meguro on Metaphor's orchestra tour, crafting the battle theme, and more

Ahead of Metaphor: ReFantazio's orchestra tour, we talk to composer Shoji Meguro about his inspirations behind the soundtrack, re-orchestrating the game's music, and working with Persona director Katsura Hashino.

interview by Hayes Madsen on 25 September, 2026

Control Resonant Review

Control Resonant pushes the bounds of what Remedy Entertainment's quirky formula can achieve. An action-RPG that has a few growing pains, but sprouts into something monumentally special by the end.

review by Hayes Madsen on 18 September, 2026

"Based on the decisions you make, by the end of the game you might not have every companion with you" - Exodus' narrative director on choice in RPGs, the animal-like Awakened, story themes, and more

We chat with Mass Effect 1 & 2 writer Drew Karpyshyn on the narrative ambitions of the new sci-fi RPG Exodus, and how it hopes to lean into the theme of sacrifice.

interview by Hayes Madsen on 04 September, 2026

Exodus already feels like so much more than a successor to Mass Effect

After going hands-on with Exodus, we're incredibly hopeful for how the long-awaited sci-fi RPG is shaping up.

preview by Hayes Madsen on 04 September, 2026

Onimusha: Way of the Sword Review

Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a stunning return for one of Capcom's most overlooked series, with a truly spectacular combat system and boss battles that constantly evoke the dynamic feeling of an action film.

review by Hayes Madsen on 31 August, 2026

Heroes of Might and Magic 3's Remake Transported Me Back to My Childhood, But I Have Some Worries

Heroes of Might and Magic 3 Remake successfully recaptures the feeling of the beloved RPG, but some of its aesthetic changes don't feel like they land quite as well.

preview by Hayes Madsen on 26 August, 2026

"We sat down and watched a lot of old action movies," — Onimusha: Way of the Sword's developers on crafting intense combat, difficulty, the Switch 2 version, and more

Just ahead of the game's launch, we talk to the producer and director of Onimusha: Way of the Sword, learning about its combat design, historical focus, how Genma are designed, and more.

interview by Hayes Madsen on 06 August, 2026

Beast of Reincarnation Review

Beast of Reincarnation is a bold new title from Game Freak that liberally takes inspiration from a handful of other games, including Pokémon, but manages to twist it all into something charmingly unique.

review by Hayes Madsen on 04 August, 2026

Lies of P on Switch 2: Even with a few technical hiccups, a great way to play what might be the best Soulslike ever made

Lies of P's Switch 2 version is a solid port that's more than worth a playthrough, but going through the game again made me realize just how important and impactful a game it actually is.

feature by Hayes Madsen on 03 August, 2026

Star Ocean's Smart Use Of Its Star Trek Inspirations Is Still Its Defining Feature 30 Years Later

Star Ocean has long been one of Square Enix's most understated but most unique franchises. And on its 30th anniversary, we celebrate what's made the franchise so distinct.

feature by Hayes Madsen on 19 July, 2026

"The motivation for this project was the passionate feedback we received from fans" - Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen's developers on the expansion's new gameplay loop, how it affects the Unmoored World, and more

We talk to the producer and director of Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen, digging into how this expansion will change the base game, why it takes place in the frozen North, and how the team is keeping the "spirit" of the game intact.

interview by Hayes Madsen on 13 July, 2026

Branching Path: Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Isn't Just a Stunning Remake, It Puts the Series Back on Track

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is a brilliant, almost textbook remake that doesn't just update the original, but integrally enhances and enriches it in nearly every way.

feature by Hayes Madsen on 08 July, 2026

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales Review

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is a solid, but sometimes disappointing, transition into action-RPGs for Square Enix's HD-2D series.

review by Hayes Madsen on 17 June, 2026

"I'm here to create something new that does not exist, that no one has ever done before" - Fumito Ueda on Gen Atlas' inspirations, shooter elements, and his distinct style

We talk to Fumito Ueda about how Gen Atlas embraces, and diverges from, the distinct tone and style of his previous games.

interview by Hayes Madsen on 10 June, 2026

"Some of the choices that we make may alter what the player perceives about each character" - Naoki Hamaguchi on Final Fantasy VII Revelation's Story Choices, Vincent, Weapon Battles, and More

We talk to Final Fantasy VII Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi about the long-awaited finale, Vincent's story elements, Ruby Weapon, and much more.

interview by Hayes Madsen on 07 June, 2026

Black Flag Resynced Is the Mix of Old and New Assassin's Creed That I've Wanted For Years

Black Flag Resynced is pulling together the series best elements, and it already feels like the exact style of remake I've wanted from Assassin's Creed.

preview by Hayes Madsen on 21 May, 2026

"You need to dream a bit. You need something to invent," Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Developers Discuss Ubisoft's First Big Remake, Enhancements, Modern-Day, and More

We talk to key developers behind Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, digging into the direction behind Ubisoft's first big remake, what's been added, and how it sets the stage for the series' future.

interview by Hayes Madsen on 21 May, 2026

Zero Parades: For Dead Spies Review

Zero Parades: For Dead Spies is an engrossing tale of espionage intrigue with superb writing and roleplaying mechanics, all wrapped up in a compelling reflection on the role of media in government and society at large.

review by Hayes Madsen on 21 May, 2026

Ubisoft Finally Reveals Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, Launches July 9

Ubisoft has officially revealed Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, a full-blown remake that adds new content, characters, and a sweeping array of changes.

news by Hayes Madsen on 23 April, 2026

The Expanse: Osiris Reborn Interview - Owlcat discusses adapting the series, high-risk combat, shaping the narrative, companions, and more

The game director of The Expanse: Osiris Reborn takes a deep dive into how the game embraces the sci-fi series' unique elements, companion design, how Owlcat's CRPG history prepared it for a third-person shooter, and more.

interview by Hayes Madsen on 23 April, 2026

The Expanse: Osiris Reborn might have the chops to fill the Mass Effect-sized hole in your life

The Expanse: Osiris Reborn makes a strong first impression, showing a studio that's clearly gained more confidence in recent years, branching out with something refreshingly new, but also charmingly familiar.

preview by Hayes Madsen on 22 April, 2026

"One of our many goals was to bridge the gap between old-school AC players and RPG-era players" - Assassin's Creed Shadows director on the game one year later

With Assassin's Creed Shadows' post-launch support at an end, Associate Game Director Simon Lemay-Comtois reflects on tackling the much-requested setting.

interview by Hayes Madsen on 21 April, 2026

Pragmata Review

Capcom's Pragmata is a truly inventive & surprisingly emotional take on the sci-fi shooter, and another tremendous outing in the company's ongoing hot streak.

review by Hayes Madsen on 13 April, 2026

Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy Has My Attention, But It Still Has a Lot to Prove

Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy is the series' latest foray into mobile, and while there are a lot of truly compelling ideas, the game's fate will clearly be decided by post-launch support.

preview by Hayes Madsen on 24 March, 2026

Etrange Overlord Review

Etrange Overlord is a short and sweet RPG that doesn't overstay its welcome, and hits all the right notes in its relatively short runtime.

review by Hayes Madsen on 19 March, 2026