By Ronald Gordon

Hello and welcome back to the Roundup, where we gather the stories of members and interns alike to give them the spotlight! New games are popping up all over the place, with games such as Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii and Monster Hunter: Wilds in the scifi future taking the stage with millions of sales in the first few weeks of their release, and more on the horizon!

In detail, though, we focus on our newest intern, who learned the power of teamwork through multiplayer games, the perfection that is Monster Hunter Wilds via Kimari, our expert, Jade’s review of Dreamcore the Liminal Spaces game sans the horror, Aeth’s thoughts on Tetris Forever, changes to the Pokémon: Legends series, MOME announcing an official Digital Game Design Bachelor’s Program, and so much more!

To start us off, let’s give a warm welcome to our Newest Intern, Tina Lam! Growing up, Tina always thought success could only be achieved alone, that she herself was the only one who could ensure she climbed the ladder in life properly. Tina writes, “Growing up, my mom would always say, ‘When in doubt, ask others for help.’ At the time, I brushed it off, thinking that the key to success meant figuring everything out on my own. As I sat in the living room, intensely watching the network news on our big flat-screen TV, all that filled my vision were the flashing images of self-made billionaires. These were the types of people I admired, the kind of people I aspired to be, the ones highly praised by the world.”

Yet this soon changed as she grew older and fell into the world of multiplayer games, learning the true strength of relying on others through games like Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite. “Now, I understand that the path to success is a rocky journey that nobody can get through alone. Ironically, it was gaming that opened my eyes to this. Through the online interactions in Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft, I came to realize that true success isn’t just about individual effort, it’s about teamwork, trust, and the connections we build along the way.”

Having recently played Split Fiction, the newest co-op experience from Hazelight Studios, I was overjoyed to see split screen/couch co-op gameplay thrive in this new online age. LAN parties may be dying out now that the internet is as scattered as it is. But Hazelight Studios takes care to remind you that games are meant to be played together, especially if you’re in the same room. In my review, I write, “Being a Hazelight Studios game means that Split Fiction is not only going to be dramatic and emotional, it’s also going to be a ride fit for two people. Cooperative gaming has always been a favorite of mine, especially since I grew up on split screen co-op with friends in games like Gears of War or Resident Evil 6. Split Fiction takes me back to those days, as my partner and I couldn’t help but get lost in the wonderful, puzzle-solving nonsense for hours on end.”

Bringing his own thoughts about Split Fiction to the New York Times, returning Circle Member Christopher Byrd writes, “It seemed obvious after the first couple of hours of volleying frantic choreography instructions with my pal that Split Fiction will go down as one of the most beloved co-op games of this generation.” It’s no secret that Hazelight has perfect a formula with their games, bringing forth not only a fantastic narrative journey for both players but also stunningly beautiful environments and graphics. Even moreso in Split Fiction, which not only incorporates both ideals of story and beauty, but also finds space for riveting gameplay in between. Something is very much appreciated, as Christopher relates, “I’ve always believed that some of the most potent sensory pleasures video games can offer are sharp transitions between radically different environments. Split Fiction delivers that in spades. While absorbing the many play styles thrown our way, we kept a loose tally of game influences: Contra, Marble Madness, Metroid, Portal, Mario, Halo and more.”

Who’s the mastermind behind Hazelight’s hits you ask? Founder Harold Goldberg brings you the answer in his riveting interview with Josef Fares, Director of Hazelight Studios. Harold details Fares’s upbringing during the Lebanese Civil War and being a huge movie buff. Fares talks about all that he’s loved about his career within gaming. Harold quotes him as saying, “‘It’s like falling in love with something I can’t quit,’ Fares, 47, said. ‘There’s not a single day in my life that I don’t think about video games.'” Fares has an unending determination to make games that are not only fun, but also impactful for those that enjoy them together.

Bringing forth a different side to Hazelight’s director, Inverse writer Shannon Liao talks with Josef Fares about the sad truth: There’s too much focus on Live Service content. It’s no secret that the industry nowadays is plagued by the idea of nearly infinite content and microtransactions, ideas that have led to sustained financial success in many games still played today. Yet in contrast to the view of pursuing prolonged profit, Fares says there’s more to making games than chasing money, “‘Look, if you want to do this for just for the money, fine, go do it. But it’s just that. The sad part is that it’s not pushing the creativity of video games forward. And that’s what I don’t like,’ Fares tells Inverse.

Karoline Castillo-Troncoso talks about the heavy hitting reality of grief shown in Afterlove EP. Being the same game that sadly lost its creator before it could be completely finished, Afterlove EP gives the player a look at what grief feels like through a beautiful medium. Speaking on the art style of the game, Karoline writes, “With manga-inspired protagonists and environments by Indonesian artist Soyatu and a catchy original soundtrack from Indonesian Indie band L’Alphalpha, it’s natural for players to grow drawn to the game’s musical and visual appeal. Whether it be the music played by Rama’s band, or the white noise behind the sound of marker streaks as a new day is marked off of a calendar, all sounds evoke feelings, shaping the atmosphere they create. This atmosphere is a reflection and manifestation of the choices made by players as they progress through their gameplay. Whether making romantic decisions, prioritizing friendship, or deciding an approach to Rama’s grieving process, each course of action ultimately affects the ending achieved.” Having lost its original director Mohammad Fahmi, Afterlove EP is more than a game; it’s a final gift from the amazing mind of a creator who is gone. Experiencing a game doubly steeped in grief can be quite cathartic, but Afterlove EP does its best to show that not everything revolving loss is depressing, sometimes it can be beautiful.

Long time Monster Hunter fan Kimari Rennis talked about her experience in Monster Hunter Wilds, and its beast bashing brilliance! Kimari writes, “Monster Hunter Wilds is genuinely one of the best games I’ve ever played, one I’ll continue to play for a very long time. Coincidentally enough, the last game to hold that prestigious title in my heart was Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. I’m a big fan of the series, having spent hundreds upon hundreds of hours playing.” Improving upon a ton of the mechanics in former games, Monster Hunter Wilds puts all its weight into making the joy of the hunt paramount. It seems Capcom’s efforts were successful, as Kimari goes onto opine, “I could produce a Monster Hunter Wilds Retrospective through a 15,000-word essay. It would include the intricate mechanics, clever game design, and all of the little things that came together to make Monster Hunter Wilds such a mind-blowing experience for me! There’s just that much content to explore and appreciate. If I were to fit every detail into this review, it would turn into a book, fast.” Accompanying the fact that Monster Hunter Wild surpassed 8 million copies sold, it seems Capcom succeeded in bringing a thrilling experience to everyone, especially Kimari. 

Jade Entien brings a review of Dreamcore, a surprisingly relaxing Liminal Spaces game! The concept of Liminal Spaces, nearly endless transitional spaces that are often devoid of life, is itself innately scary to many who play or experience games built around it. Look no further than the nearly unending number of Backrooms based horror games featured on Steam as examples of how horrific Liminal Spaces can be. Yet Jade counters this as they write, “As stated on its Steam page, the game provides an experience ‘without monsters or jumpscares, (building) tension through the eerie beauty and unsettling stillness of its liminal spaces.’ Thus, players can find a comfortable Backrooms-type experience, sans weird and creepy entities chasing them down. (I did witness a dark, skinny monster, twitching in a corner, and that initially terrified me. But once I approached the silly little guy, it ran off, allowing me to enjoy my scenic playthrough.)” Signaling that Dreamcore tries to be a tranquil experience for its players by keeping hostile monsters out, it allows for a much needed quiet trip through the strange in-between realms. 

Next up, Aeth Finch talks about Tetris Forever, almost a Tetris fan’s dream game. After 40 years of Tetris being one of the few games to be remembered around the world, there’s no telling how many fans of the game there truly are. Luckily, there’s Tetris Forever, made to appeal to every fan across the globe no matter how small. Yet Aeth, despite being a long time fan of Tetris, voices his concerns as he writes, “Now while the collection is good and preserves classic Tetris well, not everything is perfect. One of the crucial flaws is how many games there are available. There are a massive amount of games in the history of Tetris. It wasn’t out of the ordinary for me to expect more. As of this review, the collection only has 15 games, 14 available at launch and one being added in a later update. 200 official versions have been created over the years. I hope to see this library expand massively in future updates.” Aeth notes thatfact that there aren’t many choices for game modes in the current edition. While there may have been updates and new game modes added recently, Tetris Forever is still missing one crucial part for Aeth, “There is one collection of games I want to see ported onto Tetris Forever, and it is the Tetris: The Grand Master, also known as the TGM series. To me, it feels like the definitive single-player Tetris experience. At its core, the TGM series is known for being very difficult. Its main game mode is a normal Tetris game, but it is made in a way where it can become a challenge pretty quickly. With every piece you put down, the game slowly ramps up in speed. So as time goes on the game progressively gets harder. The game can be beaten however, as once the player hits a level of 998 and clears any amount of lines, they win.” 

Frequent users of Serebii.net get an inside scoop thanks to Deven McClure’s interview with Site Founder Joe Merrick, and his thoughts on the nearly unending misinformation spread throughout the fandom. Pokémon is a franchise that exists on many planes. It’s a trading card game, a video game, an anime — but more importantly it’s a community of millions of people across the globe. There’s no end to the amount of information spread about the various Pokémon or their regions, and with information there will always be something misconstrued or misinterpreted. But that’s where Serebii.net comes in. Deven writes, “Leaks and rumors in the Pokémon community have existed for essentially as long as the franchise has, from the 2024 Teraleak incident to the idea that Red and Blue’s Missingno could delete save files. For Merrick, combating an ever-rising number of accounts that peddle unconfirmed – and often outright incorrect – ideas has become a constant battle.” The near insurmountable task of correcting explosive topics like leaks within a massive fandom is a constant challenge. Merrick says, “‘Have you ever tried punching a waterfall? It’s never going to end, but because of how the internet is, you have creators who obviously want the attention. You’ve got people on social media platforms, which I won’t name, which obviously want the attention, and so they’re just sharing whatever they can because they think people will keep reposting it and then say, ‘Oh, I follow these people for it.’ But it’s just so wrong so often, and it’s become just so obnoxious. Then these people who are leaking start fighting with each other, and it’s ridiculous.’”

Bringing even more Pokémon news, Jordan Minor speaks of Big Changes to Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and how the franchise is finally moving forward! The annual Pokémon Day brought with it not only news of new anime and card updates, but also news on the upcoming addition to the Legends series, Pokémon Legends: Z-A. With Legends: Arceus bringing a fresh coat of paint to the Pokémon franchise, Jordan writes, “Pokémon Legends: Z-A has a lot to live up to. The Pokémon Legends series began in 2022 with Pokémon Legends: Arceus. In that game, you were transported to the Sinnoh region’s feudal past and encountered primitive Pokémon. The medieval setting gave the game a unique aesthetic reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, albeit with much lower-budget graphics and poor technical performance.” But Jordan still seems plenty hopeful about the possible changes, as he goes onto write, “Based on what was shown, Z-A retains Arceus’ more engaging mechanics. You still sneak up on Pokémon to battle or capture them. If anything, the battle system looks even more radically redesigned. During fights, you must consider in real time where your monsters are positioned to stay in and out of attack range. Attacks look to employ a Xenoblade-esque cooldown system. The combat resembles an event in real physical space, not just a bunch of turn-based calculations like classic Pokémon titles. As in X and Y, Pokémon can also undergo dramatic Mega Evolutions to gain new forms with new abilities.” 

Samit Sarkar starts his thoughts on the Witcher 4 Reveal with the hard truth as he writes, “It’s probably going to be a while before we’re all able to curl up on the couch and dive into The Witcher 4.” Recently revealed at the 2024 Game Awards, The Witcher 4 brought with it a blast of both excitement and skepticism about the storyline. Luckily, CD Projekt Red put out more information on the game, such as a behind the scenes trailer and even a breakdown of their reveal and it’s contents, giving fans like Samit more to look forward to. Reflecting on what entices him about the behind the scenes video, Samit writes, “But if you ask me, the coolest thing in this 10-and-a-half-minute video is the segment about how they put together the battle between Ciri and the monster, which is known as the Bauk — a beast with the head of a goblin, the neck of a snake, the arms of a jaguar, pincers that are literally scorpion claws, and dinosaurlike hindquarters.” Though it may take some time to actually fight the monstrous Bauk, fans like Samit can expect more content to come as it seems CD Projekt Red is doing what they can to keep fans engaged before its eventual release.

Beyond the Circle

New York City continues to rock when it comes to expanding the community of developers and gamers in the city that never sleeps. Along those lines, the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment is helping with many new programs and plans. “The investment totals over $1 million and includes support for programs such as the Minecraft Education Battle of the Boroughs ESports Competition, the ‘Made in NY’ Animation Training Program, and the Game Design Future Lab within NYU Tandon Future Labs. Additional investments, research and partnership with private businesses all ladder up to Mayor Adams commitment to creating jobs in the Digital Games industry, as first outlined in the “Rebuild, Renew, Reinvent: A Blueprint for New York City’s Economic Recovery” plan and in the just announced initiative “New York City’s Artificial Intelligence Advantage: Driving Economic Growth and Technological Transformation.”

Here are more details:

Investments totaling over $1 Million include:

• ‘Made in NY’ Animation Training Program
  • The signature ‘Made in NY’ Animation Project which trained over 10,000 young New Yorkers across the five boroughs in 2D and 3D animation, first launched in 2017, is receiving new investment to provide advanced training to talented, yet economically-disadvantaged, New Yorkers toward internships, post-secondary education, and full-time job placements in NYC’s creative industries. The first four cohorts this Spring will enroll 48 participants in the 54-hour training and certification program.
• NYU Game Design Future Lab
  • Announced in December 2023 in partnership with NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering, the application period has been extended until February 28, 2025 to apply for the first-of-its-kind 1-year in-person incubator designed to help digital gaming startups grow by providing in-person staff support, mentorship, networking opportunities, investor guidance, tailored workshops, and office hours. Additionally, an Advisory Board and Game Design Mentor Group were created, both made up of industry leaders who will provide support to the active cohorts. Six to eight game developers will be selected for the first cohort.
• CUNY’s first-ever Bachelor’s Degree in Digital Game Design at City College of New York (CCNY)
  • First mapped out in 2022 with a $2 million investment toward its design and programming, additional funding has been allocated to support the implementation of the degree program and related events as part of City College Gaming Pathways including: Unreleased Game Arcade (3/8/2025), Waffle Games (4/5/2025) and the Video Games: The Great Connector Pop Up Exhibition (5/3/2025 — 5/9/2025). Registration for the Bachelor’s degree is anticipated to open later this Spring for the Fall 2025 semester.
• Minecraft Education Battle of the Boroughs Esports Competition
  • For the third year in a row, NYC will host the Mayor’s Cup Final, the culminating event of a city-wide esports Minecraft competition where NYC’s youngest New Yorkers help shape the future of their city through Minecraft build challenges based in civic planning and addressing climate change. The application period for teams of five K-12 students is open until March 7.
• Sunset Studios / Pier 94 Workforce Development Program
  • As part of NYC’s partnership with Vornado, Blackstone, and Hudson Pacific, in the development of Pier 94, workforce development and training programs in Film/TV, media and virtual production, were given funding to connect local residents to jobs in the industry. An announcement regarding the two nonprofits to receive these funds and administer programs is coming in Spring 2025.
• NYC Summer of Games Initiative and additional continued support for major video game-related events and conferences throughout the year to highlight NYC’s role in the industry, and encourage video game development, including:
  • Playing With Purpose’ Internship Program where the New York Video Game Critics Circle’s award-winning writers teach and mentor disadvantaged youth to build pathways into careers in games journalism and narrative design
  • Games for Change Festival support for programming
  • Play NYC support for New York City-based developers to demo games
  • Game Devs of Color Expo support for the ‘Made in NY’ Developer Grant Award
  • Game Developers Conference (GDC) at AI Summit programming and support for New York City-based indie developers to attend the summit

Ronald Gordon is a New York Videogame Critics Circle Member & Mentor. He was the first of our writers – or any intern anywhere – to complete an internship at Rockstar Games.

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