Author: Vincent Mahoney

Vincent is a game reviewer, graphic designer, illustrator and insurance agent: He wears many hats, but none of them properly cover his bald spot. His long-term goal is to publish a comic of the story he and his wife created together. He grew up playing action-platform games such as Super Mario, Metroid, Mega Man, Contra and Castlevania, but discovered his love for RPGs through Super Mario RPG and Final Fantasy VI, then embarking upon a quest to play every RPG he possibly can. At over 200 RPGs and counting the quest is not going so well, and there are buster swords, giant cats, eight virtues and personae appearing to him in his sleep. Please send help.

Save State: Fire Emblem Fortune’s Weave Spins a Bold New Strategy

Save State’s Vincent Mahoney writes about Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave and finds a surprisingly bold new entry with multiple routes, a strong presentation, dungeon exploration and plenty of tactical depth beneath its strange opening twists.

Save State: The Last Remnant Remastered Gets a Recommendation for RPG Enthusiasts

Save State columnist Vincent Mahoney writes about his initial experiences with The Last Remnant including its broken quests and Battle Rank frustration, and how he found that the remastered version finally lets Square Enix’s strange, ambitious RPG shine.

Oblivion Remastered on the Nintendo Switch 2 Puts Cyrodiil in Your Hands

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered brings one of Bethesda’s most beloved RPGs to Nintendo Switch 2, offering a gorgeous and portable return to Cyrodiil that preserves the freedom, weirdness and wonder of the classic adventure, even with some performance issues.

Save State: Oblivion Remastered Reopens the Gates to 2006

Before his full Oblivion Remastered Switch 2 review, Save State columnist Vincent Mahoney looks back at the original RPG that helped make him a lifelong Elder Scrolls fan, from building his first PC to stepping out of the sewers into Cyrodiil for the very first time.

Save State Examines the Cute Charm Glitch in Generation IV Pokemon Titles

Save State columnist Vincent Mahoney returns to Pokemon Platinum to explore the Cute Charm glitch in Generation IV Pokemon titles, a strange bit of RNG manipulation that can dramatically raise shiny encounter rates and make old DS adventures feel fresh again.

Save State: Star Ocean The Second Story R Remains a Stellar Remake

Save State’s Vincent Mahoney returns to Star Ocean: The Second Story R and finds that its gorgeous HD-2D visuals, faster combat, improved Private Actions and smart quality-of-life upgrades still make it the best way to experience one of the greatest Star Ocean adventures.

Save State: Why Losing Physical Games Will Negatively Impact Players’ Wallets

Digital games may be convenient, but Save State’s Vincent Mahoney argues that physical media still gives players important advantages, from lower prices and resale options to ownership rights and long-term preservation.

Save State: 7 Days to Die 3.0 Makes the Sandbox Wilder

Save State’s Vincent Mahoney and his friends returned to 7 Days to Die for its 3.0 update and found a new version of the zombie survival staple that adds multiple endgame hooks, fresh customization options and a lot more room for crazy chaos.

Monster Crown: Sin Eater Breeds a Better Monster Adventure

With deep fusion and breeding systems, strong retro-inspired charm and nearly 200 monsters to collect, Monster Crown: Sin Eater delivers a creature-collecting adventure that is easy to get lost in even if its story leans a little too hard into darker territory.

Mina the Hollower Digs Deep Into Retro Adventure Greatness

In Mina the Hollower, developer Yacht Club Games trades Shovel Knight’s side-scrolling action for a tough-as-nails isometric adventure inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, classic Castlevania and some Bloodborne-esque risk.