April Roundtable: Fools

April Roundtable: Fools

It’s April, the season of fools. As a group of people who both play and write about games, we are the real fools—but this isn’t about us. This month, we’re talking about gaming’s biggest fools, dinguses, and clowns, and what function they have in context.

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On Silent Protagonists: The Case of Persona 5’s Joker

On Silent Protagonists: The Case of Persona 5’s Joker

I should begin by saying this is not an ode to silent protagonists. If anything, I’d like to argue that for a strong narrative-driven game, a silent protagonist is actually a detriment. How does one hook a story on a main character who has no or limited personality? In this essay, I will… argue that Joker, the silent protagonist in Persona 5/Royal, had no right to be silent.

Spoilers abound for Persona 5 Royal. (more…)

August Roundtable: Alternate Endings

August Roundtable: Alternate Endings

Summer is drawing to a close. We’re all thinking about alternate realities, so the Sidequest crew got together to discuss alternate endings. For example, consider the alternate ending of August where we had managed to get this up on time! (more…)

August Roundtable: Hangin’ Out With Friends

August Roundtable: Hangin’ Out With Friends

As August draws to a close, we must contend with the fact that our summer up here in the northern hemisphere is also drawing a close. This is good news for the chai-sipping, apple pie-loving pumpkin fiends among us, but it’s always a bit sad to know that beach season is heading out with the warm weather.

So, naturally, what better topic for a roundtable than a beach episode? Let’s have Sidequest contributor Joesph Langdon tell you all about it: (more…)

Persona 5: The Animation is Perfect for Persona 5 Fans (and Maybe Others)

Persona 5: The Animation is Perfect for Persona 5 Fans (and Maybe Others)

Y’all might have noticed by now that I tend to get obsessed with things. My latest love (don’t get me wrong, I’m still all-in for being Mystic Messenger trash) is Persona 5, which I will one day argue is one of the greatest YA games to have ever been created. So let’s just say when I finally got around to watching Persona 5: The Animation, I was slain. (more…)