Final Fantasy vs. Dungeons & Dragons
And why has the Mindflayer endured when many “borrowed” monsters have not?
Secret of Mana’s Mysterious Blue-Haired Girl
Phanna, Pamela, Marley, Marie — she goes by many names.
Justice for Dyluck: Sacrifice and Star-Crossed Love in Visions of Mana
The Secret of Mana series wants you to die for the greater good… romance be damned.
Why on Earth Was This Final Fantasy Monster Named ‘Veteran’?
The mystery of a baffling localization choice for the recurring Ahriman enemy.
Wherefore Art Thou, Princess Prin Prin?
And is there a sex scandal surrounding the opening scene of Ghosts ’n Goblins?
Ghosts ’n Goblins vs. Nintendo’s Ban on Religion
How do you censor a video game that’s essentially set in hell?
The Devil in the Mushroom Kingdom
Nintendo’s early ban on religious imagery (Satan included) was inconsistent.
Is There a Wizard of Oz Reference Hidden in Super Mario Galaxy?
How Rosalina was supposed to be an homage to Glinda the Good Witch — and might still be.
The Wanted List: Video Game Names and Terms With Unknown Origins
Can you lend an etymology to some pixels and sprites in need?
Does the Tower of Babel Make a Cameo in Super Mario Bros. 3?
The Super Mario games generally don’t incorporate religious iconography, but…
Don’t Call Her ‘Titty’
How Martial Champion did an M. Bison-style name swap to eliminate boob jokes.
Fighter’s History: Legally Not a Street Fighter Clone
But here’s why you may have encountered its Chun-Li analogue more than once in video games news in late 2024.
Street Fighter’s Surprising Crossover With Red Earth
Weirdly, Capcom’s fantasy fighter is closer to its flagship franchise than the more popular DarkStalkers is.
Why Does Street Fighter Have a Character Named ‘Sodom’?
And is this the best name for a guy who’s most prominent trait is liking Japanese culture?
Ryu and Ken No Longer Practice Shotokan Karate
And they never did in Japan, though the concept of the shotoclone lives on.
Sheng Long, Street Fighter and the Legacy of W.A. Stokins
One April Fool’s joke seemingly shaped multiple faces of the Capcom series.
How Impa Jumped from Background Lore to the Zelda In-Game Canon
And she’s not the only game element foreshadowed in the Legend of Zelda instruction booklets.
We Don’t Know Where Ganon’s Name Comes From
Also we have questions about where the Zelda big bad got his “dorf.”
You Cannot Grasp the True Form of Giygas!
The cosmic horror of Earthbound’s big bad should leave you with more questions than answers.
A Complete History of Birdo’s Gender
In English and Japanese, from Doki Doki Panic to present, Nintendo’s stance on the pink egg-spitter has evolved.