Kat Bailey
Editor in Chief
Kat Bailey is a former freelance writer and contributor to publications including 1UP, IGN, GameSpot, GamesRadar, and EGM. Her fondest memories as a journalist are at GamePro, where she hosted RolePlayer's Realm and had legal access to the term "Protip." She is USgamer's resident mecha enthusiast, Pokemon Master, and Minnesota Vikings nut (skol).
@The_Katbot kat.bailey@usgamer.netLatest Articles
The Last of Us Part 2's Unlikely Connection to Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Naughty Dog's blockbuster isn't the first game to use a snowball fight to great effect.
The Last of Us Part 2 Review: An Emotional Reckoning And a Worthy Sequel
Naughty Dog crafts an amazing sequel, but does it surpass the original?
The Demon's Souls PS5 Remake Looks Stunning in These First Screenshots
Here's another taste of what to expect from Bluepoint after today's reveal.
The Last of Us Part 2's Unlikely Connection to Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Naughty Dog's blockbuster isn't the first game to use a snowball fight to great effect.
The Last of Us Part 2 Review: An Emotional Reckoning And a Worthy Sequel
Naughty Dog crafts an amazing sequel, but does it surpass the original?
The Demon's Souls PS5 Remake Looks Stunning in These First Screenshots
Here's another taste of what to expect from Bluepoint after today's reveal.
Introducing The Dialogue Box, a Brand New Podcast Featuring the People Who Shape the Games Industry
We're launching a brand new podcast at USG!
Axe of the Blood God: How RPGs Have Handled Social Commentary Through the Years
From Shinra to "Augs Lives Matter," the highs and lows of social commentary in RPGs.
The Outer Worlds is a Pretty Bad Switch Port
A clever RPG with a lot of heart that is nevertheless difficult to recommend on Switch.
Axe of the Blood God: Our Final Verdict on Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
Senior Editor Caty McCarthy joins the show to discuss her review and deliver her final verdict on the big remaster.
The Last of Us Part 2 is the Dark Counterpart to Animal Crossing
Two very different games, both of which feel perfectly suited for 2020.
Why I'm Still Playing Gradius 35 Years After Its Original Release
On its 35th anniversary, the Vic Viper lives on.
Axe of the Blood God: The Rich RPG Legacy of the Game Boy Advance
From Golden Sun to Fire Emblem, the GBA was a brilliant handheld console for RPG fans.
Perfect Dark Turns 20 This Week. Now is the Time for a Revival
Rare's ambitious shooter was ahead of its time, and it's a perfect fit for 2020.
Starting Screen | Why Grand Theft Auto 5 is Still Capable of Crashing the Epic Games Store in 2020
Rockstar's return to Los Santos is one of the most popular games ever, and it's not going away anytime soon.
Axe of the Blood God: We Talk Paper Mario, Ghost of Tsushima, and Xenoblade Chronicles
Our RPG podcast recaps some of the big news events of the past week, and shares initial Xenoblade Chronicles impressions.
Axe of the Blood God: The Failed RPGs That Deserve Another Chance
From Alpha Protocol to Resonance of Fate, these were the RPGs that never got a proper opportunity to shine.
Inside Xbox Reaction: The Xbox Series X's First Big Games Showcase Held Few Surprises
The first Xbox Series X games showcase was a bit of a dud.
Does Anyone Actually Want to Play a Lord of the Rings Game About Gollum?
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is being billed as a next-gen showcase for PS5 and Xbox Series X, but there's just one problem.
The 35 Year Quest for the Perfect Video Game Lightsaber
Tracing the history of the iconic weapon from the Atari 2600 to the present, and all the ways that it's influenced gaming.
Axe of the Blood God: It's Time to Explore the GameCube's RPG Legacy
Nintendo's little purple cube had some pretty good RPGs.
The More I Think About Final Fantasy 7 Remake, The More I Like It
Reflections on why Final Fantasy 7 Remake is more than the sum of its parts.
Axe of the Blood God: Does the Mana Series Hold Up?
Kat and Nadia review Trials of Mana, which brings them to a much bigger question.
XCOM: Chimera Squad Review: Alien Nation
Firaxis shakes up the XCOM formula in a surprising new addition to the venerable tactics series.
Animal Crossing: Sweet Day Was the Greatest Nintendo Party Game You Never Played
Nintendo Land never reached the heights of Wii Sports, but it gave us one amazing party game.
Starting Screen | This Week We're Exploring All the Ways We Can Play Together
Join us for a week-long series in which we explore the magic of co-op, community, and more.
Axe of the Blood God: It's Time to Revisit Fallout 76 Now That It's Finally An RPG
Plus, a brand new segment!
The Planet's Dyin': Final Fantasy 7 Remake's Politics Are More Relevant Than Ever
War, poverty, and climate change in the world of Midgar.
TurboGrafx-16 Mini Review: Not Just for Retro Nostalgia, But Retro Discovery
Maybe the only "essential" mini-console on the market today.
Yes, Resident Evil 4 is Pretty Dated These Days
A remake of Resident Evil 4 would definitely be welcome.
Axe of the Blood God: Should Xenogears Get a Remake?
Plus, Final Fantasy 7 Remake's wild ending.
What Final Fantasy 7 Remake Gains and Loses in Splitting Up Its Story
The consequences of turning Final Fantasy 7 Remake into a multi-part epic.
Axe of the Blood God: Our Non-Spoiler Final Fantasy 7 Remake Discussion
We talk about the review in the latest episode of the RPG podcast.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake's Developers Tried to Avoid Playing Favorites With Tifa and Aerith
Co-Director Naoki Hamaguchi and Producer Yoshinori Kitase tell us about giving Tifa and Aerith equal time, how their vision for the remake evolved over time, and more.
Axe of the Blood God: Remembering Square's Direct to Video Era
Special guest Ben Hanson joins the pod to remember the Compilation of Final Fantasy 7.
Axe of the Blood God: The Persona 5 Spoilercast
All we want to do is date boys.
The Studio Behind the Messenger Is Trying to Kickstart Its Dream RPG in the Midst of a Pandemic
We talk to Sabotage Studio about its vision for Sea of Stars, and the nightmare of unveiling its dream project in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
MLB The Show 20 Review: A Baseball Fan's Balm for a Painful Spring
Opening Day may have been delayed, but The Show must go on.
See How Trials of Mana's Early Scenes Compare Between the Original and the Remake
It's a much bigger upgrade than what Secret of Mana received.
Axe of the Blood God: Mako Reactor Attacks, Evading Dragons, and Other Amazing RPG Intros
We explore the opening moments of some of our favorite RPGs.
The Final Fantasy 7 Spinoffs You Never Knew About
The less famous stories, movies, and games that filled in the gaps of Final Fantasy 7's lore.
Starting Screen | Everyone Forgets That Final Fantasy 13 Had a Really Good Battle System
Lessons learned from Final Fantasy 13, Ori returns, and everything else that's happening this week in games.
Axe of the Blood God: Why Airships Rule
Our latest mailbag tackles RPG commandments, why airships are awesome, and more!
The Case for the PlayStation 2 Being the Greatest Console Ever
Why the highest-selling console of all time is also the best.
Countdown to Final Fantasy 7 Remake
We count down the final weeks to Final Fantasy 7 Remake's release with a series of features, essays, and podcasts.
Axe of the Blood God: We Play Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Celebrate PlayStation 2's 20th Anniversary
We've got a packed episode this week as we take a look at some of the year's most anticipated RPGs.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Changes One of the Original's Most Iconic Scenes, and Not for the Better
What Cloud's first meeting with Aerith says about the differences between the remake and the original.
Watch Our 15 Minute Guided Tour of Final Fantasy 7 Remake's Opening Mission
Plus scattered thoughts on summons, Mako Reactor 5, and more.
Baldur's Gate 3's New Cinematic Trailer is Seriously Squicking Me Out
Horrific neural parasites. Why does it always have to be horrific neural parasites.
Baldur's Gate 3 Being Turn-Based Was "Never Really a Question"
We go in-depth on Baldur's Gate 3's battle system, its branching narrative, and more.
With Baldur's Gate 3 Coming to Stadia, Larian Reacts to the Platform's Struggles
"We of course follow the news, and we know what players are thinking and why they're thinking that."
Microsoft Just Pulled Out of GDC Due to Coronavirus Fears [Update: Epic is Out Too]
Xbox developer joins Sony, EA, and other major devs in canceling events as Covid-19 spreads.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is "Three Times the Scope and Scale" of Blind Forest
We talk to the devs at Moon about delays, growing up as a studio, and success on the Switch.
Axe of the Blood God: The Tropes We Love (and Hate) to See in RPGs
From sewer levels to ridiculous weapons, we talk about the tropes we both love and hate to see in RPGs.
Axe of the Blood God: The Dreamcast Console RPG Quest
The Console RPG Quest takes on one of the most beloved consoles ever. Plus, Fire Emblem: Three Houses DLC discussion!
Get an Early Glimpse of Next-Gen With 20 Minutes of Outriders Gameplay
We captured high-end PC footage from Outriders, which will also be out on PS5 and Xbox Series X later this year.
"Outriders Isn't Games as Service:" People Can Fly on What Makes Their Next-Gen Shooter "Old-School"
Where we're going, we don't need roadmaps.
Sonic the Hedgehog Movie Review: Almost a Sonic Boom
After all the hype and controversy, Sonic serves up a perfectly competent video game adaptation.
Axe of the Blood God: The State of JRPGs in 2020
From Persona 5 to Atelier Ryza, Kat and Nadia talk about how JRPGs are faring as a new decade begins.
A Frank Chat About Difficulty With Nioh 2's Producer
Quoth The Raven Tengu, Nevermore.
Axe of the Blood God: Looking Back on the Decade in RPGs
Kat and Nadia talk about all the ways that RPGs changed dramatically over the course of the 2010s.
Why Gundam Extreme Vs. Maxi Boost On Probably Isn't Coming to Switch
Decade-old arcade architecture makes a port unlikely.
Warcraft 3 Was the Best Strategy Game Blizzard Ever Made
One of Blizzard's lesser-known classics finally gets its due. Plus, all of the big releases, The Sims 20th anniversary, and more.
Axe of the Blood God: Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, Temtem, and the January Mailbag!
Which short RPGs do we recommend? What happened to Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot? Find out in this week's episode of our RPG podcast.
Captain Tsubasa’s Surprisingly Rich Video Game Heritage and Its Ties to Tecmo Bowl and Ninja Gaiden
It's not a soccer RPG anymore, but Captain Tsubasa hearkens back to the days of Tecmo's sports games in other ways.
76 Million Households Watched Netflix's The Witcher for At Least Two Minutes
More than 76 million households have watched the new show starring Henry Cavill. Or at least some of it.
Axe of the Blood God: The Return of Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE, Byleth in Smash Bros., and More!
Plus, new Fire Emblem: Three Houses DLC!
Axe of the Blood God Console RPG Quest: Nintendo 64
We look back on a major turning point in Nintendo's history.
Actually, Resident Evil 4 Was Plenty Scary
On its 15th anniversary, we remember some of Resident Evil 4's scariest moments.
Remember When... Xbox 360 Tried to Conquer Japan?
Microsoft's attempts to win over Japanese gamers, and why it ultimately failed.
Starting Screen | 2020 Will Be One of the Most Consequential Years in Gaming History
This will be the year that all of the major promises of the past decade finally come true.
Axe of the Blood God Previews the RPGs of 2020
Cyberpunk, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and a brand new generation of consoles highlights 2020 in RPGs.
The Axe of the Blood God End of 2019 Extravaganza!
We're back to talk about all the best games of 2019 in the final episode of the year!
Once the King of PC Gaming, MechWarrior is Now the Big Stompy Ghost of a Bygone Era
A legacy series returns, and there’s little else like it in gaming today.
Armored Monsters and Flying Swords: Here's Your First Look at Babylon's Fall's Gameplay
We get our first glimpse of the gameplay from the new collaboration between PlatinumGames and Square Enix.
MLB The Show, Long an Important PlayStation Exclusive, Appears Headed for Switch and Xbox One
One of Sony's best exclusives is going multi-platform, and it's a win for baseball fans everywhere.
Shovel Knight Showdown Review: A Sneaky Contender for 2019's Best Party Game
An excellent arena battler that transcends Shovel Knight's boundaries in unexpected ways.
Shovel Knight: King of Cards Review: This Crown Belongs to Another
King of Cards is the most ambitious Shovel Knight game to date, but it's not quite the best.
FIFA 20 Removes Retired Dutch Player Marco van Basten After He Uses Nazi Greeting on Television
"We have an expectation that our commitment to equality and diversity is upheld across our game," EA says.
Axe of the Blood God: Why Dungeons & Dragons is Enjoying a Mini-Renaissance
Dicebreaker's Sara Elsam joins the pod to talk about the state of D&D in 2019.
Checking in on FIFA 20 for Black Friday: Does It Hold Up?
We enjoyed FIFA 20 during review, but is it worth picking up on Black Friday? We check in on EA's soccer sim.
Starting Screen | Five Games I Missed That I'm Planning to Play Now That the Holidays Are Here
A look at the games I want to play before 2019 is officially finished.
In Defense of Cal Kestis, Jedi: Fallen Order's Dorkiest Padawan
There's more to Fallen Order's red-headed Jedi than meets the eye.
Axe of the Blood God Reviews Pokemon Sword and Shield and Romancing SaGa 3
Kat, Nadia, and special guest Kallie Plagge go in-depth on Gen 8.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Review: A New Hope
Respawn bursts on the scene with one of the best Star Wars games in ages, but there's a dark side.
Obsidian Founder Feargus Urquhart, Whose Credits Include Fallout, Wants to be a Game Director Again
After years on the business side, founder Feargus Urquhart is ready to make games again.
Grounded Impressions: Why Obsidian Fans Shouldn't Write Off This Quirky Passion Project Just Yet
An odd choice by Obsidian, but there's more than meets the eye here.
Rune 2 Publisher: Bethesda's Closure of Human Heading Studios is "Shocking News"
Publishing partner Ragnarok LLC says it learned of studio's closure at the same time as everyone else.
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