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 Baroque Beauty of Valkyrie Profile, Tri-Ace's Greatest RPG
Now 20 years old, Valkyrie Profile is one of the PlayStation's finest RPGs.
Axe of the Blood God Emergency Podcast: Analyzing the Bethesda Acquisition
Kat and Nadia react to Monday’s news.
Axe of the Blood God: Reacting to the Final Fantasy 16 Announcement
Harry Potter, Monster Hunter, and Final Fantasy 16 highlight a huge week for RPGs.
The Baroque Beauty of Valkyrie Profile, Tri-Ace's Greatest RPG
Now 20 years old, Valkyrie Profile is one of the PlayStation's finest RPGs.
Axe of the Blood God Emergency Podcast: Analyzing the Bethesda Acquisition
Kat and Nadia react to Monday’s news.
Axe of the Blood God: Reacting to the Final Fantasy 16 Announcement
Harry Potter, Monster Hunter, and Final Fantasy 16 highlight a huge week for RPGs.
The Recent PlayStation 5 Showcase Showed How Much Sony is Relying On the Past
While Sony plays its greatest hits, Xbox is setting itself up for the future.
Starting Screen | Super Mario 64 Remains the Best of the 3D Mario Games
An ode to Nintendo's pioneering platformer on the eve of the release of Super Mario 3D All-Stars.
Axe of the Blood God: The Fall RPG 2020 Preview
We preview Cyberpunk 2077, Yakuza 7, and the rest of this fall's biggest RPGs.
Axe of the Blood God: What the PlayStation Portable Meant for RPGs
The Console RPG Quest explores Sony's big move into handheld gaming.
Madden NFL Should Have Gone to the Fortnite Model a Long Time Ago
The backlash against Madden NFL 21 is symptomatic of a larger problem.
Madden 21 is Planning Its September Title Update for the Start of the NFL Season
Lots of fixes to Madden 21's gameplay are inbound.
USG Game of the Month: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 is a Vision of the Future
A true graphical achievement highlights the best games of August 2020.
Axe of the Blood God: Wasteland 3 Impressions, Moon's Switch Release, and More
Recapping a busy week for role-playing games.
Madden NFL 21 Review: A Few Stumbling Yards Forward
Solid improvements to the gameplay are marred by subpar single-player modes and a huge number of bugs.
A Brave Attempt to Rank 30 Years of Super Robot Wars Games
From the Game Boy to the Nintendo Switch, this is the best (and worst) Super Robot Wars has to offer.
Madden NFL 21's Seann Graddy is "Actually Quite Proud of This Generation" as Next-Gen Approaches
Executive Producer Seann Graddy talks about Madden NFL 21's brand-new mode, franchise mode woes, and the road to PS5 and Xbox Series X.
Starting Screen | It's Time for Ubisoft to Bring the Scott Pilgrim Game Back
On Scott Pilgrim's 10th anniversary, this excellent beat 'em up should be playable by everyone.
Axe of the Blood God: Remembering Square's Summer of Adventure 2000
Three big RPGs, one big summer event.
Axe of the Blood God: The Nintendo DS's Remarkable RPG Legacy
The World Ends With You, Dragon Quest 9, and other RPGs helped carry Japanese gaming through a difficult period.
Branching Narratives is Joined by Brenda Romero For Its Final Episode
We wrap our series of interviews with gaming's greatest with pioneering developer Brenda Romero.
FIFA 21's Battle With Lag, And What EA Has to Say About Other Longstanding Gameplay Problems
"FIFA 21 is the most responsive game we've ever made," EA says.
FIFA 21 on PS5 and Xbox Series X Will Continue Including Women's Teams
The defending world champion U.S. Women's National Team will be playable on next-gen consoles.
Axe of the Blood God: What Does the Future Hold for Next-Gen RPGs?
We talk about all the ways RPGs might change on Xbox Series X and PS5.
A New Beyond Good & Evil Netflix Movie is the Latest Bit of Cruel Hope for Long Suffering Fans
The prequel, meanwhile, is nowhere to be found.
Gundam Extreme Vs. Maxi Boost On Review: Just Communication
Bandai Namco's arcade port is an odd but wonderful anachronism.
StarCraft 2's Rollercoaster Decade, As Remembered By Its Developers
Reflections on StarCraft 2's early success, the impact of free-to-play, and what Blizzard might have done differently.
Starting Screen | StarCraft Deserves Better
On its 10th anniversary, the future of Blizzard's flagship RTS is uncertain. It shouldn't be.
Axe of the Blood God: Fable Returns, Suikoden Gets a Spiritual Successor, and Tons More RPG News
A busy week for RPG news.
Ghost of Tsushima Pretty Much Sums Up This Generation
Sucker Punch's open-world samurai game exemplifies a generation that's more about "what works" than genuine ambition.
Xbox Rebounds With a Strong Next-Gen Exclusives Showcase
Halo Infinite, Everwild, and Fable star as Xbox Series X shows us what it's got.
Branching Narratives: Kelley Gilmore on Leading the Studio That's Reviving BioShock
Plus, the one thing you don't know about Sid Meier.
Star Wars: Squadrons Brings Some Classic X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter Ships Into Official Canon
Do you want the BFF-1 bulk freighter? You've got the BFF-1 bulk freighter.
After Four Hours, Star Wars: Squadrons is a Faster, Deeper X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter
We go hands-on with Star Wars: Squadrons and find a revival that's unpolished but promising.
Starting Screen | It's a Critical Week for the Future of Halo
Halo Infinite is finally being revealed this week. Will it be good enough to return to gaming's top echelons?
Axe of the Blood God: Our Verdict on Paper Mario: The Origami King
GameXplain's Andre Seger joins the show to help render judgment on the latest game in the Paper Mario series.
Axe of the Blood God: A Closer Look at CrossCode Now That It's on Console
Kat, Nadia, and Hirun talk CrossCode, Paper Mario: The Origami King review impressions, and more.
The Madden 21 Beta's Most Controversial Changes Actually Give Me Hope
EA seems to be following a different path with Madden 21, and that's a good thing.
Axe of the Blood God: How the Original Xbox Helped Usher in Gaming's Modern Era
The Console RPG Quest looks back on the console that brought PC RPGs to the living room.
Madden 21's Devs Have Heard Fan Outcry and Are "Bolstering Plans to Support Franchise"
"We see your fix Madden Franchise tweets and we understand your frustration," executive producer Seann Graddy says.
Marvel's Iron Man VR Shows How Far VR Has Come… And How Far It Still Has to Go
An unexpectedly sophisticated VR game.
Axe of the Blood God: 5 Games Like Diablo 2 That You Should Play
Celebrating Diablo 2's 20th anniversary, why Pokemon Diamond and Pearl don't need a remake, and more.
The Last of Us Part 2's Ending Doesn't Ruin the Original. It Completes It
Analyzing The Last of Us Part 2's controversial ending, and how it brings the original game full circle.
The Last of Us Part 2 Pulls Off Its Biggest Twist, But Only Just Barely
It's time to talk about Abby.
Axe of the Blood God: Remembering the WonderSwan
The latest entry in the Console RPG Quest circles back to a cult handheld. Plus, recapping a busy week in RPG news.
Star Wars: Squadrons Looks Like the X-Wing Sim I've Been Wanting for 25 Years
Please don't screw this up, EA.
Is The Last of Us Part 2 Too Violent for Its Own Good?
Naughty Dog's sequel has been called grim and gruesome by many. Is it all too much?
Hardspace: Shipbreaker's Dark Satire About Labor Among the Stars Makes It Worth Playing
Hardspace: Shipbreaker combines social commentary with some deeply original gameplay.
Starting Screen | The Last of Us Part 2's Overly Limiting Embargo Only Hurts Critical Discourse
An argument on Twitter throws the difficulty of having a real conversation about The Last of Us Part 2 into sharp relief.
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.
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.
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