1UP Features

Review: Bending Genres in Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
A look into the underpinnings of an unlikely sequel reveals the value of Luigi's spin-offs.

An Unflattering Boll Cut
Why the notorious director of Postal, Alone in the Dark, and BloodRayne might actually be a genius.

The Cinematic Nature of Parasite Eve
Square's theatrical RPG was a bizarre evolutionary dead end in video game storytelling.

True Grit: The Influence of Westerns on Games
We examine how the romanticism of the Wild West influences games of all genres.

When Video Games Met Films
What the two industries could learn from one-another.

Five Movie-Based Games that Never Saw the Light of Day
We explore some notable adaptations that were sentenced to an early death.

Stephen King's Influence on Video Games
How "The Mist" inspired and shaped Half-Life and Silent Hill.

Cover Story: Games Go to Hollywood
This week, 1UP embraces the bright lights of Tinseltown.

The Big Three: The Evolution of StarCraft's Zerg, Terran, and Protoss
How Blizzard's major races grew over the course of a decade, and what it meant for strategy.

A Video Game Time Capsule
What would aliens assume about humanity from holding a controller?

Five Great Aliens Alternatives to Colonial Marines
Bummed by how uneven Gearbox's new shooter turned out to be? Soothe your pain with its best predecessors.

Spacebound: How Aliens Shape the EarthBound Story
The Mother series' extraterrestrials go a long way in giving the games a unique atmosphere.

Lavos and Chrono Trigger's Otherworldly Roots
The giant space parasite that destroyed the world reminded us how truly alien something could be.

Star Fox: Charting Possible Courses for the Future
What lies ahead for Nintendo's space adventure?

Cover Story: It Came From Outer Space!
This week, 1UP explores the cosmos.

The Six Faces of Extraterrestrials in Video Games
We take a look at the digital archetypes of alien beings.

The Legend of the R-Rated Gaming Comedy
A look back at the few games that ever dared to go raunchy.

The Misdirection of Portal
Everyone knows Portal is funny, but we examine just why that is.

Dark Farce: The Perils of Self-Aware Video Games
What good is satirizing bad design when it merely leads to more bad design?

Small Words, Big Impact: Humor in Borderlands 2
Gearbox's Anthony Burch discusses the art of peripheral text.

Satirical Edge: The Humor of Platinum Games
A look at the (sometimes) successful satires of Japan's wildest action titles.

Missing Mascots 2: More Gaming Superstars Who Went AWOL
We take a look at another round of iconic characters that dropped out of sight.

A Eulogy for TimeSplitters
Looking back at one of the few shooters that was actually in on the joke.

When Video Game Glitches Go Wild
Evidently some people just want to watch the world ragdoll.

Cover Story: Humor in Games
This Week, 1UP embraces the lighter side of our medium.

Se7en: The Double Fine Adventure Game Edition
"If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth." 1 John 1:8

Arguing Against Realistic Violence
Why the leap in technology over the past decade has turned one gamer off certain series.

The Odyssey of Skulls of the Shogun
Developer 17-bit gives us a look behind the scenes at their darling turn-based strategy game.

Pulled Punches: Why Most Violence Lacks Impact
Few games have the ability to deliver mature content in a meaningful and memorable way.

A Farewell to Arms: Games That Grew Less Violent Over Time
Taking a look at series that stepped back from delivering graphic content.

Natural Born Killers: Games That Grew More Violent Over Time
A look at series that became increasingly more graphic throughout the years.

From Fear to Acceptance: How Non-Gamers View Violence
A conversation with my former babysitter about digital violence.

Cover Story: Violence & Pacifism in Video Games
This week, 1UP discusses how our medium and our culture handle physical conflict.

Making Game Violence Count
EDITORIAL: Violence in games isn't necessarily a bad thing. The trick is in how it's used.

The Shameful Eating Habits of Video Game Protagonists
Sometimes there are consequences for scarfing down an entire ham from a dungeon floor.

Closing Numbers: The Final Games of Fallen Developers
We look at the final releases from ten departed game companies.

Tales of Xillia Director Hideo Baba on the Ever-Changing RPG Landscape
We chat with the head of Namco's popular RPG series and find out why he doesn't mind Tales being a genre unto itself.

In Defense of Our Culture
Why video games shouldn't settle for being relegated to condescension and pithy references.

Don't Be Afraid Of PC Gaming
If you're curious about the PC as a gaming platform, here's why you shouldn't hold back.

The Definitives: Six Remakes That Left the Originals in the Dust
When tweaking a game helps it reach its pinnacle.

Digital and Nontraditional: Breaking Down Ouya, Steam Box, And Other New Wave Systems
What makes each of these systems unique, and what factors will result in their failure or success?

Policenauts and Hideo Kojima's Adventure Game Roots
Why you should care about the non-Metal Gear side of Konami's biggest star.

A Lamentation on the De-Evolution of Video Game Localization
Video game localization took years to crawl away from "prooving the justice of our culture," only to slide back to where we began.

Outside It's America: A BioShock Infinite Interview
We speak to writer Drew Holmes about Infinite's fascinating alternate reality.

Artorias of the Abyss and a Worthwhile Return to Lordran
From Software's DLC gives Dark Souls veterans a valid excuse to replay one of 2011's best RPGs.

Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning Quarterly Performance Report
How does a new farmer fare in a season of Natsume's latest?

The New Ice Age: A Lost Planet 3 Interview
The creative leads of Capcom's next ice planet adventure talk design, combat, and Dead Space.

The Deceptive Beauty of Atari Box Art
How a bit of creative marketing goes a long way.

Cover Story: Odds 'N Ends
This week, 1UP takes you to the island of forgotten stories.

Cover Story: Why We're Excited About 2013
This week, 1UP looks forward to what's primed to be an amazing year in gaming.