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Hayes Madsen

Freelance Journalist

Location icon United States

Freelance Journalist with over ten years of experience, focusing on entertainment and the video game industry. Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Metropolitan State University of Denver. Former Senior Editor at Twinfinite, Technology Editor at Metrosphere Magazine, and co-host of Playing With Perspective podcast. Currently Features Writer at Screen Rant and writer at Retroware. Constantly looking for the most unique perspectives and stories of gaming.

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Portfolio

Interviews

PCGamesN
03/28/2021
Meet the fans localising lost Yakuza, Trails, and Final Fantasy games

Localising a game from Japanese to English isn't an easy job. It's even more difficult when you're trying to do it alongside a full-time job. Despite this, a multitude of fan groups have taken it upon themselves to do the work for fans in the West who have never had the chance to experience them.

Retroware
04/05/2021
Retroware Sit-Downs: Dark Deity, A Classic SRPG With New Ideas

A Kickstarter for Dark Deity was put up in August 2020, a colorful strategy-RPG that looked like a fresh take on the genre's classic roots. The project blew its funding goal of $12,000 out of the water, taking in over $75,000 by the end.

ScreenRant
05/18/2020
Final Fantasy XI Interview

The series has left a lasting legacy on the world of video games, and it continues to enjoy immense popularity with releases like Final Fantasy XIV and Final Fantasy 7 Remake . Before XIV was even a thought, however, helped the franchise take its first steps into the online world.

Mymetmedia
09/01/2016
A Behind the Scenes Look at SeriesFest -

There are plenty of film festivals all around the country for members of the industry, aspiring writers, directors and actors to all mingle. There's even quite a few right here in Denver. However, there's a distinct lack of festivals and events for those invested in television and episodic storytelling.

Features

ScreenRant
04/26/2021
The Real History Behind Ace Attorney's Herlock Sholmes

The Great Ace Attorney's Herlock Sholmes is much more than just a strange name, as there's actually quite a bit of history behind Capcom's choice. After over five years of waiting, The Great Ace Attorney games are finally making their way west in a double-pack.

Retroware
03/12/2021
Class Warfare In Final Fantasy Tactics

Yasumi Matsuno is the definition of an auteur in gaming, a director with a unifying vision between all of his games. Starting out as the director of Ogre Battle, Matsuno joined Square in 1995 and was assigned as director on Final Fantasy Tactics.

Retroware
03/04/2021
The Creeping Fear of Metroid Fusion

Immersion is a key element of horror games, as the genre is at its best when a title can put you into its world and grip your heart with terror. When its done well, it leads to masterful classics remembered for decades.

ScreenRant
02/11/2020
Why Sony's Insomniac Purchase Was Worth the (Huge) Price

Sony dropped a huge sum of cash on Insomniac Games, but the price will be well worth it in the long run. Insomniac Games is one of the most storied developers in the industry, responsible for prolific series like Spyro the Dragon and Ratchet & Clank .

ScreenRant
09/08/2020
Why Age of Empires 3 DE Is Changing Its Native American Civilizations

Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition brings back the RTS, and hopefully makes some much-needed changes to its Native American civilizations. Age of Empires is one of the most well-known RTS franchises out there, and it helped define the genre for years to come.

ScreenRant
10/06/2020
How Hades Redefines Roguelike Storytelling

Hades brings SuperGiant Game's expertise to the roguelike genre, and the developer redefines how storytelling can work in the genre. Supergiant Games is known for its unique sense of style and storytelling, and each of the studio's games tries something completely different.

Twinfinite
11/18/2019
Jedi Fallen Order Takes Just the Right Amount of Inspiration From Dark Souls

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is an interesting beast. It's a game that draws a bunch of disparate elements from other titles, but somehow manages to combine them all into something engaging and unique. Chief among those inspirations is Dark Souls, but Fallen Order doesn't ape the formula entirely.

Twinfinite
11/19/2019
Final Fantasy Holiday Gift Guide 2019 for the Mega Fan

Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers Original Soundtrack One of the greatest aspects of the Final Fantasy series has always been its music, and that holds true to this very day. 2019 saw the release of Final Fantasy XIV's greatest expansion yet with Shadowbringers, which is also easily one of the best pieces of Final Fantasy content [...]

Video Game Reviews

ScreenRant
02/09/2021
Persona 5 Strikers Review

Persona 5 Strikers is a joyful reunion for the Phantom Thieves and a brilliant fusion of Atlus' series and Koei Tecmo's Warriors franchise. has seen its fair share of spinoffs over the years, but most have filled the role of side stories.

ScreenRant
10/23/2020
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 4

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 4 brings an end to a story years in the making, and it does it with serious confidence. It feels more like a continuation of Trails of Cold Steel 3, especially considering how it builds off the gameplay ideas of the third game, and even improves them.

Twinfinite
11/26/2019
Shenmue 3 Review - Out of Time

Shenmue 3 on PS4 Shenmue 3 is one of the hardest games I've ever had to review, not because it's difficult, but because I continuously went back and forth on how I felt about it. For better and worse, Shenmue 3 feels like it was, in many ways, made 18 years ago, right after the [...]

Twinfinite
08/26/2019
Astral Chain Review

Astral Chain on Nintendo Switch I've played every PlatinumGames title there is out there, so I went into Astral Chain already expecting some quality action. It's not every day that a game completely blows away my expectations, and makes it immediately clear that it's something special.

Twinfinite
06/20/2019
Judgment Review

Judgment on PlayStation 4 One minute in Judgment I'm investigating the scene of a grisly murder where a Yakuza has had his eyes gouged out, the next I'm pretending to be an actor who's pretending to be a vampire. There's a serious rift between the silly and the serious in Judgment, but it never feels [...]

Podcasts

SoundCloud
09/07/2016
Season 5 Episode 20 - The Man Who Sold The World by Playing with Perspective

Sean, Hayes and Keenan do things a bit differently tonight, by taking a deep dive into one very specific game. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. It's a spoiler filled episode as the crew discusses the game's design in terms of story, structure, gameplay and everything else. Tune in!

SoundCloud
09/02/2016
Season 5 Episode 19 - It's a Golden Show by Playing with Perspective

Morality plays a funny role in video games a lot of the time. We always want more freedom and more choices in our games, but what does that really mean? Sean, Hayes and Keenan talk about morality in video games, and a 2011 classic that handled choice so well.

SoundCloud
01/29/2016
Season 4 Episode 2(1.28.16)- Someday the Dream Will End by Playing with Perspective

Sean, Hayes and Keenan take a day to discuss just what's happened to the Final Fantasy series. Why do so many people feel the series has gone downhill? How exactly has the series changed over its long history in video games? Classic Thursday focuses on a spinoff that's actually one of the greatest Final Fantasy games of all time.

News

Retroware
02/04/2021
Streamer Completes World First 100% Damageless Run of Ninja Gaiden

Back in December, a streamer who goes by the name Slackanater on YouTube and Twitch, completed the first-ever 100% damageless of the original Ninja Gaiden on NES. You might have seen other similar runs in the past, but there's one particular thing that makes this the first totally damageless run in history, and quite the achievement.

Twinfinite
08/20/2019
Yakuza Ishin Localization "Under Consideration" at Sega

During an IGN Live segment at Gamescom, Yakuza series producer, Daisuke Sato, commented on the possibility of a Yakuza Ishin localization, something fans have been pining over for years. According to Sato a localization is "under consideration," but Sega just isn't sure if the game's setting and historical aspects would appeal to Western fans.

Guides

Gameskinny
09/09/2021
Bloodhunt: How to Revive Teammates

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodhunt is a brand new battle royale experience that grants players vampiric powers on top of the usual guns and melee weapons. Like most battle royale games out there Bloodhunt has both a solo and team mode.

Gameskinny
08/31/2021
King's Bounty 2: How to Defeat the Tyrant in the Scryer's Trial

One of the longest questlines in King's Bounty 2 is The Scryer's Trial, which requires you to take on a series of pre-determined battles, one of which being against the Tyrant. The Tyrant is by far the hardest as you only have two units in your army, a Bone Dragon and a squad of Gargoyles.

TechRaptor
Resident Evil Village Castle Dimitrescu Bells Puzzle Guide

Early on in Resident Evil Village, you'll need to navigate the corridors of Castle Dimitrescu, while Lady Dimitrescu and her daughters stalk you relentlessly. After making your way through the Opera House you'll come upon the Atelier, which suddenly stops your progress with an impromptu bell puzzle.

ScreenRant
06/26/2021
Age of Empires 4: Every Civilization Available At Launch

2021's Age of Empires 4 brings back the iconic franchise after nearly fifteen years off, and it's bringing quite a few changes to the tried-and-true formula. Brand new features like an ambush system and wall-mounted units can integrally change the way players approach each match.

Twinfinite
01/30/2019
Kingdom Hearts 3: All Lucky Emblems Locations in Every World (Mickey Symbols)

All Lucky Emblem Locations in Kingdom Hearts 3 Kingdom Hearts 3 is a game packed with things to do, even outside of its lengthy main story. As you explore various Disney worlds there's a few side quests and easter eggs to discover. Here's how to find all Lucky Emblem locations in Kingdom Hearts 3.

Twinfinite
01/23/2020
Kingdom Hearts 3 ReMind: How to Unlock Secret Episode & Boss (Yozora)

Kingdom Hearts 3 ReMind brings a lot of new content to the RPG, most of which comes in the form of difficult new bosses. While the ReMind scenario is the main addition, there are two other episodes you can unlock, with the last one being the Secret Episode.

Twinfinite
11/08/2019
Smash Bros Ultimate: How to Play Terry (Moves, Strengths, Weaknesses, Strategies)

Terry Bogard from Fatal Fury is the latest character to join the absurd roster of Super Smash Bros Ultimate. Once again, Nintendo has done a great job of adapting the character, and we're here to help give you everything you might need to know. Here's how to play Terry (moves, strengths, weaknesses, strategies) in Smash [...]

Twinfinite
11/15/2019
Jedi Fallen Order: Tips & Tricks For Beginners

Learn to Parry Quickly Jedi Fallen Order can be a demanding game, as it throws lots of groups of enemies and tough bosses at you. Because of this, it's absolutely essential that you learn how to properly parry early on. Parrying can be done by pressing the block button (LB, L1) just before an enemy's [...]

Twinfinite
10/31/2019
Trails of Cold Steel 3: The Great Crossbell Bake Off Side Quest Guide

Trails of Cold Steel 3 takes you all around the country of Erebonia, and finally lets you visit the state of Crossbell once again. Of course, there are plenty of fun side quests to undertake while there, including the Great Crossbell Bake Off. With that, we're here to help with a Great Crossbell Bake Off [...]

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