Game ZXC

Mark Ward-Author

Mark Ward

Author

Qualifications Bachelors Degree In Journalism From Cal State Fullerton
Expertise
video games, Anime
  • 38
    articles
  • 38
    Lists

About Mark Ward

Mark is a lifelong player of games and a longtime fan of the gaming industry. His favorite genre of game is Action-Adventure, and has been heavily into Souls-Likes since getting lost in the world of Bloodborne upon release. However, he dabbles in a bit of everything to keep his gaming knowledge exceptionally well-rounded.
He is also a fan of anime and adds to his manga collection whenever he gets the chance.

Mark was a reader of Game ZXC articles long before he was a contributor.

Favorite Games

The Kingdom Hearts series was one that captured Mark's imagination and showed him at an early age what games could really do. Growing up, his tastes were constantly changing, but he'd always find his way back to those games.

Elden Ring is currently his all time favorite game, but a few years ago it was Outer Wilds, with classics like Spec Ops: The Line and Dragon Age: Origins being heavy contenders in the conversation.

Proudest Gaming Achievement

Completing the Halo 3 Vidmaster Challange is definitely up there. However, one that trumps that for Mark is 100% completing Kingdom Hearts 2 at 10 years old, and with no memory card. That includes beating Sephiroth and getting the Ultima Blade! The console was left running for a month staight.

Favorite Console

It is a tie between the Xbox 360, which gave Mark some of his favorite memories in gaming, and the Playstation 4 as it was the first console that he bought with his own money after getting his first paycheck at his first job. It was also the first console he got within a few months of it's launch, meaning that he witnessed it's evolutions through each firmware update.

Latest

Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Fallout: New Vegas, And Borderlands 2 Featured Image
5 Best RPGs That Balance Humor & Drama
RPG

These RPGs don't always focus exclusively on high-stakes drama, and will often blend satirical or absurdist humor into their narratives.

Darkest Dungeon, SteamWorld Heist, And Wasteland 3
5 Unique Turn-Based Battle Systems In Western Games

This list celebrates some excellent Western-made games with unique turn-based battle systems.

PS5 Games Elden Ring, Baldur's Gate 3, Persona 5 Royal
PS5 Games That Offer The Best Value For Money
PS5

The following PlayStation 5 games are ideal for those gaming on a budget, as players can pour countless hours into them.

Beauty And The Beast, Mulan, Peter Pan Featured
7 Most Beloved Disney Characters, Ranked

Disney movies are packed with fantastic characters to tug at heart strings and inspire us. This list breaks down the most beloved over the years.

Welcome To The NHK, Kakegurui, And Neon Genesis Evangelion Featured
8 Weirdest Anime Concepts, Ranked

It's not uncommon for anime to be a bit weird - it's part of its charm - but these series earn their weird cred and take their strangeness seriously.

X-Men: The Animated Series, Todd McFarlane's Spawn, and Aeon Flux Featured
10 Best Mature 90s Cartoons, Ranked

Due in large part to the massive popularity of The Simpsons, the 1990s were the era when mature adult cartoons became major TV tentpoles.

Goof Troop, Battle For Bikini Bottom, and South Park: The Stick Of Truth Featured
10 Best Games Based On 90s Cartoons

The 90s witnessed a plethora of memorable cartoons, some of which are still airing today. These are some of the best games based on them.

Infamous: Second Son, Fable, and The Last Of Us Part 2 Featured Image
7 Best Games That Slowly Turn You Into The Bad Guy

The following video game characters end up in a far worse place than when they started...

Sword of the BerserkL Guts' Rage, Dragon Ball FighterZ, and Initial D Special Stage Featured
10 Great Games Based On 90s Anime, Ranked

There's no denying that 90s anime series have a special place in the hearts of many. These games are perfect for reliving that nostalgia.

Zenkai Battle, Super Dragon Ball Z, Return Of King Piccolo Featured Image
10 Dragon Ball Games You Might Not Know Exist

There have been a lot of Dragon Ball games over the many years of the anime's popularity, and as such, some of them have been inevitably forgotten.

Tasogare ni Mamieru Shinigami, Soul Carnival 2, Blade Battlers Featured
10 Bleach Games You Might Not Know Exist

The Bleach anime and manga franchise is fertile ground for great games, but not all titles are well-known by fans. Here are the more obscure ones.

Dragon Blade Chronicles, Gekitō Ninja Taisen! Special, and Ultimate Ninja: Impact Featured
10 Naruto Games You Might Not Know Exist

Naruto is a massive franchise of manga, anime, and video games, but many fans may not have ever heard of these more obscure titles.

Red Dead Redemption, Final Fantasy 15, and Helldivers 2 Featured Image
8 Video Game Sequels That Are Nothing Like Their Prequels

These video game sequels decided to go in a bolder and more ambitious direction, leaving behind their predecessors for a more modern feel.

Nex Machina, Ikaruga, and Cuphead Featured Image
7 Hardest Bullet Hell Games, Ranked

Bullet hell games are designed to be challenging, but some are a lot more difficult than others. Here are the hardest ones for gamers to try out.

Dark Souls, The Witcher 3, Red Dead Redemption 2 Featured Image
5 RPGs That Could Use Companion Characters
RPG

Role-playing games come in all shapes and sizes. Though many involve a solo protagonist, it's not uncommon for them to call in some backup.

MixCollage-02-Mar-2024-04-12-AM-871
8 Weirdest Nintendo Console Features

Nintendo has never shied away from trying to innovate with their console features. Some attempts have been smash hits, while others have been...weird.

Cave Story, The Cave, And SteamWorld Dig Featured
7 Best Games Set In Caves

Exploring deep, dark caves is the name of the game in the following titles. From Spelunky to Deep Rock Galactic, fans are sure to have a good time.

Max Payne, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, Final Fantasy: War Of The Lions Featured Image
7 Console Games That Have Great Handheld Versions

It's never guaranteed that a great console game will have an equally vaunted handheld port. These examples, however, pulled it off.

Final fantasy 16, Dragon Quest 8, and SaGa Scarlet Grace: Ambitions Featured
7 Best Square Enix Games Inspired By Historical Eras, Ranked

The following Square Enix games were inspired by some of history's most important eras, such as the Victorian era and ancient China.

Metal Gear Solid 3D: Snake Eater, Xenoblade Chronicles 3D, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D Featured
10 Console Games That Have Great 3DS Versions

Some games are best kept on home consoles, but some have made successful jumps to handheld. Here are the best Nintendo 3DS ports of console originals.