Katharine Castle
@karthupial.bsky.social
UX writer. Former games journalist. Views are my own. DFTBA.
🎵It's the moooost wonderful tiiiime of the yeeeear!!🎵
November 28, 2025 at 6:18 PM
🎵It's the moooost wonderful tiiiime of the yeeeear!!🎵
A John Lewis velvet Bon-Bon cushion? Or a covert nod that the family you're visiting for Christmas is actually in league with Umbrella Corporation?
November 27, 2025 at 10:13 PM
A John Lewis velvet Bon-Bon cushion? Or a covert nod that the family you're visiting for Christmas is actually in league with Umbrella Corporation?
Incredible evening hearing Sayaka Murata talk about Vanishing World, the reality of modern relationships (with real and non-real people) and *checks notes*, yep, "caves of meat" tonight at the London Literature Festival.
October 22, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Incredible evening hearing Sayaka Murata talk about Vanishing World, the reality of modern relationships (with real and non-real people) and *checks notes*, yep, "caves of meat" tonight at the London Literature Festival.
Now that's how you kick off a Friday.
September 19, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Now that's how you kick off a Friday.
Oh man, clocking Phanto in Super Mario Wonder Switch 2 Edition has awoken long hidden memories of his endless, It Follows-style pursuits in SMB 2. Looking forward to excavating some good childhood trauma there...
September 12, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Oh man, clocking Phanto in Super Mario Wonder Switch 2 Edition has awoken long hidden memories of his endless, It Follows-style pursuits in SMB 2. Looking forward to excavating some good childhood trauma there...
In short: yay for Yasuke. He rules, even if Naoe's the clear and obvious winner in a player's affections.
August 23, 2025 at 5:26 PM
In short: yay for Yasuke. He rules, even if Naoe's the clear and obvious winner in a player's affections.
Been thinking a lot about Yasuke since finishing AC Shadows. I didn't use him nearly as much as I thought, despite really liking everything about him at preview (and still do even now), and I think that comes down to the friction he creates as you move through the world. BUT! This isn't a bad thing!
August 23, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Been thinking a lot about Yasuke since finishing AC Shadows. I didn't use him nearly as much as I thought, despite really liking everything about him at preview (and still do even now), and I think that comes down to the friction he creates as you move through the world. BUT! This isn't a bad thing!
Give these champs the AC Shadows spin-off they deserve.
August 17, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Give these champs the AC Shadows spin-off they deserve.
Finally rolling credits on Assassin's Creed Shadows be like
August 16, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Finally rolling credits on Assassin's Creed Shadows be like
If Inkle's A Highland Song has taught me anything, it's that I just need to hop through a couple of background layers and I'll be at the top in no time, yeah?
July 29, 2025 at 5:18 PM
If Inkle's A Highland Song has taught me anything, it's that I just need to hop through a couple of background layers and I'll be at the top in no time, yeah?
You take the high road, I'll take the Lo(mond) road 💙
July 28, 2025 at 7:59 PM
You take the high road, I'll take the Lo(mond) road 💙
Tag yourself, I'm backward-facing grimace no.6.
July 26, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Tag yourself, I'm backward-facing grimace no.6.
Can't believe Nintendo buried DK's Link audition like this.
July 17, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Can't believe Nintendo buried DK's Link audition like this.
The only time I've EVER deviated from this rule is Dragon's Dogma 2, where I ended up with the most sour/bored Link and Zelda you can imagine (they looked so much better in the character creation screen!). They're so cursed, I might have to start that game again (though who to make after Terra!?)...
July 14, 2025 at 8:54 PM
The only time I've EVER deviated from this rule is Dragon's Dogma 2, where I ended up with the most sour/bored Link and Zelda you can imagine (they looked so much better in the character creation screen!). They're so cursed, I might have to start that game again (though who to make after Terra!?)...
Other times, it's just me (especially if they have a good like-for-like haircut), with hair colour depending on how it looks in-game, or whether it goes better with my current set of clothes.
July 14, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Other times, it's just me (especially if they have a good like-for-like haircut), with hair colour depending on how it looks in-game, or whether it goes better with my current set of clothes.
Sometimes I do just try to do a 'Me+' version of Terra, especially if the hairstyles are more pedestrian like in Starfield.
July 14, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Sometimes I do just try to do a 'Me+' version of Terra, especially if the hairstyles are more pedestrian like in Starfield.
A neat face scar is often present (preferably diagonal across the nose, like Squall from FF8), as it adds both character and a sense of mystery, but also because I have two (very tiny) scars on my own forehead (I had stitches twice as kid, though neither incident involved a sword battle sadly).
July 14, 2025 at 8:42 PM
A neat face scar is often present (preferably diagonal across the nose, like Squall from FF8), as it adds both character and a sense of mystery, but also because I have two (very tiny) scars on my own forehead (I had stitches twice as kid, though neither incident involved a sword battle sadly).
Ever since, they've always been called Terra, and because red's my favourite colour, they almost always have some form of dark red hair. Again, because it looks cool, and the kind of colour I wish my hair was instead of boring brown. Hazel eyes (or green at a push) to match mine, though, is a must.
July 14, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Ever since, they've always been called Terra, and because red's my favourite colour, they almost always have some form of dark red hair. Again, because it looks cool, and the kind of colour I wish my hair was instead of boring brown. Hazel eyes (or green at a push) to match mine, though, is a must.
'Katharine' never fitted in a character name slot as a kid (8 letters was always the max for some reason), so I always used the default name by choice. Then Pokémon Ruby came along without a default and I was forced to create one. I picked Terra not for FF6, but because it sounded cool & mysterious.
July 14, 2025 at 8:35 PM
'Katharine' never fitted in a character name slot as a kid (8 letters was always the max for some reason), so I always used the default name by choice. Then Pokémon Ruby came along without a default and I was forced to create one. I picked Terra not for FF6, but because it sounded cool & mysterious.
Such incredible attention to detail! Just look at that variation on the baked goods basket. Insane!
June 13, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Such incredible attention to detail! Just look at that variation on the baked goods basket. Insane!
I mean, seriously.
June 13, 2025 at 6:13 PM
I mean, seriously.
Absolutely obsessed with the food in Mario Kart World.
June 13, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Absolutely obsessed with the food in Mario Kart World.
Toad's new burger head raises so many questions. Like, what would happen if someone took out the flag skewer?
June 9, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Toad's new burger head raises so many questions. Like, what would happen if someone took out the flag skewer?
Only @backpagepod.bsky.social have the answer to this.
June 5, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Only @backpagepod.bsky.social have the answer to this.
Somehow managed to inhale Caravan Sandwitch this weekend, despite not wholly loving it. The slate-like flintiness of the landscape is very satisfying to clamber over, and there's a strong hint of Promise Mascot Agency / Sable in the way you bomb around this desolate little microcosm in your van.
May 26, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Somehow managed to inhale Caravan Sandwitch this weekend, despite not wholly loving it. The slate-like flintiness of the landscape is very satisfying to clamber over, and there's a strong hint of Promise Mascot Agency / Sable in the way you bomb around this desolate little microcosm in your van.