SolidArf
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solidarf.bsky.social
SolidArf
@solidarf.bsky.social
150 followers 160 following 48 posts
Aaraf Afzal - Writer, professor, video essayist and person taking photographs of NPCs in games. | Contributor at Palette Swap | Bylines at Hard Drive, Los Suelos, Unwinnable Exploits

youtube.com/@SolidArf | instagram.com/npcsofgaming
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solidarf.bsky.social
The weirdest thing about rewatching Rogue One might be that I remembered CGI Tarkin looking a lot... more convincing in 2016?
Tarkin from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, who was made to look like the late Peter Cushing using CGI
May 27, 2025 at 12:13 AM
solidarf.bsky.social
Ramadan Mubarak!
Sonic the Hedgehog smirks at the camera. Text reads "Gotta Go Fast!"
March 2, 2025 at 3:30 AM
solidarf.bsky.social
Afternoon bump for the new piece. Also trying out a new thumbnail!
Deep red background with a yellow spotlight on two silhouettes standing together: Cody and May, a couple, from the video game "It Takes Two." Fiery text on their left reads: "KEEPING THE FLAME ALIVE: The Psychology of Coordination" A chef from Overcooked stands amidst the flaming text. Smiling awkwardly. This is fine.
February 24, 2025 at 11:41 PM
solidarf.bsky.social
It's a-me
An attempted LEGO "Mario"
December 30, 2024 at 6:01 PM
solidarf.bsky.social
So like

A photo without her?
December 20, 2024 at 2:35 AM
solidarf.bsky.social
Oh my God, I'm on the Sight and Sound list!!! Of Best Video Essays of 2024! 😭
My micro-essay "Representing Monsoon in Games" is mentioned on the Sight and Sound Best Video Essays of 2024 list!
December 19, 2024 at 6:20 AM
solidarf.bsky.social
PlayStation Wrap-Up for 2024. Interesting trend I'm noticing: I've been playing fewer games for *longer times* ever since I started documenting NPCs for my series.
My PlayStation Wrap-Up stats for 2024, showing top game as Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and my play style as "Role Player" My top five games played in 2024 (by hours on the PS5): (1) Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (250 hours lmao) (2) Horizon Forbidden West (112 hours) (3) Final Fantasy 16 (92 hours) (4) Dragon Ball Sparking Zero (85 hours) (5) Yakuza 0 (27 hours)
December 17, 2024 at 7:02 PM
solidarf.bsky.social
🎬 NEW VIDEO! 🎬

I'm back on YouTube with an extended look at the NPCs in Tears of the Kingdom -- an area where we're wrong to say the game lacks continuity from Breath of the Wild.

What I Learned Photographing NPCs in Tears of the Kingdom
youtu.be/7b0fIU_S3oM?...
Link from Legend of Zelda standing with a weapon and shield, posed heroically with a group of warrior NPCs. The warriors include a woman on horseback, a mighty Goron, three strapping Hylian men, and a tall Gerudo with a spear. Text behind them, set against the sky, reads "NPCs of Hyrule."
February 8, 2024 at 9:52 PM