Screen Rant

Leo Faierman-Critic

Leo Faierman

Critic

May, 2018
PC, PlayStation 5
  • 419
    articles
  • 167
    News
  • 45
    Features
  • 1
    Guides
  • 204
    Reviews
  • 2
    Other

Author Details

Leonardo Faierman is a games & film critic, comic creator, podcaster, and persistent freelancer in parts both known and unknown. He's one of the cofounders of Albany Poets, Inc., cocreator of the comic book Snow Daze with Marcus Kwame Anderson, and 1/4 of the long-running podcast #BlackComicsChat.

A recent comic, "Sámaras," was published in Power & Magic Press' Latin American Sci-Fi Anthology Mañana, with gorgeous art by Richard Zela, which has also been translated into Spanish.

Oh, and it's pronounced "Fireman."

Industry Focus

Leo has a longstanding penchant for independent video games, where the hardscrabble magic of interactive imagination thrives. There are two phases of contemporary independent gaming: before Super Meat Boy and after Super Meat Boy. Hotline Miami was the equivalent of the Sex Pistols' Lesser Free Trade Hall show.

As a cinephile and film critic, memorable moments include: getting drunk with two Star Wars prequel actors, crying alone at a screening of Notes From The Field, and discerning Lost Highway during a sleepless night. Ask me about it.

Favorite Media

Leo's list of his favorite games of all time must include: Shadow of the Colossus, Guardian Heroes, Towerclimb, The Beginner's Guide, Final Fantasy IV, River City Ransom, Star Control 2, Overwatch, The Binding of Isaac, Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number, Towerfall, Bloodborne, Fight'n'Rage, Nuclear Throne, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

His favorite film of all time remains Mad Max: Fury Road.

Latest

Logo promo art for Monster Train 2, featuring hero factions on the left and opponents on the right
Monster Train 2 Review – All Aboard For This Masterful Sequel

There wasn't much to fix in the original, and Monster Train 2 is now the slickest and most robust incarnation of this modern classic deckbuilder.

A forward-facing shot of Raidou from a cinematic from RAIDOU Remastered The Mystery of the Soulless Army
RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army Hands-On Preview - Still A Fresh Approach to SMT

MegaTen fans will want to see RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army in action, which is still fresh after all these years.

The Horror at Highrook Logo Showing Highrook Estate and Its Surroundings Under a Red Sky
The Horror at Highrook Review: A Cozy Cosmic Horror RPG Lock-In

Nullpointer's The Horror at Highrook is a Lovecraftian RPG with cards and strong writing, but a lack of challenge and gameplay depth saps its horror.

The First Berserker Khazan character and imagery
The First Berserker: Khazan Review - Simply One of the Best Souls-Likes In Years

Neople's The First Berserker: Khazan is a best-in-class new Souls-like featuring excellent combat, creative level design, and brilliant bossfights.

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Assassin's Creed Shadows yasuke and naoe
Assassin's Creed Shadows Review: A Gorgeous Japan That Plays It Too Safe

Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Shadows is easy on the eyes, but a generally basic simulation, scant upgrades, and bland side activities weaken the effect.

6:31
Jack Quaid looking shocked in Novocaine as Amber Midthunder is pushed out

ScreenRant interviews Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, the directors of Paramount's uber-violent crowd-pleaser Novocaine, about the mix and match of genres.

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Jack Quaid in Novocaine
“I Love Being A Bad Actor”: Jack Quaid Explains Novocaine’s Brutal & Hilarious Torture Scene

Novocaine star Jack Quaid breaks down the soon-to-be infamous torture scene in his new action thriller and how it gave him the freedom to break rules.

Kingdom Come Deliverance II logo over Henry of Skalitz riding his horse Pebbles
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Review - A Stunning Simulation & Two-Fisted History Lesson

Warhorse Studios' Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a sizable sequel packed with compelling adventure, even if its simulation stumbles when pressed.

Ballionaire Logo presented over the Pyramid level of the game
Ballionaire Review: A Plucky Pachinko Roguelite

Ballionaire is an addictive, sneakily strategic roguelite about watching a ball fall down a board, with all the chaos that ensues.

Donatello bashes the Leatherhead boss in TMNT Splintered Fate with the game logo positioned between them
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate Review - A Really Hip Roguelite That Does The Boys Proud

Super Evil Megacorp's 4-player action roguelite TMNT: Splintered Fate is a top-tier Turtles brawler, but more content would seal the deal.

The Unknown 9 Awakening Game Logo Above Haroona and Luthor Viewing The Morning Stair Airship From A Cliff in the Jungle
Unknown 9: Awakening Review - A Hasty Patchwork Of Ideas

Reflector's Unknown 9: Awakening release launches a new franchise, but a cliche-ridden plot and some underwhelming action weigh it down to the ground.

Screenshots from Neva alongside the game logo with a girl and a wolf.
Neva Review: A Dazzlingly Dreamy Adventure & One Of 2024's Best Indie Games

Nomada Studio's long-awaited follow-up to Gris, Neva is a visually arresting platformer eco-fable, and one of the year's best indies to date.

Dragon Age The Veilguard key art showing all characters in battle poses on a purple background.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard Director On Building "A Very, Very Handcrafted Experience"

BioWare's Director on Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a superfan of her own game, and is happy to share a few hints on the immersive gameplay to come.

Rook, Harding and Lucanis Approach A Massive Metal Mechanism in The Forest That Looks Like Hands Reaching From The Ground in Dragon Age The Veilguard
Dragon Age: The Veilguard Preview - A New Combat-Ready Design For A Classic Fantasy Franchise

Screen Rant gets an early hands-on of BioWare's Dragon Age: The Veilguard, allowing us to explore its new and vibrant action-adventure approach.

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Jot, Violet, and Thrash from The Plucky Squire jump out from a colorful backdrop behind them.
The Plucky Squire Review: A Loving Zelda Tribute From 2D to 3D

All Possible Futures' debut The Plucky Squire is an ambitious all-ages experimental adventure, a Zelda tribute that hops between 2D and 3D.

The Towerborne logo in front of a vista, showing nearby fields and The Belfry tower in the distance
Towerborne Preview: A Co-Op Action RPG With Strong Beat 'Em Up Roots

Stoic's beat 'em up action RPG Towerborne releases into Early Access, and the current build plays as beautifully as it looks.

The four Funko Pop Jurassic World stars of Funko Fusion stand armed and ready beneath the Funko Fusion logo in white
Funko Fusion Is Violent Cartoon Action-Adventure Fan Service, Wrapped in Pretty Plastic

Funko Fusion's promise of simple toy violence and beloved franchises is a safe bet, but it's confusing tone and basic gameplay may be a bit shallow.

Deathbound logo set upon an encounter between Therone and the game's second boss
Deathbound Review: A Frustratingly Held Back, Ambitious Character-Swapping Soulslike

Deathbound is an ambitious indie soulslike with occasional great-feeling combat, but some systemic and mechanical problems hold it back.

Eden Genesis PC Review Main
Eden Genesis Review: Unnecessarily Cumbersome But With A Smart Challenge

Eden Genesis can be a cumbersome cyberpunk platformer, but smart leaderboard-chasing design may entice those looking for a challenge.

Key art of Luisa in Dungeons of Hinterberg, featuring her slashing with her sword and entering a portal
Dungeons of Hinterburg Review: An Utterly Charming Blend of Zelda and Persona

Dungeons of Hinterberg is a beautiful and cozy adventure with excellent level design, but hardcore challenge-seekers need not apply.