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SolidArf

@solidarf.bsky.social

166 followers 176 following 70 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 @solidarf.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

what’s a moment that feels like a “boss fight” in a game with no combat? The minefield in ABZU. They can't kill you, but man do you feel the weight of what they *do.*

Screenshot from the game ABZU, of the player character - a scuba diver - swimming through a red-drenched field of angular mines. The mines nearest him pulsate with yellow light, while the sea all around bleeds red.

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SolidArf @solidarf.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Looks like the Horizon Wiki updated its page on Tilda's mansion after my video. Feels really cool! (And validating!) Before / After

Before: A screenshot of the Horizon Wiki page for Tilda's mansion. It mentions the mansion is built next to McWay Cove.

After: A screenshot of the Horizon Wiki page for Tilda's mansion. It mentions the mansion appears to have been inspired by Waterfall House -- a building that used to exist in the same spot but was demolished in the mid-1960s. This is what my video was about!

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SolidArf @solidarf.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

Was honored to be a voter on Sight and Sound's "Best video essays of 2025" this year! Also honored to have TWO(!) of my videos named on the list - alongside so many fellow creators I admire.

I Studied for My Citizenship Test with Assassin's Creed 3

"I’ve watched enough YouTube to know to always click any Assassin’s Creed 3 video essays that bless your timeline. SolidArf’s timely piece examines how many of the US citizenship test’s questions are answered accurately by the game’s content, and ultimately evolves into a critique of both." - Writeup by Denis Kefallinos (LambHoot)

What I Learned Photographing NPCs in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth by SolidArf

"A beautiful exploration of the little details in massive AAA games through a lens of his love of photography which brings appreciation to elements of the art form often overlooked." - Writeup by Willow Q. Petri (Questing Refuge)

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SolidArf @solidarf.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

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

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SolidArf @solidarf.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

Ramadan Mubarak!

Sonic the Hedgehog smirks at the camera. Text reads "Gotta Go Fast!"

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SolidArf @solidarf.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

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.

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SolidArf @solidarf.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

It's a-me

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SolidArf @solidarf.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

So like A photo without her?

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SolidArf @solidarf.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

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!

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SolidArf @solidarf.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

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)

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SolidArf @solidarf.bsky.social · 08/02/2024

🎬 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."

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