Monthly Archives: November 2023

video game reviews

Tevi: The cute metroidvania game that almost could

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I was sent Tevi as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.

Tevi is a cute bullet hell Metroidvania releasing on Steam later today, but you can try out the demo in the meantime. You play as Tevi as she fights her way through intricate dungeons in search of ancient tech.

If nothing else, Tevi will be one of the cutest games you’ll play this year. I am a huge fan of the art and ethics, but the story didn’t do enough to hook me. I found the story a bit generic as it spent more time hitting certain anime tropes than developing an interesting story. There is voice acting, which is nice, but it is much more efficient to read through the cut scenes. If you aren’t already skipping them.

The main draw to this game should be the gameplay. The game runs great, and the gameplay has a retro vibe that I enjoyed until the novelty wore off. The game starts to feel repetitive after a bit, even when new bosses and skills are introduced to shake things up. I like how the game slowly introduces new combos and abilities as you progress through the game. It makes progression feel more fluid and manageable.

Combat is simple, but it has its charm. After memorizing enemy patterns, this turns into your traditional Metroidvania with the occasional boss to mix things up. Bosses are unique in flavor and strategy, and they never felt unwinnable. I played the game on Normal difficulty and found it too easy, but the game offers an easy way to change the difficulty in game when you need to. 

Honestly, I am somewhat in the middle when it comes to Tevi. While I enjoyed the casual retro vibe, the pacing of the combat, and the cute aesthetic, this isn’t a game I can spend too much time on. I certainly wouldn’t finish the game if I bought it with my own money. The problem with Tevi is that if you don’t care about the aesthetic, there are simply better options. Even then, I would wait for a sale and play something like Frontier Hunter: Erza’s Wheel of Fortune if you want to play some good Waifuvania, or Nocturnal for something more serious. Don’t get me wrong, the game isn’t bad, but you have better options.

You can pick up Tevi on Steam later today. There is also a physical collectors edition available for $106.39 on the official website. 

The Collectors edition includes:

  • Original Soundtrack SteelBook x1 (4 discs with a total of 72 tracks)
  • Enamel Pin x1
  • Art Board (Shikishi) x1
  • Astral Gear Wireless Charger x1
  • Commemorative Number Card x1
  • Collecter Box x1
Chapter 3, digimon seekers

Digimon Seekers Chapter 3-10: Heart to Heart

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I know this is late, but work has been crazy. Make sure you always support the original. If you enjoy this project, please leave me a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. Thank you for reading!

Eiji walks out of the shower wearing clean clothes. The stream empties into the room. He smiles as the sound of Loogamon’s voice carries over the bathroom fan behind him. Eiji walks into the living room and finds Tartarus sitting across from Loogamon.

“Thanks for sticking around…” Eiji makes out before tripping over a pile of clothes on the floor. Worry and disgust creep into his expression as he looks over the mess in his apartment. “Sorry about the mess…It’s been a ..week.” He scrubs his hair dry before making his way to his guest.

Tartarus gives Eiji a sympathetic smile. “Don’t worry, my place looks the same. I’m sorry I barged in unannounced.”

Eiji shakes his head. “Not at all…er…Who are you again?”

The man smirks as he takes a sip of his coffee. “They call me Tartarus.”

Eiji bows, “I am Eiji Nagasumi. Nice to meet you.”

“The pleasure is mine and..Dorumon’s”. Tartarus raises his wrist to press a button on his Digimon Linker. A small purple-winged fox appears next to the man. Dorumon’s wings flap gently as it floats next to his partner. The gem on its forehead glimmers in the apartment’s dim light.

“It’s the raggedy Digimon from the Wall Slums,” Loogamon barks.

“My name isn’t Raggedy, its Dorumon!”

“This is my friend and partner,” Tartarus adds.

“Wait… You’re the interviewer?!” Eiji exclaims, putting the pieces together.

Tartarus nods.

Character design/illustration illustrator: malo

“I don’t understand…Why would you be the one to oversee the tests? Unless…You already knew about my deal with Ryusenji.”

Dorumon lets out a chuckle. “Marvin was right. You look dumb, but you’re observant.”

“Wait..What?”

“It’s the raggedy Digimon from the Wall Slums,” Loogamon barks.

“My name isn’t Raggedy, its Dorumon!”

“This is my friend and partner,” Tartarus adds.

“Wait… You’re the interviewer?!” Eiji exclaims, putting the pieces together.

Tartarus nods.

“I don’t understand…Why would you be the one to oversee the tests? Unless…You already knew about my deal with Ryusenji.”

Dorumon lets out a chuckle. “Marvin was right. You look dumb, but you’re observant.”

“Wait. What did…”

“We know Ryusenji sent you to spy on us,” Dorumon interrupts. “We’ve always known.”

“And you let us join anyway?” Eiji asks, unsure where to turn his attention.

Dorumon shrugs. “We needed your skills. Besides, you saved Marvin’s life. Thanks for that by the way.”

Eiji stares blankly at the Digimon. “Yeah, no problem…”

“So you can be polite,” Loogamon adds, mocking the fox.

Dorumon ignores Loogamon. “We knew we could trust you because the professor trusts you.”

“I didn’t know the professor had that much pull with the Sons of Chaos.” Eiji opens his energy drink and takes a sip. The cool liquid soothes his throat as it goes down. Eiji suddenly remembers something. “So what were you planning to do with the Machinedramon?”

Tartarus sets his coffee down and clears his throat. “I guess it’s my turn,” he mutters. The change in tone catches Eiji off guard. “It’s a story that now involves the two of you…”

“Wait, so we’re just part of your plan?” Eiji asks.

“It’s a little more complicated than that. There are a lot of moving parts. A lot of unplanned…complications.

“I don’t care what your plan is, Eiji and I are saving Leon and Pulsemon,” Loogamon barks suddenly.

“That’s why I am here. But…we’re the ones who sent you after Leon in the first place.”

“Yeah but…” Eiji begins to tear up. “Leon is DMIA because of my mistakes. No one deserves that.”

“Then we want the same things,” Duromon chimes in. Eiji eyes the pair suspiciously. They were hiding something, but Eiji couldn’t make out what. “Tartarus started the Sons of Choas to help those who went DMIA.”

The words trigger something in Eiji. He turns to Tartarus. “Earlier you told me you knew how it felt to lose someone. I thought you’ve never lost anyone during a mission?”

“Well, he…” Dorumon starts, but Tartarus raises his hand to stop the explanation.

“That’s a misunderstanding,” Tartarus pauses to let out a long sigh. “I was the first person to ever lose someone in the Digital world…Bit I’m never making that mistake again!” Tartarus speaks with reassuring conviction.

The small apartment remains quiet for a few moments as Eiji struggles to find a response. Curiosity gets the better of him. “How did it happen?”

Board Games and TCGs, gaming news

Can you survive The Walking Dead Universe in this new TTRPG?

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If you like survival horror, zombies, The Walking Dead, or simply looking for a new system, check out The Walking Dead RPG. This officially licensed product puts players in the stressful post-apocalyptic world based on the popular series where the goal is survival, but there is no winning.

There are two ways to play the game: Campaign Mode and Survival Mode. Campaign Mode is played over a longer period of time. Choices the players make matter, and the table works together to create a communal narrative. Survival Mode features dangerous situations players need to overcome, like one-shots. However you choose to play it, the experience promises to be intense.

The Walking Dead RPG is up on the official Free League Publishing site and in hobby stores across the world. You can also pick up digital copies from DriveThruRPG or the official module for Foundry VTT. I’ll list prices and links below.

The art in this book is beautiful, and the system seems interesting. I was lucky enough to be sent an early copy and will post my review as soon as possible. I have to get through all my Dragonbane content first. Stay tuned for that.

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.

Physical Release

Core Rules ($47.96)

The Walking Dead RPG Core Rules book also get a copy of the PDF so you can get started while you wait for your copy.

Starter Set ($42.18)

The Walking Dead RPG starter set includes:

  • A 40-page condensed rulebook. The game rules are based on the acclaimed Year Zero Engine, but further developed and uniquely tailored for The Walking Dead Universe Roleplaying Game.
  • The 16-page booklet The Wolves’ Den – presenting the first full‑length survival mode scenario for the game.
  • Six pre-generated characters to play.
  • Carol, Gabriel, Glenn and Michonne from the TV series as playable pre-generated characters.
  • A double-sided area map in format 558 mm × 432 mm, depicting an area north of Atlanta, Georgia, and a region in Virginia.
  • Three adventure maps in format 432 mm × 279 mm, showing locations in The Wolves’ Den scenario.
  • Ten custom Base Dice and as many Stress Dice, specifically designed for the game.
  • A Threat Meter, to keep track of the threat from walkers in the surroundings.

The Bundle ($116.90)

The Walking Dead RPG Bundle is currently on sale for $96.10 as of writing this post. I am not sure when the sale ends. The Bundle includes:

  • The full-color hardback Core Rulebook.
  • The boxed Starter Set.
  • A deluxe Game Master’s Screen in landscape format.

Digital

If you play online but want the book for your collection, make sure you use the discount codes TWDStarterVTTBundle or TWDCoreVTTBundle at checkout for 60% off the corresponding module when you buy both physical and digital versions.

Foundry VTT Module – Core Rules ($26.77)

The Core Rules Foundry VTT module includes:

  • 112 Actors.
  • 78 Journal Entries.
  • 175 Items.
  • 114 Rollable Tables.
  • 3 Scenes.
  • 45 Macros.
  • The Rules

Foundry VTT Module – Starter Set ($26.77)

The starter set Foundry VTT module includes:

  • Condensed rules. The game rules are based on the acclaimed Year Zero Engine, but further developed and uniquely tailored for The Walking Dead Universe Roleplaying Game.
  • The Wolves’ Den – presenting the first full‑length survival mode scenario for the game.
  • Six pre-generated characters to play.
  • Carol, Gabriel, Glenn and Michonne from the TV series as playable pre-generated characters.
  • Maps depicting an area north of Atlanta, Georgia, and a region in Virginia.
  • Three adventure maps showing locations in The Wolves’ Den scenario.
  • 23 Actors.
  • 40 Journal Entries
  • 101 Items.
  • 14 Rollable Tables.
  • 5 Scenes.
  • 4 Macros.
video game reviews

SteamWorld Build A Cute New Casual Village Builder with a Twist!

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I was sent SteamWorld Build as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave me a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.

SteamWorld Build launches on Xbox, Switch, PlayStation, and Steam on December 1st. If you enjoy village builders or are in the market for a new game, you need to buy this game.

Take command of a group of robot settlers as they make their last-ditch effort to escape a dying planet. Together, they must build a settlement, recruit new citizens, and mine for the materials that will lead to salvation. But getting off-world won’t be easy. Can you find a way off the planet before the monsters destroy your settlement?

SteamWorld Build is an adorable addition to the SteamWorld universe and a must-have for any fan of the series. The game does a wonderful job of capturing the quirky and delightful vibe of the franchise without sacrificing any of the fun. You don’t need to have played any of the other games to understand the story, but you are going to want to after. SteamWorld games are always a quirky good time and a fantastic addition to any library.

The art, graphics, and animation for this game are adorable. The scrappy design reminds me of the Warhammer 40k Ork Aesthetic, and I love it! If you are a fan of the SteamWorld games, you’ll appreciate the attention to detail put into capturing the essence of the series. If you aren’t a fan, you’ll appreciate the amount of detail put into bringing this world to life. Little details like watching them walk through the wash or getting a drink at the saloon as they carry on their tasks make the experience feel vibrant and alive.

Be prepared to lose a couple of days as you scrutinize the most efficient way to grow your settlement. I had so much fun with SteamWorld Build that it became an addiction. I restarted a few times as I tried the different maps and strategies until finally forcing myself away long enough to write this review. The casual gameplay yet engaging gameplay, the cute and quirky gameplay, and the pacing all come together to create an experience worth having.

SteamWorld Build is a fantastic blend of village building, resource management, and tower defense. It starts like any traditional village builder, with limited resources and a space to build. As the settlement grows, new mechanics are introduced to keep the game feeling fresh. Each world is split into four levels, each with unique gameplay and design. At the top is a basic settlement game where players recruit new citizens, keep them happy, and trade with the passing train. Lower levels introduce a mining game where players dig for resources, maintain the mine’s stability, and defend against oncoming threats. The lower you go, the more dangerous it is. It feels like playing three games at once, but it never becomes overwhelming. Building inefficiently does impede your progression, but I wouldn’t worry about that until your second or third playthrough. I recommend you go into this game as blindly as possible before looking up guides because learning from your mistakes is half the fun.

I love SteamWorld Build and recommend anyone looking for a new game these holidays to pick it up. It’s cute, it’s casual, and an addicting amount of fun. SteamWorld comes out on Xbox, Switch, PlayStation, and Steam on December 1st. Don’t forget to wishlist if you haven’t done so already!

gaming news

Drakantos November Dev Log: Hero Teaser, Mounts, and Pets!

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The Drakantos November Dev Log is out, and there are some exciting updates that we need to look at. There was a hero teaser, mount updates, and more pets! Make sure you read the official post for the complete update, and join the Discord to stay up-to-date on this promising-looking indie MMO.

Don’t forget to add Drakantos to wishlist on Steam. The game just hit 100k wishlists, but we can do better! This game looks like a lot of fun and will be free to play. It won’t hurt to try it out. I’ll keep following the game closely in the hopes that there will be some sort of beta soon.

Check out my previous post for more context. If you enjoy these updates, make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.

Paladin Errant: Zeugladius

Zeugladius gameplay has been teased, and you are going to want to check it out if you like playing tanky characters. His backstory is also up on Discord, so make sure you give it a read. You’ll also get a chance to vote on the next reveal when that becomes available. I am enjoying the lore and can’t wait to dive into the full story.

The devs have made a channell for the game’s heroes for all the lore, art, and animation that gets teased and revealed.

Screenshots and Gifs

There have been updates to quests, assests, and systems which is always good to hear, but we also got some pretty cool screenshots. I might be a little biased, but this game looks so cool. I love the retro vibe it gives off, but there is enough of a modern twist to help it stand out.

Last dev log we learned that we are getting mounts, here we see a nice variety of options. There is also a day and night cycle which is always nice to see. Most importantly, the city and environment look amazing. I am a sucker for good pixel art games, and this is definitely matching my vibe.

We got to see some more animation, and this wyvern looks sick! I love the way it crawls out of the ground and leaves that hole. The way it catches fire and takes flight is amazing. Small details like the flames and ember it releases as it flaps make the beast look even more menacing. I can’t wait to see what they do with the bosses. I wonder if we can ride it?

Pets!

It wouldn’t be an MMO without pets, and we got the cutest little skeleton teased. I am all for pets, and if they are easy to collect, I am here for it. I am sure some of the cooler ones will be locked behind a paywall, but I can’t blame them for trying to make money.

video game reviews

My Impressions of the Taris Land Closed Beta

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I got to play Taris Land during the closed beta and was left underwhelmed by the experience. I went into the beta with an open mind, ready to overlook many imperfections. I am not unreasonable. I knew the closed beta would feature a rough and unfinished game. My problem isn’t the performance or bugs. My problem is that the game isn’t fun.

Taris Land is an MMO for PC and mobile devices. This feels like a mobile game, and while there is nothing wrong with simple mobile MMOs, I would rather be playing Kakele. They messed up advertising this game as WoW killer because it makes it impossible to ignore it as the cheap generic clone that it is. While it may pull folks who want to play Wow but can’t afford it, there isn’t enough to keep them. In its current state, the grind isn’t worth it, the world bosses are lame, and I am not interested in PVP. I tried all the classes but couldn’t find one that made the game fun. 

There were allegations that there were items in the cash shop that made Taris Land pay to win title. The devs quickly released a statement on the official discord where they apologized to the community and assured players that Taris Land isn’t paying to win. They also removed all mentions of Taris Land isn’t pay-to-win from their website, which is a little concerning. I’ve played a few shameless pay-to-win titles, and Taris Land never gave off that vibe. I never felt like I was at a disadvantage for being free-to-play because you can’t buy resources, levels, or power with money. I felt like I could enjoy the entirety of this game without spending any money, it just wasn’t fun. 

I was very excited for Taris Land when it was announced, but that excitement is dead. Now that the novelty has worn off, there is no reason to go back. I am sure future updates will make the game better, but for now, this game isn’t for me. There are better options out there, so the search continues. 

If you enjoy my content, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me a coffee.

video game reviews

Howl: The Beautiful folktale strategy puzzle game you need

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I was sent Howl as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy these reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.

Howl is a turn-based strategy game you can pick up now on Switch and Steam, and PlayStation, Xbox, and Epic Games on January 23rd.

A strange disease spreads through the land, turning anyone who hears it into a violent beast. It is now up to one lone girl to brave the dangers of this new world and find the cure. Fight monsters, save survivors, and forge your destiny. Do you have what it takes?

Howl is such a beautiful game with a unique concept. I am a huge fan of the living ink art style. It reminds me of old Germanic folktales and makes for such a magnificent vibe. It has beautifully voice-acted narration, a phenomenal score, and some neat animations. I recommend you at least check out the demos to appreciate how pretty this game is.

Most importantly, Howl is a fun game with unique gameplay that would make an excellent addition to your library. While Howl does have unique strategy elements, the game feels like a puzzle. 

Each stage has a limited number of turns, actions, and resources you can use to clear the stage and collect all of the loot. Each stage awards players with nodes of light or skulls that players will need to level up the prophet. These upgrades unlock or power up new spells and give you more turns per action. You’ll need these upgrades to 100% clear some stages. 

The action economy is what makes this game unique. Where other strategy games separate hero and enemy actions, Howl combines them. Players have a set number of actions they can perform per turn. They can move a space, attack with an arrow, or use magic. Enemies perform their actions in reaction to a player’s. Players need to queue up all available actions in a turn while guessing how the enemy will react, turning this game into a puzzle. Players must manage their resources efficiently while guessing or memorizing enemy patterns effectively. There is an assist mode that lets you see enemy movements, but it is much more satisfying to solve correctly on your own. 

I loved Howl because of how unique and manageable it is. If you are looking for a beautiful casual experience with enough of a challenge, this game belongs in your library. It looks cool, sounds great, and the gameplay is fun. You can pick up Howl on Switch and Steam today, or wait till January 23rd to get it on PlayStation, Xbox., or Epic Games. There is a demo available for Steam, Switch, and Xbox.

Board Games and TCGs

Build your miniature collection with Skinny Minis’ Black Friday sale

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Black Friday is creeping up on us, so let’s keep looking at more RPG deals to get us ready for the new year. If you need minis for your next campaign, now is the best time to pick up your collection of Skinny Minis. Skinny Minis are acrylic miniatures that not only look cool but store easily. I don’t play IRL, but I’ve been looking longingly at Skini Minis for a while. I don’t have much space to store 3D minis, so Skini Mini offers a solid solution to a problem I wish to have one day.

If you want to elevate your game or build your collection of miniatures, adventures, and maps, you need to get on this Year End Bundle. The bundle is normally $609.10, but for only $180 you get 14 adventures, 24 battle maps, 296 Skinny Minis, and more!

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. I am not affiliated with Skini Minis, I just think the deal was too good to pass up.

14 Adventures

24 Encounter Maps

296 Skinny Minis

3D Terrain Pieces

Other Notable Deals:

Year End Bundle Group A $105 (Normally $354.45)

Year End Bundle Group B $75 (Normally $254.65)

Game Master’s Starter Bundle $84 (Normally 111.95)

Dungeon Terrain 2 $19.95 (Normally 23.95)

Lovecraftian Horrors $19.95 (Normally $23.95)

Giants $19.95 (Normally $23.95)

Spell Effects 1 $19.95 (Normally $23.95)

Board Games and TCGs, gaming news

Take advantage of Modiphius Entertainment’s Black Friday deals

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Let’s keep getting ready for Black Friday by going over some more amazing deals from our friends at Modiphius Entertainment. This will be the perfect time to expand your board game collection, pick up some items you’ve been eyeing, or simply jump into a new system. The sale will go live on Friday the 24th and end on Sunday the 26th. They will also be observing Cyber Monday if you don’t mind digital media. There is too much to cover, so make sure you check the official store for anything I miss.

If you enjoy these updates, make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.

Tabletop Role Playing Games

Achtung! Cthulhu Skirmish 70% off corebook and accessories

Dune: Adventures in the Imperium 50% off

Star Trek Adventures 50% off

John Carter of Mars 70% off

Homeworld RPG 70% off

Dishonored RPG 70% off

Infinity RPG 70% off

Fallout RPG 50% off corebook and accessories

Board Games

SPECTRE 70% off

Airfix Battles 70% off

Wargames

Five Leagues From the Borderlands 50% off

Five Parsecs from Home 50% off

Fallout: Wasteland Warfare 50% off

The Elder Scrolls: Call to Arms 40% off

Cyber Monday

For those looking for a new RPG and don’t mind having a library of digital media, Modiphius.net, Modiphius.us, and DriveThruRPG will have RPG bundles for 80%.

Bundles will be available for:

gaming news

Folktale Strategy game Howl out now on PC and Switch

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Howl is the game from this month’s Indie World Showcase that I was most excited about. The art style is beautiful, the hook is interesting, and the gameplay seems fun. The game is out now on Steam and Switch fpr $14.99, and will release on Xbox, PlayStation, and Epic Games on January 23rd. I was going to pick this game up regardless, but I was fortunate enough to have been sent a copy for review. I’ll be posting my full impressions soon, so stay tuned for that. 

Howl is a uniquely stylized strategy game with a lovely classic folktale vibe. You play as a deaf girl who must brave the world’s dangers in search of a cure for a disease that ravages humanity. The disease is turning everyone who hears into beasts, and she is the only one who is immune to its effects. She must now fight the beasts that hunt her, save any remaining survivors, and become the hero fate needs her to be. 

Howl isn’t your traditional turn-based strategy game. It plays like a puzzle where you must predict enemy moves and use resources efficiently. Howl seems like a nice change in pace from the norm, and I am here for it. Definitely check it out if you want to add something unique to your library. 

You can pick up Howl now on Switch and Steam, or wishlist on PlayStation, Xbox, and Epic Games. There is a demo available for Steam, Switch, and Xbox.

If you enjoy these updates, make sure you leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.