All posts by josechurape

video game reviews

Why Mouse P.I. for Hire is a Must-Play Game

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Mouse P.I. for Hire to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Mouse P.I. for Hire?

Mouse P.I. for Hire is the best game you will play all year. Don’t waste your time reading this review. Go buy this game and thank me later. Mouse PI is a first person shooter with a fantastic noir story and a unique old timy cartoon aesthetic that leaves it an incredibly memorable gaming experience. You can pick up the game on Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch 2.

Hook

Jack Pepper remembers the old world, and continues his fight in the new one. Jack is a hero converted into a detective who is on a case that might be more than he bargained for. His old nemesis has gone missing, and it is up to him to find him. But the more he digs into the disappearance, the more danger seems to be lurking behind every corner. Dive into a world full of guns, explosions, and a lot of mystery as he uncovers a deep seeded corruption that has been baked into the foundation of the city of Mouseburg. What secrets await Jack? Can he solve the case, or will he be counted as one of the cities many unsolved accidents?

Gameplay

Mouse PI is your classic boomer shooter with an oldtimey filter and design. Players race around the city of Mouseburg, collecting clues, weapons, and killing any thing hostile. The game feels like Bioshock if it was animated and drawn by Walt Disney. In classic survival game fashion, players will need to manage their inventory of bullets and health pots to make sure the case is solved. The difficulty can be adjusted in the beginning which I assume affects the availabilty of the items. Normal felt a little easy, but I played a lot of Bioshock back in the day. I was pretty much ready.

Combat in this game is your basic shooter. Aim assist is on by default and can be adjusted to fit your playstyle. The default setting is fine if you want to enjoy the story but still feel like you are playing a shooter. During combat, players can switch between weapons they pick up along the way. Typing is important enough to pay attention, but I did just fine with shooting whatever was cool. I like that the game pauses when switching between weapons and that you can pause the game when you need to take a break.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

Mouse P.I. is fantastic on the Steam Deck, and it has earned a permanent space in my limited drive. The game works very well. I didn’t experience any crashes or glitches, although there were random moments when the character would just drift in one direction. I don’t know if this is a hardware issue because it doesn’t always happen, nor was I able to recreate it. It isn’t game breaking, but it happened enough to notice. If you are looking for a good game to try on your Steam Deck, pick up Mouse P.I. and thank me later. I will say, there are elements of this game that are a little hard to see, but that might just be an age issue or the fact that I’ve lost my glasses.

Review

I’ve already made my stance on this game, but I will make it again. Mouse P.I. for Hire is by far one of my favorite games that I’ve tried since starting my journey as a game reviewer, and I will recommend it to everyone. The game has a fantastic vibe, a solid story, and most importantly, fun gameplay.

Aesthetic

The game’s main draw is its unique, yet familiar aesthetic. The 1930’s inspired art is not only a unique take on the genre, but a fun contrast to the dark and gritty story the game tells. I for one welcome any cool disney-esque dark game that comes my way. The art reminds me of the dark puzzle game, By Sweet Carole. The game also uses cute Disney-like art to explore its dark themes, and I absolutely loved that game as well. Go check it out.

The game also has a fantastic soundtrack. One of my favorite parts about the Bioshock and Falloutseries is the amazing old school soundtrack, and this game has a simlar vibe. It also allows players to customize their experience by adjusting the filters. You can make Mouse P.I. look and sound like a modern game, or adjust the filters to sound like the 1930s. I will say that the filters do make some things hard to see, but again, this might be an age issue.

Story

As a huge fan of detective noir stories, Mouse P.I. is a delightful adventure that I implore everyone to embark on. The well paced mystery is told through some incredible voice acting and some very well placed humor. I love the twists and turns this story took me on. While the game does look cute and adorable, the dark themes it touches make it a very adult yet enjoyable experience. Go check it out for yourself.

Gameplay

The game plays very smooth. It has solid boomer shooter mechanics with memorable boss fights and manageable survival mechanics. It is a little easier than Bioshock, but I also may just be better at games. I loved Bioshock, and the fact that I was unexpectedly taken back to such a nostalgic era of my gaming history but got to explore a new world is why this game instantly topped my list of favorites. If you are ready to replay Bioshock, but would rather experience something new, pick up Mouse P.I. for hire. Combat is tight, the weapons are interesting, and the filter makes everything fun. I will say that not all of the weapons seem useful or relevant, but I could argue the same for Bioshock. Just choose whatever is fun, and start blasting.

Conclusion

I can’t stress enough how badly you need to be playing Mouse P.I. for hire. This game is a fantastic treat for these dark times, and money well spent at full price. The game has cool hand drawn art that make for a unique world to explore, fun mechanics that will leave you wanting more, and a solid story to get you through it all. If you need a game to play this summer, go pick up Mouse P.I. for hire today!

Trailer

video game reviews

Kitaria Fables: An Honest Review of the Cozy RPG

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Kitaria Fables to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Kitaria Fables?

Kitaria fables is a cozy action RPG out now on Steam, GoG, Switch, and PlayStation. There is a Steam demo available, and it works great on the Steam Deck! If you ever wished your Zelda games had a little more farming, this might be the game for you.

Hook

Your grandfather has left you with his old farm and a bit of magic in a Kingdom that no longer wants magic. Armed with your sword, a bow, and a few magic spells you learn along the way you make your way through the deepest dungeons in search of treasure. Use your gifts to help those in need and don’t forget to do a little farming in between. In classic cozy game fashion, you will need to farm for more powerful items. What will this cozy adventure have in store for you?

Gameplay

Kitaria Fables is a simple hack and slash adventure game that encourages players to farm supplies and build their gear. Combat is very simple. Players will target a mob and spam their abilities. By default, players get a basic attack and sword ability and unlock magic abilities as they play the game. Abilities are on a cool down and use mana to cast. Mana is generated by hitting auto attacks. Players will learn patterns and beat down enemies to collect materials for loot or gold.

An arguably smaller part of this game is the farming mechanics. Players inherit a farm from their grandfather that they can use to cultivate ingredients for food. Food heals players but also grants them small buffs. In typical cozy game fashion, players can organize their plot of land however they want.

Review

As far as cozy games go, the game is fine but I found that after a couple of hours of play, I was done with it. The game is cute and runs well, but it gets representative to the point where it doesn’t seem worth it. The story isn’t anything special and I honestly already forgot what happens. You are special and powerful and will save the world, but who cares when nothing feels like it matters.

Aesthetic

The main draw for this game is the art. This an adorable game with with a cute world to explore. I love the character art! The animals are cute and the main character is even cuter. There is some clear bias because I am cat guy, but it was the cute cozy aesthetic that first drew me to the game. The game has very cool attack animations. The magic spells feel impactful and there is some creativity that went into the monster design, but that quickly falls flat as the game becomes more repetitive.

The Grind

The grind in the game isn’t soul crushing, but it is a little too steep for a cozy game. Crafting in this game seems neat at first until you start working towards unlocking more powerful items. I am not asking for the game to hand me my progression, but the balance needs to be adjusted. I don’t mind a repetitive grind, I have done more than my fair share, but it starts to feel like busy work. In games like Core Keeper or Gaucho and the Grassland, you can see your farm becoming nicer and feel your gear becoming stronger. Here, it just feels like they are just dragging out a short story. I can see the grind being worth it if you like the aesthetic, but it is really hard to recommend unless you get this game at a heavy discount.

Farming

The farming in this game is kind of pointless. While farming gives players access to useful buffs, the buffs are short and don’t feel very impactful. After doing the mandatory farming quest, I saw no real point to continue to build my farm except to break up the monotony of fighting monsters. What I like least about this system is how you have to keep switching your main item to do any task. Other games let you fill a bar you can switch between, but Kitaria Fables has you open up your inventory and equip each item. I somehow kept deleting my tools. While this is a skill issue, it took away from the cozy experience. I honestly wish the game just focused on the adventure side of the game, but I am also getting burnt out on cozy farming sims.

Combat

Combat in this game is fine. It is a basic hack and slash and that has its place in the world. I typically enjoy these types of games because it lets me sit back and relax without having to memorize a bunch of keybinds. The problem I have with combat is how quickly it becomes repetitive. Enemies in this game will respawn if you reenter an area. This means you are fighting the same enemies every time any time you want to go anywhere. You can easily skip these encounters, but it makes travel a chore. There is quick travel to help with some of this repetition, but it all starts to blend together after a couple of hours. I can’t remember an encounter that particularly stands out because the game increases difficulty by making enemies reflavored damage sponges. It isn’t the worst system I’ve seen, but why would I get this over Core Keeper?

Conclusion

Kitaria Fables is a cute cozy farm sim. If you can get this game at a heavy discount (like $4 or $5), sure, the game will be that fun. You’ve got cute character, and a decent enough loop to keep you busy. If you see it at full price, you can do better. The sequel is coming out and if they fix some of the issues with the first, I would just wait for that game instead. I didn’t find anything objectively bad with this game, it just didn’t have enough to it to stand out aside from the cute cat character. I didn’t hate playing this game, but I will forget ever playing it. But hey, at least its Steam Deck compatible.

You can pick up Kitaria Fables on Steam, GoG, Switch, and PlayStation.

Trailer

Tech Reviews

Redragon BS8773 Review: Affordable Gaming Combo

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Disclaimer

Redragon sent me the BS-8773 mechanical keyboard and mouse combo to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinion. This will be my honest review. Make sure you also check out my reviews for the Wyvern K761. I’ll also be using my Amazon Affiliate link where possible. It really helps me out if you use it before buying anything.

Table of Contents

What’s in the Box?

  • BS8773 Mechanical Keyboard
  • Wireless Mouse
  • Wireless Dongle
  • USB-C to USB-A Cable

Unboxing

Features

If you’re a gamer on a budget but don’t want to sacrifice performance, Redragon might have the kit for you. The Redragon BS8773 comes to us with a few features that will help you stay competitive, even through those long sweaty team fights.

Design

This 78 key keyboard has been designed to give users access to all the keys they need in a compact and optimized package. This thin and ultra light keyboard comes in four colors: Black, White & Grey, White & Purple, and Blue. I got mine in Purple and love the color scheme.

The thin switch design makes the keyboard compact without sacrificing on any of that mechanical keyboard goodness. Most importantly, this wouldn’t be a gaming keyboard without RGB and the BS8773 has a very pretty blue backlight that will give your cave the flare you crave. The RGB can be turned off easily if you don’t want a light show.

Performance

If you’re looking for a keyboard that can handle you at your most intense, the BS8773 promises the performance to do just that. While the keyboard does not have Bluetooth, players can enjoy a low latency wireless connection through the attached dongle. Coupled with the keyboards impressive battery life (about 10-12 hours with all the lights on), you are getting a very reliable package for fantastic price.

The Mouse

The wireless mouse requires a AA battery, but it is ready to earn all those headshots as soon as it is installed. With 5 adjustable DPI settings (800/1200/1600/2000/2400 DPI), ergonomic design, and low latency connection, there is no task this combo can’t handle.

Sound Test

Review

If you are looking for a cheap, low profile keyboard/mouse combo for your daily grind, the BS8773 is fine for what it is. Don’t expect the most comfortable or luxurious experience, you’re getting a functional compact keyboard that does what it needs to. My favorite aspect of this keyboard is the mouse. The mouse is awesome and almost makes up for they keyboards drawbacks.

Quality

Out of the box, users might feel some initial disappointment. The keyboard has a cool, simple modern aesthetic, but the font on the keys already look faded. Picking up the keyboard I realized that the box it comes in is heavier than the actual keyboard. This is ideal for those who travel with their kit, and fine for those who don’t. There is some flex to the board which makes me anxious about traveling with the keyboard. I heard some odd cracks when I was testing the flex, but luckily nothing broke. The keyboard itself is made well enough. Everything is cleanly manufactured, although it does feel like cheap plastic. If you’ve never used a more expensive keyboard or keycaps, its fine for 40$. You can definitely do worse.

Aesthetic

The BS8773 has a very cool design. It is a very modern looking keyboard and the compact layout is ideal for the user who wants a full sized keyboard that doesn’t take up so much desktop space. The flat design makes it low-profile which is in step with its modern aesthetic, but I prefer something a bit more raised for comfort. The keyboard does have kickstands to adjust the height, but it isn’t tall enough for my tastes. This is a personal issue, but something to consider if you’re crazy like me. I love the color scheme, purple is my favorite color, but I can’t read the font on the keys. I know how to type without looking at the keys, but the font messes with my dyslexia and it is too faded looking for these tired old eyes. The BS8773 does have a very pretty blue backlight, and it isn’t the worst looking keyboard you’ll pull out at the LAN party.

Performance

All in all, I was very impressed with how well this little keyboard came to play. I noticed no latency, ghosting, or any other issues. Everything hooked up on the first try, and nothing malfunctioned in my week of vigorous testing. It was a solid workhorse for writing, but I found the layout a bit of an adjustment for gaming. I needed to relearn a lot of the muscle memory and it all felt too cramped. The experience got better the more I used the keyboard, but I had a rough couple of days getting used to the new echo system. I also didn’t like that keyboard connected through the dongle. I switch between devices constantantly for my workflow, so it was a little annoying to have to transfer the dongle. If you don’t need to move from one device, it isn’t an issue. The battery life is fantastic though, and honestly the best part of the whole package.

Comfort

It took me a couple days to get used to the Redragon BS8773, and in that time I almost gave up on the keyboard. Everything felt so cramped it would trigger my repetitive stress injury to the point where I needed to take breaks. However, once I got used to the layout, it was fine. For writing, this keyboard is solid. It works as intended and I could knock out long meaningful sessions without issue. For gaming, I constantly found myself fat-fingering the wrong key and messing up crucial combos. This is honestly a skill issue, and your millage will vary. I think this keyboard would be better if it didn’t include the function bar behind the macros. That said, it was comfortable enough to be worth the $40 as a daily workhorse.

The Mouse

The mouse in this kit is fantastic. Are there better mice out there? Of course there are, but for the price, you get a sleek comfortable mice that works well enough for what you need it for. My only complaint is that the thing is battery powered. I never seem to have batteries when I need them the most, and that scares me. You can buy rechargeable AAs (and I recommend you do) so I guess it isn’t a huge deal. This is probably one of the few times where the mouse messed up my hand less than the keyboard. I recommend it.

Conclusion

Look, times are tough and you shouldn’t be punished if you are gaming on a budget. The kit isn’t the high end devices the pros use, but most of us aren’t performing at that level anyways. If you are looking for something cheap that works well enough to get through your next game or that next essay, the Redragon BS8773 is a great value at $40. You can pick up the Redragon BS8773 directly from the Redragon shop, or on Amazon through my affiliate link.

video game reviews

White Day: A Labyrinth Named School Review

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of White Day: A Labyrinth Named School to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinion. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

Whiteday_20170309102110

What is White Day: A Labyrinth Named School?

The classic Korean horror game is back by popolar demand. Roam the haunted halls of Yeondu High School as you avoid a killer janitor and try to escape a few supernatural horrors. Armed with only your wit and your vague memory of this new school, you will need survive the night and find your way out. Can you survive the night long enough to see White Day? Or will you be another dark spot in Yeondu High School’s even darker history?

Gameplay

Players take control of Hee-Min Lee as he finds himself trapped in school overnight. Players will need to solve puzzles, hide from ghosts and a killer janitor, and find clues about the school’s history. The game offers different difficulties from an easy mode for those who just want to enjoy the story, and a hard more for those who want something a lot more scary. Those who have played the game can enjoy a new character, a bit more story, and a new ending to keep things fresh. There are also some new visuals to bring the game to a more modern audience.

Review

I have mixed feelings about this game. On one hand, I love the story. This game has a fantastic atmosphere, solid pacing, and interesting lore. The puzzles in this game are interesting and provide a good amount of challenge. My issue is that I am still a huge coward when it comes to horror games, and this game knows how to keep my heart rate up. Whether it was the pesky AI that always knows where I am, or the jump scares that forced several needed breaks, I wasn’t as ready as I thought I was. If you are looking for a classic horror game that still feels a little dated, the story is good enough to play through at least once. If you aren’t a fan of old school games, there is some clunkiness to this game that makes it feel dated.

Aesthetic

I hate to admit it, but White day has a fantastic horror vibe. The game has a creepy sound track to get you in the mood, the school looks frightening, and the monsters are very well done. While I did have to take many breaks, I did force myself back because I wanted to see more of the story. The game does look a little dated for those used to modern day horror, but I appreciate the retro horror vibe and the story it tells.

Story

White Day has a solid horror story. It has some cool creative elements, but the running away and sneaking mechanics get in the way. I sort of wish I played on the easy difficulty because I don’t like stealth style games, but I powered through (somehow) because I liked the story enough. I still prefer The Bridge Curse 2, but I definitely would add this to your horror list.

Gameplay

I did not like the gameplay, but it could be a skill issue. The puzzles in this game are fun and creative. Some of the objectives are hard to see, and the times I got stuck was because I couldn’t see the object. I believe this is an age issue, but luckily there are guides available if you get stuck. I hated sneaking in this game. The Janitor seemed to always know where I was and sometimes he wouldn’t leave. This could be a skill issue, but it is really boring to have to sit in hiding as the AI just paces around, giving you no opportunity to progress through the story. People who are better at these style of games may have a better time with this game, but those who don’t like stealth games should look elsewhere for their horror. I think the dated feel of the games the stealth feel worse, but again, I don’t like Stealth games.

Conclusion

So why did I get this game if I don’t like stealth games? As much as I struggle to get through these games, I do enjoy a good horror story. White Day has a solid horror story with interesting lore and very fun flavor. The game has some solid horror elements that create the creepy atmosphere I want in a game like this. The problem with the game is that it does feel dated, and it does feel like the AI cheats to create the game’s tension. If you are good at stealth games, you might have a better time with this game, but I wouldn’t pay full price to play through this game. I would wait for a sale (like the one happening on Steam until May 16, 2026).

You can pick up White Day: A Labyrinth Named School on Steam.

Trailer

video game reviews

Panzer Knights Review: Tanks and Anime Girls Unite

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Panzer Knights to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Panzer Knights?

Do you like World War II era tanks and cute anime girls? Panzer Knights combines these loves into one epic campaign through re-imagined history. Do you have what it takes to bring victory to your army?

Hook

Command a mighty panzer platoon of cute anime girls through iconic WW2 battles in an adventure you will never forget. Fight off squads of enemy tanks with your fleet of WW2 tanks and special ammo for every occasion. Can you withstand the pressures of tank warfare and bring victory and honor for the homaland, or will you be another heap of burning scrap metal on the side of the road? Grab your mice and keyboards and find out today!

Gameplay

Players take control of different tanks through iconic historical battles. Use different ammo types, positioning, smoke screen, and crew members to take the advantage. While there is some realism in design, combat leans a bit to the arcade side. Do not expect this to be a full on tank simulator like World of Tanks, but the game requires enough skill to demand its respect. In between missions, players can buy upgrades or recruit new crewmates and tanks. There is a story, but it is a short and manageable campaign for those who don’t want the commitment. Make sure to check out the DLC for additional tank types.

Review

Honestly, if you are looking for a tank sim but don’t want to put in the effort that comes with something more realistic, Panzer Knights is a solid choice. The game has fantastic art, a solid story, and decent combat mechanics. I am not a huge fan of those warfare sims, but I had a lot of fun with the arcade feel of this game.

Aesthetic

I’ll be honest, you put a cute anime girl in your game and it is going into my collection. I will admit I did my time with Azure Lane, and this was giving me a similar vibe (albiet less fan service). I commend the devs for their attention to detail in the tanks as well as the girls. The world and tanks look pretty accurate to my casual historian eyes (I actually do love learning about history). My only issue with the game is that the world does feel a little empty. I don’t like how the world just pops up around you as you move around the maps, and some of the maps are kind of ugly. I think there is just enough detail to apreciate the game for what it is, but don’t expect the realism you get from World of Tanks.

Story

The story for this game is fine. I don’t think it is anything I would rush to, especially because there are bits that feel generic, but it was good enough to fill the game. I just wish there was more. The game is very short. It is worth $20, but I wish there was more to do.

Combat

Combat is where the game wins me over. I am not a fan of the more realistic sims because of how much work they feel. Things like World of Warships or Tanks are fun, but having to adjust to the physics of warfare is a struggle I don’t want to sit through after a long day of work and being a dad. I enjoyed the lack of realism because movement doesn’t feel clunky and combat doesn’t feel so calculated. The game does offer some challenge by forcing players to think about positioning, shell type, and things like that, but to a more casual degree that I found very manageable. The enemy AI is a bit on the easy side, but I still had to try to get by.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a tank sim that is more on the casual side, Panzer Knight is a solid option. The anime girls a cure, the tanks are cool, but you gotta be okay with the world being a little ugly. I enjoyed my time with the game, but I would probably wait for a sale. As much fun as I had, tank sims aren’t really my thing. I don’t think I would have gotten as far as I did if I wasn’t writing this review. That said, if you like WWI era tanks, don’t mind the arcade approach to combat, and want to collect cute waifus, check out Panzer Knights on Steam.

Trailer

Uncategorized

Reptilian Rising Review: A Unique Tactical RPG Experience

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Reptilian Rising to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Reptilian Rising?

Reptilian Rising is a tactical, turn-based strategy game out now on Steam and the Nintendo Switch. Players take control of their favorite historical figures (and some a bit more fictional) in an epic battle for humanity’s freedom. Make sure you check out the Steam demo, and don’t forget to wishlist!

Hook

The dreaded Dictatorsaur has sent his mighty army through time to threaten humanity. It is up to earths mightiest heroes from every reach of time to stop them. Control miniatures of earths mightiest heroes and keep our timeline reptile free. Make your way through time, recruit new heroes to fight by your side, use your tactical prowess to save humanity, and collect some cool collectibles along the way. Do you have what it takes to save earth, or will fall under the weight of Dictatorsaur’s power?

Gameplay

Players get to assemble their army as they jump around time, keeping the reptilian forces at bay. The game is a turn based tactical RPG where players and enemy AI take turns capturing objectives, finding cool collectibles, and killing anything that gets in their way. Each level has unique objectives like capturing key nodes or killing all of the enemies to progress through the campaign. Each level is themed after a specific point in time, but all with a unique retro vaporwave aesthetic that makes the game a uniquely quirky experience.

The level ends when the player clears all of the objectives, or the player looses all characters. Characters can respawn if the player has enough time points. Players earn time points by killing enemies, collecting items, or capturing objectives. Time points are used for actions like summoning new characters or performing certain actions.

Combat

Combat in Reptilian Rising is turn based. Players spend each run using up a character’s action. During each round, each character can move and perform an action. In classic tabletop rpg fashion, each character has a limited movement range and action economy. Characters can use their action to attack, defend, or capture an objective. Take can also take their turn to collect gold or other collectables scattered across the map. After leveling up, characters have access to additional abilities that can be used if the player has enough time points. If the player takes too long to complete a level, a powerful enemy spawns to up the stakes.

Leveling

In between levels, players can spend ingame currency to level up their abilities. Reptilian Rising features a robust skill tree to give players a variety of playstyles. While I am sure there is a right way to build your army, I had good enough success building what I thought was fun.

Review

Reptilian Rising is a neat little strategy game that has classic tabletop vibes and a very cool theme and aesthetic. While there are bits that feel unfinished and clunky, the game has an undeniable charm that is worth checking out at least once, especially if you like killing time traveling dinosaurs. While I am very bad at strategy games, especially this game, I enjoyed every minute I had with this game.

Aesthetic

Reptilian Rising has a very cool vaporwave aesthetic. It has those bright neon colors that make it look both retro and futuristic that the same time, with some cool character designs to fill the world. Couple this with the fantastic sound track, and I got a sense of nostalgia for an era I didn’t live through. The tabletop feel and aesthetic was an excellent choice, and it gives Reptilian Rising its unique and memorable experience.

Gameplay

I am a little mixed on how I feel about the gameplay. On one hand, it is a solid strategy game with difficulty adjustments to support both casual and hardcore gamers. The mechanics are sound and offer players a ample opportunities to flex their strategy muscles. I am not good at these kinds of games, and had to play at the lowest most casual difficulty. This was still fun for me (I barely made it through each level), and I appreciate that I had the option from the beginning. My issue with the game is that there isn’t an option to reset a level if you are losing (at least not an intuitive one). You kind of have to just wait to fail the mission, which is a little unnecessary. Sure I could speed up the game through the settings, but its not the same.

Another issue I have with the game is that it is a little clunky. The game runs pretty smoothly and I didn’t experience any bugs or crashes, but choosing an action didn’t always work. To choose an action, you have to click on the character, click on the action, click on the object or enemy to target, click the action again. This feels clunky, and sometimes the actions wouldn’t work unless I moved the camera and tried again. I wish it would let me click the action and let me click the target to perform the action.

Loot

One mechanic I found interesting is how the game handles loot. The game will automatically give players XP for killing characters, but not loot. Enemies will sometimes drop additional loot that players have to pick up by landing on the square it drops to. There are also collectables scattered throughout the map the players can collect. This forces the players to either use their movement to collect the loot, often forcing them to move in-optimally, or they can ignore the loot and focus on the objectives. Loot disappears after a number of turns, giving players urgency in their action economy. Do you go out of your way to collect that cool new trading card you’re missing, or do you take over an important node to stop a powerful enemy from showing up?

Conclusion

Reptilian Rising is a fun quirky take on the genre. I am a huge fan of the flavor, aesthetic, and mechanics. While there is some minor jank, I think it gives the game its charm. If you are looking for a fun new strategy game to add to your collection, check out Reptilian Rising on Steam and the Nintendo Switch. At the very least, go check out the demo!

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video game reviews

The Bridge Curse 2: An Honest Review of the Horror Experience

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of The Bridge Curse 2: The Extrication to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is The Bridge Curse 2?

The Bridge Curse 2 is a first person survival horror game out now on Steam, Epic Games, Xbox, PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch. The game is full of horror, jumps scares, and a couple different endings you can play towards. While the game is a sequel, this is a very stand alone story you can pick up without having played the first game.

Hook

Wen Hua University is infamous for its strange supernatural activity, particularly the events tied to the Da Ren building. The creepy lingering vibes and the building’s dark history make the ideal setting for the film clubs big project. During filming, the film club captures what appears to be a ghost siting. The video goes viral, bringing national attention to this sleepy mountain campus, specifically the attention of the young reporter, Sue Lian. Ms. Lian goes to the school hoping to break a story that will bring her some needed attention, but what she finds within these dark halls is more than just a ghost story.

Make your way through Da Ren’s dark and spooky corridors as you dodge terrifying ghosts, solve puzzles, and look for a way out. What will your investigation uncover? Can you find a way out of this nightmare?

Gameplay

Players take control of one four characters as they explore the haunted Da Ren building, looking for a way out. They use a magical lantern to look for clues, solve puzzles, and defend themselves from ghost attacks. Players can make the game scarier by visual warnings that show players danger. Players die if they get caught by the many monsters, but can leave this nightmare if they can piece together the mystery. There are multiple enemies for those who want to collect it all.

Review

I don’t know why I keep trying to play horror games when I know how hard it is for me to get through them. Part of me hopes that I will one day become desensitized enough to make it through these types of survivor horror games with the lights off. I do not have issues with horror movies and it is honestly my favorite genre, but something about having the control in my hand gives me a lot of anxiety. I had to take a few breaks as I played through this game because of how well the horror is done, but I kept coming back because I was enjoying the story. It may not be the perfect horror game, but it is a solid add to your collection if you enjoy the genre.

Aesthetic

The game has decent graphics. The world looks good, and the monsters are terrifying. There are some awkward moments of animation, but nothing that is game breaking. The music and sound is my favorite part because of how good it was at setting the mood. My only complaint is that there really isn’t a huge reason to explore, and the world seems to be a little too cluttered with small details that don’t add anything to the story. Overall, the game has a creepy atmosphere and I am here for it. Mostly.

Story

The story is fine for a horror. I like that is a standalone story because I never got to play the first one. I might build enough courage one day to go back, but I like that I wasn’t lost with the events of this sequel. The voice acting is a little spotty though. Some of the lines are delivered awkwardly and does take away from the immersion. I watch a lot of bad movies with bad acting for fun, and it could be a lot worse. I think they did good enough, and the story is interesting enough to power through. It has solid pacing, some good twists, and a good mystery. I got the bad ending because I suck at this game, but you should definitely go for both. If you need a solid horror game for the summer, The Bridge Curse 2 is a good place to start.

Gameplay

As far as horror games go, Bridge Curse 2 is fine. I really enjoyed the puzzles and how creative it got, but I had a lot of trouble getting through the monster bits. This is definitely a skill issue. The anxiety this game filled me with made it hard to do any of the stealth bits, but somehow I managed. The only issue I have with the game is how boring exploration can be because there isn’t much you can do outside the story bits, but I didn’t really want to wander too far anyways. The game performs very well and a good place to start if you are looking for solid horror.

Conclusion

I found this game harder than it needed to be because of how well the game created its horror. I am also a weenie who has a hard time with horror games. The game has a cool story full of neat lore and some unique mechanics. If you are looking for a horror game for your collection, go get your copy for your favorite console or pc. I might one day be brave enough to watch the first movie, but I’ll probably just watch the movie instead.

You can pick up The Bridge Curse 2 on Steam, Epic Games, Xbox, PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch.

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video game reviews

Ink Inside Review: A Whimsical Adventure Awaits

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Ink Inside to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Ink Inside?

Ink Inside is a unique dogball beat-em-up out now on Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch. There is a Steam demo available, and the saves transfer to the full game. This is only the first part of a story that was meant to be a cartoon, and I can’t wait for the rest to be released.

Hook

Stick is an unfinished doodle that wakes up in a strange and whismical world full of drawings. But danger looms as the Sog warps the world and currupts its inhabitants. Those affected by the Sog turn into mindless monsters that attack the once peacful world. Forces have risen to fight against the Sog, but its spread doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Fortunately, Stick has the power to fight against the Sog. Will his power be enough to rid the world of the Sog and bring everything back to normal? Will he regain his memories? What will his journey uncover?

Gameplay

Players take control of Stick and friends and fight against Sogged doodles in epic dodgeball combat. Players can equip different cores and items that give characters unique abilities. Balls (cores) can be bounced off objects and walls, which becomes useful as the stages becomes more complex. The game offers players a good amount of customization for an almost unlimited amount of of playstyles. Earn enough cool points to fill the bar and the rules can be broken and players can cross into the enemy’s side for more damage.

Ink Inside would not be an RPG without healing. Players can heal at anytime if they have enough cool points to spend. During healing, players can also chat with their NPC friends for some added flavor. Items in game can help mitigate damage by blocking projectiles, giving players health, or giving them an extra jump. While the game is full of whismy and mayhem, it offers enough challenge to keep players on their toes.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

Ink Inside is a solid addition to your Steam Deck library. The game works very well, with a resolution that makes everything easy to see. I am old and appreciate when I don’t have to squint to read the text or see what is going on. The game runs well for the most part, but I did notice some frame drops and weird stutters. The game never crashed though. Ultimately, this game on handheld feels very good. Whether it is for the sense of nostolgia or the fact that I don’t have to sit at my desk all day, Ink Inside just feels right on the Steam Deck.

Review

Honestly, Ink Inside is the quirky little cartoon game that I didn’t know I needed. It has an adorably cozy aesthetic, a solid story, and fun gameplay. If you are a cartoon network kid or just want a little whimsy in your life, go pick up Ink Inside today.

Aesthetic

I was first drawn to Ink Inside because of the art. The art direction in this game is fantastic, and I urge everyone to check this game out for its unique style of story telling. I love the blend of styles of both the characters and doodles and the FMV cut scenes. I read that game was meant to be an actual show and based on the visuals alone, I would watch it. Ink Inside has one of the coolest whimsical worlds that made exploration delightful, a soundtrack that never failed to set the mood, and amazing voice actors to keep me invested in the story. If you want to relive the feeling of waking up early for Saturday morning cartoons, this game needs to be in your library.

Story

The only thing I don’t like about the story is that I have to wait for DLC to finish it. Luckily, the game seems to be reasonably priced, and the story is enough to hook me to the world. I read that the game was originally planned to be a cartoon for Nickelodeon, and I really it to be made. The story is fantastic full of good humor, memorable and lovable characters, and a story that will have you wanting more. I love the creative story telling as well as the transitions between the doodle world and the real world. This feels like the cartoons I grew up with in both tone, style and flavor and I believe it is exactly what you need. You just don’t know you need it yet.

Gameplay

Ink Inside has some of the most unique and quirky games. You can definitely feel the Cartoon Network game influence, but that isn’t a bad thing. I was not ready to fall in love with dodgeball, but here I am trying to perfect my build for my next encounter. The game is very deep despite its cartoonish shell. The items you equip constantly change up the playstyle. I was a little confused on how gearing works. The game does a good job at explaining how it works, but in practice, I found it a little overwhelming. This is clearly a skill issue and I was eventually able to brute force into a build that worked for my playstyle. The game offers good incentives for exploration and side questing, encourages changing builds for maximum effect, and has a good ammount of story to keep players invested. If you want a fun cozy game, get Ink Inside.

Combat

I want to split combat into its own section because of how unique it is. The dodgeball mechanics are well done, and the game does fantastic job at keeping encounters fresh. I like how much items like cores change up the flow of combat whether you are using balls that do more damage or ones that recharge more regularly. The flavor that goes into making each ability feel unique like the music abilities that heal or the different shields that repel items give this game its unforgettable flare. I love how unique the enemies becomes and how they force players to change up their strategy. Some enemies need to be meleed others need to be beat with a ball. When I felt like I mastered the game, it would add obstacles and hazards to play around to make combat feel my dynamic. My only complaint is that I wish I had a friend to do some co-op with because this is the perfect buddy game.

Conclusion

If you still need convincing, check out the Ink Inside demo on Steam. This is easily one of my favorite games of the year because of how much fun the game is. I love the game’s art, the story that goes behind it, and the mechanics that got me addicted. It is the cozy game that I didn’t know I needed, especially since I don’t really need another farm sim in my collection.

You can pick up Ink Inside on Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch

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video game reviews

What to Expect: Alpha Nomos Demo Impressions

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Disclaimer

I was sent the Alpha Nomos demo to review for my blog. I understand the game is not done yet, so I will be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, this will be my honest impressions of the game.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Alpha Nomos?

Alpha Nomos is an action roguelike rhythm game coming to Steam later this year. Make sure you check out the demo, and don’t forget to wishlist!

Hook

The world has been ravaged by murderous puppets, and it is up to Cello and her friends to bring it back to life. With the power of rhythm and music, fight your way through this broken world and bring peace. Discover new abilities, harness the power of music, and destroy everything that gets in your way. What will your journey uncover? What is Alpha Nomos?

Gameplay

Alpha Nomos is your typical hack and slash. Players run through the world, beating up enemies with the power of music. The game features the roguelike leveling structure where players start at a hub where they can buy and equip upgrades between runs. Players will make their way through a run, grinding for the resources to level up their character. During a run, players can choose the type of encounter or reward. Players can either fight for a powerup, ability, or money. They can also choose to heal or buy items. What makes Alpha Nomos unique is the rhythm game mechanics.

Rhythm

Combat in Alpha Nomos requires players to land the attack, dodge, or block in rhythm with the music’s tempo. Landing an action at the perfect time maximizes its effectiveness. While you can mindlessly button mash your way through the game, Alpha Nomos rewards those who can keep the beat. For those like me who have no rhythm, the game can be calibrated for a more casual experience.

Impressions

Alpha Nemos has some solid bones and interesting ideas, but I personally don’t like the rhythm game elements. The game does a good job at making it as easy and clear as possible to hit the actions in time, but I have no rhythm and I am afraid I never will. If you like rhythm beat-em-ups and don’t mind the roguelike structure, go check out the demo.

Aesthetic

What drew me first to this game is the art. Cello is adorable, with a cool and iconic character design. The attack animations are creative and very fun to watch. Alpha Nemos has a very cool world. I love the monster design and large discarded items scattered across the world. The fact that the world moves to the rhythm of the music is such a cool little detail. The world reminds me of Manairons, which is a cool adventure game you should definitely check out.

Gameplay

If you enjoy rhythm games, the game is fine. The combat mechanics are solid, and the leveling is straight forward. The roguelike structure make the game feel repetitive, but not more repetitive than the norm. The rhythm mechanics make the game feel tedious. This is a very personal problem because I lack the rhythm to make this work (yes even on the easiest setting). The rhythm mechanics do not make this a bad game. The devs do a very good job at incorporating the mechanics into a very unique gaming experience. My issue is strictly a skill issue, and I wasn’t able to mesh with the game.

My real complaint is with the structure. They create a very cool world that I wish were more exploitable. I would have preferred the game be a linear story game so it would feel less repetitive instead of having me grind through a roguelike. My issue with the structure is that I’ve played so many roguelikes, I would rather be playing anything else.

Conclusion

Alpha Nemos seems to be a promising rhythm beat-em-up, if you’re in the mood for another roguelike. It has some fantastic art and flavor, and some sound mechanics. I was never able to mesh well with the mechanics, but I managed to get through enough for a solid impression. I don’t think I would pick this up because it is not my thing, but the demo is available for those of you looking for a new rhythm game to get into. You can check out Alpha Nomos demo on Steam!

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Universus

Exploring Universus’ Reign of Kaiju Cards

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Disclaimer

I was sent a couple of packs of Universus’ latest set, Reign of Kaiju to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinion. This will be my honest review. I’ll be using my TCG player affiliate link where possible. Always support your LGS, but the link is there if your LGS doesn’t carry the game.

Table of contents

Introduction

Universus just turned 20 this week (as of writing this post), and that is an incredible feat for a game I’ve never seen anyone play. The game has clearly survived because it is a fun and interesting game. If you’ve never tried it, go pick up a couple of challenger decks. The King of Fighter Team Hero and Team Rival are the newest decks. While I am not a huge fan of these decks, the decks are a fun place to start. 11ake sure you check out the full review.

Now my issue with Universus is that the art doesn’t always hit every set. There are sets that I don’t care for, like attach on titan or Tekken, but then there are sets like Heroes of Exandria that get me real excited. They lost me with King of Fighters, but Reign of the Kaiju brought me back in, I just wish I had more packs to open.

Characters

My favorite part about Universes TCG as a collector is how cool the common rarity characters look. Sure the chase chromes and alt cards are on their one level of beautiful, but I respect the amount of effort the artists put into creating cool looking characters that anyone can have access to. The character art for Reign of Kaiju is simply beautiful. I love the mono color scheme and the old movie poster vibe. Each piece has its own unique flare, and while I can’t tell you how they do against the meta, I can tell you I want them for my collection. Here are a few of my favorite:

Collecting

One of my issues with Universus is how they handle the rest of the set after the unique cards. I understand there are constraints put in place by the licensing agreement, but that doesn’t change the fact that there are some sets in this game that are just ugly. There are sets, like all of Attack on Titan or Teken, that strait up lost my attention because the base rarity cards are boring. Reign of Kaiju has some very cool cards with some fantastic art. I love the comic book style. Here are a few of my favorites:

Ultra Rares

The ultra rares are just epic comic book stills that are going to look so good in a binder. Here are a few of my favorites:

Secret Rares

This game has some of the most beautiful secret rares of any game. If you like one of the ips this game carries, it probably has a card you are going to want to collect. The secret rares for Reign of Kaiju are some the most beautiful pieces I’ve seen, and I am very upset I didn’t pull any in my packs. Even if you aren’t a fan of Kaijus, you are going to appropriate how beautiful these pieces are. The use of color in this set is fantastic, and the way they are able to create such a massive composition in a compact space is commendable. In no particular order:

Impressions

Reign of Kaiju is a very fun set to open. This game is such a coin flip when it comes to openings. I like to go into openings as blind as possible because I don’t want my opinion to be swayed. I was very happy to get packs of this set because I missed out on the older Kaiju sets that have some fantastic art. Coming from King of Fighters, this set was such a joy to open. The devs did a fantastic job at crafting a kaiju theme that feels massive. I love the colors and comic book style of the cards. I enjoy flipping through the cards and looking at all the details.

I don’t know how they scale against other sets, but as a casual collector, I am in love. I am not even mad I didn’t get any of the chases because of how cool the cards look. If you are looking for a place to start, or just love Godzilla and friends for a personal collection, go get your a box or two and enjoy. If your LGS doesn’t carry Universus, you can pick up Reign of Kaiju on TCG player through my affiliate link.