Terra Memoria is a cozy turn-based RPG coming to Steam, Xbox, PS5, and Switch. This cute RPG mixes a beautifully drawn 3D world with cute 2D pixel art characters and I am here for it. It definitely gives me some Octopath Traveller vibes, but Terra Memoria seems a bit more whimsical. Terra Memoria puts its emphasis on exploration and adventure as a group of friends travel across Terra in search of a solution for the crystal shortage. What makes this game unique is its building mechanic. Players can use this mechanic to create objects, solve puzzles, and create their own village. If is anything like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley, I’m never getting anything done.
If you are looking for a new RPG that might be a bit more on the casual side, you should give this a look. No release date has been set yet, but you can at least wishlist it on Steam.
I’m working on getting a review code for this, so stay tuned for the full review when it’s out. Until then, It might be time to finally start up Octopath Traveller II.
If you’ve been enjoying these updates, don’t forget to like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends!
I just saw the trailer for El Paso, Elsewhere, and I can’t help but feel excited. I’ve played the previous title, El Paso, Nightmare, and loved every minute of it. Make sure you check out my full review.
El Paso, Nightmareis a fun little Doom clone that you should pick up if you want something fun that isn’t a huge commitment. Battle against endless waves of monsters and demons as you make your way through a nightmare of a labyrinth. My only complaint is that it can feel a little repetitive, but it earns its $5 price tag.
El Paso Elsewhereis bringing a story to this delightful indie title, and I am here for it. The trailer gives off some fun Noir vibes, and the new bullet time mechanics look like a blast. It looks like Blade meets The Matrix, and that seems like a good time. If this game is anything like its predecessor, El Paso, Nowhere is going to be a fun quirky game with a fantastic soundtrack. I’ll be following its development closely and will do my best to play it as soon as it becomes available.
El Paso Elsewhere comes out sometime this fall on PC and Xbox. A demo is available on Steam if you want to try it first. Don’t forget to add it to your wishlist, and make sure you try out El Paso, Nightmare while you’re at it!
If you have been enjoying my content and want to support what I do make sure you like, comment, subscribe, and share this with your friends. You can also buy me a coffee
Signups for the Hellbreach: Vegas closed beta is now live. Head over to the official Steam page, and don’t forget to wishlist while you’re at it.
Fight off terrifying demons in this wave-based first-person shooter. The game is giving me Left 4 Dead vibes, and I am here for it. The combat looks a little stiff, but it is too early to know for sure. I do like the atmosphere they are trying to go for, but I understand it still needs some work. I’ve already signed up for the beta, and crossing my fingers that I get in.
The beta will be to test out the online multiplayer, but there will be a single-player demo made available during Gencon 2023 for those who can’t wait to play this game. The beta will be rough, but it will be a great opportunity to help make the game launch its best version. A date hasn’t been announced, but it doesn’t hurt to sign up when it’s free.
Hellbreach: Vagas will release sometime in Q4 2024 on PC. Till then, sign up for the beta!
If you are a fan of season 2 of Digimon Adventures, Ken and Daisuke’s D-3 digivices were just put up for preorder on Premium Bandai, and they look cool. If you want a high-quality device or just want to relieve some season 2 nostalgia, definitely head over and check them out yourself. The devices will include scenes from the original anime, updated animations, a better build quality, and they feature voice-activated digivolutions! There is also a special game mode where you can destroy the dark towers, just like in the anime.
The digivices also come with a special art card that you’ll want if you collect the card game.
Super Complete Selection Animation D-3 ver. Daisuke Motomiya (Sold Out)
This version is no longer available. The Daisuke (Davis for the Americans) D3 comes with the Veemon which has always been a personal favorite. The digivice costs $118 which seems like a lot, but the Premium Bandai quality and the added features should justify the price. Preorders end on October 22nd, or when supplies run out so make sure you preorder yours today! The D3 is expected to ship sometime in May 2024.
Obviosly the Ken Ichijouji’s D-3 comes with the Wormmon line, but it also lets you switch “Digimon Kaiser mode” and “Ken Ichijouji mode” for alternate modes of play. Ken’s D-3 also costs $118. You have until October 22nd, or supplies run out to preorder. Head over to the Premium Bandai page to reserve yours today. It is expected to ship in May 2024.
If you are a bigger fan of the V-pets, Premium Bandai is updating the classic design with color and an LCD screen that you are going to want to add to your collection. It comes in Clear and Smoke, and preorders are open till Aug 30th or until inventory runs out. Both devices cost $60 which is pretty reasonable for what you are getting. They have updated animations, updated mechanics, cute and colorful art, and they are rechargeable!
That’s it for this update. Make sure you check out Premium Bandai for any of the other IPs you might be into, but be prepared to drop some money. If you enjoy these updates, don’t forget to follow, like, subscribe, and share this with your friends.
If you have been enjoying my content and want to support what I do make sure you like, comment, subscribe, and share this with your friends. You can also buy me a coffee
The Drakantos steam page just went up, and I quickly rushed over and added it to my wishlist. I suggest you do the same if you are looking for a new and unique MMO.
I’ve written about Drakantos before in a previous post. You should check out my initial coverage if you want a bit more in-depth context.
I got to speak with some of the dev team behind Drakantos back at GDC, and have been following the game closely since. I never got to try the game in any capacity because the venue had connection issues, but our conversation was enough to spark my interest.
Drakantos is a free-to-play pixel art MMORPG coming to PC soon. No clear release date has been announced yet, so I recommend you join the official Discord to stay up on all the news. I’ll be doing a post as soon as I know more, but their dev diaries are cool to sift through if you’re interested in all the progress they’ve been making.
Drakantos promises a compelling voice-acted storyline, dungeons, housing, raids, world events, competitive PVP, essentially everything you would find in a traditional MMO but packaged in a cute pixel art game. Drakantos won’t follow the traditional class system. Instead, players will choose from progenerated champions like games like Wayfinder or Warframe. There will be 21 playable heroes at launch, with more planned for the future. Players earn new champs through a battle pass, both free and paid and through events. Although I was assured that the game won’t be pay-to-win, microtransactions in free games always make me nervous. The folks I met were very kind and seemed passionate enough to ease some of my reservations, but it is impossible to see at this point. I am rooting for this game and can’t wait to try it out based on everything I’ve seen so far. Make sure you check out their Steam page and join the Discord!
Pokemon Presents showcase had a few exciting announcements for games, anime, and the upcoming championship in Yokohama this weekend. I’ll go over the highlights I am most excited about in case you missed it, but you should watch the whole thing if you have the time. There were a few announcements for the gotcha games and Pokemon Go that I won’t be going over because I don’t play those.
Pokemon Worlds Championship
The Pokemon Worlds Championship is this weekend, and it marks an exciting week in the world of Pokemon. The tournament will run from August 11-13, so make sure you tune in on Twitch to watch some exciting competition. Check out the official page for the complete schedule.
The week will also be full of cool Pokemon related events around Yokohama that you should definitely check out if you are heading to worlds. Check out the official page for full details, but here’s a map to get you excited:
And if you are going to Worlds, don’t forget to reserve your slot to shop at the Pokemon Center. There will be a lot of cute and exclusive items that are going to go want to get your hands on, like this cute little Pikachu that is only available at worlds.
I’ll probably be watching some of the Pokemon TCG coverage, but I might just watch a little bit of everything. Good luck to the folks competing, and hope everyone going has a blast!
Path To the Peak Premiere
Worlds will also make the premier of a short animated series, Path to the Peak. The first episode will have a special screening at Worlds, but you can watch it on the official Pokemon YouTube channel on August 11.
The series will follow Ava as she rises in the ranks in the world of competitive Pokemon TCG. This is probably the announcement that has me that got me the most excited. I love the animation and art style, and the story seems super cute. I like that this series comes at a time where I am super into Pokemon TCG, but I am probably no where near as good as Ava. Check out the sneak peak below and tune in on Friday!
Pokemon Horizons
We also got to see a sneak peak for the new Pokemon Horizons Series with the new protagonist and I can’t put to words how excited I am. The animation and art style are amazing, and the world is unique and beautiful. I can only hope that this series doesn’t feel as rushed as Ultimate Journeys did. I hadn’t decided on watching it until I saw the preview. I’ve got the time stamp below for your convenience. There is no date revealed yet for the English dub yet, but I am excited either way!
Paldea Winds
We also got the announcement for Paldea Winds, another webseries coming to us on September 6, 2023. You can watch it on the official Pokemon YouTube, so make sure you follow to say up to date. Paldea Winds follows three students, Ohara, Aliquis, and Hohma, on their adventures through Paldea. It looks pretty cool at least from the trailer, I just hope its better they don’t mess it up like the Digimon web novel.
Scarlet and Violet DLC
If you’ve been playing Scarlet and Violet, there were a few announcements you should be aware of. Most importantly, make sure you go claim your Mew using code:
GETY0URMEW
The Get Mew and Mewtwo event is live now until September 18th. Players can add Mew to their team with the special code GETY0URMEW in the mystery gift menu. Players will also be able to challenge Mewtwo in a special Tera Raid Battle event that will run from August 31 – September 17th. Make sure you don’t miss out on these exclusive Pokemon because they look sick!
We also got to see the first part the upcoming DLC, The Teal Mask, coming out on September 13. The area will bring with it a new area with a new school, characters, and Pokemon. There will also be new story where they investigate the mysteries behind an old Kitakami folktale. I have Violet, but never got around to play it. It might be a great time to for my first play through as I get ready for the DLC.
Final thoughts and Misc. Announcents
This was a very exciting showcase. I can’t wait for the anime to drop, and I might come around to play some of the games. Don’t forget that the Obsidian Flames expansion comes out on August 10th. Its release is certainly shaking up the meta, and there are some cards I wouldn’t mind chasing. The new season of ranked starts on Pokemon TCG live, so make sure you finish up your battle pass and make your last minute climb. I just filled up my battle pass yesterday and love the full art cards I was able to pull. If you have a Switch, you will also be able to play Pokemon Stadium 2 and the Pokemon Trading Card Game on the virtual console if you have a subscription. If you’ve been enjoying these updates, don’t forget to do the things!
Signups for the Songs of Silence closed beta for PC, which goes live on August 14th, are now open. Sign up to test out what looks to be a beautiful and unique strategy game for PC and console. Song of Silence promises to be a story-rich game, with a fantastic soundtrack, and competitive multiplayer.
Play as a young queen in search of a safe place for her people in story mode, or fight online in a competitive multiplayer mode.
Combat is turn-based. It looks like you can summon units or cast spells using cards. It reminds me a bit of a game like a clash royal, but with a bigger field to play with. Players will have control of a hero who will have unique abilities to help their armies earn their victories. They will also have access to 1000’s units, spells, and unique heroes for almost limitless combinations.
The closed beta will have three biomes available: The Light Side, The Dark Side, and the Silence. Each biome comes with a unique landscape, factions, and units. It is a great time to try the game out if you are interested in the game. Keep in mind, the beta will be rough and unfinished, so don’t judge it too harshly if you get in. The beta exists to test the game so that the devs can make it better at release, not as a demo for the actual product. I’ve already signed up and am now waiting to see if I get in. Make sure you join the official discord to stay up to date on all the news, and don’t forget to add it to your wishlist.
Songs of Silence is a very pretty game , and with Hitoshi Sakimoto as a composer, the soundtrack is going to be amazing! I am warming up to strategy games, and this one looked manageable enough for my skill level. I will be receiving my review copy when the game comes out, so stay tuned for that!
Don’t forget to like, follow, and share this with your friends.
I was very fortunate to get to review Nocturnal Earlier this year. Nocturnal is a beautiful and unique platformer for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation that might be worth looking into even if you don’t enjoy the genre. I had a lot of fun with this game and recommend it to those interested. Go check out the full review if you want to get the full opinion.
Well, Nocturnal just got its first major update, and I felt the need to share the news. The new update brings with it some much-needed quality-of-life changes, a new enemy, and new story bits to play through. The update introduces a new performance mode that opens up the game to lower-spec computers, which I always love to see. I remember the days when my toaster could barely run anything, it’s nice to see when companies care about their players.
There are also some nice updates to the level and UI design and improved combat feedback for both players and bosses. The game has been released, but it is nice to see the devs are still passionate to make the game better for their customers. It is even nicer that this update isn’t locked behind paid DLC.
I recommend you look into this game if you are in the market for something new. It looks like there are still plans for future updates. It is currently on sale on Steam for $11.89 (normally 16.99) until August 7th. PlayStation also has it on sale for $14.99 (normally $19.99) until August 16th. Sorry Xbox mains, you have to pay the full $19.99 for now.
If you’ve been enjoying my content, don’t forget to like, comment, subscribe, or share this with your friends. Thanks!
If you have been enjoying my content and want to support what I do make sure you like, comment, subscribe, and share this with your friends. You can also buy me a coffee
I’ve written about the upcoming Dragonbane RPG book in a previous post. I recommend you check that out first because I won’t be repeating too much of the technical information. Dragonbane is a TTRPG that is getting its newest edition in August. It has some very cool art and some interesting mechanics. If you are looking for a new RPG system, it might be worth looking into Dragonbane. Preorders are still open on the official site. The Dragonbane bundle is currently on sale for $66.70 (normally $80.30), so now might be the perfect time to grab your copy. There is also a free quick start guide you can download from Drivethru RPG if you’d like to try the game out first.
If you are going to Gen Con this year, make sure you stop by the official Free League booth (#2641). They’ll have demos, live games, and a panel you should check out if you have any questions. Free League Publishing will be hosting games throughout Gen Con, so make sure you drop by game room #138 if you want to try out one of their systems. Don’t forget to sign up for their showcase on Thursday, August 3rd at 11 am in room ICC #244. The panelists include:
Tomas Härenstam, co-founder of Free League and lead game designer of the Dragonbane, Blade Runner RPG, ALIEN RPG, Twilight: 2000, Forbidden Lands, and Mutant: Year Zero.
Luke Stratton, designer of the upcoming MÖRK BORG spin-off game PIRATE BORG
Johan Nohr and Christian Sahlén, designers of MÖRK BORG and CY_BORG
Carl Niblaeus, designer of Death in Space
Kiku Pukk Härenstam, co-writer of Vaesen: Seasons of Mystery and Vaesen: A Wicked Secret
If you are interested in seeing gameplay, Glass Cannon Labs will be running a two-hour live play of Dragonbane next Friday, August 4th, at 10 AM ET at their booth (#174). Make sure to check out their Twitch if you are interested in Free League Publishing’s other systems.
I’m always looking for a new RPG system to try, this one seemed pretty neat so I thought I would share. Go check it out and let me know what you think!
If you have been enjoying my content and want to support what I do make sure you like, comment, subscribe, and share this with your friends. You can also buy me a coffee
I’ve always enjoyed the village builder genre a bit more than I should. I can lose weeks playing a good village builder, and I will always recommend the genre to those looking for a casual and relaxing experience with enough of a challenge to stay engaging. I typically do my best to avoid titles in the genre because of how much time I end up spending on them, but I like to keep my eye out for what’s available just in case.
I’ve been eyeing The Wandering Village for a while now, but I have been strong enough to not pull the trigger. The art is cute, the music score is nice, and the gameplay is what I’d expect from a cute and casual village builder. Now is a great time to get into the game because it is now available on Game Pass for both Xbox and PC, and it is getting its biggest update since its release. Players will now have access to the ocean which introduces a new biome, mechanics, and structures. If you are looking for a cute and casual entry into the village builder genre, it might be worth looking into The Wandering Village.
If you don’t have Game Pass, you can pick it up on Steam for $24.99. It’s currently on sale for. I just got my review code and will post a review as soon as I get back from vacation.
