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Lose all Sense of Time With Deceptively Addicting STARNAUT

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I was sent a free copy of STARNAUT 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. If you enjoy these reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials. 

What is STARNAUT

STARNAUT is a unique action roguelike out now on Steam early access. Starnaut travels the multiverse in search of Omega rockets full of memories in the hopes of resurrecting a dead earth. Before their demise, the people of Earth sent off rockets full of their memories in hopes they would find salvation. How many memories can you collect? Will you be Earth’s salvation?

Gameplay

Take control of a STARNAUT you upgrade as you fight off endless waves of enemies, explore trippy environments, and collect Omega ships. The game starts slow as the player fights off manageable waves of enemies. Weapons in this game auto-attack. You can punch and shoot enemies, but I prefer playing it like your typical top-down bullet hell. The longer you play a level, the harder it becomes. Plan accordingly! 

Players earn coins by killing enemies or breaking gotcha pon capsules and use these coins to buy powerups. The powerups matter, so buy carefully. I never felt like I needed a guide, but the game rewards careful planning. By the time you get to the end of a level, or die, its going to be longer than you expected. 

Impressions

I almost gave up on STARNAUT, but I am glad I didn’t. STARNAUT has a very slow start, but I urge people to power through. Once this game gets going, it’s hard to put it down. I lost all sense of time as I theorized my build and fought like hell to stay alive. 

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the artwork going into this game. The game feels like a random collection of assets swarming toward your little Starnaut, but it slowly grew on me. The rough mismatched aesthetic gives the game its charm and flavor. By the end of my session, the chaos, the music, and the action all came together into a beautiful experience I couldn’t put down. STARNAUT is a good time worth every penny. If you’re looking for a game that isn’t a huge commitment but will challenge you, get STARNAUT. I know it is still in early access, but the game needs more love and support. 

You can pick up your copy of STARNAUT on Steam for only $7.99. 

video game reviews

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Isn’t as Bad as People Say

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I was sent a free copy of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes 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. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a unique JRPG out now for PlayStation, Switch, Xbox, and PC via Steam, Epic Games, and GoG. The discovery of magical objects known as “rune-lenses” has shaped the history of Allraan. The Galdean Empire has discovered a way to amplify these objects and seeks more in its quest for complete domination. As a young adventurer, Nowa has been called to aid in these efforts, but what he uncovers will change everything. 

Gameplay

Eiyuden features a turn-based system familiar to the traditional genre. Character can charge up their “rune-lenses” by performing basic attacks, and using mana to cast special abilities. The game includes an auto-battle feature that makes the grind almost non-existent. The auto-battle is pretty solid, but I never tried using it for the boss fights. 

Boss fights were creative and had additional mechanics that brought new life to some of the monotony that comes with the JRPG grind. This game isn’t as grindy as some, but you aren’t going to want to actively fight every encounter. Boss fights will have special conditions or mechanics that players will have to be mindful of. They will need to be wary of certain animations to perform other actions like taking cover. This makes the game feel a bit more tactical, but you can always over-level if you get stuck. Ultimately, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a classic feeling JRPG with enough modern flare to keep things interesting. 

Impressions

I enjoyed playing Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. It has a decent story, beautiful art, and solid gameplay. Most of the hate around the game seems to be coming from fans of Suikoden who feel like it is an inferior version. I don’t have that frame of reference, but it is something to keep in mind. As a filthy casual who enjoys JRPGs, I thought it was fine. It isn’t genre-defining by any means, but you’ll get your money’s worth. 

I am a huge fan of the artwork. This game is so pretty, and the attack animations are fun to watch. The story isn’t anything to rush to, but the voice acting is really good so I found it enjoyable. 

I believe it to be a solid JRPG and if you have no other point of reference, it is a fantastic place to start. Everything is tame and self-contained, and there are a lot of heroes to choose from for a truly unique experience. You may not get the memorable experience you would from other titles, but it is a solid and fun title to throw on when you’re searching for something new to play. I recommend it, just don’t expect it to be a successor to Suikoden.

You can pick up Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes on PlayStation, Switch, Xbox, and PC via Steam, Epic Games, and GoG for $49.99.

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Sucker for Love: A Date to Die For is a Quirky Horror Visual Novel

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I was sent a free copy of Sucker for Love: A Date to Die For to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions of the game. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials! I’ll be opening some Wixoss on my TikTok and YouTube. 

What is Sucker for Love: A Date to Die For

Sucker for Love: A Date to Die For is a horror visual novel out now on Steam.

A mysterious note brings you back to your hometown of Sacramencho. Your parents have gone missing, but it seems like they aren’t the only ones. A demonic presence has taken root in your childhood home, and it is up to you to uproot them. But this won’t be an easy task. Demonic creatures and a misguided cult hunt you down. Can you survive the horrors of the Black Woods long enough to reverse the curse? Will you find love in the process? You’ll have to play to find out. 

Gameplay

A Date to Die For is a horror visual novel with some light dungeon-crawling elements. While the trailer may suggest this game is a dating sim, it isn’t. The game is a horror story with some flirty tones, but not a lust-filled story about demon girls it appears to be. 

The game is split into story and exploration. There are different stories, each with a true ending, and choices matter somewhat. The stories have a solid cast of voice actors, and the stories are all entertaining. The story deals with topics of human sacrifice, murder, and demons. This is your official content warning. 

Exploration has players crawl through this decrepit house in a retro-style dungeon crawler. Players click through this creepy 3D space in search of materials to perform rituals and avoid danger. Once a player collects the right materials and meets the correct circumstances, rituals are cast by dragging the mouse. If a player dies, they’ll have to restart from the last checkpoint, but the checkpoints are pretty generous. You can even go back to try for a different ending at any point. 

Impressions

I enjoyed A Date to Die For, but I understand it isn’t for everyone. I think the tones, themes, and art will scare off some folks, but it is a solid horror game with a decent story if you can get past the waifu art. 

What this game excels at is creating a creepy atmosphere. The music, the sounds, the map design, and the jump scares all come together to create a very cool horror environment. I never felt like I needed to play with the lights on, but it did make me jump a few times. 

The story is pretty good. It is quirky, dark, and a lot of fun with some interesting twists. A Date to Die For is a sequel, but it exists as a stand-alone story. I didn’t feel lost by the events or feel it necessary to play the first game. People who have played the first game might not like it as much, but I don’t have that point of reference and can’t compare the experiences. 

Sucker for Love: A Date to Die For is a great visual novel. It has a solid cast of voice actors, cool art, and a fantastic creepy retro vibe. If you can get past the waifu art, it isn’t as shameless as it seems. Aside from some of the main characters, the game is pretty tame. This isn’t a dating sim. If you are looking for a quirky horror story about cultists and demons, A Date to Die For is what you’re looking for. 

You can pick up Sucker for Love: A Date to Die For on Steam for $12.99. There is also a demo you can try if you don’t believe me. 

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Adore is a Refreshing take on the Creature Capture Genre

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I was sent a free copy of Adore 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 of the game. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials. 

What is Adore?

Adore is a top-down creature collecting game out now for PC. The God of Creatures has died, leaving a vicious curse to run rampant amongst his creations. As the curse spreads over the land of Gaterdrik, there is still hope. The God of Creatures has chosen you as his vessel. Together with unique creatures you capture along the way, quest across this cursed land and resurrect the dead God. Can you save the world, or will it rot under this cruel and unusual curse? 

Gameplay

You play as a creature tamer. You can collect up to 75 unique creatures, but can only carry four at a time. Each creature has unique abilities that are activated on cooldowns. It feels like a top-down MOBA, but it is a dungeon crawler. 

Creatures can be leveled either through combat or a unique crafting system. Sending a creature to fight helps level them up. You will occasionally find materials or items that either buff your creatures or give them new abilities. The trick is finding a combination of creatures with solid synergy, but I always ended up only using creatures I thought looked cool. 

The tamer will also level as you play. You can find random permanent upgrades in dungeons like you would in a roguelike, and you can buy items with buffs at the shop. The game has enough strategy and complexity to keep things engaging, but I don’t think you need a guide to beat it. Finding the right combo or min-maxing will be rewarded though. 

Only creatures you own attack. The tamer and creatures can be damaged and die. The trick is to efficiently summon your creatures to attack and deal damage while being mindful of your tamer’s health. The monster’s attack patterns are predictable, but I never felt like the game got too easy. Fights leading up to the boss fights don’t feel like a grind, and the boss fights are challenging. 

Impressions

I loved this game. The art is cute, the gameplay is fun, and the flavor is fantastic. The summoning and capturing mechanics are unique, and a lot of fun. The gameplay reminds me a lot of the summoner class in PSO 2, and summoner was one of my favorite classes. 

Adore is a unique and interesting game that you should play at least once, especially if you’re a fan of top-down MOBAs. The game offers a nice amount of challenge, a decent story, and a fresh take on the creature capture genre. You can pick up Adore now on Steam for $19.99, or try the Demo if you don’t believe me. 

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Tell Me Your Story is a Cute, Cozy, Good Time!

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I was sent a free copy of Tell Me Your Story to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Tell Me Your Story?

Tell Me Your Story is a picture story book game puzzle game out now on Steam and Switch. Play as Amilia as she uncovers Grandma Rose’s extraordinary stories. What treasures will you uncover? What memories will you make?

Gameplay

There is no dialogue in Tell Me Your Story. All narrative exists in these silent picture frames, and it tells its story effectively. In between these moments of narrative, players solve casual puzzles. You might need a hint for the less intuitive puzzles, but most can be completed easily. Tell Me Your Story is meant to be a relaxing cozy game, and I feel it is successful. It does feel like a kid’s game, but the story is cute, and the gameplay is soothing enough to be enjoyable for all ages. 

Impressions

Tell Me Your Story was such a cute and comforting experience. I enjoyed the unique experience that it provides and didn’t mind that the puzzles were easy. I am a huge fan of the pixel art, and was impressed with how much story is told through just pictures. This is a solid kids’ game, but one that you won’t mind playing. The story is cute, the art is fun, and the gameplay is relaxing. If you’re looking for a cozy and comforting title for you or your kids, I recommend you pick up Tell Me Your Story.  

You can pick up Tell Me Your Story for $9.99 on Steam and Switch. The game is currently on sale on the Nintendo eshop for $2.99 until 5/16, which is an amazing deal! You can also try the demo if you don’t believe me.

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Rauniot is a Nifty Little Point-and-Click Puzzle Game I Enjoyed

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I was sent a free copy of Rauniot 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. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Rauniot

Rauniot is a post-apocalyptic point and click puzzle game out now for PC.

A natural disaster has destroyed civilization. Continents crumble, pollution fills the air, and supplies run scarce. Those lucky few left on earth must now survive with whatever is left. Aino is one of those lucky few, but everything you do now in this new world is dangerous.

Aino searches for Toivo who hasn’t returned from his last mission. What secrets will her search uncover? Will she fine Toivo, or has this cruel world taken another victim? 

Gameplay

Rauniot is a top-down point-and-click game. Players must click around to explore the world, find clues and items, and solve puzzles. Puzzles are creative. They aren’t difficult, but missing clues or items in exploration means you can’t progress. Some clues are well hidden or hard to see, but I don’t think you need a guide to complete the game. This is a game you pick up when you want to sit back, enjoy a decent story, and solve some decent puzzles. 

Impressions

I enjoyed Rauniot for what it is, a chill puzzle game that isn’t a huge commitment. While it isn’t a genre-defining amazing game that gamers should flock to, it does some interesting things in its space that are worth seeing. Rauniot has an interesting world design, a solid story, and decent gameplay. The English translation is rough in some places, but it is by no means unplayable. I enjoyed listening to the Finish dialogue even though I understood none of it. The game plays well, although some of the clues and items can be easy to miss because of the lighting or colors. None of these issues are deal breakers, and I recommend this game if you’re looking for something in this genre. 

The game does introduce a unique save system where you have to go to the main menu, select a floppy disk, and save manually. I might have missed the instructions, but I didn’t save assuming it would Autosave and I had to start over. It wasn’t a huge deal because this is a short game, (about four hours) and I remembered where everything was. 

You can pick up Rauniot on Steam for $17.99. I wouldn’t go out of my way to play it, but it is a solid option if you’re looking for something new to play. 

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Life is Feudal MMO Should Have Stayed Dead

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I was sent some free game time for the Life is Feudal: MMO. 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, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Life is Feudal

Life is Feudal promises players the freedom to enjoy the massive open-world sandbox as they like. Players can build cities and settlements, fight in massive guild conflicts, or explore everything this world has to offer. This is a game where the action and gameplay is driven by the players. See what adventures await. 

Gameplay

Life is Feudal felt like a generic survival game. I liked that the structures were destructible, but everything else felt dull and unimpressive. It doesn’t help that the game looks ugly. 

The game runs fine, but it feels empty. It isn’t dead. There were always people online when I played, but it always felt like I was playing alone. this is a bad sign for a game where its content is driven by its player base. This wasn’t a huge problem since I usually play survival games solo, but Life is Feudal is an underwhelming survival game. Gathering and building was okay, the crafting system was unique, but the combat felt clunky. I spent my entire time in Life is Feudal wishing I was playing something better. 

I tried to record video of the gameplay, but it was all too boring to keep.

Impressions

I tried to like this game, but I couldn’t find a single thing to keep my attention. The game looks ugly, the survival grind is boring, and there aren’t enough people for the epic adventure it promises. I can see this game carving out its niche because of what it attempts to do as a survival MMO. Unfortunately, the game feels dated and frankly, you have better options. Go check out Enshrouded instead. 

The $15 monthly subscription is what is going to hurt this game. I understand that the game needs to make its money, but I couldn’t find enough substance to justify its cost. It isn’t a bad game, but it is a bland and unimpressive one. Even if you like the theme and find the gameplay interesting, you have better options.

You can find Life is Feudal: MMO on Steam, but I would wait for a free weekend before dropping any money. I don’t see this game getting enough traction to be worth it. 

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SolForge Fusion Falls Flat as it Attempts to Redefine CCGs

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I was sent a free copy of Solforge Fusion to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will not let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Buying cards from TCG Player through my affiliate link is also a great way to help me out. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Solforge Fusion?

SolForge Fusion is a CCG card battler out now on Steam. The game features single-player and PvP modes where players face off against opponents with uniquely fused decks. Do you have what it takes to outmaneuver your opponents and come out on top?

Gameplay

The gameplay loop is where this game becomes an acquired taste. You are either going to love SolForge or find it boring. The game is split into rounds where players can perform one action per turn. Players have two alternating turns in each round. During their turn, a player can cast a spell, summon a creature, or move a creature between spaces on the board.

At the end of a round, the cards auto battle depending on whether the player is defending or attacking. Creatures of attacking player will attack the opponent directly if there is nothing blocking them, players of a defending player can only attack adjacent enemy creatures.

Cards that aren’t used in a round level up and are shuffled back into the deck. The strategy seems to be choosing the right cards to hold onto for later in the game. Players also have access to a hero ability that also levels up as the game carries on. A player wins when their opponent’s life drops to zero.

In the roguelike single-player mode, players can fuse or choose a deck to make their run. The game plays like any other deck-building roguelike but without deck-building. Players earn special buffs and abilities along their run. The run is over when a player gets to the end, or their life drops to zero.

Review

SolForge Fusion is an interesting concept that is ultimately held back by its gameplay. I was intrigued by the random fusion deck building and found the boardlike game mechanics interesting, but found the game boring. Even with the animation turned up, the game feels slow and repetitive. These might be personal preferences, but there are more fun CCGs with a campaign I could be playing instead. Shadowvese has a neat one for free. 

Playing a card per turn makes the game feel more luck-based than your traditional card game. You either pull the cards you need to fill your board properly, or you’re just playing from behind. Movement is always an interesting concept, but I don’t think this game does it well. When choosing between moving or playing a card, it is almost always better to play a card. There are cards that do damage when moving which might be how they balance things, but it felt kind of like a pointless mechanic. 

The evolving card mechanic is an interesting one. You either play your cards for an early advantage, or you save your good cards for more explosive rounds later in the match. Finding a balance between what you play and what you level on top of keeping a healthy board state has the potential to create an interesting strategy. Unfortunately, the game just feels too slow and boring. 

The deck fusion mechanic is what is going to kill this game. While I love playing random decks, it doesn’t work in this game. You either get a decent deck to play or have to try again. This game already feels very heavily reliant on luck, I can only assume that the ladder is overrun by the luckier players. I understand that all card games have some luck involved, but it should at least feel like there’s some skill involved. I don’t think I would have minded the Fusion mechanic as much if it were just a roguelike, but there’s PvP and people want to build their own decks. 

SolForge is still in early access, and future updates may make this game fun, but the game didn’t create enough interest in me to find out. While I do believe it comes down to preference, there are better card games with similar mechanics out there. If you’re curious about the game, try the demo first. 

You can pick up SolForge Fusion on Steam for $19.99 (currently $14.99 until April 23). 

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Melt into the Shadows with Ereban: Shadow Legacy!

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I was sent a free copy of Ereban: Shadow Legacy to review for my blog. While I am 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, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Ereban: Shadow Legacy?

Ereban: Shadow Legacy is a stealth platformer out now for PC. You play as Ayana, the last of the Ereban. The Ereban are a race of people who can harness the powers of the shadows. She uses these powers to sneak, fight, and uncover the truth about her past. What will she uncover? Who can she really trust? It is up to you to find out. 

Gameplay

Players use Ayana’s abilities to sneak and fight through beautifully designed maps. The game slowly scales the abilities and allows players to power up their abilities in a way that suits their playstyle. While the game doesn’t offer the most expansive skill tree, it is big enough to make a difference. 

The game’s main gimmick is that Ayana can melt into the shadows briefly to avoid enemies. Ayana can only use these powers in the dark. Any light will disrupt this power. The game uses this mechanic to create unique and interesting challenges and flavors. 

One complaint about the gameplay is the enemy AI isn’t the smartest. Patterns can be predictable, and the platforming isn’t too difficult. I found the difficulty appropriate for my skill level, but those seeking a difficult stealth game will be disappointed. 

Impressions

I have never been a fan of stealth games or platformers. I actively go out of my way to avoid the genres, but I will dabble occasionally. Ereban: Shadow Legacy was the first title in the genre that I actually wanted to finish because the game is fun. 

Aesthetically, I love everything about this game. The world, art style, and graphics all look cool. I enjoyed their creativity with the flavor, especially with the relationship between light and dark. There were a few fun solutions to puzzles involving moving lights and shadows that stand out in particular. 

The story is solid, especially for a stealth platformer. It has a good cast of voice actors that make sitting through the story enjoyable. I don’t think I should have stuck with the game as long as I did if it weren’t for the story. 

The gameplay is where things get iffy. While I enjoyed its difficulty, I can see where Ereban would be a more casual title in the genre. Eventually, you can trick the enemy or memorize the patterns, but I never had an issue. Turning into a shadow always felt fun, and the animations were cool. I also appreciated that there were enough clues laid out to keep me from getting lost. 

I enjoyed this game a lot, and will recommend it to everyone. If you’re looking for a fun, casual stealth game with some terrific flavor, go pick up Ereban: Shadow Legacy. You can pick it up on Steam for $24.99. 

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I Really Wanted to Like Ario, but…

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I was sent a free copy of Ario 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. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials. I am currently opening some Battle Spirits Saga on TikTok and YouTube. 

What is Ario?

Ario is a side-scrolling Metroidvania platformer out now for PC. Dark forces have kidnapped his mother, and Ario will do anything to get her back. Ario now faces off against a land full of nightmares. Parkour your way across a 2.5D steampunk city and fight off anyone who gets in your way. Do you have what it takes to save your mother?

Gameplay

Ario feels like a Pince of Persia clone with a tower defence minigame sprinkled throughout. Ario runs, jumps, slides his way through a side-scrolling map of the city, and fires off arrows at his enemies. I found it more convenient to jump over everything, but you will occasionally be forced to do combat. Ario can shoot arrows and bombs, but I found the arrows to be pretty useless. The platforming isn’t too difficult and is easily the best part of the game. 

Occasionally, Ario will have to man a ballista and fire off arrows at waves of enemies. You can control the arrows in this mini-game, and it’s okay when it works. The hitboxes can be wonky on some enemies, and missing an arrow means you have to start over. While I appreciate the attempt at something new, this minigame makes it hard to recommend the game. I tried getting gameplay video, but I kept running into bugs that would ruin my runs.

Impressions

I really wanted to like Ario because it reminded me of Sands of Time. The art is nice, the animation is cool, and the platforming is manageable. The problem I have with this game is that it still needs work. The tower defense portions of the game feel clunky, and the hitboxes make them unnecessarily challenging. I didn’t like having to start the mini-game over because the hitbox bugged and I failed the challenge. 

Platforming in this game was fine, and it looked cool but there are some bugs that make some sections a bit frustrating. There is a section where you have to clear the enemies to advance while a ballista fires at you. The only cover you have are these pillars. Sometimes the pillars will block the arrows, but not always, and the arrows Ario caries are useless. Instead of skillfully sneaking my way through enemies, I had to figure out what pillars were coded correctly and pray. The game isn’t unplayable, but there are enough bugs in it to make it difficult to recommend. 

Ario certainly has potential, but it needs some work. I would skip it for now and hope that it gets some patches and a boost in performance. You