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video game reviews

Ziggy’s Cosmic Adventure for VR is a wacky good time

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I was sent Ziggy’s Cosmic Adventure as a review code, and while I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. If you need accessories for your VR setup, like a high-quality charging cable or a set of magnetic prescription lenses, get them over at ZyberVR. Use discount code CHURAPE at checkout for 15% off your purchase.

Ziggy’s Cosmic Adventure is a silly arcade game available now on Steam VR and Meta Quest. Brave the darkness of space in a ship you have to keep in working order. You’ll have to fly your ship, fight enemies all while fixing your ship, and keep Ziggy fed. If you are looking for a silly good time without the commitment, this game is for you. 

The game has a short and delightful story. I kind of wish the game was longer, but I like that it doesn’t overstay its welcome. The game looks great with its silly cartoonish aesthetic to fit its theme. My only complaint about the design is that I wish they didn’t make Ziggy so cute. Spoilers: You’re going to have to kill a few. Dead Ziggy’s aside, this is a solid VR title with an amazing cast of voice actors and fun gameplay. If you are susceptible to VR sickness, this game will get some getting used to. Play it in small bursts. 

The game has a slow start, but it’s worth getting past the initial tutorial hump. Once this game gets going, it’s going to get sweaty. Ziggy’s Cosmic Adventure is a very involved game of Bop It with some casual space flight simulation. You’ll get warnings of the different failures of the ship, and you’ll have to make sure you bring them back to working order. You’ll have to hammer stuff, spin stuff, twist stuff, press stuff, and make sure your Ziggy is always fed. If you aren’t flailing around wildly in the middle of your living room, you aren’t doing it right. There is combat, but it’s been understandably simplified. This game would be impossible if players had to maintain the ship on top of dealing with the realism of space travel.

 

I was about ready to write this game off until the chaos kicked in, and I became addicted. It was a little stressful because I am not the best at multi-tasking, but I didn’t know how much I loved that stress until I played this game. This game is perfect for kids, and even better if you want a silly good time without it being a huge commitment. You can pick up for the Meta Quest and Steam VR, and for $19.99, I’d say it’s worth it. It is currently on sale for $17.99 on Steam until November 16,

video game reviews

You Will Die Here Tonight is the creepy retro survival horror game you need in your library

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I was sent You Will Die Here Tonight as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will not let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please make sure you leave a like, follow, and share this with your friends.

You Will Die Here Tonight is a retro-style survival horror game available now for PC. It features challenging puzzles, a solid story, fun combat, and a creepy atmosphere. If you enjoy the genre or are simply looking for something spooky for the holidays, I recommend adding You Will Die Here Tonight to your collection.

Aries Division is sent on a mission to recover a stolen serum from a mysterious house on the hill. But this is no ordinary mission. Death hides behind every corner, zombies roam its halls, and the team has been separated. Can you find a way out of this nightmare?

Players investigate the mansion as each member of the Aries Division. Each character has a unique set of skills, stats, and personality that affects how they interact with the environment. This allows for interesting encounters, creative puzzle solutions, multiple endings, and a decent amount of replayability. 

This game does very little hand-holding. There are no checkpoints, and it won’t light your path to the next objective. Instead, you’ll have to stumble through the dark mansion, searching for clues. I loved the anxiety I got from not knowing where to go or what was going on. This anxiety coupled with the mansion’s creepy ambiance makes for a solid horror experience. You will die a lot, but most of the fun comes from getting a little farther with each life.  

The gameplay loop is split into three parts: exploration, combat, and puzzles. Exploring the mansion can feel a bit slow at times, but the setting is creepy enough that it won’t matter. I appreciate the isometric maps and retro vibe of the art style, but there are points in this game where I got stuck because it was too dark to see anything. 

Combat in this game is unique. Each encounter triggers a fun first-person shooter mini-game. The character you play affects how easily you can kill zombies. Killing zombies isn’t always hard, but finding enough bullets and medicine to stay alive can be difficult. 

The puzzles are the best part of this game. You may need a guide for a few of the puzzles, but they are manageable for the most part. I felt a decent sense of accomplishment after completing each puzzle. I definitely appreciate the creativity that went into making them. 

I loved this game. It is a fantastic title in the genre and a must-have if you are a fan of the original Resident Evil. It has a creepy vibe, a solid story, fun gameplay, and some great puzzles. You can pick up on Steam for $19.99.

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Warcraft Rumble is the cute new mobile game you should be playing

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Warcraft Rumble just released on Android and IOS devices, and I have been enjoying it so far. If you like games like Clash Royal, you should try Warcraft Rumble. The art is super cute, and the gameplay is interesting. If you enjoy these updates, make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.

Warcraft Rumble is a deck-building auto-battler game. Players build an eight-card deck and use it to summon creatures and spells to take over enemy bases. The game is split into PVP and PVE content, which is a welcomed change to the genre. PVE will have players play through a campaign where they fight unique AI bosses, but there will eventually also be Raids and Dungeons that you can complete with your guild mates. 

I love the PVE content so far. I love how the maps change, and the strategy with it. I haven’t played enough to unlock any of the higher-level content, but early levels are the casual experience I need in a mobile game. Dungeons and Raids are going to be a lot of fun and will allow players to unlock powerful monsters and buffs. Make sure you start making strong connections with your guild mates now because you are going to need your help to complete some very important content. 

I’ve tried a couple of matches in PVP. I think the PVP is fine. Since everyone is new, people are still figuring out a meta which is always a bonus for new players. I’m sure the guides and tips are coming, but only going to be casually driving this game for now. 

If you are looking for a new mobile game to get into, try Warcraft Rumble. It’s cute, fun, and free. Best of all, you can choose your experience. If you want to rank up and be the best, the PVP is fun, and there is going to be a ladder. But if you aren’t competitive, PVE is a valid experience. It offers enough of a challenge to be engaging, without having to worry about the frustration that comes with climbing the ladder. You don’t need to know anything about Warcraft to enjoy this game, but you might want to after. 

You can download Warcraft Rumble on Android and IOS devices.

video game reviews

The 7th Guest VR is the greatest puzzle game you aren’t playing

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I was sent The 7th Guest for the Meta Quest 2 as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. If you need any accessories for your VR headset like a high quality charging cable or prescription lenses, get them over at ZyberVR. Use Discount code CHURAPE for 15% off your purchase.

The 7th Guest is a mystery adventure game for the Quest 2, Steam VR, and PSVR2. Seven guests have been invited to a mysterious mansion to play a dangerous game run by a nefarious toy maker. Guests must spend the night exploring the creepy mansion, solving its puzzles, and unfolding its mysteries. But the games aren’t as innocent as they appear. There is a sinister secret lurking in the shadows. Can you figure out what it is?

If you enjoy puzzle games, The 7th Guest should be in your library. This game looks amazing! The sounds, the graphics, and the aesthetic all work perfectly together to create the appropriate ambiance for the mystery it houses. The cutscenes are beautifully implemented, with wonderful actors to bring the story to life. I would play this game just to watch the performances. I love the story and went out of my way to make sure I collected every piece of the mystery. You might be able to solve it pretty early on, but it won’t matter. 

The best part of this game is its puzzles. Each room in the mansion has a unique theme and set of puzzles. The themes are a lot of fun, and the puzzles get creative. Guests must clear the elaborate set of puzzles, and each solution uncovers uncomfortable secrets. There is a reason why the guests were gathered, and I had a lot of fun piecing together why. 

The gameplay loop feels a lot like the Saw movies, except without any of the gore. You play a special recording and make your way through puzzles. The puzzles are challenging but manageable. If you get stuck, the game lets you buy clues with the currency it hides around the house. I never ran out of coins for clues, but I never really felt the need to use them much. My only complaint is that some puzzles aren’t easy to find, at least not intuitively. There were a few puzzles I needed to buy a hint in order to find it. It isn’t a huge deal because you’ll finish the game with more currency than you need, but it is an issue worth mentioning.

I loved this game because I love puzzles. Each room I cleared left me feeling accomplished, and hungry for more. The game runs great, it looks amazing, and it has a fantastic story. If you like escape rooms, or are looking for a good puzzle game, The 7th Guest should be in your library. 

You can pick up The 7th Guest for the Quest 2, Steam VR, and PSVR2 for $29.99. It’s definitely worth it at that price. 

video game reviews

Illuminaria is a cute and unique resource management game, but is it worth it?

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I was sent Illuminaria as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest review of the game. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.

Illuminaria is a base building, resource management game for PC, Switch, Android, and IOS devices. Take control of an army of adorable robots as you work to bring light back to the land. Use the robots to gather resources, build bases, and fight monsters.

Illuminaria has a unique and interesting gameplay loop. Building is probably the most relaxing experience I’ve had in the genre because of how easy it is to get organized. All you have to do is build squares, and the robots will fill those squares with resources based on your designations. This loop feels fantastic on the iPhone because all you do is tap and watch your little robots get to work. While you wait for resources, you are also researching new technologies, upgrading structures, defending your bases, and sending your robots on quests for more materials. You’ll be as busy as your little buddies on the screen, and it is such a wholesome good time!

My only real issue with this game is the price. $5 for the app is perfect. You’ll get $5 of fun from the app. If you are looking for a chill game to pick up in a waiting room or something to fill those rare gaming hours that present themselves, Illuminaria is a solid choice. The mechanics are easy to pick up, the gameplay is engaging, the art is cute, and the music is great. This is a fun game, and it’s a perfect mobile gaming experience. The problem is that this game feels short. You can try to beat the game at different difficulties, but it still feels like a $5 app. I can’t see it ever being worth full price on a console or PC. It’s not a bad game, there just isn’t enough for it to be worth it.

You can pick up Illuminaria on Steam, and Switch for $14.99, and on Android and IOS Devices for $4.99. It is on sale right now on Steam for $9.74 until November 7th, but you can also try the demo if you need some more convincing.

gaming news, video game reviews

Sorry We’re Closed Demo Review – Classic Survival Horror Bliss

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When I saw the Sorry We’re Closed trailer on this year’s Indie Horror Showcase, I knew I needed to try the demo. Sorry We’re Closed looks like a fun and quirky homage to the classic era of survival horror, and I am here for it.

Michelle wakes up in the demon world after having been cursed by a demon. With the help of whatever she can find lying around, she must brave the horrors that roam this terrifying new world to find a way out. Do you have what it takes to set her free?

If you are looking for a spooky title to play, try this demo. The game does a terrific job of creating a spooky ambiance with its fixed cameras, music, and design. I loved the use of color, its edgy tones, and the gameplay. Exploration feels good, and combat feels even better. If you are a fan of the original Resident Evil game, this game should be on your wishlist.

I don’t normally do horror games, but I had to make this the exception. I’m hoping to grab a copy on release. Until then, make sure you play the demo, and add Sorry We’re Closed to your wishlist. 

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video game reviews

Fabledom is the adorably wholesome village builder you should be playing

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I was sent Fabledom as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.

Fabledom is an adorable city builder available on Steam. The game is in early access, but it certainly doesn’t feel like it. It’s also got a healthy roadmap, and I am sure the game will get better. If you are looking to get into the genre, or simply looking for a new title to get into, Fabledom is a fantastic place to start.

Players start with a small population of peasants, limited resources, and an easy-to-follow tutorial. As your village grows, you unlock new mechanics. Fabledom lets players practice diplomacy with neighboring kingdoms, raise renowned heroes and armies, and find their true love.

Don’t let the adorable fairytale facade fool you. You’ll need to be tactical about how you grow your village. While I never hit the point where my village failed, I did hit bottlenecks in my progress that stemmed from my mistakes. I am sure there are guides designed to play Fabledom optimally, but I like learning from my failures. I always recommend going into these games as blindly as possible. It’s more fun that way. 

I am obsessed with this game. The gameplay is relaxing yet engaging, the art style is cute, and the music is such a vibe. This is one of those games you need to try at least once, especially if you are curious about the genre. You can pick up Fabledom on Steam for $11.99 (normally $15.99) until October 30th. It’s worth it at either price! 

video game reviews

CRYMACHINA is over-stylized waifu bait with very little substance

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I was sent CRYMACHINA as a review code. I am very happy about the opportunity, but this will be my honest review. If you enjoy these reviews, make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends!

CRYMACHINA is an anime-themed action RPG coming to PC, PlayStation, and Switch on October 24th. Humans have gone extinct, and have been replaced by synthetic beings known as Dei ex Machina. A mysterious prophecy has selected a few of these beings to bring humanity back from extinction, but not all Dei ex Machina share this goal. Fight your way through Dei ex Machina as you attempt to reclaim humanity’s dominance over Eden. Do you have what it takes to claim what destiny offers?

The game is fun for the first few encounters before the novelty wears off. Unfortunately, the blatant waifu bait isn’t enough to distract players from how dull and unimpressive the game becomes. The art style is interesting but tends to be a little too busy and loud for its own good. The story is poorly written, and the gameplay isn’t fun enough to make up for it. This isn’t a bad game, but it is hard to recommend when there are better options in the genre.

I wish the game was better because the format is interesting. The gameplay loop is split into two parts: combat and story. Combat is broken up into small manageable levels where players face a few mobs of enemies before facing off against a boss. Boss fights had unique mechanics, but not all of them were fun. Combat started feeling repetitive, and the initial sense of accomplishment felt after beating a boss diminished and became nonexistent. The over-stylized and busy animation of the combat never made up for how bored I got with combat.

The other side of the loop was the story cutscenes that came in the form of tea parties. Blatant waifu bait aside, this is an interesting way to do a story. Players have the opportunity to watch optional cutscenes where characters get a back story or become more rounded, or they can stick with only watching scenes relevant to the story. This is a great format for gamers with limited free time because the game can be tackled in small meaningful chunks, and you can repeat cutscenes when you need a reminder. This would have been a great format for this game if the story was good, and the characters weren’t generic waifu tropes. 

You can pick up CRYMACHINA for PC, PlayStation, and Switch on October 24th, but I’d hold off for a very generous discount. Even then, you’ll have better options. 

Board Games and TCGs, video game reviews

What Lies Beneath is the most fun I’ve ever had with a Choose-your-own adventure book! Go back it on Kickstarter

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I was sent an early copy of What Lies Beneath, and while I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest review. If you enjoy these reviews, make sure you like, comment, follow, and share them with your friends. 

What Lies Beneath is a choose-your-own-adventure game with unique skill checks and a fun story. The game will be available in an interactive PDF and Printed Book format when the Kickstarter is fully funded. I got to try the interactive PDF, but there shouldn’t be a difference between versions other than the satisfying tactile experience the book provides. 

The PDF is great! Choices are hyperlinked, and navigating through the adventure is easy. Having to look for items in the appendix was a bit of a hassle, but it’s not a deal breaker. It only made me want the book more for the ease of flipping to the back when I picked up a new item. Keep in mind that you do get both versions if you are back at the book level. 

Players start each run by rolling to choose from the available classes: Bard, Berserker, Druid, Rogue, Warrior, and Wizard. You roll two dice and choose between the results. This gives the game a bit of randomness without taking away a player’s choice. Each class has unique stats that affect the many skill checks made throughout the adventure. 

Skill checks are easy to learn and make the game unique and engaging. While a wrong decision will kill you, your fate rests on the result of these skill checks. Some skill checks are simple rolls with modifiers, but others, like the Dex Checks, are a fun little mini-game that makes the adventure very interactive. You can use the alternate rules to make your checks rolls, but I recommend you play the game as written first. 

What I love most about this adventure is how quickly it is to get set up. All you need to get started is to grab your materials, open your book to the first page, and get rolling. The game teaches players new mechanics as they are needed, with clear and easy-to-follow instructions. I can’t stress how easy this game is to pick up, even if you’ve never played a board game. 

I loved every minute of this adventure. It took a couple of tries to make it to a good ending, but it was a very satisfying journey. The skill checks definitely kept the game from growing stale and repetitive. It is inevitable to run into the same encounters on multiple runs, but I never felt it was an issue. If you are a fan of the choose-your-own-adventure genre or simply want to pick up your first, go back What Lies Beneath on Kickstarter. It has a fun adventure, impressive mechanics, and some solid replayability. At the very least grab the free demo!

The Kickstarter is live until November 16th, so make sure you go back to it. You can pick up the print-and-play version for backing at the $6 tier, which is a fantastic deal. For those needing something more tactile, the book is available at the $12 tier. While you’re there, might as well back the whole project. For $50 you get a very nice update to the deck-builder dungeon-crawler, Dungeon Maker Deluxe, and the PNP version of What Lies Beneath. I haven’t played Dungeon Maker Deluxe, but it looks like a ton of fun, especially with a group of people. There are rules for solo play available. Go back the Kickstarter!

Board Games and TCGs, video game reviews

The Pokémon My First Battle Kits are a delightful way to teach kids how to play the TCG

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I got the Pokémon My First Battle kit because I have a young nephew who collects Pokémon, and I thought it would be fun to teach him how to play. I haven’t had the chance to play with him yet, but since I bought both kits, I decided to try it with my wife. She doesn’t know anything about Pokémon and has never played a TCG.

The first thing you should know before getting this kit is that it is meant to teach young kids. It’s not going to have any value other than getting someone started with the Pokémon TCG. It is a very stripped-down version of the game that focuses on teaching the absolute fundamentals of the game. There are no abilities or supporters, and the rules and phases have been simplified to reduce randomness. I only say this because I already see scalpers selling it for twice what it’s worth. 

The set comes with two 17-card-themed mini decks. The cards aren’t standard legal and have the My First Battle logo printed on the back. It comes with two laminated playmats specifically designed for its simplified format. You also get 1 large metallic coin to flip, a sheet of damage counters, six prize cards, and a rulebook to get you started.

The rulebook is clear and easy to follow. I like that it has clear examples with detailed pictures. The playmats feel sturdy and have the actions a player can take per turn printed on them. The setup is incredibly easy. The kit focuses on teaching players the basic phases of the games such as drawing, attacking, evolving, and using item cards. Both players start with a basic Pokémon in the active spot and an energy attached. The rest of the deck is shuffled, and you play the game like normal till one player wins three prize tokens.

Other significant changes include:

  1. Players start with a three-card hand
  2. You can only bench three Pokémon at a time
  3. You don’t lose energy when your active Pokémon is knocked out
  4. You can’t deck out 

My only suggestion for people getting this kit is to grab dice to use as damage counters and coin flips. I have never liked counters, and coin flips make things messy. If you are only getting this for your kids to play with, then the counters should suffice. Just note that it will be messy. 

If you have kids you want to get into the hobby, this is a great product. If you are trying to teach someone older, there are better options. The kits are at a great price point, and have everything you need to get started. I like that the cards aren’t standard legal, and the mats are sturdy because these cards will most definitely get beat up. My cards came a bit warped, but they weren’t meant to be graded anyway. 

I loved this as a tool to teach my wife how to play the game. She has never played a TCG, and only reluctantly agreed to play if the game was easy. With how complicated and luck-based Pokémon can get, I was relieved to have a simplified and streamlined version to get her started. I only needed to explain the rules to her once before she started going through the phases on her own. She had fun and beat me all the times we played. It’ll probably take more convincing to get her to something harder, but I’ll take what I can get.

The kits are $9.99 and come in two flavors: Pikachu v. Bulbasaur or Squirtle v. Charmander. I got them at GameNerdz as a set, but you can pick them up at Best Buy or GameStop while supplies last. I wouldn’t pay more than MSRP for these since you aren’t even getting real cards. With how much Pokémon overprints, I would wait for the restock.  

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