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If you are looking for your next survival game, check out the Enshrouded demo

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There are so many games featured in the Steam Next Fest that it can be a bit overwhelming. If you are looking for a game to try, I recommend you check out the Enshrouded demo. Enshrouded is an open-world survival game coming soon to PC. The demo is only available until the 22nd, so I suggest you download it now!

I dabble in survival games from time to time, but I am by no means an expert. I enjoy them as casual experiences, but I am sure there will be guides available for efficient survival. The demo has a multiplayer mode option, but I stuck with solo play because I keep strange hours. My impressions will be on the solo experience. Feel free to try the multiplayer, I hope there isn’t much griefing. 

The demo runs great. I rarely encountered bugs, but there is an easy-to-use report feature available if you encounter any. The game plays like any other survival game with a few unique gimmicks. Farming is relaxing, crafting is simple, and combat is fun. I liked that with minimal crafting I was able to test out different weapons and find one that worked best for me. I loved using making the wand and blasting my enemies with magic. The combat is smooth, and dodging was really fun. 

The tutorial and starting missions do a fantastic job of getting players set up. New players can learn the game’s fundamentals, but veterans have the freedom to do whatever is within the limitations of the demo. The world feels big with lots to do and explore. This can be overwhelming at times, but there are available quests if you need some direction. I spent a lot of time running around without focus because I was having fun trying out the different systems. 

 What is unique about this game are the shrouded areas. These are areas on the map that are afflicted by a mysterious curse. Your character can only exist within these zones, so travel carefully. Other than that, it is exactly what I would expect and want from a survival game.

If you are in the market for a new survival game, Enshrouded might be for you. There is no release date set, but you can try the robust demo in the mean time. 

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The Monolith: Requiem of the Ancients Demo is live, and I liked it

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The Monolith: Requiem of the Ancients PC demo is out and part of the Steam Next Fest happening now. This adorable little action RPG is sure to win some hearts over with its fun combat mechanics, and interesting narrative. Dark forces threaten Gliese, and it is up to a lone hero and his sword to rescue it. What secrets will you uncover? What challenges await? 

I’ve been excited about this game since it was first announced. It gives off some strong Zelda vibes, which I totally appreciate, and it has an adorable art style I can get behind. Combat is fun and intuitive, and the soundtrack is phenomenal. I love the magic and upgrade system, but need to see more. The demo is a bit rough. The sound mixing needs work, and I encountered some stuttering and frame drops. None of the bugs I encountered were game-breaking, but there were enough of them present that I couldn’t ignore them. That said, the demo is playable. If you’ve been curious about this title or enjoy the Zelda games, it doesn’t hurt to try it out. 

It is too early to judge the game harshly, so I’ll wait till I get my hands on a full version to get more in-depth. Monolith: Requiem of the Ancients will be released for PC, PlayStation, Switch, and Xbox sometime next year, but no date has been announced yet. Until then, go try it out and see for yourself!

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The Cowboy 3030 demo offers a solid glimpse of a neat little rogue-lite coming to PC

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I got to try the Cowboy 3030 demo, which will be featured in the Steam Next Fest. The Steam Next Fest is a multi-day event where gamers can try new games, chat with devs, and learn about upcoming releases. The Event runs from October 9th to the 16th, so make sure you tune in. 

Cowboy 3030 is a rogue-lite Wild West-themed shooter set in the future. Choose your cowboy and fight your way through the endless waves of goons from the evil Nebularos gang. 

The demo lets players choose between two cowboys: Calix and Keri. Calix is fantastic at short-range combat with his revolvers, electric lasso, and flash grenade. Kari is your girl for long-range combat with her arsenal of riffles, access to a defensive electro screen, and an exploding bowling bomb. Both have distinct playstyles, and the game has a unique skill tree that ensures each run feels different. 

Players will start their runs by choosing a loadout. As you play, you will unlock new weapons and characters to help you hone in on a playstyle that works best for you. The goal is to clear as many of the procedurally generated levels without dying. Throughout each run, you level up your tree and collect money to buy upgrades. The tree is a large grid that gives players the freedom to build their character to their liking. The tree is randomly generated, but I never felt like the RNG ruined any of my runs. 

Cowboy 3030 has a solid demo. The game looks great and runs well, the mechanics are fun, and players get a nice taste of what is to come. Obviously, there isn’t enough content to judge it too harshly, but I enjoyed the demo enough to recommend it. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the Steam Next Fest catalog, Cowboy 3030 is a solid place to start. It is a nice relaxing rogue-lite that will keep you entertained for a couple of hours. The game is planned to be released during Q1 of 2024, but you can try the demo out today!

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The ZyberVR Multipurpose 3-in-1 sticks for the Meta Quest 2 are a neat accessory you might want

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ZyberVR sent me their Multipurpose 3-in-1 sticks for the Meta Quest to review and made me an affiliate. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the product.

The multipurpose sticks are accessories for the Quest 2 motion controllers that provide users with added immersion while gaming. They are usable in three modes: Dual handle, golf handle, and long handle. The dual handle is designed for games with swords, like Beat Saber. The long handle connects the two handles in the middle and is perfect for games like Kayak VR. The golf handle is self-explanatory.

The kit comes with two color-coded handles, two clearly labeled motion controller clips, two thick wrist straps, two clear plastic halo casings, and a tube to connect or extend the handles. The accessories are built from good quality plastic, the foam is comfortable, and there is no way the controllers are slipping off during play. The instructions are in Mandarin, but the pictures are easy to follow. Instantiation and switching between the accessories is fast and simple.

What I appreciated most about this product are the added protective accessories that come with it. The kits come with thick and sturdy wrist straps to replace the ones included with the Quest 2. The straps are easy to install and aren’t coming off. The kit also includes clear silicon casings for the motion control halo. These are easy to install and don’t interfere with tracking. They aren’t going to keep your controllers from breaking after a large impact, but they will keep them from scratching and scuffing from the lighter ones.

The only game I own to test the stick on is Beat Saber, and it worked perfectly. They provided a more immersive experience, a comfortable grip, and slip protection from my overly sweaty hands. Playing with the sticks felt more accurate, and I saw an improvement in my performance. One issue I had was that anything that involved the buttons or triggers became awkward. This might be something you can get used to, but I never did. This accessory is best when you don’t need comfortable access to any of the buttons.

If you spend a lot of time in VR and need the extra emersion, this is a fantastic accessory. Unlike the ZyberVR Prescription Lenses, the Multipurpose 3-in-1 sticks aren’t something you need for your setup, but it is something you will appreciate having once you use them. The kit goes for $34.99 on the Zyber store and is currently $8 off. If you buy anything from the ZyberVR store, don’t forget to use my discount code CHURAPE at checkout for an extra 15% off.

video game reviews

Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society, its cute and fun, but not for everyone

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I was sent Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society as a review code. I am very grateful for this opportunity because this game has been on my Wishlist since it was announced for the Switch. That said, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game.

Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society is a retro-feeling dungeon crawler available now for the PlayStation, Switch, and PC via Steam. Eureka has been hired by Madame Marta to search the mysterious Labyrinth of Galleria for the nine mysterious Curios d’art. With the help of puppet warriors, you must delve into the labyrinth and uncover its secrets. What will your adventure hold?

This game is cute, but it feels unfinished. The deeper I got into the game, the harder it was to finish. The story was fine, but the gameplay loop started to feel repetitive. I enjoyed this game in small bursts. The exploration and combat were soothing, and I enjoyed the story. The problem is that there wasn’t enough to keep me engaged. Labyrinth of Galleria isn’t a bad game. I enjoyed it, but it doesn’t do enough to be worth $50. If you like retro dungeon crawlers and don’t mind how heavily it falls onto anime tropes, the game is fine. It has a pleasing art style, terrific voice actors, and a solid story. If you don’t, maybe wait for a good sale.

The gameplay loop is simple. You move through the dungeon in a first-person view one square at a time, and fight monsters with dolls you collect. Combat runs like a traditional RPG and unlocks new dolls and abilities the deeper you get into the game.

The problem I have with this game lies with the gameplay. The game is fun until the grind gets stale. There are settings you can mess with to make the grind manageable, but it got harder to keep playing the longer I sat with it. This is a game that is tricky to recommend because of how niche it is. 

You can pick up Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society for PlayStation, Switch, and Steam for $49.99. Steam currently has it on sale for $39.99 for their NIS publisher sale, but unless you like retro dungeon crawlers, there are better titles you can look at. The sale ends on October 16th.

video game reviews

Disgaea 7, the cute anime game you are going to want to play at least once!

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I was sent Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless to review a little after my previous post. I’ve been excited about this title since the first announcement and was planning on buying it regardless. I am very fortunate to get the chance to review it for my site, but I won’t let this sway my opinions on the game. This will be my honest review of the game. If you’ve been enjoying my reviews, make sure you like, comment, subscribe, and share this with your friends. 

Disgaea 7 is a quirky and unique JRPG for PlayStation, Steam, and Nintendo Switch. This review is based on the Steam version. 

This is a cute game with stunning visuals, a fantastic soundtrack, and fun gameplay. Do not let how cute this game looks fool you. This game is difficult if you don’t take it seriously. I found the stages appropriately challenging and the mechanics engaging. I played the game on Easy, which was appropriate for my skill level. Although I never found the stages impossible or frustrating, it was easy to wipe if I wasn’t playing strategically. If you’ve never played a strategy game, it has terrific tutorials to get you started.

The story is a little on the silly side, with a general cheesiness I found charming. It has a cast of tremendous actors that make the cut scenes such a delight to sit through. I can see this being a niche game due to its tone, but the gameplay is fun enough that it won’t matter. The story is self-contained enough to exist on its own. While you won’t need to play any of the other games in the series to enjoy Disgaea 7, you are going to. 

Aside from the combat, what I love most about this game is how much you can do at the base. Between stages, you get access to all these shops where you recruit new heroes, learn new skills, buy items, vote for buffs, and do other administrative stuff to prepare for the next stage. As goofy as this game looks, I spent a lot of time planning things through, and I loved every minute of it. 

Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless releases in North America on October 3rd on PlayStation, Steam, and Switch for $59.99. If it’s not yet on your wishlist, it should be. 

video game reviews

Dance Dash, a new unique VR rhythm game you play with your feet

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I was sent Dance Dash and the remote straps for the Meta Quest 2 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’ve been enjoying my reviews, make sure you like, comment, and share this with your friends. I’ve got a bunch of games lined up for future posts, so don’t forget to leave me a follow as well!

While you don’t necessarily need the straps to play Dance Dash, the experience is better with them. The straps are a solid build quality and are sturdy. They both held the Quest remotes snugly and securely to my feet without incident. It did take some time to become comfortable with having the controllers on my feet, but even at my wildest, there wasn’t much danger. That said, be careful when using these accessories and playing this game. I recommend you use shoes as instructed for added security. Playing barefoot didn’t allow enough clearance to between the sensors and the floor to play this game safely. 

The only real issue I had with the straps was when the game made me jump over obstacles. While the remotes were secured safely, there was always enough of a shift during the jumps to make me uncomfortable. Investing in dedicated feet trackers might be the optimal way to play this game, but I only recommend that route if this becomes the only game you daily drive. Otherwise, the straps (or something creative like it) will suffice. 

Dance Dash is a solidly built game. It runs fine for a rhythm game, but make sure you play in a well-lit room to ensure proper tracking. I also recommend turning off-hand tracking. I found that the game would often confuse the controls and stop tracking my feet. This would turn the game into a sort of drumming game which can also be fun with a bit of tweeking. The graphics are fun and good enough, the hands-free controls work well, and the mechanics left me breathing a little harder than Beat Saber. The music is fine, but you can always use the free Dance Dash Beatmap Editor to make and upload your own.

 

Dance Dash is fine if you are looking for a new rhythm game and don’t mind buying into the accessories. They aren’t required, but they make a difference. You can pick up Dance Dance for Steam VR for $19.99. You can also pick up the bundle with accessories for Meta Quest 2 ($29.99), Vive (49.99) and Valve Index ($29.99)

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Hellsweeper VR was okay, but I could have been playing something better

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I was sent Hellsweeper VR as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will not let this sway my opinions. This will be an honest review of the game. If you enjoy my reviews, don’t forget to like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. 

Hellsweeper VR is a roguelike hack-and-slash game for Steam, Quest, and PlayStation VR. You play as a dammed soul trying to repent for your sins. You are tasked with spending your afterlife hunting down demons until your depth is paid, earning your passage to heaven. 

The game has cool flavor and a solid concept, but Hellsweeper is a bit too simple for its own good. Once the novelty of the experience wears off, the game becomes repetitive and boring. You dive into the dungeon and try to get as far as possible before dying and starting over. You start with simple weapons or magic and find upgrades throughout your run or you can buy them in between them. Combat feels clunky, and it grows stale after a while. You have options on how you fight the forces of hell, but I always felt the guns were the best way to go about it. The game tries to shake things up by having you complete different missions during each run, but not all of them are fun. By the end of my first run, there wasn’t any real reason to keep playing. 

The game isn’t bad, but there are better games you can play. Hellsweeper VR isn’t worth the $29.99 it asks for, and even at a discount, your money is better spent elsewhere.  

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Sea of Stars is the Most Impressive RPG You’ll get to Play

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I’ve been excited about the release of Sea of Stars since I first saw the trailer. I love the art, and I am always in the market for a good RPG. I grew even more excited when I got to try the demo. Needless to say, I got Sea of Stars the minute it was on the eshop. If you haven’t played this game yet, it needs to be in your collection. Sea of Stars is a fantastic RPG and one you will be replaying.

I’ve written about this game before, so I’ll try not to repeat myself too much. Sea of Stars is a fun twist to the classic RPG genre that innovates in a way that you see to appreciate how good it is. This game is one of the first games in a while where I slowed down because I wanted to savor the experience. It has a fantastic soundtrack, a fun and quirky tone, a nice story, engaging and manageable puzzles, and a fun combat system. 

I adore the combat system in this game because it fixes the problem I have with a lot of RPGs. Instead of waiting idly while the characters finish their turns, you press a button to get a bonus melee attack, cast a stronger spell, or mitigate some damage. The small bonuses you get from this mechanic could mean the difference between wiping and beating the encounter. This game felt a lot more tactical, but it could be a result of the mechanics being a lot more engaging than I am used to.

I love the unique flare Sea of Stars brings to the genre, specifically the relic system it implements. Throughout the game, you can find or purchase relics that you can activate as a permanent buff to adjust the game’s difficulty. You can toggle these buffs to make the game as casual of an experience as you want. One of the first relics you find in this game automatically brings your team up to full health. Between save points, the only way to heal is through spells or cooking. You will be constantly managing your food, supplies, and mana to keep your team alive, and you can easily find yourself low or out of all three. This relic eliminates this challenge so you can focus on other aspects of the game, which is a completely valid way to play this game. There are other relics like this throughout your adventure, and they are all optional. I love when games allow players to adjust the experience because sometimes I want to have the feeling of achievement I get from beating a nearly impossible run, and sometimes I want to sit back and chill. 

Now I didn’t turn on every relic I came across, but I turned on enough to make it an easier run. That said, I never felt the game got too easy after turning on the relics. I still had to plan out my combat and the boss encounters needed some thought. Boss fights are a different form of puzzle that will claim a few of your teams. It is a lot of fun trying to find the right way to kill a boss, but there are solid guides out there in case you need them. The cool part about wiping in this game is that you don’t lose much progress between saves.

If you haven’t played Sea of Stars, it should be on your list. This quirky RPG has a beautiful retro feel with some impressive innovations you need to experience at least once. You can play Sea of Stars on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and the Nintendo Switch for $34.99. It’s also included on Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Extra if you have a subscription. But if you need further convincing, go check out the demo.

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The demo for the cute pixel art puzzle platformer Quadroids is up on Steam, and I liked it

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The Quadroids Demo is Steam, and I recommend you check it out if you are looking for a chill yet engaging puzzle game. This cute yet morbid pixel art puzzle platformer will test your ability to multi-task. Guide your Quadroids through a series of dangerous puzzles on your quest to conquer the galaxy. Quadroids are expendable, and you will lose a lot of them.

The demo is short, about 30 minutes long (depending on your ability to multi-task), and it does a fantastic job of easing players into the mechanics while creating a solid expectation for the full game. It is a little sad that the Quadroids are so cute because you will need to sacrifice them on your path to total domination. There will be solutions that will require you to sacrifice Quadriods to clear the puzzle. Don’t worry, you eventually grow numb to their deaths.

The gameplay loop is simple. Quadroids move automatically. The only command issued to Quadroids is jump. Puzzles are divided into four quadrants, and each quadrant has a unique button for the jump command. When the Quadroid is in the top left quadrant, it will only react to the top left trigger. The game has keyboard support, but I recommend using a gamepad because it feels more comfortable. What makes this game difficult is that you will often be controlling multiple Quadroids at once. You’ll want to coordinate multiple Quadroids through the puzzles to get the fastest times in the least amount of commands. If the puzzles prove too easy, you can always try completing the optional challenges.

I really enjoyed this game. The puzzles are fun, the music is great, and the art is cute. I am not the best when it comes to platformers, but the platforming and puzzles are manageable. This is a game you’ll want to pick up when you want to relax, but you either don’t have much free time or don’t want a game that requires a huge commitment. This might not be a game you play till completion, but I’ll need to check out the full version to know for sure. 

Quadroids will launch on PC, Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox soon, but no release date has been set yet. Until then, check out the demo on Steam.