During GDC I was allowed to try out Liberte for PC. Liberte is a rogue-like isometric ARPG themed after the French Revolution, but this isn’t a historical game.
What sets this game apart from others in the genre is its deck-building mechanic. As you progress through the story, you find cards that will grant abilities, traits, and items. You can upgrade or swap out the cards to fit your playstyle. To play a card, you must sacrifice others to pay its cost. This creates this loop of constantly cycling through your cards to find a combination that best fits your playstyle. I was distracted by conversation and kept forgetting to build my deck. I wouldn’t advise trying to beat the game with just the basic attack.
The bit of combat I tried was a lot of fun. The dodge feels fantastic, and successfully avoiding attacks was very satisfying. I liked that unlocking new abilities changed the combat. The first ability I unlocked was a guitar bash that gave my character a nice acoustic guitar to carry on his back. I appreciate the attention to detail and love smashing my enemies with this ability. There were other fun flavor texts sprinkled throughout my playthrough that make me believe that a lot of love was put into this game.
I can’t speak on the story because I skipped through the cutscenes to get to the combat, but it seems interesting based on the summary on Steam. I did get to see a lot of the art for the cutscenes. I love the art and aesthetic of this game. One issue I had with this game is that some of the paths are a bit hard to see. I played an older build, and they might have fixed it for the release. It isn’t a terrible deal breaker, but it is something I noticed. If they didn’t, it isn’t a huge deal because there is a nice little guiding mechanic available if you ever get stuck.
I liked what I was able to try out and will be trying to get a copy for a full review. If you like ARPGs, Liberte is at least worth looking into. You can buy it for early access on Steam now, or wait till its full release on April 6, 2023. At the moment, Liberte is only planned for PC.
Spatial
For you creatives out there that enjoy building virtual worlds in games like Minecraft, Spatial was just announced at GDC, and it might be worth looking into. Spatial gives you the tools to build virtual worlds and design games into them. If you don’t feel like building, you can treat it like any other avatar chat game.
I explored a few of the existing worlds on the official website through my web browser and was surprised at how smoothly everything ran. Although there aren’t many choices and the population is small, Spatial is looking like a solid project. The worlds looked great, loaded quickly, and ran smoothly. There is an in-game voice chat feature that sounds great, but there is text chat available if you prefer. I got to try a few of the player games as well. They were cute, but simple in design which is fine for what this is. I imagine that as this game gets bigger, features will become more complex.
Anyone can create a world on Spatial as long as they have a creator kit (available on the official site) and some basic knowledge of Unity3D. Here is a basic tutorial to help you get started, but you can also find the link on the official Spatial website. If you like building worlds or need a new virtual space to hang out with your friends, you might want to try it out.
One thing to note is that this game seems to be trying to be like twitch. The game lets you go live with your world, and people can join and watch your world. There were a few worlds that were live and had viewers already, so there might be a market for the feature. What bothers me is that this game does have some monetization. I couldn’t find too much information on what this means, but there seem to be ways for players to earn money with their worlds. I can respect developers trying to make money, but I just hope it doesn’t mean having to watch ads in video games. While there is nothing that indicates that this company is shady, just be smart with what you click anywhere on the internet.
Spatial is still a young and growing community. It is going to need a lot of players to take full advantage of everything it is trying to implement. If this is the type of game that appeals to you, go check this game out. Spatial is available on web browsers, the Meta Quest, Android, and IOS devices. It’s free to try, and you don’t even need an account.
Series Review: Poker Face (2023)
The first season of Poker Face has finally wrapped up, and it was fine. If you are looking for a quirky and silly mystery of the week series to get into, this one should at least be on your list.
Charlie is a human lie detector who finds herself running from the mob. As she makes her way across the American landscape, she keeps finding herself in the middle of all these murders. Charlie is too kind to let things go unsolved, so for the first time in her life, she uses her gifts for good. Watch Charlie as she fumbles through a mystery to bring justice to crimes that would otherwise go unnoticed. But for every new friend she makes, she also leaves behind new enemies. Will Charlie ever find peace, or is she destined to be a runaway?
Natasha Lyonne’s role as Charlie is a gift, and you need to watch this series to enjoy her performance. Lyonne has the presence and charisma to make this series work. If you aren’t in love with Charlie by the end of the first episode, you weren’t paying attention. I love that Charlie isn’t the usual detective archetype that you get in shows like Law and Order. Charlie is a flawed character who will fumble through the investigation. Charlie is clever enough to make the connections, but her carefree demeanor makes her come to it at her own pace. A lot of the fun for this series comes from watching Charlie slowly put the pieces together.
The only issue I have with this series is that not every episode is good. I will be skipping a few episodes the next time I watch this season, but I see the value of watching the whole series at least once. Each episode will have important character moments for Charlie that come back in subtle ways in the future. These details aren’t so important that it affects the story significantly, but I appreciate the attention to detail. That said, the worst episode is still good enough, and the series is collectively solid.
If you haven’t seen this series and have a Peacock subscription because it is worth the trouble. At the very least, you will fall in love with a fictional character.
A Brazil Games Preview for GDC 2023
The Game Developer Conference is less than a week away, and I have been busy setting up interviews and other activities that I am not able to reveal to you at the moment.
What I can reveal is that I have the exciting opportunity to meet with the Brazil Game Delegation and try some of the games they have planned for release. Full disclosure, I was asked to write this post, but I wasn’t paid to do so. This post will be my honest impressions based on the materials I was shown.
The Brazil Games delegation is a collection of 43 companies that are working to build the growing and vibrant gaming industry in Brazil and Latin America. I will be trying out Drakantos, a Pixel Art MMORPG by Wingeaon Game Studios, but I am hoping I can sneak in a few others. I am very excited to see what people from my side of the world bring to the table. Until then, let me tell you a bit about what they have planned for GDC.
Drakantos
I will be trying Drakantos at GDC. I was drawn to the title because I am always looking for a new MMO to get into. The art is cute, the voice acting is amazing, and the story seems interesting. I can see this game being successful for those who want an MMO that doesn’t feel like a second job. As long as there is a fun leveling experience, enough content to keep me busy, and an end game, I can see myself sinking hours into this game. It is too early to say for sure with how little I know about it now, but stay tuned for a recap.
BlackThorne Keep – Chronicles
The next game I am hoping to try out is Limiar Studio’s BlackThorne Keep – Chronicles. The game is an open-world RPG for the PC and PlayStation that promises skill-based combat. The game looks a bit clunky in the trailer, but with enough love, I can see this being a lot of fun. The biggest hurdle I can see this game having is that the world might be too open, the physics might not be good enough for the jumping puzzles, and the combat might just be button-mashing. So far, it is very reminiscent of Elder Scrolls, and if they can make that combat more fun, I am here for it. It is too early to have a real opinion based on the trailer alone, but I will be back once I get some first-hand experience. You can check it out on steam if you are curious.
Kriophobia
Fira Soft’s Kriophobia is a hand-drawn survival game that looks beautiful. I am not sure if I will be trying this game because I don’t do well with horror games, but it is one to keep on your watch list if you are
a fan of horror. Based on the trailer, it seems to have some pretty terrifying exploration through a very eerie-looking setting. Based on the music and trailer alone, I am pretty terrified. I will try to make time for this game, but I don’t want to make any promises. Maybe I can find someone to play it for me. You can check it out on Steam if you are curious.
Galaxy Kart VR
If you like cartoon kart racers and have a VR headset, you need to keep an eye out for VR Monkey’s Galaxy Kart VR. I won’t be trying it because I don’t want to risk motion sickness with how busy my schedule is, but I’ll try to check it out. The characters are hilarious, the tracks look fun, and the racing combat is exactly what I want from a kart racer. If you like Mario Kart or any games like it, you should be looking into this game.
Lux Ex Cyber Initiation
Ilex Games is coming out with its sequel to Lux Ex. Lux Ex Cyber Initiation is a cyberhero shooter that promises better graphics and more levels. The amount of weapon choices and the procedural generation of levels promises a new experience each time you play through a level. I haven’t been a huge fan of these games because I am not smart enough, but if you are in the market for this kind of shooter, the music seems cool, and the gameplay seems solid. You can wishlist it on Steam.
Tower of Samsara – Hidden Treasures
Tower of Samsara – Hidden Treasures, also by Ilex Games, is a pixel art platformer coming to the PC and Xbox. I am not a huge fan of platformers so I might not try this one. That said, the art looks neat, and the combat and puzzles look interesting. Nothing against the game’s design, I just know that I lack the abilities to be successful in a game like this. That said, if you like platformers like Shovel Knight, Tower of Samsara might be worth getting into.
Wëiph: Reins of Fate
I will be trying to play Game Plan’s Wëiph: Reins of Fate. The art looks super cute, the music is fun, and you get to play as a cat. You play as an abandoned cat named Weiph through an adventure puzzle platformer that is sure to frustrate me, but I will probably cry at the end. It sort of feels like Ori:The Will of the Wisps with visual novel elements. The game is coming for the PC, Switch, Xbox, and PS5. I don’t think I am allowed to post video so here is some official art I pulled off the internet.
What the Duck
What The Duck is an action-adventure game by Seize Studios coming out for the PC and Nintendo Switch. It looks like it is going to be a goofy Zelda game. The game does look a bit clunky in the trailer, but I am willing to overlook this if the mechanics are fun. This looks to be one of those games that won’t take itself seriously. If it is as funny as I think it is, I am here for it.
Wizavior
Wizavior is a single-player 3D platformer coming to the PC, Switch, PS5, and Xbox in 2024. I wasn’t ready for how good the music is in the trailer. The art is also cute enough that I am willing to put my biases against platformers aside. I know this game is going to frustrate me, but I need to listen to the rest of this soundtrack. I am going to try to sneak a turn or at least have someone more competent play this for me. If you aren’t easily frustrated by 3D jumping puzzles, keep an eye out for Wizavior.
Mega Battle
Last but not least we have Cavylabs’ rogue-like deck builder, Mega Battle. I have a soft spot for card games and will be trying this game. What makes this deck builder unique is its mech-building mechanic. It looks like you will get the mech you to take into battle, and I gather that your deck is influenced by the type of parts you use. This is sure to open up the game to a diverse collection of strategies. It does look like a flash game which might turn some people off, but if the card game is fun, why should it matter? It is too early to tell from just the gameplay video, but hopefully, I can come back with a more concrete opinion.You can check it out on Steam.
In Closing
The games are listed in no particular order. I understand that it is unfair to judge the games without trying, so I will reserve my criticism for when I get to play the games. It is all getting more real with each day and I can’t help but to be overcome with excitement. With that, I am off to prep for some interviews.
*Feature Image by Rafael Javier from Pixabay
Series Review: The Last of Us (2023)
I didn’t want to get my hopes up for The Last of Us because historically, video game adaptations haven’t been good. I was pleasantly surprised by how well the series adapted the story, and I was deservingly hooked after the first couple of episodes. While not every episode is a masterpiece in storytelling, the series is solid and worth looking into if you haven’t done so already.
Civilization spins into chaos when a fungus starts turning people into zombies. Now the remaining survivors hold up in the ruins of the old world. Most survivors have gotten used to the hopeless routine of survival, but there are still those few who continue fighting for something better. In this hopeless world, a glimmer still exists. Ellie is the only known survivor immune to the infection, and it is up to Joel to get her to anyone who can use her to find a cure. The pair will travel over hostile lands in search of a better future, but is Ellie the cure humanity is waiting for?
This series is incredible. The acting is fantastic, the story is amazing, and the action is keeping you on the edge of your seat. The chemistry between the two leads is powerful, and what drives the story. Watching the relationship between Ellie and Joel evolve through the series will make you obsessed with this series.
I’ve seen people complain about the lack of zombies this season, but the zombies wouldn’t have added much to the narrative. This first season acts as a way to build the world and characters, and it does that spectacularly. If the lack of zombies bothers you, it has been confirmed that the next season will feature more.
The only issue I have with this series is that some of the episodes felt slow and drawn out. It wasn’t bad enough to quit the series, but inconsistency dulled some of my excitement. I was also a bit disappointed by the finale, but that is mostly due to having to wait for season two. The finale has some great character moments and does enough to set up season two, but I wanted more. I could play the games for instant gratification, but I need to find time to play them.
If you have HBO+ or can still get the free trial, you need to watch this series because it is one of the better shows on the platform. Go stream it now!
Movie Review: The Puss In Boots: The Last Wish (2022)
Puss In Boots: The Last Wish is the first and only movie I’ve seen from the spin-off. I am honestly surprised that The Last Wish wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. If you have to sit through this movie with your kids, you won’t hate it, but it won’t be one of your favorites. As it stands, this film is a decent kids’ movie that you can stream on Peacock.
Puss in Boots finds himself on the last of his nine lives. Facing his newly discovered mortality, Puss becomes afraid of death for the very first time in his life. Instead of facing his problems head-on in his usual arrogant way, Puss decides to spend the rest of his life hiding as a normal cat. But the quiet life doesn’t stick, and Puss finds himself on another adventure with a pair of unlikely companions as they look for the wishing star. Can they make find the star before Death claims the Puss in Boots?
The plot is silly and as simple as you would expect from a kid’s film. The voice acting, art, and music are fantastic. I love the art style in this movie, especially for the fight scenes. The action is well-choreographed, but it isn’t without its moments of silliness. There are a lot of sight gags and body humor that didn’t always land, but they never got obnoxious. I loved all the cat jokes a bit more than I should have.
There isn’t much more I can say about this movie because it is another movie where the brooding, edgy protagonists learn the value of friendship. The villains aren’t dynamic, and the story is basic, but I wouldn’t expect more from a kids’ movie. The Last Wish is cute, fun, and perfect for your next movie night. It might not have the lasting power of Shrek, but it won’t be the worst kids’ movie you’ll have to sit through. You can stream it on Peacock.
Movie Review: Luther: The Fallen Sun (2023)
I just watched Luther: The Fallen Sun and thought it was fine. I haven’t watched the series that comes before this movie, so I won’t be able to compare the quality. As a standalone movie, it works well enough. I might have missed a few references here and there, but I never felt lost by the plot. I’d be curious to know what fans of the series think of the movie.
John Luther is a disgraced detective who has been locked away for his use of unethical practices for catching criminals. While in prison, a serial killer terrorizes London. But no prison can hold Luther. Luther escapes, and now the race is on to catch the killer before he causes too much damage. Can Luther decipher the few clues left behind before it is too late?
As far as detective thrillers go, Luther: The Fallen Sun is fine. My biggest issue with this movie is the pacing. This movie gets slow in parts. It will sit on pretty scenery for longer than it needs to. While I appreciate how well-shot some of these scenes are, this movie didn’t need to be two hours long. As a result, it is missing some much-needed tension. There are moments in this movie that don’t have stakes. It doesn’t matter how quickly Luther solves the clues because he’s got more than enough time to do so.
The acting is fine, but the writing is a little awkward. Some of the dialogue feels sloppy, and some plot points don’t make sense. While there are fun parts of this movie, there are enough parts that aren’t that make this movie difficult to recommend. I am sure people who are fans of the series will have stronger opinions about this movie, but as someone who hasn’t watched it, I thought the movie was okay.
If you have nothing else to watch, it’s not the worst way to spend two hours. At the very least, Luther: The Fallen Sun has made me curious about the series. While I wouldn’t go out of my way to watch this film, you can stream it on Netflix.
Game Review: Escape From the Red Planet
I was sent Escape From the Red Planet as a review code, and while I am very grateful for the opportunity, I am not letting it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game.
Escape From the Red Planet is a mars themed tower defense for PC. Take control of an astronaut stranded on a dusty red planet. Build up your defenses against the onslaught of hostile wildlife while you wait for rescue. Can you survive long enough to see another day?
As far as tower defense games go, the mechanics are simple. The resource management in this game is streamlined to timers. Your survival relies on how well you can manage your time and resources. If you aren’t efficient in managing your time and resources, this game can be punishing. Don’t let this game’s simplistic style fool you; it can get intense if you aren’t careful.
The game has you defend a single point that you bolster with defenses that slowly decompose with time. As the hordes become more diverse, the trick is finding a combination that doesn’t leave you broke and defenseless. To minimize the time you are waiting on timers, you will be switching between the top-down build mode and the first-person turret mode. There is still a bit of waiting, but it doesn’t feel as bad.
There is a story for this game, but it acts more like a tutorial. Each level introduces a new mechanic and enemy before leaving the player to fend for themselves. I thought this was a clever way of teaching players the game without having to sit through slow tutorial levels. This means the story is pretty basic and only serves to move a player to the next level. There is a last-stand mode that isn’t worth your time without meaningful gameplay changes and a survival mode that unlocks only after you beat the campaign. I wish the survival mode were available from the start, but maybe they wanted to have something players could work towards.
So is this game worth buying? I love the art, the music is nice, and the gameplay relaxing. My issue is that it is repetitive, and I found long sessions of this game impossible. Whether or not you should make the purchase will come down to pricing. $5-$10 is the range where I would consider the game worth the money. Anything more would be paying too much for a game that is essentially a mobile app. If you aren’t a fan of tower defense games, I don’t see you getting much value from it. If you are a fan of the genre, this is a relaxing change of pace that you can pick up when you don’t have the time to get into anything more meaningful. Escape from the Red Planet releases on March 14, 2023, but no pricing is available. Til then, you can wishlist it on Steam.
Now for a shameless plug, check out Canva. If you need a quick and easy photo or video editor that works in your browser, try Canva. It is free, easy to use, and you get access to a wide selection of templates for those who are like me and aren’t that creative. Check out my affiliate link today!
Series Review: Scissor Seven
I know I am a bit late in reviewing Scissor Seven, but I loved it so much that I needed to write something. If you haven’t seen this series yet, now is a great time because season four is on the horizon. If you are even remotely a fan of anime, this is a great series to get into.
Seven is a strange kid with no memory of his past who lives on Chicken island. With the help of a pair of scissors that he can control with his qi, Seven tries to make a living as a hired assassin. The problem with this plan is that Seven is too kind and ends up befriending the people he is supposed to kill. But Seven’s mysterious past comes to disrupt the peace he’s achieved during his time there. Can Seven unlock his full potential as an assassin in time to save his friends?
Scissor Seven is originally in Mandarin. While I always recommend consuming media in its original language, the English dub is fantastic. The animation is what sold this series to me. I love the blending of different art styles and animation. Sillyness aside, the narrative of this series is very well done. I was caught off guard by how cohesive and intricate the narrative can be. Sure it hits many of the traditional anime tropes, but it does it in such a way that it doesn’t matter. Watching Seven slowly regain his memories, make friends, and a life for himself is a delight to watch.
If you are a fan of anime or Asian dramas, you will love how it parodies the genres while maintaining its narrative. This series is full of bad puns, dad jokes, and physical humor, but it gets away with it. Once you get past the obvious parodies, the action is amazing. The epic choreography of the fights will keep you on the edge of your seat, even when it gets ridiculous. Package off this with one of the most amazing soundtracks I’ve ever sat through, and you have a series that should at least be on your watchlist.
Do yourself a favor and watch one of the most ridiculous and epic anime series on the Netflix catalog.
Game Review: Deck ‘Em!
I was sent Deck ‘Em as a review code. While I am grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game.
Deck ‘Em is a boxing-themed solitaire-like card game for PC and IOS. This review will be on the Steam version.
If you enjoy playing solitaire, you are better off playing that instead. I don’t think the added boxing quirk and quirky art style are enough to make Deck ‘Em! A more meaningful experience than solitaire. While I didn’t hate the game, the RNG and gameplay loop made it grow stale quickly. I could only play this game in small bursts before losing all interest. Deck ‘Em! is a game you pick up while waiting in line and possibly never pick it up again.
The game loop is simple. At the beginning of each round, you draw four cards with varying abilities. Some will heal your characters, some will hurt them, and others will reduce the damage done to them. The goal is to survive the 52-card deck, or at least 10 rounds without dying. The problem is, sometimes the RNG can be terrible. I died a few times during the first round because I only drew high-damage cards. I like the idea of having a first-round knockout, but there is no system to get better as you play where you can achieve your own. There is no variation in the gameplay. You draw cards and try to pick the order that will get you to the next round. You can argue that solitaire suffers from similar issues, but at least the win conditions in solitaire are fairer.
You choose from three different characters, but the choice doesn’t matter. You start with the same amount of health and draw from the same deck. It would be cool if the choice were mechanical as well as cosmetic. It would be interesting if each character had its own unique deck and stats. Maybe one fighter starts with less health, but hits faster and applies poison damage. There could be a beefy character with a lot of health that hits hard but burns through his deck quickly. Changes like this wouldn’t complicate the game too much and would add some variety to the loop. It would also be interesting to go against different fighters with different abilities and stats that way you aren’t always pulling from the same deck. I don’t think RNG does enough to add variety to the game.
There could also be an exhaustion mechanic. They could work like poison counters in magic, where once you get 10, you lose. There could be characters that cause exhaustion with their attacks and abilities. Cards could also have an additional exhaustion cost that you could pay to deal more damage. For example, a card could do three damage, or you can take 1 point of exhaustion and deal six. The loop would then become one where you have to manage your health and stamina to survive the rounds.
The game has a currency mechanic that doesn’t affect the gameplay. You can win money if you last ten rounds and bet the money you win. Nothing happens when you lose it all and can’t spend the money anywhere either. It would be nice if there were a shop where players could buy characters, decks, or cosmetics. This would give players something to work towards and make the betting more meaningful. I get that the goal wasn’t to make a deck builder, but a bit of variety would have been nice.
I play a lot of card games, so my disappointment with this loop was understandable. It is a very casual experience, and a game you pick up when you have 5 minutes to kill. One thing to note is that this game crashes a lot in windowed mode, so make sure you go into the settings and make it full-screen. It wasn’t on by default for me, but turning on this setting fixed all the performance issues. It is a free app, but I still think solitaire is better. It isn’t a bad game, but it isn’t something you’ll keep coming back to unless they make some changes to the gameplay loop. You can wishlist the game on Steam or download it on IOS.