I was sent Pixel Ripped 1978 as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest review.
The evil Cyblin Lord is back! This time he has gone back in time to change the course of history and make himself the hero. It is up to Dot to go back and stop him before it is too late. With the help of Bug, a programmer for Atari, Dot must fight familiar enemies, find the time crystals, and fix bugs along the way. Can they stop the Cyblin Lord before it is too late?
Pixel Ripped is an interesting concept for a VR simulation game. It is a meta experience where gamers play a game within a game that pays homage to classic eras in gaming. Thanks to the official partnership, this game pays homage to the Atari era of gaming. In Pixel Ripped 1978, players switch between the two characters, each offering a unique experience.
As Bug, players pick up an Atari controller and play through a classic game in order to find bugs to fix. As they play, they will encounter real-world distractions that offer a different level of difficulty than the platforming. Bug has to deal with coworkers, answer phone calls, and deal with people blocking the tv screen while she is trying to beat the game. This mechanic is neat until the novelty wears off. If you are good at classic platformers, the distractions only pose minor inconveniences. But if you aren’t, the loop of distractions becomes tedious.
Don’t get me wrong, the distractions are fun and an interesting mechanic. The interactions are quirky, silly, and there are some fun little easter eggs sprinkled throughout. My issue isn’t that there aren’t more kinds of interactions because that isn’t feasible. My issue has to do with my skill level. Because I am not good at platforming, the interactions become an annoying taunt that got worse the longer I was trapped in the level. If you are good at platformers, this might not be an issue.
As Dot, you get to travel into the game and fix bugs. The world is vibrant, colorful, and cool. But as I mentioned before, once the novelty wears off, the gameplay feels a bit one note. Dot walks around the game world, shooting enemies and breaking pots. It isn’t a bad experience, but there isn’t anything special to it either. Combat is point-and-shoot, the movement is slow, and while I appreciate the humor involved in the melee attack, it isn’t any more fun. It’s okay for the first few minutes, but nothing that you should be rushing to try.
The boss fights are where this game earns some of its charms back. Boss fights start with playing a classic Atari title that will suddenly turn to life in a cool AR-like experience. Now players must beat a special level of the game by defeating the evil Cyblin Lord at the end. This introduces new mechanics. Players must control Dot through the level while dealing with real-world obstacles. For example, on one level, players have to throw paper balls at the boss while controlling Dot. I appreciate the creativity of the boss fights, but I wish the rest of the game had this level of energy.
It’s hard to recommend because once the novelty of the experience wears off, the game falls flat. The graphics are great, the music is fantastic, and the game runs smoothly, but the gameplay isn’t there for me. As platformers go, unless you have nostalgia for the Atari era, it isn’t great. As a VR experience, it has its moments, but there are certainly better titles. It isn’t a bad game, but it isn’t something I would be rushing to.
You can pick up for the Meta Quest, Steam VR, and PlayStation VR on June 16.
Nocturnal, the puzzle platformer where you get to solve it with fire!
I was sent Nocturnal as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will keep my review honest.
Nocturnal is a unique Metroidvania game with an interesting mechanic and a beautiful art style. You play as a soldier who returns after years at war to find his home afflicted by an evil darkness. As you investigate the cause, you will face off against the monsters that now inhabit the island, dodge deadly traps, and fight citizens afflicted by the darkness. Will your flame be strong enough to rid the land of this darkness, or will you fall victim to its inescapable allure?
What makes this game unique is its light and dark mechanic. You have learned to wield the flame as your own. Use it to light your way through the shadow, fight shadow monsters, solve puzzles, and even heal yourself. But beware, your flame isn’t permanent. If you don’t tend to your flame, it will go out. Stay in the dark too long, and the shadows will consume you.
Like any other Metroidvania game, you have to memorize enemy locations, attack patterns, and trap locations. What makes Nocturnal unique is that you also have to memorize fire sources. Your flame is on a timer. The only way to recharge it is by hitting lit torches. Torches are scattered throughout the levels, but not all of them are permanent. Some traps and monsters will snuff out your flame, leaving you helpless. I loved this mechanic because of how creative it is implemented, and how intense it makes certain moments of the game.
There is a story to this game, but you won’t need charts to keep it straight. I enjoyed the flavor it adds to the world, but I enjoyed the gameplay more. Even though I am bad at this game, I had a lot of fun with this game. The art is beautiful, the music is fantastic, and the puzzles were creative. The combat can feel a little repetitive at times, but I didn’t find it to be an issue. If you are a fan of the genre, Nocturnal needs to be in your library. If you have never played a game in this genre, this is a great place to start. If you are a veteran of the genre, there is a harder difficulty, permadeath, and some nifty speed run features you might want to check out.
You can pick up your copy of Nocturnal on Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox for $19.99, and Steam for $16.99.
Deck Wolf of Friendship (ST-16) deck list revealed!
The decklist for the upcoming Deck Wolf of Friendship (ST-16) has been released, and I am very excited about this one. I love purple and there are some beautiful pieces I need for my collection. If you are a fan of the Garurumon line, you might want to get ready for the preorder.
Inherited Effect
[When Attacking] If you have 6 or less cards in your hand, ＜Draw 1＞ (Draw 1 card from your deck).
Card Effect
[On Play] ＜Draw 1＞ (Draw 1 card from your deck). Then, trash 1 card in your hand.
Alt. Digivolution Requirements
[Digivolve] : 0 from [Tsunomon]
Card Effect
[Start of Your Main Phase] If your opponent has a Digimon, gain 1 memory.
Inherited Effect
[When Attacking] [Once Per Turn] ＜Draw 1＞ (Draw 1 card from your deck). Then, trash 1 card from your hand.
Inherited Effect
＜Retaliation＞ (When this Digimon is deleted after losing a battle, delete the Digimon it was battling).
Card Effect
＜Retaliation＞ (When this Digimon is deleted after losing a battle, delete the Digimon it was battling). [Your Turn] When this Digimon attacks your opponent’s Digimon, lose 2 memory.
Card Effect
＜Blocker＞ (When an opponent’s Digimon attacks, you may suspend this Digimon to force the opponent to attack it instead).
Card Effect
[On Deletion] Gain 1 memory.
Alt. Digivolution Requirements
[Digivolve] : 2 from Lv.3 w/[Gabumon] in its name
Card Effect
[Security] You may play 1 [Gabumon] or Tamer card with [Matt Ishida] in its name from your hand or trash without paying the cost. [When Digivolving] ＜Draw 1＞ (Draw 1 card from your deck). Then, trash 1 card from your hand.
Inherited Effect
[When Attacking] [Once Per Turn] ＜Draw 1＞ (Draw 1 card from your deck). Then, trash 1 card from your hand.
Card Effect
[On Play] You may play 1 purple level 3 Digimon cards from your trash without paying the cost.
Card Effect
＜Blocker＞ (When an opponent’s Digimon attacks, you may suspend this Digimon to force the opponent to attack it instead).
Inherited Effect
＜Retaliation＞ (When this Digimon is deleted after losing a battle, delete the Digimon it was battling).
Alt. Digivolution Requirements
[Digivolve] : 3 from Lv.4 w/[Garurumon] in its name
Card Effect
[When Attacking] [Once Per Turn] By trashing 1 card from your hand, unsuspend this Digimon.
Inherited Effect
[When Attacking] [Once Per Turn] By trashing 1 card from your hand, delete 1 of your opponent’s level 4 or lower Digimon.
Alt. Digivolution Requirements
[Digivolve] : 3 from Lv.5 w/[Garurumon] in its name
Card Effect
[Hand] [Counter] ＜Blast Digivolve＞ (Your Digimon may digivolve into this card without paying the cost). [When Digivolving] By trashing up to 3 cards in your hand, gain 1 Memory for each card trashed. [When Attacking] [Once Per Turn] By trashing 1 card from your hand, delete 1 of your opponent’s Digimon with the lowest level.
Inherited Effect
Ace Overflow ＜-4＞ (When this card is sent from battle area or under your card to another area, lose 4 memory).
Card Effect
[When Digivolving] ＜Draw 1＞ (Draw 1 card from your deck). Then, trash 1 card from your hand. [All Turns] [Once Per Turn] When a card is trashed from your hand by your effect, you may play 1 purple level 4 or lower Digimon card from your trash without paying the cost.
Card Effect
[Start of Your Turn] If you have 2 memory or less, set your memory to 3. [All Turns] When you trash a card in your hand using one of your effects, by suspending this Tamer, gain 1 memory.
Security Effect
[Security] Play this card without paying its memory cost.
Card Effect
While you have a Tamer with [Matt Ishida] in its name, you may use this card without meeting its color requirements. [Main] Return 1 Digimon card from trash to your hand. Then, 1 of your Digimon with [Garurumon] in its name gains “[On Deletion] Play this card without paying its cost” until the end of your opponent’s turn.
Security Effect
[Security] Activate this card’s [Main] effect.
Card Effect
[Main] Delete 1 of your opponent’s level 5 or lower Digimon.
Security Effect
[Security] Activate this card’s [Main] effect.
There is a lot of nice flavor to this deck, especially if you are a fan of the original series. I think I prefer the this deck to the Greymon deck because of the aesthetic, but it is going to be hard not to pick up both. With a bit of tweaking, this will be a fun deck.
Digimon Seekers: Chapter 1-17
While the story for Digimon Seekers isn’t bad, the mechanical translation is. In an effort to save the story, I have taken it upon myself to try to fix the story’s awkwardness. The spirit of the story will remain the same, but it will hopefully read a lot better. Make sure you always read the original, but I do hope you enjoy my version as well. I’ll be releasing my version the Monday after the official release. If you enjoy this project, make sure you like, subscribe, and share it where you can. Make sure you start at chapter 1-1!
Loogarmon stands on top of the crimson mausoleum. Its bloodthirsty gaze scanned over the fumbling DigiPolice. Flames lick from the sides of its iron muzzle. The ruby gem on its forehead glows with the light of the magical flame burning around it. Loogarmon sniffs the air as its claws stretch and dig into the red brick below. A sly smirk forms under its mask.
“No fair” Satsuki hisses as her expression sours at the site of the massive wolf. “This Digimon wasn’t…”
Her voice trails off as Loogarmon’s booming laugh echoes over the cul-de-sac. Flames crackle from the gaps in his maw. “I am the Demon Wolf, and this is my castle. Bow to me, or burn!” Its command carries comfortably over the domain.
Eiji watches from the void inside Loogarmon, admiring his partner’s new stage. Eiji can feel the sudden burst of strength and power as if it were his own. As the shock of this new power passes, Eiji begins to look over the data populating the screens around him. “Hey, Loogamon..I mean Loogarmon. Does this mean you got your memory back?” Eiji asks into the void. There is no response. Instead, Loogarmon’s gaze continues fixed on the wretched Numemon.
Satsuki stands frozen as she stares back at the massive wolf above her. She grinds her teeth in frustration. “This wasn’t supposed to happen…” she mutters to herself.
An intense flame starts to bleed from the gaps in Loogarmon’s muzzle. A smile forms, licking up loose embers into the air.
-Howling Burn!
Before anyone can react, Loogarmon shoots a ray of fire at Numemon. This time, its mucus does little to quell the flame. Numemon wriggles as it burns alive. Its squeals are muffled by the Satsuki’s piercing screams. “NOOOO!” She screams as she rushes toward the Numemon. “Not my poor Numemon!” The heat from the flame stops her from getting close enough to help. The flame grows as it burns. Angry tears fall from her eyes as she turns her glare to Loogarmon.
“Numemon is heavily damaged. A retreat has been ordered. Recover the wounded!” A panicked voice crackles over the radio.
The DigiPolice scramble at the command immediately. The Corgodramon swoops down to pick up the burning Numemon. Its rotors extinguish the flames. A squad Commandromon carry the unconscious Numemon aboard before the Corgodramon takes off in a swift retreat.
Inside the Cargodramon, Satsuki tends to the unconscious Numemon. She grits her teeth as she gently cleans her chared partner.
“How dare they do this to my Numemon.” Anger floods over her as she recalls images of Loogarmon and Eiji.
“Captain, you’re exceeding the safety thresholds. You must deactivate the Mindlink!”
“No!” she snaps, not breaking away from her work.
“But…”
“Look at what they did to my Numemon! That insolent Code Cracker and his dumb dog!”She slams her fists on a nearby table. “Next time I’ll make them pay…”
Cargodramon continues its accent unmolested. Satsuki walks over to a nearby window and watches the Wall Slim’s Ninth Avenue shrink below them. “I’ll get you for this Eiji Nagasumi. Just you wait…”
Loogarmon stands on top of the roof of the red mausoleum as the Cargodramon flies away. Eiji appears next to it, and they watch it disappear into the sea of networks.
Eiji turns to his partner and stares in admiration. It was the first time he lays eyes on Loogarmon. Standing over him like a giant Rhino, the wolf smirks. Its eyes lost in the sky.
“I finally remember something after Digivolving,” Loogarmon says, finally breaking the silence. “I used to be the boss of Ninth Avenue.”
“Yeah I heard. The Demon Wolf of Ninth Avenue. Impressive” Eiji remarks sincerely.
Loogarmon turns to Eiji. “But there is still a lot I don’t remember. I mean, I must have lost my position at some point..right?”
Eiji thinks for a moment. “Maybe you just have to keep evolving. If its slowly coming to you, maybe you just need to get stronger.”
Eiji is at a loss. He only knows about Amnesia from what he’s seen in movies.
“Maybe you’re right” Loogarmon looks pensively over the empty cul-de-sac. “I’ll get it all back” He says finally. “My power, memories, everything!” His voice trails off.
A sudden rustling sound comes from somewhere in the shadows. A Digimon emerges slowly from a nearby alley. Other Digimon start pouring from the surrounding streets and begin filling the plaza below.
“What’s going on?” Eiji asks as the plaza begins to fill with unfamiliar Digimon. Eiji begins to feel defensive, but Loogarmon calmy overlooks the Digimon that gather below.
LOOGARMON!
The crowd begins to cheer and chant. Their voices fill the dormant castle, bringing it to life.
Loogarmon! Loogarmon! Loogarmon!
The gathered Digimon celebrate the return of their king. Away from the crowd, on top of a building overlooking Ninth Avenue, the cloaked Digimon watches unseen.
“So the Demon Wolf Returns,” the cloaked Digimon says.
“It’s impressive isn’t it?” the interviewer’s voice replies over voice chat.
“It was little overkill calling the cops like that, don’t you think?”
“I didn’t think they would send their own Mindlinker but never I knew they’d get out of it. Everything came out as expected. Loogarmon is a prototype Digimon.”
“What did you think of the Code Cracker?”
“I’m reserving judgement for now.”
“Looks like the mapping job was completed,” says the cloaked Digimon as it begins to receive the mapping tool’s data.
“Well of course he passed the entrance exam. I want as many Mindlinkers as I can get.”
“Do you think you can guide him? Eiji I mean. Can you take him to a new level?
“I have to.” Silence falls over the pair as they watch over the commotion below. The chants echo off the walls around them. “It’s going to be interesting, don’t you think…Dorumon?”
The cloaked Digimon takes off its cloak revealing a small fox-like dragon. Small dragon wings wriggle from the small of its back and a big bushy tail wags behind it. On its forehead, Dorumon has the same jeweled metal interface as Loogamon.
Digimon TCG: Dragon of Courage Starter Deck [ST-15] Full Deck List Revealed
This starter deck has already released in Japan, so we were able to get a full deck list for the newest starter deck coming to us in October. It has some very cool art, especially if you like the Greymon line. I will be adding it to my collection, but it might be worth picking it up for some of the black staples as well.
Inherited Effect:
[All Turns] [Once Per Turn] When an attack target is switched, this Digimon gets +1000 DP for the turn.
Card Effect:
[Start of Your Main Phase] If your opponent has a Digimon, gain 1 memory.
Inherited Effect:
[All Turns] [Once Per Turn] When an attack target is switched, gain 1 memory.
Inherited Effect:
＜Reboot＞ (Unsuspend this Digimon during your opponent’s unsuspend phase).
Card Effect
[On Play] Reveal the top card of your deck. If it is a black card, add it to your hand. Trash the rest.
Card Effect
＜Blocker＞ (When an opponent’s Digimon attacks, you may suspend this Digimon to force the opponent to attack it instead). [Your Turn] When this Digimon attacks a player, lose 2 memory.
Inherited Effect
＜Reboot＞ (Unsuspend this Digimon during your opponent’s unsuspend phase).
Card Effect
＜Jamming＞ (This Digimon can’t be deleted in battles against Security Digimon).
Alt. Digivolution Requirements
[Digivolve] : 2 from Lv.3 w/[Agumon] in its name
Card Effect
[Security] You may play 1 [Agumon] or Tamer card with [Tai Kamiya] in its name from your hand or trash without paying the cost. ＜Blocker＞ (When an opponent’s Digimon attacks, you may suspend this Digimon to force the opponent to attack it instead).
Inherited Effect
[All Turns] [Once Per Turn] When an attack target is switched, gain 1 memory.
Card Effect
[On Play] Delete 1 of your opponent’s Digimon with a play cost of 5 or less.
Card Effect
[When Digivolving] ＜De-Digivolve 1＞ on 1 of your opponent’s Digimon (Trash up to 1 card from the top of one of your opponent’s Digimon. If it has no digivolution cards, or becomes a level 3 Digimon, you can’t trash any more cards).
Inherited Effect
＜Reboot＞ (Unsuspend this Digimon during your opponent’s unsuspend phase).
Alt. Digivolution Requirements
[Digivolve] : 3 from Lv.4 w/[Greymon] in its name
Card Effect
＜Blocker＞ (When an opponent’s Digimon attacks, you may suspend this Digimon to force the opponent to attack it instead).
Inherited Effect
＜Security Attack +1＞ (This Digimon checks 1 additional security card).
Alt. Digivolution Requirements
[Digivolve] : 3 from Lv.5 w/[Greymon] in its name
Card Effect
[Hand] [Counter] ＜Blast Digivolve＞ (Your Digimon may digivolve into this card without paying the cost). [All Turns] [Once Per Turn] When either players’ security is reduced, you may unsuspend this Digimon.
Inherited Effect
Ace Overflow ＜-4＞ (When this card is sent from battle area or under your card to another area, lose 4 memory).
Card Effect
＜Blocker＞ (When an opponent’s Digimon attacks, you may suspend this Digimon to force the opponent to attack it instead). [When Digivolving] Delete 1 of your opponent’s Digimon with a play cost of 8 or less.
Card Effect
[Start of Your Turn] If you have 2 memory or less, set your memory to 3. [All Turns] When an attack target is switched, by suspending this Tamer, ＜Draw 1＞ (Draw 1 card from your deck) and 1 of your Digimon gets +2000 DP for the turn.
Security Effect
[Security] Play this card without paying its memory cost.
Card Effect
While you have a Tamer with [Tai Kamiya] in its name, you may use this card without meeting its color requirements. [Main] Unsuspend 1 of your Digimon. Then, 1 of your Digimon with [Greymon] in its name is not affected by your opponent’s Digimon’s effects until the end of your opponent’s turn.
Security Effect
[Security] Activate this card’s [Main] effect.
Card Effect
[Main] ＜De-Digivolve 3＞ on 1 of your opponent’s Digimon (Trash up to 3 cards from the top of one of your opponent’s Digimon. If it has no digivolution cards, or becomes a level 3 Digimon, you can’t trash any more cards). Then, 1 of your opponent’s Digimon gains “[Start of Your Main Phase] Attack with this Digimon”, until the end of your opponent’s turn.
Security Effect
[Security] ＜De-Digivolve 3＞ on 1 of your opponent’s Digimon (Trash up to 3 cards from the top of one of your opponent’s Digimon. If it has no digivolution cards, or becomes a level 3 Digimon, you can’t trash any more cards).
This week in the Digimon TCG 2023: June 11th
We’ve had another exciting week of reveals for the Digimon TCG. I have done my best to organize the reveals and announcements in a way that makes sense. I love the art of this set. The colors and the art style are really going to pop in my binder! Maybe I’ll even make a blue deck. There were also a few tournaments that might have shifted the meta.
Alternative Being Spoilers (EX4)
This set will be in stores June 23, so make sure you put in your pre-orders in and check to see if your LGS is running any pre-release events. The set is also introducing a new ability Alliance which might be worth reading on:
Alliance: When this Digimon Attacks, by suspending 1 of your other Digimon, this Digimon adds the suspended Digimon’s DP and gains <Security Attack +1> for the attack
This is a super cool ability to beef up your attacks. Check out the FAQ for more details:
This Terriermon is so sick! It has a search ability and it is eating a burger? I need it!
I love the art style for this one with all the divine Digimon fighting with Cherubimon. The color scheme is very serene, and the Alliance ability is a very nice touch for flavor and gameplay. You also get access to a nifty little debuff for using your Alliance ability? Sounds good to me.
This Renamon is so cool. I love the big full moon in the background and how it casts such a dramatic light on the figure. The smoke and energy coming off her as it fades into the dark is such a cool effect. I love the pinch of green she holds with her energy, it really makes this image pop. Not to mention that it has a solid on play effect and Inherited effect.
I love the painted style of this Gaogomon. The subtle colors and soft background really do it for me. That bounce ability and inherited memory gain on doesn’t hurt the appeal either.
This has a really nice bounce ability, but the vibrant colors and the art style are just so cool!
This is a such a cool looking card. The colors, the Digimon, the background! You get removal and either a discard spell or memory gain for a 3 cost? That’s a solid add to any green and purple deck.
Events for June – September 2023
Its going to be a busy couple weeks as the road to the 2023 Championships and the Ultimate cup continues. Make sure you check out the official page for events close to you! And make sure to check with your LGS to see if they are running the Store Championship.
Regionals Prize Support
Canoweissmon is the latest card to be announced as prize support for participating or being the top players in regional. Make sure you check the calendar for events near you!
Ultimate Cup Meta
And for those who enjoy keeping up with the meta, here is what has been shaping the Ultimate Cup. I always find it interesting how the meta shifts between regions.
Europe
Latin America
Oceania
Regionals
Here how it is shaping up in regionals!
Europe
Upcoming Releases
Bandai has graciously given us a roadmap for what is to come in the future. Lots of exciting releases, I can only hope my wallet can handle them all.
Thanks again for tuning in to enjoy the hobby with me. If you have been enjoying these updates, don’t forget to like, comment, subscribe, and maybe share this with a friend or too. I think I’ll be doing these every Sunday. See you then!
Pokemon 151 set list revealed!
Pokemon has officially announced the complete card list for their upcoming Pokemon 151 set releasing in Japan on June 16th. The Western release is scheduled for September 22nd, so make sure you start saving up now! This set is simply beautiful. The regular set is nice, but the alt arts are amazing! The set will feature the original 151 Pokemon, including Kadabra which hasn’t been available in a card for 20 years. There are 165 cards in this set with a few alt arts to pad it out. I will have to try my hardest not to collect them all. I don’t normally buy Pokemon cards, but I might have to snag a couple of packs on my trip to Japan for the nostalgia.
Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine Coming June 22nd
I covered Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine in a previous post when I got to try the game early at GDC. I loved the little I got to play and have been eager for its release since. This game will be one of the most stressful yet addicting match-four games you’ve never played. It is a neat concept set in a familiar world with a cute yet gruesome aesthetic. What more can you want?
Dr. Fetus has built a machine to clone his own Meat Boy. The machine weeds through DNA samples to collect the perfect specimen. Players will match DNA while avoiding terrifying traps. There are over 100 puzzles to solve and a few difficult bosses along the way. Can you make it through this game without breaking your controller?
I’ve only played a couple of the Meat Boy games, but I am impressed with how creative they get with the IP. It’s hilariously frustrating to sit there and try to match colors while avoiding saws or missiles. The challenge this game will have to overcome is finding the perfect balance where the game carries the difficulty now synonymous with the IP while still being fun. I am curious to see how well they find this balance.
Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine comes out on Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, and PC via Steam, Epic Games, and GOG on June 22nd. No price has been announced yet, but you can add it to your wishlist. I’ll be publishing my review as soon as the embargo gets lifted. Make sure you check out the demo available for Switch and PC via Steam and Epic Games.
Digimon Seekers: Chapter 1-16
If you’ve been keeping up with the story on the official website, it’s become clear that Bandai isn’t putting much effort into the English translation for Digimon Seekers. I have taken it upon myself to fix the Google translation we get stuck with every week. I’ll be keeping the core story the same, but I will hopefully fix some of its mechanical awkwardness. I will be posting my version the Monday after the official release, but make sure you always read the original chapter. If you enjoy what I do, make sure you like and subscribe, and don’t forget to start on chapter 1-1!
Numemon lands with a loud thud, kicking up dust around it. The large slug was the size of a small truck. On its head, a rotating police light shines splashes of red and blue light around the Digimon. It turns its attention to Logamon and Eiji who stand meters away, ready for a fight.
Satsuki smiles as she suddenly appears on Numemon’s back. Her hologram shimmers in the same translucent blue Eiji does. “You’ve done it now code cracker. You and forehead don’t stand a chance against my Numemon!”
“Don’t call me Forehead!” Loogamon snarls. Its fur stands angrily down its back.
Eiji watches as the Cargodramon hovers over them, the blinding white light of the spotlight washing over them. Eiji can make out its cannons still fixed on Loogamon. Eiji watches as the Commandramon continue to move into position around them. He feels the muzzles of countless guns pointing in their direction. And Eiji watches the curious pair in charge of it all. Eiji tries to calm himself with a breath, but his heart continues to race.
Satsuki lifts the watch to her mouth and lets out a devilish smile. “All units, on my command…”
“My name is Eiji Nagasumi” he blurts desperately “What’s your name?” His voice shakes as he waits for an answer.
“Not that it matters, but I am deputy squad leader Satsuki Tamahime of the Metropolitan Police, Cybercrime division and..”
“That’s a pretty name. What kanji do you use for your name, Stasuki?”
Satsuki thinks for a moment. “It’s ‘tama’ from shogi, ‘hime’ from princess, and… stop trying to distract me! I know you’re an ‘A’ level code cracker…”
Eiji smiles as he cuts her off again. “You hear that Loogamon. I’m an elite-level code cracker! Satsuki approved.” Satsuki becomes more annoyed with each interruption. Eiji can’t help but enjoy messing with the officer.
“Your days living a normal life are over Eiji Nagasumi..”
“Call me Fang”
“You have been placed on the departments blacklist. There is nowhere you can hide Nagasumi. Come quietly or things are going to get… icky” she lets out a giggle.
“Nume!” the slug cries out as if on command. Eiji can see the slug clearly now. Its shiny skin shines under the flashing lights as slime sweats down its body.
“You got this Loogamon,” Eiji says unconvincingly, trying to reassure his partner.
“I hate slimy foods!” Loogamon growls as it begins to tense up a reaction.
Blap-blap-blap-blap!
Numemon rapidly fires bullets of poo toward the pair. Eiji and Loogamon jump to dodge the fire, narrowly missing the attack. Satsuki laughs loudly.
“What a disgusting attack,” Loogamon snaps as it lands. “Fitting for a trash Digimon and its loudmouth companion.”
Eiji had been looking himself over for traces of poo. “Um Loogamon?” he begins as a bead of sweat makes its way down his forehead, “she can hear you”
But it was too late. Satsuki stops laughing. Her expression becomes stern. “You Mangy mutt! Don’t talk about Numemon like that!” Numemon launches a large blast of sewage toward Loogamon. Loogamon swiftly jumps out of the way as the sewage explodes against the wall behind it. The explosion catches Eiji, covering him in a disgusting sludge.
“Loogamon!”
Loogamon smirks at the site. “You’re lucky it was only a richochet”
Unfortunately, being Mindlinked made the sensation too real. Eiji could smell the foul stench as it stuck to his skin and feel the gross slimy warmth as it settled around him. Eiji retches as he tries to regain his composure.
Numemon and Satsuki burst out laughing. Eiji struggles to find the will to fight. Eiji can hear the snickers of the Commandramon far off in the shadows. Even the Cargodramon lets out an involuntary snicker as it continues to hover.
Eiji tries to wipe away the gunk, but the act only seems to smear deeper into his skin. “Hey, Satsuki?” Eiji says as he scrapes a clump of poo from his hair, “Why’d you pick Numemon?”
Satsuki thinks for a moment before cuddling against the Numemon. “Because it’s so cute! It’s slimy, shiny, and it’s got a ferocity that I find…Fascinating.” The Numemon smiles as it nuzzles against Satsuki. Suddenly, she sits up straight and turns to Eiji. “Hey, Eiji?” She says in a serious tone.
“Yeah?” Eiji replies, scraping off another chunk of poo from his arm, and dropping it to the ground.
“I’m bored now. I’m done with this”
“Dammit!” Loogamon snaps “Eiji, end the hologram!”
Eiji freezes for a moment, unsure what to do. He ends the hologram and Eiji and Loogamon become one.
Eiji finds himself suspended in an empty virtual space, surrounded by monitors. At the center, Eiji has a clear view of the battlefield through Loogamon’s eyes. The surrounding screens were filled with stats, menus, and programs.
“Commandramon! Fire!” Satsuki commands gleefully.
DCD BOMB!
The Commandramon start tossing bombs towards the space Loogamon stood. Before the bombs get a chance to explore, Loogamon is in the air above an unsuspecting group of Commandramon.
“Howling Fire!”
A wall of fire rains down over the Commandramon, leaving them blackened and unconscious.
Satsuki and Numemon are unphased by the sudden burst of flames.
“Let’s see how you handle my flame!” Loogamon roars as he lets out a burst of flame towards the advancing slug. The flames engulf the pair, but the fire has no effect. The attack doesn’t break the slug’s stride as it slowly closes the gap between them.
Eiji watches the battlefield helplessly from his void. Numemon was a Champion-level Digimon. Even if it is just a slug, the difference in power level is clear. Loogamon needed to be stronger to stand a chance. But what could he do from in here?
“Calm down Eiji!” Loogamon’s voice comes from within Eiji’s head.
Eiji tries to calm himself. “If we don’t give it our all, we’re toast”
There is a brief silence before Loogamon answers, “Ever since we arrived in the Wall Slum, I’ve been feeling this strange surge of power growing within me. I can feel it about to overflow, and I think it’s because of you. Can you feel it too?”
Eiji tries to calm himself further as he tries to concentrate. At first, he is hit with the overwhelming senses of the world around him. His nose fills with the burnt scent of gunpowder mixed with the foul order of sewage. He can hear the sound of the rotors slicing through the air and the sound of the remaining Comandramon moving their injured comrades. And he can feel the stinging pain of the bullet wounds on Loogamon’s flesh. Beneath all of this, Eiji feels a strange sensation. A power shared between the too ready to overflow.
Character design/illustration illustrator: malo
Candela Obscura: The Macrabre System You Should Be Trying
Like a lot of people, I got into Dungeons and Dragons because I enjoyed watching Critical Role. I’ve since stopped following the show as closely, save for the animated series on Amazon, but have been playing with the same group of randoms I met three years ago. I love D&D, but I am always looking into new systems to try. I like to borrow mechanics from other systems, but mostly, I like to see what’s out there.
I wasn’t surprised when I heard that Critical Role was changing systems. There has been speculation about the move for a while now. I think the drama with Hasbro getting too greedy had its part in the transition, but I also think they were looking for a new system that allowed them to focus on the narrative. Critical Role has been a catalyst for D&D’s recent popularity, and I am curious to see how this move affects the player base.
Their newest campaign, Candela Obscura, will use the Illuminated Worlds system. I won’t be covering the campaign, but I have read the quick start guide and thought it was worth some attention. For those interested in running a campaign of Candela Obscura, download the quick start guide from the official site.
In Candela Obscura, players will face off against the paranormal as they investigate the macabre and the mysterious. While there are many opportunities for combat, the system’s focus is building a compelling narrative through its checks and player interactions.
The best way to learn about this game is through the quick start guide. It has easy-to-learn mechanics, a prewritten adventure, and pregenerated character sheets to get you started. Best of all, you can play it for free. Do note that you are getting a simplified version of the RPG, but it is enough to get you a taste of the system. I think it is a neat system to try. I particularly like how it handles checks and the flavor of its world. The guide is free, so you have nothing to lose if you try it today.
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