I was sent a copy of the Don’t Lose Aggro demo to review for my blog. I am very grateful and understand the game isn’t finished yet. While I will be a bit more lenient with my criticism, this will still be my honest review.
Don’t Lose Aggrois a unique twist on the survival action rogue-like coming to Steam.
Ever wanted the feeling of tanking in your favorite MMO but without any of the pressure? Well pick up your shield and your favorite ally and do just that in Don’t Lose Aggro. Fend off against waves of enemies and their bosses as you use your skills to keep allies alive. Do you have what it takes to beat the raid and unlock everything? Then check out the Don’t Lose Aggro today!
Gameplay
Players chose their shield and ally and load into a run where they defend against waves of enemies using their kit. All players start with the same shield, move pool, and ally, unlocking more as they play and beat challenges. During a run, players can auto attack in the beginning, but slowly learn new spells and abilities as they kill enemies to level. In typical rogue-like fashion, the spells are offered randomly at each level up, but the pool players choose from grows the more they play. Check out the trailer below for some gameplay footage.
Review
While the game does need a bit more substance and optimization, the game is fun and will find its niche. I like that I don’t have to learn dungeon mechanics or routs to jump into the fray. I especially love the lack of pressure to do well. The game does feel too hard at the beginning, and that kind of makes the grind feel worse. I get the idea is that the game will get easier the more you play, but getting through the first fight feels like it takes too long. This could be a skill issue.
The does feel a little bare, especially in the beginning. The maps are empty, except for enemies, and there aren’t enough choices. As a result, the game starts to feel very repetitive until you start unlocking new permanents that shake up the gameplay. That said, I don’t think this is a game you are meant to no-life, and picking it up here and there for few hours of fun has its value.
I had my fun with the demo and can’t wait for the full release. It has cool flavor, some interesting mechanics, and I love that I can play it on the Steam deck. If you enjoy MMOs and want to explore the wonderful world of tanking without any of the pressures that come with it, check out the Don’t Lose Aggro demo.
The HE80 is Epomaker’s budget solution to serious gaming. This light weight stylish wired keyboard is an efficient 75% keyboard, giving its user enough keys to play their kits. Each of its 82 keys are illuminated by a per key programmable RGB for some added flare. In addition, the actuation for each switch can be programmed for comfortable competitive fit of up to .02MM trigger with zero dead zone. The wired connection ensures a fast low latency connection at 8k polling and 32 scan rate. For those in need a bit more utility, macros and rebinds can be easily programmed with through the official web based driver. If you are looking to upgrade your gaming prowess without breaking the bank, the Epomaker He80 promises to do just that.
Sound Test
Review
Opening the HE80, users will be impressed by the keyboard’s sleek design. The black keyboard is cleanly machined with a couple clear purple keys to give it a bit of flare. Picking up the keyboard might disapoint some folks. There is a bit of flex to the light weight plastic body, but nothing that makes it unusable. The keyboard certainly does not feel cheap through use. The hall effect switches give the keyboard a soft and comfortable profile, although the sound is not as tacky as I would like it to. If you are looking for a keyboard with a satisfying mechanical keyboard sound, you won’t get it here.
What you do get here is a wired keyboard that performs well. Although I would have preferred not to clutter my desk with another wire, I do appreciate the low latency connection. I don’t compete at a high enough level in gaming to take full advantage of the keyboards high potential, but it handles my level of casual gaming without out issue. Being able to easily reprogram bindings and macros on the device is nice feature to have.
Most importantly, the keyboard is comfortable enough for my needs. The HE80 comes with a decent typing angle that will be fine for most users, but it is adjustable. The customizable actuation makes the keys as soft and reactive as you need them to be, for both that competitive and comfortable advantage. I wouldn’t say it is ergonomic because my hands did begin to get sore after prolonged use. Note that I do have a repetitive stress injury and use the keyboard a lot more than the average user. With my injury, I was able to get a respectable amount of work and play with the keyboard, normal users should be fine.
I was sent a free copy of Trials of Proelium Remastered to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.
The emperor of Proelium will step down, and only one of the lands masters can take his place. Play as Latha as she travels across the realm searching for the other masters and fighting anything that gets in her way. Go on various quests as you and your companions become stronger. What will her journey uncover? Does she have what it takes to become the next emperor of Proelium?
Review
Trials of Proeliumhas its quirks, but it is the quirks that give the game its charms. I love the awkward artstyle and sloppy map design, and I love the awkwardness of the writing. The game does have a slow start as it sets up its story, but it is well worth the wait. The writing may be awkward, but the story is good. It has interesting characters that I wanted to know more about and an world I wanted to learn more about. There is clearly a lot of passion put into this game, and it pays off greatly.
The game also has a solid loop. I love that it runs flawlessly on the Steam Deck because playing this game as a handheld just feels right. It does run great on the PC as well, but I like that I can take this game anywhere. The gameplay loop is what you would expect from your typical turn-based RPG. Players pick their moves, use up their resources, and try not to die. I like that encounters can be turned off, difficulty can be adjusted, and combat can be automated. There is a grind, but it honestly doesn’t feel bad because there are ways to adjust the experience. I particularly like how each character had multiple jobs and access to different move pools and the versatility that gave me with my strategy.
Most importantly, the world was a lot of fun to explore. The monsters were unique, the regions to explore felt diverse, and the bosses were fun. As flawed and awkward some of the bits of this game may seem at first glance, there is a decent and flavorful fantasy to explore. I recommend anyone play this game once, especially if you enjoy a good RPG.
I was sent a free copy of Killing Floor 3to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.
Megacorp Horzine is at it again, sending out its endless horde of bioengineered monsters across the world in their campaign for complete dominance. The rebel group Nightfall is the last remaining force of resistance standing in its way. Fight off the hordes alone or team up with 5 other members as you try to survive and create a better future. Can you survive the onslaught, or will you be another fallen soldier in this seemingly endless war for humanities future?
Gameplay
Killing Floor 3 is essentially the Call of Duty Zombies game mode. Players load into one of the various maps with a preset loadout and fight their way through the objectives until they fight off the boss. Players earn upgrades throughout the run by killing monsters, and can buy permanent upgrades between matches by playing the game.
Review
Killing Floor 3 is possibly the worst modern game I’ve had the displeasure of trying out. I have a decent computer that can run games consistently at the highest settings, but I had to turn everything down to get a workable game. Even at the lowest setting however, the game plays like garbage. The game is playable, but what is playable looks bad and the game is boring. When you compare it to games in the same genre and even the same series, you have better options. This feels like a very greedy installment of the series and you should not be supporting this garbage.
To make matters worse, the game performs best in solo mode. Playing multiplayer kills any frames you were able to generate by lowering the settings. This is horrible for a game where the main draw is online co-op. At least the cash shop works properly. I can’t speak on how greedy the micro-transactions are for this game, but the fact that the game feels incomplete and doesn’t work makes the whole experience feel greedy. Don’t support this game in its current state, you have way better options.
I was sent a free copy of Ritual of Ravento review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.
Ritual of Raven is a very cozy and unique farming simulator out now on Steam and Nintendo Switch.
You have been brought into a magical world full of wonder and mystery, but this world is in chaos. An ambitious project to connect different realms with portals have left those who created the portals scrambling for what they’ve lost. A local witch has come for your aid. With her guidance, you must learn to harness this worlds magic and help fix what the ritual broke. Use your magic to gather materials, solve puzzles, and build the magical farm of your dreams.
Gameplay
Ritual of Raven has the familiar farming sim loop. Players gather resources and reshape the land as they build and design their farm. What makes Ritual of Raven unique is that players don’t do the farming themselves. Players give commands to a construct that will move through the world, planting, watering, and harvesting crops. This is done by giving a command at a time until the action is complete. There is also a quirky story to play through when they aren’t busy designing their farm.
Review
I absolutely love Ritual of Raven, and if you are in the mood for some cozy gaming, you will too. This is one of the most unique farming sims I’ve ever played, and I loved every minute of it.
The game has a retro feel. The vibrant pixel art creates the cozy ambiance that first attracted me to the title, but the amount of flavor and whimsy that goes into the creating the magical world is what kept me invested. Each location is unique and a joy to explore, but I think I spent too much exploring.
The flavor for the game world is fantastic. I love the unique take on magic and how it is used to farm. Each farming session became a puzzle that I needed to solve as I imputed my commands and watched my familiar go. It is a mechanic that can take getting used to, but it keeps things engaging. It does get a little tedious. People are either going to love this mechanic, or be frustrated by the extra work. I recommend checking out a gameplay video first.
My only real complaint is that it looks too small on the Steam Deck. It is not unplayable and honestly the issue is with my old eyes, but it made the farming mechanic a bigger chore than it needed to be. It wasn’t a bad experience, but my eyes appreciated when I didn’t have to strain to see things on the bigger monitor.
If you are looking for a new farming sim with a fun little story with a unique twist on the genre, check out Ritual of Raven!
I was sent some free in-game currency to review Dfiance for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.
Dfiance is a free-to-play pvp tactical cardgame out now on steam.
Choose one of three unique factions as you command a battlefield of powerful allies in your quest for conquest. Dominate your enemies by strategically placing your enemies your enemies in a way that gives you the advantage. What faction will you choose? How far up the ladder can you climb?
Gameplay
Dfiance reminds me of Gwent, with a few extra steps. Players build a deck based on their favorite faction and try to build synergy through their interactions. All players start with the same three starter decks and can use currency they earn by playing the game to buy more cards. There is a ranked and casual mode for pvp and an AI mode for those who want to practice.
The game itself requires some unique strategy. I recommend looking up videos on YouTube after finishing the tutorial because there are some mechanics and nuances that aren’t very intuitive, especially when it comes to the upgrade system. I recommend checking out the game’s official YouTube page. Players essentially take turns placing units on the battlefield. The battlefield is split into four sections, two flanks, a frontline, and a backline. Each card has a cost, and players must navigate the game’s unique mana system efficiently to earn the most points before the end of the game. Some cards have effects that create unique interactions with other cards on the board, (their own or the opponents). Its a unique game that makes more sense the more you play it.
Review
Dfiance game that you need to stick with past the initial slump. The game does not have enough of a player base for consistent fair matchmaking, so new players will have a hard time with all the loses. Others will take issue with how different the gameplay loop is, especially when compared when coming from one of the big three TCGs. It took me a couple of hours before the gameplay was able to click and I was able to enjoy the game. So what do I think? Let me start with the good.
The game will draw players with its flavor and art. The game looks fantastic! The battlefield gave me the impression that I was commanding a powerful army, even though I lacked the skill to do so. The art on the cards is beautiful, especially if you are fan of fantasy. I love how each faction looks and feels different. I enjoyed looking through each card and appreciate the amount of flavor that went into each faction.
The game itself runs great. I never encountered noticeable performance issues. The game is in a good place, but it needs more players. A lot of my matches did feel unfair. There is some skill issue that needs to be factored into this as well, but I was at a clear disadvantage trying to climb the ladder with the starter decks. The starter decks are fine for teaching players the fundamentals, but they’re missing a few key mechanics that will win you games. Again, this could be a skill issue.
Players can upgrade their decks or their existing cards by buying packs., but it does feel like a grind to do so. I don’t know how I feel about game’s monetization. On one hand, it is nice that there seems to be a limit to keep the whales from running away from the game, on the other, the free-to-play grind feels a little steep. Again, this could be a skill issue, but it didn’t feel very casual. This could be because I was always losing.
Another issue I have with the grind is that packs don’t give enough cards. Players can buy into their favorite faction which is nice, but only have two options: a starter pack for 100g and a regular pack for 600g. For 100 gold, players can open 5 card packs without a chance at a legendary. This is a good way to build a collection for a faction, but lacks a bit of key power. For 600g, players get that chance at higher rarities, but that price just seems too high. I got enough currency for two normal packs and feel like I wasted my money and that is bad for the player who spends money, and worse for the player who grinds for it. When everyone feels like they have a better deck on the ladder, not getting enough cards for a proper upgrade is going to turn off some players. Packs should have more cards.
Buying into a faction you like is cool, but finding what that is another story. The starter decks give players a proper preview of each faction’s unique mechanics. Not being able to find a fair match makes it hard to choose a faction. Players can practice against the game’s AI or thug it out in casual PvP to find a solution, but choosing wrong feels bad when the card packs are so expensive. This is an issue that will fix itself with more players, the problem is, will players stick around long enough for that to happen?
Honestly, the game is a unique take on the genre that more players need to try. The game has very cool flavor with very neat interactions. At the moment, the only issue I have with the game is that the new player experience isn’t great, especially if you’ve never played card games before. With a healthier playerbase, a lot of the issues I have with the game won’t be as bad.It just needs more players. If you are a new player, try to stick with it until you get past the hump before deciding to step away. Watch videos to ensure you aren’t wasting valuable resources. I personally don’t like the loop, but it is a game that will carve out its niche.
Go check Dfiance out on Steam. It is free-to-play.
I was sent a free copy of Holy Shootto review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.
Holy Shootis an action roguelike first person shooter out on Steam Early Access.
Dive into the darkest reaches of Hell armed with only your gun, and any guns you find along the way. Upgrade your hero as you fight off endless waves of demons in this fast-paced adventure. Occasionally, bosses will make the rounds and give you a run for your money. Do you have what it takes to keep Hell under control, or will you be another lost soul victim to its unrelenting heat?
Gameplay
Players start off by playing Supersonic Samuel, but can unlock a second character through gameplay. Each character has access to unique kit of weapons and abilities to help them fight off demons. Players will pick up new weapons as random loot drops and buy from a random assortment of abilities between levels. During a run, players must clear each level of its demons to move on. Dying means starting the run over. Combat is straight forward. The game is a fast paced looter shooter and enemies all have weak points players can target to deal extra damage. The levels do seem to be randomly generated for a bit of variety, but there is a slight repetitive grind that gets easier the more you play and earn permanent upgrades.
Review
I understand the game is still in Early Access and try to be a bit more lenient. Out of the gate, I was impressed with the game’s artstyle. There is some fun whimsy in the character design and the world looks good. The game also has a solid sound track which is always nice. Playing my first few rounds reminded me of the time I spent blasting through the Borderlands series. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t leave much of impressions, especially against similar games I’ve played in the past.
The game plays with some interesting ideas. I like the idea of monsters having weakpoints for dealing extra damage. I also like the fast pace of the game. I also think the world and its monsters are fun and interesting. Unfortunately when the novelty wears off, the game becomes stale. The upgrades you get at each level are all the same or they feel the same. None of the upgrades I picked up felt like they made an impact and some of the weapons felt worse than the starter. I am sure the full game will give players access to more guns and abilities, but I don’t know if I want to wait that long. That said, it does look like the devs are working hard on making the improvements, and I am willing to try a more patched version of the game.
As it stands, whether or not you should try this game in Early Access really depends on how much you want to support the game’s development. While the game looks good, it clearly isn’t finished. The roguelike aspect seems solvable with the limited pool of upgrades and loot and the performance isn’t good. When compared to other similar games, you have better options. I would wait for a more patched version. If you want to support Holy Shoot in Early Access, you can pick up your copy for $19.99.
I was sent a free copy of Nightmare Shift to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.
Nightmare Shiftis a psychological horror game out now on Steam.
Play as Emma as she starts her new job managing the night shift at a remote Motel. While she is excited for employment, something about the situation makes her uneasy. Needless to say, her first night is strange, and it only gets stranger. Work through each night as Emma needs to handle unsettling guests and navigates the strange twisting events around her. Will she be able to keep her sanity as nightmare and reality blend around her? Can she uncover the truth of what is going on?
Review
The Nightmare Shiftis a walking simulator where you occasionally have to work at a motel. Strange things will unfold around you as you make your through the narrative. The game plays like a bad horror movie, which can be fun if you enjoy watching bad horror. I love bad horror and think the story has its charm. That said, the writing is a bit awkward. There are a few strange bits of dialogue and a few narrative beats that don’t really work. The voice acting isn’t great, with a few awkward deliveries that take away from the tension.
The game was made by a solo developer. While I understand the hurtles and try to be a bit more lenient with my reviews, it was hard to get into the story because of all the bugs. I encountered a few bugs that halted my progression. Moments where I couldn’t interact with certain artifacts or moments where events wouldn’t trigger. There were a few crashes that made progression a little annoying. The game had a few other quirks that take away from the tension.
Nightmare Shift is a hard game to recommend because of how niche it is. As a fan of bad horror movies, I really want to love this game. It has a interesting concept with some sound ideas, but the execution isn’t there yet. My issue is that I am not willing to work through the bugs to find out what happens next. If I didn’t have to review this game, I wouldn’t have gotten as far as I did. I believe the average user will share this sentiment. What makes the game harder to recommend is the fact that I’ve played horror indie games made by solo devs that do the genre better. I would wait for a few more performance updates before considering this game unless you really like bad horror and don’t mind working through the bugs. I appreciate the attempt, but it just didn’t do it for me. I’ll probably forget I ever played it.
Epomaker sent me the EK21 keypad to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. Make sure you also check out my reviews for the Click Lite Gaming Mouse and Alice Tide Keyboard. I’ll be using my Amazon Affiliate link where possible. It really helps me out if you use it.
What’s in the box?
EK21 Keypad
Key/Switch Puller
USB-C to USB-A Braided Cable
2.4Ghz Wireless Dongle
User Manual
Features
The Epomaker EK21 is ready to take on any workflow. It only comes in black, but its stylish modern design helps it fit most desk aesthetics. It features 20 hot swapable keys illuminated with beautiful south-facing rgb effects. All 20 keys and the nob can be easily reprogrammed through VIA for some added versatility. The gasket design and shape of the key caps give users a comfortable typing experience, while also letting off a satisfying tack that doesn’t get too loud. The EK21’s lite weight, respectable 1000mAh battery, and wireless capability make it the ideal travel accessory. If you’re looking for 20 more keys to enhance your productivity, check out the EK21 keypad.
Review
The EK21 does look a little cheap, but the keypad is well machined. The numbers are clearly printed, the color scheme is nice, and the knob has a nice tactile feel. I do appreciate the keypad’s light-weight because I did end up having to travel a lot with it. Most importantly, the keypad is very comfortable. It not only made my data entry and number crunching easier than using the number row, it helped some of the strain from my hand. I did a bit of reprogramming on VIA. I don’t need to do it for my workflow, but it is a nice feature to have and I like how easy it was to set up.
As far as function goes, the Keypad functioned as intended. It was very responsive out of the box with out any glitching, and I haven’t had to charge the battery since I opened it. I always keep the RGB on and the RGB profiles are very subtle and fun. You can turn it off for additional battery life.
Ultimately, if you need a keypad for your workflow, this is a great budget option that feels good, looks great, and gets the job done. At only $40, the EK21 is a powerhouse of utility in the perfect sized package.
Epomaker sent me the Click Litewireless gaming mouse to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. this will be my honest review. Make sure you also check out my reviews for the Split65 and the Tide Alice keyboards. Check out my newest sponsor, NordVPN if you’re looking for that service. I will also be using my Amazon Affiliate link where I can. it really helps me out if you use it.
What’s in the box?
Click Lite Wireless Gaming Mouse
2.4 ghz Dongle
USB-C to USB-A Charging Cable
User Manual
Decals
Features
If you’re looking for a quality budget mouse, you’ll struggle to find one with more features than the Click Lite. This light weight mouse at only 59 grams and features a stylish design contoured to fit your hand. The mouse comes in black and white, and both look amazing.
The Click Lite comes with 5 programmable buttons that can be easily customized to include macros. The sensor can be easily customized to support 800 – 24000 DPI and a stable 1000Hz polling rate with 1ms latency for some unbelievable accuracy. Users can enjoy up to 72 hours of high-speed wireless and Bluetooth connections with its 500mAh battery life. While the mouse doesn’t have any RGB, users can enjoy some added customization with the included decals. If you’re looking for a quality budget gaming mouse, it doesn’t get much better than the Click Lite.
Review
Out of the box, users might be disappointed by the light weight. The mouse feels and looks like plastic, but it is well designed with clean manufactured pieces. I prefer heavier mice, so it took some time to adjust to the Click Lite. Once I did however, it became difficult to see a future where it wasn’t my daily driver. I was very impressed by how snappy and responsive the mouse is out of the box. Normally I spend time adjusting settings, but the Click Lite was essentially plug and play. I did mess around settings for testing and rebound some buttons for quality of life, but the mouse comes ready for most workflows. Over my use, I did not notice any dips in performance, and it was able to handle the different games I through at it. I play a lot of casual games, and it was able to handle Guild Wars 2.
One thing I did not like about the mouse is the included decals. They offer no texture and if you don’t put them on properly, it ruins the aesthetic. They are also starting to look dirty after only a week of use, but I guess it is a good thing they include two. This isn’t a deal breaker, but it looks better without the decals. I would have preferred they include grip tape because my hands get very sweaty, and the mouse gets a little slippery.
This mouse is not ideal if you are looking for ergonomics that won’t ruin your hands. It is comfortable enough for normal use and people who don’t suffer from the repetitive stress injuries, but it did start hurting after a while. This issue is very specific to me, and even then, I got enough use out of mouse to make it worth it. I won’t be using it for work to save my hands, but I will be keeping it around for gaming. I just like how good and snappy it feels when gaming.
If you’re looking for a solid mouse to upgrade your setup, get the Epomaker Click Lite. The mouse looks cool without the need of RGB, it is very responsive, and is comfortable enough for most cases. You can pick up the Click Lite on the official Epomaker store, or on Amazon through my affiliate link.
