Tag Archives: 2026

video game reviews

Is Super Alloy Crush Worth Your Wishlist?

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Disclaimer

I wase sent the Super Alloy Cursh demo to review for my blog. I understand the game isn’t finished yet, and will be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, these will be my honest impressions of the game.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Super Alloy Crush?

Super Alloy Crush is a side-scrolling, fighting action roguelike coming to Steam Early Access. It has some heavy, classic Megaman vibe with enough of a twist to set it apart from the genre. There is a demo you can try, and don’t forget to wishlist!

Hook

You have set off amongst the stars in the search for the ultimate cosmic treasure planet AE-38. You along with your crew must explore the vast reaches of space, and fight anything that gets in your way. Master your combos, find useful powerups, and do it all without dying. Is the treasure really out there? Can you really find it? Are you strong enough to take on what comes your way? You will need to play to find out.

Demo

The demo takes players through the tutorial and a small part of the story. It introduces some minor characters and does some minor world building. Players are then free to enjoy the Battle Rush Mode which is an endless roguelike mode. The story is very short and can be completed in 30 mins (dependent on skill) and there is a good amount of customization for an hour or two of replayability. Players will have access two both playable characters: Muu and Kelly. Muu is a close-combat cat girl robot while Kelly is a ranged robot.

Combat

The game is very reminiscent of Megaman X. Players will face off against waves of enemies, masatering the combos of their selected character to survive the level or wave. The difference between modes is that there is platforming in the story mode, while Rush mode focuses on combat. Each character has a unique set of skill and combos that fit different playstyles. Players fight off waves of enemies, filling up their energy meter to perform powerful abilities. Players will also pick up companions along the way that will help them in combat by casting buffs or abilities.

Rush

Rush Mode is the game’s roguelike. Players will need to defeat a certain number of enemies before moving to the next wave. Between waves, players can buy from a random selection of powerups to help them on their run. These power ups are random and give players access to large number of builds and replayability. The difficulty of the waves increases until they face off against bosses. A run is over when a player runs out of lives.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

The demo works great on the Steam Deck without requiring any tweaking. This makes me hopeful for release because this is the type of game I want on my Steam Deck Library.

Impressions

Super Alloy Crush is a promising little side-scroller, but I need to see more before I can recomend it. At the moment, it feels unfinished, and there doesn’t seem to be enough content to grab my attention. The game looks good and has a cool vibe, but there are some issues I couldn’t overlook.

Aesthetic

I picked up this game because the art is cool. After playing the game, I was not disappointed. I love the artstyle. It has a modern Megaman vibe with some modern flare to set it apart. I love the character designs from the robots you crush repeatedly to bosses you fight at the end. The main characters are cute, and there are some very cool cut scenes where the artist clearly flexes their talent. The animations are on point, and while they can get a little overwhelming, I am here for it. The soundtrack so far is excellent and I can’t wait to hear more.

Story

Unfortunately, the story is poorly translated. It is very awkwardly written and needs to be revised for the final English release. It feels very machine generated, which is fine for the demo, but will turn off a lot of players. I’ve been doing this long enough to know that many of the negative reviews will be because the English is awkward. What I did understand was okay, but not enough to hook me. I could be wrong, but it feels like the main focus is going to be Rush mode and balancing the different elements that go into that.

Rush Mode

Rush mode is fine for the first few minutes until it starts to get repetitive. It takes away the platforming and focuses on the combat. As someone who hates platformers, it is missing some platforms. Combat in this game is fun, and trying to master the combo system takes effort, but I wish the stages had some variety. I hope the full game includes a bit of variety, or at least some minor side scrolling to break things up. Otherwise, it feels like the same type of fight, with a few variations between fights. Sure these changes force players to change up their strategy, but it still feels the same.

That said, there are aspects of this mode that I like. I like that I don’t have to commit to a story and can jump right into the action. I like that the random upgrades change up the playstyle. I even like that the upgrades you buy will have some kind of drawback. There is some depth to this game, but I can’t see myself committing to a game that will only hold my attention for a couple of runs.

Comabat

Combat in Super Alloy Crush is explosive, chaotic, and colorful. Even in my noob hands, combat and combos felt smooth and exciting. I love that I can customize my character’s combos, and I love more that I can choose my own playstyle. I tried out both characters, and while I prefer Muu, I had fun equal fun with both. Unfortunately, the game feels a little too easy. Maybe I have been jaded with my time with Megaman, but I expected more of a challenge. I can only hope that I can pick my difficulty in the main game.

Conclusion

I honestly need to see more of Super Alloy Crush before I can recommend it. If you like the art style and are a casual fan of the genre, you’ll get a good amount of enjoyment. Maybe even enough to earn it a spot on your wishlist. If you are a longtime Megaman fan, the game might feel a little too easy. I would argue it strips bits of what made Megaman fun. If the story turns out good, I can find it in me to forgive the difficulty. Otherwise, it has cool art and it isn’t the worst way to spend an hour.

You can check out the Super Alloy Crush demo on Steam.

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Blightstone: A Promising Roguelike Experience

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Blightstone to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinion. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108 and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of contents

What is Blightstone?

Blightstone is a turn-based strategy roguelike out on Steam Early access. If you like Darkest Dungeon vibes in your roguelike strategy grind, this game should be in your watchlist.

Hook

The powerful demon overlord Korghul spreads his reign of terror relentlessly across this land. You command the heroes who are destined to end it, but this is no easy task. The path to salvation is full of death and despair. Fight against waves of the demon lords army, loot as much as you can, and use the landscape for to your advantage. Can you overcome death, keep the Earthglass Christal safe, and rid the world of this powerful evil, or will you be another one of Korghul’s victims.

Gameplay

Players take command of three mighty heros: a warrior, a mage, and a hunter and his canine companion. Make your way through a map full of enemies, events, and a few shops to boost your companions. Can you make it to the end before death or the blight consumes your characters?

Combat

Combat is a turn-based strategy combat. Each character has 2 action points that they can use to move, attack, or use an ability. Players can spend these actions in any order. For example, you can attack with the mage, attack with the hunter, and go back to the mage to finish his turn. Terrain affects combat. Players and NPCs can use the map to gain advantage through effective use of the cover and line of sight mechanic. Characters can heal at the campfire at the end of the day, but they cannot be revived. Once a character dies, it is gone forever.

Loot

Like most roguelikes, players can choose from a selection of random items after certain events. These items can be equipped to boost a parties power level. Items can be equipped before any encounter.

Events

As of writing this, events seem to only be additional combat or skipping additional combat. Choosing an extra encounter has a chance for an additional reward, but it is not always guaranteed. It helps to roll for map information at a campfires.

Campfire

The party sets up camp at the end of each day. A day passes after two event nodes on a map. These can be combat, shopping, or a random encounter. While at a campfire, players can spend camp points to heal their characters, activate buffs, or gain map information. Gaining map information reveals a reward on the map to help players plan their progression.

Progression

Stage progression is tied to meta progression. Players are given general quests to complete in order to move to the next map, simply clearing the stages isn’t always enough.

Review

Blightstone has a good amount of potential, but it doesn’t have enough content to make it worth it. If you want to support a game that is trying innovate the genre with a few interesting mechanics, it is worth checking out at least once. Fortunately, the devs seem to be active enough to inspire some hope, but the lack of content is a tricky sell.

Aesthetic

Blightstone has fantastic art. I love the grimdark vibe and the comicbook feel of the world. The characters look very good, and the animation is solid. It also has a solid soundtrack to get you in the mood for epic combat. Aesthetic alone should spark interest in gamers looking for something new to try.

Combat

Combat is a lot of fun. I love the gridless maps and the action economy system makes it feel like a tabletop RPG. I am very bad at strategy games, so the difficulty seems high, but that is by design. I wouldn’t call it a frustrating experience, but basic understanding of the game’s mechanics helps with the grind. There is a grind, and it does get repetitive. Some of it is due to lack of content, the rest is by design.

Blightstone doesn’t take the traditional turn-based strategy rout. The RNG upgrades make each run feel fresh, and it feels for the most part. The line of sight and friendly fire mechanic give combat its depth. I love that I can use the map to gain an advantage, it it sucks when the NPCs do the same. The NPC AI is intellegent enough to make things interesting. Having to keep the Earthglass Crystal safe also affects you move your units. I wish there was a bit more variety on the type of units so the grind doesn’t feel as repetitive, but repetition is part of the roguelike experience.

Content

At the moment, there seems to be enough content for many three hours of gameplay. The game is fun for those three hours, but it is up to you if is worth the $16. After the first couple of runs, the game starts to feel repetitive because the encounters start to repeat. There needs to be a lot more events rather than just having an extra encounter. I wish I could make a deal with a devil or encounter or random merchant, anything to add a little more choice to my playthough. I don’t mind repetition in my roguelikes, I play a lot of Encounters, but here it feels like I finish the content too quickly.

Conclusion

Blightstone is a cool game that attempts some very interesting mechanics in an oversaturated genre. The game looks good, plays well, but it needs a bit more content. It definitely needs more attention, and should be in your watchlist. Just know that at this stage in its development, you are paying to support a good demo for a game that might be good in the future.

You can pick up Blightstone on Steam Early Access. If you are looking for other cool roguelikes to add to your collection, check out Talystro.

Tech Reviews

Why the K745 Pro is Your Next Budget-Friendly Mechanical Keyboard

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Disclaimer

Redragon sent me the Antonium K745 Pro mechanical keyboard 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. I will be using my Amazon Affiliate link where possible. It really helps me out if you click it before you buy anything.

Table of contents

What’s in the box?

  • K745 Pro Mechanical Keyboard
  • Wireless Receiver
  • USB-C to USB-A Cable
  • Stickers
  • 4 Extra Switches
  • User Manual
  • Key/Switch Puller

Features

The K745 Pro is a the affordable fullsized keyboard that is loaded with the features gamers need. This good looking keyboard comes in two beautiful color shemes: Purple and Blue. I got my keyboard in purple because it is my favorite color. I got the wireless keyboard, but you can also opt for the wired version if you want to prioritize performance.

Design

The K745 Pro comes with 108 keys, and an additional four useful macros for additional utility. Each key lights up with programmable southfacing RGB leds. The specialized gasket design gives the keyboard enough sound dampening to allow a healthy amount of typing ASMR. The K745 is built with quality, with enough features to make it a strong contender for your next setup.

Comfort

While other cheap keyboards skimp on quality for affordability, Redragon innovates the space with affordability that won’t destroy your hands. The custom Mint Mambo switches boast the perfect blend of performance and comfort, while the keyboards natural typing angle is perfect for most users. Those who prefer a steeper angle like I do will appreciate the two additional height adjustments. This is an ergonomic keyboard with the performance to back it up.

Utility

Users will appreciate the high speed wireless connections with the peace of mind that the 4000 mAh battery gives them. The included high quality USB-C cable is ready to support players with an even faster connection. Each of the keys can be easily rebound or programed with useful macros to upgrade your productivity. While the keyboard is incredibly easy to remap, the K745 comes with four useful macro keys out of the box.

Included macros:

  • Mute
  • Launch Calculator
  • Minimize/Maximize all Windows
  • Lock Computer

Keyboard sound

Review

If you are looking for an affordable full-sized keyboard for gaming, it doesn’t get much better than the Redragon K745 Pro. This is easily one of the best affordable keyboards I’ve gotten to try. This keyboard is comfortable, with enough quality and performance to make it worth the money.

Quality

I was impressed by the look of the keyboard out of the box. At this price point, you always run the risk of pulling a cheap, toy looking keyboard, but the K745 has solid construction. It is light, so it makes it nice to move around, but I wouldn’t call it portable. The legs swivel nicely and the typing sound is very good. My only complaint is that the lettering already looks faded. It looks like it will rub off after a bit of use, although none of it did during my testing.

Design

I love the purple scheme of the keyboard. Purple is my favorite color, so I am very happy with my choice. I am a little disappointed by the lettering. The letters looks faded and it feels like they will rub off with a bit of use. None of it did during my testing, but I am not a fan. The font is also a bit hard to read. This might be a personal issue, but the font is not good for my dyslexia. It isn’t unusable, but I’d probably swap them out for different keycaps if it became my main keyboard.

Comfort

I was very surprised by how comfortable the K745 is. The keys have enough spacing for my big hands, and the switches are soft enough to avoid any fatigue. I’ve tried other keyboards at this price point that have destroyed my hands, but I had no issues with the K745. I had a few intense gaming sessions and not only did the K745 meet my expectations, they didn’t tire me out. The default typing angle is solid, but I like that it supports my preferred angle. I like my keyboards a little high. As an added bonus, the keyboard has a fantastic typing sound without being disruptive. I could use this next to my sleeping wife and baby without issue.

Performance

I did not do any reprogramming, but it is very easy to do with the official software. Everything connected easily and quickly, and I had no issues after initial setup. All the keys were responsive without any noticeable latency. The battery was very good and I got a good 8 hours of continuous work with the RGB on. My favorite aspect of this keyboard is the included macros. I usually forget about a keyboard’s gimmicks shortly after opening, but I had a lot of use for the included macros. They were very handy for my workflow, but they can be reprogrammed to maximize utility.

Conclusion

The Redragon K745 Pro is a fantastic affordable keyboard for the gamer that needs to perform at their next important team fight, but needs to be conscious of their budget. I am very satisfied with how good this keyboard is, especially at $60. I recomend it to anyone looking for a full sized keyboard.

You can pick up your Redragon K745 from the official Redragon store, or through Amazon using my Affiliate link.

video game reviews

Talystro: A Fun Deckbuilding Game with Math Mechanics

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Disclaimer

I was asked to cover the Talystro playtest for my blog. I understand the game is not finished, so I will be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, these will be my honest opinions of the game.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108 and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of contents

What is Talystro?

Talystro is a a unique dice based deckbuilding game coming to Steam. The game features adorable mouses and require a bit of math to defeat your enemies.

Hook

The evil Necrodicer has started the forgiben ritual of Talystro, unleashing waves of evil numbers to disrupt the worlds peace and tranquility. All hope rests in the hands of Math Mouse and his proficiency in simple arithmatic. With the help of many dice rolls and well placed attacks, Math Mouse must fight through these evil numbers and put an end to the Talystro. Will his math skills be enough to save the world? Will RNG be in his favor? You will need to play to find out.

Gameplay

Players must fight their way through many waves of ruthless monsters with only the help of a deck they build along the way. Unlike most deckbuilders, Talystro has players build their attacks from a pool of dice rolls.

Casting

Players roll 6 dice at the start of each round to play the five cards they draw to their hand. Each card has a slot or a series of slots in an equation. To cast a card, players fill these slots with the numbers from their dice pool results. Cards will do damage equal to the total of the card after all required slots are filled. For example, if a user has a card with a slot _ + _ and they fill it with the numbers 1 and 2, the card will do three damage.

Combat

Players can attack as many times per turn as they have available dice, assuming they can get to the correct number. The monsters in this game are numbers. Unlike other deckbuilders where players need to slowly chip away at an enemies health, players need to reach the exact number of the monster they are fighting. For example, if the monster they are fighting is a 7, players must combine their dice and cards to deal out 7 damage and destroy the monster. You can play multiple cards per turn, so mix and match accordingly.

Monsters

Monsters carry attack die. Any monster left with an attack die at the end of the turn does one point of damage to Math Mouse. Players progress to the next stage if they kill off all the numbers. The game ends if the Math Mouse’s health drops to zero.

Abilities

The game has a few abilities to give combat its depth. Players start with three abilities: block, reroll, and adjust. Players all start with one charge of each ability. These abilities can be recharged by playing a card that has a recharge ability.

Block

Monsters get an attack die with the result visible to the player. Players can break these attack dice by stacking a dice with the same result. For example, if a monster has a 4 attack dice, stacking another four negates the attack.

Reroll

Reroll is self explanatory. Players use this ability to reroll their available pool of dice and hope for better numbers. Reroll only affects dice you have left in play. If you have three dice, you only reroll three.

Adjust

This ability allows players to adjust a dice by one value. For example, if you only have a three and need a four or a two, you use the adjust ability to get the number you need.

Impressions

I am a little bummed that this game is only a playtest because it is already an addiction. I did not know I could have so much fun with math, but then again, I played a lot of Math Blaster growing up.

Aesthetic

Talystro has fantastic art. I love the cartoon style art and the world that goes around it. The game has an old school aesthetic, but with gameplay that makes it incredibly addicting.

Gameplay

I am a little bummed it doesn’t work on the Steam deck because this would be a fantastic hand held game. It isn’t resource intensive, and the game is casual enough to enjoy on the go. However, this game is so much fun. I like that it breaks away from the same tired deck builder formula with mechanics that make combat a lot more engaging. I liked that I was always trying to figure out something and it made the grind a lot of fun. Every round was a cool puzzle I needed to solve, even if it involved a lot of math.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a different kind of deckbuilder that isn’t afraid to be different, you need to keep an eye out on Talystro. This is the most fun I’ve ever had doing math, and I am not a huge math person. The game has fun flavor and solid mechanics to keep things engaging. This is a very successful playtest, and I can’t wait to see what else in store. You can still try to get into the playtest. Don’t forget to wishlist!

Tech Reviews

Best Compact Laptop Stand for Travel

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Disclaimer

HUANUO sent me the Magno ModuleMaster Laptop Stand to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinion. This will be my honest review. Make sure you also check out my review for the Nitroglide Dual Monitor Mount. I’ll be using my Amazon Affiliate link. It really helps me out if you click on it before you buy anything.

Table of contents

What’s in the box?

  • Magnetic Tray
  • Stand
  • Phone Stand
  • Wrist Rest
  • Travel Bag

Features

The HUANUO Magno magnetic laptop stand is your next staple accesory. Whether you need something to help you work on your plane ride or need a little more height, the Magno is here to solve it all.

Design

The Magno is a light weight, high quality stand that has been design to be light enough for travel and sturdy enough to keep your devices safe. The fake leather gives it the elegant and the integrated magnets keep your devices from moving. Best of all, the Magno is loaded with utility. Whether you are using it for your laptop, tablet, or your travel work station, you can count on the Huano’s proven quality.

Travel and storage

What makes the Magno laptop stand unique is its light weight and compact design. When you are done using it, it stacks flat and neat for easy storage. This is ideal for those who do a lot of traveling, or those who like to live with very little clutter.

Stats

The Magno is designed for 10-17 inch laptops and can hold up to 11 lbs. The stand can can raise your laptop up by 8, 18, 22, and 30 degrees. This is very handy for those who like a deeper typing angle, need a bit more airflow, or just need a more ergonomic setup. The tray uses magnets to not only hold its pieces together, but it is ready to hold your devices. The magnets are strong enough to hold onto your devices. (I’ve only tested it with apple products.

Review

I didn’t know how much I needed the Magno laptop stand until I got my hands on it. If you are looking for a laptop stand, don’t waste your money on those crappy ones with the fans. Spend your money on the only laptop stand you will ever need. This has easily been my favorite product to review because of how useful and handy it has been.

Quality

This is the second HUANUO product I’ve reviewed, the first being the high quality monitor stand that I love, and I continue to be impressed by the quality of their products. The Magno looks great out of the box. The stitching is nice and the pleather looks like it can take a beating. The magnets are very strong, and all the pieces fold and work as they should. I’ve been using the stand for about two weeks and haven’t noticed any creasing and the material still looks very nice. I store it nightly and take it to work when I go to the office.

The Size

The stand’s size is a huge reason why I love the Magno so much. It folds up super thin, and the magnets help keep all the pieces together. I love that it takes up no room in my bag, and I don’t feel a difference carrying it around. I can just as easily store it on my desk without cluttering up my space and that is an invaluable feature. This thing is perfect for travel, but just as useful for the home.

Utility

I love how much utility is packed in such a compact package. It held my iPad securely for some very meaningful Genshin Impact sessions. The magnets hold all my accessories and help me keep organized. The magnets are pretty strong. They mess with the rotation of the fans, so be careful on how you place your computer.

I also used it as a lapdesk. I was just working on my lap before, but I can honestly say that this is a game changer. It kept my laptop from getting hot while giving me a more comfortable typing experience. Most importantly is its usefulness as a laptop stand. I use my laptop as a second monitor at work, and being able to have my laptop at a better viewing angle saved me some neck ache.

Personal

HUANUO seems to send me items when I need them the most. When I was moving my desk, they sent me a high quality monitor arm to help clean up my set up. When they sent this laptop stand, I got an injury that had me in bed for most of my testing. The Magno was a godsend because of how comfortable it made working from the comfort of my bed. It is part of the reason I was able to recover so quickly because I could rest while doing work.

When I finally could sit at my desk, I was very happy to have a more ergonomic setup. Having my laptop sit at a more ergonomic viewing angle is a game changer. I was using an old deckbox before the Magno laptop stand and won’t be going back.

Conclusion

If you are looking for your a high quality laptop/tablet stand, get the HUANUO Magno. This is a high quality product with all of the utility and none of the bulk. It looks great, feels great, and best of all, takes up no space. You can pick up the HUANUO Magno on Amazon through my affiliate link.