The Final Shapereleases on June 4th, so I’ve started the grind in preparation. Full disclosure, I was sent the expansion for free to cover for my blog when the expansion on release.
It’s been a long time since I last played Destiny, so I’ve been slowly figuring out the type of content I enjoy. The Dawning event was very helpful in getting me to stick with the game because it gave me something to work towards. I ended the event reaching the soft cap with a few nifty exotics, and a couple of seasonal items.
I’ve mostly been making my way through the story, but I was losing interest. Thankfully, this week is Iron Banner and it forced me to play PvP. Destiny 2 PvP isn’t the greatest experience, but I appreciate the break it’s giving me. It also gives me something else to work towards while I figure out my long-term goals for the game.
Iron Banner will run until the 9th, so make sure you boot up Destiny this weekend and start doing the grind. There are a few rewards you’re going to want to chase, but you’re also going to be showered with loot. Make sure you talk to Lord Saladin at the tower to start the quest and pick up your rewards.
I’ve been following Drakantos‘ development closely for a while now because I can see the promise. Drakantos is a cute pixel art MMO that is very reminiscent of the classic era of the genre, but this time on mobile devices. I’ve written about it before, so I won’t get into too much detail.
The December Dev log just released, and while the month was short, there was a lot to be excited about. I’ll be summarizing it here, but make sure you go check out the official post, join the Discord, and add Drakantos to your wishlist.
If you enjoy these updates, make sure you leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.
New Hero Teased!
The most exciting news from the dev log is the announcement of a 21st hero. The Devs are currently working on the last hero, but the identity remains a mystery. I’m hoping it’s another mage, but we’re going to have to wait for the official announcement.
Faendar’s Trailer
We also got a gameplay trailer for Faendar, and the gameplay looks sick! If you like playing Druids, you are going to want to main Faedar.
He can transform into animals, summon walls of vines for control, and summon trees to fight for him! They did a great job with the flavor of this hero, and he is going to be crazy in PvP. We also got some backstory.
The devs have finished the work on Ojore. Ojere gives me tanky earth bender vibes, and I love it. I am not a huge tank fan, but I am open to it. We got few animations teased to get you excited!
Artifacts
Drakantos will have an interesting Artifact system. Artifacts are equipable items that give players passive and active abilities across their heroes. This month they finished their active artifacts, leaving players the option of 160 new active abilities on top of a hero’s kit. I am very excited to see how this works in action and hope to see some of them teased next month.
Mount Animation
All 20 heroes now have their mount animation, and I appreciate all the detail put into it.
Conclusion
The game has made some promising progress. They’ve added new pets, locations and abilities. I just hope we can get a beta soon. Until then, I’ll be following it closely.
2023 has been a busy year for my blog. I got to play and review 60 new games, made a couple of new partnerships, and saw my blog grow in a way I never would have imagined. When I first started this blog, I expected it to be me complaining to the void about movies. I never imagined all the opportunities it would open up, and I am extremely grateful.
I want to thank you all for reading my content because none of this would have been possible without your support. It means so much to have people out there that care about what I have to say. I wish you all the happiest of New Year. I love you all!
According to Steam, I played 64 games this year, so I think it’s time to highlight some of my favorites. It was hard to choose only ten because I got to play a lot of cool games this year. After much deliberation, and in no particular order, I managed to come up with a list. I’ll leave a table of contents so you can skip to the game you want to read about.
If you enjoy my reviews, please like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.
1. Viewfinder
2023 was great for puzzle games, and Viewfindereasily stands out against the genre. Viewfinder allows players to solve puzzles by using pictures to manipulate the world. The game offers players unrivaled freedom to puzzle solving, a beautiful and imaginative world, a solid story, and a phenomenal soundtrack. I love puzzle games, and the amount of fun I had with the mechanics is nearly immeasurable. This was one of the games I nearly finished without breaks because of how invested I became with solving the puzzles. If you enjoyed the Portal games, you are going to love Viewfinder. Check out the full review.
2.Planet of Lana
I couldn’t have this list without at least mentioning Planet of Lana. This game was such a beautiful delight that I’ll always recommend it to everyone.
Aliens have invaded the planet and are taking its people, and Lana’s sister is one of them. With the help of her cute cat companion, she must brave the perilous landscape to bring her back. Can she do it before it is too late?
As Lana, players explore a mysterious planet where they solve puzzles, pick up clues, and learn about a forgotten history. I am a huge fan of the artwork for this game and a bigger fan of the soundtrack, but what sells it is the gameplay. You won’t experience a more relaxing or enjoyable experience than what you get from Planet of Lana. The game has fun puzzles, a solid story, a fantastic aesthetic, and a cute cat. If you’re looking for a chill and memorable puzzle adventure game, get Planet of Lana. Check out the full review.
3. Sea of Stars
I loved every minute of Sea of Stars and if you haven’t played it yet, you need to. I am a huge fan of the pixel art, it has a rocking soundtrack, and a solid story, but the gameplay is what sets it apart from the rest of the genre.
Valarie and Zale must use the power of the Sun and Moon to put an end to the evil alchemist known as the Fleshmancer. With the help of their friends, they must join forces and protect the world from the evil that threatens it.
If you enjoy turn-based RPGs, Sea of Stars should already be in your library. The game features a neat leveling system and an interesting artifact system that allows players to adjust the difficulty as they play. What sets the game apart is how creative combat is. Sea of Stars offers a more active approach to turn-based combat where players need to time their blocks and attacks to maximize their effectiveness. I assure you that you’ve never experienced anything like this. But if you don’t believe me, there is a demo you need to try. Check out the full review.
4. Worldless
Worldless was sucha unique platforming RPG experience that it needed to be on this list. I love the minimalistic aesthetic, but the complexity of its combat system is what made this game for me.
In the early stages of the universe, existence was filled with conflict. Powerful beings existed in constant conflict and fought to find their place in the universe. You play as one of these beings and must travel through the chaos to find your place within it. Unravel the truths of the universe as you fight for your survival, travel to new and mysterious lands, and unlock your truest potential.
Worldless offers players a beautiful world full of vibrant colors and sound. It is a platformer, but it is very manageable, especially for beginners. What sets this game apart is its rhythm-inspired turn-based combat system. To beat an encounter, players must time all their actions perfectly. It’s a system that makes the game engaging, but also gives it its challenge. If you are looking for a new RPG Platformer, check out Worldless. Make sure you read the full review.
5. Disgeae 7: Vows of the Virtueless
Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless was such a delight to play. I loved its silly tone, the art style, and quirky gameplay. If you are looking for a wholesome good time and don’t mind the overt anime style, this game is a solid choice.
Disgaea 7 is a JRPG where you follow Pirilika, a young rich demon, as she pursues her dreams to live a true bushido lifestyle. With the unlikely help of the demon Fuji, they embark on an adventure to bring the forgotten way of Bushido to the demonic realm of Hinomoto.
You don’t need to have played any of the other games in the series to pick up Disgaea 7. The story is silly, but it is pretty self-contained. I loved the super cute artwork and the humor of the story, but the combat in this game made me feel like I was a tactical genius. Combat in this game is not only adorable, it is engaging and you can change the difficulty whenever you want. This is definitely one of my favorites, and I highly recommend it. Check out the full review.
5. Backpack Hero
Backpack Hero is a great choice for anyone trying to pick up a game to sit back and relax. The art is cute, the gameplay is fun and engaging, and it is not a huge commitment.
Backpack Hero is an inventory management roguelike where players dive into procedurally generated dungeons in search of treasure and fame. You’ll often find too much treasure during your delve, and will often need to reconfigure what you take with you. As daunting as that idea may seem, it works.
I loved the randomness of each run. I had so much fun managing my resources and trying to find the right combination to get me a little further each time. Combat is a simple turn-based system, but the items you pick up along the way are what affect your success in an encounter. The absolute freedom the game gives you to build whatever you want makes the game the gem that it is. If you are looking for a new roguelike, go get Backback Hero. Check out the full review.
6. Steam World Build
I got a few village builders this year that were all fun, but SteamWorld Buildhas to be my favorite. It has such a cute aesthetic, fantastic flavor, and the best gameplay loop of the batch.
The world is about to end, and the remaining survivors must find a way off the planet. Build a settlement of robots who must dig through the mines to find their salvation. But the mines are full of dangerous monsters and unknown secrets. Can you find a way off the planet before it is too late?
I became obsessed with SteamWorld Build and had to force myself away. It starts like your traditional village builder, but there is also a tower defense element, some creative resource management mechanics, and the cutest little citizens you’ll have the pleasure of governing. If you’re new to the genre or simply looking for something new, check out SteamWorld Build. Read the full review.
7. The 7th Guest
The 7th Guest is my favorite VR game of the year. It has a cool story, a spooky aesthetic, and amazing puzzles. The 7th Guest is a mystery puzzle game. Players must solve a series of puzzles to uncover the tragic events that transpired all those years ago.
An eccentric toymaker has gathered a collection of unlikely strangers to his house for a party. Little do they know that his intentions are nefarious. The guests find themselves inside the twisted game where the truths are uncomfortable, and the secrets are dark.
The game offers players an immersive experience and a great mystery played by fantastic actors. The cutscenes in this game alone are worth the price of admission. What I loved most about this game were the puzzles, and how creative the devs got with them. Each room and theme is designed perfectly to create an experience I’ve yet to forget. If you like puzzle games, get this game. Check out the full review.
8. Dameo
I know this game didn’t come out this year, but I did get to play it this year and loved every minute of it. Whether you play it in VR or PC, you can’t get a more authentic TTRPG experience than what you get from Demeo. If you enjoy board games, this game should be in your library.
Demeo is an RPG that effectively emulates the board game experience. Choose your hero and team up with friends, and strangers, or delve into the many dungeons on your own. Demeo combines a unique deck builder system with dice roles and turn-based movement to create an unforgettable experience.
I loved the art and aesthetics, but the gameplay is what made me addicted. I got to try both the VR and PC versions and enjoyed each for different reasons. I liked the immenseness of VR, but I appreciate the convenience of playing on a PC. If you’re looking for something new, I recommend you pick up Demeo. Read the full review.
9. Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader
I’ve been waiting for Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Tradersince it was announced, and I was not disappointed. I love the flavor, the aesthetic, the music, the story, and the combat. if you like Warhammer 40K, this game needs to be in your library.
As the empire’s newly appointed rogue trader, you must brace against the dangers of uncharted space and bring glory to the Emperor. But this won’t be an easy task. Face off against the horrors of the void, fend off bloodthirsty Tyranids, and make some money in the process. The journey will be horrific, and your choices will matter. What will be your story?
Owl Cat Games once again prove that they can make a fantastic tabletop experience. You can’t go wrong with any of their games, but Rogue Trader is easily my favorite. I love the flavor and lore it brings to the universe, but the combat is what made me keep playing. If you enjoy brutal dark fantasy and don’t mind turn-based strategy, get Rogue Trader. Read the full review.
10. Strayed Light
Last but not least we have Strayed Lights. I don’t normally go for soul-like games, but this one blew me away. The art is beautiful, the music is phenomenal, and the combat system is fantastic.
You play as a being of light who goes on a journey of self-discovery. Travel across a dreamlike world to cleanse the world of its darkness. Do you have what it takes to complete your journey?
Strayed Lights has such a fantastic narrative, but none of it is spoken. The way it can convey so much through the actions of the characters is something you need to experience once. The world that makes up Strayed Lights is beautiful. I loved the colors, the lights, and how creative the devs got with the wildlife. The game also featured my favorite soundtrack of the year.
The game features a unique combat parry system that makes it stick out against the other games in the genre. If you are in the market for a new soul-like, check out Strayed Lights. Read the full review.
I know this is late, but work has been crazy. Make sure you always support the original. If you enjoy this project, please leave me a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. Thank you for reading!
The Cargodramon leaves a thick cloud of smoke as it falls to the ground. Loogamon jumps through the cloud of smoke and reappears next to Airdramon.
‘You guys really saved us down there,” Eiji chirps in relief.
“Thanks old man,” Loogamon adds.
Marvin chuckles. “You guys are crazy man, taking on the Digipolice like that.” His words ring with a mixture of admiration and exasperation. “So what did we just walk into Eiji?”
“Satsuki is down there in that Mekanorimon. She’s running this whole operation, and she’s a bit…cranky today. Even more than last time.” Eiji remembers their encounter during his entrance exam.
Marvin reads over Statsuki’s profile. “Yeah I remember. She’s an odd one.” Marvin lets out a sigh as he looks at the Mekanorimon commanding the Digipolice. He watches as the Commandramon move in perfect unison to set up for a counterattack. “This is going to be interesting.”
“Is she stronger than you?” Loogamon asks, mockingly.
“Well I definitely don’t have the attention span to command that many people. Is everyone in position?” Marvin asks suddenly to the others on the line. “These Commandramon have a basic camo feature, so stay sharp and don’t get ambushed. We gotta give Tartarus more space. Come on guys, just like we planned!”
Loogamon smirks. It’s tail wags excitedly as it salivates over the prey moving below. “Me and Eiji will take care of these pests.”
Loogamon burst into a large ball of flames. Loogarmon springs from the fireball, flames lick down its fur and feathers. It charges towards the scrambling Commandramon.
FLAME BLOW!
Loogarmon’s body becomes covered in white hot flames as he slams into a unit of Commandramon. The Commandramon are too slow to react, and the wolf pierces through their ranks effortlessly, leaving behind bodies of burning Digimon.
Marvin watches the wolf for a moment before issuing his command. “Move in!”
The remaining Sons of Chaos follow Eiji into the fray. The surprised Commandramon struggles to react, and the field erupts into chaos.
A fresh swarm of Gatekeepers moves towards the madness, creating a thick black shadow that cuts through the sky. Marvin isn’t phased. He types a simple command into his console, activating the army of Espimon bots at his disposal. Behind him, a swarm of Espimon appears and charges at the oncoming Gatekeepers. The two metallic swarms collide, filling the sky with explosions. Their incoherent struggle continues until it fills the space above the Digipolice.
Satsuki watches the chaos unfold around her. She clenches her fists in frustration and grinds her teeth furiously.
“Those fucking Code Crackers!” She watches as the swarm of Gatekeepers flies towards her. Watches as the Airdramon commands the Sons of Chaos that have joined the ambush. She smirks. “So that’s how you want to play.” She takes aim. “Open Fire!”
A twinkling beam erupts from the Mekanorimon’s torso and collides with the Gatekeepers. The DigiPolice follow her lead and begin spraying the swarm with bullets. Bits of Gatekeepers begin raining around them.
While the DigiPolice shifts its attention to the oncoming horde of Gatekeepers, Loogarmon continues to decimate the ground forces, quickly making its way towards the center.
“Keep it up Loogarmon!” Eiji exclaims!
“This is too easy” Loogarmon responds snidely. Loogarmon jumps between Commandramon. Its claws slash effortlessly through body armor and send bodies through the air.
“There’s a Mekanorimon!” Eiji points out the large robot commanding a large squad. “You think you can hit it?”
Small embers lick from between Loogarmon’s iron muzzle. “No problem!”
Howling Burner!
Fire begins spilling from its iron grates. A torrent of flames engulfs the Mekanorimon below, leaving a scorched in its wake.
Satsuki watches in frustration as she watches one of the Mekanorimon disappear from her map. “God dammit!” she shouts angrily. The Commandramon hold their position as the wolf slices through them. Satsuki grits her teeth. “That Eiji kid is a problem.” She watches Eiji and Loogarmon from her monitor and lets a subtle smirk escape. “We’re not done yet Mr. Nagasumi,” she says to herself.
“Satsuki switches to one of the private channels. “Tachibana! Sakurada! Get in position. We’re ending this!”
Two voices respond in unison “Yes sir!”
Satsuki’s smirk turns into a smile. “Hit that wolf with everything you ‘ve got!”
Eiji watches the battlefield through Loogarmon’s eyes. The Left flank was now considerably weakened. He catches a glimpse of Koske and Yulin’s bitter battle over the Gateway.
“So that’s what Dorumon’s mega?” Eiji points out.
“We have to do something about that Ouryumon, or else we’re not getting through that gate,” Loogarmon adds.
“That’s going to be tricky. There’s too many forces in play. For now, lets just focus on our mission.”
“Should I digivolve one more time?”
Another mega would tip the battle in their favor, but Eiji’s mind jumps back to the incident. They couldn’t afford to lose control here. He shakes the thought. “Right now, we gotta focus on getting that gate open and giving Kosuke his space…”
Gunfire suddenly explodes from both sides. Loogarmon jumps out of the way quickly, narrowly missing the hail of bullets. They scan for a source but don’t see one. “They must be hiding. Hit them with a howling Burner?”
Character design/illustration illustrator: malo
Two large heavily armored bipedal dinosaurs take their place. They carry a riot shield in one hand and a large grenade launcher in the other.
Hi-Commandramon, Champion, Android, Virus. Eiji reads as the data populates his console.
Loogarmon braces his body. The feathers down its arms begin to quiver and embers erupt from its maw.
HOWLING BURNER!
Flames rush towards the Hi-Commandramon. One moves forward with its shield raised to absorb the flames. Flames burn brightly around it, but the Hi-Commandramon seems unaffected by the attack. The other Hi-Commandramon jumps from behind its partner and makes a dash towards Loogarmon.
A club comes crashing towards it, but Loogarmon is quick to reach. It raises its arms and blocks the blow. Sparks fly from the impact, and Eiji becomes briefly blinded by its light.
“is the club electric?” Eiji yelps as he initiates a scan of the weapon. The scan confirms his suspicion. It was a stun baton.
“That tingled…”Loogarmon responds.
“Look out!” Eiji shouts as he watches the second Hi-Comandramon ready its attack. It plants its shield on the ground and sticks the muzzle of the grenade launcher through a small cutout.
DCG GRENADE!
THUNK, THUNK, THUNK, THUNK. Grenades start flying out of the slit in the shield. Loogarmon moves out of the way, but a few chunks of shrapnel hits them. Eiji and Loogarmon are now cut off from the rest of the Sons of Chaos. The Digipolice had quickly recovered the space Loogarmon cleared. Eiji couldn’t let the Digipolice interfere with Kosuke’s fight.
Eiji takes a deep breath. “Lets do this Loogarmon.”
Eiji can feel Loogarmon smile as he responds, “I thought you’d never ask.”
Nothing else needed to be said. The two become in synced as mind, body, and soul meld together in a last-ditch effort to turn the tide of battle.
A bipedal wolf steps from the light. This wolf is more humanlike, and covered in protective plating. Long rabbit-like ears shot from the top of its head. In its right hand, it carries a large wrench. Two large engines cling to its shoulders and suspend the wolf in the air.
This was not the monster they had released during the incident. This was the demon wolf’s ultimate form.
It looks at the bewildered Hi-Commandramon and takes a deep breath before shouting, “ALL SHALL BURRRNNNN!!!!!”
I was sent Rhapsody III: Memories of Marl Kingdom for free 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. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.
Rhapsody III: Memories of Marl Kingdom has finally come to the West, and fans of the original can now enjoy this cute and quirky RPG on their favorite modern console.
Synopsis
Though true love is the destination, there are many magical paths that can lead you to it. Experience the stories of Cornet, the queen of Marl Kingdom, her daughter Kururu, the “Tomboy Princess,” and other lovestruck souls in Marl Kingdom, all of which span the past, present, and future of the Rhapsody series. Tales of true love both new and old await you, including the fate of Kururu’s impending marriage, two star crossed lovers and their warring families, and the journey of Cornet’s mother, Cherie. The trials and tribulations each of these characters face will put their hearts to the test like never before. Will true love truly prevail?
Gameplay
Combat is straightforward, but the randomness of the ally attacks is what makes it exciting. I loved it when my little buddies took the initiative and took the last hit on a boss I had trouble with. There is a grind like there is in most games of the genre, but there is an auto-battle feature that makes it manageable.
If you enjoy retro RPGs, especially from the early 2000s, you’re going to want to look into this game. While the game runs fine, it feels like an older game. This isn’t a criticism, but it is something to think about. The PC port runs fine, but there are some stutters in performance, and some of the interactions are a bit finicky. I enjoyed it for the cute retro experience that it is.
Story
The story is adorable. I love the tone, and the musical numbers were appreciated. I haven’t played any other games in the Rhapsody saga, but I didn’t feel the need. The story is relatively self-contained except for a few references to previous titles. Even when these references showed up, I didn’t feel like it took away from experience. The characters are all unique and adorable, and I enjoyed the general silliness of the adventure.
Conclusion
Despite some minor performance issues, I enjoyed the game. The art is cute, the music is fantastic, and the gameplay is relaxing. I loved reliving the classic era of RPG and found the game’s quirks a refreshing change of pace. If you enjoy retro RPGs and want something cute to fool around in, check out Rhapsody III: Memories of Marl Kingdom.
You can pick up Rhapsody III: Memories of Marl Kingdom for $49.99 on PlayStation, Switch, and Steam ($24.99). There is also a collectors edition available on the official NIS store for fans of the series who want some extra goodies. The bundle includes:
Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles Deluxe Edition
“Memories in Melody” Hardcover Art Book
“Ballad of the Little Princess” 2-disc Original Soundtrack
“Memories of Marl Kingdom” 2-disc Original Soundtrack
I know this is late, but work has been crazy. Make sure you always support the original. If you enjoy this project, please leave me a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. Thank you for reading!
Satsuki’s call sounded serious. Yulin rushes out of the Ryusenji’s lab and makes her way back to the station. The station is a plain glass building with the department’s logo displayed on one side. The words Denrin Police Station are printed clearly over the entrance. There is an eerie calmness that hangs over the station as her boot heels echo off the concrete steps.
Once through the glass doors, Yulin is greeted by the cacophony of chaos that fills the building. Alarms blare around her as she pushes her way through the hurried officers. They stop to greet her respectfully before returning to their panic.
Satsuki hurries to meet her in the middle of it all. She dresses in her casually altered uniform and smiles as she joins the captain’s hurried steps. “Nice of you to join us Captain,” she says playfully.
“What’s going on?” Yulin asks as they enter her office. Only a few cabinets and a big wooden desk fill the office. On her desk, there are a few neat stacks of paperwork and a computer that waits idly. She makes her way to her seat as the door closes behind them. The sounds of the chaos outside become muffled behind the small fogged glass that decorates the door.
“We’re picking up a large-scale Code Cracker activity in the Wall Slums.” Satsuki stands attentively in front of the captain’s desk. She holds onto a tablet.
“How large? “
“Maybe 200 or so.”
“Have they made contact? What do they want? Who’s leading them?”
“I’ll give you a guess,” Satsuki says as she hands her the tablet. Yulin plays the video that had been sitting idle on the screen. The words “Sons of Chaos” appear briefly as the video cuts to a chorus singing.
“I should have known…Fucking Tartarus…” Yulin grumbles. She watches as hundreds of Digimon storm through the slums. One figure catches her eye. “Dorumon?” Yulin gasps.
“We’re headed to the depths!” Tartarus’ voice carries through the madness.
“Dammit Kosuke…” Her voice trails off as she becomes lost in the video. Yulin jolts up suddenly as she is hit with a sudden realization. “They’re going for the Gateway!”
Satsuki nods her head. “It’s a mad dash to the center of the slums. Most of them are bots running simple commands, but there are a few high ranking crackers in the mix to make things…interesteing.”
Yulin slams her fist on her desk and shouts “Dumbass!”
The sudden outburst shakes Satsuki. “I’m sorr..,”
Yulin raises her hand to cut her off. “Not you. Its these dumbass Code Crackers! They’re messing with things they don’t understand.” Yulin becomes visibly frustrated. “Do we have a recon team on the ground?”
“Of course! “I’ll bring them up now.” Satsuki taps a few commands on the tablet. A virtual monitor appears behind her and begins playing footage of the wall slums. “Seasldramon, this is HQ, what’s your status?”
“Copy that. This is Seals leader. It’s a warzone out here. The Code Crackers are clashing with the Gatekeepers.”
“Can you confirm this is a SoC attack?”
“No confirmed SoC units present, but it seems that Slum Digimon are also on the move.”
“What?” Yulin takes a closer look at the footage. She can make out groups of Digimon that Code Crackers hardly use rushing the Gateway.
Yulin raises her Digimon Linker and taps on the screen. “You seeing this Ryudamon?”
Ryudamon’s hologram suddenly appears in the space next to Yulin. “Indeed,” it responds as it watches the video.
“Are they being coerced?” Yulin asks.
“Not all of them. Some of them are helping the humans out of their own accord. Some of those Digimon just want to go home to the other side. There are also Digimon that respect Dorumon and see it as their leader. It wouldn’t be hard for them to rally the slums for their cause.”
Yulin’s eyes widen as she listens to the explanation. “Dammit!” she grumbles as she switches to the emergency channel.
“We have reason to believe that the Sons of Chaos are inciting this attack on the Gateway under the orders of their leader, Tartarus. They are planning to crack the Gateway and gain access to the depths. This will cause irreparable damage to the Digital World should they succeed. We must do everything in our power to stop this attack and bring them to justice. All officers, prepare for immediate dispatch. Equipment type D!”
“Ooo, the new stuff!” A mischievous grin creeps up Sastuki’s face.
“All A Rank units and above, mindlink prior to departure. All Cargodramon, even those in maintaince are to be deployed.” Yulin turns to a giddy-looking Satsuki. “That includes you Satsuki.”
Satsuki stands tall and salutes. “Copy that!” she replies as she hurries out of the office to her desk.
“If anyone sees Tararus out there, contact me immediately. Do not engage!” Yulin sits back at her desk. “You can’t win Kosuke,” she mutters to herself as she engages her Mindlink.
The mountain of debris and junk data that looms over the center of the Wall Slum had become a warzone. Hordes of cyborg-type Digimon flood towards the center, fighting off the swarms of Gatekeepers. The air fills with smoke and explosions. Laughter and playful banter escape from amongst the chaos. To most of the Code Crackers in the Frey, this was just a game.
Hight above the battlefield, in the skeleton of an old rotting building, Marvin watches with a grin. “Magnificent,” he as the glow of explosions lit up the sky.
Dorumon walks up next to Marvin. “Wall Slum mobilization is higher than anticipated.”
“It’s all thanks to Loogamon,” Tartarus replies as he admires the scenes below.
“Can you hear me Eiji? Loogamon?”
“Tartarus?”
“You did good kid. Where are you now?”
“Were still on the subway.”
“We’re almost at the last stop. We’ll take off running from there,” Loogamon adds.
“Move quickly. We have to keep this momentum for this to work.”
“Understood.” Eiji replies.
“Just so you know, the 9th District Digimon will quit when they feel like it.” Loogamon warns.
“That’s fair. We can’t control them all, but there should be enough to get the job done,” Tartarus replies.
“It’s getting hard to hear..chat.”
“Leave your admin channel open. I’ll be in touch,” Koske commands as he ends the call.
“Sir! We have a problem!” A panicked voice reaches through the radio.
“What is it?”
“The DigiPolice!” the voice shouts. A squad of Cargodramon suddenly appear over the concrete horizon of the Wall Slum. “They’re here!”
Character design/illustration illustrator: malo
“It’s about time,” Kosuke says as he watches the incoming Cargodramon. He pets Dorumon on its head. “Thank you for everything.”
“Hm?” Dorumon asks, his eyes glued to the battlefield.
“This is it Dorumon. Are you ready?”
Dorumon nods and points at the Cargodramon. “They’re looking for something.”
Eldritch Automata launches its campaign on Kickstarter on January 2nd, and it just might be the horror RPG you need at your table. Eldritch Automata uses the Year Zero Engine that combines anime, science fiction, and horror in what promises to be a frightening and memorable experience. I’ve gotten a taste of the Year Zero System through Dragonbane, and I’ve been enjoying it. It’s easy to learn, and unique enough to provide a memorable experience. Putting this into a world of Kaijus, mechs, and other abominations seems like a good time.
Society has fallen. Eldritch Horrors and nightmarish Seraphs reign chaos over a dying world. Humanity’s only hope rests on the shoulders of pilots and their Automota, but this is no easy task. Pilots must brave the monsters that terrorize them and the demons that dwell inside them. Do you have the willpower and fortitude to be the hero the world needs, or will you be another resource in this game of survival?
The game will be revealed at PAX Unplugged in Philadelphia happening this weekend. If you’re attending, make sure you hit up the Gehenna Gaming game room to try it for yourself or head over to their booth (3750) to ask them any questions. I have to see more before I buy into the system, but I am interested. I love that it will introduce mech combat, but the moral mechanic adds a level of complexity I am here for.
Make sure you add the Eldritch Automata Kickstarter to your watch list so you get notified the moment it goes live. If you enjoy these updates, make sure you leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.
I was sent Tevias a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.
Tevi is a cute bullet hell Metroidvania releasing on Steam later today, but you can try out the demo in the meantime. You play as Tevi as she fights her way through intricate dungeons in search of ancient tech.
If nothing else, Tevi will be one of the cutest games you’ll play this year. I am a huge fan of the art and ethics, but the story didn’t do enough to hook me. I found the story a bit generic as it spent more time hitting certain anime tropes than developing an interesting story. There is voice acting, which is nice, but it is much more efficient to read through the cut scenes. If you aren’t already skipping them.
The main draw to this game should be the gameplay. The game runs great, and the gameplay has a retro vibe that I enjoyed until the novelty wore off. The game starts to feel repetitive after a bit, even when new bosses and skills are introduced to shake things up. I like how the game slowly introduces new combos and abilities as you progress through the game. It makes progression feel more fluid and manageable.
Combat is simple, but it has its charm. After memorizing enemy patterns, this turns into your traditional Metroidvania with the occasional boss to mix things up. Bosses are unique in flavor and strategy, and they never felt unwinnable. I played the game on Normal difficulty and found it too easy, but the game offers an easy way to change the difficulty in game when you need to.
Honestly, I am somewhat in the middle when it comes to Tevi. While I enjoyed the casual retro vibe, the pacing of the combat, and the cute aesthetic, this isn’t a game I can spend too much time on. I certainly wouldn’t finish the game if I bought it with my own money. The problem with Tevi is that if you don’t care about the aesthetic, there are simply better options. Even then, I would wait for a sale and play something like Frontier Hunter: Erza’s Wheel of Fortuneif you want to play some good Waifuvania, or Nocturnalfor something more serious. Don’t get me wrong, the game isn’t bad, but you have better options.
You can pick up Tevi on Steam later today. There is also a physical collectors edition available for $106.39 on the official website.
The Collectors edition includes:
Original Soundtrack SteelBook x1 (4 discs with a total of 72 tracks)
The Drakantos November Dev Log is out, and there are some exciting updates that we need to look at. There was a hero teaser, mount updates, and more pets! Make sure you read the official post for the complete update, and join the Discord to stay up-to-date on this promising-looking indie MMO.
Don’t forget to add Drakantos to wishlist on Steam. The game just hit 100k wishlists, but we can do better! This game looks like a lot of fun and will be free to play. It won’t hurt to try it out. I’ll keep following the game closely in the hopes that there will be some sort of beta soon.
Check out my previous post for more context. If you enjoy these updates, make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.
Paladin Errant: Zeugladius
Zeugladius gameplay has been teased, and you are going to want to check it out if you like playing tanky characters. His backstory is also up on Discord, so make sure you give it a read. You’ll also get a chance to vote on the next reveal when that becomes available. I am enjoying the lore and can’t wait to dive into the full story.
The devs have made a channell for the game’s heroes for all the lore, art, and animation that gets teased and revealed.
Screenshots and Gifs
There have been updates to quests, assests, and systems which is always good to hear, but we also got some pretty cool screenshots. I might be a little biased, but this game looks so cool. I love the retro vibe it gives off, but there is enough of a modern twist to help it stand out.
Last dev log we learned that we are getting mounts, here we see a nice variety of options. There is also a day and night cycle which is always nice to see. Most importantly, the city and environment look amazing. I am a sucker for good pixel art games, and this is definitely matching my vibe.
We got to see some more animation, and this wyvern looks sick! I love the way it crawls out of the ground and leaves that hole. The way it catches fire and takes flight is amazing. Small details like the flames and ember it releases as it flaps make the beast look even more menacing. I can’t wait to see what they do with the bosses. I wonder if we can ride it?
Pets!
It wouldn’t be an MMO without pets, and we got the cutest little skeleton teased. I am all for pets, and if they are easy to collect, I am here for it. I am sure some of the cooler ones will be locked behind a paywall, but I can’t blame them for trying to make money.
Howl is the game from this month’s Indie World Showcase that I was most excited about. The art style is beautiful, the hook is interesting, and the gameplay seems fun. The game is out now on Steam and Switch fpr $14.99, and will release on Xbox, PlayStation, and Epic Games on January 23rd. I was going to pick this game up regardless, but I was fortunate enough to have been sent a copy for review. I’ll be posting my full impressions soon, so stay tuned for that.
Howl is a uniquely stylized strategy game with a lovely classic folktale vibe. You play as a deaf girl who must brave the world’s dangers in search of a cure for a disease that ravages humanity. The disease is turning everyone who hears into beasts, and she is the only one who is immune to its effects. She must now fight the beasts that hunt her, save any remaining survivors, and become the hero fate needs her to be.
Howl isn’t your traditional turn-based strategy game. It plays like a puzzle where you must predict enemy moves and use resources efficiently. Howl seems like a nice change in pace from the norm, and I am here for it. Definitely check it out if you want to add something unique to your library.
