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Guilty Gear Strive Blitz Box Review: A Collector’s Perspective

January 21, 2026 josechurape 2 Comments

Disclaimer

UVS sent me the a Guilty Gear Strive Blitz Box 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. 2026 is going to be an exciting year for Universus TCG, so make sure you check out the road map! I am super excited for some Fairy Tail cards. Also check out my reviews for other universus products like Attack on Titan and my favorite set so far, Heroes of Exandria. I’ll also be using my TCG Player affiliate link where possible. It helps me out if you use it before buying anything.

The Set

The Guilty Gear Strive set came out on November 28, so I am a little behind on the draw. Holidays have been a little busy for me. While the new King of Fighers comes out soon, I think it is still worth looking back at a fantastic set. Guilty Gear Strive released with a new type of product, the Blitz Box, which is a 12 pack booster at a much more attainable price point. The game features unique art and foils that you are going to want in your collection, especially if you’re a fan of the fighting game. If you haven’t played Universus, it is a fantastic unique game that I have fun playing everything time I get product. I’ve talk in more detail about the game in other posts, so make sure you check that out.

Character Cards

The Guilty Gear Strive character cards are some of my favorite since I’ve started playing the game. If you are unfamiliar with the game, Universus usually uses screen grabs for most of their artwork except for a handful of alt cards and character cards where the art is unique. I have never played a Guilty Gear game, but I kind of want to now because the characters looks so cool. The character cards are all vibrant, with cool looking characters that are going to be fun to collect. Here are a few of my favorites:

Token cards

Non-alt character cards in this set are tokens. Instead of the normal backs, the backs have a few rule explanations. While it may take away from the TCG aesthetic, it does offer a different back for easy orginization. As a casual player, I appreciate the easy reminder of rules I would otherwise have to look up. It is a handy tool for newer players. While I understand that it stops being useful the more to have, it is handy.

Chrome rares

While some might be upset that their character cards have been made tokens, there are some nice chrome rare versions available for those who want to bling out their deck. I like the more cartoonish, oversaturated look of the art. You know it is going to look fantastic on the table. While I didn’t pull any of the chromes for my collection, I can sit hit and look at them longingly:

Alt cards

The real reason I love this game is how much effort is put into the alt cards. The alt cards in this set are all fantastic. I was lucky enough to pull a few of the alt cards and I am so happy with my pulls. If you are a fan of the series, you are going to want to try to pull some of these cards, at least for your collection. It is very hard to choose just a few cards, so here is as many as I could fit in no particular order:

Review

I am writing this as a collector. I love this game, but I play it very casually. I can’t speak on the power it adds to the game nor how it is shaping the meta. I can say that this has been the most fun set to open (aside from the the Heroes of Exandira). Guilty Gear Strive has the best quality of any set I’ve pulled from, and the best looking art.

Quality

Guilty Gear Strive, at least the box I pulled, has some of the best quality I’ve seen from this game. The foils still curve, but that is an unavoidable truth in the TCG space. Regardless of that fact, none of them had that annoying print line that seems to plague previous sets. Coming from the Riftbound cards I pulled, the quality is night and day. If they can keep this level of quality for future releases, and even spread it to Riftbound, I can see this game surviving at least another year.

The Art

My biggest issue with Universus as a collector is that most of the cards are screen grabs. While the special treatment cards are always fun to open and collect, most of the time I am collecting screenshots of IPs I don’t always care about. With the exception of Heroes of Exandria, most of the sets have been disappointing to open. Riftbound, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Street Fighter (the worst in my opinion) were all boring. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fairs a little better because of nostalgia, but not enough to buy into.

The screenshots used for Guilty Gear Strive are a lot better than the previous sets. While I am still not a fan of the screenshot cards, they do look nice in a binder. I liked Guilty Gear Strive a lot more than the Street Fighter ones, and I can only hope they can carry a similar vibe with the King of Fighters IP. I am sure fans of the Guilty Gear series will appreciate the cards more than I did, but I had fun pulling them. I’ll probably only collect special treatment cards.

Conclusion

If you are thinking of getting into Universus, Guilty Gear Strive is a solid entry point. It has cool art, some solid mechanics, and the set is fun to open. I can’t speak on how it holds up against the current meta or how much return on investment you’ll get, but as a collector, I am very happy with this set and am tempted to pick up a bit more. You can pick up

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Why Diety 2 is the Next Must-Play Strategy RPG

November 29, 2025 josechurape Leave a comment

Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Diety 2 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.

Shameless Self Promotion

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 with your friends!

What is Diety 2

Diety 2 is top-down turn-based strategy game out now on Steam. Think Fire Emblem, but with a few unique mechanics to set it apart.

Story

The Eternal Order exists to protect Verroa from all threats. The fragile, fragmented country struggles to find in the world political stage. The neighboring Asverellian empire chooses to take advantage of Verroa’s instability and expand its reach. The order’s strength will be put to the test as 25 powerful warriors push back against the Asverellian siege. Can and Riodian navigate the complicate political landscape of Verroa and keep the country free of Asverellian rule, or will their efforts be in vain?

What allegiances will you make? How ill your choices shape the future of Verroa?

Gameplay

Take control of a your group of heroes in a series of campaigns that will shape the future of nation. This is a game where your decisions in between missions shape the outcome of the story, so choose carefully.

Players will take control of their army as they fight in different battles. Each battle has its unique objective, with a few side objectives available to help players earn more loot. Some games will have players survive a certain number of rounds but push players to complete risky objectives for extra gold or upgrade materials. The difficulty for these campaigns can be adjusted from a very casual play through for those who just want to experience the story, to something more hard core with turn limits to test a players strategic prowess. I went with something in the middle and thought it was challenging enough to keep me engaged without much of the stress.

Players take turns moving their characters across the maps in grid based combat, and use the terrain to gain an advantage. What makes the game unique is the bond system that the characters have with one another. Characters who fight near one another gain a bond over the course of the campaign that unlocks bonuses like money or upgrade materials per each level. What I love most about Diety 2 is that players can save mid battle if you ever need to step away suddenly.

Between missions players can upgrade their heroes. They can buy better gear at the shop with gold they earn in the campaign, upgrade existing weapons with magical runes, craft magic rings for heroes to wear, upgrade a heroes abilities, or upgrade a heroes class. Each hero has a wide selection of upgrade paths for a truly unique army.

Choices Matter

Verroa has a few factions that make up its landscape. Players will often have to choose who to help as they defend against invaders. These choices shape the outcome of the story. Players can either choose the story they like the best, and help out whatever faction they think is right, or choose whatever faction gives them the best loot. Each choice has a different set of rewards, and sometimes the “right” choice isn’t the one that pays the best. What factors will shape your campaign?

Review

Deity 2 is a fantastic turn-based strategy game with a solid story and very engaging gameplay. If you like strategy games or want to take your first step into the genre, this is one of the titles that should be in your library.

Story

I did not play the first Deity, but I didn’t feel like I needed to. I might have missed some refrences here and there, but never felt lost by the events in two. The story of Deity 2 is very self contained.

The story may not be the epic campaign of some of the more popular titles like the Fire Emblem series, but it’s good enough to earn a playthrough. The characters are fun and memorable, but they can be a bit too quirky at times. Nothing that ruins the story, but there are a few cringe moments that come to mind. The voice acing is solid and I liked that I didn’t have to sit there and read. This game has long cut scenes, so be prepared to sit back and listen.

I really like that the game offers choices that shape the outcome of the story. It was hard choosing a path because the more lucrative paths weren’t always the most moral. I want to go back and experience what the other options had to offer.

Gameplay Loop

I played a more casual version of the game because I didn’t want to have turn limits. While it was a more casual run, it still provided enough of a challenge to keep me paying attention, especially in runs where I had to keep an NPC alive.

The upgrade system needs a bit of work. The UI is a little clunky and I don’t like the fact that I can’t tell what my upgrades do. I don’t like that I couldn’t compare weapons in the shop to see if it was an upgrade for what I have, and guessing with limited resources is frustrating. I never wasted money, but it was a bit of added work that shouldn’t exist.

Aside from that, the leveling adds some interesting depth to the game. Upgrades you get from runes, elixers, and rings felt impactful, and how you level up a heroes ability becomes important. The limited resources become less of a problem the more you play, and especially if you’re making riskier choices. Not all risks are created equal.

Conclusion

As a casual in the strategy rpg genre, Diety 2 is definitely a favorite. I think the story is good, the world building is solid, the art is fantastic, the music is epic, and the gameplay is good. If you are looking for a game that fills that Fire Emblem itch, Diety 2 is worth it at full price. Just be aware that you have to sit through a lot of dialogue.

You can pick up Diety 2 on steam. If you’re looking for some more turn-based strategy action, make sure you check out Arco.

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Anima Gate of Memories: I&II Remaster Review

November 20, 2025 josechurape Leave a comment

Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of the Anima Gate of Memories: I&II Remaster 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.

Shameless Self Promotion

What is Anima Gate of Memories: I&II Remaster

Anima Gate of Memories: I&II Remaster returns with new textures, updated gameplay, and cleaner performance.

Hook

This remaster cleans up a bit of the roughness that came with the first run and allows players to enjoy the world of anime like they’ve never before. Explore the Tower of Arcane as either the Bearer of Calamaties or the imortal Nameless in an action packed adventure. The Tower of Arcane is a world built from memories as they try to stop the Messengers of the End and prevent the end of the world. Your choices will shape the course of this narrative. What will your story look like?

What Makes the Remaster so Special?

The remaster works to fix the issues that came with the first run. The visuals have been updated, and textures have been added to create a fuller more unique world. The performance and mechanics have been upgrades to provide players a smoother experience. Most importantly, it combines the complete Gate of Memories story in one convenient place.

Gameplay

Players get to explore the world of Anima in a fast-paced game with a bit of classic feel. Gates of Memories is a 3rd person action adventure where players take control of a character, explore the Tower of Arcane. What makes these games unique is its combat system.

While it may follow the traditional action RPG combo system you would see in something like Devil May Cry or Beyoneta, it uses interesting fixed camera angles to create deep and dynamic combat sequences. For example, the camera will sometimes switch to top-down view during a fight. This shift in perspective changes the strategy of combat because it shifts the controls. It is a mechanic that keeps combat fresh and exciting.

Like other RPGs, players will grind through encounters for XP to spend on a characters skill tree. Players have a good amount of choice on how they want to build their character, with room for varying play styles. I am sure there is a solved path to minmax each character, but I liked building what I thought was fun without much issue on the Normal difficulty. The diffuclty can be adjusted for those who want a harder journey or who are only in it for the story.

Review

If you are a fan of classic 3rd-person action rpgs, Anima Gate of Memories: I&II Remaster should be in your collection. While there is some roughness, the overall experience is something you have to play through once.

Visuals

The game is a little dark in places, but the overall aesthetic is fantastic. Both games have some terrific textures that often help create the beautiful fantasy you play through. The character and monster design are all very cool, flavorful, and memorable. Combat animation looks good without being overly flashy and distracting. I was actually able to follow what was going on instead of being bombarded with lights and explosions which is always a plus. There are no animated cut scenes, but the moving stills do a fantastic job at telling the story.

Story

Gate of Memories is a fantastic story full of action, adventure, and intrigue. The games do a good job at introduction the world of Anima with properly paced stories that hooked me out of the game. I don’t want to reveal too much and risk spoilers, but it was hard to put them down because I want to know what happens next. What is cool about the bundle is that the stories can be played in any order, but playing them in order will avoid spoilers and close up a few confusing references that may arise. If you play rpgs for their story, Gate of Memories is a fantastic addition to your collection.

Gameplay Loop

While I do love the Gate of Memories story, the combat system is the reason you buy this game. I love the fluid combo system and how good it feels to fight through the many waves of enemies. Every very skill I learned further tailored the combat to a style I found very enjoyable. The game offers a good amount of choice in your build, with enough time to and space to explore what you like. Most importantly, the difficulty ramps at a very good pace. I felt like I had time to learn the game and explore its story without being unfairly shutdown by a random encounter.

Exploration

The game has some exploration, but the zones aren’t a huge open world to explore. Depending on your device, there is a bit of a load time between zones. Nothing unbearably long, but it does break a bit of the immersion. The zones are otherwise look very good, and I had fun trying to get into every crevice in search of juicy secrets. The game does a good job incentivizing explorations with loot and other bread crumbs. Some of the areas are a little too dark and I kept getting lost, but that might be a personal problem.

Performance

I never played the original Gate of Memories games, and can’t compare the performance. I will say, aside for a little clunkiness in the movement, the game runs well. Combat feels fast and fluid, and I didn’t encounter any game breaking crashes. I like that it feels like an older rpg but with enough of a modern pacing to help keep my constantly dwindling attention.

Conclusion

Anima Gate of Memories: I&II Remaster is shaping to be my favorite game of the year without question. I loved flavor and story, and the combat system is fantastic. It really does remind me of the playstation days trying to get through the Devil May Cry games, and that sense of nostalgia is unmatched in my heart. The game plays very good and looks great. It is full of fun encounters and interesting boss fights. Gate of Memories is one of those games that needs to be in every collection for its unique world and solid gameplay. I for one am ready to dive more deeply into the world of Anima.

You can pick up your copy of Anima Gate of Memories: I&II Remaster on Steam or pick up physical copy for the PS5 Amazon Affiliate link.

video game reviews

UltraGirl Alters Demo Review: First Impressions and Gameplay

October 31, 2025 josechurape Leave a comment

Disclaimer

I was asked to cover the UltraGirl Alters demo for my blog. I understand this isn’t the full game, and will be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, this will be my honest review of the demo.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone Syste m and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee!

What is UltraGirl Alters?

Ultragirl Alters is an SRPG out now on Steam, with a demo available for anyone who wants to try it.

You have been hired as the manager for the virtual idol group, Alters. When you aren’t busy helping each girl navigate their hectic social lives, you’ll be guiding through battle against the waves of enemies that threaten the city. Each girl Each girl where’s her unique Tokusatsu-style hero suit that you can upgrade as you gain experience. Can you keep the world safe from monsters while becoming the world’s greatest idol group? What secrets will you uncover along the way?

Gamplay

UltraGirl Alters is a turn based strategy game with a few social mechanics to break up the story.

The game has a cute chibi mode where the player can experience the story. During this part of the game, players will build their relationship with each of the girls helping them through the game’s many side missions. Leveling these bonds unlock special events that add a bit of flavor or world building. Players also get to explore a bit of the world, but it is very limited. Mostly, the chibi half of the game is where the player collects the story and learns the dark secrets behind the evil corporation that controls everything.

Combat

Players take control of the girls in their Tokusatsu-style suits as they fight off waves of monsters. Each girl has their unique set of abilities and skill that can be leveled up through experience. Each girl can move and take an action per round. Girls can either make a basic attack or use one of their abilities during their action, if they have enough energy. Basic attacks generate the energy needed to cast an ability. The key to combat is to position effectively while using your resources efficiently.

Impressions

While there are a few aspects of this game that I liked and got me interested, I definitely need to see more. Overall, the game is fine, but I can see it being a niche game made for an intended audience.

Art

If you like anime, then you will appreciate the character design. UltraGirl Alters definitely has its waifu bait, and that isn’t a bad thing. The girls are cute, but there is a bit of fan service. I like when I can play my waifu games in public. For the combat part, I think the level design is too busy. It was hard to make out what was going on most of the time, and the suits don’t look very cool. As for the exploration parts, you are either going to love the chibi design or hate it. I think the chibi art is cute, but found the story a little lacking.

Story

The Demo only plays through the tutorial a bit of the intro. While it isn’t enough to judge the quality of the story, there is nothing in the intro that hooked me. The biggest issue I have with what is available is the writing. It is a little awkward in parts and a little cheesy in others. This might be due to translation issues. Unless the full game leans into the silliness and carries a light-hearted narrative with fun characters I care about, I don’t see me finishing this game. The story isn’t the worst, but considering art, tone, and gameplay, I rather be playing Disgea 7.

Gameplay

Combat is interesting for the first few round before it grows a little stale. Enemies feel a little unfair, and the busy map makes it hard to tell what is going on. You are either going to enjoy this type of combat or hate it, and I certainly wasn’t a fan. Maybe it gets better in later levels, and I am willing to give it a try just in case. Unfortunately, based on the demo alone, when it comes to chibi turn-based combat, I rather be play Disgea 7.

Conclusion

If you like the SRPG style combat and don’t mind the over-the-top (sometimes poorly written) cutesy tones of the story, I still recommend you check out the demo first. I think the combat is a little too simple for what you’re getting. The social chibi bits are cute, but they don’t add enough to the game to make them worth it. I think the game is cute and has its potential, but I need to see more of it before I can recommend it. For now, I recommend you check out the demo and wait for the sale.

You can pick up your copy of UltraGirl Alters on Steam.

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Nezori Demo Review: First Impressions of an Anime RPG

October 20, 2025 josechurape Leave a comment

Disclaimer

I was asked to cover the Nezori demo for my blog. I understand the game isn’t finished yet, and will try to be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, these will be my honest first impressions of the game.

Shameless Self-Promotion

What is Nezori?

Nezori is a cute anime themed action RPG planned for Q1 of 2026. The game is essentially a Ys clone with a bit of waifu bait to set it apart. There is a demo available if that sounds like a good time. Don’t forget to wishlist.

The Hook

Atsuko is a young warrior with a promising future. Atsuko is a prodigy with the sword, but a bit too stubborn for her own good. It is this character flaw that sets off the events in this game. When Atsuko learns about a magical hot spring with magical properties that sits on enemy land, she makes it her mission to find it. The springs magical properties would help heal the people in the town, and might even foster a new relationship with the Sothiens.

While there is no direct conflict with Sothiens, there is enough tension between the two nations to spark one. Against the advice of the village elder, Atsuko sets off into enemy land. With her trusty blade in hand, she will vanquish anyone that stands in her way. But what she finds on Sothien land may be a bit more than she bargained for. What will her journey uncover? What truths will she reveal?

Gampeplay

Nezori is a cute Ys clone, with a bit of a social element to pad out the story. The demo only takes players through the first chapter, and some of the missions can’t be complete.

Players can take their time and talk to each of the girls in the village. They can give players quests to complete, or are strictly there for a it of world building. They can even join the roster of fighters that will take on the adventure. Each of the girls has a unique style, story, and motivation along with their unique set of abilities. It is up to the player to unlock them all.

Neori will have a meta story for players to go through, but there are a few optional interactions to pad the world. There are side stories and quests that help players learn about the different charactes which can be skipped. Players will need to read through most of the dialogue. While voice acting is in progress for the game’s full release, the demo only has full Japanese voice acting for Atsuko.

The Adventure

Players will load into an area and complete any missions or objectives through action based combat. During combat, players can attack, dodge, use an ability. Each character has their main melee and strong attacks, with unique activated abilities to spice things up. The basic attack charges up the resource used to perform special attacks and abilities. Learning to efficiently dodge, attack, and use items and abilities will be key to surviving the adventure.

Impressions

Nezori is a promising action RPG, but one that needs a bit more work before it earns a recomendation.

Art

The character art for the game is fantastic. Anime fans will definately enjoy the strong cast of waifus on the roster. Each of the girls is unique, with a style that reflects their personality. There is a bit of fan service, but nothing too vulgar. Unfortunately, the art for the rest of the world is a little lacking and I wish it had a bit more substance.

The Game

The game in its current state feels unfinished, which is natural for demo’s at this stage of development. Combat feels a bit janky. The attacks feel slow, and using abilities feels a little clunky. This might have something to do with the minimal amount of animation. This wouldn’t be a problem if the world didn’t feel so empty. The levels are ugly with very little texture to make them pop. Its not a world I want to explore, not that there is much allowable exploration.

I am not a graphics snob. I’ve played minimilistic games I’ve loved like Worldless and Void Sols. Those games worked because while the world was simple, the gameplay was fun. I have no issue if Nezori wants to spend all their money and energy on making cute wiafus and having a minimilist world to fight in, as long as the perfromance is there and combat is fun. In its current incarnation, combat needs a few more tweeks.

The Story

The story is light-hearted, but a bit too cutesy for my taste. I love games with silly stories, Disgae 7 is one of my favorites, but the dialogue in this game can get a little cringey. Some of this may be translation issues, others may be fan service, but it does get a little awkward. If you’re the type of person who likes watching cute girls doing cute things, then the writing shouldn’t be a problem. It isn’t the worst story I’ve ever played through, but it isn’t the reason I am playing this game.

Conclusion

Nezori is an okay action RPG with a few promising elements. I am definately willing to give it a second chance, but it is kind of hard to recomend when you have something like Star Overdrive on the market. But if you like the art and need something to tide you over til the next Ys game, sure. Check out the Nezori demo on Steam and don’t forget to wishlist.

video game reviews

Exploring Trauma in Visual No Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo

September 30, 2025 josechurape Leave a comment

Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo 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.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone Syste m and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. If you’re looking for a VPN for some added protection, check out NordVPN through my affiliate link. You can also always buy me coffee!

What is Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo

Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo is a visual novel that effectively explores dealing with trauma. This is your trigger warning.

A group of boys and girls find themselves in a strange world world similar to theirs, but off somehow. They have no memory of who they are or how they got there. The world around them seems to be empty except for the mindless drones that seem to be put in place to keep them trapped. The only way out of this world is to solve a series of puzzles that will have each character deal with their trauma. There are multiple endings, a few interesting mini games, and a lot of dark themes to sit through in Noise Scramble City.

Gameplay

Players will read through each characters story, making the choices that affect the endings of the story. There are multiple endings to explore for a good amount of replayability. Each character has a unique set of puzzles and mini games that are thematic with their back story. The game is split into two segments: exploration and story. In exploration, players click around each uniquely themed room for clues and puzzle pieces. The goal is to piece together bits of a characters backstory to move to the next room. Outside of these rooms, players get to see the characters interact and their relationships with each other develop. It is a lot of reading with interesting puzzles and mini-games to break things up.

Review

The game starts off with a trigger warning and immediately gets dark You’ve been warned.

Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo is a fantastic novel about facing and dealing with trauma. While the themes are dark, the game addresses its topics appropriately. Each character is unique and memorable, and the story is interesting and engaging. Unfortunately, the English translation isn’t perfect. There are a lot of grammar mistakes and noticeable typos that might take some of the immersion away from the story. As an former English Major, I had no issues because the story was good enough. I did skip over a few parts that felt slow, but I also read through this game in one sitting.

Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo is an aesthetically pleasing novel. The game has a great artstyle for a unique and flavorful world and it fills with cool colorful characters. The game also has a fantastic soundtrack to set the mood and get players immersed. What makes Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo the perfect visual novel is its balance between puzzles and all the reading. The puzzles are all very interesting. There is a guide available (with spoilers) if needed, but most of the puzzles are pretty straight forward.

I love that I got to collect all these parts of a narative, but the choices I made also meant I couldn’t get the whole story in one playthrough. I will be playing this game again soon because I need to know everything.

If you’re looking for a a good visual novel, don’t mind a few spelling errors here and there or the dark themes it deals with, pick up Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo. This is one of those games you need to read through at least once.

You can pick up Type-NOISE: Shonen Shojo on Steam for $19.99.

video game reviews

Is Space Adventure Cobra – The Awakening Worth Playing?

August 28, 2025 josechurape Leave a comment

Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Space Adventure Cobra – The Awakening 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.

Shameless Self-Promotion

What is Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening

Cobra makes his triumphant return in this nostalgic action platformer available now on on Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch. . The game takes players through the first twelve episodes of the anime, staying as true as possible to the source material.

Play as Cobra as you make you travel across exotic planets and fighting everything that stands in your way with. With a bit of skillful platforming, well placed shots from his Psycogun, and a little help from Lady Armaroid, there is nothing that can stand in his way. He is determined to live his life as a free space pirate, but will this be the end of his journey? You are going to have to play to find out.

Review

I wanted to love this game because the flavor and the tone is so much fun. I am a huge fan of this era of anime, and although I’ve never seen the source material, I felt a strong sense nostolgia. Everything around the actual game is fantastic. You have fun vibrant art and cinematic and a cool cast of characters with fantastic voice actors to bring them to life. The story is cheesy, but that 90’s epic cheese that makes you feel good and safe. The soundtrack is epic and will get you hyped for a game that at its best is pretty mediocre.

As a platformer, the game isn’t good. The levels, enemies, and bosses are all boring. Every chapter feels the same but with a different skin, and it gets old and repetitive quickly. It doesn’t help that the controls suck and there is no way to rebind your keys, at least not on controller. On controller, aim and move are bound to the same stick making combat an annoying endeavor. The platforming itself is fine. I am bad at platformers and thought it was easy. What makes it hard is the controls, but you might get better results with a keyboard. I wanted to play it on the Steam Deck, and while it works great, the controls made it difficult to keep playing. You can power through if you enjoy the anime and flavor of the game, and there are definitely ways to cheese some of the fights, but you need to be a dedicated fan.

If you are looking for a new platformer, you should look elsewhere unless you are a fan of the anime. I would argue that you are better off rewatching the anime. If you are interested in the story, go watch the anime or wait for a sale.

You can pick up Space Adventure Cobra – The Awakening on Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch.

video game reviews

Why You Should Play Trials of Proelium Remastered

August 23, 2025 josechurape Leave a comment

Disclaimer

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.

Shameless Self-Promotion

What is Trials of Proelium?

Trials of Proelium is an RPG out now on Steam.

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 Proelium has 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.

You can pick up Trials of Proelium Remastered on Steam for only $9.99, and I think its worth that much.

video game reviews

Is Our World is Ended Worth the $40 Price Tag?

August 14, 2025 josechurape Leave a comment

Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Our World Is Ended. on Steam 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.

Shameless Self-Promotion

What is Our World is Ended?

Our World is Ended is a visual novel out now on Steam.

A team of young developers is on the verge of a breakthrough with AR technology that will revolutionize the space. As they get busy with the development of their new game, they find that the line between the fantasy they’ve created through their games and reality has been skewed. Characters from their past games have invaded the real world and threaten its stability. It is up to the young developers to find out what is going on and put an end to it. Will they be able to save the world before it is too late?

Review

Our World is Ended is a niche title that isn’t for everyone. The novel has some cool art and a solid cast of voice acting, but the writing will make or break the story. I was not a fan of the perverted humor or overall tone of the story because it took away from a lot the more serious moments of the story. Characters are also poorly written. They aren’t deep and are very forgettable, unless they are the main source of humor. The main character is a very generic edgy anime main character which you will either find comforting or entirely grating. I found it hard to care about much of what he had to say because he isn’t interesting.

If you don’t mind the perverted humor and the edgy main character, the story is fine. You’ll enjoy some cool art and and the story is okay. Personally, there isn’t enough to this game or story for it to be worth $40. I would wait for a sale even if you enjoy this type of anime, and even then, you have better options.

Other TCGs

Universus TCG – Challenger Series Deck List: Ryu & Luke

August 4, 2025 josechurape Leave a comment

Universus just released the Street Fighter 6 challenger series decks, and I have a copy of each. Always support your LGS, but you can pick up the Ryu challenger deck on TCG Player using my affiliate link. Here is the Ryu deck list for those who need it: