Tag Archives: blogger

Grand Archive Path of Silver: New Competitive Mode for Collectors

April 12, 2024 josechurape 1 Comment

Ascent Worlds is coming to Las Vagas on May 11 to the 12th. It will be an exciting time for fans of the competitive scene, I can’t wait to see what deck comes out on top. Tickets are still available.

Recently, Weebs of the Shore announced the Path of Silver event that will also be happening at Worlds. Collectors will have a chance to compete for some exclusive promos without having to play the game. This is fantastic news for those who aren’t good at the TCG or collectors of the game and still have a chance at some of the beautiful promos Weebs of the Shore hands out as prizes.

How it Works

The competition is limited to 200 participants. Participants must build a 50-card deck from their collection. You can look up the card value on the official database. A special multiplier will be announced during the day of the competition to shake things up. The person with the most points wins. You must submit your list through Omnidex before the event and have the physical card on hand. Make sure you have an account. Check the official post for the full details.

Top Prize Promo

These promos are so cool, and they’re going to look even better in person!

Catagory Prize Promos

Conclusion

This is a very cool idea to encourage collecting. I like that it rewards collectors who want to enjoy the game, but don’t want to dip into the competitive scene. The multiplier is an interesting idea for making the contest a little less pay-to-win, but I have to see it in action first.

The contest has some solid prize support, so make sure you go through your collection and get out there. Always support your LGS, but if you need Grand Archive singles for the competition, you can always pick them up on TCG Player through my affiliate link.

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials! I’m doing pack openings of Battle Spirits Saga on my TikTok and YouTube.

Other TCGs

Akora TCG: More World Beyond Spoilers and 420 Tournament!

April 10, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

I started following Akora TCG after opening a few packs of Spellbound Wings for pack openings I did on my YouTube and TikTok. I fell in love with the cozy feel of the artwork, and the game mechanics have some solid flavor. Well, there’s been a bit of news since my last update, so let me consolidate it all for visibility. This game deserves some attention, and the community is friendly and ready for new members.

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. If you want to buy some Akora, get it over at TCG Player with my affiliate links. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

Upcoming Casual Tournament

Those wanting to jump into their first game of Akora won’t have to go far, assuming you have access to Discord and Tabletop Simulator. Jaxonation will be hosting a low-stakes tournament on April 20 in anticipation of the upcoming World Set. If you want to get a feel of the competitive scene, it is worth signing up. Slots are still available so spread the word and sign up today! First place gets you a full art from the Spellbound Wings set.

Don’t be intimidated, the discord seems to be full of chill and welcoming folks trying to enjoy a game that they love. If you need practice beforehand, I’m sure you can find someone who will be willing to walk you through the mechanics if you ask around.

Spoilers

The art for this game is cute, but the promos and full arts are amazing! I’m very excited to see what else will be in the upcoming set, but for now, lets enjoy the teasers!

Product

Pokemon TCG

Pokemon TCG: Top 3 Meta Decks Post Rotation – EUIC

April 9, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

EUIC was this weekend and it was the first big tournament post-rotation. While some of you won’t be happy with Charizard on top, it’s nice to see a tournament not dominated by Lost Box. There was a pretty healthy spread of archetypes, which is a great sign for a healthy meta. It is really cool to see the new meta take shape as we head to worlds. Cleffa presented itself as a useful piece of utility, and Buddy-Buddy Poffin has cemented itself as a solid staple.

I collected the top three deck lists and will leave links to to the singles for those who want them. It isn’t an unsurprising batch, but the new archetypes are off to a strong start. It looks like we’re in for an interesting season.

If you need to pick up any Pokemon as the new Temporal Forces set, pick it up at TCG Player through my affiliate link. If you enjoy these updates, leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials! I am currently doing pack openings of Battle Spirits Saga on my TikTok and YouTube.

1. Charizard – Tord Reklev

Pokémon: 20
4 Charmeleon OBF 27
1 Charmander PAF 7
3 Charizard ex OBF 125
2 Pidgey MEW 16
2 Pidgeot ex OBF 164
1 Radiant Charizard CRZ 20
1 Bidoof CRZ 111
1 Bibarel BRS 121
1 Rotom V CRZ 45
1 Lumineon V BRS 40
1 Cleffa OBF 80
1 Manaphy BRS 41
1 Jirachi PAR 126

Trainer: 34
3 Arven OBF 186
3 Iono PAL 185
2 Boss’s Orders PAL 172
2 Professor Turo’s Scenario PAR 171
1 Roxanne ASR 150
1 Team Yell’s Cheer BRS 149
4 Rare Candy SVI 191
4 Ultra Ball SVI 196
4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
2 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Nest Ball SVI 181
1 Counter Catcher PAR
1 Prime Catcher TEF 157
1 Lost Vacuum CRZ 135
1 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
1 Choice Belt PAL 176
1 Defiance Band SVI 169
1 Collapsed Stadium BRS 137

Energy: 6
6 Fire Energy 2

2. Lost Tina – Isaiah Bradner

Pokémon: 19
4 Comfey LOR 79
3 Giratina V LOR 130
3 Giratina VSTAR LOR 131
2 Shuppet SVI 87
1 Banette ex SVI 88
1 Banette LOR 73
1 Sableye LOR 70
1 Cramorant LOR 50
1 Radiant Greninja ASR 46
1 Manaphy BRS 41
1 Iron Leaves ex TEF 25

Trainer: 28
4 Colress’s Experiment LOR 155
1 Boss’s Orders PAL 172
1 Roxanne ASR 150
4 Mirage Gate LOR 163
4 Nest Ball SVI 181
3 Switch SVI 194
2 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TEF 144
2 Super Rod PAL 188
1 Ultra Ball SVI 196
1 Counter Catcher PAR 160
1Prime Catcher TEF 157
1 Pokégear 3.0 SVI 186
1 Forest Seal Stone SIT 156
1 Temple of Sinnoh ASR 155
1 Artazon PAL 171

Energy: 13
5 Psychic Energy 5
4 Grass Energy 1
4 Jet Energy PAL 190

3. Pidgeot Control – Alessandro Cremascoli

Pokémon: 13
2 Pidgey MEW 16
2 Pidgeot ex OBF 164
1 Radiant Charizard CRZ 20
1 Chi-Yu ex PAL 40
1 Noibat PAF 68
1 Noivern ex PAF 69
1 Bouffalant LOR 148
1 Rotom V CRZ 45
1 Luxray V ASR 50
1 Mimikyu PAL 97
1 Mawile LOR 71

Energy: 5
2 Fire Energy 2
2 Double Turbo Energy BRS 151
1 Mist Energy TEF 161

video game reviews

I Really Wanted to Like Ario, but…

April 7, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

I was sent a free copy of Ario 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, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials. I am currently opening some Battle Spirits Saga on TikTok and YouTube.

What is Ario?

Ario is a side-scrolling Metroidvania platformer out now for PC. Dark forces have kidnapped his mother, and Ario will do anything to get her back. Ario now faces off against a land full of nightmares. Parkour your way across a 2.5D steampunk city and fight off anyone who gets in your way. Do you have what it takes to save your mother?

Gameplay

Ario feels like a Pince of Persia clone with a tower defence minigame sprinkled throughout. Ario runs, jumps, slides his way through a side-scrolling map of the city, and fires off arrows at his enemies. I found it more convenient to jump over everything, but you will occasionally be forced to do combat. Ario can shoot arrows and bombs, but I found the arrows to be pretty useless. The platforming isn’t too difficult and is easily the best part of the game.

Occasionally, Ario will have to man a ballista and fire off arrows at waves of enemies. You can control the arrows in this mini-game, and it’s okay when it works. The hitboxes can be wonky on some enemies, and missing an arrow means you have to start over. While I appreciate the attempt at something new, this minigame makes it hard to recommend the game. I tried getting gameplay video, but I kept running into bugs that would ruin my runs.

Impressions

I really wanted to like Ario because it reminded me of Sands of Time. The art is nice, the animation is cool, and the platforming is manageable. The problem I have with this game is that it still needs work. The tower defense portions of the game feel clunky, and the hitboxes make them unnecessarily challenging. I didn’t like having to start the mini-game over because the hitbox bugged and I failed the challenge.

Platforming in this game was fine, and it looked cool but there are some bugs that make some sections a bit frustrating. There is a section where you have to clear the enemies to advance while a ballista fires at you. The only cover you have are these pillars. Sometimes the pillars will block the arrows, but not always, and the arrows Ario caries are useless. Instead of skillfully sneaking my way through enemies, I had to figure out what pillars were coded correctly and pray. The game isn’t unplayable, but there are enough bugs in it to make it difficult to recommend.

Ario certainly has potential, but it needs some work. I would skip it for now and hope that it gets some patches and a boost in performance. You

video game reviews

Why You Should be Playing Minishoot’ Adventures

April 6, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

I was sent a free copy of Minishoot’ Adventures 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, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials. I am currently doing pack openings of Battle Spirits Saga on my YouTube and TikTok.

What is Minishoot’ Adventures

Minishoot’ Adventures is a twin-stick bullet hell Metroidvania. Players take control of an adorable spaceship as it adventures over a strange land, fighting enemies, and unlocking power-ups. A strange new enemy has risen from the darkness and trapped everyone you know in a corrupted crystal. Will you be enough to save them?

Gameplay

Minishoot’ isn’t your typical top-down bullet hell shooter. Instead of fending off waves of enemies in a limited arena space, players fly their ship over creative and well-designed maps. It feels like a retro Zelda game with a unique bullet hell spirit that makes it the perfect casual gaming experience.

Players start with a simple ship that they upgrade over time by fighting different enemies. The game offers players a decent-sized skill tree, and the freedom to upgrade their ship for a customized play experience. Dying resets the ship at checkpoints, but players don’t lose their progress. This is nice for casual gamers and those who don’t have too much time for gaming.

Despite the casual feel of the game, the enemy design in Minishoot’ Adventures offers enough of a challenge to keep things engaging. Combat bundles with the game upgrade system give the game enough depth to set it apart from other similar titles. Most importantly, the game runs smoothly and looks great. You won’t die needlessly to glitches or bugs.

Impressions

I love Minishoot’ Adventures. It features an adorable art style I can get behind, a solid soundscape, and fun gameplay. It is such a cool and unique blend of genres, and its execution is perfect. If you’re looking for a fun and casual adventure game, Minishoot’ is a perfect solution. I love the casual vibe that it captures, but it always provides enough of a challenge to get me thinking. Trying to find the proper combination to beat certain bosses was fun, but it all comes down to how good you are at kitting. I don’t think you’ll need a guide to beat this game unless your goal is to minimize your ship. I enjoy building the ship to my taste, even if the build is wrong. Whatever gets you to the credits is fine by me.

Minishoot’ Adventures is a cute, fun title that isn’t a huge commitment. Even if you aren’t looking for something this casual, Minishoot’ Adventures should be in your library. You can pick it up on Steam for $14.99, and there’s a demo available if you don’t believe me. The demo save carries over if you end up liking it.

Grand Archive TCG

All the Mercurial Heart Spoiler Art so far – Grand Archive TCG

April 5, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

There have been more spoilers since this post: Check the latest round of spoilers

As we gear up for Grand Archive’s Worlds on May 10th – 11th, I’ve gathered a few spoilers to get us excited for both the event in Vagas and the upcoming set, Mercurial Heart. The set releases on May 17 which means we’re getting close to spoiler season! There will be an exclusive Pre-Release event at Worlds. Make sure you sign up if you’re attending!

I’ll be including all the spoilers to have so far to have them all in one convenient place. If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. If you need any Grand Archive, like the latest Alchemical Revolution set, get it over at TCG Player through my affiliate link. Don’t forget to follow the socials! I started cracking packs of Battle Spirits Saga on my YouTube and TikTok.

Words’ Prize Card

Winners of worlds will receive this unique Apotheosis Rite. This card is beautiful, and it makes me wish I could make it to locals. Good luck to everyone competing, I am extremely jealous.

Artwork

Product

I don’t care too much about deck boxes, but Tristan Dragon Shield stuff looks amazing!

video game reviews

Pathless Woods is The Cutest Cozy Survival Sandbox Game

April 5, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

I was sent a Pathless Woods 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, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials.

What is Pathless Woods

Pathless Woods is a cozy open-world survival game available now in early access on Steam. Players will travel through an adorable thematic world, gathering resources, building bases, and doing everything necessary to stay alive. The game offers a single and multiplayer mode, allowing gamers to choose the type of experience they want to play. This review will be based on the single-player mode.

Gameplay

The game starts with an easy-to-follow tutorial quest line to help guide players through the essential mechanics. While a guide might be needed for efficiency or more complicated recipes, the game does a fantastic job of getting players up to speed without feeling slow. Farming and gathering doesn’t feel like an unnecessary grind, and the recipes are pretty easy to follow. Some recipes are locked behind the quest line, but the game does this to teach players some of the less intuitive mechanics unique to Pathless.

Pathless Woods is an adorable entry to the genre, with enough depth to deserve its attention. Building and gathering mechanics are all designed for relaxing sessions, but the recipes and gathering locations might require a guide to be tabbed. Combat in this game is cute, with enough options for strategy without things getting too sweaty. The game’s survival mechanics like thirst, hunger, and illness make a meaningful impact without ever becoming unmanageable. If you enjoy survival games but aren’t in the mood for anything hardcore, Pathless Woods is an answer.

Impressions

I had a lot of fun with Pathless Woods. The game is adorable, there is a lot to do, and it never became a job. The game is still in early access, so there are some imperfections, but none of the glitches were game-breaking. Sometimes I couldn’t lock onto an enemy, or things wouldn’t load, but I could still play the game and have fun.

What sets this game apart is its cozy aesthetic. The art design, music, and mechanics all come together to create this relaxing and chill experience. You can die if you aren’t careful, but I never felt like I was up against impossible odds. This experience can change in multiplayer.

I am a huge fan of Fantasy Life, and this game had similar vibes but with a lot more content. If you like survival games or are just looking for something cute and chill to play, you need to get on Pathless Woods. I wouldn’t be too worried about the game’s Early Access status. The game is playable, it’s fun, and there have been consistent updates since I started playing. There is also a demo available if you need further convincing. Honestly, if I didn’t have to move on, I’d still be playing.

You can pick up Pathless Woods now on Steam for $17.99 (normally $19.99) until April 16.

digimon tcg

Top 3 Digimon Meta Decks: Sydney Regionals March 2024

April 4, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

Sidney just had their online regionals this weekend, and I’ll jump in on the top four decks that dominated the format. Always support your LGS, but I’ll leave TCG Player affiliate links to the singles for those who need them.

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials.

1. Four Sovereigns Deck

2. Green Rapidmon Deck

3. Four Sovereigns Deck

Other TCGs

Evangelion Comes to Battle Spirits Saga This May

April 3, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

Evangelion is headed to Battle Spirits Saga in the games newest starter set this May. Fans of the anime should definately lookinto picking up this deck because it is going to have some beautiful cards you’ll want to collect. I just opened up a Gundam card, and it is beautiful!

It looks much better in person. The foiling is amazing, and it makes this epic battle pop. I’ve started opening a box of False Gods for a series I am doing on YouTube and TikTok.

I am very impressed with the set so far. The art is pretty cool, the flavor is fun, and the quality is sturdy. If this older set is anything to go by, the Evangelion deck is going to be a solid product.

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. If you need to pick up some cardboard, get it over at TCG Player through my affiliate link. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

The Cards

Board Games and TCGs

Building Better Worlds is a Nifty Little Expansion: Alien RPG

April 3, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

I was sent a free copy of the Building Better Worlds expansion for the Alien Roleplaying Game to review for my blog. I haven’t had a chance to run the system yet, but I have read through the books. This will be my honest impressions. If you’re thinking of running Alien RPG at your table, you need to start with the core rulebook, Building Better Worlds is meant to be a supplement. I have detailed write-ups for the core rulebook and the Heart of Darkness module you should also check out.

If you enjoy my content, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials.

The Book

Quality

Free League Publishing continues its streak of high-quality rulebooks with this beautifully printed expansion. While the pdf won’t be printer-friendly, fans new and old of the Alien franchise will appreciate the beautiful artwork that lines its pages. Even if you don’t like physical media, you might want to make an exception. Feeling the pages between your fingers, and smelling that new book smell makes the experience hit different. Don’t get me wrong, the PDF is enough, but if you have space on your shelf, the book is pretty sweet.

What is it?

Building Better Worlds is meant to be an aid for the Game Mother who needs it. The book includes:

Rules for Colonization
New Feats and Personal Agendas for existing classes
Two new classes: Entertainer and Wildcatter
New Weapons
New Vehicles and Ships
New Planets and Systems
New Aliens to fear
7 Expeditions to run
Lots of flavor and backstory.

If you need ideas on what to run, new creatures to fill your adventures, or gear for your players, you might want to look into this expansion. It is by no means a necessity, but it is a great resource.

Impressions

I didn’t have much interest in the Alien universe prior to picking up the RPG. It wasn’t until I started reading the lore and timeline that I decided that I needed a better understanding. I’ve started making my way through the novels and movies, and it’s given me a better appreciation for how much flavor and care is put into these books.

I appreciate that the book includes timelines of important dates because it makes it easier to keep track of everything that is going on. If you don’t know anything about the alien universe, you will before you run your session zero. The book does a great job of laying out the lore and history in a way that makes sense but also fits its dark sci-fi theme. It gets deep, and I would almost recommend it as reading material.

If you need something to spice up your next campaign, the monsters in this book are pretty spicy. There are some brutal creatures that can end an adventure. I don’t think my playgroup would care too much about the colony mechanics, but the expeditions seem fun and there are some vehicles and weapons I’m sure they’ll want to work towards.

If you’re looking for a brutal and unforgiving system to run at your table, you run Alien RPG. If you need ideas for your next campaign, Building Better Worlds seems like a nifty little expansion.

How it Works

Top Prize Promo

Catagory Prize Promos

Conclusion

Upcoming Casual Tournament

Spoilers

Product

1. Charizard – Tord Reklev

2. Lost Tina – Isaiah Bradner

3. Pidgeot Control – Alessandro Cremascoli

What is Ario?

Gameplay

Impressions

What is Minishoot’ Adventures

Gameplay

Impressions

Words’ Prize Card

Artwork

Product

What is Pathless Woods

Gameplay

Impressions

1. Four Sovereigns Deck

2. Green Rapidmon Deck

3. Four Sovereigns Deck

The Cards

The Book

Quality

What is it?

Impressions

Gaming News and Review