I was sent Astlibra Gaiden: The Cave of Phantom Mistfor 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 of the game.
If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow the socials, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.
What is Astlibra Gaiden: The Cave of Phantom Mist
Astlibra Gaiden: The Cave of Phantom Mist is the first DLC for Astlibra Revision. The game picks up after the events of the first game and introduces a new character. I’ve written my review of the base game, but if you haven’t played it yet, you need to. Astlibra is a modern Metroidvania for the fans of the old-school classics for PC and Switch, but the DLC is only available on Steam at the moment. Either way, I recommend you at least check out the Steam demo.
After the events of the last invasion, a hero’s guild has formed to keep the realm safe from evil. All was good until one day the heroes vanished. It is now up to the baker’s daughter to venture into the Cave of the Phantom Mist and bring the heroes back. Does she have what it takes to return the piece to the land?
Gameplay
Leveling in this game requires players to grind gems to purchase stats in between runs. While this gives the game its grind, it isn’t a terrible one. At least not on Normal. I like that the game continues to give players the freedom to find their playstyle through their character’s build, but I felt like I needed less guidence this time around.
While the DLC does have a unique story, it isn’t as interesting as the base game. Where the story for the base game is deep and developed, the DLC acts more as a frame of flavor for the grind. It isn’t bad, but fans of the base game will be disappointed.
Thoughts
I enjoyed Astlibra Gaiden, but I see where it won’t be for everyone. Fans of the original who enjoyed the story and complex mechanics will be disappointed by the changes. The story isn’t as good, and the game is easier. The DLC feels like a more casual entry to the series, and that isn’t a bad thing.
Progression in Astlibra Gaiden is more like a dungeon diver roguelike where players will have to grind through a procedurally generated dungeon to progress through the story. While the story isn’t as great as the first one, it’s good enough for the casual experience that it is. I enjoyed the repetition, but I didn’t follow the story as closely as I did with the base game.
If you haven’t played the Astlibra base game, I recommend you go do that first. It’s an amazing game that should be in your library. If you’re a fan of Astlibra but want something more casual that isn’t a huge commitment, go get the DLC. It’s not as good as the base game, but it does scratch that casual Metroidvania itch.
I just came by the nifty indie TCG, Chronicles of Arcane, and thought I would share. The game has such a beautiful art style, and I love the fantasy vibe. The first set is getting ready to ship, so make sure you join the official Discord to stay on top of all the news. Until then, let’s look at some of the art featured in the first set of Chronicles of Arcane.
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I was resisting following another TCG, but with Wings of the Captain, I couldn’t any longer. The art in this set is amazing, especially if you’re a fan of the anime.
Wings of the Captain releases on March 15. Make sure you check your LGS to see if you can still preorder, but it looks like it will be a while before it drops back down to MSRP. If your LGS doesn’t carry One Piece, you can always check with TCG Player. They have preorders for Wings of the Captain and all other One Piece Product, but prices may still be bit inflated due to demand. Maybe we’ll some reprints to bring the prices down.
Either way, let’s look and admire the art in the meantime. I need the Buggy alt art! If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.
If you’re a fan of the Chainsaw Mananime, you’re going to want to collect the newest Weiss Schwarzset. The set features some iconic art and scenes from an incredible anime. If you haven’t had a chance to watch Chainsaw Man, I highly recommend you start it ASAP. It has a cool premise, memorable characters, and an amazing art style and animation.
I was sent Astlibra Revision 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 my socials, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.
Demons invaded your village. You and your long-time friend try to escape, but something catches you and leaves you unconscious. You wake up in a strange new world with a hazy memory. A talking bird comes to your aid, and together, you make a quiet life there. But your past haunts you, and every day the nightmares get worse. Something is calling you to action until you can no longer deny it.
With the help of your new companion, you must travel back to the human world and help free it of the demons that now roam it. Will you be the hero this world needs? Will you find your friend after all this time?
Gameplay
I recommend you look up guides for this game because it can be a little complicated. You shouldn’t be scared off by the game’s complexity, but there are some recipes and builds that won’t be intuitive for the casual gamer.
You start the game off with basic attacks, and slowly build combos and learn magic. Like any game in the genre, you fight your way through mobs of monsters and face creative bosses at the end.
The game features a liberating leveling system that allows players to build their characters to fit their playstyle. Going up a level gives players skill points to allocate against the attributes of their choosing. Monsters will drop special materials that can be spent on permanent buffs to a character. This is a very cool system, but one that can make the game difficult if you aren’t building efficiently. There is an easy way to reset a character’s allocation, but it is important to be actively thinking about your build as you play.
I really like how the shops are run in this Astlibra Revision. Buying items requires gold and materials you farm throughout the game. This is a terrific flavor and it gives me something to work towards.
Thoughts
I absolutely love this game even though I am terrible at it. The art is beautiful, the gameplay is engaging, the soundtrack if phenomenal, and the game is fun. I recommend you check this game out just for the soundtrack. I’ll leave you with the playlist for your to get hyped!
This game is a fantastic Metroidvania, especially if you’re a fan of the classics. I struggled because I refused to use guides, but I appreciate the complexity. You’re going to obsess with your builds, farming locations, and combos so much that you might need a journal. I’ve never had such a rewarding experience with a game like I’ve had with Astlibra, nor have I ever gotten so technical. There is a grind to this game, but I didn’t notice because I was having fun.
My favorite part of this game is the story. I was hooked from the moment I booted it up until the moment I had to put it down. It has great characters, a solid pacing, and a fantastic flavor. If you have time for a well-developed narrative and complicated mechanics, you need to pick up Astlibra Revision. It is the modern Metroidvania that you should try at least once.
You can pick up Astlibra Revision on Steam and Switch for $24.99. It is currently on sale on the Nintendo eShop for $19.99. Everyone should at least give the Steam demo a shot. It includes the prologue and a solid sample of the end game mechanics.
If you’ve been running Dragonbane and need to spice it up, consider preordering the Bestiary released on February 27. The book includes roll tables, random encounters, adventure hooks, and 67 new monster blocks. The book is available in a hardcover Standard Edition and a faux leather cover with gold foil print Collector’s Edition. The collector’s edition looks very pretty and will look amazing on any shelf. Both versions come with instant PDF access to the Bestiary. You will be able to purchase the PDF on DriveThru RPG at launch if don’t care about physical media.
Free League Publishing is also releasing cardboard Monsters Standee Set ($24.62) for folks in need of miniatures with the Dragonbane flavor. I can’t speak on the quality of the standees, but at least they look cool.
I was sent a free copy of the Bestiary PDF to cover for my blog. I haven’t had a chance to run any of the monsters as I finish my current campaign, but I am planning on running a couple of one-shots soon to close things out. I did flip through the book, and I remain impressed with the art and flavor.
The book includes nine chapters of monster types: Nightkin, Rare Kin, Insectoids, Trolls, Giants, Beasts, Undead, Dragons, and Demons. Each monster introduces new lore, an adventure hook, and a random encounter for when you need it. At a glance, the stats and mechanics of the new monsters seem fun and fair, but I’ll need to test them to know for sure. For those of you who love Dragonbane and need access to new lore and monsters, go preorder the Bestiary. For those of you who don’t mind waiting, you can pick up a copy of the Standard Edition on Amazon for $39.99.
I will be posting a more detailed review once I run a couple of encounters, so stay tuned for that. If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.
I know I am very late, but it’s been a busy season for me. I’ll try to finish this up as soon as I can. Make sure you always read the original. If you enjoy this project, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.
Fenriloogamon drops from the Digivolution light onto all fours. The atmosphere around its body burns from its heat. Each mighty paw leaves behind a molten print as it sparks into an unextinguishable blue flame. Bright blue fur spills Brom between its platinum armor that rattles elegantly with each step. Fenriloogamon’s tail wags as it turns its attention to the professor.
“Here I am, Professor. I’m finally part of the club,” Eiji and Fenriloogamon taunt in unison. They stare down at the professor with a hungry determination.
“Remarkable,” the professor lets out. “I never thought your desire to save Leon would be enough to trigger your mega Digivolution. You are full of surprises Mr. Nagasumi.” He chuckles.
“Aren’t friends important to you?”
“I don’t see a need. People are either useful or they aren’t. Why complicate things further?”
“So that’s all we were to you? Useful?”
“Very,” the professor says with a smirk. “Which reminds me. I still owe you a fat bonus.”
“How fat?”
“Don’t tell me you’re reconsidering my offer?” Ryusenji jests.
“Nah, there’s nothing to consider. I already know the type of person you are.” Inside Fenriloogamon’s Digicore, Eiji looks over his monitors. He examines the readouts before cracking his knuckles. “We’re going all out bud,” he says to Fenriloogamon.
Fenriloogamon leaps into the air, unleashing a mighty roar that shakes the Source Domain.
RAGNAROK HOWLING!
Yulin watches Fenriloogamon charge toward the professor. She felt safe behind the pillars and slabs that surrounded her. The Tyrannomon that brought her here stands nearby with an unconscious Ryudamon at its feet. A second Tyrannomon carefully lowers Pulsemon and Black Agumon on the ground nearby.
Kosuke rides in on the third liming Tyrannomon. He gives it a gentle pat on the head as he gets off and begins limping towards Black Agumon.
“Kosuke…” Yulin lets out.
Kosuke limps past her and drops in front of Black Agumon. “Forgive me,” he makes out weakly. “Your warning wasn’t about the Source Domain. It was about Ryusenji.” Kosuke clutches his fist tightly.
“What’s in your hand?”
“I’m here to put an end to it,” he says as he reaches towards the Black Agumon. Yulin can make out the syringe in his hand. Black Agumon stares back with an unchanging blank expression.
“I can’t hear Dorumon anymore…he took everything from me..If only..” his voice trails.
“Snap out of it Kosuke!” Yulin says sternly. “At least wait to see what the kid can do.”
Fenriloogamon burns a pale blue in the distance.
Fenriloogamon releases a searing shockwave towards Dorugoramon. The attack sends Dorugoramon skidding several meters back. Fernriloogamon readies its next attack, leaping through the air until it was directly overhead. It rains down fiery beams from its limbs.
JOTUNHEIMR GALE!
Kosuke turns towards the battle for the first time since it started. “I don’t believe it.” Kosuke watches in amazement. “The kid actually did it.”
“It’s easy when you’ve got nothing to lose.” Yulin interjects.
“He’s fighting for his friend. That’s not nothing.” Kosuke follows the fight carefully. “He’s always been determined to be on the winning team.”
“You used to be like that, once,” Yulin says as she moves closer to Kosuke.
“Maybe I was,” he says quietly.
“We were all like that once. Now, we just have to do what we can.” Yulin places her hand gently on his shoulder.
Kosuke looks over to her and smiles. “Thank you. I needed to hear that.” He lets out a sigh as he tightens his grip around the syringe.
A blinding pillar of light shoots up from the center of the stone pillar, pulling Durogramon and Fenriloogamon’s attention from the battle.
“What was that?” the professor asks.
“Eiji,” Fenriloogamon calls out. “It’s them!”
The light begins to pulse.
“Did he?” Eiji looks down to search for Kosuke, but there was no sign of him or the Tyrannomon. “He must have administered the Medicine.” The beam turns a familiar warm yellow hue. “LEON! PULSEMON! COME BACK!” They shout.
Leon lays lifelessly in his bed. Wires and tubes run from various machines into his body. A sudden jolt wakes one of the monitors as it fills with unusual activity as the Digimon Linker on Leon’s wrist flickers to life.
The pillar of light fades. Suddenly a bolt of lightning jumps from the center of the stone circle.
“Pulsemon!” Eiji cries with joy.
“Sorry we’re late.” Pulsemon and Leon say at once. “You look…different.”
“Leon? Is it really you?”
“Who else would it be?” they answer.
“Isn’t this sweet?” Ryusenji interjects.
“Professor?” they turn to the silver dragon now staring down at them. “Why are you inside Dorugoramon?”
“I’m here to stop Eiji and the rest of the Sons of Chaos,” the professor explains sheepishly.
“You’re fighting Eiji?”
“He betrayed us Leon. He’s siding with the enemy. They’re trying to destroy the Digital World.”
“Don’t listen to him Leon! He’s the bad guy, not us.”
Leon and Pulsmon look around them. They take in the strange new scenery. Their talon scratches at their chin as they continue to process. They nod suddenly and let off a snap. A spark flashes and consumes their body as they Digivolve.
When the sparks fizzle out, Kazuchimon stands between the Eiji and the Professor.
“How..how is that possible?” Yulin asks, watching the new Kazuchimon spring to life. “He was DMIA.”
“The recovery medication was originally designed to extend the amount of time someone can be mindlinked.” Kosuke watches in amazement. “The drug worked.” He had done all he could do.
“Remember Leon. Remember what he did to you. He’s made his choice. Now join me and help me defeat him.”
“Don’t listen to him, Leon. He’s using you!” Eiji yells as he watches Kazuchimon swing around to stand beside Dorugoramon. Kazuchimon begins collecting electrical energy in its fists.
SHINDEN SHOURAIKO!
Kazuchimon releases the energy in a powerful strike, exploding with powerful force against its unsuspecting target.
Kosuke lets out an anguished scream as he falls to the ground in pain.
Dorugoramon’s arm smolders. Black fumes rise from the wounds. “Leon?” Ryusenji lets out. “Why?”
“You didn’t bring me back professor,” they respond. “Tartarus did.” They release a flurry of blows, each one connecting violently against the silver dragon. Dorugarmon falls to the ground and the attacks stop. “And it was Eiji who came after us.
“Leon!” Eiji exclaims.
Kazuchimon rushes to Fenriloogamon’s side. “It’s hard to explain…but we heard the whole thing.”
Eiji smiles. “So you’re saying you’re siding with us Code Crackers?”
“Kazuchimon smiles. “Never.” It draws its lightning blade and points it at the professor.
“You’re making a huge mistake Leon!” The professor shouts.
“So be it.”
“We’ve got your back,” Eiji and Fenriloogamon say as they move next to Kazuchimon. The two Digimon ready for their next attack.
Character design/illustration illustrator: malo
Kazuchimon and Fenriloogamon open up a private channel.
“Hey Leon…” Eiji says sadly.
“Don’t worry about it.” they reply before Eiji can apologize.
“Give up quietly professor,” Kazuchimon commands.
The professor cackles. “This is my domain now. You don’t stand a chance!” A tree diagram splits the sky above them.
“What’s going on?” Leon shouts.
“Something’s happening to the alter!” Eiji yells.
“Did you already forget that I cracked the Source domain?” the professor gloats. “I’ve run out of patience.”
Dorugoramon’s body begins to bend and stretch suddenly.
“Kosuke!” Yulin shouts as she watches her old friend fall to the ground unconscious.
Dorugoramon continues to contort violently. A strange force pushes against its insides, trying to burst from within.
“It’s downloading data directly from the source Digimon. He’s going to kill them if he keeps this up!”
“This is bad!”
“Lets go Kazuchimon!” Fenrilogamon barks. The two Digimon charge at their terrifying new foe.
Dying Light is hitting the tabletop in Glass Cannon Unplugged’s newest Kickstarter coming February 27th. Players can now enjoy their favorite zombie franchise in a board game that seems pretty faithful.
The world has been overrun by zombies, and only one city is left standing. Run, climb, and jump through the streets of Villendor as you make your final stand. Do you have what it takes to survive?
What is Dying Light: The Board Game
Dying Light: The Board Game is a 1-4 player cooperative narrative game where players must survive in Earth’s last remaining city. The game features dynamic dice mechanics, an impactful day and night cycle, and an adrenaline-fueled parkour and combat system. I’ll have to see more, but the game promises an authentic and unique system.
As for game pieces, the game comes with a double-sided board and easy-to-build modular terrain ensuring that all your games will be different. There will be two editions of the game: Standard and Deluxe. The Standard Edition will include 76 cardboard game pieces while the Deluxe version will have high-quality 32 mm plastic miniature versions. The minis look very cool, but I definitely would need to learn how to paint.
Both versions include:
4 Runers
8 Bandits
60 Infected
4 Large Infected Bosses
The day and night cycle is the game’s coolest gimmick. Mechanically, players will experience a shift in challenges and possibilities depending on the time of day. Thematically, this is the fantastic flavor for any zombie game where nighttime is always more dangerous. Visually, the board, buildings, and game pieces light up under UV light for a visually stunning and immersive experience. It looks like I’m going to need to invest in a good UV light for game night.
If you’re a fan of the game, or looking for a zombie game, you might want to follow the Dying Light Board Game Kickstarter. I like the flavor, the minis look cool, and I love that there is a solo-play option (I don’t have friends who would play with me).
People who back the Kickstarter within the first 24 hours also receive the exclusive Kyle Crane character pack, so make sure you turn on those notifications.
If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow the socials, and share this with your friends.
This news is a little old, but I’m posting it for those who missed it. The Grand Archive ban and restricted list have been posted, and if you’re participating in the online tournament this weekend February 24, you should already be compliant.
Those of you wanting to play some Grand Archive and win some National Qualifier Points (NQPs) should sign up for Yeti Gaming’s webcam regionals. It is a $10 entry fee for a tournament you play over Discord. The top 8 players will receive:
Finalist Playmat
18 packs of Alchemical Revolution
4 Gold Packs
6 Silver Packs
1st place will receive these rewards but with a Regional Champion playmat instead of the finalist one. Check the official site for more details. Sign-ups are still open.
Ban List
The ban list effective February 16 has been announced, but the list is a bit confusing. There are three categories, but only category three is the ban list. Categories 1 and 2 are watch lists, with 2 being more problematic from what I gather. Sword of Avarice, Reckless Conversion, and Crystal of Empowerment are banned.
Crystal of Empowerment has been a mainstay in the competitive meta persistently. While the intention was to provide a cog in the strategy of level manipulation primarily for Mage and Cleric, it has proved to affect the game in more facets than intended, warping the tempo of the game. It limits design in other classes where it should be much harder to modulate levels compared to Mage and Cleric. However, an additional reason to ban it now rather than later, is that Crystal has been overperforming in the current meta even when used for its intended purpose.
Category 1 Watch List
Cards in this category are considered problematic for the future of the game. The newest additions to this list are Scepter of Lumina and Erupting Rhapsody.
Thank you for reading. If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. If you need any Grand Archive, like the new Alchemical Revolution set, pick it up at TCG Player using my affiliate links!
I was sent Matchmaker Agency 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 of the game. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee!
What is Matchmaker Agency?
Matchmaker Agency is a management game out now on Steam. In a town defined by its romance, it is your job to facilitate it. Your grandparents used to run the town’s renowned matchmaker agency until their deaths. As the only other person in the family passionate about the business, your grandparents have left the keys to the business to you.
This task won’t be easy. It has been years since the shop was in business, and people have forgotten it is renowned. Build your clientele, run successful ad campaigns, make successful matches, and build your reputation. Can you build your agency to its former glory?
Gameplay
The goal of Matchmaker Agency is to build a successful business. There are logistical challenges that need to overcome like staying on top of your bills, maintaining your client’s satisfaction, building your reputation, and upgrading your place of business. These are decisions players need to make each week. While the main loop of the game is finding successful matches for your clients, staying on top of the business’ logistics keeps the lights on.
To make matches, you’ll need to attract clients. You’ll do this by spending money on advertising, good word of mouth, and buying upgrades for your shop. When you attract a client, you’ll need to interview the client to find out what they want from their match. Once you have enough data and clients, you can set them up on dates. On dates, you’ll be presented with quick time challenges to help create a spark between your clients. If your matches are successful, you can keep building your business until you’re the best in the city.
Thoughts
I enjoyed Matchmaker Agency. It had a cute premise, a relaxing gameplay loop, and a fun art style. I’m not a huge fan of the genre, so I appreciate how casual this entry is. One unavoidable issue players will face is the awkward translation. There is some odd syntax that makes interviews tricky. It isn’t unintelligible, but it is noticeable. After a while, I kind of knew what the game was asking for, but I did fail some interviews because of the translation.
Another issue I had was with the dates. On dates, players are presented with issues and scenarios they have to react to. These choices affect the success of the date, but the timer goes by too quickly. Bundle this with the awkward translations, these challenges are unnecessarily difficult at times. I failed some challenges because I didn’t have enough time to make sense of my choices. It isn’t impossible, and eventually, you’ll know what the game wants, but it is something to consider.
Despite the flaws, the game is fun. Matchmaker Agency is a casual management game with a quirky and fun story. It has a great art style, a fantastic soundtrack, and a relaxing gameplay loop. The translation issues are noticeable, but they aren’t a deal breaker. If you’re looking for a casual wholesome game and don’t mind the translation issues, grab Matchmaker Agency.
You can pick up Matchmaker Agency on Steam for $19.99 (currently on sale for $16.99 for the next 15 hours).
