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video game reviews

Yosei Wars Review: A Cute Retro Adventure

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Yosei Wars 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 System 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.

What is Yosei Wars?

Yosei Wars is a retro inspired arcade platformer out now on Steam.

The evil Junk Food army has invaded, taking the Tooth Faries Hostage and threatening tooth health. It is up to you to jump through its colorful world, fight off the many Junk Food monsters, and save any Fairy in your way. Do you have what it takes to be be the champion of good dental hygiene, or will this world rot away like an untreated cavity?

Gameplay

This is a very straightforward 2D platformer with some clear inspiration to its retro predecessors. Players will jump through colorful thematic levels collecting teeth, fighting monsters, and rescuing faries. There are 36 levels total with 6 unique bosses to overcome, and a fun little story to tie things together.

Review

Yosei Wars is an adorable nod to a classic era of gaming that I didn’t know I was missing. This game is cute, simple, relaxing, but offers enough of a challenge to keep things engaging. I love the colorful retro aesthetic, and the fantastic score that accompanies it. I would check this out if you’re looking for a cute and dose of nostalgia, I don’t think it gets better.

I’ve never been a fan of these types of platformers, but something about Yosie Wars kept me playing. Part of the draw was the retro colorful world, but the rest was the gameplay. The platforming is managable, the ramp in difficulty is fine (and the game does get hard), and the bosses are creative. My only complaint is that I could not get it to work on the Steam Deck. The game feels good on a desktop, but I would have preferred to play it on handheld. Maybe with enough attention, we’ll get that update.

Aside from that personal gripe, this is a solid game if you’re looking for something cozy, cute, and casual. Especially if you’re in the mood for something a little retro. You’ll definitely get $5 worth of fun out of this game.

You can pick up Yosei Wars on Steam for $4.99.

Tech Reviews

Is the Epomaker Aula F65 Pro Worth It?

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Disclaimer

Mechlands sent me the the Epomaker x Aula F65 Pro 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. Make sure you also check out my latest reviews for the Blade 101 and M75. I will be using affiliate links where possible. You are free to buy where ever you want, but it really helps me out if you use my links.

What’s in the box?

  • Aula F65 Mechanical Keyboard
  • USB-C to USB-A Cable
  • Key/Switch Puller
  • 2 Additional Switches
  • User Manual

Features

The Epomaker x Aula Mechanical keyboard is a 65% keyboard with unique flare. It comes in Black Contour and Gradient Gray, and both truly pop with their RBG lighting effect. I was sent the black, and the little wave design looks a lot cooler in person.

The F65 features 65 hotswappable keys and a dial for volume and media controls. 65% can handle most workloads, but there are preprogrammed short cuts for some added utility. The 4000mAh gives users full advantage of the lightning-fast wireless connections. With 1000 HZ polling, the keyboard promises a competitive edge against other keyboards in the price range.

Sound Test

Review

The F65 Pro is a very cool looking keyboard out of the box. The sleek and unique design will make it stand out on any desktop, and the RBG effects will help it pop. The keyboard is a great size for those who care about desktop space, and light for those who need something that travels. While the keyboard is well manufactured, it does feel and sound like a cheep plastic keyboard. The board also has a good amount of flex. Not enough to worry about, but I wouldn’t throw this around in a bag without at least a bit of protection.

As far as sounds go, this thing is loud. You are either going to love the sound, or hate how cheap and loud it is. I was not a fan and recommend you listen to the sound test before making your decision. I will say the typing experience is a lot more pleasant than I expected. The keys were soft to the touch and I never felt pain or fatigue from any of my sessions. It is a surprisingly comfortable keyboard with a decent typing angle.

The keyboard also has a solid battery life. I was getting about 8 hours with the RGB effect on, which is more than enough for most work flows. As for the performance, I think mine came defective. Pressing the space bar would randomly register the imputs twice. At random intervals, I was getting two spaces and it made typing any thing longer than a sentence annoying. Switching out the switch seems to have fixed the issue for now. Replacing the switch was easy enough with the included replacement and tool, but I shouldn’t have to do so when the keyboard is brand new.

The keyboard is not bad for the price point. I’ve definitely tried worse, but the fact that it came defective makes it a gamble. I can’t recommend it because for the hassle of replacing the defect, you can pick up a better keyboard. This seems like there were corners cut to make a cool looking keyboard at a budget, and I can’t sacrifice aesthetics for performance.

If you want to take the gamble, you can pick up the Epomaker x Aula F65 Pro from Amazon, or the official Mechlands store.

video game reviews

Is Scar-Lead Salvation Worth Your Time?

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Scar-Lead Salvation 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 reivew.

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 System 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.

What is Scar-Lead Salvation?

Scar-Led Salvation is a 3D third-person action shooter out now on Steam and PlayStation.

Willow wakes up in a strange robot testing facility without the memories of her identity. With the help of her advanced AI companion, she must make her way out of the facility, and maybe find out what is going on. But this won’t be an easy task. The facility is filled with robots ready to attack, and its hallways are a winding and confusing maze. Will Willow find out what happened to her, why she is here, and who she is?

Gameplay

Players control Willow as they fight their way through rooms of enemies. Combat is a pretty strait forward third person shooter. Players gear Willow with random weapons and abilities they find throughout a run. These weapons and abilities can be upgraded through out the level at upgrade stations. If Willow dies, she is reset at save point with only her basic weapons and abilities.

Review

Scar-Lead Salvation is a fun game, for the first few minutes of play. The game looks fine, combat feels good, and discovering the right weapon is exciting. Once the novelty of the game wears off, the game starts to feel repetitive.

One of the issues I have with the game is with the gearing system. Once you find a build you like, which happens early on in the game, there really is no reason to try anything new. Most of the drops become useless, and I started ignoring loot pretty early on in my playthrough. There really is no reason weapons should be drops since a lot of the time, they offer nothing new. In a looter shooter like Borderlands, even when a lot of the drops are useless, there is always a chance you get a weapon with a cool ability worth swapping into. Here you might find a gun with slightly better stats, but the difference it makes isn’t worth the time it takes to verify.

Combat in this game is smooth, but there really isn’t anything exciting to it. Enemies have the same patterns, and once you learn them, you aren’t dying. It gets very repetitive, especially since most of the rooms feel the same. I do like how that abilities charge by parrying successfully, but it doesn’t add too much depth to the game. The abilities don’t add much to the game either.

This is a game that does railroad its players through the story. There is no room for exploration because the rooms are bare and simple, and most of the loot you find is pointless. The story itself is fine. It has solid voice acting, but its not good enough to play through the game to find out what happens.

The game isn’t bad, but there also isn’t anything that leaves an impression. This is a game I will definitely forget playing, and one that I would have been mad if I paid full price for. It feels dated, and not in a good way. If you like the art style, I would wait for sale. If you are looking for a new game to play, I’d probably look elsewhere.

You can pick up Scar-Lead Salvation on Steam for $59.99.

Board Games and TCGs

2001: A Space Odyssey Board Game – Fun for Everyone

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Disclaimer

Maestro sent me the 2001: A Space Odyssey board game for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. Always support your LGS when buying board games, but you can pick it up from Amazon through my Affiliate link if you want to help me out. You can also check out my newest sponsor NordVPN if you’re looking for a good one and want to help me out.

What is 2001: A Space Odyssey – The Board Game?

This is a one vs many game based off the iconic book (or movie) of the same name. It is a 3-5 player game that takes about 30 mins to play through and rated for ages 10 and up. It is available now on the official Maestro Media store.

Players split off into two groups: the players who play as H.A.L and the crew who tries to stop H.A.L. This is a card game where players go back and forth, playing cards to either blow up the ship or shut down H.A.L. H.A.L can shut down systems, target players to slow their progress, or close doors to slow their movement. H.A.L can also listen to everyone on board the ship, so players will need to be clever with what they say to each other or risk getting caught by H.A.L.

The players on the other hand must move through the ship using their cards to undo the damage H.A.L. has done. They each have special abilities and can trade with one another, but H.A.L.’s ever pretense makes it difficult to work together.

H.A.L. wins if it is able to shut down the three systems or life support. The players win if they are able to shut down H.A.L.

Review

Before you get discouraged, you don’t need to know anything about the book or the movie to enjoy the game. People who have might enjoy the flavor and catch some solid reference to the source material, but it isn’t mandatory for understanding the game. In fact, this is one of the easiest games to teach and learn. Most of the time, I need a video because that is how I learn, but the rulebook is easy to read and the game play loop isn’t too complicated. This is a great game to pull out for people who don’t play many board games because onboarding is so easy.

The game itself is beautiful. The pieces are well printed on high quality cardboard. The game pips are bright, colorful, and with a good amount of detail. The cards are a little thin, but they are high quality prints that are easy to read. I sleeved my cards because I am a crazy person who sleeves everything, but you can get away with not sleeving them if this isn’t your go to game. The box has a beautiful thematic design with enough space for sleeved decks and the remaining game pieces. I love this box and it will be one that I keep on display.

Now the H.A.L. screen is flimsy and will fall. I wish it was made with cardboard, but I also understand keeping the cost down. It isn’t a huge deal if you’re only pulling the game out once in a while, but you will probably need to create your own if you pull this out every day. This isn’t a huge deal breaker, but it can be annoying if you have fix it every so often.

The gameboard is beautiful. The print is vibrant and the words are clear and legible. The board is a little thin, and I advise caution when opening it. I ripped mine a bit because I wasn’t paying attention to the direction of the opening. This is not the company or the boards fault, I was just a little too excited and didn’t open it correctly.

Most importantly however, the game is fun. Maestro does a good at creating the appropriate ammount of tension through the game’s mechanics. For the crewmembers, having that limited movement coupled with the limited resources as you race across the station trying to shut down H.A.L. is hard. Having to do it with a team but not being able to talk to them without giving too much away makes things tricky. Finding ways to communicate and work together makes it fun though. For H.A.L., having multiple crew memebers working against your goals is frustrating. It is frustrating to watch crew members undo your hard work, but it is so much fun figuring out what your players are up to, and shutting them down.

One thing I will say, RNG can scew a game, so make sure you shuffle well. Either side having a stacked deck because the cards weren’t shuffled properly can ruin a game. I recommend picking up some cheap sleeves for easier shuffling.

If you’re looking for a cool scifi game, or need a break form your favorite TTRPG, 2001: A Space Odyssey is a great place to start. It is a good looking game with fun and easy to learn mechanics. It is great for beginners, even those unfamiliar with source material.

You can pick up 2001: A Space Odyssey – The Board Game on the official Maestro Media’s page, or Amazon through my Affiliate link.

video game reviews

Drakantos Close Beta Signups are now Live!

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it is finally happening! After a long anticipated wait, we finally get a date for the Drakantos closed beta! The closed beta will run from July 25th – July 27th, and signups are live! Make sure you join the official Discord and add the game to your watchlist! If you don’t know what Drakantos is, make sure you check out my initial post.

This will be a short post because not much is known aside from the dates. We will get news about the playable characters at a later date, and I will be sure to cover it then as well. For now, all we know is that you will be able to invite your friends to the beta if you get in (provided the Steam function properly works properly that weekend).

I have been following Drakantos since I got a chance to talk to a few of the devs during my time at GDC a couple years back. Every Dev log, and I recommend you check them all out both the official coverage and my own, has added to my excitement and made me impatient. I am really rooting for this game’s success because I love the art, the flavor, and the passion that is going into the project. I can’t wait for finally get my hands on this game! Until then, we wait for more news.

video game reviews

Star Overdrive Review: A fun Janky Scifi Adventure

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Star Overdrive 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 System 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.

What is Star Overdrive?

Star Overdrive is a fast-paced open world scifi adventure out now on Steam, Epic Games, PlayStation, Xbox, and the Nintendo Switch.

Bios finds himself stranded on the planet Cebete as he searches for his beloved Nous. Armed with only his Keytar and handy hoverboard, Bios must race across the strange planet to find her and bring her back. But the journey won’t be easy. The world is full of strange beasts he needs to fight off and strange machines he needs to activate. Can he find the right upgrades to conquer the terrain, save the girl, and get back home? Will he learn what really happened here?

Gameplay

Star Overdrive is an openworld adventure game with a hoverboard gimmick. The hoverboard can be upgraded, tuned, and customized to fit a players style. Players can do tricks, do jumps, and go through special gates to gain boosts. If you aren’t moving fast across the map, you aren’t doing it right.

There is a crafting mechanic baked into this game. Players will collect materials along their adventure to craft different upgrades for their board, or to change the aesthetic. The farming can feel like a grind, but it is worth the trouble, especially if you like to consistently change your boards style. The board will wear with use, and having a fresh coat of paint and polish will make it perform better.

Combat in this game is simple. Players use the keytar to chain normal and heavy attacks, and can earn new powers along the adventure. Players can mostly look forward to exploring the vast world, searching for new styles, upgrades, lore, and some cool tracks to listen to.

Review

I really like Star Overdrive, but not as much as I thought I would. While I do love the flavor, the gameplay, and the concept, I found it a bit lacking. I am aware that there were some limitations baked into the game so that it can perform for the switch, and it definitely feels like a switch game.

One issue I have with the game is how empty the world feels after a while. Everything in this game looks cool, but once you start exploring the world, there isn’t much more to see. Some of it has to do with how they need to make room for the hoverboard riding mechanics, and the other has to do with maintaining the performance. It made me not really want to explore the world, and instead, I tried to finish the story as soon as possible.

The story itself is fine. I liked collecting the small tidbits and piecing together the events of the catastrophe. All the voice logs, journals, and the story itself was fun to collect. I think it is the only reason I kept playing.

The gameplay is fun, until the gimmick wears off. Combat is simple, but it makes the game the casual RPG I’ll occasionally pull out. Riding the hoverboard is so much fun. once I figured out the mechanics, got a few upgrades, I was sold. I wouldn’t say it has revolutionary movement mechanics, but they are good enough to keep players engaged. Zooming through the desert doing tricks, landing sweet jumps, and listening to good music made this game hard to put down.

One thing I did not like about the hoverboard was the upgrade system. I like that the upgrades felt meaningful, and I like that there was unlockable customization, but I don’t like the crafting system. The crafting system is simple, and it produces visible upgrades to the board, but it makes upgrading the board a grind. You have to constantly be farming materials and gambling on the part you get in return. It doesn’t take away too much time from the game, but I would have preferred to find the parts as random loot.

Combat was fine, but it gets better once you unlock a few powers. There were abilities that did feel broken, but it was a fun little loop that kept me engaged.

Despite its flaws, the game is a solid open world adventure with a solid story and a cool gimmick that is worth trying once. Whether or not you value exploration and deep combat may be the deal breaker, but I enjoyed it for the casual fun it is on my Steam Deck.

You can pick up Star Overdrive on Steam, Epic Games, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

video game reviews

KiiBoom Loop 65 Keyboard Review: A Must-Have Upgrade

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Disclaimer

KiiBoom sent me the Loop 65 Mechanical keyboard to review for my blog. while I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. Make sure you check out my latest reviews for the Phantom 98 and the Cybrix 16. I will also be using my Amazon Affiliate link where I can.

What’s in the Box?

  • Loop 65 Mechanical Keyboard
  • USB-C to USB-A Cable
  • Key/Switch Puller
  • Allen Wrench
  • 2.5 Ghz Wireless Dongle
  • Instruction Manual

Features

The Loop 65 is a stylish keyboard with a clean aluminum body that promises to be the only keyboard you’ll need if you’re looking for an upgrade. It comes in Pink and Purple, and while both colors are good options, I opted to get it in Pink.

The Loop 65 is a 65% hotswapable keyboard with QMK/VIA support for maximum customizability. The keyboard features 65 keys with south-facing RGB effects, and a dial for volume and media controls. The full aluminum gasket comes padded and layered for that satisfying typing sound you know you’re looking for. The Kiwi switches are with built in anti-ghosting are ready to take on any workflow, even if its gaming. Users can enjoy meaningful session on the keyboards high speed wireless connections on its respectable 4000mAh battery. This high performance and beautiful machine promises to be the upgrade you’ve been looking for.

Soundtest

Review

The Loop 65 is a fantastic upgrade to any setup. If you’re looking for a good mechanical keyboard that looks good, it doesn’t get better. This keyboard is so pretty. I love the ombre color scheme of the keys, and the split colored frame makes it pop. The aluminum frame is clean and well machined. 65 keys is more than enough for most workflows, but it can remapped with KIA for some added functionality. I didn’t reprogram the keyboard because it comes preprogrammed with solid set of functions.

Performance wise, the keyboard was great. I didn’t notice any latency, ghosting or any defects. It was very easy to set up to multiple devices, and incredibly easy to switch between them. I took full advantage of the fact I can connect wireslessly with up to four devices. The battery is small, but I was able to get about 8 hours of continuous use with the RGB on. This is more than enough for most use cases, but you can get more if you turn everything off. The RGB is so pretty, you aren’t going to want to.

Most importantly, this is the best feeling keyboard I’ve had the pleasure using. They keys are soft and feel good to the touch. The switches are responsive and offer the perfect amount of resistance to avoid fatigue. The layout is very comfortable, with the perfect tying angle to avoid any fatigue. The Loop may not be explicitly ergonomic, but it is the most comfortable experience at its price point.

If you’re looking for a new keyboard, it really doesn’t get much better than the KiiBoom Loop 65. You can pick it up on the official KiiBoom shop, or through Amazon using my Affiliate link if you want to help me out.

Board Games and TCGs

Pathfinder: The Broken Palace – A Vampiric Adventure Review

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Disclaimer

Paizo sent me a free copy of the Shades of Blood: The Broken Palace adventure book 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. You can pick up The Broken Palace directly from Paizo, or you can use my Amazon affiliate link if you want to help me out.

What is The Broken Palace?

The Broken Palace is book two of the Shades of Path adventure designed to take players from level 4 to 6.

The players venture deeper into the broken palace on their search for Lady Nalushae, but find themselves trapped in an ancient cellblock. Now, they must venture into its dark, dank, vampire infested prison for a way out. With their supplies dwindling and threats around every corner, players must learn to be resourceful. Can they make their supplies last long enough to save the world? Can they navigate the complex tensions between the three vampire factions that rule the Underheaven? What secrets will they uncover? What treasures will they find?

Impressions

The cover art is an immediately draws the eyes. I love the use of red. I love Naulusha’s design and how her pose strikes commands attention. I love the image of what I can assume are player characters struggling against a vampire. This series is supposed to be a darker, more horror oriented type of adventure, and the cover does a good job at setting the appropriate mood. The art throughout the book is equal as striking, and I enjoy flipping through it, just to look at the art. If you like vampires, undead, and horror, the book has some very good looking flavor and some fantastic flavor to go with it.

Now the overarching meta story is solid. I enjoyed reading the different bits of lore, and the warring factions are interesting. Most importantly, the book gives players many ways to solve the story. It doesn’t have to all be fighting, but it can be if that’s the kind of table you have. The dungeon design is fine. It has some neat encounters I will definitely borrow, and it builds a good amount of tension and urgency.

One thing to note about this adventure is that there is a survival mechanic that you will need to manage. Players will need to keep track of their food and water supplies to survive. The game does streamline the mechanic so it doesn’t feel like work without taking away any of the tension, but GMs are free to get as hardcore with their mechanics as they want. You can play without this mechanic, but I felt like it took away a lot of the urgency and tension. I like how there is this pressure to save the world from eternal darkness, the desire to explore this tomb of an advanced civilization, and the ever present threat of dying from starvation along with all the other threats that lurk in the shadows.

Overall, the adventure is fine. I enjoyed the flavor and lore, and there are some very cool encounters and monsters to play with. It was a fun path to explore, but I think my table is a bit too casual to take advantage of the survival mechanics. The survival mechanics are easy to manage, but we would often forget to keep track and that definitely took away from the tension. We still had fun, which I’d argue makes the adventure worth trying, but there are definitely some decisions my players wouldn’t have made if we were keeping better track. There is also the danger of being too hardcore about the survival mechanics. If the survival mechanics is that if it takes away from the story or fun, you’re doing too much.

Honestly, if you like vampires and don’t mind the survival mechanics, this is a solid horror campaign. It has a cool creepy setting filled with neat monsters and encounters and I am very interested to see what comes next.

I do want to take the moment to commend Paizo for the quality of their books. Everything I’ve gotten so far has been printed to a very high standard. Everything is clear, vibrant, and the books feel durable. I spilled all of my coffee on this book, and while I don’t recommend anyone try it themselves, I was surprised by how good it cleaned up. There is some warping and some staining, but the book looks good, and is still very usable.

If you want to pick up your own copy of The Broken Palace, check out the official Paizo website, or you can pick it up on Amazon through my affiliate link.

video game reviews

Exploring Moonlighter 2: Gameplay Impressions

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Disclaimer

I was sent the Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault demo to review for my blog. I understand the game isn’t out yet and will be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, these will still be my honest first impressions.

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 System 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.

What is Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault?

Moonlighter 2 is a shop simulator with a dungeon crawler built into it.

Dive into the strange and fantastic world of the endless vault as you hunt for treasures to sell at your shop. When you are done adventuring, you will run the most profitable shop in all the land. Bring in customers, keep your shop clean and stocked, and make sure you get a healthy markup on everything that flows through your shelves. Can you make your shop the best in the land? Will you ever make enough to make it home and take it back?

Gameplay

Moonlighter 2 has two gamplay loops: dungeon crawling and shop keeping.

The dungeon crawl is easy. Players dive into strange levels of the endless vault in search of treasures where they fight off monsters and try to stay alive. While combat does require some strategy, it is simple. Players get a ranged attack, strong and normal attack, and the use of some items. It makes for a cute relaxing loop without distracting from what I believe is the main focus of the game.

The main draw to the game will be the shop simulator the story is built around. After picking up treasures from the vault, players will sell it to NPCs. The goal of the game is to earn money for upgrades and eventually, for useful items that will help them with the campaign. Players can use powers to upsell to their customers, and can complete certain challenges for added rewards. The player is also responcible for keeping the shop clean, clients happy, and the shelves stocked. Do you have what it takes to keep this double life?

Impressions

I was very excited to try Moonlighter 2 because I’ve heard good things bout the original Moonlighter. The game has a very cool artstyle, the concept seems interesting, and the gameplay looks relaxing. The demo is a bit unstable unfortunately, and it makes it hard to form a proper opinion. I was warned about a lot of the issues that came with this demo, but not being able to play the intended experience does hurt my impressions of it.

When the game did work, it was fine, but nothing too exciting. The combat is simple, but can be punishing if you aren’t paying attention. Unfortunately, I kept dying because of the performance issues, and I was unable to explore the full depth of the system. Shop keeping is also simple, which is fine if you just want a cozy game to relax too, but bad if you want to play a shop simulator. There are a few shop sim games I rather be playing instead.

Overall, I need to see a more polished version before I can recommend it. Some players might be patient enough to thug through the games quirks and give the game its proper chance, but most won’t. This is a huge demo that is too unstable to be worth the trouble. I would try it if you have nothing else to try, otherwise, I would wait for a better version.

You can check out the Moonlighter 2 demo on Steam. Don’t forget to wishlist!

Tech Reviews

Epomaker Split 65 Review: A Budget Ergonomic Keyboard

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Disclaimer

Epomaker sent the Split 65 mechanical keyboard for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinion. This will be my honest review of the keyboard. Make sure you also check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker Tide Alice and Aula F108. I will also leave my Amazon Affiliate link where I can because it really helps me out.

What’s in the box?

  • Split 65 Mechanical Keyboard
  • 3 Extra Switches
  • Wireless Dongle
  • USB-C to USB-A Cable
  • USB-C to USB-C Cable
  • Key/Switch Puller
  • User Manual

Features

If you are looking for a budget friendly ergonomic keyboard, then the Split 65 might be for you. This beautifully designed 65% keyboard 68 keys and a knob for volume controls. Each key and switch can be easily swapped with the included tool, and each has a soft south facing RGB for a little added flare. The split design and height make it easy to for users to find the most comfortable typing angle. There is also a magnet to keep the two halves together for a cleaner layout when you’re done.

As for performance, the anti ghosting N-Key rollover makes every keystroke count. The QMK/VIA support gives this keyboard tremendous utility. Its 3000 mAh battery gives it a respectable lifespan through its high speed wireless and Bluetooth connections. The even faster wired connection is ready to pick up the slack when it needs to.

Most importantly, the gasket mounted design and the four layers of dampening material gives the keyboard its satisfying typing sound without it becoming obnoxious.

The Sound Test

Review

I was a little disappointed by the Split 65’s design of because the keyboard looked a little too simple. I love the color scheme and appreciate the simple clean design, but it didn’t impress me like other Epomaker keyboards have. With time, the opinion did change, especially when I got to enjoy the benefits of a split keyboard.

I have a repetitive stress injury in both hands that require specific ergonomics. The wrong keyboard will cause so much pain that I can’t use my hands. Split keyboards have the solution to my problem, and Epomaker really nails it with the Split 65. My injury never triggered once, and I use my keyboard for an unhealthy amount of time. The amount of slack the connecting wire was more than enough to fit my frame, and the keys are soft to the touch. Most importantly, the keyboard has such a soothing typing sound that it is going to be difficult to go back to a normal keyboard.

As far as performance goes, I didn’t notice any latency or ghosting throughout my workflow or gaming. I do think the battery is a little small, but I guess it has to. I was getting about 6 hours per charge which is more than enough, but I was getting used to one less wire on my desk. The battery would last a lot longer if I turned off the RGB, but it looks so pretty, I didn’t have it in me.

Overall, if you are looking to upgrade your set up or looking for something ergonomic to relieve some of that hand strain, do yourself a favor and get a Split 65. It is a fantastic option for the price, and you can always change the key caps to fit your style.

You can pick up the Split 65 keyboard on the official Epomaker site, or on Amazon through my affiliate link.