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video game reviews

Riftfall Demo Review: A Nostalgic Boomer Shooter Experience

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Disclaimer

I was sent the Riftfall demo to review for my blog. I understand the game isn’t finished yet so I will be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, these are my honest first impressions.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

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 review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Riftfall?

Riftfall brings the classic boomer shooter to a modern audience with its unique aesthetic, 20-level campaign, and all the guns you need to blast your way through them. Riftfall aims to take shooters back to when they were at their most fun. Back when you picked up a gun and started blasting, without the ridiculous pay walls or micro transactions. The game is releasing sometime this year, but there is a demo available in the meantime. Don’t forget to wishlist.

Hook

The rift has opened, unleashing waves of enemies that threaten your salvation. With the help of your AI squadmates and some very powerful guns, blast your way though the unique levels as you search for a way to close the rift. Run fast, shoot faster, and activate some bullet time in a high-speed adventure you will never forget.

Gameplay

Riftfall is an appropriate love letter to the boomer shooters of my youth. You grab your guns and blast your way through the different levels. Each group of enemy you encounter has a unique strategy to take you down. Overcome them all, and collect useful resources like ammo, health, and shields along the way. The game builds up to powerful and unique boos fights you will never forget. There is also an upgrade system so you can customize your character to fit your playstyle. I didn’t touch the skill trees much in the demo. You also get AI squadmates to help you in battle.

If you miss the old days when you could run home and play DOOM all night instead of doing your homework, or want to experience it for the first time, check out the Riftfall demo.

Impressions

I’ve been doing this long enough to be desensitized to the use of “love letter”. If is often a marketing gimmick to lure fans of the original game or genre for an easy sale, but there have been a few gems over the years that have proven me wrong. I can tell that the creators of Riftfall really loved this era of gaming with how much effort has been put into replicating the vibe that made these games everlasting. The visuals, the music, and the gameplay all come together in an almost perfect love letter. The problem? The demo is kind of broken. I still had fun with the title, but it needs more patches.

Aesthetic

Riftfall has a unique retro aesthetic, but it does not feel old. I am a huge fan of the blocky, simple enemies and the unique maps the demo takes you through. The world is simple, but beautiful. It did give me flashbacks of all the hours I spent on DOOM, and that is not a bad thing. The reason you should really play this game is for the soundtrack. The music in this game is fantastic. I sat through a couple of the songs without playing because I just wanted to enjoy the music. I will be finding the soundtrack when it comes out and adding it to my playlist. The soundtrack is up there with Don’t Stop Girly Pop and Planet of Lana.

Gameplay

I played a lot of DOOM growing up because it was one of the few games I could run for a while. This game is a proper entry to the genre with some well placed humor to make the game perfect. The guns all feel unique and everything is quick. I had a lot of fun with this game, when it worked.

The biggest issue I have with this demo is that it isn’t working. At least not with my RTX3060. The game crashed in the tutorial. Everything fought during the big escape, only to unfreeze to a death screen. The enemies were a little bugged and a few stutters before that were hard to ignore. Skipping the tutorial, the performance got a little better but there are still issues. The enemy AI is king of dumb and you can cheese the boss fights if you have any video game knowledge. There were times where I would fall through the floor for no reason. It never died because the enemy was a little too dumb (or maybe I am just really good at this game). The AI squad that follows you around is useless. It kept getting stuck out of combat, but it least it was funny.

That said, I still had fun. If they can get the game working smoothly (you need a game like this to be smooth for the speed runners), it is a solid addition to the library. As is, I would try it out and show your support if you like boomer shooters.

Conclusion

Riftfall is worth checking out so you can fall in love with the sound track. The game is in a rough state, but it also isn’t finished yet. A few more patches should be good, but they should at least try fixing the tutorial. A game’s performance shouldn’t be killing players. Personally, I think Mullet Jack does this a little better, But I do like it better than Rebel Engine. I personally prefer El Paso, Nightmare for its unique and trippy take on the genre.

Make sure you check out the demo, and don’t forget to wishlist!

Trailer

video game reviews

Why Mouse P.I. for Hire is a Must-Play Game

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Mouse P.I. for Hire 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 reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

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 review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Mouse P.I. for Hire?

Mouse P.I. for Hire is the best game you will play all year. Don’t waste your time reading this review. Go buy this game and thank me later. Mouse PI is a first person shooter with a fantastic noir story and a unique old timy cartoon aesthetic that leaves it an incredibly memorable gaming experience. You can pick up the game on Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch 2.

Hook

Jack Pepper remembers the old world, and continues his fight in the new one. Jack is a hero converted into a detective who is on a case that might be more than he bargained for. His old nemesis has gone missing, and it is up to him to find him. But the more he digs into the disappearance, the more danger seems to be lurking behind every corner. Dive into a world full of guns, explosions, and a lot of mystery as he uncovers a deep seeded corruption that has been baked into the foundation of the city of Mouseburg. What secrets await Jack? Can he solve the case, or will he be counted as one of the cities many unsolved accidents?

Gameplay

Mouse PI is your classic boomer shooter with an oldtimey filter and design. Players race around the city of Mouseburg, collecting clues, weapons, and killing any thing hostile. The game feels like Bioshock if it was animated and drawn by Walt Disney. In classic survival game fashion, players will need to manage their inventory of bullets and health pots to make sure the case is solved. The difficulty can be adjusted in the beginning which I assume affects the availabilty of the items. Normal felt a little easy, but I played a lot of Bioshock back in the day. I was pretty much ready.

Combat in this game is your basic shooter. Aim assist is on by default and can be adjusted to fit your playstyle. The default setting is fine if you want to enjoy the story but still feel like you are playing a shooter. During combat, players can switch between weapons they pick up along the way. Typing is important enough to pay attention, but I did just fine with shooting whatever was cool. I like that the game pauses when switching between weapons and that you can pause the game when you need to take a break.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

Mouse P.I. is fantastic on the Steam Deck, and it has earned a permanent space in my limited drive. The game works very well. I didn’t experience any crashes or glitches, although there were random moments when the character would just drift in one direction. I don’t know if this is a hardware issue because it doesn’t always happen, nor was I able to recreate it. It isn’t game breaking, but it happened enough to notice. If you are looking for a good game to try on your Steam Deck, pick up Mouse P.I. and thank me later. I will say, there are elements of this game that are a little hard to see, but that might just be an age issue or the fact that I’ve lost my glasses.

Review

I’ve already made my stance on this game, but I will make it again. Mouse P.I. for Hire is by far one of my favorite games that I’ve tried since starting my journey as a game reviewer, and I will recommend it to everyone. The game has a fantastic vibe, a solid story, and most importantly, fun gameplay.

Aesthetic

The game’s main draw is its unique, yet familiar aesthetic. The 1930’s inspired art is not only a unique take on the genre, but a fun contrast to the dark and gritty story the game tells. I for one welcome any cool disney-esque dark game that comes my way. The art reminds me of the dark puzzle game, By Sweet Carole. The game also uses cute Disney-like art to explore its dark themes, and I absolutely loved that game as well. Go check it out.

The game also has a fantastic soundtrack. One of my favorite parts about the Bioshock and Falloutseries is the amazing old school soundtrack, and this game has a simlar vibe. It also allows players to customize their experience by adjusting the filters. You can make Mouse P.I. look and sound like a modern game, or adjust the filters to sound like the 1930s. I will say that the filters do make some things hard to see, but again, this might be an age issue.

Story

As a huge fan of detective noir stories, Mouse P.I. is a delightful adventure that I implore everyone to embark on. The well paced mystery is told through some incredible voice acting and some very well placed humor. I love the twists and turns this story took me on. While the game does look cute and adorable, the dark themes it touches make it a very adult yet enjoyable experience. Go check it out for yourself.

Gameplay

The game plays very smooth. It has solid boomer shooter mechanics with memorable boss fights and manageable survival mechanics. It is a little easier than Bioshock, but I also may just be better at games. I loved Bioshock, and the fact that I was unexpectedly taken back to such a nostalgic era of my gaming history but got to explore a new world is why this game instantly topped my list of favorites. If you are ready to replay Bioshock, but would rather experience something new, pick up Mouse P.I. for hire. Combat is tight, the weapons are interesting, and the filter makes everything fun. I will say that not all of the weapons seem useful or relevant, but I could argue the same for Bioshock. Just choose whatever is fun, and start blasting.

Conclusion

I can’t stress enough how badly you need to be playing Mouse P.I. for hire. This game is a fantastic treat for these dark times, and money well spent at full price. The game has cool hand drawn art that make for a unique world to explore, fun mechanics that will leave you wanting more, and a solid story to get you through it all. If you need a game to play this summer, go pick up Mouse P.I. for hire today!

Trailer

video game reviews

Exploring Rebel Engine: Unique Mechanics and Challenges

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Rebel Engine 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 HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset.

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!

Table of Contents

What is Rebel Engine

Rebel Engine is a fast-paced boomer shooter out now on Steam. The game combines innovative mechanics with a quirky story, flashy animations, and colorful design to create an experience unlike any other.

Hook

The sentient robot citizens of Ultima City are governed by the powerful Concrete corporation. Each citizen’s fate sits in the hands of the human CEO, Entropy. Those on top can enjoy the best the city has to offer, while those at the bottom are met with viscous oppression.

You are an enslaved construction bot, destined for endless combat in the arena for entertainment. After your latest defeat, a mysterious AI by the name of Salvador apears and offers you freedom in exchange for aid in toppling the evil Concrete corporation. With nothing left to lose you agree, setting off a high stakes, action pact adventure you will never forget.

Gameplay Loop

Players fight off waves of enemies in arena style combat, collecting new weapons and abilities along the way. Combat is fast-paced, with loud explosive colors to get that heart rate pumping, and keep it there. Players will hack-and-slash or shoot their way through their enemies.

What makes Rebel Engine unique is its reload mechanic. Rebel Engine breaks away from the traditional reload mechanic seen in other shooters. Instead of a manual reload, players will need to actively switch between weapons. Meaning, a gun reloads while a different gun is being used. To keep to keep up the flow of combat, players will need to constantly switch between guns.

Difficulty and Accessibility

Rebel Engine is difficult by design, especially if you aren’t used to gameplay. The game has settings that help adjust the difficulty to make the game more accessible. Don’t be afraid to experiment with the settings if you ever get stuck.

Review

Rebel Engine has a fun and colorful story with a gameplay loop that is unique, but also isn’t going to vibe with everyone. When the game works, the tight combo system creates an exhilarating adventure full of loud explosions. Unfortunately, the performance dips and a few of the mechanics made the experience a bit too awkward for my taste. Adjusting difficulty does help a bit, but it is hard to ignore the issues. Unfortunately, my save was erased and I didn’t have it in me to redo all the progress I had made.

Aesthetic

The world of Rebel Engine is vibrant and colorful. It is a world full of flashing lights, loud explosions, and a fantastic soundtrack to get you in the mood for killing. I am a huge fan of the colorful, cartoonist world, especially when it comes to the robot and weapon design. Exploration is limited, but when so much is happening at the same time, you barely even notice.

Story

Rebel Engine‘s story leans heavily on its humor. The game made me laugh a lot, and there was some very solid voice acting to get me through the story. I am a huge fan of the voice behind Salvador, and couldn’t ask for a better companion. At least for the bits of the game that I was able to get through.

Gameplay

I wish this game had a demo because the gameplay isn’t going to vibe with everyone. I love the innovative approach to the genre in theory, but it feels clunky in practice. The game is set up to encourage users to switch between all weapons, including melee, but going in for a melee attack feels like a losing strategy.

Kiting enemies with the game’s innovative gun play seems to fair a little better, if you can master the mechanics. This is probably a skill issue, but the reload mechanic never clicked with me. It never felt smooth and I was often missing out on damage because I couldn’t get the timing right. The auto aim feature is thematic, but made the camera feel a little too hectic. The game is already hectic enough without it.

Performace

When the game worked, the experience is exciting, but I often hit performance dips on my RTX3060. I probably need an upgrade, but it handles more demanding games better. I never hit a bug that killed my game or ended my run, but it is noticeable during heavier encounters. The reload mechanics make the game feel clunky, the added clunkiness doesn’t help. Messing with the settings does help, but it is something to note when trying out the game.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

It works fine on the Steam Deck. I prefer using a keyboard and mouse, but the handheld experience isn’t unplayable. It really comes down to preference, and the keyboard and mouse felt a lot more natural and accurate. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get cloud saves to work and I unfortunately lost all my initial progress. I didn’t like the game enough to go back and try it all again.

Conclusion

I really wish this game had a demo because that reload mechanic is what makes or breaks this experience. Other than that, the game has a fun colorful story with some solid voice acting and amazing soundtrack. The atmosphere and atmosphere got me to invest as much effort as I did, and the humor helped soften some of that frustration. Unfortunately, the mechanics never clicked with me. I tried very hard, but it just felt too clunky. In better hands, the experience has the potential to be the high-speed hack and slash game of dreams, but not in my tired old hands. Adjusting the settings helps, but not enough to vibe with.

If you like fast-paced games where acurray and combos are important, then pick up Rebel Engine. The game offers a challenging unique experience with enough fun to be worth the price tag. If you aren’t used to the genre, or don’t like these types of fast paced Hack-n-Slash games, then this isn’t the game that will make you start liking them.

You can pick up Rebel Engine on Steam.

video game reviews

MULLET MADJACK is a Welcomed Chaotic Kick of Nostolgia!

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I was sent a free copy of MULLET MADJACK 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. If you’re looking for a new budget headset, I got to try out the Fifine H9s and liked them. Check out my full review. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is MULLET MADJACK?

MULLET MADJACK  is the fastest and most chaotic FPS you’ll ever play on PC.

The year is 2090, and the world is run by the super-rich A.I. robots known as the ROBILLIONARES. 2090 is also the birth of a new kind of man. One that has become integrated with the internet and lives his life 10 seconds at a time. These new men must now kill for entertainment if they want to live. the more likes they earn, the longer their life is. You are MULLET MAD JACK, caught in this twisted game. Fight your way through hordes of enemies and live to fight another day. Do you have what it takes?

Gameplay

MULLET MADJACK is the most intense game of DOOM you’ll ever play. You start each level with a basic weapon and fight your way through the colorful cyberpunk-themed maze. You start each run with only 10 seconds of life and earn time by killing enemies. After each run, you earn random weapons or power-ups for the remainder of the run. The RNG is fair. Most of the times I died were due to lack of skill poor planning and not the choices available. If you run out of time or if your hit points drop to zero, you lose. 

Runs are insane and chaotic. The world around you blurs with enemies, explosions, and color as you rush to the exit, or are desperately seeking for that next kill. Levels in this game are randomly generated. While some levels may feel familiar, there is enough variation between each run to keep things feeling fresh. Eventually, you’ll have a boss fight. These fights are creative, but that time limit keeps things intense. 

While MADJACK has a story and some terrific flavor, it isn’t going to be important to keep track of. I enjoyed the flavor and lore around the city, but it is hard to keep things straight when you only have 10 seconds to live. 

Impressions

This game became my obsession. MULLETT MADJACK is the high-octane, nostalgic kick you didn’t know you needed in your life. I am a huge fan of the ’90s anime aesthetics and retro pixel art style. The music, the color, flashing lights all come together to create this beautiful unintelligible chaos that you won’t be able to put down, even for a second. Let’s not forget about the phenomenal voice acting and some of the most amazing cheesy one-liners ever. This game goes all out to create its fun and flavorful world, and I appreciate all that effort. 

One thing to note is that this game feels incredibly chaotic in the beginning. Everything moves quickly, there are explosions everywhere, and the timer feels too short. As you get more comfortable with the mechanics, the time becomes less of a problem. The game never lost its intensity, but the chaos started to make sense. The game is fun when it is all explosions and chaos, but it got more fun when I started to get farther in a level and I got to notice some of the unique flavor of the world around me. 

MULLET MADJACK is a fantastic retro-feeling boomer shooter with amazing vibes and aesthetics. If you’re looking for a new game and don’t mind any of the chaos, go play it today!

You can pick up MULLET MADJACK on Steam for $19.99 (currently $17.99 until May 24). There is also a demo available if you don’t believe me.