Tag Archives: demo

video game reviews

Fledgling Manor Might Just be Your Next Visual Novel

1 Comment

I was asked to cover Fledgling Manor on my blog. I understand the game is still in development and I will try not to be as critical with my initial impressions. These will be my honest impressions of the demo available now on Steam.

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out the new Epomaker RT65 mechanical keyboard, the Uhuru Gaming Mouse, or the EasySMX X15 controller. When you’re ready to start your blog on WordPress, sign up using my Affiliate Link!

What is Fledgling Manor?

Fledgling Manor is a visual novel coming soon to Steam.

It started as a normal delivery night for Rocky, until something strange lept out of the shadows. He wakes up in a strange house, but not quite his old self. Rocky has been turned into a vampire and is forced to participate in America’s hottest reality show, Fledgling Manor. Eight new vampires are forced to live in a remote house where they compete to stay alive. Will Rocky survive the manor, or will he be one of its many casualties?

Impressions

Fledgling Manor has a stunning art style that will rightfully earn its attention. I love the use of black and white and the overall character design. While the writing can be a bit cringe at times, the writer successfully captures the reality show vibe it aims to achieve. Each character feels unique, the stakes feel real, and the story is interesting enough to keep me invested. Although the demo is limited, the full version will have multiple endings for added replayability. This is a game where the choices made by the player matter and impact the outcome of the story. What characters die, what romances you make, and characters Rocky gets to know, and even Rocky’s fate are all tied to the player’s choices. Choose carefully.

I just finished reading The Long Walk, and this gives me similar vibes. Although the writing isn’t perfect, I need to know what happens at the end. I will be getting the full version on release, stay tuned for that. Until then, make sure you add Fledgling Manor to your wishlist, and don’t forget to check out the Demo.

video game reviews

Looking for a new Metroidvania? Why not PROJECT TACHYON?

Leave a comment

I was asked to cover PROJECT TACHYON on my blog. I’ve been on a Metroidvania kick lately, so I figured, why not? Since the game is still a demo, I will be a bit more lenient. Regardless, these will be my honest impressions of the demo.

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out the new Epomaker RT65 mechanical keyboard, the Uhuru Gaming Mouse, or the EasySMX X15 controller. When you’re ready to start your blog on WordPress, sign up using my Affiliate Link!

What is PROJECT TACHYON?

PROJECT TACHYON is a cyberpunk action roguelike coming to Steam.

Project OMEGA was created as was designed to be the Tamageria Republic’s ultimate defense against their enemies. Unfortunately, the advanced AI has other plans for the republic. A massive uprising led by OMEGA spreads across the planet, and the only solution seems to be to nuke the planet.

A few of the smartest minds left believe they have an alternative, Project Tachyon. Project Tachyon allows select users to return to a single point in time after deft, undoing any mistakes they’ve made along the way. Through this technology, they hope to learn all they can about Project OMEGA and defeat the AI without sacrificing innocent people. Only one member is compatible with the Project Tachyon technology. Will she be enough of the world for annihilation?

Gameplay

PROJECT TACHYON is a 2D action platformer where players fight their way through a dungeon filled with enemies using an advanced arsenal of weapons. These weapons can be changed and upgraded throughout the run.

Players start their run at Project Tachyon headquarters where they can use resources they gather during their runs to buy upgrades. Sigma will then run through the same level to shut down OMEGA. Because Sigma can reset the timeline after death and remember its details, all maps, and encounters will be the same between runs. Memorizing maps and encounters along with the upgrades players purchase throughout their run help her get farther each time.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

Yes it does, and I can’t wait for the full version. Everything is visible at the aspect ratio, and although there is some roughness to the DEMO, it works well enough to get me interested in a full version. Aiming is a little awkward, but that might be more of a personal issue than an issue with the game. I will need the full version for further testing.

Impressions

The Demo is a little rough. The game has a few missing elements and a few mechanics that don’t always work, but it is a solid demo regardless. My biggest issue was with the aiming. It felt awkward and made some encounters harder than they needed. The game does offer an auto-aim feature that seems good enough for casual play, but I found it lacked the efficient accuracy needed for the harder fights. Regardless of these issues, the demo works well enough to have me curious about a full version.

If you enjoy the Metroidvania genre, you might want to consider looking into PROJECT TACHYON. The game has cool art, a solid story and flavor, fantastic voice acting, and interesting gameplay. Until we get news on a more complete version, I recommend you at least try the Steam Demo. Don’t forget to add it to your WISHLIST!

I’ll be working on getting a full version. Stay tuned for that.

video game reviews

Royal Revolt Warriors was Okay, but it Still Needs Work

Leave a comment

I was sent the Royal Revolt Warriors demo to review for my blog. I understand the game isn’t finished yet, so I will be a bit more lenient with my impressions.

If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the Epomaker P75 Mechanical Keyboard and the Uhuru Gaming mouse for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals. If you’re thinking of hosting your own blog on WordPress, make sure you sign up using my Affiliate link!

What is Royal Revolt Warriors?

Royal Revolt Warriors is an action roguelike fantasy bullet hell coming to early access on Steam.

Players take control of powerful warriors and defend against an endless onslaught of powerful monsters. The demo only supports single-player at the moment, but the full version will let you team up with your friends for a quirky good time. Choose the right weapons, buy permanent buffs, and be the hero the realm needs. Do you have what it takes?

Gameplay

Royal Revolt Warriors is a top-down isometric roguelike that fuses bullet hell twin stick mechanics with the arcade hack and slash mechanics. The demo only features three classes (the warrior, hunter, and mage) with more planned for the official release.

Players start each run with a basic attack and can choose a random buff or ability after gaining a level. These buffs and abilities are random, and the RNG isn’t great. All players start with the same limited pool of spells and abilities, but unlock more as they complete challenges. Players can also buy permanent stat increases from gold they earn from a run. This is a game that rewards the player the more time they spend playing the game. A player either clears a level by completing all the objectives, or dying.

Does it Work on the Steam Deck?

The demo works fine on the Steam Deck. The aspect ratio is easy to see, the controls are intuitive without any tweaking, and the gameplay is casual enough for on-the-go gaming. It is not the best twin-stick bullet-hell game you can be playing on the Steam Deck, but it is free. It doesn’t hurt to try.

Impressions

Royal Revolt Warriors feels slow in the beginning, but it starts to pick up when the player starts unlocking new buffs and abilities. The problem with the game is the grind to get to that point feels a bit too steep. I almost gave up on the demo because the grind didn’t feel worth it. The problem with the initial grind is that it makes all the runs feel the same. The limited pool makes it so there are really only a few valid answers when leveling. As a result, bad RNG ruins runs and makes the game feel repetitive. A larger pool of choices initially will make the grind feel less repetitive, even if it only offers an illusion of choice.

The class system feels a bit underwhelming. While I do like the attempt at giving players an option to customize their experience, there really isn’t a reason to choose anything but the mage. The other classes might get better after unlocking stats, but most players won’t make it that far.

The biggest issue with the demo is that it takes too long to get interesting. There still seem to be updates coming, but I will have to wait to see if it makes a difference. It isn’t the worst game you can play in the genre, but it needs a bit more work before it is worth buying. I will be following the game and seeing if it gets any better.

You can check out the demo on Steam.

video game reviews

An Amazing Wizard is Looking Like a Very Promising Metroidvania

Leave a comment

I was sent an early copy of the An Amazing Wizard demo to cover on my blog. Since the game is still in development, I will be a bit more lenient but honest in my impressions. If you want to stay up to date on all the news, make sure you join the official Discord!

If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the SC3 Gaming Mixer for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals. If you enjoy my content and want to help me with my hosting fees, consider buying me coffee or donating to my Patreon.

What is An Amazing Wizard?

An Amazing Wizard is a fast-paced 2D action RPG coming to PC. The demo is available, so make sure you head over to Steam and try it out.

In a world full of wizards and magic, you are the only one without it. Instead of casting spells in the traditional sense, magic hands cast them for you. The prophecy says you are destined for greatness, but a mysterious force has stolen your memories before it can be realized. Travel across a dangerous plane as you recollect your memories, fight monsters, and try to uncover the truth behind your powers. Will you be strong enough to live up to your legend?

Gameplay

The demo allows players to fight their way through procedurally generated levels as they learn the fundamentals of the game. The wizard always starts with a basic magic spell and collects random ones during each run. The spells unlocked throughout a run are random, and the RNG seems fine. The full game will feature over a hundred spells for an insane amount of customization.

At certain points of a run, players can combine spells to create new ones. There is always a chance that the fusion will fail, but a successful fusion grants the player a new more powerful spell. This ensures that a run will never be the same, and things are going to get crazy.

Combat is a fast-paced Metroidvania-style loop. Players fight their way through a 2D dungeon, killing monsters, farming materials, and finding more powerful spells. Players have access to a basic spell, three swappable spells, and a swappable weapon. This is more than enough to keep things fun and exciting.

Between deaths and levels, players can trade in materials they gather for power-ups. This gives players access to new abilities and powers, and makes each run easier. The upgrade tree is pretty expansive. While I am sure there will be a correct way to build it out, I recommend you buy for your playstyle.

The full game will have a story, but the demo is only limited to the roguelike dungeon to get players hooked on the gameplay.

Impressions

I need more of this game. The art is fantastic, the flavor is great, the music is amazing, and the gameplay is a lot of fun. If you’re looking for a new Metroidvania game, An Amazing Wizard is looking very promising. The game features an interesting combat system, cool enemies, and a ton of customization for that added replay value. Obviously, I am going to need to see a completed version, but I am excited.

I did run into an issue where the dungeon generated a way forward, soft-locking my progress. I would have to rest the run and lose my progress, but it didn’t happen enough to cause any real concern. The demo works fine for the most part, but there will be some instances of roughness as they continue to iron out the kinks. Other than that, this game is very fun and I recommend you try it for yourself and get equally excited.

Please go check out the An Amazing Wizard demo on Steam, and don’t forget to add it to your wishlist!

video game reviews

The Neural Dominion Demo Needs Work Before it Goes Public

Leave a comment

I was asked to cover the Neural Dominion announcement and was given early access to the alpha demo available now on Steam. Since the game is still in production, I will try to be a bit more lenient than usual with my impressions.

If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the SC3 Gaming Mixer for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals. If you enjoy my content and want to help me with my hosting fees, consider buying me coffee or donating to my Patreon.

What is Neural Dominion?

Neural Dominion is a cyberpunk 4X strategy game coming to PC. A public demo will release in October, so make sure it is on your wishlist.

In the crime-ridden city of Technograd, only one gang can reign supreme. Build your empire as you establish your illegal operations, recruit new members, and stop anyone who gets in your way. The path to total domination will be paved with obstacles. Cops will want their cut and rival gangs will want your head. Do you have what it takes to rule this city, or will you be another crime statistic?

Gameplay

The demo is just the game’s tutorial with alpha gameplay. The version I got is in a rough place and almost unplayable. The parts I did get through teach players the basic mechanics of the game. Players will learn about movement, purchasing and expanding territory, recruiting new gang members, buying upgrades, and combat. The game is on a turn based system where players have a set number of action points to spend. It gives a solid introduction to the game, but I hope it is less clunky on public release.

Impressions

I had a hard time with this game because the game was unstable. The tutorial wasn’t coded properly, and it was a chore to get through. If the tutorial box came up when I had to move my character, it made the squares unclickable and locked me from progressing through the rest of the tutorial. The only fix was to rest the game and restart the tutorial. If the tutorial box popped up during combat, it slowed down the animations to a snail’s pace, even if I was at 4x speed. The only fix for this bug was to cycle through the different speeds until another text box popped up to break it again.

The parts that did work weren’t very impressive, but the game isn’t finished yet so there is still the chance it gets better. I can’t recommend this game yet because of the state of the demo. I am not asking for amazing animations, a beautiful fleshed out map, but I am expecting something that works. I am wiling to overlook a lot when trying these kinds of demos, but this one made it hard. I am hoping that the public demo will be working, but I’ll have to wait and see till October.

You can wishlist Neural Dominion on Steam and join the official Discord if you want to stay up to date.

video game reviews

Check out the Most Adorable Deck Builder on Kickstarter: Nif Nif

Leave a comment

I was sent the Nif Nif demo to cover on my blog. The game is currently on Kickstarter, and it deserves a bit of attention. The campaign ends on September 13, so make sure you check it out before then. I am writing these impressions with the understanding that the game isn’t finished yet and there is room for improvement.

What is Nif Nif?

Nif Nif is an adorable deck builder coming to PC. A demo is available on Steam. Go check it out and don’t forget to Wishlist.

Nif Nif is a happy little piglet who lives near a beautiful forest. He loves to cook and clean and spends his days running around. One day, a strange green goo begins to appear around his beloved forest. The goo corrupts the land and the creatures it makes filthy. Nif Nif grabs for his bucket of cleaning supplies and sets out to clean up the corruption. Will his skills be enough to clear the forest of this infestation, or will the goo prove too powerful?

Gameplay

Players start each run by choosing their protagonist. The demo lets players choose between Nif Nif and a cat, each with its unique theme and adorable mascot. Like any deck-building roguelike, players choose the path of their adventure and work to clear the rooms. The adventure map is randomly generated, but it was a fair spread of events. Each room holds an event. Players can fight against regular or elite monsters, proct a random event for a chance at a power-up, heal their character, or visit the shop. Players also have the chance to upgrade their decks by receiving extra cards, random passive skills, or upgrades for their current decks. These upgrades are randomly generated, but the RNG feels fair. Each run offered me access to different strategies, and each run is meant to feel unique giving the game a good amount of replayability.

What sets Nif Nif apart is its cooking mechanic. Players can cook soups or upgrade existing soups at campfire nodes. These soups give Nif Nif and his friends a special boost and gives players a better chance at survival.

Impressions

Nif Nif is the most adorable deck-builder you’re ever going to play. The game features an adorable protagonist, cute-themed art, and a solid soundtrack. I love the flavor and theme of the cards and decks. I felt like there were a decent amount of strategies, and am sure there are a lot more at launch. I love that I could choose to level a random card instead of having to choose a random card to add to my deck as a reward. nothing is worse than clogging my deck with dead cards and having to pay to remove them later in a run.

It is important to note that this game is meant for kids. Veterans of the genre will find Nif Nif to be on the easier side, but they will appreciate the adorable ambiance and chill vibes. If you have kids, Nif Nif is the perfect way to start them on the deck-building genre. I would argue that it is the perfect game in general. The mechanics are easy to learn but the game offers enough of a challenge to keep things engaging. It is a great way for kids to learn the fundamentals of deck building while they help cute little animals clean up the forest. Most importantly, the game is inoffensive. There is no blood or violence in Nif Nif, just good clean fun.

I loved every minute of Nif Nif. This game is adorable and deserves a lot more attention. There is always a risk when backing a Kickstarter, but the demo suggests the game is in good hands. All it needs is funding. If you want to support an adorable game that your kids will enjoy, go back Nif Nif on Kickstarter.  The campaign ends on September 13 and it will be your own chance to earn some cute exclusives.

video game reviews

Bang Bang Barrage Might Be the Most fun Couch Co-op

Leave a comment

I was sent the Bang Bang Barrage demo to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will be honest with my coverage. Since the game isn’t finished yet, this will be my initial impression. I can’t wait to see the finished product.

What is Bang Bang Barage?

You find yourself in the middle of the ocean with Cuthulu and his minions hot on your tail. Team up with your friends or fair it alone as you blast through endless waves of enemies. Do you have what it takes to survive the onslaught, or will the sea prove too mighty?

Gameplay

Players will start each run on a boat with a basic weapon. There seems to be a good amount of loadout customization, but the demo only gives access to the basic handgun. In typical bullet hell roguelike fashion, players must fend off against swarms of enemies using their weapons. Players will occasionally get the chance to buy upgrades during their run. The upgrades that fill the shop are randomly generated, but I felt like the RNG was fair.

What makes this game unique is its movement mechanic. Movement Bang Bang Barrage uses recoil-driven navigation. When a player shoots her weapon, the boat they stand on moves the opposite way. The only way to move a character is to shoot in the opposite direction of where the character needs to go. When there are hoards of enemies swarming towards a player and other players fighting them off, things get crazy pretty quickly.

A run ends when a player runs out of health.

Impressions

Bang Bang Barrage is the cutest bullet hell roguelike you’re going to get to play. I am a huge fan of the cute simple art and flavor.

While the game does offer a valid single-player experience, you’re going to want to play with your friends. When the waves get going and everyone is shooting in all directions, things are going to get crazy. The fact that it allows couch co-op and PVP is a huge plus.

If you’re looking for a cute and fun party game to play with your friends, you’re going to want to look into Bang Bang Barrage. If you’re just looking for a fun casual game, you’re going to want to do the same. I can’t wait to see more of this game because the demo has me hooked.

The public playtest is up on Steam, so make sure you sign up if you haven’t done so. You won’t regret it. If you missed the playtest, make sure you add the Bang Bang Barrage to your wishlist so you’re ready for the next one!

video game reviews

If you like Escape Rooms, You Need to Download this Demo!

1 Comment

The Escape Tales: The Awakening demo is officially on Steam, and I recommend you pick it up if you enjoy puzzles, escape rooms, or the board game it is based on. Full disclosure, I was asked to cover the demo, but these will be my honest impressions.

If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the SC3 Gaming Mixer for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals.

What is Escape Tales: The Awakening

Escape Tales is a series of escape room board games. Bluekey Games has taken it upon themselves to turn the popular series into a video game. Players must solve puzzles to progress through a story where their choices matter.

You play as Sam who has lost his wife is on the verge of losing his daughter. His daughter has fallen into a mysterious coma without a cure in sight. A man gives him “The Book of Rituals”. Desperate for a solution, Sam embarks on the most frightening night of his life as he has to solve puzzles and face off against dark forces. Will he be able to get his little girl back, or will they both become lost to the darkness?

Gameplay

The demo has you clearing the first room of the story. It is a short demo. If you’re good at puzzles, it shouldn’t take you more than an hour. Players receive a solid hook to the story and must gather clues to solve the room. The game is a giant point-and-click puzzle game with no time limit. I appreciate that there is no time limit because it allows me to enjoy the game at my own pace. The game boasts having multiple answers, endings, and choices that matter. That is yet to be seen, but it is an exciting feature if done correctly.

The puzzle is hard, and creative, but manageable if you’re paying attention. The game is very generous with clues and will offer solutions if you get stuck. People who do a lot of escape rooms shouldn’t have a problem with the puzzle, but it’s nice to have for some of the less obvious solutions.

The game features tools to help them on their journey. Players can use the on-screen notepad to jot down notes or use their mouse to write over the puzzle. I know some people will prefer the feel of pencil and paper, but this is a great feature for those who like to have everything in one place.

Impressions

I know I’ve only played the demo, but I am already addicted. The flavor is great, the puzzles are challenging, and the story is interesting. My only complaint is that one of the puzzles was hard to make out. It might have been a personal issue, but I felt like the image was a bit too blurry, other than that, the game feels like it is going to be a lot of fun. I can’t wait to try out the whole game. Stay tuned for that.

If you like puzzle games, love escape rooms, or enjoy the board game series, you need to try this demo. It offers a solid taste of what to expect and will leave you wanting more. You can download the Escape Tales: The Awakening demo now on Steam.

gaming news

I Wasn’t Impressed by the Northwind Demo

Leave a comment

I was asked to cover the Northwind Steam demo on my blog. The game isn’t finished yet, so I’ll try not to review it too harshly. 

Northwind is just another roguelike deck builder coming to PC this year. The demo doesn’t really do much to divert from the traditional gameplay loop. Players start with a basic deck that they improve throughout a run with new cards and abilities. The player restarts the run after losing, and the grind continues. 

The game may feature a fantastic art style and a solid soundtrack, but the gameplay in this demo is lacking. It does very little to inspire any further curiosity. It’s hard to recommend the demo because it doesn’t feel finished, especially when there are better games in the genre you could be playing instead. Unless you like the flavor and style, I would wait for a couple more updates. I might come back for an update because I love the art work, but there wasn’t enough to the demo to have me rushing back.

The demo is up on Steam.

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

video game reviews

Pyrene: A Unique Deck Builder Coming to PC. Try it Today!

Leave a comment

I was sent the Pyrene demo to cover for my blog. It is a little too early to review it completely, but I will be as honest as possible with my impressions. If you enjoy my reviews and content, please leave a like, comment, follow the socials, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee. 

What is Pyrene

Pyryne is a deck building roguelike coming to Steam. Monsters have destroyed your village, and it is up to you to rebuild and save the towns people. Do you have what it takes to restore Pyrene to its former glory, and rid the land of its evil?

Gameplay

Pyrene is a unique deck builder because it involves movement. Each encounter has a board that fills with randomly generated monsters, items, and artifacts. The RNG is relatively fair, but I did have a couple of runs where the odds were stacked against me. The goal is to clear the win condition without dying. The game feels like a puzzle because the game rewards efficiency. 

Like most roguelikes, the more you play Prylene, the stronger your character becomes. You get access to new power-ups, buildings, and cards to help you with your journey. This also means the loop is somewhat repetitive, but it doesn’t feel like a grind. The game is very relaxing but with enough of a challenge to keep things engaging.  

Impressions

This is a good demo that paints a solid picture of what to expect from Pyrene. It looks great, plays well, and most importantly, the demo is fun. I loved that every encounter felt like a puzzle, and each puzzle had enough of a challenge to keep me wanting more. If you are in the market for a new deck builder, I recommend you pick up the Pyrene Demo. I’ll be working on getting the full version for review, but so far, I am impressed.