Tag Archives: fantasy

video game reviews

What to Expect: Alpha Nomos Demo Impressions

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Disclaimer

I was sent the Alpha Nomos demo to review for my blog. I understand the game is not done yet, so I will be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, this will be my honest impressions of the game.

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 Alpha Nomos?

Alpha Nomos is an action roguelike rhythm game coming to Steam later this year. Make sure you check out the demo, and don’t forget to wishlist!

Hook

The world has been ravaged by murderous puppets, and it is up to Cello and her friends to bring it back to life. With the power of rhythm and music, fight your way through this broken world and bring peace. Discover new abilities, harness the power of music, and destroy everything that gets in your way. What will your journey uncover? What is Alpha Nomos?

Gameplay

Alpha Nomos is your typical hack and slash. Players run through the world, beating up enemies with the power of music. The game features the roguelike leveling structure where players start at a hub where they can buy and equip upgrades between runs. Players will make their way through a run, grinding for the resources to level up their character. During a run, players can choose the type of encounter or reward. Players can either fight for a powerup, ability, or money. They can also choose to heal or buy items. What makes Alpha Nomos unique is the rhythm game mechanics.

Rhythm

Combat in Alpha Nomos requires players to land the attack, dodge, or block in rhythm with the music’s tempo. Landing an action at the perfect time maximizes its effectiveness. While you can mindlessly button mash your way through the game, Alpha Nomos rewards those who can keep the beat. For those like me who have no rhythm, the game can be calibrated for a more casual experience.

Impressions

Alpha Nemos has some solid bones and interesting ideas, but I personally don’t like the rhythm game elements. The game does a good job at making it as easy and clear as possible to hit the actions in time, but I have no rhythm and I am afraid I never will. If you like rhythm beat-em-ups and don’t mind the roguelike structure, go check out the demo.

Aesthetic

What drew me first to this game is the art. Cello is adorable, with a cool and iconic character design. The attack animations are creative and very fun to watch. Alpha Nemos has a very cool world. I love the monster design and large discarded items scattered across the world. The fact that the world moves to the rhythm of the music is such a cool little detail. The world reminds me of Manairons, which is a cool adventure game you should definitely check out.

Gameplay

If you enjoy rhythm games, the game is fine. The combat mechanics are solid, and the leveling is straight forward. The roguelike structure make the game feel repetitive, but not more repetitive than the norm. The rhythm mechanics make the game feel tedious. This is a very personal problem because I lack the rhythm to make this work (yes even on the easiest setting). The rhythm mechanics do not make this a bad game. The devs do a very good job at incorporating the mechanics into a very unique gaming experience. My issue is strictly a skill issue, and I wasn’t able to mesh with the game.

My real complaint is with the structure. They create a very cool world that I wish were more exploitable. I would have preferred the game be a linear story game so it would feel less repetitive instead of having me grind through a roguelike. My issue with the structure is that I’ve played so many roguelikes, I would rather be playing anything else.

Conclusion

Alpha Nemos seems to be a promising rhythm beat-em-up, if you’re in the mood for another roguelike. It has some fantastic art and flavor, and some sound mechanics. I was never able to mesh well with the mechanics, but I managed to get through enough for a solid impression. I don’t think I would pick this up because it is not my thing, but the demo is available for those of you looking for a new rhythm game to get into. You can check out Alpha Nomos demo on Steam!

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video game reviews

Is Class of Heroes 3 Worth the Grind? Find Out!

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Class of Heroes 3: Remaster 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 Class of Heroes 3?

The classic dungeon crawler, Class of Heroes 3 has been remastered for all PC players. The game now supports upgraded graphics, bigger dungeons, and a few quality of life changes to help bring a new generation to the old school RPG.

Hook

Enroll in one of the three district schools as you make friends, delve dungeons, and kill anything that stands in your way. Each school has its unique story, difficulty and most importantly, uniform. With 46 classes to choose from, a large amount of weapons to equip, races to be, and lots of friends to make, you can mix and match for a truly unique gaming experience. When you get tired of school life and dungeon crawling, you can do some alchemy to make the powerful items that will take you through your adventure. What secrets will you uncover? What friends will you take along?

Gameplay

Class of Heroes 3 has 3 gameplay loops: school, dungeon crawling, and alchemy. The game offers a deep, classic RPG experience with a few updates to make the game a bit more palatable for the modern audience, but is it enough?

School

Players will need to attend school where they can have social events, make new friends, rest, and buy or create new items. The schools acts as a home base for players to make crucial improvements before setting off their new adventure. This is where players can recruit new heroes and arrange their parties. Each character has a unique skill set based on their class and race that give players a decent amount of customization. I am sure the game is solvable, but I always appreciate when a game lets me choose what I think is cool.

Dungeon Crawl

Setting off on adventure means crawling through the game’s many dungeons. The crawl is in first person where players explore the world one square at a time. Throughout a crawl, players can find useful items, meet new friends, and fight enemies through randomized encounters. Combat is your classic turn-based rpg where players take turns performing actions. Players choose an action between each round and RNG switches between enemies and player characters to perform them. During a turn, characters can switch formation, perform an attack, cast a spell of ability, use an item, or flee. An encounter ends when the player or monster group’s health drops to zero. It should go without say that killing monsters gives the players the XP they need to level their party. It is important to keep a party well geared and supplied, especially when the difficulty jumps after the introductory stages of the game.

Alchemy

Alchemy is what makes the game unique. While players can loot and buy useful items and weapons from shops in town or at school, upgrading or crafting is more useful in the long run. The game doesn’t do a very good job at describing the importance of this mechanic. Not understanding how to utilize alchemy properly will result in wasting time in a game that is already very grindy.

Review

I have mixed feelings about Class of Heroes 3. On one hand, I love the art, the old school vibes of the game, and the story. On the other, I think I am too old to play a game with this amount of grind. If you miss that era of gaming where you would have to spend hours grinding through a dungeon just to beat that difficult boss, you’ll appreciate this game and the modern treatment it was given. If you don’t have much time to game or remember this era less fondly, you might want to skip this one.

Aesthetics

Class of Heroes 3 is a beautiful game with very cool character designs and a world that is fun to explore. I love the high anime fantasy flavor of this world. This and Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society have very cool flavor, music, and lore, but I wish the games were a little shorter. At least let me auto-battle through some of the more grindy bits.

The Grind

I grew up around this era of RPG, although I missed out on the original release. I have spent more time mindlessly grinding for digital rewards than I would proudly admit, but I used to find comfort in that level of repetition. Now that I am older and have a lot less time to play games, these types of games feel less appealing.

I have noticed the shift in gaming where people want easier games that hold your hand, but this isn’t my complaint. My complaint is that after you get past the early stage of the game, the grind gets so bad, I felt I played for hours without any reward. There is value in games like this for those who enjoy this genre for what it is, but it is a hard sell because not everyone has time for it anymore. The only reason I don’t like this game is because I just don’t have it in me to go through this grind, especially when I have a little one pining for my attention.

Does it Work on the Steam Deck

The game runs great, especially on my Steam Deck. I would argue that the best way to play this game is through the Steam Deck. The words are a little small, but that may be more an issue with age than the Steam Deck port. I have the fondest memories playing these kinds of rpgs on my gameboy, and reliving this through my Steam Deck gave me some comfort, but not enough to recommend. I will say that the grindy nature makes it the perfect travel/couch game because you don’t have to pay too much attention to it.

Gameplay

The game is fine for what it is, but it doesn’t do a very good job at explaining some of the more important mechanics. Combat is pretty strait forward, but I wasted a few turns figuring out the front and back line mechanics. Combat is fine until it gets repetitive.

I still don’t fully understand how to do alchemy, but I figured out enough to get me through my playthrough. I like that there is school events to break up the grind, but there was too much grind to get through. The story is fine, but I took so long with the dungeon delve that it made it hard to keep the events strait. Again, I am old and there may be some skill issue.

Conclusion

Look, if you like the art and need a new dungeon crawler with a retro yet modern vibe, and have the time for the grind, sure. I haven’t played the original game, but it feels like a proper remaster. My only issue with this game is that I just don’t have time for it. For people who don’t have much time to game, the Class of Heroes 3 is too slow of a burn to be worth it. I really wanted to like this game, and even went out of my way to request it, but I just don’t have it in me for a game like this. Honestly, I would rather be playing Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society, a game that is almost as grindy but with more fun mechanics.

For those of you with the time and who like the art, you can pick up Class of Heroes 3: Remaster on Steam.

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video game reviews

Revisiting Celestia Chain of Fate

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Celestia Chain of Fate 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.

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!

What is Celestia Chain of Fate?

Celestia Chain of Fate is a romance fantasy visual novel out now for Steam and on the Nintendo Switch.

Hook

You have been enrolled into the prestigious school for Daemons, Angelus, and half breeds where you will learn to harness your magic. There are tensions between the races, and you do your best to navigate through the complex webs of relationships that exist in a school like this. In classic Otome fashion, you find yourself at the center of attention. Handsom boys will pine for your affection, rivals will try to make your life at school miserable, but luckily you have a support system to help you through it all. Make the choices that will affect the ending. Who will you choose in the end? The answer is, all of them.

Gameplay

This is interactive fiction without any voice acting. Players will read through the story, and make the occasional choice that will affect the ending. Playing through the game unlocks additional side stories that help flesh out the world, and add a little flavor to the characters you meet along the way.

Review

I’ve played through Celestia Chain of Fate when the game first came out. I loved it, but was very ready for a second play through. I was happy to find that the game still holds up. If you are looking for a solid Otome game and don’t mind the overall cheesy romance, this is a fantastic add to your collection. The story is very cheesy, and it isn’t going to be for everyone.

Aesthetics

The game’s art is fantastic, and it is what drew me to this game. The characters are all very good looking, and the world is drawn very well. There is some very cool art, with some fantastic music to get you in the right mood for romance. The only issue I have with the game is that the backgrounds are kind of ugly. Some scenes are a little distracting because the contrast between art styles is too much. The game does have  has some spectacular CGs that you are going to want to unlock to make up for it.

Gameplay

There isn’t too much to say about the gameplay. You are clicking through the text boxes with the occasional choice to mix things up. There is no voice acting, but it doesn’t need it. I usually read faster than the voice acting anyways. The game does work on the Steam Deck, but I couldn’t get the cloud save to work. I had to start over, which is fine, but the text is a little too small. I am old with tired eyes, so this might be a personal problem.

Story

The story is where I can feel the divide. I have been going through a romance anime kick lately, so I appreciate the story for what it is. Celestia Chain of Fate is a cheesy teen romance visual novel where handsome men pine for your attention. There are some very cringe moments, but there are also some sweet moments that make this the perfect cozy game in my collection. As a hetero male who is very comfortable with his sexuality, I can proudly admit that I like that handsome, supernatural men went out of their way to make me feel like the princess that I totally am. I don’t expect this game to be the piece of literary genius that will stand the test of time,  but its good enough for a couple hours of entertainment.

Conclusion

Celestia Chain of Fate is a fantastic visual novel for those of you who just want to enjoy fun cheesy romance. The writing isn’t deep or even that original, but it is a fun little journey that is worth playing through at least once. I very much enjoyed my revisit, and will definitely be back for a third as I try to collect all the endings. If you don’t mind the cheesy teen romance or the fact that you have to wait for a book too, it is worth getting into You can pick up Celestia Chain of Fate on Steam and on the Nintendo Switch. If you are looking for something a little more serious, check out Nobody Nowhere or my personal favorite, Urban Myth Dissolution Center.

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video game reviews

Gameplay Impressions of Corner Quest Demo

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Disclaimer

I was sent the Corner Quest 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 will be my honest 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 Corner Quest?

Corner Quest is an idle autobattler coming to Steam at the end of the year. Go check out the demo and don’t forget to wishlist!

Hook

Sit your wizard on the corner of your screen as you watch her blast away at endless waves of enemies. Earn XP, upgrade your spells, and beat as many waves as you can before dying and starting over. How far will the power of your magic take you?

Gameplay

Corner Quest is meant to be a game you let run while you do work or do other things. The loop is simple, you buy spells and upgrades and watch as your mage fights through waves of enemies. Enemies drop currency that can be used to spend on permanent upgrades that stick around after death. Death in Corner Quest is not permanent. Instead, players restart from the last checkpoint retaining all of the purchased upgrades. It is a very low profile game that promises enough depth without being too distracting.

Impressions

Corner Quest is for those players who want to play a game, but not be invested in it. This is an idle game that you can run in the background while you go on with your life. It has a fun retro vibe, but the demo has limited build paths. I would need to see what other spells the mage can learn and how it impacts the grind.

Aesthetic

I have a soft spot for pixel art games, and Corner Quest has a solid artstyle. The animations are neat, the monsters are interesting, and the mage is cool. It reminds me of or the retro RPGs I used to play in my youth many moons ago, but with a lot less effort.

Gameplay

https://store.steampowered.com/app/4254260/Corner_Quest/ is fine for what it is, an idle game you set behind your screen while you work. Unlike other idle games I’ve played, the timers don’t feel oppressive or predatory because there is no monetization. This game will be a buy to own game, and it is low profile enough to run in the background for most of your tasks. I like that I could step away for a while and still grind levels, although it does feel slower than actively playing. Occasionally, you will earn enough currency to buy upgrades and adjust your build. The game may be solvable, but I did fine building what I thought was cool. This might have meant that I wasn’t progressing as fast as I could, but it doesn’t matter. I wanted to play the game.

Builds

Players will unlock different spells as they progress through the waves. By default, the mage can have four spells but you can unlock more as you grow. The demo doesn’t have many spells, and it does feel very limited. I would have liked to have a lot more options in the beginning, but it does create some nice flavor. As your mage grows in combat, so should the amount of magic she knows. I would like access to more spells so that I am forced to make some difficult decisions throughout my run. At the moment, there doesn’t feel like there are any consequences and it feels like you can get away with beating the demo by buying random upgrades.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

Corner Quest works great on the Steam Deck, it you’re using your Steam Deck like a tablet. The controller inputs feel a little too slow and clunky compared to the touch controls. This makes the game feel like a phone game, which isn’t bad, but might not be what people are looking for.

Conclusion

I have always enjoyed a good tower defense, and don’t mind the idle grind. I did enjoy this game a lot more than I thought I would. The game requires enough inputs for there to be some engagement, but ultimately, it feels like the game plays itself. Its fine for what it is, but it isn’t going to be for everyone. Corner Quest is for the gamer who doesn’t have time for game, or just needs something to alt tab to and feel like they’re gaming. It isn’t a bad game, but it does have its niche. By the end of the demo, I didn’t really feel like I wanted to play more of the game, but I don’t this game was meant to be your next main game. This is a game that you use as a supplement while you’re waiting on a load screen or just want to feel busy. It will earn its home in some libraries, but it is going to be a hard sell with at least a bit more complexity. Having some sort of consequence or a bigger pool of resources do take away the casual nature of this game, but it also gives it a longer shelf life.

I would like it if there was some sort of leaderboard where players can race to get the farthest. There can even be seasons that introduce new gimmicks or bosses to the game to mix things up. As the game stands, this is a game you play for a couple hours before you shelve it and forget you ever own it. There isn’t enough intensive to keep climbing, or even finish the demo (even though I did). If you don’t believe me, you can check out the Steam demo for yourself.

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video game reviews

Dark Quest: Remastered Review – A Nostalgic Dungeon Crawler

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Disclaimer

I was sent the Dark Quest remastered edition 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 Dark Quest?

The classic dungeon crawler, Dark Quest, just got a well deserved remaster. This classic has been adapted for a modern audience with updated graphics, art, systems, and a new shiny engine to make it run smoothly. Owners of the original Dark Quest on Steam and enjoy the remaster edition as a free upgrade.

Hook

An evil sorcerer builds a dungeon deep beneath the village of Darkwood. Its evil leaks onto the surface, spreading death and despair to the neighboring villages. A small band of heroes dares to brave the darkest depths of these dungeons and bring an end to the end of terror. Do these three brave heroes have what it takes to take down the evil sorcerer and his dark army, or will his darkness consume the planet?

Gameplay

This is a very classic feeling dungeon crawler. Players control a party of three unique heroes: Wizard, Dwarf, and Barbarian. Players explore each floor of the dungeon in a turn-based system similar to a board game. During a turn, a character can move, attack, loot, or use an item. Players explore the floor until they complete the objective, or all characters die. Dying takes a player back into town where they can prep for the next delve.

Exploration

Dark Quest is a grid based dungeon crawler. A character’s speed determines how far across the grid a character can move per turn. A character’s speed can be increased with items they buy from town. Dungeons in Dark Quest are hidden behind a fog of war. The fog of war limits a character’s movement. War Fog is lifted as players explore the dungeon.

Dice of Fate

Occasionally, the evil sorcerer will roll the dice of fate against a character. This roll can either deal damage to a character or heal them. This RNG is a gamble that will either save or ruin a run.

Combat

Combat in this game is simple. If a character is in range with an enemy, they can attack. Attacks can miss, and there are death saves. Players can buy items in town that can help skew the numbers in their favor.

Town

Between delves, players can use the gold the earn from the dungeon to buy useful items like potions, weapons, and gear. Money earned during a run is carried out, even if the party wipes. Being strategic with the purchases is key for success.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

The game works great on the Steam Deck, but I would expect it to. The low-poli simple style of the game is ideal for handheld, although there are a few quirks that make the game annoying. I often would lose the mouse over when trying to move a character, and it was annoying to get it back so I could move my character. Otherwise, the game is a solid, chill experience on the Steam Deck.

Review

If you are fan of classic dungeon crawlers, or want the experience of playing a dungeon crawler on Roll20 without a dungeon master, Dark Quest has its appeal. The problem I have with this game is that even as a remaster, the game feels dated. Why would you play this over Dark Quest 4?

Aesthetic

I like the simple UI and concept of the game. The sprites look very cool and I appreciate the fantasy vibe the game successfully captures. You are either going to love the old school feel of this game, or hate it. I would look at the trailer and go from there.

Gameplay

The game is fine if you are looking for a laid back dungeon crawler that is simple and doesn’t demand much resources. It is a very chill game that is easy to master, but one that has a bit of a slow grind. At least it feels slow compared to later installments of the game. I think this was made for those enjoy the nostalgia of this type of dungeon crawler. It feels like playing a board game, but there are a few quirks that make it a little annoying to play. I enjoyed my time with it, and definitely got $5 of fun of it, but it is hard to recommend it over one of the later installments.

Conclusion

Dark Quest is a decent remaster. The game has cool art and solid gameplay. If you are a fan of the old school style dungeon crawlers, you’ll get your fun, but I still recommend you start with Dark Quest 4. Dark Quest 4 improves on so many of the issues I have with this game, and is definitely worth getting into if you haven’t.

You can pick up Dark Quest: Remastered on Switch, Xbox, PlayStation and Steam.

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video game reviews

Exploring Odds Chronicles Demo: Gameplay & Combat

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of the Odds Chronicle demo to review for my blog. The game is not finished yet, so I will try to be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, this will be my honest impression of the demo.

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 Odds Chronicles

Odds Chronicles is a tactical roguelike RPG coming to Steam sometime this year. Make sure you check out the demo, and don’t forget to add the game to your wishlist!

Hook

Evryn was once a great warrior, and a royal guard to the king. Evil forces drove their way into the city, killing the king and Evryn. That tyrant remains, spreading his evil influence across the land. Feeling the deepest sense of regret, Evryn wakes again, but not in her own world, or even her own time. Evryn finds herself resurrected in the tavern outside of time, with a chance at redemption and revenge.

Travel back to the land you once failed, and use your abilities to fight back the tyrants evil forced. Along your journey, you will meet new allies to fight with, abilities to use, and people to save. Will the dice be in your favor? Can you put an end to the tyrant’s evil reign?

Gameplay

Odds Chronicles features the traditional roguelike structure, but with a unique board game-like feel to set it apart. Players start a run with a basic set of abilities, and earn more powerful ones as they progress through the map. Maps are split into different nodes that feature events, plot, shops, and encounters. Players can choose the path, but the demo has limited paths to the same outcome. A run is over when the player character’s health hits zero.

Combat

Players cast abilities by spending dice rolls. Dice are rolled at the start of each combat round. Any dice that isn’t spent on an ability is used to fill up the wild dice meter. When the wild dice meter fills, players get a wild dice to spend on any ability, even if it has been expended. Each ability has a set number of charges. Once those charges are used up, they can no longer be cast. Learning when and how to spend your dice pool is key for success.

Example: An attack has 2 charges and deals 5 damage. The player rolls a 2 attack and deals 7 damage. Suppose the player rolls no other attack dice but rolls a wild dice. They can spend the wild dice to deal damage, or use it to cast abilities different resources (magic and agility).

Dice

There are four forms of resources a player can roll each round: attack, magic, agility, and wild. Wild dice only become accessible when a player fills the wild dice meter, but they can be used to cast any kind of ability. All abilities have a casting cost that pulls from a particular resource type or group of types.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

The Odds Chronicles demo works great on the Steam Deck. There is some awkward clunkiness like when it would randomly not let me cast abilities, but nothing that makes the game unplayable. There is touch screen support, but it is a little clunky. It feels better to use the controller, but it is nice to have access to touch controls when the game stops working. My only complaint is that some of the elements do look a little small, but I am old and it feels like a personal problem.

Review

2026 is looking like it is going to be an amazing year for roguelike. I am very satisfied with the amount of unique roguelikes that have passed through my desk, and can’t wait for a few upcoming releases. Odds Chronicles is easily one of these titles. If you like board games, and aren’t afraid of a little strategy, Odds Chronicles should be in your watchlist. This game looks good, and the demo is really solid.

Aesthetics

Odds Chronicles feels like a board game I get to play on my computer, and I am a huge fan of that vibe. The characters look like cool sculpted minis I wouldn’t mind trying to paint (and ruin). The maps are small and contained, but with enough obstacles to keep things interesting. This game proves that you don’t need huge maps to create interesting encounters. The soundtrack is also pretty solid, and I can’t wait to see what else the world of Odds Chronicles has to offer.

Combat

There is some clunkiness that springs up here and there on both PC and on the Steam Deck, but the game is still in development. None of the bugs are game breaking, and the demo is smooth enough to paint a full picture.

The game plays like a tabletop wargame, but one that I am actually good at. The dice rolls give me that sweet hit of dopamine, especially when all the rolls like up perfectly for an epic epic round. The combat system is unique and a refreshing take on the genre. The few abilities available in this demo are cool and flavorful. It does feel like the demo is solvable. You will learn pretty quickly what abilities to pick up and focus on, but the game isn’t finished yet. The devs are hard at work at balancing the game, but it is good enough for the demo.

Conclusion

If you enjoy wargaming or are looking for a different kind of roguelike, check out the Odds Chronicles demo. It is an excellent demo that properly showcases what is potentially going to be my favorite game of the year. The demo looks good, plays great, and you can run on the Steam Deck!

You can download the Odds Chronicles demo on Steam. Don’t forget to add it to your wishlist! If you are looking for other unique roguelikes, check out Talystro or my current personal favorite, Anthem#9.

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Rainbow Legends: A Unique Deckbuilding Roguelike Review

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Disclaimer

I was sent the Rainbow Legends demo to review for my blog. I understand the game isn’t finished yet, so I will try to be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, 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 Rainbow Legends?

Rainbow Legends is a unique take on the deckbuilding roguelike where the goal is to use your deck to cover the whole board with your color. There is a demo available on Steam. Make sure you check it out, and don’t forget to wishlist!

Hook

You a powerful hero on an adventure of your choosing. Use your abilities to capture more of the territory to defeat your enemies. Build powerful decks, protect your structures, and find some valuable relics along the way. Will RNGesus bless your adventure with good fortune and powerful cards, or will you end up another fallen adventurer in this godforsaken world? Pull up and find out.

Gameplay

Aside from its unique territory mechanics, Rainbow Legends is your tipical deck building roguelike. Players will choose from one of the mighty heroes (the demo only has the mage as a playable character). Players start with a basic deck that they power up through the course of the adventure. They can find more powerful cards through encounters and combat, or buy them in the shops. There are also events that allow players to level up and customize their cards. The game does a good job at giving players a certain level of freedom to build a deck to fit their playstyle while the RNG keeps playthroughs fresh and exciting.

Combat

Combat in Rainbow Legends is unique. Instead of the regular back and forth style seen in traditional deckbuilders, Rainbow Legends has players fighting over territory of a map. To deal damage in this game, players must own more territory than the their opponent by the end of each round. The game is over when either the player or NPC’s health hits zero.

To claim territories, players must cast abilities using their mana. Mana is fixed, but the capacity can be increased through cards or powerups. Cards cast can give players buffs, summon buildings that give players access to useful resources, or take over/buff territory. Enemy attacks are telegraphed. Players must play around these attacks while maximizing their territory gains.

Imprssions

The demo is a little broken and there are clear signs that the game isn’t finished. That said, the core mechanics of the game work well enough to make Rainbow Legends a serviceable demo. Players will get a solid sense of a roguelike that is honestly a little addicting if you can ignore some of the general roughness. If you are looking for a deckbuilder that feels different and is fun, Rainbow Legends is a solid game to keep on your radar.

Aesthetic

I love the pixel art style of Rainbow Legends. The game’s simple style makes it perfect for running on most computers, but with cool enough art to make the game interesting to look at. It has characters with cool designs, and some very creative abilities. The demo does have some missing elements and a few poorly translated, or not translated sections. This made it hard to understand a few of the mechanics because either I had to translate the text into English, or guess because the text was missing. There have been some updates to the game since I’ve played it, and hopefully this gets patched on full release.

Roguelike

Most roguelikes have players travel across nodes on a map as they work their way to a final boss. All paths lead to the same final boss, but the choice is up to the player. Rainbow Legends does things a little differently. Instead of traveling across nodes, players can travel across an open map. Players don’t lose options after choosing an encounter, and can return or choose the order of their adventure. I like that I can save the camps and shops till the end before the boss fight. It is a unique twist on the roguelike formula, and one that adds a bit of depth to the game.

Combat

Combat was a little strange at first because the tutorial is a little awkward and some important information is missing or not translated correctly. Once I got the gist of things through trial and error, the game became an addiction. While the concept is simple (you are just playing shapes on a grid), there is a lot of strategy involved. The choices a player in both the overworld exploration and combat prowess shape a successful run. RNG may ruin a few runs, but it never felt like it did any of mine.

I love that it always felt like I was doing something in combat, instead of waiting for the back and forth. Combat felt like a creative puzzle I was trying to solve, and the RNG made the puzzle more interesting. Choices like when to expand my territory, build structures, or use an ability weighed heavily on my soul. I became too invested in trying to solve these puzzles that I lost track of time. This game is a lot of fun.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a new deckbuilding roguelike/strategy to add to your collection, Rainbow Legends should be in your Wishlist. Rainbow Legends is the most interesting spin on the genre that I have seen since Talystro. Definitely check that out if you want a little math in your roguelikes.

That said, the Rainbow Legends demo is a little broken. I didn’t experience any gamebreaking bugs, but there are elements that are missing, and a few translation issues that are hard to ignore. I was able to play through regardless, but it does feel like I am missing out on a few important mechanics and nuances. I still think the demo is worth trying, especially if you if you enjoy puzzle games. I’ll be around for a full release, and will let you know what I think about it then. Make sure you follow along for more reviews.

You can check out the Rainbow Legends demo on Steam.

video game reviews

Nocturnal 2: A Promising Metroidvania Experience Awaits

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Disclaimer

I was sent the Nocturnal 2 demo to review for my blog. I am grateful for the opportunity, but understand the game isn’t finished. That said, I will try to be a bit more lenient in my review, but these will still be my honest impressions of the game.

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 Nocturnal 2?

Nocturnal 2 is a beautifully drawn metroidvania coming out on Steam later this year.

Hook

Play as Ardeshir, bearer of the Enduring Flame as he explores the forgotten city of Ytash in order to break the curse that consumes his homeland. But the path will not be easy. The city has been sunk into darkness, with only his Enduring Flame to light the way. Bring as much of this city to life as you fight your way through mobs of enemies, creative bosses, and discover new abilities in between. Will his flame be enough to free his homeland from the darkness, or will it consume his very soul?

Gameplay

The demo has players go through the tutorial, but gives them a large area of exploration. This is your typical metroidvania where players are moving from checkpoint to checkpoint, collecting xp, powerups, and abilities in between. What makes Nocturnal unique is that Ardeshir’s flames can go out, and without light, he becomes powerless. Players must find ways to not only light the world around them, but sometimes find ways to keep their light alive.

Combat

Nocturnal has a traditional metroidvania feel. Players start the game with a minimal move list, but unlock new abilities as they progress through the city of Ytash. The combos get more complex as the game progress, but so do the enemies. Enemies in this game have easily telegraphed attacks and movements that players will need to learn to play around. Effectively fighting around these combos through skillful dodging can help players survive until the next checkpoint.

Impressions

I picked up Nocturnal 2 because Nocturnal is one of my favorite metroidvania. It has a cool atmosphere, solid story, and great mechanics. If you are looking for a new metroidvania while you wait for sequel, you won’t be disapointed. The demo for 2, has me excited. The game still feels like the dark epic adventure of the first, with a few solid improvements. The art is still great, combat is smooth, and it left me wanting more. It has definitely been added to my wishlist, and I can’t wait to try out the full version.

Aesthetic

One of the biggest draws for Nocturnal is its world building and aesthetic. This series has some incredible art, and I am very excited to explore more of this world. The lore in that is sprinkled throughout gives the game the mysterious atmosphere that makes the story feel even more epic than it is. My only complaint is that I didn’t get much of the story in this game, but at least I got a solid impression of what is to come in terms of gameplay.

Gameplay

First of all, this demo is playable on the Steam Deck which is the cherry on top of a solid metroidvania experience. Any game that allows me to whip out my Steam Deck outside my house is a good game, and this is looking like a good game. The Nocturnal 2 demo has smooth combat with interesting combos and interactions, a good amount of exploration, and some solid platforming. And this is coming from someone who hates platformers. At least, I used to hate them until I played Nocturnal. It does get a bit repetitive towards the middle of the demo, but it gave me enough to be excited about.

Conclusion

I can’t wait for the full release of Nocturnal 2. This is a solid demo, especially if you are in the market for a new metroidvania. I don’t think you’ll need to play the first game to understand the sequel, but the Nocturnal is such a good game, you need to play through it once. I still prefer the first game, but it is still too early to make that declaration. Until then, play through the first game, check out this demo, and don’t forget to add Nocturnal 2 to your wishlist!

You can pick up the Nocturnal 2 demo on Steam.

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Blightstone: A Promising Roguelike Experience

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Blightstone 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.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108 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 Blightstone?

Blightstone is a turn-based strategy roguelike out on Steam Early access. If you like Darkest Dungeon vibes in your roguelike strategy grind, this game should be in your watchlist.

Hook

The powerful demon overlord Korghul spreads his reign of terror relentlessly across this land. You command the heroes who are destined to end it, but this is no easy task. The path to salvation is full of death and despair. Fight against waves of the demon lords army, loot as much as you can, and use the landscape for to your advantage. Can you overcome death, keep the Earthglass Christal safe, and rid the world of this powerful evil, or will you be another one of Korghul’s victims.

Gameplay

Players take command of three mighty heros: a warrior, a mage, and a hunter and his canine companion. Make your way through a map full of enemies, events, and a few shops to boost your companions. Can you make it to the end before death or the blight consumes your characters?

Combat

Combat is a turn-based strategy combat. Each character has 2 action points that they can use to move, attack, or use an ability. Players can spend these actions in any order. For example, you can attack with the mage, attack with the hunter, and go back to the mage to finish his turn. Terrain affects combat. Players and NPCs can use the map to gain advantage through effective use of the cover and line of sight mechanic. Characters can heal at the campfire at the end of the day, but they cannot be revived. Once a character dies, it is gone forever.

Loot

Like most roguelikes, players can choose from a selection of random items after certain events. These items can be equipped to boost a parties power level. Items can be equipped before any encounter.

Events

As of writing this, events seem to only be additional combat or skipping additional combat. Choosing an extra encounter has a chance for an additional reward, but it is not always guaranteed. It helps to roll for map information at a campfires.

Campfire

The party sets up camp at the end of each day. A day passes after two event nodes on a map. These can be combat, shopping, or a random encounter. While at a campfire, players can spend camp points to heal their characters, activate buffs, or gain map information. Gaining map information reveals a reward on the map to help players plan their progression.

Progression

Stage progression is tied to meta progression. Players are given general quests to complete in order to move to the next map, simply clearing the stages isn’t always enough.

Review

Blightstone has a good amount of potential, but it doesn’t have enough content to make it worth it. If you want to support a game that is trying innovate the genre with a few interesting mechanics, it is worth checking out at least once. Fortunately, the devs seem to be active enough to inspire some hope, but the lack of content is a tricky sell.

Aesthetic

Blightstone has fantastic art. I love the grimdark vibe and the comicbook feel of the world. The characters look very good, and the animation is solid. It also has a solid soundtrack to get you in the mood for epic combat. Aesthetic alone should spark interest in gamers looking for something new to try.

Combat

Combat is a lot of fun. I love the gridless maps and the action economy system makes it feel like a tabletop RPG. I am very bad at strategy games, so the difficulty seems high, but that is by design. I wouldn’t call it a frustrating experience, but basic understanding of the game’s mechanics helps with the grind. There is a grind, and it does get repetitive. Some of it is due to lack of content, the rest is by design.

Blightstone doesn’t take the traditional turn-based strategy rout. The RNG upgrades make each run feel fresh, and it feels for the most part. The line of sight and friendly fire mechanic give combat its depth. I love that I can use the map to gain an advantage, it it sucks when the NPCs do the same. The NPC AI is intellegent enough to make things interesting. Having to keep the Earthglass Crystal safe also affects you move your units. I wish there was a bit more variety on the type of units so the grind doesn’t feel as repetitive, but repetition is part of the roguelike experience.

Content

At the moment, there seems to be enough content for many three hours of gameplay. The game is fun for those three hours, but it is up to you if is worth the $16. After the first couple of runs, the game starts to feel repetitive because the encounters start to repeat. There needs to be a lot more events rather than just having an extra encounter. I wish I could make a deal with a devil or encounter or random merchant, anything to add a little more choice to my playthough. I don’t mind repetition in my roguelikes, I play a lot of Encounters, but here it feels like I finish the content too quickly.

Conclusion

Blightstone is a cool game that attempts some very interesting mechanics in an oversaturated genre. The game looks good, plays well, but it needs a bit more content. It definitely needs more attention, and should be in your watchlist. Just know that at this stage in its development, you are paying to support a good demo for a game that might be good in the future.

You can pick up Blightstone on Steam Early Access. If you are looking for other cool roguelikes to add to your collection, check out Talystro.

video game reviews

Talystro: A Fun Deckbuilding Game with Math Mechanics

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Disclaimer

I was asked to cover the Talystro playtest for my blog. I understand the game is not finished, so I will be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, these will be my honest opinions of the game.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108 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 Talystro?

Talystro is a a unique dice based deckbuilding game coming to Steam. The game features adorable mouses and require a bit of math to defeat your enemies.

Hook

The evil Necrodicer has started the forgiben ritual of Talystro, unleashing waves of evil numbers to disrupt the worlds peace and tranquility. All hope rests in the hands of Math Mouse and his proficiency in simple arithmatic. With the help of many dice rolls and well placed attacks, Math Mouse must fight through these evil numbers and put an end to the Talystro. Will his math skills be enough to save the world? Will RNG be in his favor? You will need to play to find out.

Gameplay

Players must fight their way through many waves of ruthless monsters with only the help of a deck they build along the way. Unlike most deckbuilders, Talystro has players build their attacks from a pool of dice rolls.

Casting

Players roll 6 dice at the start of each round to play the five cards they draw to their hand. Each card has a slot or a series of slots in an equation. To cast a card, players fill these slots with the numbers from their dice pool results. Cards will do damage equal to the total of the card after all required slots are filled. For example, if a user has a card with a slot _ + _ and they fill it with the numbers 1 and 2, the card will do three damage.

Combat

Players can attack as many times per turn as they have available dice, assuming they can get to the correct number. The monsters in this game are numbers. Unlike other deckbuilders where players need to slowly chip away at an enemies health, players need to reach the exact number of the monster they are fighting. For example, if the monster they are fighting is a 7, players must combine their dice and cards to deal out 7 damage and destroy the monster. You can play multiple cards per turn, so mix and match accordingly.

Monsters

Monsters carry attack die. Any monster left with an attack die at the end of the turn does one point of damage to Math Mouse. Players progress to the next stage if they kill off all the numbers. The game ends if the Math Mouse’s health drops to zero.

Abilities

The game has a few abilities to give combat its depth. Players start with three abilities: block, reroll, and adjust. Players all start with one charge of each ability. These abilities can be recharged by playing a card that has a recharge ability.

Block

Monsters get an attack die with the result visible to the player. Players can break these attack dice by stacking a dice with the same result. For example, if a monster has a 4 attack dice, stacking another four negates the attack.

Reroll

Reroll is self explanatory. Players use this ability to reroll their available pool of dice and hope for better numbers. Reroll only affects dice you have left in play. If you have three dice, you only reroll three.

Adjust

This ability allows players to adjust a dice by one value. For example, if you only have a three and need a four or a two, you use the adjust ability to get the number you need.

Impressions

I am a little bummed that this game is only a playtest because it is already an addiction. I did not know I could have so much fun with math, but then again, I played a lot of Math Blaster growing up.

Aesthetic

Talystro has fantastic art. I love the cartoon style art and the world that goes around it. The game has an old school aesthetic, but with gameplay that makes it incredibly addicting.

Gameplay

I am a little bummed it doesn’t work on the Steam deck because this would be a fantastic hand held game. It isn’t resource intensive, and the game is casual enough to enjoy on the go. However, this game is so much fun. I like that it breaks away from the same tired deck builder formula with mechanics that make combat a lot more engaging. I liked that I was always trying to figure out something and it made the grind a lot of fun. Every round was a cool puzzle I needed to solve, even if it involved a lot of math.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a different kind of deckbuilder that isn’t afraid to be different, you need to keep an eye out on Talystro. This is the most fun I’ve ever had doing math, and I am not a huge math person. The game has fun flavor and solid mechanics to keep things engaging. This is a very successful playtest, and I can’t wait to see what else in store. You can still try to get into the playtest. Don’t forget to wishlist!