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video game reviews

Explore the Quirky Charm of Hyperdimension Neptunia

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 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 Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1?

Idea Factory brings the fun, quirky JRPG to PC in a solid port that might be worth trying if you miss that grindy golden age of PSP gaming. If you are looking for a fun game that doesn’t take itself too seriously and don’t mind the grind, you might want to get your hard on Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1

Hook

Welcome to the world of Gaminudstri where four CPU’s are locked in a long standing battle for dominance. The battle seemed neverending until one day, Neptune was deafeated. In a strange turn of events, Neptune’s fall brings her crashing onto one of Gamindustri’s four nations, Planeptune. She awakes without her memories to a stranger who is willing to help her get them back. Now with the help of her new friend, a magical book that talks to her, and the friends she meets along the way, she must fight back the mestirious forces that keep the CPU’s locked in conflict. Will she be able to recover enough of her memories and power in time to save the world? Of course she will. She’s the main character!

Gameplay

Hyperdimension Neptunia has your traditinal JRPG elements. You have a steep grind that feeds into your crafting system and team building. You have quests that both affect the story and feed into the grind. What sets this game apart is its meta-humor and an over-the-top tone that gives the game its charm. The main loop for this game is grinding through the dungeons to earn enough XP, loot, and credits for the upgrades needed to beat the boss. The main draw to this game is the cute anime girls and quirky story around them.

Combat

The combat is turn-based with some minor movement mechanics. Each character in your party has a set movement speed that can be manipulated with gear. Positioning does matter for both gaining an advantage and targeting. What makes Hyperdimension Neptunia unique is that players need to move the players to gain line of sight. This means walking up to the different mobs to target and setting off the actions. You can target multiple units at once. As an action, characters and cast spells, perform attacks, and perform EXE drives. Knowing when to use each type of action is key to an efficient grind.

Dungeons

Dugeons are the main way to progress through the story and grind for everything you need. Each dungeon has a special theme and are filled with unique monsters. Mobs are visible throughout the dungeon (no random encounters), which means you can plan your grind and avoid encounters. You can attack a mob to gain advantage on initiative. There are also nodes spread across the map that you’ll need for crafting.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 works great on the Steam Deck. I only ever played this game on my PSP, so having a bigger screen and console is a blessing. While the game plays great on the PC, the experience is better on handheld. As a busy dad, I love that I can put the game down and not risk losing my progress because I didn’t get to save point before my toddler asks for my attention. The only issue I have with the port is that if you use touch controls, even accidentally, the game switches to mouse and keyboard controls. To fix this, you need get a keyboard, scroll through settings, and change the default controls back to controller. I only had to do this once, and only because I fat fingered the screen on accident.

Review

I played a lot of Hyperdimension Neptunia on my PS vita. Sadly, someone stole my vita and my life has never been the same, until I lucked out and started partnering with Idea Factory. This has been one of my favorite collaborations I’ve done because these games have a special place in my heart. While the game is old, and feels a little dated by modern JRPG standards, the game is still a gem worth playing. Fans of the series already have this game on there Steam Deck, but new fans should at least give this game a chance. This is one of the most unique games in both gameplay and story that you should try at least once. Provided you don’t mind the steep grind that comes with games from this era of gaming.

Aesthetic

Neptunia draws people in with its adorable cast of waifus you can collect and dress up. Admittedly, it is what drew me to the game. You also get a fantastic cast of voice actors and music that will get you in the mood for epic battles (even when the battles start to get repetitive). Some folks might find the dungeon crawl bits to feel a little dated both in looks and function, but keep in mind that this is a port of an older game made for an older audience. I love the touch of nostolgia and the simplicity of the world and have no notes, only love. There is also a tad bit of fan service for those who need it.

Combat

I enjoy Hyperdimension Neptunia’s combat, but the grind makes the game feel repetitive. I enjoy the repetition and find comfort in it, but others won’t have time for it. This is the type of game where you can grind while catching up on some anime. I like that it gives you the option to progress the story at your own pace so you never have to choose between either activity. While some of the grind can be mindless, the game demands respect. You will need to learn the mechanics to progress efficiently, or risk wiping to negligence. Overall, Hyperdimension Neptunia is a solid example of 2010’s JRP combat that is worth checking out at least for its historical impact on the genre.

Story

As hard as it may be to believe, I play the Neptunia games for the plot. These games are a refreshing take on a genre that sometimes feels homogeneous. This is a game that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and it pays off. The story is full of on-the-nose meta humor that both makes valid criticism about the state of the game industry, but also makes you laugh.The cast is fun and colorful, the beats are well paced and quirky, and the voice acting is amazing. If you are looking for a fun cozy title to shut off to, you don’t find better options.

Concusion

I played a lot of Hyperdimension Neptunia back in the day. While I was excited to relive some nostolgia, there was a part of me that was afraid that it wasn’t going to hold up. Maybe my memory was jaded by the waifus and in reality, the game was never good. To my relief, the game holds up. Sure the game does have its grind and there are bits that feel dated, but the game is fun and perfect for an on the go adventure. If you’ve never played a Neptunia game, this is your place to start. If you like cute anime girls doing cute quirky things and don’t mind the jrpg grind, Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 needs to be in your collection.

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video game reviews

Mary Skelter Finale: Is it the Best RPG for Old School Fans?

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Mary Skeleter Finale 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 May Skelter Finale?

Mary Skelter Finale is a dungeon crawling RPG out now on Steam, PS4 and the Nintendo Switch. If you like anime and dark fantasy, this might be the game for you.

Hook

Deep within an ancient prison, a group of fairy tale heroes make their daring escape. Surrounded by monsters known as Marchen and madness-inducing monsters, they must fight their way through to freedom. But this will not be easy, and their latest obsticale seems almost impossible. The group finds themselves surrounded by pools of blood and piles of dead bodies. Even more powerful monsters fight back the blood maidens, forcing a retreat that leaves them scattered throughout the tower. They must use their special abilities and any loot they find along the way to get out of this prison. Will they ever know freedom, or are they doomed to become part of the piles of dead bodies?

Gameplay

This game plays like an old school dungeon crawler. The game is split into two parts, exploration and combat. Players will explore the dungeon in a unique first person view, in search of loot and a way out. Random encounters will keep players on their toes as they are forced into traditional turn based combat. Each character and team has unique skills and abilities that they can use to keep enemies at bay, with options for further customization through a unique skill crafting system. You can essentially buy the skills you want each character to have.

What makes this game truly unique is its swapping mechanic. All of the characters have been scattered throughout the tower in teams. Players must switch between each team to progress through the story. This shift in perspective helps give the narrative its complexity, but it also makes the grind feel a bit more tedious. Either way, if you like these old school feeling dungeon crawlers, it might be worth checking out the Mary Skelter series.

Review

I have mixed feelings about this title. On one hand, this game has fantastic art and solid story, but starting at the end left me a little confused. I wish I would have started from the start. The gameplay loop is fine, but it does suffer from being a port of a game from a grindier generation. There are a few noticeable bugs, but I didn’t encounter anything game braking, and the combat feels a bit repetitive. The game is also hard if you try to play it mindlessly. This game demands respect for its mechanics, and the mechanics aren’t always clear. (This might be a skill issue). All in all, I think the game is fine, but start at the beginning.

Aesthetic

What drew me, and I am sure a lot of people, to this game is the art. The character design in this game is peak, especially if you are fan of anime. The world feels a little bare, but I’ll chalk that up to resource restrictions. The game does have a fantastic sound track and even better voice actors to bring this story to life. If you like anime, you’ll enjoy the dark and gritty world and cool anime characters that fill it.

Gameplay

Here is where I can see there being a split. If you like old school dungeon crawlers, the game has enough of a modern flare to be appealing to the modern gamer, but the game feels dated and the grind is a little steep. You really get sense of how grindy this game is when you switch between teams and it feels like you are starting over. I love these kinds of games and found the repetition soothing, but as a busy dad, it felt like I never accomplished enough.

The problem I have with this title is that you can only save at certain points. This is well in good for building tension, but not good when you have to step away for dadly duties. This game was clearly made to be played on a handheld where you can put the device to sleep, and not lose any progress. I had to start my save over a few times (often losing hours of progress) because I never got to the save point in time. I am so glad this game works on the Steam Deck, or else I would still be playing through the prologue.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

This game is great on the Steam Deck, at least during my testing. The words are a little small, but that could just be a simptom of these old eyes. Otherwise, I was able to perform the core gameplay loop and most importantly, progress through enough of the story to write this review.

Story

The story is fine, but I felt a little lost. The game does a good enough job at being a stand alone adventure, but I felt like I was missing key plot points that would help me care more about the story. Moreover, I didn’t feel as attached as I should be to the characters because I didn’t get to spend enough time with them. While I like the story for the dark and gory fantasy that it is, I am not getting enough of the story to care. Without having read any of the other installments, I can kind of tell that this might be the weakest of the trilogy. That said, I liked the story enough, and will try to go back to the beginning to learn more. If you like dark fantasy anime, this is a solid tittle, but start at the beginning.

Conclusion

If you like visual novels and don’t mind the old school drungeon-crawl grind, Mary Skelter is an interesting series that is worth looking into. You get a world with cool art, solid lore, and interesting gameplay. The biggest determining factor seems to be the grind. If you don’t mind this era of rpg grind, start at the beginning. $40 seems a little too steep for this title because of how dated it feels, but if you’ve been enjoying the story, you get a solid conclusion. Check it out, but start from the beginning. You can pick up your copy on Steam, PS4 and the Nintendo Switch.

If you enjoy these types of old school Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society

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video game reviews

Explore Neptunia’s Quirky Zombie Adventure

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune VS Zombies (Neptunia) 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 MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune VS Zombies (Neptunia)

MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune VS Zombies (Neptunia) brings your favorite Neptunia characters (and two new characters) in a fun new zombie adventure. Take control of your favorite girls in this quirky little hack and slash that is sure to leave you smiling. If you want to collect some waifus as you fight off waves of zombies, keep reading.

Hook

Enrollment to the prestigious Gamicademi has fallen to the point where it will soon shut its doors for good. In an effort to save the school they love, Blanc, Neptune, and all of their friends band together to shoot a movie to attract new students. Luckily, a zombie outbreak is just what they need to put together the perfect film. Team up with your favorite waifus as you fight against waves of zombies and get the shots you need to save the school. Level up your girls, build strong bonds between them, and earn some cute accessories for a quirky adventure you will never forget. Will your efforts be enough to save the school, or will the Gamicadeemi’s doors shut for good? You will need to play to find out!

Gameplay

The game almost plays like a visual novel, where the focus of the game is its fun and quirky story. Fans of the series will enjoy watching their favorite characters in story full of meta humor, fantastic voice acting, and the artstyle that brings you to the Neptunia series in the first place. The gameplay loop is a simple hack-and-slash round where players fight off waves of zombies as they try to complete the level’s objectives.

Combat

Players choose from a roster of girls, each with a unique set of skills and abilities. Characters are unlocked by playing through the story, and leveled up through use. As a character levels, they learn more combos and abilities. Players can customize a character’s stats to best fit their playstyle by buying stat points, accessories, and unlocking new costumes. A round is over when the player completes the objectives or their teams HP falls to zero.

Customization

The game lets players customize a character’s stats and appearance by grinding the different encounters. Each encounter drops items that can be used to heal, buff, and debuff but they can also be used to unlock new costumes and skins. The grind for these unlocks can be a little steep, but I like that it is an optional grind. The main focus of the game is the story, but there is enough fan service for the completionists.

Review

I have been making my way through the Idea Factory collection and it has been a huge mistake. Not because the games are bad, but because I keep finding it hard to step away long enough to write the review. I absolutely love this series, and this Zombies game has been the highlight of this little escapade. If you are a fan of the series, you will appreciate watching your favorite girl in this fun, zany adventure. If you’ve never played a Neptunia game, I recommend starting with the main series games and supplement this after you’re formally addicted. While MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune VS Zombies is a relatively standalone adventure, it is meant to be another story with your favorite characters. Meaning, you have to play the mainline games that will help you find your favorites.

Aesthetic

I am always going to praise these games for the art because the character design is peek waifu bait. The girls are all cute, and the story takes full advantage of its cast of talented artists. You also get a rocking soundtrack to get you in the mood for combat and the grind that comes with trying to unlock the costumes for your favorite girl. As is tradition with all the Neptunia games, you will also get a cast of amazing voice actors that are ready to transport you to this incredible story. My only complaint is that the graphics for the combat portion of the game feels a little dated. The characters look a little bland and the levels feel a little dated. Because the focus of these games is the story, It’s not a huge deal. It feels like playing a PSP game, and I miss my PSP dearly.

Combat

The combat in this game is simple. You are hacking and slashing until the game says the round is over as you try and learn to master all of the combos. You can certainly button mash (and lord knows I did) but the game does punish you for not dodging and setting off combos efficiently. I like that the game gives players the option to min-max and go through the game like a real gamer, but if you’re like me, you can brute force most fights without issue. The game is from 2016 so there are some bits of it that feel dated, and the grind does feel a little slow, but its fun enough to pick up when you want to unwind and enjoy a good enough story.

Story

The story is why I played so much of this game. I have mentioned before that I love Neptunia for its meta humor and general silly tone, and MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune VS Zombies (Neptunia) is a perfect example of why I love this series. The story is about a group of friends who come together to make a bad zombie movie, and it doesn’t get more wholesome, funny, and cute. If you like your cheesy anime where girls do cute things for the sake of being cute, this is your bread and butter. Sure, it may not be the award winning serious story that goes viral each year, but it is the type of story you need when you are just looking for a pick me up and don’t want to become too invested in a game.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

This game works very well on the Steam Deck and I absolutely love that for it. The game does take me back to my handheld gaming days, and those are days are desperately want back. Back when my hands didn’t hurt from too much gaming, and my back didn’t hurt from being alive this long. The game looks great, the controls are smooth without any editing, and it runs great. If you are looking for a solid steam deck game, here you go!

Conclusion

If you want a game where you can make a silly zombie movie, collect cute waifus, and watch them be cute, check out MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune VS Zombies (Neptunia). The game has great art, a fun story, and a solid (albiet a little repetative) gameplay loop to break things up. If you haven’t played any of the Neptunia games, I recommend starting with the main series to get the full effect of this quirky little title. If you’re a fan of the series, this is a must, but you already have it in your collection. Go check it out on Steam!

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video game reviews

First Impressions of HellSlave II: The Archon’s Judgement

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Disclaimer

I was sent the HellSlave II: Judgement of the Archon 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, these will be 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 HellSlave II: Judgement of the Archon

HellSlave II is a dark fantasy dungeon crawler coming to Steam later this year. The sequel promises to be a lot more brutal than the first, offering players more customization than ever before. Check out demo now, and don’t forget to wishlist!

Hook

A thousand year war has torn the world apart. Six demon lords are trapped in an endless battle for dominance. With no resolution in site, the angels have decided to end it. The Archon of Judgement has been released onto the world to cleanse it of the demon scourge. You are humanities last hope. Armed with only the legendary weapons you find along the way, and your choice of spells and abilities, fight against the six demon lords and cleanse them from this realm. Can you defeat all sick armies and earn your salvation, or are you doomed to be whipped with the rest of the demons?

Gameplay

The game is a simple dungeon crawler with turn based combat. Players can move through the over world through a stylized top down, 2D map. There are no random encounters. Players can see all enemies and map out their grind, or skip it all together. Combat is turn-based. You get the traditional RPG combat mechanics like healthstones, manastones, and mana pools, but what makes this game unique is how it handles initiative. Each action costs time to cast.

For example, a spell may cost 8 seconds to cool down. Casting it will be instant, but you will get moved down the initiative accordingly. If the enemy casts something with a 6 second cooldown, they get to go again before you act again. What makes combat interesting is how the items you equip affect the stats. The game offers ample options to customize loadouts with gear and each class’s expansive skill tree that no two saves will ever be the same. If you like math, grinding dark and griddy rpgs, this might be the game for you.

Impressions

While the game works well enough, HellSlave II still feels like an early demo. There is a general clunkiness to the movement that is hard to overlook, and there are some bits of the game that are still in French. That said, the demo shows a lot of promise. What you get is an excellent introduction to a world with fantastic art, interesting lore, and a solid mechanical foundation. I am very upset that I can’t keep playing the game, but I can’t wait to see what this game becomes. If you are looking for something new to play, check out the demo and thank me later.

Aesthetic

Fans of Dark Fantasy will appreciate the art and aesthetic. The world is dark and gritty, and the demon designs are terrifying. I am impressed with how bleak the world is. There is so much flavor in this game. I love how the gear you put on your character shows up in the cutscenes, but I wish I could see this type of detail in the over world. I get that this might be hard to do, or not as important, but I don’t like the generic sprite that you get to travel over the world with. Other than that, the world is so cool and I need to see more.

Story

There isn’t much story in the demo, but what I read is fine. A lot of the lore is scattered throughout the world as random drops. It kind of reminds me of Destiny where you had to explore the world and pick up all these different journals and piece it all together. For those who like to read, there is some cool dark fantasy lore to collect. For those who done, you’re probably reading the guides to min-max that speed run. Either way, it was enough to get me hooked and I want to know how it all ends.

You do not need to play the first HellSlave to understand the events of the second, at least as far as the demo goes. The game is pretty stand alone, and I never felt lost because I didn’t play the first one. I’ll probably want to play the first one because I enjoy the 2nd one so much, but that is a conversation for a more future me.

Performance

As far as demo’s work, HellSlave 2 gets a stable enough one to give a good impression of what to expect. The only issues I had with the game is that movement is kind of clunky. I would randomly get stuck on invisible walls, and there were a couple of instances where I just spawned in the middle of a building and got stuck. The worst part is that the autosave overwrites your manual one. Most of the time, this doesn’t matter because you can change your build at anytime for free, but I accidentally chose the wrong buff and I couldn’t go back to redo my choice. While I wouldn’t call it unplayable, it is a little annoying.

Customization

This game gives you so much freedom for a build that the hardest part of this game is going to be choosing what gear or stats you want to upgrade. The demo showers you with loot, and while there is a lot of RNG, it feels very fair. There is also an expansive skill tree that you can redo at anytime. I love that the game let me play around with different builds until I found one that made the game fun. Sure there are probably going to be guides that will help you break the game, but I didn’t feel the need. If combat ever got too difficult, I either had to grind a little more, buy new loot, or change up my build.

Gameplay

I am a huge fan of these classic feeling dungeon crawlers, but HellSlave II doesn’t feel old and grindy like some of my favorites. The main game may have a steeper grind, but it seems fine. I might try playing a harder difficulty for my true run because I eventually found a build that felt pretty broken. Combat is soothing, but requires enough strategy to get you through the dungeon alive. I particularly love that I am not bogged down by random encounters, and I can move more strategically. I can even skip encounters if I didn’t feel like fighting. If you like classic dungeon crawlers but want something that feels modern, get HellSlave II.

Conclusion

I am very excited for the full release of HellSlave II. This game is a solid dungeon crawler with fantastic art, great lore, and fun mechanics. I hope the game has full Steam Deck support one day because I would love to play this on the go or on the couch when I just want to chill. If you are looking for a fun and unique game to add to your collection, check out the HellSlaves II demo today. Don’t forget to wishlist!

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video game reviews

Super Neptunia RPG Review: A Casual Gamer’s Take

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Super Neptunia RPG 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 Super Neptunia RPG

Super Neptunia RPG is a a sidescrolling turn-based RPG out now on Steam, GoG, PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch. The game features your favorite lovable goddesses in a new, unique adventure. The game is not considered cannon to the Super Neptunia lore, but it does give fans of the series another chance to spend time with their favorite group of goddesses.

Hook

Neptune wakes up in a strange 2D world without any of her memories. She is thrown into the world with only a stick, her hunger, and a magical book that glows when she is near an ally. Travel across this strange new 2D world in search of your memories and make a few allies along the way. Take up quests for additinion income and use your formation to conquer any foe and boss that comes your way. Will you beat the game like the protagonist you were meant to be, or will this be the end for Neptunia and her friends?

Gameplay

Super Neptunia RPG is your typical sidescroller adventure. Players will move through the world, completing quests and fighting off monsters. Players control a four player team each with unique set of abilities. The game uses an interesting mix of turn-based and real time combat mechanics to craft its unique gameplay loops. Each character can perform as many actions as they can if they have enough initiative and action points. Each action costs AP to cast. AP is automatically generated over time. While the game doesn’t use a stamina or mana system for a characters abilities, they will have to wait for AP to charge. Luckily, you can hold down left trigger to speed things up.

While you are stuck with the same four characters for the entirety of the campaign, there are mechanics to help refresh the team. Players can change the formation of the party during combat to change the abilities they can use. They can also buy items that teach characters new abilities. This helps players take full advantage of typing as they travel across the different biomes of the world.

Review

I’ve played a couple of Neptunia games and like them enough to keep trying more. I very much appreciate the fun meta humor and who doesn’t like cute anime girls? Super Neptunia RPG is a bit different from the rest of the series in that it is 2D. It isn’t quite the engaging metroidvania I was expecting from the few bits of media I saw before hand, but I appreciate the chill laid-back gameplay loop it offers. While there are a few bugs and some performance issues, I don’t mind having this game on my Steam Deck. The game has cute art and great voice acting, but I found the story and gameplay a little lacking. The battle system is interesting, but I found the grind a little too much for the casual game it is trying to be. It isn’t the worst grind I’ve experienced, especially when compared to the rest of the series, but it was slow enough where I started to lose interest.

Aesthetic

I like the cute anime girls, but the world doesn’t feel too interesting outside of that. The cities were bland, and the worlds around them feel a bit generic. There wasn’t much I wanted to explore, and a lot of the exploration felt like busy work that was put in to extend a lack luster story. It isn’t an ugly game by any means, but it doesn’t do much to stand out. As of writing this, I struggle to remember a single biome, city, or even monster. I do like that I can see the weapons I attach, I always love to see my character get cooler as the adventure goes.

Story

The story in this game isn’t terrible, but it isn’t anything to run towards. I wouldn’t recommend this be your entry to the Neptunia games, but it is good enough for those who want to see more of their favorite character. The meta humor is well done and I got enough of a laugh to keep pushing through the game. I will certainly forget ever playing this game, but it isn’t a game I minded playing. What did ruin the game is the grind, more on that below.

The Grind

The grind for this game is its weakness. These games have been grindy before, but at least there was a fun story to work towards. Here, because the story is just okay, the grind becomes hard to justify. You can skip a lot of the encounters by jumping over them, which helps, but not enough. I feel like if I were a bigger fan and more invested in the series I would enjoy it more, but here we are. The problem is that the super fans have already played this game, and the casual fans should probably go play one of the main series games instead.

Combat

I have very mixed feelings on the combat system. On one hand, it uses creative mechanics in a way that makes the game feel unique for the first few minutes of a playthrough. The problem is that strategy in this game doesn’t really matter. I found that most of the time, I could just spam the same two abilities and clear most of the encounters. I didn’t even bother teaching new abilities to my characters because it really didn’t matter. The game is casual enough to mindlessly play around my toddler’s schedule, but I don’t know if I could pick it up more seriously. In short bursts, this game feels perfect for the gamer who doesn’t have much time, likes the Neptunia games, and doesn’t want a huge commitment.

Conclusion

Super Neptunia RPG is just fine. The game has solid bones, cute characters, and it offers a good enough experience to be worth it at a discount. If you’re a fan of the series, this is an easy way to get more time with your favorite character. If you are not a fan of the series, you should check out one of the main games and move from there. I think the combat is creative and worth trying once, and it makes for a good portable Steam Deck game. That said, wait for the sale.

You can pick up Super Neptunia RPG on on Steam, GoG, PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch.

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video game reviews

Amnesia: Memories Review – A Visual Novel Worth Playing?

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Amnesia: Memories 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 Amnesia: Memories?

Amnesia: Memories is an anime Otome visual novel out now on Steam, Android devices, and the Nintendo Switch. It originally released on the PS Vita in 2015. For those who missed out on the special era of Vita visual novels, or those looking for a new visual novel, Amnesia: Memories might be your next game.

Hook

You wake up without your memories and a unique magical creature to take their place. They are here to help you recover your memories, the problem is that they don’t know what world you belong to. Choose a world (heart, diamond, clover, spade) and try to find your place in its world. Rediscover a forgotten relationship with the boyfriend you left behind, and make the choices that will give you the best endings. Will you regain your memories and find your true love, or will you die in the process. There are over 20 endings and hundreds of choices. Can you collect them all?

Gameplay

Amnesia: Memories is your typical visual novel. Players will read through the story, and you get to make choices along the way. The choices you make affect the ending, and choosing wrong gets you the wrong ending. This is your typical Otome game where you are getting romanced by different hot guys, although the heroine in this story feels a bit more passive. The stories are divided as follows:

  • Heart – Shin
  • Spade – Ikki
  • Clover – Kent
  • Diamond – Toma
  • Joker – Ukyo

The top four characters are playable from the start, the joker ending only unlocks after playing through all the stories. One nice feature the game has is that it lets you create multiple saves and save at any point in the story.

Review

As far as visual novels, Amnesia: Memories is fine. The game has great art, a solid score, and decent writing (mostly). My problem with the game is that not all of the paths feel worth it (looking at you Toma). That said, there is enough good to this visual novel to be worth at least one play through, but I wasn’t interested enough to collect all of the endings. There are guides available for the completionists out there, but I recommend going in as blind as possible.

Aesthetic

The art in this game is great if you enjoy anime. The character design is unique and memorable, and I like how they contrast against the often simple backgrounds. I like that cut scenes and transitions are minimilistic because it shifts the focus to the story and its characters.

Story

I will do my best to avoid spoilers, but there is going to be some minor spoilers. As far as Oteme games go, I do prefer something more cheesy like Celestia Chain of Fate. I enjoy reading sappy romantic novels, and some of these routes weren’t romantic at all (Toma). If you want a visual novel with a more serious tone, I recommend checking out Nobody Nowhere instead. Amnesia isn’t bad, but choosing the wrong lead is going to turn off some people. I started with Ikki (Spade) and almost gave up on the game because it was so boring. It wasn’t until I got to switch leads and play Kent (Clover) where I started to become invested. This could be a subjective critique, but I would start with Shin or Kent and then your choice of the other two.

Main Character

One problem I have with the game is that the main character sort of exists for all of these events to happen to her. She doesn’t feel tangible or real because there doesn’t seem to be any agency. She loses her memories and things sort of just happen to her. This should feel like a tense and scary concept (and at times it does) but it almost feels like it doesn’t matter.

Maybe I play too many Otome games, but I was making choices because it would get me the good ending not because it would necessarily lead me to something interesting. A good Otome game usually paralyzes me with choices as I try to figure out what I want and what bits of the narrative I want to explore, but I didn’t feel that much with this game. I just didn’t care enough about the characters or the world to want to explroe more.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a decent read and don’t care too much a story’s realism, Amnesia: Memories is fine. You get some solid stories, some creepy undertones, and solid art. The voice acting is fantastic and there are enough guides out there for those who want to collect some easy achievements. I still would prefer something more on the cheesy side like Celestia Chain of Fate. As far as Visual Novels go, you can do worse. If you do end up getting this game, start off with Kent and work your way to Toma. Both Toma and Ikki have boring stories that can ruin a playthrough (it nearly ruined mine). Overall, not the worst ways to spend $10.

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video game reviews

Is Humans vs Orcs Worth Your Time?

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Humans vs Orcs 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 Humans vs Orcs

Humans vs Orcs is an idle (incremental) game out on Steam and Itch.io. You can currently try the game out for free on Itch.io.

Hook

The orcs are invading, and you are the last line of defense. Send your army of brave solders to defend against the endless waves of monsters, dragons, and their bosses. Use the gold you gain from taxes, kills, and the skulls of the soldiers you march to their deaths to upgrade future generations. Unlock new units and customize your loadouts. Do you have what it takes to keep your walls from crumbling under the weight of the orcish threat, or will you be overwhelmed like all the other human settlements before yours?

Gameplay

This is an idle game where you only click to choose the upgrades and summon soldiers. Combat is automated, so sit back and watch your soldiers defend your city. The round is over when you can successfully fight back the orcish invasion, or your city falls. Between waves, you can unlock new abilities to summon like a hail of arrows or new units to summon. You can only have three types of units to summon during a round, and can edit this loadout between rounds.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

Yes, this game works fine on the steam deck, but some of the clickable areas are a little small. Changing the game speed is a bit annoying and the fact that you have to set it after each death is frustrating. Otherwise, I appreciate that I can touch my selections. The game is very low profile so it won’t kill your battery or make your fans go crazy. Is it a good Steam Deck game tho? Not really. It feels like a waste to use your Steam Deck for and idle game, even one that requires as many imputs as Humans vs Orcs.

Review

I enjoy idle games. I’ve spent too much time in idle gocha games like Monmusu Girls, but that was only fun because I got to collect waifus. The game isn’t terrible. Human vs Orcs has a cool fantasy aesthetic and some cozy vibes, but it feels like busy work. A lot of the time, it feels like I am just waiting for a timer. Most of the time, it feels like it better to do nothing to collect enough gold to do better damage in future turns. If you’re looking for an idle game to play, check out Tingus Goose instead.

Aesthetic

Humans vs Orcs is a very cool looking game. I am a sucker for pixel art, and the detail that goes into this world is fantastic. I like the units, the animation is cute, and the monsters are terrifying. The game has clear inspiration from the Warcraft franchise, which is great, but it does remind me that I would rather be playing Warcraft instead.

Gameplay

The game is fine if you haven’t played any idle games. As far as idle games go, it feels like too much work. Most Idle games require a lot of clicking, especially when they are predatory with their Gotcha Mechanics. This almost feels close to that, except you don’t get the rush of dopamine that comes with the gambling. Instead, it feels like I am clicking in hopes of getting enough upgrades to progress through the game, or having to wait in real time for better upgrades.

This wouldn’t be a problem if it didn’t require so much clicking to progress through the story. Why do I have to reset the speed after every death? Why do I need to upgrade after every death? It could just let me set my army, forget it, and collect the skulls after a while to buy the upgrades I need to keep moving. As cute as the animation is, it gets old fast and there isn’t any real reason I should have to click so much. Sure you can set the game to auto summon, but you still have to click after each round and auto summon feels terrible for progression. It is almost better to let round run without summoning units, but this might be a skill issue.

Is it a good idle game?

Not really. The game requires too much attention and there isn’t enough of a payoff to make it worth it. Even terrible gotcha versions of this type of game will at least let you pull cool looking units, and that rush you get from those gambles almost makes you forget how terrible the game is. There is nothing to make you forget about this game. Instead, you are stuck clicking away in hopes of getting enough upgrades to progress to the next round. The scaling is also a little too toxic to be the cozy idle game I wish this was.

I enjoy idle games because they are low profile games I don’t have to no life. I can log in, set my units, and forget about it until I have time to check it again. The fun comes from using whatever resources I gather to get stronger and of course, the gambling. These games usually have something to work towards whether it be a powerful team for PVP or a cute collection of waifus to show my non-existent friends. While this game isn’t terrible, it doesn’t feel like I am gaining anything except progression that seems gated by its inconstant power scaling. Why would you play this when you can be playing Monmusu Girls if you like cute anime girls or Tingus Goose if you are looking for something more whimsical and less predatory gocha.

Conclusion

Humans vs Orcs isn’t the worst game I’ve played, but it is boring. Maybe if you get deep enough into the game and collect enough units it gets better, but it takes too long to get there. The game is incredibly unintuative as it offers almost no guidance on how to play the game. I didn’t know there were additional pages to the upgrade book for example. After figuring out how to play, and building up my army, it still felt terrible getting stomped randomly by the next wave and having to reset the game speed because I didn’t want to have to sit through the same battle for the 30th time. If you’re looking for an idle game, go play Tingus Goose. If you like the aesthetic and want to see for yourself, you can try it on Itch.io for free and then buy it on Steam if you end up liking it.

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video game reviews

Why You Need to Play Demon Lord: Just a Block This Summer

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Demon Lord: Just a Block 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 Demon Lord: Just a Block?

Demon Lord: Just a Block is a simple looking roguelike where you play the bad guy. The game is out now on Steam, and it is Steam Deck compatible!

Hook

You awaken as a beheaded Demon Lord, with only the faintest of memories of your past life. With your kingdom in shambles, it is up to you to reclaim it. Set off into the wild and reclaim the parts you’ve lost long ago. Only when you’re whole again can you reclaim your throne. But this is no easy task. Around every corner sits a monster or hero thirsting for your blood. Fight your way through endless hordes of enemies, discover new powers and abilities, and reclaim the memories you’ve lost. What will your journey reveal about you? Do you have what it takes to be the mighty Demon Lord you used to be?

Gameplay

Demon Lord: Just a Block is a turn based roguelike. Before you grown from roguelike fatigue, Just a block does enough different that it deserve your attention. It does have the same repetative grind structure like you see in traditional roguelikes. The Demon Lord returns to his throne roam between each run. As you progress through the adventure, you unlock new areas of the throne room that allow you to upgrade your block, change weapons, and even check the leaderboard.

A run in this game is your traditional turn-based dungeon crawl. The player and NPCs perform an action per turn. An action is used to move or attack. Once you clear the rooms objectives, players can choose the type of room they end up in next. Rooms can be combat or offer useful buffs to players. Planning your rout as you make your way to the boss is key for success and advancement. The game further incentives exploration through various hidden secrets and items that help players throughout their adventure. What makes the game unique is that the game allows players to play as quickly or slowly as they want.

Review

It is incredibly easy to become addicted to Demon Lord: Just a Block. If you are looking for one game to play this summer, this game is your answer. This game has an adorable aesthetic that fully leans into its whimsy. The game has a unique gameplay that is both cozy but challenging enough to keep players engaged. Most importantly, the story is good enough to let me forget about the grind. I can easily spend a whole day playing this game, but I won’t because I am a responsible adult with a backlog of games I need to review. I will be playing this on the side whenever I can because I am just that addicted.

Aesthetic

I enjoy the token art for this game. It gives the game its board game-like vibe, and I always need an excuse to play more board games. I don’t have enough friends to do so otherwise. I love the use of vibrant colors and the cartoonish violence, but appreciate that the game isn’t afraid to get serious. As if this game couldn’t get better, the game has a fantastic soundtrack to get you in the mood for an epic adventure. Demon Lord: Just a Block proves that you don’t need AI ray tracing to make a good compelling game.

I am actually a huge fan of minimilistic games like this. I am always amazed at how unique the world and story these games build with such simple elements.

Gameplay

The gameplay is what makes this game so addicting. The game is simple, but there is enough of a challenge to keep things engaging. I like that the turn-based mechanics make the game as slow or fast as you want it to be. There were times I played it like a fast paced action game, and other times where I wanted to plan my moves better. It makes the grind feel a bit more managable, although the grind isn’t very bad to begin with. I found the RNG to be pretty fair. While there seeds that ruined my run (probably a skill issue) there were also runs where I was a god and it felt unfair. Most of the time the game felt good enough to take up way more time than I have for gaming, and I have zero regrets.

I do appreciate that the game incentives the player to change up the flow of the game. The game will randomly offer bonus drops for using certain weapons to encourage players to use weapons they wouldn’t normally use. Weapon unlocks also encourage players to play a little different to get access to different powers. All of the weapons feel balanced, and it really just came down to preference or whatever gave me the most loot. What I liked the most is all the hidden secrets you can find by exploring everything. Without getting into spoilers, the game has a proper mystery you should be trying to unlock.

Combat

Combat in this game is a lot more complex than it may appear. You can rush in and fight everything you see, but you can also dodge and parry. Mastering these mechanics are essential for your rise as Demon Lord, but I was never able to quite master it. The game offers a good enough tutorial, I just wasn’t good enough. Combat also varies between runs depending on the weapon you choose and the powerups you pick up along the way. Bosses in this game are really unique, but they are also cheesable. I enjoy that there is enough randomness to keep combat feeling fresh, and it is one of the reasons I am not ready to put this game down yet.

Conclusion

I can’t stress how much you need this game in your library. This is a low profile cozy game with a lot of heart and flavor. As a busy dad, I appreciate that I can pick it up and put it down anytime without having to worry about losing progress or forgetting where I left off. If you are looking for some good dungeon crawling action with engaging combat and just enough silliness to make your day, go pick up Demon Lord: Just a Block.

You can pick up Demon Lord: Just a Block on Steam. For other cool minimilistic games with a lot of heart and flavor, check out Void Sols and Worldless. Two of my favorite games.

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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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