Worldlessis coming to PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch on November 21st. Worldless is a stylish and unique metroidvania platformer with an interesting turn-based combat system you need to at least try once. I strongly recommend you check out the Steam demo.
I got to play Worldless at GDC, and have been excited for its release since. You can check out the original post if you want my initial impressions. The game is very pretty with a fantastic soundtrack, but the gameplay loop is what really sold it for me. Worldless combines Metroidvania platforming with a few RPG turn-based systems to produce a very fun and interesting gameplay loop. This game should at least be on your wish list.
Worldless releases on all systems on November 21st for $19.99. You can save $2 if you preorder on Xbox or Switch until November 20th. PlayStation users get this discount with a PlayStation Plus membership.
I’ve already got my copy and will be releasing a full review when the embargo is lifted. Stay tuned for that. If you enjoy these updates or any of my other content, please make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.
The second closed beta for Taris Land: Mystery of the Hollows is coming to PC and Android devices on November 15. Make sure you head over to the official site to sign up! I’ve already signed up, so fingers crossed I get accepted.
The Beta will last about two weeks in 16 countries and will support eight languages: English, French, German, Russian, Spanish, and Portuguese. Here are the official start times per region:
North American Server: November 15, 2023 at 8:00 (UTC−4)
South American Server: November 15, 2023 at 9:00 (UTC−3)
European Server: November 15, 2023 at 14:00 (UTC+2)
Asian Server: November 16, 2023 at 9:00 (UTC+8)
Make sure you check out the official FAQ and Discord if you have any other questions about the playtest.
Taris Land: Mystery of the Hollows is an MMORPG coming to PC and mobile devices (Android and IOS). I love the aesthetic of this game, and anything that I can play on my phone is a nice plus. I know people bash mobile gaming, but sometimes, I want to be away from my desk and don’t want to have a lot of extra hardware.
I’ve written about this game before and won’t be repeating too much. I recommend you check out my previous post or go to the official page for more details.
The second playtest will include the nine original classes (Warrior, Priest, Mage, Ranger, Barbarian Fighter, Paladin, and Bard) and introduce two new ones: Shadow Swordsman and a mysterious new class.
The new class looks like a druid to me, but here’s the teaser so you can speculate:
The playtest will feature two raids, a bunch of story quests, the Dark Invasion mode, and the Inscribed Skill Stone system. There will be enough to keep players, new and old, busy for the two weeks of the playtest.
Make sure you keep an open mind going into the beta. This isn’t a finished product, and the game isn’t going to be perfect. This will be a test to make the game better, and I feel like it’s the perfect opportunity for fans to help shape a game they’re going to devote their time to. Just make sure you submit your feedback as soon as the option becomes available.
I am very excited because I love MMO’s and would love a new one to sink some time into. I just hope this game isn’t too grindy and the cash shop isn’t predatory. I’ve signed up, make sure you do too, and I hope to see you in Tarisland!
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I’ve been following Drakantos closely because I am very excited about its release. Drakantos is a free-to-play pixel art MMO coming to PC and mobile devices. The art is cute, and the bit of gameplay I’ve seen has me interested. No release date has been set yet, so make sure you join the official Discord so you are always up to date.
The October Devlog just dropped, and I recommend you check it out to share in my excitement. We got some new animations, screenshots, and some gameplay footage.
If you enjoy these updates, don’t forget to like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. Make sure you add Drakantos to your wishlist!
Yura Teaser
We got a teaser for Yura, and if it doesn’t get you hyped for the game, nothing will. Combat looks so good and the voice acting is fantastic! Make sure you check out the official discord if you want to get some back story!
Mounts
An MMO needs its mounts, and Drakantos will have mounts, and characters that can transform into their own! We got a teaser of the animation, and I am satisfied:
Screenshots
We also got to see a new screenshot of the world, and I love the art! This world looks so good!
UI Preview
We also got a screenshot of the UI. It’s clean, and I dig the character art.
I was sent Illuminaria as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest review of the game. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.
Illuminaria is a base building, resource management game for PC,Switch, Android, and IOS devices. Take control of an army of adorable robots as you work to bring light back to the land. Use the robots to gather resources, build bases, and fight monsters.
Illuminaria has a unique and interesting gameplay loop. Building is probably the most relaxing experience I’ve had in the genre because of how easy it is to get organized. All you have to do is build squares, and the robots will fill those squares with resources based on your designations. This loop feels fantastic on the iPhone because all you do is tap and watch your little robots get to work. While you wait for resources, you are also researching new technologies, upgrading structures, defending your bases, and sending your robots on quests for more materials. You’ll be as busy as your little buddies on the screen, and it is such a wholesome good time!
My only real issue with this game is the price. $5 for the app is perfect. You’ll get $5 of fun from the app. If you are looking for a chill game to pick up in a waiting room or something to fill those rare gaming hours that present themselves, Illuminaria is a solid choice. The mechanics are easy to pick up, the gameplay is engaging, the art is cute, and the music is great. This is a fun game, and it’s a perfect mobile gaming experience. The problem is that this game feels short. You can try to beat the game at different difficulties, but it still feels like a $5 app. I can’t see it ever being worth full price on a console or PC. It’s not a bad game, there just isn’t enough for it to be worth it.
You can pick up Illuminaria on Steam, and Switch for $14.99, and on Android and IOS Devices for $4.99. It is on sale right now on Steam for $9.74 until November 7th, but you can also try the demo if you need some more convincing.
Thanks again for keeping up with this project. This chapter has been a little harder because it feels a little dragged out. Make sure you always check out the original anyways. My version goes out the Monday after release unless something comes up. If you’ve been enjoying this project, don’t forget to like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends!
Character design/illustration illustrator: malo
Saya and Yulin stand outside the warehouse, taking a break away from the busy factory floor. In a short time, the floor was full of new employees eager to work on the next piece of innovation. Investors lined up eagerly trying to fund the next big thing from Ryusenji Technologies. The two women look tired, but happy as they enjoy the touch of the midday sun.
Saya turns to Yulin and flashes her new ring. She lets out an excited giggle as the diamond glitters in the sun.
Yulin lets out a laugh. “So it’s official. I guess I should say congratulations. I didn’t think that dope Kosuke could be bothered to ask for a ring size.”
Saya pulls the ring back to examine it lovingly. “Congratulations are appropriate, yes.”
“Well congratulations, I mean it. You’re good for him.”
“I know!” Saya says as she flashes the ring once again.
“Surprised you got a wedding in with how busy things have gotten. All the projects, the meetings, its exhausting.”
“Who would have thought Digimon would change things for us so quickly?”
Kosuke bursts out of the building with a VR helmet in hand and an excited look on his face. He is neatly groomed and is wearing clean pressed clothes under his lab coat. “Saya!” he shouts as he rushes to the pair.
“Where’s the fire?”Yulin asks playfully.
“Look at this!” Kosuke says proudly as he offers a VR helmet to Saya.
Saya takes it. She examines it for a moment before asking, “What is this thing?”
“You have to look into it.”
Saya puts on the helmet and begins looking around. “What is this?” Her vision fills with lofi compounded images of a distorted and strange world.
“That’s the first footage ever taken through a Digimon’s eyes! You’re seeing through a Digimon’s eyes right now!
Ryuseniji worked tirelessly towards his goal of experiencing the Digital World with all his senses. The theory stood that if Digimon were AI creatures, their sensory data should be easy enough to capture and interpret. All he had to do was imbed the human consciousness into the Digital World and link it to said data.
“This ought to keep me busy for the rest of my life,” Ryusenji says to himself as he looks over his notes.
Ryusenji Electronics had begun exploring the fundamentals of mindlinking technology in secret. They had to minimize the risks and answer the ethical questions later.
Saya was one of the first to successfully link her consciousness with a Digimon.
“Mindlink test complete,” Yulin’s voice buzzes over the PA system.
Saya lays on what looks like a repurposed dentist chair wearing a VR helmet. Wires and cables come down around her and wrap into her arms and helmet. Around her lay an array of monitors, computers, and stacks of notes.
“Vitals are stable. DS levels are dropping. Subject is regaining consciousness. Severing the mindlink,” Kosuke says calmly as he walks over to his wife.
Yulin walks into the room carrying a bucket. She walks over to the chair. Saya begins convulsing, letting out a soft grown. Her arms and legs flail as she slowly regains consciousness. She becomes still and sits up, carefully removing the helmet.
“Here.” Yulin hands her the bucket.
Saya looks uncomfortable as she fights the nausea. “I think….urp…I think I’m getting used to it.” She gives a weak smile as she holds back the vomit. She remembers the mess she made the first time she mindlinked.
Professor Ryusenji claps softly. “Magnificent! These results are astounding. Sufficient rest is required between sessions, and there are some serious side effects we need to address, but the experiment was a rousing success!”
Saya smiles weakly as she picks up the Digimon Dock with the word Agumon written under it. “Nice job Agu!” An image of a small bipedal dinosaur seems to jump in reaction.
I was sent CRYMACHINA as a review code. I am very happy about the opportunity, but this will be my honest review. If you enjoy these reviews, make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends!
CRYMACHINA is an anime-themed action RPG coming to PC, PlayStation, and Switch on October 24th. Humans have gone extinct, and have been replaced by synthetic beings known as Dei ex Machina. A mysterious prophecy has selected a few of these beings to bring humanity back from extinction, but not all Dei ex Machina share this goal. Fight your way through Dei ex Machina as you attempt to reclaim humanity’s dominance over Eden. Do you have what it takes to claim what destiny offers?
The game is fun for the first few encounters before the novelty wears off. Unfortunately, the blatant waifu bait isn’t enough to distract players from how dull and unimpressive the game becomes. The art style is interesting but tends to be a little too busy and loud for its own good. The story is poorly written, and the gameplay isn’t fun enough to make up for it. This isn’t a bad game, but it is hard to recommend when there are better options in the genre.
I wish the game was better because the format is interesting. The gameplay loop is split into two parts: combat and story. Combat is broken up into small manageable levels where players face a few mobs of enemies before facing off against a boss. Boss fights had unique mechanics, but not all of them were fun. Combat started feeling repetitive, and the initial sense of accomplishment felt after beating a boss diminished and became nonexistent. The over-stylized and busy animation of the combat never made up for how bored I got with combat.
The other side of the loop was the story cutscenes that came in the form of tea parties. Blatant waifu bait aside, this is an interesting way to do a story. Players have the opportunity to watch optional cutscenes where characters get a back story or become more rounded, or they can stick with only watching scenes relevant to the story. This is a great format for gamers with limited free time because the game can be tackled in small meaningful chunks, and you can repeat cutscenes when you need a reminder. This would have been a great format for this game if the story was good, and the characters weren’t generic waifu tropes.
You can pick up CRYMACHINA for PC, PlayStation, and Switch on October 24th, but I’d hold off for a very generous discount. Even then, you’ll have better options.
I’m officially caught up! All my translations will go up the Monday after the official release. Make sure you always support the official release. If you enjoy this project, make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends!
Saya stands in front of the freshly built warehouse that would serve as their factory. Above her, a freshly painted sign reads “Ryusenji Electronics.” She places a small bronze plaque with the company’s name over the mailbox. She takes a step back to examine her work before making her final adjustments. “Perfect!” she exclaims before walking into the warehouse.
Inside, she is greeted with the loud whirring of machinery. She’d gotten used to it by now and found the noise strangely comforting. Saya makes her way to the workshop where she finds the professor humming cheerfully surrounded by his chaotic collection of unfinished gadgets.
“You seem pretty happy these days,” she remarks.
Ryusenji turns to her, revealing an enormous grin. “How could I not be? I am proud business owner!”
“And a huge amount of debt!” Saya adds with a chuckle.
“You gotta spend money to make money,” Yulin adds as she enters the room. She looks exhausted but gives a warm familiar smile as she finds a seat near the pair. “The professor is the only one who knows anything about all this Digital World stuff anyways. The cash flow is in his hands.”
Character design/illustration illustrator: malo
Some time goes by, and the founders find themselves in the workshop. The mess seems a bit more organized. The professor is busy tinkering at his station when he turns suddenly, “It’s done!”
Yuelin and Saya turn to the professor who proudly holds a small palm-sized gadget in his hands.
“What is it?” Yuelin asks as she walks over for a closer look.
“It’s an external storage device designed to house AI lifeforms. A prototype Digital Monster Dock System!” He almost shouts excitedly.
“Digital monsters huh? It looks like a toy,” Yuelin says, reaching for the small device. It was smaller than a deck of cards and housed a monochrome LCD display. There are three buttons down its face that serve as basic controls.
“The professor needs his hobbies,” Kosuke says with a shrug as he walks over from his station.
“That’s exactly it! Think about it for a moment. A device that allows people to feed and raise digital pets. It’s the next innovation in the toy business!” Ryusenji continues enthusiastically. “Until now, we weren’t able to keep these Digital Monsters alive for long. But with this! This changes everything!” His voice fills the room.
Yulin looks over the small device, trying to understand it, when something on the LCD screen catches her eye. “Is that…an egg?”
“Yep! Its a Digital tamago. Digitama for short. We thought it sounded cuter,” Saya adds with a grin.
“A Digitama…Okay…”Yulin says, trying to keep up.
“We found the data for this one while we were exploring the Net!” Saya continues enthusiastically. “And the dock allows us to see a virtual representation of its actual form, not just a series of numbers!”
“This is incredible!” Yulin shouts as the pieces come together. She gasps. “Did it just move?”
Kosuke nods cooly. “It’s about to hatch.”
The Digimon Dock put Ryusenji Technologies on the map. Soon, investors from all over wanted a piece of the device that would let people keep Digimon. It was obvious to anyone who was paying attention that these little AI creatures would shift the balance of power on the net for the decades to come.
When I first heard Owlcat Games was making a 40k Rogue Trader game, I was ecstatic. I love 40k, and after putting a respectable amount of time into Pathfinder: Kingmaker, I am confident it will be a solid addition to my collection.
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is a cRPG coming to PS5, Xbox, and PC via Steam, Gog, and Epic Games on December 7th. Play as a Rogue Trader and travel through treacherous unexplored regions of space in the name of the emperor. But your journey won’t be easy. Space is full of bloodthirsty cultists, alien Zenos, and unimaginable horrors. Do you have what it takes to survive?
If this is anything like Pathfinder, I am in. I love the flavor and aesthetics of the 40k universe, and what I’ve seen so far is impressive. The combat system looks engaging and fun. What I love most about Owlcat Games is how much your decisions affect the outcome of the game, and Rogue Trader promises to do the same. You’ll have to think hard about your choices in both combat and social interactions. I may not be good at strategy games, but I love this feature. It makes the stakes real and the game more exciting.
If you are looking for a 40k game to add to your collection, or simply want a cRPG with some cool flavor, Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader might be worth looking into. You preorder it from the official website for some neat bonuses.
If you enjoy these updates, make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends!
Thank you so much for keeping up with these translations! I am hoping to get back on a regular posting schedule starting Monday. Please make sure you always support the original release. If you’ve been enjoying this project, don’t forget to like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends!
Ryusenji Laboratories becomes the world’s leader in Digital World research in a short time after its founding. Although the building has changed, its founders still work tirelessly to achieve their goals.
Character design/illustration illustrator: malo
Thank you so much for keeping up with these translations! I am hoping to get back on a regular posting schedule starting Monday. Please make sure you always support the original release. If you’ve been enjoying this project, don’t forget to like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends!
Ryusenji Laboratories becomes the world’s leader in Digital World research in a short time after its founding. Although the building has changed, its founders still work tirelessly to achieve their goals.
Saya walks into the office with her usual takeout order and a fresh change of clothes for Kosuke. Yueling gets up from her desk to help her set up for dinner. It had become a ritual between the founders. One that they each cherished in their own way.
“You have to stop coddling him,” Yueling says as she grabs her bowl and takes her seat. “He’s a grown man, and you’re not his mother.”
Saya smiles. “It’s fine, it’s on the way.”
Yueling swallows her mouthful. “I don’t know why you married this bozo, you’re way too good for him.”
Saya rolls her eyes, letting out a playful chuckle. She turns to Kosuke who looks like he’s waking from a trance. “Here’s your soup. Make sure you eat your salad too!” She kisses him before sitting down to her own dinner.
“Yeah yeah, thanks,” he replies. He has deep bags under his eyes. He seems lost in thought.
Ryusenji watches the guests around his table and laughs at the familiar banter. They spend the rest of the dinner talking about their research. They talk about the digital world and newly discovered lifeforms that inhabit it.
“Suppose the proffesor’s hypothesis is correct,” Soya begins, “Suppose these creatures are living AI, what then?”
“If they’re AI life forms, then we could keep them as pets,” Ryusenji chimes in. “Just like that this one,” he says pointing towards a monitor. The monitor is filled with a stream of flowing numbers.
“Its so cute!” Kosuke says, stopping to admire the flow of data.
“You two are the only ones who think so,” Yueling says in an attempt to bring the men back from their trance.
“But just imagine if you could see it all for yourself! Not just the numbers, but the world and the creatures that fill it. Wouldn’t that be amazing?” Saya says dreamily.
“Exactly!” Ryusenji exclaims, shooting a warm smile at his daughter. “We need to be able to see the Digital World if our research is going to scale in any meaningful way.”
“I know that,” Yueling replies, finishing the last of her pork bowl.
“And on that note,” Ryusenji says, clasping his hands together. The table turns their attention to the professor. “I’m starting a business.”
“A business? Like turning this into a company?” Yueling asks.
“I want to see the Digital World with my own eyes, and hear it with my own ears,” the professor continues.
“and the business?” Kosuke interrupts.
“Right. The university has money set aside for incubating businesses. We use that to make Ryusenji Laboratories a publicly traded company. We create some buzz, grab some investors, and we’re on our way to making it all happen.” The professor finishes his proposal with a hopeful smile on his face.
“I’m in,” Yueling says without a moment of hesitation.
“Good, kuz we need you to make the presentation,” the professor answers.
“Are you sure?” Yueling asks, still recovering from the shock of his sudden proposal. “What about my background?” She thinks about her status as a first-generation Japanese. It would be difficult to get public funding as a daughter of immigrants.
“How is any of that a problem?” The professor walks over to Yueling who continues to look more unsure by the second. He places his hand gingerly on her shoulder. “You’re the only one who can do this. I’m counting on you.”
A smile escapes Yueling’s mouth as she fights a sudden flood of happy tears. The doubt she feels fades, and a burst of newfound confidence replaces it. “I won’t let you down!”
“It’s settled then!” the professor exclaims. “Things are about to get busy around here!”
I was sent an early copy of What Lies Beneath, and while I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest review. If you enjoy these reviews, make sure you like, comment, follow, and share them with your friends.
What Lies Beneath is a choose-your-own-adventure game with unique skill checks and a fun story. The game will be available in an interactive PDF and Printed Book format when the Kickstarter is fully funded. I got to try the interactive PDF, but there shouldn’t be a difference between versions other than the satisfying tactile experience the book provides.
The PDF is great! Choices are hyperlinked, and navigating through the adventure is easy. Having to look for items in the appendix was a bit of a hassle, but it’s not a deal breaker. It only made me want the book more for the ease of flipping to the back when I picked up a new item. Keep in mind that you do get both versions if you are back at the book level.
Players start each run by rolling to choose from the available classes: Bard, Berserker, Druid, Rogue, Warrior, and Wizard. You roll two dice and choose between the results. This gives the game a bit of randomness without taking away a player’s choice. Each class has unique stats that affect the many skill checks made throughout the adventure.
Skill checks are easy to learn and make the game unique and engaging. While a wrong decision will kill you, your fate rests on the result of these skill checks. Some skill checks are simple rolls with modifiers, but others, like the Dex Checks, are a fun little mini-game that makes the adventure very interactive. You can use the alternate rules to make your checks rolls, but I recommend you play the game as written first.
What I love most about this adventure is how quickly it is to get set up. All you need to get started is to grab your materials, open your book to the first page, and get rolling. The game teaches players new mechanics as they are needed, with clear and easy-to-follow instructions. I can’t stress how easy this game is to pick up, even if you’ve never played a board game.
I loved every minute of this adventure. It took a couple of tries to make it to a good ending, but it was a very satisfying journey. The skill checks definitely kept the game from growing stale and repetitive. It is inevitable to run into the same encounters on multiple runs, but I never felt it was an issue. If you are a fan of the choose-your-own-adventure genre or simply want to pick up your first, go back What Lies Beneath on Kickstarter. It has a fun adventure, impressive mechanics, and some solid replayability. At the very least grab the free demo!
The Kickstarter is live until November 16th, so make sure you go back to it. You can pick up the print-and-play version for backing at the $6 tier, which is a fantastic deal. For those needing something more tactile, the book is available at the $12 tier. While you’re there, might as well back the whole project. For $50 you get a very nice update to the deck-builder dungeon-crawler, Dungeon Maker Deluxe, and the PNP version of What Lies Beneath. I haven’t played Dungeon Maker Deluxe, but it looks like a ton of fun, especially with a group of people. There are rules for solo play available. Go back the Kickstarter!
