I wasn’t going to write about The Super Mario Bros. Movie, but I needed to talk about something that bothered me about the movie. It’s not a bad kids’ movie. If you have to sit through this with your kids, you’ve probably already sat through it, and it wasn’t too bad. If you haven’t and can stream it later, you won’t hate it. It’s colorful, there are a lot of fun references to the games, and the soundtrack is amazing. The plot is simple and could use better character development, but it is a kids’ movie. It certainly isn’t the worst video game movie to date.
My issue with this movie is with the choice of voice actors. I have nothing against Pratt or the rest of the cast, but I couldn’t help but feel disappointed by the performances. Most of the characters sounded like the actors talking through the script. Scenes with Bowser are especially jarring because while Jack Black is giving a fantastic performance, the rest of the cast wasn’t. They should have hired real voice actors. The Super Mario Bros. Movie is full of amazing talent, but unfortunately, that talent didn’t translate into the voice acting.
I am getting tired of these kinds of miscasting and movies written around named brand actors. I hate that the business has turned into tricking people into watching mediocre and lazy movies because of who is in them. I wish that instead, the focus would be on better writing and actors that fit the role. It is a lot to ask for, especially with the writer’s strike going on, but it shouldn’t be unreasonable. I sit through a lot of garbage and will continue to do so, but the homogony wears on me, and we deserve better.
Anyways, if you haven’t watched this movie, I would wait till you can stream it or watch it for free. If you have kids, it’s a great movie to throw on. You will zone out, but it isn’t terrible. If you are trying to watch a good animated movie, I suggest you look elsewhere. I suggest throwing this movie on in the background because the soundtrack has some bangers, but the rest is pretty mediocre.
I know I am a little late on this news, but Magic the Gathering Arena is now on Steam. If you are looking for the most convenient way to play MTG standard, this is a solid option. The app works well enough, and you can always find a match when you need one.
I don’t have the longest history with Magic the Gathering, but I love card games. I grew up collecting Pokemon and playing Yugioh. I got into MTG during the Return to Ravnica set when there were still base sets. One of my coworkers at the time found out I liked Yugioh, and he convinced me to get into Magic. He took me to my first Friday Night Magic, and we made it our ritual to go every Friday after. I didn’t do well, but it quickly became my favorite part of the week. I always had weird decks people enjoyed playing against, and I met some very cool people. Unfortunately, my schedule changed, and I haven’t played in person in years. I did try getting into MTGO, but it was too much of a hassle to be worth it. It didn’t capture what I loved most about Friday Night Magic.
Since then, I’ve played a lot of Hearthstone and every other CCG on the app store. It took me until Brother’s War to take MTGA more seriously. I may not be a high-ranking player, but I’ve been enjoying it for the casual magic experience that it has become for me. I don’t have friends, time, or money to get into paper Magic. As it is, I only have time for my dailies and an odd-ranked match here and there. I would love to have the time to see how high I could rank, but I am content with where I am.
I am a mostly free-to-play player. I have only spent $20 total on this game to unlock the battle pass, but I had already built my competitive standard deck without spending any money. The battle pass is a great way to build your collection if you play enough to make it worth it. You can use real money or earn gems through drafts. Be warned, the grind in this game can be soul-crushing. You will lose a lot in the beginning. Once you’ve been placed in your ELO and earned enough Wild Cards to build your deck, it gets better.
I didn’t feel like the grind was bad because I just wanted to play Magic, even if I lost. I jumped straight into ranked. I was able to get into gold casually, and it became a lot easier once I built a better deck. The starter decks get a lot of bad press, but they aren’t bad if you are just trying to play and earn your dailies. If you care about rank, just play casual. It will match you with people with the same deck level. But if you are trying to play this game seriously, there are some pretty good guides out there that will help you play efficiently.
If you’ve been thinking about getting into Magic the Gathering, MTGA is a great place to start. The color challenges give players a solid foundation for how the game works and the game does a great job of teaching players the different mechanics. The grind can be a little soul-crushing, but if you are just playing for fun, it isn’t too bad. Once you get a solid understanding of the basics and want to play with real people, I would look into getting a precon commander and finding an LGS to play at.
If you are new to MTGA, make sure you reroll your dailies. You can reroll one quest a day, reroll anything that gives you 500g and keep anything worth 750g. The most efficient way to build your collection is by playing draft. You get the most cards from drafts, and you can earn gems that you can use to unlock the battle pass or cosmetics. You also get a free pack each month by participating in a draft. If you aren’t good at draft, go download the untapped.gg companion. It has a nifty little overlay that gives tips on what to draft. If you are playing on PC, you should also be running this app. It has a fantastic feature deck building feature that sorts deck lists by what you can afford based on your collection and the number of wild cards you own.
The best advice I can give players going into this game is to not let the grind become more important than your fun. This is a game run by a greedy corporation, and they are constantly making choices that make it hard to support the game. The game is buggy and there is a huge grind in this game by design, especially if you are free-to-play. There are efficient ways to tackle this grind, but you have to evaluate if the amount of time you need to spend on that grind is worth it. If you enjoy the grind, or if the end goal is worth it, by all means, go for it. But if playing Magic becomes soul-crushing, and you find yourself logging into this game because you have to and not because you want to, it’s okay to step away, take a break, and play a different card game. Come back after you take your break, this game isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
I have read all the guides and watched all the videos. I know how to grind efficiently, but I choose to play this game in a way that is fun for me. I hate playing drafts, so I don’t draft. I know it’s more efficient than buying and opening packs, but I have more fun opening packs than drafting. What I am saying is, pick and choose the advice that helps you enjoy the game the most. Games should be fun, and Magic is no exception.
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I talked about Outerplanein a previous post sharing my excitement for the new turn-based gotcha game coming to us from our friends at Smilegate. The game has some great art, fantastic voice acting, and some phenomenal animations. I won’t repeat too many of my initial thoughts, so make sure you go read my original post if you’d like to know more.
Outerplane has officially had its global launch, available now in more than 170 countries for IOS and Android devices. New players are guaranteed 80 hero pulls. Those who complete the Start Dash and Guide quest events are guaranteed a three-star hero for each event.
To commemorate the event, the Outerplane team has released special coupons to redeem for in-game gifts. Use the codes:
PLAYOUTERPLANE1 for 500 Ether
PLAYOUTERPLANE2 for 120 Stamina + 20 Cake Slice
I am excited for this game because I am always looking for a gotcha game to fill the void Dragalia Lost left behind. This game looks very promising. I will be testing it out and be back with my first impressions once I get a bit deeper into the game. Until then, it doesn’t hurt to go start your journey now. You can download Outerplane free on the Google Play store and App Store today!
Make sure you follow the socials to stay up to date on all the news: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
While we wait for Sunday’s chapter, I’ve decided to revise the Seekers story to fix some of the story’s awkwardness. I will keep the story the same but will try to make it sound nicer. This isn’t my story, so please make sure you check out the original chapter. Let me know if this is something worth continuing. Make sure you start at chapter 1-1
Eiji steps out of the subway and stands hesitantly at the edge of Ninth Avenue. He keeps one foot in the subway tunnel and contemplates abandoning the mission. Eiji looks at the cramped, dirty, sketchy alleys reminiscent of Kolwoon or Showa-Era Kabukicho and can’t help but feel uneasy. He feels small at the bottom of this valley of towering slums. Illegible signs and advertisements clutter the skyline, spilling their sickly vibrant neon against the dirty walls. The air seems thick with danger, and it makes Eiji uneasy.
Eiji takes a deep breath as he takes it all. “Hey Loogamon?” his voice shakes with a bit of worry, “What is this place?”
Loogamon shoots an annoyed glance at Eiji. “Seriously? Are you dumb?”
“Hey be nice, it’s my time in the Digital world. You have to guide me…”Eiji follows close behind as he continues surveying his surroundings. “Wait, aren’t you a king or something?” Loogamon doesn’t respond. “Am I supposed to bow down to you?” Eiji stops to give a joking curtsy “Your Majesty”
“Quit it!” Loogamon growls.
“As you wish your highness,” Eiji laughs.
“This is why your dog didn’t like you. Hurry up and get serious! You have work to do.”
Eiji scrolls through his screen, looking for the mapping tool. “I love you Loogamon!” he sings. Loogamon shakes its head and continues to move through the alley. Eiji launches the mapping tool.
“The guy said we just need to walk around and leave the tool running.”
Nothing made sense in Ninth Avenue. The streets wound into zagging mazes of uneven streets and alleys. Some buildings looked as if they were on the verge of collapsing, while others leaned to a degree that made Eiji uncomfortable. There were signs that dangled loosely from a single rusted bolt. It looked as if the lightest gust of wind could bring them crashing to the ground. There were old dirty wires that hung from walls like dirty dying ivy, and widows blacked out with filth. The streets were littered with bits of dirty shattered glass. They walked over and around mounds of trash.
Eiji checks the map as he walks.
“There are Digimon here, but they are hiding,” Loogamon explains as they move through the seemingly abandoned maze of decay. Eiji shivers as he feels hidden stares over him.
“Ninth Avenue is the worst neighborhood in the Wall Slums. Most newcomers get robbed the moment the step foot on these grounds. Those foolish enough to go deeper don’t make it out,” Loogamon says coldly.
“This place is scary.”
“Come on. We have to make it to the Castle of the Nine Wolves. It’s at the heart of all of this.” Eijie and Loogamon continue their work. Their mapping goes uneventfully. Eiji begins to relax, but a hint of disappointment sneaks into him. There were no Digimon or much of anything despite Loogamon’s insisting.
Character design/illustration illustrator: malo
The pair empty into a cul-de-sac. At the head sits an old run-down red building reminiscent of a Chinatown mausoleum.
“That’s the Castle of Nine Wolves? All we have to do is map that and were done? This test is easy!” Eiji exclaims as he walks towards the mausoleum.
Loogamon stops.
“What’s wrong Loogamon?” Eiji stops his advance and looks down at the wolf.
“This…This is my home…Or it used to be” Loogamon explains as he struggles to force a memory.
Eiji looks at Loogamon and then at the red building. “Did you remember something?”
Loogamon shakes its head. “There’s a faint smell. Markings I left behind…It’s me, but not me. It’s something much stronger…” Loogamon’s voice trails off as it takes a big whiff of the air.
“Do you think maybe…” Eiji begins as he examines his surroundings with a new understanding, “do you think it might have been an evolved you?”
A booming roar spills from the building, carrying with it a howling wind that forces Eiji to his knees. Loogamon digs his paws into the ground and braces itself.
“Loogamon? What was that?”
A winged monstrosity rushed from the shadows and takes to the sky above the two. Dust, dirt, and trash swirl violently around them. As the wind and dust settle, Eiji begins searching the sky for the source.
“Was that a bird? A Dragon?”
“Neither, look”
Eiji turns to the space Loogamon points to. It was a metallic Digimon with the head of a Dragon and the body of a helicopter. It has two rotors that hold it up above them.
Cargodramon, ultimate, machine, virus type.
Across the side, Eiji can read the word “Police” clearly.
“Crap” Eiji yells, his voice barely louder than the rotors. “It’s the DigiPolice!”
The doors from the hovering Cargodramon open. From it descends a squad of Commandramon.
A screeching siren sounds loudly. Eiji looks at the map and sees it fill with red dots. The DigiPolice were surrounding the castle. Panic starts to creep over Eiji. “They want us to open voice chat on the GriMM channel!?!” he shouts to Loogamon. “What should we de?”
“Open up chat code craker!” commands a voice from the Cargodramon.
“Um, I don’t have the password…” Eiji grows more anxious as the dots continue to close in on his location.
“Don’t play dumb with me. Surrender now. We have you surrounded!”
Tamarak Trail is an interesting rogue-like deck builder coming to all major consoles and PC that looks like it will redefine the genre. A corruption is spreading across the Canadian Shield, and it is up to you to find the cause and put an end to it. The journey won’t be easy, and you won’t make it on your first try. Do you have what it takes to be the hero, or will you buckle under the weight of the mysterious corruption?
Players can choose from three classes: the tracker, magician, and detective. Each class has its unique sets of skills and abilities. What makes this game unique is its deck-building mechanic. Instead of decks, you customize dice that you roll to cast abilities. You can fully customize each dice to fit your play style, although the RNG might be a limiting factor. The devs have published an informative walkthrough video that best explains the game’s mechanics. I recommend you watch it and become as excited as I am for this title.
Tamarak Trail is looking really cool. The mechanics look like a lot of fun, and the art is beautiful. I love deck-builders, so there might be a bit of bias in my excitement. Regardless, I think this unique game deserves some love and attention. I’ll definitely be trying to get a copy to review.
Tamarak Trail is coming to PS4, Xbox, Switch, and PC via Steam and GoG. Don’t forget to add it to your Wishlist. There is also an official wiki you should bookmark that I am sure will have lots of useful tips and tricks at launch. Make sure you join the game’s Discord and follow the official Twitter to stay up to date on all the news.
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I was sent Volcano Princess as a review code. I am very grateful for the opportunity but won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game.
Volcano Princess is a visual novel life sim for PC. You play as a single father who must raise a daughter in a fantasy world where demons and man are at war. You make the choices that will foster her growth into a functioning adult. How you choose to raise her is up to you, but the choices you make affect her future.
The gameplay loop is simple. Each day you are given a limited amount of action points to spend where you do activities with your daughter that increase her stats. What you choose to do is up to you, but the limits affect your relationship with her and what she grows up being. The game slowly introduces more mechanics as your daughter ages and choices become harder. When she is old enough, there will be a lite dating sim where she can choose from 18 romantic partners and a mini turn-based rpg game. The pacing is fantastic, and the different game mechanics give the game much-needed diversity. Your first playthrough will take about eight hours, but there are more than 50 endings to work toward.
This game is surprisingly addicting. I stressed over my choices because I needed to be a great father the first time around. I think I was successful, but I already have some ideas for future runs. The amount of choices available is what makes this game so much fun. Eventually, you be forced to think tactically about how you spend time with your daughter. Do you help her through a difficult time at the cost of some important attributes? Do you let her date? Become a writer? An actor? A warrior? It is all up to you, and it is such a wholesome good time.
My biggest tip for new players is to go in as blind as possible. I recommend not looking up a guide unless you want to collect every ending. Even then, I recommend you get some of your own endings first. The story is a little cheesy, but it is a good kind of cheesy worth experiencing at least once.
I love this game and would buy it if I hadn’t gotten it already. The art is cute, the story is wholesome, and the mechanics are relaxing and fun. That said, it isn’t for everyone. This game is great for players who love life sims and don’t mind visual novels. This game involves a lot of reading and waiting for timers. The timers aren’t long, but it doesn’t make for the most exciting gameplay. The story is fine, but there are noticeable grammatical errors. I didn’t mind the grammatical errors and loved the gameplay, but it is something to think about before you make the purchase.
Volcano Princess is $10.99 on Steam, and it is totally worth it for what you are getting.
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I was sent A Knight in the Atticas a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest review of the game.
A Knight in the Attic is a unique VR puzzle game designed for the Meta Quest. It is available on both the Meta Store and Steam VR. I played the Steam VR version.
King Arthur has gone missing, and it is up to Queen Guinevere to find him. Guide Guinevere through the many marble mazes and help her bring King Arthur back.
The game is cute, and the mechanics are creative. You can use the motion controls to move the board for a more immersive experience or use the sticks for a slightly easier one. I preferred the motion controls because it felt like a truer experience, but both are valid approaches with their own set of difficulties. If you do use the motion controls, make sure you are in a well-lit room otherwise the tracking will ruin your runs.
The Steam VR has a distinct bug that you should know about before purchasing. If you try to run A Knight in the Attic via the Virtual Desktop app on the Quest, the game won’t launch. You get a black screen and the game won’t load. You can only play this game through Quest Link. I also recommend you play with a wired connection. I have fast internet, but the wireless experience isn’t good enough for the type of puzzle game you are playing.
The most difficult part of this game is having the patience to move Guinevere through the maze. The puzzles aren’t necessarily hard, but it is easy to mess up, especially if you lose track. My ADHD made this game more difficult than it had to be.
This game isn’t bad. The art is cute, the mechanics are creative, and the music is fantastic. The problem with this game is that it fills a niche that won’t exist in most gamers. If you like relaxing puzzle games and have the patience for marble mazes, this game is fine. This is a great game for kids, especially young ones. It isn’t offensive, and the gameplay is engaging enough without being impossible. Starting this game isn’t very intuitive, so check the Steam comments if you get stuck. I don’t think it’s worth it because I couldn’t vibe with the gameplay, but $9.99 isn’t bad for something that will keep your kids busy for a couple of hours.
Evil Wizard is coming to the Xbox and PC on May 25, and it might be something to look into if you like classic RPGs. You play as the villain as you reclaim your castle from heroes. You fight bosses, save your minions, and even pet a dog or three. Evil Wizard appears to be a fast-paced, silly adventure that might be a lot of fun. The art is cute, the tone is dark but not without its silliness, and the gameplay looks solid. I love the pixel art and the dark fantasy aesthetic, but I am a bit partial to this pixel art resurgence we’ve been going through. The combat looks pretty solid, especially if you are a fan of the traditional beat-em-ups. I am really digging the magic system and am interested in trying it out.
A price hasn’t been announced yet, but you can go wishlist Evil Wizard on Steam to get the notification. Make sure to join the official Discord and follow the game on Twitter for all the news!
I’ll be rewriting the novel to fix some of the awkwardness of the translation. My version comes out the Monday after the official release, but make sure you always check out the original. If you’ve been enjoying this project, make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.
There are two major ways to obtain Digimon. The first is by capturing them with a special AI tool. The other is by hatching them from eggs known as Digitama.
Digimon aren’t like the animals we are familiar with. Digimon have no gender, and don’t reproduce. When a Digimon dies, it leaves behind data. Think of this data like a Digimon’s soul. This data moves through the Digital World and becomes a new Digimon somewhere else. It’s sort of like reincarnation, but there is still a lot we don’t know about Digimon ecology.
It’s night. The dark sky is full of stars, and there is a stillness that echoes over the ruins. A closer inspection of the sky reveals that the sky isn’t full of stars but the flowing data between the interconnecting networks that exist above the firewall.
Below this sky sit ruins covered by mounds of garbage. Between it sits a putrid rotting sea of rusted sludge. It breaks against a shore filled with sand of a similar color. Bubbles form on the surface and pop, releasing a vile odor into the air.
How did this land become so rotted? A theory suggests that data from the real world accumulates here and poisons the land. Without natural defenses against this foreign data, the land is left to decay.
Ill intentioned men roam within this rotted canvas, but so do the police who exist to stop them.
A schematic of the area appears on the virtual monitor. Below it, the words “The Last Coast” blink in a simple font. Whoever named it had an odd sense of humor. In recent years, it’s become a hotspot for poachers. Digitama sometimes wash up on these bloody shores, and they can sold for a decent amount of digicoin on GriMM.
The police radio crackles “We have a suspicious Digimon in sight!”
A red dot appears on the virtual map. It’s an unidentified Digimon.
Tamahime watches the screen as the video from the search team starts to come in. “Got it, so it’s like a Tin toy?”
The Digimon looks like a retro robot toy. It has a large domed head like a snowman with long metal robotic arms. It propels through the air on the rockets it has for legs.
“Four bodies total” the voice reports
“We’ve got code crackers. These bots are toast.” Code crackers loved using Digimon, and Cyborg-type Digimon are the easiest to control. These Digimon were sent here with the commands to search the area for Digitama. If this were a real server, the Digimon would be looking for secrets or personal information. Here, the code crackers are looking for scraps.
“How many Digitama did you get?” One of the Espimon asks.
“Only one so far” the other responds.
The culprits don’t know their chat room has been hacked. The police listen in on the conversation. The voices are young. They must be kids in high school. To them, it’s probably just a game. A way to practice. The first step to becoming real code crackers.
“What are you going to do deputy leader?”
Satsuki Tamahime analyzes the virtual map as the team waits for her orders. Police can’t pick and choose which criminals to go after. “Arrest them”
Ten green dots move quickly surrounding the unsuspecting Espimon.
“Jam their coms. Commandramon squads move in. Cut off their escape”
Many voices reply in unison, “Understood!”
The Espimon continue their search. Their code crackers wouldn’t be aware of the ambush either. They most likely don’t even know where their Digimon are. The only thing the code crackers see are crude pixel images on simple LCD screens. But the police have more advanced tech than the rudimentary Digimon Docks the code crackers use. Satsuki can see everything through the eyes of her Digimon.
“How dare you?! How dare you code crackers come here?” Her warning rings. The Commandramon stand up, and the Espimons find themselves surrounded.
Commandramon (child, cyborg, virus type) are standard issue for the DigiPolice. They look like dragon men. They wear helmets and body armor with the word “Police” written on them. Each Commandramon carries an assault rifle. Commandramon’s skin emits an electronic camouflage that lets them blend into their surroundings. This allows them to approach undetected. All that was left to do was to make the arrests.
“Who is that?” asks one of the panicked code crackers.
“It’s the DigiPolice. Run!”
It is too late. Satsuki continues, “Stop resisting. There is no escape. We already have your schools and names. There is no escape”
“Arrested? On what charge? We’ve done nothing wrong” one of the voices responds.
“You are in violation of the Unauthorized Computer Access Prevention Act, the Basic Network Act, and the Digital Vandalizm Prevention Act, and for the Poaching of Digitama!” Sastuki says bluntly.
“The Japanese police don’t have jurisdiction in the Digital World”
Satsuki sighs. Her Digimon, who had been hiding underwater, surfaces.
Squeeeeeeee!!! The sirens blare. The red patrol lights start to rotate. The Epsimon tremble at the sight.
Satsuki continues “you are all Japanese citizens and as long as you are committing crimes, you are going to be in trouble with the Japanese police”
The Espimon press a red button on their belly and vanish in an instant. Vanishing magic? No. It’s their AI defense protocol. Optical camouflage.
The Commandramon fire at the space where the Espimon were, but the bullets find no target. They slip past the police unnoticed.
‘Mekanorimon” As soon as Satsuki gives the order, two large robots appear behind her.
Mekanorimon stand larger than the fleeing Espimon and the Commandrom they served with. These are the DigiPolice’s special purpose vehicles. Each Makanorimon has a Commandramon piloting it.
A twinkling beam erupts from one of the Meknorimon, grazing one of the Espimon. It erupts into a flurry of sparks as its camouflage dissolves. The Espimon falls onto the beach. The remaining three Espimon continue to flee, unaware that they are now visible.
“Don’t let them get away. Fire!”
“The weapons are still charging. We won’t be able to catch all of them” the Mekanorimon unit responds.
Petite Impulse
Suddenly, a bolt of lighting crashes into the rusty coast between. The bolt of lightning catches the police off guard.
“The Espimon?” a confused voice reacts from the radio.
One of the Espimon is left blackened, melted under the lightning’s heat. Bolts of lightning come down for the remaining two.
“What’s going on?” A new marker appears on the screen. It sits there, motionless.
A yellow Digimon stands over the deactivated Espimon. “Is that..Pulsemon?”
Character design/illustration illustrator: malo
The Commandramon squad points their guns.
A voice comes in over the police radio “Looks like you just got beat by the hacker Judge!” says a familiar voice.
“Orders?”
“Judge!”
Pulsemon glances at Satsuki’s Digimon and blows her a kiss before turning into a bolt of lightning and disappearing into the sea of networks.
“God Dammit!” Satsuki bangs her fists on the table.
“Squad leader?” The Commandramon wait for orders. Satsuki shakes in anger.
“We’ve got the Espimon and Digitama. We’ll leave the rest to the police.”
“And the Pulsemon?”
“Leave it. You can’t catch him anyways. Pack it up. There’s no overtime.”
“Yes Ma’am….Huh?” The radio goes silent for a moment. “The Digitama. They’re gone!”
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I was sent Strayed Lightsas a review code. I am very grateful for the opportunity, but I will be sure to keep my review honest.
Strayed Lights is the most beautiful adventure game you can play on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and PC via Steam, GoG, and Epic Games.
You play as a being of light and darkness as they go on an adventure of self-discovery and personal growth. You must travel across a dream-like landscape and face off against deadly monsters. Do you have what it takes to complete this journey?
This game is by far the prettiest game I have played by far. I spent too long admiring the wildlife, enjoying the colors, and appreciating the composition. And the music? This game has a soundtrack that will be winning awards. I cannot express how perfectly this soundtrack was composed to elevate this already stunning game to the experience that should be mandatory for all gamers. I see the word atmospheric thrown around a lot to describe games, but Strayed Lights has finally given the word its proper definition.
1 / 7
Exploration in this game is fantastic because the world is beautiful, but the combat is what makes this game fun. Battles are fast-paced and engaging. You have your traditional attack and dodge action, but the parry sets this system apart. Your character can swap between two colors, but monsters can swap between three. Matching your color with the monster’s while you complete a successful parry heals your character and fills your energy bar. Combat becomes this elegant dance as you learn when to attack, dodge, change color, and parry till you meet the win condition. This system kept combat feeling fresh, even when I learned a monster’s attack patterns.
Finally, I need to mention the game’s story. Strayed Lights has a fantastic story. You get to watch your character grow as it makes its way through the world helping others from the darkness. There is no dialogue, but it isn’t necessary. I am blown away by how much narrative exists without the use of words. You aren’t killing monsters, but rather helping other beings of light get rid of their darkness. I loved watching the different ways the main character heals the monsters. Each time you heal a monster, the character will grow from the experience. You will see the main character complete a full life cycle, and how that growth manifests into the world is something you need to see to appreciate.
I can’t stress how much you need to play this game. It is a beautiful and unique adventure game that deserves your attention, even if you aren’t a fan of the genre. It has a great story, beautiful art, fantastic music, and fun gameplay. Strayed Lights is $24.99, which is a great price for what you are getting. You can pick up Strayed Lights on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and PC via Steam, GoG, and Epic Games.
