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video game reviews

Exploring Moonlighter 2: Gameplay Impressions

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Disclaimer

I was sent the Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault demo to review for my blog. I understand the game isn’t out yet and will be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, these will still be my honest first impressions.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out.

What is Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault?

Moonlighter 2 is a shop simulator with a dungeon crawler built into it.

Dive into the strange and fantastic world of the endless vault as you hunt for treasures to sell at your shop. When you are done adventuring, you will run the most profitable shop in all the land. Bring in customers, keep your shop clean and stocked, and make sure you get a healthy markup on everything that flows through your shelves. Can you make your shop the best in the land? Will you ever make enough to make it home and take it back?

Gameplay

Moonlighter 2 has two gamplay loops: dungeon crawling and shop keeping.

The dungeon crawl is easy. Players dive into strange levels of the endless vault in search of treasures where they fight off monsters and try to stay alive. While combat does require some strategy, it is simple. Players get a ranged attack, strong and normal attack, and the use of some items. It makes for a cute relaxing loop without distracting from what I believe is the main focus of the game.

The main draw to the game will be the shop simulator the story is built around. After picking up treasures from the vault, players will sell it to NPCs. The goal of the game is to earn money for upgrades and eventually, for useful items that will help them with the campaign. Players can use powers to upsell to their customers, and can complete certain challenges for added rewards. The player is also responcible for keeping the shop clean, clients happy, and the shelves stocked. Do you have what it takes to keep this double life?

Impressions

I was very excited to try Moonlighter 2 because I’ve heard good things bout the original Moonlighter. The game has a very cool artstyle, the concept seems interesting, and the gameplay looks relaxing. The demo is a bit unstable unfortunately, and it makes it hard to form a proper opinion. I was warned about a lot of the issues that came with this demo, but not being able to play the intended experience does hurt my impressions of it.

When the game did work, it was fine, but nothing too exciting. The combat is simple, but can be punishing if you aren’t paying attention. Unfortunately, I kept dying because of the performance issues, and I was unable to explore the full depth of the system. Shop keeping is also simple, which is fine if you just want a cozy game to relax too, but bad if you want to play a shop simulator. There are a few shop sim games I rather be playing instead.

Overall, I need to see a more polished version before I can recommend it. Some players might be patient enough to thug through the games quirks and give the game its proper chance, but most won’t. This is a huge demo that is too unstable to be worth the trouble. I would try it if you have nothing else to try, otherwise, I would wait for a better version.

You can check out the Moonlighter 2 demo on Steam. Don’t forget to wishlist!

video game reviews

Review of Dragon is Dead: A Captivating Metroidvania Adventure

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Dragon is Dead 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 latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out.

What is Dragon is Dead

Dragon is Dead is a dark fantasy 2D Metroidvania out now on Steam.

The black dragon is dead, and now an unholy force spreads across the land. You are his successor, and it is up to you to get rid of it. Using the powers granted by the gods, fight against the Corruption and restore the peace this world once new. Your journey will be one full of death, but luckily, you are able to learn from death and come back stronger. Can you be the successor this world needs?

Gameplay

Dragon is Dead is a 2D action platformer with roguelike tendencies. Players Journey across a linear 2D map, fighting off its monsters and bosses. Unlike most games in the genre, there are no save points. On death, the player resets at in the starting town of Cliffshire, keeping all their loot, gear, and runes accumulated during the run. While the loop can feel repetitive, it does start getting better the more experience a player gains throughout a run. Combat and and platforming is what you’d expect from the genre, with a unique build system. Players have a good amount of choice when building their character through a run. I am sure there is a meta for this game, but I had fun exploring the different builds and finding something that fit my play style. I like that players can reset the build between runs so there is always a bit of variety.

Review

If you don’t have Dragon is Dead in your library, it needs to be. This is definitely the most fun I’ve had with a Metroidvania, and I will recommend it to everyone. I love how diverse the skill tree is, and how each weapon feels different. While I did eventually settle on a group of skills and weapon types, I never felt like I chose the wrong path. There is a grind, and it can feel repetitive, it doesn’t feel too bad. Leveling and gearing feels impactful. It is nice to earn a weapon or level and seeing how much more effective it is against enemies.

I would argue that Dragon is Dead is a more casual entry to the genre. I like that the game didn’t force me to find my way through a dungeon in search of save points because I have a terrible sense of direction. I also like that I didn’t lose leveling and gearing progress on death because it made having to redo whole sections of the map feel less bad. The bosses are fun, flavorful, and creative, but they aren’t impossible. You can definitely over level and defeat them if all else fails. There is a story, but it does feel like I can pick up this title at any time and not be lost, especially if I just want a quick Metroidvania fix.

My only real complaint is the with the Steam deck experience. The game works great on the Steam deck, and I will only play this game on one, but the words are too small. The game does warn players that the words are too small, and there is a magnifying feature. The magnifying feature on the Steam Deck is too much trouble, I will just ruin my eyesight or invest on a real magnifying glass if it comes to it.

Aside from that small detail, this game is awesome. Dragon is Dead has great art, fantastic flavor, and a fun loop that any player will enjoy. If you are looking for a new game to play, I don’t think it gets much better.

You can pick up Dragon is Dead on Steam.

video game reviews

First Impressions of Bygone Dreams: Prophecy’s Gameplay

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Disclaimer

I was asked to cover Bygone Dreams: Prophecy, which is the free to play demo of the games initial level. I understand the game is still a demo and will be a bit more lenient. That said, these will still be my honest opinions of the game.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset.

What is Bygone Dreams: Prophecy?

Bygone Dreams is a souls-like that is scheduled to release in June 2025. In preparation, the developers have released the game’s prologue to generate some hype around the game. My review will be on the prologue.

A terrible nightmare threatens the peace known to Lume. One spirit alone hears the call to action and rises against the encroaching darkness. As Wa, travel across Lume’s surreal landscape, solve its many puzzles, collect its many powers, and defeat anything that threatens its peace. Do you wield the power to save Lume from this nightmare?

Gameplay

The demo acts as a tutorial for the game. It introduces a few essential mechanics for combat and exploration, and players get to experience a bit of the story and world. If you’ve played a souls-like, this game doesn’t veer too much from the path. What makes the game unique is the colorful world players get to explore on the rail-road the devs designed for them.

Impressions

Bygone Dreams: Prophesy didn’t do enough to excite me for the full game. The game has an interesting artstyle, but world is far too busy. There is a lot crammed to fill the spaces that become the walls for a rail road. Having a built in track for players to follow isn’t an issue. I understand the limitations of a demo, and I’ve played games where it works. It works here, but everything is so busy it distracts from how unique the world is. I don’t mind invisible walls or railroads if the gameplay is fun.

I found the gameplay in the demo to be a bit lacking. I can see bones with potential, but the game needs a lot more polish to be fun. Combat doesn’t feel smooth enough when compared to other games in the genre, and it was often a little boring. Enemies all felt the same and offered nothing interesting, and the combos weren’t fun to watch. The full version might have the polished combat the game needs and the enemies to make it fun, but I need to see it to get excited. The whole time I played the demo, I wanted to be playing something else and that’s a problem.

In its current state, this is one of those games I’ll play and forget it exists. Unless the full game gets a major performance polish, I think it will be one of those games you forget too. I’ll be trying to get a copy of the full version for an update, so stay tuned for that. In the mean time, check out Bygone Dreams: Prophesy and see for your self.

Board Games and TCGs

Review of Thirst for Blood: A Pathfinder Adventure

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Disclaimer

Paizo sent me the first book of the Shades of Blood adventure path, Thirst for Blood to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest opinion of the resource book. I will also be using Amazon affiliate links where possible, but you can always buy Thirst for Blood directly from the Paizo store.

Shades of Blood: The Hook

Where the once great Alzanti empire stood, now sits fragmented remains scattered across islands and at the bottom of the ocean. The Alzanti once held dominion with its advanced technology, now its scraps are sold as oddities. Its been years since its collapse, and more of the lost empires secrets have began to surface. Unfortunately, not all of them are good.

At the bottom of the ocean, hidden behind a labyrinth of traps and stone, sits a prison for the empires most dangerous foes. Among these is an ancient vampire by the name of Nizca Irocol. Nizca was so powerful that the only way to stop her was to keep her in a state of perpetual stasis. Unfortunately, the Earthfall has shaken the force that kept Nizca locked away.

Newly freed, Nizca seeks to reunite with her long lost lover. To do this, she plans to use ancient Alzanti technology to put the world into perpetual darkness, and releasing a prison full of blood thirsty creatures into the world to sow chaos.

As fate would have it, a group of eager adventures have been hired in a nearby town to investigate the sudden anomaly. What will they uncover? What treasures will they find? Do they have what it takes to save the world, or will it fall to vampires?

What is Shades of Blood?

Thirst for Blood is the first leg of the Shades of Blood saga. It takes players from levels 1-3, and acts as an introduction to the world, game, and characters. The players will arrive to the town of Talmandor’s Bounty, where they have been hired to aid a local astronomer. Everything erupts into chaos as the sky turns to black and an army of blood thirsty creatures starts attacking the city. The adventures now find themselves investigating this sudden chaotic outburst. Players will need to travel to a nearby island, and begin their delve through this fascinating mystery.

Impressions

If you are planning on running this adventure, you are going to need the GM Core. The adventure path doesn’t include any of the rules, or all of the stat blocks. There is also a free player’s guide to help players prep for the campaign. I’ll drop the file below for your convenience, but you can pick it up on the official Paizo site.

ShadesOfBlood_PlayersGuideDownload

Thirst for Blood is a solid start to the adventure. It has a few alternate modes of play (not everything is solved by combat), and it does a good job at getting players involved with the world. The early missions of the game has players interacting with NPCs as they complete chores around the starting city, and slowly introduces the games many mechanics. This is a very beginner friendly resource, and a good way to get into Pathfinder.

My only concern with the first chapter is that players need to be willing to roleplay to make some of the chores fun. I do appreciate that the game sets up ample opportunities for players to grow comfortable with their characters through the many social interactions. While chapter one does a great job at helping break the ice, some of the quests can be boring depending on the roleplay.

The rest of the adventure is a solid dungeon delve with fantastic flavor baked throughout. The book introduces fun enemies for players to fight, and provides a neat mystery for them to solve. I’m sure your players will find clever ways to skip around, but there are some cool ideas that I will be using in other campaigns. Overall, if you’re into a strait forward delve, this is a great place to start.

The book itself is very cool. I love the art, and the book is printed with the high quality standard I’ve come to expect from Paizo. I am a little bummed that it doesn’t include all of the stat blocks, but I guess it is fair that they assume players will at least a GM Core handy.

Aside from my issues with the first chapter, this is a solid resource. If you like vampires and dungeon crawlers, this a cool book to own. I personally enjoy reading about all the adventure’s lore, but there are also a few stat blocks I will be borrowing for future campaigns.

You can pick up the Thirst for Blood adventure path for $29.99 from Paizo and Amazon.

video game reviews

Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark Review

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I was sent a free copy of Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark 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 opinions of the game.

Shameless Self-Promotions

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. I’ve also started a web novel that I update every two weeks.

What is Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark?

Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark is a 2D action Metroidvania adventure out now on Steam, Switch, and PlayStation.

The castle has been invaded and Lord Maxim is dead. It is up to Kirika and Masha to make their way through the castle and revive their lord. Fight through waves of demons and their bosses, collect helpful tools and abilities, and prove why you are the best pair of demon maids Do you have what it takes to reclaim your home and save your master?

Gameplay

Gal Guardians is your typical classic metroidvania. Players crawl through the 2D dungeon, collect new items and abilities, and beat everything in their way. What makes Gal Guardians unique is the coop mechanic. Players can play this game solo, or team up with a friend to control one of the two maids. Coop allows for some interesting interactions between the players. Playing solo allows players to switch between the two maids and their abilities, as well as revive them when they go down. The game also showers the player with loot and allows for a good amount of customization and playstyles.

Review

I really wanted to like Gal Guardians: Shadows of the Dark, but it doesn’t do enough to stand out against the genre. I love the art and flavor, there is some solid voice acting, but the gameplay sort of falls flat.

What I like about the gameplay is the amount of customization. Aside from the main weapon, players can mix and match abilities to find a build that works best for their playstyle. Unfortunately, there are some absolute garbage items that will flood your inventory. Aside from that, combat is kind of boring. It is no where near the worst of the genre, but it does leave a bit to be desired. This is especially noticeable during the boss fights which can be challenging, but aren’t really worth the trouble.

I had high hopes for the game because I enjoyed the demo, but once I got deeper in the game, it didn’t do enough. It had decent writing, the voice acting is great, and the art is good, but the gameplay didn’t do it for me. Gal Guardians isn’t the worst Metroidvania I’ve played this year, but I will forget I ever played it. If you’re looking for a new Metroidvania, you simply have better options.

You can pick up Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark on Steam, Switch, and PlayStation for $29.99, but I would wait for a sale.

video game reviews

Honest Review of Amerzone – The Explorer’s Legacy

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Amerzone – The Explorer’s Legacy 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-Promotions

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. I’ve also started a web novel that I update every two weeks.

What is Amerzone?

Amerzone – The Explorer’s Legacy is an interactive fiction puzzle game coming to Xbox, PlayStation and PC on April 24.

You are a young reporter on your latest investigation. An old explorer you’ve befriended over the years has left you with instructions to an adventure of a lifetime. You find yourself on a trip to South America where you must venture into the Amerzone and return the egg of an ancient bird. Solve puzzles, collect clues, and survive the dangers of the Amerzone. What will your adventure uncover? Will this be the story you’ve been waiting for?

Review

Amerzone – The Explorer’s Legacy is the adventure book you didn’t know you needed. If you’ve played the original, this is a fantastic remaster. The graphics look great, and the game plays fine. I didn’t experience any major performance issues. The gameplay is what you’d expect from a a point-and-click game. Players move through parts of the world, exploring and collecting clues to progress through the story. The game design makes exploration enjoyable, but the story is the reason why you play this game.

Amerzone’s story holds up after all these years, and update to visuals is sure to find its modern audience. The story is a solid adventure with nice pacing, great world building and flavor. The voice acting is fantastic, and it was real easy to immerse myself in the story. The puzzles make the game the engaging experience that it is. The puzzles are creative and interesting, but some may require a hint or two. Make sure you explore and click on everything!

This is a solid piece of interactive fiction that I recommend to anyone looking for a chill game with a good story and solid flavor. It is a lot of clicking, but the story makes it all worth it. I think the price is a little too steep for the type of game, but this might just be the new normal.

You can preorder Amerzone – The Explorer’s Legacy for Xbox, PlayStation and PC for $39.99. There is a Steam Demo available you can check out in the meantime.

The Last Apprentice

The Last Apprentice: Chapter 5 – The King Appears

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Mila and Sadbay stand at the entrance of the part. The smog seems thickest here. They can make out flickers of campfires around them as shadows of people move around them. The air is stale here, with a lingering stench of rot that sticks to the skin. It all makes Mila’s head hurt. Her heart pounds, almost breaking through her chest. She clutches at the gun in her pocket. The handle has grown warm with her touch. She takes a deep breath, “Well?”

Sad Boy turns to her. “Stay close, and don’t talk to anyone. Whatever you were, where ever you came from, it don’t matter in there.”

Mila looks over her guide. His dress is not much better than the dregs who walk around her, but his demeanor exudes genuine confidence. “And there is no other way?”

Sad Boy sighs, “There is, but you’re being difficult.”

Mila examines the path. Old dirty tents line up against the outside of the gate. Small groups cluster around open flames. Most look tired or lost, others sleep soundly under the glow of the flame.

A shanty town stretches from beyond the gate. Houses clustered together, creating an interesting web of makeshift paths. The shabby buildings are small and held together with different colored metals, plastics, and other discarded materials big enough to build houses. Stacks of smoke spill over rooftops. Probably from the many fires keeping its denizens warm.

The roads are narrow and dark except for a few street lamps that flicker yellow sickly light over the town. The road winds through the part incoherently. The groupings of people get thicker the farther they get from the entrance. People will come up to them. Some sell obsolete electronics, others a random collection of clothes and accessories. Young kids come selling cheap toys and candy.

“Just ignore them,” Sad Boy says from his place in front of her.

The houses start to look nicer the deeper they get. They walk down a street of stands, each with its unique collection of items neatly displayed on old rusted tables.

“That’s all stolen shit,” Sad Boy says as they pass the eager salespeople hawking their various items.

After about 20 minutes of walking, the pair find themselves alone in the town. Barrels still burned the fuel but no one sat around to receive its warmth. The windows were dark and empty, and the few people on the road hurried away in other directions.

“Fuck..” Sad Boy lets out. He pulls a half-smoked cigarette from his picket. “You still got the gun right?”

Mila squeezes at the handle reflexively. “Wh..why?”

“We’re gunna need it…” his voice trails off as he stops “Give it here”

Mila moves to give him the gun and stops. “I rather not.”

Sad Boy continues to scan the darkness around them. “Look we don’t have time to play these games. Give me the gun!” He snaps in an audible whisper.

Before she can answer, a gruff voice reaches from the shadows. “Well, ain’t this somethin. This is indeed a special day. The great Sad Boy himself has blessed us with his presence, and he brought us a little present.”

Two large men with large clubs and stern faces come into view. Behind them, four tired-looking men follow, each holding up a silver ornate throne. The seat was lined with cushy velvet. The metal looks freshly polished, with strange shapes carved around it. There are skulls across the top of the seat and at the end of the armrests. Over the seat, a lone golden lantern swings with each step.

On the seat is a broad man with an amused look on his face. He has a wild beard with matching matted hair. A golden crown adorned with random jewels weighs down the top of his head. He wears a large wool coat that comes down to his knees, with matching gloves. One of his hard plays with the skull at the end of the arm rust, and the other swishes at the wine glass in his hand. He takes a drink of the dark red liquid and smiles. “What y’all to my humble kingdom?”

Sad Boy turns to walk in the other direction, but four large heavily armed men have since appeared to block their escape. “Oh you know,” he turns back “just passing through.”

The king clasps his hands and loudly proclaims, “Well let me at least be a proper host and show y’all a lil hospitality.”

“We’re in a bit of a hurry, but we can take a rain check.” The large men start moving towards the pair.

“I promise I won’t take much of your time,” he flashes a sinister smile. The men continue closing in on the pair. Mila’s hand begins to clam up as they squeeze at the handle.

“Hand me the thing…” Sad Boy whispers almost inaudibly.

Mila pulls out the gun and points it at the King. Her hands shake under the weight of it. Sad Boy is stunned for a moment, but finds his words “Y’all are fucked now! My sister is crazy, and a lot less forgiving than I am!”

The group of men surrounding her stop at the sight of the gun. The king jumps in his seat but then begins to smile. “I don’t think she even knows how to use the thing,” he says as a cocky smirk creeps across his face.

“Take another step and I bet you’ll find out.”

The king jumps from his throne and moves his hand to stop his men. He smiles. “Let’s find out then,” He takes a step towards them.

The world goes silent. Mila looks at the man in front of her. His gown glows under the light of the lantern. She watches as he fiddles with one of his rings. There is a ring on each of his fingers, each with a different gemstone. His smirk grows. “I guess I was right.” He snaps his fingers and the large men move towards the pair.

Mila can feel the heart about to break through her chest. She can feel the air running out around her. She can feel her journey ending with each step they take. She closes her eyes as her finger squeezes at the trigger, but instead of the deafening explosion she expected, she only hears a click. The click bounces off the walls in a desperate echo that stops everyone in place. The world freezes for another second before the King’s booming laughter fills the awkward silence left behind. “This whole time you were comin round here waving an empty gun?” He shakes his head before turning towards his thrown. “Bring them to me alive. I’m going to need to sort this out personally.”

Before Mila can react, she feels a sharp heavy pain on the side of her head as the world around her turns completely black. She can hear Sad Boy’s unintelligible mumbling before completely blacking out on the street.

video game reviews

Is Morkull Ragast’s Rage a Good Metroidvania?

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Morkull Ragast’s Rage to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity. I won’t it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self-Promotions

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. I’ve also started a web novel that I update every two weeks.

What is Morkull Ragast’s Rage?

Morkull Ragast’s Rage is a metroidvania out now on Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch for $17.99..

Morkull Ragast’s Rage is a powerful demon locked away in a video game. The only way to get out is to play the game, and win. Fight your way through a game as it is being made. Make your way through this digital dungeon, fight off scores of enemies, and reprogram a bit of the code along the way. Can you beat the game and let Morkul out? Is it a good idea to get set him free?

Review

If you’ve played any other metroidvania game, you’ve played Morkull Ragast’s Rage. You fight your way through a dungeon, unlocking new abilities along the way. The only difference is the game has a stylized flavor that is fun, but doesn’t do enough to hide the fact that the game isn’t very fun. Morkull Ragast’s Rage isn’t a bad game, it just doesn’t do enough to stand out against the rest of the genre. Had this been my introduction to the genre it would have fared a little better, but its not. When it comes to Metroidvania, you have better options.

The biggest issue I have with the game is that the combat is boring. Movement, combos, and the parry system all feel stiff. The enemies look cool, but they aren’t fun to fight. The grind feels bad, and I found very little reason to keep making it. I had little reason to keep coming back, especially considering how I have better options sitting in my library.

I appreciate the humor of the story. There are fun wall breaks and the flavor and artstyle are interesting. Unfortunately, they don’t do enough to distract from the fact that the game isn’t all that impressive. If you’re looking for a metroidvania game, there are better options. If you like the look and flavor of the game, I would wait for a sale because it still feels like a demo. There is a demo available, but I don’t think it fares any better.

You can pick up Morkull Ragast’s Rage on Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch for $17.99.

The Last Apprentice

The Last Apprentice: Chapter 4 – A Stranger in a Strange City

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Mila looks up at the man from her place on the floor. Her vision is blurred from the tears, her ears thump with each heartbeat. A mysterious liquid begins to soak through her jeans. Sad Boy looks down at the Mila with a sly smile. The city continues to move around them as they stand still for what seems like hours.

The cold liquid breaks her trans. The shock slowly begins to fade. She pushes his hand out of the way. “I’m fine.”

Sad Boy crouches so their eyes are at level with each other. She can see his bloodshot eyes and dilated pupils, even in this low light. “This ain’t like whatever nice ass apartment you came from. You won’t last a fucking day on your own. Those two runts aren’t even close to what worst this city has to offer. But if you stick with me, I can get you where you need to go. If you got the money.” He looks her up and down. His smile fades. “You got money right?”

Mila’s arm was still read around where the bruit grabbed her. Her skin still stung. The man in front of her smelled of stale cigars. She tries to swallow some of the shock and almost chokes. In her bravest, toughest voice she replies, “How do I know you won’t try to rob me.”

Sad Boy smiles. “You don’t.” He hands her the gun he had been stashing in his jeans. “But you can shoot me if I try.” The gun shines, even in this dim light. She reaches for the gun, but he pulls it away. “You have to answer my question first.”

“I have money.” Sad Boy hands her the gun. It feels heavy in her hand. She wraps her hand around the handle and is surprised at how well it fits. The danger of the power she holds excites and scares her.

Sad Boy stands. “So you coming or what,” again extending his hand at a distracted Mila.

Mila puts the gun in her bag. She picks up her item and stands on her own. “Where are we goin.”

“You hungry? We can go grab a bite and talk terms. I know a safe bar down the street.”

Mila wasn’t hungry, but a place where she could properly sit was better than this. “Fine. Lead the way.”

Sad Boy smiles. “Come on then!” Sad Boy makes his trek out of the alley, maneuvering expertly around the trash. They exit into a busy street, but no one seems to take notice. She follows him through crowds of people. “They call me Sad Boy,” he shouts over the crowd.

“Mila”

“What brings you to our delightful piece of paradise Mila?”

“I’m looking for someone,” she replies without thinking.

“We’ll you’re in luck. There is nothing in this city I can’t find. Who are you looking for.”

“Let’s just get to your bar first.”

“Well, it’s a hell of a place to be looking for someone. Especially for someone of you pedigre.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re clothes, your look, you scream privilege.”

Mila looks down at her outfit. Her clothes were dirtier than usual. The strange-colored liquid left reaches up her leg. Her hair was messier than usual, matted with dried sweat and possibly more of the mysterious liquid. She smelled like rotten garbage and while some people actively avoided it, most people didn’t seem to notice.

“Well not now,” Sad Boy corrects himself. “But you clothes aren’t made from the same synthetic garbage they use down here and your teeth are clean.”

Mila’s hand moves to her mouth. When was the last time she brushed her teeth? “How much farther?”

Sad Boy stops at the entrance of another alley. “Just through here!” He disappears through the alley.

Mila looks after him. There is a bright neon glow at the other end. She stops at the mouth of the alley. “I’m not doing any more fucking alleys.”

Sad Boy stops with a jolt and turns to Mila. “But it’s right fucking there!” He points at the other end in a feeble attempt to prove his point.

Mila shakes her head. “I’m not going through another alley. I’ll find someone else if you don’t agree to my terms.

“But it..you haven..” Sad Boy notices the tinge of fright that lingers beneath Mila’s stare. He growls in frustration. “FUCK! Fine! Follow me. But this costs extra.” He exits the alley and continues walking down the street.

The smoke starts to get deeper the farther they walk. Small camps and fires have been built between each entrance. They walk over dirty people who smoke at metal pipes, oblivious to the world that walks around them. They walk past a group in a heated argument that ends in blows. Half-naked men and women call from windows and doorways, soliciting clients. A woman walks up and locks her arm with Mila. “You looking for some company sweetheart?” She was a slender woman. Smaller than Mila with raven black hair. She wore an old revealing swimsuit. Her breasts heaved as she followed closely. She smelled of stale cigarettes and cheap liquor.

“Fuck off Minxie, she’s my client.”

“No reason we can’t share Sad Boy. Greed aint a good look for you.”

Sad Boy turns around. “I said fuck off Minx. I’m conducting busy.”

“Well look at who thinks they all important and shit.” Minxie moves closer to Mila till her lips almost touch her ear. She whispers, “I’ll be here for you if you ever change your mind baby. I’ll show you a better time than this fool.” She lets go and walks to the other stranger. He doesn’t take long to accept her offer.

They continue their trek through the redlight district. “It’s not my business what you do, and if that’s what you’re looking for, I won’t stop you, but we need to discuss our business first.”

“How much farther?”

“We’ll we would have already been there already, but you wanted to go the long way.”

“But how much longer?” Mila asks, nervously looking for an escape.

“Well…it depends.”

Mila grows more annoyed with each additional cryptic answer. “Depends on what?” she asks with a stern voice.

“Depends on how fast we can get through that.” Sad Boy points at a large rusting metal gate. Across the top, a sign says “Central Park” in faded letters. But this was no park. Behind the remains of a crumbling stone wall was a sea of tents and makeshift wooden houses. A shanty town that stretches for what seems miles. Sitting across the face of the wall are men, women, and children who star out into the void, lost behind their glazed eyes. There are groups of people who pace slowly around them with a similar glazed stare.

“Zombies?”

Sad Boy shakes his dead. “Drugs.”

“Lovely.”

Board Games and TCGs

Review of Urban Shadows: The Urban Fantasy RPG

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of the Urban Shadows 2E core book 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. I will also be using my amazon affiliate links when possible. Always support your LGS, but using my link helps me out!

What is Urban Shadows?

Urban Shadows is an award winning TTRPG that just received its second edition.

In large metropolitan cities, a supernatural society operates in the shadows. Unbeknownst to the average citizen, there is an ever presence conflict between four warring factions as they try to gain dominion over the city. The balance of power is in a state of constant flux, and the political landscape of the city is forever shifting. Fate, chance, or whatever you want to call it has brought you into the this world, and it is up to you to find your place within it. Make deals, earn and pay off your social debts, and climb your way up the ladder. Who will you become? How will you shape the cities narrative? How will you let the city shape you?

The Gist of It

This is a massive book, but the gist is this:

In Urban Shandows, players navigate the complex social network of the supernatural society of a major city. They must broker deals, climb the social ladder, and most importantly, operate in the shadows.

Whatever the city, there are four factions that fight over its dominion: Mortalis, Night, Power, and Wild.

Mortalis are the humans that find themselves in the world, either by chance or by choice. Some hunt the monsters that roam the night. Others smuggle supernatural items to sell for a profit. Others play with the idea of giving up their humanity to join this world permanently.

Power is full of the people who can wield the magic of this world. It is full of the wizards, oracles, and immortals who seek to gain more power from this world.

Night is the faction of people who have been transformed into a supernatural creature of the night, and must wrestle with this new found identity. These are the vampires, werewolves, and ghosts of the city and the smaller sects that form within them.

Wild is the faction that lives on the fringes of society that wield powerful ancient magics that rival the other factions. These are the faeries, demons, and constructs that roam the city’s shadows.

The important thing is that these factions have an established hierarchy, and the players must find their place within it. The faction a player starts with, doesn’t have to be the one they end in. They don’t even have to be the same character, there is a mechanic that allows players to retire. Climbing is not easy, and it isn’t black and white. While players can fight their way through the city for territory, there are more diplomatic approaches that might prove more efficient. Trying to change an outcome with emotion or persuasion instead of fists is just as viable, if not more. The city is always moving and changing, and players need to adapt to keep up. Whether they can shake up the foundation of the city is up to a few actions and a couple dice roles. Within those four factions are 12 unique classes for players to choose from. Each class feels unique and gives players abilities to help them navigate their social mobility. There is a lot of flavor in this game, and while you can adjust your narrative to fit your vision, the book has a lot of valuable helpful examples to get a newer Master of Ceremony (game master) started.

What sets the game apart is the focus on urban fiction, which takes players to the streets of their favorite cities at any time in history. Want to start in the present and time skip to a time of calamity? Go for it! The landscape may be in constant flux, but the narrative belongs to the city.

The Book

Review

Urban Shadows is a very good resource for any new game master, even if you don’t plan on running the game itself. The amount of resource, examples, and detail that make this book the hefty beast that it is can easily be translated into other systems. The book spells out every mechanic and feature in a way that is easy to read and understand, and is filled some very cool art to break up the information.

The game is powered by the apocalypse system, and the system is easy to learn and teach. This is important, especially for newer players who just want to hop into the game and not worry about intricate nuances. The game has its complexity, but I feel like there was less time spent arguing about rules, and more time enjoying the world and story for what it is.

Character creation is easy with the class system, and every class feels balanced and unique. More testing is required of course, but it all felt fine for the bit that was done. I like that the game doesn’t have to revolve around combat (it can), and how creative solutions to problems can be. The death and retirement system is interesting. The on death abilities each class has makes death sting a little less, and I like that players can retire a character if they just want to try something new.

What is important to note about the system is that it is going to be a bit more roleplay heavy. Yes dice rolls will sway the narrative, but you are going to have to ask for favors, or gather clues, or broker deals in a way that is limited by your social standing. For people who are more interested in the political side of roleplay, this is a great choice with lots of room for good story telling.

If you enjoy physical media, the book is a fantastic addition to any collection. Its a good quality book with some great illustrations. As far as resource books go, you’ll have everything you need to run a good campaign. There are helpful examples, tables, and a couple cities. There is an appendix with a bunch of charts and tables for the GM that needs to create an meaningful encounter on the fly.

I’ve read a few different resource books and nothing comes close to how detailed this book is. For veteran game masters, it is a little over kill. But for those just starting out in the space, it doesn’t get any better. When I started my journey, I did hours of research. A lot of what I’ve learned is packaged neatly in this book, and while there is lot a GM will learn through practice, its a great place to start.

Urban Shadows is a little too RP heavy for my table, but we had fun running it. We enjoyed how easy everything was to pick up, and the flavor is sound. I ran my games in San Francisco because that is the city I know best, but the borrowed a couple of the examples in the books to fill its underworld. I really enjoyed the shift to Urban Fantasy. We play a lot of high fantasy with the occasional scifi story, and it was nice to explore a modern city with modern problems and a supernatural element. I’d absolutely come back to the system if prompted because there is a lot of room for good story telling, and some very epic moments.

Urban Shadows is a solid TTRPG. If you like werewolves and vampires and mitigating the intricacies of social advancement, I don’t think you can find anything better than Urban Shadows.

You can pick up Urban Shadows and related products on the official Magpie store, and on DriveThru RPG if you don’t care about physical media.