Tag Archives: fantasy

video game reviews

Slime Heroes Review: A Whimsical Souls-Like Adventure

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of slime Heroes 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 of the game.

Shameless Self-Promotions

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out the new Epomaker HE75 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 weekly.

What is Slime Heroes?

Slime Heroes is an adorable souls-like out now on Steam and Xbox.

A mysterious corruption spreads across the land, and it is up to a few brave slimes to clear it. Travel across a whimsical world as you solve puzzles, clear dungeons, and defeat monsters. Can you save the guardians from the strange corruption? Can you restore peace to this world?

Gameplay

Slime Heroes is your standard souls-like with a few fun elements to help it stand out against the genre. Players start buy customizing their slime before sending them off on a grand adventure. All slimes start with the same basic abilities, but can be customized throughout their legend. After their sudden call to action, heroes will fight for their lives in order to become stronger.

Players will fight their way between “campfires” as they collect currency and skills to level up their slime. The grind can feel repetitive if players aren’t efficient in their combat. Combat is strait forward. Players have access to two basic attacks (heavy and light), four customizable magic abilities, and a dodge. What makes Slime Heroes unique is that it allows players to combine magical abilities to create a truly unique slime hero.

To break up combat, players can enjoy a bit of lore and story, fun puzzles, explore dungeons, and fight creative puzzles. While the game looks like an adorable kids game, there is enough content and it requires enough skill to keep things engaging.

Review

The initial delay made me a bit nervous about the game. It is typically never a good sign, but this wasn’t true this time around. The game isn’t perfect. There are bits where the character gets stuck, places where I lost frames, and bits where there is no sound. But I would argue that the flaws give the game its charm. While the issues are noticeable, they didn’t matter because I was having fun.

The slimes are cute. The monsters and the world are a little plain, but it works. The story is cozy and fun. This is a very aesthetically pleasing game, but the reason you play is for the gameplay. This is the souls-like game you play when you want a challenge, but you don’t want to end up frustrated. Aside from a few performance issues, combat is fluid. Bosses are unique, but the grind can feel a bit repetitive.

To break up the monotony, the game does a good job at blending other mechanics. There is a bit of platforming, a few challenging puzzles to solve, and some interesting boss fights and challenges to overcome. There was enough variety of content to keep things interesting, and the grind never felt bad. .

What I enjoyed most about the game is skill crafting system. Monsters will drop abilities throughout the adventure, and players can combine these to craft a unique experience. Experimenting with the different combinations is so much fun, and finding the right combination that fits your play style is incredibly satisfying.

If you are looking for a new fun and comforting game to add to your collection, get Slime Heroes. The game has terrific flavor, fun mechanics, and a casual vibe that will fit in any collection. You can brave the world on your own, or team up with friends, and it has a great Steam Deck experience. While there are a few performance issues that are hard to ignore, the devs seem to be pushing out consistent updates that make the game better. This is easily one of my favorite games of the year so far, and it can be one of your too.

You can pick up Slime Heroes on Steam and Xbox for $29.99.

The Last Apprentice

The Last Apprentice – Chapter 2: Final Instruction

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The door closes, leaving the two women alone. “Grandma?” Mila asks, but there is no response. A metallic hum fills the room as Doña Guille stares blankly at the door. Tears swell behind her ancient eyes but are replaced with a sudden look of urgency.

She moves towards the bookshelf. “Mija, grab your bag and pack whatever you need. Essentials only. Apurate!” There is desperation in her voice.

“What’s going on?”

“They found me mija. You have to leave. Hurry!” The old woman begins pulling books off the shelf. They fall with a deafening crash.

“What…what’s going on?” Mila repeats.

Doña Guille sighs and turns to her granddaughter. There is sadness in her eyes. “They know I am a witch. That man is here to pick me up. I don’t have time to explain. You need to get your stuff and leave.” Her tone was stern and demanding. Mila opens her mouth to protest but turns to her room instead. “Pack light. Just what you can carry.” the old woman adds as Mila disappears into the room. Books continue to fall to the ground. Drawers open and shut in the other room.

This goes on for minutes before Doña Guille stands up with an old shoe box and runs to the room. There are two beds crammed into this room with a few dressers. Mila is zipping up her bag when the old woman enters the room.

“Estas lista?” Doña Guille asks in a shaky voice.

“Yea…” she looks over at her grandmother with a worried expression. “You need to tell me what’s going on,” she pleads.

A tear slips from the corner of Doña Guille as she moves towards her granddaughter. Her hand shakes as it lands gently on the young girl’s cheek. “In a few minutes, they’re going to barge through that door and take us and lock us away in a prison built for witches like us. If that happens, there is no escape. They’ll do horrible things to us…” her voice breaks as the words become too hard to say.

“But…but witches aren’t real…” Mila protests.

“They are real mija, and I wish I had more time to explain to you. Pero you need to leave.” The old woman opens the box. Inside is an envelope thick with a bill and an old leather-bound notebook. She hands her the envelope. The bills are worn and dirty and fill the room with a strange musk. “This is all the money I have. It’s not much, but it should get you a few meals. And this,” she says as she picks up the old leather book, “this is our spellbook. Guard it with your life.”

Mila grabs the book it is about the size of a small notebook, but a thick two or three hundred pages. The cover is worn without any distinguishable writing on its face and the pages are worn and yellowed. “This is all we have left of our people. Learn as much as you can from it.”

“Magic isn’t real…”

Footsteps echo down the hall. “We’re out of time mija. You have to be brave. I’m sorry I didn’t teach you enough.” She hugs her granddaughter tightly and fights the tears.

“You’re not coming with me?”

Doña Guille grabs Mila by the shoulders and looks into her eyes. Her eyes swell with the tears she holds back. “This next part, you have to do on your own. I’ll hold them back as much as I can, pero you have to run.”

“Come with me. We can figure this out. We can…”

“No mija. I’m too old. I’m too tired of running.” The footsteps get closer. “I know you’re scared, but you can do this. I know you can. Don’t use your real name. Don’t let anyone know you’re a witch.”

“But..”

“There’s a man named Bones somewhere in the 13th district who knows how to do the old shaman tattoos. Find him. Show him this book.” The footsteps go silent. “I love you mija. Good luck. Jakata!” Doña Guille shouts as she shoves Mila back. A bright white portal of light appears suddenly behind her. It swallows her as she reaches out to grab her grandmother. Mila falls onto the cold hard ground. She sends metal cans rolling against the wall behind her. She looks up to see a final glimpse of her grandmother as the portal shuts. She watches as her grandmother turns to the door. She can hear a loud crash somewhere in the distance. Suddenly, darkness.

Mila remains frozen as the loud noises of the city dance around her. The buzzing of the railcar above, people shouting in the distance, and a bus making its stop somewhere behind her. There is a light at the end of the alley. For the first time since landing, she begins to notice her surroundings. Two long buildings stretch up endlessly on both sides. The alley is wide but thick with trash. It piles up around her. Her bag sits in front of her. A dog barks and it snaps her from her trance. A foul stench fills her nose and she bends over to vomit.

Mila sits there a bit longer as tears fall from her eyes. For the first time in her life, she feels alone as the world continues to move around her.

video game reviews

Aegis Force: The Scorian War Demo Review

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I got to try out the Aegis Force: The Scorian War demo because I’ve been looking for a new JRPG to get into. The game looks interesting with some neat flavor and combat system. I know the game isn’t finished yet, so I will try to be more lenient with my impressions. That said, this will be my honest review.

Shameless Self-Promotions

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out the new Epomaker HE75 Mag or their KiiBoom Breeze 75. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. I’ve also started a web novel that I update weekly.

What is Aegis Force: The Scorian War?

Aegis Force: The Scorian War is a 2.5 fantasy rpg coming to Steam sometime in 2026. The Demo is available to play in the meantime so make sure to check that out.

The 100 year Scorian War ravages the continent. The two nations, one advanced in technology the other in magic, are locked in a battle with no end in sight. The conflict weighs heavily on both sides, yet no one remembers what sparked it. Join three childhood friends as they fight for their country, recruit new members, and explore the war torn country. What secrets will their journey uncover? Will they be the ones to stop this war?

Gameplay

Players explore the 2D world, fighting against enemy soldiers and slowly unraveling the narrative. This is your typical JRPG, but one with a unique combat system that might be worth exploring. Combat in Aegis Force is turn-based with an interesting movement mechanics. Characters can gain advantage on attacks based on the orientation of the enemy. Attacking an enemy from behind gives units a small boost in attack, but this boon works both ways. Players must strategically position their units to gain the advantage, and this can sometimes mean taking big risks.

Review

I really want to like this Aegis Force. The art is cute, the mechanics seem interesting, and I need a new JRPG. Unfortunately, I think the demo was released too early. The game has some promising features that left me curious enough for a follow-up, but the demo isn’t good enough to generate enough appeal.

The writing is awkward. I caught a couple errors, no big deal, but the dialogue is awkward and doesn’t do enough to earn the reader’s attention. The performance also falls short. Combat and movement is full of award animations, and the whole experience feels a little clunky.

That said, I kind of like the combat. The flank mechanic gives combat enough of a strategic element to keep it engaging, and the Tactimagus mechanic makes combat fun to watch. I wish everything ran more smoothly, but I am at least interested in seeing the final product.

Aegis Force: The Scorian War is a hard game to recommend in its current state. While some can overlook the roughness as the games charming lure, it is going to be a hard sell for the casual gamer who wants to spend their money on an engaging story with mechanics that work properly. I don’t believe Aegis Force is entirely hopeless, it just isn’t where it needs to be yet. We still have a year of development left, and there might be some solid fixes to change this opinion. I will be trying to get my hands on a full version for the follow up, but in the mean time, you can check out the demo on Steam.

The Last Apprentice

The Last Apprentice – Chapter 2: A Short Conversation

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Doña stares at the well-dressed man. A brief hint of shock and fear washes across her face. Regaining her composure she lets out, “No. You have the wrong place.” Mila is shocked by her grandmother’s response. It isn’t like her to turn anyone away.

The man leans back to examine the old dirty numbers over the door frame. “No, this is the place.” He smiles at the woman, taking a bold step into the threshold. “Please señora, I’ve come such a long way, I don’t think I can come any other time.” He pulls out a thick wad of cash from his coat pocket. “I promise, I’ll pay you for the inconvenience.”

Mila’s jaw drops. She has never seen so much money. “Abuela, thats so much money.”

The old woman watches the man suspiciously as he takes another bold step into the small dank apartment. “It’s late. Why don’t you come back tomorrow.”

“Disculepe, but it has to be know. I can’t come back tomorrow.”

The old woman lets out a sad sigh. She reaches into her purse and pulls out a few bills. “Mija, why don’t you go down to the 15th and get some refrescos and snacks. The best you can find.”

“Pero,” Mila starts to protest but her grandmother shoots her a stern look. “Okay, I’ll be right back.” She grabs the money and disappears down the hallway.

“Please take a seat,” she points to the empty chair across from her.

“Gracias,” the man smiles as he sits. He pulls a cigar from his coat pocket and cuts it over the table. Crumbs of tobacco fall over the old wooden table. He raises the cigar to his lips but pauses inches from his mouth. Offering the cigar to this host, “Where are my manners?” His voice slick and confident fills the room. “Would you like one?”

The robust tobacco aroma makes her salivate. She takes it and reaches for the lighter.

“No no no, you can’t ruin a fine cigar like this with lighter fluid!” He snaps, quickly lighting a match. He leans over the table, extending the small flickering flame towards her. She hesitates, watching the man carefully before leaning in. She fills her mouth with its sweet relaxing smoke. Her eyes involuntarily close as she savors the taste.

“It’s a good cigar,” the man says, breaking her trance. She opens her eyes to find the man already puffing at his own. “Its because it was made with real tobacco. None of the synthetic stuff they sell in stores. The guy who grows it…”

“Why are you here?” Doña Guille interupts.

The man pauses for a second. Cigar smoke rises around him slowly. He clears his throat. “Right, straight to business.” He takes a slow drag from the cigar before letting the smoke slowly leave his lips. “My name is Gonzalo Molina. I am the head enforcer at the Ministry of Magic, and you Mrs. Cardenas, are a hard witch to find. You are hereby under arrest for the practice of witchcraft. Please come peacefully as any resistance will result in death.”

Doña Guille freezes for a moment. She almost drops her cigar. “You have the wrong person…” Her voice shakes.

The man chuckles. “You’ve been doing this dance long enough to understand that once I come, it’s over. Whether you say you are or aren’t doesn’t matter because I know you’re a witch. I didn’t get to where I am by knocking on the wrong house at the middle of the night, and I am sure as hell not starting today.”

The old woman remains frozen. The cigar burns slowly in her hand. “You shouldn’t waste that. Those are hard to come by.” The man says, taking a long deep inhale from his. She lifts the cigar and takes a nervous puff. It no longer had any flavor.

She lets out a sad exhale. “Leave her out of this. She doesn’t have any magic.”

“It doesn’t work like that.” He ashes the cigar on the table where a small mound has begun to build.

“Then…” she chokes. “Let me be the one to tell her. Let me prepare her.”

“Sure!” The cigar had almost reached his fingers. He smashes the nub onto the table, extinguishing its flame. Smoke rises from it furiously as it leaves behind a trail of soot. The man smiles. “If you promise to come peacefully, I’ll be waiting by the entrance tomorrow morning at 8.” He stands abruptly. The chair scrapes against the metal floor. “Just remember, its over señora. There is nowhere left to run. You can either come peacefully, or we’re hunting you down.” The man drops a wad of cash on the table. “Thank you for the reading.” He turns to leave.

Just then, Mila walks into the room with two bags full of snacks and drinks. “Oh,” she lets out in surprise as she is greeted by Gonzalo’s departure. “Are you already done?”

Gonzalo smiles and pats her head lightly. “Si mija. Your grandmother is remarkable.” The man disappears down the corridor. Mila turns to her grandmother puzzled.

Doña Guille remains frozen in place. She has gone pale. “Abuela?” Mila lets out, realizing her grandmother’s condition.

The old woman snaps back to life, “Close the door!”

video game reviews

Whispers of the Eyeless: Unique Cult Management Game Review

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Whisper of the Eyeless 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 Plug

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out the new Epomaker HE75 Mag or their KiiBoom Breeze 75. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System.

What is Whispers of the Eyeless?

Whispers of the Eyeless is a cult management game with RPG elements out now in Steam Early Access.

You are the voice of the old dead gods, Wrath Desire, and Madness. Little remains of the dead gods, and it is up to you to bring them back. Using the powers of the old god that you slowly awaken, recruit new members, build your temple, and conquer the dungeon. Can you build a deserving following, one that can consume the city, or will you be another delusional cleric?

Gameplay

The main loop for Whispers of the Eyeless is the resource management game. Players will spend their time exploring the city, recruiting new members, fixing up their place of worship, and a little bit of dungeon delving. Exploring the city allows players to recruit new members to the party. Exploration will proct special events where players have a chance of recruiting unique members with special abilities. Players are limited in how much of the city they an explore at first, but will earn access to the more prosperous parts of the city once they gain more influence.

Once members are recruited, players are responsible for keeping them happy. Creating jobs, keeping them fed, and building a nice place of worship are all important tasks for a successful cult leader. Some cultists can be sent on jobs around the city, or on dungeon delves. The dungeon is a dangerous place, but one that can be conquered with the proper party of loyal cultist.

In the dungeon, players will explore its halls with simple point and click movement, and combat is in the classic turn based style.

Players who can manage to stay on top of all these tasks, earn their money, and gain their influence properly will have no problem resurrecting the dead gods.

Review

I enjoyed Whispers of the Eyeless. The game is still in Early Access, and it is hard to give it a proper recommendation. On one hand, the game is the perfect fusion of each genre it covers, on the other, the game doesn’t feel finished. The game works and looks great. The artwork is amazing, and I am a huge fan of the dark storybook vibe the game captures. The soundtrack and voice acting are phenomenal, and do a great job at setting the mood. The story and flavor is solid, but it is a little short. Players will catch up to the content quickly, which can definitely be a problem.

I loved the game since I tried the demo, and the new content made it worth the wait. But while I may be willing for more content, and will be returning to the game at every major update, not everyone will. The biggest reason to get Whispers of the Eyeless at this stage is because you want to support a solid game. The game does enough to help it stand out against the genre, and it is heading towards a promising direction. There really isn’t enough to be worth the price tag at the moment, but there will be if you are patient.

You can pick up Whispers of the Eyeless on Steam Early Access for $19.99.

video game reviews

Genso Manège: A Captivating Visual Novel Review

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Genso Manège 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 the new Epomaker HE75 Mag or their KiiBoom Breeze 75. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. If you would like to start your own blog on WordPress, sign up using my Affiliate Link!

What is Genso Manège?

Genso Manège is an interactive visual novel out now on Steam and Nintendo Switch.

Emma is a witch who has lost her memory and her powers, but fate has other plans for her. She finds herself back in a familiar amusement part with the people she had long since forgotten. Emma is determined to regain her powers and memories, and free those she trapped long ago. As Emma, players will explore a fresh and magical world, harness their powers over magic, and maybe even fall in love. With 6 romantic interesting, a wonderfully voice acted story, and some quirky little mini games, its going to be hard to pass up on this adventure.

Review

Genso Manège is a fantastic visual novel with great art, amazing voice acting, and a solid story. The story has decent pacing with interesting themes, fun characters, and mini games to keep players engaged. That said, the story is very much on the cheesy side of romance novels, but it fits the niche well. The hardest part will be choosing only one of leads, but that gives the game its replayability. I am definitely ready for another go.

I particularly like the use of minigames throughout the story. It gives the game an appropriate change of pace, and they have a good amount of flavor. The don’t feel distracting or overbearing, which can be a problem with interactive fiction.

Overall, if you’re looking for a new romantic visual novel with well flavored fantasy, you need to be playing Genso Manège. Pick it up on Steam and Nintendo Switch

Tech Reviews

Experience Exciting Action Roguelike FPS Revenge of the Mage

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Revenge of the Mage 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 the new Epomaker HE75 Mag or their KiiBoom Breeze 75. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. If you would like to start your own blog on WordPress, sign up using my Affiliate Link!

What is Revenge of the Mage?

Revenge of the Mage is a first-person, bullet hell roguelike out now on Steam.

Learn to harness your power over the elements as you fend off against endless waves of monsters. Travel through the realms, unlock new abilities, and become the most powerful mage. Do you have what it takes to become the hero the realm needs, or will you be another casualty?

Gameplay

Players dive into unique worlds and use their magic to fight off waves of enemies, complete quests, and defeat the boss at the end of the level. Players level up by killing monsters, and earn a random power-up or ability at level-up. The RNG feels fair, and players can enjoy a unique build every single run. Random buffs and items appear randomly across the map to give players a small advantage against the onslaught. Between levels, players can buy upgrades for their mage or unlock a new archetypes with currency they unlock during a run. If a player dies without killing the boss, they return to the hub with only a portion of their earnings.

Review

Revenge of the Mage isn’t your typical roguelike, it is the first person shooter you didn’t know you needed. The game has great flavor, solid mechanics, and a lot of potential. I wasn’t ready for how much I enjoyed this game. While there is a little wonkiness to combat and movement, it feels good. Weaving through enemies and managing cooldowns keeps the game exciting, and the unlockables gives me goals to work towards. That said, movement could use a bit more polish. The dash doesn’t always work, and when things get crowded, it feels a little stiff. It is playable, but it could be smoother.

Like most roguelikes, expect a grind. It isn’t soul crushing, but you will die a lot before you start making an impact. Players lose a good chunk of their gold at death, and earning enough for meaningful powerups or a new archetype is going to take some time. The game does let you recover your gold each run, just make sure you move quickly. That said, I enjoyed the grind because I enjoyed the game. I am a little bummed it doesn’t run well on the Steam Deck, but I preferred using a keyboard and mouse anyways.

If you’re looking for a fun and casual game to pick up, check out Revenge of the Mage. The mages are fun and flavorful, the RNG is fair, and the combat system is solid.

You can pick up Revenge of the Mage on Steam for $5.99. There is also a demo available if you don’t believe me.

The Last Apprentice

The Last Apprentice – Chapter 1: A Knock at the Door

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From the Author

I’ve finally sat down to start writing a fantasy novel I’ve been kicking around for years. I’ll be posting it every two weeks if time allows, and I’d be very open to feedback. Thank you for reading, I hope you like it!

Chapter 1

Mila and her grandmother live in a corner unit on the 71st floor of the 200-floor Beuna Vista Luxury Apartments. The name is a misnomer, and anyone living in the apartments knows they are not luxurious.

The Buena Vista Luxury Apartments is a large rundown and broken stone and iron tower. Every inch of the building is covered in an unwashable layer of filth, and there exists an ever-present rotting odor that sticks to the skin. Some believe that the building was built intentionally faulty, smell and all. There is also the belief that the blackouts and leaks are planned and the appliances were designed to stay broken. Despite its many faults, it is widely accepted that living at the Buena Vista Luxury Apartments is better than living in the slums on the outskirts of the mega city.

Its residents, crammed as close together as the laws and regulations allow, may spend the rest of their lives not knowing their neighbor, but everyone in Buena Vista knows Doña Guille.

Doña Guille is an 80-year-old small brown woman with soft brown wrinkled skin. She keeps her hair short she dyes a regal shade of red regularly. Although her clothes are never new, they are always clean and well-maintained. She looks like a proper lady of society, and people treat her as such because Doña Guille is the tower’s bruja, their witch doctor.

There isn’t a baby in the building she hadn’t delivered, an illness she hasn’t cured, a fortune she hasn’t read. There isn’t a person in this building who hasn’t made their trek to floor 71 at least once. Whether or not they believe in witchcraft, there isn’t a person in the building who wouldn’t go to her at the first sign of illness.

Doña Guille lives humbly in the one bedroom she shares with her granddaughter. Those who enter find themselves in a room with a small plastic table and a wall of planters surrounding it. The purple light from their lamps spills over strange and exotic-looking herbs. Their sweet and minty scent fills the room and mixes with the strong incense that constantly burns. The scent masks the rotting smells and soothes the soul. The purple glow spills onto the plastic, reflecting off the dulling cardboard of the deck of Tarot cards that sits permanently at its center.

On the opposite wall is a wall of vials and jars filled with strangely colored liquids. Potions in miscolored glass that are constantly cycled. At the end of the room, there is a metal desk shoved against the wall. Spread across it are old broken appliances whose guts spill across every inch of the table. Wires and random parts almost spill onto the floor. There is an impressive collection of salvaged vintage tools that hang neatly across the face of the wall. A spotlight hangs recklessly over the center of the workspace.

Mila sits on a small worn stool behind the lamp light. Her gloved hand turns at a screwdriver. Her brown hair sits in a messy bun. There are splotches of oil and grease across her clothes and dark brown skin. Her almost golden eyes peer through the dirty off-colored goggles as she slowly takes apart the dented metal toaster.

A small wrinkled hand grabs at her shoulder and breaks her concentration. “Tienes habre mija?” Doña Guille asks with a smile.

Mila turns and removes her headphones. A low buzzing leaks into the room, turning into a barely audible rumble. Mila looks down at the old watch wrapped around her wrist. It was almost midnight. Her stomach starts to growl. “I guess I should eat.”

The table was already set. A plat of brown mush sits next to a glass of milk. “I made the oatmeal like you like it,” Doña Guille says as she sits in the empty seat across from Mila. She had eaten her dinner earlier that evening. Mila begins shoveling the oatmeal into her mouth. “Have you been practicing the spells I’ve taught you?”

Mila stops eating. Her eyes dark around the room nervously. “Um..” she begins, searching for an excuse. “Just a bit.”

A glimpse of sorrow seeps into Doña Guille’s eyes. She sighs. “I know its silly, pero es importante. You’re the only one left I can teach the old language.”

Gilt washes over Mila. “I know Ama, pero I’ve been busy with work orders. I’ll find some time, I promise.”

“I’m not going to be here forever you know. You need to take advantage that I’m here.” There was clear nervous urgency in her voice.

Mila puts down her spoon and looks over her old grandmother. At that moment, the wrinkles seemed deeper. There were new dark blotches on her skin and a few white hairs were beginning their defiant peer through all the red. Mila grabs her grandmother’s hand. Her warm soft skin feels good to Mila’s touch. “I’ll start tomorrow, I promise. Besides,” she smiles “I already know the word for fire.”

I knock at the door startling the two women. They stare at each other for a moment. “It must be more work,” Mila says as she gets up from the table.

There is a well-dressed man at the other end of the knock. He wears a new and fitted suit and his hair is slicked back with a product that doesn’t exist in this part of the megacity. His dark brown skin seems to glow even in the dim flashing light of the hallway. “Hola,” the man says as he removes his gloves. “I hear you can tell fortunes.” He smiles, flashing his white teeth.

“Ama…” Mila says, still processing the situation. “I think it’s for you.”

video game reviews

Takara Cards Review: A Sci-Fi Deck Builder You Can’t Miss

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Takara Cards 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 of the game.

Some Self Promotion & Affiliates

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out the new Epomaker HE75 Mag or their KiiBoom Breeze 75. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. If you would like to start your own blog on WordPress, sign up using my Affiliate Link!

What is Takara Cards?

Takara Cards is a unique sci-fi deck builder out now on Steam.

The Space Dragons have stolen from the Federation and it is your job to bring them to justice. Pick from four unique classes, maneuver through the most dangerous parts of the universe, and build the strongest deck in the universe. Do you have what it takes to avoid the hazards of space and defeat anyone who gets in your way?

Gameplay

Players start their run with a simple deck that gets upgraded over time. Players will eventually unlock new races, weapons and other perks that make adventuring the far reaches of space easier. Players will drop into a randoms zone after each level where they must avoid hazards and defeat enemies on a 3×3 map. Combat is a turn based system where players have a limited amount of action points they can spend on attacks and abilities. Enemies and hazards act on their own turn. What makes the game unique is that he enemies actions are telegraphed to the player. Players must use this knowledge to maneuver through each level without dying.

Review

Takara Cards is a fantastic deck builder with a fun and you unique gimmick that everyone should have in their collection. I was not ready for how much I loved this game, but here I am, playing it as regularly as my schedule allows me.

Right off the bat, players will be drawn to the simple yet attractive art. I am a huge fan of the cartoonist style, and the amount of effort that went into building the game’s flavor. Couple this with the game’s fantastic soundtrack and you have a scifi game that leaves an impression. The story is fine. I like that choices matter and affect the ending, and the story gave the game a bit of added flavor that I enjoyed.

But the game has its substance. The game play is unique, and extremely addicting. The movement mechanics help set it apart from other games in the genre, and the strategy required keeps the game engaging. I found the challenge level high enough to keep things engaging without ever feeling sweaty.

If you are looking for a new deckbuilder, Takara Cards is a fantastic addition to any library. You can pick it up on Steam for only $14.99.

video game reviews

Why You Should Try Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hell Now

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hell 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.

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What is Juntunnslayer: Hordes of Hell?

Juntunnslayer is a roguelike bullet hell out now on Steam early access. There is also a demo available that you need to try out.

The hordes of hell have broken loose, and it is up to you to save the realm. Prove your worth as you fend off endless waves of enemies with your fighting prowess, and earn the blessings from the Gods that will carry you to victory. Do you have what it takes to keep the hordes of hell at bay?

Gameplay

All players load into a central hub where they can choose a load out and buy upgrades. Players can chose from a few available classes, but can unlock new perks, buffs, maps, and characters by completing challenges in game. Each map has unique objectives that must be cleared within the time limit, and any currency earned throughout a run can be used to upgrade a desired character. Players repeat this loop, slowly unlocking new challenges, difficulties, and maps to keep things fresh.

Combat can be as casual. Players have the options to allow the game to perform the various attacks automatically on a cool down, but there are settings that give players control over the aim and timing if they prefer a more hands-on experience. How good this system is really depends on a players preference. I loved the casual experience of auto casting while I maneuvered around the hordes of enemies.

During a level, players must complete quests to eventually summon the Jotunn before the timer runs out. During the run, players will unlock random buffs and abilities from either their class or different gods. The RNG is pretty fair, and each god and class has interesting and unique flavor.

Review

Juntunnslayer may still be in Early Access, but I recommend it to anyone looking for a cool new casual game to add to their collection. I love the viking aesthetic, and the attention to detail that went into the flavor and world building. Each class and god feels unique, and I had a lot of fun exploring every single combination the RNG presented me. The RNG in this game is fair. I never felt like a run was ruined because I didn’t have access to the right power-up and abilities, and I never got a load-out I didn’t like.

The game can feel a bit repetitive, but the game has enough unlockable content to earn its $8 price tag. Unlocking a new map, difficulty, or character gives players goals and creates a little variance. I like feeling more powerful as I unlock new nodes on a skill tree. I like trying out a new character and exploring different builds. And I love that I can explore different regions and earn harder difficulties. There are enough unlockables to keep the completion happy, and enough content for the casual who just want to play a fun game.

If you’re looking for a new game, pick up Jutunnnslayer: Hordes of Hell. This game is fun, looks great, runs well, and is Steam Deck compatible. You can pick it up on Steam for $9.99, but there is a free demo available if you don’t believe me.