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video game reviews

The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty is Fantastic!

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I was sent a free copy of The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty 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. If you enjoy my review, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is The Hungry Lamb?

The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty is a terrific visual novel out now on Steam.

A human trafficker has hired you to escort four girls to a lord looking to adopt an heir. Compared to the usual jobs you take, this promises to be the easiest and most ethical. As you get to know the girls on your journey, you discover there is a sinister motive behind these adoptions. The lord is actually a demon in disguise looking to feed on these girls. What will you do with this knowledge? How will your story play out?

Impressions

The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty is your typical visual novel. Players read through a story, listen to some voice acting, and occasionally make a choice that impacts the story. The story has some voice acting for the other characters, but you will read through most of the events. There are a few grammar mistakes, but it’s not a huge deal. Some of it even feels intentional in context.  If you’re trying to find a game where you can sit back and enjoy the narrative, this is a great place to start. 

The main draw to this game should be its art. This game is filled with beautiful art that helps capture the flavor of the story. The story is fantastic, and one of the most compelling things I’ve sat through. The pacing is great, the themes are serious but well-developed, and the characters are interesting. It does get dark, and you might cry. This is your warning. It’s going to be hard to pull away, but you can save at any time if you need a break. The game allows for multiple saves, so you can test out all the endings, and backtrack if you need to. 

There are little things this game does with sound effects and ambient music that help bring this story alive. If you’ve never played a visual novel, or are looking for a new one, you need to play through The Hungry Lamb at least once. I’ve only played a few visual novels in my short time as a reviewer, but it is easily my favorite so far. 

You can pick up your copy of The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty on Steam for $9.99. At this price, it is more than worth it!

video game reviews

INDIKA is the Trippiest Story-Driven Walking Sim You Should Own

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I was sent a free copy of Indika 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. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Indika?

Indika is a story-rich walking simulator out now for Steam. Indika is a nun on a journey of self-discovery as she battles the literal demon inside her and witnesses the horrors of a war-torn world around her. How much evil can her soul withstand before it starts to corrupt her? Will her faith waiver? You’re going to have to join her on this wacky, quirky, and amazing ride to find out. 

Gamplay

Indika is a walking simulator, with the occasional puzzle or mini-game to mix things up. The main reason you play this game is for its dark humor and fantastic storytelling. 

Players are railroaded through the story as they walk Indika through her set path. The striking visuals and environment make the walking bits fine. There isn’t much room for exploration, but the focus is on the story so it didn’t matter. 

The puzzles are manageable and extremely creative. There is a puzzle in this game where the demon starts talking to Indika and warping the world around her. Indika can pray to silence the voices and make the world normal again. Players have to switch between these two modes to get out of the room. It was such a memorable mechanic and almost the reason to play the game. Some puzzles may not be as intuitive, but there are walkthroughs available online in case you get stuck. 

The final bit is these pixel art minigames sprinkled throughout. These games add to the chaotic, quirky story-telling, and unforgettable charm. These mini-games aren’t difficult, and they are a nice change of pace but don’t change the overall tone of the narrative. I recorded footage, but everything was a bit too adult to post on YouTube. 

Impressions

My only complaint is that this game is too short. It will take about 5 hours to complete. The gameplay is solid, and the story is fantastic. I’ve never experienced such a trippy, dark, and well-told story like this, and I recommend you all play it just for the story. The soundtrack voice acting is phenomenal, and most of the reason why you should enjoy this game. The walking can feel a bit tedious at times, but it always pays off.

Indika is a masterful blend of creative storytelling and interesting gameplay that needs to be experienced once. If you’re looking for a short game with a solid story, go pick up Indika. It is a more adult story, so viewer discretion and all that. It also criticizes and pokes fun at religion, and I am sure that will ruffle some feathers. If you don’t mind any of this, Indika should be in your library. 

Pick up Indika now on Steam for $24.99.

video game reviews

Adore is a Refreshing take on the Creature Capture Genre

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I was sent a free copy of Adore 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. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials. 

What is Adore?

Adore is a top-down creature collecting game out now for PC. The God of Creatures has died, leaving a vicious curse to run rampant amongst his creations. As the curse spreads over the land of Gaterdrik, there is still hope. The God of Creatures has chosen you as his vessel. Together with unique creatures you capture along the way, quest across this cursed land and resurrect the dead God. Can you save the world, or will it rot under this cruel and unusual curse? 

Gameplay

You play as a creature tamer. You can collect up to 75 unique creatures, but can only carry four at a time. Each creature has unique abilities that are activated on cooldowns. It feels like a top-down MOBA, but it is a dungeon crawler. 

Creatures can be leveled either through combat or a unique crafting system. Sending a creature to fight helps level them up. You will occasionally find materials or items that either buff your creatures or give them new abilities. The trick is finding a combination of creatures with solid synergy, but I always ended up only using creatures I thought looked cool. 

The tamer will also level as you play. You can find random permanent upgrades in dungeons like you would in a roguelike, and you can buy items with buffs at the shop. The game has enough strategy and complexity to keep things engaging, but I don’t think you need a guide to beat it. Finding the right combo or min-maxing will be rewarded though. 

Only creatures you own attack. The tamer and creatures can be damaged and die. The trick is to efficiently summon your creatures to attack and deal damage while being mindful of your tamer’s health. The monster’s attack patterns are predictable, but I never felt like the game got too easy. Fights leading up to the boss fights don’t feel like a grind, and the boss fights are challenging. 

Impressions

I loved this game. The art is cute, the gameplay is fun, and the flavor is fantastic. The summoning and capturing mechanics are unique, and a lot of fun. The gameplay reminds me a lot of the summoner class in PSO 2, and summoner was one of my favorite classes. 

Adore is a unique and interesting game that you should play at least once, especially if you’re a fan of top-down MOBAs. The game offers a nice amount of challenge, a decent story, and a fresh take on the creature capture genre. You can pick up Adore now on Steam for $19.99, or try the Demo if you don’t believe me. 

video game reviews

Tell Me Your Story is a Cute, Cozy, Good Time!

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I was sent a free copy of Tell Me Your Story to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Tell Me Your Story?

Tell Me Your Story is a picture story book game puzzle game out now on Steam and Switch. Play as Amilia as she uncovers Grandma Rose’s extraordinary stories. What treasures will you uncover? What memories will you make?

Gameplay

There is no dialogue in Tell Me Your Story. All narrative exists in these silent picture frames, and it tells its story effectively. In between these moments of narrative, players solve casual puzzles. You might need a hint for the less intuitive puzzles, but most can be completed easily. Tell Me Your Story is meant to be a relaxing cozy game, and I feel it is successful. It does feel like a kid’s game, but the story is cute, and the gameplay is soothing enough to be enjoyable for all ages. 

Impressions

Tell Me Your Story was such a cute and comforting experience. I enjoyed the unique experience that it provides and didn’t mind that the puzzles were easy. I am a huge fan of the pixel art, and was impressed with how much story is told through just pictures. This is a solid kids’ game, but one that you won’t mind playing. The story is cute, the art is fun, and the gameplay is relaxing. If you’re looking for a cozy and comforting title for you or your kids, I recommend you pick up Tell Me Your Story.  

You can pick up Tell Me Your Story for $9.99 on Steam and Switch. The game is currently on sale on the Nintendo eshop for $2.99 until 5/16, which is an amazing deal! You can also try the demo if you don’t believe me.

video game reviews

Rauniot is a Nifty Little Point-and-Click Puzzle Game I Enjoyed

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I was sent a free copy of Rauniot 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. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Rauniot

Rauniot is a post-apocalyptic point and click puzzle game out now for PC.

A natural disaster has destroyed civilization. Continents crumble, pollution fills the air, and supplies run scarce. Those lucky few left on earth must now survive with whatever is left. Aino is one of those lucky few, but everything you do now in this new world is dangerous.

Aino searches for Toivo who hasn’t returned from his last mission. What secrets will her search uncover? Will she fine Toivo, or has this cruel world taken another victim? 

Gameplay

Rauniot is a top-down point-and-click game. Players must click around to explore the world, find clues and items, and solve puzzles. Puzzles are creative. They aren’t difficult, but missing clues or items in exploration means you can’t progress. Some clues are well hidden or hard to see, but I don’t think you need a guide to complete the game. This is a game you pick up when you want to sit back, enjoy a decent story, and solve some decent puzzles. 

Impressions

I enjoyed Rauniot for what it is, a chill puzzle game that isn’t a huge commitment. While it isn’t a genre-defining amazing game that gamers should flock to, it does some interesting things in its space that are worth seeing. Rauniot has an interesting world design, a solid story, and decent gameplay. The English translation is rough in some places, but it is by no means unplayable. I enjoyed listening to the Finish dialogue even though I understood none of it. The game plays well, although some of the clues and items can be easy to miss because of the lighting or colors. None of these issues are deal breakers, and I recommend this game if you’re looking for something in this genre. 

The game does introduce a unique save system where you have to go to the main menu, select a floppy disk, and save manually. I might have missed the instructions, but I didn’t save assuming it would Autosave and I had to start over. It wasn’t a huge deal because this is a short game, (about four hours) and I remembered where everything was. 

You can pick up Rauniot on Steam for $17.99. I wouldn’t go out of my way to play it, but it is a solid option if you’re looking for something new to play. 

video game reviews

Life is Feudal MMO Should Have Stayed Dead

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I was sent some free game time for the Life is Feudal: MMO. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Life is Feudal

Life is Feudal promises players the freedom to enjoy the massive open-world sandbox as they like. Players can build cities and settlements, fight in massive guild conflicts, or explore everything this world has to offer. This is a game where the action and gameplay is driven by the players. See what adventures await. 

Gameplay

Life is Feudal felt like a generic survival game. I liked that the structures were destructible, but everything else felt dull and unimpressive. It doesn’t help that the game looks ugly. 

The game runs fine, but it feels empty. It isn’t dead. There were always people online when I played, but it always felt like I was playing alone. this is a bad sign for a game where its content is driven by its player base. This wasn’t a huge problem since I usually play survival games solo, but Life is Feudal is an underwhelming survival game. Gathering and building was okay, the crafting system was unique, but the combat felt clunky. I spent my entire time in Life is Feudal wishing I was playing something better. 

I tried to record video of the gameplay, but it was all too boring to keep.

Impressions

I tried to like this game, but I couldn’t find a single thing to keep my attention. The game looks ugly, the survival grind is boring, and there aren’t enough people for the epic adventure it promises. I can see this game carving out its niche because of what it attempts to do as a survival MMO. Unfortunately, the game feels dated and frankly, you have better options. Go check out Enshrouded instead. 

The $15 monthly subscription is what is going to hurt this game. I understand that the game needs to make its money, but I couldn’t find enough substance to justify its cost. It isn’t a bad game, but it is a bland and unimpressive one. Even if you like the theme and find the gameplay interesting, you have better options.

You can find Life is Feudal: MMO on Steam, but I would wait for a free weekend before dropping any money. I don’t see this game getting enough traction to be worth it. 

video game reviews

SolForge Fusion Falls Flat as it Attempts to Redefine CCGs

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I was sent a free copy of Solforge Fusion to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will not let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Buying cards from TCG Player through my affiliate link is also a great way to help me out. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Solforge Fusion?

SolForge Fusion is a CCG card battler out now on Steam. The game features single-player and PvP modes where players face off against opponents with uniquely fused decks. Do you have what it takes to outmaneuver your opponents and come out on top?

Gameplay

The gameplay loop is where this game becomes an acquired taste. You are either going to love SolForge or find it boring. The game is split into rounds where players can perform one action per turn. Players have two alternating turns in each round. During their turn, a player can cast a spell, summon a creature, or move a creature between spaces on the board.

At the end of a round, the cards auto battle depending on whether the player is defending or attacking. Creatures of attacking player will attack the opponent directly if there is nothing blocking them, players of a defending player can only attack adjacent enemy creatures.

Cards that aren’t used in a round level up and are shuffled back into the deck. The strategy seems to be choosing the right cards to hold onto for later in the game. Players also have access to a hero ability that also levels up as the game carries on. A player wins when their opponent’s life drops to zero.

In the roguelike single-player mode, players can fuse or choose a deck to make their run. The game plays like any other deck-building roguelike but without deck-building. Players earn special buffs and abilities along their run. The run is over when a player gets to the end, or their life drops to zero.

Review

SolForge Fusion is an interesting concept that is ultimately held back by its gameplay. I was intrigued by the random fusion deck building and found the boardlike game mechanics interesting, but found the game boring. Even with the animation turned up, the game feels slow and repetitive. These might be personal preferences, but there are more fun CCGs with a campaign I could be playing instead. Shadowvese has a neat one for free. 

Playing a card per turn makes the game feel more luck-based than your traditional card game. You either pull the cards you need to fill your board properly, or you’re just playing from behind. Movement is always an interesting concept, but I don’t think this game does it well. When choosing between moving or playing a card, it is almost always better to play a card. There are cards that do damage when moving which might be how they balance things, but it felt kind of like a pointless mechanic. 

The evolving card mechanic is an interesting one. You either play your cards for an early advantage, or you save your good cards for more explosive rounds later in the match. Finding a balance between what you play and what you level on top of keeping a healthy board state has the potential to create an interesting strategy. Unfortunately, the game just feels too slow and boring. 

The deck fusion mechanic is what is going to kill this game. While I love playing random decks, it doesn’t work in this game. You either get a decent deck to play or have to try again. This game already feels very heavily reliant on luck, I can only assume that the ladder is overrun by the luckier players. I understand that all card games have some luck involved, but it should at least feel like there’s some skill involved. I don’t think I would have minded the Fusion mechanic as much if it were just a roguelike, but there’s PvP and people want to build their own decks. 

SolForge is still in early access, and future updates may make this game fun, but the game didn’t create enough interest in me to find out. While I do believe it comes down to preference, there are better card games with similar mechanics out there. If you’re curious about the game, try the demo first. 

You can pick up SolForge Fusion on Steam for $19.99 (currently $14.99 until April 23). 

video game reviews

Why You Should be Playing Minishoot’ Adventures

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I was sent a free copy of Minishoot’ Adventures 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. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials. I am currently doing pack openings of Battle Spirits Saga on my YouTube and TikTok. 

What is Minishoot’ Adventures

Minishoot’ Adventures is a twin-stick bullet hell Metroidvania. Players take control of an adorable spaceship as it adventures over a strange land, fighting enemies, and unlocking power-ups. A strange new enemy has risen from the darkness and trapped everyone you know in a corrupted crystal. Will you be enough to save them? 

Gameplay

Minishoot’ isn’t your typical top-down bullet hell shooter. Instead of fending off waves of enemies in a limited arena space, players fly their ship over creative and well-designed maps. It feels like a retro Zelda game with a unique bullet hell spirit that makes it the perfect casual gaming experience.

Players start with a simple ship that they upgrade over time by fighting different enemies. The game offers players a decent-sized skill tree, and the freedom to upgrade their ship for a customized play experience. Dying resets the ship at checkpoints, but players don’t lose their progress. This is nice for casual gamers and those who don’t have too much time for gaming.

Despite the casual feel of the game, the enemy design in Minishoot’ Adventures offers enough of a challenge to keep things engaging. Combat bundles with the game upgrade system give the game enough depth to set it apart from other similar titles. Most importantly, the game runs smoothly and looks great. You won’t die needlessly to glitches or bugs.  

Impressions

I love Minishoot’ Adventures. It features an adorable art style I can get behind, a solid soundscape, and fun gameplay. It is such a cool and unique blend of genres, and its execution is perfect. If you’re looking for a fun and casual adventure game, Minishoot’ is a perfect solution. I love the casual vibe that it captures, but it always provides enough of a challenge to get me thinking. Trying to find the proper combination to beat certain bosses was fun, but it all comes down to how good you are at kitting. I don’t think you’ll need a guide to beat this game unless your goal is to minimize your ship. I enjoy building the ship to my taste, even if the build is wrong. Whatever gets you to the credits is fine by me. 

Minishoot’ Adventures is a cute, fun title that isn’t a huge commitment. Even if you aren’t looking for something this casual, Minishoot’ Adventures should be in your library. You can pick it up on Steam for $14.99, and there’s a demo available if you don’t believe me. The demo save carries over if you end up liking it.  

video game reviews

The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered is Cute, but Dated

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I was sent a free copy of The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinons of the game. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Legend of Legacy?

Legend of Legacy is a classic JRPG that originally on the 3DS but it has recently been ported and remastered for PC, PlayStation, and Switch.

A mysterious island appeared suddenly in the Northern Sea ten years ago. People believe that the island once belonged to the prosperous continent of Avalon, a land inhabited by the gods. Adventurers from all over find themselves drawn to the island in search of truth, fame, and treasure. Strange creatures roam the island, and only those brave and competent will be able to conquer it. Are you and your friends strong enough to unlock the secrets of the island?

Gameplay

Although the game has gotten a cute little makeover, it feels like an older JRPG. The game runs great, but the loop is repetitive, and the grind can be unforgiving. You either over-level and destroy your enemies easily, or you hit a sponge that wipes your team.

Combat is fine, but it does feel dated. Players command a three-person team that you can swap as you recruit new adventurers. Each character has its unique set of skills and abilities that give players options for strategy. Ultimately, gameplay boils down to a repetitive grind as you progress through a story that doesn’t matter. I recorded footage, but it wasn’t interesting enough to share.

Impressions

Legend of Legacy is such a cute game. I love the character design, how the map fills like a pop-up book as you explore it, and it has a fantastic soundtrack. Unfortunately, the game feels like an older JRPG, and it isn’t going to be for everyone. Those who don’t mind the grindy nature of this era of RPG will enjoy the nostalgic adventure, but everyone else will find it repetitive and boring. The story is fine, but it didn’t do much to keep me engaged. 

The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered is a solid port, but it’s made for a certain type of gamer. There are no quality of life changes like skips or auto-battles, you’re playing the original game as it was but with better graphics. If you’re a fan of the original, you probably already have it. You should pick up the Deluxe or Limited Editions for the physical goodies. If you’re a fan of the older era of JRPG, it’s cute and you’ll appreciate the nostolgia. Everyone else should wait for a sale or look elsewhere because the grind is killer. I liked it and thought it was cute, but I am also old and lived through this era of JRPG.

You can pick up The Legend of Legacy HD Remasterd on PC, PlayStation, and Switch for $49.99.

Deluxe Edition – $49.99 (PS4, PS5, Switch)

  • Game
  • Digital Soundtrack
  • Mini Artbook

Limited Edition – $79.99 (PS4, PS5, Switch)

  • Game
  • Digital Soundtrack
  • Mini Artbook
  • “Chronicles of Avalon” Artbook
  • Physical Soundtrack
  • 24″ x 17″ Cloth Poster
  • 7 x “Seekers of Graal” Art Cards
  • Collectors Box
video game reviews

BROK the Investigator is Loaded with Thrills, Heart, and Action!

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I was sent a free copy of BROK the Investigator 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. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials:

What is BROK the InvestiGATOR?

BROK the InvestiGATOR is a point and click side scroller out now on everything. Get your copy for Xbox, Switch, PlayStation, Android, IOS, Steam, Epic Games, GOG, and ITCH.io.

BROK is a struggling cartoon alligator detective with a troubled past. He lives day to day off the few cases he can find and does his best to forge a relationship with his dead wife’s son. All seems to be falling into a stale routine until his latest case has him stumbling onto a strange trail of conspiracies. What secrets will BROK unravel? Will his fists be enough?

Gameplay

BROK the InvestiGATOR successfully blends the point-and-click puzzle game with a classic side-scroller beat ’em up in this amazing interactive narrative. Players will move through this fun cyberpunk world, collecting clues, asking questions, and fighting enemies. 

The main gameplay loop is clicking through this interactive 80’s cop narrative. You’ll often have to solve puzzles and find clues to progress through the story. Some clues and solutions won’t be intuitive, so make sure you explore the maps thoroughly and click on everything. Occasionally you will have to fight in this classic arcade beat ’em up style combat. Combat feels good and smooth. If you’re a fan of classic arcade side-scrollers, BROK does it right.

Impressions

I loved everything about BROK the InvestiGATOR. It had a cute and fun art style, the story was engaging, and the gameplay was fun. I love the cartoon aesthetic and it gave this old man some unintended nostalgia. The gameplay loop was relaxing, but it offered enough of a challenge to keep me on my toes. The puzzles were hard enough without distracting from the overall narrative, and the combat was a welcome change of pace. 

What I loved most about the game was its story. The voice acting is phenomenal, and I recommend you check it the title to appreciate the performances. The story is great! It has a dark but fun tone and a great protagonist. I’ve seen enough movies to figure out some of the major story beats, but it didn’t matter because I was having fun. 

If you’re looking for a new game that is fun with solid appeal, pick up your copy of BROK the InvestiGATOR. The game is short, well made, and you can play it on everything! Get your copy today for Xbox ($19.99), Switch ($24.99), PlayStation ($24.99), Android ($7.99), IOS ($7.99), Steam ($19.99), Epic Games ($19.99), GOG ($19.99), and ITCH.io ($19.99).

There are also physical special edition copies of the game for PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch up for preorder for those who want some extra swag. Special editions include:

  • Copy of the game
  • Artbook
  • Poster
  • Exclusive sleeve for each platform