If you’re looking for a new 4X strategy game with a cool cyberpunk feel, you’re going to want to look into Neural Dominion. I was sent a demo of the game and will be back with my impressions, but I thought I would share because I like the vibe.
What is Neural Dominion
Neural Dominion is a 4X strategy game coming to Steam sometime next year. Players take control of one of five unique gangs as they fight to take control of the city. Recruit the strongest gang as you build your empire of brothels, drug dens, and extortion rings. Do you have what it takes to conquer this dark and gritty world, or will be just another crime statistic?
Gameplay
Neural Dominion 4X strategy with turn-based JRPG combat for an interesting twist to the genre. Players take control of the city by setting up their business (like drugs, gambling, etc) and recruiting more members. Players will have to manage their empire efficiently, upgrade their gang and structures, stay out of trouble with the cops. There will also be a bit of story for those who need it.
There will be a public demo will become available in October, so make sure Neural Dominion is on your wishlist. If you need a reason to get excited, check out the official pre-alpha footage that just went life. I’ll be playing a bit of the demo and will be back with my impressions. Stay tuned for that. t
The Kryptik TCG recently changed leadership after announcing that it would no longer exist as a TCG. There was talk of turning the game into an LCG, but the community came together to give the TCG its second life. You can read about the drama in my previous post.
This announcement caused a few ripples in the community. Some fans felt disheartened by the news. To them, it felt like they wasted money on another dead TCG busy making empty promises. The damage has been done and there is no mending this relationship. Despite a small exodus, some fans stuck around and continue to hold on to hope for the game that they love. A lot of the hope seems to be inspired by the passion the new leadership continues to carry for Kryptik. I for one am curious to see where this passion takes them.
Passion alone won’t be enough to restore the faith that has been lost. There is a lot of work that needs to be done, and a bit of radio silence since the change. Today, the silence has been broken, and a new competitive season has been announced on the official Discord. Starting August 17th, Kryptik Studios LLC will be hosting online tournaments on Discord through Tabletop Simulator.
The Announcement:
We are happy to announce that we are going to start hosting weekly tournaments through Tabletop Simulator (TTS). We will be using a points system called Kryptik Currency, which will allow participants to spend their Kryptik Currency to get promotional cards, sealed products and more. Each season will last 6 weeks beginning on August 17th. At the end of each season, we will give out prizes to the top 11 ranked players. We will be announcing additional prizing in the weeks leading up to the tournament season. At the end of four seasons, there will be a tournament between the top 8 players with the highest total points with additional exclusive prizing.
The prizing for the first season is as follows:
1st Place
1 set of Overlord Wave 2 Genesis Promos
9 Randomized Foil Lore Cards Story Choice: Does Selene seek retribution against Livia for the death of Boudicca?
2nd Place
1 set of Overlord Wave 2 Genesis Promos
6 Randomized Foil Lore Cards Story Choice: How does Andras handle Dookraka, his friend and mentor’s death?
Players will also be able to earn points for the season called Kryptik Currency, which can be exchanged for products in the future. The point breakdown works as follows…
Participation in all rounds of the tournament: 5 KC (Kryptik Currency) Loss: 1 KC Draw: 2 KC Win: 3 KC Special Rules Bonus (Per Event): 5 KC
Players will also be able to earn points for the season called Kryptik Currency, which can be exchanged for products in the future. The point breakdown works as follows:
Participation in all rounds of the tournament: 5 KC (Kryptik Currency)
Loss: 1 KC
Draw: 2 KC
Win: 3 KC
Special Rules Bonus (Per Event): 5 KC
It is cool to see official events because as cool as it is to collect the cards, there needs to be a thriving player base to move cardboard.
Attonement
While not everyone got a chance to get their hands on the limited run of Atonement by Speedrobo games, we were assured that there is an official run coming. Although, you might not have missed out on much. Some of the folks who received their Wave 0 have voiced complaints about the smell and quality of the product. The promo cards I received as compensation after an error on their part made me lose my preorder are already curled. Dropping Speedrobo Games as their official printer is starting to make a lot of sense.
In an official post on the discord, the community manager has made this promise:
In the near future, you will see how atonement was meant to be. W0 will become an afterthought. We are returning to our roots. Enlisting the best of the Genesis artists to create artwork we have all come to love.
It is very good to see a company acknowledging their mistakes and working with their community to do better. We will have to wait for the next Kryptik product to see if they can keep their promise. In the meantime, updates are being made to the official Kryptik Tabletop Simulator module to include the new Atonement cards, and they look sick!
Conclusion
I can’t wait to see where this new leadership takes this game. What I’ve seen so far is impressive, but I will need to see some new product before I go make any firm decisions. I’ll keep following the game and wishing them the best.
If you want to learn more about Kryptik, make sure you join the official Discord, and make sure you start getting ready for the new season!
I was sent a free copy of Veritusto 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.
Veritus is an adorable 2D retro RPG out now on Steam.
You are a miner asked to explore the mysterious temple of the god of shadows. This won’t be an easy task. Dangerous monsters lurk its halls, dark secrets hide in its shadows, and locked away somewhere deep inside, there is treasure to be had. Explore the temple, fight off its monsters, solve its many puzzles, and try to make it out alive. What secrets will you uncover? Do you have what it takes to conquer the god of shadow’s dungeon?
Gameplay
Fans of old-school hack-n-slash RPGs need to buy this game. Combat feels like a simple button mash, but there is a neat crafting system to keep things interesting. Boss fights are creative, manageable, and fun. Puzzles in this game are incredibly satisfying. They were hard enough to keep things engaging, but never so hard that I needed to look up the solution. Exploration can feel tedious, but the grind isn’t as soul-crushing as it could be. Overall, it is a solid RPG for those looking for something with a cool retro vibe.
Review
If you are a fan of old-school Zelda, this game should be in your collection. Veritus has a decent story, beautiful pixel art, and a fun gameplay loop. I loved it for its much-needed change of pace, and I appreciate it for its creativity. I love how they handled cutscenes, and won’t mind sitting through them again. Combat is fun, puzzles feel good, and the boss fights are creative.
That said, the game isn’t perfect. Exploration can feel tedious, especially when you have to move between checkpoints after dying. The simple dungeon and combat design can make the game feel monotonous. Most importantly, despite its modern mechanics and pacing, the game does feel old. As someone who loves the old-school hack-n-slash genre, I found the repetition soothing and the combat relaxing. These complaints aren’t dealbreakers, but it is something to consider before taking your dive.
If you’re looking for a casual new game with a lot of charm and some solid gameplay, I recommend you pick up Veritus. The game is cute, fun, and only $7. Pick up your copy on Steam today!
MRC is looking to be a fantastic season for wind. Wind allies continue to make their sweep with Tristan and Lorraine clinging to their spot as the big bad decks of the format. With Ascent Chicago around the corner, it might be a good idea to start teching against wind. Make sure you get your tickets if you haven’t done so.
Here are the top three decks for the IanTCG regionals. I’ll leave TCG Player affiliate links for those who need them.
I was sent a free copy of Earl vs. the Mutantsto 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.
Earl vs. the Mutants is a post-apocalyptic twin-stick shooter out now on Steam. The world has become overrun by mutants and it is up to the licensed hunters to keep them at bay. Play as Earl as he drives through the wasteland ramming, shooting, and blowing up mutants for that sweet reward. Can Earl bring peace to this world, or will he become another forgotten casualty?
Gameplay
You can play Earl vs. the Mutantslike your traditional twin-stick shooter, left stick maneuvers your car aims your gun. Players can also opt to play the game like a top-down driving game. Both methods work well, it all comes down to preference. I liked changing between modes for the variability. It made the runs feel fresh, not that the game needed much refreshing.
Runs start with Earl driving a basic version of his car. As you kill mutants, he picks up experience points that can be traded in for random skill upgrades at level up. The RNG is pretty fair, but bad slots will ruin your run. Players can pay to refresh their choices. While these upgrades disappear after each run, players can buy permanent upgrades in between runs from Granny’s shop. These upgrades are purchased with coins picked up through a run or earned by completing quests. The more time a player spends with the game, the stronger Earl’s car becomes. The nice thing about this feature is that these skills can be refunded if a player ever gets buyer’s remorse.
The loop is simple. Players survive and kill mutants for a set time before the boss appears. The longer a player stays alive, the harder the enemies become. There are three distinct levels to play and a few unlockable cars to work towards. If you’re looking for something simple and fun, this might be your game.
Review
Earl vs. the Mutants is simple but incredibly addicting. I loved that I could choose between driving modes. Sometimes you want to play a quirky driving game, but other times you want to sit back and enjoy a twin-stick shooter. The driving mechanics is what makes this game feel different from other games in the genre. Driving feels very good in this game. While it may not be a driving sim, it is a nice change of pace from other twin-stick shooters because of how you need to maneuver the car through the wasteland.
The graphics might be an issue for some folks. The game is on the simple low-res side of gaming, but that shouldn’t matter because the game is fun. Once a run starts to get chaotic, you’ll appreciate the game’s charm and solid performance. It is a short game, but one that you can pick up anytime to enjoy a relaxing, quirky, good time.
If you’re looking for a fun twin-stick shooter, or are in the market for some fun casual gaming, you need to pick up Earl vs. the Mutants.
You can pick up Earl vs. The Mutantson Steam for only $6.99 ($5.59 until August 1st)
The Genesis TCG returns to Kickstarter with a unique campaign, a new design, and a lot of ambition. The state of the Genesis TCG has been a mystery since its abrupt end in April 2023 when its parent company, Haunted Castle Gaming, announced its closure. Since then, a group of dedicated and passionate fans have come together to keep the game they love alive. The game is now under the proud ownership of Edge of Exile Entertainment. We will have to see if their passion and love for the game will translate to its success.
Since the change of ownership, Genesis has seen a new impressive card design. I am impressed with the game’s new identity, but I’ll have to see the cards in person before I can make a definitive claim.
The canceled invitation set was also released under Edge of Exile’s leadership and new design., and the set looks good. Unfortunately, there is no way for me to get any product, so I’ll just settle for looking at the list online.
The game will have to rebuild trust as it competes for a player base. The game’s sudden initial closure has left the game with some sour connotations. Nobody wants to invest in a game with no future. Edge of Exile has addressed this issue on their Kickstarter page. The company has successfully released an expansion since its induction, albeit one that was already done before the closure. The company also has an established and proven relationship with distributors and a few game stores. They are also trying to get back onto TCG Player, and hopefully give more players access to the game.
The Kickstarter
Backing the Metamorphosis Kickstarter gets you a set of the alt art cards for all the champions featured in the set. $50 gets you a non-foil set and $92 gets you both foil and non-foil. There is additional swag and goodies at higher tiers. The money earned from this campaign goes to paying the printers. Metamorphosis will go to printing once the $29, 311 has been pledged.
What is Genesis TCG
Genesis TCG is a 5×6 grid based tactical TCG. Players move their champions through the arena, and the first player to kill all enemy champions wins. This is a very unique way of dealing with the TCG.Check out the tutorial to see if the game is right for you:
Thoughts
I’ve always been interested in Genesis because I found it to be an interesting concept for a trading card game. Unfortunately, the game died right as I was about to start buying product. I was surprised to see the Kickstarter. I had stopped following the game, and sort of forgot about it. It’s cool to see that the game hasn’t been abandoned, especially by its most loyal fans. It makes it easy to root for.
Most Kickstarter TCGs sell boxes and starter decks, but Edge of Exile is limited by their established agreement with their distributors. They don’t want to take away sales from the stores that will carry their game. While this is an admirable act, it makes the campaign hard to sell.
Having alt-art versions of the champions is awesome if you already have a deck to play with. New players trying to pick up the game will have to hope they can also find product after launch, and it’s a bit discouraging. While $50 is reasonable for a set of exclusive alt-art cards, it is a steep price for someone who hasn’t played the game before. It would be cool if they had a print-n-play option to help people decide. This seems like a campaign geared toward those hopeful for the longevity of the game or established fans of the game.
The fans of the game will be divided by this campaign. Those who are loyal and dedicated have already pledged and secured their exclusive playsets, some even at a discount. Other fans have been made weary by the string of dead and dying indie TCGs. The TCG space is unforgiving. If Edge of Exile doesn’t do enough, Genesis isn’t getting the resurgence it deserves.
I’ll be rooting for the success of the campaign because I like the idea of a game company run by its players. There seems to be a lot of ambition and passion behind this attempt at resurrection, and I will be following it closely for its definitive outcome.
If you’ve played Genesis, want to bling out your deck, or want to get into the game, you’re going to want to help with this Kickstarter. It is the only way Metamorphasis gets printed. Even though there is a proven record, there is always risk when backing a Kickstarter. Follow your gut.
This game isn’t going to be for everyone because of how waifu-centric it is, but I’ve been enjoying the art, and the anime, and the game isn’t too bad. I preferred the art and flavor of Dissonance Divabetter, but there are some cards in this set I wouldn’t mind adding to my collection. Make sure you always support your LGS, but you can always get Concord Divaon TCG Player using my affiliate link.
Mayu, Unknown MikoRemember Tempest, Miko of FantasiaHirana, a Step Towards the CheckCode Piruluk UltimateMidoriko, Dispersal ThreeNanashi, Part Three CalamityRemember Fine, Miko of FantasiaRemember Cloud, Miko of FantasiaRemember Rain, Miko of FantasiaRemember Rain, Miko of FantasiaHirana, a Step Towards the InitiativeHirana, a Step Towards the SlashCode Piruluk InitiateCode Piruluk AdvanceCode Piruluk AdvanceCode Piruluk AdvanceMidoriko, One – By – OneMidoriko, Two – By – TwoNanashi, Part Zero CalamityNanashi, Part One CalamitySashe Nouvelle, Eternal EmissarySashe UndulationSashe JiggleSashe BaladiSashe IsolateSashe SnakeIona, Zero/MaidenIona ShoutyIona EibonIona Full MoonIona the BeamIona Dark MatterMyu=HatchIona the BeamMyu – Black SwallowtailMyu – Purple EmperorMyu – Large MapMyu – Large MapHighty//Dissona, Blessed Evil QueenAkino//Dissona, Aquatic Phantom QueenSadistal//Dissona, Planet QueenLOVIT//Dissona, Phantom Beast DeityApex//Dissona, Crimson Angel QueenAya//Dissona, Master TricksterSave//Dissona, Code: HeartAnn//Dissona, Jade Beauty QueenLupal//Dissona, Phantom Beast DeityAlfou//Dissona, Doomed Evil QueenGuzuko//Dissona, Tragic Party QueenGuzuko//Dissona, Tragic Party QueenLION//Dissona, Code: ArtBroom//Dissona, Code: AntiMokumoren//Dissona, Phantom SpiritRaguel//Dissona, Blessed AngelCometty//Dissona, Natural PlanetCometty//Dissona, Natural PlanetCarnival//Dissona, Natural PlanetChupasaburo//Dissona, Phantom SpiritQilin//Dissona, Phantom DragonEx//Dissona, Phantom SpiritRb//Dissona, Natural ElementAtlas//Dissona, Phantom InsectFlamboyant TacticsFutase//Dissona, Azure BeautyRei//Dissona, Natural CrystalOhkaso//Dissona, Code: MazeMilulun//Dissona, Natural ElementYubanda//Dissona, Azure AngelCoffee//Dissona, Code: EatDEEP FREEZEMama//Dissona, Jade MindPaching//Dissona, Small CannonKonotoxin//Dissona Type: EinsWOLF//Dissona, Erupting CannonWOLF//Dissona, Erupting CannonHellsgate//Dissona, Jade EvilSoulspearDeus//Dissona, Lightly ArmedMikazuki//Dissona, Natural PlanetMiyama//Dissona, Phantom InsectMachina//Dissona, Code: RideCarcharo//Dissona, Phantom DragonMugen//DissonaServant ♯DeneblogCOINServant ZEROServant ZEROUnrest☆UN☆REST!InstigateMysterious RendezvousUnknownBrain Hearts
The full card list for the Supporter Pack 2 has been revealed, and you’re going to want to add these to your collection. Supporter packs will only be available for purchase at official or partnered events, like the upcoming Anime Expo or Ascent tournaments. While I am sad that it makes these beautiful cards unattainable for some of us, it is cool to see that they aren’t trying to take money away from the hard-working LGSs. You can check out the full announcement on the official website.
The Michigan Regionals were this weekend, and Lorraine Wind Allies remain on top. While Tristain continues to prove herself as a top-contending meta deck, the splash of Nico taking second is a welcomed surprise. There were a few other neat deck ideas at the event, but I will only focus on the top three. Make sure you check out the full event for more inspiration.
If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. I’ll be leaving TCG Player affiliate links for singles. Using them really helps me out!
The Eldritch Automata campaign has officially launched on Backerkit. The project was fully funded within the first 30 minutes of going live and continues to gain momentum. Most of the stretch goals have been unlocked which means excited fans will receive a generous amount of goodies. The campaign ends on July 25, leaving plenty of time to decide if you want to embark on this bleak adventure of survival featuring mechs. While Gehenna Gaming does have a solid record with their delivery, always be mindful of what you back on these types of crowdsourcing campaigns.
What is Eldritch Automata?
Eldritch Automatais a post-apocalyptic TTRPG powered by the award-winning Year Zero Engine.
Society crumbles under the weight of Eldritch invaders. Monsters and horrifying angels spread their rain and despair across the world. Humanity is pushed to the brink of extinction, but hope is not lost. Giant Mechs known as the Automata come to humanity’s salvation, but piloting them comes at a cost. Those brave and competent enough to pilot these mighty machines must risk their entire mind, body, and soul. Some will rise and become the shining pillars of hope and salvation, while others will lose themselves under the strain of piloting an Automata. How far can you push yourself to save humanity?
How to Play
Impressions
Pilots in Eldritch Automatamust survive the strain of an unforgiving world. Infighting between factions, the stress of survival, the strain of piloting the Automata, and facing the endless waves of Eldritch horrors wear down their spirit. Eldritch Automata is a game where even the bravest and brightest can lose themselves in the madness.
The game does a decent job of creating systems that emulate the strain of surviving in its world. The game is set up where players are constantly having to push their limits while risking their sanity. Piloting an Automata is cool, but it can make you go crazy or leave you with a permanent, life-altering injury. Having a player lose control of their character due to a dice roll is bound to lead to some interesting roleplay.
Gameplay seems solid and easy to learn. I’ve ran a few Year Zero games, and my table is always content with how they run. It makes for a nice break from D&D without being too big of a shift.
Ultimately, you’re playing Eldritch Automata for its flavor. I love the dark hopelessness that will inevitably seep into every session, and I am sure my players will enjoy fighting in giant mechs. The combat system seems to involve enough strategy to make it engaging without being overly complicated while establishing its unique flare in the space. As a GM, I like the amount of tables and charts available for a healthy amount of chaos. I can’t wait to see how my players react when they have to roll to keep their sanity. It is going to get tense.
If you’re looking to run a bleak survival adventure full of monsters, chaos, and mechs, you’re going to want to go back Eldritch Automata on Backerkit. The art is cool, the flavor is fantastic, and what I’ve seen of the system is impressive. There is a free quickstart available from the publisher if you would like to see if the Eldritch Automata is right for your table. The Quickstart comes with a streamlined version of the rules and a small haunted house-style adventure for you to run. I’ll leave the files below, but you can get the quickstart and the pre-generated characters on the DrivethruRPG.
