I was sent a free copy of Backrooms Level Xto 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.
Backrooms Level Xis a survivor horror surreal adventure out now on Steam.
The corporation you work for has tasked you to investigate the strange dimension of Level X for a potential hotel. Unfortunately for you, you find yourself trapped with no easy way out. Make your way though this strange labyrinth as you fight for your sanity. Can you find your way of this ever changing living maze, or will its tricks and creatures be the end of you?
Review
Backrooms Level Xis a walking simulator with some weirdness that will test your metal fortitude. The game makes a solid attempt at breaking its reality by creating its strange atmosphere. The problem I have with the game is that it doesn’t go far enough with its surrealism. When compared to other games that go for a similar vibe, you have better options. The first few minutes of this game fail to grab my attention as I am forced to walk through a silent twisting confusing corridor. I understand there is drama in silence and getting lost in a labyrinth can be scary, but it makes the game feel slow and empty.
I can’t recommend Backrooms Level Xbecause there are better options. The whole time I was playing this, I was wishing I could be playing Go Home Annie instead. The game is just unimpressive, and I am definitely going to forget I ever played it.
I was sent a free copy of Marble Maid 2: The Negative Levels 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. This is also a game meant for adults, discretion is advised.
Marble Maid is a marble puzzle game out now on Steam.
Take control of Nega Maid who has been tasked to clean up the mansion. roll across insane levels as you use your powers to get things done. Fight off the many dust bunnies, solve its intricate puzzles, and defeat any boss that gets in your way. Don’t forget to collect all the lewd pictures hidden around the world! Do you have what it takes to clean the mansion, beat its puzzles, and collect all the pictures?
Gameplay
Players control a marble across strange floors, using her arsenal of special abilities to get the job done. Players will have to use marble physics to avoid traps, fight monsters, and move between floors without falling. Occasionally there is a boss fight, and there is even a golf mode for a little extra padding.
Review
This game is only good if you like the art and want to collect everything, otherwise, I wouldn’t touch it. The game works well enough. It never crashed, the controls were responsive, and the movement felt good. My problem with the game is that each level felt like it was made with a randomizer. Each level was crammed with a random collection of traps and tiles, creating busy and chaotic maps with no rhyme or reason. I would have preferred a more thematic looking world, or at least puzzles that made sense.
If you’ve played enough video games, this game can be broken. The abilities are not balanced, and there are ways to cheese some of the levels. This is good if you want to collect everything, bad if you want a challenging and engaging puzzle game.
I got this game because it looked like a fun physics game. It isn’t, and there are better options. Marble Maid 2 has its audience, but I am not part of it. If you like the art and don’t mind doing the work to collect the pieces, go for it. Otherwise, its not worth it.
I was asked to cover the Devil Jam demo on my blog. I understand the game is not done yet, so I will be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, these will still be my honest first impressions of the game.
Devil Jam is a survivor-like coming to PC and all major consoles.
You have made a deal with the devil, and now must fight your way through his legion of followers to become the best rocker you know you can be. Is the metal that flows through your veins powerful enough to fend off the mobs of groupies, angry mobs, and rival musicians? Will the sins favor your runs and give you the power you need to survive? You are going to have to play to find out.
Gameplay
Devil Jam is your typical survivor-like with a rhythm gimmick to help it stand out against others in the genre. Players start each run with basic abilities, and slowly gain more as they defeat enemies and collect XP points. The powers granted to players are selected from a random pool, and each ability (passive or otherwise) is themed after one of the deadly sins. What Devil Jam does differently is the inventory management mini game that happens at level-up. Players can arrange the gifts they gain from the sins in an inventory where they interact with each other based on their position. Players must think carefully of where they place their abilities in order to maximize their power output. Attacks are automated, but they follow the rhythm of the music playing.
Impressions
I was excited for theDevil Jambecause the flavor is fun, I like the music, and the rythmn mechanic sounded interesting. Unfortunately, the demo isn’t very impressive. The enemies and animation isn’t very good. I appreciate that it was all done by hand, but it feels unfinished. The animation feels stiffs. There also isn’t enough variety in enemies. It always felt like I was just fighting off hordes of slimes, which got boring pretty quickly.
My biggest issue with the game is that it already feels solvable. There were abilities that are clearly the right choice, and a lot of filler abilities that will ruin a run. The RNG felt real bad at times, and it made me not want to keep playing. For a survivor-like to be good, the player’s choices need to feel impactful. Every build-path needs to feel viable, even when there is a clear meta.
Having a good balance between the chaos the RNG brings and the viable strategy available to players each run is important for a successful survival-like, and I don’t believe Devil Jam is there yet. I like the inventory mechanic the game implements, but I don’t think the demo demonstrates its full worth. Having to not only chose a powerful ability, but one that synergies with the ever changing puzzle the player is managing is a cool idea. The problem is that there already feels like there is a right answer. Maybe with access to the full game and a more polished ability pool, the 4.93 quadrillion possible combinations will come into play.
I’ll hold out some hope. I like the art and character design, the music is solid, and the rhythm mechanic is interesting. That said, I can’t recommend it until I get an experience that is better than some of the other survivors in my library.
If you don’t believe me, you can check out the Devil Jam demo on Steam now. Don’t forget to wishlist!
I was sent a free copy of Rise of Gun 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.
Rise of Gun is a quirky shop simulator out now on Steam.
The world has been overrun by zombies. The last remaining survivors hold up in walled cities and fend off against an endless waves of undead. You and your shop are the only thing that stands between salvation and complete zombification. Gather materials, discover new guns, and sell provide the town with the arsenal that prevent the end of humanity. Can you create a thriving business from the wreckage of the old world, or will you be another failed shop on main street.
Gameplay
Rise of Gun is not a zombie survival game, but rather a shop simulator. You do not kill zombies. Instead, players are building a business. Players will build guns to sell to customers, and use the profits from the sales to upgrade their business. There is a story and quests, but players can choose to chill and run a gun store which is what I ended up doing.
Review
Rise of Gun will definitely have its niche. As far as shop sims go, the game is solid. Everything runs well, the flavor and quirks are fun, and the gameplay loop is relaxing. My issue with the game is that the tutorial is a little confusing, but sticking with the game will pay off. Another issue I have with the game is that it doesn’t always run well. It isn’t unplayable, but I did encounter a few performance issues that I couldn’t ignore.
There is a story to this game. The story is fine, I just didn’t explore it too deeply because I kept getting distracted building weapons for my shop. I love that I can make some rediculous looking guns without restrictions.
If you are trying to play this game as an action survival, you will be disappointed. You don’t fight zombies in this game. I don’t think you need to fight zombies in this game to have fun, but it is something to note. Overall, Rise of Gun is a solid game that is worth trying if you. It has a fun whimsical art that matches its its tone, and a relaxing gameplay loop that is always good to have in your rotation.
I was asked to cover the Hunger trailer that just dropped. I will be trying to get into any of the playtests because the trailer is really cool and I am very interested. I can’t make any assumptions of the game because I haven’t played it, so this will be more of a report than a review.
The Trailer
Viewer discretion is advised.
What is Hunger?
Hungeris a PvPvE extraction game set in Napolean era Europe. Make sure you check out the Steam page for all the details.
A plague spreads across the European landscape, and its survivors fight for survival. Players can join forces to survive the plagued landscape, fight against other players, and it sounds like they drive the content. The game will launch in early access with three unique maps.
Gameplay will be extraction style matches where players can complete quests to progress through the story. What makes the game unique is its flavor and aesthetic. The weapons, the armor, the world all have such cool flavor and I for one can’t wait to jump in and explore them all. Hunger promises thirty weapons at launch with enough customization options for a good variety of play styles. There are also plans for crafting and gathering mechanics for a little added depth. I just hope there isn’t a way to buy mats and fix the economy with real world money.
I would love to learn more about the progression system. What sets this game apart from other extraction games aside from the story and flavor is its progression system. It says it will follow the traditional RPG path as players level from 1-100. Leveling up will open up more of the game to players by giving them access to dungeons and world bosses, but I wonder if it also gives players access to additional power.
This game sounds great on paper. It has fantastic flavor, an interesting premise, but is it doing too much? I am afraid that the result will be a broken game that will lose too much of its player base by the time it gets good. If Early Access has a good foundation with fun gameplay, even if it doesn’t work properly, this can be a solid PVP game with a lot of potential. I am excited to follow it, and hope that it is good.
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.
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: Prophesydidn’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.
I was sent Hordes of Hunger for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, it won’t sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game.
Hordes of Hunger is a survivorslike game out now in Steam Early Access.
Control Mirah as you fend off against hordes of blood thirsty creatures. Wield powerful weapons, learn nes skills and abilities, and stop the horde from advancing. Do you have what it takes to survive the onslaught and save the world
Gameplay
The game runs like your typical survivors game. Players start each run with basic abilities. They gain random weapons and abilities throughout the run by killing monsters for XP or completing objectives. The more time a player spends on Hordes of Hunger, the more powers and abilities they unlock. What makes the game unique is the combo system. Unlike most games in the genre, Hordes of Hunger does not have an auto-attack system. Instead, players must use combos, active skills, and dodges to survive the hordes and save the day. There are also a few unique missions to change up the gameplay.
Review
The game isn’t finished yet, and while I see the potential, it isn’t for me. The game has a good looking world with some interesting monster and character design, and the animation is solid. The game performs well enough, but there are some stutters and crashes that are hard to ignore. Once I got past my initial intrigue, the game started feeling repetitive. While I do appreciate the creative take on the genre with the inclusion of the combo system, it feels unnecessary. This is a survivors game with extra steps, and you are either going to love it or hate it. I love survivors game for the casual yet engaging experience they offer. Her it feels like I am doing too much work with every little payoff. The RNG was fine for the most part, but the game feels solvable in the early stages. There are abilities that feel better, and while I am sure all games in the genre are solvable, that do a better job at hiding it.
If you are looking for a survivor game and don’t mind the extra work, the game does a decent job at the price point. The problem I have with this game is that when it comes to survivors game, I simply have better options. After a couple hours of this game, I am going to uninstall it and forget I own it. Unless you really want to mess around with the game’s combo system, there is no real reason to buy this game.
You can pick up Hordes of Hunger on Steam Early Access for $14.99.
I was sent a free copy of Spirit City: Lofi Sessions 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 think the Steam page says it best, Spirit City: Lofi Sessions is a gamified focus tool, set to a soothing lofi soundtrack. Players can use the tool to create checklists, create schedules, and use timers to help stay focused. As players use the tool, they earn rewards and levels that they can spend to buy cosmetics for their virtual space. The base game has a decent amount of customization, but there are some cool dlc packs that might fit your aesthetic a little better. Players can also unlock different pets by completing different challenges, and having the game open. All of this is all neatly tied together around a good amount of well curated lofi playlists.
Review
I’ve been trying to get a copy of Spirit City: Lofi Sessions since I found about it. I am very happy I was finally sent a copy to review, and I was not disappointed. Right off the bat, I love the artstyle and aesthetic. Every bit of this world helps foster a cozy virtual space that is pleasing to look at without being too distracting. The game offers a decent amount of customization at the base level without it feeling overwhelming. At least it isn’t an issue at the base level. Gamifying the customization by making players work towards unlocking pets and customization option is a solid motivator. I was definitely logging in every day to try to unlock all the different pets, even though I will only ever use the cat.
The Lofi genre has gotten me through some late nights, long study sessions, and everything I write for this blog. I listen to a lot of Lofi, and this tool has a very good collection. I have yet to find a playlist I don’t like, or song to skip. The game does have YouTube baked into it, so you always have access to the perfect, productivity boosting playlist.
I have mixed feelings about the organizational tools that it offers. The timer is fantastic to have, and the new update made it even better. Looking up and seeing the countdown helps keep me from getting distracting. Having planned scheduled breaks on a timer has definitely boosted my productivity. The checklist/planner settings are a little too basic for my needs. Creating a checklist is easy, and gaining XP once a day for checking something off is awesome, but I wish there was a button to clear the checklist. I can go through it one by one, or uncheck options I am reusing, but I’m crazy and like to start over each time. You can also schedule tasks, but it ads them as a list item. I wish it looked more like a planner or a Calander. I don’t see it replacing my physical planner, but I do like having access to the feature.
The game also offers a journaling features which is cool to have. It is nothing fancy, it is meant to jot down thoughts or notes, but it is there for those who need it. It is definitely a great way to pick up a journaling habit.
I love this tool, and I definitely see an improvement in my productivity. It is not a cure for my ADHD, but the gamification does keep me motivated for longer. This tool only works if leveling and earning small rewards motivates you. After the novelty wears off, you’re either going to keep logging in to listen to some cool lofi, or you’re going to forget you have it. The productivity tools are a little basic, so I don’t see it replacing my physical planner, but it is a good place to start if you are trying to get more organized.
I say, if you like Lofi and those playlists live on your screen while you work, this is a fantastic buy. The customization is nice, the music is fantastic, and there is enough gamification to keep you motivated without it becoming a grind. The devs also seem to be listening to their community and are actively trying to make the tool better. I’m going to keep using it because having the took fill one of my screens does help me stay focused, and I want to unlock everything.
I was sent the Wizard Hand demo to review for my blog. I understand that the game is still in development, so I will try to be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, these are my honest impressions.
Wizard Hand is a roguelike solitaire game coming to Steam. Make sure you check out the demo!
Play solitair using a magical deck and try to get the required score and move to the next level. The goal of the game is to clear the table of cards while beating the required score. All players start with a basic deck that they slowly upgrade with other cards and abilities throughout a run. Finding the best combination and knowing when to use your powerful spell cards is key to success in this game. Do you have what it takes to beat the highest challenge?
Impressions
The Wizard Hand demo is incredibly addicting. I wish this were the full version because I want to see what else there is. Right off the bat, I was drawn by the game’s aesthetic. The card art is simple, but with enough elegance and flare to draw the eye. The gameplay is simple, but requires enough of a strategy to keep players engaged. Figuring out the correct sequence and combinations to maximize a score is a mellow puzzle, and I love puzzles. There does need to be more content, but it looks like the devs are hard at work at making things happen. Regardless of that, this a fantastic demo that is effective at showcasing the game’s key features in a way that is fun, engaging, and addicting. Wizard Hand is very promising, but I wish there was more. I can’t wait for a full version.
Mechlands sent me the Blade 101 keyboard 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. Make sure you also check my latest reviews for the Ajazz Alux 68 and the Mechlands M75. I will also be using my affiliate links for Mechlands and Amazon where I can.
What’s in the box?
Blade 101 Keyboard
2.5 G Dongle
USB-C to USB-A Cable
Key/Switch Puller
User Manual
2 Extra Key Switches
Plastic Dust Cover
Features
The MechLands Blade 101 is an aluminum full mechanical keyboard. The keyboard comes in blue and black and while both colors look really good, but the keys and switches are easily swapable to match your aesthetic. If you like the clacking sound, the Blade 101 is gasket mounted with additional sound enhancing material for an extra satisfying tacking. It also wouldn’t be a modern keyboard with RGB, and the Blade 101 has a soft south facing RGB for a little extra flare.
As performance goes, users can enjoy high speed wireless connections through its Bluetooth and 2.5 GHz support, but a high speed wired connection is available when that 8000 mAh battery finally dies. Each 101 key has been prelubbed for maximum performance, and the finely tuned stabilizers promises comfort. The Blade 101 seems like the perfect full sized budget option, but how good is it really?
Sound Check
Review
The Blade 101 is undeniably one of my prettiest keyboards. I love the layout and color scheme, and the clean manufacturing makes it look like a more expensive keyboard. I also like the slightly textured caps. They made typing feel really good at first, but I can’t use the keyboard for too long without it flaring up my repetitive stress injury. People who don’t have this injury and use the keyboard a normal amount shouldn’t have this problem. I hadn’t had this issue with any of the other keyboards they sent me, and I am a little disappointed that this isn’t one of them.
Another issue I have with the keyboard is that it never charged. The keyboard held its initial charge, but I was never able to charge it again no matter what device, port, or cable I plugged it into. It also didn’t work on the USB mode when connected with the cable. I had to be on one of the wireless modes connected with a wire. This isn’t a huge deal, but I assume the wireless feature is baked into the price, and the price is too expensive for a wired keyboard that isn’t very comfortable.
The keyboard also didn’t perform well. I might have gotten unlucky and received my first defective unit, but it is an issue non the less. There was a lot of ghosting, and sometimes the presses wouldn’t register. It wasn’t unusable, but it made some tasks feel a bit tedious. The range for the wireless doesn’t feel very far. If was next to my device, I the ghosting was present, but not as bad as when I extended my standing desk. I did get about 6 hours of use out of the box with the backlight on, but I wasn’t able to test it again.
The MechLands Blade 101 is a very good looking full sized keyboard, but lacks the performance to earn a recommendation. Even if everything worked out of the box, I like the M75 a whole lot better. Go check out my review for that instead.
You can pick up the Blade 101 on the official MechLands online shop, or on Amazon through my affiliate links. It really helps me out if you do.
