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Other TCGs

Kryptik Launches Ambassador Program in Attempt to Save Game

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Kryptik Studios LLC has announced the launch of its ambassador program to raise funds for its next set. For those out of the loop, there was a sudden announcement on the official Discord that the Kryptik TCG was moving to an LCG model. After a passionate outcry from its devoted community, a change of leadership, and a divorce from its old printer, the Kryptik TCG found its push. The TCG would continue, but not without challenges.

The poor quality of older sets has left many local game stores and players distrustful. The split from Speed Robo Games was a step in the right direction. Reviews for the final Speed Robo set are not good, and the samples I received look terrible. The foiling is ugly, the card stock is thin and cheap, and they came curled. We can only hope their new printer does better.

But the damage has been done. Many of the early adopting stores and players burned by early quality issues won’t return, and others will need a lot of convincing. It is going to be a difficult endeavor, especially since the TCG space is ruthlessly competitive, but there seems to be a supportive community working tirelessly with the devs to give the game the traction it deserves.

The ambassador program launched on August 22nd and has already raised $20,000, according to Kryptik Chris’ announcement on Discord.

The announcement reads:

@everyone After 36 hours, we have raised over $20,000! We are steadily climbing towards resurrection! There are still spots available at each tier, so no one has missed their shot yet! Let’s keep those numbers climbing and we’ll make it to top!

This is a very positive look for the game and it shows how devoted fans of the IP truly are. But what is in the program, and is it worth it?

The Ambassador Program

The ambassador program are direct to consumer products and services offered by Kryptik Studios in order to raise the money they need to bring their next set to Kickstarter. The tier break down is as follows:

The program is still live as of writing this. Make sure you head over to the official website if you plan on supporting.

Impressions

The ambassador program was revised after input from the Kryptik community. While it makes me happy that the game is listening to its players, it doesn’t feel worth it for someone trying to get into the game for the first time. It would be more cost-effective for new players to pick up older products from TCG Players. Unless you’re already a fan of the game and believe the game will succeed, none of the tiers seem worth it. Why would I spend money on promos that will be worthless if the game fails down the line? Like I’ve said before, the game is going to need to do more than launch these kinds of programs to build its player base. I’ll be rooting for them either way.

Weekly Tournaments

If you want to play Kryptik, there are official weekly tournaments running Sundays noon EST. You’ll need to own Tabletop Simulator with the official Kryptik TCG module and join the official Discord. The community is beginner friendly, so don’t worry if you don’t know how to play. These tournaments are a great way to enjoy the game with other fans and possibly earn some cool prizes. These events need more people, so make sure you join even if you’re just wanting to try out the game. Who knows? You might like it!

video game reviews

Bang Bang Barrage Might Be the Most fun Couch Co-op

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I was sent the Bang Bang Barrage demo to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will be honest with my coverage. Since the game isn’t finished yet, this will be my initial impression. I can’t wait to see the finished product.

What is Bang Bang Barage?

You find yourself in the middle of the ocean with Cuthulu and his minions hot on your tail. Team up with your friends or fair it alone as you blast through endless waves of enemies. Do you have what it takes to survive the onslaught, or will the sea prove too mighty?

Gameplay

Players will start each run on a boat with a basic weapon. There seems to be a good amount of loadout customization, but the demo only gives access to the basic handgun. In typical bullet hell roguelike fashion, players must fend off against swarms of enemies using their weapons. Players will occasionally get the chance to buy upgrades during their run. The upgrades that fill the shop are randomly generated, but I felt like the RNG was fair.

What makes this game unique is its movement mechanic. Movement Bang Bang Barrage uses recoil-driven navigation. When a player shoots her weapon, the boat they stand on moves the opposite way. The only way to move a character is to shoot in the opposite direction of where the character needs to go. When there are hoards of enemies swarming towards a player and other players fighting them off, things get crazy pretty quickly.

A run ends when a player runs out of health.

Impressions

Bang Bang Barrage is the cutest bullet hell roguelike you’re going to get to play. I am a huge fan of the cute simple art and flavor.

While the game does offer a valid single-player experience, you’re going to want to play with your friends. When the waves get going and everyone is shooting in all directions, things are going to get crazy. The fact that it allows couch co-op and PVP is a huge plus.

If you’re looking for a cute and fun party game to play with your friends, you’re going to want to look into Bang Bang Barrage. If you’re just looking for a fun casual game, you’re going to want to do the same. I can’t wait to see more of this game because the demo has me hooked.

The public playtest is up on Steam, so make sure you sign up if you haven’t done so. You won’t regret it. If you missed the playtest, make sure you add the Bang Bang Barrage to your wishlist so you’re ready for the next one!

gaming news

Drakantos Gets Closer to Release and a Solid Gameplay Teaser

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This month’s Dev log was a little late, but it was juicy. While we don’t have a firm release date, we do have a time frame. Drakantos plans its release for 2025. This seems like a long time, especially for those of us following from the beginning, but I’ve made it this far, what is a couple of more months. I rather have a finished game than a rushed one. Make sure you check out the official log for all the details, and don’t forget to Wishlist!

In a bit of sad news, dev logs will be moved to a three-month schedule. This means longer waits between devlogs, but it also means we’ll be getting juicier ones. There will be a consistent stream of teasers on the official Drakantos Discord, so make sure you join up and check regularly. I’ll try to do a monthly update of the teasers of they are juicy enough.

Liam Teaser

This month’s teaser was fantastic. We not only got to see Liam gameplay, but we got to get a good look at how the world of Drakantos works. We get a peak at the player hub and how questing works. I like the clean UI and the guild hall has a fantastic vibe to it. Most importantly, we got to see group combat. I love the art and am always impressed with how good they make the attack animations. I can see it being a little too busy for some folks, but I find it the perfect amount of world-shattering chaos without it ever being too distracting. I am curious to see how it things will work with busier instances like PvP and World Bosses.

I wasn’t too impressed with Liam’s gameplay, but I don’t tank. He seems too slow for my taste, but in the right hands, he can be a menace. Liam has a solid taunt, access to valuable debuffs, AOE, and he can close gaps quickly when needed. The cherry on top is his cool animations and voice acting. If you are looking to tank in Drakantos, you definitely need to consider Liam.

Game Info

Drakantos will be an MMO with dungeon-crawler elements. It will have an open world to explore, quest, and make friends in. There will be an overarching story which I am very excited to dive into. The game already has a solid amount of lore, I can’t wait to see what they do with it. There will also be a traditional player market. As long as players aren’t allowed to sell real money items, I’m cool with a player-run economy.

Drakantos will include character-specific prologues that will eventually lead to the starting zone. This will include a character story, a great way to start the game. The devs talk about moving away from the traditional linear system of questing in the hopes of giving the system purpose. Quests will reward players with gold and experience, but it will also unlock new systems, shops, and areas for the players. Some side quests will be class-specific, requiring players to use a character that knows magic for example. Most importantly, these types of quests will offer horizontal progression, which means completing a mission counts for the entire account. I like that the game isn’t forcing a tedious grind with their unique system.

The Dungeon Crawl

We got to see a bit of the Adventurer’s Guild in the Liam teaser above. The Guild is the main player hub where players can gather and queue for instances. Instances will take players to over 120 different maps and have them complete different quests. The intention is to always have players complete a different quest every time, even if they queue up for the same map. This is a very cool feature. While I do find comfort in repetition, the grind can get soul-crushing and monotonous. I can’t wait to see how this system is implemented. There will also be a random secondary objective or rare event to make things extra spicy. This can be a random encounter or a golden gnome for example. Completing side quests will net you more rewards, but they are optional.

Some instance bosses

Matchmaking

Matchmaking for an instance is tied to a player’s power level. There is no lobby. Instead of waiting for others to join, the game jumps you to the instance as it continues to look for other players. Difficulty scales based on the number of players in an instance (max 3), and rescales if someone drops suddenly. This is fantastic for a mobile game where internet connection can be spotty. Premade groups can be up to four for when you eventually join your guild and make your friends.

Conclusion

I continue to get hyped for the Drakantos release because this game looks fantastic. I’ve been waiting for an MMO to fill the void PSO left behind, and I am hoping this will be it. I love the art, the flavor, and the fact that this thing is portable. I can play it anywhere! Each month brings us closer to a release, and I’m just waiting for a beta. Make sure you join the official Drakantos Discord to stay up to date on all the news, and don’t forget to add the game to your Wishlist.

Other TCGs

Kryptic TCG Returns Under New Management and Motivation!

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Last week, the people behind Kryptic announced the end of the TCG and their plans to move to the LCG model. After a bit of feedback and a weekend to ruminate, Kryptic TCG isn’t dead! Fans of the TCG now wait as the company takes the steps to continue the TCG.

The Announcement

Tanner has announced on the official Kryptic Discord that he will be stepping down as CEO of the company and handing the company over to Chris Tesorio. The message reads:

The loyal Kryptic comunnity came together in full force for the game that they loved and now with a new name and newly found motivaition, Kryptic Studios LLC will work continue making the TCG.

The new CEO, Chris Tesorio, also made a statement:

It makes me happy to see Kryptic getting its second life. I can’t wait to see what is to come. Congradulations to Chris Tesorio on his new role, I wish him the best in his endevours.

What this Means for Kryptic

We are still waiting for more news from the new company, but plans for Kryptic as a LCG have been cancelled and new plans for the TCG are in the works. While I am a little sad about not seeing what an LCG in the the Kryptic universe would look like, I am happy to see that fans will get to continue to enjoy the game they love. I am hopeful for the future of this game and can’t wait to see what this new leadership and motivation will produce in the future.

Attonement

As a reminder for anyone who missed it, 100 boxes of Attonement Wave Zero will release on July 4th 12AM CST. Attonment was Kryptics cancelled set before the name change. The box will include single copies of the entire set, with a few random foils to mix things up. Sales will be limited to hopefully prevent scalping. It be nice to buy a box and have the complete set. I’ll be trying to get a box, I hope the fans who want one can get theirs too.

You can pick up your box of Attonement Year Zero on the Speedprobogames website for $119.99. Good luck!

gaming news

Escape Tales: Awakening is Coming to Steam and it Looks Good

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Bluekey Games is making the Escape Tales: The Awakening board game into a video game, and it looks promising. If you’re a fan of escape rooms, puzzle games, and narrative driven games where your choices matter, you want Escape Tales: The Awakening on your Steam Wishlist.

Hook

Sam’s daughter has inexplicitly fallen into a coma. Without any other family left in this world, Sam is willing to do anything to get her back. Fate drops “The book of Rituals” into Sam’s life, and now he finds himself in an unprecedented battle against unknown forces. Sam now fights to keep his sanity in the hopes of finding the power to wake his child from her eternal slumber. Do you have what it takes?

What is Escape Tales: The Awakening?

Escape Tales is a popular series of escape room board games. The video game adaptation promises the spirit of the series with features only achievable through video games. Gamers will collect clues, enjoy open exploration, solve puzzles, and enjoy an engaging narrative. The choices the player will matter and result in multiple endings, giving The Awakening some significant replay value. There is no time limit, and each puzzle will have various solutions. The Awakening promises to test a player’s problem-solving skills, moral compass, and decision-making. Seems like a solid deal for fans of the genre.

Impressions

I love puzzle games, and Escape Tales: The Awakening has me excited. What I’ve seen of the gameplay so far has me interested, and the story has me hooked. I am not familiar with board games, but I feel like it’s better to go into a puzzle game blind. I’ll be working on getting my review copy, so stay tuned for that.

Escape Tales: The Awakening is expected to release on Steam later this year, so make sure you add it your Wishlist.

gaming news

The Guardian Games 2024 Officially Kick off with a Hoverboard!

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The Guardian Games are back for their third year, and it’s a great time to log back in for exclusive rewards. From now until March 26, guardians across the world can come together to fight in a fun and unique event. The event is free to every guardian regardless of level or what expansion they own, so grab your guardian, and prove to the world why Hunters are the best.

The Skimmer

This year’s game introduces Destiny’s first hoverboard, and it looks amazing. By completing this years challenges, players will be able to cruise through the universe on the Skimmer. The Skimmer is themed for the event, so while there will be other skimmers available in the game, this is your only chance to get this one. Assuming they don’t release it for next year’s games.

Rewards

Competing in this year’s games also earns you some exclusive cosmetics and gear that you’ll want in your collection, especially if you’re a new or returning player. The armor is cool, but my hunter needs a few more guns for the rotation. These rewards can be earned for free, so make sure you make some time.

The Witch Queen Free on PlayStation Plus

PlayStation Plus subscribers have now until April 1st to receive Destiny 2’s The Witch Queen DLC for free! Delve into the enigmatic Throne World for a chance to face off against Savathûn and her Lucent Hive to reclaim the light. Get your copy today!

Conclusion

There are Paid tracks and rewards for this season, but I am coming at this event as a poor free to play player. Plus none of the cosmetics really spoke to me, but they are available if they do for you.

I’ll be playing the event and probably bringing down the hunter’s average, but I’ll be getting these rewards and preparing of the upcoming Final Shape DLC releasing June 4th. Make sure you make your preorders if you haven’t done so, be kind to the folks around you, and have some fun. See you there!

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

Board Games and TCGs, Other TCGs

Check out the New World Beyond Spoilers: Akora TCG

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I started opening packs of Akora on a series I am doing on my TikTok and YouTube. I wanted to open a booster pack of a random TCG as motivation and a way to catalog my progress. I started with Akora because I found a booster box of Spellbound Wings 1st edition for cheap. The more I opened the box, the more I wanted to learn about it. 

I’ve sat through the learn-to-play event on their official Discord and have even started reading through the Manga. I enjoy the art and I think the gameplay loop is interesting. If you want to learn how to play Akora, check out the instructional video on the Akora TCG Youtube:

There’s also a booklet you can read on the official website, but I’ll leave it here for your convenience:

TI-Codex-CompressedDownload

Spoilers

Last night, more spoilers for the upcoming World Beyond were posted and I am hyped for the set. The art looks so good, and I thought I’d share to muster up more excitement! Purple is still my favorite color, but the other colors have some interesting stuff going on. I just hope I’m not broke and can make it to a prerelease. These seem to be special full arts that you are going to have to chase, but I’m about ready to throw some money I don’t have at this problem.

Conclusion

I’m impressed so far and can’t wait to see more. Check your LGS if they carry Akora or run events. If that’s not an option, the official Discord is pretty active with passionate fans ready for a game. If you want to pick up any Akora, like their latest set Eternal Echoes, pick it up on TCG Player. And if you’re need a place to store your cards like deck boxes, back packs, or other accessories, get it over at GemTech. Use my discount code churapereviews10 for 10% off your purchase.

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

gaming news

Folktale Strategy game Howl out now on PC and Switch

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Howl is the game from this month’s Indie World Showcase that I was most excited about. The art style is beautiful, the hook is interesting, and the gameplay seems fun. The game is out now on Steam and Switch fpr $14.99, and will release on Xbox, PlayStation, and Epic Games on January 23rd. I was going to pick this game up regardless, but I was fortunate enough to have been sent a copy for review. I’ll be posting my full impressions soon, so stay tuned for that. 

Howl is a uniquely stylized strategy game with a lovely classic folktale vibe. You play as a deaf girl who must brave the world’s dangers in search of a cure for a disease that ravages humanity. The disease is turning everyone who hears into beasts, and she is the only one who is immune to its effects. She must now fight the beasts that hunt her, save any remaining survivors, and become the hero fate needs her to be. 

Howl isn’t your traditional turn-based strategy game. It plays like a puzzle where you must predict enemy moves and use resources efficiently. Howl seems like a nice change in pace from the norm, and I am here for it. Definitely check it out if you want to add something unique to your library. 

You can pick up Howl now on Switch and Steam, or wishlist on PlayStation, Xbox, and Epic Games. There is a demo available for Steam, Switch, and Xbox.

If you enjoy these updates, make sure you leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee. 

video game reviews

Haunted House: A Spooky Stealthy Roguelite Adventure

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I was sent Haunted House as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will not let it sway my opinions. This will be an honest review of the game. If you enjoy my reviews, leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. If you want to show your support, you can always buy me coffee. 

Haunted House is a roguelite reimagining of the Atari classic of the same name out now for Xbox, Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam and Epic Games. 

Famous treasure hunter Zachary Graves has gone missing, and it is up to his niece to find him. Play as Lyn as she makes her way through a ghost-infested mansion in search of a way to bring him back. As Lyn, you’ll have to solve puzzles, sneak carefully, and occasionally fight to survive. Can you stay alive long enough to bring your uncle back? 

Haunted House has fantastic flavor. The isometric design and cartoonish art style give it its classic feeling flare, while the mechanics and atmosphere it creates make it appropriately creepy. Halloween may be over, but this is the perfect addition to any spooky playlist. 

If you are a fan of stealth games, you are going to want to look into Haunted House. Don’t let the game’s cutesy aesthetics fool you. This is an unforgiving roguelike, and you will die a lot. While this game does offer players ways to fight off the ghouls and ghosts that roam the manner, it is almost always better to tread lightly. This game is punishing if you try to fight through every encounter. Although I don’t have the patience for it, I found sneaking to be exciting and fun. 

Like most games in the genre, the Haunted House gameplay look is a bit repetitive. Players will explore the manor one room at a time while completing similar tasks. Between each round, players have a chance to buy the upgrades that will help them venture deeper into the castle. I enjoyed the repetition and found the gameplay loop rather relaxing. While the stress and fear of getting caught loomed with each playthrough, I had a lot of fun exploring the manor, completing each room, and getting farther each time. 

I enjoyed my time with Haunted Mansion, and recommend it even if it isn’t Halloween. It’s cute with an engaging gameplay loop and has a classic feel without feeling too old for the current generation. If you have kids, it is a solid inoffensive game to add to their collection. If you don’t have kids but are looking for a stealth game that isn’t too stressful, you’ll definitely get $20 of fun out of it. 

You can pick up Haunted House on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and PC via Steam and Epic Games for $19.99. 

gaming news

MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM U.C. ENGAGE releases October 17 with 4,500 Diamonds for players and a fresh take on the Classic U.C. Universe

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MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM U.C. ENGAGE comes out on October 17th, and it might be worth checking out if you like Gundam and don’t mind playing another Gotcha game. I’ve talked about this game in a previous post, so make sure you check that out if you want additional context. 

MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM U.C. ENGAGE is a strategy game featuring classic characters from the U.C. universe coming to Android and IOS devices. It promises 6v6 3D strategic battles with easy-to-use auto-play features. The game will also include a voice-acted story that looks back on the classic era of Gundam, with a new story added every month. This is a great deal for new and old fans of the franchise looking for more Gundam.

If you are interested in playing the game, I recommend you start at launch to earn some fantastic bonuses. The pre-registration was a success! There were over 200k preregistrations which means users will get a UR Gundam and 4500 Diamonds at the start. For people who don’t play Gotcha games, this means you’ll get a decent character for clearing the campaign and a nice amount of in-game currency to get you started. 

The Release Celebration Campaign will also be coming after release. No dates have been announced for the event, but it is sure to allow players to earn some amazing awards. At the very least, participants will earn 5,000 diamonds, which doesn’t sound like a bad deal. 

I love Gotcha games and have been looking for a new one since they took Dragalia Lost down. I can only hope that the micro-transactions aren’t predatory and the game is fun. I’ll be posting a review once I get a bit deeper into the game, but you should try it anyway since it’s free. The game doesn’t go live until October 17, but it is already available for download on Android and IOS devices for those of you who need it.