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video game reviews

Nightmare Shift Review: A Mixed Horror Experience

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Nightmare Shift to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. If you’re looking for a VPN for some added protection, check out NordVPN through my affiliate link. You can also always buy me coffee!

What is Nightmare Shift

Nightmare Shift is a psychological horror game out now on Steam.

Play as Emma as she starts her new job managing the night shift at a remote Motel. While she is excited for employment, something about the situation makes her uneasy. Needless to say, her first night is strange, and it only gets stranger. Work through each night as Emma needs to handle unsettling guests and navigates the strange twisting events around her. Will she be able to keep her sanity as nightmare and reality blend around her? Can she uncover the truth of what is going on?

Review

The Nightmare Shift is a walking simulator where you occasionally have to work at a motel. Strange things will unfold around you as you make your through the narrative. The game plays like a bad horror movie, which can be fun if you enjoy watching bad horror. I love bad horror and think the story has its charm. That said, the writing is a bit awkward. There are a few strange bits of dialogue and a few narrative beats that don’t really work. The voice acting isn’t great, with a few awkward deliveries that take away from the tension.

The game was made by a solo developer. While I understand the hurtles and try to be a bit more lenient with my reviews, it was hard to get into the story because of all the bugs. I encountered a few bugs that halted my progression. Moments where I couldn’t interact with certain artifacts or moments where events wouldn’t trigger. There were a few crashes that made progression a little annoying. The game had a few other quirks that take away from the tension.

Nightmare Shift is a hard game to recommend because of how niche it is. As a fan of bad horror movies, I really want to love this game. It has a interesting concept with some sound ideas, but the execution isn’t there yet. My issue is that I am not willing to work through the bugs to find out what happens next. If I didn’t have to review this game, I wouldn’t have gotten as far as I did. I believe the average user will share this sentiment. What makes the game harder to recommend is the fact that I’ve played horror indie games made by solo devs that do the genre better. I would wait for a few more performance updates before considering this game unless you really like bad horror and don’t mind working through the bugs. I appreciate the attempt, but it just didn’t do it for me. I’ll probably forget I ever played it.

You can pick up Nightmare Shift on Steam for $8.99.

Tech Reviews

Epomaker Click Lite: The Best Budget Gaming Mouse

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Disclaimer

Epomaker sent me the Click Lite wireless gaming mouse 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 out my reviews for the Split65 and the Tide Alice keyboards. Check out my newest sponsor, NordVPN if you’re looking for that service. I will also be using my Amazon Affiliate link where I can. it really helps me out if you use it.

What’s in the box?

  • Click Lite Wireless Gaming Mouse
  • 2.4 ghz Dongle
  • USB-C to USB-A Charging Cable
  • User Manual
  • Decals

Features

If you’re looking for a quality budget mouse, you’ll struggle to find one with more features than the Click Lite. This light weight mouse at only 59 grams and features a stylish design contoured to fit your hand. The mouse comes in black and white, and both look amazing.

The Click Lite comes with 5 programmable buttons that can be easily customized to include macros. The sensor can be easily customized to support 800 – 24000 DPI and a stable 1000Hz polling rate with 1ms latency for some unbelievable accuracy. Users can enjoy up to 72 hours of high-speed wireless and Bluetooth connections with its 500mAh battery life. While the mouse doesn’t have any RGB, users can enjoy some added customization with the included decals. If you’re looking for a quality budget gaming mouse, it doesn’t get much better than the Click Lite.

Review

Out of the box, users might be disappointed by the light weight. The mouse feels and looks like plastic, but it is well designed with clean manufactured pieces. I prefer heavier mice, so it took some time to adjust to the Click Lite. Once I did however, it became difficult to see a future where it wasn’t my daily driver. I was very impressed by how snappy and responsive the mouse is out of the box. Normally I spend time adjusting settings, but the Click Lite was essentially plug and play. I did mess around settings for testing and rebound some buttons for quality of life, but the mouse comes ready for most workflows. Over my use, I did not notice any dips in performance, and it was able to handle the different games I through at it. I play a lot of casual games, and it was able to handle Guild Wars 2.

One thing I did not like about the mouse is the included decals. They offer no texture and if you don’t put them on properly, it ruins the aesthetic. They are also starting to look dirty after only a week of use, but I guess it is a good thing they include two. This isn’t a deal breaker, but it looks better without the decals. I would have preferred they include grip tape because my hands get very sweaty, and the mouse gets a little slippery.

This mouse is not ideal if you are looking for ergonomics that won’t ruin your hands. It is comfortable enough for normal use and people who don’t suffer from the repetitive stress injuries, but it did start hurting after a while. This issue is very specific to me, and even then, I got enough use out of mouse to make it worth it. I won’t be using it for work to save my hands, but I will be keeping it around for gaming. I just like how good and snappy it feels when gaming.

If you’re looking for a solid mouse to upgrade your setup, get the Epomaker Click Lite. The mouse looks cool without the need of RGB, it is very responsive, and is comfortable enough for most cases. You can pick up the Click Lite on the official Epomaker store, or on Amazon through my affiliate link.

Other TCGs

Universus TCG – Challenger Series Deck List: Ryu & Luke

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Universus just released the Street Fighter 6 challenger series decks, and I have a copy of each. Always support your LGS, but you can pick up the Ryu challenger deck on TCG Player using my affiliate link. Here is the Ryu deck list for those who need it:

The List

Champion

  • Ru, World Warrior
  • Luke Sullivan, Gym Coach

Deck

  • Avenger: Impaler x 2
  • Hashogeki x2
  • Pale Rider x 2
  • Rising Upercut x 2
  • Shin Hashogeki x 2
  • The Unending Path x 2
  • Burnout x 4
  • Crouching Medium Kick x 3
  • Luke’s Sweep x 3
  • Sand Blast x 3
  • Solar Plexus Strike x 3
  • Battle Holds The Answer x 4
  • Endless Doting x 4
  • Excessively Buff Forearms x 4
  • First of the Ages x 3
  • My Firsts Solve My Problems x 4
  • Not Now, I’m Gaming x 4
  • Strength in Diligence x 4
  • Vagrant Truthseeker x 4

The Cards

Champion

Deck

video game reviews

Is Drakantos Worth Your Time? Beta Impressions

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Some Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. If you’re looking for a VPN for some added protection, check out NordVPN through my affiliate link. You can also always buy me coffee!

Introduction

The wait is finally over! We got a beta for an MMO I’ve been waiting a long time for, Drakantos. If this is your first time, Drakantos is a pixel art hero MMO comming to PC and mobile. Players can jump into a fantastical world as one of its 20 unique champions as they explore the fantastical world of Eldras. There is a dark fantasy story for those who want to dive into its deep lore, pvp for those who are feeling a little scrappy, and group content for those who like to raid. I have written about Drakantos for a while now, so make sure you check out my previous posts for more details.

So What Did I think?

Drakantos fairs better than a lot of the other MMO beta’s I have tried, but I am still uncertain about my excitement. While I did enjoy my first few hours of the game, it started to get stale. A lot of the missions began to feel the same and pointless, and it didn’t help that the game was buggy. I know the game isn’t released yet and the bugs should be addressed on release, but it became hard to overlook as I lost interest in the game. A lot of the issues I had with the Beta have been addressed, and I am hopeful they will make those changes. Make sure you join the official Discord to stay up to date on all the news.

I played on the Steam deck and while it was playable, there was a level of jankiness to it that made the game harder. Movement was a little awkward. Sometimes it wouldn’t move when I wanted, the pathing was awkward, or my character would get stuck on random elements on the map. This made getting the mount incredibly annoying, but this struggle seems self inflicted. Combat had similar issues where latency and jank would mean missing skill shots or dying to latency.

The Questing system is fine. I like that there is a story to play through, and the writing seems fine. I like that you can queue up for different quests without having to leave the hub, but I also have the opportunity to explore this huge map and pick up a few crafting and gathering jobs. The problem with the queue system is that you can’t solo quests. Aside from a couple of toxic encounters, the community seems friendly enough where random queues aren’t a reason to not play, but sometimes I wanted to take my time with a quest and practice my rotation. I still want there to be the MMO side because finding a good group made the game more fun, but sometimes I don’t want to be social. It would be cool if they could implement a system where you can get better rewards for playing with others, but you can also join your own private lobbies.

Another issue with the game is that if you choose a character that doesn’t vibe with your play style, you are going to have a rough time. I don’t think the grind for this game is worse than other MMOs. There are definitely worse grinds, but the grind does feel bad when choosing a character you don’t like. Switching to a new character was easy in the Beta, and I hope they keep this system for the full release. Players need to be able to choose from a decent pool of heroes and be able to easily switch between them at launch or people are just going to quit. A lot of people like to create and customize their own characters, and choosing from preset champions is going to be a hard sell. I have no issue and would argue that there is a good amount of customization, but it is going to suck for the new player who loads into the this game who can’t choose their look and gets stuck with a character that doesn’t vibe with them. I did eventually find a character I liked after a bit of trial and error, and that journey was fine.

My main draw to the game is the art. I love the pixel art, and while it does take some inspiration from existing genres, it is able to create its own unique flare. My problem with the art is that the maps feel a little too busy. Some maps feel like they cram as many of the artifacts into a world to build their rail road, and it is a little distracting. It isn’t enough to ruin my experience, but with how buggy movement was, it made things annoying. Other than that, the monsters, champions, and bosses all look cool, and there are some cute mounts and pets you’re going to want to collect.

So how was the experience overall? I enjoyed the first few hours of the game where I was exploring and finding my way. Once the novelty wore off, I started to run out of reasons to stick around. If felt like I ran out of things to do early on. The quests started to feel repetitive, and not everyone was willing to do the side quests. The buggyness made some of the quests harder than it should be, and I wasted too much time trying to unlock the mount. Combat is fine for a mobile game, but I need to see a more polished version before I can rate it properly.

That said, I am still hopeful. This was the first beta, and it is honestly in a better place than some of the other MMOs I’ve tried from bigger developers. Sure the game is still rough, but the devs have already acknowledged a lot of the issues, and I’ve seen enough interviews with devs that I am confident the game can only get better. Until then, I will continue to follow Drakantos closely because I still hold on to the hope that this will be a good game.

Tech Reviews

Phantom 21 Keypad Review: Stylish and Functional

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Disclaimer

KiiBoom sent me the Phantom 21 Mechanical Keypad 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 hones review. Make sure you also check out my reviews for the Phantom 81 V3 and the Loop 65. I will also be using my Amazon Affiliate link where possible. Using it really helps me out. Make sure you also check out my new sponsor, NordVPN to earn an Amazon Gift card.

What’s in the Box?

  • Phantom 21 Keypad
  • 1.5m USB-C to USB-A Braided Cable
  • Key/Switch Puller Tool

Features

The Phantom 21 is KiiBoom’s stylish solution for the ultimate keypad experience. This modern keypad comes in four colors: clear, pink, blue, and purple.

Thew clear body and fun colors are a guaranteed upgrade to any aesthetic. They keypads come with 21 keys with hot swappable switches all illuminated by the its vibrant customizable RBG color effects. But the Phantom 21 is more than just a pretty keypad. The control nob can be customized for volume, zoom, scrolling, and other essential functions. The keys are also easily customizable with KiiBOOM’s proprietary software to handle any workflow. Users can easily remap keys or load it up with macros to maximize efficiency.

Sound Test

Review

I do like having a keypad for my workflow because I do a lot of data entry. I was very excited because the Phantom line is my favorite Keyboom product, and the Phantom 21 did not disappoint.

Out of the box, users will be impressed by the unique clear bodied design. I got the clear color, but the colors are fun, vibrant, and look good on the table. The manufacturing is clean and the keypad is very high quality. The keypad’s unique style definitely makes a statement in the best possible way.

After using the keypad, users will appreciate the comfort the keypad offers. The typing angle is ideal for most hand types, and the spacing allows for a comfortable hand position. I have a really bad repetitive stress injury, but using this keypad never triggered it. The clear glass-like caps give have a very satisfying smooth feel to them, and the clacking of the switches make it a wonderful typing experience. At least when it came to data entry and number crunching.

As far as performance goes, I noticed no ghosting or latency, and I still haven’t had to charge the keypad after using it for a 2 weeks. I keep on all the RGB effects. For those that need some added functionality, customizing, remapping, and adding macros to the Phantom 21 is very easy. This keypad can handle large workloads if you need it to.

If you are in the market for a unique looking keypad/macropad loaded with functionality, the Phantom 21 is a fantastic option. This pretty keypad is the perfect size for travel, very sturdy, and its flexibility make it perfect for any workflow.

You can pick up the Phantom 21 directly from the KiiBOOM site, or through Amazon through my Affiliate link.

video game reviews

Age of Defense Review: Is It Worth Your Money?

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Age of Defense to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. If you’re looking for a VPN for some added protection, check out NordVPN through my affiliate link. You can also always buy me coffee!

What is Age of Defense?

Age of Defense is a stone age is a stone age tower defense game out now on Steam.

Build your defenses of cavemen as you fight off against waves of monsters. Earn food that you can use to upgrade your enemies and repel what ever comes your way. Make sure you place your units carefully. Letting too many monsters by means the end of your civilization. How far can you make it?

Review

Age of Defense is a quirky little tower defense with fun art and flavor. I enjoy the cute cartoony style, and it has a good amount of humor. There is also a good amount of flavor. The menus and units information is all written in cave paintings. This is cool until you have to adjust the settings or figure out what the units do. Changing the settings is simple enough, but it is annoying that the game isn’t optimized from start up. There are tool tips that populate for the units that tell the stats, but they are kind of small and I would have preferred it to be the default. They can at least have an easy to find toggle to give players the option to switch between texts. Once you play the game a bit, the pictures do make sense, but I have trouble reading it in game.

The gameplay itself is your typical tower defense. Players have access to an income. They spend that income on towers. They repeat until they beat all the waves, or they let too many enemies by. The only difference this game has is its flavor. Everything works pretty well, the units are cute, but I wish I could zoom. I am getting old, and the fact that I can’t zoom or move around the map feels too restrictive. Other than that, I enjoyed the casual loop of the tower defense.

Whether or not you should buy this game depends on how much you like the flavor. As far as tower defense games go, you have better options at this price. The price seems very steep for what it is. This game feels like it should be $5 maybe $8 at the most. I did enjoy my time with the game, but not enough to play full price. I would wait for the sale, unless you really like the caveman aesthetic.

You can pick up Age of Defense on Steam for $14.99.

video game reviews

Drakantos Closed Beta is Live: First Day Impressions

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Intro

The wait is finally over. After years of waiting and following this game, I finally got my hands on beta. The Drakantos closed beta will run from July 25 – 27th and it is looking like a very successful run. With over 150k applications for entry, this game is getting a proper test. Make sure you apply over on the official Steam page if you haven’t done so, and don’t forget to wishlist. It looks like they are still rolling out keys in waves. Make sure you also join the official Discord, you might get lucky with a giveaway.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. If you’re looking for a VPN for some added protection, check out NordVPN through my affiliate link. You can also always buy me coffee!

What is Drakantos?

Drakantos is a free-to-play pixel-art MMORPG coming to Steam and mobile devices. Players can choose from a collection of 20 diverse heroes as they explore the world of Eldras. Players can enjoy the worlds facinating story, fight players in a competative PvP Arena, or help each other out on PvE content. There are plans for raids, world bosses, and everything you’ve come to love from a PvP, but accessible to everyone. One thing to note is that all characters will not be playable at first. Characters will need to be unlocked through play or a battle pass, but I hope that none of it is locked behind a pay wall. I was assured that the cash shop would only be cosmetic last I spoke to the devs, but we will have to wait and see. I’ve been covering this game in great detail for a while now, make sure you check out my other articles on the subject.

Impressions

I have beta test a few of the newer MMO’s in recent years, and none have gotten me as excited as Drakantos. I know I’ve only played the game a day, but I am prepared to spend my Saturday playing this game. I love how alive the game feels in the hubs and in missions, which gives me hope for its success. I love the art. The game does a good job of creating fantasy through its pixel-art, and it has been a lot of fun exploring the world. Some of the maps do feel a little busy, but its nothing that will get me to quit. Playing this game on the Steam Deck gives me the nostolgic feeling of the gameboy days I spent playing JRPGs, and I am here for it. The fact that I can play this game properly on the Steam Deck during a beta is also a huge plus. Everything feels snappy and optimized, and I am preferring the handheld experience.

The combat uses a simple cooldown system. Instead of mana, players will need to wait on cooldowns. While the game looks simple, there are some nuances in rotation, and some skills you need to aim or hold. Make sure you read your spells

The grind so far has been pretty fun. Players have story content to play through that slowly introduces different mechanics. There are also a few side quests to fill space and unlock more content like gathering. Mostly, players can queue up for random jobs that scale based on a player’s power level. These jobs rotate on a timer and randomly pairs players into teams of threes (unless you have friends). There are different types of quests that scale with your power level, and give loot. They make it beneficial to explore the whole map and kill everything with hidden chests and additional rewards. You get more loot the more enemies you kill. There is no PvP yet, which is fine for the beta.

Now it is only the first day, so I need a bit more time for a fuller picture. I will be doing a more detailed version of my impressions when the beta is over. For now, I am very excited to keep playing more. Now if you’ve made it this far in the article, I do have an extra key to give away. First person who contacts me, gets it. Good luck!

Tech Reviews

KiiBOOM Phantom 81 V3: An In-Depth Review

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Disclaimer

KiiBOOM sent me the Phantom 81 V3 Mechanical 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. Please consider using my Amazon affiliate link if you want to purchase the keyboard, or anything else on Amazon. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee!

Make sure you also check out my reviews for the Loop 65 and Phantom 98 keyboards.

What’s in the box?

  • Phantom 81 Mechanical Keyboard
  • USB-C to USB-A Braided Cable
  • 2.4G Wireless Dongle
  • 1 Key/Switch Puller
  • Philips Screw Driver
  • 2 Extra Switches
  • Large Branded Cleaning Cloth
  • User Manual

Features

The Phantom 81 V3 is KiiBOOM’s modern looking 75% keyboard that is ready to upgrade any aesthetic. It comes in three colors: Clear and Pink. It’s clear keys and body give it its unique pretense, while the programmable south-facing RGB effects make it beautiful. You can turn it all off is if you just want the glass like experience. It includes 82 keys including a function row, volume and media controls for a good amount of utility. The pre-lubed Crystal Switches promise a comfortable and high performing experience, ready to tackle any work load. Most importantly, the kit includes the tools needed for a customizable mechanical keyboard experience.

But this beautiful keyboard is more than just its looks. Users can enjoy a low latency connection through its supported Bluetooth 5.0 and Wireless 2.4GHz connections. With its 8000 mAh battery, users can enjoy long sessions without any of the wire clutter.

Soundtest

Review

There is no doubt that the KiiBOOM phantom series is one of the most unique and cool looking line you can buy into. I love the crystal like look of the body and keys, and the glass like feel of the keys give it that premium feel. When the RBG turns on, the keyboard shines, even in the daylight. It can be a little overbearing if you are looking something more minimilistic, but the lights can be turned off. As far as performance goes, I had no issues with the key board. The keys were responsive out of the box, and hey handled casual gaming very well. I play different genre, and it was handle my Guild Wars 2 addiction very well.

My only issue with the keyboard is strictly personal. They keys are a little slippery, which are only a problem with gaming. I am looking for something rougher and more tactile, but it wasn’t unplayable. It also triggered a bit of fatigue after longer sessions. That said, it isn’t an uncomfortable keyboard. If you are using the keyboard a healthy amount, you aren’t going to notice the fatigue. Even when I felt the fatigue, it didn’t get to the point where it left my hands useless from the pain. They were just sore from all the use. Again, this is nothing on the keyboard. I require special ergonomics for a few of my injuries, and they just aren’t there. While it wouldn’t be my main keyboard, I wouldn’t necessarily stop using it because it is just a cool looking keyboard, and I am kind of addicted to that glass feel.

If you don’t require an ergonomic keyboard and like the clear look, the Phantom 81 V3 is a good sized keyboard with the function you needed to upgrade your setup. You can pick up the Phantom 81 V3 from the official KiiBOOM store, or from my Amazon Affiliate link.

video game reviews

Honest Demo Impressions for Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi

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Disclaimer

I was sent the Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi demo for free 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 understand this game is still in development and will try to be a bit more lenient with my criticism.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. If you’re looking for a VPN for some added protection, check out NordVPN through my affiliate link. You can also always buy me coffee!

What is Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi?

Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi is a 3D puzzle adventure coming to Steam in August 21. You can request access to playtest as of the writing of this article.

Lili and Sadi must learn to work together to traverse across the fantastical world of Atarassia. The world is a dangerous place, but our heroes have the skills to survive it. Fight off monsters, destroy the darkness that corrupts the land, and solve a few puzzles in between. Can they push back the void’s corruption and save the world?

Gameplay

Players control a sword wielding guardian who can tap into her monk friends powers to traverse across the map, fight monsters, and solve puzzles. This is your typical 3D puzzle adventure, but it does very little hand holding. There is no markers on the maps. Players must explore to find clues and solve the puzzles on their own (or with a guide). The combat system is simple and reminiscent of games like Breath of the Wilds. Players have access to a melee attack, bow and arrow, and skills like a bomb ability.

Impressions

Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi is fine, but it feels like a Breath of the Wild clone, and that will really hurt it. The biggest issue I have with this demo is with the performance. Combat feels too clunky, and the abilities don’t feel impactful. The bow and arrow ability feels useless. This might be a skill issue, but it was more trouble than it is worth. I like that they make you aim the bow, but making it more stable is the move here. I know the game isn’t finished yet, so I can only hope the full version will have smoother combat.

Another issue with this demo is the tutorial. Some of the tips disappeared before I had a chance to read them, and there was no way of looking up the mechanic that I needed to progress through the game. Button mashing does nothing when the mechanic requires players to hold down a certain combination. Other tips are easily missed and if you don’t read them, you won’t pick up important mechanics. This game would benefit from having a section where players can look up tutorials.

The puzzles were also kind of boring, at least for the tutorial bits. If there aren’t engaging puzzles in the tutorial, this game is going to lose its player base before it can start unraveling its lore and world building. The world also feels empty. There was no reason for exploring because even though everything looked cool, there was nothing to do but follow the path to the next puzzle. Maybe the full game will have secrets and unlockables to promote exploration.

The game has a decent artstyle and concept, it just needs to run smoother for the launch. With launch date creeping up, I don’t think it will be possible. Unfortunately, Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi didn’t do enough to grab my attention. I am going to have to pass on it for now.

video game reviews

Why Citizen Sleeper 2 is the Best RPG of the Year

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. If you’re looking for a VPN for some added protection, check out NordVPN through my affiliate link. You can also always buy me coffee!

What is Citizen Sleeper 2?

Citizen Sleeper 2 is a dice-driven RPG out now on Steam, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation.

You have made your grand escape and for the first time since you’ve been created, you are free. But freedom comes at a price. Your captures are hot on your trail, and there is rarely a place where a sleeper isn’t recognized. Gather your crew, upgrade your ship, and complete contracts as you travel across the Starward Belt, avoiding your pursuers. Will you ever be able to truly escape?

Gameplay

This is the closest you’ll get to a table top role playing game. During a cycle, players will have access to a dice pool they can spend on different checks. Checks will will progress the story, unlock new areas on a map, and generally allow players to complete actions. These checks are based on their stats in certain skills, and they can be failed. The outcome of the story is based on a players rolls and decisions, giving the game a good amount of replayability. Players will need to plan their days and missions properly because failing too much or taking too long has its consequences.

Review

I can’t believe I waited so long to play Citizen Sleeper 2. This is easily my favorite game of the year. I don’t think there can be a title that will beat the perfect gaming experience that is this game. If you like tabletop roleplaying games or text based rpgs, this is an excellent example of the genre. Everyone needs to play Citizen Sleeper at least once in your life, but you aren’t going to want to stop at one play through.

I have only played the sequel, and don’t think playing the first one is necessary. I am sure I missed a few references, but the story is pretty self contained and there is enough context to get me caught up. Don’t get me wrong. I will be playing Citizen Sleeper after this, and you should start at the beginning to get the whole story.

The story is fantastic. The writing is excellent and the adventure is full of agency, tension, and epic moments. If you enjoy RPGs, you will appreciate the difficult choices you will have to make, and the chance at failing the most critical moments. For those of you who can’t find a play group, or just want your TTRPG fix, this is a fantastic surrogate.

As far as gameplay goes, this has some fantastic mechanics that are engaging, but not so much that they take away from the story. I like the dice pull system, being able to push my rolls, and the gambling aspect of every choice. The chance of failure makes the successes more rewarding, while failing gives the story its intensity. It was very hard to pull myself away, especially since I had to keep reading till the next checkpoint. This game does not let you save when you want. Instead, you will need to read until you can go to your hub or your ship. This makes your choices matter, and it also means you will have to replay your game if you want to see different options. Make sure you choose carefully.

Citizen Sleeper 2 will pull you in with its beautiful art, powerful story telling, and solid mechanics. If you like TTRPGs or just want to sit back and enjoy a good story, it needs to be in your library.

You can pick up Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector on Steam, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation for $24.99.