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video game reviews

First Impressions of PiPu Party: A Fun Puzzle Platformer

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Disclaimer

I was invited to cover the PiPu Party demo on my blog. I understand the game is not finished yet, so I will try to be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, these will be my honest first impressions of the game.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is PiPu Party?

PiPu Party is a chaotic puzzle platformer. You can brave the puzzles on your own, or play with your friends. The game supports up to 8 players for those who want to get really crazy. There is a demo available you should definitely try.

Hook

Players will jump through creative puzzles in a race against time. Team up with your friends for some creative co-op solutions, or race against your crew in a wacky adventure you won’t forget. Use your inventory to control the world around you to find your way to the solution. Are you smart enough to clear the levels?

Gameplay

Players will use their character to jump across the platform puzzle without falling as they race to get the fastest clear possible. Falling means starting the level over which results in a slower clear. What makes Pipu Party unique is that players will pick up abilities they can use to manipulate the world around them. Abilities will move, rotate, or stop platforms. Players can only hold three abilities at a time, and abilities are used in order. Players will need to know when and how to use their abilities efficiently to get the solve.

The game can be played solo, or with friends in couch 2-player co-op. The inventory is shared in multiplayer. There is an up to 8 player race game that sounds fun for a party, but I do not have enough friends to test it out.

Impressions

Since I’ve starting this blog, I’ve gotten more fond of platformers. I was never a fan because I was never good at them. Having to review games of every genre, I am proud to say that I have developed enough skill to appreciate a good platformer. PiPu Party is shaping up like a good platformer, even for the people like me who don’t have enough friends to take full advantage of the game’s design.

Art

PiPu Party has a simple retro vibe that gives the game its charm. If you are a fan of classic platformers from the SNES era, you will appreciate how well these pixels are put together to create its unique world and platforming experience. The game also has a fantastic soundtrack to get you in the mood for some intense jumping puzzles.

Puzzles

The demo has a few puzzles to play through, but they give a solid grasp of what to expect from the game. They all felt creative and get challenging, without feeling impossible. This may change in the full game, but I didn’t feel too frustrated trying for a solve.

What makes the puzzles in Pipu Party unique are that they move with or without a players interaction. Sometimes, you will be dropped onto a puzzle in motion and you have to act fast to solve the puzzle. Precision and efficiency is key in solving these puzzles. Other times, you will need to move or affect the direction of the puzzle pieces to get to the goal. The experience is very memorable, and I can’t wait to see more.

Conclusion

If you are a fan of platformers, especially the more difficult ones, you should try out PiPu Party. The game has a very cute retro vibe with some puzzles that will have you only using the edge of your seat. I only tried the solo mode and liked it enough to play more, but I can see how the game’s potential for being that silly party game you bring out with your most competitive friends. Do yourself a favor, go check out the demo and don’t forget to add PiPu Party to your wishlist!

You can check out PiPu Party on Steam.

video game reviews

Kingdom of Night Review: A Retro RPG Adventure

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Kingdom of Night on Steam 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 HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Kingdom of Night?

Kingdom of Night is a hack and slash action RPG out now on Steam. If you’ve ever wanted to have a dungeons and dragons style adventure in the 80’s, this is the game for you.

Hook

A satanic cult has taken over the small town of Miami Arizona and summoned Baphomet and his demon army. The town is thrown into chaos and John seems to be the only one who can bring back this sleepy town’s peace. Take control of John as he navigates the streets of his sleepy home town, fending of waves of Bephomet’s demon army. Can he master his powers and defeat Bephomet before it is too late, or will this be everyone’s last night on Earth?

Gameplay

Players will take control of John, and one of of his friends if playing co-op. You get to choose from one of the five classes: Barbarian, Knight, Rogue, Necromancer, and Sorcerer. The game works like your classic hack and slash. Players explore the different bits of the town, hacking away at the endless waves of enemies as they work towards the final fight. The melee classes are pretty straight forward and more beginner friendly, but the game does introduce a unique magic system that you should try at least once.

Magic

Kingdom of Night has an involved magic system that helps it stand out from other games in the genre. To cast a spell, players will need to activate runes according to the spells order. Runes are tied buttons on the controller or keys on the keyboard. The game gives players access to their spellbook at anytime. Once the combination has been pressed, players can cast the spell as long as it is off cooldown.

Skill Tree and Gear

Along the way, players will find gear to upgrade their character. The gear is very thematic and there is a good amount of variety that allow a diverse amount of builds. Players can buy levels on their skill tree for even more customization. While the game may be solvable, it doesn’t feel like it. I enjoyed trying to find a build of the necromancer that fit my playstyle.

Review

Kingdom of Night is a the perfect fantasy adventure full of action and a solid story to keep players invested. The retro vibe and all the 80’s references help set the proper mood for an dark adventure through the sleepy town of Miami, Arizona. If you want a fun hack and slash that is guaranteed to be an instant classic, this game should be in your library.

Aesthetic

The game goes above and beyond to successfully capture the spirit of the 80’s in this dark fantasy adventure. The dialogue, the characters, and the world design are all full of 80’s flare. I liked seeing posters of terminator and other 80’s references.

I am a huge fan of the game’s artstyle. The pixel art gives the game its retro vibe, but is able to deliver the perfect amount of detail to make Kingdom of Night an epic adventure. The game has cool animations and memorable character designs. The soundtrack is also fantastic, and helps set the mood of the adventure.

Story

Kingdom of Night is a proper fantasy adventure. The story has a great hook, solid buildup, and good amount of mystery to keep things moving. The side quests are flavorful and add a good amount of world building. If you need something to tide you over as you wait for the last season of Stranger Things, Kingdom of Night can help scratch the itch.

Spellcasting

I played as the necromancer because I wanted a challenge. The spellcasters require a bit more skill, but gameplay is not impossible. I loved every minute of my necromancer journey. The spell casting is such a refreshing mechanic, and some of my favorite of any game. It does take some getting used to, but once it clicks, its going to be hard to play spell casters in other games. Activating the rune combos is so flavorful and kept the game from becoming a mindless hack and slash. I will go back to replay the game as other classes.

Character Builds

I appreciate the amount of flavor that goes into the game, especially when it comes to the loot. Players will pick up gear that is properly themed to fit the world like books or sneakers, but give stat boosts that give players some control over their build. There is some RNG involved, but it felt fair for the most part.

Players can also customize their character by upgrading their skill tree at level up. The skill tree does offer some additional customization for each class, but it is pretty strait forward. You won’t, and shouldn’t, need to look up a guide. I found success building what I thought was fun.

Combat

Combat is a lot of fun. The hack and slash aspect is engaging and the boss fights are fun and memorable. There is a grind to this game, but it isn’t too bad. You can and should start skipping some of the more mindless drones that roam the city or else it will take forever to beat the story. Aside from the few important quest lines, players have a good amount of freedom to explore the city at their own pace. The city feels huge for a small town, and exploration can take a long time if you are spending your time killing everything that gets in your way. Note that mobs respawn if you enter and exit buildings.

Other

I did not get to try couch co-op, but I like that the game has the option in case I ever have a friend to play with. Kingdom of Night works perfectly on the Steam Deck and it works perfectly! I actually preferred playing on the Steam Deck because it let me chill on the couch. The arcade style gameplay makes this game the perfect couch game, and I’ll take any excuse to be away from my computer.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a fun adventure game with a good story and a cool world to explore, pick up Kingdom of Night. This is a very well made game that earns every dollar it is asking for. If you are fan of those old school cabinet games, or need a game to play locally with a friend or sibling, it doesn’t get much better than Kingdom of Night.

You can pick up Kingdom of Night on Steam.

video game reviews

Diggergun: A Deep Dive into Retro Puzzle Gaming

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Diggergun to review for my gun. 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 HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Diggergun?

Diggergun is a retro puzzler out now on Steam. There is a demo you should definitely check out, and don’t forget to wishlist!

Hook

You have taken a mining job digging for Lithiurn on Bal Island. The deal is so good, you pack your things and set off to your new adventure. Unfortunately, there are some details you missed in the fine print. There are costs to living on Bal Island, and you start with adventure with a good amount of depth. The only way off this island is to delve into the depth of the mines in search of Lithium. Can you find enough Litheurn to buy your freedom and get off this island, or will you succumb to the mysterious illness that seems to plague the other miners?

Gameplay Loop

Miners on Bal Island are expected to meet their quota, regardless of health. The only way off the island is to settle up depths, and life on Bal island is not cheap. Players will need to dive into the darkest depths of the mines in search Lithium. Armed with their trusty diggergun, miners will need to break through the earth and many monsters and bring back as much Lithium as they can carry. Players are limited by their stats, energy they can spend, and the amount of time in a day. While the game does look and feel like a simple retro puzzle game, there are a few moving parts that give the game its depth.

Day/Night Cycle

Time flows on Bal Island like any other place in the world. Every action, decision, and puzzle takes up time. Losing track of might mean starting the next day at a disadvantage, or possibly even death. Time also affects what events are available to the player. There are time gated interactions. For example, the restaurant is only open at a certain time and there are NPCs that are only available at certain times of the day. Missing these interactions can mean the rest of your time on Bal Island will be at a disadvantage.

Social Interactions

The mines are full of characters, some more interesting than others. Throughout the adventure, players will interact with players and have the chance to build a rapport with each one. These interactions and the relationships forged from them affect the game’s ending. There are multiple endings. Can you unlock them all?

Energy Management

Players spend energy to complete their tasks. It is a resource that is more valuable than money. Diving the mines eats at a miner’s energy reserve, but there are activities that help replenish. To replenish energy, players can eat a meal at the restaurant, use the bathroom, take a shower, and sleep. The quality of sleep affects the energy, and food costs money. All of these activities cost time, and the trick is balancing these activities with time in the mine to meet the quota. Luckily, your energy reserve and other useful stats can be upgraded at level up.

Leveling

Spending time in the mine will earn player experience. This experience will turn into levels that a player can use to upgrade one of four stats: aim, strength, energy, and luck. This is the games These skills impact how much damage a player does, how much lithium a player can carry, what a player can do in a day, and what a player finds on a delve. Each level affects gameplay. Choose wisely.

Mining

Players use their diggergun to excavate the earth and fight off monsters, but they use their mind to get to the next level. A level in the mine is a simple square 2D square full of mineable blocks, traps, and sometimes monsters. There will also be visible lithium nodes and other treasures spread throughout the map. Players will need to plan a rout as they excavate to collect everything before moving to the next room. Once a players inventory is full or they finish their quota, they can leave the mines to do it all over again tomorrow.

Money

Money runs everything on Bal Island, and it is the reason you can’t leave. At the end of each day, players collect their earnings. Players who meet the quota will be paid for their haul, but be charged for the fees of company. A big chunk of a miners wage goes into paying debt and other miscellaneous costs, leaving with little money. Players can take out another loan if money ever gets tight, but hat means never leaving the island.

Review

Diggergun is a very pleasant surprise. I enjoyed the retro aesthetic, but there was enough depth to the gameplay to keep me invested. Some people won’t like that most of the time you are just walking through a room, but there is a demo you can try before you make your final decision.

Aesthetic

I played a lot of retro puzzlers growing up on my Gameboy pocket, and have a soft sport for the look and feel of this game. The pixel art is solid and the cutscenes are cool. Diggergun has a very cool retrovibe, but the sound leaves a bit to be desired.

Sound

The sound effects are solid. I like the sound of the gun movement. It really gives me the hit of nostogia I wasn’t quite ready for, and I am here for it. The music in the game isn’t very impressive, but it is not really a deal breaker. I use play this game with anime in the background anyways.

Gameplay

Diggergun has unique mechanics that give it depth, but it does have a loop that isn’t going to vibe with some gamers. The game’s resource management keeps the game from being a mindless slog. You will need to plan your day efficiently, but those actions are simple. Most of the time you are walking through the rooms or going back to town to complete your daily interactions to survive. Some rooms offer a bit of a puzzle, but most of the time you are making your way to the next door. The main challenge is knowing when to delve and replenish resources while still making the daily quota.

I liked the loop and while it does feel a bit repetitive, it is a thematic and flavorful loop. The point of this game is to criticize the predatory nature of the corporate system, and the work is supposed to feel representative. I don’t think the game would benefit from mini games or a different style of delve mechanics. It would change the spirit of the game and I like it for the valid criticism that it makes.

My only real complaint is that I couldn’t get it to run on the Steam Deck. I wanted to play Diggergun on a handheld for the nostalgic experience. I don’t this is a deal breaker, but I hope we can get it one day.

Story

The game has terrific flavor and a solid story around the otherwise mundane loop. As efficient as I am during the day, it always felt like I wasn’t accomplishing anything at the end of the day because of how badly the company robbed me. It is a simple and very powerful story that makes valid criticism without feeling too preachy. I will have to try a second playthrough, but I don’t know how much talking to different NPCs will change the outcome, but then again, I would often lose track of time in the mines. I might need to look up some guides.

Conclusion

I really like Diggergun. It is a very cool concept for a game with a solid execution. If you don’t mind the simple retro feel and the repetition, it is a game you try at least once. The developer put a lot of love and care into this project, and I think it paid off. Go check it out, or at least try out the demo.

You can pick up DIGGERGUN on Steam.

video game reviews

Exploring Rebel Engine: Unique Mechanics and Challenges

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Rebel Engine 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 HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Rebel Engine

Rebel Engine is a fast-paced boomer shooter out now on Steam. The game combines innovative mechanics with a quirky story, flashy animations, and colorful design to create an experience unlike any other.

Hook

The sentient robot citizens of Ultima City are governed by the powerful Concrete corporation. Each citizen’s fate sits in the hands of the human CEO, Entropy. Those on top can enjoy the best the city has to offer, while those at the bottom are met with viscous oppression.

You are an enslaved construction bot, destined for endless combat in the arena for entertainment. After your latest defeat, a mysterious AI by the name of Salvador apears and offers you freedom in exchange for aid in toppling the evil Concrete corporation. With nothing left to lose you agree, setting off a high stakes, action pact adventure you will never forget.

Gameplay Loop

Players fight off waves of enemies in arena style combat, collecting new weapons and abilities along the way. Combat is fast-paced, with loud explosive colors to get that heart rate pumping, and keep it there. Players will hack-and-slash or shoot their way through their enemies.

What makes Rebel Engine unique is its reload mechanic. Rebel Engine breaks away from the traditional reload mechanic seen in other shooters. Instead of a manual reload, players will need to actively switch between weapons. Meaning, a gun reloads while a different gun is being used. To keep to keep up the flow of combat, players will need to constantly switch between guns.

Difficulty and Accessibility

Rebel Engine is difficult by design, especially if you aren’t used to gameplay. The game has settings that help adjust the difficulty to make the game more accessible. Don’t be afraid to experiment with the settings if you ever get stuck.

Review

Rebel Engine has a fun and colorful story with a gameplay loop that is unique, but also isn’t going to vibe with everyone. When the game works, the tight combo system creates an exhilarating adventure full of loud explosions. Unfortunately, the performance dips and a few of the mechanics made the experience a bit too awkward for my taste. Adjusting difficulty does help a bit, but it is hard to ignore the issues. Unfortunately, my save was erased and I didn’t have it in me to redo all the progress I had made.

Aesthetic

The world of Rebel Engine is vibrant and colorful. It is a world full of flashing lights, loud explosions, and a fantastic soundtrack to get you in the mood for killing. I am a huge fan of the colorful, cartoonist world, especially when it comes to the robot and weapon design. Exploration is limited, but when so much is happening at the same time, you barely even notice.

Story

Rebel Engine‘s story leans heavily on its humor. The game made me laugh a lot, and there was some very solid voice acting to get me through the story. I am a huge fan of the voice behind Salvador, and couldn’t ask for a better companion. At least for the bits of the game that I was able to get through.

Gameplay

I wish this game had a demo because the gameplay isn’t going to vibe with everyone. I love the innovative approach to the genre in theory, but it feels clunky in practice. The game is set up to encourage users to switch between all weapons, including melee, but going in for a melee attack feels like a losing strategy.

Kiting enemies with the game’s innovative gun play seems to fair a little better, if you can master the mechanics. This is probably a skill issue, but the reload mechanic never clicked with me. It never felt smooth and I was often missing out on damage because I couldn’t get the timing right. The auto aim feature is thematic, but made the camera feel a little too hectic. The game is already hectic enough without it.

Performace

When the game worked, the experience is exciting, but I often hit performance dips on my RTX3060. I probably need an upgrade, but it handles more demanding games better. I never hit a bug that killed my game or ended my run, but it is noticeable during heavier encounters. The reload mechanics make the game feel clunky, the added clunkiness doesn’t help. Messing with the settings does help, but it is something to note when trying out the game.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

It works fine on the Steam Deck. I prefer using a keyboard and mouse, but the handheld experience isn’t unplayable. It really comes down to preference, and the keyboard and mouse felt a lot more natural and accurate. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get cloud saves to work and I unfortunately lost all my initial progress. I didn’t like the game enough to go back and try it all again.

Conclusion

I really wish this game had a demo because that reload mechanic is what makes or breaks this experience. Other than that, the game has a fun colorful story with some solid voice acting and amazing soundtrack. The atmosphere and atmosphere got me to invest as much effort as I did, and the humor helped soften some of that frustration. Unfortunately, the mechanics never clicked with me. I tried very hard, but it just felt too clunky. In better hands, the experience has the potential to be the high-speed hack and slash game of dreams, but not in my tired old hands. Adjusting the settings helps, but not enough to vibe with.

If you like fast-paced games where acurray and combos are important, then pick up Rebel Engine. The game offers a challenging unique experience with enough fun to be worth the price tag. If you aren’t used to the genre, or don’t like these types of fast paced Hack-n-Slash games, then this isn’t the game that will make you start liking them.

You can pick up Rebel Engine on Steam.

video game reviews

A Pizza Delivery Review: Is It Worth Playing?

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of a A Pizza Delivery 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 HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is A Pizza Delivery

A Pizza Delivery is a surreal narrative exploration game out now on Steam.

Story

B is a pizza delivery person on her last delivery of the day. Little does she know, this is no ordinary delivery. She finds herself in a surreal world where nothing makes sense, and the world keeps changing. With only her trusty Vespa, B must venture through this new world and deliver this final pizza. But the road won’t be easy, and there is a chance B will be trapped for ever. Solve puzzles, collect clues, and share a slice of pizza with anyone who needs it. Can B make her last delivery and get out of this place, or will she get lost like everything else here.

Gameplay

A Pizza Delivery is a walking simulator with the occasional puzzle or dialogue to break up the journey. Players will ride their Vespa through dream like landscapes, collecting clues and solving puzzles to move forward with the story. Sometimes, delivering pizza means chatting with a lost soul, and offering a slice that will help them move on from a world they’ve become stuck in. There is no voice acting, so it really is more like a novel with a few extra steps.

Review

I loved A Pizza Delivery for its unique narrative style and dreamlike aesthetic. Unfortunately, the lenghth of the game and bugs make it difficult to recommend. If you want a unique narrative game that leans a bit into surrealism and don’t mind a buggy game, check out A Pizza Delivery.

Story

A Pizza Delivery is a twisting journey about learning to let go. B will find people along the way who have become trapped in this world by their anxieties. She helps them let go by talking through their problems and offering them a slice of cold pizza. It is a neat adventure, but a very slow burn. What I like about this game is how the complete story is scattered through the level as clues, puzzles, and dialogue. The problem I have with this story is that not everything you collect feels important. There are some clues that don’t add anything to the story. Overall, it is a cool story about letting go, but I don’t think there is enough of it to be worth buying the game at full price. The game takes about two hours to complete, and a lot of it feels like filler.

Gameplay Loop

The gameplay is where a l lot of people will have issue. The walking is slow, and while the Vespa speeds things up, driving gets old pretty fast. The game feels very tedious because you have to walk back and forth in a zone, collecting bits and pieces of the various puzzles. When they work properly, there are some interesting puzzles that kept me invested, but the game’s buggniness is a problem. If you can get past the bugs, you can appreciate the games creative experimental approach to narrative.

Performance

A Pizza Delivery is very buggy. The game is made by a small team so I am willing to overlook a lot of the issues, but the bugs are problematic.

The Camera

The camera is the biggest issue. Raw, the camera sensitivity is too high. I got motion sickness and had to lower the sensitivity. The camera control still feels a little awkward, but the game does become more playable. The camera also becomes hard to control when you get too close to a wall. This made some of the puzzles annoying. The camera is a pain point that I see turning players off the game.

Glitches

A Pizza Delivery doesn’t always feel stable. Frames will drop, and the game stutters a lot. There are a few awkward animations that break a bit of the immersion. I did hit a few bugs that made one of the puzzles frustrating almost to the point where I dropped the game, but I am glad I pressed through. You can tell the game needs more work, but if you can look through it, the game has a solid enough story.

Conclusion

I have a soft spot for games like these because I respect when people try something out of the norm. A Pizza Delivery tries some very interesting concept around a cool narrative, but I don’t think there is enough substance to make the game worth it. The game feels a little too tedious to recommend to the average gamer, and the payoff doesn’t feel worth it. While the message is good, there is just too much work required.

In its current state, I can’t recommend the game. It isn’t a bad game, but it needs a bit more substance. There needs to be more clues, more dialogue, and a bit more story. You can do a lot worse, I’ve played Nightmare Shift, but you can definitely play better. Go check out Once Alive instead if you want to see a cool single dev project, or Go Home Annie if you want something a little more trippy.

You can pick up A Pizza Delivery on Steam.

video game reviews

Onirism Review: A Whimsical Action Adventure

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Onirism to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my content, please share this with your friends and check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. You can also always buy me coffee!

What is Onirism

Onirism is a is an adorable action RPG out now on Steam.

Story

Bunbun has been stolen, and Carol will do anything in her power to get her stuffed rabbit back. Armed with the worlds most unique and powerful weapons, Carol will fight her way through endless waves of enemies to get her bunny back. Jump through the different zones, master the different genres, and get back what’s yours. How long before Carol and Bunbun can be reuinited?

Gameplay Loop

Onirism is a fast paced action adventure game. Carol travels across an open world, fighting off monsters, and collecting different weapons and abilities to help her on her journey. Combat in this game is a third person shooter, where players have access to a vast arsenal of weapons to choose from. Each gun feels different and changes the combat enough to keep things fresh and exciting. Enemies are all fun and unique, providing enough of a challenge to keep players on their toes. Remember, the game does not save automatically. Players will need to find save points to heal Carol and save their progress. Dying before hitting one of these zones will reset the game to the last save on file. Plan accordingly.

Review

Onirism is a cute and fun game with a lot of spirit, but it is not finished. Although there have been daily updates since I’ve downloaded the game, there is is some noticeable roughness. Sometimes the game will break, other times times you will lose a lot of frames. When the game works well, the game is as addicting as it is adorable.

Aesthetics

The game is a flavorful adventure through childish wonder and whimsy. Each zone is unique with a lot of content to explore. The monsters are cute and creative, with frightening bosses controlling them. The artstyle only adds to the stories playful and silly tone in a way that makes the game incredibly wholesome. It is the game’s art and tone that drew me to the game, but it is the gameplay that does it for me.

Gameplay

When the game works, it is a lot of fun. Combat is fast paced and exciting, the boss fights are creative, and the jumping puzzles are manageable. There is also a good amount of exploration to be done. The problem is the game doesn’t feel finished. There are a lot of bugs and noticeable performance issues that do take away from the immersion. Frames will drop, there is a bit of stuttering, and the game crashed once or twice during my playthrough.

Although there is controller support, the tutorial is only for keyboard and mouse. The game isn’t really optimized for controller at this stage of development. You might have to do a bit of tweaking, but aiming feels bad compared to keyboard and mouse. If you are playing with keyboard and mouse, you might need to do some remapping. On my playthrough, left was mapped to the wrong key by default. It is an easy fix, but it means the game isn’t ready to play out of the box.

While Onirism does feel unfinished, there have been daily patches since I’ve downloaded the game. The devs are hard at work on a game they are clearly passionate about. While the game will need a couple of updates before it can be in a good position, I at least have some confidence that they are working on it.

Conclusion

Onirism is a cute adventure game, and I loved every minute of it. Now keep in mind the game is not finished yet. The roughness is the biggest factor of whether or not you buy this game. If you don’t mind the immersion breaking bugs and performance issues, the game has enough substance and heart to keep you engaged. There is a lot of content to explore, and a lot of interesting ideas to keep the game interesting. But if the roughness is going to be a problem, I would wait for a couple of patches. This might be a very ambitious game, and the devs clearly need more time and support. I loved it, but it can definitely be better.

You can pick up Onirism on Steam. If you are in the market for another janky action adventure game, check out Star Overdrive.

video game reviews

Skygard Arena: A Unique Strategy Game Worth Playing

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Skygard Arena 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 Skygard Arena?

Skygard Arena is a unique strategy indie PVP game out now on Steam (Currently 35% off until October 2nd).

Skygard has been split into five unique factions, each with their own flavor and abilities. To avoid long and drawn out wars, the five factions come together to compete in the Arena. Each faction sends their collection of their best champions to duke it out in the ultimate show of power and wit. Choose your champion as you face off against other people through epic PVP matches, or see your favorite faction rise to the top in the campaign mode. Can you master your abilities and come out on top?

Gameplay

Players take turns controlling their team of three champions as they try to capture objectives and pick up resources. Players take turns controlling each of their champions as they strategize their victory. Turns are based on the character’s priority. Each character can move, use a main action and a fast action. Each character has a movement action for a bit of added mystery. Players must balance fighting off the enemy and taking objectives. The first team to take all the objectives wins. It is a game that has a bit of learning curve learned through experience. While the tutorial and the story do a good job at on-boarding players to the fundamentals of the game, there are a few nuances (like the combo system) that the player will need to pick up through experimentation and additional research.

Review

Skygard Arena is a solid PVP strategy game that ill fill its niche nicely. The game has a cool artstyle with a decent amount of flavor (I love the distinct styles of the different factions) and sound mechanics. Those who are looking for a unique strategy experience should definitely look into this game. The game runs well and it will earn its $15.

My biggest issue with the game is that the campaign isn’t very good. The voice acting is bad and the writing doesn’t do enough to capture my attention. I shouldn’t really be expecting much for a game with the focus on PvP, but that is where I would spend most of my time. I tried PvP and got wrecked, but that is more of a skill issue. The game ran fine, I am just bad. Even so, the game does need a bigger community. Make sure you join the official Discord. The people seem friendly towards beginners and casuals, and it is a great place to keep up with news and events.

The game does give players the option to play AI matches. For the most part, these are a great feature to explore different faction, combos, and strategies, but the turns can be a little long. The campaign is still a better way to learn the game, but this option is a great for casuals who aren’t ready for PvP, or those who want to explore something new without the pressure.

Honestly, the game is fine and deserves a bigger audience. I appreciate that the game tries new things in the space. Having to balance positioning, objectives, and enemy units creates enough complexity and depth to keep things engaging. I love that there aren’t 1000 different macro/micro actions to manage. Everything is pretty contained within the arena while still allowing for a good amount of strategy. The biggest barrier will be learning each character’s abilities and how they interact with others to build your team. Whether you have time for that will be up to you, but I am sure there are people in the community currently solving the meta.

Skygard Arena is going to do well in its niche if it can build its community. It needs and deserves more players. If you like strategy games and don’t mind the PvP, Skygard has a unique twist that is worth trying once.

You can buy Skygard Arena on Steam.

video game reviews

Don’t Lose Aggro: An Engaging Survival Action Rogue-like Demo Review

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Disclaimer

I was sent a copy of the Don’t Lose Aggro demo to review for my blog. I am very grateful and understand the game isn’t finished yet. While I will be a bit more lenient with my criticism, this will still 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 Don’t Lose Aggro?

Don’t Lose Aggro is a unique twist on the survival action rogue-like coming to Steam.

Ever wanted the feeling of tanking in your favorite MMO but without any of the pressure? Well pick up your shield and your favorite ally and do just that in Don’t Lose Aggro. Fend off against waves of enemies and their bosses as you use your skills to keep allies alive. Do you have what it takes to beat the raid and unlock everything? Then check out the Don’t Lose Aggro today!

Gameplay

Players chose their shield and ally and load into a run where they defend against waves of enemies using their kit. All players start with the same shield, move pool, and ally, unlocking more as they play and beat challenges. During a run, players can auto attack in the beginning, but slowly learn new spells and abilities as they kill enemies to level. In typical rogue-like fashion, the spells are offered randomly at each level up, but the pool players choose from grows the more they play. Check out the trailer below for some gameplay footage.

Review

While the game does need a bit more substance and optimization, the game is fun and will find its niche. I like that I don’t have to learn dungeon mechanics or routs to jump into the fray. I especially love the lack of pressure to do well. The game does feel too hard at the beginning, and that kind of makes the grind feel worse. I get the idea is that the game will get easier the more you play, but getting through the first fight feels like it takes too long. This could be a skill issue.

The does feel a little bare, especially in the beginning. The maps are empty, except for enemies, and there aren’t enough choices. As a result, the game starts to feel very repetitive until you start unlocking new permanents that shake up the gameplay. That said, I don’t think this is a game you are meant to no-life, and picking it up here and there for few hours of fun has its value.

I had my fun with the demo and can’t wait for the full release. It has cool flavor, some interesting mechanics, and I love that I can play it on the Steam deck. If you enjoy MMOs and want to explore the wonderful world of tanking without any of the pressures that come with it, check out the Don’t Lose Aggro demo.

Uncategorized, video game reviews

Is Ritual of Raven the Best Cozy Farming Sim?

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Ritual of Raven 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 Ritual of Raven?

Ritual of Raven is a very cozy and unique farming simulator out now on Steam and Nintendo Switch.

You have been brought into a magical world full of wonder and mystery, but this world is in chaos. An ambitious project to connect different realms with portals have left those who created the portals scrambling for what they’ve lost. A local witch has come for your aid. With her guidance, you must learn to harness this worlds magic and help fix what the ritual broke. Use your magic to gather materials, solve puzzles, and build the magical farm of your dreams.

Gameplay

Ritual of Raven has the familiar farming sim loop. Players gather resources and reshape the land as they build and design their farm. What makes Ritual of Raven unique is that players don’t do the farming themselves. Players give commands to a construct that will move through the world, planting, watering, and harvesting crops. This is done by giving a command at a time until the action is complete. There is also a quirky story to play through when they aren’t busy designing their farm.

Review

I absolutely love Ritual of Raven, and if you are in the mood for some cozy gaming, you will too. This is one of the most unique farming sims I’ve ever played, and I loved every minute of it.

The game has a retro feel. The vibrant pixel art creates the cozy ambiance that first attracted me to the title, but the amount of flavor and whimsy that goes into the creating the magical world is what kept me invested. Each location is unique and a joy to explore, but I think I spent too much exploring.

The flavor for the game world is fantastic. I love the unique take on magic and how it is used to farm. Each farming session became a puzzle that I needed to solve as I imputed my commands and watched my familiar go. It is a mechanic that can take getting used to, but it keeps things engaging. It does get a little tedious. People are either going to love this mechanic, or be frustrated by the extra work. I recommend checking out a gameplay video first.

My only real complaint is that it looks too small on the Steam Deck. It is not unplayable and honestly the issue is with my old eyes, but it made the farming mechanic a bigger chore than it needed to be. It wasn’t a bad experience, but my eyes appreciated when I didn’t have to strain to see things on the bigger monitor.

If you are looking for a new farming sim with a fun little story with a unique twist on the genre, check out Ritual of Raven!

You can pick up Ritual of Raven on Steam and Nintendo Switch for $14.99.

video game reviews

Holy Shoot: An Early Access Roguelike Shooter Review

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Holy Shoot 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 Holy Shoot?

Holy Shoot is an action roguelike first person shooter out on Steam Early Access.

Dive into the darkest reaches of Hell armed with only your gun, and any guns you find along the way. Upgrade your hero as you fight off endless waves of demons in this fast-paced adventure. Occasionally, bosses will make the rounds and give you a run for your money. Do you have what it takes to keep Hell under control, or will you be another lost soul victim to its unrelenting heat?

Gameplay

Players start off by playing Supersonic Samuel, but can unlock a second character through gameplay. Each character has access to unique kit of weapons and abilities to help them fight off demons. Players will pick up new weapons as random loot drops and buy from a random assortment of abilities between levels. During a run, players must clear each level of its demons to move on. Dying means starting the run over. Combat is straight forward. The game is a fast paced looter shooter and enemies all have weak points players can target to deal extra damage. The levels do seem to be randomly generated for a bit of variety, but there is a slight repetitive grind that gets easier the more you play and earn permanent upgrades.

Review

I understand the game is still in Early Access and try to be a bit more lenient. Out of the gate, I was impressed with the game’s artstyle. There is some fun whimsy in the character design and the world looks good. The game also has a solid sound track which is always nice. Playing my first few rounds reminded me of the time I spent blasting through the Borderlands series. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t leave much of impressions, especially against similar games I’ve played in the past.

The game plays with some interesting ideas. I like the idea of monsters having weakpoints for dealing extra damage. I also like the fast pace of the game. I also think the world and its monsters are fun and interesting. Unfortunately when the novelty wears off, the game becomes stale. The upgrades you get at each level are all the same or they feel the same. None of the upgrades I picked up felt like they made an impact and some of the weapons felt worse than the starter. I am sure the full game will give players access to more guns and abilities, but I don’t know if I want to wait that long. That said, it does look like the devs are working hard on making the improvements, and I am willing to try a more patched version of the game.

As it stands, whether or not you should try this game in Early Access really depends on how much you want to support the game’s development. While the game looks good, it clearly isn’t finished. The roguelike aspect seems solvable with the limited pool of upgrades and loot and the performance isn’t good. When compared to other similar games, you have better options. I would wait for a more patched version. If you want to support Holy Shoot in Early Access, you can pick up your copy for $19.99.