I sat down to try Dungeons of Hinterberg because I liked the art style. The game features a fun and quirky style that I find soothing. I was also impressed by the bit of gameplay that I saw. While I did appreciate a few of the game’s quirks and gimmicks, the demo didn’t leave me wanting more. In its current iteration, you simply have better options.
What is the Dungeons of Hinterberg?
Dungeons of Hinterberg is a puzzle dungeon crawler coming to PC and Xbox.
Hunterberg is a popular vacation spot. Its beautiful landscape and perilous dungeons attract brave adventurers from around the globe and provide a meaningful escape from their boring 9-5s. Play as Luisa as she makes her pilgrimage. Can she conquer the dungeons before the end of her holiday?
Impressions
Dungeons of Hinterberg isn’t a bad game. The art style is cool, the music is fine, and the game works. The problem I have with the game is that there are simply better options. As a puzzle game, it isn’t very fun. The puzzles are fine, but they felt like busy work for the most part. Combat in this game felt fine until the novelty wore off and it got stale. It feels like a phone game that got ported onto PC, which isn’t a bad thing, but again, you have better options. My biggest issue is that the tutorial took too long. By the time the game built its momentum, I had already lost interest in the game.
I know it isn’t fair to judge a game by its demo, but the demo should at least make me want to play more. The Demo is up on Steam, but you have better options.
Dungeons of Hinterberg releases on July 18 on Steam and Xbox. It will come to day one of game pass, I recommend you wait for that instead.
After the rousing success of the initial Supporter Pack, Grand Archive is releasing a second! Supporter packs are designed with collectors in mind, featuring unique alts for cards already in the format. This is a great way to boost your collection if you’re participating in any Path of Silver events.
Supporter packs will only be sold at official Grand Archive events, events run by partners, or trade shows. Purchase limits will be placed, hopefully mitigating those pesky scalpers. Anime Expo 2024 on July 4th will be the first time the new Supporter Packs will be sold, and we’ve already got some exciting-looking teasers!
This is a direct-to-consumer product and won’t be sold in stores. This is so that Weebs of the Shore doesn’t take away profits from the local game store. Fans of Grand Archive who purchase the Supporter Packs get to bling out their collection while directly helping the game they love grow. I love what I’ve seen so far, I can’t wait to see the rest of the spoilers. I hope I can find the time to go to an event and get my hands on a couple.
Product Info
Each pack contains 3 cards: 2 uncommon cards, and 1 rare (or higher) card
Tickets for Ascent Singapore have just gone on sale and now is a great time to start planning your trip. The 2nd SEA Ascent will be held on September 28th – 29th, so make sure you mark your calendars. I am interested in seeing what the meta will look like by then.
The Ascent events are always a good time for every type of Grand Archive fan. Competitive players can compete in the Path of Steel main event for a chance at some solid pricing, and collectors can compete in the Path of Silver event for exclusive promos to add to their collection. Casual fans can enjoy exclusive merch, and special side events, and get to watch top-level competitive play. Whatever your draw to card game is, you are sure to find it at Ascent Singapore. Get your tickets today!
Sabrina, Spirit of Water Promo!
While the Path of Silver prizing hasn’t been announced yet, we do get to see the promo for the top 16, and it is so pretty! There is some solid cash prize support, but I am most excited about Sabrina, Spirit of Water. The art is so good, and I am sure the quality is spectacular.
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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.
Ascent Taipei was the first major tournament since the release Mercurial Heart. The Re:Collection decks showed their worth, taking two of the top three spots but Laureen continues to prove why she is queen. I’ve compiled a list of the top three deck lists and included links to singles for those who need it. If you’re trying to build the Tristana or Silivie deck, I recommend finding a recollection deck, even a searched one, and building out from there.
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The new ban list has been posted, and while there were no new action bans, Corhazi Outlook has been added to the watch list, while Varuck and Freezing Hail have been removed. While it is still safe to run Corhazi Outlook, the day may come when it is banned. The rest of the list has remained unchanged. Make sure you are compliant before hitting up locals. Check out the official ban list page for the full details.
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Grand Archive has two watch lists, category 1 and 2. Category 2 is the list with the highest potential of getting banned. While you are find playing cards in this list for now, you should probably start looking for replacements in future lists. Erupting Rhapsody is the only card on this list.
Category 1 Watch List
Cards in this list may one day get banned, but they are still safe to play. Cards that get added to this list are being watched for their potential for breaking the format in future sets. Varuck and Freezing Hail have been removed and Corhazi Outlook has been added. The full watch list is as follows:
Every month gets us closer to Drakantos launch. I’ve been following this game for a while, and my excitement never wavers. May was a spectacular month. The devs revealed an exciting amount of progress, but more importantly, I think I found my main in Thomas.
If you want to stay up to date on all the Drakantos news, make sure you join the official discord and read the official Dev Log. Don’t forget to add Drakantos to your Steam wishlist!
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Thomas Gameplay
I was going to play Thomas because he is a cat. After today, I am playing Thomas for the gameplay. Thomas seems like a supporting character with enough power to solo content if necessary. I have always been a support main, and I don’t think Drakantos will change that. Although, a couple of the DPS classes have gotten a bit of my attention.
Thomas is your typical bard. His instrument seems to buff allies and debuffs and damages enemies. That taunt ability is going to be fun in raids and PvP. What makes Thomas unique is the mini game you have to play for casting spells. From the Dev Log:
🧙♂️Dev Note: Playing with Thomas is like playing an instrument, you need to match the colors of the notes when using ‘Resonance’ to increase the effectiveness of the spell.
I was a Sona main in League. I dig the music magic flavor, and the mini-game is a nice touch. It makes spellcasting more engaging, and it could make Thomas a more technical character to play effectively. We will have to see what this looks like in the field, but I am curious.
If you’re looking for a ranged support character and don’t mind all the cat puns, Thomas is your cat.
Cultist Tower Gameplay
We got some dungeon gameplay. In the video, we get to see general mobs, and a mini-boss when the devs enter the elevator. The idea is that the events in elevators will always be different, to keep gameplay fresh and exciting. I am impressed with the general combat loop, and the dungeon looks really cool. I am a huge fan of the game’s art style.
Hydra Boss Fight
A hydra boss fight is being designed, and the art for the stage is fantastic. I can’t wait to see what the hydra looks like in its final incarnation.
Treasure Gnomes!
These work like treasure goblins in Diablo but with an adorable redesign. I will allow it!
Mimics!
There are going to be mimics in this game. I am a huge fan of the design, and it means more traps to look out for. I hope they drop some solid gear.
The Mercurial Heart season has kicked off, and prizing has been announced. If you’re interested in the competitive scene or just want to play some Grand Archive, check with your LGS for a scene. Use the handy store locator on the Omnidex if you need a place to start! Grand Archive has some of the nicest players. Even if you’re not comfortable with your skills, you’re going to have a good time!
Store Championships
Store Championships start on July 1st and will run until September 27th, which gives you plenty of time to start brewing your competitive deck or at least earn a stamped Sabel Remnant! This season’s champion playmat is amazing! Make sure you check with your LGS to see when they’ll be running the next store championship!
Stamped Sable Remnant
You get a Sable Remnant just for showing up (while supplies last) so it might be worth trying worth checking it out. Who knows? You might get addicted to the chase!
Nationals Qualifier Invitation
Winners of the store championship will earn a special Windmill Engineer that not only looks pretty, but acts as their invitation to nationals!
Champion Playmat
The winner also gets an exclusive store champion playmat. The art is beautiful, and if I wasn’t already convinced about going for the Grand Archive, I would be going for a chance at the playmat!
Regionals
Regional season is also upon us! Players who do well at regionals will receive MRC Saphire packs with foils of cards only available in the Re:Collection decks. It might be a great chance at some valuable bling if you’re running either. Everyone attending a regional receives a cool playmat, but those who do well will earn points towards a Nationals invite and an even cooler playmat. I’m convinced to show up, even if I only get a prize for participation.
Lightweaver’s Assault
Players who do well at regionals will receive a special Lightweaver’s Assault card that comes with 3 points towards a nationals invite. This is such a cool card to chase! I like the idea of winning cards as invites. It reminds me of the old Yugioh anime, and that was such a huge part of my childhood.
Participation Playmat
Even if you don’t win, the playmat you get just for showing up is pretty cool. I’m hoping they run a regionals near me so I can get my hands on one.
Finalist Playmat
Champion
When
Some regional dates have been announced and confirmed. The list is not final, so make sure you are checking the official Grand Archive page to stay up to date. Here is what has been confirmed so far:
North America
June 23rd – 401Kollectibles (West Chicago, IL)
June 30th – True Champion Gaming (Ann Arbor, MI)
July 6th – Curio Cavern (Springfield, VA)
July 13th – Webway Games (Marlborough, MA)
July 13th – Game Kastle Greenville (Taylors, SC)
July 14th – Forest City Coins (London, ON)
July 21st – Mox Valley Games (Springfield, OR)
August 17th – The Haven Games (Casselberry, FL)
September 14th – Final Turn Gaming (Clifton, NJ)\
September 21st – The Banish Zone (Wernersville, PA)
Date TBD – Reaper Game Store (Denton, TX)
Date TBD – CoreTCG (Pasadena, CA)
Date TBD – Final Cut TCG (Gold River, CA)
Date TBD – Yeti Gaming (St. Louis, MO)
Europe
July 14th – IanTCG (Den Haag, Netherlands)
September 15th – Brood en Spelen (Sint-Niklaas, Belgium)
September 28th – Aria’s Card Shop (Budapest, Hungary)
Oceania
June 29th – Good Games Box Hill (Melbourne, AU)
July 6th – JoJo’s Hobbyhouse (Brisbane, AU)
Date TBD – Good Games Townhall (Sydney, AU)
Date TBD – Card Merchant Christchurch (Christchurch, NZ)
Date TBD – Card Merchant Nelson (Nelson, NZ)
Date TBD – Card Merchant Westcity (Auckland, NZ)
Date TBD – Card Merchant Hamilton (Hamilton, NZ)
Date TBD – Hobby Lords Lower Hutt (Lower Hutt, NZ)
Southeast Asia
July 14th – The Weatherlight Enterprise (Selangor, MY)
August 24th – Agora Hobby (Singapore)
Online
July 27th – IllusiveTCG (OCE)
July 28th – Yeti Gaming (NA)
August 25th – Yeti Gaming (NA)
September 21st – Aria’s Card Shop (EU)
Conclusion
Good luck to everyone who participates. I hope you all go far. I’ll see you out there!
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I was sent a free copy of Terra Memoria 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 these reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. If you’re looking for a quality budget headset, check out the Fifine H9 Gaming Headset using my Amazon Affiliate link. Make sure you check out my full review. Don’t forget to follow the socials!
Terra is a world of magic and magical technology. For years, innovation has been powered by magical crystals mined from the earth. But a shortage has hit Terra, and access to these crystals grows increasingly scarce by the minute. The citizens of Terra grow uneasy as the world around them begins to shut down. Luckily, Fate has willed a group together a group with the power to change everything. What secrets will they uncover? Can Terra ever be restored to what it used to be?
Gameplay
Terra Memoria is an adorable RPG with interesting mechanics that help it stand out against other titles in the genre. I particularly enjoyed how the game handles crafting, gear, and combat.
Crafting and leveling are done at campfires or inns in town. Make sure you visit them often. As you battle monsters in the field, you’ll collect materials and experience points. Getting to a rest area automatically levels your character, and I appreciate that simplicity. Crafting is what makes the rest areas an interesting mechanic.
Crafting armor and cooking is done during a party’s rest, provided you have the right amount of materials. This is not only flavorful, but it means you don’t have to keep running back to town for upgrades if you plan accordingly. Cooking is done through a simple rhythm mini-game that you can fail if you’re not paying attention. Failing a recipe means you lose the materials, and materials can be scarce in the beginning. Cooking permanently raises your party’s HP, so eat often. This is the only way to raise your HP, and tougher enemies will wipe your party if you haven’t been easy. I appreciate that cooking isn’t just a gimmick, and I didn’t mind the mini-game.
Crafting weapons is just a press of a button. Unlike most games, gear in Terra Memoria comes in the form of stickers. This is such a cute idea, and I wanted to craft them all. Stickers grant buffs to the elements a character can use. Each attaching character can only carry three stickers at a time, and these stickers make a difference.
Terra Memoria’s combat system is the reason why you should play this game. When combat starts, characters and enemies are placed in a space on the timeline. When a character uses an attack, they are moved several spaces on the timeline based on the attack. For example, casting a punch attack will move a character four spaces in the timeline.
Characters have access to fast and slow actions. Fast actions are weaker, but they cost less spaces. Slow actions are more powerful, but move your character to the end of the order. Landing in an occupied space means you go after. The key to combat in Terra Memoria is taking advantage of the action economy, enemy weaknesses, and shield breaks. Breaking an enemy’s shield moves them to the end of the combat round, so try to do so often.
What makes combat exciting is the RNG. The party is made up of three main attackers and three characters to support them as pairs. While the three main attackers are always the same, the pairs are chosen randomly at the start of each combat. You can restrict the pairs you don’t want, but you can never choose your pairs. Each support character has a unique ability that changes how the main character attacks. This gives the party a very diverse move pool, but it also means you’re going to get pairings that don’t feel optimal. Make sure you restrict your choices as soon as the option is available.
Some abilities are stagnant, but Opals is also driven by RNG. Sometimes you’ll pull the exact pairings with the correct elements, and others you’ll have to deal with what you are given. I never felt like the RNG was unfair, and it always felt amazing when the stars aligned perfectly.
There is a grind to this game, as there typical for the genre, but it doesn’t feel soul-crushing. The RNG kept things interesting, and there was always a chance I would mess up and have to start over.
Review
I loved Terra Memoria. If you’re looking for a new RPG, this game should be on your list. This game is cute, quirky, and a whole lot of fun. The story for this game is well written. It is a little on the silly side, but I appreciate the dedication to its tone and theme. It made the game feel like a wholesome good time.
If it wasn’t clear, I enjoyed the game’s mechanics immensely. Combat was engaging and fun, crafting didn’t feel like busy work, and collecting the cute stickers became an obsession. I didn’t even mind the grind. You can over-level, so be mindful. The bosses always seemed to offer a decent challenge, so it wasn’t a huge issue.
Puzzles in this game are creative, and challenging, but don’t require a guide. There is a building mechanic. I don’t care much for building, but it is cute and is sure to eat away at your life. My only complaint is that I would get lost a lot, but I am famously bad at directions. If you’re a fan of classic RPGs without waypoints, this game is for you.
I loved Terra Memoria, and I think you will do. It is cute, fun, and very addicting.
The Replicant Rebellionexpansion is officially live on Kickstarter! If you’ve been enjoying the Blade Runner Roleplaying game, or are looking for something to spice up your next campaign, you’re going to want to back this project.
Replicant Rebellion is already fully funded, and if history is anything to go by, this is going to be a spectacular book. I am already a huge fan of the revealed art. Let’s dive into the expansion and get excited!
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InReplicant Rebellion, players run their crews in secret operations in the name of the cause. They can help fugitive Replicants hide, sabotage the Replicant trade, fight against enemy crews, and much much more. This 200+ page book is sure to have something for your table. Players must be careful to keep their intentions concealed from the Blade Runners and their records clean. How much are you willing to give up for the cause?
Art
I was sent a few of the Blade Runner books to review for my blog, and they are so pretty. The art in these books is just too good to overlook, especially if you’re a fan of the source material. What I’ve seen so far from Replicant Rebellion is no exception:
Thoughts
If you are thinking of picking up this book, please keep in mind that you will need the core rulebook to run it. The Blade Runner RPG has a solid system that is easy to learn and pick up, and the book is so pretty.
As for the expansion, I think the concept is great. Flipping the roles so that a player can experience both sides of society is such a cool way to refresh a campaign. I’ve been running TTRPGs for a few years now and understand the pain that comes with burnout. Sometimes you need to take a break to recharge. Other times you need to switch systems and experience something different. Having to play the same system from a different angle is fantastic because no one has to learn new rules, and you don’t need to stop playing.
Sure you can make up your own world with and homebrew your lore and rules to keep things fresh, but some of us don’t have the time. It’s also nice to have a reference ready in case it is ever needed.
The book looks great, the concept is fantastic, and as a fan of the base material, I am all in. I will probably be getting my copy for review, so make sure you stay tuned for that. Until then, make sure you back that Kickstarter!
