Tag Archives: indie

video game reviews

Highwater: The Quirky Little Satire That Could

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I want to give a huge shoutout to Fanny2pac for buying me coffee! Your support means so much to me. I need my caffeine to function and every little bit counts. I hope you continue to enjoy my content, and I’ll do my best to make sure is good! Thank you so much!

I was sent Highwater 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 of the game. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Make sure you follow the socials, and you can always buy me coffee!

What is Highwater?

Highwater is an action turn-based RPG out now for on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, PC via Steam and Epic Games, and on Netflix Games for Android and IOS devices.

A great flood has changed the course of human history. Society now exists on the few remaining high rises that peak over its endless oceans. For a time, survivors adjusted to this new normal. A new society birthed from the old, and those who fill it do what they can to survive. 

But with each passing day, the situation grows dire. Hostility between the fragmented factions grows as the food and resources grow scarce. There are rumors of a rocket to Mars. Rumors of an elite controlling the narrative. Travel as Nikos and his companions over flooded terrain and uncover the truth. Can you find a better life behind the fortified walls that surround Alphaville, or is this endless suffering the hopeless conclusion of Highwater? 

Gameplay

Maps will have items or special terrain that a player can interact with to gain a tactical advantage. For example, a player can pick up a rock to throw, knock an enemy into a hole, or run into them with a shopping cart. This gives players the unique freedom to solve a combat in creative and fun ways. 

Highwater also has an exploration mechanic where players move through the flooded world to collect items and lore. Exploration is built on a railroad, but that doesn’t make exploration any less fun. 

Thoughts

I loved Highwater. I am a huge fan of the art style, the tone was the perfect kind of quirky, and the gameplay is phenomenal. Most importatly, Highwater has one of the best soundtracks I’ve heard all year. If you enjoy Indie music, you need to play this game. I’ll leave you with a taste to get you hyped for this title. 

I enjoyed the story and collecting all the bits of lore around the world. Some of the social commentary is a bit on the nose, but it is solid satire. Keep in mind that the story is short, but you’ll get $20 worth of fun. 

Gameplay is simple when you compare it to other games in the genre. This could be because they needed to dumb it down so it could be played on mobile devices, or because they wanted to focus on the narrative. Either way, combat and exploration make for a relaxing and enjoyable experience. 

If you’re looking for a game that isn’t a huge commitment and fun, check out Highwater. It’s a solid and unique experience that you should check out at least once, even if you have to wait for a sale. 

You can pick up Highwater on Xbox, Playstation, Switch, and PC via Steam and Epic Games for $19.99. It is currently on sale on Xbox, Switch, Steam and Epic Games for $15.99 until March 21st. If you have Netflix, you can play it for free on your Android and IOS devices. 

video game reviews

Cat and the Ghostly Road is a Cute and Spooky Adventure

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I was sent Cat and Ghostly Road 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 of the game. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Cat and Ghostly Road?

Cat and Ghostly us a cute point & click 2D adventure out now for Xbox, Switch, and Steam.

An old painter rescues a white cat from certain death and takes it as his own. For a time, the painter and the cat lived peaceful lives in the countryside. But their peace is not permanent. One night, a spirit comes and steals the painter’s soul, leaving him to die slowly in his peaceful cottage. The white cat must now venture into the spirit world and bring him back. Can he find his way to the painter in time, or will the be another pair of lost souls in the Ghostly Road?

Gameplay

The game is a point-and-click narrative that you unlock by solving specific clues. As the cat travels through the spirit world, players will need to pick up objects and interact with the world in a specific way to progress through the story. It is like a visual novel with a few extra steps, a solid story, and cool artwork. Ironically, my Gato died so I wasn’t able to record, but I don’t think the gameplay was all that interesting unless you’re invested in the story.

Thoughts

Cat and Ghostly Road has a good story and fantastic lore. I was fully invested in the adventure, but the game isn’t without its issues. The game felt buggy at times, and the controls felt clunky and slow. There were points in this game where I got frustrated because of how tedious it is to pick up and combine objects. Other objects and objectives aren’t intuitive or easy to see. If you’re trying to complete the game and earn all the achievements, you’re going to need a guide. You should probably look up a guide for the more frustrating objectives. 

That said, I enjoyed the game. I did need to take more breaks than usual because the gameplay destroyed my hands, but I didn’t have to convince myself too hard to come back and power through. I did play the Xbox version. The experience may be different on PC. It isn’t going be for everyone. The game is a little slow, and it involves a lot of reading. If you’re looking for a nice read, you can’t go wrong with Cat and Ghostly Road. 

You can pick up Cat and the Ghostly Road on Xbox and Switch for $9.99 and Steam for $6.99.

Board Games and TCGs, Other TCGs

Now is Your Chance to Score Some Chronicles of Arcane

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Chronicles of Arcane is officially going on sale to the public on March 11. The drops will happen on the official site, so make sure you make an account and join the Discord to be ready for the announcement. They plan on releasing the set in batches to give people multiple chances to score product. The limited run means that this will be your only chance outside the Kickstarter to score some cards early. Don’t worry if you don’t get any this time around, I’m sure there will be reprints if the sale goes well. Don’t pay scalper prices!

If lore is important to you, the first bits of the backstory have been posted on the Chronicles of Arcane website. This goes over some of the tribes, and there are plans for expansion in the coming weeks. Make sure you check with them regularly or join the official Chronicles of Arcane Discord to stay on top of all the news. 

Chronicles of Arcane will also be at Los Angeles Collect-A-Con this weekend. If you’re going to be there, make sure you stop by the booth, ask your questions, and score yourself some exclusive promos. Here are a few art cards that will be for sale:

From the Discord

As a collector, I think the art is really cool. There are some cards that would look great in a binder. I haven’t had a chance to play the game yet, but I thought I’d share it with those of you looking to get into a new trading card game. 

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. If you need accessories for your trading cards like deck boxes or sleeves, get them over at Gem Tech. Use discount code churapereviews10 for 10% off your order. It really helps me out.

Don’t forget to follow the socials:

Samples from the Set

video game reviews

The Viel of Shadows Demo is a Fun Retro Experience

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I was asked to cover the Viel of Shadows demo for my blog. I’ll refrain from review it too harshly because the game isn’t finished yet. That said, everyone reading this should add this demo to their rotation.  

What is Veil of Shadows?

Viel of Shadows is a retro-style action adventure roguelike coming to Steam.

Sirene wakes up in a mysterious forest without her memories. She must now venture through this strange new world and reclaim her memories. Bloodthirsty creatures lurk in the shadows, and Sirene must fight to stay alive. Can she uncover the truth and escape this nightmare?

Gameplay

Players will move between checkpoints shooting, dodging, and kiting enemies with a bow and arrow. Enemies will occasionally drop loot like potions and gear, but they are sparse so use them carefully. The biggest challenge of the game is moving efficiently to avoid attacks to stay alive. Death isn’t permanent, nor does it have a significant penalty other than resetting the level. I think the game is hard enough as it is, but maybe they’ll add harder game modes if there is demand for it.

There is a leveling system that allows players to put points into three categories: Damage, Agility, and Precision. Each level into a category provides a stat boost, but you also get a special ability for every five levels you invest in a category. This allows players to build towards their playstyle without it being overly complicated.

One thing to keep in mind is that this game, like many others in the genre, will be repetitive. You will die a lot and run through the same mobs of enemies by design. I always find this repetition soothing, but it is something to note for people unfamiliar with the genre. That said, based on the demo, Viel of Shadows doesn’t feel as grindy as other games in the genre. 

Thoughts

I’ve been enjoying the retro resurgence I’ve been going through, and Viels of Shadows is no exception. The game has a great art style, some nice flavor, and fun gameplay. The demo runs great, and while I do wish I got a boss fight, I had a lot of fun trying to get through the mobs. I like that the game offers enough of a challenge to keep things engaging without being impossible. 

Viels of Shadows supports keyboard and mouse and controller configurations, but I recommend using the controller. While neither option is objectively better, playing a retro-style game like this with a controller just feels right. 

If you’re looking for a new game, you need to check out the demo. It is a fun retro game with a lot of heart and flavor. It has a promising story hook, cool art, and a chill yet challenging gameplay loop. Whether or not you enjoy roguelikes, there is no harm in trying the demo. 

No release date has been announced yet, but they are pretty active on their Twitter and Discord. Make sure you follow to stay up to date, and make sure you add Viel of Shadows to your Wishlist!

I will be getting my review copy at launch, so stay tuned for a more detailed review. So far I am excited. If you enjoy my content, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

Board Games and TCGs, Other TCGs

Check out the New World Beyond Spoilers: Akora TCG

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

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

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

TI-Codex-CompressedDownload

Spoilers

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

Conclusion

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

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

Board Games and TCGs, Other TCGs

Check Out the Upcoming Indie TCG, Chronicles of Arcane

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I just came by the nifty indie TCG, Chronicles of Arcane, and thought I would share. The game has such a beautiful art style, and I love the fantasy vibe. The first set is getting ready to ship, so make sure you join the official Discord to stay on top of all the news. Until then, let’s look at some of the art featured in the first set of Chronicles of Arcane. 

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow the socials, and share this with your friends. 

Board Games and TCGs, gaming news

Check out the Shadow Over Gloomshire Kickstarter – Dragonbane

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Update: Yon can now preorder the book if you missed the kickstarter.

I’ve been running my Dragonbane campaign for a couple of months now, and have been impressed with the system. With my campaign coming to a close, I’ve written a more detailed review that you should read if you want to know more about the system.

As I was prepared to move on to a different system, I came across an interesting Kickstarter Dragonbane adventure: Shadow Over Gloomshire. The campaign is fully funded, and with ten days left on the campaign, I thought it deserved more exposure. 

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

What is Shadow Over Gloomshire?

Shadow Over Gloomshire is a Gothic horror prewritten adventure for Dragonbane. It features unique hand drawn art, maps, and it introduces 2 new classes: Paladin and Monster Hunter. There are also role tables, a new location, and descriptions to help get things moving.

Two new professions. Work in progress

I’d love to play a malard kin paladin or a wolf kin monster hunter.

The temple. Once a place of worship, now home to twisted evil. Work in progress

You find yourself stranded in the remote village of Gloomshire. It’s a haunting place full of strange and frightening dangers lurking in the shadows. Travel through a haunted forest, investigate a creepy mansion, and embark on a spooky adventure I’m sure you’ll never forget.

Minerva, Cleric of Light. By FukamiHB
Stygian wolf by John Bilodeau
Demonic artifacts by Melker Holmgren

Impressions

If you like gothic horror, it definitely seems like it has the right flavor. I am a huge fan of the artwork, and for $11, it doesn’t seem like a bad deal. There is always a risk in backing Kickstarters, but Robin Fjärem has a few other projects under his belt, so it seems pretty reputable.

You can pick up a copy of the Shadow Over Gloomshire adventure PDF for $11, or a booklet and PDF for $20 which isn’t bad for an adventure.

I like running my own adventures, but it’s always nice to take a break and build off what other people have come up with. We always end up going off script, but it is always nice to have things like role tables, encounters, and loot at the ready. I think its a pretty cool project, but go check the Shadow Over Gloomshire Kickstarter and see for yourself!

Altered TCG

Check out the Yzmir Starter Deck List: Altered TCG

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The Altered TCG Kickstarter launched recently, and it was fully funded in two minutes. The campaign has blown well past its goals, and continues to gain traction. Altered attempts to redefine the TCG space with its creative gameplay and expansive world-building. I’m a huge fan of the art, and am curious to see how it plays. Check out my previous post for more details.

The Kickstarter introduces six distinct starter decks based on the factions that exist within the Asgartha peninsula. Let’s kick things off by looking at the Ordis starter deck! Note that you’ll only be able to get Adventure cards from the starter decks at launch, so its a good idea to nab a couple.

If you want to try out the Axiom starter deck, take advantage of the generous print-and-play feature on the official website. Join the Discord to stay up to date, and even make some friends. The campaign ends on February 28th, so don’t forget to back the Kickstarter!

If you enjoy these updates, make sure you leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.

Deck List

  • 1 x Akesha & Taru
  • 1 x Beauty Sleep
  • 1 x Monolith Archivist
  • 3 x Studious Disciple
  • 1 x Tooth Fairy
  • 3 x Yzmir Stargazer
  • 3 x Lady of the Lake
  • 2 x Baba Yaga
  • 1 x Baba Yaga (Alt)
  • 2 x Kadigiran Alchemist
  • 1 x Kadigiran Alchemist (Alt)
  • 2 x Alice
  • 1 x Alice (Alt)
  • 2 x Dorothy Gale
  • 1 x Dorothy Gale (Alt)
  • 2 x Sakarabru
  • 1 x Sakarabru (Alt)
  • 3 x Off you go!
  • 3 x Spy Craft
  • 3 x Banishing Gate
  • 3 x Kraken’s Wrath

Print and Play

If you want to try out the Muna deck, you can download the PnP from the official site in both A4 and Letter format. I’ll also leave the files below for your convenience:

A4

2024_Altered_TCG_Deck_Yzmir_PRINT_PLAY_A4Download

Letter

2024_Altered_TCG_Deck_Yzmir_PRINT_PLAY_LETTERDownload
Altered TCG

Check out the Ordis Starter Deck List: Altered TCG

Leave a comment

The Altered TCG Kickstarter launched recently, and it was fully funded in two minutes. The campaign has blown well past its goals, and continues to gain traction. Altered attempts to redefine the TCG space with its creative gameplay and expansive world-building. I’m a huge fan of the art, and am curious to see how it plays. Check out my previous post for more details.

The Kickstarter introduces six distinct starter decks based on the factions that exist within the Asgartha peninsula. Let’s kick things off by looking at the Ordis starter deck! Note that you’ll only be able to get Adventure cards from the starter deck at launch, so it be a good idea to grab a couple.

If you want to try out the Axiom starter deck, take advantage of the generous print-and-play feature on the official website. Join the Discord to stay up to date, and even make some friends. The campaign ends on February 28th, so don’t forget to back the Kickstarter!

If you enjoy these updates, make sure you leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.

Deck List

  • 1 x Sigismar & Wingspan
  • 1 x Foundry Mechanic
  • 1 x Ratatoskr
  • 2 x Ordis Trooper
  • 1 x Ordis Trooper (Alt)
  • 3 x Ordis Cadets
  • 2 x Monolith Rune-Scribe
  • 1 x Monolith Rune-Scribe (Alt)
  • 3 x The Frog Prince
  • 3 x Ordis Gatekeeper
  • 2 x Ordis Spy
  • 1 x Ordis Spy (Alt)
  • 2 x Kokoba, Legion Commander
  • 1 x Kokoba, Legion Commander (Alt)
  • 2 x Jeanne d’Arc
  • 1 x Jeanne d’Arc (Alt)
  • 3 x Charge
  • 3 x Sticky Note Seals
  • 1 x Open Gates
  • 3 x The Monolith, Ordis Bastion
  • 3 x Ordis Carrier
  • 3 x Ordis Recruit (Token)
  • 3 x Ordis Recruit (Alt – Token)

Print and Play

If you want to try out the Ordis deck, you can download the PnP file from the official website in A4 and Letter format. I’ll also leave the files here for your convenience.

A4

2024_Altered_TCG_Deck_Ordis_PRINT_PLAY_A4Download

Letter

2024_Altered_TCG_Deck_Ordis_PRINT_PLAY_LETTERDownload
video game reviews

Cookie Cutter was a Decent Metroidvania, but you can do better

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I was sent Cookie Cutter for free to review on my site. 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 reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.

What is Cookie Cutter

Cookie Cutter is a chaotic cyberpunk Metroidvania out now on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC via Steam and Epic Games.  

Left for dead, Cherry watches as her lover and creator is torn away from her, and dragged into the dark depths of the megastructure. But Cherry’s will is too strong. With help from the renegade mechanic Raz, Cherry gets her chance at revenge. Filled with rage, Cherry chases after those who stole her peace through a dystopian, fighting the mindless masses that follow INFONET blindly. She will get Shinji back. The question is, what secrets will she find along the way?

Gameplay

Cookie Cutter is a chaotic Metroidvania game, with lots of explosions, blood, and gore. Combat feels fine, but the lack of diversity in enemies makes it nothing exciting. The weapons, attacks, and animations are incredibly creative. I appreciate the amount of work that went into making this theme work.

I will say that this is one of easier and least grindy games in the genre, and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. While the gameplay is nothing revolutionary, it is a solid entry to the genre.

Thoughts

This game has a fantastic aesthetic and flavor. I love the Gorollaz-esq art style, the epic soundtrack, and the explosive and chaotic feel of combat. I am also a huge fan of its dark overtones and appreciate its attempt at narrative. The voice acting is bad in parts, but it’s not the worst. Overall, this is a game that feels good and looks cool, but its level design and lack of diversity in enemies made the game feel bland in parts.  

This is a game you play to appreciate the art and world-building, but maybe at a discount. If you love the cyberpunk aesthetic and are in the mood for something loud and explosive, pick this game up. This is a solid Metroidvania, but one that didn’t do enough to leave me too excited. You can get $20 of fun from this game, but you also have better options at this price point.

You can pick up Cookie Cutter on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC via Steam and Epic Games.