With the release of Invasion, Edge of Exile also released five new starter decks. These starter decks feature a sleek and modern new design as well as some reprints. I’ll be posting decklists soon, starting with the Playing with Fire Purple deck. This is probably my favorite deck because of its theme. I am still working on getting the modern versions of the list, but I think it’s cool to see some of the older cards mixed in. Most of the cards feature the same art except for Death’s Companion.
If you want to learn about Genesis: Battle of Champions, head on over to the official website.
Full disclosure: I was sent these decks for free, full review is coming soon.
I was sent a free copy of Sylvio: Black Watersto review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions of the game. This will be my honest review.
You wake up alone in a strange dark place with a vague resemblance to Earth. The only light in this world seems to illuminate a small path, the rest of the world is shrouded with darkness. You follow the path in search of answers and find a voice that promises to guide you out of the darkness. The voice guides you deeper into the darkness. The path twists and turns and the world begins to make less sense. Up is down, down is up and there is no way of knowing where you’re going. Along the way, the voices of the souls who also traveled the path will speak to you. They reveal bits of this world’s secrets. What are they trying to tell you? Will you ever find your way out of the darkness?
Gameplay
Sylvio: Black Watersis best described as a walking simulator with a dark and spooky atmosphere, some combat, and an interesting narrative. Most of the time, you are following the trail of illuminated breadcrumbs through a dark and twisted world that becomes more twisted the longer you are in it.
Combat in this game is a first-person shooter. Occasionally, an angry spirit will attack you. The game gives you weapons to defend yourself, but you will need to find the ammo. You will run out of ammo if you aren’t using your shots conservatively, and the ghost will kill you. Death resets you to your last checkpoint.
Along the way, you will also find clues about the world. Spirits will speak bits of dialogue that you have to collect, there are drawings on walls that you need to interpret and bits of film you need to play and interpret. The clues you gather are not in order and you will need to arrange them to make sense of them. This mechanic does a fantastic job at not only setting the mood but building the mystery. The more you collect, the more the story makes sense.
Review
I love Sylvio: Black Waters. It was the perfect twisted narrative with a spooky atmosphere that kept me on my toes. That said, this game isn’t going to be for everyone. The narrative style feels disjointed because it is meant to emulate the disoriented feeling the main character feels. The story you collect isn’t linear, and while it doesn’t make sense at first, does make sense the deeper you get into the game.
What will throw most players are the weird artsy liberties it takes with its storytelling. Cutscenes will be low quality, out of order, and fragmented, or you will sit through a weird low-reverb poem or song. I’d be lying if I said I understood all the choices, but I can see they have a purpose. Some moments act as a tool to create tension, others work to disorient the players, but mostly they help reinforce the idea that reality in this world is twisted. Not everyone is going to enjoy the artsy twisted direction this game takes, but it is a wonderful experience if you’re into it.
The other issue players will have with the game is the lighting. This game is dark, and it can be frustrating. The game uses the darkness to set the mood effectively, but it isn’t perfect. It is easy to get lost or not see the right path and walk in circles. This game is meant to be disorienting, but it is going to kill some player’s enjoyment of the game. As someone who isn’t good at directions, I spent too much time walking in circles.
The game is buggy, and some of those bugs are game-breaking. Using the mouse wheel to switch between weapons either crashed the game or left the weapon menu open. It didn’t happen every time, but it happened enough when I stopped using the mouse wheel. Sometimes I would get stuck on a wall or a random artifact. My biggest issue with the game is that interacting with items is a chore. You need to find the right angle to pick up some items, and finding that angle is more work than it needs to be. None of these issues were enough to make me stop playing, but they will for people who are looking for a more polished game. I think the game’s roughness gives it its charm.
If you’re looking for a horror game that isn’t all jump scares, with a solid story but doesn’t mind the roughness, you need to pick up Sylvio Black Waters. This game is the weird twisted trip you didn’t know you needed. It is a good and interesting game, but it is also not for everyone. If you don’t like how dark the game looks or don’t want to sit through artsy weirdness, you should go elsewhere.
I was sent a free copy of the Veasencore rulebook 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.
What is Vaesen?
Long ago, Vaesen and man lived side by side in harmony. Vaesen are powerful creatures with the power to control the world around it. Man would make offerings to the Vaesen in exchange for their powers. The Vaesen would make it rain, fill the forests with game, and anything else supernatural. As the industrial age dawned on Sweden, people began their migration to the big cities. Soon, there was no need for the Vaesen’s power and they slowly faded into fairy tales. Most lost their ability to see Vaesen.
Man may have lost their ability to see Vaesen, but the creatures live on in their separate world alongside man. The Vaesen keep to themselves for the most part. Occasionally, however, man’s impact on the planet goes too far and sends the Vaesen into a terrorizing rage. Stories circulate of castles haunted by terrifying ghosts, of witches that snatch up children in the middle of the night, or of trolls terrorizing villages. The people have learned to cope with the unexplainable, and most have forgotten about the Vaesen.
But not all is lost. The society was formed to keep man safe from rampaging Vaesen. The society is a secret organization made up of the few people left in this world with the ability to see Vaesen. People gain this ability by experiencing some kind of supernatural trauma. While these folks may not be the most stable, they are humanity’s only hope.
Gather your friends as you investigate the supernatural in this dark and edgy tabletop roleplaying game. Can you bring peace to the Vaesen before it is too late?
The book
The Veasen core rulebook is the prettiest RPG book you’re ever going to own. The cover and pages are textured to feel like an old book. The formatting is easy to read and search through. The illustrations in this book are breathtaking. The art style is amazing and the use of color is astounding. I’ve read this book as a PDF, but nothing beats flipping through its pages. This is a very high-quality book and one that elevates the look and feel of any bookcase and table.
Gameplay
Vaesen is a D6 system that is easy to learn. Players will spend their sessions investigating mysteries and trying to bring peace to a raging Vaesen. This doesn’t have to mean combat. Vaesen seems to be a more roleplay-heavy system due to how investigations work, but you can always adjust the rules to fit the needs of your table. If you would like to learn how to play Vaesen before picking up the game, AlchemyRPGhas a solid tutorial series. They also have a very good official module for their VTT. If you’re planning to run Vaesen online and don’t mind doing it through theater of the mind, AlchemyRPGmight be the solution you’re looking for. I am not affiliated with the company, I just like the module.
Impressions
Veasenis a terrific RPG that deserves some attention. The system is unique and easy to learn, and the book is full of fantastic lore and flavor. The rulebook contains everything Gamemaster’s need to run a successful mystery, and there is even a prewritten module for those who need it. I felt like the system is better when players can get into character, struggle with their flaws, and roleplay through the investigation. While I am sure you can make the adjustments to focus on the needs of your table, the game is meant to be a monster of the week mystery-type game. I do like that there is a combat and skill system because things are better with RNG. Besides, it doesn’t matter what type of game you want to run, you’re players are always going to want to hit things.
The game has a tremendous amount of flavor. Even if you don’t end up playing a game of Vaesen, it’s going to be hard not to, you’re going to enjoy reading through the monster profiles. The lore is so good, and it reads like a fairy tale. The classes are all unique, but I like that they aren’t restricting. Classes feel like they are suggestions for roleplay because players have the freedom to play the character how they want. I like that the book gives a good amount of ideas for all sorts of creation for those who need it. The book ends with a well-written first mystery, making the core rulebook an invaluable resource for both players and gamemasters looking into running the game.
If you enjoy murder mystery roleplay, dig the 20’s aesthetic, or want something new to run at your table, check out Veasen. It is a beautiful book with some amazing lore that belongs on a lot more tables.
You can pick up the Vaesen rulebook in Hardcover on Amazon for $49.99 (Currently $40.79) through my affiliate link. If you don’t care about physical media, you can grab the PDF over on DriveThruRPG for $24.99.
I was sent a free copy of Guayotato 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.
Guayota is a cute 3D puzzle game coming out on August 13th on Steam and the Nintendo Switch.
You’ve heard the stories of the mythical island of San Brandan’s. An island once run by an advanced civilization full of wonder and mystery. You and a few brave souls are determined to find it. You follow the legend and wash up on its shores. This new world is ripe for exploration, but this is no ordinary island. Occasionally, you’ll be dragged into the realm of madness. Luckily, a spirit has decided to help you. Use its powers to explore the dungeons, solve its puzzles, and uncover the island’s secrets. What will your journey uncover?
Gameplay
Guayotais a top-down puzzle game. Players move through mazes and avoid traps to stay alive. Players must learn to wield the power of fire to activate the mechanisms that will keep them moving forward. A fire’s light can do helpful things like open doors, activate bridges, and other useful actions. Occasionally, players will die. This is part of the game’s design.
Dying takes players to the Realm of Madness, an alternate version of the map. There are no traps in the realm of madness. Instead, the map turns into a labyrinth the player must navigate with the help of their newly acquired spirit companion. Players can use these new powers to interact with the world like use them to move through walls or dodge traps. Players must solve puzzles in both realms to collect the clues that will help solve the mysteries of the island and the people who once ruled it.
Review
Guayotais an adorable game with an interesting premise. The game features cute characters, a solid soundtrack, and interesting puzzle mechanics. Switching between realms is a cool idea and a mechanic that the game uses effectively in its flavor and gameplay. The mechanic adds a new challenge to each room, and the puzzles are challenging enough to keep the game engaging. Some of the gameplay can start to feel repetitive, but not enough to kill the enjoyment. Overall, Guayota is a solid puzzle adventure with a decent story, creative puzzles, and cute characters. If you enjoy the genre or simply looking for a new game for your collection Guayota is a good place to start.
Guayota releases on August 13 on Steam and Nintendo Switch, but there’s a demo available if you need convincing.
I was sent a free copy of No Creeps Were Harmed TDto 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.
You wake up suddenly as a brain in a jar, disoriented and without any memories. A strange robotic voice welcomes you to your service. Without any more explanation, you are put to work. You are now responsible for building the defenses against an endless wave of creeps. Use your resources to build walls and towers and keep those creeps from reaching the core. Are you the master builder you are destined to be, or are you just another failed experiment?
Gameplay
If you’ve played the old Warcraft 3 TD mods back in the day, you know how to play No More Creeps. Players can access different types of towers and use them to build a maze with their available resources. Players earn resources by killing creeps during a wave. These resources can also be used to upgrade existing towers, expand the map, and level up their building. What makes No More Creeps unique are its maps. There is the traditional flat map, but most will curve and twist, allowing the opportunity for some very creative mazes. Players start with the same three maps and unlock more as they go.
There are three game modes: story, endless, and multiplayer. Story mode sets up the flavor and doesn’t have to be taken seriously. Each level has a story-cut scene with a set number of waves, but players can choose to go into endless mode afterward. Endless mode is self-explanatory. Creeps have a higher chance of dropping artifacts that buff players. There is an online multiplayer mode, but I didn’t try it. I like taking my time and don’t want the pressure of playing with others. You can sell each others towers which can either be really fun, helpful, or strait up toxic.
Review
If you’re looking for a good tower defense game, it doesn’t get any better than No More Creeps. This is one of the best tower defense games I’ve played since my days in Warcraft 3. I understand this game is probably closer to the Starcraft mod, but Warcraft is my point of reference.
The story isn’t important, but it is quirky and delightful with a solid voice-acting performance. The art and flavor are really cool, and everything is easy to see despite the maze being suspended in space. This is a game that is very easy to learn, but difficult to master. While a player can get away with building sloppily in the early stages, later stages get harder without any real strategy. A guide can come in handy, but I enjoy figuring things out on my own.
No More Creeps is a very good game that can be as challenging or relaxing as you want it to be. If you love Tower Defense, or are looking for a new game to get into, this game should be in your library.
You can pick up No More Creeps TDon Steam for $19.99, just prepare to lose a couple of days if you do.
I was sent a free copy ofTerra Alia: A Multilingual Adventure VR to review for my blog. You can read the original review here. I was asked to revisit the title and reevaluate my initial review based on recent improvements and a new online multiplayer game mode. As always, while I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will remain unbiased.
Terra Alia is a VR RPG that attempts to teach its players a new language. Magic and technology in Terra Alia are powered by words and phrases in another language, and it is up to the players to explore the world and learn them. The game accomplishes this through its minigames and puzzles. Players must speak the words to learn them and eventually cast them as spells. There are also word-matching puzzles that help players practice and associate the new words and phrases they learn. The power is out there, it’s up to you to find and harness it.
What’s new?
The most important change this time around has to be the performance. While the game ran fine when I first picked it up, there has been a noticeable improvement. Combat and movement feel smoother, and the voice recognition is better. It wasn’t unplayable before, but there were some challenges I couldn’t complete because the game didn’t understand me. It is cool to see that the team is hard at work trying to make their game better.
There are also three new locations to explore, with new quests to complete. The new locations are neat, and they come with some noticeable improvements to visuals and animations.
The biggest change is the inclusion of the online multiplayer game mode. This is a four-player game mode (2v2) where players race to be the first team to fill their vocabulary meter. There are holograms scattered across the field that players must find and correctly name. The mode is available in ten languages, and a creative way to think about multiplayer.
Impressions
I have to commend the team for working so hard to make this game work. You can see the passion behind the project with each update. This time around, the experience was a lot smoother and the game looked better. That said, the game is still hard to recommend.
As a tool to learn a new language, it works fine. Exploring the world to pick up new words to cast magic is a cool idea, and the mini-games make for good practice. It is a very creative approach to learning language, but one that can grow stale. The leveling felt less of a grind, but the grind still feels repetitive. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it makes this one of those games I can’t play for too long without losing interest.
The story is fine. It isn’t anything genre-defining, but it was good enough to hold my attention. The flavor of the world, especially for the new locations is neat and and helped keep my attention longer.
I have no interest in the Multiplayer mode, not that I could find the game. It is a neat concept, but I can see it losing its luster after a couple of games. It could be fun with a good group of friends, but I didn’t like the little I got to play enough to try. This is just personal preference.
So is this game worth it with its new update? It depends. Terra Alia is a very mid-RPG with an interesting gimmick. If you like the gimmick and want to pick up a few words in a new language, you’ll get your
$20 worth of entertainment. If you’re looking for a new game for your kids, this is an inoffensive one that teaches them a new language without being boring. If none of these apply to you, I’d move on. The gimmick isn’t strong enough to make the game a good RPG, but the gimmick is valuable for those who want to learn a new language. This game won’t make you fluent, but you’ll have some fun learning a new way to say hello.
I was sent a free Curiosity Box to review for my blog. I also get a commission for every subscription I sell. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest impression.
You can subscribe to Curiosity Box on the official website. Use discount code CHURAPE for 50% off your first box.
What is Curiosity Box?
Curiosity Box is a quarterly blind box filled with toys for thinkers. These will be an assortment of books, puzzles, and other hand-crafted science-related items. The idea is that the items in the box will inspire curiosity. The subscription is $60 each quarter, or you can save some money and pay $220 for the whole year. It’s unclear if you can skip boxes you don’t want if you pay for the whole year.
What’s in the Box?
This quarter’s box includes:
Shadow Puzzle: This puzzle is a set of fridge magnets. The idea of this puzzle is that you can arrange the shapes into letters by only using the shadows of the words.
Martian Soil: A soil sample with identical composition to soil on Mars in a bottle with interesting facts about the planet.
Picture Pie: A collection of stencils that break down an image into its parts. The idea is to create an image bit by bit until completing the whole.
AmphicalKnot Shirt: A black shirt with an intricate design
Why Knott Book: A book about tying knotts.
And a pamphlet to explain it all
Impressions
The box came neatly packed and had a great presentation. The contents in the box are good quality items, but the collection itself was a bit unimpressive. Don’t get me wrong, the items included in the curiosity box are high enough to merit the price tag, but its true value lies in how much you want these items.
The Shadow Puzzle is a cool idea and the pieces are cut nicely, but its going to look like a bunch of ugly shapes on your fridge if no one bothers to spell out any words.
The Martian Soil is my favorite piece from the set, but it is only going to appeal to kids interested in astronomy. The packaging is cool and the facts on printed on it are neat, but at the end of the day, it’s just a vial of dirt. (This is the only thing from the box I kept).
The Picture Pie is a cool idea. The stencils are nicely carved into nice durable plastic, and the pictures are fine. I like how it forces users to think about drawing differently, but its value greatly diminishes after its first use. The box it comes in is super cute, and the only part of the box I was successfully able to give away.
The Amphical Knot Shirt won’t fade or shrink after the first wash, but its ugly. Unless you like the design, its a dead item.
The Why Knot Book is very cool. The printing is excellent, the format is beautiful, and it includes a small piece of rope to practice knotts with. That said, this book is made for a very specific type of person and can easily become a dead item if there is no interest in tying knots.
If you give each item a price tag, the box is a great deal. The problem with the box is that if there is no interest in the items, it becomes a waste of money. Because of this, the yearly subscription doesn’t feel worth it. Sure you save a couple of bucks, but you also risk receiving a dead box. Looking at previous boxes didn’t inspire any confidence. Choosing every quarter seems to be the safer route, but it still depends on how much you like the items in the box. At 50% off, the box starts to feel a bit more reasonable, but I still don’t think it’s worth it.
Ultimately, it all depends on the kid you’re gifting this to. The kids in my life didn’t care for it, and I didn’t either, but preferences may be different on your side of the screen.
You can subscribe to Curiosity Box on the official site. Make sure you use discount code CHURAPE at checkout for 50% off your first box.
Fifine sent me their A22 Speakers for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. If you’re interested in any of the other Fifine products, like H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, or the SC3 Gaming Mixer, check out my reviews.
What’s in the box?
The box comes with the instructions, a power cord, 2 usb cables to connect everything together, and an aux cord. You also get the two speakers with the sub woofer snugly packed in its protective foam cutout. I am very impressed by the simple yet effective packaging.
Features
The A22 is a compact speaker system with an easy plug-and-play setup. It supports multiple devices through its easy-to-access ports located on the back of the subwoofer. The A22 includes ports for the two speakers, an aux cord, a USB-C cable, an optical cable, and headphones. It is also Bluetooth-compatible in case you run out of ports.
On top of the subwoofer, you have buttons for power, media and audio control, input selection, equalizer modes, and RGB control. The buttons are made from a soft-feeling rubber and are very responsive.
These wouldn’t be a gaming speaker without any RGB. Located on the front of the speakers is an elegant strip of customizable RGB for that matching aesthetic.
Review
The Fifine A22 speakers are a neat little system with a sleek design and decent sound. You aren’t going to throw any house parties with these, but they are good enough for the day-to-day. The bass is deep enough, the sound is loud enough and full enough. Watching movies and TV with the A22s was an enjoyable experience, and the sound was a lot better than my phone. For gaming, these aren’t going to beat the full immersive sound of a good set of headphones, but they will do the job when you don’t want your ears to get hot and sweaty. Overall, these have a solid sound stage for what you’re paying.
My desk tends to get cluttered very quickly, so I appreciate the size of this system. They are big enough to deliver the sound I need without taking too much desk real estate. I like the simple design. I appreciate that they look like gaming speakers without being overbearing with the gaming aesthetic.
I appreciate the amount of connections featured on this thing. Because of my workflow, it is nice not having to constantly connect and disconnect devices just so I can have audio. Even though it would be extremely easy to do on the A22, it’s nice that I can press a button and switch from my desktop audio to Bluetooth and still have room for my laptop. It would be cool to have a remote way to control the device for those who want to keep the system hidden. But unless you’re constantly switching inputs or RGB settings, this isn’t an issue, and a remote would be unnecessary.
The built-in equalizer feels more like a gimmick. It hardly makes a difference, but I preferred the music setting. It feels like it gives the sound the most depth, but again the differences in quality are negligible.
If you’re looking for an inexpensive sound system for your gaming setup, you can’t go wrong with the A22s. Sure the bass could be deeper, the sound could be fuller, but they are good enough for the price point.
You can pick up the Fifine A22 speakers on Amazon for $72.99 using my affiliate link.
The new Grand Archive ban list has been posted, and it is not the huge meta shifting announcement it was made to seem. They got me. The biggest change this time around is the Stonecale Band nerf, and Corhazi outlook being moved categories. I’m okay with the changes, and the explanation makes sense to me. Make sure you check out the official ban announcement if you want to know more.
Stonescale Band Errata
Stonescale Band has new text and made slower. This was done in hopes to re-balance the, and hopefully refresh the Silvie deck list. I think most people are getting tired of seeing her in the format. The new text reads:
The next ally card you activate this turn can be activated as though it had fast activation.
Limiting the amount of allies it can summon one ally per activation and increasing the cost is sure the slow the deck down, but will it be enough to change the format? We will have to wait and see.
There are new new banned cards, but make sure you keep these out of your deck if you’re heading to an official event.
Watch List (Most Likely to be Banned)
Cohazi outlook has been moved to the watch list. While this list isn’t an outright ban, it is a card that is being considered for a future ban. You can still enjoy the playing your wind decks, just don’t be surprised when she gets added to the ban list.
Watch List (Safe to Use)
Creative Shock has been removed from the watch list, and is longer considered for a ban. Although cards on this list are never in any real danger, it is nice to see cards being removed. Stonescale Band is the only new addition to the list. It is still safe to use, but Weebs of the Shore are keeping an eye on how it performs in the meta moving forward. This is an understandable move, especially since the meta seems to be dominated by the same three decks at the moment.
I was sent a free copy of Lost Castle 2 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.
Choose your class and make your way through the most adorable dungeons in search of treasure, money, and fame. Brave these procedurally generated dungeons on your friends online. What hilarious stories will you share around the campfire?
Gameplay
Players choose their class at the start of each run. These classes can be swapped freely at the blacksmith or through random weapon drops during a run. Players can choose between a melee, magic, or ranged class. Each class is unique, but I preferred the magic class for my play style.
Like most roguelikes, players will receive random upgrades and skills throughout their run. There are random shops within the dungeons that also sell player items. These upgrades are all RNG-reliant, which means luck can ruin a run. I thought RNG was fair for the most part.
Players will then move through the dungeon, clearing each room of its monsters. Enemies increase in difficulty with each room, but a player’s power level also increases. Players can choose the types of encounters after each room. They can fight regular monsters or elite monsters, rest and refill their positions, buy items from a shop, and eventually fight the area boss. These choices are mostly randomized. Make sure you plan your route wisely.
In between runs, players can buy permanent upgrades in town. They can level up facilities and give their character some valuable buffs for their future runs. While I am sure there is an optimal build path, I always went with what fit my playstyle the best.
If you have friends or want to make new ones, Lost Castle 2 has a built-in matchmaking system. I liked playing alone, but I can see this game being a lot of fun with other people. It definitely has a party game vibe similar to Castle Crashers.
Review
Lost Castle is incredibly cute, but that shouldn’t distract from its issues. The gameplay, while fun and engaging, can grow repetitive and stale if you let it. Multiplayer is what will extend the game’s shelf life, but you’ll at least get your money’s worth if you decide to go solo. The wacky quirky gameplay gives this game its charm, but it would be a lot better with friends. I definitely wish there was an opportunity for couch co-op.
If you’re looking for a fun party game you can only play online, this might be a solid solution. This is a cute game with a charming little loop, but one that won’t stay in your rotation for too long unless you can find a group of friends that can make the grind worth it. The grind isn’t terrible, but it gets repetitive. I enjoyed the repetition, but I also understand the value of a good friend group.
The game is in early access. While I thought the game was fine, I am sure there will be some valuable improvements on the horizon. Buy at your discretion. You can pick up Lost Castle 2 on Steam for $14.99.
