I was given Drop – System Breach as a review code. I am grateful for the opportunity, but I will not let it sway my opinions. This will be an honest review of the game.
Drop is a fast-paced hacker simulator for PC that you should consider if you like these types of puzzle games. In a city full of hackers, you must prove your worth. Take odd jobs, join a faction, and test your hacking skills. Do you have what it takes to be the best?
I had to uninstall this game because of how addicted I became to the gameplay. I understand it may not be for everyone, but there is something in its simple gameplay loop that I couldn’t get enough of.
I love the aesthetic of this game. The graphics aren’t high-end, but they are appropriate for the game. It looks like something you would see in a movie or tv show about hacking.
The gameplay loop is simple. You log into a network of computers and start unlocking the network of nodes until you complete the objectives. You will install viruses, steal data, or do anything else a hacker will do. But you will not be without resistance. Systems will have alarms, viruses, and other defenses to obstruct you. The trick to this game is to efficiently manage your resources while you finish the objectives to maximize your profits. The deeper you get into this game, the more you have to mitigate. This game appears simple, but it gets intense.
There is a story, but it isn’t important. There are also factions, but like the story, they only exist to add flavor. If you miss any text, you aren’t missing out on anything important. I read all the messages, and while I appreciate the flavor it added, I noticed a lot of syntax errors. It won’t ruin the game, but it is hard to overlook.
So should you buy this game? It depends. I enjoyed the game way more than I should have, but it is repetitive. The puzzles feel different because the system’s defenses are always different, but the loop will always be the same. If you don’t like the repetitive loop that is common in roguelikes, you won’t like this game. If you don’t mind the reputation, this game is fantastic. The aesthetic is cool, the gameplay is fun, and the soundtrack is fantastic. You can buy Drop – System Breach for $9.99 on Steam. I think it’s worth the money.
Series Review: The Owl House
The series finale of The Owl House just aired, and I have been left with a deepening sadness as the realization that this fantastic adventure is over. If you haven’t seen this cartoon, go watch it now. It is a cute and epic story of friendship and self-discovery that everyone needs to experience at least once. While I am sad that the series is over, I am at least glad it got its proper conclusion.
Luz is an odd kid who has trouble fitting in. To fix how weird she is, Luz is sent to a camp that will make her normal. But instead of going to camp, Luz finds herself in the demon realm where she meets an eccentric named Eda. Through her adventures in the demon realm, Luz finally finds a place where she belongs. But an evil lurks in the shadows trying to destroy everything Luz has come to love. Can Luz become strong enough to save the world she now calls home?
The Owl House has easily become one of my favorite cartoons because of its fantastic storytelling, quirky characters, and epic adventure. If there is a better story out there, I will be back to tell you about it.
This series is full of quirky characters that you will love unconditionally. Each goes on an important quest of self-discovery where they learn to be comfortable with who they want to be despite society’s expectations. Luz pushes people to think outside the box, and watching them grow alongside is delightful. I love how the characters at the end of the series aren’t in the same place as where they started. I love even more what they have become.
Luz is an amazing protagonist. She is weird and quirky, but she is also strong in an authentic way. I loved watching her grow and fight for her beliefs as she went on her journey of self-discovery. Luz isn’t perfect. She makes mistakes, but she learns and grows from them. Her journey isn’t easy, and while there are times when she wavers, it is cute to watch how her friends are there to help her as she is always there to help them. I loved that as she began to find her place in the world, she was helping others find theirs.
This series is silly and has some adorable quirks, but it knows when to get serious and tell its epic story. I can’t tell you how many times this series made me cry. This story builds ups to some pretty emotional beats that made me feel all sorts of emotions, but when this series gets epic, I was at the edge of my seat. I am sad the adventure is over, but I am not disappointed by how it ended. The series has such a good ending, and it told its story properly.
If you haven’t seen The Owl House, you need to go and watch it. It is an epic adventure of friendship and self discovery that will make you laugh, cry and smile. Go stream it on Disney+!
Image by By The logo is from the following website: https://www.disneychannel.ca/shows/the-owl-house/, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=63801542
GDC Recap: Planet of Lana
I got to play Planet of Lana at GDC and was blown away by how beautiful this game is. I spent most of my session simply admiring the art. I loved all the little details that went into making this world so vibrant. I loved how the branches would sway in the breeze and how perfectly they got the water effects. You couple this with a solid gameplay loop and a wonderful music score, and you have an experience worth looking into.
I’ve added an album because it was hard to choose just one picture:
You play as a young girl whose sister has been taken by aliens. It is up to you and your cute little cat-like companion to brave the elements and bring her back.
Planet of Lana has a very relaxing loop. You and your cat travel through an impressive landscape and solve puzzles. The game is a 2D side scroller, but they use an impressive layering technique to give the world its depth. You give your companion commands and use them to interact with the world. The game gets creative with its puzzles, and it is cool to see how you affect the world as you solve the puzzles. The puzzles are well-designed. They are not too easy, and I felt that there were enough clues to help you solve them. If you like relaxing puzzle games, this should be on your list.
I loved the demo, but it is too early to tell if this game will be good. At the very least, this game is looking very promising and worth checking out. Planet of Lana will launch on PC and Xbox, but no release date has been set. It will also be launching on Game Pass. The demo is available on Steam, so go download it! Don’t forget to add it to your wishlist while you’re at it!
To stay up to date on all the news, make sure you join the official Discord and follow them on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, and YouTube.
Series Review: Hello Tomorrow! (2023)
After watching the first two episodes of Hello Tomorrow!, I was hopeful that this series would at least be entertaining. I didn’t expect it to be the greatest series Apple added to their library, but it would at least be a fun way to spend some time if I needed the distraction. The characters were delightful, and I loved the 50’s retrofuturism this series is a master at. Unfortunately, this hopefulness quickly faded when I had to sit through a dull series that frankly, was a waste of time.
Jack is a charismatic salesman who sells the dream of living on the moon on exclusive luxury timeshares that the average hard-working American can afford. But the dream Jack sell isn’t real. There are no timeshares, and Jack is the only one who knows this. For years, Jack runs this scam without issue. It is only when a freak accident brings his son back into his life that Jack suddenly has a change of heart. Jack now struggles with the lies he is comfortable telling and building a meaningful relationship with his son. Will he be able to pull the greatest scam America has ever known, or will a heart change him for the better?
This series has a beautiful aesthetic but lacks the substance to make it worth watching. It was a mistake on Apple’s part to make this series a weekly release because it isn’t worth waiting a week to watch the next disappointing episode. People wouldn’t have finished it if you could binge this series all at once, but some would have stuck with it longer. The problem with this series is that the writing isn’t good. The actors do their best, but the story isn’t there to make this series work. It is a shame because some delightful characters in this series deserved better.
What I hated most about this series is how they fumbled Jack’s development. His transformation is magical and comes out of nowhere. Jack starts this series as this suave charismatic salesman who is incredibly good at what he does, but there is a sudden pivot where he is now a stary-eyed dreamer who wants to help everyone. This pivot is jarring, and it ends up making Jack the villain. I would have been okay with Jack being the villain if the series set this transformation better, but I am over-analyzing a series that frankly doesn’t deserve this much attention.
You can stream Hello Tomorrow! On Apple TV if you have a subscription, but I wouldn’t waste my time on it.
GDC Recap: Worldless
I got to try Worldless at GDC, and it was one of the few times I have ever enjoyed a platformer. Worldless is a 2D minimalistic adventure platformer with an interesting battle mechanic. This game is beautiful, but the game has a great design. You play as this character of light and travel through this abstract world, fighting against monsters and marveling at how pretty everything is.
As far as platformers go, this one isn’t that bad. According to the game’s producer, the devs wanted to make the focus of the game its combat system. I don’t like platformers, but I found the experience pleasant and relaxing. I particularly loved how the world changes around the main character as you move her through the world. This feature was implemented to keep players from getting lost, and it works perfectly. It also looks great in practice.
The combat is where I had the most fun with the game. Combat is turn-based, but there is a slight rhythm mechanic to it. You can easily button-mash between turns to get through fights, but it is more efficient to get the timing correctly. The loop is simple. On your turn, you cast spells and abilities, and on theirs, you block. There are elemental weaknesses, resistances, and other quirks to keep combat engaging. Worldless also features a relatively expansive skill tree that you fill by absorbing monsters or finding hidden nodes. You can fill up the whole tree, so make sure you explore everything!
The demo does a fantastic job at slowly introducing mechanics as you explore the world and builds up perfectly to a final boss. The game design for this game is terrific, and I appreciate the attention to detail that went into the making of this experience. If you pay attention, the encounters give you enough hints to make the final boss fight easier. I was told that the boss in the demo isn’t as hard as the bosses in the full game, but I was also told that I was one of the few to beat it on the first try. I found the encounter to be challenging enough to keep me engaged. I wouldn’t have been able beat the boss without a solid strategy or proper game design.
If you like RPGs and platformers, you should be looking into Worldless. The combat is fun and engaging, the platforming is relaxing, and the game is beautiful. I loved my limited exposure to this game, and I look forward to its release.
Worldless is coming to the PC and Xbox sometime this year, but an official date hasn’t been announced. The Demo is available on Steam, and I highly recommend you go download it. Don’t forget to wishlist it while you’re there!
Shout out the Dev who was so kind and answered all my questions. Make sure you follow them on Twitter and Join the Discord so that you are always up to date!
Series Review: Unstable (2023)
I just watched Unstable and thought it was a delightful series, but nothing too spectacular. While it will entertain, it does get a bit too quirky for its own good at times. At the very least, this series makes for good background noise.
Ellis Dragon, founder and Ceo of a Biotech giant, finds himself spiraling after the death of his wife. As a result, he isn’t productive or profitable, and the board members are looking for an excuse to kick him out. In a last-ditch effort to get Ellis back to his old self Anna sends for his estranged son Jackson. The hope is that repairing the relationship between father and son will stop this spiral and get the company back on track. Will the two be able to put aside their differences and forge a relationship neither thought they could have or are they destined to be estranged forever?
The best part bout this series is the actors. The actors give terrific performances, and the chemistry between them is even better. The story is fine, but I found it a bit lacking in places. Some of the story is sacrificed for goofy gags, and some characters aren’t great. It isn’t enough to turn me off the series, but it keeps it from being something you need to rush to. That said, the series will have some solid character moments and jokes that are worth sitting through.
This series is a bit cheesy, but I enjoyed a lot of the dorky humor. It doesn’t always land, but it will mostly leave you laughing. This is a solid workplace comedy and one you should at least add to your list for later.
I like how this series deals with grief by showing two eccentric characters working through a difficult loss. While the series does get cheesy, it knows when to get serious. The writing isn’t perfect, but it is good enough to sit through. I don’t know where this series will go from here, but I am at least curious to see where it ends up.
Unstable is a delightful workplace comedy that while it hasn’t found its footing, is worth checking out. The actors are terrific, the story is heartwarming, and it will at least make you chuckle. You can stream it on Netflix, and I would at least recommend you use it as background noise. You might end up watching it more than you think.
Wildfrost
Wildfrost is a cute new deck builder coming to the Switch and PC on April 12, 2023. Use the power of your cards to face off against the dangers Wildfrost has to offer to save your friends. Do you have what it takes to end this eternal winter?
I love card games and deck builders so this will be a must-buy for me. The art is super cute and the gameplay looks interesting. If you can’t wait for the 12th, there is a demo for the switch you can try. I might check out the demo later if I can, but I will definitely be adding this game to my collection. Pre-order it today on the Nintendo Switch or Steam.
Series Review: Uncle From Another World
I almost gave up on Uncle From Another World because I didn’t like the pacing or the format. I am glad I didn’t because this series is delightful. If you are a fan of Isekai anime or know of them, you should check out this series.
Takafumi’s life changes when his uncle wakes up from a 19-year coma. At first, Takafumi believes the time in the coma has made his uncle insane because he speaks in gibberish and talks about being in another world. But there is some truth to this madness. While Uncle’s body lay in a coma all those years, he also existed in another world where he learned magic and became a powerful adventurer. Uncle was even able to bring his magic to this world. As Uncle regales Takafumi about his adventures in the other world, the two become closer.
Uncle From Another World is framed narrative that pokes fun at the isekai genre. This is a series that won’t take itself seriously, but it is competent enough to effectively balance its humor and narrative. While I do appreciate the effective use of parody, this series manages a decent story. It is a bit of a slow start as it sets up the world and lore, but it eventually settles into something worth your time. Uncle can also be a bit grating character at first, but he becomes lovable with time.
What I liked most about this series is that Uncle isn’t the typical protagonist for this genre. He isn’t a brooding, edgy genius whose knowledge of gaming makes him a god in this new world. Uncle is dorky, ugly, and isn’t even a good gamer. Despite Uncle’s obsession with old-school gaming, he is shown multiple times not being good at the games or even accurate with his knowledge. What makes Uncle such a memorable character are his flaws. Uncle is a powerful character, but he gets a lot wrong. He is clueless about what is going on. A lot of the humor in this series comes from his lack of awareness. Uncle is a refreshing take on the hero that is worth the time to at least experience.
Uncle From Another World is filled with anime tropes that don’t quite fit because of how dorky Uncle is. They will even point out the discrepancies between Uncle and a traditional anime protagonist in dialogue. Instead of watching Uncle’s adventure in real time, he is reflecting on it as other characters are there to comment on his experience. It was a strange format at first, but I grew to enjoy it for its novelty.
I enjoyed this anime, but I understand that it isn’t for everyone. The framed narrative might not vibe with some viewers because Uncle can be annoying. I would argue that the point is for him to be difficult to like at the beginning of the series, but he grows more likable as you learn more about his past. That said, I understand if you can’t ever get there. I would also say that some exposure to the isekai genre is necessary because a lot of the charm of this series comes from parody. Uncle From Another World is available for streaming on Netflix.
GDC Recap: 7 Dwarfs: Legends Untold
I got to play a bit of 7 Dwarfs: Legends Untold at GDC, and it was a blast. I didn’t get enough time with the title for a solid review, but it did leave a solid impression. 7 Dwarfs is an action-packed co-op roguelike that you should look into if you enjoy fast-paced arcade games. It reminded me of Castle Crashers, and if you are a fan of that game, you should check out this title.
Team up with your friends as you play as one of the seven dwarfs to fight against the evil queen and her army to keep Snow White safe from evil. Do you have what it takes to defeat the evil queen and keep Snow White safe?
Combat feels great in this game. Each dwarf has his unique set of skills, making the hardest part about this game its character selection. The characters and the world have a great design. I love dark pixel art. It creates the game’s grimdark setting, and it’s cool to look at. I didn’t get enough time with this title to get a deeper impression, but I am curious about the final product. I will try to get my hands on a copy if I have time when this game releases.
There isn’t a release date for this game yet, but you can wishlist it on Steam to grab that notification. You can also join the official Discord or follow the team on Twitter to stay up to date on all the announcements.
I want to give a shoutout to the devs who teamed up with me so that I can get a complete experience. I was terrible, but at least I had fun.
GDC Recap: SteamWorld Build
I got to try out SteamWorld Build at GDC before the title was made public. I am extremely excited about this cute entry into the SteamWorld universe. I love city builders, and with my limited exposure to the title, I already know Build is taking all of my free time. If you are a fan of the genre, go wishlist SteamWorld Build.
Build takes place after the events of Dig 2. The planet is dying, and you must make a final push to escape it. With the help of your citizens, you must gather resources, build your town, and fight off the wildlife that endangers our town. Can you escape before it is too late?
At first glance, Build can seem overwhelming with how much there is to manage. You have to build a city, keep your workers happy, mine resources, and defend your base all at once. The game does a fantastic job at easing the player into its mechanics, and once you get used to them, the management isn’t bad The pacing of this game can be stressful if you aren’t actively planning your moves, but the pacing of the game was rather relaxing. You will have plenty of time to maneuver between your tasks, and the game does a great job of alerting the players about what needs to be done.
There is a story to this game, but it acts more as a tutorial as it guides you through the different mechanics. Each section of the story will have you unlock and repair buildings that will open up more of the game. The main draw of this game will be its sandbox mode, where you will have the freedom to build and establish your base without restrictions. I recommend going through the story to at least get a basic understanding of its fundamentals.
The game is all about managing your base. Your base is split into different levels. At the top, you have a town of your design where you will recruit your workers. Below the town, you will mine for resources and defend against monsters. You will spend most of your time moving between levels to make sure all your worker’s needs are met while advancing your base.
My favorite thing about this game is the art. The steampunk western aesthetic is adorable. I love the art in the SteamWorld games, and the translation from 2D to 3D art was done beautifully. The art for this game was done by the same people that did the costumes for Little Big Planet, and they did a fantastic job. I spent most of my session admiring all the little details that went into the design. The world reminds me a lot of the Ork aesthetic in 40k where everything is made from recycled metal, except here it’s cute. I loved watching the little robots complete their chores or interact with buildings. The small details make me see the passion there is for this game and have me excited to see a finished product.
I didn’t get to play SteamWorld Build enough to have a fleshed-out opinion, but I am very excited by what I experienced. If you like city builders or are looking to get into one, Build is worth looking into. The game will be available on all consoles and PC. Go try out the demo on Steam or Epic Games. There is no release date yet, but you can wishlist it on Steam, Epic Games, GOG, and Playstation.
Shoutout to the devs that took the time to show me the game and answer all my questions. Keep up the good work!
Make sure you join the official SteamWorld Build Discord server to stay up-to-date on all the news. It is a very active server that occasionally has giveaways. You can also follow them on Twitter