I was sent a free copy of Tell Me Your Story to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!
Tell Me YourStory is a picture story book game puzzle game out now on Steam and Switch. Play as Amilia as she uncovers Grandma Rose’s extraordinary stories. What treasures will you uncover? What memories will you make?
Gameplay
There is no dialogue in Tell Me Your Story. All narrative exists in these silent picture frames, and it tells its story effectively. In between these moments of narrative, players solve casual puzzles. You might need a hint for the less intuitive puzzles, but most can be completed easily. Tell Me Your Story is meant to be a relaxing cozy game, and I feel it is successful. It does feel like a kid’s game, but the story is cute, and the gameplay is soothing enough to be enjoyable for all ages.
Impressions
Tell Me Your Story was such a cute and comforting experience. I enjoyed the unique experience that it provides and didn’t mind that the puzzles were easy. I am a huge fan of the pixel art, and was impressed with how much story is told through just pictures. This is a solid kids’ game, but one that you won’t mind playing. The story is cute, the art is fun, and the gameplay is relaxing. If you’re looking for a cozy and comforting title for you or your kids, I recommend you pick up Tell Me Your Story.
You can pick up Tell Me Your Story for $9.99 on Steam and Switch. The game is currently on sale on the Nintendo eshop for $2.99 until 5/16, which is an amazing deal! You can also try the demo if you don’t believe me.
Grand Archive has officially turned one! In celebration, the devs held a special celebration stream where they talked about the history of the game and had fun with the community. As someone just picking up Grand Archive, it was cool to see the history as well as the passion from both the devs and the community. You can check out the VOD of the steam on the official Grand Archive TCG YouTube.
The anniversary also marks the beginning of spoiler season for the upcoming Mercurial Heart set hitting stores on May 17. There are a lot of spicy spoilers that have me reaching for my wallet. Silvie is getting some amazing support with this set there is going to be a good amount of Tristan to keep fans happy. This round of spoilers definitely has me reaching for my wallet. I can’t wait to see what else they show at Worlds. Preorder Mercurial Heart today!
Silvie, Slime Sovereign
Tristan Shadowdancer
Other Spoilers
Conclusion
Worlds will also act as the official debut of Mercurial Heart, which means we’re getting more spoilers! I can’t wait to see how the meta is defined for worlds, and what else this Grand Archive has in store. If you want to pick up any Grand Archive, like the new Alchemical Revolution set, pick it up on TCG Player through my affiliate links.
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I started following WONDRLD because the cards are so pretty. They are a little anime-heavy, but that is the appeal. I love the use of color, and the unique layout makes each card stand out. Their upcoming set, Starlight Genesis, is no exception. I would love to start collecting these because they are going to look sick in a binder. Maybe I’ll even make time to learn this one too. In case you missed it, check out the Binary Mind set. Product is still available on the official site.
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Dissonance Divais out, and the cards are so cute! I love the Halloween flavor, and the art looks amazing. The Dark Tama in this set is sick! I just caught up to the anime, and I am ready to start collecting. Check with your LGS to see if they carry Wixoss or run events.
You can pick up a booster boxes ($75) or singles of Dissonance Divaon TCG Player through my affiliate links. If you enjoy these updates, don’t forget to like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials! I’m currently opening packs of Battle Spirits Saga on my TikTok and YouTube.
World Beyond has officially been announced, which means we have a few new spoilers to get excited about. World Beyond will be the first direct-to-consumer set, which is an exciting development. Collectors should especially be excited because there are some beautiful cards you’re going to want to get your hands on. World Beyond will release with two new theme decks, a collectors box, and a blister pack. The set breakdown:
9 NEW Akora Chains
9 Full Art Akora
10 Full Art Alchemy
10 Full Art Battlezones
41 Holographic Akora/Alchemy Cards
10 Holo Relic Shards
100 Mechanically Unique Cards
9 Stage 1 Akora Extended Art Box Toppers
10 Character Relic Shards
18 Stage 2 & 3 Extended Art Akora
9 Stage 2 Extended Art Akora
9 Stage 3 Extended Art Akora
2 Serialised Generational Rare Akora
1 Serialised Box Topper
Ancient & Secret Rare Cards (Limited to 5 copies each)
Make sure you join the official Akora Discord if you want to stay on top of all the news. Check out the official post for all the details.
Collectors Box
The World Beyond collectors box will be up for preorder on April 26. There will only be 100 of these available, so make sure you get yours before it is too late. Collector boxes will include new exclusive art rares, and they are beautiful. These will look amazing in a binder and are a fantastic way to bling out your deck.
The Buy a Box Promo card has also been announced, and it is beautiful. I am a huge fan of the Akora artwork, and it continues to blow me away.
2 New Theme Decks
Conclusion
I can’t wait to see more spoilers, but I am excited. I might at least get the decks to play with, but I’ll have to see how much money I can get together by then. If you want to pick up any Akora to begin your collection, pick it up on TCG Player with my affiliate links. If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials! I am doing daily pack openings of Spellbound Wings on my TikTok and YouTube.
The San Jose, CA regionals happened over the weekend, and it looks like Rai and Lorraine dominated the format. While the different flavors of Lorraine are interesting lists, it’s nice to see Rai carving his place on top. The VOD of the event is still up with commentary for those who want to see some competitive Grand Archive. I’ve collected the top three decks from the event and left links for singles for those who want them. If you would like to see the rest of the list, check out the Omnidex.
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Material Deck 1 Spirit of Wind 1 Rai, Spellcrafter 1 Rai, Archmage 1 Rai, Storm Seer 1 Chalice of Blood 1 Grand Crusader’s Ring 1 Nullifying Lantern 1 Safeguard Amulet 1 Tariff Ring 1 Tome of Knowledge 1 Storm Tyrant’s Eye 1 Tome of Sacred Lightning
Main Deck 4 Careful Study 4 Dungeon Guide 2 Peer into Mana 3 Resolute Stand 4 Scry the Skies 4 Beseech the Winds 4 Disorienting Winds 4 Windrider Invoker 3 Zephyr 3 Advent of the Stormcaller 3 Anger the Skies 4 Arcane Blast 2 Arcane Elemental 4 Arcane Sight 3 Erratic Bolt 3 Power Overwhelming 3 Spellshield: Arcane 3 Voltaic Sphere
I was sent a free copy of Solforge Fusionto review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will not 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. Buying cards from TCG Player through my affiliate link is also a great way to help me out. Don’t forget to follow the socials!
SolForge Fusion is a CCG card battler out now on Steam. The game features single-player and PvP modes where players face off against opponents with uniquely fused decks. Do you have what it takes to outmaneuver your opponents and come out on top?
Gameplay
The gameplay loop is where this game becomes an acquired taste. You are either going to love SolForge or find it boring. The game is split into rounds where players can perform one action per turn. Players have two alternating turns in each round. During their turn, a player can cast a spell, summon a creature, or move a creature between spaces on the board.
At the end of a round, the cards auto battle depending on whether the player is defending or attacking. Creatures of attacking player will attack the opponent directly if there is nothing blocking them, players of a defending player can only attack adjacent enemy creatures.
Cards that aren’t used in a round level up and are shuffled back into the deck. The strategy seems to be choosing the right cards to hold onto for later in the game. Players also have access to a hero ability that also levels up as the game carries on. A player wins when their opponent’s life drops to zero.
In the roguelike single-player mode, players can fuse or choose a deck to make their run. The game plays like any other deck-building roguelike but without deck-building. Players earn special buffs and abilities along their run. The run is over when a player gets to the end, or their life drops to zero.
Review
SolForge Fusion is an interesting concept that is ultimately held back by its gameplay. I was intrigued by the random fusion deck building and found the boardlike game mechanics interesting, but found the game boring. Even with the animation turned up, the game feels slow and repetitive. These might be personal preferences, but there are more fun CCGs with a campaign I could be playing instead. Shadowvese has a neat one for free.
Playing a card per turn makes the game feel more luck-based than your traditional card game. You either pull the cards you need to fill your board properly, or you’re just playing from behind. Movement is always an interesting concept, but I don’t think this game does it well. When choosing between moving or playing a card, it is almost always better to play a card. There are cards that do damage when moving which might be how they balance things, but it felt kind of like a pointless mechanic.
The evolving card mechanic is an interesting one. You either play your cards for an early advantage, or you save your good cards for more explosive rounds later in the match. Finding a balance between what you play and what you level on top of keeping a healthy board state has the potential to create an interesting strategy. Unfortunately, the game just feels too slow and boring.
The deck fusion mechanic is what is going to kill this game. While I love playing random decks, it doesn’t work in this game. You either get a decent deck to play or have to try again. This game already feels very heavily reliant on luck, I can only assume that the ladder is overrun by the luckier players. I understand that all card games have some luck involved, but it should at least feel like there’s some skill involved. I don’t think I would have minded the Fusion mechanic as much if it were just a roguelike, but there’s PvP and people want to build their own decks.
SolForge is still in early access, and future updates may make this game fun, but the game didn’t create enough interest in me to find out. While I do believe it comes down to preference, there are better card games with similar mechanics out there. If you’re curious about the game, try the demo first.
You can pick up SolForge Fusion on Steam for $19.99 (currently $14.99 until April 23).
I first wrote about GLYDR when it’s Kickstarter launched. It not only met its but blew past its goal by $70,000. In a bit of new news, GLYDR has partnered with leading design engineering firm CRE8 to complete the design and engineering of their revolutionary gaming peripheral.
What is GLYDR?
GLYDRis a unique gaming peripheral that aims to revolutionize the way we play games by giving players the ability to play with their feet. This controller features 16 programable actions designed to give your hands some much-needed relief. These actions can be saved into game-specific profiles that you can easily pull up through their software so you can always have the loadout you need. There will also be a library of community loadouts for those like me who are less creative.
What the CRE8?
CRE8 is a design engineering firm tasked with the final consumer version of the peripherals. They are responsible for some well known gaming designs like Cougar Gaming products. While the Kickstarter prototype looks fine, I wouldn’t mind something with a deeper gaming aesthetic.
Impressions
I get pretty bad RSI after all the gaming and typing I do. It gets so bad that my hands become unusable. I’ve worked hard to find the perfect ergonomic set up for gaming and work, but the pain still comes through with certain games and tasks. Having something like GLYDR that takes away some of the strain from my hands seems like a fantastic addition to my arsenal. I will need to try it first, but I am at least curious. With the news of this partnership, I am excited to see the final product.
If you’re looking for a way to unload some of that hand strain, GLYDR seems like a fantastic solution. If you missed the Kickstarter, you’ll be able to reserve your unit soon. Stay tuned for the official announcement.
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I finally got around to playing Lorcana, and I am a fan. The game is easy to learn, and you can play online through the third-party Pixelborn app for free with a minimal amount of tinkering.
How to Play Lorcana
The best way to learn Lorcana is by playing, but Dicebreakers has a fantastic tutorial on their YouTube if you need help getting started. I recommend setting up Pixelborn so you can try out the game for free to see if you like it, but starting with your favorite starter deck is a valid option.
Gameplay
The gameplay is pretty casual TCG. All the actions happen on a player’s turn, so you don’t have to worry about things like counterspells. The main trick to this game is managing resources. You need to be aware of what cards you throw in your ink well, when to challenge other characters, and when to send characters on quests. Keywords add some complexity to this loop, but Lorcana never felt like it was an overwhelming ammount of moving parts. At least based on the games I played with a friend who was also playing for the first time.
Tabletop Simulator is a fantastic piece of software, especially if you enjoy playing board games and trading card games. Indie trading card games always typically have official TTS modules and a vibrant community around them. The issue with TTS is that you have to buy the software ($30), but the modules are free. Another issue with the TTS is that it is a little clunky. Once you get used to the software, you don’t notice it, but it is there. Lastly, you have to be a bit more active with your matchmaking. You either find the discord to find people to play with, have friends who also have TTS who are down to play, find a room playing Lorcana, or make your own and wait for someone to join. It’s not an impossible task, but it is a little inconvenient compared to Pixelborn. That said, Tabletop Simulator is a fantastic option, especially if you’re interested in other board games. This is the Lorcana ModuleI used.
Untap.in
Untap.in is a browser-based solution for Lorcana and other popular TCGs. If you don’t have the hardware to run TTS or want something more simple, untap.in is a fantastic solution. The problem with untap is that you either have to have friends who play, find a lobby hosting a game, or look for a game on Reddit. It’s not impossible, but again, lacks convenience. But if you want to jump between other TCGs for free, it’s a great and simple tool that doesn’t take too many resources.
Pixelborn
Pixelborn is my favorite way to play Lorcana. It does take a bit of tinkering to get it to work, but it isn’t a complicated process. There is a fantastic tutorial on this fansite to get you started. Pixelborn looks great, runs well, and has a lot of phases and mechanics programmed to make learning easy. Best of all Pixelborn has integrated matchmaking. It can take some time to find a match depending on when you get on, but it should get easier if the game gets more popular. There are ranked and casual ladders, and tournaments as well. If you want the easiest, freest way to get into Lorcana, play it on Pixelborn.
How to Install Pixelborn
There are instructions on the official Pixelborn Discord on how to install the program. I’d join the Discord to meet other folks who also love the game, and to be on top of the news. This fan page has a great tutorial and all the links you need to get you started.
Impressions
I enjoyed Lorcana. I’ve always been a fan of the art, but I enjoyed the mechanics of the game. Now that I have a friend to play with, I will be playing it more regularly. I never get to see this friend, so its nice to have something we can share. If you’re looking for a casual game that is easy to learn and teach, Lorcana is a fantastic place to start.
Grand Archive Ascent is returning home to Taipei for what promises to be a fantastic weekend for fans of the competitive TCG June 8th – 9th. Players participating in Ascent Taipei will have a chance at $3000 and exclusive promos. Check the official announcement for all the prizing details. Tickets are on sale now, so make sure you get yours today!
Gwednolyn, Spirit of the Wind
The top players will receive the beautiful promo Gwendolyn, Spirit of the Wind, which you can use instead of Spirit of the Wind.
Top 32 Promo: Excorsize Curses
Everyone who makes it to day 2 will receive the beautiful Excorcise Curses promo with the Ascent Taipei stamp. Not only is this a very usable card, it is going to look fantastic in your deck or collection.
Entry Promo: Fireworks Display
Participating in the event will earn you the Fireworks Display promo, and it looks so cool!
Other Activities
Ascent Taipei isn’t just for players on their grind for worlds. There will also be drafts, casual events, and vendors for all types of fans of Grand Archive to enjoy. There will also be the special Ascent store that will have exclusive official Grand Archive merch like Playmats, uncut sheets, and other TCG accessories (some of which you can only get at these events). Most importantly, the developers will announce their roadmap for the rest of the year. I am very excited to see what else this game has in store. If you haven’t done so, get your tickets today!
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