Tag Archives: media

video game reviews

Unlock New Adventures with Secrets of the Eastern Sea DLC

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of the Wandering Sword: Secrets of the Eastern Sea. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. Make sure you check out my review for the base game.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. If you’re looking for a VPN for some added protection, check out NordVPN through my affiliate link.

What is Secrets of the Eastern Sea

Secrets of the Eastern Sea unlocks a new area to explore, new martial arts (Quingyun Fan Technique) to explore, and a new character to unlock. You will need the base game to play this game. This is midgame content that will unlock a series of new quests and story which is great for those replaying the game, or just getting into it. Those who enjoy cosmetics can collect two new mounts (white and gray seals), and a few new outfits for some added flare. Players can also create their own island retreat where they can gather resources and trade with visitors, for those who enjoy that type of management game.

Review

I really enjoyed the Secrets of the Eastern Sea DLC. The DLC takes full advantage of its beautiful art and creates a unique and interesting island adventure. I love the vibe, music, and flavor of the new area, and I had a lot of fun exploring as much of it as I could. The new characters and martial arts are strong, and a lot of fun to use. The quest and story are worth playing through. It does a good amount of world building, and a must buy if you want to know more about the world. It is a little short, but for $7, it is not a problem. Especially since it is mid-game content.

You don’t need to buy the Secrets of the Eastern Sea DLC to enjoy Wandering Sword. The base game is fantastic and worth your time on its own, but the flavor, characters, and settings the DLC adds are worth visiting at least once. If you’re looking to buy into Wandering Sword, or want to support a very good game, go pick up Secrets of the Eastern Sea on Steam.

video game reviews

Afterlove EP Review: A Journey Through Grief and Healing

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Disclaimer

I was a free copy of Afterlove EP 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.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. If you’re looking for a VPN for some added protection, check out NordVPN through my affiliate link.

What is Afterlove Ep?

Afterlove EP is a stylistic slice of life visual novel out now on Steam.

Rama was a promising musician when tragedy strikes. Rama loses his girlfriend suddenly, and weight of her absence upends his life and everyone else who knew her. Play as Rama as he struggles through his grief, mends the relationships he pushed away, and tries to find the inspiration for his next great song. With the help of friends, music, and a little bit of therapy, Rama just have what it takes to move forward and achieve the his dreams. All he has to do is get through it.

Review

If you enjoy visual novels, Afterlove EP should be in your library. I could not put this thing down. The quirky art style and animation make the game feel cozy, even though the subject isn’t. The soundtrack is fantastic. There is not a bad song in the batch, and I loved playing the rhythm games as Rama worked on discovering his new sound. Most importantly, the story is fantastic.

I haven’t been captivated by a story like this in a while, and I am very glad I picked it up. The story is sad, and it depicts grief in such a realistic way that I have to leave you with this trigger warning: don’t get this if you’ve lost someone and it is going to make you sad. I cried, but I am in the stage of my grief where it felt revealing. It was kind of nice to experience grief through someone else because it felt less lonely. A lot of Rama and the people around him feel after Cinta dies mirrors what I’ve felt. It is a very nice wholesome story about grief that I recommend to everyone, but there are parts that will make you sad. But there are also parts that will make you smile. I think the art style plays a huge roll in taking away some of the darkness that can come with grief so that people can focus on the process and not just the tragedy.

Afterlove EP is a must read for anyone who likes the genre and doesn’t mind feeling a little sad while reading it. I would even argue that you should read it if you do mind because it might help you go through it.

Do yourself a favor, pick up Afterlove EP for $19.99 on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. It is Steam Deck certified, and it looks great on the Steam Deck.

Grand Archive TCG, Uncategorized

Exciting Updates for Grand Archive Fans in 2026

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Introduction

Weebs of the Shore made a few announcements over the weekend that should get fans, new and old, excited for the future of the game. If you’re looking for Grand Archive product, always support your LGS, but if you pick up product on TCG Player using my affiliate link, it really helps me out. You can also check out my newest sponsor NordVPN if you’re looking for the service.

Competitive Schedule

With 2025 worlds behind us, it is time to start grinding for 2026. Next year worlds will be in Singapore, so make sure you start planning your Acents. There are a few new countries on the list which means the game is growing and I am here for it. We also got a couple sets teased, Phantom Monarchs in December and a capstone set in March. A capstone set is meant to celebrate the entire history of Grand Archive so far, and I am very excited to see what this means. I am going to be so broke…

Revel Fest Promo

If you haven’t played all season, now is a fantastic time to hop in and grind a few events for that sweet sweet promo. Abyssal Heaven’s promo is Fire Resonance Bauble, and this card looks so good. Good luck!

Store Champ Promo

It is also time to get good to get a copy of that store champ promo. The promo for Distorted Reflections and Surviel the Winds and this is peak GA design.

Regional Top Qualifier Promo

If you needed a reason to grind out the competitive then you got it with the Distorted Reflections promo, Smoke Bombs. This art looks so good!

Ascent Top Qualifier Promo

It is really the best time to get good at this game. This card is not only a solid add to your deck, you know its going to look amazing in real life.

Sandbox Announced

Getting good is going to require a lot of practice, more than you can get at locals. Luckily, Weebs of the Shore is working on a Sandbox that will allow players a clean and hopefully automated way to play Grand Archive from the comfort of their home. I can only hope this lets me enjoy random matches, and I would appreciate a ranked mode. Not much is known yet. I assume it will be PC at launch based on the UI, but if these leads to an a phone app, Weebs of the Shore is about to take all my money.

Pantheon

Now if you don’t want to play competitively, or just want a break, Weebs of the Shore is cooking up a new casual format Pantheon. Will it be a singleton format like commander? A multiplayer game mode? PVE? Pauper? Personally, I think it will be something like commander based on the name, but we will have to wait and see.

Phantom Monarchs

Last but not least, Phantom Monarchs is dropping in December. We weren’t giving much other than a name, but we can assume it is an expansion set based on the release schedule we’ve gotten so far. Either way, I am always excited to see more grand archive.

video game reviews

Fantasy Kommander Review: Retro Turn-Based Strategy

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Fantasy Kommander: Fascination of Evil 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.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. If you’re looking for a VPN for some added protection, check out NordVPN through my affiliate link.

What is Fantasy Kommander: Fascination of Evil?

Fantasy Kommander is an homage to to classic turn-based game out now on Steam.

Take the role of Marcus III as you command and build a powerful army and vanquish any foe that dares cross your path. Make your campaign across your future empire as you go up against orcs, trolls, dragons, and other opposing factions. Every action you take matters, so make every turn count. Do you have what it takes to be the great Kommander your people needs?

Review

Fantasy Kommander: Fascination of Evil is a niche game made for its audience. If you are a fan of old school strategy, this is a solid game. The graphics, animations, and just about everything is going to feel dated if you’re coming from modern strategy. The mechanics are sound enough to make it a decent strategy game, but there are a lot of nuanced mechanics that are not going to be obvious for newer players. The game does provide a link to a tutorial, but the link is dead and you are left to figure things out on your own.

Figuring out the game isn’t impossible, I am sure smarter people can do it, but I had trouble understanding some of the movement and attack mechanics. It would make some levels easier if I knew what I was supposed to be doing. In the end, I was able to click my way through some of the easier levels through trial and error and that was good enough for me. I enjoyed my time enough to recommend it to people who like this style of game, but it is going to be a hard sell for everyone else. I wouldn’t buy this if you are new to strategy games or if you don’t like how dated it looks.

You can pick up Fantasy Kommander: Fascination of Evil for $3 on Steam.

video game reviews

Emotional Journey through Puzzles in After Light Fades

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of After the Light Fades 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.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. If you’re looking for a VPN for some added protection, check out NordVPN through my affiliate link.

What is After Light Fades?

After Light Fades is a sokuban-style puzzle adventure out now on Steam.

After the loss of her partner, Alice must travel through a magical land, collecting memories and learning to let them go. Alice must go back to the places she shared with her partner Aura as she works through her grief with the help of magical artifacts. What she will uncover along the way? Will she be able to let things go?

Gameplay

After Light Fades is a top down puzzle game where players must interact with the parts of the map to find a path forward. There are over 100 puzzles to solve, each guiding the player through an emotional narrative of grief. The game also have a level creator for those who are feeling creative.

Review

After Light Fades is a hardcore puzzle game that will test a players patience and challenge their problem solving skills. Puzzles are creative, and they get challenging once it teachers its players the core mechanics. A guide might be needed in a few places, but it is satisfying to beat the harder levels. I appreciate how creative the game gets with its mechanics and solutions.

One aspect I didn’t like is that the interactions can bug out. Sometimes, you will move a piece on accident because of how interactions work. It isn’t a deal breaker, but it does lead to some frustrations. Other than that, the game is solid, if you’re looking for a puzzle game. It definitely does feel a little more niche side of puzzle games, but it has a decent story with some interesting puzzles.

If you enjoy Sokuban puzzle games and want a challenge, After Light Fades is for you. If you don’t want to think too much, this game closes its chill pretty early on. I thought it was fine, but I’d recommend checking out the demo before making the decision. The niceness of it all makes it hard to recommend.

You can pick up After Light Fades on steam for $14.99.

video game reviews

Yosei Wars Review: A Cute Retro Adventure

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Yosei Wars 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.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do.

What is Yosei Wars?

Yosei Wars is a retro inspired arcade platformer out now on Steam.

The evil Junk Food army has invaded, taking the Tooth Faries Hostage and threatening tooth health. It is up to you to jump through its colorful world, fight off the many Junk Food monsters, and save any Fairy in your way. Do you have what it takes to be be the champion of good dental hygiene, or will this world rot away like an untreated cavity?

Gameplay

This is a very straightforward 2D platformer with some clear inspiration to its retro predecessors. Players will jump through colorful thematic levels collecting teeth, fighting monsters, and rescuing faries. There are 36 levels total with 6 unique bosses to overcome, and a fun little story to tie things together.

Review

Yosei Wars is an adorable nod to a classic era of gaming that I didn’t know I was missing. This game is cute, simple, relaxing, but offers enough of a challenge to keep things engaging. I love the colorful retro aesthetic, and the fantastic score that accompanies it. I would check this out if you’re looking for a cute and dose of nostalgia, I don’t think it gets better.

I’ve never been a fan of these types of platformers, but something about Yosie Wars kept me playing. Part of the draw was the retro colorful world, but the rest was the gameplay. The platforming is managable, the ramp in difficulty is fine (and the game does get hard), and the bosses are creative. My only complaint is that I could not get it to work on the Steam Deck. The game feels good on a desktop, but I would have preferred to play it on handheld. Maybe with enough attention, we’ll get that update.

Aside from that personal gripe, this is a solid game if you’re looking for something cozy, cute, and casual. Especially if you’re in the mood for something a little retro. You’ll definitely get $5 worth of fun out of this game.

You can pick up Yosei Wars on Steam for $4.99.

Tech Reviews

Is the Epomaker Aula F65 Pro Worth It?

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Disclaimer

Mechlands sent me the the Epomaker x Aula F65 Pro 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. Make sure you also check out my latest reviews for the Blade 101 and M75. I will be using affiliate links where possible. You are free to buy where ever you want, but it really helps me out if you use my links.

What’s in the box?

  • Aula F65 Mechanical Keyboard
  • USB-C to USB-A Cable
  • Key/Switch Puller
  • 2 Additional Switches
  • User Manual

Features

The Epomaker x Aula Mechanical keyboard is a 65% keyboard with unique flare. It comes in Black Contour and Gradient Gray, and both truly pop with their RBG lighting effect. I was sent the black, and the little wave design looks a lot cooler in person.

The F65 features 65 hotswappable keys and a dial for volume and media controls. 65% can handle most workloads, but there are preprogrammed short cuts for some added utility. The 4000mAh gives users full advantage of the lightning-fast wireless connections. With 1000 HZ polling, the keyboard promises a competitive edge against other keyboards in the price range.

Sound Test

Review

The F65 Pro is a very cool looking keyboard out of the box. The sleek and unique design will make it stand out on any desktop, and the RBG effects will help it pop. The keyboard is a great size for those who care about desktop space, and light for those who need something that travels. While the keyboard is well manufactured, it does feel and sound like a cheep plastic keyboard. The board also has a good amount of flex. Not enough to worry about, but I wouldn’t throw this around in a bag without at least a bit of protection.

As far as sounds go, this thing is loud. You are either going to love the sound, or hate how cheap and loud it is. I was not a fan and recommend you listen to the sound test before making your decision. I will say the typing experience is a lot more pleasant than I expected. The keys were soft to the touch and I never felt pain or fatigue from any of my sessions. It is a surprisingly comfortable keyboard with a decent typing angle.

The keyboard also has a solid battery life. I was getting about 8 hours with the RGB effect on, which is more than enough for most work flows. As for the performance, I think mine came defective. Pressing the space bar would randomly register the imputs twice. At random intervals, I was getting two spaces and it made typing any thing longer than a sentence annoying. Switching out the switch seems to have fixed the issue for now. Replacing the switch was easy enough with the included replacement and tool, but I shouldn’t have to do so when the keyboard is brand new.

The keyboard is not bad for the price point. I’ve definitely tried worse, but the fact that it came defective makes it a gamble. I can’t recommend it because for the hassle of replacing the defect, you can pick up a better keyboard. This seems like there were corners cut to make a cool looking keyboard at a budget, and I can’t sacrifice aesthetics for performance.

If you want to take the gamble, you can pick up the Epomaker x Aula F65 Pro from Amazon, or the official Mechlands store.

video game reviews

Is Scar-Lead Salvation Worth Your Time?

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Scar-Lead Salvation 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 reivew.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do.

What is Scar-Lead Salvation?

Scar-Led Salvation is a 3D third-person action shooter out now on Steam and PlayStation.

Willow wakes up in a strange robot testing facility without the memories of her identity. With the help of her advanced AI companion, she must make her way out of the facility, and maybe find out what is going on. But this won’t be an easy task. The facility is filled with robots ready to attack, and its hallways are a winding and confusing maze. Will Willow find out what happened to her, why she is here, and who she is?

Gameplay

Players control Willow as they fight their way through rooms of enemies. Combat is a pretty strait forward third person shooter. Players gear Willow with random weapons and abilities they find throughout a run. These weapons and abilities can be upgraded through out the level at upgrade stations. If Willow dies, she is reset at save point with only her basic weapons and abilities.

Review

Scar-Lead Salvation is a fun game, for the first few minutes of play. The game looks fine, combat feels good, and discovering the right weapon is exciting. Once the novelty of the game wears off, the game starts to feel repetitive.

One of the issues I have with the game is with the gearing system. Once you find a build you like, which happens early on in the game, there really is no reason to try anything new. Most of the drops become useless, and I started ignoring loot pretty early on in my playthrough. There really is no reason weapons should be drops since a lot of the time, they offer nothing new. In a looter shooter like Borderlands, even when a lot of the drops are useless, there is always a chance you get a weapon with a cool ability worth swapping into. Here you might find a gun with slightly better stats, but the difference it makes isn’t worth the time it takes to verify.

Combat in this game is smooth, but there really isn’t anything exciting to it. Enemies have the same patterns, and once you learn them, you aren’t dying. It gets very repetitive, especially since most of the rooms feel the same. I do like how that abilities charge by parrying successfully, but it doesn’t add too much depth to the game. The abilities don’t add much to the game either.

This is a game that does railroad its players through the story. There is no room for exploration because the rooms are bare and simple, and most of the loot you find is pointless. The story itself is fine. It has solid voice acting, but its not good enough to play through the game to find out what happens.

The game isn’t bad, but there also isn’t anything that leaves an impression. This is a game I will definitely forget playing, and one that I would have been mad if I paid full price for. It feels dated, and not in a good way. If you like the art style, I would wait for sale. If you are looking for a new game to play, I’d probably look elsewhere.

You can pick up Scar-Lead Salvation on Steam for $59.99.

video game reviews

Drakantos Close Beta Signups are now Live!

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it is finally happening! After a long anticipated wait, we finally get a date for the Drakantos closed beta! The closed beta will run from July 25th – July 27th, and signups are live! Make sure you join the official Discord and add the game to your watchlist! If you don’t know what Drakantos is, make sure you check out my initial post.

This will be a short post because not much is known aside from the dates. We will get news about the playable characters at a later date, and I will be sure to cover it then as well. For now, all we know is that you will be able to invite your friends to the beta if you get in (provided the Steam function properly works properly that weekend).

I have been following Drakantos since I got a chance to talk to a few of the devs during my time at GDC a couple years back. Every Dev log, and I recommend you check them all out both the official coverage and my own, has added to my excitement and made me impatient. I am really rooting for this game’s success because I love the art, the flavor, and the passion that is going into the project. I can’t wait for finally get my hands on this game! Until then, we wait for more news.

video game reviews

Star Overdrive Review: A fun Janky Scifi Adventure

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Star Overdrive 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.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do.

What is Star Overdrive?

Star Overdrive is a fast-paced open world scifi adventure out now on Steam, Epic Games, PlayStation, Xbox, and the Nintendo Switch.

Bios finds himself stranded on the planet Cebete as he searches for his beloved Nous. Armed with only his Keytar and handy hoverboard, Bios must race across the strange planet to find her and bring her back. But the journey won’t be easy. The world is full of strange beasts he needs to fight off and strange machines he needs to activate. Can he find the right upgrades to conquer the terrain, save the girl, and get back home? Will he learn what really happened here?

Gameplay

Star Overdrive is an openworld adventure game with a hoverboard gimmick. The hoverboard can be upgraded, tuned, and customized to fit a players style. Players can do tricks, do jumps, and go through special gates to gain boosts. If you aren’t moving fast across the map, you aren’t doing it right.

There is a crafting mechanic baked into this game. Players will collect materials along their adventure to craft different upgrades for their board, or to change the aesthetic. The farming can feel like a grind, but it is worth the trouble, especially if you like to consistently change your boards style. The board will wear with use, and having a fresh coat of paint and polish will make it perform better.

Combat in this game is simple. Players use the keytar to chain normal and heavy attacks, and can earn new powers along the adventure. Players can mostly look forward to exploring the vast world, searching for new styles, upgrades, lore, and some cool tracks to listen to.

Review

I really like Star Overdrive, but not as much as I thought I would. While I do love the flavor, the gameplay, and the concept, I found it a bit lacking. I am aware that there were some limitations baked into the game so that it can perform for the switch, and it definitely feels like a switch game.

One issue I have with the game is how empty the world feels after a while. Everything in this game looks cool, but once you start exploring the world, there isn’t much more to see. Some of it has to do with how they need to make room for the hoverboard riding mechanics, and the other has to do with maintaining the performance. It made me not really want to explore the world, and instead, I tried to finish the story as soon as possible.

The story itself is fine. I liked collecting the small tidbits and piecing together the events of the catastrophe. All the voice logs, journals, and the story itself was fun to collect. I think it is the only reason I kept playing.

The gameplay is fun, until the gimmick wears off. Combat is simple, but it makes the game the casual RPG I’ll occasionally pull out. Riding the hoverboard is so much fun. once I figured out the mechanics, got a few upgrades, I was sold. I wouldn’t say it has revolutionary movement mechanics, but they are good enough to keep players engaged. Zooming through the desert doing tricks, landing sweet jumps, and listening to good music made this game hard to put down.

One thing I did not like about the hoverboard was the upgrade system. I like that the upgrades felt meaningful, and I like that there was unlockable customization, but I don’t like the crafting system. The crafting system is simple, and it produces visible upgrades to the board, but it makes upgrading the board a grind. You have to constantly be farming materials and gambling on the part you get in return. It doesn’t take away too much time from the game, but I would have preferred to find the parts as random loot.

Combat was fine, but it gets better once you unlock a few powers. There were abilities that did feel broken, but it was a fun little loop that kept me engaged.

Despite its flaws, the game is a solid open world adventure with a solid story and a cool gimmick that is worth trying once. Whether or not you value exploration and deep combat may be the deal breaker, but I enjoyed it for the casual fun it is on my Steam Deck.

You can pick up Star Overdrive on Steam, Epic Games, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.