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Tevi: The cute metroidvania game that almost could

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I was sent Tevi as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.

Tevi is a cute bullet hell Metroidvania releasing on Steam later today, but you can try out the demo in the meantime. You play as Tevi as she fights her way through intricate dungeons in search of ancient tech.

If nothing else, Tevi will be one of the cutest games you’ll play this year. I am a huge fan of the art and ethics, but the story didn’t do enough to hook me. I found the story a bit generic as it spent more time hitting certain anime tropes than developing an interesting story. There is voice acting, which is nice, but it is much more efficient to read through the cut scenes. If you aren’t already skipping them.

The main draw to this game should be the gameplay. The game runs great, and the gameplay has a retro vibe that I enjoyed until the novelty wore off. The game starts to feel repetitive after a bit, even when new bosses and skills are introduced to shake things up. I like how the game slowly introduces new combos and abilities as you progress through the game. It makes progression feel more fluid and manageable.

Combat is simple, but it has its charm. After memorizing enemy patterns, this turns into your traditional Metroidvania with the occasional boss to mix things up. Bosses are unique in flavor and strategy, and they never felt unwinnable. I played the game on Normal difficulty and found it too easy, but the game offers an easy way to change the difficulty in game when you need to. 

Honestly, I am somewhat in the middle when it comes to Tevi. While I enjoyed the casual retro vibe, the pacing of the combat, and the cute aesthetic, this isn’t a game I can spend too much time on. I certainly wouldn’t finish the game if I bought it with my own money. The problem with Tevi is that if you don’t care about the aesthetic, there are simply better options. Even then, I would wait for a sale and play something like Frontier Hunter: Erza’s Wheel of Fortune if you want to play some good Waifuvania, or Nocturnal for something more serious. Don’t get me wrong, the game isn’t bad, but you have better options.

You can pick up Tevi on Steam later today. There is also a physical collectors edition available for $106.39 on the official website. 

The Collectors edition includes:

  • Original Soundtrack SteelBook x1 (4 discs with a total of 72 tracks)
  • Enamel Pin x1
  • Art Board (Shikishi) x1
  • Astral Gear Wireless Charger x1
  • Commemorative Number Card x1
  • Collecter Box x1
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The Cowboy 3030 demo offers a solid glimpse of a neat little rogue-lite coming to PC

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I got to try the Cowboy 3030 demo, which will be featured in the Steam Next Fest. The Steam Next Fest is a multi-day event where gamers can try new games, chat with devs, and learn about upcoming releases. The Event runs from October 9th to the 16th, so make sure you tune in. 

Cowboy 3030 is a rogue-lite Wild West-themed shooter set in the future. Choose your cowboy and fight your way through the endless waves of goons from the evil Nebularos gang. 

The demo lets players choose between two cowboys: Calix and Keri. Calix is fantastic at short-range combat with his revolvers, electric lasso, and flash grenade. Kari is your girl for long-range combat with her arsenal of riffles, access to a defensive electro screen, and an exploding bowling bomb. Both have distinct playstyles, and the game has a unique skill tree that ensures each run feels different. 

Players will start their runs by choosing a loadout. As you play, you will unlock new weapons and characters to help you hone in on a playstyle that works best for you. The goal is to clear as many of the procedurally generated levels without dying. Throughout each run, you level up your tree and collect money to buy upgrades. The tree is a large grid that gives players the freedom to build their character to their liking. The tree is randomly generated, but I never felt like the RNG ruined any of my runs. 

Cowboy 3030 has a solid demo. The game looks great and runs well, the mechanics are fun, and players get a nice taste of what is to come. Obviously, there isn’t enough content to judge it too harshly, but I enjoyed the demo enough to recommend it. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the Steam Next Fest catalog, Cowboy 3030 is a solid place to start. It is a nice relaxing rogue-lite that will keep you entertained for a couple of hours. The game is planned to be released during Q1 of 2024, but you can try the demo out today!

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Spasms of Stupidity is a spiritual successor to DragonForce that you might want to look into

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Spasms of Stupidity fell into my inbox, and I thought I would share it because it is a neat concept. Spasms of Stupidity is a roguelike wargame for pc reminiscent of the DragonForce game for the Sega Saturn. The game is still in its early stages, but I can see the potential. 

You command a legion of demons on a campaign to take over the world. There are skill trees, item crafting, and a campaign to complete. You will arrange your troops, set your orders, and watch as your army does battle. As you play, you will unlock new characters, skills, and items to help you with future runs, which is to be expected from any roguelike. If you enjoy war simulators, especially ones on a large scale, this project might be worth supporting. There are some complexities and mechanics I am I am brushing over, but the video does a better job of showing them in action. 

The game is still in its early stages, and looking for funding on Kickstarter. The Kickstarter launches on November 1st. It isn’t going to be for everyone, but with diligence, I can see it satisfying in its niche. Always be mindful of backing a Kickstarter, but someone has to bid on the little guys. 

If you want to stay up to date on the news, check out the Steam and Epic Games Store pages. If you’ve been enjoying these updates, make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.

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Disgaea 7, the cute anime game you are going to want to play at least once!

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I was sent Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless to review a little after my previous post. I’ve been excited about this title since the first announcement and was planning on buying it regardless. I am very fortunate to get the chance to review it for my site, but I won’t let this sway my opinions on the game. This will be my honest review of the game. If you’ve been enjoying my reviews, make sure you like, comment, subscribe, and share this with your friends. 

Disgaea 7 is a quirky and unique JRPG for PlayStation, Steam, and Nintendo Switch. This review is based on the Steam version. 

This is a cute game with stunning visuals, a fantastic soundtrack, and fun gameplay. Do not let how cute this game looks fool you. This game is difficult if you don’t take it seriously. I found the stages appropriately challenging and the mechanics engaging. I played the game on Easy, which was appropriate for my skill level. Although I never found the stages impossible or frustrating, it was easy to wipe if I wasn’t playing strategically. If you’ve never played a strategy game, it has terrific tutorials to get you started.

The story is a little on the silly side, with a general cheesiness I found charming. It has a cast of tremendous actors that make the cut scenes such a delight to sit through. I can see this being a niche game due to its tone, but the gameplay is fun enough that it won’t matter. The story is self-contained enough to exist on its own. While you won’t need to play any of the other games in the series to enjoy Disgaea 7, you are going to. 

Aside from the combat, what I love most about this game is how much you can do at the base. Between stages, you get access to all these shops where you recruit new heroes, learn new skills, buy items, vote for buffs, and do other administrative stuff to prepare for the next stage. As goofy as this game looks, I spent a lot of time planning things through, and I loved every minute of it. 

Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless releases in North America on October 3rd on PlayStation, Steam, and Switch for $59.99. If it’s not yet on your wishlist, it should be. 

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Sea of Stars is the Most Impressive RPG You’ll get to Play

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I’ve been excited about the release of Sea of Stars since I first saw the trailer. I love the art, and I am always in the market for a good RPG. I grew even more excited when I got to try the demo. Needless to say, I got Sea of Stars the minute it was on the eshop. If you haven’t played this game yet, it needs to be in your collection. Sea of Stars is a fantastic RPG and one you will be replaying.

I’ve written about this game before, so I’ll try not to repeat myself too much. Sea of Stars is a fun twist to the classic RPG genre that innovates in a way that you see to appreciate how good it is. This game is one of the first games in a while where I slowed down because I wanted to savor the experience. It has a fantastic soundtrack, a fun and quirky tone, a nice story, engaging and manageable puzzles, and a fun combat system. 

I adore the combat system in this game because it fixes the problem I have with a lot of RPGs. Instead of waiting idly while the characters finish their turns, you press a button to get a bonus melee attack, cast a stronger spell, or mitigate some damage. The small bonuses you get from this mechanic could mean the difference between wiping and beating the encounter. This game felt a lot more tactical, but it could be a result of the mechanics being a lot more engaging than I am used to.

I love the unique flare Sea of Stars brings to the genre, specifically the relic system it implements. Throughout the game, you can find or purchase relics that you can activate as a permanent buff to adjust the game’s difficulty. You can toggle these buffs to make the game as casual of an experience as you want. One of the first relics you find in this game automatically brings your team up to full health. Between save points, the only way to heal is through spells or cooking. You will be constantly managing your food, supplies, and mana to keep your team alive, and you can easily find yourself low or out of all three. This relic eliminates this challenge so you can focus on other aspects of the game, which is a completely valid way to play this game. There are other relics like this throughout your adventure, and they are all optional. I love when games allow players to adjust the experience because sometimes I want to have the feeling of achievement I get from beating a nearly impossible run, and sometimes I want to sit back and chill. 

Now I didn’t turn on every relic I came across, but I turned on enough to make it an easier run. That said, I never felt the game got too easy after turning on the relics. I still had to plan out my combat and the boss encounters needed some thought. Boss fights are a different form of puzzle that will claim a few of your teams. It is a lot of fun trying to find the right way to kill a boss, but there are solid guides out there in case you need them. The cool part about wiping in this game is that you don’t lose much progress between saves.

If you haven’t played Sea of Stars, it should be on your list. This quirky RPG has a beautiful retro feel with some impressive innovations you need to experience at least once. You can play Sea of Stars on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and the Nintendo Switch for $34.99. It’s also included on Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Extra if you have a subscription. But if you need further convincing, go check out the demo.

video game reviews

Backpack Hero: The inventory management roguelike you should be playing

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I was sent Backpack Hero as a review code, and while I am grateful for the opportunity, I will not let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game.

Backpack Hero is a charming little inventory roguelike that deserves a lot more attention. It has a cute art style, a nice soundtrack, and fun gameplay. This game is a lot more fun than an early-access game has the right to be. If you are looking for a chill game that will challenge you, get Backpack Hero.

Dive through procedurally generated dungeons as you fight enemies, find treasure, and manage your inventory. Space in your bag is limited, so choose carefully. How will you brave the unknown? Will you use magic? Poison? Swords? Ninja stars? The choice is yours! (and RNGesus’)

Players start with limited inventory space and gain more as their character levels. Dungeons are full of monsters, treasure, and random events that award players loot to shuffle around. Weapons, items, armor, and potions have unique skills that can interact with each other based on their placement in the backpack. Inventory management is almost like a deck builder as you work towards specific builds by collecting certain items.

As deceptively simple as this game appears, I spent a lot of time theory crafting and optimizing my build only to have my run ended by an enemy or ability I didn’t plan for. Losing was never a frustrating experience in Backpack Hero. I understood my shortcomings and planned for a better run. There are special challenges you can run if the normal game because too easy, but I mostly played in normal because I enjoyed the chill yet challenging vibe that came with it. 

What I liked most about this game is how different every run felt. I never had the same build, even when I started building toward a familiar one. There was always something dumb and alluring I wanted to try. It didn’t always work out, but I had a lot of fun exploring and testing my options. The combat is a little simple. It is turn-based, and what you can do is limited by action points. You spend your action points by casting spells, attacking with weapons, or blocking with shields. I never felt like combat got stale because my strategy was constantly changing. Some runs were more fun than others, but such is life with RNGesus. 

Inventory management is the most important mechanic in Backpack Hero. If you’ve played any MMO or RPG, you’ve become too familiar with the concept. I used to joke that most of my playtime on Guild Wars 2 was spent in my inventory. In Backpack Hero, you will consistently make difficult choices as you arrange and rearrange your bag. What you choose to keep in your bag affects how you play each round, so make sure you choose carefully. There are vendors and special events that will give you access to random and sometimes cool items, a smith that will upgrade your gear, and cursed items that will mess up your whole strategy. I spent a lot of time theory-crafting the perfect build and had a blast doing it, even if I never got impressively far. There are probably guides out there for the most optimal run, but I recommend you fail a couple of times on your own first.

If you have been considering getting this game or looking for a new game to get into, Backpack Hero is worth every penny. It is a cute casual game with enough kick to it to keep you entertained for hours. You can buy Backpack Hero on Steam for $16.99. Now would be a great time to pick it up because it is 20% off ($13.59) until the 13th.

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Harmony: The Fall of Reverie – The beautiful visual novel you should have in your library

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Harmony: The Fall of Reverie was sent to me as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Harmony: The Fall of Reverie is a visual novel available now for the Switch, Xbox, PS5, and PC via Steam. 

Polly discovers that she can travel between her world and a spirit realm ruled by five aspirations: Glory, Bliss, Power, Chaos, Bond, and Truth. The two worlds are on the brink of collapse, and Polly is the only one who can save it. Although Polly can rely on her loved ones and the Asperations for support and guidance, she is the only one with the power to decide. Polly must make the difficult choices that could save the world. What kind of story will your decisions unlock?

The choices players make are what drive the narrative. Players are presented with multiple possibilities, but their path narrows as they make choices. Players will find themselves locked out of certain outcomes because of a previous decision. It is a cool way of making players live with the consequences of their actions, but it also makes the game highly replayable. 

The game is beautifully illustrated with terrific voice acting, a fantastic soundtrack, and a compelling narrative. I finished this game in one sitting because of how much I enjoyed the story. I even debated starting a second run to experience a different outcome. I now understand why this game is award-winning. Even though you are essentially just sitting and listening to a story happens, it is a good story to sit through. 

My only recommendation is that you go into this game as blind as possible. Your first playthrough should be unaffected by outside influences so that you can get a story of your own choosing. You can look up guides after if you need them, but it’s not difficult to work towards your desired outcome. 

I don’t want to say more because I don’t want to spoil the story or influence any decisions. This game is worth your time and money. There are so many choices, paths, and outcomes in this game that it is going to be hard to only beat it once. If you are looking for a new visual novel, or simply trying to get into the genre, Harmony: The Fall of Reverie should be in your collection. It is available now on Switch, Xbox, PS5, and PC via Steam for $24.99. 

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