I got the chance to try out Capcom’s Exoprimal during its beta this weekend, and it was okay. Exoprimal is a third-person shooter where you defend against oncoming hordes of dinosaurs using an advanced exosuit. The game is coming out for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, but I only got to try out the Steam version. One thing to note about this game is that a Capcom ID is required. I am not a fan of having more logins, but at least it was easy to set up.
The exosuits are what gives this game its flavor. Each suit has its unique playstyle and role to play in a team. At the moment, there are three roles an exosuit can take: support, tank, and assault. It should go without saying that efficient teamwork in this game is more important than DPS.
The only game mode available for the beta was a type of race. Two teams race to complete a set number of objectives before ending on some light PVP at the end. A cool feature about this mode is that the losing team will get weapons or abilities that will obstruct the enemy team so that races aren’t one-sided. This makes for an interesting dynamic because while you are trying to complete objectives, you also have to worry about being invaded by an enemy player.
So what did I think of Exoprimal? The game is beautiful on the highest settings. The detail in the cutscenes, character models, and dinosaurs is breathtaking. I did notice some odd rag-dolling here and there, but nothing game-breaking. The gameplay was fun for the first couple of matches before it got stale. Changing classes does help with the monotony, but I usually filled the same role. The objectives change between matches, which is nice, but not all are fun.
This isn’t the worst horde defense game I’ve played. I love killing dinosaurs, and the world and tech look cool, but there isn’t much to this game. I am sure people who like these types of games will enjoy it more, but it is still a hard sell for $60. As it stands, it isn’t worth the money. There aren’t enough character choices or game modes to be worth the money. For this game to be successful, the story needs to be fantastic. Players will need to be hooked on the story and world before they can invest in a PVP experience that frankly has been done better and cheaper elsewhere. I am sure there will be new characters planned for after release, a mission pass, and some other carrots to dangle in front of players, but there needs to be something to justify the cost. A couple more free weekends could help to get players a taste of the game, but the game modes need to be more fun. Hopefully, as we get closer to the date, we will get a better idea of this game’s worth. The game is set to release July 13, 2023.
Have A Nice Death
A new trailer for Have a Nice Death is out and it looks so cute! You play as Death as he tries to take back control of his company and his unruly employees. This 2D rogue-like will have you jumping across the halls of Death Inc as you use magic and items to quell the unrest. If you are a fan of platformers, this should be on your list.
This game reminds me a lot of The Company Man, and I loved that game. The art is cute, the maps look cool, and the gameplay looks fun but challenging. I don’t like platformers, but I am willing to make an exception if I can find the time to play this.
You can buy Have a Nice Death on early access on Steam or wait for it to come out on the Nintendo Switch on March 22, 2022. The game costs $24.99, but it’s 10% off on Steam till March 23. With how the reviews on Steam are looking, you should at least Wishlist this game for later.
A Brazil Games Preview for GDC 2023
The Game Developer Conference is less than a week away, and I have been busy setting up interviews and other activities that I am not able to reveal to you at the moment.
What I can reveal is that I have the exciting opportunity to meet with the Brazil Game Delegation and try some of the games they have planned for release. Full disclosure, I was asked to write this post, but I wasn’t paid to do so. This post will be my honest impressions based on the materials I was shown.
The Brazil Games delegation is a collection of 43 companies that are working to build the growing and vibrant gaming industry in Brazil and Latin America. I will be trying out Drakantos, a Pixel Art MMORPG by Wingeaon Game Studios, but I am hoping I can sneak in a few others. I am very excited to see what people from my side of the world bring to the table. Until then, let me tell you a bit about what they have planned for GDC.
Drakantos
I will be trying Drakantos at GDC. I was drawn to the title because I am always looking for a new MMO to get into. The art is cute, the voice acting is amazing, and the story seems interesting. I can see this game being successful for those who want an MMO that doesn’t feel like a second job. As long as there is a fun leveling experience, enough content to keep me busy, and an end game, I can see myself sinking hours into this game. It is too early to say for sure with how little I know about it now, but stay tuned for a recap.
BlackThorne Keep – Chronicles
The next game I am hoping to try out is Limiar Studio’s BlackThorne Keep – Chronicles. The game is an open-world RPG for the PC and PlayStation that promises skill-based combat. The game looks a bit clunky in the trailer, but with enough love, I can see this being a lot of fun. The biggest hurdle I can see this game having is that the world might be too open, the physics might not be good enough for the jumping puzzles, and the combat might just be button-mashing. So far, it is very reminiscent of Elder Scrolls, and if they can make that combat more fun, I am here for it. It is too early to have a real opinion based on the trailer alone, but I will be back once I get some first-hand experience. You can check it out on steam if you are curious.
Kriophobia
Fira Soft’s Kriophobia is a hand-drawn survival game that looks beautiful. I am not sure if I will be trying this game because I don’t do well with horror games, but it is one to keep on your watch list if you are
a fan of horror. Based on the trailer, it seems to have some pretty terrifying exploration through a very eerie-looking setting. Based on the music and trailer alone, I am pretty terrified. I will try to make time for this game, but I don’t want to make any promises. Maybe I can find someone to play it for me. You can check it out on Steam if you are curious.
Galaxy Kart VR
If you like cartoon kart racers and have a VR headset, you need to keep an eye out for VR Monkey’s Galaxy Kart VR. I won’t be trying it because I don’t want to risk motion sickness with how busy my schedule is, but I’ll try to check it out. The characters are hilarious, the tracks look fun, and the racing combat is exactly what I want from a kart racer. If you like Mario Kart or any games like it, you should be looking into this game.
Lux Ex Cyber Initiation
Ilex Games is coming out with its sequel to Lux Ex. Lux Ex Cyber Initiation is a cyberhero shooter that promises better graphics and more levels. The amount of weapon choices and the procedural generation of levels promises a new experience each time you play through a level. I haven’t been a huge fan of these games because I am not smart enough, but if you are in the market for this kind of shooter, the music seems cool, and the gameplay seems solid. You can wishlist it on Steam.
Tower of Samsara – Hidden Treasures
Tower of Samsara – Hidden Treasures, also by Ilex Games, is a pixel art platformer coming to the PC and Xbox. I am not a huge fan of platformers so I might not try this one. That said, the art looks neat, and the combat and puzzles look interesting. Nothing against the game’s design, I just know that I lack the abilities to be successful in a game like this. That said, if you like platformers like Shovel Knight, Tower of Samsara might be worth getting into.
Wëiph: Reins of Fate
I will be trying to play Game Plan’s Wëiph: Reins of Fate. The art looks super cute, the music is fun, and you get to play as a cat. You play as an abandoned cat named Weiph through an adventure puzzle platformer that is sure to frustrate me, but I will probably cry at the end. It sort of feels like Ori:The Will of the Wisps with visual novel elements. The game is coming for the PC, Switch, Xbox, and PS5. I don’t think I am allowed to post video so here is some official art I pulled off the internet.
What the Duck
What The Duck is an action-adventure game by Seize Studios coming out for the PC and Nintendo Switch. It looks like it is going to be a goofy Zelda game. The game does look a bit clunky in the trailer, but I am willing to overlook this if the mechanics are fun. This looks to be one of those games that won’t take itself seriously. If it is as funny as I think it is, I am here for it.
Wizavior
Wizavior is a single-player 3D platformer coming to the PC, Switch, PS5, and Xbox in 2024. I wasn’t ready for how good the music is in the trailer. The art is also cute enough that I am willing to put my biases against platformers aside. I know this game is going to frustrate me, but I need to listen to the rest of this soundtrack. I am going to try to sneak a turn or at least have someone more competent play this for me. If you aren’t easily frustrated by 3D jumping puzzles, keep an eye out for Wizavior.
Mega Battle
Last but not least we have Cavylabs’ rogue-like deck builder, Mega Battle. I have a soft spot for card games and will be trying this game. What makes this deck builder unique is its mech-building mechanic. It looks like you will get the mech you to take into battle, and I gather that your deck is influenced by the type of parts you use. This is sure to open up the game to a diverse collection of strategies. It does look like a flash game which might turn some people off, but if the card game is fun, why should it matter? It is too early to tell from just the gameplay video, but hopefully, I can come back with a more concrete opinion.You can check it out on Steam.
In Closing
The games are listed in no particular order. I understand that it is unfair to judge the games without trying, so I will reserve my criticism for when I get to play the games. It is all getting more real with each day and I can’t help but to be overcome with excitement. With that, I am off to prep for some interviews.
*Feature Image by Rafael Javier from Pixabay
Game Review: Deck ‘Em!
I was sent Deck ‘Em as a review code. While I am grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game.
Deck ‘Em is a boxing-themed solitaire-like card game for PC and IOS. This review will be on the Steam version.
If you enjoy playing solitaire, you are better off playing that instead. I don’t think the added boxing quirk and quirky art style are enough to make Deck ‘Em! A more meaningful experience than solitaire. While I didn’t hate the game, the RNG and gameplay loop made it grow stale quickly. I could only play this game in small bursts before losing all interest. Deck ‘Em! is a game you pick up while waiting in line and possibly never pick it up again.
The game loop is simple. At the beginning of each round, you draw four cards with varying abilities. Some will heal your characters, some will hurt them, and others will reduce the damage done to them. The goal is to survive the 52-card deck, or at least 10 rounds without dying. The problem is, sometimes the RNG can be terrible. I died a few times during the first round because I only drew high-damage cards. I like the idea of having a first-round knockout, but there is no system to get better as you play where you can achieve your own. There is no variation in the gameplay. You draw cards and try to pick the order that will get you to the next round. You can argue that solitaire suffers from similar issues, but at least the win conditions in solitaire are fairer.
You choose from three different characters, but the choice doesn’t matter. You start with the same amount of health and draw from the same deck. It would be cool if the choice were mechanical as well as cosmetic. It would be interesting if each character had its own unique deck and stats. Maybe one fighter starts with less health, but hits faster and applies poison damage. There could be a beefy character with a lot of health that hits hard but burns through his deck quickly. Changes like this wouldn’t complicate the game too much and would add some variety to the loop. It would also be interesting to go against different fighters with different abilities and stats that way you aren’t always pulling from the same deck. I don’t think RNG does enough to add variety to the game.
There could also be an exhaustion mechanic. They could work like poison counters in magic, where once you get 10, you lose. There could be characters that cause exhaustion with their attacks and abilities. Cards could also have an additional exhaustion cost that you could pay to deal more damage. For example, a card could do three damage, or you can take 1 point of exhaustion and deal six. The loop would then become one where you have to manage your health and stamina to survive the rounds.
The game has a currency mechanic that doesn’t affect the gameplay. You can win money if you last ten rounds and bet the money you win. Nothing happens when you lose it all and can’t spend the money anywhere either. It would be nice if there were a shop where players could buy characters, decks, or cosmetics. This would give players something to work towards and make the betting more meaningful. I get that the goal wasn’t to make a deck builder, but a bit of variety would have been nice.
I play a lot of card games, so my disappointment with this loop was understandable. It is a very casual experience, and a game you pick up when you have 5 minutes to kill. One thing to note is that this game crashes a lot in windowed mode, so make sure you go into the settings and make it full-screen. It wasn’t on by default for me, but turning on this setting fixed all the performance issues. It is a free app, but I still think solitaire is better. It isn’t a bad game, but it isn’t something you’ll keep coming back to unless they make some changes to the gameplay loop. You can wishlist the game on Steam or download it on IOS.
Game Review: Inkulinati
I was sent Inkulinati to review my blog. I am grateful for the opportunity, but will not let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game.
Inkulinati is a 2D turn-based strategy game with a unique art style and gameplay for the PC and Xbox. If you enjoy strategy games, you should look into this game. While it may seem like a cute and quirky game, its unforgiving AI mechanics will prove otherwise. This is the type of game that can prove punishing if you aren’t paying attention.
Inkulinati is a beautiful game. I love the art style, and the animation made me smile. The music and ambient sound are fantastic. If you want a relaxing yet somewhat stressful gaming session, you need to check out this game. I only found this game is stressful because I am not good at strategy games. Most people are smarter than me and will have a better time. This game felt a lot like chess but with a few extra steps.
The story is quirky and silly but nothing too deep. You won’t need to take notes to know what is going on. If you find yourself stuck on certain levels, it is easy to lower the difficulty and start over. I also suggest you look through the tutorials included in the main menu. The campaign gives players a nice foundation of the mechanics, but it is nice to go back to something you might have forgotten. This game will punish your lack of efficiency, so it is best to be proficient in at least the fundamentals. The game also has bot matches available from the start. I enjoyed these matches more than the campaign. The campaign isn’t bad, I just wasn’t smart enough. I enjoyed the freedom in this mode. I got to try out different maps, difficulties, and units without some of the limitations of the campaign. I mostly enjoyed the bot matches because I won more of them.
When I finally got the mechanics and found the right difficulty for my skill level, I enjoyed the game. It was cute, it was relaxing, and I was engaged in the strategy. While this isn’t a game I would buy for myself because I am not a fan of the genre, I can see someone who is a fan enjoying it. If you are in the market for a strategy game that isn’t competitive but still offers a challenge, give Inkulinati a chance.
You can play this game on Steam, GoG, and Xbox for $24.99. If you like this type of strategy, it’s worth the money. It’s also on Game Pass!
Elderand
Elderand just released on the Nintendo Switch, Epic Games, and Steam. Elderand is a 2D metroidvania-type game that looks incredibly brutal. I love the retro feel and pixel art. Take control of a hero as he uses magic and weapons to defeat some truly terrifying-looking enemies.
The game promises an RPG experience as you can customize your character’s appearance and skills. From the trailer, this seems like a great way to keep combat fresh through the adventure. I am not a huge fan of platformers and probably won’t pick it up. If you are a fan of the genre, it might be worth looking into. The game is on sale until 2/23/23 on the eShop, Epic Games and Steam.
Sea of Stars Demo
The Sea of Stars demo is out on the eShop, so I decided to give it a try. I love the pixel art, and I am always in the market for a new RPG. The demo is only available on the Nintendo Switch, but the game will also release on Steam and PlayStation on August 29, 2023. If you are interested in the game and have a Switch, I recommend downloading the demo.
The demo does a fantastic job of giving players a sense of the combat mechanics and dungeons featured in Sea of Stars. The demo lets you control the three featured characters as you make your way through an abandoned wizard’s tower. It was such a beautiful setting, and I am curious to see what they do with the rest of the world.
One thing to note right off the bat, this game does not waste time on a tutorial level. You will be thrown into the story and left to figure things out. I highly recommend you read the help guide included in the main menu because there are mechanics introduced in this game that aren’t intuitive. I hate having to sit through tutorials, and I am happy with this choice. The guide is pretty comprehensive and easy to follow.
The puzzles in the demo were very manageable. I found the experience quite relaxing. The game might be more difficult at release, but I will be here for it either way. Combat is where this game truly shines. I have never played an RPG where the combat was this engaging. Instead of waiting for your turn, you can press buttons to either buff your attacks or defense. If you get the timing right, the small boost you get from this mechanic makes a nice difference. You can play this game like every other RPG, but I recommend you do the extra work to keep things interesting.
My favorite part of Sea of Stars is the way in which they handle magic. Each spell has an extra step that determines how much damage you do. For example, there is a spell where you cast a boomerang that you can keep bouncing between enemies by pressing the A button. Timing is crucial for this spell. Missing the timing on the return means the boomerang doesn’t bounce, and you do less damage. Any mana you expend casting spells you can earn back performing basic attacks. I loved that I didn’t have to horde potions in spells for the end of the dungeon.
The demo ends with a fun boss battle. It didn’t feel like the usual slog against a damage sponge because I was so focused on the buff/debuff mechanics. The fight was difficult enough to keep me engaged without feeling like a slog fest. Please make sure you save at the save points! When you die, you restart at your last save. I lost a lot of progress.
I’ll reserve my judgment for the story because there wasn’t much of it in the demo. I wasn’t a fan of the writing style, but it is too early to know for sure. There is also no voice acting, and I didn’t really care for the music. That said, I am looking forward to this game’s release! Make sure you mark your calendars for August! In the meantime, go check out the demo.
Game Review: Power Chord
I was sent Power Chord as a review code. While I am very grateful for this opportunity, I will not let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game.
Power Chord is a rogue-like deck builder available now on Steam similar to games like Slay the Spire or Monster Train, but with a metal-inspired aesthetic.
Demons run the city. It is up to you and the band you assemble to defeat them. As you make your way to the top of the demon tower, you will collect cards that you will use to make a deck worthy of killing the four warlords that guard it. Along the way, you will also find gear or trigger random events that can help or hinder your ascent. This game is very RNG-reliant, and this can make your runs fun or miserable.
For the most part, the gameplay is solid. The animation and art style are neat, the attacks and flavor are fun, and it requires enough strategy to keep me engaged through your first run. The story doesn’t really matter because most of the gameplay exists within the grind. My issue with the game is that it is repetitive. I like card games enough that I didn’t mind the repletion so much, but this isn’t a title you will no life to completion.
The RNG can be an issue in this game. When it is fair, and you get excellent pulls, the game is a lot of fun. Other times, you will pull the worst cards, and your run becomes nearly impossible. While the RNG might give the illusion of variety, it makes the grind feel harsher than it is. Unlocking new cards and champions felt slow because I kept running through the same scenarios. They have been adding new playable characters to the roster. This gives the deck building side of the game a bit more diversity, but you still have the issue of facing the same types of battles.
I liked the game, but I love deck builders and metal. Because of how repetitive this game is, the price is an issue. If you are looking for something you can play in small bursts when you just want to chill and listen to some cool music, the game is fine. If you want a challenging and complex story, wait for the sale. If you are a fan of the genre, you might be disappointed by the game’s lack of diversity. I would probably wait for a sale or for the developers to add more content.
This game is available on Steam.
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Game Review: Fashion Police Squad
I was sent Fashion Police Squad as a review code. While I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to review this game, I am not letting this sway my opinion. This will be my honest review of the game.
Fashion Police Squad is a retro FPS Doom clone with a silly quirk. It is available on all major platforms and PC. This review will be on the PC version. You play as Sargent Des who suddenly finds himself in a city with an abnormal boom in fashion crimes. It is up to you to fight these crimes and get to the bottom of what is behind this sudden wave.
The writing in this game is fine. It is full of fashion-related puns, and at least some will make you laugh. I got a good chuckle out of this game and appreciate the developers’ commitment to the bit. The plot has a predictable mystery, but you aren’t playing this game for its deep storytelling.
This game is a mostly more polished retro fps full of inventive weapons and hilarious enemies. Each enemy comes with a specific weakness that requires you to constantly switch between your equipment. This mechanic gives the game a welcomed level of difficulty. I played on the normal difficulty and thought the game was challenging enough, but you can always raise it if you find it too easy. I found that even on normal difficulty, I had to plan out my moves and be aware of enemy positioning or else be overwhelmed.
That said, the game isn’t perfect yet. I found instances where I could confuse the NPCs and get them stuck in loops that made them easy to kill. There were also a few performance issues, especially in instances with many enemies, where the game would stutter; or frames would drop after each kill. The performance issues never made the game unplayable, but they are noticeable when it happens.
I had a lot of fun with this game. I love retro FPS games and found this to be a delightful little take on the genre. The humor was a vibe that I was all about, although I will admit some of the slang did go over my head. The art is really cool, and their attention to detail is admirable. Most importantly, this game is fun. It is definitely worth the $20. The game is on sale for $17 until February 16 on the Xbox, PC, and Switch.
You can grab your copy of Fashion Police Squad on the Nintendo Switch, Playstation, Xbox, and Steam.
Now for a shameless plug, check out Canva. If you need a quick and easy photo or video editor that works in your browser, try Canva. It is free, easy to use, and you get access to a wide selection of templates for those who are like me and aren’t that creative. Check out my affiliate link today!
For whatever reason, WordPress isn’t letting me post my gameplay video so here is a great one by ContraNetwork
The Pathless
I just watched the trailer for The Pathless, and I thought I would share it with you. The Pathless is an action-adventure game available on all major consoles, PC, and IOS devices. Take control of a hunter and her eagle as you travel through a magical land, riding it of darkness with the help of your archery and acrobatic skills. This game might be worth looking into if you are in the market for a faster-paced platformer. I don’t think I will be picking it up because I have a few games lined up for review, but the art looks interesting, and the gameplay seems solid. It doesn’t seem too bad for $40.
You can get your copy for Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, Steam, and IOS. This game is included in your apple arcade subscription if you have one. It is mostly available in digital format, but I was able to find a physical copy for the PS5 that is a bit cheaper at $21.95 through my affiliate link.
NintendoGalaxy put out a nice video showcasing the gameplay on the Nintendo Switch that is worth checking out if you are interested in the the game.
