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video game reviews

The Neural Dominion Demo Needs Work Before it Goes Public

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I was asked to cover the Neural Dominion announcement and was given early access to the alpha demo available now on Steam. Since the game is still in production, I will try to be a bit more lenient than usual with my impressions.

If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the SC3 Gaming Mixer for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals. If you enjoy my content and want to help me with my hosting fees, consider buying me coffee or donating to my Patreon.

What is Neural Dominion?

Neural Dominion is a cyberpunk 4X strategy game coming to PC. A public demo will release in October, so make sure it is on your wishlist.

In the crime-ridden city of Technograd, only one gang can reign supreme. Build your empire as you establish your illegal operations, recruit new members, and stop anyone who gets in your way. The path to total domination will be paved with obstacles. Cops will want their cut and rival gangs will want your head. Do you have what it takes to rule this city, or will you be another crime statistic?

Gameplay

The demo is just the game’s tutorial with alpha gameplay. The version I got is in a rough place and almost unplayable. The parts I did get through teach players the basic mechanics of the game. Players will learn about movement, purchasing and expanding territory, recruiting new gang members, buying upgrades, and combat. The game is on a turn based system where players have a set number of action points to spend. It gives a solid introduction to the game, but I hope it is less clunky on public release.

Impressions

I had a hard time with this game because the game was unstable. The tutorial wasn’t coded properly, and it was a chore to get through. If the tutorial box came up when I had to move my character, it made the squares unclickable and locked me from progressing through the rest of the tutorial. The only fix was to rest the game and restart the tutorial. If the tutorial box popped up during combat, it slowed down the animations to a snail’s pace, even if I was at 4x speed. The only fix for this bug was to cycle through the different speeds until another text box popped up to break it again.

The parts that did work weren’t very impressive, but the game isn’t finished yet so there is still the chance it gets better. I can’t recommend this game yet because of the state of the demo. I am not asking for amazing animations, a beautiful fleshed out map, but I am expecting something that works. I am wiling to overlook a lot when trying these kinds of demos, but this one made it hard. I am hoping that the public demo will be working, but I’ll have to wait and see till October.

You can wishlist Neural Dominion on Steam and join the official Discord if you want to stay up to date.

video game reviews

Mika and The Witch’s Mountain was a Delightful Change of Pace

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I was sent a free copy of Mika and the Witch’s Mountain to review for my blog. While I am very grateful, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the SC3 Gaming Mixer for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals. If you enjoy my content and want to help me with my hosting fees, consider buying me coffee or donating to my Patreon.

What is Mika and the Witch’s Mountain?

Mika and the Witch’s Mountain is a fantasy adventure game out now on Steam and the Nintendo Switch.

Mika is starting her journey to becoming a powerful witch. She ventures to the Witch’s mountain where a wise and powerful witch will teach her what she needs to learn. But before she can begin her studies as a witch, she must pass a test. She must be able to fly expertly on her broom. With a sudden push, Mika is sent off the mountain and into the town below. The fall breaks her broom and now she has no way of getting back.

Fortunately, the local artisan promises to fix up her broom and even make her a better one for a bit of coin. How can a little witch away from home afford these services? Luckily, she can make her money as the island’s delivery girl. Can she fly across the island, master its elements, and keep those packages safe? Can she make enough money to make it back to the top of the mountain?

Gameplay

Players fly around the island on a magical flying broom making deliveries. Each package Mika picks up has unique requirements. Packages can’t be damaged, wet, or a combination of the two. Some deliveries need to be made within a specific time period. Intimate knowledge of the island and its wind currents is extremely important for Mika’s success. Mika only gets paid on jobs where she has perfect feedback.

As Mika gets paid, she can use that money to buy better brooms. These brooms will let Mika have better control when flying or carrying more packages. There are also hidden items around the map for players to collect to unlock charms for the broom or outfits for Mika, or side quests to keep players busy.

Review

Mika and the Witch’s Mountain is the cutest fantasy adventure game you’ll ever play. The protagonist is cute, the world is fun and whimsical, and the game is fun. Flying feels like you’re moving over ice, but this is thematic by design. Mika is learning magic for the first time and it makes sense that she isn’t the strongest flyer. The wonky flying makes the game more exciting. It was always a nerve-wracking experience to maneuver through currents because there was always the real chance of crashing into the rocks and ruining a delivery. It isn’t the most difficult game you will play, but it will keep things engaging.

The story is a bit childish, but I appreciate the silly wholesome tone. Not all games have to be serious. My only real complaint is that the quests can start to feel a bit repetitive, but there seems to be enough exploration and treasure-hunting mixed in to keep things interesting. You’ll at the very least get your money’s worth of gameplay.   

Mika and the Witch’s Mountain is the comfort food you need in your life. It is a fun silly good time with fun gameplay and an adorable world to explore. If you’re looking for a game to relax to, this is the title to do it with.

You can pick up Mika and the Witch’s Mountain on Steam and Nintendo eShop for $19.99. There is a demo you demo for both versions you should at least try.

video game reviews

Dice Assassin: Chess With Extra Steps

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I was sent a free copy of Dice Assassin to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinion of the game. This will be my honest review of the game.

If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the SC3 Gaming Mixer for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals. If you enjoy my content and want to help me with my hosting fees, consider buying me coffee or donating to my Patreon.

What is Dice Assassin?

Dice Assassin is a 2D minimalistic roguelike card battler out now on Steam.

With a bit of tactics and luck, you are destined to be the best assassin this world has ever seen. Fight through mobs of enemies, learn powerful abilities, and leave no witnesses. Are you lucky and skilled enough to survive?

Gameplay

Dice Assassin is chess with a few extra steps. Players only control one piece, and the spaces it can move depend on dice rolls. Dice are rolled at the start of each turn. Cards give the assassin abilities. The key to this game is moving the assassin efficiently to clear the board of enemies. Like most roguelikes, players can upgrade their assassin through random buffs and abilities. The RNG for these shops seems fair, but I didn’t have it in me to test it too much.

Review

I can’t recommend Dice Assassin because it doesn’t feel finished. There are parts of this game that aren’t translated into English. There isn’t too much to read, so the lack of a complete translation isn’t a deal breaker. The gameplay is boring. Having only one action per turn and movement and attacks tied to RNG makes it less of a strategy game and more of a gambling one. Combat is boring, and it feels more one-sided the farther you get. The boss fights seem impossible, especially if you get stuck with unlucky rolls.

I am sure smarter people and people who like chess will have a better time with the game, but there isn’t much reason to play it past the first few play-throughs. I did like their choice of minimalism, but it isn’t for me.

If you care about achievements, Dice Assassin has easy ones you can earn. If you enjoy chess and want something that is a little different, sure. Everyone else can spend their $3 elsewhere.

You can pick up Dice Assassin on Steam for $2.99 (Currently $1.64 until September 3rd)

video game reviews

Mars 2120 Isn’t the Casual Metroidvania Game You’re Looking for

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I was sent a free copy of Mars 2120 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.

If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the SC3 Gaming Mixer for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals. If you enjoy my content and want to help me with my hosting fees, consider buying me coffee or donating to my Patreon.

What is Mars 2120?

Mars 2120 is a metroidvania out now on Steam.

Sgt. Anna “Thirteen” Charlotte has been sent to the first human colony on Mars. Strange things have been hindering construction, and it is up to Sgt. Charlotte to figure out what. Travel across the red planet as you fight your way through swarms of strange enemies. Will your efforts be enough to cement humanities foothold on martian soil, or will you be another casualty to the planet’s harsh environment?

Gameplay

Players fight their way through 2D dungeons, unlocking new weapons, areas, and abilities. Dungeons feature intricate jumping puzzles, promise interesting boss fights, but only contain a limited amount of save points. Players can only save their progress at these points, and dying resets to the last save.

There is a story that exists through cut scenes and found documents and recorded logs. Exploration is important if you want to unlock extra bits of story, but it isn’t necessary. The main quest line tells the story well enough.

If you’re looking for a classic feeling Metroidvania, Mars 2120 might be what you need.

Review

Casual Metroidvania fans aren’t going to enjoy Mars 2120. While the game does a decent job of setting up its atmosphere and creating a challenging environment, it feels like a rough attempt at a classic title. For some modern players, the game will feel outdated, for others, the roughness will be hard to justify because the gameplay is boring.

The biggest issue this game has is its control scheme. This game is not smooth and the inputs don’t always work. There are parts of this game where I felt like I was fighting more with the jankiness of the game than the actual enemies. The game isn’t unplayable, but some of the combat and jumping puzzles are unnecessarily annoying.

Sporadic save points also ruin the game for the casual gamer. I don’t mind limited saves and high difficulty in games when they work, but Mars 2120 doesn’t always work. It sucks to have to repeat whole sections because the controls aren’t good. Better gamers and veterans of the genre will have less of an issue with the save points, but I don’t like the game enough to give it any more slack.

The story is fine, the flavor is cool, and I liked the art, but not enough to enjoy the game. It isn’t bad, but I’ve played better. Mars 2120 is made for a specific type of gamer. One that still enjoys the classic feel of the Metroidvania game, enjoys a challenging game with high stakes, can doesn’t mind the roughness that comes with an indie game. For the casual gamer looking for a new game, you have better options.

You can pick up Mars 2120 on Steam for $19.99.

video game reviews

Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona is Hard, but is it Fun?

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I was sent a free copy of Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona 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.

If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the SC3 Gaming Mixer for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals. If you enjoy my content and want to help me with my hosting fees, consider buying me coffee or donating to my Patreon.

What is Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona?

Skelethrone is a difficult by design 2D metroidvania soulslike for the Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, and PC via Steam, GoG, and Itch.io.

You wake up in a strange place full of death, despair, and monsters. Armed with only your fists, you must travel through this nightmare and stay alive. But your journey won’t be easy. Powerful monsters hunt you down relentlessly, and although you will find weapons to help you on your journey, you will die. Luckily, death isn’t permanent, and your flame continues to burn. Will this newly found immortality be a blessing or your curse?

Gameplay

This game is difficult by design, but there is an easier setting players can choose from the start. Players start with nothing and collect gear as they progress through the adventure. Players are meant to die a lot and do better with each subsequent life as they gain levels. Players level by buying upgrades from a diverse skill tree. You should probably look up a guide if you’re not playing on easy. You are essentially grinding out XP until you’re strong enough to beat the boss so that you can move onto the next one.

Review

I have trouble recommending Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona because of its controls. A game this difficult needs to have fluid and responsive controls, but the game feels clunky. Sometimes the inputs don’t register, and sometimes you’ll die because of the coding. Better players will probably be able to excuse the game’s clunkiness, but they also have better options in the genre.

Aside from feeling clunky, combat is boring. While you can find different weapons, it seems the right answer is two-handed weapons. The shield felt useless, one-handed weapons didn’t do anything, and I couldn’t get the bow to work properly. Even if you get the perfect weapon and build, the game is unbalanced. I get that the game is meant to be difficult, but there are rooms where there are too many enemies and traps. A skilled player might not have issues, but the controls and coding make these rooms extremely frustrating.  

The art style is fine, but some areas are too dark. There is a story, but it isn’t good enough to earn a recommendation. The only real reason to buy Skelethrone is because you want a challenging Metroidvania game and enjoy the flavor, and even then, you have better options. If you can get past the game’s issues, the game is still rather boring.

Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona is difficult to recommend because of how niche the game is. There are better metroidvanias. But if you don’t mind the roughness and want to play something that is hard by design, there are worse ways to spend $14.99.

You can pick up Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, and PC via Steam, GoG, and Itch.io, but I would wait for a sale.

video game reviews

Looking for an Action Adventure Game? Go Play Creatures of Ava!

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I was sent a free copy of Creatures of Ava 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.

If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the SC3 Gaming Mixer for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals. If you enjoy my content and want to help me with my hosting fees, consider buying me coffee or donating to my Patreon.

What is Creatures of Ava?

Creatures of Ava is an action adventure game out now for PC and Xbox.

You were sent to the planet Ava to save it from the Withering. The withering is a spreading corruption that is slowly killing the planet and its inhabitants. Catastrophe strikes and you are sent crashing to its surface. With the aid of some locals, you set out to continue your mission. Do you have what it takes to stop the corruption?

Gameplay

Ava finds a magical staff with the power to rescue the planet. Players use this staff to solve puzzles and cleanse wild life. This staff can be upgraded throughout out the adventure by buying nodes off a skill tree. XP in this game is earned when a player successfully studies and catalogues new data on the planet’s wildlife. This mechanic incentivizes exploration, even when the incentive isn’t needed.

Combat is nonviolent, which is extremely flavorful for the game’s theme. The goal of the game is to save the planet, so players use the staff to free the wildlife from a disease rather than to fight monsters. Combat is pretty basic, but manages to be engaging. The staff emits a beam of healing energy that reduces the corruption while the player dodges attacks. Players can learn new abilities to help them cleanse the planet more efficiently. Cleansing the planet removes obstacles from the surface. Cleansing an animal makes it friendly.

Friendly animals can be tamed by playing the flute. Each animal has a unique song that the player must emulate to gain its trust. This exists in the form of a Simon Says-like rhythm game. Players can link with a tamed animal and use their abilities to solve puzzles. While the rhythm game itself isn’t innovative or exciting, it is cool to become an animal from time to time.

The map for this game is a great size for an adventure. Players have a good amount of freedom to explore Ava’s strange and beautiful world, but there is a main quest line available for guidance.

Review


If you are looking for a new action-adventure game, you need to play Planet of Ava. This game is unique, beautiful, and a lot of fun. The game also features a solid story with a pretty amazing cast of voice actors. The game has so much to do that it is easily worth the money.

I loved every minute of this game. I have a hard time putting it down, but also staying focused. The world is so beautiful and vibrant that I kept having to fight the urge to keep exploring. I love crafting, and the fact that there was a crafting and gathering mechanic was extremely dangerous. If I wasn’t on a deadline, I could have easily spent hours making potions and exploring the world without ever touching the main story. Best of all, the game is pretty inoffensive. Aside from a few dark moments, a game about saving animals is a wholesome good time.

Planet of Ava is available now on PC, Steam, and Game Pass. This game is worth at least a first play through.

video game reviews

Check out the Most Adorable Deck Builder on Kickstarter: Nif Nif

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I was sent the Nif Nif demo to cover on my blog. The game is currently on Kickstarter, and it deserves a bit of attention. The campaign ends on September 13, so make sure you check it out before then. I am writing these impressions with the understanding that the game isn’t finished yet and there is room for improvement.

What is Nif Nif?

Nif Nif is an adorable deck builder coming to PC. A demo is available on Steam. Go check it out and don’t forget to Wishlist.

Nif Nif is a happy little piglet who lives near a beautiful forest. He loves to cook and clean and spends his days running around. One day, a strange green goo begins to appear around his beloved forest. The goo corrupts the land and the creatures it makes filthy. Nif Nif grabs for his bucket of cleaning supplies and sets out to clean up the corruption. Will his skills be enough to clear the forest of this infestation, or will the goo prove too powerful?

Gameplay

Players start each run by choosing their protagonist. The demo lets players choose between Nif Nif and a cat, each with its unique theme and adorable mascot. Like any deck-building roguelike, players choose the path of their adventure and work to clear the rooms. The adventure map is randomly generated, but it was a fair spread of events. Each room holds an event. Players can fight against regular or elite monsters, proct a random event for a chance at a power-up, heal their character, or visit the shop. Players also have the chance to upgrade their decks by receiving extra cards, random passive skills, or upgrades for their current decks. These upgrades are randomly generated, but the RNG feels fair. Each run offered me access to different strategies, and each run is meant to feel unique giving the game a good amount of replayability.

What sets Nif Nif apart is its cooking mechanic. Players can cook soups or upgrade existing soups at campfire nodes. These soups give Nif Nif and his friends a special boost and gives players a better chance at survival.

Impressions

Nif Nif is the most adorable deck-builder you’re ever going to play. The game features an adorable protagonist, cute-themed art, and a solid soundtrack. I love the flavor and theme of the cards and decks. I felt like there were a decent amount of strategies, and am sure there are a lot more at launch. I love that I could choose to level a random card instead of having to choose a random card to add to my deck as a reward. nothing is worse than clogging my deck with dead cards and having to pay to remove them later in a run.

It is important to note that this game is meant for kids. Veterans of the genre will find Nif Nif to be on the easier side, but they will appreciate the adorable ambiance and chill vibes. If you have kids, Nif Nif is the perfect way to start them on the deck-building genre. I would argue that it is the perfect game in general. The mechanics are easy to learn but the game offers enough of a challenge to keep things engaging. It is a great way for kids to learn the fundamentals of deck building while they help cute little animals clean up the forest. Most importantly, the game is inoffensive. There is no blood or violence in Nif Nif, just good clean fun.

I loved every minute of Nif Nif. This game is adorable and deserves a lot more attention. There is always a risk when backing a Kickstarter, but the demo suggests the game is in good hands. All it needs is funding. If you want to support an adorable game that your kids will enjoy, go back Nif Nif on Kickstarter.  The campaign ends on September 13 and it will be your own chance to earn some cute exclusives.

video game reviews

Deathless. Tales of Old Rus is Next Deck-Builder Roguelike

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I was sent a free copy of Deathless. Tales of Old Rus for free 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.

If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the SC3 Gaming Mixer for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals.

What is Deathless: Tales of Old Rus?

Deathless. Tales of Old Rus is a Scandinavian-themed deck-building roguelike that is out now on PC.

Take control of unique characters and use their skills and abilities and explore the dangerous land of Belosvet. Fight against powerful monsters and even defeat Koaschey the Deathless himself. Will the cards be in your favor?

Gameplay

Each run starts players with a basic version of a chosen champion deck. Each deck is flavorful and unique to each champion. As players make their way through the adventure, they can upgrade their decks with new cards and skills. These upgrades are random, making each subsequent run unique. The RNG is pretty fair, and I never ran the same deck twice. A run is over when the health of the champion reaches zero.

What makes Deathless unique is the movement and position mechanic. Players can only attack the frontmost enemy in combat unless the card use stipulates otherwise. Unless the monster uses ranged attacks, they can do the same. Knowing how to manipulate this position and the turns they swap them is an important mechanic to master. For example, some cards force monsters to swap positions, canceling their attacks. Other cards do extra damage depending on their position or if they’re moving. It is a very unique shift in the genre that I enjoyed tremendously.

Review


If you like roguelike deck-builders and need a new one to get into, buy Deathlessl: Tales of Old Rus. The game has beautiful art, fantastic flavor, and solid mechanics. The game is extremely replayable because no two runs will ever be the same. Even if you’re only using one character, the type of deck and strategy you’ll focus on will always be different. If you somehow get tired of what is available, there are new champions in the pipeline. Check out the official development roadmap for assurance.

Deathless. Tales of Old Rus is still in early access, but it feels like a finished game. The animation looks great, the soundtrack is nice, and the mechanics work fine. They are adding new features, which means the game will only get better. I love this game, and will keep it in my rotation. The game is fun, engaging, and it looks like it is actively being supported.

You can pick up Deathless. Tales of Old Rus on Steam Early Access for $24.99.

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Check out Cute Farming Sim Harvest Days: My Dream Farm

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I was sent a free copy of Harvest Days: My Dream Farm 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.

If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the SC3 Gaming Mixer for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals.

What is Harvest Days?

Harvest Days: My Dream Farm is a cozy farm simulator out now on Steam and GoG.

You always enjoyed the time you spend at your grandfather’s farm as a kid, and now it’s time to make y our own. Head to the country, tend to your crops, and build the farm you’ve always dreamed of. What will your dream farm look like?

Gameplay

Players are given a plot of land that they must tend to. Players start with a set amount of energy, and each activity costs energy. The longer you work on the farm, the easier activities get. Players can level at the end of the day based on their day of work. Did you spend all your day plowing the fields? Your plow skill will level and unlock new recipes.

Players can earn money by selling their crops. Money is used to buy food to restore energy, supplies for the farm, and decorations for those who want it. It wouldn’t be a real farm without animals. Players can buy and sell livestock, or adopt more pets to keep them company. The game is loaded with a good amount of features for players to make the farm their own. Quests and events pop up once in a while, but players are given the freedom to play the game as they want.

Review

I love farming simulators, and had a great time with Harvest Days: My Dream Farm. This is easily one of the genres where I can spend days on a session without concern for time. This has the potential to be one of those titles, but it needs a bit more content.

As far as farming sims go, Harvest Days is a solid title. It has a cozy art style and a few interesting mechanics that set it apart in the space, but it has a few issues that will turn off players.

The game has a slow start and a steep grind. I felt like I barely accomplished anything the first few days because I kept running out of energy. Leveling skills reduces an activity’s energy cost, but it doesn’t feel impactful until you’re a couple of days in. The money grind is also kind of slow. I normally love repetitive and grindy games, but here it feels too slow. I’m sure the intent is to have the farming get easier when players can level up their skills and acquire better tools, but I am having trouble seeing players get to that point.

Aside from a few bugs and awkwardness, the performance is fine. For example, driving a scooter can be very frustrating because it handles like a train. The experience gets better as you get used to it, but it is an issue. There are also times when the game doesn’t register player actions. None of the bugs I encountered were game-breaking. Your mileage may vary.

Harvest Days is a solid farming sim for the price, but it needs a bit more content. It feels a little basic, and that isn’t a bad thing. If you’re just looking for a cozy farming sim to sink some time into, Harvest Days is worth the $14.99. But if you’re looking for something polished without the grind, look elsewhere. It’s not the best farming sim, but it gets the job done.

You can pick up Harvest Days: My Dream Farm on Steam and GoG.

video game reviews

Sylvio: Black Waters is the Dark Twisted Journey You Need

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I was sent a free copy of Sylvio: Black Waters to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions of the game. This will be my honest review.

If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the SC3 Gaming Mixer for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals.

What is Sylvio Black Waters?

Sylvio Black Waters is a psychological horror game out now for PC.

You wake up alone in a strange dark place with a vague resemblance to Earth. The only light in this world seems to illuminate a small path, the rest of the world is shrouded with darkness. You follow the path in search of answers and find a voice that promises to guide you out of the darkness. The voice guides you deeper into the darkness. The path twists and turns and the world begins to make less sense. Up is down, down is up and there is no way of knowing where you’re going. Along the way, the voices of the souls who also traveled the path will speak to you. They reveal bits of this world’s secrets. What are they trying to tell you? Will you ever find your way out of the darkness?

Gameplay

Sylvio: Black Waters is best described as a walking simulator with a dark and spooky atmosphere, some combat, and an interesting narrative. Most of the time, you are following the trail of illuminated breadcrumbs through a dark and twisted world that becomes more twisted the longer you are in it.

Combat in this game is a first-person shooter. Occasionally, an angry spirit will attack you. The game gives you weapons to defend yourself, but you will need to find the ammo. You will run out of ammo if you aren’t using your shots conservatively, and the ghost will kill you. Death resets you to your last checkpoint.

Along the way, you will also find clues about the world. Spirits will speak bits of dialogue that you have to collect, there are drawings on walls that you need to interpret and bits of film you need to play and interpret. The clues you gather are not in order and you will need to arrange them to make sense of them. This mechanic does a fantastic job at not only setting the mood but building the mystery. The more you collect, the more the story makes sense.

Review

I love Sylvio: Black Waters. It was the perfect twisted narrative with a spooky atmosphere that kept me on my toes. That said, this game isn’t going to be for everyone. The narrative style feels disjointed because it is meant to emulate the disoriented feeling the main character feels. The story you collect isn’t linear, and while it doesn’t make sense at first, does make sense the deeper you get into the game.

What will throw most players are the weird artsy liberties it takes with its storytelling. Cutscenes will be low quality, out of order, and fragmented, or you will sit through a weird low-reverb poem or song. I’d be lying if I said I understood all the choices, but I can see they have a purpose. Some moments act as a tool to create tension, others work to disorient the players, but mostly they help reinforce the idea that reality in this world is twisted. Not everyone is going to enjoy the artsy twisted direction this game takes, but it is a wonderful experience if you’re into it.

The other issue players will have with the game is the lighting. This game is dark, and it can be frustrating. The game uses the darkness to set the mood effectively, but it isn’t perfect. It is easy to get lost or not see the right path and walk in circles. This game is meant to be disorienting, but it is going to kill some player’s enjoyment of the game. As someone who isn’t good at directions, I spent too much time walking in circles.

The game is buggy, and some of those bugs are game-breaking. Using the mouse wheel to switch between weapons either crashed the game or left the weapon menu open. It didn’t happen every time, but it happened enough when I stopped using the mouse wheel. Sometimes I would get stuck on a wall or a random artifact. My biggest issue with the game is that interacting with items is a chore. You need to find the right angle to pick up some items, and finding that angle is more work than it needs to be. None of these issues were enough to make me stop playing, but they will for people who are looking for a more polished game. I think the game’s roughness gives it its charm.

If you’re looking for a horror game that isn’t all jump scares, with a solid story but doesn’t mind the roughness, you need to pick up Sylvio Black Waters. This game is the weird twisted trip you didn’t know you needed. It is a good and interesting game, but it is also not for everyone. If you don’t like how dark the game looks or don’t want to sit through artsy weirdness, you should go elsewhere.

You can pick up Sylio: Black Waters on Steam for $12.99.