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Planet of Lana II Review: A Stunning Puzzle Adventure

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will not let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

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Table of Contents

What is Planet of Lana II?

Planet of Lana is the most beautiful and creative puzzle game you’ll ever get to play. You can pick up Planet of Lana II on Xbox, Steam, PlayStation, and Switch.

Hook

Mew technology spreads across the world, bringing with it much needed innovation but also greed. Tension between the tribes grows as the race for power and dominance shifts into the public agenda. This shift in idealogy thrusts Lana and Mui into another unforgettable adventure. Follow Lana and her companion as they make their way across a beautiful alien planet in search of secrets long forgotten. What will their adventure uncover? Can they bring the world together in the name of progress?

Gameplay

Planet of Lana is a side scrolling puzzle adventure game with a beautiful landscape to explore and a solid story to follow. Players take control of Lana and her companions and use their various abilities to solve some very creative puzzles. Mui, for example, can interact with the different parts of the world. It can use its powers to shut down old technology, take control of local wildlife, or help Lana push buttons she can’t get to. The puzzles in this game scale, getting harder and more complex the deeper a player gets into the story. The story is told in an alien language, but it doesn’t need subtitles or context to tell the beautiful adventure you are going are about to embark on.

Review

I absolutely love Planet of Lana, and this sequel is the perfect continuation. I can tell the devs have learned and made improvements to the original (not that the original needed much improvement). If you are looking to sit back and enjoy a cozy puzzle game with a great story, check out Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf.

Artwork

Planet of Lana is one of the most beautiful games I have ever played. I still remember the feeling of amazement I felt the first time I played the original demo. Years later, this world continues to amaze. I love everything about the art style from the creepy creature design to the breath taking scenery. I recommend you play this game just so you can appreciate how beautiful the art in each biome and level is.

Soundtrack

Planet of Lana has one of the best sound tracks in gaming, and the sequel gets even better. The music score give the adventure its epic feel, but it also creates a lot of the tension. There are moments I was at the edge of my seat because of how intense the music was even if the monsters or solutions weren’t that challenging. If you’re looking for some solid study music, check out the OST for the first game:

Story

Planet of Lana 2 is a stand alone adventure. The game does a good job at catching players up on the events of the first game, and players who start with the sequel will not feel lost. I highly recommend you play the games in order because the story is fantastic. Planet of Lana II is just as good at telling a powerful narrative as the first game, if not better. The game uses a fake language to allow its art and actions, and it is extremely successful in achieving its goal. If you have six to eight hours to spend on unraveling the story of Planet of Lana, spend them.

Gameplay

Planet of Lana is one of my favorite puzzle games. The puzzles in this game are all very creative that offer enough of a challenge to keep players engage. Some of the game does feel clunky and there is some weird stuttering here and there, but nothing that I would consider a deal breaker. That said, Planet of Lana II does feel like an improvement on the first game, although the first game is pretty fantastic on its own. The puzzles feel more creative, and the mechanics feel tighter. Best of all, the game is Steam Deck compatible!

Conclusion

Planet of Lana II continues to prove why this series should be a staple in all puzzle game libraries. It features a beautiful world with a fantastic sound track to set the mood. If you are looking for a fantastic example of good story telling and a whimsical world full of fun puzzles, go get Planet of Lana. Planet of Lana continues to be my favorite game, and I will fight anyone who tries to tell me otherwise.

You can pick up Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf on on Xbox, Steam, PlayStation, and Switch

Trailer

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Manairons Review: A Whimsical Adventure Game Worth Playing

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Manairons 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 reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Manairons?

Manairons is a 3D puzzle adventure game out now on on Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, and coming soon to the Nintendo Switch. The game is Steam Deck verified for those wondering, and it works very well!

Hook

The village of Vilamont is a peaceful one, full of industrious people but also the greedy landlord Llorenç. Llorenç used his influence to find an ancient magical artifact, the “canut”. Using the canut’s magic, Llorenç summons a legion of Manairons to work tireless for him. Almost overnight, the Manairons warp the sleepy town of Vilamont into an overindustrialized machine. One Manairon is able to break free of this spell. With the help from the mysterious witch Nai and a magical flute, our lone Manairon hero must brave Llorenç influence and break his spell. Solve puzzles, fight off possed Manairons, and enjoy a bit of rest here and there. Can our brave hero break the spell and free the Vilamont from Llorenç?

Gameplay

Players control the Manairon through differently themed levels in a wimsical 3D action adventure with fixed cameras. The world of Pyrenees is full of creative puzzles to solve, platforms to clear, and enemies to beat up. Combat in Manairon is simple. You can lock onto enemies, and hit them with your trusty flute. Players get a block and a ranged attack, but the flute is the only thing strong enough to knock out the possessed manairons. All levels build up to creative boss fights. The game also has a collection of scattered items to collect. Can you collect them all before finishing the game?

Review

I absolutely love Manairon, and recommend it to everyone. Manairon is such a cute game with solid mechanics and a great story. If you are a fan of those old school action adventure games, or are just looking for something fun and cute to play, check out Manairon!

Aesthetic

I was first drawn to Manairons because I like the art. I normally don’t play these types of platformers because of how bad I am at them, but the art is so good, I was willing to try. The character design is cute, but I love how the artists go out of their way to create such a cool fantasy. Each level has a unique theme that is more breathtaking than the last, and the attention to detail that goes into the world building is remarkable. It also has a fantastic soundtrack and voice acting that make the experience addicting. I would recommend Manairon for the art alone, but the story is fantastic!

Story

Manairons is a fantastic example of how good video games are at telling stories. This is one of the few times where I couldn’t put the game down because I was so invested in the events that were unfolding. It helps that there is voice acting to help me get swept away by the storytelling. If you like fantasy adventure, Manairons is a fantastic addition to your collection.

Performance

The game has its bugs, and a few of them are gamebreaking. I had a couple of crashes, and there were a few times where the character just gets stuck. Other than that, the performance is fine. Platforming feels good, combat is responsive, and I was able to finish the story without any issue.

Gameplay

When I pick up a platformer, there is always the worry that my lack of skill will keep me from enjoying the game. As far as platformers go, this is very manageable. I wouldn’t say its a kids platformer like Spongebob: The Cosmic Shake or the Smurfs, but I wouldn’t say it is Shovel Knight either. Manairon finds a good balance of challenging puzzles, platforming, and combat without getting frustrating to allow players to enjoy the world and its story. Not that you can’t enjoy a hard platformer if that’s your thing, I just prefer it to be manageable.

What makes this game special is the different worlds that make up the level. Each monster, challenge, and boss is full of flavor. Even though the mechanics are simple and a lot of the loops repeat, the game doesn’t feel repetitive. Every level and stage feels fresh, especially when there are fun and creative puzzles in between.

Conclusion

Manairons is a whimsical fantasy adventure everyone needs to go on once. There are a few bugs I am sure can be fixed, but nothing that will ruin the fun story or the cute world players get to explore. If you are looking for one game to play this year, check out Manairons on Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, and coming soon to the Nintendo Switch.

If you would your looking for a more challenging kind of plaformer, check out Forgotten Fragments, or check out Worldless for the most unique platformer you’ll ever get to play.

Trailer

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Rally Arcade Classics Review: Best Arcade Racer of 2025

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Rally Arcade Classics 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. You can also always buy me coffee!

What is Rally Arcade Classics?

Rally Arcade Classics is an arcade racer out now on Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation.

Hop into your favorite car and race across some beautiful trail in an authentic arcade rally car experience. This game puts its players behind the wheel of iconic cars from the era in a experience fit for veteran and newbies alike. Whether you are setting the course record, taking first place in a race, or driving through one of the other many challenges, you won’t be siting at idle. Can you master your control over the elements and be the best racer to hit the leader boards?

Review

Rally Arcade Classics is the best arcade racer you can pick up on PC. It has a fun ratro aesthetic that takes me back to the days I spent at arcades with a fun sound track to get me into the racing mood. The game runs very well. While it does feel like an arcade racer, I didn’t notice any game changing dips in performance. This is a game that fills its niche well. If you like rally cars and enjoy arcade racers, this needs to be in your library.

Personally, I felt the game was too repetitive. There is a grind as you work your way to faster cars. On one hand, this does a good job at easing players into the more complex mechanics of the more advanced races. On the other, it can get stale if you don’t love the car you’re driving or just want to go fast. I wish it let me experience other game modes without having to unlock so much, but there is also a good amount of content to work through.

This is a good arcade racer that is worth $20. If you like the aesthetic and don’t mind the grind, this should be in your library. I am pretty indifferent when it comes to racing games, but I enjoyed my time with Rally Arcade Classics.

You can pick up Rally Arcade Classics on Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation for $19.99.

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.

video game reviews

Ruffy and the Riverside: A Whimsical Adventure Game Review

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Ruffy and the Riverside to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinion. 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 Ruffy and the Riverside?

Ruffy and the Riverside is a quirky 3D adventure game out now for Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

An ancient evil has reawaken, hungry to reclaim this world as its own. Its power has corrupted the land, caused wide spread destruction, and damaged the world core. It is up to Ruffy and his special powers to travel across the whimsical world of Riverside, and restore the peace it once knew. Using the powers to change the world around you, solve puzzles, defeat enemies, and repair the world core. Do you have what it takes to restore this world’s peace?

Gameplay

Ruffy and the Riverside is a 3D adventure game with a unique gimmick. Ruffy has the power to change the world around him in a way that helps him move through the world by copying elements and pasting them elsewhere. For example, he can copy a piece of ice to freeze a lake so he can walk across, or turn a stone pillar into wood to create a bridge. The game gets extremely creative with this mechanics, and it is one of those things you need to experience first hand to appreciate. The game is filled with collectibles, puzzles, riddles, and enough platforming to keep its player base busy.

Review

I have been excited about Ruffy and the Riverside since I first saw the trailer. It looked like a cute platforming adventure, and I was not disappointed. I did try the demo out as soon as it went public, and I recommend you check that out if you’re somehow still on the fence. The demo provides the perfect snapshot of what to expect, and full game only gets better.

First off, this game has a fantastic art style. I love the 2D figures moving through a fun 3D world. The world is chaotic, with lots of wacky details to build its whimsy. I had so much fun exploring the world, that I kept forgetting to play through the main quest. There is so much to see, and even more to collect which is fantastic for those who value good world building in their video games. There is also a fun soundtrack to keep things light which is always appreciated.

The story itself is cute. I enjoyed the humor and quirks, and it honestly kept my attention. Despite being constantly distracted by the world, I did genuinely want to know what happened next. It definitely is a silly story that doesn’t take itself too seriously, but it is all part of the whimsy.

The gameplay is the reason to get this game. If you enjoyed Spyro or Banjo Kazooie, Ruffy and The Riverside should be in your library. The game has a fantastic gimmick, with fun creative puzzles to make full use of it. The puzzles in this game are challenging. I almost broke and looked up solutions, but it was much more satisfying to solve it on my own. While the game does shower the players with achievements, nothing beats the feeling of accomplishment when you figure out one of the challenging puzzles. Best of all, it runs great on the Steam Deck.

This game is easily one of my favorites from this year. The game is fun, the concept is interesting, and the aesthetic is cute. If you’re looking for a new game, you can’t do better than Ruffy and the Riverside. Go get it now.

You can pick up Ruffy and the Riverside on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

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

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.

video game reviews

After Wave: Downfall Review – A Fun Casual Shooter

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of After Wave: Downfall 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-Promotions

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out the new Epomaker HE75 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. I’ve also started a web novel that I update weekly.

What is After Wave: Downfall?

After Wave: Downfall is an arcade shoot ’em up out now on Steam, Xbox, Switch, and PlayStation.

Monsters are attacking, and it is up to you to keep them at bay. Brave it alone or gather your friends as you fight off monsters, collect power-ups, and navigate your favorite ship. This high speed arcade game has ten unique stages and bosses, six unique ship abilities, and an adjustable difficulty for a good amount of replayability. Do you have what it takes to save the world?

Gameplay

Players navigate each level, avoiding obstacles and hazards, shooting monsters, and collecting power ups. A run ends when a player’s ship is destroyed. Players can buy upgrades for their ships between runs. Each level has uniquely flavored monsters and bosses to defeat, and each boss (and miniboss) has unique abilities to keep things fresh. The adjustable difficulty and upgrades make meaningful impact on the game, and add a layer of repeatability to the title.

Review

After Wave: Downfall is a cute little casual game that I don’t mind pulling out when I need a quick distraction. The game is cute with fun a fun art style and aesthetic, and the mechanics are engaging and fun. I enjoyed the different boss mechanics, and the fun flavors of each level. The game will feel a bit repetitive as players grind out currency for different upgrades, but it doesn’t feel too bad. It certainly doesn’t take away from the game’s casual appeal. Best of all, co-op mode is a great time (if you have the friends for it).

If you’re looking for a fun casual title to pick up when you need a short break, After Wave: Downfall is a fantastic option. It is inoffensive with a cute and comforting art style and the game play is solid. It is also works great on the Steam Deck.

Pick up After Wave: Downfall on Steam for $9.99, and console for $14.99 via Xbox, Switch, and PlayStation.

video game reviews

Lords of the Fallen Review: A Casual Souls-like Experience

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I was sent a free copy of Lords of the Fallen 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 for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out the new Epomaker HE75 Mag or their Galaxy 100 keyboard. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. If you would like to start your own blog on WordPress, sign up using my Affiliate Link!

What is Lord of the Fallen?

Lords of the Fallen is a souls-like out now on Steam.

The Demon God Adyr is on the verge of resurrection, and it is up to you, as a Dark Crusader, to stop it from happening. Grab your favorite weapon and fight your way through the endless mobs of terrifying monsters as you make your way through this bleak world. Can you get strong enough in time to stop the great god’s resurrection, or will you be another lost soul?

Gameplay

Lords of the Fallen fallen is the closest you will get to a Souls game, but I would argue that this game is on the easier side. Players start by choosing their class, and each class does feel different enough in both flavor and style. The player will then spend time running between campfires, farming xp and searching for better weapons, armor and items. What makes this game unique is the spirit lantern mechanic that allows players to shift into a parallel dimension to solve puzzles. There is co-op and multiplayer support, but I don’t have the friends to try it out.

Review

I enjoyed Lords of the Fallen for the casual souls-like experience that it provides. While the skill required to progress through the game and beat the bosses was enough to keep things engaging, it isn’t the soul-crushing experience you would expect from a souls-like. Combat feels good, although the progression does feel a little slow and the game gets a bit grindy towards the end.

The story is fine, nothing I would rush to play, but something that I am glad I finished. The game does have a good amount of flavor. I appreciate everything that went into the design of the world. The levels were creepy and atmospheric and the parallel realm was cool. I wasn’t too crazy about the spirit lantern mechanics, but it did make for a few interesting puzzles.

Aside from a few stutters and frame drops, the game runs smoothly on PC. On the Steam Deck, the drops are more noticeable and the fan is very loud. That said, it is playable on the Steam Deck. Most of my game time was on the Steam Deck due to personal preference.

If you’re looking for a souls game that isn’t a huge commitment, you’re going to want to pick up Lords of the Fallen. If you enjoy the grueling challenge of the traditional Souls formula, you will be disappointed. I found it a lot more fun than the Souls game because it provided a more appropriate challenge it felt like a more casual experience. It still demands skill and a proper build to beat, but the first boss isn’t going to kill and even though you will die, it won’t be as much.

You can pick up Lords of the Fallen on Steam for $59.99, but now would be the best time to do it because it is $60% off for the Steam Winter Sale. You can also pick it up on PlayStation ($79.99) and Xbox ($69.99) but that feels too expensive.

Uncategorized, video game reviews

Is Rage of the Dragons NEO Worth Buying? Honest Review

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I was sent a free copy of Rage of of the Dragons Neo 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.

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What is Rage of the Dragons NEO?

The cult classic fighting game, Rage of the Dragons, is now on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch. Grab your fight sticks and enjoy a classic arcade fighting experience with few modern features. Challenge your friends for dominance or prove yourself online on the ranked ladder all from the comfort of your home. How far will your skills take you?

Review

Rage of the Dragons Neo is a fantastic classic feeling fighting game with amazing artwork and engaging gameplay. All the characters are unique and memorable, although some wore more fun to play because of my skill and playstyle. The AI in this game is challenging. As someone who doesn’t play many fighting games, this thing was merciless. I did feel myself get better overtime, but I had my rude awakening.

Luckily there is a very helpful training mode to help players learn the different nuanced mechanics. It has many helpful features to help anyone looking to perfect their technique. It can list inputs and combos, show character hitboxes, and the AI can be customized to help players practice certain skills.

Unfortunately, those trying to prove themselves online will be disappointment. Matchmaking on PC is dead. Unless you have friends to play with, you’re not finding a match unless the game gets a much needed surge of players.

Rage of the Dragons Neo is a fantastic fighting game. It looks cool, the mechanics are solid, and it reminiscent of a bygone era. It also works on the Steam Deck which is a huge plus. Unfortunately, without a player base, there is no real reason to buy this. Sure the AI provides its challenge, but that alone is not enough to justify buying it for $20. I would wait for a sale unless you can convince a group of people to go in on it with you. Maybe the scene is better on console, but I couldn’t tell you.

You can pick up on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch for $19.99.