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If you enjoy the survivor game genre, you might want to look into Solarpunk. Destroying its Kickstarter goals, this beautiful game is looking like the relaxing experience I am always down for. Players can build and design unique bases, gather resources, craft gadgets, and fly airships! The trailer gave me some serious Stardew Valley vibes, and I can play Stardew Valley for hours.
Solarpunk promises a vast open-world sandbox experience that you can share with your friends, or brave on your own. Although the game looks beautiful and relaxing, there are survival elements you should pay close attention to. Players will have to worry about health, hunger, thirst, and dangers that roam the wilderness. Solarpunk is making a lot of promises without having a finished product. I am sharing this preview because the game looks cool, but I am always weary of Kickstarter promises. Don’t get me wrong, I will keep watching this project closely, but I’ll need to see more of the game before I fomo in. Nevertheless, the devs have laid out a realistic roadmap and made impressive partnerships that ease my doubts a bit. We’ll have to wait and see how the devs deliver.
The game is set to launch sometime next year on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC via Steam. Don’t forget to add it to your Wishlist.
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Harmony: The Fall of Reveriewas sent to me as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.
Harmony: The Fall of Reverie is a visual novel available now for the Switch, Xbox, PS5, and PC via Steam.
Polly discovers that she can travel between her world and a spirit realm ruled by five aspirations: Glory, Bliss, Power, Chaos, Bond, and Truth. The two worlds are on the brink of collapse, and Polly is the only one who can save it. Although Polly can rely on her loved ones and the Asperations for support and guidance, she is the only one with the power to decide. Polly must make the difficult choices that could save the world. What kind of story will your decisions unlock?
The choices players make are what drive the narrative. Players are presented with multiple possibilities, but their path narrows as they make choices. Players will find themselves locked out of certain outcomes because of a previous decision. It is a cool way of making players live with the consequences of their actions, but it also makes the game highly replayable.
The game is beautifully illustrated with terrific voice acting, a fantastic soundtrack, and a compelling narrative. I finished this game in one sitting because of how much I enjoyed the story. I even debated starting a second run to experience a different outcome. I now understand why this game is award-winning. Even though you are essentially just sitting and listening to a story happens, it is a good story to sit through.
My only recommendation is that you go into this game as blind as possible. Your first playthrough should be unaffected by outside influences so that you can get a story of your own choosing. You can look up guides after if you need them, but it’s not difficult to work towards your desired outcome.
I don’t want to say more because I don’t want to spoil the story or influence any decisions. This game is worth your time and money. There are so many choices, paths, and outcomes in this game that it is going to be hard to only beat it once. If you are looking for a new visual novel, or simply trying to get into the genre, Harmony: The Fall of Reverie should be in your collection. It is available now on Switch, Xbox, PS5, and PC via Steam for $24.99.
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Harmony: The Fall of Reverie is a beautiful-looking visual novel that I am very much excited to try. I was impressed by the initial announcement, and I am always looking to get into another visual novel. Since the announcement, the game has earned a few awards and achievements that have kept me excited for this game.
Harmony: The Fall of Reverie lets you play as Polly, a young woman who suddenly discovers she has the gift to travel to a new world, Reverie. In Reverie, Polly becomes Harmony and now has the responsibility to the next Aspiration to be the heart of humanity. As Harmony, you must make difficult choices, befriend different people, and be the catalyst to a beautifully drawn narrative. The game promises multiple endings, decisions that matter, a fantastic soundtrack, and a powerful story. I will have to see how well the game keeps its promises, but at the very least, I am interested.
Harmony: The Fall of Reverie is out now for PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC via Steam for $24.99 across all platforms. I should receive my review copy any day now, so stay tuned for my full review.
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I was sent Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine as a review code. I am very grateful for this opportunity, but won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be an honest review of the game.
I covered Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine in a previous post when I got to try the game early at GDC. While I didn’t get to finish the demo, I liked the game enough to want to play more of it. The game is cute, unique, and challenging. After spending more time with the game, my opinions remain mostly unchanged, but I’ve got a few addendums I’d like to make.
Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine is a match-four game like you’ve never played before. Dr. Fetus has created a machine to clone his own Meat Boy. With your help, he will weed out the undesirable traits and build the perfect Meat Boy with what is left. To beat a level, you must match colors to fill the meter while avoiding hazards like saws or missiles. Levels start easy, but they quickly become impossible. Dr. Fetus slowly introduces new hazards that will make levels frustratingly bloodied. Do not be tricked by the false sense of security this game may give you. After completing a set number of levels, you can face off against a boss and move on to a new world. Bosses are hard and are sure to claim a few controllers.
I enjoyed this game a lot, but it isn’t something I can play to completion. While each level offers unique challenges and mechanics, the gameplay grows stale. As good of a match-four game, as this is, my attention span can only handle so much matching. This is going to be a game you come back to when you want something different, but still want a challenge. Unless you are someone that likes to collect achievements, or good at these kinds of games, I don’t see people finishing this game in one go.
The game’s difficulty is going to be the main barrier to entry. While I didn’t have an issue with the difficulty, I can see how the frustration it generates can kill its enjoyment. Some levels are annoying, and others feel slow because of their mechanics. As frustrated as I got with this game, I still found myself going back for more. The key to enjoying this game is taking breaks.
So is this game worth it? for $10 it is. The game is easy to get into, challenging enough to keep you invested, and the art is super cute. It is sad watching the clones die, but you quickly get desensitized. This is a great game to buy if you are in the market for a game that isn’t a huge investment. There isn’t a complicated story you need to remember or difficult mechanics to memorize. You can return to this game after long breaks and remember where you left off, and why you put it down in the first place. Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine is a frustrating simple game you will enjoy if you are the cool kind of masochist.
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I was sent Pixel Ripped 1978 as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest review.
The evil Cyblin Lord is back! This time he has gone back in time to change the course of history and make himself the hero. It is up to Dot to go back and stop him before it is too late. With the help of Bug, a programmer for Atari, Dot must fight familiar enemies, find the time crystals, and fix bugs along the way. Can they stop the Cyblin Lord before it is too late?
Pixel Rippedis an interesting concept for a VR simulation game. It is a meta experience where gamers play a game within a game that pays homage to classic eras in gaming. Thanks to the official partnership, this game pays homage to the Atari era of gaming. In Pixel Ripped 1978, players switch between the two characters, each offering a unique experience.
As Bug, players pick up an Atari controller and play through a classic game in order to find bugs to fix. As they play, they will encounter real-world distractions that offer a different level of difficulty than the platforming. Bug has to deal with coworkers, answer phone calls, and deal with people blocking the tv screen while she is trying to beat the game. This mechanic is neat until the novelty wears off. If you are good at classic platformers, the distractions only pose minor inconveniences. But if you aren’t, the loop of distractions becomes tedious.
Don’t get me wrong, the distractions are fun and an interesting mechanic. The interactions are quirky, silly, and there are some fun little easter eggs sprinkled throughout. My issue isn’t that there aren’t more kinds of interactions because that isn’t feasible. My issue has to do with my skill level. Because I am not good at platforming, the interactions become an annoying taunt that got worse the longer I was trapped in the level. If you are good at platformers, this might not be an issue.
As Dot, you get to travel into the game and fix bugs. The world is vibrant, colorful, and cool. But as I mentioned before, once the novelty wears off, the gameplay feels a bit one note. Dot walks around the game world, shooting enemies and breaking pots. It isn’t a bad experience, but there isn’t anything special to it either. Combat is point-and-shoot, the movement is slow, and while I appreciate the humor involved in the melee attack, it isn’t any more fun. It’s okay for the first few minutes, but nothing that you should be rushing to try.
The boss fights are where this game earns some of its charms back. Boss fights start with playing a classic Atari title that will suddenly turn to life in a cool AR-like experience. Now players must beat a special level of the game by defeating the evil Cyblin Lord at the end. This introduces new mechanics. Players must control Dot through the level while dealing with real-world obstacles. For example, on one level, players have to throw paper balls at the boss while controlling Dot. I appreciate the creativity of the boss fights, but I wish the rest of the game had this level of energy.
It’s hard to recommend because once the novelty of the experience wears off, the game falls flat. The graphics are great, the music is fantastic, and the game runs smoothly, but the gameplay isn’t there for me. As platformers go, unless you have nostalgia for the Atari era, it isn’t great. As a VR experience, it has its moments, but there are certainly better titles. It isn’t a bad game, but it isn’t something I would be rushing to.
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Nocturnal is a beautiful-looking metroidvania-type game that definitely has gotten my attention. I don’t normally play games in this genre, but when I saw the gameplay, I had to reach out and get myself a copy to review. It has a simple yet beautiful art style that I enjoy and an interesting fire and shadow mechanic that promises to make this a unique experience.
Ardeshir has returned to his home Island Nahran, only to find it afflicted by a mysterious shadowy mist. Use fire he can wield to solve puzzles, fight enemies, and light your way through the darkness. Can you find the cause and heal your home of this strange affliction?
This game seems perfect for those who enjoy the genre. It has a permadeath mode for those who need the extra challenge, and some nifty speed run features like faster transitions, skippable cutscenes, and a pausable timer if that’s more your speed. For everyone else, the gameplay just looks fun.
You can get Nocturnal on PlayStation, Switch, Xbox, and Steam. The game is $19.99 for consoles, and $16.99 for PC. The game doesn’t seem to have been launched on PS5 in NA yet, but I’ve added the European link just in case. There is a 10% discount for the Switch and Steam version if you buy them before June 14th. I’ve already gotten my review copy and will be posting my review sometime next week. Until then, thank you for reading!
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I covered Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine in a previous post when I got to try the game early at GDC. I loved the little I got to play and have been eager for its release since. This game will be one of the most stressful yet addicting match-four games you’ve never played. It is a neat concept set in a familiar world with a cute yet gruesome aesthetic. What more can you want?
Dr. Fetus has built a machine to clone his own Meat Boy. The machine weeds through DNA samples to collect the perfect specimen. Players will match DNA while avoiding terrifying traps. There are over 100 puzzles to solve and a few difficult bosses along the way. Can you make it through this game without breaking your controller?
I’ve only played a couple of the Meat Boy games, but I am impressed with how creative they get with the IP. It’s hilariously frustrating to sit there and try to match colors while avoiding saws or missiles. The challenge this game will have to overcome is finding the perfect balance where the game carries the difficulty now synonymous with the IP while still being fun. I am curious to see how well they find this balance.
1 / 9
Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine comes out on Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, and PC via Steam, Epic Games, and GOG on June 22nd. No price has been announced yet, but you can add it to your wishlist. I’ll be publishing my review as soon as the embargo gets lifted. Make sure you check out the demo available for Switch and PC via Steam and Epic Games.
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I was sent Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop to review. I am very grateful for the opportunity, but I will keep my review honest.
Bus Simulator is getting a huge update with performance improvements, new features, more cosmetics, a new area to explore, and a very cool career mode. If you are in the market for a relaxing simulator, Bus Simulator should be in your library. It looks good, runs great, and has an amazing soundtrack.
If you are coming into this game as a new player, I recommend starting with the career mode. Do not skip the tutorial because some of the mechanics aren’t intuitive. Career mode gives players a great starting foundation as well as some goals to work towards. You are responsible for the city’s public transportation, and it is your job to make it the best possible. The recommended difficulty is also perfect for beginners, but players can adjust the settings to make the experience more immersive if needed. I recommend you mess with these settings and sandbox mode once you have a solid understanding of how the bus system works.
I had a lot of fun with this game, but it is a niche experience. If you are looking for a different and relaxing experience, this is a great title to sink some time into. The problem I see this game having is that the amount of time players will sink into this game depends on how much they enjoy the simulation. Players have to obey traffic laws, deal with customers, and drive in real-time. I enjoyed the elusiveness of the game, but I didn’t have the attention span to play for too long. My attention span has nothing to do with the game, it’s great, but it is something to think about before you make the purchase.
Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop Gold Edition is $45.99 for PC via Epic Games and Steam. The console version is $49.99 for Xbox and PlayStation. The gold edition upgrade is only $14.99 on Steam, Epic Games, PlayStation, and Xbox. The Gold Edition is a great place because it comes with the base game and all the previous DLCs. If you already have the base game, all you need is the upgrade. There are also free console upgrades if you’ve bought the game for your last gen console.
Tamarak Trail is an interesting rogue-like deck builder coming to all major consoles and PC that looks like it will redefine the genre. A corruption is spreading across the Canadian Shield, and it is up to you to find the cause and put an end to it. The journey won’t be easy, and you won’t make it on your first try. Do you have what it takes to be the hero, or will you buckle under the weight of the mysterious corruption?
Players can choose from three classes: the tracker, magician, and detective. Each class has its unique sets of skills and abilities. What makes this game unique is its deck-building mechanic. Instead of decks, you customize dice that you roll to cast abilities. You can fully customize each dice to fit your play style, although the RNG might be a limiting factor. The devs have published an informative walkthrough video that best explains the game’s mechanics. I recommend you watch it and become as excited as I am for this title.
Tamarak Trail is looking really cool. The mechanics look like a lot of fun, and the art is beautiful. I love deck-builders, so there might be a bit of bias in my excitement. Regardless, I think this unique game deserves some love and attention. I’ll definitely be trying to get a copy to review.
Tamarak Trail is coming to PS4, Xbox, Switch, and PC via Steam and GoG. Don’t forget to add it to your Wishlist. There is also an official wiki you should bookmark that I am sure will have lots of useful tips and tricks at launch. Make sure you join the game’s Discord and follow the official Twitter to stay up to date on all the news.
I was fortunate enough to try out Second Wave at this year’s GDC and loved it. Second Wave is an anime-themed arena shooter coming to PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, IOS, and Android. The team behind was super nice, and the game is a lot of fun. I won’t be repeating too much from my initial coverage, so make sure you go read that if you need to catch up.
Since then, Challengers Games has released a healthy amount of spoilers and teasers that have kept my excitement for the game alive. If you care about spoilers, you can stop reading here. Otherwise, I have collected everything they’ve been posting and have organized it as best I can. Make sure you follow the publisher on Discord and Twitter to keep up with all the news from this point.
Most importantly, don’t forget to sign up for the Alpha! The playtest will run from May 26 to the 28th for Steam only, so mark your calendars. This game is going to be huge. The character design is great, the skills are unique, and it’s going to be available on everything. Challengers Games is also an official Microsoft partner, so you know this won’t be another lazy cash grab. With the time I spent with Second Wave and what I’ve seen from Spoilers, it’s hard not to be excited. Now is the perfect time to get behind a game with lots of potential. I’ve already signed up for the Alpha and am impatiently waiting for a reply. Go sign up, and I hope I see you in Armantia!
Shania Olivier
Bernard Bronzestone
Cozette Russel
Amelda Luce
Ess’el Verto
I actually got to try Ess’el when I got to demo the game and had a blast. I wasn’t good, but thankfully the girls I played against also picked her and didn’t know how to use her.
Aegis Tefnut
This might be my main. I love playing the healer/support class in everything I play and switching between light and dark is always a fun mechanic.
Michaela Seraphine Lopez
Merope Sessile
Dio Zahaman
Batu Deidara
Gameplay For Merope, Dio, and Batu!
And The Score Card!
This game is going to be a lot of fun, but I don’t want to speculate more than I already have. Make sure you add it to your Wishlist on Steam, sign up for the Alpha, and join the Discord!
