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video game reviews

Diggergun: A Deep Dive into Retro Puzzle Gaming

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Diggergun to review for my gun. 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 HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset.

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Table of Contents

What is Diggergun?

Diggergun is a retro puzzler out now on Steam. There is a demo you should definitely check out, and don’t forget to wishlist!

Hook

You have taken a mining job digging for Lithiurn on Bal Island. The deal is so good, you pack your things and set off to your new adventure. Unfortunately, there are some details you missed in the fine print. There are costs to living on Bal Island, and you start with adventure with a good amount of depth. The only way off this island is to delve into the depth of the mines in search of Lithium. Can you find enough Litheurn to buy your freedom and get off this island, or will you succumb to the mysterious illness that seems to plague the other miners?

Gameplay Loop

Miners on Bal Island are expected to meet their quota, regardless of health. The only way off the island is to settle up depths, and life on Bal island is not cheap. Players will need to dive into the darkest depths of the mines in search Lithium. Armed with their trusty diggergun, miners will need to break through the earth and many monsters and bring back as much Lithium as they can carry. Players are limited by their stats, energy they can spend, and the amount of time in a day. While the game does look and feel like a simple retro puzzle game, there are a few moving parts that give the game its depth.

Day/Night Cycle

Time flows on Bal Island like any other place in the world. Every action, decision, and puzzle takes up time. Losing track of might mean starting the next day at a disadvantage, or possibly even death. Time also affects what events are available to the player. There are time gated interactions. For example, the restaurant is only open at a certain time and there are NPCs that are only available at certain times of the day. Missing these interactions can mean the rest of your time on Bal Island will be at a disadvantage.

Social Interactions

The mines are full of characters, some more interesting than others. Throughout the adventure, players will interact with players and have the chance to build a rapport with each one. These interactions and the relationships forged from them affect the game’s ending. There are multiple endings. Can you unlock them all?

Energy Management

Players spend energy to complete their tasks. It is a resource that is more valuable than money. Diving the mines eats at a miner’s energy reserve, but there are activities that help replenish. To replenish energy, players can eat a meal at the restaurant, use the bathroom, take a shower, and sleep. The quality of sleep affects the energy, and food costs money. All of these activities cost time, and the trick is balancing these activities with time in the mine to meet the quota. Luckily, your energy reserve and other useful stats can be upgraded at level up.

Leveling

Spending time in the mine will earn player experience. This experience will turn into levels that a player can use to upgrade one of four stats: aim, strength, energy, and luck. This is the games These skills impact how much damage a player does, how much lithium a player can carry, what a player can do in a day, and what a player finds on a delve. Each level affects gameplay. Choose wisely.

Mining

Players use their diggergun to excavate the earth and fight off monsters, but they use their mind to get to the next level. A level in the mine is a simple square 2D square full of mineable blocks, traps, and sometimes monsters. There will also be visible lithium nodes and other treasures spread throughout the map. Players will need to plan a rout as they excavate to collect everything before moving to the next room. Once a players inventory is full or they finish their quota, they can leave the mines to do it all over again tomorrow.

Money

Money runs everything on Bal Island, and it is the reason you can’t leave. At the end of each day, players collect their earnings. Players who meet the quota will be paid for their haul, but be charged for the fees of company. A big chunk of a miners wage goes into paying debt and other miscellaneous costs, leaving with little money. Players can take out another loan if money ever gets tight, but hat means never leaving the island.

Review

Diggergun is a very pleasant surprise. I enjoyed the retro aesthetic, but there was enough depth to the gameplay to keep me invested. Some people won’t like that most of the time you are just walking through a room, but there is a demo you can try before you make your final decision.

Aesthetic

I played a lot of retro puzzlers growing up on my Gameboy pocket, and have a soft sport for the look and feel of this game. The pixel art is solid and the cutscenes are cool. Diggergun has a very cool retrovibe, but the sound leaves a bit to be desired.

Sound

The sound effects are solid. I like the sound of the gun movement. It really gives me the hit of nostogia I wasn’t quite ready for, and I am here for it. The music in the game isn’t very impressive, but it is not really a deal breaker. I use play this game with anime in the background anyways.

Gameplay

Diggergun has unique mechanics that give it depth, but it does have a loop that isn’t going to vibe with some gamers. The game’s resource management keeps the game from being a mindless slog. You will need to plan your day efficiently, but those actions are simple. Most of the time you are walking through the rooms or going back to town to complete your daily interactions to survive. Some rooms offer a bit of a puzzle, but most of the time you are making your way to the next door. The main challenge is knowing when to delve and replenish resources while still making the daily quota.

I liked the loop and while it does feel a bit repetitive, it is a thematic and flavorful loop. The point of this game is to criticize the predatory nature of the corporate system, and the work is supposed to feel representative. I don’t think the game would benefit from mini games or a different style of delve mechanics. It would change the spirit of the game and I like it for the valid criticism that it makes.

My only real complaint is that I couldn’t get it to run on the Steam Deck. I wanted to play Diggergun on a handheld for the nostalgic experience. I don’t this is a deal breaker, but I hope we can get it one day.

Story

The game has terrific flavor and a solid story around the otherwise mundane loop. As efficient as I am during the day, it always felt like I wasn’t accomplishing anything at the end of the day because of how badly the company robbed me. It is a simple and very powerful story that makes valid criticism without feeling too preachy. I will have to try a second playthrough, but I don’t know how much talking to different NPCs will change the outcome, but then again, I would often lose track of time in the mines. I might need to look up some guides.

Conclusion

I really like Diggergun. It is a very cool concept for a game with a solid execution. If you don’t mind the simple retro feel and the repetition, it is a game you try at least once. The developer put a lot of love and care into this project, and I think it paid off. Go check it out, or at least try out the demo.

You can pick up DIGGERGUN on Steam.

video game reviews

Forgotten Fragments Review: A Challenging 2D Platformer

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Forgotten Fragments 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 HE68 Mag 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. You can also always buy me coffee!

Table of Contents

What is Forgotten Fragments?

Forgotten Fragments is a 2D platformer intended for the masochist who loves to struggle through their jumping puzzles. Make sure to check out the demo.

Hook

You wake up in a strange and beautiful world without your memories. Your memories have been scattered across this new landscape in collectable fragments, and it is up to you to collect them all. But this is no simple task. The road is perilous, full of traps and difficult puzzles. Do you have what it takes to conquer this terrain? Do you have what it takes to recover all your memories?

The Game

Brave this challenge alone as you work your way through the campaign, or team up with a friend and share the frustration as you solve unique jumping puzzles. With over 120 puzzles spanning over four unique worlds, Forgotten Fragments has enough content to keep its players busy. Make sure you keep an eye out for hidden collectibles and secret levels. And for those who are a bit more competitive, each level has a time and death counter so you can chase that perfect score. If you like platformers and don’t mind playing through a hard one, check out Forgotten Fragments.

Gameplay

Each world is separated by its collection of uniquely themed jumping puzzles. Puzzles are accessed through doors at a hub, which makes progression manageable. Players must beat all puzzles in a world to progress to the next one. To beat a puzzle, players need to collect all of the available memory fragments within the level. These fragments blow up after a certain amount of time, killing the player. Death resets the level, but it does not reset a run. This means that any progress you make in a level, i.e. collecting memories, will be lost. You will need to do everything again. You can die as many times as it takes to complete the level, but the goal is to die as little as possible and as fast as possible.

Mechanics

To beat a level, players must use the game’s mechanics to not only maneuver the character, but the different objects around them. Sometimes a player needs to throw an object over a pit to use as a platformer. Other times, the player will need to bounce the memory fragment off walls without setting off an explosion. A fragment can blow up if it hits the wrong structure, like a spike. The combination of these mechanics give way for creative solutions to some very interesting puzzles.

Review

Forgotten Fragments is a fantastic platformer, especially if you appreciate a challenge. The game has some very beautiful hand-drawn art that does a good job at catching attention. I am a huge fan of the retro-vibe, but the game’s mechanics create interesting interactions for some very challenging puzzles. There are some seemingly impossible levels, the feeling of satisfaction of finally beating a level is unmatched. If you’re looking for a new platformer, this is the one to try.

Gamplay Loop

The dangerous level design leave the room for some creative solutions. Sometimes you will need to bounce your fragment off walls before it blows up, other times you need to narrowly avoid spike pits to get to collect your fragments. The game starts off hard, but does a good job at slowly adding mechanics over time to make the game feel more manageable. Every time I felt like I mastered the game, it threw something new to complicate things. Mostly, I enjoyed seeing my progress as I moved through the worlds, collecting new skills.

Difficulty

Forgotten Fragments is difficult by design. The game opens up with a disclaimer and the ability to reduce the difficulty. I struggled with the default difficulty, but I never felt a level was impossible. Even though I could have changed the difficulty at any time, I never felt the need. I enjoyed the game enough to keep trying, even at my most frustrated. This is a game where you’re meant to die a lot, so consider that before picking up the controller.

Conclusion

I enjoyed Forgotten Fragments for its unique retro aesthetic and challenging gameplay. Even though I struggled through my playthrough, I appreciate the creativity that went into every level. If you enjoy retro platformers but are looking for a hard one, go check out Forgotten Fragments.

If you enjoy platformers, make sure you also check out Worldless if you’re looking for something more unique and Smurfs, if you need something more cozy to play with your kids.

video game reviews

Bye Sweet Carol Review: A Darkly Beautiful Puzzle Adventure

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Bye Sweet Carole 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 HE68 Mag 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. You can also always buy me coffee!

Table of Contents

What is Bye Sweet Carol?

Bye Sweet Carol is a hand drawn narrative-horror puzzle game that takes players down a long and twisted mystery. It blends fantasy and reality with its Disney inspired art styles to tell a dark and compelling narrative.

The Story

Lana Benton lives in Bunny Hall with a group of other girls as the suffrage movement folds around them in 20th century England. Once a prominent institution where girls learned to be the “ideal” woman, now crumbles and rots with age. Lana and the girls feel the pressure of the oppressive traditions crumbling around them and do their best to get by.

The only light Lana has in her cold and dark life at Bunny Hall is her friendship with Carol. All seems good until the day Carol disappears. Lana suddenly finds herself being torn between two worlds, hers and Corolla, as she tries to find out the truth behind Carol’s disappearance.

Both worlds are full of danger. Although Lana has help, her path won’t be easy. Fight against the encroaching darkness, follow all the clues, and uncover the truth. What really happened to Carol?

Gameplay

Players take control of Lana as they move through the world, looking for clues, and solving puzzles. The game is a 2D side stroller, with the occasional jump scare and quick time event for added tension. As the player progresses through the story, they begin to unlock powers and abilities thanks to their connection to the Kingdom of Corolla. For example, players will get the ability to turn into a rabbit to help them explore the world and solve puzzles. Players can also take control of their allies for additional support. After completing their laundry list of tasks and puzzles, players will be able to find out the truth. If you get stuck, Intoindiegames has a very good guide you can use.

Review

Bye Sweet Carole is one of my favorite games. I love its unique look and feel, and the narrative is fantastic. There are few games that keep it from being perfect, but I was able to overlook them through my playthough. I was fortunate enough to not hit one of the game breaking bugs.

The Art

The art is Bye Sweet Carol‘s biggest draw. I love the classic-style, hand drawn art and the Disney feel. It makes the perfect contrast to the game’s dark story. Behind the cute and wholesome art, is a dark story with a creepy tone that makes it the perfect game for the spooky season. I admire the dev’s ability to make a beautiful Disney-looking game that feels creepy.

The Horror

While I did not have to play this game with all the lights on, it made my heart race. The game has some good jump scares that had me off my seat. The music knows exactly when to change into something more intense to set the mood, and those monsters that chase you are terrifying. There are a good amount of quick time events to player engaged. As someone who is really bad at quick time events, these made the game intense. When the game worked, Bye Sweet Carol is a solid horror game.

Performance

The game runs fine on my Nvidia RTX 3060 and Ryzen 5 5600x. There are a few bugs, and some made the game a little harder, but nothing that was game breaking. At least not for me. I’ve read a few comments that said their game became unplayable, so your mileage may vary. When the story is as good as it is, I am overlook a few bugs to get to the end.

Story

The story is what kept me playing the game. It is a dark and twisted story with a fantastic hook and a great ending. The story does get a little political as it deals with women suffrage. The message is delivered well without being preachy, but don’t play this game if you’re just going to hate on women. To everyone else, this a cool thematic story that deals with loss, grief, and the empowerment of woman. I love the blend of fantasy as a way to hyperbolize and personify the emotions and situations Lana struggles with. Lana’s grief is so powerful that it causes her to dissociate into the fantasy world of Corolla. The blending of the two worlds is very well done, and builds this powerful narrative of grief.

The Puzzles

Most of the puzzles in this game are fine. They are straight forward, creative, and work to tell the stories. Some of the puzzles felt like chore, like having to walk across a map to grab something you forgot because the game isn’t always clear. You are meant to find everything through clever exploration, but there are elements that don’t show up properly and can be easily missed. You might need look up a few solutions, and do a bit of trouble shooting. I never had to restart the game, but I did have to take a few breaks.

Gameplay Loop

The game itself does feel a little bland. There is a lot of walking, and the NPCs aren’t coded very well. NPCs are either godlike and impossible to defeat, or they are dumb. Bugs in this game makes some of the chase sequences annoying. Sometimes, NPCs would pull me out of hiding even when I had done everything right. Other times, I could just trick the NPCs so easily it was like they didn’t exist. Then there are times when I got caught because the input didn’t register. These issues get more apparent the deeper you get into the game. Since the focus is on the art and the story, I guess I can’t expect too much from the game. Just think of Bye Sweet Carole as interactive fiction you have to work extra to unlock.

Conclusion

Despite the game’s flaws, I still loved Bye Sweet Carole. The game has its unique and interesting flare that tells a very important story. It has a cast of fantastic voice actors and beautifully illustrated cut scenes to tell its well written story. If you want to play a cool looking game with a powerful message and can overlook a few bugs in your walking simulator, go pick up Bye Sweet Carole on Steam.

If you’re looking for another beautiful narrative puzzle game, check out Planet of Lana, or Murder on Space Station 52 if you want something sillier.

video game reviews

Is Bullet: Surge Worth Your Time? Gameplay Insights

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Bullet: Surge 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 Bullet: Surge?

If you are familiar with the board game of the same name, now you can enjoy an automated experience with a neat animation, a fantastic soundtrack, and beautiful art. This fast paced puzzle game allows players to wield the unique powers as they build combos, explore the different heroines, and climb that leaderboard. Play solo as you try to get the high score in endless, or try to beat powerful bosses in boss mode. There is also an online PvP mode where you can battle it out against other fans of the game. What mode will you master?

Gameplay

The game offers a really good tutorial for people unfamiliar with the board game. Those familiar with the board game will appreciate the automation, and enjoy the faster pace. This is a game that you need to see and play for yourself to understand, but I will do my best. Players shoot different colored bullets randomly on a grid to generate action points. They use those action points to rearrange the bullets on a grid to perform abilities. Each heroine has a unique set of abilities that come in a form of a template, shapes that fit onto the grid. These templates will have specific requirements that need to be filled in order to activate. Once a player arranges the bullets to fit the requirements of template, it sets off the ability and sometimes removes bullets from the grid. If the gird fills, the player looses life until they hit zero and the game is over. It is a very simple looking game that will take some time to master, but it is such a rush when you figure things out.

Review

This game is an addition I did not plan on having. It took me a couple of tries to grasp the mechanics (I’ve never played the board game), but I am so glad I did. Right off the bat, the artwork is amazing. I love the vibrant colors and the character design. The soundtrack is amazing, and kept me hyped even when I was losing. As far as gameplay goes, everything runs smooth on PC. It does feel a little awkward on the Steam Deck, but nothing a couple of updates can’t fix.

Overall, Bullet: Surge is a fantastic puzzle game. The amount of strategy required kept me engaged, and the timer kept the intensity. I enjoyed both of the Solo modes, but I wasn’t good enough to try multiplayer. I enjoyed Endless mode because there was nothing to attack me and I could chill, even though I had to mind a timer. I enjoyed Boss mode because of the unique combat mechanics it implements. If you are enjoy puzzle games, this game is worth it for just the solo modes, but the PvP side is a nice bonus for the more competitive gamer.

There are some rules and mechanics that aren’t as nuanced. The tutorial does a good job at teaching players the mechanics, but game will take some time to get used to. If you try this game and don’t like because you don’t get it, take a break, watch a video tutorial, and try again. Once you start grasping even the fundamentals of this game, it becomes more than worth it.

Make sure you pick up Bullet: Surge on Steam for $15.99, and check out the demo if you need a bit more convincing.

video game reviews

Emotional Journey through Puzzles in After Light Fades

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of After the Light Fades 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 After Light Fades?

After Light Fades is a sokuban-style puzzle adventure out now on Steam.

After the loss of her partner, Alice must travel through a magical land, collecting memories and learning to let them go. Alice must go back to the places she shared with her partner Aura as she works through her grief with the help of magical artifacts. What she will uncover along the way? Will she be able to let things go?

Gameplay

After Light Fades is a top down puzzle game where players must interact with the parts of the map to find a path forward. There are over 100 puzzles to solve, each guiding the player through an emotional narrative of grief. The game also have a level creator for those who are feeling creative.

Review

After Light Fades is a hardcore puzzle game that will test a players patience and challenge their problem solving skills. Puzzles are creative, and they get challenging once it teachers its players the core mechanics. A guide might be needed in a few places, but it is satisfying to beat the harder levels. I appreciate how creative the game gets with its mechanics and solutions.

One aspect I didn’t like is that the interactions can bug out. Sometimes, you will move a piece on accident because of how interactions work. It isn’t a deal breaker, but it does lead to some frustrations. Other than that, the game is solid, if you’re looking for a puzzle game. It definitely does feel a little more niche side of puzzle games, but it has a decent story with some interesting puzzles.

If you enjoy Sokuban puzzle games and want a challenge, After Light Fades is for you. If you don’t want to think too much, this game closes its chill pretty early on. I thought it was fine, but I’d recommend checking out the demo before making the decision. The niceness of it all makes it hard to recommend.

You can pick up After Light Fades on steam for $14.99.

video game reviews

Marble Maid 2 Review: The Good and the Bad

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Marble Maid 2: The Negative Levels 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. This is also a game meant for adults, discretion is advised.

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.

What is Marble Maid 2: The Negative Levels?

Marble Maid is a marble puzzle game out now on Steam.

Take control of Nega Maid who has been tasked to clean up the mansion. roll across insane levels as you use your powers to get things done. Fight off the many dust bunnies, solve its intricate puzzles, and defeat any boss that gets in your way. Don’t forget to collect all the lewd pictures hidden around the world! Do you have what it takes to clean the mansion, beat its puzzles, and collect all the pictures?

Gameplay

Players control a marble across strange floors, using her arsenal of special abilities to get the job done. Players will have to use marble physics to avoid traps, fight monsters, and move between floors without falling. Occasionally there is a boss fight, and there is even a golf mode for a little extra padding.

Review

This game is only good if you like the art and want to collect everything, otherwise, I wouldn’t touch it. The game works well enough. It never crashed, the controls were responsive, and the movement felt good. My problem with the game is that each level felt like it was made with a randomizer. Each level was crammed with a random collection of traps and tiles, creating busy and chaotic maps with no rhyme or reason. I would have preferred a more thematic looking world, or at least puzzles that made sense.

If you’ve played enough video games, this game can be broken. The abilities are not balanced, and there are ways to cheese some of the levels. This is good if you want to collect everything, bad if you want a challenging and engaging puzzle game.

I got this game because it looked like a fun physics game. It isn’t, and there are better options. Marble Maid 2 has its audience, but I am not part of it. If you like the art and don’t mind doing the work to collect the pieces, go for it. Otherwise, its not worth it.

You can pick up Marble Maid 2: The Negative Levels on Steam for $9.99.


video game reviews

Old Skies Review: A Unique Sci-Fi Visual Novel

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Disclaimer

I was sent a copy of Old Skies 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 my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 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 every two weeks.

What is Old Skies?

Old Skies is a scifi visual novel out now on PC via Steam, GOG and Humble.

Time travel is real, and is controlled by the ChronoZen agency. Those who can afford it can travel back into any time, provided it doesn’t mess with the master timeline. Your job is to keep close watch on these travelers while still making them happy. The story follows seven travelers across 100s of years of history in a point and click adventure you will never forget. What people will you meet? What stories will they tell? Can you keep your clients from messing with the timeline?

Review

Old Skies is a wonderful piece of interactive fiction that you need to try at least once. The game looks very good with cool art and flavorful time periods. The story itself is good, with a cast of fantastic voice actors to bring each story to life. Most importantly, the puzzles are creative and manageable. They provide enough of a challenge to keep things engaging, without becoming frustrating. I didn’t feel the need to use a guide, but I am sure there are some great ones out there if you need them.

As far as time travel stories go, Old Skies does the narrative well. Everything made sense, even the more magical parts of science, and it was an interesting adventure to read. The characters are pretty well written. There are some cliches here and there, but nothing that ruins the story. Each story was interesting, and honestly the reason I kept playing. It is a solid length and I recommend it to anyone looking for a new visual novel.

As for the Steam Deck experience, this is a fantastic title to add to the collection. The resolution is perfect. The words are legible, and everything is easily visible. Most importantly, the controls works great, making this the perfect game to play in bed when you just want to wind down and enjoy a good story.

You can pick up Old Skies for $19.99, and it is definitely worth it for that price.

video game reviews

Discover the Relaxing World of Urban Jungle on Steam

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I was sent a free copy of Urban Jungle 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 Urban Jungle?

Urban Jungle is a cozy puzzle game releasing on Steam March 21st.

Your love for plants started before you moved over seas in search of a better life. It reminds you of your grandmother, and gives you a bit of peace in this hectic new landscape. Now you can’t help but fill every space you with plants, no mater how small it may be. Organize your room as you find the perfect spot for your growing collection of plants. You won’t have to water or do any upkeep, but de-clutter and create the perfect ambiance.

Gameplay

The game follows the life of an immigrant woman, and the love of plants that follows her. The game is split into chapters where players will have time cleaning up and reorganizing spaces to complete objectives. Each map has unique objectives that award players gold that can be spend on rare plants. The main loop of the game is filling each space with plants. The trick is to place the plants in the perfect spot. Each plant has unique requirements that need to be met to award points. The types of plants they get placed near, the humidity, and the amount of light they get all affect the score they award players. A level is completed when the point threshold is met.

Review

Urban Jungle is a fantastic game that should be in everyone’s library. Even if you aren’t looking for a cozy game at the moment, you’re going to always want to turn to the comforting and relaxing experience that is Urban Jungle.The game a cute and pleasing aesthetic, and the music will put in the best mood. Although the gameplay is simple, you won’t have more fun cleaning and organizing a small space. I don’t normally go for games like this because I am not detailed oriented enough for base building games, but this game made me care more than I ever have.

While the main force of progression comes from placing the plants, the spaces will have other objects you can move around and arrange. Not only do you have to move things around to find the perfect spots for your plants, you’re going to want to. Silly things like color coding books or rearranging furniture to make the room look bigger is such a satisfying feeling. The whole loop is simple, but engaging enough to keep players engaged without becoming work.

I particularly loved the story because of how relatable it was to my experience. As someone who plays a lot of games, I don’t get a chance to see a lot of myself represented in games. It is nice to see that representation in a game I thoroughly enjoyed. It is a very good story, and definitely worth playing through.

If you’re looking for a new game to play, it doesn’t get better than Urban Jungle. This is the adorably cozy game you didn’t know you needed, and I am willing to put that in writing.

You can pick up Urban Jungle on Steam on March 21st. At the very least, add it to your wishlist!

video game reviews

Unleash Your Hacking Skills in Cyber Manhunt 2!

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Cyber Manhunt 2: New World – The Hacking Simulator 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 Cyber Manhunt 2?

Cyber Manhunt 2: New World is a hacking simulator puzzle game out now on Steam.

You work for the prestigious Titan Corporation as an AI assistant. Your job is to mitigate any threats to the company and its assists through the use of your incredible hacking skills and a bit of AI. Crawl across cyber space as you gather clues, crack passwords, and solve puzzles. Use a bit of social engineering to get the information you need your cases, and get to know some deep and memorable characters. Do you have what it takes to become the world’s best hacker?

Gameplay

Cyber Manhunt 2 is a point-n-click narrative game full of creative hacking themed puzzles. Players start each chapter with a case they need to work through. Players must comb through social media, hack email and other accounts, and even remotely access devices to get the information they need to crack the case. The game offers little guidance, forcing players to be resourceful with what they can access. Information can be missed, so make sure you comb through everything carefully.

Review

If you haven’t played Cyber Manhunt 2: New World, it should at least be in your library. This will be the most creative and interesting game you will play all year, and it is only $10.

The game has a fantastic aesthetic, with an epic soundtrack to get you hyped for hacking. The voice acting is mostly good, but there are a couple of awkward reads that stand out. They aren’t bad enough that they take away from the game, but it is noticeable.

The overall story is fantastic. This may be a sequel, but the narrative exists independently. I never played the first Cyber Manhunt, but I didn’t feel I needed to. You will want to play it after how good the sequel is, but you won’t be lost if you start at two.

The gameplay is fantastic. The hacking puzzles were creative, challenging, and a ton of fun. You might need a guide here and there, but figuring out the clues and slowly unlocking the narrative is a real treat. I love how much story exists within the puzzles. Texts and emails you read through, pictures you find, and posts you comb through all have bits of important world-building that give the story much-needed weight. You can skim through and only look for clues, but I enjoyed learning about the different characters and the world around them as I pieced things together.

If you’re looking for a new puzzle game, Cyber Manhunt 2 won’t disappoint. It is a cool and creative entry into the genre that you aren’t going to want to miss.

You can pick up Cyber Manhunt 2: New World – The Hacking Simulator on Steam for only $9.99.

video game reviews

Super Puzzled Cat Review: A Cozy Puzzle Adventure

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Super Puzzled Cat 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.

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 Super Puzzled Cat?

Super Puzzled Cat is an adorable jumping puzzle game out now on Steam. Players must make their way through the games 150 creative levels, trying not to die. Players can use items like jet packs, bombs, and even bubble gum to navigate around a levels many hazards. These puzzles may look cute, but they will test the most seasoned veteran. Aside from the adorable skin and creative use of items, the game features a unique save state mechanic. Players can create as many save states through out a level, and recall between them at will. This means players don’t have to start a level over after dying, they can take it section by section.

Review

Super Puzzled Cat is the cutest game in my collection, and easily one of my favorites. The game has some adorable art, a fun world to explore, and some very creative and challenging puzzles. I am not the biggest fan of jumping puzzle games, but Super Puzzled Cat has earned a soft spot in my heart. I like that the puzzles don’t feel frustratingly impossible like others in the genre, and the save state mechanic made things a lot more manageable. While the game does feel like a casual puzzle game, there is enough of a challenge to keep things engaging. I love it for the cozy vibe, and will continue to play it even after the review.

If you are looking for a new puzzle game that isn’t a huge commitment, or in the mood for some cozy engaging gameplay, check out Super Puzzled Cat. It works great on the Steam Deck.

You can pick up Super Puzzled Cat on Steam for $16.99.