Tag Archives: puzzle

video game reviews

Guayota is a Cute & Creative Puzzle Adventure, but is it Good?

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

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

What is Guayota?

Guayota is a cute 3D puzzle game coming out on August 13th on Steam and the Nintendo Switch.

You’ve heard the stories of the mythical island of San Brandan’s. An island once run by an advanced civilization full of wonder and mystery. You and a few brave souls are determined to find it. You follow the legend and wash up on its shores. This new world is ripe for exploration, but this is no ordinary island. Occasionally, you’ll be dragged into the realm of madness. Luckily, a spirit has decided to help you. Use its powers to explore the dungeons, solve its puzzles, and uncover the island’s secrets. What will your journey uncover?

Gameplay

Guayota is a top-down puzzle game. Players move through mazes and avoid traps to stay alive. Players must learn to wield the power of fire to activate the mechanisms that will keep them moving forward. A fire’s light can do helpful things like open doors, activate bridges, and other useful actions. Occasionally, players will die. This is part of the game’s design.

Dying takes players to the Realm of Madness, an alternate version of the map. There are no traps in the realm of madness. Instead, the map turns into a labyrinth the player must navigate with the help of their newly acquired spirit companion. Players can use these new powers to interact with the world like use them to move through walls or dodge traps. Players must solve puzzles in both realms to collect the clues that will help solve the mysteries of the island and the people who once ruled it.

Review

Guayota is an adorable game with an interesting premise. The game features cute characters, a solid soundtrack, and interesting puzzle mechanics. Switching between realms is a cool idea and a mechanic that the game uses effectively in its flavor and gameplay. The mechanic adds a new challenge to each room, and the puzzles are challenging enough to keep the game engaging. Some of the gameplay can start to feel repetitive, but not enough to kill the enjoyment. Overall, Guayota is a solid puzzle adventure with a decent story, creative puzzles, and cute characters. If you enjoy the genre or simply looking for a new game for your collection Guayota is a good place to start.

Guayota releases on August 13 on Steam and Nintendo Switch, but there’s a demo available if you need convincing.

video game reviews

If you like Escape Rooms, You Need to Download this Demo!

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The Escape Tales: The Awakening demo is officially on Steam, and I recommend you pick it up if you enjoy puzzles, escape rooms, or the board game it is based on. Full disclosure, I was asked to cover the demo, but these will be my honest impressions.

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

What is Escape Tales: The Awakening

Escape Tales is a series of escape room board games. Bluekey Games has taken it upon themselves to turn the popular series into a video game. Players must solve puzzles to progress through a story where their choices matter.

You play as Sam who has lost his wife is on the verge of losing his daughter. His daughter has fallen into a mysterious coma without a cure in sight. A man gives him “The Book of Rituals”. Desperate for a solution, Sam embarks on the most frightening night of his life as he has to solve puzzles and face off against dark forces. Will he be able to get his little girl back, or will they both become lost to the darkness?

Gameplay

The demo has you clearing the first room of the story. It is a short demo. If you’re good at puzzles, it shouldn’t take you more than an hour. Players receive a solid hook to the story and must gather clues to solve the room. The game is a giant point-and-click puzzle game with no time limit. I appreciate that there is no time limit because it allows me to enjoy the game at my own pace. The game boasts having multiple answers, endings, and choices that matter. That is yet to be seen, but it is an exciting feature if done correctly.

The puzzle is hard, and creative, but manageable if you’re paying attention. The game is very generous with clues and will offer solutions if you get stuck. People who do a lot of escape rooms shouldn’t have a problem with the puzzle, but it’s nice to have for some of the less obvious solutions.

The game features tools to help them on their journey. Players can use the on-screen notepad to jot down notes or use their mouse to write over the puzzle. I know some people will prefer the feel of pencil and paper, but this is a great feature for those who like to have everything in one place.

Impressions

I know I’ve only played the demo, but I am already addicted. The flavor is great, the puzzles are challenging, and the story is interesting. My only complaint is that one of the puzzles was hard to make out. It might have been a personal issue, but I felt like the image was a bit too blurry, other than that, the game feels like it is going to be a lot of fun. I can’t wait to try out the whole game. Stay tuned for that.

If you like puzzle games, love escape rooms, or enjoy the board game series, you need to try this demo. It offers a solid taste of what to expect and will leave you wanting more. You can download the Escape Tales: The Awakening demo now on Steam.

video game reviews

Noreya: The Gold Project is a Solid Metroidvania

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I was sent a free copy of Noreya: The Gold Project 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 enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset and the AM8 Streaming Microphone if you are looking for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals.

What is Noreya: The Gold Project?

Noreya: The Gold Project is a 2D-pixel art dark fantasy Metroidvania game out now on PC.

Salluste, the God of Avarice, has taken over the city of Lemia and imprisoned the Goddess of Light. Once a glowing city, Lemia now stands as a twisted and tortured version of itself. Its inhabitants, smitten by greed, have sold themselves to Salluste and now roam the city as twisted shadowy creatures. Kali, with nothing left to lose, travels to Lemia in search of answers.

Travel through the City of Gold, battle creatures of shadow and gold, and pledge your allegiance to the god of your choice. Where will your devotion take you?

Gameplay

Noreya is your typical 2D action platformer. What makes this game unique is that you can use the gold you collect to heal at any time, and the god you devote yourself to controls your narrative. Choices do matter in this game, which may give the game replayability if you become invested enough in the story.

I am terrible at platforming, but found it very manageable in this game. Enemies are cool, but they will get repetitive. The game will spice things up with special events and boss fights. Special events change the flow of the game. In one instance, a giant snake chases Kali through the map, and it is up to you to navigate through the city and find her sanctuary. Boss fights are creative, but not unrelenting. I didn’t feel like I ever needed a guide to beat the bosses, I just needed to be better. That said, this game feels like a very casual entry to the genre, perfect for those newbies trying to find their start in the genre.

Combat feels fine, but I found the skill tree customization limiting compared to other titles. The skill tree can only be accessed at shrines throughout the city. Players can buy levels of their skill tree with gold at shrines around the city. The skill tree is expansive and gives players the freedom to build toward their play style. I don’t think the build matters in normal mode. I built towards what I thought would be fun and never felt I needed a guide. However, harder difficulties and speed runs will probably need a more efficient build.

Impressions

I like Noreya: The Gold Project. I love the art, the mechanics are manageable, and the flavor is neat. Choosing between Light and gold and the god you worship is a very cool idea. That said, Noreya isn’t the best Metroidvania on the market. After a while, it starts to feel stale. While I enjoyed the environment and music of each level, it started to feel repetitive. I understand repetition is somewhat expected, but the more I played, the less I wanted to keep playing. There just wasn’t enough to hold my attention.

Noreya isn’t a bad game. The game runs fine and has a few good moments, but you have better options. If you’re looking for a new Metroidvania game to add to your rotation, Noreya: The Gold Project is a solid choice, but I would wait for a sale.

You can pick up Noreya: The Gold Project on Steam for $24.99.

video game reviews

The Dungeons of Hinterberg Demo was fine, but it’s not for me

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I sat down to try Dungeons of Hinterberg because I liked the art style. The game features a fun and quirky style that I find soothing. I was also impressed by the bit of gameplay that I saw. While I did appreciate a few of the game’s quirks and gimmicks, the demo didn’t leave me wanting more. In its current iteration, you simply have better options. 

What is the Dungeons of Hinterberg?

Dungeons of Hinterberg is a puzzle dungeon crawler coming to PC and Xbox.

Hunterberg is a popular vacation spot. Its beautiful landscape and perilous dungeons attract brave adventurers from around the globe and provide a meaningful escape from their boring 9-5s. Play as Luisa as she makes her pilgrimage. Can she conquer the dungeons before the end of her holiday?

Impressions

Dungeons of Hinterberg isn’t a bad game. The art style is cool, the music is fine, and the game works. The problem I have with the game is that there are simply better options. As a puzzle game, it isn’t very fun. The puzzles are fine, but they felt like busy work for the most part. Combat in this game felt fine until the novelty wore off and it got stale. It feels like a phone game that got ported onto PC, which isn’t a bad thing, but again, you have better options. My biggest issue is that the tutorial took too long. By the time the game built its momentum, I had already lost interest in the game. 

I know it isn’t fair to judge a game by its demo, but the demo should at least make me want to play more. The Demo is up on Steam, but you have better options. 

Dungeons of Hinterberg releases on July 18 on Steam and Xbox. It will come to day one of game pass, I recommend you wait for that instead.

video game reviews

S.O.L. Search of Light is an Interesting Little Puzzler

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I was sent a free copy of S.O.L Search of Light to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions of the game. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. If you’re looking for a good budget gaming headset, check out the Fifine H9s using my Amazon Affiliate link. You can check my full review here. 

Don’t forget to follow my socials! 

What is S.O.L. Search of Light?

S.O.L. is a puzzle adventure game with unique tower defense mechanics to keep things interesting. The game is out now on Steam, Switch, and PlayStation. 

You find yourself alone in a dark and strange world. As you make your way through your journey you will uncover strange new technology that will help you find a brighter future. Build your base, search for resources, solve puzzles, and fight off monsters. Most importantly, keep your base safe. What secrets will you uncover in the darkness?

Gamplay

S.O.L. is split into three phases: build, adventure, and defense. 

In the build phase, players use their farmed resources to bolster their base’s defenses. They can construct buildings, upgrade existing ones, or assign roles to their hired drones. This stage is pretty straightforward. I don’t believe you’ll need a build guide, but you should be mindful of your resources. Resources are limited, and wastefulness will be punished.

Once a player is done with their build phase, they can set off on adventures. Adventures are set up in typical randomized roguelike fashion. Players have the choice of paths and activities they can do. They can solve puzzles for coins and materials, fight monsters for resources, or recruit drones to work at their base. There are also randomized events that will either grant a player a boon or give them a punishing debuff. Resources do influence a player’s decision, but the game never feels like a railroad. Most importantly, the RNG seems fair and the runs never feel repetitive. 

In between adventures, monsters will invade a player’s base. Players must defend their base against a wave of enemies. The portal closes when all enemies are defeated. Hopefully, your base doesn’t get too destroyed and you don’t die. Dying or losing your base means restarting from zero. This stage is very manageable, and I always felt there was enough time to prepare between invasions. My only complaint is that the AI for the drones is dumb, and they will run into enemies and die. In a game where resource management is important, this can be a bit annoying. This isn’t a deal breaker, but it is a noticeable issue. 

Combat in this game is pretty basic. Players have access to a basic melee attack for adventure and defense phases. In the defense phase, towers and traps will do most of the damage, but well-placed melee attacks are appreciated. Enemy AI can be outsmarted, which is nice. 

The puzzles in this game are challenging without being impossible. I love puzzle games, and S.O.L. is no exception. The blend of genres keeps the game refreshing. My only complaint is that it is possible to get stuck in a puzzle where you have to reset the whole game to get free. I wish there were a way to reset just the puzzle, but that would take away some of the pressure from the survival aspect of this game. 

Review

The game is fun and addicting. I was either stressed about building the perfect base or stressed about staying alive. This stress made the game engaging, and even though I wasn’t good enough to make it to the end, I had fun trying. 

If you’re looking for a unique puzzle game with neat flavor and interesting mechanics, S.O.L. Search of Light is a solid choice. Its cute, its fun, and its different in a good way. S.O.L is the type of game you want to pick up for a fun couple of hours, but don’t want a long term commitment.

You can buy your copy of S.O.L. Search of Light Steam, Switch, and PlayStation for $19.99.

video game reviews

Tell Me Your Story is a Cute, Cozy, Good Time!

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I was sent a free copy of Tell Me Your Story to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Tell Me Your Story?

Tell Me Your Story is a picture story book game puzzle game out now on Steam and Switch. Play as Amilia as she uncovers Grandma Rose’s extraordinary stories. What treasures will you uncover? What memories will you make?

Gameplay

There is no dialogue in Tell Me Your Story. All narrative exists in these silent picture frames, and it tells its story effectively. In between these moments of narrative, players solve casual puzzles. You might need a hint for the less intuitive puzzles, but most can be completed easily. Tell Me Your Story is meant to be a relaxing cozy game, and I feel it is successful. It does feel like a kid’s game, but the story is cute, and the gameplay is soothing enough to be enjoyable for all ages. 

Impressions

Tell Me Your Story was such a cute and comforting experience. I enjoyed the unique experience that it provides and didn’t mind that the puzzles were easy. I am a huge fan of the pixel art, and was impressed with how much story is told through just pictures. This is a solid kids’ game, but one that you won’t mind playing. The story is cute, the art is fun, and the gameplay is relaxing. If you’re looking for a cozy and comforting title for you or your kids, I recommend you pick up Tell Me Your Story.  

You can pick up Tell Me Your Story for $9.99 on Steam and Switch. The game is currently on sale on the Nintendo eshop for $2.99 until 5/16, which is an amazing deal! You can also try the demo if you don’t believe me.

video game reviews

Rauniot is a Nifty Little Point-and-Click Puzzle Game I Enjoyed

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I was sent a free copy of Rauniot 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 enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Rauniot

Rauniot is a post-apocalyptic point and click puzzle game out now for PC.

A natural disaster has destroyed civilization. Continents crumble, pollution fills the air, and supplies run scarce. Those lucky few left on earth must now survive with whatever is left. Aino is one of those lucky few, but everything you do now in this new world is dangerous.

Aino searches for Toivo who hasn’t returned from his last mission. What secrets will her search uncover? Will she fine Toivo, or has this cruel world taken another victim? 

Gameplay

Rauniot is a top-down point-and-click game. Players must click around to explore the world, find clues and items, and solve puzzles. Puzzles are creative. They aren’t difficult, but missing clues or items in exploration means you can’t progress. Some clues are well hidden or hard to see, but I don’t think you need a guide to complete the game. This is a game you pick up when you want to sit back, enjoy a decent story, and solve some decent puzzles. 

Impressions

I enjoyed Rauniot for what it is, a chill puzzle game that isn’t a huge commitment. While it isn’t a genre-defining amazing game that gamers should flock to, it does some interesting things in its space that are worth seeing. Rauniot has an interesting world design, a solid story, and decent gameplay. The English translation is rough in some places, but it is by no means unplayable. I enjoyed listening to the Finish dialogue even though I understood none of it. The game plays well, although some of the clues and items can be easy to miss because of the lighting or colors. None of these issues are deal breakers, and I recommend this game if you’re looking for something in this genre. 

The game does introduce a unique save system where you have to go to the main menu, select a floppy disk, and save manually. I might have missed the instructions, but I didn’t save assuming it would Autosave and I had to start over. It wasn’t a huge deal because this is a short game, (about four hours) and I remembered where everything was. 

You can pick up Rauniot on Steam for $17.99. I wouldn’t go out of my way to play it, but it is a solid option if you’re looking for something new to play. 

video game reviews

BROK the Investigator is Loaded with Thrills, Heart, and Action!

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I was sent a free copy of BROK the Investigator 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 of the game. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials:

What is BROK the InvestiGATOR?

BROK the InvestiGATOR is a point and click side scroller out now on everything. Get your copy for Xbox, Switch, PlayStation, Android, IOS, Steam, Epic Games, GOG, and ITCH.io.

BROK is a struggling cartoon alligator detective with a troubled past. He lives day to day off the few cases he can find and does his best to forge a relationship with his dead wife’s son. All seems to be falling into a stale routine until his latest case has him stumbling onto a strange trail of conspiracies. What secrets will BROK unravel? Will his fists be enough?

Gameplay

BROK the InvestiGATOR successfully blends the point-and-click puzzle game with a classic side-scroller beat ’em up in this amazing interactive narrative. Players will move through this fun cyberpunk world, collecting clues, asking questions, and fighting enemies. 

The main gameplay loop is clicking through this interactive 80’s cop narrative. You’ll often have to solve puzzles and find clues to progress through the story. Some clues and solutions won’t be intuitive, so make sure you explore the maps thoroughly and click on everything. Occasionally you will have to fight in this classic arcade beat ’em up style combat. Combat feels good and smooth. If you’re a fan of classic arcade side-scrollers, BROK does it right.

Impressions

I loved everything about BROK the InvestiGATOR. It had a cute and fun art style, the story was engaging, and the gameplay was fun. I love the cartoon aesthetic and it gave this old man some unintended nostalgia. The gameplay loop was relaxing, but it offered enough of a challenge to keep me on my toes. The puzzles were hard enough without distracting from the overall narrative, and the combat was a welcome change of pace. 

What I loved most about the game was its story. The voice acting is phenomenal, and I recommend you check it the title to appreciate the performances. The story is great! It has a dark but fun tone and a great protagonist. I’ve seen enough movies to figure out some of the major story beats, but it didn’t matter because I was having fun. 

If you’re looking for a new game that is fun with solid appeal, pick up your copy of BROK the InvestiGATOR. The game is short, well made, and you can play it on everything! Get your copy today for Xbox ($19.99), Switch ($24.99), PlayStation ($24.99), Android ($7.99), IOS ($7.99), Steam ($19.99), Epic Games ($19.99), GOG ($19.99), and ITCH.io ($19.99).

There are also physical special edition copies of the game for PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch up for preorder for those who want some extra swag. Special editions include:

  • Copy of the game
  • Artbook
  • Poster
  • Exclusive sleeve for each platform
video game reviews

Highwater: The Quirky Little Satire That Could

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I want to give a huge shoutout to Fanny2pac for buying me coffee! Your support means so much to me. I need my caffeine to function and every little bit counts. I hope you continue to enjoy my content, and I’ll do my best to make sure is good! Thank you so much!

I was sent Highwater for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Make sure you follow the socials, and you can always buy me coffee!

What is Highwater?

Highwater is an action turn-based RPG out now for on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, PC via Steam and Epic Games, and on Netflix Games for Android and IOS devices.

A great flood has changed the course of human history. Society now exists on the few remaining high rises that peak over its endless oceans. For a time, survivors adjusted to this new normal. A new society birthed from the old, and those who fill it do what they can to survive. 

But with each passing day, the situation grows dire. Hostility between the fragmented factions grows as the food and resources grow scarce. There are rumors of a rocket to Mars. Rumors of an elite controlling the narrative. Travel as Nikos and his companions over flooded terrain and uncover the truth. Can you find a better life behind the fortified walls that surround Alphaville, or is this endless suffering the hopeless conclusion of Highwater? 

Gameplay

Maps will have items or special terrain that a player can interact with to gain a tactical advantage. For example, a player can pick up a rock to throw, knock an enemy into a hole, or run into them with a shopping cart. This gives players the unique freedom to solve a combat in creative and fun ways. 

Highwater also has an exploration mechanic where players move through the flooded world to collect items and lore. Exploration is built on a railroad, but that doesn’t make exploration any less fun. 

Thoughts

I loved Highwater. I am a huge fan of the art style, the tone was the perfect kind of quirky, and the gameplay is phenomenal. Most importatly, Highwater has one of the best soundtracks I’ve heard all year. If you enjoy Indie music, you need to play this game. I’ll leave you with a taste to get you hyped for this title. 

I enjoyed the story and collecting all the bits of lore around the world. Some of the social commentary is a bit on the nose, but it is solid satire. Keep in mind that the story is short, but you’ll get $20 worth of fun. 

Gameplay is simple when you compare it to other games in the genre. This could be because they needed to dumb it down so it could be played on mobile devices, or because they wanted to focus on the narrative. Either way, combat and exploration make for a relaxing and enjoyable experience. 

If you’re looking for a game that isn’t a huge commitment and fun, check out Highwater. It’s a solid and unique experience that you should check out at least once, even if you have to wait for a sale. 

You can pick up Highwater on Xbox, Playstation, Switch, and PC via Steam and Epic Games for $19.99. It is currently on sale on Xbox, Switch, Steam and Epic Games for $15.99 until March 21st. If you have Netflix, you can play it for free on your Android and IOS devices. 

video game reviews

Timemelters: A Unique Tower Defense That Leaves you with Better Options

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I was sent Timemelters for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions of the game. If you enjoy these reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee. 

What is Timemelters?

Timemelters is a first-person tower defense game with puzzle elements available now on Steam.

Demons have invaded the realm and have killed everyone you loved. Fate is on your side. You have been granted the power to jump between timelines and save the universe. With the magic of the spirits around you, set traps, bend time, and stop the demons from breaking the flow of time. Do you have what it takes?

Gameplay

Players wield the power of the spirits, but this power is limited to charges. Players can use these charges to set traps. What makes this game unique is the time travel mechanic.

Players have the ability to create echos. These echos are recorded moves and actions that a player makes before they are overwhelmed by an enemy. Players act alongside these echoes to solve puzzles and clear stages. You only have access to two echos, so use them wisely. These limitations create the complexity of the game. Misusing charges and echoes means you’ll have to start over.

Thoughts

As far as first-person tower defense games, I’d rather be playing Orcs Must Die. Don’t get me wrong, Timemelters is a neat concept, but it didn’t do enough to capture my attention. Combat feels like a slog, the story didn’t hook me, and the puzzles were boring. 

Combat was a big issue for me because it was much too slow. There are all these moving parts that make it more complex than your traditional walking simulator, but it often felt like I was waiting around or moving too slowly through the puzzle. I love puzzles, but the ones presented in Timemelters don’t do it for me. They were challenging, but they weren’t fun. 

The story is fine, but after the first cut scene, I stopped caring. The voice acting is solid, and the writing is okay, but once I lost interest in the gameplay, I had no reason to stay invested.

Aesthetically, the game is fine. I like its quirky vibe, the music is good, but the performance can be shaky in places. The game never crashed or broke, but I did enough issues that I felt the need to mention it. 

This isn’t a bad game, but I just couldn’t get into it. My biggest issue with Timemeleters is that when you take into account the space it is trying to fill, you simply have better options. If you’re looking for a puzzle game, you have better options. If you’re looking for a first-person tower defense, go play Orcs Must Die instead.

If you’re thinking of getting this game, play the demo first! You’re either going to enjoy the slow combat and puzzles and stick with it through most of the story, or lose interest in a couple of hours and forget you ever owned it. 

You can pick up Timemelters on sale now for $14.99 (normally $19.99) until March 11.