Signups for the Hellbreach: Vegas closed beta is now live. Head over to the official Steam page, and don’t forget to wishlist while you’re at it.
Fight off terrifying demons in this wave-based first-person shooter. The game is giving me Left 4 Dead vibes, and I am here for it. The combat looks a little stiff, but it is too early to know for sure. I do like the atmosphere they are trying to go for, but I understand it still needs some work. I’ve already signed up for the beta, and crossing my fingers that I get in.
The beta will be to test out the online multiplayer, but there will be a single-player demo made available during Gencon 2023 for those who can’t wait to play this game. The beta will be rough, but it will be a great opportunity to help make the game launch its best version. A date hasn’t been announced, but it doesn’t hurt to sign up when it’s free.
Hellbreach: Vagas will release sometime in Q4 2024 on PC. Till then, sign up for the beta!
Songs of Silence closed beta sign ups are now open
Signups for the Songs of Silence closed beta for PC, which goes live on August 14th, are now open. Sign up to test out what looks to be a beautiful and unique strategy game for PC and console. Song of Silence promises to be a story-rich game, with a fantastic soundtrack, and competitive multiplayer.
Play as a young queen in search of a safe place for her people in story mode, or fight online in a competitive multiplayer mode.
Combat is turn-based. It looks like you can summon units or cast spells using cards. It reminds me a bit of a game like a clash royal, but with a bigger field to play with. Players will have control of a hero who will have unique abilities to help their armies earn their victories. They will also have access to 1000’s units, spells, and unique heroes for almost limitless combinations.
The closed beta will have three biomes available: The Light Side, The Dark Side, and the Silence. Each biome comes with a unique landscape, factions, and units. It is a great time to try the game out if you are interested in the game. Keep in mind, the beta will be rough and unfinished, so don’t judge it too harshly if you get in. The beta exists to test the game so that the devs can make it better at release, not as a demo for the actual product. I’ve already signed up and am now waiting to see if I get in. Make sure you join the official discord to stay up to date on all the news, and don’t forget to add it to your wishlist.
Songs of Silence is a very pretty game , and with Hitoshi Sakimoto as a composer, the soundtrack is going to be amazing! I am warming up to strategy games, and this one looked manageable enough for my skill level. I will be receiving my review copy when the game comes out, so stay tuned for that!
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Revita: The retro twin-stick roguelike you might need in your collection
Revita is an interesting-looking twin-shooter roguelike that I just came across. It has a cool art style, a fantastic soundtrack, and fun-looking gameplay. If you are looking for a game with a solid retro arcade feel, you might want to consider looking into Revita.
Play as a nameless child who has lost all their memories. Fight your way through procedurally generated floors and mobs of monsters to piece together the mystery of what has been lost. What secrets lie within the walls of this ominous tower? You will have to play to find out.
The art in this game looks so good. I love pixel art and adore this renaissance of pixel art games we are going through. I hope Revita can be included in that because it’s such a pretty game. The soundtrack is what mostly sells it for me because it is phenomenal. I am listening to it now, and I recommend you do the same so that you can also get hyped for this game. I am pretty sure the score alone has convinced me to pick this game up for myself.
Aesthetics aside, the game looks fun to play. It promises nearly unlimited builds, unique runs, and lots of customization so that you can play the game how you want. You will have access to settings that make the game as casual or hard-core as you want, such as adjustable aim assist, speed, and enemy visibility. The platforming is where I might have an issue with this game because I am not good at it, but it looks fun enough that I am willing to set prejudices aside. The combat looks easy enough to learn, but hard enough to keep the game engaging. It is hard to know how good the game will be from the trailer alone, but I will be picking it up for the Switch and getting that review out as soon as I can. Stay tuned for that.
You can pick up Revita now for the Switch, PlayStation, and PC for $16.99. Nintendo has it on sale for $13.59 until July 26. Pre-orders for the deluxe edition of the game are also available if you want the poster, an acrylic standee, and some extra swag for €34.99. The deluxe edition is expected to release later this year, but no date has been announced yet.
REVITA NINTENDO SWITCH™ (DELUXE EDITION)
Starship Troopers: Extermination Early Access Review
I was sent Starship Troopers: Extermination as a review code. I am very grateful for the opportunity, but this will be an honest review.
Starship Trooper: Extermination is a fast-paced 16-player co-op FPS that you should consider getting if you are a fan of games like Vermintide or the movie this game is based on. As part of the Deep Space Vanguard, you must reclaim the planet from the Archnic threat. Build a base and defend it against the seemingly endless wave of bloodthirsty bugs. Will you live long enough to earn your citizenship, or are you destined to be Archid food?
I love Starship Troopers, and I was excited to receive this title. The game is actually pretty solid, with a healthy enough population to make the game fun. I never waited more than a minute to get into a match and enjoyed every match I played. The game has three classes you can level: a healer, a tank, and DPS. As you level, each class gains access to additional weapons and abilities. This gives players something to work towards and allows them to customize their gameplay. Each match is supposed to have randomized objectives, but the missions started to feel repetitive after a while. While I still had fun, I can see this game losing its luster without the inclusion of more game modes and missions. What makes this game unique from others in the genre is the base-building mechanic. To end each match, players must work together to build a base they will protect from a large swarm of arachnids. Make sure you help build the base if you want to win. Base building is easy, but it is also easy to get overrun if people don’t know what to do.
This game is still in early access and has some very notable bugs. I lost frames every time we faced a big swarm, and there were times when the swarm wasn’t properly balanced. This game never got so broken it was unplayable, but it does need further polish.
The best part of Starship Troopers: Extermination is its community. Wait times are almost nonexistent, and the players are having fun with the game. I recommend you get a mic if you play this game. Communication makes missions run more smoothly, and you will certainly find cool people to play with. I played a match where everyone started roleplaying. It was such a fun and silly time, but it was a moment that could have only existed in this game. Your experience will vary, but I was always lucky to be in games with cool and friendly players.
If you like Starship Troopers, this is a fantastic adoption. If are a fan of the genre, this is a unique title that you should consider adding to your library. It is a bit hard to recommend the game because of the lack of polish, but if you don’t mind a few cosmetic bugs, the community makes the experience worth it.
Starship Troopers: Extermination is available now on Steam for $24.99. Make sure you follow the socials to stay up to date on all future updates: Twitter, Facebook, and Discord.
Destiny 2’s Annual Guardian Games Return May 2nd
The Guardian Games are returning to Destiny 2, and now might be a great time to come back if you’ve been away. The event will pit guardians against each other as they compete to earn bragging rights and some pretty cool cosmetics. You won’t need the latest expansion to participate, so if you’ve been away for a while or are new to the title, it is completely free to play. Who knows, you might like the game enough to stay.
The Guardian Games begin on May 2nd and will run until the end of the Season of Defiance on May 23rd. To get started, speak with Eva Levante to unlock the Guardian Games quest and get your class item.
Participants will earn medals across the game or through PvP which they can exchange for exclusive cosmetics. More specifically:
Activities that award you low-tier (Bronze or Silver) Medallions include Gambit and Quickplay Crucible matches, anything from the Vanguard playlists, as well as most Neptune activities and Defiant Battlegrounds. For high-tier (Gold and Platinum) Medallions, play Nightfalls, raids, dungeons, Competitive Crucible, Trials of Osiris, or Legend Defiant Battlegrounds.
Use these medallions to unlock these year’s Guardian Games weapons:
The Traxippos – The first Legendary Strand Scout Rifle in the game
The Title – The Void Submachine Gun is back with updates, including the fan-favorite perk, Repulsor Brace
Players will also have access to the Guardian Games event card for additional cosmetics. There is a paid tier available for 1000 silver that might be worth it if you want the additional cosmetics.
This event also marks the return of the Guardian Games Cup. Anyone can join so make sure you grab your fire team and help raise money for some great causes. This year, Bungie is teaming up with International Rescue and Direct Relief. Participants of the cup will be fighting for the chance to win:
- Top team in the Technical category: custom art of your fireteam by PherianArt
- Top team in the Charitable category: custom art of your fireteam by Gammatrap
- Top two teams in the Technical and Charitable categories: Guardian Games Pendant ($200 MSRP)
- Top three teams in the Technical and Charitable categories: Apricot Dawn emblem
- Top four teams in the Technical and Charitable categories: Bungie Store discount codes
The technical category is for the number of medallions earned throughout the event. The charitable category is for the amount of money raised. Make sure you go to the official website to register and start earning.
Participants who donate more than $25 will earn an exclusive Quantum Relay emblem.
I am terrible at PvP, but it might be a great time to dust off my old guardian to start earning some cosmetics.
*images taken from the press kit
Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition
Rise of the Triad is getting a pretty impressive reboot and new features. If you like retro shooters or want to relive some nostalgia, this game should be on your wishlist.
Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition is a fast-paced retro shooter with zany weapons, a fun story, and an epic soundtrack. The remake will have a jukebox feature so you can listen to your favorite song as you create carnage and mayhem. But the jukebox isn’t the only change you should be hyped for. This game will perform better with up to 4k resolution with more frames for a smoother gaming experience.
If you like PVP, there will also be online multiplayer with new sprites to choose from. If that isn’t enough, there is also a pretty comprehensive map maker. Now you can make your levels and share them with your friends. If you are like me and don’t have any, there will be Steam Workshop support. You will be able to download community-made levels or share some of your own. I am not creative, but very excited to see what the community has in store.
If you have already played this game, it might be time to relive the experience. There will be a new story, designs, and features to make this a fresh experience.
Rise of the Trian: Ludicrous Edition is releasing on the Xbox, PlayStation, Steam, and the Nintendo Switch for $19.99. There is no release date yet, but make sure to wishlist it on Steam. A demo will be available on June 19.
GDC Recap: 7 Dwarfs: Legends Untold
I got to play a bit of 7 Dwarfs: Legends Untold at GDC, and it was a blast. I didn’t get enough time with the title for a solid review, but it did leave a solid impression. 7 Dwarfs is an action-packed co-op roguelike that you should look into if you enjoy fast-paced arcade games. It reminded me of Castle Crashers, and if you are a fan of that game, you should check out this title.
Team up with your friends as you play as one of the seven dwarfs to fight against the evil queen and her army to keep Snow White safe from evil. Do you have what it takes to defeat the evil queen and keep Snow White safe?
Combat feels great in this game. Each dwarf has his unique set of skills, making the hardest part about this game its character selection. The characters and the world have a great design. I love dark pixel art. It creates the game’s grimdark setting, and it’s cool to look at. I didn’t get enough time with this title to get a deeper impression, but I am curious about the final product. I will try to get my hands on a copy if I have time when this game releases.
There isn’t a release date for this game yet, but you can wishlist it on Steam to grab that notification. You can also join the official Discord or follow the team on Twitter to stay up to date on all the announcements.
I want to give a shoutout to the devs who teamed up with me so that I can get a complete experience. I was terrible, but at least I had fun.
Drakantos: Pixel Art MMORPG – Free, Unique, Exciting!
I didn’t get a chance to try out Drakantos at GDC because the venue’s wifi was giving a lot of presenters issues. I did get the opportunity to speak with a couple of the game’s developers, and they succeeded in making me excited about their game. I want to take this moment to thank them for their time. I know I had a lot of questions, and I appreciate your patience.
Drakantos is a pixel art MMORPG from Brazil that will be playable on your favorite browser. I love the art style, and the trailer was enough to get me interested. The voice acting in this game is fantastic, and I recommend you check out their official discord for samples.
Unlike your traditional MMO, Drakantos will not have a character creation. Instead, the game will release with 21 predesigned characters, with more planned for future releases. You’ll be able to unlock characters through the battle pass or by playing the game. However you may feel about battle passes in gaming, they are now a feature in the industry, and there is no going back. The game will be free to play, so I won’t blame them for trying to make money. All I can hope is that it won’t become pay-to-win. Only 20 characters have been revealed so far. You can find more information on their official discord, but I will post an album for your convenience.
PVE for this game seems promising. The story is fully voice acted, with support coming in different languages. There will also be world bosses, events, and dungeons to help foster a healthy endgame and community. Drakantos will also have PVP arenas with weekly tournaments and a ranking system. Arenes will be 3v3, and the gear won’t matter to avoid power creep. Players will have access to the same pool of characters, making the experience more skill-based than gear reliant. Characters will be locked behind a battle pass and achievements, I just hope it’s not pay to win. I can’t blame them for trying to make money, but I hope that free to play is viable.
I will be trying this game as soon as I can. I suggest you keep tabs on Drakantos by following them on their socials. They are very active with news and updates, and they are always happy to answer any questions. You can find them on Discord, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Synced Beta Impressions
The Synced beta is now live until January 15, 2023. Sign-ups are open on the Synced official page or through Steam.
Synced is a 3rd person looter-shooter survival game where you must travel over a post-apocalyptic landscape fighting monsters called Nanos. Synced is another zombie hoard game with a pet mechanic that I found interesting. The beta offers two modes of play: a hoard Co-op PVE survival mode and a PVP mode that needs more love. The PVE mode has you in a team of three as you move from checkpoint to checkpoint collecting weapons and upgrades and killing everything in between. PVP has you pit against another team as you fight over resources. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to get into PVP mode and won’t be able to speak on that experience.
To start, you select a Runner and a Nano Companion. Runners are survivors with unique abilities, and Nanos are the robot pets that help you in battle. The flavor of runner only really changes the type of grenade you get to use, but the nano you choose plays differently. I liked using the Crusher nano because he was bulky and hit hard. I found the pet mechanic easy to manage and a lot of fun. I loved the feeling of dropping down a giant onto the battlefield to take off agro and do my bidding. I will eventually try the other Nanos, but at the moment, Crusher is bae. During matches, you can find better weapons and earn currency to exchange for upgrades like in any other survival game. Upgrades are randomly generated, but I found the RNG to be fair.
Synced has a leveling system where you are able to unlock better weapons, upgrades, and characters as you finish matches and quests. At the moment there is a holiday event where you can earn skins for your character.
I am having a lot of fun with this game. The gameplay is smooth, and I haven’t found any bugs. The graphics and the concept are interesting. My only complaint is that wait times can be bad depending on when you play. During peak times, you can get into a PVE match pretty quickly, but I have yet to try their PVP mode. I have a feeling that PVE is going to be where I am going to spend a lot more of my time anyways. If you are looking for a game to play, check out the Synced beta. It’s fun, it’s free, and it is looking very promising.
