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video game reviews

Kingdom of Night Review: A Retro RPG Adventure

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Disclaimer

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

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Table of Contents

What is Kingdom of Night?

Kingdom of Night is a hack and slash action RPG out now on Steam. If you’ve ever wanted to have a dungeons and dragons style adventure in the 80’s, this is the game for you.

Hook

A satanic cult has taken over the small town of Miami Arizona and summoned Baphomet and his demon army. The town is thrown into chaos and John seems to be the only one who can bring back this sleepy town’s peace. Take control of John as he navigates the streets of his sleepy home town, fending of waves of Bephomet’s demon army. Can he master his powers and defeat Bephomet before it is too late, or will this be everyone’s last night on Earth?

Gameplay

Players will take control of John, and one of of his friends if playing co-op. You get to choose from one of the five classes: Barbarian, Knight, Rogue, Necromancer, and Sorcerer. The game works like your classic hack and slash. Players explore the different bits of the town, hacking away at the endless waves of enemies as they work towards the final fight. The melee classes are pretty straight forward and more beginner friendly, but the game does introduce a unique magic system that you should try at least once.

Magic

Kingdom of Night has an involved magic system that helps it stand out from other games in the genre. To cast a spell, players will need to activate runes according to the spells order. Runes are tied buttons on the controller or keys on the keyboard. The game gives players access to their spellbook at anytime. Once the combination has been pressed, players can cast the spell as long as it is off cooldown.

Skill Tree and Gear

Along the way, players will find gear to upgrade their character. The gear is very thematic and there is a good amount of variety that allow a diverse amount of builds. Players can buy levels on their skill tree for even more customization. While the game may be solvable, it doesn’t feel like it. I enjoyed trying to find a build of the necromancer that fit my playstyle.

Review

Kingdom of Night is a the perfect fantasy adventure full of action and a solid story to keep players invested. The retro vibe and all the 80’s references help set the proper mood for an dark adventure through the sleepy town of Miami, Arizona. If you want a fun hack and slash that is guaranteed to be an instant classic, this game should be in your library.

Aesthetic

The game goes above and beyond to successfully capture the spirit of the 80’s in this dark fantasy adventure. The dialogue, the characters, and the world design are all full of 80’s flare. I liked seeing posters of terminator and other 80’s references.

I am a huge fan of the game’s artstyle. The pixel art gives the game its retro vibe, but is able to deliver the perfect amount of detail to make Kingdom of Night an epic adventure. The game has cool animations and memorable character designs. The soundtrack is also fantastic, and helps set the mood of the adventure.

Story

Kingdom of Night is a proper fantasy adventure. The story has a great hook, solid buildup, and good amount of mystery to keep things moving. The side quests are flavorful and add a good amount of world building. If you need something to tide you over as you wait for the last season of Stranger Things, Kingdom of Night can help scratch the itch.

Spellcasting

I played as the necromancer because I wanted a challenge. The spellcasters require a bit more skill, but gameplay is not impossible. I loved every minute of my necromancer journey. The spell casting is such a refreshing mechanic, and some of my favorite of any game. It does take some getting used to, but once it clicks, its going to be hard to play spell casters in other games. Activating the rune combos is so flavorful and kept the game from becoming a mindless hack and slash. I will go back to replay the game as other classes.

Character Builds

I appreciate the amount of flavor that goes into the game, especially when it comes to the loot. Players will pick up gear that is properly themed to fit the world like books or sneakers, but give stat boosts that give players some control over their build. There is some RNG involved, but it felt fair for the most part.

Players can also customize their character by upgrading their skill tree at level up. The skill tree does offer some additional customization for each class, but it is pretty strait forward. You won’t, and shouldn’t, need to look up a guide. I found success building what I thought was fun.

Combat

Combat is a lot of fun. The hack and slash aspect is engaging and the boss fights are fun and memorable. There is a grind to this game, but it isn’t too bad. You can and should start skipping some of the more mindless drones that roam the city or else it will take forever to beat the story. Aside from the few important quest lines, players have a good amount of freedom to explore the city at their own pace. The city feels huge for a small town, and exploration can take a long time if you are spending your time killing everything that gets in your way. Note that mobs respawn if you enter and exit buildings.

Other

I did not get to try couch co-op, but I like that the game has the option in case I ever have a friend to play with. Kingdom of Night works perfectly on the Steam Deck and it works perfectly! I actually preferred playing on the Steam Deck because it let me chill on the couch. The arcade style gameplay makes this game the perfect couch game, and I’ll take any excuse to be away from my computer.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a fun adventure game with a good story and a cool world to explore, pick up Kingdom of Night. This is a very well made game that earns every dollar it is asking for. If you are fan of those old school cabinet games, or need a game to play locally with a friend or sibling, it doesn’t get much better than Kingdom of Night.

You can pick up Kingdom of Night on Steam.

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

Rhya’s Crusade Review: Retro Action Meets Hentai

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Rhya’s Crusade: The Aradia’s Reavers 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 an adult game with adult themes and nudity. You’ve been warned.

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What is Rhya’s Crusade: The Aradia’s Reavers?

Rhya’s Crusade is a faithful nod to the classic action packed platformers like Contra or Megaman, but with a bit more nudity and sex.

The evil Demon Princess Aradia wants to take over the Galaxy, and it is up to one quirky archeologist to stop her. Equipped with the most advanced weapons and tech, Rhya must travel across an alien land, and fighting off the endless waves of her demon army. There are over six levels to explore, 7 bosses to defeat, and a bit of hentai in between. Can you master the weapons and unlock everything that needs to be unlocked, or will you be doomed to repeat the same levels without the sweet satisfaction?

Gameplay

Rhya is a love letter to the retro action platformer of the day. Players will travel across interesting lands, fighting off waves of enemies, and fighting their bosses with limited resources and health. Players will unlock new weapons and skills as they explore, and there is a fair amount of lore hidden throughout the levels. If you enjoy the art, and don’t mind the hentai, there is a bit of saucy content to unlock through gameplay. Dying however does mean starting the level over, and players will die a lot by design.

Review

Rhya’s Crusade: The Aradia’s Reavers is an incredibly niche game with a certain audience in mind. If you enjoy the difficulty of classic retro action platformers, and don’t mind all the hentai, you will enjoy this game.

Aesthetically, this game is great. The pixel art is solid, the monster design is interesting, and the world is vibrant and alien. There is also a great sound track to take you through the adventure. As far as gameplay goes, Rhya is the perfect love letter an important era in gaming history. The movement is snappy and responsive, the attacks are interesting, and the difficulty keeps things engaging. The difficulty will feel unfair to those uninitiated, but it isn’t impossible. You can lower the difficulty, but that means losing out on some saucy content. Unlocking things in this game feel like an achievement, but it also isn’t going to be for everyone.

The biggest issue I have with the game is that the hentai bits make it impossible to play in public. the death scene is very pornographic, and you are going to die a lot. All the unlockable content is also porn, so I wouldn’t play this around kids (or let your kids play this either). If you don’t mind the hentai, and some of it will be triggering, the gameplay isn’t bad. I wasn’t good at it, and it wasn’t for me, but it fills its niche well.

You can pick up Rhya’s Crusade: The Aradia’s Reavers on Steam for $14.99, but make sure you check out the Demo first.

video game reviews

Yosei Wars Review: A Cute Retro Adventure

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Disclaimer

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

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do.

What is Yosei Wars?

Yosei Wars is a retro inspired arcade platformer out now on Steam.

The evil Junk Food army has invaded, taking the Tooth Faries Hostage and threatening tooth health. It is up to you to jump through its colorful world, fight off the many Junk Food monsters, and save any Fairy in your way. Do you have what it takes to be be the champion of good dental hygiene, or will this world rot away like an untreated cavity?

Gameplay

This is a very straightforward 2D platformer with some clear inspiration to its retro predecessors. Players will jump through colorful thematic levels collecting teeth, fighting monsters, and rescuing faries. There are 36 levels total with 6 unique bosses to overcome, and a fun little story to tie things together.

Review

Yosei Wars is an adorable nod to a classic era of gaming that I didn’t know I was missing. This game is cute, simple, relaxing, but offers enough of a challenge to keep things engaging. I love the colorful retro aesthetic, and the fantastic score that accompanies it. I would check this out if you’re looking for a cute and dose of nostalgia, I don’t think it gets better.

I’ve never been a fan of these types of platformers, but something about Yosie Wars kept me playing. Part of the draw was the retro colorful world, but the rest was the gameplay. The platforming is managable, the ramp in difficulty is fine (and the game does get hard), and the bosses are creative. My only complaint is that I could not get it to work on the Steam Deck. The game feels good on a desktop, but I would have preferred to play it on handheld. Maybe with enough attention, we’ll get that update.

Aside from that personal gripe, this is a solid game if you’re looking for something cozy, cute, and casual. Especially if you’re in the mood for something a little retro. You’ll definitely get $5 worth of fun out of this game.

You can pick up Yosei Wars on Steam for $4.99.

video game reviews

No Stone Unturned Demo Review: A Unique Noir Adventure

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I recently tried the No Stone Unturned demo because the trailer looked interesting. I do understand that the game isn’t complete, so I will try to be a bit more lenient than usual. This will still be my honest review.

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What is No Stone Unturned?

No Stone Unturned is a detective noir game coming to Steam. Make sure you check out the demo, and don’t forget to wishlist.

You awaken on the side of the road without your memories. As you begin to come out of your haze, you discover a dead body nearby. You get the sense that you are a detective. Now it is up to you to regain your memories and solve this case. What truths will you uncover? Why did the chicken cross the road? You’re going to play to find out.

Gameplay

No Stone Unturned is a creative piece of interactive fiction. Players move through the story collecting clues, interrogating witnesses, and solving puzzles. What makes this game unique are the minigames that players need to beat to progress through the story. The game effectively blends different genres in a way that not only fits the tone but creates a nice change of pace from the traditional narrative. The demo only features the prologue, which only includes a detailed tutorial.

Impressions

I am extremely excited about the full version of No Stone Unturned, and I am even considering buying the comic book. If you enjoy classic film noir, this game is the perfect homage. The story in the prologue was enough to hook me, the puns got a few chuckles, and the tone was a quirky delight I didn’t know I needed. The game also has fantastic art and an amazing soundtrack.

I appreciate the experimental nature of the gameplay. I like how the game borrows from different genres to create a truly unique experience while maintaining its dedication to the tone. The mini-games are fun, but they are a little buggy. One of the mini-games soft-locked my progress, but I am sure they can get things more ironed out on release.

If you’re looking for a game that is fun, silly, and unique, make sure you check out No Stone Unturned. No release date has been announced yet, but make sure you download the demo, and don’t forget to wishlist!

video game reviews

Dread Delusion is the Trippy RPG You Didn’t Know You Needed

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I was sent a free copy of Dread Delusion 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’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 Dread Delusion

Dread Delusion is a retro-style 3D hack-n-slash dark fantasy with an expansive world out now on Steam.

You are a prisoner of the Inquisition, serving your time for an unforgivable crime. Normally, you would rott in your cell like the bodies around you, but today is your lucky day. You have been called to work off your debt by fighting for the Inquisition. Travel over the vast and wonderful hellscape and bring an end to the enemies of the Inquisition. What secrets will you uncover about the Inquisition? About the world? About yourself? Will you die another faceless pawn, or will you get to taste sweet freedom once again?

Gameplay

Dread Delusion feels like Morrowind with a trippier vibe and much less loading. If you’re looking for a classic feeling 3D RPG, Dread Delusion might be the game that scratches that itch.

If you’re looking for an RPG with a comprehensive combat system, you will be disappointed. Combat is simple and often optional. You can sneak past most enemies, and they don’t even give out XP. If you decide to engage in combat, it is a simple hack-n-slash system that feels like Minecraft combat. It isn’t a bad system, but it is geared for the type of gamer who doesn’t want to worry about timing blocks and parries.

Exploration in this game is fantastic. While the graphics feel dated, you will enjoy the trippy and strange open-world adventure that spans around them. You have access to a myriad of well-written quests in a world that feels like a twisted fever dream. If you’re looking for a classic and chill RPG experience, it doesn’t get any better than Dread Delusion.

Review

I was excited for Dread Delusion when it crossed my desk. I am a huge fan of the art direction and I am always looking for a new RPG. I was not ready for how much I was going to love this game. This game is the perfect casual RPG with enough substance to be worth the full price tag. I am a huge fan of the art direction. The retro vibe blended with the twisted grotesque aesthetic makes for an interesting world. This is one of the first RPGs in a long while that I wanted to explore to see what weird and twisted visage awaited me around the next corner. I understand that the graphics might turn some people away from the title, but the style gives its unique and unforgivable charm.

The combat in this game is good enough. While it is easy, I appreciate the fact that I can skip or engage in it depending on my mood. Sometimes I just want to mindlessly hit stuff and not have to worry about builds and strategy, and sometimes I want to explore. There is a hardcore mode that you can try if you want a challenge, but I enjoyed Dread Delusion for its casual experience and story.

The story was fun to play through, but there is enough to do in this game to get lost in its expansive world. While it may not be a massive game, it does a good job of feeling like one. The quests are well-written, the world-building is solid, and the dark humor is appreciated. The game is quirky, but its quirks give the game its identity.

If you’re looking for a casual RPG and don’t mind the weird aesthetic and retro vibe, Dread Delusion should be in your library. It is the game you didn’t know you needed.

You can pick up Dread Delusion on Steam for $19.99.

video game reviews

Veritus is the Adorable Retro RPG You Need to Be Playing

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I was sent a free copy of Veritus 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 Veritus?

Veritus is an adorable 2D retro RPG out now on Steam.

You are a miner asked to explore the mysterious temple of the god of shadows. This won’t be an easy task. Dangerous monsters lurk its halls, dark secrets hide in its shadows, and locked away somewhere deep inside, there is treasure to be had. Explore the temple, fight off its monsters, solve its many puzzles, and try to make it out alive. What secrets will you uncover? Do you have what it takes to conquer the god of shadow’s dungeon?

Gameplay

Fans of old-school hack-n-slash RPGs need to buy this game. Combat feels like a simple button mash, but there is a neat crafting system to keep things interesting. Boss fights are creative, manageable, and fun. Puzzles in this game are incredibly satisfying. They were hard enough to keep things engaging, but never so hard that I needed to look up the solution. Exploration can feel tedious, but the grind isn’t as soul-crushing as it could be. Overall, it is a solid RPG for those looking for something with a cool retro vibe.

Review

If you are a fan of old-school Zelda, this game should be in your collection. Veritus has a decent story, beautiful pixel art, and a fun gameplay loop. I loved it for its much-needed change of pace, and I appreciate it for its creativity. I love how they handled cutscenes, and won’t mind sitting through them again. Combat is fun, puzzles feel good, and the boss fights are creative.

That said, the game isn’t perfect. Exploration can feel tedious, especially when you have to move between checkpoints after dying. The simple dungeon and combat design can make the game feel monotonous. Most importantly, despite its modern mechanics and pacing, the game does feel old. As someone who loves the old-school hack-n-slash genre, I found the repetition soothing and the combat relaxing. These complaints aren’t dealbreakers, but it is something to consider before taking your dive.

If you’re looking for a casual new game with a lot of charm and some solid gameplay, I recommend you pick up Veritus. The game is cute, fun, and only $7. Pick up your copy on Steam today!

video game reviews

Ikki Unite is a Cute Little Game to Play with Friends

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I was sent a free copy of Ikki Unite 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 these reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. If you’re looking for a quality budget headset, check out the Fifine H9 Gaming Headset using my Amazon Affiliate link. Make sure you check out my full review. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Ikki Unite?


Ikki Unite is a pixel art, bullet hell action roguelike out now on Steam ($11.99) and Switch ($14.99).

Join up with your friends and fight against hordes of enemies in the most time-crunching and intense fight of your life. Try it solo, or team up with up to 16 as you defend the town from locusts, monkeys, and other beasts. Make sure you beat the bosses before time runs out. How far can you and your friends get?

Gameplay

The loop for this game is simple. If you play solo, you choose your character, load in, and start fighting swarms of enemies as you attempt to complete the quest before time runs out. The loop is the same in multiplayer, but you get a random hero that you can reroll once.

The game auto attacks, but players need to maneuver characters carefully to keep them alive. Enemies will occasionally drop coins, and players use these coins to buy random upgrades. Players can buy a random weapon, stat boost, or companion to make runs easier. As enemies get tougher, the choices you make for upgrades start to matter more. Make sure you always choose carefully. You won’t need a guide to get through this game, but it pays off to be mindful from the start.

The run is over when a player’s life points go to zero, or time runs out. Players can extend the time limit by completing quests. Quests are not marked. Ikki Unite’s main challenge is finding the balance between farming the endless mobs of enemies and searching for the bosses within the always fleeting time limit.

Bad RNG will absolutely ruin a run. While I do feel the RNG is consistently fair, there were one or two runs that were impossible from the start. Some heroes are worse than others. While this may be an issue with playstyle preference, a bad hero will ruin a run just as badly as the game’s RNG. I recommend you try all the heroes out in single-player first so that you know when to reroll if you ever find yourself in a multiplayer game.

Multiplayer in my region is dead, and I can’t speak about the online experience. From what I’ve read, the game’s performance varies by region. If you want to play this game in multiplayer, you’ll need to play with friends. The solo experience is valid, but I can see this game being more fun with friends.

Review

I enjoyed this Ikki Unite. Not as much as Brotato, but well enough that I can recommend it. The game has an adorable retro vibe with a terrific soundtrack. The gameplay is chill, but it can be challenging if you aren’t paying attention. The characters are unique and the attacks are quirky and flavorful. This is a solid game for those looking for a game with a retro vibe with a modern feel. I see this game being better if you have friends to go in with you, but the solo experience is valid. I am a little disappointed that I never found an online match, but maybe you’ll get lucky.

I found the gameplay relaxing but with enough of a challenge to keep things engaging. While this isn’t a game I can nolife, it is a game I can pick up when I want a change of pace or want to have a wacky time with my friends. If you’re in the mood for an action roguelike, Ikki Unite is a solid choice.

You can pick up Ikki Unite on Steam ($11.99) and Switch ($14.99).

video game reviews

Go Play Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord

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I was sent a free copy of Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord 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 quality budget headset, check out the Fifine H9 Gaming Headset using my Amazon Affiliate link. Make sure you check out my full review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials. 

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord is remake for the classic dungeon crawler from the Apple II era of gaming out now on on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and PC via Steam and GOG for $39.99.

Hire your team of adventurers and dive into the perilous maze. But your trek won’t be an easy one. The Mad Overlord is on your tail, and he is sending everything in his power to put an end to your adventure. Fight monsters, disarm traps, find treasure, and conquer the labyrinth. Do you have what it takes to carve your name into history, or will you be another of the maze’s casualties? 

Gameplay

Players start the game by creating heroes or hiring them from the tavern. Once a six-person adventuring party has been established, players can dive into the maze and conquer all its secrets. 

Players move through the maze one space at a time, with random encounters and traps to keep things interesting. Combat is a turn-based system with some unique mechanics. The adventuring party is split evenly into a front and back row. The front row can attack, the back row parries, and both rows can cast magic. There is a strategy to this combat. I don’t believe a guide is needed, but you do need to be mindful of your party’s composition, character traits and abilities, and your resources. 

The hardest mechanic in Wizardry is navigating through the dungeon. I have a terrible sense of direction and spent a lot of my playthrough running in circles. I eventually did start to remember where I was going and got deeper into the dungeon. I recommend you map out your run so you don’t make the same mistake. 

Wizardry has an unavoidable grind, but one that doesn’t feel so bad. Because I was constantly worried about my party’s health, and resources, and trying to find the way back to town, runs felt intense and scary. This game is very unforgiving if you’re wasteful and aren’t planning properly. 

The game is a solid remake that not only captures the spirit of the classic RPG, the much-needed quality of life changes make the game fun, exciting, and more accessible. 

Review

I’ve always had a soft spot for classic dungeon crawlers, and Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord is no exception. The art and soundtrack of this game are fantastic, and I appreciate the nods to the original game. It is cool to see how far things have come since the Apple 2 Days without losing any of the spirit of the original.

The gameplay is fun, and the difficulty is appropriate. The game was hard enough to keep things engaging without ever being frustrating. The hardest part about this game is navigating through the dungeon, but that is all part of the immersion and what makes this game unique and engaging. The game can feel a little repetitive at times, but I found the repetition soothing. The grind is not as bad as other games in the genre. You can play the original mode if you prefer without any of the quality of life changes, which is a great nostalgic trip for anyone who needs it.

If you’re a fan of fantasy and want something that feels retro but with a modern pace, you need to pick up Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord. 

You can pick up Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and PC via Steam and GOG for $34.99. 

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MULLET MADJACK is a Welcomed Chaotic Kick of Nostolgia!

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I was sent a free copy of MULLET MADJACK 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 for a new budget headset, I got to try out the Fifine H9s and liked them. Check out my full review. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is MULLET MADJACK?

MULLET MADJACK  is the fastest and most chaotic FPS you’ll ever play on PC.

The year is 2090, and the world is run by the super-rich A.I. robots known as the ROBILLIONARES. 2090 is also the birth of a new kind of man. One that has become integrated with the internet and lives his life 10 seconds at a time. These new men must now kill for entertainment if they want to live. the more likes they earn, the longer their life is. You are MULLET MAD JACK, caught in this twisted game. Fight your way through hordes of enemies and live to fight another day. Do you have what it takes?

Gameplay

MULLET MADJACK is the most intense game of DOOM you’ll ever play. You start each level with a basic weapon and fight your way through the colorful cyberpunk-themed maze. You start each run with only 10 seconds of life and earn time by killing enemies. After each run, you earn random weapons or power-ups for the remainder of the run. The RNG is fair. Most of the times I died were due to lack of skill poor planning and not the choices available. If you run out of time or if your hit points drop to zero, you lose. 

Runs are insane and chaotic. The world around you blurs with enemies, explosions, and color as you rush to the exit, or are desperately seeking for that next kill. Levels in this game are randomly generated. While some levels may feel familiar, there is enough variation between each run to keep things feeling fresh. Eventually, you’ll have a boss fight. These fights are creative, but that time limit keeps things intense. 

While MADJACK has a story and some terrific flavor, it isn’t going to be important to keep track of. I enjoyed the flavor and lore around the city, but it is hard to keep things straight when you only have 10 seconds to live. 

Impressions

This game became my obsession. MULLETT MADJACK is the high-octane, nostalgic kick you didn’t know you needed in your life. I am a huge fan of the ’90s anime aesthetics and retro pixel art style. The music, the color, flashing lights all come together to create this beautiful unintelligible chaos that you won’t be able to put down, even for a second. Let’s not forget about the phenomenal voice acting and some of the most amazing cheesy one-liners ever. This game goes all out to create its fun and flavorful world, and I appreciate all that effort. 

One thing to note is that this game feels incredibly chaotic in the beginning. Everything moves quickly, there are explosions everywhere, and the timer feels too short. As you get more comfortable with the mechanics, the time becomes less of a problem. The game never lost its intensity, but the chaos started to make sense. The game is fun when it is all explosions and chaos, but it got more fun when I started to get farther in a level and I got to notice some of the unique flavor of the world around me. 

MULLET MADJACK is a fantastic retro-feeling boomer shooter with amazing vibes and aesthetics. If you’re looking for a new game and don’t mind any of the chaos, go play it today!

You can pick up MULLET MADJACK on Steam for $19.99 (currently $17.99 until May 24). There is also a demo available if you don’t believe me.