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Board Games and TCGs

I Found the Pathfinder 2E GM Core Book Impressive

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I am excited to announce that I recently started a partnership with Paizo, the creators of Pathfinder and Starfinder. I’ll be covering both games moving forward and will start with the GM Core book.

Please note that I was sent free copies of a few of the rulebooks. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity, but I won’t let it sway any of my opinions. I am still running The One Ring, so I haven’t gotten to running a session of Pathfinder. I have read the book, and these are my honest impressions. 

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Pathfinder?

To put it simply, Pathfinder is the version of Dungeons and Dragons you play when you need something more technical. The amount of rules and details loaded in this book can seem overwhelming to the casual TTRPG enthusiast, but it does fit in its niche nicely. If you’re looking for an alternative to D&D, Pathfinder is a solid option. The game is familiar enough for an easy transition but with its unique vibe. This is a fantasy TTRPG that gives GMs everything they need to run their own campaigns, but there is quite a bit of prewritten content for those who need the help. 

Impressions

I’ve read through a few different rulebooks, and the Pathfinder GM Core for 2nd Edition is by far the most detailed. This book goes into great detail on how to properly run every single mechanic of this game with tables, charts, and beautiful illustrations. This almost 400 book may seem daunting, especially to new GMs, but you aren’t reading this book cover to cover, and you aren’t going to use all the rules. This is a terrific reference, and you always have the freedom to run Pathfinder in the way that best fits your table. The book gives alternative rules so that you can run your game as casual or hardcore as you want. 

What I loved most about the book is how it dedicates its first few chapters to onboarding new GMs to roleplaying games. I know most experienced GMs will skip through this section because it feels like common knowledge, but there is some good advice that translates beautifully into other RPGs. 

Pathfinder seems like a solid fantasy RPG with an incredible amount of content. If you’re thinking of running this system, the GM Core has absolutely everything you need to run a successful campaign. It’s going to seem like a lot, especially for the more casual players, but it’s not that bad. Most of the book is spent on item and monster starts, charts, and ideas for settings, encounters, and plot hooks. Pathfinder is the game you get when you want everything spelled out, just in case you need it. 

You can pick up your copy of the Pathfinder GM Core 2E hardcover off Amazon for $59.99 (Currently $44.70) using my affiliate link. If you don’t care about physical media, or want the ability to search, you can pick up the PDF on the official Paizo website.

video game reviews

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Isn’t as Bad as People Say

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I was sent a free copy of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes 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 Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a unique JRPG out now for PlayStation, Switch, Xbox, and PC via Steam, Epic Games, and GoG. The discovery of magical objects known as “rune-lenses” has shaped the history of Allraan. The Galdean Empire has discovered a way to amplify these objects and seeks more in its quest for complete domination. As a young adventurer, Nowa has been called to aid in these efforts, but what he uncovers will change everything. 

Gameplay

Eiyuden features a turn-based system familiar to the traditional genre. Character can charge up their “rune-lenses” by performing basic attacks, and using mana to cast special abilities. The game includes an auto-battle feature that makes the grind almost non-existent. The auto-battle is pretty solid, but I never tried using it for the boss fights. 

Boss fights were creative and had additional mechanics that brought new life to some of the monotony that comes with the JRPG grind. This game isn’t as grindy as some, but you aren’t going to want to actively fight every encounter. Boss fights will have special conditions or mechanics that players will have to be mindful of. They will need to be wary of certain animations to perform other actions like taking cover. This makes the game feel a bit more tactical, but you can always over-level if you get stuck. Ultimately, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a classic feeling JRPG with enough modern flare to keep things interesting. 

Impressions

I enjoyed playing Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. It has a decent story, beautiful art, and solid gameplay. Most of the hate around the game seems to be coming from fans of Suikoden who feel like it is an inferior version. I don’t have that frame of reference, but it is something to keep in mind. As a filthy casual who enjoys JRPGs, I thought it was fine. It isn’t genre-defining by any means, but you’ll get your money’s worth. 

I am a huge fan of the artwork. This game is so pretty, and the attack animations are fun to watch. The story isn’t anything to rush to, but the voice acting is really good so I found it enjoyable. 

I believe it to be a solid JRPG and if you have no other point of reference, it is a fantastic place to start. Everything is tame and self-contained, and there are a lot of heroes to choose from for a truly unique experience. You may not get the memorable experience you would from other titles, but it is a solid and fun title to throw on when you’re searching for something new to play. I recommend it, just don’t expect it to be a successor to Suikoden.

You can pick up Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes on PlayStation, Switch, Xbox, and PC via Steam, Epic Games, and GoG for $49.99.

video game reviews

Sucker for Love: A Date to Die For is a Quirky Horror Visual Novel

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I was sent a free copy of Sucker for Love: A Date to Die For 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. Don’t forget to follow the socials! I’ll be opening some Wixoss on my TikTok and YouTube. 

What is Sucker for Love: A Date to Die For

Sucker for Love: A Date to Die For is a horror visual novel out now on Steam.

A mysterious note brings you back to your hometown of Sacramencho. Your parents have gone missing, but it seems like they aren’t the only ones. A demonic presence has taken root in your childhood home, and it is up to you to uproot them. But this won’t be an easy task. Demonic creatures and a misguided cult hunt you down. Can you survive the horrors of the Black Woods long enough to reverse the curse? Will you find love in the process? You’ll have to play to find out. 

Gameplay

A Date to Die For is a horror visual novel with some light dungeon-crawling elements. While the trailer may suggest this game is a dating sim, it isn’t. The game is a horror story with some flirty tones, but not a lust-filled story about demon girls it appears to be. 

The game is split into story and exploration. There are different stories, each with a true ending, and choices matter somewhat. The stories have a solid cast of voice actors, and the stories are all entertaining. The story deals with topics of human sacrifice, murder, and demons. This is your official content warning. 

Exploration has players crawl through this decrepit house in a retro-style dungeon crawler. Players click through this creepy 3D space in search of materials to perform rituals and avoid danger. Once a player collects the right materials and meets the correct circumstances, rituals are cast by dragging the mouse. If a player dies, they’ll have to restart from the last checkpoint, but the checkpoints are pretty generous. You can even go back to try for a different ending at any point. 

Impressions

I enjoyed A Date to Die For, but I understand it isn’t for everyone. I think the tones, themes, and art will scare off some folks, but it is a solid horror game with a decent story if you can get past the waifu art. 

What this game excels at is creating a creepy atmosphere. The music, the sounds, the map design, and the jump scares all come together to create a very cool horror environment. I never felt like I needed to play with the lights on, but it did make me jump a few times. 

The story is pretty good. It is quirky, dark, and a lot of fun with some interesting twists. A Date to Die For is a sequel, but it exists as a stand-alone story. I didn’t feel lost by the events or feel it necessary to play the first game. People who have played the first game might not like it as much, but I don’t have that point of reference and can’t compare the experiences. 

Sucker for Love: A Date to Die For is a great visual novel. It has a solid cast of voice actors, cool art, and a fantastic creepy retro vibe. If you can get past the waifu art, it isn’t as shameless as it seems. Aside from some of the main characters, the game is pretty tame. This isn’t a dating sim. If you are looking for a quirky horror story about cultists and demons, A Date to Die For is what you’re looking for. 

You can pick up Sucker for Love: A Date to Die For on Steam for $12.99. There is also a demo you can try if you don’t believe me. 

video game reviews

Adore is a Refreshing take on the Creature Capture Genre

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I was sent a free copy of Adore 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 Adore?

Adore is a top-down creature collecting game out now for PC. The God of Creatures has died, leaving a vicious curse to run rampant amongst his creations. As the curse spreads over the land of Gaterdrik, there is still hope. The God of Creatures has chosen you as his vessel. Together with unique creatures you capture along the way, quest across this cursed land and resurrect the dead God. Can you save the world, or will it rot under this cruel and unusual curse? 

Gameplay

You play as a creature tamer. You can collect up to 75 unique creatures, but can only carry four at a time. Each creature has unique abilities that are activated on cooldowns. It feels like a top-down MOBA, but it is a dungeon crawler. 

Creatures can be leveled either through combat or a unique crafting system. Sending a creature to fight helps level them up. You will occasionally find materials or items that either buff your creatures or give them new abilities. The trick is finding a combination of creatures with solid synergy, but I always ended up only using creatures I thought looked cool. 

The tamer will also level as you play. You can find random permanent upgrades in dungeons like you would in a roguelike, and you can buy items with buffs at the shop. The game has enough strategy and complexity to keep things engaging, but I don’t think you need a guide to beat it. Finding the right combo or min-maxing will be rewarded though. 

Only creatures you own attack. The tamer and creatures can be damaged and die. The trick is to efficiently summon your creatures to attack and deal damage while being mindful of your tamer’s health. The monster’s attack patterns are predictable, but I never felt like the game got too easy. Fights leading up to the boss fights don’t feel like a grind, and the boss fights are challenging. 

Impressions

I loved this game. The art is cute, the gameplay is fun, and the flavor is fantastic. The summoning and capturing mechanics are unique, and a lot of fun. The gameplay reminds me a lot of the summoner class in PSO 2, and summoner was one of my favorite classes. 

Adore is a unique and interesting game that you should play at least once, especially if you’re a fan of top-down MOBAs. The game offers a nice amount of challenge, a decent story, and a fresh take on the creature capture genre. You can pick up Adore now on Steam for $19.99, or try the Demo if you don’t believe me. 

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

Life is Feudal MMO Should Have Stayed Dead

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I was sent some free game time for the Life is Feudal: MMO. 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 Life is Feudal

Life is Feudal promises players the freedom to enjoy the massive open-world sandbox as they like. Players can build cities and settlements, fight in massive guild conflicts, or explore everything this world has to offer. This is a game where the action and gameplay is driven by the players. See what adventures await. 

Gameplay

Life is Feudal felt like a generic survival game. I liked that the structures were destructible, but everything else felt dull and unimpressive. It doesn’t help that the game looks ugly. 

The game runs fine, but it feels empty. It isn’t dead. There were always people online when I played, but it always felt like I was playing alone. this is a bad sign for a game where its content is driven by its player base. This wasn’t a huge problem since I usually play survival games solo, but Life is Feudal is an underwhelming survival game. Gathering and building was okay, the crafting system was unique, but the combat felt clunky. I spent my entire time in Life is Feudal wishing I was playing something better. 

I tried to record video of the gameplay, but it was all too boring to keep.

Impressions

I tried to like this game, but I couldn’t find a single thing to keep my attention. The game looks ugly, the survival grind is boring, and there aren’t enough people for the epic adventure it promises. I can see this game carving out its niche because of what it attempts to do as a survival MMO. Unfortunately, the game feels dated and frankly, you have better options. Go check out Enshrouded instead. 

The $15 monthly subscription is what is going to hurt this game. I understand that the game needs to make its money, but I couldn’t find enough substance to justify its cost. It isn’t a bad game, but it is a bland and unimpressive one. Even if you like the theme and find the gameplay interesting, you have better options.

You can find Life is Feudal: MMO on Steam, but I would wait for a free weekend before dropping any money. I don’t see this game getting enough traction to be worth it. 

Board Games and TCGs

The Dragonbane Bestiary is a fun Book to Have!

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

The Book

Quality

The Dragonbane Bestiary is beautiful. I have always been a huge fan of the art for this game, and this is no exception. The pages are nice and make it feel like you’re flipping through an old monster manual or reading an old storybook. I know you can get away with using the PDF instead but flipping through the book just hits differently. 

What is it?

The Bestiary is a supplement. You will need the Dragonbane rulebook to run the adventure, but the Bestiary is optional. This is meant to be a resource for the GM who needs a little help with their next campaign. The book introduces nine new playable races, 63 new creatures, and a handful of adventure hooks. There is also a decent amount of lore and beautiful illustrations to flip through. If you love Dragonbane and need some new ideas for your campaign, it’s a solid resource. 

The Art

Sample Pages

Impressions

I loved running Dragonbane at my table, and the Bestiary brought some nice flavor and variety. I don’t think you need the Bestiary to run a successful Dragonbane, but it is nice to have. I like having stat blocks available, and the adventure hooks are a nice bonus. It certainly gave me a good amount of ideas to build from. I think it is worth it if your adventure calls for it, my campaign certainly did.

If you’re looking for a way to spice up your next Dragonbane campaign, go pick up the Bestiary. You can pick up the PDF for $19.99 on DriveThru RPG, or you can pick up a physical copy for $39.99 on Amazon using my affiliate link. 

video game reviews

SolForge Fusion Falls Flat as it Attempts to Redefine CCGs

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I was sent a free copy of Solforge Fusion to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will not 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. Buying cards from TCG Player through my affiliate link is also a great way to help me out. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Solforge Fusion?

SolForge Fusion is a CCG card battler out now on Steam. The game features single-player and PvP modes where players face off against opponents with uniquely fused decks. Do you have what it takes to outmaneuver your opponents and come out on top?

Gameplay

The gameplay loop is where this game becomes an acquired taste. You are either going to love SolForge or find it boring. The game is split into rounds where players can perform one action per turn. Players have two alternating turns in each round. During their turn, a player can cast a spell, summon a creature, or move a creature between spaces on the board.

At the end of a round, the cards auto battle depending on whether the player is defending or attacking. Creatures of attacking player will attack the opponent directly if there is nothing blocking them, players of a defending player can only attack adjacent enemy creatures.

Cards that aren’t used in a round level up and are shuffled back into the deck. The strategy seems to be choosing the right cards to hold onto for later in the game. Players also have access to a hero ability that also levels up as the game carries on. A player wins when their opponent’s life drops to zero.

In the roguelike single-player mode, players can fuse or choose a deck to make their run. The game plays like any other deck-building roguelike but without deck-building. Players earn special buffs and abilities along their run. The run is over when a player gets to the end, or their life drops to zero.

Review

SolForge Fusion is an interesting concept that is ultimately held back by its gameplay. I was intrigued by the random fusion deck building and found the boardlike game mechanics interesting, but found the game boring. Even with the animation turned up, the game feels slow and repetitive. These might be personal preferences, but there are more fun CCGs with a campaign I could be playing instead. Shadowvese has a neat one for free. 

Playing a card per turn makes the game feel more luck-based than your traditional card game. You either pull the cards you need to fill your board properly, or you’re just playing from behind. Movement is always an interesting concept, but I don’t think this game does it well. When choosing between moving or playing a card, it is almost always better to play a card. There are cards that do damage when moving which might be how they balance things, but it felt kind of like a pointless mechanic. 

The evolving card mechanic is an interesting one. You either play your cards for an early advantage, or you save your good cards for more explosive rounds later in the match. Finding a balance between what you play and what you level on top of keeping a healthy board state has the potential to create an interesting strategy. Unfortunately, the game just feels too slow and boring. 

The deck fusion mechanic is what is going to kill this game. While I love playing random decks, it doesn’t work in this game. You either get a decent deck to play or have to try again. This game already feels very heavily reliant on luck, I can only assume that the ladder is overrun by the luckier players. I understand that all card games have some luck involved, but it should at least feel like there’s some skill involved. I don’t think I would have minded the Fusion mechanic as much if it were just a roguelike, but there’s PvP and people want to build their own decks. 

SolForge is still in early access, and future updates may make this game fun, but the game didn’t create enough interest in me to find out. While I do believe it comes down to preference, there are better card games with similar mechanics out there. If you’re curious about the game, try the demo first. 

You can pick up SolForge Fusion on Steam for $19.99 (currently $14.99 until April 23). 

Board Games and TCGs

A Solid First Impression of Mutant: Year Zero TTRPG

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I was sent a free copy of Mutant: Year Zero to review for my blog. I haven’t had a chance to run a game of Mutant, but I did read through it. These will be my honest impressions of the system. 

If you enjoy my content, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

The Book

The quality of this rulebook’s printing is expectantly phenomenal. You have a sturdily bounded book printed on high-quality paper. I have the PDF of Mutant: Year Zero, but nothing beats flipping through the pages and actually seeing the illustrations in person. I am a huge fan of the artwork, so I had a lot of fun flipping through the pages and admiring the illustrations. You don’t need the book to play Mutant, you can get by with the PDF, but it’s cooler with the book out. 

The Story

The World as we know it has ended. War, famine, and illness have ravaged the land, leaving it a desolate and inhospitable place. Humanity’s only survivors have twisted and mutated to become unrecognizable to their ancestors. As the world falls into chaos, the Arc becomes humanity’s last remaining claim at civilization. Here, the lucky few have formed a community away from the brutality of the zone. But those peaceful days within the Arc’s walls are numbered. As supplies begin to dwindle, and tensions begin to rise, it is time to venture into the unforgiving unknown and search for salvation. What adventures await?

What is Mutant: Year Zero?

Mutant: Year Zero  is a post-apocalyptic tabletop RPG that uses the award-winning Year Zero engine to tell its story. If you haven’t played a game that uses the Year Zero engine, it is a super easy system to learn that uses D6s to run. Players succeed based on the number of sixes they roll. 

In the simplest terms, Mutant is a post-apocalyptic world filled with X-Men. Players start the game by picking a role, rolling stats, and rolling for a random mutation. Players can’t choose their mutation, but they can roll for a second ability at the cost of some skill points. Having a random ability is bound to spark some cool narratives. 

The core book has everything you need to run a campaign in Mutant. It has an expansive lore about the world, abilities, and communities. While you don’t have a module to run, you do have access to a decent list of hooks and encounters. You’re going to need this rulebook to run a complete campaign of Mutant, but there are some prewritten modules if you need them. 

What sets Mutant apart is its survival mechanics. Players will consistently push their limits as they fight to live another day. Food is scares, gear will break, and players will be forced to use their mutations. It is not a giddy dark survival that you would expect from Alien RPG, but isn’t easy either. If you’ve ever wanted to play a superhero campaign, Mutant: Year Zero is a fantastic place to start.  

Free Starter Booklet

The best place to start with Mutant: Year Zero is the starter booklet. The booklet offers a streamlined condensed version of the rules, a prewritten campaign, and a set of pre-generated characters to run your first campaign. It is always a good idea to test if a system is a good fit at your table. You can get a copy of the free booklet from the official site, but I’ll leave it below for your convenience. 

MYZ_starter_booklet-1Download

Impressions

I am a huge fan of the artwork. I love the comic book style of the illustrations, and I appreciate the amount of flavor that fills its pages. The jobs and mutations have some fantastic flavor. I am interested in seeing how my players react to their random mutation. I definitely see the potential for shenanigans. 

This seems like an easy system to pick up with a solid amount of potential. Combat seems fine, but the fact that gear can break and players can use mutations is sure to keep things interesting. Ultimately it comes down to you enjoying the flavor and wanting to break out of the fantasy real. It’s going to be a while before I run a campaign of Mutant because my players prefer their fantasy, but I’m slowly getting there. I did manage to break away from D&D, so I’ll hold on to my faith. 

If you’re looking for a new TTRPG about survival and superpowers, check out Mutant: Year Zero. You can pick up the Mutant: Year Zero core rule book on Amazon for $49.99 using my affiliate link.