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Deadly Days: Roadtrip Playtest Impressions

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I was asked to cover Deadly Days: Roadtrip public playtest. I understand the game is still in development and will be a bit more lenient with my criticism. That said, these will be my honest impressions.

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What is Deadly Days: Roadtrip?

Deadly Days: Roadtrip is a top down auto-battler roguelike dungeon crawler coming to PC.

The world crumbles under the weight of a zombie outbreak. Those left drive from place to place, searching for survival. Gas is finite, and sometimes you have to get out and find some more. Run across procedurally generated dungeons to collect enough gas to fill the tank and do your best to stay alive. Do you have what it takes to make it to the end of this horrible road trip?

Gameplay

All players start in the main hub where they can buy upgrades and customize their character between runs. Players then get to plan their supply runs where they can collect upgrades, weapons, and gas. Players are offered locations with different lootable supplies, so make sure you plan according. The game also features a day and night cycle that not only creates atmosphere, but adds a bit of challenge. The longer a player spends in a level, the more zombies appear. A run ends when the player runs out of health. What makes Deadly Days unique is its inventory management system. Players will always start with a limited amount of bag space, but can upgrade it either through special drops or by leveling up. When a player levels up, they can choose between a random weapon, item, or bag expansion. While the RNG does feel fair, it also means there are a lot of tough choices.

Impressions

I love this genre, and Deadly Days: Roadtrip has earned its spot in my rotation. It has a cute and playful art style, relaxing yet engaging gameplay, and solid flavor. If you want a cute casual game that doesn’t require a huge commitment, you’d be hard pressed to find better. This game is in such a good place in it’s development, and I am excited to see what a full product looks like.

The game runs well, but I couldn’t get it working on the Steam Deck. I hope it gets Steam Deck support in a later release. Combat is a lot of fun. Maneuvering through the maps is active and fun, and all the weapons feel different. Upgrades create a tangible increase in power, which is always nice to see. The procedural generated levels are well done. All the maps felt unique and they were filled with a diverse cast of zombies hungry for brains. My favorite feature of the game was the day and night cycle that made the levels feel more intense. I also love inventory management, so this game had everything I love.

I can see the game feeling a bit repetitive, especially in the early stages, but that is the charm of the genre. I feel like the maps and monsters give the game enough variety to keep things interesting.

If you’re looking for a new game to play, head to the official Deadly Days: Roadtrip Steam page and sign up for the playtest. Don’t forget to wishlist!

video game reviews

Is Once Upon a Dungeon: Infinity Worth Playing?

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I was sent a free copy of Once Upon a Dungeon: Infinity to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinion. This will be my honest review.

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What is Once Upon a Dungeon Infinity?

Once Upon a Dungeon: Infinity is a turn based roguelike out now on Steam.

The call of adventure sends its siren song across the land, seducing eager adventurers to the mouth of the dungeon. Crawl through the darkness, fight off monsters, avoid traps, and free it from its treasure. The journey will be perilous, but you as an industrious adventurer have potential. Craft the tools of the trade, conquer this delve, and claim your spot in history. Do you have what it takes?

Gameplay

Players move through procedurally generated dungeons a square at a time. Each action is a turn and every creature in range of the player takes a turn at the same time.

Once Upon a Dungeon: Infinity is a cute hack-and-slash that offers enough of a challenge to keep things interesting. Combat is as simple as clicking an enemy, but players still need to move efficiently and find the right gear. I am sure there is an optimal build, but I built whatever was fun.

Players can craft useful items and upgrade existing ones, provided they have the knowledge and materials. For those seeking a challenge, there is a mode where death is permanent and enemies can attack from any direction.

Review

Once Upon a Dungeon: Infinity is an interesting title with a few issues but a lot of heart. First off, the game is a little too dark. I believe the intent was to emulate the darkness of the dungeon, but I think they overdid it. There are also a few bugs that are hard to ignore. I noticed a few stutters and frame drops, but nothing that made the game unplayable. I almost gave up on the game because of the lack of polish and awkwardness, but I am glad I didn’t.

Once Upon a Dungeon: Infinity has a solid core. The game is a casual dungeon-crawling done right. The procedurally generated maps work fine, and they offer enough of a challenge to keep players engaged. I love that there is a perma-death mode that can be toggled because it makes things more intense, and it is the only way I will play this game moving forward.

Once Upon a Dungeon is a cute and simple roguelike with a neat crafting mechanic and a lot of potential. If you don’t the roughness that comes with an early-access game, make sure you add it to your wishlist and check out the demo!

video game reviews

Ink. Is a Cute Game, but it Needs a Lot More Work

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I was sent a free copy of Ink. 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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I am happy to announce my newest sponsor, Game Nerdz. If you’re looking to buy any card games, board games, miniatures, and more, get it over at Game Nerdz using my affiliate links. Game Nerdz offers some fantastic pricing on anything you need, and it really helps me out.

What is Ink.?

Ink. is an explosive roguelike RPG adventure currently in Early Access on Steam.

Play as an adorable cat as you fight to clear the dungeon from a myriad of monsters. The dungeons are procedural generated, meaning no two rooms or runs will ever be the same. What will you uncover in this quirky new adventure? How deep will your delve go?

Gameplay

Ink. is a twin stick shooter where players must explore a procedural generated dungeon to fight monsters, find treasure, and unlock power ups. Players must clear each room of all its enemies proceed, and a run ends when a player’s health point goes to zero. Players are encouraged to use their environment for cover or to create the chaos needed to get to the next room.

The game does support playing with a Mouse and keyboard, but I recommend using a controller instead. The mouse and Keyboard experience is awful.

Review

I try to give games as much of a chance, especially when they aren’t finished, but Ink. is hard to recommend. Combat feels a bit clunky, which I am sure a few patches will fix, but the cramped level design kills any possible fun a player may have with the game. There isn’t enough space to play this game because the maps are too small. This means that in some of your runs will end early because you have no where to go. Map design is also a problem. The generated maps are boring, and some are unplayable. I like the idea of true randomness, but it doesn’t really work here.

I understand the game is in early access, and I went in a bit more lenient, but I can’t recommend the game in its current state. At the moment, Ink. doesn’t have enough substance. I’ll give it another shot if it gets a bigger update, but it’s looking like one of those games I will forget I ever played.

video game reviews

You Should Be Playing The Spell Brigade With Your Friends

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I was sent a free copy of The Spell Brigade 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. The game is still in early access, so I will do my best to give it a fair assessment of what is available.

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I am happy to announce my newest sponsor, Game Nerdz. If you’re looking to buy any card games, board games, miniatures, and more, get it over at Game Nerdz using my affiliate links. Game Nerdz offers some fantastic pricing on anything you need, and it really helps me out.

What is The Spell Brigade?

The Spell Brigade is a bullet hell action roguelike currently on Steam Early access.

You are an aspiring wizard tasked with defending the realm from an endless onslaught of monsters. Team up with your friends or brave it alone as you learn the magic to repel any enemy that gets in your way. Do you have what it takes to keep the monsters at bay?

Gameplay

Players start a run by choosing their wizard. All players start the game with the same wizard, but additional wizards and skins can be unlocked by completing specific achievements. Each run starts slow, with each player having access to a basic spell. Players unlock random upgrades and spells at the end of each level, or by completing quests during a run. Since all spells are cast automatically, the real strategy comes from effective kitting and creating a synergistic build. The game can be played solo, but playing with friends or strangers online may result in some much needed chaos.

Does it Work on the Steam Deck?

This genre is one of my favorites to play on the Steam Deck for its casual yet engaging game play. The Spell Brigade is a fantastic addition to the genre, and a great addition to any Steam Deck library. The game looks great, runs great, and it doesn’t take up much space.

Review

The Spell Brigade is in a good place in its development. The game works and looks great, with a decent amount of content for variety. No two runs were ever the same, and it never felt like there was a right answer when building. There might be, but I had fun trying building what I wanted. The art is great, the flavor is fantastic, and there is a good amount of unlockables to chase. I particularly liked how different the maps felt, and being able to interact with its different elements to gain an advantage.

What I enjoyed most about the game is having three lives. When you die in The Spell Brigade, you return with half your life. While being limited to one life might make the runs more intense, I like being able to enjoy a build for a little longer. I also like that resurrecting kills the enemies around the mage, providing players a bit of breathing room for their second or third life.

My only complaint is that the game moves and feels slow at early levels. Movement in this game can feel excessively sluggish, even with movement speed upgrades. This sensation goes away the longer you spend on a run, but those early levels can be rough if you’re not familiar with the genre. It isn’t the worst I’ve ever seen, but it is something to think about. Make sure you check out the demo.

Overall, this game is a lot of fun, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys the genre, or looking for a new casual game to play with their friends. The game is in a good state, even in early access, with a few cool features coming soon. I am confident the team behind the game can deliver.

You can pick up The Spell Brigade on Steam Early Access for only $9.99. Check out the demo, and don’t forget to add it to your wishlist.

video game reviews

You Need to Try CONERU -DIMENSION GIRL-

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I was asked to cover the CONERU -DIMENSION GIRL- demo on my blog. Since the game isn’t finished yet, I will be more lenient with my review. That said, these will be my honest impressions of the game.

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out the new Epomaker RT65 mechanical keyboard, the Uhuru Gaming Mouse, or the EasySMX X15 controller. When you’re ready to start your blog on WordPress, sign up using my Affiliate Link!

I am happy to announce my newest sponsor, Game Nerdz. If you’re looking to buy any card games, board games, miniatures, and more, get it over at Game Nerdz using my affiliate links. Game Nerdz offers some fantastic pricing on anything you need, and it really helps me out.

What is CONERU -DIMENSION GIRL-?

CONERU -DIMENSION GIRL- is an action RPG coming soon to Steam.

Socrates is a combat robot ready to fend off an invasion from the Hateful Fruit Company. Just as Socrates is about to go online, Coneru appears, fusing with the android. Both beings must now join forces and fight together to defend Shinjuku City from destruction. Will their power be enough to drive away the hostile alien threat?

Gameplay

CONERU -DIMENSION GIRL- is an action roguelike with a flashy arcade feel. Players move through the city fighting off enemies and searching for check points. Occasionally, players will find new weapons that completely change the combat dynamic. There are four weapons in the demo, and each feels different in both aesthetic and playstyle.

Players have a melee attack and access to Coneru’s ranged attack. The ranged attack changes with the type of weapon Socrates carries. Occasionally, players will find find the RunRun mode, which is like the power star in Mario. Players not only become invisible for the duration of the buff, but gain increased mobility and and destroy anything Coneru touches.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

Yes, and it made me wish I had the OLED version of the Steam Deck. Everything looks great at the native resolution, and the performance is solid. I am planning to only play CONERU -DIMENSION GIRL- on the Steam Deck because of how good it feels. There is nothing wrong with the performance on PC, but something about the colors, gameplay, and art style makes it feel better on handheld. This is a very good game to take on the go, or just when you want to chill and play something casual on the couch.

Impressions

I can’t wait for the full release of CONERU -DIMENSION GIRL–. This game has cute vibrant art, a fantastic soundtrack, and great mechanics. I love the world, the flavor, and the wacky arcade vibe it captures flawlessly. My only complaint is that the demo isn’t the full version. The simple beat-em-up style makes this game the perfect casual experience, but it offers enough of a challenge to keep things engaging. The RURRUN mode mechanic not only sets this game apart from others in the genre, it gives the game its life. If you’re looking for a new action roguelike platformer, go check out CONERU -DIMENSION GIRL-.

You can check out the CONERU -DIMENSION GIRL- Demo on Steam now. Don’t forget to add it to your wishlist!

video game reviews

Looking for a new Metroidvania? Why not PROJECT TACHYON?

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I was asked to cover PROJECT TACHYON on my blog. I’ve been on a Metroidvania kick lately, so I figured, why not? Since the game is still a demo, I will be a bit more lenient. Regardless, these will be my honest impressions of the demo.

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out the new Epomaker RT65 mechanical keyboard, the Uhuru Gaming Mouse, or the EasySMX X15 controller. When you’re ready to start your blog on WordPress, sign up using my Affiliate Link!

What is PROJECT TACHYON?

PROJECT TACHYON is a cyberpunk action roguelike coming to Steam.

Project OMEGA was created as was designed to be the Tamageria Republic’s ultimate defense against their enemies. Unfortunately, the advanced AI has other plans for the republic. A massive uprising led by OMEGA spreads across the planet, and the only solution seems to be to nuke the planet.

A few of the smartest minds left believe they have an alternative, Project Tachyon. Project Tachyon allows select users to return to a single point in time after deft, undoing any mistakes they’ve made along the way. Through this technology, they hope to learn all they can about Project OMEGA and defeat the AI without sacrificing innocent people. Only one member is compatible with the Project Tachyon technology. Will she be enough of the world for annihilation?

Gameplay

PROJECT TACHYON is a 2D action platformer where players fight their way through a dungeon filled with enemies using an advanced arsenal of weapons. These weapons can be changed and upgraded throughout the run.

Players start their run at Project Tachyon headquarters where they can use resources they gather during their runs to buy upgrades. Sigma will then run through the same level to shut down OMEGA. Because Sigma can reset the timeline after death and remember its details, all maps, and encounters will be the same between runs. Memorizing maps and encounters along with the upgrades players purchase throughout their run help her get farther each time.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

Yes it does, and I can’t wait for the full version. Everything is visible at the aspect ratio, and although there is some roughness to the DEMO, it works well enough to get me interested in a full version. Aiming is a little awkward, but that might be more of a personal issue than an issue with the game. I will need the full version for further testing.

Impressions

The Demo is a little rough. The game has a few missing elements and a few mechanics that don’t always work, but it is a solid demo regardless. My biggest issue was with the aiming. It felt awkward and made some encounters harder than they needed. The game does offer an auto-aim feature that seems good enough for casual play, but I found it lacked the efficient accuracy needed for the harder fights. Regardless of these issues, the demo works well enough to have me curious about a full version.

If you enjoy the Metroidvania genre, you might want to consider looking into PROJECT TACHYON. The game has cool art, a solid story and flavor, fantastic voice acting, and interesting gameplay. Until we get news on a more complete version, I recommend you at least try the Steam Demo. Don’t forget to add it to your WISHLIST!

I’ll be working on getting a full version. Stay tuned for that.

video game reviews

Realm of Ink is a Fantastic and Beautiful Roguelike

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I was sent a free copy of Realm of Ink 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 Epomaker P75 Mechanical Keyboard and the Uhuru Gaming mouse for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals. If you’re thinking of hosting your own blog on WordPress, make sure you sign up using my Affiliate link!

What is Realm of Ink?

Red is a talented swords woman who finds herself traversing through the pages of books in her search for the elusive Fox Demon. Her path is not an easy one. Creatures hunt her relentlessly, and although she has help from powerful spirits, it might not always be enough. Make your way through the worlds, collect new abilities, weapons, and characters, and unveil the truth about your existence. Do you have what it takes?

Gameplay

Red must fight her way through the different stages of a world to clear it. Players start each run with a random ink. Inks give Red special abilities to help her on her run. There are 22 inks that can be enhanced or swapped at random intervals of a run. In typical roguelike fashion, players will unlock random passive buffs. Runs in Realm of Ink are very RNG-reliant, but it seemed pretty fair for the most part.

Eventually, players will unlock new forms and weapons to swap between future runs. These forms and weapons are selected before a run, and each has a unique playstyle. These forms combined with the game’s RNG ensure that no two runs are ever the same, and give the game its replayability.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

Realm of Ink has a fantastic Steam Deck port. I actually preferred the Steam Deck experience because of how good it felt to play on the couch. It doesn’t need any tinkering to get it to work, the game looks great at the aspect ratio, the words are easy to read, and the game is responsive. While playing Realm of Ink gives players a deeper appreciation for the art, they aren’t losing much playing on the Steam Deck. If you’re looking for a solid game to play on the go with good mechanics, a decent story, and fantastic flavor, check out Realm of Ink!

Review

I’ve been excited for Realm of Ink since I played the initial demo. I had my issues the first time around, but the developers have been hard at work to make it all better. The game has been so much fun, and I can tell there is work being put into it for future updates.

I was first drawn to this game because the art is phenomenal. The art only got better the deeper I got into the game. I love the game’s flavor and style. When it comes to the mechanics, the game is solid. The game is easy to learn, but there are enough nuances to keep things technical and interesting. While there were a few runs where the RNG wasn’t in my favor, it was relatively fair. What I liked most about Realm of Ink is that the grind doesn’t feel so bad. Most games in the genre have a grind that starts to feel repetitive and stale. Progression in those games feels slowed by a soul-crushing level grind. The progression in Realm of Ink felt like it was limited by my skill. The better I got at the combat mechanics, even with the less ideal inks, the less the grind became. Even when there was a grind, it didn’t feel bad because I was having fun.

The game is still in early access, and there will be some roughness, but not enough to discourage new players from jumping right in. The developers have been working tirelessly and listening actively to the community, I am sure Realm of Ink will only get better moving forward.

If you enjoy action roguelikes or are looking for a new game to sink some time into, check out Realm of Ink. It is a beautiful game with fun mechanics that is worth every cent at full price.

You can pick up your copy of Realm of Ink on Steam for only $16.99. There is a fantastic demo available if you don’t believe me.

video game reviews

Viel of Shadows is a Fantastic Roguelike!

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I was sent a free copy of Viel of Shadows 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 Epomaker P75 Mechanical Keyboard and the Uhuru Gaming mouse for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals. If you’re thinking of hosting your own blog on WordPress, make sure you sign up using my Affiliate link!

What is Viel of Shadows

Viel of Shadows is a top-down, action-adventure out now on Steam.

Sirene wakes up in a strange forest without her memories. As she tries to make sense of her situation, she is attacked savagely by monsters. Luckily, she is handy with a bow. Now Sirene must fight her way through the forest, collect her memories, and hopefully find a way out. What will her journey uncover? Will she ever get out?

Gameplay

Players control Sirene on her journey to collect her memories. To do so, players must fight their way through seemingly endless waves of monsters. Combat in this game is a top-down twin-stick shooter where death isn’t permanent. As a result, players will grind out the same encounters for levels until they are strong enough to venture deeper into the forest.

When a player levels, they get an experience point to spend on permanent stat boosts, buffs, and abilities. Players can choose from three paths: Damage, Agility, and Precision. Each path feels unique, and players have the freedom to find a path that works best for their playstyle. I am sure there is a correct way to build Sirene, but I liked throwing everything into precision. I’ll definitely be trying the other paths in future playthroughs.

What makes Viel of Shadows is the ever encroaching darkness that follows Sirene. As time passes, the edges of the screen will close in on a player until Sirene is consumed by darkness. The darkness limits a payers field of vision and hinders their effectiveness in combat. A player can mitigate this effect through potions or orbs from random drops. While there is no real time limit to a run, this effect creates the right amount of pressure to keep things tense and exciting.

Does it Work on the Steam Deck?

Yes, and it is a fantastic port. The game runs great, looks fine, and the controls feel good. While the aim with my Uhuru Gaming Mouse (or any mouse) was far superior, it was nice to be able to sit back and play something casually. I did notice dying more on the Steam Deck than on PC, but that felt like a skill issue. If you’re looking for games for your Steam Deck, Viel of Shadows is a great option.

Review

I got to try an early demo of Viel of Shadows, and I’ve been excited about the game ever since. The game has a great aesthetic with fantastic pixel art and flavor. The gameplay is repetitive by design, but it doesn’t matter because the game is so much fun. Combat in this game feels smooth, and the leveling system is satisfying. There is a bit of a grind, but it isn’t soul-crushing. I found the repetition soothing and enjoyed watching my progress through the forest. The game is a great casual title with engaging enough gameplay to be worth the money.

You can pick up Viel of Shadows on Steam for only $7.99, and there is a demo available if you don’t believe me.

video game reviews

Call of Sentinels Failed to Leave Much of an Impression

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I was sent a free copy of Call of Sentinels to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinion of the game. 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 Epomaker P75 Mechanical Keyboard for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals.

What is Call of Sentinels?

You are a champion of the gods, chosen to bring down the foes who threaten peace in the land. With your skill and the blessing of the sentinels, you will repel the endless waves of monsters and their bosses, or die trying. But this won’t be an easy task. You’ll have to be quick, cunning, and strong. Do you have what it takes?

Gameplay

Players start each run with a basic and strong attack as they face off against endless waves of enemies. Waves start easy but increase in difficulty over time.

Throughout the run, the sentinels will drop random quests for the player to complete. Completing a quest allows players to choose a blessing. Blessings are passive thematic power-ups for a player’s character. What sentinel decides to bless the player, the type of quest offered by the sentinel, and the blessings available to the player are all randomly generated. Bad RNG will ruin a run, and it is frustrating.

Between runs, players can use coins they earn to buy items to boost their character’s stats. This seems to give players the option to build a character to fit their playstyle, but it also feels like there is a correct build path to follow. The main loop for Call of Sentinel seems to be grinding out waves of enemies, hoping the run is blessed with good RNG, buying power-ups, and repeating until you beat the story or beat the high score.

The game offers two game modes in this game: story and an endless mode. The story isn’t interesting enough to hook a player, and the grind is too steep to make endless worth it.

Review

Call of Sentinels did little to leave a meaningful impression. It isn’t a bad game, but it leaves a lot to be desired. One issue I have with the game is that combat and movement feel clunky. It almost feels unfinished, which normally wouldn’t be a problem if the game was more interesting.

I like the idea of the gods giving a player random buffs, and often a choice on what god they want to curry favor with, but the RNG doesn’t seem fair. There are blessings in this game that are worthless, and it sucks to find out after the fact. The missions often put players in situations where they have to take damage, and getting a worthless blessing ruins the game. Maybe these blessings get better after a few upgrades, but upgrades are never guaranteed.

To make matters worse, some of the quests are bugged and are difficult to finish properly. When a quest isn’t completed properly, players get fewer blessings to choose from. If a player gets a worthless boon, it is essentially game over.

My biggest issue with the game’s unnecessary grind. Buying the items you need to progress the story or do well in Endless is going to take more time than it is worth. In between runs, players can buy items with coins they earn during a run. These items grant permanent passive stat boosts and can be upgraded. To upgrade an item, players have to buy materials and pay for the upgrade.

From a flavor perspective, this is an interesting system. It is cool to think about forging a powerful ring of attack with a rare magic stone. The problem is the execution. Why make me convert gold into materials when I can just buy the upgrade with money? It turns the game into a needless grind, and the gameplay is too boring for the grind to be worth it.

Call of Sentinels isn’t a bad game. The art is fine, and the concept is interesting, but the execution is lacking. There isn’t a real reason to play this game, especially when you have better options.

You can pick up Call of Sentinels on Steam for $7.99.

video game reviews

You Need to Be Playing Shogun Showdown

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I was sent a free copy of Shogun Showdown 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. If you enjoy my content and want to help me with my hosting fees, consider buying me coffee or donating to my Patreon.

What is Shogun Showdown?

Shogun Showdown is an amazing roguelike deckbuilder out now on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and PC via Steam and Itch.io.

A warrior’s journey is full of parallel, but legend has it you have what it takes. Grab your weapons, hone your skills, and kill anyone that gets in your way. Do you have what it takes to defeat the Shogun?

Gameplay

A warrior’s journey is full of parallel, but legend has it you have what it takes. Grab your weapons, hone your skills, and kill anyone that gets in your way. Do you have what it takes to defeat the Shogun?

Players start their journey with basic weapons and abilities. As they kill enemies and earn experience, they can purchase more powerful cards. I am sure there is an efficient build for speedrunning, but the game gives players the freedom to build their character to fit their playstyle.

Like most roguelikes, players will earn temporary skills and buffs at certain nodes of their journey. These rewards are random, but they felt fair for the most part. I never felt like I had a weak or useless ability. The levels are the same each, so there is a bit of repetition. The RNG helps break up some of the monthly, and players will eventually unlock new areas to explore. New content just dropped, and there is more planned for future releases.

The combat is the best part of this game. Players can perform one action per turn, and actions alternate between the player and enemies. During a turn, players can move one space, turn their character in the opposite direction, or perform an activity or set of abilities. Players can see the enemy’s actions between turns to plan accordingly. The key to this game is efficiently moving, dodging attacks, and setting up killing blows. A run ends when a player’s health drops to zero, and the goal is to get to the end of the run and beat the one true boss.

Review

I loved every minute of this game. Shogun Showdown is the most creative deckbuilder I’ve ever played. It has great flavor, beautiful art, a fantastic soundtrack, and fun gameplay. If you’re looking for a deckbuilding roguelike that breaks away from the norm, this is the game you need to get.

I love that it always feels like I am doing something. I am a huge fan of deck builders, but they all are starting to feel the same. The flavor may change, but it always feels like I am playing Slay the Spire. It is nice to play a game that changes up the strategy in a unique and fun way that looks good and plays flawlessly.

I recommend this game on any system because this is a game you need to try once. It is the perfect game for those who want something new without having it be a huge commitment, just be prepared to sink a respectable amount of time into it.

You can pick up Shogun Showdown on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and PC via Steam and Itch.io for $14.99.