Tag Archives: roguelike

video game reviews

An Amazing Wizard is Looking Like a Very Promising Metroidvania

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I was sent an early copy of the An Amazing Wizard demo to cover on my blog. Since the game is still in development, I will be a bit more lenient but honest in my impressions. If you want to stay up to date on all the news, make sure you join the official Discord!

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 An Amazing Wizard?

An Amazing Wizard is a fast-paced 2D action RPG coming to PC. The demo is available, so make sure you head over to Steam and try it out.

In a world full of wizards and magic, you are the only one without it. Instead of casting spells in the traditional sense, magic hands cast them for you. The prophecy says you are destined for greatness, but a mysterious force has stolen your memories before it can be realized. Travel across a dangerous plane as you recollect your memories, fight monsters, and try to uncover the truth behind your powers. Will you be strong enough to live up to your legend?

Gameplay

The demo allows players to fight their way through procedurally generated levels as they learn the fundamentals of the game. The wizard always starts with a basic magic spell and collects random ones during each run. The spells unlocked throughout a run are random, and the RNG seems fine. The full game will feature over a hundred spells for an insane amount of customization.

At certain points of a run, players can combine spells to create new ones. There is always a chance that the fusion will fail, but a successful fusion grants the player a new more powerful spell. This ensures that a run will never be the same, and things are going to get crazy.

Combat is a fast-paced Metroidvania-style loop. Players fight their way through a 2D dungeon, killing monsters, farming materials, and finding more powerful spells. Players have access to a basic spell, three swappable spells, and a swappable weapon. This is more than enough to keep things fun and exciting.

Between deaths and levels, players can trade in materials they gather for power-ups. This gives players access to new abilities and powers, and makes each run easier. The upgrade tree is pretty expansive. While I am sure there will be a correct way to build it out, I recommend you buy for your playstyle.

The full game will have a story, but the demo is only limited to the roguelike dungeon to get players hooked on the gameplay.

Impressions

I need more of this game. The art is fantastic, the flavor is great, the music is amazing, and the gameplay is a lot of fun. If you’re looking for a new Metroidvania game, An Amazing Wizard is looking very promising. The game features an interesting combat system, cool enemies, and a ton of customization for that added replay value. Obviously, I am going to need to see a completed version, but I am excited.

I did run into an issue where the dungeon generated a way forward, soft-locking my progress. I would have to rest the run and lose my progress, but it didn’t happen enough to cause any real concern. The demo works fine for the most part, but there will be some instances of roughness as they continue to iron out the kinks. Other than that, this game is very fun and I recommend you try it for yourself and get equally excited.

Please go check out the An Amazing Wizard demo on Steam, and don’t forget to add it to your wishlist!

video game reviews

Dice Assassin: Chess With Extra Steps

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I was sent a free copy of Dice Assassin 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 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. 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 Dice Assassin?

Dice Assassin is a 2D minimalistic roguelike card battler out now on Steam.

With a bit of tactics and luck, you are destined to be the best assassin this world has ever seen. Fight through mobs of enemies, learn powerful abilities, and leave no witnesses. Are you lucky and skilled enough to survive?

Gameplay

Dice Assassin is chess with a few extra steps. Players only control one piece, and the spaces it can move depend on dice rolls. Dice are rolled at the start of each turn. Cards give the assassin abilities. The key to this game is moving the assassin efficiently to clear the board of enemies. Like most roguelikes, players can upgrade their assassin through random buffs and abilities. The RNG for these shops seems fair, but I didn’t have it in me to test it too much.

Review

I can’t recommend Dice Assassin because it doesn’t feel finished. There are parts of this game that aren’t translated into English. There isn’t too much to read, so the lack of a complete translation isn’t a deal breaker. The gameplay is boring. Having only one action per turn and movement and attacks tied to RNG makes it less of a strategy game and more of a gambling one. Combat is boring, and it feels more one-sided the farther you get. The boss fights seem impossible, especially if you get stuck with unlucky rolls.

I am sure smarter people and people who like chess will have a better time with the game, but there isn’t much reason to play it past the first few play-throughs. I did like their choice of minimalism, but it isn’t for me.

If you care about achievements, Dice Assassin has easy ones you can earn. If you enjoy chess and want something that is a little different, sure. Everyone else can spend their $3 elsewhere.

You can pick up Dice Assassin on Steam for $2.99 (Currently $1.64 until September 3rd)

video game reviews

Deathless. Tales of Old Rus is Next Deck-Builder Roguelike

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

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 Deathless: Tales of Old Rus?

Deathless. Tales of Old Rus is a Scandinavian-themed deck-building roguelike that is out now on PC.

Take control of unique characters and use their skills and abilities and explore the dangerous land of Belosvet. Fight against powerful monsters and even defeat Koaschey the Deathless himself. Will the cards be in your favor?

Gameplay

Each run starts players with a basic version of a chosen champion deck. Each deck is flavorful and unique to each champion. As players make their way through the adventure, they can upgrade their decks with new cards and skills. These upgrades are random, making each subsequent run unique. The RNG is pretty fair, and I never ran the same deck twice. A run is over when the health of the champion reaches zero.

What makes Deathless unique is the movement and position mechanic. Players can only attack the frontmost enemy in combat unless the card use stipulates otherwise. Unless the monster uses ranged attacks, they can do the same. Knowing how to manipulate this position and the turns they swap them is an important mechanic to master. For example, some cards force monsters to swap positions, canceling their attacks. Other cards do extra damage depending on their position or if they’re moving. It is a very unique shift in the genre that I enjoyed tremendously.

Review


If you like roguelike deck-builders and need a new one to get into, buy Deathlessl: Tales of Old Rus. The game has beautiful art, fantastic flavor, and solid mechanics. The game is extremely replayable because no two runs will ever be the same. Even if you’re only using one character, the type of deck and strategy you’ll focus on will always be different. If you somehow get tired of what is available, there are new champions in the pipeline. Check out the official development roadmap for assurance.

Deathless. Tales of Old Rus is still in early access, but it feels like a finished game. The animation looks great, the soundtrack is nice, and the mechanics work fine. They are adding new features, which means the game will only get better. I love this game, and will keep it in my rotation. The game is fun, engaging, and it looks like it is actively being supported.

You can pick up Deathless. Tales of Old Rus on Steam Early Access for $24.99.

video game reviews

Bang Bang Barrage Might Be the Most fun Couch Co-op

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I was sent the Bang Bang Barrage demo to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will be honest with my coverage. Since the game isn’t finished yet, this will be my initial impression. I can’t wait to see the finished product.

What is Bang Bang Barage?

You find yourself in the middle of the ocean with Cuthulu and his minions hot on your tail. Team up with your friends or fair it alone as you blast through endless waves of enemies. Do you have what it takes to survive the onslaught, or will the sea prove too mighty?

Gameplay

Players will start each run on a boat with a basic weapon. There seems to be a good amount of loadout customization, but the demo only gives access to the basic handgun. In typical bullet hell roguelike fashion, players must fend off against swarms of enemies using their weapons. Players will occasionally get the chance to buy upgrades during their run. The upgrades that fill the shop are randomly generated, but I felt like the RNG was fair.

What makes this game unique is its movement mechanic. Movement Bang Bang Barrage uses recoil-driven navigation. When a player shoots her weapon, the boat they stand on moves the opposite way. The only way to move a character is to shoot in the opposite direction of where the character needs to go. When there are hoards of enemies swarming towards a player and other players fighting them off, things get crazy pretty quickly.

A run ends when a player runs out of health.

Impressions

Bang Bang Barrage is the cutest bullet hell roguelike you’re going to get to play. I am a huge fan of the cute simple art and flavor.

While the game does offer a valid single-player experience, you’re going to want to play with your friends. When the waves get going and everyone is shooting in all directions, things are going to get crazy. The fact that it allows couch co-op and PVP is a huge plus.

If you’re looking for a cute and fun party game to play with your friends, you’re going to want to look into Bang Bang Barrage. If you’re just looking for a fun casual game, you’re going to want to do the same. I can’t wait to see more of this game because the demo has me hooked.

The public playtest is up on Steam, so make sure you sign up if you haven’t done so. You won’t regret it. If you missed the playtest, make sure you add the Bang Bang Barrage to your wishlist so you’re ready for the next one!

video game reviews

Galactic Glitch is the Most Fun You’ll Have in Space This Year!

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I was sent a free copy of Galactic Glitch 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’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 Galactic Glitch?

Galactic Glitch is a colorful and unique twin-stick roguelike shooter where you can throw your enemies into other enemies. The game has launched on Steam Early Access.

Travel through beautiful 2D maps full of enemies, mystery, and debris. Fight off swarms of enemies in unique space battles and upgrade your ship to be the best in the galaxy. How far into the darkness of space will you be able to reach?

Gameplay

Galactic Glitch starts in the traditional roguelike fashion. Players begin their campaign with a basic ship that they can upgrade along the way. The more you play, the better the ship becomes. You will die a lot, so be prepared for some repetition.

The ship comes with three weapons that can be swapped out and upgraded later in the game. Each weapon swap makes a meaningful change to combat, allowing players the ability to find a loadout that fits their playstyle. Players will also encounter random events that drop stat upgrades when completed. These are harder encounters and a very welcomed change of pace.

Combat feels like your typical twin-stick bullet hell, but the physics give it enough of a unique flare to set it apart from other games in the genre. Maneuvering around rooms and throwing objects into enemies feels so good once you get the hang of things.

Progress in this game is set up like a dungeon crawler. Players crawl through the vastness of space, clearing one room at a time. Rooms feel unique enough that the repetition doesn’t get stale, but to be fair, I do enjoy my repetition.

There is a story to this game, but it isn’t anything deep that you’ll need to follow thoroughly. At least it didn’t do enough to catch my attention. Instead, you’ll be picking up this game for the unique space-crawling goodness that it is.

Review

I loved every minute of Galactic Glitch. The art is great, the soundtrack is amazing, and the gameplay is so much fun. Geometry Wars was my favorite game growing up, and Galactic Glitch feels like that with a bit more purpose. I liked that I could switch my weapons but still pick up some RNG abilities along the way. I love that I could upgrade a home base for more powerups. I am sure I could have been a lot more efficient with my playthrough, but I had a lot of fun figuring things out.

If you’re looking for a fun game that will certainly become an addiction, pick up Galactic Glitch. It is a neat casual game with enough substance to keep players engaged, without it becoming a huge commitment. I love Twin-Stick shooters, and Galactic Glitch is definitely one of my favorites.

You can pick up Galactic Glitch on Steam for $12.99 (currently $9.74 until July 29).

video game reviews

Astlibra Gaiden: The Cave of the Phantom Mist is for the Casuals

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I was sent Astlibra Gaiden: The Cave of Phantom Mist for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game. 

If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow the socials, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee. 

What is Astlibra Gaiden: The Cave of Phantom Mist

Astlibra Gaiden: The Cave of Phantom Mist is the first DLC for Astlibra Revision. The game picks up after the events of the first game and introduces a new character. I’ve written my review of the base game, but if you haven’t played it yet, you need to. Astlibra is a modern Metroidvania for the fans of the old-school classics for PC and Switch, but the DLC is only available on Steam at the moment. Either way, I recommend you at least check out the Steam demo. 

After the events of the last invasion, a hero’s guild has formed to keep the realm safe from evil. All was good until one day the heroes vanished. It is now up to the baker’s daughter to venture into the Cave of the Phantom Mist and bring the heroes back. Does she have what it takes to return the piece to the land?

Gameplay

Leveling in this game requires players to grind gems to purchase stats in between runs. While this gives the game its grind, it isn’t a terrible one. At least not on Normal. I like that the game continues to give players the freedom to find their playstyle through their character’s build, but I felt like I needed less guidence this time around.

While the DLC does have a unique story, it isn’t as interesting as the base game. Where the story for the base game is deep and developed, the DLC acts more as a frame of flavor for the grind. It isn’t bad, but fans of the base game will be disappointed.

Thoughts

I enjoyed Astlibra Gaiden, but I see where it won’t be for everyone. Fans of the original who enjoyed the story and complex mechanics will be disappointed by the changes. The story isn’t as good, and the game is easier. The DLC feels like a more casual entry to the series, and that isn’t a bad thing. 

Progression in Astlibra Gaiden is more like a dungeon diver roguelike where players will have to grind through a procedurally generated dungeon to progress through the story. While the story isn’t as great as the first one, it’s good enough for the casual experience that it is. I enjoyed the repetition, but I didn’t follow the story as closely as I did with the base game. 

If you haven’t played the Astlibra base game, I recommend you go do that first. It’s an amazing game that should be in your library. If you’re a fan of Astlibra but want something more casual that isn’t a huge commitment, go get the DLC. It’s not as good as the base game, but it does scratch that casual Metroidvania itch. 

You can pick the Astlibra Gaiden: The Cave of Phantom Mist on Steam for $9.99, or save on the bundle for $31.48.

video game reviews

The Book of Warriors: A Cute Little Roguelike for $8

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

What is The Book of Warriors

The Book of Warriors is a cute little fantasy roguelike RPG out now for PC. Lead your party through the dungeon as you search for power, treasure, and fame. How much of the dungeon can you clear before your adventure ends? 

Gameplay

You start each run by choosing a hero. There are nine different classes, each with unique abilities. Your run won’t end if you lose your initial hero. You then make your way through your dungeon, clearing procedurally generated rooms, unlocking upgrades, and recruiting heroes to your party. Upgrades, loot, and heroes you recruit are random, but occasionally you can choose the type of upgrade you can unlock. For the most part, the RNG is fair, but there are runs I lost because I was unlucky.

To clear a room, you either need to clear the room of enemies or lose your heroes. Maps will have hazards or cover that offer buffs and debuffs. Although not all the maps are fun, it does give combat enough complexity to keep things engaging.

Combat is simple. Heroes can move and perform one action per turn. The type of action changes as the characters level. The game feels a bit like a mobile game, but it is fine for the casual experience that it represents.

Like most games in this genre, the game is a little grindy, especially at later levels. You do unlock permanent upgrades the more you play, but enemies at later levels do feel like damage sponges. This is only a problem when you’re stuck on a bad run.

Thoughts

I enjoyed The Book of Warriors. The art is cute and the gameplay is relaxing. I enjoyed it for the change of pace that it offered, but I don’t see it being my main roguelike. While I appreciate the simplicity, the grind gets old after a while. You’ll get $8 worth of fun from this game, but it isn’t replacing anything in your current library. I would pick this up if you want a break from your current rotation but don’t want a massive commitment. If you enjoy tactical RPGs, or simply want to get into a new one, this is a solid option. You can pick up The Book of Warriors on Steam now for $7.99. It is currently on sale for $5.59 for the next 48 hours of writing this.

video game reviews

Pyrene: A Unique Deck Builder Coming to PC. Try it Today!

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I was sent the Pyrene demo to cover for my blog. It is a little too early to review it completely, but I will be as honest as possible with my impressions. If you enjoy my reviews and content, please leave a like, comment, follow the socials, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee. 

What is Pyrene

Pyryne is a deck building roguelike coming to Steam. Monsters have destroyed your village, and it is up to you to rebuild and save the towns people. Do you have what it takes to restore Pyrene to its former glory, and rid the land of its evil?

Gameplay

Pyrene is a unique deck builder because it involves movement. Each encounter has a board that fills with randomly generated monsters, items, and artifacts. The RNG is relatively fair, but I did have a couple of runs where the odds were stacked against me. The goal is to clear the win condition without dying. The game feels like a puzzle because the game rewards efficiency. 

Like most roguelikes, the more you play Prylene, the stronger your character becomes. You get access to new power-ups, buildings, and cards to help you with your journey. This also means the loop is somewhat repetitive, but it doesn’t feel like a grind. The game is very relaxing but with enough of a challenge to keep things engaging.  

Impressions

This is a good demo that paints a solid picture of what to expect from Pyrene. It looks great, plays well, and most importantly, the demo is fun. I loved that every encounter felt like a puzzle, and each puzzle had enough of a challenge to keep me wanting more. If you are in the market for a new deck builder, I recommend you pick up the Pyrene Demo. I’ll be working on getting the full version for review, but so far, I am impressed.

video game reviews

Crumbling: The Unique VR Hack and Slash

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I was sent Crumbling for free 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. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. If you’re looking for accessories for your VR headset, like magnetic prescription lenses or a high-quality charging cable, get it at ZyberVR. Use discount code CHURAPE for 15% off. You can also always buy me coffee. 

What is Crumbling

Crumbling is a cute 3rd person hack and slash action roguelike available now on the Meta Quest and Steam VR. Take control of your favorite adorable Crumbling and fight through a unique fantasy adventure. Can you collect them all? 

Gameplay

Like any roguelike, players will repeat each run fighting against unique enemies and earning randomly generated powerups and new crumbles to play with. What makes Crumbling unique is its combat. Players move their crumbling around like one would an action figure. Crumblings have access to a light attack, a heavy attack, and a dodge. The game gets incredibly creative with its spatial mechanics. Players can move the crumbling anywhere within the map space. 

While the game is adorable from top to bottom, the game is harder than it appears. Players have to think about attacks and positioning in a 3D stage, taking players back to a nostalgic era when we fought with our action figures. 

Thoughts

The game is cute and has a surprising amount of depth. I am impressed by how they can use 3D effectively to create its unique combat system. That said, my issue with Crumbling is with the gameplay. Moving through the toy shop to set up between each run feels cumbersome, and combat is tiring. My reach felt insufficient, and it put me in awkward and uncomfortable positions during combat. I couldn’t play this game for long because of the discomfort it caused, but I might be an odd example. 

This game isn’t for me, but I can appreciate the unique attempt at the genre. The combat has enough depth to be engaging, and it runs well. Dodging enemies from every direction is such an interesting concept. If you don’t mind waving around your Crumbling wildly through combat, the game isn’t bad. 

Conclusion

The game is cute, and the combat is interesting, but it felt like too much work. It is a bit too complicated for a kid’s game, but the neat nostalgic gimmick might be enough to satisfy the small niche it is meant to fill. I don’t think it’s a game that will get much play after the novelty wears away, so I can’t recommend it. Try the demo first before making your decision.

You can pick up Crumbling for $19.99 on Meta Quest and Steam VR.

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Check out the Realm of Ink Demo Today!

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The Realm of Ink demo is now live on Steam. If you are looking for a new action roguelike to sink some time into, download this demo today! The demo is only 40 minutes long, but you’re going to want more. 

If you enjoy my content, please leave a comment, like, follow, and share this with your friends!

Hook

Realm of Ink is a short story collection controlled by the Book Spirit. For the most part, characters within its pages live their lives as written. This changes when on a hunt for a cunning Fox Spirit, Red discovers that everything around her is a fabrication. After her awakening, Red makes her journey through this fictional world to find out the truth of the Book Spirit. What secrets will she learn along the way?

Gameplay

Thoughts

The full version of the game will give players access to different characters, spirits, and upgrades, but the demo is limited to one character, chapter, and a limited selection of upgrades and spirits. While I was left wanting more, the provides players with a solid grasp of the gameplay loop. 

Real of Ink plays like your traditional Rogulike. Players start each round with a random spirit and earn random upgrades as they move through the levels. Champions have access to a light attack, a heavy attack, and two spirit abilities. 

These types of games are repetitive by design, but there is enough RNG in this game to make each run feel different. I ran through the demo version a few times and never had the same build twice. Some builds are better than others, but that is the nature of RNG. 

Red is a cool champion with three loadouts. Players start the demo with the single sword but can unlock a duel wield version for faster attacks and a ranged attack after you end your first run. Each loadout plays differently, which keeps the game feeling fresh. I preferred the ranged version of Red because I had a lot of fun kitting in this game. 

Realm of Ink is beautiful, and I recommend you check it out to appreciate its art style. The demo also has fun flavor, and an amazing soundtrack. The gameplay was fun. Combat was great, leveling was fast and easy, RNG seemed fair, and the spirits gave fun abilities. I don’t like that you start the game with one spirit and have to find the second through RNG. 

The only complaint I have is that in some runs, I only had access to one spirit ability. This felt like a disadvantage, especially when it came to the boss fight. I hope spirits are easier to collect on full release because it is the mechanic that gave the game its unique flavor.

The demo is short, but it was long enough to get me excited. I need a little more story and gameplay before I can form a full opinion. If you’re looking for something new to play, check out the Real of Ink demo. It’s free, it’s fun, and it isn’t a huge commitment. 

We don’t have an official release date, but I will be trying to get my hands on a copy when it comes out. Stay tuned for that. If you enjoy my content, please leave a comment, like, follow, and share this with your friends!