Tag Archives: rpg

Board Games and TCGs

Dragonbane out now!

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Dragonbane just released. You can pick up your copy of the core book and everything you need from the official Free League Publishing website. I recommend you check them out if you want to experiment with a new system. They have some neat and award-winning content that might be worth a gander. 

I’ve written about my excitement for Dragonbane before, I have been following the development as closely as my time allows. I believe the system introduces some neat mechanics, and the book is beautifully illustrated. 

If you would like to try the system, there is a free Quickstart PDF you can download from DriveThru RPG. The guide comes with a basic rule set, pre-generated characters, and an adventure you can run through to get you started. I am still working on convincing my playgroup to try it out, but the tools are available for those who are ready. I’m hoping it can be our next campaign, even if it’s a short one. 

If you would like to see live gameplay, options are a bit limited until Dragonbane gets a bit more traction. Proficiency Bonus is currently running a Dragonbane campaign on Twitch, and you can find the VODs on their Youtube channel. The first episode has some sound issues, and there is some fumbling on the rules, but I am not expecting anyone to be an expert. I like that the game doesn’t feel scripted and that I got to see the mechanics in action. 

Dragonbane introduces some interesting battle mechanics and races that I would love to mess around with. Definitely check it out if you are looking for a new system, or just need a break from D&D. At the very least you will have a very pretty rule book, and maybe some cool game pieces you can use for your other RPGS. 

Dragonbane Core Set ($45.61)

  • Rulebook with fast and effective D20-based game rules for character creation, skills, combat, magic, and travel
  • Adventures book with eleven complete adventures, to be played separately or tied together in the epic Secret of the Dragon Emperor campaign
  • The booklet Alone in Deepfall Breach letting you play Dragonbane solo
  • Huge full-color map of the Misty Vale
  • Illustrated playing cards for adventures, treasure, and more
  • Ten transparent polyhedral dice, including two custom D20s
  • Five pregenerated characters
  • Five blank character sheets
  • Cardboard standees for characters and monsters
  • Double-sided battle mat

Dragonbane Bundle ($84.62) On sale now for $63.92

  • A copy of the boxed Dragonbane Core Set
  • A deluxe Dragonbane GM Screen
  • An extra Dragonbane Dice Set

Foundry VTT Module – Dragonbane Core ($22.71)

This is the digital only version for those of us who can only play online. This version is 60% off if you buy it with the a physical copy of the rules. I use Foundry VTT for all my D&D campaigns and can’t recommend it enough if you want to play it online. Even if you don’t buy into this system, you should definitely buy into Foundry VTT.

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Songs of Silence closed beta sign ups are now open

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Signups for the Songs of Silence closed beta for PC, which goes live on August 14th, are now open. Sign up to test out what looks to be a beautiful and unique strategy game for PC and console. Song of Silence promises to be a story-rich game, with a fantastic soundtrack, and competitive multiplayer.

Play as a young queen in search of a safe place for her people in story mode, or fight online in a competitive multiplayer mode.

Combat is turn-based. It looks like you can summon units or cast spells using cards. It reminds me a bit of a game like a clash royal, but with a bigger field to play with. Players will have control of a hero who will have unique abilities to help their armies earn their victories. They will also have access to 1000’s units, spells, and unique heroes for almost limitless combinations.

The closed beta will have three biomes available: The Light Side, The Dark Side, and the Silence. Each biome comes with a unique landscape, factions, and units. It is a great time to try the game out if you are interested in the game. Keep in mind, the beta will be rough and unfinished, so don’t judge it too harshly if you get in. The beta exists to test the game so that the devs can make it better at release, not as a demo for the actual product. I’ve already signed up and am now waiting to see if I get in. Make sure you join the official discord to stay up to date on all the news, and don’t forget to add it to your wishlist.

Songs of Silence is a very pretty game , and with Hitoshi Sakimoto as a composer, the soundtrack is going to be amazing! I am warming up to strategy games, and this one looked manageable enough for my skill level. I will be receiving my review copy when the game comes out, so stay tuned for that!

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I picked up Revita and thought it was cute and fun, but is it worth it?

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I picked up Revita for the Nintendo Switch because I was in the market for a casual game that didn’t require much commitment. The game features cute art, a fantastic soundtrack, and promised gameplay that seemed manageable with my current skill level. Revita delivered on most of my expectations. The game is a fun casual journey through a cute world that I will continue to pick up.

Revita is a unique twin-stick shooter roguelite with procedural dungeons. There is a story, but it serves more as flavor rather than creates the game’s identity. 

The gameplay loop for Revita is simple. You start each run with a set amount of life and fight through the floors of enemies until you either clear the tower or die and start again. Each floor is randomly generated, making each attempt feel unique. The RNG isn’t always fair, but you can easily and quickly restart without losing your progress. 

What makes this game unique is that it uses life as a currency. You can trade life for randomly generated upgrades at shrines or stores to give your character an edge against the monsters and bosses. There aren’t many chances to regenerate life. Life in Revita is a precious resource and the source of many difficult decisions. How much life will you be willing to sacrifice for power?

Revita is a game where you will die a lot by design. As you play the game and collect resources that you can use to buy permanent upgrades that make future runs easier. This game has a grind, but it doesn’t feel soul-crushing. The gameplay is a bit repetitive, but I found the repetition relaxing. That said, this isn’t a game I can main or no life because the loop gets stale after a while. This is a game you pick up in quick bouts when you don’t have enough time to game or are just looking for a quick and fun distraction.

I had a lot of fun with Revita. The art is great, the soundtrack is amazing, and the gameplay is solid. While I don’t necessarily regret my purchase, $17 is a bit too much for this game. Unless you know you are going to love this game and will be putting hundreds of hours into it, I would wait for it to go on sale. You can pick up Revita on Switch and Steam for $16.99. It is currently on sale on Steam for $11.04 until August 7th.

Don’t forget to check out the soundtrack!

video game reviews

I was wrong about Krzyżacy: The Knights of the Cross, the game was rather disappointing

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I was sent Krzyżacy – The Knights of the Cross as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will not let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Krzyżacy – The Knights of the Cross is a pixel art deck builder based on a book of the same name. Unfortunately, the English localization is bad. I stopped reading the story early on because the effort isn’t worth it. The source material might be worth reading, but this adaptation isn’t. With only gameplay left, there wasn’t much reason for me to keep playing once the novelty wore off. Krzyżacy – The Knights of the Cross becomes a boring grind with cute pixel art, but you can find a better game elsewhere.  

Like most deck builders, you start the game with a basic deck and slowly build a stronger one as you progress through the campaign. What makes this deck builder unique is that you can recruit units to help you in battles. These units will perform actions based on the combination of cards you play during a turn. This creates an interesting dynamic where you are trying to create combos from your hand that synergizes with your companions. The problem I have with this system is that if you don’t meet the basic requirements for an action, the unit sits idle. This game is not forgiving when it comes to the action economy, and wasted turns result in more unnecessary grind. 

I recommend you look up guides or build toward a two-color deck early on to make sure you play efficiently. The amount of gold and xp you earn and the global healing you can do is limited. These limits are standard in the genre. The problem is that you can get stuck in the campaign if you haven’t been using your gold wisely. Most deck builders let you easily redo the run, but Krzyżacy forces you to sit through the cut scenes and restart from zero. This is great if you are good at these games and love the strategy, but bad for the casual players. There are global perks you can earn by playing the game that alleviate some of this grind, but it stops being worth the trouble. The game is short enough that the reset isn’t a huge issue, but I couldn’t find the motivation for a second one.

Don’t get me wrong. I like that this game offers difficult choices to its players and rewards efficiency, but I wish the story was better and it was easier to reset the run. I kept hitting a point where I didn’t have money to buy companions, cards, or heals, and my deck wasn’t strong enough to get through the story, and I couldn’t justify going through the grind. 

If you are looking for a fun deck builder, there are better options. The art is cool and it introduces interesting mechanics, but as is, this game isn’t worth buying into. The localization of the story isn’t good, and the gameplay isn’t fun enough to justify the price. You can get it on Steam for $14.99, but I suggest you hold off for a sale or some major updates. 

Board Games and TCGs, gaming news

Dragonbane is coming to Gen Con!

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I’ve written about the upcoming Dragonbane RPG book in a previous post. I recommend you check that out first because I won’t be repeating too much of the technical information. Dragonbane is a TTRPG that is getting its newest edition in August. It has some very cool art and some interesting mechanics. If you are looking for a new RPG system, it might be worth looking into Dragonbane. Preorders are still open on the official site. The Dragonbane bundle is currently on sale for $66.70 (normally $80.30), so now might be the perfect time to grab your copy. There is also a free quick start guide you can download from Drivethru RPG if you’d like to try the game out first.

If you are going to Gen Con this year, make sure you stop by the official Free League booth (#2641). They’ll have demos, live games, and a panel you should check out if you have any questions. Free League Publishing will be hosting games throughout Gen Con, so make sure you drop by game room #138 if you want to try out one of their systems. Don’t forget to sign up for their showcase on Thursday, August 3rd at 11 am in room ICC #244. The panelists include:

  • Tomas Härenstam, co-founder of Free League and lead game designer of the Dragonbane, Blade Runner RPG, ALIEN RPG, Twilight: 2000, Forbidden Lands, and Mutant: Year Zero.
  • Luke Stratton, designer of the upcoming MÖRK BORG spin-off game PIRATE BORG
  • Johan Nohr and Christian Sahlén, designers of MÖRK BORG and CY_BORG
  • Carl Niblaeus, designer of Death in Space
  • Kiku Pukk Härenstam, co-writer of Vaesen: Seasons of Mystery and Vaesen: A Wicked Secret

If you are interested in seeing gameplay, Glass Cannon Labs will be running a two-hour live play of Dragonbane next Friday, August 4th, at 10 AM ET at their booth (#174). Make sure to check out their Twitch if you are interested in Free League Publishing’s other systems. 

I’m always looking for a new RPG system to try, this one seemed pretty neat so I thought I would share. Go check it out and let me know what you think!

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Revita: The retro twin-stick roguelike you might need in your collection

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Revita is an interesting-looking twin-shooter roguelike that I just came across. It has a cool art style, a fantastic soundtrack, and fun-looking gameplay. If you are looking for a game with a solid retro arcade feel, you might want to consider looking into Revita.  

Play as a nameless child who has lost all their memories. Fight your way through procedurally generated floors and mobs of monsters to piece together the mystery of what has been lost. What secrets lie within the walls of this ominous tower? You will have to play to find out. 

The art in this game looks so good. I love pixel art and adore this renaissance of pixel art games we are going through. I hope Revita can be included in that because it’s such a pretty game. The soundtrack is what mostly sells it for me because it is phenomenal. I am listening to it now, and I recommend you do the same so that you can also get hyped for this game. I am pretty sure the score alone has convinced me to pick this game up for myself. 

Aesthetics aside, the game looks fun to play. It promises nearly unlimited builds, unique runs, and lots of customization so that you can play the game how you want. You will have access to settings that make the game as casual or hard-core as you want, such as adjustable aim assist, speed, and enemy visibility. The platforming is where I might have an issue with this game because I am not good at it, but it looks fun enough that I am willing to set prejudices aside. The combat looks easy enough to learn, but hard enough to keep the game engaging. It is hard to know how good the game will be from the trailer alone, but I will be picking it up for the Switch and getting that review out as soon as I can. Stay tuned for that.  

You can pick up Revita now for the Switch, PlayStation, and PC for $16.99. Nintendo has it on sale for $13.59 until July 26. Pre-orders for the deluxe edition of the game are also available if you want the poster, an acrylic standee, and some extra swag for €34.99. The deluxe edition is expected to release later this year, but no date has been announced yet. 

REVITA NINTENDO SWITCH™ (DELUXE EDITION)

REVITA PS4™ (DELUXE EDITION)

REVITA PS5™ (DELUXE EDITION)

video game reviews

Backpack Hero: The inventory management roguelike you should be playing

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I was sent Backpack Hero as a review code, and while I am grateful for the opportunity, I will not let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game.

Backpack Hero is a charming little inventory roguelike that deserves a lot more attention. It has a cute art style, a nice soundtrack, and fun gameplay. This game is a lot more fun than an early-access game has the right to be. If you are looking for a chill game that will challenge you, get Backpack Hero.

Dive through procedurally generated dungeons as you fight enemies, find treasure, and manage your inventory. Space in your bag is limited, so choose carefully. How will you brave the unknown? Will you use magic? Poison? Swords? Ninja stars? The choice is yours! (and RNGesus’)

Players start with limited inventory space and gain more as their character levels. Dungeons are full of monsters, treasure, and random events that award players loot to shuffle around. Weapons, items, armor, and potions have unique skills that can interact with each other based on their placement in the backpack. Inventory management is almost like a deck builder as you work towards specific builds by collecting certain items.

As deceptively simple as this game appears, I spent a lot of time theory crafting and optimizing my build only to have my run ended by an enemy or ability I didn’t plan for. Losing was never a frustrating experience in Backpack Hero. I understood my shortcomings and planned for a better run. There are special challenges you can run if the normal game because too easy, but I mostly played in normal because I enjoyed the chill yet challenging vibe that came with it. 

What I liked most about this game is how different every run felt. I never had the same build, even when I started building toward a familiar one. There was always something dumb and alluring I wanted to try. It didn’t always work out, but I had a lot of fun exploring and testing my options. The combat is a little simple. It is turn-based, and what you can do is limited by action points. You spend your action points by casting spells, attacking with weapons, or blocking with shields. I never felt like combat got stale because my strategy was constantly changing. Some runs were more fun than others, but such is life with RNGesus. 

Inventory management is the most important mechanic in Backpack Hero. If you’ve played any MMO or RPG, you’ve become too familiar with the concept. I used to joke that most of my playtime on Guild Wars 2 was spent in my inventory. In Backpack Hero, you will consistently make difficult choices as you arrange and rearrange your bag. What you choose to keep in your bag affects how you play each round, so make sure you choose carefully. There are vendors and special events that will give you access to random and sometimes cool items, a smith that will upgrade your gear, and cursed items that will mess up your whole strategy. I spent a lot of time theory-crafting the perfect build and had a blast doing it, even if I never got impressively far. There are probably guides out there for the most optimal run, but I recommend you fail a couple of times on your own first.

If you have been considering getting this game or looking for a new game to get into, Backpack Hero is worth every penny. It is a cute casual game with enough kick to it to keep you entertained for hours. You can buy Backpack Hero on Steam for $16.99. Now would be a great time to pick it up because it is 20% off ($13.59) until the 13th.

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Monolith: Requiem of the Ancients: A colorful adventure coming pc and consoles early 2024

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If you are looking for an action-adventure game to add to your collection, you might want to look into Monolith: Requiem of the Ancients. I just saw the trailer, and it looks like a fun and whimsical adventure I’d love to go on.  

Monolith: Requiem of the Ancients is a third-person action-adventure game coming to PC, Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox in early 2024. The world of Gliese is threatened by an ancient evil, and it is up to Astor to save it. Play as the young warrior as he explores a mystical world, solves puzzles, fights monsters, and uncovers the secrets that will save his planet. 

I love the cartoonish and colorful aesthetic of this game. I find the art style cute, and the world looks like something I’d love to explore. Aesthetics aside, the combat is what draws me the most about this game. Monolith promises an engaging combo-based combat system, and based on the trailer, it looks well done. I am very curious to see how magic works in this game because the few moments where Astor uses magic left me hyped for the title. I would need to see more before making an informed decision, but what I’ve seen so far has convinced me enough to add it to my wishlist.

Monolith: Requiem of the Ancients has an interesting vibe that I am very much about. I will be following the game closely, but I recommend you add it to your wishlist to stay up to date. 

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The Bridge Curse: Road to Salvation – The creepy looking survival game that is looking to be a solid scary story

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The Bridge Curse: Road to Salvation is a horror game coming to PS5, Xbox, and Switch. No release date has been announced yet, but preorders for the physical copies of this game go on sale on the 15th for PS5 and Switch only. There are also collector editions of the game for those interested in the swag.

Six university friends investigate a well-known urban legend, but what they find is a lot more than they bargained for. The group has awoken an ancient curse. Now they must survive the night as vengeful ghosts hunt for them. Do you have what it takes to solve the mystery and survive the night?

Play as one of the students and try to survive one of the longest nights as you stealthy explore a creepy and immersive setting, solve puzzles, and experience what looks to be a well-presented narrative. The art and graphics look great, the setting looks scary, and the voice acting is fantastic. Of course, this opinion is based on the trailer, but the trailer did enough to creep me out.

I don’t really play horror or stealth games, but this is going on my watch list. Hopefully, I can muster enough courage to play through this game, even if it has to be with the lights on. If you don’t want to wait for the console release, you can pick it up on Steam for $19.99. It is currently on sale for $13.99 until the 13th. There is also a demo you can try if you need more convincing.

Folks looking for a physical copy of this game, you can preorder your copy for the PS5 and Switch on the 13th.

You can also get the collectors edition for the PS5 and the Switch if you are interested in the artbook and a few extra goodies:

  • The Bridge Curse Collector’s Box
  • The Bridge Curse Game (region free)
  • The Bridge Curse Manual
  • The Bridge Curse Original Soundtrack CD
  • The Bridge Curse Artbook
  • The Bridge Curse Numbered Certificate
video game reviews

The 5 games from the 6.21 Nintendo Direct I am most excited for

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The last time I covered a Nintendo Direct, I listed every game presented. That was a bit overkill, so I have narrowed the list to the games I am most excited about. These are the games announced in the Nintendo Direct that I am considering getting for myself, and the list is in no particular order. Anything I leave out isn’t bad, it just isn’t my vibe.

STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R

I lied in my introduction and will lead with the game I am most excited about, STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R. I am always in the market for a solid RPG, and this one looks great. I love the art, the mechanics seem solid, and I’ve only heard good things about the story. This is a reboot of the original game with promises of a better player experience. There will be new art, mechanics, and quality-of-life changes that fans should be happy about. I love that Nintendo is digging into its classic library and brining back a lot of titles that I missed out on and bringing them into the modern era of gaming. I know I could play the original by other means, but I like the convenience of playing on my Switch. STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R releases on November 2, 2023. Preorders aren’t open yet, but you can wishlist it.

Persona 5 Tactica

I have an odd relationship with strategy games. Historically I have not been a fan, but I have been sent a few good ones that have changed my opinions of the genre. I am genuinely excited for Persona 5 Tactica because it looks like a lot of fun. The art style is cute, the gameplay looks manageable, and I always end up buying Persona games. Persona 5 Tactica is set to release on November 17, 2023. It isn’t open for pre-orders yet, but you can wishlist it. I would wait to see if they come out with a collectors edition because they always load those up with cute must-haves. 

DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: The Dark Prince

I know this one will be a bit controversial because it is a Pokemon clone, but it can’t be worse than Scarlet and Violet. I remember playing Monster Warrior Monsters back in the day and loving every minute of it, so I am getting this DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS for the taste of nostalgia. Dragon Quest games are generally a good time, so I feel like it is one of the safer games on my list. I love the art, the story seems interesting, and who doesn’t want another monster-catching game? DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: The Dark Prince comes out on December 1, 2023. Pre-orders aren’t open yet, but you can wishlist it till then. 

Silent Hope

As I’ve mentioned before, I am always in the market for RPGs, and Silent Hope is a cute one I can get behind. The story seems interesting, and the art and combat style remind me of Dragalia Lost. I loved Dragalia Lost, and I am still sad Nintendo shut it down. I am here for anything that can capture the spirit of that game. Silent Hope comes out on October 3, 2023. Don’t forget to Wishlist it!

Gloomhaven

Gloomhaven is getting ported to the Switch, and I couldn’t be more excited. Gloomhaven is one of the board games I would love to play if I had friends to play with. Until then, I will have to settle for the video game adaptation, which is a pretty solid experience. The mechanics are fun, and the art is great. I can’t wait to be able to sit back on the couch and play this game. Gloomhaven on September 18, 2023, and you can pre-order your copy today! The Mercinaries Edition is $39.99, and the Gold Edition is $49.99

This holiday season is going to be rough on my wallet. There is a lot more to see, so make sure check out the full announcement if you have time. If you’ve been enjoying my content, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe. Make sure you share my posts with your friends. Until next time, thanks for reading!

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