Free League Publishing releases their Building Better Worldsmodule for their award-winning Alien: The Roleplaying Game on January 16th. You can preorder your copy of Building Better Worlds ($46.03) from the official shop today.
Build Better Worlds is the RPG’s second story module. It promises a new action pact adventure as players explore uncharted loss worlds and face never-before-seen Xenomorphic creatures. The module introduces new gear, ships, and character options to freshen up your next campaign.
Building Better Worlds is only an expansion. You’ll need to core the rule book in either physical or digital format to play the game. Keep in mind that buying any of the physical copies gives you instant access to the PDF version. You can pick up copies of the Core Rulebook ($54.70), Starter Set ($51.81), or any other expansions on the official Free League Publishing website.
I got an early copy of the book, and it looks amazing. I am always amazed at how full of authentic flavor these movie-themed games always turn out to be. I haven’t had a chance to play this game but will review it as soon as I can. Probably after all my Dragonbane content. Until then, if you’re a fan of the Alien franchise, or simply looking for a horror RPG to bring to your table, you should definitely look into Alien: The Roleplaying Game. Don’t forget to preorder your copy of Building Better Worldswhile you’re at it.
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The Electric State Roleplaying Game Kickstarter campaign just went live, and it was fully funded after only half an hour. That’s a fantastic sign for a beautifully illustrated RPG with an interesting concept.
The year is 1997, and the world is on the brink of collapse. America faces its second civil war. People find escape through cheap VR headsets but become lost in the Electric State. Set off on an adventure through a war-torn countryside, and occasionally risk becoming lost yourself. The goal of this game isn’t the end but the journey you make.
The Electric State Roleplaying Game is based on Simon Stålenhag’s art book of the same name. The art is beautiful, and if you are a fan of the art book, the RPG will feature never-before pieces from the same collection. There’s a movie in the works, which I hope is as awesome as this book looks.
The game uses Free League Publishing’s Year Zero Engine, which I have been enjoying a lot. I love the flavor. What’s not to love about a post-apocalyptic 90’s aesthetic? If you like sci-fi and story-driven adventures, or what promises to be a very pretty rulebook, you’re going to want to look into this Kickstarter. The Kickstarter runs until December 20. People who are back during the first 24 hours of the campaign also get a bonus 216mm x 279mm print of the cover art for display. Backers of the Kickstarter will also get access to an alpha rulebook to get their journey started.
If you don’t like physical media, the PDF is $24. You’ll get access to everything you need to get started instantly, and any of the early versions as well.
If you want the book in your library, there are two levels you’ll need to consider. Both come with PDFs and all the stretch goals. $87 gets you the regular book, and $127 gets you a special edition only available to Kickstarter patrons. If you’re a fan of the art book or know this will be your main RPG for a while, there’s nothing wrong with paying a little extra for the special edition book. Whether you back or not, it’s worth at least looking at the project to appreciate its art.
I’ll be reviewing the game as soon as I get a copy. Stay tuned for that. If you enjoy these updates, make sure you leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.
Eldritch Automata launches its campaign on Kickstarter on January 2nd, and it just might be the horror RPG you need at your table. Eldritch Automata uses the Year Zero Engine that combines anime, science fiction, and horror in what promises to be a frightening and memorable experience. I’ve gotten a taste of the Year Zero System through Dragonbane, and I’ve been enjoying it. It’s easy to learn, and unique enough to provide a memorable experience. Putting this into a world of Kaijus, mechs, and other abominations seems like a good time.
Society has fallen. Eldritch Horrors and nightmarish Seraphs reign chaos over a dying world. Humanity’s only hope rests on the shoulders of pilots and their Automota, but this is no easy task. Pilots must brave the monsters that terrorize them and the demons that dwell inside them. Do you have the willpower and fortitude to be the hero the world needs, or will you be another resource in this game of survival?
The game will be revealed at PAX Unplugged in Philadelphia happening this weekend. If you’re attending, make sure you hit up the Gehenna Gaming game room to try it for yourself or head over to their booth (3750) to ask them any questions. I have to see more before I buy into the system, but I am interested. I love that it will introduce mech combat, but the moral mechanic adds a level of complexity I am here for.
Make sure you add the Eldritch Automata Kickstarter to your watch list so you get notified the moment it goes live. If you enjoy these updates, make sure you leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.
I know this is late, but work has been crazy. Make sure you always support the original. If you enjoy this project, please leave me a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. Thank you for reading!
Eiji walks out of the shower wearing clean clothes. The stream empties into the room. He smiles as the sound of Loogamon’s voice carries over the bathroom fan behind him. Eiji walks into the living room and finds Tartarus sitting across from Loogamon.
“Thanks for sticking around…” Eiji makes out before tripping over a pile of clothes on the floor. Worry and disgust creep into his expression as he looks over the mess in his apartment. “Sorry about the mess…It’s been a ..week.” He scrubs his hair dry before making his way to his guest.
Tartarus gives Eiji a sympathetic smile. “Don’t worry, my place looks the same. I’m sorry I barged in unannounced.”
Eiji shakes his head. “Not at all…er…Who are you again?”
The man smirks as he takes a sip of his coffee. “They call me Tartarus.”
Eiji bows, “I am Eiji Nagasumi. Nice to meet you.”
“The pleasure is mine and..Dorumon’s”. Tartarus raises his wrist to press a button on his Digimon Linker. A small purple-winged fox appears next to the man. Dorumon’s wings flap gently as it floats next to his partner. The gem on its forehead glimmers in the apartment’s dim light.
“It’s the raggedy Digimon from the Wall Slums,” Loogamon barks.
“My name isn’t Raggedy, its Dorumon!”
“This is my friend and partner,” Tartarus adds.
“Wait… You’re the interviewer?!” Eiji exclaims, putting the pieces together.
Tartarus nods.
Character design/illustration illustrator: malo
“I don’t understand…Why would you be the one to oversee the tests? Unless…You already knew about my deal with Ryusenji.”
Dorumon lets out a chuckle. “Marvin was right. You look dumb, but you’re observant.”
“Wait..What?”
“It’s the raggedy Digimon from the Wall Slums,” Loogamon barks.
“My name isn’t Raggedy, its Dorumon!”
“This is my friend and partner,” Tartarus adds.
“Wait… You’re the interviewer?!” Eiji exclaims, putting the pieces together.
Tartarus nods.
“I don’t understand…Why would you be the one to oversee the tests? Unless…You already knew about my deal with Ryusenji.”
Dorumon lets out a chuckle. “Marvin was right. You look dumb, but you’re observant.”
“Wait. What did…”
“We know Ryusenji sent you to spy on us,” Dorumon interrupts. “We’ve always known.”
“And you let us join anyway?” Eiji asks, unsure where to turn his attention.
Dorumon shrugs. “We needed your skills. Besides, you saved Marvin’s life. Thanks for that by the way.”
Eiji stares blankly at the Digimon. “Yeah, no problem…”
“So you can be polite,” Loogamon adds, mocking the fox.
Dorumon ignores Loogamon. “We knew we could trust you because the professor trusts you.”
“I didn’t know the professor had that much pull with the Sons of Chaos.” Eiji opens his energy drink and takes a sip. The cool liquid soothes his throat as it goes down. Eiji suddenly remembers something. “So what were you planning to do with the Machinedramon?”
Tartarus sets his coffee down and clears his throat. “I guess it’s my turn,” he mutters. The change in tone catches Eiji off guard. “It’s a story that now involves the two of you…”
“Wait, so we’re just part of your plan?” Eiji asks.
“It’s a little more complicated than that. There are a lot of moving parts. A lot of unplanned…complications.
“I don’t care what your plan is, Eiji and I are saving Leon and Pulsemon,” Loogamon barks suddenly.
“That’s why I am here. But…we’re the ones who sent you after Leon in the first place.”
“Yeah but…” Eiji begins to tear up. “Leon is DMIA because of my mistakes. No one deserves that.”
“Then we want the same things,” Duromon chimes in. Eiji eyes the pair suspiciously. They were hiding something, but Eiji couldn’t make out what. “Tartarus started the Sons of Choas to help those who went DMIA.”
The words trigger something in Eiji. He turns to Tartarus. “Earlier you told me you knew how it felt to lose someone. I thought you’ve never lost anyone during a mission?”
“Well, he…” Dorumon starts, but Tartarus raises his hand to stop the explanation.
“That’s a misunderstanding,” Tartarus pauses to let out a long sigh. “I was the first person to ever lose someone in the Digital world…Bit I’m never making that mistake again!” Tartarus speaks with reassuring conviction.
The small apartment remains quiet for a few moments as Eiji struggles to find a response. Curiosity gets the better of him. “How did it happen?”
I was sent SteamWorld Build as a review code. 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 me a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.
SteamWorld Build launches on Xbox, Switch, PlayStation, and Steam on December 1st. If you enjoy village builders or are in the market for a new game, you need to buy this game.
Take command of a group of robot settlers as they make their last-ditch effort to escape a dying planet. Together, they must build a settlement, recruit new citizens, and mine for the materials that will lead to salvation. But getting off-world won’t be easy. Can you find a way off the planet before the monsters destroy your settlement?
SteamWorld Build is an adorable addition to the SteamWorld universe and a must-have for any fan of the series. The game does a wonderful job of capturing the quirky and delightful vibe of the franchise without sacrificing any of the fun. You don’t need to have played any of the other games to understand the story, but you are going to want to after. SteamWorld games are always a quirky good time and a fantastic addition to any library.
The art, graphics, and animation for this game are adorable. The scrappy design reminds me of the Warhammer 40k Ork Aesthetic, and I love it! If you are a fan of the SteamWorld games, you’ll appreciate the attention to detail put into capturing the essence of the series. If you aren’t a fan, you’ll appreciate the amount of detail put into bringing this world to life. Little details like watching them walk through the wash or getting a drink at the saloon as they carry on their tasks make the experience feel vibrant and alive.
Be prepared to lose a couple of days as you scrutinize the most efficient way to grow your settlement. I had so much fun with SteamWorld Build that it became an addiction. I restarted a few times as I tried the different maps and strategies until finally forcing myself away long enough to write this review. The casual gameplay yet engaging gameplay, the cute and quirky gameplay, and the pacing all come together to create an experience worth having.
SteamWorld Build is a fantastic blend of village building, resource management, and tower defense. It starts like any traditional village builder, with limited resources and a space to build. As the settlement grows, new mechanics are introduced to keep the game feeling fresh. Each world is split into four levels, each with unique gameplay and design. At the top is a basic settlement game where players recruit new citizens, keep them happy, and trade with the passing train. Lower levels introduce a mining game where players dig for resources, maintain the mine’s stability, and defend against oncoming threats. The lower you go, the more dangerous it is. It feels like playing three games at once, but it never becomes overwhelming. Building inefficiently does impede your progression, but I wouldn’t worry about that until your second or third playthrough. I recommend you go into this game as blindly as possible before looking up guides because learning from your mistakes is half the fun.
I love SteamWorld Build and recommend anyone looking for a new game these holidays to pick it up. It’s cute, it’s casual, and an addicting amount of fun. SteamWorld comes out on Xbox, Switch, PlayStation, and Steam on December 1st. Don’t forget to wishlist if you haven’t done so already!
Make sure you always support the original story, but I’ll continue to release my version the Monday after the official release. If you’ve been enjoying this project, please make sure you leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.
Eiji takes the next few days after the incident wallowing in his small apartment. Guilt weighs heavily on his soul. The images of Kazuchimon pulling Omnimon into the vortex haunt him constantly. It is his fault Leon is DMIA.
Eiji regretted answering the Professor’s ad. He regretted taking his job offer. He regretted joining the Sons of Chaos and plotting against his friend. It’s the regret that left him feeling so helpless.
He spent most of his days lying in bed and staring into the darkness. He would only get up to vomit what little stomach acid he had left. The depression dulls his hunger, not that he could keep anything down anyway.
“Are you just going to wallow in your pitty till you die?” Loogamon asks.
Eiji blinks and stares blankly into space. His eyes are red and puffy. “It was my fault…” he manages in a gruff voice. “It was my fault you turned into Helloogarmon and went berserk.”
“Yeah,” Loogamon chirps. “I would have never messed up so badly.” A smirk creeps up its face.
Eiji sighs. “I just had to beat him. I needed to beat him…” Eiji’s voice trails.
“I wanted to win too. I wasn’t about to lose to Pulsemon.”
Tears begin to creep over the corners of his eyes. “That’s the difference. You didn’t want to lose, I was terrified of losing… I had so much to lose.” Eiji fights back his tears thinking about the frivolity of it all. “I didn’t want to lose the trust of the Sons of Chaos….I didn’t want to let the Professor down. I didn’t want to lose it all and go back to how it used to be…before.” Eiji thinks about the times when he barely made enough to make it paycheck to paycheck. He remembers the struggle of constantly searching for the odd job.
“Well, let’s do something about it. Let’s go save Leon and Pulsemon!”
Eiji sits up and looks down from his nest. It had been a while since he moved or did much of anything. He watches Loogamon who waits eagerly for an answer. He lets out a long sigh and wipes the tears from his cheeks. He jumps down from his bed and lands on the floor with a thud. “Alright. Let’s do it!”
“Alright, Eiji. Mindlink!”
“Let’s go!” Eiji exclaims, pressing at the face. An error message fills the face of the Digimon Linker. Eiji stands bewildered in his dark apartment as nothing happens.
“The vital check failed. We can’t mindlink,” Loogamon sighs. “I could bypass the lock easily, but I might go berserk if I let you drive…like this.”
Eiji hadn’t showered or changed in days. His hair was greasy, and bits of vomit stained his shirt. Dark bags had settled under his eyes.
Eiji’s stomach growls loudly. “Good point.” Eiji can’t remember the last time he ate and kept it down.
“We’ll have to find a way to find them from here,” Loogamon adds.
“Can you ask around the Wall Slums?”
“I did a bit when you were wallowing in bed, but I didn’t get much. Nobody knows what’s on the other side.”
The doorbell rings. It takes a moment for Eiji to register it as his. He shuffles slowly towards the door. He looks through the monitor, but there is no one there. On a second look, Eiji makes out the edge of a shoulder. Someone was doing their best to hide from the camera. His Digimon Linker chimes as he receives a message. It’s a message from Tartarus.
I’m outside, the message reads.
The messge leaves Eiji stunned as an unexpected knock follows. “I know you’re in there Fang. Open up!” A deep voice calls through the door.
A second voice chimes in, “Aren’t you Tartarus?” The voice feels strangely familiar.
“Who’s asking?”
“Wait a minute…” Eiji mutters to himself as he turns to search for Loogamon. “Where the hell…”
The door unlocks and slowly swings open. Loogamon slides through the crack. “Hey Eiji, the boss is here, and he’s old!”
“Seriously…”
Character design/illustration illustrator: malo
An older unfamiliar gentleman darkens the doorway. He is slender and neatly dressed in a black jacket and nice slacks.
“May I come in?” Tartarus asks as he takes off his glasses. He looks down and finds the entrance cluttered by a pile of sneakers.
“Erm..umm,” Eiji stutters as the man removes his shoes and steps into the small apartment.
“At least make some tea for your visitor,” Loogamon scolds
“..Right,” Eiji begins to move towards his kitchen.
“Oh don’t go to any trouble. Besides, it doesn’t look like you have any.” Tartarus looks around. “Not bad. You got a kitchen, loft, and bathroom.”
“Yeah but the walls are thin, and Eiji barely fits in the bathroom,” Loogamon adds.
“The apartment I first lived in was old and infested with rats.” He says before stopping at the small alter Eiji kept. “Is this for your parents?” Tartarus presses his hands together and kneels.
Eiji bows slightly to show his thanks, but can’t find the words to say to to the man.
“The WWW flight…such a tragedy.” The two sit in silence for a moment.
“Oh here. I brought you some supplies.” Tartarus says as he places the small plastic bag on the floor. Inside is a sports drink and a bottle of tea. “Er.” Eiji lets out in a dry and raspy voice.
“Just take it. You haven’t had anything in ages,” Loogamon urges.
“I thought that be the case. That’s why I came.”
Eiji chugs at the sports drink. The cool liquid feels good as it goes down his throat. He drinks about half the bottle before asking, “What do you mean?”
“I know what you’re going through…Someone close to me went DMIA too, and it was all my fault…” Tartarus voice trails. ” I didn’t eat. I didn’t sleep. I tried to drown it out with alcohol, but nothing made the pain go away. I kept seeing the events, over and over till I nearly went mad with grief.
“Wait? What? When?” Eiji struggles to keep up with the events unfolding before him. The familiar smell of beef bowls and miso soup creeps into his nose and makes his stomach growl.
“Good, that means you’re alive.” Tartarus smiles as he hands Eiji the bag of takeout.
I was sent Ziggy’s Cosmic Adventure as a review code, and while I am very grateful for the opportunity, 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 need accessories for your VR setup, like a high-quality charging cable or a set of magnetic prescription lenses, get them over at ZyberVR. Use discount code CHURAPE at checkout for 15% off your purchase.
Ziggy’s Cosmic Adventure is a silly arcade game available now on Steam VR and Meta Quest. Brave the darkness of space in a ship you have to keep in working order. You’ll have to fly your ship, fight enemies all while fixing your ship, and keep Ziggy fed. If you are looking for a silly good time without the commitment, this game is for you.
The game has a short and delightful story. I kind of wish the game was longer, but I like that it doesn’t overstay its welcome. The game looks great with its silly cartoonish aesthetic to fit its theme. My only complaint about the design is that I wish they didn’t make Ziggy so cute. Spoilers: You’re going to have to kill a few. Dead Ziggy’s aside, this is a solid VR title with an amazing cast of voice actors and fun gameplay. If you are susceptible to VR sickness, this game will get some getting used to. Play it in small bursts.
The game has a slow start, but it’s worth getting past the initial tutorial hump. Once this game gets going, it’s going to get sweaty. Ziggy’s Cosmic Adventure is a very involved game of Bop It with some casual space flight simulation. You’ll get warnings of the different failures of the ship, and you’ll have to make sure you bring them back to working order. You’ll have to hammer stuff, spin stuff, twist stuff, press stuff, and make sure your Ziggy is always fed. If you aren’t flailing around wildly in the middle of your living room, you aren’t doing it right. There is combat, but it’s been understandably simplified. This game would be impossible if players had to maintain the ship on top of dealing with the realism of space travel.
I was about ready to write this game off until the chaos kicked in, and I became addicted. It was a little stressful because I am not the best at multi-tasking, but I didn’t know how much I loved that stress until I played this game. This game is perfect for kids, and even better if you want a silly good time without it being a huge commitment. You can pick up for the Meta Quest and Steam VR, and for $19.99, I’d say it’s worth it. It is currently on sale for $17.99 on Steam until November 16,
I post my version the Monday after release, but make sure you always support the original. If you enjoy this project, please make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.
Launch day started like any other day. The sun rose as it always did, and the buses and trains filled with people commuting to the start of their day. Across Japan, it was business as usual, but at Ryusenji Technologies, the air was a thick nervous stew of uncertainty.
People sat on empty stomachs full of butterflies, and time seemed to pass too slowly. The code was checked and double-checked, equipment was thoroughly inspected, and the coffee pots boiled furiously throughout the morning. When the time came, Yulin, Kosuke, and Saya were carefully plugged into their stations. A final walk-through was conducted. Scientists and investors watched, filled with nervous excitement. Mindlink Initiated Palmon, Tentamon, and Agumon flew through the sea of networks in a ship controlled by their human partners. The humans struggled to make sense of the Lofi image that was rendered before them, but the excitement remained immeasurable. They were explorers braving a new frontier. They were making history. Saya was making her initial descent into the Digital world when it all happened. Yulin and Kosuke still don’t know exactly what happened. Yulin who was the closest remembers dark blurs moving across her screen, but she could make out nothing that could solve the mystery. Kosuke remembers watching Saya’s signal disappear from his screen. “Saya! Saya! Say something!” Kosuke shouted desperately. The helplessness sunk in as he realized there was nothing else he could do. Even if he could have seen the events clearly, the probe was too damaged to give chase. The professor pulled the plug. He couldn’t risk losing all three. Kosuke and Yulin woke up dazed as the world around them erupted in chaos. Kosuke screamed hysterically as he ran towards Saya’s lifeless body. He didn’t notice when the cables ripped from his skin. He didn’t notice when the blood began dripping from the holes they left. He grabbed Saya and pulled her close to him. “Please wake up! Please wake up!” Angry tears burned down his face. Aids came to pull him away, but he shoved them away. “She’s going to wake up…She has to!” Yulin sat in her chair and cried with her head down. She clutched at the pain in her chest as she struggled to piece the events together. It’s a pain that grew more painful with each of Kosuke’s shouts. Around her scientists and aids run frantically, failing to take hold of the situation. In her daze, all she could make out were the sounds of Kosuke’s agony.
Years later, Yulin stands in the lobby of Abadin Electronics. She continues to carry the guilt from the incident. They should have prepared more. There should have been more contingencies. More tests. But Saya is gone, and hindsight is a bitch. There was nothing anyone could have done to save her.
Time still for her after the accident. It stood still for all of them. Kosuke took his sorrow and vanished from the world. He quit his job, and school, and stopped answering phone calls. Yulin can’t remember the last time she saw him. She wonders what became of him. She couldn’t bring herself to reach out to him after he cut her out of his life. It would be too painful.
The professor became a serious man and buried himself in his research. She could no longer joke with him. She still visited him on occasion to check up on him and his research. The accident devastated Yulin, but she wasn’t done with the Digital World. She wasn’t any closer to finding answers, but she was going to use her power and her badge to keep searching.
Thank you for keeping up with this project! I know these last few chapters have been a little slow, but I’ll keep doing my best to make them work. Make sure you always support the official release, and check out my version the following Monday. If you’ve been enjoying this project, please make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends!
Eventually, each founder had a Digimon partner. Saya had the bipedal dinosaur Digimon, Agumon. Kosuke’s partner was the ladybug-like Digimon, Tentamon. Yulin had the strange plant reptile, Palmon. Its leafy limbs ended in root-like tendrils, and a massive flower grew out of its head.
Thank you for keeping up with this project! I know these last few chapters have been a little slow, but I’ll keep doing my best to make them work. Make sure you always support the official release, and check out my version the following Monday. If you’ve been enjoying this project, please make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends!
Eventually, each founder had a Digimon partner. Saya had the bipedal dinosaur Digimon, Agumon. Kosuke’s partner was the ladybug-like Digimon, Tentamon. Yulin had the strange plant reptile, Palmon. Its leafy limbs ended in root-like tendrils, and a massive flower grew out of its head.
Saya, Kosuke, Yulin, and the professor gather in the secret test chamber away from the factory floor. Around them, the air fills with the whirring of servers and computers. The tables are filled with unfinished gadgets and notes. Saya wakes peacefully from her test, and the four get busy looking over the latest batch of test results.
“That’s it for today,” Yulin says as she submits the last bit of data. “The image is still blurry and pixelated. There is still no color, and all I can hear is static.”
“That’s a hardware issue,” Kosuke says looking up from his notes. “We need more processing power.”
“We’re so close…”Ryusenji trails off in his disappointment. Silence falls over the group as they continue to make notes and study the results. “We have to see the Digital world. The tests here are fine for now, but we need to get into their world somehow….If we could get into the Net and somehow control the Digimon…” The dangers of mindlink left them little room for error.
“I wonder what the Digital World looks like. Would we even recognize it?” Yulin says in her daze.
“The Digital World has its own systems similar to Earth’s,” the professor mumbles.
“What was that Professor?” The three turn to him curiously.
“I believe that these AI creatures exist in their own natural order. They have a food chain, evolution, and are forced to survive many environmental dangers….” The professor trails off as his mind drifts to a different problem. The students had grown used to the professor’s scattered grumblings. They fill in the blanks as he continues to mumble to himself incoherently.
“How’s work on the retrieval tools going? What is our failure rate at now?” Yulin asks bluntly.
“With our current toolset, our success rate is above 80%,” Kosuke answers.
“We’re treding on undiscovered ground. It is unreasonable for our initial results to be perfect, but we’ll get there. I know a solution is within our reach. Science is full of moments where the impossible is made possible, and I just know we’ll be the ones to do it,” Ryusenji says enthusiastically.
They dubbed the program, Tartarus. Like the many explorers before them, they would not rest until they set foot in the Digital World.
The night before Tartarus’s official launch, Yuli, Kosuke, and Saya visit the plot of land that would become Tokyo University of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Their breath hangs in the frigid air as they look over the empty plot of land. Heavy machines sat to one side, but construction hadn’t started.
“Can’t believe this will all be a university,” Saya muses.
The three stood quietly in the dark of night. The cold air makes Kosuke shiver as he puts his hands in his pockets. The light of a nearby vending machine catches his eye. He makes his way over.
Yulin fumbles a pair of car keys into her pocket. “What possessed you to come all the way out here tonight?” She asks Saya. Yulin’s voice shakes from the cold.
“Don’t you want to see where we’re gunna work one day? I just wanted to check it out.”
“I guess we will be working here…”Yulin’s voice trails off.
“This is the only chance we’ll get to see it empty. Soon it’ll be full of buildings, people, and dreams…”
“Mhmm” Yulin says, not paying attention.
“I hope we’re all still together ten years from now.” Saya grips her Digimon Dock tightly. She raises the LCD screen towards the plot. “See this Agu? It’s going to be a whole new town. I hope it will be easy for you and the other Digimon to live here.”
The small pixelated Agumon looks back and forth on his screen, studying its surroundings.
“You talk to that thing all the time, huh?” Yulin asks.
“Don’t you talk to Palmon?”
“Um…well…” Yulin stumbles for an answer. Talking to her Digimon never crossed her mind.
“I mean it’s not that crazy. People talk to their pets and plants all the time. If Digimon don’t know human language, maybe they can start learning. If Digimon could understand us, we wouldn’t need special tools to control them.”
“Yeah, that would be handy.”
“Regardless of what you think,” Saya begins as she looks down at her dock, “I’m pretty sure Agu understands me.” She lets out a loving smile. “Right Agu?!” Saya turns her attention back to Yulin. “At least I’m pretty sure someone’s talking to me when I’m mindlinked.”
“So our partners can talk to us when we’re linked? And you never reported that?”
“You have to keep it a secret,” Saya pleads woridly. “If they think I’m hearing things, they’ll kick me off the project!”
Saya’s fears weren’t unfounded. While she was the most promising candidate, she took the longest to adjust to the mindlink and still struggled with her nausea. Regardless of the numbers, they were ready to replace her with a more suitable candidate the moment she outlived her usefulness.
“What does it say?” Yulin asks, changing the subject.
“I don’t know, but it feels..friendly? Like its calling my name, or its happy to see me. It’s just like you said.”
“What I said?”
“Connecting with Digimon is incredible…and incredibly dangerous.”
“We think we’ve discovered the Digital World, but what if we’re the ones being discovered?”
“All the more reason to continue with our studies. It’s too late to keep our worlds separated now.” A silence falls over them for a moment. “You know? My dad thinks you’re the most important member of the team.”
“Me?”
Saya nods. “You make this feel official. Like a real company.”
The sudden compliment stuns Yulin. She doesn’t know how to respond.
“When ever we make a mistake or lose focus, you’re the only one who can get us back on track.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I know it’s a lot…”
“It’s freezing! I can’t believe the vending machine still has cold drinks in winter,” Kuske grumbles as he walks back to the girls, holding three hot drinks in his arms. He hands each girl one.
“We can head back if you’re ready to go,” Yulin offers as she accepts her drink.
“Let’s stay a little longer,” Saya asks. She holds her drink tightly.
“I’m good either way. It’s nice to have a moment to zone out for a bit.” Kosuke takes a sip of his drink. “
“I’ll wait in the car then,” Yulin says as she walks away. She turns on the car and turns up the heat. She looks over at Kosuke and Saya as they huddle together and stare up into the night sky. The glow of the construction lights washes over them. Yulin takes a moment to snap a picture.
I was sent CRYMACHINA as a review code. I am very happy about the opportunity, but this will be my honest review. If you enjoy these reviews, make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends!
CRYMACHINA is an anime-themed action RPG coming to PC, PlayStation, and Switch on October 24th. Humans have gone extinct, and have been replaced by synthetic beings known as Dei ex Machina. A mysterious prophecy has selected a few of these beings to bring humanity back from extinction, but not all Dei ex Machina share this goal. Fight your way through Dei ex Machina as you attempt to reclaim humanity’s dominance over Eden. Do you have what it takes to claim what destiny offers?
The game is fun for the first few encounters before the novelty wears off. Unfortunately, the blatant waifu bait isn’t enough to distract players from how dull and unimpressive the game becomes. The art style is interesting but tends to be a little too busy and loud for its own good. The story is poorly written, and the gameplay isn’t fun enough to make up for it. This isn’t a bad game, but it is hard to recommend when there are better options in the genre.
I wish the game was better because the format is interesting. The gameplay loop is split into two parts: combat and story. Combat is broken up into small manageable levels where players face a few mobs of enemies before facing off against a boss. Boss fights had unique mechanics, but not all of them were fun. Combat started feeling repetitive, and the initial sense of accomplishment felt after beating a boss diminished and became nonexistent. The over-stylized and busy animation of the combat never made up for how bored I got with combat.
The other side of the loop was the story cutscenes that came in the form of tea parties. Blatant waifu bait aside, this is an interesting way to do a story. Players have the opportunity to watch optional cutscenes where characters get a back story or become more rounded, or they can stick with only watching scenes relevant to the story. This is a great format for gamers with limited free time because the game can be tackled in small meaningful chunks, and you can repeat cutscenes when you need a reminder. This would have been a great format for this game if the story was good, and the characters weren’t generic waifu tropes.
You can pick up CRYMACHINA for PC, PlayStation, and Switch on October 24th, but I’d hold off for a very generous discount. Even then, you’ll have better options.
