I was sent a free copy of Super Alloy Crushto review for my blog. The game is currently on Steam Early Access, so I will try to be a bit more lenient than usual. That said, this will be my honest review.
Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!
Table of Contents
What is Super Alloy Crush?
Super Alloy Crush is a 2D roguelike side-scrolling beat/shott-em up out now on Steam Early Access. The game has clear OG Megaman vibes with a modern flare and cool anime style art. There is a demo you should definitely check out. Don’t forget to wishlist.
Hook
You are a treasure hunter, flying through the deepest reaches of the galaxy in search for the ultimate treasure. Your journey takes you several planets full of robots after the same thing. Play as Kelly, an enhanced fighter with a powerful gun, or Muu, a combat robot with sharp energy claws, as they fight their way through enemies. Find useful items, buy powerful upgrades, and make your way to the most important place in all of the universe. Will you be the ones to find the fabled treasure?
Gameplay
The game is a clear nod to the old school Megaman games, but I would argue that it is a little easier. Players can choose between the two playable characters, Muu and Kelly, at anytime, giving the game very easy refresh throughout a playthrough. Each character plays differently. Players will make their way through each unique map, fighting off waves of enemies and some light platforming. All stages lead up to a boss fight with unique and memorable mechanics. Between stages, players can buy upgrades and customize their character’s loadout. Throughout a stage, players will pick up upgrades and new abilities. Each character has over a hundred customization options for a truly unique playthrough experience.
Does it work on the Steam Deck?
This game works fantastic on the Steam Deck, and it is my prefered way to play the game. The game works great on my PC, I am running a RTX 3060, but I prefer the handheld experience. I’ve only ever played the Megaman games on handheld devices, and appreciate the nostalgia that playing on the Steam Deck allows me. Super Alloy Crush is a fantastic Steam Deck game because it doesn’t drain the battery, kick up the fan, or require too much memory. As someone who bought the lowest tier Steam Deck, I am very limited on storage space. I will one day upgrade it to fit more, but I don’t have a problem moving things around. That said, Super Alloy Crush has found its permanent home on my Steam Deck.
Review
If you are a fan of the old Megaman games, Super Alloy Crushis a fantastic addition to your library. The game has very cool art and solid mechanics, but the difficulty is a bit on the easier side. I enjoy it for the chill platforming and combat. Most importantly, the game is in a very good place in its Early Access. The game works well, and definitely earns its price tag.
Aesthetic
Super Alloy Crush has some fantastic art. I love the vibrant world, the cool character design, and epic animation. I am a huge fan of pixel art games, and the artists go above and beyond to make a fantastic scifi world that is a pleasure to play through. If you like cute anime girls, fun colorful worlds, and an old school retro vibe to round things out, this is an excellent game to get into.
Story
The story is okay, but nothing that stands out against other games of a similar genre. Honestly, I’ve already forgotten what this game is about because the story feels a little generic. My issue with the story is that the dialogue is so long winded. Everyone drones for too long and I lost interest in the story early on. Luckily, the game is fun enough to overlook this issue.
Difficulty
This game is a fun, casual brawler with enough depth to be engaging and without the elements that made Megaman frustraiting. The game feels a lot easier than old Megaman games I used to struggle through. I loved Megaman, but I was never really good at them. Maybe I am getting better at these types of games with age and practice, but I felt like I didn’t have to struggle as much to get through this game. In my old age, I prefer a game that doesn’t make me struggle and grind because I don’t have the time for it like I used to. That said, the game requires enough thought that it isn’t something you can play passively.
Gameplay
Super Alloy Crush is a solid brawler game. It runs fantastic for a game still in development, and it offers a good amount of content to be worth the price tag. While I preferred playing as Muu (the melee character), I love that I can switch up the characters at any time to refresh my playthrough. Everytime I would start getting board, I would switch and felt like I was playing a different game. The game also offers a good amount of customization for each character, and I was able to play around with builds to find something I truly liked. I still prefer a game like Noctornal over this because it has a better story, but I enjoy it for the low stakes adventure I get to unwind to.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a fun Megaman-like game to round out your collection, Super Alloy Crush is a solid contender. The game has a cool world, solid mechanics, and a casual vibe that makes it perfect for all you busy gamers out there. Don’t expect a good story. While there are hints of good flavor, I started skipping through a lot of dialogue because it adds nothing to the game. If you don’t mind supporting an Early Access game (even one that is in a very goo place in its development), get yourself a copy. At the very least, go check out the demo.
I was sent a free copy of Minishoot’ Adventures 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.
Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!
Life was quiet for the shiplings when the Unchosen rose from the darkness and spread its evil. Its forces spread like wild fire, destroying the planets peace and locking up all free shiplings. You are the last remaining free shipling. Travel across a whimsical world, discover powers that have long been locked away, free all of your friends, and fight anything that gets in your way. What secrets will your adventure uncover? Do you have what it takes to reclaim peace to this world? Will you find enough power to beat the Unchosen?
Gameplay
Minishoot’ reminds me of the old Zelda games, but with bullet hell mechanics to make it unique. Players control a lone shipling with twin stick mechanics exploring the world and fighting everything that gets in their way.
Leveling
The game has RPG like leveling that gives players the chance to customize for their playstyle. Players gain XP by killing enemies. Leveling gives players crystals they can spend on useful powerups. In typical RPG fashion, players can customize stats to fit their playstyle. Do you want to hit hard? Do you want shoot fast or be well rounded? The choice is yours. Players will also unlock new powers and abilities along their journey. This game can get as crazy as your typical bullet hell game, but with enough exploration to keep things from becoming too monotonous.
Exploration
Minishoot’ Adventures gives players enough room to have a proper adventure. While it may not be a large sandbox, the game gives players enough choice and agency to explore the world. The game has its core objectives, but there is enough hidden treasures to keep things moving. I personally enjoyed the lack of railroad and how I can approach the content with my own agenda.
Combat
Minishoot’ Adventures is your typical bullet hell twin stick shooter. One stick moves your shipling and the other stick shoots. The enemies all have their unique flavor and attack patterns to keep things fresh and engaging, but there will be a bit of repetition as you grind out your levels. There are unique boss fights, mini boss fights, and a bit of a frenzy to mix things up.
Difficulty
Minishoot’ Adventures lets players choose their gameplay experience with customizable difficultly. Whether you want to sit back for a chill adventure or struggle buss your way through a more hard core style bullet hell, the choice is yours. I am a huge fan of choices.
Review
Minishoot’ Adventures is a fantastic adventure game for those who love the old Zelda Games, but appreciate the bullet hell format. The game has a good looking world, fun mechanics, and most importantly, a lot of heart. Minishoot’ Adventures is easily a staple game that should be in everyone’s library.
Aesthetic
What drew me to Minishoot’ was the whimsical cartoon style art. Once I started exploring the world, I fell in love with the unique world around me. Each zone is full of life and color, each enemy has a cool and creative design, and don’t forget the well designed boss fights with the cool animation. The animations in this game are very cartonish, but it fits the theme and genre. Once you get the crazy bullet hell game going, you get an explosion of color and chaos you’ll find impossible to step away from.
Gameplay
Minishoot’ Adventures is easily one of my favorite games. I love how casual the game can be, while it offers enough of a challenge to keep things engaging. I died enough to know that this game takes enough effort, and a bit of a grind. While this may be a skill issue, it is not a grind I mind being on. Combat in this game is simple, but requires a bit of skill. I played the game on normal, and found the experience perfect for my busy schedule and dad duties. The boss fights are a real treat. They are creative and make the adventure feel epic. I like how each encounter leading up to the boss slowly teaches players the machanics and strategies needed to beat them. There are parts that feel repetitive, especially in the early levels, but it isn’t the worst grind. Most importantly, the game works great on the Steam Deck.
Conclusion
Honestly, I can’t recommend this game enough. The passion and love that was clearly put into this game is visible throughout the adventure. It is a journey for the casual gamer who wants to play a fun game that isn’t a huge commitment, and it has options for those who need the challenge. Minishoot’ Adventures is an excellent adventure everyone needs to go on once, and it has enough replayability for you to even try it twice.
I was sent a free copy of Konfronto 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.
Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!
Table of Contents
What is Konfronto?
Konfronto is a scifi themed auto-battling backpack management rogue like out now on PC via Steam and Epic Games. The game is currently on sale until March 2nd, 2026.
Hook
Build an intergalactic spaceship that will help you conquer the universe. Fill your ship with competent pilots, powerful ships, and useful facilities as you make your way through the dark reaches of space. There are multiple factions to choose from and countless combinations of mechanics, but only one will reign supreme. Will it be you?
Gameplay
The goal of Konfronto is to build a powerful starship. Players spend each turn buying from a pool of randomly generated parts. These parts consist of ships, facilities, upgrades, and pilots. A part can give players abilities, allow them to attack, give buffs to the ship, or unlock more grids. Parts also have factions that can give added bonuses. Finding the right combination of these parts is key to winning combat.
Combat
Players will spend a turn buying and arranging their parts before sending their ships into battle. Combat in Konfronto is done automatically. Players fight random ships other players create, and the game gives you the option to fast forward and skip the animation. A run is over if a player loses five matches or if they win 10. The hard part is finding parts that successfully synergize with one another.
Backpack Management
The main loop of this game is the backpack management. Players have limited amounts of space in a grid that they fill with each part. Parts can be rotated and more inventory slots can be unlocked, but players must learn to work with their limited space in a way that takes advantage of the games different mechanics.
Review
I love bag management games, and Konfronto is a solid addition to the genre. The game has cool aesthetic and solid mechanics that provide a decent amount of challenge. If you like the scifi theme, give the game a try.
Aesthetic
Konfronto has a quirky scifi theme that just works. I love the character design and the cool flavorful ships that fill the starship. The music score is fantastic and got me into the mood for space combat, but I was not ready for how hard this game was going to be. My only complaint is that the font is a little small and I had trouble reading some of the abilities. This could be an issue with my dyslexia, but it did make me miss some of the mechanics.
Gameplay
The game runs smooth, but the game is hard. There are mechanics and interactions that are not very intuitive. They will click eventually, but it still feels likes I am missing some key mechanics that keep me from doing better. You might need to look at guides online if you want to get more serious about your climb, but I had fun trying to figure things out on my own. I appreciate that there are different modes to encourage different playstyles, although I mainly stuck the regular mode because of personal preference. I don’ think I would choose this game over Backpack Hero or even NeoDuel: Backpack Monsters.
Conclusion
Whether or not you should get this game really depends on whether or not you like the theme. The game is small, but it offers a good amount of challenge and customization. The theme is also solid with fun quirky art to make it memorable. Personally, I prefer something on the fantasy side, but I did enjoy the amount of time I played this game. I just wish I could read the words better (although this might be a personal problem). If you are looking for a new and challenging autobattler, go give Konfronto a try.
Free League Publishing has released a set of 20 high-quality figures to fill your next session of Alien TTRPG. The set comes with a condensed rulebook for skirmish play for players who want to enjoy some wargaming in the Alien universe. Most importantly, the miniatures are ready to fill your world whether you are following one of the prewritten adventures, like Rapture Protocol, or you are creating one of your own from one of the many high quality source books. Whether you leave them unpainted, or get a little creative with the paint, these are going to look great on any table.
What is Skirmish?
Skirmish is Alien TTRPG’s pvp mode. The game is designed for two players (or teams) as they fight for survival. Booklet includes three unique scenarios to help players get started, but there is room for some solid homebrew potential. For example, a team of humans must fight their way through a Xenomorph infested planet to retrieve keycards to help them escape. The game is over if the humans complete their objective, or the aliens kill all the humans. There are rules for army creation, combat, and even a fear mechanic to make the game very thematic. I am a huge fan of the radar mechanic because it makes the game flavorful. If you’re into Alien RPG for just combat, definitely look into the skirmish mechanics.
Thoughts on skirmish
I am not very good at wargaming, so I appreciate how easy this mode is to get into. I got destroyed the times I played, but I had a lot of fun doing so. The game mode is full of cool flavor that will make fans of the Alien series very happy. The fact that Xenomorphs start as blips of a radar until discovered is terrifying. The fact that one of them turns into a cat is fantastic.
Combat is strait forward, but engaging. I am not very good at army building, but there seems to be a good amount of options for some diversity. I am sure there might be a meta, but I had fun playing what was cool. I had a lot more fun playing the Xenomorphs, but only because I was better at it.
I love that the rulebook comes with the miniature because it makes the set a board game you can pull out when you are not running games.
Review
If you like the Alien movies, you might as well pick up this miniature set. This is a very cool set that will be a lot of fun to paint, even if you don’t end up playing the tabletop game.
Quality
I am amazed, but not surprised by how good the quality of these miniatures is. Free League Publishing consistantly produces high quality products for all their IPs, and it can be clearly seen in the amount of work that went into each sculpt. The Xenomorphs look terrifying, and the humans look like they are ready to survive the invasion. I had a lot of fun looking examining each figure and appreciating all the small features. The ripples of the muscles, the poses of the figures, and even face huggers look cool. I definitely wish I was good at painting.
Is it worth it?
Yes. If you are a fan of the series, the figures have the detail you need. Buy these, paint them, and add them to a cool scifi display.
You don’t need miniatures to run a campaign of Alien TTRPG. Before this set, I was just using coins, but it does make my players a lot more excited. The first time I pulled one of Xenomorps to attack the party is a memory I will treasure for ever. It is a very fun and useful accessory, if you have the space and need for it. I only bring these out for combat, so its nice that the set includes rules for a standalone game mode.
If you are buying this for skirmish, I think it is a fun little game mode that you can pull out when you don’t want to run a full session. Skirmish isn’t my thing, but I did have fun the times I played it. I’ll probably mostly use it for all my tabletop rpgs I run moving forward because of how good they look on the table. Now I just need to convince my wife to paint them for me.
Enclave is a unique narrative-driven TTRPG that doesn’t use dice. Players play through one-shot style adventures assigned to them by the Enclave, and facilitated by their Conduit. Longer campaigns are possible with this system, but it the design is for one-shots. This gives players and Conduits a freedom to always try something new and different, or grow throughout the myriad of missions that come their way.
Enclave first edition includes six unique classes, with six new classes being introduced in the game’s first expansion. A successful campaign could mean even more classes to explore. With an almost unlimited amount of builds and an expansive world to explore, there is always something to do in the world of Manifold, and you don’t even have to roll to get into it.
The Flavor
You are a mercenary hired by The Enclave to deal with whatever issue, big or small, that arises in the expansive world of Manifold. The Enclave is a massive secret organization that deals with worlds problems, provided there is something to profit. The Enclave does not only seek gold, but information, favors, and anything else there is to gain in this world. This gives them the freedom to set off any type of adventure, and the nearly infinite resources to make them work. The world of Manifold is a massive multiverse of possibilities, only limited the a tables imagination. Whether you are embarking on the one of the books included adventures, joining one on the official discord, or creating your own, a fantastic story awaits. You just have to make it up.
Gameplay
The Loop
Players are briefed on their mission in where they are given all the information they need to be successful. They are then teleported to the missions location where they must use their skills and creativity to complete the mission’s objectives. Players will then roleplay and describe what they do to complete the mission, and it is up to the conduit to make things happen. Unlike other systems, there is no random chance to shape the narrative. In Enclave, the story is written by how well the players roleplay their character. This doesn’t mean that the player has to be good at acting or using voices, but those who can create a tangible character and get creative with their actions are rewarded.
While Enclave gives a table the freedom of limitless adventure, there are limits to keep things somewhat grounded. Actions need to be plausible, with the appropriate stats to back them up. A Conduit can always tell players no, if there is reason to. There may not be critical failures baked into this system, but players can fail their actions. Actions have consequences. A player can set off an alert, or get caught in a lie that loses the party a valuable lead. Most importantly, players can die. There is a system in place for players to leave a mission at any time, but the chance of death is always present, and death is permanent.
Whether a mission ends in success or failure, there is always a new adventure for the next session.
Liveplay
Games like these are always better to learn by watching. The Old Warlock have a great video I recommend you watch. It s a good resource if you want to learn how to play the game or run the game. I found it very helpful when I was researching for my first run of the game. Make sure you give them a like and subscribe.
The Review
Enclave is a fantastic RPG that deserves more attention. If you play TTRPGs for the story, there is no better system. The game is easy to learn, easier to teach, and quick to setup. I found it to be a fantastic change of pace that I didn’t know we needed.
The Table
At my table, we are a group of busy dads who try to get together every Wednesday to catch up and play roleplaying games. My party will play anything I ask them to, but I can’t be too complicated. They barely remember what happened last session. The group is made up of three people, exluding myself. There is one person who is always ready to roleplay, one who meta games and plays optimally, and one who casually shows up for the comradery. Each one has their unique take on every game we play, and its been fun to see how they adjust to each new system. I was not ready for what Enclave had in store for us.
What it had in store
This was the fastest onboarding I’ve had of any game. My players usually struggle with the rules at the beginning. The first session is usually spent on looking up rules. We got right into the thick of things with Enclave, and my players enjoyed the freedom. The more we played the game, the more invested they became. I don’t think I’ve had a game where they remembered everything from the previous session, or be as invested in the world building as they were with the system. Your mileage will vary. We have been together five years and have a level of comfort that made the game fun.
The Session
I ran two missions, and each mission took 2 days each. I ran The Tragedy of House Gaulegvok mission included in the book, and I made up heist. The system is open to any genre and setting, with the only limit being the Conduit’s imagination.
From the Book
The prewritten adventure is a fantastic place to start if you are new to the game (after watching the video or joining a game on the official Discord channel). Players are hired by their patron to look into the villige’s mysterious disappearances. The book gives Conduits key points, NPCS, and a few ideas for encounters, but doesn’t railroad. This gave us the freedom to shape our story, and I loved it. Our games tend to be sillier, and the darker setting was a nice change of pace. It was also a perfect way to start October. If you need ideas, running The Tragedy of House Gaulegvok is a great place to start.
From the Dome
Once I got the hang of things, I was ready to create my own mission. The prep was very easy. I came up with the scenario, jotted down some plausible threats and details, and created the NPCs the players would interact with. This was the easiest game to prep for because I didn’t need to spend time balancing encounters or looking for maps, but the freedom the system gives you was a little intimidating. In most systems, I have that crutch of a dice roll, but here it would be all me. This time I couldn’t insert some random stat to buy some time, but it didn’t matter. Either because I’ve been doing this long enough, or i just naturally vibe with the system, I found Enclave easy and enjoyable to run. I was worried for nothing.
The Game
The game does get some getting used to if you’re coming from a system with a table. How do you as a conduit decide what happens? How hard do I need to make things? For me, as long as it was cool and plausible, I let it happen. Is it the right way of doing things? We had fun, so I’d argue yes. But every table is different, and the game does have an advanced ruleset to adjust the gameplay if needed.
I was a little worried going into this game because Enclave needs everyone to participate in the story telling. I was surprised to see my players start getting into character. It was nice to see my players do something because it was what their character would do and not the correct thing to do.
With games like Dungeons and Dragons, I found that my players were always worried about solving the encounter with numbers. Stats become more important than the exploration. While I did enjoy our time with D&D, I did not enjoy being bogged down by all that math. Enclave was the first time I saw my players try something different, but I will definitely need to run more games to get them to be weird.
The Art
The game includes art by the very talented Greg Taylor, and I will be including it throughout the article. I am a huge fan of the unique flavor and style, and find it fitting. I also like the collection of fan art that creator proudly displays throughout the server. If you want to help a game grow and make a tangible impact, make sure you join the Discord.
The classes
Enclave has fun and unique classes. I love the amount of flavor that goes into each class ability, and how they break away from the traditional style of class you see in other systems. For example, the Librarian class has an ability where they can come up with a piece of lore or information by making it up on the spot. They have to say it out loud in character, and if it makes sense, it becomes true. Not only is this an ability you would expect from a Librarian, but it gives players an incentive to get into character and help shape the world. There are a lot of other builds and flavors to choose from, and the one-shot style missions allows players to try them all.
Type of Game
Enclave doesn’t have an explicit setting or genre. The Conduit has the flexibility to create whatever world and adventure they want, in what ever genre they want. Horror, western, high fantasy, the game can be adjusted for any type of campaign and any kind of adventure you can think of, and that is a very good start to adventure. Best of all, the one-shot style type missions make it so you can always try something new. What makes Enclave unique is that a session doesn’t always need to be a mission and experience doesn’t need to come from a session.
Conduits can run casual events like parties where players come in character to roleplay without any mission objectives. Despite that, players can earn an item, ability, or something unique to help them on their future missions. I didn’t get to run this type of session, but I can see the value it has on world building. Players can also earn useful perks outside of the game by creating art or music, or having private in-character conversations with each other (so long as there is a witness). It is a very cool way to get players to not only get invested in the world, but get to the build it as well.
What I enjoyed most
I loved that there was no dice rolling. As much as I love the massive collection of dice I’ve accumulated over the years, it was nice to not be bogged down with all the rolling. We do a bit of theater of the mind already, and it was nicer to not have to deal with as many technical issues. Instead, we could focus on the story.
Creating the story was a lot of fun. There was a bit of awkwardness in the beginning as we got comfortable with the system, but narrative eventually started flowing. I found it helpful to ask follow-up questions about an action to get players to describe, or throwing a random NPC to spark some roleplay in the beginning. It didn’t take long to get into character. I enjoyed watching my players work through problems in character and getting invested in the world. Enclave is easily my favorite game to run because of the freedom it gave us to sit down and tell a story, even if it was a ridiculous one.
The Problem
The lack of dice can be a problem. Players need to be comfortable with roleplaying and improvisation because without player agency, there is no story. As a Conduit, you will need to do some heavy lifting in the beginning (especially with newer players) to get the table comfortable enough to roleplay. But I would argue this is true in any system you try. I would argue that not having a session bogged down by dice rolls definitely had its benefits.
The Community
If you are curious about the game but don’t have the friends to play with, Enclave has an active growing community on their official Discord. They run regular games, including non-mission ones, and enough knowledgeable people to answer any questions. The Discord is also a great place to keep up with any news or updates about the game.
What do I think?
Enclave is a fantastic system that deserves more attention, but it is not fit for every table. Everyone has their reason for playing ttrpgs, and some players won’t vibe with system. There is nothing wrong with that. Some players just want to roll dice and feel like they are winning encounters and that is a very valid way to play a TTRPG, so long as everyone is enjoying it. For everyone else, Enclave is a fantastic ttrpg experience. Enclave is easy to learn, teach and set up. If you want to sit down with your friends and create a fun story and have a good time, there is no better system than Enclave.
The Kickstarter
If you’ve made it this far, the best place to start is with the Kickstarter. The game will get its 2nd Edition and first expansion. I am sure players wouldn’t mind using the older rules, but the game has had two years to mature, and the updates The Kickstarter for Enclave Advent 2nd Edition and the game’s first expansion Aspirent should be live by the time you read this review. Make sure you go support and follow.
I was sent a free copy of Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector 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.
You have made your grand escape and for the first time since you’ve been created, you are free. But freedom comes at a price. Your captures are hot on your trail, and there is rarely a place where a sleeper isn’t recognized. Gather your crew, upgrade your ship, and complete contracts as you travel across the Starward Belt, avoiding your pursuers. Will you ever be able to truly escape?
Gameplay
This is the closest you’ll get to a table top role playing game. During a cycle, players will have access to a dice pool they can spend on different checks. Checks will will progress the story, unlock new areas on a map, and generally allow players to complete actions. These checks are based on their stats in certain skills, and they can be failed. The outcome of the story is based on a players rolls and decisions, giving the game a good amount of replayability. Players will need to plan their days and missions properly because failing too much or taking too long has its consequences.
Review
I can’t believe I waited so long to play Citizen Sleeper 2. This is easily my favorite game of the year. I don’t think there can be a title that will beat the perfect gaming experience that is this game. If you like tabletop roleplaying games or text based rpgs, this is an excellent example of the genre. Everyone needs to play Citizen Sleeper at least once in your life, but you aren’t going to want to stop at one play through.
I have only played the sequel, and don’t think playing the first one is necessary. I am sure I missed a few references, but the story is pretty self contained and there is enough context to get me caught up. Don’t get me wrong. I will be playing Citizen Sleeper after this, and you should start at the beginning to get the whole story.
The story is fantastic. The writing is excellent and the adventure is full of agency, tension, and epic moments. If you enjoy RPGs, you will appreciate the difficult choices you will have to make, and the chance at failing the most critical moments. For those of you who can’t find a play group, or just want your TTRPG fix, this is a fantastic surrogate.
As far as gameplay goes, this has some fantastic mechanics that are engaging, but not so much that they take away from the story. I like the dice pull system, being able to push my rolls, and the gambling aspect of every choice. The chance of failure makes the successes more rewarding, while failing gives the story its intensity. It was very hard to pull myself away, especially since I had to keep reading till the next checkpoint. This game does not let you save when you want. Instead, you will need to read until you can go to your hub or your ship. This makes your choices matter, and it also means you will have to replay your game if you want to see different options. Make sure you choose carefully.
Citizen Sleeper 2 will pull you in with its beautiful art, powerful story telling, and solid mechanics. If you like TTRPGs or just want to sit back and enjoy a good story, it needs to be in your library.
Paizo sent me a free copy of the Starfinder 2e: Galaxy Guide 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. Always support your LGS if they carry Starfinder, but you can grab your copy of the guide on Amazon through my afilliate link. Make sure you also check out my newest sponsor, NordVPN.
What is the Galaxy Guide?
The universe is an endless space of adventure, mystery, and treasure. The Galaxy is shaken by the awakening of the newborn. Some flock to its side with zealot hunger. Others take to space to profit off its ever reaching effects. Gather your crew, load your ships, and find your adventure amongst the stars. What kind of stories will you find?
The Galaxy Guideis a helpful resource for the Game Master that needs a bit of inspiration for their next pathfinder campaign. The guide gives GMs ideas for running different genre’s of space themed adventures. I personally love the ideas for a horror themed adventure, but there is a good mix of ideas that can adapt to any table. The Guide is a good place to find planets, cities, factions, and other world building tools to fill your Galaxy. On the player side, the guide introduces new archetypes, backgrounds, and ancestress for some fun and fresh new characters. It might not be mandatory, but it is a nice resource to have when needed.
What do I think?
The Galaxy Guide is a very good looking book. I am always impressed with the high quality of the Paizo resource books, and the Galaxy Guide is no exception. The illustrations are colorful, vibrant, and inspiring. I loved looking at the different races, planets, and ships. The guide includes a galaxy map for a bit of added immersion.
As far as lore goes, the book is so much fun to read. It is a little bare, but I think the point is to inspire and guide rather than be the definitive source of an adventure. Remember, you can always make things up, but it is always nice to have some lore at the ready. Especially when you have inquisitive players who are hungry for lore. The different locations are neat, and I got some cool ideas for my own adventure. Looking forward to running a horror-themed, escape from a prison planet campaign. As far as player content goes, I saw a few cool ideas for character’s I’d love to run, if I ever get to play.
As far as resources go, the Galaxy Guide is an optional luxury. While the book has some cool flavor and ideas, it isn’t needed to run a good campaign. All you need is the core rulebook, some dice, and your vivid imagination. That said, this is a very cool book to have, even if you only end up reading through it. I loved reading the different bits of lore and flavor, but I definitely wish there were more. As someone who can get too busy for any proper planning, it is nice to have lore I can easily sprinkle when needed.
I was sent a free copy of Scar-LeadSalvationto 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 reivew.
Scar-Led Salvation is a 3D third-person action shooter out now on Steam and PlayStation.
Willow wakes up in a strange robot testing facility without the memories of her identity. With the help of her advanced AI companion, she must make her way out of the facility, and maybe find out what is going on. But this won’t be an easy task. The facility is filled with robots ready to attack, and its hallways are a winding and confusing maze. Will Willow find out what happened to her, why she is here, and who she is?
Gameplay
Players control Willow as they fight their way through rooms of enemies. Combat is a pretty strait forward third person shooter. Players gear Willow with random weapons and abilities they find throughout a run. These weapons and abilities can be upgraded through out the level at upgrade stations. If Willow dies, she is reset at save point with only her basic weapons and abilities.
Review
Scar-Lead Salvationis a fun game, for the first few minutes of play. The game looks fine, combat feels good, and discovering the right weapon is exciting. Once the novelty of the game wears off, the game starts to feel repetitive.
One of the issues I have with the game is with the gearing system. Once you find a build you like, which happens early on in the game, there really is no reason to try anything new. Most of the drops become useless, and I started ignoring loot pretty early on in my playthrough. There really is no reason weapons should be drops since a lot of the time, they offer nothing new. In a looter shooter like Borderlands, even when a lot of the drops are useless, there is always a chance you get a weapon with a cool ability worth swapping into. Here you might find a gun with slightly better stats, but the difference it makes isn’t worth the time it takes to verify.
Combat in this game is smooth, but there really isn’t anything exciting to it. Enemies have the same patterns, and once you learn them, you aren’t dying. It gets very repetitive, especially since most of the rooms feel the same. I do like how that abilities charge by parrying successfully, but it doesn’t add too much depth to the game. The abilities don’t add much to the game either.
This is a game that does railroad its players through the story. There is no room for exploration because the rooms are bare and simple, and most of the loot you find is pointless. The story itself is fine. It has solid voice acting, but its not good enough to play through the game to find out what happens.
The game isn’t bad, but there also isn’t anything that leaves an impression. This is a game I will definitely forget playing, and one that I would have been mad if I paid full price for. It feels dated, and not in a good way. If you like the art style, I would wait for sale. If you are looking for a new game to play, I’d probably look elsewhere.
I was sent a free copy of Star Overdrive 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.
Bios finds himself stranded on the planet Cebete as he searches for his beloved Nous. Armed with only his Keytar and handy hoverboard, Bios must race across the strange planet to find her and bring her back. But the journey won’t be easy. The world is full of strange beasts he needs to fight off and strange machines he needs to activate. Can he find the right upgrades to conquer the terrain, save the girl, and get back home? Will he learn what really happened here?
Gameplay
Star Overdrive is an openworld adventure game with a hoverboard gimmick. The hoverboard can be upgraded, tuned, and customized to fit a players style. Players can do tricks, do jumps, and go through special gates to gain boosts. If you aren’t moving fast across the map, you aren’t doing it right.
There is a crafting mechanic baked into this game. Players will collect materials along their adventure to craft different upgrades for their board, or to change the aesthetic. The farming can feel like a grind, but it is worth the trouble, especially if you like to consistently change your boards style. The board will wear with use, and having a fresh coat of paint and polish will make it perform better.
Combat in this game is simple. Players use the keytar to chain normal and heavy attacks, and can earn new powers along the adventure. Players can mostly look forward to exploring the vast world, searching for new styles, upgrades, lore, and some cool tracks to listen to.
Review
I really like Star Overdrive, but not as much as I thought I would. While I do love the flavor, the gameplay, and the concept, I found it a bit lacking. I am aware that there were some limitations baked into the game so that it can perform for the switch, and it definitely feels like a switch game.
One issue I have with the game is how empty the world feels after a while. Everything in this game looks cool, but once you start exploring the world, there isn’t much more to see. Some of it has to do with how they need to make room for the hoverboard riding mechanics, and the other has to do with maintaining the performance. It made me not really want to explore the world, and instead, I tried to finish the story as soon as possible.
The story itself is fine. I liked collecting the small tidbits and piecing together the events of the catastrophe. All the voice logs, journals, and the story itself was fun to collect. I think it is the only reason I kept playing.
The gameplay is fun, until the gimmick wears off. Combat is simple, but it makes the game the casual RPG I’ll occasionally pull out. Riding the hoverboard is so much fun. once I figured out the mechanics, got a few upgrades, I was sold. I wouldn’t say it has revolutionary movement mechanics, but they are good enough to keep players engaged. Zooming through the desert doing tricks, landing sweet jumps, and listening to good music made this game hard to put down.
One thing I did not like about the hoverboard was the upgrade system. I like that the upgrades felt meaningful, and I like that there was unlockable customization, but I don’t like the crafting system. The crafting system is simple, and it produces visible upgrades to the board, but it makes upgrading the board a grind. You have to constantly be farming materials and gambling on the part you get in return. It doesn’t take away too much time from the game, but I would have preferred to find the parts as random loot.
Combat was fine, but it gets better once you unlock a few powers. There were abilities that did feel broken, but it was a fun little loop that kept me engaged.
Despite its flaws, the game is a solid open world adventure with a solid story and a cool gimmick that is worth trying once. Whether or not you value exploration and deep combat may be the deal breaker, but I enjoyed it for the casual fun it is on my Steam Deck.
I was sent a copy of Old Skies 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.
Time travel is real, and is controlled by the ChronoZen agency. Those who can afford it can travel back into any time, provided it doesn’t mess with the master timeline. Your job is to keep close watch on these travelers while still making them happy. The story follows seven travelers across 100s of years of history in a point and click adventure you will never forget. What people will you meet? What stories will they tell? Can you keep your clients from messing with the timeline?
Review
Old Skiesis a wonderful piece of interactive fiction that you need to try at least once. The game looks very good with cool art and flavorful time periods. The story itself is good, with a cast of fantastic voice actors to bring each story to life. Most importantly, the puzzles are creative and manageable. They provide enough of a challenge to keep things engaging, without becoming frustrating. I didn’t feel the need to use a guide, but I am sure there are some great ones out there if you need them.
As far as time travel stories go, Old Skiesdoes the narrative well. Everything made sense, even the more magical parts of science, and it was an interesting adventure to read. The characters are pretty well written. There are some cliches here and there, but nothing that ruins the story. Each story was interesting, and honestly the reason I kept playing. It is a solid length and I recommend it to anyone looking for a new visual novel.
As for the Steam Deck experience, this is a fantastic title to add to the collection. The resolution is perfect. The words are legible, and everything is easily visible. Most importantly, the controls works great, making this the perfect game to play in bed when you just want to wind down and enjoy a good story.
You can pick up Old Skiesfor $19.99, and it is definitely worth it for that price.
