Eldritch Automata just went live on Kickstarter and has already made 13k on the first day. There is still a bit to go before they get to their $65k goal, so go back if you’re looking for a horrific mech tabletop RPG.
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Story
The world is overrun by unspeakable horrors that have left humanity hanging by its last tread. Those unfortunate to survive must face off against the ever-present threat of bloodthirsty eldritch abominations and nightmares. Hope sits on the shoulders of those few in the world who can pilot the mighty Automata, giant mechs that appeared at the start of the calamity. Piloting the Automata is no easy feat. Pilots must be of strong resolve, because the pressures of responsibility, the strain of piloting the Automata, and the constant threat from monsters and other survivors constantly eat away at their morale.
The world of Eldritch Automata is no easy picnic. Do you have what it takes to survive?
What is Eldritch Automata
Eldritch Automatais a survival horror TTRPG that uses the award-winning Year ZeroEngine. I’ve played a few games that use the Year ZeroEngine, and love it so far. It’s easy to pick up, and not an impossible transition from D&D. What makes Eldritch Automata unique is the giant mechs, Automata. I am very curious to see how the Mech and Kaiju fights work, especially when players have to worry about their morale. I bet it not only makes for fun roleplay, but will also make things tense and exciting.
Kickstarter also mentions that there will be a focus on a social aspect where players need to navigate different factions, worry about treacherous factions, and form different alliances. I already have some cool ideas for roleplay, and I am excited.
The rulebook will be about 400 pages long and include accessories, depending on the tier you support and what stretch goals get reached.
If you’re looking for a horror survival game with the potential for epic kaiju battles, go back the Eldritch Automata Kickstarter today! The campaign is live until February 1st, and the product plans to ship in August.
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!
The Cargodramon leaves a thick cloud of smoke as it falls to the ground. Loogamon jumps through the cloud of smoke and reappears next to Airdramon.
‘You guys really saved us down there,” Eiji chirps in relief.
“Thanks old man,” Loogamon adds.
Marvin chuckles. “You guys are crazy man, taking on the Digipolice like that.” His words ring with a mixture of admiration and exasperation. “So what did we just walk into Eiji?”
“Satsuki is down there in that Mekanorimon. She’s running this whole operation, and she’s a bit…cranky today. Even more than last time.” Eiji remembers their encounter during his entrance exam.
Marvin reads over Statsuki’s profile. “Yeah I remember. She’s an odd one.” Marvin lets out a sigh as he looks at the Mekanorimon commanding the Digipolice. He watches as the Commandramon move in perfect unison to set up for a counterattack. “This is going to be interesting.”
“Is she stronger than you?” Loogamon asks, mockingly.
“Well I definitely don’t have the attention span to command that many people. Is everyone in position?” Marvin asks suddenly to the others on the line. “These Commandramon have a basic camo feature, so stay sharp and don’t get ambushed. We gotta give Tartarus more space. Come on guys, just like we planned!”
Loogamon smirks. It’s tail wags excitedly as it salivates over the prey moving below. “Me and Eiji will take care of these pests.”
Loogamon burst into a large ball of flames. Loogarmon springs from the fireball, flames lick down its fur and feathers. It charges towards the scrambling Commandramon.
FLAME BLOW!
Loogarmon’s body becomes covered in white hot flames as he slams into a unit of Commandramon. The Commandramon are too slow to react, and the wolf pierces through their ranks effortlessly, leaving behind bodies of burning Digimon.
Marvin watches the wolf for a moment before issuing his command. “Move in!”
The remaining Sons of Chaos follow Eiji into the fray. The surprised Commandramon struggles to react, and the field erupts into chaos.
A fresh swarm of Gatekeepers moves towards the madness, creating a thick black shadow that cuts through the sky. Marvin isn’t phased. He types a simple command into his console, activating the army of Espimon bots at his disposal. Behind him, a swarm of Espimon appears and charges at the oncoming Gatekeepers. The two metallic swarms collide, filling the sky with explosions. Their incoherent struggle continues until it fills the space above the Digipolice.
Satsuki watches the chaos unfold around her. She clenches her fists in frustration and grinds her teeth furiously.
“Those fucking Code Crackers!” She watches as the swarm of Gatekeepers flies towards her. Watches as the Airdramon commands the Sons of Chaos that have joined the ambush. She smirks. “So that’s how you want to play.” She takes aim. “Open Fire!”
A twinkling beam erupts from the Mekanorimon’s torso and collides with the Gatekeepers. The DigiPolice follow her lead and begin spraying the swarm with bullets. Bits of Gatekeepers begin raining around them.
While the DigiPolice shifts its attention to the oncoming horde of Gatekeepers, Loogarmon continues to decimate the ground forces, quickly making its way towards the center.
“Keep it up Loogarmon!” Eiji exclaims!
“This is too easy” Loogarmon responds snidely. Loogarmon jumps between Commandramon. Its claws slash effortlessly through body armor and send bodies through the air.
“There’s a Mekanorimon!” Eiji points out the large robot commanding a large squad. “You think you can hit it?”
Small embers lick from between Loogarmon’s iron muzzle. “No problem!”
Howling Burner!
Fire begins spilling from its iron grates. A torrent of flames engulfs the Mekanorimon below, leaving a scorched in its wake.
Satsuki watches in frustration as she watches one of the Mekanorimon disappear from her map. “God dammit!” she shouts angrily. The Commandramon hold their position as the wolf slices through them. Satsuki grits her teeth. “That Eiji kid is a problem.” She watches Eiji and Loogarmon from her monitor and lets a subtle smirk escape. “We’re not done yet Mr. Nagasumi,” she says to herself.
“Satsuki switches to one of the private channels. “Tachibana! Sakurada! Get in position. We’re ending this!”
Two voices respond in unison “Yes sir!”
Satsuki’s smirk turns into a smile. “Hit that wolf with everything you ‘ve got!”
Eiji watches the battlefield through Loogarmon’s eyes. The Left flank was now considerably weakened. He catches a glimpse of Koske and Yulin’s bitter battle over the Gateway.
“So that’s what Dorumon’s mega?” Eiji points out.
“We have to do something about that Ouryumon, or else we’re not getting through that gate,” Loogarmon adds.
“That’s going to be tricky. There’s too many forces in play. For now, lets just focus on our mission.”
“Should I digivolve one more time?”
Another mega would tip the battle in their favor, but Eiji’s mind jumps back to the incident. They couldn’t afford to lose control here. He shakes the thought. “Right now, we gotta focus on getting that gate open and giving Kosuke his space…”
Gunfire suddenly explodes from both sides. Loogarmon jumps out of the way quickly, narrowly missing the hail of bullets. They scan for a source but don’t see one. “They must be hiding. Hit them with a howling Burner?”
Character design/illustration illustrator: malo
Two large heavily armored bipedal dinosaurs take their place. They carry a riot shield in one hand and a large grenade launcher in the other.
Hi-Commandramon, Champion, Android, Virus. Eiji reads as the data populates his console.
Loogarmon braces his body. The feathers down its arms begin to quiver and embers erupt from its maw.
HOWLING BURNER!
Flames rush towards the Hi-Commandramon. One moves forward with its shield raised to absorb the flames. Flames burn brightly around it, but the Hi-Commandramon seems unaffected by the attack. The other Hi-Commandramon jumps from behind its partner and makes a dash towards Loogarmon.
A club comes crashing towards it, but Loogarmon is quick to reach. It raises its arms and blocks the blow. Sparks fly from the impact, and Eiji becomes briefly blinded by its light.
“is the club electric?” Eiji yelps as he initiates a scan of the weapon. The scan confirms his suspicion. It was a stun baton.
“That tingled…”Loogarmon responds.
“Look out!” Eiji shouts as he watches the second Hi-Comandramon ready its attack. It plants its shield on the ground and sticks the muzzle of the grenade launcher through a small cutout.
DCG GRENADE!
THUNK, THUNK, THUNK, THUNK. Grenades start flying out of the slit in the shield. Loogarmon moves out of the way, but a few chunks of shrapnel hits them. Eiji and Loogarmon are now cut off from the rest of the Sons of Chaos. The Digipolice had quickly recovered the space Loogarmon cleared. Eiji couldn’t let the Digipolice interfere with Kosuke’s fight.
Eiji takes a deep breath. “Lets do this Loogarmon.”
Eiji can feel Loogarmon smile as he responds, “I thought you’d never ask.”
Nothing else needed to be said. The two become in synced as mind, body, and soul meld together in a last-ditch effort to turn the tide of battle.
A bipedal wolf steps from the light. This wolf is more humanlike, and covered in protective plating. Long rabbit-like ears shot from the top of its head. In its right hand, it carries a large wrench. Two large engines cling to its shoulders and suspend the wolf in the air.
This was not the monster they had released during the incident. This was the demon wolf’s ultimate form.
It looks at the bewildered Hi-Commandramon and takes a deep breath before shouting, “ALL SHALL BURRRNNNN!!!!!”
The Final Shape releases on June 4th. I was sent a copy to cover the release. I haven’t played in a while, so I’ll be taking time to gear up and get ready for the expansion. With the Giving event and trying to regain my bearings, it’s going to be a busy week. Those of you thinking of hopping onto Destiny make sure you head over to Epic Games and grab the Legacy Collection. The collection is free until December 20 and includes The Witch Queen, Beyond Light, and Shadowkeep DLCs. That should be enough to keep you busy until the summer. If you have Destiny 2 on Steam, the DLC doesn’t carry over. You’ll have to play the Legacy Collection on Epic Games.
I am going to have to keep a calendar. With how much I need to catch up on, it is a bit of a daunting task. At the moment, I am working on collecting the Dawning Event while I go through the bits of the story I haven’t finished, and work on the Season Pass. The Season of the Wish just kicked off which means new rewards and cosmetics, but most importantly, a new raid and weapon. I am nowhere near ready for that yet, but I can still appreciate how cool the Wish Keeper looks.
I mean this bow looks sick, and the effects look like the best time! To obtain the Wish Keeper, Guardian’s must complete the newest Dungeon, Warlord’s Ruin. Guardian’s will travel to the Black Garden and uncover the remains of an ancient Ahamkara. The Raid is up, the bow is live, and there are already a ton of tutorials to get you ready! Go join a fire team and go get that bow!
I was sent Age of Wonders: Planetfallfor free to review for my site. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.
Age of Wonders: Planetfall is the best way to get into the resource management genre. The game has cool art, fantastic flavor, and it is easy to pick up. Explore the remains of the Star Unions as you seek dominance over the other factions. Challenge your friends in what will be a memorable game of exploration and conquest.
Players choose from one of the six factions and begin their journey through the different planets. Each planet has new adventures and challenges, but what you gain from them will determine your place in the universe. The game is pretty easy to learn. I recommend you check out the tutorial by Rahdo on YouTube to get started.
How to Play
The Sample Size
I am the only person in my family who plays board games, but I have been slowly convincing people to play with me. My wife doesn’t like anything more complicated than Uno and refused to play Planetfall when she saw all the pieces laid out. My sister is a bit more tolerant. She agreed to play but wasn’t as enthusiastic as me and her boyfriend, even though she ended up winning. Her boyfriend is always ready to play board games.
The Game
This box is going to look great on any shelf. Fans of the video game will appreciate the art a lot more. I don’t usually keep my boxes because I don’t have space for them, but I’m willing to make an exception. The board and design are cool and easy to read. The cards and their flavor are fantastic. Even if you haven’t played the video game, you’ll appreciate how cool the art is. The pips are wood, which I prefer to plastic.
Impressions
Age of Wonders: Planetfall is a fantastic introduction to the resource management genre. It has enough moving parts to keep things interesting without becoming overwhelming. The setup was fast and easy, and we started almost instantly. I like to explain the rules as we play, but it didn’t take long for everyone to get settled and work towards strategies.
One of the biggest mistakes I made during my session was ignoring the flavor. It wasn’t until I explained to the table that we were landing on planets and taking over different objectives that they started to get into it. I was amazed at how quickly the conversation turned from being focused on the points to being focused on fighting a certain unit or discovering this landmark because that’s what their commander would do.
My sister ended up winning, and we were left wanting a rematch. She says she wasn’t trying, but I think deep down she knew what she was doing. We loved the game for its change of pace, ease of play, and flavor. It is going to be a hard sell for people who don’t like board games, but everyone, it makes for a nice change of pace from Monopoly. For my table, Age of Wonders: Planetfall is as complicated as we’ll get, and I don’t mind it. The gameplay offers enough room for strategy, but with options to keep it casual to fit our current level of experience. I’ll continue working on bringing more complicated games to our sessions.
If you looking for a new sci-fi game, resource management game, or simply love the video game, I recommend you go pick up Age of Wonders: Planetfall. You can pick up your copy from the official Arcane Wonders store for $44.99, or cheaper at Miniature Market ($31.99)
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.
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!
“My real name is Kosuke Kisakata,” the man says, fiddling with the half-empty coffee can in his hands.
Dorumon shoots Kosuke a worried look. Kosuke continues, “It’s only fair you know my real name. I don’t get to use it much these days.”
Eiji bows respectfully. He remains silent as he struggles to find the right words to say. “So…” he begins awkwardly. “Who are you looking for?”
Kosuke sighs as the room around him grows silent. “it all started back in college. In the early days of the Digital world. I was one of the first people to mindlink, but back then it was a much more…limited experience. It was far less precise, and a lot more dangerous.” He takes a sip of his coffee. “I was part of the first people to see the Digital world and…” his voice trails off.
Kosuke clears his throat. “That’s why I became a Code Cracker and dedicated my life to finding…them.”
Something in Kosuke’s story triggers a sudden memory for Eiji. “Black Agumon!” he shouts.
Kosuke nods his head. “Black Agumon was…their Digimon.”
“So your friend has been in a coma all this time?” Loogamon asks.
“Yes. They’re in a special facility overseas.” The room grows silent.
“Suppose you find Black Agumon, can you save the person who went DMIA?” Eiji asks.
“We believe that people who DMIA lose the capacity for self-awareness.” Dorumon answers.
“In theory, the person’s fusion to a Digimon’s Digicore would cause several issues for them as well. If a person who DMIA merely went unconscious, the Digimon would be able to communicate with the outside world. Unfortunately, there is no real way of testing this.”
“And even if they somehow maintain their consciousness,” Dorumon begins, “Leon and Kauchimon fell into the vortex, past the firewall. There is almost no hope of him finding his way back.”
“But there is some hope,” Kosuke says as he flips through the options on his Digimon Linker. He sends some data to Eiji.
“A Syringe?” Eiji says, examining the hologram spinning from his watch.
Kosuke nods his head. “It’s medicine tailormade for DMIA patientes?”
“A cure?” Eiji asks in awe.
Character design/illustration illustrator: malo
“Of sorts. It contains a medical-grade stimulant. In theory, it should peel the human consciousness away from the Digicore, granting the person enough self-awareness to return to the real world.”
“And this works?”
“Well, it was originally designed to extend the amount of time one can safely mindlink. In simple terms, the medicine increases focus. That focus should also bring a person back.”
“That’s awesome!”
“Sort of,” Kosuke continues. “The side effects make it…difficult to get approval. But the trails have shown promise.”
“So giving this stuff to Leon…”
“We can’t give this to Leon’s physical body. It has to be administered to his Digimon, wherever it may be.”
The hologram continues to spin slowly in the air between them.
“Did you come up with this medicine?” Eiji asks.
“No. It came from a lab.”
“What…What lab?” Eiji asks, already knowing the answer.
“Professor Rysenji’s” Dorumon replies.
“But why..why would he give us something like this?”
“We made a deal with the professor,” Dorumon explains.
“What kind of deal?”
“If we share the data, we get access to the vaccine. Simple as that.”
“Are you okay with that Kosuke?” Eiji turns his attention to the silent man across from him. He remains silent for a moment before pulling up a video on a virtual monitor. The video was a security camera feed of a hospital room. The room is full of large tubes filled with liquids, and devices busy measuring vitals. At the center of the group, Eiji could make out the fuzzy image of a young woman.
“Is that the person you lost?” Eiji asks.
Kosuke sighs sadly. “This is the only way I can see her now. We don’t know what will happen if we successfully administer the drug and she regains consciousness…” His voice trails for a bit. “But the drug gives me hope.” He closes the virtual monitors.
“Do you trust the professor?” Eiji asks suddenly.
“Do you not?”
“I do!” Eiji replies without hesitation. “If you two say there’s a chance, that’s enough for me!”
“So can we count on you two?” Dorumon asks.
“What do you say Loogamon?”
Loogamon smirks. “Like I’d let you do this on your own!”
Dorumon chuckles.
“So we’re after Leon and the Black Agumon. How much of that medicine do we have?”
“Just the one,” Dorumon says gravely.
“Cool, I’m sure the professor will give us another after…”
“No. All you have to do is recover the Digimon. The lab will take care of the rest,” adds Dorumon.
“Ok. Simple enough. Do you have a plan?”
Kosuke smiles. “I’m glad you asked. I’ve got a car waiting. Gather your things and come with me. I’ll explain on the way.”
“Right now?” Eiji asks, surprised by the sudden urgency.
“It’s not safe here. The Digipolice will be here any minute.”
“Wait.What?!”
Kosuke nods his head. “Don’t worry, I’ve got a safehouse nearby, but you do need to hurry,” Kosuke says calmly as he walks out the door.
Eiji quickly throws a few things into a bag and chases after Kosuke. Koske is already sitting in the car when Eiji walks out. Before Eiji can get in, Kosuke stops him. “Before you get in this car, you have to be sure about what you’re doing. Once you get in, there is no going back to your old life.” Kosuke waits for an answer as the severity of the situation hits Eiji.
“So what’s it going to be Eiji? Are you coming or not?” Koske asks politely.
Eiji looks back at his apartment. It looks so small from where he stands. He thinks about the life he’s leaving behind. “In that case,” Eiji says, turning to Kosuke, “I’ll have no regrets!”
Eiji steps into the car and shuts the door the door behind him.
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!
