it is finally happening! After a long anticipated wait, we finally get a date for the Drakantos closed beta! The closed beta will run from July 25th – July 27th, and signups are live! Make sure you join the official Discord and add the game to your watchlist! If you don’t know what Drakantos is, make sure you check out my initial post.
This will be a short post because not much is known aside from the dates. We will get news about the playable characters at a later date, and I will be sure to cover it then as well. For now, all we know is that you will be able to invite your friends to the beta if you get in (provided the Steam function properly works properly that weekend).
I have been following Drakantos since I got a chance to talk to a few of the devs during my time at GDC a couple years back. Every Dev log, and I recommend you check them all out both the official coverage and my own, has added to my excitement and made me impatient. I am really rooting for this game’s success because I love the art, the flavor, and the passion that is going into the project. I can’t wait for finally get my hands on this game! Until then, we wait for more news.
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 asked to cover the Devil Jam demo on my blog. I understand the game is not done yet, so I will be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, these will still be my honest first impressions of the game.
Devil Jam is a survivor-like coming to PC and all major consoles.
You have made a deal with the devil, and now must fight your way through his legion of followers to become the best rocker you know you can be. Is the metal that flows through your veins powerful enough to fend off the mobs of groupies, angry mobs, and rival musicians? Will the sins favor your runs and give you the power you need to survive? You are going to have to play to find out.
Gameplay
Devil Jam is your typical survivor-like with a rhythm gimmick to help it stand out against others in the genre. Players start each run with basic abilities, and slowly gain more as they defeat enemies and collect XP points. The powers granted to players are selected from a random pool, and each ability (passive or otherwise) is themed after one of the deadly sins. What Devil Jam does differently is the inventory management mini game that happens at level-up. Players can arrange the gifts they gain from the sins in an inventory where they interact with each other based on their position. Players must think carefully of where they place their abilities in order to maximize their power output. Attacks are automated, but they follow the rhythm of the music playing.
Impressions
I was excited for theDevil Jambecause the flavor is fun, I like the music, and the rythmn mechanic sounded interesting. Unfortunately, the demo isn’t very impressive. The enemies and animation isn’t very good. I appreciate that it was all done by hand, but it feels unfinished. The animation feels stiffs. There also isn’t enough variety in enemies. It always felt like I was just fighting off hordes of slimes, which got boring pretty quickly.
My biggest issue with the game is that it already feels solvable. There were abilities that are clearly the right choice, and a lot of filler abilities that will ruin a run. The RNG felt real bad at times, and it made me not want to keep playing. For a survivor-like to be good, the player’s choices need to feel impactful. Every build-path needs to feel viable, even when there is a clear meta.
Having a good balance between the chaos the RNG brings and the viable strategy available to players each run is important for a successful survival-like, and I don’t believe Devil Jam is there yet. I like the inventory mechanic the game implements, but I don’t think the demo demonstrates its full worth. Having to not only chose a powerful ability, but one that synergies with the ever changing puzzle the player is managing is a cool idea. The problem is that there already feels like there is a right answer. Maybe with access to the full game and a more polished ability pool, the 4.93 quadrillion possible combinations will come into play.
I’ll hold out some hope. I like the art and character design, the music is solid, and the rhythm mechanic is interesting. That said, I can’t recommend it until I get an experience that is better than some of the other survivors in my library.
If you don’t believe me, you can check out the Devil Jam demo on Steam now. Don’t forget to wishlist!
I was sent a free copy of Rise of Gun 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.
Rise of Gun is a quirky shop simulator out now on Steam.
The world has been overrun by zombies. The last remaining survivors hold up in walled cities and fend off against an endless waves of undead. You and your shop are the only thing that stands between salvation and complete zombification. Gather materials, discover new guns, and sell provide the town with the arsenal that prevent the end of humanity. Can you create a thriving business from the wreckage of the old world, or will you be another failed shop on main street.
Gameplay
Rise of Gun is not a zombie survival game, but rather a shop simulator. You do not kill zombies. Instead, players are building a business. Players will build guns to sell to customers, and use the profits from the sales to upgrade their business. There is a story and quests, but players can choose to chill and run a gun store which is what I ended up doing.
Review
Rise of Gun will definitely have its niche. As far as shop sims go, the game is solid. Everything runs well, the flavor and quirks are fun, and the gameplay loop is relaxing. My issue with the game is that the tutorial is a little confusing, but sticking with the game will pay off. Another issue I have with the game is that it doesn’t always run well. It isn’t unplayable, but I did encounter a few performance issues that I couldn’t ignore.
There is a story to this game. The story is fine, I just didn’t explore it too deeply because I kept getting distracted building weapons for my shop. I love that I can make some rediculous looking guns without restrictions.
If you are trying to play this game as an action survival, you will be disappointed. You don’t fight zombies in this game. I don’t think you need to fight zombies in this game to have fun, but it is something to note. Overall, Rise of Gun is a solid game that is worth trying if you. It has a fun whimsical art that matches its its tone, and a relaxing gameplay loop that is always good to have in your rotation.
I was sent a free copy of Best Served Coldto 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 are a skilled barkeep in one of the city’s illegal speakeasy’s. There is a general danger around your line of work during prohibition. One that is amplified by the pretense of a serial killer. Someone is hunting down patrons of these establishments, and the race is on to find out who. You have been contracted to help in this investigation. Use your position, charm, and skill as a barkeep to interrogate the patrons and find leads. What mysteries will your investigation uncover? Can you find the killer before its too late?
Gameplay
The loop in Best Served Coldis an interesting twist on the genre. Players will talk to patrons during their shift, and try to find the right combination of answers and questions to unlock the appropriate clues. The twist are the mechanics tied to the bartender position. Players will have to figure out the perfect drink to serve each patron, and mix it perfectly. The mixing mini game is simple. Players trace a pattern thematic to the drink before time runs out. Choosing the perfect drink and making it perfect makes the clients more inclined to talk. There are questions in this game that will only get answers if the customer is drunk enough. This is such a flavorful mechanic, and one that adds a bit of strategy to break up all the reading. Not the reading is bad by any means.
Review
If you are looking for something new to play, check out Best Served Cold. Best Served Cold is a well written visual novel with fantastic characters and a solid mystery. People who read a lot of the genre can figure out the mystery, but it is still worth the read. I had a lot of fun meeting each unique character, figuring out their favorite drink, and the mixing minigame was relaxing. The game also has a fantastic sound track for an unmatched cozy vibe.
My only complaint is that the game is unplayable on the Steam Deck. I might have been doing something wrong, but I couldn’t get the pin-up board to work. Trying to connect everything with yarn felt like more work than it was worth, at least the few times I actually got it work. This isn’t a deal breaker because it works great on PC, but I want to be able to read my mystery visual novels from the comfort of my bed.
Better Served Cold is a great story with amazing flavor that you need to play through once. There is a lot of reading, but the reading is fine and it comes in English, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese. I enjoyed every minute of it, and I think you will too.
I was sent a free copy of Synergy 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.
The world is on the brink of collapse. Take charge of a group of survivors as you work together to rebuild one of the last thriving civilization. Can you find a sustainable solution without sacrificing too much of your citizen’s happiness? Will you be the catalyst to this world’s salvation?
Gameplay
Synergy asks players to build a thriving city while being mindful of their citizen’s happiness and the resources around them. The game attempts to break the traditional formula by forcing players to build differently. Players will have to think about how their buildings interact with each other and environment to successfully grow, without destroying the world around them. There is a unique upgrade system that allows players a bit of flexibility on how they want to build their society. It is a refreshing take on the genre, but does it hold up?
Review
Synergy has a very fun and creative artstyle full of flavor and flare. The game provides an interesting twist with some cool ideas, but it wasn’t for me. I like that the game forced me to think about the genre differently. I was building a new kind of city and planning my tech paths, but the game is boring. Even at max speed, it felt like nothing was happening. Maybe its the lack of animation, maybe I’m impatient, but I lost quickly. I think the biggest issue I have with this game is that I’ve played better games with a more unique twist. If I rather be playing those, there is no real reason to recommend Synergy, unless you like the art and need a new village builder.
If this is going to be your first village builder, I don’t think it is user friendly enough to recommend. The tutorial isn’t good enough at onboarding players on the game’s more important mechanics. There isn’t a steep learning curve, it just has some intuitive mechanics that are important for survival. not that it matters because as hard as I tried, I never got to the point of collapse that I get with other games in the genre. If you’re a veteran, Synergy does a few cool things that will keep you busy for a bit, but not at the price. I would wait for a sale.
Synergy is fine, but when you consider it against others in the genre, you simply have better options. You can pick it up on Steam for $24.99, but again, wait for the sale.
I was sent a free copy of Morkull Ragast’s Rage to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity. I won’t it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.
Morkull Ragast’s Rage is a powerful demon locked away in a video game. The only way to get out is to play the game, and win. Fight your way through a game as it is being made. Make your way through this digital dungeon, fight off scores of enemies, and reprogram a bit of the code along the way. Can you beat the game and let Morkul out? Is it a good idea to get set him free?
Review
If you’ve played any other metroidvania game, you’ve played Morkull Ragast’s Rage. You fight your way through a dungeon, unlocking new abilities along the way. The only difference is the game has a stylized flavor that is fun, but doesn’t do enough to hide the fact that the game isn’t very fun. Morkull Ragast’s Rageisn’t a bad game, it just doesn’t do enough to stand out against the rest of the genre. Had this been my introduction to the genre it would have fared a little better, but its not. When it comes to Metroidvania, you have better options.
The biggest issue I have with the game is that the combat is boring. Movement, combos, and the parry system all feel stiff. The enemies look cool, but they aren’t fun to fight. The grind feels bad, and I found very little reason to keep making it. I had little reason to keep coming back, especially considering how I have better options sitting in my library.
I appreciate the humor of the story. There are fun wall breaks and the flavor and artstyle are interesting. Unfortunately, they don’t do enough to distract from the fact that the game isn’t all that impressive. If you’re looking for a metroidvania game, there are better options. If you like the look and flavor of the game, I would wait for a sale because it still feels like a demo. There is a demo available, but I don’t think it fares any better.
I was sent a free copy of Rogue Conflict 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.
Rogue Conflict is a turn-based rogue-like strategy game out now on Steam.
Players control various factions as they fight for supremacy. Take control of your army and use your wit to overcome different scenarios. Will you be the skill tactician this world needs, or will you be another failed campaign in the making? Grab your army and find out!
Gameplay
Players choose their faction and a scenario to play through. Each faction has access to different units, and the scenario dictates the units in the army. After placing their units, players will take turns moving through the map to complete objectives. Units have a set range of movement and attacks have advantage/disadvantage based on target type. Tanks do more damage to normal infantry for example. Terrain also give units advantage on attack or defends, as well as impede movement. Using terrain and typing effectively is key for world domination. While this game may appear simple, it demands a certain amount of strategy and skill.
Review
Rogue Conflict is fine if you like strategy games, but it feels a bit too one sided for the casual player. I’m not very good at strategy games, but I can at least finish some of the early levels in most games. Here, it felt like no matter what I did, the odds were stacked against me and I was waiting to get destroyed, or for the timer to run out. Some of this is by design. There are scenarios where you aren’t supposed to win by combat, and instead survive in an epic rush to finish the objects. I would be fine with a few of those levels, but it honestly feels like the enemy is omniscient, plentiful, and lucky. Maybe I needed to play a little smarter, but I rather be playing Advanced Wars. Rebalancing or an easier mode would be nice.
That said, a better player might get more enjoyment out of Rogue Conflict. The game runs well, the art is cute, and the game is challenging. The problem is that the game isn’t made for casuals. If you aren’t being efficient and smart about your moves, you are going to get destroyed. Some will definitely find the level of skill fun, but those who lean more to the casual side of strategy aren’t going enjoy some of the nuances of the mechanics.
If you’re looking for a strategy game that is on the harder side and enjoy the graphics, Rogue Conflict is an excellent addition to your collection. If you’re just dipping your toe in the genre, I would save this title till you’re better at strategy games.
You can pick up your copy of Rogue Conflict for $14.99.
I was sent a free copy of slime Heroes to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game.
Slime Heroes is an adorable souls-like out now on Steam and Xbox.
A mysterious corruption spreads across the land, and it is up to a few brave slimes to clear it. Travel across a whimsical world as you solve puzzles, clear dungeons, and defeat monsters. Can you save the guardians from the strange corruption? Can you restore peace to this world?
Gameplay
Slime Heroes is your standard souls-like with a few fun elements to help it stand out against the genre. Players start buy customizing their slime before sending them off on a grand adventure. All slimes start with the same basic abilities, but can be customized throughout their legend. After their sudden call to action, heroes will fight for their lives in order to become stronger.
Players will fight their way between “campfires” as they collect currency and skills to level up their slime. The grind can feel repetitive if players aren’t efficient in their combat. Combat is strait forward. Players have access to two basic attacks (heavy and light), four customizable magic abilities, and a dodge. What makes Slime Heroes unique is that it allows players to combine magical abilities to create a truly unique slime hero.
To break up combat, players can enjoy a bit of lore and story, fun puzzles, explore dungeons, and fight creative puzzles. While the game looks like an adorable kids game, there is enough content and it requires enough skill to keep things engaging.
Review
The initial delay made me a bit nervous about the game. It is typically never a good sign, but this wasn’t true this time around. The game isn’t perfect. There are bits where the character gets stuck, places where I lost frames, and bits where there is no sound. But I would argue that the flaws give the game its charm. While the issues are noticeable, they didn’t matter because I was having fun.
The slimes are cute. The monsters and the world are a little plain, but it works. The story is cozy and fun. This is a very aesthetically pleasing game, but the reason you play is for the gameplay. This is the souls-like game you play when you want a challenge, but you don’t want to end up frustrated. Aside from a few performance issues, combat is fluid. Bosses are unique, but the grind can feel a bit repetitive.
To break up the monotony, the game does a good job at blending other mechanics. There is a bit of platforming, a few challenging puzzles to solve, and some interesting boss fights and challenges to overcome. There was enough variety of content to keep things interesting, and the grind never felt bad. .
What I enjoyed most about the game is skill crafting system. Monsters will drop abilities throughout the adventure, and players can combine these to craft a unique experience. Experimenting with the different combinations is so much fun, and finding the right combination that fits your play style is incredibly satisfying.
If you are looking for a new fun and comforting game to add to your collection, get Slime Heroes. The game has terrific flavor, fun mechanics, and a casual vibe that will fit in any collection. You can brave the world on your own, or team up with friends, and it has a great Steam Deck experience. While there are a few performance issues that are hard to ignore, the devs seem to be pushing out consistent updates that make the game better. This is easily one of my favorite games of the year so far, and it can be one of your too.
You can pick up Slime Heroes on Steam and Xbox for $29.99.
I was sent a free copy of AFFRAID 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.
Affraidis a third person horror survival game out now on Steam.
Nina has been kidnapped along with several other girls by the evil pharmaceutical company, Medio. Medio wants to create an age reversing cream, and willing to sacrifice as many people to get it. Unfortunately, there are unforeseen side effects. The other subjects become rabid, initiating an evacuation protocol. Nina is unaffected, and finds herself in the fight of her life as she tries to escape. Can she make it out alive?
Gameplay
Affraidis a Resident Evil clone. Players make their way through a strange facility full on monsters and using what they find along the way to defend themselves. Players must make their way through dark corridors, piece together the narrative, and try to stay alive. It is a pretty strait forward gameplay loop, but one that can be extremely unforgiving if players aren’t careful.
Review
I was drawn to this game because it looked rough, yet with enough passion poured into it to make up for it. Unfortunately, the game in its current state is unplayable. An update was pushed recently that makes me believe the developer hasn’t given up yet, but it didn’t do much to earn its price tag (even at a discount).
My game crashed during the opening tutorial. When the game finally decided to work, the movement is jarring and the controls aren’t as smooth as they need to be. It is clear that a lot of effort was put into the fan service, which is fine, but the rest of the game needs more attention. Once I finally got out of the first room, the game did not get better. Movement feels bad, and combat doesn’t feel any better. I wouldn’t mind the flaws, but there are better games you can play at the same price price point.
Without a major update to performance, there is no reason to buy this game. The game doesn’t feel finished, nor does it feel like it is close to being finished. You can pick up AFFRAIDfor $9.99, but your money is better spent elsewhere.
