If you’re looking for a new 4X strategy game with a cool cyberpunk feel, you’re going to want to look into Neural Dominion. I was sent a demo of the game and will be back with my impressions, but I thought I would share because I like the vibe.
What is Neural Dominion
Neural Dominion is a 4X strategy game coming to Steam sometime next year. Players take control of one of five unique gangs as they fight to take control of the city. Recruit the strongest gang as you build your empire of brothels, drug dens, and extortion rings. Do you have what it takes to conquer this dark and gritty world, or will be just another crime statistic?
Gameplay
Neural Dominion 4X strategy with turn-based JRPG combat for an interesting twist to the genre. Players take control of the city by setting up their business (like drugs, gambling, etc) and recruiting more members. Players will have to manage their empire efficiently, upgrade their gang and structures, stay out of trouble with the cops. There will also be a bit of story for those who need it.
There will be a public demo will become available in October, so make sure Neural Dominion is on your wishlist. If you need a reason to get excited, check out the official pre-alpha footage that just went life. I’ll be playing a bit of the demo and will be back with my impressions. Stay tuned for that. t
I was sent a free copy of Sylvio: Black Watersto review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions of the game. This will be my honest review.
You wake up alone in a strange dark place with a vague resemblance to Earth. The only light in this world seems to illuminate a small path, the rest of the world is shrouded with darkness. You follow the path in search of answers and find a voice that promises to guide you out of the darkness. The voice guides you deeper into the darkness. The path twists and turns and the world begins to make less sense. Up is down, down is up and there is no way of knowing where you’re going. Along the way, the voices of the souls who also traveled the path will speak to you. They reveal bits of this world’s secrets. What are they trying to tell you? Will you ever find your way out of the darkness?
Gameplay
Sylvio: Black Watersis best described as a walking simulator with a dark and spooky atmosphere, some combat, and an interesting narrative. Most of the time, you are following the trail of illuminated breadcrumbs through a dark and twisted world that becomes more twisted the longer you are in it.
Combat in this game is a first-person shooter. Occasionally, an angry spirit will attack you. The game gives you weapons to defend yourself, but you will need to find the ammo. You will run out of ammo if you aren’t using your shots conservatively, and the ghost will kill you. Death resets you to your last checkpoint.
Along the way, you will also find clues about the world. Spirits will speak bits of dialogue that you have to collect, there are drawings on walls that you need to interpret and bits of film you need to play and interpret. The clues you gather are not in order and you will need to arrange them to make sense of them. This mechanic does a fantastic job at not only setting the mood but building the mystery. The more you collect, the more the story makes sense.
Review
I love Sylvio: Black Waters. It was the perfect twisted narrative with a spooky atmosphere that kept me on my toes. That said, this game isn’t going to be for everyone. The narrative style feels disjointed because it is meant to emulate the disoriented feeling the main character feels. The story you collect isn’t linear, and while it doesn’t make sense at first, does make sense the deeper you get into the game.
What will throw most players are the weird artsy liberties it takes with its storytelling. Cutscenes will be low quality, out of order, and fragmented, or you will sit through a weird low-reverb poem or song. I’d be lying if I said I understood all the choices, but I can see they have a purpose. Some moments act as a tool to create tension, others work to disorient the players, but mostly they help reinforce the idea that reality in this world is twisted. Not everyone is going to enjoy the artsy twisted direction this game takes, but it is a wonderful experience if you’re into it.
The other issue players will have with the game is the lighting. This game is dark, and it can be frustrating. The game uses the darkness to set the mood effectively, but it isn’t perfect. It is easy to get lost or not see the right path and walk in circles. This game is meant to be disorienting, but it is going to kill some player’s enjoyment of the game. As someone who isn’t good at directions, I spent too much time walking in circles.
The game is buggy, and some of those bugs are game-breaking. Using the mouse wheel to switch between weapons either crashed the game or left the weapon menu open. It didn’t happen every time, but it happened enough when I stopped using the mouse wheel. Sometimes I would get stuck on a wall or a random artifact. My biggest issue with the game is that interacting with items is a chore. You need to find the right angle to pick up some items, and finding that angle is more work than it needs to be. None of these issues were enough to make me stop playing, but they will for people who are looking for a more polished game. I think the game’s roughness gives it its charm.
If you’re looking for a horror game that isn’t all jump scares, with a solid story but doesn’t mind the roughness, you need to pick up Sylvio Black Waters. This game is the weird twisted trip you didn’t know you needed. It is a good and interesting game, but it is also not for everyone. If you don’t like how dark the game looks or don’t want to sit through artsy weirdness, you should go elsewhere.
I was sent a free copy of Guayotato 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.
Guayota is a cute 3D puzzle game coming out on August 13th on Steam and the Nintendo Switch.
You’ve heard the stories of the mythical island of San Brandan’s. An island once run by an advanced civilization full of wonder and mystery. You and a few brave souls are determined to find it. You follow the legend and wash up on its shores. This new world is ripe for exploration, but this is no ordinary island. Occasionally, you’ll be dragged into the realm of madness. Luckily, a spirit has decided to help you. Use its powers to explore the dungeons, solve its puzzles, and uncover the island’s secrets. What will your journey uncover?
Gameplay
Guayotais a top-down puzzle game. Players move through mazes and avoid traps to stay alive. Players must learn to wield the power of fire to activate the mechanisms that will keep them moving forward. A fire’s light can do helpful things like open doors, activate bridges, and other useful actions. Occasionally, players will die. This is part of the game’s design.
Dying takes players to the Realm of Madness, an alternate version of the map. There are no traps in the realm of madness. Instead, the map turns into a labyrinth the player must navigate with the help of their newly acquired spirit companion. Players can use these new powers to interact with the world like use them to move through walls or dodge traps. Players must solve puzzles in both realms to collect the clues that will help solve the mysteries of the island and the people who once ruled it.
Review
Guayotais an adorable game with an interesting premise. The game features cute characters, a solid soundtrack, and interesting puzzle mechanics. Switching between realms is a cool idea and a mechanic that the game uses effectively in its flavor and gameplay. The mechanic adds a new challenge to each room, and the puzzles are challenging enough to keep the game engaging. Some of the gameplay can start to feel repetitive, but not enough to kill the enjoyment. Overall, Guayota is a solid puzzle adventure with a decent story, creative puzzles, and cute characters. If you enjoy the genre or simply looking for a new game for your collection Guayota is a good place to start.
Guayota releases on August 13 on Steam and Nintendo Switch, but there’s a demo available if you need convincing.
I was sent a free copy of Lost Castle 2 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.
Choose your class and make your way through the most adorable dungeons in search of treasure, money, and fame. Brave these procedurally generated dungeons on your friends online. What hilarious stories will you share around the campfire?
Gameplay
Players choose their class at the start of each run. These classes can be swapped freely at the blacksmith or through random weapon drops during a run. Players can choose between a melee, magic, or ranged class. Each class is unique, but I preferred the magic class for my play style.
Like most roguelikes, players will receive random upgrades and skills throughout their run. There are random shops within the dungeons that also sell player items. These upgrades are all RNG-reliant, which means luck can ruin a run. I thought RNG was fair for the most part.
Players will then move through the dungeon, clearing each room of its monsters. Enemies increase in difficulty with each room, but a player’s power level also increases. Players can choose the types of encounters after each room. They can fight regular monsters or elite monsters, rest and refill their positions, buy items from a shop, and eventually fight the area boss. These choices are mostly randomized. Make sure you plan your route wisely.
In between runs, players can buy permanent upgrades in town. They can level up facilities and give their character some valuable buffs for their future runs. While I am sure there is an optimal build path, I always went with what fit my playstyle the best.
If you have friends or want to make new ones, Lost Castle 2 has a built-in matchmaking system. I liked playing alone, but I can see this game being a lot of fun with other people. It definitely has a party game vibe similar to Castle Crashers.
Review
Lost Castle is incredibly cute, but that shouldn’t distract from its issues. The gameplay, while fun and engaging, can grow repetitive and stale if you let it. Multiplayer is what will extend the game’s shelf life, but you’ll at least get your money’s worth if you decide to go solo. The wacky quirky gameplay gives this game its charm, but it would be a lot better with friends. I definitely wish there was an opportunity for couch co-op.
If you’re looking for a fun party game you can only play online, this might be a solid solution. This is a cute game with a charming little loop, but one that won’t stay in your rotation for too long unless you can find a group of friends that can make the grind worth it. The grind isn’t terrible, but it gets repetitive. I enjoyed the repetition, but I also understand the value of a good friend group.
The game is in early access. While I thought the game was fine, I am sure there will be some valuable improvements on the horizon. Buy at your discretion. You can pick up Lost Castle 2 on Steam for $14.99.
I was sent a free copy of Minds Beneath Usto 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.
Minds Beneath Us is a very pretty cyberpunk visual novel out now on Steam.
The World is run by AI, and this AI is powered by the poor souls who can’t afford to work anywhere else. You are an AI designed to infiltrate the mind of a target and gather crucial information. But your first mission doesn’t go smoothly. Suddenly, you find yourself in the body of a mysterious man and having to live his life.
You find yourself working for a company responsible for hiring the poor souls that power the city. As you work to make sense of this new world, you find yourself making the choices that will influence the rest of your life. This life is yours to live now. What choices will you make? What secrets will you uncover?
Gameplay
Minds Beneath Us is a beautiful point-and-click visual novel. While there is some action, you are reading a beautifully illustrated mystery. Exploration in this game is limited to two dimensions and is very important to the story’s development. Missing clues or interactions with the environment will close off story paths, so make sure you click on everything.
Player choices affect the outcome of the story. The choices you make in conversation will dictate the type of story you enjoy. You can always restart from a checkpoint if you don’t like the outcome, but this system gives the game its replay value.
There is no voice acting in this game, but I don’t think it needs it. Players who don’t like to read might find it difficult to stay attentive, but the story is well-written and enjoyable for those looking for a new sci-fi visual novel.
Review
I loved the Minds Beneath Usand recommend it to anyone looking for a visual novel. This is a very pretty game with some beautiful illustrations that you have to look through once. This game has a simple art style, but one that successfully captures the complexities and tone of its narrative. Aside from a few awkward translation issues, the story is well-written. The pacing is solid, the themes are great, and the choices get hard when they need to be.
My only real complaint is that the save points are too far apart. If you have to leave halfway through a scene, you’ll have to go through the entire dialogue until you find your spot. This is only a real issue if you’re not able to play continuously, so it isn’t necessarily a deal breaker.
Minds Beneath Us is a cool story with some fantastically developed themes. This game should be in your library if it isn’t already.
I was sent a free copy of Veritusto 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.
Veritus is an adorable 2D retro RPG out now on Steam.
You are a miner asked to explore the mysterious temple of the god of shadows. This won’t be an easy task. Dangerous monsters lurk its halls, dark secrets hide in its shadows, and locked away somewhere deep inside, there is treasure to be had. Explore the temple, fight off its monsters, solve its many puzzles, and try to make it out alive. What secrets will you uncover? Do you have what it takes to conquer the god of shadow’s dungeon?
Gameplay
Fans of old-school hack-n-slash RPGs need to buy this game. Combat feels like a simple button mash, but there is a neat crafting system to keep things interesting. Boss fights are creative, manageable, and fun. Puzzles in this game are incredibly satisfying. They were hard enough to keep things engaging, but never so hard that I needed to look up the solution. Exploration can feel tedious, but the grind isn’t as soul-crushing as it could be. Overall, it is a solid RPG for those looking for something with a cool retro vibe.
Review
If you are a fan of old-school Zelda, this game should be in your collection. Veritus has a decent story, beautiful pixel art, and a fun gameplay loop. I loved it for its much-needed change of pace, and I appreciate it for its creativity. I love how they handled cutscenes, and won’t mind sitting through them again. Combat is fun, puzzles feel good, and the boss fights are creative.
That said, the game isn’t perfect. Exploration can feel tedious, especially when you have to move between checkpoints after dying. The simple dungeon and combat design can make the game feel monotonous. Most importantly, despite its modern mechanics and pacing, the game does feel old. As someone who loves the old-school hack-n-slash genre, I found the repetition soothing and the combat relaxing. These complaints aren’t dealbreakers, but it is something to consider before taking your dive.
If you’re looking for a casual new game with a lot of charm and some solid gameplay, I recommend you pick up Veritus. The game is cute, fun, and only $7. Pick up your copy on Steam today!
I was sent a free copy of Earl vs. the Mutantsto 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.
Earl vs. the Mutants is a post-apocalyptic twin-stick shooter out now on Steam. The world has become overrun by mutants and it is up to the licensed hunters to keep them at bay. Play as Earl as he drives through the wasteland ramming, shooting, and blowing up mutants for that sweet reward. Can Earl bring peace to this world, or will he become another forgotten casualty?
Gameplay
You can play Earl vs. the Mutantslike your traditional twin-stick shooter, left stick maneuvers your car aims your gun. Players can also opt to play the game like a top-down driving game. Both methods work well, it all comes down to preference. I liked changing between modes for the variability. It made the runs feel fresh, not that the game needed much refreshing.
Runs start with Earl driving a basic version of his car. As you kill mutants, he picks up experience points that can be traded in for random skill upgrades at level up. The RNG is pretty fair, but bad slots will ruin your run. Players can pay to refresh their choices. While these upgrades disappear after each run, players can buy permanent upgrades in between runs from Granny’s shop. These upgrades are purchased with coins picked up through a run or earned by completing quests. The more time a player spends with the game, the stronger Earl’s car becomes. The nice thing about this feature is that these skills can be refunded if a player ever gets buyer’s remorse.
The loop is simple. Players survive and kill mutants for a set time before the boss appears. The longer a player stays alive, the harder the enemies become. There are three distinct levels to play and a few unlockable cars to work towards. If you’re looking for something simple and fun, this might be your game.
Review
Earl vs. the Mutants is simple but incredibly addicting. I loved that I could choose between driving modes. Sometimes you want to play a quirky driving game, but other times you want to sit back and enjoy a twin-stick shooter. The driving mechanics is what makes this game feel different from other games in the genre. Driving feels very good in this game. While it may not be a driving sim, it is a nice change of pace from other twin-stick shooters because of how you need to maneuver the car through the wasteland.
The graphics might be an issue for some folks. The game is on the simple low-res side of gaming, but that shouldn’t matter because the game is fun. Once a run starts to get chaotic, you’ll appreciate the game’s charm and solid performance. It is a short game, but one that you can pick up anytime to enjoy a relaxing, quirky, good time.
If you’re looking for a fun twin-stick shooter, or are in the market for some fun casual gaming, you need to pick up Earl vs. the Mutants.
You can pick up Earl vs. The Mutantson Steam for only $6.99 ($5.59 until August 1st)
The Escape Tales: The Awakening demo is officially on Steam, and I recommend you pick it up if you enjoy puzzles, escape rooms, or the board game it is based on. Full disclosure, I was asked to cover the demo, but these will be my honest impressions.
Escape Tales is a series of escape room board games. Bluekey Games has taken it upon themselves to turn the popular series into a video game. Players must solve puzzles to progress through a story where their choices matter.
You play as Sam who has lost his wife is on the verge of losing his daughter. His daughter has fallen into a mysterious coma without a cure in sight. A man gives him “The Book of Rituals”. Desperate for a solution, Sam embarks on the most frightening night of his life as he has to solve puzzles and face off against dark forces. Will he be able to get his little girl back, or will they both become lost to the darkness?
Gameplay
The demo has you clearing the first room of the story. It is a short demo. If you’re good at puzzles, it shouldn’t take you more than an hour. Players receive a solid hook to the story and must gather clues to solve the room. The game is a giant point-and-click puzzle game with no time limit. I appreciate that there is no time limit because it allows me to enjoy the game at my own pace. The game boasts having multiple answers, endings, and choices that matter. That is yet to be seen, but it is an exciting feature if done correctly.
The puzzle is hard, and creative, but manageable if you’re paying attention. The game is very generous with clues and will offer solutions if you get stuck. People who do a lot of escape rooms shouldn’t have a problem with the puzzle, but it’s nice to have for some of the less obvious solutions.
The game features tools to help them on their journey. Players can use the on-screen notepad to jot down notes or use their mouse to write over the puzzle. I know some people will prefer the feel of pencil and paper, but this is a great feature for those who like to have everything in one place.
Impressions
I know I’ve only played the demo, but I am already addicted. The flavor is great, the puzzles are challenging, and the story is interesting. My only complaint is that one of the puzzles was hard to make out. It might have been a personal issue, but I felt like the image was a bit too blurry, other than that, the game feels like it is going to be a lot of fun. I can’t wait to try out the whole game. Stay tuned for that.
If you like puzzle games, love escape rooms, or enjoy the board game series, you need to try this demo. It offers a solid taste of what to expect and will leave you wanting more. You can download the Escape Tales: The Awakening demo now on Steam.
I was sent a free copy of Galactic Glitchto review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions of the game. This will be my honest review. If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the SC3 Gaming Mixer for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals.
What is Galactic Glitch?
Galactic Glitch is a colorful and unique twin-stick roguelike shooter where you can throw your enemies into other enemies. The game has launched on Steam Early Access.
Travel through beautiful 2D maps full of enemies, mystery, and debris. Fight off swarms of enemies in unique space battles and upgrade your ship to be the best in the galaxy. How far into the darkness of space will you be able to reach?
Gameplay
Galactic Glitch starts in the traditional roguelike fashion. Players begin their campaign with a basic ship that they can upgrade along the way. The more you play, the better the ship becomes. You will die a lot, so be prepared for some repetition.
The ship comes with three weapons that can be swapped out and upgraded later in the game. Each weapon swap makes a meaningful change to combat, allowing players the ability to find a loadout that fits their playstyle. Players will also encounter random events that drop stat upgrades when completed. These are harder encounters and a very welcomed change of pace.
Combat feels like your typical twin-stick bullet hell, but the physics give it enough of a unique flare to set it apart from other games in the genre. Maneuvering around rooms and throwing objects into enemies feels so good once you get the hang of things.
Progress in this game is set up like a dungeon crawler. Players crawl through the vastness of space, clearing one room at a time. Rooms feel unique enough that the repetition doesn’t get stale, but to be fair, I do enjoy my repetition.
There is a story to this game, but it isn’t anything deep that you’ll need to follow thoroughly. At least it didn’t do enough to catch my attention. Instead, you’ll be picking up this game for the unique space-crawling goodness that it is.
Review
I loved every minute of Galactic Glitch. The art is great, the soundtrack is amazing, and the gameplay is so much fun. Geometry Wars was my favorite game growing up, and Galactic Glitch feels like that with a bit more purpose. I liked that I could switch my weapons but still pick up some RNG abilities along the way. I love that I could upgrade a home base for more powerups. I am sure I could have been a lot more efficient with my playthrough, but I had a lot of fun figuring things out.
If you’re looking for a fun game that will certainly become an addiction, pick up Galactic Glitch. It is a neat casual game with enough substance to keep players engaged, without it becoming a huge commitment. I love Twin-Stick shooters, and Galactic Glitch is definitely one of my favorites.
You can pick up Galactic Glitchon Steam for $12.99 (currently $9.74 until July 29).
This month’s Dev log was a little late, but it was juicy. While we don’t have a firm release date, we do have a time frame. Drakantos plans its release for 2025. This seems like a long time, especially for those of us following from the beginning, but I’ve made it this far, what is a couple of more months. I rather have a finished game than a rushed one. Make sure you check out the official log for all the details, and don’t forget to Wishlist!
In a bit of sad news, dev logs will be moved to a three-month schedule. This means longer waits between devlogs, but it also means we’ll be getting juicier ones. There will be a consistent stream of teasers on the official Drakantos Discord, so make sure you join up and check regularly. I’ll try to do a monthly update of the teasers of they are juicy enough.
Liam Teaser
This month’s teaser was fantastic. We not only got to see Liam gameplay, but we got to get a good look at how the world of Drakantos works. We get a peak at the player hub and how questing works. I like the clean UI and the guild hall has a fantastic vibe to it. Most importantly, we got to see group combat. I love the art and am always impressed with how good they make the attack animations. I can see it being a little too busy for some folks, but I find it the perfect amount of world-shattering chaos without it ever being too distracting. I am curious to see how it things will work with busier instances like PvP and World Bosses.
I wasn’t too impressed with Liam’s gameplay, but I don’t tank. He seems too slow for my taste, but in the right hands, he can be a menace. Liam has a solid taunt, access to valuable debuffs, AOE, and he can close gaps quickly when needed. The cherry on top is his cool animations and voice acting. If you are looking to tank in Drakantos, you definitely need to consider Liam.
Game Info
Drakantos will be an MMO with dungeon-crawler elements. It will have an open world to explore, quest, and make friends in. There will be an overarching story which I am very excited to dive into. The game already has a solid amount of lore, I can’t wait to see what they do with it. There will also be a traditional player market. As long as players aren’t allowed to sell real money items, I’m cool with a player-run economy.
Drakantos will include character-specific prologues that will eventually lead to the starting zone. This will include a character story, a great way to start the game. The devs talk about moving away from the traditional linear system of questing in the hopes of giving the system purpose. Quests will reward players with gold and experience, but it will also unlock new systems, shops, and areas for the players. Some side quests will be class-specific, requiring players to use a character that knows magic for example. Most importantly, these types of quests will offer horizontal progression, which means completing a mission counts for the entire account. I like that the game isn’t forcing a tedious grind with their unique system.
The Dungeon Crawl
We got to see a bit of the Adventurer’s Guild in the Liam teaser above. The Guild is the main player hub where players can gather and queue for instances. Instances will take players to over 120 different maps and have them complete different quests. The intention is to always have players complete a different quest every time, even if they queue up for the same map. This is a very cool feature. While I do find comfort in repetition, the grind can get soul-crushing and monotonous. I can’t wait to see how this system is implemented. There will also be a random secondary objective or rare event to make things extra spicy. This can be a random encounter or a golden gnome for example. Completing side quests will net you more rewards, but they are optional.
Some instance bosses
Matchmaking
Matchmaking for an instance is tied to a player’s power level. There is no lobby. Instead of waiting for others to join, the game jumps you to the instance as it continues to look for other players. Difficulty scales based on the number of players in an instance (max 3), and rescales if someone drops suddenly. This is fantastic for a mobile game where internet connection can be spotty. Premade groups can be up to four for when you eventually join your guild and make your friends.
Conclusion
I continue to get hyped for the Drakantos release because this game looks fantastic. I’ve been waiting for an MMO to fill the void PSO left behind, and I am hoping this will be it. I love the art, the flavor, and the fact that this thing is portable. I can play it anywhere! Each month brings us closer to a release, and I’m just waiting for a beta. Make sure you join the official Drakantos Discord to stay up to date on all the news, and don’t forget to add the game to your Wishlist.
