Tag Archives: strategy

gaming news

Spasms of Stupidity is a spiritual successor to DragonForce that you might want to look into

5 Comments

Spasms of Stupidity fell into my inbox, and I thought I would share it because it is a neat concept. Spasms of Stupidity is a roguelike wargame for pc reminiscent of the DragonForce game for the Sega Saturn. The game is still in its early stages, but I can see the potential. 

You command a legion of demons on a campaign to take over the world. There are skill trees, item crafting, and a campaign to complete. You will arrange your troops, set your orders, and watch as your army does battle. As you play, you will unlock new characters, skills, and items to help you with future runs, which is to be expected from any roguelike. If you enjoy war simulators, especially ones on a large scale, this project might be worth supporting. There are some complexities and mechanics I am I am brushing over, but the video does a better job of showing them in action. 

The game is still in its early stages, and looking for funding on Kickstarter. The Kickstarter launches on November 1st. It isn’t going to be for everyone, but with diligence, I can see it satisfying in its niche. Always be mindful of backing a Kickstarter, but someone has to bid on the little guys. 

If you want to stay up to date on the news, check out the Steam and Epic Games Store pages. If you’ve been enjoying these updates, make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.

video game reviews

Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society, its cute and fun, but not for everyone

Leave a comment

I was sent Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society as a review code. I am very grateful for this opportunity because this game has been on my Wishlist since it was announced for the Switch. That said, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game.

Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society is a retro-feeling dungeon crawler available now for the PlayStation, Switch, and PC via Steam. Eureka has been hired by Madame Marta to search the mysterious Labyrinth of Galleria for the nine mysterious Curios d’art. With the help of puppet warriors, you must delve into the labyrinth and uncover its secrets. What will your adventure hold?

This game is cute, but it feels unfinished. The deeper I got into the game, the harder it was to finish. The story was fine, but the gameplay loop started to feel repetitive. I enjoyed this game in small bursts. The exploration and combat were soothing, and I enjoyed the story. The problem is that there wasn’t enough to keep me engaged. Labyrinth of Galleria isn’t a bad game. I enjoyed it, but it doesn’t do enough to be worth $50. If you like retro dungeon crawlers and don’t mind how heavily it falls onto anime tropes, the game is fine. It has a pleasing art style, terrific voice actors, and a solid story. If you don’t, maybe wait for a good sale.

The gameplay loop is simple. You move through the dungeon in a first-person view one square at a time, and fight monsters with dolls you collect. Combat runs like a traditional RPG and unlocks new dolls and abilities the deeper you get into the game.

The problem I have with this game lies with the gameplay. The game is fun until the grind gets stale. There are settings you can mess with to make the grind manageable, but it got harder to keep playing the longer I sat with it. This is a game that is tricky to recommend because of how niche it is. 

You can pick up Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society for PlayStation, Switch, and Steam for $49.99. Steam currently has it on sale for $39.99 for their NIS publisher sale, but unless you like retro dungeon crawlers, there are better titles you can look at. The sale ends on October 16th.

video game reviews

Disgaea 7, the cute anime game you are going to want to play at least once!

Leave a comment

I was sent Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless to review a little after my previous post. I’ve been excited about this title since the first announcement and was planning on buying it regardless. I am very fortunate to get the chance to review it for my site, but I won’t let this sway my opinions on the game. This will be my honest review of the game. If you’ve been enjoying my reviews, make sure you like, comment, subscribe, and share this with your friends. 

Disgaea 7 is a quirky and unique JRPG for PlayStation, Steam, and Nintendo Switch. This review is based on the Steam version. 

This is a cute game with stunning visuals, a fantastic soundtrack, and fun gameplay. Do not let how cute this game looks fool you. This game is difficult if you don’t take it seriously. I found the stages appropriately challenging and the mechanics engaging. I played the game on Easy, which was appropriate for my skill level. Although I never found the stages impossible or frustrating, it was easy to wipe if I wasn’t playing strategically. If you’ve never played a strategy game, it has terrific tutorials to get you started.

The story is a little on the silly side, with a general cheesiness I found charming. It has a cast of tremendous actors that make the cut scenes such a delight to sit through. I can see this being a niche game due to its tone, but the gameplay is fun enough that it won’t matter. The story is self-contained enough to exist on its own. While you won’t need to play any of the other games in the series to enjoy Disgaea 7, you are going to. 

Aside from the combat, what I love most about this game is how much you can do at the base. Between stages, you get access to all these shops where you recruit new heroes, learn new skills, buy items, vote for buffs, and do other administrative stuff to prepare for the next stage. As goofy as this game looks, I spent a lot of time planning things through, and I loved every minute of it. 

Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless releases in North America on October 3rd on PlayStation, Steam, and Switch for $59.99. If it’s not yet on your wishlist, it should be. 

Uncategorized

Deceit 2 can be kind of fun, but only if you’re playing with the right people

Leave a comment

I was sent Deceit 2 as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions about the game. This will be my honest review of the game. If you enjoy my reviews, make sure you like, comment, subscribe, and share them with your friends.

Deceit 2 is a unique take on the traitor-finding genre. You are trapped in a demonic ritual stuck playing a sadistic game run by a demonic game master. Together with nine other players, you must work together to escape. But two players are working against you. Can you find out who the traitors are in time to make your big escape, or are you doomed to play the game forever?

Before you consider buying this game, evaluate how comfortable you are speaking to strangers over a mic. This game’s sandbox structure both helps and hinders its longevity because what makes this game fun is its player base. The freedom the game gives you as you complete tasks and work towards the win condition is fantastic, but games aren’t fun when no one is talking. What makes games like this fun are the shenanigans they foster. I found that in the games where no one was talking, I was often waiting for the game to end. Unless you are willing to create your own fun or have friends to play with that will help you do that, there really isn’t much reason to get Deceit 2. 

It is a shame I can’t recommend this game because the game looks good. It has a fantastic theme, and some cool mechanics and it runs great with a bit of tweaking. If this game were free, I would be urging everyone to try it at least once. Unfortunately, the price tag makes this game a gamble.

If you are willing to make your own fun and enjoy this genre of games, now is the best time to get it because it has a decent-sized population. Once the game fades from the public eye, it’s going to die, and no amount of content is going to revitalize it. There might be a slight uptick during free weekends and the console releases, but it’s not going to have a lasting presence in the genre.

Deceit 2 is out now on Steam, with PlayStation and Xbox releases planned for the future. I can’t recommend it because of how heavily it relies on strangers to be fun, but you can pick it up for $14.99.

gaming news

Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless is out for the Switch, and its pretty cute

Leave a comment

The Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless demo for the Nintendo Switch has been out for a few days, but I finally got to play it. I loved every minute of this demo. The art is cute, the voice acting is fantastic, and the gameplay is engaging. I haven’t played any of the Disgaea games before, and I am regretting my life’s decisions. Disgaea is a cute and quirky strategy RPG coming to PlayStation, Steam, and the Nintendo Switch on October 3rd in the US, the 6th in Europe, and the 13th in Australia.

A tyrant rules the Netherworld of Hinomoto. Its once proud warrior people now live under the Hinomoto Code of Destruction. It is up to two unlikely friends to join forces and bring back the Bushido code that was once the staple of this proud civilization. 

You don’t need to have played any of the other games in the series to enjoy the demo, but you are going to want to. The demo does a fantastic job of walking players through the different mechanics and setting up the story as its own entity. I’ve been excited about Disgaea 7 since it was first announced. This is definitely going to be in my cart at launch. If you are a fan of the series or want some extra swag, you might want to check out the special collector’s edition available at the NIS online store. There are two different sets, one with plushies ($159) and one without ($99.99). I’ll leave the details below. You can buy the plushies separately.

If you’ve been enjoying these updates, don’t forget to like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends!

Without Plushies ($99.99)

  • Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless Limited Edition
  • “The Art of War” Hardcover Art Book
  • “Songs of Honor” 2-Disc Original Soundtrack
  • Steelbook
  • Mini Byoubu Art Display
  • “Netherworld Warriors” Yunomi Tea Cup
  • Collector’s Box

With Plushies ($159)

  • Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless Limited Edition
  • “The Art of War” Hardcover Art Book
  • “Songs of Honor” 2-Disc Original Soundtrack
  • Steelbook
  • Mini Byoubu Art Display
  • “Netherworld Warriors” Yunomi Tea Cup
  • Collector’s Box
  • Lil’ Fuji Plush
  • Lil’ Pirilika Plush
gaming news

You should try the Songs of Silence Beta

Leave a comment
If you have been enjoying my content and want to support what I do make sure you like, comment, subscribe, and share this with your friends. You can also buy me a coffee

I’ve been playing Songs of Silence since the beta went live. Sign-ups are still open, and I suggest you try it for yourself. The game offers an interesting and unique experience that I am excited for. I recommend you join the official Discord if you want to stay up to date on all the news. I’ve also written about Songs of Silence in a previous post, so make sure you read that as well. I won’t be reviewing the game this time around because it isn’t finished yet. This will be an update based on my impressions of the beta.

Songs of Silence combines the deck builder and strategy genre and creates something I can see myself being addicted to. The game combines two of my favorite concepts and plays them against a fantastic soundtrack. It is still rough, and that roughness does create some frustration, but once I got the hang of the mechanics, it became hard to step away. 

The game has a similar action economy to games like CIV. Each turn you earn your income, move your units, plan your attacks, and expand your empire. The story mode can switch up this flow based on the scenario, but the loop remains the same. What makes the game unique are the heroes that run your squad. Each hero has special abilities based on the cards you collect throughout your campaign. As your hero levels, you gain access to new cards or you can level existing abilities. The abilities you play are on a timer, so use them wisely! The size of your squad and hand are based on your hero’s level. I had a lot of fun learning the strengths and limitations of each unit and hero. I am sure there is an optimal way to build each hero and their squad, but I always went with what was fun.

The game offers you a lot of choices. You can choose where to move your character, what mobs to attack, what villages to annex or pillage, and what units to recruit. The only control over the combat you have is where your units start in the formation and when you use your abilities. It may sound a little passive, but you can easily lose a deceive battle if you aren’t playing smart or paying attention.

The beta includes a story and scrimmage mode. The story isn’t finished yet, but there was enough of it to get me curious. I spent most of my time in the scrimmage mode, and the scrimmage mode becomes addicting once you get the hang of it. There isn’t enough content available for me to no-life this game, but I can see it getting there. I will say that the RNG involved in scrimmage mode can be frustrating, but it never became a deal breaker. 

If you haven’t done so already, sign up for the beta and add it to your wishlist. Songs of Silence is an interesting concept that you should try at least once. It has beautiful art, a fantastic soundtrack, and fun mechanics. It is still a little rough, but the devs are working hard to make it better. 

gaming news

The RPGs announced on September Nintendo Direct

2 Comments

This month’s Nintendo Direct had a lot of cool announcements, but I didn’t want to make an overwhelmingly long post. Instead, I’ll be breaking it up as best I can into smaller more manageable pieces so that the games get the attention they deserve. This post will focus on the genre I am always excited for, the RPGs. There are bunch of cool RPGs coming to the Switch, so make sure you start saving up now. If you’ve been enjoying these updates, make sure you like, comment, subscribe, and share this with your friends.

SaGa Emerald Beyond

I am probably the most excited for SaGa Emerald Beyond. I haven’t played any of the SaGa games, but I am okay with this being my first. The mechanics are interesting, and I like that the choices players make matter. Saga Emerald Beyond is coming to Switch, PlayStation, Steam, and Ios and Android devices sometime next year.

Unicorn Overlord

Unicorn Overlord looks awesome! I love the art style, and the mechanics look like a lot of fun. I am always in the market for a new tactical RPG, and this looks up my alley. The game comes out March 8.

Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster ($49.99)

We seem to be getting a lot of remasters from Nintendo lately, and I am not complaining. If you’ve never played the original Baten Kaitos game, now might be your chance. they have enhanced graphics and some quality of life changes to make them easier to play. Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster is out now!

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is such a beautiful looking game. I love that you can choose from so many heroes, and the mechanics look like a lot of fun. The game comes out April 23rd.

Wartales ($39.99)

Here’s a cool looking action RPG that you can play co-op with your friends or random strangers online. I’m warming up the genre, so I might pick it up eventually. I just hope it runs well. You can pick up Wartales now!

video game reviews

my impressions of the early access battle royal moba, Project Apidom

Leave a comment
If you have been enjoying my content and want to support what I do make sure you like, comment, subscribe, and share this with your friends. You can also buy me a coffee

I was sent Project Apidom as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will not let it sway my opinions of the game. This will be my honest review.

Project Apidom is a 3 team MOBA for PC. Teams battle it out on an open map, fighting mobs and each other until only one team is left standing. Instead of unique characters like you see in traditional MOBAs League of Legends, everyone starts with the same generic frame with customizable armor. Armor and weapons affect the stats and abilities of the character. Players have the ability to customize characters to fit their playstyle. Players can also buy stats as they play like in traditional RPGs. Project Apidom is a unique take on the MOBA, but one that needs a lot of work before it can earn a recommendation. 

The game is still in early access beta and clearly unfinished. It runs fine, but it feels empty and bare in its current stage. The biggest problem I had with Project Apidom is the matchmaking. I was never able to find a game. The matchmaking isn’t great, but I think the bigger issue is its small population. The community is steadily growing, but the growth is too slow for a game whose emphasis is on PvP. If you try this game, join with friends because playing alone isn’t fun. Make sure you join the official Discord to find people to play with and for information about events run by the devs.

As this game currently sits, I can’t recommend it. I found the gameplay boring, and there aren’t enough people to play with for it to be worth the trouble of booting it up. The game runs fine, but it’s empty and unimpressive. That said, I understand the experience might differ in a full game with real players. 

If you are looking for a new MOBA game, you should look into something like Eternal Return instead. The game has a similar concept, but it is finished and it is playable. But if you don’t mind the rough early access environment, it doesn’t hurt to try it for yourself. The community on their discord is growing daily, and the devs run tournaments from time to time. As of writing this review, you can get a free key if you type /givesteamkey in general chat on their Discord. 

Project Apidom is a neat concept for a MOBA, but it isn’t finished, and it isn’t impressive yet. You can check it out on Steam. 

gaming news

Persona 5 Tactica, a cute strategy game coming this November!

Leave a comment

Persona 5 Tactica is coming to consoles and PCs on November 17, 2023. The Phantom Thieves find themselves in a strange realm surrounded by Legionnaires. Now they must help the revolutionaries and find a way back home. Do you have what it takes to get the Phantom Thieves back home safely?

I love the art style of this game. If you are a fan of Persona or just want a new strategy game to hop into, this might be worth looking into. It certainly gives me Mario vs. Rabbids vibes, and I love Mario vs. Rabbids. 

Persona 5 Tactica will have a skill tree to unlock for each character, unique combos you can perform, and a reserve unit system that I am dying to try. You are able to change the difficulty after you start the game, which is an amazing feature for people like me who aren’t very good at strategy games but still want to enjoy the experience.

I’ll be picking up a copy when it comes out, but am still deciding which version. I am not convinced the digital deluxe version is worth getting if I am only getting two additional characters.

Preorder your copy today!

Xbox: Regular ($59.99)/ Digital Deluxe Edition ($79.99)

Gamestop
Amazon
Best Buy
Digital

PS5: Regular ($59.99)/ Digital Deluxe Edition ($79.99)

Gamestop
Amazon
Best Buy
Digital

PS4: Regular ($59.99)/ Digital Deluxe Edition ($79.99)

Gamestop
Amazon
Best Buy
Digital

Switch: Regular ($59.99)/ Digital Deluxe Edition Price Not Available

Gamestop
Amazon
Best Buy
Digital

Steam: Regular ($59.99)/ Digital Deluxe Edition ($79.99)

If you’ve been enjoying these updates, don’t forget to follow, like, comment, and share this with your friends!

gaming news

Sea of Stars trailer reveals a new character: The Portal Assassin

Leave a comment

The new trailer introduces the new character Serai, and she is bringing with her a whole new dimension to combat. She can portal around the battle field and back stab enemies! It honestly doesn’t get cooler than that. I love how creative the combat system is in Sea of Stars. This isn’t your traditional turn-based RPG, it is a lot more involved than that. I haven’t had this much fun with a demo in a while, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the full game.

I’ve been excited to play Sea of Stars for a while now. The game looks very good, and the demo is a lot of fun. I you haven’t tried the demo yet, I highly recommend you do so now. If you weren’t thinking about buying it before, you will after the demo. The demo is available for Xbox, Steam, PlayStation, and on the Nintendo Switch. Make sure you check out my impressions of the demo.

Sea of Stars launches on August 29th. I’m hoping to pick it up on the Switch day one, and will be back with the review as soon as I can.

Gaming News and Review