Tag Archives: strategy

video game reviews

Nintendo Direct 2/9/2023

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I am a bit late to this coverage, but I thought I’d share it anyways. The Nintendo Direct just came out and there is a bit to unpack. It is looking to be a great year for the switch when it comes to not only retro gaming, but a few Nintendo classic titles like Pikmin and Zelda.

Pikmin 4 ($59.99)

Coming in as possibly the cutest entry from the Direct is Pikmin 4. This sequel to the cult classic comes with a new cute protagonist on her own adventure with the help of her little Pikmin friends. This game introduces new companions and abilities. Game releases on July 21,2023. Pre-orders are now open!

Samba de Amigo: Party Central (TBA)

If you are a fan of rhythm games, Samba de Amigo is a cute little title to add to your list. The game seems to take advantage of the Joy Con’s motion controls as you shake them to the groove of a pretty diverse collection of music. You can play by yourself, challenge your friends, and there is even online play if that is something that is important to you. The game is scheduled to release in June 2023.

Disney Illusion Island ($39.99)

For all you Disney fans out there, get ready for this cute little platformed. Take control of Goofy, Mickey, Minnie, and Donald as you travel through a new world in search of some magical books. The game releases on 7/28/23. Pre-orders are now open.

Advance Wars 1+2:Re-Boot Camp ($59.99)

To the fans of the original titles, the wait is finally over. This classic RTS was first announced and then delayed, but we finally got a release date. There are new modes, two playable stories, and online PVP. If you are feeling creative, you can even make your own maps! The game releases April 21, 2023. Pre-orders are now open!

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom ($69.99)

Zelda fans got another glimpse at Tears of The Kingdom and it looks to be another epic adventure over a new open world. They announced a collector’s edition, but good luck getting your hands on one:

and a cool new Link Amiibo ($15.99)

You can preorder yours at Best Buy or Game Stop

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom releases May 12, 2023. Preorders are now open!

Beyonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon ($59.99)

For all you Beyonetta fans out there, we are now getting some back story! Hopefully this ones better than 3. The game comes out March 17, 2023. Preorders are now open!

Metriod Prime Remastered ($39.99)

You can grab a digital copy today! Physical copies are available on February 22, 2023.

Maybe there will be a trilogy in our future.

Octopath Traveler II

I have already talked about this game. I am super excited. The game comes out February 24, 2023. For those of you interested in the title, there is a demo available for download in the Eshop.

Omega Strikers (Free to Play)

For those of you looking for an online battler, Omega Strikers is free to play 3v3 footbrawler coming to the switch April 23, 2023.

Etrian Odyssey Orgins Collection ($79.99)

I am very excited for this remaster of a classic collection I missed growing up. With updated graphics, modes, and gameplay, this collection of dungeon crawlers is sure to take up a nice chunk of my life. The game releases June 1, 2023. Preorders are open today!

Beten Kaitos I & II HD Remastered (TBA)

Another glow up to a classic card battler I missed growing up. The game is set to release in the summer of 2023. Make sure to add it to your wishlist!

Sea of Stars (TBA)

This is a cool looking turn-based RPG that I will be checking out. I love the pixel art and I could always use another RPG in my life. The game is set to release on August 29, 2023. You can download the Demo on the Eshop today!

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (TBA)

For those who missed it, or want to relive the fun of this cult classic, its coming out in the summer of 2023! You can wishlist it today!

Fashion Dreamer (TBA)

Be the influence you’ve always dreamed of being in this other life simulator game. The game is releasing sometime this year.

DECAPOLICE (TBA)

Level 5 is coming at is with a other cool looking RPG set in the future. It promises an open world as you fight crime in a futuristic city. The game is set to release sometime this year. You can wishlist it today!

Fantasy Life: The Girl Who Steals Time (TBA)

I loved the original Fantasy Life on the DS. It was cute and relaxing. This looks like it is promising an updated experience and I am here for it. The game comes out sometime in 2023. You can wishlist it today!

Tron: Identity (TBA)

This title caught me by surprise. I didn’t expect for Tron to come back. This is a puzzle game where your choices matter. The game comes out in April 2023, but you can add it to your wishlist today!

Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE (TBA)

It seems like this is the year of detective games. The art looks cool and the gameplay seems neat. I’ll be keeping this on my radar. The game comes out on June 30, 2023. You can add it to your wishlist!

Harmony: The Fall of Reverie (TBA)

If you like visual novels, the art looks cool and the story seems intense. I just hope it has voice acting. The game comes out in June 2023. Add it to your wishlist!

WBSC eBASEBALL: POWER PROS ($.99)

For you baseball fans out there, this cute little game will sure to delight you. For $.99, it couldn’t hurt to give it a try. It is available now!

The Gameboy is coming to the Switch

It looks like this is a great year for retro gaming. They are porting a number of classic gameboy titles to the switch for those of you who have the Nintendo Online subscription.

DLC: In No Particular Order:

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Expansion Pass – February 15, 2023 ($29.99)

Splatoon 3 1st Wave of the Expansion Pass arrives in spring 2023 (24.99)

Mario Kart 8 Wave 4 Booster course pass ($24.99)

Fire Emblem Engage Expansion Pass ($29.00)

Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania March 6, 2023 ($9.99) Pre-orders open!

I know this was a lot, but I wanted to collect it all in one place. Hopefully the format isn’t aweful and I didn’t miss anything. I know I didn’t talk about everything, but I didn’t want this to be too overwhelming. I wanted this to be a resource so I didn’t add any affiliate links or any other marketing. This was a pretty great direct that has me very excited for my year of gaming. Let me know what you are most excited about.

Image by Sharan Vijayagopal from Pixabay

video game reviews

Game Review: Power Chord

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

Power Chord is a rogue-like deck builder available now on Steam similar to games like Slay the Spire or Monster Train, but with a metal-inspired aesthetic.

Pictures and video are taken from the game

Demons run the city. It is up to you and the band you assemble to defeat them. As you make your way to the top of the demon tower, you will collect cards that you will use to make a deck worthy of killing the four warlords that guard it. Along the way, you will also find gear or trigger random events that can help or hinder your ascent. This game is very RNG-reliant, and this can make your runs fun or miserable. 

For the most part, the gameplay is solid. The animation and art style are neat, the attacks and flavor are fun, and it requires enough strategy to keep me engaged through your first run. The story doesn’t really matter because most of the gameplay exists within the grind. My issue with the game is that it is repetitive. I like card games enough that I didn’t mind the repletion so much, but this isn’t a title you will no life to completion.

The RNG can be an issue in this game. When it is fair, and you get excellent pulls, the game is a lot of fun. Other times, you will pull the worst cards, and your run becomes nearly impossible. While the RNG might give the illusion of variety, it makes the grind feel harsher than it is. Unlocking new cards and champions felt slow because I kept running through the same scenarios. They have been adding new playable characters to the roster. This gives the deck building side of the game a bit more diversity, but you still have the issue of facing the same types of battles.

I liked the game, but I love deck builders and metal. Because of how repetitive this game is, the price is an issue. If you are looking for something you can play in small bursts when you just want to chill and listen to some cool music, the game is fine. If you want a challenging and complex story, wait for the sale. If you are a fan of the genre, you might be disappointed by the game’s lack of diversity. I would probably wait for a sale or for the developers to add more content.

This game is available on Steam.

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GrimGrimoire OnceMore

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I’ve noticed that Nintendo has been trying very hard to bring classic titles to a modern audience. I for one am in full support and am excited for what is to come. These aren’t just simple ports, at least they don’t promise to be. These seem to be full-on remasters with updated graphics and improved gameplay. I hope this will be the norm for the rest of the Switch’s lifespan.

The first remastered game I want to bring to your attention is GrimGrimoire OnceMore. This is a fantasy real-time strategy game. Play as Lillet as she enters her first year at Magic Academy and learn from the different schools of magic. Use the magic you learn to summon minions and cast powerful spells to defend the school from disaster. Can you save the school before it is too late?

The art looks great, the story seems interesting, and it is promising fantastic world-building. The game looks to play like a tower defense game. I may not be good at the genre, but it is one of my favorite genres. Whether it is the custom games from Warcraft 3 or Orcs Must Die, I’ve spent more hours than I’d care to admit obsessing over ways to stop the hordes. GrimGrimoire OnceMore is looking to be a very relaxing experience that I will probably pick up at launch to see how good the world-building is.

According to the official website, this version promises a myriad of improvements to the gameplay, and art, and it will even come with new features. As nostalgic as I am for the classic era of gaming, I can’t help but be grateful for the quality of life changes that come with the modern age.

The game is set to release for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 on April 4, 2023. You can preorder your copy today! (Amazon Affiliate Links)

The Collectors Edition is also up for Preorder

Preorder from the official NIS store (Switch)

PlayStation 4

PlayStation 5

video game reviews

Game Review: The Legends of Heroes: Trails from Zero

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I played The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero on Luna for a bit when it was free, but the game quickly become unplayable. When Amazon finally came around to fixing their copy, I had already purchased it on the Nintendo Switch. This review will be based on the Switch version.

Screenshots and video taken from the game

Trials from Zero is a 2D turn-based strategy game. You play as a team of misfit detectives brought together to form the SSS. The SSS is a special unit of the police force created to try to repair the relationship between the police and the citizens of Cabell. The game has you fighting monsters as you run errands and solve mysteries.

I thought this game was cute. I loved the art, the voice acting is fantastic, and the story is fine. This game certainly has its niche. Unfortunately, I am not part of this niche. While I did enjoy sitting through the dialogue, I just couldn’t get into the combat.

Combat in this game is like most turn-based strategy games. The gimmick in this game is that you have to collect gems that give your character stat boosts and magical abilities. The grind involves finding the perfect combination of gems to optimize your team. The problem I had with the combat is that I found it boring. Most of the time I found it easier to keep bashing my way through combat rather than attempting to think tactically. I admit I am terrible at these games, but I can usually force myself through the grind to enjoy the story.

In the end, the grind proved too much for me. I am sure someone smarter who enjoys the genre will have a greater appreciation for this game’s mechanics, but I just couldn’t. A neat feature about this game is that it does have 2x speed mode. I recommend keeping this on because it makes movement through the overworld and combat that much quicker. This setting helps make the grind feel a little better so that you can enjoy the story, but I still found it too dull. 

This game isn’t terrible, the bits of the story I got through were fine, but I just couldn’t justify grinding through combat just to get the next bit of story. This is a niche game. If you are looking for a turn-based strategy game and don’t mind the anime tropes it exists within, give it a try. For the rest of you, I would hold off.

You can play this game on Amazon Luna, Steam, Playstation, and the Nintendo Switch.

Image By Nihon Falcom / NIS America – https://image.api.playstation.com/vulcan/ap/rnd/202208/1119/mf0k9jlnC3mMwggEjz3sfkGp.jpg, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72088799

video game reviews

SpellForce Conquest of Eo First Impressions

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I want to note that this game was sent to me as a review code. I am very grateful for the opportunity, but I will not let it sway my opinion.

All Images and video taken from game

This weekend I got to Beta test SpellForce Conquest of Eo. This post will be less of a review and more of my first impressions since the game isn’t out yet. Spellforce is a real-time strategy game with RPG elements. You take control of a magic user with unique skills to raise an army and complete quests. Build a formattable mage’s tower and face off against the parrels of EO. This game plays like a Civilization game, but one that follows a story. I only got to play 140 turns of this game, but I got a solid sense of what it is about.

If you are a fan of RTS games, I think you will enjoy this more than I did. This game had way too much going on for my taste. Although a lot of the mechanics are simple, keeping on top of the tasks proved too difficult for me. I kept getting overwhelmed by enemy units. You can always change the difficulty if things get too hard. The game has a simple base-building mechanic where you can hire units, research magic, and do crafting. The crafting varies depending on what type of magic user you choose to use.

The game lets you choose from three different magic users: an alchemist, a necromancer, and an artificer. This choice affects the type of crafting you can do and some of the choices you can make. There are even cases where you can skip combat based on your class abilities. The alchemist lets you brew potions that you can use to support your troops, the necromancer lets you raise ghouls from your fallen subjects, and the artificer lets you craft items that give your units different powers. I felt that this was more flavor than tangible mechanics since all the units played the same.

Combat is what you expect from a turn-based game. You control your units and try to kill your enemy without suffering casualties. Units will level after combat, but any units you lose will be lost permanently. Play smart or lose everything. The game does offer a neat feature to skip combat, eliminating a lot of the grind. I recommend you use this only on easy matchups or risk needlessly losing units to RNG.

The RPG elements are fine, but I got a limited experience in the beta. I only got to play through one mission, and it was fine enough but nothing too exciting. I did like that you are presented with choices you could fail, like in a choose your own adventure game, but I didn’t think the choices mattered too much. The choices I encountered allowed me to skip combat, gain a unit, or snag some loot. It didn’t affect the main story progression. 

Most of the gameplay exists on this open map where your units can move freely over. There are wandering mobs, hidden treasures, and bases that you can uncover as you travel. The game offers a questline that you need to complete along with your other tasks. I found that the challenge of this game comes from managing all these tasks, and I am not very good at macro-managing. 

My only complaint with this game is that the movement is clunky. Choosing movement, selecting attacks and anything in the open world is cumbersome. I would waste turns because a unit would move where it shouldn’t have. Other than that, everything else I got to try was interesting, and I am sure there is an audience for it.

This game looks promising if you like the genre. If you don’t, maybe hold off. It does feel very niche at the moment and unless they can have an amazing story, I believe it will stay niche. You can wishlist it on Steam and it is planned to release sometime in 2023.

Now for a shameless plug, check out Canva. If you need a quick and easy photo or video editor that works in your browser, try Canva. It is free, easy to use, and you get access to a wide selection of templates for those who are like me and aren’t that creative. Check out my affiliate link today! You can also try Amazon Prime with my Affiliate link!

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Game Review: Knights of Honor II: Sovereign

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I want to mention that this game was sent to me as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will not let this sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Knights of Honor II: Sovereign is a medieval-themed real-time strategy game. The goal is to become the most powerful kingdom in the world. It is similar to the Civilization game but with a lot less waiting and a lot more choices. If you are a fan of strategy or want to get into the genre, this is a fantastic title to add to your collection.

First off, this game has the strange ability to manipulate time in real life. It was morning when I started my campaign, but when I got up, it was well past midnight. I still had choices to make and kingdoms to topple. Knights of Honor II quickly became an addiction, and I don’t even like strategy games.

Choose a kingdom and start making your plans toward world domination. Victory takes many forms in this game. You can bolster your economy through trade, becoming the most prosperous. You can raise mighty armies and watch kingdoms crumble under your might. You can influence the world through your religion and diplomacy. But if you are feeling sneaky, send in your spies to sow dissidence within your enemy’s borders. There are so many choices in this game, and they all matter.

 

Do not be discouraged. This game sounds complicated, and in many ways it is, but it is easy to pick up. I am terrible at strategy games, but I picked it up quickly. The game does a fantastic job of giving you the resources you need to understand the game, but there are some great guides out there for when you get stuck. I played my campaigns without referencing any guides. I didn’t feel like I needed them, but I made mistakes. None of my runs were optimal. I suggest you look some up if you plan to play online. I didn’t play online, but I assume that people are a lot less forgiving than the AI. The AI is great and found it provided the perfect amount of challenge. If I made too many mistakes or didn’t think about my choices, I was easily overrun by enemy states. I have left behind my collection of failed empires but had a blast losing them. 

This game is worth $49.99 it is asking for. I can play this game for hours, and I dare you to not do the same. My only complaint is that sometimes the audio would cut out, but I never play with audio anyways. Get this game if you love strategy. Get this game even if you don’t. Head over to steam and grab your copy today!

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Game Review: The Valiant

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I was sent The Valiant as a review code. While I am grateful for the opportunity, I will not let this sway my opinions about the game. This will be an honest review of my experience.

The Valiant is a real time strategy game where you control a group of Templars as they try to save the world from an ancient evil. It is available now on both Steam and Epic Games.

I liked this game at first. The graphics are good, the music is solid, and the mechanics were manageable. Unfortunately, my experience with this game grew staler the deeper I got into the story. The missions got repetitive, the fights got annoying, and the story isn’t great. The story isn’t bad, but it isn’t anything exciting. The more I played, the harder it was to convince myself to keep playing. It is a shame that the story isn’t better because the voice acting is fantastic. I didn’t play multiplayer, but I doubt it would have saved the experience for me.

The gameplay isn’t great. It could do with a bit of polish. The mechanics were fine at first and very manageable for my skill level. There are skill trees, random drops, and some macro management that adds some depth to the game without being overwhelming. Unfortunately, there isn’t much variety in the missions and it gets a bit tedious. My biggest issue with the gameplay is with the pathing. The pathing in this game is a pain. I lost a few missions because my units would get stuck trying to find a path while the enemy slowly slaughtered them. This makes some of the missions unnecessarily hard because there is no way to replenish your troops. This would have been fine if the game didn’t get boring.

 

I don’t think this game is anything special, but I also don’t think this is a bad game. There is an audience for this game, but they might have to wait till it goes on sale. If you are a veteran of the genre, you will be disappointed. Stick to the classics. If you are new to the genre, this is a solid introduction, but know that there are greener pastures. For the price, you can do better. But for those interested, you can check them out on Steam and the Epic Game store. 

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Game Review: Warpips

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If you like what I do and want to show your support, buy me a coffee!

I was sent Warpips as a review code, and while I am grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let that sway my opinion. This will be an honest review of the game.

Warpips is a real-time strategy game that is similar to the mobile game Clash Royale. The game is available on pc and all major consoles. I played this game on the Nintendo Switch, so this review will be based on that experience.

Warpips is a 2D, card-based strategy game. You choose from a myriad of pips and traps to use against an oncoming enemy hoard. To win, you must destroy the enemy base before they destroy yours. This game has three game modes: Conquest, Quick Battle, and Endless. Conquest takes you through a campaign through different countries as you try to free them of their oil. Quick Battle is a random mode with three difficulties: Easy, Challenging, and Hard. You are given a random deck of pips and traps and try to defeat an enemy on a random map. Endless mode has you surviving an endless assault as you try to beat your previous high score.

The gameplay is very simple. You summon your pips and watch them fight against the enemy hoard. You can summon air strikes, use tools, and set up traps to help your pips secure their victory. In conquest mode, you can purchase additional cards and upgrades with the currency you earn while playing. There is some RNG, but I always thought it was fair. 

Don’t let this game’s cuteness deceive you, you will need to be strategic with your choices. I played on easy and still found enough of a challenge to keep me engaged. If I wasn’t paying attention or was too conservative with my choices, I was easily overwhelmed by the enemy AI. I suggest playing this game on the harder difficulties for a more fulfilling experience.

This game ran smoothly most of the time, but I did notice the occasional stutter. The game would freeze for a second before resuming. It never crashed on me or affected my game, but it is something to keep in mind. I didn’t notice much of a difference between docked and handheld mode, but I preferred handheld mode because of its versatility. 

The gameplay is a bit repetitive, but it might be a symptom of having it on the easiest difficulty. I played on higher difficulties, but I was never smart enough to get by. This game is deceptively unforgiving. Most of the game however is the same, and you find yourself constantly waiting for cooldowns.

I liked this game a lot, and I’d recommend it if it were cheaper. I am not a huge RTS fan, but this was a manageable game for my skill level. I thought the pixel art was a fantastic choice, and it definitely made losing sting less. The music is pretty fantastic as well. I recommend playing with the sound out, at least for the first hour or so. Warpips is a game you pick up when you want to chill but still need a challenge. This is a game where you don’t need to be too invested in a story or mechanics, but you will need to be strategic. I personally wouldn’t spend $20 on it and would wait for a sale, but I can see this being worth it to someone who really loves the genre.

Check it out on Steam, Nintendo, Xbox, and Playstation.

video game reviews

Game Review: Blackguards 2 (Nintendo Switch)

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I received this Blackguards 2  as a review code for the Nintendo Switch. I would like to take this moment to thank Daedalic Entertainment for the opportunity, and I hope I can continue to do more reviews for the company in the future. That said, I will not let this affect my review. This will be my honest opinion of the game. 

Screenshot from my playthrough

Blackguards 2 is an action turn based-strategy RPG where you control a team of heroes and mercenaries through a series of combat scenarios and puzzles. The game focuses on Cassia, a wronged woman who seeks revenge by taking her ex-husband’s kingdom from him. Her husband locked her up and left her to die. Will she be able to lead her army and achieve her revenge, or will she succumb to her ever-creeping madness?

I had a lot of fun with this game when it worked properly. You can set traps, ambush enemies, and use the environment to earn your victory. Unfortunately, the enemy AI is inconsistent, and some levels will not work as intended. Sometimes I was greeted by tactical enemies who forced me to earn my victory. Other times the enemy would stand still while I slaughtered them relentlessly. If you are smarter than me (and you probably are) you can find ways to break the Ai and breeze through combat easily. There is also a light puzzle element that is heavily impacted by how the enemy AI chooses to act. I failed a few puzzles because the AI became ungodly.

My biggest issue with the combat was the pathing. There are levels where you will have to choose your pathing hex by hex; this will prove tedious. If you allow the pathing to be chosen for you, your heroes will run into fire or traps that will kill them instantly. Each level can also have invisible traps that require special skills to see. These will create incredibly frustrating moments as you watch your heroes die instatly for stepping on random particles. This game can become incredibly frustrating and impossible to beat if you are not careful or paying attention. 

The graphics for the game are fine, but nothing special. On some levels, the bloom and high contrast make it hard to see enemies and traps. I felt this to be especially true in handheld mode where it would be hard to see even the pathing. It doesn’t help that the camera controls don’t let you rotate the camera horizontally, making it hard to select some units or objectives. If you are going to play this game, I suggest you play this on a bigger screen. 

Customization can be overwhelming if you are new to the genre. You can buy and earn gear to customize your units to fit your play style. You can also buy skills, spells, and feats to make your heroes more heroic. I found customizing my units to be a hassle as the UI felt clunky most of the time. Unfortunately, skills and feats you buy impact combat, making dealing with the UI a necessary evil. 

Screenshot

I enjoyed the story for the most part. I adored the voice acting, although the sound mixing isn’t consistent. I thought the characters were fine although they do fall into the same tropes you are probably used to. The world-building in this game comes from conversations you have with NPCs in the hubs, but it stops the information you gather stops being interesting halfway through. The game does offer you choices to make, but I didn’t feel like they impacted gameplay. 

I didn’t hate this game, but I can’t ignore its issues. When this game worked, I had a blast! Unfortunately, the bugs make victories anticlimactic, losses frustrating, and on some levels unnecessarily difficult. This game fills a specific niche, so if you don’t like strategy games, I wouldn’t bother. If you do like the genre, I would wait for it to go on sale. It isn’t worth the $10. You can play this on Mac, PC, Xbox, Playstation, and on the Nintendo Switch.

This game is currently on sale on steam for $.99. It is definitely worth that much.

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