Tag Archives: turn-based

video game reviews

Wandering Sword: A Must-Play Turn-Based RPG Review

July 9, 2025 josechurape Leave a comment

Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Wandering Sword 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.

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What is Wandering Sword?

Wandering Sword is a martial arts turn-based RPG out now on Steam.

This beautiful game takes players back to an ancient world where political feuds and martial arts pave the landscape. A young swordsman finds himself caught up in one of these feuds, losing his friends and almost losing his life. Determined to reach the highest levels of martial arts, he trains hard and searches the word for strong allies and his powerful technique. Dive into this vast and immersive pixel art world as you fight enemies, learn new skills, and enjoy one of the many boasted endings. How far will your journey take you?

Gameplay

The game offers a good amount of exploration through its world as players move between story beats. There are a lot of side quests, and some can be missed, so make sure you look carefully. Throughout the game, players are able to recruit new units to their team. Recruiting new members are based on a friendship mechanic, so make sure you do side quests. Some characters won’t unlock unless you gather enough favor. The game also has an interesting crafting and gathering system for those who enjoy the soothing feeling the repetition offers.

The combat in this game is very creative. Combat is turn-based with grid-based movement. Units get advantage based on positioning, so make sure you move with purpose. Units can learn new techniques and ability through the game’s creative skill tree system. Players have access to a good amount of diversity in their team composition and creation and a scaling difficultly for added replay-ability. It is defiantly an ecosystem of mechanics that needs to be experienced first-hand.

Review

Wandering Sword is easily one of my favorite strategy games, and I recommend to everyone. Even if you don’t like turn-based strategy, you need to give Wandering Sword once. The initial draw to this game is its art style. The 2.5 pixel art world truly pops, and I appreciate the amount of cultural flare that goes into the flavor. If you are a fan of Chinese martial-arts movies, you will love the aesthetic.

The story is solid, and one that I had a hard time putting down. There is also a good amount of side-quests to keep players busy. I got very side-tracked early on, but I was enjoying the world-building too much to notice.

Ultimately, you are playing Wandering Sword for its gameplay. This game is fun, and it features one of the most creative combat systems I’ve experienced in a game. The positioning mechanic made kept me engaged with the game and the animations are fun to watch. I liked exploring the different units and their abilities even when I found a team I liked. I also love that there is an auto-battle system in place for when I needed to grind. There is a grind, as there is tradition in the genre, but it doesn’t feel too bad. I usually put it on auto and intervened whenever I wanted to play the game. I fought all the bosses on my own, and the bosses were fun and creative.

If you enjoy turn-based strategy with a good amount of replayability, I don’t think you can do better than Wandering Sword. The game plays fine on the Steam Deck, looks great, and it is a ton of fun. You can pick up your copy of Wandering Sword on Steam for $24.99.

video game reviews

Discover Songs of Silence: The Casual 4X Strategy Game

November 27, 2024 josechurape 1 Comment

I was sent a free copy of Songs of Silence 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.

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What is Songs of Silence?

Songs of Silence is a casual yet engaging turn-based 4X strategy game out now on steam.

Lead one of three unique factions through victory as you claim land, upgrade settlements, and strengthen your empire. The world is unforgiving, but you are the brilliant strategist that will lead your people to victory. Do you have what it takes to cement your place in history as your people’s greatest hero, or will your story be lost to time?

Gameplay

Players take turns moving their units, conquering camps, building their ranks, and fighting over territory. Combat is automatic, but certain factors like terrain, the placement of units, and types of units affect the outcome. What makes Songs of Silence unique is its deck-building mechanic. Each commander and clan has a unique set of abilities they can cast on a cool down. These cards can cast abilities like healing or attack spells, or send commands to their units for powerful attacks.

Players can enjoy the rich, story-driven campaign at their own pace. The story is well written and does a fantastic job at setting the tone for the game. Players can also enjoy endless amount of fun playing against the well scripted AI as they try to conquer randomly generated maps. There is also an active discord community and online matchmaking for those who prefer to play PVP.

Review

I have been excited about Songs of Silence since I tried the first alpha, and I was not disappointed. This game has some beautiful art and incredible flavor. The story is okay. It was enough to hook me, but not the reason you should be rushing to play this game. Instead, you should be looking at this game for its unique and interesting take on the 4X genre.

Songs of Silence has the most relaxing, engaging, and accessible solo experience of any strategy game I have ever played. Its unique card mechanic keeps the auto battles from being boring, and the game demands enough strategy to be engaging without becoming too sweaty. I enjoyed playing through the campaign, but I loved playing scrimmage. I had a lot of fun exploring the different factions, champions, and units. I didn’t always win, but I had a lot of fun trying.

I did try a couple of online matches, but they aren’t my thing. I always found matches easily, but the game felt too slow sometimes, especially when I was losing. If you’re looking for a strategy game with a good competitive scene, I am not sure Songs of Silence is the place. The game has a growing active community, but I can’t speak on how good of a multiplayer game this is because I didn’t enjoy the experience. I like playing this game at my own pace.

If you’re looking for a strategy game that is unique, fun, and Steam Deck compatible, pick up Songs of Silence on Steam, just make sure you wait for the Steam Fall sale (Nov 27 – Dec 4) just in case, but you can pick up Songs of Silence and its amazing soundtrack on Steam.

video game reviews

The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered is Cute, but Dated

March 29, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

I was sent a free copy of The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinons of the game. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Legend of Legacy?

Legend of Legacy is a classic JRPG that originally on the 3DS but it has recently been ported and remastered for PC, PlayStation, and Switch.

A mysterious island appeared suddenly in the Northern Sea ten years ago. People believe that the island once belonged to the prosperous continent of Avalon, a land inhabited by the gods. Adventurers from all over find themselves drawn to the island in search of truth, fame, and treasure. Strange creatures roam the island, and only those brave and competent will be able to conquer it. Are you and your friends strong enough to unlock the secrets of the island?

Gameplay

Although the game has gotten a cute little makeover, it feels like an older JRPG. The game runs great, but the loop is repetitive, and the grind can be unforgiving. You either over-level and destroy your enemies easily, or you hit a sponge that wipes your team.

Combat is fine, but it does feel dated. Players command a three-person team that you can swap as you recruit new adventurers. Each character has its unique set of skills and abilities that give players options for strategy. Ultimately, gameplay boils down to a repetitive grind as you progress through a story that doesn’t matter. I recorded footage, but it wasn’t interesting enough to share.

Impressions

Legend of Legacy is such a cute game. I love the character design, how the map fills like a pop-up book as you explore it, and it has a fantastic soundtrack. Unfortunately, the game feels like an older JRPG, and it isn’t going to be for everyone. Those who don’t mind the grindy nature of this era of RPG will enjoy the nostalgic adventure, but everyone else will find it repetitive and boring. The story is fine, but it didn’t do much to keep me engaged.

The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered is a solid port, but it’s made for a certain type of gamer. There are no quality of life changes like skips or auto-battles, you’re playing the original game as it was but with better graphics. If you’re a fan of the original, you probably already have it. You should pick up the Deluxe or Limited Editions for the physical goodies. If you’re a fan of the older era of JRPG, it’s cute and you’ll appreciate the nostolgia. Everyone else should wait for a sale or look elsewhere because the grind is killer. I liked it and thought it was cute, but I am also old and lived through this era of JRPG.

You can pick up The Legend of Legacy HD Remasterd on PC, PlayStation, and Switch for $49.99.

Deluxe Edition – $49.99 (PS4, PS5, Switch)

Game
Digital Soundtrack
Mini Artbook

Limited Edition – $79.99 (PS4, PS5, Switch)

Game
Digital Soundtrack
Mini Artbook
“Chronicles of Avalon” Artbook
Physical Soundtrack
24″ x 17″ Cloth Poster
7 x “Seekers of Graal” Art Cards
Collectors Box

video game reviews

Worldless: A minimilistic but Beautiful RPG Platformer

November 20, 2023 josechurape Leave a comment

I was sent Worldless as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews or any of my other content, leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.

Worldless is a minimalistic 2D platformer with unique turn-based RPG combat. You can pick it up on Switch, PlayStation, or Xbox on November 21st, but you can pick it up now on Steam.

In a newly formed universe, the forces within it fight to establish order. You’ve awoken in this fight and must brave through this conflict to find your place within it. What secrets will you uncover?

This game is one of the most beautiful experiences I’ve had with a game this year. I love the minimalistic artwork, the vibrant world design, and the atmospheric soundtrack. It is so cool to watch the world change around your character as you move through your adventure. I can recommend this game on looks alone, but the gameplay is also fun.

Worldless’ gameplay is split into two parts: platforming and combat. I am an awful platformer, but the platforming is manageable. I found the experience rather soothing, especially when paired with everything that makes the game so beautiful.

Combat is where most of the challenge lies. The combat system is a unique turn-based system you need to experience at least once. Worldless is a lot more involved than your traditional turn-based RPG. On a player’s turn, you can choose between a combination of magic and physical attacks. On an enemy’s turn, you must time your blocks to mitigate damage. Each enemy feels unique, and the game does a fantastic job of providing visual cues to help players time their blocks and figure out weaknesses. You’ll pick upgrades along the way that will give you access to new abilities and powerups, but I never felt like they made the encounters too easy. While some of them are easy, it was so satisfying to beat an enemy that was giving me trouble.

I got to play an early version of Worldless at GDC and have been excited to play it since. I am pleased to write that I was not disappointed by its release. The game can be a relaxing good time, but there is enough of a challenge to keep things engaging. If you are looking for something different and beautiful to add to your collection, go check out Worldless. You can pick it up for $19.99 on Switch, PlayStation, Xbox and PC. There are also demos available for PC and Xbox if you need more convincing.

The unique Metroidvania platformer Worldless comes out November 21st. Preorder yours today!

November 7, 2023 josechurape Leave a comment

Worldless is coming to PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch on November 21st. Worldless is a stylish and unique metroidvania platformer with an interesting turn-based combat system you need to at least try once. I strongly recommend you check out the Steam demo.

I got to play Worldless at GDC, and have been excited for its release since. You can check out the original post if you want my initial impressions. The game is very pretty with a fantastic soundtrack, but the gameplay loop is what really sold it for me. Worldless combines Metroidvania platforming with a few RPG turn-based systems to produce a very fun and interesting gameplay loop. This game should at least be on your wish list.

Worldless releases on all systems on November 21st for $19.99. You can save $2 if you preorder on Xbox or Switch until November 20th. PlayStation users get this discount with a PlayStation Plus membership.

I’ve already got my copy and will be releasing a full review when the embargo is lifted. Stay tuned for that. If you enjoy these updates or any of my other content, please make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.

video game reviews

Backpack Hero: The inventory management roguelike you should be playing

July 12, 2023 josechurape Leave a comment

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I was sent Backpack Hero as a review code, and while I am grateful for the opportunity, I will not let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game.

Backpack Hero is a charming little inventory roguelike that deserves a lot more attention. It has a cute art style, a nice soundtrack, and fun gameplay. This game is a lot more fun than an early-access game has the right to be. If you are looking for a chill game that will challenge you, get Backpack Hero.

Dive through procedurally generated dungeons as you fight enemies, find treasure, and manage your inventory. Space in your bag is limited, so choose carefully. How will you brave the unknown? Will you use magic? Poison? Swords? Ninja stars? The choice is yours! (and RNGesus’)

Players start with limited inventory space and gain more as their character levels. Dungeons are full of monsters, treasure, and random events that award players loot to shuffle around. Weapons, items, armor, and potions have unique skills that can interact with each other based on their placement in the backpack. Inventory management is almost like a deck builder as you work towards specific builds by collecting certain items.

As deceptively simple as this game appears, I spent a lot of time theory crafting and optimizing my build only to have my run ended by an enemy or ability I didn’t plan for. Losing was never a frustrating experience in Backpack Hero. I understood my shortcomings and planned for a better run. There are special challenges you can run if the normal game because too easy, but I mostly played in normal because I enjoyed the chill yet challenging vibe that came with it.

What I liked most about this game is how different every run felt. I never had the same build, even when I started building toward a familiar one. There was always something dumb and alluring I wanted to try. It didn’t always work out, but I had a lot of fun exploring and testing my options. The combat is a little simple. It is turn-based, and what you can do is limited by action points. You spend your action points by casting spells, attacking with weapons, or blocking with shields. I never felt like combat got stale because my strategy was constantly changing. Some runs were more fun than others, but such is life with RNGesus.

Inventory management is the most important mechanic in Backpack Hero. If you’ve played any MMO or RPG, you’ve become too familiar with the concept. I used to joke that most of my playtime on Guild Wars 2 was spent in my inventory. In Backpack Hero, you will consistently make difficult choices as you arrange and rearrange your bag. What you choose to keep in your bag affects how you play each round, so make sure you choose carefully. There are vendors and special events that will give you access to random and sometimes cool items, a smith that will upgrade your gear, and cursed items that will mess up your whole strategy. I spent a lot of time theory-crafting the perfect build and had a blast doing it, even if I never got impressively far. There are probably guides out there for the most optimal run, but I recommend you fail a couple of times on your own first.

If you have been considering getting this game or looking for a new game to get into, Backpack Hero is worth every penny. It is a cute casual game with enough kick to it to keep you entertained for hours. You can buy Backpack Hero on Steam for $16.99. Now would be a great time to pick it up because it is 20% off ($13.59) until the 13th.

If you have been enjoying my content and want to support what I do, please consider buying me a coffee

If you have been enjoying my content and want to support what I do, please consider buying me a coffee