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video game reviews

Panzer Knights Review: Tanks and Anime Girls Unite

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Panzer Knights 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.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Panzer Knights?

Do you like World War II era tanks and cute anime girls? Panzer Knights combines these loves into one epic campaign through re-imagined history. Do you have what it takes to bring victory to your army?

Hook

Command a mighty panzer platoon of cute anime girls through iconic WW2 battles in an adventure you will never forget. Fight off squads of enemy tanks with your fleet of WW2 tanks and special ammo for every occasion. Can you withstand the pressures of tank warfare and bring victory and honor for the homaland, or will you be another heap of burning scrap metal on the side of the road? Grab your mice and keyboards and find out today!

Gameplay

Players take control of different tanks through iconic historical battles. Use different ammo types, positioning, smoke screen, and crew members to take the advantage. While there is some realism in design, combat leans a bit to the arcade side. Do not expect this to be a full on tank simulator like World of Tanks, but the game requires enough skill to demand its respect. In between missions, players can buy upgrades or recruit new crewmates and tanks. There is a story, but it is a short and manageable campaign for those who don’t want the commitment. Make sure to check out the DLC for additional tank types.

Review

Honestly, if you are looking for a tank sim but don’t want to put in the effort that comes with something more realistic, Panzer Knights is a solid choice. The game has fantastic art, a solid story, and decent combat mechanics. I am not a huge fan of those warfare sims, but I had a lot of fun with the arcade feel of this game.

Aesthetic

I’ll be honest, you put a cute anime girl in your game and it is going into my collection. I will admit I did my time with Azure Lane, and this was giving me a similar vibe (albiet less fan service). I commend the devs for their attention to detail in the tanks as well as the girls. The world and tanks look pretty accurate to my casual historian eyes (I actually do love learning about history). My only issue with the game is that the world does feel a little empty. I don’t like how the world just pops up around you as you move around the maps, and some of the maps are kind of ugly. I think there is just enough detail to apreciate the game for what it is, but don’t expect the realism you get from World of Tanks.

Story

The story for this game is fine. I don’t think it is anything I would rush to, especially because there are bits that feel generic, but it was good enough to fill the game. I just wish there was more. The game is very short. It is worth $20, but I wish there was more to do.

Combat

Combat is where the game wins me over. I am not a fan of the more realistic sims because of how much work they feel. Things like World of Warships or Tanks are fun, but having to adjust to the physics of warfare is a struggle I don’t want to sit through after a long day of work and being a dad. I enjoyed the lack of realism because movement doesn’t feel clunky and combat doesn’t feel so calculated. The game does offer some challenge by forcing players to think about positioning, shell type, and things like that, but to a more casual degree that I found very manageable. The enemy AI is a bit on the easy side, but I still had to try to get by.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a tank sim that is more on the casual side, Panzer Knight is a solid option. The anime girls a cure, the tanks are cool, but you gotta be okay with the world being a little ugly. I enjoyed my time with the game, but I would probably wait for a sale. As much fun as I had, tank sims aren’t really my thing. I don’t think I would have gotten as far as I did if I wasn’t writing this review. That said, if you like WWI era tanks, don’t mind the arcade approach to combat, and want to collect cute waifus, check out Panzer Knights on Steam.

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Reptilian Rising Review: A Unique Tactical RPG Experience

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Reptilian Rising 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.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Reptilian Rising?

Reptilian Rising is a tactical, turn-based strategy game out now on Steam and the Nintendo Switch. Players take control of their favorite historical figures (and some a bit more fictional) in an epic battle for humanity’s freedom. Make sure you check out the Steam demo, and don’t forget to wishlist!

Hook

The dreaded Dictatorsaur has sent his mighty army through time to threaten humanity. It is up to earths mightiest heroes from every reach of time to stop them. Control miniatures of earths mightiest heroes and keep our timeline reptile free. Make your way through time, recruit new heroes to fight by your side, use your tactical prowess to save humanity, and collect some cool collectibles along the way. Do you have what it takes to save earth, or will fall under the weight of Dictatorsaur’s power?

Gameplay

Players get to assemble their army as they jump around time, keeping the reptilian forces at bay. The game is a turn based tactical RPG where players and enemy AI take turns capturing objectives, finding cool collectibles, and killing anything that gets in their way. Each level has unique objectives like capturing key nodes or killing all of the enemies to progress through the campaign. Each level is themed after a specific point in time, but all with a unique retro vaporwave aesthetic that makes the game a uniquely quirky experience.

The level ends when the player clears all of the objectives, or the player looses all characters. Characters can respawn if the player has enough time points. Players earn time points by killing enemies, collecting items, or capturing objectives. Time points are used for actions like summoning new characters or performing certain actions.

Combat

Combat in Reptilian Rising is turn based. Players spend each run using up a character’s action. During each round, each character can move and perform an action. In classic tabletop rpg fashion, each character has a limited movement range and action economy. Characters can use their action to attack, defend, or capture an objective. Take can also take their turn to collect gold or other collectables scattered across the map. After leveling up, characters have access to additional abilities that can be used if the player has enough time points. If the player takes too long to complete a level, a powerful enemy spawns to up the stakes.

Leveling

In between levels, players can spend ingame currency to level up their abilities. Reptilian Rising features a robust skill tree to give players a variety of playstyles. While I am sure there is a right way to build your army, I had good enough success building what I thought was fun.

Review

Reptilian Rising is a neat little strategy game that has classic tabletop vibes and a very cool theme and aesthetic. While there are bits that feel unfinished and clunky, the game has an undeniable charm that is worth checking out at least once, especially if you like killing time traveling dinosaurs. While I am very bad at strategy games, especially this game, I enjoyed every minute I had with this game.

Aesthetic

Reptilian Rising has a very cool vaporwave aesthetic. It has those bright neon colors that make it look both retro and futuristic that the same time, with some cool character designs to fill the world. Couple this with the fantastic sound track, and I got a sense of nostalgia for an era I didn’t live through. The tabletop feel and aesthetic was an excellent choice, and it gives Reptilian Rising its unique and memorable experience.

Gameplay

I am a little mixed on how I feel about the gameplay. On one hand, it is a solid strategy game with difficulty adjustments to support both casual and hardcore gamers. The mechanics are sound and offer players a ample opportunities to flex their strategy muscles. I am not good at these kinds of games, and had to play at the lowest most casual difficulty. This was still fun for me (I barely made it through each level), and I appreciate that I had the option from the beginning. My issue with the game is that there isn’t an option to reset a level if you are losing (at least not an intuitive one). You kind of have to just wait to fail the mission, which is a little unnecessary. Sure I could speed up the game through the settings, but its not the same.

Another issue I have with the game is that it is a little clunky. The game runs pretty smoothly and I didn’t experience any bugs or crashes, but choosing an action didn’t always work. To choose an action, you have to click on the character, click on the action, click on the object or enemy to target, click the action again. This feels clunky, and sometimes the actions wouldn’t work unless I moved the camera and tried again. I wish it would let me click the action and let me click the target to perform the action.

Loot

One mechanic I found interesting is how the game handles loot. The game will automatically give players XP for killing characters, but not loot. Enemies will sometimes drop additional loot that players have to pick up by landing on the square it drops to. There are also collectables scattered throughout the map the players can collect. This forces the players to either use their movement to collect the loot, often forcing them to move in-optimally, or they can ignore the loot and focus on the objectives. Loot disappears after a number of turns, giving players urgency in their action economy. Do you go out of your way to collect that cool new trading card you’re missing, or do you take over an important node to stop a powerful enemy from showing up?

Conclusion

Reptilian Rising is a fun quirky take on the genre. I am a huge fan of the flavor, aesthetic, and mechanics. While there is some minor jank, I think it gives the game its charm. If you are looking for a fun new strategy game to add to your collection, check out Reptilian Rising on Steam and the Nintendo Switch. At the very least, go check out the demo!

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video game reviews

The Bridge Curse 2: An Honest Review of the Horror Experience

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of The Bridge Curse 2: The Extrication 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.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is The Bridge Curse 2?

The Bridge Curse 2 is a first person survival horror game out now on Steam, Epic Games, Xbox, PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch. The game is full of horror, jumps scares, and a couple different endings you can play towards. While the game is a sequel, this is a very stand alone story you can pick up without having played the first game.

Hook

Wen Hua University is infamous for its strange supernatural activity, particularly the events tied to the Da Ren building. The creepy lingering vibes and the building’s dark history make the ideal setting for the film clubs big project. During filming, the film club captures what appears to be a ghost siting. The video goes viral, bringing national attention to this sleepy mountain campus, specifically the attention of the young reporter, Sue Lian. Ms. Lian goes to the school hoping to break a story that will bring her some needed attention, but what she finds within these dark halls is more than just a ghost story.

Make your way through Da Ren’s dark and spooky corridors as you dodge terrifying ghosts, solve puzzles, and look for a way out. What will your investigation uncover? Can you find a way out of this nightmare?

Gameplay

Players take control of one four characters as they explore the haunted Da Ren building, looking for a way out. They use a magical lantern to look for clues, solve puzzles, and defend themselves from ghost attacks. Players can make the game scarier by visual warnings that show players danger. Players die if they get caught by the many monsters, but can leave this nightmare if they can piece together the mystery. There are multiple enemies for those who want to collect it all.

Review

I don’t know why I keep trying to play horror games when I know how hard it is for me to get through them. Part of me hopes that I will one day become desensitized enough to make it through these types of survivor horror games with the lights off. I do not have issues with horror movies and it is honestly my favorite genre, but something about having the control in my hand gives me a lot of anxiety. I had to take a few breaks as I played through this game because of how well the horror is done, but I kept coming back because I was enjoying the story. It may not be the perfect horror game, but it is a solid add to your collection if you enjoy the genre.

Aesthetic

The game has decent graphics. The world looks good, and the monsters are terrifying. There are some awkward moments of animation, but nothing that is game breaking. The music and sound is my favorite part because of how good it was at setting the mood. My only complaint is that there really isn’t a huge reason to explore, and the world seems to be a little too cluttered with small details that don’t add anything to the story. Overall, the game has a creepy atmosphere and I am here for it. Mostly.

Story

The story is fine for a horror. I like that is a standalone story because I never got to play the first one. I might build enough courage one day to go back, but I like that I wasn’t lost with the events of this sequel. The voice acting is a little spotty though. Some of the lines are delivered awkwardly and does take away from the immersion. I watch a lot of bad movies with bad acting for fun, and it could be a lot worse. I think they did good enough, and the story is interesting enough to power through. It has solid pacing, some good twists, and a good mystery. I got the bad ending because I suck at this game, but you should definitely go for both. If you need a solid horror game for the summer, The Bridge Curse 2 is a good place to start.

Gameplay

As far as horror games go, Bridge Curse 2 is fine. I really enjoyed the puzzles and how creative it got, but I had a lot of trouble getting through the monster bits. This is definitely a skill issue. The anxiety this game filled me with made it hard to do any of the stealth bits, but somehow I managed. The only issue I have with the game is how boring exploration can be because there isn’t much you can do outside the story bits, but I didn’t really want to wander too far anyways. The game performs very well and a good place to start if you are looking for solid horror.

Conclusion

I found this game harder than it needed to be because of how well the game created its horror. I am also a weenie who has a hard time with horror games. The game has a cool story full of neat lore and some unique mechanics. If you are looking for a horror game for your collection, go get your copy for your favorite console or pc. I might one day be brave enough to watch the first movie, but I’ll probably just watch the movie instead.

You can pick up The Bridge Curse 2 on Steam, Epic Games, Xbox, PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch.

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video game reviews

Ink Inside Review: A Whimsical Adventure Awaits

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Ink Inside 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.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Ink Inside?

Ink Inside is a unique dogball beat-em-up out now on Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch. There is a Steam demo available, and the saves transfer to the full game. This is only the first part of a story that was meant to be a cartoon, and I can’t wait for the rest to be released.

Hook

Stick is an unfinished doodle that wakes up in a strange and whismical world full of drawings. But danger looms as the Sog warps the world and currupts its inhabitants. Those affected by the Sog turn into mindless monsters that attack the once peacful world. Forces have risen to fight against the Sog, but its spread doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Fortunately, Stick has the power to fight against the Sog. Will his power be enough to rid the world of the Sog and bring everything back to normal? Will he regain his memories? What will his journey uncover?

Gameplay

Players take control of Stick and friends and fight against Sogged doodles in epic dodgeball combat. Players can equip different cores and items that give characters unique abilities. Balls (cores) can be bounced off objects and walls, which becomes useful as the stages becomes more complex. The game offers players a good amount of customization for an almost unlimited amount of of playstyles. Earn enough cool points to fill the bar and the rules can be broken and players can cross into the enemy’s side for more damage.

Ink Inside would not be an RPG without healing. Players can heal at anytime if they have enough cool points to spend. During healing, players can also chat with their NPC friends for some added flavor. Items in game can help mitigate damage by blocking projectiles, giving players health, or giving them an extra jump. While the game is full of whismy and mayhem, it offers enough challenge to keep players on their toes.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

Ink Inside is a solid addition to your Steam Deck library. The game works very well, with a resolution that makes everything easy to see. I am old and appreciate when I don’t have to squint to read the text or see what is going on. The game runs well for the most part, but I did notice some frame drops and weird stutters. The game never crashed though. Ultimately, this game on handheld feels very good. Whether it is for the sense of nostolgia or the fact that I don’t have to sit at my desk all day, Ink Inside just feels right on the Steam Deck.

Review

Honestly, Ink Inside is the quirky little cartoon game that I didn’t know I needed. It has an adorably cozy aesthetic, a solid story, and fun gameplay. If you are a cartoon network kid or just want a little whimsy in your life, go pick up Ink Inside today.

Aesthetic

I was first drawn to Ink Inside because of the art. The art direction in this game is fantastic, and I urge everyone to check this game out for its unique style of story telling. I love the blend of styles of both the characters and doodles and the FMV cut scenes. I read that game was meant to be an actual show and based on the visuals alone, I would watch it. Ink Inside has one of the coolest whimsical worlds that made exploration delightful, a soundtrack that never failed to set the mood, and amazing voice actors to keep me invested in the story. If you want to relive the feeling of waking up early for Saturday morning cartoons, this game needs to be in your library.

Story

The only thing I don’t like about the story is that I have to wait for DLC to finish it. Luckily, the game seems to be reasonably priced, and the story is enough to hook me to the world. I read that the game was originally planned to be a cartoon for Nickelodeon, and I really it to be made. The story is fantastic full of good humor, memorable and lovable characters, and a story that will have you wanting more. I love the creative story telling as well as the transitions between the doodle world and the real world. This feels like the cartoons I grew up with in both tone, style and flavor and I believe it is exactly what you need. You just don’t know you need it yet.

Gameplay

Ink Inside has some of the most unique and quirky games. You can definitely feel the Cartoon Network game influence, but that isn’t a bad thing. I was not ready to fall in love with dodgeball, but here I am trying to perfect my build for my next encounter. The game is very deep despite its cartoonish shell. The items you equip constantly change up the playstyle. I was a little confused on how gearing works. The game does a good job at explaining how it works, but in practice, I found it a little overwhelming. This is clearly a skill issue and I was eventually able to brute force into a build that worked for my playstyle. The game offers good incentives for exploration and side questing, encourages changing builds for maximum effect, and has a good ammount of story to keep players invested. If you want a fun cozy game, get Ink Inside.

Combat

I want to split combat into its own section because of how unique it is. The dodgeball mechanics are well done, and the game does fantastic job at keeping encounters fresh. I like how much items like cores change up the flow of combat whether you are using balls that do more damage or ones that recharge more regularly. The flavor that goes into making each ability feel unique like the music abilities that heal or the different shields that repel items give this game its unforgettable flare. I love how unique the enemies becomes and how they force players to change up their strategy. Some enemies need to be meleed others need to be beat with a ball. When I felt like I mastered the game, it would add obstacles and hazards to play around to make combat feel my dynamic. My only complaint is that I wish I had a friend to do some co-op with because this is the perfect buddy game.

Conclusion

If you still need convincing, check out the Ink Inside demo on Steam. This is easily one of my favorite games of the year because of how much fun the game is. I love the game’s art, the story that goes behind it, and the mechanics that got me addicted. It is the cozy game that I didn’t know I needed, especially since I don’t really need another farm sim in my collection.

You can pick up Ink Inside on Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch

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video game reviews

What to Expect: Alpha Nomos Demo Impressions

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Disclaimer

I was sent the Alpha Nomos demo to review for my blog. I understand the game is not done yet, so I will be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, this will be my honest impressions of the game.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Alpha Nomos?

Alpha Nomos is an action roguelike rhythm game coming to Steam later this year. Make sure you check out the demo, and don’t forget to wishlist!

Hook

The world has been ravaged by murderous puppets, and it is up to Cello and her friends to bring it back to life. With the power of rhythm and music, fight your way through this broken world and bring peace. Discover new abilities, harness the power of music, and destroy everything that gets in your way. What will your journey uncover? What is Alpha Nomos?

Gameplay

Alpha Nomos is your typical hack and slash. Players run through the world, beating up enemies with the power of music. The game features the roguelike leveling structure where players start at a hub where they can buy and equip upgrades between runs. Players will make their way through a run, grinding for the resources to level up their character. During a run, players can choose the type of encounter or reward. Players can either fight for a powerup, ability, or money. They can also choose to heal or buy items. What makes Alpha Nomos unique is the rhythm game mechanics.

Rhythm

Combat in Alpha Nomos requires players to land the attack, dodge, or block in rhythm with the music’s tempo. Landing an action at the perfect time maximizes its effectiveness. While you can mindlessly button mash your way through the game, Alpha Nomos rewards those who can keep the beat. For those like me who have no rhythm, the game can be calibrated for a more casual experience.

Impressions

Alpha Nemos has some solid bones and interesting ideas, but I personally don’t like the rhythm game elements. The game does a good job at making it as easy and clear as possible to hit the actions in time, but I have no rhythm and I am afraid I never will. If you like rhythm beat-em-ups and don’t mind the roguelike structure, go check out the demo.

Aesthetic

What drew me first to this game is the art. Cello is adorable, with a cool and iconic character design. The attack animations are creative and very fun to watch. Alpha Nemos has a very cool world. I love the monster design and large discarded items scattered across the world. The fact that the world moves to the rhythm of the music is such a cool little detail. The world reminds me of Manairons, which is a cool adventure game you should definitely check out.

Gameplay

If you enjoy rhythm games, the game is fine. The combat mechanics are solid, and the leveling is straight forward. The roguelike structure make the game feel repetitive, but not more repetitive than the norm. The rhythm mechanics make the game feel tedious. This is a very personal problem because I lack the rhythm to make this work (yes even on the easiest setting). The rhythm mechanics do not make this a bad game. The devs do a very good job at incorporating the mechanics into a very unique gaming experience. My issue is strictly a skill issue, and I wasn’t able to mesh with the game.

My real complaint is with the structure. They create a very cool world that I wish were more exploitable. I would have preferred the game be a linear story game so it would feel less repetitive instead of having me grind through a roguelike. My issue with the structure is that I’ve played so many roguelikes, I would rather be playing anything else.

Conclusion

Alpha Nemos seems to be a promising rhythm beat-em-up, if you’re in the mood for another roguelike. It has some fantastic art and flavor, and some sound mechanics. I was never able to mesh well with the mechanics, but I managed to get through enough for a solid impression. I don’t think I would pick this up because it is not my thing, but the demo is available for those of you looking for a new rhythm game to get into. You can check out Alpha Nomos demo on Steam!

Trailer

video game reviews

Is Super Alloy Crush Worth Playing on Steam Deck?

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Super Alloy Crush to review for my blog. The game is currently on Steam Early Access, so I will try to be a bit more lenient than usual. That said, this will be my honest review.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Super Alloy Crush?

Super Alloy Crush is a 2D roguelike side-scrolling beat/shott-em up out now on Steam Early Access. The game has clear OG Megaman vibes with a modern flare and cool anime style art. There is a demo you should definitely check out. Don’t forget to wishlist.

Hook

You are a treasure hunter, flying through the deepest reaches of the galaxy in search for the ultimate treasure. Your journey takes you several planets full of robots after the same thing. Play as Kelly, an enhanced fighter with a powerful gun, or Muu, a combat robot with sharp energy claws, as they fight their way through enemies. Find useful items, buy powerful upgrades, and make your way to the most important place in all of the universe. Will you be the ones to find the fabled treasure?

Gameplay

The game is a clear nod to the old school Megaman games, but I would argue that it is a little easier. Players can choose between the two playable characters, Muu and Kelly, at anytime, giving the game very easy refresh throughout a playthrough. Each character plays differently. Players will make their way through each unique map, fighting off waves of enemies and some light platforming. All stages lead up to a boss fight with unique and memorable mechanics. Between stages, players can buy upgrades and customize their character’s loadout. Throughout a stage, players will pick up upgrades and new abilities. Each character has over a hundred customization options for a truly unique playthrough experience.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

This game works fantastic on the Steam Deck, and it is my prefered way to play the game. The game works great on my PC, I am running a RTX 3060, but I prefer the handheld experience. I’ve only ever played the Megaman games on handheld devices, and appreciate the nostalgia that playing on the Steam Deck allows me. Super Alloy Crush is a fantastic Steam Deck game because it doesn’t drain the battery, kick up the fan, or require too much memory. As someone who bought the lowest tier Steam Deck, I am very limited on storage space. I will one day upgrade it to fit more, but I don’t have a problem moving things around. That said, Super Alloy Crush has found its permanent home on my Steam Deck.

Review

If you are a fan of the old Megaman games, Super Alloy Crush is a fantastic addition to your library. The game has very cool art and solid mechanics, but the difficulty is a bit on the easier side. I enjoy it for the chill platforming and combat. Most importantly, the game is in a very good place in its Early Access. The game works well, and definitely earns its price tag.

Aesthetic

Super Alloy Crush has some fantastic art. I love the vibrant world, the cool character design, and epic animation. I am a huge fan of pixel art games, and the artists go above and beyond to make a fantastic scifi world that is a pleasure to play through. If you like cute anime girls, fun colorful worlds, and an old school retro vibe to round things out, this is an excellent game to get into.

Story

The story is okay, but nothing that stands out against other games of a similar genre. Honestly, I’ve already forgotten what this game is about because the story feels a little generic. My issue with the story is that the dialogue is so long winded. Everyone drones for too long and I lost interest in the story early on. Luckily, the game is fun enough to overlook this issue.

Difficulty

This game is a fun, casual brawler with enough depth to be engaging and without the elements that made Megaman frustraiting. The game feels a lot easier than old Megaman games I used to struggle through. I loved Megaman, but I was never really good at them. Maybe I am getting better at these types of games with age and practice, but I felt like I didn’t have to struggle as much to get through this game. In my old age, I prefer a game that doesn’t make me struggle and grind because I don’t have the time for it like I used to. That said, the game requires enough thought that it isn’t something you can play passively.

Gameplay

Super Alloy Crush is a solid brawler game. It runs fantastic for a game still in development, and it offers a good amount of content to be worth the price tag. While I preferred playing as Muu (the melee character), I love that I can switch up the characters at any time to refresh my playthrough. Everytime I would start getting board, I would switch and felt like I was playing a different game. The game also offers a good amount of customization for each character, and I was able to play around with builds to find something I truly liked. I still prefer a game like Noctornal over this because it has a better story, but I enjoy it for the low stakes adventure I get to unwind to.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a fun Megaman-like game to round out your collection, Super Alloy Crush is a solid contender. The game has a cool world, solid mechanics, and a casual vibe that makes it perfect for all you busy gamers out there. Don’t expect a good story. While there are hints of good flavor, I started skipping through a lot of dialogue because it adds nothing to the game. If you don’t mind supporting an Early Access game (even one that is in a very goo place in its development), get yourself a copy. At the very least, go check out the demo.

You can pick up Super Alloy Crush on Steam.

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video game reviews

Is Island of Hearts Worth Playing? An Honest Review

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Island of Hearts 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.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Island of Hearts?

Island of Hearts is a dating sim FMV out now on Steam. There is a demo available for you to check out. The game deals with some adult themes like alcohol use, sexual innuendos, and girls in revealing clothes. This is your content warning.

Hook

You are at what feels the lowest point in your life. You’ve lost your job and your long time girlfriend has broken up with you. In an effort to cheer you up, your friends teleport you to the Island of Hearts where you will get a renewed chance of love. Suddenly, you find yourself at a beautiful island resort surrounded by beautiful women who are also looking for love. Explore the island, get to know the girls, and try to get all of the endings. Will you find love during your stay, or are you truly destined to be alone?

Gameplay

Island of Hearts is a piece of interactive fiction. You watch scenes play out and occasionally make choices that affects the ending you get. Each choice you make raises the affection level with each girl. There are also a few minigames sprinkled throughout to change up the gameplay, but those are just cookie clicker mechanics. You are playing this game to look at pretty girls doing cute things and to collect all of the endings. The game makes it easy to collect endings by allowing players to redo choices after completing a chapter.

Review

Island of Hearts is fine for what it is. If you are looking for a good FMV, you are better off playing something like Love too Easily or The Fame Game.This game is fun, but the quality is a little too inconsistent. If the goal is to look at pretty girls and enjoy the fan service, fine, but if you’re looking for a good story, you will be disappointed.

Story

There is a story to this game, but it isn’t always good. There are some very poorly acted and produced scenes, and some very boring ones that feel like they drag on for ever. The first part of this game before getting to the island was so boring, I almost gave up on this game. Luckily, it does pick up and not just because of the fan service. There are some legitamately fun scenes where the actors and writers are having fun with the ridiculousness of the game. There are also scenes designed specifically for the fan service which are fine, but there isn’t much plot to it. The endings is where it gets hard to recommend. There are some very fun endings, but there are also some extremely disappointing ones. I collected most of them, but I’ve lost interest in perusing the rest. Once I got the ones I wanted, I saw little interest in going back to try for more.

Quality

The quality of this game is inconstant. Some scenes have good sound, decent acting (for a group of untrained influencers speaking a second language), and are well shot. Others feel out of place because the sound is bad or the acting isn’t great. Most people won’t forgive the bad acting. There are some poorly acted scenes, but there are some very fun moments that saved the experience (and no, not the fan service ones). Are there enough good scenes to make up for the bad ones? Only if you enjoy cheesy bad movies. Also, the transitions are terrible. This isn’t a deal breaker, but it is distracting.

Gameplay

You’re playing this game to look at pretty girls in bikinis and clicking around to get the ending with your favorite girl. There are mini games, but they feel pointless. I failed a couple because the directions aren’t clear and they don’t always work great. Some of the games affect the outcomes, but the impact isn’t very clear. I like that you can go back and change your choices. This makes getting multiple endings fast and easy, but the game does a poor job at letting players know how to achieve certain endings. This is only important if you want to 100 % the whole game, but there really isn’t a reason to. Some of the endings and scenes are just too boring. I do like that collecting endings is easier than Ladies Don’t Tempt my Immortality (a game that really makes you work for all of the unlocks), but I rather be playing that because its a better story.

Conclusion

I enjoyed playing this game more than I thought I would. Although the acting isn’t great and the story is all over the place, there are some fun moments that made the game worth a couple playthroughs. Unfortunately, I don’t think the game is fun enough to recomend. There were enough scenes were I would just zone out and lose interest because nothing happens. I can’t recommend this game, especially when you have games like Love Too Easily. But, if you like the cast of girls and don’t care too much about the plot, there is a good amount of fan service to enjoy. This isn’t a porn game, but there are scenes specifically designed to show off how hot these girls really are. The game isn’t terrible, there are just better examples.

You can pick up Island of Hearts on Steam.

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video game reviews

Revisiting Celestia Chain of Fate

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Celestia Chain of Fate to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinion. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

What is Celestia Chain of Fate?

Celestia Chain of Fate is a romance fantasy visual novel out now for Steam and on the Nintendo Switch.

Hook

You have been enrolled into the prestigious school for Daemons, Angelus, and half breeds where you will learn to harness your magic. There are tensions between the races, and you do your best to navigate through the complex webs of relationships that exist in a school like this. In classic Otome fashion, you find yourself at the center of attention. Handsom boys will pine for your affection, rivals will try to make your life at school miserable, but luckily you have a support system to help you through it all. Make the choices that will affect the ending. Who will you choose in the end? The answer is, all of them.

Gameplay

This is interactive fiction without any voice acting. Players will read through the story, and make the occasional choice that will affect the ending. Playing through the game unlocks additional side stories that help flesh out the world, and add a little flavor to the characters you meet along the way.

Review

I’ve played through Celestia Chain of Fate when the game first came out. I loved it, but was very ready for a second play through. I was happy to find that the game still holds up. If you are looking for a solid Otome game and don’t mind the overall cheesy romance, this is a fantastic add to your collection. The story is very cheesy, and it isn’t going to be for everyone.

Aesthetics

The game’s art is fantastic, and it is what drew me to this game. The characters are all very good looking, and the world is drawn very well. There is some very cool art, with some fantastic music to get you in the right mood for romance. The only issue I have with the game is that the backgrounds are kind of ugly. Some scenes are a little distracting because the contrast between art styles is too much. The game does have  has some spectacular CGs that you are going to want to unlock to make up for it.

Gameplay

There isn’t too much to say about the gameplay. You are clicking through the text boxes with the occasional choice to mix things up. There is no voice acting, but it doesn’t need it. I usually read faster than the voice acting anyways. The game does work on the Steam Deck, but I couldn’t get the cloud save to work. I had to start over, which is fine, but the text is a little too small. I am old with tired eyes, so this might be a personal problem.

Story

The story is where I can feel the divide. I have been going through a romance anime kick lately, so I appreciate the story for what it is. Celestia Chain of Fate is a cheesy teen romance visual novel where handsome men pine for your attention. There are some very cringe moments, but there are also some sweet moments that make this the perfect cozy game in my collection. As a hetero male who is very comfortable with his sexuality, I can proudly admit that I like that handsome, supernatural men went out of their way to make me feel like the princess that I totally am. I don’t expect this game to be the piece of literary genius that will stand the test of time,  but its good enough for a couple hours of entertainment.

Conclusion

Celestia Chain of Fate is a fantastic visual novel for those of you who just want to enjoy fun cheesy romance. The writing isn’t deep or even that original, but it is a fun little journey that is worth playing through at least once. I very much enjoyed my revisit, and will definitely be back for a third as I try to collect all the endings. If you don’t mind the cheesy teen romance or the fact that you have to wait for a book too, it is worth getting into You can pick up Celestia Chain of Fate on Steam and on the Nintendo Switch. If you are looking for something a little more serious, check out Nobody Nowhere or my personal favorite, Urban Myth Dissolution Center.

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video game reviews

One Rotten Oath: A Unique Narrative Game Review

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of One Rotten Oath 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.

Table of Contents

What is One Rotten Oath?

One Rotten Oath is a unique narrative game that combines FMV visuals with retro shooter gameplay. Check out the Steam demo today.

Hook

Civilization crumbles under the influence of a mysterious chemical leak. People turn into rabid blood thirsty monsters, and survivors do their best to fight them off. You are one of the few survivors who keep watch at one of humanities last outposts. Using you limited resources, you must keep the monsters at bay. Can you survive long enough for help to arrive? Is help ever going to come? You will need to play to find out.

Gameplay

One Rotten Oath is an omage to the the old school FPS in the best possible way. There are two main game loops: limited exploration and base defense. In limited exploration, players move through a small map as they fight off waves of enemies. In base defense, players fight off waves of zombies before they can destroy the barrier. As the player progresses through the story, the game introduces new, harder enemies to fight off. The choices made during a round affects the ending. While the game is short, there are multiple endings a player can try to unlock.

Review

I’ve been reviewing long enough where there are games I play that I’ll forget. Every so often however, there comes a game that tries something weird, and those are the games that tend to stick with me. One Rotten Oath is one of those weird unique gems that comes across my table that helps me appreciate game creation as an art for story telling. This is one of those games I will have to recommend because of how good of an experience it is. This is a game that was made all the way out of the box and tells a captivation story that you need to try at least once. The game does deal with themes of substance abuse and suicide, so this is your content warning.

Aesthetic

Where do I even start? The blend of FMV and old school graphics is a fantastic choice. I love the retro feel of the world. Even though the maps are small, there is enough flavor sprinkled throughout to make it feel larger than it is. I am a huge fan of FMVs, and I appreciate the dev’s unique use of it for story telling and gameplay. The monsters being videos of actors with a filter over is a little silly, but it works. The sounds and music create the perfect horror atmosphere. I really adore the contrast between the FPS bits and the FMV cutscenes. It all comes together to tell an excellent story, and I am 100 percent here for it.

Story

It’s hard to write about the story because I don’t want to spoil anything. The reason the game works so well is because of how well it tells its story. The game is a framed narrative that explores the struggles of game creation and contrasts it against the struggles of surviving the apocalypses. The meta story is well done, and I love how creatively the dev blends the two stories. There are multiple endings, and I’m pretty sure I got the bad one. I am not mad, I will just have to try again.

Gameplay

The game looks simple, and the first level will have you think that it is. As you progress through the story, the game scales nicely. It adds mechanics, new enemies, and choices that affect the ending. This isn’t a game you can sit back and mindlessly click your way through the ending like one of those romance FMVs. The monsters will kill you, and there is a secret ending you need to try for. I appreciate that I am able to relive some of that old school FPS gameplay with a modern story and a modern flare. No notes. 10/10.

Conclusion

One Rotten Oath is one of my favorite games for its unique take on story telling and video game design. This is one of those game you need to try once just to appreciate it as the art form that it truly is. If you have a couple hours to experience a real and relatable story, and don’t mind the horror elements, One Rotten Oath should be in your library.

You can pick up One Rotten Oath on Steam. If you want to try another weird retro FPS, check out El Paso: Nightmare.

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video game reviews

Explore the Whimsical World of Ariana and the Elder Codex

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Ariana and the Elder Codex to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinion. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, and the adorable KiiBOOM Meow Pudding keycaps. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. The Huanuo Nitroglide dual monitor arm is also pretty cool.

Make sure you check out the free ways you can support me, like using my Amazon affiliate link before you buy anything. It really helps me out if you do. You can also always buy me coffee! Don’t forget to share this review with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Ariana and the Elder Codex

Ariana and the Elder Codex is a cute Metroidvania coming to Steam on April 29th. In the meantime, go check out the demo and don’t forget to add the game to your wishlist! The game is out now on PlayStation and on the Nintendo Switch.

Hook

The world used to be filled with magic, but tragedy struck when the Seven Hero Codices were damaged and altered. Luckily, a group of librarians work tireless to repair the tomes and bring magic back to this world. While there are many skilled librarians undertaking this task, only one has the potential to save the world. Play as Ariana as she dives deep into the seven tomes, uncovers their secrets, and repairs them. Does she have what it takes to fix all seven tomes?

Gameplay

Play as Ariana as you jump into each unique codex and try to repair them. Each codex is a unique world based on one of the seven elements. Repairing each world allows Ariana to learn new magics. There are over 30 magic spells to learn and customize for a very unique playstyle.

Review

While the game has a few bugs that are a little hard to ignore, Ariana and the Elder Codex is a solid Metroidvania. The game features a creative and fantastical world full of flavor, a cool artstyle, and some solid mechanics. It is on the easier side as far as Metroidvanias go, but as a busy dad, I appreciate that it isn’t an impossible grind. All in all, if you like the art and want another metroidvania to master, check out Ariana and the Elder Codex.

Art

What first drew me to the game is the art style. The game has an undeniable adorable vibe. Each world is creative, brimming with flavor and the monsters are all very cool. I love the look of the animations, although they don’t always seem to work as intended. That might be a day one patch. The music is also fantastic and if you aren’t in love with the look of this game, you might fall in love with the story.

Story

The writing is a little awkward in places, but nothing that made it dreadful. All in all, it is solid fantasy with a proper execution. The idea of going into a world inside a book is not a unique idea, but one that makes a solid adventure game. I like how each of the codices has a unique story it tells, although some of the stories are better than others. They do tend to be the same kind of sad story, but overall I found them to be a good enough read to power through them. There is also some fantastic voice acting to break up some of the reading which I thoroughly appreciate.

Difficulty

As far as Metroidvania games go, Ariana and the Elder Codex is on the easier side. I played the game on Normal and still felt like it could be harder. There is a harder difficulty that you can change at anytime during your playthrough. I might also just be getting better at the genre in general. I don’t think the difficulty is an issue. As someone who no longer has enough time to game, I appreciate when a game is hard enough to keep me engaged but not so hard that it becomes a grind. Sometimes I just want to just get through the story without getting frustraited from the challenge. There is a story mode if you just want to sit back and enjoy the ride, but I think Normal is a solid place to start. You can always adjust it after.

Gameplay

Ariana and the Elder Codex is a fun Metroidvania full of whimsy, humor, and some solid animations. The game does get a little repetative in parts, but I think that is teh nature of the genre. The monsters were cool, the worlds were fun to explore, and it features some managable platforming. This is coming from someone who isn’t good at platforming. The boss fights are so much fun and I am amazed at how creative the devs get with each boss. They are full of flavor and have interesting mechanics. My only issue with the game is with the performance.

Performance

The game is currently in a good place, but it could use a few tweaks to make it perfect. There are a few bugs that were hard to ignore throughout my playthrough because they affect gameplay. Sometimes the game stutters and frames drop. For the most part, these drops are harmless, but I did die twice. There are also fake edges that don’t end where they appear. This issue is a lot more random, but it happened enough that I took notice. None of these bugs are gamebreaking, but they are issues that will make things like speedrunning a little annoying. That said, a couple patches and this game is perfect.

Conclusion

Ariana and the Elder Codex is a cute little metroidvania for a more casual gamer. It has fun mechanics, a cute world aesthetic, and some solid fantasy. It may not be my favorite, but it does enough good to be worth checking out once. If you are looking for a new action platformer to pad out your collection, or something that runs fine on the Steam deck, check out Ariana and the Elder Codex.

Ariana and the Elder Codex comes to Steam on April 29th, 2026, but you can pick it up on PlayStation and on the Nintendo Switch. If you want to play a move unique kind of metroidvania, check out Worldless.Or my personal favorite, Dragon is Dead.

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