Tag Archives: video game review

Uncategorized, video game reviews

Is Mortal Rite Worth Playing? Honest Review

Leave a comment

Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Mortal Rite 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-Promotions

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out the new Epomaker HE75 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. I’ve also started a web novel that I update weekly.

What is Mortal Rite?

Mortal Rite is a class-based Souls-like available on Steam Early Access.

You have been granted the ability to take over different champions and use them to defeat the evil that plagues the land. Make your way through a monster infested land, master your powers, and defeat the bosses. Will you be the hero this world needs, or will you fall to the darkness like so many before you?

Gameplay

Players will fight their way through a dungeon, learning to harness their powers. This journey can be made alone, but the game supports up to five player co-op. The first hero a player selects is free, but players will need to buy additional characters with farmable resources. Each character has its unique playstyle can can be further customized through the game’s attribute system.

Combat is straight forward and follows the traditional Souls-like formula. Players get access to a heavy/light attack, a doge, block, and a few character specific abilities to change things up. Dying resets players to checkpoints, and killing the bosses progresses the story. Aside from the class system, the game doesn’t do much too different.

Review

Mortal Rite shows its players that it is still an Early Access game. Booting up the game, players will immediately notice that the game isn’t finished. The biggest issue I have with the game is the performance. Frames drop, FPS isn’t great, and worst of all, combat isn’t smooth. I get that bugs can be part of the charm, but not when combat feels as clunky as it does in Mortal Rite. Swimming feels slow and looks bad, and the lack of fluid motion will get players killed. A lot of the time I felt like I was fighting the controls and the game more than I was fighting my enemies.

I could forgive a janky unfinished combat system if the lore were good, but it isn’t. The story feels a little generic, and it did little to keep my attention. At least the characters seem thematic, but I wouldn’t play this game just for the characters.

Even if you like backing Early Access games, I would wait for a couple more updates. Even then, I would wait for a full release because you simply have better options at this price point. Go play Void Sols instead. It’s cheaper, better, and it has a demo.

You can pick up Mortal Rite on Steam for $24.99.

Uncategorized, video game reviews

Is Rogue Conflict Too Hard for Its Own Good?

Leave a comment

Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Rogue Conflict 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-Promotions

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out the new Epomaker HE75 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. I’ve also started a web novel that I update weekly.

What is Rogue Conflict?

Rogue Conflict is a turn-based rogue-like strategy game out now on Steam.

Players control various factions as they fight for supremacy. Take control of your army and use your wit to overcome different scenarios. Will you be the skill tactician this world needs, or will you be another failed campaign in the making? Grab your army and find out!

Gameplay

Players choose their faction and a scenario to play through. Each faction has access to different units, and the scenario dictates the units in the army. After placing their units, players will take turns moving through the map to complete objectives. Units have a set range of movement and attacks have advantage/disadvantage based on target type. Tanks do more damage to normal infantry for example. Terrain also give units advantage on attack or defends, as well as impede movement. Using terrain and typing effectively is key for world domination. While this game may appear simple, it demands a certain amount of strategy and skill.

Review

Rogue Conflict is fine if you like strategy games, but it feels a bit too one sided for the casual player. I’m not very good at strategy games, but I can at least finish some of the early levels in most games. Here, it felt like no matter what I did, the odds were stacked against me and I was waiting to get destroyed, or for the timer to run out. Some of this is by design. There are scenarios where you aren’t supposed to win by combat, and instead survive in an epic rush to finish the objects. I would be fine with a few of those levels, but it honestly feels like the enemy is omniscient, plentiful, and lucky. Maybe I needed to play a little smarter, but I rather be playing Advanced Wars. Rebalancing or an easier mode would be nice.

That said, a better player might get more enjoyment out of Rogue Conflict. The game runs well, the art is cute, and the game is challenging. The problem is that the game isn’t made for casuals. If you aren’t being efficient and smart about your moves, you are going to get destroyed. Some will definitely find the level of skill fun, but those who lean more to the casual side of strategy aren’t going enjoy some of the nuances of the mechanics.

If you’re looking for a strategy game that is on the harder side and enjoy the graphics, Rogue Conflict is an excellent addition to your collection. If you’re just dipping your toe in the genre, I would save this title till you’re better at strategy games.

You can pick up your copy of Rogue Conflict for $14.99.

video game reviews

Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade Demo Impressions

Leave a comment

Disclaimer

I was sent the Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade demo to review for my blog. I will try to be a little more lenient since the game isn’t out yet, but these will be my honest impressions of the game.

Shameless Self-Promotions

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out the new Epomaker HE75 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. I’ve also started a web novel that I update weekly.

What is Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade?

Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade is an action roguelike coming to PC and all major consoles Apr 23, 2025.

The Nine-tailed fox demon have invaded the human realm, inciting chaos and tilting the fragile balance between the two realms. Three brave souls (an immortal ninja, a demon samurai, and an Oni emissary) hear the call to action and find themselves in the adventure of a lifetime. Now they must each fight their way through endless waves of demons to put an end to this terror. Do they have what it takes to restore peace to this world?

Gameplay

Players choose between one of the three heroes, each with a unique story and flavor, and fight their way through waves of enemies. Like most games in the genre, players will start their run at a central hub where they can buy upgrades for their heroes. During a run, players fight against unique demons and bosses to collect currency and materials for new upgrades and abilities. A run ends when a player’s health reaches zero, and players can only progress through the story by defeating the various bosses. The hardest part about this game is choosing what flavor of combat you want to experience the story in.

Impressions

Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade is a solid action RPG. The game has great art, and the Edo period aesthetic fits very well. Combat feels a bit slow and clunky at times, but it generally fine. All three characters feel different and are fun to play, and upgrading them feels impactful. The demons all have unique flavor and the boss fights are fun and creative. Upgrades do require a bit of a grind, but it never felt too bad.

As far as story goes, its fine, but the writing can be a little awkward. There are some lines that try a little too hard to be quirky, but it isn’t a bad read. It at least helped keep my attention long enough to grind things out. Overall, I will need to see how the final product performs before I can recommend it. As it stands, there is no reason to pick Yasha over something like Realm of Ink unless you really like the flavor and art style. If the final version can make combat feel just a little smoother, I’ll be ready to give it an endorsement. I will be trying to get my hands on the full version. Until then, go try the demo and see for yourself. Don’t forget to add it to your wishlist!

video game reviews

Affraid Game Review: A Horror Experience Gone Wrong

Leave a comment

Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of AFFRAID 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-Promotions

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out the new Epomaker HE75 Mag or their KiiBoom Breeze 75. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. I’ve also started a web novel that I update weekly.

What is Affraid?

Affraid is a third person horror survival game out now on Steam.

Nina has been kidnapped along with several other girls by the evil pharmaceutical company, Medio. Medio wants to create an age reversing cream, and willing to sacrifice as many people to get it. Unfortunately, there are unforeseen side effects. The other subjects become rabid, initiating an evacuation protocol. Nina is unaffected, and finds herself in the fight of her life as she tries to escape. Can she make it out alive?

Gameplay

Affraid is a Resident Evil clone. Players make their way through a strange facility full on monsters and using what they find along the way to defend themselves. Players must make their way through dark corridors, piece together the narrative, and try to stay alive. It is a pretty strait forward gameplay loop, but one that can be extremely unforgiving if players aren’t careful.

Review

I was drawn to this game because it looked rough, yet with enough passion poured into it to make up for it. Unfortunately, the game in its current state is unplayable. An update was pushed recently that makes me believe the developer hasn’t given up yet, but it didn’t do much to earn its price tag (even at a discount).

My game crashed during the opening tutorial. When the game finally decided to work, the movement is jarring and the controls aren’t as smooth as they need to be. It is clear that a lot of effort was put into the fan service, which is fine, but the rest of the game needs more attention. Once I finally got out of the first room, the game did not get better. Movement feels bad, and combat doesn’t feel any better. I wouldn’t mind the flaws, but there are better games you can play at the same price price point.

Without a major update to performance, there is no reason to buy this game. The game doesn’t feel finished, nor does it feel like it is close to being finished. You can pick up AFFRAID for $9.99, but your money is better spent elsewhere.

video game reviews

Microtopia: A Unique Village Builder Experience

Leave a comment

I was sent a free copy of Microtopia 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-Promotions

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out the new Epomaker HE75 Mag or their KiiBoom Breeze 75. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. I’ve also started a web novel that I update weekly.

What is Microtopia?

Microtopia is an ant-colony village builder out now on Steam.

You are in charge of building the mightiest mechanical ant empire this world has ever seen. Program your drones, upgrade your units, build your empire, and protect your queen. Build efficiently, plan accordingly, and get ready to lose a few days of sleep. Do you have what it takes to make the perfect colony?

Gameplay

The game walks through the games important mechanics and a well designed tutorial that can skipped on later playthroughs. Players all start with a queen and a few drones, and slowly build that into the mighty ant empire it turns into. Players will command their ants to gather resource, build structures, and upgrade their empire. What makes the game unique is that the automation is programed by the players. The bulk of the game is designing the many intertwining routes ants take to perform their tasks. These routes are constantly changing as resources run out and more structures start to to populate the map. The trick to this game is efficiently weaving every moving part of the colony so that everything runs smoothly. There are tech trees and upgrades to keep the game engaging. If you run out of tasks and the game feels like you are waiting on timers, you are playing this game wrong.

Review

Microtopia is one of the best village builders I have ever played. I had my doubts during the first boot because the graphics and art style are a little plain. The more I played the game, the less of a problem I had with the art direction. The style is not only very thematic and flavorful, it also means it can run on anything. It does run fine on the steam deck, but it is a little small and you’re going to have to use the touchscreen.

The village/factory building mechanics are the main reason for buying the game. They are easy to grasp with the excellent opening tutorial, and they give the player enough to do to keep the game engaging. Most of village builders I’ve played autopath tasks like farming materials, but Microtopia has players design the paths first, and assign the units to travel them second. While I do appreciate the more laid back approach of the autopathing, I did now know how much I wanted to design my own routs and paths. This does mean players need to be a bit more active in their planning stages, but I never felt like it was unnecessary busy work. I also love the fact that structures can be moved at any time, and they can be destroyed for a full refund. I make a lot of mistakes and appreciate the extra flexibility. That said, I did restart my playthrough after the tutorial because I was not happy with my pathing and some of my earlier decisions.

Microtopia is the most engaging relaxing game you will get to play. I found the village building soothing, and the mechanics had me obsessing about every little detail. If you’re looking for a new village builder, Microtopia is a strong contender. It’s unique mechanics are worth trying once, and the art style will grow on you. This is a fantastic game that deserves a lot more attention.

You can pick up Microtopia on Steam for only $19.99.

video game reviews

Aegis Force: The Scorian War Demo Review

Leave a comment

I got to try out the Aegis Force: The Scorian War demo because I’ve been looking for a new JRPG to get into. The game looks interesting with some neat flavor and combat system. I know the game isn’t finished yet, so I will try to be more lenient with my impressions. That said, this will be my honest review.

Shameless Self-Promotions

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out the new Epomaker HE75 Mag or their KiiBoom Breeze 75. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. I’ve also started a web novel that I update weekly.

What is Aegis Force: The Scorian War?

Aegis Force: The Scorian War is a 2.5 fantasy rpg coming to Steam sometime in 2026. The Demo is available to play in the meantime so make sure to check that out.

The 100 year Scorian War ravages the continent. The two nations, one advanced in technology the other in magic, are locked in a battle with no end in sight. The conflict weighs heavily on both sides, yet no one remembers what sparked it. Join three childhood friends as they fight for their country, recruit new members, and explore the war torn country. What secrets will their journey uncover? Will they be the ones to stop this war?

Gameplay

Players explore the 2D world, fighting against enemy soldiers and slowly unraveling the narrative. This is your typical JRPG, but one with a unique combat system that might be worth exploring. Combat in Aegis Force is turn-based with an interesting movement mechanics. Characters can gain advantage on attacks based on the orientation of the enemy. Attacking an enemy from behind gives units a small boost in attack, but this boon works both ways. Players must strategically position their units to gain the advantage, and this can sometimes mean taking big risks.

Review

I really want to like this Aegis Force. The art is cute, the mechanics seem interesting, and I need a new JRPG. Unfortunately, I think the demo was released too early. The game has some promising features that left me curious enough for a follow-up, but the demo isn’t good enough to generate enough appeal.

The writing is awkward. I caught a couple errors, no big deal, but the dialogue is awkward and doesn’t do enough to earn the reader’s attention. The performance also falls short. Combat and movement is full of award animations, and the whole experience feels a little clunky.

That said, I kind of like the combat. The flank mechanic gives combat enough of a strategic element to keep it engaging, and the Tactimagus mechanic makes combat fun to watch. I wish everything ran more smoothly, but I am at least interested in seeing the final product.

Aegis Force: The Scorian War is a hard game to recommend in its current state. While some can overlook the roughness as the games charming lure, it is going to be a hard sell for the casual gamer who wants to spend their money on an engaging story with mechanics that work properly. I don’t believe Aegis Force is entirely hopeless, it just isn’t where it needs to be yet. We still have a year of development left, and there might be some solid fixes to change this opinion. I will be trying to get my hands on a full version for the follow up, but in the mean time, you can check out the demo on Steam.

video game reviews

Urban Myth Dissolution Center Review: A Must-Play Visual Novel

Leave a comment

Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Urban Myth Dissolution Center 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 Plugs and Self-Promotions

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out the new Epomaker HE75 Mag or their KiiBoom Breeze 75. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. I’ve also started a web novel that I update weekly.

What is the Urban Myth Dissolution Center?

Urban Myth Dissolution Center is a horror mystery visual novel out now on Steam, PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch.

Azani has a supernatural gift she doesn’t want. In an attempt to become normal, she seeks the help of Ayumu Meguria, a level S psychic and the director of the Urban Myth Dissolution Center. In a strange turn of events, she finds herself under his employ. She must now use her powers to help the Center investigate Myths, and put an end to anything supernatural. What truths will she uncover? Will she ever get rid of this power and be a normal girl?

Gameplay

Players explore a 2D pixel art world, collecting clues, solving cases, and piecing together the overarching narrative. Players start by combing social media for leads on a new case. They follow up by interrogating the people involved, and looking for signs of supernatural activity. As they collect clues and details, players begin filling out a field journal with useful information. Azumi will periodically stop to piece the clues together. Players must be able to piece the clues together to progress through the story. When enough clues are gathered, Meguria will use his psychic abilities to guide the players towards a truth.

Review

If you can only buy one visual novel this year, it should be Urban Myth Dissolution Center. This is by far my favorite visual novel, and I have played some award winning games. Players will fall in love with the retro pixel art aesthetic and the breath taking visuals. I love how creative this game gets with its style, and it is able to successfully create the ideal atmosphere for its mystery. The game also has an amazing sound track ready to complete the mood.

The gameplay is simple, yet relaxing. The fact that the game takes the time to quiz players on key elements of the mystery keep the game engaging. There didn’t seem to be any real drawback from guessing wrong other than the inability to progress the story, but it is a good idea to keep notes if necessary. It makes things go by faster.

The best part of this game is its story. I haven’t been this intrigued by a mystery in a while, and I whole heartily recommend this to anyone in need of a good read. This is a well paced story with a fun quirky tone, memorable characters, and interesting mysteries. Best of all, the experience is pretty solid on the Steam Deck.

If you are looking for a good visual novel, it doesn’t get much better than Urban Myth Dissolution Center. Pick it up today on Steam, PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch. There is a Steam demo if you don’t believe me.

video game reviews

Genso Manège: A Captivating Visual Novel Review

Leave a comment

Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Genso Manège 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 the new Epomaker HE75 Mag or their KiiBoom Breeze 75. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. If you would like to start your own blog on WordPress, sign up using my Affiliate Link!

What is Genso Manège?

Genso Manège is an interactive visual novel out now on Steam and Nintendo Switch.

Emma is a witch who has lost her memory and her powers, but fate has other plans for her. She finds herself back in a familiar amusement part with the people she had long since forgotten. Emma is determined to regain her powers and memories, and free those she trapped long ago. As Emma, players will explore a fresh and magical world, harness their powers over magic, and maybe even fall in love. With 6 romantic interesting, a wonderfully voice acted story, and some quirky little mini games, its going to be hard to pass up on this adventure.

Review

Genso Manège is a fantastic visual novel with great art, amazing voice acting, and a solid story. The story has decent pacing with interesting themes, fun characters, and mini games to keep players engaged. That said, the story is very much on the cheesy side of romance novels, but it fits the niche well. The hardest part will be choosing only one of leads, but that gives the game its replayability. I am definitely ready for another go.

I particularly like the use of minigames throughout the story. It gives the game an appropriate change of pace, and they have a good amount of flavor. The don’t feel distracting or overbearing, which can be a problem with interactive fiction.

Overall, if you’re looking for a new romantic visual novel with well flavored fantasy, you need to be playing Genso Manège. Pick it up on Steam and Nintendo Switch

Tech Reviews

Experience Exciting Action Roguelike FPS Revenge of the Mage

Leave a comment

Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Revenge of the Mage 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 the new Epomaker HE75 Mag or their KiiBoom Breeze 75. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. If you would like to start your own blog on WordPress, sign up using my Affiliate Link!

What is Revenge of the Mage?

Revenge of the Mage is a first-person, bullet hell roguelike out now on Steam.

Learn to harness your power over the elements as you fend off against endless waves of monsters. Travel through the realms, unlock new abilities, and become the most powerful mage. Do you have what it takes to become the hero the realm needs, or will you be another casualty?

Gameplay

Players dive into unique worlds and use their magic to fight off waves of enemies, complete quests, and defeat the boss at the end of the level. Players level up by killing monsters, and earn a random power-up or ability at level-up. The RNG feels fair, and players can enjoy a unique build every single run. Random buffs and items appear randomly across the map to give players a small advantage against the onslaught. Between levels, players can buy upgrades for their mage or unlock a new archetypes with currency they unlock during a run. If a player dies without killing the boss, they return to the hub with only a portion of their earnings.

Review

Revenge of the Mage isn’t your typical roguelike, it is the first person shooter you didn’t know you needed. The game has great flavor, solid mechanics, and a lot of potential. I wasn’t ready for how much I enjoyed this game. While there is a little wonkiness to combat and movement, it feels good. Weaving through enemies and managing cooldowns keeps the game exciting, and the unlockables gives me goals to work towards. That said, movement could use a bit more polish. The dash doesn’t always work, and when things get crowded, it feels a little stiff. It is playable, but it could be smoother.

Like most roguelikes, expect a grind. It isn’t soul crushing, but you will die a lot before you start making an impact. Players lose a good chunk of their gold at death, and earning enough for meaningful powerups or a new archetype is going to take some time. The game does let you recover your gold each run, just make sure you move quickly. That said, I enjoyed the grind because I enjoyed the game. I am a little bummed it doesn’t run well on the Steam Deck, but I preferred using a keyboard and mouse anyways.

If you’re looking for a fun and casual game to pick up, check out Revenge of the Mage. The mages are fun and flavorful, the RNG is fair, and the combat system is solid.

You can pick up Revenge of the Mage on Steam for $5.99. There is also a demo available if you don’t believe me.

video game reviews

Is Threefold Recital Worth Your Time? An Honest Review

1 Comment

Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Threefold Recital 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.

Some Self Promotion & Affiliates

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out the new Epomaker HE75 Mag or their KiiBoom Breeze 75. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System. If you would like to start your own blog on WordPress, sign up using my Affiliate Link!

What is Threefold Recital?

Threefold Recital is an interactive title out now on Steam.

in the city of Bluscales, magic and technology blend into a new normal. Humans and beastkin roam its streets, but there are secrets within this bustling metropolis. Dive into a unique fantasy adventure and play as a snake who can swim through paintings, a wolf who can manipulate Karma lines, and a fox who can brew just about any concoction. What secrets will they uncover? What truths will they reveal? You are going to have to to play to find out.

Gameplay

This game is interactive fiction which means there is a lot of reading, but no voice acting. In between the story bits, players will need to solve puzzles and engage in different mini-games. Players are essentially walking between story beats and jumping between shifting perspectives that come together at the end.

Review

Threefold Recital left me conflicted. On one hand, I enjoyed the artstyle and some of the quirky writing, but the pacing is bad. The first couple of chapters are meant to hook the reader, but they are so bloated that it was hard to keep going. It isn’t the worst story you’ll read through, but you’re either going exist within the target audience, or you’re not going to care.

The mini games were unique, but the novelty wears off and they become a chore. Puzzles are a little too simple and felt like padding for the story, and the exploration is a little pointless. It doesn’t add anything to the game except to create busy work, and I believe the story would be better without it. Some people might appreciate the small break these tasks may give them, but when the story isn’t good enough to hook the reader, it makes it harder to keep caring about the game.

This isn’t a bad game. Threefold Recital is cute and has some fun moments, but you can do a lot better for $15. I would wait for a sale, but at least it is Steam Deck compatible (although I found the font a little too small for my liking.)

You can pick up Threefold Recital on Steam for $14.99.