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Blightstone: A Promising Roguelike Experience

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Blightstone 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 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 Blightstone?

Blightstone is a turn-based strategy roguelike out on Steam Early access. If you like Darkest Dungeon vibes in your roguelike strategy grind, this game should be in your watchlist.

Hook

The powerful demon overlord Korghul spreads his reign of terror relentlessly across this land. You command the heroes who are destined to end it, but this is no easy task. The path to salvation is full of death and despair. Fight against waves of the demon lords army, loot as much as you can, and use the landscape for to your advantage. Can you overcome death, keep the Earthglass Christal safe, and rid the world of this powerful evil, or will you be another one of Korghul’s victims.

Gameplay

Players take command of three mighty heros: a warrior, a mage, and a hunter and his canine companion. Make your way through a map full of enemies, events, and a few shops to boost your companions. Can you make it to the end before death or the blight consumes your characters?

Combat

Combat is a turn-based strategy combat. Each character has 2 action points that they can use to move, attack, or use an ability. Players can spend these actions in any order. For example, you can attack with the mage, attack with the hunter, and go back to the mage to finish his turn. Terrain affects combat. Players and NPCs can use the map to gain advantage through effective use of the cover and line of sight mechanic. Characters can heal at the campfire at the end of the day, but they cannot be revived. Once a character dies, it is gone forever.

Loot

Like most roguelikes, players can choose from a selection of random items after certain events. These items can be equipped to boost a parties power level. Items can be equipped before any encounter.

Events

As of writing this, events seem to only be additional combat or skipping additional combat. Choosing an extra encounter has a chance for an additional reward, but it is not always guaranteed. It helps to roll for map information at a campfires.

Campfire

The party sets up camp at the end of each day. A day passes after two event nodes on a map. These can be combat, shopping, or a random encounter. While at a campfire, players can spend camp points to heal their characters, activate buffs, or gain map information. Gaining map information reveals a reward on the map to help players plan their progression.

Progression

Stage progression is tied to meta progression. Players are given general quests to complete in order to move to the next map, simply clearing the stages isn’t always enough.

Review

Blightstone has a good amount of potential, but it doesn’t have enough content to make it worth it. If you want to support a game that is trying innovate the genre with a few interesting mechanics, it is worth checking out at least once. Fortunately, the devs seem to be active enough to inspire some hope, but the lack of content is a tricky sell.

Aesthetic

Blightstone has fantastic art. I love the grimdark vibe and the comicbook feel of the world. The characters look very good, and the animation is solid. It also has a solid soundtrack to get you in the mood for epic combat. Aesthetic alone should spark interest in gamers looking for something new to try.

Combat

Combat is a lot of fun. I love the gridless maps and the action economy system makes it feel like a tabletop RPG. I am very bad at strategy games, so the difficulty seems high, but that is by design. I wouldn’t call it a frustrating experience, but basic understanding of the game’s mechanics helps with the grind. There is a grind, and it does get repetitive. Some of it is due to lack of content, the rest is by design.

Blightstone doesn’t take the traditional turn-based strategy rout. The RNG upgrades make each run feel fresh, and it feels for the most part. The line of sight and friendly fire mechanic give combat its depth. I love that I can use the map to gain an advantage, it it sucks when the NPCs do the same. The NPC AI is intellegent enough to make things interesting. Having to keep the Earthglass Crystal safe also affects you move your units. I wish there was a bit more variety on the type of units so the grind doesn’t feel as repetitive, but repetition is part of the roguelike experience.

Content

At the moment, there seems to be enough content for many three hours of gameplay. The game is fun for those three hours, but it is up to you if is worth the $16. After the first couple of runs, the game starts to feel repetitive because the encounters start to repeat. There needs to be a lot more events rather than just having an extra encounter. I wish I could make a deal with a devil or encounter or random merchant, anything to add a little more choice to my playthough. I don’t mind repetition in my roguelikes, I play a lot of Encounters, but here it feels like I finish the content too quickly.

Conclusion

Blightstone is a cool game that attempts some very interesting mechanics in an oversaturated genre. The game looks good, plays well, but it needs a bit more content. It definitely needs more attention, and should be in your watchlist. Just know that at this stage in its development, you are paying to support a good demo for a game that might be good in the future.

You can pick up Blightstone on Steam Early Access. If you are looking for other cool roguelikes to add to your collection, check out Talystro.

video game reviews

Talystro: A Fun Deckbuilding Game with Math Mechanics

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Disclaimer

I was asked to cover the Talystro playtest for my blog. I understand the game is not finished, so I will be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, these will be my honest opinions 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 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 Talystro?

Talystro is a a unique dice based deckbuilding game coming to Steam. The game features adorable mouses and require a bit of math to defeat your enemies.

Hook

The evil Necrodicer has started the forgiben ritual of Talystro, unleashing waves of evil numbers to disrupt the worlds peace and tranquility. All hope rests in the hands of Math Mouse and his proficiency in simple arithmatic. With the help of many dice rolls and well placed attacks, Math Mouse must fight through these evil numbers and put an end to the Talystro. Will his math skills be enough to save the world? Will RNG be in his favor? You will need to play to find out.

Gameplay

Players must fight their way through many waves of ruthless monsters with only the help of a deck they build along the way. Unlike most deckbuilders, Talystro has players build their attacks from a pool of dice rolls.

Casting

Players roll 6 dice at the start of each round to play the five cards they draw to their hand. Each card has a slot or a series of slots in an equation. To cast a card, players fill these slots with the numbers from their dice pool results. Cards will do damage equal to the total of the card after all required slots are filled. For example, if a user has a card with a slot _ + _ and they fill it with the numbers 1 and 2, the card will do three damage.

Combat

Players can attack as many times per turn as they have available dice, assuming they can get to the correct number. The monsters in this game are numbers. Unlike other deckbuilders where players need to slowly chip away at an enemies health, players need to reach the exact number of the monster they are fighting. For example, if the monster they are fighting is a 7, players must combine their dice and cards to deal out 7 damage and destroy the monster. You can play multiple cards per turn, so mix and match accordingly.

Monsters

Monsters carry attack die. Any monster left with an attack die at the end of the turn does one point of damage to Math Mouse. Players progress to the next stage if they kill off all the numbers. The game ends if the Math Mouse’s health drops to zero.

Abilities

The game has a few abilities to give combat its depth. Players start with three abilities: block, reroll, and adjust. Players all start with one charge of each ability. These abilities can be recharged by playing a card that has a recharge ability.

Block

Monsters get an attack die with the result visible to the player. Players can break these attack dice by stacking a dice with the same result. For example, if a monster has a 4 attack dice, stacking another four negates the attack.

Reroll

Reroll is self explanatory. Players use this ability to reroll their available pool of dice and hope for better numbers. Reroll only affects dice you have left in play. If you have three dice, you only reroll three.

Adjust

This ability allows players to adjust a dice by one value. For example, if you only have a three and need a four or a two, you use the adjust ability to get the number you need.

Impressions

I am a little bummed that this game is only a playtest because it is already an addiction. I did not know I could have so much fun with math, but then again, I played a lot of Math Blaster growing up.

Aesthetic

Talystro has fantastic art. I love the cartoon style art and the world that goes around it. The game has an old school aesthetic, but with gameplay that makes it incredibly addicting.

Gameplay

I am a little bummed it doesn’t work on the Steam deck because this would be a fantastic hand held game. It isn’t resource intensive, and the game is casual enough to enjoy on the go. However, this game is so much fun. I like that it breaks away from the same tired deck builder formula with mechanics that make combat a lot more engaging. I liked that I was always trying to figure out something and it made the grind a lot of fun. Every round was a cool puzzle I needed to solve, even if it involved a lot of math.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a different kind of deckbuilder that isn’t afraid to be different, you need to keep an eye out on Talystro. This is the most fun I’ve ever had doing math, and I am not a huge math person. The game has fun flavor and solid mechanics to keep things engaging. This is a very successful playtest, and I can’t wait to see what else in store. You can still try to get into the playtest. Don’t forget to wishlist!

video game reviews

Discover Encounter: The Lost Cards – A Quirky Deckbuilding Adventure

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Encounter: The Lost Cards 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 latest reviews for the Epomaker HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset.

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 with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Enconter: The Lost Cards

Encounter: The Lost Cards is a quirky roguelike deckbuilder out now on Steam Early Access with a demo available you should try. Don’t forget to wishlist.

Hook

Fate has been decided by the cards. Your journey will be filled with fated encounters, some good and some deadly. Evil will try to sway you, but you always have the choice to live your life virtuously. Fill your bag with useful items and go on a silly adventure you will never forget. Fight your way through powerful enemies, make good choices, and be prepared for some intense inventory management. How far will your choices take you?

Gameplay

A players encounters are randomly determined by a deck of tarot cards. Encounters can be combat, a curse, a shop, or a social encounter. The choices a player makes affects the loot and judgement they receive. But choice is only half the battle, the rest is inventory management. Players will need to be efficient with the limited space in their bag as they complete their run. A run is over when the player dies and fails judgement.

Loot

Items collected throughout the journey give players their actions economy. They allow players to cast magic, perform attacks, heal themselves, or cast boons during combat. Unfortunately, items will break after a set number of uses. Once an item breaks, it can no longer be used. They can be repaired in town for a cost, so make sure you are always keep your good items with enough uses to survive your adventure. You can be left stranded without weapons if you aren’t smart about your choices. It is hard to fight the boss with only your fists and no healing.

Encounters

It shouldn’t be a surprise that encounters are the core aspect of Encounter. Players will cycle through random encounters determined by a deck of tarot cards. They determine the type of encounter whether it be social or combat and the type of loot a player has access to. Choices made in past encounters affect future ones. Being sinful for example may turn some friendly and useful encounters hostile. There is an NPC that gives players useful items for free, but only if they are virtuous.

Judgement

Judgement is another big part of Encounters. Players will be tempted to sin throughout their adventure. They can steal the sword they can’t afford or overindulge in debauchery, and other actions that give useful buffs at the cost of your soul. Players who choose a virtuous run can get a free resurrection and other useful buffs on death, while those who sin find themselves at a Lilith’s mercy. Both options have their benefits and draw backs. What kind of life will you live?

Combat

Combat is turn based. Players will build a deck of useful items on their journey. This deck is limited by inventory space. The key is to be efficient.

Each player has a set number of action points they can spend per turn. This number is fixed at first, but can be increased through choices and luck based rolls. Action points can be spent to use the various items in your inventory to heal, attack, cast magic, or buff their character. Combat is over when the player or NPC dies.

Review

Encounter: The Lost Cards is still in early access. The game is not finished yet, and you can tell. It is full of bugs and I haven’t been able to connect to the server to take advantage of the wayfinder mechanic which locks me out of some choices. That said, none of the bugs are game breaking, and I haven’t been able to put the game down. Encounter is a cute and quirky game with enough depth to keep tings engaging. If you are looking for a different kind of deckbuilding roguelike and don’t mind the roughness, it is at least worth checking out the demo.

Encounters

The encounters in this game are fun for the first couple runs before they start to get repetitive. I appreciate the adult humor and the generally quirky tone of the writing. After a couple of runs though, encounters start to repeat. This is the norm for the genre so it wasn’t a big deal, but there are some encounters that will end your run. That said, the RNG in this game is mostly fair and makes each run feel different enough to keep the grind from becoming soulless.

The Grind

Encounter: The Lost Cards has its grind, especially if you want to unlock some permanent buffs that will help you go far. The game does get a little repetitive, especially if you aren’t able to make it far. Not making the right choices or taking advantage of the games nuanced mechanics can make the grind a little harder. The game doesn’t do a good job at onboarding a player, but I almost prefer having to figure things out on my own.

I find the repetitive grind soothing. Sure the RNG can kill a run, but it also kept each run feeling fresh. I always had a new strategy to try. A lot of the fun came from trying to figure out the different mechanics through trial and error. I could have looked at a guide, but I enjoyed making choices I thought were fun. It was the perfect grind for catching up on anime because it involved enough thought to keep me engaged without requiring my full undivided attention.

Aesthetic

The game looks great. I love the pixel art design and the music choice. The game has a solid retro vibe with a modern enough flare to set it apart from other similar styles. There is a bit of fan service to be aware of, but nothing I would consider too adult.

The Bad

I was only able to successfully run Encounter on my desktop once. It runs great on desktop and have no complaints, but switched to the Steam Deck to test the compatibility. Encounter is a fantastic Steam Deck game. It runs great and it is casual enough to make it the perfect game to play on the go, or in my case, in bed while I was bed ridden. Unfortunately, I was never able to connect to the server to take advantage of whatever the wayfinder boon gave me. I have no regrets. I prefer this game on handheld.

The game also doesn’t do a good job at explaining its mechanics. It sort of drops players into the game with a basic understanding of how things work and I sort of figured things out through trial and error. This wasn’t a deal breaker because that is how I usually play these sorts of games, but it did mean I was wasting some of my runs. Make sure you don’t waste your useful items on the easy encounters, and repair the items you like. I am sure you can find a guide if you rather just minmax.

Conclusion

Encounter: The Lost Cards is my current addiction. Sure there is some roughness involved, but the game works well enough to deserve its chance. It should at least be on a few more wishlists. Encounter is a unique twist on the deckbuilding roguelike with fun flavor and even better mechanics. If you are looking for a new casual game that doesn’t require too much of your attention, check out Encounter: The lost Cards on Steam Early Access.

video game reviews

Kingdom of Night Review: A Retro RPG Adventure

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Kingdom of Night on Steam 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 latest reviews for the Epomaker HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset.

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 with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Kingdom of Night?

Kingdom of Night is a hack and slash action RPG out now on Steam. If you’ve ever wanted to have a dungeons and dragons style adventure in the 80’s, this is the game for you.

Hook

A satanic cult has taken over the small town of Miami Arizona and summoned Baphomet and his demon army. The town is thrown into chaos and John seems to be the only one who can bring back this sleepy town’s peace. Take control of John as he navigates the streets of his sleepy home town, fending of waves of Bephomet’s demon army. Can he master his powers and defeat Bephomet before it is too late, or will this be everyone’s last night on Earth?

Gameplay

Players will take control of John, and one of of his friends if playing co-op. You get to choose from one of the five classes: Barbarian, Knight, Rogue, Necromancer, and Sorcerer. The game works like your classic hack and slash. Players explore the different bits of the town, hacking away at the endless waves of enemies as they work towards the final fight. The melee classes are pretty straight forward and more beginner friendly, but the game does introduce a unique magic system that you should try at least once.

Magic

Kingdom of Night has an involved magic system that helps it stand out from other games in the genre. To cast a spell, players will need to activate runes according to the spells order. Runes are tied buttons on the controller or keys on the keyboard. The game gives players access to their spellbook at anytime. Once the combination has been pressed, players can cast the spell as long as it is off cooldown.

Skill Tree and Gear

Along the way, players will find gear to upgrade their character. The gear is very thematic and there is a good amount of variety that allow a diverse amount of builds. Players can buy levels on their skill tree for even more customization. While the game may be solvable, it doesn’t feel like it. I enjoyed trying to find a build of the necromancer that fit my playstyle.

Review

Kingdom of Night is a the perfect fantasy adventure full of action and a solid story to keep players invested. The retro vibe and all the 80’s references help set the proper mood for an dark adventure through the sleepy town of Miami, Arizona. If you want a fun hack and slash that is guaranteed to be an instant classic, this game should be in your library.

Aesthetic

The game goes above and beyond to successfully capture the spirit of the 80’s in this dark fantasy adventure. The dialogue, the characters, and the world design are all full of 80’s flare. I liked seeing posters of terminator and other 80’s references.

I am a huge fan of the game’s artstyle. The pixel art gives the game its retro vibe, but is able to deliver the perfect amount of detail to make Kingdom of Night an epic adventure. The game has cool animations and memorable character designs. The soundtrack is also fantastic, and helps set the mood of the adventure.

Story

Kingdom of Night is a proper fantasy adventure. The story has a great hook, solid buildup, and good amount of mystery to keep things moving. The side quests are flavorful and add a good amount of world building. If you need something to tide you over as you wait for the last season of Stranger Things, Kingdom of Night can help scratch the itch.

Spellcasting

I played as the necromancer because I wanted a challenge. The spellcasters require a bit more skill, but gameplay is not impossible. I loved every minute of my necromancer journey. The spell casting is such a refreshing mechanic, and some of my favorite of any game. It does take some getting used to, but once it clicks, its going to be hard to play spell casters in other games. Activating the rune combos is so flavorful and kept the game from becoming a mindless hack and slash. I will go back to replay the game as other classes.

Character Builds

I appreciate the amount of flavor that goes into the game, especially when it comes to the loot. Players will pick up gear that is properly themed to fit the world like books or sneakers, but give stat boosts that give players some control over their build. There is some RNG involved, but it felt fair for the most part.

Players can also customize their character by upgrading their skill tree at level up. The skill tree does offer some additional customization for each class, but it is pretty strait forward. You won’t, and shouldn’t, need to look up a guide. I found success building what I thought was fun.

Combat

Combat is a lot of fun. The hack and slash aspect is engaging and the boss fights are fun and memorable. There is a grind to this game, but it isn’t too bad. You can and should start skipping some of the more mindless drones that roam the city or else it will take forever to beat the story. Aside from the few important quest lines, players have a good amount of freedom to explore the city at their own pace. The city feels huge for a small town, and exploration can take a long time if you are spending your time killing everything that gets in your way. Note that mobs respawn if you enter and exit buildings.

Other

I did not get to try couch co-op, but I like that the game has the option in case I ever have a friend to play with. Kingdom of Night works perfectly on the Steam Deck and it works perfectly! I actually preferred playing on the Steam Deck because it let me chill on the couch. The arcade style gameplay makes this game the perfect couch game, and I’ll take any excuse to be away from my computer.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a fun adventure game with a good story and a cool world to explore, pick up Kingdom of Night. This is a very well made game that earns every dollar it is asking for. If you are fan of those old school cabinet games, or need a game to play locally with a friend or sibling, it doesn’t get much better than Kingdom of Night.

You can pick up Kingdom of Night on Steam.

video game reviews

Tingus Goose: A Surreal Idle Game Review

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Tingus Goose 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 latest reviews for the Epomaker HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset.

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 with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Tingus Goose?

Tingus Goose is a surreal idle game where you bounce babies for money. This is the trippiest weirdest game you’ll ever play, but it might be worth trying at least once.

Hook

Help your ground goose grow tall enough to mate with the sky goose in what has to be the most laid back tower defense you’ll ever load to your computer. Bounce babies as they rain from the ground goose to earn the money to grow your goose. Unlock upgrades and buildings to help you increase your profit margin. Build a good enough structure and you can step away and watch your money grow. How many different stages of goose can you get through?

Gameplay

The goose will mate and transform into different creatures that spread across the world. While there is nothing sexual about this game, there are a few references that some might find offensive. Nothing explicit, but something to keep in mind.

The goose is born into the world from the love of their parents. In order to mate and continue to the cycle, players must help it grow. They do this buy spending money. To earn money in this game, players must bounce the babies that rain out of the ground goose. This is done by clicking on the falling babies to earn money actively, or arranging structures to do it passively.

Passive Income

As the ground goose grows, it will sprout random structures that can be used to bounce the babies. These structures are themed after the level and can be arranged along the neck of the goose. It is a very laid back tower defense game where there is no right answer or losing. You can leave the game running in the background and watch your money grow (or log off if you pick up the skill).

Skills

Players will unlock abilities as they play the game and grow their geese. Players have access to a comprehensive skill tree and a few RNG abilities that they can unlock throughout a run. These abilities help increase a players learning potential, but there is no real need to minmax (although you probably can). Buy whatever seems fun to you.

Structures

The ground goose sprouts random structures as it grows. These are randomly selected from a players pool of structures. All players start with the same limited pool, but unlock additional structures as they progress through the game. These structures will bounce, blow, suck, and manipulate a baby’s fall while earning players money. The game gets very creative and thematic with their structures, and leaves enough room for players to get creative with their Rube Goldberg machine.

Review

Tingus Goose is the weirdest adventure I’ve ever had to go on, and I am not mad about it. This game is an excellent example of creative surrealism and bundles it in a way that is digestible and relaxing. If you want to sit back and enjoy some weirdness with what little precious time you have for gaming, take it up with Tingus Goose.

Art

Tingus Goose has a fun and quirky aesthetic that gives the game its cozy atmosphere. The art is simple, but the cut scenes are wild the best possible way. I am having trouble finding the right words to describe what it is I just played, but I know I liked it. I commend the devs on how creative they get with their story telling with a style and aesthetic that definitely stands out not just against other games in the genre (if there are any) but all other games in general.

Story

The story is simple, but creative. A goose falls in love, grows, mates, and the cycle continues. There are 17 unique levels, each as creative as the next. I don’t think I fully understand what the story is about, but I needed to keep playing to find out what the next world looked like, and what structures I would get to use.

Gameplay

Tingus Goose is an idle game, but without the predatory micro-transactions you see in other games. While other games will eventually slow your play to encourage you to spend more money, Tingus Goose only asks for money once. This means players can enjoy the whole game without spending additional money.

The game itself is a soothing and simple loop that doesn’t take too much of a commitment. You can build your goose how ever you want (around the RNG) at your own pace. I am sure there is an optimal way of building and designing your goose, but I never felt the need and had fun messing around. I loved arranging my structures as they came, watching the cute animations of my machine in action, and occasionally clicking to get through the game faster. There might be a grind, but it doesn’t feel like it.

Conclusion

I enjoy a good idle game, but I hate how predatory they get. I usually can only get through the first few levels before the game will nerf my progress so that can start spending money. Looking at you League of Angles: Pact. I understand the need to make money to develop the game, but some companies get a little too greedy. Tingus Goose was fun throughout, with enough content to be worth the price tag.

I like that I can be active and design my Rube Goldberg machine to bounce babies and chose my upgrades for my goose, but I also like that I can just sit back and enjoy the general silliness. What I like most is that it never felt like there was a right answer. I could explore the games different mechanics at my own pace without the fear of messing up. In that way, Tingus Goose offers the purest gaming experience of any game in one of the most bizarre packages.

Even if you don’t like idle games, Tingus Goose is a strange trip that you need to go on once. I appreciate the devs doing something out of the box, and staying out there. I love this game, and will continue to run it in the background.

You can pick up Tingus Goose on Steam. Just be warned, this game gets wild.

video game reviews

Dungeons & Kingdoms: The Survival Game That Does Too Much

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Dungeons & Kingdoms 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 latest reviews for the Epomaker HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset.

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 with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Dungeons & Kingdoms

Dungeons & Kingdoms is a survival game with village management and dungeon delving mechanics. The game is currently currently on Steam Early access. I will try to be a bit more lenient with my review because the game is not finished, but these are still my honest opinions.

The Hook

You have landed on the shores of the new world with only the shirt on your back. With the help of the few who have traveled with you, you must reform the world around you into the kingdom that will be your home. Gather resources, build your city, command its citizens, and go an adventure you will never forget. Can you forge to greatness from humble beginnings, or will the harsh environment consume you?

Gameplay

Dungeons & Kingdoms is an RPG where you build a kingdom, manage citizens, and delve dungeons. If this sounds like a lot, it is.

Survival Game

Players start their run with only the clothes on their backs. They must explore the world and gather its resources in order to discover the recipes they need to build a mighty empire. What sets Dungeons & Kingdoms apart is that players can command NPCs to help in the building effort.

Kingdom Builder/Management

One of the goals of Dungeons & Kingdoms is to build a mighty empire from scratch. Players get to command a growing population of NPCs to gather, build, craft, and send them on adventures. Like other village management games, players will need to be mindful of their citizen’s happiness. It is a very intricate game with many moving parts, but there is also a bit of dungeon delving to keep things fresh and interesting.

Dungeon Delve

Players can delve dungeons in search of treasure to fund the growth of their empire. Combat in this game is pretty simple, but requires a bit of fines to get the kills. Whatever flavor of the game you like, Dungeons & Kingdoms does a lot for its player, but is it any good?

Review

The game does a little too much, and none of it works well at this stage of development. While I like the game’s concept, you really need to be okay with the janky state the game is in. As far as Early Access games, you can do worse, but you can definitely do better. I like Core Keeper is my favorite survival game, and Pathless Woods if you want something a little more cozy.

Aesthetic

I am not a big fan of the visuals for Dungeons & Kingdoms. The world is boring, and feels a little too empty. The character and visual design is a little too pixelated and ugly. It feels like they are mashing too many styles for their assets together when they should try to go for something consistent and simple. The game is doing way too much and I can’t expect it to be realistic and perform well enough to be fun, not that it already is. They need to find a theme for their world and stick to it whether it be the weird 3D pixel art or something more realistic. I prefer a little weirdness personally.

Gameplay

I like that the game has a lot to do. The blending of genres is a very interesting idea with a good amount of potential, but all these moving parts can be overwhelming. If the game can successfully onboard players through those awkward early stages of the game, it can have its growing fandom. Unfortunately, the tutorial is boring and not very good. It doesn’t help that the performance isn’t great. While I like the idea of a survival game with all of these elements, the execution isn’t good enough to make a positive impression. If you have the patience to fight through the bugs and performance issues, your time is still better spent elsewhere. I really liked Enshrouded.

Performance

I usually give Early Access games a bit of a pass because they aren’t finished yet, but the performance issues make the game more work than its worth. There is a general wonkiness that carries over to every task. The game has bad UI that makes navigating through the many menus a chore. It got to the point where I was working too hard and wasn’t having fun. The problem is that the game is trying way too much at once. There are so many moving parts and while some may be working fine, I didn’t have it in me to get to that point. Most gamers won’t either. I am willing to try the game in a couple of updates if the performance improves, but I can’t recommend it in its current state.

Conclusion

Dungeons & Kingdoms has some cool ideas, it doesn’t do any of its parts good enough to earn a recommendation. For every genre this game mashes together, you simply have better options. Even if you want to help test a game that will most likely have a long early access, you can do so much better. I am willing to try a better version of what I got to test out, but I can’t ask people to spend their hard earned money on something that is this rough. Go play anything else and wait for a few more updates.

Dungeons & Kingdoms is currently on Steam Early Access.

video game reviews

Anima Gate of Memories: I&II Remaster Review

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of the Anima Gate of Memories: I&II Remaster 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 latest reviews for the Epomaker HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset.

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 with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is Anima Gate of Memories: I&II Remaster

Anima Gate of Memories: I&II Remaster returns with new textures, updated gameplay, and cleaner performance.

Hook

This remaster cleans up a bit of the roughness that came with the first run and allows players to enjoy the world of anime like they’ve never before. Explore the Tower of Arcane as either the Bearer of Calamaties or the imortal Nameless in an action packed adventure. The Tower of Arcane is a world built from memories as they try to stop the Messengers of the End and prevent the end of the world. Your choices will shape the course of this narrative. What will your story look like?

What Makes the Remaster so Special?

The remaster works to fix the issues that came with the first run. The visuals have been updated, and textures have been added to create a fuller more unique world. The performance and mechanics have been upgrades to provide players a smoother experience. Most importantly, it combines the complete Gate of Memories story in one convenient place.

Gameplay

Players get to explore the world of Anima in a fast-paced game with a bit of classic feel. Gates of Memories is a 3rd person action adventure where players take control of a character, explore the Tower of Arcane. What makes these games unique is its combat system.

While it may follow the traditional action RPG combo system you would see in something like Devil May Cry or Beyoneta, it uses interesting fixed camera angles to create deep and dynamic combat sequences. For example, the camera will sometimes switch to top-down view during a fight. This shift in perspective changes the strategy of combat because it shifts the controls. It is a mechanic that keeps combat fresh and exciting.

Like other RPGs, players will grind through encounters for XP to spend on a characters skill tree. Players have a good amount of choice on how they want to build their character, with room for varying play styles. I am sure there is a solved path to minmax each character, but I liked building what I thought was fun without much issue on the Normal difficulty. The diffuclty can be adjusted for those who want a harder journey or who are only in it for the story.

Review

If you are a fan of classic 3rd-person action rpgs, Anima Gate of Memories: I&II Remaster should be in your collection. While there is some roughness, the overall experience is something you have to play through once.

Visuals

The game is a little dark in places, but the overall aesthetic is fantastic. Both games have some terrific textures that often help create the beautiful fantasy you play through. The character and monster design are all very cool, flavorful, and memorable. Combat animation looks good without being overly flashy and distracting. I was actually able to follow what was going on instead of being bombarded with lights and explosions which is always a plus. There are no animated cut scenes, but the moving stills do a fantastic job at telling the story.

Story

Gate of Memories is a fantastic story full of action, adventure, and intrigue. The games do a good job at introduction the world of Anima with properly paced stories that hooked me out of the game. I don’t want to reveal too much and risk spoilers, but it was hard to put them down because I want to know what happens next. What is cool about the bundle is that the stories can be played in any order, but playing them in order will avoid spoilers and close up a few confusing references that may arise. If you play rpgs for their story, Gate of Memories is a fantastic addition to your collection.

Gameplay Loop

While I do love the Gate of Memories story, the combat system is the reason you buy this game. I love the fluid combo system and how good it feels to fight through the many waves of enemies. Every very skill I learned further tailored the combat to a style I found very enjoyable. The game offers a good amount of choice in your build, with enough time to and space to explore what you like. Most importantly, the difficulty ramps at a very good pace. I felt like I had time to learn the game and explore its story without being unfairly shutdown by a random encounter.

Exploration

The game has some exploration, but the zones aren’t a huge open world to explore. Depending on your device, there is a bit of a load time between zones. Nothing unbearably long, but it does break a bit of the immersion. The zones are otherwise look very good, and I had fun trying to get into every crevice in search of juicy secrets. The game does a good job incentivizing explorations with loot and other bread crumbs. Some of the areas are a little too dark and I kept getting lost, but that might be a personal problem.

Performance

I never played the original Gate of Memories games, and can’t compare the performance. I will say, aside for a little clunkiness in the movement, the game runs well. Combat feels fast and fluid, and I didn’t encounter any game breaking crashes. I like that it feels like an older rpg but with enough of a modern pacing to help keep my constantly dwindling attention.

Conclusion

Anima Gate of Memories: I&II Remaster is shaping to be my favorite game of the year without question. I loved flavor and story, and the combat system is fantastic. It really does remind me of the playstation days trying to get through the Devil May Cry games, and that sense of nostalgia is unmatched in my heart. The game plays very good and looks great. It is full of fun encounters and interesting boss fights. Gate of Memories is one of those games that needs to be in every collection for its unique world and solid gameplay. I for one am ready to dive more deeply into the world of Anima.

You can pick up your copy of Anima Gate of Memories: I&II Remaster on Steam or pick up physical copy for the PS5 Amazon Affiliate link.

video game reviews

A Pizza Delivery Review: Is It Worth Playing?

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of a A Pizza Delivery 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 latest reviews for the Epomaker HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset.

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 with your friends!

Table of Contents

What is A Pizza Delivery

A Pizza Delivery is a surreal narrative exploration game out now on Steam.

Story

B is a pizza delivery person on her last delivery of the day. Little does she know, this is no ordinary delivery. She finds herself in a surreal world where nothing makes sense, and the world keeps changing. With only her trusty Vespa, B must venture through this new world and deliver this final pizza. But the road won’t be easy, and there is a chance B will be trapped for ever. Solve puzzles, collect clues, and share a slice of pizza with anyone who needs it. Can B make her last delivery and get out of this place, or will she get lost like everything else here.

Gameplay

A Pizza Delivery is a walking simulator with the occasional puzzle or dialogue to break up the journey. Players will ride their Vespa through dream like landscapes, collecting clues and solving puzzles to move forward with the story. Sometimes, delivering pizza means chatting with a lost soul, and offering a slice that will help them move on from a world they’ve become stuck in. There is no voice acting, so it really is more like a novel with a few extra steps.

Review

I loved A Pizza Delivery for its unique narrative style and dreamlike aesthetic. Unfortunately, the lenghth of the game and bugs make it difficult to recommend. If you want a unique narrative game that leans a bit into surrealism and don’t mind a buggy game, check out A Pizza Delivery.

Story

A Pizza Delivery is a twisting journey about learning to let go. B will find people along the way who have become trapped in this world by their anxieties. She helps them let go by talking through their problems and offering them a slice of cold pizza. It is a neat adventure, but a very slow burn. What I like about this game is how the complete story is scattered through the level as clues, puzzles, and dialogue. The problem I have with this story is that not everything you collect feels important. There are some clues that don’t add anything to the story. Overall, it is a cool story about letting go, but I don’t think there is enough of it to be worth buying the game at full price. The game takes about two hours to complete, and a lot of it feels like filler.

Gameplay Loop

The gameplay is where a l lot of people will have issue. The walking is slow, and while the Vespa speeds things up, driving gets old pretty fast. The game feels very tedious because you have to walk back and forth in a zone, collecting bits and pieces of the various puzzles. When they work properly, there are some interesting puzzles that kept me invested, but the game’s buggniness is a problem. If you can get past the bugs, you can appreciate the games creative experimental approach to narrative.

Performance

A Pizza Delivery is very buggy. The game is made by a small team so I am willing to overlook a lot of the issues, but the bugs are problematic.

The Camera

The camera is the biggest issue. Raw, the camera sensitivity is too high. I got motion sickness and had to lower the sensitivity. The camera control still feels a little awkward, but the game does become more playable. The camera also becomes hard to control when you get too close to a wall. This made some of the puzzles annoying. The camera is a pain point that I see turning players off the game.

Glitches

A Pizza Delivery doesn’t always feel stable. Frames will drop, and the game stutters a lot. There are a few awkward animations that break a bit of the immersion. I did hit a few bugs that made one of the puzzles frustrating almost to the point where I dropped the game, but I am glad I pressed through. You can tell the game needs more work, but if you can look through it, the game has a solid enough story.

Conclusion

I have a soft spot for games like these because I respect when people try something out of the norm. A Pizza Delivery tries some very interesting concept around a cool narrative, but I don’t think there is enough substance to make the game worth it. The game feels a little too tedious to recommend to the average gamer, and the payoff doesn’t feel worth it. While the message is good, there is just too much work required.

In its current state, I can’t recommend the game. It isn’t a bad game, but it needs a bit more substance. There needs to be more clues, more dialogue, and a bit more story. You can do a lot worse, I’ve played Nightmare Shift, but you can definitely play better. Go check out Once Alive instead if you want to see a cool single dev project, or Go Home Annie if you want something a little more trippy.

You can pick up A Pizza Delivery on Steam.

video game reviews

Exploring My Favorite Turn Based Dungeon Crawler: Dark Quest 4

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Dark Quest 4 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. 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 with your friends!

Shameless Self Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset.

Table of Contents

What is Dark Quest 4?

Dark Quest 4 is a 2.5D turn-based dungeon crawler out now on PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation.

Hook

Humanity is under attack. The evil Gulak sends his legions of monsters to terrorize villagers in his conquest to conquer humanity for the sorcerer. It is up to you to put an end to this reign of terror. Gather your team from ten powerful heroes and pit them against endless waves of minions. With an adventure spanning over thirty quests, an lots of treasure to be found, the sorcerer will definitely keep you busy. Do you have what it takes to end this reign of terror?

Gamplay Loop

Dark Quest 4 is a turn-based dungeon crawler. Players start their runs in town where they can choose their three man party of adventurers to send out on quests. Town is also where players can buy upgrades for their party. Then the party is ready, they are sent on a quest where they explore a dungeon, and kill anything that comes their way.

Exploration

Players start with a small portion of a dungeon visable. Exploring the dungeon opens more of the map, but players need to be mindful of traps and enemy encounters. There are certain heroes with stats that make them good at disarming traps, so make sure you keep at least one for each delve. When a hero enters the line of sight of an enemy, the party enters combat phase.

Combat

Once in combat, the computer rolls initiative for all characters. Initiative and health is visible to help players plan their moves strategically. Heroes can only perform one action per turn. They can move, attack, use an ability or item. This makes for fast encounters with a very tight action economy, but enough room for strategy to be engaging. Team composition, rest bonuses, and potions can mean the difference between failing or completing a quest.

Quests

The game is split into 30 unique quests with interesting flavor. It is very reminiscent of table top rpgs, and a very interesting way of handling the genre. From clearing a zombie infestation to a challenging jailbreak, the game offers enough variety to make the grind feel negligible.

RNG

Players will need to roll for actions like receiving loot or disarming traps. Chests can be empty, and disarming a trap can fail. Dark Quest 4 offers a unique gamble through their magic skull mechanic. Occasionally, a hero will have to encounter the magic skull who either gives or takes away health. This can easily end a run, and I have mixed feelings on whether it makes the game exciting.

Review

If you like table top RPGs or are a fan of HeroScape, you need to pick up a copy Dark Quest 4. The game has fantastic art work, the story is silly, and the game is a lot of fun.

Art

Dark Quest 4 may not have flashy animations, but it does enough to tell its story. The cartoonist dark style is very cool, and fitting for the tone of the narrative. I love the character design. It is a little silly, but is serious enough to make each adventure feel epic. If you are looking for some proper fantasy in your dungeon crawler, Dark Quest 4 does it very well.

Story

The story is a series of quests that lead up to this big encounter. Each quest has a small setup paragraph to help set the tone of the quest. The blurbs are a fun setup to some pretty excellent delves. I haven’t played any of the previous installments, but I did not feel like I needed to. This game feels pretty self contained, but I would appreciated knowing some of the references. I am going to need to find some time to go back! If you lean to the more sillier side of fantasy but still want that strong fantasy flavor, Dark Quest 4 should be in your library.

Gameplay

If you enjoy board games or ttrpgs, you will enjoy Dark Quest 4. The turn based system is very reminiscent of of playing a board game, but you get the added bonus of not having to clean up afterwards. Combat is interesting. As cute as this game looks, combat can be unforgiving. I had to think hard about the buffs I bought, items I used, and how I built my party. I don’t think it ever gets try-hard rts levels of strategy, but there is enough involved where I needed to pay attention. If you’re looking for a strategy game that is accessible enough to play casually while it still makes you think, go get Dark Quest 4.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

Dark Quest 4 works fine on the Steam Deck, but some of elements are too small. I am old with old eyes, so your mileage will vary. I had trouble reading a lot of the text, and seeing things like turns, abilities, and movement. It was playable, but I preferred giving my old eyes a break and played on my monitor instead.

Conclusion

I loved every minute of Dark Quest 4. The game has a very cool fantasy world with a fun tone and gameplay. If you are looking for a good dungeon crawler to add to your collection, Dark Quest 4 is a unique title that is worth it at full price.

You can pick up on PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PlayStationDark Quest 4. If you want to play another fun board game like dungeon crawler, make sure you check out Demeo.

video game reviews

Why Reus 2 Expansions Are Worth Your Time

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of both Reus 2 expansions: Ice Age and Everglades. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. Make sure you also check out my review for the base game. If you enjoy my content, please share this with your friends and 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!

Gaming Accessories

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker HE68 Mag or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset.

Table of Contents

What is Reus 2

Reus 2 is a unique village management game where you control the mighty titans and use their powers to terraform and fill the planet while a civilization thrives in response to your actions. The game is currently available on Steam, with a demo that you should definitely try. Make sure you check out the review for the base game. I will be combining my reviews for both expansions because it would feel too repetitive otherwise.

Ice Age Expansion

The Ice Age expansion brings frigid new elements into the world of Reus. This expansion brings the chilling new biome, Ice Age Tundra wich includes over 40 new biotica and the mighty Frost Giant (variation of Aegir) to summon them. This new biome also introduces the new archetypes evolve and extinct for those early level building.

Humanity also receive a couple new features this expansion. They get four new leaders to lead them into greatness:

  • The Painter – Wants to unlock as much as possible
  • The General – Gains bonuses to military
  • The Poet – Improves projects
  • The Villain – Thrives in a hateful world

There are also four new eras to play through for some added variety:

  • Hunter Age – Crops don’t grow easily in this weather so humans must hunt to survive.
  • Enlightenment – Minds brimming with ideas, embrace an age of invention!
  • Nuclear War – Create nuclear weapons and potentially blow up the entire planet.
  • Age of Discovery – A planet full of biomes and adventures, humans love to collect oddities.

Everglades

Reus 2’s latest expansion, Everglades, brings the wetlands biome to your planets. This beautiful biome combines both underwater and land areas for some interesting combination. The expansion introduces over 60 new biotica to mix like reptiles, amphibious biotica, and anything else you associate with the everglades. Everglades also introduces a new titan, Reginald the swamp giant.

Humanity gets three new leaders this expansion: the entomologist, the romantic, and the ranger.

  • The Entomologist specializes in science and Micros. His spirit power boosts Micro Havens. He’s not very impressed by mystery, though!
  • The Romantic likes biotica that have 2 or more base stats. Look at the game through a different lens!
  • The Ranger is all about having animals around – Biotica that do good with animals, do good with the ranger!

There are also three new eras to play through: secret conspiracy, bug age, and great nation.

  • Secret Conspiracy: Help reptilians take over the world with mystery and metals!
  • Bug Age: Spread the micro love, and bring gold and glory to the bug statue.
  • Great Nation: Try to create a nation that has 3 magnificent biomes to enjoy and marvel at!

Which ever expansion you end up choosing, you get a lot more content for a game that already has a lot for you to do.

Review

I love the base game Reus 2, and recommend it to anyone looking for a cozy little village builder that will have them thinking. I don’t think the expansions are necessary, but they are a great way to support the developer and they add some good variety. I did prefer the flavor and mechanics for the Evergrade expansion more if you can only choose one expansion, but I definitely feel like you get your money’s worth if you buy both with through the expansion.

Both expansions introduce ages with interesting win conditions, and allow players a good amount of options to get there. I love that none of the expansions take away from the chill vibe I’ve loved about the game so far, but do change up the strategies enough to give the game a bit more variety in both its aesthetic and gameplay loop.

Conclusion

I have a very casual approach to Reus 2. There are settings to make the game harder for those who like a little more effort in their campaigns, but as a filthy casual, this is one of my favorite games. Reus 2 has an interesting concept, and the base game alone has a ton of content to keep players busy. The expansions are a fantastic addition that only prolongue the game’s longevity. They introduce fun and flavorful variety to a game that is already a ton of fun to play, and I think that is reason enough to buy into it. Both expansions are worth playing, but if you can only buy one, I think Everglade is a little better. It really comes down to the flavor you want in your game. Do you want to manage a swamp or an ice age?

You can pick up Rues 2 and the two expansion, Ice Age and Everglades, on Steam.

Ice Age Trailer

Everglades Trailer