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Discovering Spirit Mancer: A Hack n’ Slash with a Twist

November 26, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

I was sent Spirit Mancer for free 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.

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What is Spirit Mancer?

Spirit Mancer is a 2D hack n’ slash side scroller with a unique deck-building mechanic available now on Steam, PlayStation, and Switch.

You find yourself in a strange new world and are given the powers of the Spirit Mancer. Fight your way through hoards of enemies, capture their souls, and use them to defeat the evil queen. Do you have what it takes to fulfill the prophecy, or will you become a spirit yourself? Will you ever find your way back home?

Gameplay

Like most hack-n-slash games, players fight through hordes of monsters with a ranged and melee attack. What makes Spirit Mancer unique is its spirit-taming mechanic. Breaking an enemy’s shield makes it catchable. Catching a monster’s spirit turns it into a card that a player can use to summon whenever. Summoning a monster uses up the card, and frees space for another capture.

As the player progresses through the map, they will build a deck of monsters that will help them fight the evil queen. Each monster has a unique attack and a limited duration for their summon.

Each monster has a weakness to a type of attack. Switching between ranged, melee, and spirit attacks is key to efficiently capturing and defeating enemies.

Review

Spirit Mancer is an interesting game with a unique premise. I enjoyed every minute of it! this game looks great. The game has some very cool pixel art with some very impressive cut scenes that you need to see at least once. The story is fine. It is a bit on the silly side, but it gives the game its charm.

The gameplay is so much fun. I loved the hack-n-slash roots, especially since I mostly played this game on my Steam Deck. What kept me playing however was its unique card mechanic. Trying to catch the right monsters for my deck and knowing when to use them kept me engaged. It is such a cool idea with an excellent execution that you should try at least once. Make sure you check out the demo.

If you enjoy side scrollers, Spirit Mancer is a unique one that looks good, is steam deck compatible, and is a lot of fun.

Go check it out on Steam, PlayStation, and Switch! If you’re planning to get Spirit Mancer on PC, wait for the Steam Fall sale Nov. 27 – Dec. 4 just in case.

Uncategorized, video game reviews

Lord Ambermaze: Prologue – A Glimpse at a Promising RPG

November 23, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

I received the Lord Ambermaze: Prologue from Keymailer. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest review. I understand that this is only a demo, so I will try to be a bit more lenient with my impressions.

What is Lord Ambermaze: Prologue?

The prologue is a demo version of the upcoming turn-based RPG, Lord Ambermaze. The demo is available for download on Steam, but don’t forget to wishlist the full version while you’re at it.

A young adventurer tells the tale of his grand adventure through a deep and perilous dungeon. Listen as he braves the dark, fights its monsters, avoids its traps, and claims all its treasure. What stories will the deep reveal for him? What mysteries has he conquered? You are going to play to find out.

Gameplay

The demo takes players through a small tutorial and has them encounter a boss unique to the demo. Players use these limited tools to fight monsters and solve puzzles. To progress through the dungeon, players must clear each room of all its monsters through some very creative combat.

Players and monsters take their turn at the same time. Players have one action per turn where they can move, attack, or use an item. Players need to move efficiently through the room, killing monsters, disabling any traps, and collecting all the treasure. Do not let the cute aesthetic of this game fool you, there is a decent amount of challenge between these pixels. Finding a way to maneuver efficiently through the room without wasting the character’s limited resources can be challenging if you aren’t paying attention. Memorizing patterns and planning an efficient route is key to success.

Impressions

I will need to try the full game for a full review, but I am impressed with what I got to try. The demo offers about an hour of gameplay, and it has me interested in seeing more. The story is fine. I like the framed narrative style of narration, but it isn’t anything special. What hooked me is the gameplay.

Each room is like a puzzle that needs to be solved. Each room offered a good amount of challenge to be engaging without being frustrating. I do wish there was a way to reset a room. You can run out of items like bombs to blow away obstacles and be stuck in a room. The only solution is to kill yourself, but it would be easier if there were a button to reset and take the penalty.

Lord Ambermaze: Prologue is a cute and solid introduction to this creative RPG, and I can’t wait to see more. I love the art, the music is great, and the gameplay is fun. I’ll be trying to get my hands on a full version to review. Until then, make sure you check out the demo on Steam, and don’t forget to add the full version to your Wishlist!

video game reviews

Once Alive Review: A Narrative Adventure Worth Playing

November 22, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

I was sent a free copy of Once Alive 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.

What is Once Alive?

After a deadly virus nearly wipes out humanity, the remaining survivors struggle with adapting to the new unforgiving world. Survivors must hunt for limited resources, fend off against increasingly hostile wildlife, and cope with the loneliness of survival. James and his brother lived in isolation until they received a message about a settlement. James is weary of the invitation, but his brother rushes ahead without him, hoping this settlement means a fresh start for humanity.

Play as James as he ventures into the lonely world in search of his brother. What secrets will he uncover in the ruins of the old world? Will he be able to find his brother, or will they become another casualty in this cruel apocalypse?

Gameplay

Once Alive is effectively a first person simulator. As James, players explore the abandoned village of HaustVille, looking for clues about what happened to its citizens. As players explore the village, they collect written notes, sit through memories of past residents, and piece together the strange and ominous narrative. The game does have a few quick time events to keep players on their toes. The game also offers enough bread crumbs to keep players on track. It takes about two hours to complete Once Alive, but you can do it quicker if you don’t explore every nook and cranny like I did.

Review

Once Alive is the most impressive narrative game I’ve played all year, but it does have its issues. The animation in this game can be wonky at times. I noticed a few stutters during some pans and the talking animation looks scary. The writing has a few grammatical issues and a few times where the wrong word is used. There are also bits of exposition that are too on the nose. That said, this game is fantastic, and you should play through it at least once.

While there are issues with the animation at times, you’re mostly walking through a very cool isolated village. The developer does a phenomenal job of building a world worth exploring full of fantastic flavor. While the writing isn’t perfect, I love the attention to detail and general story beats that had me at the edge of my seat. I loved reading some random note in a house and then having it pop up in a natural way later in the story.

Once Alive is a fantastic horror game that effectively uses its world-building to create an ominous atmosphere. It is the sense of isolation and mystery that propels the player through the story, and it is powerful storytelling that makes this a great game. If you’re looking for a good horror game, Once Alive is a short one you need to have in your library. It is an impressive project by a clearly passionate developer that deserves a lot more attention.

You can pick up Once Alive on Steam for $11.99.

video game reviews

Is Depths of Endor Worth Your Time? Find Out!

November 22, 2024 josechurape 2 Comments

I was asked to cover Depths of Endor:Dungeon Crawler and received a bit of in-game currency to help me get into the game. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

What is Depths of Endor: Dungeon Crawler?

Depths of Endor is a retro style dungeon crawler out now on Steam, Apple App Store, and Google Play Store.

Gather your party and delve into the depths of the dungeon as you fight its monsters, plunder its treasure, and uncover its secrets. Be warned! The dungeon is a dangerous place full of unforgiving monsters traps. Can you master your skills in time to conquer this dungeon, or will you be another corpse on the cold stone floor? What secrets will you uncover? What riches will you claim?

Gameplay

Depths of Endor offers players the classic text-based RPG with a few modern updates to keep things moving. Players start the game by recruiting a four member party. This party can be customized at any time. Players can choose the race and class. There are seven races to choose from: Elf, Human, Dwarf, Gnome, Troll, Undead, and Draconian. Each has unique abilities and stats, so choose carefully. All heroes start their journey as no but they can choose other guilds at later levels. There are 8 different guilds: Nomad, Warrior, Thief, Mage, Healer, Paladin, Ninja, and Ranger.

Diving through the dungeon is as simple as choosing a direction. There are 10 expansive levels to the dungeon, with lots of rooms, monsters, and treasures. Combat is a classic turn-based system that gets more complicated as the party gains more spells and abilities. Leveling can be a bit of a grind, especially when you have to keep going back to town to heal, but not unmanageable.

If you’re playing this game on Mobile, you can watch adds for special buffs that lessen the grind or free gold. This feature is optional, but it does make the grind a little easier.

Review

I liked Depths of Endor more than I thought I would. It has a simple retro aesthetic that is done very well, and the gameplay is solid. There is a bit of of grind, but it didn’t feel worse than the usual grind these games tend to have. It is a little hard to tell how bad the grind is for free-to-play players since I always seemed to have the money for what I needed in the early levels, but I also never seemed to touch any of the money I was sent as a reward. It is possible to play this game for free with a little patience, but it doesn’t hurt to support the developer by buying one of the bundles.

I can see the grind being an issue at later levels if there are cash flow issues. If playing casually, it shouldn’t be as noticeable, especially if you’re watching the ads. I do like that watching the ads is optional, and it isn’t spammy like other free-to-play games. I also didn’t notice any scam or inappropriate ads which is always a plus.

If you like old school dungeon crawlers, Dungeons and Dragons, or need a chill game to play while you’re waiting for the bus, Depths of Endor is a fantastic mobile game. The game has great flavor, simple yet engaging mechanics, and a chill atmosphere.

Note that the game does use AI assets for its art, keep that in mind if you have issues with the use of AI Art.

You can pick up Depths of Endor: Dungeon Crawl for free on the Apple App Store and Google Play, or for $5.99 on Steam.

video game reviews

No Stone Unturned Demo Review: A Unique Noir Adventure

November 21, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

I recently tried the No Stone Unturned demo because the trailer looked interesting. I do understand that the game isn’t complete, so I will try to be a bit more lenient than usual. This will still be my honest review.

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What is No Stone Unturned?

No Stone Unturned is a detective noir game coming to Steam. Make sure you check out the demo, and don’t forget to wishlist.

You awaken on the side of the road without your memories. As you begin to come out of your haze, you discover a dead body nearby. You get the sense that you are a detective. Now it is up to you to regain your memories and solve this case. What truths will you uncover? Why did the chicken cross the road? You’re going to play to find out.

Gameplay

No Stone Unturned is a creative piece of interactive fiction. Players move through the story collecting clues, interrogating witnesses, and solving puzzles. What makes this game unique are the minigames that players need to beat to progress through the story. The game effectively blends different genres in a way that not only fits the tone but creates a nice change of pace from the traditional narrative. The demo only features the prologue, which only includes a detailed tutorial.

Impressions

I am extremely excited about the full version of No Stone Unturned, and I am even considering buying the comic book. If you enjoy classic film noir, this game is the perfect homage. The story in the prologue was enough to hook me, the puns got a few chuckles, and the tone was a quirky delight I didn’t know I needed. The game also has fantastic art and an amazing soundtrack.

I appreciate the experimental nature of the gameplay. I like how the game borrows from different genres to create a truly unique experience while maintaining its dedication to the tone. The mini-games are fun, but they are a little buggy. One of the mini-games soft-locked my progress, but I am sure they can get things more ironed out on release.

If you’re looking for a game that is fun, silly, and unique, make sure you check out No Stone Unturned. No release date has been announced yet, but make sure you download the demo, and don’t forget to wishlist!

video game reviews

Ink. Is a Cute Game, but it Needs a Lot More Work

November 19, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

I was sent a free copy of Ink. 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.

What is Ink.?

Ink. is an explosive roguelike RPG adventure currently in Early Access on Steam.

Play as an adorable cat as you fight to clear the dungeon from a myriad of monsters. The dungeons are procedural generated, meaning no two rooms or runs will ever be the same. What will you uncover in this quirky new adventure? How deep will your delve go?

Gameplay

Ink. is a twin stick shooter where players must explore a procedural generated dungeon to fight monsters, find treasure, and unlock power ups. Players must clear each room of all its enemies proceed, and a run ends when a player’s health point goes to zero. Players are encouraged to use their environment for cover or to create the chaos needed to get to the next room.

The game does support playing with a Mouse and keyboard, but I recommend using a controller instead. The mouse and Keyboard experience is awful.

Review

I try to give games as much of a chance, especially when they aren’t finished, but Ink. is hard to recommend. Combat feels a bit clunky, which I am sure a few patches will fix, but the cramped level design kills any possible fun a player may have with the game. There isn’t enough space to play this game because the maps are too small. This means that in some of your runs will end early because you have no where to go. Map design is also a problem. The generated maps are boring, and some are unplayable. I like the idea of true randomness, but it doesn’t really work here.

I understand the game is in early access, and I went in a bit more lenient, but I can’t recommend the game in its current state. At the moment, Ink. doesn’t have enough substance. I’ll give it another shot if it gets a bigger update, but it’s looking like one of those games I will forget I ever played.

video game reviews

You Should Be Playing The Spell Brigade With Your Friends

November 15, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

I was sent a free copy of The Spell Brigade 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. The game is still in early access, so I will do my best to give it a fair assessment of what is available.

What is The Spell Brigade?

The Spell Brigade is a bullet hell action roguelike currently on Steam Early access.

You are an aspiring wizard tasked with defending the realm from an endless onslaught of monsters. Team up with your friends or brave it alone as you learn the magic to repel any enemy that gets in your way. Do you have what it takes to keep the monsters at bay?

Gameplay

Players start a run by choosing their wizard. All players start the game with the same wizard, but additional wizards and skins can be unlocked by completing specific achievements. Each run starts slow, with each player having access to a basic spell. Players unlock random upgrades and spells at the end of each level, or by completing quests during a run. Since all spells are cast automatically, the real strategy comes from effective kitting and creating a synergistic build. The game can be played solo, but playing with friends or strangers online may result in some much needed chaos.

Does it Work on the Steam Deck?

This genre is one of my favorites to play on the Steam Deck for its casual yet engaging game play. The Spell Brigade is a fantastic addition to the genre, and a great addition to any Steam Deck library. The game looks great, runs great, and it doesn’t take up much space.

Review

The Spell Brigade is in a good place in its development. The game works and looks great, with a decent amount of content for variety. No two runs were ever the same, and it never felt like there was a right answer when building. There might be, but I had fun trying building what I wanted. The art is great, the flavor is fantastic, and there is a good amount of unlockables to chase. I particularly liked how different the maps felt, and being able to interact with its different elements to gain an advantage.

What I enjoyed most about the game is having three lives. When you die in The Spell Brigade, you return with half your life. While being limited to one life might make the runs more intense, I like being able to enjoy a build for a little longer. I also like that resurrecting kills the enemies around the mage, providing players a bit of breathing room for their second or third life.

My only complaint is that the game moves and feels slow at early levels. Movement in this game can feel excessively sluggish, even with movement speed upgrades. This sensation goes away the longer you spend on a run, but those early levels can be rough if you’re not familiar with the genre. It isn’t the worst I’ve ever seen, but it is something to think about. Make sure you check out the demo.

Overall, this game is a lot of fun, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys the genre, or looking for a new casual game to play with their friends. The game is in a good state, even in early access, with a few cool features coming soon. I am confident the team behind the game can deliver.

You can pick up The Spell Brigade on Steam Early Access for only $9.99. Check out the demo, and don’t forget to add it to your wishlist.

video game reviews

The Smurfs is the Coziest 3D Platformer to Play with Your Kids

November 13, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

I was sent a free copy of The Smurfs: Dreams 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.

What is The Smurfs: Dreams?

The Smurfs: Dreams is a an adorable 3D platformer out now on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and PC via Steam and Epic Games.

Gilgamesh is at it again. He’s put the entire Smurf village into a deep magical sleep, and it is up to you to get them out. Dive into unique themed worlds, fight creative bosses, and solve some basic jumping puzzles. Can you save the village before it is too late?

Gameplay

Players dive into the dreamscape and visit unique worlds themed after different Smurfs. The goal is to collect all the power crystals, beat the final boss, and bring the Smurf back to reality. Players will have to fight monsters, solve jumping puzzles, and gather a few collectables along the way. The game also supports couch co-op for those with friends who wish to not brave it alone!

Does it run on the Steam Deck?

This looks a little small on the Steam Deck, but otherwise works great. The controls are responsive, the words are legible, and the game looks great. This game offers a solid handheld experience, especially if you have little ones to entertain on the road. If you’re looking for a cute, harmless platformer for your Steam Deck, The Smurfs: Dreams is a great place to start.

Review

I had a lot of fun with The Smurfs: Dream. As an old person, I enjoyed the nostalgia and flavor of the game. This game features a fun an imaginative world full of life and color, and I would love to see more. The game runs well, but it is on the easier side. Platforming in this game is basic at best, with a few abilities that make things even easier. Most of the encounters are avoidable. Boss fights are creative, but the stages do not reset after death. You can pick up where you left off at full health. With a bit of effort, you can 100% this game.

That said, this game is a fun and wholesome good time. The Smurfs: Dreams is a game you pick up to play with your kids, or something you get for them to get them started with the genre. Its cute, its safe, its a smurfin good time!

You can pick up The Smurfs: Dreams on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and PC via Steam and Epic Games.

video game reviews

EDYN: The Interesting MMO Strategy Game With Potential

November 13, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

I got to play in the EDYN Alpha this weekend and have some thoughts on the game. I will be slightly lenient with my review because the game is still in development. That said, these will be my honest impressions.

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What is EDYN?

EDYN is a unique MMO strategy game coming to Steam.

Build your empire against the ever changing backdrop as you compete for land and resources. Make your alliances, build your army, fortify your defenses, and do what ever you can to stay alive. How strong will your empire become?

Gameplay

EDYN is a massive strategy game where content is player driven. While there are NPCs to farm and expand against, the real fun is surviving against other player driven empires. The full game will allow players to build and upgrade bases, expand and colonize neighboring areas, make key alliances, and go to war with anyone who gets in your way. The alpha was missing a few key features like science and colonization, so I only go a taste of base building and combat.

Everything in EDYN works on a timer. Building, recruiting, and raiding all take time to do. The full game may have more animation, but the main loops seems to be waiting on timers as you try to build efficiently. Depending on the state of the world, it is beneficial and encouraged to make alliances to survive what could be an unforgiving landscape. The full version of the game will have challenges to complete and rankings to change as something for players to work towards.

Impressions

EDYN is an interesting take on the genre, but I fear it might be a bit too ambitious. Having player driven content, especially in a game as PVP reliant as EDYN, is a great idea, if there are players. Of all the times I logged into this game, I only saw people once. Granted, I keep weird gaming hours, but that shouldn’t matter for a game like this.

When people were online, I had fun talking to strangers and most of the community seemed friendly and eager to help newcomers. There was urgency to build my defenses, invade others, and attempt to forge alliances. When there were no people online, it felt like I was just waiting on timers.

The game does have potential, especially with some of the promised missing features, but I’d have to see their implementation first. The game might still be too niche since it only seems to cater to fans of a more IDLE form of RTS. Even then, unless it can pull in a decent population of players dedicated to driving the content, I don’t see this game seeing much success. I would check it out if you’re a fan of RTS and try to get into the alpha, otherwise I would wait for a more complete version of the game.

I enjoyed bits of the game, but lost interest when it seemed like I was the only one playing. I’ll have to see a more complete version for a more detailed review, but I am interested. The game does seem to have a few friendly and passionate players, a growing Discord channel, and dedicated devolpers tirelessly working on improving the game. Make sure you check out EDYN on Steam, and don’t forget to Wishlist!

video game reviews

The Kill All Lice Demo is out, but is it Worth it?

November 12, 2024 josechurape 2 Comments

I was asked to cover the Kill All Lice demo on my blog. I will be a bit more lenient than usual because I understand the game isn’t finished yet, but these will be my honest impressions.

What is Kill All Lice?

Kill All Lice is a 2D Hero Shooter coming to Steam sometime next year.

You are part of the special forces tasked with eliminating all lice from the subject. You have been dropped onto possibly the dirtiest, lice-ridden head you have ever seen, but you have been created for this purpose. Fight through waves of lice and their offspring, and clean this scalp. Do you have what it takes to get the job done?

Gameplay

The demo offers players an introduction to the story and a decent tutorial. Players will fight through a few types of enemies and have access to some basic customization. The full version will grant players access to powerups and promises a bit of variety in the loop. The goal of the game is to clear the map while killing as many lice as possible without dying.

Review

Kill All Lice has cool art and flavor, but it doesn’t feel finished yet. The game feels very clunky, and clunkiness kills players. Even if the game is smoother at release, the gameplay feels lacking. When compared to other titles in the genre, style alone isn’t enough to help it stand out.

It’s hard to tell if Kill All Lice is a bad game without seeing the full version, but the demo didn’t leave me much desire to see more of this game. I am open to giving it another chance, but it isn’t something I’ll be rushing to do.

You can check out the Kill All Lice demo now on Steam.

What is Spirit Mancer?

Gameplay

Review

What is Lord Ambermaze: Prologue?

Gameplay

Impressions

What is Once Alive?

Gameplay

Review

What is Depths of Endor: Dungeon Crawler?

Gameplay

Review

What is No Stone Unturned?

Gameplay

Impressions

What is Ink.?

Gameplay

Review

What is The Spell Brigade?

Gameplay

Does it Work on the Steam Deck?

Review

What is The Smurfs: Dreams?

Gameplay

Does it run on the Steam Deck?

Review

What is EDYN?

Gameplay

Impressions

What is Kill All Lice?

Gameplay

Review

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