I’ve written about Outerplane in a previous post and even voiced my excitement. I enjoy gotcha games and have been looking for a game to fill the void Dragalia Lost left behind. I’ve been playing Outerplane since launch, but today I decided to uninstall it. After running out of the free energy you get for starting the game, it becomes a grind I wasn’t enjoying.
Outerplane is an anime-themed gotcha game for Android and iOS devices. The game has a story, but it is a generic and poorly written isakai anime that doesn’t matter. I gave up on reading it pretty early on. The only real draw this game has is the art style. If you like anime and don’t mind the fan service, this game will have something worth collecting. The problem is that the grind is dull, and you will eventually come to a point where you will need to spend money to get the characters you want. There are probably guides out there to make the grind more manageable and efficient; I suggest you look into those before starting this game. The pull rates for the banners are bad, but that is to be expected for the genre. I can’t tell you how predatory the cash shop is, but there are $30 skin packs which feel steep for me. I am not shaming anyone who buys skins for games. I’ve spent a lot of money on skins over the years. If you think this game gives you a $30 value and the skin pack makes you enjoy the game more, go for it, but I don’t think Outerplanes is worth $30 in its current state.
I found the gameplay to be too simple. The voice acting and animation are fantastic until the novelty wears off, and you realize the game is rather shallow. I encountered some frame drops and stutters in the beginning and while the performance got better over time, there were still noticeable visual issues. None of the issues were game-breaking, but they are worth mentioning. I played on an iPad Pro and iPhone 12 and encountered the same issues on both.
As far are the combat goes, Outerplane gives the illusion of strategy with its gear, facilities, combo, special attacks, and type advantage systems, but this is all just stuff you’ll need to grind for. If you grind long enough, the strategy doesn’t matter unless you’re doing hardcore endgame content, but good luck getting to that point. I will commend the game for having a nice battery-saving auto battler mode to make the grind more manageable, but it still felt like a job to get the materials I needed to move to the next piece of content. I needed to punch in daily and let my phone idle as my team completed dailies, story missions, and farmed for materials before running out of energy and waiting to do it all over again later. I am sure that spending money makes the grind a little easier, but this game wasn’t fun enough to spend money on. I don’t spend money on Gotcha games. I’m just addicted to the thrill of pulling for a digital character and the disappointment that comes after when I don’t get it.
Outerplane is made with a specific audience in mind, but I am not included in that group. The game isn’t fun, the story is bad, and the grind is worth the time you put into it. I suggest you skip it because there are better gotcha games out there. You can download the game for Android and iOS devices, but make sure you look up guides. The key to success in any gotcha game is efficiency.
Solarpunk: The beautiful survival game that might be worth looking into.
If you enjoy the survivor game genre, you might want to look into Solarpunk. Destroying its Kickstarter goals, this beautiful game is looking like the relaxing experience I am always down for. Players can build and design unique bases, gather resources, craft gadgets, and fly airships! The trailer gave me some serious Stardew Valley vibes, and I can play Stardew Valley for hours.
Solarpunk promises a vast open-world sandbox experience that you can share with your friends, or brave on your own. Although the game looks beautiful and relaxing, there are survival elements you should pay close attention to. Players will have to worry about health, hunger, thirst, and dangers that roam the wilderness. Solarpunk is making a lot of promises without having a finished product. I am sharing this preview because the game looks cool, but I am always weary of Kickstarter promises. Don’t get me wrong, I will keep watching this project closely, but I’ll need to see more of the game before I fomo in. Nevertheless, the devs have laid out a realistic roadmap and made impressive partnerships that ease my doubts a bit. We’ll have to wait and see how the devs deliver.
The game is set to launch sometime next year on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC via Steam. Don’t forget to add it to your Wishlist.
Nimbus Infinity: An unimpressive anime mech sim you are better off not getting
I was sent Nimbus Infinity as a review code, and while I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will not let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game.
Nimbus Infinity is an anime-inspired mech combat simulator available now for PC.
Peace in Japan is threatened when a hostile foreign force invades with an army of mechs, drones, and ships. The world now turns to a high school boy to save the world and achieve world peace. Luckily the hours he’s put into video games have made him an ace pilot for a power unreleased prototype mech. Take to the skies and repel hordes of barely distinguishable enemies and experience that can only be described as disorienting. Do you have what it takes to save the world?
I had fun with this game for the first few minutes until the novelty wore off. The combat could have been interesting if it didn’t get so repetitive and the missions weren’t boring. The game’s lack of polish makes combat feel cumbersome. It was almost impossible to know where I was going, what I was doing, and what I was fighting because everything is poorly rendered. The mech you control will sometimes stutter out of existence, while the enemies around you are nearly indistinguishable. The tutorial and random voice lines will suggest that different enemy types exist, but I can’t confirm if that’s true. This is annoying because each enemy type requires a different strategy, but I could never tell the enemies apart. Was I fighting drones? Spaceships? Other mechs? Who knows? You can customize your mech better fit your playstyle, but I never bothered because it didn’t matter.
The lack of polish wouldn’t have been a problem if the game was fun. The story is a bad generic anime sewn together by boring missions that feel like they take an eternity to complete. The story hits all the bad anime tropes, and it becomes so predictable that I was able to skip entire scenes and still understand what was going on. I have quit better anime for less. The voice acting is inconstant. There is some decent voice acting sprinkled randomly throughout the campaign, but most of it isn’t good.
The characters are generic and forgettable. The main character is the generic male protagonist that you can find in any poorly written anime. He is naturally gifted, cocky, and everyone will love him because he is so cool. While he isn’t the worst male protagonist, I am struggling to remember him. The rest of the cast exists to fall in love with him and are less distinguishable.
Nimbus Infinity isn’t worth the $14.99 it’s asking for on Steam. The story is boring and the combat isn’t polished enough to be fun. Maybe it will get better as they roll out updates, but I can’t recommend the game in the stage it is in now. The Steam Summer Sale is going on until July 13. I recommend you buy something else instead.
American Hero is back, but this time it’s sexier, dirtier, and unfiltered. Check out the lost FMV coming to GOG on July 4th!
Our friends over at Ziggurat Interactive are releasing the unrated version of American Hero, and it promises to be raunchier and campier than ever. American Hero is an unreleased action FMV game from the 90s originally made for the Atari Jaguar. Although it was officially remastered for modern consoles (Xbox, PS4, Switch, and PC) in 2021, it is going to feel like an old game. American Hero is a bad campy ’90s action movie where players have control of the narrative. It isn’t going to be for everyone. I love bad campy action movies, so my only issue with this game is going to be the price. A price hasn’t been announced yet, but I am willing to pay around $8 for this game.
Gamers play as Jack, a retired intelligence agent for the U.S. who pulled out of retirement for one more mission. The evil scientist Krueger wants to unleash a deadly virus into the Los Angeles water supply, and only Jack can stop him. Will you make the right choices that will help Jack save the world, or will you become another of Krueger’s victims?
American Hero: Unrated Edition promises the same action-packed story but with more profanity, violence, and sex appeal. This game is going to be fun, but only for certain people. American Hero is an incredible niche game, limited only to those who enjoy this era of campiness and don’t mind the FMV format. Although the game has been remastered, it will lack the polish of modern games. American Hero is from an era that was still experimenting with the format, and they didn’t get everything right. I love that Ziggurat Interactive is remastering a game like this because it was from an era of gaming that I missed out on. I like that there has been a push to bring back older games to a modern audience. Although this may not be the best example, I want there to be other projects like this where publishers bring lesser-known titles to the modern age, even if it is just for nostalgia. It’s okay if you skip this, but I thought I’d share it in case there are people who need to see this announcement.
Fittingly, American Hero: Unrated Edition launches exclusively on GOG on July 4th. If you already own the rated version, you will receive a 60% discount.
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Rated Trailer:
I don’t think I can post the unrated trailer on here.
Unrated Trailer:
Stray Fawn’s newest city builder takes to the skies and looks like a lot of fun. Airborne Empire coming to PC and Mac!
I enjoy village builders a little more than I should. I may not be good at them, but I have been known to no life them when given the chance. It is the reason why I uninstalled City Skylines. I would never get any work done otherwise. Because of my unhealthy love of the genre, I am always looking for a new fix.
Today I saw the trailer for Airborne Empire, and this game looks like a lot of fun! The art style is beautiful, the flavor is interesting, and it is coming to us from our friends at Stray Fawn. They’re responsible for The Wondering Village, another village builder worth looking into.
Players in this game must build an empire in the sky. They collect resources, gather treasures, and defend against marauders. I am always down for another village builder, but the defending against hostiles is what gives this game its hook. I know I won’t be good at this game, yet it draws me with its siren’s call.
Airborne Empire comes to early access for Mac and PC in 2024. Add it to your Wishlist to stay up to date on all the updates.
Fort Solis: A spooky sci-fi mystery coming to PS5, PC, and Mac this August.
I just watched the Fort Solis trailer, and it looks like the spooky sci-fi mystery I need in my life. A mining team on Mars has gone missing, and it is up to Jack Leary to find out what happened. Explore an abandoned mining base as sand storms rage and strange things happen around you. What happened here? To the team? Will you be next? You’ll have to play the game to find out.
Based on the trailer, the game looks creepy. The abandoned mining rig is giving me Dead Space vibes, and I didn’t have the courage to finish any of them. Admittedly, I have never finished a horror game, but maybe I’ve never played a good one. I don’t do good with horror, but I am willing to try with Fort Solis.
For the record, I don’t have an issue with horror movies or books, just horror games. Maybe it’s irrational, but something about having control of the horror freaks me out more than passively watching it happen to someone else. That said, I am working on getting a review code for this because the trailer has me interested. I will probably play with all my lights on, but I will power through. I am always down for a good mystery, and the game looks pretty good too. Let’s hope I hear back from them soon.
Fort Solis is a horror mystery sci-fi game coming to PS5, PC, and Mac on August 22nd.
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Harmony: The Fall of Reverie – The beautiful visual novel you should have in your library
Harmony: The Fall of Reverie was sent to me as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.
Harmony: The Fall of Reverie is a visual novel available now for the Switch, Xbox, PS5, and PC via Steam.
Polly discovers that she can travel between her world and a spirit realm ruled by five aspirations: Glory, Bliss, Power, Chaos, Bond, and Truth. The two worlds are on the brink of collapse, and Polly is the only one who can save it. Although Polly can rely on her loved ones and the Asperations for support and guidance, she is the only one with the power to decide. Polly must make the difficult choices that could save the world. What kind of story will your decisions unlock?
The choices players make are what drive the narrative. Players are presented with multiple possibilities, but their path narrows as they make choices. Players will find themselves locked out of certain outcomes because of a previous decision. It is a cool way of making players live with the consequences of their actions, but it also makes the game highly replayable.
The game is beautifully illustrated with terrific voice acting, a fantastic soundtrack, and a compelling narrative. I finished this game in one sitting because of how much I enjoyed the story. I even debated starting a second run to experience a different outcome. I now understand why this game is award-winning. Even though you are essentially just sitting and listening to a story happens, it is a good story to sit through.
My only recommendation is that you go into this game as blind as possible. Your first playthrough should be unaffected by outside influences so that you can get a story of your own choosing. You can look up guides after if you need them, but it’s not difficult to work towards your desired outcome.
I don’t want to say more because I don’t want to spoil the story or influence any decisions. This game is worth your time and money. There are so many choices, paths, and outcomes in this game that it is going to be hard to only beat it once. If you are looking for a new visual novel, or simply trying to get into the genre, Harmony: The Fall of Reverie should be in your collection. It is available now on Switch, Xbox, PS5, and PC via Steam for $24.99.
Brotato: The cutest arena shooter you’ll obsess over
I was sent Brotato as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will keep my review honest.
Brotato is a top-down arena shooter available now on Steam. Play as a potato and survive endless hordes of aliens. This game has no story. You choose a potato and do your best to survive.
The mechanics are simple, move the potato around the arena, and your potato does the rest. You start each round by choosing a potato. Each potato has unique skills and traits that affect the gameplay. Usually, they’ll have a boost in a stat at the cost of another and some kind of gimmick. You unlock additional potatoes by playing the game and unlocking achievements.
As you kill aliens, you pick up XP to level up your character and currency to buy upgrades. At the end of each round, you chose an upgrade for every level you gain and buy items or weapons from a shop. The upgrades and items you choose from are random. While some of my runs were easier than others, I felt the RNG was fair.
The character auto-attacks, so you only have to worry about the movement. I preferred using a controller, but do whatever is comfortable. Where this game gets complicated is in the choices you make for upgrades. These choices affect how strong your potato gets, so choose wisely. Often, you will have to choose between picking up the resources you need to get stronger or simply surviving the round. As simple as this game looks, it can get pretty technical.
I loved Brotato! The art is cute, the music is great, and the gameplay is fun. It was hard to put this game down because the more I played, the more I obsessed with my strategy. This is a great casual game to pick up because it is engaging enough to keep your attention, and you can return to it without having to remember anything. Brotato is $4.99 on Steam, but it is on sale for $3.99 until June 30. Grab your copy today! The game has been announced to for the Switch, but no date has been set.
The award winning visual novel, Harmony: The Fall of Reverie, is out now!
Harmony: The Fall of Reverie is a beautiful-looking visual novel that I am very much excited to try. I was impressed by the initial announcement, and I am always looking to get into another visual novel. Since the announcement, the game has earned a few awards and achievements that have kept me excited for this game.
Harmony: The Fall of Reverie lets you play as Polly, a young woman who suddenly discovers she has the gift to travel to a new world, Reverie. In Reverie, Polly becomes Harmony and now has the responsibility to the next Aspiration to be the heart of humanity. As Harmony, you must make difficult choices, befriend different people, and be the catalyst to a beautifully drawn narrative. The game promises multiple endings, decisions that matter, a fantastic soundtrack, and a powerful story. I will have to see how well the game keeps its promises, but at the very least, I am interested.
Harmony: The Fall of Reverie is out now for PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC via Steam for $24.99 across all platforms. I should receive my review copy any day now, so stay tuned for my full review.
The 5 games from the 6.21 Nintendo Direct I am most excited for
The last time I covered a Nintendo Direct, I listed every game presented. That was a bit overkill, so I have narrowed the list to the games I am most excited about. These are the games announced in the Nintendo Direct that I am considering getting for myself, and the list is in no particular order. Anything I leave out isn’t bad, it just isn’t my vibe.
STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R
I lied in my introduction and will lead with the game I am most excited about, STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R. I am always in the market for a solid RPG, and this one looks great. I love the art, the mechanics seem solid, and I’ve only heard good things about the story. This is a reboot of the original game with promises of a better player experience. There will be new art, mechanics, and quality-of-life changes that fans should be happy about. I love that Nintendo is digging into its classic library and brining back a lot of titles that I missed out on and bringing them into the modern era of gaming. I know I could play the original by other means, but I like the convenience of playing on my Switch. STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R releases on November 2, 2023. Preorders aren’t open yet, but you can wishlist it.
Persona 5 Tactica
I have an odd relationship with strategy games. Historically I have not been a fan, but I have been sent a few good ones that have changed my opinions of the genre. I am genuinely excited for Persona 5 Tactica because it looks like a lot of fun. The art style is cute, the gameplay looks manageable, and I always end up buying Persona games. Persona 5 Tactica is set to release on November 17, 2023. It isn’t open for pre-orders yet, but you can wishlist it. I would wait to see if they come out with a collectors edition because they always load those up with cute must-haves.
DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: The Dark Prince
I know this one will be a bit controversial because it is a Pokemon clone, but it can’t be worse than Scarlet and Violet. I remember playing Monster Warrior Monsters back in the day and loving every minute of it, so I am getting this DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS for the taste of nostalgia. Dragon Quest games are generally a good time, so I feel like it is one of the safer games on my list. I love the art, the story seems interesting, and who doesn’t want another monster-catching game? DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: The Dark Prince comes out on December 1, 2023. Pre-orders aren’t open yet, but you can wishlist it till then.
Silent Hope
As I’ve mentioned before, I am always in the market for RPGs, and Silent Hope is a cute one I can get behind. The story seems interesting, and the art and combat style remind me of Dragalia Lost. I loved Dragalia Lost, and I am still sad Nintendo shut it down. I am here for anything that can capture the spirit of that game. Silent Hope comes out on October 3, 2023. Don’t forget to Wishlist it!
Gloomhaven
This holiday season is going to be rough on my wallet. There is a lot more to see, so make sure check out the full announcement if you have time. If you’ve been enjoying my content, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe. Make sure you share my posts with your friends. Until next time, thanks for reading!
