Like a lot of people, I got into Dungeons and Dragons because I enjoyed watching Critical Role. I’ve since stopped following the show as closely, save for the animated series on Amazon, but have been playing with the same group of randoms I met three years ago. I love D&D, but I am always looking into new systems to try. I like to borrow mechanics from other systems, but mostly, I like to see what’s out there.
I wasn’t surprised when I heard that Critical Role was changing systems. There has been speculation about the move for a while now. I think the drama with Hasbro getting too greedy had its part in the transition, but I also think they were looking for a new system that allowed them to focus on the narrative. Critical Role has been a catalyst for D&D’s recent popularity, and I am curious to see how this move affects the player base.
Their newest campaign, Candela Obscura, will use the Illuminated Worlds system. I won’t be covering the campaign, but I have read the quick start guide and thought it was worth some attention. For those interested in running a campaign of Candela Obscura, download the quick start guide from the official site.
In Candela Obscura, players will face off against the paranormal as they investigate the macabre and the mysterious. While there are many opportunities for combat, the system’s focus is building a compelling narrative through its checks and player interactions.
The best way to learn about this game is through the quick start guide. It has easy-to-learn mechanics, a prewritten adventure, and pregenerated character sheets to get you started. Best of all, you can play it for free. Do note that you are getting a simplified version of the RPG, but it is enough to get you a taste of the system. I think it is a neat system to try. I particularly like how it handles checks and the flavor of its world. The guide is free, so you have nothing to lose if you try it today.
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Movie Review: The Super Mario Bros. Movie
I wasn’t going to write about The Super Mario Bros. Movie, but I needed to talk about something that bothered me about the movie. It’s not a bad kids’ movie. If you have to sit through this with your kids, you’ve probably already sat through it, and it wasn’t too bad. If you haven’t and can stream it later, you won’t hate it. It’s colorful, there are a lot of fun references to the games, and the soundtrack is amazing. The plot is simple and could use better character development, but it is a kids’ movie. It certainly isn’t the worst video game movie to date.
My issue with this movie is with the choice of voice actors. I have nothing against Pratt or the rest of the cast, but I couldn’t help but feel disappointed by the performances. Most of the characters sounded like the actors talking through the script. Scenes with Bowser are especially jarring because while Jack Black is giving a fantastic performance, the rest of the cast wasn’t. They should have hired real voice actors. The Super Mario Bros. Movie is full of amazing talent, but unfortunately, that talent didn’t translate into the voice acting.
I am getting tired of these kinds of miscasting and movies written around named brand actors. I hate that the business has turned into tricking people into watching mediocre and lazy movies because of who is in them. I wish that instead, the focus would be on better writing and actors that fit the role. It is a lot to ask for, especially with the writer’s strike going on, but it shouldn’t be unreasonable. I sit through a lot of garbage and will continue to do so, but the homogony wears on me, and we deserve better.
Anyways, if you haven’t watched this movie, I would wait till you can stream it or watch it for free. If you have kids, it’s a great movie to throw on. You will zone out, but it isn’t terrible. If you are trying to watch a good animated movie, I suggest you look elsewhere. I suggest throwing this movie on in the background because the soundtrack has some bangers, but the rest is pretty mediocre.
By Universal, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=68810546https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnGl01FkMMo&ab_channel=Illumination
Outerplane Now Live Globally
I talked about Outerplane in a previous post sharing my excitement for the new turn-based gotcha game coming to us from our friends at Smilegate. The game has some great art, fantastic voice acting, and some phenomenal animations. I won’t repeat too many of my initial thoughts, so make sure you go read my original post if you’d like to know more.
Outerplane has officially had its global launch, available now in more than 170 countries for IOS and Android devices. New players are guaranteed 80 hero pulls. Those who complete the Start Dash and Guide quest events are guaranteed a three-star hero for each event.
To commemorate the event, the Outerplane team has released special coupons to redeem for in-game gifts. Use the codes:
PLAYOUTERPLANE1 for 500 Ether
PLAYOUTERPLANE2 for 120 Stamina + 20 Cake Slice
I am excited for this game because I am always looking for a gotcha game to fill the void Dragalia Lost left behind. This game looks very promising. I will be testing it out and be back with my first impressions once I get a bit deeper into the game. Until then, it doesn’t hurt to go start your journey now. You can download Outerplane free on the Google Play store and App Store today!
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Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop – Gold Edition Review
I was sent Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop to review. I am very grateful for the opportunity, but I will keep my review honest.
Bus Simulator is getting a huge update with performance improvements, new features, more cosmetics, a new area to explore, and a very cool career mode. If you are in the market for a relaxing simulator, Bus Simulator should be in your library. It looks good, runs great, and has an amazing soundtrack.
If you are coming into this game as a new player, I recommend starting with the career mode. Do not skip the tutorial because some of the mechanics aren’t intuitive. Career mode gives players a great starting foundation as well as some goals to work towards. You are responsible for the city’s public transportation, and it is your job to make it the best possible. The recommended difficulty is also perfect for beginners, but players can adjust the settings to make the experience more immersive if needed. I recommend you mess with these settings and sandbox mode once you have a solid understanding of how the bus system works.
I had a lot of fun with this game, but it is a niche experience. If you are looking for a different and relaxing experience, this is a great title to sink some time into. The problem I see this game having is that the amount of time players will sink into this game depends on how much they enjoy the simulation. Players have to obey traffic laws, deal with customers, and drive in real-time. I enjoyed the elusiveness of the game, but I didn’t have the attention span to play for too long. My attention span has nothing to do with the game, it’s great, but it is something to think about before you make the purchase.
Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop Gold Edition is $45.99 for PC via Epic Games and Steam. The console version is $49.99 for Xbox and PlayStation. The gold edition upgrade is only $14.99 on Steam, Epic Games, PlayStation, and Xbox. The Gold Edition is a great place because it comes with the base game and all the previous DLCs. If you already have the base game, all you need is the upgrade. There are also free console upgrades if you’ve bought the game for your last gen console.
Scream 6: They Should Have Stopped at 5
I don’t think Scream 6 is necessary because it doesn’t add much to the franchise. Scream 6 feels like it was made for fans of the franchise who have seen and will continue to see every movie in the franchise. If you are a fan, you’ve probably already seen this movie in theaters. If you are thinking of seeing this movie, I would hold off till you can watch it for free and then wait a little more after.
In the aftermath of the last Ghost Face attack, the survivors struggle to lead normal lives. The trauma still hunts them, and the survivors struggle to adjust properly. Just as they begin to gain a semblance of normalcy in their lives, another Ghost Face rises from the shadows to hunt them once more. Have they learned enough from their experience to survive another mediocre slasher film, or will this prove the end for our heroes?
Scream 6 isn’t anything special. The acting is fine, but the writing and story aren’t. You will forget you watched this almost immediately because it does nothing to stand out amongst the franchise. This movie doubles down on its nostalgia and meta-commentary to the point where it becomes boring. If you are a fan of the franchise, you will probably appreciate 6 more than I did. I felt lost as it went over events from past movies because I have only seen the first Scream and barely remember the last. Because of the slightly silly tone, this movie doesn’t feel like it has any real stakes. As a result, the tension and suspense don’t really do anything for this movie. I liked that they tried to show how trauma affected the characters and how the events left a darkness within them, but they don’t develop this plot enough because the movie is too busy being meta and nostalgic.
If you’ve seen Scream 5, go watch that instead. Scream 6 isn’t worth watching unless you are invested in the franchise. If you are one of the few who still have a Paramount+ subscription, you can stream it there. Otherwise, I would wait till you can watch it for free elsewhere. I wouldn’t pay to watch this movie, and I definitely wouldn’t rush to see it either.
Game Review: Volcano Princess
I was sent Volcano Princess as a review code. I am very grateful for the opportunity but won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game.
Volcano Princess is a visual novel life sim for PC. You play as a single father who must raise a daughter in a fantasy world where demons and man are at war. You make the choices that will foster her growth into a functioning adult. How you choose to raise her is up to you, but the choices you make affect her future.
The gameplay loop is simple. Each day you are given a limited amount of action points to spend where you do activities with your daughter that increase her stats. What you choose to do is up to you, but the limits affect your relationship with her and what she grows up being. The game slowly introduces more mechanics as your daughter ages and choices become harder. When she is old enough, there will be a lite dating sim where she can choose from 18 romantic partners and a mini turn-based rpg game. The pacing is fantastic, and the different game mechanics give the game much-needed diversity. Your first playthrough will take about eight hours, but there are more than 50 endings to work toward.
This game is surprisingly addicting. I stressed over my choices because I needed to be a great father the first time around. I think I was successful, but I already have some ideas for future runs. The amount of choices available is what makes this game so much fun. Eventually, you be forced to think tactically about how you spend time with your daughter. Do you help her through a difficult time at the cost of some important attributes? Do you let her date? Become a writer? An actor? A warrior? It is all up to you, and it is such a wholesome good time.
My biggest tip for new players is to go in as blind as possible. I recommend not looking up a guide unless you want to collect every ending. Even then, I recommend you get some of your own endings first. The story is a little cheesy, but it is a good kind of cheesy worth experiencing at least once.
I love this game and would buy it if I hadn’t gotten it already. The art is cute, the story is wholesome, and the mechanics are relaxing and fun. That said, it isn’t for everyone. This game is great for players who love life sims and don’t mind visual novels. This game involves a lot of reading and waiting for timers. The timers aren’t long, but it doesn’t make for the most exciting gameplay. The story is fine, but there are noticeable grammatical errors. I didn’t mind the grammatical errors and loved the gameplay, but it is something to think about before you make the purchase.
Volcano Princess is $10.99 on Steam, and it is totally worth it for what you are getting.
The Quirky Puzzle Game: A Knight in the Attic
I was sent A Knight in the Attic as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest review of the game.
A Knight in the Attic is a unique VR puzzle game designed for the Meta Quest. It is available on both the Meta Store and Steam VR. I played the Steam VR version.
King Arthur has gone missing, and it is up to Queen Guinevere to find him. Guide Guinevere through the many marble mazes and help her bring King Arthur back.
The game is cute, and the mechanics are creative. You can use the motion controls to move the board for a more immersive experience or use the sticks for a slightly easier one. I preferred the motion controls because it felt like a truer experience, but both are valid approaches with their own set of difficulties. If you do use the motion controls, make sure you are in a well-lit room otherwise the tracking will ruin your runs.
The Steam VR has a distinct bug that you should know about before purchasing. If you try to run A Knight in the Attic via the Virtual Desktop app on the Quest, the game won’t launch. You get a black screen and the game won’t load. You can only play this game through Quest Link. I also recommend you play with a wired connection. I have fast internet, but the wireless experience isn’t good enough for the type of puzzle game you are playing.
The most difficult part of this game is having the patience to move Guinevere through the maze. The puzzles aren’t necessarily hard, but it is easy to mess up, especially if you lose track. My ADHD made this game more difficult than it had to be.
This game isn’t bad. The art is cute, the mechanics are creative, and the music is fantastic. The problem with this game is that it fills a niche that won’t exist in most gamers. If you like relaxing puzzle games and have the patience for marble mazes, this game is fine. This is a great game for kids, especially young ones. It isn’t offensive, and the gameplay is engaging enough without being impossible. Starting this game isn’t very intuitive, so check the Steam comments if you get stuck. I don’t think it’s worth it because I couldn’t vibe with the gameplay, but $9.99 isn’t bad for something that will keep your kids busy for a couple of hours.
You can buy this game directly on Meta or Steam.
Images and gifs taken from the press kit
You Should Get Super Dungeon Maker
I was sent Super Dungeon Maker as a review code. I am very grateful for the opportunity, but I will keep my review honest.
If you like old-school RPGs or have always dreamed of making your own, you need to go buy Super Dungeon Maker. This game has fun gameplay, an expansive dungeon editor, and the cutest art. If you have kids, this is a great game to add to their collection. The game does a fantastic job of giving players a basic understanding of RPGs so they can make their own later. The dungeon editor gives kids an outlet to be creative, and the consistent stream of content gives them hours of gameplay. Adults will have the opportunity to be creative and enjoy the return to a nostalgic era of gaming and the possible satisfaction of clearing some of the more impossible levels.
I am not creative, so I didn’t spend much time in the dungeon editor. From what little I did mess around in it, it seemed pretty expansive. I felt overwhelmed by the choices, but mostly because my brain couldn’t turn the different parts into a cohesive map. That said, I was impressed by the diverse selection of levels available this early into the game’s life.
As a player, I loved how healthy the community is. There are a lot of games to choose from, but not all of them are great. The thing about these types of games is that the fun is community driven. You need players to motivate creators, and you need creators for content. You are going into this game knowing you have to sift through the expansive library to find your fun. You don’t have to finish the maps you don’t like, but I can see people being turned off by the rough nature of the level design.
That said, Super Dungeon Maker is a fantastic game if you are looking for a classic RPG without much commitment. You don’t have to worry about extensive lore or investing in an expansive story. Everything is self-contained, cute, and fun. Now is a great time to get into Super Dungeon Maker because there is a healthy community driving and consuming its content.
Super Dungeon Maker is available on Steam and the Nintendo Switch for $19.99. I played the Steam version and loved it, and considering getting it on the Switch. Playing some of the maps, especially the Zelda-inspired ones on the go would be perfect. As it happens, Nintendo has it on sale for $15.99 until May 25th. Regardless of which version you choose to play, I guarantee it will be lots of fun.
Game Review: Havendock
I was sent Havendock as a review code. I am very grateful for the opportunity, but this will be my honest review.
If you are looking for a fun village builder to add to your collection or need a good place to start with the genre, get Havendock. The game has great graphics, catchy music, and an addicting gameplay loop.
You wake up alone and stranded in the middle of the ocean without a single memory. To survive, you must build a base from the materials that float by. As you slowly establish your haven, you will attract other survivors who will help you grow your haven. The trick to this game is efficiency. You must juggle between building, resource management, exploration, and research.
Do not let the game’s cuteness deceive you. You will become overwhelmed by your sloppiness, but that’s part of the process. I recommend that you go in blind on your first playthrough to get the truest Havendock experience. Once you get to the point where you get stuck, look up tips and tricks. If you need more of a challenge, there are settings you can tweak.
What I like most about this game is how easily it eases players into the mechanics. All players start with a questline that does a fantastic job of teaching players the fundamentals, but it leaves enough room for error to make the game challenging. While I never thought the game was frustratingly difficult, there are enough obstacles to keep it engaging. The game is impossible if you don’t have at least a basic plan on what to research, build, or gather. Havendock will prove a tricky game to master, but it is such a satisfying and enjoyable ride. Even when my village was on the brink of collapse, I found myself humming along with the catchy music, enjoying myself.
If you are looking for a new game to get into, you should buy Havendock. It is cute, fun, and great for those who’ve never touched a resource management game. The hardest part about this game is choosing when to walk away because there is always something you need to build, research, or work towards. I loved this game, and I think you will too.
You can buy Havendock on Steam for $16.99. The game is in early access, but it doesn’t feel like it. But if you need further convincing, go try the demo.
Final Space Ends Announcement
Today I got some fantastic news about one of my favorite animated series. I can’t express how overjoyed I am to know that Final Space is finally getting a proper ending. The series follows a quirky and delightful astronaut as he and his friends try to save the universe. If you haven’t seen the series, you need to. It is an epic story full of humor, friendship, and heroism. Make sure you check out my full review of the series.
Unfortunately, the series got canceled before it could end because TBS wanted to write it off for tax reasons. The creator, Olan Rogers, was rightfully devastated because he didn’t own the rights to finish a series he created. For two years, Rogers has continued his fight to finish his story. Five days ago, Rogers announced that Final Space will end in a self-published graphic novel. This makes me incredibly happy because Rogers deserves this. The announcement is up on his official YouTube channel. I recommend you watch it so that you can appreciate the passion and love this man has for his story.
You can pre-order the graphic novel on the Final Space Ends official website. Over 16,000 copies of the graphic novel have sold since the announcement, and the number continues to climb. Keep checking the site if it sells out. I got my copy before it sold out, but more have been available since. The book is $125 plus shipping and is expected to release sometime in 2024. Make sure you follow Olen Rogers on YouTube to stay on top of future announcements.
I know this seems like a lot, but the book is going to be huge and epic. I have faith that this final chapter is going to be the epic conclusion we have all been waiting for.
I wanted to share this announcement because I believe it deserves attention, but also because of the timing. I have been feeling a bit of burnout lately and have debated quitting WordPress. This morning I was on the verge of deleting my blog until I saw this announcement. I was happy that my favorite show was getting its ending, but Roger’s perseverance and passion inspired me to keep going. In his video, he tells his viewers not to give up on their passions, even when things seem hopeless.
“You have to dare to dare to fail”
You don’t understand how badly I needed to hear those words when I did. I know that the algorithm played a huge part in showing me the announcement, but I am superstitious enough to believe in fate. I’ve been consistently on YouTube since it was published, but it was only recommended when I needed it most. As silly as it sounds, too many events in my life have lined up so perfectly that I have to believe that fate exists. I am taking his words to heart and will continue pursuing my passions.
With that, I’ll sign off. I have a backlog of games I’ve sent to review, the Digimon Seekers project I need to finish, and some movie reviews to sprinkle in between. Until then, go watch Final Space, go pre-order the graphic novel, and if you are still reading, thank you for your support. Love you all!
Art by Daz Tibbles @daztibbles