Tag Archives: waifu

video game reviews

Why DATE A LIVE: Rio Reincarnation is a Must-Play

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of DATE A LIVE: Rio Reincarnation 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 reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, 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 DATE A LIVE: Rio Reincarnation?

Idea Factory brings the DATE A LIVE series to Steam and PS4 in one fantastic package. DATE A LIVE is a romance visual novel never before localized. Gamers will get access to three novels: Rinne-Utopia, Rio-Reincarnated, and Arusu install (played in that order). If your in the mood for some cheesy harem anime to read this summer, here is where you need to start.

Hook

Our story starts thirty years after the spacequakes. These are cosmic disaster that brought with it powerful beings known as Spirits. Spirits posses great power, but they are unstable. Left unchecked, they can cause great harm to the world. Shido Itsuka is an average high school student, but the only one in this world with the power to save everyone. Forced in the middle of all this chaos, Shido must date the Spirits and use the power of love to save them. Get ready to collect some waifus as you use your powers of romance to create the perfect dates that will save the world. How long will it take you to collect all the endings?

Gameplay

The game is a dating sim/visual novel. Players can date 11 different characters with unique personalities, choose from 150 dating events, and your choices matter. Once you are done with this game, there are light novels, anime, and a movie you help you get even more waifus.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

DATE A LIVE: Rio Reincarnation is a fantastic title for your Steam Deck. The resolution is perfect and most importantly, the text is legible. I have old eyes and have a hard time with visual novels on my Steam Deck (especially since my daughter hid my glasses), but this felt like reading a book. I prefer the experience on the Steam Deck because I can read in bed or on the couch, and any time I can spend away from my computer is a plus to me. Especially since I couldn’t put this game down.

Review

DATE A LIVE: Rio Reincarnation is a visual novel I’ll recommend to everyone. While it is a little on the cheesy side, and the fan service might turn some folks off, it is the fun and quirky story you need right now. It has great art, and enough content to be worth the full price. It is currently on sale for $10 on Steam until July 9th 2026, which is a steal!

Aesthetic

As a huge anime fan, I have no notes. I love the character design, and I appreciate that they don’-t get too lazy with with backgrounds. Waifu hunters will appreciate the fan service, and the features that let you screenshot. Casual anime fans will appreciate the cute anime girls and dates you get to go on. I don’t speak much Japanese, but the voice acting seems solid, although I started reading faster than the characters would talk so my sample size is a little limited.

Story

I have a soft spot for cheesy harem anime, and I have a history of snapping up these types of games. I was incredibly excited when this game was sent to me, but I was not ready for how good this visual novel would be. The writing is solid, the pacing is great, and there is enough unique scenarios that make me want to 100% this game. The supernatural elements are well done, but I love me some cute anime girls and here I am, trying to appease them all. If you enjoy cheesy harems as much as I do, you probably already have this game in your library. If you don’t, it needs to be. Especially now that it is on sale. If you already have this game in your library, Celestia: Chain of Fate is a cheesy reverse-harem visual novel that isn’t as good, but might be up your alley.

Conclusion

My collaboration with Idea Factory has been a difficult one because I can’t put the games down. Regrettably, I have slowed down my posting schedule because I would rather be playing the games. This was probably the hardest title to put down because of how much fun I had with the dating sim. The hardest part about this game is choosing a waifu, especially since I don’t have the time to collect all of them. I’ll settle for Tohka for now. I have never read the novel or watch the anime, but I think its time to start. While the game does make a few references I didn’t quite understand, I was a fan Fans of the series already have this game in their library, and new fans need to have it soon. Honestly, if you are looking for something to read and don’t mind the fan service or over the top-cheesy anime antics, this is the book for you. Best of all, it plays on your Steam Deck so you can read this from anywhere.

You can pick up DATE A LIVE: Rio Reincarnation on Steam and PS4. If you are looking for more visual novels, check out After Love Ep if you want something more serious, and Harmony: The Fall if you want something beautiful.

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video game reviews

Explore the Quirky Charm of Hyperdimension Neptunia

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 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 reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, 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 Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1?

Idea Factory brings the fun, quirky JRPG to PC in a solid port that might be worth trying if you miss that grindy golden age of PSP gaming. If you are looking for a fun game that doesn’t take itself too seriously and don’t mind the grind, you might want to get your hard on Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1

Hook

Welcome to the world of Gaminudstri where four CPU’s are locked in a long standing battle for dominance. The battle seemed neverending until one day, Neptune was deafeated. In a strange turn of events, Neptune’s fall brings her crashing onto one of Gamindustri’s four nations, Planeptune. She awakes without her memories to a stranger who is willing to help her get them back. Now with the help of her new friend, a magical book that talks to her, and the friends she meets along the way, she must fight back the mestirious forces that keep the CPU’s locked in conflict. Will she be able to recover enough of her memories and power in time to save the world? Of course she will. She’s the main character!

Gameplay

Hyperdimension Neptunia has your traditinal JRPG elements. You have a steep grind that feeds into your crafting system and team building. You have quests that both affect the story and feed into the grind. What sets this game apart is its meta-humor and an over-the-top tone that gives the game its charm. The main loop for this game is grinding through the dungeons to earn enough XP, loot, and credits for the upgrades needed to beat the boss. The main draw to this game is the cute anime girls and quirky story around them.

Combat

The combat is turn-based with some minor movement mechanics. Each character in your party has a set movement speed that can be manipulated with gear. Positioning does matter for both gaining an advantage and targeting. What makes Hyperdimension Neptunia unique is that players need to move the players to gain line of sight. This means walking up to the different mobs to target and setting off the actions. You can target multiple units at once. As an action, characters and cast spells, perform attacks, and perform EXE drives. Knowing when to use each type of action is key to an efficient grind.

Dungeons

Dugeons are the main way to progress through the story and grind for everything you need. Each dungeon has a special theme and are filled with unique monsters. Mobs are visible throughout the dungeon (no random encounters), which means you can plan your grind and avoid encounters. You can attack a mob to gain advantage on initiative. There are also nodes spread across the map that you’ll need for crafting.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 works great on the Steam Deck. I only ever played this game on my PSP, so having a bigger screen and console is a blessing. While the game plays great on the PC, the experience is better on handheld. As a busy dad, I love that I can put the game down and not risk losing my progress because I didn’t get to save point before my toddler asks for my attention. The only issue I have with the port is that if you use touch controls, even accidentally, the game switches to mouse and keyboard controls. To fix this, you need get a keyboard, scroll through settings, and change the default controls back to controller. I only had to do this once, and only because I fat fingered the screen on accident.

Review

I played a lot of Hyperdimension Neptunia on my PS vita. Sadly, someone stole my vita and my life has never been the same, until I lucked out and started partnering with Idea Factory. This has been one of my favorite collaborations I’ve done because these games have a special place in my heart. While the game is old, and feels a little dated by modern JRPG standards, the game is still a gem worth playing. Fans of the series already have this game on there Steam Deck, but new fans should at least give this game a chance. This is one of the most unique games in both gameplay and story that you should try at least once. Provided you don’t mind the steep grind that comes with games from this era of gaming.

Aesthetic

Neptunia draws people in with its adorable cast of waifus you can collect and dress up. Admittedly, it is what drew me to the game. You also get a fantastic cast of voice actors and music that will get you in the mood for epic battles (even when the battles start to get repetitive). Some folks might find the dungeon crawl bits to feel a little dated both in looks and function, but keep in mind that this is a port of an older game made for an older audience. I love the touch of nostolgia and the simplicity of the world and have no notes, only love. There is also a tad bit of fan service for those who need it.

Combat

I enjoy Hyperdimension Neptunia’s combat, but the grind makes the game feel repetitive. I enjoy the repetition and find comfort in it, but others won’t have time for it. This is the type of game where you can grind while catching up on some anime. I like that it gives you the option to progress the story at your own pace so you never have to choose between either activity. While some of the grind can be mindless, the game demands respect. You will need to learn the mechanics to progress efficiently, or risk wiping to negligence. Overall, Hyperdimension Neptunia is a solid example of 2010’s JRP combat that is worth checking out at least for its historical impact on the genre.

Story

As hard as it may be to believe, I play the Neptunia games for the plot. These games are a refreshing take on a genre that sometimes feels homogeneous. This is a game that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and it pays off. The story is full of on-the-nose meta humor that both makes valid criticism about the state of the game industry, but also makes you laugh.The cast is fun and colorful, the beats are well paced and quirky, and the voice acting is amazing. If you are looking for a fun cozy title to shut off to, you don’t find better options.

Concusion

I played a lot of Hyperdimension Neptunia back in the day. While I was excited to relive some nostolgia, there was a part of me that was afraid that it wasn’t going to hold up. Maybe my memory was jaded by the waifus and in reality, the game was never good. To my relief, the game holds up. Sure the game does have its grind and there are bits that feel dated, but the game is fun and perfect for an on the go adventure. If you’ve never played a Neptunia game, this is your place to start. If you like cute anime girls doing cute quirky things and don’t mind the jrpg grind, Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 needs to be in your collection.

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video game reviews

Explore Neptunia’s Quirky Zombie Adventure

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune VS Zombies (Neptunia) 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 reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, 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 MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune VS Zombies (Neptunia)

MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune VS Zombies (Neptunia) brings your favorite Neptunia characters (and two new characters) in a fun new zombie adventure. Take control of your favorite girls in this quirky little hack and slash that is sure to leave you smiling. If you want to collect some waifus as you fight off waves of zombies, keep reading.

Hook

Enrollment to the prestigious Gamicademi has fallen to the point where it will soon shut its doors for good. In an effort to save the school they love, Blanc, Neptune, and all of their friends band together to shoot a movie to attract new students. Luckily, a zombie outbreak is just what they need to put together the perfect film. Team up with your favorite waifus as you fight against waves of zombies and get the shots you need to save the school. Level up your girls, build strong bonds between them, and earn some cute accessories for a quirky adventure you will never forget. Will your efforts be enough to save the school, or will the Gamicadeemi’s doors shut for good? You will need to play to find out!

Gameplay

The game almost plays like a visual novel, where the focus of the game is its fun and quirky story. Fans of the series will enjoy watching their favorite characters in story full of meta humor, fantastic voice acting, and the artstyle that brings you to the Neptunia series in the first place. The gameplay loop is a simple hack-and-slash round where players fight off waves of zombies as they try to complete the level’s objectives.

Combat

Players choose from a roster of girls, each with a unique set of skills and abilities. Characters are unlocked by playing through the story, and leveled up through use. As a character levels, they learn more combos and abilities. Players can customize a character’s stats to best fit their playstyle by buying stat points, accessories, and unlocking new costumes. A round is over when the player completes the objectives or their teams HP falls to zero.

Customization

The game lets players customize a character’s stats and appearance by grinding the different encounters. Each encounter drops items that can be used to heal, buff, and debuff but they can also be used to unlock new costumes and skins. The grind for these unlocks can be a little steep, but I like that it is an optional grind. The main focus of the game is the story, but there is enough fan service for the completionists.

Review

I have been making my way through the Idea Factory collection and it has been a huge mistake. Not because the games are bad, but because I keep finding it hard to step away long enough to write the review. I absolutely love this series, and this Zombies game has been the highlight of this little escapade. If you are a fan of the series, you will appreciate watching your favorite girl in this fun, zany adventure. If you’ve never played a Neptunia game, I recommend starting with the main series games and supplement this after you’re formally addicted. While MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune VS Zombies is a relatively standalone adventure, it is meant to be another story with your favorite characters. Meaning, you have to play the mainline games that will help you find your favorites.

Aesthetic

I am always going to praise these games for the art because the character design is peek waifu bait. The girls are all cute, and the story takes full advantage of its cast of talented artists. You also get a rocking soundtrack to get you in the mood for combat and the grind that comes with trying to unlock the costumes for your favorite girl. As is tradition with all the Neptunia games, you will also get a cast of amazing voice actors that are ready to transport you to this incredible story. My only complaint is that the graphics for the combat portion of the game feels a little dated. The characters look a little bland and the levels feel a little dated. Because the focus of these games is the story, It’s not a huge deal. It feels like playing a PSP game, and I miss my PSP dearly.

Combat

The combat in this game is simple. You are hacking and slashing until the game says the round is over as you try and learn to master all of the combos. You can certainly button mash (and lord knows I did) but the game does punish you for not dodging and setting off combos efficiently. I like that the game gives players the option to min-max and go through the game like a real gamer, but if you’re like me, you can brute force most fights without issue. The game is from 2016 so there are some bits of it that feel dated, and the grind does feel a little slow, but its fun enough to pick up when you want to unwind and enjoy a good enough story.

Story

The story is why I played so much of this game. I have mentioned before that I love Neptunia for its meta humor and general silly tone, and MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune VS Zombies (Neptunia) is a perfect example of why I love this series. The story is about a group of friends who come together to make a bad zombie movie, and it doesn’t get more wholesome, funny, and cute. If you like your cheesy anime where girls do cute things for the sake of being cute, this is your bread and butter. Sure, it may not be the award winning serious story that goes viral each year, but it is the type of story you need when you are just looking for a pick me up and don’t want to become too invested in a game.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

This game works very well on the Steam Deck and I absolutely love that for it. The game does take me back to my handheld gaming days, and those are days are desperately want back. Back when my hands didn’t hurt from too much gaming, and my back didn’t hurt from being alive this long. The game looks great, the controls are smooth without any editing, and it runs great. If you are looking for a solid steam deck game, here you go!

Conclusion

If you want a game where you can make a silly zombie movie, collect cute waifus, and watch them be cute, check out MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune VS Zombies (Neptunia). The game has great art, a fun story, and a solid (albiet a little repetative) gameplay loop to break things up. If you haven’t played any of the Neptunia games, I recommend starting with the main series to get the full effect of this quirky little title. If you’re a fan of the series, this is a must, but you already have it in your collection. Go check it out on Steam!

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video game reviews

Monster Monpiece Review: A Casual Card Battler

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Monster Monpiece for free 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 reviews for the Epomaker QK108, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, 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 Monster Monpiece?

Monster Monpiece is a card battler out now on Steam but ported from the PS Vita game back from 2014. If you like collecting cute anime girls and don’t mind the chibbi action combat, this game might be for you.

Hook

In the world of Yafaniel, humans live along side a race of Monster girls. Monster girls have magical abilities, can be stored as cards, and can be used for battle. Play as May Esperio who is a student at one of the nation’s academies trying as she tries to become a master of monster girls. The problem is, a horrible attack has left her meek and a bit reserved in combat. This all changes when one of her friends becomes lost, possessed by a greater spirit, and it is up to her to save her. Team up with powerful monster girls, fight your way through countless enemies, and get her back to normal. Do you have what it takes to save one of your friends and the world, or will everything come crumbling down around you? Build your deck and find out!

Gameplay

The gameplay loop is simple. You build your deck of monster girls and face off against your opponents. This is a turn based game where you can summon one monster girl per turn onto the gridded map. The monster girls will attack and move automatically, but you can influence a summon’s powers by creating combos and upgrading units. You can perform combos by chaining the same color cards up to three times. This will increase the stats of that color for the the rest of combat. You can also stack the same creature type cards to upgrade them. An upgraded unit adds the fodder’s stats which not only make them more powerful, but can heal them in a pinch. Between combat nodes, players can change up their deck, upgrade existing cards through the rub mechanic, or buy new cards from a shop. It is sort of like a deck building roguelike, but there is a bit more plot and fan service.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

Sadly, this game does not work on the Steam Deck. This deck was clearly meant to be a handheld game, but I never got it to launch natively on the Steam Deck. I am sure with a bit of tinkering I can get it to work, but most people don’t have time for that. The game works fine on PC, but I would have loved to play this on the go, in bed, or on the couch. I will take any excuse to not be at my computer all day.

Review

I love card games, and this Monster Monpiece hits a sweat spot for what I am looking for in the genre. Monster Monpiece has great art for those waifu fans out there, solid game mechanics, but it does feel a little dated. While I will admit the grind is a little steep for the modern gamer, I appreciate the change of pace the game offers when most of the card games we get now are some variation of the same kind of deck building roguelike. If you want a game that is cute, casual, and with a whole mess of waifus, Monster Monpiece might be right for you.

Aesthetic

What drew me to this game, and really any game that comes from our friends over at Idea Factory, is the art. The game is full of cute anime girls that you can collect, and enough fan service to keep them happy. This is a trigger warning for those of you out there who don’t want to be caught looking at anime girls in risque outfits and poses. The game has a fantastic score and some solid voice acting. I don’t speak Japanese, but it sounds good enough to me. I don’t know how I feel about the chibbi animations. On one hand, they are cute and it is an easy way to handle the auto-battles without making the game too resource hungry. On the other, it is chibi art. A lot more work went into the cards and art you can earn by grinding through the game, so I guess it will have to do.

The Grind

This game is from an era where games were a little more grindy. I can see it being a very steep grind, especially in later parts of the game, to unlock more better cards, but I’ve also played a lot of Runescape growing up. This grind doesn’t feel bad at all. That said, it will feel a little slow and repetitive for those of you who skipped through the golden age of JRPGs. I find the repetition soothing, and didn’t mind the grind at all. Sure I might not have played this game optimally, but I had fun.

Gameplay

The card game mechanics in this game are great. The game introduces fresh mechanics I haven’t seen much in modern titles, and combat was engaging enough to keep playing. If you play enough card games, it does feel a little on the easier side. I got to the point where I could outsmart the AI, but I never saw it as much of a problem. This is definitely one of those cozy titles I’ll pop on when I want to chill after a long day of work and not have to worry about min maxing or existing in the relevant meta. The game scratches that card game itch without being too sweaty which is always a win in my honest opinion.

Story

The story is fine. I wouldn’t pick this game up just to play the story, but you won’t mind sitting through it. It is the generic, cutesy anime that I’ve always found comfort in. When friendship is the most important thing in the world, you can kind of figure out where the story is going and even what the characters are going to say. The game is more about collecting the cute anime girls anyways.

Rubbing

Monster Monpiece has a mechanic where you can rub the monster girls to unlock new art and abilities. Using different gestures and inputs, you can rub, poke, pinch, and touch your Monster girl to get her to crush on you. Those who are here for the fan service will appreciate the uncensored art you get to unlock for each character, but I wouldn’t play this in public.

My problem is not with the fan service. My problem is that this mechanic doesn’t work very well (at least not on Steam) and the whole process is more work than it is worth. You are supposed to find each monster girls sweet spot and work it till she falls in love with you, but I could never get it to work properly and it took too much time. The game was clearly meant to be played with a touch screen, but the mechanics didn’t translate well.

The Cash Shop

This game used to be a multiplayer game. There is even dialogue in this game that suggests it. The Steam port is a single player game that still has a cash shop. I didn’t mind this feature too much because I was able to do just fine with what I was given. I am sure the cash shop cards would have made the grind a little easier, but it was fine for what it is. If you like to min-max, its a problem, but doesn’t really affect the casual deck building experience. Especially when the game is only $10.

Conclusion

I honestly like Monster Monpiece. The game was the perfect casual card builder, although the fan service might be a bit too much for some folks. Viewer discretion is advised. The game does feel a little dated, but so am I and here I am, enjoying every minute of it. If you want deck builder that isn’t your typical roguelike, grab yourself a copy. It is only $10 and worth every penny.

You can pick up Monster Monpiece on Steam.

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video game reviews

Is Azur Lane Crosswave Worth $40? Find Out!

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Azur Lane Crosswave to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This is 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, the Redragon Antonium K745 Pro, 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 Azur Lane Crosswave

Azur Lane is a visual novel where you collect war ship inspired waifus and occasionally do fast paced, third-person shooting. The game is available on PlayStation, Steam, and the Nintendo Switch.

Hook

The world of Azur Lane is mostly water. The four great nations have an fleet of cute ship girls guarding its boarders and protecting its oceans. Every year, the four nations (Eagle Union, Royal Navy, Iron Blood, and Sakura Nation) come together for a joint training exercise to train the newest generation of ships and a bit of diplomacy. This year, a mysterious figure infiltrates the session and brings the nations into war. Luckily, each nation’s roaster of ships (about 25 main characters and 30 supporting) are strong enough to fend off the invasion. Build your crew of your favorite ship waifu and set sail to save the world. Do you have what it takes to collect them all?

Gameplay

The game is essentially a visual novel. There is a main story of drama as the players try to figure out who is behind all of the attacks. There are also a series of side quests where the waifus are doing cute things, which is meant to be world building for fans of the original mobile game or who want to listen to more of their best girl. (The voice acting is fantastic). Occasionally, players get to do combat in a simple third person action shooter. Between combat, players can recruit new ships, buy them upgrades, and organize their roster. Players can go into battle with their choice of three main ships and three supporting ships. Each character has unique set of abilities that include: a main attack, a secondary more powerful attack, torpedo, a dodge, and a special ability. These change between girls and ship type.

Review

I played a lot of the mobile game, so I knew what to expect. This is a game you play to collect waifus and watch them do cute things. Sure there is a story and a bit of combat, but most of the effort went into creating cute girls to waifu bait. This isn’t a criticism of the game, I have been a long time fan of the series for this very reason. If you are a fan of the series and for some reason haven’t gotten this game, I would wait for the sale. The game is fine, but $40 is a lot for what you’re getting.

Aesthetic

This game know what its doing. The art in this game is fantastic. If you like cute anime girls, this game has your type buried somewhere in its limited roster. The visual novel have cute characters, but the backgrounds can very. Some are nice, but most are rather generic. The focus is clearly the girls. This isn’t a criticism, but it isn’t going to be for everyone. The 3D parts are boring. The maps are too small and bland, but I respect the amount of detail that goes into the few ship models you fight repeatedly. I will say that the water physics in this game is fantastic and it really gives players the feel of epic open water combat.

Story

The story is very cheesy, but fine. It isn’t something I would rush to play, but I didn’t hate reading through it. There is a lot of reading, and not all of it is relevant to the overarching story. Everything is voice acted, but it is in Japanese. The voice acting is fantastic and if you want to listen to more of your favorite ship girl, you probably already have this game in your library. If you aren’t interested in any of the characters, it isn’t worth it. I appreciate that the game lets players know which events are story relevant and there is the option to skip through cut scenes.

Gameplay

The gameplay is very simple and easy, even at the hardest difficulty. Combat is fine for the first few battles, but it gets repetitive. Every combat mission is the same, although sometimes the enemy changes. The map is very small and boring. I would argue that there was no real reason to make the game 3D. I played a lot of the mobile game that started it all, and I would have preferred the chibi tokens and the topdown survivor-like combat. The 3D litterly adds nothing. There is also so much reading in between combat, they should have just made it a visual novel. Changing the roster didn’t feel like it did enough, but I guess they had to make you work to collect your favorite waifu.

Conclusion

I knew what I was getting into when I requested the game. I played the original mobile game, am a fan of the ship girls and wanted a legitimate excuse to have this in my library. As a casual fan of the series, I think the game is too expensive. As a shooter, there isn’t enough strategy or skill required to justify the purchase. As a story, its fine but I am already forgetting what happened. It feels like something I would throw up in the background when I want to work and listen to people talk. Something that is good enough to sit through, but not so good it becomes a distraction. If you like cute anime girls doing cute things, this is full of those types of moments and you can collect the cute girls to occasionally fight for you sometimes.

That said, $40 is too expensive for this waifu bait and I would wait for sale. But for those of you who are just discovering their love for the magical world of Azur Lane, or those who just want a little more of it in their life, you can pick up a copy of Azur Lane Crosswave on PlayStation, Steam, and the Nintendo Switch. I would rather be playing Tivi.

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video game reviews

UltraGirl Alters Demo Review: First Impressions and Gameplay

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Disclaimer

I was asked to cover the UltraGirl Alters demo for my blog. I understand this isn’t the full game, and will be a bit more lenient with my review. That said, this will be my honest review of the demo.

Shameless Self-Promotion

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Table of Contents

What is UltraGirl Alters?

Ultragirl Alters is an SRPG out now on Steam, with a demo available for anyone who wants to try it.

You have been hired as the manager for the virtual idol group, Alters. When you aren’t busy helping each girl navigate their hectic social lives, you’ll be guiding through battle against the waves of enemies that threaten the city. Each girl Each girl where’s her unique Tokusatsu-style hero suit that you can upgrade as you gain experience. Can you keep the world safe from monsters while becoming the world’s greatest idol group? What secrets will you uncover along the way?

Gamplay

UltraGirl Alters is a turn based strategy game with a few social mechanics to break up the story.

Social Events

The game has a cute chibi mode where the player can experience the story. During this part of the game, players will build their relationship with each of the girls helping them through the game’s many side missions. Leveling these bonds unlock special events that add a bit of flavor or world building. Players also get to explore a bit of the world, but it is very limited. Mostly, the chibi half of the game is where the player collects the story and learns the dark secrets behind the evil corporation that controls everything.

Combat

Players take control of the girls in their Tokusatsu-style suits as they fight off waves of monsters. Each girl has their unique set of abilities and skill that can be leveled up through experience. Each girl can move and take an action per round. Girls can either make a basic attack or use one of their abilities during their action, if they have enough energy. Basic attacks generate the energy needed to cast an ability. The key to combat is to position effectively while using your resources efficiently.

Impressions

While there are a few aspects of this game that I liked and got me interested, I definitely need to see more. Overall, the game is fine, but I can see it being a niche game made for an intended audience.

Art

If you like anime, then you will appreciate the character design. UltraGirl Alters definitely has its waifu bait, and that isn’t a bad thing. The girls are cute, but there is a bit of fan service. I like when I can play my waifu games in public. For the combat part, I think the level design is too busy. It was hard to make out what was going on most of the time, and the suits don’t look very cool. As for the exploration parts, you are either going to love the chibi design or hate it. I think the chibi art is cute, but found the story a little lacking.

Story

The Demo only plays through the tutorial a bit of the intro. While it isn’t enough to judge the quality of the story, there is nothing in the intro that hooked me. The biggest issue I have with what is available is the writing. It is a little awkward in parts and a little cheesy in others. This might be due to translation issues. Unless the full game leans into the silliness and carries a light-hearted narrative with fun characters I care about, I don’t see me finishing this game. The story isn’t the worst, but considering art, tone, and gameplay, I rather be playing Disgea 7.

Gameplay

Combat is interesting for the first few round before it grows a little stale. Enemies feel a little unfair, and the busy map makes it hard to tell what is going on. You are either going to enjoy this type of combat or hate it, and I certainly wasn’t a fan. Maybe it gets better in later levels, and I am willing to give it a try just in case. Unfortunately, based on the demo alone, when it comes to chibi turn-based combat, I rather be play Disgea 7.

Conclusion

If you like the SRPG style combat and don’t mind the over-the-top (sometimes poorly written) cutesy tones of the story, I still recommend you check out the demo first. I think the combat is a little too simple for what you’re getting. The social chibi bits are cute, but they don’t add enough to the game to make them worth it. I think the game is cute and has its potential, but I need to see more of it before I can recommend it. For now, I recommend you check out the demo and wait for the sale.

You can pick up your copy of UltraGirl Alters on Steam.

Weiss Schwarz

BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! Countdown Collection Cards Are Cute!

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BanG Dream! Girls fans should rejoice at Weiss Schwarz newest set BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! Countdown Collection. This card has some of the best looking cards I’ve seen come from the game, and it isn’t heavy on the fan service like some of the other sets I’ve seen. Either way, there are cards in this set you’re going to want to chase as a collector and player of the game. The Countdown Collection is on sale now, so make sure you hit up your LGS and get you some product. For those where that isn’t an option, TCG Player has the Countdown Collection and other Weiss Schwarz products at a reasonable price. Make sure you use my affiliate links!