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Trees Inc Review: A Cozy Idle Game Experience

Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Trees Inc 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 Trees Inc?

Trees Inc is an cozy idle/incremental game where you grow and chop trees, and eventually, automate the whole operation out now on Steam.

Hook

Grow trees and chop them down in the most relaxing and cozy idle game you can have running on your second screen. Use your profits to plant more trees, hire more workers, and upgrade your production. Unlock powerful upgrades that makes the whole process go burr. The game eventually runs itself so you can sit back, relax, and collect all those juicy achievements.

Gameplay

Tree Inc starts as a clicker game as you start building your resources. Clicking on the tree will chop it, while idling over the tree stump grows the replacement. Repeat this process until you have enough money to plant more trees and hire workers. There are two types of workers, jacks and growers. Jacks will move around the map, chopping your trees automatically while the growers move around the map and regrow your forest. The resources you earn can also be used to buy useful upgrades to speed up the process. You can increase the yield each tree gives, or the speed workers do their work. Buying upgrades and units levels up your instance. Leveling up either unlocks useful passives that mat increase the numbers you work with, and seasons that help change up the gameplay. For example, the rainy season automates tree growth. All this is done to a relaxing, lofi sound track to help you unwind from those hard days where you just want to turn it all off.

Review

I am running Trees Inc as I am writing this review. I didn’t know what to expect when this game first landed on my desk. Idle games are either too much work to be considered idle, riddled with micro-transactions, or a relaxing game you pick up every now and then. This game is the kind of relaxing game you need when you want to play a game, but don’t want a big commitment. It is simple, and you can run it in the background while you work.

Aesthetic

There isn’t much to the aesthetic. The game is simple. Aside from the weather effects, there isn’t any variety in maps aside from where the trees spring up when you plant them. Since Trees Inc is a game meant to be played in the background, it looks fine. Any more effort would be wasted. From what I can tell, the game only loops one lofi song, but it is a solid song to have running in the background when you just want to work. Even the game noises seem to add to the comfortable atmosphere the game is clearly going for.

Gameplay

I like watching numbers go up, and Trees Inc does it at reasonable pace. There is some minor clicking in the beginning, but you an really just leave the game running in the background. There is no right way to build, no strategy guide to look up. Just build what you want, and watch your forest grow. One thing I noticed is that the idle mode feature sort of freaks out. It isn’t game breaking, but it was a little distracting to see the cursor shake around as it struggled to find the optimal path. I have ADHD though, so it might be a personal problem.

Conclusion

There isn’t really much to say about this game. I enjoyed it, but $5 is a little too much for what you get. Sure you get a relaxing title, but it isn’t a game you will no life or even pick up after the first playthrough. You won’t hate that you picked it up, and will enjoy the time it takes to complete the game, but there isn’t much replayability. If you are looking for a chill idle game for when you just want to shut off and relax, this is a fantastic title if you can find it at a discount. I loved it, but I wouldn’t spend more than $2 or $3.

You can pick up Trees Inc on Steam. I liked it better than Humans vs Orcs, but not as much as Tingus Goose.

Is Dokapon Kingdom: Connect Worth It? Honest Review

Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Dokapon Kingdom: Connect 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 Dokapon Kingom:Connect?

Dokapon Kingdom is a fantasy themed party game out now on Steam and the Nintendo Switch. The game is currently on sale until July 7, 2026 for those with enough friends (real or imaginary) to take advantage of this wacky adventure game.

Hook

The kingdom is in trouble. Monsters have appeared and terrorize the town. The king has summoned the kingdom’s bravest heroes to fight back against the scourge, and make the country profitable again. You and your friends must race across the kingdom, fighting monsters, collecting loot, and making as much money as possible. The hero who makes the most money at the end of the game will win the princess’ hand in marriage. Will fortune favor you, or will this be the end of a long time friendship? Boot it up and find out!

Gameplay

Players take turns moving across the board, sort of like Mario Party. Players will roll a dice, and move the required spaces. Where the player ends up will trigger an event. Events can be loot, random encounters, shops, or boss encounters. Players will need to plan accordingly to optimize their income generation. The game has three modes: story, normal, and battle. Story is for players who have a lot of time to play. Normal lets you choose the number of rounds for those who want shorter, more manageable games, and battle is a race. There is offline, couch support but you can also play online. You can host/join a game with random people, or link up with all your online friends and play over discord. For those who have no friends, the game has CPUs you can play with.

Combat

If you aren’t rolling for random loot or money, you are fighting the many monsters that threaten the Kingdom’s profit margins. Players can also fight each other. Combat in this game is a simple game of rock paper scissors (where each type is a different type of attack). Combat gets a bit more complicated as you move around the board and collect better equipment and spells. Throughout your run, you also level up. Leveling lets you increase stat points so you can customize your character to deal the most damage.

Does it work on the Steam Deck

The game works on everything, including the Steam Deck. If you’re playing online with your friends, you aren’t going to hate the experience. Everything is clear and easy to read, and the game runs great.

Review

As I wrap up my collaboration with Idea Factory, I am very disapointed that this is the game I ended on. The game is fine, but you really need friends for this game to be fun, otherwise you aren’t having a good time. The game feels slow, and story mode drags on forever. Had I been playing with my friends and smack talking the whole time, the wait between turns wouldn’t feel like torture. If you have friends who can survive competition where the RNG can screw you, I can see Dokapon Kingdom: Connect having some value.

Aesthetic

Dokapon Kingdom: Connect sort of reminds me of Streetpass on the 3DS, and I loved Streetpass. Nintendo needs to bring that back. I loved collecting all the different Miis. The characters in this game sort of remind me of Miis, but a little cuter. The world feels like a Miiverse type world, and I can respect that. I like that this game can run on everything, which means you can play on a toaster and have fun with your friends and family. For me, the art is the best part, because the gameplay wasn’t very impressive.

Story

The game doesn’t really have a story except for the initial hook. Occasionally, the king will come in and give you random loot or stat points, but there isn’t anything deep you need to follow or keep track of. Story mode is just the longest and most strait forward of the modes.

Combat

Combat is fine if you enjoy rock paper scissors. Whether you are defending or attacking, you get a set of skills that can potentially counter enemy action or at least reduce damage. The NPC fights do get a little repetitive. Maybe I got lucky, but I was mostly always able to guess what the lower mobs would do. I can see how PVP can be more exciting, especially science you rob your friends of their money and their turn. As you move across the board, you pick up equipment, spells, and levels that make you more powerful.

But is it fun?

If you’re playing with friends, I can see the value. You get trapped in this slog where RNG can easily turn the tides in your favor with a simple coin flip. I lively friend group will certainly enjoy the hell this can become, but it has the potential to ruin some friendships. If you don’t have friends, I wouldn’t bother. I played with the CPUs, and they cheat even on easy. Losing to NPCs is not as fun as losing to your friends because you can’t smack talk. I would argue that playing online would be a worse experience because this feels like more of a party game you pull out with your friends, not something you want to compete with strangers. Unless you get lucky and find some cool stranger who will later become your friends I mean. If you were thinking of buying your game for yourself, don’t bother. If you have a fun friend group to play this with, color me jealous.

Conclusion

I never really enjoyed these types of party games, but Dokopon Kingdom fairs a little better than the newest Mario Party. My issue with Mario Party is that there are only a couple of mini games I want to play, the rest feels like torture. Even only playing the mini games I like doesn’t really interest me. I like that Dokopon is more strait forward, albeit a little more random. You roll, you move, and you pray to the gods you get something good. At the end of the day, whether this game is good or not really depends on the group you play with. I don’t have a group of friends to play, so I didn’t have a good time. That said, I can see this being hilarious with the right group of people. If you like fantasy, need a new party game, sure, but wait for a sale.

You can pick up Dokapon Kingdom: Connect on Steam and the Nintendo Switch.

Trailer

Death end re;Quest Review: A Unique JRPG Experience

Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Death end re;Quest 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 Death end re;Quest

Death end re;Quest is a horror JRPG with very unique combat mechanics out now on Steam, PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch. The game does deal with a few mature themes, so viewer discretion is advised.

Hook

Arata Mizunashi is a talented video game programmer working on World’s Odyssey. Production abruptly ends when a strange bug causes the disappearance of his colleague, Shina Ninomiya. A year goes by when Arata suddenly receives a mysterious email from Shina. Arata discovers that Shina has been trapped inside World’s Odyssey this whole time, and now it is up to him to get her out. But this will not be easy. World Odyssey is riddled with bugs and while the only way to get the true ending and free Shina from this world might not be possible. Band together with helpful NPCs, fight against the bugs and enemies, and try to fix the game enough to get to the end. Will Shina ever be free, or will she be doomed to die in the game she helped create?

Gameplay

Death end re;Quest has four different loops: the visual novel, dungeon crawl, combat, and real world investigation. It is the combination of these four elements that create a unique gaming experience.

Visual Novel

This game has a lot of reading. Some of it is voice acted in English and Japanese, but there are bits where you will have to read. The story is pretty linear, but players have the occasional choice that affects the ending. Save often because you will get a few of the band endings during your run (unless you cheat and use a guide). Luckily, the game allows players to save during some dialogue, so you can come back to the game when you need to. Or play it on the Steam Deck for those longer bits a dialogue where you can’t save.

Dungeon Crawl

Players will eventually take control of Shino who will delve unique and intricate dungeons. Like other games from Idea Factory, there are no random encounters. You can see the monsters roam the dungeon, and plan your attacks accordingly. Dungeons do not let you save freely. You will need to make your way to campsite where you can heal up, buy items, or talk to the NPCs. You can cheat and play this game on handheld and suspend the game to pick up where you left off later. One mechanic that makes this dungeon crawl unique is that players will need to switch from the dungeon to the overworld to progress through the game. More on this below.

Combat

Combat for Death end re;Quest is almost your typical turn-based RPG. There is an initiative that is affected by successfully ambushing enemies in the overworld, and players will take turns with the NPCs to perform actions. A player can perform three actions per turn. Actions include: attack, block, using an item, or casting a spell. If you cast three attack spells or attacks in a row, your character performs a knockback attack that sends enemies flying backwards. The game is kind of like pool, where you can aim enemies to bounce off the edges of the battlefield, other enemies, or allies for added damage. There are a few other mechanics that affect combat like corruption, but those make more sense when playing the game.

Overworld

There are two worlds to Death end re;Quest: the video game and the real world. Shino may be trapped in the game world, but Arata is outside in the real world and can affect the game with his coding. Occasionally, you will get stuck during a dungeon delve and will need to switch over to Arata who can do real world investigation, pick up clues, and fix the bugs. Most of the overworld exists through a visual novel, and there are choices that can lead to a bad ending. Make sure you save often.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

Yes! The Steam Deck is the perfect way to play this game. While the performance is fine on PC, I just prefer to play JRPGs on handheld. I am old in this way. This game looks great, runs well, and I can read all the font. I personally like that I can suspend the game at a moments notice (like when I have to tend to my child), especially when I’m at a point where I can’t save. I would have lost so much progress if this wasn’t possible. But that is the life of a busy dad.

Review

As my collection of Idea Factory games dwindles to the last few I received for this collaboration, I can’t help but to feel sad that the journey is almost over. I am a little relieved that I can get back to reviewing new games and become somewhat relevant in the magical algorithm, but I can confidently say that I have enjoyed the journey. I wish I had played Death end re;Quest last because I absolutely adore this game. The game has cool art, a solid story, and an interesting combat system. It may not be perfect, but it is exactly what I need from my JRPGs. I fear it might be a little niche due to some of its choices, but I would argue that it is one of those games you should try once.

Aesthetic

There are two parts to the game art: the visual novel and dungeon crawling. The visual novel has some interesting art. If you compare it to other games like the mainline Neptunia games or even Dragon Star Varnir, its not as good but fine enough to get the point across. There are few interesting character designs, and some tastefully placed fan service, but nothing I’d run to make fan art for. But my issue with the art (and I assume a lot of people’s as well) is with the dungeon crawl. Everything in the dungeon looks the same. As a result, I spent too much time lost in this game. Granted, I have the worst sense of direction, but it doesn’t help that the dungeon looks so plain and homogeneous.The monsters also look ugly.

I understand that the design choices for the dungeon crawl were probably made to create a stable game. I had no issue with it because the combat is fun and I enjoyed the story, but there are people who will not like that this looks like a much older cheaper game.

Combat

Combat in this game is the most fun I’ve had with a JRPG. It does get a little repetative, these games typically are, but it isn’t so bad. You automate a lot of the actions for the easier fights, and the pool mechanics made for some fun interactions. I like that you can position yourself to perform a multi-kill by knocking enemies on an optimal tragectory. As someone who spent a lot of my highschool years playing the pool minigame on Yahoo messenger, I understood the assignment. I even went out of my way to do extra grinding because, combat is just that fun.

Death end re;Quest offers enough challenge when it needs to, creative boss fights when it has to, and running through the world as an overleveled god doesn’t make the encounters any less fun. I loved being overleveld and trying to finish the encounter in the least ammount of turns possible.

Story

I enjoyed the story a lot. I approaced it a little hesatantly at first because it felt like a isakai, and I have a bit of isakai fatigue. This all changed when it turned into a proper bland of cheesy adventure anime and horror mystery. I wouldn’t the horror is terrifying, i was able to play this with the lights off after all, but it does deal with some dark themes. Overall, the writing is solid. There are bits that are a little slow and scenes that drag on for a little too long, but overall, it is enjoyable anime and I could always use more of that in my life. If you are looking for a decent read, and don’t mind a little roughness, give Death end re;Quest a try.

Conclusion

I enjoyed Death end re;Quest a little too much. Sure I started skipping through some of the dialogue, especially the camp stuff, but I did read through enough of it to be invested. I had a hard time putting it down, but I had to for this article. My only complaint is that I didn’t get the true ending. Sure I can google a guide or look up the video, but I kind of want to try to do it on my own. This was a very fun ride, one that I recomend for those of you who like niche anime games and don’t mind the turn-based system with a few extra steps. If you are looking for a game to add to your Steam Deck, or just something to do this summer, the game is on sale for $6 unti July 7th, and that is the perfect entry point.

You can pick up Death end re;Quest on Steam, PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch

Trailer

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

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.

Trailer

Unboxing the Redragon Aatrox M811 Pro Wireless Mouse

Disclaimer

Redragon sent me the AATROX M811 Pro to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. Make sure you also check out my reviews for the Redragon BS8773 keyboard combo and the Wyvern K761 mechanical keyboard. I’ll be using my Amazon Affiliate link where possible. It really helps me out if you use it before buying anything.

Table of Contents

What’s in the box?

  • M811 Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse
  • USB-C to USB-A Cable
  • 2.4Ghz Wireless Dongle
  • User Manual

Unboxing

Features

Redragon brings affordability and performance to its roster of quality products with the Aatrox M811 Pro gaming mouse. This sleek design promises both style and comfort in a package that might be too good to pass up. Whether you need a few extra keys for your workflow macros, or a better way to grind some levels, the Redragon Aatrox M811 might be what you’re looking for.

Aesthetic

The Aatrox M811 Pro is available in two colors: black and white. It can also be engraved for an added personalized touch. The engraving also lights up with the RGB effect to maximize the gaming aesthetic.

The side buttons have been arranged to create a low profile mouse with easy access to the buttons you need. The sleek modern design of the mouse has been designed to give players a more comfortable grip. All of the RBG (buttons, logo, and bottom strip) can be customized through the official software so the mouse always matches your aesthetic. It can be turned off for those of you who don’t want the light show, or if you want to enjoy the Aatrox’s impressive 80 hours of battery life.

Performance

The Aatrox M811 Pro is more than just a cool looking mouse, it is ready to take your game to the next level. The mouse eliminates wire clutter by providing users a fast, low latency connection through its wireless and Bluetooth connections. The impressive 1000 mAh boasts 20 hours of use (80 without the RGB) for peace of mind during those important team boss fights. The high quality, wired cable is ready to support you when you need to get back online. To maximize the M811 Pro’s utility, each of the 15 macro buttons can be customized for and reprogrammed with the macros you need. While the mouse doesn’t have rapid fire for FPS, you do have an easily adjustable dpi (up to 26000) so the mouse is always as fast as you need it to be. At this price, you’d be hard pressed to find anything better.

Review

If you are looking for an affordable MMO that works, the M811 Pro is a fine choice. You get a cool looking mouse with enough buttons for what you need. I might opt for the the wired version for a more reliable mouse or if you need a cheaper option, but I had no issues with the wireless version.

Quality

My first impression of the mouse is good. The mouse doesn’t look or feel cheap out of the box. The machining is clean, and the numbers and etchings are clean and legible. The buttons don’t have the cheap plastic click, and it feels like it can survive those long, sweaty raid nights. One complaint I do have is that my oily hands seem to leave the mouse discolored after a few hours of use. Wiping it after use seems to give the mouse it’s natural glow, but I do worry the coat might start pealing after a while. For $40 tho, I’m not complaining but I recommend getting it in black.

Aesthetic

One thing I will say about Redragon is that they know how to design into the gaming aesthetic. This is a very gaming looking mouse and you are either going to love or hate the aesthetic. I think the design is fine, and I appreciate the attempts at good ergonomics. The mouse has groves on it to allow the hand to sit more naturally on the mouse. I have big hands and found it to be a perfect fit, but people will smaller hands will struggle (especially when reaching for the buttons). The RGB effects are fine. I like that they are subtle, but you aren’t really seeing the effects anyways.

Engraving

I opted to get my M811 Pro engraved. The engraving is clean and legible, but it isn’t very visible if the RGB is off. I is a nice enough effect for those who want to add a touch of personality to their accessories, but I wouldn’t personally wouldn’t spend the extra money on getting an engraving. It is nice to look down at my desk and see my name light up though. I guess I am a little conceited in that way.

Performance

The Aatrox M811 Pro works great out of the box. I was up and gaming without having to adjust any of the settings. I did eventually opt for a more faster dpi setting because of my workflow, but I didn’t have a need to install third party software. After my week of testing, I didn’t notice any dips in performance. The mouse is responsive enough for Guild Wars 2 meta events and some pvp. I might reprogram the side buttons for a more efficient loadout in the future, but for now, it’s good enough. The battery life is very impressive, and I was able to get about the 20 advertised hours of use. I appreciate any excuse to eliminate wire clutter.

Comfort

Comfort is where I had issues with the M811 pro. Now I have repetitive stress injury that requires a certain level of ergonomics. My experience isn’t universal. There are cheap mice out that there that leave my hand with so much pain, I lose the use my hands. It never got that bad with the M811, but there was enough soreness that prompted frequent breaks. I could get a respectable hour of use between those breaks, which is probably healthier than the alternative. The shape does feel perfect for the size of my hand, but I would have preferred a steeper slant for a more natural grip.

I like the idea of the slanted buttons, but it did get some getting used to. The top four buttons were easy to reach, but I had trouble with the bottom four. The placement put my hand in an awkward position that would trigger some discomfort. Again, this isn’t going to be an issue for everyone, but it is an issue for the older gamers like me who need better ergonomics. If you just need a beater mouse for travel or LAN parties and don’t want to risk losing your expensive mouse, its comfortable enough.

Conclusion

For the price, you aren’t getting much better than the Aatrox M811 pro (or the wired version for added savings). You get a mouse with enough buttons for what you need, with enough quality to get you back into the game. If you need an ergonomic solution, this shouldn’t be your main mouse. For me, its good enough because of how long parenting allows me to game, but those with more time to game won’t like it. While the quality is solid, especially for the price point, I don’t expect it to be a for ever mouse. It is good for those who need a spare, a beater, or a travel mouse, but it isn’t a permanent solution. As someone who has done a lot of gaming with several different mice, I would argue that none ever are.

If you are looking for a mouse that works, don’t need special ergonomics, and don’t want to spend a premium, the Redragon M811 Pro is a solid choice. You can pick yours up on the official Redragon store, or on Amazon through my affiliate link.

KiiBOOM Phantom81 V4 Where Performance Meets Aesthetic

Disclaimer

KiiBOOM sent me the Phantom81 V4 mechanical keyboard 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. Make sure you also check out my reviews for the Phantom81 lite and and the Phantom98 lite. I’ll also be using my Amazon Affiliate link where possible. It really helps me out if you use it before buying anything.

Table of Contents

What’s in the Box?

  • Phantom81 V4
  • USB-C to USB-A Braded Cable
  • Wireless Dongle
  • Key Puller
  • Switch Puller
  • Cleaning Cloth
  • Stickers
  • Lore Book
  • User Manual

Unboxing

Features

If you are looking for a cute keyboard that is fit right into your cozy aesthetic but also carry you through raid night, you can’t go wrong with KiiBOOM keyboards. Their newest version of the Phantom81 (V4), maximizes its cuteness while delivering the high quality and performance I expect from KiiBook keyboards.

Aesthetic

KiiBOOM continues to prove that it has the cutest collection of keyboards with the newest version of the Phantom81. This 75% keyboard comes in three colors: pink, clear, and black. I got my Phantom81 in pink because I love pink, but I am sure the other colors are cool too.

As always, you are getting a clean designed gasket that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The clear keycaps are cute, but they are designed for a comfortable tying experience. Each lights up with a beautiful and customizable back light for those who prefer the light light show, but it can just as easily be turned off for a more subtle keyboard experience. The semi-translucent body gives it that extra flare. Those cute little paw feet at the bottom are functional while maximizing the keyboard’s cozy aesthetic.

Comfort

The Phantom81 looks good while providing users a comfortable experience. The contoured keycaps feel good to the touch, while the switches give the soft typing experience needed for those long gaming sessions. The gasket design and the Pink Rose switches work together to create the iconic typing sound you want from a mechanical keyboard. While the keyboard does not have kickstands for adjusting the typing angle, the default angle is ideal for most users.

Perfomance

If you are looking for a keyboard that also compliments your gaming, the Phantom81 V4 is ready to deliver. The keyboard promises fast, low latency connections on all three modes: wired, wireless, and Bluetooth. It also has VIA support for a bit more versatility. Get ready to load it up with all the macros and speed run through all your activities! The 8000mAh battery will give you peace of mind on either of the wireless connections, but the high quality braided cable is there for you when you need it the most. For you crazies like me out there that consistently switch between devices, the keyboard suppord a wireless dongle and three Bluetooth 5.0 connections.

Sound Test

Review

I may be the biggest KiiBOOM fanboy at this point, but for good reason. KiiBOOM once again delivers a high quality product that looks good, feels great, and keeps up with all my gaming needs. If you are looking for an aesthetic upgrade, and have the means to splurge a bit, the Phantom81 V4 is a worth it every single time.

Quality

I have never had an issue with KiiBOOM products, even when my mailman destroys my package. This keyboard was very well packaged, in possibly one of the cutest presentations I’ve come across in my short career reviewing their products. The keyboard itself is well machined, without any visible signs of cheapness or imperfections. The keycaps are all clean and well injected, and they feel wonderful to the touch. The Phantom81 V4 looks and feels like a luxury keyboard, and perfect for those looking for a clean and cozy aesthetic.

Aesthetic

The Phantom81 V4 is perfect for those looking for a cute keyboard. The semi-transparent design is well executed, giving it a unique look and feel. The RGB looks good, and gives the keyboard its unique flare. Some people may not like the rave on their desk, but I am always a fan. The keyboard looks good with everything off, if that’s more your vibe. Speaking of vibes, the cute cat paws that keep the keyboard stable are adorable. While no one will ever see them, I like the fact that my keyboard has cat paws. (My daughter loves it too). This keyboard is clean and elegant, and ready to upgrade your aesthetic with its presence alone.

Performance

I have never had an issue with the a KiiBoom product, and I am happy to report that it didn’t start now. During my testing, I didn’t notice any ghosting or latency. The keyboard handled all my gaming (mostly Guild Wars 2) without much issue. Who else is excited for Guild Wars 3 tho?

Switching between connections was quick and seamless. I didn’t notice any reduction in performance between connections or devices. I didn’t play around with VIA too much outside of the few data entry macros I use for work, but setting those up was easy. I am sure anyone can maximize the keyboards utility with a bit more effort. The battery life is amazing, and I can’t really remember how many times I had to charge this keyboard. I think I got at least 10 hours of use with everything on, but I always lost track of time because it felt so long. The Phantom81 V4 is as reliable for gaming as the advertising suggests, and I am sad I need to move on to other keyboards.

Comfort

Usually when I try out keyboards, there is a period of awkwardness where I have to adjust to the new keyboard. The differences in layout, switches, keycaps, and size always take some getting used to. Sometimes, this means a painful day or two of adjustment, but I didn’t get that with the Phantom81 V4. I wouldn’t say this is an ergonomic keyboard, but it is ergonomic enough to keep my repetitive stress injury at bay for those long typing sessions. While my wife hated every minute of this keyboard, I appreciate the soothing thacky typing sound that comes unique to the phantom series. It is a little on the loud side, so be mindful of where you use it. Some folks are weird and don’t appreciate the typing ASMR like we do.

Conclusion

The Phantom81 V4 proves KiiBOOM is a brand that can deliver a cute aesthetic without sacrificing on quality or performance. If you are looking for a excuse to upgrade your aesthetic, here it is. This keyboard works great, but but will look even better on your desk. You can pick up your Phantom81 V4 from the official KiiBOOM store, or on Amazon through my affiliate link.

Is Dragon Star Varnir Good? Gameplay Insights Inside

Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Dragon Star Varnir 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 Dragon Star Varnir

Dragon Star Varnir is a unique JRPG where you get to eat dragons. The game is playable on Steam, GoG, PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch. I played this game on Steam and am happy to report that this game is Steam Deck compatible.

Hook

Zephy was once a proud who hunted dragons and witches in the name of the king. He loved his country and fulfilled his role with honorl, until the day the hunt proved too difficulty. A dragon brings Zephy to the brink of death. Fortunately, a group of witches find him and save him by feeding him dragon blood. Drinking the blood transforms Zephy into a witch, the very thing he was tasked on hunting. Unfortunately, this new found power leaves him exiled, and the knights he once served with, hunt him mercilessly. Take control of a group of witches, harness their powers, devour more dragons, and fight off the forces that hunt them. Will they be strong enough to find a peaceful life, or will they be another group of dead witches?

Gameplay

Dragon Star Varnir is your typical turn-based rpg, but one that goes a little heavy on the story. There is a lot of reading, with a dungeon delve grind to break things up.

Exploration

In between story beats, players will explore a dungeon filled with roaming enemies. There are no random encounters, but players can aggro the NPCs. Like other games in the genre, players can attack roaming enemies for an advantage. Striking an enemy first gives players advantage on initiative, while striking from behind means the enemy starts the battle damaged. Each character in your party has unique abilities that interact with the environment to help exploration. For example, Zephy can break magical barriers and unlock new areas of the map. The game incentivizes exploration through its hidden treasures and gathering system.

Combat

Dragon Star Varnir has your typical turn-based structure. Players perform an action each turn. They can cast a spell, perform an attack, use an item, or devour a dragon. What makes combat unique is that the field is verticle. Players and enemies can spread ever three levels: ground, middle, and high. Players need to be in the same plane to perform an attack. This means positioning is important, especially when it comes to AOE attacks. During combat, players can also devour a dragon to gain special abilities. This allows players to have unique builds, but it also leaves players with a bit of repetitive grind.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

This game works great on the Steam Deck, and the only way I played it after a while. The game works great on my PC, but there is something nostalgic about playing a JRPG on handheld that I will always favor. I am a huge fan of being able to put the Steam Deck to sleep when I need to step away and be a dad, especially when I am playing a game that has this much reading.

Review

I am a huge fan of JRPGs, and Dragon Star Varnir is a solid title. The game has great art, a solid story, but it does feel a little dated. I thought this game was a port for a PSP game I missed, but it is a modern game. While the game does attempt some interesting mechanics, it feels more like a visual novel with a bit of a dungeon delve and you have to be okay with a lot of reading, and a bit of a preoperative grind. This game is a great add if you find it on sale, like it is as of writing this review (until July 9th 2026).

Aesthetic

There are two parts to this game: story and exploration. The story portions of this game are fantastic. The character art is amazing, and there is enough fan service to keep me invested. I definitely have my favorite girl. The problem I have with this game is when you get to the exploration. The world is ugly. Each level and a few of the monsters feel homogeneous. The dungeons feel empty and I didn’t really have much fun exploring. It feels like a much older game which is fine for the folks who like this era of JRPG, but it is going to be a deal breaker for the modern gamer trying to break into the genre. For $5 bucks, or even 10, you can’t really go wrong. Especially since a lot of the game feels like it exists in the story.

Combat

The combat in this game is fine, but it is a little too simple. The game introduces mechanics like the planar combat, but doesn’t really do much with it. Players also have access to a lot of skills that feel useless. A lot of the combat felt like I was just repeating the same actions, only to slightly change up the spells for the boss monsters. This is fine since a lot of the time I was on auto-grind while I caught up on some Anime, but also, I was only playing to see what happens to the latest of my waifus.

Grind

I come to JRPGs expecting a grind, but the kind of grind is what makes or breaks the game for me. Dragon Star Varnir doesn’t have a soul crushing grind. The game lets you skip encounters, and there is a feature that automates combat. You can even skip the animations. That means you can sit back and chill and grind, although you don’t really need to. You might want to grind some extra souls to help build up your characters or cash for items, but I went in as casually as one can play a JRPG and got through it just fine. It wasn’t a speed run by any means, but it was respectable for my lifestyle.

Story

I’ll admit that I enjoyed the story. This isn’t one of those award-winning games that will cement itself in the zeitgeist of our generation, but it is a story I enjoyed reading. The game has a solid cast of voice actors, and the writing was good enough to keep me invested. I wouldn’t go out of my way to play this game for its story, it does feel like generic anime at points, but I am always in need for some generic anime to keep me sane in these troubling times. I recommend checking it out when you want something to unwind to, and you get blessed with some hot Steam sale action.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a JRPG to fill a void and happen to be around for the amazing Steam sale (only $6 until July 9th 2026), jump on it. You get cool art, a solid story, and good enough mechanics to keep you busy. You’ve got better options, like Beloved Rapture or Alterium Shift, but the game has enough charm and charisma to earn at least one play through. Just not for $30. If you are a fan of JRPGs, especially the older PSP ones you might have a better justifying the price, but as a broke boy trying to survive, this feels like a lot of money.

Trailer

Explore the Quirky Charm of Hyperdimension Neptunia

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.

Trailer

Mary Skelter Finale: Is it the Best RPG for Old School Fans?

Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Mary Skeleter Finale 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 May Skelter Finale?

Mary Skelter Finale is a dungeon crawling RPG out now on Steam, PS4 and the Nintendo Switch. If you like anime and dark fantasy, this might be the game for you.

Hook

Deep within an ancient prison, a group of fairy tale heroes make their daring escape. Surrounded by monsters known as Marchen and madness-inducing monsters, they must fight their way through to freedom. But this will not be easy, and their latest obsticale seems almost impossible. The group finds themselves surrounded by pools of blood and piles of dead bodies. Even more powerful monsters fight back the blood maidens, forcing a retreat that leaves them scattered throughout the tower. They must use their special abilities and any loot they find along the way to get out of this prison. Will they ever know freedom, or are they doomed to become part of the piles of dead bodies?

Gameplay

This game plays like an old school dungeon crawler. The game is split into two parts, exploration and combat. Players will explore the dungeon in a unique first person view, in search of loot and a way out. Random encounters will keep players on their toes as they are forced into traditional turn based combat. Each character and team has unique skills and abilities that they can use to keep enemies at bay, with options for further customization through a unique skill crafting system. You can essentially buy the skills you want each character to have.

What makes this game truly unique is its swapping mechanic. All of the characters have been scattered throughout the tower in teams. Players must switch between each team to progress through the story. This shift in perspective helps give the narrative its complexity, but it also makes the grind feel a bit more tedious. Either way, if you like these old school feeling dungeon crawlers, it might be worth checking out the Mary Skelter series.

Review

I have mixed feelings about this title. On one hand, this game has fantastic art and solid story, but starting at the end left me a little confused. I wish I would have started from the start. The gameplay loop is fine, but it does suffer from being a port of a game from a grindier generation. There are a few noticeable bugs, but I didn’t encounter anything game braking, and the combat feels a bit repetitive. The game is also hard if you try to play it mindlessly. This game demands respect for its mechanics, and the mechanics aren’t always clear. (This might be a skill issue). All in all, I think the game is fine, but start at the beginning.

Aesthetic

What drew me, and I am sure a lot of people, to this game is the art. The character design in this game is peak, especially if you are fan of anime. The world feels a little bare, but I’ll chalk that up to resource restrictions. The game does have a fantastic sound track and even better voice actors to bring this story to life. If you like anime, you’ll enjoy the dark and gritty world and cool anime characters that fill it.

Gameplay

Here is where I can see there being a split. If you like old school dungeon crawlers, the game has enough of a modern flare to be appealing to the modern gamer, but the game feels dated and the grind is a little steep. You really get sense of how grindy this game is when you switch between teams and it feels like you are starting over. I love these kinds of games and found the repetition soothing, but as a busy dad, it felt like I never accomplished enough.

The problem I have with this title is that you can only save at certain points. This is well in good for building tension, but not good when you have to step away for dadly duties. This game was clearly made to be played on a handheld where you can put the device to sleep, and not lose any progress. I had to start my save over a few times (often losing hours of progress) because I never got to the save point in time. I am so glad this game works on the Steam Deck, or else I would still be playing through the prologue.

Does it work on the Steam Deck?

This game is great on the Steam Deck, at least during my testing. The words are a little small, but that could just be a simptom of these old eyes. Otherwise, I was able to perform the core gameplay loop and most importantly, progress through enough of the story to write this review.

Story

The story is fine, but I felt a little lost. The game does a good enough job at being a stand alone adventure, but I felt like I was missing key plot points that would help me care more about the story. Moreover, I didn’t feel as attached as I should be to the characters because I didn’t get to spend enough time with them. While I like the story for the dark and gory fantasy that it is, I am not getting enough of the story to care. Without having read any of the other installments, I can kind of tell that this might be the weakest of the trilogy. That said, I liked the story enough, and will try to go back to the beginning to learn more. If you like dark fantasy anime, this is a solid tittle, but start at the beginning.

Conclusion

If you like visual novels and don’t mind the old school drungeon-crawl grind, Mary Skelter is an interesting series that is worth looking into. You get a world with cool art, solid lore, and interesting gameplay. The biggest determining factor seems to be the grind. If you don’t mind this era of rpg grind, start at the beginning. $40 seems a little too steep for this title because of how dated it feels, but if you’ve been enjoying the story, you get a solid conclusion. Check it out, but start from the beginning. You can pick up your copy on Steam, PS4 and the Nintendo Switch.

If you enjoy these types of old school Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society

Trailer

Explore Neptunia’s Quirky Zombie Adventure

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!

Trailer