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video game reviews

Ikki Unite is a Cute Little Game to Play with Friends

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I was sent a free copy of Ikki Unite 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 of the game. If you enjoy these reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. If you’re looking for a quality budget headset, check out the Fifine H9 Gaming Headset using my Amazon Affiliate link. Make sure you check out my full review. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Ikki Unite?


Ikki Unite is a pixel art, bullet hell action roguelike out now on Steam ($11.99) and Switch ($14.99).

Join up with your friends and fight against hordes of enemies in the most time-crunching and intense fight of your life. Try it solo, or team up with up to 16 as you defend the town from locusts, monkeys, and other beasts. Make sure you beat the bosses before time runs out. How far can you and your friends get?

Gameplay

The loop for this game is simple. If you play solo, you choose your character, load in, and start fighting swarms of enemies as you attempt to complete the quest before time runs out. The loop is the same in multiplayer, but you get a random hero that you can reroll once.

The game auto attacks, but players need to maneuver characters carefully to keep them alive. Enemies will occasionally drop coins, and players use these coins to buy random upgrades. Players can buy a random weapon, stat boost, or companion to make runs easier. As enemies get tougher, the choices you make for upgrades start to matter more. Make sure you always choose carefully. You won’t need a guide to get through this game, but it pays off to be mindful from the start.

The run is over when a player’s life points go to zero, or time runs out. Players can extend the time limit by completing quests. Quests are not marked. Ikki Unite’s main challenge is finding the balance between farming the endless mobs of enemies and searching for the bosses within the always fleeting time limit.

Bad RNG will absolutely ruin a run. While I do feel the RNG is consistently fair, there were one or two runs that were impossible from the start. Some heroes are worse than others. While this may be an issue with playstyle preference, a bad hero will ruin a run just as badly as the game’s RNG. I recommend you try all the heroes out in single-player first so that you know when to reroll if you ever find yourself in a multiplayer game.

Multiplayer in my region is dead, and I can’t speak about the online experience. From what I’ve read, the game’s performance varies by region. If you want to play this game in multiplayer, you’ll need to play with friends. The solo experience is valid, but I can see this game being more fun with friends.

Review

I enjoyed this Ikki Unite. Not as much as Brotato, but well enough that I can recommend it. The game has an adorable retro vibe with a terrific soundtrack. The gameplay is chill, but it can be challenging if you aren’t paying attention. The characters are unique and the attacks are quirky and flavorful. This is a solid game for those looking for a game with a retro vibe with a modern feel. I see this game being better if you have friends to go in with you, but the solo experience is valid. I am a little disappointed that I never found an online match, but maybe you’ll get lucky.

I found the gameplay relaxing but with enough of a challenge to keep things engaging. While this isn’t a game I can nolife, it is a game I can pick up when I want a change of pace or want to have a wacky time with my friends. If you’re in the mood for an action roguelike, Ikki Unite is a solid choice.

You can pick up Ikki Unite on Steam ($11.99) and Switch ($14.99).

video game reviews

Terra Memoria: The Cute RPG You Should Already be Playing

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I was sent a free copy of Terra Memoria 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. If you enjoy these reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. If you’re looking for a quality budget headset, check out the Fifine H9 Gaming Headset using my Amazon Affiliate link. Make sure you check out my full review. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Terra Memoria?

Terra Memoria is a pixel art turn based RPG out now for PC, Xbox, Switch, and PlayStation

Terra is a world of magic and magical technology. For years, innovation has been powered by magical crystals mined from the earth. But a shortage has hit Terra, and access to these crystals grows increasingly scarce by the minute. The citizens of Terra grow uneasy as the world around them begins to shut down. Luckily, Fate has willed a group together a group with the power to change everything. What secrets will they uncover? Can Terra ever be restored to what it used to be?

Gameplay

Terra Memoria is an adorable RPG with interesting mechanics that help it stand out against other titles in the genre. I particularly enjoyed how the game handles crafting, gear, and combat.

Crafting and leveling are done at campfires or inns in town. Make sure you visit them often. As you battle monsters in the field, you’ll collect materials and experience points. Getting to a rest area automatically levels your character, and I appreciate that simplicity. Crafting is what makes the rest areas an interesting mechanic.

Crafting armor and cooking is done during a party’s rest, provided you have the right amount of materials. This is not only flavorful, but it means you don’t have to keep running back to town for upgrades if you plan accordingly. Cooking is done through a simple rhythm mini-game that you can fail if you’re not paying attention. Failing a recipe means you lose the materials, and materials can be scarce in the beginning. Cooking permanently raises your party’s HP, so eat often. This is the only way to raise your HP, and tougher enemies will wipe your party if you haven’t been easy. I appreciate that cooking isn’t just a gimmick, and I didn’t mind the mini-game.

Crafting weapons is just a press of a button. Unlike most games, gear in Terra Memoria comes in the form of stickers. This is such a cute idea, and I wanted to craft them all. Stickers grant buffs to the elements a character can use. Each attaching character can only carry three stickers at a time, and these stickers make a difference.

Terra Memoria’s combat system is the reason why you should play this game. When combat starts, characters and enemies are placed in a space on the timeline. When a character uses an attack, they are moved several spaces on the timeline based on the attack. For example, casting a punch attack will move a character four spaces in the timeline.

Characters have access to fast and slow actions. Fast actions are weaker, but they cost less spaces. Slow actions are more powerful, but move your character to the end of the order. Landing in an occupied space means you go after. The key to combat in Terra Memoria is taking advantage of the action economy, enemy weaknesses, and shield breaks. Breaking an enemy’s shield moves them to the end of the combat round, so try to do so often.

What makes combat exciting is the RNG. The party is made up of three main attackers and three characters to support them as pairs. While the three main attackers are always the same, the pairs are chosen randomly at the start of each combat. You can restrict the pairs you don’t want, but you can never choose your pairs. Each support character has a unique ability that changes how the main character attacks. This gives the party a very diverse move pool, but it also means you’re going to get pairings that don’t feel optimal. Make sure you restrict your choices as soon as the option is available.

Some abilities are stagnant, but Opals is also driven by RNG. Sometimes you’ll pull the exact pairings with the correct elements, and others you’ll have to deal with what you are given. I never felt like the RNG was unfair, and it always felt amazing when the stars aligned perfectly.

There is a grind to this game, as there typical for the genre, but it doesn’t feel soul-crushing. The RNG kept things interesting, and there was always a chance I would mess up and have to start over.

Review

I loved Terra Memoria. If you’re looking for a new RPG, this game should be on your list. This game is cute, quirky, and a whole lot of fun. The story for this game is well written. It is a little on the silly side, but I appreciate the dedication to its tone and theme. It made the game feel like a wholesome good time.

If it wasn’t clear, I enjoyed the game’s mechanics immensely. Combat was engaging and fun, crafting didn’t feel like busy work, and collecting the cute stickers became an obsession. I didn’t even mind the grind. You can over-level, so be mindful. The bosses always seemed to offer a decent challenge, so it wasn’t a huge issue.

Puzzles in this game are creative, and challenging, but don’t require a guide. There is a building mechanic. I don’t care much for building, but it is cute and is sure to eat away at your life. My only complaint is that I would get lost a lot, but I am famously bad at directions. If you’re a fan of classic RPGs without waypoints, this game is for you.

I loved Terra Memoria, and I think you will do. It is cute, fun, and very addicting.

You can pick up Terra Memoria PC, Xbox, Switch, and PlayStation for $19.99.

Pokemon TCG

The Pokemon Battle Academy is a Great Place to Start Learning

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If you’re looking to learn to play or teach someone to play the Pokemon Trading Card Game, the Battle Academy is a fantastic starting point. Keep in mind that this product was designed for kids and includes a more streamlined and stripped-down version of what you see in competitive play. If you’re trying to get into the competitive play, playing on PTCL for the automation and picking up the deck you want to take to locals is where you want to start. If you’re trying to onboard your kids or someone who doesn’t do much TCG, the Battle Academy sets are a fantastic product for you. 

What’s in the Box?

Pokemon Battle Academy kits come with everything you need to get you started with the TCG. I know the 2024 version is coming June 24, but the 2022 is good enough and its cheap! The box includes:

  • 3 60-card decks (Cinderace V, Eevee V, and Pikachu V)
  • 2 player gameboard
  • 3 Tutorial Guides
  • Coin
  • Cardboard damage counters

Quality

The quality is fantastic. The cards are printed nicely, with very cute foil mascots for each deck. The gameboard is easy to read, feels sturdy, and is easy to fold. I love the game board. It makes this kit feel like a board game you want to pull out when you want to play an even match of Pokemon TCG. The guides are easy to read and follow and are very handy if you don’t know how to play the game. We didn’t use them when we played, but I’ll explain in the review section below. 

The damage counters the kit are fine, but I prefer using dice. I feel like the cardboard cutouts are unnecessarily messy, and don’t look as nice. I swapped mine out for dice. 

The kit comes neatly packed in a plastic insert with sections big enough to store all the materials. My complaint is that it only fits the unsleeved decks. Sleeved decks will spill out of their compartments and get mixed up in transit. The product wasn’t made with crazy people like me who sleeve everything, so it’s not a huge deal. The decks do come numbered so if they get mixed up, you can put them back in order before the next lesson. Overall, I am happy with the presentation and it looks great on the shelf. 

The Teaching Experience

I used the Battle Academy to teach my ten-year-old cousin who collects Pokemon cards how to play the card game. He’s never played a trading card game, and I have more years of experience than I would like to admit. We didn’t use the guides, although he did flip through to look at the pictures. Instead, we set up and started taking our turns. We played our first game with our hands showing as I walked him through the phases and rules. I recommend the decks in order for this first game because it makes teaching easier.  

On my turn, I would show him my cards, and explain what I was doing, and why. On his turn, I would let him make his turn, and assist if there were things he missed or didn’t understand. I would occasionally explain strategies that didn’t seem obvious. He picked up the rules pretty quickly. By the end of the first game, he was ready to play on his own. 

The second game we played with our hands concealed and I would only chime in when needed. Aside from a few missed phases, towards the beginning, he didn’t need much guidance. He won his second game, and he was hooked. He even asked me if I had different decks, which I definitely do. 

Review

The Pokemon Battle Academy is the product you get if you want to teach someone who has never played a card game into the hobby. The gameplay is streamlined enough to make teaching and learning easy, but not so easy that it isn’t engaging. While it won’t get you ready to win the next regionals, it will build that solid foundation every good trainer needs. 

The key thing to consider before making this purchase is skill level. As previously stated, trainers who want to take on the hobby seriously have better avenues, especially when considering that the cards included in the Battle Academy aren’t standard legal. They have special stamps and numbers to indicate this. On the other hand, if you’re casually trying to onboard a friend or get your kids interested in the TCG, this is great.

The decks themselves are pretty balanced and easy to learn. I do feel like the Eevee deck is a little easier, but not enough to make a difference. The decks will lack the consistency, power, and speed of the meta decks, but they are fun casual decks. Once you grasp the fundamentals and figure out you like the game, you can start buying into the archetype you want to play. Pokemon meta decks are pretty cheap, but you can always proxy if your funds are limited. 

I love this product. It is a great way to teach your reading-aged kids or anyone casually looking into the card game. You won’t be ready for the current meta, but you’ll have fun learning the fundamentals. If you have kids on the younger side, the best place to start is with the My First Battle product. Check out my full review. 

You can pick up the 2022 Battle Academy on TCG Player for $14 using my affiliate link. Be sure to read the description carefully! Some people are only selling the individual decks and not the whole kit. You can also wait for the 2024 Battle Academy to launch on June 24 if you want a kit with more modern mechanics. I don’t think it matters if you’re just using this product to play casually, but that is totally up to you. 

If you enjoy these reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

video game reviews

Go Play Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord

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I was sent a free copy of Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord 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. If you’re looking for a quality budget headset, check out the Fifine H9 Gaming Headset using my Amazon Affiliate link. Make sure you check out my full review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials. 

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord is remake for the classic dungeon crawler from the Apple II era of gaming out now on on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and PC via Steam and GOG for $39.99.

Hire your team of adventurers and dive into the perilous maze. But your trek won’t be an easy one. The Mad Overlord is on your tail, and he is sending everything in his power to put an end to your adventure. Fight monsters, disarm traps, find treasure, and conquer the labyrinth. Do you have what it takes to carve your name into history, or will you be another of the maze’s casualties? 

Gameplay

Players start the game by creating heroes or hiring them from the tavern. Once a six-person adventuring party has been established, players can dive into the maze and conquer all its secrets. 

Players move through the maze one space at a time, with random encounters and traps to keep things interesting. Combat is a turn-based system with some unique mechanics. The adventuring party is split evenly into a front and back row. The front row can attack, the back row parries, and both rows can cast magic. There is a strategy to this combat. I don’t believe a guide is needed, but you do need to be mindful of your party’s composition, character traits and abilities, and your resources. 

The hardest mechanic in Wizardry is navigating through the dungeon. I have a terrible sense of direction and spent a lot of my playthrough running in circles. I eventually did start to remember where I was going and got deeper into the dungeon. I recommend you map out your run so you don’t make the same mistake. 

Wizardry has an unavoidable grind, but one that doesn’t feel so bad. Because I was constantly worried about my party’s health, and resources, and trying to find the way back to town, runs felt intense and scary. This game is very unforgiving if you’re wasteful and aren’t planning properly. 

The game is a solid remake that not only captures the spirit of the classic RPG, the much-needed quality of life changes make the game fun, exciting, and more accessible. 

Review

I’ve always had a soft spot for classic dungeon crawlers, and Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord is no exception. The art and soundtrack of this game are fantastic, and I appreciate the nods to the original game. It is cool to see how far things have come since the Apple 2 Days without losing any of the spirit of the original.

The gameplay is fun, and the difficulty is appropriate. The game was hard enough to keep things engaging without ever being frustrating. The hardest part about this game is navigating through the dungeon, but that is all part of the immersion and what makes this game unique and engaging. The game can feel a little repetitive at times, but I found the repetition soothing. The grind is not as bad as other games in the genre. You can play the original mode if you prefer without any of the quality of life changes, which is a great nostalgic trip for anyone who needs it.

If you’re a fan of fantasy and want something that feels retro but with a modern pace, you need to pick up Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord. 

You can pick up Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and PC via Steam and GOG for $34.99. 

Grand Archive TCG

Grand Archive: Silvie, Slime Sovereign Re:Collection Box Review

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I was able to snag a Silvie, Slime Sovereign Re:Collection box at MSRP. The prices are going down on TCG player so if your LGS ran out, you can snag one on TCG Player using my affiliate link.

Whats in the Box?

The recollection box gets you:

  • Slivie preconstructed 60 card main deck and 12-card material deck
  • 100 ct. Silvie Dragon Shield art Sleves
  • A set of cards to compete the playsets for your Main Deck
  • Damage Counter
  • Art Deviders
  • 3 x Mercurial Heart Booster Packs

Thoughts

I didn’t pull any of the collector secret rares, I will never be that lucky, but I am happy with the product. The box is very nice and sturdy. Mine came a little dented, but its going to get beat up anyways. I am a huge fan of the magnetic latch and a bigger fan of the art on the inside flap.

The box is a little too small for my taste. It doesn’t fit any of my regular deck boxes like a Pokemon ETB does, but this isn’t a deal breaker. The box does fit three sleeved decks without a box including side board with enough room for dividers and counters, but I feel like pulling out a deck is more convenience. You can fit about three of the included Dragon Shield cardboard deck boxes which is fine, but the deckbox is only big enough for a sleeved main and material deck. You’ll have to find another solution for your sideboard.

The included deck box is fine. It has cute matching artwork and you can label the top, but it is cardboard. Although it is somewhat sturdy, you’re going to replace it. Mine is dented, but it is a valid solution for now. Again, not a deal breaker since I can buy a better solution.

The included sleeves are great! I love the art on the mat back. Dragon Shield makes great quality sleeves, and these are no exception.

The Re:Collection boxes are a great product, and I am glad I bought mine. I haven’t had a chance to try out the decks, but as a collector, I am satisfied. They boxes look great, and they will look amazing on your shelf, sealed or not. A playset of the main deck cards is a nice little bonus. Most importantly, the recollection boxes are the only way to get your hands on the Tristan and Silvie collector rares. I wasn’t so lucky, but maybe you will. Either way, I am happy with my purchase and can’t wait to bust it out!

video game reviews

S.O.L. Search of Light is an Interesting Little Puzzler

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I was sent a free copy of S.O.L Search of Light to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions of the game. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. If you’re looking for a good budget gaming headset, check out the Fifine H9s using my Amazon Affiliate link. You can check my full review here. 

Don’t forget to follow my socials! 

What is S.O.L. Search of Light?

S.O.L. is a puzzle adventure game with unique tower defense mechanics to keep things interesting. The game is out now on Steam, Switch, and PlayStation. 

You find yourself alone in a dark and strange world. As you make your way through your journey you will uncover strange new technology that will help you find a brighter future. Build your base, search for resources, solve puzzles, and fight off monsters. Most importantly, keep your base safe. What secrets will you uncover in the darkness?

Gamplay

S.O.L. is split into three phases: build, adventure, and defense. 

In the build phase, players use their farmed resources to bolster their base’s defenses. They can construct buildings, upgrade existing ones, or assign roles to their hired drones. This stage is pretty straightforward. I don’t believe you’ll need a build guide, but you should be mindful of your resources. Resources are limited, and wastefulness will be punished.

Once a player is done with their build phase, they can set off on adventures. Adventures are set up in typical randomized roguelike fashion. Players have the choice of paths and activities they can do. They can solve puzzles for coins and materials, fight monsters for resources, or recruit drones to work at their base. There are also randomized events that will either grant a player a boon or give them a punishing debuff. Resources do influence a player’s decision, but the game never feels like a railroad. Most importantly, the RNG seems fair and the runs never feel repetitive. 

In between adventures, monsters will invade a player’s base. Players must defend their base against a wave of enemies. The portal closes when all enemies are defeated. Hopefully, your base doesn’t get too destroyed and you don’t die. Dying or losing your base means restarting from zero. This stage is very manageable, and I always felt there was enough time to prepare between invasions. My only complaint is that the AI for the drones is dumb, and they will run into enemies and die. In a game where resource management is important, this can be a bit annoying. This isn’t a deal breaker, but it is a noticeable issue. 

Combat in this game is pretty basic. Players have access to a basic melee attack for adventure and defense phases. In the defense phase, towers and traps will do most of the damage, but well-placed melee attacks are appreciated. Enemy AI can be outsmarted, which is nice. 

The puzzles in this game are challenging without being impossible. I love puzzle games, and S.O.L. is no exception. The blend of genres keeps the game refreshing. My only complaint is that it is possible to get stuck in a puzzle where you have to reset the whole game to get free. I wish there were a way to reset just the puzzle, but that would take away some of the pressure from the survival aspect of this game. 

Review

The game is fun and addicting. I was either stressed about building the perfect base or stressed about staying alive. This stress made the game engaging, and even though I wasn’t good enough to make it to the end, I had fun trying. 

If you’re looking for a unique puzzle game with neat flavor and interesting mechanics, S.O.L. Search of Light is a solid choice. Its cute, its fun, and its different in a good way. S.O.L is the type of game you want to pick up for a fun couple of hours, but don’t want a long term commitment.

You can buy your copy of S.O.L. Search of Light Steam, Switch, and PlayStation for $19.99.

video game reviews

Action Fubuki was Okay, but not Really Worth the Time or Money

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I was sent a free copy of Action Fubuki 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. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. If you’re looking for a great budget headset, pick up a pair of the Fifine H9 Gaming headset using my Amazon affiliate link. Check out the full review here. 

Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Action Fubuki?

The Evil Elon Dusk, CEO of the EXE Company, is using his power and influence to conduct harmful experiments on innocent people. You have been recruited by the Special Action Agency (SAA) to stop his plans and save his victims. Armed with your famous Goro Taijutsu, you must fight your way through hordes of his minions. Do you have what it takes to save the world from his wrath?

Gameplay

Action Fubuki has a simple gameplay loop. Players enter a room where they must defeat all required enemies before advancing to the next stage. The difficulty increases between rooms, and progress is reset after death. Combat is chaotic, full of explosions and flashy animations, but the performable actions are limited. While there is some story for flavor, it doesn’t matter. The goal of Action Fubuki is to get as far as you can without dying while collecting all the points. 

Impressions

While Action Fubuki has some charm, I can’t recommend this game. None of the overly flashy animations can distract from the fact that this game isn’t finished. Combat feels clunky and unoptimized. While I had fun for the first few minutes, it got old quickly. Once you look past all the explosions and flashing lights, you really aren’t doing anything. There might be skill involved in this game, but the lack of optimization will ruin runs. I saw noticeable dips in the game’s performance when I tried to record it, and the game crashed a few too many times for my liking. It isn’t an unplayable piece of shovelware, but you can be spending your money elsewhere. 

I didn’t hate this game, but it’s not worth recommending in its current state. What’s more, Action Fubuki seems to be an abandoned project. The game’s official Twitter has been deleted, and the game’s last update was in February. I am all for supporting the little guy, but this gamble doesn’t seem worth the investment. At least not for $11. 

You can pick up your copy of Action Fubuki on Steam for $10.99, but I wouldn’t bother. 

Grand Archive TCG

Grand Archive TCG: Re:Collection Shadowdancer card list

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Story Time!

We were out and about when we were passing my LGS. I pointed out to my wife thinking she wouldn’t want anything to do with my cardboard addiction anymore, but she pulled into the parking lot without asking any questions. The place was packed! We walked in during their Sunday events and my wife was surprised by how lively things were. As we were walking out, I saw the Tristan Re:Collection box and bought it without a second thought because they still had it at MSRP. My wife asked me if I wanted to sit down and play at one of the tables, but I think I’ll try to go in next week. I’m so excited! 

What’s in the Box?

The Re:Collection box includes:

  • Preconstructed 60 Card Main deck
  • 12 Card Material Deck
  • Tristan Dragon Shield Art Sleeves
  • A set of cards to complete the playset of cards included in preconstructed deck
  • Damage Spin Down Counter
  • Art Deviders
  • 3 Mercurial Heart Booster Packs

Impressions

The Storage and presentation for this box is so pretty. I love purple and the box has a cool design. The components are all neatly stored inside the box, and the box opens to reveal a very cool Tristan illustration. I didn’t pull the art card, but I did pull a Foil Tristan, which was an auto include in the deck. The sleeves are very cool looking, they are easy to shuffle, and feel sturdy. I also like that the deck comes with a play set of all the cards, but we’ll have to wait and see what I keep. The deck box is a little disapointing, but fair for the $50 you’re putting into it. It barely fits the sleeved up preconstructed deck, but it will do for now. The life tracker is cardboard, but the art is very pretty. It works well, but I don’t want to use it because it looks nice. I’ll be using the art dividers though because the art is cool, and there is a lower chance of them getting beat up. I haven’t gotten to play the deck yet, but I am satisfied as a collector.

Card List

Note that the box comes with a play set of all these cards, but here it the preconstructed decklist:

Material Deck
1 x Spirit of Wind
1 x Tristan, Underhanded
1 x Tristan, Hired Blade
1 x Tristan, Shadowdancer
1 x Assasin’s Mantle
1 x Curved Dagger
1 x Life Essence Amulet
1 x Poisoned Dagger
1 x Gearstride Gloves
1 x Dusksoul Stone
1 x Malignant Athame
1 x Shadeblood Coating

Main Deck
3 x Shifting Mirage
3 x Shadow Strike
3 x Shadow Resonance
2 x Haunting Demise
3 x Grim Forboding
2 x Gloamspire Headhunter
4 x Surveil the Winds
2 x Stifling Trap
4 x Sirocco Opperative
4 x Shimmercloak Assassin
3 x Cloaked Executioner
4 x Betraying Blade
2 x Arrow Trap
2 x Thieving Cut
3 x Slice and Dice
4 x Sable Remnant
1 x Mastermind Scheme
3 x Incapacitate
4 x Idle Thoughts
4 x Exploit Vulnerability

Main Deck

Main Deck

Where to buy

I would check with your LGS to see if they have any Tristan Re:Collection, Shadowdancer Box stock, otherwise you can keep checking on TCG Player.

If you haven’t picked up any Mercurial Heart, always support your LGS, but you can pick some up on TCG Player through my affiliate links. If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

Grand Archive TCG

Grand Archive: Changes to the Sideboard and New Ban List 05/24

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The Mercurial Heart season is here, and there are a couple of changes that you should be aware of if you’re trying to play the game competitively. There are new sideboarding rules, and the ban list has been updated. 

If you haven’t picked up any Mercurial Heart, always support your LGS, but you can pick some up on TCG Player through my affiliate links. If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

Changes to the Sideboard

Players are now allowed to have 15 cards in their deck as opposed the eight previously allowed. Please note that material deck cards such as Champion and Regalia take up three slots in this new system. That means that the sideboard can be made up of 5 material deck cards and 0 main deck cards, 0 material deck cards and 15 main deck cards, or a combination of the two.

Ban and Restricted List Update

Banned

There are no new bans this month, but keep in mind that following remain banned:

Category 2

Erupting Rhapsody has been moved up a category to the watch list. This means you should probably start making your decks without it in your decks because it is heading towards the chopping block.

Category 1

Chalice of blood has been added to the category 1 watch list. Category 1 is for the cards that the devs are watching as problematic, but there is no danger of a immanent ban. You can fill your decks with the following, but be mindful that a ban might come some day.

You can read the reasons for the changes on the official post.

video game reviews

Still Joking is okay at best, but a bit disappointing overall

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I was sent a free copy of Still Joking 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. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. If you’re looking for a fantastic budget gaming headset, check out the Fifine H9s using my Amazon affiliate link. Check out my full review of the headset. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Still Joking?

Still Joking is a mystery visual novel out now on Steam. Iris is the reflection of a famous actress, Selena, who only lives to emulate her prototype every time she steps in front of a mirror or reflective surface. Her last day as a reflection comes abruptly when she watches Selena get murdered in front of the mirror. Iris is now trapped between a journey of self-discovery and finding out the truth behind her primary’s murder. What will she uncover?

Gameplay

Still Joking mixes interactive fiction elements with its visual novel to create its story. Players read through the story and will on occasion be asked to make choices, ask questions, or interact with the world around them. There is no voice acting, and the game is pretty quiet compared to other games. The choices matter, but I recommend you choose for the story that is most interesting to you. 

Impressions

Still Joking was hard to get into, and even harder to recommend. The game has an interesting concept and cool art, but there are better visual novels, especially at the price point. Aside from a few sound effects and snippets of ambient music, Still Joking is a very quiet game. There is also no voice acting. I recommend you play your favorite reading music in the background if you don’t like reading in silence. I get that voice acting and music costs money, but a game like this needs something to set it apart from a book. One of the reasons I didn’t like Still Joking is that if felt like a book with extra steps. I enjoy reading books, I just don’t like having to click after every sentence to get through it. 

The few interactive moments presented feel like busy work. They don’t add to the story, and it feels like a distraction from the main story. The main story takes too long to take off. You watch the murder, and then it takes too long to set up the administrative structure of the world behind the reflection. By the time it begins to touch the mystery, I had lost all interest in the characters, motive, and anything that would have kept me engaged through the rest of the novel. I think the concept was neat, but the execution is lacking. 

If you enjoy visual novel, you have better options. I feel like if I hadn’t just finished reading something better, I would have had a better time with the title, but it would still be a hard one to recommend. If you enjoy the art and are curious about the story’s lore and concept, I would wait for the sale. 

You can pick up Still Joking on Steam for $18.99 (currently $17.09 until May 23).