I was sent a free copy of Glitch Heroto 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.
A strange glitch has trapped Ada’s father inside Codeland and it is up to Ada to rescue him. Luckily, ada is a bright young girl who knows a thing or two about coding. With the power of the Hammer.exe program and her knowledge of arrhythmical and loops, she will solve puzzles, destroy viruses, fix bugs, and save the day.
Gameplay
Ada can move around the world using her trusty hammer to defend herself against the bugs and viruses that are creating chaos in Codeland. The game plays like a simple top down hack and slash with a few puzzles and an interesting looping mechanic to break up the monotony. Occasionally players will have to create a loop or arrhythmical to solve a puzzle. Players are given a set number of actions (move, turn, attack) and a set number of spaces to move through. Players learn to build a loop as they load up a series of commands to get Ada through a puzzle.
Review
Glitch Hero is an adorable little puzzle game that is fun and wholesome, but it is on the easy side. If you’re looking for a good game for your kids that is inoffensive, fun, and educational, Glitch Hero is a fantastic option. The game has a cute and cozy artstyle, a fun and interesting story, and decent gameplay. The top-down hack-and-slash gameplay is engaging and well-designed. The loop puzzles are interesting and help the game stand out against others in the genre. The game aims to teach kids a fundamental understanding of loops, algorithms, and logic, and I believe it is a successful attempt.
As far as the challenge goes, there are three difficulties geared toward different age groups. While I am sure the intended audience will find the challenge adequate and engaging, veteran gamers will find this game too easy. Veteran players can enjoy the cozy vibe, but the lack of challenge might be the deal breaker. But if you need something for your young kids that is fun and is Steam Deck compatible, check out Glitch Hero.
I was sent a free copy of Empire for Antsto 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.
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You are an industrious scout ant tasked with expanding the empire for your beloved queen. But this is no easy task, even for the mighty ant. Enemies lurk around every corner, and it is up to you to hold them back. Command your legions of ants and fight your way through the forest floor all in the name of the queen. Will you fulfill your role and successfully expand the mighty ant empire, or will you be another nameless drone lost in the cycle?
Gameplay
Players get to experience the world from a third person view of a mighty scouting ant. Players will complete quests and command legions of ants to gather resources, attack and defend against enemies, and expand the might ant empire. Players will essentially pick up missions, platform across the wilderness, and command units to attack enemies or gather resources.
Review
Empire of Antsdoes not work on the Steam Deck, at least not without some tinkering. This isn’t a deal breaker, but I would keep away if the Steam Deck is your main source of gaming.
When booting up Empire of Ants, players will be greeted with a beautiful world and design. The graphics and art in this game are beautiful, and I spent a lot of time on exploration because of it. The combat animation for the ants is pretty good, but there is some jank. Ants other insects will randomly fly out in every direction. Other than that, the sounds, the plants, and ants all look really good.
The game itself performs well, with a few performance issues that can be a bit hard to ignore. Sometimes the ant doesn’t move in the direction you want it because it starts climbing a random branch you didn’t notice, and other times the camera doesn’t respond how you need it to. It doesn’t make the game unplayable, but they do get in the way of the immersion.
The gameplay is where this game becomes a difficult sell. The game works well, but the loop is a little repetitive. If you’re looking for a competitive RTS about ants, you might get it from multiplayer, but you won’t get it from the story. The game feels a little easier than your traditional RTS, which is fine for the casual or kid, but not for the veteran looking to pad their library. I am terrible at RTS games and found this game too easy. A lot of the game does feel like an ant platformer, which is fine, but not what some people are looking for.
This game is cute, and has some cool ideas, but I would wait for a sale. I think the gameplay is a little too repetative to be worth the $40 and most people looking to play this as their RTS will be disappointed. Empire of Ants isn’t a bad game, it just doesn’t do enough to earn its price.
You can buy Empire of Ants on on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC via Steam and Epic Games for $39.99, but I would wait for a sale.
I was sent a free EasySMX X15controller 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.
Whats in the box?
The controller comes with:
1 USB-C to USB-A braided charging cable
1 2.4G Wireless dongle
1 instructions manel
Features
The X15 is a stylish budget controller for the gamer who wants to upgrade their aesthetic but doesn’t want to go broke. Its beautiful RGB accents help it stand out against other controllers in the market, but they can also be toggled off for those who prefer a more subtle aesthetic. The controller comes in Mecha (black) or StarfieldI chose the Starfield version because I preferred the design, but it was not an easy choice.
The X15 supports wired, wireless, and Bluetooth connections, boasting up to 20 hours of gaming on a single charge. That said, the included braided cable is long enough to keep you gaming while charging your controller.
Most impotanlty, the EasySMX X15 features:
Hall effect joy stick to eliminate the risk of stick drift
Hall Triggers for smother inputs
Tactile face buttons
2 additional programmable triggers on the bottom
Textured grip
For only $39.99, the x15 is sounding like a very good deal.
Review
The EasySMX X15 is a beautiful controller, but one that will initially feel cheap. I was not a fan of how light this controller is compared to what I am used to. The face buttons also make a cheap plastic click when pressed which made me uneasy about the build quality. The more I used the controller, the less these issues became a problem.
The controller feels wonderful in my hands. The textured face buttons give the controller a hint of elegance, but it makes the buttons feel good to press. The controller is textured exactly where it needs to be, and the design fits comfortably in my hands. Most controllers, especially budget ones, tend to destroy my hands and leave me unable to play after only a few minutes. While the controller is not explicitly ergonomic, it is ergonomic enough to allow me to enjoy gaming with a controller.
As far as function, it works better than most budget controllers in its price range. The Hall effect triggers and joysticks don’t feel any better than a 1st party Xbox controller, but it feels a lot better than a cheap controller. Inputs seemed fine for the most part, but I did notice some games needed additional remapping. The additional triggers are easy to program and fantastic. They are in a good spot, easy to press, and responsive enough to make an impact. I can’t speak on how good the controller is for competitive play, but it was good enough for my Destiny 2 grind on PC, and some casual Genshin Impact on my iPad. Switching between devices is a pain, so you will probably want to keep this tied to one device.
I was pleasantly surprised by the controller’s battery life. I got pretty close to the boasted 20 hours of gaming with the RGB on. I didn’t test the life without the RGB because it looks so pretty, but I can only assume you get more.
As far as budget controllers go, the EasySMX X15 should be at the top of the list. Even with its flaws, you aren’t getting anything better at this price range.
You can pick up the EasySMX X15for only $39.99 on the official website, or Amazon through my affiliate links.
I was sent a free copy of Shadows of Doubt 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.
Shadows of Doubt is a unique open world detective on Steam, Xbox and PlayStation.
You are a detective in a bustling and chaotic city tasked with restoring peace to its crime-ridden streets. Use your elite detective skills to gather clues, chase criminals, interrogate suspects, and solve crimes. In this town, you can use whatever means to catch the perpetrator. Will you play by the rules and do everything by the book, or will you break the rules that need to get things done?
Gameplay
Shadows of Doubt is the detective Minecraft game you didn’t know you needed.
The game comes with two modes: a prewritten mystery to solve and an open-world sandbox. The prewritten mystery acts like the game’s tutorial. It is a decent mystery that offers the player direction, but enough freedom to explore the game at their own pace. The sandbox is where the game is like Minecraft. Players are given a randomly generated city to clean up and absolute freedom. Players must find their own cases and explore the city with a lot less guidance.
To solve a case, players will need to collect clues using various tools, interrogate NPCs, and piece the clues together on their murder board. Sometimes players will need to sneak around, turning Shadows of Doubt into an intense stealth game. Other times, players might need to break the law and avoid getting fined. What gives Shadows of Doubt its true unique flavor is that it provides its players the freedom to solve a case in whatever way best fits their playstyle.
Does it work on the Steam Deck?
Shadows of Doubt works fine on the Steam Deck, but it is a few updates short of being perfect. The game is playable on the Steam Deck, but players will experience bugs, glitches, and frame drops. I thought the game worked well enough to have fun, and I am sure it will be the perfect casual experience once the developers get the performance issues sorted. The game is still in 1.0, with more updates planned for the future.
Review
Shadows of Doubt is a fantastic sandbox with a lot going for it. Fans of Minecraft will appreciate the vibe and aesthetic, but will also enjoy the questing aspect of it. While the mysteries do start to feel a bit repetitive after a while, the freedom to pull some absurd nonsense to solve a case more than makes up for it.
For one of my missions, I broke every law I could and shamelessly racked up a fine I could never pay back. When the cops came searching for me, I hid in the closet before playing the most intense stealth game of my life. This isn’t a hard stealth game, but it is a memorable one.
The detective mechanics are fine. This game does feel a bit more casual than other games in the genre, but the game does enough to keep things interesting. Performance issues can be a problem. I never had the game crash on me, nor any of the bug’s game-breaking, but it does feel unfinished. The roughness gives the game its character. With a few more updates, which the devs have been updating, Shadows of Doubt will be a fantastic casual game for any mood.
If you don’t mind the roughness, like detective games, and want a casual open-world experience, Shadows of Doubt should at least be on your wishlist. This is the game you get when you need a break from Minecraft, or want something that feels like Minecraft without the building. This is great for kids, and even better for adults who want a game that isn’t a huge commitment and gives them the freedom to mess around.
I was sent a free copy of Core Keeper 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.
Core Keeper is a 2D survival sandbox out now on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch. It is like Minecraft, Stardew Valley, and Terraria all in one.
Explore dark unforgiving caverns as you farm, mine, and build your means of survival. Fight against the mighty and mysterious creatures that roam its shadows, and the titans that lord over them. What secrets will your journey uncover? What tools will you invent? Gather your friends or brave it alone as you try to uncover the secrets behind the mysterious cores.
Gameplay
Core Keeper allows players to choose the type of experience they want from the game. Hardcore survivalists can play a mode where death is permanent, and resources are limited. Casuals can enjoy the caverns of Core Keeper at their own pace and without risks in creative mode. Those who want the best of both worlds can opt for the normal experience. I played Core Keeper on normal and thought it was perfect.
The game starts with players with only the clothes on their backs. Players mine resources to build the tools they need to advance through the caverns. Everything a player does from mining to walking levels the respective skill. Leveling skills unlock new recipes for more advanced tools. There are guides out there to help you with recipes and efficient play, but I always recommend you start a blind run and see how far you can get. You can always start over later.
The game does have a hunger mechanic, but it isn’t as oppressive as other games. Finding ingredients is a little tricky in the beginning, but it gets easier once you learn how to farm. Cooked food gives players buffs, and it’s a good idea to find a recipe that fits your playstyle. Recipes can be found through trial and error, but there are recipe books available online. I like the one on the official Wiki.
There is so much to do in Core Keeper, and it is somehow packaged in this simple and relaxing package. Mechanics are simple to learn, but the game will take some time to master.
Review
If you’re looking for a game that will eat up all your free time, go get Core Keeper. The art is cute, the gameplay is fun and addicting, and the soundtrack is amazing. There is so much to do in this game that it is almost impossible to get bored. Want to spend a day fishing? Grab a rod and get to clicking. Want to build your dream home? You better have your recipes ready and start digging. Core Keeper gives you the freedom to play the game the way you want.
There is a story and mystery that you can start unraveling as you uncover ancient tech or discover new tools. I liked the flavor that the mystery gives the game and gave me something to work towards, but I also liked that I could mess around. This is one of the games I’ll have to uninstall if I ever want to get work done because I am addicted.
If you’re looking for a new game to play, you need to try Core Keeper. The solo experience is fantastic, but I can see this game being a ton of fun with friends. This game is perfect for the folks who need a break from their current survival game, and the perfect place to start for players looking to get into the genre.
I was sent a free copy of Shogun Showdown 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 to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the SC3 Gaming Mixer for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals. If you enjoy my content and want to help me with my hosting fees, consider buying me coffee or donating to my Patreon.
A warrior’s journey is full of parallel, but legend has it you have what it takes. Grab your weapons, hone your skills, and kill anyone that gets in your way. Do you have what it takes to defeat the Shogun?
Gameplay
A warrior’s journey is full of parallel, but legend has it you have what it takes. Grab your weapons, hone your skills, and kill anyone that gets in your way. Do you have what it takes to defeat the Shogun?
Players start their journey with basic weapons and abilities. As they kill enemies and earn experience, they can purchase more powerful cards. I am sure there is an efficient build for speedrunning, but the game gives players the freedom to build their character to fit their playstyle.
Like most roguelikes, players will earn temporary skills and buffs at certain nodes of their journey. These rewards are random, but they felt fair for the most part. I never felt like I had a weak or useless ability. The levels are the same each, so there is a bit of repetition. The RNG helps break up some of the monthly, and players will eventually unlock new areas to explore. New content just dropped, and there is more planned for future releases.
The combat is the best part of this game. Players can perform one action per turn, and actions alternate between the player and enemies. During a turn, players can move one space, turn their character in the opposite direction, or perform an activity or set of abilities. Players can see the enemy’s actions between turns to plan accordingly. The key to this game is efficiently moving, dodging attacks, and setting up killing blows. A run ends when a player’s health drops to zero, and the goal is to get to the end of the run and beat the one true boss.
Review
I loved every minute of this game. Shogun Showdown is the most creative deckbuilder I’ve ever played. It has great flavor, beautiful art, a fantastic soundtrack, and fun gameplay. If you’re looking for a deckbuilding roguelike that breaks away from the norm, this is the game you need to get.
I love that it always feels like I am doing something. I am a huge fan of deck builders, but they all are starting to feel the same. The flavor may change, but it always feels like I am playing Slay the Spire. It is nice to play a game that changes up the strategy in a unique and fun way that looks good and plays flawlessly.
I recommend this game on any system because this is a game you need to try once. It is the perfect game for those who want something new without having it be a huge commitment, just be prepared to sink a respectable amount of time into it.
I was sent a free copy of Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona 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 to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the SC3 Gaming Mixer for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals. If you enjoy my content and want to help me with my hosting fees, consider buying me coffee or donating to my Patreon.
You wake up in a strange place full of death, despair, and monsters. Armed with only your fists, you must travel through this nightmare and stay alive. But your journey won’t be easy. Powerful monsters hunt you down relentlessly, and although you will find weapons to help you on your journey, you will die. Luckily, death isn’t permanent, and your flame continues to burn. Will this newly found immortality be a blessing or your curse?
Gameplay
This game is difficult by design, but there is an easier setting players can choose from the start. Players start with nothing and collect gear as they progress through the adventure. Players are meant to die a lot and do better with each subsequent life as they gain levels. Players level by buying upgrades from a diverse skill tree. You should probably look up a guide if you’re not playing on easy. You are essentially grinding out XP until you’re strong enough to beat the boss so that you can move onto the next one.
Review
I have trouble recommending Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona because of its controls. A game this difficult needs to have fluid and responsive controls, but the game feels clunky. Sometimes the inputs don’t register, and sometimes you’ll die because of the coding. Better players will probably be able to excuse the game’s clunkiness, but they also have better options in the genre.
Aside from feeling clunky, combat is boring. While you can find different weapons, it seems the right answer is two-handed weapons. The shield felt useless, one-handed weapons didn’t do anything, and I couldn’t get the bow to work properly. Even if you get the perfect weapon and build, the game is unbalanced. I get that the game is meant to be difficult, but there are rooms where there are too many enemies and traps. A skilled player might not have issues, but the controls and coding make these rooms extremely frustrating.
The art style is fine, but some areas are too dark. There is a story, but it isn’t good enough to earn a recommendation. The only real reason to buy Skelethrone is because you want a challenging Metroidvania game and enjoy the flavor, and even then, you have better options. If you can get past the game’s issues, the game is still rather boring.
Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona is difficult to recommend because of how niche the game is. There are better metroidvanias. But if you don’t mind the roughness and want to play something that is hard by design, there are worse ways to spend $14.99.
I was sent a free copy of Creatures of Avato 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 to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the SC3 Gaming Mixer for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals. If you enjoy my content and want to help me with my hosting fees, consider buying me coffee or donating to my Patreon.
What is Creatures of Ava?
Creatures of Ava is an action adventure game out now for PC and Xbox.
You were sent to the planet Ava to save it from the Withering. The withering is a spreading corruption that is slowly killing the planet and its inhabitants. Catastrophe strikes and you are sent crashing to its surface. With the aid of some locals, you set out to continue your mission. Do you have what it takes to stop the corruption?
Gameplay
Ava finds a magical staff with the power to rescue the planet. Players use this staff to solve puzzles and cleanse wild life. This staff can be upgraded throughout out the adventure by buying nodes off a skill tree. XP in this game is earned when a player successfully studies and catalogues new data on the planet’s wildlife. This mechanic incentivizes exploration, even when the incentive isn’t needed.
Combat is nonviolent, which is extremely flavorful for the game’s theme. The goal of the game is to save the planet, so players use the staff to free the wildlife from a disease rather than to fight monsters. Combat is pretty basic, but manages to be engaging. The staff emits a beam of healing energy that reduces the corruption while the player dodges attacks. Players can learn new abilities to help them cleanse the planet more efficiently. Cleansing the planet removes obstacles from the surface. Cleansing an animal makes it friendly.
Friendly animals can be tamed by playing the flute. Each animal has a unique song that the player must emulate to gain its trust. This exists in the form of a Simon Says-like rhythm game. Players can link with a tamed animal and use their abilities to solve puzzles. While the rhythm game itself isn’t innovative or exciting, it is cool to become an animal from time to time.
The map for this game is a great size for an adventure. Players have a good amount of freedom to explore Ava’s strange and beautiful world, but there is a main quest line available for guidance.
Review
If you are looking for a new action-adventure game, you need to play Planet of Ava. This game is unique, beautiful, and a lot of fun. The game also features a solid story with a pretty amazing cast of voice actors. The game has so much to do that it is easily worth the money.
I loved every minute of this game. I have a hard time putting it down, but also staying focused. The world is so beautiful and vibrant that I kept having to fight the urge to keep exploring. I love crafting, and the fact that there was a crafting and gathering mechanic was extremely dangerous. If I wasn’t on a deadline, I could have easily spent hours making potions and exploring the world without ever touching the main story. Best of all, the game is pretty inoffensive. Aside from a few dark moments, a game about saving animals is a wholesome good time.
Planet of Ava is available now on PC, Steam, and Game Pass. This game is worth at least a first play through.
I was sent a free copy of Destiny 2’s latest expansion, The Final Shape, to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, this will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like comment, and share this with your friends. Check out my reviews for the Fifine H9 Gaming Headset and the AM8 Streaming Microphone if you are looking for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals.
I know this review is a little late, but I chose the wrong time to have a baby. Between all the diaper changes, feedings, and cuddles, I was somehow able to find time to play through the expansion story. Unfortunately, fatherhood doesn’t allow me for any of the multiplayer content. This review will focus on the single-player content.
I’ve been playing Destiny on and off since its release. Like most, some expansions grabbed my attention and I did all I could to complete the content. Other expansions have sat in my library untouched, or unfinished. I honestly wouldn’t have bothered with the new expansion if it weren’t free. The Final Shape was the first Destiny expansion where I cared about what was happening in the story and sat attentively through the cut scenes. Most cruelly, however, The Final Shape made me care about Destiny when I didn’t have the time to play it.
The Final Shape brings guardians into The Traveler as they prepare for the final confrontation with the witness. It introduces the new Prismatic subclass that allows players for a truly customizable experience. I thought the new subclass was fine, but this will come to preference.
As a casual fan of the series, I have a vague understanding of the lore. There are great recap videos up on YouTube, but I went into the Final Shape completely blind. I did manage to get through the Beyond Light expansion beforehand and thought that was pretty cool. I didn’t have much time to do anything else. You will need to know some of the important figures and plot points to understand what is going on, but you can always watch a summary to prepare and go back to play through the playable expansions later. I don’t think I would have become as invested if I didn’t have any prior exposure to the story.
I like that you can play through the story like an offline single-player game with the options for multiplayer. You can either play through the story mode or choose to play a harder heroic mode if you need the added challenge. I played through the story and thought the challenge was appropriate for my skill level.
The story itself is fantastic. The voice acting is terrific, as it generally is with Destiny. The pacing is solid, and the plot is interesting. This was the first time in a while that I found myself trying hard. Not because I was grinding for a seasonal weapon, but because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. If you’ve been disappointed by Destiny’s storytelling before, The Final Shape might be the expansion that gives you hope for the future of the franchise. If I didn’t have other responsibilities, I could easily see myself no-lifing till completion.
Gameplay-wise, the game still feels like destiny. The enemy design is unique and interesting, but the game still has bullet sponges. The invulnerability mechanic was fun at first, but it does get old and it does slow down some of the fights. That said, there were some interesting boss mechanics that helped keep my attention.
The Final Shape blew me away with its aesthetics. The new armor and weapons are cool, but the world and maps are breathtaking. I love the creativity that went into breaking and rearranging the world to the almost surreal adventure it became. This expansion made me appreciate the fact that I have a computer that can handle the game’s graphics at a high setting. Even if you’ve had your reservations, you won’t be able to deny the fact that Destiny at its current iteration looks good.
I know there were a lot of performance and connection issues at launch. There was an announced maintenance that was a little annoying. I didn’t experience any of that, probably because I was always playing in the weirdest hours, but it is something to consider, especially since you can’t replay any of the cutscenes. I think it is great as is, and if you are looking to get into Destiny, or just want to close the loop, I say you pull the trigger and enjoy one of the game’s best expansions.
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!
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.
