Every so often, I get offered a game, and I think, this looks awesome. So I greedily accept it, start playing, and I wonder, “wtf is this?” for the first 10 minutes. Legion Breaker did this to me, and I can’t thank Baffled Engineer enough. See, I spent 10 minutes wondering why anyone thought being a lone wizard tossing magic at waves of enemies and dying quickly as your life points slowly ticked away would be fun.
I then spent hours playing it, choosing upgrades carefully. Watching as I gathered spearmen and archers. Somehow, I recruited a dog and gained earthen walls.
My lone wizard chucking a single spell was now a small army holding off a horde of enemies; my meager life points that quickly ran out were now enough to manhandle an army of the undead. That single spell now also called down lightning and threw a fireball to burn my enemies to a crisp. All for only $7. What started as 10 minutes of me wondering why I agreed to play this became an obsession with seeing what the next boss looked like or if I could max out the tech tree.
This kind of brings me to my only real issue. You could unlock everything in probably 8-10 hours, but you can see all the enemies in much less, not counting the final boss. After a certain point, the enemies are simply the same enemies, and even the new enemies are simply the bosses turned into smaller regular enemies. Just a little more variety here would have gone a long way and turned an amazing game into probably the perfect game in the price range.
The game is still a 9/10 title, but it was damn close to getting that perfect score I have never given away. Best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.
Deck13 Spotlight is proud to announce Lair of the Leviathan, an old-school RPG developed by the talented teams of Nostalgic Realms and Whiskybarrel Studios, two solo developers who joined forces to create the game of their dreams, as no one else was willing to take on this mission.
wo developers, one quest
RPGs have lost their identity over the last decades. Once, they were about exploring and writing your own adventure. Getting lost in interesting side quests, forming a party, and fighting well-balanced turn-based battles. Large worlds to explore at your own pace. Handcrafted dungeons and towns brimming with detail and life. A world the players experience in mind, instead of showcasing bombast all over the place. Game maps that beckon you to forge your own path rather than a task list of quest markers.
That’s what Lair of the Leviathan is all about. We’re hoping to bring back what was great about RPGs. That intangible magic that somehow got lost along the way. Inspired by legendary series such as Ultima and Pools of Radiance, with a mix of the early Baldur’s Gate games. All visualized in a stunning pixel-art style as seen in the official Announcement Teaser.
nnounced among friends
Lair of the Leviathan was revealed during the Announcement Event for Drova II – Torn Lands, another old-school RPG to be published by Deck13 Spotlight, where frenetic applause echoed in the old dungeon-like location when the last scene revealed amazing cover art by Matt Stawicki, and everyone knew that this marks the return of the era of RPGs.
Lair of the Leviathanwas officially announced for PC and Consoles. Gamers can now wishlist on Steam and GOG. A first Announcement Teaser has been released, with further details to follow in the coming months.
Did you ever wonder what would happen if humans created a world where they didn’t have to work anymore, and the machines kicked them out? Dog in the Machine attempts to answer that question with one simple twist. Mans best friend was also replaced with robots, but they are still man’s best friend. Studio Chahut was nice enough to hook me up with a copy of this one, and I am glad they did.
The combat here is simple to learn. Your trusty mechanical dog wakes up and has to fight his way out. In true roguelite fashion, every run will teach you something and let you upgrade yourself for the next run and unlock more of the story. Unlike most games, the story actually means something this time around. I enjoyed learning where humans messed up this time around, and it isn’t a simple attempt at saying humans are greedy and evil and treated the machines badly. In fact, the dogs aren’t on your side only because they love humans; they were about to be destroyed themselves. Each new dog you control is taken from a room where they are decommissioned.
You will program your dog each turn in a totally stress-free manner. Take your time, see what the best actions are, and if you don’t like them, start over. The game is designed to let you see the outcome of your turn and, if you dislike it, reset it. This does not make the game easy. More than one of my runs ended early because I made silly decisions early that resulted in me setting off alarms I shouldn’t have or because I backed myself into a corner and let the machines pump out more and more enemies.
Another very nice touch is how you upgrade attacks. It isn’t always as simple as taking something from level one to level two. Sometimes it is taking your simple bite attack and combining it with your poison attack, now your bite attack also deals poison damage.
My one and only complaint is that many of the upgrades between runs feel kind of underwhelming at times. It is sitting at positive reviews on Steam, with one person noting they “came for the puzzles but stayed for the violence,” which honestly seems fair. It is a 9/10 experience that I have put fewer hours than I’d have liked into, but will be putting more hours than I should. Pick this one up, best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.
You may notice a small change to the tone of this review for Moonfrost by Oxalis Games, which they were nice enough to send me. Well, my daughter took an interest in what I do and wanted to take a crack at writing this review, so please let me know what you think and if you want to see more from her. As always, may the gaming gods bring you glory.
*This is not meant to be a recap or critique of the story. Though I do like the story, I want to focus more on the gameplay/art with this review. Its there, I like it. I just want to focus on chicken chasing.
“Why should I care about this game?” Well, first of all, don’t ask me how to live your life. I don’t get paid for that. Second of all; its really good. Okay, that’s all, folks!
Oh. You’re still here. Fine.
Art Style
I know a very common thing will be “cozy” and “aesthetic.” Screw that. The game has a nice fantasy feel, from the smaller details of the rocks you can pick up, the pond behind your house, all the way up to the actual town itself. Games in the genre seem to be scared by too much variation in the formula. Have a nice flower on the ground, maybe a streetlight, great, all done. But! Moonfrost isn’t afraid to have actual technology aside from JUST the occasional streetlamp. The main way you buy stuff is via vending machines; there are radios (that actually play music) both in town and on the farm, your menu is a cellphone, there are old phone booths (it’s just set dressing) and utility boxes. And the game is filled with these little tech details, and it never feels out of place or disjointed. This FEELS like a town in a world where people do have to worry about a giant crystal falling down on them.
The one major critique I have in terms of the art style is with the characters. They look/feel like CGI on a hand-drawn background. I’ll be having a lovely time, and then I see my character, who looks like a random cat or baby in a Renaissance painting. The character creator is lacking as well; it feels more like an illusion of choice. I do like the pronouns section; that will always be a win for me. But otherwise, it is definitely the game’s weakest point, I feel. The few options we do have don’t feel fleshed out, and it kind of feels like they had a different person make each option, even for the same item. I also think more skin tones would be very nice. The character creator isn’t finished, so upon official release it should be better. I think it would be a mistake to release the game without a better character creator first, as that IS a player’s first impression of a game. I hope with that, the character models (player and NPC) get better. That being said….don’t change the animals’ models. They are perfect little babies, and I NEED them all as figurines.
Gameplay
Okay, let’s address the elephant in the room. I hate fishing. In every and all games, not a single one has a fishing system I like. This game is not an exception. I feel like this game’s fishing system is more complicated than other games, but I am biased. There is a clicking issue; if you don’t click the exact right spot, the game will tell you that you can only fish at fishing spots. Even if there are fishing right in front of you. I can see you, you finned, splashy devils!
Another issue I have is with my inventory, and this is likely just user error. I like to pick up everything! I would love to see some sort of storage I can build and use for all my stuffs. I need it! What if I get a request for checks notes, 3 stacks of sunflowers?!
Now, I do think this game absolutely does a few unique things within the genre. You aren’t on this big time crunch for really anything. You use your phone to look at requests, then you complete them in the same app. You can also deny requests and just wait a few minutes and BOOM! New requests! You don’t have to wait an in-game week and twiddle your thumbs. The farming system also takes a more “mobile farm game” approach. You don’t plant stuff and then wait 5 game days. You plant and wait a minute and now you have radishes! The whole game takes this “chilllllll bruh. Relaaaaaxxxx…this is your world, we just live in it” approach and honestly? I am IN LOVE with it. You even sleep for however little or long you want! If you sleep at all!
I really hope more games come up that have this very literal “All in your own time” pacing. I don’t feel rushed to do everything RIGHT this very second, and I don’t have to wait 5 days to get a radish. It is mildly annoying having to re-hoe farmland for plants, I will admit. But I’m not a farmer; I played the game and wrote this from my bed! You also chase after chickens to get their eggs! It’s fun! And it’s funny to think of this random amnesiac just chasing chickens and yelling, “GIVE ME AN EGG.” Resources also respawn fairly fast, so you always have stuff to pick up for all your hoarding- I mean. For all your job-related needs! We take our jobs here at Savior Gaming VERY seriously.
There is also a building system, and if there is ANYTHING I love. It is BUILDING, no matter the genre. I think every game can be, and is, improved by a building system. However, it doesn’t seem to play a big part in the gameplay? I would love to see more options be available at the beginning. Its just kind of there, which is great for the people who hate building! Just a personal Hell for me.
All in all? I am excited for this game to fully come out, and you can wishlist it on Steam. Its fun, the characters are great, the art style is to die for, and its pacing is actually like no other. I feel like I have a lot of freedom! I would just…feel freer with storage. Wink wink nudge nudge. (Please give me more storage for more stuff.) Should you get it? We already established that isn’t my job, and I just said you can go wishlist it! Do you always rely on random 21-year-olds to make financial decisions?? Seriously. Cut the cameras!
I have so much respect for what Blatty’s original novel and Friedkin’s iconic movie did for horror. As for what came after-not so much, although I heard Legion was pretty good book and Exorcist 3 was the best the series had to offer since the original. Anyway, it’s Flannigan’s turn after the disaster that was Believer. Already, I see a major improvement just in style and star power alone. I was almost hyped but I gotta be real, the finally moment with Scarlett made me laugh my ass off. I’m convinced The Exorcist is lightning in a bottle. One shot wonder- leave as is. No need for prequels, sequels, reimaginings, se-boots, reboots, legacy sequels, spin offs, or a damn cinematic universe (though seeing Linda Blair fight Michael Myers in the Further woulda been funny as hell). As is, I’m vaguely interested in Martyrs but I’m not hooked. May the gaming gods bring you glory.
Samantha Strong is one of the many friendly faces you’d see in the cozy little town of Woodbrook. It’s the kind of town where everyone knows each other and it’s ok to leave your door unlocked at night. Well, Everyone thinks they know each other. Samantha has a grisly side; for years she’s been hunting and killing random people in the distant city. Her main rule is never at home. But during the bicentennial parade for the town, someone has broken her rule. Now terror spreads as a killer is on the loose and it’s up to Samantha to stop them before her own careful hidden trail of bodies is discovered.
I love comics outside the standard DC and Marvel fare. This might be my 2nd favorite, only below Nailbiter. The opening is very disarming, very tranquil and the artwork really makes me think of a lot of the children’s shows I grew up with. Once the killing starts, it hits you like a brick. I really loved Sam as a character. Part of it is the mystery around why she feels the need to brutally kill people. There is some really creepy imagery and few good story twists I didn’t see coming. The characters are misplaced mostly which adds to the shock factor of what happens to them. The book feels pretty self contained which is nice. Another installment just came out but the first book doesn’t sequel bait. In the end, I can’t recommend this book enough especially if you grew up with shows like Little Bear or Franklin or you’re a fan of Dexter or Criminal Minds. May the gaming gods bring you glory.
Jason has never been my go to in the slasher realm (team Michael all the way) but admittedly I’m happy to see a comeback of sorts. I really dig the idea of a prequel going into Pam Voorhees’s descent into grief and eventual madness at the loss of her son as well as hopefully a more human look at Jason before he become the iconic death machine. I liked the trailer more than I thought I would as well as the callbacks to the original movie. I’m actually pretty excited to see how Peacock and A24 pull it off. May the gaming gods bring you glory.
Endless Rails was sent to me by the people at Studio Monoblok, which is always appreciated. The game has a simple concept: use drones to defend your train from enemies as you ride the rails from one station to the next. Collect the money from dead enemies and use that to add train cars and upgrades to your train to hopefully get further and kill bosses, all the while collecting special coins to unlock permanent upgrades for the next run.
Parts of this work great; for example, the ability to move your train back and forth to avoid enemies and use your drones to kill enemies and collect the money. This does however start to fall apart however when you get to the next station and you lose money because you killed enemies towards the end and couldn’t collect it fast enough. I thought maybe there would be a permanent upgrade to remedy this, but there is not.
This is actually one of the bigger issues with the game; the permanent upgrade tree kind of sucks. You never really get to upgrade the range of your pickups or how much health your train has. You use it to unlock 2 new drones and some damage buffs for them. You will be relying mostly on RNG for what you get, and if you are unlucky, your run will end fast. Part of the game is simply figuring out which drone is best to start with, and yes, there is an objective answer.
I did enjoy the aspect of merging train cars to make them bigger to hold more upgrades on one car, and the ability to change the gun’s entire element this way is great. Many of the upgrades can also do things the upgrade tree doesn’t, but getting them is random and a matter of having the money.
So is the game worth the price tag? Well, the game is only $7, so yes, it is still a solid 7/10 game that will keep you entertained for a few hours. Best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.
Developer asraworks and publisher Assemble Entertainment have released their strategy sequel Tower Tactics II to Steam Early Access. Roguelike deckbuilding powers the ultimate tower defense game, where players must defend against the relentless enemy waves by building increasingly ridiculous decks and uncovering the most powerful combos to survive the game’s toughest challenges.
The Sal’koth are back, and the universe is their target. Guided by Kaya, a new generation of tactical heroes must grow stronger, master new powers, and fight through increasingly dangerous encounters. Complete quests, uncover the truth, and destroy the Sal’koth before they plunge the universe into darkness. Players need to use the cards they’ve collected to build and upgrade their defenses, attack enemies, manipulate the battlefield, and create powerful combinations to obliterate the enemy.
Experiment with 190+ cards, 150 trinkets, 5 playable characters, new enemies, decks, maps, tiles, and game modes to find your ultimate build. Shape your strategy before every run with custom starting cards and trinkets, then grow stronger through the revamped Sanctuary. Dominate the enemy waves with Hero Cards, powerful effects, card items, status effects, and new enemy abilities. Take your deck-building strategy on the go with full controller support and Steam Deck compatibility. Build your own maps, share them on Steam Workshop, and take on challenges created by other players.
Zombuffoonery was sent my way by Brainium Games, and admittedly, the game is basically the definition of average. You start as a guy; he has no name. Zombies attack you, and the more you kill, the more money you get. You will use this money to buy upgrades and build basic defenses. You don’t really choose where they go beyond what you can buy. For example, you can buy a top left turret or a bottom-right turret if those pop up. All the weapons are essentially random as to when or if they pop up. The only thing you can truly control is ammo or health.
Now I will say, the game functions just as intended. It also looks downright decent for a $10 game. It just doesn’t do anything well, nor is it fun. The hours I played felt more like grinding for trophies; I didn’t even bother collecting them all, honestly. After a certain point the game just felt like busy work.
You will notice this review seems shorter than most reviews I do, and it is. That is because I have run out of stuff to say about the game. I won’t sit here and trash it because there is nothing bad to say, but I also can’t say anything good. It is the exact definition of a 5/10 title. There is no reason to buy or avoid it. This game simply exists. Best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.
