Endzone 2 Steam Review

Endzone 2 was recently released from early access to 1.0, and Assemble Entertainment was kind enough to send me a copy to check out. I always appreciate this and like to get it out of the way upfront, as most of you know by now.

The game has been met with mixed reviews on Steam for quite some time now, and with a city builder, this is always one of those things I see and take with a grain of salt. We, as fans, are usually quite picky. One thing is out of place, and we tend to be a bit mad about it. Let’s look at this piece by piece and see where maybe this comes from.

The Endzone 2 takes place right after the first Endzone. Humans are now resettling into the world after a nuclear apocalypse, and the world is a bit irradiated. No, it isn’t the story, as cliché as it is, cliché is for a reason; it works.

This brings us to the controls; they work. They work well. Even if you read the Steam reviews, nobody complains about the controls. The controls are what you would want: fluid, easy to use, and pretty intuitive. No, they aren’t perfect, but nothing is.

This brings us to graphics. Yes, this is pretty universally the issue. I have mentioned in reviews before my hatred for this idea that darker is the only way to get across a dark and gloomy atmosphere. This game breaks the rule of feeling that way. The vast majority of the time, while playing the game is so dark, especially seeing anything is a nightmare. Even messing with my monitor settings only did so much.

All in all, if you enjoyed the first game and can get passed how dark this game can be, there is no reason why you won’t love this one. For me, I will stick with the first game as this game dove far deep into saturating everything in darkness to be enjoyable. It was a 5/10 experience that I have no intention of repeating. Best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.

Avatar: Fir and Ash reveal trailer

I’ve never been one for the Avatar bandwagon. When the trailer for the 3rd movie dropped during Fantastic 4: First Steps , it didn’t do much for me. It looks nice. I’m happy the fans of the series didn’t have to wait over a decade for this sequel as opposed to Way of Water. In the end I hope the fans are pumped and it lives up to hype. May the gaming gods bring you glory.

Just a Shadow Game (Steam Preview)

Just a Shadow game is an upcoming ritual deck builder from publisher Neon Doctrine that is planned to release sometime in 2026. They were kind enough to toss me an early demo, and I have to say, this is another title on my list of games that shows a ton of promise. The good news is that by the time you read this, you can play that same demo.

The concept is pretty simple. You get a deck to start with, and with each area you win, you can upgrade it with new cards. Each card represents a sort of building or tower that summons fighters for you or attacks the other side for you. Each turn will see your little ritual summoner traverse your section to activate towers to send your forces to kill your enemies’ captor; in turn, you must protect yours. The first side to kill the other’s captor wins.

This sounds pretty easy and straightforward, but the amount of strategy needed is very real. The controls are also very nice, and graphically, the game does an amazing job of making everything look sinister without simply drowning everything in unneeded darkness, which I think is a mistake far too many companies make.

This is another title you should be trying the demo out for and keeping a close eye on. Best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.

ORCS MUST DIE! DEATHTRAP NOW AVAILABLE ON PLAYSTATION® 5

Some of you may remember my review of Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap Xbox Review, and have been waiting for the PlayStation 5 release. That time is now, enjoy the trailer below and all the info you need.

Best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.

Robot Entertainment, the independent development and publishing studio behind the beloved Orcs Must Die! series, today announced that Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap is now available on PlayStation® 5. An update to the game entitled “State of Slay” is also being released today and includes a new map, two new traps, and two hero model updates.

The game originally released on Steam, Epic Games Store, and Xbox Series X/S on January 28, 2025. PlayStation® players now receive the most up-to-date version which includes content and quality of life updates made post launch, such as new levels, enemies, traps, threads, skins, and the return of fan favorite War Mages Max and Gabby.

Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap is the fifth game in the critically acclaimed Orcs Must Die! franchise. This latest chapter of orc slaying mayhem features much deeper progression systems, as players grow their War Mages to become stronger every battle and enjoy endless replayability as they face off against hordes of relentless orcs either solo or with up to four players in thrilling co-op gameplay. Players are challenged to set traps, upgrade their defenses, and use their hero’s unique weapons and abilities to prevent orcs from entering the rift, a gateway and powerful source of magic. 

Long Live My Lady! Tavern Simulator Demo

Every so often, I get an email from a company, and they say, “Hey, why don’t you check out my game demo?” This weekend I am at work just chucking axes at a wall like I do, because I teach people to throw them, and I get an email from Sudo Eat Cake Games telling me about their game Long Live My Lady over on Steam.

It’s a gnome

Of course, I am instantly drawn to the cute graphics and the idea of what appears to be a garden gnome slinging beer to goblins. It just screams something my D&D friends got drunk and came up with on a Friday night. I had to try this game out, and I am so glad I did.

The demo isn’t long; you can play for an hour and get into a great rhythm of what’s going on. You will be building tables, brewing beer, and serving goblins in no time. There is an overarching story that I won’t spoil for you; it is rather interesting, and I hope to see where it goes later in 2025 when it releases. For now, definitely check out the demo, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.

Monster Mop Up Release date announcement-August 14th

Hired by the Ministry of Monster Concealment, Custodians must explore, clean and dispose of all waste and secure the mischievous Ragamuffins who have, literally, left their mark. Sounds simple, but when disturbed, these adorable yet troublesome creatures unleash a wave of mess and mayhem, or poop, challenging up to six players to work together to contain the chaos. Armed with a bucket, mop, and trap, players can also use the environment to aid their efforts. Take advantage of secret interactions, such as magic orbs that obliterate the mess, and unlock upgrades through progression to clean, burn, and flush everything in sight, countering the antics of the goofy furballs. 

“We fell in love with Monster Mop Up the moment we saw it, and what’s not to love about a Ragamuffin that poops everywhere,” said Simon Byron, Managing Director, Yogscast Games. “Terahard Studios has created the perfect blend of a real-world cleaning sim and supernatural ghostbusting escapades where every clean-up is different, giving hours of endless fun whether playing alone or with friends.”

Players progress by unlocking new rooms through a variety of levels and challenges ranging from family homes to restaurants, mansions, and hotels. Once the cleaning rating is achieved, rewards are issued, which can be used to upgrade equipment or decorate the player’s home with charming accessories. Show off progression by visiting the Bazaar of Human Stuff, putting design skills to the test to create the perfect pad for the Ragamuffins who join as roommates once collected, or splashing out on valuable upgrades like rubber shoes, bucket grips, and soft hands to prevent another Ragamuffin mishap. Monster Mop Up delivers players an indescribable sense of satisfaction, as each corner gleams and every surface shines.

A playable demo is now available on Steam and can be wishlisted HERE.

Sintopia Preview

Sintopia will be releasing into Early Access soon over on Steam, and Team 17 was nice enough to let me check out an early demo version of the game. There is also a demo you can check out over on Steam as well so definitely check that out.

The gameplay loop is very simple: you guide your people into living their lives so you can harvest sin and reap the profit and keep your hellish empire running. You then return those people to the surface to relive their sinful lives. Rinse and repeat. It is a nice combination of management and city builder.

The demo is far from complete, so obviously this isn’t a review in the classic sense, but the gameplay flows nicely and the humor is great. You quite literally get the job because nobody else wants it. The first-ever succubus guides you through your work and promises not to bite you, unless you ask nicely, with the entire reason for her helping you being that the person who was supposed to manage you was taking off to answer a phone call.

Building new ways to encourage sin and then make sure that people meet an untimely demise is more fun than I expected, and is definitely worth checking out the demo for. I, for one, can’t wait to play the full version. Best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.

The Beyond

What do a rundown hotel, a blind woman, a bleak old painting, and a brainwave machine have in common? Eliza is in the midst of renovating the old, dilapidated 7 Gates Hotel in Louisiana when strange things begin to happen. Dangerous, deadly accidents and the appearance of a mysterious blind woman named Emily, who is seeking Eliza. Her message is clear: leave the hotel. Desperate, Eliza refuses only to discover the true horror of the hotel- it was built on one of the seven gates to Hell itself.

A long time ago I talked about House by the Cemetary , the third part of Fulci’s Gates of Hell trilogy. The Beyond is the middle entry, the most renowned of the trilogy, and for damn good reason. The Beyond is just short of a horror masterpiece. The cinematography is both breathtaking and uncanny, which makes you feel unsettled throughout. The music is haunting and even operatic, compounding the surrealness of the whole movie. The gore is absolutely disgusting without ever feeling comedically overboard. The english dub is pretty good, but I do give the actors a lot of credit; their expressions add to the terror. While I deeply love the movie, their’s some flaws that make you scratch you’re head and don’t make sense. Eliza knows someone, somehow you never see her interact with; the one dude might be possessed or something and randomly vanishes at the end; clearly fake spiders on string at one point. The movie isn’t perfect but it is pretty ambiguous with some reality-bending. The ending is bleak as hell and a perfect fit. The Beyond ain’t for everyone- the gore alone will deter a lot of people- but I seriously recommend this Italian horror classic. May the gaming gods bring you glory.

Tron: Ares trailer

15 years ago I saw Tron: Legacy in theaters. It was fun, popcorn theater experience that I forgot about a week later. Ares looks to be about the same. It looks to be a movie that will look and sound cool but as to why it exists, I can’t really say except money. I can’t really see a reason otherwise why Tron has returned nor do I know anyone who asked for it. Maybe I’ll be wrong but given what I’ve seen, I think we’re getting another helping of disposable eye candy. May the gaming gods bring you glory.

Fantastic 4: First Steps

The 1960’s have been defined by 4 heroes who have fought villains, shaped the world, and made it a better place not only for themselves and the people around them, but the newest bundle of joy joining their family. They are no strangers to danger…until a new threat emerges from the stars, announcing the imminent death of the planet- the coming of Galactus. When faced with an impossible threat, an impossible choice, can the Fantastic 4 pull off the impossible?

I’ve been through the ringer of Fantastic 4 (1994) , Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer , and the abomination known as Fant4stic so I was scared. I’m proud to say we actually got not only a great Fantastic 4 movie, but one of the best Marvel movies in years. There was a ton of love given to the comics as well as the visual aesthetic. The movie harkens back to classic 50’s/60’s sci fi and golden age comic books. I loved the actors all around. The 4 have great chemistry and true to the characters. The Silver Surfer was awesome. The true standout was Galactus which, my god, was absolutely terrifying. The movie is well-balanced between drama, comedy, sci-fi action; I’m so happy it stands on its own and doesn’t rely on the greater MCU for its characters and story. Unfortunately, I wasn’t a fan of the MCU end credit scene, most of us knew it was coming. In the end, I was greatly surprised and I highly recommend the MCU debut of Marvel’s First Family. May the Galactus bring you…glory? Yanno.