Tag: gaming

JDM: Japanese Drift Master Steam Review

JDM: Japanese Drift Master was sent my way by Gaming Factory, which is always appreciated, and I do like to be up front about that.

The game itself attempts to be a super realistic racing experience that plays as well with a controller as it does with a full racing setup. They wanted to combine the everyday player with the more serious enthusiast and make a game both could enjoy.

The map is massive, and would feel right at home with any more open-world game like your Grand Theft Auto titles. This also leads to the downside where a lot of it is locked behind missions, causing you to miss out on a ton of beautiful scenery.

The driving took me a bit to get used to as I went into it thinking it was just another racing game, which couldn’t be further from the truth. The game does offer driving schools to teach you everything you need to know, and my biggest mistake was going into this without doing those. Between wanting that raw experience and thinking I could just drive like I do in any other racing game, I made the game far harder than it needed to be on myself.

My biggest, and only real complaint about the game the options for the starter car are extremely limited. By this, I mean there is only one car. Combine this with a relatively empty. It should also be noted that I played strictly with a controller, and most of the negative reviews you will see on Steam have to do with steering wheel integration. The game is a solid 7/10 experience, and drifting fans will love it, I think. Best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.

Back to Dawn Steam Review

Back to Dawn was finally released from early access as version 1.0, and Spiral Up Games was kind enough to send me a copy for review. Big shout out to them, as always, for doing that.

The game itself is a prison escape RPG. You have two different characters to choose from. I went with the recommended first-timer route of Thomas the fox. A news reporter who, when given the chance to take a bribe to bury a story to help out a major business and political leader, makes the morally right choice. This, of course, lands him in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.

Your job from there is simple: be a good inmate, work your inmate job, and get to know everyone. Don’t forget to be where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be there to avoid problems, and when the time is right, get the hell out of jail.

Everyone in jail has a story to tell, and getting to know them will at least let you know who won’t be helping you out. They will, however, have information for you. The narrative is fantastic, and the controls and visuals are great. I went into this expecting the escapist with a bit more of a story to it, and this is anything but that.

The game features various branching story paths, and it is entirely possible to fail at your escape and need to start over. The game is insanely well done, and with over 6000 Steam reviews, it is still sitting at very positive reviews.

No game is perfect, however, and it can get repetitive, and the start is very slow. This will turn some people off, and I can’t blame them. Once it gets rolling, it is a lot of fun, but the first hour or 2 can be a bit rough at first. The game is still an 8/10 experience, however, maybe even a 9/10 if this is your preferred genre. Back to the Dawn is also available on Xbox and with Game Pass. Best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.

 God of Weapons PS5 Review

God of Weapons on PS5 is a game I have played before on PC and Xbox. Ultimate Games, however, was kind enough to send me the PS5 version to check out, and I figured, like my many nights of one more run with it, why not give it one more run.If you want to know how I felt about the Xbox Version, by all means, check that out. God of Weapons Xbox Review

As I said in my previous review of the game, if you have played any action rougelike, you know the general game flow. Choose a character. I like the ranged characters, start weak, move around the map, kill enemies, and level up. In between levels, buy better weapons and items, repeat all while hoping the stronger enemies don’t kill you. When they do, buy permanent upgrades that make the next runs easier, and when you finally win, move on to more challenging difficulties that have bigger and badder bosses and enemies.

The game has plenty to unlock and doesn’t offer anything new to the genre, but it is still probably the 2nd best game in it. The PS5 version is also my favorite version to play. It is absolutely a 7/10 experience and worth playing. Best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.

Square Enix Announces Octopath Traveler 0 

During today’s Nintendo Direct, SQUARE ENIX unveiled two new games in development at its internal studio, Team Asano: OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0, an HD-2D turn-based RPG featuring a standalone story set before the critically-acclaimed OCTOPATH TRAVELER, launches on Dec. 4, 2025

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.

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.