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TerraTech Legion blends Vampire Survivors action with a vehicle-building sandbox. The result is a fun and addictive title that offers some originality. However, at its core, you’ll experience familiar gameplay, repetitive rounds, and a whole lot of destruction. Accordingly, it doesn’t offer too many surprises, but I enjoyed it regardless.
This bullet hell, survival-lite title was developed by Payload Studios and published by Mythwright. It is a single-player experience where a large world, objectives, and never-ending robot enemies sit at the fore. The result is a hectic affair that tests your reactions, tactical mindset, and skills.
TerraTech Legion allows the action to do the talking.
You play the role of a tech jockey who must stop the AI threat known as Legion. This wave of mindless and deadly robots is overtaking every planet. Consequently, you must improve your vehicle, hunt for resources, and stay alive if you wish to save each planet and become a hero.
The story bears little influence on the gameplay loop. However, I liked the undertones and the setting. Additionally, the harsh, sci-fi planets, robotic foes, and huge bosses were great to look at. This slight twist on the survival genre was interesting. Yet, it would be best not to expect too many unique elements.
Load up your vehicle.
Where TerraTech Legion excels is its block-like upgrade system. Each weapon and upgrade must be placed in a tiny box. Subsequently, you must decide how you wish to construct your machine. Do you go for loads of light elements, or do you reduce your choices and go for one huge weapon? Either way, there are over 200 choices available, and there is something for every tactical approach.
You can select from shields, buzzsaws, machine guns, cannons, and so forth. However, what makes this interesting is the distribution mechanic. If you make your vehicle top-heavy, you’ll impact the steering, acceleration, or braking. This can make it hard to navigate tight areas or avoid the waves of robotic foes. Accordingly, you must think wisely before randomly building your vehicle.
TerraTech Legion handles the madness well.
TerraTech Legion does a great job of handling its workload. No matter how crazy things became, the performance didn’t stutter. I experienced no frame rate drops even though it was rather busy. However, this overwhelming design can be off-putting. If you can cope with the never-ending wave of robots, you’ll enjoy the interesting level design, suitable colours, and smooth animation.
The audio is one of the high points. With high-energy synth music, overbearing but suitable sound effects, and a memorable edge, the audio profile adds plenty of layers to the action. Thankfully, things are balanced, as it could have easily got out of hand. Instead, it is necessarily obnoxious without out staying its welcome.
A bit of trial and error.
I found the controls to be pretty tough to handle. The layout is good, and everything is intuitive, but the steering takes getting used to. Add in the weight and balancing mechanics, and you’ll find it tough to begin with.
This genre is renowned for its replay value. If you fall for its charms, you’ll play it for hours. However, it is a little repetitive even though there are loads of builds and plenty of elements to experiment with.
TerraTech Legion is a fun indie game.
I like mindless and fun indie games, and TerraTech Legion ticks that box. It’s one of those titles that can be picked up and played between other more time-consuming games. Additionally, it is relatively straightforward to understand. Accordingly, this is great for all types of gamers, and I recommend buying it here! Can you build a hellish vehicle and destroy everything in sight? Grab the resources, complete each objective, and avoid your robotic foes.
Ever wondered what rally cars would look like in the far future? Exo Rally Championship has the answer. Deadly. Released on June 7th of this year, This Sci-Fi racing game puts players in the driving seat of rovers competing in various dangerous and thrilling rally stages across the universe.
Players take the driving role in Team Lindsay, a resurrected team that wants to find it’s feet again in rally driving. The players will drive through checkpoints on various hazardous rally stages. They must compete against the clock to win. The rovers themselves can be very difficulty to drive at first with rookies very likely to destroy their cars if they aren’t careful. The mechanics of the game are very grounded and realistic although the game is lacking in some areas.
Four Rovers of the Apocalypse
There are Four different types of Rovers that players take control of. However, to drive some of the rovers players will need to obtain licences from rookie to semi-pro and finally pro class.
The UTV is the beginners rover, with a 250 bhp engine and weighing half a tonne. This rover is avaliable at the start for anyone but is mainly used by rookies. It’s the easiest of the rovers to control and introduces players to basic RCS (Reaction control System). Players can use RCS to control the landing and avoid tipping the rover over. However, there is a limit to how RCS the player can use in the form of RCS Fuel. This makes conserving fuel an important element of the game otherwise you could run out when you need it.
The second Rover is the EXO 4 which is faster and harder to control. Players who obtain a Semi-Pro licence and complete the training can drive these. This time, the RCS system also lets players soften their landing to avoid damaging the vehicle. The EXO 6 is for Pro’s of the sport and lets players use RCS to boost themselves making them go even faster. Only Pro level license players can drive them. These vehicles are the fastest and most dangerous in the sport.
Mining Rovers
Finally, there are also the mining rovers which are the slowest and heaviest type. They can go through small bumps but will have difficulty going through larger bumps. Players also need to have a Pro Licence to drive them. These rovers also have no RCS meaning that if players go too fast and get air time they will no way of controlling them. They are very old school and they may seem easy to handle at first but the lack of RCS means they are deceptively tricky to drive.
Overall, I think the variation in each series of rover gives players new ways to drive. The EXO 6 series are considered the pinnacle of the sport . Although the EXO 4 series are more nimble and are my personal preference. The handling could be improved however as the grip levels in the game are too low and should be increased in the next patch. I would also like to see new types of rovers in the future.
Series and Events
Players can choose from various modes in the games menu. Firstly, there are the series in which players can choose to drive one of the four rovers depending on their licence level and race in multi stage, cross planet races. Events are similar but the different stages take place on the players chosen planet. Training helps the player obtain licenses to drive new vehicles and teaches them new techniques. Free roam lets you take control of any rover and explore the planets. Daily events let players earn XP in custom created one off events. The stage editor lets players make their own stages and online rally lets them compete in PVP rally events.
I do wish that the players could compete against other rovers together in races instead of just timed events. I wouldn’t necessarily have this in online rally’s as some players may try to hit other players off but playesr could compete against Ai opponents in events. #
Surveying the Scene
Before each stage, players should survey it using the drone and mark each point to make it easier to drive. You can also mark danger points like rocks or cliffs. Just don’t crash the drone like I did or you’ll be forced to start the stage with no survey. Before some stages, you may be allowed to service your vehicle. During a service, you can Refill your RCS and change your tyres. There are also different types of tyres such as offroad softs which wear out quickly but provide more grip to the opposite of offroad hards. Paddle tyres are suitable for muddy tracks and low traction surfaces. You can also tune your car to your liking.
Danger Zone
If you aren’t careful, the rover can easily be damaged. There are several ways you can damage your rover. Firstly, you could cause a puncture to one of your tyres or damage your springs with a hard landing. You could also cause multiple systems to fail by slamming straight into debris or terrain. Finally, you could cause a tyre failure or completely snap off your suspension. The damage mechanics in the game are very realistic and do change the way your rover handles dramatically. You can knock down some obstacles such as trees although i wouldn’t advise ramming it into one.
From New Earth to The Moon
There are 5 different planets players will be driving on each with it’s own unique weather and atmosphere. Firstly, there is New Earth the easiest planet with trees, hills and some bumps that will provide some challenge to new players. Then there is Dhool the sand planet which introduces meteors for players to avoid and dust that can get into the rovers. It’s extremely important to clean your rover after each service or else you might find yourself breaking down.
Tensei is a deadly, cold planet with a poisonous atmosphere. Players who break the oxygen tanks will find themselves inhaling the toxins, killing them. The Moon, known as the “thinking mans track” features low gravity and no atmosphere to carry heat away. This results in low traction, demanding very careful driving and longer cooldowns for RCS. Finally there is Fusang, another poisonous planet filled with lava and volcanic eruptions. Players will need to avoid molten bombs from these eruptions to prevent damage to their car. This planet is like playing a giant game of the floor is lava, avoid staying on said lava for too long or your tyres will melt.
The variation in planets helps gameplay to feel fresh and new, giving players new challenges to overcome in each one. My favourites are the moon stages, the low gravity changes how you approach driving and seeing the earth from far away makes you feel like Neil Armstrong. Although, I hope they do add more planets in the future, maybe in a DLC?
Soundtrack and Graphics
The soundtrack, created by Rhys Lindsay, is melancholic and matches the space/ SCI-Fi theme with heavy synths and an atmospheric guitar. The game uses the unity graphics engine and looks good for the most part. There is the occasional time where the textures struggle to load in but most of the time there haven’t been any issues with it. I also haven’t encountered any game breaking bugs.
The games physics which have been created by Mark Billington are very polished and realistic. Every piece of dirt or gravel is visible to the player and you can feel the difference in driving on the moon vs driving on New Earth.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the game has very well made damage mechanics and physics. It also has decent graphics and a unique soundtrack. The variation in both vehicles and planets should keep players interested for a while. It has a reasonable price tag at £19.99 on steam which i think is good value. It’s impressive how an indie studio like Exbleative games which only has three people has created such a high quality game.
However, I would add in other planets in future DLC and new types of rovers. I would also improve the grip in the game and add in a event where players can compete against AI opponents in races instead of timed events.
I loved The Alters. I fell for the madness, the relationships, and the ever-changing story. Additionally, I adored the character development and the harsh decisions you had to make. Therefore, when I saw The Alters: Last Variable, I knew I had to get my hands on it.
This DLC was developed and published by 11 bit studios. It is a single-player game that focuses on one expansion of multiple game endings. If you have not played the base game, you may wish to play that first and then come back to this review. Alternatively, enjoy this spoiler: Jan stays on the deadly planet and decides to terraform it for scientific purposes.
This twist in gameplay mechanics is a key difference between The Alters: Last Variable and the base game. In the original, you run away from deadly events. The DLC asks you to wait them out and survive in a permanent underground basement. This changes the dynamics of your approach and the relationships you form.
The Alters: Last Variable focuses on discoveries.
Jan the scientist has decided to stay on the deadly planet and investigate the “Oasis” theory. He believes that he can find information that will improve humanity and change people’s lives. For this, he must raise a team of Alters who have scientific backgrounds. This refined group must work together and evolve if they are to formulate a plan and complete their research.
The group of scientists each have different beliefs and understandings of what should work and what success looks like. However, this plays as a social experiment into how the same person can form alternative opinions based on the education they have.
Alongside this, the introduction of cryosleep and ageing of your Alters adds a nice dynamic. Their relationships grow, fracture, and change as the years pass. However, the main Jan doesn’t age. Instead, he is almost on the outside looking in. It is a bizarre approach to a game that captured my attention when first released.
Terraforming.
Terraforming a planet is an exciting and interesting concept. However, the planet doesn’t like you meddling in its affairs. Whenever you make part of the planet habitable, it fights back. Therefore, you must plan correctly and use your team of science boffs to the best of your abilities.
However, it is the terraforming that guides you nicely to the game’s inevitable conclusion. New resources, permanent liveable biomes, and new exploration pathways help to push the hero and the game forward. However, there are stronger earthquakes, deadlier radiation, and an array of other environmental obstacles to overcome.
When you combine this with the deadly planetary cycles, you have a lot to compete with. This is where the cryosleep mechanic comes to the fore. As the world is cracking, you are sleeping. Your team continue working, and you sleep like a baby. Your projects continue, and your team thrive or fail without your guidance. This keeps you on your toes as you are never sure exactly what you’ll see when you wake from your sleep.
The Alters: Last Variable looks as good as always.
I loved the base game’s style, and this was more of the same. The planet is as oppressive as always, and the risk of radiation and the horrific events are well displayed. Additionally, each unique character is easy to identify, and this makes it easier to play. I love the exploration elements and the planetary design. Everything is nicely considered, and the use of different pathways makes it exciting to see what is around the next corner.
The audio is dramatic but subtle. The music acts as a support act to the incredible ambient sounds and the amazing cutscenes. The dialogue is exceptional, and each character has a distinct one and way of talking. Moreover, the dialogue isn’t as abrasive as the original, as the scientific minds have a more intellectual approach.
Simple controls.
A clean UI and well-explained tutorial allow gamers to focus on the exploration, relationships, and crew management. Plenty is going on, and it is more complex than the original, but I liked the additional layers and the fun gameplay.
You’ll invest around 20 hours to complete The Alters: Last Variable. This is a hefty amount of time for this standalone expansion. Although you could argue that replay value is a little limited, I enjoyed every second of this sci-fi experience.
The Alters: Last Variable is fantastic!
I couldn’t be happier with this DLC. The idea of one storyline expansion was a little disappointing at first, but it works exceptionally well. I hope the developers take a similar course when they look at other DLC options. I adore the change of pace, the new mechanics, and the impressive story. Accordingly, I think it is great, and I recommend buying it here! Can you complete your research? Build your team, work towards a common goal, and hope that time doesn’t break your bonds.
The FUN60 Ultra 8K SP Keyboard from Monsgeek is a fantastic gaming peripheral. It is compact, sleek, and stylish. Furthermore, it offers some of the best gaming technology to improve your gaming setup and comfort during marathon gaming sessions. The small-form factor is outside of my comfort zone, but using macros and a little trial and error makes it the perfect gaming beast.
If you want a purely typing keyboard, this probably won’t be for you. However, if you want a best-of-both-worlds approach that is compact and ideal for commuting, this device will tick those boxes. Available in 2 colourways, I was sent the white version. If this isn’t for you, a black version is available.
This gaming keyboard has a high refresh rate and customisable RGB. Furthermore, there is web-based software to customise your inputs to maximise your gaming potential. Each of these elements was easy to master, and you can adjust your layout according to the game or genre you are playing. This makes the FUN60 Ultra 8K SP Keyboard an ideal option if you are an elite gamer or someone who wants the best gaming experience.
What’s in the box of the FUN60 Ultra 8K SP Keyboard?
The packaging is small, durable, and simple to look at. I liked the professional appearance and its fully recyclable materials.
The FUN60 Ultra 8K SP Keyboard has side-mounted key fonts and a clean style. Moreover, it is a tri-mode device with exceptional gaming features.
A USB-C cable and wireless transmitter are used to charge and connect the device.
Spare switches, keycaps, and tools are provided.
Learn the basics with the user manual.
Technical aspects.
Unlike its peers, the FUN60 Ultra 8K SP Keyboard is designed for exceptional polling rates. The wired and wireless connectivity offers 8k polling for lower input latency, smoother key response, and high-refresh gaming. The polling rate reduces if you use Bluetooth. Accordingly, I’d reserve the 3-profile Bluetooth feature for office-based tasks or slower genre gaming.
If you love to play wirelessly, this keyboard is easy to use and set up. The 3-profile Bluetooth functionality has a seamless design that can be altered using macro technology. This is ideal if you have several compatible devices at once. Furthermore, the 4,000 mAh battery delivers a decent return if you want to play marathon sessions between charges. If you run low on power, you can use this keyboard while charging. Therefore, you are never out of the game for too long.
The RGB offers impressive refresh rates for the most vibrant and responsive lighting experience you can enjoy. Although this may not be on top of your list of requirements, I was blown away by the shift in lighting technology.
Gaming edge.
If you want a keyboard that delivers an elite edge, the FUN60 Ultra 8K SP Keyboard will blow your mind. Rapid Trigger, SOCD/Snap Key, and other prime gaming aspects are included. These features are perfect if you need to stay ahead of your competition. Subsequently, if you are an elite gamer or you take your FPS seriously, you’ll adore each next-level feature.
The smaller form-factor is a key design choice that appeals to eSports gamers. Although it requires some macro shortcuts, the compact design lets gamers focus on the keys that matter. Additionally, you have more freedom to move your mouse in larger swooping motions. Therefore, you can be as aggressive and expressive as you like when you use this keyboard.
Build quality.
I love Monsgeek products. The premium cases, quality acoustic foam layers, and RT stabilisers make the keyboards feel and sound amazing. The minute actuation distance complements the stabilisers. This device offers pinpoint-accurate typing and control for the best and most responsive gaming experience. Moreover, the solid RT stabilisers ensure that every keystroke is defined and reliable in the heat of the battle.
The foam layers create a pleasant audio profile with a familiar thwocky edge. However, the Hall Effect switches deliver adjustable actuation distance, reduced friction, consistent key registration, and no physical contact. Consequently, you get the audio benefit of a traditional style, with the durability and accuracy of modern technology.
Finally, the case is designed from premium aluminium. This offers a reassuringly heavy product that is built to last. The colours will resist wear and tear, and the keycaps won’t suffer from that horrible greasy shine. Therefore, this keyboard will last the test of time.
Is the FUN60 Ultra 8K SP Keyboard worth it?
If you want a compact, durable, and high-quality gaming keyboard without breaking the bank, the FUN60 Ultra 8K SP Keyboard will appeal to you. It offers market-leading tech and a small form factor. Furthermore, you’ll enjoy some of the best tech at a fraction of the cost. Accordingly, this is the perfect gaming peripheral, and I recommend buying it here!
The Zenless Zone Zero Soldier 11 glasses from GUNNAR are an interesting concept. The unusual style, high-end tech, and health benefits offer a game-changing edge. Consequently, they are a great product if you are an elite gamer, a fashionista, or you want to reduce headaches, itchy eyes, or other adverse effects from staring at a monitor.
These glasses are inspired by Zenless Zone Zero. The free-to-play title has a distinct look and a hardcore fanbase. Accordingly, if you’ve never played the game, you may be a little lost. However, if you love Anime and unique styles, this will tick many boxes. Furthermore, the attractive accessories and collectors’ items will appeal to fans of the game. Therefore, this “Legendary” pair of glasses is striking and great for something that’ll stand out from the crowd.
What’s in the box of the Zenless Zone Zero Soldier 11 glasses?
The packaging is refined but professional. Moreover, it can be recycled.
The Zenless Zone Zero Soldier 11 glasses have a large singular lens and an angular style. Additionally, there are some nice details to the arms.
A puffy collectors’ case and microfibre cloth are provided.
Technical aspects.
The Zenless Zone Zero Soldier 11 glasses are available in an amber-tinted neutral-focus lens arrangement. Sadly, if you need prescription glasses, this cannot be arranged with this style. Subsequently, you’ll need to look at another pair of GUNNAR glasses to match your prescription.
Designed with GUNNAR patented technology, these glasses prevent your eyes from drying. Therefore, gamers and office workers will feel many health benefits. A reduction in headaches and itchy eyes is almost immediately noticeable. Moreover, your focus and productivity are increased as your eyes no longer feel tired. The lack of eyestrain is fantastic, and I could game or work for much longer.
The singular lens is an unusual choice, but once you get used to it, you’ll appreciate the increase in coverage. This minor change from traditional glasses reduces that small blind spot while improving accuracy and comfort. This is the ideal solution for elite gamers. Although I didn’t benefit in this way, I can see why lovers of fast-paced shooters will adore these specs.
These glasses offer an impressive 65% blue light and 100% UV protection. Moreover, they reduce that uncomfortable glare and sharp contrast from your monitor or TV screen. This complements the many health benefits while reducing fatigue during heavy gaming or work sessions.
Build quality.
GUNNAR is the market leader when it comes to top-end gaming tech. The Zenless Zone Zero Soldier 11 glasses are no different. This legendary set of glasses has smudge-resistant material that reduces marks and unwanted smears. Additionally, the spring-loaded hinges deliver comfort and a reduction in temple pressure. This is especially important if you have a wider-shaped head. After all, there is no point in reducing blue light damage if you are going to get pressure headaches.
The frame is durable, and there are hidden Easter eggs for fans of the Anime game. The attention to detail was amazing, and I appreciated the markings and the nod to the series. This is matched by the collectors’ items. Each one looks and feels fantastic. The puffy case will keep your glasses safe when stored by your PC or in your bag. The microfibre cloth has a striking display and helps to clean the glasses regardless of the smudge-resistant technology.
Are the Zenless Zone Zero Soldier 11 glasses worth it?
If you like to stand out from the crowd while improving your gaming, these glasses will be a hit. The single angled lens offers increased coverage and many health benefits. Additionally, they will appeal to lovers of the game. Although the style was a bit out there for me, I know many elite gamers will adore the Zenless Zone Zero Soldier 11 glasses. Accordingly, I recommend buying them here!
The Star Wars DLC PowerWash Simulator 2 is something I’ve been wanting for what seems like forever. It is one of the biggest crossover items that this franchise has seen. I’ve played every DLC in this franchise, and I absolutely love the mechanics, the mindless action, and the slow pace. Furthermore, it is great that I can clean iconic areas from this much-loved entertainment beast.
FuturLab Limited has developed and published this increasingly popular franchise. It is a single-player, couch co-op, or 4-player online experience. It embodies all the core mechanics from the base game, but it includes some amazing nods to the sci-fi franchise and 6 key locations.
Star Wars DLC PowerWash Simulator 2 tells a minor story.
Like the rest of the franchise, you enjoy snippets of the story as you complete portions of each stage. This can be tough to keep up with, but I like the drip-fed design and the bite-sized chunks.
You play the role of P0-W2, a class-five cleaning droid. This droid has been commanded to move from location to location while washing some filthy items in a galaxy far, far away. I don’t want to ruin the plot, but the P0-W2 begins life as an Empire pawn, but soon joins the Rebel Alliance.
Familiar gameplay.
Where Star Wars DLC PowerWash Simulator 2 may be divisive is the familiar action. If you are expecting a whole new approach, you will be bitterly disappointed. Instead, it focuses on using limited cleaning materials and your standard foam cleaners, floor mop, and an array of wacky nozzles.
The developer has incorporated ladders, scissor lifts, abseiling rigs, scaffolding, and more to assist you in cleaning each of the 6 locations. You’ll tackle an X-Wing, Lars Homestead, an AT-AT, and more. Each one is complex, large, and time-consuming. Accordingly, if you’re in a hurry, you may wish to team up with friends.
The use of lifts and rigs makes this a much more accessible addition to the franchise. I love the freedom of flying through the air or using your lift to get to hard-to-reach places. This helps to keep things balanced, as some of the huge stages can often feel overwhelming.
Star Wars DLC PowerWash Simulator 2 looks fantastic.
If you adore Star Wars, you’ll fall in love withthis DLC. The familiar vehicles and locations are nicely recreated. Additionally, the sense of size is well captured, even if it was occasionally tough to swallow. Although there are only 6 levels, there is plenty of variety to keep you entertained.
The audio is as refined as always. There is limited music, and much of the action relies on the noise of your pressure washer. This was quite relaxing, but after a while, it felt like water torture. Consequently, you may wish to play this in small(ish) chunks.
Excellent controls.
I’m familiar with the brand, so the control layout was like riding a bike. Yet, if you are new to the game, Star Wars DLC PowerWash Simulator 2 is easy to play. There is a nice dirt camera for you to look at, and the controls are exceptionally responsive.
Replay value is sadly limited. I think I invested about 6 hours into this as a solo player and completed everything. This would be vastly reduced in co-op or online. Luckily, it is enjoyable, regardless, and I would happily play it repeatedly with friends. Subsequently, despite the short playtime, it has plenty of longevity.
Star Wars DLC PowerWash Simulator 2 is a great addition to the franchise.
Star Wars DLC PowerWash Simulator 2 is an amazing game. Yes, I understand it won’t be for everyone, but I don’t really care. If you adore the calm and grindy nature of this genre, you will appreciate every tedious moment. Furthermore, it is Star Wars, so what’s not to like? Accordingly, I think it is amazing, and I recommend buying it here! Can you clean the galaxy far, far away? Power on your droid, pick your cleaning tool, and make the place shine.
Rune Dice is a brand-new roguelite that wants you to convince yourself that flinging dice across a board like a game of billiards to dictate your damage and gameplay choices is the next great hook. For the early stretch of its runtime, it succeeds. The presentation and art direction are gorgeous, the music is beautiful, and the sound design is satisfying. But peel back this beautiful presentation, and you will find a gameplay loop that is heavily stained by RNG and a lack of control. The game shows your number going up, but forgets to give you the tools to manage it.
The Satisfying Snap of Dice
The first noticeable thing about Rune Dice is how good it feels to look at and listen to. The soundtrack is a highlight with its upbeat and rhythmic nature. The pixel art is charming, and the animations are fluid. The gameplay loop is also satisfying. From launching your dice into the board to interacting with other dice and merging to create new ones is a satisfying experience.
The runs are addictive in the beginning. The scattering and collision of dice is a refreshing take on the roguelite genre, and there is a small rush of dopamine every time matching numbers slam together and jump into a bigger dice. The runes, which are upgrades and modified runes that provide health and damage bonuses, add an extra layer to the gameplay loop. There is no doubt that the gameplay loop is addictive and refreshing, but there are some glaring issues that hold Rune Dice back.
When the Table Decides for You
Besides what it says, Rune Dice is not actually a dice game. Traditional dice games earn their name through variance. Each die has six different faces offering different values. In Rune Dice, however, all the faces of the dice have the same value. The value only increases when a dice merges with a dice of similar value. This decreases the randomness factor of the game, and it only comes from where the dice lands on the table. It is more of a physics-based merge game inspired by billiards or pachinko. The gameplay system is intuitive, refreshing, and creative in its own right, but it does come with its own handful of issues.
The game offers customization and different abilities through its different classes and characters, but that’s pretty much it. A progression system does exist, but it barely offers any build crafting or strategic depth. The game offers Runes, which are limited special items that provide interesting bonuses and gameplay alterations. There are also special dice that provide health and other powers. The acquisition of special dice is based on initial character selection, but the runes are reliant on RNG.
Rune Dice has some interesting enemy and character designs, and some bosses / mini bosses overstay their welcome. Each boss fight has a unique mechanic that is infuriating to fight against. Losing to bosses at the final stage through damage-over-time effects and wasting throws to clear space is a disheartening feeling that tarnishes the overall satisfying gameplay loop.
Some enemies and bosses are genuinely interesting, and they change up the gameplay in a refreshing way. However, there are also enemies whose attacks feel impossible to play against. Ranged attackers chip away at your health nearly every turn, with a lack of meaningful ways to defend and counter. Some boss fights feel like a slow and inevitable war of attrition instead of being a tense challenge.
Final Verdict
This all results in a game that is heavily reliant on RNG and physics mechanics, which may sometimes feel frustrating and annoying. Lack of any meaningful progression system and build crafting is another glaring issue. Certain enemy designs actively work against whatever agency the player has left. Despite all this, Rune Dice is a refreshing take on the roguelite genre and has a satisfying gameplay loop. It is a game worth trying, especially for the fans of this genre who are hungry for something visually and mechanically different.
When you think of an iconic video game protagonist, who comes to mind?
For most, it is Mario, Sonic, Link, or perhaps the five-o’clock-shadowed, BO-drenched, denim-clad John Marston. Your answer, whether you realise it or not, usually boils down to geography and whatever games were available during the most impressionable years of your life.
I bring this up because the Japanese name Kunio-kun (which roughly translates to Mr Kunio) carries very little weight in the West. That is, until you realise I am actually talking about the historically beloved, heavyweight beat-’em-up global phenomenon we know as the River City franchise. For most Western players, their first introduction to this iconic series was the controller-crushing 1989 title River City Ransom, released to North American audiences on the brilliant Nintendo Entertainment System. It took several more years for the game to cross the Atlantic. When it finally arrived in 1992—landing in the hands of tea drinkers and scotch egg enthusiasts—it did so under the unimaginative, rebranded title of Street Gangs.
Royal blood and biblical lineage
With royal blood and a biblical lineage flowing through this franchise’s veins, the fresh new entry, River City Saga: Journey to the West, has massive shoes to fill. I am incredibly happy to report that it fills those shoes comfortably. In fact, these nostalgic little jelly shoes might even be slightly too small.
Co-developed by UnitePlus and brought to life by the monumental masters at Arc System Works—located in the bustling, ever-growing city of Yokohama—this title comes from truly gifted artisans who have spent decades creating wonderful intellectual properties. Founded during the heyday of gaming in 1988, Arc System Works has always beaten to the funky rhythm of their own drum. It is almost impossible to imagine the modern gaming industry without these pixelated giants. They have crafted classic, imaginative games that served as staples for many of our childhoods, including the legendary Guilty Gear, BlazBlue: Continuum Shift, and my personal favourite, Battle Fantasia.
The plot is loosely based on Journey to the West, a 16th-century Chinese novel set during the war-torn Tang dynasty. In an era of endless conflict, the only light in a very dark world is Buddha’s teachings. This sparks a perilous odyssey to Tianzhu (the ancient Chinese name for India), which is exactly where you come in. Playing as a trio of quirky renegades—Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing—you must punch and bat your way through this roguelike action brawler.
The core gameplay loop is classic arcade fun. You pace back and forth across the stage, ensuring absolutely everyone gets a taste of your fists. Once the crowd is down and out, you move to the next screen to fight your way up to the “bad man” boss. This boss is usually a dude in a lavish kimono with a name that is an absolute struggle to pronounce, surrounded by a legion of steroided-up hench hooligans. If it isn’t him, it’s a scarred-up bear-man who throws literal people at you. He is so unintentionally hilarious that it is impossible to take him seriously; you will find yourself erupting in laughter every time he appears, completely forgetting that you are actually supposed to be attacking the fool. Once your fists get swollen from all the unnecessary GBH, you can put your saucy sorcery skills to the test. The game lets you summon clever clones or drop piercing traps designed to elude and damage your unlucky victims. Honestly, it never gets old using a mystical blessing just to drop a wooden food cart onto a gullible goon.
If that isn’t enough, you can upgrade your courageous characters with over 70 different skills. When times get truly tough, you can call on your beloved, benevolent Guy in the Sky to bestow a holy blessing. This serves as your ultimate weapon, allowing you to summon divine aid to smite your almighty smiters when the screen gets too crowded. If you are still struggling—as the difficulty spikes can occasionally peak—a welcome assist option is available to make the journey a little more enjoyable for less experienced players.
Pixel passion
The art style utilises gorgeous, anime-esque character models that perfectly convey the historical narrative in a playful, cartoonish form. When you dive into the thick of the action, the game seamlessly transitions into beautiful pixel sprites overlaid onto an HD world. This world is littered with dangerous, destructible environments, with items such as exploding barrels and smashable shopping carts. This vibrant aesthetic is paired with an incredible soundtrack orchestrated with a gorgeous oriental flair. Packed with more pound flutes and shamisen than your mum’s 1997 Pure Moods mixtape, the audio design elevates the entire brawling experience into something truly enjoyable.
This game is the perfect boredom buster for quick bursts when you only have a spare 10 minutes of free time. Honestly, I don’t think it has ever been as much fun being a kimono-wrapped ASBO as it is in this new instalment of the beloved River City series. The only potential drawback is that, because it is essentially an arcade game, the gameplay loop can feel quite rinse-and-repeat. However, it remains absolutely perfect for casual, drop-in sessions.
Final score 7.8/10
So, if you’re staring at the store page unsure whether to pull the trigger on this game or yourself, ask yourself one fundamental question: fancy a beatdown? If the answer is yes, pick this one up. I’m sure you won’t regret it.
If you dislike grotesque, weird, and hard-to-follow games, then Necrophosis: Full Consciousness should be avoided at all costs. It is extremely odd, and I struggled with its often-cryptic ways. Furthermore, the lack of guidance had me scratching my head and randomly guessing my way through puzzles. However, it is stomach-turning, interesting, and strangely tough to put down.
This horror exploration experience was developed by Dragonis Games and published by PQube Limited. It is a single-play horror art experience rather than a traditional jump scare, spooky fest. Although the imagery is dark and uncomfortable, it steers away from traditional “scary” moments. Instead, it uses its dank world and horrific moments in conjunction with environmental storytelling and odd puzzles.
Necrophosis: Full Consciousness and its bizarre tale.
Losing your memory must be extremely scary, but things are made worse if your body is failing you as well. Necrophosis: Full Consciousness makes you play the part of a disembodied “Consciousness” trapped inside a rotting vessel. The surrounding world is in an eternal state of decay, and everything is decomposing. Your task is to explore this horrendous land while finding fragments of your identity and the fate of the world.
In theory, the plot is reasonably self-explanatory, but it rarely follows a clear path. Instead, intentionally cryptic messages push you towards tough-to-solve puzzles, strange conversations, and odd symbolism. This bitty and non-guided design was great for those who like to think outside of the box and endure a cruel world. However, if this isn’t for you, you’ll find it uncomfortable and frustrating.
Using your senses.
Necrophosis: Full Consciousness relies heavily on observation skills and a cryptic mindset. The world is an interconnected minefield of madness where you become lost in strange lore and plenty of guesswork. This leads to bitty storytelling that is fantastic but tough to follow. Additionally, if you lack situational awareness or you are not paying attention, you could miss key concepts. This impacts your understanding of the lore-heavy elements, and it could make things confusing.
The puzzles involve visual clues, fetching items, and interacting with the weirdest statues I’ve ever seen. If the gameplay weren’t so random, they wouldn’t be an issue, but missing key parts or being turned off by some of the extreme moments is enough to hold you back.
Unlike other horror games, Necrophosis: Full Consciousness has no traditional combat. Instead, it focuses on tension, lore, and exploration. I’d liken it to a dark walking sim rather than your classic horror title.
Necrophosis: Full Consciousness turned my stomach.
It takes a lot to make me feel unwell, but Necrophosis: Full Consciousness did just that. The combination of dark colours and strange imagery was enough to make me feel queasy. I’m not saying it is disturbing per se, but it puts you out of your comfort zone immediately. The first-person design makes it hard to see everything at once. This adds to the confusion and makes the world seem smaller and more claustrophobic than it is.
This unsettling atmosphere is complemented by the brilliant audio. The use of silence, screams, distant voices, and eerie sound effects works perfectly. There is nothing worse than a strange message, a weird statue, and uncomfortable noises to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Simple controls.
The slower gameplay makes this easy to play. With simple controls to master and a refined UI, it doesn’t take long to familiarise yourself with the layout. Unfortunately, this doesn’t help you overcome the gameplay’s cryptic nature.
I invested around 6 hours to complete 1 playthrough. I didn’t unlock every achievement, and I admit I struggled throughout. More competent gamers will fly through this, and 5 hours could get you a 100% completion. Therefore, there is limited replay value and longevity.
Necrophosis: Full Consciousness will divide audiences.
Necrophosis: Full Consciousness is an unusual, interesting, and slow game that will divide audiences. I liked the concept and the dark aesthetic, but I found the puzzles to be too abstract. This affected the immersion, and I often found myself lost. However, this is more than likely a me issue, and if you love odd puzzles, you will appreciate everything on offer. Accordingly, despite my reservations, I recommend buying it here! Can you piece together your existence? Explore the world, search for clues, and solve each puzzle you find.
I’m going to admit something a little embarassing. When I was younger, around 12, or 13 I want to say, I used to watch tons of Anime Youtubers. The Anime Man, the Lost Pause, others that I can’t remember off the top of my head. Now, I regret being a fan of these creators for several reasons, but as a kid I genuinely liked their content. As I’m sure is the case with almost everyone. I grew up and overtime stopped watching not only Anime Youtubers, but also anime as a genre by and large. There are anime that I adore, but I’m no longer an “anime fan” if that makes sense.
Problematic Beginnings
All of that aside, I do think I’m uniquely qualified to review “Death Match Love Comedy!” As I previously stated: I used to religiously watch these Anime Youtubers and that includes all of the visual novels they played. I even remember watching the Game Grumps play Sakura Spirit over and over again. Thanks to that I do know a good amount about visual novels. I know the stereotypes, I know how they usually characterize their Main Characters and I know that these games are usually quite lewd. Needless to say, I wasn’t surprised when I started the game and one of the first conversations involves breasts. The whole conversation was a tad juvenile, a running theme when it comes to this games writing. I later found out that this was a localization of a game from 2013, this explains the writing at the very least.
Slapstick Abundance
One thing that did catch my attention was how many times the main cast of characters got into fist fights. I’m no stranger to slapstick, especially not in anime, but in Death Match Love Comedy! It feels overused. Within the first hour of playtime, the main character had gotten physically assaulted no less than a dozen times. It was so frequent it would make the three stooges blush. I will admit though over the course of 3 or 4 hours the characters begin to find their footing. The way the characters spoke to each other felt more natural as time went on too. I didn’t find myself laughing at any of the jokes, or attempted humorous scenes, but I did find some of them amusing.
Plot and Priorities
The game centers around Kei Yagi, a freshman in high school with low self esteem and a short stature to match his low intelligence. The beginning of the game starts with an explosion killing Kei and anyone around him. While narration explains what happened we get the first of many cliches. Without any hint of irony we get the classic: “I bet you’re wondering how I got in this situation…” transitions. It cuts back in time to the aforementioned breast discussion and we are introduced to the main cast of characters. They are: Kei Yagi, the protagonist, Rumiko Tsuno and Otoba Shirotsume, the two love interests Asuka Hirakoba, Yagi’s “Archnemisis” Shinoka Kudan, someone you know very little about at the beginning of the game, then there’s Miya Togo and Ryuto Arisu.
All of the characters fall into their own archetypes so it’s easy to tell their personalities before they even speak. The plot starts off with the two main love interests Tsuno and Otoba confessing their feelings to Yagi. We then relive the opening sequence and discover that it was a hallucination. A mysterious pink floating cat-like object then tells the protagonist that next time he gets a confession, he will explode for real. The next several hours of gametime will be a mostly slice of life style romantic comedy. Nothing special or noteworthy so far stood out to me aside from how ridiculous the premise is.
Fascinating Story Flawed Execution
It does get a bit more interesting later in the game but after my first 6 hours I felt a bit bored. I want to say I’ve gotten to about the half-way point as of writing and while it has picked up in quality and has admittedly become much more interesting I ultimately haven’t enjoyed my experience very much. This confused me at first because I know of PQube and have only heard of great things for Raging Loop. It turns out that Raging Loop came out a few years after Death Match Love Comedy and the improvement in writing quality between the two is astonishing to say the least. When it comes to visual novels though, you could do a lot worse than Death Match Love Comedy! The writing is serviceable and can get amusing at times and later in the game the story gets genuinely gripping.
Conclusions
If you are into visual novels, this game has something for you. If you can get past the juvenile writing, how loud the music is and you can get past the slow beginnings, this game has more to it than just being a slice of life story and once it gets going it can be an enjoyable experience. This game isn’t for me but I can see the vision it’s going for.
