Game Info

Game Title: Outbound

Genre: Simulation

Platform: PS5, Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox Series X/S

Developer/Publisher: Square Glade Games & Silver Lining Interactive

Date Released: May 11, 2026

Time Spent Playing: ~1 hour

First Impressions

First impression of this game is that it generally looks good. I’m a sucker for simulation games so I will always give a simulation game a try. You get exactly what you are looking for in a open world/simulation game with some crafting and objectives mixed in.

Core Gameplay

The core gameplay of this game is to mainly explore the world that you are placed in. You design your character and your van and start your journey. You can craft items to help you progress through the objectives as you explore the landscape. It’s a quick pick up with simple controls. Exploration seems to be the main objective however the crafting adds another level to the game that I can say that I enjoy.

Atmosphere

The atmosphere is beautiful. As an adult that never had the opportunity to go camping as of yet in his life, this provides a little insight into that type of life. Think about giving up all the comforts you currently have and just embark on a journey through the world free of the city landscape. You take in the sights of nature and wildlife and utilize the world around you to survive.

Accessibility

Through my hour long gameplay I didn’t notice any bugs or issues so far. The game recently came out so as I continue to play I will take note of any issues I may run into.

Value & Replayability

This game was released on Game Pass on May 11th however for those that want to purchase, it’s currently 10% off on Steam for $22.49 until May 25th. It boasts a mostly positive rating with 1,099 reviews. For me it’s relaxing enough to be considered a cozy game to explore and let the time pass by.

Overall

Overall I like this game. It’s a bit slow but I can imagine with upgrades to the vehicle and continuing to explore and unlock items to craft the game can generally get better. For now, I’ll give this game a 7.8.

Game Info

Game Title: Call of the Elder Gods

Genre: Action Adventure, Puzzle, Indie

Platform: PC (Steam), PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch/2

Developer: Out of the Blue Games

Publisher: Kwalee

Date Released: May 12, 2026

Time Spent Playing: ~1 hr

First Impressions

My first impression of this game is that it is new to me. I’m not new to indie games however puzzle games have never been my forte. I can admit that I would tend to avoid these type of games because I would have to apply a certain level of brainpower in order to progress however my experience initially playing this game was not bad at all.

Core Gameplay

The main gameplay for this game revolves around figuring out the puzzles that are before you. You have to explore the area that you have opened and figure out what information that you need in order to progress on to the next part of the story. Towards the end of my stream I was stuck on a puzzle that involves one of the protagonists family and after about 5-10 mins of moving books around I had to end the stream because I reached my previously allotted 1 hour stream mark. However the puzzles up until that point have not been the most intricate but still involved some level of observation in order to get them correct. You are playing as a woman who recently lost her memory and she has been attempting to get an interview with a professor that seems to be elusive up until this point. You see the professor go through a hypnotism session with his supposed therapist that may have been his undoing. As the female protagonist you break into his manor to try to find the answers you are looking for.

Atmosphere

This game boasts a Lovecraftian style of play which is very apparent. The dark setting of the areas you set out to explore add to the mystery vibe that the game was going for. It is narrated by the professor’s dead wife who plays an integral role to the story however I have not gotten far enough to truly see what that role is. The music as well adds an eerie feel to everything which altogether makes for a good mystery style puzzle game.

Accessibility

No real issues while playing this game. It recently came out and it seems to be polished very well so far.

Value & Replayability

This game was released on Game Pass so great news for Xbox players looking for a new puzzle game to play. On Steam it is currently 20% off at $19.99 until May 19th. It only has 67 reviews on Steam however it is viewed as Very Positive.

Overall

Overall I can see myself enjoying this game. Currently in order to provide variety to my subscribers on Youtube I utilize a randomized wheel of games that I am willing to stream and make a series to. Due to this initial gameplay and my general love for mystery style content, I plan on adding this game to the daily wheel to continue playing whenever fate decides it. I give this game a strong 8.5 overall.

Game Info

Game Title: Aphelion

Genre: Action-Adventure/Platformer

Platform: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC

Developer/Publisher: Don’t Nod

Date of Release: April 28, 2026

Time Spent Playing: ~1 hr

First Impressions

First impressions of this game is that I love it. Very beautiful scenery with music to match. Different from any platformer that i’ve played recently which is usually 2/2.5d which adds a bit more to the immersion of the game.

Core Gameplay

The game starts with a discussion between the two main characters, Ariane and Thomas. After crash landing on the planet Persephone you start as Ariane maneuvering through the wreckage. Finding that Thomas was able to use an escape pod to leave the space station Ariane begins her search to find Thomas. Through two chapters of this game, the gameplay mainly surrounded getting around the wreckage through strategically climbing great heights and use of a wench. You also have a navigator to see the next waypoint and zoom in for any other important information and an EMP reader to identify glyphs and the magnetic field of Persephone.

Atmosphere

As stated in the beginning the scenery is beautiful. Persephone is a seemingly snowed over planet with a mysterious heat source which was the reason for the trip. The music adds to ambiance of exploration and mystery that grips you right from the beginning. With beautifully mysteriously constructed ice glyphs and frozen lakes, it feels like this planet is right out of a sci-fi novel.

Accesibility

There were no noticeable bugs through playing the game which is good for a recently released title. Make sure to time your jumping precisely so you don’t end up dying impromptu (like I did a couple of times).

Value & Replayability

This was recently released on Game Pass so I didn’t have to pay for it. However it costs $26.99 on Steam and it is currently 10% off. The views are currently mixed with only 88 reviews however if the storyline match the gameplay I can see the game gaining better ratings over the next couple of weeks.

Overall

Overall I enjoyed my short time experiencing the game. I will continue playing to hopefully have a complete gameplay series on my Youtube. Overall I give the game a 8.1.

Game Info

Game Title: The Thaumaturge

Genre: RPG/Action-Adventure

Platform: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S

Developer: Fool’s Theory

Publisher: 11 bit studios

Date Released: March 4, 2024 on PC, December 4, 2024 on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S

Time Spent Playing: ~1 hr

First Impressions

Since I’ve started this venture of game reviews I’ve been playing more turn based RPG games. As a person that tends to overlook this style of gameplay I’ve come to an understanding of what the allure is of this type of game. My first impressions of this game is that it is a beautiful concept with an interesting story to accompany it. With an isometric (top-down) style of play it provides a similar feel when you are walking through games like Diablo or Path of Exile.

Core Gameplay

The gameplay for this game is very exploratory. What I mean by this is that you are free to roam the area and investigate what is needed to progress within the game. You play as Wiktor (prounounced Victor) Szulski, a Thaumaturge. In the context of this game the character is followed by a salutor or Upyr that allows him to learn more about the people around them and even manipulate them to allow further progress in the investigation. The story starts with you approaching a telegram office with a message to be sent to your sister. You hitch a ride with the local postman to the village in search of the healer, Rasputin. At this point in the game you and Upyr have a severed connection the Rasputin helps heal. Afterwards you try to find out why the village you are in is plagued with tension and hot-headedness. Through investigation you find the salutor that has been affecting the town and engage in a battle to contain it. As for the skills you gain in the game, they have been split into 4 categories, Heart, Mind, Deed and Word. With each skill point that you gain, you can upgrade your fight style to help in your battles. The fight style is turn based and certain enemies can inflict issues that you need to be weary of so that you plan your next move accordingly.

Atmosphere

The setting of the game, at least to start, is in a small village. The art style looks very good for this style of game. The aforementioned village has an old Eastern European style that adds to the field of the game. The music adds to the setting of game giving it a slight eerie feel as you continue to investigate.

Accessibility

My only issue while playing is changing tabs within the menu is a bit sticky. I’m unsure if that is a flaw within the game or a flaw with my system itself.

Value & Replayability

This game was released on Game Pass so I had the pleasure of not having to pay. However for those that want to buy the game, on Steam it costs $34.99. It has a Very Positive rating for 1,508 ratings. In my opinion for this type of game I would say that it is worth the price.

Overall

Overall I enjoyed my initial playthrough. I would definitely continue playing this game over the next couple of weeks. Overall I will give this game an 8.2.

Game Info

Game Title: Replaced

Genre: Action Adventure/Platformer

Platform: Windows and Xbox (Series X/S)

Developer: Sad Cat Studios

Publisher: Coatsink and Thunderful Publishing

Date Released: April 14, 2026

Time Spent Playing: ~1 hr

First Impressions

The initial thing that drew me to the game was the artwork. There are a few gaming Youtubers that I routinely watch and this game was played by Hollow. I was enjoying him playing the game and then I seen that it was released on Game Pass and immediately stopped watching to feature the game for this week’s review. From the beginning I was hooked on the story of the main character fusing with a computer program as the police are destroying their lab. A couple of fights and silly deaths later I completed chapter 1 and ended my stream.

Core Gameplay

The gameplay for this is pretty straightforward. Like most platformers it provides a side scrolling experience with very simple controls. When it comes to combat against the Termites (initial enemies in the beginning), it takes some getting used to. You can parry certain actions and dodge what you can assume is a heavy attack. Once you get a handle on the flow of combat, it isn’t that difficult to get through a group of enemies. Aside from combat, in normal platformer fashion, there are a couple areas you have to think to traverse. Think, this wall is a bit too high however there is a bar that I can swing on and a platform that I could move left to right. I assume there are more intricate puzzles to get through and i’m looking forward to that as well. The general story however is you play as a man named Warren Marsh who becomes controlled by an AI called R.E.A.C.H (Research Engine for Altering and Composing Humans). After escaping the laboratory while enduring a barrage of bullets from ensuing police officers you start your quest to get back to the laboratory while dealing with some enemies in between.

Atmosphere

The general atmosphere of this game is retro-futuristic/cyberpunk style of artwork. You are placed in a very dystopian area where the world looks forgotten by the powers that be. As you traverse across the world and different areas you see how much ruin is on the outside world that you have been forced to travel through. For me I enjoy this type of artstyle. The vibe of the game makes you feel as if you yourself have been taken over by the AI and you need to get things back to normal.

Accessibility

There were no noticeable bugs that I encountered during my initial playthrough. During some of the combat scenes there was a bit of lag however that could be easily explained away by me using cloud gaming on a semi-public wifi.

Value & Replayability

As an Xbox player with Game Pass this was free. However on Steam it costs $19.99 which in my opinion is a great price for a game of this style. It has a mostly positive rating out of 1851 reviews so far and the game came out about 4 days ago. In my opinion a good choice for anyone that is looking for a new platformer to play.

Overall

Overall for me this game is a must play from me. I love the gameplay so far, the art-style and the general feel of the game. If I were to give it an honest rating, an easy 9.2 for me. I look forward to completing this game.

Game Info

Title: Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Genre: RPG

Platform: Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio

Publisher: SEGA

Date Released: January 26, 2024

Time Spent Playing: ~2 hours

First Impressions

Anyone that knows me knows that turn based fighting games are not really my speed however this game surprised me so far. The general storyline, the artwork and general feel and the combat all work very well together to make anyone that wasn’t initially interested in this type of gameplay have a good experience.

Core Gameplay

The game follows the protagonist, Ichiban Kasuga, as he works to help former Yakuza members reintegrate into regular life. In the beginning of the game, and I assume the entirety of the game, there is a focus on building the story of what it is that has been happening and what you may be focused on moving forward. The top two Yakuza clans have been disbanded sending 30,000 members back into society with no real skills as well as no assistance in working in this new reality. Ichiban works at an employment agency to assist people to find work. Towards the end of my 2 hour playthrough it is found that Ichiban has been fired due to lack of funding. There are points in the story where you must choose how to react and that will change your personality for perks throughout the game. You can find usable items as you traverse through the game such as “Hallucination Bombs” that would cause enemies to hallucinate and give you an advantage in fights. The fight style is the normal turn based style where you choose what you want to do such as attack, use a skill or use an item and then it goes to the enemy or someone else in your party. As you fight there are also environmental weapons that could be used if it is in the area when the fight started such as a garbage can or a bicycle for example. Other than the fights that may related to the storyline, you can run into enemies that would randomly start a fight with you as you travel between two areas.

Atmosphere

The general look of the game is beautiful. I’ve never played any Yakuza games so I had no idea what I was getting into at all. The music works very well with the setting as well. You appear to be in a city in Japan and you are able to explore the map within reason. There are some shops where you can enter to either buy food to replenish health or buy items to be used in future battles.

Accessibility

There weren’t any issues that I found as I played through the game. It is a very easy pick up and there are tips that sporadically appear as you continue through the gameplay.

Value & Replayability

This game came out in the last two years and the price point matches that. It currently costs $69.99 on Steam with a very positive rating of 91% out of 7,171 reviews. Personally I wouldn’t pay this much for a game like this because this isn’t a game that I would normally go for. However I understand the reasoning behind this due to recent release of the game as well as this being the 9th game in a series that has been around since 2005.

Overall

Overall the game seems interesting enough for me to continue playing. I have a bad habit however of stopping games like this in the middle due to losing interest in the fight style but I will give this game a try to complete it. Overall I will give this game a 7.6.

Game Info

Game Title: Easy Delivery Co.

Genre: Driving Simulator

Platform: Xbox Series X (Also available on Playstation 5, Windows, macOS, iOS, Switch and Android)

Developer: Sam C.

Publisher: Oro Interactive

Release Date: Windows - September 18, 2025, macOs - March 24, 2026, Mobile, Switch, Xbox Series, Playstation 5 - March 26, 2026

Time Spent Playing: ~1 hr

First Impressions

Initial impression of this game reminded me of one of my all time favorite games, Animal Crossing. You play as a cat and when you interact with other characters it sounds similar to the sounds the animals make when they talk to you in Animal Crossing. Very simple pick-up and I can see myself going through this game for sure.

Core Gameplay

The gameplay for this game is pretty simple. You access your delivery program to access different delivery jobs. As you progress you receive goals and side goals that help you progress within the game. Such as when you start to reach low energy you get an email letting you know that you should mainly drink energy drinks sponsored by your company from company sponsored vending machines and that helps you move on within the game. Aside from that you learn a bit of lore from each person that you interact with that helps build an interesting storyline that pushes you to continue doing deliveries to learn more about the city and the people that you are delivering to.

Atmosphere & Presentation

The atmosphere seems to be a very snowed over city. Maintaining your energy and staying out of the cold for extended periods of time is highly encouraged as you can very easily pass out due to lack of energy or being too cold. In my playthrough I parked a bit too far from a delivery site when my energy was too low which caused me to pass out. I then began to wander around a dark hallway until I woke up again in my car. Not too sure about that area however I assume you’d learn more about it as you continue to progress through the game.

Accessibility

One thing to note is whenever I would progress to a new part of the map there is a slight lag for the game to load in whatever assets are needed for the area. Other than that I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary while playing the game.

Value and Replayability

Like always, this game was released on Game Pass so I lost nothing trying out this game. However on Steam it costs $12.99 which in my opinion is a steal for any simulation game. It boasts an overwhelmingly positive rating with 95% of 4662 ratings overall.

Overall

Overall I enjoy this style of game but I know I hold a bit of bias for simulation games. It is a simple pick-up and the story seems interesting enough for me to continue playing. I may add this to my regular rotation of streaming gameplay to see how the story progresses and throw the videos up on my Youtube. My rating for this game, 8.2.

Game Info

Game Title: Disco Elysium: The Final Cut

Genre: Role Playing

Platform: Xbox Series X (Also available across all platforms)

Developer and Publisher: ZA/UM

Released: 2021

Time Spent Playing: ~1 hr 10 mins

First Impressions

As my first time playing this game I would say it’s very unique. I’ve never played any game like this. The storyline seems engaging enough for me to give an honest playthrough however seeing as I ended up dying twice tells me that I would have to be very strategic from the onset in order to have an actual substantial playthrough.

Core Gameplay

The gameplay I would say is semi-straightforward. The game starts with a narrative that with proper choices in dialogue lead you to understand that you drunk yourself into a stupor and are a cop of some kind. You are investigating a murder while battling with crippling alcoholism and self-loathing about your ex-wife. You can choose from a set of classes in the beginning that already allot your skills or you can create your own skill tree if you have an idea of what you are doing. First time playing I attempted to create my own character and I’m sure I jumped the gun before progressing which led to my demise before I left the initial room. Second time around I chose the “Thinker” which provides you with more intellect to make more informed choices as well as understand the world around you. However I ended up losing again due to a rude kid calling me fat and that led to a bout of depression and the main character quitting the force and living under a bridge. Like I stated in the beginning, strategy seems to be the key so you don’t end up dying or losing because of the wrong choice or talking to the wrong people. Aside from that you interact with people and items to help you piece together what you’re investigating and sometimes a dice roll is used to help you or hinder you based on your skill level. Seeing as this a very new experience for me in the world of gaming I can honestly say that it is unique enough (to me) to actually go back and try to get through the story. There are autosave points in the game when you progress as you should to allow you to jump back in if you by any chance end up losing because of bad choices.

Atmosphere

The setting of this game looks to be something out of a impressionist painting. I actually like how the game looks and it provides a good atmosphere for what the character is experiencing. Through talking to different characters you get an idea of the world you are in and the picture that it paints is in line with the artstyle of the game itself.

Accessibility

For a first time player of this style of game there is a bit of a learning curve. I do enjoy a good RPG however the use of a dice roll gives the game the style of a Dungeons and Dragons campaign which I have minimal experience outside of watching Youtubers play. If you have never played this type of game it may come off a bit awkward in the beginning however you can pick it up pretty quickly after some trial and error.

Value & Replayability

This game was recently released on Game Pass so I didn’t have to pay however on Steam it is 75% off at $9.99 until March 26th with the original price being $40. Honestly for how the game plays I would say that if this was my style of game I would pay for it at that price. There seems to be different ways that your game could end impromptu which allows for a unique playthrough and for some people you may want to see all the different ways that your story can end. Overall all of this is a plus in my book and I may continue playing just to see how the story progresses and all the ways my character story ends. It boasts a “Very Positive” rating of 92% out of 55,218 ratings at the time of this post.

Overall

Overall for me with this initial playthrough I can tell this is a really good game. All the different ways you could approach scenarios, the unique commentary by the narrator and the general storyline to me makes for a good game. If I had to put a rating on my initial playthrough, I would give it a 8.9.

Game Info

Title: Construction Simulator

Genre: Simulation

Platform: PC stream, PlayStation 4,5,Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X

Developer: weltenbauer

Publisher: Astragon

Release Date: 2022

Time Spent Playing: ~1hr

First Impressions

Anyone that knows me knows that I have a soft spot for simulation based games. One of the first games that I ever played was The Sims and my love for simulation based games grew from there. The game allows for online or single player play and starts off with a tutorial that allows you to learn the different machines and tasks you’d be expected to do while you are working as a construction worker. From the start of the game I was completely focused on making sure I do a good job while trying not to accidentally cause any issues that I would only assume would happen on any construction site.

Core Gameplay

The gameplay in my opinion is pretty straightforward, at least with the tutorial. I was playing on an Xbox and if you press down on the directional pad, it will give you the controls for any machine you are using such as a crane, backhoe, cement truck, etc. My biggest gripe was the limiting camera while you try to access different items with a crane which makes it a bit more difficult to get a handle of the controls quickly. However once that is down the tasks are pretty straightforward. The map seems extensive which would allow for a pretty good construction storyline of sorts which I feel most simulation games are lacking. Most of the time with a simulation game its go here, complete this task, reap the rewards and repeat. However with this there seems to be a storyline linked to the work you are doing which makes it play more like a construction worker building a business as opposed to just a person on a worksite hammering here and drilling there.

Atmosphere

For the atmosphere of the game I was greatly surprised. I went in with minimal expectations however there seems to be a whole city with different jobs you’d be able to interact with as you progress in the game. The city looks beautiful and vibrant with NPCs driving and walking around. The music fits with the game and plays just quietly in the background that you aren’t just hearing the machines work. I chose to do my mode in USA and it allows for a European landscape as well that I may play in the future.

Accessibility

As a first time player like I stated the controls may be a bit confusing especially if you are not used to playing simulation games. However the controls are easily accessible and (at least for the tutorial) you have time to trial and error your controls until you get it. Also like I stated I wish there was more of 3D camera capability however beggars can’t be choosers.

Value & Replayability

Because this game was on Game Pass this was of no cost to me. However to buy the full game such as on Steam, it costs $34.99 and boasts a very positive rating (80% of 3251 reviews). Personally that’s a bit pricey for a simulation game however after about an hour of gameplay I can see the reason for the price point.

Overall

Overall if you are looking for a simulation game which focuses on the job of an independent construction worker, this is definitely the game for you. If you enjoy sim games this also the game for you. Some people are turned off by this style of gameplay due to the lack of story or that it’s a bit too realistic so it feels more like work instead of a game. However for me definitely an enjoyable experience. My rating, 8.7.

Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf is the sequel to Planet of Lana: An Off Earth Odyssey. Prior to giving this game a try I actually have never heard of this series so I had no idea what I was getting into. Doing a bit of reading before starting this game I found that it is a puzzle based platform game with a bit of stealth built in. So let’s get right into my review.

Game Info

• Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf

• Puzzle/Platformer/Adventure

• Xbox Series X (available on all platforms)

• Developed by Wishfully

• Published by Thunderful Publishing and Playdigious (for IOS)

• Time Spent Playing: ~55 mins

First Impressions

First impressions of this game is overall good. Normally I don’t pick up platformers as a game that I would want to play during my normal gaming sessions. However this was an easy pick up and the prologue in the beginning gives a good overview of the story up until the start of the game. From the start you learn all the general controls of the game so when the actual puzzles start you have an idea of what needs to be done. Ran into a couple pitfalls however I was able to get through the puzzles to complete the first chapter.

Core Gameplay

Because it is a sidescroller you are going from point A to point B with some puzzles or stealth involved. It doesn’t feel repetitive as the puzzles provide some level of a challenge and some thought before you move on to the next area. You play as Lana and you are accompanied by her little sister and her cat, Mui. Mui is very useful to complete some puzzles because it can get to areas that are not easily accessible and use it’s special power which is electric based.

Atmosphere

As the picture shows at the start of this review the art style is absolutely beautiful. The game states at the beginning that the language in the game is a made up language that allows the player to create their own representation of the story as they continue to play. Moving from area to area showed distinct changes in the general atmosphere from a rundown futuristic base to underwater to a dark area where an enemy that you need to stealthily get by.

Accessibility

As a first time player I did not notice any bugs or problems so far with the gameplay. Anyone jumping in with no information beforehand will quickly be able to pick up this game with no issues. If platformers are more your speed, this would be the ideal game for you.

Value & Replayability

Because this game was released on game pass I had no financial stake in this game. Currently on Steam it is 10% off at a grand total of $17.99 until March 19th. Original price on Steam is $19.99. For me because this isn’t my typical game I personally wouldn’t play it however with very positive reviews on Steam (93% loved it), I can see the market for this game. As for replayability I would definitely try to beat it as I continue to play from time to time during the remainder of this month.

Overall

My overall verdict for this game is if you enjoy platformers, puzzles and stealth this is definitely the game for you. The story seems engaging and unique. The gameplay is seamless and for me as a life-long gamer I don’t mind a bit of a challenge when I play games. My rating for this game, 8.2.

This is my first time playing this classic game from the Diablo series. I’ve dabbled within the games of this series starting with Diablo 4 when it came out with a phone version and I enjoyed playing it. I also played the Xbox version for a bit as well and enjoyed the story up until the part that I eventually put it down so I was looking forward to giving this game a try and making a review for it. So let’s get right into it.

Gameplay

If you’ve never played a game like this it may come off a bit confusing and it doesn’t provide much of a walkthrough to help you understand what’s going on. Luckily for me because I’ve played games such as Path of Exile I understand the general mechanics of the game which allowed me to jump right in with minimal issues. For those that are interested in this game, i’ll give my best crash course understanding of the controls to make it a bit easier for your initial run. I’m playing on an Xbox so this is geared towards Xbox players but anyone with a console or PC should be able to understand with no problem. At the bottom of the screen you have your binded keys to allow you to quickly use unlocked skills. I started with a Barbarian class (you have different classes that you can choose from to allow you to play to your liking) and the first skill I get is a general attack with whatever weapon you initially get. As you unlock skills you can bind them to the button or key that you choose that makes it easier for you to play. In terms of skills to unlock you can easily find a guide that shows you a good progression of skills to optimize your gameplay or you could do what I did and read through each skill and decide what makes the most sense for your style of play. Normally for games like this I like to have a guide on hand to provide me the best experience however as i’ve continued to play games like this i’ve wanted to get better at learning how to allocate my skills on my own as a way of getting better as a gamer. There is a minimap that you can open to make it easy as you traverse through different areas and I would HIGHLY suggest you have that open so you’re not running around in circles. The game doesn’t provide much of a guide as to where you need to go aside from the quests telling you what areas you need to explore and finding a waypoint to show you all the different areas that are available. The waypoints in my opinion make it easier for you to figure out what way to go and I would strongly suggest you look for those waypoints in each area so if you need to exit a difficult area quickly you can get to it and teleport to the safe area. When picking your class make sure to pick up weapons for your class and tailor your mastery to the weapon of your choosing. There seems to be an abundance of healing and mana potions that you can find in your travels so make sure to also manage your inventory so that you’re not just picking up every potion and you can’t pick up any weapons or armor. I would say once you get a general feel of the game it’s a lot easier to progress through and fight enemies in various areas. Make sure to pay attention to the NPCs when they provide quests as well so you can go in the right direction so you’re not running around like a chicken without it’s head.

Design

This game has a top down third-person style of gameplay. The enemies are very different in their looks depending on whatever area that you are in. When you pick up various armor and weapons you seem them on your character which I always like so that you aren’t just playing with a generic character. The different areas are vast and the design of each area is unique. There appears to be an internal time system when you are outside so you may encounter random night versions or rain on a map to provide a different visual experience than one weather condition however it doesn’t appear to provide any positive or negative effects to your character while you play. Design wise i’ve always enjoyed these type of designs for video games so it would be a major plus from me.

Story

As previously stated I haven’t played the first Diablo so i’m coming into the story not really knowing what is going on however that doesn’t affect my gaming experience. There is an initial cutscene where a man is visited by an individual and he provides his experience of when he was in a tavern and he witnessed an individual who seemed to be plagued by dark forces release them and kill everyone in the bar but him. This prompted the man to follow the individual and then you start playing. You are initally tasked with clearing out a den of monsters to prove your mettle before you can move on to the other areas in the game. I look forward to further exploring the story and I may do a full gameplay series on my Youtube and Twitch to showcase the story in full.

Overall

Overall this is my type of game. Classic hack and slash with a straightforward skill tree (Path of Exile is overwhelming so it prepared me with this type of dynamic) with unique skills and weapons to allow any player to live out their fantasy in a dark fantasy world. Provides you with different hero classes so you could be like me and be a Barbarian with overwhelming strength or even a Necromancer with the power to control the dead. As I continue playing I can’t wait to see the various secrets and experiences that this world has to offer. Shoutout to Blizzard for this classic and look out for the first video on my Youtube. I will post it between today and Tuesday due to some technical issues with my external hard drive.

This is the first game i’ve ever played like this. I didn’t know what to expect going in. The Xbox description states that you’re thrown out of a plane and straight into chaos and honestly that’s exactly what happens. You fall out of a plane, shoot enemies; sometimes dragons; and it’s a race to the ground. I initially thought it was a multiplayer style game but I was wrong. I did a 30 minute twitch stream to see the gameplay and without knowing what I was getting into it was a fun and challenging 30 minutes. Now for my overall review from this initial playthrough.

Gameplay

The gameplay was pretty simple. Playing with a controller you use the analog sticks to aim and maneuever through the air. Xbox specific, you use the right trigger to shoot the enemies and left trigger to melee. You have to keep your eye on the ammo because it doesn’t naturally regenerate. There are balloons strategically placed throughout the air that you can shoot or melee as well to reload your gun. Aside from that you can collect coins and there are powerups in the style of dragon eggs that can give you a dragon to attack your enemies with or a skull that shoots a laser or even a rubber ducky bomb. You have two life bars that you also have to monitor so you have to watch out for the enemies shooting you or different obstacles such as floating islands or lasers that a periodically moving or stagnant. Overall like I stated the gameplay is simple but engaging and challenging enough that you’d want to put time into to try to perfect each level.

Design

The overall design of this game is pretty futuristic. Lots of bright colors that keep you interested. First couple of games as you try to perfect it you have to get used to looking out for the enemies that you may not initially see. However after some time you start to notice the difference in colors of the streams of the enemies or even their shields that you have to put two bullets into to take them down.

Level Progression

There are 50 levels and a “boss” level every 5 levels. I went through 20 levels until I decided to get off stream. It plays more like an arcade game rather than the story games that I am used to so that was a bit of a let down for me however if you are looking for a simple game to put a bit of time into this may be your game. Think of early Super Mario where you progress through each of the worlds; 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, etc.

Overall

Overall this game is not a bad game for what it aims to do. Fast paced, straight-forward shooter. To be honest not the type of game I would initially pick up however a game I wouldn’t mind going back to for a quick challenge. Check out my Youtube for the gameplay in a couple of hours.

Have you ever been to a museum and wondered, “How did these artifacts get here?”. For example, look at a museum such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art. They have various artifacts from different countries across various time periods rarely do people ask why is it NYC and not in it’s home country. This game takes that question and says how about we take back what doesn’t belong in these places and provide them to the country where the artifact is actually from. Now this is an extreme task to undertake and of course i’m not advocating for any illegal activity however it makes for a good game concept. So let me breakdown some aspects of the game.

Gameplay

This is not the typical game I play however when I decided to embark on this gaming journey I decided to be more open with the games I play. I was born in the 90s so i’m no stranger to the 2d platformer type of gameplay that this game provides. As I got older I was able to see the progression in games to a more 3d open world type aspect however it’s always great to go back to my roots and play a game that sidescrolls rather than a game that gives me a 3 dimensional look at the area I plan to explore. The controls are simple and easy to pick up and the puzzle aspect provides a level of difficulty that I haven’t had with the games I’ve played recently Overall I would say if you are a person that enjoys parkour, sidescrolling, and figuring out the best way from point A to point B, this may be a game for you.

Design

For me, I enjoy the design of this game. The different levels running through an area, trying to plan your escape while also avoiding security bots provides an extra experience to it’s design. It’s easy on the eyes and isn’t overwhelming, especially in an era with games like Elden Ring which shows a vast landscape with bosses that come straight out of a horror novel. Design wise it’s a plus for me.

Story

Like I stated in the introduction, this is about the repatriation of stolen artifacts. From the beginning it discusses how certain artifacts are lost within the world to the uber-rich and allows people to lose out on a piece of their history they may not even know existed. As i’m playing I think about the Library of Alexandria that was burned during various points in history. There are texts that we as people in modern history will never know existed due to negligence or Christian conquest. For me, I love this concept because it allows me as the player to both learn about various historic aspects while running around and evading enemies.

Overall

Overall I think I may try to beat this game. I have a tendency to jump around games from time to time however this may be a game I actually play to beat. I may make a series out of it alongside the other games i’m already playing for my stream. If you want to follow along please check out my Twitch or my Youtube

I want to say a big shoutout to Nyamakop for it’s second game and a fun game at that. I look forward to what else I learn about as I continue to explore this game further.

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