Recente recensies door Like[A]SiR

King under the Mountain is a simulation-based strategy game that focuses on building settlements inside a mountain. A procedural generated fantasy world that has a day/night cycle, weather system, season changes, etc. You start off with a couple of settlers with their own personalities. Your objective is to build and expand your settlement for them to thrive within this fantasy world.

I went to their discord server and found out how active the developer is. You can often see him communicating with the players and helping them with their questions regarding about the game. I also found out that this game started of as a Kickstarter and have made its way into Steam's Early Access. I don't have to dig further but it is obvious that the developer has a clear objective about this game's development. I gravitate towards developers who shows their passion through their work.

Draw comparison to similar games like Dwarf Fortress and Rimworld, but probably King under the Mountain is more easier to get a grasp onto. Setting up rooms are easy, all the tools you need are found effortlessly. Digging through mountains has its surprises, like discovering a secret room full of mushrooms. A basic guide can be found within the game, telling you what you need in order to obtain something. On top of that, they are simple to follow. I find the piping and tubing system to be an interesting mechanic in this game. It opens up tons of possibilities managing your settlement.

Since this game is still in its early stages, the UI is too bland in my opinion. I hope in the future that it gets an overhaul. With that said, the core of the gameplay is already there and more are still to come. One of things I'm looking forward to is the combat system, it said that it will be turn-based combat that is inspired by XCOM and Fire Emblem. Right now the combat system is fairly basic, limited to hunting animals found in the world.

I can see some players overlooking the crafting system or the building materials needed. There was an instance that a build wasn't getting any progress because I was lacking a material and there are no way of notifying you unless you click on a particular build.

I highly recommend that you start with the tutorial because it is easy to get lost in the mechanics in this type of game. In fact, I even watched some YouTube videos about it to learn more about the game. And to see some of the lists that is planned for this game, head on to the store page and check out the Early Access info for this game because there are tons of it to look forward to. If you like what you see there, then you should give this game a chance or at the very least, add it to your wishlist and keep an eye on it.

For anyone who are looking for nostalgic games, you've come to the right place. Destructivator 2 offers pure nostalgia right off that bat with its retro graphics that reminds of the good old NES days. Its fairly challenging just like the games we've had before.

The controls are very straight forward. Other than the usual directional movements, you only have a button for jumping and shooting. Its that simple. Finishing a level requires you to clear all the enemies found in the stage. Your score will only vary depending on how much health you have at the end. There are a total six missions and each missions has multiple stages in it and a boss level at the end. You can also choose from three difficulties: Normal, Hard and Brutal. I highly recommend that you go for the Hard difficulty to fully experience retro gaming, where hand-holding is not allowed and you are thrown right in the middle of the mess. Just like the good old times.

There are only a couple of things that I didn't like about the game. One is that there could be instances that you may have to backtrack because apparently you forgot one enemy to clear the stage. Or sometimes when there are only few enemies remaining, you are left wondering where the hell did went and what what area did you forgot to clear. So I kind of hoped that we get an indicator for the enemy locations once they are few in numbers. Next is the level designs, I find them too similar in my opinion. While the structures feels like it blend to much with each other,

The game is fits well if you're looking for short bursts of fun since the level are pretty short to finish. This is a good change from the usual releases we get nowadays. Its a great throwback to the retro games. Plus, its reasonably cheap, I'm sure you will get money's worth. They also offer a demo version of the game just incase you are still unsure whether to grab this game or not.

This sequel is surely a creative and expansive in comparison to the previous game. Unlike the first one, Youtuber's Life 2 gives you a lot more opportunities mostly because of the open-world approach to it. You start off in a small apartment with nothing much but your own PC, a gaming station and a bed. Later on you can visit different shops to purchase items and upgrades for your house. your computer, consoles, video games, etc. The game features an interactable community where you can step outside and socialize with NPCs and develop and relationship with them.

The game is an improvement simply because of the actual movement system. There are numerous ways to improve your career as a Youtuber, it can be through gaming, commentary, unboxing, interviews, etc. In terms of making money, there are only two ways to do so. One is through the videos that you make for your YouTube channel while the other is through commissions, which is essentially in-game tasks you can do for the NPCs. Regardless of how you earn your money, what's important is how you will spend it, especially on the early stages of the game.

The process of recording videos is pretty simple. You'll be given different scenes, and in each scene you can choose an action card that will correspond to a certain meter. These meters represent how funny a video can be, how cool it is, or how enjoyable it is. The results of your choice of cards will determine whether your video will be a success or not. Once you're done recording, you now have to edit the video. Editing a video is also a simple process. It is simply just connecting puzzles in the most efficient way to increase the score you can get from editing. Over time, through upgrades you will get more options and add-ons for your video which will significantly increase the quality of your output. The game features an energy system that can be annoying to some. Recording and editing videos consumes energy, and at the early stages of the game, you can only produce one per day unless. There are two ways to regain your energy; you can spend your money to regain some of it back, just call it a day and head to bed. This is the slowing factor in the game, it prevents you from just pumping out videos multiple times a day and just rake in the revenues.

But the game does a good job of giving you a sense of looking forward for the next day. Each day, you are given a list of trending hashtags that you can take utilize to make your videos go viral or use them when taking pictures around the city.

The game do have some flaws ofcourse and I'm hoping that some of them do get addressed in the future one way or another. The game a has pretty decently sized map but theres just way too many load times. The load times aren't slow, but when your moving from places to places, it adds up. I'm definitely not a fan of the energy system and how it hinders you from doing other tasks on a day and are forced to call it a day.

Overall, I still do recommend this game. I had quite a lot of fun creating videos, seeing my subscriber count go up and try to succeed in having a Youtube channel.

Dark Crpyt is a turn-based puzzler that draws comparisons to games like Lara Craft GO and Hitman GO. You make your way through a level without any enemies detecting you. The monsters and the environment around you, moves at each step you make.

The story of Dark Crypt is very simple and straightforward. You are a priest who hopes to reach the bottom of the crypt to seal an ancient evil that is sleeping deep inside. In order to do so, you have to manage through all levels by sneaking through enemies and avoiding all traps that are laid out.

There are 60 levels to go through in this game. The difficulty is fair and if by any chance that a level is too hard, you are free to skip it. The game doesn't have any limits when it comes to backtracking. You can take your time solving the puzzle without any pressure. A variety of monsters can be found in this game, and each has their own unique way of detecting you; from simple skeletons that only turns left/right or up/down up to complex monsters that moves in a pattern. Other than these monsters, there are also environmental hazards to keep an eye on. The main focus of this game is the ability to teleport to a position that you saved. This teleportation will help you trick the positioning of the monsters to get through the levels.

This is a very fun puzzle game, specially at its price point. You will surely get your money's worth with the number of features and replayability of it. If you are unsure, feel free to try their demo to test it yourself.

I've been eyeing Hokko Life even before it entered Early Access since I am a fan for these type of games, so I am more than thankful to have the privilege of reviewing this game. Checking out articles and interviews[mypotatogames.com] about the developer, I am surprised to find out that Hokko Life is a one-person studio game. The game started out as a hobby project done during his spare time, and then eventually became his sole focus. But it is not surprising to read about his passion to the game, because it does show in the game itself. After checking Hokko Life's Steam News Hub, I'm delighted to see that there is a constant communication between the developer and the community. With the number of devblogs posted and how transparent the development of the game is, I have nothing but high hopes that game will be a success.

Bouncing from FPS, MOBAs, MMORPGs, Turn-Based Strategy games, Hokko Life is a pleasant little break for me. It's satisfying to play a relaxing game every now and then, doing favors for the townsfolks, building houses for others to move in and letting your creativity take place on that unique crafting system. They are just one of the reasons I do enjoy on Life Simulation games.


Introduction
The game starts off in character creation where you can select your hairstyle, hair color, skin color and eye color. There isn't much customization at first, but there will be several choices in terms of clothing and accessories once you're well off in the game. It is also worth noting that all the clothing are non-gender-specific, giving you the freedom to wear whatever you want to. Once you are done creating your character, you are presented with a little cutscene then off you go to the town. I have to be honest, I had to use a walkthrough for some of the first tasks since I got lost in some of the instructions and I was worried if should call it a day or something.

The core of the game is pretty much done, there is fishing, bug catching, logging, planting, but the main feature of this game, and I think its safe to say separates it from other games is the crafting system.

Crafting
Using the resources you have gathered around the town, you are able to turn them into materials that which you can then use on a design table. With the use of blueprints, you have the ability to create your own object, furniture, decoration, bridges, etc from scratch. You will combine materials that you have crafted in order to use them as pieces in your design, whether it be logs, wooden planks, stone slabs, cotton, etc. And when you are done with your design, you have the option to paint it as well. I also would like to note that using a controller in designing may take you some time before you have a full grasp of the controls. Hokko Life doesn't feature any multiplayer support, but it does feature a way to share your own creations or download the works of others through a Creator Code.

Building and Expanding
Once you are done with the introduction to the basics, it is time to expand the town. To expand the number of villagers in your town, you have to invite some folks over at the inn to move in. But before doing so, you need a place for them to stay. Building a house requires a few materials and a gold. Earning gold in this game revolves around all the core gameplay I have mentioned before. You can sell all the resources you have gathered in the general store, and there are times that a villager has a task for you, which will then reward you some gold upon completion. When you have enough gold and resources, you can now build your first house. Almost everything in the town can be relocated at your disposal. It is up to you how you will turn this quiet village into a charming rural town.


The game is so relaxing that I can easily see myself playing it every time I need a break. I can't wait to pour tons of hours on that design table, making my own furniture and making this town my very own.

Wife Quest follows the same storyline most games in this genre has, a hero saves his princess/wife from the evildoers. Except this one features a heroine saving her husband who has been kidnapped by a dark elf. The protagonist, Mia, will have to go extreme lengths to save her husband, Ferdinand. During her adventure, she has to face Morganna and her companions, the Monster Girls.

The game features gorgeous pixel art and animations. Though I found the pixel arts too rough on my first impression, they grew on me over time. The characters are well done, specially their designs. There are a variety of enemies throughout the game and each type of monster has their own unique finishing animation. These are very cute animations that you can trigger each time you defeat a monster, which you can speed up if it gets to the point that it becomes redundant and boring too fast. There is also a good number of levels throughout the game, presenting different landscapes each stage, as well as unique challenges. There are also hidden unlockable contents throughout the levels, collecting them can unlock in-game songs, gallery images, minigames, etc.

In terms of gameplay, it is as you'd expect from most platformer games. The actions doesn't feel too stiff and are easily controllable. I find the game easier and less punishing compared to other platformer games though, which is a plus for me personally. You get stronger by collecting coins that is dropped from the enemies you have beaten. These coins are used in a shop to purchase upgrades for yourself. Most of the upgrades are not locked behind any progression, you have the freedom to choose which one you want to purchase first. Defeating bosses at the end of stages also unlocks a new ability for you. Then there is Magic Mode, which is unlocked once you have finished the game once. This will allow you to replay the whole game on a different skin and with abilities unlocked right from the start.

With the way the game is priced, I say you're getting more than what you paid for. This is a great example of an indie game done well. There are tons of content that can be found inside, and it shows how much work has been done for this game. If you're looking for a new platformer game to play and at the same time enjoy a humorous plot, try this one out!

Though the game has an excellent concept (just by checking the previews alone), it is still far from being a complete game. It is still in a rough stage; missing descriptions or blank texts on character creation, there's no tutorial on how to do things in the game, there is an encyclopedia but it most of it still lacks information, . With that being said, the backbone of the game seems pretty playable. It is a working game, some of the basic features mentioned in the store page are available and present in the game. There are a variety of enemies, specially on zombies. Crafting and building are both working as intended, though it still needs polishing. The outfits that you can wear are not limited to just one equipment per body part. You decide what clothes to wear and how to wear them.

I've restarted the game multiple times to see if its a different map every time, and it kinda is. The only thing similar in each of my playthrough was the house nearby where you can get some equipment and items early on, though they the items do vary sometimes. Starting off in the game could be troublesome for most, without any tutorial to guide you through the game means you're pretty much on your own. It would probably take an average person about an hour and a half before he/she can get a good grasp of the mechanics of the game. Unless someone is really that adapt into survival games, its gonna take them some time before they figure things out.

Now for a few recommendations... An easy to understand tutorial will be a great help, and not just in a text format. I think it would be best if there would be visuals or a step by step guide. A better and more polished UI. Even though the inventory is easy to understand, the rest of the UI isn't. I personally had a hard time adapting to the primary actions.

With those out of the way, I believe the future is bright for this one. I think the developers are very much invested, because it does show in the game. After a few google searches I found out about their previous project which is Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead[cataclysmdda.org]. I've checked some Youtube videos for it, and I must say that they did a great job on that one. The game is free, so if you're interested to try it, go ahead.

Anyway, back to this game, Nearly Dead. I do not recommend that you buy it this early, as it may leave a bad taste and never look back. But I do recommend that you atleast wishlist it, and stay tune for future updates. Because I honestly think this will be a great game in the future. But if you'd like to support the developers then please do so.

First off, I'm not a huge fan of Visual Novels but I did play a few before and so far, liked most of them. I have to say, the quality of the CGs isn't something you often find on a free game. Not just that but also the concept of it. The character designs are amazing, they have distinct personalities and I enjoyed talking to all of them. I personally think that the story is written well, with all the twists and turns as the story unfolds. I liked the soundtrack being played in the background, and it wasn't so distracting at the least.

The plot of the story is simple, you are a contestant of a new dating show. There are five ladies to choose from (six, including the host), but if you fail to find a partner by the end of the show, then that means you'll end up dead. This introduction gave me the vibes of Danganronpa. The story start out a little bit cliché, but after a few dialogues, I am liking every bit of it more. That being said, there are seven unique endings for this game. It is pretty short, you can definitely get through one with just a single sitting. I don't think I can say anything much without spoiling the story. You are better off experiencing the game yourself.

Again, for a free game, this is just amazing. Whether you're a fanatic of Visual Novels or looking for where to start, I highly recommend Find Love or Die Trying. And if you are feeling generous, support the developer through their optional DLC. The fan pack has over 30+ HQ wallpapers, 5+ original songs, behind-the-scenes concept art and development notes.

This is a fun pinball game that has eight flippers in the table with two upper play fields. Even though there is only one board right now, it already features seven primary missions, two skill shots and a multi ball. To know more about this, I highly suggest that you check their official guide.

I'm no pinball master and the game is still rough on the edges, but I had tons of fun playing this one. I even topped the leaderboards at one point and I have a screenshot to prove it! The neon cyberpunk aesthetic fits nicely as a pinball game. There's tons of neon-inspired designs all throughout the board. Its also comes with a fitting custom soundtrack that plays in the background.

I have to say that the presentation of the game could've been better. The main menu seems too simple and uninspired. I also find the lighting inside the board to be quite dark for a neon-inspired pinball. There were times that it was hard to keep track of the ball due to lack of lighting, and sometimes the only way to keep track of it is by looking for the shiny reflection coming from it. I was hoping it would be clear and bright as it was on the preview images.

As of this writing, accessing the leaderboards is quite a hassle. I'm not sure if it is because the event, but the only way to see them is by uploading a score first. I think it would be convenient if we could access them right of the main menu. I'm not sure how the leaderboards work but it seems that we have to manually upload our score ourselves? It doesn't mention what our current highscore (or the highest on the leaderboard) when playing. I also didn't found any settings for this game and especially the option to change the keybindings. Even though you can change bindings through a controller, I'm pretty sure there are more players who prefer playing it using a keyboard like myself.

Overall, I do recommend this game to anyone who is looking for a new pinball game to try but is short on the budget. The steam leaderboards is nice way to compete with others for the highscore.

The art style takes me back to the good old days of Gameboy, everything looks monochrome. It is such a nostalgic feeling to be honest. The gameplay is very similar to any classic RPGs with a turn-based combat out there. You navigate your way towards to completing the quest that is given to you and fight anything that comes in your way. Though the game is short, there are multiple endings for this game. So I'm pretty sure you can get your money's worth with its replayability.

The story starts instantly, there's no introduction or anything regarding the characters. The mayor right away asks you to save his daughter from a snake-woman that kidnapped her. The game doesn't exactly point you to the right direction. You have to find your way through the area to proceed, in which to be honest, got me really confused at first. It took me about three to five minutes to actually get to progress. Though I like the art style, I can't help but have a hard time figuring out the paths on the map. The tileset that was used in this game was also confusing at some point that I couldn't find the warp points easily. And lastly, Steam Achievements. If you have a game that has multiple endings, I think this is a great opportunity to introduce achievements, give the players a sense of fulfillment in unlocking each ending.

I recommend this game mainly due to its pricing, with it only costing under 1$. It is a short game with 30 minutes of gameplay at most. So I think that justifies the negatives of this game.