Scorn (PC) Review

It's been at least 6 years since I saw this game in a trailer for the first time, promising a world that would fit into the Aliens franchise without missing a beat and promising to do so ominously and uncaringly as anyone who loves that series for the horror side could hope for. This early trailer showed a nice looking world where you would spend more time figuring out what was going on then killing the threats (not that they weren't already there), and I was hooked. But then as the kickstarter ended, the game went quiet.

Fast forward to the last year or so and we all got to see Microsoft pushing this game for their Xbox GamePass, and what has happened to the game since. Graphically this became a real stunner, enough so I actually decided that this was the game I would build a new PC for. After all, an art-piece should be absolutely maxed out. And so I did, picking the game up shortly after release as the first game that machine would play. Now as I finish, I'm not sure I needed to do that (it didn't press the new system half as hard as I thought it would), but the game simply did not disappoint.

Cthulhu Saves Christmas (Switch) Review

Merry Christmas, everyone! It's been a good long while I've played a game according to season, but I got my hands of this one on the switch last year and felt wrong playing it months later. So I set it aside, and the moment December started, this was next in line. And while I knew it wouldn't be a long game, I was more then ok with that. I knew it would be a good time: and it was... but it definitely had it's own surprises for me.

War Tech Fighters (PC) Review

I was pretty excited to start this game when the dice rolled it up. The trailer looked awesome and lets face facts, giant robots are always cool. Put them into a hectic battle or three and it could be absolutely amazing. But I think all the excitement was a little bit premature, as half-baked ideas included with the battle pretty much spoiled it all.

We Went Back (PC) Review

With the Extra Life marathon come and gone (and incidentally, they are still taking donations till the end of the year so if you want to help us heal sick kids, there is still time... and thank you VERY much), it was time to fill in the space a completed game during the marathon would open and the dice offered something fairly interesting this time: a free title offered on Steam featuring a time-loop of horror in space. How could I say no to that?

Y's Origin (PC) Review

And we finally come back to the Ys franchise, and to be blunt, it has been too long! From a flawed classic to a sequel that takes everything Ys did and perfects it, I have been waiting way too long for the dice to let another game in the series appear. It finally has and things just keep getting better and better.

We Play for the Children Tomorrow

The big day has arrived! Tomorrow morning I will embark on my 24-hour gaming marathon as I play video games to help sick kids who really need it. This is, after all, what Extra Life is about: gamers from around the world doing just that, and we can always use your help! First of all, if you can show up during the event, please do! I will be online from Saturday morning till Sunday morning, hyped up on gaming, the cause and possibly a 5-hour energy at the end, so please stop in.

Last weekend was the main gameday and as of then, Extra Life has raised over $9,000,000 for the year, but it's not over till we say it's over! (Ok ok, donations are taken right up till the end of the year.) And tomorrow we take our dive to add to that number, and this is where you come in.... joining us to show your support is always a good thing and I will be happy to see you during the adventure. Hell, I even have several multiplayer games ready to go and may well install a few more today or in the background while the marathon is on depending on how it all goes down so we may even meet up in the virtual space. But if you want to help directly, you can also donate to the cause with the link above or on the Team link on the right-side of this page while hanging out with us. It's all there and all handled by the children's miracle network, and any help you can give is greatly appreciated. I am humbled and honored to be able to say I've been part of this event since it began for a single hospital in Texas and expanded into this world-wide phenomenon and can't wait to see you all there.

Thank you again for another amazing year of gaming for the good of others.

Serious Same 3: BFE (PC) Review

I remember being excited for this game when I saw it coming out. And my brother actually bought it for me when it came out as a b-day gift with the promise that I would play it. Well it would wait a bit before he would get there first with the 360 version and warn me this game was bad. Today, the dice fulfilled that promise, and I have to agree. Still I can say at least this for it. At least its better then Serious Sam 2.

Aliens: Fireteam Elite (PC) Reivew

I will admit, I was excited for this game when it was announced. It's no secret to anyone who knows me I am a huge fan of this series of movies and have even enjoyed a few games from it in the past. (Alien Trilogy was actually a fun game back in the days of DOS, for example, even if it was NOT true to anything in the series.) However, this is not a game I would pick up right away as one of the big reasons I wanted to play it (cross-platform so I could play with my brothers who will only play on Xbox). But when this was announced to be ready, the stars aligned and the game went on a steep sale at the same time. I picked it up and recently we finished up our adventure. As an Alien fan, I am VERY satisfied. As a gamer, not so much.

A Boy and His Blob (Wii) Review

Curiosity got the better of me. When I was a little kid playing the 8-bit NES system, one of my school friends had the original game and I had read about it in a Nintendo Power. So of course we had to give it a go... and neither of us could figure it out or play for more then 10 minutes. Still, it was an incredibly unique game that stuck with me, so when we got a new take on it in the days of the Nintendo Wii, I picked it up. Sadly I didn't get to it while I had my actual system up and running. Rather the dice called it now, so play I did.

Now please keep in mind, I did NOT play this on original hardware. Rather, I ripped my disc-copy of the game and played on the Dolphin emulator connecting a real Wii-mote with classic controller to it (yes you can do that.. Bluetooth connections work). However, I don't think the difference is going to be very strong, even in the visuals as this game is all hand-drawn. There is no 3D rendering work for the computer to upscale beyond what the Wii originally did.

Extra Life Updates for September 2022

The year is fast reaching it's end and with it the big event gamers around the world look forward to every year: Extra Life. I am no exception to this and the big day is coming fast. It's less then 2 months away on November 5th!

So what is Extra Life? It is several things at this point. It is a charity event that was started over a decade ago in the honor of one young child who lost her fight with cancer. It is a year-long drive with the Children's Miracle Network to help children who face similar (and other serious) medical issues no one that young should ever have to face around the world. It is a moment of unity where gamers around the world unite to do great things with our selected hobby. It is a 24 hour marathon where the gamers involved do just that... play for 24 hours striaght in the name of gaming and the kids we wish to help. And above all, it is a chance anyone can take to seriously help those of us who need it most. If you game in any way at all (not just video games) and wish to join us, please follow the link above for more information and to sign up. 2022 is winding down as is our chance to do something before 2023 rolls around.

If Nov. 5th doesn't work for you, you can pick any weekend really. Many will do their 24 hour run the weekend before and the weekend after to fit around their schedule. All you need to do is bring it to the table and all the donations you can to help us help the kids.

And speaking of donations, some people are just not into the hobby or have the time at all, but still want to help. You can help by donating with your choice gamer to help them help their chosen hospital. (did I mention the donations you raise go to the hospital you are playing for? I didn't? Well they do!) If we are those gamers, you humble us... and thank you so much! You can help us by following the link to our team page and donating there or clicking here to reach it and you can see us play on twitch! Our channel broadcasts right inside the page too! Once again thank you so much and see you soon!

Evoland (PC) Review

This could have been something great. If you were a kid during the early days of gaming, the idea of a game that celebrates each era in turn is a nostalgia trip the likes of which will would bring a tear to the biggest retrogamer's eye. If you are not so old, then it would be worth it just to see what gaming was like once. But this, as much as it wants to be, is not that game. It starts as it, absolutely, but by the time you are done, it falls from grace in repetition and, ultimately breaking down entirely into a mess nothing short of patching it at a code level will fix.... just in time to ruin the end of your experience.

God Eater: Resurrection (PC) Review

I really wanted to like this game. Having watched the anime, I absolutely love the world created for it so I was looking forward to taking part. However, trouble brewed with this one very quickly. I found myself repeating the first hour of the game to figure out which way would play better: keyboard and mouse or a controller. Mixing two forms of combat repeatedly, both fitted well for only one type of control did not bode well for this game... and ultimately was the first hint of it's undoing for me.

Implements of Hell (PC) Review

I usually make a point to pick up the cheaper games on my wishlist when the Steam Summer sale comes along and this was one of those games on sale for about as much as I might have spent in my childhood playing a few rounds at the arcades, only to put it in the backlog and forget about it. But the dice didn't forget and only a few short months later, brought it up front and center. I'm glad it did as this game pleasantly surprised me. I figured it would be interesting, but it genuinely was a creepy little experience.

Back 4 Blood (PC) Review

I hate to admit it, but I was excited for this game. It had been a decade since we last saw this studio make a Left4Dead game, and I remember loving both of them... and I mean before the first one launched. Not many demos/alpha runs get my time, much less repeated plays, putting the first game pretty high up there with me. So to see these guys doing it again, I was absolutely hyped. But as I walk away, I can't help but feel my interest was misplaced... this just doesn't stand as more then a cheap imitation

Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse (3DS) Review

Another day, another time to see if one of the last franchises I collect remains as strong for me as when I started... while others have been on the decline (or put out to pasture by their publishers), I have to say we have a shining ray of sunshine here. Figures I would call a game about summoning and fighting demons such a thing, but yes, this game really is that good. Come on in.

Infested (PC) Review

My Dad introduced me to computers at a very young age. I was four when he sat me in front of his Texas Instruments computer (a TI/4A-99 if you want specific) and set me on the path of technology. Computers called me and I fell in love with it. But I would find gaming as well as general use when my brother and I got our first console (a NES) a few years later. And I would get into Shadowgate on there... the first game to creep me out. But in the same spirit it was also one of the first two games I ever put in the resolve to finish.

Apparently I was not the only one effected by the game, however, as while following a raid on twitch, I found someone playing this game. Unfortunately I have had to walk away from the channel (one of the very few times I have ever felt like would ban me if I said what I legitimately wanted to say), but with a game name, I went hunting and found out the game was not only was the game readily available, it was also free. I downloaded it on the spot. Now we finally got to play... and I'm so glad I did.

Extra Life July Update

Hi everybody and welcome in! Once again, it's time to speak up about Extra Life as we move closer and closer to the big day when gamers around the world will play for 24 hours, showing it to the world. But why? Well up till that moment, we are collecting donations to help sick kids in our local hospitals and then playing to honor those we are trying to help and those who helped up do so! Gamers doing what we do to help the kids who need it most.

Does this sound good to you? Do you play? Video games? Board games? Card games? Collectible figurine games? It doesn't matter what you do, helping kids with it is easy!

1) Get on the site extra-life.org and click the signup button. The process is really easy and the whole event is handled by the Children's Miracle Network. While you do this, you can choose the hospital you are playing for (and as such, where the donations you bring in will go), start a team, join a team (if you know where you want to go) or even go solo. No pressure here at all since you can always make a join a team later if you don't know what you want to do here.

2) Talk to family and friends! These are the people most likely to back you and help you help the kids. You can also always talk to people at work or even put up links in your social media. Do you stream? Bring it up there too! Just get the word out.

3) On November 5th, join gamers around the world where from 9 AM on Saturday till 9 AM on Sunday we will be taking our victory lap in the form of a 24 hour gaming marathon! Can't make that day? That's ok. Every year many gamers go the weekend before or after as alternate days. 

Don't stream? That's ok too... many gamers make local events of the day and in fact I have had the honor of sitting in at a hobby shop where a group got together to play D&D for the time, donating cash during the campaign to get small and large cheats while playing. It was quite clever and no cameras were needed... just to give you ideas.

But what if you don't game? Well that's ok too, you can still help out. On the link in step one is a donate button you can use to help out in general, or you can find your favorite gamers or teams of them to donate to, helping them out with their specific hospital. For example, if you go to the pages section of this page you will find a link to my own team, and we would be honored for the help.

But the point is we are doing this for the kids... and really it's amazing what we as a gaming community have done for them and will continue to do for them. Thank you for reading and see you out there!

Showdown Bandit (PC) Review

It's a shame... it's an absolute crying shame. Today I get to review my second "lost game" ever... and it had the potential to be a masterpiece. It's a shame because it was an episodic title that not only didn't get to show what it had past episode 1, but has been discontinued to the point that you simply can not buy even that anymore. I was lucky it was in my backlog so I could at least see a glimpse of what might have been... and it could have been amazing.

Eight (PC) Review

There is something to be said for bad games. Occasionally playing one will make you appreciate the good ones even more. I can agree with that and from time to time, can look at something I played and while it isn't good it reminds me just how good other games were. I could point to several games I reviewed on this site that apply here, thinking fondly of games that just did what they tried better. This... this was a bridge too far and is arguably one of the worst games I have ever played this side of it not being straight up broken. Avoid this game at all costs.

Hellbound (PC) Review

"Mah? MAH! Can we order some Doom?" "No, Dearie, we have Doom at home." When I played my last session of this game on twitch, I basically called the stream this.. and with good reason. If you have anything of quality, I would choose that over what is effectively a knockoff of the genre... and every bit as generic as that sounds.

The Alchemist's House (PC) Review

Now here was a title that looked interesting, and for the low low price of free, how could I not put it in the backlog at least. But when the dice called it up, I gave it a closer look and found the game's reputation to be lacking. So I came in expecting some jank... and jank I got! But not nearly as bad as I expected. Step inside.

The Vanishing of Ethan Cater (PC) Review

And we finally come back to another game I got free from the Epic game store. In this case, I didn't walk in with the highest hopes for the title: I knew it was supposed to be a horror game and that reviewers liked it a lot, but I don't hold a lot of faith in what reviewers say these days. But still intrigued, I installed... and I'm glad I did. While much more gloomy then scary, this was absolutely an experience to have.

Q.U.B.E 2 (PC) Review

When I played the first game in this set, I found myself wanting more at the end. It was a fairly easy game, but was over all too quickly. So when this game came up, how could I say no? I gotta admit, Im glad I didn't.

Extra Life 2022 June Update

Hi everyone! Almost half the year has gone by and we have only begun to fight! If you have been a part of Extra Life, seriously take a bow. You are part of one of the biggest ways gamers have been able to make the world better for those who truly need it. If you haven't joined yet and want to use your hobby to help sick children (around the world or even just around you), now's the time to sign up!

If you do not know what Extra Life is, it is a charity event where gamers raise money via the Children's Miracle Network and do so by playing video games. Donations are all handled by CMN and culminates to a 24 hour gaming marathon in November. The official day this year is Nov 5th, but this is nothing if not flexible: Many will and usually do take a rain date, making the weekend after another big one... as well as doing marathon drives on the way! To take part, just go to the site and click the sign up button on the page (or you can follow the link above. It's really that simple, and it isn't just video games. Any kind of gaming works from card and board to VR. Just let the world see what you are doing so they can cheer you on and help you support the hospital you are playing for. I myself have been playing since year zero when it was not so much a massive push by the gamer community, but a single website playing to honor a single lost soul (Rest in Peace, Victoria) and help out the hospital that was there for her during her fight with cancer. It felt amazing then back in 08, and it still does now, so I implore you to join us!

And if you don't feel you can do this, or just don't play games, that is ok. You can also help by donating. On the main page there is also a donate button to just help in general... or you can find your favorite gamers and donate to them directly. But if you would like to help us, I have to humbly thank you. You can find our team here and on the side of this site in the pages list. We even have my person twitch stream linked so while there, you might well see some of the games you will see on the big day so get excited! (We even have the link to the team page on the twitch page so if you join us during game time, you can find and help us out there too!)

Either way, thank you for listening, and hope to see you on the big day.

Perfect Vermin (PC) Review

This was a breath of fresh air! Short, sweet, fun as hell, and still managing to have one hell of a great sucker-punch, and all for the price of free? How can I not say to step inside and have a look at it?

The Legend of Kyrandia Book 3: Malcolm's Revenge (PC) Review

At last we have it! The final episode to the Kyrandia Trilogy! I started playing these games years ago for the 2016 Extra Life marathon, and now I can finally say I finished the series. But was it a worthy end to the series?

The Fall Part 2: Unbound (PC) Review

I do not know when I picked this game up, but I certainly know why I did. The first game was not the most impressive thing to me, but it was intriguing, especially as a story of survival, not from the point of view of the human who needed help, but the AI who's whole goal in life was to protect and ensure that life would go on. So to see it go on, it really was only a matter of time before I picked up a controller for this one too. And yes, it was worth the trip....

Anna's Quest (PC) Review

I believe when I picked this game up, I was a bit deceived. The trailer and even the opening of the game hints at a nice dark tale that might just be more about surviving and a touch of horror. This... is simply untrue. Rather you are about to play a much more standard-fair fairytale about a little girl in a magic kingdom. Yes, that is very oversimplified look, but as a quick recap, it's still pretty accurate... and yet, I can't say I'm sorry I gave this game a try. Come on in and see for yourself.

Star Trek Online (PC) Review

This is a game I have some history with. When it first came out, I ordered a copy and had it delivered to my door. Back in the day I believe I was still playing on an Athlon 64 x2 based PC, and I fell in love with this game. It made it all the more heartbreaking when I had to stop playing within the week due to technical issues in the game that were so bad, when it crashed I would have to restart my computer to get out of it. With this sour taste I walked away for years, and yet I could not deny the temptation to see if it was still worth playing when I saw the game join Steam as a free to play title.

But come November my group of gamers decided we were going to play together in the Extra Life marathon and the game was suggested.... so I installed and on the big event began one of the longest games I have played to date (competing with the Phantasy Star Online and Universe titles almost exclusively for time I sank into them). And while I did not finish the story line before ultimately a tech issue told me it was time to hang it up, what we have now is MILES ahead of what we once had and I have only one thing I really can say. Welcome to Starfleet, Captain.

Your Future Self (PC) Review

I will admit to a taste for games, movies, tv shows, and even books and comics that screw with you and try to do something that really gives you something to chew on. So the very concept of this game put it on my radar. I'm not so sure it succeeded though so much as it was just a descent story with little else to back it.

Extra Life 2022 Begins!

While I have been at this since January, we are officially jumping into the new year's Extra Life event now at the site. First I am thankful as hell to be able to say this each and every year and I do not see that changing in the future. But what is Extra Life? Well if you have been with us for a while you probably already know this, but for the newbies (and welcome by the way), it is a charity event where gamers around the globe come together to raise money and help sick kids. Every year we all pick a hospital we play for and all donations made in any given player's name will go to that hospital, and end the run with a 24 hour gaming marathon. It's all run by the Children's Miracle Network and simply an amazing way the gaming world can help those who need it most. Does this sound like something you would want to be a part of? Then why not sign up at www.extra-life.org? If you would rather help another gamer playing... (I mean we are not here to dominate this, we are here to help kids) you can find all the gamers playing there, too.

But if you wish to help us, first I have to thank you. Any help we personally can bring to the table is humbling, and you can find the link to our team page both here or in the links on the right-hand-side of our page.

And finally I do have a bit of news to give you all. In addition to the big event, there is a relatively new competition called Extra Life United which has been happening over the past few years. This will be the first time in a while where the event will have a live component as well as an online one. In a few short weeks gamers will be competing to bring donations to their hospital in Orlando Florida (April 12-15) and will likely be broadcast on the Extra Life Twitch channel. We will be hosting it as soon as we see this going on, but we encourage you to follow them too.

As of for the big event, most will be gaming on Nov 5th. This is not set in stone outside the main Extra Life channel itself, so you can expect gamers to spread out a little bit, but we will try to hold to it ourselves. If we need to adjust, we will let you know. 

And with that, I think it is time to get moving. Thank you for reading and see you out there!

Blaster Master Zero (PC) Review

When this game was announced, I was excited. As a little kid, I had Blaster Master on the NES and absolutely loved it so I picked this up for the 3DS as soon as I could. Still, I understood the version I had was the lesser one as it was also on the then new Nintendo console, the Switch with additional features. As such, I put the game aside to play later. I'll admit, I smiled a bit when this and it's sequels made their way to my choice platform, the PC. So when the dice picked the game, I took a hard look and went to check on the Steam version... and sometimes fate grants you small nice things... like a sale so I could fix the mistake and get the best version of the game dirt cheap. I did, I played, and had so much fun playing it.

Blair Witch (PC) Review

When I started this game, I honestly had little idea what to expect. I've enjoyed everything I've played from this developer in the past. But on the other hand, the movies have a terrible reputation as a bad set of films. So when Epic Games was giving it away for free, I picked it up because "why not"? In the same spirit when the dice picked this, I was far from against it. Now as I finish it up, I walk away pleasantly suprised. Come on in and see why.

The Crooked Man (PC) Review

When I picked this game up, I did so because it was highly regarded on Steam as a really good horror title, and one that even as it was only a few bucks normally, was on sale for about as much as I might have payed as a kid to play some arcades. In short, it was worth the risk, and sometimes the old-school games prove to have something special to them. In this case, I am now wondering how high those reviewers were. Avoid this one, my friends... avoid it at all costs.

Shin Megami Tensei IV (3DS) Review

As we continue to march through games, I have to admit I was looking forward to this one. After all, I have yet to play a game in the franchise I did not like, and this one certainly was not going to be an exception. However, there was little chance it was going to stand up against the incredible standards the last game reached... and it did not. But on it's own, it remains one Hell of a game.