Shmups meld with the roguelike genre in this meme made masterpiece that is, "Attack of the Karens". Taking the Karen meme and using it as the plot point for the futuristic retro inspired fight and flight efforts against city plaguing entitlement the game delivers comedic value in spades through textual conversation as well as fully voiced dialogue. This includes both the protagonist and the several cybernetic Karens.
Sunday, March 17, 2024
Saturday, March 16, 2024
Equality VS Equity In The Industry
I want to make something very clear. I'm all for naturally applied diversity & inclusivity that does not insert characters or plot points that are propaganda pieces for furthering the divide. Call me oldschool, but I believe in equality, not equity. Equity conditions people to not work their best or excel in whatever they do. It makes them dependent upon a slave system that uses & abuses their struggles (which is made by the people they champion) for power and control.
Friday, March 15, 2024
The Legend of Legacy HD | PS5
From the 3DS to the PS5 "The Legend of Legacy" makes a bold return to modern consoles in a HD remastered format with it's turn based combat, characters with unique stories, and it's signature art design helmed by Tomomi Kobayashi intact.
Following the discovery of a returning island not unlike that of the lost city of Atlantis seven protagonists with different goals in mind set forth to Avalon under the blessing of the King of Adventurers to explore the island's mysteries, loot treasure, and map out the areas for further exploration efforts. In a company of three these oddly paired adventurers venture onward to fulfill their own individual destinies. Among them are an elementalist, an amnesiac, a treasure hunter, a mercenary for hire, a frog prince, and others whose eyes are all set on the prize that is Avalon.
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
The Problem With "Hateful Insertions" ... DEI, ESG & Gamer Gate 2.0
Well, it seems some lessons in life are hard learned and no matter how clearly you explain away the issues with an issue it will always go right over someone's head. One leading example of this is with the incidents of someone calling someone else racist while they themselves are acting the part. The lack of awareness of the underlying hypocrisy only serves to invalidate any claims the one arguing racism has, especially for those who aren't psychologically demoralized to the point they can't see the truth for the lies.
Unfortunately a good portion of the population of world we all live in, and the society we inhabit therein has been conditioned to cling to old hatreds and to use that hate to grift for time in the spotlight as well as the resulting monetary gain. Perpetuating, and creating racism where there was none.
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Rebel Transmute | PS5
As a cross between a Metroidvania and a soulsborne game, 'Rebel Transmute' boldly goes where most do not dare, and by that I mean with a protagonist that no one can connect with except on a representative level. Arrogant and pompous in her pursuit for her lost mother, Moon Mikono returns to an abandoned terraforming colony to seek closure ...
Filled with angst and pride she crash lands on Terra 6 of Foray only to be put into stasis for 12 years by a left behind resident. After which she continues, with the aid of the newly turned humanoid robot, to pursue the location of Wendy Mikono, her mother and lead scientist of the previously mentioned terraforming effort. It seems the scientists, in their work a year prior, unwittingly unleashed a plague of sparkblood on the colony. Mutating all lifeforms from fauna to flora into hostile creatures. Creating an ecosystem catastrophe. Thus is the story, in gist.
Saturday, March 9, 2024
Juicy Realm | PS5
Juicy Realm enters the scene as an out of this world roguelike experience featuring a cast of quirky characters, and fruits gone bad. The plot is simple. A spacefaring seedling crash lands on a planet turning it's fruity inhabitants into malicious monsters hellbent on killing off the resident population. As one of 10 protagonists you join the battle alone or in co-op with a special weapon in hand, a passive ability, and a summon. It is with these tools that you'll take on the fruit hordes, and harvest their seeds for improving upon your base stats as well as your arsenal. Recruiting, as you do so, others willing to enter the fray.
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Dead End City | PS5
90's arcade inspired vertical shoot 'em up "Dead End City" puts the pedal to the metal as it barrels forth at breakneck speed in this post apocalyptic road rage filled fight for survival. A plot not unlike that of Mad Max. Like it's cinematic inspiration, fuel is your lifeline and your vehicle your chariot with which to see you through a gladiatorial spectacle against the bosses of the badlands. Each chariot, and it's designated driver brings with them a unique weapon type that will assist in not only clearing waves of minions, and dealing the deathblow to gang leaders, but also the means with which to outlast your opponent if you are skilled enough.
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Geometry Survivor | PS5
It's shapes versus ships in this shoot'em up survivor spinoff. Featuring a visual design similar to Geometry Wars, and gameplay reminiscent of hero survival games or auto-battlers this neon retro shooter keeps features minimal while offering 20 minute challenges that are each roguelike in nature.
You'll be piloting one of eight geometric shapes as you dodge ships and bullet hell while your weapons and defenses automatically do their thing. Taking out the enemy while leaving behind nano-particles of the blue and yellow persuasion which, in turn, allows your shape to evolve the more you pick them up. All done while avoiding the loss of heart hits that can end a run prematurely.
Friday, February 16, 2024
Inkulinati | PS5
In Inkulinati it's Tiny's versus Beasts on maniacally mapped out medieval manuscripts. Featuring roguelike turn based tactical 2D combat lightly akin to Magic the Gathering with some of history's most religiously inclined individuals as your player characters Inkulinati will have you dishing out damage as you try to best your opponent, and their armies of beastly critters. You'll find everything from demons with faces on their arse to donkey's that play the butt trumpet. Each with their own unique set of skills, weapons, and attack range. All inked like traditional manuscript art with accompanying animation.
Using your ink well as your mana pool as well as chapter specific passive talents, and applied turn specific hand actions that will aide you in this task you'll eventually face off against the dealer of death, himself, as you draw to life an animalistic army for the ages. All as the apocalypse, in it's many forms, comes calling with it's own threat to both contestants.
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Lords of Exile | PS4
Absolute power corrupts, absolutely. This is a hard lesson that our anti-hero Gabriel learns from a young age as a village's would be savior turned adversary. Following the lead of Galagar, a tyrant in his own right, Gabriel would try to become as powerful as the merciless marauders that killed his fellow villagers.
Becoming Galager's right hand man though came with a price, and that price was paid by the blood of Gabriel's beloved. Galager eventually saw Gabriel as a direct threat during his time serving, and thus sent a message via murder to dissuade him from ever attempting the takeover of Galager's place in power. Unfortunately for Galager, Gabriel was hellbent on revenge after having been wronged. He set out with bloodlust on his mind, and a sword in his hand.
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
The Mobius Machine | PS5
The Mobius Machine might just be the most minimalist and magnificent Metroidvania to ever be released. It features a pint sized protagonist, or micronaut if you will, who finds himself in the middle of a perplexing situation where dream meets reality, perpetually.
In his dreams he sees a machine that implodes on a mysterious alien planet. He pursues an exit afterwards only to be gobbled up by an alien creature of gargantuan proportions. Ultimately awaking to a distress signal from the Isolaris moon. Something that intergalactic law demands he attend to lest he face criminal penalty. It is upon making his way there though that he crash lands, loses his robotic companion Robbie, and finds himself in an eerily familiar place. A place he must scour for resources, and tools in order to escape.
Saturday, February 10, 2024
Jubilee | PS5
Debt is a prison sentence in the making. A lesson learned by our fairytale female protagonist in this indie puzzle platformer known as "Jubilee". You find yourself, as the designated damsel in distress, locked away in a maze-like prison filled with gems, animals, and the odd cellmate who also finds themselves a prisoner of an unknown antagonist. Your backstory isn't initially known, but by discovering secret pages, and talking to the local lawbreakers you'll find your bearings quick enough. You'll learn in due time that you are facing a perilous collect-a-thon to collect enough gems to pay your way out of this Hell hold.
Thursday, February 8, 2024
Mustache In Hell | PS5
Waking up one day only to find himself in the hereafter John Mustache comes face to skull with the Grim Reaper. The big bad bone daddy himself. Seems Death has a proposition for the yet to be truly dead protagonist, and that deal entails recovering cubes that were stolen by Charon. Each cube being guarded by an afterlife adversary, and mobs of mythological minions. All contained within gated, and maze-like areas filled with puzzles, and enough items to see John through to the end. This includes everything from guns, and explosives to health items and extra lives.
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
Dungeonoid 2 Awakening | PS5
Following in the footsteps of the brick breaking arcade legend Arkanoid, 'Dungeonoid 2 Awakening' continues with the legacy mechanics while building upon them in this RPG inspired indie sequel. In it four heroes including an individually named and background inclusive paladin, priest, sorcerer, and valkyrie fight weapon and spell against an evil priest who is attempting to resurrect the ultimate evil. An evil demon from the depths of hell who has been lying dormant for over 300 years.
Utilizing the traditional brick breaking paddle, powerups, key items, and two attack types you will not only fight against the minions of darkness, but loot the lands, and upgrade your character of choice as the screen auto-scrolls upwards through 6 differently themed lands filled with obstacles. Each land, in turn, offering their own shops, treasures, and gems needed for enhancing the heroes' abilities.
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Be A Hero, Not A Victim
"If the world ever wants to know why all their heroes are degenerates and criminals it's, because the people who have power and influence over you don't want you to aspire to be a true hero. They want you ruining your own life, and your opportunities to be in a position to only peddle the propaganda of the truly powerful and influential.
Monday, February 5, 2024
Teppo and the Secret Ancient City
Legend tells of a hidden Amazonian city that once acted as a gateway to parallel worlds. A portal of sorts powered by colored diamonds. So says the Indigenous individual who in 1970 sparks up a curious conversation with famed explorer Teppo in a bar. As a man of opportunity Teppo knows when to take the lead and run with it, so he sets out on an adventure into the amazon wilds to collect the fabled diamonds, and secure his name in history.
Saturday, January 20, 2024
Lift the Veil | By Brad Carver
Below you will find my latest poem. A poem that speaks of things kept from plain sight. Things that will come to be known through the deeds of those that work behind the scenes to manipulate others. Truth always reveals itself, and is not disputable. You can live a lie, but the truth always comes calling. Enjoy this poem, and may it inspire you to look beyond the veil.
Tuesday, December 26, 2023
QUOTE: About Knowledge
"Unlearn what you were taught so that you can learn the truth by and for yourself ...
Did you ever wonder why Adam and Eve were told not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good & evil, and why it meant certain death if they did? Knowing of something that has any part to do with evil is susceptible to corruption. Knowledge is not pure. It is not solely good. Therefore to know is to corrupt one's self. Did you know that not knowing enriches creativity. It helps us to excel, innovate, and create with no bounds. Trying to create freely in a known reality limits the creation, and the evolution therein. Knowing is a prison for the mind for everything is certain, and in that certainty, limited." - Brad C. (OtakuDante)Wednesday, December 20, 2023
Happy Holidays From The Inferno!!!
It is that time of year. A time of celebration, of family, and of closure for our struggles within the past 365 days. We face uncertainty on many fronts as we move towards 2024, the new year. The world is more volatile than it's ever been. We're on the brink of world war III, and politics keeps on dividing and conquering us all.
Somewhere in the midst of it all we still manage to partake of the bread and circuses as those in Rome did before their societal collapse. Distractions that only serve to momentarily stave off any worries or fears lingering in the backs of our minds. My hope is that in 2024 we don't get so distracted by the bread and circuses that we let our world fall apart any further. As Ayn Rand said, "You can ignore reality, but you cannot escape the consequences of ignoring reality".
Thursday, November 23, 2023
QUOTE: About Self Love
"I believe the most common misconception of personal worth and value is that we think we only matter if others think we do. We are the ones living our lives not other people. Therefore we should be the one who matters above all else in our life. Love yourself. Know that you matter."
- Brad C. (OtakuDante)