Sorry for the stream-of-consciousness posts lately. This site used to feature reviews of games and music and anime if you can believe that. Now it’s just a place for me to dump my misery out.…
Jul 26, 2024 • Subscribe
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Demo mode: Tevi
It’s Next Fest time again at Steam. Nuts to Valve, as usual, but where else are indie devs going to post their games for sale? I love itch.io,…
Demo mode: Another Next Fest
In my last post, I mentioned I’d only played one demo for Steam’s latest Next Fest. In the very short time since then, I played two more that…
Demo mode: Blue Reflection: Second Light (PS4)
I have some actual time off for once, and not a moment too soon as I was feeling a bit run down. I hope this long weekend will…
Demo mode: A few demos for Next Fest
It’s yet another big event on Steam. Thanks to Valve for bringing us demos of a wide variety of indie games set to be released in the next…
Hookah Haze Game Review
I get it – the point isn't a challenge; it's vibes. And I must confess, Hookah Haze's vibes are impeccable.
A Haze of Alcohol and Confusion
The making of 'Roujin Z.'
Books: Hell Mode
By Shelley Pallis. Kenichi is a gamer suffering from that common modern malaise, a frustration with games that make life too easy for him. He’s just spent three…
Eternights Demo Impressions
After checking out the demo for Eternights on Steam, I had some thoughts to share and to put this on more people radar. Developer: Studio Sai Platforms: PS5,…
Silent Hope Demo?!
So...a demo for the upcoming game Silent Hope just dropped the other day. I better download it! Also, Megan Harvey is the English voice of the cute little…
Gunbrella Demo Gameplay
Dad Needs To Talk checks out the demo for Gunbrella. A new noir action adventure game from developer Doinksoft.
Hell Mode Novel 1
Hell Mode does play a few isekai tropes a bit differently, but it also clearly wears its influences on its sleeve. So yes, this is another one of…
Foul Play Demo Available
Remember Foul Play? The Kickstarter about a detective with a certain “taste” seduced by a sexy master thief? The team released a demo to commemorate the successful funding…
Majo demo Steady... v3?
Ever since Orphan released Majo demo Steady ( My Steady Is a Witch ) two years ago, I've wanted to do a version with better video (the…
Dramatical Murder – Demo Review
On the surface this games world comes across as a cute cyberpunk aesthetic, with it’s bright colors and beautiful character designs that pull you in thinking you will…
Dual Chroma Demo Review
Indie studio, Galen Games recently launched the Kickstarter campaign for their upcoming fantasy otome/RPG Dual Chroma and with it a demo! So of course I had to check…
Spiraken Manga Review Ep 205: Switch Girl (or Off Mode On Mode)
In this long awaited episode, Xan returns from his hiatus to review a rather familiar shojo series. While there are similarites to a manga we reviewed back in…
30MM “Armored Core VI” Kits Finally Revealed! Nightfall and Steel Haze
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon (AC6 here forth) was one of the highly anticipated games in 2023, especially for fans of the franchise and mecha games in…
Dispelling the Heat Haze: Ashita no Nadja and A Prince’s Shadow
Once upon a time there was a chivalrous knight, of lithe limb and dazzling smile, virtue incarnate. Cutting a remarkably gallant figure, Francis Harcourt emerges from the well-thumbed…
Hell Mode Novel 1 Evaluate
Are you sick and tired of isekai light novels that feature a protagonist reborn in a fantasy world that operates very similarly to an MMORPG, complete with
27: Isa Goes Guesto Mode
The Sickos put on full plate armor in a futile attempt to protect themselves from being Roasted, because on this episode, an ACTUAL TEEN goes guesto mode! Tom's…
134: MinovskyArticle Goes Guesto Mode
The Sickos are amazed to find that MinovskyArticle, one of the posters of all time and our spiritual leader, has gone guesto mode! We talk about the posting…
25: Marquez Goes Guesto Mode
Fellow Sicko Matthew Marquez (call him Marquez) goes guesto mode! We discuss Marquez's strange addiction to superhero comics, his burgeoning career as an anime boy, and the time…
49: Dylan Goes Guesto Mode
The Sickos welcome Dylan, a true homie and big time sicko. We discuss Dylan's inexplicable love of fighting games, his incredible cog stories of having an actual murderer…
Synduality Noir #12 — Dark Mode
Boy, what a threatening antagonist inert rock that was. Impressions: I had assumed this broadcast was continuing right on into fall because… its broadcast is continuining into…
Adabana Odd Tales Demo Review
In December last year Aniplex launched their own visual novel brand ANIPLEX.EXE. The new brand came with two visual novels as its helm – ATRI: My Dear Moments and…
Chants of Sennaar Demo Gameplay
Dad Needs To Talk checks out new puzzle adventure game Chants of Sennaar. Series uses deciphering of glyphs as part of the puzzle elements.
First Impressions – NIGHT/SHADE Demo
NIGHT/SHADE (not to be confused with this Nightshade) is an upcoming 18+ cyberpunk BL visual novel developed by indie studio KingAsphy. This is the team’s first project and from…
First Impressions: Made Marion Demo
Made Marion is an upcoming fantasy indie otome game and the debut title of indie studio, Velvet Cupcake. The game is inspired by the stories of Robin Hood, but…
Jack Jeanne ジャックジャンヌ Demo – Review
The heroine, Kisa Tachibana (CV: Terasaki Yuka; she’s a voiced heroine!!) grew up doing plays along with her brother and childhood friend, Yonaga Soushiro. The heroine’s brother attende…
Dream & Sugar – Demo | First Impressions
Chase your dreams and maybe even find love — all over a cup of coffee, of course…
First Impressions: Pipe Dream Demo
Pipe Dream is an upcoming slice-of-life dating sim developed by indie studio, Notome Games. This is my first experience with this team, but when your studio claims to specialize…
Speakeasy | Demo Review | NSFW 18+
Indulge in the hedonistic delights of 1920s Los Angeles as Evelyn Cora West, heir to a wealthy family and proactive, promiscious denizen of the city’s underground nightlife in…
Played The Metaphor: ReFantazio Demo
So I managed to play the demo for Metaphor: ReFantazio and...damn, this game is fun! Im buying it! And now I need to track down an Asian physical…
Infinite Blue Demo – First Impressions
Infinite blue is an indie otome by Velvet Fox Games, where you and six strangers have a messenger app mysteriously downloaded onto your phones.
First Impressions – Pale Cachexia Demo
Argent Games, the indie dev duo behind Red Embrace: Hollywood are back with a brand new project—the gothic fantasy kinetic novel, Pale Cachexia. I am a long time fan of the duo,…
Celestine: One to Eleven Demo
Celestine: One to Eleven is an indie RPG otome game that features a POC protagonist with plans of a full release in the future. For more updates visit…
Touken Ranbu Warriors Demo Review
The English demo for Touken Ranbu Warriors has been released! Playing it yourself is a great way to gauge if you’re interested in buying it or not, but…
Touchstarved (Early Access) Demo Review
TOUCHSTARVED is a gothic horror romance visual novel and debut game from Red Spring Studio: a small indie team made up of veteran game developers from Riot Games, Nix…
9: Sara McHenry Goes Guesto Mode
Sicko Extraordinaire Sara McHenry joins the Sickos to discuss her freedom from anime, her compulsion to post, her love of The Mountain Goats (arguably a form of anime?),…
114: Zac Gorman Goes Guesto Mode
Writer, artist, and generally cool guy Zac Gorman goes guesto mode! We discuss the harrowing emptiness of being an artist, how Chuck E. Cheese's has a weird smell,…
18: Riley Hopkins Goes Guesto Mode
Riley Hopkins, podcaster, game designer, and all-around sicko goes Guesto Mode! The boys talk about how designing a successful tabletop RPG makes you extremely rich (did not fact…
77: Stephanie Mattos Goes Guesto Mode
The Sickos welcome Stephanie Mattos, a certified fight coordinator, to confirm that anime is real and fighting kicks ass. We discuss how to plan, choreograph, and execute a…
157: Isa Goes Guesto Mode Again
Tom's niece Isa returns to the podcast! We talk about Tears of the Kingdom, how Covid turned high school sophomores into six-foot-tall toddlers, competitive high school bass fishing,…
121: Taylor Moore Goes Guesto Mode
The Sickos welcome local genius Taylor Moore to the podcast. Taylor discusses the saga of his Kickstarter unionization effort, gushes about the anime classic Paprika, and exposes the…
37: Alex Borkowski Goes Guesto Mode
Homie and noted sicko Alex Borkowski goes guesto mode! We discuss Monster Hunter, a game that hates you and wants you to have as little fun as possible…
60: Aaron & Vince Go Guesto Mode
Aaron J. Shelton and Vince White from the Kame House Party podcast go guesto mode! We discuss Aaron and Vince's cog woes, the fever dream of trying to…
20: erica dreisbach Goes Guesto Mode
Mega sicko and excellent human erica dreisbach joins your sickos for a scintillating bout of Guesto Mode! We discuss erica's taste in anime and gaming, her hard-fought freedom…
42: Devon Price Goes Guesto Mode
Mega sicko Devon Price kicks off the promo tour for their upcoming book Laziness Does Not Exist by going Guesto Mode, much to the consternation of their agent…
51: Angela Quinton Goes Guesto Mode
Sicko homie Angela Quinton goes guesto mode! The Sickos interrogate why Angela enjoys the frankly insanely difficult hobby of ultra marathons and receive a startlingly affecting and convincing…
Tokyo 24th Ward – 05 – Dark Mode
Last week we learn that among the two paths Kunai believes lie before him—art or crime—Kunai has chosen the latter. This week we learn why, starting over a…
