Tag: Review

HUGE Blog Update – 300 followers, 10 patrons, press passes, new writer, and web design revamp

By Angie | Backlog Crusader on August 8, 2019August 12, 2019

I have a number of exciting updates to share with everyone about the state of Backlog Crusader today! This is a little long, but please bear with me.

Traffic and Followers

Backlog Crusader is three and a half months old and I am happy to report it has just passed the 300 WordPress and email follower milestone! On average the site is getting over 100 views a day, with spikes up to several hundred to over 1,000 depending on how well my post sharing strategy goes on social media.

Totals since day one on April 25th: 70 posts, 18,127 views, 9,678 unique visitors, 1,321 post likes, and 535 comments.

Posted in: community, discord, entertainment, gamer, gaming, geek, nerd, patreon, pax, Review, super smash brothers, videogames

PC Review

Horace Review (PC) – a story of a real boy

By Bohdan on August 1, 2019

Note from Angie: Today I’m pleased to introduce Bohdan, who is going to be helping the blog out with PC game reviews and other articles of interest on a regular basis. Here’s his first review!

Hello, everyone! My name is Bohdan and I’ll be joining this wonderful establishment as a regular writer. There’s not much I can say about myself that you would find interesting, so I’ll just note that I’m a big fan of niche, low profile games of video kind. So you can expect me to write aplenty about those and if you’d like, you can let me (or Angie) know if there’s anything in particular that you would like to hear about. Cheers!

To describe Horace in its entirety would be a disservice to anyone who wants to play it. It is the same conundrum I have had a few years ago with Undertale. I wanted my friends to check it out, but if I were to say why I was so excited, it would ruin all the fun. Horace is that kind of game. If I were to describe Horace with a single sentence I would say that it is one of the best games I have played, period. And let me try to explain why you should play it too.

Posted in: entertainment, gamer, gaming, geek, horace, nerd, PC, Review, videogames

Nintendo Switch Review

Fire Emblem Three Houses Review (Switch) – a shining, new standard

By Angie | Backlog Crusader on July 30, 2019August 9, 2019

Fire Emblem Three Houses is massive and ambitious, seamlessly joining fresh gameplay elements inspired by other genres with the beloved, traditional Fire Emblem square tactics formula in a manner that feels natural and immersive. In the following review I will avoid talking about the story because no one likes spoilers this soon after release and each House has a different cast and plot-line. All of them are excellent and will command your attention for dozens of hours!

Three Houses puts the player in charge of one of three Houses of academy students, each respectively representing the three major nations surrounding the Officer’s Academy, a school run within a monastery by the Church for the purpose of encouraging peace between countries. Each of the upcoming rulers of those nations is the head of their respective House: the Blue Lions, the Golden Deer, and the Black Eagles. Will you stand with fierce, chivalrous Dimitri, charming, cavalier Claude, or confident, stubborn Edelgard? It is entirely up to you to get to know the students and decide which House you will lead into the future as their Professor, battle comrade, and dear companion.

Posted in: entertainment, fire emblem, gamer, gaming, geek, nerd, Nintendo Switch, Review, three houses

Nintendo Switch Review

Songbird Symphony (Switch) Review – happy tweets

By Angie | Backlog Crusader on July 24, 2019July 24, 2019

Songbird Symphony is akin to an animated Disney film in that it is family-friendly, obviously lovable by a young audience, but still very approachable by adults thanks to its art, wit, and personality. The humor and emotional story elements found within will be as appealing to adult players as they are to younger players. Don’t let the cutesy graphics fool you though – Songbird Symphony presents some gruelingly difficult rhythm challenges that will keep you on your toes. This colorful title releases PC and consoles tomorrow, July 25^th.

Posted in: birds, entertainment, gamer, gaming, geek, nerd, Nintendo Switch, Review, rhythm, songbird symphony, video games

Nintendo Switch Review

Tiny Metal: Full Metal Rumble (Switch) Review – advanced niche

By Angie | Backlog Crusader on July 20, 2019July 22, 2019

Tiny Metal: Full Metal Rumble is a love letter to Advance Wars. It is a solid square tactics game with smooth visuals, though it does not introduce anything innovative to the square tactics strategy genre. If you are not into square tactics games, then Tiny Metal is probably not going to be your cup of tea. If you like games like Advance Wars or Wargroove, you may enjoy Tiny Metal!

Posted in: advanced wars, entertainment, gamer, gaming, Nintendo Switch, Review, tiny metal, video games, wargroove

Nintendo Switch Review

Eagle Island Review (Switch) – birds of a feather

By Angie | Backlog Crusader on July 11, 2019July 24, 2019

Eagle Island is a charming, robust action platformer that is likely to be the next runaway, indie-darling hit. Offering multiple game play modes, beautiful level and creature design, and impressive attention to detail, Eagle Island offers something for everyone and has excellent replay value at a happily reasonable price point. This modernized retro title is one I feel comfortable wholeheartedly recommending to just about any type of video game player!

Posted in: eagle island, entertainment, falconry, gamer, gaming, girl gamer, Nintendo Switch, owl, platformer, Review, videogames

Nintendo Switch Review

Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight Review (Switch) – the little priestess who could

By Angie | Backlog Crusader on June 26, 2019July 17, 2019

Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight is a charming, gorgeously animated Metroidvania title about a brave priestess trying to rid her village of a withering curse emanating from the country’s royal palace. Lovingly crafted with rich, detailed pixel graphics, Momodora: RUTM is a short and sweet adventure worth your time.

Posted in: entertainment, gamer, gamer girl, gaming, girl gamer, momodora, Nintendo Switch, Review, video games

Nintendo Switch Review

Cattails Review (Switch) – cute, charming, and full of heart

By Angie | Backlog Crusader on June 20, 2019July 17, 2019

Cattails is a charming exploration game full of cute pixel cats and winsome personality! Many describe it as “Stardew Valley but with cats” and I would agree to a certain extent– mainly in the environmental design, the sacred temple (similar to the community center), and the wake-sleep, daily gameplay loop. Though a bit rough around the edges with room to grow, I found the game entirely enjoyable and addictive.

Posted in: cats, cattails, games, gaming, Nintendo Switch, Review, videogames, warrior cats

Nintendo Switch Review

The Banner Saga Trilogy Review (Switch) – a dark fantasy Oregon Trail

By Angie | Backlog Crusader on June 17, 2019July 17, 2019

The Banner Saga Trilogy held my attention from the moment I picked it up! I would describe this series as a hybrid of Oregon Trail and Fire Emblem, nestled comfortably in a Norse mythology-inspired dark fantasy setting. The Banner Saga presents the player with a high stakes story full of make or break decision making, with the player positioned as the reluctant, elected leader of a caravan full of survivors fleeing the end of the world.

Posted in: game, gamer girl, games, gaming, Nintendo, Nintendo Switch, Review, rpg, the banner saga, video games

Nintendo Switch Review

Hyper Light Drifter (Switch SE) Review – a masterclass in “show, don’t tell” design

By Angie | Backlog Crusader on May 21, 2019August 10, 2019

Hyper Light Drifter is the game that finally won me over on pixel graphics. For a long time I thought it was just a modern gaming fad (“Retro style is so cool, bro!”). I had a hard time empathizing with pixel characters due to the lack of facial feature details. I understood the difficulty of pixel art design, but I was unaware of the depth and nuance that could truly be achieved with this medium– Until I met the Drifter.

Posted in: entertainment, game, gamer girl, gaming, girl gamer, hyper light, Nintendo, Nintendo Switch, Review, rpg, video game, video games, videogames