Recent reviews by Distant Avalon

Just an incredible game from start to finish.

Nightreign is a fantastic game...as long as you have a dedicated team of three.

I won't lie, there is much to be desired when it comes to Nightreign - from more random encounters, to an in-game communication system and general crossplay - but as the game stands now, it really does present a fun, challenging time together with friends. That's the key though, WITH FRIENDS. You'll want to find yourself a dedicated group if you're looking to progress in the game. There is the option to be placed with randoms, but the lack of an in-game communication system adds an unwanted challenge to an already challenging experience. (Solo play is another beast entirely, but from what I understand, there will be an update that addresses the balancing issues. It would be nice to add a duo option too.)

As someone who adores rougelikes AND FromSoft games, this was a definite buy in my book. It helped that I had a group of friends that share the same sentiment. We have yet to topple the first Nightlord, but we're having a blast learning the mechanics of our favorite characters while getting our butts whooped! This would be frustrating with a group of randos, so it's important to keep that in mind. You're not going to win this in one shot, especially this close to release. We're all still figuring things out, but the time will come when the game is further understood and things get "easier". Patience is key for any Souls game.

Gameplay sometimes feels a bit repetitive here and there, and that's where I would like to see more random encounters/events placed around the world. The game has been out for a total of 2 days upon writing this review, so I will be patient when waiting for new updates. In the meantime, there is still a ton of things to be discovered and fun to be had!

Overall, Nightreign scratches a itch by putting two fantastic genres of games into one. It is not for everyone, much like Elden Ring, but offers an awesome new way to jump back into the world!

BG3 is an incredible game, simply put. Straight out of the box, prepare yourself for near-total immersion. It's easy to lose yourself in the story, the dialogue, the exploration, the combat, and everything in between. If you're a fan of D&D (or any TTRPG, really), this is a MUST BUY. At first, I thought I was just giving in to the FOMO when I made the purchase, but oh man, I'm glad I pulled the trigger.

Grats to Larian for creating such a masterpiece. As of this review I'm 17 hours in and I feel like I've barely scratched the surface.

Elden Ring is an incredible ride that offers a great mix of customization, exploration, and challenging combat.

I came into Elden Ring with only a small amount of Souls experience but enough to know that this game would be difficult. I consider myself a casual player. You essentially have the choice when it comes to difficulty right from the start; you could go immediately toward the story for a more difficult time, or take time exploring to level up and gear up to make things a tad easier. The choice is yours, literally. Pick a starting class but then invest points in whatever playstyle you wish.

Some people complain about how the game looks but I firmly disagree. The game looks fantastic and offers A LOT of "Wow!" moments. Extremely enjoyable and offers so much to see and do. It can be incredibly frustrating at times, so be ready for that. Just keep it up and you'll get there - take advantage of co-op and summoning when you can!

The game is a lot of fun but can be incredibly frustrating at times. If you're a Naruto or Boruto fan, it's certainly worth it (especially when it is on sale). The unique battle mechanics are easy to learn but tricky to master. Do note that most of this game is PvP based, however, you can still have a good time in the VR missions - you'll probably get a little bored doing them repeatedly after a while. Playing with friends doubles the enjoyment of the game and finding people to play with isn’t too difficult. There is still a fairly active community on all systems, so finding people to play with shouldn’t be too hard of a challenge. There are also “clans” that you can join via different forms of media (Discord, Reddit, etc.) – I have yet to join a clan so I cannot comment on how easy it is to do so.

Many say the game is "pay to win" and I, unfortunately, must agree. Luckily, you're able to get the first season DLC pack in a bundle for a few extra bucks during a sale and it's worth it. Even with just those additional techniques from Season 1, you can still do well in all modes and have a great time. Clothing also makes a difference in this game and you DO have the ability to change your desired outfits with skills to match your play style. That being said, clothing and weapon drops are based on a gatcha system so nothing is promised. This can become upsetting, especially if you end up spending money on certain scrolls in an attempt to get a specific high-ranked item. It’s also worth mentioning that you can do just fine without those high-ranked items, but they look cool and can be pretty clutch at times. Matchmaking does not seem to be skill-based, so you may be pitted against people who have been playing for a very long time. Also, be ready for several disconnects as the game uses a peer-to-peer system. If your randomly chosen host loses connection or drops, then the match will be ended.

Overall, I do recommend the game for any Naruto or Boruto fans out there. If not taken too seriously, this game is a lot of fun and offers an awesome combat system with a great art style. Are there bugs? Yeah. Are there hackers? Yeah. Is the gatcha system a pain? Yeah. Will you lose several games? YES (but you’ll win plenty too). I personally can look past those things and still get in some solid hours of enjoyment while making my ninja viable in any type of situation. Good in both short bursts and long sit-downs.