Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Difficulty – Easy
Theme – 9/10
Fun/Enjoyment – 8/10

VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action by Sukeban Games is very unique visual novel game set in a futuristic cyberpunk world. However, even with technology as advanced as it is in the future – the people still have their problems. You follow Jill, a bartender at the bar VA-11 Hall-A in Glitch City – one of the most innovative cities in the world.

I am no stranger to visual novel games, so what really grabbed me for VA-11 Hall-A was the cyberpunk theme. There are not many games out there that embrace this genre well, let alone a visual novel. The vibe was 100% there with the theme and with it the type of feelings you would feel sitting at a bar. I found myself either sipping a cup of tea or cracking open a can of beer to enjoy and complement the experience. There is a large library of music that you can change per day to alter the ambiance that the bar would provide for it’s customers. There are a lot of bangers in this one guys, especially if you are a fan of video game music like myself.

The biggest impact from this game is that I found myself invested in all of the characters that came to drink at the bar. You learn bit by bit about them everyday to paint a picture of who they are and how they will grow as a person as time passes. This game is not at all shy with the dark themes, which I love. Not to mention! Of course since you are a bartender, you get to learn about what type of drinks they prefer as you try and maneuver the encounters by mixing up and serving exactly what they need. This made the interactions really adorable, fun and unique.

If you are looking for an experience, I can definitely say I enjoyed this game to the point where I would recommend it to others. That being said, I do not think it is for everyone. You first need be into visual novels and second into a futuristic-fantasy theme such as this. Worth a try if you think it’s your genre!

Overall Rating: 9.5/10
Difficulty – Very Hard
Theme – 10/10
Fun/Enjoyment – 9.5/10

*DISCLAIMER* – All of my ratings are based off of my personal opinion and what I find important in a game.

Darkest Dungeon by Red Hook Studios… is amazing! To be completely honest this indie game was not on my radar AT ALL. However after much recommendation from my significant other whom was also playing the gothic-style game at the same time… I decided to give it a go. It is a huge understatement to stay that this game is challenging.

This title is all about party and stat management while also making the best of a bad situation. The game throws many hurdles at you that could eventually lead to death. You will need to manage a four person team with constricting issues such as depleted health, accumulating stress, affliction statuses and more. You are put into unfair situations where you only have your wits to survive. If one of your team members is unlucky enough to meet there demise… depending on the mode you choose, they may be driven to the graveyard. FOREVER! You will need to make turn-based decisions and try your best to keep your team alive as you travel to the darkest dungeon.

For my playthrough I decided to go with the default difficulty level. In this mode if your character dies, they are sent to the graveyard and is further unusable. In the past I have had experience playing this type of game before where if the team member dies, they are gone forever. I find this type of mechanic enjoyable because it adds more value to each team member and you are forced to make carefully calculated decisions to avoid the inevitable. It adds a uniqueness to each character as well because you need to “care” more about them. In Darkest Dungeon there are ample amounts of classes to choose from where you can cosmetically customize each one. Due to the variety of classes, I had a lot of fun being creative with forming my teams per each situation. There are different zones with their own unique set of monsters and themed bosses to go with it. After a grueling 80 or so hours later… I DID IT! I had defeated the darkest dungeon and man did it feel good.

After completing this game, I can say with confidence that this game is not for everyone. The difficulty could be off-putting for some, but if you find that enjoyable then I HIGHLY recommend this title. Another option is to opt for the Radiant difficulty, which is the easier game mode. This is not a game for the faint hearted and it is expected to sink many hours and work to complete it. BUT when you do beat the game, it is all worth it!!!