It's a bit later into the month than usual, but the new HumbleChoice
games are now available. Will it be worth the cost? Let's see what we
get this time.
----
* Assassins Creed Valhalla
* Daemon X Machina Titanic Scion https://store.steampowered.com/app/1342490/Daemon_X_Machina_Titanic_Scion/
I'm not actually familiar with the Daemon X Machina franchise.
Its character designs and story seem quite shoddy, and
apparently there's a lot of RNG and grind to the gameplay. But
on the other hand... giant mechs.
* Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria...
It's an open-world(ish) survival-crafting game.
* The Procession to Calvary https://store.steampowered.com/app/1071130/The_Procession_to_Calvary/
A self-proclaimed "Pythonesque adventure game" made up of
artwork from Renaissance paintings. I think mostly they mean
that they are imitating Terry Gilliam's unique cartoon-art
style rather than actually capturing the zany humor of the
actual troop. The actual gameplay seems iffy. I think I'll
just stick to the real thing.
On 4/7/2026 12:23 PM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
* Daemon X Machina Titanic Scion
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1342490/
Daemon_X_Machina_Titanic_Scion/
I'm not actually familiar with the Daemon X Machina franchise.
Its character designs and story seem quite shoddy, and
apparently there's a lot of RNG and grind to the gameplay. But
on the other hand... giant mechs.
Appears to be power suits, not mechs, and a janky japan-action game.
While I like some anime, it feel it's way too cheesy. The 'mixed'
reviews make me wary too. I'd probably give Armored Core IV a fourth
try before I'd buy this one.
It's a bit later into the month than usual, but the new HumbleChoice
games are now available. Will it be worth the cost? Let's see what we
get this time.
----
* Assassins Creed Valhalla https://store.steampowered.com/app/2208920/Assassins_Creed_Valhalla/
It's Assassins Creed... but with Vikings. It's a good enough
game, sure... but it's still Ubisoft open-world design at
heart, and I'm so tired of that sort of game by now. Still,
a pretty good game with nice visuals and solid gameplay.
* Daemon X Machina Titanic Scion https://store.steampowered.com/app/1342490/Daemon_X_Machina_Titanic_Scion/
I'm not actually familiar with the Daemon X Machina franchise.
Its character designs and story seem quite shoddy, and
apparently there's a lot of RNG and grind to the gameplay. But
on the other hand... giant mechs. It's a toss-up.
* Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria https://store.steampowered.com/app/2933130/The_Lord_of_the_Rings_Return_to_Moria/
It's an open-world(ish) survival-crafting game. You know
the sort; start with nothing, pick up litter to craft tools,
use tools to mine, use stuff you've mined to build better
tools, and work upwards from there. This game's gimmick is,
obviously, that you're in the Lord of the Rings universe. The
game is good enough for what it is, but it doesn't do much
other games in the genre haven't already done, and it does
very little with its very expensive license. If you love the
genre or must have every LOTR game, grab it. Otherwise... ehn.
* Until Then
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1574820/Until_Then/
It's a visual novel with pixel graphics. I don't like the
genre and I don't like the wrapper. The story is supposedly
good (even if it seems a bit teen-angsty) but I'll never
find out for sure because of the first two things.
* Planet of Lana
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1608230/Planet_of_Lana/
A young child leaps and jumps here way through a puzzle
platformer as scary monsters threaten to tear her apart in
all sorts of horrible ways. "Planet of Lana" might be well
reviewed, but I'm bored by how closely it follows the Indie-
gaming tropes. At least this game's got some color to it...
but seriously, devs, get some new ideas!
* Artisan TD
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2224640/Artisan_TD/
A tower defense game. Meh.
* The Procession to Calvary https://store.steampowered.com/app/1071130/The_Procession_to_Calvary/
A self-proclaimed "Pythonesque adventure game" made up of
artwork from Renaissance paintings. I think mostly they mean
that they are imitating Terry Gilliam's unique cartoon-art
style rather than actually capturing the zany humor of the
actual troop. The actual gameplay seems iffy. I think I'll
just stick to the real thing.
* Buddy Simulator 1984 https://store.steampowered.com/app/1269950/Buddy_Simulator_1984/
Despite claims to be an AI-powered interactive 'buddy', it's
really more of a traditional adventure game with psychological
horror leanings and tedious gameplay. The actual 'buddy' is
fairly limited and it's debatable how much 'AI' is actually
used. I can't get excited about this one either way.
----
This month's selection is really a mixed bag. There are a few games I
really like ("Valhalla", "Return to Moria"); a few that look somewhat interesting ("Planet of Lana"; maybe "Procession to Calvary"?) and a
bunch I've no interest in whatsoever. But the ones that appeal to me
the most are games that I already own... and I'm not sure the rest are
enough to make this bundle worth the purchase price. Not even if it
makes The Number go up.
But if you don't own any of these? Then it's money well spent, I
think. Or maybe not (depending on your taste in games). But either way
that's what we're getting from this April's HumbleChoice. Get 'em or
don't; I get paid the same. ;-)
Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote at 19:23 this Tuesday (GMT):
But if you don't own any of these? Then it's money well spent, I
think. Or maybe not (depending on your taste in games). But either way
that's what we're getting from this April's HumbleChoice. Get 'em or
don't; I get paid the same. ;-)
You get paid?
On 4/7/2026 3:11 PM, Justisaur wrote:
On 4/7/2026 12:23 PM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
* Daemon X Machina Titanic Scion
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1342490/
Daemon_X_Machina_Titanic_Scion/
I'm not actually familiar with the Daemon X Machina franchise.
Its character designs and story seem quite shoddy, and
apparently there's a lot of RNG and grind to the gameplay. But
on the other hand... giant mechs.
Appears to be power suits, not mechs, and a janky japan-action game.
While I like some anime, it feel it's way too cheesy. The 'mixed'
reviews make me wary too. I'd probably give Armored Core IV a fourth
try before I'd buy this one.
Apparently it's actually a spin off of Daemon X Machina, which appears
to be best described as Armored Core lite - anime edition. A liter
version of Armored Core sounds good, but everything being cell shaded is questionable, and the music does nothing for me.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1167450/DAEMON_X_MACHINA/
While I was looking around after that I found >https://www.gog.com/en/game/metal_wolf_chaos_xd
Looks interesting. Literally Armored Core for America.
On Thu, 9 Apr 2026 13:17:48 -0700, Justisaur <justisaur@yahoo.com>
said this thing:
While I was looking around after that I found
https://www.gog.com/en/game/metal_wolf_chaos_xd
Looks interesting. Literally Armored Core for America.
Oh, I remember that one!
It came out around the time when the 'rah-rah-rah-America #1' Iraq-war bullshittery was at its height (or, at least the original did; it
released in 2004. The "XD" edition is an updated version of the
original from 2019). You know, back when 'freedom fries' were in
vogue. It wasn't just a 'American Mecha' game, it was Eagle-land mecha
game, with the very president of the United States actually leading
the charge in his own personal battle robot fighting amidst some of
the more popular American landmarks. The original was only available
in Japanese markets, it didn't make much of a splash, but I remember
reading a lot about the game when it was new.
It was, by all accounts, not what you would call a subtle game... in
its messaging or its gameplay, but that's part of what made the
original so interesting. Its absurd arcade action doesn't have much
weight or longevity, and gog knows its messaging is equal parts
ridiculous and pointed, but the developers leaned into both, well
aware of how silly and over-the-top it all was.
"Metal Wolf Chaos" is not a game, I think, that would keep my
attention for long. Its mechanics --and a lot of its specific
references-- seem pretty dated. But that's okay; it looks likes a game
you play to enjoy its ridiculousness... and the sheer fun and
destruction of stomping about in a giant battlemech.
TL;DR: It's just the sort of silly I want right now (and because I
can't resist rompy-stompy robot games)
(note: it is also available on Steam, although currently the GOG
version is on sale for half the price)
I played like 1 more hour of Crimson Desert and was thinking "This game >sucks, I'm not enjoying it, why don't I play something I actually want
to play."
So I couldn't resist, and bought MWCXD. I'm enjoying it, way more than >Armored Core 6 (which I found too fast paced and difficult) I'd like a
mech larger than a car, at least original godzilla size. It feels
propery weighty enough at least. The controls are a bit arcane and
switching weapons is pretty clunky as it was old when it was new I've
been reading.
I'm currently stuck on a couple missions I need to complete at least one
of those to complete. I wish I could save during missions. I'm tempted
to see if there's a save state script for cheat engine as I'm getting
tired of getting to the same place and dying and starting over. The >missions feel a bit on the longer side, like 40 minutes if you destroy >everything like I do, though they vary.
On Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:12:25 -0700, Justisaur <justisaur@yahoo.com>
said this thing:
I played like 1 more hour of Crimson Desert and was thinking "This game
sucks, I'm not enjoying it, why don't I play something I actually want
to play."
Shame. I was hoping to hear you kept at it and realized it was
incredibly awesome... which would inspire me to play it. But your
report is just making me drop "Crimson Desert" lower and lower down on
my 'must buy' list.
... >So I couldn't resist, and bought MWCXD.
Which tracks with what I read about its gameplay. It's an arcadey mech experience from a Japanese developer in a game originally released in
2004. Repetitive grind was still in vogue back then.
I'm still interested in the game (I haven't yet bit the bullet and
purchased it) but everything you say indicates it's not a game that
I'd stick with very long.
it's the over-the-top characterizations (and the robots! Mustn't
forget the robots!) that I want. But whether the appeal of either
would be enough to get me over the finish line once I start playing is debatable.
I'm sort of hoping it will, if I wait long enough, just suddenly
appear in Amazon Prime or HumbleChoice. That would take the burden off
of me actually having to pay for it ;-)
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