Fantastic Universes

Article by Adam Ray To quote Wil Wheaton, a man who knows things about games: "sometimes I don't want a rich, flavourful stout at the pub, sometimes I want to enjoy a jasmine pearl tea, and let my mind expand in a peaceful game". At the tail end of my time at EGX 2023, amidst rich experiences, I found my sweet smelling cup of jasmine tea. Trash Goblin  is the holy union of 3d Picross and casual task doing in a fantasy slice of life. Coming to us from Spilt Milk Studios, who have been around for 13 years and have made micro action epics like Lazarus  and Super Blast Island  as well as playful re-imaginings on classics in The Legend of Tango A Link to the 80s. The gameplay loop is simple but satisfying. You are the Trash Goblin, sent items caked in cubic layers of dirt that you must chip away and wash to unearth the (sometimes magical) relics beneath. Colourful characters visit your store asking for their items to be restored or for their items or may ask if you have any su...

Article by Connor McIndewar Hello there dear readers, it is I Connor McIndewar, otherwise known as Akhariou. You probably know my name from all the talking I do with Adam on the Fantastic Universes Podcast . Today I get the pleasure of gracing your screens with something exclusive, something shiny, something new! Now, I know it may have been a while since I last wrote… Too long in fact, however I hope you may bare with me as I attempt to capture your interest and minds to the newest offering, so new it hasn’t even come out yet, that one of our favourite talking points at the moment is bringing. That is to say I may bestow upon you dear reader, a sneak preview of a card from the upcoming expansion pack of Host! I have the privilege, nay, the pleasure of introducing to you: Grace, Aligner of Stars. An angel entity descending into our decks when the new expansion releases in December to allow us to trick our opponents into believing their removal will always end our precious entities, or ...

Article by Adam Ray EGX was a remarkable event for me as a gamer, a writer, and a human. I was able to stand shoulder to shoulder with personal heroes  and some of the most ambitious new developers making new and fresh titles. On the face of it, Billie Bust Up  is a sweet 3d platformer developed by the fine people behind the Humble Bundle . There's a great deal of charm and whimsy in this title. Much like some of the other games I've seen at gaming events like this, it would never have been I'd consider picking up without a chance to try it, but that's the magic of events like this: it teaches me to broaden my play horizons. Billie Bust Up  somehow has the lightly matted polygon look and the cartoony character design that harkens the game back to Cartoon Network shows (and their respective games) from the early 2000s.  There are influences in its art style that also very much indicate the now. The story of a character playing with their own mortality and the sinister...

Article by Adam Ray Prince of Persia  was always a franchise I was aware of but never myself played. From the time period and the general aesthetic, I was always more interested in Assassin's Creed , and my excitement for Mirage  is very high. At EGX, I was able to play the demo version of the highly anticipated game, and had a very good time with it. Everyone has been seeking a Sands of Time  remaster for many years, and the longer it goes, the less likely this classic is getting the polish that we'd hope for. In the meantime, Lost Crown  seeks to give us the frenetic, high flying, platformer gameplay we've been waiting for.  In the wider story seen in some of the exclusive reveals, we can see our new hero searching a cursed land for the missing Prince. Magic and mystery are abound, mixed in with history of the Immortals - the most decorated combatants in the ancient Persian army. The gameplay resembles the classic MetroidVania and high powered platforming game...

  Article by Adam Ray Any follower of my gaming content here on Fantastic Universes and any close friend of mine will know that I deeply love Alan Wake . At the phenomenal EGX this year, I had the distinct pleasure of informing Sam Lake about this, and hearing his many thoughts about the history of Remedy Entertainment and what to expect from Alan Wake II. The original Alan Wake  all the way back in 2010. That game generated an immediate cult classic status, with tie ins to its own strange expansion downloads, and the wider universe of other Remedy games. Lake often discussed that the story of the character Alan Wake is very similar to that of Remedy itself. A writer who had been very successful with one franchise (namely Max Payne in Remedy's case, who we've learned may be coming back very soon); and after a desire to change, they came up with an ambitious new horror story. With new titles like Control and Quantum Break  under their belt, they never gave up on making a s...

Article by Adam Ray EGX has been the gift that kept giving this reviewer. There's been a bevvy of new games, from developers great and small. A game I was fortunate to try was one I've been excited for since it's announcement. Super Mario Wonder. Old school platforming is one of the backbones of gaming. Mario was one of the first, and his newest title has had everyone excited for months. The new spiritual successor and the first Mario platformer in 11 years. Super Mario Wonder has so many fantastic elements going for it. The level of polish and vibrancy can make even the most cynical gamer like me jump for joy upon getting a Wonder Seed. Nintendo have their aim set on the age 7+ market, and therefore makes it ideal for me. The cast of characters can appeal to either the lonely gamer playing as the red guy, or a team of players who want to mix the toads with Mario and the princesses making a long overdue appearance in the platformers. Even the kids are welcome to try with...

Article by Adam Ray Sonic the Hedgehog has a marmite level of fandom in the casual gaming community. It set the tone for platforming goodness alongside Mario in the early nineties, but the 3d ventures in the early 2000s left many fans baffled and confused. Many titles featuring Mister Needlemouse went on to try and recreate the charm of those old school side-scrolling platformer. Sonic Generations was very close to that charm, and this new title, Sonic Superstars, has everything to add itself into that pantheon of games, plus approximately one litre of LSD. I had the fortune of playing this game a few times at EGX this year, and this is how it went. Sonic Superstars has a lot of elements that keep it looking and feeling of classic Sonic, with the benefits of shiny new graphics possibilities. There are elements that play with perspective while you run, shooting you forward or backwards in relation to the rest of the platforms. The retro flair comes also from the choice of characters and...

It's no secret to anyone who knows me that card games are my biggest joy. It's brought me dear friends and unforgettable memories. So when our shared love of DC comics takes over a card game as good as Dual Force, I can't help but take notice. DC Dual Force has come a long way in the short months since its release. It ran its first successful round of Twitch drops, had many great expansions themed around Green Arrow and Shazam, introduced the Battle Pass themed around the Blue Beetle movie, and gave us the Atomizer which is a system and Omni Cards that every digital card gamer is grateful for. Much like in real life, the season has changed and become a great deal more spooky. The release train in DC Dual Force is at full speed in its releases, and the newest mini expansion has the level of creep has been heightened for Halloween. Dark Knights Metal has come to DC Dual Force. A new Leader of variable play quality has been shown off in The Batman Who Laughs. The consistent su...

“ Superman: The Harvests Of Youth “ Writer/Artist:  Sina Grace Color Artist:  Chris Peter Letterer:  AndWorld’s DC Hopkins Review by Steve J. Ray Summary Sina Grace ( Iceman ,  Ghosted in L.A. ) has always been a writer/artist whose work I’ve enjoyed, and  Superman: The Harvests Of Youth  isn’t just one of the best things he’s ever produced, it’s become one of my favorite YA books and Superman stories… ever. DC’s range of Young Adult Graphic Novels are some of the finest books out there. I haven’t been a teenager for over forty years, but these volumes make me feel, think, and are always super entertaining. This story is, at its heart, one about ordinary people. Yes, everyone knows that Superman is far from ordinary, but that’s part of the magic and power of the character. As Clark Kent, although he’s handsome, smart, and talented, all he wants to be is an ordinary guy, and Superman is all about protecting the “ordinary”, the innocent, and those who ne...