Recent reviews by bossfight

I did not expect my mastery of ship spinning in a favored space MMO to translate so well to the zen of block puzzle gaming, but here we are.

For me there was a slight learning curve to get into the flow of it, but eventually I got into a meditative state like pottery sculpting on a turntable, or something, and it clicked. I generally suck at it but it still sucks me in and I lose track of time.

If you play on Endless Mode, the penalty of failure is a minor speed bump that resets the board and gives you another run to continue your zen. Just a quick click and you're off. I was very happy with that, and as the game dug it's hooks into me I appreciated it more and more, because it enabled me to keep playing with minimal distraction. Nicely done.

The Adventure mode has some proper bespoke challenges too, and it teaches you the ropes very well.

For me these types of games tend to be hit or miss. Once I was over the basic flow learning curve with this, it was a hit. I'll be coming back to it for zen sessions as-needed.

There are many things I could say about how I feel this game could be better than it is. Some of those things I expect to get addressed via updates over time. Some not.

Yet V Rising is probably the finest survival/crafting multiplayer game I've ever touched, and it scratches a deep itch I had for a vampire game I can "live in".

The world design, bosses, NPCs, weapons and abilities all have been loved and cared for by the developers in ways that can be felt in the experience. Not everything is viable in the PvP meta, but everything feels distinct and interesting. The standard game balance is best if you embrace the vampire RP, prowl for quality blood at night, and take your time building up your castle. Don't make the mistake of overlooking the incredible PvP that is available here. It's not perfect, but it's not common to see a survival game with PvP so thoughtfully executed. I hope V Rising becomes famous for it, and acts as a beacon to steady other game developers hands when they give this genre a shot.

I'm looking forward to future updates, but I've incredibly satisfied with what I've already played.

Far more fun than you might expect for the price-point. It straddles a really pleasant balance between the accessibility of classic arcade tank games, and deeper turn-based strategic play. Low barrier to entry, but tons of upward potential for people who want to get immersed in war game strategy.

The tanks can be upgraded based on promotions they get, which they seem to get per-kill they score. It's not overburdened with unreasonable RNG checks for weapons fire/aiming, so it's always satisfying to shoot stuff. The terrain can be used effectively to create cover, ambushes, or traps. The levels have simple but surprisingly effective variety which really elevates the gameplay with fun and replayable scenarios. It's rewarding to see your maneuvers work, and I never felt cheated by some gameplay mechanic that didn't pan out the way my mind expected it to (looking at you, XCOM).

If you ever get the chance to play this in multiplayer with friends, you'll find it makes a really compelling and addictive party game which just about anyone can enjoy.

If you never get the chance to play the multiplayer, then I still definitely think you're getting more value from it than the asking price. It's a great go-to for quick/fun tank strategy sessions, but don't be surprised if you get sucked in for a few hours more each time you load it up.