05-11-2019, 11:25 AM
The Weekender: Infinity Edition
<div style="margin: 5px 5% 10px 5%;"><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/the-weekender-infinity-edition.jpg" width="1920" height="1001" title="" alt="" /></div><div><div><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/the-weekender-infinity-edition.jpg" class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div>
<p>So I noticed the other day that lately we’ve been pretty much only doing reviews, guide refreshes and then The Weekender lately – sorry about that. Trying to keep up with the game releases can sometimes take up a lot of manpower and budget, and I’m trying to take more care as to what features and guides we roll-out. I still believe in things like our ‘Best Games’ guides, but we’re at the point now where the usual suspects are covered.</p>
<p>Plus, reviews are still incredibly popular and our reviews indices get a lot of attention year-round, so we can’t neglect the library no matter how many rogue-like card games that aren’t <em>Slay the Spire</em> release. But still, if you have anything specific you want us to take a look at, I’m always open to suggestions!</p>
<p>Meanwhile, in the world of mobile gaming…</p>
<h2>Out Now</h2>
<h3>Shards of Infinity (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/shards-of-infinity/id1450361296?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.templegatesgames.ShardsAndroid&hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>) <em>– Full Review Coming Soon!</em></h3>
<p>The headliner for this week is the digital adaptation of <em>Shards of Infinity</em>. This is a new deck-building card-game that’s the spiritual successor to <em>Ascension</em>. It’s not Playdek who’s brought this game to mobile though, but Temple Gate Games.</p>
<p>We’re working on a dedicated review for the mobile version, but if you want some initial impressions on how it plays PT-regular Matt Thrower actually did a <a href="http://bit.ly/2GQF7ml" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">write up for our sister website Strategy Gamer</a> based on the game’s Early Access period on Steam.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/eLaXJ9ebQQM?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h3>Morels: Foray (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/morels/id1396126409?mt=8&at=11l7vY" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mossbark.morels" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>) (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/morels/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Base Game Review</a>)</h3>
<p><em>Morels</em> (also known as <em>Fungi</em> in the table-top world) was a fun and friendly two-player card game where you had to try and score the most victory points by cooking up the best meal possible with ingredients found on the forest floor. Despite being a competent digital experience, it had limited replay value… until now!</p>
<p><em>Foray</em> is an expansion that can be purchased via IAP that adds 13 new types of cards that include items, weather and characters:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Weather cards (Rainstorm and Forest Fire) can decimate existing forests or spring up new ones, Items (Map, Shiitake Log) grant power with proper timing, Events (Farmers Market, Eureka!) enable big plays, Characters (Thief, Farm Girl, Eccentric, Chef, Morchella) allow you to interact with the forest and your opponent(s) in new ways, and new mushrooms (Lion’s Mane, Panther Cap) expand your foraging options in the ever beckoning forest.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Hopefully this breathes a new lease of life into the game!</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/s8T0bb_kspI?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h3>The Quest – Hero of Lukomorye 4 (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/the-quest-hero-of-lukomorye4/id1462570458?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=hu.redshift.thequestexpb&hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>)</h3>
<p>We quite enjoyed <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-the-quest-hd/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Quest</em></a> when we reviewed it, although we haven’t been that great at keeping up with the expansions released since then. There have been 11 stand-alone adventures released for the game since, including three titled <em>‘Heroes of Lukomoreye’</em>.</p>
<p>Like the others, the fourth <em>Hero of Lukomorye</em> adventure can be played as stand-alone experience of unlocked for your main <em>The Quest</em> app.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/TH30tM_zdfI?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h2>Updates</h2>
<h3>Kingdom Rush: Vengeance (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kingdom-rush-vengeance/id1248033433?mt=8&at=11l7vY" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ironhidegames.android.kingdomrush4&hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>) (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/kingdom-rush-vengeance/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Review</a>)</h3>
<p>Ironhide have released the Frozen Nightmare update for <em>Kingdom Rush: Vengeance</em>. A new enemy in the form of the Ice Queen has appeared, with all new snow-covered maps and a new army that must be defeated. I’d tell you more, but I can’t find a change-log to save my life so you’ll just have to find it out for yourselves.</p>
<h3>Rome: Total War – Barbarian Invasion (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rome-total-war-barbarian-invasion/id1183898700?mt=8&at=11l7vY" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS Universal</a>) (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-rome-total-war-barbarian-invasion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Review</a>)</h3>
<p>Feral Interactive have pulled off some great ports of Rome: Total War’s various iterations. The Barbarian Invasion expansion was ported to iPads in 2017 and now, two years later, its finally gone Universal. At no extra cost the game has been updated and players can download the game on their phone, with cloud sync on saves.</p>
<p>Further to that, Feral announced that the android version will be available in June.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/3v0hQG6AvYQ?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h2>Sales</h2>
<p>Looking at the games currently on sale, seems like only iOS users get anything half-decent on the cheap this week:</p>
<ul>
<li><em>Holy Potatoes! We’re in Space?</em> (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-holy-potatoes-were-in-space/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Review</a>)</li>
<li><em>Holy Potatoes! A Weapon Shop?!</em> (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-holy-potatoes-a-weapon-shop/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Review</a>)</li>
<li><em>Baldur’s Gate 2: Enhanced Edition</em> (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-baldurs-gate-ii-enhanced-edition/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Review</a>)</li>
</ul>
<p><em>Seen anything else you liked? Played any of the above? Let us know in the comments!</em></p>
</div>
<div style="margin: 5px 5% 10px 5%;"><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/the-weekender-infinity-edition.jpg" width="1920" height="1001" title="" alt="" /></div><div><div><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/the-weekender-infinity-edition.jpg" class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div>
<p>So I noticed the other day that lately we’ve been pretty much only doing reviews, guide refreshes and then The Weekender lately – sorry about that. Trying to keep up with the game releases can sometimes take up a lot of manpower and budget, and I’m trying to take more care as to what features and guides we roll-out. I still believe in things like our ‘Best Games’ guides, but we’re at the point now where the usual suspects are covered.</p>
<p>Plus, reviews are still incredibly popular and our reviews indices get a lot of attention year-round, so we can’t neglect the library no matter how many rogue-like card games that aren’t <em>Slay the Spire</em> release. But still, if you have anything specific you want us to take a look at, I’m always open to suggestions!</p>
<p>Meanwhile, in the world of mobile gaming…</p>
<h2>Out Now</h2>
<h3>Shards of Infinity (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/shards-of-infinity/id1450361296?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.templegatesgames.ShardsAndroid&hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>) <em>– Full Review Coming Soon!</em></h3>
<p>The headliner for this week is the digital adaptation of <em>Shards of Infinity</em>. This is a new deck-building card-game that’s the spiritual successor to <em>Ascension</em>. It’s not Playdek who’s brought this game to mobile though, but Temple Gate Games.</p>
<p>We’re working on a dedicated review for the mobile version, but if you want some initial impressions on how it plays PT-regular Matt Thrower actually did a <a href="http://bit.ly/2GQF7ml" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">write up for our sister website Strategy Gamer</a> based on the game’s Early Access period on Steam.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/eLaXJ9ebQQM?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h3>Morels: Foray (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/morels/id1396126409?mt=8&at=11l7vY" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mossbark.morels" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>) (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/morels/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Base Game Review</a>)</h3>
<p><em>Morels</em> (also known as <em>Fungi</em> in the table-top world) was a fun and friendly two-player card game where you had to try and score the most victory points by cooking up the best meal possible with ingredients found on the forest floor. Despite being a competent digital experience, it had limited replay value… until now!</p>
<p><em>Foray</em> is an expansion that can be purchased via IAP that adds 13 new types of cards that include items, weather and characters:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Weather cards (Rainstorm and Forest Fire) can decimate existing forests or spring up new ones, Items (Map, Shiitake Log) grant power with proper timing, Events (Farmers Market, Eureka!) enable big plays, Characters (Thief, Farm Girl, Eccentric, Chef, Morchella) allow you to interact with the forest and your opponent(s) in new ways, and new mushrooms (Lion’s Mane, Panther Cap) expand your foraging options in the ever beckoning forest.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Hopefully this breathes a new lease of life into the game!</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/s8T0bb_kspI?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h3>The Quest – Hero of Lukomorye 4 (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/the-quest-hero-of-lukomorye4/id1462570458?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=hu.redshift.thequestexpb&hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>)</h3>
<p>We quite enjoyed <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-the-quest-hd/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Quest</em></a> when we reviewed it, although we haven’t been that great at keeping up with the expansions released since then. There have been 11 stand-alone adventures released for the game since, including three titled <em>‘Heroes of Lukomoreye’</em>.</p>
<p>Like the others, the fourth <em>Hero of Lukomorye</em> adventure can be played as stand-alone experience of unlocked for your main <em>The Quest</em> app.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/TH30tM_zdfI?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h2>Updates</h2>
<h3>Kingdom Rush: Vengeance (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kingdom-rush-vengeance/id1248033433?mt=8&at=11l7vY" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ironhidegames.android.kingdomrush4&hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>) (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/kingdom-rush-vengeance/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Review</a>)</h3>
<p>Ironhide have released the Frozen Nightmare update for <em>Kingdom Rush: Vengeance</em>. A new enemy in the form of the Ice Queen has appeared, with all new snow-covered maps and a new army that must be defeated. I’d tell you more, but I can’t find a change-log to save my life so you’ll just have to find it out for yourselves.</p>
<h3>Rome: Total War – Barbarian Invasion (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rome-total-war-barbarian-invasion/id1183898700?mt=8&at=11l7vY" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS Universal</a>) (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-rome-total-war-barbarian-invasion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Review</a>)</h3>
<p>Feral Interactive have pulled off some great ports of Rome: Total War’s various iterations. The Barbarian Invasion expansion was ported to iPads in 2017 and now, two years later, its finally gone Universal. At no extra cost the game has been updated and players can download the game on their phone, with cloud sync on saves.</p>
<p>Further to that, Feral announced that the android version will be available in June.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/3v0hQG6AvYQ?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h2>Sales</h2>
<p>Looking at the games currently on sale, seems like only iOS users get anything half-decent on the cheap this week:</p>
<ul>
<li><em>Holy Potatoes! We’re in Space?</em> (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-holy-potatoes-were-in-space/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Review</a>)</li>
<li><em>Holy Potatoes! A Weapon Shop?!</em> (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-holy-potatoes-a-weapon-shop/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Review</a>)</li>
<li><em>Baldur’s Gate 2: Enhanced Edition</em> (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-baldurs-gate-ii-enhanced-edition/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Review</a>)</li>
</ul>
<p><em>Seen anything else you liked? Played any of the above? Let us know in the comments!</em></p>
</div>