AustinUp

Fellowship (Early Access) Review Fellowship deeply understands what makes MMO dungeons so compelling, offering an accessible and moreish PvE experience.

"For the moment, there’s nothing quite like Fellowship. It’s clear to me that Chief Rebel ‘get it’ -- they deeply understand what makes the MMO dungeons so compelling, and what needs to be trimmed..." - @austinup.bsky.social on @playfellowship.com

YouTube video by Skill Up Austin strongly recommends: Hades II (Spoiler-Free Review)

Despite a disappointing ending, Hades II had me completely spellbound with its scope, cohesion and visual flair - once again raising the bar for one of the industry’s most consistently excellent studios. My review: youtu.be/L2BGd3x5gP4?...

Preach. Absolutely phenomenal show.

From what I’ve heard it tackles similar themes but it’s a whole different thing? Not necessary viewing imo

a colorful drawing of a man with sunglasses and a triangle in the background ALT: a colorful drawing of a man with sunglasses and a triangle in the background

Idk who needs to hear this but if you’re into anime at all, pls go watch To Be Hero X.

Creative blend of animation styles, great music, rad twist on the superhero genre, cool characters and some of the best fight scenes you’ve ever seen. S1 just wrapped and it deserves more love, imo

Finally finished Spiritfarer some 3 years after picking it up. What a profoundly beautiful game. 🛶

Very much looking forward to At Fate’s End next year.

Yooo wtf, I think Ravenswatch is the co-op roguelite I’ve always dreamed of? The storybook theme, the class designs, the ARPG-esque power-ups - damn it’s good. The design of the Romeo & Juliet characters? Genius, man 👌

I know Hades II is just around the corner, but I just wanna shout out Rogue PoP which dropped into 1.0 last month and has sadly slipped under the radar.

Absolutely S tier music with super fluid combat and traversal. Just a really cool, unique roguelite that deserves far more attention, imo.

Oh HELL yeah. I will be seated 👌

Ay thanks!

Peak is officially around the corner. What a year for indies, man 👑

Ay thanks man, appreciate the kind word

YouTube video by Skill Up Austin strongly recommends: 'Shinobi: Art of Vengeance' (Review)

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance ruuuules. I never played the originals, and tbh I find the usual metrodivania formula a bit played out at this point - but even then, this game had me hooked from start to finish with its level variety, its stellar art and S tier combat. My review: youtu.be/P8e57SvP4M0?...

The Peacemaker show is so good man what the heck

Close enough, welcome back Avatar: The Game

YouTube video by Skill Up Austin recommends: Tainted Grail - Fall of Avalon (Review)

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon! Played and finished this a little while ago but wanted to get a review out since it’s kinda slipped under the radar.

Fell off the more I played, but those first 20 hours or so were magical. A+ buildcraft and quest design imo.

Review: youtu.be/4mb_xsby7LU?...

An extra special game that deserved an extra special video.
The story of Sandfall / E33 is chock-full of valuable takeaways, but most of all… it’s incredibly inspiring. It’s already had a real impact on me personally, and I think anyone in a creative field will resonate with it just as deeply.

Absolutely banger game. Can’t wait for the full release - they’ve got something special here

Finished Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Sits comfortably in my top 5 favourite games of all time. What a top to bottom masterpiece.

YouTube video by Skill Up Wildgate has that old-school Blizzard magic (Austin's Hands-On Impressions)

Wildgate, man. It’s fun. Very fun. Moonshot Games might genuinely have a sleeper hit on their hands.

My impressions:
youtu.be/7dOYDaDuhnU?...

lol had a weird moment where I closed Guild Wars 1 and opened up the Oblivion Remake, but thought I had GW1 still open in the background because both their music is done by Jeremy Soule and sounds basically identical 🙃

YouTube video by Skill Up Austin recommends: South of Midnight (Review)

Been a bit since I shared a review on here, but finally released my review for South of Midnight which I think is sadly going under the radar.

On the gameplay front it’s nothing special - but narratively, artistically and musically it’s really stuck with me.

My review: youtu.be/vs8q6ynxlco?...

Got into the Elden Ring: Nightreign network test but my matchmaking doesn’t work

I know we’re all meme’ing on Blizzard bringing back loot boxes (agree it’s dumb) but having watched the full presentation, I’m lowkey pretty impressed? That new mode with a MOBA/CS:GO-esque item shop full of perks to mix and match genuinely feels like the shake-up I’ve been waiting so long for.

Lies of Peak is back baby 🙌

We have another returning guest on tonight's episode of Back Pocket - it's Austin from @skillup.bsky.social!

Plus, our first Pete's Party of the year...

📺 7PM AEDT | twitch.tv/back_pocket

Cheers! :)

YouTube video by Skill Up Austin recommends: Eternal Strands (Review)

Reviewed ‘Eternal Strands’ this week, had a great time! It’s a visually pretty, focussed, trimmed-back RPG with a very playful sandbox - think the giant-climbing combat of Shadow of the Colossus / Dragon’s Dogma meets Legend of Zelda-esque powers! Watch my full review here: youtu.be/lnhyG1t8bSs?...

Totally! Still waiting for a new-age co-op roguelite that really sweeps me off my feet.

Yeah I think this genre is ripe with potential, but there are precious few out there that actually deliver. Wasn’t a fan of Windblown tbh! Risk of Rain 2 and Enter The Gungeon are still the best I’ve played so far, though I’m yet to try Dungeons of Morta which looks very cool too.