Hi, I’m Daniel Thurman

Daniel reviews cyberpunk books, games, and more.

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  • Cyberpunk Card Battle Game City Wars: Tokyo Reign Released on Steam Early Access

    Last year UK game dev studio Mojo Bones teased a new game with a simple title screen for a game they were developing called City Wars: Tokyo Reign. No one knew anything about it at the time but it was notably cyberpunk looking. This got our attention as you can imagine. The game was later revealed to be a cyberpunk-themed card battle game. So our attention held.

    CITY WARS: TOKYO REIGN promises to take the genre in a bold new direction by fusing the strategy and customisation of a traditional CCG with the tactile, physicality of a block puzzler. Undertake a journey of survival as you aim to navigate NEO-TOKYO and conquer the elusive SHADOW DISTRICT.

    Press Release

    Yesterday however, City Wars: Tokyo Reign was released on Steam Early Access. This of course means that the game is still in development. But you can play it now if you fork over $24.99 for the privilege. This is Mojo Bones we’re talking about, so you’re going to get a quality game even in its incomplete state.

    In addition to the Early Access release yesterday, we learned that the City Wars: Tokyo Reign’s soundtrack was composed by synthwave artist Mitch Murder. The album was also released on Mitch Murder’s Bandcamp page for a name-your-price option. The album was also put up for free on Mitch Murder’s YouTube channel. It’s a delightful and short soundtrack that works perfect for some nice cyberpunk background music.

    I’ve definitely taken more of an interest in card battle games recently due to the sheer number of interesting ideas coming out, often from indie game studios. City Wars: Tokyo Reign is definitely one I’m interested in playing and I’ll try to get a review up once the game is out of Early Access.

  • Mitch Murder’s Soundtrack for City Wars: Tokyo Reign Released

    City Wars: Tokyo Reign is an upcoming cyberpunk card battle game by developer/publisher Mojo Bones. The game was released in Steam Early Access yesterday. While City Wars: Tokyo Reign is still in development and only has a couple of reviews on Steam, they’re mostly positive so far.

    But in addition to the game being released in early access, the City Wars: Tokyo Reign soundtrack was also released yesterday. And it is a delightfully light-hearted, albeit short, album full of 80’s-style cheesy synth pads and pulsating electronic rhythms.

    City Wars: Tokyo Reign was composed by none other than longtime synthwave guru Mitch Murder, who was tapped to work on the game’s score by Mojo Bones. Not a bad choice if you ask me. Mitch Murder’s whole schtick is 80’s cheese (in the best way possible). And what you have here is much of his typical style but with a nice cyberpunk aesthetic.

    The tracks go back and forth between relaxing, atmospheric pieces to pulsating heavy synth loops and dance beats. There are a few loungey pieces in here too, giving the whole thing an all around eclectic hybrid of various 80’s electronic styles of music.

    The City Wars: Tokyo Reign soundtrack is a fun listen if you want some nice cyberpunk background music while you hack your way through some mega-corporation’s network mainframe. Or whatever else you happen to be doing.

    The album is short with eleven tracks clocking in on an average of two minutes each. The album can be purchased from Mitch Murder’s Bandcamp page for whatever you want (you can name your price). Mitch Murder has also put the entire album up on YouTube:

    Meanwhile, City Wars: Tokyo Reign the game can be purchased on Steam Early Access. Currently the game is at a 25% discount so you can get it for $18.74. Since it’s in Early Access, the game is obviously still being developed but Mojo Bones has a pretty good track record so it’s not a huge risk if you want to get in early.