Info about Quantum Protocol:

Official game description:
  
Build your deck as you go in this challenging card game. Take on multiple scenarios. Some will be quick puzzles, others will be long tests of endurance. You'll need to spend as much time planning your approach as executing it.
Change Your Deck. At Any Time.
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Adapt to any situation quickly. But be careful, enemies will adapt as well.  
Break Any System. Even the Game Itself.
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Cards are your hacking tools. With so many to choose from, no two runs will be the same.  
Behind Every Program, A Dream.
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Experience the lives of the people behind the code. Even as an unstoppable computer virus threatens to destroy the modern world, sometimes the most important problems are the ones hidden inside each of us.

Release date: Nov 4, 2020

Categories: Deckbuilding, Puzzle Solving, Roguelike, Turn-based Combat, Single-player, High Difficulty


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $10.00
  - Reasoning: Reviews indicate the game is often bought on sale but also recommended at full price for fans. One review explicitly mentions a discounted price of 36 yuan (approx. $5), and another calls it the cheapest in a double-digit wishlist, implying a very low base price. Combined with the sentiment that the game offers high value, the community perceives a fair base-game price in the $5–$10 range.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: 7.4h
  - Session length: 0.3h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The first evidence directly provides a precise story completion time of 7.4 hours. The second and third evidence indicate typical single-play session lengths: story stages are about 10 minutes (0.17 hours), while dungeon battles range from 10 to 20 minutes (0.17–0.33 hours), lending a representative session length of 15 minutes (0.25 hours). No reliable data is available for full game completion or endgame content completion, so those metrics are set to null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game features a lengthy tutorial and story section that many find tedious, but after completing these, the game opens up into an engaging and addictive roguelike mode, becoming truly fun.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: The roguelike mode of ascendancy
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: lengthy tutorial; steep learning curve; too many text boxes; repetitious early levels; tedious puzzle section; difficulty spike
  - Unlock drivers: completing story missions; overcoming the learning curve; reaching the postgame; unlocking the ascendancy mode
  - Conditions: tolerate lengthy tutorial; persist through teaching stages; learn all card mechanics; adapt to increasing difficulty; complete the story mode
- Player Archetypes:
  - Hardcore Card Puzzle Solver (buy)
    - Motivation: To solve intricate card-based puzzles and master a deep, asymmetric deckbuilding system that rewards strategic planning and execution.
    - Playstyle: Methodical, analytical, and deliberate. They carefully manage hand resources, track enemy timers, and optimize each turn to solve the puzzle-like encounters.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: ruthless card machine; card game enthusiast
    - Reference games: Yu-Gi-Oh!; Legends of Runeterra; Slay the Spire; Gwent: Thronebreaker
  - Casual Experimenter (sale)
    - Motivation: To discover creative and unexpected card combos in a relaxed, low-stakes environment that fits easily into multitasking sessions.
    - Playstyle: Casual, defensive, and exploratory. They experiment with different decks and strategies without focusing on optimal play or climbing difficulty ladders.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: casual; defensive oriented
    - Reference games: Vampire Survivors; Slay the Spire; Monster Train; Dicey Dungeons; One Step from Eden


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Diverse deck mechanics (weight 0.65): Each deck offers unique mechanics, strengths, and synergies, leading to vastly different playstyles and strategies. This variety ensures a fresh experience with every game.
- Beautiful character art (weight 0.44): The character illustrations are detailed, appealing, and of high quality, with full body portraits for multiple characters. The art style is a major highlight.
- Deep strategic gameplay (weight 0.44): The gameplay is engaging, fresh, well-balanced, and highly strategic. It offers complex mechanics that require thoughtful decision-making.
- Great UI and sound (weight 0.42): The user interface, visual effects, background music, and sound design are consistently rated as excellent. They enhance the overall gaming experience.
- Unique puzzle-deckbuilder hybrid (weight 0.38): The game blends card game and puzzle elements with an always-your-turn mechanic, offering a novel and engaging experience. This unique system sets it apart.
- High-quality card game (weight 0.38): The game is praised as an exquisite, deep, and well-designed card game that is challenging and cerebral. It appeals strongly to card game enthusiasts.
- Rewarding high difficulty (weight 0.27): The game is challenging but rewards careful planning and strategy, giving a great sense of achievement after completing difficult levels. Difficulty settings are adjustable.
- Excellent Japanese translation (weight 0.17): The Japanese localization is flawless, with natural phrasing and no awkwardness. Even emoticons are properly adapted, showing great care.
- Chess deck strategy (weight 0.16): The chess deck relies on skill and positioning rather than random card draws, offering a reliable and rewarding playstyle. It is recommended for beginners.
- Diverse cards and interactions (weight 0.1): Cards have diverse abilities, special triggers, and deep interactions, many of which are familiar to TCG players. This adds depth to the strategy.
- Effective tutorial (weight 0.09): The tutorial is well-designed and teaches the game's mechanics effectively, helping players learn the ropes smoothly. It eases players into complex systems.
- Varied runs with randomness (weight 0.09): Random enemy drops and card draws create varied runs, increasing replayability. Each playthrough feels different.
- Queen deck beginner-friendly (weight 0.09): The queen deck is powerful and easy to use, making it great for beginners. It provides a strong foundation for new players.
- Crossover decks well-integrated (weight 0.09): Crossover decks are well-designed and integrate smoothly into the game, adding variety without feeling forced.

Common complaints:
- Very high difficulty (weight 0.79): Many reviews highlight the game's extreme difficulty, especially for casual players and card game beginners. The steep learning curve, punishing mistakes, and sudden difficulty spikes create a frustrating experience.
- Bland and simple story (weight 0.58): Players consistently describe the story as bland, simple, and uninteresting. The visual novel segments are considered skippable and lack depth, with shallow characters and no emotional engagement.
- High entry barrier for newcomers (weight 0.58): The game is not beginner-friendly, requiring prior card game experience. New players are overwhelmed by the complex mechanics, numerous keywords, and lack of clear tutorials, making the initial experience very difficult.
- Missing undo and save functions (weight 0.48): A frequent complaint is the lack of an undo button and proper save system during battles. One mistake can ruin long runs with no way to recover, forcing players to restart from the beginning.
- Unbalanced deck strengths (weight 0.46): There is a significant imbalance between decks, with some decks (like the Chess deck) being much stronger and easier to use, while others feel underpowered or overly complex. This limits strategic variety.
- Long battles without save points (weight 0.44): Battles, especially in advanced modes and the final dungeon, are extremely long (sometimes over an hour) with no save or checkpoint. A single mistake can force a full restart, wasting considerable time.
- Punishing mistake mechanics (weight 0.38): One wrong move can lead to instant death or a cascade of failures, wasting significant progress. This design is considered unforgiving and frustrating rather than challenging or rewarding.
- Complex and unclear card effects (weight 0.36): Card effects are often overly complex, with long text descriptions and missing keyword explanations. This makes it hard for players to understand and remember card interactions, especially for newcomers.
- Poor visual novel execution (weight 0.3): The visual novel elements are lackluster, featuring shallow characters, no expression variations, no CGs, and a bare-bones story. This disappoints players who expected more from the narrative aspect.
- Limited deckbuilding freedom (weight 0.3): The game restricts deckbuilding, offering prebuilt decks with little room for customization. This makes the game feel more like a puzzle game than a true deckbuilder, frustrating players who enjoy experimentation.
- Tedious tutorial and puzzle sections (weight 0.2): The tutorial is lengthy and tedious, with excessive reading that demotivates players. Puzzle sections are also described as frustrating, with some solutions feeling like trial-and-error.
- Unbalanced difficulty pacing (weight 0.2): The difficulty curve is inconsistent, with sudden spikes after the tutorial or in specific boss fights. This disrupts the flow and can lead to frustration, as players feel unprepared for sudden challenges.
- No Chinese language support (weight 0.17): The lack of Chinese localization is a significant barrier for Chinese-speaking players, making it difficult for them to understand the game's complex mechanics and story.
- Overwhelming character and deck introduction (weight 0.17): Players feel overwhelmed by the rapid introduction of many unique character decks and mechanics, especially at the start. This adds to the already steep learning curve.
- Short total game content (weight 0.12): Despite the high difficulty, the main story is relatively short, and the overall content is not large. This may leave players wanting more, especially given the steep learning curve.
- No reward or progression system (weight 0.09): There is no meaningful progression or reward system; winning simply advances to the next stage with no permanent benefits. This reduces the sense of accomplishment and motivation to continue.
- Technical errors and save corruption (weight 0.09): Technical issues such as save file corruption and game settings resetting have been reported, undermining player progress and trust in the game's stability.
- Repetitive enemy variety (weight 0.05): The game features limited enemy variety, making encounters feel repetitive over time. This reduces the long-term engagement and strategic interest.

Gameplay feedback:
- Deep deckbuilding card mechanics (weight 0.76): The game is a mechanically deep deckbuilding card game with roguelike elements. Players build decks to defeat bosses and unlock new components, with a focus on novel deck designs and turn-based tactical combat.
- Multiple distinct deck archetypes (weight 0.5): Several reviews highlight multiple deck archetypes such as Queen, Idol, and Fruit, each requiring different tactics and thinking. This provides varied playstyles and significant replayability.
- Puzzle-like logic gameplay (weight 0.33): The game is often described as a puzzle-like card game or logic puzzle with preset decks. It focuses more on solving puzzles and board/tempo control than on traditional deckbuilding, making it a unique hybrid.
- Card game with strategic depth (weight 0.29): The game is a card game with strategy, deck management, and puzzle elements. It offers a mix of tactical combat and logical puzzle-solving.
- Character-specific base decks (weight 0.24): Players choose characters with different base decks that have strong individuality and unique synergies. Each character starts with a universal base deck but has distinct characteristics that influence gameplay.
- Roguelike elements and modes (weight 0.17): The game includes roguelike elements such as a Story Mode and an Ascendancy roguelike mode. These modes add complexity and replayability through procedural challenges and character progression.
- Chess deck mechanics (weight 0.17): One of the deck types is a Chess deck that uses chess pieces, and the Queen system is based on chess. This unique mechanic integrates chess strategy into the card game.
- Mid-run deck editing (weight 0.17): Players can control what goes into their deck and upgrade cards during a match. Mid-encounter deck editing enables dynamic strategy adjustments while playing.
- Visual novel storytelling (weight 0.17): The game includes visual novel elements and segments for storytelling. This blends card game mechanics with narrative-driven visual novel sequences.
- Strategic deck management focus (weight 0.16): The game emphasizes deck management and timing, with deck rotation and strategic management being core to success. Cards determine the overall strategy.
- No card cost countdown system (weight 0.14): The game features no card cost; instead, enemies have a countdown system for their actions. Every move ticks a timer, adding a strategic pressure element to each turn.
- Card placement and positioning (weight 0.14): Gameplay involves card placement and positioning on a board, combining card-based mechanics with spatial strategy. This card puzzler type differs from standard deckbuilders.
- Random card drops for customization (weight 0.1): Defeating enemies drops random cards that can be used to reset and modify the deck during a match. This allows on-the-fly deck customization and adaptation to different challenges.
- Health tied to deck size (weight 0.1): Health is based on the number of cards in the deck. This creates a direct trade-off between maintaining a large deck for survivability and a smaller deck for consistency.
- Predicted enemy actions (weight 0.09): Enemy actions are fully visible and predictable, defined by their cards. This allows players to plan their moves around known enemy behavior.
- Single-player strategy game (weight 0.09): The game is a single-player card game focused on strategy, not multiplayer. It offers a dedicated solo experience with deep mechanics.
- No save roguelike campaign (weight 0.09): Described as a roguelike deckbuilder with no save or a campaign mode. This may indicate a lack of mid-run save functionality, adding to the challenge.
- Unlockable deck types per character (weight 0.09): Each character has multiple deck types unlockable via mastery points, ranging from straightforward to tricky. This provides progression and customization.
- Puzzle-like stages with preset decks (weight 0.09): Each stage uses different characters and decks with unique constraints, some being puzzle-like with pre-built decks. This adds variety to the gameplay.
- Unique decks and challenging difficulty (weight 0.09): Reviews mention unique decks and a challenging difficulty, with character-specific deck mechanics that vary the challenge level.

Performance notes:
- Save file corruption bug (weight 0.07): A bug corrupts save files, causing players to lose their progress. This is a critical issue that can make the game unplayable for those affected.
- Settings resetting on restart (weight 0.06): Game settings are reset to defaults when starting a new game, forcing players to reconfigure their preferences. This can be frustrating and disrupts the gameplay experience.

Recommendations:
- Good for experienced card gamers (weight 0.56): Many reviews recommend the game specifically for experienced card game players (Magic, Yu-Gi-Oh, Hearthstone, Shadowverse) but advise beginners to start with the Queen deck for an easier experience. It is not recommended for casual players or those new to card games.
- Not for beginners (weight 0.5): Multiple reviews state the game is not recommended for new players or beginners without card game experience, due to high difficulty and complex mechanics.
- Great for strategy card fans (weight 0.48): The game appeals to players who enjoy brain-burning strategy, complex card games, and strategic thinking. It is especially recommended for those who like thinking and puzzle-solving with card game mechanics.
- Recommended for deckbuilder enthusiasts (weight 0.44): The game is highly recommended for fans of deckbuilding and puzzle-deckbuilder hybrids, though some note it differs from traditional deckbuilders. It is considered a hidden gem worth buying for deckbuilder fans.
- Recommend Queen deck for beginners (weight 0.43): New players are advised to start with the Queen deck to clear the story more easily. This recommendation appears in multiple reviews.
- Challenging and high difficulty (weight 0.28): Many reviews emphasize the high difficulty and suggest using difficulty options to smooth the learning curve. Players are encouraged to be patient, willing to fail, and persist through challenges. The difficulty may be a turn-off for some.
- Must-play hidden gem (weight 0.23): A few reviews describe the game as a must-play or hidden gem that is very fun and worth attention, especially for players who have exhausted other titles like Slay the Spire.
- Appeals to anime art fans (weight 0.21): The game attracts players who like Japanese-style art and visuals, though some note that the gameplay uses dot art. Recommended for those attracted by the visuals.
- Not a traditional card game (weight 0.17): Some reviews caution that the game is not a traditional card game or deckbuilder, and may disappoint those expecting such. It is better suited for logic puzzle fans than pure card game enthusiasts.
- Suitable for puzzle fans (weight 0.17): The game is recommended for puzzle game fans, especially those who enjoy story-focused gameplay or logic puzzles. It is not recommended for those seeking deckbuilding synergies.
- Similar to other games (weight 0.16): The game is compared to Slay the Spire, Yu-Gi-Oh, Into the Breach, Vampire Survivors, and Balatro. It is recommended for fans of those games seeking a new challenge.
- Good for Yu-Gi-Oh players (weight 0.14): The game is specifically recommended for Yu-Gi-Oh players who are tired of complex mechanics like traps and hand traps. It offers a fresh experience for those from that background.
- Good price and value (weight 0.14): The game is considered worth the price, with high value for money and recommended for its price point.
- Not for casual play (weight 0.13): The game is not recommended for casual players or those seeking a relaxing experience. It requires commitment and thinking hard.
- Not for non-card game enthusiasts (weight 0.13): Reviews indicate the game is not recommended for players who are not card game enthusiasts or who seek a traditional card game experience. It is niche.
- Game is flawed but worthwhile (weight 0.12): Some reviews acknowledge flaws but still recommend the game for those who enjoy challenging puzzle gameplay. It is not perfect but offers a unique experience.
- Not for visual novel fans (weight 0.1): The game is not recommended for players seeking a decent story or visual novel experience. Its narrative aspects are not a strong point.
- Encouragement to persist (weight 0.09): Reviews encourage players to attempt the final challenges and not give up, emphasizing the satisfaction of overcoming the game's difficulty.
- Lack of save/undo is a flaw (weight 0.05): One review notes the game cannot be fully recommended due to the lack of save and undo features, which may be a significant drawback for some players.
- Avoid lowering difficulty (weight 0.05): One review advises against lowering the difficulty because it disrupts deck fluidity, suggesting the intended challenge is part of the experience.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.31): Players report extreme difficulty spikes, long punishing sessions with no save or undo function, and the inability to recover from a single mistake, wasting hours of progress. The steep learning curve, poor translation, and reliance on RNG for key cards compound the feeling of unfairness.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.27): Players feel deep satisfaction from mastering deck mechanics, overcoming difficult challenges through careful planning, and discovering powerful synergies. The rewarding difficulty, strategic depth, and sense of achievement after clearing tough stages are frequently praised.
- Excitement (weight 0.16): Excitement comes from innovative mechanics, endless combo potential, and the addictive 'one more run' feeling. Fresh discoveries each playthrough and the thrill of pulling off powerful synergies keep players engaged and eager to explore more.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.13): Reviewers enjoy the unique, brain-teasing gameplay, high-quality tutorials, and the combination of great art, music, and deep strategic decisions. The game is described as a fun mental exercise that rewards thoughtful play.
- Disappointment (weight 0.11): Disappointment stems from a mismatch between expectations and reality, such as expecting a standard deckbuilder but finding a puzzle game, lacking story depth, missing Chinese localization, or having limited animation and visual novel elements.
- Admiration (weight 0.06): Players admire the masterful game design, polished UI, top-tier art direction, and the developer's dedication to creating a fair yet challenging experience. The game's cohesive aesthetic and clever depth earn high respect.
- Appreciation (weight 0.04): Appreciation is expressed for the deep card design, beautiful art style, music quality, and the variety of decks with unique cross-over mechanics. Players recognize the high quality and creativity behind the game's systems.
- Love (weight 0.04): Dedicated players with over 100 hours praise the game for its puzzle-like moment-to-moment decision-making, great art, and addictive gameplay, calling it one of their all-time favorites despite its niche appeal.
- Joy (weight 0.03): Joy is triggered by the fun and addictive core gameplay, as well as pleasant surprises like a large unexpected update or the addition of Chinese translation, which greatly improved accessibility.
- Annoyance (weight 0.03): Specific mechanics like punishing timer damage, instant failure conditions on bosses, and the chess deck evoking a personal negative experience cause minor but consistent irritation.
- Caution (weight 0.02): Reviewers warn that the lack of a suspend save and punishing difficulty require careful time management and double-checking every action before committing.
- Praise (weight 0.02): Players praise well-made collaboration content, novel mechanics, and the diverse operator designs that add variety to the gameplay.
- Confusion (weight 0.02): Confusion arises from unclear level removal in updates, one-hit deaths without visible explanations, and overly fast animations that make it hard to understand what is happening.
- Interest (weight 0.02): Interest is sparked by the complex order-of-operations mechanics and the unique card integration system that requires deep strategic thinking.
- Respect (weight 0.02): Respect is earned through the interesting difficulty that challenges even veteran players and the impressive fact that the game was developed almost entirely by one person.
- Pleasant surprise (weight 0.02): Players were pleasantly surprised by discovering the game through a crossover with One Step from Eden and found it exceeded their expectations.
- Anticipation (weight 0.02): Reviewers look forward to future updates that promise improvement, more content, and new game modes, keeping them hopeful for the game's evolution.
- Pride (weight 0.01): Pride is felt when mastering the chess deck, which is seen as powerful and skill-based, relying on strategy rather than luck.
- Awe (weight 0.01): The queen deck is considered extremely powerful, leaving players in awe of its capabilities and game-changing impact.
- Impatience (weight 0.01): Impatience is caused by the lengthy tutorial and puzzle sections that delay access to the full strategic gameplay.}