- Addictive, deep, and balanced strategic gameplay.
- Unique blend of deckbuilding and grid-strategy.
- High level of content and overall polish.
- Meaningful interplay between mech and pilot abilities.
- Strategic card-based grid combat is central.
- Sessions can be lengthy for some players.
Verdict
Mostly positive
Summary
Positive 98% · Negative 2%. Score: 2 / 100
Positives:
- The game offers addictive, well-balanced gameplay with emergent, complex card combos and strategic depth comparable to genre-defining games. Players feel clever when discovering overpowered builds, and the game avoids the chore present in other deckbuilders. The game stands out as a top-tier roguelike deckbuilder.
- The game uniquely combines deck-building with grid-based strategy, creating a fresh and experimental experience with good pacing. Combat flow is changed by grid-based movement, requiring strategic positioning in addition to card combos. The game blends deckbuilding and turn-based tactics into a cohesive experience.
- The game has a large amount of content and polish, exceeding what is typically found in similar indie releases even well after their initial launch. The game is well-polished with great usability and user experience design.
- The interplay between mech and pilot is a highlight, with pilots modifying the mech's rules. The game features mechs (classes) divided with different pilots (subclasses), allowing for a variety of play styles. The Heavy Gunner class has a unique "overheat" mechanic where cards can be played without cost after the energy limit is reached, but they are burned and discarded.
- The game incorporates a 'priority draw' system that ensures players receive movement, attack, or summon cards when needed, reducing the chance of being stuck with unusable hands and increasing the potential for clutch plays. The game allows players to exceed the card cost limit, which is unusual for deck-building games.
Negatives:
- Individual game sessions can be lengthy, especially for new players. Also, players who prefer long-term deck building may find the game's fast-paced card acquisition and artifact system less appealing.
- The currency system can create a snowball effect, where successful runs become easier and unsuccessful runs become more difficult, potentially leading to unbalanced gameplay experiences.
- The game's price point is considered high for a deckbuilder, potentially making it inaccessible to some players. Waiting for a sale might be necessary.
- The game has localization errors that need to be fixed. This is a common issue in game development, especially when translating to multiple languages.
- Failing at the end of a long game can feel unrewarding, which is a common sentiment in roguelike games where progress can be lost.
Gameplay:
- The game blends deckbuilding, strategy, and roguelike elements on a grid-based battlefield. Players manage resources and utilize card combos to defeat enemies and prevent them from advancing, with mechanics that encourage experimentation and strategic positioning.
- The game features diverse card mechanics, including discarding cards, manipulating enemies, and creating powerful combos. Players can experiment with niche interactions and various builds, such as melee combat, ranged shooting, and card throwing.
- Enemies advance towards the player's area, and if they remain there, they inflict 'Doom.' Accumulating too much 'Doom' results in a game over, adding a sense of urgency to the gameplay.
- The game incorporates rewind mechanics, such as Chrono tokens, allowing players to undo actions and replay turns. This feature provides opportunities to correct mistakes and experiment with different strategies.
- The game's card pool and available cards in a run are affected by the pack system and theme-based card sets. This system encourages players to adapt their strategies and experiment with different combinations of cards and artifacts.
Performance:
- -
No data available
Recommendations:
- The game is highly recommended for its engaging gameplay, unique style, and satisfying card-based combat. Reviewers praise its accessibility for newcomers to the genre while still offering depth for experienced players. Many consider it a top-tier indie deckbuilder and a standout in the roguelike genre.
- Reviewers advise new players to unlock content gradually. This is to prevent feeling overwhelmed by the game's complex mechanics early on, suggesting a need for better onboarding or tutorial systems.
- The reviewer expresses a desire for future updates or Steam Workshop support. This would help keep the game fresh and extend its replayability, indicating a strong interest in the game's continued development and community involvement.
- The game is compared to "Balatro" in terms of potential success. This suggests high expectations for its popularity and impact within the genre, implying a belief in its quality and innovation.
Miscellaneous:
- The small playing field gave the initial impression of a low-quality, overpriced mobile game.
- The game features a polished and appealing American cartoon art style.
- Daily challenge mode requires unlocking all characters, which can be done manually in the options.
- A single game session lasts around 40 minutes.
- The game is comparable to most deckbuilders after a year of content updates.
