Info about Card-en-Ciel:

Official game description:
  
Card-en-Ciel is a JRPG take on roguelike deckbuilders, with a full story, over 300 cards each with unique characters, 50 full vocal songs, and a 6x3 playfield for strategic depth.  
Each battle will earn you new allies to add to your deck, powering up to take on the boss and advance the story.  
Freely roam around dungeons and battle the enemies you choose.  
You'll take control of Neon, a self-professed detective who specializes in crimes in full-dive VR games. When an in-development game is suddenly overrun by countless characters from other games old and new, Neon has to delve into virtual dungeons to stop them.  
Each of the over 300 cards you'll collect features a unique character from those games. They come alive with full English and Japanese voice acting, talking with their friends and foes and reacting in battle.  
Recruit powerful Muse cards who begin performing when you meet their conditions, activating unique effects to enable your most degenerate combos.  
Each Muse sings a different song, created with respect to the era and genre you would expect from their original game, with 50 vocal songs in total.  
Full content available day 1:
-----------------------------
*   Over 10 story dungeons, each with different cards to add to your deck and collect
*   10 extra difficulty levels, with new rule twists in addition to stronger enemies
*   Special "Grand Battle Dungeons" that allow you to construct a deck to challenge with
*   Over 50 random events featuring various game characters, real and imagined
*   Daily and weekly dungeon challenges with online leaderboards
*   Real-time online head-to-head battles

Release date: Oct 23, 2024

Categories: Roguelike Deckbuilder, JRPG, Grid-based Combat, Turn-based Combat, Deckbuilding, Character Collection, PvP, Endgame Content

Feature scans:
- Steam Deck: score 85; verdict: Broken; summary: The game exhibits critical stability issues on Steam Deck, with users reporting immediate crashes on startup and after updates, making it unplayable.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $10.00 - $15.00
  - Reasoning: The reviews indicate that the game is worth full price only for dedicated fans of the genre (Inti, MMBN, roguelike), while general players are advised to wait for a discount. This suggests the community considers the full price too high for the average player, and a fair price would be significantly lower, likely in the $10-15 range for a typical $20 indie title.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 67.0h
  - Story completion: 24.0h
  - Session length: 1.0h
  - Endgame: 65.0h
  - Reasoning: The 24-hour claim directly supports story completion (true ending). The 67-hour claim for all 3-star ratings indicates full game completion. The 65-hour claim for extra dungeons (including SP) supports endgame content completion. The anecdote of a 20-minute session extending to an hour provides a session length estimate.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Card-en-Ciel presents a steep learning curve and repetitive early dungeons, but players report that once the mechanics click, the game becomes deeply engaging. Persistence through the initial friction is rewarded with a unique and rewarding roguelite experience.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: The moment the game clicks
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: steep learning curve; complex layered combat systems; repetitive dungeons and layouts; slog pacing between battles; difficulty on first playthrough
  - Unlock drivers: understanding how the mechanics click together; getting past the initial learning curve; acquiring new cards and abilities
  - Conditions: willingness to stick with the game; tolerance for repetition; interest in roguelite progression; enjoyment of grinding niche play; having friends who know the game for PvP
- Player Archetypes:
  - Battle Network Nostalgist (buy)
    - Motivation: Nostalgia for Mega Man Battle Network and love for Inti Creates' style
    - Playstyle: Uses the 3x3 grid to dodge and reposition, playing like a Battle Network game
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: MMBN old player; Inti fan
    - Reference games: Mega Man Battle Network; One Step From Eden
  - Deckbuilding Optimizer (buy)
    - Motivation: Deep deckbuilding, high-score chasing, and synergistic combos
    - Playstyle: Optimizes decks, aims for high scores, experiments with synergies and solitaire combos
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: StS-like veteran; solitaire deck lover; DBG player
    - Reference games: Slay the Spire; One Step From Eden
  - Anime Vibe Seeker (sale)
    - Motivation: Aesthetic appeal, music, characters, and relaxed play
    - Playstyle: Plays by feel, ignores optimization, enjoys the presentation and story
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: anime fan; play by vibe
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Tactical Puzzle Solver (buy)
    - Motivation: Strategic depth, puzzle-like challenges, and mastering the movement/card system
    - Playstyle: Carefully weighs card usage vs movement, solves puzzle-like encounters, plans turns
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: tactics player; puzzle solver
    - Reference games: N/A


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:
- Game is fun and engaging (weight 0.38): Players consistently describe the game as fun, satisfying, and well-crafted, with engaging gameplay and good music. It is enjoyable for fans of the genre and highly recommended.
- Extensive voice acting praised (weight 0.24): The game features full voice acting for the story and all cards, which is highly praised. Every card has voice acting, and the Diva music is also highlighted as great.
- Card gameplay is fun (weight 0.17): The card play is described as fun, satisfying, and unhinged, with a unique style that makes players feel like protagonists. The card game aspect is definitely enjoyable.
- Creative deck-building roguelite (weight 0.14): The game is a creative spin on the deck-building roguelike genre, with card stacking and synergies. It is described as a fun, chaotic, and unique roguelite with good tempo and dynamism.
- Diva system adds depth (weight 0.13): The Diva system, featuring unique songs and buffs, is considered unique, interesting, and fun. It adds depth and excitement to the gameplay.
- Music is excellent (weight 0.11): The music is consistently praised as excellent, very good, and nice. Songs are highlighted as a strong point of the game.
- High-quality card game (weight 0.11): The game is considered high quality as a card game, with depth despite budget looks and flashy effects. It is surprisingly good for a first card game.
- Anime style appeals to fans (weight 0.11): The game has enough anime style, with anime girls and a feel of being an anime main character. It suits anime tastes and is appreciated by players.
- Diverse deck archetypes (weight 0.08): Many viable deck archetypes exist, with over 300 cards allowing for diverse deck building. Players appreciate the high ceilings of various archetypes.
- Charming characters (weight 0.08): Characters are described as charming, cute, and attractive. The character design is a positive aspect of the game.
- Satisfying powerful combos (weight 0.08): The game allows for powerful combos that are very satisfying. Players enjoy the awesome combo mechanics.
- Best recent Inti Creates release (weight 0.08): The game is praised as one of the best releases of Inti Creates' recent catalog, and the best work in recent years. It is highly regarded among their titles.
- Detailed fictional game settings (weight 0.08): Fictional games have detailed settings and artwork, with well-crafted in-game characters and worlds. The elaborate design is interesting to players.
- Great Slay the Spire-like game (weight 0.08): The game is a fun Slay the Spire-like card game, considered top-level among similar titles. It is great as a Slay the Spire-like experience.

Common complaints:
- Limited card removal options (weight 0.2): Multiple clusters highlight the lack of a card deletion system, making it difficult to thin the deck. Players find the removal options scarce and unstable, which negatively impacts deck-building strategy.
- Shallow and nonsensical story (weight 0.15): The story is described as dumb, cliche, and nearly absent, with characters lacking depth. The narrative is not a focal point and fails to engage players.
- Turn-based scoring penalizes players (weight 0.14): The scoring system is tied to turn count, penalizing players who take longer, which feels strict and annoying. This discourages high-score play and adds unnecessary pressure.
- Repetitive gameplay loop (weight 0.12): Players frequently report that the game becomes repetitive very quickly, with the core experience lacking variety. This is a common complaint that suggests the gameplay loop needs more depth or variation.
- Post-update startup crashes (weight 0.1): The game fails to start or freezes after an update, preventing players from accessing the game entirely. This is a critical technical issue that blocks gameplay.
- Final battle lacks card synergy (weight 0.09): The 'overall battle' mode combines nearly 300 cards with no synergy, making the final encounter feel chaotic and unstrategic. This undermines the deck-building experience.
- Fan service may alienate players (weight 0.09): The game is described as very fan servicey with cliche anime-style characters that may not appeal to everyone. This stylistic choice could limit the game's audience.
- Card search functionality is flawed (weight 0.06): The search feature does not work on all cards in the deck, making it difficult to find specific cards. This UI issue hampers deck management.
- UI has major problems (weight 0.06): The user interface is lacking and has major problems, which likely contributes to difficulties in navigation and card management. This affects the overall usability of the game.
- High difficulty requires excessive luck (weight 0.06): At higher difficulties, the game discards half the hand every turn, making success dependent on luck in both draws and hand order. This feels unfair and frustrating.
- No music appreciation mode (weight 0.06): There is no feature to listen to the game's music outside of gameplay. Players who enjoy the soundtrack are unable to access it directly.

Gameplay feedback:
- Roguelike deckbuilder with card combat (weight 0.74): The game is consistently described as a roguelike card game or deckbuilder, often compared to Slay the Spire. It combines turn-based card battles with roguelite progression and dungeon crawling elements.
- Movement-based card play (weight 0.29): Cards are used not only for attacks but also for movement on a grid, allowing players to dodge enemy attacks and reposition. This adds a tactical layer to the card combat system.
- Muse and Diva support systems (weight 0.24): Muses and Diva characters provide buffs and support during battles, often activated by fulfilling specific conditions. They add a layer of synergy and strategic depth to the gameplay.
- Voice acting and singing (weight 0.23): Cards and characters have voice lines, and the Diva system features singing that provides buffs. This audio element enhances the game's atmosphere and player engagement.
- Deck building and synergies (weight 0.23): The game emphasizes building combos and synergies within a card pool, with a focus on deck compression and strategic card selection. This appeals to players who enjoy deep deck-building mechanics.
- Turn-based scoring system (weight 0.23): The game evaluates player performance based on the total number of turns taken, with higher ranks for fewer turns. This scoring system encourages efficient play and strategic planning.
- Overall battle and Total War modes (weight 0.2): Special modes like 'Overall Battle' and 'Total War' combine cards from previous stages or use all collected cards, offering large-scale battles with hundreds of cards. These modes provide variety and endgame content.
- Story mode and progression (weight 0.13): The game includes a story mode with characters and a progression system, where difficulty increases as the player advances. This provides a structured single-player experience.
- QTE elements can be disabled (weight 0.12): The game includes QTE (quick time events) that can be turned off, making it accessible to players who prefer a more traditional turn-based experience.
- Grid-based combat with attack indicators (weight 0.11): The battlefield is a grid with attack indicators, and enemies can interrupt during the player's turn. This requires careful positioning and timing to avoid damage.
- Wildcard and cheat code mechanics (weight 0.1): The game features a wildcard mechanic to add specific cards to hand and cheat codes that can strengthen cards mid-battle. These mechanics offer flexibility and experimentation.
- Challenge mode after story (weight 0.06): A challenge mode unlocks after completing the story, providing additional difficulty and replayability for experienced players.
- PvP mode available (weight 0.06): A PvP mode is unlocked after the third story dungeon, allowing players to compete against each other. This adds a competitive multiplayer aspect to the game.
- Random deck archetypes per dungeon (weight 0.06): Deck archetypes are chosen randomly per dungeon, and each run starts from the initial deck, emphasizing roguelike replayability and adaptability.
- Inti Creates crossover (weight 0.06): The game is a card game that fuses Inti Creates IPs, appealing to fans of the developer's other franchises.
- Standardized card abilities (weight 0.06): Cards have standardized abilities and can be used for both battle and movement, making them versatile and easy to understand.
- Higher difficulties unlock with ranks (weight 0.06): Higher ranks unlock higher difficulties in the same dungeon, providing a progression ladder for skilled players.
- Interesting and many mechanics (weight 0.06): The game is noted for having many interesting mechanics, though specific details are vague. This suggests a complex and feature-rich gameplay experience.
- Large decks and depth (weight 0.06): The game supports large decks and offers depth in card interactions, appealing to players who enjoy complex and lengthy deck-building.

Performance notes:
- Game crashes frequently (weight 0.14): Multiple reports indicate the game crashes, freezes, or fails to start. These issues occur both during gameplay and after updates, with some crashes being unresponsive to compatibility mode settings.
- Game fails to start (weight 0.07): The game won't start after an update, and the window flashes and closes without an error message. This prevents players from launching the game entirely.
- Screen freezes with audio (weight 0.07): The game screen freezes while sound continues, and the game has frozen twice in one session. This suggests a rendering or synchronization issue that disrupts gameplay.
- Infinite loading screen (weight 0.04): The game is stuck loading forever, preventing players from reaching the main menu or gameplay. This is a critical blocker that makes the game unplayable.
- Compatibility mode ineffective (weight 0.04): Compatibility mode options do not fix the crash, indicating that the issue is not related to system compatibility settings. This suggests a deeper technical problem that requires a patch.
- Controller input display bug (weight 0.04): The game incorrectly shows mouse and keyboard controls even when a controller is used. This misleads players about the active input method and can cause confusion during gameplay.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for anime and card fans (weight 0.3): The game is highly recommended for fans of anime art, roguelike card games, and those seeking a Mega Man Battle Network substitute. It appeals to players who enjoy card battlers and roguelites.
- Great for strategy and combos (weight 0.27): The game is praised for its strategic depth, allowing players to figure out best strategies and enjoy crazy combos. It's recommended for those who like thinking, improvisation, and solitaire-style deck building.
- Try demo before buying (weight 0.22): Multiple reviewers strongly advise trying the demo first, noting it offers several hours of free play with save transfer to the full version. This helps players decide if the game fits their taste before committing.
- Buy on sale if unsure (weight 0.15): Several reviewers suggest waiting for a sale if you're not a core fan, as the game may not be worth the full price for everyone. It's recommended to buy at a discount if interested in this type of game.
- Excellent gameplay highly recommended (weight 0.14): The game is highly recommended due to its excellent gameplay, with some calling it one of the best card games they've seen. It's strongly recommended for fans of the genre.
- Not for anime-cringe sensitive (weight 0.11): Some reviewers caution that the game features high amounts of anime cringe and high-pitched voice acting, which may put off players who dislike such content. It's recommended to be comfortable with 'weeb' elements before purchasing.
- Inti Creates fans buy full price (weight 0.11): Fans of Inti Creates can buy the game at full price without loss, while non-fans should wait for a sale. The game is only worthwhile for Inti Creates enthusiasts.
- Achievement hunting is hard (weight 0.11): Achievement hunters should be cautious, as hunting achievements is much harder than just enjoying the story. High score play is not recommended by some reviewers.
- Not for Battle Network expectations (weight 0.07): Players expecting a game similar to Mega Man Battle Network may be disappointed, as the game differs in mechanics. However, with an open mind, it offers a fun experience.
- Not for ITB-like expectations (weight 0.06): The game is not for those looking for an Into the Breach-like game, as it has different mechanics. It's recommended for players who enjoy one-time encounters over fixed templates.
- Avoid if disliking grinding (weight 0.06): The game may not be for players not into the grinding niche play and playing for achievements and future dungeons. It's recommended for those who enjoy dungeon crawling and RPG elements.
- Play through third dungeon (weight 0.04): Reviewers recommend playing until the 3rd dungeon, at which point the game fully unlocks all its features. This helps players experience the full game before judging it.
- Worth trying for unique experience (weight 0.04): The game is worth trying because the experience is not possible in normal deck-building games. It offers unique mechanics and synergies.
- Be careful with button presses (weight 0.03): One reviewer warns to be careful not to press buttons too quickly, possibly due to UI or gameplay issues. This is a minor caution for players.
- Listen to card voices (weight 0.03): A reviewer recommends listening to the card voices, suggesting they add to the experience. This is a positive note for audio appreciation.
- Buy soundtrack DLC if liked (weight 0.03): If you like the game, it's recommended to buy the soundtrack DLC. This enhances the overall experience for fans.
- Recommended for puzzle and shogi lovers (weight 0.03): The game is recommended for puzzle and shogi lovers, indicating strategic depth. It appeals to players who enjoy thinking and tactical challenges.

Other player notes:
- Battle Network comparisons dominate (weight 0.44): Many reviews compare the game to Mega Man Battle Network, noting similarities in gameplay and inspiration, though some emphasize it plays differently or is its own game.
- Inti Creates crossover celebration (weight 0.4): The game features numerous characters and cameos from Inti Creates' previous works, including Gunvolt and Gal Gun, making it an all-star showcase of the developer's IPs.
- High-quality soundtrack and voice acting (weight 0.31): The game includes many original songs and full voice acting for cards, with a soundtrack DLC available, enhancing the overall experience.
- Abundant content and updates (weight 0.29): Reviewers highlight the large amount of content, including free post-launch updates, new dungeons, cards, and modes, providing substantial value for the price.
- Slay the Spire comparisons (weight 0.24): The game is frequently compared to Slay the Spire as a card-based roguelike, with some noting differences in the SP system and movement mechanics, while others find it less similar.
- Story adds purpose (weight 0.14): The game features a story that gives context to the gameplay, though some note it is not the main focus and is classic in nature.
- High price but justified (weight 0.12): Some reviewers feel the price is high, but many agree the content volume, voice acting, and songs justify the cost.
- Language support and localization (weight 0.1): The game supports Simplified Chinese, Japanese, and English, but there are some translation issues reported.
- Fictional game references (weight 0.1): The game includes fictional games and worlds, such as 'Love Above the Rooftops' and 'TACTICAL COMMUNICATION', with lore descriptions and design documents.
- Online features and PvP (weight 0.09): The game includes online battle mode and rankings, but PvP is not required for achievements after a change.
- Steep learning curve (weight 0.08): The game has a steep learning curve, with a tutorial added later to help players understand card usage and mechanics.
- Not a mobile money grab (weight 0.08): The game is praised as a single-player experience rather than a mobile monetization scheme, with a demo save transfer feature.
- Yu-Gi-Oh! combo comparisons (weight 0.07): The game's combo-based deck building and final battle are compared to Yu-Gi-Oh!, with some noting the experience of taking enemy heroines into the deck.
- Difficulty and achievements (weight 0.07): Achievements can take a hundred hours, and high difficulty modes are concerning, but updates have relaxed score criteria for lower difficulties.
- Fanservice and anime style (weight 0.07): The game is described as extremely 'weeb' with fanservice and anime-style characters, and the home screen resembles a galge, requiring caution in public.
- Not popular but quality (weight 0.07): The game is not widely popular, possibly due to forced no-SL, but reviewers still find it well-crafted and enjoyable.
- Pre-order and DLC (weight 0.07): Pre-ordering included a free small game but was disadvantaged by a launch discount, and the game is a DLC on Steam.
- Developer's first card game (weight 0.06): Inti Creates, known for side-scrolling action games, ventures into card games for the first time, with mixed quality expectations.
- Post-ending content volume (weight 0.06): After updates, post-ending content is about the same volume as the main game, offering extensive replayability.
- Special cards and modes (weight 0.05): Certain cards are obtainable only from specific stages, and there are challenge and daily card types, adding variety.

Emotions:
- Enjoyment (weight 0.22): Players enjoy the fun card gameplay, strategic depth, and the unique Diva system where anime girls sing during card play. The game's music, card art, and voice acting are highlights, and the ability to build powerful combos and synergies provides a satisfying and engaging experience.
- Frustration (weight 0.2): Frustration stems from poor translation, confusing mechanics, and a lack of deck-building control, such as the inability to delete cards or skip card picks, leading to bloated decks. Technical issues like crashes, freezes, and forced tutorials, along with overly difficult challenges and a scoring system that discourages fighting, add to the frustration.
- Disappointment (weight 0.08): Disappointment arises from repetitive gameplay, a shallow story, and a lack of features like a music player or appreciation mode. The limited card pool, inability to edit decks in certain modes, and a scoring system that conflicts with fun deck-building also contribute to the letdown.
- Excitement (weight 0.08): Excitement is driven by the crossover of Inti Creates franchises, full voice acting, and the excellent music. The Diva system and chain combos create thrilling moments, and the promise of future updates and new content adds to the anticipation.
- Appreciation (weight 0.08): Players appreciate the care and effort put into the game, including the dynamic combat, voiced card dialogue, and compelling story. The game's polish, rich content, and unique mechanics are highly valued, making it one of the best from Inti Creates.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.06): Satisfaction comes from the satisfying combos, the break system, and the ability to create powerful synergies. Overcoming challenging situations and building overpowered decks provide a sense of accomplishment, and the Diva system adds to the rewarding gameplay.
- Amusement (weight 0.02): Amusement is found in the game's self-aware humor, such as the ironic voice acting and the over-the-top otaku sensibility. The absurd situations created by extreme deck optimization and the cartoonish main character's relationship provide comedic moments.
- Annoyance (weight 0.02): Annoyance is caused by the error flow hindering development, blurry visuals, and slow forced animations. The random Diva forcing unwanted decks, strict scoring system, and summons blocking the way also contribute to the irritation.
- Interest (weight 0.01): Interest is sparked by the lore and concepts behind the in-game fictional games, which are genuinely interesting. The unique combination of hack-and-slash roguelike and card battle mechanics also piques curiosity.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Boredom results from the repetitive nature of fights and the game getting repetitive quickly. The scoring system that makes fighting more battles less rewarding also reduces engagement.
- Addiction (weight 0.01): The game is engaging and hard to stop playing, with dangerously addictive gameplay. The combination of card play, music, and progression keeps players hooked.
- Fun (weight 0.01): The card gameplay and building combos are fun, and the genre-appropriate songs and Muse vocal tracks enhance the experience. The overall gameplay is enjoyable and engaging.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): The game exceeded expectations, offering depth despite its budget looks. It was not what the reviewer expected, but in a positive way.
- Love (weight 0.01): Players love the game for its great gameplay, style, aesthetics, and characters. The effort and respect put into Inti Creates' series are appreciated, and the game is a beloved turn-based version of MMBN with unique mechanics.
- Regret (weight 0.01): Regret stems from the game being ruined by a fatal flaw, the lack of an appreciation mode, and the crossover being wasted on IPs the reviewer hasn't played. The potential was high but not fully realized.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger is caused by the final battle forcing nearly 300 cards with no synergy against a 10,000 HP boss, and enemies dealing 40 damage with full-area attacks, making movement useless. Deleting the game didn't allow reverting to an unsaved state, wasting demo time.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Enthusiasm is driven by the lively music and excellent character-card interactions. The game is an awesome deckbuilder and a dark horse winner, being crazy engaging and creative.
- Dissatisfaction (weight 0.01): Dissatisfaction arises from the lack of repeatable content after completion, the tedious and restrictive high-score mode, and the result being penalized by turn count.
- Discomfort (weight 0.01): Discomfort comes from the main menu interaction with the main heroine being more uncomfortable than enjoyable, and the dialogue and voices can be cringey or uncomfortable.
- Dislike (weight 0.01): Dislike is due to the art style not being good and the neon effects being weird, along with half-baked action elements.}