HELLCARD - Bruja, the Blood Witch Review Summary

The Bruja is a fun, unique DLC addition with interesting mechanics, but she unlocks too late and the controversial health-card system makes upgrades worsen cards.

Bruja class highly fun: Multiple players find the Bruja class extremely fun to play, particularly once players adapt to its self-sacrifice playstyle. The class is repeatedly described as fun.

Unique and interesting mechanics: The new class introduces unique mechanics that players find interesting and mechanically distinct. Many highlight the novel approach to gameplay as a key strength.

Great DLC addition: The DLC is praised as a solid and valuable addition to an already great game. Players specifically call out the Witch DLC as very good with high playability and strength.

Overpowered builds and combos: Several players report powerful builds like blood-selling, retaliation, and survival shield that feel overpowered. The character can easily set up infinite combos granting huge resources.

High risk high reward: The grace-gain-or-die concept and health-as-a-resource mechanic create a thrilling high-risk, high-reward playstyle. Players enjoy the tension of risking health to gain power.

Character unlock too late: The character unlocks only after completing the first playthrough or beating three bosses, making the game unsuitable for newcomers and a paid character unusable until then.

Controversial health-card mechanic: Cards are played at the cost of health that must be healed by other cards, which can add negative statuses removed by yet other cards triggered by a counter, creating a complex and annoying loop.

Character boring and overpriced: Players find the character a bit boring and not worth the price, with very bad balance.

Upgrades worsen cards: For this class, upgrading cards makes them worse by increasing cost while reducing damage; the middle upgrade card is objectively better than the highest tier, and random upgrades often target these worsened cards, making runs unfun.

Gambling with reckoning cards: Half the cards require gambling with reckoning but the payouts are deep in upgrades that may not be reached before bricking; skipping reckoning cards bricks damage potential by floor 5-7, while taking them often causes death on floors 5-7 because they are effectively curses waiting for a payout.

Health as a resource: The Bruja class uses health as a resource, spending it on cards and restoring it through others. Players must carefully manage HP and self-inflicted wounds to survive.

Reckoning and grace mechanics: The Bruja's unique mechanic involves building up reckoning damage and gaining grace to avoid dying. This creates a high-risk, high-reward playstyle focused on self-harm.

Witch character with blood-selling: The DLC adds a Witch character who uses blood-selling mechanics and supports a self-harm wizard build. She is considered significantly stronger than the starting three characters.

Card upgrade system: Cards can be upgraded to increase cost, change damage, or unlock payouts, with random upgrades targeting specific cards. Some cards have upgrade paths like leeches to Hollow Blade.

Damage and healing card interactions: Some cards deal self-damage for strong effects, while others provide healing or generate block. Cards like Teeth Necklace can heal, and damage can be based on missing health.

DLC ownership not recognized: A player reports that purchased DLC is not being detected, resulting in the associated character being unavailable or invisible. This suggests an entitlement or content-loading issue tied to DLC ownership.

Bruja class highly recommended: Multiple players recommend trying the Bruja class and the self-harm wizard build. They also dismiss complaints about self-damaging cards as a skill issue.

DLC recommended for strength and playability: Some players highly recommend the DLC, citing its high playability and strong builds. Others advise against buying it, but the positive feedback is specific.

Mixed overall recommendations: While some players highly recommend the game, others do not recommend it due to poor class design and overall game design issues. Purchase advice is also conditional on character availability.

Recommendations for co-op play: Players recommend the game especially when played with friends, although solo play is possible. Co-op is highlighted as a strong point.

Not for newcomers or specific heroes: Feedback indicates the game is not suitable as a starting point for newcomers. Additionally, one hero is not recommended, especially due to a final boss that limits cards played per turn.

Complex-Class Build Experimenter: Tests complex character mechanics, tries risky self-damage builds, and uses singleplayer companion mode to experiment. Motivation: Mastering a demanding class and exploring unconventional build options in PvE. Stance: buy.

Co-op Social Explorer: Plays cooperatively with friends and eases into unfamiliar class mechanics through social play. Motivation: Having shared fun with friends while exploring a new character mechanic. Stance: buy.

Deck-Limit Design Critic: Focuses on card sequencing and dislikes bosses that cap cards played per turn. Motivation: Wants card-play freedom and fair boss design without restrictive turn limits. Stance: no buy.

Mixed reception of DLC: While one reviewer considers the DLC the best, others feel the Engineer character is more interesting or enjoy the Bruja more than the Tinkerer.

Bruja DLC balance criticized: The Bruja character is compared unfavorably to the mage class, requiring more effort for less damage and having less flexible build options than other characters.

Paid character accessibility concerns: The new character is sold as paid DLC and requires beating the game to unlock, which some players find restrictive.

Localization bug in card descriptions: Spanish localization of card descriptions is broken, though English descriptions are properly specified.

DLC includes Halloween skin: The DLC comes with a Halloween skin, as noted by a reviewer.