FInally, something new and unique. From time to time, I get the urge to browse through the indie collection on Steam to find something special or just different, most of the times with no luck. So last time I didn't browse, just clicked on random games to see if I can find one that grabs my attention. That's when I've stumbled upon the game collection of [i]Black Phoenix Studios[/i].
I was really considering to buy the whole bundle as it was on sale but I bought only the [i]Counter Terrorism - Minesweeper[/i] game and this one just to see if they meet my standards. I was really lucky that I bought them at the same time because the other game has really severe issues which would have made me reconsider to buy something else from [i]Black Phoenix Studios[/i]. And then, I would have missed out a card game with the most potential I've seen in the last decade (or since [i]Ants![/i], which is one of my favorite in this genre).
This game may not appeal to everyone and it's still unpolished. The hints (or the lack thereof) are not really helpful. I'm still struggling to understand some aspects of the game up to this game because of the broken English it uses. (I'm not a native speaker so usually the grammar mistakes don't bother me but sometimes it would be really helpful to understand what the heck is going on.)
The graphics are nice and appealing in a bit old-school ('90s-early '00s) card-game style which is absolutely a plus for me. The sound effects are just as nice, they are descriptive and distinctive, placed in some hierarchy which could come handy when you have to "attack" several cards and you have to pay attention to what happens. You have several different scenarios which you can unlock by finishing them one by one, all come with two game modes: normal and hard. This seems pretty default for this genre so why does this game stand out even if it's not that user friendly?
[b]1. This game is WELL-BALANCED.[/b]
Well, one of the most balanced card games I've ever played with. Always challenging, never too overpowered, even a wrong deck can be saved with a good strategy (and vice versa). The choices you make at every round will affect your whole career, not just your game against your actual opponent. One misclick could ruin your whole playthrough.
Hard mode is just a bit harder, much more challenging but way more fun! You really have to focus on every aspect of the possible outcomes. Once you've unlocked every company and tried the hard mode, you probably won't switch back.
[b]2. This game CAN BE MASTERED BY ANYBODY[/b]
Of course, it requires a certain attitude and maybe dedication but I guarantee, it's definitely worth it! Funny thing is that the main weakness of this game became it's best feature for me (like a hidden puzzle), I had to figure out what the heck is going on, what do those labels and numbers on the cards mean, how do I attack, etc. But the engine and the rules of the game are thought out very well so this is one of the few games that you can master on the spot with a linear "learning curve" without any tutorial. The progress of this learning is not just fun but made this game addictive, at least for me.
[b]3. This game is FULL OF POTENTIAL[/b]
There are several fields where you can try to be better in this game. For instance, once you've unlocked all companies and finished the scenarios in normal and hard mode, you'll probably realize that there were some special patterns that you've followed when you were choosing an opponent. What if you choose another type of company as an opponent? For me, basically I lose. It's not that they are overpowered but you'll need a totally different strategy then what you're used to.
[b]4. This game is UNIQUE[/b]
Although the basic engine is nothing unusual, the overall image makes it fresh and new. If I should mention a similar game, only [i]Ants![/i] comes into my mind from almost two decades ago, however, it is way more complex and focused on the single player experience. (A multiplayer option would be awesome here as well though.)
I hope they will focus on developing this game further and fix the language and some other UI issues so it could become the card game as it's meant to be. But still, even in this state it's way better than most early access games and it's definitely worth to try out.
