This is my first Steam review, because honestly this game I feel needs to get popular. I play Shadowverse mainly and if you know anything of that game, last expansion ruined it for me like it did others and on my quest to find a new digital CCG, GWENT just didn't interest me, HS I just don't really enjoy, ElderScrolls CCG, while I enjoyed I just can't get myself into it. Last night a desperate attempt I stumbled upon Rival Books of Aster. A little rundown on what makes this particular digital card game unique from the others such had HS, Shadowverse, etc. is the mechanic of the combo system. However, first a list of pros and cons for those that don't want an in depth review.
Wish to play with me in game name is BadgerSnot
Pros :
+ Unique mechanic of combo
+ Great lore
+ aesthetic is that of medieval art
+ UI is nice for such an early version
+ Very few bugs/no game breaking bugs
+ When you buy the packs, you receive every card
+ Snare and Boons add surprise; reminescient of spells and traps from Yu-Gi-Oh
Cons :
- aesthetic is that of medieval art
- No sense of a grind/achievement, since every card is obtained when buying the set.
- UI could use some work both in game and home menu
- Tutorial is a bit tricky in the sense it doesn't quite explain the combo mechanic in depth.
- Sometimes I forget what card effect do, (Combine, Wall, Headstrong, etc.) and the mouse over does not define such effects.
- Mouse over highlight in game does not increase the size of the card very much, making it a bit tougher to read the text or just look at the card in general.
- At the moment, not extremely popular
Strategically Placing Cards v.s. Just Placing Them
In this Rival Books of Aster, a unique mechanic is the combo. Rather than combo-ing cards like in other games that only require playing on curve, the combo system in Rival Books of Aster requires you to place Simula in the right order to get additional an effect(s) off. These effects can be changing the color of your opponents cards to limit their combo ability, healing your character or other Simula, damaging your opponent or their Simula, and further abilities. Additionally, the longer chain the combo is (starting at a chain of 3, whcih deals 2dmg to the opponent at end of your turn), additional combo effect take place. In order to achieve these combos you must place your Simula in one of the 5 spots on board, however each Simula must be a different color (White, Black, Green, Red, Yellow) from any of the other ones connecting in the combo. The card on the left most side is the card whose combo effect is casted. For example, You could have Red(1) - Yellow(2) and the effect of Red will go off according to the conditions it specifies. But, if the order went Red(1) - Yellow(2) - Red(3), Red(1) effect will not go off and you will have no combo. This, I believe, adds an additional level of strategy to not just playing on curve and comboing cards that way but also setting them up and achieving their combo effect. But there are 5 spaces, so if you put your order as such, Red(1) - Yellow(2) - Blank(3) - Red(4) - Yellow(5), the effects of Red(1) and Red(4) would go off because the empty Blank(3) does not connect all 5 spaces. This maes you choose between getting a long chain combo for the additional effect or to keep a space clear to have two seperate combo chains.
In order to replace combos, cards can be placed over others, with certain abilities, such as Portal(card returns to hand) and Combine(Card being placed adds stats of the one being replaced) this allows to fix combo order, get new stronger cards out, or adjust to your opponent playstyle. This is different than other card games, in particual ShadowVerse, in that once a card is placed in one of the 5 available spots you must wait for it to be destroyed in order to place more.
So, Do I reccomend the game? A thousand times YES! And right now all the card packs are on sale so even if you don't stay around but you enjoy the game get all the House cards and play a few games everyday with the different factions.
