Like Balatro, this game is a rouge-lite deck building game revolving around a familiar card game. Blackjack. The one where your max score can be 21 and you Hit and Stand along the way.
After playing this for an evening, I feel that's where the Balatro resemblance ends. This game moves along much faster, you can have a hand of cards that look wild in minutes. You can have cards such as negative numbers, cards that you hold (like holding a shape in Tetris) that you can play once you're in a bad spot (like busted), there's too many to mention and there's some wild ones. All this wildness happens pretty early on and can seem somewhat overwhelming. Especially when your opponent plays a fancy card and you didn't get a chance to check what the card's attributes were. You kinda just learn on the fly and to be honest it only took my a few runs to make sure I was checking all fancy card skills etc. but yeah I'm still learning. I think there's something like 300 odd card types to discover. Oh there are decks too. The first 4 unlocked decks are simply the 4 standard card suits (hearts, clubs, spade and diamonds). Each deck has its own perk. A perk is triggered by hitting 21. Hearts will heal you, clubs will deal extra damage, spades will give you shields and diamonds, well I forgot what they do, maybe more chips? Chips are your currency used for buying cards and buffs etc.
The game's progression plays out similar to something like Slay the Spire. You start at The Tavern where you play about 5 opponents during your time there. Beating the area boss will give you a choice between 2 new areas to visit. In between opponents you will run into shops, inns, tarot readings and mini games such Roulette, coin flip, stocks (here you will by some stocks and watch a line graph peak and dip where you have to click at a point to sell!).
When you face off against an opponent, hands played will determine both your attack power, but also your defense. For example, you play a 21, but your opponent plays 20, you hit them for 1hp (early opponents have total HP of approx 5-10, but that quickly ramps up). You yourself start with 100hp. If you or your opponent bust (cards add up to over 21) though, then you will be defenseless, meaning your opponent can hit you for 20hp.
On my first attempt, I made it to about the 5th area. It was a chilled run and a great opportunity to learn the game somewhat. Since then I've had about 3 runs both ending at area 2. Mainly for being greedy and not standing at the likes of 15 or 16 to give me some defense.
I came away from this game (when I decided it was bed time) feeling it was well worthy of my time and I'm looking forward to chilling on it tonight.
Not a Balatro clone, but a worthy and very enjoyable game of crazy black jack, but played through a dungeon where you'll meet drunks, bards, gamblers, skaters, wizards and more.
Love it.
On Steam for just shy of £12
After playing this for an evening, I feel that's where the Balatro resemblance ends. This game moves along much faster, you can have a hand of cards that look wild in minutes. You can have cards such as negative numbers, cards that you hold (like holding a shape in Tetris) that you can play once you're in a bad spot (like busted), there's too many to mention and there's some wild ones. All this wildness happens pretty early on and can seem somewhat overwhelming. Especially when your opponent plays a fancy card and you didn't get a chance to check what the card's attributes were. You kinda just learn on the fly and to be honest it only took my a few runs to make sure I was checking all fancy card skills etc. but yeah I'm still learning. I think there's something like 300 odd card types to discover. Oh there are decks too. The first 4 unlocked decks are simply the 4 standard card suits (hearts, clubs, spade and diamonds). Each deck has its own perk. A perk is triggered by hitting 21. Hearts will heal you, clubs will deal extra damage, spades will give you shields and diamonds, well I forgot what they do, maybe more chips? Chips are your currency used for buying cards and buffs etc.
The game's progression plays out similar to something like Slay the Spire. You start at The Tavern where you play about 5 opponents during your time there. Beating the area boss will give you a choice between 2 new areas to visit. In between opponents you will run into shops, inns, tarot readings and mini games such Roulette, coin flip, stocks (here you will by some stocks and watch a line graph peak and dip where you have to click at a point to sell!).
When you face off against an opponent, hands played will determine both your attack power, but also your defense. For example, you play a 21, but your opponent plays 20, you hit them for 1hp (early opponents have total HP of approx 5-10, but that quickly ramps up). You yourself start with 100hp. If you or your opponent bust (cards add up to over 21) though, then you will be defenseless, meaning your opponent can hit you for 20hp.
On my first attempt, I made it to about the 5th area. It was a chilled run and a great opportunity to learn the game somewhat. Since then I've had about 3 runs both ending at area 2. Mainly for being greedy and not standing at the likes of 15 or 16 to give me some defense.
I came away from this game (when I decided it was bed time) feeling it was well worthy of my time and I'm looking forward to chilling on it tonight.
Not a Balatro clone, but a worthy and very enjoyable game of crazy black jack, but played through a dungeon where you'll meet drunks, bards, gamblers, skaters, wizards and more.
Love it.
On Steam for just shy of £12
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