30+ hours review

I am a big fan of the CCG/LCG genre of games, both physical and digital. While there is something to be said about being able to physically hold onto your cards, similar to rolling dice for random damage or effects, think that digital CCG/LCG's have to make up for that in art and presentation. I've wanted a CCG or LCG that was not fantasy for a long time, and really before Netrunner was the only game complex enough to really pique my interest. So far, I'm loving Kards. I wish I had heard about it in time for Alpha test.

Art - this game hits the nail on the head for WWII era artwork for sure. I enjoy that the artwork is themed in the WWII propaganda poster style. It really doesn't require any change in style at all I think. Maybe some variations to animations and varied table backgrounds, but other than that the artwork in general is top notch! I would however suggest black themed background over white cards. Or at least a thinner amount of white border. Hilighting the rarity of a cards rarity could be incorporated into the card instead of underneath, I think that gives a coheasive a card is a card, not a card with floating icons. The pinning and on death style icons being outside the card makes sense though.

Balance and Theme - One of the reasons I played games like Command and Conquer: Tiberium Sun was because of the imbalance between factions that generated a good amount of different styles of play. One review I read compared the Russian gameplay to Zerg rush of Starcraft, and as a Zerg/Russian player so far, I sympathize with the comparison in a big way. This plays very well into the historical themes of Kards as well, with Russian having infantry pushed into the field sometimes ill equipped but backed by fanatic zeal. Germany emphasizes on Blitzkrieg style rushing with low operating cost, while Great Britain is more of a hold your ground, defend the homeland style of play. America has a card called The War Machine that rolls credits towards heavier prices of units, gradually building into a truly unstoppable war machine if you let it build. Japan having a lot of destruction based plays makes their Kamikaze like tactics shine. The cards are not a simple rock paper scissors all the time, but sometimes they are. The delicate balance between them and overall this-beats-that is a well approached offering strategic play versus thematic play. Having cost not only to deploy units, but to play them as well makes a great difference in determining whether to push and attack or to hold and build. The concept of a frontline is also very good too. Rarity of amount of cards is great.

Sound - the explosion volume is good, but could use a little variation. In my opinion the music has way too much static, and while thematically correct, maybe some classical Ride of the Valkyrie type stuff would be more thrilling, especially if it is tied to actions, like if a player advances a few units to the front line all at once, start dramatic theme like that. Dias Irae from the Verdi requiem would also be awesome to start playing when a significant amount of units are destroyed or damage is dealt. Overall, the music kind of sucks and needs work, but the explosions and gun noise are great.

Music Suggestions: https://youtu.be/ZDFFHaz9GsY https://youtu.be/XRU1AJsXN1g

Classical music I think fits a more dramatic theme, and doesn't break the WWII time era either, I also think much is available royalty free. Somber/ambiance music might also fit the bill for a dramatic feel as well.

My last suggestion I can see coming in an update. The HQ cards do not have any effects, but they very well could with adjustment to starting hit defense. Having various locations linked to unlocking them against AI in themed single player battles could be a lot like how Gwent does quests. For instance, have quests like D-DAY, unlocking the Beaches of Normandy if a player can defeat AI in trampling the Germans as Americans invading the beaches and a second mission holding off the American invasion. Possibly two versions of Normandy, the American HQ for Normandy could provide a boost to advancing units, and the German version of Normandy could give a boost like starting with 30 defense.

Let me know what you all think!

Submitted January 18, 2019 at 08:44PM by _demo http://bit.ly/2FJD8S3