Do not let the identify idiot you — Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars is not a card sport. You are not constructing a deck or duelling opponents for an opportunity at profitable their prized possessions. As an alternative, you are happening a really conventional, surprisingly easy role-playing journey. Voice of Playing cards is a flip primarily based Japanese RPG with a tabletop card sport pores and skin. Your journey is narrated by one man — the Recreation Grasp — as you embark on a quest to slay a dragon and acquire its bounty.
Once more, easy is the phrase that we would use to explain Voice of Card’s story and gameplay construction — a minimum of for probably the most half. You journey from city to city, dungeon to dungeon, speaking to distressed peasants and battering bloodthirsty beasts. However what makes Voice of Playing cards stand out is its behavior of subverting expectations. A lot of intelligent, typically humorous character moments punctuate the plot, and there are occasions when the gameplay is turned on its head simply to show some extent. With NieR’s Yoko Taro directing, these sorts of twists are maybe anticipated — however that does not cease Voice of Playing cards from being a totally charming expertise.
Flip primarily based fight is on the core of this methodical RPG. As your get together members stage up, you will unlock new abilities and skills that proceed so as to add tactical depth to every encounter — however close to the tip of the sport, it feels just like the battle system loses steam. Enemies rock up with giant well being swimming pools, and overly lengthy dungeon runs begin to sap your enthusiasm. Should you’re something like us, you will additionally hit the character stage cap nicely earlier than the credit roll — and with out that hook of rising stronger, fight can turn out to be a chore.
Fortunately, the sport’s wonderful presentation holds the whole lot collectively, and at round 12 hours in size, Voice of Playing cards would not fairly outstay its welcome. There are a number of endings to unlock as nicely, however further playthroughs could also be a tall order. Voice of Playing cards is not the form of RPG which you could rush via — its intentionally sluggish tempo is a part of the attraction — however there’s a barely expanded New Recreation+ mode for many who fancy taking up the dragon yet again.
