Like Magic: the Gathering? Like Monopoly? Like terrible voice acting? Read more!
When I first heard the concept for Culdcept Saga, I have to admit, I was quite skeptical. Monopoly plus Magic: the Gathering? There's got to be more to it than that. But I was surprised to learn that it does play out almost exactly like one would imagine.
Now, it might sound like I'm trying to put down the design of the game, what with my assertion that it's no deeper than two games put together. But if you're a fan of Puzzle Quest, then you'll agree with me that there's a world of difference between mashing two games together, and splicing two games together seamlessly.
And seamless is really the adjective of choice in this amalgam of awesomeness. When you combine the strategy of constructing your deck and playing your cards right, and the luck of a die-roll, the result is a somewhat more level playing field than in either of the individual counterparts. In Magic, if the skill gap between any two given players is too wide, it becomes apparent right away, and what ensues can hardly be called fun for either party. And in Monopoly, the opposite is true, the game hardly rewards skill at all, and is mostly just a game of luck.
So Culdcept Saga strikes a very nice median between the two, making games between intermediate and veteran players enjoyable for both, and rewarding skilled players for their effort.
All of this is wrapped up in a nice UI with an obviously anime-inspired art direction. Controls work fine and there aren't any bugs which I've been able to point out. Graphically, there's nothing really to write home about, even the Wii would probably handle this game with some effort. Though that is not to say that the graphics are bad, they're just not great.
Some gripes that I can foresee is in players new to the collectible card game aspect of Culdcept Saga. As the learning curve is actually quite steep, it's not uncommon to be stuck on the first, tutorial stage of the game. Unfortunately, it is a necessary hurdle to jump for new players. Though it should be noted that players do not go unrewarded for the time spent in lost matches, and any addition to your collection is arguable a useful one this early in the game. (The larger your collection, the more choices you have in changing and fine-tuning your deck.)
Though the other problem with the game is the time it takes to clear a level. In the first few smaller maps, matches typically last a very reasonable 30 or 45 minutes. The problem begins to develop as you progress through the story and the maps and number of players starts to increase. With the additional real estate and opponents, matches can last an agonizing 2-3 hours. Thankfully, there is a save feature, but resuming a saved match often means having to re-examine the playing field which in itself can be very time consuming.
And my final pseudo-complaint is the story. While it's nice that the developers took the time to craft a well-thought-out universe and lore for all these cards and such, it's a bit disappointing to learn that the story is treated as an afterthought. The story provides an excuse, rather than a reason, to finish the matches which you'll be playing. What's amusing though, is that the voice acting is so atrociously dry, it manages to make the story entertaining. I really can't bring myself to give it negative marks for the story. The way I see it, story is only a negative mark if a game falls apart without it AND fails in that respect, as well. Culdcept Saga stands strongly on it's own, even without a story.
All in all, the fun I have with this game far outweighs the negative points I've listed here. New players unfamiliar with collectible card games and the mindset therein may struggle a little at the beginning, but it's definitely a hump worth getting over.