Okay, gamers, let's talk Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars. You know, that game that looks like someone raided a really fancy tarot card collection and turned it into an RPG?
I tried the Steam demo. And I have... thoughts.
My (Possibly) Unpopular Opinion
Don't get me wrong, the narrator's voice is smooth as butter. Seriously, he could read me the phone book and I'd be captivated. He makes the whole experience feel like a cozy, tabletop game night. A really weird, card-based tabletop game night.
But here's the thing: I'm not sure I totally get the hype.
Cards. So. Many. Cards.
The entire world is made of cards. Characters? Cards. Environment? Cards. Enemies? You guessed it: cards! It's like the developers had a serious card-stock obsession.
At first, it's charming. Quirky, even. But after an hour, you start wondering if they ran out of budget for textures. Or maybe they just really, *really* liked cards.
I get it. It's a stylistic choice. A bold one! But bold doesn't always equal brilliant, does it?
The battles were interesting, I'll give them that. Managing your gems felt like a puzzle. But the animations? Well, let's just say they left a little something to be desired. Imagine two cards gently nudging each other. That's pretty much it.
I kept waiting for something...more. A visual flourish, a dramatic attack animation, anything! My expectations were set high after playing similar games like Slay the Spire and Cultist Simulator.
Story Time?
The story itself seemed...fine. A dragon is causing trouble (shocker!). A ragtag group of adventurers sets out to stop it (double shocker!).
It felt very traditional. Almost *too* traditional. I wasn't exactly on the edge of my seat.
Maybe the full game has some wild twists and turns. The demo didn't exactly reel me in.
The Narrator: Saving Grace
Seriously, though, that narrator. He elevates the whole experience. His voice is so soothing, it's almost hypnotic.
I found myself doing silly things, like trying to mimic his intonation when ordering pizza. My delivery guy looked very confused. But I digress.
Without him, I might have bounced off the demo entirely. He's the secret weapon of Voice of Cards.
Final Thoughts (For Now)
Am I saying Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars is a bad game? Absolutely not!
It's just...different. Very different. And maybe my brain isn't quite wired for *that* much card-based gameplay. I am a big fan of Yoko Taro's other works, but his eccentricity still sometimes eludes me.
But hey, maybe you'll love it! The demo is free, after all. Give it a try and see if you get swept away by the cardboard kingdom. Or, you know, just enjoy the narrator's dulcet tones.
Just don't blame me if you start seeing cards everywhere you go. You have been warned.
Maybe I'll give the full game a chance someday. But for now, I think I need a break from all those rectangles. Anyone up for a non-card-based game night?
