Hand of Fate

This is a game that interconnects several different game genres and combines them in a very successful way. The core premise of the game is a RPG and CCG rolled up into one. The RPG aspect stems from gaining abilities and equipment. Each move/step you make on the board takes food; without food, you lose health as you move each space. This is where the CCG aspect takes over. The dungeon floor is made up of individual cards from an event deck that you build, all placed face down. You earn tokens as you play which unlock new cards for you to use. If you are not the deck building type, you can have the computer automatically assemble the decks that you need. As for the gameplay, every move you make with your figure from one card to the next flips the card face up and triggers an event, either combat or non-combat. The non-combat events can range from a multiple choice event with a "four card monte" mini game that decides if you pass or fail (sometimes epically), or travelers like merchants and healers. Some of these events can be skipped to reduce risk. The combat events are the most straight-forward, and unfortunately where most of the game faults lie. Combat works very similar to the most recent Batman series of games. The problem is that there isn't nearly the level of precision that you find in the Arkham series. You often find yourself rolling in the wrong direction and/or swinging at air. Your equipment also plays a role in how combat works: no shield, no counter. This makes the event deck building both a critical and fun piece as it sprinkles in the dynamic aspect of a rouge-like game. The masked man (Think D&D Dungeon Master and Card Dealer) also throws in some of his own cards to keep things interesting and avoids min/maxing decks. Overall a fun game with replay value, slightly hampered by a less than stellar combat experience. Combat flaws aside, I do highly recommend picking up a copy of this RPG/CCG/Action Brawler/Rogue-like mashup game.

This game had great potential and many aspects of it shine bright as a unique and enjoyable experience... BUUUT! While the card mechanics, deck building, narration and decision making are all extremely well done it is all brought screaming down to mediocrity due to it's poor controls. Gamepad or keyboard and mouse, it matters not, the controls are simply broken. Want to make it through this maze of traps that requires careful timing and reflexes? Well that would be just fine if there were movement options aside from full speed ahead and roll oh and no turning nice and easy either, try to turn and you run forward and then turn as you run. This WILL kill you multiple times. During combat the hit detection and counter system are simply garbage, enemies that do not hit anywhere near you will hurt you but you must be right in their face if you want to hit them, countering will either be your best friend, giving you essentially immortality for simply mashing Q OR it will force you into an animation that cannot be stopped until completion where you can be hit, often you will stand still like an idiot as the crowd comes for you and you can do nothing but watch your impending death, this is made doubly annoying during boss fights where the boss will lumber up behind you as you are countering a minion and you get to watch as it pounds you into the dirt. Oh and you get trapped in areas due to tiny objects on the ground that cannot be stepped over or rolled over despite being only about 1/2 a foot tall The last issue with the game is the difficulty curve, the game is hilariously easy all the way until the 12th boss then you get to die to the most horrendous cheap bullshit you have ever seen over and over again: doing just fine? last area and you have good gear and gold galore? well lose it all due to one bad card getting drawn, then die in a fight This game would easily be a 5 star for me if only the combat was fixed but as it is I have a hard time finding any enjoyment at all

An innovative concept which mixes action combat with some well known card game mechanics (like MTG). Innovative because when a card is drawn, it results in an action which could be anything from added HP to a boss fight. Build your deck slowly as you progress through desert lands, rivers, and perilous grounds. Fight your way out of an ambush, or a insidious maze full of deadly traps. Decks are built slowly by progressing through the game, and eventually the player will unlock a boss which can become part of a normal deck. Recommended, as I personally have not experienced a game which does this with equal balance, if any game exposes the same concept with equal elegance and some measure of compulsion. Some gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBAUQfox7zQ

Pros: It's a great concept with the right price for its length. The voice acting is great, and I actually kind of like the music (which is rare for me). Cons: Load times are kind of irritating, especially when you're just going to a shop. But the real killer is that the combat controls just suck. Many of the combats require finesse, which the game just does not provide. Most of the time, it's something I can live with, but getting stuck on a map that's full of traps and ratmen (especially the Jack of Ratmen) is just an exercise in frustration that had me Alt-F4ing after the second time. Overall: Even with the load times, this could have been a 5/5, but the crappy controls just suck the enjoyment out of the game.