- Publisher: Inti Creates
- Release Date: Oct 24, 2024
- Also On: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
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Oct 21, 2024Card-en-Ciel is a highly addictive deck-building roguelite from Inti Creates, blending grid-based combat inspired by Mega Man Battle Network with fast-paced dungeon-crawling action. While the story may take a backseat, the dynamic gameplay and rewarding progression systems shine through. With excellent English voice acting and a perfect fit for portable play on the Switch, this underappreciated gem is one of the best gameplay-focused titles of 2024.
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Oct 30, 2024I love how Card-en-Ciel combines characters from Inti Creates' games into one strategic campaign that's impressively tough to put down.
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Oct 22, 2024Card-en-Ciel’s gameplay is incredibly fun, which makes it an easy recommendation for anyone who has liked games like Slay the Spire or Monster Train but wants an anime twist to it. However, if you’re looking for a more developed story or characters that go beyond just providing window dressing for the core of the gameplay, I’d advise caution. I really enjoyed my time with Card-en-Ciel, especially for someone who loves that kind of card-based roguelite, but I just wish Inti Creates would give us more from the story and presentation.
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Oct 21, 2024Even though I admire Inti Creates for the risk of trying out a new genre and feel they did a reasonably good job with it, Card-en-Ciel will ultimately be a hard sell to everyone who’s not a patient deckbuilder enthusiast. While the gameplay is nuanced and fun, and though the artwork is generally pretty stunning, the game felt unbalanced on several occasions. When paired with a confusing story and not fully realized characters, we’re left with a unique adventure that will only appeal to fans of the publisher.
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Oct 21, 2024I enjoyed Inti Creates’ approach to gameplay in Card-en-Ciel and appreciate how it built on the tactical deck-building found in the Mega Man Battle Network series. While it looks similar, it feels like its own thing. That’s great! Unfortunately, the actual story surrounding Neon and Ancie’s adventure is pretty weak and not handled well, and there’s no personality to any of the dungeons we explore. It’s a case where there’s some good gameplay we can sink our teeth into, but the style isn’t quite there even with colorful characters and some fun cameos. It can be entertaining, but lacks Mega Man Battle Network‘s charm.