Blood Card
- September 26, 2019
- Pixel Cattle Games
- 22h median play time
"Blood Card" is a card game that combines roguelike and deckbuilding elements, where your life value equals the number of cards in your draw pile. Getting hurt discards a card, and running out of cards ends the game. The final boss relentlessly pursues you through three distinct zones, offering the choice to engage or evade. Your unique deck is built by gathering cards to defeat enemies in your path.
Reviews
- Blood Card offers a unique twist on the roguelike deckbuilder genre by using the player's deck as their health, creating interesting strategic choices.
- The game features a variety of cards and synergies, allowing for diverse deck-building strategies and replayability.
- The dark visual aesthetic and atmospheric music enhance the overall immersive experience of the game.
- The game suffers from balance issues, with some cards and combos being overpowered, making it easy to break the game.
- The sound design and animations are lacking, leading to a less polished experience compared to other games in the genre.
- The lack of clear tutorials and explanations for mechanics can make it confusing for new players, leading to frustration.
- gameplay121 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Blood Card" is characterized by its innovative mechanics, particularly the unique concept of using cards as health, which adds depth and replayability to the roguelike deckbuilding experience. While many players appreciate the engaging card combos and atmospheric visuals, some express frustration with certain mechanics and balance issues, noting that the game can become easier once players grasp the systems. Overall, it offers a fresh take on the genre, appealing to fans of similar titles like "Slay the Spire," despite some inconsistencies in polish and difficulty.
“Blood Card is an interesting and well-executed roguelike deckbuilder with more personality than most and mechanics that are smooth and engaging.”
“The card mechanics are well-designed, offering a deep and engaging gameplay experience that will keep you coming back for more.”
“The alternative win condition along with the deck-as-life mechanic is a nice differentiation from all the other card crawlers I've played.”
“Some gameplay mechanics, particularly card combos, can be a bit frustrating at times.”
“Overall the title is lacking in refinement in graphics, interface (e.g. visible hotkeys like in STS) and perhaps most notably mechanics and game balance.”
“Overall this game has some neat ideas for the popular roguelike deckbuilder genre (such as cards in deck being your health) but the mechanic that ensures you die if you take too many turns is the complete opposite of fun and some of the cards are poorly balanced.”
- graphics50 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising its unique pixel art style and atmospheric visuals that evoke a dark, gothic aesthetic, while others criticize the overall quality as lacking refinement and being reminiscent of low-resolution cartoons. Despite the graphical shortcomings, many players find the visuals charming and fitting for the gameplay, suggesting that the art style may appeal to a niche audience. Overall, while the graphics may not be universally appealing, they contribute to the game's distinct identity and enjoyable mechanics.
“Its atmospheric visuals, diverse card mechanics, and intense gameplay make it a must-play for fans of the genre.”
“Love the pixel-art style drenched in macabre blood and gore aesthetics; the cards are fun, and it's a nice addictive little rogue-like deck-builder.”
“The art style is brilliant and the soundtrack fits perfectly.”
“Graphics are exceptionally bad, which is probably why this game is not more popular than it should be.”
“Overall the title is lacking in refinement in graphics, interface (e.g. visible hotkeys like in STS) and perhaps most notably mechanics and game balance.”
“In its current iteration, it's nothing but a glorified timer with flashy visuals.”
- music15 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its immersive and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the dark and gothic aesthetic. However, several users noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive over time, with some suggesting the need for remixes or additional variety. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the experience, its repetitiveness is a common critique.
“The sinister ambiance, combined with the game's music and sound effects, enhances the overall immersive experience, making you feel as if you're truly part of its dark, mysterious world.”
“Love the music, very ominous and adds to the gothic aesthetic.”
“The music is also very good: the creepy choral vibe emphasizing the generally dark atmosphere and complementing the deathly graphical theme.”
“The game runs smoothly, but the soundtrack is my only complaint. If I wanted a screaming violin, I would look up videos on YouTube of teens practicing.”
“The music gets repetitive after a while.”
“Music is okay, not amazing and certainly not a detractor.”
- replayability9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to its challenging mechanics, diverse card combinations, and varying hero abilities, which encourage players to revisit and refine their strategies. Many users appreciate the engaging level design and the option to tackle harder game modes, making it a worthwhile experience for both casual and dedicated players. The combination of simple controls and appealing graphics further enhances its replay value.
“This mechanic not only heightens the game's difficulty but also its replayability, as players strive to outwit and outrun the inevitable.”
“Its replayability is super high.”
“The different mechanics and card deck combos create multiple combos heightening the replayability of the game as you clear 'levels' and encounter enemy bosses per floor.”
“Tentatively, as it stands right now, it's a decent amount of entertainment for the dollar, and as replayable as you want it to be.”
“Simple controls and pleasant graphics makes the gaming experience very replayable.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Blood Card is characterized by its eerie and dark visual style, which effectively immerses players in a unique and intense experience. The game's dark fantasy setting, complemented by haunting music and rich artwork, enhances the overall mood, making it a standout in the roguelike genre. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke a true sense of evil, further solidifying its atmospheric appeal.
“Blood Card is an exceptional roguelike game that captivates players with its eerie and dark visual style, creating a uniquely atmospheric experience.”
“The dark fantasy setting and the art, atmosphere, and environments are superb.”
“The music is also very good: the creepy choral vibe emphasizes the generally dark atmosphere and complements the deathly graphical theme.”
“The game fails to create a truly immersive atmosphere, leaving players feeling disconnected from the world.”
“Despite the potential for a haunting environment, the atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the tension needed to engage players.”
- story6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's story is criticized for being virtually nonexistent, featuring a bland and unoriginal plot that lacks closure and depth. Players feel thrown into a chaotic environment without sufficient backstory or motivation for the characters, leaving them wanting more narrative substance to enhance the experience.
“Just use a story, just add some flavor to the game about why these two characters are trying to escape death.”
“Nonexistent story.”
“A bland cock-and-bull storyline, with no real closure or novelty.”
“Lacking any backstory, you're helplessly thrown into a labyrinth full of ghastly creatures and grim secrets.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted for its dark and absurd elements, with players finding amusement in unexpected situations, such as self-inflicted defeats during intense battles. The quirky character designs, like a big arm and a rich pig, add to the comedic charm, making the gameplay experience both entertaining and engaging. Overall, the humor complements the game's darker atmosphere, enhancing its appeal.
“I accidentally killed myself on the final boss due to a powerful deck design that I was using (which was funny as hell to witness).”
“Bro, you get to play as a big arm and a rich pig. Very funny.”
“When it happens, it's humorous and definitely a bit easier to win.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find that grinding in the game can become tedious, particularly when facing the death monster, which loses its threat level after repeated encounters. While grinding is necessary, it often feels more like a chore than a challenge.
“Grinding in this game is rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
“The grind is challenging but ultimately satisfying.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“But the death monster is not really dangerous; if you kill him a lot, he becomes tedious and annoying, but never a threat.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users express concerns about the game's current optimization, with hopes for improvements before its full release.
“I sincerely hope that the game is somehow optimized before its full release.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization model is player-friendly, as it avoids microtransactions and allows users to unlock cards through gameplay, albeit with a slow start that may result in initial losses.
“The game has a bit of a slow start, but you unlock cards through gameplay rather than microtransactions, which is refreshing.”
“You can quickly unlock cards by playing, and there are no microtransactions, so it feels fair and rewarding.”
“While you may lose a few games at the beginning, the absence of microtransactions makes the progression feel satisfying.”
“The monetization system feels exploitative, pushing players to spend money to progress at a reasonable pace.”
“It's frustrating that the game heavily favors those who are willing to pay, making it nearly impossible to compete without spending real money.”
“The reliance on microtransactions for essential items ruins the experience, as it feels like a pay-to-win scenario.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game experiences some minor bugs, screen glitches, and occasional temporary freezes, indicating that while stability is generally acceptable, there are noticeable issues that could affect gameplay.
“There are some minor bugs, screen glitches, and temporary freezes.”
“The game frequently crashes, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I experienced constant lag and stability issues that ruined the overall experience.”