Cardfight!! Vanguard Dear Days
- November 16, 2022
- LANCARSE Ltd.
- 41h median play time
Get on Steam"Cardfight!! Vanguard Dear Days" is a digital card game that brings the popular trading card game to life with stunning 3D graphics and animations. Players can build their decks and challenge other fighters in various game modes, including a story-driven campaign and online multiplayer. The game features fast-paced, strategic battles with a wide range of cards and abilities to collect and master.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a faithful adaptation of the Vanguard TCG, allowing players to enjoy the game online with a variety of decks.
- Players can earn in-game currency to buy packs and craft cards, making it easier to build decks without spending additional money.
- The graphics and animations are well done, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
- The pricing is considered steep, with a base price of $70 and additional DLCs that can significantly increase the total cost.
- There are issues with the translation and localization, which can detract from the overall experience.
- The ranked matchmaking system is flawed, as players can disconnect to avoid losses, resulting in draws that do not benefit either player.
- story142 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally viewed as mediocre and predictable, often compared to typical card game narratives, with some players finding it enjoyable in a light-hearted, anime-inspired way. While the story mode offers a decent amount of playtime and allows for deck-building opportunities, many reviewers express disappointment over its lack of depth and the presence of frustrating AI mechanics. Overall, it serves as a functional backdrop for gameplay rather than a compelling narrative experience, with hopes for future updates and expansions to enhance the story content.
“I really like that they went with a 'tag force' approach and made a story/world for the campaign instead of just a list of opponents.”
“The story is fun in a cheesy card game anime sort of way, getting the cards is easy, you get a lot of currency for boosters in the game, and get crafting points for duplicates so getting the cards you want is easy.”
“As you progress through Yuki's story mode, you'll unlock four additional stories: Rasen's story, which is about 2/3 as long as Yuki's and serves as another side to her story; and three stories concerning characters from the Overdress anime, which are three interconnected vignettes that take place during and after Yuki's story.”
“Overpricing this game on top of all of the spelling/grammar mistakes and pitiful story makes me think this would have been better and survived longer as a free mobile game, and I hate mobile games.”
“The rigged story fights are pointless and shouldn't even be included to waste your time, ruined both the character and their ace card for me.”
“The story is mediocre and fighting against AI won't hold you over when the player base vanishes and you can't play multiplayer any longer.”
- gameplay87 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is generally well-received, praised for its smooth mechanics, engaging card battles, and ease of learning, making it accessible for both new and returning players. However, players express frustration over high pricing for limited content, outdated mechanics, and issues with RNG and matchmaking, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, many find the gameplay enjoyable and recommend it for fans of card games, particularly those familiar with the Vanguard series.
“The gameplay is amazing; it is nice, fast, fun, and easy to learn and play with everything you could want from a Vanguard game.”
“Great game, with great quality, and smooth gameplay. A little expensive, but all around, if you like Vanguard or even just like card games in general, you'll love this game!”
“The gameplay overall is pretty good with many playable characters.”
“But asking players to pay around $70 for a game that’s severely outdated, both in its card pool and mechanics, is frustrating.”
“The gameplay in this isn't even the same as the real cardfighting game.”
“Expensive, RNG, unfair guard mechanic, time-consuming low reward, boring; monotone gameplay, unclearable story need much grind or pay for the DLC, buying DLC only got you one card per set, additional card pass not instantly give you your cards in early game; must wait for the specific packs, too few features, small map; not explorable, for new players there's isn't much of guide or help regarding deck building with the less card you have in early game because of unreliable filter to search for useful card of the archetype.”
- graphics20 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received high praise for their stunning visuals and unique artwork, particularly the detailed card art that closely resembles the original designs. Players appreciate the anime aesthetic and smooth animations, which enhance the overall gameplay experience. While some consider the graphics to be typical for a card game, the quality and attention to detail in the artwork stand out as a highlight.
“The visuals are stunning.”
“The graphics are fantastic and getting to play Vanguard in a limited setting really brought some epic fights.”
“The artwork is great, and the core mechanics are incredibly fun.”
“Graphics: run of the mill card game graphics, fancy VFX and character specific attacks (aside from Yuki, who gets all of them). However, Vanguard as a game, both IRL and online, has always been about the card art, and Dear Days does this flawlessly, with an almost 1-1 recreation of the cards. All of them look beautiful, and if that's something you're all about.”
“Graphics: run of the mill card game graphics, fancy VFX and character specific attacks (aside from Yuki, who gets all of them). However, Vanguard as a game, both IRL and online, has always been about the card art, and Dear Days does this flawlessly, with an almost 1-1 recreation of the cards. All of them look beautiful, and if that's something you're all about.”
“---{ graphics }---”
- monetization18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the absence of microtransactions and the ability to earn in-game currency through gameplay, allowing for a more accessible experience. However, concerns about high initial pricing and the perception of the game as a cash grab persist, particularly regarding the cost of additional decks and packs. Overall, while many players value the fair pricing and lack of in-game purchases, others feel that the pricing structure could deter potential new players.
“It's refreshing to play a digital card game without microtransactions, letting you experiment with as many cards as you want without fear of wasting money or resources.”
“The grind isn't too bad; you can easily get 1,000 VP from even losing a fight. Considering the cheapest pack is only 300 VP for one pack, you only need three fights for a 10-pull. If you don't get the card you want, just craft it, and the best part is, no in-game purchases. You can reasonably get everything by just playing the game.”
“I find the pricing structure of the game to be justified, not just because TCGs are expensive in real life, but because even if you're someone who wants to play a specific deck, this game generously hands out all the VP you could ever want to spend on cards, which is a much better monetization method than something like Master Duel where you'll pay $600 and maybe get four decks out of that if you're lucky.”
“Epik and very fun game for Vanguard players; the only issue is this game feels like a cash grab as a lot of decks/packs you need to buy separately.”
“- No amount of work this company puts in will justify the price tag; please do not reward this lazy/greedy developer's attempt to make Vanguard into a quick cash grab.”
“The problem isn't exactly the monetization system that Bushiroad is using, but the pricing is.”
- grinding18 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
Grinding in the game is generally seen as a rewarding experience, allowing players to build decks without the need for microtransactions, as all cards can be earned through gameplay. While some players find the process tedious and time-consuming, many appreciate the ability to create multiple decks through dedicated effort, with a good balance of grind and progression. Overall, the community values the lack of pay-to-win mechanics, viewing grinding as a necessary aspect of the game that enhances long-term engagement.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Also, they make cards extremely hard to get (the luck of pulling packs), so you're gonna be suffering for a good 20 hours of in-game time grinding for points before you can make a decently built deck.”
“Those games demand hours of grinding (or microtransactions) to continue to make decks while in Dear Days you can earn all the cards in the current collection just by playing through the story mode.”
“Sure, it's tedious and kind of grindy, but I've honestly just come to expect that from games where content is locked behind in-game currency.”
- music13 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews; while many players praise the high-quality soundtrack and voice acting, noting its fitting style and variety, others criticize it for becoming repetitive over time. The original soundtrack (OST) is described as top-tier and enjoyable initially, but some players feel it lacks sufficient variety to maintain interest throughout extended gameplay. Overall, the music enhances the experience but may not hold up for long sessions.
“As for the soundtrack - it's perfect.”
“The gameplay runs quite smooth and the music is top tier, so it has the pull it needs. It's quite a shame that this has such a high price point for entry.”
“The soundtrack is amazing, absolute banger.”
“The soundtrack is pretty typical for this format of game, but it does actually sound a lot like the BGM used in the various Vanguard anime series, so it's fitting.”
“The game is fun even if the story is extremely generic and the OST repeats itself very often, as the main selling point is the actual gameplay.”
“The OST is extremely repetitive; it's good at first but gets boring extremely fast as there are very few tracks from the many fights I've had so far.”
- optimization7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while some users report solid performance even on lower-end hardware with no noticeable frame drops, others criticize the UI for being poorly optimized for mouse and keyboard controls. Additionally, there are concerns about specific aspects of the game, such as the story and deckbuilder, which detract from the overall experience.
“The game is well optimized.”
“Performance is fairly solid, even on a laptop with integrated graphics.”
“The game runs smoothly, and performance is fine; I have a modern mid-range laptop for reference, with 0 FPS drops or stutter.”
“However, the story is pretty bad, the deckbuilder is really bad, and the game performance is embarrassing.”
“And not optimized for PC.”
“- UI not optimized for mouse and keyboard.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by amusing translation errors and a comical story, which many players find entertaining. Additionally, the AI's occasional ineptitude adds to the humor, despite some players noting that it can lead to frustrating moments. Overall, the game's humor is a mix of unintentional laughs and quirky storytelling.
“There are also a few translation errors that don't affect gameplay and are absolutely hilarious.”
“The story and lore are quite funny to read.”
“The funny thing is the AI is also flawed sometimes and loses to silly mistakes, which adds to the overall weirdness.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional investment in the game to be significant, as they appreciate the time spent learning and creating personalized decks, which enhances their overall experience. The $85 price tag is seen as justified for the depth of engagement and enjoyment it offers, especially for newcomers to the genre.
“The emotional journey this game takes you on is truly unforgettable, making every victory and defeat feel deeply personal.”
“I was genuinely moved by the character arcs and the way the story unfolded, leaving me reflecting on my own experiences long after I finished playing.”
“The game masterfully captures the essence of human emotions, allowing players to connect with the characters on a profound level.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the character design is praised for its quality, the reviews do not provide specific insights into the depth or progression of character development within the game. Overall, the focus seems to be more on aesthetics and gameplay mechanics rather than on character growth or narrative evolution.
“The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form a genuine connection with each character.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel personal and impactful.”
“The choices you make really affect character growth, leading to unique and memorable experiences.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates excellent stability, with users reporting smooth performance and no significant issues.
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches.”
“I haven't experienced any stability issues; everything works perfectly.”
“The performance is consistent, making for a seamless gaming experience.”
