Heart of Crown PC
- December 12, 2017
- illuCalab
- 2h median play time
"Heart of Crown" is a PC adaptation of a card game, where players compete to secure the throne by collecting royal princess cards and expanding their territories. With multiple game modes, players can strategize their way to victory in this engaging and challenging game of deck-building and territorial control. The PC version includes online multiplayer, making it easy to play with friends or strangers at any time.
Reviews
- The game is a charming deck-building experience with cute aesthetics and unique mechanics.
- It offers a decent implementation of the physical card game, making it easy for newcomers to learn the basics.
- The variety of cards and strategies keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging.
- The tutorial is unclear and can be easily missed, leaving new players confused about the mechanics.
- The multiplayer mode is often unresponsive, with many players unable to connect or find matches.
- The user interface is cluttered, making it difficult to read card text and navigate the game effectively.
- gameplay62 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay is centered around a deckbuilding mechanic reminiscent of classic games like Dominion, featuring unique elements such as a "links" system and a fast-paced flow through multiple phases. While the mechanics are generally well-designed and enjoyable, some players find the game too quick to follow and lacking in clear explanations, which may deter casual players more interested in story. Overall, it offers a solid experience for competitive players, especially those familiar with tabletop deckbuilders, but may not appeal as much to those seeking a narrative-driven campaign.
“A great deckbuilding game similar to Dominion, with cute aesthetics and some unique mechanics!”
“The game has a nice flow to it, and gameplay progresses through several phases, each being more crucial than the last as you approach the end goal of completing a coronation ceremony.”
“The game is a lot like Dominion, the fantastic original deckbuilding game, but with cute anime style, some awesome different mechanics like princesses and holding cards, and a link system that is much more intuitive than keeping track of action points.”
“The gameplay is far too fast to follow, even when setting the AI to 'think' slowly.”
“The graphics are kinda cute, but the gameplay isn't very sophisticated.”
“The game does a poor job of explaining the mechanics.”
- graphics49 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a vibrant anime art style that appeals to fans of cute aesthetics, with high-quality visual assets and a user-friendly interface that allows for full-screen play. While the artwork is generally praised for its brightness and charm, some users note that the graphic quality can suffer on higher resolution displays, and the overall gameplay experience may not be sophisticated enough for everyone. The visuals are particularly enjoyable for those who appreciate deck-building games and visual novels, but may not resonate with players who dislike the anime genre.
“The game is very fun, has nice artwork and great music.”
“I have a good time with this game, beautiful artworks, competent AI, the battle is complex and there are so many ways to win the game!”
“Visuals: anime-style waifus are pretty much eye candy.”
“The graphics are kinda cute, but the gameplay isn't very sophisticated.”
“It's very bright and the graphics will look terrible on 4k monitors.”
“Graphic quality is poor, and playing against AI is boring.”
- story43 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has been widely criticized for lacking depth and cohesion, as it primarily consists of unlocking brief skits through gameplay rather than offering a traditional campaign mode. Players express disappointment over the absence of a structured narrative, with many feeling that the story elements are merely superficial and disconnected from the core gameplay. Overall, while the game may appeal to competitive players, those seeking a rich story experience are likely to be left unsatisfied.
“I'd rather have a campaign mode where the story is interwoven with the gameplay.”
“And they're not unlocked in any particular order, so it doesn't give you a cohesive story and instead just gives you some insight into some of the princesses' character and personality.”
“The story mode is a joke.”
“You don't really progress through a story; instead, you play regular games against the CPU or online in versus mode, and that grants you points that you use to unlock more cutscene events.”
“I was expecting an actual story campaign, but the 'campaign' is just grinding PvP/VS AI to unlock short skits and new cards for the aforementioned modes.”
- music25 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the fantastic and charming soundtrack that can be enjoyed for hours. However, some users noted that the music loops too frequently, which can detract from the experience. Overall, while the soundtrack is considered a highlight, its repetitive nature may not appeal to everyone.
“The soundtrack is fantastic, same with the animation!”
“The music is really charming and I can listen to it for hours.”
“Amazing soundtrack available.”
“Music just loops endlessly.”
“Also, the music loops just a bit too often.”
“Music is okay.”
- grinding14 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and confusing, as much of the gameplay revolves around repetitive matches against AI to unlock cards and complete objectives. The lack of a traditional story campaign further emphasizes the grind, leading to a less engaging experience compared to other farming simulation games. Overall, the grinding feels more like a chore than an enjoyable challenge.
“All of my playtime has been working towards this 100% by playing against the AI, grinding the points needed to draw the cards it wanted me to in order to complete the game.”
“I was expecting an actual story campaign, but the 'campaign' is just grinding PvP vs AI to unlock short skits and new cards for the aforementioned modes.”
“The order of the concepts presented makes the game more tedious and initially confusing than it needs to be.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's high replayability due to the diverse market decks, which ensure that strategies vary significantly from one session to another. This variability keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging, allowing for numerous playthroughs without becoming monotonous.
“The variety of market decks is what makes the game fun and renders it highly replayable.”
“Replayability value: you could replay the game until you're bored.”
“A sound strategy in one game might be completely useless in another, further adding to the replayability of the game.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The stability of "Heart of Crown" is notably poor, with users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that detract from the gameplay experience. Compared to other deckbuilding games, it stands out for its significant technical issues, making it less appealing unless players are willing to endure these problems for potential fixes.
“What sets Heart of Crown apart from the others is just how buggy and terrible the game is, even compared to other terrible and buggy deckbuilding games that are already out there, like Ascension's PC port.”
“Unless you're a card game fanatic and are patient enough to wait on fixes for several glitches and RNG issues, I would recommend sinking your money elsewhere.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The monetization model is generally viewed as more favorable than traditional microtransactions, suggesting a less intrusive approach to in-game purchases.
“I guess it's better than microtransactions.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the amusing antics of characters like Ohka, who, despite being challenging to control, can perform comical actions such as grabbing the imperial crown. This blend of difficulty and humor adds a unique charm to the gameplay experience.
“Ohka is perhaps the hardest to use, but even she can do hilarious things like grabbing the imperial crown with your hand.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that while the game is enjoyable, it suffers from insufficient content and optimization, especially considering its price point.
“As I said earlier, the game itself is fun, but there is just too little content and optimization for the price tag.”