Pox Nora

About

Pox Nora is a single player and multiplayer tactical role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Desert Owl Games LLC and was released on October 15, 2014. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Pox Nora is a collectible, turn-based, tactical, online fantasy game. Players command armies of fantastic creatures, cast spells of devastating power, and summon relics and equipment of ancient renown in order to defeat their opponents.

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77%

Audience ScoreBased on 603 reviews

gameplay14 positive mentions

graphics16 negative mentions

Pox Nora offers a unique blend of collectible card game mechanics and tactical strategy, providing deep gameplay and a variety of strategies.
The game has a rich customization system, allowing players to create diverse decks and explore different playstyles across multiple factions.
Desert Owl Games has improved the game significantly since taking over, making it more accessible for new players and enhancing the overall experience.

The steep learning curve and overwhelming number of cards can be daunting for new players, making it difficult to get started.
The game's user interface is outdated and can be confusing, leading to frustration during gameplay.
There are reports of bugs and technical issues, particularly with the tutorial and matchmaking, which can hinder the overall experience.

gameplay
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
64%
11%
The gameplay of this game is characterized by its deep strategic mechanics, blending tactical combat with collectible card game elements, offering extensive customization and decision-making opportunities. However, it faces criticism for a steep learning curve, slow pacing, and outdated visuals, which can detract from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the complexity and depth, others find it tedious and unengaging, highlighting a divide in player enjoyment based on their preferences for strategy games.
- “What sets this game apart is its unique blend of tactical combat, collectible card game mechanics, and deep strategic gameplay.”
- “The gameplay and difficulty curve is smooth and you can get a real challenge out of the AI matches until you feel ready for PvP.”
- “Pox Nora is a great game if you are interested in complex strategic, turn-based gameplay paired with trading card game mechanics; allowing tremendous freedom both while building your battlegroup and while playing.”
- “Furthermore, Pox Nora suffers from a steep learning curve and a lack of intuitive gameplay mechanics.”
- “Additionally, the gameplay itself can feel slow and tedious.”
- “From outdated visuals and steep learning curve to monotonous gameplay and limited content, the game struggles to captivate players and falls short of expectations.”
graphics
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
45%
30%
The graphics of the game are widely criticized for being outdated and lacking polish, with many users describing them as mediocre or clunky, reminiscent of older titles. While some appreciate the artistic style and detail in the card artwork, the overall visual presentation fails to meet modern standards, which detracts from the gaming experience for many players. Despite the dated graphics, a few users still find enjoyment in the gameplay, suggesting that improvements in visuals could significantly enhance the game's appeal.
- “After playing the tutorial, I did appreciate the art style.”
- “The artwork is A+.”
- “Some of the artwork in Pox is literally breathtaking.”
- “Visually, this has some fairly mediocre/dated looking graphics that will understandably be a turn off for a lot of gamers, and it's a big contributor to the failure of the game to attract gamers despite having no up-front cost.”
- “The graphics and art style feel dated, lacking the visual splendor that modern games offer.”
- “Messy and uninspiring UI and graphics that only use half your screen on top of a slow and laggy engine makes the game a chore to play rather than fun.”
story
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
77%
10%
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players finding imaginative scenarios and engaging lore in the campaigns, while others criticize it as vague and uninspired, often overshadowed by frustrating mechanics and a lack of clarity in tutorials. Many users express dissatisfaction with the disconnect between training missions and actual gameplay, leading to a steep difficulty curve that detracts from the overall experience. Despite these issues, some players appreciate the potential for storytelling within battles and the depth of content available in the campaigns.
- “Pox Nora's campaigns, many of them free to play, go even further with imaginative scenarios and storylines that will take your playing pieces and decks across scrolling, irregular playing-boards reminiscent of table-top wargaming.”
- “Sweet story behind some fun gameplay.”
- “The artwork is excellent and the lore is detailed and tells a very interesting story.”
- “Not very engaging, quickly boring, impenetrable mechanics, a vague nonsense theme, and an uninspired story, demolished by the AI in the learner matches that have no explanations for any of the mechanics.”
- “Between broken campaign missions (some of them seem to be missing objective-critical units/relics), the fact that nothing in the game is obvious (I had to go online to the forums to modify my battlegroup), and the fact that the game is graphically unappealing and just plain slow (you get 10 minutes per turn, all of which you do need on more complex turns).”
- “Recommendations for the developer - stop all other work and prioritize the tutorial, make the tutorial AI run on a local machine (reduces your bot server problems), and make it a story, not just a 'this is how you play.' The relationship built here between player and game is only meant to get worse after this point.”
grinding
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
92%
The game is generally considered grindy, requiring significant time investment to unlock decks and runes, which can lead to a slow and tedious experience. While some players appreciate the strategic elements and collection aspects, many express frustration over the necessity of grinding, particularly for competitive play and rewards. Overall, the grind can be mitigated by spending money or having assistance from friends, but it remains a notable hurdle for many players.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It's free to play, but some grinding is required if you want to play all possible decks.”
- “Extremely grindy or pay to win.”
- “This, all before the fact it has a learning wall and requires immense grinding (I'm 8 hours in and have yet to purchase a rune set) to start getting any runes, let alone something of good value.”
stability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and a confusing user interface that detracts from the overall experience. Many players find it unplayable, particularly in its Steam version, leading to a perception that the game is essentially "dead" due to lack of updates and a dwindling player base.
- “The game's buttons are still buggy and go offscreen.”
- “Unfortunately, it's basically dead; there are a lot of glitches that were never solved, and barely anyone is playing it. It's sad, though.”
- “The Steam version of this software was a buggy and unplayable pile of crap.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The music in the game, composed by Adgio Hutchings, is highly praised for its quality and epicness, enhancing the overall setting and lore. Players appreciate the diverse soundtracks tailored to different game boards, contributing to an immersive experience.
- “The in-game music by Adgio Hutchings is godly; so is the setting and lore.”
- “The music for the different boards you play on is always epic.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The game's optimization appears heavily skewed against new and returning players, particularly those with upgraded troops, as the AI bots are designed to exploit resource advantages, making it challenging to progress through campaigns on normal difficulty. Players often find themselves at a significant disadvantage due to locked basic decks, limiting their ability to compete effectively.
- “Even though I saved enough gold for 2 packages and played all of the initial walkthroughs, I could hardly cope with the campaigns on normal. A few can be taken on hard, but since the campaigns are tweaked towards optimized decks, the basic AI has an extreme resource advantage, around 3 times your resources in some maps.”
- “The bots seem to be optimized to tear apart new players or returning players who have to create new accounts.”
- “Especially if they have sunk money into the game for upgraded troops and optimized casting costs.”
- “Even though I saved enough gold for two packages and played all of the initial walkthroughs, I could hardly cope with the campaigns on normal. A few can be taken on hard, but since the campaigns are tweaked towards optimized decks, the basic AI has an extreme resource advantage, around three times your resources in some maps, and against players, you would be severely limited by the locked basic decks you could use.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The monetization strategy is characterized by collectible microtransactions, with some users feeling that expansions are primarily cash grabs. However, the overall sentiment suggests that while monetization exists, it is not perceived as overly exploitative or gimmicky.
- “The game offers a fair balance between free content and microtransactions, allowing players to enjoy the experience without feeling pressured to spend money.”
- “I appreciate that the monetization system is transparent and doesn't hinder gameplay; I can choose to buy collectibles without feeling forced.”
- “The collectible items available through microtransactions are purely cosmetic, which means I can enjoy the game fully without spending extra.”
- “All expansions are a cash grab.”
- “The short answer is yes, but not in an evil, gimmicky cash grab way.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
50%
Players find the game's replayability hindered by a limited selection of units, spells, and abilities, which reduces strategic depth. However, the satisfaction of acquiring core cards and the viability of most decks in PvE content provide some incentive for repeated play.
- “It sometimes feels like it will take ages to build the deck you want, but getting that great core card feels like a significant achievement every time. Most decks are playable at a PvE level without any legendaries or exotics.”
- “The variety of strategies and deck combinations keeps the game fresh, making each playthrough feel unique and rewarding.”
- “With multiple paths to victory and different character builds, I find myself coming back to explore new possibilities every time I play.”
- “The available units, spells, and abilities feel limited, leading to a lack of strategic depth and replayability.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The character designs in the game are fondly remembered by players, highlighting a nostalgic appreciation for their aesthetic appeal. However, the reviews do not provide specific insights into the depth or progression of character development within the game's narrative.
- “The character designs in this game captivated me as a child, and it's a delightful surprise to find it on Steam now.”
- “The depth of character development truly enhances the storytelling, making each character feel unique and relatable.”
- “I appreciate how the characters evolve throughout the game, with their backstories and motivations becoming more complex as the story unfolds.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the humor in the game becomes more apparent as they progress, with initial challenges giving way to comedic moments once the basics are mastered.
- “The game may seem challenging at the beginning, but once you learn the basics, it's very funny!”
- “The humor in this game is top-notch, with clever jokes and hilarious situations that keep you laughing.”
- “I love how the game uses witty dialogue and absurd scenarios to create a lighthearted atmosphere.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players express strong emotional reactions to the game, with moments like encountering significant characters, such as the Ironfist Minister, eliciting tears of joy and excitement. This highlights the game's ability to create impactful and memorable experiences that resonate deeply with players.
- “The first time I saw the Ironfist Minister in the rune checklist, I cried, yes!”
- “The emotional depth of the characters really resonated with me, making their struggles feel personal.”
- “I was completely moved by the storyline; it left me reflecting on my own life long after I finished playing.”