Sentinels of the Multiverse
- December 22, 2014
- Handelabra Games Inc.
- 18h median play time
Sentinels of the Multiverse the Video Game is a solid, fun port of a great card game.
Sentinels of the Multiverse is a comic book-inspired card game where players control a team of heroes with unique abilities to defeat villains in dynamic environments. The digital version offers single-player and multiplayer options, with each card having special abilities that create powerful combos and change game rules. It includes all content from the physical game and its expansions.
Reviews
- Faithful adaptation of the beloved tabletop card game, capturing the essence of superhero battles.
- Automates bookkeeping and complex interactions, making gameplay smoother and more accessible.
- High replayability with a variety of heroes, villains, and environments, enhanced by expansions and unlockable variants.
- Multiplayer requires all players to own the same DLC, limiting accessibility for group play.
- Base game content is somewhat limited, leading to repetitive gameplay without expansions.
- User interface can be clunky and slow, with excessive clicking required for certain actions.
- gameplay153 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this card game adaptation is praised for its solid mechanics, depth, and replayability, making it enjoyable for both solo and cooperative play. While the game is easy to learn, it can become slow due to animations and complex interactions, and some players find the mechanics clunky or tedious at times. Overall, it offers a faithful and engaging experience reminiscent of the tabletop version, with unique character abilities and strategic gameplay that keeps players invested.
“For those who have never played SOTM: this is a fantastic co-op or solo card game, the music and art are charming, and the mechanics have a lot of depth.”
“Great soundtrack, easy to learn, hard to master game mechanics, and a blast to co-op with friends.”
“The depth of its strategic gameplay, story, and mechanics have only grown more elaborate with time, and it's still probably the best transfer of a tabletop game into digital format to date.”
“The mechanics are clunky and not fun.”
“The gameplay is tedious and extremely slow.”
“There are lots of animations that slow the gameplay down, even though in the settings I've disabled as many animations as possible.”
- music72 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its charm and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many players praising the diverse soundtracks that match various environments and themes. While some find the music slightly repetitive, it is generally described as catchy, enjoyable, and fitting for the superhero genre, contributing significantly to the game's immersive atmosphere. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the standout features, adding depth and excitement to both solo and cooperative gameplay.
“The soundtrack is honestly one of the best game soundtracks I've heard.”
“Each environment has its own unique music, and the music styles are diverse, matching the vibe of the environment.”
“The music is great and really adds to the comic book atmosphere.”
“The second largest gripe I have is a lack of options, especially regarding a very specific one for the music.”
“All villains have a theme track, but every single time I play, the environment music overrides it, which kind of feels sucky.”
“The music is also very cliché, but it does fit the theme of the game.”
- graphics63 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a stylized comic book aesthetic that appeals to fans of the genre, though opinions vary on its execution, with some finding it inconsistent and amateurish. While the artwork is generally praised for its vibrancy and alignment with the original card game, the animations and overall graphical fidelity are seen as lacking compared to modern standards. Despite these criticisms, many players appreciate the nostalgic charm and thematic coherence of the visuals, which enhance the gameplay experience.
“Love the way the gameplay keeps the original card game style but also brings the visuals back to the original comic books.”
“The graphics are clear and match the original game well, and retain the comic book feel.”
“The artwork is vibrant and colorful, befitting the comic book superhero theme.”
“The artwork may be fine (if a little inconsistent in parts) but it's not really animated well, with combat taking place within a comic-strip style of presentation.”
“It's like the budget runs out before the card art stage and someone on the team has a nephew that took graphic design as an elective in high school.”
“The graphics and audio are fairly amateurish.”
- replayability62 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, largely due to its vast array of heroes, villains, and environments, which create endless combinations and scenarios. While the base game offers substantial replay value, the addition of expansions and downloadable content significantly enhances the experience, making it even more engaging for players. However, some users noted that once optimal strategies are discovered, the incentive to explore new approaches may diminish, leading to a perception of limited replayability in certain contexts.
“The fact that it has so much to offer and has expanded so much over time—mix that in with the support from the fans in the modding community via the workshop... the possibilities and replay value are endless!”
“The endless combinations of scenarios you can create make the replay value excellent.”
“This card game is simple to learn, yet incredibly rich and complex; you can make 10 matches with the same villain and the same heroes without ever getting the same outcome twice, and the big variety of characters gives you infinite replayability, especially in multiplayer.”
“Replayability is somewhat limited in my opinion because once I have found a really good way to consistently beat a villain, I don't have much incentive to try and find other means to do so.”
“The base game can lose its replayability quickly, but adding all the expansions on makes this game fantastic!”
“While certain annual AAA multiplayer shooters can get away with that with their map packs, this game has none of the polish, charm, or replayability of any of those.”
- story56 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is characterized by a rich backstory and comic book-inspired lore, with each character having unique narratives and flavor text that enhance the gameplay experience. However, many players express disappointment over the absence of a traditional campaign or story mode, relying instead on weekly challenges and one-shots to provide context and engagement. While the game offers a narrative feel through its mechanics and character interactions, the lack of a cohesive storyline leaves some players wanting more.
“I love the way that this game tells a story as you play it.”
“Each character has their own unique story and purpose in the game.”
“The game itself is full of lore and hidden connections and story.”
“No campaign, no story, just a pretty bland card game.”
“It's sad that it lacks a story mode, especially with all this lore.”
“What was disappointing was a lack of story mode.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players appreciate that the game automates tedious bookkeeping tasks, enhancing the experience by allowing them to focus on strategy and fun rather than micromanagement. However, some users still find certain repetitive elements, like damage tracking and animations, can become tedious over time. Despite this, the game is praised for its ability to streamline gameplay compared to its analog counterpart.
“In the end, the game is more tedious than fun.”
“While the step-by-step process of certain things can get tedious (like 'x damage to all heroes' stuff), this is a great reproduction of the tabletop game.”
“Also, the animations for damage infliction have been improved since launch, which demonstrates the developers' dedication to refining and expanding the game, though these quickly become tedious.”
- stability9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is generally stable and bug-free, particularly in single-player mode, with players noting a solid experience and responsive developers who actively address issues. However, multiplayer functionality is reported to be significantly buggy, making it unreliable for those looking to play with friends. Despite some occasional bugs, the game is praised for its adaptation of the board game and the variety of card interactions.
“The graphics are nice, the product is remarkably bug-free, and the music is decent, though I usually listen to a podcast when playing.”
“The developers are incredibly responsive and quick to make fixes; this game has to be the most bug-free game I've played in years.”
“Runs great on GNU/Linux.”
“Warning: multiplayer is buggy; if you buy it mainly to play with friends, you probably shouldn't.”
“Multiplayer is so buggy it's unusable.”
“Occasional new features can be buggy, but they are constantly and actively being improved.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is consistently praised, with players highlighting the interesting and funny characters, as well as the hilarious homages to various comic books. The game's comedic elements enhance the experience, making it particularly enjoyable when played with friends, as each session offers unique and unpredictable moments that keep players laughing. Overall, the humor is a significant and engaging aspect of the gameplay.
“Addictively good, and hilarious to play with your friends on voice.”
“It was very easy to pick up the rules, each hero felt different from the rest, there were hilarious homages to real comics spanning numerous companies, and we would find ourselves immersed after hours planning, laughing, dreading, and cheering for the results of a simple card game.”
“I also laugh at the subtle humor in their characters.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive and thematic elements, effectively enhancing the tactical card gameplay. Players appreciate the variety and challenge presented, with specific mechanics like "oxygen leak" contributing to a sense of urgency and strategy. Additionally, the music complements the comic book aesthetic, further enriching the overall experience.
“Huge game for solo play, with a crazy amount of variety and challenging card fights that create a fitting atmosphere.”
“It's just a tactical card game, but it's fun and has a captivating atmosphere.”
“The music is great and really enhances the comic book atmosphere.”
“Despite some minor gripes with lack of UI features, the game is faithful to the tabletop and adds much to the theme and atmosphere.”
“Or at 'Wagner Mars Base,' there is a card 'Oxygen Leak' that causes massive 'toxic' damage to everything if you don't deal with it for a full turn (effectively venting the atmosphere into the vacuum of space), but if you can find a way to make your team immune to 'toxic' damage you can have 'Oxygen Leak' trash the enemy while you remain unscratched.”
- monetization5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is generally viewed positively, with no microtransactions or pay-to-win mechanics, enhancing playability through new mods. While some perceive certain DLCs, like foil card packs, as cash grabs, they are justified as rewards for Kickstarter backers and do not increase in price upon wider release. Overall, the monetization strategy appears to balance player satisfaction with revenue generation.
“Very few bugs; no microtransactions or pay-to-win mechanics; the new mods have added ages of playability to the game.”
“Cash grab.”
“It's free advertisement and may convince others in the game to buy that champion.”
“I get people see DLC and think it’s a cash grab, but that is not the case.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express that the game evokes strong emotional connections, with one user highlighting the immersive experience of feeling like Spider-Man. Another reviewer notes that it successfully inspires imagination and a sense of heroism, comparable to their experiences with pen-and-paper games.
“Truly one of the best games I've ever played; it really made me feel like Spider-Man.”
“I've played pen-and-paper games that inspired my imagination and made me feel like a superhero, but this is the first computer game that pulled off the same trick.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in "Sentinels of the Multiverse" is praised for its unique and engaging designs, drawing inspiration from a fictional comic book series. Players find the characters to be lovable and interesting, enhancing the overall experience of the game.
“The character development in this game is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each hero and villain.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, with their backstories and motivations becoming more complex as the story unfolds.”
“The unique abilities and traits of each character make every playthrough feel fresh and engaging, enhancing the overall experience.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is praised for surpassing the board game by effectively managing ongoing effects and interactions, resulting in a smoother gameplay experience.
“It's actually better than the board game in some regards—having the game keep track of all the various ongoing effects and interactions makes everything run smoothly.”
“The optimization in this game is impressive; it allows for seamless gameplay without the usual clutter of managing resources manually.”
“I love how the game optimizes the user experience, making it easy to focus on strategy rather than getting bogged down by micromanagement.”