Spectromancer
- February 11, 2009
- Three Donkeys LLC
- 37h median play time
Get on SteamSpectromancer is a fantasy turn-based strategy card game, co-designed by Richard Garfield and Alexey Stankevich. Play as one of six mage types and duel against the computer or other online players in local or multi-player mode, using five magical elements to defeat opponents. With varied gameplay options, players can unlock new spells and allies, providing an engaging and strategic experience.
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PC
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Reviews
- Spectromancer offers a unique and engaging card game experience with strategic depth, allowing players to adapt to random card selections each match.
- The game features a well-designed single-player campaign and a challenging AI, making it enjoyable for both casual and competitive players.
- With no pay-to-win mechanics and a focus on skill, Spectromancer is a refreshing alternative to traditional collectible card games.
- The game suffers from frustrating DRM issues, including a limited number of activations and the need to manually input activation codes, which can lock players out of their purchases.
- Many players find the graphics and overall presentation to be dated and lacking polish, which detracts from the overall experience.
- The random deck mechanic in campaign mode can lead to frustrating matches where players feel at the mercy of luck rather than strategy.
- gameplay26 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its originality and strategic depth, featuring a unique card mechanic that encourages tactical planning and adaptability. While the campaign offers a variety of scenarios and fast-paced action, some players note issues with card synergy and balance, leading to moments of repetitive gameplay. Overall, the mechanics are well-executed, providing an engaging experience that stands out among traditional card games.
“Fun card game, the campaign is mechanically interesting, the AI knows what it's doing at the higher difficulties, and the random deck mechanic keeps things fresh and teaches you to use each card to the best of your ability.”
“The unique game mechanics allow for tactical planning ahead to a much greater degree than what is usually seen in card games.”
“At the end of the day, this is a fairly straightforward card combat game, but the mechanics are well done and the campaign has a steady addition of new cards and new challenges that keep it fresh.”
“The cards don't gather quite enough synergy to be truly exciting, and the one campaign makes for repetitive gameplay.”
“No deck building and not very interesting gameplay.”
“That being said, I have some problems with the mechanics as well.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players finding them dated and clunky, which can detract from the overall experience. However, others appreciate the unique artwork and art style, noting that the game offers great value despite its visual shortcomings. Overall, while the graphics may not be state-of-the-art, the gameplay and concept are well-executed and enjoyable.
“What caught my eye was the unique artwork and the different roles you can play.”
“I also like the art style and class choices.”
“A game that combines nice graphics and sounds with an extremely well idea, balancing, community, cost-benefit ratio and AI, and furthermore, is very well developed, bug free and perfectly balanced.”
“Do be warned that the visuals are not just dated, they can hurt your fun, as the animations are unbearably slow and clunky.”
“Fair graphics and music.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability due to its unique deckbuilding mechanics, randomized decks, and engaging class combinations, making it a favorite among players since its release in 2008. Users appreciate the balance and depth that contribute to its enduring appeal.
“It is a small, unique deckbuilding card battler with potentially unlimited replayability.”
“One of my all-time favorites; I've been enjoying it since 2008. The balance, depth, and replay value are that good.”
“Great replayability because of randomized decks in the default game mode.”
- story4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The story in the game is considered secondary to the card gameplay, with a simple presentation through pop-up text boxes that some players found unengaging and confusing. While it features a campaign mode and interesting card sets, the overall narrative lacks depth and production value, making it suitable for those primarily interested in the card mechanics rather than a compelling story.
“It runs smoothly, doesn't have big demands, has an interesting story, campaign mode, tournament mode, and the card sets are cool enough.”
“The negatives here are that the visual and sound design of the game are very simple, and the story, which didn't really interest me, is told in pop-up boxes of text.”
“Good enough for a couple of playthroughs, even if the storyline made little sense to me.”
“Ost, production value, animation, story... all these elements are severely limited and take a backseat to the actual card game, so only buy this if that sounds interesting.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players finding it memorable and enjoyable. While some users noted that they preferred to listen to their own playlists during gameplay, the overall consensus is that the music complements the experience effectively.
“Awesome card game with good music!”
“The music is memorable.”
“Fair graphics and music.”
“The music is forgettable and lacks any real impact.”
“The soundtrack feels repetitive and uninspired.”
“The audio quality is subpar, making it hard to enjoy the music.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly in the vs. AI mode, which can become repetitive before players can engage in duels. Those who prefer less grinding may find this feature off-putting.
“It's best if you don't like a lot of grinding before you can duel with AI.”
“The versus AI mode gets kind of tedious eventually.”
- stability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is highly inconsistent, with some users reporting frequent bugs and constant freezing, while others praise it as well-developed and bug-free. This disparity suggests that player experiences may vary significantly, impacting overall enjoyment.
“A game that combines nice graphics and sounds with an extremely well thought-out idea, balancing, community, cost-benefit ratio, and AI. Furthermore, it is very well developed, bug-free, and perfectly balanced.”
“The game is incredibly buggy and freezes constantly.”
“I experience frequent crashes that make it unplayable.”
“Stability issues ruin the overall experience; I can't progress without interruptions.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its smooth performance and low system demands, making it accessible to a wide range of players. The mechanics have been effectively optimized for online gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.
“It runs smoothly, doesn't have big demands, has an interesting story, campaign mode, tournament mode, and the card sets are cool enough.”
“Mechanics are comparable but clearly have been optimized for internet gameplay.”
“The mechanics are comparable but clearly have been optimized for internet gameplay.”
“The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to frequent lag and crashes.”
“Despite its potential, the optimization is so poor that it ruins the overall experience.”
