Verses of Enchantment
- August 1, 2023
- Nachtvlam
- 11h median play time
Get on Steam""Verses of Enchantment" is a deckbuilding card game set in an 18th-century fantasy world, where you learn magic as cards from diverse wizards. Win duels to collect new cards, and craft poetry from your played cards to unleash strategic effects. Master 5 schools of magic and create a legendary deck for the ages. "
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Reviews
- The game features a unique and engaging concept that combines deck building with AI-generated poetry, creating a fresh gameplay experience.
- The art, music, and overall atmosphere are beautifully crafted, enhancing the immersive experience of the game.
- The gameplay mechanics are enjoyable and well-balanced, allowing for strategic deck building and synergies between cards.
- The game suffers from a lack of content, with repetitive battles and limited story elements, making it feel shallow after a short playtime.
- Many players find the gameplay to be too straightforward and lacking depth, leading to predictable decisions and strategies.
- Technical issues, such as slow animations and UI scaling problems, can detract from the overall experience, especially on lower-end hardware.
- gameplay30 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a unique blend of card battling and poetry generation, offering an interesting and aesthetically pleasing experience. While the mechanics are fresh and engaging, some players find the depth lacking, with limited strategic options and a repetitive nature. The inclusion of a "hunger" mechanic can detract from the overall enjoyment, making resource management feel more like a chore than an integral part of the gameplay.
“Mechanically, it's a very interesting and fun concept; the balance is good, and there is a decent amount of synergies between the poetry themes (nature-themed, gloomy, romantic...) you have 5 deck slots that can be edited and swapped between fights.”
“The card gameplay is unique, and so is the AI-generated poetry. Every duel I'm amazed by how versatile and interesting the poetry is, and they all connect into the duel mechanic.”
“Especially considering just how much fun there is to be had here; a relaxing and engaging gameplay loop that constantly surprises you with high-quality poems and genuinely unique game design.”
“The one big downside is, as I mentioned above, that the gameplay is not very deep, and if you're looking for a very cerebral card game with complex interactions between cards, you may be disappointed.”
“Unfortunately, this is also where my main complaint about the gameplay lies.”
“The status effects and word types kind of give that vibe, but they are both temporal and as such the gameplay doesn't allow much building up strategies.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are highly praised for their early modern oil painting aesthetic, complemented by a thoughtful use of public domain artwork that enhances the baroque theme. Reviewers highlight the top-notch art direction, seamless user interface, and the harmonious integration of visuals with music and sound design, creating a captivating and immersive experience. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's unique and aesthetically pleasing atmosphere.
“The art direction is top notch, both the graphics and the music.”
“The game loads in a second, the user interface is near flawless and the art style, music, and poetry (and the combination of the three!) is simply fantastic.”
“For the artwork, public domain paintings were used, which is just such a smart way to handle the need for captivating visuals that fit well in the baroque spell-slinging universe it sets up.”
- music8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is consistently praised for its pleasing quality and ability to remain engaging throughout gameplay, enhancing the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the harmonious combination of music, art, and sound effects, creating a beautiful and calming atmosphere that complements the game's aesthetic. The art direction and musical composition are noted as standout features, contributing to a unique and immersive ambiance.
“Music is pleasing, doesn't get old, which I feel is important in these types of card games.”
“All in all, a unique game with beautiful ambient music and lovely artwork.”
“The music, sound design, artwork, etc. all come together beautifully to create a calming little pocket dimension just for me.”
- story8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal, primarily serving to establish the setting rather than providing a robust narrative. While some quests feature elaborate chains and clever interactions, players express a desire for more branching choices and character-driven storytelling to enhance the overall experience. Despite its limitations, the concept and mechanics related to storytelling are appreciated, suggesting potential for future updates to expand this aspect.
“Still, a great concept. I would say it did work - both in terms of story building/world concept (battle of wits and words! Love it!) and in terms of mechanics (how the game generates and uses poems).”
“I like that there's some storytelling instead of being 100% about the deck and duels.”
“Some of these quests are very elaborate, with one poet giving a clue to visit a second poet, who then gives you a clue to visit a third poet, and so on, with the ultimate reward at the end of the chain being a very rare card.”
“There's not much of a story.”
“There is barely a story.”
“The story is almost non-existent and only exists to set up the setting (and at least that part is well made and game characters respond well to your actions).”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its delightful style and immersive qualities, setting a captivating mood that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlight its distinctiveness among deckbuilders and its ability to create a rich, enchanting world that keeps players engaged and returning for more.
“I enjoyed the style and atmosphere of this delightful little game, as well as the gameplay.”
“With different modes, a rich world, and an atmosphere worthy of the Potterverse, what more could an avid card game player wish for?”
“Add to those two strengths, a game that manages to create an immersive atmosphere, and you have a foolproof method to spend your evenings in a relaxing cocoon of your own making.”
