Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars
- October 28, 2021
- Square Enix
- 10h median play time
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Get on PS Store"Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars" is a role-playing game presented in the style of a tabletop card game, where players embark on a journey to defeat a dragon. The game is part of a trilogy, which also includes "The Forsaken Maiden" and "The Beasts of Burden," and offers downloadable content that changes the design of in-game components. This first title in the series follows the Ivory Order as they search for a stolen royal treasure.
Reviews
- Unique card-based aesthetic that enhances the storytelling experience.
- Beautiful artwork and a fantastic soundtrack that complements the game.
- Engaging characters and humorous writing that adds charm to the narrative.
- Gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks depth, making battles too easy.
- The story is relatively short and predictable, lacking the complexity of other Yoko Taro titles.
- Clunky UI and slow animations can detract from the overall experience.
- story460 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of "Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars" is generally described as simple and straightforward, often following familiar fantasy tropes, but it features engaging characters and some humorous moments. While some players appreciate the unique tabletop RPG presentation and the narration style, many find the plot predictable and lacking depth, with limited player choices that do not significantly impact the narrative. Overall, the storytelling is seen as charming and enjoyable, though it may not meet the expectations set by Yoko Taro's previous works.
“The story is engaging and combat, movement, abilities, and environments purely made of cards is a pretty fun aesthetic.”
“The story, while simple in presentation, was very well put together, and in classic Yoko Taro fashion, there were moments in the game where I definitely felt like I was being bullied by his game mechanics.”
“The story is nice, the combat is entertaining, I beat the game and got the true ending so I've done pretty much everything there is to do.”
“The story is bare bones, it's boring and really that's a shame.”
“The story kept me very bored; it's the most plain fantasy story I have ever seen.”
“The plot is pretty linear; you won't find yourself doubling back very often.”
- gameplay193 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily a straightforward turn-based RPG with simple mechanics that can become repetitive and tedious over time. While the card and dice aesthetics add a unique visual flair, they do not significantly impact the mechanics, leading to a lack of depth and challenge. Overall, the game is easy to learn and offers a decent experience, but it may not satisfy players seeking more complex gameplay or strategic depth.
“Enchanting story, easy to learn mechanics, and hard to put down.”
“The gameplay is enjoyable for the most part.”
“The characters are dripping with personality, and the gameplay was simple, yet enjoyable.”
“The gameplay gets rather tiring with time, and combat isn't the most interesting for sure.”
“The game also doesn't save itself with its gameplay elements; combat is dull and other than that, it's a clicking through text simulator.”
“The gameplay is extremely tedious and the novelty wears off really quick.”
- music177 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beauty and atmospheric quality, with many reviewers praising the work of composer Keiichi Okabe. However, some players noted the limited number of tracks, which can lead to repetition during gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the game's charm and complements its artistic presentation, making it a standout feature despite its brevity.
“The mood is there, the narrator is great, the soundtrack isn't oppressive and lends itself to a small tabletop adventure like this one.”
“The music is stunning, the character cast is lovable and diverse, and the art is easy on the eyes.”
“The art and music are fantastic and pull you into a good story.”
“The soundtrack itself is surprisingly small.”
“I was extremely disappointed with the soundtrack; it's like the same 5 songs with some slight variations.”
“Normal battles get nothing, the overworld music's what you'll get, and you better be prepared to hear the same slow-relaxing tune over and over.”
- graphics158 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are characterized by a charming and unique card-based aesthetic that effectively creates a cozy atmosphere, complemented by beautiful artwork and a fitting soundtrack. However, many reviewers note that while the visuals are appealing, they lack depth and originality, often feeling repetitive and underutilized in gameplay. Overall, the graphics are praised for their artistic quality, but they are primarily aesthetic choices rather than integral to the game's mechanics.
“But it's a cozy game with great visuals and a great mood.”
“Both the wonderful artwork and the beautiful music create a nice atmosphere.”
“The visuals of the game are based around cards, including the menus, characters, enemies, and the map, which adds a unique charm to the gameplay.”
“Presentation-wise, while the aesthetic is charming, the game really doesn't do much with its format to impress, and generally, cut scenes are very dry visually.”
“The cards are simply an aesthetic (albeit a very pleasing one at first) that help hide the fact this is a grid-based RPG and that the character UI and customization options are extremely bare.”
“The card aesthetic is just that: an aesthetic, which is disappointing.”
- humor47 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of lighthearted and dark elements, with many players appreciating the quirky character interactions and amusing backstories. While some found the humor juvenile or hit-or-miss, others enjoyed the narrator's dry wit and the overall comedic tone that kept the experience engaging. Despite some criticisms regarding predictability and writing quality, many players felt the humor added charm and personality to the game, making it a fun and relaxing experience.
“There are many characters with hilarious backstories and the overall main story is also quite good.”
“I am only 6 hours in and I know humor is subjective, but man, this game is hilarious.”
“The character interactions, the occasional humor coming from the narrator, and beautiful (if a little narrow) music made this a great RPG that I enjoyed from start to finish.”
- grinding44 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, especially towards the end where it feels like filler content. While some appreciate the art, music, and story, they note that the combat becomes monotonous and the user interface can exacerbate the grind. Overall, players suggest that while minimal grinding is needed for completion, the experience can be frustrating and time-consuming, particularly for those aiming for 100% achievements.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Hyper repetitive and long, mindless grinding.”
“The last 5 hours of my playthrough was just me grinding out all the extra bits to finish the game.”
“Grinding in a game is lazy design.”
- atmosphere14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a cozy and relaxed vibe, enhanced by beautiful artwork and music that evoke nostalgia and lightheartedness. While some reviewers note a "generic fantasy" setting, the combination of humor and simplicity in gameplay creates an enjoyable and immersive experience that allows players to focus on the story. Overall, the atmosphere is appreciated for its accessibility and charm, making it a pleasant backdrop for the game's narrative.
“Both the wonderful artwork and the beautiful music create a nice atmosphere.”
“Every character, enemy, and scenario is represented this way, creating a nostalgic and unique atmosphere that clearly differentiates it from other RPGs.”
“It has a cozy atmosphere to return to, and was an overall enjoyable experience.”
“Tl:dr - surface level aesthetic with a lukewarm story and a cozy atmosphere.”
“Atmosphere: separately from aesthetic... the world's atmosphere is basically 'generic fantasy'.”
“The narrator's sense of humor really gives the game personality, but I'm seeing the creeping hints of Yoko Taro's morbid writing past all the (mostly) lighthearted atmosphere.”
- emotional11 mentions
- 91 % positive mentions
- -18 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some users appreciate the touching narrative and character moments crafted by Yoko Taro, others feel that the lack of character voice acting and a monotone narrator diminish the emotional impact. The music enhances the experience with beautiful tracks, but the overall engagement can suffer due to the delivery of the story. Despite its simplicity, the game offers a fun and occasionally heart-wrenching experience that resonates with players.
“Yoko Taro, with his characteristic touch, ensures that emotional moments and surprises are present, offering a solid narrative that, while not revolutionary, is certainly entertaining.”
“It was a fantastic experience with funny, emotional, and shocking moments.”
“If you're looking for a fun and sometimes heart-breaking story with a simple combat system and very lovable characters, this is a perfect choice!”
“The narrator sounds fine at first but quickly turns into a drone with very little inflection, as if you're telling a boring story over a campfire.”
“The emotional moments feel forced and lack the depth needed to truly resonate with the player.”
“I found myself completely detached from the characters; their struggles didn't evoke any real feelings.”
- character development9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the reviews indicate a significant lack of character development in the game, with many players noting that while the story and character designs are visually appealing, they fall short in depth and interaction. Comparisons to other JRPGs, particularly Final Fantasy, highlight this deficiency, as players expect richer character arcs and development that are largely absent here.
“The story is amazing, character designs are super cool, and the music is great.”
“The art on the cards is wonderful and the character designs are pretty fun, and the way the cards are animated adds a lot to the immersion.”
“Character designs are interesting.”
“There's not a lot of character development.”
“The cons I felt most about were the random encounters that you were not able to stop - but per the part of some JRPGs, so not surprising, and the lack of character development and interaction as well as an extremely basic story.”
“[spoiler] The two non-starting party members get basically no character development after their hometown.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is considered low, with many players feeling that the minimal content and lack of significant new features in New Game Plus do not justify a second playthrough. The short completion time and limited character engagement further contribute to the sentiment that the game does not offer enough value for its price.
“Some replayability.”
“The volume of the game and the extent of replayability does not warrant a $30 price tag.”
“The game for me at least was 11 hours; sadly, the replay value isn't a thing, and that is kind of sad once you finished the game.”
“I don't think they added anything in New Game Plus, and if they did, the replayability of the game is too low to merit a second playthrough, as the narration and exploration at this point are a drag.”
“The volume of the game and the extent of replayability do not warrant the $30 price tag.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is highly variable, with performance largely dependent on the player's hardware; some users report flawless operation on mid-range systems, while others note that character progression can feel tedious without a well-optimized build. Overall, the game's artwork is its standout feature, overshadowing its lack of engaging gameplay mechanics.
“Performance depends on your PC, but it ran flawlessly on mine (I have a Lenovo RTX 2060) with fullscreen 1920x1080.”
“You will have explored the entire map by this time and still need 5-10 levels for each of your characters to beat the final boss if you are going with anything other than a tightly optimized build.”
“This was like a performance piece in how to make a game with only one positive quality, the artwork, to see if that would make a game successful.”
“This isn't interesting grinding either; you will have explored the entire map by this time and still need 5-10 levels for each of your characters to beat the final boss if you are going with anything other than a tightly optimized build.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy has been criticized for being misleading, as the game's advertising suggests a unique experience that is not reflected in the actual gameplay, which lacks originality and does not involve card play despite the thematic implications.
“Don't let the art style from their ads fool you; this has zero originality beyond the minor visual changes.”
“The advertising and theming are very confusing because the game does not involve card play in any capacity.”
