Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game
- January 21, 2024
- Darksun Studio
- 84h median play time
Get on Steam"Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game" is a card game where players build their deck by choosing appropriate cards and exerting the biggest power of their cards by combining and collocating them. Each game, players can choose a Sub-Profession with a set of exclusive cards, allowing for different game experiences. The game also features Destiny, a gift of fate with various effects that players can choose from each time they break through.
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Reviews
- Yi Xian offers a unique blend of deck-building and autobattler mechanics, providing a fresh and engaging gameplay experience.
- The game features a variety of characters and sects, each with unique abilities and playstyles, allowing for diverse strategies and builds.
- The art and music are beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall atmosphere and enjoyment of the game.
- The English localization is often poor, leading to confusion about card mechanics and abilities.
- There are frequent server issues and disconnections, which can disrupt gameplay and frustrate players.
- Some players feel that the game has a steep learning curve, making it difficult for newcomers to grasp the mechanics quickly.
- gameplay140 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game" is praised for its deep strategic mechanics, blending deck-building and autobattler elements in a unique way that keeps players engaged. While the game features a steep learning curve due to some translation issues and complex mechanics, it offers a rewarding experience with a variety of builds and regular updates that enhance its replayability. Overall, players find the gameplay addictive and enjoyable, despite occasional confusion stemming from localization challenges.
“The balance between deck-building strategy and real-time decision-making during battles creates a compelling gameplay experience.”
“The gameplay is deep but also easily accessible.”
“The fusion of deck-building and autobattler mechanics in Yi Xian is seamless and innovative.”
“The only drawback is that the occasionally spotty translation and large amounts of text and mechanics can leave you feeling confused about what happens without studying a lot.”
“There are some mechanics that are hard to figure out due to translation issues, but those are getting improved with each patch, so I'm hopeful it will be clear and understandable before too long.”
“The English translation is a bit lackluster and confusing, especially in regards to some of the more complex mechanics.”
- monetization43 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
Overall, the monetization model of the game is viewed positively, with most microtransactions being limited to cosmetic items such as skins and characters, which do not impact gameplay. Players report that in-game currency is generously awarded, allowing them to unlock content without spending real money, and there is no pressure to engage with the microtransactions. While some concerns about character unlocks exist, the consensus is that the monetization is fair and not predatory.
“Well designed game with a favorable monetization scheme.”
“No but seriously, you can safely ignore any reviews talking about pay-to-win microtransactions; you can buy cosmetics for premium currency, but unlockables are bought using the in-game, grindable currency.”
“While this game has additional in-app purchases, it was not necessary to enjoy the game completely, as the game is pretty generous with the resources you need to unlock new characters or new jobs.”
“Wen you open the game for the first time it appears like a mobile cash grab.”
“The only real downside is that additional characters and sub-classes are locked behind a lot of grinding - or paying for microtransactions.”
“I think the skepticism behind the game being paid and also including microtransactions is valid; it should either be free or have no paywalls for the gameplay unlockables.”
- music31 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its beauty and relaxing qualities, contributing significantly to the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the traditional Chinese music, which enhances the game's aesthetic and pacing, while some note that the soundtrack could become repetitive over time. Overall, the combination of nice music and stunning visuals creates a pleasant and immersive experience for players.
“I just love this game so much, from the music to the actual gameplay.”
“The soundtrack is beautiful and the core gameplay loop is addictive.”
“The Chinese traditional music gives the game a great atmosphere and helps set the pacing of combat/gameplay.”
“Amazing art, nice but repetitive music, and the characters feel fluent, well made, and unique.”
“The translation is super poor in spots too; there is some card calling musician's chant (or something, can't remember the exact words) and it talks about 'music' cards... no card has the 'music' tag and this card is actually part of a puzzle. You just have to play around and hope something is musical, and... I dunno, say...'twisting chairs flower dance' is in fact not just an interesting way of saying 'stick you with the pointy end while dodging your attack' but is in fact somehow music related and an actual dance someone is doing in the middle of a fight.”
“Also, the music got worse, but that's just an opinion.”
- graphics31 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning artwork and clean, aesthetically pleasing art style, particularly reflecting a Chinese fantasy theme. While some users note that the UI could be improved, the overall visual experience enhances the gameplay, making it enjoyable and engaging. The animations are basic but add visual interest, and there are no significant bugs reported, contributing to a polished presentation.
“The artwork is stunning, featuring beautifully illustrated cards that evoke the grandeur and mystique of ancient China.”
“The artwork is stunning, flowing, and brims with vivacity.”
“It has beautiful graphics, a very elegant art style and a not too shabby gameplay loop.”
“The graphics and UI are not the greatest, but it does not impact the core of the gameplay.”
“Kinda' addictive after you spend 30 minutes getting used to the graphics/interface.”
“The graphics are fine, the English translation is clear but horribly worded; the single-player mode is uninspired, but the multiplayer gameplay is so good you should get it anyway.”
- story22 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that the English translation is rough and at times difficult to follow, detracting from the overall narrative experience. While some appreciate the basic storyline and single-player modes, others find the plot lacking depth and often choose to skip dialogue in favor of gameplay. Overall, the game is seen more as a deck-building and autobattler experience rather than a compelling narrative-driven title.
“The card title 'flavors' and the interactions of cards is like storytelling in a deck builder.”
“There are also single-player modes with tutorials and challenges, as well as a rudimentary storyline for those who care to read through it.”
“The English translation of the story is not very good and hard to follow if you aren't used to that kind of thing, which might be off-putting at first.”
“Story mode is draggy and too long to go through, but you can choose to skip all the dialogue.”
“Translation is functional, mechanics are generally well translated, but the little story fluff they put here and there is a bit rough to read.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers significant replayability through its engaging singleplayer modes, diverse character options, and balanced roguelike elements that encourage creative strategies and skill development. While some players note a decline in replay value after completing the hardest difficulty, the variety and accessibility of characters keep the experience fresh and enjoyable. The low price point further enhances its appeal for repeated playthroughs.
“Singleplayer modes are another point of my personal gratitude for the game - showcasing the interactions, having great roguelike aspects, and most importantly, enough replayability is what makes me come back for more.”
“The RNG aspect and good balance provide enough variety for excellent replayability.”
“The replayability is incredible; the game is fun, it's fairly balanced, and the price is absurdly low for the quality you get.”
“Not a ton of replay value once you've cleared the hardest setting, but it'll take a decent amount of time to get there.”
“Singleplayer modes gotta be another point of my personal gratitude for the game - showcasing the interactions, having great roguelike aspects and most importantly, enough replayability is what makes me come here for more.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game" is characterized by its quirky blend of strategy and zen elements, often enhanced by amusingly literal translations that result in unintentionally funny sentences. While some players find the humor lacking overall, the comedic aspects of the localization provide a lighthearted charm that adds to the game's appeal.
“Like 'Magic: The Gathering' on a meditation retreat, 'Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game' blends strategy and zen with a dash of humor!”
“It is the one complaint I agree they could do better on, as it is pretty evident that the translations are very literal translations of the Chinese words, which leads to some funny sentences.”
“Good gameplay, horribly funny localization.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players acknowledge that grinding is a significant aspect of the game, primarily for unlocking additional characters and sub-classes, which can be frustrating for some. However, many suggest embracing the grind as part of the overall enjoyment, noting that it facilitates faster queue times for PvP and allows for diverse gameplay experiences without excessive effort. Overall, while grinding exists, it is balanced by the ability to unlock everything through gameplay rather than relying heavily on microtransactions.
“The only real downside is that additional characters and sub-classes are locked behind a lot of grinding - or paying for microtransactions.”
“I've seen people say that the characters are a bit grindy, and yes, that's true, but that's kind of the point, isn't it?”
“Do not think of this as 'oh I'm grinding them to level 5 so I can play them in ranked,' but instead just enjoy the game you're playing.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players find the optimization aspect of the game to be a double-edged sword; while there are numerous strategies and card combinations to explore, new players may struggle without guidance, as success often hinges on luck and the current meta balance.
“With a wide variety of cards to collect and multiple strategies to explore, players have ample opportunities for experimentation and optimization.”
“New players can easily get confused and frustrated unless they read a guide for whatever character and style they're playing. Even then, your actual performance is still mostly dependent on luck and the current state of the meta/balance.”
“The optimization mechanics feel underdeveloped, making it hard to fine-tune strategies effectively.”
“Balancing issues lead to a frustrating experience, as certain characters or strategies dominate, leaving little room for optimization.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by traditional Chinese music, which effectively complements the pacing of combat and gameplay. This unique approach not only refines the auto-battler genre but also creates a beautifully immersive experience.
“The Chinese traditional music gives the game a great atmosphere and helps set the pacing of combat and gameplay.”
“A really great take on auto-battlers that refines the genre and adds a beautiful atmosphere on top.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in this game is minimal and lacks depth, as it primarily serves as a superficial layer over a mediocre card game. The use of cultivation themes is limited to character design, with no innovative mechanics or engaging narrative elements to enhance the experience.
“It has extremely little to do with cultivation or Chinese fantasy; it's just a mediocre card game with a few terms and character designs that resemble cultivation, but there are no actual inspired mechanics or interesting takes on the genre.”
