Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game
- January 21, 2024
- Darksun Studio
- 95h 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.
Reviews
- Yi Xian is a unique blend of auto-battler and deck-building mechanics, offering a refreshing gameplay experience with a focus on strategy and card combinations.
- The game features a variety of characters and factions, each with unique abilities and playstyles, providing significant depth and replayability.
- Players can unlock all characters and side jobs through gameplay without needing to spend real money, making it accessible and fair.
- The English translations can be rough and confusing at times, which may hinder understanding of certain mechanics and card interactions.
- There are reports of server connectivity issues, which can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustration during matches.
- Some players feel that the game has a steep learning curve, making it challenging for newcomers to grasp the mechanics and strategies quickly.
- gameplay71 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its depth and accessibility, combining elements of card-based mechanics and autobattlers in a strategic and engaging manner. While some players note issues with English translations and a learning curve for certain mechanics, the overall experience is described as addictive and rewarding, with all gameplay features unlockable through play rather than requiring monetary investment. The game offers a variety of character builds and strategies, making it appealing to fans of similar genres.
“The gameplay is deep but also easily accessible.”
“Incredible card-based autobattler with refreshing gameplay.”
“The gameplay feels like auto battle Slay the Spire focused on 1v1 duels, which is simple and easy to learn, but the deck building between duels is actually pretty deep.”
“And I know other reviews have mentioned the usual 'oh you can unlock everything through gameplay' stuff every free-to-play game says about itself, and this just completely misleads new players.”
“The English translation is a bit lackluster and confusing, especially in regards to some of the more complex mechanics.”
“Cons: difficult at first due to translation and having some complex mechanics.”
- monetization37 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game primarily revolves around cosmetic microtransactions, with no necessary purchases impacting gameplay. Players can unlock all characters and content through generous in-game currency rewards, making the microtransactions largely optional and non-intrusive. While some reviews express concern over the presence of in-game purchases, the consensus is that they do not detract from the overall experience and are not a pay-to-win system.
“In terms of monetization, the only things are cosmetics (different art for the cards and outfits for the characters).”
“The negative reviews around microtransactions are unwarranted.”
“There is 0 pressure or need to spend money on microtransactions, so don't let that put you off at all.”
“When 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.”
- music19 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its relaxing and beautiful qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a chill atmosphere. While many players appreciate the soundtrack, some note that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the combination of nice music and stunning visuals contributes positively to the game's appeal, despite some concerns about translation issues related to music-themed cards.
“Fun and relaxing card autobattler with pretty art and nice music!”
“It is a relaxing experience for me, especially with the music.”
“I kind of hope they release an OST for Yi Xian because I personally would buy it; the music to me is beautiful.”
“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.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beauty and elegant art style, contributing to an immersive experience. Players appreciate the stunning visuals and charming animations, which enhance the overall gameplay, despite some basic animation quality. Overall, the game's aesthetic is a significant highlight, complementing its engaging gameplay mechanics.
“It has beautiful graphics, a very elegant art style and a not too shabby gameplay loop.”
“The graphics are gorgeous.”
“Gorgeous art style and nice gameplay with a lot of strategic depth.”
“The graphics are fine, but the English translation is clear yet horribly worded. The single-player mode is uninspired, but the multiplayer gameplay is so good you should get it anyway.”
“The artwork is very pretty, but the animations, while very basic, do make the fights a little more visually interesting to watch than, say, Super Auto Pets.”
“Decent background music, charming graphics, and enough build diversity to keep you busy for a while.”
- replayability7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers significant replayability through its engaging singleplayer modes, diverse character options, and 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 of characters and modes available keeps the experience fresh and enjoyable for many. The game's low price further enhances its appeal, making it a worthwhile investment for those seeking replayable content.
“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.”
“Very replayable, hones in on creative strategy, and rewards player skill.”
“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.”
- story6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is noted for its potential but is hampered by rough translations and a lack of depth in the single-player mode, which some players feel is necessary for a complete experience. While the card interactions and missions provide a narrative-like quality, the overall storytelling is considered less polished compared to other titles in the genre. Despite these shortcomings, the game is still recommended for fans of deckbuilding roguelikes.
“The card title 'flavors' and the interactions of cards is like storytelling in a deck builder.”
“Overall, a must-play for deckbuilding roguelike fans; I would put it next to Slay the Spire, Dream Quest, and Errannorth as the very best of the genre.”
“The single-player options help flesh out the playtime, although the primitive uncharted realms mode is not as full-featured as Slay the Spire, and the translation for the story mode is a little rough.”
“It's a really good wuxia card game PvP, but this game needs a single-player story. You are paying for the game, and you can also purchase jades.”
“Translation needs work, but this game has everything I love: cards, autobattling, transcending mortality, and the same plot as everything else in the genre.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally view grinding as a necessary aspect of the game, primarily for unlocking additional characters and sub-classes, which can be time-consuming or require microtransactions. However, many emphasize the importance of enjoying the game itself rather than focusing solely on grinding for progression, noting that the currency earned through gameplay facilitates quicker access to diverse characters and jobs without feeling excessively grindy.
“The only real downside is that additional characters and sub-classes are locked behind a lot of grinding - or paying for microtransactions.”
“People grinding currency means fast queue times for PvP, and you get given enough currency to buy several characters/jobs to diversify your experience.”
“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.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its amusing localization, which adds a layer of hilarity to the gameplay. Players find the comedic elements particularly surprising and enjoyable, especially given the competitive nature of the PvP format.
“Good gameplay, hilariously funny localization :)”
“It's funny that this is a PvP game!”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development in this game is criticized for being minimal and lacking depth, as it primarily serves as a superficial layer over a mediocre card game rather than offering meaningful growth or engagement typical of the cultivation genre.
“The character development feels shallow and uninspired, lacking any meaningful progression or depth.”
“There is very little connection to the cultivation genre; it feels more like a mediocre card game with superficial character designs.”
“The characters lack any real growth or complexity, making it hard to become invested in their stories.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its beauty and refinement, enhancing the overall experience of the auto-battler genre.
“A really great take on auto-battlers that refines the genre and adds a beautiful atmosphere on top.”
