We’re already in the middle of a terrifying season and we’ve seen some scary games, but Devolver Digital was lacking to jump on the bandwagon. This year, the distributor is partnering with Daniel Mullins Games to offer a spooky card game called Inscryption that combines deck progression, villainous elements and even escape room puzzles for a disturbing experience of psychological horror.
From the hand of the same developer who created The Hex and Pony Island, Inscryption a la Jumanji is built, as the player puts himself in the shoes of other people who are involved in an old game. Here, in this ancient game called Inscryption, the player sits in front of a menacing looking creature who challenges them to a game of cards where their own life is at stake. Inscryption’s dungeon elements (which I’ll get into later) cause the player to start the game at a disadvantage, and it doesn’t take long before you realize that this game is way riskier than it sounds.
Inscryption’s gameplay is a mix of many different genres and actually combines them incredibly well in one original game system. At the beginning there is the map that you have to follow. It’s a pre-mapped way for the player to decide what the next challenge will be, including a game of cards, a way to improve a card, or a trip to the card shop to clean up the deck.
The closest thing is card combat which is based on a system where the cards have a predetermined attack and defense value and where it is important to draw blood to draw cards, an action where other cards are sacrificed, that already exist The blackboard. As you might expect, the stronger the card, the greater the sacrifice. The difficulty with this system is in assessing whether a card is worth sacrificing as it leaves you vulnerable to attack from your opponent’s deck. It is important to avoid these attacks because if there is no card to block the attack, the damage to be taken will be gold teeth added to the scales next to you, and if one of the scales’ plates touches on the floor you will lose or Your opponent’s game.
It is clear that this is just a simple summary of the card games. There are many other factors that make the system original and interesting. These include powerful abilities that give cards special advantages, such as the ability to return to the deck when they are beaten, items that can be used to change the outcome of a game, such as: B. Pliers that can be used to take out one of your own teeth and put it on the scales to give you an edge, and even special cards that can be drawn in exchange for bones received when a card is dated Opponent is sacrificed or defeated.
However, in addition to the card games, there is also the Escape Room mechanics that work with other elements. It is possible to get up from the table between games and complete mini-puzzles that will give you clues to defeat the menacing figure and escape this Dantesque setting. Not only will exploring the room unlock a bunch of new clues, but you’ll also be rewarded with new gear that you can and should use in games, as the items are permanent, unlike many of the game’s villainous mechanics.
If you follow the rogue character of the game, every time you lose to your opponent your character dies (each card gives you two lives) and you have to start over. As I just said, you won’t start at the first space, but you will keep some items and expand your starting deck while exploring the room. However, most of your items and deck will be removed when you start your freedom struggle again.
It may seem like there are many things to monitor and control, and it is true, but with Inscryption, all of this is articulated and fits together perfectly. It is a game with well thought out and balanced progression where you will never feel behind the story no matter what mistakes you carry. Likewise, the card game mechanics are polished to a high gloss and give you the chance to win battles most of the time. As with all card games, there are times when the cards drawn are absolutely useless and it will be quite difficult to advance, but overall it’s encouraging that the game system is designed to be outdone without appearing too complex.
I have to say that the escape room aspect is a bit disappointing at times. There aren’t many puzzles to solve – if you’re quick you can probably solve them all in just a few minutes. There were times when I gave them trial and error. For example, if you manage to get a magic eye, you get the cuckoo clock solution, but I found out much later when I was solving the cuckoo clock puzzle, which I did by trying different solutions, what it did not take me more than a few minutes.
Despite this trivial detail, Inscryption is one of the most entertaining games of the year for me. The experience is addicting, exhilarating, and not overly complex, a problem that often plagues card games. When it comes to the quality of the horror game, Inscryption has no fear of hiding under the table, but its web of secrets and spooky soundtrack will give you goosebumps. So if you are looking for something to play on Halloween I recommend you consider this weird but very curious game.
