57 people found this review helpful
5 people found this review funny
1
Recommended
0.0 hrs last two weeks / 12.9 hrs on record
Posted: 28 Jan, 2022 @ 11:24am
Updated: 31 Mar, 2022 @ 4:54am

Inscryption

Genre
Card/Puzzle
Campaign
Yes
Game length
13 Hours
Difficulty modes
N/A
Metacritic Score
85

🔸 Inscryption is an inky black card-based odyssey that blends the deckbuilding roguelike, escape-room style puzzles, and psychological horror into a blood-laced smoothie

📖 Story - [9]
🔸 Ah another challenger, welcome! So you want to figure out what's going on in Inscryption huh? I gotta warn you there is something evil deep in the codes. Alright, here we go I guess!
You wake up in a mysterious cable with nothing but a silhouette of a creature on the other side of the table, what's gonna happen next is quite simple, he invites you to a game of cards where you have to use your Squellers as sacrificial cards to bring out your powerful cards in order to defeat your opponent.

◼️ Keep moving forward in each map/region you will meet different characters played by non-other than the same mysterious silhouette, some of which help you throughout your journey, some to trade cards or even pelts! Upon defeating all 3 bosses the person in front of you will show his face and you have to face him in a hard battle. But defeating him won't finish the game, there are things you have to do before you can move forward and actually defeat him.
  • Just when you think you finally defeated him and finished the game, the game takes you to another level....
    Anything said after that part would be a huge spoiler so I'm not gonna move on with that.

🕹️ Gameplay - [8]
🔸 Inscryption is one of the most unique games that exists at the moment, It might look like just a card game but it's quite more complicated than that. There are tons of different cards with special abilities and sigels to play, some even have a secret power that you might notice if you are curious enough. There are 4 types of cards you can play throughout the game some require Blood, Bones, Energy, or Gems. The cards that cost blood require you to sacrifice one/more cards of yours to play. Bones on other hand will only be earned when a creature/card of yours dies or even sacrificed by yourself. Energy and Gems are introduced to you later in the game.

https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2637102313

Special Items
◼️ Alongside cards, there are items that you can use once in order to gain advantages against your opponent like giving your cards the ability to fly which causes them to directly hit the enemy instead of the cards in front. Or even a special knife which you will use to take out your eye for a huge advantage in-game, you will be blind half side tho (Don't worry he will give you a handful of eyes to choose for replacement).

Point of Interests
◼️ In the map which is randomly generated each time you play there are points of interest like a group of survivors where you can rest to power up a card of yours or be greedy to lose it to them.
The trader will sell you pelts which you can buy with teeth you earn by doing over damage to the opponent, pelts can be used on another stop where a woman will exchange your pelts with some cards of your choice.
  • There are more places to stop, and I'm not gonna spoil it for you so better experience them yourself because it's definitely worth it each time.

❓ Secrets - [9]
🔸 This game is filled with secrets, some as just references to other games some even game-changer as an example in the first cabin you wake up there are secrets left and right like you activate the bone lord by clicking one of the bones several times or each time you lose a candle will light up and upon turning it off 3 times you will gain an advantage in the boss battles with an extra card in your hand. These are just a small amount of secrets in the first part of the game there are tons more to explore and enjoy!


🔍 Graphics - [8]
🔸 In Inscryption you will encounter different art styles, each filled with detail as well. It just shows how well made this game is. It's also worth mentioning even tho at the first glance it just looks like the game will take part in the cabin and it's well detailed, there are more places which you can visit.
https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2784469527
Some dark tones some filled with colorful colors to match the theme, the game does everything great in that part.

🎧🎼 Soundtrack/Audio - [6]
🔸 The game contains several soundtracks that give an extra completing vibe to the game of cards you are playing, the sound of sacrificing cards and gaining bones are each unique and satisfying to hear.
Also, each boss has its own battle soundtrack that represents its appearance and personality. The soundtrack is not something that will stick to your mind or you'll remember but it's just a finishing touch to the game.

Story/Campaign - 9
Masterpiece
Gameplay/Controls - 8
Amazing
Graphics - 8
Amazing
Sound/Music - 6
Good
Replayability - 4
Meh
Achievements - 8
Amazing


📋 Conclusion
🔸 Inscryption is the best unique game released in 2021 in my book. With its unique gameplay, it goes beyond being just a simple card game. It gives you a feeling that you want to keep playing it but sadly as the story unfolds you notice that this game is kinda a one-time play, once you finish the game I doubt you would return to it other than for achievements and being a completionist, well except the first part where you can keep playing a card game with a bit of role-playing included. But with that also being known it's still a must-play...

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2 Comments
Sock 18 Feb, 2022 @ 12:27am 
sound/music is an easy 10
SalzStange 31 Jan, 2022 @ 4:20am 
Actually a very great game. I will buy it too. I already saw a youtube 2 hour vid about. Normally i do not like card games, but this one is nice