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[Nairume]

So this comes out today, and it looks really neat

Developer: Dark Roast Entertainment
Platform: WiiU
Genre: CCG Deck Builder/Strategy
Rating: E10
MSRP: Free (with an optional 7.99 upgrade fee)
Release Date: 11th December, 2014 (US)
eShop details:




Lucadian Chronicles is a free* card battling game from Dark Roast Entertainment (a duo of vets from SquareEnix and Nexon) that is based entirely around the fun of building and testing small decks of heroes to send into battle. To this end, the actual battle aspect of the game is entirely automated. Your cards will automatically fight against the enemy team with a strategy determined by the makeup of your deck. Fleshing the experience out are numerous modes, including a full campaign story mode, draft matches, and player leagues.

Not convinced? All it takes to test the waters is the low low price of free. That's right, simply downloading the base game will give you access to all the game's modes and cards. The simple catch is that free players will be have a daily limit on how much they can play the game's multiplayer modes and parts of the campaign mode will be locked off. Unlocking the full experience (the entire campaign mode and unlimited multiplayer play) will only be $7.99. Dark Roast is also saying right now that they are intending for that fee to also cover future content updates rather than relying on microtranscations.

Modes
-Deck Building: The meat of Lucadian Chronicles. Here you will build team decks of up to five hero cards and one spell card. Each card has a defined point value that will go against your overall point capacity (so no overloading on powerful cards!). Heroes have health, attack, and defense ratings that will determine how powerful they are, along with various little inherent abilities and traits that determine their in-battle strategies (as well as what cards they can or can not be paired with). Spells are persistent effect cards that impose extra rules on the combat. Your overall collection of cards will increase as you earn more gold to spend on the card shop, giving you new packs of cards. Packs are randomized, but duplicates also represent a good thing here, since they can be merge to create a stronger version of their base card.

-Campaign Mode: Lucadian Chronicles main story mode consists of a series of linked campaigns that tells the stories of multiple factions. Each individual campaign has its own series of battles and stories. Completing battles will net you coins to use on the game's card store, and each can be repeated as many times as you want until you've completed every challenge tied to each chapter. Aside from being a meaty experience in its own right, this mode will also be serving as a tutorial for how to play the game online!

-League Mode: This asynchronous multiplayer mode allows you to join a league with other players and pits your selected decks against theirs over the course of a few days.

-Draft Mode: This consists of two competitive modes (2 Player Matches and 4 Player Tournaments) wherein players are presented with a selection of random cards from which they will take turns selecting until everybody has enough to build a deck of heroes for use in matches against each other.

-Daily Challenges: Every day, the game will be updated to present new challenges for players to complete. These take the forms of special battle scenarios that will require players to figure out the best strategies. Unlike the campaign mode, these can only be attempted a few times a day before you are locked out until the next day's challenge.

Extras
-Miiverse Support: Lucadian Chronicles makes use of Miiverse and will show player messages left behind on individual campaign chapters.

-Stamps: Along with Miiverse messages, Lucadian Chronicles has unlockable Miiverse stamps.

-Off Screen Play: Lucadian Chronicles can be played entirely on the tablet controller

-1080p 60fps visuals: Dark Roast Entertainment wanted you guys to know

More Screens

Videos
Trailer


Reviews
80/100 - 8-World News

 

[Colonel Mustard]

I'll be downloading shortly.

NNID: Ray00101 for anyone that wants to play.

 

[terrisus]

Never really been too into card games, but I'll check this out.

 

[Nairume]

Alright, the game is now up for download. Getting to finally try it out, it is a lot of fun. There's definitely a need to play around a lot with it to figure out how the cards decide to target who they do (generally it's who ever is in front of them, but sometimes that changes), but it seems really intuitive for the most part.

Big thing I've got right now that I hope gets fixed is that multiplayer (both the head on and the asynchronous stuff) is matchmaking only right now. It'd really be nice to be able to play against friends.

 

[kittens]

Cool, may as well check it out. I've been wanting a slower paced game to play in bed before I go to sleep.

 

[Vanillalite]

Hyped for this! Will download when I get home!

Alright, the game is now up for download. Getting to finally try it out, it is a lot of fun. There's definitely a need to play around a lot with it to figure out how the cards decide to target who they do (generally it's who ever is in front of them, but sometimes that changes), but it seems really intuitive for the most part.

Big thing I've got right now that I hope gets fixed is that multiplayer (both the head on and the asynchronous stuff) is matchmaking only right now. It'd really be nice to be able to play against friends.

This is disappointing news. WTB option to play my friends.

 

[Chrom]

Will check this out soon, possibly later today. I hope I like it.

This is disappointing news. WTB option to play my friends.

I agree, what a strange omission. I think it'd make multiplayer far more appealing if one could at least be able to arrange matches with friends. Hopefully the developer considers adding this in the future.

 

[Colonel Mustard]

Anyone else find it funny (and kind of depressing) that this small, relatively unknown team is making better use of the Wii U's features than most larger devs?

 

[Vanillalite]

Grabbing as I speak!

 

[mindtwang]

Cool, may as well check it out. I've been wanting a slower paced game to play in bed before I go to sleep.

That is totally what I've been doing since I've been done with the review. Play it for 15 minutes either in the morning or before I go to bed!

 

[Yuterald]

Any word on the composer for this game? Just curious. Only card games I've liked are Baten Kaitos and Lost Kingdoms, but a certain composer might push me over the edge.

 

[Lactose_Intolerant]

I like the OgreBattle world map. Sold!

nevermind, I thought this was a pc game

 

[Yuterald]

I like the OgreBattle world map. Sold!

Makes me wonder who the composer is? I look at this game and see Sakimoto all over it for some reason. Need the details!

 

[H2intensity]

Nice, i always like card game, downloading it now.

 

[Exile20]

Nice ot. Looking forward to playing it.

 

[mindtwang]

Any word on the composer for this game? Just curious. Only card games I've liked are Baten Kaitos and Lost Kingdoms, but a certain composer might push me over the edge.

Sent a tweet to the developer asking for you. So hopefully we'll have an answer soon

 

[Coppanuva]

Definitely interested in it, downloading when I get home. What's the purchase unlock?

 

[Colonel Mustard]

Definitely interested in it, downloading when I get home. What's the purchase unlock?

$8.

Really though, aside from the limited online, the game has a metric ton of content for free. I've put about 4 hours in and haven't paid a dime, I almost feel guilty. Almost.

Spoiler

I'm plunking down my $8 tomorrow. Devs deserve it, this game is pretty superb

 

[Raticus79]

Yup, that's an Ogre Battle map. It even kept the flat towns.

*randomly wanders around the map hoping to bump into neutral characters*

 

[mindtwang]

$8.

Really though, aside from the limited online, the game has a metric ton of content for free. I've put about 4 hours in and haven't paid a dime, I almost feel guilty. Almost.

Spoiler

I'm plunking down my $8 tomorrow. Devs deserve it, this game is pretty superb

I didn't actually get to play any of the free version, how much of the campaign is available? I know in the PR I got they said "shortened". I assume it includes like the first chapter?

Edit: composer is 'H/MIX Gallery'

 

[Colonel Mustard]

I didn't actually get to play any of the free version, how much of the campaign is available? I know in the PR I got they said "shortened". I assume it includes like the first chapter?

I'm about 5 battles in to Chapter 1, Act 4.

I don't know how much of this is left until I have to pay...but what they give you is more than fair.

 

[Exile20]

I'm about 5 battles in to Chapter 1, Act 4.

I don't know how much of this is left until I have to pay...but what they give you is more than fair.

Wow the devs are really confident. Hope people buys it.

 

[Nairume]

Wow the devs are really confident. Hope people buys it.

They know how important it is for this game to develop a community if it ever hopes to catch on, so it makes sense that they'd try and entice people like that.

 

[Karkador]

Seems interesting, I'll check it out, too.

 

[Kouriozan]

Let's try this, then~

Edit : oops, missed the US only part.

 

[Coppanuva]

$8.

Really though, aside from the limited online, the game has a metric ton of content for free. I've put about 4 hours in and haven't paid a dime, I almost feel guilty. Almost.

Spoiler

I'm plunking down my $8 tomorrow. Devs deserve it, this game is pretty superb

Err, I meant to ask what does paying the $8 unlock in the game. Looks like it's just to unlock the rest of campaign?

 

[Vanillalite]

Err, I meant to ask what does paying the $8 unlock in the game. Looks like it's just to unlock the rest of campaign?

Also gives you unlimited multiplayer.

Free version caps how many times you can play each day.

 

[vazel]

Edit: Disregard my post, I failed to understand a basic mechanic of the game.

 

[Yuterald]

Sent a tweet to the developer asking for you. So hopefully we'll have an answer soon

Could someone else do it? As curious as I am, I don't feel like it, haha!

Seriously though, depending on who it is will make/break my purchase. I tried watching the trailer on the eShop and it sounds pretty good, but I can't pinpoint who it might be.

 

[Vanillalite]

Could someone else do it? As curious as I am, I don't feel like it, haha!

Seriously though, depending on who it is will make/break my purchase. I tried watching the trailer on the eShop and it sounds pretty good, but I can't pinpoint who it might be.

It's literally two dudes who did this all. It's not gonna be a big composer.

 

[Chrom]

Spent some time with the game, happy to say I like what they're doing here. Some odd design choices, but it's surprisingly solid.

 

[mindtwang]

Could someone else do it? As curious as I am, I don't feel like it, haha!

Seriously though, depending on who it is will make/break my purchase. I tried watching the trailer on the eShop and it sounds pretty good, but I can't pinpoint who it might be.

I relayed what the Developer told me in post #20

It is 'H/MIX Gallery'

 

[lookf4r]

man this looks awesome. WiiU envy engaged.

 

[Karkador]

So, I've been playing this and... Sort of have an idea of what's going on? Is this game supposed to have a deliberate, Souls-esque "let the community figure out what's going on in the game" thing to it? Because they don't really make any effort to explain how the game's auto-battling works.

 

[Colonel Mustard]

So, I've been playing this and... Sort of have an idea of what's going on? Is this game supposed to have a deliberate, Souls-esque "let the community figure out what's going on in the game" thing to it? Because they don't really make any effort to explain how the game's auto-battling works.

From my understanding, the tortoise and rabbit icons at the top of cards, in addition to placement from frontline to backline.

 

[Camjo-Z]

So I decided to check this out, and I'm surprised at how much I like it. The only card games I've played before are Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokemon TCG, so this was a new experience for me. The auto-battling thing was confusing at first, but I think I've mostly gotten the hang of it. They should still probably patch in a tutorial of some sort though.

Anyway, besides the gameplay, the presentation is pretty competent as well. The graphics and menus aren't anything amazing but they're not overly barebones like a lot of other Wii U indies, and the music is pretty decent. Hopefully the generous F2P approach works out for the devs, I bought the full game after finishing the first chapter just to support this kind of practice.

 

[Karkador]

From my understanding, the tortoise and rabbit icons at the top of cards, in addition to placement from frontline to backline.

Yeah I just noticed those icons the last time I played, but not everything seems to conform to that (a card without either icon attacked before one of the rabbit icon cards did).


Since the game has Miiverse integrated into the game, and a options toggle for "Miiverse spoilers", I wondered if there is a deliberate Dark Souls effect going on here.

Also, this is making me want to check out Ogre Battle.

 

[Yuterald]

What the fuck is a 'H/MIX Gallery'? lol

Probably some nameless, for-hire sound team, I'm guessing? Hmm...I've got enough on my plate, I think. I'm still a bit interested in this, but I might just wait until the mood strikes me for one of these types of games.

 

[llehuty]

I'd be so over this if it was released in Europe....

Yeah I just noticed those icons the last time I played, but not everything seems to conform to that (a card without either icon attacked before one of the rabbit icon cards did).


Since the game has Miiverse integrated into the game, and a options toggle for "Miiverse spoilers", I wondered if there is a deliberate Dark Souls effect going on here.

Also, this is making me want to check out Ogre Battle.

They are posting Rules clarifications in their forum, check it out.

 

[Camjo-Z]

They are posting Rules clarifications in their forum, check it out.

Now this is helpful. I had no idea what "blocking" meant, I thought it had something to do with non-Flying characters being unable to avoid flying attacks. Characters cowering in the back stand no chance now!

 

[AaronB]

I've finished the first two maps, and really enjoying it so far. I've played quite a few TCGs, and this one seems mechanically sound and interesting. I think I'll pick up the full game as soon as I add some eShop credit.

 

[Karkador]

They are posting Rules clarifications in their forum, check it out.

Awesome, thank you very much for this.

 

[vazel]

They are posting Rules clarifications in their forum, check it out.

"This is baffling, why is Janika attacking the enemy in front of Rob instead of the enemy in the back row which is directly in front of her. She does extra damage to enemies in the back row so why is she going out of her way to attack the other guy?!"

Haha, he copied my earlier post in this thread before I edited it out, how embarrassing. I edited out my post after reviewing the in-game tutorials. FYI if anyone else has trouble understanding something in the game you can read all past tutorials from the Almanac in the main menu.

 

[mindtwang]

What the fuck is a 'H/MIX Gallery'? lol

Probably some nameless, for-hire sound team, I'm guessing? Hmm...I've got enough on my plate, I think. I'm still a bit interested in this, but I might just wait until the mood strikes me for one of these types of games.

Site: http://www.hmix.net/
Twitter: @hmix_net

Its free so its not like it takes a lot to check it out and see if you like it.

 

[Woenix Phright]

So, I've been playing this and... Sort of have an idea of what's going on? Is this game supposed to have a deliberate, Souls-esque "let the community figure out what's going on in the game" thing to it? Because they don't really make any effort to explain how the game's auto-battling works.

Yeah, I'm right there with you. For the time being this is less a card game than a puzzle game since there are no repercussions for failing I just try different orders of dudes until they all work and get the special things.

Turn order is really the big deal here, I have no idea what turn attack order is and how that's decided by the card. A simple agility or speed number would be nice.

 

[Vena]

Gave this a try and its quite enjoyable though I find the inter-card dynamics to be rather simplistic, and the battles rather easy to solve. Its a pretty good game on the by and by, though, and I'll be buying the "full version" if for nothing less than the fact that I've found I enjoy the game enough to play it in between Smash/Toad/Fire Emblem.

I wouldn't even really call this a TCG in a lot of ways, more of a puzzle game with collectible cards.

Also a couple of cards seem very out of place with their art-style. I have no idea why or how they ended up the way they did, they look like they were drawn by someone else entirely.

 

[Camjo-Z]

Turn order is really the big deal here, I have no idea what turn attack order is and how that's decided by the card. A simple agility or speed number would be nice.

It basically goes like this: every card has either a rabbit icon, a turtle icon, or no icon (normal). In terms of turn order, rabbit > normal > turtle, and cards with the same speed attack in random order.

Also a couple of cards seem very out of place with their art-style. I have no idea why or how they ended up the way they did, they look like they were drawn by someone else entirely.

I noticed this too. Judging by the fact that The Great Wave off Kanagawa is a card, I'm going to assume that they just picked any art that they liked for the card pics.

 

[Woenix Phright]

It basically goes like this: every card has either a rabbit icon, a turtle icon, or no icon (normal). In terms of turn order, rabbit > normal > turtle, and cards with the same speed attack in random order.

While that does clear things up, the random order thing is a little ridiculous. This would work better if turns were separated by player and ties would be decided by left to right. Just some semblance of order. As it stands now this game is 100% pre-gaming. Then watching cards bump into each other.

 

[Vena]

I noticed this too. Judging by the fact that The Great Wave off Kanagawa is a card, I'm going to assume that they just picked any art that they liked for the card pics.

I hadn't noticed that but, now that you mention it, I guess they must have used public domain images rather than actually draw their own?

While that does clear things up, the random order thing is a little ridiculous. This would work better if turns were separated by player and ties would be decided by left to right. Just some semblance of order. As it stands now this game is 100% pre-gaming. Then watching cards bump into each other.

Even if it weren't random, it would still be a game built on "building the deck" and not playing much of anything. Like I said, this isn't so much a card game as it is a puzzle game with cards.

The overall game is good at the puzzle element but its not much in the way of an actual card game like MtG or Hearthstone. Which, admittedly, had been what I had expected but I liked the end result either way. Hopefully if they get enough support, they can make an actual card game next time.

 

[Hero of Legend]

I hadn't noticed that but, now that you mention it, I guess they must have used public domain images rather than actually draw their own?

Not a bad idea, it certainly makes development cheap as can be and this is very well suited for card art. Same goes for the music which also seems public domain.

I'd love to know the budget of this.