As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I’ve seen my fair share of anime-inspired games that promise the world but often fall flat. However, Fairy Tail: Dungeons has managed to surprise me in ways I never thought possible! This solo-developed deck-building roguelike is a breath of fresh air, capturing the vibrant spirit of the Fairy Tail series in a compact package.
Fairy Tail is a notable anime/manga series within the teen-centric action genre, deviating from the norm as it’s not associated with Shonen Jump. This independence has led to some unique video game ventures based on the IP, differing from typical projects by Bandai Namco. One such example is a role-playing game developed by GUST, known for the Atelier series, which received positive reviews and will soon have a sequel. Meanwhile, the IP owner Kodansha has supported three independent developers to create smaller projects within the Fairy Tail universe. This move is unconventional yet thoughtful in a challenging market for indie creators.
Dungeons and a Dragon Slayer (and cats and other weirdos)
1. Fairy Tail: Dungeons – A Solo-Developed Deck-Building Roguelike
It’s Fairy Tail, not Fairy Tale
In Fairy Tail: Dungeons, it’s not unexpected that the story isn’t the main focus. The game assumes players are already familiar with the Fairy Tail characters such as Natsu, Erza, Lucy, and even the odd cat creatures. Instead, the game provides a standard reason for the gang to explore a constantly changing dungeon, introducing a few mysterious characters briefly who won’t be seen again. It’s suitable for playing in short bursts on your Steam Deck, with enjoyment stemming from a well-executed run or perhaps a memorable setback, typical of roguelike games.
Every character possesses unique abilities, and these abilities shape the way their decks function. Natsu specializes in dealing massive damage, Gray focuses on defense, while Erza undergoes various transformations with intricate side effects. The animations and the way cards interact are thoughtful representations of these powers and personalities, making each character engaging to experiment with if you’re familiar with the source. A key feature, Magic Chains, adds an extra layer of excitement to deck-building on its own.
Nuts and bolts, meat and potatoes, cards and explosions
A crucial element when constructing decks is unlocking abilities for each character. The dungeon seals their powers initially, but by navigating through it and collecting resources, their skills can be reopened. These are presented as a dynamic skill tree that varies each time you play. Initially, you’ll have the Magic Chain ability at your disposal, but the rest depends on where you decide to invest your initial points, followed by strategic decisions based on what gets unlocked subsequently. This keeps gameplay engaging, as it requires constant decision-making about which passive abilities, new Magic Chains, or stat boosts to pick, depending on the cards and events that appear in a room.
I generally find it satisfying to craft my characters with each playthrough, but it can be disheartening when it seems like I’ve unintentionally made a series of suboptimal decisions that don’t gel cohesively. Often, I struggle to obtain the cards needed for other Magic Chains to materialize, or I pick up defensive or shield-breaking passives that rarely get an opportunity to prove their worth, forcing me to lean on luck and high numbers instead. The enemies are particularly tough, making even standard encounters tense if my character isn’t well-built, and sometimes I find myself in dead ends with no viable escape route.
The problematic aspects of this game lie in its confusing and monotonous progression system within Fairy Tail: Dungeon, particularly the meta progression elements. For instance, upon completing a run, you can store your character’s build in one of four slots for later use during specific boss levels scattered between labyrinth stages. While it’s nice to have the option to save your impressive build, the limitation of not being able to modify or utilize them in regular levels seems strange.
Dungeons immediately impress as it makes its debut.
On August 26, 2024, you can get your hands on Fairy Tail: Dungeons for PC! The code for this review has been graciously supplied by the game’s publisher.
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2024-08-23 17:27