The world of video games is always evolving, with new ideas and mechanics popping up every now and then. One such trend that has been gaining popularity in recent times is the integration of deckbuilding mechanics into various genres and settings. From faddish beginnings, designers are now getting more creative, producing interesting and thought-provoking hybrids. One such example of this is Mahokenshi, a tactics game developed by French studio Game Source and released on Steam.
Mahokenshi takes place in a world of Japanese-style folklore and sees players controlling magic-wielding samurai from four elemental schools as they battle cultists and goblins across mystical islands. While the setting is not the highlight of the game, it features some impressive artwork, particularly on the card illustrations. The miniaturized maps of temples, forests, and figures have a bonsai-like quality and are pleasing to the eye. However, being developed by a Western studio, the game has a touch of reverential but generalized Orientalism, which is not deeply connected to the game itself.
As a tactics game, Mahokenshi is relatively straightforward, but it is also a lot of fun. The missions take place on hex-based maps, where players direct their samurai to explore and engage in battles. Energy, the card game staple, is spent when moving or playing cards, and it is fixed at four energy per turn to start with, although this can be increased later in the game. The tiles have different properties and can boost defense or attack rating, as well as containing gold, new cards, and locations like villages, dojos, and castles where players can improve their cards or characters. Because everything depends on energy, players must constantly balance the rewards of exploration against defense and engagement, while keeping an eye on the turn limit for each mission. This provides an enjoyable risk-reward design experience. Some of the best card designs incorporate all of the game’s systems at once, combining movement with attack or defense skills in concepts like Fly or Charge.
Mahokenshi also has a unique twist as a card game, as it is not a deckbuilder in the long run. Every mission resets the deck to a few basic starter cards, and players must build a new deck on the fly through exploration and buying cards from villages. This is refreshing and makes the game more immediate and approachable in the early stages. However, it also doubles the influence of randomness on the outcome of each mission, as not only is the order of the cards drawn each turn determined by chance, but so is the selection of cards available for drawing. This can be a problem as missions get tougher and some players may find the game too capricious. Despite this, it keeps the game interesting and light on its feet.
In conclusion, as deckbuilding mechanics continue to be integrated into every corner of video game design, we are seeing new and creative hybrids emerging. Mahokenshi is a refreshing example of this trend, blending tactics gameplay with card game elements to create an enjoyable and unique gaming experience. Whether you’re a fan of tactics games or card games, Mahokenshi is definitely worth checking out.
FAQs:
Q:What is Mahokenshi?
A:Mahokenshi is a tactics game with deckbuilding mechanics set in a world of Japanese-style folklore from French studio Game Source.
Q:What is the setting of Mahokenshi?
A:Mahokenshi takes place in a mystical world where the player controls magic-wielding samurai from four elemental schools as they battle cultists and goblins across some mystical islands.
Q:How does deckbuilding work in Mahokenshi?
A:In Mahokenshi, every mission resets the player’s deck to a few basic starter cards, and they need to build a new deck on the fly through exploration and buying cards from villages.
Q:What is unique about the card game in Mahokenshi?
A:Mahokenshi has a twist in that it’s not really a deckbuilder in the long run. This means that it is a game of improvisation and thinking on the fly, rather than theorycrafting your way to a perfect build.
Q:How does the gameplay work in Mahokenshi?
A:In Mahokenshi, missions play out on hex-based maps where the player directs their samurai to explore and battle. The player spends energy when moving or playing cards, and this energy is fixed but can be increased later in the game. The game involves balancing the rewards of exploration against defense and engagement.
Q:What are the challenges in Mahokenshi?
A:In Mahokenshi, the influence of randomness on the outcome of missions can be a challenge as not only is the order the player draws their cards each turn down to chance, but so is the selection of cards they have to draw from. This can make the game capricious, but it also keeps the game interesting and light.
