Is this game really that good?

[Black Hammer]

I'm not taking a stab at the game here. I've watched more than a few videos of it, including the painful NL ones, and it looks interesting, but it also looks somewhat shallow. Which, to be fair, I'd expect from an Early Access game. Two characters, three levels, and everything still getting balance passes on the reg.

But it's got a 95% positive review rating, and thousands of reviews. Which means someone is doing their marketing really well. But is the existing content really worth the buy, or are people just having so much fun watching youtube videos they buy the game, give it a thumbs-up, and lose interest in two or three hours?

I get the deal with They Are Billions; it's an underdeveloped genre with a super-popular skin (zombies) on it. But that game has the predictable complaints for an EA game: limited unit variety, poor balance, and so forth.

So, honest question: Is Slay the Spire really that good, or is it just a successful viral followup for the current roguelike/card game fad?

[bc]

I was also hyped by "They Are Billions", but after beating all 4 maps i almost lost all interest to this game, self challenges gave me additional 15-20h but thats it. Im at 269 runs atm, according to my stats and hey, i'm still getting fun....

[Black Hammer]

Originally posted by bc:

I was also hyped by "They Are Billions", but after beating all 4 maps i almost lost all interest to this game, self challenges gave me additional 15-20h but thats it. Im at 269 runs atm, according to my stats and hey, i'm still getting fun....

I haven't actually bought They Are Billions yet, largely because anything with zombies in it is a no-buy until it leaves Early Access. I've broken most of my EA rules over the years, but that one stays pretty robust.

I went all creeper and looked at your recently played list. Reads a bit like my "planning to buy" list, with Oxygen Not Included, Space Tyrant, and StS on there. Might go ahead and pick this up, if it's more enjoyable than most of the alternative options I'm already considering this sale.

[Jolly]

Eh, I enjoyed watching a few videos before buying but to me it's way more fun to play than to watch. There's something addictive about it. The RNG is insane but even when you get destroyed it deosn't feel cheap. Great UI, great feel, simple mechanics but plenty of choice and depth.

For the price I think it's worth and and it's plenty far along and fun for an EA game to be woth it now.

[Black Hammer]

Originally posted by Jolly:

The RNG is insane but even when you get destroyed it deosn't feel cheap.

I would come back here to read this after buying the game and just watching the Awakened One switch form, regain 300 HP after my chewing through that and its minions, and hit me for 60.

[Zu]

It's almost as if learning what bosses can do and playing around that is part of the game.

[Black Hammer]

Originally posted by Zu:

It's almost as if learning what bosses can do and playing around that is part of the game.

I beat the level 3 boss on my first run with the Shade and a 47-card deck. Donu and Deka were a lot easier than the Awakened One for sure. Never hit harder than 30, kept their bodies onscreen all game for easy debuffing, and didn't have regen.

[Black Hammer]

Originally posted by Black Hammer:

Originally posted by Zu:

It's almost as if learning what bosses can do and playing around that is part of the game.

I beat the level 3 boss on my first run with the Silent and a 47-card deck. Donu and Deka were a lot easier than the Awakened One for sure. Never hit harder than 30, kept their bodies onscreen all game for easy debuffing, and didn't have regen.

[King Joshington]

I don't understand. Did you buy the game and play it or not?
Also, what "viral marketing"? I didn't hear ANYTHING about this game ... I just got it suggested to me on Steam and I bought it. I've put in around 80 hours and it's addictive as hell. So, I would say, the success you see on the Steam store page is legit -- it's not a buy, play once or twice, and throw away game.

[Moki]

73 hours in less than a month. This is one of the best games I've played in 2017/2018. I doubt it has much to do with marketing as I've never heard about this game (Steam suggest it to me and I've seen it in Top Sellers). I read game news regularly and haven't seen it mentioned once before my purchase.

[Amenophys]

I only have 248 hours on record, so I am not qualified to talk, but I will try :-D

This game is good as it is. It is not an AAA game, but it is polished enough to provide you a good experience.

The game is hard: easy to learn, hard to master, this is why it has this success from the players. It offers a good challenge.

It is also more statisfying to play than other card games: the UI is nervous enough and you can chain your cards without the UI going crazy.

It takes time before you get bored of the game as it is, because the replayability is real, even if it has a few flaws (like replaying the first 3 fights is boring).

The artstyle, while not being full of FX, is original and interesting. If anything the total lack of story-telling makes all those artstyle a bit abstract.

[Magelan]

I saw the game from amaz and kripp youtube channels myself and noted the topselling aspect and the very positive reviews. For me it is a really relaxing experience, i find that my decisions matter and i have plenty of time to consider my choices. Still having alot of fun and as others said it is really that replayable.

[JellyPuff]

It manages to be highly fun and addicting (if you're into card games and rogue-lites) even in it's currently unfinished and unbalanced state. I have really high hopes (and they're just that, with Early Access, you never know) for it's full release. It nails the "urgh, just one more run" aspect as well as i have only seen with the likes of TBoI or Rogue Legacy.

Slay The Spire climbed the steam-charts before big streamers and youtubers picked up on it. It has been a top-seller since it's Early-Access launch.

[Flavorable]

Originally posted by Amenophys:

I only have 248 hours on record, so I am not qualified to talk, but I will try :-D

This game is good as it is. It is not an AAA game, but it is polished enough to provide you a good experience.

The game is hard: easy to learn, hard to master, this is why it has this success from the players. It offers a good challenge.

It is also more statisfying to play than other card games: the UI is nervous enough and you can chain your cards without the UI going crazy.

It takes time before you get bored of the game as it is, because the replayability is real, even if it has a few flaws (like replaying the first 3 fights is boring).

The artstyle, while not being full of FX, is original and interesting. If anything the total lack of story-telling makes all those artstyle a bit abstract.

I (as also a fairly unqualified person to talk with 250~ hours) completely agree with this.