Edit: Here's an edit I'm happy to make. They fixed the game! No, seriously, the update they did to balancing makes this so much more enjoyable to play (and really highlights how odd some of the initial balancing was) but its an absolute slam dunk and I can happily say this is worth your time with NO caveat. Rest of review remains unchanged.

So I initially threw this a positive review with a promise to update, and here's the update.

This is good, really good, actually. But it does definitely have some problems. You should buy this game and support it, because its already very fun, and with some balancing changes it'll easily be a classic.

Lets start with the good before the bad. The aesthetic overall is fantastic, its grimy and gross and as you move through the zones the board you're playing on and the music you listen to reflects the area you're playing in very well.

Also, references galore. There are so many subtle (and not so subtle) references to other popular media. It never feels like too much, but there was a lot of little "oh no way" moments I had.

To touch on the music again briefly, I love it. There's a little trill or change in the music for some of the opponents you run up against (I love the tune swap when you face the bard) and its the kind of thing that you could leave on forever and not be bothered by. Its a bop, and thats a good thing.

Now the bad.

I think if I had to pin down the main issue, it really feels like the game ramps up the people you're playing against much quicker than you can ramp yourself up to a "build". Blackjack is a game of playing the odds and chance moreso than poker, but by the end of the *first* floor (of five) you are already encountering people with like 5 cards in their deck and a specific playstyle you have to beat. That's fine, but by that point for you, you still most likely have almost all of the cards you started with plus a few more you picked up after wins. The opportunities to trim or focus your deck are few and far between and really expensive.

I actually don't have a problem with the opponents, they are all clever fights and demand that you actually counter their mechanics, but I do think that the player's ability to fight those mechanics can be really difficult to manifest. The 4 starting decks all don't feel fantastic to use because they only activate powers if you deal damage at Blackjack (meaning if you hit 20 and win the head to head, no deck powers. Has to be 21 and cant be a tie of 21). There's also way too few options or opportunities to heal, and what is there costs too much.

I'm not saying make the game easier, but at least give the player the tools to forge their way to victory. At the moment it really does feel like random chance on the players part if they end up winning or not, which is part of blackjack, sure, but if I get a 21 and stand and then the AI steals my ace... well thats not chance anymore is it?

I love what is here, genuinely, but the balancing isn't quite right as of right now. I would recommend you wishlist this at the very least and keep an eye out for a big balancing update. This is good as is, but it could very well be great with some tweaks.

Edit: Here's an edit I'm happy to make. They fixed the game! No, seriously, the update they did to balancing makes this so much more enjoyable to play (and really highlights how odd some of the initial balancing was) but its an absolute slam dunk and I can happily say this is worth your time with NO caveat. Rest of review remains unchanged. So I initially threw this a positive review with a promise to update, and here's the update. This is good, really good, actually. But it does definitely have some problems. You should buy this game and support it, because its already very fun, and with some balancing changes it'll easily be a classic. Lets start with the good before the bad. The aesthetic overall is fantastic, its grimy and gross and as you move through the zones the board you're playing on and the music you listen to reflects the area you're playing in very well. Also, references galore. There are so many subtle (and not so subtle) references to other popular media. It never feels like too much, but there was a lot of little "oh no way" moments I had. To touch on the music again briefly, I love it. There's a little trill or change in the music for some of the opponents you run up against (I love the tune swap when you face the bard) and its the kind of thing that you could leave on forever and not be bothered by. Its a bop, and thats a good thing. Now the bad. I think if I had to pin down the main issue, it really feels like the game ramps up the people you're playing against much quicker than you can ramp yourself up to a "build". Blackjack is a game of playing the odds and chance moreso than poker, but by the end of the *first* floor (of five) you are already encountering people with like 5 cards in their deck and a specific playstyle you have to beat. That's fine, but by that point for you, you still most likely have almost all of the cards you started with plus a few more you picked up after wins. The opportunities to trim or focus your deck are few and far between and really expensive. I actually don't have a problem with the opponents, they are all clever fights and demand that you actually counter their mechanics, but I do think that the player's ability to fight those mechanics can be really difficult to manifest. The 4 starting decks all don't feel fantastic to use because they only activate powers if you deal damage at Blackjack (meaning if you hit 20 and win the head to head, no deck powers. Has to be 21 and cant be a tie of 21). There's also way too few options or opportunities to heal, and what is there costs too much. I'm not saying make the game easier, but at least give the player the tools to forge their way to victory. At the moment it really does feel like random chance on the players part if they end up winning or not, which is part of blackjack, sure, but if I get a 21 and stand and then the AI steals my ace... well thats not chance anymore is it? I love what is here, genuinely, but the balancing isn't quite right as of right now. I would recommend you wishlist this at the very least and keep an eye out for a big balancing update. This is good as is, but it could very well be great with some tweaks. [code] https://store.steampowered.com/curator/42143664/ [/code]