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Gimmicks can be tricky. Often, brilliant concepts are born from a fresh mechanic, blossoming into something truly captivating. Yet, when you kick off a project with an innovative idea, it’s easy to develop tunnel vision. You focus so deeply on perfecting that one element, everything else might just seem like an afterthought. Today, we delve into a PC game called Pairs & Perils, which, despite being enjoyable, exemplifies this very conundrum.
On the surface, Pairs & Perils presents itself as a straightforward matching game. You venture into a dungeon to confront a mix of random enemies, each packing unique skills. Your task? Match cards on a board. Successful pairs trigger attacks from your party’s diverse classes, unleashing helpful spells and abilities. But botch a match, and you speed up your opponent’s attack timer. It’s a simple yet engaging setup. My reservations? They don’t stem from these fundamental mechanics.
Pairs & Perils falls under the roguelite genre, a personal favorite of mine, which is why I might come across as a bit more critical here. I’ve played countless titles like it, and they usually lean towards either fantastic or forgettable with little middle ground. The clincher isn’t the mechanics but something else entirely—namely, the non-existent storyline.
Games like shooters and arcade titles often skirt by without deep narratives, as the emphasis is on action. Here, the focus is all about getting down to business. Yet, strategic games like roguelites often benefit from some narrative glue. When you’re on a quest, knowing why you’re venturing forth matters. Platformers can also struggle without a backdrop. You might not need an encyclopedia of lore like in a hefty RPG, but a little context helps sustain immersion and motivation. Unfortunately, Pairs & Perils offers precious little in this department.
The first time I booted up Pairs & Perils, I expected a basic introduction to my character and a sense of why I was diving into danger. That didn’t happen. The game transported me straight to a generic map seen in many roguelites and threw me into the action with no backstory. Without a lead-in or setting, my card-matching felt aimless. While the gameplay’s fun, the lack of narrative means I’m less inclined to stay engaged over time.
Another quibble is the game’s pacing. You’re given a short glimpse of the cards before they flip, and honestly, it feels too brief. I’m not asking for a full minute, but a bit more time would help. Initially, with fewer cards, it’s manageable. But as the board grows, that extra memory time becomes vital. Throw in trap cards mixed within, and prioritizing these diminishes memorizing your useful cards, cranking up the difficulty unnecessarily.
After matching several cards, more are dealt, and you get a second to process them. I found myself tuning in mainly to the new cards since they were easier to focus on, neglecting the rest. This pattern undermines deeper strategic play as you’re only working with fragments of your deck.
The strategy component also falls short when planning against opponents. The goal is anticipation—countering what foes might do next. But when all your energy goes into the memory game, monitoring enemies or planning your next card loses appeal. Although the battle mechanics are unique, their depth evaporates when the main focus is memorizing cards instead of strategic thinking.
Mechanically, Pairs & Perils performs well. The matching system operates smoothly with expected roguelite deck-building features. New cards and characters unlock, and upgrades are available in certain rooms. Those familiar with this genre will find a lot that’s standard fare. Controls work well, and the graphics meet expectations for this game type.
In the end, Pairs & Perils is a roguelite CCG that banks on its intriguing central gimmick. While occasionally captivating, the gimmick alone doesn’t set it apart from the crowded genre, especially when it impacts the game’s overall experience. Suitable for short play sessions, its modest price is fair. Yet, I’d gladly invest more for polished content. At present, it’s interesting but not exceptional, using innovative ideas that don’t fully elevate it. I wouldn’t rush to recommend it, but it’s worth revisiting if future updates arrive.
If the developers weave in a story and refine some rough edges, Pairs & Perils could rise to something truly worthwhile. For now, though, it remains an amusing diversion in a sea of similar games. If you’re curious, you won’t waste your money, but there are more compelling options if you’re browsing.
This review is based on a retail copy provided by the publisher.
A Balancing Act:
– Look and feel: 7/10
– Challenge: 7/10
– Replayability: 6/10
– Value for money: 6/10
– Overall: 6.5/10
Execution Problems:
Pairs & Perils brims with entertaining mechanics at its core, but its execution could use refinement. For everything delightful and intriguing, there’s a downside equally noticeable. A lack of story and unpolished mechanics transform a potentially great game into an average one. A few updates could change my stance, but currently, it resides solidly in the good-but-not-great category.
