A few days ago, I was bored. I have an Xbox Series X console which has had almost zero use, as I've been busy with other things. I also have Games Pass Ultimate, as part of a promotion associated with the purchase of the console.
As a result, there's a lot of games at my disposal for when I don't feel like playing something on the computer (and well, currently, its more profitable to mine some crypto on the computer than play games for enjoyment on it!)
I decided to play a game at random. That game was Neoverse. On the surface, Neoverse sends all the wrong messages about how women should be treated in video games. Each of the playable characters are highly sexualised, generic heroines.
The skin-packs available as DLC serve nothing but to further objectify the characters. It's a game about eye-candy for "gamers" to a certain extent, but I can't help but think that was an intentional decision by hte developers to capatilise upon the sex sells front.
Scantily clad ladies aside, Neoverse has no story - there's just a post-apocalyptic looking world, with portals to alternate dimensions or universes, where your heroine fights against creatures, robots, demons, and other things through a combat system based on deck-building mechanics.
The gameplay is surprisingly deep and strategic, with synergies that would make seasoned Magic the Gathering players who enjoyed sliver decks blush with envy. Each hero plays differently, by virtue of the cards available to them, and the mechanics are different enough to allow for there to be a new experience each time you play through with a new character.
There's Agent Naya, who uses guns and brute force to do damage to enemies quickly and bring them down. Then there's a Paladin, Clare, who focuses on building armour, healing themselves, and smiting their foes - but she can also be a vampire (which is immense fun!) - and finally, Summoner Helena, who summons beasts to fight by her side, doing damage over time, stacking armour, or building up attack to bring down enemies in a single hit.
With no story, you're left to an "adventure" which consists of 15 missions, each of which allow you to select an objective that will net a reward. At the end of each mission, you can spend skill points, buy items, and look at the cards in your deck to try and formulate new strategies.
There doesn't seem to be a limit to the deck size you can obtain - but its best to try and keep a smallish deck that synergises well, otherwise, you'll spend most of your turns in battle using junk cards while you wait for your combinations to land.
Battles feel a little bit drawn out, with there not being enough damage attached to the cards you're dealt, and the enemy units having a lot of HP - it would be nice to have a faster paced game, but as the Neoverse contains rogue like elements, I imagine that as more hours are invested in the game and things are unlocked, the balance turns in the favour of the player, leading to faster combat.
This game was quite surprising, and surface issues aside - its a deep and enjoyable game that makes the hours on the clock whizz-past like you've just touched a monolith in an Arthur C Clarke film and find yourself transported to the edges of the universe.
A very good game, with some pacing issues. Refreshing to play.
So my youngest (who owns a Commander sliver deck) would enjoy it then XD
And probably eldest because he likes deck builders.
As for the character designs and what sells well no accounting for taste ;D
Most likely. Its a very addictive game!