Plateaus hard before jumping down a canyon into dear-god-let-it-end ville.
The first couple of hours of playing this were euphoric in nature for me. Having my statistical analysis tested strongly in order to figure out each of the dice's main systems in their first episodes was an incredible feeling. A lot of understanding probability and working strategies accordingly in ways that constantly felt interesting and engaging. Witch is the biggest highlight of ridiculous balancing-act, but Thief shenanigans and Inventor cost-analysis is worth mentioning too.
But then after the first couple hours wear off, and then you play the same game again six times over, it falls real flat on its face. It loads a lot of its most interesting parts in the "figuring out" of core systems, because the roguelite itself has very little variety both in enemies and builds past the first go around. Other than maybe Witch, none of these should've gotten more than two episodes tops. Arguably you could see these as "Ascension"-tier playthroughs, but the game is very easy to finish the first episode on your first go. I like it being that forgiving, but it's not super challenging. And when all your additional playthroughs are the same solutions but with a couple more barriers in the way that makes you work around some generally fringe stuff, it loses its luster. Even with its charming presentation and witty humor.
It's a REALLY damn good cake to bite into, just excellent icing and first layer. But after the first couple slices that shit's getting put in the fridge where it never gets touched again until you throw it out.
The first couple of hours of playing this were euphoric in nature for me. Having my statistical analysis tested strongly in order to figure out each of the dice's main systems in their first episodes was an incredible feeling. A lot of understanding probability and working strategies accordingly in ways that constantly felt interesting and engaging. Witch is the biggest highlight of ridiculous balancing-act, but Thief shenanigans and Inventor cost-analysis is worth mentioning too.
But then after the first couple hours wear off, and then you play the same game again six times over, it falls real flat on its face. It loads a lot of its most interesting parts in the "figuring out" of core systems, because the roguelite itself has very little variety both in enemies and builds past the first go around. Other than maybe Witch, none of these should've gotten more than two episodes tops. Arguably you could see these as "Ascension"-tier playthroughs, but the game is very easy to finish the first episode on your first go. I like it being that forgiving, but it's not super challenging. And when all your additional playthroughs are the same solutions but with a couple more barriers in the way that makes you work around some generally fringe stuff, it loses its luster. Even with its charming presentation and witty humor.
It's a REALLY damn good cake to bite into, just excellent icing and first layer. But after the first couple slices that shit's getting put in the fridge where it never gets touched again until you throw it out.