Iris and the giant is a unique spin on the deckbuilding genre whose main strategic mechanic is careful planning and getting the most value out of your drawn hand.
Visually, the game is stunning. I love the art style and the voice acting, they really gave Iris and her dad a whole lot of character. Unlocking memories was (pun intended) memorable, each one revealing more about the struggles Iris face. I was especially fond of the memories of Iris learning how to say "no", as it made using the "no" cards feel powerful. The memories is also a large part of the storytelling aspect of the game, which is pretty decent. It's always refreshing to play a rogue with a story attached. I especially like how the story is not invasive, allowing you to skip cutscenes if you'd rather focus on gameplay. I find it quite annoying when rogues focus too much on story, gameplay should be front and center, but this game introduced it quite digestibly.
The gameplay itself is where I found problems with the game. While it is unique, it does get fairly repetitive. All enemy types are defeated the same way, with the exception of bosses. Enemy variety is really only the way in which they attack. Additionally, the low amount of card types feels restrictive, and certain card types are definitely more valuable than others. This makes it difficult to craft niche builds for the game, as I found it best to try and craft an all-around deck as opposed to one that excels with swords or axes. This negatively impacts the replay value of the game, which you never want to say for a rogue.
Overall, I think the game is best for fans of deckbuilders looking for a relaxing spin on the genre. The game presents itself with a good learning curve coupled with a refreshing art style and a decent story, but lacks the essential replay value rogues need. I can see myself playing more to try and beat the other two endings, but not diving into nightmare mode.
Visually, the game is stunning. I love the art style and the voice acting, they really gave Iris and her dad a whole lot of character. Unlocking memories was (pun intended) memorable, each one revealing more about the struggles Iris face. I was especially fond of the memories of Iris learning how to say "no", as it made using the "no" cards feel powerful. The memories is also a large part of the storytelling aspect of the game, which is pretty decent. It's always refreshing to play a rogue with a story attached. I especially like how the story is not invasive, allowing you to skip cutscenes if you'd rather focus on gameplay. I find it quite annoying when rogues focus too much on story, gameplay should be front and center, but this game introduced it quite digestibly.
The gameplay itself is where I found problems with the game. While it is unique, it does get fairly repetitive. All enemy types are defeated the same way, with the exception of bosses. Enemy variety is really only the way in which they attack. Additionally, the low amount of card types feels restrictive, and certain card types are definitely more valuable than others. This makes it difficult to craft niche builds for the game, as I found it best to try and craft an all-around deck as opposed to one that excels with swords or axes. This negatively impacts the replay value of the game, which you never want to say for a rogue.
Overall, I think the game is best for fans of deckbuilders looking for a relaxing spin on the genre. The game presents itself with a good learning curve coupled with a refreshing art style and a decent story, but lacks the essential replay value rogues need. I can see myself playing more to try and beat the other two endings, but not diving into nightmare mode.