Inscryption

The first four hours of this game were some of the best roguelite experiences I've ever had, standing toe to toe with the likes of Rogue Legacy and Hades. Then the first act ends and the game takes a *hard* left turn in terms of gameplay, atmosphere, and visual style, to great detriment. Imagine watching a Kubrick film- just taking in the masterful cinematography, totally invested in what you are seeing unfold on both a mental and emotional level. Then out of nowhere, Marlon Brando disappears from the screen and the movie suddenly turns into Family Guy, bombarding you with the requisite lazy references, nostalgia bait, and "so random" anti-humor the show is infamous for. Jarring, right? That's Inscryption. Some people may enjoy the ride that the sharp tonal turns take you on, but it just left me feeling disappointed and mildly duped.

I beat the game and understand less 12 hours well spent

In terms of indie-deckbuilding cardgames, Inscryption is just below top-class. The battle-system is tightly designed, and the dev really mined every possible angle out of it. The game uses great care in alternating between generic and unique design-elements, and puts a lot of care and effort into delivering an immersive experience. However, it is also a pretty story-driven experience, and I have to say that despite the story being good enough to elevate the game, the Dev's style is not for me. Daniel Mullins tends to write what he knows, and he mostly knows video-game developement. So, he makes games that are, in a way, about making games, and the story is kind of unfocused in the aspects that go beyond that theme. That doesn't make it a "bad story", but it is a limitation on what the game can accomplish.

It`s very ok, but the fact you have to start all over again and again and again ... as I said: I don`t know. I call this games for "occasional Tetris", and that`s what it is: good for a time, and then you need something else.

Much like Pony Island, Inscryption is a game which breaks the fourth wall and shatters your expectations. Go into it blind, and enjoy it at face value. If the pace changes, keep playing and your efforts will be rewarded. Production value is insane on this one, and everything is extremely clever. I never found the difficulty to be unfair or unenjoyable--assuming you play your cards right.