Deck-building games are two-a-penny, and while the standard formula works, developers have to do a little bit more than outsource to some artists to create a decent thumbnail or give a flash of thigh. Just A Shadow Game’s attempt at something different is to leave the player to work it out and to break the fourth wall with scripts.
After an initial choice of two languages (I chose English, for a laugh), you’re immediately presented with a battlefield featuring two ritrual (ritual) spots. The aim, I think, is to sacrifice your hostage before your opponent by building a series of towers to attack theirs. So it’s a tower defence meets deck-building title then? Yep.
In Just A Shadow Game, you’ll receive a hand to play with a limited number of action points. We won’t go over the mechanics as it’s the same as any other: run out of action points and then you have to end your turn, or there’s potential to sacrifice buildings for more AP. Pending you have the right cards.
Structures vary from defensive structures that fire projectiles, a.k.a. ranged units, to magic, through to infantry. For each card you play, there’s the option to place it in a location surrounding your ritual point. These projectile towers will effectively target buildings in front of them, or enemy units if nearby, and on the other side of the spectrum are the infantry units who’ll do the opposite and defend your base, then work their way towards enemy structures and destroy them.
Now, logic would have it that destroying all your opponent’s structures AND units would result in a win. In the tutorial that’s what happened. However, I found myself repeating the process again and again without an end in sight. All the enemies would be dead, there would be nothing left on the screen, and then the enemy would recast some buildings and enemies.
Perhaps I need to expedite the sacrifice? Alas, no. There are no other options besides playing new hands and ending one’s turn. Whether it was a glitch or not, I’m not entirely sure but a couple more attempts with the same strategies unlocked the path for something new.
Similar to a rogue-like, Just A Shadow Game gives a handful of choices on the route you take. Do you want to unlock a common card for your deck, a rare structure, or some coins to purchase items from a merchant? Irrespective of your selection, the experience is the same in the preview build, albeit with new units – both infantry and structures.
After fiddling around with the objectives and the somewhat ambiguous language and its quirks, the screen flashed up with a mock command prompt and how the game was sentient. In all honesty, it was at this point that I was ready for it to end and subsequently exited rather than wishlist it, as had been the continued requests.
Just A Shadow Game has some interesting ideas and an equally unique selection of cards/units, but it is in the early stages, so chances are we’ll see quite a few iterations until the release date. In the meantime, have a tinker with the demo, currently available on Steam.
