I
admit that I adore Yu-Gi-Oh! It's a great card game
that translates perfectly to the videogame medium.
The gameplay has stood the test of time because it
engages the brain. Sure, luck plays a big role in
the gameplay but luck also plays a big role in seemingly
sophisticated games such as Backgammon, Poker and
Monopoly.
The
one thing that I don't like about Yu-Gi-Oh! is that
it's been repackaged and resold so many times that
there's really nothing new about it except for the
modest addition of new cards and some new gameplay
rules. Don't expect any big changes now that the game
is presented on the DS. It does however have some
advantages over the GBA such as the dual screen and
the touch control that makes the physical aspect of
playing the game easier, but it's not enough to make
me want to run out and buy a DS. At the same time,
once you've played Yu-Gi-Oh! on the DS, you'll never
want to go back to the GBA.
A
major sore spot for potential fans of the series is
that none of the videogames come with a tutorial.
It's assumed that you already know the rules of the
game. It's not incredibly
complex but it does require some explaining. It's
not something you could easily figure out on your
own. Nightmare Troubadour has finally addressed this
issue and features a puzzle mode which illustrates
different situations with different monsters and their
corresponding cards. You'll be able to see the effects
that various attack, defend, magic and special ability
cards have on your opponent.
Arranging
your deck is one of the most important aspects of
this game. It's part strategy and part guesswork.
The object of the game is to attack your opponent,
causing him or her to lose points all the while defending
yourself from attack. The first player to lose all
their points is the loser. There are many variables
to the game depending on the cards played. Some cards
can actually turn the tide of the battle if played
at the right time. This ensures that there is a randomness
to the game that keeps all of the players on relatively
equal footing. No matter how much of a genius you
are it won't guarantee your success in this game,
and that's one of the reasons that's it's so popular.
In
the physical card game, player can purchase special
abilities and rare cards that give them virtually
unbeatable hands. In this game you are limited to
what you find in-game. You can't buy your victory.
There is an adventure mode where you explore a map
while the cursor turns hot or cold depending on the
proximity of an opponent. Points earned in battles
can be used to acquire better cards. This means that
a player that has spent more time in the adventure
mode will have upgraded his deck significantly. Fortunately
the wireless system will display his or her skill
level so you can refuse to do battle with someone
that's stacked and will obviously kick your arse.
Utilizing
the dual screen and the touch controls, all of your
cards are kept visible on the bottom of the screen
for easy reference. The top of the screen displays
your board. It's a great system in that you don't
have to keep accessing the menu and interface to peek
at your deck. Arranging the deck is also easier since
all you have to do is touch the deck and the cards
to change the order. Add a wireless system that allows
your opponent to keep his or her B.O. at a safe distance
and you've got a lot of great benefits if you're a
DS owner - although it's still not enough to make
me run out and buy one and I'm certainly not suggesting
that you do either.
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