Recently, I have had the opportunity to try out Cross Blitz, the debut title from developer Tako Boy Studios LLC, which is a unique RPG deckbuilder game in which players take control of different characters as they venture through various stories and roguelite adventures, using their decks to battle various enemies.
Throughout my time with Cross Blitz, I was able to try out the various stories that were available within the game while also attempting to try out all the different deckbuilding options that I could, as the game boasts hundreds of cards for the player to use.
Cross Blitz Boasts Numerous Main Characters, Each With Their Own Stories
One of the more interesting features within Cross Blitz‘s main story mode is the ability to select one of 5 characters (one being locked at the start) that you will then take control of as you navigate them through their own unique stories.
Due to this, players are able to pick and choose what character they would like to play as while also choosing a specific story that fits that character, making it feel even more unique and fitting to the player and their choice of character.
For some gamers, selecting their character is a tough decision, as there are a lot of factors that go into that decision, but for Cross Blitz, that isn’t necessarily a problem, as each character is locked into their own adventure that fits their aesthetic. Along with the freedom to choose a character, this also provides more content for the player as well, as they aren’t just exploring one overarching story within the game but are instead exploring various different stories that reveal completely different views on the game’s world.
During my time with the game, I explored as many of these stories as I could while also exploring the additional nodes within each story, and they were very fun to explore, as they provided a lot of context for the different characters as well as the world they inhabited, while I also enjoyed the different combat encounters and situations I could get myself into.
In terms of character design, each of the characters, main, side, and enemy, was incredibly well designed, making them stand out from one another while also being detailed to the point that each character felt like they had their own personality.
The Combat is Full of Chaotically Fun Gameplay Mechanics That are Tough to Master
The key aspect of Cross Blitz is the deck-building gameplay that tasks the player with creating all kinds of decks that can help them defeat the numerous enemies that block their progression. To do this, players will need to combine all kinds of cards that mix attack units, defense units, and even spell cards so that they can build the most devastating deck that they can.
Luckily, the game is very kind to the player in this regard, as there are plenty of slots to fill in within your decks, with 30 slots to fill, and numerous different cards that you can purchase throughout your runs in the shops that are available.
This means that players are spoilt for choice when it comes to what cards they will use during their combat encounters, but that doesn’t mean that they will be able to win the combat encounters. The reason players may struggle with winning combat, even in the early game, is that there are a lot of different mechanics and effects that they need to learn in order to use their cards effectively.
Whether that means making sure your cards are in the right sections so they can attack or defend, making sure that the spell cards are used at the right time to ensure the maximum amount of damage that you can inflict upon your enemy, so that you can defeat their cards and their overall health pool.
Due to the different card combinations and the various combat encounters that each have their own combat methods and setups, each combat encounter will be entirely unique, with rarely a single encounter ever repeating, allowing for replayability in regard to fighting the different enemies, especially as the player progresses from the story to the roguelite game mode.
Cross Blitz’s World is Full of Colorful Landscapes That Are Designed in a Fun Geometrical Way
While exploring the world of Cross Blitz, players will be able to venture through various biomes made up of hexagonal blocks that create the layout of the maps. Due to the use of these blocks, a whole new dimension can be used within the game, as players are able to climb, jump, and move between blocks.
However, players sadly don’t have full exploration of these landscapes, as they are set to a certain path within these blocks that leads to the objectives within. This means that, yes, players are able to make the decision of what objective they will take on next upon the board, but they will still need to follow a set path through the stories.
Along with using these hexagonal blocks, there are also details within the landscape that will allow players to picture where they are within the game world to a degree by seeing all kinds of objects like trees, lights, and even houses, so that they can feel as though they are adventuring through a game world rather than just following a set path on some blocks.
To me, this was a fun addition to the game, as it gave the player choices on how they would handle their adventure as a whole, while also providing the player with a world to explore, even down to the smallest details that could help them to feel as though the game was filled with life.
Cross Blitz
Summary
While playing through Cross Blitz, I found that the game was a lot of fun thanks to the unique stories that I was able to explore for each character that was available to me.
Along with this, I also found that the combat was very interesting as it never felt boring or too much alike, but in fact had a lot of replayability to it as each encounter was random.
In terms of the game world, I found it to be very well designed in terms of details, as well as the hexagonal layout that provided a whole new perspective that hasn’t been seen in a long time.
HOURS PLAYED: 13.5
PLAYED ON: PC
- With each character having their own unique story, it allowed me freedom to select who I wanted to play as.
- The roguelite mode was a lot of fun and allowed for even more content than expected.
- Although the card-based combat was fun, it was very complicated and took a lot of getting used to.
For more Thumb Wars Gaming coverage, check out our article talking about the gameplay reveal for Fatekeeper, or check out our review of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl.
Liam is a Senior Editor, Writer, and Critic for Thumb Wars and has been working with the team since day one. Liam is a big fan of all things gaming, as you will catch him playing all of the new releases from every genre you can imagine. Whether you find Liam gaming just for fun or spending his free time streaming, you will always find a smile on his face when it comes to all things gaming.
