Review: Heart of Crown PC
Heart of Crown PC: A Modest Entry in the Digital Deckbuilding Pantheon
As I settle into my leather armchair, vintage Montblanc fountain pen poised over my reviewer’s notebook, I find myself contemplating the curious specimen before me: Heart of Crown PC, a digital adaptation of the Japanese deckbuilding game that has made its way to our Steam libraries.
Mechanical Architecture
At its core, Heart of Crown PC presents a rather conventional deckbuilding framework, though one adorned with some intriguing mechanical flourishes. Players begin with the standard complement of basic cards – a design choice that, while hardly revolutionary, provides a stable foundation for the game’s more nuanced elements.
The game’s central conceit – the necessity to back a princess before pursuing victory points – introduces a fascinating strategic inflection point that sets it apart from more pedestrian entries in the genre. This mechanism creates a delightful tension between economic development and political maneuvering that reminds me, albeit distantly, of the sublime resource management systems in the criminally underappreciated Duelyst.
Visual Production
The aesthetic presentation is… serviceable, if somewhat lacking in refinement. The anime-inspired artwork, while charming in its way, suffers from a rather unfortunate resolution limitation that renders the otherwise pleasant illustrations somewhat less than crisp.
The interface design demonstrates competence, though it rarely achieves excellence. The ornate golden flourishes and baroque styling suggest aspirations toward grandeur, even if the execution occasionally falls short of true sophistication.
Strategic Depth
Perhaps the game’s most redeeming quality lies in its strategic landscape. The various princess abilities and card interactions create a respectable depth of decision-making that rewards careful analysis and tactical forethought.
The AI opponents provide a reasonable challenge, though their behavior patterns become somewhat predictable after extended observation. I’ve filled several pages in my notebook documenting their tactical tendencies.
Narrative Elements
The campaign mode, such as it is, presents a curious amalgamation of visual novel elements and card gameplay. While the character interactions occasionally charm, the narrative framework feels somewhat superfluous to the core experience.
Technical Implementation
The multiplayer implementation is, regrettably, rather temperamental. The absence of asynchronous play options and the occasional connection difficulties suggest a certain lack of polish in this crucial aspect.
Verdict
Heart of Crown PC occupies a peculiar position in the digital deckbuilding landscape. While it offers moments of genuine strategic satisfaction and maintains a certain charm, it falls short of true excellence in several key areas. The mechanical foundations are solid, if unexceptional, and the presentation, while adequate, rarely transcends its modest ambitions.
For enthusiasts of the genre seeking a new strategic challenge, it may warrant consideration, particularly when acquired at a reasonable price point. However, those seeking a truly refined digital deckbuilding experience might find their time better invested elsewhere.
Setting down my fountain pen and taking a final sip of Earl Grey, I find myself regarding Heart of Crown PC with measured appreciation, acknowledging its contributions to the genre while remaining mindful of its limitations.
Score
Overall Score: 6/10
Developer: illuCalab, FLIPFLOPs, Japanime Digital
Release Date: Dec 12, 2017
Steam Page: Heart of Crown PC