Review: Necroking
Necroking Review: A Promising Yet Flawed Entry in the Deckbuilding Genre
As I settle into my leather armchair, adjusting my vintage Montblanc fountain pen to take notes, I find myself contemplating the latest addition to the ever-expanding pantheon of deckbuilding games.
Aesthetic and Production Value
Necroking presents itself with a decidedly minimalist pixel-art aesthetic that, while perhaps pedestrian to the uninitiated, demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of visual design within technical constraints. The nocturnal environments and Gothic elements create an appropriately somber atmosphere for a game centered around necromantic arts.
The environmental design shows considerable attention to detail, with varied terrain types and atmospheric touches that add texture to the otherwise uniform grid structure. However, one cannot help but notice that the visual presentation, while competent, lacks the sublime refinement found in genre-defining titles such as “Inscryption” or the criminally underappreciated “Cardinal Gates.”
Mechanical Depth and Strategic Elements
The core gameplay loop revolves around a rather intriguing combination of tactical grid-based movement and lane-based combat encounters.
The battle system, while initially promising, reveals itself to be somewhat lacking in terms of strategic depth. The player’s units always having initiative creates a predictability that, while perhaps comforting to neophytes, fails to challenge those of us who have spent countless hours analyzing the intricate decision trees of more sophisticated offerings in the genre.
Deck Construction and Progression
The deck-building mechanics present a classical triptych arrangement of Collection, Deck, and Enemies – a structure that speaks to a fundamental understanding of genre conventions. However, the implementation of consumable cards and the somewhat unbalanced progression system leaves much to be desired.
Creature Design and Synergies
The bestiary offers an impressive array of units, each with their own abilities and potential synergies. The counterattack mechanisms and unit multiplication effects show promise, though the balance issues become apparent as one progresses through the campaign.
Notable Shortcomings
While taking notes with my fountain pen during extended play sessions, several issues became apparent:
- The difficulty curve proves disappointingly flat, with mid-game encounters failing to scale appropriately
- Resource management, particularly regarding bones, becomes trivial after the early game
- The sound design, while serviceable, lacks the sophistication one might expect from a title in this genre
- Alternative deck strategies, while theoretically possible, are often suboptimal compared to basic combinations
Value Proposition
At its modest price point of $4.99, one must acknowledge that Necroking offers a reasonable return on investment. However, value alone cannot excuse certain fundamental design oversights.
Final Thoughts
Necroking represents a valiant attempt at combining roguelike elements with deckbuilding mechanics, but ultimately falls short of true excellence. While it may provide entertainment for those new to the genre or seeking a more casual experience, seasoned connoisseurs of deckbuilding games will likely find themselves yearning for more substantial fare.
As I conclude my notes and carefully cap my fountain pen, I cannot help but feel a mixture of appreciation for what Necroking attempts and disappointment at what it could have been.
Pros:
- Atmospheric pixel art design
- Solid core mechanics
- Reasonable value proposition
- Interesting unit variety
Cons:
- Insufficient difficulty scaling
- Simplistic resource management
- Limited strategic depth
- Balance issues in late game
Review by Elm Whitmore, Ph.D.
Conducted over multiple sessions in my climate-controlled game room
Score
Overall Score: 6/10
Developer: KORO.GAMES
Release Date: Sep 4, 2024
Steam Page: Necroking