Abysswalkers Review

Grim Syndicate, an NFT collection launched in 2021, has developed a card game called Abysswalkers, set within the Grim Syndicate universe marred by the Daemon Scourge. In a distant part of the universe, a traveler named Pilgrim U'Sol discovered that every living thing has a soul. The story "Immortal Omnibus" narrates the events before the Ethereal Transit Authority (ETA) began transporting souls to the afterlife, a task assigned by Nazuul, the God of Death. Nazuul created Heralds, or Angels of Death, to manage souls after death.

An advanced race known as the Ancients accidentally unleashed monsters called Daemons, sparking a massive war. To stop the Daemons, Nazuul's Heralds used a powerful weapon called the "God Bomb." While effective, it left the universe in ruins. Over time, life reemerged, and mysterious new creatures called Grims appeared. Lacking souls, Grims were sustained by a dark substance known as Voidmatter, highlighting the universe's endless surprises and mysteries.

The game is currently available on Steam and Epic Games and does not require high-end hardware.

Gameplay

In Abysswalkers, players start with a few test games to learn the mechanics. After these matches, they can create and customize decks of cards. Before each match, players select a deck and a Grim, with the deck determining available units and abilities. Each Grim starts with 20 health points and has a special ability.

The game board features tile slots for combat units, a deck for drawing cards, and a visible graveyard for used cards. Units belong to one of three classes: Corporeal, Intellectual, or Ethereal, each with unique strengths and weaknesses. Slots can have attack or defense towers to increase damage dealt or withstand more damage. Barriers can also be placed on slots, preventing the opponent from placing units there and blocking attacks by interfering with the target's vision.

During gameplay, players start with 1 Energy and gain an additional point each round, up to a maximum of 10. APs are used to play cards and execute moves. Unused energy is then converted to "Stamina" points which can be used on the next round and will be used first instead of energy for actions like moving your units. Units, represented by cards, display vital stats such as energy cost, attack, defense, and class affiliation, along with effects and directional arrows indicating attack angles.

Units can gain various effect icons like Guardian, Wrath, and Swift, which influence behavior and combat outcomes. Interactions are classified as Contested or Uncontested based on proximity and arrow alignment, affecting attack possibilities and strategic positioning. The game uses automatic advantage and disadvantage rolls during unit interactions, canceling each other out when applicable. "Boom" cards have diverse effects, from health boosts to board-clearing abilities. Visual cues indicate available attacks, enhancing strategic decision-making during gameplay.

Review

Abysswalkers delivers a well-designed TCG experience with a strong onboarding tutorial that immerses players in the game's core lore, making it accessible to newcomers while still engaging for seasoned players.

Graphics: The visuals are solid, with well-executed VFX that bring character attacks to life. The UI is clean and functional, though it doesn’t particularly stand out. Adding effects when characters are played could enhance the presentation and make the game feel more dynamic.

Audio Design: The audio design is competent, with expected sound effects for attacks and interactions. Given the game's current development stage, the sound design does its job, but introducing more distinct audio cues for different attacks and effects could make the experience more immersive and memorable.

Gameplay: Abysswalkers features intuitive mechanics while offering deep strategic gameplay through card abilities and positioning. Unlike traditional TCGs, it allows players to place and command cards on specific board locations, adding a tactical layer to decision-making. Classic deck archetypes like control, aggro, and midrange are present, making the game familiar yet refreshing.

One issue I encountered is that when both players have identical cards, distinguishing them becomes difficult due to the lack of visual indicators. This can create confusion, especially during complex matches. Additionally, the current card pool is limited, which is expected in an early open beta. While this restricts playstyle variety for now, future expansions will likely enhance the game's strategic depth and diversity.

Conclusion: Abysswalkers shows great potential as a strategy-driven TCG with unique mechanics that set it apart from traditional card games. While the game is still in its early stages, its foundation is strong, and future updates could further refine its gameplay, visuals, and audio. With more content and balancing, it has the potential to become a compelling choice for both casual and competitive TCG players.