The Fairy Tail franchise is now essentially experiencing a rebirth, for two reasons. First, the long-awaited sequel, Fairy Tail: The Hundred Year Quest, has begun release. Secondly, although this is a more local reason, the anime was officially licensed in Russia and is now available with a full Russian dub. Games based on the universe have also begun to appear again, and in this review we will look at one of them.
Released in 2017, the roguelike Slay the Spire gained immense popularity among fans of the genre due to its combination of Roguelike elements and a card system. This type of gameplay was adopted by many indie game developers and is still used today. The authors of Fairy Tail: Dungeons also did not reinvent the wheel and decided to use mechanics that were already familiar to many. However, we could not do without our own decisions.
Fairy Tail: Dungeons’ combat system features turn-based combat where you select cards to take action. Your character has 3 mana, and the cost of each card usually ranges from 1 to 2 (although there are some that cost 0 and 3). Unlike most similar games, each turn we are offered a choice of only four cards, but they can be shuffled by sacrificing 5% of health. Sometimes this is useful, for example if you need something to interrupt an enemy’s action. You can also make combos from some cards, using them one after another and thereby increasing your strength. In general, the battles here turned out to be simple and exciting.
The age of Fairy Tail: Dungeons is divided into three levels, between which you can save progress in the form of volumes. On the first one you play only one hero, on the second you can already choose two, and on the third – three. The second level is essentially intermediate, because in it you have to fight only one boss. You’ll mostly be replaying the first and third. Additionally, completing the storyline unlocks a higher difficulty with tougher enemies.
Thanks to the division into levels, in this game, unlike most other roguelikes, the age does not always start from scratch. Having assembled a more or less normal build in the first dungeon, you can then use it in the third an unlimited number of times. This way, you skip the initial stage of collecting starting cards and improvements, immediately moving on to the fun part.
Map movement in Fairy Tail: Dungeons is quite unconventional. Instead of the usual lines with branches, we have a labyrinth through which we can freely move in different directions. There is no specific end point for the run, so the boss battle automatically begins after you make a certain number of moves. The solution turned out to be successful and to some extent even creates the feeling that you are really exploring a dungeon.
As you progress through the maze, you will fight regular and elite monsters, collect lacrima (local currency), buy items and cards, find rewards and participate in events that bring both positive and negative results. You will also have the opportunity to upgrade, which increases damage and gives various bonuses. Although there are only five playable characters, other familiar of Fairy Tail and other guilds will appear in events marked with an exclamation mark. In addition, they will be able to come to your aid in battles if you find their cards.
Fairy Tail: Dungeons also has a full-fledged plot that ends after completing the third labyrinth. It is quite simple, but quite in the spirit of the anime series. Our heroes discover a mysterious dungeon in the basement of the Fairy Tail guild, which is constantly changing and drains the strength of those who enter. This is precisely the plot rationale for the Roguelike elements. We get new abilities thanks to Kana’s cards, which she scattered throughout the dungeon. In this place we find an Exid who is looking for his missing friend named Arthur. It is in his search that the original goal of the game lies.
The disadvantages of Fairy Tail: Dungeons include the environment design. It is clear that dungeons are a dark and dark place with no room for bright colors. However, it would still be possible to make the locations more diverse and interesting. At the same time, the character design turned out great – pixel art lovers will appreciate it!
The interface of Fairy Tail: Dungeons was clearly made primarily for consoles, since all elements are located for easy control using a gamepad. For example, the list of cards used is not located in a convenient at the bottom, but right around the hero, as if symbolizing the four buttons on the right side of the controller (A, B, X, Y). And although the keyboard and mouse controls themselves are not bad (and in some cases even better), the console interface can spoil the experience.
Fairy Tail: Dungeons may please fans of the Fairy Tail anime who also love games in the Slay the Spire vein. Exploring the labyrinth is interesting, the characters are made in a beautiful pixel art style, and the battles are quite exciting. Despite the fact that the combat system is far from new and has been used in a huge number of other similar projects, the game is able to offer something of its own. You can find fault with the design of the environment and the console interface on a PC, which can spoil the overall impression. However, overall, the game leaves a pleasant impression.
