PC Preview – Prismata

Prismata is a game that is currently in Early Access on Steam. It is being developed by Lunarch Studios. It is hybrid of real time strategy, deckbuilders and tabletop games. It is now free-to-play on Steam for a limited time.

AIR Entertainment obtained a digitial copy of the game from the developers for preview purposes.

If you are subscribed to AIR Entertainment’s Youtube Channel, you can catch a glimpse of AIR Entertainment’s gameplay video along with some other game videos. For your convenience, you can also watch it here below:

STORY

It isn’t often that one gets a deckbuilder game that has some enticing story in it to keep one playing. As a matter of fact, it is hard to think of any that do. Prismata is brave in that it has a storyline entangled around a deckbuilding game where the combat is done through cards. It also minces in some tabletop gameplay, but what was the most exciting is that the game actually has an exciting science fiction type storyline that makes one want to beat each level in anticipation of the next part of the plot.

The basic premise is that humans have colonised a planet called Beacon. The sun never sets on the side of the planet where humans have settled, but on the dark side there are intelligent machines that will stop at nothing to remove these aliens from their planet. However, humans fighting machines is a near impossibility. Human fists never stood a chance against metal and artificial intelligence. And so the Swarmwielders were formed, human commanders that control massive machines in the defense of Beacon’s human population. And that is where the player comes in.

There are 40 missions through which the tale unfolds. Many times one will be under attack from sentient or cyborg creatures trying to make sure that humans no longer exist. One can also play through puzzles in the Combat Training mode, or challenge one’s friends or others online.

If that is not challenging enough, one can take part in the Expert Challenge mode or take part in tournament events. All in all there is enough to keep everyone that loves deckbuilding games very busy for a long time.

GAMEPLAY

The setup of the deckbuilding is very reminiscent of most deckbuilding games, but leaves a sense of something new and exciting. Instead of choosing a card to attack another card, which means sometimes losing attack points (4 attack against 1 defense, you waste 3 attack), one can stack up one’s attack points to attack as many enemies as possible.

During the game, one also needs to build additional machines to help stave off the growing onslaught of enemies. For this, machines that create coins, bars and energy are needed, which then unlocks greater machines to enter the battle.

Once the build and attack modes are done, one enters defense mode. Walls and machines to counter the oncoming attack need to be selected for the defense of your warriors. If the attacker has 20 attack points, one needs to ensure that enough defense is available up to at least 20 points.

The turns are swift and sometimes brutal, but one can almost get away with having too few machines and swing towards having an overwhelming amount as long as the coins, bars and energy icons are high. Choosing the right strategy is critical, and many times one may feel like one is playing Queen’s Sacrifice in chess, by sacrificing some valuable machines in preparation for a massive attack that will win the game.

SOUND AND GRAPHICS

The music and sound make Prismata a very exciting game to play. The musical score excites one towards the battle, and creates an enjoyable atmosphere for battle. Much thought has gone into the development of the machines and creatures that humans not only face, but also develop for the battle.

So much thought has also gone into the strategy of the game, but the colours are very pleasing to the eyes. Key characters during the storyline and dialogue have been drawn well, as well as the backgrounds on planet Beacon. The developer shows lots of promise for future games to come, and these are the type of games this author and game-writer wouldn’t mind getting involved with.

INITIAL VERDICT

Prismata is a fun and challenging deckbuilding strategy game that many will love. Even though the game is still in Early Access, there is enough going on in this game to state that it is very nearly close to perfection. The one thing that could have made it better would have been some voice acting, but that does not detract from what a great game this is. It would also be great to see the game come to PS4 and Nintendo Switch.

AIR Entertainment looks forward to the completion of the game, and at this point feels the game will deserve very close to full marks for its depth of story, challenging strategy, and fantastic gameplay. AIR Entertainment will review the game and provide a Final Verdict once the game is completed and fully available.

Disclaimer: AIR Entertainment received a code for previewing purposes. This preview is the author’s own opinion and not influenced by the developer in any way, as per our reviewing Code of Ethics.

SHAUN M JOOSTE

Author, Poet, Screenwriter, Gamewriter, Journalist,
….and Elemental Mage Supreme in his spare time