Title:Â Monster Train
Developer: Shiny Shoe
Publisher: Good Shepherd Entertainment
Website: TheMonstertrain.com
Genre: Rogue-Like Deck Builder
Available On:Â PC
Release Date: May 21, 2020
Version Tested: PC
When it comes to deck builder games, the genre has certainly grown over the years. The granddaddy of them all, Hearthstone set the tone and was certainly the most popular of the group back in the day, but Monster Train and games that have come after it has improved on it immensely. Even now, it becomes hard to really bring something new.
Slay the Spire managed to find a new formula and there have been other deck builders that changed the story a bit, but Monster Train brings new mechanics and a different setting than the rest and that allows it to stand out from the crowd.
The fact that the game is set on a train is only part of the reason why this one is different from even the game it unapologetically echoes. Slay the Spire might have been the inspiration for this title, but it’s possible the student has become the master.
The Three Tiers of Monster Train
The mechanics of this game are very similar to Slay the Spire, right down to the animation of dragging an attack against an enemy. Where Monster Train stands out is the fact that you have your own kind of “boss” in the fight, that will carry out attacks all on its own.
Of course, the biggest difference is the fact that you need to manage three different tiers when attacks pop up. There are a number of different things you can do in order to do that. The end goal is always to keep as many enemies as possible away from the top floor.
Clans Add a Bit of Story
Monster Train‘s story does fall well short. That is the one strike against the game and it’s not hard to say that it’s the only strike against it. It should be pointed out that there are plenty of games out on the market these days that rely on lore to tell a story. This is, of course, often the case when it comes to deck builders, but it still falls short of even something like Slay the Spire. That game does have different ways to engross you in what story there is. Monster Train tries to do the same, but it doesn’t do a great job.
While it falls short, the addition of “clans” rather than heroes is a nice touch. Players start every run by picking the main clan and then a supporting clan. There are five different clans that they can pick from and each clan brings a different set of cards with them. This becomes important depending on how people play because you can mix and match depending on the abilities. Those can decide whether or not you’re going to win the run and win the game.
Those clans also add a bit of story to a game that offers very little story otherwise. You can read up on the lore and see what each character brings to the table. It helps fill Monster Train with more reasons to play. Those clans also bring a level of replayability to the game because if you don’t use the right matchup you’re going to want to try again in order to get it right.
Difficulty Sneaks Up on You in Monster Train
One of the things that will surprise anyone who plays this game is how quickly it gets quite hard. It appears the title is built to give players a false sense of security. You’ll blow through the first couple of rounds and not even noticed the damage the top floor hero is suffering. Then all of a sudden you run into an enemy that will absolutely wipe you out. This is both frustrating on some level and absolutely will make some people take on a resolve to find the right combination.
That too, adds to replayability that other deck builders don’t offer. There’s a level of changing features and characters that you don’t get from some other games. It’s another aspect that sets Monster Train not just apart from the rest, but near the top of the growing list.
Verdict: Monster Train is an entertaining deck builder that is equal parts frustrating and fun. It’s hard to stand out from the ever-growing group of games in this genre. There may not be a genre, as a matter of fact that genre might be one of the fastest-growing groups in video games. That makes it that much harder to carve out a niche. The game’s unique mechanics and characters and cards give players a totally different feel than other ones out there. It even bests Slay the Spire, on which it seems unapologetically based on. This is a must buy.
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