REVIEW / Pairs & Perils (PC Game)

Gimmicks can be a risky business. They often begin with an innovative mechanic and have the potential to evolve into something truly unique. But the danger lies in becoming overly focused on that new idea, which can lead to an imbalanced experience where other elements feel secondary. This pitfall is particularly perilous in game design. Enter Pairs & Perils, a PC game that illustrates this point well, delivering enjoyable gameplay yet falling a bit short in several areas.

First impressions of Pairs & Perils might have you pegging it as a straightforward matching game. Picture this: you venture into a dungeon, encountering a random lineup of foes, each equipped with their own special abilities. Your mission? Match cards on a board. Nailing your matches unleashes powerful attacks and spells from your party’s classes. Miss, and you inch your opponent closer to their own turn, letting them unleash their own attacks or abilities. The concept is straightforward and quite entertaining. It’s not the mechanics themselves that I’m questioning, at least not the basic ones.

However, for seasoned fans of roguelite games like myself, this title demands a tougher critique. As a gamer who’s traversed many of these landscapes, I’ve seen how they can either shine brilliantly or fall flat. Typically, the areas where these games falter extend beyond the core mechanics. In Pairs & Perils, the absence of any compelling storyline is a glaring weakness.

Now, you might argue that certain games, particularly arcade or shooter genres, can thrive with minimal narrative; a small story suffices to tie the action together. You just want to dive into the action, uninterrupted by deep storytelling. But here’s the thing—roguelites are inclined to be strategic. There’s usually some quest involved, and you want to know why you’re involved. Platformers, too, often follow this rule. Escorts through hours of gameplay beg for storytelling, even if it’s just a thread to keep you engaged. Unfortunately, Pairs & Perils misses this narrative mark entirely.

As I embarked on my first run with Pairs & Perils, I expected a lineup explaining my character’s motive for braving these perilous dungeons. Instead, I found myself launched into a typical roguelite map, with no clue about my ultimate objective or the universe in which I was playing. It’s easy to dismiss the importance of all this, but here’s my take: without a story to progress, my motivation dwindles, turning what could persist long-term into just brief spurts of fun.

The game’s flow presents another challenge. Cards are revealed for a short time before flipping over, requiring quick memorization. While the time provided feels insufficient, demanding rapid recall. The board starts small, so this isn’t initially a big deal, but as it grows, so does the challenge. Mixed in with your cards are traps—memorizing those instead of your cards adds layers of difficulty.

As you achieve successful matches, more cards are introduced with another brief memorization window. I found myself caught up in only remembering the new additions, neglecting older cards and stripping the game of deeper strategy.

There’s also the issue of dealing with opponents. Anticipating your opponent’s moves is crucial in strategy games, letting you plan ahead. But here, your focus is only on your cards. Monitoring what an enemy might do next distracts, potentially breaking your memorization streak. Consequently, the clever battle mechanics become rather arbitrary. You could be battling any entity, since your attention is fixed solely on card memorization.

Technically speaking, Pairs & Perils is well-constructed. The matching mechanics work nicely, and familiar roguelite deck-building features are in place. You gain new cards and characters, and upgrade them through various rooms. The controls are intuitive, and the graphics suffice for this game style.

Pairs & Perils stands as a roguelite card game with an intriguing central mechanic. However, these aren’t enough to distinguish it from the crowd, thanks to the challenges this central hook introduces to the overall experience. It is moderately priced, perfect for short sessions, but left me wishing for a more polished finish. Despite innovative ideas, the game settles into mediocrity—not something I’d eagerly recommend.

If the developers could inject some narrative lineage and balance the game mechanics more evenly, Pairs & Perils might become worthy of your gaming hours. Right now, it’s amusing but quickly fades from memory amid a genre bustling with competitors. If you’re eager to try it, you won’t regret it, though you might find better options if you’re browsing through the plethora of available titles.

Reflecting on specifics: Presentation scores a 7 out of 10, challenge earns a 7, replay value comes in at a 6, and deemed value for money stands at 6. Overall, the game scores a 6.5, hampered by execution flaws. While its core mechanics are engaging, the rough edges, lack of story, and some underwhelming elements diminish its potential. Yet, with a few tweaks and future updates, Pairs & Perils could find a place on a list of must-play indie games. But as of now, it remains in the realm of good, but not outstanding.