14 DAY TRIAL // Lucius, a tactician with high intelligence, moves one step, slashes an enemy, and then gains both guard and thorns to prepare for an undead counter strike. My cleric, Catherin, unleashes an ice shard spell and puts up her own guard. Alphonse, the headhunter aka thief assassin, moves one enemy to a position where he can do less harm and then prepares to dodge. I know exactly what the enemy will do next turn and I can absorb their magic. The question is what cards will I then use to try and win the fight.
The game mixes card-driven and rogue concepts with a more classic role-playing game structure. Mixed Realms, a relatively small studio in Singapore, handles both development work, with Swag Soft, and publishing duties, alongside Coconut Island.
Gordian Quest is all about interactions between systems that on their own are not terribly exciting. Characters use cards to complete combat moves, from raising their guard to attacking in a variety of ways. They have 3 actions to work with during a turn, with the overall order decided by initiative. But fights take place on a grid and movement can be handled independently of cards. This makes positioning and placement incredibly important.
But there’s more to take into account. Characters have skill points to spend, gaining cards and stats, but there are also whole extra specializations to invest in. There are checks that they need to pass during dungeon runs. Gear and consumables add extra variety to hero development and combat tactics because they often introduce new cards.
On the battlefield, after a few initial battles, success requires both planning and improvisation. In Gordian Quest, character combos are powerful and they rely on positioning and preparation of the combat zone. Enemies clearly state how they are spending their next run. This means players can move quickly, play based on instinct and get wins. But some enemies and situations can only be overcome by playing carefully and slowly.
The narrative, of which two full chapters are available, is not groundbreaking. It is interesting enough to keep players interested, despite some pretty average writing.
The game, while not content complete, feels exquisitely balanced and polished. Each character has a particular identity. Each big fight is a surprising puzzle. Each three-character group mixes impressive moves and clear vulnerabilities to mitigate.
Gordian Quest has a relatively subdued look. The developers have chosen a clean, classic role-playing game infused set of concepts for the characters and the world. The priority is clearly to make sure that players can, at all times, know everything about the tactical situation and their cards. Yes, the screen can become crowded at times, but a little patience will reveal all the information needed for good moves and choices. The killing blow animations are gory and exciting.
Conclusion
It takes a few hours to understand how many of the game's systems interact and how that makes them enjoyable. Once a player sees the careful dance required to win a tough fight it will be hard to get past the feeling that one tweak, one change, one new strategy can lead to a better run in the impressive Gordian Quest.
