-
Brad Cummings
United States
Connecticut
-
The Stats:
Compatibility: iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad (2x)
Current Price: $3.99
Developer/Publisher: Centaur Studios
Version: 1.0.1
Size: 8.5 MB
Multiplayer: None as of yet.
AI: Yes, several available that must be unlocked.
Itunes link:http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/reiner-knizias-en-garde/id451...
The Good:
- All the information is presented brilliantly on the small iPhone real estate.
- Games move quickly and the AI provides a good challenge.
The Bad:
- Unlockables provide motivation for replay but also create frustrating situations.
- Graphic design could be polished and updated.
Gameplay:
En Garde is a game that has always interested me. Not owning a copy myself, I would often try to play it when I met with a gaming group, but in that type of setting, 2 player games were hard to get to the table. I am glad to have this iOS version as an introduction to a very quick and strategic 2 player game.
En Garde is a card game representation of a fencing match. Players start on either end of a long board. They receive a hand of five cards with numbers ranging from one to five from a deck of 25 cards (5 of each number). Each turn players play a card from their hand. The card may be used to advance the number of spaces on the card, retreat that many spaces, or attack the other player if they are exactly that number of spaces away from the player. In the “Primary” mode this is the extent of the game, however more advanced modes allow deeper strategy. In “Principal” mode players can parry using a card of the same number as the attack made against them and may also perform “power attacks” by using multiples of the same card. In “Master” mode you get all of the above, plus the ability to make lunge attacks, this means you can play one card for movement and then a card to attack immediately when you are in range. Unlike normal attacks, the opposing player has the chance to retreat from this type of attack. When a players achieves a successful hit, the round is over. The round will also end when the deck is depleted. The player furthest from their starting side of the board or the player who has cards in hand to make a “grasp attack” is the winner.
Implementation:
En Garde is a simple and enjoyable game. The app that presents it is also simple and straight forward. It may not wow in some ways that we have become accustom to, however it provides a fun solo play experience with promises of future improvement.
It is a slight generalization to say that every Reiner Knizia iOS game features dry art to compliment his often mathy and dry designs, but only slight. Others may confront me saying that design is secondary to gameplay, and for many of us that is true. I have played the Catan app dozens of times despite its clunky interface system. However, this does not change the fact that a key to app store success is great presentation,especially if you wish to reach more than just us hobbyists who are seeking out these types of games (you could say this about board games as well, part of the success of something like Ticket to Ride is its excellent packaging). Rant aside, En Garde presents its information well and is laid out well but features a design that feels somewhat dated. The opening screen for En Garde is very appealing. The background is attractive and interesting and is complimented by an interesting title graphic. The menu system is pretty clear, using different, more generic, matte backgrounds. My one complaint, and one the designer has already reported he will address, is the use of difficult to read fonts throughout the app. This is especially difficult in the game as a ticker details the action but is sometimes hard to read based on font. It is great, however, to see that this has been noticed and will be addressed. The designer has added some fun to the in-game graphics. It is great to have a visual representation of the fencing match in progress. Without access to published game art, it is clear the designer strived to make a clear and engaging app design-wise.
The interface of En Garde is very impressive. It manages to present all the information clearly on the small real estate of the iPhone’s screen. In game, less precedence is given to the graphical representation of the fencing match, and more is given to your hand and the actions you are able to take. En Garde is a mathy game, albeit a simple one, so it is great that all of the pertinent information is shown. You can quickly see how far you from your side of the board, how far you from your opponent and how many cards are left in the deck. All of these will factor in to decisions you make and I am glad they are clearly shown, now if only the game would count cards for me... One annoyance with the game is font size, things can just get downright small, however, when it comes to your hand, perhaps the most important piece of information, it is presented large and clear. You simply tap the card you want to play and your options are shown above it. You then select the option you want to execute and watch it play out graphically. En Garde may not be a complicated game, but it does a great job of presenting the information it contains, information that is key to victory.
En Garde appears to be a well supported app. The designer has explained that improvements based on user feedback and new features will be coming in the next few months. These include bugs fixes (the second unlockable AI will not unlock for some players, despite its requirement being fulfilled) as well as features such as online multiplayer and pass and play multiplayer. It will also become a universal app in a future update.
Currently, the game is limited to solo play. In this mode, games play quickly and it makes a great diversion while in between the important activities of life. It may not have the featurey meat of one of the bigger apps, but it fits that “time filler” niche beautifully. To motivate continued played, the more difficult AIs must be unlocked by completing certain challenges, such as beating an AI in each game mode. This system does help you learn the game and play in new styles, but in some cases it requires just straight repetitive play which some will find frustrating. I have found that playing the primary game mode has been the most challenging. Even though it is the most simple, it leaves you with the least options and is more dependent on your card draw. The different AI players do have noticeable play styles and it is nice to switch them up. The introduction of multiplayer modes will add longevity and weight to the game, but it already excels a pick up and play brain teaser. It has the simplicity of something like Angry Birds combined with the re-playability and mental workout aspects we enjoy in Euro games.
Conclusion:
En Garde is a great single player diversion, and the app succeeds in presenting a play experience that feels like it was really designed for its medium. En Garde still has features and fixes that fans will await eagerly, but, as it stands, it is a great first take on a classic game.
Rating:  2/4 Decent
|
|
