Deity Wars Review

Mobage’s Rage of Bahamut had TCG (Trading Card Game) fans all a flutter. Their latest offering is Deity Wars. Though this is hardly the worst example of a trading card game out there, Deity Wars is going to frustrate the heck out of you if you're new to the TCG genre.

It's also going to irritate you if you're a player of physical card games like Magic: The Gathering. For people who like the actual fighting aspect of a game, you might as well go elsewhere. You're not doing anything but collecting cards and building them up with extra items. Do you enjoy being part of a virtual battle? Yeah, not going to happen here. Want to go on a quest? Hit the 'Do Quest' button and watch it happen like a pretty little movie. Yup. That's it. No hitting buttons, no strategy and no quick thinking required. If you've played Rage of Bahamut, you already know the drill. With graphics like a bad website from the early nineties and a confusing interface, the game is not very user-friendly for newbies to the genre. It's certainly a visual mess on the iPhone. The graphics are better suited to a larger device. Shame it's not available for the iPad.

The game is about improving the deck you're given, rather than going after rare cards (though they do exist). You can use a referral code to get a legend card pack and everyone you speak to online will beg you to use their code. (In the sweetest way possible, of course. Because their code is the very best, you see.) There is a PVP element to the game, though it's not that intense. You're automatically put into a guild, so there is no hunting for fellow players if you don't want to, which is a plus. The more allies you have, the more likely you are to win. In fact, you're unlikely to survive a battle with the raid bosses without help. Not that you could do much about it anyway. An easy reason to put down the game if you like to play by yourself. Annoyed with your fellow players? You can do something called 'Friendship Battles,' gaining items that must be used on that day, and added up at the end of the week for 'Ranking Rewards.' Not enough co-play for you? Post a 'Yell' on your buddy's page for 'Yell Points.' You can use material to upgrade your cards and make them far more powerful and use the auction feature, so there is at least something else to do.

Visually the game is no different than any other anime-style you've seen. There is nothing earth-shattering here. There are indeed hundreds of cards that you can upgrade by evolving, but it's all about prepping for battle and less about what happens when you actually get there. Lost is the RPG enjoyment of actually doing something to fight the baddies. You just press a button and go. The tag line is Evolve: Get more tough and beautiful. (Yes, because being pretty will totally slay a dragon ... oh wait. Being pretty launches ships. Sorry).

App Store Link: Deity Wars for iPhone | By Mobage, Inc | Price: Free | Version: 1.0 | 9.4 MB | Rating 4+