In recent years, board games like Tsuro, Catan, and Root have been available in digital versions for computer, console, and phone platforms. Yes, many popular tabletop games are being turned into video games nowadays, so this list is just a small selection. Death Roads: All Stars is a computer game created by the Knights of Unity. It is similar to the tabletop game but has its unique features. Instead of just translating the game to a computer, they added their twist.
The board game is about a post-apocalyptic death race. Players use cards to move on a roadway and attack each other. The goal is to be the last one standing. Although I haven’t played the game, I have been following it with interest, and many of its elements have been adapted. However, it is essential to note that this is not simply a direct adaptation of the tabletop game. In Death Roads: Tournament, instead of competing against other players or AI opponents, you race across America and eliminate rivals in a roguelike deck-building game inspired by Slay the Spire. I like how this board game adaptation retains its essence while leveraging the advantages of video games.
Choose your character and car, each with their starting cards. Then, select a starting point on the world map and travel between nodes. You’ll battle enemies, complete events, and visit shops along the way. You’ll quickly recognize the setup if you’ve played Slay the Spire or Fights in Tight Spaces. Interestingly, other competitors in the race across America are shown on the map. You’ll have to engage in one-on-one car combat if you come across them.
Battles happen on multiple road lanes and don’t have a definite end during combat. Playing cards allow you to move and attack enemies on the road. You can attack them in specific spaces or ram into them. Positioning is crucial for success, even more so than weapon-based attacks. If a target is out of range, you won’t be able to hit it. Similarly, if your lane will close soon, it’s best to move out of it. It is simple, but there are other factors involved.
Certain cards can change gears, either up or down. Other cards work better depending on the gear you are currently in. Knowing your deck can help you prepare to use a specific card by being in the right gear. The system is excellent because each card has many options, so your deck isn’t cluttered with similar cards.
Next, let’s talk about the handling system. Playing cards requires handling, as each car has its handling limit. During your turn, you can play as many cards as you can. If you run out of handling, your turn ends, and suffer a skid, as expected. When this occurs, you will draw cards from your driver’s skid deck that match the number of cards in your current gear. These can cause you to go in different directions, collide with other cars or walls, and switch gears. It creates an intriguing risk/reward system. I enjoyed putting myself between enemies and intentionally causing a skid to try and damage them more. Specific attacks can also affect your opponent’s handling, causing them to skid and potentially eliminating them faster.
I enjoyed these systems. The cards they had access to made things exciting and opened up many possibilities. You can modify your cards during gameplay by swapping out attachments on your car rather than adding new cards to your deck. If you change your engine after winning a battle, your new engine may give you cards to change gear, move forward two spaces, and then ram or sideswipe an opponent. I also liked this element because it solves the problem of having too many cards in a deck that needs to be reduced.
The mechanics are good, but they need improvement in actual gameplay. Death Roads: Tournament is challenging. Enemies can deal significant damage if luck is not on your side. Healing opportunities are scarce and expensive, requiring much in-game currency to restore your health entirely. It can be challenging, especially when you choose a character and have to unlock them to play as them. After each encounter, you get injured, so your next regular battle will likely be your final one. The developers know about this issue. Since the game is still in Early Access, they will work on adjusting the difficulty and gameplay in the next few months.
They will likely examine a few other areas. The events you encounter are dull. Hopefully, there will be more exciting versions of these events. I enjoy how games like Monster Train use events to introduce characters or factions that appear again. It’s a great way to expand the game’s world. I noticed some bugs with them, too. For example, if you die during events, you don’t earn any XP towards new cars like when you die in battle. There are some strange text and grammar mistakes in some of them, especially in the introduction. It’s alright, but worth checking out.
When it comes to appearance, Death Roads: Tournament is quite impressive. The comic book visuals are excellent, with a cool grindhouse look in the battle scenes. I want more diverse racing environments instead of just different versions of a sandy road. However, the player vehicles and characters are unique and visually appealing. The sound effects are good, but the music needs more variety. I get tired of the same old road rock music pretty fast. By my third run, I’d rather listen to anything else.
Death Roads: Tournament, an Early Access adaptation of a unique board game, is progressing nicely. While there are areas for improvement, the foundations are strong, and there are many positive aspects to appreciate. When this game is released next spring, it will be a strong contender in the deck-building roguelike genre.
Learn how to excel in turn-based battles by mastering road events.
- Unlock cars and characters with cool weapons.
- Create custom card decks by swapping car parts.
- Explore a non-linear world map and make progress.
- Experience the excitement of a thrilling race with stylish graphics.
DOWNLOAD LINKS
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Link MegaUp.net:
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Link Mega.nz:
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Link 1Fichier:
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Link GoFile:
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Link Rapidgator:
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