What’s up card gamers!
Today’s glorified yap session is going to be about Inscryption.
Inscryption came out on October 19, 2021 and it’s description on Steam is as follows:
“Inscryption is an inky black card-based odyssey that blends the deckbuilding roguelike, escape-room style puzzles, and psychological horror into a blood-laced smoothie. Darker still are the secrets inscrybed upon the cards…”
If that doesn’t sound at least a little bit interesting, then I don’t know what does.
Developed by Daniel Mulligan Games and published by Devolver Digital (the same people who published Cult of the Lamb), Inscryption is available on all platforms. It costs $19.99 in the Nintendo Shop, Playstation Shop, Xbox Shop, and on Steam. It is on the Xbox Game Pass as well, which means that you can have it downloaded for as long as you pay for the game pass.
The first thing you see when you open the game (after a sick title screen) is a continue button. The “New Game” option is greyed out and unable to be chosen.
Again, I say, if that isn’t interesting then I don’t know what is.
After you cave and click “Continue,” the screen fades in to your character sitting at a wooden table. An unseen figure across the table opens his eyes and starts explaining the game to you.
This part of the game is Act 1, where you learn the basics of the game Inscryption. When I say that, I mean the actual card game, not the video game that I’m currently reviewing. Confusing, I know, but it’ll make sense.
You go through a bunch of different boss fights, learn the game, and build your deck, which consists of different kinds of animals.
Yeah, you actually have to play the card game. It’s pretty straightforward and you have a rulebook that you can refer to at any point in the game. There are also certain cards that, when you get them, you can abuse to absolutely wipe the floor with the bosses.
Every time you die, you get to make a “death card.” You choose different things from your deck to make the card, and then you give it a name. Then the mysterious figure will take a picture of you, and you die.
These “death cards” will show up randomly, and if you’re super-duper lucky, you’ll make one that’s super OP and use it to tear through those other cards.
You can also get up from the table and walk around the room. There are puzzle’s that will help you uncover the true story behind both Inscryption and Inscryption.
After you get through all of the boss fights of Act 1, you get to access a log of videos within the game. What they contain I’ll leave to you to find out, but they’re all definitely worth a watch. They’re not longer than a minute each, if I recall correctly.
Then, after you leave the log, you’re put into the home screen again. This time, though, the “New Game” button is actually there. You press it and are thrown into Act 2.
Personally, Act 2 was my favorite part of the game. It’s an 8-bit game with your classic Legend of Zelda vibe.
The first thing in Act 2 that you do is choose which Scrybe you wish to replace.
Grimora, Scrybe of the Dead. She makes her cards by writing their epitaphs with her quill.
P03, Scrybe of Technology. He makes his cards by copying their CPU with his card scanner.
Magnificus, Scrybe of Magicks. He makes his cards by painting them with his paintbrush.
And Leshy, Scrybe of Beasts. He makes his cards by taking pictures of them with his camera.
Camera…I wonder why that’s so familiar…
For my play though, I chose to try and replace Magnificus. It doesn’t really do much to the game other than give you certain dialogue options and chose who will guide you through learning the new version of Inscryption.
Act 2’s gameplay is very similar to Act 1’s, there’s just a lot more options. Instead of just animals, you get the option of Magick and Bones and Robots. You get so many different things, and while it can be confusing, it’s still super fun. There are less puzzles in this section, but there are still some.
Yada yada, yap yap, onto the good part. You defeat all of the bosses (again) and choose who you’re going to replace as the next Scrybe.
Let’s just say that plan doesn’t quite go to plan, but as to why I’ll leave a mystery.
From this point on, I won’t be describing the game any further. Act 3 and the Finale are things that needs to be experienced blind, just because of how amazing they are.
Another thing that I will say, though, is that the soundtrack for the game is amazing. I found myself stopping my gameplay just to sit and listen to the background music.
Seriously, I never listen to soundtracks for games. Jonah Senzel, the man that you are. You can find the soundtrack on Spotify and probably most other music streaming platforms. I recommend “The Scrybe of Magicks” just because it’s my favorite.
One more thing before I go. If you do end up getting the game, make sure that you go through the entirety of the credits for a super special cutscene at the end that will give you some extra lore.
Not to mention the addition of a new mode for the game after you finish it.
ANYWAY!
That’s all for today, folks.
Thanks for logging on, but now I gotta log off. See ya!
Have a game that you’d like to see me cover? Comment down below or email me at [email protected]
