There’s so much to consider when you are searching for a new game obsession. Should you try something familiar or jump off a cliff and seek out a new endeavor. With the gaming industry ever expanding one can spend an exorbitant amount of money attempting to fulfill their gaming needs. What’s more combining your desire to play may compete with absorbing yourself in your favorite comic book universe. Marvel and DC both have a myriad of games based on popular characters from their featured titles. But what about the Valiant Universe? If you were to think of a way to become involved in a new comic book world for free how would you do it? One way may be a card game.
Silent Legends has created ‘Battle of the Valiant Universe’ a game that allows the player to immerse themselves in a computer game while familiarizing yourself in a world you may not have been privy to. It’s a game (played on your laptop, MAC or PC. Currently it’s not compatible with Chrome, but can be played on Firefox, Internet Explorer or Safari) where you battle another player or the Artificial Intelligence with a deck of cards based on characters in the Valiant universe. You choose a deck, then decide if you want to battle the AI or a real opponent. Playing against the AI helps you to get acquainted with your deck. And if you’re already a fan of these characters you may have a preference for a deck. But be forewarned, choosing a deck based on how the characters react in battle in the comics may not help you. This is a game of strategy and regardless of the deck the choices you make on the game board takes precedence.
Speaking of the decks you initially start out with three, Bloodshot, Shadowman and X-O Manowar. As your skill and experience increase you may be able to buy a ‘killer’ deck in the store. In the comics Bloodshot is a soldier for a secret organization called Project Rising. This said organization not only made Bloodshot a super killing machine, they implanted, what seems to be an unlimited amount of false memories. The one thing he can consistently rely on is the nanites in his blood. It heals him quickly and allows Bloodshot to make fast, intelligent decisions. Shadowman is a protector and deals with the mystical aspect of the Valiant universe. As Shadowman he is confident in his abilities and has a strong will. Then there is X-O Manowar. Aric of Dacia is a Visigoth, stolen and enslaved by aliens he fights to escape his captors the Vine. He succeeds when Shanhara, the sentient armor and the center of the Vine’s religion chooses Aric to be its wearer. Thus X-O Manowar is born. Manowar can best be utilized as an offensive deck. Bloodshot seems to be the most malleable, but that doesn’t mean that Shadowman is a weak deck. On the contrary, each deck has its advantages and negatives. Again the wielder of the deck can make nearly any one of them a winner.
Gameplay is fast. There is a 16-second clock that with every tick forces you to make choices on where you place your cards. There are colored circles on the board to help guide you. But, more important are the symbols and numbers on each card. Placing cards with a certain symbol allows you to eliminate an opponent’s card before the round starts. However, the same may happen to you. The pace of gameplay makes each battle exciting. You can’t make a sandwich and come back and that’s a good thing.
A downfall to the game is the limitations in the choices of decks. Although you get three decks, there are several other characters in this world that can be used as booster cards or mini-decks. Rai, Faith, even Archer & Armstrong could be combined for kill-shots or to increase the defense abilities of surrounding cards. Still, this means that there is room for growth.
Essentially ‘Battles of the Valiant’ universe can be addictive. Spend some time with a world that you may not know well. It may lead you to new characters and comic adventures.
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