Cross Blitz Preview for Steam Early Access

If you want a game where three hours can go by like the snap of your fingers, Cross Blitz, by developer Tako Boy Studios, is the game for you. I personally play a lot of Marvel Snap, so I have been big on deck-building card games lately, and fans of that should take notice. Cross Blitz not only scratches that same itch, it does so in a more relaxed, and story-based manner, acting perfectly as a companion game.

The story of Cross Blitz is interesting and varied, mostly because there is a ton of content spread out between different characters. This is especially notable for those looking for more content per dollar on their purchase. The first chapter of Captain Redcroft’s campaign took me nearly three hours as I hinted at above, and there is so much more waiting for you after that first addicting chapter. The characters, like the good captain himself, his trusty first mate, parrot, and various other advisors, enemies, pirates, and random characters in the world ooze character, no doubt in part due to its witty dialogue and great pixelated/animated graphics. Cross Blitz is a beautifully colorful world full of life that uses its pirate fantasy theme to its best potential, and I was quickly sucked in!

Cross Blitz’s gameplay will be quick to pick up for those accustomed to the genre, but it is definitely easy enough for anyone to pick up, and does a wonderful job in breaking you into the subtle nuances of the combat system. What first seemed different or strange very quickly became fun and intuitive thanks to how quick and varied the combat encounters are. One minute you’re wiping the floor with low-level scallywags, and the next minute you draw a poor set of cards and get blasted by boatloads of bombs because your opponent has a special relic that literally blows you out of the water. Luckily, you are able to level up and get similar cards and abilities as well, and there is nothing better than stacking five cannons on the board and unleashing 15 some odd eight pounder cannonballs onto your opponent and their minions.

If I had to give one criticism that new players may be wary of, it is that Cross Blitz suffers from what every deck building game in existence suffers from – that of drawing a poor string of cards as previously mentioned. Even the best put together decks will fall short if you just do not have any luck in drawing the cards you need. That said, it is not like the price for losing is disastrous – you can either replay it, maybe get an amazing draw and wipe your opponent, or simply wander around the world to get new cards, relics, and experience points. I highly recommend exploring all of your surroundings – not only because it is a lot of fun and great worldbuilding, but due to the fact that you will need the supplies and level ups to progress through many of the battles as in all good RPGs.

In conclusion, as you can probably tell, I am itching to get back to more of my deckbuilding, pirate adventures. Cross Blitz has a lot of heart and soul, and even something such as a basic minion card can catch your eye or make you laugh. For the price, and being in early access, the game will only get better over time. You will be hard pressed to find a more charming game in the genre this year!

Cross Blitz is available for PC via Steam Early Access.

Related: Reviews by Matt O’Toole

Matt O'Toole

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Your local neighborhood nutjob, gamer, and teacher! I'm an avid fan of many genres such as platformers, shooters, horror, etc. I am also an avid tabletop gamer - hugely into the worlds of Warhammer and all of their spinoffs. I'm a big believer in being objective - even if something is not my cup of tea, I want to talk about it on the objective level - is it well made, crafted with love, and with care for the fans? If so, that's a good game in my book for someone and well worth their hard earned dollarydoos!

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