Gimmicks can be tricky in the gaming world. While fresh mechanics often shape innovative concepts, focusing too tightly on one idea can lead to overlooking the other aspects that make a game truly captivating. Today, we’ll dive into the PC game Pairs & Perils, which, although entertaining, perfectly illustrates this dilemma.
On the surface, Pairs & Perils is a straightforward matching game. Your mission is to enter a dungeon and confront a random slew of enemies, each armed with unique abilities. Presented with a board of cards, you must match them cleverly. A correct match allows your party to attack or harness various spells and abilities, while a wrong move advances your opponent’s turn timer. Once that hits zero, they strike back. The concept is devilishly simple and fun, but my main reservations aren’t with its core mechanics, despite their fundamental simplicity.
Pairs & Perils falls under the roguelite category, a genre I’ve spent considerable time with. Having explored many such titles, I know they can be hit or miss. A game’s success often hinges on factors beyond basic mechanics. For me, one glaring issue with this game is the near-absence of a storyline.
Action-centric arcade games and shooters can afford minimal storytelling, thriving on the thrill of the moment, but roguelites—and many platformers—demand something different. They often involve quests that need context; players want to know the reasons behind their missions. You don’t need a novel-length narrative, but some story is crucial for an immersive experience. Unfortunately, Pairs & Perils doesn’t deliver on this front.
When I first launched Pairs & Perils, I anticipated a brief intro to my character or a hint at the reasons behind my dungeon adventure. Yet, there was no introduction, only a familiar map that threw me straight into the action without setting the scene or explaining my objectives. This lack of narrative, in my view, diminishes the motivation to keep playing, despite the gameplay being enjoyable.
Another issue is the game’s pacing. When you’re dealt cards, you have limited time to memorize them before they flip back. While I’m not asking for an eternity, a few extra seconds would certainly help. Initially, with fewer cards, memorization isn’t too challenging. But as the game progresses and the board fills, remembering becomes crucial. The presence of trap cards, which can harm you when matched, doesn’t help, as they distract from memorizing beneficial cards.
As you match more cards, the appearance of new ones gives you another brief chance to memorize. I found myself only focusing on these new pairs because they’re easier to remember, which undermines strategic play and reduces it to mere pattern recognition.
The major strategy-related concern lies in how cards indirectly impact your opponent. The strategic essence of any game is forethought, yet Pairs & Perils demands continuous concentration on the cards, which can sideline strategic planning. This focus on memory over strategy makes what could be an engaging battle mechanic feel less significant.
Mechanically, Pairs & Perils is solid. Its matching mechanics are reliable, and the roguelite deck-builder elements are apparent. You unlock new cards and characters, upgrading them along the way. The controls are responsive, and the graphics are suitable for this genre.
Ultimately, Pairs & Perils presents a unique roguelite CCG experience that falls slightly short due to its gimmick overshadowing other dimensions of gameplay. Although entertaining in short spurts and cheaply priced, the game would benefit from more polish and a compelling story. An update addressing these issues could elevate it from a decent time-killer to a must-play title in the crowded roguelite marketplace. If you’re curious, it’s not a poor investment, but there are superior options out there.
This review is based on a retail copy of the game provided by the publisher.
A Balancing Act
- Look and Feel: 7/10
- Challenge: 7/10
- Replayability: 6/10
- Value for Money: 6/10
- Overall Score: 6.5/10
Execution Problems
Pairs & Perils centers around a fun core mechanic, yet execution falls short. While there are compelling aspects, the game is equally held back by its shortcomings. The lack of a story and the need for a bit more polish in mechanics reduce what could be an excellent game to just a good one. However, some updates could very well shift my perspective. For now, it remains in the “okay” category, not quite rising to greatness.
