Blade of the Overlord

This is a game entered in the single choice jam. It has animated 3d graphics, but is used to tell a text-based story, the images serving only as a (helpful) backdrop.

It sets up a big choice through a 3-act story about a group of friends in poor circumstances that are trying to get one of the newest, rarest cards in a trading card game.

There is some realistic-sounding dialogue and some nice character dynamics in this game. Overall, I was drawn into the scenario. I also liked the little touches like all of the fake cards the author had to make for different scenarios. Seems like the game could be pretty fun in real life.

This entry is the last Visual Novel submitted to the Single Choice Jam, and quite a visual polished one at that. Starting with a short game trailer, you are introduced to two friends excited by the re-print of cards they used to have when they were kids. Especially the very rare print of the Blade of the Overlord, a highly stylised card in an alien-like font.

In three act, the game encapsulates the nostalgia around card games like Magic the Gathering or Pokemon, and all the shenanigans around it - the special editions, misprints, the weird rules on the cards, the seedy players, the hours spent around the table opening packs and playing them, or the rich collectors who will spend thousands on the rare stuff (that was a fun nod at current event, with Post Malone buying an MGT card for $2mil).

I liked the different approach the characters have towards the game, with the one who buys into the hype and would spend all their money to get the rare cards; the one who is the opposite, only buying to build up a playing deck; and the one who is realistic about their situation, but still misses owning some specific basic cards from their childhood. The arguments set forwards may affect what choice you pick at the end, both being neither good nor bad - just very realistic.

This felt like opening a time capsule and reminiscing about the good and the bad old times…