Released globally in May, Zenonzard, by Bandai Namco, is making waves as one of the newest strategy-intensive (and, of course, anime-inspired) mobile card games. Similar to games in the Pokémon and Shin Megami Tensei series, you fight against your opponents in battle as well as alongside them after defeating them and recruiting them to your team. As a beautiful looking title from a behemoth developer, it’s going to be worth checking out.
Interestingly, aspects of Zenonzard‘s progression mechanics are baked into both the gameplay and story. Your AI opponents will scrutinize your play, becoming stronger by collecting data on your strategies. Purportedly, this gives opponents a lifelike feeling, separating Zenonzard‘s AI from computer opponents in most titles. After battle, you’re given a graph depicting the “highs and lows” of your stratagems, allowing you to develop and adapt to strategies for particular opponents. While the game features no multiplayer, rest assured it will challenge you.
What’s more, once recruited, your AI buddies give you tips both in battle and out. There are thousands of moves and techniques usable in each battle (and that is no understatement), which makes this truly one of the more compelling card game titles this year. Gacha elements usually yield a fair amount of microtransactions. It’s unclear how much brainpower and strategy can be circumvented by purchasing new AI partners. Time will tell.
If you’re into cybperpunk aesthetics, anime or intense strategy, then Zenonzard might be the game for you. While the story may prove a little bland, ripped and truncated from the original anime, the atmosphere and gameplay drive the experience. We’ll be keeping an eye on this one.
