This Sci-Fi RPG’s Card-Based Combat Is Cool, But The Characters Are The Aces Up Its Sleeve

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As a gaming enthusiast, the phrase “Mechs, outer space, and giant monsters” instantly grabs my attention. However, Battle Suit Aces takes this classic formula and gives it a fresh twist. Instead of immersing myself in epic, universe-spanning battles, Trinket Studios’ upcoming game presents a streamlined card-based combat system that emphasizes strategic resource management over raw action. Plus, they’ve thrown in a host of intriguing characters, each with their own unique dialogues, to keep things engaging.

Following a full hour demonstration, it becomes evident that Trinket is onto an innovative concept. However, it remains uncertain whether this novelty will ultimately prove successful. Meanwhile, Battle Suit Aces presents a fresh take on things, and thus far, the outcome warrants your interest.

Aces high

The adventure-filled series, Battle Suite Aces, revolves around an intriguing concept: A diverse team known as the Patchworks journey through the cosmos aboard the colossal spaceship, the USS Zephyr. Their mission is to traverse various planets in search of antiquated technology. Along their voyage, they’ve acquired and now control a mech suit reminiscent of Gundam, and subsequently encounter other characters who also possess similar mechanical suits.

The team confronts the enigmatic, ferocious beasts known as the Frenzied. These creatures can strike without warning and leave a trail of destruction wherever they go. The Zephyr and its crew encounter these Frenzied beings on numerous occasions during the demonstration, providing an engaging preview of Battle Suit Aces’ innovative combat system.

Battles unfold through a card-based combat system, where each character you’ve enlisted in your team has a corresponding card displaying their mech design. Additionally, there are auxiliary cards, like attack drones in the demo version, which can lend assistance during battle. The USS Zephyr acts as the central figure in this card game, but it possesses a specific health limit; if adversaries assault spaces on your side of the battlefield, the USS Zephyr will sustain damage.

In terms of the game board, it consists of a single row with five spaces, each capable of holding only one card. As you place cards into these spaces, they contribute energy based on their color (the example deck features blue and red energy, but the full game might have additional colors). By filling up the row, you amass energy of that specific color for each card present. This gathered energy can later be utilized to execute attacks or activate other special abilities. Additionally, during your turn, you may rearrange the cards in different spaces once to optimize your play.

Here, the tactical abilities of the Battle Suit Aces combat system become crucial. Victory in each battle hinges on depleting the Health Points (HP) of the primary opponent to zero. You inflict damage on this opponent just as they can damage the Zephyr – by shooting a card’s weapon into an open slot not occupied by another enemy card. If your opponent places a card in an empty slot, the damage will first be absorbed by that card before affecting the main enemy, implying each card acts as a shield when placed, safeguarding its leader.

The demo’s battles presented various routes for triumph, resulting in an immersive and occasionally tense encounter. Initially, victories were straightforward due to the placement of potent mechs in vacant spots. However, as the battles progressed, the demo introduced some unexpected elements into the game mechanics; one battle generated additional enemy cards whenever one was eliminated, while another equipped shields in every slot that needed to be breached before the primary adversary could be harmed.

Following a skirmish, you have the opportunity to explore various areas aboard the USS Zephyr, where you can modify your mechs, drones, and assorted equipment. This level of customization gives the gameplay a unique flavor, as you can strategize and tailor your loadout to launch your preferred tactics against an adversary’s ship. I am quite impressed by Trinket Studios’ demonstrated ability to dynamically alter the combat system, and I eagerly anticipate the creative concoctions that future battles may bring.

The heart of the cards

Engaging in combat with Battle Suit Aces is thrilling, but what truly makes it enjoyable is the lively conversations between characters. Each character has their own voice and distinct personality, from Heathcliff, the skilled engineer and leader of the crew, to Daciana, a fiery mechanic with a mysterious past, and Jules, an obsessive researcher who guzzles coffee like there’s no tomorrow. The diverse cast of characters I encountered during the demo was full of life, and their witty banter brought on quite a few chuckles. There were also hints of the main game’s plot scattered throughout.

In this game, these characters serve as the emotional core, making the rest of Battle Suit Aces feel lively and engaging. Hearing their narratives unfold is quite fascinating, but it’s worth noting that the balance between dialogue and gameplay in the demo is somewhat skewed. There’s a significant amount of dialogue that can be skipped over, and although every bit of it is crucial and deserves your focus, it does mean there might be a delay before moving from one card battle to another.

As a fellow enthusiast, I can tell you that diving into this game might feel like being bombarded with details, making it seem a bit confusing at times. Though terms like “Blue Crest,” referring to the ancient mech, and “Pholians,” the ancient race behind the technology, are relatively straightforward, some sentences might appear nonsensical outside of their context. If you’re someone who prefers having all the facts upfront, be prepared for an information overload in the tight timeframe of a one-hour demo.

Battle Suit Aces seamlessly blends various components such as mech suits, spacecraft, card battles, upgrade systems, dialogue trees, and others, creating an intriguing amalgamation. Card battles offer enjoyment and engagement, becoming even more captivating when unexpected elements are introduced to keep you on your toes. The crew of the Zephyr is gradually taking shape as the emotional core of the narrative, revealing hints of their complexity in this brief demo presentation.

Although the demonstration provided by Trinket Studios’ newest creation was brief, I remain optimistic that the complete version will be excellent.

The demo for Battle Suit Aces is available now on Steam.

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2025-05-01 20:41