Review: Pairs & Perils (PC)

Gimmicks can be quite the double-edged sword in game design. They often spark brilliant concepts but can lead to an overly narrow focus, leaving other aspects feeling neglected. Today, we’re diving into Pairs & Perils, a PC game that stands as a perfect testament to this phenomenon—it’s enjoyable, yet exemplifies this common pitfall.

At its core, Pairs & Perils is a straightforward matching game. You’re set loose in a dungeon brimming with diverse foes, each flaunting unique abilities. Presented with a board of cards, your task is to match them. Successful matches trigger attacks and unleash spells from your party’s classes, while mistakes accelerate your opponent’s turn timer, prompting their counterattacks. The simplicity of the premise is engaging in itself. My misgivings don’t stem from these mechanics, which function as you’d expect.

Pairs & Perils categorizes itself as a roguelite, a genre I’m notably familiar with, and perhaps harsher on than others. I’ve traversed many game worlds within this genre, and they often teeter between brilliance and mediocrity, rarely falling in the comfortable middle. One significant shortcoming I find is a lack of narrative depth.

While games like arcade shooters can skirt by with minimal storytelling, strategic roguelites necessitate a compelling narrative. You’re on a quest, and understanding its purpose enhances engagement. Unlike platformers where countless hours of gameplay beg for context, roguelites demand just enough story to maintain immersion—a missing element in Pairs & Perils.

Upon launching the game, I anticipated a narrative introduction, setting the stage for my character’s dungeon crawl. Instead, I encountered a generic map and was thrust into gameplay without context or story to motivate my actions. A narrative pull encourages repeated plays, but its absence here dampens long-term engagement.

A notable gameplay issue lies in the card-flipping mechanic. The allotted time to memorize the board before the cards turn feels too brief. Initially manageable with fewer cards, the challenge intensifies as the game progresses. Trap cards sprinkled amidst beneficial ones further complicate memorization, diverting focus away from strategic gameplay.

Matching several cards correctly introduces new ones, granting mere moments to recall their positions. I noticed a tendency to remember only these recent additions, sidelining established strategies and undermining tactical depth.

Strategically, the game’s design presents a conundrum. The concept of anticipating your opponent’s moves—vital to strategy—is overshadowed by the need to concentrate solely on matching. This diminishes the otherwise exciting battle mechanics, reducing them to a rote memorization exercise.

In terms of mechanics, Pairs & Perils delivers a solid experience. The matching functions smoothly, and the roguelite deck-building elements—like unlocking and upgrading cards—are well-executed. The controls work fine, and visually, it meets the expectations for its genre.

Ultimately, Pairs & Perils offers a roguelite CCG experience with a central gimmick that intrigues but doesn’t elevate it enough above its peers. Its appeal is in short, fun bursts, but it lacks the polish and substance for a lasting impression. For a modest price, it’s enjoyable, though not something I’d enthusiastically promote in its current state.

Should the developers enrich the story and refine the mechanics, Pairs & Perils could transform into a noteworthy entry in the genre. As it stands, it’s an engaging but ultimately forgettable installment in an already crowded field. If you’re intrigued, it’s worth a try, but know there are superior choices out there.

This review is based on a retail copy provided by the publisher.

Rating Breakdown:

• Look and Feel: 7/10
• Challenge: 7/10
• Replayability: 6/10
• Value for Money: 6/10
• Overall Score: 6.5/10

In summary, Pairs & Perils introduces a captivating mechanic but falters in execution. It features intriguing elements but is hampered by a lack of narrative and polish. Future updates could improve its standing, but for now, it’s a good—not great—experience.