About Giant Simulator:
A very interesting take on deck-builder games. It’s simple, unique artstyle bolsters its theme of taking place within a child’s imagination/emotions for its corresponding storyline(s). Continuous rewards and unlocks, plus a pleasing variety of opponent types and cards, keeps the player coming back. Skill trees with retractable point allocations allow ‘switching-up’ gameplay as the player discovers what works and what doesn’t, and ‘Imaginary Friends’ require specific challenges to be completed to unlock to encourage experimentation. Most interesting is its tactical use of cards as both ‘moves’ and a lifeline (run out and you lose), making each card play mean that much more, and having to choose between upgraded abilities or simply more cards. The fact that this game was solo-developed – story, art, game design and programming – by a single person, makes it even more incredible. Props where props are due, Louis. I loved the game, it’s definitely a game made with passion and I thoroughly enjoyed it despite its flaws. I purchased Iris and the Giant expecting a game similar to slay the spire, and it definitely shares some rogue like elements with it but it’s a very different game. However, there are lots of issues with it: Very little explanation of what cards or enemies do. Basic details that should be there are omitted. This could be an intentional design choice but it’s very frustrating. In a game like this I expect to be able to act according to the available information and play to the best of my ability, not be hindered by a complete lack of clarity. Balance of some cards seems a little off. Stealing cards seems to be vastly superior to almost any other strategy. Some stolen cards literally delete all enemies and trivialise the game. Enemy balance doesn’t really scale very well. Why am I still facing 1 damage basic archers near the final floor meanwhile some enemies are dealing 18 damage and must be answered immediately. Some floors the best strategy was to just leave the weak 1 damage enemies to clog the front row just chipping away at you while stopping the enemies behind from movies forwards. It works but it doesn’t feel too fun.