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Gimmicks can be a double-edged sword in game design. While they often kickstart brilliant ideas, they can sometimes lead developers into a narrow focus that sidelines other aspects. The new PC game, Pairs & Perils, showcases this phenomenon quite well. Although it’s quite enjoyable, it perfectly illustrates how an interesting idea can overshadow a game’s full potential if not handled carefully.
At its core, Pairs & Perils is a straightforward matching game. The premise is simple—you navigate a dungeon full of random enemies by matching cards on a board. Match correctly, and your team springs into action with spells and attacks. Get it wrong, and your opponent’s turn-count advances toward a potentially nasty action against you. The basic gameplay is engaging enough. However, it’s not the mechanics at their most fundamental level where I find the game lacking.
Pairs & Perils fits into the roguelite genre, which is something I personally enjoy. I’m a bit of a devotee of these types of games, so I tend to scrutinize them quite heavily. While roguelites often follow a set formula, they usually excel or fail significantly, without much in between. This largely depends on factors beyond primary mechanics, such as story—or, more glaringly in this case, the lack thereof.
With arcade games and shooters, minimal storytelling can slide by, as they’re more action-driven; establishing just enough context suffices. Roguelites, however, lean towards strategy and often involve quests. Players generally want to understand the "why" behind their missions. You might not need a novel’s worth of lore, as with an engrossing RPG, but a touch of context to fuel our adventure is necessary. Unfortunately, Pairs & Perils doesn’t provide this at all.
Firing up Pairs & Perils, I expected some introduction—a backstory to my character, or a reason for entering the dungeon. Instead, I was dropped onto a generic map and thrust into action, with no clue about my mission’s purpose. It’s tempting to say story doesn’t matter in a game focused on mechanics. But here I would argue otherwise. A narrative thread gives players extra motivation to pursue the game’s finish line, something Pairs & Perils misses out on.
Another issue comes in the pacing of the game. You’re given a scant few seconds to memorize the layout once the cards are dealt, which feels slightly too brisk. While early on, with fewer cards, this seems manageable, as you progress further and the board fills up, that brief glance is less adequate. Some cards are traps that hurt you if flipped, meaning part of your attention diverts from memorizing your beneficial cards to spotting these pitfalls. This makes a seemingly simple game surprisingly tough as you advance.
As you match a certain number of cards, new ones are introduced with another quick glimpse. This cycle encourages players to focus primarily on newly introduced cards, neglecting older ones and inadvertently simplifying the strategy to a rather narrow form.
Strategically, another sticking point is in dealing with your adversaries. The essence of a good strategy game is anticipation, predicting and countering enemy moves. Unfortunately, as you’re fixated on card memorization, you lose track of considering your foe’s tactics, diluting what should be a richer combat experience.
Mechanically, Pairs & Perils does deliver. The foundational mechanics function as they should, and typical elements for a roguelite deck-builder, like unlocking and upgrading cards and characters, are present. Visually and control-wise, everything meets the expected standards for this genre.
In conclusion, Pairs & Perils offers an intriguing central concept, but that alone doesn’t quite make it extraordinary. For brief play sessions, it works well enough, and given its reasonable price tag, it’s not a regrettable purchase. However, I’d be willing to invest in this title more wholeheartedly if it felt more complete and refined. Without significant enhancements in storytelling and gameplay balance, Pairs & Perils remains a decent game that’s not quite making waves in a crowded genre.
With the addition of a compelling story and a bit more polish, I believe Pairs & Perils could rise to something truly notable. As it stands, it’s a fun, albeit somewhat forgettable, addition to a genre brimming with alternatives. If you’re particularly keen to try it, rest assured it’s not a waste, but you might find better options if you explore further.
This review is based on a retail copy of the game provided by the publisher.
Scores:
- Look and feel: 7/10
- Challenge: 7/10
- Replayability: 6/10
- Value for money: 6/10
- Overall: 6.5/10
Summary:
Though Pairs & Perils features an engaging mechanic at its core, it stumbles in execution. It has several enjoyable and intriguing elements, yet just as many aspects that hold it back. A lack of narrative and some mechanics in need of refinement result in a title that is simply "good" instead of "great." A few thoughtful updates could shift this perception, but for now, the game sits in the realm of potential rather than realization.
