Review: Pairs & Perils (PC)

Gimmicks in game design can be a double-edged sword. They can launch with the promise of innovation, but often run the risk of overshadowing the rest of the game. In the gaming world, this excessive focus can inadvertently lead to neglecting other critical elements. Today, we’re diving into Pairs & Perils, a PC game that, while enjoyable, exemplifies this challenge quite well.

On the surface, Pairs & Perils seems like a straightforward matching game. You venture into dungeons, squaring off against an array of foes, each with unique abilities. Players receive a card board, matching correctly to unleash attacks and cast spells through their party’s different classes. Mistakes, however, accelerate your opponent’s turn timer towards inevitable retaliation. The simplicity of its premise is not an issue—it’s actually a blast to engage with. My actual concerns lie elsewhere, outside of these fundamental mechanics.

Being a roguelite enthusiast, I admit I might scrutinize Pairs & Perils a bit more than usual. Those familiar with the genre know it tends to be hit-or-miss, heavily leaning on factors beyond just gameplay mechanics. Here, the story—or glaring lack thereof—is the game’s biggest flaw.

Arcade-style games and action-packed shooters can bypass intricate narratives without losing appeal. In gaming genres focused mainly on strategy or quests, though, having at least a backdrop or frame is crucial to keep engagement alive. A robust plot isn’t always necessary, yet some incentive is vital to sustain player investment. Unfortunately, Pairs & Perils delivers none of this essential narrative context.

Launching into Pairs & Perils, I expected some narrative introduction—a reason to venture into those dungeons. However, there was no prelude, merely a generic roguelite map leading directly into gameplay. This absence of story diminishes my motivation to continue over extended sessions. When gameplay serves a narrative, however minimal, it enhances replay value and player retention, but here, sadly, that aspect is missing.

Another aspect of concern is the game’s pacing. At the outset, you glimpse the cards briefly before they flip, and this timing feels tight. While I’m not asking for an eternity, a few extra seconds would greatly improve the flow, especially as the board grows more complicated. The fast-paced memory element becomes increasingly challenging as the play area expands. Moreover, keeping track of detrimental trap cards detracts from memorizing beneficial ones, adding unnecessary difficulty.

As you successfully match cards, new ones populate the board, with a short time for memorization. I found myself only remembering these newer pairs, missing the opportunity for broader strategy and reducing the game to a basic loop of matching and forgetting. This undermines what should be a strategic and thoughtful gaming experience.

The strategy aspect continues to suffer due to a lack of foresight on opponent actions. Being centered around memory puzzles, focusing on future moves becomes a distraction rather than an aid. The game’s strategic depth is thus compromised, overshadowed by the necessity to focus predominantly on the cards themselves.

Mechanically, Pairs & Perils stands its ground. The card-matching system is solid, with familiar roguelite features like unlocking and upgrading cards and characters as you progress. The controls are responsive, and graphically it’s suitable for its genre. Yet, an intriguing core mechanism isn’t enough to elevate the game above mediocrity when it introduces problems that detract from the whole experience.

Pairs & Perils presents itself as a roguelite card game with a curious twist but falls short of rising above the crowded genre. It’s entertaining in bursts and not too hard on the wallet, but it lacks polish and depth that could have justified a higher price point and a strong recommendation. With some story integration and gameplay refinements, there’s potential for this title to truly shine. For now, while enjoyable, it’s eclipsed by stronger titles within its genre.

If you’re keen to explore Pairs & Perils, rest assured that it’s not a waste of investment, but there are better options available if you’re seeking the best in this crowded field. This review is based on a retail copy of the game provided by the publisher.