Free demo is generous if you just want to try. Lets you go through at least 2 full levels.
EA version is only Aus$15. Absolute bargain.
Of the roguelike deck builders that play very close to STS, this is sitting neck and neck with Fights in Tight Spaces as my fav.
And I think EA suits it at the moment, because the mechanics that are not in STS, like combining cards, are potentially a bit mental and game breaking, in either direction, so it's an adventure just trying stuff to discover you're OP or you've broken your deck. (There are warnings if you try and create something that won't actually do anything, but others, it just lets you swing for the fences.)
So overview, using direct comps to STS for ease:
4 levels to get through by default, instead of 3, but don't know if there's a "heart" equiv. Levels are slightly shorter than STS, and overall, I'd say you can get through a game in slightly less time than a STS final boss run.
3 Planets to choose to play as at the moment with a 4th on the way.
Level choices have you heading towards the middle of a solar system to "fight" the sun. Elites ? "rooms" etc all there. "Relics" by different names.
Default start with 4 energy and 5 cards. More cards in deck at the beginning than STS.
10 difficulty levels (ascensions).
Where it diverges from STS:
Combining cards: There are "exhaust" mechanics, and there are (poorly defined) destroy card mechanics, but the major way you can streamline your deck is by combining cards. It's insanely fun. I'm quite sure I have barely scratched surface of possibilities.
Satellites. Apart from basic attack and block cards, and various power and ability cards, you can create various Moons and Satellites to hang out around your planet. And you can move them around. So if an enemy is doing a direct attack, and you don't have shields, you can use a satellite to block it. If you have lots of shields but a satellite that gives you awesome buffs you can put it behind your planet.
Anyhoo, 3 planets play different and I've skipped a fair bit.
There are rough edges, and the UI takes a while to work out, and some text and stuff certainly needs work, but bought it for myself and Some_Guy and we've both been hammering it all week.
Have played it but haven't quite finished a run.
First impressions: it's a nice slay the spire clone. They've nailed the depth of the gameplay. The art needs an update. Audio is okay if a bit generic. Game has potential.
Need to play a bit more for a final verdict.
Steam: Ruffnekk Windows Live: mr of unlocking Fightcade2: mrofunlocking
Art does need work, but good news on that front, first level boss got a big update today, and it's very good. Final game will be quite pretty.
Can see the order things have been done in too. First planet is pretty close to done, I reckon. Not much art to do, and the more I play the more it feels pretty well balanced.
Trying the second planet to have a break from chasing ac6 as it's getting real tough now and the second planet has a lot more place holder art.
Very different play style too. Basically it's gist is instead of shields your "defense" cards give you health back. So you take a lot of damage but get it back.
Do it. he fixed that bug straight away last night.
It doesn't have the polish and uber fine tuning of sts, where everything is super elegant, but it does have massive swings for the fences and leans into complicated synergies super hard, so perfect for sts vets wanting a new challenge.
I think there's slightly less variation within characters around ways you can approach runs, but there's more variation between characters.
Tried the demo, got a nice feel to it. Did the first boss and the combine mechanic is interesting, could be a nightmare to balance. Wish he’d build in full controller support so I steam deck but appreciate it’s still EA.
After a rough week of this where I was stuck trying to beat level 6 for about 5 days, have beaten 6 and 7 in the last 2 days.
Have a much better understanding of deep tactics now. On one planet. Tried the second planet again, it melts my brain. Reckon I'll be doing the others before it. 60+ hrs in now.
Will easily crack 150 I reckon by the time I start trying for level 10 on multiple planets.
Main games at the moment are obviously AAA Series X fair, but both this and STS Downfall are still well and truly in the rotation. Level 9 (of 11 currently), is probably in need of some balancing to give players a chance. 3 fights in and if you haven't got the right drops you're probably fucked.