Shadowverse
| Shadowverse | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Cygames |
| Publisher(s) | Cygames |
| Engine | Unity |
| Platform(s) | iOS, Android, Microsoft Windows, macOS |
| Release |
iOS, Android June 17, 2016[1] Windows, macOS October 28, 2016[2] |
| Genre(s) | Collectible card game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Shadowverse is a free-to-play collectible card video game developed and published by Cygames.[3] It was released for iOS and Android devices in June 2016, and by July was already the most popular mobile collectible card game in Japan.[4] Mac and Windows versions were released in October 2016.[2]
Shadowverse employs an anime art style with some illustrations reused from the developer's previous title, Rage of Bahamut.[5] The game plays similarly to Hearthstone, but the developers sought to minimise the impact of randomness on match outcomes. Another difference is Shadowverse's "Evolve" game mechanic which allows players to grant played cards bonus stats and effects at the cost of an evolution point.[3] The game received its first expansion pack, "Darkness Evolved", in September 2016.[6][7] The second expansion, "Rise of Bahamut" was released in December 2016.[8] The third, "Tempest of the Gods" followed in March 2017.[9] The fourth expansion, "Wonderland Dreams" was released in 29 June 2017.
Gameplay
Matches
Shadowverse matches are structured between two players taking turns playing cards from their deck. Each player is represented by a Leader with 20 defense and a starting hand of three cards. The player going first has two evolution points, and the player going second has three evolution points, can evolve one turn earlier, and draws an extra card at the player's first turn. The objective of the player is to reduce the other player's defense to 0 or attain a win via certain cards (e.g. Enstatued Seraph). You can also win if the opponent must draw from an empty deck
Each player utilizes the Play Point resource to play cards. Both players begin at having zero play point orbs, and gain one play point orb at the beginning of the respective player's turn, up to a limit of 10. Play Point orbs are refilled at the beginning of each player's turn.
Cards
In Shadowverse, cards are divided into three basic types:
- Followers – a card that has an attack and defense value. Only Follower cards can be evolved. Once a follower's defense drops below 1, that follower is destroyed. Followers may attack leaders or other followers, in which case the attacked unit will have its defense reduced according to the attack of the follower. When attacking another follower, the attacking follower will have its defense reduced by the attack of the targeted follower. Followers cannot attack the same turn they are played, unless said follower has the Rush or Storm keyword.
- Spells – a card that resolves immediately after it is played.
- Amulets – a card that once played stays in the area, providing effects until it is removed. Amulets cannot be attacked by followers.
All three types of cards come in four rarities: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Legendary. A deck may only contain three or fewer copies of a card, regardless of rarity.
Evolving
After turn 4 (turn 5 for the player going first), Follower cards can be evolved once per turn, granting them an additional 2 attack and defense (usually), Rush (the ability to attack other followers the turn the follower is played), as well as activating any Evolve effects the card may have. The use of Evolve is crucial to swinging the tide of the game.
Crafts
There are seven classes, called "crafts" in the English localization. Though the original Japanese class names are English gairaigo, the localization nonetheless uses different names. Each craft has a set of exclusive cards and a unique mechanic.
| Localized name | Gairaigo name | Mechanic |
|---|---|---|
| Forestcraft | Elf (エルフ Erufu) | Cards may receive bonuses by playing a number of previous cards on the same turn. Often supported by generating cheap token cards. |
| Swordcraft | Royal (ロイヤル Roiyaru) | Followers and some amulets have either the Commander or Officer trait and may generate or receive bonuses based on trait interaction. |
| Runecraft | Witch (ウィッチ Witchi) | Cards in hand with the Spellboost keyword may gain bonuses or cost reductions for every spell cast by the player. |
| Dragoncraft | Dragon (ドラゴン Doragon) | Cards with the Overflow keyword gain bonuses when the player has 7 or more total play point orbs. Often supported by cards that generate orbs. |
| Shadowcraft | Necromancer (ネクロマンサー Nekuromansā) | Cards with the Necromancy keyword gain bonuses by consuming shadows, a resource generated by any card when it is removed from the game. |
| Bloodcraft | Vampire (ヴァンパイア Vanpaia) | Cards with the Vengeance keyword gain bonuses when the player has 10 or less defense. Often supported by effects that deal damage to the player. |
| Havencraft | Bishop (ビショップ Bishoppu) | Countdown amulets may have no effect while on the board, but produce a powerful Last Words effect when the Countdown expires. |
Reception
According to Super Data in its 2017 report, Shadowverse has earned $100M in revenue despite having launched halfway through 2016, making it the standout new title for the year.[10]
References
- ↑ "Shadowverse". Shadowverse.
- 1 2 Cygames (2016-10-28). "Hit Card Battle Game SHADOWVERSE Evolves on PC via Steam" (Press release). Retrieved 2016-11-15.
- 1 2 Cam Shea (2016-07-20). "The Japanese Collectible Card Game That May Just Surprise You". IGN. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
- ↑ Alan Bradley (2016-07-29). "Is the digital CCG boom a bubble? Analysts weigh in". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
- ↑ "シャドウバース』の今後のアップデート情報について聞く！ 優木かなさんと彩瀬てかさんとともに宮下尚之氏に直撃インタビュー" [The Future of Shadowverse, Interview with Naoyuki Miyashita, Yana Kuro, and Akase Taka]. Famitsu (in Japanese). 2016-08-01. Retrieved 2017-01-07.
- ↑ Cam Shea (2016-10-19). "Shadowverse: The CCG with a “Win the Match” Card". IGN. Retrieved 2016-12-11.
- ↑ Tasos Lazarides (2016-09-29). "'Shadowverse' Gets 'Darkness Evolved', Its First Expansion". TouchArcade. Retrieved 2016-12-11.
- ↑ Cam Shea (2016-12-21). "See Every Shadowverse: Rise of Bahamut Card". IGN. Retrieved 2017-01-07.
- ↑ Cam Shea (2017-03-28). "Shadowverse: Talking Tempest of the Gods with Cygames". IGN. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ↑ Omer Altay (2017-01-26). "Digital CCG Genre Booming, Hearthstone Earns $395M in 2016, Shadowverse $100M". MMOs.com. Retrieved 2017-02-11.