Reviewed by Brandy Shaul
Sony Online Entertainment is no stranger to the massively multiplayer or trading card game online universes. Everquest and Legends of Norrath are two properties that are still as strong as ever, as is Star Wars Galaxies, which continues to grow in part due to the ever-expanding Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game, which I had a chance to go hands-on with at Gen Con Indy 2009.
Even though the Star Wars Galaxies TCG is based on an entirely different property than its Legends of Norrath TCG counterparts, the two games are still fairly similar. In fact, those familiar with one of the games would have no problem jumping into the other, as the basic gameplay mechanics are shared between both experiences.
In the Star Wars Galaxies TCG, the screen is split into four basic areas. Your avatar rests on at the very bottom center of the screen, with your opponent’s being displayed directly opposite of yours. The far right and left sides of the screen house any quests cards that are currently in play, which can be acted on by both players.
Connecting these four extremes is the center hub, which displays attack and defensive information, including attack multipliers (which are triggered by playing certain cards).
On each turn, any card in your hand that can be legally played is highlighted, and by hovering over one or more of them, you can read their status effects in full detail. Like most trading card games, strategy is the name of the game here, as you would want to make as many offensive or defensive maneuvers in one turn as the game’s rules deem possible, so as to either protect yourself from the next attack, or maim your opponent before they ever have a chance to retaliate.
The game flows nicely with the help of large, semi-transparent red arrows that show who and/or what will be affected by playing a particular card. That is, when attacking, a line is drawn from the card that’s doing the attacking to your opponent’s defensive position, which helps you to figure out whether you’re about to attack one of his or her own cards, or the avatar outright.
Since the game relies heavily on both skill and luck when drawing cards, each new match will be different than the last. And while simple pick-up games are fun enough on their own, the real fun here comes in the 10 new scenarios, which always play as good-vs-evil, that are offered with each new expansion of the series (so, four new expansions would result in 40 new scenarios, and so on).
Furthermore, players who are actively involved in the Star Wars Galaxies MMO can use the TCG as a way to further expand their inventory by winning TCG matches. This will trigger the unlocking of new equipment (such as weapons, armor and more) back in the MMO, tying both properties together.
Like in SOE’s other TCG games, players can meet and chat with other players in online lobbies, arrange quick matches, or practice against pre-constructed decks (like a Sith-centric deck, for example) in order to hone their skills before jumping into the real game.
Then there’s the deck builder, which not only offers the obvious abilities of examining every card in your collection, and building a deck capable of eliminating all foes in your path, but also includes the avatar builder, a literal card-creation machine that allows you to create a character based on your own preferences – that is, race, name, whether they are good or evil, and so on. And you are not limited to just one avatar, as a whole slew of characters can be created and subsequently utilized like any other.
With a truly beautiful graphical presentation, plus a fan-base and support system that show no signs of weakening, it seems pretty safe to say that the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game will be around for quite some time.