Trading card game fans who can overlook the often childish graphics and card names can find a nice alternative in Y-G-O.
- Sound & Gfx:
In all members of the series these are neglictable: sound is made up from a few effects, or rather user feedbacks and a few tracks for music. In fact, you're better off turning off the sound, because it significantly shortens the ingame comments -> delays of the AI opponent, wich become at best annoying quite soon or later. But as a representation of a trading card game, this does not matter at all, and you can always listen to your favourite music or radio during play.
As I mentioned before the otherwise faithfully adopted card artwork is generally immature, and the similar card names also don't add to the game's "atmosphere". (Although there are some nice anime pics among them for those who like these like me.)
-Gameplay & AI:
This is where the real thing is. As with other good trading card games, the player can find strategic challenge and long lasting replayability without loosing much fun or interest, oh and the card collecting's delight (although without the possibility to trade or exchange). This couldn't be possible thanks to solely the attractively simple, partly original system of the real-life game, but to the game's two great features: the AI of the computer opponent, and the LAN play support.
I was amazed seeing how many suprises I got from the computer opponent from time to time, how many combos and chances it could exploit against me, and the diversity of the decks it uses (invoking gradual changes of strategy from the player) - just clever.
And I don't think it needs any comment what's fun in being able to play against a human opponent. What is worth mentioning though, is that the game offers a way to transfer one's collection of cards to another computer (only for the LAN game to avoid abuse) to give equal chances and possibilities to build their deck to the players.
To enhance the appeal and value of the matches' rewards - thus making collecting through winnings more enjoyable -, this latest part of the series offers you the choice to get another set of random cards if all the cards you would win are already in your posession (With a duel won you get a random card, and alternatively playing a best-of-three match yields 3 random cards). An invaluable difference from the previous ones for a collector.
- Difficulty:
What I have sad about the AI makes this game the hardest in the series: you can never be sure when you get beaten for a long, long playtime. But another thing to mention here is another great feat - this applies for the whole series this time - the possibility to win with the beginner deck as well against anything the opponent throws at you by relying more on your mental resources than the mere power of your deck. This is achieved partly by adding some basic ueber effective and powerful cards that all newbies get and by the Yu-Gi-Oh card game's nature and characteristics on the other hand.
- About the series:
With the increase of the cards available to you and your opponent through the series does the variety, fun, strategic depth, and the card's power and diversity do the same (you can use all cards obtained from the previous games). That is partly why I call Joey the best in the series. Add to this the LAN play and the choice to re-deal rewards, and we would have the ultimate choice - for example the fist part after the later two is a real pain to play with its all weak cards and so much slower duels which seem much more a struggle, and boring in compare. The only cause I keep playing Kaiba, and - when I'm in an exceptionally optimistic or masochistic mood - Yugi is that there are few very good cards that I only have the chance to get from them (or maybe if Joey would keep beating me (: ).
- Ending words - What I would have to say for:
Serious Magic (and like) players - disregard the look and give it a try, especially if you're looking for a change!
Collecting addicts - a must!
Native English people - sorry if my draft sucks.