Developer: Golden Cauldron Platforms: PC, Mac and Linux Genre: Card-Based (?) Release Date: April 2, 2013 | ...what? Yeah I know what you're thinking: that's Faye and it has nothing to do with the subject matter at hand. Well, to be fair this review deals with a Blackjack EVN and since the art is crap and there was an episode of Cowboy Bebop where Faye dealt Blackjack (Episode 3: Honky Tonk Woman) it seems fair and square to me. ......WHAT?! You know something I can see you rolling your eyes back there. 'Oh JP just wanted an excuse to put up a picture of Faye. Isn't he soooo sexist?' I go out of my way to not only feature the tamest art possible from everything AND be fair when I have to play Otome Game #105932-B and try and find something in Pretty Boy Model HK-47! And do I get thanks for it? NOOOOOOO! Instead I get piled on whenever a moderately interesting look FAKE GIRL appears on my site! HOW DARE I?! Well you know what? This review was going to be boring anyway so instead of featuring the game's art, instead you get art of Faye. And now I should probably attempt this review....yeah. |
Story
The worst part about it is that a story with such little effort in it STILL manages to somehow contradict itself. The prologue features the protagonist getting struck outside of the casino after running into traffic like an idiot. If you win the game, you're suddenly back inside of the casino after being hit by a girl who looks like the titular Lady Luck in the back of the head. So...what happened? Are they able to reverse time? Was it all just a terrible dream? Or was this just another unfortunate case of Crap Writing 101? You be the judge!
All in all, this doesn't even fit the basic functions of what you should get in an English Visual Novel: the NOVEL aspect of it. So, then, why am I reviewing it? Well, that'll be made a bit more clear after a bit of Faye love!
Presentation & Gameplay
Okay, here's what I wanted to talk about: the gameplay. Lady Luck's Due is mostly taken up by ten rounds maximum of blackjack using a very straightforward system. There is no money to bet: the game is decided on the hands you win. The system in itself is rough as it relies more on the luck of random chance than any actual strategy with your choices boiled down to either Hit or Stand. Considering the overall 'novice' feel to it all, this was most likely the developer's first time doing this and wanted to try something unique with a limited skill set. So while it does work like it's intended, it doesn't involve the full facets that an actual game of blackjack would.
That doesn't make it any less dramatic however as Lady Luck is bloody cheap here. You have a maximum of ten hands to beat her and that goes down depending on how many times you add cards to a hand (hit). So, unless you'er pretty luck the first two or three hands you will lose. However, careful timing and use of the hit mechanic will gain you a victory and it is sweet. You do actually feel like you've earned a victory and while the ending reminds you just how little went into everything else, for that brief moment when the game clicked it clicked very well.
Because the results of the game affects the outcome of the story, I don't think it is wise to make the central focus of an EVN any game of chance. But such an approach can be used as a side game option. It is an interesting addition to the typical EVN mechanics and one that can and should be explored by much more talented developers.
Yup that was the whole point of this review...I wanted to talk about adding side games to EVNs. Shut up and enjoy some sexy Faye.
Replay Value
So how about a bit more Faye before we sign off? YEEEEAAAAHHHH-