Across The Obelisk – Switch Review

Tyler Denyer

1 year ago

Official game art for Across The Obelisk. With a glowing red background, there stands five characters from the game each with individual characteristics and armour, as if ready for battle. In front of them is the text "Across The Obelisk"

Across the Obelisk, developed by Dreamsite Games and published by Paradox Interactive, is a roguelike deckbuilding game that pulls players into a world of card-based strategy. In this fantasy adventure, you’ll craft powerful decks, make crucial decisions, and lead a party of heroes through a turmoil-filled realm. The game’s blend of strategic depth, replayability, and cooperative elements offers an engaging experience that can be enjoyed solo or with friends.

They didn’t just make it Across the Obelisk. They smashed it.

The mix of strategic deckbuilding and a rogue-lite element hooked me from the start. Like Darkest Dungeon, but with cards, Across the Obelisk offers tactical depth and beautiful hand-drawn art, but with the added excitement of crafting powerful decks and making impactful decisions.

If you’ve played Across the Obelisk, we’d love to hear what you enjoyed or found challenging. If you’re still on the fence, what are you most excited to experience in the game? Drop a comment below and share your thoughts.

Gameplay

The heart of Across the Obelisk lies in its deck-building mechanics. With over 500 cards, 300 items, and 16 heroes across four classes, the game offers a staggering amount of customization. Building and refining your deck is a customisation experience as you experiment with different card combinations and strategies. Each hero in your party has their own set of cards and perks to level up, allowing for endless possibilities regarding team composition and tactics.

Story

The weight of your decisions becomes apparent when you begin your quest in Across the Obelisk. The story sets you on a mission to rescue the king’s daughter from the treacherous Lord Hanshek, but how you get there is entirely up to you. The game presents various procedurally generated events, meaning no two runs are identical.

The narrative is enriched by the decisions you make along the way. Will you help the people of Senenthia, or will you pursue glory and loot at any cost? These choices add a layer of immersion that keeps you engaged, making every decision feel significant. Depending on who you help, you will even unlock them as a playable character.

Who the Deck?!

You start with Magnus, the warrior who’s more about swinging axes than social niceties, using abilities such as bloodbath. Andrin is a rogue who makes bandages while stabbing enemies in the back with a poison blade. Evelyn, the sorceress, might as well be Mother Earth with her complete control of elemental spells, such as “fire blast” which scorches enemies. And Reginald, the ever-dutiful priest, keeps the party alive with his “Healing light” spell and protective shields.

You can obtain items that enhance a character’s stats, such as attack power. The perk tree serves as a crucial RPG element, allowing you to maximise a character’s health, defence, and various other attributes. Furthermore, upgrading your town plays a significant role. You will use supply chests obtained from defeating bosses, completing chapters, and participating in specific events. One particularly exciting aspect is unlocking the pet shop, which provides your team with an extra advantage.

Combat is turn-based and tactical, requiring careful planning and coordination. The game rewards experimentation, encouraging you to try different class combinations and strategies to see what works best.

Multiplayer allows for 2-4 player online co-op. This is a true co-operation mode. As you and your friends must work together to coordinate your moves. Your group decisions also affect the outcome of your journey.

Graphics & Audio

The sound design and graphics of Across the Obelisk play a crucial role in immersing players in its fantastical world. Visually, the game adopts a charming, hand-drawn art style that brings the realm of Senenthia to life. The character designs are distinct and vibrant, with each hero and enemy displaying unique details. The environments are crafted well, presenting landscapes ranging from lush forests to eerie dungeons. Each infused with atmospheric details that enhance the game’s mood.

While the music is undeniably well-composed, it struggles to transition effectively from the tranquil melodies heard during exploration to the more intense scores characterising combat encounters. As a result, the same calm music persists on the main map and during battles. Fixing these audio transitions would greatly assist in maintaining the game’s pacing and enhancing the sense of tension during critical moments.

On the other hand, the sound effects are meticulously designed. Featuring gratifying card shuffles, sword strikes, and electricity crackling during spell casts when lightning is used. All of these contribute significantly to the overall immersion. Nevertheless, when hitting the enemies, they all make the same “oof” noise except when attacking rabid sheep, and then they bleat. Which seemed a strange choice.

Longevity

Across The Obelisk has three distinct modes: Adventure, Obelisk, and Weekly Challenge, each offering a different experience. Adventure mode is the main story. Obelisk mode provides a more intense roguelike experience, where you draft unique decks and embark on a randomized quest; this is perfect for those seeking a tough challenge. The Weekly Challenge mode adds another layer of variety, with predetermined decks and maps that test your ability to adapt and strategize.

The game’s biggest strength is its replayability. The procedurally generated events, the vast array of cards, and the different game modes mean there is always something new to experience.

Nonetheless, the game does have its shortcomings. For instance, some players might consider the learning curve quite steep, particularly when mastering the deck-building and combat mechanics. When initially playing the Across the Obelisk I myself found the game to be hard and it took me longer than I care to admit to even get passed the first map. Moreover, the amount of content available can seem overwhelming.

Final Thoughts

Across the Obelisk is a standout title in the deckbuilding genre. It offers a deep and satisfying experience that is both challenging and rewarding. The game’s blend of strategy, tactics, and deckbuilding makes it a must-play for fans of roguelite and deckbuilding games.

If you’re looking for a game that offers variety and keeps you returning, Across the Obelisk is worth your time. Its rich world, engaging mechanics, and deck-building make it a game that you can sink hours into. Overall, Dreamsite Games and Paradox Interactive have crafted a game that will captivate and challenge players for a long time.

I am happy to give Across The Obelisk the Thumb Culture Gold Award.

Disclaimer: I received a code to write this review.