Platforms: PC (version reviewed)
Genre: A Roguelike Deckbuilding Game with Waifus

I’ve never really been a fan of deckbuilding games, but once I started Phantom Rose 2 Sapphire… I just could not stop. Phantom Rose 2 Sapphire is a Roguelike Adventure game that is quite story-orientated and really keeps you on your toes. It’s not heard of for these kinds of games to have a sequel, but here we are.

Perfect Blue

You play as Aria, a schoolgirl who has some form of amnesia and can only remember certain things. The environment starts off dark and gloomy. Phantoms have taken over your school, and your job is to get out, save other students and figure out what the heck is happening. Don’t worry though, you meet a kitty cat companion called Sylphy who will guide you through your adventure. Like every other magical game, Sylphy speaks.

The game plays out with each run having a map. Not every “room” you enter gives you multiple choices for which room you will approach next or what you will do inside these rooms. These rooms hold your standard choices, in which you can either fight phantoms, shop for more cards, get involved in a treasure hunt or even rescue other students. The choices you make will have to be strategic. In easier modes, you can honestly do as you please, but as the game gets harder, you will have to actually start managing your health and deck size.

What I like about Phantom Rose 2 Sapphire is that, unlike other regular campaigns, you can choose between two here, which are the Blade or the Mage class. Being a big fan of the Mage class in whatever game I play, I picked the Mage campaign to progress through. I did play the Blade class as well, but of course enjoyed the Mage one a whole lot more. The Blade class is your standard traditional approach. In the Mage class, however, let’s just say you will actually have to read what your cards do and not just throw down the highest number in your deck. You will require Arcana Energy or what we all know as ‘Mana’ in every other game, to play certain cards. This makes the game much more exciting in my opinion, because you will have to also manage your Arcana Energy well enough to play your cards.

Now let’s talk about the actual fights. The game offers a wide variety of cards, requiring players to adapt their strategies after each mission. New cards introduce opportunities for creative combos and synergies with existing ones, allowing players to build decks focused on different tactics. You can only play two cards per turn during a fight. Your deck will have multiple types of cards which will include different sorts of attacks, heals, giving yourself a barrier and some other cards that can remove debuffs or even apply buffs. Status effects can happen to both you and your enemy. If you pick to play as the Blade class, casting a card will require no cost at all, but after using a card, they will have a cooldown timer. This makes it so players can’t just keep playing the same strongest cards over and over.

If you win you get some Sapphire and/or Soul Roses which are currencies you can use to buy or upgrade more cards. Rooms often give you additional cards for your deck. Although your card limit increases gradually, you’ll eventually surpass it. To keep playing, you need to Rest at Camp to heal, but you also have to discard cards to stay within the limit. This setup requires players to regularly adjust their strategy as they integrate new cards into their attacks.

The little cutscenes are my favourite part of the game. It reveals just enough to keep you wanting more. They boast a charming anime touch, characterized by endearing aesthetics and crisp lines that set them apart. Relics and monsters truly catch the eye, ensuring a visually captivating experience at all times. The game keeps you curious, and the excellent character illustrations keep you engaged in the adventure. As the story unfolds, you will see a lot of themes of friendship within the adventure. Since the scenes are short, you can always revisit the gallery to check them out and catch up! While I wish there was voice acting for the characters, the soundtrack effectively creates a mystical, gothic ambience.

The developer’s understanding of the genre is evident in engaging card descriptions that require thoughtful consideration of placement and effects. You have a lot of options to earn in-game currency, enhancing your run and overall gaming experience. Let’s also not forget some really cute outfits you can get for Aria requiring a somewhat amusing number of Diamonds to have them.

Phantom Rose 2 Sapphire is a fun roguelike deckbuilding game that you can enjoy in quick bite sessions or longer plays. The game’s mechanics are easy to pick up which is nice for new players to the genre, and this lets you progress smoothly while challenging you. The variety of cards adds excitement to strategic and challenging battles, so that helps with the replay value exponentially.

FINAL SCORE: 80/100

Phantom Rose 2: Sapphire, is available now on Steam.

A copy of Phantom Rose 2: Sapphire was provided by the publisher.