This is a review of the (almost) excellent card game Eternal by Dire Wolf. With these reviews, I will mention the best things about the game and the worst things and then do a “How would I fix the game” section.
My playtime in Eternal is quite massive and for multiple years. It is, hands down, the best online card game I’ve played. And yet, I do not recommend it as a game to invest time into. So, let’s start with why it’s great:
The Great Stuff
Deck Building Flexibility
Players can construct decks with cards from any faction and in nearly any combination. Unlike other card games, this is very powerful and allows players to really explore interesting cross-faction synergies. You have to manage the “influence” (basically a faction) by loading specific power cards with various influence types – and other cards that can alter your influences. This flexibility is the core reason Eternal has replay ability unlike most other card games.
PvP Game Modes: Casual and Ranked
Very cool to have both a casual mode (no ranking) and a ranked player vs player option. For a year or so I would drive myself to the Masters level each month. It was challenging and fun for the most part. My problems with PvP mostly stem from core game issues, and I don’t PvP any more, but that’s for later in this review.
Solo play is very strong with Gauntlet
Eternal has a Gauntlet game mode where face off vs a series of non-player opponents and then a boss with special abilities. Other than the boss (see below), this mode is the core of the game for me. I try out endless different decks and run Gauntlets to refine and adjust. Fantastic.
Playable on PC and tablets
I love being able to play the game on my computer, then just pick up on my tablet and continue, and then back. That’s very convenient.
Amazing card dynamics
The (possibly overwhelming) volume of dynamics on cards is truly intense. Ambush allows you to surprise play a card on the opponent’s turn. Fast Spells can be cast to interrupt your opponent’s actions. There are dozens(!) of these mechanics. In addition to those, there are unique cards with unique effects. The depth is astounding and incredibly fun to play with.
The Ugly Stuff
Power draw problems
Because you have to load your own power cards into your deck, unlike some other card games, you have a situation where you will have games you can’t draw power – and then can’t play any of your cards. This is extremely frustrating, and you can have unwinnable games in any mode, from Gauntlet to ranked PvP.
This single problem is the reason I don’t recommend the game to anyone. It’s caused me to swear often, every day, and makes me wonder why I play. I no longer play PvP because I can’t stand un-winnable games based on power draw. In fact, many players will just resign after draw due to this – and if they don’t and lose, that’s not fun for me either – there is just no fun to be had with power draw problems, period. And yes, I have said this via Dire Wolf feedback like… hundreds of times.
This problem happens every day, without fail, and it just drags the game down from the heights it should be at. I try hard to just withdraw when I miss 2, 3, 4, 7 then 11… ! power draws in a row. Why do I even bother? I should immediately at 1 missed power draw, honestly. Ok, so I did win one game, one time, when I was 11 power behind… but the odds are so low that I can only say I was a fool to try in the first place.
Un-winnable games due to lack of power is the Kiss of Death for Eternal
Gauntlet boss is full out cheating
The last boss in Gauntlet changes the very rules of the game and uses a stacked deck with the new rules. You will end up facing unwinnable games routinely here, and it’s actually hard to make sure you don’t adjust your deck afterward. The game is cheating, and that’s a sad way to punctuate an otherwise wonderful game mode. My advice here is – just quit the last game most of the time and write it off to exceptionally poor game design.
Not enough to spend your gold on; and no multi-pack open
I am sitting on 1.6 million gold in the game and have hundreds of unopened game packs. The game is missing a way to spend that gold on meaningful stuff. And there isn’t a way to just open a few hundred decks at once, which makes that whole process tedious. If you actually buy packs, you have to suffer with opening decks… why do that?
How would I fix Eternal – Simple!
Spending Gold to improve cards (add Inscribe, Pledge, or Plunder)
Imagine if you could pay gold to upgrade a card and add a power mechanic (Inscribe, Pledge, and Plunder help unit cards add to your power). This would solve two of the ugly problems I talked about in one shot: a meaningful way to spend gold and solve the power draw disaster. It would also have players feel very invested – picking which cards they want one of these power mechanics on.
Allow player to ban specific bosses from Gauntlet
Allow players to spend gold and put a ban on selected Gauntlet bosses (for a month). There are too many end bosses (like Sudden Death) that are just too stupid to ever want to play against. Let players fix this problem for you and add another meaningful way to spend gold. Of course, I would also want a way to renew the ban without having to re-select all the stupid bosses.
On draw, let players pick the cards to throw back
The all-or-nothing on draw is just lame. And then you get only 2 power cards? Ugh. Just don’t do that, allow players to pick which cards to throw back and presto, games would be a lot more fun.
Make those changes and, boom, Eternal would be unstoppable.
Other observations (if anything was possible)
I’ll just close out with more minor observations that would make Eternal better:
Eternal would be better as a web app so that there is no client to install, like Hero Wars. Add logins via Google and you get a more seamless experience. (Eternal is currently available through Steam, which is great for desktop apps – but why desktop apps anymore?)
The interface is clean and functional, but not very fun. Check out how inviting other games are, such as Hero Wars, in their main interface. And campaign maps like many other games. Even Gauntlet could be a path vs just a sequence of heroes. Not gameplay stuff (which remains way more important), but these touches would greatly add atmosphere to the game.
Solo game modes should not time out, they should save their state so they can resume at any time.
it’s beyond time to tighten up the list of 83 (yes, eighty-three!) card abilities. I know each one in depth and how to build/counter them. But new players? Good luck! Surge and Empower are super close, make them the same thing. Inscribe and Pledge are close, combine them. Spark and Onslaught are close, etc. And some that are just never used or are so limited there aren’t many uses (Muster, Tribute, Intrigue), get rid of them (or expand so they become relevant). Don’t be afraid to change the game after years of being out there, good players will adapt and new players will thank you. Let your game evolve.
I’m off for now, will probably try a new exciting deck with awesome cards I haven’t used much, then get 2 power and no more for 8 turns and take a break for a day.