I've once again stumbled onto this game. Three years ago, I left a bitter, vaguely passive-aggressive comment, and I feel like this game deserves a slightly better review, one less clogged with salt.
Aesthetically, this game is stellar. Clearly, a lot of care and effort has been put into the way that its elements look and feel, from the butter-smooth tweens and slides in all its GUI to the smaller details, like the way that hint tiles are thrown into the air from the stake's impact. One touch I particularly appreciated was the grayscale, bit-crushed vampire portraits; they exude uncanny, inhuman menace in a way that works perfectly for the tone.
I deeply admire the visual style on display here, which makes the gameplay they serve so much more disappointing. The core issue, I think, is that the elements of risk create boredom, rather than excitement. The omnipresent threat of completely wiping your save file severely discourages risky play, especially in the last few levels. For all the prompting the game does to "double down," the temptation of taking a 50/50 on the stake after seven draws, or on a risky hint card, or on the direct verbal invitation of your undead dealer, my response was always some variation of the sentiment "no, that's a stupid and self-destructive idea, why would I risk all of my progress for a few extra millilitres?"
Without that high-roller's thrill, what risk is left only serves to create frustration. I find it especially aggrevating that rounds can be lost before even using a single hint card, especially against Orlok, who I swear ends more than half of all rounds like this before they've even begun.
So, those are my thoughts. Full disclosure, I have not finished this game: I very quickly grew bored of the cycle of "duel Zver 5 times for a blood safety buffer, duel Orlok to lose it all on three one-turn rounds, repeat." It's a game I really want to enjoy for its sheer visual style alone, but the gameplay just lets it down for me. I dunno, maybe I'm just too risk-averse to really enjoy gambling, whether the fake PICO-8 game kind or otherwise.
I've been playing this game on and off for over a week now and I seriously can't get above 400ml for these reasons. For some reason, it feels like 1/3 of the rounds I play, even the "easy" ones, the first or second card I flip turns out to be the Vampire card. I would love to finish the game but it feels like at this rate it'll take me at least a month and I think I may get bored before then.
The trick, I find, is to always gun straight for the square. Use the square and arrows to carve out safe space and don't be afraid to pass. Pass literally every game if you need to. You can only lose up to 5 stakes by passing, and that's by literally passing before even flipping any cards yourself. You start with 1 flipped and lose 2 effective flipped by passing, so you lose 1 stake.
+ can be used on a card that hasn't yet been flipped. it tells you a minimum number for the card. so 9+ could be 9 or vampire (which has a value of 10), 5+ could be any number higher than 5, and 2+ could be any number.
<> is used on a card that has been flipped over, and tells you if the surrounding cards are lower or higher.
the square will select an area of 4 cards, one of which is the vampire card. any cards outside of the area are safe to flip.
I keep coming back to this game, ever since I first saw it on the Game Jam 3 years ago. Honestly hooked on it. The execution is simple yet captivating enough to keep you going. Easily one of the best games on this website. Major kudos to the dev.
This was a delight to play! I normally don't mesh with this sort of game, but the information was portrayed well enough that I was able to get into the groove of things very quickly.
Clever how you (I'm guessing) predicted that people would lean hard on the 2x2 token strategy, so you punished it hard. That said, figuring that out made the final opponent much more predictable, so I think it might've helped at the end.
It was interesting to see how some of the tradeoffs you had to make to boost the difficulty, like the vampire placement on the entire board, or how you place the 2x2 token over the most unrevealed cards, ended up making it easier in other ways.
I think that actually ended up making the game more compelling. I keep coming back to this; great job!
Thank you for playing my game. This was extremely entertaining. I might have ruined my screen a little because I was taking a sip and you got me with the "it's only gambling if you don't know what you're doing" line.
great art and music, and truly does feel like gambling. Just one issue. The token that reveals the 2x2 area the vampire is in is super overpowered. You can go for it everytime and as long you get it you can flip all but 3-4 cards, and after that just pass. This will win you the match 90% of the time
Nice game! I almost quit at the beginning due to lack of interest (lost on after two games or so), but giving it a second try made me become hooked until I finished the game, with much joy.
I think it took me too long to understand the better tradeoff of 'PASS' on a round, which could have made me progress faster instead of underestimating it. I also feel that it took me a bit to fully better understand how to best use the (X+) powerup for higher chances of winning. It's surprising how much strategy there's in the end fur such simple mechanics.
At the same time, I got very close to losing on two occasions: Each time, it was the first game I did on a bigger payout mode, and dew a Vampire on the first or second card reveal in most of the rounds, which felt super unfair and beyond unlucky. I felt that if I had lost the game due to that, I'd have quit the game.
Overall the game is very well done, has a fun quick mechanic, and sets an immersive mood!
Simple but so hooking. In my opinion the most polished Pico-8 cart ever, finding a perfect balance of visuals, resolution, color palette, while simple, short rounds and addictive!
amazing game! love the art, music, style, and the gameplay is really clever. However, I am awful at it and can not win lol. Just spent 30 straight minutes getting DESTROYED. Barely scraped through into the second vampire and lost 5 rounds in a row lol. ugh. I'm gonna keep trying though. I have bad luck
The nice game design with this game is that how much you lose by flipping the vampire is scaled to the numbers of cards you flipped.
So if you only flipped one card and got a Vampire, you got unlucky and only lose a small amount, while if you almost flipped everything, you lose a big amount (which is more likely because you played bad/gambled).
You should try to Pass more often when you're not sure but you're still getting a positive income. And you shouldn‘t flip unecessary cards so the stake Bonus is higher (ex: if you know a card is 2+, you don't need to flip it, you already know it's very low, this way the Stake bonus is higher if you find the Vampire quickly).
I keep coming back to this over and over and never get past 30ml. But it's so addicting. I see that there is a third token that shows a 2x2 area, is that not implemented or is that just not available against the first vampire? Because I feel like that would help me so much instead of just guessing.
I liked the game a lot. Finished on 4th attempt. It was really fun to figure the game out, but in the end I thought it was a bit too easy. If you play it right, even if you get really unlucky, you never lose that much. And when you get a lucky placement, you win big. So the odds are quite stacked in the players favor, if they know how to play.
I love this game, but there's no way it's not rigged. I keep getting Vampire cards the first time I flip one, something's rigged against me and I can feel it.
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Pretty nice game, sir. I enjoyed
Really polished game, wish they did a tutorial though
I've once again stumbled onto this game. Three years ago, I left a bitter, vaguely passive-aggressive comment, and I feel like this game deserves a slightly better review, one less clogged with salt.
Aesthetically, this game is stellar. Clearly, a lot of care and effort has been put into the way that its elements look and feel, from the butter-smooth tweens and slides in all its GUI to the smaller details, like the way that hint tiles are thrown into the air from the stake's impact. One touch I particularly appreciated was the grayscale, bit-crushed vampire portraits; they exude uncanny, inhuman menace in a way that works perfectly for the tone.
I deeply admire the visual style on display here, which makes the gameplay they serve so much more disappointing. The core issue, I think, is that the elements of risk create boredom, rather than excitement. The omnipresent threat of completely wiping your save file severely discourages risky play, especially in the last few levels. For all the prompting the game does to "double down," the temptation of taking a 50/50 on the stake after seven draws, or on a risky hint card, or on the direct verbal invitation of your undead dealer, my response was always some variation of the sentiment "no, that's a stupid and self-destructive idea, why would I risk all of my progress for a few extra millilitres?"
Without that high-roller's thrill, what risk is left only serves to create frustration. I find it especially aggrevating that rounds can be lost before even using a single hint card, especially against Orlok, who I swear ends more than half of all rounds like this before they've even begun.
So, those are my thoughts. Full disclosure, I have not finished this game: I very quickly grew bored of the cycle of "duel Zver 5 times for a blood safety buffer, duel Orlok to lose it all on three one-turn rounds, repeat." It's a game I really want to enjoy for its sheer visual style alone, but the gameplay just lets it down for me. I dunno, maybe I'm just too risk-averse to really enjoy gambling, whether the fake PICO-8 game kind or otherwise.
I agree. This game honestly sucks
I've been playing this game on and off for over a week now and I seriously can't get above 400ml for these reasons. For some reason, it feels like 1/3 of the rounds I play, even the "easy" ones, the first or second card I flip turns out to be the Vampire card. I would love to finish the game but it feels like at this rate it'll take me at least a month and I think I may get bored before then.
The trick, I find, is to always gun straight for the square. Use the square and arrows to carve out safe space and don't be afraid to pass. Pass literally every game if you need to. You can only lose up to 5 stakes by passing, and that's by literally passing before even flipping any cards yourself. You start with 1 flipped and lose 2 effective flipped by passing, so you lose 1 stake.
this was too good i don't think i'll ever recover
im still confused, how do the hint tokens work?
+ can be used on a card that hasn't yet been flipped. it tells you a minimum number for the card. so 9+ could be 9 or vampire (which has a value of 10), 5+ could be any number higher than 5, and 2+ could be any number.
<> is used on a card that has been flipped over, and tells you if the surrounding cards are lower or higher.
the square will select an area of 4 cards, one of which is the vampire card. any cards outside of the area are safe to flip.
I keep coming back to this game, ever since I first saw it on the Game Jam 3 years ago. Honestly hooked on it. The execution is simple yet captivating enough to keep you going. Easily one of the best games on this website. Major kudos to the dev.
Love this game. Will there be a download for this game in the future?
every time i got a 9+ it was a 9 :l
When they offer you double or nothing... that's the devil talking. Never take up the offer hahaha
...
I have been drained of all my blood
Feel ya bruv 😭😭
Using math you can actually check that it is not worth it
This was a delight to play! I normally don't mesh with this sort of game, but the information was portrayed well enough that I was able to get into the groove of things very quickly.
Clever how you (I'm guessing) predicted that people would lean hard on the 2x2 token strategy, so you punished it hard. That said, figuring that out made the final opponent much more predictable, so I think it might've helped at the end.
It was interesting to see how some of the tradeoffs you had to make to boost the difficulty, like the vampire placement on the entire board, or how you place the 2x2 token over the most unrevealed cards, ended up making it easier in other ways.
I think that actually ended up making the game more compelling. I keep coming back to this; great job!
Thank you! This is some lovely feedback. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
It doesn't require a lot of strategy, but gambling is addictive so here we are ;)
great stuff !
The definition of luck lmaoo
My inner gambling goblin can't stop playing this game with high stakes. Am addicted T=T
I absolutely love this game! I play it on my free time during school; love to see more!
Definitely not playing while typing this. That would be crazy. There's no way I would be SUCH OF A--nevermind that anyway swell game fellas.
Thank you for playing my game. This was extremely entertaining. I might have ruined my screen a little because I was taking a sip and you got me with the "it's only gambling if you don't know what you're doing" line.
this game is super noice 50/10
great art and music, and truly does feel like gambling. Just one issue. The token that reveals the 2x2 area the vampire is in is super overpowered. You can go for it everytime and as long you get it you can flip all but 3-4 cards, and after that just pass. This will win you the match 90% of the time
i love this game!! 10/10
oof！ Finally beat the game after 4 games! Really nice work!, the mechanics the design the story the art the music... loved every bit :)
Update: second playthrough! Magical experience every time ;)!!!
Wow! Congratulations!
This game is super frustrating and fun. Good job!
Love how every time you use the stake it makes all the tokens jump a little
I think I've developed a reckless gambling addiction.
Despite it being HARD AS BALLS its easily one of my top three favorite Pico Engine game
What are you other favourites?
I enjoy it but DAMN it's hard ...
Nice game! I almost quit at the beginning due to lack of interest (lost on after two games or so), but giving it a second try made me become hooked until I finished the game, with much joy.
I think it took me too long to understand the better tradeoff of 'PASS' on a round, which could have made me progress faster instead of underestimating it. I also feel that it took me a bit to fully better understand how to best use the (X+) powerup for higher chances of winning. It's surprising how much strategy there's in the end fur such simple mechanics.
At the same time, I got very close to losing on two occasions: Each time, it was the first game I did on a bigger payout mode, and dew a Vampire on the first or second card reveal in most of the rounds, which felt super unfair and beyond unlucky. I felt that if I had lost the game due to that, I'd have quit the game.
Overall the game is very well done, has a fun quick mechanic, and sets an immersive mood!
Thank you for the detailed feedback. I'm glad you gave it a second chance!
Hi I would like to ask how do you make those circles in the back ground cuz they look amazing
I just draw a bunch of CIRCFILLs, lowering the radius and alternating colors as I go.
any possibility on windows release?
Outstanding!
Simple but so hooking. In my opinion the most polished Pico-8 cart ever, finding a perfect balance of visuals, resolution, color palette, while simple, short rounds and addictive!
Any chances for the steam release?
amazing game! love the art, music, style, and the gameplay is really clever. However, I am awful at it and can not win lol. Just spent 30 straight minutes getting DESTROYED. Barely scraped through into the second vampire and lost 5 rounds in a row lol. ugh. I'm gonna keep trying though. I have bad luck
The nice game design with this game is that how much you lose by flipping the vampire is scaled to the numbers of cards you flipped.
So if you only flipped one card and got a Vampire, you got unlucky and only lose a small amount, while if you almost flipped everything, you lose a big amount (which is more likely because you played bad/gambled).
You should try to Pass more often when you're not sure but you're still getting a positive income. And you shouldn‘t flip unecessary cards so the stake Bonus is higher (ex: if you know a card is 2+, you don't need to flip it, you already know it's very low, this way the Stake bonus is higher if you find the Vampire quickly).
oh my god I never noticed the pass button hahaha wow. Ok well....that helps lol thanks!!!
but what are you even while in the casino? a pale drained zombielike person or just a skeleton?
also what canonically happens after i won?
Amazing and unique take on the card genre. Really outstanding the amount of work put into this little, tiny game. Loved every second of it!
Wow, thank you for including High Stakes on your list! Gotta check out the other games too!
I keep coming back to this over and over and never get past 30ml. But it's so addicting. I see that there is a third token that shows a 2x2 area, is that not implemented or is that just not available against the first vampire? Because I feel like that would help me so much instead of just guessing.
I think it's unlocked past the 2nd challenge
Cool game. Would be nice to be able to use the mouse, and perhaps a mobile port if a little lengthier
It would be cool to keep a cartridge of High Stakes as a collectable, or even a poster
Hmm. Maybe it the sequel...
dude how is it that addictive
I liked the game a lot. Finished on 4th attempt. It was really fun to figure the game out, but in the end I thought it was a bit too easy. If you play it right, even if you get really unlucky, you never lose that much. And when you get a lucky placement, you win big. So the odds are quite stacked in the players favor, if they know how to play.
Thanks for the feedback. Glad to hear you had a good time!
I love this game, but there's no way it's not rigged. I keep getting Vampire cards the first time I flip one, something's rigged against me and I can feel it.
Never trust a vampire
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA