Mr. PSVR-2
The role-playing element has been out for ages. From the times you gathered with your friends to roll the dice and play the cards to the cartoons and movies being watched, to even the controller in your hand. For some, it may be a way to live another life to escape our own or it may be a way to have our character increase in power or the decision to end that character’s life. The imagination, the situations we encounter, and even the story being told are all important. But has developer Tin Man Games found a way to bring the turn-based strategy tactical role-playing style and have the action unfold while the narrative story was being told? Let’s find out with Table of Tales: The Crooked Crown for the PlayStation VR.
Tables of Tales: The Crooked Crown is a tabletop game with turn-based strategy combat where you can either use the DualShock 4, one Move controller, or both Move controllers. I would suggest using the Move controllers, as it just felt more natural, plus when you press the Move button, the end will extend, so it makes it nice to pick things up, place the cards, and roll the dice. You see this magical table has been abandoned in your Aunt’s attic and you have the power to unlock its potential. But this is not an ordinary board game where you just roll some dice and try to pass. No, this table and its contents are full of secrets that you get to be part of through its fun, come-to-life, driven story.
When you use the key, you are greeted by Arbitrix. Think of her as the Game Master for your role-playing adventure. But what is awesome about Arbitrix is that as she is telling the story, what she is telling you comes alive on the table. The narration being told is non-stop, and it had me hooked from the moment I was welcomed into this world. What I thought was interesting is how you can pick up any of the figures, regardless of whether they are a friend or foe, and place them near the table and see them grow a bit and also see their stats.
It is up to you to lead your scoundrels in victory over your enemies while you try to clear your name of something you didn’t do. Each scoundrel only has a certain amount of moves, and depending on what is going on, it may be better to rest and have that particular scoundrel rest or even fake their death or stand and fight. What I like is how if one of your scoundrels dies, you can position the scoundrel (as long as the turns allow for it) to then use the card to revive them. Along with each scoundrel’s limited movement, you only have limited attacks.
As Arbitrix is telling the tale, your boat will move as land appears almost like watching a movie play out with you and your scoundrels out for a true adventure. But it’s not all go here and go there, as the decisions you make will impact what happens. There will also be times when you may need to repair your ship or even try to negotiate with a particular enemy. This is when the rolling of the dice comes into play. Depending on your roll, you may either succeed or have to keep trying, but if your scoundrel has run out of their turn, you can try to move another scoundrel to try to finish what was started or pray that you withstand the enemy’s attacks. I mean, it’s fine and great when it’s an even playing field with the good and the bad, but when the bad start to outnumber the good, that’s when your strategy skills come into play as once all of your scoundrels move are done, it’s time for the enemy to move and attack. There were times when one of my scoundrels was just sitting ducks and the enemy would just do whatever they could to attack, either by slashing or throwing things and my scoundrel would die.
Now I know that I have mentioned cards and I want to talk a little more about this. To place a card, you just pick it up and place it over that scoundrel. I did have a few instances at the beginning that I could not get the card to play right, but you then learn that there will be a little vibration with the card in hand so that you know you are hitting the sweet spot. With each scoundrel, they will have a certain amount of cards that will have numbers in the corners that can be played. Some of these cards can be used to call a portal, to intimidate the enemy, to jump attacks even as I previously mentioned, and probably my favorite, fake death. This can be a very smart card to place if your other scoundrels are low on health and if an enemy kills your scoundrel, but you placed the card to fake your death, then the enemy’s turn will end sooner, allowing you to show everyone how good of a faker you are, rise, revive your fallen friends so that then you can use them to attack only to then fake your death of that one scoundrel. Yes, it can be a lot of work, but when the strategy that you thought was the best, and it fails, sometimes you have to do whatever you can to help win the fight.
Nuna may be my favorite scoundrel, as she can use the Dark Portal or even summon dark creatures that you need to be careful by using because if you defeat the other enemies, that creature you summoned then could easily turn on you and you have to defeat it to move on. But it wouldn’t be a role-playing adventure if you could not upgrade your abilities. At times, you will be able to upgrade your abilities, but you have to be smart about it. Maybe you want to have one of your scoundrels be faster or stronger or maybe even healthier, but what if that one scoundrel that you spent getting stronger ends up dying (not saying they will and not saying they won’t), strategy is key here, so choose wisely, as you never know what may come your way on this grandest of all adventures?
Let’s talk about the sound. I loved how Arbitrix is narrating the story and depending on what she is saying and talking about, her tone and voice change to help with the flow of the story. Hearing the scenes come alive, whether it is becoming a new land, being introduced to a new enemy, or maybe being reintroduced to one from the past, sounds refreshing as the adventure goes on.
On the graphics front, I loved the setting of being in the attic and being introduced to the abandoned game. Seeing the different scenes unfold and come alive as Arbitrix narrates the story is very refreshing and brings some fun as the world just transforms in front of you and engages your interest from beginning to end.
There are some things that I wish were added. For one, multiplayer. Yes, there is a multiplayer, but it’s a local multiplayer and I didn’t have anyone I could try this out with. I would love to see online multiplayer, as it would be pretty awesome to have the same single-player experience brought to online battles. And the other thing that I would do is more. There are so many more adventures that can be told in so many settings that I hope that Tin Man Games know that they have something truly special and continue to run with it.
Sometimes we may pass on things that may not be what we are used to, but sometimes it’s when we give those uncertainties a chance that we find something new and unique that is brought to the table, and we can become the most surprised.
Table of Tales: The Crooked Crown is out now for PlayStation VR on the PlayStation Store. A review copy was provided. To learn more about Tin Man Games, please visit their site, make sure you like them on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter.
Also, check out the Table of Tales: The Crooked Crown interview.
In case you missed the trailer, please enjoy. Until next time, I am going to see how the story unfolds with a new scoundrel.
