Criminal Dissidia

Criminal Dissidia is one game that garners attention, not because it looks attractive. But because it feels like it's a game that's trying to incorporate every popular game mechanic today. It seems to be a data-driven title that contains collectible cards, RPG, open world, and action features. Funny that all of these seem to have had their peak in fame lately.

That doesn't mean that Criminal Dissidia won't be a good game. Perhaps they're really onto something here by fusing popular game mechanics. What's left to be seen is how they tie it all together with the supporting visuals and narrative. We all know that ambitious cross-genre titles tend to get disjointed and confused. So let's render our judgment on Criminal Dissidia!

Cutesy Outlaws

Maybe we're too quick to judge Criminal Dissidia; there does feel like a noble attempt to make a good game here. However, the whole design appears to be based on the premise that "we'll pull in players because we've included these popular genre mechanics." You can't shake that feeling throughout, but let's still unpack what this cross-genre title offers.

You're a character that's arrived on a mysterious continent, a land in invasion turmoil. The ultimate aim is to find the champion and defeat these evil interlopers. Narrative-wise, it's a little tricky to decipher what's happening as the translation isn't up to scratch. But perhaps the visuals can supplement this fascinating world?

Here's where things start to feel disjointed in typical cross-genre fashion. Throughout gameplay, you'll fluctuate between creating card battle decks, turn-based combat, and isometric exploring in an open world. Each part of the game has its own set of visuals, ranging from top-down, simplistic graphics, arriving at 2D side-scrolling battle screens. The aesthetic is attractive enough, but the inconsistencies bother players.

Honestly, it's tricky to understand what's going on in Criminal Dissidia. It's one of those games where mechanics don't add up. The battle system doesn't make a whole load of sense. Building a card deck becomes an endless chore. And let's not forget, you'll spend your time exploring samey environments without any real direction. Possibly what's missing is a concise narrative to tie everything together, but it just doesn't work.

Marking the Deck

Criminal Dissidia has the vibes of an overzealous Slay The Spire. A lot is going on. The developers have struggled to tie all their ambitions together neatly. It reaffirms the original statement that there were probably design decisions based on the popular genres at the time, leaving creators with no idea how to bring everything together.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Ambitious project attempting to tie multiple genres together
• Character visuals are pleasant
• Plenty of world lore that will set the scene for gameplay

Cons:

• Disjointed mechanics throughout gameplay
• The narrative makes little sense, likely due to translation issues
• The battle system feels overcomplicated