Card Shark Review

Of the many games I’ve played in my life (and it is indeed many), it’s rare I come away feeling that I’ve truly learned something. Certainly, every game I’ve ever played has made me feel something, be that joy, frustration, or something deeper. But too few I would argue teach me something, the only obvious example that springs to mind being Never Alone. Now, this could simply be the type of games I frequent, but I do aim to play as diverse an array of titles as I can. I would also argue games are more of an emotive medium as a whole, which is more than fine, but playing Card Shark was a good reminder of how enjoyable it can be to learn whilst having fun.

That’s not to say Card Shark is about to teach you the ways of the world, although it does portray a variety of interesting card tricks in an engaging manner that, while maybe not easily transferrable to a real-life setting, are incredibly fun to learn about.

One of the best things about Card Shark is it wraps all that knowledge within an exciting narrative that only builds in intrigue as you progress. You play as a young man with mutism, living a simple life working in a tavern before, one night, a curious gentleman asks you to aid him in a trick. Chaos ensues soon after, and you find yourself cheating and swindling your way through 18th-century France. Along the way, you’ll uncover a vast conspiracy that goes all the way to the top of the aristocracy.

That’s quite the ride for a simple card game, but it’s also what keeps you hooked. The main issue I had with Card Shark was the sheer amount of information it throws at you in such a short space of time. This is a relatively quick game and, as such, you’re learning new tricks at quite a swift pace. Naturally, the further you progress, the more complex these tricks become. This includes adding new elements to old tricks, which you might not have had to perform for a while. As a result of this constant barrage of new mechanics, it can be difficult to wrap your head around everything. Of course, there’s no end to the number of times you can practice these tricks, but I found the information wasn’t really sinking in. It just didn’t feel intuitive. I’d step away from the game for maybe a day and struggle to get back into the groove.

This isn’t a game anyone can just pick up and play, and whilst there’s certainly nothing inherently wrong about the level of challenge on display, it wasn’t really the mechanics themselves that were challenging, rather the sheer number of them. That said, while it can all feel rather overwhelming, the way these tricks have been translated to a controller output is brilliant. Much of what you do in this game relies on sleight of hand, something that is rather tricky to accomplish when you’re not controlling said hand. Still, your movements in Card Shark feel as natural as they possibly could. Simple time-based events and memorisation help keep the fluff to a minimum, and although the more complex tricks do add more steps, no single trick ever feels too difficult to perform. I did however feel the analogue stick could be rather too sensitive at times, especially given how precise some movements need to be to ensure victory.

Perhaps what is most impressive about Card Shark is the gorgeous world it brings to life. The hand-drawn aesthetic is a treat to behold, making you feel as though you’ve wandered into a painting. The lighting effects cast a striking glow over proceedings, whether that’s the warm, crackling embrace of an open fireplace or the sharp impact of a bolt of lightning. Everything comes together for a stunning visual feast. That’s to say nothing of the score, which perfectly encapsulates the feel of the time. It lends a classy atmosphere to even your most devilish of deeds, only becoming more inspiring as you climb the ranks. Every town, every bustling tavern, or foreboding mansion, they all feel like they have their own personality to them, conveyed through this design work. The way everything has been crafted to work together in perfect sync is an awe to behold and ensures Card Shark is an audio-visual extravaganza befitting the lofty ambitions of its main characters.

Whether you enjoy Card Shark will ultimately come down to how interested you are in the tricks it portrays. The story is an exciting one full of twists and turns and is certainly what kept me hooked throughout, but I don’t know that it is quite enough to push people over the steep learning curve. Help is always available in the game through the menu. However, I think the game tries to cram too much into such a short space of time and lacks a certain amount of finesse in doing so. Nevertheless, Card Shark remains a game in my eyes that deserves to be played. Perseverance will see you through eventually, and those seeking a challenge will most certainly enjoy the game. And, as I mentioned at the start, you may even find you pick up a thing or two. Of course, what you do with that information is entirely up to you…