Review: Pairs & Perils (PC)

Gimmicks can be a tricky thing in game design. Many innovative game ideas often begin with a unique mechanic, evolving into something extraordinary. However, focusing too much on that one aspect can lead to neglecting other important elements, which is a risky move in game creation. This brings us to today’s subject: Pairs & Perils. While it definitely offers fun, it also exemplifies this potential pitfall.

Pairs & Perils initially appears to be a straightforward matching game. Your mission is to navigate a dungeon and battle a series of foes, each with their own unique abilities. The challenge begins when you’re given a board of cards to match. Successfully matching cards triggers your party’s classes to attack or cast spells, while incorrect matches advance the foes’ turn timers. Once these timers hit zero, they unleash their own attacks or spells. It’s a simple premise and doesn’t seem problematic at first. The real issues, for me, arise elsewhere, away from these core mechanics.

As a roguelite, Pairs & Perils sits right in my wheelhouse — a genre I’m quite fond of and therefore perhaps a bit more critical of. Having explored countless roguelites, I’ve noticed they often follow a similar template, teetering between being great or mediocre with little middle ground. The make-or-break factors usually lie beyond basic gameplay mechanics, and for Pairs & Perils, one of the major drawbacks is its lackluster story — or rather, the absence of one altogether.

There’s a range of gaming genres, such as arcade games and shooters, that can get by with minimal storytelling, relying more on action to keep players engaged. However, many roguelites require at least a hint of narrative to anchor the gameplay. When you embark on a quest, even a simple one, it’s crucial to know why you’re on this journey. Platformers often face this same need for a basic narrative. While we don’t need the depth of a role-playing game, a simple story is crucial to keep players invested and provide motivation. Unfortunately, Pairs & Perils lacks this element.

When I first dove into Pairs & Perils, I anticipated an introduction to the character and some backstory to explain why I was heading into this dungeon. Instead, I was greeted with a typical roguelite map and thrust into the gameplay without context. The absence of a narrative leaves me wondering about my purpose in the game. While some might argue this shouldn’t matter, I believe it does. If a game provides a compelling story, I’m more inclined to return repeatedly to see what’s next. Without it, even a fun game like Pairs & Perils gives me little reason to stay engaged long-term.

Let’s talk about the gameplay flow. When the cards are laid out, you get just a brief moment to memorize them before they flip over. That’s fine in theory, but this time feels annoyingly short. I’m not asking for a lengthy pause, but a few more seconds would be welcome. With the current setup, you can memorize one or two card pairs at most initially, which isn’t much of a hindrance with fewer cards. However, as the game progresses and your card pool expands, the limited memorization time becomes a significant challenge. To complicate matters, trap cards that harm you also appear, further dividing your attention and testing your memory.

As you succeed in matching a certain number of cards, new ones are introduced, giving you another precious few seconds to memorize them. I often found myself focusing solely on the fresh pairs since they were easier to spot. This technique, however, prevents you from utilizing your entire board strategically, which diminishes true strategic gameplay.

There’s another strategic hurdle in Pairs & Perils concerning how your actions affect opponents. Ideal strategy games prompt you to think several steps ahead, planning for opponent actions. Yet, given the card-matching focus here, you’re glued to the cards, not the opponent’s moves or strategy. The battle mechanics, although intriguing, lose their impact because you spend so much effort remembering card positions that the enemy strategies become secondary. It’s not entirely the game’s fault but rather a result of its core gameplay focus, which strips the experience down to a simpler loop than intended.

In terms of mechanics, Pairs & Perils performs adequately. The matching mechanics work well, and it includes other roguelite deck-builder expectations, like unlocking new cards and upgrading characters by accessing special rooms. If you’re familiar with the genre, many elements will feel recognizable. The controls are solid, and the graphics deliver what you’d expect from a game of this type.

At its heart, Pairs & Perils is a roguelite with a creative central mechanic. However, to truly distinguish itself, the game needs to overcome the drawbacks that stem from its central gimmick. As it stands, it’s enjoyable in short bursts, and given its lower price point, it may still warrant a purchase. But I’d gladly invest more in a game with a polished finish. With some updates, this intriguing idea could transform into a standout title. For now, it’s perfectly serviceable but falls short of greatness compared to more refined offerings in a competitive genre. If you’re eager to dive in, it’s not money wasted, but there are more compelling games available if you’re undecided.

This review is based on a retail copy of the game provided by the publisher.

Review Summary
Overall Score: 6.5/10
Look and Feel: 7/10
Challenge: 7/10
Replayability: 6/10
Value for Money: 6/10

Pairs & Perils boasts an engaging core mechanic but lacks in execution. While it presents several intriguing features, they are offset by an equal number of shortcomings. The absence of a narrative and rough-around-the-edges mechanics turn what could have been a standout game into merely an okay one. With future updates, this game might rise to become something more memorable. For now, it sits comfortably in the ‘good but not great’ category.