Item: VoC: The Beasts of Burden
Rating: 86
Author: Dinsun

Dinsun Review

Yoko Taro’s influence is all over this, which is both a blessing and a curse. As a gamer who grew up on physical tabletop sessions, I appreciate the aesthetic—the cards flipping, the gamemaster’s narration, the dice rolls. It’s charming. However, the 'game' part of this RPG is incredibly thin. The combat is far too easy for anyone who has played a Dragon Quest game in the last thirty years. It moves at a glacial pace, and the monster-trapping mechanic feels like a tacked-on afterthought to justify the 'Beasts of Burden' title. It’s a beautiful experience to look at, but as a tactical challenge, it’s lacking. Square Enix is charging a premium for what is essentially a digital board game with very few rules. I’m giving it a 72 because the story and atmosphere are top-tier, but the gameplay loop won't keep a serious gamer awake for long. It’s a good 'chill' game, but don't expect it to replace your main RPG rotation.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

Incredible art direction and music
Compelling, dark Yoko Taro narrative
Unique tabletop presentation

Glacially slow animations
Lack of mechanical depth in combat
Very high price point for a mobile port

Technical Report

Performance: Locked 30 FPS, which fits the card aesthetic but might feel sluggish to some. Stable on modern iOS devices.

Accessibility:

Text speed options
Auto-play narration
High contrast text

Audience Fit

Buy if: You love Yoko Taro's storytelling and want a relaxing, atmospheric RPG.

Skip if: You want fast-paced action or deep tactical combat.

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Reviewer Context

Reviewer: Dinsun
Hardware: iPhone 15 Pro
Playtime: 18 hours
Status: Finished Story

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad

1642253592

$11.99 9+★4 8 reviews

Author : SQUARE ENIX

Pubish Date : Wed Mar 22 2023

Last Update Date : Sun May 28 2023

Support Languages : English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish

Genres :

Version 1.1.0Sun May 28 2023

Bug fixes
Voice of Cards, a series inspired by tabletop RPGs and gamebooks told entirely through a medium of cards, is now available for smartphones! Enjoy a truly unique gaming experience from the minds of YOKO TARO, Keiichi Okabe, and Kimihiko Fujisaka, developers of the NieR and Drakengard series.
■Gameplay
Just like during a tabletop RPG, you're guided through the story by the game master as you journey through a world where all the field, town, and dungeon maps are depicted as cards. At times, the outcome of events and battles may be determined by a roll of the dice...
In Voice of Cards: The Beasts of Burden, you can seal defeated monsters in cards and summon them during battle as monster cards. Monster cards are ranked up to 5 stars, and as you progress through the story and move to new areas, you’ll be able to get higher-ranked cards.
■Story
In this world, there are creatures known as monsters. Humans have long been in conflict with these beasts.
One day, a secure underground village is destroyed by monsters, and a girl loses her home.
A young boy appears before her amid the chaos and takes her hand, leading her above ground for the first time.
Having lost everything, the girl sets out on a journey with the boy, where she learns about the world and goes on to obtain something precious...
*Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars Chapter 0, Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars, Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden, and Voice of Cards: The Beasts of Burden can be enjoyed as standalone adventures.
*This app is a one-time purchase. Once downloaded, the entirety of the game can be enjoyed without purchasing additional content. Cosmetic in-game purchases, such as changes to the aesthetic of cards and pieces or the BGM, are available.
*You may find that the gamemaster occasionally stumbles, corrects themselves or needs to clear their throat, in order to give you the most immersive and true to life Tabletop RPG experience.
[OS Compatibility]
iOS 16.0 or higher
[Applicable Devices]
iPhone 8, iPad (7th generation), iPad Air (3rd generation), iPad mini (5th generation), iPad Pro 10.5-inch, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation) and higher
Requires iOS 16.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
We are currently investigating a bug in the in-app purchases, so please refrain from making in-app purchases until the problem is fixed.
Voice of Cards, a series inspired by tabletop RPGs and gamebooks told entirely through a medium of cards, is now available for smartphones! Enjoy a truly unique gaming experience from the minds of YOKO TARO, Keiichi Okabe, and Kimihiko Fujisaka, developers of the NieR and Drakengard series.
■Gameplay
Just like during a tabletop RPG, you're guided through the story by the game master as you journey through a world where all the field, town, and dungeon maps are depicted as cards. At times, the outcome of events and battles may be determined by a roll of the dice...
In Voice of Cards: The Beasts of Burden, you can seal defeated monsters in cards and summon them during battle as monster cards. Monster cards are ranked up to 5 stars, and as you progress through the story and move to new areas, you’ll be able to get higher-ranked cards.
■Story
In this world, there are creatures known as monsters. Humans have long been in conflict with these beasts.
One day, a secure underground village is destroyed by monsters, and a girl loses her home.
A young boy appears before her amid the chaos and takes her hand, leading her above ground for the first time.
Having lost everything, the girl sets out on a journey with the boy, where she learns about the world and goes on to obtain something precious...
*Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars Chapter 0, Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars, Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden, and Voice of Cards: The Beasts of Burden can be enjoyed as standalone adventures.
*This app is a one-time purchase. Once downloaded, the entirety of the game can be enjoyed without purchasing additional content. Cosmetic in-game purchases, such as changes to the aesthetic of cards and pieces or the BGM, are available.
*You may find that the gamemaster occasionally stumbles, corrects themselves or needs to clear their throat, in order to give you the most immersive and true to life Tabletop RPG experience.
[OS Compatibility]
iOS 16.0 or higher
[Applicable Devices]
iPhone 8, iPad (7th generation), iPad Air (3rd generation), iPad mini (5th generation), iPad Pro 10.5-inch, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation) and higher

Ratings & Reviews

4 out of 5 with 8 Counts

★★★★★

Age Rating 9+

Voice of Cards: The Beasts of Burden brings a new twist to the series. In a world where monsters are hunted, a young girl loses her home and seeks revenge. This entry allows players to capture defeated monsters into cards, using them as powerful skills in battle. Experience the melancholy story and tactical combat of a world made of cards.

Features

Monster-trapping mechanics

Deeper character customization

Darker, more mature storyline

Classic tabletop card aesthetic

Tips

Capturing Monsters

After battles, you may receive a monster card. These cards have star ratings—try to farm specific encounters to get 3-star versions of your favorite monsters for maximum power.

Promotion Videos

Voice of Cards: The Beasts of Burden Launch Trailer

Gameplays

Tactical Customization

Since monster cards replace some traditional skills, you have much more freedom in character builds. You can turn your healer into a damage dealer by equipping the right monster cards.