Card games come along with unique ideas. Or usually follow a trend. This time around we got to play with the interesting concept of Shaka Shredders. A family friendly style of card game based off of if you remember the Skylanders Swapforce figurines with a clever social like card all into one. The ability to swap out abilities and Shaka Shredders, usually one rank apart. So a sort of evolution. How does it play? With our unit samples given to us. The version 2 cards felt sturdy, well made playing cards. The box set included 40 cards. Two 20 pre-built decks themed both: The Grotto Goons, and the Tiki Tech Lasers.
Each game starts with players hands with 5. The one player who goes first can not draw a card. Each card within the game feature buffs, and the ability it evolve, or adjust from another. Honestly with a lot of cool ideas, that play off a open ended play-style for players to go with. Games last around 30 minutes or so, at least with the entry game, as we called out card abilities and tally up score. Play styles or game style varied. We tweaked the rules and set the score to 10 cheer points after the first game to speed up rounds. As well as making the rounds more aggressive. the game itself contains 3 main factors, Tricks, Assists, and Disses. Tricks are your score booster, Disses are your interrupt, or block. And Assists boost the tricks to enhance score and or effectiveness of your trick card. I found these elements pretty well balanced during gameplay.
After playing with each deck, the game began to feel more natural. As well as I felt myself become more at ease with dare-deviling what trick I used, balancing those out with what Supportive bottoms I decided with. As social distancing became more risky I had to play the game alone, but tried to out play each hand I had with both sides. That was surely fishy. No pun intended. The flavor text behind the cards parts is pretty witty. Sometimes the jokes sticking, other times they pulled a chuckle out of me.
The games elements at first are daunting. Even for a entry style game, with symbols, and conditions rapidly presented. Where sure, you can learn the game fairly well, but visually causes a sort of panic at first glance. I am not asking for a more simpler card layout, but one that adjusts requirements. Maybe include a play-mat that gives a legend of each defined icons defined use within the battle. For younger players to learn the game at ease. I found myself from time to time looking at the pamphlet to reeducate myself with the rock paper scissor style icons on the cards to see if I beat a type or not. Adding a sort of color to each icon would help a bit too. Other games like Dokkan Battle or even a few others use a greater then aspect. It works to help players see those values and memorize them faster. Its weird, but it works.
Overall: the game has the potential to cross the lips of many as the first of its kind. The theme is awesome with the wildlife theme. It was a colorful and pleasant experience. That at times at first felt needed some tweaks in rules. Yes the rules are a little more open ended but my complaint landed with its legend for symbols and their meanings. Otherwise, the game lands off after some rule refreshment from time to time as a pretty fun game. Allowing you to tweak your strategies and build a strong set of character cards. Landing quirky trick moves. As well as being a pretty good social game for all ages 10+. I can not wait to see the fully released product to see what bits and pieces have been smoothed over since this version of the game!
For more info on the Shaka Shredders check it out down below! https://www.shakashredders.com/
