Chron X

"Oh boy, are you going to like this game!"

Note
I won't repeat what IVainshtein said for the background story, so please read that review if you are interested.

Gameplay: 10/10
If you have ever played Magic: The Gathering or Pokemon Trading Card Games, you are going to like this. With 714 different cards and more coming November 2001, this game will keep you connected for ages.

How fun is it? Just look at the number of different decks you can create and you will know the answer. There is an AI which teaches you the mechanics of the game easily, as well as a community program named The Ride of the Desperados which does an even better job, with free cards to boot! There are Guides to help you with the game too, so look at what there is to offer.

Story: 9/10
It has a great sci-fi storyline. Set in the year 2091, you'll see BattleTech-like WarMachines and even powerful assets named Angels.

Audio/Video: 7/10
I'm giving it a 5, since there are virtually no videos in the game. But videos don't make the game, do they? It just makes it look like an interactive movie. You get to select your own sounds for various actions, and there are various themes on the Internet. But what makes this game great is it's card art. You'll have to see it for yourself to believe it.

Replayability: 10/10
You'll keep coming back for more! This isn't a ''finish once and throw it away'' game! As stated above, with 714 different cards, you'll want to get more and more cards to try out different playing styles. Also, there is a monthly professional tournament where the big catch is 720 new cards to play with or 4 booster boxes and tournaments almost every day of the week.

To buy or to rent?: N/A
One aspect of Chron X which is great: it's free! You try the game as an unregistered, and if you like it, you register for the price of only $9.95. This opens up the various card buying options and access to ranked games, which puts you on a ladder against other people. And once you've registered, you'll never need to again!

What appeals the most is Chron X's community. We get into friendly fights once in a blue moon, but all of us are friendly and very willing to help. There are factions, or groups of players who help each other, but the whole community is a tightly-knitted one.

Still not convinced? Check out Chron X for yourself at http://www.chronx.com. If you ever need help I'm almost always on the Chron X forums, so it's your best bet for catching me.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 10/11/01, Updated 10/11/01