I loved the way that 2017’s Battle Chef Brigade imagined Iron Chef battles in an anime tournament arc setting, with all the style and spirit of the Toonami block shows I’d watched growing up. It shouldn’t be a surprise, then, that Battle Suit Aces is nailing the early hours by mixing pieces of Star Trek, Mobile Suit Gundam, and many other episodic sci-fi series with a card-battling RPG.
Even early on, the drive to unlock new characters through specific “episodes” and learn about the world in the process is compelling. Trinket Studio’s art never misses, making for a quickly endearing cast on-board my traveling ship. The card battles are approachable and even surprisingly challenging early on; not enough to bounce players off, but just enough to encourage a pause and quick consideration of my options, rather than auto-piloting through turns. If you’ve been wanting a more story-driven approach to deckbuilding, which ties characters and their growth into the cards you play, Battle Suit Aces is making for a very cozy fall retreat to the stars.
