Tabletop RPGs have always held a special place in the hearts of many gamers. The experience of delving into a world full of imagination and storytelling is truly unique. However, the tabletop equivalent of “buying books and reading them are two different hobbies” is surely the difference between buying sexy tabletop RPG manuals and actually dragging your mates on to Discord for a few hours to stumble your way through a module. It’s the dogeared Fighting Fantasy from a carboot sale kid in me, I think.
Something about reading worldbuilding snippets organized into numbered tables just hits in a way a novel doesn’t. This is where Microprose-published CrossOver: Roll For Initiative comes into play. It offers a wave defense gameplay where you play match-3 to collect dice, then spend them on fireballs and mace swings to stop tiny enemies from marauding all over your actual character sheet and attacking your stats.
The titular ‘roll for initiative’ is a D6 roll before the start of a round to see how many bonus seconds of prep you get, although you can pause and take stock at any time. The game describes itself as a “Hardcore match-3 RPG puzzle meets action-strategy tower defense. Far from a casual game!” This marketing approach may come off as a bit pretentious, as the screenshots and concept alone should be enough to intrigue players.
Features and Customization
Despite the bold claims, CrossOver: Roll For Initiative is actually quite easy to understand and offers a unique gameplay experience. Players have a single move to create a line of three dice in the match-3 tray, and different abilities cost different dice. The game also features a variety of spells with different effects, as well as the option to choose from different classes and species to customize your character sheet before embarking on a module.
While the Microprose UI may seem complex at first glance, it is actually quite neat and intuitive. The CYOA encounters with monochrome fantasy art that bookend main sessions add an extra layer of immersion to the game. However, they may be a bit confusing in terms of the game’s overall meta, but they add a unique touch to the gameplay experience.
CrossOver: Roll For Initiative offers a delightful and novel experience for tabletop RPG enthusiasts. Despite the over-the-top marketing language, the game is worth a download click for anyone looking for some casual dice fun. So, if you’re ready to embark on a unique adventure filled with match-3 puzzles, tower defense strategies, and customizable character sheets, give CrossOver: Roll For Initiative a try.
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