Parents' Guide to Neoverse The Trinity

Despite decent graphics and some opportunities to strategize, without much to do but repeatedly battle, playing isn't exciting for too long. The fight scene visuals in Neoverse The Trinity are one of its best elements -- light shoots around characters after a blow is struck, kids can choose to shield themselves with an almost glittery protective orb, and the main character grunts dramatically as she stumbles. Although kids don't get a ton of guidance, they should be able to get the hang of playing, or at least be able to guess and choose some cards. If they aren't aware the number on the left side of the screen indicates the remaining amount they can play, they'll know when they've run out of moves because the End Turn button lights up.

That button seems somewhat unnecessary -- the game would flow more smoothly if each turn automatically switched back and forth between you and your opponent. Although the moves you make in battles to try to wear down your opponent produce an obvious impact, the actions listed on some cards are more vague than dynamic. In general, the written content can be an issue. Sentences that contain grammar and word use issues that are shown during the brief introductory sequence don't offer much clarification about the hazy backstory. Throughout the game, the design features a font that's so small it's almost impossible to make out some words on a smartphone. Playing instructions, card usage details, and other important information can easily be misconstrued -- and spending part of a battle straining to read makes the experience more frustrating than fun. It also makes strategically building and utilizing an advantageous deck tricky. A few attempts to defeat the giant flies and other creatures in the game can be entertaining -- given the design issues, though, and the battle scenes' often repetitive feel, kids may want to consider sticking around their current location, instead of spending significant time in Neoverse The Trinity.